#I know not everyone loves Tom and Jerry as much as I do but i keep seeing these 3 things repeated and I believe they are not always true

[digitalmidnight]

Okay hold up I want to clarify some things as someone who has way too much Tom and Jerry facts memorized

1. "Blue Cat Blues (1956)" [Sad one where it ends with them on the railroad] was NOT the last episode of Tom and Jerry. Hell it wasn't even the last one in it's era.

Okay so the fact Tom and Jerry still has many new episodes after 1956 already means it isn't the last episode of Tom and Jerry. But, if you want to be specific, it's part of the 1st Hanna-Barbera era which lasted from 1940-1958. Notice how it continues for 2 years past the date this episode aired.

The last episode of that era was Tot Watchers. Where Tom and Jerry work together to keep a baby safe. There is 11 episodes between "Blue Cat Blues" and "Tot Watchers", one of which is "Timid Tabby", the episode that introduced Tom's Cousin George.

2. Tom and Jerry do NOT just pretend to hate one another so Tom does not get kicked out of the house.

This one is true in certain shorts. Most obviously in "Old Rockin' Chair Tom" (1948) where Tom and Jerry team up against Lightning.

BUT at the same time, it's obviously not true for all the shorts. For instance any time Tom and Jerry don't take place in a home or times where there isn't even a human shown. Like "Kitty Foiled" (1948) where we start with a Tom and Jerry chase despite no humans being shown.

Or in "Solid Sernade"(1946) where Tom is ruining Jerry's sleep by singing to Toodles.

They do work together sometimes but the vast majority of the chases are due to them wanting to chase each other, or one of them annoying the other. Tom's owners only sometimes are the driving force behind Tom trying to attack Jerry. (Also in the shorts where Tom's owners do tell him to get Jerry... he usually isn't only pretending to get Jerry. He's actively trying to eliminate him)

3. Jerry ISN'T the thing Tom hates most in the world

He's just not (or at least...not often). I know I said earlier they just love to attack one another, but they do also save one another often. At the least, they do team up against common enemies, suggesting they often find one another as the lesser of two evils, and therefore they hate their common enemy more than each other.

In a few episodes, such as "Mouse into Space" (1962), or the Tom and Jerry show (2014) episode "I quit", Tom is shown to go into a depression without Jerry.

Again, this is of course, case dependent. Tom does hate Jerry in some shorts (the very early ones, usually). Then again there's many times where they explicitly don't hate each other.

The Tom and Jerry show (1975) [2nd Hanna-Barbera era] has Tom and Jerry be friends throughout.

The Tom and Jerry show (2014) has a scenario where the two are Detectives who work together and are shown to be fairly close friends.

To conclude

It depends on the short. Nothing and everything is canon. Except the whole "ThE lAsT EpIsOdE oF ToM aNd JeRrY" thing. That's just false and easily proved fake by a quick search.

[phrandallanton]

ranfren headcannons

I've done everything but posted headcannons and a fanfiction. This won't do. Here's some headcannons of mine! All of them aren't serious so don't take them that way d(>_･ ). Feel free to ask me about any other headcannons I'll definitely give more!

Randal

• if he has any pimples on his face he definitely picks at them untill they pop

• either is really good at math or sucks at math and hates it. (No in-between)(leaning towrds sucking at math more)

• has tear stains on his homework sometimes

• he bathes everyday dispite what people think. (Luther forces him too)

• his hair gets really oily. He has tried to cook with the oil his hair produced once. Nobody ate dinner that night.

• if he's frustrated and you go to poke him he'll scream on top of his lungs, but like the scream that goes from normal yelling to banshee screeching. "stop touCHING MEEEEĚĘƏƏ!!!!"

• gets in a lot of internet arguments about things that don't matter at all ("I think you'll find it's 'whom'.")

• he'd get so mad if he ask you to hold his glasses, and you proceed to carelessly get your fingerprints all over them.

• draws with those "how to draw anime" guid books.

• if he ever took a driving test, he would have already failed the moment he opens the car door.

• loves kraft mac and cheese, double points if it's in shapes of popular marketable characters.

• now thinking of it, if he was a pasta dish he would be kraft mac and cheese.

• bites his toe nails off (gross) Luther tried to get him to stop but he probably does the same thing when no one is around.

• sneezes weirdly. Like..."ah...ah...AH CHOOwoowoowoowoo..." and shakes his head. Or if he's covering it in his elbow it'll sound like a trumpet horn.

Luther

• he can dance but it's weird.

• if you tell him a joke he'll turn it into a life lesson.

• he wins every staring contest. However if your eyes start watering he'll get worried and start begging you to blink.

• treats women (and everyone) with so much respect, but he won't hesitate to punch a women if he really has to.

• *shakes his indext finger* "no no no"

• Randal probably tried to set him up on a blind date, he didn't like that. It was very awkward to say the least.

• genuinely gets happy when there are bagels at the function.

• when asked for advice, it'll sound like he's going to say something really meaningful and life changing, but then does a complete 180. "Oh, you think your ugly? Well people will have their opinions about you and ...well... you aren't the best thing to look at. But there's worst out there ♡."

• I can see him gobbling up some cheese and broccoli.

• has a walk in closet filled with clothes and accessories he doesn't wear.

• he 100% definitely has the goofiest giggle in the planet.

• eats ice cream with his front teeth.

Nyon

• I will stand by this till the day I die, he's really funny. He has a really good sense of humor. But I could also seem him not understanding jokes too. But at the same TIIIMMEE I feel like he'd be naturally funny.

• he knows lots of slang and pop culture due to watching TV a lot and probably quotes stuff in his head. (Maybe out loud if he was talking to you)

• has a lot of opinions, will never say them out loud, even when asked.

• he's the smartest out of everyone, including Luther.

• easily amused. please give him one of those little fishy nightlights. He'd enjoy looking at it so much.

• he's good at card games and Nyen doesn't like that. (Nyen has stabbed him over games of uno)

• has a really funny looking smile. (There's that one drawing in the Christmas comic where he's smiling weird after he saw Luther's reaction to the fire place tape he made for him)

Nyen

• listens to death metal but then listens to a jpop song right after. ("Can't let gang know I fw this")

• good at math, sucks at reading.

• loves hearing about drama and will be nosy.(come on man he loves Judge Judy and romance novels)

• sounds like Tom from Tom and Jerry when he yells.

• he calls himself "The Tom Cat" and (canonically) "Top of the pets in the house hold" which is practically the same as "I'm the alpha" so he's probably has said that.

• sucks at card games. Will legit end up with half of the pack of cards in his hands in the middle of an uno game.

• actually the weakest of them all. (I won't go into all that right now. But I can definitely beat him up in a fight, just sayin.)

•him and Nyon probably have times where they stay up and chit chat for a bit before they sleep, Example (from my old notes I had):

Nyon high on weed:...why do we call oranges..oranges...but we don't call apples...reds..??..

Nyen:....sh*t...you got a point... does that mean we would call lemons: short yellows and bananas: long yellows so it doesn't get confusing?...

*they then discuss this for an hour or so*

• Snores really really LOUD. Sounds like a car.

• oddly very ticklish I bet.

~~~~~~

That's all I have now. It's 2 in the morning and I'm falling asleep. I might write other characters headcannons later.

"I'm going to sleep" -bop it

[marysdonuts]

Tom and Jerry

school clown!Hoshi x top student!reader

Synopsis: After crossing the rubicon with your annoying classmate Hoshi "relationship" between the two of you improved. However you bump heads once more at Mingyu's game night party

Warnings: plot with smut, enemies to lovers, high IQ (f.) x low IQ (m.), slight angst, Mafia game at Mingyu's house, classmates, semi-public, banter, dirty talk, oral (f. receiving), brief mentions of other members, crack, Hoshi acting cray during the game, (no questionable fashion choices mentioned)

WC: 1.2K

Status: part 2 (ongoing), read part 1 here

masterlist / requests / taglist

Why should it be awkward after fucking your arch nemesis? Well, isn't that what all the books and movies want us to believe?

- The female lead got into dragged out moral battle with herself after giving in to the detestable male lead.. Making audience yawn. Questioning if this is who she really is, questioning God's intentions - ultimately running away never to return again. Revolutionary.

In reality things didn't have to be so black or white. There was no need to go thru the emotional rollercoaster of blaming it on your childhood trauma or turning it into religious guilt. Ultimately, we were put on this Earth to have fun. Why beat ourselves up for doing something that we actually enjoyed?

Living in the grey area had its perks.

Improved relationship with your desk-mate Hoshi was one of them. The steamy encounter in locker room visibly dissolving tension between two rivals.

You were in higher spirits than usual.

Well that was fun, didn't think he had it in him. Why was I acting like a bitch before? Guess I just needed the attitude fucked out of me. Kekekekekek

"What are you scheming down there, hm?" walking in Soonyoung saw you hunched over the desk cackling like an anime villain planning to take over the world.

"Wouldn't you like to know." pushing up non existent glasses reflecting the light for dramatic effect.

"I would love to know." towering over you

"Pfff, you wouldn't understand even if I told you!!" springing up the chair, sticking your tongue out at him

"See you at the game tonight~"you spiralled out the classroom in a way that resembled category 5 hurricane. Leaving Hoshi flabbergasted.

"Wasn't I supposed to be the crazy one?" rubbing his chin in disbelief, your wicked laugh echoed thru the halls

//

And exactly what game were you talking about?

Of course the quarterly Mafia get-together. You've been told that everybody gathers up in class president Mingyu's house once every three months. It's your first time attending.

Please, please, please give me a role! I can't stand being a boring citizen - eyes shut, you prayed as the host passed behind you. Tapping you on the shoulder.

"The mafia has been chosen."

silence

"The police officer has been chosen."

silence

"The doctor has been chosen."

//

You killed the doctor first. Something in Seungkwan's proud eyes gave him away. He liked to play the saviour and once again it got the best of him.

"Why am I always the one getting killed first?? Why do you hate me soo much" pouting, hands crossed on the chest

"That's what happens when people had enough of your shit. Bang, bang, bang!" Hoshi collapsed in front of Kwan, seemingly coughing up blood "better keep your head down next time.." clinging to Boo's ankle before theatrically releasing his final breath. Freezing on the floor.

"You! Shut the hell up!" kicking his foot, trying to free himself from Hoshi's iron claw

//

Citizens were dropping like flies. Only making the sinister look in your eyes grow bigger and bigger.

And so did Hoshi's craziness.

"it's MINGYU, HE'S THE MAFIA!!!" pointing at Mingyu, shivering in the corner, probably questioning why he invited this madman in the first place. He was voted off.

"Everyone, WAIT JUST LISTEN TO ME...!" human sized worm was now wriggling in Joshua's direction

With every nonsense spat from Hoshi's mouth, you could feel your braincells dying.

"MWAHAHA, YOU THOUGHT I WOULDN'T NOTICE THAT LOOK IN YOUR EYES, CHAN?? CAN'T FOOL ME!!!" backflipping to the opposite side of the room, attacking the youngest

Idiot. Can't fool you now, huh? We'll see 'bout that.

"What a big mouth you have over there, Kwon," raising to your feet, cackle of devil ready to deliver divine retributions "would be a shame if someone shut IT." you shot your thumb down making all the remaining civilians vote in unity. Crowd vailing.

Heh, so this is how it feels to be a roman emperor - sentencing slaves to their death for entertainment of the colosseum.

//

Not long after you were the sole survivor

"Mafia WON! Standing ovation for the lady!" clap clap clap host crowning you MVP of the game.

"Thank you, couldn't done it without you." palpable wink in direction of the fuming hamster, now seeking comfort between Mingyu's humongous man-titties. Once enemies now reunited in shared hardship

Misery loves company, doesn't it? Chuckling to yourself

Hoshi Kwon (19) left the mortal world behind right then and there - figuratively speaking of course. Utterly humiliated by you, again. He was supposed to SHINE! He was supposed to find the mafia! Finally got a role of policeman but every guess that he made tonight was incorrect

"You win. For now." darkness possessing his amicable face

Familiar knot taking shape in your stomach

//

DU! DU! DU!

Heavy knocks on the bathroom door

"Just a moment!" drying your hands

DU! DU! DU! DU! DU!

"Hey! I said I am coming..!" swinging the door open

"Oh? I wondered when you'd show up." smirk looming up your lips as Hoshi shoved you back inside

"Smart girl. Wanted to see me that badly?" there was nothing sweet about the way he closed the door shut

"At least one of us," shooting back "are you here to serve your sentence?" tracing finger on his lips

"Didn't you say somebody should shut my mouth? Then, sit on it."

Ah and there it was the residual craziness clouding his judgement. Ain't gonna argue with a dude that has big brown eyes. Whatever you say, beautiful.

You weren't wet yet but it wasn't hard to guess that in exactly two minutes you will be

"Hahah- what?" you were just joking, didn't expect to actually do it here. At house party? Is there a cliché more american? Neither of you were an american but you'd rather be caught dead than doing something so mainstream.

"Did I stutter? You always talk a big game in public but I want to see how brave you are now." hot breath already caught between your thighs, hungry kisses biting at your soft flesh making you whine. Guess they didn't call him tiger for nothing

"We are in Minguy's bathroom.." voice disappearing into thin air the moment his starving mouth made contact with your, now wet, private area

"And? didn't seem to mind the locker room last time" Hoshi's swirling tongue rolling over THE spot of your clit

"s-shut up, you idi- OOOOH" a cry hardly appropriate for friendly game night. The sensation making you drunk on his expert movements.

"Oh? I didn't know top students had such a dirty mouth" working harder and more relentlessly than before, the train of needy moans couldn't be stopped anymore.

And there you were. Once again with a good for nothing dude between your legs. Making you feel things nobody before him managed. How does he know exactly what you liked? Was it the environment? First the locker room now friend's house...A combination perhaps?

Taste of forbidden fruit is not easily forgotten,

but who doesn't love a good enemies to lovers trope?

To be continued

[aroaceloverofgarlicbread]

Hello

My old introduction message was not very good so I’m gonna do a new one.

But first off, don't send me donation asks. I do not have enough money or a big enough following to where it will help you, and the only thing it’s gonna accomplish is making people feel bad without actually doing anything. If you send one, it will be deleted. You can however send an ask to @maybeiexistprobably and I will answer there

Hello. My name is TheAroaceGarlicBreadLover, I am an INFP aroace, and this is my blog where I will primarily talk about aspec stuff, but possibly other things as well rarely. And even though this blog is primarily intended to be for aspec people, basically anyone is accepted here as long as you don’t discriminate against others. However, I mostly direct all my posts at aspec people (Such as most of my polls being directed at aspec people specifically and having one option for non-aspec people in general), so you may feel a bit left out if you’re not.

https://en.pronouns.page/@GarlicBreadAAAAA

I am an introvert, and not very good at being social and talking to people, so i may be a bit awkward to talk to and I’m not very self confident so I often change my mind instantly after posting something and delete it right after so if you see me having posted something and then it’s gone, that’s probably why, and if it’s not deleted then I have most likely edited the post several times (Such as this entire part being something I put in after posting this)

This I tend to write very long messages very often to make sure I convey everything I wanna convey, so sorry about that.

My interests outside of mentioning that I’m aroace every 5 seconds are mostly writing stories, Playing Minecraft (Mostly being in fan-made life series if you know what that is, but it’s pretty niche so I doubt anyone will), and anything related to Undertale/Deltarune (I love UT/DR so much, I am absolutely obsessed with it), including AUs and such, and I’m also interested in just playing other video games as well, but Minecraft, Undertale, and Deltarune are my favorite ones.

I am openly Aroace both irl and online, so basically everyone who knows me pretty well also knows that I’m aroace at this point, although no one except my close friends and such in my school knows, as some people there are a bit queerphobic. I live in Europe.

I am okay with suggestive jokes and stuff like that, but only from other people who are also minors. People that aren’t minors can still follow and interact with me, but then don’t make suggestive jokes please.

Hope you have a good time here!

LORE (Not really):

I have 3 worms thanks to i-give-worms

I have also have giant orange fuzzy worm pet

I have an apple

I also have too many kiwis - 502

I have a curse where all my Garlic Bread also contains onions, but it can be fixed by using silver plates

I have a strong shield that repels kiwis

I was given 5 nekomimi (Which means with cat ears if google didn’t lie to me) kids, named Karl, Max, Jerry, Tom and Hajime. I am not prepared for children but yeahh… when they grow up I’ll put them in my Garlic Bread factory or smth. Apparently they go crazy over cat nip…

I have a really big box of garlic chicken tenders

I have a spray bottle

Selling hoodies with silhouettes of purple bats!! 8 left in stock!! They cost 2 Garlic Bread each!!

I have a skeleton skull that seems to possess the ghost of a French sailor

I have a snek and a birb :D

[kimbappykidding]

At first you only did it to tease Bahiyyih.

Don't get the wrong idea, you did think Kai was good-looking and liked him but seeing Bahiyyih's face while you flirted with him was so funny you had to keep doing it.

You and Bahiyyih were famously a Tom and Jerry of Kep1er. You loved Bahiyyih a lot but were very different. She was a lot more composed, quiet and thoughtful...you were none of those things. You got told the reason you'd debuted was because of your personality and took that as a compliment. You were loud, charming and confident. So it was always a clashing of worlds when you and Bahiyyih came together and you loved nothing more than to tease her or push her buttons and one day a new idea of how to do that came to you.

You were at a party and loving it! The idol life was still new to you so every party was like an insane VIP event you'd snook into and Yujin was constantly having to remind you that this was your life now but the excitement still hadn't left you yet. TxT were also here and they'd always been so kind and supportive to you from the start because of Bahiyyih's brother. You knew him the most out of the boys but hadn't really spoken to him or the guys one-on-one ever. So when you joined the line for the bar and Yeonjun waved you to them near the front you were pleasantly surprised.

They asked what you wanted and then added it to their order. "Don't worry I can get my own" you said feeling bad but all the guys brushed that comment away. "It's okay Kai's paying for it" Beomgyu explained and your eyes widened "I can't make you do that!" you cried but Kai just smiled at you "don't be silly of course you can. I'd act like this if I saw any of my sister's friends". "Really?" you asked smiling "you're a real modern-day gentleman?" challenging him slightly. "I like to think so" Kai replied and Yeonjun nodded "yeah he is pretty nice, that's why all our female staff loved him so much". "Isn't that just because he's cute?" you asked and then paused because that came across as way flirtier than you meant. Beomgyu and Taehyun burst out laughing and Kai blushed. Yeonjun and Soobin looked very proud and you laughed too. "Sorry I didn't mean for that to come across so forward" you told Kai who shook his head "don't apologise, it's not like it's a bad thing to hear a pretty girl thinks you're cute". You smirked "are you sure you're Bahiyyih's brother?" which made Kai laugh and you happened to glance back to see Bahiyyih staring at you.

That's when the idea came to you and you turned back to Kai who seemed very pleased by your comment. "Kai is full of surprises!" Beomgyu told you and you smiled sipping on the drink he'd just gotten you "I'm starting to see that, thanks for the drink Kai. I'll get the next one and totally not as an excuse to talk to you again" and with a wink walked away.

When you got back to your table the girls could tell something had happened...the TxT guys clapping Kai on the back and staring after you with huge smiles was probably a bit of a giveaway.

"What was going on over there?" Xiaoting asked and you smiled "oh nothing just chatting to Kai and his friends". "Looked a little more than that" Bahiyyih said and you smiled "hey I can't help it if your brother's hot" and Bahiyyih paused "I'm sorry he's what?". "He's hot!" you cried "everyone knows it, right girls?" you asked looking for backup but even Dayeon didn't dare to agree. So you were on your own but didn't mind that. "Well they won't admit it but Bahiyyih your brother's hot and I think I've got a shot with him". "Got a shot?" she asked "so are you trying to...wait never mind. I don't want to know what you want with him". You smirked "I'll keep you in suspense" and caught Kai's eye across the room. He blushed and shot you a small smile which you returned. You caught Bahiyyih watching and gave her a big smile. This was going to be so much fun.

Bahiyyih watched Kai with you the rest of the night and could tell he was into you. The two of you spoke a few more times and Kai's eyes were glued to you each time. He laughed at everything you said and you'd definitely taken an interest in him which he loved. Out of all her members, Bahiyyih supposed you were pretty much Kai's perfect type so she shouldn't be surprised...but it still took her back when Kai came to her about you a week later.

They'd met up for breakfast to discuss their sister's birthday and what they were going to get her. Once that was done Kai shot her a look "so Y/n" Kai said and it took everything for Bahiyyih not to react. "Yeah?" she asked trying to act calm and Kai looked down shyly "is she seeing anyone?" he asked coyly. Bahiyyih hesitated "why? Are you into her?". Kai blushed and Bahiyyih gasped "omg you are! You fancy my member!". "I wouldn't say fancy just she's really pretty and we got talking the other night. I like her confidence and don't remember you saying anything bad about her". "Because there's nothing bad to say" Bahiyyih admitted "she's cute, funny and talented. Sure she can be a little loud and reckless but I've never found her to be too much" she said begrudgingly. Kai smiled "do you think she might be into me?". Bahiyyih nodded "yes" but didn't elaborate and then feeling the obligation to be the good sister she added "I'll send you her number".

Kai had texted you before Bahiyyih had even got home from their dinner. She came to warn you and found you already in a string of texts with him. "I'm so touched" you told her as she went to leave your room and she froze. "Why?" she asked and you smiled "because you could've forbidden him from texting me but you actually gave him my number. You must think I'm such a great person to set me up with your brother" you said grinning at her and Bahiyyih rolled her eyes. "Sure if you want to see it that way go for it" she said "can I just ask you one thing?" and you nodded "sure!". "Just don't hurt him" she said and you paused "what? What makes you think I would?". "I don't know at first I couldn't tell if this was all to get a rise out of me but if it is please stop. Kai may seem strong and hides it well but he's vulnerable and soft. A girl like you could destroy him". "A girl like me?" you asked and Bahiyyih nodded "confident, cool, sexy. Someone who has her pick of guys" she sighed "don't break his heart please?". "I won't" you promised "I have no intention to hurt him...atleast in a bad way" you said with a wink and Bahiyyih groaned but your joke did its job, it lightened the mood.

You and Kai texted for a week before you suggested meeting up. It wasn't anything deep, you just asked if he wanted to grab a coffee when you had a longer lunch break and he agreed to help you pass the time. Plus you were still getting a kick from being friends with a member's brother and Bahiyyih's reaction when you announced you were leaving to see Kai made you smile all the way to the Hybe building. Kai offered to come to you but you fancied a walk and a nosy around Hybe. Kai had given your name to the man at the front desk and you were let straight through. You took the elevator up to the correct floor and ping, you were here.

The doors opened and there you were! Kai's heart did a little leap because he'd been nervous about this since you planned it and now here you were! You shot him a big happy smile and walked confidently over to him. "Hey, thanks for having me over!" and Kai smiled "oh it's not problem, if you ever need to waste some time just let me know". You nodded "but spending time with you is never wasting time" and walked into the cafe without any hesitation. Kai followed just a second behind you and watched as you took everything in. "It's a pretty nice cafe and not too busy so we can sit anywhere" Kai explained, feeling like he was stating the obvious but you nodded. "How about by the window?" you asked and Kai followed you nodding his head.

You both went up to order and you ordered first and moved to the other side of the till to get your drink. Kai was waiting to pay for his drink when your presence became known.

"Who let you in?" Kai heard someone ask aggressively and worried some security person had thought you'd snook in. He turned around panicked, but saw it was Enhypen or specifically Jay, Jake and Sunghoon. They were all around you but you had a smile on your face so seemed fine. Regardless Kai quickly paid and rushed over to find you were explaining the situation.

You saw Kai and smiled "see, here he is!" and the guys turned to look at Kai. "Did you really invite her in here or is she lying like she always does?" Jay asked and Kai felt himself bristle. "Yes I invited her here and she's never lied to me". Jay paused but you and the others laughed. "See! You're clearly the problem" you said pushing your way to Kai's side "now you owe me an apology!" you said to Jay. "I'm sorry" he said smiling sweetly "I just figured you were here to see me".

Kai's eyes widened slightly at the flirting but you just snorted "please you'd be the last person I'd be here to see" and you turned to Kai "we're all in that 2002 group chat right? I know them from there". Kai nodded as if he hadn't stopped checking that chat a few weeks after being added to it. "Jake and Sunghoon are good friends" you said smiling at the two boys and purposefully leaving Jay out. When he started to protest such treatment you simply said you and Kai had to go and steered a very relieved Kai away from the group.

Things got better once you sat down and actually started talking. Kai's heartbeat returned to a normal level and he realised how much he liked having your attention on him when someone else stole it.

Fromis_9 spotted you when they came in for a coffee and they all rushed to greet you. Apparently, you knew more Hybe members than Kai and they all gushed over you and demanded you come visit them too. "Yeah why does Kai get a visit from you and we don't?" Jiwon asked and Kai blushed at the question but you just smiled. "Because Kai's special" and gave him a small wink. Kai was on cloud nine and even waved as all the girls walked away.

"Wow you know everyone!" he remarked when his brain started functioning again and you laughed. "Yeah I can't even deny it! The girls claim I'm a natural social butterfly and I think they're right. I just love people and start conversations with everyone around me. That's how I become friends with so many people". Kai nodded "wow I can't even imagine that, I'm not the most outgoing person". "Nonsense! You were so friendly when I met you at the bar!" you said and Kai shrugged "yeah but I had the guys with me. I can be quiet on my own". "Well good things you'll always have people with you huh?" you asked and Kai hoped you were insinuating you'd be around him more. "Plus it's nice to be a little introverted, I can be like that too. When I get home I just like to hide in my room for a few hours and be alone. You can't always be on the go and it's nice to do nothing sometimes". Kai was so relieved you said that and nodded along enthusiastically "I couldn't agree more".

Your lunch break just flew by and before you knew it, you had to head back to work. "You know, you're a very nice person to be around" you said as Kai walked you to your building and he blinked "I am?". You nodded "you're simultaneously chill and warm. As in you're very calming but also nice. It's a nice mix". Kai smiled "nobody's ever told me that before but I'm glad you feel that way". "So would you like to meet again?" you asked "maybe spend more time together on a date or something?". Kai's eyes widened and he nodded vigorously as his mouth seemed unable to catch up with his brain. "Yes I'd love that!" he finally said and you laughed "great! Text me?" and Kai nodded "definitely". With a cute laugh, you waved to him and disappeared into your building. Kai let out a large cheer and then covered his mouth, worried you might've heard him. You did but thought it was funny.

When you got back to work you walked inside with a bounce in your step and Bahiyyih looked at you. "You're in a good mood" Dayeon said and you smiled "I had a good break" and that was all you said about your cafe date but it was enough. Bahiyyih heard you had an official date with Kai the next week and was nervous all over again. She just had to hope you'd keep your promise.

Kai was very surprised when you said you wanted to go to a museum for your first official date. From your personality he expected you'd want to go to some bar or loud party but you explained they'd added a few new exhibits since you'd last been and that you liked the environment. So pleasantly surprised, Kai met you outside on a crisp autumn morning. He spotted you coming as soon as you came around the corner but pretended to be on his phone so as to not seem too eager (even though he was). You called his name and came right over to him confidently. "Hey it's good to see you" you smiled going in for a hug and Kai hugged you back. "You too! I always loved museums but haven't been to this one so in excited". You smiled "then let's not keep you in suspense any longer!" and led him inside.

Kai remembered Yeonjun saying ages ago that with social events, it's not where you go but who you go with that makes it enjoyable and Kai had thought he was wrong...until you proved him otherwise. You made going to a museum such an exciting enjoyable thing and Kai wasn't even sure how! You were just so funny and charismatic. You knew exactly when to crack and joke and also when to be quieter and he loved it. You laughed a lot and Kai liked that. You weren't too serious and seemed to just go with the flow. He could see how you'd got chosen for the group and everyone who came into contact with you seemed charmed by you. He felt lucky to be out on a date with you and whenever you smiled at him his stomach did backflips.

You went to dinner together afterwards and Kai got to ask you more about your life and he found you fascinating. You'd done so much and seemed to throw yourself into any situation with determination and optimism. You'd become a kpop idol by chance. You auditioned for the group purely because your friend dared you to and you actually got called back to the next stage! You hadn't prepared any song and just sang your favourite one. When they asked why you wanted to become an idol you were honest and said you hadn't planned to come today but it looked fun. Kai had personally planned for ages for his audition and loved the idea of you just showing up randomly and killing it. He found your confidence so attractive and honestly thought everything about you was hot. You stayed talking for 2 hours before Kai had to leave to go to a fitting and he must've been very obvious in not wanting to leave because you asked him out for a second date right there and then. Kai of course said yes.

Bahiyyih of course remembered the day of your date and when you came into work the next day she was eyeing you trying to work out how it had been. Finally, Hikaru asked how everyone's day off had been and Bahiyyih leaned in expectantly. "It was good" you smiled "I had my date with Kai and I won't talk about it too much Bahiyyih don't worry but it went well". The girls all began to cheer but didn't get much out of you which was typical. The one-time Bahiyyih wanted you to talk about her brother you didn't. You did say you had a second date next week though so she knew it had gotten off to a good start.

2 weeks later TxT were at an event. Kai was calmly watching the different idols file into the party when Beomgyu hit him. "Hey Kai it's your girlfriend" Beomgyu cried and Kai's hand reached out and slapped him. "Shhhh we've only been on 2 dates!" he cried and Beomgyu gasped "I was joking she's not even here". "Oh that's okay then" Kai said and Beomgyu glared "for you!" massaging his arm. "You did provoke him" Yeonjun said and Taehyun nodded.

You actually did enter the party a few minutes later and Kai's breath caught but you didn't spot him straightaway. You were chatting with a few guys from Ateez and his expression must've given away his thoughts because Yeonjun laughed. "Don't worry she's just friends with Wooyoung and Jongho". Kai smiled and tried to laugh it off "what? Who is? Oh you mean Y/n?" before realising it wasn't working. "You think?" he asked and Yeonjun nodded "yeah Wooyoung's mentioned her before, plus she's friends with tons of guys so no reason to think she's interested in them in particular!". Yeonjun realised that might not have helped the situation when he saw Kai's face. "What Yeonjun means is she's just a social person, hanging out with someone doesn't have to mean anything" Taehyun explained. "Then does she just think I'm another friend?" Kai asked feeling like an idiot.

The guys all rushed to assure him that wasn't the case but Beomgyu (still feeling a bit pouty about his sore arm) figured the best way to get rid of Kai's doubts was to get you in front of him. As you came nearer their group he turned and called "oh hey Y/n!" loudly making you look over at them. Kai went pink as you looked at him and smiled. You said something to Ateez and they nodded as you left them and came over.

"Hey Beomgyu! Any reason you shouted my name out like that?" you called out. "I'm just so happy to see you!" he said and you smiled "hmmm so It was because you were trying to make Kai blush or anything right? Because that's not nice and I'm sure you wouldn't like it if someone did it to you". "Nobody can make me blush sweetie" Beomgyu replied and you smiled "really?" and stepped closer. "What are you doing?" Beomgyu asked but you cut him off, putting your arms around his neck. "Wow you're really good looking Beomgyu. You're the perfect balance between beauty and masculinity. You've got a great body and your arms look amazing. Your skin is just flawless, your eyes sparkle so much and your lips...." you trailed off looking at them and biting your own before smiling "they just look delicious, can I have a taste?". Beomgyu went bright red and began stuttering while the guys busied themselves laughing except for Kai who was stunned, turned on and a little jealous all at once. Luckily though you turned away from Beomgyu quickly and looked at Kai "Hey, want to get a drink?". He nodded "sure!" and you led him away linking your arm through his.

You stayed together for the rest of the night and Kai was really pleased you wanted to spend time with him so publically. You weren't joined at the hip, both his members, yours and a bunch of idols you knew fluttered in but you never went far from him and carried on chatting to him all night. He liked being around you and although he was growing more and more comfortable with you that excited feeling never went away which made him happy.

You asked Kai if he wanted to grab some air with you about 3 hours in and he happily stepped outside with you. The two of you found a bench and sat down together. "I can't believe haven't told you this but you look really beautiful" Kai said and you smiled "thanks I like outfits like this" you said looking down at your beautiful trousers "they make me feel powerful without worrying about my ass hanging out like I do with stage outfits". Kai paused "yeah I would definitely hate for that to happen to me on stage" and you laughed. "You look really nice tonight too" you said "but now I can get the image of you in a miniskirt out of my head". "Hey I'd pull it off! I have nice legs" Kai said and he went to move his leg onto the bench when you stopped him with a hand on his arm. You smiled "I believe you, you don't have to prove it. You seem to have nice everything" and you gave him a once over "nice eyes, nice smile, nice hair" you said "nice lips". You looked up at him as you said that and Kai got your meaning and leaned down to kiss you.

The second you kissed him back Kai knew for sure you did like him and he was on top of the world! This beautiful girl wanted him and he sure wanted you. It was of course your first kiss as a couple and Kai loved how natural it felt. Thinking back, he couldn't believe he'd been the one to move first. Sure you'd pretty much set it up for him to follow but he was still impressed he had that confidence. It was pretty simple though, he kissed you because he wanted to and there had been nothing else on his mind at that moment.

It was a good kiss too. Kai had figured with you he might be a little out of his depth but he wasn't. You seemed more experienced than him but he kept up well, fuelled by his feelings for you and when you both pulled back he wasn't the only one flushed.

"That was nice...really nice" you smiled and Kai agreed. He wanted to keep kissing you but you rested your head against his shoulder and he really just wanted to make you happy so wrapped an arm around you and relaxed. It was the best night of his life!

The guys could all tell something had happened because Kai was beaming and in an excellent mood the rest of the night. He laughed at all of Beomgyu's jokes and was singing softly to himself in the car on the way home. "What did Y/n say to make you so lovesick?" Taehyun finally asked and Kai blushed "she didn't say anything we just kissed". "You kissed!" Yeonjun yelled nearly giving Soobin a heart attack. "Yeah we had our first kiss...no big deal" Kai said but the huge grin on his face showed it was. All the guys were thrilled because Kai had never dated before and he seemed really happy! His smile was so genuine and joyous that the guys decided then and there that they liked you. Anyone who made their maknae smile this much had to be good news.

After your kiss, you knew you and Kai were something and figured you should update Bahiyyih. You were sure Kai wouldn't tell her about the kiss but didn't want it to come up randomly and blindsight her. So you explained you'd kissed Kai and were seeing him again next week. Bahiyyih nodded "I figured when he came back inside looking like it was the Christmas he got a piano, so do you like him?". You nodded "of course! I wouldn't kiss him if I didn't". Bahiyyih nodded "and so what are you? Are you dating or just casual". "Just casual at the moment" you shrugged "it's so new, we haven't really discussed it". "Are you seeing any other guys?" Bahiyyih asked and you laughed "what is this 21 questions?". Bahiyyih sighed "I don't mean to be nosey but if you are seeing other guys just make that clear to Kai". You frowned "I think you're underestimating your brother. He's not a child". Bahiyyih nodded "I know he's not but I just don't think there should be any miscommunication. You can't do anything wrong if you were honest". "Well I'm not planning on sleeping with any guys between now and next week" you replied back feeling a little annoyed at Bahiyyih acting like you were guilty of something. She took in your cold tone and nodded leaving the room. Suddenly teasing Bahiyyih was becoming the least fun thing about this.

If it was obvious Kai liked you before the kiss, after the kiss he was just downright embarrassing. He'd literally stop walking when he saw you and even did this on stage. He couldn't resist smiling when he spotted you and Soobin had to keep nudging his foot with his own to stop him. Kai could talk about you for ages and Taehyun had to ask him to stop many times so he could go to sleep. So seeing as Kai was falling headfirst the guys decided they should meet you properly, just to make sure you were into Kai too and he wasn't being taken advantage of. Kai was THRILLED with the idea of inviting you around for dinner and you agreed happily. You liked being around people and TxT seemed so fun so you were so up for it. Plus you were craving time with Kai more and more so it was a win-win.

Kai drove over to yours despite you telling him you could drive yourself. He said he wanted to make sure you got here okay but really he just wanted to get some time with you before the boys steamrolled everything and he warned you a little bit about that. "So Yeonjun will be all over you but not physically" Kai said, blushing slightly "just Yeonjun loves people and they love him so you'll find him really easy to talk to. Beomgyu is an ambivert but he seems to really like you so he'll probably flirt with you and want your attention" Kai said "Soobin is introverted but the leader so he'll be all welcoming and make sure you're okay, you have enough drinks stuff like that. Then there's Taehyun who seems quiet but is actually extroverted and you really see that around us so I think you'll see a different side that you're used to".

You nodded "wow this is all so useful thank you! You know your members super well huh?". Kai nodded "yeah, we've been together a while and I tend to be the observer so I notice things". You smiled "that's true but I have seen some videos where you go chaotic Kai" you said "I love when you tease your hyungs". Kai paused "wait you watched some of our videos?". You smiled "of course! I mean I'd seen all your music videos but I also wanted to see what idol Kai was like and you're very funny" you said shooting him a glance. Kai's cheeks went full pink and he laughed a goofy happy laugh before blushing. "I also love your dolphin scream" you said and Kai burst out laughing making you laugh too. "I don't do it on purpose!" he cried and you smiled "I know that's what makes it so good! You're effortlessly great Kai" and he grinned. A compliment from you always made him smile.

Everything went down exactly as Kai said it would. Soobin greeted you at the door and was playing the role of attentive hostess when Yeonjun appeared and barreled over him. Yeonjun was charismatic and quickly established a connection with you based on mutual interests. Taehyun and Beomgyu entered next and while Taehyun gave you a polite nod and smile Beomgyu came right over to you and started flirting. As the night continued, you spoke to Taehyun more and discovered he was really cool! He also had a big presence despite being the smallest and you instinctively liked him too.

You were talking to Yeonjun and Soobin and smiled as Soobin asked if you wanted anything from the kitchen and Yeonjun complimented your shoes. "What?" Yeonjun asked and you shook your head "nothing just before I got here Kai gave me a rundown on how you'd all act and he was totally right. Everything you guys have done is exactly what he said". Yeonjun laughed "wait what did he say?" and you explained. "I am great with people" Yeonjun smiled and Soobin nodded "I am a good host" and you smiled at their happy expressions.

"It's just so sweet Kai notices this about everyone. He's so sweet and kind" you said watching him across the room with Taehyun, making Soobin and Yeonjun smile. "Yeah he is" Soobin nodded "and you've definitely caught his attention which for a person who observes everything is impressive". "It is?" you asked and Yeonjun nodded "totally! Like you said Kai notices everything so the fact he's into you shows he's only seen good things which means you're either a wonderful person or a cunning mastermind" he said frowning as he sized you up. You hit his arm "obviously it's the first one" and Yeonjun smiled "yeah of course...it's just you think he's sweet for noticing us. You should see how sweet he is around you". "Really?" you asked and Yeonjun went to jump into it when Soobin elbowed him and shook his head. Yeonjun did big eyes and some mental conversation between them was had. You got the gist Yeonjun could speak but not say too much so he turned to you. "We don't want to give anything away but he's basically a puppy in adoration with you" Yeonjun said and Soobin hit him "dude!" but it was okay. You found it sweet and were very very pleased. You had noticed some things in how Kai acted around you in particular but weren't sure how much you were reading into things, so to hear his members confirm things was reassuring of Kai's feelings.

You hadn't meant to find a sweet boyfriend going into this but life had thrown you some good luck...so it was only just that there was some bad luck on the horizon too.

I hope you had a nice relaxing Christmas!

This will be a two-part series and part two is out now!

[whatstruthgottodowithit]

Does He Love You?

Fandom: Elvis, Elvis Presley, Elvis 2022, RPF

Pairing: Elvis Presley x Female Reader, Elvis Presley x Ann-Margaret

Characters: Elvis Presley, Female Reader, Ann-Margaret, Jerry Schilling, Joe Esposito, Red West, Sonny West, Colonel Tom Parker

Word Count: 3225

Rating: Explicit

Summary: Does he love you, like he loves me?

Tags/Warnings: Request, Requested Fic, Vaginal Sex, Kissing, Arguing, Cheating, Infidelity, Drunk Arguments, Betrayal, Angst, Hurt, Affairs, Established Relationship, Reba Song

Notes: This kinda reminded me of a Reba song at the end. It was giving me Jolene vibes but Ann Margaret knew they weren’t meant to be im sure.

Elvis Tags: @caitlin1996 @literally-just-elvis-fics @notstefaniepresley

Request by @elvispresleyxoxo - yes that’s completely fine! I was wondering if you could do one where reader knows elvis is cheating with ann margaret and confront him in front of all of the memphis mafia maybe even ann margaret if your comfortable with that! she tells elvis that she loves him ,shares like smutty details about there sex life ( if ann margaret is there could reader be like does he do that to you to, but again if your uncomfortable with that you don’t have to write that) , just overall a messy argument in front of everyone. but in the end elvis lashes out and takes her into another room and makes love to her and everyone can hear them she comes back like embarrassed but yk forgives him , you can choose the ending around the ann margaret situation if your comfortable writing that part x

One would think that being in a relationship with Elvis Presley would be fun. And for the most part, it is but not always. Sometimes the glitz and the glamour of Hollywood isn't parties and shows, it's dreadfully boring meetings with studio executives that come disguised as evening dinner parties. Whilst Elvis allowed the Colonel to negotiate most of the deals he was required to be present, something that no doubt allowed the Colonel to do what he wanted whilst having the excuse that Elvis never protested even though he was ten people down the table. As long as Elvis showed up the Colonel was happy but to keep Elvis happy he needed distractions. Which was why he brought friends. Members of the Mafia or me, someone he could talk to whilst they hashed out details of contracts that didn't interest him. The upside of these meetings was that they were largely comped by the networks meaning they were almost exclusively held in fancy hotels or restaurants rather than the dreary offices of Paramount. That was why tonight we would be dining at Perino's.

As we walked into the room my eyes roved over the table that was already jam-packed full of people, as ever we were the last to arrive. The majority of it was made up of men in stiff suits, business types, and members of Elvis' entourage who always tried so desperately to fit in at these things but somehow always seemed to look like boys play acting as Hollywood bigwigs. And then my eyes landed on the end of the table. On the only other woman in the room. Ann-Margaret.

Whilst Elvis' schmoozed his way through the crowd of people that had jumped up to greet him my eyes remained locked on her. Her red-golden hair was pushed back from her face, her natural makeup accentuating her large eyes and full lips in the dim ambient lighting. She looked beautiful. She was chatting to a man I didn't know seemingly unbothered by our entrance, a fact that made my heart sink. After all, why would she? She knew Elvis well. Too well. The novelty of his presence had no doubt rubbed off for her.

A million thoughts circled in my mind. What was she doing here? Had Elvis invited her? Had the network? I didn't know which of those options was worse. Either way, it signalled that she wasn't going anywhere much to my sadness. They had just debuted their first film together, Viva Las Vegas, and it was a hit. Elvis had even seemed to enjoy himself on this production which I was ecstatic for. He seemed more lenient with the scripts, happier to sing the same old songs he'd been given and altogether more enthusiastic whenever he'd called home. It was only when I flew out to Vegas for the last few days of filming I saw why.

I couldn't blame him I supposed. After all she was a beautiful, charming and magnetic woman. The press liked her. The Mafia liked her. Elvis liked her. But I couldn't bring myself to. He'd been like this before of course. No matter what I did he couldn't seem to stay true yet none of the others ever bothered me...but she did. Because I could feel the way he felt about her. The others never bothered me because I knew he didn't love them but with her? The potential was there. Another two or three films, who knew what could happen?

Tears stung at my eyes but I forced them back, going through the motions of greeting people until I could finally drop down into my seat beside Elvis. Ann-Margaret was sitting on his other side. I didn't listen to either of them as they started to talk. Instead, I grabbed the bottle of wine that had been left on the table and poured myself a large glassful, immediately sipping it down as much as I could. Neither of them even noticed.

✵✵✵

I didn't want to talk. I didn't want to even be here. As everyone laughed and joked around me I sat in silence nursing whatever number glass of wine I was up to and watching Elvis and Ann-Margaret talk. It was like slow torture. Every laugh, every coy smile, every touch of the hand was like another rock being placed on my chest until I couldn't breathe. I had to get out of there. I stood up from the table, gripping onto it for balance as the alcohol in my system hit me full on making me woozy.

'You alright honey?' Elvis said, finally noticing me. His hand gently touched the back of mine but I pulled mine out from under his.

'Fine, I just need the restroom,' I said. Elvis looked at me curiously but I didn't stay there long enough for him to ask any questions. I wanted to cry. Or scream. Or throw up. I fled to the bathroom and locked myself in the stall, trying to calm myself down. I knew there was no point getting upset. I couldn’t make a scene and I couldn’t go home not without Elvis wondering what was wrong so I put on my most composed expression and returned to the table trying to ignore the tears that threatened to spill over at any moment. I hurried my way back to my seat, noticing how the waiters had started arriving at the table placing our orders down in front of us. As a bowl full of pasta dropped into place in front of me a young waiter appeared at Elvis' side.

'Steak?' the waiter asked.

'Here,' Elvis said, allowing him to place the plate down in front of him. My eyes scanned his plate though where I expected to see a block of charcoal in place of steak I found a normal-looking piece of meat looking back at me.

'You should send that back,' I blurted out. Elvis looked at me for a second, suddenly realising I was back in the room, and shook his head.

'It's fine,' Elvis said as he picked up his napkin and dropped it on his lap.

'It's rare,' I said.

'Like I said it's fine,' Elvis said.

'You hate your food rare,' I said, utterly perplexed. It was true. Any who knew him knew that unless it was absolutely cremated Elvis wouldn't eat it. Before now he'd sent food back in restaurants up to three times until it was completely obliterated.

'It's not a big deal,' Elvis gritted out looking up the table. My voice had been louder than intended thanks to the alcohol meaning I was no longer the only one looking at him. He was now the spectacle of the show with almost everyone peering down the table at what was going on. He didn't flounder though and instead he cut a neat piece of meat off the end and though he couldn't stop himself from grimacing as blood oozed out onto his plate he hoyed it into his mouth and choked it down all the same.

'How is it?' I asked after it was gone.

'Fine,' he said, taking a sip of his iced water.

'See!' Ann said placing a dainty hand on his bicep, 'I told you it wouldn't be that bad.'

'What?' I said, confused. She looked at me with a smile though Elvis kept his head down sheepishly.

'Last time we had dinner he ordered this thing, it looked more like a tire than a piece of meat, and I told him all that burnt stuff was bad for his health,' she said, 'too many carcinogens. It's much healthier to have your meat medium or rare.'

'Yeah, I think I've heard that before,' Joe said from the side of me.

'The question is what isn't bad for you these days,' Sonny chimed in, 'though good on you for makin' EP change his mind about the bits of rubber he calls meat.'

'Yeah that's a feat in itself,' Joe said. Their conversation continued but I couldn't join in. My blood was boiling, the alcohol well and truly taking hold as I watched him. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. After years of moaning at him to eat someone that resembled an edible meal and him refusing he’d elected to make a change after one meal with her. It was like a punch to the gut. My jealousy took a hold consuming every fibre of my being. Elvis wasn't paying much attention and was instead scarfing down his pink steak punctuating it with sips of water to no doubt dilute the taste. My focus didn't land on him however, it landed across the table. I wanted to make her feel as bad as I did. To ruin her night like she had ruined mine. I could feel my words coming on fast and there was no way to stop them.

'Oh, I don't know. I wouldn’t say it’s that hard to change his mind,' I said taking a sip of wine as I rested back in my chair. I could feel several pairs of eyes land on me, including Elvis and Ann's.

'Remind me of that when I'm trying to pry him out of bed to go to the lot,' Joe chuckled.

'You just need to know how to handle him,' I said, 'ain’t that right sweetie?'

'You think you can handle me?' Elvis said quirking an eyebrow. He was playing along in front of the boys but I could see him hesitate, not knowing where I was going with it.

'Of course, though it seems like I'm not the only one. Right, Ann?' I asked with a fake smile. Ann glanced at Elvis and then back at me.

'Oh I wouldn't say I can handle him like you,' she said an embarrassed blush on her pretty face.

'But he listens to you,’ I said, ‘I mean you got him to eat something other than black steak. That’s some feat.’

‘Like I said it’s nothing,’ she said shifting awkwardly in her seat. I didn’t care though. I could feel more and more people staring curiously at me, wondering what the hell I was going on about, Elvis too but I didn’t pay them any attention.

‘How did you do it?’ I said.

‘What?’ she asked glancing at Elvis for help.

‘It’s a simple question,’ I said leaning forward and running my finger around the rim of my wine glass, ‘I mean I know how I’d do it. You know one time Elvis took me shopping and I found this beautiful Chanel number, you remember that right honey? The one with all the buttons? Anyway, he’s moaning about it telling me it looks like something a sailor would wear but me? I love it, so you know I did?’

‘What?’ Ann said quietly unable to ignore me as I watched her intently my gaze never wandering from her green eyes.

‘I got down on my knees and blew him right there in the dressing room,’ I said.

‘Y/N!’ Elvis snapped.

‘Soon got him to change his mind-’

‘That’s enough,’ Elvis said.

‘You know he can’t even see anything naval without sporting wood,’ I giggled.

‘Stop it,’ Elvis said standing up and yanking me out of my seat by my bicep. Though his grip was tight on my arm it was a good job he was holding me as I was unsteady enough that I would’ve toppled over if it hadn’t been for him.

‘What? We’re just swapping girly stories, right Annie? I bet she could tell me just how she gets you to do stuff don’t you think? I bet it’s not all that dissimilar, huh baby?’ I sneered.

‘You’re drunk,’ he said.

‘And you’re screwing your co-star,’ I said. Joe pushed my other side keeping me on balance as I yanked my arm out of Elvis’ grasp. Ann’s face paled before going deep crimson as she dropped her gaze to her lap. Elvis said nothing his face thunderous as everyone watched the pair of us just looking at each other.

‘Can’t even deny it can you?’ I said looking at him. I shook my head, grabbed the bottle of wine off the table and walked off out into the foyer. I didn’t know where I was going. The car wouldn’t be waiting and I didn’t feel like heading outside. I didn’t need to worry though as I felt a hand grasp my elbow, pushing me towards a door until I was roughly thrust through it into a storeroom of sorts. I fell inside, looking up to find Elvis standing by the door blocking my only exit.

‘What the hell do you think you’re playing at?!’ he snapped.

‘Me?! You’re fucking someone else and you’re angry at me!?’ I baulked.

‘It’s not like that,’ he said.

‘Yeah sure,’ I snorted.

‘Nothing’s going on,’ he said.

‘Nothing’s going on now? Or nothing’s ever happened,’ I said coming towards him. His jaw was tight as he looked down at me but my expression never changed. I was challenging him to tell me I was wrong.

‘It’s over,’ he said making me pull back shaking my head, ‘it has been for a while.’

‘Since I came to town and spoiled your fun?’ I said taking a swig from my bottle before setting it down on a shelf.

‘Since I remembered how much I love you,’ he said making me roll my eyes, ‘what you don’t believe me?’

‘Until I’m not around right,’ I said.

‘It’s not like that,’ he said coming towards me. I folded my arms across my chest to stop him from touching me, ‘you don’t think I know how pathetic I am? That I don’t know I’m weak? I know I’m not worth the ground you walk on and yet you still keep me around. I know I don’t deserve you Y/N…but I love you and I’m sorry.’

‘You always are,’ I said an errant tear trickling down my cheek. He moved to wrap his arms around me but I stayed still, letting his strong hold engulf me.

‘Do you love her?’ I said in almost a whisper. He was so close to me that I could feel the warmth of his breath on my face, the heat of his body matching that of my own.

‘Not as much as I love you,’ he said pressing his forehead to mine before he placed a kiss on my cheek. His lips kissed my tears away until finally, they landed on my lips. He kissed me, waiting for my permission to take it further. I tried to stop. I knew I should. But I loved him. I always would, so I moved my lips against his. He took this as a positive sign and deepened the kiss pushing me backwards until my back hit the wall. I didn’t do much of the work. His lips were everywhere all at once, touching every piece of skin they could find and leaving fire in their wake. His kisses were interspersed by murmurs of adoration as if his words could wipe away his actions for good.

‘I love you,’ he said as his hand slipped under my dress, teasing through my folds before he moved my panties to the side and slipped inside me, hoisting me up until my legs were wrapped around his waist. The wall was uncomfortable against my back but I couldn’t focus on that as Elvis’ fingers made their way to my sensitive bud, stroking it in time with his movements in and out of me. His name was all I could manage to whimper against his neck as the feeling of ecstasy started mounting in my core.

‘Baby,’ he grunted as his hips started faltering in rhythm.

‘Oh god,’ I said trembling around him with a whimper. He moved his hips in haphazard snaps against me until he groaned loudly, his breath hot and wet against my neck as he buried his face against my skin. After a moment he came round, pressing his forehead against mine. I could feel him softening inside me yet neither of us moved, my fingers tracing small circles on the nape of his neck as our breaths intermingled.

‘I love you,’ he said after a moment.

‘Enough to stop seeing her?’ I said.

‘Like I said. It’s over,’ he said pulling away from me so he could gently place me on my feet. His hand was tender against my cheek, his thumb stroking against my skin gently. I watched his face for a moment as if I would be able to tell the future from his expression alone. I knew it was pointless. I knew that whatever was going to happen in the future would happen regardless. But I loved him. With everything I had.  So, I pulled away and nodded ever so slightly. He kissed the top of my head and then led me out of the storage cupboard. There weren’t many people in the foyer but those that were there were sure to know what had just transpired. Joe, Sonny, Red and Jerry congregated by the door of the dining room probably unsure of what they were supposed to be doing in Elvis' absence. That or they were forming a human barrier in case I wanted to head back inside for round two.

‘Give me a minute,’ he said squeezing my hand before he dropped it and headed over to the boys where they began talking in hushed whispers. I could feel the eyes of the waitstaff watching me as I stood in the foyer and so I quickly ducked into the restroom to freshen up. I looked a little messy. My tears had given me black smudges under my eyes and my lipstick was smudged from Elvis kissing me. I grabbed a paper towel and started to retouch the damage but I slowed my actions down as I noticed the toilet door opening.

Ann stepped out.

‘Oh,’ she said, ‘um sorry I didn't know-’

‘It’s fine,’ I said straightening up and tossing the paper towel in the trash.

‘Y/N,’ she said coming towards me offering to put a tender hand on my shoulder but I moved out of her way.

‘Don’t,’ I said. We stood there watching each other for a moment. I didn’t know what I was feeling. Anger. Sadness. Who knew? Whatever it was it felt awful and it was made even worse by the fact she looked genuinely remorseful.

‘I really am sorry,’ she said.

‘Just,’ I said my words disappearing. I didn’t know what to say. After all, how could I blame her? The charm, looks and appeal she had been lured in by was the one that kept me hooked. I couldn’t resist it any more than she could. How could I blame her for giving in to temptation?

‘I can’t lose him,’ I said. My hand was on the door handle now, my gaze locked on it as I refused to look up at her.

‘You were never going to,’ she said capturing my attention, ‘I’m not what he wants.’

‘Yeah, who’d want a gorgeous movie star, right?’ I said.

‘It's what he wants for a night. You get his mornings. His afternoons. You’re the one he calls when he’s had a bad day,’ she said, her eyes were sad though she was wearing a sympathetic smile, ‘you’re the one who’ll get his last name.’

‘I hope you’re right,’ I said and with that, I slipped out of the bathroom. Elvis looked around as I came out. He was standing with Jerry, waiting for me by the main entrance, the others sent to handle whatever needed fixing on my behalf.

‘Everything okay honey?’ he murmured as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders and led me outside.

‘Fine,’ I said with a small sigh, ‘just fine.’

[evilgaygothgf]

How easy would they fall in love?

How easy would the the group chat members fall in love (imo)

a/n: this is kinda short since it’s my first post here 😞

Isaac

I feel like he wouldn’t pay you much mind at first, but as soon as you laughed at something he said or did or made a witty comeback at one of the other other boys, he’d be hooked

Like you’re all hanging out at the group house and he’s trying to jump into the convo and make a comeback at one of the guys, but like everyone is loud so they can’t hear him the first time, but he looks over and sees you laughing at whatever he said

You boost his ego (as if he needs it any bigger 🙄 /j ) and he eats that shit up

He can NOT hide his feelings for shit

This guy things he’s Mr Stone Cold out here and that you don’t have a clue

But he visibly gushes like big ol googly eyes boinging out of his head at you THIS FOOL CANNOT KEEP HIS COOL AROUND YOU

Softwilly

I think this man would swoon as soon as he saw your smile.

His pov would be like those movie scenes where everything goes blurry but you, you’re surrounded by an ethereal glow, birds singing and shit.

Boy would start floating like Tom and jerry when there’s a delicious pie smell in the air all 🤤 and wtv lmaoo

Yumi

Idk but I feel like he’s a tough cookie when it comes to stuff like this

Like you’d definitely be catching feelings first in this situation

He would probably start falling for you after you’ve known each other for a good bit of time and you’ve started rubbing off on him

He realizes you’re the only person besides him with an ounce of logic when you’re around the boys /j obv

You playfully mock him like the guys do, but he likes it when you do it and just plays like he hates it

Larry

He’d be besties with you at first I think

You’d join in on his and Tanner’s antics

The three of you would be dumb & dumber & dumbest

And like one day the two of you are hanging out alone and he realizes he has feelings for you 😑😐😑😐 (pretend they’re like blinking or smth idk)

And suddenly it’s like every time you come around now, Tanner is nowhere to be seen and it’s just a “coincidence” that you and Larry have to hang out without Tanner

Boy is crushing so hard but he really drags it out before ever saying anything to you bc I feel like he would like how pure it all feels…like he’s got his own little secret to himself yknow? Little mischievous guy

Tanner

This sweet boy

Like

Not playing favorites here but like

He’s a grown ass man but he’s babygirl and I’ll fight to the death over it

He’d fold. 😐

So fast

You play into whatever mischief he cooks up and it gets him all giggly and shit swinging his legs kicking his feet type shit

He’s so obvious about his feelings for you

Y’all send 0.5 selfies back and forth to each other and he is dying every time he gets one from you

Puts it in a special album on his phone and everything

Please be good to him

Grunk

Lil Grunky boy

He’s kind of like Isaac where he thinks he seems all cool and collected, but he’s so visibly nervous when you’re around

Tripping over his words

Blushing like crazy when you talk to him

Boy is SMITTEN

He tries to treat you like “one of the bros” thinking it’ll keep his crush on you secret

But if the group chat guys find out he has a crush on you it’s OVER for him

0 secrets at that point

Every time you’re around they’re making obvious pokes at Grunk about you

Obv all in fun, but like, if this boy gets in his feels over you, you’d know so fast

Thanks for reading!

[woniebunny]

ENHYPEN AS TEEN WOLF CHARACTERS || PT.1 HYUNG LINE

GENRE: TEEN WOLF!AU KINDA

WARNINGS: SLIGHT CURSING

A/N: Hii my loves!!! It’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything but being that next month is pretty much my fave month of the year and I suddenly have maximum creative juices pumping through me right now I’m gonna try and write up and post as much as I can for the next couple of weeks. Starting off with something kinda light I decided to do an Enhypen as Teen Wolf (still one of my fave shows) characters based on my opinion. This is all for fun so please take it with a grain of salt lol. I’m also gonna do a part two with the Maknae line so keep an eye out for that as well. P.S I have a Jaeyun hocus pocus idea in the works rn and I can hint that it’s going to be the longest piece I’ve ever written but I don’t wanna spoil it too much sooooo I’ll stop at that 🤭. As always hope you guys enjoy and reblogs and feedback are always appreciated!!💕

**********************************************************

LEE HEESEUNG (이희승)

•SCOTT MCCALL

• HAS LEADERSHIP SKILLS DESPITE NOT BEING THE ALPHA/LEADER

• WOULD THINK EVERYONE WAS WORTH SAVING NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE OR WHAT THEY’VE DONE

• WOULD ALSO GIVE PETER A MILLION CHANCES

• HAS A VERY STRONG YET KIND OF DORKY AND ENDEARING PERSONALITY. IS SUPER SWEET AND SILLY AND WOULD ALSO 100% BE JUST AS CLUELESS AS SCOTT ON THE SUPERNATURAL AND HAS AN INNOCENCE/NAIVETY TO HIM

• DEFINITELY IS ADOPTING STRAYS AND BRINGING THEM INTO THE PACK (I.E. ISAAC, BOYD, LIAM, THEO, AND CO)

• ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP EVERYONE

PARK JONGSEONG (박종성)

• DEREK HALE

• SOUR WOLF/ SOUR PUSS

• COMES OFF AS COLD AND EVERYONES SCARED OR INTIMIDATED BY HIM BUT HE LOVES HARD AND IS EXTREMELY LOYAL

• ONCE HE CARES ABOUT YOU YOURE PART OF HIS PACK AND HE WOULD LITERALLY GIVE HIS LIFE FOR YOU

• VERY BIG AND TRAINING AND TEACH YOU EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW AND IS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE THANKS TO HIS PARENTS (LIKE DEREK WITH TALIA)

• HAS TO SAVE HEESEUNGS ASS ALL THE TIME CAUSE HES PRETTY CLUMSY DESPITE BEING A WOLF

• STRONGLY FIGHTS FOR WHAT HE BELIEVES IN AND WOULD NEVER GIVE UP OR RUNAWAY. CONSTANTLY EVOLVING AND IS THE MOST MATURE ALONGSIDE DEATON.

SIM JAEYUN (심재윤)

•STILES STILINSKI

• LITERAL GENIUS (EXPECT HIGHLY INTELLECTUAL RAMBLES (love me a nerdy but sexy man))

• PUPPY LIKE, CLUMSY, KINDA SPASTIC, ADORABLE NERD

•SARCASM KING

• CONSTANTLY BEING UNDERESTIMATED BUT IS THE STRONGEST MEMBER DESPITE BEING HUMAN AND COULD LITERALLY TAKE DOWN THE WHOLE PACK BY HIMSELF.

• IS THE SOLE REASON EVERYONE IS ALIVE

• WOULD BE THE PERFECT VOID WHEN GETTING POSSESSED BY THE NOGITSUNE

• GREAT AT LACROSSE AND IS DEF ON 1ST LINE!

PARK SUNGHOON (박성훈)

• ISAAC LAHEY

• USUALLY THE MORE QUITE MEMBER WHO KINDA KEEPS TO HIMSELF AND ISNT THE BEST AT SOCIALIZING (was locked in a freezer for most of his life he’s learning okay? Precious baby) BUT IS ALWAYS THE FIRST ONE READY FOR A FIGHT OR PUTTING SOMEONE IN THEIR PLACE

• IS THE ONLY MEMBER I CAN THINK OF BESIDES BOYD WHO WOULD ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE COLD AND GOING TO THE ICE RINK

• GETS UNDERESTIMATED BECAUSE OF HIS QUIETER MORE NONCHALANT DEMEANOR BUT IS A COMPLETE BADASS AND WOULD BE ONE OF THE FEW MEMBERS WHO CAN ACTUALLY PUT UP A REALLY GOOD FIGHT

• LEATHER JACKETS

• SARCASM PRINCE

• HAS TOM AND JERRY DYNAMIC WITH DEREK BUT SECRETLY DEREKS FAVORITE (Jayhoon bickering is one of my fave things)

• 100% RESPECTS HEESEUNG MOST LIKELY EVEN MORE THAN JAY AND FOLLOWS HIM AROUND LIKE A PUPPY

• THINKS DEATON AND STILES ARE THE SMARTEST AND ALWAYS COUNTS ON THEM FOR A PLAN

• WOULD LEARN CONTROL THE QUICKEST AND USE SOMETHING KIND OF TWISTED AS HIS ANCHOR

• WOULD 100% LEARN HUNTING 101 FROM ARGENT AND BECOME AN EXPERT

[darkbluekies]

Jerry asks #1

Next one

Concept: I've put multiple asks into one post to avoid too much loose posts on my account! This way, you have more to read too<3 Warnings: yandere

Ok I must know how would jerry react if her s/o got a cat name tom so when the day comes her s/o just goes tom, jerry get over here

She'd want to smack you in the back of the neck. She has had enough of your 'funny pranks'.

"You think you're really funny, don't you?" she'd mutter with her arms crossed. "Such a clever litte thing, aren't you? Rename the cat or get rid of it. As long as you look at me as a joke, baby, I will treat you like one. Deal?"

If you laughed, you'd get the sternest gaze right back at you.

just read cat & mouse and wow I’m officially a Jerry simp

Good, me too >:)

In the Silas V Jerry debate it's Jerry 1000000% I love a hot murderous woman! Will we see more of her?

Hahahah same, jerry is the best<3333 there will 100% be more with Jerry!!

I wonder… what would happen if Jerry ever became the boss? Is Silas her boss or are they from two different mafias?

The only reason why Jerry isn't the boss is because if she was, she'd have so much more work to do. She's lazy and wants to drink. But if she was the boss, she'd get her gang in so much trouble because she's not having a consequense thinking. She'll do what she wants and deal with the trouble later.

I haven't specified if Silas is her boss, that's up for you to interpret ;)

I love Jerry so much! I was actually scrolling through some reels on YouTube and come across a "Sigma Girl" reel by CRAZY GREAPA that for some reason reminded me so much of how I imagine Jerry in my head when I read your writing. Specifically this one: https://youtu.be/C-G_pHgQE3g I thought I'd share it with you just cause lol

omg yes i've seen her!!! i really like her lmao. She's a bit to the image I see her as too!!

Okay so we see jerry with the talkative and affectionate reader but what about everyone else? Like how would they react when reader goes from super affectionate to absolutely 0% snuggle

She'll be confused about your sudden change, but will try to give you what you need. If you suddenly want her gone, she'll move away but don't you worry, she will be back soon. She hasn't had enough and if you think that you can control Jerry then you're wrong.

"I left you alone for ten minutes. Ten minutes are a lot of time. Open your arms now so I can hug you, i'm not asking."

Sorry to bother but in the ask where reader becomes quiet and unaffectionate you mentioned jerry being wrong, do you mean as in she knows she was wrong to treat reader in that way?

asks it's referring to

Yes, she feels bad about it, but won't admit it. She'll try to shift the blame to you, saying that "You shouldn't have annoyed me" and "it's not my fault I snapped" but deep inside she knows she shouldn't ever shout at you. She loves to hear you talk about everything and nothing at the same time. She has too much of an ego to apologize.

I need more jerry content 😭😭Imagine when jerry kidnaps her s/o the s/o decided to be smart and play along with her for a couple of years. The trust is built and yada yada yada. And then one day jerry comes home and see that s/o is gone. At first she wouldn’t think anything of it bc she has trust in them but then realizes (pretty quickly) that they aren’t coming back…Also, Jerry s/o and Silas s/o play dates?

Poor Jerry. She doesn't get stressed-stressed often, but when she realises that you're actually gone, she'll be scared. But don't worry, she won't waste time, she'll go out look for you.

and yes, playdates for days.

I want jerry to suffocate me😁😁

same :,)

[mash4077confessions]

cooking/food headcanon about Radar, Father Mulcahy, and Charles Emerson Winchester the thiiird

Oh boy! Let's dive in

♒ - cooking/food headcanon

Radar:

Radar's mother was always cooking in the kitchen. Being the only girl in a house full of boys his mother did most of the cooking, even in her youth. Radar has siblings too, though never named, so Mrs. O'Reilly had her hands full.

But being farmers, they also aren't that well off. Everyone wore hand-me-downs. So the food, while filling, often included whatever could be thrown together.

So when those gross looking recipes in the 40s/50s came out...the food in the O'Reilly household could often look like this:

This prepared Radar very well for the food he eventually had to consume on a day-to-day basis in the army.

Radar actually can cook too. He learned from his mom, by helping her in the kitchen. He does better with baking.

Radar has a sweet tooth, but he isn't overly picky about what he eats.

Francis Mulcahy:

Ah, from one Irishmen to another. Similarly to Radar, Francis grew up in a large family on a tight budget. His mother, also taught him to cook.

What she also taught him, was how to grow his own food. It was the cheaper alternative to keep a garden in the backyard, as opposed to trying to buy their produce at the grocery store/town market.

Francis learned to take pride in what he grew and what he helped to make, discovering his green thumb in the process.

As an adult he tended to be the one in the rectory, who would happily volunteer to cook for the other priests, as he would much prefer to cook for others than to just eat something of his own making. Food tastes best when shared with others.

Francis wasn't at all prepared for the food at the 4077th. He was far too used to food having flavor. Of course he did eat the food...he kind of had to, but he always preferred eating with the orphans at St. Teresa's. There they would have food freshly prepped by the nuns, and often they would be traditional Korean meals. Turns out, Francis really likes spicy foods and he picked up on using chopsticks like a champ.

Still he ended up losing quite a bit of weight during the war.

Charles:

From day one, Charles was not to be fed like most people; he was to be catered to.

He had a wet nurse. He had a family chef that would cook, whatever he liked. There were oysters, caviar, Kobe beef, etc.

Fancy wine and dinner parties. The man has eaten more kinds of high priced food than I could dare ever name.

But this is the same man, who will eat canned pheasant.

He was given these things, told by people with lots of money and high respectability that these things were good and important. Charles spews forth these same beliefs and states them as fact, but there's no real understanding for what he's consumed...what it means to have that privilege...the question of 'why are these things so expensive?' and 'do I actually enjoy everything I say I do?', never once coming into his mind (pre-war).

Charles doesn't really know how to cook; he thinks he does, but he doesn't.

Charles also really enjoys "peasant food", including (but not limited to) hotdogs, pizza, burgers, and fries.

He doesn't want to openly admit, and he would die of embarrassment if his grandma knew...but it's still true. Same with his love of Tom and Jerry cartoons.

Still he wasn't at all prepared for the food of the 4077th, and he came back home from that hell hole with a new appreciation for the little things like potatoes that were never powdered.

[quitealotofsodapop]

[Silly au idea]

Hmm... I'm most intrigued by The Split Soul Route - partly from the oddball and what sort of Nature Vs Nurture can occur here - but I also think the Found Baby in the Dumpster AKA The Bao Route is cute too. Because that's how Pigsy got MK and by the time the group could/does realize who Bao is, they've already gotten too attached to do anything to her.

[In the Shadowpeach route of my "Reincarnated LBD" au idea;]

But I do love me an immortal killing daughter of the Great Sage. Hard choice. Maybe a poll is needed.

[basically Macaque ends up "holding on to" the wild un-reincarnated soul of LBD]

Considering the shit she did, I doubt that he's just 'holding on to', that monkey probably put the soul in a jar and is shaking it like a madman several times a day - like Tom from the Chuck Jones era of Tom and Jerry in the invisible Jerry episode. But more maniacal laughter.

[Will it attach itself to the recently-reconcilled Sun Wukong and Macaque, becoming Yuebei Xing like in the au? Shadowpeach screaming ensues.]

HMMM!

What if they didn't know? Certainly, a ton of adrenaline petering off and a near end of the world could make everyone a little less observant of a stray soul going for a new host?

Don't know what she could even do in that form, but stay tucked away and wait for the chance to get a new body - like, unless she can manage to make Mac horny enough to go to SWK for relief and that's how they make the kid (sort of exes-with-benefits and maybe figuring-it-out-hate-sex), BUT!

By the time Macadoodle figures out he's got a bun in the oven - that's when the Brotherhood thing is happening. He was gonna tell SWK that day, but it all got derailed like the trains in Persona 5, so he kept it to himself until it got resolved.

Then he tells SWK, maybe after the beach party? Just, putting the other's hands over the still-small-bump and him putting it together.

TMKATI-Mac got lucky he didn't indulge too much in his first pregnancy...Yuebei Route-Mac did not get so lucky. Maybe as a sort-of final 'Fuck you' from LBD? XD

They'd figure it out later, but, like in the Bao Route, they're too attached.

And asking Pigsy for help/advice a lot. Pig-daddy raised a good kid, so they're taking notes.

current posts on the "Reincarnated!LBD au"; here (og post + very cool idea for the Ironbull side), here (shadow twins got made on accident), and here (Shadowpeach done goofed).

I'm leaning towards the "Split Soul" route cus I like writing around the chaos of the gang realising that there isn't just *one whole* super-ancient demon soul floating around. Almost mirrors the situation with the Rings of Samadhi.

Basically in her death; LBD attempted to "Piccolo Junior" (ty @dorothygale123) herself into a fresh new body - only for her soul to splinter into pieces. Two were able to be caught in the direct aftermath and stored away for the meantime - but Reincarnation has a 49 day deadline, and if those days pass without a solution the Underworld will repossess the soul fragments themselves.

So whats easier than for the Fragments to become New Souls instead of potientially reforming into LBD? ¯(ツ)/¯

[What if they didn't know? Certainly, a ton of adrenaline petering off and a near end of the world could make everyone a little less observant of a stray soul going for a new host?]

Hehehe.

Lets just say the adrenaline of fighting your possessed former-mate, making him remember what he's fighting for, and showing your parental side, is a Big turn on for a certain pair of monkeys.

But yeah, no one paid attention to how many Soul Fragments got formed in the aftermath.

[-that monkey probably put the soul in a jar and is shaking it like a madman several times a day-]

The thought of Macaque's storage solution for part of LBD's soul being a jar is hilarious. MK probably yells that he's "just making her angry!" when he catches him doing it.

Of course this form of torment is the reason Maccadoodle realises that the soul fragment is suddenly missing after he and Wukong make up...

Downside; Macaque does spend S4 el pregante and not telling anyone. First person to realise whats up is Nezha, who found out completely on accident. ("I turned my back for ONE SECOND, and you and Sun Wukong have two infants, with one on the way?!").

Also at least one member of the Brotherhood smelled that something was Off with Mac and mentioned it to the rest of them. Azure had a blue-screen error moment when he tried doing the math. Mac still kicks asses when he decides to fight, even with Peng taking a moment to mock his "egg-burdened" appearance. Peng gets shadow-slapped into the horizon.

[Then he tells SWK, maybe after the beach party? Just, putting the other's hands over the still-small-bump and him putting it together.]

Omg thats the perfect scenario for how Mac tells Wukong about the baby. They're sharing the shade, in addition to a pair of sleepy shadow monkeys, and Mac just takes Wukong's hand when he's offered the peach popsicle and brings it to his middle.

Wukong's eyes blink gold for a second before he starts sobbing with joy. Lots of loud, gross, sappy kissing ensues.

Bonus+: In theory each of the four New Souls represents an aspect of LBD that was too great for one little kid to inherit.

Yuebei (aka the Shadowpeach baby): Is much like how she is in the TMKATI au. Is a big, kinda-ugly, baby who's started cooking around the time of S4. Messy black fur, pale skull-shaped face marking, six ears and a shocking amount of strength for a newborn. Represents LBD's wrath.

Bao (Freenoodles): Dumpster piglet. Found in the trash during the post-battle clean-up of the noodle shop. Looks like the chubbiest little piglet with wispy white fur & black spots. Was assumed to just be a street urchin orphaned/abandoned in the chaos of LBD's destruction. By the time they realise Bao is even a Fragment of LBD, she's already Freenoodles pride and joy + MK's beloved baby sister. Represents LBD's hunger for power.

Guǐhuǒ (Ironbull baby, name suggested by @aokolpvxs): PIF and DBK planned to have a big big family together long before the complications with Red arose. So when Red Son explained to them about this little unreincarnated soul needing a "home"... who are they to turn down the chance at having a second born after so long? Red didn't even suggest it to them, they insisted. And you *know* that little half-bull princess is gonna have DBK wrapped around her little finger before she even arrives. Represents LBD's pride/decorum.

Shísuàn (Spider gang baby): Part of LBD's soul that got trapped in spider silk, and by-proxy became a spider (specifically a Diving bell) demon egg. Egg is lime green and about the size of a basketball. Despite initial reservations, the whole gang are soon fighting over who gets to name/take care of the spiderling inside. At least until the ginger-haired spiderling hatches and starts screaming with colic. Huntsman finally ends up asking Sandy and the Monkie Kid gang for help once the late nights get too much for him. Turns out the baby spider was just gassy. Has specific "favorites" among the gang, which includes new friend the Scorpion Queen. Represents LBD's mischief/discourse.

The Mayor is hanging around too. Got to keep an eye on where His Lady is after all. Gets beaten up by the gang the second he shows up anywhere. Later even gets beaten up by "His Lady" in the form of baby Yuebei deciding he failed the vibe check.

[veggie-miilk]

I was gonna draw out tiny little sketches of these but fuck it idgaf

Here's some 𔓘⭒๋࣭ ⭑Lottie lore/headcanons 𔓘⭒๋࣭ ⭑because she's my favorite character to think about right now.

Lottie has this uncanny fight or flight response to where 2 things will happen. 1: If you make her scared or frightened by accident or on purpose she will gain the strength of a 800lb gorilla and beat you're ass to atoms. Or 2: She will book it like Usain bolt, straight up Tom and Jerry yo ass. Nobody, and not even herself knows why - or how she does this.

Lottie is canonicaly friends with the Devil, yes... Satan, Lucifer himself. She frequently summons him to "dispose off'" her more embarrassing fanfics. They have BFF bracelets :)

Lottie enrolled to school after the school shootings happend.

Lottie whole big story arc is her overcoming her shyness and getting together with Darnell, she's just taking baby steps right now though.

Lottie really likes to bake, from cookies, to cakes, you name it and she's really good at it. One time, she made these Chocolate bon bons for Pico n' gang and they loved them so much, that after they were doing eating the whole fucking bag, they asked for more. Lottie, however, declined their offer because its was her great, great, grandmother recipe and her mom only just passed it down to her. (So just think of that one fosters home episode with Ms. Foster's cookies, and Pico, Nene, and Darnell as Frankie)

Her favorite drink is milk and honey tea (that one drink from ponyo, goated movie btw)

Pico is currently training Lottie to become stronger.

Lottie has the fanfic writer curse so like, ever other month or so, she'll get into these batshit insane adventures, (aka getting jumped by über kids for no damn reason)

Lottie doesn't like to cuss or lie.

Lottie was raised in the "nicer parts of Philly" (aka the suburbs)

She stutters alot.

When she's nervous, she'll usually fidget with her knuckles or comb her fingers though her hair, or worse, pull on it (but that's only when she's in distress)

Out of everyone, Lottie is the most normal girl in there school, she basically sticks out like a sore thumb.

Lottie doesn't like hurting/killing other people, she just does it out of self defense, she'll feel bad immediately afterwards and mourn them, no matter how dangerous they were.

Lottie likes My Little Pony. (We stan a proud pegasister) her favorite is fluttershy :3

Lottie writes some of the most, gut wrenching, toe curing, uterus clenching smut you will ever see.

Despite that, Lottie isn't all that dirty minded. In fact, she'll get embarrassed if she even thinks about it.

She loved collecting Cute stuffed animals, and useless knick-knacks. She also likes wearing cute clothes.

She likes to illustrate, her artstlye is based off of Strawberry shortcake/ Shojou Manga/ MLP.

Lottie completely lacks social intelligence, making her seem awkward and clumsy to others.

Lottie learned how to bandage up other people since becoming friends with Pico (and also nene I guess but she doesn't really know if their friends or not and she's to scared to ask)

She tired weed once and she got so fucked up that she cried for hours until she passed out (blame pico)

She's a couple inches taller than Pico.

She's a bit clueless but she's very academically smart.

Shoutout to the two, maybe three people who's actually gonna see this and care about my oc's :]

[metvllic]

hey hey hey everyone! i'm queso (she/her, 21+) and i bring you actual, factual doofus, lee jihye. i'm working on her stats, bio, and wanted connections but i'll have a brief version of them under the cut! i'm super excited to be here and plot with all of you and get to know you and your lovely muses! i have discord available for plotting if you hate tumblr messaging as much as i do. anyway, without further ado, here's more about jihye! trigger warning for the briefest mention of physical abuse. edited to add: pls click the lil heart down there and I'll come bother you in your messages!!

miss ma'am is 29 and has no idea what she wants to do in life. she doesn't know shit about fuck. she's paralyzed by indecision and making the wrong choice so she just...doesn't do anything.

her power has helped her, at least, have a career that keeps her from being on the street or completely poor. without her job as a personal trainer she'd have nothing as she doesn't have a support system. her dad was an abusive alcoholic and her mom loved her and did her best but never got them out of the situation so as soon as jihye was able she disappeared into the wind.

if you knew her prior to her turning 20, when she was im nari, no you didn't. she doesn't acknowledge her past or who she used to be and if you call her nari, she'll gaslight you to hell and back.

she has the same power as her dad, which is its own can of worms that she's not addressing or getting help for.

she really did move into the apartment for a washer and dryer because she hates the laundry mat and would sooner yeet herself from a building then sit in one for hours again.

sis can't be serious for more than 20 consecutive seconds without panicking and making a joke or immediately disengaging. she doesn't do conflict.

she's been in the apartments for 4 years and is probably still a stranger to most because she sleeps weird hours and is always operating on gremlin time.

she's always eating junk and subsisting on cigarettes and energy drinks.

she's got a good heart but she's just constantly overwhelmed by everything and was never given good coping mechanisms. hoping we can find her someone in the rp that can help her move past her crippling indecisiveness and actually grow.

plot ideas:

obviously because I said she can't deal with anyone who knew her before she moved and changed her identity, we have to have that. maybe childhood best friends and your muse is like, "no, I definitely know you. you do the same thing with your lip she did." and it's just some tom and jerry tomfoolery until she breaks.

a love interest (m/f/nb/etc) that things seemed incredibly serious with until miss jihye blew it up and ditched. the thought of anything serious would terrify her and I'm sure the aftershock of her actions would be fun to rp. I love angst and drama and slow burn so pls give me this?!!

a new bestie. you see this weird chick who's existing on cigarettes and monster and you're 98% sure you've never seen her come in with groceries?? how is she even alive?? and your muse kind of takes it upon themselves to look after her, for whatever reason. at first jihye is skeptical but she comes to enjoy your muse's presence and before she knows it, she's gotten too close and has a new bestie she refuses to let go of.

okay listen. she's never cruel or mean outright, ever, but she is kind of oblivious and her inability to treat anything with the respect it deserves or requires could definitely rub someone the wrong way. I could definitely see someone in the apartments thinking she's thoughtless and rude because of her level of self involvement and not really being used to thinking of others.

her savior. your muse agreed she could use their washer and dryer, whether through constant badgering or the kindness of their heart. jihye brings snacks, booze, cigarettes-- whichever your muse prefers in payment. she's not good at being sociable but your muse can see she's really trying her best despite the awkwardness.

someone jihye flirts with constantly. she's good at smooth talking and chatting people up and is often very forward. your muse has caught her eye. we can plot whether things get more serious or it's just a playful back and forth or just jihye being a greaseball before it grows into a friendship or something else?

throw anything and everything at me. I love fluff, angst, drama, slow burn, toxic, etc.

[kylesvariouslistsandstuff]

As expected, great haul for DESPICABLE ME 4, animation is #1 yet again at the domestic box office and will likely be next week. If so: 5 weeks in a row, a run in animation that had only opened back in 2016, when FINDING DORY and THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS - a Pixar and an Illumination - held the top slot back-to-back for 5 weeks.

No wonder Pixar loves the mid-June slot and Illumination always nabs the 4th of July frame.

DESPICABLE ME 4 landed a little above DESPICABLE ME 3's unadjusted opening weekend take from 2017, $75m estimate, with $122m for the five-day. Already more than doubled its $100m budget, too. Illumination's always smart with those. With little else in terms of family stuff, DESPICABLE ME 4 kinda has the rest of the summer to itself. THE WILD ROBOT and TRANSFORMERS ONE pretty much walk us into autumn, so I expect good legs for this film, maybe even challenges $300m stateside.

Either way, expect a fifth one to be announced, lol. Still plenty of juice left in this tank, for sure. At my theater, the audience response - of all ages - was pretty enthusiastic. Average moviegoers really dig these movies, they're a "just right" sort of combo of silliness and "warm fuzzies" for them. Slapstick also lands, if done well enough, too. They're a bit like Tom & Jerry in that regard, you don't have to fret translating that for any age group or anyone around the world. "Yellow thing hit other yellow thing. Funny."

But going by how big the MINIONS movies opened, I think it's clear audiences just really like those chittering yellow tictacs. I wouldn't be surprised if MINIONS 3 goes forward first, or instead of DESPICABLE ME 5. But really, it was Gru and the girls that launched everything to begin with, so I expect both to happen. As long as Illumination uses some of that moolah for more original stuff, I'm fine. It looks like they don't have a movie out next year, so the spring 2026 release of MARIO 2 will be the follow-up offering. Still would love to know what's going on with projects like BIG TREE, and... That Pharrell Williams project announced way back in like 2018...

INSIDE OUT 2 only took an estimated 47% dip against DESPICABLE ME 4, and is not only now up to $533m domestic (not too far from MARIO's $574m haul last year), but it's ready to surpass INCREDIBLES 2 worldwide. To be Pixar's highest-earning picture... All-animation wise, it's also now below CG LION KING ($1,663m), FROZEN II ($1,453m), MARIO ($1,361m), and FROZEN ($1,280m, w/o re-releases)... I think it has a legit shot at topping MARIO at the very least, not sure if LION KING '19 and FROZEN II are doable, though.

Anyways, yeah... Animation to the rescue, it seems. The summer box office got a boost from the so-called kiddie cartoons... But let's also not leave out BAD BOYS 4, and of course DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE is gonna do big numbers, but after a fairly dry May, it's these two livening things up. Whereas THE GARFIELD MOVIE, now at $244m worldwide (against a $60m budget, sequel announcement definitely imminent), was a quieter affair...

Still, it goes to show that when it comes to animated movies...

Sequels are still the bona fide blockbusters, while the reasonably-priced "original" (or untested/untried IP) movies aren't.

Ideally, that's great.

Animated smallies should be commonplace, they shouldn't all be expected to be $500m-and-up behemoths (I've only been screaming about that for years)... Problem is, while everyone else is okay with that nowadays, Disney still isn't for some reason, and they still pump $150-250m into their pictures - across both of their flagship animation studios. They really got to adjust there. Expecting a sci-fi adventure to outdo ELEMENTAL by a wide margin is either an ambitious bet, or an incredibly short-sighted decision.

Disney is pretty much why we're here with animation, and right now, they gotta get with it. INSIDE OUT 2 is saving their day at the moment because it's a sequel to a beloved movie that made big bucks in a much different world, a much different marketplace. Ditto the original MOANA, whose sequel is sure to make an ocean-full of bucks this coming holiday season. The original INSIDE OUT, if made and released recently, could've possibly struggled. And if it did, that would be blamed on it being "too autobiographical".

Disney needs to course-correct there, not by watering down their movies. They too can ride this new wave with everybody else, and maybe find a new way through it...

[rockybloo]

For Anvil Wings, I know Tracy and Ruth work with toons, but is there like a rehabilitation program for toons with a chance? Or is it just Ruth bonking them with a wooden mallet?

Tracy and Ruth work together to figure out how exactly toons have entered reality and what exactly Wesley's damage is (both as in what is wrong with him and what all exactly he's done) as well as try to defend the general population from the killer toons Wesley leads.

The only toons that never were on board with the "Lets kill people :D" energy Wesley was putting out has been Miriam and Leroy as they both are basically the Tom and Jerry/Willie Coyote and Roadrunner of the cartoon cast where they were so preoccupied running and chasing the other around that they never truly did pay Wesley much mind.

The toons that Ruth and Tracy face are other members of the cast that were friends with Ruth once and are currently friends and followers of Wesley. He's the main character and mascot and because he's the face of everything, all the other toons believe he's right on everything. Even if they disagree, Wesley eventually gets his way because he's basically the Bugs or the Mickey or the Kermit.

Everyone loves him.

So if he says that "Humans have amazing colors inside of them and we need to paint the town red with it" then of course everyone will follow behind him.

Sadly, due to this practically cult mindset, even if Ruth beats the shit out of a toon, they'll just run right back down the rabbit hole they came from and return to Wesley.

At the moment, Tracy, Ruth, Miriam, and Leroy haven't figured out how to get their friends back to normal. The only solution they have is to try and snap Wesley out of whatever homicidal thrill spree he is having but that pesky rabbit is stubborn in his ways and is super cunning.

So the best Tracy and Ruth can do is just try to keep the body count low and beat toons before they get a chance to beat down some humans into stains.

[whatstruthgottodowithit]

Here You Come Again [Part Seventeen]

Fandom: Elvis Presley, RPF, American Actor

Pairing: Elvis Presley × Original Female Character

Characters: Elvis Presley, Addison Goodwin, Original Female Characters, Priscilla Presley, Colonel Tom Parker, Vernon Presley, Gladys Presley, Minnie Mae Presley, Marci Cunningham, Jerry Schilling, Red West, Sonny West, Marty Lacker, Joe Esposito, Charlie Hodge, Lamar Fike, Alan Fortas, George Klein, Memphis Mafia

Rating: Mature

Word Count: 10,784

Summary: When Addison Goodwin was seventeen years old her life was turned inside out after a chance encounter with her past.

Now, fifteen years later her life is the best it's ever been. She has a home, a good job and a daughter she loves more than anything in the world but will all that remain when an old familiar face rolls into town.

Tags: Angst, Fluff, Graceland, Las Vegas, The International Hotel, Elvis In Vegas, 1970s, 1970s Elvis, Friends To Lovers, Rekindled Romance, Parenting, Time Line is Sketchy, Guilt, Betrayal, Teenage Pregnancy, Hawaii, Hidden Pregnancy, Jealousy, Sex, Absence of Parent, Single Motherhood, Trauma, Oral Sex, Tension

Notes: Well we made it. Hope it’s what yall wanted 💕

LINK TO ALL PARTS // LINK TO AO3 // LINK TO PINTEREST

‘Please tell me you’re joking,’ Marci said as she paced up and down their hotel room. Addison was sitting on her bed, where she had been all day, wallowing in self-pity. Jess had spent the day out, no doubt keeping Elvis preoccupied as promised, and Marci had been God knows where until she’d waltzed in around dinner time and found Addison looking morose as ever.

‘Mar,’ Addison sighed rubbing her fingers along the bridge of her nose. She didn’t intend to be short with her friend but she had been through everything again and again in her mind -that by the time evening had rolled around she was done with thinking about any of it. Of course that hadn’t stopped Marci from asking and it wasn’t as if she could lie about the chasmic gap Addison had put between herself and the rest of the group.

‘No,’ Marci protested looking at her with disbelief, ‘no, please tell me that you didn’t just turn down the love of your life after he poured his heart and soul out to you?! The man who you’ve loved since you were seventeen years old! The father of your child!’

‘Mar it’s not that simple,’ Addison sighed, closing the book she been failing to read and placing it on her lap.

‘Why not?! You love him and don’t bother telling me that you don’t,’ Marci said cutting Addison off with a stern look before it fell into one of despair, ‘I just don’t understand…I’ve seen the way you guys are together. Addie he loves you so much.’

‘Yeah and he loved me then too and look what happened. Hell he loved Priscilla enough to marry her and that went to hell,’ Addison retorted moving so that she wasn’t looking at Marci as she threw the book she had been holding onto the bed behind her. She had known no one would understand. She didn’t expect them to, but she at least wanted them to respect her decision, something none of them seemed to do.

‘So what? That’s the past,’ Marci said watching her friend as she failed to look at her. She could see the hurt plastered across her face, hurt she had seen before, especially in those early days. Back when any mention of Elvis seemed akin to taking a live wire and running it across Addison’s skin given it offered the same reaction. But that was then. They’d made it through those times so why not give it a shot? It didn’t make any sense to her, not until Addison mumbled, ‘and what if it’s our future?’

‘That’s what this is about? You’re scared?’ Marci said in little more than a whisper yet it was enough to make Addison’s head snap up, her eyes flaming with anger.

Why did everyone keep saying it? So what if that was the truth? Didn’t she get to be? Wasn’t it fair to want to protect herself from all the pain she had lived countless times over?

When she had lost her father she had been distraught but resilient. She’d kept going, putting one foot in front of the other in the hopes that one day it’d get better, that her grief would at some point stop consuming every fibre of her being, and she’d been right. When Elvis had burst back into her life he’d saved her, wrenching her from the pits of despair like an angel, tethering himself to her and promising a life she had only dreamed of. Back then she’d allowed herself to believe, she clung to him like a life raft, but that had been foolish.

And when it had all come crashing down, like she should have expected it to, it’d hurt more than before. She’d fallen from a greater height, been broken into tinier pieces. Yet she’d managed to rebuild. Bit by bit she’d put herself back together until she was almost complete. To say yes to Elvis might have been the missing piece but should she break this time there would be no going back. To break this time would be to fracture into pieces, unable to put back together no matter who tried to help.

So yeah, she was scared. Scared because she remembered that sadness all too well.

‘Don’t I get to be?’ she asked incredulously, ‘don’t I get to be scared that it’ll blow up in my face again? I mean when has anything ever gone right for me?’

‘What about Jess? What about us? We had a pretty nice life or was that just a consolation prize?’ Marci bit back angrily making Addison sigh.

‘Of course not! I love our life…in fact you guys are the only things that have really gone right for me…’ Addison sighed as Marci took a seat beside her on the bed, the pair of them looking at the wooden flooring beneath their feet as they tried to calm their tempers, worried their words were escalating into a fight of their own. Eventually Addison spoke, ‘which is why I don’t want to ruin anything. It’s not just me this time.’

‘It wasn’t just you then either,’ Marci countered earning herself a glance.

‘But it was different. She didn’t know him then…now if it goes wrong she’ll be torn between the pair of us,’ Addison said dropping her gaze before she mumbled, ‘or worse.’

‘Worse?’ Marci asked with a frown.

‘What if she picks him?’ Addison whispered looking at her friend as tears appeared in her lash line.

It had been something she had been worrying about since Elvis had threatened to take her, well probably before that. In fact, it had been something that had always played in the back of her mind.

Back when Jess was little it had seemed wise to keep them apart, though it was more about keeping her from the Colonel’s grip than Elvis’. Yet as Jess had gotten older Addison wondered if that had been the right idea. She’d doubled down on it of course. Elvis’ life was unruly, hectic, no place for a child. And as she’d watched his personal life change it had only added to her reasoning. He had another kid, a family, and they wouldn’t get a look in. At every avenue there’d been some excuse, a reason not to bring them together. It had been why she had been so scared when he’d first come back into their lives, watching her as if he’d seen a ghost in the foyer of that club.

But she wasn’t scared of Jess getting hurt. She was scared that Jess would choose that over her. She’d worried, like Gladys had, that the appeal of glitz and glamour would call to her baby in a way she couldn’t stop. She had worried that she’d lose her altogether.

‘Addie she wouldn’t,’ Marci said placing her hand on Addison’s thigh hoping it would give her even a modicum of comfort.

‘Why not?’ Addison asked bitterly, ‘he is her dad and she loves him so much. Not to mention I kept them apart far too long I wouldn’t be surprised if they both resent me for it. I mean he practically said as much.’

‘Addison,’ Marci said firmly making her hazel gaze snap up to her own baby blue eyes, ‘Jess wouldn’t leave you so get that through your thick skull right now.’

‘But Elvis-’ Addison protested.

‘But nothing. Besides neither of you would make her choose between you two. I know you wouldn’t and I don’t think he would either regardless of what was said in the heat of the moment,’ Marci said, the tail end of it becoming louder as Addison looked as though she was going to but in, ‘and anyway say she did. Say Jess tells you tomorrow she’s packing her bags and moving to Memphis. Say she tells you she’s living with him forever and she wants no contact with you would you stop loving her?’

‘Mar,’ Addison said puzzled at what her friend was trying to suggest though she didn’t know if she wanted to given the wave of fear that rolled through her at the mere idea of Jess leaving her.

‘Would you?’ Marci said not backing down from whatever point she was trying to make.

‘No of course not,’ Addison said.

‘So why are you doing that with him? You love him, he loves you, and just because someone might one day leave you shouldn’t be a reason not to let yourself be loved Addie. You deserve to be loved Addison. God knows you’ve pushed it away long enough. But being scared doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do the thing,’ she said, ‘I mean don’t you think I’ve been scared about the idea of leaving Tom? But I’m going to do it.’

At this Addison’s head snapped up. She had known Marci was grappling with her own struggles and yet she had been too wrapped up in her own problems to think about it. She had a million questions and yet none of the coherent, thoughtful and logical ones came to mind. The only words that tripped off her tongue were, ‘for Jer?’

‘No,’ Marci said rolling her eyes, ‘not for anyone. For myself. Because I know what I want for myself. And I want to be happy, I want to do what makes me happy.’

‘And Tom?’ Addison asked.

‘I love him…but he doesn’t love me. He loves the idea of me, this perfect little housewife and that’s not what I want. I want my shop, a career, my life as it is. I mean sure maybe that stuff one day but I want that to be part of the journey. He just sees me as a means to an end. And I know what it looks like but it doesn’t have anything to do with Jer,’ she said looking at Addison who tried to give her friend her most reassuring and non-judgmental look. Marci smiled back, squeezing her friend’s thigh in thanks, before she continued. Though as she listened Addison couldn’t help but notice the way her smile widened as she spoke of him, ‘but he spent an hour talking about setting up a new place and what I could do. He listened to all my ideas and encouraged me and told me I could do it. That’s what I want in a husband. I mean I know Tom’s got all the looks and the money and whatever I want someone who loves me for me.’

‘That’s understandable,’ Addison agreed.

‘Which is why I don’t understand why you’d say no to Elvis. Elvis loves you for you…as infuriatingly stubborn and wary as you are,’ Marci said.

‘But-’

‘No buts,’ Marci said firmly, ‘I didn’t agree when you decided to keep Jess a secret but I didn’t intervene. In fact I think we’ve spent most of our time buried in each other’s lives and yet we’ve been too scared to tell the other one they might be making a mistake. I mean I know you guys didn’t even like Tom and yet you let me run off into the sunset with him.’

‘I guess I didn’t want to be the one to tell you no,’ Addison said before she added with a melancholy smirk, ‘then again when do either of us ever listen to what anyone says.’

‘Maybe we should start I mean thirty-three is as good an age as any,’ Marci said. It was enough to make Addison’s smile dim as thoughts Elvis and Jess started to creep back in.

‘I can’t do it Mar,’ she said with despair, ‘you saw what happened last time…it’ll break me.’

Marci sighed watching that all too familiar expression wash over her friends features.

‘Okay,’ Marci said pulling her friend in for a hug like she’d done all those years ago when she’d stormed to Texas demanding answers. She didn’t understand it though she hadn’t understood the first time around. Back then she had tried to comprehend as best she could but ultimately she had decided to let her friend do as she saw fit for fear she’d only add to the hurt. But not now. They’d been through too much now. They weren’t fresh faced kids anymore and she was sure Addison could take her opinion even if it did sting and as Addison allowed herself to be held she decided to give it to her, ‘but I want you to know I don’t agree with you. I think you’re making a mistake…and I know you’ll say it’ll break you but I don’t agree…in fact I think it could be the making of you both.’

Neither of them said anything after that. Instead, Addison kept her face buried in her friend’s shoulder, allowing the soothing circles Marci was rubbing on her back, as if she was a child, to be a comfort to them both.

✵✵✵

Needless to say the last couple of days in Hawaii weren’t exactly easy. Whilst nothing was expressly said to anyone in the group, besides Marci and Jerry, there seemed to be a noticeable shift in the dynamic. Elvis tried to keep everything the same, well as much as he could, and yet it was hard. It was hard to see how her face plastered with guilt every time she looked at him. How she pretended not to notice when women flirted with him – something that hadn’t been occurring throughout the trip either because their behaviour had resembled that of a couple or he had been too enthralled with her to notice anyone else. It hurt to see how she distanced herself from him, still participating but just out of reach, hoping that her feelings would disappear.

It ate at him, every interaction gnawing at his soul. He wanted to convince himself it would fade, that time would heal the ache in his heart eventually though he knew that was pointless. Fifteen years apart had only dulled the ache, not removed it. The only thing that had healed it had been having her back in his life and now it was ruined. In fact, the ache had only seemed to become worse. This ache, this rotting, gut wrenching, twisted ache inside him felt like it had increased tenfold because it wasn’t as if she was gone. It wasn’t as if he could tell himself, the way he had used to do when he cried himself to sleep in his barrack bunk, that she didn’t love him, that she never had, because he knew that wasn’t true.

And that was why it hurt even more.

He wondered how she could possibly feel this was the right thing to do. He understood her worries, after all he hadn’t been the best husband in the world, but she had to know that it was different with them. He’d try harder this time around. He’d be better. Losing Priscilla and Lisa had been one of his biggest regrets, surely she had to know he’d not risk that again. More to the point he wouldn’t risk losing her.

He loved Priscilla of course and though losing her still hurt he was slowly recovering. He’d even become somewhat amicable with Mike, much to his own surprise, but losing her hadn’t felt the same. It hadn’t torn at him the way losing Addison had, as if the life raft he had been tethered to had cut him loose, allowing him to plummet to the bottom of an icy sea waiting for something to help him back to the surface. Surely she had to realise that?

‘Dad?’ Jess said snapping him out of the daydream he’d been having. She was sitting across from him watching him worriedly as she waited for him to speak. He glanced around, noticing that they were now parked outside the airport, the luxurious and scenic views of Hawaii now gone as they headed for home. He could see Addison climbing out of the car in front, Marci following close behind as Jerry moved to help them with their luggage. They could’ve ridden together, it actually made more sense to given that Jess was getting on the same plane as them and not the rest of the group, yet he couldn’t bring himself to. He didn’t want to watch her make pitiful excuses or thank him for the trip as though she was an acquaintance. Watching her head home when he’d hoped she’d be on a plane to Memphis hurt enough already. So when they’d broached travel arrangements at dinner last night he’d asked if he could have a car just for him and the girls, a last goodbye before they all headed their separate ways. Of course no one had refused him. Not even Addison, who had merely looked at him guiltily and nodded.

‘Ya got everything?’ Elvis said glancing around the car though Jess already had her small backpack on her lap, ready to climb out.

‘Yeah,’ she nodded, ‘my suitcase is in the other car.’

‘Right, right,’ Elvis said as he dropped his gaze to his trousers, fiddling with the material with them as if they had a crease that needed smoothing even though they had been perfectly pressed and laid out for him that morning. He didn’t know why it felt so awkward. Maybe it was because he had been so focused on not having an uncomfortable and painful goodbye with Addison that he hadn’t thought about what he should say to Jess.

‘It won’t be long…till schools out I mean,’ Jess said, ‘I bet we can see each other then.’

‘Yeah, I bet you’re right,’ Elvis said trying to keep his voice light though he could feel that ache gnawing at him as he thought about the implication of that statement. How no doubt it would be Jess travelling to Memphis alone this time.

‘Maybe we could even go to California? I mean I’d love to come and see you at some point,’ she said looking at Lisa who smiled.

‘Yes! You and daddy can come to my house any time you want to,’ she beamed.

‘Sounds good Jessie,’ Elvis agreed though his face fell as she dropped her gaze, fiddling with the straps on her backpack before she spoke.

‘I don’t wanna go you know,’ she said quietly.

‘I don’t want you to,’ Elvis mumbled making her look back up at him, ‘I don’t want either of you to.’

They were both watching him, sadness awash over their faces as his own blue eyes stared back at him. He had been expecting saying goodbye to hurt, he just hadn’t thought it’d be this one.

‘C’mere,’ he said gesturing for both girls to climb onto the seats next to him. They did so quickly, each tucking into his side as he wrapped his arms around them. They stayed silent for a moment, both of them hugging his middle, their arms holding one another as he kissed the tops of their heads.

‘Now you both listen to me okay,’ he said, his voice rumbling against their cheeks, ‘no matter what happens between me and anyone else that don’t change how I feel about you girls okay? You two mean more to me than anything on this god damn earth and I won’t have you forgettin’ it you hear me?’ he said earning nods that ruffled the fabric of his suit jacket, ‘whether we’re together or miles apart it don’t change how much I love you.’

‘I love you too,’ Jess said looking up at him with a weak smile.

‘Me too,’ Lisa said moving so she was knelt up beside him, kissing his stubbled cheek which made her wrinkle her nose as she grumbled, ‘your face is all prickly.’

‘Sorry baby,’ Elvis said kissing her own as an apology. Their interaction seemed to help Jess, her smile strengthening as she pulled out of his grasp, grabbing her bag from where she had deposited it on the opposite bench.

‘I’ll try you know,’ she said as her fingers rested on the door handle, threatening to open it at any moment.

‘Jess you don’t have to do that,’ Elvis sighed, his hand ghosting down her hair and landing on her shoulder.

‘I do,’ she corrected, ‘because I don’t wanna spend forever getting on a different plane to you.’

And before he could say anything she opened the door and climbed out shutting it gently behind her before she walked up to where Addison and Marci were waiting on the curb. They couldn’t see him through the tinted windows, but he watched as the three of them headed inside the airport and out of sight. As the car pulled away, heading to the tiny airport his plane was waiting for them at, Lisa sat herself beside him quietly nestled into his side as if she knew he needed a minute.

As the industrial sight of the airport faded back into palm trees and greenery his mind started to spin. Again it struck him as odd how Addison could think this was what was best. How she could watch her daughter trying to split herself in two to keep both parties happy. In fact he wondered if she could see it at all, after all, Addison had been just like her trying to keep everyone but herself happy.

And selfishly he hoped that his daughter would succeed. That Jess would make her mother see sense about them being together but if she didn’t, if she couldn’t change her mind, he’d let her go. It wouldn’t be easy but if it meant protecting Jess, he’d do it.

✵✵✵

‘Hold on,’ Addison grumbled as she dumped her bag by the front door hoping that whoever was calling would hang on until she could reach the phone. She moved quickly through the house, practically throwing herself across the kitchen counter as she clasped her hand around the receiver.

‘Hello?’ she said as she pressed it to her ear, trying to hide how breathless she sounded given how frantically she’d rushed inside. She was expecting it to be Marci, after all since they’d come back from Hawaii she’d called everyday – assuring Addison it was to sound off about everything going on with Tom in California though she suspected it was to make sure Addison hadn’t cracked. Which fortunately she hadn’t. It hadn’t been easy, the ache inside her never quite ebbing, but she was managing, well just about. Being out of the Graceland bubble allowed her to focus on other things; her job, Jess, Marci. The way she had for almost fifteen years, and that dulled the ache, well until she heard the voice on the other end of the line speak.

‘Addie?’ Elvis murmured, making the feeling she got every time they spoke now roll through her. The kind that you get when you drive your car over a bridge too quickly, a furl of nerves and excitement all in one.

‘Oh hi,’ she said feeling her throat run dry as she stammered out, ‘Jess isn’t here, she’s at a sleepover. I thought she’d told you-’

‘She did, actually it’s you I called to speak to,’ Elvis said quietly making her throat completely dry out. They hadn’t spoken much since they’d landed back in Vegas. She’d answered the phone when he called, the pair of them making excruciating small talk until Jess had dived in, playing both sides as promised. Every phone call had made that ache inside him swell, consuming every fibre of him. And to hear her trying to act as though they were nothing more than friends angered him, the way it had the first time, when he’d force every thought of her away by finding anyone pretty and willing.

‘Oh…what’s up?’ she said as evenly as she could muster.

‘Well I wanted to ask you about the fourth of July,’ Elvis said. There was no reason not to get to the point. It wasn’t as though they’d spend hours talking, like they used to, finding anything they could just so neither of them would have to be the first one to hang up.

‘What about it?’ Addison replied.

‘I wondered if you girls were doing anything for it…if you had plans,’ Elvis said clearing his throat.

‘Oh, uh, I don’t think so,’ Addison said, her stomach rolling again with nerves as she wondered what he was building up to. If they’d have to face one another.

‘It’s just ‘cause there’s this party, here I mean,’ Elvis said, ‘we have it every year and it’s a lotta fun and-’

‘You want Jess right? Well I’ll ask her but I’m sure she’ll say yes. I don’t think she’s been invited anywhere,’ Addison said as her stomach rolled again though she didn’t know if it was at the idea of being invited or not.

‘Actually I was wondering if you’d both like to come,’ Elvis said.

‘Oh…are you sure?’ Addison said twirling around the cord around her finger as that knot inside of her tightened.

‘Worse,’ she thought, ‘him not wanting her there would’ve been worse.’

‘Ads come on,’ he said with a sigh, ‘did you really think I wouldn’t invite you?’

‘I don’t know,’ she said quietly. She wouldn’t blame him if he didn’t.

‘Look I know it’s not been the easiest couple of months but believe it or not I still like ya,’ he said tyring to inject some mirth into the conversation if only to make himself feel better as he pictured the way she’d be chewing on her lip guiltily.

‘I just thought…’she mumbled, unable to finish her thought for fear weeks’ worth of everything she had been thinking would come spilling out. A complete and utter mess of guilt and sorrow.

‘Addie I told you I’m not going anywhere didn’t I?’ he asked.

‘I know but-’

‘Look I meant what I said…and if this is it we need to get it together for Jess. Right?’ he said. He could hear the irritation in his voice even though he hadn’t meant it to come. He didn’t know why after all her stubborn nature and hard-headedness had been the thing that always got under his skin but to hear her flounder, to hear her doubt him, felt worse.

‘Yeah,’ she said hesitantly before coming back firmer, ‘yeah you’re right.’

‘So will you come?’ he asked.

‘Yeah…I mean I’ll ask Jess but I’m sure it’s a yes,’ she said quietly.

‘Well let me know,’ Elvis said and before she could agree the line clicked off leaving her with that knot in her stomach. She had been right, him not wanting her was worse.

✵✵✵

As expected Jess had no qualms about going to Graceland for the fourth of July though she did however seem nervous when Addison informed her it wouldn’t be a solo trip. She didn’t say anything, of course, but as always Addison could feel her daughter’s worried eyes watching her whenever the subject was mentioned. Marci vehemently assured her she needn’t worry and that she’d of course come along to support her though Addison couldn’t help but notice her friend didn’t seemed shocked to hear about the party or ask her to let Elvis know she was tagging along which she could only assume meant she had already gotten an invite from a certain long-locked friend. Nevertheless Addison’s anxieties continued, running through her mind whenever she didn’t busy her brain with something. They bothered her so much so that on the day before they were due to leave she found herself creeping into Jess’ bedroom and slipping into the bed beside her.

‘Mom?’ Jess said hoarsely, her mouth as dry as the desert given the warm summer’s night.

‘It’s me,’ Addison said as she slipped down behind her daughter, stroking her hair gently as she watched Jess’ shoulders move evenly as she breathed. They were quiet for a moment, both listening to the others peaceful breathing and buzz of the cicadas outside. It was a role reversal, Addison climbing into Jess’ bed instead of the other way around, which led Jess to believe her mother would speak first, that all Jess would have to do was wait and it’d come spilling out of her like it did Jess whenever she could no longer contain her worries. But that didn’t happen. As always her mother remained an enigma, whatever thoughts and feelings she was having kept within her so as to not burden anyone else. Of course that didn’t work, Jess knew her mother was hurting, both her parents were, and it didn’t really make sense to try and keep her out of it given that she had spent the better part of the last month fretting about them. Even if she didn’t know what had happened before this act alone would’ve been an almighty red flag but Addison didn’t yield. She wouldn’t allow herself to, too scared to put on her young daughter, so instead she lay beside her, enjoying the way she was still allowed to cuddle her close as though she wasn’t too old to be doing so. That was until Jess spoke.

‘He loves you you know,’ Jess whispered. It was barely audible and yet it hung in the air above them as Addison refused to speak. She couldn’t because the guilt that gnawed at her about Elvis was the same guilt she felt about dragging Jess into all this mess.

‘Jess,’ was all she managed to sigh after a moment hoping her daughter would hear the weariness in her voice and leave the point be. But she didn’t. Instead she sat up turning to look at Addison who pushed herself up into a similar stance as her daughter continued, ‘no, mom. Look I know you think I’m a kid all gung-ho on getting Mommy and Daddy back together but I’m not. What I want is for you two to be happy. You guys deserve to be happy and he makes you happy don’t deny it,’ she said glaring at her mother in a manner so like Addison it was frightening, ‘and even if not. If he breaks your heart so what? You have me. I mean when this whole thing began you promised me that no matter what happened I’d always have you.’

‘I meant that,’ Addison murmured feeling completely like a chastised child.

‘Exactly! And that’s why I knew it’d be okay even if it all went to hell because we had each other like you promised… so please let yourself live a little because even if it all goes wrong we’ll be fine because we have each other right?’ Jess said waiting for her to answer. Addison felt that wave of guilt flood through her once more as she looked at her daughter’s young face.

In fact it felt as though she was looking in a mirror, only she was watching her younger self, not the woman she was now. The one that had been full of hope. Yet the longer she looked at her expectant face the more she realised she wasn’t watching herself, she was watching him. Throughout the years everyone had always told Jess was her mother’s twin yet Addison had always suspected that was because they couldn’t say anything else given that they didn’t have her other parent to liken her to. She knew it was true, of course Jess resembled her mother, but Addison could only see Elvis. It was him she was seeing now, those blue eyes watching her, hoping for her to be as optimistic as she was, the way Elvis watched her. But like with Elvis Addison couldn’t bring herself to agree. She couldn’t make the words come out of her mouth and so all she offered was, ‘you should sleep.’

‘Mom just think about it,’ Jess said quietly, placing her hand on Addison’s knee.

‘Good night sweetheart,’ Addison said gently patting the hand on her knee before she slipped off the bed and out of the room.

✵✵✵

Addison had forgotten how warm Memphis could be and though it went without saying she had become accustomed to soaring summer temperatures in the pits of the desert the balmy heat that settled into her bones the moment they touched down was something she couldn’t say she had missed all that much. Though she supposed she couldn’t blame her warmth solely on the weather given that she spent most of her time on the move, desperate not to leave herself in a situation where she would be alone with Elvis or whenever she was in a room with him she found her entire body warming up, cheeks aflame, every time he looked at her.

Fortunately she had been spared much interaction with him today given that he was playing host, his house overflowing with guests and friends who he expertly entertained and wooed. She remained on the fringes with Marci by her side, allowing Jess to enjoy the holiday with her newfound relatives and friends. They were sitting by the pool, Marci chattering on about the book she was reading, and though Addison tried to remain focused she couldn’t help but let her gaze wander to where Elvis was standing at the barbecue. He was preparing the grill for cooking, stoking the coals, as he talked to Lamar who was standing by his side and as she watched she couldn’t help but notice how relaxed he looked. Though she figured that might have been because for once he wasn’t dressed to the nines. Whilst his look was casual, just shorts and an unbuttoned shirt, it felt in no way thrown together. It felt natural, like everything about him did.

Even being with him felt as easy as breathing so much so that over the past few weeks she’d felt as though she’d forgotten how to. That every move she made felt as though she was trying to kick her brain into gear to remember how to do it, how to function without him. She wondered what it would be like, how in another life she might have sidled up to him, plate in hand as she played hostess. How he would smile and lay a kiss on her temple, never breaking conversation, before he loaded up her plate for her to entertain their guests in his absence.

‘Addison?’ she heard her name being called up and pulled herself out of her daydream long enough to find Jerry standing in between her and Marci’s sun loungers, a drink in his outstretched hand.

‘Thanks,’ she mumbled, sitting herself forward as she took it from him, choking it down quickly in an effort to cover how lost she had been in her own world, a world far away from Marci’s conversation.

‘Can I sit here?’ Jerry said as Marci immediately moved to let him, her bronzed legs swivelling under her as he dropped onto the lounger and handed her a drink. As jovial conversation broke out between the pair Addison busied herself with her drink, suddenly feeling like a third wheel. Though it wasn’t as though she felt awkward about it, actually, she felt content to just sit there and allow them to talk around her without her having to participate but the pair of them seemed to feel guilty about not including her, so after yet another failed attempt by Marci to direct the flow of chatter into something Addison could be a part of she decided to relieve her friend of the burden and stood up.

‘Are you okay?’ Marci said watching her with concern, as did Jerry though his was admittedly more subtle.

‘Yeah fine. Just gonna refresh my drink,’ Addison said tapping her now empty glass as proof she was being truthful and not just fleeing to the safety of the house.

‘I’ll come with you,’ Marci said shuffling to get up but Addison waved her off.

‘And leave Jer on his own?’ she said with a forced smile, ‘it’s fine. Need anything?’

‘I’m good,’ Jerry said with a kind smile.

‘Yeah, me too,’ Marci nodded and with that Addison headed off in the direction of the house.

To say it was cool inside would be a lie though the opened doorway created a funnelled breeze that wafted through the kitchen relieving some of Addison’s discomfort. It also didn’t hurt that she was now out of the way, the curious glances that had followed her most of the weekend trying to fill in the blanks that gossip had left were now gone. In fact she was so relieved to be away from everyone she didn’t even notice Mary, who had been bent over looking for something in a bottom cabinet, was now standing across the counter from her, a hand clutched to her chest as she said, ‘oh child you scared me!’

‘Sorry,’ Addison mumbled though she felt a smile creep in, the first genuine one that had past her lips in the last couple of days.

‘Oh it’s alright,’ Mary said as she started to resume whatever she had been up to, ‘ya need something?’

‘No, no, everything’s fine,’ Addison said roaming into the kitchen and resting against the counter as she watched Mary work, ‘need any help?’

‘Shouldn’t you be outside?’ Mary asked as she started to grease a pie tin.

‘It’s a little warm,’ Addison shrugged. At that the older woman paused, eyeing Addison closely which made her drop her gaze to the carpet, but fortunately she seemed to realise Addison had no interest in talking about whatever was going on and so she nodded and said, ‘well the apples need preppin’ for the pies.’

‘On it,’ Addison said moving to grab the bag of apples from the other kitchen counter so she could set to work, just thankful that at least someone didn’t want to make her talk about her problems.

They worked well for the next hour or so keeping the party flowing from behind the scenes and though they did talk Mary kept it more around lighter topics something which Addison was thankful for. They’d even managed to get into a good rhythm which was only disturbed when Priscilla appeared to inform Mary her husband was on the phone to which she muttered in annoyance before disappearing into the house to answer it.

Addison kept her head down, figuring Priscilla would head back out to the party seeing as her job was now done, but she didn’t and when Addison glanced up she found the other woman lingering on the other side of the kitchen watching her closely. It made a pink tinge flood to her cheeks. They hadn’t spoken much, there hadn’t been a need to, and now they were standing in front of one another Addison felt as though she didn’t know what to say anyway and it appeared neither did she. Luckily they didn’t have much cause to as their was attention was caught by the returning cook.

‘That damn fool,’ Mary said bustling back into the kitchen with her apron now gone and her bag over her shoulder.

‘Everything alright?’ Addison said with a frown.

‘Would be if he weren’t a damn idiot,’ Mary said rolling her eyes, ‘I asked him to do one thing over the holiday, clean my gutters, and he’s only gone and fell off the ladder. Managed to get himself into the house but says he’s hurtin’ real bad.’

‘Oh well that’s no good,’ Priscilla said with a frown.

‘You don’t think he needs the hospital do you?’ Addison asked worriedly.

‘Naw,’ Mary said shaking her head, ‘needs a clip around the ear for bein’ so stupid mind.’

‘Well you should get home,’ Addison said, ‘do you have a ride?’

‘Yeah I’ve got a ride. I better tell Mr Presley though,’ she said.

‘We’ll do it,’ Addison said though she was volunteering Priscilla more than herself, ‘you just go.’

‘Are you sure there’s things that need doing and-’

‘We can handle it,’ Priscilla said looking to Addison who nodded though she hoped Priscilla was happy to leave her to it rather than wanting to do it together.

‘Tell him I’m sorry won’t ya?’ Mary said as she moved towards the side door.

‘Of course,’ Addison said, ‘let us know how he is, okay?’

‘Will do,’ Mary said and then she was gone, leaving Addison standing in the kitchen watching the space where she had vacated hoping that when she turned around she would find she was now completely alone and that Priscilla had gone to inform Elvis.

That however wasn’t the scene that greeted her as she turned around and when she did she found Priscilla had taken to Mary’s station, starting to glaze the chicken wings Mary had been preparing. Addison squashed down a sigh inside of her and returned to the salad she had been tasked with though she suspected it would barely get touched. Still she’d rather do a pointless task than be the one who went outside to go and let Elvis know about the situation even if it was uncomfortably awkward in here.

They worked in silence. Each of them taking curious glances at the other whenever they were sure the other wasn’t looking. Addison supposed it was natural for Priscilla to be curious about her. After all she’d been nothing but a memory for fifteen years and then she’d burst back into Elvis’ life and wreaked havoc, so she figured she was bound to have some questions. Yet what she didn’t understand was just how curious she was about the woman in front of her. She’d spent the better part of a decade watching her pretty face plastered over screens and papers and yet the woman in front of her looked nothing how she pictured. The pale, dark haired beauty she pictured whenever Elvis had mentioned his ex-wife was nothing like the sun kissed brunette across from her. If anything she looked younger now, without all the heavy makeup and ratted up hair do’s and for a moment Addison wondered if this had been what she looked like when they had first met. A natural, youthful beauty. Like Addison had been.

As that thought entered her head she shook it out though there wasn’t much of a need to given that Priscilla had finally managed the nerve up to speak to her and said, ‘so how are you liking the party?’

‘It’s fine,’ Addison said, her gaze transfixed on the cucumber she was slicing.

‘Is Jess enjoying herself?’ she asked. That Addison looked up at, searching for any hint of malice behind the woman’s eyes.

‘Yeah, I think so,’ she nodded when she found none.

‘I’m glad, Lisa really likes having her around,’ she replied casually, and Addison allowed herself to relax hoping this idle chit-chat was all that was going to arise.

‘Yeah, I’m glad they’re getting along,’ Addison agreed. She’d returned to the task at hand, as Priscilla’s gaze dropped to the chicken in the tray, her movements slow as she said, ‘you know she’s quite liking the little family you guys have going.’

‘What?’ Addison said her gaze snapping up which made Priscilla look up too though she appeared as though she was standing firm by her words, floundering in no way.

‘It’s okay,’ she said, ‘you don’t have to pretend.’

‘What are you talking about?’ Addison asked though she didn’t know why. If Elvis was chatty with her no doubt he was chatty with the other mother of his child, his ex-wife no less.

‘The staying apart? You keeping your distance? I assumed it was so that I didn’t feel too put out, I mean I knew it would happen eventually-’

‘You think we’re together?’ Addison scoffed even though it wasn’t completely ludicrous to assume that fact. Hell if this barbecue had been held just over a month ago she wouldn’t have been able to blame her for assuming they were together.

‘Aren’t you?’ Priscilla said, genuine confusion across her pretty features.

‘No.’

‘Oh, I mean I figured from the way he talks about you,’ Priscilla said awkwardly looking down at the tray on the counter though there was nothing more that needed doing to it.

‘It’s complicated,’ Addison said flatly, hoping the other woman would drop it. But she didn’t, in fact she looked up at her as if something had clicked as she said, ‘oh.’

‘What?’ Addison said quickly.

‘You’re hiding,’ she replied.

‘That’s not what this is,’ Addison said tightly though that wasn’t true. She was hiding, she had been for nearly a month, yet for someone she barely knew to point it out felt embarrassing. Even more so as Priscilla started to laugh, an angelic titter echoing throughout the room.

‘What?’ Addison said feeling more irate than intrigued about what she had to say.

‘It’s just funny that’s all,’ Priscilla said, more confident in her movements now she had seen how Addison was shifting. She moved to rest against the counter watching as she wrapped her arms around herself as if she could protect herself from whatever character assassination was headed her way.

‘What?’ Addison asked.

‘I used to worry about this. That he’d fall in love with you again and I worried because I figured that would mean was it for us and I’d always assumed we’d find our way back to each other,’ she said honestly, ‘but looking at your face. I don’t miss feeling like that.’

‘Yeah, well like I said it’s complicated,’ Addison grumbled.

‘I don’t doubt it,’ Priscilla said, ‘but you’ll get no complaints from me if you do get together.’

‘Well thanks but we’re not,’ Addison said curtly, hurling the chopped-up bits of cucumber into the large salad bowl so that she didn’t have to look at Priscilla though she couldn’t help but do so as she asked, ‘why not?’

‘Why haven’t you?’ Addison challenged and for a moment she saw her bristle, but it didn’t deter her. In fact she seemed to have the same opinion as everyone else in Addison’s life – that she needed to know their opinion no matter whether she asked for it or not.

‘I thought he needed time, we both did,’ she started looking at Addison who was watching her closely, ‘I needed to figure out who I was. I mean I used to be focused on being whatever he wanted or needed me to be that I kind of lost myself. I changed my hair, my makeup, I thought if I acted softer or less jealous, he’d stop acting out. But then I realised nothing would stop him from doing that until he found out what was making him unhappy because he could change me all he wanted but that wouldn’t fix anything if he was still searching for something else.’

‘So you get it,’ Addison said finally feeling as though someone was on her side. It wasn’t about not loving him it was worrying that even if he did love her they’d never be quite complete.

‘Not really…’ Priscilla said immediately dashing her hopes, ‘because I think he’s found what he was looking for. I think he just tried to convince himself you weren’t it because you hurt him.’

‘What if I hurt him again? What if he hurts me?’ Addison asked cursing herself for sounding so fragile. It made a smile play along Priscilla’s lips. Not a malicious one but after years of feeling second best to a ghost she couldn’t help but enjoy seeing her as something more human.

‘I can’t say he won’t but I don’t think he’d risk it,’ Priscilla said earnestly.

‘Why not?’ Addison asked.

‘Because I think he’s realised he can’t be happy without you,’ she said earnestly. Addison’s stomach was in knots now, everything churning around inside her, and it only grew worse as Priscilla leaned in and said, ‘question is do you think you can be happy without him?’

Addison stood watching her as she moved away taking the tray of chicken she had been working on outside so that it could be cooked. Her words bounced around in Addison’s brain unable to land so she could make sense of it all. Of course she hadn’t been the first person to try and talk her round, but she had been the only one to make that point.

She knew Elvis could make her happy she had just been worried that like everything in her life it wouldn’t last and the pain would inevitably return.

But was she happy now? Could she say hand on heart that she’d ever be contented living without him? Of course she had been happy before. Jess had made her happy. But there was always something there, that missing piece. She just had to decide if she was brave enough to take it.

‘Hey,’ Jess said as she came in through the back door, snapping Addison from her thoughts.

‘Oh uh hey,’ Addison said.

‘Priscilla said you’re done with the food and needed a hand shifting things outside,’ Jess said expectantly as if Addison should’ve known what she was on about.

‘Oh, uh yeah,’ she said moving to grab the salad bowl so she could hand it to her though as she placed it in her daughter’s hands and found her blue gaze watching her she hesitated and said, ‘actually…I need your help.’

✵✵✵

‘Where is she?’ Elvis’ voice echoed, bouncing off the open office door as he headed inside. Though once inside he didn’t find the scene he was expecting. Instead of finding Lisa with an injured knee he found Addison lingering by his father’s desk and the door closing behind him with a thunk and click that suggested it was now locked, Jess, Jerry, and Marci’s faces peeking through the glass for a minute before they disappeared leaving him more confused than ever.

‘What’s going on? Where’s Lisa,’ he asked looking at Addison who straightened up.

‘She’s outside,’ Addison said unsure of the narrative that her helpers had spun to get him in here.

‘Jess said she’d hurt herself-’ Elvis said. In fact Jess had made out like her baby sister was near mangled the way she’d carried on begging him and Jerry to follow her to the office where Lisa was crying for him.

‘She’s fine,’ Addison said suddenly nervous that her plan to get him alone may have been a tad over the top and thus she tried to explain, ‘I didn’t tell her to say that. Man for a straight laced kid she’s got a flair for theatrics though I guess-’

‘Addie what the hell is going on?’ he asked cutting her off, his voice laced with anger that made her stop in her tracks. He didn’t mean to sound angry, but this had been the most she’d spoken to him all weekend and now she was babbling with things that didn’t even make sense. His stance weakened as she looked towards him, chewing on that lip of hers like she did every time she was nervous.

‘You were right,’ she said quietly.

‘Right about what?’ he asked still semi-confused about the whole situation. Addison shifted.

‘Everything,’ she whispered, moving towards him though she stopped just short of him, wondering if she could touch him or if they were past that, ‘I love you…and I know you probably hate me and I deserve it for messing you around. God, I understand if you want nothing to do with me though if you do I don’t what I’ll do.’

‘Addie,’ he said whatever confusion he had melting away as he pulled her into him, his arms wrapping around her waist her hands on his biceps as she continued, ‘I’m sorry.’

‘For what?’ he asked.

‘Running. I know I shouldn’t have…it’s just that,’ she said biting her lip once more.

‘What?’

‘Promise me forever,’ she whispered, her hazel eyes looking up at him properly as worry plastered her features. His confusion returned.

‘What?’ he asked.

‘Promise me forever,’ she said, though this time it was less shaky as she got to her point, ‘promise me that this, us, is what you want for the long haul. Till we’re old and grey and wrinkly,’ she said her mouth twisting up in a smile as he chuckled, ‘I mean you’re just off the back of a divorce and you’ve only just met Jess. I’d understand if you were searching for something after all that. If you thought that you loved me because it would mean we could be a family. But I’m not the Addison you fell in love with at twenty-two and I can’t build something hoping you’re not gonna fall out of love with the person I am now…’

‘Addie, I love you,’ he said unable to fathom how she could possibly think he was still chasing that seventeen-year-old, ‘do you think I can’t see that you’re different? Do you think I don’t know we’re both new people now?’

‘I don’t know,’ she mumbled suddenly feeling silly for even thinking it. After all she had come to love the man he was now it made sense he felt the same.

‘Honey, I know we’re different and yet I fell in love with you, this new you, just as easily as I did the first time…because we’re still us,’ he said forcing her hand to move to his chest as he moved a strand of hair off her face, ‘I’m still that boy from Memphis when I’m with you.’

‘Promise me forever?’ she asked in a shaky whisper, ‘because I can’t do anything less than that. I just can’t.’

‘Addie I promised you forever the first time. I mean it now as much as I meant it then, you just gotta let me,’ he said leaning in to rest his forehead against hers, closing his eyes as he mumbled, ‘can you do that?’

‘Yeah,’ she whispered.

And then she leaned in to kiss him. There wasn’t any rush to it, their lips meeting and moving against one another in a slow loving embrace but there was more love wrapped inside it than she could’ve ever anticipated. When they broke apart she was breathless, a giggle emitting from her as he pulled the to sit in his father’s office chair, her collapsing onto his lap. He didn’t say anything for a moment, the pair of them watching the other as they revelled in finally being able to just be.

But as she leaned forward pressing another kiss to his lips he found a question swirling around in his mind and he pulled back to ask it.

‘What?’ she asked as he grasped her hand, his thumb tracing gently over her knuckles. He didn’t know what prompted him, if anything he’d keep his mouth shut for the rest of his life if it meant she wouldn’t spook again, but it was something he was curious about.

‘What got you to change your mind?’ he asked, keeping his gaze on his thumb’s movements until he heard her giggle, a sound that made his heart swell.

‘Honestly?’ she asked, ‘Cilla.’

‘Really?’ he asked with genuine surprise. He didn’t even know she knew what had been going on between them. He’d been too hurt to speak about it with anyone properly.

‘Yeah, well everyone’s been telling me how much of an idiot I am,’ she sighed which made him bark a laugh and a scowl to befall her face as she chastised, ‘you don’t need to be too happy about it.’

‘Oh come on it’s the first time ya have ever conceded to being wrong,’ he chuckled leaning up to kiss along her jaw as she rolled her eyes.

‘Well it only happens once in a blue moon,’ she retorted making him smile against her jawbone. It was amazing to think that after over a month of feeling a gut-wrenching ache by the mere thought of her he could now be smiling against her soft skin without a care in the world. Content with her being just as proud and hard-headed as always. Her fingers moved up from where they were resting against his neck to play with his hair making him moan against her without warning. Though it made her smile he felt a blush flow through his cheeks and determined not to deepen it he cleared his throat, looking for a change of direction as he said, ‘so what did Cilla say?’

‘It wasn’t what she said,’ Addison started hesitantly, ‘I mean everyone’s been telling me the same things…it was what you said to me anyway…that morning.’

‘Ah,’ Elvis said pulling back to watch her.

‘I guess I got it more when it came from her…none of them understood, not really…they’ve never known what if fells like after-’ she said hesitating. It was true as much as they tried to understand they couldn’t comprehend how it felt to lose him. How it broke her. But Priscilla did, ‘but she does…the only difference is without you she seems happy and I guess…I’m not. I don’t think I ever have been. Oh God, I bet you think I’m an awful person.’

With that she buried herself into his neck, trying to ignore the guilt inside her at finally admitting the truth of over a decade. It took him by surprise but he allowed her to do it all the same, stroking her hair as he mumbled, ‘of course not.’

‘I’m not saying I wasn’t happy. I mean I love Jess, Mar, our life and everything. And we were happy. I guess I mean I just didn’t feel whole y’know?’ she mumbled feeling Elvis nod against her. He knew exactly what she meant, after all he’d been feeling it for just as long. He didn’t say anything, knowing it was probably better to let her get everything off her chest without interruption, ‘actually I think the only time I started to feel that was…when you came back. That’s why I was scared because you make me feel complete but nothing has ever gone our way and if we lost one another again it would’ve been worse. This time having you close but not having you would feel worse…like a square peg in a round hole.’

‘So you pushed me away?’ he asked. It wasn’t challenging, just trying to understand why she had acted the way she had, but it made her swallow thickly all the same.

‘I convinced myself that not letting myself have what I’d always wanted was better that trying and failing,’ she admitted.

‘But now?’ he asked hoping that after all this outpouring she wouldn’t be so cruel as to leave him out in the cold, like she had done in Hawaii.

‘I wanna try anyway. I love you too much not to,’ she said firmly, words that made his heart soar.

‘Okay,’ he said pushing her so she wasn’t nestled into him anymore but looking him face on as he placed both hands on her cheeks.

‘What?’ she asked.

‘You want forever I promise you forever,’ he said firmly.

‘Elvis,’ she said thickly, trying to push the tears of happiness away and enjoy the moment.

‘But you gotta promise me forever too, okay?’ he said.

‘I promise.’

✵✵✵

As to be expected neither Addison nor Elvis got a moments peace after they were practically pulled out of the office to return to the party. Whilst Elvis was forced to return to hosting duties Addison was squirrelled away by Marci and Jess to inform them of everything that had gone on, their questions never stopping until well after everyone had finished eating. Fortunately as the party continued into the evening they managed to find their way back to one another and though they couldn’t abandon everyone they found comfort in being able to sit together, comforting and loving touches shared throughout the night.

In fact they only broke apart as Elvis took a sleeping Lisa up to bed. Addison headed to the room she had been sleeping in and changed before heading through to Elvis’ bedroom. Though just as she was pulling back the covers to climb inside she heard the door click shut and felt his strong arms ensnare her waist pulling her up to stand against him as his lips met the bare skin of her neck.

‘Mmm,’ she murmured, her fingers reaching up to stroke the back of his head before he spun her around and kissed deeply. He slotted against her perfectly, his toned body radiating heat through the thin pyjamas she was wearing as he held her by her face, leading the kiss in every way. He wanted her. After months of pining and a mere taste of what he could have he wanted nothing more than to lock the door and not leave this room until they absolutely had to. But as she responded to his touch, her fingers working their way down his shirt buttons towards where he was desperate for them to land he was called to his senses. Before anything else he wanted to do this. As he pulled away she looked at him confused waiting for him to explain why he was not getting to the task at hand.

‘Just a minute honey,’ he said moving away from her and into the bathroom. She watched as he disappeared before climbing onto the large bed as she heard him move into the other room. When he returned he was without a shirt, though his shorts remained, and he was holding a small tin box. He clambered onto the bed beside her, letting it rest on his lap as she turned to face him watching him curiously.

‘What?’ he asked all of a sudden feeling nervous.

‘Nuthin’,’ she smiled, ‘I guess you were right.’

‘What about?’ he asked confused as to where her train of thought had headed in his absence.

‘We’re definitely not those dumb kids anymore,’ she said matter-of-factly.

‘How d’ya figure?’ Elvis asked.

‘Well the old you wouldn’t have run off to find some tatty old box when he found a very willing me standing in his bedroom,’ she teased making him smirk.

‘Oh yeah?’ he chuckled as she leaned in to kiss him. He allowed her to, chuckling at her impatience as her hand travelled down his torso, dancing along the waistband of his shorts.

‘Mmmhmm,’ she mumbled against his lips.

‘Well the old me didn’t have something important to say,’ he said making her pull back and quirk an eyebrow.

‘Oh yeah? What’s that?’ she mused watching as he opened the tin. It was crammed full of papers and she was sure that somewhere amongst them she had seen a flash of a picture or two, her face appearing in each of them. Though he didn’t take note of any of them, instead he pulled out something small and shiny and it only took her a second to realise what it was.

‘Elvis,’ she said feeling the wind knocked out of her at the sight of the ring, the one she had seen only once yet remembered forever.

‘Addie,’ he said just as seriously. He was watching her now, a smirk playing on his lips on having knocked her teasing on its ass within seconds. But now was no time for teasing so instead he continued, ‘now I know this might not be the most logical thing to do given that we’ve been a couple less than twelve hours but I figured we’ve waited long enough, don’t you?’

‘I’d say so,’ she whispered, eagerly awaiting him to continue.

‘Ads when I left here all those years ago all I wanted to do was get through my time and get home to you. So I could put this ring on your hand, like I promised I would. Now, I know it ain’t exactly been straight-forward and there’s been a few…bumps-’

‘Mountains,’ she corrected with a smirk.

‘Moutains in our way…. but Addie I love you. I never stopped.’

‘Me either,’ she admitted making his smile widen.

‘So…will you marry me?’ he asked. All she could do was nod, her throat thick with happy tears as she leaned in and kissed him pouring every inch of love she felt inside her heart into him hoping that would convey her answer as she was too overwhelmed to speak. He kissed her back, knocking the tin box off of his lap as he pulled her onto it in its place kissing every inch of her face, her happy tears wet against his lips, until finally he stopped resting his forehead against hers. Her hazel eyes were watching him closely and thankfully her body had decided to cooperate even if the only thing she could say sounded shaky.

‘Forever?’ she asked.

‘Forever,’ he nodded.

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