#I got the crop top yesterday now all I need is the knee-length shorts

[fierykitten2]

I’m going to see Heathers later with a group of friends and we decided we’re going to cosplay the main characters. The socks I’m wearing are so high up they might as well be tights (though they have the bonus of not stopping halfway up my legs) and it’s weird to me (it feels like my butt is hanging out. It’s not, I’m wearing a skirt over the top). Just as I finished getting into my outfit two of my Vinted orders turned up so I’m currently dressed as Heather Duke wearing yellow fingerless gloves and a mustard and turquoise cat ears hat

[mummybear]

Strip Club Bait

This Is Day 18 Of Roleplay May

Words: 4221

Warnings: Smut, Swearing, Dirty Talk, Lap Dance, Woman On Top, Angry Dean, Grinding. Think That’s It.

Characters: Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Reader.

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Reader

Summary: You and Sam come up with a plan to complete a hunt, which Dean heavily disapproves of. What will happen when you ask Dean for some advice and help for the hunt? What will it be?

You had stormed off a while ago now and slammed your bedroom door. Yet you can still hear Sam and Dean arguing about the reason you’d left in the first place. Even though it wasn’t their decision. There had been something snatching women from a nearby strip club, with all of you still being at the bunker you were by the closest hunters available. So you and Sam had agreed that you would take the case, Dean had been completely on board with the plan, right up until you’d suggested that you were going to be the bait. Since it would mean that you and the monster you were looking for would be alone in a private room.

He was always so damn protective of you, it felt like a lot of the time it was because he didn’t trust you. Sam had been worried about you of course, but he correctly said that it was your decision and he would support whatever your choice turned out to be. Forever the big brother, Dean was not having any of it. 

Although the two of you had flirted on occasion, you were sure it was just friendly, you weren’t his type, not at all. Especially when times like this would come around, you felt just like he was treating you like the other sibling he needed to look out for, except that you weren’t, he was only a year older than you and you’d been a hunter almost as long as he had.

You already know that you’re going to do this, with or without their help. Tossing the outfit you’d chosen for tonight on your bed, you hear what you assume is Dean’s door slamming a few minutes later. You were crazy nervous for tonight, this was something you’d never really done before, unless it was in private, for the one or two guys that you had ever stripped for. This was an entirely different ball game all together. 

There’s a knock at your bedroom door and you call out for them to come in. The door cracks open revealing the shaggy head of hair that you’d expected.

“Hey Sam, he’s still not on board is he?” you ask, wincing when you hear Dean’s door slam again as if to prove his point.

“He’s on board with the plan, but he isn’t happy about it. Sorry Y/N, I tried” he sighs leaning against your door frame. 

“It’s okay Sam, I know you did. Thank you.” you smile gently, trying not to wring your hands in front of him. “You wanna come in for a minute?”

“Yeah, sure.” he smiles back, stepping into your room, you close the door behind him when he sits on the bed. “You know you can talk to me, if there’s something bothering you, right?” he asks sweetly, patting the spot beside him telling you to take a seat which you do. 

“Honestly, I’m completely terrified. I’ve done this once or twice before and never in front of more than one person,” you confide in him, the way you always do and Sam nods in understanding. 

“Well, I do have to go out and do a few inquiries at the morgue. But maybe speak to Dean, he’s been in a hell of a lot of strip clubs, maybe he can help you out?” Sam suggests as he stands from the bed and adjusts his tie, “Is this straight?”

You can’t help but laugh a little at the adorably confused look on his face, “No, come here,” Once you’re finished straightening the tie you pat his chest gently, “Well, wish me luck with your ass of a brother. Gonna take a shower and I’ll go speak to him,” 

“It’s a good idea. Just give it a try and ignore him when he goes negative on the plan,” Sam advises, pulling you into a bear hug that quickly makes you smile. “I’ll be back soon,” he promises, leaving you to your shower.

Pulling off your clothes you wrap your towel around yourself and head out into the hall towards the shower. You squeak in surprise when you walk into Dean, so distracted that you hadn’t been paying attention. Luckily enough you had a tight grip on your towel. 

He tries to silently walk around you but you reach out quickly and grab his bicep, “Just do me a favour, please. Come to my room in like half an hour. I really need to talk to you.” before he can say no you sigh, “Please, it’s important. I need your help,” 

“Yeah, okay. Fine, I’ll be there, but I’m not happy about it.” Dean grumbles sounding irritated, walking around you as soon as you let go of his arm. 

Making sure that you turn the shower on hot, since you’re in major need of something to distract you from the way that Dean had just looked at you. It was about to make your conversation that much harder. You make sure that you shave everything and you’re sure that the water has run out by the time you finally turn the shower off.

Wrapping your towel back around yourself you quickly head into your room, deciding that you probably have time to try on your outfit for tonight before Dean comes to talk, you wanna make sure that it at least looks okay. 

You lock the door as soon as you walk inside, nervously glancing down at the outfit on the bed. The tight leather hot pants, and revealing leather crop top aren’t exactly your normal attire and you find yourself swallowing hard. Drying off properly you slip on a small thong, so it would hide beneath the leather hot pants easily, then you pull on the top. 

You do your hair and make up, not daring to look at your reflection until you’re completely ready. Slipping into your high heels you slowly walk over to your floor length mirror, gasping at what you see reflected back at you.

Part of you wonders if you’d ever looked this hot before, normally you weren’t one to admit something like that, but right now you were feeling more confident than you had ever before. 

You jump in surprise when there’s a sudden knock at the door, quickly grabbing your robe you pull it on, clearly it has taken you longer to get ready than you’d realised. 

“One second!” you call out, fastening the belt of your robe.

You can do this, you can talk to Dean about this, right? It’s just Dean. You tell yourself repeatedly, as you slowly walk over to the door. With a deep breath you pull it open, not missing the way that Dean’s eyes drop to the shoes you’d forgotten you were wearing, before quickly snapping back to your face.

“Hey. So, you wanted to talk?” 

“Yeah, just uh, come in.” you breathe out nervously, stepping away from the door and letting him by, he takes a seat in the armchair by your bed. But you’re too nervous to sit down, so you just stand in front of him.

Dean clears his throat, looking up at you a little awkwardly as his teeth worry at his lip. 

“So? You gonna tell me what the problem is?” 

“Yeah, I’ll apologise now in case this gets awkward. But I need your advice for tonight.” you tell him truthfully.

“Okay. What do you wanna know?” he asks trying to keep his voice calm, but you can see that he’s noticed your legs are bare beneath your dressing gown, thanks to the opening in it shifting.

“First of all, ignoring the danger and everything, do you think that I can do this?” you ask watching his face for a reaction.

Dean rubs his hand over his slightly stubbled chin as he sighs, “Yeah I do. Of course you can.” 

“Thank you. So, I’ve done this literally twice before and they were both in private. I’m just scared it’s gonna be obvious, I don’t wanna blow my cover before I even get started,” you explain, finally letting him see your nerves.

Dean seems to swallow hard as he thinks this over, never taking his eyes off of your face. 

“Do you have to dance on stage before the private room?” he asks, voice a little deeper as he stands from the chair, so he’s taller than you again.

“Yeah, but I’ve got that down. One of the girls showed me yesterday,” 

“So, it’s just the more close up stuff that’s got you freaked out?” he questions, walking around you over to your dressing table and grabbing the small chair there he turns it around the right way and takes a seat.

“Yeah.” you answer simply, slightly confused by his behaviour.

“Only one thing you can do sweetheart. Practice.”

“I don’t have time for that Dean!” you exclaim annoyed, throwing your hands in the air. Stopping short when he tugs at the belt of your robe. Causing it to fall open, just like your mouth.

“I can’t do this, not with you,”

“Well it’s either me or wait for Sammy to get back. Of course, you can just wing it, I’m just offering you choices.” Dean says no longer hiding when his eyes drop to your body, this time your outfit is almost on full display. 

You know he’s right and honestly if you had to pick anyone then it would be Dean, that’s half of the problem you would have to try and ignore. 

“Okay fine. You it is,” you answer, dropping your robe to the floor, feeling a little smug when all Dean can mutter is a quiet curse word or two. You walk towards him slowly, the click of your heels echoing around the room with every step you take.

“Just keep telling me how I’m doing,” you say quietly, as your knees finally bump against his.

Dean slowly reaches out and runs his hands up your thighs, you’re a little taken aback, breath hitching in your throat with the look in his eyes. But then you remember the rules, that this club in particular had, there was no touching at all. You gently smack at his hands and watch him pull back, biting into his bottom lip and rest them beside his legs.

“Well remembered.” he rasps, letting his eyes wander shamelessly across your body once more. But they quickly move back to yours when you straddle his thighs. “Don’t forget, try and get a little dirty talk in.” 

His voice is so deep all of a sudden that you’re finding it hard to focus. You wrap your arms around his neck and roll your hips slowly, grinding down into him when your fingers push into the back of his hair and tug his head back. Dean clenches his jaw when your lips brush across it, but never press down. 

Your lips slowly move down to his ear, “Dean, get your hands off of my ass before I smack you,” 

“Can’t blame a guy for tryin’” he chuckles, dropping his hands back to his sides again.

You pull back to look at him, dragging your hand down his stomach, you grip his t-shirt and drop your body back, keeping your hips rolling down as your hair skims the floor. You flick your body back up and press your chest tightly against his. Dean swallows hard, seeing how close you are and you’re staring into his eyes and it’s like you can’t stop yourself.

Pulling back, you get up onto your slightly shaking legs, Dean sits forward and watches you closely. You turn your back on him and bend over, rolling your hips back against him until you’re sitting in his lap. Carefully you lean forward, remembering something you’d seen in one of the videos that you’d watched, you place your hands on the floor. Gripping his thighs tightly with your knees, your feet press against the chair just above his shoulders as you rock back into him.

“Fuck sweetheart, you sure this is only your third time?” he groans and you can feel the thick line of his cock beneath you.

He wraps an arm around your waist as you pull yourself back up, sliding your legs back down so they’re almost touching the floor. With your hands on the sides of the chair you drop your head back against his shoulder, continuing to roll your hips down against him, watching the way his eyes drop to your tits which are almost pressed against his face.

“So, is this your first time here?” you purr, fingers brushing his cheek as you turn him to face you.

Dean clears his throat and nods, “Yeah first time. Can’t wait to come back,” he smirks, licking his lips when you stand and turn to face him again. Dropping down seductively, your hands slide up his legs and push his knees apart, slowly sliding your hands up his thighs stopping dangerously close to where he’s hard and straining against the material of his jeans. 

“I’d love it if you came back, I don’t often get customers as hot as you.”

You slide up his body, pushing your breasts up his chest until they’re pressed against his face. Dean groans and you swear you can feel his tongue against your breasts but you chose to ignore it, maybe it had been an accident. 

Dean’s hands fall to your waist when you straddle one of his thighs, you can feel the sweat that’s starting to cover your skin, but his hands aren’t much cooler. Your hands slide beneath the flannel that he’s wearing and push it easily from his broad shoulders. Dean tugs it from his wrists and his big hands settle on the bottom of your back, the tips of his fingers just barely pushing into the waistband of your leather hot pants.

Leaning back slightly you feel Dean’s hands tighten as he supports your weight and keeps you up, your hands move slowly up your stomach, continuing to rock your hips, the trouble is that this is really starting to affect you. You can feel the slick gathering between your thighs, barely contained by the small thong beneath your hot pants.

“Does that feel good?” you ask in a breathy voice, watching the way that Dean’s tongue presses against the back of his teeth. You easily find the poppers on your top, watching Dean chewing on his bottom lip when you pop the first button. 

“Best one I’ve ever had,” he grunts as you slide perfectly over his cock, “honestly, I’m just trying not to come in my pants.” His voice rumbles, completely focused on your fingers where they linger on the third and final button of your top.

“I’ll take that as a compliment from you.” you breathe out with a smile, feeling his fingers slip inside your hot pants a little further and his finger dig harshly into your skin. “You wanna see?” you ask nervously, swallowing around the lump in your throat as you continue to rock your hips.

“I’d fuckin’ love to see sweetheart. But you can just pretend you’ve finished, if you want.” he offers sweetly, but it’s like you can feel the sexual tension in his voice dripping from his every word.

You shrug with a slight smile pulling at your lips, “No point in doing half a job, like you said, it’ll help to practice.” Your voice is just barely above a whisper when you finish speaking and finally pop the last button on your top. 

You can see the tick in Dean’s jaw when you pull the leather from your arms and drop it to the floor. The routine you had planned was still in your mind so you went with it, trying your best not to get distracted by the intense look in Dean’s darkened green eyes. 

Dean’s fingers are so tightly digging into the tops of your ass cheeks that you’re sure it’s going to bruise, but you continue to roll your hips, switching it up every now and then and circling them.

“Can I please be your guinea pig whenever you need help again?” Dean asks through a muffled moan when you press his face between your tits, feeling the scratch of his slight stubble against your sensitive skin.

Your heart is thudding hard in your chest and you can hear it in your ears, not to mention you’re starting to feel the pull of your stomach muscles from how hard you’d been working your body. Gripping his hair you tug his head back again, his lidded eyes find yours when he draws his bottom lip between his teeth. 

“Yeah, I think I could live with that,” you smirk cheekily, letting your forehead drop against his. Your nose brushes against his as you pop the buttons on the sides of your hot pants and pull them away. 

Dean’s hands move to your hips, “shit sweetheart, got me so damn hard.” 

Your nails are digging into his shoulders through the thin black t-shirt he’s wearing, continuing to rock and circle your hips you can feel the hard line of Dean’s thick cock pressing into your slick pussy, through the barely there thong that’s the only remaining clothing you’re wearing.

Dean’s lips press against yours and take you completely by surprise, you can’t help the groan that slips past your lips. You pull back as soon it hits you what was happening and he catches your hand before it connects with his face. His free hand cups the back of your neck and he roughly presses his lips against yours again, this time you melt against him, threading your fingers into the hair at the back of his neck tugging roughly. 

Finally pulling away from his lips to breathe, you stand from his lap smirking when he stands with you. Tugging at his belt buckle until it clangs open. 

“So, to be clear in the club. This should have stopped before you kissed me right?” you giggle, pushing him back into the chair once he pulls off his t-shirt and pushes down his jeans.

Dean chuckles as he stumbles back and falls into the chair behind him.

“Oh yeah, definitely throw a better punch if it’s anyone else.” 

“So, is this why you were pissed about the hunt? Didn’t watch me dancing all over other guys because you wanted to fuck me.” you ask as you straddle his thighs again and his hands slide up your legs, groaning loudly when you drag your teeth across his earlobe. 

“It definitely has a lot to do with it.” He answers quietly, “I thought you’d be sick of riding by now.” 

“Turns out I kinda like it, even more when it’s you.” You whimper when Dean pushes your panties to the side and drags them through your slick, right before he pushes two of those thick fingers inside you. 

You gasp at the feeling, enjoying the stretch and the drag of his fingers as he curls them against your fluttering walls. You stand with your legs still spread either side of his, moaning when his lips wrap around your nipple, tongue swirling around the hardening bud as they continue to move inside of you at a hard pace. You cling to his shoulders, creating crescent shape marks against his freckled skin.

Dean drags his teeth over the hardened bud as he pulls away, looking back into your eyes as his free arm wraps around your waist to hold you up. You roll your hips down into his hand the best that you can, the flick of his thumb against your clit moves in time with every thrust of your hips.

Your thighs start shaking and your mouth drops open, as you start to feel that familiar feeling in the pit of your stomach. Then it ebbs away as Dean pulls out his fingers, a cocky smirk before he sucks them between his lips with a satisfied groan. 

You huff out in frustration as he pulls his fingers from his mouth with a lewd popping noise.

“You ever get tired of being such a smartass,” you grumble wrapping your fingers around his thickness.

Dean’s retort is quickly cut off when you press the head of his cock into your soaked entrance, the new feeling has him growling into your neck, fingers gripping your ass tightly as you let him fill you perfectly in one movement. 

“When you stop lovin’ it, you just let me know,” he grits out as you start moving, you push one of your hands into his hair and grip tight as you ride him, keeping your eyes locked on his. The fast rise and fall of your hips forcing his cock inside you deep and hitting you in the spot that makes your thighs shake and your back arch. “Fuck you feel good, so wet baby, keep going. Wanna feel you come all over my cock.”

His filthy mouth paired with the feeling of every thrust of his cock has you whimpering his name, pressing your lips against his, needing to feel as much of him as possible. His tongue quickly finds yours, there’s no fight for dominance, the kiss is deep and passionate, all teeth and tongues. 

“Dean, please. So c-close,” you gasp, pulling away from his lips and resting your forehead against his. 

Dean drops slips a hand between your legs, quickly finding your clit, the tips of his fingers start to rub it in hard fast circles. You cling to him like your life depends on it, continuing to move your hips at the fast and hard pace, until your orgasm hits you at full force and your pussy clenches around his cock like a vice. You squeeze your eyes shut, as Dean helps you move while you helplessly whimper his name.

When you finally start to come down you lift your head and lean back, resting your hands on his knees. Dean groans feeling your walls clamp down around his cock tightly with the new angle.

“Come on baby, I know you’re close. I can feel your cock throbbing,” 

Dean groans watching you roll your hips, seeing his cock slipping effortlessly in and out of your slick pussy. “Fuck. You look so damn good riding my cock sweetheart,” 

One of Dean’s large rough hands slides up from your thigh, over your hip and presses into your stomach. Sweat glistens on your skin, you can feel your slick against your ass as it runs down his balls. You’re not sure that you’ve ever been this turned on, every nerve ending feels like it’s on fire. “Son of a bitch! Yes Y/N! Fuck.” Dean moans loudly, as his hips stutter slightly beneath you. 

You finally stop moving when Dean relaxes back in his chair and you collapse against his chest. “Jesus fucking Christ,” you half laugh, half pant. Pressing a kiss to his shoulder his hands slowly move against the soft skin of your back, tracing patterns against your skin.

“Can’t argue with that,” Dean laughs, turning to face you and brushes the sweaty hair from your forehead. “Are you sure I can’t talk you outta this whole thing?” 

“Dean,” you sigh, but your voice holds clear warning.

“Fine. This once I’ll drop it. But don’t expect me to leave you alone with this creep,” Dean grumbles as he gently helps you to your feet and you both hear the main bunker door clang closed.

“Thank you. Now get dressed, this is not something Sammy needs to see,” you laugh followed quickly by Dean. You hurriedly pull on your robe as Dean pulls up his boxers and jeans. You quickly throw him his t-shirt when Sam knocks on your door. “Shit,”

You grab your clothes and hide them under your duvet. Smoothing it out, you turn back to Dean seeing him pull on his flannel, you walk around him and open the door.

“Hey Sam, is everything okay?” you ask trying to keep the nerves out of his voice when you let him in.

“I, uh. Yeah.” He stutters, seeming confused as he looks between you and his brother.

“Change of plans. No more undercover needed,”

“Thank fuck for that,” Dean grins, throwing you a wink, which you have to stop yourself from smiling at, failing miserably.

“Okay. You two are being strange, more than usual. What did I miss?” Sam enquires suspiciously.

You and Dean look at each other and you can’t help but blush.

“Y/N just gave me a lap dance,” Dean shrugs, bursting out laughing when you smack him.

You’re blushing so hard when you finally look back up at Sam, “I needed practice.” you defend, before Sam can actually say anything.

“Trust me, you didn’t.” Dean winks when you turn back to face him.

“I don’t wanna know.” Sam laughs holding up his hands as he turns to leave. He’d seen that look in his brother’s eyes before and he knew where it was leading before it even happened.

“So, you don’t wanna be my guinea pig anymore then?” 

“Oh now, come on sweetheart. Let’s not say anything we’re gonna regret here.” you smile at him as you follow after Sam without saying a word. “Y/N! Hey!” Dean shouts, running after your retreating form.

Tags: @chewie-redbird @julzdec​ @julzdec @stiles-o-dylan24 @mogaruke @all-alone-he-turns-to-stone @dylanholyhellobrien @desireepow-1986 @emichelle @lilulo-12​ @22sarah08 @deanwanddamons @simsadventures  @charmed-asylum @nicole-lynne @hazel-eye-coffee-shop-girl-blog​ @defenderrosetyler @emilyshurley @emoryhemsworth @foxyjwls007 @mylovelydame21 @sunshineandwings86 @akshi8278 @peaches009 @captain-shannon-becker @heimdoodle @plushpyrate @winchester-wifey @fandom-princess-forevermore @flamencodiva @hobby27​ @akshi8278 @littlelonewolfgirl @ladywinchester1967 @screechingartisancashbailiff @maddiepants @spnfanfic-reblogs @holylulusworld @mrswhozeewhatsis @sonofabringmesomepie @mrsjenniferwinchester @hhiggs @pisces-cutie @trina44sb @heartsaved @matsumama @adoptdontshoppets @negans-lucille-tblr @fandomfic-galore​

Pond Tags: @aprofoundbondwithdean​ @manawhaat​ @thing-you-do-with-that-thing​  @nichelle-my-belle​ @notnaturalanahi​ @deanscarlett​ @roxy-davenport​ @impala-dreamer​ @samsgoddess​ @frenchybell​ @scorpiongirl1​  @deandoesthingstome​ @deansleather​ @curliesallovertheplace​ @whywhydoyouwantmetosaymyname​ @waywardjoy​ @imadeangirl-butimsamcurious​ @kayteonline​ @supernatural-jackles​ @wevegotworktodo​ @quiddy-writes​ @babypieandwhiskey​ @supermoonpanda​ @deanwinchesterforpromqueen​ @chaos-and-the-calm67-blog​ @memariana91​ @teamfreewill-imagine​ @chelsea-winchester​ @becs-bunker​ @castieltrash1​ @supernaturalyobessed​ @ruined-by-destiel​ @winchester-writes​ @evilskank-inthemegacoven​ @maraisabellegrey-blog​ @faith-in-dean​ @winchestersmolder​ @bennyyh​ @clueless-gold​ @deanwinchesterxreader​ @winchester-family-business​ @there-must-be-a-lock​ @just-another-winchester​ @cas-backwards-tie​ @winecatsandpizza​ @firefly-in-darkness​

[yootaesowlwrites]

Requested: No, I dreamt this.

A/N: I had a dream and I decided to write it... I’m unsure of the location, or how it started... but I know how it ended.

Warnings: explicit language, explicit detail, fantasy, Needy/Horny!Seokjin, slight bruising, fingering, car sex, unprotected sex(please always use protection), Praise, Voyeurism, mention of being shared.

Word Count: 3,180

【 • Primary Masterlist •  Seokjin Masterlist • Jimin Masterlist • 】

(Y/n) had no idea how she ended up travelling with Jin and Jimin, but she wasn’t complaining about it, they were good company and made her laugh while also making sure that she was still all right, they were currently out buying food and supplies for the next couple of days at the hotel they were staying, she picks up a meat product and examines it when she suddenly felt a warm body press up against her from behind, hands gripping her hips and lips brushing against her earlobe, the scent filled her lungs and she quickly knew who was behind her.

“Mhm, do you know how good you look when you’re focused?” Jin whispers in her ear, a shiver runs up her spine as she puts down the meat produced and picked up another one to examine. “Makes me want to take you right here, right now.” His fingers knead the exposed skin on her hips, it had been weeks since they started travelling together and weeks since (Y/n) and Jin were intimate with each other, for the past few days Jin had grown frustrated and wanted nothing more than to be inside her, they hadn’t had a single moment alone with each other and he was growing impatient, deciding to ignore his words for the moment, she showed him the product.

“I think this one might taste the best.” (Y/n) says as she begins moving to try and get out his grasp, his fingers suddenly dig into her skin and kept her from moving away from him.

“Are you just going to ignore me now?” Jin asks in a low and rough tone, she could feel something shift inside her but kept her composure.

“We’re in public.” (Y/n) mumbles trying to not show him just how much his actions were affecting her.

“And you’re wearing a short little skirt,” Jin states, her breath gets caught up on her throat for a second.

“No, Jin, we-“ (Y/n) begins only to stop when she saw Jimin approaching them with a wide smile on his lips.

“Hey, I found some spices,” Jimin says not suspecting anything, to him, it appeared like a couple showing affection, Jin’s hands were resting on her hips and his lips were barely brushing against her earlobe, he had no reason to suspect that something was going happening.

“That’s great, now we should probably get some vegetables and fruits as well.” (Y/n) says as Jimin placed the items into the cart.

“Okay, I’ll meet you guys there,” Jimin says before making his way towards the fruit and vegetable section, once he was out of earshot (Y/n) turns her head sideways to look at Jin.

“This is a public place, you are not going to do anything right now.” (Y/n) says and begins to wiggle in his grip, not realizing the issue she was creating. “Come on, Jin we’ll be alone soon enough and then you can do whatever you want with me.” His grip eases on her hips.

“Anything?” Jin mumbles, his voice just above a whisper.

“Anything.” (Y/n) confirms, he takes a step back allowing her to move away from the fridge, she moves towards the cart and placed the meat inside.

“I’ll keep that in mind for later,” Jin says making her look at him, his eyes were clouded with lust as he stared back at her, she looks away from him and licks her lips before pushing the cart towards the fruit and vegetable section, Jin followed behind, his eyes carefully watching her as they walked, she usually never wore a skirt unless it was a warm sunny day like it was that day, he could already see it in his mind, her legs wrapped around him with her skirt still clinging to her, her panties long gone and his cock buried deep inside her, the mere thought caused blood to rush to his cock.

“Did you find anything interesting, Jimin?” (Y/n) asks as they approached him, Jimin lifted a small bag filled with kiwis.

“Yeah, I know how much you like kiwi’s and they had some,” Jimin says and placed the bag into the cart.

“Oh, thank you, that so sweet of you to think of me.” (Y/n) says and softly smiles at him, some fruits and vegetables were added to the cart before they went to pay for everything, once everything was bagged and paid for they left the store, quickly walking towards the car, they packed almost everything into the back, only two bags being placed at the backseat where (Y/n) would be occupying the space for the ride back to the hotel, Jimin climbs into the passenger side and Jin got behind the wheel, he looks at the rearview mirror and saw (Y/n) staring at him through the mirror, he could feel his cock pushing against his underwear causing him to grip the steering wheel, his knuckles quickly turning white before he begins driving them back to the hotel.

“Did we get everything?” Jimin asks, obvious to the tension growing between (Y/n) and Jin. “We didn’t forget the extra towel, right?”

“I think we got everything we needed, the towel also, but if we did forget something, we’ll just have to survive without it.” (Y/n) says, Jimin nods his head before taking out his phone and going through some apps, (Y/n) could feel Jin staring at her through the mirror causing her to shift in her seat, she could feel what was coming, he was frustrated and impatient, he had been holding back for days now and he had no idea how long he would last, but he knew it wouldn’t be long, once they arrived back at the hotel, Jin’s growing cock felt like it was going to explode if he didn’t do anything about his situation, Jimin unbuckles his seatbelt and opened his door while Jin slowly unbuckled his seatbelt.

“Jimin, why don’t you go ahead, (Y/n) and I will bring everything, we’ll be right up,” Jin says while staring at (Y/n) through the mirror, Jimin nods his head not realizing what was about to happen in the backseat, Jimin climbs out the car, closing his door before opening the back door.

“Okay, but let me at least take these two bags,” Jimin says as he took hold of the two backs, he softly smiles at (Y/n) as he pulled the bags out the car, (Y/n) returns the smile as she begins buckling her seatbelt, Jimin closes the door and made his way into the hotel.

“Don’t you dare move,” Jin demands as he pushes his door open, once outside he slams it shut before opening the door to the back and climbing in, the door was quickly shut behind him, his moving the lock on the door to shut it, he leans over (Y/n) and pushed the lock closed, he wanted to be sure nobody would disturb them by opening those two doors.

“What ar-“ (Y/n) begins to question only to be cut off by a hungry kiss from Jin, her eyes fall shut as she enjoyed the feeling of his lips moving against hers, his hands roamed over her body before slipping them underneath the dark purple crop top she wore.

“You’re such a tease,” Jin says once he pulled back from the kiss. “Wearing such a short skirt to show off those beautiful legs of yours.” The small space made it harder to move around, but he managed to remove her shirt only to discover the grey sports bra she had picked to wear, it was something he had learned about her throughout the years, she preferred wearing sports bras. “Where’s the neon pink one you had on yesterday?” She opens her eyes to look at him.

“I decided to wash it this morning.” (Y/n) softly spoke, he placed his hands on her thighs and slowly slides them upwards, his touch leaving a burning trail behind on her skin, his hands slips underneath the short black skirt and continued moving his hands higher until his fingers brushed against her panties.

“I need you,” Jin says in a low deep tone. “Badly.” She could feel wetness pooling between her legs as he spoke, she spreads her legs a little wider giving him more access, he moves her panties aside and slipped his fingers between her pussy lips, her growing wetness coated his fingers. “Mhm, I’ve got a little work to do before you’re ready for me.” His fingers slowly circled her clit, she could feel the excitement building inside her as she continued to grow wetter as he toyed with her clit, purposely brushing his fingers over her clit every few seconds, tension slowly builds up inside her and she throws her head back against the seat and closed her eyes, her lips parting as she took in a deep breath while spreading her legs wider, his fingers slowly slide towards her slit. “Mhm, that didn’t take long.” The tip of his fingers circled her slit. “Do you want this as much as I do?” His lust covered eyes watching her intensely, her chest rising up ad down as her breathing became heavier, he removes his fingers from her moist pussy causing her to lift her head to look at him, he unzips and unbuttons his jeans before shifting around as he pushed his jeans and underwear down to his knees, his hard thick cock finally free, her eyes lower to stare at his length. “Look what you caused.” His hand wraps around his cock, his hand quickly moving around his cock.

“Get rid of your panties and get on top of me,” Jin demanded, the authority in his tone made her obey his order and quickly discarded her panties before climbing on top of him, making sure to keep her head low to avoid the roof, he placed one hand on her hip while his other hand moved his cock between her pussy lips, coating himself with her wetness, she placed her hands on the seats and gripped them. “I’ve been waiting for so long.” He slides his cock towards her slit, slowly pushing the head of his cock inside her, she lays her head down on his shoulder as she felt him entering her, he unwraps his hand from his cock and placed it on her hip, his fingers digging into her skin before pushing her down onto his cock.

“Oh.” (Y/n) gasps at the pleasurable feeling of being filled and stretched by his cock.

“Look how well you’re taking me,” Jin whispers in her ear. “You wanted to do this just as much as I wanted.” The grip on her hips tightening as he lifted her before lowering her back down on his cock. “Ride me.” She quickly made sure that her knees were on the seat and that she was secured before lifting her hips, she lowers herself back down on his cock, her head staring against his shoulder as she repeated the movement. “How obedient.” His tone became husky as he spoke in her ear, she begins picking up the pace, the tinted windows quickly becoming fogged.

“Oh.” (Y/n) softly moans against his shoulder, neither of them hearing the door handle being pulled on the back door, the passenger door suddenly opens, but she was too consumed with pleasure to care at the moment, Jin’s eyes snapped to the door and saw Jimin standing outside.

“What’s taking so long?” Jimin asks before popping his head into the car, his eyes widen at the scene in the backseat. “Fuck.” He mutters while climbing into the car, closing the door once he was inside, he shifts around in his seat as he moved into a position to watch them and still be comfortable, Jin’s eyes fell on Jimin’s eyes and saw them darken with lust as he watched them have sex in the back of the car, Jimin runs his tongue over his lips as he saw Jin’s cock stretching her each time she lowered her hips, he could hear the sinful sounds from her wetness each time she lifted and lowered her hips. “Wow, she takes your cock so good.” He stared in amazement as he watched the scene in front of him, he would have never imagined that the scene in front of him would turn him on as much as it did, and he never imagined that he would want to be in Jin’s position as badly as at that moment. “That’s so hot.”

“She feels so good,” Jin says causing Jimin to lift his gaze, Jin stared at him as he could only watch, Jimin’s lips were swollen from licking them too much. “Her walls are clenching around me, milking my cock for an orgasm.” Jimin swallows as the words left Jin’s mouth.

“Mhm.” (Y/n) whimpers against Jin’s shoulder, the tension in her lower stomach growing stronger as she edged closer to her release, Jimin could see her muscles contracting and her body slowly beginning to quiver with pleasure.

“She’s so close to her release, I can feel it,” Jin says, Jimin lowers his gaze and saw Jin’s cock disappear inside her before she lifted her hips, Jin could feel her slow lying down and started helping her by lifting her hips for her, his fingers digging more into her skin, creating some bruising to the warm soft skin on her hips.

“Mhm, mhm.” (Y/n) whimpers as she squeezed her eyes.

“Cum for us, little goddess.” Jin softly spoke, warmth travelled through her body and the tension pulling in her lower stomach suddenly exploded as pleasure washed over her.

“OH, OH!” (Y/n) loudly moans and gripped the seat, Jimin could see her wetness running down the length of Jin’s cock, he could feel his blood rush towards his own cock at the sight, Jin felt his cock twitch inside her as he approached his own release.

“Sweetheart, can you grab the towel we bought?” Jin mutters in her ear, she tiredly opens her eyes as she lifted her head, her body pressed against his as she tiredly reached for the bag that contained the towel, she takes it out and pushes herself away from his body before dropping the towel next to him on the seat, she carefully climbs off him as her entire body still shook with pleasure, Jin took the towel and wrapped his hand around his cock, Jimin wasn’t sure where to look, his eyes queenly caught sight of her soaked pussy as she shifted around in her seat trying to cover herself with her skirt, he heard Jin groan in pleasure as he released himself into the towel, Jimin’s eyes move between Jin and (Y/n) before looking into (Y/n)’s eyes as she stared into his lust covered eyes, she licks her swollen lips. “Did you enjoy the show?” Jimin averts his eyes away from (Y/n) to look at Jin. “And be honest.” Jimin’s eyes moved to look at (Y/n), he could see that she was still drunk with pleasure, he looks back at Jin and slowly nods his head, unable to form any words. “Hm.” Jin folds the towel and puts it down on the seat next to him, he shifts around in his seat as he pulls his underwear and jeans back up, (Y/n) finds her shirt and pulls it back on before reaching for her panties, only for Jin to take them.

“Why don’t you hold onto these for us, Jimin?” Jin asks as he handed the panties to Jimin, it wasn’t a question, Jimin quickly takes the fabric, almost dropping them in the process, (Y/n) watched as Jimin pushed her panties into his jean’s pocket, making sure nobody would see it. “All right, let’s unload everything, we can’t stay in the car all day.” Jin unlocks the door and climbs out the car, (Y/n) tugs at her skirt before unlocking the door and carefully climbing out the car, she walks to the back of the car where Jin had already opened, Jimin climbs out the car and walked to the back of the car, he looks around the parking lot before taking a couple of bags and making his way into the hotel, he wanted to get back to the room as quickly as possible, (Y/n) and Jin gathers everything else before entering the hotel, they walk towards the elevator and step inside, Jimin being nowhere in sight, Jin presses the floor number and the doors slowly closed. “Would you mind?” (Y/n) turns her head to look at him.

“Would I mind, what?” (Y/n) softly asks.

“If I gave him permission to touch you,” Jin says. “If I shared you with him.” (Y/n) lowers her gaze to the floor, it wasn’t something she had thought about previously and now that the topic had been brought up, she had no idea how to feel about it. “If not…” Jin trails off.

“No, no.” (Y/n) says as she shifts her gaze from the floor to look at him. “It’s just, are you sure?” Jin licks his lips as he stared at her. “Are you sure you’re willing to share?” The elevator door opens.

“I trust you and I trust him,” Jin says, she nods her head as they step out from the elevator and walked down the hall to the room, Jin unlocks the door and pushed it open. “Go ahead.” She steps into the room and saw Jimin sitting at the table staring at his thighs, his skin was flushed, when he arrived in the room he sat down as his mind kept replaying the scene from the car, he grew flustered as each second passed, he knew he should’ve gone to take a cold shower, but he needed a moment to collect himself, he looks up from his thighs as the door opened and (Y/n) stepped in, she looks at him as the door closes behind Jin, Jin took the bags from her grasps and walked past her, moving deeper into the room before placing the bags down in the kitchen, he moves towards Jimin and place a hand on his shoulder before lowering down next to him. “Do you want a taste?” Jimin’s eyes never left (Y/n)’s body. “Go ahead.” Jimin turns his head to stare at Jin, his eyes were wide with shock at the suggestion. “I’m not messing around, go and have a taste.” Jimin slowly turns his gaze back to (Y/n) before standing from the dining chair, he strides towards her.

“Are you sure?” Jimin asks, he was unsure who he was asking, she nods her head not saying a word.

“I wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t sure,” Jin says, Jimin stops in front of her, the space between them almost none existent.

“I’ve been…” Jimin begins, her eyes stared at him innocently as she waited for him to make a move. “Fuck.” He lifted his hand and gently placed it on her cheek, his thumb softly runs over her cheek. “I’ve been waiting for so long.” He leans closer, lips almost touching. “Now it’s my turn.”

[ghstandpucks]

Misguided Ghost Ch.4

A.N: So my story just went to #9 on the Zak Bagans tag on Wattpad! I’m so excited I had to share! Also.. if anyone knows how to like the chapters onto a story without putting the whole url, I would be appreciative of the help! I hope you all are staying safe and healthy! Enjoy!

Ch.3: https://ghstadventuresgrl.tumblr.com/post/622599346097160192/misguided-ghost-ch3

Truce

           I walked into the office Friday morning feeling more comfortable than I had the day before. Sure it was only my second day on the job, but Zak seemed a little more accepting of me toward the end of the day so I figured I was off to a good start. Aaron’s office was still empty, but Nick had his door open. “Good morning Nick,” I smiled as I walked past his office.  

           “Morning Y/N. Hey, come here a second.” I walked into his office tentatively. Nick looked away from his computer screen and smiled gently up at me. “Zak showed me the research you did yesterday. I have to say, I was impressed at what you found for those places and how much you got through.” I smiled and looked down, a bit embarrassed by the praise.

           “Thanks. I’m glad that it was what you guys wanted,” I responded. Nick chuckled.

           “That and more.” He went back to his computer screen and I took that as my que to leave his office. I walked back to where mine and Zak’s offices were. His door was shut and I frowned slightly. Why was I disappointed to not see him?

I opened my door and started setting up. I had grabbed some of my mythology books that I had from school and put them on my bookshelf. I had also ordered a white board and cork board that should be at the office later today so I could hang some things up and write down info about upcoming lock downs. In other words, I had to be organized or I would lose my shit. I had also brought in a few picture frames to set on my desk. I had one of my family at Disneyland, one of my two best friends and I at our undergraduate graduation with our cap and gowns, and another of the three of us that showed us all laughing standing on top of a couch in some random San Diego club when we all turned 21. I had handed my phone off to some random person that had gotten us into the VIP section and free drinks. Girls just want to have fun right? I was standing with my back to the door reminiscing about how fun that evening was when there was a knock on my door. I jumped slightly and turned around, smiling when I saw it was Zak and Aaron. “Didn’t mean to scare you,” Aaron chuckled as he walked into my office.

           “It’s fine. I was in my own little world for a second,” I explained. Zak walked in behind Aaron and handed me a Starbucks cup. It was my passion tango tea and read ‘lil sis’ on the side. I gave Zak a quizzical look.

           “Aaron ordered” he said softly, knowing what I was questioning. I looked at Aaron and he showed me his coffee cup, which said ‘big bro’ on the side. I laughed.

           “Thank you for this, big bro,” I winked as the guys laughed and looked around. Zak eyed my books and walked over to them as Aaron started to look at my pictures. He picked up the San Diego one.

           “Wow, you actually have red and black in your closet?” He asked, acting astonished. I laughed and looked down at my green knee length dress. In the picture I was wearing a red lace crop top and a short black skater skirt with black heals. Zak looked over quickly to see what Aaron was talking about, and I watched his eyes look me up and down. Blushing, I took the picture back and started to explain the events of that evening.

           “Didn’t think you were a party girl,” Zak mumbled after I was done explaining, finally looking away from the picture, even though I had set it back down.

           “I’m not really. But don’t judge a book by its cover. You hardly even know me,” I shot back. What was with him judging my appearance? Zak and I stared at each other for a second, I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. Probably that he was about to fire me. Aaron broke the silence.

           “Are you still friends with them?” I looked at Aaron and nodded my head.

           “Ya, still best friends. We met freshman year Fall quarter and have stuck together ever sense. They’re the best,” I smiled. “Also, I hope its ok that I have a white board and cork board being delivered today?” I looked back over at Zak.

           “That’s fine. Make the space your own,” he said and walked into his own office. I made a face and looked at Aaron who was looking back and forth between Zak and I. “What?”

           “I can’t tell if you two are going to be like the best of friends, rip each other’s throats out, or be that annoyingly cute opposites attract couple,” he said in a low voice. I gawked at him.

           “More than likely one of the first two. I highly doubt the last one,” I whispered, making sure Zak couldn’t hear us.

           “I don’t know, he likes to talk about you. Wouldn’t shut up about how great your research was when we went to get the coffee this morning.” I blushed at that and turned away from Aaron. “Oh, so there is a feeling there!”

           “I didn’t say that. Beside I just met you guys and I work for him now so it will be strictly professional.” I muttered, sitting down and opening my laptop to start my work for the day.

           “You aren’t denying it though. And technically you work for Travel Channel so it wouldn’t be like you slept with your boss to get a raise or anything,” Aaron winked as I shooed him out of my office, not even wanting to respond to that comment. I looked across at Zak and he had his head down in his own work. I prayed he didn’t just hear all that.

~ ~ ~      

           After my boards were delivered and I acquired the help of Aaron to put them up, I found myself walking down the hall to make a copy of a paper of a place I was researching. The paper had a few numbers and extra sources for articles on the place, so I wanted to keep a copy for myself before handing my research over to Zak. As I walked back to my office to grab all the papers and my notes of the 3 places I was able to get through today, I noticed all the guys were in Zak’s office. I kept to myself and started gathering my research when Zak called me over. I walked in with the papers and smiled at the guys. “Are those for me?” Zak asked motioning to the papers.

           “Yup. There was a lot of information on that one ghost town, so I only was able to look at 3 places today. But everything should be in there,” I explained as I handed him the heavy stack of papers. At least it was heavy in my opinion, Zak’s large frame took them easily from me.

           “Are you doing anything tonight Y/N?” Aaron asked. I looked at him and shook my head.

           “Not really. I was probably just going to cook dinner and watch tv,” I shrugged. I had really just planned on finishing unpacking this weekend. The exciting life of Y/N Y/LN.

           “Well we’re all going out tonight to get a drink and dinner. Would you like to come?” Aaron smiled at me. I wasn’t sure what to say.

           “Um… you know I don’t want to impose…”

           “You wouldn’t be. You can meet my wife. Plus, Billy is coming so you can meet him too,” Nick interrupted my poorly planned excuse. I really didn’t want to intrude on a night out for them since they hardly knew me. As if he knew what I was thinking, Nick spoke up again. “And it would be nice to get to know you and you us since we’ll all be going on a lockdown next week.”

           “Oh, I’m going on that?” I questioned.

“You’re our historian. We kind of need you there,” Zak answered with a nod. They all looked at me expectantly.

           “Ok. And that sounds fun tonight, if it’s alright with everyone?” I glanced at Zak specifically. He smiled softly and nodded.

           “Awesome! I’ll text you the address of the place. It’s kind of like a dive bar off the strip, so it’s never too busy, especially on Friday nights,” Aaron explained. I smiled and nodded, saying good bye to everyone and leaving the office for the day.

           Once I got home, I showered and did my hair. I curled it in a beachy wave, then did my make-up. I stood in front of my closet, trying to decide what to wear. It was dinner, but still a bar. I wanted to look nice, and a bit more grown up. Being 5’2 and a petite 112 pounds, people often did not believe I was old enough to drink, let alone be out of high school. I’m sure that’s how the guys saw me, and for some reason I specifically wanted to show Zak that I wasn’t some little girl who always wore dresses. I tended to have a closet that reminded people of Jessica Day on New Girl. The fact that I was a substitute teacher for a few years while I worked on my master’s and after didn’t help that goody two shoes image I had made for myself either. Not that I minded it, I just kind of wanted Zak to notice me. What Aaron had been saying kept replaying in my head. Zak was the first one to say they should hire me; he likes to talk about me and my research. Was he not as intimidating and judging as he’s appeared to me over the past week?

           I shook my head to try to get those thoughts out. I was just going out with the people I work with, and that was that. I ended up picking out my ripped skinny jeans and a black chiffon top that showed a strip of my stomach. I put on my black healed ankle boots and grabbed my leather jacket. Aaron said they would be there around 7:30, and it was 7 now. I looked up the place and saw it was about 15 minutes from me. I made sure my hair and make were in place, then called an uber. I am a bit of a light weight. Even though I was just planning on having a single beer, I don’t really trust myself to drive after. Better safe than sorry. My uber came and dropped me off at exactly 7:30. I was really hoping someone was already there so I didn’t have to wait by myself. I walked in and looked around. The place had a fun vibe, with a dance floor off to the side. There were tables and booths that took up most of the place, then a bar next to the dance floor. The music was turned up, but still at a volume that you didn’t need to yell over. I imagined that it got louder as the night went on and the dance floor got crowded.

           I looked to my left and saw Aaron and Nick waving me down. I smiled and walked over to them. “Hi guys,” I said as I slid in next to Aaron.

           “You made it! Y/N, this is my wife Veronique,” Nick introduced us.

           “Hi, it’s nice to meet you,” I smiled at her. She returned it and shook my hand.

           “You too! I’ve been hearing about all your research. You have these guys all impressed,” Veronique stated. I laughed and thanked her.

           “If you want something to drink, you have to go to the bar,” Aaron informed me. I saw that they already had their drinks and got up, excusing myself. I walked up to the bar and leaned against it, waiting to get the attention of the bartender. I was never very good at inserting myself at bars. He came over after a minute or two, and I ordered an Anchor Steam beer. A rum and coke sounded good, but I didn’t want to get too giggly with everyone just yet. As the beer was pushed toward me and I was about to hand over my card, an arm reached over me.

           “I’ll pay for hers, and an O’douls,” a deep voice said. I turned and saw Zak, who was smiling down at me. “I have to say Mia, I almost didn’t recognize you in jeans. You look good,” he said as the bartender handed him back his card and his drink. I stood there, not knowing what to say for a second.

           “I could have paid for my drink.” I blurted out. Zak chuckled and leaned against the bar next to me.

           “I know, but I got it. Think of it as an olive branch,” he stated. I quirked my eyebrow.

           “An olive branch?”

           “Ya. I know I keep making remarks that bother you and I honestly don’t mean to. You really do just seem like this bubbly person so I guess it was just my way of trying to get used to you. Aaron told me I was coming off a bit rude and I just want you to know that it wasn’t personal,” he tried to explain himself.

           “Well if it was about the way I look and dress then it was personal. But ok,” I looked down at my beer. Zak huffed.

           “What I mean is that we’ve all gone through some pretty serious shit together, and you just seemed like this ray of sunshine bouncing in…in a good way. I wanted you to know that I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. And if I have then I apologize for that. I think you are doing a great job,”

           “Aaron told me you were the first one to say you guys should hire me. If that’s true, then why the attitude the past two days?” I questioned him. I was curious. He smiled at me and looked back toward the table. I followed his gaze and saw the guys pretending to seem like they weren’t watching us. I blushed slightly, hoping the dim lighting would hide it.

           “You’re smart Y/N. I saw that in the way that you presented yourself. You’re also very passionate about history, and it was intriguing. Plus, you didn’t come to the interview asking about being on tv and our lockdowns, or asking for an autograph after,” he answered me. I tilted my head to the side a bit.

           “People really asked for an autograph after their interview?” he nodded. I laughed slightly. “And I don’t really care if I’m on the lockdown.”

           “I know. You were refreshing to talk with. And after the past two days you seem to be exactly what we needed. So, what do you say we start over and I try not to be such an ass with my remarks? Truce?” He smiled at me, but I didn’t miss the way his eyes looked me over. Maybe this was the right outfit choice after all. I bumped my drink into his.

           “Truce,” I responded, smiling at him. I turned to then walk back to the booth with Zak following closely behind me. Aaron scooted over in the booth as I slid in next to him, and Zak by me. Once we had sat down I was introduced to Billy Tolley, the audio-visual tech who showed up while Zak and I were talking at the bar. We all ordered our food and enjoyed the evening. I was laughing with everyone and feeling more comfortable then I had since I moved in last week. Zak stole a French fry off my plate and I bumped him with my elbow. Life might turn out to be good here.  

[ligit-squid]

Remembrance of A Bond

The sun was beating down on anything its rays touched, the sand hot to the touch and creatures escaping to the shadows to cool down. In the water, dolphins chirped and clicked, whistling to each other. They took turns springing into the air above the water. Sea birds soaring in the air and watched below them. One dipping down to catch a fish that was close to the surface.

On the beach, two teenagers were busy playing a game. Tossing a small, hand-sized rubber ball at each other, hoping the other will catch it. One was a boy, who had raven hair and olive tanned skin. His brown eyes were bright with enjoyment. He was wearing a loose blue and white striped tank-top, and a pair of tan cargo shorts. A homemade thread bead bracelet was on his wrist, decorating it was a sandbar shark tooth.

The girl was wearing a white crop-top with a flowing knee-length skirt, a white tank-top and around her neck was a shark-tooth necklace. She, like the boy, ran in the sand with bare feet. Around her head, she wore a headscarf, hiding what was underneath.

“I’m throwing it farl, Troy!” the girl called out, trotting backward. She threw the rubber ball at him, but he didn’t catch it. It soared past him while he tumbled backward into the sand. The boy—Troy, huffed and got up, brushing away the sand that had collected on his clothing. “Good throw, Lian!”

The girl smiled, “Thanks for the compliment, Troy. Maybe one day you’ll be good as me,” her tone was tantalizing. Troy laughed and grabbed the ball that was in the sand a few feet away from him.

“Kids’, sandwiches are ready!” a woman in her late thirties or early forties called out from the porch of the beach house. The two teenagers laughed and shoved each other while retreating to the hut. The woman from before smiled as she watched them, only the slightest frown at the tips of her lips. Lian and Troy finished shoving at each other and went inside, quickly sitting down and eating their sandwiches.

“Gracias, Mrs. Haku, for the sandwich,” Troy said, though his mouth was still filled with ham and cheese sandwich.

“Thank you, Troy—now, please finish eating before you talk,” the older woman chuckled. The boy listened and continue to eat away at the sandwich. Lian, unlike Troy, ate hers at a slower pace, occasionally stopped by small fits of coughing. During one of her fits, the headscarf had started to slip. Lian noticed and simply took it off. It revealed an almost bald head—only a few strands of hair in some places.

“Your father is due home any minute now, Lian,” Mrs. Haku spoke up. She was filling the feed for the parrots, whose cage was in the corner.

“We’re still doing the campfire later, right?” Lian asked. Mrs. Harper laughed half-heartedly.

“Yes we’ll still have the fire, the rain from yesterday wasn’t enough to make the logs wet,” the older woman said. The two teenagers gave their announced excitement, Troy even shooting up and shouting his excitement.

“Troy, I’m just as excited as you, but we don’t want Emilio to cause a disturbance,” a man said from the door, a grin on his face. He was tall with a sunburned tan, his dirty blond hair in a man bun.

“Papa!” Lian ran over to him and wrapping him in a hug. He gave a throaty laugh but hugged her back.

Ollie, the family’s dog, skittered in through the door after the man. It’s colored coat covered in wood shavings and grit. 

“Ryan! Clean Ollie off before he comes inside! He’s going to make a mess,” Mrs. Haku exclaimed. The man laughed.

“He can come run in the water with us?” Troy suggested.

“Alright, but Lian, you need to take your medication soon.”

Lian had been a very sick child throughout her school years, missing a lot of days and constant trips to the clinic a few towns away. Doctors claimed it as ‘poor genetics’. It wasn’t until she was fifteen they did a blood test, that’s when they found out she actually had leukemia. It was a devastating discovery, but Lian wanted to keep everyone happy. She continued on with life like before, but with more medications and occasional chemotherapy. Over the time she’s gone through chemo, her skin got paler, she started to lose weight, and her hair started to fall out.

Her father—Ryan Haku—was reluctant to put his only child on the medications and chemotherapy. He eventually put her up for it, hoping it could stop cancer from spreading. Ryan’s wishes weren’t heard, unfortunately. In recent months, their family doctor at the clinic broke the news to them that Lian wouldn’t live to be nineteen. It broke them, knowing their daughter would pass away before them.

Troy had been by Lian's side through those hard years. He was only half a year older than her, and they both turned out to be good friends. Best friends. Troy and Lian were a Romeo and Juliet type of relationship. They loved each other, but Lian was destined to pass away. Troy, however, promised he’d stay with her till she couldn’t anymore.

“When are we having the campfire?” Lian asked.

“As soon as your mother gets the food ready,” Ryan replied, retreating to Nalani and his shared bedroom.

“I have everything ready so we can all head down to the beach,” Lian’s mom—Nalani Haku—mused. She was in the kitchen again, grabbing different foods and drinks into the carrier bag that laid on the counter.

Troy and Lian were already heading for the door, Ollie in tow behind them. The border collie yapped away as it chased after the two young adults, happily jumping in the waves that crashed on the beach. Troy and Lian ran after the dog, laughing while splashing each other. Nalani and Ryan went to join them, sitting a bit away from the water and sat down. Nalani set her bag down beside her, Ryan tweaking the strings of his old ukulele. When the two teenagers were tired out they joined the adults by the now burning fire. The heat from the flames danced on their skin as their shadows stretched out on the sand. The sound of the wood crackling and crashing waves filled the air but was interrupted by a soft strum on the ukulele.

“Mahalo nui ia Ke Ali’i wahine. ‘O Lili’ulani ‘O ka Wo hi ku. Ka pipio mai o ke anuenuehi,” Ryan started to sing, strumming the ukulele’s strings.

“Na waiho’o lu’u a halikeole’e. E nana na maka i ke ao malama mai. Hawai’i akea I Kaua’i. ‘O Kalākaua he inoa. ‘O ka pua mae’ole i ka lā.” Ryan continued singing as Ollie bounded over, sitting at his feet.

“Ka pua maila i ka mauna. I ke kuahiwi ‘o Mauna Kea. Ke ‘ā maila i Kīlauea.” Troy joined, swaying slightly. 

“Mālamalama i Wahinekapu. A ka luna o Uwēkahuna. I ka pali kapu o Kau’auea.” The two of them sang, their voices being carried on the wind. The gentle strumming of the ukulele mixed with their sound, creating a beautiful melody.

“Ea mai ke ali’i kia manu. Ua wehi ka hula o ka mamo. Ka pua nani a’o Hawai’i.” Lian’s soft voice braided into their melody as her eyes glittered joyfully. “‘O Kalākaua he inoa. ‘O Kalākaua he inoa. ‘O ka pua mau’ole i ka lā. Ka pua maila i ka mauna.”

“I ke kuahiwi ‘o Mauna Kea. Ke ‘ā maila i Kīlauea. Mālamalama i Wahinekapu. A ka luna o Uwēkahuna.” Nalani started to sing as the two teenagers started dancing around in the sand. 

“I ka pali kapu o Ka’auea. Mahalo nui ‘ia ke Kuini. ‘O Lili’ulani Wo ka ‘o hi ku. Ea mai ke ali’i kia manu.” Ollie sprung up and started running around them, it’s tail wagging frantically. 

“Ua wehi i ka hulu o ka mamo. Ka pua nani a’o Hawai’i. ‘O Kalakaua he inoa. He Inoa No Kalani Kalākaua Kulele.” The two collapsed back onto the sand in a fit of laughter, covering their clothes completely in sand. 

Later on in the evening, when both Ryan and Nalani went inside for the night, Troy and Lian—with the company of Ollie—went to the field a bit away from the beach. It was farther away from the torchlight, making it easier for them to see the billions of stars in the sky above them. The sky was painted like a canvas, the dark sky was the once black canvas, while the stars and clouds decorated it. The moon was raised high in the sky, hanging over them and the ocean.

Lian’s eyes lit up from the joy of watching the stars. She had wanted to study the stars when she grew up, but it was a lost hope. Because she was so sick all the time, Troy brought her astronomy books to read—which she loved and thanked him for.

“The first one to find a constellation wins!” Troy said suddenly. They laughed and began their search of looking for a constellation. They both spotted the Scorpius constellation, then Aquila, then Orion the Hunter. It continued for hours, looking at the stars.

During that time of stargazing, Troy started to feel distraught. He looked over at his best friend, examining her. Her body was thinner, loss of hair, needing a breathing tube to make sure she didn’t pass away in her sleep not being able to breathe. The Hispanic boy sometimes wished she’d never gotten so sick, that she never had leukemia. To people who didn’t know Lian thought of her as weak, but Troy knew better. This was Lian at her strongest. She was fighting to make them smile, to make them happy.

“Troy,” Lian said. “I want you to remember this moment. I want you to make this a special memory, our special memory.”

They had gone back to her house not long after. They bid each other goodnight before Troy headed up farther along the road to get to his house. Lian’s father was already asleep when she came inside—having a tendency of falling asleep while watching the news. She headed for her room, where she changed into her sleeping attire. Walking over to her window, she gazed out onto the empty street. The light of the moon washed over the rooftops and the long road, making everything seem monotone and stale. The only things moving were the branches and leaves on trees, the wind flowing through them. Lian sighed, closing her curtains and flipping off the lights in her room. She crawled into bed, the cool sheets sending goosebumps up her arms and legs, and stared at the ceiling. Her mother came in her room to help her with the breathing tubes, and kissed her forehead, bidding goodnight. Not long later, Lian fell into a sleep-filled world.

In only a matter of weeks, Lian’s health spiral downward. It wasn’t until August twelfth, two-thousand and eleven, at four-twenty two that Lian had passed away. Troy received a call that afternoon about Lian and immediately left to comfort his second family. Two weeks later, Lian’s funeral went as scheduled.

“We meet here today to honor and pay tribute to the life of Lian Hope Haku, and to express our love and admiration for her.

“Also to try to bring some comfort to those of her family and friends who are here and have been deeply hurt by her sudden death.

“Lian wasn't a particularly religious person, so it's befitting that her funeral ceremony should reflect what she was, ...a gentle, ...kind, …loving person; devoted to her family and friends.

“It's only natural that we should be sad today, because, in a practical sense, Lian is no longer a part of our lives, ‘we must die, we know’ said a character in Shakespeare, ‘tis but the time and drawing days out that men stand upon’, and so we all come to ponder the life and death of a truly wonderful lady aged eighteen; with confused and mixed feelings.

“For we have a powerful sense of loss; combined with a recognition that; if death must come, its as well that its not unduly prolonged, we don't want to see someone we love suffer, so this sorrow; and our sense of the fitness of things; don't sit easily together, one purpose of our proceedings here today; is in some way to try to reconcile those feelings.

“Today is also a day for memories, today will be remembered for many reasons, but mainly I hope it will be remembered by you all; as a very special day, a special day in which you shared some time with others; in order to pay your last respects; and to say both mentally and physically; a sad and fond farewell to a wonderful lady, ...lady whom we were all so very privileged to have known,” the funeral service last three hours. Ryan held his wife close to him while she wept. The ones who were to come to the funeral were her parents, Troy and his family, and other relatives. Some were close friends of Lian and the family—like Mrs. Pine from across the street, who had known the family from when Nalani was young.

Ryan and Nalani still stood beside the Banner family after the funeral. Alicia Banner had pulled Lian’s mother into a comforting hug, tears were falling down her face. Troy’s brothers and himself were in a hug as well. Diego was clutching onto Miguel’s shirt as he cried. Miguel, the oldest of the three, could barely keep himself from sobbing. Lian played a big role in their lives and it pained them to see her time come to an end so quickly.

Nalani and Ryan had decided to never move something from their daughter's bedroom. The breathing tubes and oxygen tank beside her bed served only as a reminder that she died. The friend group between Lian and Troy made memorials for the girl, their friend. They place a picture frame with a picture of her out on their porches, beside that were two candles. From then on, Troy had kept a picture in his wallet, the picture of them at the age of twelve, doing a fake wedding.

Remembrance of A Bond was written back in 2018, and was drafted into a writers competition. No winners were announced due to the competition being canceled, but me and my sister had fun writing it.

[dontreadthistrashgarbage]

G O T 7 JB PT.2

Guerin arrived at her favorite flying spot by the han river. Since it wasn't a work engagement she had allowed her vanity to insist she show off a bit. Earrings dangling from her lobes, a pattern blocked mismatched long sleeve crop top and high waisted shorts with plain black sneakers were what Guerin had finally settled on after several outfit changes. Topped off with an orange lipstick she felt particularly bold.

She was at the top of the stairs and looked out over the view. It was a weekday so there wasn't a lot of people, but the weather was clear and warm without much wind. A perfect day for flying. She couldn't help but grin before setting her backpack styled bird transport down gently. Opening the door she reached in and stepped up a severe macaw. The bird look around, clearly excited and knowing what would be going on.

"Go Guerin-ssi!" JB approached from behind.

Guerin looked up to see JB, then turned to face him with her smile still in place and a bird on her hand. He froze for a moment seeing the mini macaw, who had let out a small squawk and flapped her wings, rustling her feathers with anticipation.

"Hello JB! We were just getting ready. This is my little girl Mihi." Guerin fed a safflower seed to the parrot and pinched her beak lovingly. JB had a thin grey t shirt with an oversized collar, the fabric draping from his broad shoulders and hanging tantalizingly from his fit form poorly hidden by the material. Guerin had to refocus and looked away from him back to her bird.

"Is she mad?" JB asked, warily approaching as the bird cocked her head, chewing the seed and watching him.

"No, she's just excited. She seems interested in you but she looks comfortable." Guerin assured him, giving the bird scratches on the top of her head.

"Can I take pictures?" He asked, suddenly eager, holding up the camera he had brought.

"Yeah absolutely. You want to get started?" Guerin responded, handing another safflower seed to the Mihi. The bird thoughtfully raised a foot to crack the shell, still watching JB as he raised his camera and took a couple snapshots. Once Mihi finished the seed, Guerin turned, moving the hand Mihi was sitting on up and open toward the river.

Almost immediately Mihi took off her hand with a loud happy scream, flapping and swooping to catch the currents of the air to get more lift. JB stepped up beside Guerin as she watched her bird fly, holding a hand to her forehead to block the sun. He watched Mihi looping and screeching, taking some more pictures. He glanced at Guerin, seeing her purely elated expression. He couldn't help but smile too as he snuck a quick picture of her.

"Hey now," she put up a hand to block her face, which made him laugh and take another picture as he dodged away from her, "Mihi is the star of this show." She protested but laughed at his suddenly playful demeanor and stuck her tongue out, which he snapped another picture of. "JB! I gotta watch my bird and you're distracting me." She pouted at him for a moment before turning back to the circling green bird in the sky. He beamed in victory, looking at the new pictures he had taken before refocusing on the show.

Guerin held out a hand and blew a whistle. Mihi didn't seem to respond right away, causing JB to look at Guerin with concern. She didn't react so he looked back. With one final loop that put her in position against the wind, Mihi angled her way down to Guerin's waiting hand, JB snapping pictures the whole descent. Once Mihi had landed Guerin began praising her and handed her an entire nut, which she took despite panting and catching her breath. She sat with the nut in her mouth breathing before finally catching her breath enough to crack into it, holding it in position with her foot and using her dexterous tongue to tease the treat out.

JB finally lowered his camera and just watched the bird. Guerin sat on the stairs, moving the bird to her knee and leaning back on her hands while Mihi rested. JB sat next to her.

"Once she rests a little we can fly again. She can usually go two or three times depending on how long each flight is." Guerin said.

JB nodded and looked around.

"No one seems to have noticed." He stated, confused.

"You'd be surprised what people don't notice." Guerin chuckled. "Sometimes she likes to fly just in front of people. That gets them to notice."

"Do people talk to you?" He asked curiously, flipping through the pictures on the camera.

"Sometimes. I've gotten people interested, scared, impressed, angry... one person tried to take a swipe at her." Guerin frowned at the memory and JB looked up in shock. "They missed, everything was fine. It was still while I didn't know much Korean so I'm not entirely sure what they were angry about." She shrugged. "Hey girl, where are you going?" Guerin redirected her attention back to the macaw. She had climbed off Guerin to the ground and was slowly walking toward JB, cocking her head to look at him and his camera, still holding what was left of the nut in her beak as she took tentative steps toward him.

JB automatically leaned away, understandably nervous. Guerin offered her hand to the bird who paused a few moments still looking at JB before slowly stepping onto Guerin's hand. The decision earned her a couple seeds. "She's very interested in you. Not a lot of people come flying with us." Guerin smiled and kissed Mihi's beak. Guerin glanced at JB, "Do you want to hold her?" She offered.

JB hesitated, "Is that okay?"

Guerin nodded, "I think so. Hold out your hand." She instructed. He followed her orders as she gave him a quick explanation on how to hold Mihi before holding out the bird, who stepped to his hand for another couple of seeds. Guerin couldn't help but laugh as Mihi studied the new human, chewing thoughtfully, paired with JB's dubious expression along with his uncomfortable body posture. Mihi finished the seeds and began squawking and ruffling feathers again. JB flinched slightly.

"She wants to fly again." Guerin laughed at his nervous behavior. "Just turn and hold up your hand like I did."

JB did as he was told and Mihi took off with another screech, flipping playfully in the slight breeze. His expression went from apprehensive to a deceptively chic smile. Guerin tore her eyes away from him to watch her bird circling.

Mihi landed on JB for another nut, crawling back and forth between the two and foraging around on the ground, always keeping close and returning to Guerin when she called for random check ins. The two humans talked at length, interacting with Mihi at intervals. JB got another photoshoot of her foraging on the ground, and a few cute photos of the parrot reaching for his lens before Guerin warning him that the little beak could do damage to his equipment. She had climbed to him several times and now he looked a bit more comfortable holding her on his hand. He also made sure to get pictures of Guerin being sweet with the bird, giving kisses, offering scritches, and even laying directly on the ground to play with the bird as Mihi rolled on her back, kicking her feet in the air to play wrestle.

At one point JB started playing music, humming along as the two focused on the bird, comfortable despite the lack of exchange. Guerin sang along softly to a few of the songs before JB commented. "Guerin-ssi." She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, still focused mostly on giving Mihi scratches on her head.

"Yes?"

"You have a great singing voice." He said.

"Oh, it's passable for karaoke." She laughed, "But I've got no training, I'm not a professional at all."

"I am." He said, earning another glance this one a little longer and clearly showing her dubious thoughts. "I mean it. You have a nice voice." He managed to sound nonchalant but decisive as he shrugged and leaned back.

"Well... thank you." She smiled shyly at the compliment, still not looking at him which meant she missed the proud smile he had.

Finally it was time to pack up and head home. Mihi climbed into the transport cage and Guerin slipped it carefully onto her back.

"I'll take you back to your place." JB offered.

"You don't need to do that." Guerin protested.

"I know." He answered with a charismatic smirk. She tsked at his sass but couldn't help the smile. Guerin's apartment was close to the park so the escort didn't last long, which JB felt disappointed in.

"Thank you for letting me come." JB said as they hovered just outside her apartment building entrance.

"Thanks for coming. You did great." She praised him, "It was a lot of fun."

The two stood in an awkward silence for a few beats, the desire to be in each others company longer unspoken.

"I'd love to see some of the pictures of Mihi you took!" Guerin said eagerly.

"I'll show you, after I pick out the best ones." JB agreed, hiding his relief that there was another excuse to meet up again.

"Well... I'll go in now." Guerin backed to the door, waving before turning to head inside. JB waved back, watching her go until the door closed securely behind her. Looking around casually and seeing no one he did a little dance, tongue out from his open grin, before playing it cool again and meandering back toward his own place.

JB chose an expensive bbq restaurant for Jackson to treat him. Jackson had complained exageratedly once he saw the menu and prices but with some well placed jibes from JB, he acquiesced.

"How is MinNao?" JB asked, taking a sip of barley tea.

"She's doing amazing. Guerin came by yesterday too. She went over everything again. MinNao loves her it's so cool to see them work." Jackson was excited and impressed.

"She definitely knows her stuff." JB nodded.

"I learned so much, I kept asking her questions and questions and she was always so thorough answering." Jackson was still enthusiastic. JB nodded and smiled, taking a bite of meat while his friend talked.

"I think I might like her. Like I might ask her on a date." Jackson added unexpectedly.

"What?" JB froze, already holding another piece of meat despite his bulging mouth. His eyes had widened as he looked across the table to his friend.

"I might ask her on a date." Jackson said again with a grin, "aaaah she is so fun to talk to!" He gestured happily.

JB slowly resumed chewing, "Did she seem like she liked you too?" He asked carefully.

"Well she stayed late and talked with me a lot, and she seemed like she enjoyed it. Yeah, I think so?" Jackson reasoned, not really put off by the question before thinking for a moment and frowning, "Why, do you think she wouldn't like me? Why wouldn't she like me?" He pouted at his friend.

"Eeeeey I didn't say that." JB cocked his head and leaned back.

"So you think I should do it?" Jackson recovered quickly to being his bright self, leaning in with a smile.

Before JB could respond a call from a familiar voice behind him interrupted the conversation.

"Hyung!"

Jackson and JB looked over to see Jinyoung, waving in greeting with Mark and a pretty woman with dark purple hair. The four men embraced as they greeted each other.

"This is Charlie." Jinyoung politely introduced Charlie, "She is working with Mark and I on our movie and has been very helpful and supportive so we're treating her to dinner."

"It's nice to meet you." Charlie bowed politely.

Both Jackson and JB greeted her politely in turn.

"We haven't seen each other in so long, sit with us!" Jackson invited the three newcomers.

Mark and Jinyoung hesitated but JB spoke up, "Sit down, we can order more food!" He said, eager for the subject change.

The three obediently followed suit. Charlie was sat between JB and Jinyoung with Mark settled across from her and next to Jackson. She was already somewhat nervous being out with two ridiculously attractive men, but now that problem had doubled. Still, it was hard to be shy when someone was as aggressively friendly as Jackson.

"How do you all know each other?" She asked after they settled in and ordered more food for the party. Mark surreptitiously put a piece of meat on her rice bowl, which Jinyoung noticed and glanced up at his friend with an unreadable expression.

"We were trainees together." JB answered.

"We were supposed to debut as a group but it fell through. JB was the leader." Mark added with a teasing tone and matching smile.

"Heyyyy. Why do you need to mention that?" JB said brandishing his chopsticks at the snickering trio of men. Charlie ducked her head down and toward Jinyoung to avoid JB noticing her poorly hidden smile, amused by the relationship.

"Jackson, I saw you got a new puppy." Mark mentioned as everyone calmed down.

"Yes!" Jackson pulled out his phone and began showing off pictures of the puppy and how much he loved her but how frustrated he had been with her, "But I just hired this trainer that works with HEET and their mascot Eneoji and it's already making a huge difference."

"Oh, is it Go Guerin?" Charlie asked suddenly, a moment of recognition crossing her face.

JB and Jackson both looked at her shocked.

"Yes, that's her!" Jackson answeres surprised.

"I worked with her." Charlie said excited, "She had a web mini series on animal training with a couple celebrity clients. I helped produce it."

"We were talking about her just when you three showed up!" Jackson said. Charlie noticed JB suddenly detach from the conversation, looking away and pulling out his phone as though he was uncomfortable. "You've worked with her, what do you think?" Jackson continued.

"She's great at her job." Charlie said confidently.

"No no I mean as a person. Is she nice? Does she have a boyfriend?" Jackson persisted. Mark and Jinyoung looked at Jackson somewhat surprised, JB seemed to dissociate and act like the conversation wasnt happening at all.

"Uhhh well yeah I liked her a lot. She is very fun but we fell out of contact cause we both got too busy. I don't... think she had a boyfriend at the time...?" Charlie cocked her head thoughtfully, "Why do you ask?" She inquired curiously, but already pretty sure she knew the answer.

Jackson seemed to realize he was being dangerously obvious and he straightened up, "No reason." He said not convincing anyone. Charlie was polite enough to play along. The subject changed again and JB rejoined the conversation. Jinyoung suddenly refilled her cup with barley water and she looked up at him thanking him. He smiled and she was forced to look away from him, unable to take the visual assault in such close proximity.

The two women met like old friends, hugging each other and greeting each other cheerfully despite the time apart. They each got a coffee and settled in to catch up, Charlie telling her about the programs she had worked on since the web series and how she ended up finding a fairly high profile company that she was doing well with.

"So that's how I ended up meeting Jinyoung and Mark." Charlie wrapped up.

"At least one of them likes you." Guerin said without any doubt. "Probably both." She sipped her coffee pointedly.

"Oh stop." Charlie dismissed her, waving her hand. "Tell me what you've been doing! I heard about HEET and Eneoji!"

"Oh you'll like this. Do you remember Han Jisoo? She's the CEO of PWER which is HEET's label. We met by chance after I just got Eneoji and long story short she hired us to work with the boys. They're absolutely delightful, and they LOVE Eneoji. Now that they're done with promotions there's a bit of a lull so I'm just meeting with private clients now." She explained how Jackson knew HEET and found her that way, and then the mix up with JB being the one at the first session.

"That's incredible! Are you still flying your bird too?" Charlie asked.

"Yeah! A few times a week weather permitting. JB just came to watch a session, and Jackson said he wants to as well. You should come too!" Guerin answered enthusiastically.

Charlie was listening intently. Guerin had a habit of not really looking people in the face when talking or she might have noticed her friend looking more and more smug earlier.

"... What does that face mean?" Guerin asked suspiciously, finally noticing.

"You're so good at reading animals but you're kind of lost on humans." Charlie shook her head.

"That's not true. But humans are much more likely to deceive so it's not very reliable." Guerin looked thoughtful, "But what do you think I'm missing?" She pressed.

"You, my friend, have a classic love triangle going." Charlie said confidently.

"Oh come on. We only know each other professionally." Guerin protested.

"That bird flying with JB sounded like a date. And now Jackson wants in?" Charlie argued.

"It's not a date, I just invited you too so what does that mean?" Guerin reasoned.

"I'm just saying. They clearly wanna spend time with you outside of training sessions." Charlie shrugged.

"You should talk, you're the one simultaneously going on a date with an actor AND a model." Guerin teased.

"That's not what it was and DON'T change the subject. Besides, I saw Jackson and JB talking about you. I have inside knowledge." Charlie redirected.

"Yeah okay." Guerin rolled her eyes. She had enjoyed spending time with JB, and Jackson had been so friendly and fun to be around. She wasn't sure how she felt about either one of them maybe liking her in a romantic way but it wouldn't be unpleasant... she shook her head. It was unlikely. Both of them were ridiculously good looking, and Jackson was a famous musician while JB was consistently working with attractive celebrities. There's no way they'd like someone like her.

Charlie watched as her friend got quiet and thoughtful, her thoughts similar. Jinyoung and Mark hadn't offered to treat anyone else one on one but maybe that was an indication that they just felt that unthreatened by being seen with her? Yeah... that might be it.

Both women took a sip of coffee before starting to talk again, on a different subject.

JB had Guerin train a few times with his friend and JYPE vocal coach Choi Youngjae before they started recording. In the meantime he had fine tuned the song until it was ready for recording. His friend and fellow producer Hojun was in the studio now with him, Youngjae and a very nervous looking Guerin who kept sipping water and clearing her throat. Youngjae kept reminding her to stop clearing her throat and encouraged her through some exercises until JB and Hojun were ready.

"Alright, let's get you in there." JB swung around in his chair. He walked with her into the soundproof studio.

"Wow this feel disconcerting." She laughed awkwardly as the soundproofing ate any echo.

"You'll get used to it. And the headphones will help." JB smiled encouragingly. Guerin offered a tense smile and licked her lips as she looked around. They had already briefed her on what to expect and how she shouldn't wear noisy clothes or accessories. Once JB gave a brief run down on the equipment he put the headphones on her head, making sure they fit her ears before their eyes met.

He was struck suddenly by the memory of Jackson saying he liked Guerin. Feeling like he took a hit to the gut his smile fell and he dropped his hands from her face. All business now he turned and left the studio.

Guerin watched him go, she noticed the sudden change in demeanor but with no context she wasn't sure what it could mean and it made her more nervous. What if he had changed his mind and regretted asking her to do this? Clearly she wasn't as good as most of the people he was used to. She cleared her throat again.

"Stop that." Youngjae said through the intercom suddenly, startling her.

"Jesus the fuck." She jumped, english escaping her as she was startled.

Her temporary vocal coach laughed loudly, or so she guessed since he had let go of the button and she could only see him delight in her reaction. She forced herself to smile as she apologized.

JB settled into the chair next to Hojun and they began recording.

It did not go well.

Between Guerin's nerves and inexperience it started rough. She missed the timing the first two times, and the third time her voice croaked out. JB was no longer smiling or being friendly which made it worse. Hojun had started off friendly enough but was getting obviously annoyed as the takes kept falling short of expectation. They were slowly making progress with Youngjae being the only one now offering tips and encouragement to Guerin who was having a very bad time. Even the successes she had were resulting in relief rather than joy and they seemed more like luck than any skill.

Finally after another mistake take Hojun held up a finger to Guerin and turned to JB.

"This is going to take forever. Is this some kind of joke? Are you trying to impress some girl and wasting my time?"

JB grew irritated, already in a bad mood over the memory of Jackson deciding to pursue Guerin, "No, she really does have talent. This isn't what I expected."

"You need to consider switching her out if you want this song to have any success. Almost none of these takes are usable." Hojun threw up his hands.

"She's just nervous. She's not a musician. This is all new to her." JB argued back, getting more angry.

"Hey, you don't need to get mad at me for telling the truth. You're the one wasting my time trying to get into the pants of some untalented foreigner." Hojun snapped back.

JB stood so fast his chair fell over, teeth clenched, hands balled into fists as he fought to control his temper. Hojun stood to face him as Youngjae moved between them trying to stop a potential fight.

Guerin had been watching the soundless fight with growing worry. Sometimes humans were hard to read but the behavior had been increasingly aggressive until she saw JB leap up. Quickly she took off the headphones, leaving the booth and booking it to the control room.

"I don't have time for this. Hit me up when you're serious about recording." Hojun said just as Guerin entered the room. He nodded his head to her as he left the room. Guerin stepped to the side allowing him to leave, looking back to JB and Youngjae.

"I-I'm so sorry." She stammered.

JB was still steaming, the impulse to hit his friend was still subsiding and his anger still palpable, "Sorry doesn't give us time back. I know you were nervous but this was pretty much all a waste of time." He snapped.

Guerin recoiled as though she had been slapped. Hurt and anger overtook her nerves.

"Hyung!" Youngjae said in protest.

JB was already kicking himself. He hadn't meant to sound like that. But he was so worked up he didn't even know how to recover or explain himself.

"Yeah, I was nervous." Guerin started, "But you know what didn't help? Your cold behavior from the BEGINNING of the recording. Or how Hojun oh so obviously gave up on me three whole takes in and you sat there and let it go on with no encouragement or feedback. Youngjae is the only one who tried to help at all. I agreed to do this as a friend and with the clear disclaimer that I'm NOT a professional. I don't know why you thought I would magically step up but you don't have to be a DICK."

JB knew he was in the wrong but he didn't know what to say so they stood in silence for a few moments. "I... I didn't mean to..." he struggled.

"Nevermind. Youngjae, thank you for everything. I had fun with you and learned a lot." She bowed to him and turned to go.

"Noona wait, let's work this out." Youngjae protested.

JB walked forward taking her wrist to stop her from leaving. Incensed Guerin yanked her arm away from him, staring at him furiously, "Don't you ever touch me without permission." She demanded, "I'm too angry to discuss anything. I need space." She walked out the door leaving JB and Youngjae looking after her.

"Hyung... why were you being so cold with her?" Youngjae asked.

JB didn't even look at him as he left the room.

"What is going on?" Youngjae asked the empty room out of frustration.

[missmarquin]

Found(ry) It wasn’t the first time that humans had left things for him. Totosai had lived on this volcano within the Western Lands, since before humans had ever settled there. And when they had, they had thought him some sort of God. They weren’t so stupid now-- they had grown and learned-- but they still feared whatever wrath that he might bring down upon him. It wasn’t so much that he could control the volcano, but they didn’t know that. They thought that the Volcano was alive, and paid fealty to it as such. And so, years melted into decades, and then centuries, and they still left him gifts, like it would stop the volatile nature of the land around them. And usually they were baskets full of the things that he liked. Sweet breads and candies. Lengths of beautiful silk and large rugs that he liked to decorate his hut with. Cast iron skillets that he didn’t need, but used nonetheless. What good was it to waste such charity? But this year had been different. It had been scorching and so dry, that the crops dried up with whatever moisture had left the earth. Nothing that they tilled took, and days only breathed hotter and hotter as the season wore along. And the volcano rumbled. It always rumbled, with a slow and steady growl, but this was more pronounced. You could feel it shake the ground sometimes, if you were still enough. Totosai had been there long enough to know that there wasn’t a fear of eruption yet-- he’d give it another half-century or so. But the humans were new to this land in the grand scheme of things, and they did what they always did when things didn’t go right. They blamed the Gods and then tried to fix it. And so when he pulled off the cloth covering from the basket, he was surprised to find a baby, no more than a few months old. Fat and reddened cheeks, with a cloth diaper wrapped around its behind. His mouth went dry. This was new, this was something that he had no knowledge of. Sure, he knew that humans elsewhere sacrificed their young, but to him? What had he ever done to incite such fear into the villagers down below? There was a momentary pang that blew through him; he’d meant to do no such thing. He kept to himself, tinkering away in his forge and he forged weapons for the youkai of old. And then he thought rationally, remembering that even though they weren’t stupid anymore, humans held the base instinct on blaming nature upon creatures such as himself. He didn’t know what he was more sorry for-- that they had fallen into times so bad that they felt the need to sacrifice their children, or that he couldn’t do anything to fix it. The child was awake, watching him curiously. It was quiet, too quiet. Weren’t babies supposed to cry? He distinctly remembered a certain Western Lord, and his pup of a child, hollering horrifically as his father held onto him while he tried to place an order. He held his finger towards the child and it reached out, catching it in a small fist. And then it hiccuped and cooed and smiled at him, and Totosai’s heart melted. He was in trouble, so much trouble. Carefully he lifted the child, trying to support its head. Trying to remember what Touga-san had taught him, right after Sesshoumaru-sama was born. Many youkai were rough with their kin, but you couldn’t be with humans. One squeeze too hard, and the child could be snapped into two, effortlessly. But the baby didn’t wail, which Totosai took as a victory. He stuck a finger into the diaper to pull it away, chancing a look. A girl, a little girl. Some poor, poor family had given up their child, for a better harvest. Weather. Life. A lesser youkai would eat it. Totosai would do no such thing. He shifted the child to lay against his shoulder, before kneeling to pick up the basket. He would come gather the rest of these gifts later. For now, the little girl was his sole focus. And so, he turned on the trail to head back up the mountain. The little girl didn’t cry once. ...... Rin, the parents had named her. You weren’t supposed to name a child until they were a year old, but this family had broken tradition. He was also fairly certain that you weren’t supposed to write a letter to whom you sacrificed your child to. His fingers smoothed over the thin vellum, tracing the carefully inked letters. He found himself surprised that they could write, since many humans couldn’t. There were splotches where water had dripped onto it, smearing the words slightly. Tears, he realized. Volcano-san, We find ourselves without option. Breads and sweets, and our works have not appeased you. The days grow longer and hotter, and the soil dry and parched. Perhaps our life’s greatest work will finally appease you. Her name is Rin. It wasn’t signed. And Totosai was glad that it wasn’t. He didn’t want to know their names, he didn’t want to place their faces. He glanced at the little girl, who lay quietly in her basket. He had rolled up a small cloth, tying it off in the rough shape of a doll. Enough to keep the child occupied. She snuggled into it, dozing quietly. They expected him to eat her. He couldn’t, not that it would have made a difference if he had. He can do a lot of things, but control a volcano and nature itself, wasn’t upon that list. A day had passed, and he needed advice. Totosai packed the little girl up and took her to an old friend. .... “Keep her,” Bokusenou-san said to him simply. Totosai wasn’t sure why the thought had crossed his mind before that moment, but it seemed to be a logical thing. But… still… “A forge isn’t a place for a young child,” he replied with a sigh. “Her parents didn’t want her, correct?” Totosai wasn’t so sure about that-- he was still convinced that they had been forced into sacrificing her, but he said no such thing. “It would be cruel to throw the child away,” the tree continued with. “What would Touga-san have done?” “That old dog has nothing to do with this,” Totosai groused. “Of course not, but what would he had done? That old dog is a stellar example of how youkai should act. Humans don’t understand it, but we were created by the Gods to protect them.” “And so the Gods threw a child at me,” Totosai huffed. He could barely protect himself. There was a reason that retreating was one of his best talents. If Bokusenou-san could have shrugged, he would have. Instead there was only the slight rustling of the leaves above them. “I don’t pretend to know what they are thinking, Totosai-san. No one truly knows their nature.” “Hmm,” Totosai hummed, tapping his knee thoughtfully. Rin was nestled gently into the basket within his lap, and he looked at her. She still didn’t cry, only cooed with a toothless smile, as she wriggled slightly in her blankets. He reached out his finger to her, and she latched onto it without trouble.  “I suppose that it has been lonely in the forge.” Not to mention his little hut, at the top of the mountain. Mo-Mo, his faithful ox, had been his only family for centuries. “Then there, perhaps, is your reason.” The tree sounded almost bored. “There is a complication though,” the old smith muttered, as he played with Rin. “I know nothing about caring for human children.” At that, Bokusenou-san’s lips twisted into a wide smile. “Luckily for you, there is something that would be more than pleased to help you.” Totosai cocked his head to the side as he thought, and when he realized, he stood up abruptly, holding the basket tightly to his chest. “Absolutely not!” he snapped. “I refuse to ask her!” But the tree just laughed at him, and he kept laughing even after the smith left his clearing. .... Despite his vehement vow to never contact her, he ended up writing to the Lady Izayoi anyhow. It wasn’t that he disliked the woman. No, he adored her. She had wit and creativity, and the sun shone wherever she went. The moment that Touga-san had introduced her to him all those years ago, he had instantly known what drew the old dog to her. She was also the reason that his old friend was dead. Touga-san had made him promise that he would protect her in his absence, and the best way to do that was to never contact her. It was one-half responsibility, one-half hatred-- even if he could never fully hate her. But after three days of barely getting the child to eat something and rather unsuccessful diaper changes, he had given up hope. He had penned a short letter and delivered it by a raven youkai, fully expecting her to not answer at all. He couldn’t remember her exact age, but she wasn’t a young girl anymore, and humans only became frail as they got older. They gave me a child, he had written to her. And I have no idea how to care for her. And so he waited. She ate what he gave her, but unhappily. He managed to change her diapers, but made a mess of it. And he still had no clothes for her. And despite it all, the baby hadn’t cried once. And to his surprise, the raven returned to him the next day, with a short reply. I’m on my way. ..... The Lady Izayoi wasn’t dressed in the finery that he used to see her in. She had shed her intricate junihitoe for an informal haori and hakama set. “Easier to travel this way,” she told him, climbing down the side of Ah-Un. Touga-san had left her the dragon upon his death, and despite her attempts to set him free, the youkai was as loyal as ever. Her hair was pulled into a simple bun, and gray streaked through the black strands. Her face was youthful, but carried the lines of her age. Totosai was struck by how time passed differently for her, than him. She had been so young what seemed like only yesterday. It had been almost three decades since they had last met face-to-face, and the change to her was astounding. She swept her gaze around the mountain, her eyes passing from his little hut, towards the cave where his forge was built. “This place hasn’t changed a bit,” she said with amusement. “Neither have you, Totosai-san.” “You’re as lovely, as the last time that I saw you,” he said, bowing slightly. She tutted slightly, waving the thought away. “Nonsense. I know that I look ancient to you. Now then--” She paused, a conspiratorial smile spreading across her face. “Where is the girl?” So much like Touga-san, even now. He waved towards his hut and led her there. .... The knowledge that Izayoi imparted to him was invaluable. She couldn’t teach him everything in the day that she spent there, but she had told him the basics, and suddenly he didn’t feel like a bumbling fool when it came to things. The most valuable wisdom that she gave him was when she left. She had swung her leg over Ah-Un, settling across his back comfortably. “Before I leave, Totosai-san, I will say this-- there is no right or wrong, when it comes to raising a child. You will learn as much, as you teach them. Never forget that.” And as he watched Rin grow, he came to realize that she was right. With every year, new challenges were added, as old lines were crossed. Parenthood was a constant learning experience, and Rin taught him something knew with every day. By the time that Rin was four, he loved her with every fiber of his being. ..... Rin was six, the next time the Lady Izayoi came to visit. This time her hair had transformed from black into a beautiful silver sheen, sparkling under the sunlight. Rin was tall for a girl, already past Totosai’s hip, and she regarded the woman carefully. Warily, even. “Rin-chan, you know how you have clothes sent once a year?” he said, patting her head gently. Rin’s face scrunched up slightly as she thought. “Izayoi-san,” she said. He had been teaching her how to read, and he had started with the letters that the Lady sent with her yearly packages. “This is her, Rin-chan,” he said to her. The girl’s gaze swept from him, to the Lady, her expression morphing as she realized that she was a friend, not a foe. She ran to her, stopping right before Ah-Un. Lady Izayoi scrambled down his back with grace, but there was a stiffness about her now that Totosai couldn’t ignore. He frowned slightly. “Hello Rin-chan,” she said with mirth. “This isn’t the first time that we have met, but it’s the first time that you’ll remember for sure. The last time that I was here, you were only a baby.” Rin thought about her reply carefully, and then she said, “Thank you for the clothes. And the books,” she added as an afterthought. Then the girl paused. “May I hug you?” Lady Izayoi laughed and knelt to the ground, holding out her arms. “Of course, Little One.” And Rin hugged her, and the Lady hugged her back. Totosai knew that Izayoi was thrilled, because the girl gave the best hugs out of anyone in the world. ...... In the blink of an eye, Rin turned thirteen. Totosai hated it. He hated how they lived on different life lines, how all he had to do was close his eyes for a moment, and the years have passed for her. He hated that he would outlive her, and then what? He’d be alone again, and it wasn’t like he could just find someone else. Rin could never be replaced. “Totosai-san, what is wrong?” she asked him, having caught him staring. They sat at the simple table in the kitchen, eating a simple stew. His hand was clasped gently around the bowl, frozen while he was lost in thought. “Nothing, Rin-chan,” he said, pulling the bowl to his mouth for a sip. “Only of how much you’ve grown.” At that, Rin made a face and he laughed. “Rin, we never did celebrate your birthday.” It wasn’t so much the day of the birth that they celebrated, but rather the day that she was gifted to him. He had long since stopped seeing it as a sacrifice. He didn’t care for the day in truth, but Rin did, and so, he counted the days until the next year so she would be happy. “What is it that you want? I could send for the Lady Izayoi, if you would like to spend some time with her.” The woman was into her sixties now, but fit enough to handle the girl, if Rin wanted it. Rin thought, twisting her lip slightly as she did so. It was a little tell of hers, and Totosai thought it adorable. ��Can you teach me to smith?” she finally asked. At that, he almost dropped his bowl. “I… er…. What?” “I want to learn,” she said simply. Then her brow furrowed, like she was afraid that she had said something wrong. “Is that… is that alright?” Of course it was, he just never thought that she would have been interested. She spent hours at a time with him in the forge, just watching, but he had always assumed that it was because she was bored. There wasn’t much to do on the mountain top, and she had read every book that Izayoi had sent her, ten times over. “Of course it is, Rin-chan.” At that, her smile widened and she said, “I love the colors of the fire, and it’s warmth. Spending a day in the forge, is like going home.” At that, Totosai grinned. He hadn’t even taught her anything yet, and she was already a head above any other apprentice he had ever taken. ..... They started with basic shapes. Then Rin learned how to make knives. And then horseshoes, which they delivered to the village down below. They never did so personally-- the stabler ventured up the mountain once a month to pick up an order. She was sixteen now, and a young woman, and men were now interested. And they were curious about the woman in the mountains, who lived by herself. They had never seen him, and such assumed as such. Totosai had told her to never say her name, and so she never did. Eventually, she made a sword, and it was beautiful. Perfect in its balance, the steel hardened to perfection. Totosai took his hammer and tapped along it, listening to the ping of metal carefully. He wasn’t sure that he could have forged anything better. Rin wasn’t an apprentice anymore, it seemed. And when he told her as such, she only grinned back, forcing a tight hug on him. He hugged her right back. ..... She was one year shy of twenty, when she finally asked him the dreaded question. “Totosai-san, where exactly did I come from?” He had never lied to her. She knew that he was a youkai, and that she was a human. But despite all of her curiosity, she had never asked. He vowed to tell her the truth if she ever did, but the question had never come. That night, they were in the forge. Rin hammered away at a red-hot billet, filling an order for a simple kitchen knife. And Totosai sat on a rock to the side, puffing at his beloved pipe. Rin didn’t smoke one, but she loved the smell of the tobacco. He thought about his words carefully, listening to the rhythmic thump of her hammering. “What brought this question?” he finally asked. Not in anger, but curiosity. “Keneda-san said something peculiar, when he picked up the order for this month,” she replied. Keneda-san, the stabler. Totosai had never quite liked the man. Rin paused in her work, reaching into her pocket for a handkerchief. She wiped at her forehead, smearing soot and sweat. “He always asks for my name, and I always tell him that it doesn’t matter,” she continued with, “To which he said, ‘But if I don’t know your name, how will I court you?’” Rin made a disgusted sound. “Could you imagine? He’s old enough to be my father.” Totosai wasn’t surprised. Despite the lean muscle that Rin carried, she was pretty enough under all the soot and ash that constantly covered her. “And what you say?” “That I wanted no husband,” she huffed. She turned and leaned against the anvil, looking at Totosai seriously. “He went on about how it was improper to live up here by myself. Improper! Ha! What about the impoliteness of wanting to court a woman that you barely know?” And then her face fell sightly, the her edges softened by a meek sadness. “But then it got me thinking, how it was that I ended up with you. It’s never mattered, honestly but--” “There’s no harm in wanting to know,” Totosai said to her. “I’ve never hidden it from you, nor do I ever want to.” He puffed at his pipe for a long drag. “You came from the village, though I doubt that’s a surprise. For centuries they’ve left offerings, and I’ve always taken them. I suppose that’s why they know me as Volcano-san, even if we’ve never met. There was a bad year though. The weather was harsh and they felt the volcano responsible, because humans always have to blame something.” Rin watched him carefully, and he could tell that she didn’t like where this was going. “They felt that their offerings were insufficient, so they sacrificed you.” The girl chewed on her lip for a moment. “What on earth did they think you would do with me?” “Eat you? Throw you in the fires? I have no idea, just like I had no idea what to do with you. Bokusenou-san told me that I should keep you.” “The Old Tree?” she laughed incredulously. She held a fantastic relationship with the tree, often harvesting his branches or bark for specialty projects. A fair trade for conversation, the tree would tell her. “I was out of my depth, and so I called upon Izayoi-san. She taught me some valuable things.” “I miss her.” The last time that she had seen the woman was almost three years past. The Lady was into her late seventies now, and it was near impossible for her to travel. Rin had to go to her, which was easier said than done. “That is how we ended up here though,” he said, taking another drag from his pipe. “I wonder what they were like,” she said. “The ones who threw me away.” Threw her away. At that, Totosai moved from his seat and set his pipe down upon the ashtray. He told her that he would be right back, and went to the hut. Under his bed, there was a box full of trinkets. One of them a small square of folded up vellum. When he returned to Rin, he handed it to her. “They didn’t throw you away.” He watched as her eyes scanned the parchment. “Her name is Rin,” she said quietly. “They named me.” “They loved you.” “You love me too.” “Of course, but they loved you first, and that’s why I kept you. You were a gift.” She ran her fingers over the words, careful not to smear them with soot. “This is why you told me to never tell them my name.” No doubt the village would know of the girl named Rin, sacrificed to Volcano-san. “It was a selfish request.” Because he feared them taking her from him. “I want nothing to do with them,” she told him. Her expression made it clear that she was very firm in that thought. “This old man knows,” he said, leaning against the anvil next to her. “But this man also knows that humans are unpredictable.” Rin reached out, pulling Totosai into a tight hug. He fell into it, hugging her back. She always gave the best ones. “Thank you, Totosai-san,” she said. “Thank you, and I love you.” “I know, Rin-chan,” he said, pressing his hand against the back of her head. “You love me more than they did.” “It isn’t a contest.” And it wasn’t. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind that they still loved her just as much. Rin was young and didn’t understand. Maybe she never would. Rin didn’t cry though, she never cried. Not once, had she ever shed a tear. She just held onto him tightly and thanked him over and over, for everything. And he just hugged her back. ..... Rin was almost twenty-three when his back started to hurt. Totosai was old, and while he didn’t like to think about it, it was getting harder for him to forge. As of late, Rin was taking on more and more of his projects. His youkai clients didn’t know such a thing, for they would never come back. Humans had always assumed it was her work to begin with, so it didn’t matter to them. But it mattered to Totosai. He leaned on his rock, puffing at his pipe, watching as Rin worked. The lean muscles of her shoulders rippled, as she struck the molten steel with the hammer. This wasn’t a woman that men wanted to marry, he thought. She lacked that soft curves and roundness that they liked. A human her age would already had several children. She was a spinster. Once, he asked her about it. She just laughed and said, “Do I look like a woman who wants to be married?” No, she didn’t, and that was okay. “That is the sword for Ryukotsusei-sama, yes?” “Yeah,” Rin grunted, sticking the metal back into the forge. “Is it nearly done?” “Not one bit. His list of requirements is quite extensive.” At that, Totosai smiled. “I would love to see what you would have said about Touga-san’s list of requirements.” The Old Dog used to put his skills through the wringer, requesting the most and ridiculous things. He had never once failed to deliver them though. “The Lord of the West?” she asked, wiping at the sweat on her brow. “Izayoi-san’s husband?” She took the tongs and pulled the metal out again, setting it against the anvil. “He was a man of unique taste, I promise you.” Rin only hummed in response, setting back to work with her hammer. The next day, she met Keneda-san at the fork in the path, halfway down the mountain. Totosai hid himself, always watching from the side. It wasn’t so much that Rin couldn't protect herself, but he couldn’t ignore the protective instinct that flooded through him. He had complained about it to Izayoi-san once, and the woman had laughed at him. That’s what being a father is like, you stupid old ox. Mo-Mo was the ox, not him, but that wasn’t the point. “Keneda-san,” Rin said amicably, reaching out to shake his hand. The stabler took it, and after shaking it, flipped it over to survey the skin. “Truly my lady, you shouldn’t have such callouses.” His tone was almost mocking. Rin frowned at him. “It’s never stopped you from reaping the benefits of such callouses.” “Ah but--” “You are married now, Keneda-san,” she said to him. “How is Emiko-san?” His wife had journeyed with him last month, to see the eccentric Rin who lived on the mountain by herself. She didn’t delight in being a sideshow act, but she had said nothing, receiving the woman with friendship. And really, Emiko-san wasn’t half-bad. “Worried about you, you know. You shouldn’t live up here alone,” he said. And to his credit, he sounded genuinely concerned. “I’m perfectly fine up here,” Rin said, beginning to load his orders into the cart. “She has this friend,” he started with. “A very nice man--” “Keneda-san, as always, I’m not interested. Not to mention I’m too old.” “He’s your age and interested,” Keneda-san said. “If you would just tell me your name, I could--” “My name doesn’t matter. I’m perfectly fine,” she told him, “Volcano-san is the perfect companion. He provides for me and never asks nosy questions. He never tells a woman that she would be more, with a man by her side.” Totosai smiled at her words. “I wasn’t implying such a thing,” Keneda-san said, but his genial tone seemed forced. Rin hefted the last bag of his order onto his cart, patting it slightly. “Keneda-san, that’s the last of it. I’ll see you next month.” “But--” “Next month,” she repeated. At that, Keneda-san snapped his mouth shut. “Of course, Ladysmith. Next month, then.” He climbed into the driver’s bench and hoisted the reins. “Know that you are always welcome in the village though, even for a day.” Rin shot him an incredibly rude gesture, and the man scrunched his lips into a disapproving frown. A moment later, he had spurred his horses into action, and was heading back down the trail. Once out of sight, Totosai left his hiding spot. “Ladysmith, huh? That’s a new one.” “I suppose I’m not dainty enough for ‘ma’am’ or ‘my lady’ anymore.” Rin waved the thought away. “Trying to pawn me off onto another man, the nerve!” “Ah well, perhaps he means well.” Rin grunted at that. “He would do well to leave me the hell alone.” At that, Totosai laughed. “Come Rin-chan, let’s go make dinner.” He slipped his arm around her shoulder and they began to walk the path back up to the mountain. He was lucky, he realized. For over twenty years, he had not eaten alone. This little girl, now woman grown, had been thrown into his life, and against all odds, they had made it work. No one knows their nature, Bokusenou-san had told him once, when talking about the Gods. The forge is lonely. Then perhaps, there is your reason. His forge wasn’t lonely anymore. Perhaps our life’s greatest work, will finally appease you, the letter had said to him. She had. Totosai thanked the Gods for Rin that day, which was quite unlike him.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/15902277

Here we have the prologue for my new story, The Ladysmith! Hop on over the AO3 to check it out? :D

[jumpchain-drop]

Interlude 2.5

“….aaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-”

CRASH!

I landed in a face-down belly flop. It hurt, but somehow I don’t think I was injured. Still took a minute to get up.

“Where…?”

I must have slept through the deadline… I was back in the warehouse, which seemed a lot bigger… because I was still half my human height. I was still a Sandslash.

“Terra?” I called out to the industrial void. “Terra, where are you?!”

“….aaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-”

CRASH!

I didn’t even feel a shake as the Torterra landed right behind me, but I did feel the gust of wind.

“Terra, are you OK?!” I asked, rushing to her side.

“I-I’m fine...” she muttered. “J-Just give me a minute...”

“Alright, but if you need anything, that medbay should- oof!”

Something had fallen and bounced off my head. It was the notebook. It landed open to a page with new text. Grumbling and rumbling my head, I read it.

Alternate forms:

A jumper may switch between any form they took on a jump at will.

A companion that possesses alt-forms may also switch them at will. It does not receive an alt-form unless explicitly imported into the world.

Pets with alt-forms can only be changed by a jumper or companion with line of sight.

Your partner has been given a human alt-form.

You jump on in a week.

Alternate forms…? Was it saying I wasn’t stuck as a Sandslash? Hmm, it said “at will,” so…

A poof of white smoke that dissipated a moment later, and I was me again, as human as I was ten years ago in that damn cylinder.

“Whoa, Robert! How’d you do that?” Terra asked. Good, I could still understand Pokémon as a human.

“Apparently now I can switch between being human and Pokémon,” I said. I tested a few more times, poofing between back and forth between them. The smoke was tan when I turned into a Sandslash, but otherwise it was effortless. “The notebook says that you can turn into a human now too. You just have to will it so.”

“Me, a human?” Terra said. “I’ve never considered that before...”

“C’mon, it’s harmless,” I said, ending my flipping on human. “Besides, hugs are a lot easier when we’re both bipedal.”

Maybe that was enough, but there was a huge cloud of white smoke before my eyes, and what came out was… amazing.

She was not a small woman, easily having at least three-quarters of a foot on six-foot me, with earthy brown skin, and short dark brown hair with the tips died green. Her shoulders were wide, and her arms and legs had the toning you’d expected of someone that explored and fought the wild nearly every day for ten years. I assumed her torso was equally defined, as she was wearing a green T-shirt and knee-length tan dress, along with a gray sturdy jacket that I would later see had a tree logo on the back. Her green Aura ribbon, which she almost never took off, hung loosely around her neck.

“Holy shit, you’re beautiful,” I spurted out.

“You think so, Robert?” It was a little surprising exactly the same voice of Mother Earth came out, but I guess it probably shouldn’t have been. She tried out her limbs out a little. “I’m surprisingly comfortable like this. I think I can try out that hug now.” And then she hugged me; her grip was a bit tight, but my human body was pretty tough so it could take it.

I hugged her back. I love this woman so much.

“Master?”

We broke the hug and turned to see running towards us…

“Bolt! Cody! Anita!” I cried out. I crouched a big to hug Bolt as they came up. “I missed you guys!”

“Missed? We saw you just yesterday,” Bolt replied. “Or… I think it was yesterday, I had a bit of a heavy nap...”

“Oh, Bolt, we’ve got a lot to catch you up on.”

To say they were shocked when I turned into a Sandslash and showed that the human woman with me was Terra would be an understatement. Though they were delighted to learn that I could talk to them. It was weird the personalities you could learn when you understood their speech. Bolt was a bit of a goofball, Cody was a worrywort, and Anita was… well, she was still a little aloof even back then, but it was even clearer now when she spent more time perched on the high shelves than coming down and talking to everyone else.

The three Poké Balls we used turned out to be in a new bin labeled “2”. It also had the Treasure Bag, Wonder Map, and the 25 Reviver Seeds we had brought and everything else the Bag contained, along with the stuff we left behind in the warehouse before leaving. On the shelf next to it where seven uniquely-decorated instrument cases, each with a particular elemental motif to them; I checked later and they indeed contained the seven Treasures (which were not the Seven Treasures, funnily enough) we had managed to save. We brought out Shadow, Bitbit, and Maria, and released Manaphy from the stasis pod.

The entire day was spent telling tales and showing the Treasures to the others, as well as getting everyone used to both of my and Terra’s forms. Bolt was a bit disappointed he couldn’t become a human too. At some point, I put the Treasures and their new cases in the secure location I had set up before.

The next six days, though, were quite busy.

First order of business: food. The warehouse’s regenerating supply could barely keep up with just five of us. Now there were nine. Manaphy still got by on Blue Gummis, of which we packed plenty and he had discipline enough not to gorge, though we’d have to start weaning him off those at some point before the supply inevitably ran out. Bitbit also seemed to do just find snacking on electricity. Thankfully for the other six Pokémon, Oran Berries last Pokémon most of the day when they’re not used for emergency healing, especially since these were PMD-brand Oran Berries that could heal ten times as much as in the original Pokémon setting. And of course, Apples were fine belly-stuffers. We disassembled a bit of the spare shelving to make a frame to hold a small garden, watered with the warehouse’s plumbing and lit with the sunlamp and some fiddling with the “selective region” functions of the heat/AC unit. As for the dirt, Earth Power to the rescue! Fun fact: we could still use our Pokémon moves as humans, though the power is far weaker doing so. Anyways, when Terra managed to make the ground of the warehouse erupt, we got soil out of it, and her presence – when she’s a Pokémon at least – seems to make it fertile enough for plants. Granted, most of my gardening knowledge is from Minecraft, but I took some of the berries and sowed them. They seem to be sprouting quickly, and will hopefully produce a crop before the end of the week. The apples are staying in the refrigerator until we have space enough for an apple tree.

...It’s only just now that I remembered that later Pokémon games had the berry-growing mechanic, which I usually ignored because there were better hold items than berries most of the time.

Getting Terra’s human education up to date was going to be uphill and definitely take longer than the week I had. First was learning to read English. Thankfully, the house’s DVD collection included lots of Sesame Street season boxsets and other PBS shows. God, I forgot how much I missed Between the Lions. Zaboomafoo also gave everyone a basic rundown of Earth animals, which were bound to be more likely going forward. Bitbit learned the fastest when he managed to get into my laptop and could just transfer the videos directly into his memory, though it was limited by the time it took to swap the discs out.

We ran a test with the Terran Cymbals. They don’t affect me or Terra while we’re human. It kind of sucks that of the seven Treasures we got, the only ones we got affect Terra, Manaphy, Maria, and Anita – and I can’t even play the lattermost one yet.

There was also some new installment. Attached to the wall next to the pole and plates was a roster board with two columns of eight slots each, with a small light next to each one. On the top was the word “TEAM ROSTER” flanked by two images of the orange almost-asterisk on my warehouse keychain. The left column was full of names, while the right was completely empty. Reading it over, it listed the names of my team members. I think I can guess what would happen if it was full.

Though this week, I established goals for the future:

Get a proper garden set up in here, with a good variety of crops. As a side goal of this, learn how to garden.

Learn how to play the violin. The other instruments too, that couldn’t hurt, but mostly the violin.

Finish Terra’s human education.

Get some way to connect to time that I could bring here so I could Dimensional Scream as I pleased.

Get strong enough to punch the asshole voice’s theoretically-existing face to pieces.

I mean, with the ability to use Pokémon moves as a human – even though you’ll never catch me using my bare hands to Dig – not to mention shifting between a pretty dang fit human and a monster, I basically had superpowers. And if the voice was going to keep giving me powers, maybe if I’m lucky I’ll find a way to use them to kick his ass. Though the fact he keeps picking them for me means he definitely has the house advantage.

But he has to drop his guard eventually.

“….aaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-”

CRASH!

I landed in a face-down belly flop. It hurt, but somehow I don’t think I was injured. Still took a minute to get up.

“Where…?”

The cylinder again… Was the week already over…?

But wait… something felt different. I shifted to my Sandslash form. Being a burrowing species, we were more sensitive to vibrations as a form of sensory input. There was a sense of momentum here that was likely here all along but I never noticed it before.

“...This chamber is… going up…” I realized. “Like an elevator...”

“Ah, you finally noticed.”

I was on guard immediately. “You…!” I shouted, brandishing my claws.

“Look at you all posturing. It’s adorable, really. You did a decent job entertaining me last time. I mean, whoda thought you would spur the interconnected continents? And the whole bit with the improv garden right now was inspired.”

He didn’t even sound remotely threatened. Of course not. I wasn’t strong enough yet. So I lowered my arms and turned back to a human. “Fine, whatever. Look, I have some questions.”

“I guess you’ve earned them. Ask and I’ll see what I can answer.”

“First off, I assume you put that pole thing in my warehouse.”

“That is correct. A little something off the record. I thought your companions that didn’t have your built-in counter would appreciate a visual representation of the time left.”

“I see… Second, does that roster board imply what I think it does?”

“If you mean you can only have sixteen companions, yes. Pets, however, are unlimited. And before you ask, pets must be non-sentient unless stated otherwise.”

“Ah… Third, if this is an elevator, where is it going?”

“Up.”

“...Care to be more specific?”

“Up, through the layers of the multiverse. Remember that pole? It’s more accurate a model than you might think.”

“...So, you dumping me in other worlds is… throwing me out of a moving elevator car.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I have to stop it to make choices.”

“Yeah, great job on those so far,” I snarked.

“Thank you,” it replied earnestly. “It wasn’t easy. You have that Persim Band because of the serious lack of 50-point items to compensate.”

“Yeah yeah, whatever,” I said, wanting to speak about any topic but this. “So why was the 52-mark on the scale next to it so large? What’s so important about the fifty-second world?”

“The fifty-third is what’s important, actually. You’ll know if you get there. Speaking of, enough questions. It’s time for new choices.”

“Now wait a moment!” I protested. “You said last time that I get to pick the worlds from here on out!”

“That I did,” said the voice. “So here’s your choice. I’m going to present icons for three places this elevator can reach in the next like five minutes. Pick the one you’ll spend the next ten years in.”

“And you’ll build my persona in that world like you did the others, I imagine?”

“Now you’re catching on. Here’s the icons.”

The three panels that circled the elevator walls spun around and lined themselves up in a vertical row in front of me. They glowed a moment and when it faded each one was showing a black and white image.

“...”

“Well?”

“These are Rorschach inkblot tests.”

“Imitations using the style, actually. With the icons as the base.”

“I fucking hate you.”

“Duly noted. Now choose. The multiverse is a little twisted and ones we don’t stop at may eventually pass by again, so don’t worry about missing out.”

Grumbling, I looked over my options carefully…

The top one looked vaguely like an angry circle.

The middle one reminded me of two-headed monsters.

The bottom one just made me think of constant numbers.

I pondered my choice for a few minutes before pointing at the middle one. A few more years among monsters couldn’t hurt that much. “There. That one.”

The other panels blanked out and drifted away.

“World selected,” said the voice. “Now making choices.”

I covered my eyes until the reflections on the floor stopped. I noticed the elevator slowed down and stopped once the lights dimmed. I looked up at the light pattern, quickly memorizing it too. Who knows what advantages I’d need against Willy Wonka and his Great Electromagical Lift?

“Your selections have been made. Have a good decade!”

I just sighed as the bottom fell open and I dropped into the void.