#I’m not even going to riff with it because I’d ruin it

[corrodedcoughin]

Modern no upside down AU where Steve becomes a firefighter because it’s self indulgent and I need it. fair warning I have no idea how to become a firefighter

After his senior year of high school, Steve’s parents cut him off. They’d graciously let him live at home still, but since he didn’t get into any of the fancy colleges his father wanted him to study business - he’d have to get a job. Learn some work ethic. Learn humility. Learn this his father provides, and his father can also take away. His mother looks at him sadly, but doesn’t say anything.

Him and his coworker Robin stay late doing inventory and cleaning before they lock up when the mall catches fire. They were supposed to have done it during the day, taking turns manning the counter. But Dustin bursts in with an “emergency” and it successfully distracts Robin and him enough that they have to stay late. If they don’t get it done they’re done. No one knows that they’re there. They were supposed to have cashed up and left hours ago. The only people in the mall should be security and the people at the movie theatre.

And then the building’s on fire and the alarm system isn’t working as it should and someone needs to take charge and get them out and he guesses that it’s him. Steve doesn’t think about it, he just knows it’s an emergency and knows people need to get out. Robin’s trying not to panic and sort of failing, so something in Steve switches and he takes charge. He’s calm. He’s trying so hard to keep his breathing in check.

He saves Robin. He protects Dustin. He makes sure Erica is safe. He gets them all out and uses his lifeguard first aid training to help the wounded. Billy dies. Hopper gets hurt. Bad.

One of the firefighters asks him if he has any training. He says just first aid. They tell him he has a real knack for this. Has he ever thought about being a first responder? So he goes through EMT Training, and the fire academy and then he’s a firefighter. Working in a big station in Indianapolis, living in an apartment with Robin while she continues to study and research and write and do whatever she wants to do.

Eddie grew up in Indy. Moved there with his Uncle Wayne after all that shit with his dad went down. He dealt, he got into trouble, he tried to help Wayne as much as he could. Eventually he got a real job, working in a hole in the wall music store, performing with his band whenever he can. Moved into a shitty apartment with Gareth, Jeff, and the unnamed band member; where they blast metal and eat pizza and stay up late playing xbox and playing DnD.

They know he’s gay, so for Christmas one year Gareth gets him their local fire station’s sexy firemen calendar. 12 full months of local hot firemen posing shirtless with puppies and kittens from a nearby shelter. Gareth jokes about how Eddie’s so single, maybe this can help give him a helping hand. Eddie glares at him as Gareth laughs his ass off. Eddie threatens to put the calendar up in their kitchen. It takes a couple of drinks before he admits that Mr July is Exactly his type. Hot as fucking hell.

Styled and swoopy brown hair, strong jaw, plump lips, thick chest hair; and holding a tiny black kitten. He doesn’t know whether he wants to hold him down and lick his chest, or let Mr July pin him to the side of the fire truck and kiss him senseless. Or both. Definitely both.

Steve’s fellow fire-fighters wolf whistle at him when they find he made July. Everyone knows the hottest people get the hottest months. He buys Robin a copy for Christmas who fake gags but supports him endlessly (and he decidedly does not mention the sexy photoshoot and calendar to Dustin and his Nerd Squad, who promptly find out anyway.) They request a copy so they can make fun of him (and support the station, I guess.). Dustin says its weird seeing his Brother all sexy and shit. Max, and El look at each other and giggle. Will gets all shy.

Time passes, and months later the Sexy Fireman Calendar is in fact up in Corroded Coffin’s kitchen. It’s slowly become their main calendar for keeping track of shows, DnD games, vacations and other random apartment shit. One evening they’re fucking around at home doing not much at all. Jeff is plucking out tunes on his bass. Gareth and the other one are playing the laziest game of Go Fish on a ratty deck of cards. And Eddie is scrolling through Tinder. Fucking sue him.

He falls off the couch when he sees who pops up. Thrusting his phone in the guys faces because fuckiNG LOOK HOLY SHIT. And it’s Mr July himself. Steve. They all hunch over Eddie’s phone to look at his profile together. There’s a photo of him outside in some garden, sunglasses on his head, wearing a summery button up in a pastel pink colour. It has tiny ice cream cones on it (Robin bought it for him). His eyes shine when he smiles and there’s a perfect swoop of hair falling into his face. A photo of him and some teen with curly hair, him wearing a soft yellow sweater as they smile into the camera. A photo of him wearing a worn grey tshirt that has the Indianapolis Fire Department’s logo over one pec. He’s posing next to the fire truck itself.

Eddie swipes right and it’s a fucking match.

MOMO!!! COME BACK!!! I actually got really sad when I got to the end of this. I really was so completely absorbed and was ready for a full on story. Regardless of if you want to continue this, I absolutely adore it. I’m posting instead of if answering privately becuase I NEED other people to see this and fall in love with it too

[butyou-callmewhenyourebored]

This Must Be My Dream - Ross MacDonald Part 3

Summary: In which you're missing your boyfriend and it takes absolutely zero convincing from the girls to fly across the world to see your man.

Warnings: Swearing, vulgar language somewhere in the middle as there is the tiniest bit of smut.

Author's Note: This is the last instalment of this little universe of characters. A blurb might be heading your way if I get around to it! Hope you enjoy this final part!

Part One Part Two

3.3K Words

Since you joined them on their UK tour, specifically their Manchester gig where it was very obvious to anyone who laid eyes on the pair of you, that you were completely infatuated with one another. You were 100% head over heels for the 6’4” bassist and he you. Literally from that day on, you couldn’t keep your hands off him. You wanted him all the time not that he minded because he wanted you just as bad.

You’ve never had as much sex in your entire life. It was true when you said that when you finally explored every part of your relationship, that he’d ruin every other man for you. You didn’t want anybody else, you were insatiable when it came to him. I think it was fair to say that you loved the bones off of him.

But you also just loved coming home from work and cooking dinner with him, unwinding and talking about your day. Your life had completely changed and done a full 180 and you couldn’t have been happier for how quick your life turned around. Ross loved slowly invading your space; his favourite jumper over the back of the sofa, a pair of slippers finding their way next to the front door and a bag of his favourite coffee on your kitchen counter. You also loved just sitting with him whilst he practised bass and creating funky little riffs whilst you nursed a glass of wine and just listened to him play. You’d never seen anything hotter than watching him do what he loves; whether that be on stage or in his living room. You were completely obsessed with him.

You also became fast friends with Charli and Carly, the group chat you spoke about when you met them properly was very active as you gossiped about your relationships and the band in general or life problems you were all currently facing. There wasn’t a day that went by where you weren’t talking to those girls. Girls you were very happy were now apart of your life, even though it was only a short time ago, you can’t remember what life was like without those two angels in your life.

Usually Charli was all up for a little juicy goss between you girlfriends but today it was less sex talk and more moaning about how much you missed Ross and how you felt at a loss without knowing he was going to be home for dinner because he was in New York for  SNL with the boys.

Charli

Girl I love you but you need to get laid!!!

You

Ohhh I have absolutely no problem with getting laid babe! 🤷🏽‍♀️

Its the fact the man I’d lay down my life for is on the opposite side of the world.

Carly

Let her be! Haha They’re in the honeymoon stage! 

You guys are so sweet, I happen to know he feels the same about you!

Don’t tell Adam I told you!!!

You

He told Adam that? 🥺

Charli

Girl how do you not know this? He’s so pussy whipped it’s ridiculous! 😂

Carly

He did! Ads is ridiculously happy that Ross has found his person!

You

I’m literally repeating ‘Don’t cry! Don’t cry!’ to myself over and over because I don’t want to cry whilst I’m with Denise and have her ask why I’m crying!

Carly

If you’re missing him that much, why don’t you go and surprise him?!

Charli

That’s an insane idea! I’ll come with you! I’ve got to head over there for an Oscars thing anyway, a couple more days in the US won’t hurt anyone!

Carly

I’ll text Ads, he’ll help with the surprise! X

Charli 

I’d ask G but he’ll probably forget what’s happening!

You

You guys! I love you both so much! 💕

Bitch get your suitcase packed we’re going to NY!!!

As soon as you got off the phone to the girls, you booked your flights and then FaceTimed with Charli as you packed your cases together. Struggling with what to pack, what was weather even like in New York in March anyway? Her only input was to just not pack anything considering “You’re probably not going to be wearing a lot once he sees you anyway!”  Which to be fair to her, it was a very valid point. Charli knew you both all too well.

After settling on a mixture of cute outfits; casual and a few fancier ones, she picked out her favourite lingerie sets that you owned and told you “If you didn’t get dicked down the moment he sees you. I’ll fuck you myself!” Which had you cackling loudly because you absolutely knew that wouldn’t be the case but you appreciated the confidence boost from her nonetheless anyway!

“Don’t let G hear you say that! He’ll start getting ideas!”  You smirked; as Charli giggled before finally hanging up the phone so you could get the rest of your shit together.

When you got into bed that night, you wiggled about in excitement knowing that in less than 24 hours you’ll be able to see your man in flesh made it almost impossible to sleep. Feeling a little frisky you pulled off Ross’ shirt that you had stolen and opened up your camera app and hit record.

Sending it off to your man, as a little incentive as what he was missing and how much you were missing him. You shot him a quick warning text.

Just off to bed, missing you like crazy!

Do NOT under any circumstances open this in front of your band mates!!!

I’ll kill you and trust me I’ll know!

I love you xxx

His response made you squeal in excitement! You couldn’t wait to get your hands on him!

Fuck baby! You’re already killing me!

Sweet dreams! Only a couple more days until I’m home!

I love you too xxx

When you touched down in the New York, you forgot the intricacies of travelling with a well known international pop star and the fact paps were already waiting at the airport to pounce on whatever poor unsuspecting celebrity had touched down in the Big Apple. Taking your suitcases you wheeled them on out of the airport alone and into the awaiting car as you waited for Charli because if the paparazzi ruined your surprise you were going to riot because you really wanted to pull this off.

Switching your phone off do not disturb whilst you were in the car, it buzzed with a text from Adam. 

Hope your flight was okay.

Had the hotel pop your name onto Ross’ room!

Also sent your man on a coffee run so I’ll meet you in the lobby! x

You couldn’t help but beam when you spotted your friend waiting for you in the lobby of the hotel. Rushing to pull him into a tight a hug, you were very grateful for a selfless friend like Adam Hann. “Thank you for doing this. It means so much to me.” You told him, once you got your keycard from the front desk, the three of you finally making your way to the floor the band were staying on.

“Yeah seriously! Thanks so much! She’s been so annoying at home!”

“You’re just as bad! Fuck off!” You shot Charli a glare although it didn’t last long because it sent you both into a fit of giggles.

“George is in his room.”  Adam told her; as he stepped out of the elevator onto their floor, the brunette waved over her shoulder before skipping towards her room. “Ross should be back soon. It wasn’t hard to get him out the hotel! You know what he’s like with his caffeine addiction!” He smiled softly at you with a chuckle.

Hugging him once more, you pushed open the door to Ross’ room, abandoning your suitcase by the bed. His open next to the desk that was housing a kettle and an arrangement of crap you knew he had fished out of his pockets before leaving the hotel earlier. Immediately rushing to the bathroom to freshen up before your reunion with your favourite member of The 1975. When you finally settled on the bed, you already felt at home as his scent had already started lingering on the sheets, making your head spin and you started to feel giddy at the prospect of seeing his face in the next few minutes.

You weren’t on your own for very long; about ten minutes after you got into something a little more comfortable (wink wink) you heard Ross’ deep dulcet northern tone on the other side of the door. “Yeah see you in a bit mate. I’m going to go ring the missus!” You sat up, you leant up on your arms when you heard the click of the door, Matty’s voice briefly ringing through the open space.

“Yeah, spare me the details. Tell the bitch to text me back though!”

The flutter of your heart as you heard your boyfriend’s giggle and then him scold him for calling you bitch overrides your life long friend’s need to constantly call you names, as you rolled your eyes. Your heart beat beginning to race as you heard the door finally shut and Ross’ footsteps get louder as he finally got closer to you. You bit your lip nervously, waiting for him to spot you laid out on the bed.

You probably would have laughed at the confused expression etched across his handsome features as he heard your phone ring within the room and him running into find out the source of the noise, if your heart wasn’t thumping against your chest the moment you clapped eyes on him.

Ross blinked repeatedly as he took in your appearance. The fact you were here in New York in his hotel room and not at home in Manchester. The skin of your lip caught between your teeth as you attempted to keep your naughty thoughts at bay but he just looked too good. Already putting his coffee down, Ross was striding across the hotel room and launching himself across the bed before you could even utter the words “Hi baby!” His large hands holding onto your jaw tightly and kissing the air straight out of your lungs.

“Fuck. Missed you so much.” He managed to mumble in between kissing you senseless.

“Missed you more.”  You moaned; arching into his touch, grabbing at his belt to get him as close as humanly possible.

There was definitely no need to take Charli up on her offer because the little clothing you had on was quickly being ripped off as you reconnected after nearly a week apart. The pornographic moan you let out into the pillows as his large hands squeezed at your arse cheeks, pulling at the flesh as he tried to get deeper was enough to make Ross’ grip on you even tighter and really drive home. Squeezing around him, your whole body lit up in tingles as he made you cum again.

Orgasms were always great but you’d never get over the way Ross made you cum like it was the last thing he’d do every single time. You shuddered at the emptiness as he pulled out, anybody else would be knackered after cumming three times but not you. He made you feel insatiable. You always wanted more. Pushing him on to his back; you climbed back on top, straddling his waist and wasting no time before sliding him back inside you where he belonged.

He always felt bigger, more snug if that was even possible when you were on top but the delirious feeling of dragging your pussy up and down his incredible cock, as you made him like this made your head spin as you rode him faster. Running your hands up his chest and through his chest hair that you loved so much, your hands found home either side of his head so you could lean down to kiss him. 

“Love you so much baby.” You murmured into his mouth. “Could do this forever.”

“Always good to me aren’t you love?” Your boyfriend groaned into your mouth at a particular slow drag.

Pulling you to his chest, arms securely wrapped around your waist to hug you in place, Ross planted his feet into the mattress before pistoning into you so fast all you could do was babble absolutely nonsense into the crook of his neck.

“Come on baby, know you can do it.” He whispered into your ear softly.

“I want it. Want you. Need it baby. Give it to me. I’ve been good.” You managed to get out in between moans and chants of his name, like it was only word you knew.

“You’ve already had me though. Had your mouth round my cock within thirty seconds of seeing me. Always make me cum like that don’t you angel and now you want more?” Ross taunted you, the little shit.

“Always want you. Love you so much.” You pressed your mouth to his in a deep kiss.

“You’ll always have me, I love you so fucking much.”

You didn’t think it was possible for him to go any faster but his words of affirmation and way his big cock was fucking into you, had you cumming hard with a loud moan and triggering Ross’ own orgasm, filling you up so much it made you feel delirious. Rolling off him, you snuggled quickly into his side, pressing a soft kiss to his shoulder, as you listened to his heartbeat beat erratically against your cheek.

It was moments like this that you loved almost as much as the sex, the man was incredible but you also just loved to love upon each other and talk absolute rubbish with one another. You couldn’t believe you had gotten so lucky. Ross thinking the same thing as he tucked a fly away piece of hair behind your ear, made you freeze as you just took in the sight of him, a sweet kiss to your forehead followed before he continued telling his story about the restaurant the boys went to the night before, that he’d love to take you to before you both had to leave each other again.

The two of you were in the midst of telling him about the flight over with Charli when Ross’ phone rang from somewhere in the room. Leaning over to rummage through his trouser pocket, you noticed Matty’s name flashing across the screen as he tried to FaceTime him. Ross accepting the call, settled back against the headboard knowing there was always the prospect Matty’s conversation could be long. No hellos were said however when Matty’s face appeared and your heart swelled when you heard the reasonings behind the unsuspected call.

“I’m not saying the walls are thin. But the walls are fucking thin! And if my best pal hasn’t magically teleported to New York and you’ve fucking hurt her. I’ll fucking hurt you MacDonald! Do you hear me? I don’t care, I’ll find a new bassist! Now who the fuck is in your room?” Matty’s voice getting louder and more erratic as he ranted.

“Matty. Calm down, it’s me.” 

You spoke softly as you took the phone off your boyfriend. The pang in your chest when you saw the glossiness in his eyes at the thought of you being fucked over by his mate had your own welling up as you offered him a soft smile.

“Hi bitch!” Matty whispered; a sigh of relief living his mouth.

“Hey dickhead!” You whispered back a chuckle.

“You’re in New York? What the fuck!”

“I am!” You laughed. “Charli and I both kind of missed Ross and G so we thought we’d surprise them. Got in earlier today.”  You explained to your best mate. “You surprised?!”

“Yeah! Fucking relieved too because I genuinely thought I’d have to kill him! I know you guys are cute but fuck me you two are gross. Like actual rabbits. I’m so happy you’re here, Ross can stop moping about now!” You laughed loudly as your boyfriend reprimanded his mate for calling him out, grumbling out that he didn’t mope which only made you laugh louder. Pressing another kiss to his shoulder, you settled your head against it as you continued conversing with your mutual best mate. 

Mumbling something about a piss; your boyfriend jumped out of bed quickly, leaving you with Matty. As soon as the click of the bathroom door echoed back into the room your facial expression turned serious very quickly, scaring Matty and causing him to frown in confusion as to why you looked terrified all of a sudden.

“Be honest with me now.” You started off in a whisper. “Because I don’t think my soul would be able to take it if what I’m about to ask is true or if I ever find out you’re lying.” Matty truly in his confused era at the sudden change of conversation, his heart broke when he saw your lip quiver. “Why did you say that before? Has he ever given you the impression that he’s cheating on me?”

You choked on your own words as you managed to get out, the mere thought of not being enough for Ross was enough to have you about to sob on the phone to Matty.

“Ohhh fuck no! I didn’t know you were here. I heard the noise. I panicked. He’d never. I promise you. That man is annoyingly in love with you!”  Matty grinned at you as he word vomited out his reassurance. “I’ve tried to tell him that you’re not that great but he won’t have any of it.” Your curly haired mate shrugged nonchalantly, successfully pulling a laugh out of you. “I promise he would never do that to you. He’d marry you in a heartbeat if he could.”

At the prospect of Ross talking to Matty about wanting to marry you was enough to make the sob that was bubbling in your chest before resurface but this time out of happiness. Confirming that you weren’t sad, but it were in fact happy tears because you just loved the handsome brunette so much. He was in the middle of chastising you about the noise level when Ross rejoined you both, slipping in beside you and automatically wrapping his arms around you. “Yeah, can we keep the moaning to a minimum whilst we’re here please because some of us do value our sleep.”

“I can’t promise anything!” You smirked; cackling as he screwed up his face in distaste at your boyfriend’s answer..

It took a lot for your to get embarrassed especially around your dickhead of a best friend but suddenly knowing that he’d heard the two of you, heard Ross making you cum multiple times had the heat rushing to your cheeks before muttering something along the lines of “We’ll try our best” before hanging up the phone, it your turn to groan into your boyfriend’s skin.

The two of you spent the next couple of hours in bed; no clothes, tv on, room service ordered and just content on being in each other’s presence. Lazily running your hands up and down his chest, you pressed equally lazy kisses to his skin, peppering them up his neck and jaw until you captured his lips against your own. Fluttering your eyes open,  you took in his handsome features, reaching up to hold his face in your hands.

“I could do this forever.”  You sighed contently against him.

“You want that?”

“Hmmmm” You hummed in agreement, your eyes fluttering closed as you pressed up against him in order to get closer than you already were.

“Marry me.”

Your eyes shot open at the question. Searching his face for some sort of joking air about the loaded question. You managed to spit out a soft “What?” Shock completely taking over you as you stared at your boyfriend.

“I’m serious. You want to be mine. I want to be yours. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”  He asked again. 

You blinked up at him. “Yes.” 

“Yes?” 

The cock of Ross’ eyebrow; almost challenging your answer, unsure if he heard you right. Nodding frantically, you squealed in delight when he pulled you on top of him in celebration and kissing you so deeply it made you dizzy. You couldn’t help but cry tears of pure happiness as you let him kiss you all over. You were going to marry the love of your life. This crazy handsome, talented, attentive and kind man was going to be your husband and you couldn’t wait!”

[sl-newsie]

Cool Your Jets- Ch. 4: Out And About (Riff x newcomer)

As I make my way home, I keep kicking myself for ever think’n that Riff was anyth’n but a stubborn, insensitive jerk! How can he say that about the Puerto Ricans? Why does he wanna fight just because of some dumb turf? There’s more to life than-

I stop, and I remember what Riff had said about losing his family.

Maybe the Jets is all he has. 

He’s in the same spot I’m in, except he has a family-a sorts to back him up. I’m just… me. 

I keep walk’n, and then come to terms that I’ve got no clue where I am. Gee, brilliant move Marilyn. Foist night in the city and I’m already lost. I keep walk’n down alley after alley, and all-a them look the same-

“Maria…” I hear someone sing.

Huh?

I poke my head out and see Tony waltz’n through a basketball court.

“Say it loud and there's music playing!

Say it soft and it's almost like praying!

Maria...

I'll never stop saying Maria!”

His face shows a look of awestruck luv sickness. Aw, I hope he and Maria get together- they seem like a cute couple, if only Bernardo wasn’t so harsh on Maria. At least Tony has someone…

“Hola, señorita.” A dark voice calls from behind me.

I turn around and find a ragged-look’n guy hold’n a beer bottle. He’s obviously drunk, and I can tell from his gaze that he’s got more than friendship on his mind.

Ignoring his drunken rambling, I swiftly walk away towards a street sign in hopes of find’n my way home-

“Hey!” The drunk comes up behind me and tries to grab me. “I was talk’n to ya, bitch!”

“Get away, creep!” I punch his lights out and sprint off, look’n for anywhere to hide-

“Over here!” I turn and spot Riff in another alley. I’m still mad at him, but I’ll take my chances compared to the guy behind me! When I get closer I notice he’s alone. 

“Hey chica. ‘S that bastard bother’n you?”

I lean against the brick wall to catch my breath. “Yeah… but- but I don’t think he’s gonna catch me.”

Riff chuckles. “Yeah, I saw that guy go down for the count. Nice punch! So, them PRs finally leave ya alone?” His smile fades and he seems to be sulking.

My jaw tightens. “They’re not bad people, Riff. They’re my friends. And if you all weren’t always fighting then maybe you’d like them too.”

Riff just grunts. “So where’d Tony head off to?”

I pause. Maria trusts me with her secret, and I’d be lying to myself if I said I wasn’t worried for my new friend. Tony seems like a nice guy, much nicer than Riff, but I still have my doubts. 

“No clue. Last I saw he was headed to a place called Doc’s.”

“Hm. So… ya got any evening plans?”

I huff. “Uh, yeah. They ended up ruined after a jerk and his gang decided to fight my friends,” I say dryly.

“Aw, I’m sorry.” Riff walks up closer and puts a hand on my shoulder. “Could the jerk make it up to ya by taking you out?”

My eyes widen. “Like a… a…”

“Marilyn, I’d like to take you on a date,” Riff confirms, a smile spread’n across his face.

“Won’t Grazi be a little upset?” I give him a pointed look.

“I think you saw up close and personal that she don’t noth’n to do with me anymore.”

“Ah, I get it. Done with one dame and onto the next!” I put my hands on my hips. “You sure work fast, Jet Boy. But I ain’t gonna be just anodda goil for you to parade around with and then toss away.”

“Hey, it ain’t like that! Honest! I’ve been ‘round Grazi ‘cause Tony was gone, but now that he’s back he don’t want her back. But…” He sighs nervously and scratches his neck. “I donno… When I met you ya seemed like a nice gal, and I really wanna get to know you bedda. Please, just gimme a chance?” He begs.

I stare at the wall. Could he really be a nice guy? Could I get him to stop all this violence? Even if I don’t like him at foist, it’d be a smart move to be on good terms with both gang leaders, for Maria and Tony’s sake. 

“Ok,” I face Riff and give him a nod. “I’ll let you take me out. But, no rumbles or any talk-a fighting during a date!”

Riff’s uneasy eyes widen and he smiles as he takes my hand. “You won’t regret this, Marilyn. I promise.”

“I bedda not,” I smirk.

“Can I call ya Lynnie?”

“Absolutely not.”

“I still will.”

“You’re insufferable!” I groan.

I take Riff’s arm and let him lead me down the dimly-lit streets, unsure about how to make city small-talk. Instead I busy myself by look’n at all the giant buildings.

I hear Riff snicker. “Impressed?”

“Say what you want, Jet Boy. I ain’t used to noth’n like this! In the country the tallest tree hold noth’n up to these skyscrapers!”

He smirks. “Just wait, beautiful. I’ll show you someth’n so big that you’ll never wanna leave.” 

I stiffen up and look at Riff with wide eyes. “Um… and what does that mean?”

“You’ll see.”

Riff walks me to a part of town that’s in the middle between the newer and crumbling buildings. He points to a ladder leaned against a 4-story brick building. “Follow me up, but don’t open your eyes ‘till I say so.”

He starts up, leaving me flabbergasted.

“So I’m just supposed to blindly climb a ladder? Why don’t I just fall now and break my neck?” I outburst sarcastically.

“Just climb up, Lynnie!” Riff calls from the roof.

Against my better judgment, I begin my ascent up the ladder. When I get to the middle I look out and all I can see is dusty, crumbling buildings surrounded by smoke. Also- yikes it’s high up here!

“Um… Riff…”

“What’s the matter, sweetheart? Afraid-a heights?” Riff laughs above me.

“I’m used to climbing trees, Jet Boy! Not this!”

“What’s the difference?”

“Trees have limbs to grab. If I fall here I’m just a splat on the pavement!” I keep climb’n, and when I go to look down again I feel a hand grab mine. 

“C’mon, Lynnie. Almost there!” Riff says encouragingly.

I reach the top and Riff takes my other hand to pull me up, and in do’n so I stumble into him. We both stagger back and go to lean against a wall, with me lean’n on Riff’s back. I look up at him, only to find him look’n down at me with a goofy smirk on his face.

“Bit eager, are we?”

I groan and push away. “You wish, Jet boy.”

“Now hold on a sec!” He grabs my hand again and puts another over my eyes. “I wanna show you the best part.”

“You mean there’s more than just rubble?” I jab at him.

“You’ll see.”

I do my best to navigate blindly without tripping again, but eventually my patience grows thin.

“Riff I swear to God if you’re take’n me on some wild goose chase-!”

“Here we are,” I feel Riff take his hand away from my eyes and put both hands on my hips, which causes heat to rush into my face. Thankfully it’s too dark for Riff to see my embarrassing blush.

But what I can see is the city, and it’s gorgeous! We’re at the back of the roof, and up so high that I can see the magnificent, gleaming skyscrapers dotted throughout the blooming city. The clear sky allows for bright stars to provide the astonishing structures with an incredible background.

My jaz drops and all I can do is stare. “Wow…”

“This place is the only spot left without any construction. I go here to think, ya know? Just… forget everyth’n.”

I nod. “Back home, I’d always go to the river near our house. It was so loud I’d just let my thoughts melt away into the noise. I guess by be’n in tha city ya don’t need to worry ‘bout noise.”

Riff chuckles. “Yeah it’s a mess out there.”

“One day it’ll all be behind me, and I can forget about everyth’n,” I whisper.

Riff’s tone immediately changes. “What? You’re leave’n? Ya just got here!”

I scoff. “I never wanted to come here in the foist place, Jet boy.”

“What about it? Ya got to meet me,” he smirks.

I roll my eyes and dramatically spread my arms. “Oh, yes. I’ve met Riff, the rough ‘nd tough Jet leader! My life is complete!”

“Hey!”

“Sorry Riff, but to me life’s worth more than territory. I just wanna go someplace where nobody can hurt me or tell me what to do.”

“New York could be that place,” Riff says with a hint of hope.

I chuckle.

“They say folks is dyin' to get here

Me, I'm dyin' to get away

To a little town out west

That's spankin' new.

And while I ain't never been there

I can see it clear as day

If you want, I bet'cha you could see it, too.”

Riff’s eyebrows shoot up and I can’t help but laugh.

“What? Ya never thought I could sing, didja?” I inch closer and hold up 2 fingers to close Riff’s eyes.

“What the Hell-?” He grunts in surprise.

“Close your eyes,

Come with me.

Where it's clean and green and pretty.

And they went and made a city outta clay.

Why, the minute that ya get there

Folks'll walk right up and say

"Welcome home, son

Welcome home to Santa Fe!"

Plantin' crops,

Splittin' rails,

Swappin' tales around the fire.

'Cept for Sunday when you lie around all day…

Soon your friends are more like family,

And they's beggin' you to stay!

Ain't that neat? Livin' sweet

In Santa Fe.” I sing sadly.

Riff looks confused. “Lynnie, the Jets are a family. And your family, if you’ll let us.” Riff takes my hand and looks deep at me. “We’s so used to be’n unwanted so we made our own family- just say the word and you can be in that family too.”

“Or… You could all move west,” I suggest.

“What?” Riff’s face scrunches.

“Think ‘bout it! Lots-a territory, nobody press’n up against you. If you ain’t got sturdy roots here than what’s the point-a stay’n?

“Santa Fe,

You can bet!

We won't let them bastards beat us.

We won't beg no one to treat us fair and square.

There's a life that's worth the livin',

And I'm gonna do my share!

Work the land, chase the sun,

Swim the whole Rio Grande just for fun!

Watch me stand!

Watch me run…” I trail off and stand up to look at the sunset, and wonder if it looks any bedda out west. Meanwhile Riff still has a somber look on his face.

“I… I do got roots here, Marilyn. Or at least remains of ‘em. My…” He trails off, then seems to rethink. “Never mind.”

I frown and go to sit next to him. “It’s ok, Riff. If you don’t wanna tell me I understand, ‘s just that I never thought you had a family since ya always boast ‘bout the Jets ‘nd all.”

Riff nods. “Yeah, the Jets are my family. This here-” He holds up the chain around his neck, and I can see now that there’s a pendant attached to it. “This was my dad’s. ‘S got the Lorton family crest on it. That’s me name, Gariff Lorton. I always thought that sounded crummy, so I’ve just went by Riff. Our family used to be someth’n to be proud of, back when we was in the bootlegging business. But after the feds shut up all the mobs we’s gone downhill, and then my old man drank himself to death.”

This sudden exposition leaves me feeling soft towards the Jet leader, and in the back-a my head I’m thankful to have grown up in a stable family.

“Wh- What about your mother?” 

“Died when I was 5. Me dad’s drinking made her get depressed, ‘til one day she kissed me goodnight, walked right off the balcony and plummeted to her death.”

My hand flies to my mouth. “Oh Jesus, Riff… I’m so sorry.”

He keeps nodding his head. “Yeah, yeah, I’ve hoid all the sympathy talk. Folks hear this and they either pity me or just blame my upbringing on my ‘bad bahavior.’ Believe me, toots, it ain’t my foist rodeo.”

At this I wrap my arms around the stern gang leader, determined to show him that I ain’t just say’n stuff. He seems surprised at foist, but then snakes his arms around me so that we’re both snug up against a crate, staring out at the big city.

“I really do care, Riff. And if you don’t believe me, just know that family means everyth’n to me. It ain’t someth’n I’d kid around about.”

Riff don’t answer. Instead, he just keeps look’n at me as if I’m gonna say ‘just kidding!’ or ‘I'm just mess’n with ya!’ But when Riff sees I’m serious he smiles. Not a big, wide smile, but a small, grateful one.

“I knew when I saw you that you was special.”

I huff. “I ain’t special, I’s just look’n out for anyone odda than myself. Life hasn’t given me much, so I godda do what I can.” I look up at him with a sincere expression. “Thank you, Riff, for telling me. And thanks for show’n me this place.”

Riff rubs my hand. “I trust you. Besides, I wanted to make you feel welcome.”

“For the record, this has probably one-a the least terrible times I’ve had since I got here.” I chuckle.

“Aw, I’m flattered!” Riff replies. “This place is always open, if you ever wanna stop by.” He winks.

I grin and look up at the bright moon. “Well as tempting that is, right now I bedda be get’n home.” I stand up and start head’n back down the ladder. 

When Riff follows me down he groans. “I knew this night couldn’t last forever. So sweetheart, up for an escort?” He doesn’t wait for an answer and slings his arm through mine.

 “Tomorrow I’m gonna try to find a job. Noth’n too big, just someth’n temporary so I can pay rent and save up to go west.”

I see Riff’s face change to an expression of hidden somberness.

“You really wanna leave, don’t ya?”

“Riff, I ain’t a city goil. Sooner or later I wanna breathe fresh air again without someone try’n to kill me. I’m try’n to not get too attatched, so please-” I sigh and give him a imploring look. “Please don’t make this a big deal. I ain’t leave’n yet, so just calm down.”

By now we’ve reached my apartment, with Riff giving the Puerto Rican neighborhood an odd look.

“Are there any other exotic places here that I should see?” I joke.

Riff snorts. “Well, ya could always take a tour-a my place!”

I grin. “And where’s that?”

“A train car in the junkyard.” He shrugs. “It ain’t much, and it leaks all the time, but it’s the closest thing to a home I got. Noth’n like your penthouse of an apartment. But I’m sure you got a lot bedda things to do, so I’ll just bit you adieu.” Riff starts walk’n away and blows an air kiss. “G’night, Lynnie.”

After pondering an idea, despite a part-a me strictly disagreeing, I make up my mind.

“Hey, Riff?”

He immediately looks back. “Yeah?”

“Have you had dinner yet?”

Riff chuckles. “Um… does wadda and a dinner roll count?”

I laugh. “I’ll take that as a ‘no.’ Would you wanna come up to my place for dinner?”

Riff looks flabbergasted. “Wait- you’re inviting me to dinner, in your apartment?”

Suddenly I get embarrassed for ever suggesting it, and try to fluff it off. “I mean, if you don’t wanna, it’s only a few morsels, noth’n fancy-”

“Are ya kid’n?” A grateful smile spreads across Riff’s face. “‘Course I want to!” He extends his arm again and continues to lead me up the stairs, all the while earning some odd looks from the few Puerto Rican neighbors we pass. When we reach my door I go to pull out the key from my pocket-

“Marilyn! Ay ay! What are you doing?! Get away from her!” Anita comes up and pulls me apart from Riff, who looks just as shocked as I am. “You stay away from her! If I see you around here again I’ll call the police!”

“Anita, wait-!” I try to free myself from her grasp.

“Not now! Get away from him-!”

“I brought him here! He’s with me!”

Anita’s face changes. “You brought him? Mi querida, why? You know how dangerous he is-!”

“Yes, and I also know that he won’t hurt you or me. Will you , Riff?”

Riff, still shaken up in the corner, shakes his head. “I might know how to rumble, but I also know how to treat a lady. I make sure all my boys do,” he says sincerely.

“And what is that worth? A Jet boy’s promise?” Anita seethes.

“Anita! This is exactly why we’re not making any progress! It’s because you hate each odda so much, even when someone’s will’n to be nice, that you’ll just assume they’ll never change!” I yank my apartment door open and tug Riff inside. “But don’t worry, I’ll keep him here. Out of sight out of mind, right?” I shut the door in her face and turn around to lean against it. “Uggghhhh.”

“You read my mind, girly.” 

Riff goes to sit at the small table while I take out some vegetables leftover from my dinner.

“Here. It ain’t much, but it’s all I got-”

“Lynnie, this is great!” Riff smiles as he looks at the tiny portions with hungry eyes. “I haven’t had this type-a meal in ages! Are ya sure I can have this?”

His modesty is adorable, and it’s eat’n away at my heart no matter how much I internally scream ‘don’t get attached!’ 

“Um… yeah. Go ahead. I gotta make anodda grocery run tomorrow anyway…” I drift off and just watch Riff all but devour his meal, all the while try’n to get past the thought of how leaving him’s gonna make me so sad-

Shut up! You’ve known the guy for one day! Get over it!

“Gotta say, I definitely feel more welcomed here this time.” Riff interrupts my thoughts as he finishes his dinner and cleans up the kitchen.

I huff. “Yeah, completely different circumstances than the last time you paid me a visit!” I give him a pointed look and nod at the window.

“So… you ain’t gonna kick me out again?” Riff asks as he sits on my bed.

I shake my head and smirk. “At this hour? It’s dangerous. I hear there’s a fearsome gang that hangs around here.”

“Meaning… I can sleep here?” Riff clarifies.

“Unless you’ve got a spot better than this rickety old bed.” I point at the creaking structure.

“Nope. This prime spot most definitely beats my bed-a grease rags in the junkyard. No rats.”

At foist I think he’s joking, but Riff doesn’t laugh the statement away. Instead he looks around my tiny apartment as if it’s the Taj Mahal, as if he’s happy just to simply have a roof over his head with someone who ain’t try’n to kill him.

He notices me staring, then shrugs. “Some city life, huh? At least you used to have a home, and kinda got one here too with the PRs. I got the Jets, but odda than that all I got is my wits, sense-a humor-” He gives a cheeky smile. “And my drop-dead good looks.”

I snicker. “You wish, Jet Boy. Now lay down and go to sleep before I knock ya out with my frying pan.”

He frowns. ‘What ‘bout you, Lynnie?”

“I’m gonna… crash on the floor.” I grab an extra blanket and pillow and go to lie down on the filthy rug. A somewhat terrible bed but it’ll do in a pinch.

Riff gets up, shaking his head, and sits next to me. “Oh no, no, no, Lynnie. Just ‘cause I’s a houseguest I ain’t gonna deprive my pretty hostess of her bed. I’m too much-a gentleman for that.” Outta nowhere, Riff picks me up as if I’m a delicate bride and starts carry’n me towards my bed.

“Jesus, Riff! A little warning next time-!”

“Ok. Incoming!”

Riff throws me up in the air and I come down flailing onto the discombobulated sheets. As soon as I land, all I can see is Riff’s wicked grin as he flops down on me. After wrapping a blanket around us and use’n my chest as a pillow he closes his eyes, smiles, and says: “G’night, Lynnie.”

I just gape down at him. “Um, no! Riff- get off me! How is this any way a ‘gentleman’ would behave?!”

“I let my pretty hostess have her bed, and now I’m use’n the hostess as my bed. I said I was a gentleman, sweetheart, not a saint.”

I try to argue more but he’s already half-asleep and snuggle’n up to me as if I’m a human pillow. Eventually I just sigh in defeat and half-turn over to rest my head on an actual pillow, let’n Riff’s warm, toned body send me to sleep with his steady breathing….

I can tell I’ve only been asleep for a few hours ‘cause it’s still dark out, but someth’n woke me up. But what-?

“Marilyn… Marilyn… Marilyn!” Riff’s sleep talk’n gets more and more frantic. “Don’t- don’t do it! Don’t- Marilyn!”

Now I’m fully awake and try’n to get Riff to stir, but every attempt is a failure. “Riff! Jet Boy! Hey, Riff! Wake up, you’re dream’n!” I shake him, but he continues to grip my torso as if I’m a life preserver.

“Don’t- Marilyn… Don’t die!” He sobs.

“Riff! Riff!” I shake him so hard that eventually his limp body springs to life, clutching me tight and his head look’n around frantically. 

“Marilyn?! Marilyn…” Riff calms down again and closes his eyes, already fall’n back to sleep.

“Shhh… Shhh… It’s ok, Jet Boy. I ain’t go’n anywhere.”

He snuggles up to me again, and I notice that his shirt’s soaked with sweat. As carefully as I can, I slide the wet garment off without waking him up. It might look sketchy, but I’d rather have him think I’m a weirdo than let him sleep in this filthy thing.

I guess that’s a conversation for tomorrow. Right now, I rest my head against Riff’s chest as his breathing goes back to normal…

[thewritetofreespeech]

Obey Me + Jealousy

prompt: The Demon Brothers don’t like that you’re spending time with your best friend in the human world. Loosely based off this prompt done previously.

Lucifer

It had been a long time since you had been up to the human world. Even longer since you had seen your best friend. You were so excited to see them! Laughing. Telling old inside stories. Catching up on gossip.

Although you were having a great time in the human world, your escort for the day did not seem to be enjoying all your world had to offer.

In order to get ‘top side’ Lucifer had to come with you. He was the only one able to open the portal there and back, and insisted on coming with you to keep you safe. You felt the need to remind him that the Devildom was the actual dangerous place, but it would take longer than just letting him come.

Now you kind of wish you had taken the time to argue. He was really being a major downer the whole day.

“Are you ok? You seem irritated.” Or, well, more irritated than usual.

“No. I’m fine.” Lucifer replied. Although not lending any credibility to the statement. “I’m just thinking of all the more useful things I could be doing with my time.”

You frown at his flip comment. “If you don’t want to be here, then you can leave. No one is making you stay here.”

“Fine. Since you seem so entertained by your little friend to pay any attention to me, perhaps it is best if I do head home.”

You blink a little at Lucifer’s statement. It was cold, and once again flip, as usual. But you were surprised he mentioned your friend. “Lucifer, are you jealous I’m spending time with them?”

The demon rebuttaled with a surprised look before he frowned at you. “I am not jealous.”

“Really? Cause it seems like your-“I am not jealous!” He repeated, louder and sterner this time. He let that moment linger there before he sighed and looked away with his arms cross. “I am….perhaps irritated to be ignored.”

‘Right, so, totally jealous.’ You think to yourself. But have the good sense to keep that thought to yourself alone. You suppose you could see where he was coming from. It’s hard to be the odd man out when you and your friends get together. Being so proud and prominent in the demon world, this is probably the first time it had happened to Lucifer.

“I’m sorry if you’re feeling left out. I’ll try to be more inclusive.”

“No. You’re right.” Lucifer remarked. Finally looking back at you with a much softer expression. “It’s foolish of me to think I can take all of your time. You deserve some moments of your own. I shouldn’t have intruded.” His hand reached out to cup your cheek, while offering you the faintest of smiles. “I will leave, but not because I’m angry. I want you to spend time with your friend and enjoy it, which would be best when I’m not around. Just call me when you’re ready to come home and I’ll come fetch you.” He released your cheek and took a step back. Smiling at you again before he disappeared.

You wonder, briefly, if he could feel your heart swelling with pride after you left. To think a small human like you could make the great Lucifer jealous.

Mammon

There were a lot of things you loved about Mammon.

His spontaneity. His zest for life. How nothing ever seemed to get him down for too long.

However, it was hard to remember all those good qualities when he was behaving so poorly all day.

“Mammon! Can you knock it off?!”

“What?! I’m just standing here. I’m not good enough at standing here for ya now!” The demon barked back. Not matching your whisper tone at all.

“That’s not what I said, and you know it. You’ve been a jerk all day and I’d like you to cut it out.”

“Oh, so now I’m a jerk! Well sorry sweetheart but I’m a demon. We’re not ‘upposed to be nice and friendly all the time. Sometimes we get ta be jerks!”

“Good lord, say it a little bit louder Mammon!” You hiss back at him letting practically the whole world, or at least this park, know he was a demon.

Mammon tsked his teeth and turned away from you. “Can’t do anything right.” He muttered. “Why don’t you go hang out with your friend then, if I’m such a jerk? You two seem ta be having a grand ol’ time on your own with me here. Shouldn’t make much of a difference if I’m gone.” He said before crossing his arms in a huff.

“Is that what this is about?” You ask. Ignoring his little out burst (because when he gets this way it’s just best to ignore him). “You’re mad that I’m spending time with my friend and not you?”

“No!” Yes. Totally yes.

“Mammon are you jealous?”

The demon floundered comically at the question, his mouth opening & closing like a fish as he tried to find words, before he answered. “I am not jealous!!” Great come back. “The Great Mammon does not get jealous! Ya hear! I’m just pissed because you’re spending all this time with them when I’m the one who schlepped all the way up here for ya, and used my connections to get us top side!” He turned away again and recrossed his arms. Then he muttered under his breath, “it was just supposed to be you and me today, for once.”

A sigh left you lips, and you step closer to Mammon to place your hand on his arm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin your plans. I was just excited to see my friend. It’s been so long. Plus I wanted you to meet them so I can show you off. You are my first after all.”

Those blue gold eyes got a little wide, and Mammon blushed, before he gulped once and refocused himself. “Y-Y-Yeah! Of course. Ya should be proud to show me off. It’s not everyone who gets to be seen with an all-powerful demon like me. If anyone is ‘jealous’ it should be everyone else for not having the Great Mammon by their side!”

“Of course,” you agree with a giggle. Before you lean up and give him a kiss on the cheek. “I’m lucky to have you.”

“D-Don’t ya forget it!”

Levi

“Hey, [Y/N]-chan, I think I’m gonna head home.”

You look up from your soda at Levi, who was fidgeting beside you after he spoke. “What? Why? I thought you were having fun.”

“Yeah, no. No I mean….you seem like your having fun with your friend so I don’t want to bother you. 3 is a crowd.”

“Levi, that’s not true. You’re not bothering us. I just wanted to spend sometime with my bff while we’re in town.”

“No. I get it. Who would want to hang out with a crummy otaku like me.”

“Levi, that’s not what I said. I do want to hang out with you!”

“But you have your normie friend.” Levi looked past you at the friend in question. “Look at them. Being out, talking to people like a regular person. I can never do that. You should go on without me and leave me here. You seem much happier with them anyway.”

“Levi…come on. That isn’t—” Your train of thought stops itself as it came to a sudden, and abrupt realization. “Levi, are you jealous?”

The blue haired demon responded with his trademark ‘eehhh??’ at the question, and quickly covered his face with is arm. “O-O-Of course not!” He exclaimed. Barely hiding the blush on his cheeks. “Who would be jealous of a normie?? I just I…I mean you…Y-You seem so happy with them [Y/N]-chan. A sad otaku like me can never make you that happy. So it’s just bumming me out!”

You offer Levi a soft smile, then move to squat down in front of him. “True. I am happy when I hang out with my friends. But I’m happy when I hang out with you too. No one can gush about anime with me like you can.” You reassure him. He was the Avatar of Envy after all. What did you expect?

The demon slowly poked his head out from under his arm. “Really?”

“Of course. It’s…not really a side of myself I get to show to people. They think I’m weird. But with you, I can be that part of myself. That’s the part that you have Levi.”

His face turned bright red all over again, and Levi sat there for a moment before he quickly shook his head. “D-Don’t say stuff like that [Y/N]-chan! Don’t make me fall for your normie trap!”

You giggle and stand up again to offer Levi your hand. “Come on. Lets find something we can all do together. The Cineplex is playing some old action movies we can go and make fun of.”

“Oooo! Which ones??”

The distraction of old movies to riff on, and for Levi to share all his in-depth knowledge on, was a welcome alternative for the afternoon. He even had a spirited debate with your best friend on the concepts of CGI graphics vs old school ‘cut & paste’ cinematography. Crisis on planet Earth avoided.

Satan

It was always fun to come back to the human world. Especially with Satan.

Not that you didn’t enjoy spending time with the others, but most of them could be a little....energetic. It was nice to spend a calm afternoon with the 4th brother alone for a change.

You both had stopped in a local coffee shop you loved when you ran into an old friend. You hadn't seen them in so long that you got to talking and eventually invited them to join your table. Where you had been laughing and having a grand time for a while now.

Or so you thought.

Satan hadn’t said a word the whole time you were at the table. Which was necessarily odd. He wasn’t a big talker like some of his brothers. However, you could tell that something was wrong with the way he kept stirring his cup, or how his jaw clenched ever now and then before releasing. His movements subtle, as always.

“I’m gonna get another cup. You want anything?” Your friend asked as they got up from the table, to which both of you motioned no.

“Can we go now.” Your head turned back to Satan at his cool words. “We were supposed to go to the bookstore.”

“We still have time to go to the bookstore.” You tell him. “It doesn’t close until a while from now.”

“Yes. But we agreed to be there at 1:00, and now it’s 1:30. That’s not the way this day was supposed to go.” The blonde replied. Fidgeting with his cup to try and align it perfectly on the saucer. “This day was supposed to be just you and I.”

You blink a little at Satan’s response. Initially thinking that he was miffed about the time. Now, however, you weren’t so sure. “Satan, are you jealous that I paused our date to hang out with my friend?”

The demon sat up straighter; though how you could be sure. Then he frowned. “I am not jealous.”

“No. I get it. It’s hard to be in a group if they have a lot of inside jokes. It’s ok if--“I am not jealous!” He shout. His fist slamming on the table, rattling the frail wood and cups. Alerting everyone in the shop to your conversation.

Satan hissed through his teeth and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Alright. Fine. I am jealous. We so rarely get time away from those idiots, and I was really looking forward to the bookstore with you. Now you have someone else tagging along. Is it so awful to be alone with me?”

Your heart sank a little at that. Was that really how Satan felt? “I’m sorry. That wasn’t my intention. I just wanted to catch up with my friend for a bit since I haven’t seen them in a while. I didn’t mean to disrupt our date.” The demon blinked a few times at the word ‘date’ then blushed. Muttering about how it wasn’t like that, that he was being unreasonable, that it was all fine. Still, you smile and offer to him, “let me tell them goodbye and we’ll go to the bookstore. If we leave now, we can also stop by the pet store and play with the cats if you’d like.”

Satan fidgeted in his chair. Cheek’s still a stark pink against his blonde hair. “I....would like that.”

Asmo

It was a beautiful day in the human world, and you were so excited to be home.

Being able to spend the day in your home town, with your best friend, shopping and just playing around was the best way to spend an afternoon. Who could be sad at a day like this?

“[Y/NNNNNNNN],” Asmo whined. The usually bubbly demon dragging his shopping bags behind him as he pouted behind you. “Can’t we stop for now”

“Really Asmo? You’re usually much more of a marathon shopper.”

“It’s too hot.” He quipped back. Now with more of a frown than a pout. “This humidity is wreaking havoc on my hair.”

“Why don’t I get us something cool to drink?” Your BFF suggested. Trying to stay positive all afternoon, and pretending that they didn’t hear Asmo’s bitter ‘yeah why don’t you do that’ as they took off and he sat down.

“Asmodeus,” you hiss when you were alone. “Who can you be so rude to them? What is wrong with you today?!”

“It’s not my fault!” Asmo snapped back. Looking wounded but also scratching at his chest where his pact mark was to let you know that he knew he messed up. “This was supposed to be a day for you and me! They’re the one that but in!”

“No. You did. I told you I was going top side for a while to hang out with my friend, and you invited yourself along. So now you’re ruining everyone’s day with this behavior. I really don’t get you.”

Asmo stopped scratching at his chest and pouted for real this time.

“I don’t like seeing you with them.” He confessed. “I don’t like seeing you with anyone. Your smile….it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I wanted to come along with you today because I wanted to see your smile. But seeing you happy with someone else is the worst! I don’t even care about any of this anymore. Not even my new shoes.” His foot kicked at his bag sullenly. Asmo must really be upset. “I want to go home and forget all about the human world. I want you to come home with me!”

You listen for a while before you make a confession of your own. “You’re jealous, aren’t you.” It was plain as day now. Or at least now that you realized he wasn’t just being a brat to be a brat.

Asmo turned and glared at you slightly. “Green is not my color.” He insisted before turning away in a huff.

You chuckle, then sit down beside him on the bench. “I think you look good in any color.” You tell him. Softening the demon up. “You know I care about you Asmo. But me being with my friends doesn’t mean I care about you any less. And that’s no reason to be so ugly to them. You need to apologize.”

The demon winced at the word ‘ugly’, but did seem to agree that he needed to turn this around.

When your friend came back, he quickly apologized. Blaming jet lag, or some other ridiculous believable excuse. It didn’t really matter when he turned on the charm. Gods help him if he ever set his mind to something.

Beel

He was stress eating. You could tell.

Although Beel was still shoveling food into his mouth with his usual speed and gusto, by now you could tell the difference in his eating habits. Like when he was just bored and there was food around, or when he was really hungry for something, or when he was excited to try something new. Right now, he wasn’t enjoying what he was eating. Even when he was bored or just eating to eat, Beel always seemed to enjoy it. Even if it was just a vending machine’s worth of junk.

Right now it just looked like he was doing it to take his mind off something.

“Beel? Is something wrong?” You ask softly. Still getting his attention though, and causing him to stop.

“No. Nothing ’s wrong.” He replied. His voice unusually sullen as he wiped his mouth. You knew something was wrong now. He never sounded said when he was eating. Now something was double wrong because he was lying to you.

“Beel….”

“…I don’t like your friend…” He finally confessed after a moment and long bout of staring.

You blink in surprise at his answer. Not expecting that at all. You’ve never heard Beel say a mean word about anyone before. Let alone not liking a person. “You don’t like my friend? Why? Did they do something wrong?”

“It’s not that. I just….don’t like how you are when you’re with them.” He said. Picking at the various candy wrappers he’d left littered on the table. “You seem happy.”

“Of course I’m happy. They’re my friend. I haven’t seen them in a long time, so I miss them.”

Beel flinched a little. “I know….” He seemed to be feeling bad about this now. “And I want you to be happy. I know the human world is your first home. But I’m scared that….if you like it here so much and them, that you’ll leave us again. When you’re not around it’s like this big whole in my stomach and I can’t fill it up.” His stomach growled in protest, or agreement, at his words, and Beel went back to stress eating his vending machine contents again.

Your gaze softened as you finally understood. He was jealous. He thought your friend was going to ‘take you away’ and leave him alone. That of course was silly because you’d never leave him, or the others, ever if you could help it.

You reach out your hand to stop his arm from lifting another fist full of chips to his mouth. Causing him to pause, with his mouth open, and look at you. “All this junk can’t be good for you.” You announce as you stop up from the park table suddenly. “Why don’t I take you to my favorite restaurant in town? My friend used to work there, so I’m sure we’ll get a great table and lots of yummy stuff on the house if we go.”

Beel’s eyes sparkled at the proposition. “Really??”

You giggle. The way to a man’s heart was through his stomach you suppose. Because after this, and a few unlimited fry baskets later, he and your friend were besties for life as well.

Belphie

"[Y/N], I wanna go home."

"Home?" You ask. "But we just got here." You’d only arrived at the park to meet your friend a few hours ago, and had only just started hanging out.

"Well I'm tired.” Belphie muttered.

“Aren’t you always kind of tired?” You ask, as a joke, but it doesn’t seem well received.

Belphie’s frown deepens, and he even lets out an annoyed little growl, before he turns on his heels to walk away. “Belphie! Where are you going?”

“You nap under that tree.” He announced. But doesn’t seem as thrilled as he normally is about the prospect. Napping under trees was like his third favorite nap spot. “You won’t let me go home, so I’m just going to stay there while you hang out with your friend. You won’t miss me anyway.”

The last part of his statement was muttered under his breath, but you still heard it. Was that what he was being so moody about?

“Belphie? Are you jealous I’m hanging out with my friend?”

“Yes.” He replied. Rather quickly considering, with only a moment to scuff the tip of his shoes. “I don’t like that you’re spending time with them and not me. I don’t like being ignored.”

“I’m not ‘ignoring you’.” You tell him. “I’m just hanging out with my friend for a while. I haven’t seen them in a long time. They’ve probably been lonely too.”

Belphegor huffed again and sagged his shoulders. You know you got him.

Belphie might be kind of selfish sometimes, but there was one thing he could empathize with: being alone. He was cast aside and locked out, partially of his own doing, for a long time. So he didn’t want anyone else to feel that way.

“I just don’t like the idea that you like them better than me.”

“I don’t.” You assure him. Stepping in to give him a peck on the cheek, which he adorably flinches at. “I love you both. Differently, but equal. Why don’t we think of something we can all do together then, hm?”

“I’m kind of committed to this nap-tree-idea-thing.” The demon confessed. You have to giggle.

You all don’t nap, but your friend agree to get some ice creams from a vendor in the park and sit under the tree to enjoy them while Belphie napped. It was a remarkably pleasant afternoon. You were glad you got to share it with Belphie.

[hard--mode]

Here's the notes for everything that would happen up until the end of the story.... as far as I had it figured out. You'll notice things are a lot less fleshed out the later things go. That's a big reason why this never got finished. the longer I tried to keep the thing running, the more I realized I never had any idea what I wanted to actually DO with this story which made it pretty hard for me to keep up. it's hard to write a story you're trying to take seriously if all you really have are jokes, it turns out.

I haven't reread any of this or edited it at all so who knows what kind of notes I might have written in between things haha

P: so as i was saying about undyne-

C: who’s undyne?

Everyone freezes. Chara just walked right up to papyrus without being noticed. Paps freaks out for a sec before he pulls sans into a huddle. Chara frowns and tries to peek around.

~Montage of papyrus’s excitement and harder puzzles, death montage

~Junior jumble: its sudoku now

Chara’s doing puzzles and sees flowey spying. They shout him over

C: HEY! still following me, loser? Don’t you have anything better to do? (but they smile)

F: somebody’s gotta make sure you don’t get killed too much out here

Flowey pops up closer to them

C: nah, I’m fine! I’ve got that reset power!

F: not for long considering how much you use it (mumbles. Rolls eyes??) (some depiction of chara dying a lot in the bg)

C: by the way…. In the ruins you were telling me to use it… care to tell me more about it since you seem to know so much?

F: I-... uh… well you already know the most of it. It just resets you back to your last SAVE point like nothing happened. Only beings with a powerful SOUL can use it, so monsters with their weak souls can’t.

Chara stops their puzzle work and sits to even the heights: Can flowers?

F: what the heck are you-... oh, no no no. I’m different.

C: so you have the power too.

F: No! I mean-, i used to before you came around. Yeah.

C: so you’ve done resets. (urging him on)

F: yep.

Chara waits a while: ...thats all you have to say?

F: yep

Travel scenes from here on out depict chara and flowey together

Gauntlet:

Flowey remarks that he doesn't remember a save point being before it. Chara goes along and gets paps’ bit. He does to activate it

C: wait this isn't for real right? U can't be srs!!!

P: yeah I am, this is hard mode!

Just show chara repeatedly spawning at the save and running back in with flowey watching them

Then cut to the end chara on the other side of it panting and exhausted, papyrus shocked but also beaming

P: wow you did it!! I'm so proud of u human! I didn’t think you would actually be able to get through it--- I mean- drat! Foiled again! I'll get u one of these times!

Papyrus runs off and Chara watches him with a look of wonder in their eyes.

F: don’t get too excited. his pride is cheap, he’s proud of everyone and every thing

Chara grumbles and marches forward: whatever. I don’t hear you saying you’re proud of me, so why do I have to listen to what you have to say

F: You know, you’re gonna have to fight him soon. Didn’t sans say so? What are you going to do then, die over and over until you give up or are you going to try to murder him just like you did with Toriel? :)

C: I am not! I’m gonna talk him out of it and go right past him like everyone else. Who knows! Maybe he won’t even fight me because he’s that cool. Even if he does, he’s probably a wimp anyways.

F: I wouldn’t be so sure! I bet you don’t stand a chance.

C: shut up! Quit following me if you’re gonna be this useless.

Paps fight

As papyrus carries their body to the shed to rest. Opens on their vision returning and they see their hands hanging toward the ground.

C: why didn’t you kill me? You’re stronger than everyone else, you could easily do it. Why dont you finish me off so everyone can leave or whatever it is you need me to do? Why did you hold back?

P: OH! YOU’RE AWAKE!

C: you held back…

P: OF COURSE i DID! I COULD NEVER KILL YOU, YOU’RE MY-- I HOPE I’M NOT BEING TOO FORWARD, BUT I LIKE TO THINK OF YOU AS MY FRIEND! AND EVEN THOUGH WE DO NEED YOUR SOUL, YOU DESERVE A FIGHTING CHANCE TO DO… WHATEVER IT IS YOU’RE TRYING TO DO.

Chara is too shocked and confused by the sentiment: I don’t… I don’t understand?

P: WHAT’S SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT A FRIEND NOT KILLING YOU? HUMANS ARE SO STRANGE ...OH! I SEE NOW! THE REASON WHY YOU CARRY YOUR KNIFE LIKE THAT. IT’S BECAUSE YOU’RE MORE AFRAID OF US MONSTERS THAN WE COULD EVER BE OF YOU!

He sets them down in the shed on the dog bed.

P: I’M SORRY, HUMAN! I WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU MORE WARNING IF I HAD KNOWN HOW YOU FELT.

C: then… does that mean you’re going to let me go?

P: ABSOLUTELY NOT! I ALREADY CALLED UNDYNE TO MEET ME SO SHE CAN TAKE YOU! AND YOU NEED TO REST NOW AFTER ALL THAT!

C: !! I-I don’t know who Undyne is, but I can’t do that. I’m in a hurry to get out of here.

P: HMM… IF YOU’RE IN A HURRY THEN… NO, NO YOU CAN’T! WE NEED YOUR SOUL, I CAN’T JUST LET YOU LEAVE. UNDYNE’S REALLY COOL TOO, YOU’LL LIKE HER!

C: No, I have to go.

P: AGH, WELL… I SUPPOSE IF YOU CAN GET PAST ME BEFORE I CAN CATCH YOU, THERE’S NOTHING I CAN DO. BUT I WON’T GO EASY ON YOU!

Cut to chara walking toward waterfall, papyrus calling after them to come back and hang out sometime. They keep walking and mutter to themself: Sorry, but I’ll get out of here before that ever happens.

WATERFALL

They see monster kid and side eye sans as they charge in, hurriedly.

Chara keeps flowey around and asks him to read the words for him. FLowey says it’s not important at all to anything they’re doing. It’s just monster history junk that means nothing if chara’s trying to leave. Chara’s like shut up cmon help me out maybe there's clues. FLowey reads some history stuff in waterfall treating it like shit they already know

F: why do you care about all this garbage anyway?

C: I dunno, I guess it just sounds familiar. Like a story I heard a long time ago.

Chara stops suddenly and checks their phone. Flowey asks what’s up

C: i thought it rang… you didn’t hear-

The phone starts ringing. Papyrus is cheerfully on the other end and they walk and talk.

He tells them about how he heard so many horrible things about humans and the surface but chara was much nicer than he ever expected. Chara asks where he heard that and he says a flower told him. Chara covers the receiver and looks around for flowey, suspicions of him raised.

Montage w monster kid and umbrella

Chara falls from undyne’s spear attack and wakes up in the trash with flowey over them.

F: hey, wake up. I can tell you’re not dead so hurry up and get moving.

Chara’s kind of bummed: she killed me four times back there. And it wasn’t even a fight. I couldn’t talk her down or… i couldn’t even talk to her, I could barely see her.

F: what, are you giving up or something? You know she can kill you as much as she wants and you aren’t gonna die.

C: I know that! I know this is just like a game where you can keep on going but… it hurts. And it’s exhausting.

F: what will you do then? Sit here in this trash and do nothing?

C: *sigh* no. I’m just feeling down in the dumps.

They smile and get up.

As they’re walking out, they hear a click and someone to tell them to “hold it”

Mad dummys behind them and she just has a gun. Pointed directly at chara. She starts on her thing about the cousin and then blook saves the day.

Chara meets up with blook again. They go to where the snail races used to be. It’s all busted and unused

C: what’s this supposed to be…?

B: oh…. this used to be a snail farm…. And this was a race course…. For snails…. But a long time ago people started to call the races “insensitive” so we had to close them…. Sorry you can’t have any fun racing snails…

C: why was it insensitive…?

B: ...i’d… rather not talk about it………..

Timeskip

C: hey flowey! What’s up with this place and snails?

F:...i wouldnt know.

montage

After waterfall where undyne says how many souls they have

C: flowey… if they have 6 human souls, that means 6 others fell down and died here, so…

F: what?

C: i just- i mean you were the first one i met-

F: no, no, no, ive never killed anyone. You’re the only human i’ve seen since i woke up

Chara relaxes: ok. So you dont know anything about them.

F: no. i heard some things from toriel, not much. It’s too late to try asking her, but she’s seen all of them. She was there at the beginning even.

C: the beginning?

F: you know…. When humans started falling down here and monsters started killing them.

Chara goes silent in thought: wait… how… long has this been going on? How old is toriel?

F: dunno

Chara after having a rough time: it’s hard, but no matter what happens i can just keep trying. I’ll make it out of this! You believe in me right, flowey?

F: no i think you should give up.

Page/chapter ends there. Next is chara going up to fight undyne.

Open on a riff on the “long ago” cutscene that chara cuts off by saying they already know this story

Undyne screams SHUT UP!!! I’m doing my HEROIC MONOLOGUE!! Whatever, I bet you haven’t heard the part about the King and Queen’s human child who died of illness and their other son who was killed by the humans when he tried to return their body to the surface?!

C: No I think I heard that one too? Why are you telling me all this anyways??

U: because this is an UNSKIPPABLE CUTSCENE!! NYAAAGGGHHHH!!!!!

Chara’s getting their ass beat and on low hp: I’ll die in a hit or two. But that’s fine because I’ll just start this over. I’ll start from… where was the last save point…

A vision of them with flowey. Their eyes go red and the flashback cuts in between shots of them running from undyne

F: I think you should give up

Ch: what… give up?? I thought you were on my side with all the telling me to keep going and-and the hanging out with me?!

F: as if you had any other choice but to keep going! We both know you don’t.

C: so you’ve just been following this whole time waiting for me to give up and die, huh?! Why, are you trying to steal my soul just like everybody else?!?

F: it doesn’t matter how hard you try, you’re going to die! And die and die and die! You can reset as much as you want, it won’t change that! So what if I am waiting for you to give up? You’re the last thing keeping monsters trapped down here. If you give up, you’ll give everyone what they want!

C: I thought you wanted to help me?! I thought you were my friend!

F: I would never be friends with a human! You’re all nothing but killing machines!

C: I haven’t killed anyone!

F: You killed Toriel! No number of resets can change what you did! You’re a horrible, disgusting human just like all the others and everyone would be happier if you were dead!

Flowey could say something about dying down here is better than their inevitable death on the surface. Their death would at least be worth something. Mean something

Chara escapes the fight, undyne collapses, and they walk away. they tell themselves they won’t give up. They don’t need help, especially not from that dumb flower. They’ll live to spite him and everyone else who tries to kill them

Chara goes in and meets alphys and overall is p meh abt it bc bad mood. Alphys helping them through the underground makes them talk to themselves about how they dont need flowey, they can do this themself. Friends are no good.

hotland is as normal. probably figure out some indication of things not right. make the game seem broken bc they arent supposed to get so far like this

Chara meets with sans at mtt resort for food reluctantly. Lets him say his piece. After he’s done threatening to kill them chara says to his face that they really don’t like him.

Need some hubbub about them having to kill asgore to get out. Theyll be like yeah I know that (somehow)... oh but I need a plan… how will i come up with a plan..

Flowey finally appears to chara again just before they get to new home and tries to talk them out of leaving. Disparaging the surface and telling them they could live happily down here. Chara says no, it’s too hard because people are constantly hunting them down and being the last soul, no ones going to stop that. He says that he’s sorry for the way he was before

Chara smiles back, and then looks away: What you said before… about.. My inevitable death on the surface…

F: that was… don’t worry about that.

C: are you afraid of it?

F: well- yeah, it’s a dangerous place. Everyone knows that.

C: I’ve died a lot more times down here than I ever did up there.

A beat

C: you go back and forth a lot between talking about how I should stay down here because it’s better… but also if I die down here… everyone gets to go free… to the horrible, awful surface.

F: uh,, did I say all that…? I may have contradicted myself a little… I guess… in the end I just wanted an excuse for you to stay around. I really don’t want you to die.

C: so you did see me as a friend after all?

F: well…you reminded me of someone who was my friend. I wish we could have been friends.

C: Do you think… If I reset back to the beginning and did this again, if I said the right things… we could have been?

F: No… You could be as nice to me or as mean to me as you want. No matter how many times you reset, some things never change.

C: ...Did you ever… have to reset because you killed someone?

F: ……….once… and then I never reset ever again. The power to reset… makes you do bad things. It’s wrong. I had to stop because i knew… I’d make someone really upset if I kept messing around.

C: well, in that case… I guess I’ll just have to get the rest of the way out of here without any resets!

Flowey smiles: I dunno, keep one or two under your belt. You’re a pretty big klutz.

C: Thanks for helping me out of here, flowey. Even if you just did it because you were begged.

Can you imagine a more paranoid flowey who is less interested in attacking you and regaining the reset ability, but is pleased af that you have the reset ability because that means you can't die, and instead he spends the entire game trying to convince you that humanity is hopeless. That there is nothing on the surface world returning to. That it's safer, down here.

he's part of the reason why things are so much harder

he's the one that starts the rumors about the dangers of teh surface world

there's a definite sense of paranoia all across the board

When they approach new home, flowey appears one last time and grabs chara by the hand, telling them not to go. They can live in the underground, they’ve made a lot of friends here. Chara says that they have to go, they’ll find a way to get out without killing asgore. Flowey says that he tried to stop them, this is as far as he’ll go. This is goodbye. They bid their farewells and chara goes along, but flowey secretly follows them, much less detectable than ever before. It’s revealed when he’s hiding with the flowers.

Chara walks up to new home, regarding it as a vaguely familiar sight. They walk down the many halls knowing exactly where to go. The monsters speak as they go through the motions. They find a cookbook in the kitchen with a page for snail pie missing. Chara mumbles about already knowing the story and that they should all shut up. They walk more quickly to stay ahead of them. Then one mentions the snail pie and chara stops dead in their tracks. No that’s not how it happened- they stop, and take back off.

They are stopped by sans in the judgement hall, glaring at him.

S: well I had a whole speech to give ya, but you look like you’re in a hurry. You’re a weird kid, but you’re fine. The king’s up ahead.

OTHER alternative: chara realizes something’s wrong and runs back to get everyone, probably threatening to kill asgore to convince them to come quickly. Sans is avoided due to the mob approaching behind them “I heard the word that you’re on your way to kill the king.” c: are you here to stop me? “Nah. But you’d better have a good plan to back yourself up, kid. King’s up ahead”

They run up to asgore, no nonsense. Some time is taken to progress things. As they leave the throne room, flowey watches from the flowers, chara looks back to confirm he’s there.

Asgore draws up the souls, the fight is about to engage, before he can smash “MERCY” chara yells: ASRIEL. Get the souls.

Everything stops. Flowey is behind them, stunned and confused. Chara turns and asks him what he’s waiting for. Hurry up and take the souls before everyone else gets here. Nearly every last monster is coming, if he can become godlike and absorb them, it will be enough strength to break the barrier.

Flowey is confused, how do they know that? Chara tells him he did it before. Doesn’t he remember? Doesn’t he remember them?

Either flowey does it and something happens, or flowey waits too long and chaos erupts which gets them killed, and then chara and flowey have to meet up and workshop.

Final fight:

He probably says some shit about frisk and how he cant lose frisk again, chara must insist that theyre not frisk. When they say their name is chara, he hesitates for only a moment. Finally, when chara’s pinned and about to seriously die…

C: you remember it now too, don’t you? It took me a while, I couldn’t remember a thing until i started hearing your name around. You’re an all powerful god now, you should be able to remember it all better than me

A: shut up.

C: would frisk want us to fight like this?! Would frisk want you to kill your own sibling?!

A: c-.... You’re… you’re really chara?

He lets them go

They reach the conclusion that frisk messed with everything and put them here with no memories so they could do something frisk could never do. Frisk thinks they deserve to live, no matter how much the two may disagree. They have to play along. Asriel is a god and can use his powers to break the barrier and bring EVERYONE back to life so they can live together happily.

go to final fight and everyones already there, things are very confused, flowey takes the souls and things glitch out (screen phases between bosses) and chara realizes this isnt how things are supposed to be, tells asriel theyre sorry for their baggage but he doesnt understand bc he isnt theirs, and then they gotta find frisk somehow

OR... they realize things in the speech and don't go to fight asgore bc theyre finding flowey... they feign fighting asgore and then suddenly tell flowey to take the souls("Asriel! get the souls!" and thats the first time they call him by name)...? i like that a bit better. they start going on about crazy shit that makes roided out flowey kind of lose it at them which leads to them apologizing to their own asriel but then realizing they need to find frisk

but HOW do they find frisk

The end shows chara asriel and frisk hugging eachother, all alive and well. Then the two are “processing…” and remember that oh, theyve done some dark messed up stuff.

[chocosvt]

⚬ pairing: joshua x reader ⚬ word count: 5040 ⚬ warnings: mentions of alcohol ⚬ genres: FLUFF, shallow angst, guitarist/bandmate!joshua, some annoying neighbour tropes, a little bit of pining, wintery pizzazz, joshua is a hopeless romantic :( 

✧✎ synopsis: somebody new just moved into the upstairs apartment. they’re loud, irritatingly sweet, and unfortunately, very pretty. but you’re not looking for a new relationship, even if it comes in the form of joshua hong. 

✧✎ a/n: oooUUooouu YES! this is a gift to my lovely secret santa, @luvshuas !! ♡ in my first ask, i learned that dani liked using paint by numbers, AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS ADORABLE so i helped use it to create this fic! dani, you are such a joy to talk to AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS XOXOXO !! :D

Last week, someone new had moved into the empty apartment one floor above yours. You didn’t know who. Not their name, not their face, just that they occupied the once vacant space of room 24D. Supposedly, their next-door neighbours had already brought them some housewarming gifts. A watering can filled with flowers, a wreath of white candles, and an old sewing tin now converted into a container for oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

All closely resembling the gifts you received during your first week at the apartment complex. It made sense though, considering most rooms were home to very elderly couples. At first, you planned a brief gap in your day to visit this stranger and welcome them to such a small complex. Find out if they were old or young, endearing or irritable, sensible or flat out crazy. But you never visited room 24D, because you were currently in a moat about your ex-partner.

An extremely deep, inescapable moat.

Not only had they broken up with you on the day you planned to introduce them to your parents, they decided it would be most efficient to do so through a stupid text message. From Monday to Friday, you’d been moping in a curled-up ball on the couch, blowing into tissues and flicking through the holiday romcoms even though they were all so cookie-cutter and dull. To make matters worse, it had been snowing all week, shutting you indoors as a draft built up outside the windowsills.

You had completely forgot about the newbie who’d just moved in upstairs. Until one day, when they decided to make their presence known in the most jarring way possible.

That particular morning, you were finally feeling stable enough to not eat dry, stale cereal straight from the box. You were feeling well enough to avoid another twelve hours moulding into the couch. While a cold wind blew against the windows and rattled the glass, you poured yourself some tea with the new teapot your mother parceled as an early present. And that’s when you heard it: an eruption of electric sound from the floor directly above yours. It sounded like a guitar, if that guitar were plugged into a massive amp and its chords were being plucked by one thousand fingers.

Coincidentally, you spilt tea, scalding and runny, all over the countertop. It started dribbling down your cupboards and creating blotches on the tiled flooring. At random, the sound stopped.

By lunchtime you were unwinding in the shower, your eyes shut as the water poured onto your face and streamed toward the drain. When you squeezed out some shampoo onto your fingers, you heard the chord progression again. This time louder, if that was even possible. The bottle flung from your wet hands and crashed against the floor, startling you half to death, a trail of wasted shampoo then painted to the wall. But the sound didn’t stop immediately. Unlike last time, the stranger railed on their guitar for half an hour at least.

Yet the last straw didn’t come until evening.

Sitting at the kitchen table with a water jar next to your elbow, you were using your new paint by numbers kit. You had been waiting all day to try it, brushing in the mesmerizing colours of a watery-purple landscape. For the last time that day, you were jolted by the riff of an electric guitar, causing you to jerk a huge, thick streak of black paint right across the paper, effectively ruining it. How horrible. How Terrible.

And you were not going to let the incident slide.

Room 24D. 

The room directly above yours. After banging your fist rather inhospitably against the door, you couldn’t lie that the face which greeted you was a definite shock. A young man probably in his early twenties, with curly, brown hair styled neatly yet in disarray, and these wide, glass-like eyes that felt so penetrating you were afraid to glare him down. In fact, you were a bit nervous.

“I don’t know where you stayed at last, b-but at this complex, people don’t usually slam on their electric guitars.”

But so what if you were nervous? You had grown accustomed to sharing this complex with seniors. The thought of someone this young (and admittedly – quite beautiful) had somewhat stunted your brain. The stranger looked at you as though he had nothing to say. He started bobbing his head and shrugged.

“Yeah, well, I’m guessing it doesn’t happen ‘cause everyone here is over seventy and crochets scarves until bedtime. It’s not my fault you’re the only one who’s still got decent hearing.”

Your eyes narrowed; your brow heavily creased.

“What’s your name?” You asked.

 He hesitated at first, then replied, “Joshua.”

“Okay, Joshua, I’d rather have everyone in this building crocheting scarves out the damn window if it meant not listening to a stupid electric guitar all day. You ruined my paint by numbers kit.”

Joshua laughed. “Your what?” He then flashed a grin which suggested he was holding back a satirical comment.

“My paint by numbers kit!” You repeated, feeling your nervousness dissolve into irritation. “It’s ruined, and I’m blaming it on you because it’s your fault. My whole week has been awful and you just made it even worse. So there. I hope you’re happy.”

For some reason, Joshua leaned his shoulder against the doorframe like someone who had all the time in the world. He appeared way too comfortable. Something about it irked you while simultaneously pulling this weird, fuzzy string in your chest. The boy folded his arms and raised a curious eyebrow.

“Why was your week awful?” He questioned.

There was a sweetness to his voice which hadn’t been there before, and you absolutely weren’t going to fall for it, even if it sounded like he ate a spoonful of honey and might taste just as good.

“No. Forget it,” you sighed, waving a dismissive hand, “I said what I had to say. Just be quieter, please.”

You turned around sharply, making your way toward the elevator based at the end of the corridor. Those magnetic eyes of his seemed to be glued to your backside, an almost palpable feeling.

“Okay!” He called out. “Great chat! Nice to meet you too!”

The boy was being wholly sarcastic of course. After returning to your apartment, you cleaned up the kitchen table, sweeping away your paint by numbers kit into a drawer just in case you were one day struck with the motivation to fix it up. Probably not.

“Uh—excuse me? You called me, remember? So don’t go shifting the fault like always. I just can’t believe how immature you are! And, you know what, I’m hanging up now! Don’t call back!”

Smashing your finger against the phone screen, you ended the call, silencing the aggravated voice that had pounded through the line just a second before. An unfortunate misdial resulted in your ex phoning you at the supermarket. The interaction immediately turned south, prompting you to hurry outside into the snow, wedging the brown paper bag of produce underneath your arm and against your chest, all while you barked into the phone with the other hand.

Snowflakes were brimming the edge of your wool hat; your fingertips numb and stiff. Your pacing, impatient footsteps were stamped across the white ground. Things had been difficult enough without your ex invading even the most boring parts of your life, and now a mundane stop at the market had left you intensely unsettled.

As you huffed a web of your breath into the air, you spotted something unexpected: Joshua helping Mrs. Akané load the groceries into her small silver-bullet car. She lived alone on the bottom floor of the apartment complex, one of the kindest old ladies in the whole building. Every winter she had knitted you a pink pair of mittens. When Joshua opened the car door for her, she gave him a gentle pat on his shoulder and her patented rosy-cheeked smile.

Since you scorned him for his abrasive guitar playing, it only happened less often, though it was never any quieter. You realized that he belonged in a band. From time to time they would take the stage at the downtown bar, engendering a space so packed it was nearly impossible to wriggle to the counter for a quick drink. Joshua invited you to his Friday night gig – which was tonight – and while you had contemplated the decision to attend, the disheartening encounter with your ex had officially soiled the mood.

Joshua noticed you, probably looking cold and mad.

“So,” he began, “are you coming tonight?”

Adjusting the groceries underneath your arm, you shrugged, meanwhile the hollow nature of your eyes screamed a blatant no. If anything, you wanted to be back on that living room couch, eating an entire tray of frosted shortbread cookies and dabbing at your tears.

“Seriously?” Joshua frowned. “You’re gonna pass? It is ‘cause you’re still mad about the guitar playing? I’m sorry, okay.”

“No,” you shook your head, “no, no. It’s not because of your disruptive, loud guitar playing. I’m just not having a good day.”

Bits of snow began to powder Joshua’s brown hair. His cheeks were blushed and his nose rosy.

“No offense,” the boy laughed, “but it seems like you’re never having a good day.” He then shook his head, scattering the snowflakes from between the fibres of his hair. “How about you come to our little concert shindig thing, listen to our set – which is great, I promise – then we can talk about it, back at my place.”

For a moment, you paused, and this perplexed expression briefly eclipsed your features. Did he just subtly attempt to persuade you into some sort of… Date? No, it was too soon for anything like that. He was probably joking anyways (despite his straight face).

“I don’t know… I’m tired. Maybe another time.”

You started carrying the brown bag of produce to your car, parked just down the street. Joshua chuckled and tagged along at your side, the snow crunching softly under your feet.

“When’s another time?” He asked.

Throwing open the car door and sliding the bag inside, you sighed. “Another time is another time. It’s self-explanatory.”

“So you’re not coming?” Joshua questioned in finality.

“No.” You replied, rubbing your cold fingers together, attempting to spark some warmth. “I’m not.”

It was then that Joshua took your hands in his, a gesture that completely flicked you off your axis, and started to squeeze them, kneading your skin with his thumbs until you felt the uncomfortable stiffness gradually wear off. He brought your hands close to his face, pursed his pink, very pretty lips, and started to blow on them. A sensation fizzled to life in your lower tummy. Not only were you heating up significantly, but you felt too hot. Scary hot.

“That’s a shame.” Joshua said, releasing your hands carefully, like he’d just touched gold. “But I can wait for another time.”

You couldn’t sleep that night.

Most likely because you were regretting the decision to not attend Joshua’s gig at the bar. The fact that no matter how hard you pushed, memories of your past relationship would still linger like a heavy mist, preventing you from being happy, from detaching, from forming new connections. Wet drops of snow tapped against your window. And then, at around one in the morning, you heard a knock at your apartment door.

Joshua. Evidently intoxicated. His guitar case slung over his back. A foggy sort of look disrupting his usual countenance.

“Hey there,” he mumbled, rubbing at his eye, “couldn’t get into my room. Think I could crash—” the boy stopped midsentence to yawn and hiccup, his face flushed pink, “crash here?”

“Did you walk home from the bar?” You asked, disregarding his inquiry. 

“No, Jihoon drove me.” Joshua answered, bracing his hand against the threshold. “Pretty please? Can I stay?”

“Fine.”

You took the dark green guitar case from Joshua’s back, stamped with numerous luggage stickers that made it seem as though he’d flown all over the globe. After settling the case beside the couch, you helped Joshua lie down, though he flopped rather ungracefully with his face squished into a pillow.

For an awkward moment, you were just standing there, twiddling your thumbs as Joshua squirmed onto his back.

“Do you want a glass of water?” You proposed.

Joshua carded a hand through his brown locks and further dishevelled them. His face seemed to glow and the manner in which his eyes softly shut had you feeling oddly sympathetic. Like you needed to take care of him.

Rather than answering your question, Joshua sighed.

“I can’t believe you flaked on me.” He said. “I looked forward to seeing you there all week. I told my friends about you.”

Your toes dug into the carpet; teeth fastened into your bottom lip. You couldn’t tell if he was rambling drunken nonsense or being wholly truthful. Joshua titled his head to the side, nestling his cheek comfortably against the pillow.

“Like I said, there’ll be another time.”

“Can I have a blanket?” He mumbled sleepily.

Disappearing into your bedroom for a moment, you grabbed Joshua a spare blanket which often lied next to you on the bed, just in case it got a little too cold at night. Your heating was fairly shabby.

“Here you go.” You said, dropping it on him.

After pulling the fabric up to his chin and spending a minute getting comfy, Joshua started smiling, lashes long against his cheeks.

“Appreciate it.” He replied. ”Kick me out early if you want.”

When Joshua scheduled his next gig at the bar, you made sure to be there, settled near the back at the cocktail counter. As you anticipated, the space filled up quickly, and you kept tucking in your legs whenever someone scooted by to use the washroom or find a better vantage point. You didn’t mention that you were coming. It was supposed to be a surprise which had oddly excited you. Like you were someone important to him, even though you probably weren’t.

You enjoyed his band’s performance. While sipping at something syrupy and a little too cherry flavoured, you couldn’t help but smile behind the glass, shake your foot even, as Joshua strummed down on the electric guitar. There was a pink-haired drummer seated behind him, and a bassist with a dashing, heavenly smile. Eventually, the tone of their music shifted near the end of the set. Joshua exchanged his electric guitar for the acoustic one kept in that dark green, stickered case. And when he started to sing a slower, more sentimental song, you felt something cotton-like in your chest.

How could his voice be this soft? How could it turn so sweet? How could his eyes switch from a powerful ripple to calm water? And why were you heating up all over? The glass hit your knee as you continued to watch Joshua sing, as though you’d fallen into a trance, like a sailor caught by the lullaby of a siren.

But then, as your eyes scanned the crowd for a brief moment, they attached to some who looked awfully familiar.

Goddammit. Of course.

Why did your stupid ex have to be everywhere? 

Why did they have to invade every aspect of your life? Especially the enjoyable parts? Once the stage ended and Joshua began thanking the crowd for an energetic reaction, they turned around and grabbed their friend excitedly. Yet, the thrill on their face disappeared the second they noticed you, glaring bitterly, angrily, still clearly hurt. That’s when you decided to leave.

You were halfway down the block when you heard your name being shouted. Pausing beneath a street lamp, you attempted to peer through the heavy flurries sweeping down from the night sky. A silhouette began to take shape. Joshua finally pressed through into the light, without his jacket, his equipment, or even a damn sweater.

“What the hell are you doing out here?” You questioned him, wondering how cold he must be feeling in that white t-shirt.

Joshua took a few more steps forward. “I saw you there,” he replied, still trying to catch his breath, “but then you just stormed out. I nearly threw myself down the back entrance trying to catch up with you, y’know. How do you walk that damn fast?”

“I just—I wanted to beat the crowd home.” You lied.

Joshua took in another big breath, then nodded his head. “So, what did you think? You like the music?”

“It’s cool… Why did you leave without a jacket? I mean, it’s snowing like crazy. You’re gonna get hypothermia or something.”

“Well, I didn’t want to let you get away.” The boy laughed, brushing off some flurries compiling on his shoulder. “It was great to see you there. But, why didn’t you tell me? Why the secrecy.”

You shrugged. “Why should I tell you?”

At that, you weren’t expecting Joshua to have a response. Maybe he’d be a little puzzled and have to think about it. Instead, he seemed to be formulating a surprise of his own.

“Because I have a song for you,” Joshua revealed, “I wrote it with Jihoon. It’s an acoustic thing. But I could turn it hard rock too.”

It felt like someone had turned the table. Ironically, you were the one struggling to reply, your brow furrowing in the dim light as you stared at this boy with his glowing cheeks and his hair disrupted by the flakes of snow. You sniffled, cold air hitting your lungs.

“Why would you write a song about me?”

No one had ever done such a gesture for you before. Not that you had been acquainted with many musicians or lyricists. You felt strange, but also warm, and heart-fluttery, and like you were possibly falling for someone harder than ever before. Joshua approached you tentatively and grabbed your hand, his eyes soft.

“Probably because I like you.” Joshua murmured. “A lot.”

Your heart started to pound, and it felt like someone was banging their fists against your chest. Even if you had denied it in the beginning, the truth was that you liked Joshua too. And yet, those reciprocating words somehow fell to the bottom of your feet. Because as much as you wanted it, you still weren’t ready for someone new.

“Joshua…” you squeezed his hand and looked into those endearing eyes of his, “I-I can’t right now. I was in a relationship not too long ago, and now that’s over, but I’m still trying to get over it. I’m sorry. I’m really, really sorry.”

The boy shook his head. “You don’t have to be sorry.” Joshua answered, running his thumb between your knuckles. “You’re not ready, I get it.”

Breathing out slowly, you smiled at him. 

You were yanking open all the drawers in the kitchen, trying to remember where exactly you had stuck that little metal whisk. A bowl of unmixed cupcake batter was waiting to be stirred. Each year that it was open, you signed up for the Complex Gift Exchange, and it just so happened that sixty-five-year-old Miss Dupont really liked vanilla cupcakes. You pulled out the drawer that had been hiding the ruined, stained paper courtesy of your paint by numbers kit.

Rolling your eyes, you slammed it shut, only to realize you’d left the whisk sitting behind the big bag of flour on the counter.

Even though you had turned down Joshua that one night in the snow, he didn’t act spiteful or weird about it. And somehow, you two had grown closer since. Joshua was very easy to talk to. He was a good listener. No matter how many times you ran into each other on the elevator, or at the supermarket, the letter boxes in the lobby or at the car lot, Joshua always made time to listen to whatever mishap had bothered you that day. He still railed on his electric guitar every now and then, though you were beginning to accept it. Baby steps.

Apparently, one of his bandmates was visiting today. 

You knew exactly when he’d arrived too, because as soon as you pulled the cupcakes out from the oven to cool, this wave of intense sound; drumming, symbols, guitar, everything, exploded from the floor above, like someone had just thrown a clump of instruments into a hurricane. You stared up at the ceiling winsomely and sighed.

Dressed in a long, thick winter coat, you went outside the complex to visit the garden, now blanketed by snow and sparkling white. You brushed off the bench that had once sat before a fiery pink row of petunias and took a seat. It was much quieter.

“Hey!”

Or so you thought.

Turning around, you gazed up at the apartment complex, spotting two familiar faces hanging out from a fourth story window.

“What?!” You shouted back.

Joshua grinned, then cupped his hands around his mouth as an amplifier. “Were we being too loud?!” He asked.

“Yeah!” His friend yelled. “Were we too loud?!” You had learned the other face was Jihoon, the band drummer, his hair now a rusty shade of crimson. He helped write most of their music.

“No, I’m just sitting out here in the wind and snow and below zero temperatures because I want to!” You replied at the top of your lungs.

Waving at you apologetically, Joshua kept smiling. “Sorry! I’m gonna kick him out soon!” He pointed at Jihoon. “If you want, you can come up here and listen to our last rehearsal!”

Jihoon shoved Joshua’s head out of the way.

“Don’t come up here!” The drummer exclaimed. “It’s not even close to ready yet. He’s just saying that because he’s in—”

A hand clamped swiftly to the boy’s mouth, muffling the remainder of his sentence like it was top secret. Joshua then dragged him away from the open window. Quirking an eyebrow in confusion, you stared at the vacant space until Joshua reappeared a moment later, scratching the back of his head and looking sheepish.

“Sorry about that!” Joshua called. “We’re almost done!”

“I’m in no rush!” You answered, turning back around.

It was true. There weren’t too many pressing things you needed to get done today, besides making the buttercream frosting for Miss Dupont’s cupcakes. The weather wasn’t even as terrible as you made it seem. The wind was light, and the shining sun helped mitigate the usual bitterness of winter. It was quite nice out.

Until about ten minutes later, when Joshua threw a snowball at your back. You spun around quickly, glaring at the boy who was dusting his hands clean of snow, standing near the complex doorway. In that moment, you wanted to be angry at him. But, to be honest, you felt like laughing instead.

“Shouldn’t I be the one throwing snowballs at you?”

Joshua shrugged. “If you could even hit me.”

“Keep your eyes open tonight, Joshua Hong.” You comically threatened him. “Where are you going, anyways?”

“I have to get my person a gift for the exchange thing.” He said, pulling a hat over his hair. “And a new guitar pick.”

“Have fun with that.”

Then, waiting for him to turn around, you hastily packed together a snowball and threw it against the back of his coat.

Miss Dupont somehow figured out who was responsible for her gift. She asked you to give her the cupcakes early, because she swore, she was had been able to smell them baking through the air ducts. Maybe you added too much vanilla. Everyone was supposed to exchange their gifts tomorrow, leaving them by the door or delivering them in person. You didn’t have a clue as to who could be preparing your gift. As long as it wasn’t another candle wreath to collect dust in your closet, you figured you’d be fine with it.

Tonight would be your last opportunity in a long while to watch Joshua’s band perform at the downtown bar. You’d missed their last show, ruminating over the possibility of encountering your ex again; feeling those horrible emotions which were nothing more than poison in disguise. After the New Year, Joshua was planning to visit South Korea with his bandmates for a few weeks. It would be awfully strange to not hear another symphony from his electric guitar, or Jihoon’s drumkit. Jeonghan never really stopped by much.

It was at least an hour or so before Joshua was scheduled to perform. So, you decided to walk down the street to the lane of trees now wrapped and curled with lights. There were small, twinkling white lights. Large, blue lights shaped like hanging icicles. Some blinked in a specific pattern while others morphed colours. At night, it made quite the spectacle. Many people had stopped, much like yourself, to admire the aurora and pull their significant other a little bit closer. You huffed, hating this lonesomeness inside you.

But then you felt a quick pair of fingers dance up your back, and immediately recognized his eyes shining like stars.

“This is the first time I’ve seen you at the lights.” Joshua remarked, zipping up his jacket. “They’ve been up for a while now.”

“It’s always a magnet for couples.” You told him, glancing around at all the handholding and heads leaned adoringly on shoulders. “And I am—well, I was, standing here alone.” Inside your coat pocket, you played with a piece of lint, realizing that perhaps you finally felt ready and significantly healed to consider another relationship.

Looking at you from the corner of his eye, Joshua nodded.

It seemed as though the lights were a place he visited frequently, even amongst all the couples. To you, Joshua seemed like someone who was inspired by love. The not so subtle nature of awkward yet enamored eye contact which made people giggly. Holding onto the very tips of someone’s fingers because you couldn’t let go of their hand even for a second. Pressing an ear to a comfortable chest, listening for a rhythmic, thumping heartbeat. You bet he liked kisses too. Quick kisses on cheeks and gentle kisses on noses and slow, warm kisses to the mouth which could set a fire in your belly.

Out of the blue, you asked him something personal.

“How fast do you usually fall for someone?”

Joshua’s eyes traced the twinkling lights of the tree, all the way to the very top.

“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “I’ve never thought about it.”

Kicking at a lump of hard snow, you sighed. “I think I fall too quickly. Maybe that’s why my last relationship ended the way it did. I just… I don’t know, it could be that I jumped in without knowing what’s beneath me. I don’t want that to happen again.”

The boy glanced at you, snowflakes already beginning to stick in his hair. “Well, there’s nothing wrong with taking things slow. I mean, there’s always going to be some chance in a relationship. You don’t know until you’re in it.”

“I guess so.” You replied. “When I think about it, anything’s better than getting text message-dumped right before a family dinner.” Joshua wasn’t a stranger to the humiliating affairs of your past relationship. One night, after one too many beverages at the bar, you introduced him to the entire story.

“Bad luck.” The boy said.

“Bad taste, more like.” You sighed. “I mean, what was I thinking?”

Joshua shook his head, his hand rubbing your shoulder. “Don’t beat yourself up. Seriously, the right person will come along.”

Short laughter burst through your nose, and you looked at him with a knowing, lighthearted grin. “Are you supposed to be that person, Joshua Hong?”

“I’d like to think I am.” He chuckled, his cheeks getting rosier. “But I know you’re not ready. I can be patient, though.”

“So, you’re going to wait for me?” You asked, raising an eyebrow.

Joshua nodded. “For you, and you only? Of course.”

At that, something deep in your chest began to stir. The feeling robbed you of your words and left you breathless. Afraid of what you might do in the silence between you, quickly, you changed the subject.

“Am I going to hear that special song you wrote? Or have you scrapped it already?”

“You’ll hear it.” Joshua said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out an ivory guitar pick. “Save your applause for the very end, though. I know you might be tempted to start cheering, come up on stage in front of everyone and try to kiss me or something.”

Rolling your eyes, you started to laugh, your breath becoming a thin cloud in the still coldness of winter.

“You wish, Joshua Hong.”

He sighed, a faint smirk on his lips. “You’re right. I do.”

At approximately five o’clock in the morning, you were awakened by a fist banging at your front door. For a moment, you believed it was nothing more than part of a fuzzy dream, and simply tossed over in bed as your arms dug further under the pillow. However, the banging resumed almost instantly, and though it was very muffled, someone was calling your name.

Groaning, you dragged yourself from between the sheets and into the washroom, taking a quick sip of water before splashing some to your face. In a loose pair of shorts and a poorly adjusted tank-top, you stumbled to the front door, throwing it open while yawning.

“J-Joshua?” You mumbled, rubbing circles to your eye.

He stood on the opposite side of the threshold with a glimmery-red gift bag in his hand. For some reason, he was dressed in his jacket, those dark brown locks of his seeming damp or partly soaking as they were brushed back from his forehead. His cheeks and mouth were rosy, eyes glistering, and he was breathing deep.

You thought he looked gorgeous.

“Hey!” He exclaimed a little too loudly, as though he’d forgotten how early it was. “So, uh, weird news. Turns out we’re leaving for South Korea today, and we have to catch this seven-am flight. We’re kinda pressed for time. Jeonghan’s been helping me throw all my shit into these suitcases and—anyways, besides the point.” Taking in another breath, Joshua then held up the pretty red gift bag. “I got you for the Gift Exchange. Well—not really. But I made Mrs. Akané switch with me. This is for you.”

The sudden splurge of information had for feeling even more disorientated than when you first awakened. Joshua had to leave already? Had he been packing ever since you walked home together from his show? He pulled strings to get you for the Gift Exchange?

Reaching into the bag and pushing around some tissue paper, you pulled out a rectangular-shaped kit. It felt fairly heavy.

And then you realized just what he’d gotten you.

“Really?” You smiled, letting the bag drop to the floor because all you cared about was the project in your hands. “Another paint by numbers kit? I didn’t even know they sold these here!”

Joshua nodded, brushing some melted drops of snow off his cheek. “It wouldn’t have arrived on time if I ordered it online. Trust me, it was a process. I had to get Jeonghan’s grandma to make some calls because she’s friends with this craft store lady.” He half-sighed, half-laughed. “I just remembered you were so upset about it when I met you. About a lot of things. And I never stopped feeling sorry. I know I laughed at it and everything, but I thought it was cute.”

You brought the project to sit on the dinner table. Looking outside into the street light, you were shocked at how heavily it was snowing. Huge, fluffy clumps. No wonder Joshua’s hair was so damp and his skin so flushed. You couldn’t believe that just a few hours ago, you were sitting on that barstool near the back of the dim room, listening to him sing and feeling like you were starting to love all over again. Now, Joshua was being whisked away.

“I should really get going.” Joshua said, rubbing his pink nose, “Jeonghan and Jihoon are waiting for me down there.”

“W-Wait!” You exclaimed before the boy could disappear.

Joshua paused, though you could read the look of urgence coloured to his face. It was merely a few seconds you stood in that spot, fiddling anxiously with your fingers and struggling to take another step, yet it felt as though time had stretched itself out like plasticine. 

And even though it was slightly terrifying, you had never felt so warm and full of thrill until you had crossed the space to kiss him. Your hands pushed against Joshua’s chest, searching for stability, as you experienced the soft sensation of your lips pressed so desperately to his. Joshua grabbed your cheek in his cold hand to tilt your head a little more left. He stared at you with a hazy, sort of dreamlike look, just for a moment, before kissing you again.

“Am I making you late?” You laughed breathily in between the heated breadth of another kiss.

Joshua shook his head, taking your face in both his hands, moulding his mouth against yours in a smile.

“They can wait just a minute longer,” he answered, “I can’t believe you’re doing this right when I have to leave. You’re really screwing me over, here.”

“Then finish it when you get back.” You smirked.

This time, you were certain of something: you hadn’t jumped too soon. You weren’t going to crash. You were falling in love.

✧✎ a/n: the end the end!! happy holidays !! <3 honestly think it’s kind of the dream to get joshua as ur apartment neighbour xoxo. HOPE U LIKED THIS DANI AND THAT IT GAVE YOU SOME SMILES heheh. i actually haven’t written for joshua in quite a while so i rly appreciated getting to experiment with this. i also love the idea of joshua in a band and being a sappy romantic who always writes abt his future muse ;_; i’m not a huge fluff person BUT I WILL GLADLY GIVE UP EVERYTHING FOR THAT! 

[phoenixtakaramono]

Character Design Thoughts for Shen Yuan & Airplane Shooting Towards the Sky in ‘The Untold Tale’

(This is a Follow Up to This Post)

Hello, @averydrearydiana! Loved reading through your tags! I’m excited that you’re excited! Since I’m also seeing comments on AO3 speculating about how our transmigrators are going to appear as in The Untold Tale, I might as well give my current thoughts and have this archived on tumblr for future reference.

A fun fact about TUT is that a lot of the imagery in the story is inspired by Chinese PVs and popular C-dramas and literature. Since TUT is conceived as a lovestory to SVSSS, one element that I’d wanted to incorporate is playful attempts at satirical genre deconstruction. With that comes with me playfully poking fun at some clichés or things I’ve noticed in Chinese works.

Shen Yuan’s Celestial Design

Before I talk about his mortal appearance, I have to give a lil context about his celestial design in the story. We already know what he looks like as the celestial fortuneteller in TUT’s cover art that I’ve already posted on tumblr. As everyone knows, I was heavily inspired by this Chinese PV:

(TUT ch1 - Excerpt)

Among the things I’ve noticed are the fictional characters with white hair. We have a whole subculture of fans liking male character designs with white hair in anime and animation. Taking that a step further, they’ve even shown up in C-dramas, i.e. Teng She from Love and Redemption (technically more blond than platinum white, but shhhhh, just let me have this), Dong Hua Dijun from Eternal Love of Dream aka Three Lives Three Worlds, Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms (rest assured, I’m aware of the source material’s controversy, but let’s not get into that here), etc. One of the tags for TUT is Opposites Attract. Luo Binghe’s color coordination is aligned with black and red mostly. Now, visually speaking, what’s the opposite of that?

The yin yang symbol.

Fun fact, besides black vs white, green (SY) is the complementary color of red (LBG) on the color wheel. Now taking everything I’ve said, to take it even one step further, my thought process at the time was, “why not go the extra mile then and just have SY be albino? Within context of the Heavenly Realm, that character design makes sense.” TUT is me subtly riffing off what I can (for the good ol’ meta humor), but making the content come across as a legitimate story experience. As Protagonist A and Protagonist B, LBG and SY have to look visually striking together. With all that said, let’s talk about....

(In reference to the original tumblr post)

Shen Yuan (Mortal)

I’ll keep some elements of his albinism from his celestial form (light sensitivity and pale skin mostly), but SY’s mortal form is essentially SY pre-transmigration but within context of the xianxia genre.

For his appearance, let’s just keep this Author’s Note^ and TUT’s summary in the back of our brains. This is the fanvid I was originally inspired by for SY’s mortal appearance:

(TUT Summary - Excerpt)

For what he wears, I’m currently feeling very heavily inspired by this PV:

His mortal appearance wouldn’t be considered as “strange” or “otherworldly” compared to the “ethereal fairy-like beauty” SY retains in the Heavenly Realm, but as a side-effect of the 【PROTAGONIST’S HALO】 and his +20 CHARISMA stat, he would still be considered attractive to people even when he takes on a mortal appearance. (Mainly, I like the idea of Bing gē taking large shots of vinegar seeing SY turning heads no matter which appearance SY takes on, and Luo Binghe glaring at these “insects” for even “daring to lay their unworthy eyes on his fated person.” The thought of it just makes me laugh.)

What I mean by how SY’s mortal form being very much based on how SY appeared pre-transmigration but in the xianxia genre context, I mean he’ll have his dark hair (but longer), a “scholarly air” (as a nod to his novelist background), dark eyes, and even his glasses technically (the divine monocle mentioned in ch3, which is also a subtle nod to Sha Po Lang and a riff on men wearing monocles in other Chinese works andit’salsoforeshadowingbutshhhh).

(TUT ch3 - Excerpt)

Shen Yuan originally was an author in his forties pre-transmigration, so I like the idea him having a mature air about him in the Cultivation World as well. So for both our Protagonist B’s celestial and mortal appearances, the idea is that you can look at him and immediately recognize him as a protagonist of the danmei setting. My only two prerequisites are that his appearance screams “hello, I’m Protagonist B” and that he appears in “scholarly” attire.

Airplane Shooting Towards the Sky (Mortal)

Keeping in mind the original tumblr post where I wrote my thoughts on who I’m transmigrating him as, currently I’m thinking it’s a combination of these two PVs for his mortal form:

As a nod to him being a successful novelist, I wanted him to also appear scholarly. A scholarly crown prince, if you will. For his attire, imagine all the C-drama clothing you’ve seen actors wear in period dramas, and you already have a good idea already of the direction I’m heading down.

As the prince of the cannon fodder emperor, I very much like the idea of Airplane perhaps having a baby face and brown hair (as a small nod to fanon!SQH from SVSSS) but with a great body (a huge source of inspiration are clothing worn by Prince Yu and Prince Jing of the three princes from the C-drama Nirvana in Fire). Since Airplane will also be able to select his Character Creation stats like Shen Yuan had, one thing I’m fairly certain is that he will max out his CONSTITUTION—because “game logic” and not wanting to die. (For those who don’t know, the CON stat in tabletop RPs essentially indicates a person’s overall health, wellbeing, and vigor checks...so him maxing it out is equivalent to him being as invulnerable as a cockroach. A high CON means overall healthiness, which means your character probably is full of energy and vitality, can heal rapidly, and will rarely get sick—if ever. Low CON usually means a higher susceptibility to sickness and disease, wounds that fester and linger, and a general fatigue would haunt you, etc.) Like how SY zeroed in on his CHA, Airplane would have prioritized +20 CON (+5 modifier), especially knowing the fate that’d await him as a prince and the vicious environment that is expected for palace intrigue plots (the harem is a big factor, with concubines and consorts and even the empress sabotaging each other—just to win the favor of one man). Against poison or whatnot which is a cliché in palace intrigue plots, rather than relying on luck, you typically stand a better chance of passing the CON check if you have a high modifier aiding your checks. He’s basically become impervious to illnesses, most poisons (probably being able to spring back quickly), and is considered the healthiest prince in all the mortal imperial line. <- This could be taken both seriously and humorously simultaneously.

Airplane Shooting Towards the Sky (Deity/ Celestial)

For Xiàng Tiān Dà Fēijī’s “actual divine body” that is currently asleep and won’t be awakened until Airplane completes his mortal trial to “regain his cultivation powers,” the face should obviously be similar but, as Xiàng Tiān Dà Fēijī, he would appear regal and dignified as a god of this world:

Imagine something along the lines of mortal Airplane as the man on the right, celestial Shen Yuan in the center, and deity/ celestial Airplane as the man on the left. I envision a respectable appearance that would knock the air out of Mobei jūn and make him recognize Airplane despite any visual dissimilarities, and in a way we have the Four Beauties of China: Luo Binghe, Shen Yuan, Mobei jūn, and Xiàng Tiān Dà Fēijī.

I will say I currently have an idea of making Airplane have “golden” eyes in both his celestial and mortal forms. (Spoiler alert: in my notes, I’d written down to give Airplane yellow eyes as an Easter egg to Yanxi Palace, I believe, where there was an episode where someone of the imperial harem schemed against the empress and almost had the newborn baby killed because that and the yellow skin was an inauspicious omen. We later find out through a timely intervention that the true reason was due to jaundice—because of the diet/ pregnancy cravings she ate for a period of time which resulted in her son’s symptoms. With Airplane’s high CON and another trope I’m bringing in which’ll have to do with the Medicine King’s Valley/ Valley of the Medicine King, his yellow eyes are the only side effect that lingered from that traumatic event which would have killed him had they gotten away with their scheme. A lot of palace dramas have to do with the vicious harem plots, so this would potentially be one such example.) The reason being that this is the identifying marker for MBJ to clue in that they’re the same man he will have loved. And I think that has romantic potential.

Misc.

Now addressing the other tags, yes, essentially speaking, Mobei jūn might just very well experience his very own Big Damn Reunion trope that Bing mèi had suffered from SVSSS. Poor MBJ. He’s in a tumultuous ride of his own with him considering Airplane as his own fated person, hahaha. But for the Moshang dynamic, I want him—a demon—to find himself taken with Airplane in his mortal guise—and subsequently his true celestial appearance once he finds out. I very much also want SY to jokingly snark to his fellow transmigrator-and-writing-colleague about him getting in a relationship with his own “creation” (MBJ). And Airplane would jokingly snark back about SY “ruining his ‘first son’ as well” (LBG). If you can read between the lines of that, then kudos. I’m glad to hear you’re looking forward to the palace intrigue.

I’m especially very happy to hear you’re looking forward to the descriptions! I personally love worldbuilding in the stories I consume I’m an interior designer and realtor irl, so I’m glad my love of house details and landscape, etc shows in TUT. For the pseudohistorical vibe, in the Mortal Realm, I will be referencing the Forbidden City of our Chinese history and a couple popular period C-dramas. Take the settings of period C-dramas like Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace, Yanxi Palace, and Nirvana in Fire as examples for what will be awaiting us when we finally meet Airplane in his mortal body. In the Heavenly Realm, the descriptions will be heavily referencing shows that contain aesthetics such as those of Ashes of Love, Love and Redemption, and Eternal Dream.

Take this with a grain of salt just in case I change my mind later on, but in the chapter when we meet Airplane for the first time, I probably won’t say which character he is in the first scene. I’ll give plenty of hints in the first scene so that you all can make your guesses before the big reveal, but I’m fairly confident you all or most of you will be able to pinpoint who he is among the cannon fodders. We’ll meet the emperor, who is discussing with his sons about the matter regarding the approaching calamity that is Luo Binghe. Then when we transition into the second scene, we’ll know exactly which “royal prince OC” it is that our beloved Airplane has transmigrated into, hahaha.

(*Keep in mind, for everything written above, some details are subject to change. Nothing is official until it appears in the story, or I’ve actually drawn my ideas out and posted online to both my tumblr and twitter. These are just my current thoughts.)

A goal of mine for TUT is to make the story widely accessible, meaning it doesn’t matter if the reader is new to the SVSSS fandom or aren’t familiar with the Easter egg references or meta jokes or subtext or even the Chinese culture, or even if English is not their first language. Having knowledge beforehand might help someone notice more hidden details in TUT, yes, but it is a humble wish of this writer for her esteemed readers to be able to dive into the story and get the enjoyable feeling like they’re reading a genuine danmei novel. It really makes me smile whenever I hear feedback that I am able to emulate that experience.

Very exciting developments indeed are in store!

[tangledstarlight]

Prompt #37 (not realizing they’re holding hands till someone points it out) for Willex? 🧡

omg i didn't realise how long this had gotten djgh there's defo some weird pacing? and i'm not sure about the tone, also lets completely ignore whatever tense im writing it because i forgot half way through i think 😬 Anyway!! enjoy my friend!!

#37 not realizing they’re holding hands till someone points it out

hand holding prompts!

Luke keeps staring at them, eyebrows wagging and an annoying smirk on his face and Alex is thirty seconds away from throwing a drumstick at his friend's head. Alex and Willie had walked back into the garage to the sounds of a riff he hadn’t heard before while Reggie shouted out adjustments.

None of them had commented, had made a big deal out of it. And Alex loved his friends for that, for how they sometimes just knew when to not make a big deal out of things. There would be time for explanations later, maybe after he’d thrown something at Luke because why was he looking at him like that?

When Willie had rushed out of the garage it had left them all confused. They’d been laughing, joking around about new lyrics and the time Ray had had to come pick them up from the beach because they’d forgotten they couldn’t just magically poof around anymore.

And then Willie had gone still next to him on the sofa, body tense and muttered something about ‘air’ and ‘late’ before getting up and hurrying out. It had left the four of them looking confused at the door and Julie opening her mouth to say something. But Alex hadn’t waited to hear what it might have been. He’d simply gotten up too, said he’d go find out and left.

Willie couldn’t get very far anymore now he was alive again, and Alex knows he hasn’t gone far because his skateboard is still where he’d left it outside the garage and Willie trusted them all, but not enough to leave without his board. So he had to be somewhere nearby.

Alex had found him sitting on the steps half hidden behind bushes and flowers, head in his hands and fingers tangled between his hair. It’s not until Alex is standing almost in front of him that he notices the way Willie was breathing heavily, shoulders shaking and the urge to reach out and hug him had been at the tips of his fingers. The only thing that had held him back was knowing that sometimes Willie needed a little space. That he needed to be the one to bridge the gap first sometimes.

“Hey,” he’d said quietly, slowing his steps and shoving his hands into the front pocket of his hoodie to stop himself from reaching out to detangle Willie’s fingers from his hair.

“I—“ Willie started, not even looking up at first as he sucked in a stuttering breath and Alex had watched his fingers flex against his scalp before they’d relaxed slightly, sliding down until his fingers were around the back of his neck, eyes glancing up at him, “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to just— to just run out. God I bet they hate me now.”

Alex had frowned a little, brows drawing together as he’d rocked a little on his feet and the only thing he could think to say was, “Huh?”

Because Alex knew for a fact that his friends thought a lot of things, mostly about music and food and who would win the coin toss on Friday for which film they watched next and in Reggie’s case about when Ray would be home. But thinking anything bad about Willie? He doubted a single thought like that had ever crossed any of their minds.

“Why would they hate you?”

Willie really looks up at him now, eyes wide and it was so easy to see the tears waiting in them that Alex had finally caved, hands tugging out of his pocket so when he sat down in the empty space next to the skater he could easily slip one arm around his shoulders.

“Because they’re all being so nice and I can’t even keep it together enough to pretend that I’m fine,” Willie had leaned into him then and Alex had relaxed slightly, glad he’d made the right move, but while his body had been relaxing his mind had tensed, rolling his words over and over again to try and make it them make sense.

“You don't have to pretend to be fine,” was the only thing he could think to say and had pulled back a little to be able to look into the other boy's eyes, “You don’t. Do you know how many times one of us has walked out of that garage when things aren’t okay? Way too many times to count.”

Alex himself had walked out only last week when he’d been having a bad day, and had walked until he’d found Willie at the park down the street where he’d spent the rest of his afternoon trying (and failing) to learn how to jump over something on a skateboard. And it had been months since they’d all come back to life and gotten re-accustomed to things. For Willie it had only been weeks. He was more then allowed to have a bad day.

“I don't want them to think I’m not— not grateful,” Willie said with a shrug, hands fall from around his neck to rest on his knees, only for him to start twisting his fingers together as he spoke, “You guys are all so tight and I’m in the one who caused you all these problems and then you had to save me and I— I know I’m not worth all that trouble and Caleb always used to say I could be too much, and I don't want to be too much for you. Or for them.”

And now Alex really has no idea what to say. He’d thought that maybe Willie had just been having a bad day, that he’d need to go scream in an empty parking lot or hide out in Julie’s room for a while. He had never even thought that Willie might think he wasn’t worth, well anything they’d done for him. Alex doesn’t know if he’s ever hated Caleb Covington more.

“Willie, hey, you’re never too much,” he moves his arm from around his shoulders to reach out and place one hand over Willie’s twisting fingers, stilling them and carefully pulling them up so he can take both, one in each hand. “Caleb was a lot of things, and a fucking liar is pretty high on that list.”

That startled a laugh out of Willie, fingers flexing against Alex’s before settling linked together.

“He did lie a lot,” he agreed, eyes on their linked fingers as he blew out a breath.

“I’d do it all again, save you, no matter what trouble it might have been,” Alex said, and Willie had looked up at him again, lips slightly parted and if Alex had known where they really stood in their relationship right now he might have leaned forwards to kiss him. Instead he just smiles, head nodding towards the garage, “And they would too. You’re part of the gang now and memberships are very hard to cancel.”

“Oh yeah? Do you leave people on hold with terrible music for hours?” There’s a slight smile playing at the edges of his lips again, and Alex almost sighs in relief.

“Nah worse,” he says, nudging his elbow into Willie’s side, “You have to tell Reggie you no longer want to be friends.”

“Oh that’s mean,” and Willie had giggled, eyes crinkling at the corner and Alex had known he was okay, they’d got through the worst of the Bad Day and was just glad he’d been able to help.

They’d sat in silence for a while, Willie playing with their linked fingers and Alex just watching him, and he could have sat like that for hours and been perfectly content. Something about Willie made his mind feel calm and life (after and more) feel better. The silence is broken by the sound of one of his cymbals crashing and Alex can’t stop the flinch that rocks through his body or the way his brows had cinched together as he pictured Reggie or Luke sitting at his stool and trying to work something out with the song they’d been working on. On his drums. Without him.

“Alright hotdog, let's go save your drums,” Willie says with a chuckle and Alex had tried to speak, to deny it, to say he was fine, but there was clearly something in his eyes that had Willie shaking his head and standing up first, easily tugging at their joint hands to pull Alex to his feet too.

And then they’d walked back into the garage, Julie had been sat his drums, gently tapping away while Reggie hovered over her shoulder and scribbling something down. She shot them a quick smile and Alex had found it hard to hold the same annoyance at her being at his drums that he would have had for Luke or Reggie. And then Luke had looked at them, a small kind smile growing into a wider grin that Alex didn’t understand. Until Willie had started walking towards Julie and Reggie, and he’d been tugged along too. Because they were still holding hands. Heat had quickly filled his cheeks as he’d looked down and then back up, but Luke was still grinning, head bobbing a little as he’d held up a thumbs up before turning back into the conversation happening around them.

And well, Willie doesn’t seem to notice or mind that they’re still holding hands, and Alex isn’t about to ruin the moment either.

[randomfandomimagine]

My Thoughts On Ruin

The Amazing Devil’s new album is finally here!! I was looking forward to Ruin and I listened to it twice already (probably will buy it with some money I had saved) and I have a lot of thoughts. The Amazing Devil is my favorite band and it has become very important to me, but even though my expectations were very high, they did not dissapoint.

Feel free to tell me your thoughts too, lovelies, I’m definitely going to be fangirling about this for a while!

Secret Worlds

First of all, the first few notes were already a banger. The instruments sound amazing and to listen to Joey and Madeleine harmonizing a new song again is just magical.

I got super emotional when the chorus started, I almost started crying for real. I think it was because I’m listening to their new album, to that band that reminded me that I’m never alone, but that I’m strongh enough to face this on my own even if I don’t have to, to that band that made me feel seen because those people somehow reached my very soul with their music and lyrics, to that band that made me relate to people like never before.

There’s no need to say that the chorus is amazing despite my emotional state, right? It’s super catchy and the lyrics are amazing and the energy and the vibes are flawless.

The fire metaphor? ‘I’ll give you my fire’ and then ‘watch me burn’ *chefs kiss*

‘I look at those secret worlds you call eyes’ is such a cool lyric!

‘Cos I will suffer silence for the strings you tune And I’ll withstand what’s written for the writer in you’

‘Welcome to Ruin’ was a cool little adition that I enjoyed

With this song they perfectly emulated the vibes from THATW!

The Calling

That transition from song to song? It really feels like this one is the second part of the first one, so seamless!

Madeleine’s voice is a miracle, I’m so enamored with it

Once again, Joey being the second voice while Madeleine is the main one (or viceversa), I absolutely love when they do that, it’s so cool!

Those background noises of people talking and everything are very reminiscent of Love Run and New York Torch Song and I love it.

‘I’d burn so bright it blinded Now I know that light guided me here‘ dude that’s deep and I love it!

‘We’re both unwanted daughters’ Is that a reference to King? Hell yeah!

‘What’s changed I ask’  some of these lyrics have such a mysterious aura, ugh, so good! They manage to express so much with just a few words

‘But now my ink’s blood red not black’ That’s such a bold and epic lyric?

‘Cos I’m between that just one more and drank too much again’

‘Do you like my dress, it’s got pockets’ relatable af tbh

‘The rocks beneath my feet begin to crack’

Have I mentioned that Madeleine’s voice is a miracle? She goes off!!

The ending is so perfect, it’s full of energy and then it slowly fades

It also has this sort of medieval vibe, like the kind of song that you would hear in a medieval fair or something, and that’s a compliment!

Drinking Song For the Socially Anxious

That guitar riff at the beginning with Madeleine’s voice? Beautiful!

Their natural voices and sighs and them talking, it feels so intimate

‘Like a puppet with no strings Untangling my headphones cos sometimes they’re the only thing That keeps my head in place’ Excuse me? Who gave you the right to call me out like that? It really feels like they based that lyric on my life

‘So I’ll sing silence’ is the new ‘screaming in tune’ and I’m in love

‘Cos though my jokes are my armour And my kindness is my sword The party swirls around me in a dress I can’t afford And I do my best to breathe But they’re stealing all the air’

‘Because I don’t find this easy like you’ ooof that’s painfully relatable

‘It’s just sometimes nice to feel what it’s like to be in someone else’s coat’ ugh why do they get me so well?!

‘And we’re bursting at the seams Cos the noise is crushing us We think it’s so much worse than it seems But that voice unsaid is rushing us’  is literally my anxiety put into words

‘And in a moment of total rapture And with every strength I have I ask if you play D&D And your face lights up like you’ve woken up’ that just feels so cozy and domestic, like a story of a nerdy couple who know each other so well and try to be there for one another and I really have no words to describe how much that hits me in the feels

‘From this endless fucking nightmare of pretending this is you, This is us, this is me, this how we’re meant to be But your smile tells me I’m safe And that voice unspoken’s heard‘ more of that, please!

‘Cos if god make us all in his image Then god’s a fucking nerd’ I love that so much? 

‘In the back of a cab, like two puppets with no strings We share a pair of headphones, cos sometimes they’re the only things That keep our heads in place‘ I love the repetition with the little change, it tells so much about that relationship and its evolution and how they’re together through it all

I don’t usually enjoy these songs as much, I prefer the ‘Horror and the Wild’s over the ‘Showe Days’ even if I still adore these type of songs, but this one struck a nerve because I related way too much to it

It’s tender and has so much yearning but it’s so heartwarming in a way

I also love the little things like talking about memes and cats and dressing up the cat and everything, it feels very relatable

‘I totally messed it up’ ‘Did you?!’ ‘Like three times... for fuck’s sake!’ Joey Batey, please marry me, I love you! jk... unless? 😂

Blossoms

‘To the dark I said pour and forgot to say when’ another amazing lyric, this is all poetry!

This one has a haunting vibe that I quite enjoy, I think it’s the base of the guitar along with how they sing

‘As I make myself acquainted with the saint of never getting it right’  reminds me a lot of Farewell Wanderlust and lyrics like ‘just like rubbing wine stains into rugs it’s my curse to try and make it right, but by trying make it worse’

When the chorus breaks with those voices? Hell yeah! The song was already awesome, but it gets even better!

‘And the soldiers march behind me I can hear them beat their spears‘ kind of describes something like a war, and I think everyone can relate to feeling at war with themselves sometimes, it’s another amazing metaphor

‘And for the first time in all my life I know I’m more than what I fear’  this lyric is probably my favorite so far, another that I feel describes me too accurately

The violin! It’s one of my favorite instruments, and I get super hyped whenever it sounds in any of the songs, but in here it’s especially epic!

Joey screaming in tune is honestly so poetic

‘And I run (love run) And I run (love run) And I scream out to the sky‘ has bits of Not Yet / Love Run and I smiled so wide because that one’s my favorite song of all time right now

Chords

Oooooh, this one reminds me a lot of other songs! It has chords that sound kind of like Marbles but also has the softness of Fair and it feels a lot like Welly Boots with the emotions!

‘Remember today you are loved’ aaaw I think that’s something everyone needs to hear every now in a while, just like ‘I know you’re strong enough to do this on your own’

‘Think back to days in hidden caves’  this one feels so hopeful and inspiring, like there’s always light at the end of the tunnel, you may stay hidden in caves for a long time, but you’ll eventually get out of them

It really feels like two parents singing about their love for their child and how they need to let them go in order to let them live, even if they don’t want to leave them. It’s heartwarming and yet a bit sad and beautiful all at once

‘You can’t rehearse the chorus’ another lyric that got me in the feels

‘But know we’ll sing your name when you come home’

‘You are your own magician’ this one kinda blew my mind and I love it

I love that they mention waves like in Battle Cries and That Unwanted Animal, but now it feels like just a memory and not a struggle like they felt in those other songs

‘Ah bollocks to your waves’ made me laugh, they really know how to give all the emtions, huh? Make you emotional, make you sad, make you happy, amuse you...

When it breaks I fell in love with this song even more

‘Walk into your waves my loves Tell them all your names’ is like facing your fears and I’m here for it!

‘Cos life begins by leaving And our love is shown in the letting go’  brb crying :’)

The Old Witch Sleep and the Good Man Grace

This one feels so melancholic, and I’m into it!

That whispered ‘it’s ok’ omg!

‘They’re just shadows searching for light’ duuuuuuuude!

‘Tomorrow’s jokes have yet to be laughed at or said’

I really enjoy this paused pace, it lets you immerse yourself in the music

How it absolutely breaks, almost startling you after a brief pause? Epic!

‘You’re better than this’ Joey going off with his singing, omg! Get it!

‘I can’t do this (you can)’ I really have no words, these lyrics really reach my heart and my soul and something deep inside my being

‘You’re not a coward cos you cower You brave because they broke you Yet broken still you breathe So breathe, breathe just breathe’

That change in pace? Um, yes, please! I’m all for it!

Joey’s raspy voice is so damn attractive and it makes the song even better somehow when you thought it couldn’t improve

‘Cos I’m not trapped With you you see You’re the one who’s Trapped with me’  I’m... literally speechless

The vibes are all over the place! I love how it feels like giving up at first, but it becomes angry and feral and powerful aggresive and it’s so good?

It also kind of feels like the opposite point of view of That Unwanted Animal, like a direct response to Madeleine singing that song

‘Sometimes I fall to pieces Just to see what bits of me don’t fit’ Oh, OH!

How it slowly builds up, little by little, and his voice grows with it too

Joey showing his vocal talents at the end there, his voice is seriously something else and I can’t be more in love with it and with him

‘And I will take my fucking time, cause I know’

This might be my favorite, and that’s saying a lot, because the first two were absolute bangers and I really loved the others as well

Ruin

The beginning is already saying a lot. Flies sound and you feel like it’s going to be dark and gritty but then you hear the rain and the piano starts and you’re like what?

And then the sound of rain somehow feels softer and a mixture between cozy and sad and there’s also birds chirping and it’s wonderful

As always, Madeleine’s voice is absolutely angelical

For some reason, this song is reminding me of Pride & Prejudice!

Not what I was expecting, honestly, they hit us with the misdirect. I thought it would be like Horror and The Wild, all feral and everything, but it’s kind of soft in a heartbreaking way

‘I will bring you ruin, In everything I do, It’s never my intention but it happens all the same’ TOT

Joey joining in, I’m absolutely going to cry

‘We didn’t talk. We made universes’

‘In the wreck of all we burnt Stands our piano like a wound I play our song To see if it’s in tune’  is so heartbreaking and hopeful, like things are worth fighting for despite being in ruins sometimes

‘Nothing quite prepared me for When that piano sang again’ I’m actually going to cry!

‘You’ll make me brave’  fuck it’s so beautiful!! I can’t handle it!!

Inkpot Gods

Their voices harmonizing again is the defintion of music, it’s so perfect and right and beautiful

‘Oh what these, these aren’t tears, It’s just the rain that wasn’t brave enough to fall’  POETRY 👏

That silence after the word is spoken!!! Literal chills!!

‘And what you hear is not silence It’s just the trees waiting to hear what next you’ll hum And what you see is not the dark It’s just the gods upturning inkpots Cos they know what you’ll become’

They way it repeats at the end and very slowly fades gives me such a specific feeling that I can’t really put into words, I just know it deeply moves me

What a way to end the album! It left me so sad and emotional and those last lyrics really stuck with me 

‘If I don’t make it back from where I’ve gone Just know I loved you all along’  Literally shedding tears, literally crying

Also, this song reminds me a lot of one of my original fiction projects that actually started after I was inspired by the song The Horror and the Wild and it fits so well with what I had planned for it, so it’s got a special place in my heart now even more than before

Last thoughts:

I absolutely loved it! It was everything I dreamed of and more, with all the things that make The Amazing Devil great but like doubled! Right now I feel like I enjoyed The Horror and the Wild more, but I think it’s just because I’m not familiar with Ruin yet and I’m too impatient to start singing along to them and memorizing the lyrics and everything. Nonetheless, I know Ruin is the only thing I’m going to listen to for literal days and weeks.

Joey and Madeleine and everyone involved just have a special magic, a special skill to be able to express so much with this music, to masterfully combine the lyrics and the voices and the instruments to create such a unique and wonderful experience filled with emotions, because you understand they’re trying to tell stories and they absolutely do, it feels like they’re trying to reach people through these songs, and they’ve definitely reached me and my very soul.

Favorite songs: Secret Worlds and The Calling

[botwstoriesandsuch]

10/6 Age of Calamity Trailer Analysis

It’s only 44 seconds but there’s stuff to be analyzed so let’s just jump into it!

First opening shot is of a familiar fade in, similar to that of the memory cutscenes in Botw, BUT, you’ll notice there Sheikah Slate marks covering it. Either meaning this cutscene is some flashback through a video on the Sheikah Slate, OR (the more likely option) it’s just a reference to the fact that the two focusing characters of this trailer (Robbie and Purah) and Sheikah Researchers. Neat detail nonetheless!

King dude sitting on his throne. From the lighting and referring to the layout of the room in game, this scene takes place sometime in early morning 

Similar to that, if we stick to our 180 line film school rule, Zelda standing below her father (symbolism of power dynamic but that’s a given) is also in the early morning. Given she’s in her researcher/field blouse, I’d say she’s going out to do a mission, and not doing any ceremonial pomp and stuff. I think this scene is her getting a stern talking to by her dad before she goes

Despite the overlap of the King’s dialogue here, this above shot is undoubtedly of a different scene all together. They’re [Zelda, Link, and Impa, who’s behind Zelda] outside of the Sactum/Throne Room, rushing off somewhere to do something. AND Zelda is holding some unknown device

Is this an instrument?? It looks like there’s holes in it like some sort of panflute. Could also be a gear? An Ancient Sheikah piece? Perhaps they’re bringing this to Robbie and Purah to look at?

I’m hesitant to put this shot in the same scene as the previous one because the lighting is different, but judging from the stone walls and his sigh, I’m thinking this is the “I see my daughter is rushing off to research guardians again even tho I told her not to” look of disappointment. Or the “I don’t wanna be harsh on my daughter but I’m the kind and we have duties” sort of thing. It’s something angsty at the very least, just look at the foreboding walls and shadows

He’s arrived! Electric guitar riff and all! You can also see eggbot on the table there, deactivated I assume. The egg bot isn’t glowing or anything, and from the looks of the above lamp thingy there is a source of Sheikah power somewhere so perhaps they’re trying to turn it one, or open it up and see what’s inside

I am 50% sure that this is at the Royal Ancient Lab. One because...he’s a Royal Ancient scientist...there’s a Royal Ancient Lab...so. Ahem TWO, because BRICKS!!

Make like Purah and CHECK IT because the wooden scaffolding and bricks in the background are of a different work than that of Hyrule Castle. Comparing the wall in the background with the models of the Botw game for the Royal Lab Ruins 

The style is much more similar, with smaller, alternating bricks rather than the Castle’s larger, parallel brick work. But I’ll explain why I’m only 50% sure in a bit. 

I can only assume they are looking at Robbie in disappointment both because of the editing of the shots, and because of the lighting. You’ll notice in my last screenshot that above you can see a distinct Sheikah-blue lamp.

Also, those models of paper and bookstacks in the background are the same/very very similar ones used in Hyrule Castle in Botw. So, if these guys are with Robbie, I’m inclined to believe this scene takes place deep in the Castle somewhere.

I don’t really have a lot to say about this part. I’m thinking the front of Hyrule Castle’s entrance, given the soldiers and the towering height of the wall behind them. Plus the style of the bricks in that classic fortress jutting brick style. This is at the time of day similar to the later shot with Urbosa and Purah, but I can’t define the orientation to see if this is sunset or sunrise. I’m inclined for sunset.

Also Purah and Robbie both have the same two red pins [THEY’RE NOT CHOPSTICKS PLEASE STOP SAYING THEY’RE CHOPSTICKS PLEASE] in their hair because of course our chaotic duo should match. I’m also very glad I can confirm pens exist in Hyrule so I can stop double guessing myself whether to use “quills” or “pens” in my fic. 

Also similar to Botw, Robbies googles are powered by the battery pack on his back, as you can see with the wire. We can even see it twitch in this scene, although it lacks the glowing googly eyes as the Robbie we see 100 years later. Safe to say he’d probably modified it by then.

Another reason why they’re probably not at the Royal Ancient Labs, the floor is different. The ones in the botw ruins are more of a naturally cut stone, rather than the rigid smooth squares we see in the trailer. I wouldn’t put it past Nintendo to completely ignore their canon and old details (even though it pains me) but I’m working with what I got here. Different floor, same blue musky lighting from the Sheikah overhead lamp, I’m 50% sure it’s Hyrule Castle. 

Guardian in the background, same wooden scaffolding as seen in Robbie’s initial appearance, plus the same lamps which are the same type you can find in the houses in Hateno, and in the Hateno Ancient Lab. 

Oh my god she is so cute I love her I am simping way to hard oh my oh my gosh

It’s Purah! Check it! She’s got her iconic glasses, the previously mentioned red pins, plus a cut red highlight ohhh mmy gogsh she isso prettby I-- She’s also got the Sheikah slate, and I can only hope with all my heart that in this moment she is taking a selfie because that would be so iconic. (But I doubt it because the orientation is the wrong way, you can see it’s the handle side up)

It’s a different brick type in the background now it’s exactly like the ones in the Castle interior with the wider width and shorter length the lighting is the same but is this really the same location as the one Robbie was shown in Nintendo what is the truth please

Maybe Purah and Robbie just have different offices, with the same blue musky overhead lamps. Then again...the only sources of the Sheikah Power/Blue Flame are in Hyrule Castle, Akkala, and Hateno, so maybe this really is in the Castle.

Anyhow, Impa looking embarrassed because of her sister’s antics is a mood.

This definetly takes place much later in the game. Link has the Hylian Shield (something only attained through trial) and Urbosa has already been made Champion at the Sanctum. This is around the front of the Castle Town wall judging from the style of the bricks and the rounded areas for the lookouts areas atop it. You can also see Sheikah working on fixing a wagon or something in the background

Don’t let Purah and her beautiful face distract you from the destruction in the background! Some walls or something have collapsed, and people are looking up at the wall and....

You can see the faintest glow of Sheikah blue as Purah moves her head. I’m thinking this is some sort of Guardian destruction, perhaps a test gone wrong, as I doubt they would be acting so casual if this was the work of the Calamity. 

The final shot fades to the same Sheikah Slate filter as the beginning of the trailer, and you can see Purah’s expression change in surprise because of something on the slate..hmmmm

Anyhow, moral of the story is: I am way too attracted to Purah, and I need Nintendo to keep consistent architecture and bricks please it’s the only thing I’m good at don’t take this away from me please I beg you I-

[wincestisasincest]

She Moves Me (John Lennon x Reader)

So I actually wrote this a while but forgot to post it. Kinda cheesy but oops. 

What-up, y’all. I’m angry. And I just realized that I see a lot of fics where John comforts the reader when they are sad/lonely or stuff like that, but there really aren’t a lot of fics where he comforts the reader when they’re angry. 

I am here to remedy that. 

(Btw if you want to listen to the songs they’re all Muddy Waters, individually called “Just Make Love to Me,” “Mannish Boy,” and “She Moves Me.” 

Description: You are big angry and John, resident constant aggro, actually has a useful solution. 

Words: 1,599

Pairings: John Lennon x reader

Warnings: Umm nothing bad but the lyrics to the songs tend to be a little bit racy. Oh and also swearing

You slammed the door behind you and slumped down against it. You could feel your face beginning to flush and your fists balling. 

Your chest was rising. 

You didn’t want John to see you like this. Sure, you wanted comfort, but you also wanted privacy. And worse, you were a girl. John thought that you were cute when you were angry, with your face contorted into some fiery expression like you were about to give someone hell, despite the fact that you normally couldn’t hurt a fly.

But right now you didn’t wanna be cute. You wanted to be angry.

“Tryna break the door, are ye?” John’s voice called from the kitchen you shared. He was probably pensively reading a book and sipping tea with his thick, blocky glasses on, as he usually was when you came home from work. 

“Doesn’t matter. I’m about to go out.” It took all of your effort not to snap at him. You didn’t have time for banter. You didn’t want to see anyone. 

But it was too late. He could hear it in your voice. 

You unloaded your bag on the counter. Really, you didn’t even know why you had bothered coming home. You wanted to go out. And maybe kick something. 

“Well someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.” He was lingering in the doorway now, watching you holding yourself back from throwing a tantrum. 

His expression was a characteristic smile. You didn’t need to look, you just knew it was there. You were afraid to look up and ruin it. 

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap.”

“You said that in a snappy voice.”

“It’s not you,” you were still looking at your feet, “It’s just been a fuckin’ long day.” You released a deep breath, which slowly turned into a sigh. 

“Shit. Must’ve been.” The floorboards creaked, and you could tell that he was moving closer to you. 

“I just,” you staggered back a little bit, “it takes absolutely nothing to not be an asshole! Nothing at all! And that’s just so hard to get for some people.” 

“Dare I ask what happened?” 

You finally managed a look up. Your matted hair was falling in your face, and it gave you an almost terrifying appearance. John seemed even a little bit taken aback. You never had a particularly threatening appearance, but damn if you didn’t get very close there. 

He returned to the smile again.

“Don’t say it.” You muttered.

“Say what?” He asked coyly.

“You know damn well.”

“I can’t help it. If you already look cute all the time, it’s only natural that you look cute when you’re angry.” He crossed his arms. 

“Goddamnit, John.” Your face spread into a small smile, but you were still absolutely flushed with red. 

There was a small silence as you brushed your hair back into place. Your fists were still balled. You still wanted to punch something. Maybe John could join you. He was good at getting into fights. 

You gave him a side glance. 

“Wanna go start a fight?” 

“What?!” He chortled. He was grinning, but still caught off guard. 

“I need to punch something.” 

“Temper, temper. What would your mother say?” He tutted and sat on the arm of the couch.

You wanted to say something back, but you were still fuming. You hated it when he condescended to you, though you knew he meant nothing by it. He was trying to cheer you up. 

You breathed in stiffly, still having no reply. You could feel your eyes beginning to water. You felt like a child throwing a temper tantrum. 

“Hold on, lemme get something.” He got up from the couch and began to rattle around in the makeshift box of records that you kept just next to the record player. 

Of course, given John’s hobbies, it was absolutely stacked, but you had added a fair amount of your own to the stack. Though, that’s not what he was reaching for. 

The record he held was dark in color, though you couldn’t quite make out what was on the cover. 

“John, what in the-”

“I used to do this shit all the time whenever I got pissed but me fists were too tired.” 

“So never?”

He put the needle on the record and you immediately recognized the sound. The scratchy blues tones of Muddy Waters, one of his favorite artists, began to fill the small room, launching into the first number. 

I don’t want you to

Be no slave

His voice was something else. 

“Come ‘ed, come ‘ed.” John pulled you forward by your hands, though you refused to break apart your fists.

I don’t want you to

Wake all day

Normally, you would’ve had some witty question, but you just looked at him, your face in the pits of confusion. 

“Well?” Crap. You didn’t mean for that to sound so harsh.

“Hear me out. Try singing to it.”

I don’t want you

To be true

“What? John, I-”

“Come, on, I know you know the words.” He wouldn’t show it, but this sly grin was his way of pleading. 

I just want to make

He seemed convinced. You relented. 

“Love to you.” You sang in unison with the record, very softly.

The guitar kicked in. Your feet began to sway. You looked at John, who’s eyes were closed for the briefest moment as he took in the music. 

“A little louder, yeah?” He cocked his head to you.

“I’d rather not make your ears bleed.” 

“It’s not about sounding good, pet.” He was a little more sage than usual. 

“I don’t want you to wash my clothes.” You were a little louder this time, though you could already feel your throat beginning to burn. 

“I don’t want you to keep our home.” A little louder. 

“I don’t want your money too.” Your voice scratched a little bit in the back. You had a fair amount of rasp as you hit the high note. 

“I just wanna make love to you, baby” You pointed at John cheekily.

Now, the guitar really began to show itself, crackling all over the rhythm. It was energetic, and you could feel your feet moving along with it, but more than that, it was visceral and raw. 

You could feel yourself ready for the next verse. John was tapping his foot and muttering along the lyrics.

“I don’t want you to cook my bread.” You had fully committed to loudly yelling one of your favorite blues songs. 

“I don’t want you to make my bed.” 

“I don’t want you because I’m sad and blue!” You hopped lightly, like you were performing on stage. 

“I just want to make love to you.” You pointed at John like you were aiming a gun. 

The guitar kicked in again, and this time you swung your feet jovially. You were a good dancer, at the very least. You moved your arms in rhythm, and pulled John into the heat with you. 

It wasn’t a great dance, nor a nice dance, but damn if it didn’t get all your energy out. 

The song faded away, but you smiled. You knew what was coming next. 

The guitar wailed. You hummed along with it. It wailed again. You were in the trance. 

Then the rhythm thumped into place. 

“Now when I was a young boy! At the age of five!” This song was great to yell along too. 

The riff thumped again. There was an external harmonica source. John was next to you, his harmonica in hand, playing along, watching you with excitement. You continued to yell the lyrics. 

Slowly, you made your way through the song, loudly declaring to whoever would listen that you were a man. You and John in the center of the room shouting, with him occasionally turning back to his harmonica. What a pair you made. 

You’d forgotten that you were even angry by the end of the song.

You could feel sweat coming down your face. You clung onto John, giving him a half hug and half grasp for stability.

The guitar announced the entrance of the next song. You were about to pull away but John’s arms tugged you a little closer. He placed his loosely around your waist. You caught on and landed yours on his neck, still holding tight on his chest. 

She moves me, man

Honey, and I don’t see how it’s done

You gently whispered the lyrics along, while John remained silent, resting his head on top of yours as you gently danced. This song was a lot slower, but still quite bluesy. 

You gently swayed, both content. 

She moves me, man

Honey and I don’t see how it’s done

She got a pocket full of money

Little doll don’t try to help me, though

“John?” Your face was still planted squarely in his chest. He smelled like sweat, but you could imagine that you did too. 

“Hm?”

“I feel better now.”

“I thought so,” he chuckled, “That used to help me a lot.”

“But you did it by yourself?” You looked up from his chest for a little bit. He was thinking.

“Yeah, I guess I did.”

“Well, you won’t ever again.” You promised, before collapsing back into his chest again and pulling yourself even closer. 

He was silent. You’d caught him off guard. 

“You neither, (y/n).” He said at last, before pulling you closer. And there you stayed for a while, as the song drifted on.

She shook her finger in a blind man’s face 

“Once blind but now I see”

She moves me man

[bangtancentricsblog]

on bad days: back alleys

❍ pairing: jeon jungkook x reader

❍ verse: on bad days

❍ word count: 1k +

warnings/disclosures: smoking, brief mentions of possible kidnapping, cameos from moonbyul of mamamoo, someone gets tazed, nothing bad let me know if i missed anything!!

〚 prev • next 〛

Jungkook stands in the back alley of Dionysus, the cold of the night sending shivers down his spine, chilling his body as he waits watching the swirl of smoke before they disappear. He isn't a club scene kind of guy but he’d been sent out on a job and it was just his luck that said job was in neutral territory. You see the funny thing about neutral territory was that it never stayed neutral for long, not with the mixing of mafia families and all the bad blood amongst them. Jungkook, for what it was worth, tried his hardest to keep his anonymity, but there were still those who knew who he was and who he worked for. He could easily pick out the Min’s and the Kim’s amongst the crowd. Min Yoongi, heir apparent and sole leader of the Min’s had settled into the VIP lounge not two hours ago, while Kim Taehyung, his cousins Namjoon and Seokjin at his side had arrived no more than half an hour ago. Jungkook was lucky he wasn't on bad terms with any of the young bosses of the mafia world and that included his own boss and close friend Park Jimin. He knew of one other boss, Jung Hoseok of the Jungs had aligned with the Min’s, and it was unlikely Yoongi had ventured this far south without his right hand man.

Though really, Jungkook had no need to think about them too long, since he was only here for a job, an easy one at that. It really was above his pay grade to be here on a transporting job, but he couldn't really turn it down when Jimin had come to him personally with a furrowed brow and looking all the more stressed than usual. Had basically begged him to run this job just this once, and he’d be paid twice his usual rate. Jungkook didn't need the money but if this package was important enough for Jimin to entrust Jungkook with it then he would do it. He’s tossing his cigarette, putting it out under the toe of his boot, sighing tiredly and rolling his shoulders when he hears the back door to Dionysus slam open. His gaze follows the movement easily watching as two men drag a woman out of the doors as she struggles to hold her ground. Maybe he should help, but he isn't in the mood for a back alley brawl especially not over something like this. He’s sure if he waits long enough someone will come looking for her, he cringes a little at how scummy that makes him feel.

“Let go of me!” you yell trying in vain to pull yourself out of the tight grip the men have on you.

“C’mon pretty girl, we're just trying to have a good time.” The taller of the two says smirking, gaze raking over your body again and it makes you sick, a queasiness swirling in your belly.

“Do you know who I am?!”

“Oh baby, we’re about to make you the luckiest girl in the world.” the second man says, licking his lips in a way that makes your blood run cold and your limbs lock up. You try harder to free yourself, but it's all in vain because the heels you have on have no grip as they scrape against the pavement. You’re already mourning the loss of your favorite red bottom pumps, but it really shouldn't be a priority when you’re literally seconds from being kidnapped? Jungkook catches your gaze easily sighing again before he finally makes his way over to intervene.

“Two against one, I'm not surprised you have to go that far with faces like that.” Jungkook says easily, hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket.

“Look buddy mind your business would’ya.” the taller one says.

“Can’t do that, you okay sweetheart?” Jungkook drawls, it sends your shivers down your spine, your brows furrowing a little. His lips quirks up the slightest, a dimple winking at you when he realizes how quick you caught on.

“ ‘M okay baby.” you say feeling heat creep into your features and warming your skin even through the slight chill of the night.

“Look I really don't want to hurt you, especially not in front of my girl,” Jungkook sighs, pulling his hands out of his pockets before glaring at the two who still have yet to let you go “but I will if I have to.” the two scoff pulling you closer as you yelp.

“We saw her first, and I don't like the look of you pretty boy, so fuck off will you.” the second man spits shoving you into the taller one and closing the distance between himself and Jungkook.

“I really want to ruin your pretty face.” he sneers, Jungkook’s smirk grows into a grin, clearly amused at the prospect.

“I’d like to see you try.” he whispers watching as the man’s face twists up in anger at his taunt.

“I’m going to enjoy this.” the man laughs before he rears his fist pack. Though really none of them expect for him to twitch and fall forward the wires of a taser clinging to his form as he lays unconscious.

“We know better than that, don't we boys. It’s neutral territory, and I will not have the Park’s sully their name on some low level riff raff from YG.” Moonbyul laughs, her features falling into something a little more stern as she glares at Jungkook and the other man who’s long since let you go, detained by her own men.

“Princess, I would hope you’d know better by now, send Jimin my regards.” Moonbyul says, snapping her fingers and leaving Jungkook alone with you. Jungkook belatedly realizes that you are the package he’d been meant to transport, when in reality Jimin had meant babysat and escorted home.

“Princess ____, the boss has sent me to escort you home.” he says, annoyed that Jimin wouldn't have just said that it was you he was going to be picking up.

“I liked it better when you called me sweetheart.” you simper, as you walk past him and he feels the annoyance melt away easily. He doesn't miss the way limp slightly, offering his arm to better assist you on the small walk to the car.

“That can be arranged.” he says glancing down to catch your gaze as you loop your arm through his, enjoying the way your eyes glitter in the low light and he just knows you’d be such a good girl for him.

@boymeetsweevil here’s another one before I run for the hills again 😅

[inhibited-irregularity]

EUROVISION 2021, personal favorites:

- Russia 🇷🇺

Manizha, Russian Woman: Absolute favorite. The sheer originality of the song! Her energy and the level of absolute badassery! She can sing, she can rap,and she's a bomb of energy. The way reggae and brass and hiphop and Slavic melodies overlap and it somehow works, the transitions between fun and "I'm bitter about the sexism and I'm mocking it unapologetically and making a stand" and the anthemic, emphatic and powerful message to Russian women; I was swelling with emotion while watching her. While to an American or a Westerner it may seem like performative feminism, I'm gonna remind you that in Russia and other Slavic countries that's very much not a thing and actually a very unpopular stand to make, and in Russia, The Balkans, and Eastern Europe in general, hundreds of women face domestic and sexual abuse on the daily, and those who do come forward rarely get support and are mostly dismissed. Let's not forget that Manizha got a huge backlash from the Russian government officials, and a big part of it was for her Tajik roots. The honesty of her message is real, and she's speaking from personal experience and the experience of women around her - nothing performative about her song, and you can tell from her delivery that the fire within her is true and she leaves her heart on the stage and pours it into the song. The staging and costumes are great as well, and symbolically well thougt-through. I would really like her to win, or at least get to the top 5. Most of all, I hope her message is heard and felt. 10000/10

- Italy 🇮🇹

Måneskin, Zitti e Buoni: definitely the closest thing to my actual music taste this year, so liking them off the bat wasn't a surprise. However, they're not just your regular Franz-Ferdinand-ish young alt rock band that wants to do rock "properly" - they have IT. The X factor, the Je ne sais quoi. I've been exposed to that particular genre, and I can confidently say that the song still manages to be refreshing and original (that bridge, those riffs!) The band has a great energy and no matter how much Damiano steals the show, they are still a unit and nobody is left in the shadows. They have the spirit of great rock bands of the previous century, and yet they don't try to copy anyone (khm,Greta Van Fleet, khm). Damiano's vocals are both powerful, seductive and provoking, and I'm still admiring the sheer amount of emotion he can pack into a single line and the nuance and yet rawness behind it. I'm not gonna state the obvious lol (the obvious being yes, I'm thirsty as well, he becomes yet another unattainable rockstar for me too,and yes they all look great) Anyway, great song, and maybe the clearest and most serious candidate for the number one spot, taking both the jury and the public into consideration. 10/10

- Iceland 🇮🇸

Daði Freyr and Gagnamagnið, 10 years:

What can I say about this masterpiece that hasn't already been said? A clear fan-favorite (hi, Valentina), but with the guns to back it up. The song is contagious, fun and campy, and unlike some other songs with said qualities, actually good from a musical perspective. Daði is incredibly charismatic and his sense of humor shines through, and even though he's the star of the show, the same can be said about the other band members. The synergy Måneskin has can be applied to Gagnamagnið as well, even though the energy is entirely different. They're serving us fun, sunshine, kitties rainbows sugar spice and everything nice, and manage to do it with zero cringe factor (plus those funky keytars). I'm one of those Eurovision fans that lament the golden age's (2004-2009) campiness (We'll never forget you, Verka), and Daði managed to bring it back, but modernised, polished and still sincere. I personally preferred the epic dad joke that slightly more commercial Think About Thing was (but that's one tough act to follow), but I'm always down for a husband adoring his wife and singing praises to their relationship. Since we're on tumblr, I feel obliged to use the term "cinnamon rolls" in describing Daði and the band. 9.5/10

- France 🇫🇷

Barbara Pravi, Voilà: She brought the theatrics, she brought the drama, and she brought the 101 in "that's how you perform". Her personality leaps through, and her voice is both beautiful and full of emotion and power. I'd hire her to star in a serious and artistic movie. Despite the fact that Voilà is from its melody to the singing style to the video to the vibe and the aesthetic hands down the most French thing I've seen since Amélie (do not come for that movie), it miraculously doesn't come across as a cliché, but rather an homage, and an individualistic one at that. It's not entirely my cup of tea, since I'm usually biased to songs that may come off as snobbish (I mean, the jury is going to lap it up), and are all about being proper and technical and oh how ~artistic~, but Barbara puts the soul into the immaculate. I'm not giving her the highest mark because I'm yet to see the performance, but I'm rooting for her. If she delivers the performance, we might have a clear winner. 9/10

- Ukraine 🇺🇦

Go_A, Shum: I'm a sucker for all things ethnic and mytological, so this was a no-brainer. I want that song played at every party. I want to go to the forest in the video and chant and summon the spring with flute and hard-bass. Kateryna Pavlenko has some unexplainable power over me, and her eyes are simply hypnotizing. The vocals are great, proper Slavic ethno right there (seriously, check out Slavic folklore and traditional music), and she has a subtle punk quality too(?). Ukraine came to save the spring and make us forget about the pandemic, and minus the Maruv fiasco (justice for her!), they always deliver and I expected nothing less. On the other hand, I loved the original version much more and couldn't help but be a bit disappointed with the revamp (yes, I know they had to), and while I personally love Shum, I think some other acts are more deserving of the higher placement. Go_A are not my winner, but definitely soon to be in my playlist. 8/10

- San Marino 🇸🇲

Adrenalina, Senhit ft. Flo Rida: You know that golden age of Eurovision I mentioned? THIS. I'm Serbian, so I can't resist a banger reminiscent of our horrible turbo-folk elements (and I say that endearingly,takes me back to 18th birthday parties (boy I'm glad that's over)). Let's just crown Senhit this year's Queen of Camp. The wild factor of Flo Rida...just?? Amazing. Can't wait to see how the performance goes (EDIT- it went great, I had a grin on my face the entire time and couldn't help but dance along). A certain refreshment after Serhat and Valentina Monetta endless loop. They didn't dial down the weird, but made it catchy af, and the vocal can rival any Balkan folk diva. While I think it's definitely the most entertaining entry this year, it's far from being the most original, and it's not really my genre of preference. Will vote for Senhit and root for her to qualify. 7.5/ 10

- Sweden 🇸🇪

Tusse, A million voices: As I mentioned before, I'm the first person that starts complaining about Sweden Superiority as soon as Eurovision season begins, and I'm with you all with being tired of Sweden qualifying just because they're Sweden and usually just bringing the same brand of MTV/Calvin Harris/American pop, or a successful and not-so-subtle imitation of the performances that did well the previous year,but listen: A million voices is a solid pop song and I'm going to die on that hill. It actually embodies the essence of pop - a catchy, pleasant melody sung by a good vocalist, with a short,sweet and uplifting message. It's not the same as previous years, it's not commercial, just good pop - good pop being something you immediately like and vibe to no matter how many common elements of the genre it checks. It relies on RnB rather than electronic sounds, auto tune or various DJ effects. Tusse is charming and charismatic af, and he's a 19yo kid doing an amazing job on a global stage. You don't have to like it, but there's no need to hate on it (ask Jendrik). Imo, Tusse deserved to qualify. Not winner material yet, but I wish him a fun time and a successful career. 7 5/10

- Switzerland 🇨🇭

G'jons Tears, Tout L'Univers: I saw the video first, and I HATED IT. It came across as a Duncan Lawrence-high-art wannabe, something technically perfect, but empty of soul or meaning, another soft boy with a sad falsetto, another jury-points bait. BUT. I changed my mind entirely after seeing him perform. Hands down, it was touching and epic. Reminding me of Hamlet aside, he DELIVERED, and made me love him, and actually enjoy the song. I still think the song is less original than Tusse's voices, but I enjoy the troubadour vibes of the pre-chours. G'jon is absolutely adorable, and I'm not gonna be mad if he wins. 8/10

shout-outs&honorable mentions:

- Serbia 🇷🇸 Yes, some national bias, but I'm proud of our girls. Ever Since we placed 2nd with Željko's Lane, we had that goddamn flute e v e r y year, and the same outdated scenography with a side of extra pathos (I'm sure that ruined Sanja's chances and her otherwise great performance back in 2016.) Finally something fun and actually representative of the music popular here. They looked flawless and the energy was off the charts. Go, Hurricane!

-Finland 🇫🇮 Yes, cheesy and corny and I cut my finger accidentally from watching the video on all the edge, but I'm biased because they're bringing emo and nu-metal back, and that's the music of my early adolescence (hello, Kaulitz brothers and Andy Biersack,hello Gerard Way and Linkin Park) Call me grandma lol

- Malta 🇲🇹 DESTINY CAN SIIIIIIIIING! I wasn't impressed with the song initially, but the performance blew my mind.

- Ireland 🇮🇪 A for effort, and so nice of her to try and give us something unique! While it wasn't good enough to qualify, it was super fun and she seems so nice. Also, we all know that she was out of breath an can sing much better than that. Still wasn't bad.

- Romania 🇷🇴, for being so young and brave enough to put on a show. The nerves got the better of her, but the song itself is good and no doubt she'll do well in the future

- Lithuania 🇱🇹, thanks for the memeries

- Croatia 🇭🇷, Not my cup of tea, but Albina gave a great performance

-Norway 🇳🇴, for embodying the spirit of Eurovision

- North Macedonia 🇲🇰, for the disco chest

- The UK 🇬🇧, for putting some effort

(Might edit later)

[bnhasimpgirltm]

Notes From the Heart (Kyoka Jiro x Reader)

Pairings: Jiro Kyoka x Reader

Warnings: none

Genre: fluff (as you asked)

A/N: I gotchu anon who isn’t very anonymous because I know exactly who this is. It isn’t tooth rotting, but it’s not angsty. Reader plays piano/ keyboard in this one.  Also, if someone can tell me the songs that the lyrics came from and the artists, I’ll be very happy. Maybe OCC Jiro. The person who requested this wanted me to write more fluff, so they gave me a prompt. The prompt was: “I didn’t know I was yours.” The ending was so hard for me to write for some reason, so I hope it’s good enough for you.

---------------------------------

The sound of the bass plugged into the amp paired with a piano bounces off of the walls in Jiro’s room. You and Jiro play perfectly together, every note and chord on time with each other. 

As Jiro finishes her riff, you play the last notes of the song, and get up off the piano bench, pushing it back in. 

“Hey that was really good!” You laugh and give Jiro a high-five. 

“Yeah it was,” Jiro smiles and puts her bass back into the case. 

When you and Jiro met at the beggining of the year, your shared love of insturments and a similar taste in music naturally gravitated you towards her. Every since then, you two were inseperable.

“Hey Jiro, can you get my notebook from my room?” You ask, sitting back on the bench. “I think I left it on top of my bed. There’s some song ideas in there for us, and I think we should try new chord progressions today.” You throw your key to her, and she catches it with one hand, the other resting on the case of the bass.

"Yeah, of course,” Jiro replies, pushing the amp under her desk. She walks out of her room, and into the silent hallway of the dorms. Reading the names beside the door, she finally gets to yours, and turns the key in the lock. 

Walking over to your bed, she reaches over and grabs the notebook labeled ‘Music Stuff/ Ideas’. Her foot makes contact with something under the bed. 

Strange. She thinks to herself. Leaning down, Jiro pokes her head under the bed and spots a shoebox. Too light to have shoes, so what is it.

Using her hand to pull the box closer to her, Jiro finally pulls the mystery box from under the bed, and when she opens it, it isn’t what she expects.

Notes? Crumpled pieces of paper? What? Jiro thinks in confusion. Picking up one of the balls of paper, she uncrumples it and smooths in out on her leg.

October 28, 2019

Dear Jiro (or should I call you Kyoka since I’m confessing?),

I haven’t known you very long, but I can definitely say that I am into you. I mean, you’re super cool, and you have the best taste in music, and you’re a good friend. Even if we’ve only really known each other for a couple of months, I really like you. I was wondering if maybe you’d want to go out with me, because “You’re a legend in my own mind”. 

Kyoka couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Placing the note on your desk, she picked up another ball of paper. This one was more recent, and also contained a song lyric.

December 14, 2019

Dear Jiro, 

Once again, I’m trying to confess to you, but it’s really not going as planned. I was going to write this beautiful poetic note to you to woo you, but now that I’m putting the pen to the paper, I can’t think of anything to say. I think the only thing that really needs to be said is that you are quite literally the greatest person I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. I think you’re very pretty, and I really like you. Really, really, really like you. I hope you feel the same way since,“I walk a lonely road, the only one that I have ever known. Don't know where it goes, but it's home to me, and I walk alone.” Kyoka Jiro, will you make the walk a little less lonely for me?

You liked her! How could she have gotten this lucky? Someone with a great taste in music who was also a great person. Her best friend, in fact. She couldn’t stop reading these, they were so sweet, and she felt so grateful that someone would spend this much time thinking about her. Uncrumpling another paper, she read another note, this one was most likely the most recent one, written last week. It was the longest one yet, and the only one that was signed with your name.

June 26, 2020

Dear Jiro,

This will probably be one of the last times I write to you since the school year is ending and camp is soon. I still can’t find the courage to tell you I like you, except through these sad little notes. You’re the best human being I’ve ever met, and I’m trying to justify to myself why you would ever like someone like me, why I would ever be able to have a chance with you. I really don’t want to ruin our amazing friendship, since I’ve never found someone that understands me more than you, do Jiro. Someday, I’ll find the courage to come clean and tell you how I feel. I though I just liked you, a small crush, but I am completely, utterly in love with you Kyoka Jiro. My heart feels like it’s going to burst out of my chest when I’m near you, and sometimes I feel like you’ll never know. “Secrets I have held in my heart, are harder to hide than I thought.” “Maybe I just wanna be yours.” I really do want to be yours. I want you to mine too. “I Want it All”, but I can’t have it all. So here it is, probably the last note that I write that you’ll never see. Doing this has been so nice, it’s almost like telling you how I feel without telling you how I feel. God forbid if you ever find these notes though. I’d be so screwed I wouldn’t know what to do. I feel like it’s only appropriate that I sign the last note off. It’s not like I’ll ever give these to you.

With much love, 

(L/N) (Y/N)

No way. You loved her. She loves you too, as more than a friend, and she was the one that thought you didn’t reciprocate her feelings. 

Realizing that she’s spent and awfully long time getting your notebook, Jiro crumples the pieces of paper back up and starts to put them back in the box.

That is until you open the door.

“Hey Jiro, are you okay? I was wond-” You look up and see the box in her hands. “Um, crap. I can explain.”

“You don’t need to,” Jiro looks you in the eye and gets off the bed, standing on the wooden floor and smiling slightly,

“You never were supposed to see that,” you sheepishly laugh and look at your feet. 

“I know, but I’m so glad I did,” Jiro laughs and smiles widely at you, a rare sight. You’re still looking at your feet, and your cheeks are tinted a light pink. There’s a heavy silence in the room, almost awkward, but not quite. It’s nice, the silence hanging in the air between you two. Until you speak. 

“Since I’m pretty sure you’ve read the notes, I need to put my plan in action,” you cryptically state.

Jiro raises and eyebrow as you unlock your phone and connect it to the bluetooth speakers that sit on your desk. Music starts to play from them. 

It’s “Girl That You Love”, by Panic! At the Disco. 

“Since I wrote you some notes on paper, I figured that the best way to get into the moment was to listen to some music notes from a song. Jiro, you’re the girl that I love. And I hope I can be the girl that you love.” You finish off by looking up from the floor and at Jiro, a hopeful look in your eyes.

Finally, Jiro walks across the room, closing the distance between you two, and grabbing you in a tight hug.

“You were always the girl that I love. I was always yours, and you were always mine,” she says, the rare grin reappearing on her face.

“I didn’t know I was yours.” You wrap your arms around her, and hug her like you’ve never hugged anyone before.  

“Now you can call me Kyoka,” she says, letting you go.

“Okay, Kyoka,” you say, trying it out. “I like it.”

“I like it too, (Y/N),” Kyoka proclaims, then she kisses your cheek, then your forehead, then your other cheek, then your lips.

Smiling, you pull away and say, “I want more.”

“You can have as many as you want once we finish writing our song,” Kyoka says.

“Deal,” you state, then grab her hand in yours. “But first, let’s just sit here, and maybe have a little talk about keeping secrets from each other. After all, we do have forever.” You sit down on the floor, pulling Kyoka with you.

Kyoka laughs, then she agrees, “A long forever together to love each other.” 

You had no idea what would happen during the rest of your forever, but this was all you needed. 

“Girl You Love” playing in the background around you, you and Kyoka begin the first part of your perfect forever together. 

The first of many to come. 

[bionic-penis]

Here it is! Before we get into it I'd just like to say that I sent this all in discord and so i dont use the most academic language and i also had to cut out some bits where I was speaking/replying to friends :)

Okay so maybe Yang and Blake are just good friends, I can see that, but the storyline and all their major character events are so intertwined that it wouldnt make sense not to make them a couple

Spoilers for literally everything

But in my defense its been seven years

Anyway Yang and Blake's stories dont start getting seriously interconnected until around volume 3, but we do see them being closer to eachother than the rest of team rwby (save for Yang and Ruby but they're sisters so it doesnt count)

When Blake is stressed out over the White Fang in Volume 2, it takes Yang to snap her out of it

Also a lot of people have mentioned this but I'm gonna say it again for those who havent heard it but colours and weapons matter in rwby. They're a key element in the show

ahem

Colours play a big part in the design and storytelling aspect and rwby and its no coincidence that Yang eyes are purple and Blakes are yellow, which are eachothers like signature colours outside of Blakes black

But even more than that is weapons

As we learn from Ruby in the first Volume, a lot of students make their own weapons and, as it is constantly reiterated, weapons are an extension of the self in RWBY. They're not just a tool to be tossed around

In the show we see little instances of people interacting with and using other peoples weapons. There's that one scene where Ruby uses one of Penny's swords to defend Pyrrah, but that was out of necessity. however, over and over again we see Yang interacting with Blake's weapon, Gambol Shroud

As someones mentioned before, an entire moveset of theirs is dependent on it

So it's clear that these two characters are incredibly close

Moving on from that point, Id like to analyze the incidents thst occur in volume 3 and following events that further Yang and Blakes connection

In volume 3 after Yang "breaks" Mercurys leg due to Emeralds illusion, she sits in the dorm room surrounded by her teammates, yet the scene singles out Yang and Blake. When Yang asked if they (her team) believed her, Ruby and Weiss are ready to say yes, but Blake hesitates. Yang and Blake then share a moment where Blake explains that shes trusted people before who turned out to be cruel. She asks Yang to look her in the eyes and tell her that she (Yang) is telling the truth. Yang does so and Blake believes her this level of affirmation from one another is so unlike the rest of Team RWBY and even Team JNPR

Ofc in the dorm scene the person Blake is talking about is Adam, her abusive and possessive ex. Obviously your relationship with an abusive person effects any and all interactions/relationships, regardless of their extent, but I think it bears mentioning

Continuing on in the events of volume 3 when Beacon is being attacked and Blake is confronted by Adam, he has her pinned down and says something along the lines of "I am going to destroy everything that you love". Unfortunately this is when Yang happens to stumble into the scene. Horror is prominent on Blakes face. Yang sees Adam over Blake and yells at him before charging forward, which is when Adam cuts her arm off. It's a very emotional scene imo. Blake then uses her semblance to get her and Yang to safety

So let's analyze this

Adam specifically singled Yang out

Ofc yang was the only one there at the time but Adam didnt say "starting with your little teammates" he said "starting with her". Ofc this could just be me cherrypicking but I think that word choice has meaning

Regardless, this is an intense moment for Yang and Blake that really welds their stories together, romantic or not

In volume 4 Yang and Blake take a break from one another-- Jk but theyre separated. After the events at Beacon, and especially after what happened to Yang, Blake runs. And we get to see both women dealing with this and trying to come to terms with it. Yang is bitter. She's angry that Blake, specifically, left her. And Blake feels like she had to run away to keep everyone, specifically Yang, safe

In Volume 5 we dont get much interaction at all between Yang and Blake aside from the same feelings represented in Volume 4, but these are put on the back burner for Blakes White Fang arc

However these feelings take a forward play in Yangs mind and she even voices these feelings to Weiss and Ruby

I take a deep breath

Volume 6, Blake and Yang are together again but tensions are high. They have to learn how to be together again. When Blake and Yang finally have alone time in the shed, Blake expresses how she won't leave, which comforts Yang. However, Blake continues on to say how she will protect Yang to which Yang gets mad and the moment is ruined.

Despite this, Yang and Blake are still going strong and trying to make things work by being there and supporting each other

Yang and Blake's arc for Volume 6 reaches its peak in the fight against Adam. In this fight we see both women fighting the actual source of their trauma. One thing id like to note about this fight is that Blake starts it alone but is joined by Yang, who tells her to catch her breath. This fight is the first major fight Blake and Yang have fought together in a long time. And its amazing. During the fight, Adam screams at Yang in anger and jealousy, asking "WHAT DOES SHE SEE IN YOU?" And saying that she (Blake) cant protect Yang to which Blake replies "I'm not protecting her. And she's not protecting me." MIRRORING the conversation in the shed

the fight ends with Yang and Blake stabbing Adam through with Gambol Shroud, killing him

Now theres some little things id like to point out with this fight, aside from the amazing chemistry between Blake and Yang and the awesome choreography

Its during this fight that we learn about Adams semblance (magic power basically), which is that any hit he absorbs with his sword, he can return with greater force. This is a corruption of Yang's semblance, where any hit she takes herself she can return with greater force

Now why do I think this is significant? Because rwby is all about symbolism. I think Adam's semblance was specifically chosen to mirror Yangs. Adam doesnt have to deal with pain, he just deflects it, which is how his relationship with Blake plays out. She tries to let him off easy, she tells him to leave her alone, but he just can't take the hint, just like he can't take a hit. However, Yang does take the hits. Yang takes them all and it makes her stronger. She empathizes with Blake and works with her. Adam doesnt have to deal with the pain his actions cause because he doesnt care. This reflects Yangs extremely empathetic personality. Yang knows what consequences her actions can have. She can take the pain

Another thing id like to point out is Adam's behaviour during the fight. He lashes out as Yang for getting in between Blake and him, blaming her for his flaws. He targets her just like in Volume 3. I think this was done purposefully

Another thing is Yang runs Bumblebee off the cliff to help Blake! Her bike! I think this is important bc yang loved her bike. It was part of her brand for the longest time. Perhaps running it off the cliff in the fight vs Adam is a nod to growing by letting things go? Idk I just feel like its an important beat

In Volume 7 we see Yang and Blake working together more regularly again with even a few flustered glances (maybe). Marrow even mentions that they never pair up with anyone else to which they respond with a cool fight scene this feels like the extent of their interaction since Volume 7 focuses more on ruby

Volume 8 isnt finished but there is one line that I think is important which is when Yang asked Jaune if "she'll think bad of me if we fail?" To which Jaune responds "Ruby's your sister" and Yang says "yeah... Ruby..." LIKE EXCUSE ME?

[I take some time to riff with my friends and partner before continuing]

ANOTHER THING

Adam BREAKS Gambol Shroud during their fight, mirroring how Yang, once again, works with Blake and Gambol Shroud. This is yet another example of Adam being violent and abusive towards Blake where Yang is sympathetic and kind. Theyre set up to be narrative opposites

Even though both Adam and Yang are both hot heads, utilize a similar semblance, and both have a deep connection with Blake, they are not the same bc Yang trusts and appreciates Blake while Adam does not

Also Adam and Yang both share the same sentiment of "Blake left me" but whereas Adam lashes out at Blake, Yang is mostly frustrated. Unlike Yang, Adam never attempts to work it out with Blake, which is where the two differ greatly. Yang is willing to listen whilst Adam is not

TLDR: uh give me Bmblb content right now Roosterteeth or I will suck the marrow from ur bones

[taetaespeaches]

m.list - min yoongi.

updated. March 8, 2022.

newest:  

❃ ⇾ “Is this your way of calling me boring?”

❃ ⇾ “I’m going to be wherever you are for Christmas.”

❃ ⇾ “Are you really not going to complain even once?”

here is the masterlist for my long term Yoongi couple. drabbles are listed in chronological order. (ongoing).

[ key. ❃ ⇾ fluff; ☁ ⇾ angst; ☆ ⇾ smut ]

❃ ⇾ “You know, in Casablanca he lets the girl go.”

❃ ⇾ “You’re a honey boy.”

❃ ⇾ “You just want to get back to your Zuko fan fiction.”

❃ ⇾ “You should kiss a girl before you leave.”

❃ ⇾ “If I came and picked you up right now, would you like to go somewhere with me?” 

☆ ⇾ “Why would you have the condoms clear across the room from the bed?” (+fluff)

☁ ⇾ “I thought you left.” (+fluff; light smut)

☁ ⇾ “You know that I would ruin myself over and over again for you.” 

☁ ⇾ “I didn’t think you’d care if I came back.” (+fluff)

❃ ⇾ “You’re always going to be enough, Kid.” (+angst)

❃ ⇾ “It’s two sugars, right?” 

❃ ⇾ “Don’t worry, I’m not going to steal your girlfriend.”

❃ ⇾ “Do you mention me a lot?” (feat. ot7)

❃ ⇾ “I saved you a seat.” 

❃ ⇾ “Quick question... what are you doing in the closet?”

❃ ⇾ “It’s a story for the grandkids.”

☁ ⇾ “You can tell me anything.” (+fluff)

❃ ⇾ “I have no idea how to tie this, so here’s a clip-on.”

❃ ⇾ “Am I blind or are you crazy?” 

☁ ⇾ “I can’t eat my cup of noodles because the microwave is an asshole.” (+fluff)

❃ ⇾ “I’d so take you down in a riff off.” 

☁ ⇾ “I’m not walking out on you.”

☁ ⇾ “Don’t ever write a cypher about me, I’ll cry.” (+fluff)

❃ ⇾ “You look like Medusa.”

❃ ⇾ “Is this your way of calling me boring?”

❃ ⇾ “Of course I’m gonna read it.”

❃ ⇾ “Baby, it’s a goddamn Christmas song.”

❃ ⇾  “I refuse to take a picture with Santa, you can’t make me.”

❃ ⇾ “Whatever you want, kid.” (New Year’s Eve drabble)

☁ ⇾ “You’re an idiot, but you’re my idiot.” (+fluff)

❃ ⇾ “I already have you and a cupcake. What more could I possibly need?”

❃ ⇾ “If your plan was to seduce me upon arrival, it’s working.”

❃ ⇾ “I love you more than coffee.” 

❃ ⇾ “Are you really not going to complain even once?”

☆ ⇾ “Keep it cute, Min. I’m not fucking you in the dorm shower.” (+fluff; crack)

☆ ⇾ “Yes, your socks are cute, but I’m trying to get your pants off, Kid.” (+fluff)

❃ ⇾ “When I say I love you forever, that’s what I mean.” (+smut)

❃ ⇾ “You do know you’re not actually a grandpa, right, Min?”

❃ ⇾ “Are you going to kiss me or keep staring?” (+suggestive)

☆ ⇾ “I never would’ve thought Agust D would be so soft after sex.” (D-2 reaction)

❃ ⇾ “We’ve been together for over two years, you may be jumping the gun here.”

❃ ⇾ “Don’t you dare.”

❃ ⇾ “You’ve been holding out on me, Min.”

❃ ⇾ “I know it’s 4 am but it’s snowing.”

❃ ⇾ “You’re a child. But yes, I’ll build a snowman with you.”

❃ ⇾ “I didn’t lose your present… I just hid it really fucking well.”

❃ ⇾ “Make it two mimosas.”

❃ ⇾ “Come here. Let me fix it.”

❃ ⇾ “Happy birthday.” 

❃ ⇾ “Are you calling me bitter, Kid?”

❃ ⇾ “Stay there. I’m coming to get you.”

☁ ⇾ “I want you to be happy.” (+fluff)

❃ ⇾ “My hands smell like gingerbread.”

❃ ⇾ “I was so good at keeping all of this a secret.”

❃ ⇾ “I’m not even gonna say it.”

❃ ⇾ “I’m going to be wherever you are for Christmas.”

❃ ⇾  “You know I prefer apple jacks.”