#Early 2000s Comeback

[myobsessionsspace]

The Culture of Pop Music

Just like any other culture it has a history. It has people who belong to and appreciate it and it has people that don't.

Jungkook has clearly stated his wish to be part of it.

There’s been a massive resurgence of early 2000s trends including fashion and music trends. We can see music of 2023 sampling, covering, being influenced by and paying homage to that era in their sounds and visuals.

Jung Kook - 3D feat. Jack Harlow

Example of pop/r&b of the early 2000s

Victoria Monet - On My Mama MV & Jung Kook - 3D MV

There *IS* a conversation that has been going on for as long as I can remember AND before, as to pop music and it’s relationship with black culture. That’s not a topic that will be covered here. However it’s worth noting that Pop music, being so heavily influenced by black culture, leads to sensitivities when highlighting the things liked or disliked about pop music, it’s lyrics, visuals, sounds etc.

Victoria Monet MV & Jung Kook - Seven Performance MV

A lot of dance moves in pop music videos, seen as provocative by some audiences are praised and not seen as anything more than an extension of the music. The artists are praised for their sensual movements to the beat, reminiscent of how the listener may dance to the same song with their friends or partners at the club, in their car, at a house party, places you’d expect to enjoy pop music. The dancing mostly isn’t taken for more than what it, an addition to the visuals. Pop music videos are rarely seen as a reflection of the artists real life interactions, most viewers don’t expect the artists to dance off a car, on a metal fence or on a crane in real life.

Example of pop/r&b visuals & lyrics (Normani - Motivation)

Jungkook's pop/r&b visuals & lyrics (Jung Kook - Seven feat. Latto)

Music can be playful, music can be fun, music doesn’t have to be serious, filled with soul searching, heartbreak, lyrical genius, layered production or activist messages.

Pop music in particular is meant to be catchy, it’s meant to be easy listening. Not always require of depth and analysis. With pop music especially, sometimes it is what it is.

Justin Bieber - Sorry MV Jungkook - Seven

Billboard Hot 100 Number 1 song, with the video choreographed by The Lab's Sienna Lalau, who also featured in the video. Sienna and The Lab are also known to have worked with BTS and performed with j-hope at Coachella.

Example of Lyrics of a Number 1 pop/r&b song

Globally recognised Pop Star Justin Bieber with R&B artists Daniel Caesar & Giveon with their Billboard Hot 100 Number 1 song, Peaches

This is the genre that JK has based his solo debut on so far. These are a few examples of his peers within that genre. Not BTS.

Critically acclaimed Singer & Songwriter Victoria Monet, known for writing for some of the biggest pop stars including Ariana Grande. MV visuals with male and female dancers, chores, skin on display. Singing about confidence, sex and the addition of strong language to her lyrics.

Pop music of different decades has always had those that didn't subscribe to it and had lovers of it, it was seen with The Beatles, it was seen with Elvis, it was seen with Madonna. They all had the terms ‘scandalous’, ‘not suitable for kids’, ‘too provocative’, ‘basic’ etc attached to them at some point in their career.

Opposers of pop music have been heard time and time again over the years to praise their favoured genre for having more depth, more quality, more artistry etc whilst seeing pop music as lesser, as commercial and lacking artistic integrity.

Michael Jackson had major push back when shedding his child star image from his group with his brothers to become a soloist, yet today he is one on the biggest icons of music history, pop music, as are all the aformentioned artists.

In every period there were people for and people against.

This post is not about the harmful tropes within pop music, the objectifying visuals, the problematic lyrics etc. There are many issues with pop music, just like there are issues with rock music with parent and religious groups, divisive issues with country music, appropriation issue with the aforementioned and with Jazz music. Each genre has its issues. Each genre have people who love it or hate it.

This is just about the fact that pop culture exists, it has always existed, it's a culture that is important to a lot of people, it is understood and appreciated by a lot of people. It has always had people also against it, it has always had people trying to hold it accountable and people who do not enjoy it.

This is the culture, its always been here and most likely always will.

You don't have to like it, you don't have to love it, but there are those that do and that doesn't make one wrong and one right, it doesn't make one superior nor on inferior.

It’s the genre at present that JK wants to be apart of, that he wants to fit in with and he’s doing so well when looked at along side those successful and praised in that genre.

Comparing Jungkook to his old solo or group music and old style or comparing Jungkook to his members recent solo works does a huge disservice to him and to the other members. They've specifically stated that they wanted to show their individual colours separate to the group's.

By Jungkook's own admission he wants to be a global pop star, instead of looking to compare, either him to himself or him to others, when you look at the examples of popstars of today and of the early 2000s, Jungkook has achieved that and is continuing in that path. His solo rollout fits in with his pop peers.

It's a culture, its always been here and most likely always will.

💜

Jungkook’s Pop Peers:

Links & interesting reads

Who is Victoria Monet Grammy Nomintated Singer-Songwriter Victoria Monét? (Article)

Justin Timberlake - Like I Love You (MV)

Justin Timberlake - Rock Your Body (MV)

Normani - Motivation (MV)

The music video starts with a child version of Normani watching 106 & Park, the music video countdown show that ran on BET from 2000 to 2014, and then shows grown-up Normani recreating scenes from some classic videos from the last two decades. Article Source

Who is Normani? From Fifth Harmony to Soloist (wiki)

Justin Beiber - Peaches feat. Daniel Caesar & Giveon (MV)

Jung Kook - 3D (MV)

Jung Kook - Seven (MV)

[okaydays22]

[milkman-zahhak]

I wanna share more erm.. belly stuff about my favorite characters and media on here but I'm already REALLY pushing it with this blog being named after e/q/u/i\u\s since I'm, like, one of maybe 5 of his total fans, and make it very obvious on all my main accounts.

If anyone finds the art or fics it's like. There's maybe a handful of people that even care about that character or fandom enough to make something for it and it doesn't take a lot of searching to see who they are and narrow it down lol.

I'll try to hint at what some of them are in the tags if anyone is curious, and wants to request anything with the characters from those medias so I have an excuse to post about em lol.

[smol-hibiscus]

BEHOLD!!!! every single one of my oc’s!!!!

all my oc’s names in order under cut, feel free to ask about any!

Top Row: Pon, Wispy, Sumiye, Mae, Marie Anne, Anastasia, Juniper, Damien, April, Venus Mae, Primrose, Akane, Orchid

Bottom Row: Bellatrix, Luyten, Belle & Parsley, Fawn, Leia, Destiny, Kiki, Akine, Vienna, Astrid, Tenor, Vukica

[nicoscheer]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mafia Chronicles 🍊 (@mafiachronicles)

Outfit on Point 👌🏽

NOOO he looks so soft 🫠🫠😭😭and yes fucking finally glasses on 💅

Holy shit YES

[dufflebagwitch]

why in the year of our lord 2024 are we letting RONNIE RADKE still release music and actually listening to it WHAT

[edgepunk]

the fact that Aqua commented on the Planet of the Bass tiktok is sending me

[soobnny]

my girl — jeongin x f!reader ; the boys find out their youngest has a gf

(1.3k words)

It’s a once in a while thing for the boys to be able to eat out together.

Challenges usually pose through schedule conflicts, one or the other being absent, and timing. They can never truly catch a break. So, when the first sign of a temporary alignment showed, they took the opportunity in a flash.

It was going to be their first dinner together in months, one of their off days.

Usually, the next challenge of indecisiveness would present itself. However, their youngest is quick to suggest a place.

Apparently, they had really good jjajangmyun.

(The boys didn’t know then, but it was because the faster they could decide where to eat, the faster he could go visit you.)

(They also didn’t know then that jjajangmyun was your favorite.)

A chorus of laughter echoes through the little corner store as they’re served their third plate of food. Jeongin didn’t lie about their food, and it was a safe enough space for them to celebrate the end of their latest comeback season.

“Seungmin, you’re getting really brave with your jokes about PD-nim.”

“I ran that contract renewal like the military.”

They spend the night joking, revisiting their past, and being hopeful for the future. A few grateful messages are exchanged after liquid courage is brought to their table. And while a simple night, the boys knew they’d remember this day for the rest of their lives.

There’s quiet pop music playing in the back—the kind you’d hear in the early 2000s. And Han Jisung orders another plate of jjajangmyun.

“Ayen, the food here is crazy good. How’d you find this place?”

Jeongin snaps out of his mental chant at the call of his name, fox-eyes trained on the older boy before the question reverberates in his mind. “My girlfriend recommended it.”

A pin drops.

Their youngest has a habit of lying, taken after his roommate, Seungmin. He usually does it with sneaky smiles and a few giggles. However, both signs indicative of lying are absent, and the boy has the audacity to refill his plate and keep eating as if he hadn’t just dropped a bomb on his members.

“Girlfriend?” Hyunjin is the first to speak, asking the boy to reiterate what he had just said, even though he heard. Loud and clear, in fact.

“Uhuh.” Jeongin replies through a mouthful of food. “What?”

He looks curiously around the table. His friends’ eyes are glazed, and he’d expected the conversation to be over three minutes ago, but it doesn’t.

Jeongin is in the middle of another bite when all hell breaks loose.

“Girlfriend?!” It’s said even louder now, more amplified, and Hwang Hyunjin stands from where he was previously seated in pure disbelief. All the while, their eldest is having an existential crisis. “Innie, what do you mean?”

He perks his head up, pursing his lips slightly and tilting his head. “What’s the big deal?”

“You have a girlfriend and you didn’t tell us?” It’s Han’s turn to be perplexed, and it’s humorous the way his features mimic the dramatic shock on Hyunjin’s.

Seungmin simply keeps eating.

“Yah, Kim Seungmin. Why aren’t you as surprised as us?”

“I already knew.”

“Seungmin knew, but not us?!”

“Not my fault he trusts me with dating advice.”

That boy definitely knows how to add fuel to fire. Chaos erupts as the younger half harass Seungmin for knowing before them.

“How long have you been dating?,” Minho asks.

“Just around 3 months now.”

If Chan was out of it then, you wouldn’t know how to describe his state now. Felix sits next to him to comfort the poor boy.

“My baby has been dating for 3 months, and I didn’t know anything.”

“Sorry.” Jeongin responds bashfully, scratching the back of his head. He knew his hyungs would act this way, which had led to his decision of keeping it hidden for a while. He thinks he should’ve just told them right away.

Though, he thought they’d known by now. He wasn’t exactly the most secretive about it, and he was sure he’d mentioned you before.

And although shocking to suddenly hear that their youngest (and their baby) had a girlfriend, they will not have his head for it. They know he’s responsible enough to know what not to do, and it was a little touching to know the boy had enough time to fit romance in his life.

“Show us what she looks like!”

The boys get a selfie of you that’s set as his lockscreen, and it’s enough proof to have the boys cooing at how adorable you two would be together.

“Motherfucker, she’s really pretty.” Changbin comments.

“I know.”

Meanwhile, Han and Hyunjin are making up fake scenarios in the corner, scrolling through photos and videos. Then a message.

While their youngest is distracted, Han quickly taps on the notification.

(8:23pm) innie: I miss u

(8:30pm) ynie: miss u too!!!!

(8:31pm) innie: Wish you were here right now

(8:32pm) ynie: aren’t u celebrating with ur friends rnnn

(8:32pm) ynie: stop texting me and enjoy !!!

(8:33pm) innie: But i miss u

(8:33pm) innie: Call me later?

(8:36pm) ynie: after you spend time with ur friends let’s call

(8:37pm) innie: Wanna call now. Just for a second

(8:37pm) innie: Haven’t heard your voice in a while

(8:37pm) ynie: ok fine >:( give me like 10-15 mins

(8:51pm) ynie: i’ll call now

“Oh my god, she’s calling.”

That’s definitely enough to get Jeongin’s attention.

“Give me my phone back.” He reaches out to them, but Hyunjin is fast enough to swipe it.

“Answer it!” Changbin instigates.

Jeongin’s eyes widen in horror when he hears your voice go through his phone. “Innie? Oh—hello.”

You sound so shy, and Chan feels like he’s about to cry. “She calls him Innie.”

The youngest finally snatches his phone back when all Hyunjin could do was stare at you through the screen of his phone. You were real. Yang Jeongin actually has a girlfriend.

“Hi.” He mumbles, moving away from their table to talk to you privately. Though, before he does, he makes sure he leaves a threat to the boys not to follow him. “‘M sorry, did they scare you, baby?”

“It’s okay, I was just surprised.”

Jeongin visibly melts at the sound of your voice. “The boys know about us now.”

“I figured.” You laugh, and the service at the restaurant doesn’t do the warmth of your laughter any justice. He can’t wait to see you later.

“Can I see you later?”

“Mkay, but just… enjoy your time with the boys, okay? You told me it’s been a while since all of you were able to relax over a meal like this.”

“Fine.” He sighs, before a smile creeps on his face. “They liked your suggestion.”

“That’s good. Now go!” There’s a pout on his lips when you shoo him away. “Go have fun, go! I’m hanging up now. Love you!”

“Love you too.”

The wide, bright smile remains on his face even when he goes back to their table.

“Who has our Ayen smiling like that?”

“My girl.”

“Innie’s getting soft.” Minho teases.

Seungmin, on the other hand, fake vomits at his response, and another chorus of laughter bursts from their seats. The night continues through conversations over Jeongin’s sudden revelation, and the promise to let the boys meet you properly next time. He agrees if they promise not to scare you away.

And while he’d kept you a secret for a while, he can’t help but feel a tinge of happiness in his heart that the most important people in his life know about you now, are even eager to meet you. There is no better contentment than all of the people he loves aligning with one another.

The entire night, Jeongin itches in anticipation to hold you in his arms and hear your voice in person after his schedules had torn apart his much needed quality time with you. And when he asks to leave, they don’t need to know where he’s going.

One look at his face, and the only evident answer is you.

[allthecanadianpolitics]

Just a decade ago, syphilis infections among infants were nearly eradicated in Canada. Yet there were warning signs the bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) — known for causing painless sores, organ damage, and stillborn infants — was making a comeback. First, rates started rising among adults in the early 2000s, followed by an alarming spike in congenital infections passed from mothers to their babies.  The latest federal data shows there were nearly 14,000 cases of infectious syphilis across the country in 2022, as well as 117 instances of early congenital syphilis. That's a nearly 15-fold increase from just eight nation-wide cases of syphilis reported in infants five years earlier. "When I started in clinical practice, just over 20 years ago, we'd see syphilis like every couple months," said Patrick O'Byrne, a nurse practitioner with Ottawa Public Health's sexual health clinic. "And I would say it's now daily."

Continue Reading

Tagging @politicsofcanada

[xanticore]

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐀𝐃 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐃 𝐁𝐎𝐘

Part two

Genre: angst

Setting: early 2000s ,, L.A.

Warnings: mentions of alcohol and drug addiction. Sex addiction. lots and lots of cursing. he cheats. (the horror) slight mentions of suicide. slight grammar errors im writing this at 3 am.

Summary: Jungkook was always one to have his anger get the best of him...that was only because of the amount of drugs and alcohol he abuses in his daily life. When you first met him, you knew he had personal problems but he never discussed those things with you. One night after a show, you wanted to talk about his habits and something snapped in him. You don't know if you're able to even look at him again.

Rockstar!Jungkook - he sings and plays guitar.

Jungkook had some problems...mentally. And you knew it, and so did his band mates. You were the type to try and ignore it and see the good in him for the most part. Certain times, Jungkook was definitely a good boyfriend to you. He would buy you expensive bouquets, new clothes, and even jewlery; but that was all during a time where he was sober. You don't know what happened to make him relapsed and you honestly tried to retrace your steps.

It gotten so hard on you, to the point Jaehyun, his bandmate that plays drums, had to remind you countless times that none of this wasn't your fault. You couldn't help but still have it on your mind though.

Kook distanced himself from you and he rarely ever calls you. You tried to call him but you would always hear that he was either unavailable or worse, just a dead line- no one would even pick up. Overthinking with such a guy like him was inevitable. You didn't know what he was doing because you couldn't even get a hold of him. You tried your best to let him be an adult and let him just comeback on his own; but that never worked out in the end.

So you decided to take matters into your own hands. Jaehyun contacted you that they would be during their last show of their tour in downtown L.A. at the metal club. You we're excited but very disappointed in how Jungkook didn't tell you but someone else did. You shrugged it off and made your way towards the club.

The show went on as planned and they performed- in a sense good. The other members were flawless with their instruments but you noticed that Kook wasn't doing so well. It was unusual for him to even slip up a riff. You sighed already could tell he had some alcohol in his system. It was even obvious in his singing. You looked over at the bassist and the other guitar player-Yugyeom and Eunwoo. The two seemed to take notice of Jungkooks performance and how it can affect the rest of the members and song all together.

Luckily, the show went on and managed to have the crowd cheering and screaming. You went backstage and waited for them to come out. Each member greeted you with a warm smile and Jaehyun stopped for a moment.

"You noticed?"

"Yeah...he's drunk. He was already in a shit mood ever since this morning. When he sees you, hopefully that sour attitude changes."

Jaehyun said before shaking his head. "If he does anything to you..let me know. Ok?" You nodded at his request and that nearly had your hair on your arms sticking up. At last Jungkook came off stage already having a beer bottle in his hand. He saw you and just rolled his eyes which you was taken aback by that action of his. "What are you doing here (name)?" He said nonchalantly, as if he didn't wanted you there in the first place.

"Jaehyun was nice enough to tell me you were doing your last tour stop here. Ughh Kook, you fucking reek of alcohol-"

Jungkook just chuckled and took a swig of his beer. "And this? can we talk about how you just relapsed out of nowhere and how you never return my calls? You've been so distant with me lately." You snapped at him as you watched him, carelessly drink his drink. "I've been busy-"

"Drinking and doing coke isn't being 'busy' you need serious help Jungkook and your band mates is slowly getting sick and tired of your behavior and so am I!"

"I don't fucking care what they think. I'm living my best fucking life as much as possible trying to keep myself fucking happy in this world!"

"So doing this is your solution?!"

"Yeah. Drugs, beer, a good fuck with a girl who isn't bugging me 24/7 trying to get in contact with me"

That was it. You froze for a moment and all the color on your face has drained as your heart sunk. Jungkook still didn't realize what he said. You watched him throw away the bottle, taking out a cigarette and lighting it with his lighter afterwards. You didn't have the energy to even comment on it but you were more worried about his wellbeing.

"Why? just....just why are you trying to kill yourself like this?" You said trying to not choke up on your words.

"Im tired. I kinda do wanna sleep." Kook replied, exhaling the nicotine. "also I wanna get away from you. i'm sick of you..."

im sick of you

im sick of you

You couldn't help but repeat those harsh words over and over. You couldn't tell if the alcohol or drugs were talking or Jungkook himself. He still had no reaction to what he said but you was already too weak to even argue with him. You felt tears roll down your cheeks and heard a sigh coming from him. "Look, I gotta go. I can't be here while you're crying like this-"

He walked passed you so carefree. He didn't even bother to look back as he walked down the hallway. After that, you knew it'll be the last time you talked with him. You felt like he didn't need you so why should you continue to care.

You left the club alone without your boyfriend that you once cherished and cared about.

Extra: 6 months later. Jungkook was in rehab in a therapy session. Told in Kooks pov.

I was in my therapy session and I told my therapist about my problems I had with the things I do. I've been told things that I regret saying to my girlfriend. I was just too upset with everyone and high off my fucking mind to the point she stopped all contact.

I wanted to go back to my habits again but that would only cause me more unwanted trauma. I was still in denial after what Jaehyun told me. I seriously don't remember anything from that night...and it pisses me off.

After receiving the news I've gotten from my brother, my whole world crashed and I wanted a way to get out of here. I couldn't bare just being here I was mentally and physically exhausted with my life. Nothing was making me happy and touring definitely didn't help. I grew an unhealthy addiction with sex. I had sex with many woman not caring in the slightest I was taken. Not caring I had someone worried about me back at home.

I really loved (name)...I really did. In the beginning; I tried my absolute hardest to stay away from the dark. She was my light.

"It seems you wasn't ready..."

"I wasn't. I wish I could go back in time and changed everything."

a/n : Yay or nah? Lowkey was in my feelings but i wanted to write angst.

dividers: cr to owners

[nightwriter357]

Smosh summer games: Ships

This is the first part of a Damien Haas x reader series called, you guessed it, Smosh summer games: Ships. This first part is mainly setup and doesn't contain any smut but is still 18+ and the next parts will be very smutty.

Hope you enjoy!

Part 1 - and they were roommates?

Exitment filled the air as you packed the last of your things into your suitcase. Smosh Summer Games is making a comeback and it's shaping up to be one for the books, especially since it's the first one since Anthony's return, and the first one ever for you and many of the other cast members. You felt incredibly lucky to be part of a team where you genuinely enjoyed the company of your colleagues. Not many people could say they looked forward to spending this much time with their coworkers, but for you, it was like a dream come true. If you were honest though, there was one coworker who you were a bit extra excited to see more of.

As you zipped up your bag, you couldn't help but think about him, Damien. Over the past few months, you'd found yourself increasingly attracted to him. He was funny, kind, and always made you feel appreciated even on the days when you weren't feeling good about yourself. The thought of spending time with him, in a more relaxed and domestic setting, made your pulse quicken. Maybe this trip would be the perfect opportunity to see if there was something more between you two. You have a hard time imagining him making the first move, but you can't really see yourself doing it either. Maybe you just need to start dropping some big hints.

You all stood at the office parking lot, the cars were packed, and the cast was ready to hit the road. You hopped into the car with Courtney, Amanda, Angela, Olivia, Chanse, and Tommy. Courtney took charge of the playlist, and soon the car was filled with the nostalgic sounds of the early 2000s.

Courtney pulled out a camera and started vlogging. "Welcome to the 'Gays and Girls' car! We've got Amanda, Angela, Arasha, Olivia, Chanse, Tommy, and y/n. We're on our way to the Smosh Summer Games, and it's going to be epic!"

Amanda turned in her seat, grinning. "So, Court, tell us what we can expect. This is our first time."

Courtney smirked at the camera. "Oh, you're in for a treat. There's always something crazy happening. And, somehow, things always get a bit sexual or spicy," she pushed her hair behind her ear

Arasha raised an eyebrow at the camera. "Sexual? Like how?"

Courtney laughed. "Well like, on the car ride to the first winter games a no-fap rule was introduced. So I can imagine they're already starting to say some wild stuff in the boys' car. It was hilarious watching everyone struggle with it."

Chanse snorted. "Please, those guys have no self-control. I give them two days."

You leaned forward, "but we are going to be sharing rooms right?"

Olivia chimed in, " that's not going to stop those demons, they are nuts."

Tommy raised an eyebrow, "right Olivia, they're nuts.."

You laughed along with the others, your mind drifting back to Damien. You wondered if he would struggle with that. The thought made you blush, and you quickly looked out the window to hide your face.

The vlog cut to the boys' car. Shayne took control of the camera, turning it to face himself, Damien, Spencer, Keith, Noah, and Trevor.

"Welcome to the 'Boner Mobile'!" Shayne announced with a laugh. "We are definitely the cooler car. Right, guys?"

"Absolutely," Damien agreed, leaning in to the shot. "We're on our way to the Smosh Summer Games, and we're going to crush it."

Keith laughed. "Yeah, especially with Anthony back. This is going to be wild."

Spencer, who was driving, glanced at the camera. "You guys better be ready. This year's gonna be intense."

" Why are you so sure about that?" Trevor questioned

Spencer gave a sly smile, " Oh, you will soon see".

Shayne smirked at the camera. "Do you think anyone's gonna stick to the no-fap rule this time?"

The car burst into laughter.

Noah looked at the camera, " It did not work out that well the first time."

Damien chuckled. "Oh man, I can't believe you guys actually did that."

Keith nodded. "Yeah, it was total chaos."

Trevor chimed in, "I'm just excited to see who cracks first."

Damien let out a big sigh, " I'm scared to find out which one of you I'm rooming with."

Spencer laughed, " ooh, I think you're going to be on board"

Shayne leaned back, grinning at the camera. "So anyway, Do you guys remember the wet t-shirt contest we had one year?"

Spencer's eyes lit up. "Oh man, really? That sounds awesome!"

Shayne laughed. "Yeah, except it was the guys who got wet, and the girls were the ones spraying us."

Spencer looked directly in to the camera lens, "you know, I wouldn't mind getting sprayed by a woman."

The car erupted in laughter again, the mood light and full of camaraderie as they continued their journey.

When you finally arrived, you felt a rush of excitement. The air was filled with the scent of the ocean and a cool breeze hit you as you jumped out of the car. You caught sight of Damien getting out of the boys' car, your eyes met briefly, and he flashed you a grin that made your heart skip a beat.

Damien wiped some sweat from his brow, his arm flexing slightly as he did. His silver hair was a bit disheveled, and you found him incredibly sexy in that moment. You quickly looked away, feeling your cheeks heat up. As you grabbed your bag, you couldn't help but steal another glance at him. This time, you noticed the way his shirt clung to his back, highlighting his muscles. You bit your lip, trying to focus on anything else.

As the group gathered on the dock, the anticipation was palpable. You could feel the excitement bubbling over. Everyone was eager to find out what surprises lay ahead.

Spencer stepped forward, a big grin on his face and a whistle hanging around his neck, He looked at the camera, "Welcome, everyone, to the return of the Smosh Summer Games!" he announced, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "And this year, we have a special surprise for you."

With that, Spencer blew the whistle, and from behind a curtain, Anthony and Ian emerged in their costumes. Anthony was dressed as a sailor, complete with a white and blue sailor hat and a striped shirt, while Ian sported a full pirate getup, complete with an eye patch and a plastic parrot on his shoulder.

The cast burst into laughter and applause.

Ian stepped forward, grinning from ear to ear. "That's rrrr-right! This year's theme is 'Ships!' And we're taking it literally."

Anthony nodded. "We'll be living on this massive boat for the duration of the games."

You could feel the excitement and surprise ripple through the group. Chanse raised an eyebrow. "Wait, did you say we're staying on a boat?"

"That's right," Spencer confirmed. "And I'll be your judge this year, making sure everything runs smoothly and fairly."

Courtney couldn't contain her laughter. "This is going to be amazing. I can't believe we're actually doing this."

Tommy added, "I've never even been on a boat this big before. This is going to be wild."

"Let's get started with the team names," Anthony said, stepping forward. "I'll be leading 'The seamen.'"

Ian, with a mischievous glint in his eye, announced, "And I'll be leading 'The leg peggers.'"

The cast erupted into laughter again. Shayne wiped a tear from his eye. "You guys really went all out with the themes this year."

The group erupted in cheers and surprised exclamations. You glanced at the massive boat docked nearby, this was going to be amazing.

"Now, before we pick our teams, let's explore our home for the next few weeks," Ian suggested

Everyone hurried to the boat, eager to explore. As you climbed aboard, you couldn't help but marvel at the sheer size of it. The boat was equipped with everything you could possibly need: a large deck for sunbathing, a cozy common room with couches and beanbags, and a kitchen stocked with snacks and drinks.

You and Courtney found your room, a cozy cabin with bunk beds. "Looks like we're bunking together," she said with a smile.

"Yeah, this is going to be fun," you replied, trying to keep your excitement in check. The room was small but charming, with nautical-themed decor and a porthole window that offered a view of the ocean.

Noah poked his head into your room. "Check out this place! It's like we're on an actual pirate ship."

Keith laughed from down the hall. "I call top bunk in our room!"

Courtney quickly called out. "I call top bunk!", tossing her bag onto the bed.

"Fine by me," you said, setting your bag on the bottom bunk. The room was small but cozy, with just enough space for your things.

After unpacking a few essentials, you and Courtney joined the others to explore the rest of the boat. You passed by Amanda and Angela's' room, where they were already bantering about who got the better bed.

Shayne and Damien were in the kitchen, rummaging through the snack supplies. "This is going to be awesome," Shayne said, holding up a bag of chips.

Damien nodded, "Definitely. This boat is incredible."

Everyone explored the boat some more, checking out the various rooms and common areas. The ship had a large dining hall, a deck with lounge chairs, and even a hot tub.

After a while, Ian and Anthony gathered everyone on the deck. The view of the ocean was breathtaking, and the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement. The cameras were rolling.

Ian clapped his hands, "Alright, now that you've seen the boat, it's time to reveal the twist for this year. In addition to the usual team based games, we'll be competing in pairs for many of the challenges. These pairs have been voted on by the fans, and it's pretty obvious they went with their favorite ships."

Amanda gasped, " Oh my good, so that's why the theme is ships?"

Ian smiled, "exactly, people being shipped on a ship", he winked at the camera

The excitement in the air was palpable as everyone waited to hear who they would be paired with. You couldn't help but glance at Damien, wondering if you would be paired with him. It would make sense, every time you were in a video together someone would comment about the way you were looking at each other. There were countless compilation videos of you too, but then again, there were for many of the other cast as well. The anticipation was almost too much to bear, but you knew that no matter what, this was going to be an unforgettable summer.

Anthony continued, "After our judge announces the ships, Ian and I will pick our teams from those pairs. So take it away Spencer!"

You just noticed Spencer wasn't there. A door swung open and he emerged, dressed in a formal robe, a white wig that could have belonged to a founding father, already sweating.

"Why are you dressed like that man? It's so fucking hot out here" Angela exclaimed upon seeing him.

Spencer proudly declared, "I am the judge" he raised his eye brow "Also did somebody just say I looked hot?"

Chanse squinted his eyes at him, "no".

Trevor put him arm on Spencers shoulder, "I don't think you're supposed to be this kind of judge"

Spencer looked back at him, "Objection."

You tilted your head at him, " I don't think that's.."

Spencer waved his arm around, "overruled."

"Alright everyone, it's time for one of the most anticipated moments: the announcement of the pairs for this year's Smosh Summer Games!" Spencer declared, a grin spreading across his face. "This year, we've taken your favorite ships and made them a reality. Let's see who we got"

You felt a buzz of excitement and curiosity ripple through the group as Spencer began reading the pairs from his list.

"First up," Spencer said, "Courtney and Shayne!"

Courtney let out a cheer and high-fived Shayne. "We're going to crush this!"

Shayne chuckled, putting his arm around her. "Dream team, baby!"

Angelas eyes widened, "that IS so shocking "

"Next, Keith and Noah!"

Keith and Noah grinned at each other, clearly pleased with the pairing. "The dynamic duo is back!" Noah announced, and Keith gave him a playful nudge.

"Amanda and Angela!"

Amanda and Angela exchanged a hug, laughing. "Let's do this girl!" Amanda said, and Angela nodded enthusiastically.

"Tommy and Chanse!"

Tommy and Chanse glanced at each other, smiling. "This is going to be so gay!" Tommy exclaimed.

"And hot" Chanse chimed in.

"And last but not least, Damien and y/n!"

Your heart skipped a beat as Spencer called out your name alongside Damien's. You turned to see Damien smiling at you, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Looks like you drew the short stick," he said, stepping closer.

You smiled back, feeling a mixture of nerves and excitement. "Oh yeah, I was rooting for Shaymien."

He leaned in and whispered in a playfully tone, "I wasn't."

As the ships were announced, the cast mates all seemed pretty pleased with their pairings. Olivia didn't get a partner since it was an uneven number so instead she was going to be like a cheerleader for the games, which she seemed pleased with

"Perfect pairs!" Keith shouted, giving a thumbs-up.

"Can't wait to see how this plays out," Noah added with a grin.

The group gathered around as Ian and Anthony stepped forward in their costumes, ready to pick their teams. Spencer held up his whistle and blew it once more to get everyone's attention.

"Alright, everyone, it's time for our fearless leaders to pick their teams!" Spencer announced. "Ian and Anthony will take turns choosing pairs. Ian, you get first pick."

Ian looked at the assembled pairs, stroking his fake pirate beard for dramatic effect. "For the first pick of the 2024 Smosh Summer Games, Team 'The Leg Peggers' selects... Shayne and Courtney!"

Courtney laughed and nudged Shayne before catching the shirt Ian had thrown to her. "Called it."

Shayne smirked. "Of course I'd be in the peg team. It's destiny."

The group burst into laughter, and Anthony stepped forward, a mock-serious expression on his face. "And for Team 'The Seamen,' I choose two veterans... Keith and Noah!" He tossed them their shirts.

Keith and Noah high-fived each other. "Let's do this!" Keith shouted.

Noah nodded. "We are gonna KILL you guys!"

Keith scrunched his face, "okay, chill man"

Ian surveyed the remaining pairs and made his next choice. "Alright, Team 'The Leg Peggers' selects... Damien and y/n!"

Damien shook Ian's hand, "so happy to be here."

Your heart skipped a beat again as you stepped forward with Damien. You exchanged a glance, both of you smiling and you took each other's hands and held them up proudly. You looked at the shirt that was just handed to you, A cartoon pirate putting his wooden leg into the ass of another pirate, fitting.

Anthony followed up quickly, holding up the shirt for 'the Seamen'. It was a cartoon Sperm with a sailor hat and ascot on, also fitting."'The Seamen' picks, our queens... Amanda and Angela!"

Amanda and Angela cheered and hugged each other. "Yes! I knew I would get semen" Angela exclaimed.

"Angela" Chanse quickly said in response to Angelas comment.

Ian grinned and looked at the final pairs. "And last but not least for 'The Leg Peggers'... Tommy and Chanse!"

Tommy and Chanse stepped forward. "Let's go!" Chanse said.

Anthony finished up with the remaining pair. "And that means Arasha and Trevor are on 'The Seamen'!"

Arasha and Trevor exchanged a fist bump. "I always am" Trevor announced.

With the teams chosen, Spencer blew his whistle again. "Alright, everyone, the teams are set! Get ready for the first challenge of the Smosh Summer Games!"

The crew came in to set up the first game, as the teams gathered on the deck of the boat, the excitement palpable in the air. Ian and Anthony stood at the front, each holding a water balloon. Spencer, still dressed in his formal robe, completely out of sync with the ship theme, stepped up and blew his whistle to get everyone's attention.

"Alright, everyone! Welcome to the return of the Smosh Summer Games!" Spencer announced with a flourish. "And for our first game, we're bringing back a classic with a twist: the Water Balloon Toss Challenge!"

The cast erupted in cheers and laughter, the atmosphere buzzing with energy.

Spencer continued, adjusting his wig, "Here's how it works. You and your partner will stand opposite each other and toss the water balloon back and forth. But there's a twist this year! The contestants are coated in a special lube that you might also remember from a previous summer game, making it slippery and challenging to catch and hold onto those balloons. After each successful catch, you take a step back. If your balloon falls to the ground or breaks, you're out! The last pair standing wins points for their team."

Everyone nodded, as two big barrels of lube got carried in. You dipped your hands in one of them watching the lube drip in between your fingers. You dragged your hands over your arms coating them in lube.

Damien came up behind you, his breath warm against your ear. " Do you really think we need to be that thorough?"

You looked over your shoulder, "oh yeah, you can't just go in dry"

He reached into the bucket from behind you, lube running from his hands to your sides as he pulled his arms back.

"Hey" you turned around " bopping him on the nose with your lubricated finger, " you spilled".

He grabbed your wrists, " can't let you go in dry, y/n" he smiled at you. You felt yourself go a little weak in the knees.

Ian clapped his hands, gathering his team. "Alright, Leg Peggers! Let's show them how we handle slippery situations!"

You turned around to face them. Everyone was lubed up and already strategizing with their partner. Damien let go of your wrists.

Anthony smirked, turning to his team. "Seamen, let's keep those balloons intact!"

You and Damien took your positions, your heart racing with excitement. Damien flashed you a confident grin. "Ready to show them how it's done?"

You smiled back, feeling a flutter in your chest. "Oh, I was born ready."

Shayne and Courtney, Keith and Noah, Amanda and Angela, and the rest of the pairs lined up, ready to start.

"Order in the court. On your mark... get set... toss!" Spencer shouted, blowing his whistle.

The air was soon filled with shouts and laughter as balloons flew back and forth. The first few rounds were easy, but as the pairs stepped further apart and tried to maintain their grip on the slippery balloons, the challenge intensified. Spencer's commentary added to the fun, making everyone laugh with his witty remarks.

Trevor and Arasha were the first to be eliminated, their balloon bursting in a spectacular splash as Trevor slipped and came crashing down on it.

Spencer grinned, "Well, there goes Trevor and Arasha, making a splash in all the wrong ways! Careful, Trevor, or you might slip your way into the ocean next!"

Arasha gave Spencer a look, "was that a threat?"

You and Damien managed to keep your balloon intact, but the lube made it challenging. Each catch required careful coordination, Damien's large hands deftly maneuvering the slippery surface. You admired the way he handled the balloon, his fingers tracing the surface with surprising gentleness despite the slippery surface.

Ian, who was getting increasingly sweaty in his pirate getup, called out, "Come on, Leg Peggers! Don't you dare peg those balloons!"

Anthony, not missing a beat, shouted, "Seamen, keep it together! We can't afford any premature bursts!"

Shayne and Courtney's balloon slipped through Shayne's fingers, drenching him. Spencer laughed, "Looks like Shayne's all wet! Courtney, maybe you should have aimed a little lower!"

Spencer's comments kept flowing. "Remember, folks, it's not about the size of the balloon, it's about not dropping it!"

You and Damien moved further apart, the tension rising. "You're pretty good at this," you called to him, struggling to keep your grip on the balloon.

Damien chuckled. "You haven't seen anything yet."

You laughed, shaking your head. "Big talk, let's see if you can back it up."

Amanda and Angela's coordination was impressive, and it was clear they were in the zone. When you and Damien stepped back for another toss, the balloon slipped through your fingers, breaking upon impact. Splashing you straight in the face.

Spencer blew the whistle, "And there goes y/n and Damien! So close! Looks like y/n's all wet now too!", you rolled your eyes at him and he smiled in response.

Amanda and Angela were the last pair standing, their balloon still intact. They screamed in excitement and hugged each other tightly, water and lube dripping down their arms.

Spencer approched them, "any finishing statements?"

"Slap the bag" Angela said as she slapped the lube covered balloon with her free hand, making lube spay everywhere.

"Angela" Chance said as he wiped his eyes.

Spencer blew the final whistle. "We have our winners! Amanda and Angela for Team Seamen!"

"Great job, Amanda and Angela!" Anthony cheered, clapping for his team.

Damien smiled at you, slightly breathless. "Not bad for our first game."

"Right? the fans did good," you replied, feeling the chemistry between you two intensify.

"Definitely," Damien agreed, his eyes twinkling.

Anthony gathered his team, giving encouraging words and high-fives. "Seamen, we took the first win! Let's keep this momentum going!"

Ian, not to be outdone, rallied his team. "Leg Peggers, we were close! Let's come back and really peg those legs the next game!"

Anthony gave on last look to the camera as he delivered the final line, " That's 'seamen' one, 'Leg peggers' ZERO.

As the excitement from the game began to die down, Spencer, still in his black robe, shouted, "Alright everyone, you're all covered in lube and water. What better way to clean off than to jump into the ocean?"

The suggestion was met with enthusiastic cheers.

"Last one in is a munge!" Shayne yelled, sprinting towards the edge of the deck and leaping into the water with a loud splash.

You laughed, grabbing Damien's hand. "Come on, let's go!"

He grinned, squeezing your hand gently before you both ran and jumped into the cool, refreshing water. The sensation of the ocean washing away the lube was invigorating. You surfaced with a laugh, wiping the water from your eyes.

Damien surfaced beside you, his wet silver hair clinging to his forehead. "That was awesome!"

You splashed him playfully. "I told you we'd have fun!"

Around you, the rest of the cast joined in, jumping off the boat and into the water. Courtney and Shayne were already splashing each other, their playful banter echoing across the waves.

"Take that!" Courtney laughed, splashing Shayne directly in the face.

Shayne retaliated by dunking her briefly under the water. "Gotcha!"

Keith and Noah were trying to wash the stickiness off, but it quickly turned into a water fight.

"Noah, you missed a spot," Keith said, pretending to help but then splashing water all over Noah's face.

Noah laughed, shaking his head. "Oh, it's on now!"

Amanda and Angela were swimming gracefully, occasionally flicking water at each other but mostly just enjoying the coolness of the ocean.

"This feels amazing after being all sticky," Chanse said, floating on her back. Tommy nodded, agreeing.

Trevor and Arasha were trying to clean each other's backs, but their efforts kept resulting in more laughter as they slipped and splashed.

"Hold still!" Arasha giggled, trying to scrub Trevor's shoulder.

"I can't when you're tickling me!" Trevor protested, laughing.

Damien turned to you, his eyes sparkling. "Looks like everyone's having a blast."

You smiled, feeling a warmth spread through you that had nothing to do with the sun. "Yeah, this is perfect."

He reached out, gently wiping a strand of wet hair from your face. "You know, I think I got the best partner."

You felt your whole body tingling at the soft touch of his hand. "I think so too." You scrunched your face in realization of what you just said. " I mean I think you..you know"

He smirked at you, he seemed to enjoy watching you squirm. "Yeah, I think I do"

Anthony and Ian, watching from the deck, exchanged a look. Anthony grinned, "Well, we can't let them have all the fun."

Ian nodded, already removing his pirate hat. "Alright, let's do this!"

The two of them ran towards the edge and jumped in with a synchronized splash, joining the rest of the cast in the water.

Spencer stood at the edge, shaking his head. "I can't go in while wearing this!"

Without missing a beat, Olivia grinned mischievously and gave Spencer a gentle push, sending him tumbling into the water with a surprised yelp.

The entire group erupted into laughter as Spencer surfaced, his robe soaked. "Olivia!" he yelled, but even he couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation as his wig started to float away.

The rest of the cast continued to mess with each other, Shayne had gotten a hold of Spencers wig and started throwing it around. Spencer flashed a playfull pout before joining in. Later the cast climbed back onto the boat, dripping wet and still laughing from their swim. Towels were handed out, and everyone began drying off, sharing jokes and stories about the day's events.

Keith shook his head, chuckling as he dried off his hair. "I can't believe Olivia just pushed Spencer in. That was legendary!"

Spencer, now towel-drying his wig, laughed along. "I guess I had it coming. Should have known better than to stand so close to the edge in my beautiful ensamble!"

Olivia blurted out, " you look like a wet tablecloth".

Chanse laughed, shaking his head. "I'm definitely investing in a waterproof wardrobe next time."

Tommy, grinning, looked at Chanse. "Lubeproof too?"

Angela, bouncing with energy, grabbed you and Amanda by your neck. "Did you see the look on Spencer's face? Priceless!"

Amanda, with a flirty smile, replied, "Yeah, but I think he secretly enjoyed it."

You smiled at Amanda, " Yeah, he's such a munge"

Shayne began cackling, Damien soon followed.

Tommy looked at you questioning, " What the hell is a munge?"

You mouthed at him while shaking your head, " I HAVE NO IDEA."

Courtney wrapped a towel around herself. "You know, like, this was so much fun, and also, the water was so refreshing, and I can't wait for tomorrow because I bet it's going to be even crazier!"

Shayne, drying off with a loud laugh, pointed to Trevor. "Trevor, I swear, you slipping on that deck was the funniest thing I've seen all day."

Trevor flashed a mischievous grin, and shot back, "Hey, at least I didn't belly flop like you did!"

Arasha added, "I can't believe you didn't break the boat, Shayne. Daddy Ian would've been so mad." She gestured to Ian.

Ian chuckled, playing along. "Well, you all survived, so I guess I won't have to ground anyone."

Damien, carefully toweling off, smiled at you. "So, any plans for taking down the competition tomorrow?"

You laughed, shaking your head. "Honestly? I was just trying to keep up with you out there."

He grinned, his eyes twinkling. "Well, you did more than just keep up. We might just be the dark horses in this competition."

Olivia, suddenly chiming in, said with her usual randomness, "Do you think mermaids exist? Like, what if one just showed up right now?"

The group burst into laughter, Noah patted Olivia on the head. "Only you, Olivia, only you."

The group went to their cabins to change before gathering for a casual dinner on the deck. The sunset created a beautiful backdrop as they enjoyed their meal together.

Courtney, seated between Shayne and Olivia, animatedly recounted a previous Smosh Summer Games challenge. "And then, we had to walk on like a million mouse traps. It was so bad, but hilarious!"

Amanda laughed, shaking her head. "I can't wait to see what other crazy games they have planned for us."

Anthony stood up. "Alright, everyone, just a heads-up about tomorrow. We've got some awesome games lined up, and trust me, you won't want to miss them."

Ian nodded, adding, "Also some other shows from back in the day might make a return!" The teams cheered in response.

After dinner, the cast slowly dispersed, making their way back to their rooms. You walked alongside Courtney, feeling the cool night breeze against your skin. Angela and Amanda were chatting animatedly about the day's events, while Shayne and Damien were laughing loudly, recounting the funniest moments.

Courtney nudged you with her elbow, a playful smile on her face. "You know, I think today went pretty well. I'm already looking forward to tomorrow."

You smiled back, nodding. "Yeah, it was a lot of fun."

As you walked through the narrow corridors of the boat, you overheard Olivia talking to Ian, her voice full of wonder. "Ian, do you think if a dolphin and a shark had a baby, it would be able to talk?"

Ian chuckled, shaking his head. "You never know, Olivia."

Olivia noded back at him, "I think so too"

Finally, you and Courtney reached your shared room. The cozy space only had the bunk beds, a small desk, and a porthole that offered a view of the now dark ocean.

Courtney sat on the lower bunk, smiled and then hesitated for a moment. "Sooo, I was thinking it would be nice to actually sleep in the same room as Shayne while we're here. I thought I would be fine with it, but I don't like sleeping without him. Do you think you'd be okay if we like swapped rooms? and you shared with Damien instead? I'll still be here when the cameras are on since we haven't gone public with our relationship yet."

The request didn't really take you by surprise, but you couldn't deny the flutter of excitement at the thought of spending more time with Damien, just the two of you. You smiled, trying to play it cool. "Yeah, I don't mind. That sounds fine."

Courtney's face lit up with relief and gratitude. "Thanks, y/n! You're the best." She quickly gathered her things and gave you a quick hug before heading out the door. "I'll let Damien know."

You sat on the bunk for a moment, your heart racing. The idea of sharing a room with Damien made you both nervous and excited. What should you wear? It should be something a little bit cute but it couldn't look like you were trying to hard, it was also still very warm. After spending some time deliberating, you choose a big t-shirt.

A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door. You opened it to find Damien standing there, looking a bit sheepish.

"Hey, y/n. Courtney said it was cool if I crashed here?" he asked, his eyes meeting yours with a warm, hopeful expression.

You nodded, stepping aside to let him in. "Yeah, no problem at all. Come on in."

Damien entered, carrying his bag. He set it down by the door and looked around the room before his eyes settled back on you. His eyes did a quick scan over your body before he seemed like he tried to blink to get the control of them back. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, then smiled shyly. "I hope this isn't too weird for you. If you're uncomfortable at all, just let me know."

You shook your head, smiling. "It's fine, really. Besides, I think you'll do your best to not make me to uncomfortable."

Damien smiled back, his eyes softening. "Yeah, I think so too."

"I ," you said, sitting down on your bed and leaning back against your pillow. " I have faith you'll be a good roommate."

Damien grinned. "I think you'll at least be a better roommate than Shayne. You know, he demands to be tucked in every night and insists on having his forehead stroked while I sing him a lullaby"

You laughed, shaking your head. "Oh my god, that sounds absolutly horrible! Also, did you know that Courtney burps the alphabet in her sleep. It's impressive but not exactly relaxing."

Damien laughed loudly. "Wow, that sounds challenging, you are such a trooper. What's wrong with those two?"

"Right?" You removed your socks and threw them in you open suitcase. " And we are such good people. Like, we should be treated better"

He nodded along" Oh yeah, absolutely, I bet you're the kind of roommate who gives nighttime foot rubs."

You grinned. "Of course, and I bet you're the type who makes midnight snacks for everyone."

"Obviously, and I bet we both iron our roommates t-shirts every morning" Damien said, still smiling as he opened up his bag.

Just as you were about to respond, Damien pulled off his shirt, revealing his naked chest. You couldn't help but stare for a moment, admiring the way the light played off his muscles. His pale skin contrasting with his dark tattoos. Your thoughts drifted, imagining the feel of his soft skin under your fingers.

Damien noticed your gaze and looked at you with a curious expression. "Hey, you okay?"

You snapped out of it, feeling a blush creep up your cheeks. "Yeah, sorry. Just lost in thought."

Damien smiled softly. "No worries. Just making sure you're comfortable."

You smiled back, still feeling a bit flustered. "Very".

You both settled into your beds, the room quieting down as the initial excitement of the day faded. You stared up at the bottom of Damien's bunk, feeling the urge to keep the conversation going.

"So, what's your guilty pleasure?" you asked, breaking the silence.

Damien laughed. “Oh wow, hmm... Probably birds.”

You laughed, shaking your head. “What? like girls?"

He burst out laughing, " Oh Jesus, No. Like bird, birds. Do you really think I would call women birds?

You giggled, "Okay thank God" you paused for a moment"  I think mine’s just Phil Collins. Specifically because of the Tarzan soundtrack.”

Damien's eyes widened in amusement. "Phil Collins, huh? That's pretty awesome. That soundtrack does go hard, like way harder than it should."

You nodded enthusiastically. "Right? I used to watch Tarzan with my dad all the time. That movie and Shrek. Shrek was like one of the few movies we would watch together. Because, it needed to be like a movie that he would still enjoy, or I would just feel bad but it also had to be one without any awkward sex scenes."

Damien chuckled. "oh yeah, I hated when that happened. I usually tried to make some awkward joke to break the tension."

You raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh really? What kind of joke would you make during a sex scene to make it less awkward?"

Damien laughed, thinking for a moment. "Okay, so imagine the scene is getting super steamy, and I just lean over and say, 'Well, this escalated quickly. Do you think they practiced this beforehand?'"

You burst out laughing. "Oh my god, that would definitely break the tension."

His head popped out from above "You don't think so?"

You shook your head at his, still laughing. " With my dad?"

Damien grinned. "Hey, okay maybe not. What would you say?"

You thought for a moment, then smirked. "I'd probably go with something like, 'I wonder if they have a safe word.'"

Damien laughed loudly. "Nice one! You know, you are much more of a freak than you seem at first glance."

You smirked to yourself, "Oh really, so what was your first impression of me?"

Damien thought for a moment, then smiled. "I remember you making me laugh straight away, and you seemed very confident. And I remember exactly what you were wearing—a yellow sundress with daisies on it."

You blinked in surprise. "You remember what I was wearing? I can't believe you remember that much detail."

Damien chuckled softly. "How could I forget? You looked amazing and made such a strong impression."

You blushed slightly, feeling a warm flutter in your chest. "That's actually really sweet." You felt yourself blush again, happy that he couldn't see your face right now. "That's so many hair colors ago for you"

His voice was soft but filled with sarcasm, "that is how I measure time"

You continued" .. and you were wearing stupid pants"

"Naturally"

"You know, I actually remember thinking you were the confident one. You seemed so sure of yourself and very calm."

He laughed, shaking his head. "Trust me, I didn't feel confident at all. I am also still overthinking that first handshake. Like was it wet? Did I make you wet"

You playfully kicked his mattress from below, giggling. "Yes Damien, you make all the ladies wet with your handshakes"

Damien grinned, once again poking his head back out from the top bunk. "Yeah, you know, that's exactly what I meant" He smiled down at you, " I'm glad we're roommates. This feels like one of those sleepovers you used to go to as a kid. Where you just talk about like, anything, for hours."

You laughed, nodding. "Yeah, it does. Like any minute now, my mom's going to burst in and tell us to shut the fuck up."

Damien laughed, the sound comforting and familiar. "It's nice though. I like talking to you."

You smiled, feeling a blush creep up your cheeks. "I like talking to you too, Damien."

[tolerateit]

im so intrigued by H5 like we had a tumblr comeback and started with a website with a cryptic url featuring 70s/80s themed trinkets, then some extremely personal and huge revelations via a non-single and now we've switched gears to y2k aesthetic with paparazzi pictures themed promotion and early 2000s nostalgia im dying to experience this album from start to finish

[alexging]

sean diaz + daniel diaz modern hcs

i kind of forgot this was exclusively modern at the end just ignore that LMFAO

- sean has no social media presence whatsoever

- a lot of people from school follow him but he only follows lyla and his track team back 😭 popular loner energy 🥀🐺

- i feel like if sean went to hs now hed be sm more popular esp w girls but hes rlly humble so he doesnt see it at all

- hes stupid and just thinks theyre being nice

- it gets on lylas nerves bc he refuses to believe anybody wants him 😭

- all his stories are like fireworks he posted when he was thirteen that he never bothered to delete

- its titled Highlights bc he doesnt know how to make an aesthetic instagram

- if anything, if he posts now its skate videos, drawings, or funny pics of daniel

- sean def takes 0.5x photos of daniel where his eyes go two diff directions and threatens to send them to lyla whenever he starts acting up

- daniel always throws a tantrum and esteban gets mad and tells sean to delete the pics (he doesnt)

- speaking of daniel he def got wayyy into skibidi toilet

- daniel tries to explain skibidi toilet n sean just tunes him out and says “uh huh” every so often

- hes those impressionable kids that gets into literally anything on the internet. among us, squid games, ROBLOX FOR SURE. sticky ipad baby energy overall!

- sean plays roblox with daniel on very rare occasions. i can imagine daniels avatar is decked out with limited items and sean is a bacon haired woman 😭

- daniel has definitely swiped estebans card a couple times under his nose for his robux…

- daniel purposely chooses games hes good at to watch sean struggle and die over and over again

- daniel watches weird kid youtube videos like… among us 24 hour challenge with spiderman and elsa giving birth kind of videos. sean gets really pissed off partly bc theyre rotting daniels brain and partly bc daniel always put it at max volume in the living room

- once sean gets paid he always goes thrifting. he fs goes to the bins and finds dirty dookie drawls every weekend 😭 but its worth it bc he finds cool shit

- as a skater boy i feel its obligatory for him to wear those afflication types of clothing as well as ironic graphic tees

- sean def wears baggy jeans in 2023 🙅‍♀️ none of that straight leg jeans from the game!!

- he also probably loves those ironic wolf shirts w the galaxy print n thinks theyre so funny

- sean also buys clothes in his style for daniel from the thrift n records 360s of daniel in his skater outfits

- “can i go play roblox now?” “no u have to cover ur nose when u turn around”

- got a buzzcut and surprisingly it looked really good

- esteban, daniel, lyla, and practically everyone else in his life kept making fun of him for being bald and would rub his head like a genie bottle tho

- daniels go-to is “well- well at least i don’t look like… look like caillou!” bc i imagine he tries to make funny comebacks but always stutters in the middle 😭😭

- eventually grew it back out bc he got annoyed at everyone making fun of him. they dont see his blond album cover early 2000s vision 💔

- daniel has no room to talk bc sooner or later he goes to the barber and gets a fucked edgar bowlcut

- sean laughs until he can barely breathe 😭 when lyla sees she TRIES to cheer him up about it but its too late

- even esteban laughs a little but only when daniel cant see bc he knows how much itd hurt him

- back to the blond album cover… sean LOVES music. his playlists are hours long

- i feel like he indulges in a super LARGE range of music likeee from bad bunny to deftones to pinkpantheress

- everybody hates it when he has aux and boos him off

- when esteban orders mexican food, sean and daniel both get horchata. sean dgaf if hes grown he still loves it!!

- i imagine esteban slowly stopped enforcing mexican food and culture overtime. bc of this, daniel knows barely any spanish and has 0 spice tolerance. sean always makes fun of him bc he goes gets water after a couple hot cheetos

- daniel tries to recreate those videos of people eating carolina reapers in hot sauce to prove a point and almost dies

- sean absolutely LOVES halloween. horror movies, costumes, the weather, everything abt it

- a part of him always gets jealous of daniel bc hes no longer considered trick or treating age anymore

- lowkey hed be willing to pull up in a full body costume just so he can trick or treat again

- when watching horror movies, sean will get way too immersed and start judging the people in the movies 😭

- daniels not allowed to watch but he peaks around the corner when estebans not watching

- “why the fuck is she just standing there? RUN! WHAT THE FUCK DUDE?!”

- “language mijo”

- he acts like he cld fight off the killer and explains his mastermind plan during the movie

- he doesnt admit it but he gets jumpy after a horror movie 😭 esteban and daniel take advantage of this every single time

- sean daniel and esteban are a tight knit family REGARDLESS of sean’s moodiness and daniel’s annoying gen alpha brainrot theyre so 😢

yes im aware that 2016 wasnt tjat long ago but i dont want to imagine sean diaz enjoying dank memes and saying boi 💔

[raapija]

Pookie au headcanons:

When Nando and Stoffel broke up, Fernando didn't talk to/about him for 6 years. In 2023, Stoffel was hired by Aston to lead development on their WEC department and Lance forced Fernando to reconcile with him.

Lance's sister Chloe and her husband Scotty are the twins' godparents. When they first came to see the babies, Scotty was dressed in a full suit and refused to take off his sunglasses, as he was there to "conduct family business". He gave the twins 20 AU$ each as a present.

Lance reads a lot to the twins. He has about 700 children's books in their room and spends hours upon hours just reading to them :)

Lance had a half finished business degree from almost a decade ago and while stuck at home with the kids, he decided to finish it and actually graduated school.

Fernando has a kids' trailer for his bicycle and loves taking the twins around with him while cycling. Lance imagines he's going on leisurely rides around town, but this motherfucker is actually hauling ass, going 45 km/h on the road with the kids in his tow 💀

Lance makes a comeback to racing after being on sabbatical for a few years to take care of the twins. He drives in the British GT Championship with Jessica Hawkins as his teammate for a couple years. After that, he does some miscellaneous endurance racing and eventually moves to work for Aston Martin behind the scenes.

When the twins grow up, Lucía becomes a pro tennis player and Jayden a doctor. Before university, Jayden was a swimmer and was in the top 100 of Canada's national rankings for under 25 year-olds.

Doing school homework with Fernando was a nightmare. Especially the maths, because he struggled to understand how the kids couldn't figure out the problems when they were SO EASY. He was also shit at explaining how he'd solve them, so mostly it was just trying not to cry while failing all science classes 🥲🥲

Oscar and Lando are fine when they're apart, but when their singular braincells connect, they cause nothing but trouble 😭

Carlos and Lance are almost equal in their golfing wins against each other, which they joke about a lot. It's 51.2% on Lance's side.

Oscar owns two racing horses which have never actually competed in a single race, but he loves them ❤️

At Fernando's house in the UK, which he has had since the early 2000's, all the kids' rooms are perfectly preserved from when they first moved out.

The UK house is now mostly used for family gatherings, though Fernando has promised that if one of his kids wants it, they can have it.

[green-planets]

StEx Appreciation Month Day 5: Electra!

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Face Claim: Leon Maurice-Jones

Favourite Song/Scenes: AC/DC (the versions where he descends from the sky are so funny! Buddy, you're a train. What were you doing up there?), No Comeback ("EAT MY DUST!!"), ORARTM (the kiss boot), when he throws a tantrum during Dinah's Disco

Favourite Costumes: Bochum mid 2000’s to 2018. The perfect Electra costume should have big hair, long lashes, bold makeup, and look like a glitter bomb went off. I also like the early Bochum wigs that swoop to one side

Favourite Ships/Friendships: Electra x Greaseball, Electra x Greaseball x Red Caboose, Electra x Components. His friends are the Cabeese and the Components (and Dinah post-canon)

Headcanons: He is fluent in English, French, German, Italian, and Japanese. He probably knows several other languages too but he mainly uses them to impress others and/or flirt.

Unpopular Opinion: Out of all the StEx antagonists, he's by far the least "evil" (and that word should be taken with a grain of salt-- I don't believe any StEx characters are truly evil)

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Bonus round: Elektra!

Face Claim: Semme Prins

Favourite Song/Scenes: AC/DC, Beelektra moments 🥺, his little temper tantrums are funny and I like the way his wig swishes around whenever he moves

Favourite Costumes: I love the LED panels on his costume! They look really cool when he's fully lit. The monochrome looks so good when he's lined up with his components!

Favourite Ships/Friendships: Elektra x Brake Van

Headcanons: Mood ring Elektra!!! (his lights change colors based on his mood)

Unpopular Opinion: His costume isn't bad (?!) or boring just because it's monochrome!

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[thatsofic]

BEST COMEBACK (FEMALE) IS A GRAND PRIZE AKA DAESANG AWARD!

Who had the song of the summer? Meet the seven stunning female artists who are nominated for BEST COMEBACK!

STARDOLL - SUMMER OF LIFE ! ... SUMMER OF LIFE is the second full album from STARDOLL. It was released by NEWTRO MUSIC on July 7th 2024, and contains thirteen tracks. They performed "#TooSPICY" for three weeks in music shows and received seven music show wins. \\ @stardollism

HIJINXX - MY WORLD ! ... following the low perception of their debut single, HIJINXX seemed to take the hit personally, returning back to the scene on october 4th with their first mini album MY WORLD. a six track project leading with the title track MAKE YOU CRY, it follows the girls on their journey towards finding the tear in their universe and exploring the newfound xverse, meeting their otherworldly lookalikes. \\ @hjnxx

VENUS - VENUS VICTRIX ! ... Venus Victrix is the third full album of the fictional South Korean girl group VENUS. The album was released by Angelico Entertainment on December 18th, 2023. Before the release of the highly anticipated album, the girls released two pre-release singles, "DRAMA" and "I AM THE BEST," both getting two weeks of promotions and being met with widespread praise. With a total of twelve songs, VENUS would promote "THE BOYS", "UNTIE", and "BYOB (bring your own bestie)" for three months. \\ @venusvity

STUPID CUPID - TRUE VALENTINE ! ... STUPID CUPID, a dynamic force in the music industry, made waves with their latest release, the 10th mini album, TRUE VALENTINE (LET'S TALK LOVE!). this captivating collection of seven tracks, launched in may, showcases the group's unique concept and musical style. \\ @stcpidcupid

BAD GIRLS CLUB - HOT ISSUE ! ... HOT ISSUE is the first extended play released by fictional girl group Bad Girls Club. The EP features 5 songs, two being title tracks, one being a pre-release single, and the final two being side tracks. The EP did well, exploring a new concept for the girls, retro futurism and old Hollywood. The albums contents including the music itself, was criticised due to provocative imagery and sexual innuendos through out it. \\ @badgirlswrld

VIVID - MIDAS TOUCH ! ...  "Midas Touch" features signature sounds and synthesizers from the 2000s whereas "Nothing" is a medium-tempo R&B song inspired by the same era. "'Midas Touch' sings about love at its very early stages, while 'Nothing' is about the love reaching an end — love that changed and the lack of emotion in relationships" \\ @alwaysvivid

JUDY - FALL IN LOVE ! ... The extended play features twelve tracks, including the title track FALL IN LOVE (with you). The EP was released on July 12, 2024, containing ten tracks, including the title track. The single debuted atop the South Korean music charts, keeping the number-one spot for nearly two months. \\ @anqelsweep

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