#I think about my life and my situation and I just want it all to be over with already

[stillarobyn]

I understand the intention behind this post and I don't disagree with it. I don't.

If you're writing a period piece or something with a certain dark tone, then yes, you absolutely want to keep to that, give your gruff sailor a mumbled line about not being like most other men, or your scattered workaholic scientist can say she never felt like she was missing out on anything by not having a partner while they save the world.

But do not limit the reach of fanfiction by expecting it to be held to the same standards.

Because we need both. Because the target audience for a lot of works that employ this are young, they're disconnected from community, and they're lost. They think they're broken or they don't fit or they are made wrong.

I, a millennial, didn't know about bisexuality until I read about it in fanfic somewhere around 2003 (I was 13). I didn't know any out gay or queer people growing up. It was still scandalous on tv, and my parents didn't have any problem with it, they just didn't talk about it. I can't imagine how isolating it would have felt if my parents prevented me from watching anything with gay characters or spoke negatively about them.

My first discovery of nonbinary identity was in a bandom fic I read in 2010 (I was 20, for those playing the home game). It was maybe two years after that that I began to talk with nonbinary/genderqueer/genderfluid people online. I knew a couple of binary trans people in college, and one in high school, but this was my first time meeting people who weren't a binary gender. In 2012! It took another two years for me, at this point a full-ass adult, to start describing myself that way.

All of this oversharing to say...my understanding of queer identity was not hand-held by anyone in my life, but boy I learned to accept these foreign ideas I saw in myself because I had a safe fictional environment to explore these concepts and terms.

I think it was 2014-2016 when fanfic spaces had a boom of "everyone is trans" AUs and headcanons, and they were often rose-tinted and a bit twee, but that's the point of them. I saw identities I had to look up, and when I asked in follow-up "okay, but what does a person who feels like that look/act like?" it was all crickets, except in fiction, and specifically fanfic.

"But the world is different now, not knowing is no excuse" NOPE. not with anti-lgbtqia legislation passing in the US, or in other hostile countries around the world (I'm from the US, my argument is US-centric based on my experience and knowledge, but by no means exclusionary of people in other countries), or even family situations or rural upbringing or any other circumstance that isolated young queer folk from other queer folk.

A popular live-service video game introduced a nonbinary character and I saw twitch chats full of people who were just confused and uneducated. Ignoring those who were hostile was easy, but the uninformed, especially the non-English-speakers and people who didn't come from Western cultures, were largely open to learning something they never had framework for. Made all the more frustrating in a game environment where the characters didn't make a habit of having these discussions on screen, but that's a different rant.

I don't know if OP intended this in reference to original media, or toward fic, but I saw a lot of established characters in the reblogs so I just want to address that. I'm a characterization first fic reader, so I get it. "Everyone is trans" fics aren't for me, but there's a space needed for them if someone needs to see Captain Kirk and Spock debating the application of terminology of human gender and sexuality in interplanetary cultural settings...now actually I kind of want that fic so I played myself.

Dragon Age Veilguard came under attack for daring to openly and forwardly use the term "nonbinary" in its fantasy world, as though something about the word is inherently incompatible with the fantasy genre? But the game was pretty clear in its goal to create a safe gaming space for marginalized folks when so often their experiences are erased, ignored, tokenized, or stereotyped. The narrative, therefore, had to be hostile to the unaccepting, educational for the ignorant, and validating to the vulnerable. Getting to play in a world where people are referred to as nonbinary (just like me) and where people use they/them pronouns (just like me) and where no one ridicules or attacks them specifically for this? It felt comfortable and safe and the world was ending in the game, but I felt a personal empowerment in my immersion.

More complex and nuanced discussions by characters about their queer identity add to the picture. It shouldn't be in every work because every author has their own angle and their own philosophy about it, but they have just as much a right to a seat at the table. You can have your fics where Tony Stark's sexuality is a smirk and a wink, and you can have your fics where he explains that he used to call himself bisexual but the world is bigger and weirder so he considers himself omnisexual now. And if you don't like that, scroll past it. The author didn't write it for you, but someone else needs to hear that.

Maybe this is just a personal vent that escaped containment, but I feel the need to remind some folks that some people need the LGBT center brochure version because they didn't get one in the mail. It's a tough time for everyone in this community, no need to make it tougher.

he would not fucking say that but it’s he would not fucking talk about his queer identity like he was reading out of a college campus lgbt center brochure

[ignoringmyexams]

jason is in the kitchen after patrol the night before halloween, wondering if he should get some takeaway, when his phone rings.

"who the hell calls this late at night? its 4am.."

its your name. he picks up at once.

"hey, you awake? can i come over?" , by the tone in your voice, it seems like you wont take no for an answer.

"it doesnt matter" you continue, "im already standing outside of your door"

this is the only safehouses you know about, and jason has been careful to make you think that he lives there all the time. usually he wouldnt risk you seeing his red hood gear, but at 4am, he thought it was safe to head here, as it was his nearest and largest apartment. he really didnt want to run 10 minutes through the cold and rainy october night to get to the next safehouse, and so now he finds himself rushing to hide his gear someplace you wont find it.

"uh, sure, just wait and ill let you in" he manages to stammer out, feeling nervous not only because he didnt want you to find out his secret identity. he never thought he would end up in this situation that night he met you at that dive bar on the outskirts of crime alley. you were so obviously out of place there, hanging out with your friends, anybody could see that you were students from gotham university, on the hunt for a cheap beer. he and roy had quickly stepped in under the guise of being friendly drunks, to protect you from the leer of some of gothams underbelly.

since then, youd kept coming to the dive bar, and jason kept coming to look out for you. after a while he just accepted that youd managed to work your way into his life, and now hed drive halfway across the city to meet you for lunch after your lectures. at some point, he noticed that his gaze seemed to linger longer that it had used to, and by now he had realized that he was mad about you. something he hoped you still were oblivious to.

"i promise you, you wont regret it. ive brought takeaway!" you chirped back at him.

jason lets you in, and hungrily takes the bag from you. by now youve learned that dumplings are a quick way to get him to do your bidding.

"shouldnt you be sleeping right now? i remember you saying that you have an early lecture tomorrow, or, today i guess." jason asked you. in fact he knew you had an early lecture, because he had your schedule memorized by now, to be able to suprise you with lunch. at this point his brain blocked out other dates and appointments to be able to remember more about you, someting that got him in trouble with bruce every time he forgot training sessions, or family meetings.

you were sat on the sofa, taking up as much space as you possibly could, something you did every time you came over. jason watched as your face turned deadly serious.

"jason, what im about to tell you cant leave this room. you have to promise me."

"of course" he reassured, worried now, "you can tell me everything",

"you sure?" you shot back, "i dont want this to change our relationship, or the way you view me, ok? im still the same person ive always been."

now he was really worried.

"im batman." you said with a completely straight face. "vengeance never sleeps, and so neither can i."

he looked at you with the most deadpan expression he could manage at that point. you held out in silence for what seemed an impressive amount of time before you cracked.

"its true" you wheezed out, "my friends want me to be batman at the halloween party tomorrow, but the costume hasnt arrived yet. and so ive got to use last years costume instead."

the infamous costume of halloween last year. the one jason never got to see you in, as he didnt know you at the time. he hasnt even seen a picture, but the thought that you own it is enough to drive him crazy.

"and so i wondered", you continued, "if i, pretty pleeeasee, could borrow your leather jacket, you know, the one that maches red hoods perfectly?"

now usually, jason would have said no. no one touches that jacket. but its you. and jason was also invited to said halloween party. and if youre going to make him socialize, he might as well have something to look at while doing it. and so he throws the jacket at you.

"try it on", and you do.

although jason is taller and broader than you, you still have some muscle on you, that fills out the arms and shoulders of the jacket in a way that makes it look just oversized instead of akward.

jason almost wants you to keep it. the smile he receives when he lets you borrow it is all he can think of the rest of that night, as he eats the dumplings you left for him.

[harryhighkey]

rest, baby.

hi - here is part four of my frontman x reader series!

spoiler: they finally kiss! sorry but not sorry for the slow burn for that moment. hopefully the wait was worth it!

a frontman x reader series - masterlist to series here

"Open your eyes now." Player 001's voice sounded out in front of you, his voice was so calm compared to the constant loud terror that had stayed in your head during Mingle.

You did as he said and you were met by his gaze in the little yellow room. Slowly, you removed your hands from your own ears. In-ho's hands were still over the top of yours so they fell from your face too. All of the terrible noises of the worst game yet were over now. The nursery rhyme, the screaming, the fighting, the gun shots, dead bodies being placed into boxes with thuds, it was all over.

But there was another sound that you'd only heard once, that had taken place right before the game ended. A neck breaking. Your eyes did a quick sweep of the room, the man who had snuck in here when you fell to the ground was gone. You looked back to Player 001.

In-ho was still looking at you, he knew what you were looking for. He'd deliberately waited until the guards had removed the dead body from the room before telling you to open your eyes. His eye contact was strong, you still found comfort in it, but something had shifted ever so slightly. You were having an internal battle over if what he had done made you trust him more or less.

He had just killed someone with his bare hands. For you.

"It's over?" You asked, needing him to confirm.

"Yes." He told you and you felt the invisible weight of panic that had been crushing you lift from your chest.

You took in a deep breath but winced as the action hurt your side. Quickly you flinched, your hands going to where the pain struck.

"Are you okay?" In-ho frowned in concern, his hands landing on your shoulders to steady you.

"Just hurts a little."

"Can I see?"

You nodded and your hands went to the hem of your shirt, lifting it to see your side all red from where you had been kicked. "Looks like it hurts a lot." In-ho said, he moved one of his hands so his fingertips just barely brushed the surface of where your skin was red and hot, his jaw clenched. He was furious at the person who hurt you like this.

"I'll be fine." You pushed his hand away and put your shirt back down.

"You don't have to do that with me."

"Do what?"

"Say you're fine when you're obviously hurt."

"Well, when I just have this and all those people died, then I'm fine, Young-il." You snapped at him.

He didn't respond, instead silence fell between you both. His expression gave nothing away, you hated knowing how readable your face was whilst his was the opposite.

What you didn't know was the constant internal battle he was facing between being the Frontman and Player 001. Being the man who ran these games but also being the man who wanted to save you from them.

You snapped at him about people dying here, which he was to blame for but he didn't care about those people. He only cared about you. He cared so much about your life and at the same time, he was the reason yours had been put in this dangerous situation, he had to be the reason you get out, too.

"Sorry." You dropped your eyes, shaking your head at yourself. This man had literally just carried you to the finishing line - a finishing line that secured your life - and you were snapping at him? He had just helped and carried you through the worst panic attack you'd ever experienced so you would survive. He killed for you. You tried not to think about that last fact too much.

He had looked out for you more than anyone ever had your whole life.

"Don't be." He shook his head, dropping his head down. "You've been through a lot. Too much." Because of me. He thought.

"So have you." You reached for his hand then, he intertwined his fingers with yours. He kept his face down. "Young-il," You called out to him. In-ho hated that you still didn't know his real name, he wanted to tell you it. He looked back up to you. "Thank you for looking after me. For saving me."

His spare hand came to rest on your cheek, his thumb rubbing along your skin. You're saving me. He didn't say that out loud, instead he said, "I told you I would."

"I know, but when I had given up during the second last round. I thought that was it for me."

"But it wasn't, I was never going to let that happen."

"I know that, I just thought I was stronger than that. I should've been able to keep going. I should've been able to handle it." You were disappointed in yourself, dropping your gaze from his now.

"No," In-ho shook his head, his face almost looking pained at what you had said. Both of his hands held your own two. "You shouldn't have to, (Y/N). You are not the problem. What happens here, the people who thrive here, who enjoy it, they're the ones who are wrong." He moved his face closer to yours, barely brushing his nose against yours, you looked back up at the contact, the movement bringing your face closer to his again. You could feel his breath on your lips, your heart thundered. "Not you, pretty girl. You are too good for this place, it's beautiful that you don't belong here."

Your breath hitched as your eyes dropped to his mouth and then back up to his eyes. You tilted your head a little, rubbing your nose against his, your lips just grazing his, inviting him in.

He accepted.

Player 001 closed the distance, his lips meeting yours, finally. The kiss was tender and heavy, you'd both felt like you had been waiting so long for this despite it being just a few days. Your brain felt dizzy as all the terrible things you'd experienced slowly began to dissipate and all you could think about was how perfectly his lips meshed with yours. His hands let go of yours and found your thighs, you sighed into his mouth at the feeling of his strong grip on your legs.

"Come here." He mumbled against your lips. In-ho started to pull you forward and you followed his lead. Between kisses, you lifted yourself so you could settle into his lap and straddle him, your hands holding onto his shoulders, your front against his. You broke the kiss so you could catch your breath, but he wanted more, he was no where near close to being done to having his mouth on you.

Wet kisses were left to the corner of your mouth, your chin until he found your neck. You whined and tilted your head to give him more access, the feeling of it so delicious, you could feel a wetness already forming in between your legs. "That's my good girl." He said, briefly looking at your heavenly face before his lips came back to your neck where he began to lightly suck, his hands moving to your ass. You bit down hard on your bottom lip and whimpered, already feeling so turned on, you wanted to hear him call you that every day.

He started dotting kisses down your neck now, lingering a very hot, open-mouth one to the spot where your neck met your shoulder. "I can't wait to taste all of you." He gripped your ass and you rolled your hips into his. "You want that, baby?" He asked you, lifting his head once again to be right in front of yours. Your cheeks were already growing pink.

"Yes. Please, yes." You nodded, crashing your mouth against his once more. He met your kiss with ease, he was getting drunk on you already and there was still so much more of you waiting to be explored by him.

You were so blissfully surrounded by him, the perfect distraction from everything else you had gone through this day. You'd felt a constant flutter in your chest anytime he had touched you since that first night when he had rubbed your head until you fell asleep. Now that flutter was more alight than ever, bursting with each skilled movement of his lips.

You rolled your hips again, seeking a sensation against your throbbing centre. "Baby," In-ho broke the kiss with a puff of air at the feeling of your pussy grazing over where he had grown hard in his pants. You met his gaze. "Not here." He told you, placing one last peck to your lips and running his hands further up your back. As much as he wanted you, he wanted to make sure it was where you two were truly alone. Your pleasure was for his eyes only.

You whined and dropped your head onto his shoulder, letting out a loud sigh.

He laughed, turning his head so his lips grazed against your ear as he spoke. "That turned on?"

"Shut up." You laughed too.

"I'll take that as a yes."

-----

"To give you some time to think, the vote will be conducted tomorrow."

50 vs 50.

The vote had come out to a tie.

"No." Your voice was barely audible, you felt hopeless.

Everyone turned to walk back, only you and Player 456 were left standing in place. Gi-hun was staring at the numbers on the screen in disbelief. You were watching the guards as they started getting ready to leave.

You knew you wouldn't make it through another game and you didn't want Player 001 putting himself in danger again to keep you safe. You wouldn't forgive yourself if anything were to happen to him. You were desperate to get out.

Briefly, you turned to look back, looking for the man who had become your solace. He was already walking back to the bunks. You looked at him for a few more moments before turning back to the guards, they had all started to turn away to leave. If you had taken a few extra seconds to think about, maybe you wouldn't have acted so impulsively.

But you didn't.

"(Y/N), no!" Gi-hun attempted to stop you as you broke out in a sprint towards one of the guards, he reached out to you but you just slipped out of his grip.

Others turned at the commotion, the people who voted 'O' hoping to see you run right to your death, the people who voted 'X' were worried.

When In-ho turned at the sound of Gi-hun saying your name and he saw what you were doing, he swore his heart stopped beating. "(Y/N)! Stop!" He screamed at you, voice full of distress. Just like Player 456, he ran after you, but he was too many steps behind now. He could control what happened to you when the games were taking place, but if you were running at the guards to attack them in front of all the other players, he couldn't control the outcome of this and it made him panic.

Just as you were about to grab a guards gun, they turned around at the sound of their bosses voice, seeing you right behind them and immediately holding their gun up so the barrel pressed right against your forehead.

You froze and sucked in a breath, the other guards turned and pointed their guns at you. You waited for the sound of a bullet being fired, but it never came. You thought for sure this was going to be your end, this was not behaviour they tolerated.

What you didn't see was the Frontman glaring at them with a warning gaze. His face was hardened in fury at the idea of any of them shooting you and he ever so slightly shook his head to tell them no as subtly as he could without anyone else noticing.

"Move back." The guard commanded at you.

For a moment, you thought about trying to grab the barrel for a last attempt to steal the gun, you knew the speed of your hands would be no match for the trigger on this weapon, but your desire to leave was so strong you considered trying. That was until Player 001's voice sounded out. "(Y/N), listen to them. Come back." You imagined how you would feel if it was him with the gun aimed at his head, the thought of it even too much. So you started to step backwards. The guards kept the guns pointed at you. You could not believe they let you get away with this.

You kept walking backwards, and when your back hit against someone's front, you jumped.

"It's me." Player 001's voice was right in your ear. He grabbed your hand and pulled you behind him. Protecting you again.

-----

"What were you thinking?!" Once the guards had left, In-ho didn't let go of your hand, he pulled you to your bunk with him. He was furious at you for risking your life like that.

"I don't know, I wasn't thinking." You answered him honestly.

"That is clear. That was so stupid, (Y/N)."

"Don't call me stupid."

"Don't be stupid and I won't."

You huffed, crossing your arms as you sat on the side of your bed. "After we lost the vote, I had to try something. I'm not going to make it through another game, I know it. I'm dying tomorrow. That was my last chance to escape."

"I told you, I won't let anything happen to you."

"I know you did, and you got me through today. But we don't know what's coming tomorrow. You can't guarantee that."

Yes I can. He thought, but he couldn't tell you that, not yet. Instead, he let out a deep breath and crouched down in front of you, placing his hands on your knees. He tried to catch your eyes, but you avoided looking at him. "Hey," His hand grabbed your chin, halting your movements and forcing you to look at him. "I can keep you safe if you're next to me. But, with what you did just then to the guards. I have much less of a chance of keeping you safe." But still a chance, he was the Frontman after all. "Do you understand?" He was trying to let you know you would be okay, his role was high and important here.

Plus, after learning Gi-hun's plan for tonight, he had his own plan to finally get you out.

-----

Bullets were flying everywhere, it was chaos, it was loud, it was a war-zone. The third war-zone you'd experienced today. First, it was the game, Mingle. Second, when everyone had started attacking each other when the lights went out. You had hid next to Player 001 during that, your eyes squeezed shut, head tucked away in his neck with his arm around you and his hands covering your ears. Third, was now this. Player 456's plan to take over the games, find the Frontman and end all of this.

Through all of it, In-ho had made sure you were by his side. Currently you were between him and Player 388, who was about to go and get more bullets.

"Dae-ho, are you okay?" You leaned in closer to ask him, you could see on your friends face he wasn't handling this well. He had become more quiet, his face turned pale. You experienced your own panic attack earlier today and you were sure he about too as well.

"Yes." He answered you quietly. It wasn't believable.

Everyone else was too distracted by the fight, busy shooting the guards, but you felt concern for your friend. "I'll go back with yo-"

"No." In-ho interrupted you then, his voice demanding. You turned to look at him and his face was deadly serious. "You are staying with me." He was so close to getting you out, he wouldn't let you go back now. Especially not when bullets were shooting everywhere and you could get hit.

"But, he-"

"He will be fine."

You clenched your jaw tight then.

"(Y/N)," Dae-ho called your name and you turned to look at him, concern displayed all over your face for him. "It's okay, stay here with Young-il. It'll be easier for just one of us to go back than both of us."

You nodded and then leant forward to hug him. "Please be careful."

"I will, you too." He pulled back from the hug to look at you. "I'll see you soon, okay?"

"Okay."

In-ho watched you watch him retreat back. He saw the worry on your face, he knew you cared for him and it made him sick with jealousy. He couldn't wait to get you on your own.

"(Y/N), we have to move now."

Player 456 & 390 went one way while you and Player 001 went another.

He kept his body in a place where it would shield you from the direction the guards were shooting from. Although it seemed that the bullets coming in your direction had significantly lessened. Maybe more guards were on the side Gi-hun had taken.

You hoped they were going to be okay.

Each time you reached a new path that broke off into more than one direction, Player 001 chose which way to go so confidently. You were starting to get anxious at the idea of getting closer to where the people who ran these games were.

"Young-il," you reached out for his hand to stop him.

He halted and immediately turned to you. "Have you been shot?" His eyes scanned over your body, searching for blood.

"No, no," you shook your head. "What's going to happen when we find the people who run this?" You spoke with a panicked tone.

He held your eye contact for a few moments before answering you. "You already have." He admitted.

"What-" Before you had a chance to question or even fully process what he had said, he pulled you into him and kissed you. You allowed him to, more than allowed, you completely welcomed it. Your heart instantly speeding up at the feeling of his skilled mouth on yours.

You were so distracted you didn't see him reach into his pocket for the syringe, he almost felt bad at how easy this was. Almost. He didn't because he had convinced himself this was going to be best for you.

When the needle pricked into your skin, you broke apart from him with a gasp, but his strong arm kept you in place.

"You'll be okay." Was what he told you as your vision very quickly blurred, your body going limp in his hold around you. He scooped you up into this arms.

You attempted to speak, to say anything at all, but you were fast succumbing to what had been injected into you. All you managed to do was let out a little whimper.

"Shh, (Y/N)." In-ho said into your ear, and everything started to go black for you. "Enjoy your rest, baby."

[whisperofwonder]

Wife Guy

The wife guys of Haikyuu

(The term does have some negative connotations but I don't mean it like that here. They're just some dudes who really love their wife. Cool? Cool.)

Featuring: Bokuto Koutarou, Iwaizumi Hajime, Sakusa Kiyoomi x wife!reader - ~300 words each

(if someone else needs to be here, tell me. I might write it.)

BOKUTO KOUTAROU

Come on. He's the ultimate unironic wife guy.

You, his wife, are the light of his life. He adores you. He doesn't shut up about you. Your friends and family know this, the Jackals definitely know this, even his fans know this because he can't resist posting about you even when the social media managers get on his case. The moment your name or the words "my wife" pass his lips, anyone within earshot knows that it's all over.

He never misses an opportunity to tell you how much he loves you. You need to know that, in his eyes, every little thing about you is perfect. Not only that, but he's a really touchy guy. He loves holding your hand, putting his arm around you, barraging you with kisses, any form of skin to skin contact with you. You and everyone around you have gotten used to the constant PDA over the years. He's just so pure and sweet about it that no one can even say a thing about it.

One of the things he loves about being a professional athlete is that it gives him the means to spoil you. Designer items, the latest tech, lush vacations, whatever it is that catches your eye, he's already got his credit card out. He's not trying to buy your love, he's showering you in his. No matter how often you insist that all you need to be happy is him, he can't resist a little treat every now and then.

The day you agreed to marry him was one of the best days of his life. Every time he takes notice of the ring on his finger, a little jolt of joy goes through him, even after all this time. The mere fact that he gets to spend the rest of his life loving you is simply unmatched.

IWAIZUMI HAJIME

There's a reason that Iwaizumi Hajime (27) Athletic Trainer is written as a knight in every single medieval AU. He's chivalrous, hard-working, and utterly devoted to his wife. He might be quieter about it, but his love for you is an undercurrent to everything. From the kiss pressed to your forehead when he gets up to start the day to the moment he pulls you against his chest in bed each night, there are a hundred little moments when he shows just how much you mean to him.

Most obvious to everyone around him is the small smile that comes across his face every single time he talks about you. "Oh, my wife picked it out." "Yeah, she did make this." "I'm taking her to dinner tonight, actually."

You will never walk closest to the street on his watch. Forgot your jacket? No you didn't, he tossed it in the back seat. When you're washing dishes after dinner, he's right there with the towel to dry. Craving ice cream at 10 pm? The corner store is only a few minutes walk for him, no it's no trouble, don't be ridiculous. It all just goes to show that he's constantly thinking of you - what you might need, what you might want, what might make you smile. If it's within his power, why wouldn't he do it for you? It's just inconceivable.

You make his life better. All he wants is to do the same for you. He might never say it out loud, but being married to you is the fairy tale life he hadn't dared to hope for. Spending every day by your side is enough to make him the happiest man in the world.

SAKUSA KIYOOMI

His wife is his person. The world is full of irritants, uncomfortable situations, people who rub him the wrong way. You are the one that soothes it all away. His safe space. Coming home to you every day feels like a weight sliding from his shoulders.

He took to the simple day-to-day of married life so well. Dating was never his scene. Truth be told, you've felt married long before he put a ring on your finger. Everyone says the pair of you are the token old married couple. He might scoff, but to him it's the best kind of compliment.

He takes real pride in the home you share together. It's a sacred place that deserves to be kept neat and clean and comfortable. No matter what kind of day he has, he'll always spend at least a little time making sure everything is running smoothly for you, keeping up with the small things that he knows make your life a little easier.

His favorite moments are the quiet ones you share together. When either of you has had a less than perfect day, it's an unspoken rule that you'll be spending the evening together, curled up in your own little world where nothing else matters. Nothing is more comforting to him than the feel of you in his arms, breathing in your familiar scent. Everything else simply melts away.

Marrying you was the easiest decision he's ever made. There was no alternative. In the course of his life, he knows that he's doing something right, because with you by his side, he knows he can face anything else that may come.

[worshipthecrow]

"Meeting the parents"

Summary: You received a call from your mother while you were with Sylus, your parents want to meet your boyfriend.

Content: Sylusx Female! Reader, Reader is exaggerating the situation in her head, death threats.

A/n: I introduced Sylus to my parents with the tete-a-tete function and more or less the things that happened are portrayed here, some comments were made after explaining them the whole game and stuff. English is not my first language, if you find any mistakes, let me know so I can correct them.

One, two, three breaths you took before opening the door and stepping inside with your heart pounding in your chest and cold sweat on your back, Sylus was waiting for you to return from your phone call.

His shirt half open and his lips swollen from the long kissing session would be a hot and inviting sight if it weren’t for your mother’s voice booming in your brain.

We want to meet him, you’ve been with him for how long? A year? And you still haven’t brought him home, if that was a lie don’t worry honey, my friend’s son is still single and very handsome.

Your mother’s playful tone made you frown, you exchanged a few more words and hung up the phone.

He smiled sideways at you, waiting for you to sit back on his lap to continue.

“Hey…” you didn’t let him finish when the words came out of your mouth like a suppressed cough, fast and violent “

“My parents want to meet you”

You noticed the slight change in his gaze and posture, but then he relaxed again, held out his hand for you to take, which you did without thinking because of habit, and making you sit on his lap, tangling his finger in a lock of your hair.

“When?” a simple question, you expected more, maybe nervousness, maybe that he would refuse, but there was only one question.

Why don’t you bring him tonight? I’m making pork ribs, your favorite, it would be a good time to meet him.

It wasn’t a question, it wasn’t a suggestion, it was an order said sweetly with a little threat.

“Tonight” you whispered, he hummed caressing the skin on your arm, nervousness didn’t let you enjoy the sweet touch.

“All right, if that’s what you want, sweetie” you let out a heavy sigh you didn’t know you were holding in.

And for the rest of the afternoon, it was you, stressed to the bone that what would happen in this inevitable disaster, someone would die, and you hoped it would be you, just to get away from this situation.

Sylus took you to your parents’ house on his motorcycle, you would have preferred to go by car, taking advantage of the traffic to get ready or to fake an emergency, but no, the way was too short and fast and now that you were in front of the door you wanted to vomit your guts on the floor.

It was he who rang the doorbell, just long enough to be heard but not annoying, the door was opened by your mother, the image was endearing, the chubby little woman greeted the two of you with a sweet smile letting you in, she still had her apron on, wet and you guessed she was washing the utensils she used to cook.

Your father was in the living room, you noticed the tiny sauce stain on his shoe, and you knew that today, of all days, would be the worst day of your life, nothing good came out of it when your father was helping your mother cook.

Your mother called everyone to the dining room, your stomach was doing somersaults, you walked stiffly to your seat, Sylus, out of habit, opened the chair for you to sit down and then sat next to you.

Your mother served your plate first, as always, the smell of the ribs, that delicious smell that always made your mouth water made you feel the worst nausea you had ever experienced in your life.

You watched her prepare your father’s dish, and the familiar fight of “one more” “no, the doctor said to watch your cholesterol” took some of the tension out of the situation, but knowing that the next dish to be served would be Sylus’ only reminded you of the chaos that was about to unfold, you prayed to any god that was willing to listen to you even though you had never been devoted to any of them.

Your mother took the plate placed two ribs and you held your breath as your mom’s voice came through your ears like the scream of a banshee.

“So, Sylus, what do you do for a living?” the smack of the mashed potatoes against the plate almost made you squeal.

“I run a family-owned business that covers a range of services and offers various products. We deliver fruit and even sell state-of-the-art technology and I work with a lot of talented individuals. If you’reinterested, I’d be happy to discuss it in more detail another time.”

You buried your fingernails in your thigh, the way your father bit into the rib meat made your heart stop for a second and the look on your mother’s face didn’t make you feel any better either, you slowly chewed the tender juicy meat, feeling it like lead in your mouth.

“And what do you do in your spare time?” your father’s piercing gaze said he wanted to give him a shot between the eyebrows, too bad that wouldn’t work, you knew it too well.

“My hobbies are very simple. I collect vynil records, play the organ, and occasionally sing. According to your daughter, my singing isn’t too bad.” The sideways smile made you blush as you shoved mashed potatoes in your mouth and avoided the zucchini from the boiled vegetables. “Do you like to sing? If so. You’re always welcome to visit my private karaoke bar.”

“Do you live with anyone? Your family?”

You bit into the carrot so hard that your teeth hurt.

“I live alone and I have a relatively flexible schedule” you blushed and drank from your pomegranate juice as your mother looked sideways at you, you knew what was going through her head. “I stay at my base most of the time. Otherwise, I’m in a hotel for business meetings or go to my private ranch when I need to unwind.”

Sylus smiled softly, and you swallowed saliva admiring how his factions softened.

“I own several beautiful horses, and one of them has grown particularly fond of your daughter. The two of them offer frolic together at the ranch. I like seeing her be carefree and happy” you held back a surprised gasp at his words, you needed to scream, preferably at your best friend, as you melted into a puddle of mush, that was too sweet, ugh. “… if I might ask, are either of you interested in shooting or racing?”

Now you wanted to scream, but out of hysteria, even though you were a wanderer hunter it’s not like your parents were too happy about it when they expected you to be something else, like a doctor, a lawyer, even a teacher, gun handling was always a constant discussion when you lived with them and expressed your desire to be a hunter.

“I have licensed facilities filled with the necessary equipment. You’re welcome to enjoy them to your heart’s content, while it might not be obvious at first glance, I’m very good at taking care of people”

You decided to concentrate on your plate, while eating, you blinked for a couple of seconds noticing something strange but ignored it in favor of continuing eating your pork ribs.

“Because of our time together, I developed new interests. I enjoy taking her to auctions and fashion shows, I like seeing her shine, And her happiness is my happiness”

Your heart stopped at the softness of voice, you wanted to cry in his arms and tell him you loved him, but that would be too dramatic at a family dinner and you could do that when you got back to his house in the N109 Zone.

“What about the future, hmm?” everyone had finished as they spoke, you felt a lump in your throat hard to swallow, what about the future indeed, you squeezed your glass as you took a swig.

“I’ll always support her with whatever she wants to do. I’ll also stand by her side without question”

The Table was silent for a few seconds while your father picked up the dirty dishes and your mother took something out of the refrigerator, you recognized the pot immediately, you had seen it so many times during birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas and New Year.

You got up and opened a drawer and took out a plate and helped your mother unmold the flan, the color of the caramel reminded you of your childhood, when on your birthday your mother made a small mold just for you, of Christmas fighting with your older brother for the last slice, which in the end you shared sitting on the floor playing on the console.

It had been so long since you had eaten your mother’s flan, that seeing it now was just a balm for your stressed heart.

You left the plate with the flan on the table carefully, your mother took the knife out of a drawer and returned to the table to cut it.

“Everything you said was very nice Sylus” your mother’s voice gave you a shiver that went all the way down your spine to the back of your neck. “But alas for you where you hurt her, I don’t want to see her cry because of you, because I swear every time you go out you are going to have to watch your back, because if I have to, I will disappear you and no one will ever find you, was I clear enough?”

The sight was hilarious, your mother, the short woman, shorter than you in fact, was threatening the leader of Onychinus with a kitchen knife shiny from the caramel for having cut the flan, with a sweet smile as she offered him the plate with the dessert.

Sylus wasn’t expecting it at all from the look of utter surprise on his face, accepting the plate with a sideways smile.

“Like crystal” he replied softly and your mother smiled again as she handed out the plates, you breathed easy that she hadn’t stabbed him, your father poured the coffee, you put sugar and milk in yours.

The rest passed relatively quietly, lighter conversations and your father constantly telling you to take care of yourself on your missions and your mother reminding you that you could always come home if you decided to quit your job.

After finishing dessert and coffee your father took you to the garage, saying he had something to show you, you followed him thinking it would be some new car he was repairing, or a modified motorcycle, but no, he sat in his folding chair and you sat next to him, nervous about leaving Sylus and your mother alone for too long, you didn’t know if she would try to stab him in the back.

“Does he treat you well?” your father looked at you with his dark eyes, the ones you had inherited, and you nodded.

“He does”

“He seems nice, and he has money” you nodded, uncomfortable about that last “I was worried, when he said he stayed in hotels, that he worked with “individuals”, I thought he would cheat on you” your heart pounded in your chest, you once had that same thought but the fact that Sylus would always answer your calls, messages no matter the time or place removed those doubts a long time ago, “but then, he started eating the zucchini off your plate when you put them aside and the looks, he looked at you like you were the moon, like you put the sun in the sky, it gave me diabetes”

And you laughed, so hard that you threw your head back as you laughed at the top of your lungs, you laughed until your stomach hurt and your father looked at you like you were insane even though he was smiling subtly.

Sylus appeared a few moments later as you were catching your breath, your cheek half numb.

“Your mother wants you to help her dry the dishes”

You got up from your chair and walked towards the door, when Sylus turned to follow you your father called him to talk to him, you looked at him and nodded, you weren’t worried, if your mother didn’t try to kill him your father wouldn’t either, you went to the kitchen and your mother greeted you with a cloth to dry the dishes and you waited.

“I like him” she said “I like that he talked about you like that, he almost doesn’t seem real” you snorted under your breath, wondering what the two of them must have said while you were gone. “Better than your exes, definitely”

You groaned, remembering that your closest group of friends from high school still called your ex from that time “evil cockroach”, and still laughed at his love misfortunes when they got to hear something about him, you were fine staying out of it, but your mean side also felt satisfaction when it turned out that his last girlfriend had dumped him.

“He has everything you like as well, music lover, animal lover, and I am relieved to know he has gun licenses, that means he will always be able to take care of you and you will have good weapons for your missions” your mother dried the flan pot and put it back in its special drawer.

“The hunters association provides us with enough guns” although you weren’t going to deny that the Harrier 700’s were your favorite.

“He’s very much in love with you” your mother evaded the subject of your job, as always, you knew her stance on your safety and the many times you had been scolded over the phone when you were in the hospital was reminder enough “tie him up”

“Mom!” you shouted, shocked, you knew she meant ‘marry him’ but with Sylus it could be very literal that matter.

“What? You would have cute babies” you covered your face in embarrassment, leaving the plate you were drying on the counter so as not to throw it on the floor “and he has nice buttocks”

“MOM!” you shouted in a high pitched voice, definitely embarrassed and your mother laughed at you, you were aware of Sylus’ attributes, but you didn’t want to discuss them with your mother.

“He hides things doesn’t he?” you nodded, calmer at the change of subject, although it wasn’t something you wanted to discuss either, you continued drying the plates and glasses. “But you know what it is?” another nod from you “Well, as long as you know it’s okay, but I don’t want to get you out of prison”

You rolled your eyes but smiled anyway, aware of the approval your parents were giving, your mother a little too enthusiastic, your mother and you finished drying the dishes just as Sylus and your father were coming back in.

The goodbye was better than the welcome and without the stress you felt tired all at once, you wanted to go back and sleep for the next week.

With a last hug to your mother and the mortification that she gave you a condom, you rode up behind Sylus on the bike and hugged him around the waist until you returned home.

You threw yourself on the bed, ready to accomplish your desires, Sylus pulled off your pants as you grunted and tucked you under the blanket, then lay down behind you, brushing your face with something, you opened your eyes and ripped the platinum package from his fingers and threw it on the nightstand, you cursed your mother.

“Don’t even think about laughing” you said through your teeth.

“You are kinda like your mom, she’s the one in charge isn’t she?” you sighed and laid on your back.

“Yeah, my dad has a bad temper, but my mom is the one in charge, if she says do it you do it” you saw his sideways grin.

“It runs in the family I guess, you’re bossy too, Kitten” he kissed your neck and even though you wanted to get mad you couldn’t, you were tired and wanted to sleep, until…

“What did you and my mom talk about?” The kissing stopped and Sylus lay back, towering over you resting his head in his palm and his elbow on the pillow.

“Your past relationships and veiled threats disguised as funny comments, who is ‘the evil cockroach’?”

“Ugh, my chronically unfaithful ex” you shrugged “that would be a better story to tell when you meet my friends, they make it funnier”

“Oh, so I’ll meet the group too?” the comment had come out of nowhere, but if you introduced him to your parents, who you were most worried about them meeting, your friends should be easier no?

“I guess so, although I’ll have to arrange the meeting when we’re all free” you were already getting a slight headache just thinking about squaring schedules so you could set up a meeting.

“I’ll be available whenever you want” you smiled softly at him, you were too grateful that he seconded you on all the things you wanted to do, whether they were ridiculously childish or not.

“I’ll talk to them tomorrow, now I want to sleep” you turned in bed and wrapped your arms around his neck to pull him down and put your face in the crook of his neck, Sylus wrapped his arms around your waist as he gently stroked your back.

You drifted off to sleep, as you thought about the best way to tell your friends that you wanted them to meet your mysterious boyfriend you talked about all the time. Maybe something like…

“Hey, do you guys want to meet my boyfriend?”

Yeah, that might be nice.

[t1red-twilight]

you remembered?

summary: dean isn’t used to celebrating his birthday.

content/warnings: gn!reader, fluff, some angst, allusions to abuse/neglect, john winchester when i catch you john winchester

notes: happy birthday dean!

word count: 1.1k

masterlist d. w. masterlist

there were a few things that you knew about dean. one, he was a night owl. two, he preferred pancakes over waffles. and three, he was not used to his birthday being remembered, let alone celebrated.

in all the time that you had known him you weren’t even told when his birthday was, at least for a while. given the constant life or death circumstances, it hadn’t crossed your mind to ask when it was or why you didn’t celebrate it. about six months ago you and sam were alone, and you remembered to ask.

sam told you what the date of his birthday was (january twenty-fourth), and the next thing he said just about made your jaw go slack. “we never really celebrated it,” he stated.

“what do you mean, you never celebrated it?”

sam pondered for a moment. “well, our dad always said that we didn’t have time for birthdays or christmas. it just wasn’t something we ever did, i guess.” you swallowed the words you wished to say. lord knows that if you spoke what you were thinking, you might get in trouble.

but sam continued. “dean celebrated my birthday with me a couple times, but our dad didn’t…take that too well. i think after a while he just forgot our birthdays.” your heart sunk. everything you learned about that man made you lean towards violence just a little bit more.

so, you took everything sam had said and you stored it in your brain for later use. eventually, his birthday approached. you figured he wouldn’t be into something super loud and big, considering that he hadn’t had a birthday celebration in what seemed to be quite a while.

two weeks before his birthday, you sat down and planned what you were going to do. you wanted something small, but nonetheless something that at least would make him feel recognized.

-

when dean woke up, he noticed that you weren’t in the bed next to him. he sat up, rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, and looked around the room. you were nowhere to be seen.

he did notice, however, that the door to your shared bedroom was slightly ajar. and faintly he could hear the noise of pots and pan gently clanking in the kitchen.

he meandered out of the bedroom and into the kitchen. and there you stood, making breakfast. now you didn’t really have designated meal times; the two of you just ate whenever it seemed necessary. so the oddity of this current situation was not lost to him. “what are you doing?” he questioned.

turning, you saw him standing in the entrance in the kitchen. his shirt was ruffled and you couldn’t quite read the expression on his face. smiling, you answered. “i’m making breakfast.” his eye eyebrows slightly raised, and it seemed as if he looked a little bit shocked.

“why, though?” he followed through with his questioning. “you know, we don’t usually do stuff like this.” nothing in his tone was accusatory. if anything, the volume of his voice lowered in an unusual manner.

you turned back around to face the bacon that you were currently frying. hopefully you weren’t overstepping. maybe he just didn’t like his birthday? perhaps you shouldn’t have done anything at all.

you heard soft footsteps approach you from behind. dean’s hands moved to rest up upon your hips. slowly, he turned you around to look at him. his eyes, they looked…glassy? your brow knit together and your hands went up to hold his cheeks. his bottom lip began to quiver almost imperceptibly.

a silence filled the room. you could only hear the soft splattering of the bacon from behind you, and maybe even the soft hums of his breath as he looked at you. when you spoke, you made sure that your voice was lowered. you didn’t know if sam was here, and it was likely that dean would not want sam to overhear what was going on. “well, it’s kind of an important day. it’s pretty special.“

at this, you saw him look away briefly and blink rapidly. was he trying not to cry? you used your hands and moved his face back to face yours. “are you okay?“ you asked. oh god, you overstepped. and now, he was upset.

surprisingly, he nodded. “yes. i’m great,” he replied. you didn’t push him any further than he wanted to go.

a small, singular tear escaped from the corner of his eye. your thumb rose off his cheek and swiped it away. dean lowered his head into the crook of your shoulder, and pulled you close to him. his hands were sprawled across your back and held you ever so tightly. it looked as though his shoulders were shaking slightly, he was crying. you didn’t say anything.

you mirrored his motions, and pulled him close to you as well. you scratched his back lightly, and ran one hand through his hair. you reached behind yourself and turned the stove off to avoid any accidents. the embrace might have lasted for a few minutes or even longer, but you didn’t really know or care.

then, he spoke. his voice, though muffled, still communicated what he wanted to say clearly. “thank you for remembering,” he said. the quiver in his voice was not lost to you. how could it be that some cheap, overcooked bacon was eliciting such a response?

you kissed the part of his head that was most accessible to you and whispered back to him. “of course. it’s a special day, and you’re special to me.” he pulled away and looked at you. dean’s cheeks were damp and his lips were swollen from crying.

“no one’s ever done something like this for me i-“ a sob wracked his body and cut him off. you pulled him down to kiss you.

you hadn’t known dean for that long, one and a half, maybe two years. but in that time you really gotten close. and while you never verbally defined anything you both knew where the two of you stood.

dean kissed you back instantaneously and with such a fervor that sent a chill up your spine. you could feel the tears that slipped down his face, but didn’t mind in the slightest.

you pulled away and he kissed you once more in a pecking motion. your thumbs wiped away the tears that remained. “and i was thinking,” you started, “that we could go to the diner in town later. get some dinner and pie?”

“just you and me?” he asked, his face lighting up gently.

“yeah. just you and me.”

[energ00n]

honestly the more i reread the jazzop bits of ur comic the more i love it im so. grrrr. like- esp with the context of a few asks u answered its like

to me they are super touchy bsfs who almost verge on qpisms. the type of friends who people look at and are like... are they dating.? and then never find an answer 😭😭😭 i doubt jazz helps at all he is probably the type to find that confusion funny and make it worse on purpose (hes just like me)

they cuddle an mayhaps give eachother kisses on the cheek and hold hands and i love that for them!!! i think part of Dees jealousy might be like... he only met ori as primas apprentice, and that ori didnt really have any established friends?? so instead of dee integrating himself into oris existing groups and dynamics, he feels like jazz is intruding on existing dynamics!!

i hope he manages to find a balance i believe in him :) as someone who can also be very flirty/touchy with friends that are chill with it, theres always the possibility of having to pull back my interactions for the sake of jealous s/o's XD

i think D will figure it out though. 'not important' aside he cares about ori alot and in my professional opinion when you care about someone like that, its important to keep in mind balancing their joy with your jealousies and insecurities can end up being very cruel to them, if gone about incorrectly

qpps jazzop my beloved. also i cannot get over D's dig at jazz's visor oh my gods hush. you little nerd

Oh this is such a delight to read! I’m still figuring out how jazz and Orion are exactly but qp isn’t that far from it I suppose, I have several comic ideas I guess my view will solidify over time.

Jazz is Orion’s oldest friend (canon in tfp) and D can only guess what that implies, poor guy still learning about Orion as much as Orion is still learning about him. I want the Jazz situation to tackle the unknown part of a friend or s/o, yknow when you start questioning if you knew someone, who you feel you are close with, as much as you thought

Orion had a life before the apprenticeship and before D which he clearly still revels in, D cannot relate to that and it also poses as another barrier between them

[linklethehistorian]

Hi — OP here. I wanted to highlight some of the tags that I thought were worth showing from y’all insightful folks (especially those in other countries) who have been reblogging:

Also, since I’m getting a few people reblogging and/or commenting like I’m fearmongering and saying the situation is already doomed:

This was NOT my intent. I am well aware of everything that’s required for this to get passed. I’m well aware it’s a slim shot of it happening. This does not make it a non-threat. Listen to the voices around you — even those who do not live in this country. Listen to them, and take heed of their warnings. They know this situation by heart, from experience. They’ve seen it all before.

Listen to the people who know their history, who know history in general of situations that were similar. They speak the truth.

Me telling you that this will not be the end was not fearmongering and it was not an attempt to be demoralizing and it was not treating the situation like, or implying it was, an inescapable Armageddon. I know it sounds terrifying, but that’s because it is. And people need to see that. They need to think about it. They need to know what is at stake in the event this passes, however unlikely those odds may or may not be.

It was a warning. A call to action. A “unless we both as a country and as individuals act to stop it here and now, this will happen.”

The reason why I did not bring up the odds is largely because I was in a hurry to get this out, because I wanted to alert people as soon as I could. Because this it’s important. As I have said previously, this post was made very early in to this becoming public knowledge. There weren’t many places talking about it yet and I wanted to do so before people started flooding in with the dangerous, downplaying “don’t worry, it’s a 0% chance” rhetoric that would convince people it wasn’t worth acting against and that they didn’t have to do anything, because they’d think they could trust it would all just be okay.

And you should never just trust that it will all be okay, if there’s something you can do to help ensure that. The odds of the situation are ultimately entirely irrelevant when it comes to the necessity to act. You should always treat situations like this like if you don’t act, no one will.

As I have said in another post, while it’s understandable people want to comfort themselves, there is no such thing as a 0% chance, and there is also no such thing as slim odds unless you act in every way you can to ensure the odds are, in fact, as slim as you believe and hope them to be, and spreading anything along those lines is to play an extremely dangerous game that only helps your enemy.

We are not omniscient. We cannot read the hearts and minds of each individual member of congress and head of state and know in an instant how they feel, nor can we see the future. Betting on odds to save your life and your fate and the lives and fates of everyone you know and love when you could be doing something to at least help those odds is a fool’s game.

Do your research. Know your odds, if it helps to comfort you. Check out the links the kind people in the reblogs and comments have sent or offered you and listen to those around you.

But don’t ever assume that you don’t have to act. Especially on important matters like this.

Yes, part of the reason this bill got passed may have been a distraction tactic to get you to look the other way from other things going on; HOWEVER, THIS DOES NOT MAKE IT ANY LESS DANGEROUS OR A NON-THREAT.

Multiple things can be a threat at once. Something can be both a distraction and a serious attempt to alter the course of the American future. You can care about multiple things at once. You don’t have to choose. But if you do choose only a few, certainly don’t choose to ignore the amendment that could permanently alter how America runs and allow this man — or people like him — to have a grip over this country for 12 years each, and pave the way for lifelong dictatorships.

Thanks for your time and all the reblogs that help made this post spread. My blog is not super popular, so I never could’ve dreamed this would fly away like it has, but I’m so happy that it was something important like this that took off.

I love you all. We’re in this together. Protect your country in any way you can. Be safe. There is hope, but it’s hope we need to help carve out by our own hands. Not hope we put blindly into the hands of others.

Source

Transcript:

“BREAKING: A constitutional amendment has been filed allowing President Trump to seek a 3rd term in office.

"No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than three times, nor be elected to any additional term after being elected to two consecutive terms, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice."

It was filed by Congressman Andy Ogles (R-TN).

Don’t let this slip by unnoticed. This is not just “one extra term”, it’s a warning shot. It’s a red flag. It’s an omen.

They are slowly turning up the heat in the pan. Do not be the frog who sits denying it’s getting hotter.

One extra term will become two, two will become three, and three will eventually give way to lifelong reign of each president.

Fight. Fight for God’s sake.

Contact your local representative of congress. Convince them we do not want this.

We are going to end up in a dictatorship.

@ikiyou

Please help spread this. I don’t usually get political and I don’t usually ask for assistance but this is important and you have more reach.

[myjjongie]

۶ৎ SWEET, SWEET, SWEET, KISS ── s. jaeyun

IN WHICH: you've never had your first kiss before. who better to help you out with that problem? your lovely boyfriend jake of course!

PAIRING: bf!jake x gf!fem reader GENRE/WARNINGS: fluff, established relationship, skin ship, kissing WORD COUNT: 1.2k ₊⊹♡ EVIE'S NOTE: this was posted way later than i intended, sorry about that :P but here it is whaaat !!?? also yes its lowercase intended i'm sorry i'm crazy </3 and lastly hope yall like it !! <3

it had been a month since you confessed to jake sim. before he became your boyfriend he was your hallway crush. yes, you may have had mutual friends but he was never really your friend. so when the words “i like you too” came out of his mouth it was a shock. well more so a life altering shock. for once a guy you like finally liked you back. there were both pros and cons on the situation.

pro, you were dating someone who actually liked you back. con? you’ve never been in a relationship… so anything that had to do with a relationship was entirely new to you. that meant holding hands, cuddling, dates, long phone calls, and last but not least… kissing. as a college student the mere thought of not only never being in a relationship but also never having your first kiss was mortifying in a way for you. so for the first month of your relationship, you did everything you could to not kiss jake.

in hindsight it was honestly ridiculous. you avoided kissing your boyfriend for a whole month all cause you didn’t know how to kiss to begin with... anytime you felt jake lean in for a kiss you’d find any excuse to get out of it. from turning away to look at something else, letting out a nervous laugh, or even pretending to check a message on your phone. you always felt bad for avoiding it.

but now here you were sitting on jake’s couch in his apartment. his face was leaning in as he was getting ready to kiss you once again. with no hesitation you stopped him before his lips could touch yours.

“oh have you seen that new movie that came out on netflix?! what was it called again?” you laughed nervously trying to move jake’s focus onto something else.

jake was just too observant for his own good. one month into the relationship and he already knew you like the back of his hand.

“yn you’ve been weird lately.” a pout began to form on his face. his brows also furrowed in worry as well.

“i won’t lie. i’ve noticed anytime i try to reach in for a kiss you’re immediately dismissive of me. did i do something wrong?” now his soft pout deepened into a frown. the hurt expression he had pained you. thinking that jake felt he did something wrong made the feeling in your chest tighten up. jake was never in the wrong, it was you for letting your nerves get the better of you.

“no. no! it’s not like that jake. i just…” taking in a deep breath you let out a sigh. you couldn’t let this continue on any longer. it was now or never to tell jake the truth.

“ugh. just. just promise me you won’t laugh…” your voice faltered a bit as you mustered up the power to spill the truth. your eyes looked into his to see his eyes reflect a serious expression.

“of course.”

biting your lip nervously you finally say the words that you hoped to never share. “i’ve never had my first kiss!” your voice came off a bit loud as you spilled out your confession. you closed your eyes not wanting to see the reaction on jake’s face.

it was silent for a moment. then a small stifle of a laugh was heard in the room. jake was laughing. opening your eyes you immediately opened your mouth to speak.

“you said you wouldn’t laugh!” now you were the one with a frown on your face.

“i know i know. i just. i didn’t think you were gonna say that.” jake could barely form the sentence letting a few laughs out.

“babe is that why you were avoiding my kisses all this time? it’s okay if you haven’t had your first kiss yet. did you think i would judge you for it?” his fingers softly grazed your cheek as he gently tucked some hair behind your ear.

“well no. i just…. i didn’t wanna kiss you badly… is all..” your cheeks let off a soft red color at the creeping embarrassment.

“hey now. that’s why i’m here. if you think you were gonna do badly, you have me to practice with.” jake couldn’t help but finish off his words with a cheeky smile.

you roll your eyes slightly whilst giving him a gentle punch to his arm.

“what? i’m being serious. how about we learn now? is that okay with you? i’m not overstepping am i?”

you found it adorable the minute he backtracked on his statement. jake unconsciously wanting to make you feel comfortable and safe made your stomach do flips. he truly was a perfect boyfriend.

“yes jakey that’s fine.” your voice came off more calmer as your nerves slowly subsided.

without anything more to say, jake changed the way you and him sat on the couch. you were both now sitting there, both your faces in front of each other. his arm rested on the back of the couch while his other hand was gently placed on your knee. you sat there with crossed legs slowly feeling nervous again, you fidgeted with your fingers in your lap.

“okay to start off. don’t think too much about the kiss. i promise you it’s easier said then done. when you’re in the moment you won’t be thinking about it. we’re gonna jump right into it so just try pressing your lips onto mine. okay? and don’t be nervous. it’s just me yn.”

still feeling shy you quickly peck jake’s lips. the contact between you two was no more than 2 seconds or even less than that. you looked up to jake to shyly ask “like that?”

your eyes had a gaze of innocence making jake feel slightly flustered.

“fuck… you’re way too cute yn.” jake murmured under his breath. without a second to spare jake’s lips gently brushed against yours. his lips now locking with yours felt different then the quick peck you gave him mere seconds ago. you froze unsure of what to do next, but jake didn’t rush it. his movements were gentle and attentive. his hand cupped your cheek to help tilt your face a bit. the new angle alone helped melt away the nerves in your body. then finally you got the hang of it, following his lead each movement felt more natural as the time went on.

at a certain point jake parted ways from the kiss. he couldn’t help but enjoy the way you breathed in for air afterwards. he desperately wanted to nibble at your lips but knew it would’ve been too much for you in the moment. instead he was now peppering your face with kisses. your cheeks, forehead, and jawline were not left without a kiss to them. your body shivered at the ticklish feeling of jake’s lips kissing along your jawline. finally stopping, he let out a deep sigh admiring your face before speaking.

“see that wasn’t so bad was it?” jake asked out as his thumb gently brushed against your bottom lip.

your face felt heated from all the small kisses jake gave you afterwards. you shook your head in agreement too tongue tied to find the words to speak. jake let out a soft laugh as he eyed you attentively.

“next time can i teach you how to make out?” jake teased as he fluttered his eye lashes flaunting his puppy eyes.

“hmmm we’ll see…” you replied shyly, a small smile making its way onto your lips.

before being able to even think about the future lessons. jake quickly pecked your lips, giving you that big smile that you always adored.

perm taglist ( open! send a ask to be added ) . . . @ikeulove @leehsngs @nickiminajleftasscheek

©myjjongie 2025

[waitsobs]

THE LONG GAME ⋆˚࿔ chapter thirty!

When popular actress y/n l/n's private account gets exposed, it is revealed that she has a crush on one of the girls from the girl group katseye. y//n tries to de-escalate the situation, but makes it worse, and loses her chance with the girl. The only way she think of winning the girl over is by playing the long game. 

BEDROOM CONFESSIONS

When y/n walked into her room, she froze, her breath hitching in her throat as her heart skipped a beat. She had expected it to be one of her friends, but instead sitting on her bed was a girl with fiery ginger hair.

“Megan?” y/n questioned, confusion seeping through her words as her eyes widened. “What... what are you doing here?” Her chest tightened, as a rush of old feelings flooded her all at once. 

“I texted you, asking if we could talk,” Megan replied, her voice quiet but steady. “You didn’t respond, so… this was the second best option.” A small, almost sad smile tugged at the corners of her lips. 

“Yeah, I was hanging out with Minji. Sorry,” y/n muttered, her words feeling emptier than she intended as she quickly shut the door behind her, a wall of silence falling between them. 

She could feel Megan’s presence like a weight in the room as she made her way to her bed, every step heavier than the last. As she glanced she swears she saw Megan's expression falter for a single second as she sat on the bed, assuring there was a few inches between them.

“I saw,” Megan said, her voice flat, like she was trying to act nonchalant about the mention of Minji, though y/n could feel the tension in the air between them. She cleared her throat, her eyes drifting away for a moment as if gathering courage, before speaking again. “I came here to apologize… for everything. For blocking you, for ghosting you… I’m sorry.”

y/n cut her off before she could say more. “Megan, I already told you, I’m over the whole blocking thing. It’s fine.” But even as the words left her mouth, a heavy bitterness coated them, like she was trying to convince herself more than Megan.

“It’s not fine,” Megan replied, her voice breaking just slightly. She looked at y/n, eyes glistening with something that almost looked like regret. “Everything’s not fine. We haven’t talked in six months, and those were the worst months of my life without you.”

Megan’s words hung in the air, heavy and raw, pulling at y/n’s chest in ways she couldn’t explain. 

“And with the whole blocking thing…” Megan began, her voice trembling with the weight of what she wanted to say, but she was immediately cut off by y/n.

“Megan, you really do—” y/n started, her words sharp, but once again, she was interrupted.

“y/n, please, just let me finish,” Megan pleaded, her voice cracking on the last word. y/n hesitated, nodding in silence, her eyes unreadable but her heart pounding, waiting for Megan to speak.

Megan took a shaky breath before continuing, her words coming out slower, like she was afraid to say them, afraid of how they might sound. “I blocked you the first time because I was genuinely upset. You were pretending like you didn’t even know who I was.” Her eyes flickered up y/n’s. “And then the second time I actually don’t know why I did but now I’m wishing I didn’t.”

y/n didn’t know how to respond. She was frozen, She felt like she was caught in a storm of emotions she wasn’t ready to face. The silence between them thickened, each second stretching on like an eternity, neither of them moving or speaking.

y/n broke the silence, her voice trembling as she spoke. “Megan, I have something to tell you.” She couldn’t bring herself to look at her— everything felt too real. Instead, she turned her gaze away and took a shaky breath. “That private account… was mine.” The words felt like they had weight, a thousand emotions tied to them. “Everything that got leaked… it was me.”

When y/n finally dared to look at Megan, she was met with wide, searching eyes, with an emotion behind them that made her want to look away again.

“What?” Megan’s voice cracked, her expression a mix of hurt and disbelief. “Is that why you lied about not knowing who I am?”

“Yeah. When everything came out… I was scared. It all blew up so fast, and it was the only thing I could think of. I didn’t mean for it to go the way it did.” Her voice wavered.

Megan didn’t let her get any further. Her words were laced with something raw, desperate. “Is everything you said about me true?” she asked, her gaze piercing into y/n’s soul. “About you liking me?”

y/n’s chest tightened, the confession that had been lurking in the back of her mind now spilling out faster than she could control, but now that it was out in the open, there was no turning back.

“Yeah,” y/n breathed out, the words heavy on her tongue. “It was true.”

“Was?” Megan’s voice cracked with the weight of the question, her eyes searching y/n’s face for some kind of answer. “Meaning you don’t like me anymore?”

“Megan, I don’t know,” she said, her voice almost breaking. “It’s complicated. Between the blocking and us making up, and then you blocking me again, and us not speaking for two months... and then six months of silence... which, yeah, was my fault too... it got confusing.

Megan agreed, her voice quiet. “Yeah, I see how that’s confusing, and I don’t blame you. I was playing around with you and your emotions, and I’m sorry.”

Y/n let out a heavy sigh, trying to push down the knot in her chest. “Okay, you’ve got to stop apologizing now. I forgive you.” A small, reluctant smile tugged at her lips, but it was enough to let Megan know things were starting to between them were okay.

Megan hesitated, her eyes still searching y/n’s face. “So… are we good now?”

y/n nodded, her smile softening. “Yeah, we’re good.”

Megan's shoulders visibly relaxed, a breath she’d been holding for what felt like forever finally leaving her. “Okay, well then I guess I’ll go then,” she said, rising from the bed, but her movements were slower now.

Y/n quickly tugged on Megan’s shirt, pulling her back down. “Wait a minute,” she said, her voice a little more playful this time. She couldn’t help herself. “You wanna stay a while and watch D.E.B.S.?”

Megan’s face lit up at the suggestion, her smile spreading wider. “You really know me,” she said, laughing lightly.

The pair sat in comfortable silence for a moment, finally free from the tension. It felt like they were starting over, in a good way, and y/n found herself laughing a little, the weight in her chest lifting with each passing second. They were going to be okay. (Maybe)

masterlist ⭑.ᐟ next

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[heechwe]

sweet everythings | 𝐬𝐣𝐲

୨୧ pairing:sim (jake) jaeyun x fem!reader || ୨୧ word count: 0.3k || ୨୧ genre: fluff, smut || ୨୧ tags: friends to lovers au, dirty talk, praise kink, fingering, oral (f receiving) || ୨୧ synopsis: "I could listen to you all day." + "You take my fingers so well don't you?" || ⟢ AUTHOR'S NOTE: For my darling @yvnempire!

↪ WANT A DRABBLE DIARY ENTRY? REQUEST ONE.ᐟ

When Jake told you he loved hearing the sound of your voice, even discussing the humdrum routine of your boring shifts at work, you played it off like a joke. Most of the time, he loves to tease.

It’s what you love about his friendship. His ability to make light of any situation knows no bounds, and it contrasts perfectly with your high-strung life.

In the heat of that moment, before he found the courage to press his mouth to yours for the first time, he had to let you know he’s never been more serious. “I could listen to you all day.”

And now, with his head and fingers buried between your thighs, he thinks the sounds of your pleasure may be more beautiful than any words in any existing language.

He prods your soft walls with his index and middle finger as he takes your clit between his lips. Your vocal reminders of how well he’s doing eating you out exist on a loop, revolving from little whimpers to long, drawn-out moans.

“You take my fingers so well, don’t you, love?” He says when he comes up for air, grinning like a kid on Christmas. He looks utterly blissed out, despite being the one not receiving any physical affection. “Just like I knew you would,” he says more to himself than to you with that same grin still plastered on his face.

He dives back in, your plush skin squeezing and tightening around him from all sides. He licks and teases your cunt like he’s so clearly good at, using all of the tricks up his sleeve for the one person he’s always wanted.

And he’s barely started.

@gyubakeries @loserlvrss @yvnempire

𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 ౨ৎ˚₊

@kstrucknet @k-films @kvanity-main @lapydiaries @moadiarynet @sweetvenomnet @onedoornet @sayxonet @violetanet @svthub @whipped-kpop-creators

[informaturge]

1 - Keziah had a pretty good idea of which way the wind was blowing the moment Bellara popped out of the bushes with the big eyes and the magitech gauntlet and the absent-minded smart girl vibes. I imagine a silent "oh god dammit" in her head.

2- I have no idea. I am not privy to the inner workings of her mind. Keziah remains mind-boggled that it happened at all.

3 - I think that up until the whole "Rook is trapped in a ghost prison" thing there was a mutual "I like you but we don't have time for this right now" thing going on, but afterward it flipped to "on second thought we might not have time for this later".

4 - Keziah is Mourn Watch. Bellara is a Veil Jumper. They both dig up ancient hazards and put a stop to them. The only real difference is whose closet the skeletons are pouring out of. And how literal the skeletons are.

5 - I mean technically they're both elves, but Bellara is more aware and immersed in elf... stuff, whereas Keziah was basically raised to be a self-aiming gun by ghosts and gravedigger priests. I think they find each other's accumulated knowledge and experiences fascinating.

6 - Something the two of them have in common is a love of learning stuff. I think a lot of their relationship revolves around sharing hyperfixations. Does Keziah know what a manalytic converter is for? No. But Bellara does, and as such it's obviously important, so if she sees one she'll be sure to point it out. Is Bellara wary of Keziah's extensive collection of weird bones and scarification implements? I mean, a bit, but only because some of them are very delicate and others are very sharp. Doesn't mean that they don't talk for hours about the metallurgy of good knife steel.

7 - Bellara is easily flustered and Keziah isn't good at portraying emotions so I think it takes a while before they figure each other out, but once they do there's probably a lot of publoc hand-holding and sitting in laps. Anything more than that isn't really my area of expertise.

8 - I imagine they're known by name by the staff of any decent museum.

9 - I had her on my team for most of the game. And in my head their combat banter mostly revolves around their different approaches to fighting, Bel having all this elaborate mobility and tactical stuff going on with firing angles and magic arrows, in stark contrast to Kez whose entire combat strategy is abusing life-steal and burning health for mana to direct a continuous firehose necromantic laser death ray at anything in her way.

10 - I mean, Keziah shortens it to "Bel" and Rook is already a nickname, but other than that, not really.

11 - Keziah said "Huh. I think I might love you." at the dinner table during a particularly animated group conversation, but her one milky eye makes it hard to tell what she's looking at so everyone assumed she was talking to the cutlery.

12 - "Shut up I'm a genius." Spoken immediately after doing something stupid.

13 - All of my music is horrible crunchy electronic brutalism. Not nearly optimistic enough to associate with Bellara.

14 - I'm pretty sure they bring each other weird shit they find on the ground CONSTANTLY.

15 - Bellara built a god-killing knife out of magic radioactive waste to try and cut a hole in the fabric of reality and drag her love interest out of ghost prison. If nothing else, she was definitely thinking like Keziah to come up with that one.

16 - Keziah knew she'd get out eventually. Even if she had to tear a hole through the Fade's bones with her teeth. The idea that somewhere out there Bellara wasn't smiling and writing her stories was more than enough fuel to burn the place down.

17 - Keziah loves that Bellara will decide she wants to do something and just put her whole ass into it until she has it figured out. Bellara loves Keziah's seemingly unconscious habit of looking at every situation from multiple (sometimes contradictory) perspectives to make sure she knows what's actually going on.

18 - All anyone will know is that the beloved fictionalized serials of their adventures will end with a "to be continued".

Questions for your Rook and their partner:

Does your Rook fall for their partner at first sight? If not, what moment made your Rook realize they're in love with them?

When does the partner realize that they're in love with Rook?

How long does it take for them to officially get together? Did any of the other Lighthouse members have any suspicions beforehand?

Do your Rook and their partner share the same faction? If so, does that affect their relationship at all? If not, what is your Rook's opinion of their partner's faction? What is the partner's opinion of Rook's faction?

Do they have different cultural backgrounds (e.g. a Rook who was raised in Antiva with Harding who was raised in Ferelden)? If so, do they ever share parts of their culture with each other? If they're similar, how do they celebrate their culture together?

What is their favorite thing to do together? Do they share any hobbies? Does your Rook teach their partner their own hobbies? Does the partner teach Rook theirs?

Are they a physically affectionate couple? Are they fine displaying those affections in public or do they prefer to be in private? If they're not, how do they prefer to show their love instead?

What does their ideal date look like? Do they go on much?

Does your Rook bring them out often? How are they like on the battlefield? Do they banter much?

Do they have any nicknames for each other? Who uses terms of endearment more?

Who says "I love you" first? What is the other's reaction? Who thinks it first?

Any inside jokes?

What song(s) do you associate with them?

Does your Rook get their partner any other gifts (besides the one already in-game)? Does the partner get Rook any? Any gifts that are particularly special?

What was the partner's reaction to Rook being imprisoned in the Fade? How did they cope? How did they react upon seeing Rook again?

How did your Rook react to getting trapped in the Fade and separated from their partner?

What is your Rook's favorite thing about their partner? What is the partner's favorite thing about Rook?

When all is said and done, where would they like to retire together? Is marriage in the cards for them? Children? Pets?

[muletia]

A bit of a sillier thought but I can't stop thinking about it: so the Cortical Psychic Patch right?

Imagining a situation where the cons have an autobot (say, Optimus for example's sake) captured and hooked up. They're thrilled, having direct access to the Prime's neural net might as well be an automatic win scenario. All they need now is to get some info like their base's location or how to access their systems and it's game over.

Expect that- apparently harboring a life ruining obsession makes for a fantastic firewall. They cannot. find. a. single. damn. thought. that's not about this one particular human. From memories to fantasies, it takes so long to find ANYTHING useful that it actually buys the autobots enough time come rescue him. Leaving the cons with nothing for their troubles except Prime's worryingly vivid daydreams about living out in the countryside with you. At least they have some potential blackmail?

(Idk I just think it'd be a shame to not make use of the ability to crack open a bot's brain and see how much room you take up in there)

YOU ARE SO BIG BRAINED FOR THIS IDEA ANON OH MY GOD,,,

You’re literally saving the entire planet from destruction just by existing, lmao.

And Optimus’s career is over if they caught even a glimpse of some freaky fantasies involving you sparking him up. And they definitely saw how the great Optimus Prime secretly dreams of interfacing with a human, while wanting to be entirely submissive to them on top of it. Has he completely lost his mind at this point? Maybe this war really has gone on for too long if Optimus has become this irrational...

Oh, Primus, you truly occupy every corner of his processor. The Decepticons are starting to wonder if there’s ever a moment when Optimus isn’t thinking about you (spoiler: there isn’t). How does he even function when you’ve completely taken control over him? He remembers every moment spent with you, every conversation, every glance you’ve ever given him. The knowledge he has about you is treated as sacred, and if he could, he would worship the ground you walk on. Can someone even live like this? How does Optimus manage to function when you’re not with him?

Since then, Decepticons are convinced that humans must produce some kind of pheromone or aphrodisiac if you managed to wrap Optimus Prime himself around your tiny little finger…

[03jyh23]

🌷⌇not on your own finding our way back part 9; a choi jongho mini-series

ex-boyfriend! idol! jongho x ex-girlfriend! single-mom! reader

│ series masterlist│ next │

│synopsis: five years have passed since jongho last saw you. your lives have taken drastically different paths, with jongho achieving fame and you focusing on raising your daughter, nari, in quiet anonymity. when jongho discovers he has a daughter, he's determined to be a part of her life.

│genre: a slice of life, romance, fluff, some angst

│trigger warnings: emotional distress, confrontations, anxiety, talking about past trauma

│words: 6.5k

│reminder: what you’re about to read is purely fiction, so let’s keep it separate from reality.

!minors do not interact!

as always

love, mon ♡

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│ @vixensss │ @all-fandoms-rise │ @finnydraws │

│ @jonghosbrainrot │ @ateezswonderland │ @stayatinykatsy

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│ if you wish to be tagged let me know here! ♡

Hongjoong sat down across from you in a corner of a nearby café, his hair hidden beneath a beanie. He placed two steaming cups on the table and took a deep breath, his eyes showing a mix of concern and determination. You wrapped your hands around the warm cup, drawing comfort from its heat as you gathered your thoughts.

"How are you holding up?" Hongjoong asked gently, his eyes filled with genuine concern as he leaned forward slightly. "Really? Don't hold anything back - I want to understand exactly what you're going through right now."

You let out a shaky breath, watching the steam rise from your coffee in delicate spirals as you gathered your thoughts. "I feel... lost," you admitted quietly, your fingers tracing the rim of the cup. "Everything's happening so fast, like I'm caught in a whirlwind, and I don't know what's best anymore. Every time I think I've found my footing, something else changes. I wasn't prepared for any of this - how could anyone be?"

Hongjoong nodded thoughtfully, taking a careful sip of his coffee before setting it down with deliberate care. His eyes remained fixed on you as he asked, "What made you reach out to Jongho after all these years? What finally convinced you it was time to bridge that gap?"

The question caught you off guard, making you pause to really consider your answer. Your hands wrapped tighter around the warm cup as memories flooded back. "I... I saw how happy Nari was becoming, how she was blooming into this incredible little person. But then she started asking questions about her father - innocent questions that broke my heart because I couldn't answer them. I realized that keeping them apart wasn't protecting her anymore - it was holding her back from something beautiful, from knowing a part of herself."

"That same instinct," Hongjoong said softly, his voice carrying a note of understanding, "that desire to give Nari what she needs - maybe that's what should guide you now too. The situation isn't ideal, far from it, but your priority has always been keeping her safe and happy, right? That hasn't changed, even if everything else has."

You nodded slowly, feeling tears prick at the corners of your eyes as the weight of everything settled over you once again. "I just feel so helpless," you whispered, your voice threatening to break. "Everything's being decided so quickly, and I-" you broke off, wringing your hands together beneath the table where they couldn't betray your trembling. "I don't want to get married. Not like this, not because we're being forced into it by circumstances beyond our control. It's all happening too fast, and I can't help feeling like we're being swept along by forces we can't fight."

Hongjoong was quiet for a long moment, his expression thoughtful, and he seemed to weigh his next words carefully. When he finally spoke, his voice was gentle but hesitant, carrying the weight of a question that needed to be asked. "Can I ask you something?" he began softly, his eyes meeting yours with careful consideration. "Do you... do you still love him?"

The question made you shift uncomfortably in your chair. Your eyes darted around the café, suddenly hyper-aware of your surroundings despite knowing the relative privacy of your secluded corner. The weight of Hongjoong's hand settling gently over yours drew your attention back, and you found yourself caught in his understanding gaze. You let out a shaky breath, but before you could formulate a response, Hongjoong squeezed your hand softly and spoke again.

"I'm not asking to pressure you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Perhaps it's me looking for redemption after how I separated both of you," Hongjoong states before continuing, his eyes clouding with a hint of regret. "As the leader back then, I thought I was doing what was best for Jongho and the rest of the boys. But watching how things unfolded now, seeing the pain it caused... I've often wondered if I made the right choice."

Your fingers traced invisible patterns on the coffee cup as memories of those late nights in the dance studio flooded back. "Back then..." you started, your voice soft with reminiscence, "we thought we could keep our relationship hidden forever."

Hongjoong nodded, his eyes distant with recognition. "He'd always stay later than everyone else, claiming he needed extra practice. We never questioned it because that was just like him - always striving for perfection."

You let out a bitter laugh, tinged with both fondness and pain. "We were so careful, or at least we thought we were. Meeting in secret, avoiding public places, keeping our distance. But then..." Your voice trailed off, the weight of past decisions hanging heavy in the air.

Hongjoong leaned back in his chair, his eyes filled with regret. "Then I found out. The company was already putting immense pressure on us to succeed, and I thought..." he paused, choosing his words carefully. "I thought I was protecting everyone by separating you two."

"Don't," you cut him off sharply, your voice trembling with years of suppressed hurt. "You took that choice away from us. Do you know how lost I felt? How terrified and alone I was, especially after finding out I was pregnant? If you had just..." you trailed off, choking back tears. "If you had known about the baby, would things have been different?"

"God, yes," Hongjoong whispered, his face etched with regret. "If I had known you were pregnant... I would have never..." You watched as his expression shifted, a mix of confusion and realization crossing his features. "I... I never thought about it again after that day," he admitted quietly. "It wasn't until months later when I saw how broken Jongho became, how he'd stare at his phone for hours or disappear for long walks alone... That's when the guilt really started eating at me. I was so focused on protecting the group that I didn't see the full impact of what I'd done to him."

"Why are you telling me this now?" you asked quietly, finally taking a sip of your coffee that had cooled considerably during your conversation.

Hongjoong took off his beanie and ran his fingers through his hair, a gesture that seemed more about buying time than fixing his appearance. His eyes dropped to the floor, breaking the intense eye contact he'd maintained throughout your conversation. The confident leader who had been guiding the discussion just moments ago suddenly seemed uncertain, vulnerable even.

"I'm telling you this because..." Hongjoong paused, his fingers drumming lightly against his coffee cup. "Because I want you to understand that sometimes, even when we think we're making the right decisions, life has a way of showing us we were wrong. And now, seeing you and Jongho, seeing Nari... I can't help but wonder if this is life giving all of us a second chance to make things right."

You felt your throat tighten at his words, memories of those early days flooding back - the fear, the loneliness, but also the fierce determination that had carried you through. "A second chance," you repeated softly, the words tasting bittersweet on your tongue.

"You never answered my question," Hongjoong reminded you gently. "About whether you still love him."

The question hung in the air between you, heavy with implications. You stared into your coffee cup as if it might hold the answers you were searching for. "I..." you started, then stopped, gathering your thoughts. "It's complicated. The feelings didn't just disappear, but they're different now. They're tangled up with hurt and responsibility and..." you trailed off, struggling to find the right words.

"And fear?" Hongjoong supplied softly.

You nodded, feeling tears threatening to spill over. "Everything's different now. We're different people. And there's so much more at stake than just our hearts this time."

Hongjoong reached across the table and squeezed your hand gently. "You know, sometimes the things that scare us the most are the ones most worth fighting for. I've watched Jongho these past few years, and seen how he's grown and changed. The way he lights up whenever Nari's name is mentioned, how carefully he's tried to build a relationship with her while respecting your boundaries..."

"Until he didn't," you interjected, a flash of anger cutting through your vulnerability.

"Until he didn't," Hongjoong agreed with a sigh. "But even that mistake came from a place of love, didn't it? Not malice, not carelessness, but from wanting to be there for his daughter."

You took a deep breath, the words tumbling out before you could stop them. "I just don't feel like he's fighting enough," you admitted, your voice tight with frustration. "If he's so willing to listen to the company now, just blindly following their directions... how is that protecting Nari? How can I trust that he'll stand up for her when it matters?"

Hongjoong's expression shifted, a mix of understanding and concern crossing his features. "What do you mean?"

"If he's not ready to be a father privately, what happens when it becomes public?" Your voice cracked slightly as you voiced your deepest fears. "When there are cameras everywhere, when every decision we make is scrutinized, when Nari's entire life becomes public property... I need to know he'll put her first, not the company, not his career, not what looks good for the press." You wrapped your arms around yourself, suddenly feeling vulnerable. "Right now, he's just agreeing to everything they suggest. Marriage, public statements, carefully orchestrated appearances - it's like he's handed over control of our lives to them. The same company that..." you trailed off, shooting a meaningful look at Hongjoong.

"The same company that separated made me separate both of you in the first place," Hongjoong finished quietly, understanding dawning in his eyes.

"Exactly," you whispered. "And now they're orchestrating this whole thing like it's just another comeback schedule. But this isn't about album sales or public image - this is our daughter's life. I need to know that when things get tough, when the company pushes too far or the public pressure becomes too much, he'll choose her. Fight for her. Because right now..." you shook your head, wiping away a stray tear. "Right now it feels like he's just going through the motions, following a script someone else wrote."

Hongjoong leaned forward, his expression serious as he considered your words. "Have you told him any of this? These fears, these doubts?" When you shook your head slightly, he continued softly, "Maybe that's where you need to start - not with the company, not with the wedding plans, but with Jongho himself."

"I just... I don't know how to talk to him," you confessed, your voice barely above a whisper. "When I see him, when I look into those big brown eyes of his, I just..." you trailed off, wringing your hands nervously.

"You're letting your walls down," Hongjoong finished for you, his voice gentle and understanding. "And that scares you because you've spent so long building them up."

You nodded, grateful for his perception. "Every time I'm around him, I feel like I'm a teenager again, sneaking into that practice room after hours. All those feelings I've tried so hard to bury just come rushing back, and I..." you paused, taking a shaky breath. "I can't afford to be that girl anymore. I have to think about Nari first."

"Maybe," Hongjoong suggested carefully, "being strong for Nari doesn't mean you have to be strong alone. Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is let someone else help carry the weight."

You stared down at your now-empty coffee cup, tears threatening to spill over. "But what if we try and it all falls apart again? What if this time it's not just my heart that gets broken, but Nari's too?"

Hongjoong shifted in his seat, his expression softening as he watched you struggle with your fears. "You know," he began thoughtfully, "I've seen Jongho grow from that passionate, sometimes impulsive teenager into the man he is today. And if there's one thing that hasn't changed, it's how deeply he feels everything."

"That's what scares me," you admitted, your voice barely audible. "The depth of it all. The intensity."

"Can I tell you something?" Hongjoong asked, leaning forward slightly. "Last week, after one of our practice sessions, I found Jongho in the old practice room - you know, the one where you used to meet. He was just sitting there, staring at his phone, looking at pictures of Nari. And he told me something that stuck with me."

You looked up, curiosity mingling with the tears in your eyes. "What did he say?"

"He said that every time he looks at Nari, he sees all the moments he missed - her first steps, her first words, all those midnight feedings and early morning cuddles. And it kills him that he can't go back and be there for those moments. But what scares him even more is the thought of missing any more of them."

Your breath caught in your throat as Hongjoong continued, "He's not just going along with the company's plans blindly. He's terrified of doing or saying the wrong thing and losing his chance to be in Nari's life - in your life. Maybe what you see as passive acceptance is actually him trying desperately not to mess up again."

"But that's exactly what I mean," you protested, your voice stronger now. "He needs to be willing to stand up, to fight-"

"To fight like you did?" Hongjoong interrupted gently. "You've been fighting for Nari since the day you found out about her. You've had years to learn how to be strong for her, to figure out what battles are worth fighting. Jongho's just starting that journey."

You fell silent, letting his words sink in. The café around you had grown quieter, the afternoon crowd thinning out, leaving you in a pocket of contemplative silence.

"Maybe," Hongjoong suggested softly, "instead of waiting for him to know how to fight the right battles, you could show him. You've been doing this alone for so long - perhaps it's time to teach him how to be the father Nari needs, rather than expecting him to know already."

You sat back, absorbing his words. The weight of the past few years pressed heavily on your shoulders, but somehow, sharing it with Hongjoong had made it feel a little lighter. "I never thought about it that way," you admitted quietly. "I've been so focused on protecting Nari that I forgot..."

"Forgot what?" Hongjoong prompted gently.

"That Jongho's learning too. That maybe he needs guidance, not just judgment." You traced the rim of your empty coffee cup with your finger, lost in thought. "It's just... teaching him means letting him in. Really letting him in. And that means being vulnerable again."

Hongjoong's eyes softened with understanding. "You know what I've learned as a leader? Sometimes the strongest thing you can do is show your vulnerability. It's not about being perfect; it's about being honest."

"But what if-" you started, then stopped yourself, shaking your head. "I keep thinking about all the what-ifs. What if the public reaction is too much? What if the company pushes too hard? What if we can't protect her?"

"Then you face it together," Hongjoong said firmly. "You're not that scared girl anymore, and he's not that same impulsive trainee. You're both stronger now, wiser. And you have something worth fighting for that's bigger than both of you."

You felt tears welling up again, but this time they felt different - not bitter or afraid, but something closer to hope. "I need to talk to him, don't I? Really talk to him, not just about arrangements and schedules, but about everything."

"Yes," Hongjoong smiled, reaching across to squeeze your hand one more time. "And when you do, remember that sometimes the bravest thing isn't fighting alone - it's letting someone fight beside you."

You smiled and held Hongjoong's gaze, your chest swelling with a hope you hadn't felt in ages. "I need to find him—oh my god, he must have been so hurt and confused... only this morning I kissed—" A laugh bubbled up from your chest as you covered your mouth with your hands, your eyes wide with the sudden realization. The warmth of that morning's kiss flooded back, making your cheeks flush.

"You did what?" Hongjoong's eyes sparkled with mischief, his lips curling into a knowing smirk. He leaned forward, clearly enjoying your flustered state. "So much for 'it's complicated,' huh?"

"Oh god," you groaned, burying your face in your hands. "This morning, when he was leaving, I told him I'm ready to tell Nari who he really is... And then he looked at me with those eyes of his and hugged me so tightly, and before I knew it—"

Hongjoong's laughter filled the café. "And here you were, giving me a whole speech about boundaries and company plans."

"I know, I know!" You peeked through your fingers, unable to help the smile spread across your face. "I'm a mess, aren't I? One minute I'm worried about him not fighting hard enough, and the next I'm kissing him like some lovesick teenager."

"Life's funny that way," Hongjoong said softly, his teasing tone giving way to something more gentle. "Sometimes our hearts know what they want long before our heads catch up."

You lowered your hands, feeling a surge of determination. "I need to find him. We need to talk – really talk. No company representatives, no carefully planned meetings. Just us."

"Go," Hongjoong nodded, his eyes warm with understanding. "But remember what I said – you're not that scared teenager anymore. You're stronger now, both of you are. Whatever comes next, face it together."

You practically flew out of the café, your heart hammering in your chest. The streets blurred past as you made your way to the company building, your mind racing faster than your feet could carry you. You needed to find him, to tell him everything that had been weighing on your heart. By the time you reached the building, you were completely out of breath, your lungs burning from the exertion. You burst through the lobby doors, your eyes scanning the familiar space desperately. Your feet carried you to the elevators, and you found yourself pressing the button for the practice room floor before you could even catch your breath properly. As the doors opened, you nearly collided with someone – Yunho, you realized, as you stumbled back slightly.

You must have looked quite a sight – cheeks flushed, hair slightly disheveled from your run, and still trying to catch your breath. "I'm looking for Jongho," you managed to say between breaths. "Have you seen him? I really need to talk to him."

"I think the company let him take a break from all of this," Yunho smiled weakly, his eyes softening with understanding. "Last I saw, he took Nari to the old practice room in the basement. Would you like me to show you the way?"

"I think I know the way," you smiled softly, memories flooding back as you walked in the elevator. Your heart was racing, but not from the earlier run - this was a different kind of anticipation altogether.

As you stepped out of the elevator, the familiar corridor stretched before you, dimly lit and quiet. Your footsteps echoed against the walls, each step bringing you closer to the room that had witnessed the beginning of your love story. The same room where, years ago, you had first watched Jongho dance until dawn, where you had fallen in love with the passion in his movements and the gentleness in his soul. Before you even reached the door, you could hear it - the soft sound of laughter, Nari's bright giggles mixing with Jongho's deeper chuckles. The sound made your heart clench with an emotion you couldn't quite name - joy, perhaps, or longing, or maybe both. You paused outside the door, your hand hovering over the handle. Through the small window, you could see them - Jongho spinning Nari around, her little feet barely touching the ground as she squealed with delight. His face was lit up with pure joy, all the careful composure he maintained in public completely gone. San and Wooyoung were there too, sitting cross-legged on the floor, cheering and clapping along as Nari showed off her dance moves. You could hear Wooyoung's distinctive laugh echoing through the room as San pretended to be a dance judge, holding up imaginary scoring cards. This wasn't just a father and daughter moment anymore - it was a family one, with two of their biggest supporters right there with them. Standing there, watching them all together in the room where your own love story began, you felt the last of your walls crumbling. Hongjoong was right - you weren't that scared teenager anymore, and neither was Jongho. You were both different people now, shaped by time and circumstance, but maybe that wasn't such a bad thing. And now you had an even bigger support system than before. Taking a deep breath, you reached for the door handle, ready to step into whatever future awaited on the other side.

The door opened with a soft creak, and all eyes turned to you. Nari's face lit up instantly, her smile brighter than ever as she called out "Mommy!" and ran towards you. Jongho's gaze met yours, and in that moment, you saw everything you needed to see - love, hope, and the promise of a future you were finally ready to build together.

"Hi princess," you kneeled to hug your daughter, your eyes focused on Jongho over her shoulder. "Are you having fun with the uncles?"

"Mommy, look! Uncle Jongho’s teaching me to dance!" Nari exclaimed, bouncing excitedly in your arms. "Uncle San says I'm a natural, just like him!"

"Hey!" Wooyoung protested from his spot on the floor, making Nari giggle. "I thought I was your favorite dancer!"

"I dance better than all of them!" Nari declared with a mischievous grin, darting away from your arms as Wooyoung gasped in mock offense.

"Oh, that's it! Come here, you little dance critic!" Wooyoung jumped to his feet, chasing after her as she squealed and ran around the practice room, her laughter echoing off the mirrors. San joined in the chase, pretending to help Nari escape from Wooyoung while making exaggerated faces that only made her laugh harder. She zigzagged between them before finally running back to you, hiding behind your legs and peeking out with bright eyes. You scooped her up in your arms, both of you still giggling from the chase. Your eyes met Jongho's across the room, and something in your expression must have conveyed your thoughts because his smile softened with understanding.

"Wooyoung, San?" you called out, adjusting Nari in your arms. "Would you guys mind keeping an eye on her for a little while? Me and Jongho... we need to talk."

"Of course!" San beamed, already reaching to take Nari from your arms. "We'll show her some real dance moves, won't we, princess?"

Wooyoung wiggled his eyebrows at Nari conspiratorially. "Maybe we can even teach her that special move we've been practicing."

As Nari clapped her hands in excitement, you shot Jongho a meaningful look and gestured towards the door. Without a word, he nodded and followed you out into the familiar hallway.

"Hey, are you alright?" Jongho's gentle voice broke through the silence of the hallway, his concern evident in the way he studied your face. The dim lighting cast soft shadows across his features, reminding you of all those late nights you'd spent in this very corridor years ago.

You took a shaky breath, trying to steady your racing heart. "I'm more than alright," you managed, your voice barely above a whisper. "I just... seeing you in there with Nari, with San and Wooyoung... it made everything so clear."

Jongho stepped closer, close enough that you could feel the warmth radiating from him. His eyes searched yours, filled with a mixture of hope and uncertainty. "Clear how?"

"I've been so scared," you admitted, your voice cracking slightly. "Scared of change, scared of what might happen, scared of letting people in. But watching you all together in that practice room... it reminded me of something I'd forgotten."

"What's that?" he asked softly, his hand tentatively reaching for yours.

"That love isn't something to be afraid of. That maybe..." you intertwined your fingers with his, drawing strength from his touch, "maybe it's time to stop running from happiness. Time to let ourselves have the family we both want."

Jongho's breath hitched, his grip on your hand tightening ever so slightly. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"Jongho, I'll agree to some of the company's demands," you said softly, squeezing his hand. "I know that now, more than ever, I'll need their protection. But," you paused, looking into his eyes with determination, "even if we can't do this exactly how I imagined, I still want to keep some things my way."

"I want you to tell Nari yourself," you said firmly. "Just you and her, father to daughter. I want her to hear it from you first, in your own words, before any press releases or public statements."

Jongho's eyes softened, and for a moment, he looked overwhelmed with emotion. "You'd let me do that?" he whispered, his voice thick with feeling.

"Of course," you smiled, reaching up to cup his cheek. "She deserves to hear it in the most personal way possible. And you deserve that moment with her, without cameras or scripts or company representatives hovering around."

He leaned into your touch, closing his eyes briefly. "I've imagined this moment so many times," he admitted. "But I never thought... I was afraid you might want to do it together, or have someone else present."

"No," you shook your head gently. "This needs to be just between father and daughter. I trust you, Jongho. I trust you to find the right words, the right moment. You've already built such a beautiful bond with her as 'Uncle Jongho' - this is just revealing the truth of what's already there."

A tear slipped down his cheek, and you brushed it away with your thumb. "Thank you," he breathed, pulling you into a tight embrace. "Thank you for trusting me with this. I promise I'll do it right. I'll make sure she knows how much I've always loved her, even before she knew who I really was."

You buried your face in his chest, breathing in his familiar scent. "I know you will," you murmured. "Just... when you tell her, make sure she knows that none of this changes how much we both love her. That you being her father doesn't mean she's losing her Uncle Jongho - she's just gaining something more."

Jongho pulled back slightly, just enough to look into your eyes. "When should I...?" he trailed off, the question hanging in the air between you.

"I think we should do it today," you said softly, watching his expression carefully. "Your boss already planned that interview for tomorrow, and..." you took a deep breath, squeezing his hand reassuringly, "I will stay here and talk about the details of how our situation will be handled from now on. You can take her for some ice cream?"

A mix of emotions crossed Jongho's face - surprise, joy, and a hint of nervousness. You continued, your voice growing softer with emotion, "She once told me she wanted to go for ice cream with her dad. I promised her that you'd take her one day."

Jongho's eyes welled up with fresh tears, but his smile was radiant. "Ice cream," he repeated, his voice thick with emotion. "Our first father-daughter date will be over ice cream."

"She loves the strawberry flavor," you offered, reaching up to straighten his collar absently, a gesture so domestic it made your heart ache. "And she always asks for extra sprinkles."

"Strawberry with extra sprinkles," he nodded, committing it to memory like it was the most important information in the world. "I'll remember that." He paused, then added with a slight tremor in his voice, "Do you really think she'll be okay with this? With me being..."

"Her dad?" you finished for him. "Jongho, she already adores you. You've seen how her face lights up every time you walk into a room. This will just give her a name for the connection she already feels with you."

You hesitated for a moment before speaking, your voice gentle but firm. "There's something else we need to discuss. About the company's plans..."

"The marriage proposal," Jongho finished softly, his eyes understanding. "I know you won't agree to it."

You looked at him, slightly surprised by his calm acceptance. "You do?"

He smiled, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind your ear. "Of course. It was a low blow from the company, trying to push that agenda. That's not how I want this to happen between us." His eyes sparkled with warmth as he added, "Besides, I'd rather win you over properly this time. No pressure, no company demands - just us finding our way back to each other."

"I'd like that," you whispered, feeling your cheeks warm at his words.

"There's something else," Jongho said, his expression turning thoughtful. "About announcing this... I was thinking, instead of letting the newspapers break the story first, what if we did it our way?"

"What do you mean?"

"I want to do a live transmission," he explained, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "Just me and Nari, after I've told her everything. Let my fans hear it from me first, see the real connection we have. No scripted interviews, no formal press releases - just a father sharing his joy with the world."

You felt tears pricking at your eyes, touched by how much thought he'd put into this. "That sounds perfect," you managed. "Your fans have always been so supportive. They deserve to be the first to know."

"And it would be more genuine this way," Jongho added, squeezing your hand. "No media speculation, no rumors - just the truth, straight from my heart."

"You've really thought this through, haven't you?" you asked softly.

"I've had some time to think about how I'd want this moment to go," he admitted.

"I'll tell the company that the transmission is one of my non-negotiable terms," you said, your voice growing stronger with conviction. "They want to control the narrative, but this... this should be yours to share. Your moment with your daughter, your way of telling your fans."

Jongho's eyes widened slightly. "You'd do that?"

"Of course," you smiled, reaching up to touch his cheek. "The company can handle all the legal paperwork and official statements afterward, but this first announcement... it needs to come from your heart. Your fans have been with you through everything - they deserve to see this genuine moment between you and Nari."

"I promise I'll make it special," he whispered, leaning into your touch. "Something beautiful for Nari to look back on someday."

"I know you will," you murmured. "You've always had a way of making important moments feel magical. Remember our first late-night dance practice?"

A soft laugh escaped him. "How could I forget? You were so nervous about getting the steps wrong but by the end of the night..."

"By the end of the night, I wasn't thinking about the steps at all," you finished, sharing a knowing smile with him.

Jongho chuckled as his eyes grew wider, remembering how that particular night had ended for both of you. You couldn't help but stare at the floor, your cheeks burning at the memory. Your eyes met his and you both burst into nervous laughter, the shared memory of that first passionate night hanging in the air between you. Jongho rubbed the back of his neck, a habit he'd never quite outgrown when he was flustered.

"I, uh..." he stammered, his cheeks flushed a deep red. "That was... I mean..." He let out a shaky breath, clearly struggling to maintain his composure.

You couldn't help but smile at his adorable awkwardness. Even after all these years, he could still turn into that shy, nervous boy you'd fallen for.

"Do you still have those moves in you, Mr. Choi?" you teased, playfully smacking his chest.

His eyes sparkled at your words, and he caught your hand against his chest, holding it there. "Maybe we should schedule another late-night practice session sometime," he murmured, his voice dropping to that low tone that still made your heart skip a beat. "You know, for old times' sake."

You felt your breath catch in your throat at the intensity in his gaze. "Jongho..." you whispered, suddenly very aware of how close you were standing.

The moment was broken by the sound of laughter from the practice room, reminding you both of where you were. Jongho cleared his throat, reluctantly letting go of your hand, but the warmth in his eyes remained.

Before you could fully process what was happening, Jongho whispered, "No, not this time," more to himself than to you. In one fluid motion, he pulled you gently back to him, his hand cupping your face as his lips found yours in a tender kiss.

You felt him flinch slightly against your lips, and immediately pulled back with concern. Your eyes widened as you noticed his bruised lip, a reminder of his earlier confrontation with Hyunwoo.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," you whispered, gently touching the corner of his mouth where the bruise was darkest. "I forgot about... does it hurt?"

Jongho caught your hand in his, pressing a soft kiss to your palm despite his injury. "Worth it," he murmured with a small, reassuring smile. "I'd take a thousand bruised lips if it meant getting to kiss you again."

You found yourself leaning into his touch, your heart racing at the tenderness in his words. Despite the bruise, despite all the years apart, his kiss still felt like coming home. Without hesitation, you tilted your face up to meet his lips again, gentler this time, careful not to cause him any pain.

Time seemed to stand still as you melted into the kiss, all the years of longing and separation dissolving in this single, perfect moment. His touch was both familiar and thrillingly new, reminding you of all the reasons you'd fallen for him in the first place.

When you finally broke apart, both slightly breathless, Jongho rested his forehead against yours. The familiar warmth of his touch sent shivers down your spine as his eyes searched yours with an intensity that made your heart race. "I've waited so long to do that again," he murmured, his thumb gently caressing your cheek in slow, tender circles. The gentleness of his touch contrasted beautifully with the passionate kiss you'd just shared, making your knees feel weak.

"Ever since the morning?" you laughed softly, unable to stop the smile spreading across your face.

His answering smile was radiant, lighting up his entire face in a way that made your breath catch. The way his eyes crinkled at the corners, filled with pure joy and affection, reminded you of all those stolen moments you'd shared in this very practice room years ago. Jongho leaned in again, placing feather-light kisses on your lips that made you giggle and hide your face against his chest, suddenly feeling shy under his tender attention. His arms wrapped around you protectively, and you could feel his chest rumble with gentle laughter.

"Remember how we used to sneak in here?" he murmured against your hair. "You'd wait until everyone had left, and I'd make up excuses about needing extra practice time..."

"And somehow you never got much actual dancing done," you teased, lifting your head to meet his amused gaze. "This place holds so many memories. Our first kiss was right there by the mirrors."

"Our first real date too," Jongho added softly. "When I brought in that little picnic at midnight. You were so surprised."

"I still can't believe you managed to sneak in an entire meal without anyone noticing," you laughed, the sound echoing in the empty hallway. "And that time we almost got caught by the cleaning staff..."

Jongho's eyes sparkled with mischief. "We got pretty good at hiding behind those storage boxes, didn't we?"

You both dissolved into quiet laughter, the shared memories wrapping around you like a warm blanket. Eventually, knowing you had to return to the others, you reluctantly pulled away from his embrace and headed back to the practice room.

As soon as you entered, Wooyoung's playful voice cut through the practice room atmosphere with theatrical flair. "Well, well, well... if it isn't our favorite lovebirds finally gracing us with their presence. Had a nice 'talk' in the hallway, did we?" His tone carried that unmistakable hint of knowing mischief that made you want to sink into the floor.

"Uncle Wooyoung says you were sharing a special adult hug!" Nari announced cheerfully, bouncing on her toes as she parroted Wooyoung's teasing, her innocent eyes wide with curiosity. "Were you really? What kind of special hug is that? Can you show me?"

You felt your face heat up to what must have been a spectacular shade of red as Jongho cleared his throat awkwardly beside you, while Wooyoung's delighted laughter echoed off the practice room walls, clearly enjoying every second of your shared embarrassment.

"Sweetie," you said quickly, kneeling down to Nari's eye level, "Uncle Wooyoung is just being silly. Sometimes grown-ups need private moments to talk about important things." You shot a pointed look at Wooyoung, who was still struggling to contain his laughter.

"Like ice cream?" Nari asked innocently, making San snort from across the room.

"Yes, exactly like ice cream," Jongho stepped in smoothly, ruffling Nari's hair affectionately. "Speaking of which, how about we go get some? Just you and me?"

Nari's eyes lit up like stars, her previous curiosity instantly forgotten. "Really? Now? Can we really?" She bounced excitedly, looking between you and Jongho with hopeful eyes.

"If it's okay with your mom," Jongho added, glancing at you with a soft smile.

"Of course it is," you nodded, your heart warming at the sight of their matching excited expressions. "Just don't let her convince you to get too many toppings."

"Extra sprinkles!" Nari cheered, already tugging at Jongho's hand. "And chocolate sauce, and gummy bears, and-"

"How about we see what they have when we get there?" Jongho laughed, allowing himself to be pulled toward the door. He threw you one last tender look over his shoulder, mouthing 'thank you' before disappearing into the hallway with an enthusiastically chattering Nari.

As their voices faded, Wooyoung sidled up next to you, a knowing grin on his face. "You know, seeing you three together... it feels right. Like this is how it was always meant to be."

Through the practice room window, you watched Jongho lift Nari into his arms as they headed to the elevator. "Yeah," you whispered, your heart full of hope for the future. "It really does."

♡│if you enjoy my writing please consider supporting me by tagging and reblogging│

[the-crooked-library]

I would like to point out how clearly remake shows us that Ellen is not satisfied with Thomas sexually because their sex scene which is shot to be not sexy on purpose clearly, also shows us that when Thomas takes her Ellen thinks and talks about Orlok and wants Thomas to be like Orlok aka kiss her heart. But he can’t. He can’t give her what she wants.

^^^^ YES this aspect is incredibly prominent, and a significant component of the disconnect in Ellen's marriage to Thomas! There's a few intersecting issues there, but they all do come down to the same thing. Ellen isn't satisfied, because Thomas is never willing to actually take her desires and preferences into account when they are together.

It's shown numerous times that, in a sexual context, Ellen wants to be worshipped. She has a dominant and possessive streak, she is extremely sensual, and these elements are essential to her pleasure. They also intersect with her desire to be seen and recognized for who she is, as well to be given the respect she is so consistently denied. These desires are all strongly discouraged - both in her time, and sometimes in ours. As a woman, she is expected to be deferring; and chaste, except for when her husband chooses. Her opinions and complexity are also never really considered; which is not unexpected, of course. Ellen is a Tragic Madwoman - it's Ophelia, all over again. If you recall, when Hamlet appears mad, the people around him assume there is more to it than his father's death; but when Ophelia does, everybody chalks it up to her father's murder, and nothing else. With all that said, what I personally love about Ellen is that, despite whatever shame she might feel around the subject, or her efforts to be proper, she always knows exactly what she wants. In part, that's what makes her married life so tragic - she keeps reaching out to Thomas, offering him these vulnerable aspects of herself, as well as an opportunity to understand her and connect with her; and she is met with one rejection after another. Still, she cannot ignore what she is - and her choosing Orlok in the end is symbolic of her deciding to "deceive" herself no longer.

Thomas, by contrast, is playing mind games with himself. In theory, he could be submissive. If he indulged that potential within himself, it could be a way for them to connect - considering Ellen's inclinations; however, he sees this aspect of himself as weak, emasculating, shameful, and thus never explores it - except by force, as per the usual gothic exploration of shame/desire, which muddles the waters in that regard. Much of the way he treats Ellen is rooted in the patriarchal rules he cannot bring himself to abandon, since doing so threatens his own sense of masculinity - and, by extension, dignity and self-worth. As such, whenever faced with a situation that might prompt him to be soft, emotional, or worshipful of her, he overcorrects instead. He is afraid of Ellen's perceived "abnormality" because of what it might mean for him. Additionally, he is fairly obviously queercoded, in a classic vampire-genre way; which, in my opinion, is yet another reason they just don't quite seem to click. Whatever he might want out of a sexual relationship, he doesn't really want it with Ellen - and, of course, given his homophobic society, that just piles on more shame, emasculation, and repression. This is why, after their one depicted sexual scene, when she laments her "uncleanliness," he cannot reassure her, no matter how he tries. He cannot accept the "abnormal" aspects of her, because the way he sees her is always affected by the way he sees himself - through a lens of misogyny, queerphobia, and horror. His care for her is therefore largely superficial; he does not know her.

All in all, I am obsessed with this aspect of their failmarriage. They're both so lonely and so desperate for companionship; but neither of them is getting what they want. Not with each other.

[moonberry69]

Not that anyone asked, but here’s my take on Caleb. I am deeply in love with him, your Honor. Yes, I am still married to the fish but Robo Apple will be taking his rightful seat as 2nd husband.

Number 1, can we talk about how spoiled MC was with Caleb? Brat level spoiled. He spoiled her ROTTEN. He treated her like a princess. He doted on her to the absolute max and seemed to love every minute of it. That man did anything and everything she asked him to do and beyond. He bought her everything she wanted and then some. She’s probably never heard the word “no” come out of his mouth when it comes to what she wants. Drying her hair? Cooking her meals? Doing her laundry? Buying her small gifts or snacks? Making her little gifts? Nurturing and comforting her when she’s sick? Being her rock when she’s scared or upset? Doing her homework? Defending her against bullying? Supporting her through anything and everything? There doesn’t seem to be any limit to what he would do for her. His entire life has revolved around her, her feelings, her wants, and her well being, ALWAYS. Its seems like the only thing he really went after for himself was his career as a pilot until joining the Farspace Fleet. And with that, it appears he joined for her safety.

Sure, it could be argued that Caleb did all these things because he wanted her dependent on him. That he used this to be manipulative. If she’s dependent on him, she’ll always need him around. But I don’t think that’s really the case, at least, not entirely. Possibly, but I don’t think so.

I don’t think Caleb’s need to control MC comes from a lack of confidence in her ability to take care of herself, either. He did seem to be perfectly supportive of her becoming a hunter despite how dangerous the job is. Worried yes but supportive. The powerful people he is in league with are probably more than she could handle alone and that could have a lot more to do with his more blatant controlling nature. But, I still don’t think that’s all there is to it when it comes to his “control and protect” antics. We as MC in the story assume that he doesn’t believe in our strength but that’s because he lies about everything and consistently dismisses us when we say we can handle a situation. Our strength and capability are constantly underestimated. He’s done this is the past, as well (his bond memory comes to mind). What else are we supposed to think when he is constantly trying to cage us and asks for us to let him handle everything? I believe Caleb’s dependence on MC plays a huge role in his need to control. She’s his life line. His world doesn’t rotate unless she’s in it. Caleb the man starts and ends with MC. Based on his apartment description, his lack of socializing, etc. he’s been alive but hasn’t been living since the explosion. It would also explain his desperation in her needing his protection during the bond moment (again, just an example). Her losing him is fine. But if he lost her? He wouldn’t be able to bear it. Not having her be a constant in his life is one thing. Him living in a world where she no longer exists is another. He wouldn’t be able to cope.

Caleb is possessive, yes. It’s obvious he always has been based on his Tender Moments and Bond memory but he gave the tether he wanted MC on some slack. That could also be because, as he said, he was holding back. I don’t think his entire reason for being so controlling and possessive is ONLY because he wants her safe and wants her for himself. I think there are layers to it. Caleb is such a complicated character and I love and adore him. He has a lot of moving parts. I have the most overwhelming urge to coddle him and smother him with hugs.

I don’t believe Caleb is obsessed with MC herself, either. Hear me out! I think what Caleb is obsessed with is the need to keep her alive. This goes back to his dependence on her. His need to keep her alive at any cost and out of harm’s way drives him in to being obsessed. I don’t think his obsession is with her. I think he is just a scared, trauma ridden man that is deeply, maddeningly in love with a woman that he has dedicated his entire existence to, who, right now, is in severe, life threatening danger and has been harmed in the past. In that situation, who wouldn’t be a little obsessive?

I also can’t help but wonder if part of his reason for being so adamant about wanting to hide her away is because he has doubts in his own ability to keep her safe, especially now. He seems to be well informed about many of the powers at play behind the scenes of what the plan is for MC. Maybe he doesn’t know the plan itself but he seems to know at least some of the people. Enough of them to be terrified for MC. He may know that when the forces come down on MC to take her, in the end, he’s helpless to defend her. If he was with MC while she was being experimented on, he wouldn’t have been able to do anything to help her or protect her. He was forced to be a bystander and comfort her as he could. If that is the case, then him having doubts about his ability to save and protect her now would make sense.

We just really don’t know what Caleb experienced when he was a kid. I think if we knew more, a lot of Caleb’s “whys” would make total sense. It definitely seems like he was experimented on. Again, it could be that he saw and, possibly, understood what was happening to MC, since he didn’t seem shocked that she didn’t know who he was in one of the flashbacks at Gran’s house. Gran could have told him, of course, what the issue was with MC but based on some other flashbacks we are given, it seems like Caleb was around even before Gran was Gran. Until Infold confirms for us, that’s my theory. Either way, Caleb is clearly deeply traumatized. Whether it be from his own experiences, watching MC experience what she did, a mix of both, or something else, he isn’t well mentally. Throw in what he has gotten himself mixed up with currently and the man is sinking. We do know he’s a test subject now. Currently, it’s safe to assume he is sacrificing himself to protect MC. He wants nothing more than to save her. He wants to protect her peace, even if MC isn’t pleased with his methods. He does seem to hold on to hope that MC will understand. Which, to me, is kind of tragic.

Caleb comes off as if he wants MC to blindly trust him and put her faith in him, like she used to. It seems to throw him off that she doesn’t. He’s a bit naive in this department. MC can’t trust him because she knows he’s deceiving her, among other things. Caleb lies to protect, then asks for blind faith. MC recognizes it and then lies to keep Caleb at bay. They go in circles. Caleb is in vicious cycle of his own creation. MC can’t do what he’s pleading with her to do because of his own actions. He’s trying to fall back on how things used to be. He’s constantly bringing up memories and walks down memory lane. He’s clinging to what they had. The problem is nothing is the way it used to be. He doesn’t seem to be fully ready to accept it, yet. It’s painful to watch.

But, who knows? I could be completely off base and Caleb’s motives aren’t due to any of this and he really is just batshit nuts 🤷🏻‍♀️ Either way, I’ll take him.