#Executive Class Resume

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[tendersea]

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[thoughtfulfiction]

Carpe Diem

Author’s Note: We all miss him. So I wrote the most romantic thing I’ve ever written.

A glass of chilled Savasana California Rosé sat in front of you, its diluted pink hue a stark contrast to the sweet yet crisp taste. With a fork in hand you begin to dig into the chicken parmesan with strozzapreti pasta, the chunky tomato sauce brings a rich and comforting smell that shifts your attention from the constant hum of the plane's engine. Eating dinner on a plane like this—silverware instead of plastic cutlery, wine served in real glass—felt oddly surreal. This whole trip did, like you’d stumbled into someone else’s life.

You hadn’t always pictured yourself in this life��a corner office in Berkeley, managing accounts worth millions and rubbing elbows with executives. The internship you’d applied for during your junior year of college was meant to be a stepping stone, a way to pad your resume and have something cool to look back on the future. You hadn’t expected it to become the foundation of a career at a place ranked 7th among the largest biomedical companies by revenue in the world. And here you were sipping rosé in first class on your way to a solo vacation in Greece. Somehow, it had all come together. Your first year making six figures was surreal enough, but now the freedom to spend it on something like this felt even more unbelievable.

The hotel room you would be calling home for the next few days was stretched out like it came straight out of a travel magazine. Everything about it screamed neutral paradise, highlighting the warmth of the space. Plush pillows stacked neatly atop the Temper-Pedic king sized bed that earned the hotel all five of its stars with just one glance. The open layout gave the impression of a private condo, complete with a sleek mini bar and an espresso machine that practically begged to be used. The view from the top floor was breathtaking, floor-to-ceiling glass windows that made way for the vibrant blue skies that allowed the sun to shine at it's greatest capacity, reflecting off the marble from the streets of southern Athens below. And the colors were so dynamic; olive groves, fields of breathtaking wildflowers and citrus trees brought the city to life. Everything reminded you of a landscape painting, it was all so perfect you almost had to pinch yourself to make sure you were really here.

But before your Athens takeover could really commence, you needed a nap. Or three.

Day one passed in a blissful haze of recovery. After a nap that could have doubled as a small coma, you walked by the hotel’s pool, taking in the sparkling water and the soft chatter of other guests lounging under striped umbrellas. Breakfast that morning was a feast fit for royalty, an omelet folded to perfection, fresh fruit that tasted like sunshine, and Moustokouloura, a pastry so rich and sweet it felt like dessert at dawn. The concierge insisted you try Greek coffee, and when the steaming cup arrived at your door, its strong, earthy aroma greeted you like a wake-up call from the gods. You took it to the patio, sipping as you let the city below slowly introduce itself. This is exactly where you're supposed to be. Athens was filled with color, sound, and possibility. This was freedom, pure and simple.

Feeling refreshed on your second morning after some extensive Tik Tok research about things to do in Athens, you walked around the streets of Plaka, by far the most recommended place on the site. And it didn't take long for you to understand why. The neighborhood was a collection of some of the most beautiful brick buildings, an array of restaurants with uniquely placed outdoor seating. The air carried the mingling scents of fresh pita, grilling souvlaki, and blooming jasmine. Laughter and snippets of conversation floated from café tables spilling onto the sidewalks, where diners lingered over plates of mezes and glasses of ouzo. You walked slowly, admiring every square inch of the place like you were going to commit every detail to memory, stumbling upon a store with random trinkets you figured you could take home to your friends and tell them what they were getting themselves into when you all would be in Greece together eventually. Now that you'd experienced this on your own, you couldn't wait to share this experience with them next time. The first person you spotted when you walked in was a tall man, well over six feet, broad shoulders with his back facing the door. He was sexy from the back which meant...no. You shook yourself out of the daydream about what this man could possibly look like because of course men in Greece looked better. That was some sort of law or something based on every movie you'd ever seen. The book shelf at the front of the store caught your eye first, a Greek guide book with common phrases for tourists to know, things that maybe Duolingo wouldn't think of so you grabbed it, scanning the pages for useful information. You tried to focus on the guidebook in your hands, but your nerves betrayed you. An older man’s gaze prickled at your skin, a quiet warning sounding in your mind. Maybe it was nothing, you told yourself. He could just be a curious local. But by the third lap around the shop and you could still feel his eyes in you, the goosebumps on your arms had turned into a full-blown alarm.

The man was closer now, his steps too deliberate to be a coincidence. By the time he spoke, his voice was low and overly familiar, the kind of tone that made your stomach twist. “Hi. Didn’t mean to scare you,” he said, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. “I just... couldn’t help noticing you.”

You swallowed thickly, hoping to keep the conversation short, sweet and with as little personal information exchanged as humanly possible. "Yes. Just visiting," you force out a smile.

"Ah I see, those are pretty," he gestures toward the necklaces in your hand, "pretty necklaces for a pretty lady. Does the pretty lady have a name?"

"Um," you wanted to take a step back, you wanted to walk away, but there was literally no way out of this situation because he was standing in between you and the exit. And for some reason you couldn't think of a fake name off the top of your head to give him. "It's—”

“Oh hey, babe. There you are,” a deep voice interrupted. Your head whipped around, and there he was—broad shoulders, a jawline sharp enough to rival a Greek statue. He had the kind of easy confidence that made your heart skip a beat. Mr. Broad Shoulders slid his arm around you, his touch casual but protective, the warmth of his hand anchoring you in place but doubling your pulse rate for a different reason. “Thought you wanted those charm bracelets, but you disappeared on me.”

“I got distracted.” Your gaze flickered upward, caught on the sun-kissed curl falling across his forehead. He smelled faintly of cinnamon, like he’d been leaning over a freshly lit candle moments before swooping in to save you.

The man takes a look at the two of you and apologizes, walking away without a second glance. You let out a sigh of relief, "thanks for the save, I really didn't know what to do and you just-I really appreciate it."

"No worries, I saw him following you around and thought it was weird. Glad I could help."

You look around to make sure the man from before, spotting him circling the back area with the pasties. "It's...very weird. He didn’t seem like he’d back down that easily."

“I’m Joe, by the way. Since I’m your boyfriend now, that seems like something you should know.”

You laughed, the tension in your chest finally easing. “Yeah, probably. Nice to meet you, Joe. I’m Y/N, your very grateful girlfriend.”

Joe leaned down slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper meant just for you. “He’s still watching us. Mind if I sell this a little more?” Without waiting for an answer, he adjusted his grip, his arm tightening around your shoulders like he’d been holding you this way forever. It was seamless, effortless, entirely too convincing. And it left you speechless. All you could do was nod, looking up at him, thinking about how this guy might be the most gorgeous person you've ever seen.

The two of you moved around the store aimlessly, the conversation flowing like you’d known each other for longer than half an hour. Joe explained he’d been in Greece for a few days, taking time to decompress after a grueling work season. “Sometimes, I just need to step away,” he said, his voice carrying a quiet sincerity that struck a chord.

“I get that,” you replied, sharing your own story of navigating your career and this newfound independence. You admitted, almost sheepishly, that sometimes your job didn’t feel like work because it aligned with your passions so perfectly. Joe nodded, his expression softening. “That’s how I feel,” he said. “I mean, this year it really magnified that for me. But sometimes when things don't go the way you hoped or planned, it makes the sacrifices worth more. Like not having as much free time when I'm working. Now, I have endless free time."

There was something magnetic about him—not just the broad shoulders and effortless charm, but the way he seemed so present. Every touch felt intentional, whether it was his hand on your back as you navigated tight spaces or his offer to buy the travel book you’d been thumbing through. You felt a strange sense of familiarity, like you’d seen him somewhere before but couldn’t quite place it.

After carefully deliberating over the trinkets, you settled on matching necklaces for your friends. On your way to the register, a woman approached, her expression warm and animated.

“Sorry to interrupt,” she began, “but I just had to tell you—you two make the most stunning couple. The way you look at each other, it’s just... beautiful. Are you here on an anniversary trip?”

“One year,” Joe answered without hesitation, a sly smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he squeezed your hand.

“That’s incredible! Congratulations!” the woman gushed. “Athens is the perfect place to explore as a couple. Do you have plans yet?”

You chimed in, “Not really. We were just going to see where the day takes us.”

The woman nodded enthusiastically and rattled off recommendations, from must-visit landmarks to hidden culinary gems. You took notes on your phone, her suggestions igniting your excitement for the day ahead. Out of the corner of his eye, Joe watched you with a kind of awe. The way your face lit up when you talked about exploring the city tugged at something deep inside him.

He’d spent the last four days locked away in his room, trying to process a season that had been equal parts triumph and heartbreak. It wasn’t just the physical toll of the game—it was the sting of being so close to the pinnacle and falling short. They had gone from 4-8 to 9-8 in what felt like the blink of an eye. The unmet expectations that he had for the team dulled his personal success a bit and he needed to escape after watching other teams prepare for their playoff runs while he cleaned out his locker. He just wanted to recharge and regroup…alone. And here you were, an unexpected spark in the midst of his self-imposed solitude.

When the woman finally bid you goodbye, you hesitated. Should you ask him to join you? The idea of spending the day with a stranger—no matter how kind and gorgeous—felt bold, maybe too bold. But being alone again felt... unbearable. You decided against asking because the thought of rejection was a step above unbearable, if at all possible.

“Well,” you began, your voice faltering slightly, “I guess this is it. I should probably head to my next stop now that I have a to-do list.” You forced a small laugh, keeping your gaze on the floor.

Joe nodded, his smile tinged with something you couldn’t quite place. “Nice to meet you, Y/N. I hope you check off everything on your list.”

He watched you walk away, his chest tightening with each step. He wanted to stop you, to ask you to stay, but the words wouldn’t come. All he could do was stand there, frozen, as the door swung open.

You paused just before stepping outside. Something tugged at you—a feeling that walking away now would be a mistake.

Turning back, you smiled shyly. “I just realized... how am I supposed to experience Athens to its full potential without my boyfriend? On our anniversary trip, no less?”

Joe’s laugh was warm, easy. “No idea. Luckily, I think I know someone who can help.”

“You’re always so helpful. I feel like I won the dating lottery.”

“Can’t disagree,” he teased, his grin widening.

“Alright,” you said, nudging him playfully, “let’s get out of here before your head gets so big it doesn’t fit through the door.”

He walked out with you, allowing you to lead the way to your first stop.

Fairytale Athens looked like an intense mix between the Garden of Eden and Alice in Wonderland. "This is...wow," Joe quips, the vast array of flowers on the ceiling, the pink bar area and the flamingos. So many flamingos.

You could tell by his tight expression that this place isn't really his scene. "We're not here for two hours of afternoon tea or anything," you reassure him with a smile, "Dimitra said that we should grab drinks before walking around Acropolis and that..." you glance at the menu in front of you, "...strawberry ginger lemonade? That might be calling my name." He shakes his head and orders a mint and cucumber lemonade for himself, your lemonade and two waters as you walk around the princess castle, taking as many pictures as possible before Joe walked back over with all four drinks in hand before heading to the incredibly famous tourist attraction.

The package you paid for allowed you to skip the line and head through a side entrance, your tour guide walking you through the history of the ancient sights along with details about the architectural styles, construction techniques, and the symbolism of the monuments. The faint echo of the voices highlighted the rich history of the place you were standing in, the warm air a stark contrast to the cool lemonade in your hand. It seemed like Joe was hanging onto every word as he helped you up some steep ancient steps, his eyes lighting up as the guide drove you over to the museum, going into depth about the Gods.

"This exhibit is Gods, Worship and Magic, one of the most popular sites this year. You guys can walk around and read about the different deities featured." Artemis' exhibit, caught your eye first.

Glancing down at the steel plaque, "goddess of the hunt, devoted to nature. Were you ever a Percy Jackson fan growing up?"

"I was more of a SpongeBob guy. And Star Wars. Definitely had a dinosaur phase that lasted a lot longer than I care to share," he looks up, wondering why in the hell he just told you that. "Do—do you have any humiliating stories you'd like to share with the class?"

He nudged you as you walked alongside him, his hand so dangerously close to yours. You had the biggest urge to reach out and touch him. So you did. Reaching out maybe an inch, you interlocked your pinky with his, making his heart take a leap in his chest, swinging your hands happily towards the Eros exhibit. "The god of—”

"Love and desire," he finishes for you. Just because he wasn’t a Percy Jackson fanatic, doesn’t mean he didn’t pay close attention to the Greek mythology unit in school.

"Look at the hands," you said softly, leaning in closer. "It's like they're...perfectly fit for each other, you know?"

Joe's breath hitched almost imperceptibly. He was standing so close now, the faint scent of mint and cucumber from his lemonade mingling with the earthy air of the exhibit. "Yeah," he murmured, his voice warm and low, "I know what you mean."

Your pinkies were still hooked, but now the little space between you felt electrified. You didn't dare turn to meet his eyes, afraid of what you might see—or what he might see in yours.

"I do have an embarrassing thing to share with the class," you turn to face him and admire the excited look on his face, like what you're about to say is the most important thing in the world. "When I was little I was obsessed with Mama Mia." He gives you a puzzled look. "It's a musical that they turned into a movie. Anyway...it's about a girl that's getting married in a small town in Greece and the views just..." you pause, smiling at the memory, "...changed my life. I've always wanted that magical movie moment feeling. The music, the views, the…”

"Romance?" he finishes softly, a knowing look in his eyes.

You exhale, your cheeks warming as you nod. "Yeah...the romance. It was nice too." You hesitate, the words catching in your throat. "Doesn’t really compare to the real thing, though," you add, barely above a whisper.

The weight of the moment lingers between you. His gaze searches yours, his expression softening like he wants to say something but can’t quite find the words. Your heart stumbles, and suddenly you feel too seen. You clear your throat, breaking the spell. "I'm, uh, getting kind of hungry. We should grab lunch and head to the next spot."

Joe blinks, a flicker of surprise crossing his face, like he wasn't ready for the shift. "Yeah, sure," he says, his voice gentler now. He watches you for a second longer than you'd expect, then nods. As you walk back to meet the tour guide, Joe finds himself wondering how you’ve managed to unravel him so quickly, leaving him wondering why he already feels so invested in figuring you out.

When you get into the Uber it's like a weight has been lifted off your chest. The museum, which was supposed to be a calm and educational experience was too stuffy and intimate by the end of the visit. In the car, you could have your own space, sitting as close to the door as you could to gather yourself and your thoughts. The driver was nice enough, he had chargers in the car and gave you water bottles, noting that the heat would steadily increase throughout the day. You noticed him stealing glances at Joe in the rearview mirror, his hands tightening on the wheel like he was holding back words. The silence stretched until finally—“I’m sorry, man. I just gotta say…” he finally utters out, "I've been a Bengals fan since I was 8. And I woke up at ungodly hours to watch you play every week. Huge, huge fan."

You laughed at yourself in your seat, the pieces of the puzzle being put together. All of your focus had been on the day, spending every waking minute together and you didn't even fully process why he looked so familiar because the odds of that just sounded too insane to be real. Joe managed a polite smile, his usual ease replaced with a flicker of discomfort. You glanced at him, watching his jaw tighten just slightly as he signed the hat, the faintest blush creeping up his neck. Did he worry you’d see him differently now?

The car stopped near a bustling square lined with food trucks and small cafes. The aroma of grilled meat and spices wafted through the air as you wandered, your eyes drawn to colorful menus. It didn’t take long for the debate to begin.

"Joseph, the mini burgers are definitely better than the souvlaki cones. Be serious."

"No they aren't!" He argues, "you just need to try another one, here."

The souvlaki cone was tender and smoky, the tzatziki tangy and cool against the heat of the pork. But the burger—crispy bacon, the creamy richness of the mayo—felt indulgent, almost sinful. You savored every bite, laughing at Joe’s mock-offended gasp when you declared it the winner. "I hear you and I respect your wrong opinion. But the burger is just better I'm sorry. Do you want another bite?"

He shakes his head slowly, admiring you while you did such a mundane task, silently cursing himself at the fact that he chartered a plane to leave early the next morning. The two of you needed more time together. One day just wasn't going to be enough and the more time he spent with you the more apparent that fact became.

And then you took him on a boat.

It rocked gently, but Joe’s hands gripped the edge of the seat like the waves were threatening to tip them over. His gaze darted toward the horizon, avoiding the churning water below. “You’re really not a boat guy, huh?” you teased, your voice softening when his fingers tightened further. "I'm so sorry I had no idea. But Joe? We're literally in Greece, it's like, treason not to get on a boat here."

"Exactly, so I'm abiding by the law. Doesn't mean I have to enjoy it."

Your hand found his thigh in a quiet attempt to reassure him, and you felt the tension slowly drain from his muscles. He glanced at you, his expression unreadable, but the way his leg leaned ever so slightly into your touch sent a warmth through you that lingered long after. Aegina’s coastline unfolded before you, the white-washed buildings glowing under the sun, expansive trees swaying in the breeze. Joe stepped out first, offering his hand. His grip was firm, steadying you until your feet found the solid ground. You smiled up at him, the unspoken connection between you stronger than ever.

Just as Dimitra had described to you before, the pottery studio was tucked in a quiet corner of the island. Inside, the walls were lined with vibrant pottery, each bowl and vase a testament to countless hands shaping their stories, their glazes gleaming softly in the sunlight as you and Joe grabbed seats toward the back of the room. The instructor's notes were simple, to mold an item of your choice to keep at the end of the session, giving everyone creative freedom to produce a piece of their heart's desire. The clay felt cool to the touch, it's sticky and wet texture balanced wonderfully with the earthy smell that made your experience all the more relaxing and fun. Joe on the other hand, was creating a bowl with a lopsided shape, "it's supposed to look like this," he said firmly, biting back a laugh as you tried (and failed) to keep a straight face.

"Abstract art is still art. I just thought maybe...a quarterback would be better with his hands," you teased.

"Oh yeah? Let's see your work, Picasso." He took a break from his work station to scoot closer to yours, "shit, that actually looks pretty good."

You clean your hands off and move over to his station when he sets his chair back down. "I worked at my uncle's ceramic shop when I was little. It was his passion project so we all had to pitch in as a family and take turns," you helped guide his hand along the bowl, allowing him to smooth over the ridges efficiently evening out some of the misshapen parts. "I'm not saying I’m an expert by any means but I can get you to a point where your bowl can sit up by itself." Your fingers brushed his as you guided his hand, the soft pressure of your touch steadying his movements. Together, the ridges of the bowl began to smooth, though neither of you seemed in a hurry to let go. By the end of the session both bowls were done to the best of your ability, sort of bowl shaped, sort of not and full of personality.

"You’re good at this," Joe says, watching as continued to shape your bowl.

"Good at pottery?" you ask, laughing.

"Good at making things feel...easier," he replies softly. The pottery, he thought to himself, sort of mirrored your time together-unpolished, imperfect, but full of potential and that was both exciting and daunting. After your hands were clean, he grabbed your phone and snapped a picture of the two of you showing off your bowls.

"I was scared when you mentioned doing this at first, but I actually really enjoyed that. This," he gestures to his masterpiece, "is going up somewhere, maybe next to the trophy case at my parent's house. Funny enough, they also live in Athens. Ohio, not Greece," he clarifies.

"You might've missed your true calling," you tell him with a laugh, "here you are wasting your talents on football when the art community needs you."

"Yeah...sure," he laughs, holding onto the bags with your now fully dry bowls in them. "Unfortunately, I don't think I'm ready to quit my day job. Quite frankly, I don't think the art world is ready for me yet. Although working that clay could have been really good wrist rehab."

There it was, that can of worms you'd been trying to navigate. You didn't want to push him to talk about the season or his job if he didn't want to. And now the door was open for you to ask. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to but...was it scary? You know, putting your entire life, all of your free time, your dedication to this one thing that you're obviously really good at. Putting in all that work and then one day it's all just...taken away from you?"

He stops walking for a bit and your breath hitches in your throat, fearing that you've pushed him too far. At the end of the day you were still a stranger to him and maybe that was too personal?

You could tell the question was kind of eating at him, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean—”

"No it's fine. I just…yeah. I was terrified for a little bit. No one had been through this before—not at my position, not at this level. I had no blueprint, no one to turn to for advice. It felt like— walking on a tightrope in the dark, hoping I wouldn’t fall.

“The scariest part wasn’t the pain or the rehab," Joe admits. "It was not knowing if I’d still be...me when it was all over."

You tilt your head, searching his face. "You mean, the quarterback?"

He hesitates, then shakes his head. "No. Just...me. Without football, I really didn’t know who that was, how I was going to navigate fame and my private life and everything in between that comes with being me. Whatever that means. And I had an uncomfortably long amount of time to figure it out. Now that the wrist and my health is not an issue anymore and with everything that happened during the season I just felt drained afterwards. Exhausted honestly. And today's been exactly what I needed.”

"Today's been a breath a fresh air for me too. Obviously I didn't have 500 pounds of man laying on top of me but I get it on a smaller scale. Feeling like work is drowning you and nothing you do is good enough so you need to escape. This trip isn’t just a celebration," you confess. "It’s a reminder that I’m more than my deadlines and titles. My boss once called me at 11 p.m. on a Sunday, and I didn’t even blink before picking up. I guess I forgot what it felt like to just...be. I really needed a—”

"Reset," the two of you say at the same time, a comfortable silence washing over you as you continue to walk. "That’s kind of why I came here," you confess. "Not to figure out who I am, but...to remind myself I’m more than my job. More than what other people expect of me."

"Feels like everyone’s always watching, doesn’t it?" Joe says, his voice quieter. "Waiting for you to fail or...prove them right."

"Yeah. But I think we deserve more than that."

Joe sighs, nodding quietly, "We do," Joe says with a small smile. "And one day, when we get it, we’ll look back on this trip as the start of something different." He didn’t say everything he was thinking—some things needed more time to come to the surface.

"Sounds perfect, lead the way."

After you shared the world's greatest chicken gyro, you walked around Aegina a little more, realizing that you had no time to change before dinner and you'd been wearing the same clothes all day long. You walked into a small store, grabbing things off the shelf to try on. Joe was easy, settling for gray cargo pants and a blue striped knit top. Rummaging through clothes and anything that wasn't instant online shopping had become a bit of a chore and you were on a time crunch which made you feel even more rushed. You grabbed three or four dresses and had Joe sit outside the fitting room while you tried the stuff on, only stepping out to show him your favorite.

"What do you think about this?”

The baby blue square neck A-line dress hugged your body like it was created just for you to wear, it's length accentuating your curves in a way that almost had him physically picking his jaw up off the floor. He didn't think you could look any better before but you'd just shattered his expectations. "You look absolutely amazing," he says sincerely, his mouth feeling dry.

You glance at him, feeling the heat rise to your cheeks. Compliments weren’t new, but the way he said it—like it was the only thing in the world that mattered—left you speechless. You managed a soft laugh, pretending to study your reflection. "Thanks." After heading back to the fitting room to change, you grabbed all of your items and headed to the front to pay with Joe standing behind you in line. The cashier rung up your items and was getting ready to bag it when Joe added his clothes to the mix.

"Joe what are you doing? You're not paying for my clothes."

He handed over his card without hesitation, ignoring your protests. "I’ve got this," he said, his voice casual but his eyes portraying something deeper, like this was the most natural thing in the world to him. "Boyfriends are supposed to buy things. I think it’s in the constitution.”

"It's definitely not. And seriously, you don't have to do this."

"I got it, don't worry babe." The word slipped out so effortlessly that for a second, you wondered if you’d misheard him. But the way his eyes flicked to yours, briefly widening, told you everything. He realized it too—and yet, he didn’t take it back.You thanked him the entire walk back to the boat, his soft laugh sending warm and fuzzy feelings in your chest.

You were starting to acknowledge the growing warmth between you two, the way Joe’s presence seemed to make every moment feel right. The idea of saying goodbye felt heavier than it should after just one day, but somehow, it seemed inevitable. The next spot was inside a resort, they allowed you to change your clothes and head upstairs to the rooftop bar to watch the sunset. The drinks and the view had nothing on you, he quickly realized, finding himself unable to tear his eyes away. Everything just made sense today, the museum walk, the easy conversation, the boat ride. He didn't want to leave before but now the mere thought of packing his suitcase tonight made him upset.

"What are you thinking about over there?" Your words snap him out of his thoughts.

"Nothing, just how much I'm going to miss it here. The peace, the incredible sunset..."

You. The word hung in the air for a while before he pushed it down and tried to move on.

"We should head over to there and get closer to the view, you can literally see the entire city from glass railing." You stood up first and grabbed his hand, practically dragging him over there. Luckily there wasn't anyone else in the area. "This is the most insane scenery. I don't get how anyone could get tired of seeing this everyday, I'd never be inside. I feel like we’ve been the physical representation of carpe diem."

He looks at you confused, "what does that even mean?"

"Carpe diem? It’s Latin for 'seize the day.' Basically saying not to focus too much on the future and live in the present to the fullest capacity.”

"I like that," he chuckles.

Long after the sun went down and most of your dishes were cleared from the table, the lingering sweetness of caramel on your lips was all you could think about, a fleeting pleasure that only made the impending goodbye sting even more.

"Joe I have to tell you something," he looks at you as you head over to stand in one of the private lounge areas, giving you his undivided attention. "I saw you this morning in the store. Your back was facing me but I don't know, you caught my eye. And I told myself I wouldn't say anything, I wouldn't go up to you and make small talk because I'm here on a solo vacation to be one with myself and-now I'm really glad that I know you."

A smile forms on the corner of his mouth, "I've been telling myself all day that this isn't real. That I could just let my guard down because in Greece, I don't have to be Joe Burrow. I can just be...Joe. You let me be exactly who I am, nothing more, nothing less. And honestly? This might've been the single greatest day of my life. I've had good ones, really good ones. But today is up there for sure." You hadn’t realized how close you’d gotten until you could feel his arm against yours, his breath soft and warm on your cheek. His eyes dropped to your lips again, this time lingering a moment longer, as if the air between you had thickened. You could feel the heat radiating off his body, his breath just a whisper away, as his hand hovered near your cheek. His fingers brushed against your skin, sending a spark through you, and for a moment, you thought he might pull you in.

You couldn't allow yourself to go there. This wasn’t supposed to happen, not now, not like this—but the way he was looking at you, like you were the only thing in the world that mattered, made it hard to think clearly. As much as you wanted this, to feel him close, to taste the sweetness of that kiss, the weight of knowing how fleeting it all was crushed down on you. This wasn’t just a kiss—it was everything you were afraid to want, a piece of yourself that you couldn’t let slip away so easily. If you already felt this strongly about him after a day, how were you going to make it through the rest of the vacation without him knowing how his lips tasted and how his strong hands pulled you in close, holding onto you like he'd rather lose everything than let you go. There was no way in the world you'd recover.

"We can't," you whisper, watching him drop his hand that had just been lightly caressing your cheek. "You're gonna leave tomorrow and I'm gonna be thinking about this kiss for a long time. And I can't," your voice trembles. "I don't want you to go, so I can't kiss you. I'm sorry."

"No don't—don't apologize. I get it." He still hadn't taken a step back, biting his lip to keep his emotions in check. "I can walk you back to your hotel? I haven't packed yet and I need to.”

"Sure, yeah that's fine."

The 15 minute walk felt like three seconds. You didn't want him to go. He no longer wanted to leave. "Y/N I—”

You wrapped him up in a bone crushing hug, silently begging him to stay, just for a few more days. His grip on you was just as strong, his heartbeat thumping rapidly against your body. There weren't enough words in the English, or Greek dictionary to describe how much you were going to miss him. To miss this day. "Bye Joe." That was it. That was all you could manage. The moment you let go of him felt like a piece of your heart stayed in his arms. There was no way to explain the ache in your chest as you watched him turn away, the pull to stay stronger than any rational thought.

Going to sleep that night sounded impossible. The day had started out so innocent and special and the adventure and emotional rollercoaster you'd been on during the day made it feel like you'd experienced a series of days all wrapped into one. You set your bags down on the ground when you got to your room, too tired to change out of your clothes and falling asleep on top of the covers as soon as you laid down.

The next morning you checked the time on your phone, it was 8am. Joe had told you yesterday he was leaving at 10. That meek little goodbye wasn't going to cut it. You didn't even have his number. After your teeth were brushed and your clothes were changed, you rushed out of your hotel and got in an Uber, on your way to Joe's resort. The 46 minute ride allowed you to come up with everything you wanted to say, how this was only meant to be for a day but maybe it could be more? Maybe you could come see him in Cincinnati or he could come to Berkeley or someway somehow you could figure out a way to make it work.

You thanked your driver, opting to speed walk into the lobby. The person at the front desk couldn't give you access to the room without a reason, even when you gave them the name Joe used for his reservation. Pulling out your phone, you showed her the picture of you and Joe that he took at the pottery place and she finally believed you.

"I'm sorry ma'am, he actually left this morning a bit earlier than planned. He checked out at 7am to get on the plane."

Your chest tightened as the words settled in—he was gone. Just like that, in the span of a few hours, everything had shifted. The chance to say what was left unsaid, the connection you had just begun to explore, all slipped away before you could even hold onto it.

It felt like a dark cloud loomed over you throughout the rest of the day. The sun, once so warm on your skin, now felt distant and cold. The flowers that had seemed so alive that morning now appeared dull, their colors muted, as though even nature understood the weight on your heart. While you ate lunch, you tried to people watch, although you quickly discovered that there were only couples surrounding you, sharing meals and laughing at each other's jokes which made you miss him even more. The only real bright spot of the day was your flower garden excursion, taking pictures of the newly bloomed bulbs and taking in their fresh scent. As the hours passed, you allowed yourself to breathe a little deeper, letting the moments of regret slip away as you focused on the simple joys of your surroundings. The beauty of the flowers, the calm of the gardens, it all reminded you that there was still peace to be found in this unexpected chapter of your life.

You were just beginning to let go of the weight on your chest, convincing yourself that maybe, just maybe, this was how things were meant to be. But as you laid your phone down beside you, the familiar ping of a message broke the stillness.

It was an DM request on Instagram. The message had two simple words.

Carpe diem.

For a second, your heart skipped, and you couldn’t help but smile. That phrase, so simple and yet so loaded with meaning, sent a wave of warmth through you. It was him. In a way, he had left his mark on you after all, even if he wasn’t here to say the words aloud. Maybe, just maybe, this wasn’t the end. And though you didn’t know what tomorrow would bring or if this connection would ever evolve beyond this brief encounter, in that moment, with his words glowing on your screen, you allowed yourself one final thought: Maybe this was only the beginning.

[seat-safety-switch]

"Ah, the digimals," I lied. "I know exactly what you are talking about."

It was the start of my tumultuous three-week employment at Google. Google, who was once the most powerful company on Earth, had in recent years become enmeshed with bullshit-generating text engines to the point where they could no longer tell truth from fiction. Perhaps the greatest evidence of this fact was that they hired me to head up the new Digital Transformation division. Remember, kids, don't get high on your own supply.

Here's a secret about California: cars don't rust there. It's real dry, and really nice, and you can even drive dented cars around without them instantly turning into a pile of iron filings and swear words. So of course I jumped on the job. I could not believe my luck that they had decided the resume I was required to make in order to pass Reintegration With Society 101 class was good enough to offer me an executive-level position.

Now, all of you are fully aware that the average Silicon Valley management job involves showing up for one to two hours a week, doing nothing except making everyone's job harder, and then buying two vintage Porsches off eBay while taking a shit in your private executive bathroom. We accept it because, well, starting a whole revolution about it sounds a little bit "too much," and we got bigger fish to fry. For instance, a whole lot of people at Google were very concerned about Digital Transformation, which sounds either good or bad (I never figured out which.)

When they finally came to my spacious skull-emblazoned office and canned me, it wasn't because I was incompetent. No, my absolute lack of attention to any of my subordinates had led to immense success in Digital Transformation (again, either for or against – if you know, write in.) What they were mad about was that Facilities had filed a complaint. You see, I had cottoned on in my first day of work that I didn't actually have to buy an expensive California house. Google's parking lots were copious enough that I could simply leave my dozens of vintage Porsches there, without fear of rust, and sleep in a different race car bed each night.

[wonyowonyo]

COURTSHIP (K. Minji X M! Reader)

Hello there wonyowonyo here! I'm back with another update :0 This one is one of the 3 requested oneshots I was talking about previously. As for the other 2, I'm still working on them so I hope you guys do wait for them! Idk when I'll finish it, since I'm starting get busy a bit, but I'll try to finish those requests! Anyways no more yapping, this one was abt 5.6k words! As always, I hope you guys enjoy this one! see yall later ^^

Y/N has always had a passion for basketball. As the star player of his high school team, the court is where you feel most alive. But lately, there’s been something — or rather, someone — distracting Y/N.

Minji.

Minji, with her bright smile and infectious energy, has been the topic of many of Y/N’s daydreams. She’s in his class, and while she’s friendly and approachable, she’s also incredibly dense when it comes to his feelings. Despite his best efforts, she just doesn’t seem to get it.

————————————————————

The gym was alive with energy as Ador High faced off against their rivals, Hanlim High. The bleachers were packed with students, teachers, and parents, all roaring with excitement. Banners waved, and the school band played spirited tunes to keep the energy high.

Y/N, the team's star player, stood tall at the center of the court, his eyes scanning the crowd. His teammates huddled around him, their faces a mix of determination and anticipation. Coach Kim gave them a final pep talk, emphasizing teamwork and focus.

"Remember, guys, we've trained hard for this, let’s win this and punch our way to the finals." Coach Kim said, clapping his hands for emphasis. "Stay sharp, watch your passes, and keep the pressure on. Y/N, you're our ace player. Lead us to victory."

Y/N nodded, his heart pounding with adrenaline. He lived for moments like these, the thrill of the game, the roar of the crowd. But today, something—or rather, someone—was distracting him.

As the referee blew the whistle to start the game, Y/N's eyes wandered to the stands. There, among the sea of faces, he spotted Minji. She was easy to find, her energetic presence like a beacon in the crowd. Her long hair was tied in a ponytail, and she wore the school's colors, waving a homemade sign that read, "Go Y/N! You're the best!"

Minji's smile was infectious, and Y/N felt a flutter in his chest. He quickly shook it off, reminding himself he had a game to win.

The tip-off was won by Ador High, and Y/N immediately took control of the ball. He moved with precision and grace, dribbling past defenders with ease. The crowd's cheers grew louder with each successful play.

"Y/N! Over here!" shouted his teammate, Jisoo, who was in a perfect position near the basket.

Y/N feinted left, sending his defender off balance, and passed the ball to Jisoo, who scored with a clean shot. The crowd erupted, and Y/N exchanged a quick high-five with Jisoo before getting back into position.

Among the cheering, Y/N's eyes kept drifting back to Minji. She was jumping up and down, excitement radiating from her. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and Y/N found himself smiling despite the intensity of the game.

As the first quarter progressed, Y/N continued to shine, making key plays and scoring crucial points. Ador High were ahead, but Hanlim High were relentless, keeping the pressure on.

During a brief timeout, Y/N sat on the bench, gulping down water. His coach patted him on the back. "Great job out there, Y/N. Keep it up."

Y/N nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. His thoughts drifted back to Minji. He wondered if she had any idea how much her support meant to him. Probably not, he mused, given how dense she could be about these things.

The game resumed, and Y/N's focus sharpened. He executed a flawless crossover, leaving his defender in the dust, and drove towards the basket. As he leaped for a layup, two defenders swooped in, trying to stop his attack.

The ball sailed through the hoop, and the crowd roared. Y/N landed gracefully as he caught a glimpse of Minji in the stands, her eyes wide with admiration. His heart pounded not just from the exertion but from the thrill of seeing Minji's reaction.

At halftime, Ador High led by a slim margin. The team gathered in the locker room, strategizing for the second half. Y/N's mind, however, was partially elsewhere. He couldn't help but think about Minji, her infectious energy, and the way she made his heart race.

"Y/N, you good?" asked Jisoo, noticing his friend's distraction.

"Yeah, just thinking about the game," Y/N replied, though his thoughts were more about Minji than the game plan.

Back on the court for the second half, Y/N refocused his efforts. Hanlim High were playing more aggressively, and the game became a fierce battle of skill and endurance. Y/N's leadership and skill were pivotal in maintaining their lead.

With the final minutes ticking down, the score was tied. The tension in the gym was palpable. Y/N knew this was it—the moment to seal their victory. He dribbled past two defenders, his eyes locked on the basket.

"Y/N! You can do it!" Minji's voice cut through the noise, loud and clear.

Spurred on by her encouragement, Y/N made his move. He executed a perfect spin and launched the ball towards the basket. The gym fell silent for a breathless moment as the ball sailed through the air.

Swish.

The buzzer sounded, and the crowd erupted in deafening cheers. Ador High had won. Y/N's teammates mobbed him, lifting him onto their shoulders. Amid the celebration, Y/N's eyes found Minji's. She was clapping and cheering, her face beaming with pride.

As he was carried off the court, Y/N couldn't help but think that this victory was not just for 

the team, but for Minji. Her support had fueled his determination and made the win even sweeter.

————————————————————

After the game, Y/N was in high spirits. Ador High had won, and he was determined to use the victory high to confess his feelings to Minji. He found her waiting outside the locker room, her smile brighter than the gym lights.

"Hey, Minji! Thanks for coming to the game," Y/N said, trying to keep his cool.

"Of course! You're amazing out there, Y/N!" Minji replied, her eyes sparkling.

Y/N took a deep breath. "Minji, I—"

Just then, a teammate interrupted, slapping Y/N on the back. "Great game, man! We're heading to the diner to celebrate. You in?"

Y/N shot his teammate a frustrated look but managed a smile. "Yeah, I'll be there in a bit."

Minji, completely missing Y/N's attempt at a confession, clapped her hands. "Ooh, can I come too?"

Y/N sighed inwardly but couldn't say no to her. "Sure, why not?"

————————————————————

At the local diner, the basketball team was loud and boisterous, celebrating their recent win. The energy was infectious, and even the usually reserved Y/N found himself laughing along with his teammates. But amidst the chaos, he couldn't take his eyes off Minji, who was engrossed in conversation with their friends, a milkshake in her hand.

Y/N decided it was now or never. He needed a moment alone with her. "Hey, Minji, can we talk?" he asked, trying to catch her attention.

Minji looked up, her face smeared with whipped cream. "Sure, Y/N! What's up?"

Y/N couldn't help but laugh. "You, uh, have a little something on your face."

Minji wiped her face with a napkin and smiled brightly. "Thanks! So, what did you want to talk about?"

Taking a deep breath, Y/N began, "Minji, I really—"

Before he could finish, a waiter tripped, sending a tray of drinks flying. Instinctively, Y/N pulled Minji out of the way, and they ended up in a tangled heap on the floor, laughing.

"Wow, Y/N, you're like a superhero!" Minji giggled, completely oblivious to the romantic tension.

Y/N sighed, thinking to himself, How can someone be so dense?

As they got up, Minji dusted herself off. "Thanks for saving me, Y/N. That was close!"

"No problem," Y/N replied, trying to hide his frustration. "Uh, so, about what I wanted to say—"

"Hey, Y/N! Minji! Come join us for a group photo!" one of their teammates called out, waving a camera.

Minji grabbed Y/N's hand. "Let's go! It'll be fun!"

Y/N followed, his chance for confession slipping away once again. They squeezed into the group, and the camera flashed, capturing Minji's bright smile and Y/N's slightly forced one.

"Alright, on the count of three, say 'cheese'!" the teammate said.

"Cheese!" everyone chorused, and the camera clicked again.

As the evening wore on, Y/N found himself continually thwarted by interruptions. Every time he tried to steer Minji away for a private conversation, someone would call her over or something would happen to derail his attempts.

By the end of the night, Y/N was exhausted. As they walked out of the diner, Minji looked at him with a puzzled expression. "You seemed like you had something important to say earlier. What was it?"

Y/N gave a weary smile. "It's nothing, Minji. Really."

She patted his shoulder. "Well, if it's important, you'll tell me eventually. Right?"

"Yeah," Y/N said, feeling a twinge of frustration. "Eventually."

————————————————————

Determined to make his feelings clear, Y/N invited Minji to study together in the library. He thought the quiet atmosphere would be perfect for a heart-to-heart.

"Minji, there's something important I need to tell you," Y/N began, his palms sweaty as he fidgeted with his notes.

Minji looked up from her book, her eyes wide with curiosity. "What is it, Y/N?"

Y/N took a deep breath, gathering his courage. "I—"

Before he could continue, Minji gasped. "Oh no! I forgot to feed my goldfish this morning!" She jumped up, knocking over her chair in the process.

Y/N facepalmed. "Minji, your goldfish will be fine for a few more hours."

Minji sat back down, looking relieved. "You're right. Sorry, Y/N. What were you saying?"

Y/N shook his head, trying to keep his frustration in check. "I really, really—"

Just then, the librarian shushed them loudly, and they both burst out laughing, earning more stern looks from the librarian.

Minji covered her mouth, trying to stifle her giggles. "We should probably keep it down, huh?"

"Yeah, probably," Y/N agreed, still chuckling.

They returned to their books, and Y/N tried to focus on his studies, but his mind kept drifting back to what he wanted to say. After a few minutes of silence, he decided to try again.

"Minji, I—"

This time, Minji's phone buzzed loudly. She quickly grabbed it, glancing at the screen. "Oh, it's my mom. She wants to know if I need a ride home."

Y/N's shoulders slumped. "Do you?"

Minji shook her head. "Nah, I'll walk. It's a nice day out."

"Okay." Y/N took another deep breath. "Minji, I—"

The librarian appeared out of nowhere, glaring at them. "If you two can't keep it down, I'll have to ask you to leave."

"Sorry," they both mumbled, trying not to laugh.

Once the librarian had gone, Minji turned to Y/N. "It's really hard to have a conversation here, huh?"

"Yeah, it is," Y/N admitted, feeling a mix of frustration and amusement.

"Maybe we can talk later? After we finish studying?" Minji suggested.

"Sure," Y/N agreed, hoping that later would bring fewer interruptions.

During their “study” session, Y/N was determined to finally get his message across. Instead of actually studying, Y/N was racking his brain for ideas to confess his feelings to Minji. After a minute of brainstorming, he decided to write Minji a letter, hoping that putting his feelings into words would make things clearer. He spent hours crafting the perfect confession, pouring his heart onto the page. He tried to be sneaky as possible, trying to avoid the attention of the laser-focused Minji who’s diligently studying just in front of him.

After spending hours on the library, the pair decided to finally call it quits, as they both left the school premise to walk home. Y/N tried to act as natural as possible as he walked beside Minji who was busy sightseeing. Pushing down his nervousness and finally deciding to make his move, Y/N cleared his throat to get the attention of Minji. 

“H-hey, here. Read this.” Just as he was about to hand the letter to Minji, a strong gust of wind blew it out of his hand. Y/N watched in horror as the letter fluttered through the air and landed in a puddle.

Minji picked it up, her eyes widening as she read the waterlogged, smudged words. "Uh, Y/N? Why does this say you want to 'beef' with me?"

Y/N facepalmed, realizing the ink had smeared beyond recognition. "It was supposed to say I want to be with you'!"  He screamed internally.

Minji giggled, completely missing the point again. "Oh, Y/N, you're so funny! But I don't think fighting would be a good idea."

Y/N sighed, shaking his head but unable to stay mad at her. "Yeah, you're right. Fighting's not my style."

————————————————————

One weekend, Y/N asked Minji to go to the amusement park, hoping a fun day out would provide the perfect opportunity to confess his feelings.

"This is going to be so much fun!" Minji exclaimed as they arrived at the park, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

They rode roller coasters, played games, and ate cotton candy. Y/N couldn't remember the last time he had so much fun, but he was still looking for the right moment to confess.

As they stood in line for the Ferris wheel, Y/N decided it was now or never. The view from the top, the gentle sway of the cabin—it all felt so romantic.

"Minji, I—" Y/N began, but Minji cut him off with a delighted squeal.

"Look, Y/N! We're almost at the front of the line! I can't wait to see the view from the top!" Minji exclaimed, completely missing his attempt at a confession.

Y/N sighed inwardly but couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. One of these days, she'll understand.

They climbed into the Ferris wheel cabin, and as it slowly ascended, Y/N's heart pounded. He looked over at Minji, who was gazing out at the park below with wide eyes.

"It's so beautiful," she said, her voice filled with wonder.

"Yeah, it is," Y/N agreed, though he was looking at her rather than the view.

As they reached the top, Y/N took a deep breath. "Minji, I—"

Minji turned to him, her eyes sparkling. "Yes?"

Y/N felt his courage falter. "I—really like this view."

Minji laughed. "Me too! It's amazing up here."

Y/N sighed, kicking himself for chickening out. He needed to find the right moment, but it seemed like every time he tried, something got in the way.

After the Ferris wheel, they wandered around the park, playing more games and enjoying the various attractions. As the sun began to set, they found themselves at a quiet spot near the park's lake.

"Minji, there's something I need to tell you," Y/N said, his heart pounding once again.

Minji looked at him, her expression serious for once. "What is it, Y/N?"

Just as Y/N was about to speak, a group of kids ran by, laughing and shouting, interrupting the moment.

Y/N groaned inwardly. "Never mind. It's not important."

Minji frowned. "Are you sure? It seemed important."

Y/N forced a smile. "Yeah, it's fine. Let's just enjoy the rest of the day."

Minji nodded, though she still looked concerned. "Okay, if you say so."

The annual school festival was a big event, and Y/N saw it as another opportunity to get closer to Minji. They wandered through the various stalls, played games, and enjoyed the performances. Minji's laughter was infectious, and Y/N found himself falling for her even more.

"Let's try the ring toss!" Minji suggested, dragging Y/N over to a game booth.

"Alright, but I'm warning you, I'm not very good at this," Y/N said with a grin.

Minji laughed. "That's okay! It's just for fun."

They each took turns tossing rings, and Minji managed to win a small stuffed bear. She handed it to Y/N with a smile. "Here, this is for you."

Y/N accepted the bear, feeling a warmth spread through his chest. "Thanks, Minji."

As the day went on, they continued to enjoy the festival together. Y/N couldn't help but notice how happy Minji seemed, and it made him even more determined to tell her how he felt.

At the end of the day, there was a fireworks display. Y/N and Minji found a spot on the school rooftop to watch. The sky lit up with brilliant colors, and Y/N felt the perfect moment had arrived.

"Minji, there's something I've been wanting to tell you," Y/N said, turning to face her, his heart pounding in his chest.

Minji looked at him, her eyes wide with curiosity. "What is it, Y/N?"

Y/N took a deep breath. "Minji, I really—"

Minji suddenly gasped, cutting him off. "Oh my gosh, Y/N! Are you going to tell me that you’ll finally teach me basketball for my P.E class?!"

Y/N blinked, completely thrown off. "Uh... what?"

Minji nodded enthusiastically. "I knew it! You kept trying to deny my request, but in the end you still have a soft spot for me huh, Y/N!"

Y/N stared at her, dumbfounded. "I was actually busy back then, Minji. But that's not what I—"

"Shhh, the fireworks are starting!" Minji exclaimed, turning her attention back to the sky.

Y/N sighed, shaking his head as he stared at the night sky. One of these days, she'll understand. Hopefully.

As the fireworks exploded overhead, Y/N felt a mix of frustration and hope. He knew he would eventually get through to Minji, but for now, he would just enjoy the moment with her.

————————————————————

That night, after yet another failed attempt to confess his feelings, Y/N lay in bed, feeling both elated and exasperated. He replayed all the missed opportunities in his head, each one more ridiculous than the last.

First, there was the locker room interruption. Then, the diner disaster. The study session? Don’t even get him started. The amusement park and the school festival were supposed to be perfect, but of course, things had to go hilariously wrong.

He grabbed his pillow and screamed into it, letting out all his pent-up frustration. "Why, Minji? Why are you so dense?!" he muttered dramatically, throwing his hands in the air.

Just then, his phone buzzed. It was a text from Minji:

Minji: Hey Y/N, I just realized... were you trying to tell me something important today?

Y/N stared at his phone, his mouth agape. He couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. He quickly typed back:

Y/N: Yes, Minji. Yes, I was.

Minji: LOL! I'm such a dummy. But I’m glad you're my friend! Anyways, see you tomorrow at the local park 😊

Y/N sighed, shaking his head but smiling. "Better late than never," he muttered, feeling the weight of all those missed opportunities lift off his shoulders.

————————————————————

The next day, true to her word, Minji showed up at the local basketball court, eager to learn. Y/N couldn't help but admire her enthusiasm, even if she was a bit clumsy with the ball.

"Okay, first you need to dribble like this," Y/N demonstrated, bouncing the ball with ease.

Minji tried to mimic him but ended up fumbling the ball. She laughed, a sound that always made Y/N's heart melt. "This is harder than it looks!"

Y/N moved closer, gently guiding her hands. "Here, let me help you."

He stood behind her, his hands over hers, guiding her movements. As they practiced, Y/N realized that Minji's determination was part of her charm. Her cheerful personality and genuine innocence made every moment with her feel like an adventure. However, she can be dense as a mountain when it comes to feelings.

"Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it," Y/N encouraged, smiling.

Minji pouted playfully. "I hope so. I don't want to embarrass myself in front of everyone."

"You won't," Y/N assured her. "You're doing great."

As the afternoon went on, Minji's skills slowly improved. She laughed and stumbled, but she never gave up. Her persistence reminded Y/N of why he cared for her so much. She was a beacon of positivity in his life, always looking at the bright side.

They took a break, sitting on the court and sipping water. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the gym.

"Thank you for teaching me, Y/N," Minji said, her eyes sincere. "It means a lot."

Y/N smiled, feeling a warmth in his chest. "Anytime, Minji. I'm glad we can spend time together like this."

Minji beamed. "Me too."

As they sat there, watching the sun dip below the horizon, Y/N realized that these moments, both on and off the court, were the ones he would cherish forever. It wasn't just about the game; it was about the people who made it meaningful. And Minji was at the heart of it all.

————————————————————

The championship game was the biggest event of the year. The gym was packed with students, teachers, and parents, all cheering for Ador High. The bleachers were a sea of orange and black, with banners and posters waving enthusiastically in the air. The scent of popcorn and excitement filled the space, creating an electric atmosphere.

Y/N was more focused than ever, but knowing Minji was in the crowd cheering for him made his heart pound. He glanced up and saw her, her smile a beacon of encouragement. He took a deep breath and joined his teammates in their final huddle.

"Alright, guys," the coach said, his voice steady and calm. "This is our moment. Play smart, play hard, and remember, we've got each other's backs."

The game began with a flurry of activity. The opposing team, Seoul High, were formidable, their defense tight and their offense relentless. Y/N dodged and weaved, his muscles straining with every pass, every pivot. The sound of sneakers squeaking on the polished wood floor and the rhythmic pounding of the basketball echoed through the gym.

As the first quarter progressed, both teams fought fiercely for the lead. Y/N executed a perfect layup, drawing cheers from the crowd. But Seoul High quickly countered with a three-pointer, keeping the score neck and neck.

During a timeout, Y/N wiped the sweat from his brow and listened as the coach outlined their strategy. "Stay sharp, and keep the pressure on. Y/N, you'll be our key player in the final minutes. Trust your instincts."

Back on the court, Y/N felt the weight of the game on his shoulders. He knew the clock was ticking down, and the pressure was mounting. With only two minutes left, the score was tied. Ador High fought for every inch, their determination unwavering.

The game was intense. Ador High and Seoul High were evenly matched, each team responding to the other’s moves with agility and precision. The ball changed hands rapidly, with neither side able to secure a solid lead.

With a minute left in the fourth quarter, Ador High were down by two points. Y/N knew it was now or never. He stole the ball from an opposing player and sprinted down the court. The crowd's roar was deafening. He passed the ball to his teammate, who quickly passed it back to him.

Y/N was at the three-point line when he saw an opening. He darted past his defender and charged toward the basket. Seoul High' center, a towering player, tried to block him, but Y/N was faster. He jumped, the world around him slowing down. With all his might, he slammed the ball into the hoop.

The gym exploded with cheers. Ador High were now up by one point. The slam dunk had turned the tide of the game, and Y/N felt a surge of adrenaline and pride.

With only seconds left on the clock, Seoul High scrambled to regain control. But Ador High' defense was impenetrable. Y/N stole the ball again, blitzing his way to the opponent's side of the court. However, a defender was just right behind him, slowly catching up to lock him down. Entering the paint, Y/N immediately sprung into the air while gripping the ball with all his might. Everyone watched, as Y/N stayed in the air before slamming the ball right onto the hoop just as the final buzzer sounded.

Ador High had won the championship, thanks to Y/N’s back to back dunk. His teammates lifted him onto their shoulders, the victory a culmination of their hard work and dedication.

Amid the celebration, Y/N spotted Minji running towards him. Her face was radiant with pride, her eyes shining. She threw her arms around him, her joy palpable.

"You're amazing, Y/N! We won!" Minji exclaimed, her smile brighter than ever.

Y/N hugged her back, his heart full. "Thanks, Minji. I couldn't have done it without you."

Minji pulled back, looking confused. "Me? But all I did was cheer."

Y/N laughed, a sound of pure happiness. "And that made all the difference."

As the team celebrated their victory, Y/N knew this was a moment he would cherish forever. The roar of the crowd, the embrace of his friends and family, and Minji's unwavering support. This was more than a game; it was a testament to teamwork, perseverance, and the power of believing in oneself.

After the initial celebration, the team gathered in the locker room, their spirits high. The coach gave a rousing speech, praising everyone's effort and determination. Y/N's teammates clapped him on the back, congratulating him on his game-winning shot.

"Man, you were on fire out there!" one teammate exclaimed.

"Yeah, you really carried us in the final minutes," another added.

Y/N smiled, feeling a sense of camaraderie and pride.

As they changed out of their uniforms, Y/N couldn't help but think about Minji. He had to find the right moment to finally tell her how he felt. He glanced at his phone and saw a text from her:

Minji: Congrats, Y/N! You were incredible! 😊

Y/N replied: Thanks, Minji. Can we meet outside? I need to talk to you.

Minji: Sure! Be there in a sec.

Y/N took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. As he walked out of the locker room, he saw Minji waiting for him, her smile as bright as ever.

"Hey, Y/N! What's up?" she asked cheerfully.

Y/N's heart raced. "Minji, there's something important I need to tell you. I've been trying to say it for a while now, but things keep getting in the way."

Minji tilted her head, looking curious. "What is it, Y/N?"

Y/N took a deep breath. "Minji, I—"

Just then, his teammate burst through the door, yelling, "Yo, Y/N! Coach wants you back inside for a team photo!"

Y/N groaned inwardly, feeling the frustration build up again. "Okay, I'll be right there." He turns and smiled at his teammate, biting the insides of his cheeks. His eyes squinted as he telepathically communicated with his teammate. ‘Boy you better thank the gods above we are living in a civilized society’.

The poor teammate, jolted as he awkwardly exits himself back to the team.

Minji giggled. "I'll wait here. Don't keep me waiting too long!"

Y/N nodded, feeling both exasperated and amused. One of these days, he'd get his chance.

After the game, Y/N and Minji found a quiet spot outside the gym. The moonlight cast a soft glow over them, and Y/N knew it was the perfect moment.

"Minji, I have something to tell you," Y/N said, his voice steady.

Minji looked at him, her eyes wide with curiosity. "What is it, Y/N?"

Y/N took a deep breath. "Minji, I like you. A lot. More than just a friend."

Minji's face lit up with realization. "Oh! You mean like more than my love for fried chicken?"

Y/N couldn't help but laugh. "Yes, Minji. Much more than that."

Minji's face slowly lit up with realization. "Oh, I get it! You want to join the culinary club to learn how to make fried chicken, don't you?"

Y/N's jaw dropped. "W-What? No! That's not what I meant!"

Minji giggled, completely missing the point. "Oh, Y/N! You're so funny. But sure, I'll help you join the culinary club if that's what you want!"

Y/N sighed deeply, shaking his head but unable to stay mad at her. "Thanks, Minji. You're the best." Giving her a weakened thumbs up and smile.

As he walked home alone, he couldn't help but just laugh at the misunderstanding. Minji's innocence and humor were part of what he loved about her, even if it made things a bit more complicated. But he’s lying if the constant failures he’s facing aren't affecting him. 

“Let’s not give up yet, we still have plenty more chances!” He motivates himself, reassuring his feelings and his unwavering will. 

He proceeded to run the remaining kilometer on his way home.

In the following days, Y/N found himself in another series of dense moments with Minji that only added to his growing frustration and affection:

They were in the library, supposedly studying for their upcoming exams. Minji was intensely focused on her notes, her brows furrowed in concentration. Y/N, however, was distracted by her presence.

"Minji," he whispered, trying to be subtle.

"Hmm?" She looked up, her expression softening.

"I wanted to ask you something," he began, his heart racing.

"Sure, what is it?" she asked, leaning in closer.

"Do you ever think about..." he trailed off, unsure of how to phrase his question.

"Think about what?" she prompted, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"Um, about us, you know, being more than friends?" he finally managed to say.

Minji's eyes lit up with excitement. "Oh, you mean like study buddies? I'd love that! We can help each other with all our subjects!"

Y/N sighed inwardly, trying to keep his smile. "Yeah, study buddies. That's exactly what I meant."

A few days later, they were in the cafeteria, enjoying lunch together. Y/N decided to try again.

"Minji, there's something I've been meaning to tell you," he said, gathering his courage.

"What's that, Y/N?" she asked, looking up from her food.

"I really like you, Minji. I mean, I really like you," he said, hoping she would understand this time.

Minji's face lit up with a smile. "Oh, I like you too, Y/N! You're one of my best friends."

Y/N felt a pang of disappointment but managed to keep his composure. "Thanks, Minji. You're one of my best friends too."

————————————————————

After another failed attempt to confess his feelings, Y/N decided to make one last grand gesture. He arranged a surprise for Minji on the rooftop of their school, a place they both loved for its breathtaking view of the city.

Y/N decorated the rooftop with fairy lights, creating a magical ambiance under the night sky. He set up a picnic blanket, complete with all of Minji’s favorite snacks. He took a deep breath, hoping this time everything would go smoothly.

As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the city, Y/N led Minji to the rooftop, covering her eyes with his hands.

"Y/N, what are you doing?" Minji giggled, clearly excited.

"Just trust me," Y/N said, guiding her carefully. "And... open your eyes!"

Minji gasped, her eyes wide with wonder. "Oh my gosh, Y/N! This is beautiful!"

Y/N smiled, feeling a bit more confident. "I wanted to do something special for you, Minji."

They sat down together, enjoying the view and the snacks. As the sky darkened and the stars began to twinkle, Y/N knew it was now or never.

"Minji," he began, his voice steady. "There's something I've been trying to tell you for a long time."

Minji looked at him, her eyes full of curiosity and warmth. "What is it, Y/N?"

Y/N took a deep breath, his heart pounding. "Minji, I love you. I've loved you for so long, and I can't keep it to myself anymore. You're the most amazing person I've ever met, and I want to be more than just friends. I want to be with you."

Minji's eyes filled with tears, but she was smiling. "Oh, Y/N, I love you too! I can't believe it took us this long to say it out loud!"

Y/N felt a wave of relief and joy wash over him. "So, does this mean...?"

"Yes, Y/N," Minji said, leaning in closer. "It means we're more than friends now."

Y/N pulled her into a tight embrace, his heart soaring. "I'm so glad you feel the same way, Minji."

As they stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, Y/N knew that this was the moment he had been waiting for. All the misunderstandings and dense moments had led them to this point, and it was worth every second.

The rooftop seemed to glow with a newfound warmth, and Y/N felt an overwhelming sense of happiness. He had finally confessed his feelings, and Minji had reciprocated. It was the start of a beautiful new chapter in their lives.

————————————————————

The next day at school, Y/N and Minji walked hand-in-hand, their friends teasing them playfully.

"Finally, you two figured it out!" one friend joked.

"Yeah, it only took a million failed attempts," another added with a laugh.

Minji giggled, squeezing Y/N's hand. "I guess I'm not the only one who's dense."

Y/N grinned, feeling happier than ever. "Nope, we're a perfect match."

Reaching the hallway, they suddenly bumped into the Culinary Club president.

"Hey, Y/N! Minji said you wanted to join the Culinary Club to learn how to make fried chicken?" the president asked, grinning.

Y/N's face turned bright red as Minji burst into laughter. "Oh, Y/N! You really should have seen your face!"

Y/N groaned, feeling both embarrassed and amused. "Minji, I swear, that was not what I meant!"

Minji squeezed his hand, her laughter infectious. "I know, Y/N. But hey, maybe we can still join and make some delicious fried chicken together!"

Y/N chuckled, shaking his head. "Sure, why not? As long as we're together."

As they walked to their next class, Minji suddenly stopped. "Oh no! I forgot to feed my goldfish again!"

Y/N laughed, shaking his head. "Don't worry, Minji. I'll help you with that too."

And so, their story continued, filled with basketball, laughter, love, and a whole lot of heart.

[killthedove]

Marion The Young Master/Mistress

You knock on doors at Danube street, looking for work. A door swings open, as a frightened butler/maid runs out of the mansion with a suitcase in hand, showing you to the side. | + Pain

A boy/girl seeming your age approaches the door, their green eyes puffy and brows furrowed beneath a messy fair fringe. You don't recall seeing them at school before. They seem about ready to slam the door closed behind the fleeing servant, though they soon find themselves squinting up at you with great scrutiny.

"And what are you staring at?"

You open your mouth to reply, but they scoff before you can, gripping onto your wrist.

"You must be the new help brother/sister sent. Thank goodness, the living room needs cleaning, and lunch is just around the corner. Running off without even finishing their work, what a worthless servant!" They try to pull you inside the house.

(1) Allow it | + Stress (2) Struggle | Physique: Simple

i'm still heavily workshopping marion, but they're a little LI oc i've been working on! they're heavily inspired by the rich person at danube street that tasks you with keeping them company during a toy tea party. they're a second child to a prominent family who is taught at home due to somewhat frail health and an utterly atrocious attitude.

they would offer the pc a consistent workload as a housekeeper, being a rather accessible and lucrative option for raising housekeeping as a skill, often rewarding them for cooking meals they enjoy with bonus cash. ( yes, you would need to actually cook it in the kitchen with the new system. the meals they actually like only begin unlocking towards the end of the first term or when class resumes in january, though. )

the downside of such a generous workplace, however, is the fact that pain and stress are incredibly difficult to manage with marion, especially if your housekeeping, physique or dance skills are low, leading to an increased risk of failing your given tasks. succeeding in them, however, raises not only their love but also their trust.

their trust as a unique mechanic leads to gentler interactions, as well as them being more eager to spend time around the player during the day and even possibly having marion invite them over for brief respite during the day.

opposing their trust stat, failure in executing your work at the manor leads to their tolerance decreasing. tolerance is an instance based stat, much like avery's endearment, that resets each day. at low tolerance, there is a chance that the player messing up their work would lead to an encounter much like a spanking one, though marion would instead take to beating them until they are calmed. attempting to fight back will immediately tank the day's tolerance and lower their trust.

at zero tolerance, the player is kicked out of the property for the day, not being allowed back to work until the following day. at low trust, they may be kicked out for longer. at high trust, this is instead replaced by them being locked in a room within the manor for the night, to calm down and reflect. escaping leads to further lowering both their trust and love.

tolerance may be regained by endearing yourself to them by indulging them during play, managing to make convincing excuses with high enough english, begging for forgiveness with enough submission or putting your skills to use in helping them with their studies if you catch them working on them. their tolerance for the day will decay much less at high trust.

at high love and trust, marion becomes both a good source of stress relief through shared activities and a daily source of either good money or hope for the orphanage, should the player's english skill be high enough to persuade them to gift the orphans instead of them on the given day. doing so won't increase their love the way accepting their gifts yourself does, though. they will also occasionally let the player choose some of the more expensive formal clothes for them to tailor as a gift, though such a gift will often come with expectation of some token of gratitude in return.

[lena-in-a-red-dress]

Portal Children AU Pt 2 - Supercorp

At the age of 12, Lena earns an expulsion from her fifth boarding school. By that point, her parents are at the end of their wits with her, and when they learn of the Home for Wayward Children, they're relieved to dump Lena there and leave as swiftly as their car can manage.

Who can blame them, when their darling little girl returns from an afternoon walk in the grove bitter and bereft and uninterested in the world around her? How can they hope to salvage a relationship with a daughter who glares at them with far too much resentment than an eight, then ten, then twelve year old should contain?

They leave her, and Lena doesn't give their trail of dust a backwards glance. She has work to do, and the Home for Wayward Children-- in truth a refuge for children just like her-- may just be the place to get it done.

Any time she's not in class Lena is outdoors and in motion. She runs across the acres of land the school is situated upon, from fence to fence in every direction. She climbs trees, hopping between them across bending branches, on nimble feet. She boxes with shadows, throwing jabs and elbows with sharp, precise blows.

She harvests a thick fallen branch, and carves it down to a smooth staff, swinging it around her body and over her head in a violent single person dance. The headmistress of the school tries to scold Lena when the paring knife reported missing by the school cook ends up on Lena's belt. But no matter how many times it's confiscated, it always ends up back on Lena's person, until one day the headmistress (once a wayward child herself) gifts her a proper dagger with a chide to stop stealing from the cook.

When Lena's not moving, she's strategizing, studying, plotting. She's spent 20 years as a general, leading her fellow freedom fighters in sabotage runs, blitz attacks and full frontal assaults all. She has negotiated with royals and peasants and everyone in between, with the fate of an entire world solidly on her shoulders.

Even five years after her return to her childhood body, that responsibility has yet to release her. Her thoughts tumble with catastrophizing what ifs, wavering between wondering what happened to her friends after Lex banished her and knowing that he's already executed them all.

Her entire existence now focuses on finding a way back to her world, and being ready to resume the fight as soon as she does.

The students at the school are used to oddness amongst their peers. But even among children all individually shaped by their specific circumstances and worlds, Lena is considered odder than most. She shows no interest in making friends, and even if she did the other children find her intensity unsettling.

Except for her roommate, Kara.

Kara fares better than most. Coming back with the knowledge that the journey back would be a long one helps, even if it can't totally dull the pain of missing her chosen home. Her return had been voluntary, and she knows that however long it may take, she *will* make it back, and that her friends will still be there waiting for her when she does.

So she doesn't understand what drives Lena's unhappiness, at first. Lena doesn't share in group therapy, so no one really knows what her world or her role in that world truly was. But where they see a girl removed from the world, Kara sees only a friend she hasn't met yet.

Kara also likes to be active. Or rather, she likes to be strong. Where Lena moves and moves and moves, Kara is perfectly content lifting weights in her little fitness corner. She exercises for strength where Lena exercises for survival. Even so, Kara sees the value in Lena's movment, the lightning quick economy of motion. And Kara adores it.

One day, Kara leaves a gift on Lena's bed, then crawls into the tree outside their window to wait for her roommate to return. When she does, Kara sees Lena freeze in place, her eyes jumping swiftly from the oddly wrapped package on the coverlet to scan her surroundings, searching for any sign of a threat.

Realizing her error, Kara makes a point of rustling the leaves around her before poking her head through the foliage.

"It's okay!" she chirps brightly. "I left it for you."

Lena's gaze narrows on Kara, mouth twisting to something just shy of a frown.

"Will you open it?" Kara continues, then adding, "please?"

Slowly, Lena eases her book bag from her shoulder, and finally sits on the edge of her bed, lifting the awkward bulk of the gift into her lap. When the wrapping paper falls away, Kara hears Lena gasp.

An unstrung bow glimmers in the afternoon light, it's surface smooth with untouched polish. Kara knows from wrapping it that the wood is dense, strong but flexible in a recurve shape, perhaps a little large for Lena's frame. But the way Lena stares at it, Kara has no idea if she'd made a huge mistake or not.

"I saw you trying to find a suitable branch in the woods the other week," she says quickly. "I think I got the size right, based on what you seemed to prefer, but if it's not I can let my parents know. They helped me get this, and--"

Lena stands sharply, gripping the bow shaft in one hand while the other scoops up the loosely coiled string. In a single fluid motion she strings the bow and draws it back to the corner of her jaw.

Kara stops and stares, amazed and dazzled by the efficiency of her roommate's movements, and the laser focus of a hunter, a warrior, on Lena's features. Then, as quickly as she drew it, Lena relaxes the bowstring, spinning to face Kara where she's perched outside the window.

"It's perfect," Lena breathes.

Then she smiles, a bright dazzling beam of delight that no one in this world has ever seen. In that moment, Kara knows she'll spend the rest of her life collecting as many of those smiles as she can.

[epochofbelief]

Strictly Confidential: Chapter Four

A Feysand Modern AU

She’s a law student turned confidential informant. He’s a federal prosecutor with one goal: bringing down her boyfriend for his white collar crimes. What could go wrong?

Author's Note: I finally did it! Shoutout to SZA's song "Saturn" for helping me finish this chapter. I'm so excited for where this is going, everyone. Please let me know if you would like to be tagged. No promises on the editing.

Strictly Confidential Masterlist

My Other Feysand AU Fic (Completed)

Chapter Four

Feyre cursed herself for a fool from where she hid, deep in a supply closet on the fifth floor of Tamlin’s environmental empire, Spring Solutions.

She wasn’t supposed to be here. It had taken days for her to convince Tamlin to finally show him around her work. Only after she assured him she wouldn’t leave his side while there had he agreed to let her accompany him to the office on the following Friday morning.

Feyre forced her breaths to remain steady as another person passed by the door, the band of light between the door and the floor guttering with the motion.

“Where the hell is she?” A muffled, angry voice filtered through the walls around her.

But then the sound of the footsteps, along with the angry voice, receded.

Feyre took a deep breath. It was now or never.

She placed her hand on the cool metal of the door handle and pushed.

Three Days Earlier

The newfound knowledge of Tamlin’s alleged crimes slowly ate away at Feyre over the next several days. She couldn’t focus on her schoolwork. She missed a cold call in class. Her father called twice and she actually managed to ignore him.

When Tamlin returned on the following Monday, Feyre had to force herself to act as if nothing had changed. She let him touch her, kiss her, wax poetic about how much he had missed her.

Before he proceeded directly into his study to get back to work.

Feyre was on pins and needles for the hours he sat at his computer. She waited for the moment he somehow discovered she had accessed his computer and came to demand an explanation.

But he never did.

And so Feyre began to execute the next part of her plan.

When she came home from school on Tuesday, she gushed about how much she was enjoying her environmental law class. Tamlin listened intently, sitting forward on the couch as she paced in front of him, declaring her newfound intentions to pursue a career in environmental law. Lucien, who had been present for Feyre’s little performance, leaned against the kitchen counter behind Tamlin, eyebrows creeping higher and higher as Feyre delivered her monologue.

“That’s great, honey. I’m so glad you love this stuff as much as I do,” Tamlin said, eyes shining with sincerity. Feyre bit back her disgust.

“I really do,” Feyre said. “Which is why I wanted to ask if you would be open to me shadowing you at work. I would love to talk to some of your in-house counsel, just get a feel for what environmental law looks like in the real world.”

Tamlin sat straight up.

“Oh. Really?”

Feyre nodded, ignoring Lucien as he folded his arms at her words, his eyes tracking her every movement.

“Let me think about it,” was all Tamlin said. Feyre didn’t want to risk pressing harder, so she dropped the subject for the night.

But the next day, she resumed her prodding. Asked Tamlin if he had had time to think about it. After receiving a similar response, she waited until Thursday to ask once more.

In the intervals in between, Feyre found herself looking over her shoulder everywhere she went. On the train to and from the law school, during her walks in the park, while she was at the gym. She knew the FBI had to be on her trail, but never once did she catch a glimpse of Special Agents Claret or Lapis. And though she knew there was no possibility that Rhysand was the one observing her, she couldn’t help but wonder what he would think of her life if he was watching. Her quiet, appallingly small life. If he was watching, he would see her utter lack of a social circle, the disgusting amount of hours she spent hunched over her books, snacking on chips from the vending machine and whatever form of caffeine was closest.

It was probably better that Rhysand wasn’t the one watching.

On Thursday, Tamlin at last relented. He offered to meet Feyre at his office the next morning, for an hour before his lunch meeting.

And Feyre had duly accepted.

After her Friday morning class, she took the train back downtown, getting off at a stop about a block away from the enormous high-rise building that housed Spring Solutions. The receptionist, a young woman who looked to be a few years older than Feyre, struck up a conversation with her as they waited for Tamlin to emerge from the elevators that led up to his floor.

“I’m Ianthe,” the receptionist said, long blonde hair cascading over narrow shoulders, her sky-blue dress making her eyes pop. “You must be Feyre.”

Feyre gave Ianthe a nervous grin, shaking her perfectly manicured hand. This woman must spend hours on her makeup every morning. Her skin was absolutely flawless, lower eyelids lined with white, black mascara only further emphasizing those piercing blue eyes.

“Sorry,” Ianthe beamed. “Tamlin’s mentioned you a few times. I feel like I practically know you already.”

Feyre sucked on the inside of her cheek. “Ah.” Tamlin had never mentioned his gorgeous receptionist Ianthe. And yet he had been talking to Ianthe about Feyre so much that Ianthe already felt like she knew her?

Feyre reminded herself that jealousy was not a productive emotion. Especially when her boyfriend was in all likelihood a white collar criminal.

As Ianthe asked her about law school, Feyre wondered whether the receptionist knew about what went on behind the scenes at Spring Solutions. If there was indeed a “behind-the-scenes” to be spoken of.

Feyre answered Ianthe's questions with the shortest answers possible. But after the basic What practice areas are you considering pursuing? What led you to law school? What did you study in undergrad? questions, Ianthe launched into a monologue about how hard she had worked to decorate the atrium of Tamlin’s business.

Which was even more boring than the Administrative Law class Feyre had taken during her second semester of 2L.

To Feyre’s relief, the elevator to the left of Ianthe’s desk emitted a faint but elegant ding, and Tamlin emerged in his usual crisp, dark suit, his blonde hair perfectly arranged. Feyre pasted a smile onto her face, words sour in her mouth. “Hi, babe.”

Game time, Feyre thought. No matter how hard this would be, perhaps finding evidence of Tamlin's illegal activity would give her a stronger reason to break things off with him.

But hadn’t Rhysand said that Tamlin’s illegal activity would make it even more difficult for Feyre to leave him? Even dangerous?

Feyre shook her head, giving Ianthe a wave over her shoulder as Tamlin guided her into the elevator, a possessive hand on her lower back. Feyre turned to face him in the elevator, casually stepping out of his grip and leaning against the mirrored wall.

“How’s your day?” She asked. “Stressful?”

Tamlin stepped closer, one hand caressing her neck. “Much better now that you’re here.”

Feyre tried not to flinch away.

Gods, one second she was letting him pull her into bed and the next she couldn’t stand the feeling of his touch against her skin.

If she was honest with herself, discovering that he really was a criminal mastermind would probably make her life much less confusing.

Unfortunately, Feyre had to put up with Tamlin’s hands all over her as he toured her around the four floors of the high-rise that his company occupied. She met several accountants, a myriad of consultants, a plethora of assistants. Lucien joined them about halfway through the tour. He greeted Feyre as usual, but kept close behind her as they walked. Feyre couldn’t tell if his green eyes were tracking her every move or if she was just being paranoid.

At last, they reached the top floor—where both Tamlin and Lucien had their offices, and where the in-house legal department resided. Tamlin guided her into a large conference room, where several attorneys were gathered on one side of a long table, a lunchtime feast of sandwiches, chips, and coffee spread before them. It looked like a lunch break in all aspects except one: each attorney had a laptop propped in front of him or her, not even speaking to each other.

So this was what Feyre had to look forward to—work above all things. A twenty-minute lunch break to get to know one’s coworkers? Forget about it.

She knew in-house was different than big law, but if anything, big law firms like Hybern & Night were much more notorious for their bill or die mentality. These in-house attorneys were either unprecedented workhorses, or they were working on something important.

Feyre wondered if it was something illicit.

Feyre shook the three attorneys’ hands, smiling as they introduced themselves. Tamlin, Lucien, and Feyre joined them at the table, and Tamlin plated Feyre a ham-and-cheese sandwich, forgetting once again that she much preferred turkey.

But she smiled, ever the gracious and perfect girlfriend, launching into a stream of pre-prepared questions as the attorneys gave her their full attention. About halfway through the discussion, a secretary of some sort stuck her head into the conference room, telling Tamlin that he had an important phone call on line one. Tamlin excused himself, gesturing for Lucien to accompany him. Feyre waved them off, listening intently to one of the male attorneys—Hart—as he explained the benefits of taking “Tax Accounting for Lawyers” in law school. This rivaled Ianthe’s interior design diatribe in terms of how well it piqued Feyre's interest.

Feyre made herself wait two minutes before she excused herself to use the restroom.

As soon as she was clear of the conference room windows, she had to resist the urge to run. There must be cameras all around, and if she looked like she had a purpose, rather than lost on the way to the bathroom, this whole thing would be over before it began.

So, instead of rushing through the halls, she meandered, looking around herself, eyebrows scrunched together. She really should have pursued acting, rather than law.

At last, she passed what looked like an empty office. She shut herself inside, and almost giggled in nervous relief when she saw a phone on the desk. She picked it up, knowing the chances of it connecting to Tamlin’s line were close to zero—but—

She dialed one.

Tamlin’s voice erupted through the speaker the second her finger hit the button:

“What do you mean they’re not ready?” Tamlin growled.

Feyre almost gasped at the anger, the vitriol, in her boyfriend’s voice.

A muffled voice responded, so quietly Feyre almost missed it in her surprise at the harshness of her partner's tone. “They need another week.”

“We don’t have a week.” That was Lucien. Quieter, but just as tense as Tamlin.

“There’s no way they’ll be ready for you in time.”

“I don’t give two shits whether they’re ready. We’ll be there on the established date, and they better be ready to implement the recommendations we have already provided.”

The muffled voice didn’t respond.

“Brannagh?” Lucien’s voice cut through the silence.

“We’ll see you in a week.”

“Good.”

The receiver clicked. Feyre bit her lip.

This didn’t mean anything. It proved nothing.

But if it didn’t matter, why was Tamlin so angry? And what did “we’ll be there mean? He hadn’t mentioned going out of town again. . . Was this a local job?

Feyre bit her lip, carefully hanging up the phone before easing back out into the hallway, replaying the conversation she had just heard in her head. What did it mean? Was it innocuous or incriminating? Was it enough to bring to Rhysand?

Feyre wandered down the hallway, now truly on the lookout for the restroom. She had just spotted the signs when a man emerged from a conference room down the hall and to her left, clad in a much less expensive looking suit than the one Tamlin had worn, earbuds firmly fixed in his ears.

Feyre froze, but it was too late. He had seen her.

“What the hell are you doing down here?” The man demanded, striding purposefully toward Feyre.

Feyre swallowed, giving a little shrug and a sheepish smile before she turned down another hall, hopeful the man would conclude that she was the lost girlfriend of one of the many men who occupied the Spring Solutions Tower. Because that was at least one thing Feyre had learned about her partner’s business: very few women were employed there, and if they were, they were secretaries or Ianthe.

Unfortunately, Feyre heard the thundering of heavy footsteps behind her as she rushed down the hallway. Shit.

Feyre ducked into another hallway and threw open the first door she saw, breathing a sigh of relief when the sight of a dim janitorial closet greeted her, complete with mop bucket, broom, and shelves full of various cleaning products. Feyre slipped inside, standing where the door would hide her from view if opened, trying not to remember the few times she had convinced her older sisters to play hide-and-seek with her when they were kids.

Nesta rarely agreed, but Elain had played with her on several occasions, humoring her years-younger sister out of the goodness of her heart.

Feyre shook her head, clutching the hem of her suit jacket as heavy footsteps thudded by.

“Where the hell is she, Belfort?” A voice—this one different from the man with the earbuds—sounded from somewhere to her left.

“Do I look like I know?” The earbud man's voice responded.

Feyre swallowed, grateful when the footsteps faded away. Were these men unfamiliar with the layout of the building? Perhaps they were new . . . Or perhaps they didn’t usually work here. Because if Feyre were searching for a potential intruder, the broom closet would be the first place she checked.

She slid out into the hall, relief coursing through her at the sight of the empty hallway. She rushed back the way she came, looking over her shoulder as she turned back into the hallway where she had met the in-house attorneys—

Her chest collided with a wall of muscle, sweaty hands wrapping themselves around her upper arms in a grip that was just a little too tight.

Feyre turned to face her captor, catching a glimpse of hard dark eyes and a tight jaw, downturned lips and a forehead creased with anger, before a voice from behind the man had him straightening up and releasing Feyre.

“Is there a reason you’re manhandling my girlfriend, Belfort?”

Feyre stumbled backward, craning her neck to catch a glimpse of Tamlin, followed by Lucien and several members of what appeared to be the security team.

“Your girlfriend, sir?” Belfort asked, glaring at Feyre one last time before he turned to face Tamlin. “But—”

Feyre cut him off, striding toward Tamlin and setting a hand on his shoulder. “I got lost on my way to the bathroom. I think they must have thought I was an intruder or something,” she said with a laugh, leaning into her boyfriend’s side.

“Belfort?”

Feyre stared at Belfort and hoped his desire to avoid a disagreement with his boss would win the day.

Evidently it did, because Belfort held up his hands. “My mistake, sir. Please, return to your lunch.”

Tamlin nodded, turning so quickly that he missed the look Feyre caught on Belfort’s face—

It was a look that said, I’m watching you.

------

Feyre stopped at a coffee shop on her way home from Spring Solutions, even allowing herself the time to sit in a booth at the window to drink it. She pulled out her current read—Foster, by Claire Keegan—but the book sat abandoned on the table in front of her as she stared out the wide windows at the streets of Prythian, mulling over the events of the morning.

Tamlin’s anger during his phone call. The man on the other line—Brannagh’s—response. Belfort stalking her through the shiny bright hallways of Spring Solutions just because she had walked down the wrong hallway.

To a court of law, none of this had any meaning.

But that feeling in the pit of Feyre’s stomach, the flash of fear she had felt when Belfort had caught her, the small bruises already forming on her biceps from his grip. . .

Feyre’s instincts told her something was wrong, and she knew she wouldn’t be able to rest until she discovered exactly why.

She took a sip of her coffee, sighing through her nose, resolving to give herself ten minutes to collect her thoughts before she walked the rest of the way home to resume studying.

But any chance to calm herself flew out the window when a man slid into the booth across from her.

Feyre jumped a mile high before she registered the hazel eyes, the classically beautiful features, and the scarred hands.

“Agent Lapis,” she breathed.

The SA held up a hand, his lips pursed. “Please, call me Azriel.”

Feyre glanced around her, as if she hoped to catch a glance of Cassian—or Rhysand—hovering somewhere nearby. But the rest of the cafe was occupied by innocuous coffee drinkers and several students with books and laptops spread across the tables in front of them.

“Azriel,” Feyre said, forcing herself to take another drink from her coffee.

“I’m here for your answer,” he said, eyes scanning the room even as he spoke to her.

When Feyre didn’t respond, his gaze snapped to hers. Whatever he saw there put a frown on his face.

“Are you alright?”

Feyre shifted in her seat, and couldn’t resist the reflexive look she gave the bruises on her biceps.

Azriel’s eyes darkened, his hand tightening on the mug of coffee on the table between them. “What happened,” he breathed, his voice soft, but so lethal it sent goosebumps erupting over the back of Feyre’s neck.

“I got into Spring Solutions today,” Feyre started, but Azriel was already shaking his head.

“We know. What happened inside?” He asked, giving her upper left arm a pointed glance.

Feyre quickly and succinctly relayed the events of her time in Spring Solutions to Azriel, whose stoic expression didn’t waver as he listened.

“None of it means anything,” Feyre finished, running her hands through her hair. “But—I can’t explain it. Something just felt . . . wrong.”

Azriel shook his head. “It might not seem important or groundbreaking to you now, Feyre. But Rome wasn’t built in a day. Any detail learned now could always be useful later. And while none of what you told me today is enough for an indictment. . . It certainly could be if we learned more information.”

Feyre nodded, staying quiet. It was clear Azriel had more to say.

“You did a good thing, today, getting inside Spring Solutions. But if you agree to work with us, we’ll have to establish some ground rules. For your safety, and the good of the investigation.”

“My safety?”

Azriel nodded. “Rhys almost marched into that high-rise after you as soon as we sent him word you had gone there to meet Tamlin.”

Feyre blinked. “Rhys—Rhys knows I got inside?”

Azriel lifted a brow. “He’s the one leading this investigation. We keep him apprised of all notable updates.”

“Ah,” Feyre said, ignoring the cascade of confusing emotions that had unfurled inside her chest and stomach as soon as Azriel had said the words Rhys almost marched in after you.

“But the protocols will come later. What I came here to ask you today was whether you had decided.”

Feyre didn’t ask for further explanation. She knew what the SA meant.

She also knew her answer.

“Yes,” she said, her eyes meeting Azriel’s. “I’ll do it.”

-----

Author's Note: More Rhys is coming, I swear :)

Taglist:

@rhysiedarling @shedoessoshedoes @popjunkie42 @adreamof-spring @that-little-red-head @witch-and-her-witcher @cinnamonmelody @azrielover @1islessthan3books @jenahid @toporecall @martzja @marinated-fish @muaddib-iswriting @queenofdivas

[anamelessfool]

Outlaw F!Reader x "The Ghoul" Cooper Howard (18+ MDNI) Full Fic here on AO3

Chapter 2: A Good Word (AO3 Link Here)

You're not running away from your sins, you're running towards the truth.

The expectation of an Overseer is to be of pleasant temperament, with a neat and well-manicured appearance. You are the friendly face of your Vault, a representation of the hospitality and amiable atomosphere cultivated here at Vault-Tech Industries. And the family at Vault-Tech Industries knows that the best leaders are in their hearts the most dedicated followers.

Tags: Read Em All on AO3, Blood and Gore, Gunplay, Broken Bones, Bandits & Outlaws, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Dystopia, Blood and Injury, Mystery and Intrigue, Western

Full Chapter because it's small below the cut!

White sails…white sails against the blue steel of the vault doors. Dangling like the shattered wings of a seagull. Or at least what you think are seagulls. You have read about them and it is important to keep oneself in the know when it comes to extinct creatures.

Your breath coats the glass of your hazmat helmet while the RAD meter on your PiP boy crackles, whines. It's the historic fog of the estuary. The wind off the ocean blows the moisture almost daily across the land. Fog thick with radiation. The foliage has responded in kind, growing small and meek and clinging to rocks like slime. Around you are the blackened bones of ancient trees, some you knew were hundreds of feet high and thousands of years old. Some of the oldest life forms on the planet. Now their remains stick out from the soil like toothpicks on a cheese platter.

But back to the white sails. You see them now as you come close. It was some sort of glider. A ridable kite.

Your surface recovery team had discovered the craft after hearing a loud bang across the outer vault doors this afternoon. The crash was soon after the thick fog rolled in. The occupant was dying, but he requested to see the Overseer.

He requested to see you. Alone.

And the moment you see him lodged in the ruined cockpit you freeze. He's wearing a gold jumpsuit with blue striped details, an unmistakable mark of authority. An executive. An Overseer of overseers. If the Vaults in Area 33 are little hives of productivity and human civilization, the Executives are the beekeepers. They have their own vault in the center of the molecule that is Area 33. And from there they do what they please. And apparently that includes joyriding gliders along the coast.

You know, rich people stuff. Successful people hobbies.

Your heart starts to pound, but it's not with dread or fear or despair for the pilot.

The executives give out promotions sometimes. Transfers. And even though this one's dying, you always want to give a good impression. You have been working on your resume for a while now, anyway.

“Hello! Welcome to Vault 66!”

You try to be friendly and upbeat, even though the man has been slowly dying from a shattered spine and skull injury for two hours now. “This fog sure is a real chestnut, isn't it?” You chuckle. “Although I bet the views of the ocean from up where you were flying were spectacular.”

“They….were…”

You cheerily give him your name. Your title. You would shake the man's hand if it wasn't permanently pinned under some sort of crumpled control panel. “You wanted to see me, sir?”

“Yes…” He coughs, groans. “Come close. Closer.”

You position yourself as deep into the cockpit as your clunky hazmat helmet will allow.

The executive winces and recovers. “Unzip my jumpsuit.”

“Uh…” Your brow furrows as you search your mind for protocol. You don't remember this being a scenario from the training slideshows. Is this considered workplace harassment? Quid pro quo? Personal space issues? To be fair, the destroyed remains of a vehicular accident could be classed as a hostile work environment. You give him a small, polite smile. “Repeat that again, sir?”

“Unzip my jumpsuit. That's an order, Overseer.”

“Sure thing, sir,” you laugh nervously, and unzip the front to expose his stained undershirt.

“Inner…left…pocket….” He screws up his eyes in pain, expelling air across the glass of your helmet.

“Heh, right away,” you say, reaching a little too close to a man you just met. That pocket is usually reserved for private things. Vitamins. Tissues. Feminine products. Fertility Tablets. Anti-fertility tablets. Intimate….devices. Not really something that another person reaches in unless they have a headcold or are busy repopulating the planet. What comes out of his inner pocket is an item you've never seen before. It’s small, half the size of a PiP boy screen, and thin. Made of a gold material. The front has a small digital panel that displays a long serial number that as you stare at it, wipes away and reconfigures every thirty seconds. You flip the little device over and a shine slides across it— you're convinced it's made of pure gold with some sort of tiny nuclear battery inside. A pocket atomic clock. To tell what, you're unsure. On the back is stamped a few mysterious numbers:

34.8559704, -111.7801052

You flash him a friendly smile but you feel the strain behind your eyes. “Um sir, what is this?”

“Vault Tech Company Property. Absolutely top secret. Override previous protocol. You are to keep this in your intimates pocket until further notice. You are not to inform a soul.” He coughs again, and blood flecks across the glass of your mask. “Got, that Vault 33-66 Overseer?”

You throw on your professional service smile, nodding with gratitude. “My pleasure, sir! Would—”

You start to request that he put in a good word for you but then you suddenly remember that the only other executive he's going to see soon is his own Maker.

“And another order, Overseer.”

“Hmm? What's that?”

“I'm giving you authorization to put me out of my goddam misery.”

“Oh…right.” You laugh nervously, pulling your gun from its holster at your hip. Lucky for him it was mating season for the RAD Seals and without a solid authentic piece a topside forager would be a pile of bone and jelly on the beach. You cock it and press it to his head, leaning back and getting into Stabilized Proper Armament Form (SPAF). “Well, sir, it's been a pleasure. Thanks for stopping by.”

And you pull the trigger.

My Fic List (Oops all Ghost!)

[piratesexmachine420]

Expanding and cleaning up on a conversion I had with @suntreehq in the comments of this post:

Ruby is fine, I'm just being dramatic. It's not nearly as incomprehensible as I find JavaScript, Perl, or Python. I think it makes some clumsy missteps, and it wouldn't be my first (or even fifth) choice if I were starting a new project, but insofar as I need to use it in my Software Engineering class I can adapt.

There are even things I like about it -- it's just that all of them are better implemented in the languages Ruby borrows them from. I don't want Lisp with Eiffel's semantics, I want Lisp with Lisp's semantics. I don't want Ada with Perl's type system, I want Ada with Ada's type system.

One of these missteps to me is how it (apparently) refuses to adopt popular convention when it comes to the names and purposes of its keywords.

Take yield. In every language I've ever used, yield has been used for one purpose: suspending the current execution frame and returning to something else. In POSIX C, this is done with pthread_yield(), which signals the thread implementation that the current thread isn't doing anything and something else should be scheduled instead. In languages with coroutines, like unstable Rust, the yield keyword is used to pause execution of the current coroutine and optionally return a value (e.g. yield 7; or yield foo.bar;), execution can then be resumed by calling x.resume(), where x is some coroutine. In languages with generators, like Python, the behavior is very similar.

In Ruby, this is backwards. It doesn't behave like a return, it behaves like a call. It's literally just syntax sugar for using the call method of blocks/procs/lambdas. We're not temporarily returning to another execution frame, we're entering a new one! Those are very similar actions, but they're not the same. Why not call it "run" or "enter" or "call" or something else less likely to confuse?

Another annoyance comes in the form of the throw and catch keywords. These are almost universally (in my experience) associated with exception handling, as popularized by Java. Not so in Ruby! For some unfathomable reason, throw is used to mean the same thing as Rust or C2Y's break-label -- i.e. to quickly get out of tightly nested control flow when no more work needs to be done. Ruby does have keywords that behave identically to e.g. Java or C++'s throw and catch, but they're called raise and rescue, respectively.

That's not to say raise and rescue aren't precedented (e.g. Eiffel and Python) but they're less common, and it doesn't change the fact that it's goofy to have both them and throw/catch with such similar but different purposes. It's just going to trip people up! Matsumoto could have picked any keywords he could have possibly wanted, and yet he picked the ones (in my opinion) most likely to confuse.

I have plenty more and deeper grievances with Ruby too (sigils, throws being able to unwind the call stack, object member variables being determined at runtime, OOP in general being IMO a clumsy paradigm, the confusing and non-orthogonal ways it handles object references and allocation, the attr_ pseudo-methods feeling hacky, initialization implying declaration, the existence of "instance_variable_get" totally undermining scope visibility, etc., etc.) but these are I think particularly glaring (if inconsequential).

[emeraldcatears]

Battles: an introduction

There's a reason I've been hesitating about talking about the battle system in the learnalong: it's been hard to figure out where to start.

In order to build a battle system from what RMXP gives you as tools you need to explore multiple tabs in the database, each of which probably deserve their own deep dives.

Then I realized that, yeah, they do deserve their own deep dives. And I don't have to dive into them all at once. I can just make an introduction to those parts and make different entries later for the details.

So to introduce battles, let's look at some of the options in the System 1 tab.

I'm starting with the System 1 tab rather than Enemies, Troops, Classes, or other tabs because here's where some defining parts of the battle system come into play.

Battle Screen is probably the simplest choice you can make here. It simply determines whether you display the enemies in front of the portraits of the actors in the player's party or if the enemies and side-view actors battle side-to-side.

If you select Front-View...

you'll just get the heroes at the bottom of the screen with all their Health and skill-using MP and TP bars visible. The enemies will be in the main part of the screen.

(Don't worry about my fourth actor slot not having a face. I've been playing around with some things instead of using the default party and just haven't decided what the 4th should look like yet.)

Whereas the Side-view option...

Uses the side-view battlers to make the fight appear more dynamic. The battlers made in the generator do all the animation frames for you, making them easy to add. However, the enemies aren't animated. Having animated heroes and still enemies might draw attention to the difference between the two. I think there are plug-ins to animate the enemies too, but that also means you'd have to actually make the art for the animated enemies (or any actors not made in the generator).

Either way, the choice here is up to the dev. It affects the look of battle, not the actual mechanics.

The Battle System options, on the other hand, determine battle mechanics.

In a turn-based system the player selects actions for all the party members. Once those are chosen, the heroes and enemies take their actions in order based on their Agility stats (stats to be explored later).

It's pretty simple and straightforward. What about those other two options? Well...

They're pretty similar. In the Time Progress system each actor is given a bar that fills as time passes (how fast is fills is based on agility) and the player can pick their action upon filling the bar. The action then executes. Of course, the enemies are also making their own moves during this time.

The difference between these is whether time continues to pass (and enemies can get turns in) while the player is making their choices or if the action is paused upon one of the player's party becoming available for command input and doesn't resume until the player enters their choice.

I personally would probably prefer Time Progression (Wait) or Turn-Based for accessibility. Your party won't get beaten up by the enemies while you're distracted by something!

Of course, which one works best depends on your own preferences and you can test them out for yourself pretty easily to get a feel for them.

Once you've picked a style, pop into the Troops tab and pick Battle Test against a troop of your choice to see how that style plays for you!

TP is a resource like MP that the characters can draw on to use skills, but it's optional to include it in your system. You can even hide the TP bar if you don't want it.

Like so.

As for how TP differs from MP? It kind of works like Breath in Flight Rising. The actors are given more TP for taking certain actions (and a small amount is even generated at the beginning of battle!). Once you have enough built up you can use skills that use TP as a cost, as opposed to MP.

The TP bar caps at the same amount (100) for every actor regardless of class, unlike MP that is adjusted by things like class and level. Whether you want to use TP for your skills or just turn it off and make everything cost MP is up to you.

What about all those other tabs? How do you give the actors and enemies stats and skills and armor and....

Yeah, that's the reason this is going to be an overview and not a deep dive on the other parts of battle. There's a lot that goes into making a battle system and even more that goes into balancing one. But in brief...

Our Heroes

You can select a Class in the Actor tab from a dropdown in General Settings. An actor's stats mostly come from their class.

As does just about everything else, unless you chose to set these traits on the character page. See, the Traits section located in both Actor and Class sections can determine what an actor of that class can equip and how they can fight (magic, special skills, or both).

Which also leads us to many other tabs! The Types tab is where you can define the subgroups of weapons and armor (such as the Bow, Crossbow, Light Armor, and General Armor that the Hunter is able to use) or Skill Types (Magic, Special, or more if you add them).

And of course the armors, weapons, and skills themselves have more details to dive into. I'll eventually tackle each individually.

And in the Other Corner...

Likewise, enemies are built in other tabs as well. Yes, tabs in the plural. See, an individual enemy is put together in the enemies tab where all the actions and stats it has access to are defined. But that just makes an opponent. To actually battle the opponent...

... you have to add them to a Troop in the Troops tab (even if it's a troop of one).

This is also the tab we looked at a little before, where battle testing can occur.

So play with battle tests to determine whether you prefer Time or Turns and such. Nothing beats actually testing the battles to tell you what will work best for you. Meanwhile, I'll prepare for some of those other tabs getting their own deep dives.

[dballzposting]

okay this is gonna sound maybe kinda wild but i need you to bear with me here. on account of i just had this thought but i have hit post limit and you're the only person i can trust with this

videl is a whiskey drinker. you know this, i know this, everyone knows this. it doesn't affect her. she's been sneaking a little bit ever since she was big enough to reach the bottle, bc Dad said it was a Real Man's Drink and she had something to prove.

Videl does not drink to excess, but even drunk videl is not that much different from normal videl. maybe a little floppier. maybe a little less testy. whatever.

but gohan?

gohan starts with wine. it's a low alcohol content. it's refined, it's classy, it fits the image of the future he wants. and, most importantly, he wouldn't feel embarrassed if his mom found out he had a glass of wine. She wouldn't be happy about him drinking alcohol, but she would Understand.

wrong fucking move.

he has one glass. He hates the way it makes him feel. The control he's fought so hard for slips away. he melts into Dionysus' bestial embrace.

all of a sudden his instincts kick in and he's fighting for control silently in his own mind. Stone-faced and wild-eyed, he sits alone in his dark bedroom. And when Videl opens the door, he makes unblinking eye contact. For several moments, her heart freezes and she understands that her husband is truly half-alien; something wretched from beyond the stars lurks in his chest.

he says, with no emotion expressed, 'we're alive, you and I.'

and her heart resumes

she walks up to the bed and sits on her knees next to gohan. she softly touches his face, and he gently, reverently, takes her forearm in his mouth like a dog.

she strokes his hair with her other hand, and he lets go. he looks up at her with sad, sad eyes. he speaks again

'I want to hunt a rabbit. not like a man, with guns and traps and ki, but like a quick and clever creature. the claws on my hands and the teeth in my mouth.'

and then, in the dim light of the hallway, videl looks at the nightstand and sees a cup and a bottle with just enough wine missing to deduce he has had one (1) glass of Sauvignon Blanc.

and after cooking up the steak she was saving for after she won the poker tournament tomorrow to sate gohan's bloodhunger, she puts him to bed and calls up Chi-Chi.

(I don't have an ending for this i just think that most aliens in dbz, saiyans especially, have a really low alcohol tolerance for reasons that would take forever to explain, and that gohan especially would be weird bc he has had so much training specifically to deal with his instincts and emotions, and that alcohol would interfere with the execution of that training but not the understanding of it)

thank you if you took the time to read this!

thank you if you took the time to read this!

Hey I think I need to answer this now like right now becos it was sent tonight and there is no way that this will be permissible tomorrow.

OK WElll let's see here let's break this down. Have no fear audience members we will get throuhg thsi

OK first of all

im sleepy let me think about this one.

You Have Hit Post Limit Yet Again.

Videl drinks whiskey the same way she smokes cigars ok got it. She's always been able to detect on some level the vacancy in her father where his spine should be so she's always known that titles like "Real Man" were empty aesthetics and that she herself captured the REAL ideals without having to boast it. But at some point she has to say something to give people something to listen to when their eyes fail them. She drinks that whiskey and she doesn't need to but she's damn good at it

Wine "fits the image of the future [Gohan] wants" ... It's a future that has the luxury to build itself on levels of social games like aesthetics and class and propriety ... it has the luxury of peace. Plus it's a fun fruity color. Lol.

THE IDEA THAT ONE (1) GLASS OF WINE JUST COMPLETELY FUCKING UNDOES HIM ?

He's had to fight for control and this control just puts its hat on and walks out the frontal cortex at the slightest flavor of alcohol. Like Ok I'm out. Bye

OK like actually everything about Gohan & Videl's relationship and interactions is completely the notion of Wearing Class on top of Beastliness. A dapper hat and bloody fangs. Vampires in the city. Complex mammalian social interactions being the most phylogenetically recent adaption to the nervous system and it necessarily has communications with the "lower" systems and making sense of the whole system is what makes us human. In my earlier post today I almost said something about Videl marrying the knives of intellect with the force of shadows but i coudnt figure out how to phrase it. I still can't. My point is that I think that this ask will cohere going forward but let's find out

He would sit there stone faced in the dark willing the moment to pass that is so Goahn ...

She literally would understand perfectly and she would give him her arm. He's an alien and something beyond the stars lurks unarticulated yet thriving in his being and she would see that and duely freeze as a human ought but she would feel like "FINALLY something that fucking MAKES SENSE" like she would get it

Because she KNOOOWS that she's gonna win the poker tournamnet. Gonna be honest. I think that it's gonna be Krillin's lucky night. Unless it's a woman-only tournament. Then I'm thinking that Bulma almost wins until A18 smoothly takes over at the last second. But Videl wins the other times. We just can't all be winners allof the time....

She's cooking the steak and he's pacing like a sad dog miserably musing that "it's not gonna be enough" and she has to be like "Look how red it is. Look how warm. Pretend it's fresh-killed." and Gohan remebers when he was a little boy when he was surviving in the wild, there was this dickhead dinosaur who always tried to get at him and Gohan would slice off a bit of its tail and eat it every time he won the fight. And the dinosaur kept trying. And Gohan almsot felt bad about it but now he's understasnding more than ever that winning or losing are just the outcomes of the NECESSARY NEED TO HUNT, it was righteous and essential that he and that dinosaur continuously engaged with each other and the dinosaur had no choice by nature. so he doesnt feel bad anymore in fact he feels thrilled at having partaken. And he feels big for winning. And he eats the steak and Videl offers that red wine goes good with red meat and he says NO PLEASE NO GOD. NO

OK like yes in the dragon ball that we see on screen it would track for Videl to call Chichi on the phone and garner a light commiseration re: Alien Husbands without actually disclosing any details at all, and even gather some productive insight or info. BUT The Chichi that I know is like "Laura" by Billy Joel and everything is about her feelings and so we honestly wanna keep her as far from the genuine lived experience of others as possible.

I'll believe you about the alcohol thign.

Also I'm gonna interject and say that Feeling your Feelings w/o judgement and w/o needing to take action about them is so imporatant and I wish that Gohan wouldnt fight himself down so much.

But I get it like he's more than an animal he's an alien and there's nothing more primal than being the improbable lovechild of a human and an alien and he will never know if what he is feeling is "acceptable" or "alien and fucked up" and he fears it all same

EVERYBIODY SLEEP TIGHT or WAKE UP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[another-dr-another]

hmm lets stand on our podium

Maeda, narrating - Mhm… I don’t think I want to try any other conversations right now.

Maeda - I guess I’ll just wait at my podium- nothing better to do.

~*~

Maeda - …

Maeda - I think everyone’s starting to quiet down- lots of people are near their podiums still.

Monokuma - There Is One Minute Remaining For The Trial Intermission.

Monokuma - At The End Of The Intermission, The Class Trial Will Resume; There Will Not Be Another Break In The Class Trial, Proceedings Will Move Forward Through Sentencing And Execution.

Monokuma - All Rules Alleviated For The Trial Intermission Will Be Reinstated Upon The End Of The Trial Intermission. 

Monokuma - The Faculty Of Hopes Peak Academy Would Like To Recommend Students Return To Their Podiums Prior To The Resumption Of The Class Trial.

Maeda - …

Kobashikawa - …

Maki - …I bet that announcement took up most of the minute.

Taira - …

Taira - It’d be better if the announcements weren’t timed like that, but I do think you’re right.

Tsurugi - Okay.

//Tsurugi stands- from what Maeda can see, he was sitting on the floor behind his podium, facing Tomori and Uehara, who were both leaning against the point where their podiums connect with Tsurugi’s.

Tsurugi - All that really changed is that we didn’t have to ask to leave our podiums. We can still stop and take breaks during the trial if we really need to, it’s fine-

Tsurugi - Does anyone need anything now, though?

//Maeda looks around- no one responds to Tsurugi.

Maeda - Who isn’t at their podium…

//Kobashikawa had just stepped onto his podium when the announcement played, joining Taira and Ōtori (who had been talking), Maeda (who had only returned to his a moment earlier), and… Hatano, who never left hers.

Maeda - I don’t think she even move- Oh!

//Hatano had only sat at her podium throughout the intermission, but she’s standing again now.

Hatano - …

//She’s staring ahead, gaze lowered slightly towards the floor- but Maeda can clearly see that she’s been crying.

Maeda - …

//Hatano isn’t crying now, though. She… seems to have steeled herself.

Maeda - …

Tsurugi - …Okay.

//Maeda watches as Tomori stands, stretching a bit as she steps onto her podium. Next to her, Tsurugi’s eyes flicker around the room- Maeda’s gaze following as he settles on Uehara.

Uehara - …

//He hasn’t stood up.

Tsurugi - …

//Tsurugi approaches Uehara, and starts to try and pull him up.

Maeda - Is he… not actually on his podium?

Maeda - I can’t completely see, but I thought he was sitting on it…

//If Tsurugi’s actions are anything to go off, Maeda’s correct- Uehara isn’t on his podium, and he’s making no move to fix this. Tsurugi frowns, and continues to try and maneuver Uehara. Maeda can’t see him as well, but from what he can see, Uehara’s unconcerned. 

Tsurugi - …

//It’s like moving a rag doll that happens to have thirty centimeters on you- Tsurugi seems to be holding his own, but progress is slower than it could be. The most movement Maeda catches from him is a slight smile, spreading across Uehara’s face after Tsurugi finally gets Uehara’s torso over his shoulder. His eyes widen, then relax, as he grins to himself. In sharp contrast, Maeda watches as Tsurugi’s expression shifts, not from strain, but… frustration, perhaps? He grimaces, and shuts his eyes, and scrunches his nose, seemingly trying to kick Uehara’s legs onto his podium while his arms are busy supporting Uehara’s torso.

Tsurugi, frustrated - …

//Uehara stumbles slightly, and Tsurugi steps onto his own podium. The chime of the ten-second countdown starts to play.

Maeda - Really coming down to the wire…

//Some of the other students seem to have noticed what’s happening- Maeda glances at Tomori, who looks away from him, and focuses back on Tsurugi and Uehara.

Maeda - She doesn’t have time to run over- assuming that's what she’s thinking.

//There’s nothing grand- no final movement, no push, shove, or thump, that shows Tsurugi succeeded in his task. The song plays familiar notes all making Maeda’s heart twitch as Uehara continues to hang over Tsurugi.

Monokuma - Trial Intermission Is Finished. 

Maeda - …?

Monokuma - All Students Have Returned To Their Podium. 

Maeda - Oh, thank God.

Monokuma - No Rule Violations Have Been Detected.

Monokuma - The Class Trial Will Now Resume.

Maeda - I don’t know what I would have done if there’d been a-

Maeda - …

Maeda - I don’t see any guns in here.

Maeda - If Uehara had violated a rule… we would have had to watch him die the way Iranami did.

//…The visual makes Maeda feel nauseous.

Maeda - Though… I guess it’s nice it’d be quick. I don’t know how long it takes to die from a gunshot.

//Maeda looks back at Uehara-

Maeda - Oh!

//He’s surprised to see Uehara standing up- though, he remains flush with Tsurugi. Earlier, he was thrown over Tsurugi’s right shoulder, and had his right arm over Tsurugi’s left shoulder. All that’s really changed is that he’s standing now, so Tsurugi’s tucked into his side. One forearm is draped lazily on Tsurugi’s shoulder, while the other, the left, is further from Maeda, but seems to be resting on Tsurugi’s back. He still has that smile painted on his face, a mix of soft and strong, but the fact he’s standing allows him to actually look at Tsurugi. They aren’t making eye contact, though- Tsurugi has hidden his face away, and Maeda… can’t tell if he’s laughing, or crying.

Maeda - …

//Tsurugi turns a bit, tilting his head up towards Uehara- it’s clear that the answer is both.

Maeda - …

Taira - …

Hatano - …

Tomori - …Okay. Where do we start?

Maeda - Mm…

Maeda - What… what did we do at the start of the trial, again?

Kobashikawa - …

Maki - We didn’t… all make it into Tsurugi’s dorm, right? Maybe we should go over what we could see in there, for anyone who doesn’t know.

Maeda - Right- we argued over which case to start with, and decided to begin with Iranami’s… that doesn’t really help here.

Tomori - …Yeah, alright-

Tomori - Uh, first though- raise your hand if you didn’t go into Tsurugi’s dorm?

//It takes a moment- but Ōtori, Hatano, and Taira all raise their hands.

Maeda - This is a fine place to start at, I think.

Tomori - Okay…

Tomori - Uh, first thing that happened was… when everyone else left, Kobashikawa and I stayed behind to be on guard duty. Maeda came in, so he and I investigated Higa’s body.

Taira - Why didn’t you and Kobashikawa investigate?

Tomori - …Neither of us suggested it. I think we were both still… kinda in shock, about what had happened.

Tomori - Maeda didn’t take too long to come in, it was definitely towards the start of the investigation- we just needed a bit of time to collect ourselves.

Tomori - Once Maeda was there, I helped him investigate. 

Kobashikawa - …

Ōtori - …

Maeda - …Tomori and I were able to notice a few weird things that weren’t in the Monofile, but nothing huge.

Maeda - We think it was death by asphyxiation, because some of the skin on his neck looked a bit weird…

Maeda - There was a pillow on Tsurugi’s bed frame that had some dried blood on it- but it was dried, so it could’ve been old, and Higa didn’t have any cuts or anything.

Tomori - Plus, the location of the blood doesn’t match up with it being from Higa’s attacker. If they suffocated him with the pillow, then they’d have had their hands on the outside of the pillow, so the blood would drip down there.

Tomori - But it was at the center of the pillow, so… while that could have been the pillow used to suffocate Higa, it doesn’t seem like the blood was relevant.

Tsurugi - …So we can’t use injuries to try and narrow things down.

Tomori - Nope.

Tsurugi - …Kay.

Maeda - …Tsurugi and Uehara came in, I left to go back to the dining hall for a minute, then I went back to Tsurugi’s dorm… to talk with Tsurugi and Uehara, because Hatano had some questions.

Maeda - After a few conversations- this was when I found out about the trip to the dining hall- Tsurugi and I went to the dining hall. Kobashikawa… had left, so Uehara and Tomori were guarding Higa.

Maeda - Maki left to go investigate Higa’s body, then took over as guard- as far as I know, that’s everyone who went into Tsurugi’s dorm room.

Ōtori - Okay…

Ōtori - …Sorry- what does all of this matter, again?

Tomori - Oh, I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t forgetting anything- it was nice to have a synopsis, wasn’t it?

Kobashikawa - …

Maeda - I kind of omitted some stuff… mostly about Kobashikawa- but it shouldn’t really matter.

Tomori - Well, anyways…

Tomori - Maeda and I didn’t get very far with our investigation, but luckily, I think you were able to work some stuff out… right, Maki?

Maki - …

Maki - Yeah. That’s, uh… that’s right.

Maki - That’s why I wanted to go look at Higa- since the Monokuma files were so empty, I thought I could try to clear some stuff up.

Maki, murmuring - Not sure how much it’ll help, but…

Maki - Mostly, I was trying to work out the times of death- I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to get an exact “when”, just by looking at them, but I wanted to work out who died first.

Maki - …

Maki - But, the problem is- we know now that Iranami didn’t experience a normal rate of… change, and that her case was independent of Higa’s.

Maki - So… honestly, I don’t have much to say. I agree with Maeda and Tomori, about the cause of death-

Maki - No other injuries, no marks, and no tools nearby that we could pin as the murder weapon. Strangulation just needs your hands, though a pillow helps- and it can be fairly invisible, at least to the naked eye.

Taira - …Are you sure you didn’t find anything weird while you checked Tsurugi’s dorm, Maeda?

Maeda - I’m sure… 

Maeda - I found Iranami’s ribbon, nothing else. There was the stuff we used last night, like markers, and cards- no deadly weapons.

//Taira hums.

Maeda - …What. Is there something you’re thinking about?

Taira - No, there isn’t. It’s only the fact that you’re the only person who seems to have checked the items in the room, so we’re dependent on your words.

Taira - If you’re confident you didn’t miss anything, no one has reason to object. And, if you aren’t confident… we should just hope that the case doesn’t end up depending on your testimony.

Maeda - …Jesus, okay. That’s nauseating to hear.

Taira - Maki, would you mind sharing what you learned for us anyway?

Maki - Yeah, of course-

Maki - Higa did have some light marks on his neck, which could indicate damage having been dealt to it. Seeing as there weren't any other marks on him… it shows something did happen there.

Maki - Uhm…

Maki - When I got to Tsurugi’s dorm, it was… ten? Ten-thirty?

Maki - His body had reached full rigor mortis by this point, so…

Maki - …

Maki - …He would have died… anywhere between six and twelve hours before I was investigating- that comes out to ten-thirty PM, last night, or four-thirty, this morning.

Ōtori - It would have been after ten-thirty. People were still up at that point- night time starts at eleven, and we left before that started.

Taira - Still, though, it gives us an upper limit, which is an improvement on what we knew… even though it doesn’t tell us when he truly died.

Maki - …

Tomori - …Dang.

Tomori - If Higa hadn’t been part of the dining hall trip, I’d have suggested that he could have died before the trip.

Uehara - …But everyone was still up? Someone would have noticed.

Tomori - Mm…

Maeda - …So, Higa died sometime after the dining hall trip ended, which was… what, did you guys get back by eleven?

Ōtori - …We must have. The announcement went off after we got back-

Ōtori - Which brings me to my next point. I took a while to fall asleep, I remember waking up due to the noise of the announcement, when I was starting to drift off.

Ōtori - So, Higa died at some point after eleven- could we say between eleven-thirty, and four-thirty?

Tomori - He could have died before everyone was asleep… the death must have been quiet, for no one to hear- so, unless anyone was looking at him…

Maeda - I wasn’t in the right spot for that… maybe Taira could have seen him, but she’d have to have had her head tilted up- be intentionally staring at him.

Maeda - …Again- the only people near Higa were Tsurugi and Uehara.

Ōtori - …I guess we can’t say with certainty that everyone was asleep when he died.

Tomori - Yeah! It even took us a while to discover his body in the morning…

Taira - Hm… 

Taira - I wonder if there is something that could be used to narrow things down a bit more? It’d certainly help us to know.

Taira - Though, if everyone fell asleep shortly after the morning announcement, there isn’t anything to be done.

Kobashikawa - …

Kobashikawa - …Uh…

Maeda - …

//…Maeda seems to be the only one who catches how Kobashikawa’s hand twitches towards his whiteboard.

Maeda - …Is he…

//…He doesn’t reach for his pen again.

Kobashikawa - …

Maeda - …I bet he wants to confess to what happened last night.

Tsurugi - …Hm.

Maeda - Ah!

Maeda - Tsurugi knows too… and Ōtori, for the matter.

Tsurugi - …Maki? Would you mind clarifying how you got your estimated time of death?

Maeda - …Oh?

Maki - …

Maki - My numbers are a bit off, aren’t they?

//Tsurugi smiles at her.

Tsurugi - Mhm. You know how that happened, or…?

Maki - …I think I latched onto when rigor mortis can fully set in, and didn’t factor everything in right.

Tsurugi - Ahh, that’d explain it!

Tsurugi - …Do you want to explain? Or would you like for me to?

Maki - Lemme do it.

Uehara - Wait- what’s going on?

Hatano - Give her a second to explain, and you’ll learn.

Uehara - Oh…

Tomori - Something's off about the rigor mortis, Maki?

Maki - No, the issue is how I calculated when he could have died. Even if we hadn’t been able to confirm he was awake after ten-thirty, the fact rigor mortis had fully set in doesn’t mean he died twelve hours ago.

Maki - I tried to determine his time of death by using the fact that rigor mortis can take anywhere between six and twelve hours to fully set in- 

Maki - Since it had fully set in for Higa, he could have been killed six hours at the earliest, but it could be anywhere up to twelve hours ago.

Maki - Which, side note, if rigor mortis hadn’t set in, we’d know he died within the last twelve hours.

Maki - But, anyways… the problem with my theory is, once rigor mortis has set in, it takes an additional twelve hours for the body to relax again.

Maki - So, he could have died seven hours ago, or thirteen, or, at maximum, twenty four hours from when I started to investigate.

Maki - It’s really a window between six hours, and twenty four. But that lower limit can be defined better if we use a method other than rigor mortis, so… it’s whatever. Just a mistake on my end.

Taira - …So this was never going to narrow down when he died.

Tsurugi - It’s good to know, though!

Tsurugi - You can’t ever tell if you’ll have to look at something still soft… though, I don’t really remember how rigor mortis effects animals.

Tsurugi - Ah, on the topic though- it’ll typically take around three hours for rigor mortis to start setting in! All the muscles relax, then the body stiffens, then relaxes again. It can start to stiffen… within the first half hour, but… typically by three hours. 

Tsurugi - Anyways!

Tsurugi - We know Higa was dead by 4:30, at least! And that’s good to confirm.

Taira - …

Ōtori - …

Ōtori - Okay.

Ōtori - We know Higa died between… midnight and 4:30, and it was probably asphyxiation, or something to do with his neck.

Ōtori - Do we have anything that actually points to a suspect?

Maki - Hey, Ōtori, any poisons that don’t show externally after they’ve killed someone?

Ōtori - …Fuck off.

Kobashikawa - …

Tomori - Well, I think it’s good to have a feel for when it might’ve happened- helps narrow down the suspect pool some, right?

Maki - Right…

Maki - If it looked like Higa could have died just before the morning announcement, we’d be asking Ōtori, Hatano, and Maeda about what they know, to try and see if one of them killed him.

Maki - But it wasn’t- not necessarily- because Higa didn’t die when they were awake.

Tomori - …Speaking of, when did everyone wake up?

Ōtori - …

Ōtori - Maeda was still asleep when I woke up.

Ōtori - …I’m not sure about Hatano.

Uehara - I don’t know when I woke up… maybe it was at the announcement?

Tsurugi - …A few minutes before. I was up before Uehara was… two or three minutes earlier? Total of five minutes before the announcement, I guess.

Kobashikawa - …

Kobashikawa - I woke up to the body discovery announcement.

Maki - I did too.

Taira - …I must have woken up when Ōtori, Maeda, and Hatano left for the dining hall.

Maeda - …

Maeda - Weren’t you up later last night, too?

Taira - Ah, you remember that?

Maeda - …

//Maeda feels his mouth go dry, as his stomach twists.

Taira - I can sleep a bit fitfully. I usually only sleep for a few hours at a time, so I sleep throughout the day to make up for it.

Taira - I tried to stay up yesterday, though, so I’d sleep through the night.

Tsurugi - …Wait, were you going to go back to your normal sleep schedule today?

Taira - …I was hoping to, yes. 

Tsurugi - Oh no! Horrible trial…

Tsurugi - WAIT wait-

Tsurugi - Taira, I have cans of cold brew, do you want one?

Taira - …

Maeda - …

Taira - I’ll take one.

Tsurugi - Cool, cool-

Tsurugi - Monokuma, may I leave my podium?

Monokuma - Permission Denied.

Tsurugi - Oh.

Uehara - …Wait, what the fuck?

Tsurugi - Okay.

Tsurugi - Taira, wanna catch?

Taira - Sure.

Maeda - Maybe if Uehara could pass it to me, I could pass it to Taira…

Maeda - I don’t know if that’d work, but I think so? Going the other way around is… way harder, there’s four podiums between Maki and Kobashikawa.

//Tsurugi tosses the can to Taira.

Taira - …

//It slips just past her fingers, and lands on the floor behind her.

Maeda - …We should have gone with the passing it around idea.

Tsurugi - …I am so sorry, Taira.

Taira - It’s fine. I can try to reach it.

//Maeda looks over at Taira as she tries to reach the can of cold brew.

Maeda - …At least it didn’t pop on impact.

Ōtori - …You know, it actually isn’t hard to keep carbonated drinks from exploding if they get shaken. Just have to tap the sides.

Maki - …

Kobashikawa - Carbonated cold brew sounds… bad.

Ōtori - …

//Taira stands, cold brew in hand. It’s loud when she opens it- but no mess.

Maeda - Because it’s not… carbonated, or anything.

Maeda - Uh. Yeah.

Taira - Tomori, you’re usually up fairly early, aren’t you? You haven’t mentioned when you were awake.

Tomori - Oh. Yeah, that’s right, but I tend to sleep in during sleepovers.

Tomori - I don’t know why, but I remember having to- be woken up by the other members of my squad when we’d travel for games.

Taira - Ah…

Taira - Seems your question wasn’t very… fruitful, then.

Tomori - …No.

Kobashikawa - Did everyone answer?

Maeda - I mean…

Maeda - I don’t know. I woke up after Ōtori.

Maki - Was he the first one awake, then?

Maeda - That… might look bad for Ōtori, if that’s the case.

Maeda - If he’s used to early mornings for work, or running on low sleep… maybe he was awake within the timeframe Higa died in.

Hatano - …

Hatano - I was the first one awake. I heard Ōtori wake up.

Maeda - Ah!

Maeda - “Heard”?

Hatano - His blankets moved, I heard him yawn…

Hatano - You can tell when someone wakes up.

Maeda - I know what she means… if she’s confident, then I don’t have an issue with the testimony.

Maki - …Did Ōtori and Maeda wake up shortly after each other?

Hatano - …

Hatano - Five minutes, maybe ten. I might’ve been up for twenty minutes before Ōtori woke up.

Taira - Then, it seems everyone was asleep during that latest time of death we determined, yes?

Maki - …But that’s fine. It was just a way of getting more information.

Taira - That’s fair. Where do you want to go from here though?

Maki - …I wonder who’d be capable of asphyxiation…

Ōtori - …

Ōtori - I feel like anyone could- isn’t it more relevant how they kept Higa from making any noise? If no one noticed anything…

Maki - Well, we don’t have proof the pillow wasn’t used. That could’ve muffled things.

Ōtori - But the absence of proof isn’t proof in and of itself, not here, when it’s conjecture.

Kobashikawa - Hey.

Maki - But it’s a start.

Ōtori - A false start! It won’t get us anywhere!

Maeda - Guys-

Tomori - Wait a second, please.

Tomori - Kobashikawa, what is it?

Kobashikawa - …

//Kobashikawa stops. And stares at everyone, for just a moment.

Kobashikawa - I have a testimony I’d like to give.

//His face is neutral. Completely steeled, lacking anything but professionalism.

Kobashikawa - I don’t see how it helps us understand what happens last night…

Kobashikawa - But if we’re trying to establish everything we can about the timeline, then…

Kobashikawa - Well, I’d honestly just like to share what I know anyways. I… I don’t want to feel like I’m hiding something.

//Typically, if neutral, Kobashikawa has an air of indifference, or a feeling of casualty in how he holds himself.

Kobashikawa - Though, if someone can come up with a way it helps, that’d be nice.

Maki - …Can you narrow down the timeline some more?

Kobashikawa - I can.

//The absence of any emotion feels wrong.

Kobashikawa - I was awake… probably half an hour before midnight.

Kobashikawa - I have a few people who can verify this.

//He caps his marker… though he should be expecting to use it again soon.

Hatano - …Why didn’t anyone mention this.

Tsurugi - …

Ōtori - …Kobashikawa’s right. It shouldn’t have any connection to the murder-

Ōtori - Clarifying the timeline is the only reason we’d bring it up… and even then, all it does is give us another limit we know we’re working with.

Ōtori - When we don’t have any proof that anyone woke up at all last night…

Ōtori - Well, it doesn’t really matter if another half hour went by, does it?

//Kobashikawa twists the cap of his marker- he doesn’t take it off, just spins the plastic around.

Maeda - …

Taira - …Kobashikawa didn’t investigate Higa’s body, did he?

Taira - And a testimony that seems to have gone unreported…

Kobashikawa - …I…

Kobashikawa - …I forgot. Really, I was practically asleep…

Maeda - …

Taira - Hm…

Maki - I mean… it’s good you remembered eventually- and chose to share the information with us.

Maki - I want to hear the full story, though.

Kobashikawa - …Yeah, of course.

~*~

Maeda, narrating - …I don’t…

Maeda - …Mm.

Maeda - …

Maeda - I think… it’s good. That Kobashikawa wants to talk about what happened, and that he brought it up himself.

Maeda - But… I don’t know if Kobashikawa is… really ready to talk about this.

Maeda - Especially since everyone’s… keying in to the fact he didn’t mention it sooner.

Maeda - …

Maeda - I… also have a testimony I need to give. And mine is… significantly more relevant to the murder, and way less known…

Maeda - …

Maeda - Sh…should I-

Maeda - Would it be best if I went ahead and testified?

Maeda - If I go before Kobashikawa, then not only will he have more time to prepare himself… but it’ll take the heat off him for a moment, and- let him see how everyone reacts to some bigger information.

{Testify Before Kobashikawa}

{Wait to Testify}

[wonyowonyo]

Bubble (P. Hanni X M! Reader)

Wohoo! Double update baby! Anyways, I hope yall enjoy this cute Hanni oneshot. I'll try to put up some more stories if I can, to make up for my hiatus. See you all later.

3rd Person POV

Miiin.. Miiin.. Miiin..

The noise of Cicadas enveloped the youthful and sunny ambience of the school grounds. Students chattering and collectively doing their own after-class tasks. It was a busy day for everyone, after all, today marks the end of August.

Splash... Splash...

Sound of water falling from the faucet coming in contact with a basin drowned out the noise outside of the washroom. A single feminine figure, leaning against the counter top with her hand supporting her weight was alone inside the room, closely inspecting the water with a sense of impatience as she waited for the detergent-filled basin to be filled with water.

Hanni would take her hands off the counter top before walking up unto her bag, sliding the zipper open.

B A N G!

The sudden loud noise from the outside would cause Hanni to jolt in surprise, the tranquil feeling inside the washroom dissipates as the noise outside suddenly became louder. Hanni took a moment to calm herself before sliding the window open before struggling to climb on top of its frame to get a better view. "Oh, it's the festival committee."

In front of her, was a group of students gathered around a fallen heavy prop, a person stuck beneath it, as they slightly panicked while stifling their laughter.

"Wah! Oh no!" "Chief of the Executive Committee!"

The students called out for the Chief that was stuck underneath while flailing his hands, signaling for help. Hanni watched from the window as they collectively lifted the prop off the poor guy.

"3! 2! 1! and Go!"

"Yes!"

They momentarily cheered as the student was finally able to let out a breath of relief before accepting his friend's hand to help him stand up. He pats his dirt off his uniform before seeing a familiar silhouette on top of the washroom window frame. His attention was diverted as the committee immediately got back on track and resumed their work.

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

After another few minutes of committee work, they decided to call it a day as the group of students prepared to go their separate ways.

"See ya, Y/n! I'll call you sometime. Are you going to the sea or the mountains?" Seunghan, Y/n's friend and a member of committee, waves his towel around as he greets Y/n a goodbye.

Y/n returned the wave as he walked a separate way from his three friends "Well, somewhere."

Sungchan, another friend of his also casually waved a goodbye to Y/n, walking along Seunghan and their other friend Sohee. "Bye Y/n! I'll kill you if you get a girlfriend!"

Y/n snickered at Sungchan's comment, waving off his friend's funny threat. He'll probably be too busy helping out his family's business to even have time to find some girlfriend this summer holiday. "As if I can."

With Y/n walking alone around the school grounds, he'd spot the same washroom he noticed earlier, gaining his attention. However, replacing the spot of the former silhouette was two floating bubbles, escaping from the washroom.

Miiin...

Miiin...

Miiin...

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

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

"?!"

Hanni stood shell shocked from the sight unfolding in front of her. The commotion that has happened earlier, sidetracked Hanni and distracted her from her original purpose. Momentarily forgetting the detergent-filled basin she was filling with water. She got too absorbed watching the committee work that her klutz self was unaware that the water was overflowing, which caused foam and bubble to flood the entire wash room.

"Wah... Wah!! W-why is there foam... ah.. foam... ah! Fo-fo-fo-foam!!!" Hanni was full-on panicking as the foam slowly crept towards her feet, a myriad of bubbles forming along the unfortunate incident.

"Ah! No time to stand around! The water!" Hanni told herself as she briskly walked within the slippery floor, reaching for the faucet handle, she would lean to the countertop before turning the faucet off, squeezing it to ensure no leakage.

"Hanni."

Just as Hanni managed to successfully close the faucet and stop the incident from going worse than it already is, a deep-toned voice would call out to her name, causing her to turn her to the source of the voice. Leaning on the window sill, was Y/n L/n. They stare at each other for a few moments with Y/n scanning Hanni's current predicament. Meanwhile,Hanni froze on the spot like a deer in headlights, some foam and bubbles sticking on the poor girl's figure.

"You... What are you doing with all this?" Y/n asked, his face mixed with confusion and amusement, just plainly looking at the girl's current situation, it'd look as if she's preparing a one big foam bath inside the washroom.

Hanni bit the insides of her cheeks, averting the gaze of the boy outside the window as she briefly hesitated. "Y..."

Y/n however would again speak, cutting her off accidentally as he didn't manage to hear her try to speak due to the girl's sudden timidness.

"That's some foam."

Y/n looked with amazement, as he surveyed the flowing surge of foam and bubbles, filling the washroom. He'd then redirect his gaze unto Hanni. "Did you do this Hanni?"

Hanni's eye would widen, as she immediately became more nervous. "Eh! No..." However, she immediately realized that there was no way in hell she could even try to avoid being caught red handed right now, after all, it's only her that is inside the washing room, it'll be plain stupid to deny it. Hanni could only sigh.

"Er.. Yes... I-I thought I could do the laundry with the washing machine... I let it out of sight only for a moment and this..."

Hanni pressed her lips unto a thin line... as her shoulder would only drop lower and lower, a wave of embarrassment surging unto her. "..this happened."

Y/n looked at her with an unamused facial expression. ".... You're an airhead." An idea would suddenly pop unto Y/n's head as he'd push himself off the Window. Fixing his bag, he'd take a step back. "All right, be right back. You wait here, Pham."

Hanni's face contorted into one of confusion, wiping the residue foam around her face as she walked closer to the window. "W-wait."

Before she even knew it, Y/n was already sprinting, waving his hand. "Leave that as it is! I'll be right back!" Hanni was taken aback, what did he mean to just leave this place as it is for now. "Like this?!"

And just like that, Y/n ran off and left Hanni's line of vision, leaving Hanni to awkwardly stand behind the window. "...What should I do?"

Miiin...

Miiin...

"...What should I do... that was... Y/n..." Hanni stayed in her position, her eyes never leaving the place where Y/n ran off to. She was so busy overthinking that she didn't even notice her face flaming up, and turning tint of pink, a flustered face that didn't seem to come from embarrassment, but instead of something else.

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

Step... Step...Step...

"Pham Hanniiiii!"

A familiar deep voice can be heard again, getting louder with the fleeting steps. And then Y/n's figure would cast a shadow inside the room, as he stood outside the window once more, slightly panting as he peeked inside the wash room to look for Hanni.

"Did you wait for me?"

Hanni was sitting above a countertop, a mop within her hands as her foot dangle along the bubbly foam.

"You're back Y/n! What was that about!"

Hanni said a bit antsy, pertaining to his sudden sprint earlier. Y/n was a bit taken aback, averting the girl's eyes before clearing his throat.

"Erm... I went to... the store nearby."

Hanni was a bit surprised by Y/n's action as she went closer to the boy, a coy expression evident within Hanni's face.

"You went to buy Ice Cream?"

Hanni asked as she stared at the popsicle on Y/n's mouth.

"Yup. There's two popsicles in a pack. Here's for you."

Y/n hands over the remaining popsicle to Hanni while he positioned himself on top of the window sill, sitting over the ledge. Hanni gave him a small 'thanks' as she helped herself with some popsicles.

Hanni took the popsicle from Y/n, her fingers brushing against his. She felt a jolt of electricity run through her and quickly averted her gaze, focusing on the popsicle instead.

"Thanks," she mumbled, taking a small bite.

Y/n grinned at her, watching as she carefully navigated the foam-filled floor to sit beside him on the countertop. They sat in comfortable silence, enjoying their popsicles as bubbles floated around them, catching the light and casting small rainbows in the air.

"You know," Y/n began after a moment, "this is actually kind of fun."

Hanni raised an eyebrow. "Fun? You call flooding a washroom with foam fun?"

Y/n laughed. "Well, it's not every day you get to sit in a room full of bubbles and eat ice cream. It's like something out of a movie."

Hanni chuckled, feeling a bit more at ease. "Yeah, I guess you're right. It's definitely memorable."

They both fell silent again, watching the bubbles rise and pop around them. Hanni couldn't help but steal glances at Y/n, noticing the way his eyes sparkled with amusement and the way his hair fell into his eyes. She felt a warmth spread through her chest, a mixture of embarrassment and something else she couldn't quite name.

"You know, Hanni," Y/n said suddenly, breaking the silence, "you're really cute when you're flustered."

Hanni's face turned bright red, and she sputtered, nearly dropping her popsicle. "W-what? No, I'm not!"

Y/n laughed again, a soft, genuine sound that made Hanni's heart skip a beat. "Yes, you are. And I mean it."

Hanni looked down at her popsicle, trying to hide her blush. She felt Y/n's gaze on her, and she took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart.

"Thank you," she said softly, glancing up at him. "You're pretty cute too, you know."

Now it was Y/n's turn to blush, and he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Thanks, Hanni."

They sat there for a while longer, finishing their popsicles and talking about everything and nothing. Hanni felt a sense of contentment settle over her, the earlier chaos of the foam and bubbles forgotten. She was just happy to be here, sharing this moment with Y/n.

As the sun began to set, casting a warm golden glow over the washroom, Y/n stood up and stretched. "We should probably clean this up before someone finds out," he said with a smile.

Hanni nodded, reluctantly getting to her feet. "Yeah, you're right. Let's get to it."

Together, they worked to mop up the foam and clean the washroom. They laughed and teased each other as they worked, the earlier tension between them melting away. By the time they were finished, the washroom was sparkling clean, and they were both soaked and covered in suds.

"Well, that was an adventure," Y/n said, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand.

Hanni nodded, a tired but happy smile on her face. "Definitely one for the books."

They gathered their things and headed out of the washroom, the cool evening air a welcome relief after the stuffy heat inside. As they walked home together, Hanni felt a sense of contentment settle over her. She glanced at Y/n, who was walking beside her, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Hey, Y/n?" she said quietly.

He turned to her, his eyes softening. "Yeah, Hanni?"

"Thanks for today. I know it was kind of a mess, but... I'm really glad we got to spend time together."

Y/n smiled, his expression warm and genuine. "Me too, Hanni. Me too."

They walked the rest of the way in comfortable silence, the bond ...between them growing a little stronger with each step.

The sun's rays filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room, signalling the start of a brand new day. Hanni stretched, feeling the lingering effects of yesterday's adventure. She smiled to herself, replaying the moments she spent with Y/n in the foam-filled washroom. It felt like a dream — a whimsical, bubbly dream.

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

"Time to get up," she told herself, shaking off the remnants of sleep. Today was another day, and she was determined to make it just as memorable.

Hanni quickly got ready and made her way to school. As she walked through the gates, she saw Y/n standing by the entrance, waiting for her. Her heart skipped a beat, and she felt a flutter of excitement.

"Morning, Hanni!" Y/n called out, his face lighting up with a smile.

"Morning, Y/n," Hanni replied, feeling a warmth spread through her chest.

They fell into step together, chatting about their classes and plans for the day. The easy camaraderie between them felt natural, as if they had known each other forever.

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

The school cafeteria was bustling with students, and Hanni and Y/n managed to find a quiet spot by the window. They sat down with their trays, the sunlight casting a golden hue over the room.

"So, I was thinking," Y/n began, taking a bite of his sandwich, "we should do something fun after school today."

Hanni looked up, intrigued. "Like what?"

Y/n grinned, leaning in conspiratorially. "How about we go to the park and blow bubbles? You know, like those giant ones that float in the air."

Hanni's eyes lit up with excitement. "That sounds amazing! I've always wanted to try that."

"Great! I'll bring the bubble solution and wands. Meet me by the park entrance after school?"

"It's a date," Hanni said, then immediately blushed at her choice of words. "I-I mean, not a date, but you know..."

Y/n chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "I know what you mean, Hanni. See you then."

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

Hanni rushed home to change into something more comfortable before heading to the park. She felt a mix of excitement and nervousness as she approached the park entrance. Y/n was already there, holding a bag with the bubble supplies.

"Ready?" he asked, his smile infectious.

"Ready," Hanni replied, feeling her nerves melt away.

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

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

They walked to a grassy area near the pond, where the sunlight danced on the water's surface. Y/n set down the bag and pulled out a large bottle of bubble solution and a set of wands.

"Let's see who can make the biggest bubble," Y/n challenged, handing Hanni a wand.

"You're on," Hanni said, her competitive spirit kicking in.

They dipped their wands into the solution and began creating bubbles. The bubbles floated up, catching the light and creating iridescent rainbows. Laughter filled the air as they chased after the bubbles, trying to catch them before they popped.

Few hours passed and the pair took a break, sitting on the grass and watching the bubbles drift away. Hanni leaned back, her head resting on her arms as she looked up at the sky.

"It's so peaceful here," she said softly, her eyes following a particularly large bubble.

"Yeah," Y/n agreed, lying down beside her. "It's nice to just relax and enjoy the moment."

Hanni turned her head to look at him, her heart fluttering at the sight of his relaxed expression. "Thanks for this, Y/n. I really needed it."

"Anytime, Hanni," Y/n replied, his gaze meeting hers. "I'm glad we could do this together."

They lay there in comfortable silence, the bubbles floating above them like tiny dreams. Hanni felt a sense of contentment wash over her, the chaos of the washroom incident now a distant memory.

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

Over the next few days, Hanni and Y/n continued to spend time together. They found themselves drawn to each other, their bond growing stronger with each shared moment. They laughed, teased, and supported each other, creating a tapestry of memories that would last a lifetime.

One afternoon, as they were walking home from school, Y/n turned to Hanni with a thoughtful expression.

"Hey, Hanni, there's something I've been meaning to ask you," he said, his tone serious.

Hanni's heart skipped a beat. "What is it, Y/n?"

"I was wondering if you'd like to come to the school festival with me this weekend. As my date."

Hanni's eyes widened in surprise, her heart racing. "As your date?"

"Yeah," Y/n said, his cheeks tinged with a hint of pink. "I really like you, Hanni. And I'd like to spend more time with you."

Hanni felt a rush of emotions, her cheeks flushing with warmth. "I'd love to, Y/n. I'd love to be your date."

Y/n's face broke into a wide smile, and he reached out to take her hand. "Great. It's a date then."

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

The day of the school festival arrived, and Hanni felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. She dressed carefully, wanting to look her best for Y/n. When she arrived at the festival, she saw Y/n waiting for her by the entrance, looking equally nervous.

"You look beautiful, Hanni," Y/n said, his eyes shining with admiration.

"Thank you, Y/n. You look great too," Hanni replied, feeling her cheeks heat up.

They spent the day exploring the festival, playing games, and enjoying the various stalls. They laughed and teased each other, the easy camaraderie between them making the day even more special.

As the sun began to set, they found themselves at the bubble booth. Y/n bought a bottle of bubble solution and handed it to Hanni.

"Shall we?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

Hanni laughed, taking the bottle. "Let's do it."

They spent the next few minutes blowing bubbles, the colorful orbs floating up into the twilight sky. Hanni felt a sense of joy and contentment, the bubbles symbolizing the magic of the moment.

"Thank you for today, Y/n," Hanni said softly, her eyes meeting his.

"Thank you, Hanni," Y/n replied, taking her hand in his. "For everything."

They stood there, hand in hand, watching the bubbles float away, their hearts full of hope and promise.

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

The days turned into weeks, and Hanni and Y/n's relationship continued to blossom. They spent countless hours together, creating memories filled with laughter and love. The washroom incident became a fond memory, the catalyst for their budding romance.

One evening, as they were sitting on a bench by the park, watching the sunset, Y/n turned to Hanni with a serious expression.

"Hanni, I have something I want to tell you," he said, his voice soft.

Hanni's heart skipped a beat. "What is it, Y/n?"

"I love you," Y/n said, his eyes filled with sincerity. "I've loved you for a while now, and I just needed you to know."

Hanni felt a rush of emotions, her heart swelling with happiness. "I love you too, Y/n," she replied, her voice trembling with emotion.

Y/n's face broke into a wide smile, and he pulled her into a gentle embrace. They held each other, the world around them fading away as they basked in the warmth of their love.

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

Years passed, and Hanni and Y/n's love continued to grow. They faced challenges and celebrated triumphs together, their bond only strengthening with time. The memory of the washroom incident remained a cherished story, a reminder of the whimsical beginning of their journey.

On a warm summer day, as they were walking through the park, Y/n stopped and turned to Hanni with a thoughtful expression.

"Do you remember the day we blew bubbles here?" he asked, his eyes filled with nostalgia.

"Of course," Hanni replied, a smile playing on her lips. "How could I forget?"

Y/n reached into his bag and pulled out a bottle of bubble solution. "Shall we do it again?"

Hanni laughed, taking the bottle. "Let's do it."

They spent the next few minutes blowing bubbles, the colorful orbs floating up into the sky. Hanni felt a sense of joy and contentment, the bubbles symbolizing the magic of their love.

As they watched the bubbles float away, hand in hand, Hanni knew that no matter what the future held, they would always have each other and the beautiful memories they had created together.

And in that moment, surrounded by bubbles and love, Hanni felt truly at peace.

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

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[theyrebasicallycanonpoll]

I'll make this super simple to the anon and you op for details about the war.

Eichi had a super gay crush on Wataru so he started a "war" and while he wanted to stop because he didn"t want to "fight" his crush, Wataru made him go through with it.

No blood was actually spilt but many students found their dreams crushed and.. yeah.

— long version—

So essentially there was this prestigious idol training school called Yumenosaki, it was so famous that just having it on your resume guaranteed you a job. But then, students started exploiting that fact and stopped trying in their training which made the agencies mad that there were so many lazy idols doing subpar performances.

The teachers and student council could do nothing to stop the students to do whatever the hell they wanted, they skipped class and did anything but train to become idols.

So the name "Yumenosaki" started to go downhill.

Now Eichi Tenshouin, has been in the hospital in and out for most of his life, he loved idols since it kept him entertained during long days in the hospital and the one he loved most was Wataru Hibiki. He was also a well-known actor, and Eichi had wanted to attend school for a long time.

He was already enrolled in Yumenosaki but his health made it hard to go there in person so he usually had assignments delivered to him. When he arrived at the school and saw it's disrepair, he sought to change it so he started a plan. A revolution to this system.

So he got to work laying down the chess pieces, he built up these figures called the Five Eccentrics (Rei, Wataru, Kanata, Shu and Natsume), building them up as unreachable figures and like a scapegoat for the problems of the school and planned to "execute" them. There was also this system that basically let the audience vote which units won, and he had made his own unit called fine (referred as old fine nowadays).

Monologue:

Eichi: (That's right. It wasn't exactly smooth sailing... but while evading the worst-case scenario, we are moving ahead mostly as planned.)

(Just one more move, and as long as I don't make an error in my endgame, it will be my victory.)

(Because of its everlasting corruption, the entertainment world's evaluation of Yumenosaki Academy had fallen to the ground.)

(The decline of employment rates, the decrease in recruitment, the slander... Everybody held dissatisfaction within their hearts.)

(This current situation was brought upon by the shamelessness of those depraved graduates themselves, because of their own bad behaviour and laziness.)

(But humans always seek the cause of their displeasure and insecurity from an outside source.)

(And that "somebody who isn't themselves", the root of all evil was given the name "the Five Oddballs".)

(Manipulating information, slowly taking time to lay down the groundwork... I created that kind of premise. That kind of common sense. That kind of composition.)

(I applied it to a lucid story about morality play, about rewarding good and punishing evil. And everybody effortlessly believed it.)

(Just like a dictator from long ago said... the general public really are pigs.)

(Because of the unit system, those transcendental individuals known as the Five Oddballs were relatively weakened...)

(And with the Dreamfest system, their ambiguous strength and numerical value as an idol were clearly expressed.)

(From an impartial, flat perspective, it's people like the Five Oddballs or Tsukinaga-kun who will be the ones to play the masterpieces and give out excellent performances.)

He did it to weed out those lazy students and slowly, it started to work and his unit was at the top. Though he appointed someone else as a leader, another guy called Tsumugi (dark blue hair) who supported him all the way.

And one by one, he started to "execute" them, although only Shu (pink hair) and Wataru were executed via the live performance, Eichi took over the role of student council from Rei (black hair), while Kanata is.. a long story but essentially he was brought up by his parents to believe he was a god who could grant wishes and that was more of something Akatsuki(another idol unit) did.

(Their order of executions are pretty much this, Wataru being the last)

While Natsume (red hair) was the youngest, and was shielded from any harm. The other Eccentrics faced bullying, and often had to seclude themselves away from others.

Eichi, after all that was physically and mentally tired, praying to a god that he didn't believe in that he didn't wanna die but it was gonna be hard since his last opponent was going to be Wataru. He almost didn't want to go through with it, until Wataru himself came and visited him in the nurse's office and told him that he woukd play the role of a "villain" that Eichi had given him.

But after that was all over, after Wataru had been "executed", the Five of them had each other to support while Eichi was left alone. He had made his unit under the agreement of contracts, and he failed to notice the bluebird by his side, Tsumugi.

This was something Rei had warned him before.

Eichi felt guilty, the last thing he told Tsumugi as his unitmate was to burn all the documents relating to this incident. He was aware of the lives he had ruined throughout the war, and it was eating away at him as he continued his days in the hospital.

Yet, Wataru lended him a hand.

I highly recommend you spare an hour to watch the new anime they made specifically to envision "The War": link is here <–

oh damn, much more complicated than i thought, i will watch the anime when i am done with my adult responsibilities !

[gacmediadaily]

Does it feel like Texas is suddenly taking over the national entertainment industry?

Megaproducer Taylor Sheridan – Wind River, Hell or High Water, and now the blockbuster Yellowstone– raised in Fort Worth, is making Western culture popular again and filling rodeo arenas with city folks. 

A new force in streaming and cable

Another Texas-based player may be an even more disruptive force in the U.S. entertainment industry. 

Great American Media (GAM) is suddenly an overnight contender in the U.S. streaming and cable television space, winning regular coverage in industry flagships like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, and it has the entertainment industry sitting up and taking notice for its success attracting audiences to faith and family content.

“We’re on our way to being America’s most uplifting and inspiring network,” says CEO Bill Abbott, who founded Great American Media in 2021.

Abbott follows a familiar playbook – his own — perfected over 35 years in family entertainment.

Abbott’s resume includes senior leadership roles at Fox Kids, Fox Family Channel, and ABC Family, plus more than 20 years as the architect of the Hallmark television brands. Now he has launched another TV brand in the burgeoning Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, a big community with small-town sensibilities and a dedicated and talented populace, he says.

As the engineer of the next big thing, Abbott pulled on both experience and his friends, instantly creating a crew of iconic TV stars, including Mario Lopez, Danica McKellar, Cameron Mathison, Alexa and Carlos PenaVega, and, of course, Candace Cameron Bure.

These stars are making an appearance at iconic venues across the nation for spotlight events and movie production. Carlos and Alexa PenaVega spent the day at AT&T Stadium in Dallas – right down the road from the headquarters of Great America Media – filming their upcoming holiday premiere movie. Not only is the AT&T Stadium recognizable by many, but this production further solidifies Abbott’s dedication to creating uplifting, quality content.

Today, his startup boasts over 70 million viewers and subscribers to its cable television channels and streaming service, a remarkable feat in any environment. The last three years have been some of the most tumultuous in television and entertainment history, with a record decline in cable subscribers and increasing competition among streaming services. Yet Great American Media is on the rise.

The success is a testament to early mornings, continual conference calls, coast-to-coast travel, and non-stop team building. Every Friday, Abbott hosts a company-wide review of the market and a company performance where he answers employees’ questions nationwide. One staffer describes it as a master class in cable and streaming television.

Great American Media’s Fort Worth headquarters includes production and administrative offices, while its sales and executive offices are in New York. Its member services center, a call center supporting a committed fan base, is in Phoenix.

“One of the most rewarding parts of my jobs is to read viewer emails,” says Abbott, who regularly corresponds with a group of over 25,000 loyal Great American Media Insiders. “Our viewers know what they want and it’s our job to give them a great uplifting experience free of the stress and contentiousness of their already overly complex world.”

Great American Media’s portfolio of brands now includes Great American Family, Great American Pure Flix, Great American Faith & Living, Great American Adventures, and Pure Flix TV.

As the company’s flagship cable TV network, Great American Family, features quality original movies and classic series that are inspiring and emotionally connecting. The business strategy is to align the content and convert cable viewers to streaming subscribers, a riddle many in Hollywood are attempting to solve.

Great American Pure Flix is GAM’s leading subscription on-demand streaming service and the most successful faith-based content provider of its size. A recent Financial Times story described GAM as the Netflix of faith-based content, to which Abbott responds, “Not bad company to be in after only three years.”

Great American Faith & Living features mostly unscripted lifestyle programming that celebrates family-friendly traditions every day and every season.

Great American Media is also home to a FAST (free ad-supporting streaming TV) channel with Great American Adventures, which offers both scripted and unscripted content, including cooking and do-it-yourself programs, and Great American Community, a free direct-to-consumer streaming app featuring short-form original series hosted by well-known lifestyle experts and TV stars. There is also a Pure Flix FAST channel.

“We are creating an oasis in a cultural desert,” says Candace Cameron Bure, star of many Great American Media original programs, including hit My Christmas Hero. She joined Abbott at the film’s screening on Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Washington.

Abbott agrees, saying, “I think that the culture overall needs what we’re offering. And there is just so little content out there that serves family and faith and yet is done in a quality way. It is a very big part of what our mission is and what we do, and the demand is huge.”

Not His First Rodeo

Abbott founded Great American Media in June 2021 with backing from Dallas-based investors, including Dallas businessman Doug Deason. Abbott credits Deason with the company’s steady focus on strategy.

“After running companies that possess varying levels of leadership and judgment exercised at the board and ownership level, I know first-hand that these qualities can make or break a business, and Great American Media’s success starts with Doug in his role as Chairman of the Board,” says Abbott.

Deason, who most recently demonstrated political acumen by leading an initiative to get Texans to set aside $1 billion to expand Texas state parks and co-chaired the expansion of Dallas’ Centennial Parks.

“Without Doug’s unwavering support, vision, and courage, Great American Media would lack the ability to stand firmly behind the values conveyed in our faith and family content,” says Abbott, “and in fact, it’s quite likely the business would never have gotten off the ground.”

Deason credits Abbott, who he points out is unique among broadcasting executives, who more typically are finance types or lawyers and rarely schooled in stories, let alone moral tales. Abbott is an English and Literature graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, a private Jesuit liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts, a foundation he puts to good use by reading every script and participating in creative development with his producers and stars.

GAM’s CEO is deeply respected in the industry and serves on the boards of the Parents Television & Media Council and the International Radio & Television Society Foundation. He was inducted into Broadcasting & Cable’s Hall of Fame in 2017. 

Previously, Abbott served for two decades as a senior executive and then CEO of Crown Media Family Networks, the parent company of Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Mystery, Hallmark Drama, and Hallmark Movies Now. 

“We had tremendous success with creating a destination that was family-friendly and themed around the holidays,” explains Abbott. He is credited with creating the Christmas television genre, expanding the network’s romantic comedies, and launching its mysteries channel.

After 20 years, Abbott left Hallmark and looked to Texas to build a new network: Great American Family.

“We’re proud to say we celebrate faith, family, and country,” explains Abbott, “and we have an investor group where we all believe in the mission of family-friendly and faith-based content.”

Equipped with funding and a vision, Abbott acquired Fort Worth’s independently owned equestrian and western channel Ride TV and a music video channel called Great American Country from Discovery. This gave his fledgling dream two traditional cable television linear channels. As the company sorted through its inherited programs and shows, Great American Media was quickly rebranded.

“Now we had something to work with, and we went to work,” he explained.

The entertainment world suddenly noticed when the new GAM network acquired Michael Landon Jr.’s When Calls the Heart spin-off, When Hope Calls,” and began hiring the most well-known talent in the genre to appear in its own slate of made-for-TV movies. 

GAM also quickly established Great American Christmas premieres and seasonal rotation around Christmas, including 12 original movies in its first year. Now, they’re producing more than 20 original Christmas movies per year.

Dream Streaming

While building a traditional cable offering, Abbott heard from Sony Pictures Entertainment, one of the world’s largest entertainment conglomerates. They owned Pure Flix, a niche faith-based streaming video-on-demand service with a loyal fan base.

“Pure Flix had been sort of under the radar,” explained Abbott. Sony had only recently acquired the streaming service and began looking for a means of growing it. Sony executives saw the synergies between Abbott’s startup, the Great American Family channel, and their streamer and proposed a merger.

The merger enhanced both platforms’ content library and created synergies between cable and streaming services, meeting customer expectations for a fulfilling, uplifting, and inspiring entertainment experience. Since the merger, SVOD subscriptions have increased, and the customer experience has been enhanced through several platform upgrades, making the streaming service intuitive and user-friendly.

“Our brands and diversified content distribution capabilities have helped us reach substantially larger and broader audiences on each platform, creating a family- and faith-friendly streaming service unlike any other,” he added. “Our business strategy is becoming more and more clear to the industry.”

And they’re noticing. Great American Media ncluded 2023 as the fastest-growing channel on cable television, and its ad sales were up 25 percent. Under Abbott’s watchful eye, the economy balances with creative excellence, allowing the GAM channels to increasingly share the same programming vision, creating the brand synergies critical to growth. 

Great American Media’s programming and development team steers all original scripts from concept through production with an eye toward brand integrity. Abbott and the leadership team ensure every frame it controls is on brand as promised.

Great American Media has made headlines for the stars it has drawn in its first few years, including Candace Cameron Bure, Danica McKellar, Trevor Donovan, Jill Wagner, Jen Lilley, Cameron Mathison, and Jen Lilley.

In February, Great American Media announced it signed Emmy Award–winning host and actor Mario Lopez to a multi-picture, multi-year deal to star in content across the company’s vast media portfolio. Lopez will be a major part of Great American Christmas 2024. His first film in the partnership will include a holiday film starring alongside his wife and Broadway star Courtney Lopez. Lopez will continue hosting NBC’s Access Hollywood and Access Daily.

Abbott cites the dedicated Fort Worth team and the talent across Texas as a critical aspect of GAM’s success, noting that programmers and production crews work around the clock and maintain a high commitment to the brand and its viewers.

As conglomerates continue to obliterate brands, Abbott is on a mission to maintain his company’s commitment to bringing high-quality family content with a faith focus to a new heyday. 

“We are not replicating the past; we are creating a new bright future, diverse in genre and format, but all wrapped in high-quality family programming that features romantic comedies, Christmas, drama, faith-inspired lifestyles, and even drama series,” says Abbott. Mysteries are now a cornerstone of the broad programming, with Great American Mysteries’ inaugural launch, The Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker, starring Cameron Bure, premiering on July 25.

 “We’re about faith, family, and country,” said Abbott, “and those values can be reflected in uplifting and inspiring ways across all genres, including mysteries.”