#I'm impressed and full of gratitude

[ghostlyferrettarot]

★Pick a Picture: 🌻💐What will be your in-laws' first impression of you?💐🌻

•Pile 1 •Pile 2 •Pile 3

❗️This is a collective reading, take what resonates and leave the rest❗️

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💐Masterlist💐

🍀Pile 1: 6 of Swords, 8 of Cups, The Hanged Man.

Hi pile 1! At first, they'll probably have some reservations about you. They might not take you entirely seriously, as your partner isn't the type to spontaneously introduce their partners, which might surprise their family to see you as their new partner. At first, you might seem like someone very different from them, but as they start to talk to you and get to know you better, they'll realize that you actually share more in common than they initially thought. Over time, they'll probably feel a little embarrassed for being so quick to judge you. Your presence and thoughts might cause them to reconsider some of their beliefs and perspectives on life. As you share more experiences together, they'll likely express their gratitude for you showing them a new point of view. Over time, they will probably feel a little embarrassed for having judged you so quickly, they will begin to appreciate your way of being and slowly integrate you into their circle; at the end they are gonna be really grateful for you pile 1!

⚘️Pile 2: 3 of Cups, Ace of Wands, 6 of Wands.

Hi pile 2! Your in-laws are really wonderful, their energy is so warm and welcoming. I can tell they are very family-oriented and I'm sure they will be very happy to see you. As I receive their messages, I can hear that they will think you are very charming and cute! I think that strong bonds will quickly form between you, which will allow you to share special moments as a family and, over time, they will see you as another daughter. They will be very happy to meet you, and they will be very grateful to see how happy you make their son/daughter. Your partner might feel that their parents love you more than them, and that will surely lead to many funny jokes between you. The family dynamic will be very fun and full of love, which will make every meeting between you memorable and fun. You are definitely very lucky to have such great in-laws! Lucky you pile 2!

🏵Pile 3: The magician, Queen of Swords, 8 of Wands.

Hi pile 3! I think you may have a more reserved personality, and that is something your in-laws will notice from the beginning. At first, they may not have a very formed opinion of you, but they will try to get closer and respect the relationship you have with their son or daughter. It is natural that there will be a little distance at first, but with time, I am sure that you will feel more comfortable with them, and they will appreciate that you trust their company. The key will be to find those little moments that allow you to connect, whether through a shared activity or simply enjoying a good conversation. They will understand that even though you are not very talkative, that doesn't mean you can't be fun and enjoy good times together. They will think you are a "power couple" is what I heard.

So, even though it may seem a little complicated at first, I'm sure everything will fall into place and you will enjoy a very positive relationship. Over time, they will realize that your personality, although more introverted, brings a unique value to the family dynamic.

💐🌻🍀Thanks for reading and tell me if it resonated 🍀🌻💐

[neil-gaiman]

Hi Neil,

I hope this doesn't get buried in the ask box, but if it does, I'll still be glad I sent this, just to know this little lengthy slice of complement and thanks existed in your inbox is enough. I apologize for the length, I am pretty sure the grammar is in tatters...and probably just the general awkwardness in advance.

Frist of all, congratulations for Good Omens Season2, it's a roaring success even here in this...I don't know, bottomless pit? I myself and some others fondly call it the PRC. The show didn't made pass the firewall officially, neither was Prime Video. People still managed to watch it eventually by VPNs, shared accounts and when times are desperate...sorry, piracy. Chinese fans, including myself, using every tool in the shed to try to fool Amazon™ and our goverment, just to watch this on Prime and try to help to manifest S3, is one hell of an experience. This kind of experience is pathetic, ridiculous....and somehow hilarious in a dark, gallows humor way, almost like some bad spy comedy, I just have to share it. Worth all the trouble by the way, the reward at the end of the back channel is...well, some divine comedy to say the very least. All in all, it's a brilliant show and a solid job well-done.

Then some of my personal gratitude. They say good art resonates with your soul, I now know this is just as true as matter and gravity. Since I know Good Omens certainly resonated with mine. I'll redact the typical "depression and anxiety reduced me to a husk, a shadow of my former self" story and get to the result for brevity's sake. I can't write anything meaningful while I know I took joy in writing, I can't finish reading anything longer than a brochure while I know I was such a bookworm in the past. Then I was compelled to get up in the middle of the night, wrote a full 5000 character long analysis after marathoned S2, and then write even more analyses in both Chinese and English. I picked up American Gods because I know I need more Neil Gaiman in my life and then impressed by myself for actually finishes it the second time 5 years later. I didn't know how exactly that happened through one watch of a TV show, but I know I am changed for the better. I grasped life again, and can start living again, somehow. The resonation just keeps on giving.

This is a quiet, gentle and romantic story, it is soothing, accepting, filled to the brim with love and kindness, and it makes me feel safe and accepted and loved in a way I never felt before. I thank you for it, and hope thart I may have the privlige to witness more of this miracle. Thank you Neil, Sir Terry Pratchett and the team for this miraculous book and this miraculous show.

谢谢。(I just had to say thanks with my mother tongue, it feels more earnest this way)

Thank you so much! I'm impressed by everything you and your countryfolk have gone through to watch it as legitimately as you could.

[v6quewrlds]

can u write a fluffy clingy joe one shot?? maybe building legos or something!! i love ur work!! i hope u have a nice day!!🫶🏾

‎ ‎ ⁎⠀┉⠀author's note: here's a fluffy little palette cleanser <3

‎ ‎ ⁎⠀┉⠀word count: 0.9k.

The scent of cinnamon wafted through the air as you stirred the pot of homemade hot chocolate on the stove. You glanced at the clock; it was already past six in the evening, and the darkness outside pressed against the windows like a heavy blanket.

"Joe," you began as you poured the steaming liquid into two oversized mugs, "I understand you're upset, but maybe you should take this week to recharge. Watch some movies, play some video games, do something that doesn't involve football."

Joe sighed, taking the mug from you with a nod of gratitude. "You're probably right," he admitted. "But it's hard to sit still when all I can think about is what we could be doing to fix things."

You kissed his forehead gently. "You can't control everything, Joey. Sometimes you just have to trust that things will pan out the way they're meant to." You leaned in for a quick peck, then stepped back to pick up your warm mug.

Joe sighed again, his eyes lingering on the TV that was muted in the living room, displaying highlights of the Cavs-Pelicans game. "Fine," he said finally.

You raised an eyebrow. "Fine?"

"Fine," Joe repeated, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Can we build that Lego set we got last Christmas?"

Your eyes lit up. "Seriously?" You had been dying to tackle the intricate, sprawling Star Wars that had remained in its box since Joe's brother, Dan, gifted it for Christmas. "You know I've been waiting for this moment."

Joe nodded with a hint of excitement in his voice. "Yeah, I figured it's time we put it together." He followed you to the living room, where you cleared the coffee table with a dramatic flourish.

You sat down across from each other, the instructions sprawled out between you. You picked up the instructions, your eyes scanning the pages. "Okay, we're building the Death Star," you said with a smile. "Where do we start?"

Joe leaned over, his sarcasm in full swing. "I'm surprised you remember what it is. You're the one who said it looked like a giant space donut when we opened the box."

You playfully rolled your eyes. "Hey, I know my Star Wars!" you protested. "The 4,000-piece count kind of took me by surprise, though."

Joe chuckled, sifting through the pieces. "Alright, space donut expert, let's get to it."

Your eyes were glued to the instructions, the pieces scattered around the two of you like a colorful minefield. A soft laugh filled the room as you held up a tiny Lego stormtrooper, your thumb and forefinger framing it like a photograph. "Look at this little guy," you said, grinning. "He's so cute."

"Cute? He's a symbol of imperial tyranny, babe," Joe retorted with a chuckle, earning a playful shove from you. Despite his initial hesitation, Joe was fully invested in the project. His mind was clear of the team dynamics that had consumed him all week. The Legos demanded his focus, and he gave it willingly.

You took a sip of your now lukewarm cocoa and leaned in closer to examine Joe's progress. "Looks pretty impressive," you said.

Joe glanced up, his cheeks reddening slightly. "It's just Legos," he said, but you could hear the pride in his voice.

"No, it's not just Legos," you replied, setting your mug down. "I love it when you get all focused like this for something other than football. It's cute."

Joe rolled his eyes, but the corners of his mouth turned up in a smile. "Cute, huh?"

You nodded. "Yeah, like a big ol' teddy bear."

"Teddy bear?" Joe scoffed, but the playful teasing had lightened his mood. "I'll have you know I'm a very intimidating Lego architect."

You couldn't help but laugh at his defensive tone. "Oh, absolutely," you said, your voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm quaking in my boots."

Joe smirked and tossed a Lego at you. It bounced off your arm and you feigned injury. "Careful there, Burrow," you said, your voice full of mock pain. "You wouldn't want to hurt the one who's keeping you fed and hydrated."

"Well, you're not helping much with the whole 'keeping me hydrated' part," Joe quipped, nodding towards his nearly empty mug. "I'll need more of that hot cocoa if I'm going to get through this."

You stood up with a smile. "Your wish is my command," you said, practically skipping back to the kitchen. As you brought the pot to a boil again, you watched Joe through the archway. The stress of the season had etched lines into his face, but as he worked on the Death Star, you could see them slowly smoothing out.

When you returned with the freshly filled mug, Joe took a grateful sip and leaned back, eyeing the progress. "You know," he said thoughtfully, "I've been so caught up in work that I forgot how much I enjoy just... doing nothing."

You sat back down on the floor, your mug now steaming in your hands. "It's important to have hobbies," you agreed, your voice gentle. "Things that make you happy outside of football."

Joe nodded, his eyes lingering on you for a moment before returning to the Legos. "You're right," he murmured, his voice a mix of acceptance and regret. "I just... I want to win so badly."

You leaned over to kiss him on the cheek. "I know you do," you said softly. "And you will. But you'll have to wait a week to do it. For now, just enjoy the quiet."

[httpiastri]

hope we all know that this isn't just any paul aron who we're gonna see as the f1 reserve next year…

it's the paul who's been in love with racing ever since he was a baby, who wanted to race just so he could grow up to be like his brother. the paul who travels around to support his brother or his team even when he's got a weekend off.

it's the paul who finished third in his first-ever season of formula 3, who was in the fight for the title up until the last round (and would've had a much better chance if not for the team's mistake in spa).

it's the paul who fit so well into the mercedes profile, who expressed his gratitude to the team and their work whenever he could, who fought so hard to make them proud.

it's the paul who was always going to be put behind kimi in toto wolff's eyes, no matter how well he performed.

it's the paul who had to leave everything he had grown up with, his team of many years, his close friends and staff members, and move on. who had to let go of everything he knew from before and go alone.

it's the paul who went into his first full formula 2 season with hopes and dreams instead of expectations; who said he was there to learn and grow, and then he would see where that would take him.

it's the paul who failed to get into the top ten in qualifying for the first round of the 2024 season, but still managed a p5 in the sprint – and a podium in the feature, despite a time penalty, and got to celebrate in parc ferme with his brother and trainer.

it's the paul who, as a rookie, went onto the podium every round in the first seven rounds. who's been consistent like few others in a series (and team) known for its inconsistency.

it's the paul who never forgets to credit and thank his family, team and trainer, acknowledging that every success is thanks to a team effort – and that even if things don't go as well as planned, the team still did their best to help him out.

it's the paul who thanks to his determination and hard work managed to impress his f2 team principal, oliver oakes, so much that the latter thought "i need this guy on my team" when he became the alpine f1 principal.

it's the paul who fights every setback with an attitude of revenge instead of hopelessness; despite everything he's been through, he never gives up. he wants to prove everyone wrong.

it's the paul who turns every heartbreak – from mechanical failures to tactical missteps – into fuel for his fire. it's the paul who reminds us that success isn't a straight line; success is the product of unwavering determination and the courage to keep going.

it's a paul who's learned so much, grown so much stronger; who's been through so many hardships and said "you know what? i'm going to learn from this and come out stronger on the other side", and that's exactly what he did. i'm so proud to have gotten to follow him on this journey, and i can't wait to see where this next chapter of his life will lead him.

our paul aron. 💙

[yan-lorkai]

I have a few ask options if you don’t mind? for my man and loml chrollo lucilfer

1) yandere Chrollo with a really cute and sweet darling who loves the colour pink and her whole bedroom is pink and so is her personality, so he kinda fawns and dotes over her and treats her like glass

2) yandere chrollo with a witty sarcastic darling whose nen has been taken away, and they’re at the beach for a fun day

3) yandere Chrollo with a darling who usually begrudgingly shows affection but she’s been hit with an aphrodisiac from some enemy of Chrollo’s or something and so shes drooling for Chrollo and any touch he’ll give and he ofc loves that

.⁠｡⁠*⁠♡ A/n: Those were all interesting ideas but being sarcastic to Chrollo made my brain ache in a good way so I'm going with that idea here, darling! Plus shout out to that darling that said it would be funny if the reader had a more Gen z vocabulary, bcs this got hilarious 😂

.⁠｡⁠*⁠♡ Tagging: @kurtswld

You sit on the warm sand, the waves crashing rhythmically in the distance, the sun bright overhead. It would be a beautiful day at the beach if not for the man lounging beside you, casually reading a book as if he hadn’t practically kidnapped you here.

Chrollo looks calm, almost serene, but you know better. Behind those dark eyes is a predator, waiting, watching, and ready to strike if you step out of line.

You sigh dramatically, tilting your head back and letting the sun soak into your skin. “I can’t believe you dragged me out here for some... ‘fun in the sun’ nonsense. What’s next? Building sandcastles? Catching crabs and shells?” You glance over at him with a smirk, waiting to see if your sarcasm will get a rise out of him.

Chrollo barely lifts his eyes from his book, but the faintest smile tugs at his lips. “Would you rather I kept you locked up inside?” His tone is smooth, unbothered, almost teasing. “I thought a change of scenery might lift your spirits, plus every human being needs some vitamin D.”

“Oh, wow, how considerate of you,” you deadpan, rolling your eyes. “You take my Nen, kidnap me, and now you’re trying to act like my sugar daddy or something. Real ‘slay,’ Chrollo.”

This time, he looks up, and there’s a glimmer of amusement in his gaze. “Slay?” he repeats, as if tasting the word. “Ah, yes. That’s what you say when someone does something impressive, right?”

“You got it, boomer,” you quip, knowing full well that calling him that would only serve to annoy him. You can’t help but grin when you see his eyes narrow slightly. “I mean, if ‘impressive’ is synonymous with ‘murderous psycho who likes playing with his food,’ then yeah, you’re totally slaying.”

He leans closer, setting the book down, and you can feel the shift in the air — the way his attention sharpens on you, even though his expression remains relaxed. “Careful now, darling. I might start thinking you enjoy pushing my buttons.”

You swallow but hold your ground, despite the little thrill of fear creeping up your spine. “Oh, yeah, this is my dream vacation, Chrollo. #KidnapGoals. Maybe I’ll even post about it, if you ever let me have my phone back.”

Chrollo chuckles softly, the sound low and dangerous. “You’re witty, I’ll give you that. But let’s not forget why we’re here. I could have brought you anywhere, yet I chose a place where you could relax. Perhaps you should show a little more gratitude.”

“Gratitude? Pfft, okay, sure. ‘Thanks for ruining my life, now let’s go get ice cream.’” You shoot him a mockingly sweet smile, winking at him while you had the chance. “Honestly, I think you’re the one who needed this beach day. Trying to remind yourself what normal people do for fun?”

Chrollo’s smile widens, and it sends a chill through you. “If I wanted to know what normal people do, I wouldn’t be here with you, darling. But I do enjoy your company. Even if you insist on using those bizarre phrases.”

You can’t help but snort. “Yeah, ‘cause I’m such a vibe, right?”

He tilts his head, considering your words. “Indeed. A most intriguing... vibe.” He leans closer, his lips almost brushing your ear, and your breath catches. “But don’t think I’ve forgotten how you keep testing my patience. There are limits, even for you.”

The warning is clear, but you refuse to let it dampen your spirit. “Noted. But if I’m stuck here, I might as well have a little fun, right?”

He pulls back, still smiling, but his eyes are dark, dangerous. “By all means, darling. Have your fun. Just remember, I’m the one who decides when it ends.”

You force yourself to grin, even as your heart pounds loudly on your chest. “Oh, don’t worry, Chrollo. I’m having a blast. Really. #LivingMyBestLife.”

For a moment, there’s silence between you, the sound of the waves filling the space. And then he chuckles again, softer this time, almost as if he’s genuinely amused. “I do enjoy your spirit,” he murmurs, his voice low. “It makes you all the more interesting to keep you around.”

You know better than to push your luck further, so you settle back on the sand, trying to enjoy the sun while you can. Because with Chrollo, you’re never sure how long these moments of “normalcy” will last before he decides to tighten the chains again.

And his smile is far too scarier to look at for more than 5 seconds. You would rather not look, nor hear him chuckling.

[piratecaptainscaptainpirates]

Season 2 made me appreciate even more how great Taika Waititi's acting is in season 1. Most actors, if you limit their facial movement that severely by gluing a giant prosthetic beard to their face, they're just not going to be able to emote the way they need to.

It is incredible how good this man is at using his eyes and eyebrows to convey what he needs to. On top of that, he has more full-body physicality in season 1 that really stands out once you compare to how he acts in season 2; when he's got the beard on he tends to move his head and shoulders a lot more so he can clearly get across Ed's emotions.

He's giving us silly, cute moments that just use his face and head movements to convey what a big goofball Ed is really:

The scene where Stede's about to be executed by firing squad is a perfect example of just how great he is - he's got very limited facial movement but he uses his eyes and eyebrows, keeps his mouth open a bit so we can see his lip wobble, and breathes heavily so we can see the harsh rise and fall of his shoulders, all emphasizing just how panicked Ed feels in this scene:

He's just so good at using his eyebrows to exagerrate his facial expressions, and because the rest of his face is so hidden it just works perfectly.

I will never get over how this man can weaponize his eyes to their fullest effect. He is so good at angling his face just right while he's acting - take the "you wear fine things well" scene! The way he looks up at Stede with his face angled down still, paired with the little scoff, is so perfect at conveying all of Ed's disbelief and gratitude.

Good fucking acting. When you look for it it's easy to see how much subtler his acting is in s2 because he doesn't have a giant beard glued to his face, and it just makes it even more impressive. Man basically invented having eyes as far as I'm concerned.

[mikoyamisheadcanonblog]

Hi! I'm a huge fan of One Piece and I was wondering (if it's possible) that you can write Yandere HCs for the admirals? I'm a big admiral fan. Thanks!

OMG of course no problem. This is the second time I got requested to write the admirals it is such a fun concept and difficult characters to write, I hope I did them justice for you

Ex Admirals

☀️Borsalino (Kizaru)☀️

☀️When he first meets his S/O he seems uninterested in them but in reality, he is studying them and watching them. He sees what his S/O is interested in and lures them slowly to him as he finally gains control over them.

☀️He is more passive with his S/O but that is all a ruse for his S/O to feel more comfortable with him. Let them wander around on the island shop but little does his S/O know he is in complete control of the people his S/O talks to, to where his S/O goes.

☀️He will watch his S/O from a safe distance, sitting on the roof watching them as they chat with someone and making sure the conversation is what he had ordered.

☀️He will train his S/O if they listen and don’t wander too far or stick to the route, he has planned for them he will give them gifts and praises but if they don’t listen to him and talk to someone they aren’t supposed to. He will give them cruel silence and indifference till his S/O comes to him.

☀️If his S/O is in danger or unhappy with someone he will capture said person and punish them. Using his power and influence to torture them and such and using the said person’s family and friends till they understood his power.

☄️Issho (Fujitora)☄️

☄️He first gets interested in his S/O seeing the kindness they have, when their first reaction is to help him when he drops his cane or helping out someone. He starts getting vastly interested in his S/O playing the helpless man.

☄️He starts getting more invested and interested in his S/O the more they are around him and will play the helpless blind man whenever his S/O starts to wander off. He doesn’t like his S/O wandering too far from him as there are dangerous crooks and pirates out there who would take advantage of their kindness.

☄️While he wouldn’t hurt anyone as he does value human life, he isn’t against manipulating his S/O to stay close to him. Or anyone else to keep away from his S/O as his. He is so charming that a lot of innocent people will fall for his charm and help manipulate his S/O.

☄️He never lets off on the innocent blind man. As he holds his S/O to him and never allows them to leave his side. It does come off as a surprise when his S/O finds out how powerful he is it would be already to late for his S/O to get away as everyone around him would manipulate them to stay with Issho.

☄️While he wouldn’t hurt his S/O or innocent it doesn’t mean pirates and other crooks would get his generosity. He is much harsher to pirates that dare hurt his S/O giving them a full extent of his Devil Fruits ability.

🌳Aramaki (Ryokugyu)🌳

🌳He gets obsessed with his S/O  the first time they meet. It could be his S/O said a certain praise he really enjoyed or how his S/O looks either way his S/O is now very interested in them and he will do everything in his power to capture their heart.

🌳At first he is a bit charming if not a little rude and crude with his words insulting his S/O and belittling them but also belittling people around them and giving himself praises so his S/O understands that he is giving them attention that is what makes them special.

🌳If his S/O isn’t impressed with him, he will put his S/O in danger so he can save them and as a form of gratitude, he would demand his S/O stays with him and go on a date and once again he will turn on the charm till his S/O finally does give in and gives him their heart.

🌳He becomes a bit controlling with his S/O wanting them to have the same practices as him but if his S/O can’t live up to them. He will just have them in his presence all the time even on dangerous missions he will have his S/O tied up and on the side thanks to his Devil Fruit, so his S/O isn’t in danger but he also knows where they are at.

🌳If his S/O thinks about getting away from him or asks anyone for help there will be consequences for their actions and those who do help. He loves his S/O and will do everything in his power to keep them by his side even using his Devil Fruit to keep them up tied up tree branches and roots and always be by his side.

[nogenderbee]

♡˗ˏ✎*ೃ˚ ℂ𝕦𝕥𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕟𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤 ₊˚ˑ༄

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ anon request: Could I request Welt, Jing Yuan and Blade with a a lover who summons cute monsters to fight?

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ Yes!! Honestly, I found it actually so cute I loved writing it ^^ Picked oneshot format because I just had general idea for it, so hope you still like it!

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ fluff, TW: description of fights

Welt and you were just exploring new planet, admiring it's scenery, when you were stopped by group of local enemies.

"Let's deal with them so we can continue our trip..."

You said a bit annoyed, as your date was interrupted and now you had to fight instead of having romantic walk.

Your boyfriend just nodded and in the next second, you did your little ritual in order to summon your cute monsters! Welt knew you could summon cuties like that hut he'd never assume you'd summon them to fight! But he decided to just take this fight on him and do his best to protect you, not aware of what your summons could do.

"Love, watch out!"

He yelled to you, when he noticed monster attacking you. His voice and expression was full of panic, just for it to be surprised in the next second, when your summons turned out to be actually terrifying... They still looked cute but they'd most likely be able to rip off someone's head...

"That's... ehem, I'm happy to know you can protect yourself. Let's continue our walk, shall we?"

He may act like he's neutral towards your powers, but he's actually intrigued! He just chooses not to ask you this directly, as to not make you uncomfortable and because you have a date right now, and he wishes to enjoy it too~

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

@vodka-glrl - come get your father of the express!

You wanted to show Jing Yuan a really nice spot after his hard days if work. He told you he doesn't recall place like that, but the truth is he just couldn't tell it to your face he knows it, so he nade a sweet kid that he'll tell you about later either way. It's worth seeing your excited smile.

You were just enabling about these very pretty flowers you found there when he suddenly pulled out in, avoiding monsters attack.

"Watch out. I'll have to ask you to get behind my, sweetheart. I promise I'll solve it quickly."

"Just leave it to me this time!"

You actually stepped forward, wanting to take care of him for once and maybe to impress him too~

"Just be careful. And know I have your back if anything happens."

He gave you a gentle nod and you became your little ritual. Jing Yuan was net with familiar cute looking pink monsters he saw before due to you showing him them. And how surprised was he when they suddenly defrosted all enemies in the blink of an eye...

But when you looked at him after him realizing how powerful you are, instead of being shocked it startled, he actually had a gentle smile and have one of your cute monsters a pat.

"You have my gratitude for protecting my lover and me."

He actually takes a like of them! He'll be happy to have them around as he trusts you and so does he trust your summons! He'll simply appreciate it and lower his guard a bit whenever they're around.

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

@miya-akane - come get your soft general~

"Get behind me."

"Oh c'mon, you don't need to always baby me! I can fight enemies myself!"

"Just don't complain when you get hurt."

You and Blade were on his mission together. If you're Stallaron Hunter or not, only is your decision, but you decided to help him on it at least a bit either way!

He was fighting with his sword like usually, this time also leaving you behind a bit, not caring to check on you as much since you wanted to fight for yourself. He'd probably look when you yell or something... who knows this man?

"Hold on, I'll just summon my monsters!"

You announced and your boyfriend looked your way for a second, you did your little ritual and soon, here they were. Pink flying octopus with way too big eyes and also a pink cat with the same situation. Blade's jaw dropped as his right hand slashed the enemy.

"Please tell me it's another one of your jo-"

But then these cute animals defeated rest of enemies in blink of an eye... brutal blink of an eye... Your boyfriend's look of disappointed quickly changed into his neutral expression. But he was actually quite impressed with how deceiving and yet powerful your monsters are.

"I guess you can fight for yourself after all..."

"See?"

"Well you'll do just that from now on."

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

@vodka-glrl - come get your cold man!

[exponenshul]

Life Drawing

SYNOPSIS: A pregnant woman is offered big money to pose as a nude model for a two hour figure drawing class, but her water breaks right before she's set to start. Can she make it through the class without a problem? (Contains pregnancy and birth. Reader discretion advised.)

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Faith patiently rode up the elevator, trying to keep her nerves in check. This was a big day for her...she had to keep her cool.

She was currently full term pregnant, and certainly showed it. Her belly was impressively full and round, skin smooth and taut. She looked like she could go into labor any moment. That wasn't why she was there today, however.

Professionally, Faith worked as an art model. For years she went to art schools, posing nude for students' figure drawings. It was a role that took a lot of confidence and patience. Since getting pregnant, not only had she needed to change her techniques, but business was booming.

Getting a model to pose was one thing; getting a pregnant one was another. She was a hot commodity currently, and the school she was visiting was willing to pay her a lot of money to do a session. Enough money that she wouldn't dare pass it up, even though she was ready to pop any day.

And so, Faith rode the elevator up to the fourth floor, where the figure drawing studios were located. She took a deep breath, steeling herself to face the students and do her best work.

Once she arrived, she first met the older lady professor, who greeted her warmly and with gratitude.

"Thank you for coming in today, Faith!" The professor said. "It's not often we get to draw from a model with your, well...body type! Haha."

Faith chuckled. "Well, thank you for having me! Always a pleasure. I'm excited to get to work."

The professor guided Faith down the hall and to the classroom. The students were all present already, seated behind easels and pads of paper, forming a circle around a platform in the middle of the room, where Faith would be posing.

"Class, this is Faith, our model for today," The professor announced. "Please give her a warm welcome and treat her with respect!"

Faith looked around the room, smiling and giving a small wave. Typical for tired college students, most looked to her with blank expressions, though she got some smiles back. She noticed that many kept glancing toward her belly, but that was to be expected. Her pregnancy would no doubt be the focus of the session.

"I'm going to go change and then I'll be ready to start!" Faith said warmly. The professor prompted the students to take out their drawing materials while Faith left to find the bathroom.

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She was changing, yes, but also realized the importance of emptying her bladder before having to sit on a platform for two hours. As she sat, she was steeling her nerves. Although she'd done this many times before, it was still anxiety-inducing having to stand naked in front of so many watching eyes. And the more pregnant she got, the more she felt like students were...ogling her. Like she was a spectacle. But for the money she'd be getting, she had to perform at her best.

Sighing, she patted her belly. She'd just felt a tug in her middle. Perhaps her baby was nervous as well?

But then, she felt a certain release inside her. She gasped as she felt a torrent of fluid gush out from her crotch.

Horrified, she looked between her legs and into the toilet bowl. It definitely was not pee. But that meant...

She'd been feeling these sort of cramps earlier in the day and the previous night, but she'd figured it was just indigestion, or Braxton hicks at the most. But seeing that her water had just broken, Faith realized she was in labor.

Faith cursed. Why did this have to happen now, when she was about to score one of her highest paying gigs in years?! There was no way she'd get an opportunity like this again, especially after she had the baby...

She sat a moment longer as her mind raced. Well, labor typically lasted many hours, right? If she could get through the session, she could fulfill her job and still get to the hospital soon after...right?

Faith rubbed her belly and took a deep breath. "Hang on, baby. We've got some poses to do."

::::::::::

Faith reentered the classroom wearing nothing but a thin robe. The students turned their heads toward her expectantly.

"Welcome back! Are you ready to start, Faith?" The professor asked.

"Sure am," Faith said, trying her best to sound enthusiastic. She made her way to the center of the room as the professor explained the plan to the class.

"All right students, like I said, be respectful of our model's time and services. Absolutely NO cell phones or cameras are allowed to be out while she is in the room. We are going to start with shorter, more dynamic poses and work our way toward longer poses."

Faith took a deep breath. This was all standard stuff. She'd be fine.

She got up onto the platform, where there was a wooden chair, a gallon of water with some cups, and a heating fan waiting for her, to keep her comfortable as she worked. As she poured herself some water and turned on the fan, the professor continued on.

"We'll start with ten one-minute poses to start off and get warmed up. These will be quick, so get down the essentials."

As the students prepped their drawing materials and paper pads, Faith began undoing her robe. Students glanced at her, trying not to seem like they were staring. But that was all right, they were going to be staring at her anyway—it was just part of the lesson.

"After each set of poses, we'll take short breaks to review our work and let Faith rest," The professor said, pulling a timer from her pocket. "Now, let's begin!"

With that, Faith removed her robe, setting it on the chair behind her, and revealing her fully nude pregnant form to the students. They took in her curves, her engorged breasts, the swell of her belly. All from a professional standpoint, of course. They were there to learn, not to ogle.

Things started off pretty smoothly. Faith began with her usual quick, dynamic poses—stretching her arms out as if reaching for something, twisting around, kneeling—all things that showed off her pregnant curves. The students worked quickly and diligently, moving their drawing implements deftly to capture her form with each new pose. Nobody spoke, so the only sounds were of pencil to paper, breathing, and the soft, meditative music the professor had set to play.

Between the seventh and eighth poses, though, Faith felt it—a contraction. It was strong, signaling that she was definitely in labor. Her body tensed and she grimaced, but she tried to play it off, making it seem like it was just a part of her switching poses. If she started visibly showing that she was in labor, she'd have to give up the job for sure.

She powered through the rest of the one-minute poses without another hitch. As the students flipped their sketchbook pages and sharpened their pencils, she took a breather and glanced at the clock. Fifteen minutes in, another hour and forty-five to go.

The professor got the class's attention. "All right, students! Now that we're warmed up, we're going to move on to the next portion—six poses of five minutes each."

Faith braced herself. She had to really focus now.

"Now is the time to start focusing on details," The professor continued. "Get the basic shapes down, then fill in the values to really capture our model's form. Let's begin!"

Faith brought out her repertoire of mid-length poses, ones that she could hold for a longer period of time but were still somewhat dynamic. For the first one, she stood with her legs apart, hands pressed against her back and jutting her belly out. No problems there.

Just before the pose was set to end, though, she felt another tug in her gut, slightly stronger than the last. She exhaled and bent forward a bit, moving one of her arms to hold her belly. A couple of the students gave her a look.

After a moment, the professor's stop watch beeped. She looked at Faith and said lightly, "Thank you, but if you could, please hold the pose up until the timer goes off."

"R-right," Faith said, somewhat embarrassed. She never broke a pose before the time was up like that. "Sorry, the baby was just...kicking."

She had to use more self control. It wouldn't be good to have the professor annoyed at her, or worse, suspicious of what was happening.

Faith kept working through the next two poses. She chose positions that were dynamic, but that were easy to hide any pain or flinching if need be. The next contraction came in between the third and fourth poses in the set, so she was able to be discreet about it. They were ten minutes apart now...not so bad. She was going to be fine.

Still, her heart rate was picking up as she tried to run through a game plan in her mind. As soon as the poses were done, she would go to the hospital. But should she really be driving in her condition? She could take the bus, but no, that would take too long...and an ambulance would be expensive, and cause a commotion...

She was near the end of the fifth pose and weighing her options as the next contraction hit, but she handled it well. She braced herself and held her breath, and she only barely twitched. She just hoped that nobody was able to notice her muscles contracting from their vantage points, because she was certainly feeling them.

Feeling confident as they entered the last five-minute pose, Faith went for a more dynamic angle, lunging forward with her arms raised as if she were running. She thought it would be fine, but to her discontent, another contraction hit just past the second minute. It caught her more off guard and she winced slightly, her back leg shaking for a moment until she could get a hold of herself.

That was definitely less than ten minutes. She glanced at the clock...was it eight minutes? No, seven...?

Her anxiety was rising by the time the five-minute poses were through and the class took a brief respite. After putting on her robe, she sat down, drank some water and took deep breaths. The professor walked around the classroom, admiring the students' work.

"These are all wonderful," she said proudly. "Faith, would you like to come see some of the sketches?"

"Ah, I think I'll wait and see some later," Faith breathed, as politely as she could. In all honesty, she was most focused on staying as still as possible so she could focus on riding out the contractions. She felt another one as she sat there and cursed under her breath, rubbing her bulging, restless belly. Soon, baby, just hold on...

After a few more minutes, it was time to start the second half of the session. They were an hour in and had an hour left to go.

The professor brought some large cushions up to the platform Faith was sitting at. "Since we'll be starting on our longer poses, I thought you could use these to stay comfortable."

Faith appreciated the gesture, but knew she was going to be far from comfortable.

With that, the professor went back and addressed the class. "Okay, students! You've done well so far. Now we're going to try some longer, more detail-oriented drawings. Spend time on studying how light falls across the model's body, how her muscles are laid out under the skin. We will do three poses of fifteen minutes each, with short breaks in between."

Faith gulped and steeled herself. All right, she could do this. She just had to finish the last few poses. Get through fifteen minutes, three times. Secure the payday. Then she should call an Uber and get out of here to deliver her baby.

For the first pose, she set up the cushions and lay down on her side, one arm propping her up and the other draped across her belly. She knew she would have to ride out two or three contractions during this pose, so she needed to be as relaxed as possible.

The students began to sketch and draw, watching her intently, focusing on every part of her. To a degree, she was used to this, but right now she was feeling particularly vulnerable. They were all watching her progress through labor, and they didn't know it...or did they? Could they tell when her naked body tensed up? Did they know she was in labor but just weren't saying anything...? No, no, she was passing it off just fine. No need to make herself more anxious than she already was.

The next contraction came. It was the most intense and drawn out yet. She held her breath and ever-so-subtly tightened her grip on the swell of her belly. Her baby was shifting inside her, ready to be born.

Faith could feel herself getting sweaty from the exertion and the anxiety. Labor was progressing much more quickly than she thought. She tried to control her breathing, but her heart was starting to pound. Each minute was going by painfully slow, yet all too fast at the same time. By the time the next contraction hit her, less than five minutes later, she felt like she hadn't even gotten any rest in between. And yet, she kept her pose diligently.

Breathing through the tight, painful squeezing of her muscles, Faith tried to stay focused. She had an idea of what she would do for the next two poses. Then, in between them, she could quickly use her phone to call over an Uber, so that it would be waiting for her as soon as the class ended. She was realizing now that there wasn't going to be much time to spare.

The next contraction gripped her hard. Her breath caught and she tensed up in a way that was definitely noticeable. Luckily, the professor was distracted admiring the students' work and the students themselves couldn't have cared less.

Faith clenched her jaw. According to the clock, it had been only four minutes since the last one. Her contractions were rapidly getting closer together, and each one was stronger than the last. Would she really be able to do this?

Mercifully, after that contraction, the pose ended. Faith sat up, doing her best to act natural, but she was getting tired. She would be tired at this point in any normal pose session, but right now she was really spent. It was going to take a good amount of willpower to even get into her next position.

She looked around for her phone, wanting to schedule her Uber ride. She then realized it was still in her bag with her clothes, across the room. Well, so much for that plan. There was no way she wanted to get up and walk around right now...surely that would only accelerate her labor.

Another contraction. It was strong, blinding. This labor was going way too fast. She could feel the baby moving down.

"Faith, are you ready for the next pose?" The professor inquired.

"Yes," Faith managed. "Just...a moment."

Fighting the pain and pressure, she eased herself into the next pose. It was on her knees and elbows, head held up as best as possible, belly hanging low, grazing the soft cushions beneath her. Nothing too strenuous, and at this angle, she hoped gravity would help her delay her labor.

It was a good plan that unfortunately did not yield much success. Faith kept facing more and more contractions, each one causing her to strain. She was quickly learning how to cover it up, but there were things she couldn't help, like her belly gently lifting up from the cushion when her muscles tensed, and her breath catching when the pain gripped her. She just needed to be discreet enough that no one would call her out...but this labor was relentless.

Nearing the end of the pose, Faith was of course hit with another contraction- she had lost count of how many there were at this point. They had to be less than three minutes apart. With this one, she could feel the mass within her shift, like the baby's head was entering her birth canal. She gritted her teeth but could not prevent the rough grunt that escaped her throat.

This time, several people noticed. Eyes glanced up from sketch pads.

The professor tilted her head. "Faith? Are you all right?"

"Yeah, all good," Faith lied. "Just...a cough."

"All right. Well, very good- let's take a short rest before the final pose, class."

It felt almost impossible for Faith to move, but she managed to slowly get back into a casual sitting position. She was sweating bullets now, palms slick, hair matted, the skin on her belly glistening. Her belly rested heavily on her as the mass settled into her pelvis. The strain was becoming overwhelming...she desperately wanted to be in a cool hospital room, epidural at the ready...but she was almost done here. One more pose. Just fifteen minutes remained.

Plus, she had a plan for this last one. It would be the perfect way to-

"Faith?" The professor called. "If you don't mind, I have a request for this last pose."

Faith's heart pounded and she breathed heavily. "S-sure, of course."

"If you could, I'd like you to go on your back, sitting up slightly. And if you could have your knees up, hands resting on your thighs...I think this would be an important pose for us to study."

Faith's mind reeled. She couldn't believe it...the professor was asking her to get into what was unmistakably a birthing position. But there was no way she could refuse. "N-no problem...just...just give me a second."

She tried to hype herself up. She'd spent years in this practice building stamina and learning how to endure. She was strong, she could do this. But as she got into position, resting back against the cushions, she was hit with a contraction- and an undeniable, instinctual feeling.

She was feeling the urge to push. Already, she was fully dilated. There wasn't much time. The baby was coming now!

No, no! She thought to herself, hopelessly trying to keep her cool. We're almost done! I can't give birth now!

The professor must have seen the look on the poor woman's face. "Are you sure this is comfortable for you, Faith?"

"I'm fine," Faith grunted, as she sat back with her knees up, legs spread. "Just start the timer."

And thus, the final countdown began. Faith needed to gather every ounce of her willpower to make it through, but her strength was dwindling. Her eyes twitched as she struggled to maintain a straight face. Her arms and legs spasmed at random as she tried to keep from trembling. And now, the contractions were just about on top of each other. Her baby was definitely moving its way down into her birth canal, and she was naked with her legs splayed. But she had to hold on.

Five minutes passed. The urge to push was becoming unbearable. Faith's belly quaked and heaved with her breathing, now dripping with sweat. She desperately wanted to clutch it, to try and coax the baby into staying inside, but she was forced to keep her hands on her thighs. Her nails dug into her flesh painfully as she tensed. By not pushing, she was going against every natural instinct. Feeling the baby slowly push through her was torturous. Her body was screaming at her, but still, she did not give in.

"Mmph..." she murmured, behind pursed lips. Quiet, but again audible enough to be heard. Her eyes darted around the classroom. The students who had been observing her body and drawing it for the past couple hours were beginning to tell that something was off...she could feel it. She saw it in the way some of them looked at her longer, or differently, with hints of concern in their eyes. Some of them glanced at each other, perhaps to see if anyone else was noticing. Would any of them say something? Did they think it was part of the session- that she was just a great actor?

Ten minutes in, Faith was faltering. Should she just throw in the towel, cry out that she was in labor? Would that be better or worse for her? And just how was she planning on leaving after the pose was done...? She felt the baby move down by just another bit, and her jaw clenched. She was so close. She just had to keep going.

The urge to push hit her at its strongest then, panic surging in her heart. Holding back was like trying not to breathe now...very soon she was going to have to give in, just to release some of the pressure.

Another contraction, and the baby's head forced through her more. She could feel the burning of the mass nearing her exit. Her breathing was shaky and ragged, her composure cracking. Just hold on, just hold on...

With only a minute to go, Faith was about to give in. Her muscles squeezed unbearably, her bulging belly tight and heaving. Her toes curled and her back ached. One more contraction and she could take it no longer. She listened to her body and bore down ever so slightly. The head inched toward being born. She could feel her vulva beginning to bulge out from the mass behind it. This was it, she'd run out of time, and there was no stopping it now. She began to tremble. Everyone was going to see it, her pussy lips slowly parting, the head of her baby starting to...

"All right, and that's time!" The professor called. "Great work, everyone. Put your pencils down so we can go around and admire everyone's work."

The students stopped where they were, putting away their tools and organizing their papers.

The professor turned toward Faith. "And everyone say thank you to our model, who did an amazing job for us today!"

A spattering of tired-to-enthusiastic "thank yous" rang out.

Noticing that the model had not moved, the professor continued, "...And Faith, we're all done now, so feel free to pack up."

Faith did not respond.

Quizzically, the professor called out again. "Faith...?"

Then, one student chimed in, who was still looking at Faith with wide eyes and a furrowed brow. "Ummm...."

Another student stood up. "Oh shit, I think she's giving birth!"

Everyone in the classroom looked back at Faith. Sure enough, the top of a baby's head could be plainly seen crowning between her legs.

At this point, Faith threw her head back and bellowed out. "Ooooooh GOD I'M SORRY! THE BABY'S COMING!"

All at once, the room turned to chaos. Most stood frozen, unsure of what to do. The professor, completely in shock, scrambled to grab her phone and call 911. A couple students broke the no-phones rule and took pictures. Some even flipped to new pages in their sketchbooks and began to feverishly draw what was happening.

Faith, with all resolve and shame out the window, finally pushed with all her might. She grunted and moaned at the top of her lungs as she brought the baby to a full crown. Embracing her current position, she spread her legs as wide as they would go and arched her back, feeling unmistakable relief even through the pain. She couldn't think about the class anymore, or the money...all she could focus on was delivering her baby safely.

After holding out for so long, the baby was able to come quickly. After another few pushes while the class around her scrambled, the head popped out with a gush of fluid. Some students turned away, grossed out. Others watched intently, eager to get some once-in-a-lifetime studies in.

Finally, with the last of her remaining willpower, Faith bore down again, birthing the shoulders and allowing the rest of the baby to slide out onto the platform in front of her. The classroom fell silent, save for the sound of a crying, healthy newborn.

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An ambulance quickly arrived, and Faith and her baby were brought in and taken care of. She had a lot of recovery to do, both physical and emotional.

At first, Faith was sure her...'performance' was going to get her in a world of trouble. Surely, she'd get no money, lose her job, and possibly get punished for some sort of indecent exposure.

On the contrary, Faith was surprised to receive double to money she was originally promised. The professor told her that apparently she had amazed everyone with her strength and that they all felt honored that she was willing to share such a special moment with them. Between that and all the news stories that were to follow, she'd forever be known as the first (and only) nude model to give birth during a session.

All in all, it was worth the commitment. And if she ever got pregnant again...well, if the money was right, she'd be willing to work right up until her due date.

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END

[nrdmssgs]

I'm crazy and this is mainly based off my oc, but yn is prices adopted daughter that works with him, and the read is like 22-24 and price is supposed to be 45, and he kept it a secret because he's want to protect yn. I wanna see how the 141/könig reaction, can be romantic or platonic don't care lol, yes i know it's stupidly specific, but I'm stupidly specific.

The reader being Prices adopted daughter (part1)

Masterlist

Summary: you are Johns adopted daughter. This is how different members of the 141 find out about that and how they react.

AN: Hi! I'm almost through with this absolutely beautiful request! I've decided to split it into two parts, I really hope, you don't mind. I've kept it all really platonic and very comforting, and I just wanted to express my gratitude for such a wholesome request! Two important remarks: 1. My interpretation of your OC has turned to be a bisexual person. 2. The order in which the characters appear in the story does not affect their proximity to the main character in any way. This is simply the order in which the characters learned that she was Price's adopted daughter. She loves them all the same) I will, of course, tag you in the second part!!

There were four important names in your life. In your darkest hours, you kept repeating them in your mind. They were so much more than just colleagues, teachers, friends… they all were your family.

John

You were the oldest in your group in an orphanage. Others came and went, but not you. It happened so that you had to grow up ahead of time, get used to the fact that adults more often wanted to adopt babies. But you accepted this world and the rules. You never thought of it as some kind of noble mission, but you took care of your younger friends, worried about them, rejoiced with them. Whenever someone from your group left the shelter forever, you are separated from your friend, but at the same time rejoiced. Caregivers jokingly called you “the Keeper” sometimes, as you cared for other kids as much as a director of the orphanage. 

So when one day one of your teachers came up to you after class and said, "There's someone here who wants to meet you," and pointed to a man standing in the doorway, you were confused. The teacher led you to a stranger, and he squatted down so that your eyes were on the same level. "Hi. I'm John." He held out his hand, but noticing your uncertainty, lowered it and smiled warmly at you.

You hit it off quickly. John asked you a lot about life at the orphanage, about your interests. He himself turned out to be an incredibly interesting person: he visited all the corners of the world that you heard about on TV. John told you about jungles and canyons, about villages where all the roads were just small bridges thrown over the water, about ghost towns where it is so cold in winter that the steam from the mouth immediately turns into snow. Your stories seemed not that big to you. What is the story of how you and your friends fed a bumblebee worth compared to John's travels? You were embarrassed by this and quickly reduced such conversations to stories about your younger friends. What if he likes someone and takes one of them home?

“You seem to care for all of them dearly.” Johns looks on the horizon as you two sit on the bench. “You have it in you, kid. Willingness to help, to stand up for them. I see it clearly. Teach me to be like that, will ya?”

You look at him with big eyes full of disbelief. What can you teach him, an adult? Are you used to everyone teaching you something...

"I'm not doing anything special..." You look high into the sky above you. "Well, when any of them is very sad, I hug him with all my might. Maybe you can try to do the same and become like me?"

"Hug with all my might?" John chuckles. "Yes, Simon will be impressed..." But then he sees your worried stare and encourages you, "Hey, that's great advice! I'll try it. But I think, it's now time for you to have dinner, and for me to go home. Don`worry, kid, I promise to come in a week and update you on my progress!"

You do not believe that this man will return, so you try not to wait for him. Most often, adults come back for babies. You remember it. But he comes back a week later. Then he visits you again and again.

Then you end up visiting him. John has a whole house with a backyard! You build a bird feeders together, play board games late into the night, and even go hiking.

These are the best days of your life, and when it's time to go back to the orphanage, you turn your back on John and hide your tears, so he won't notice. "Hold on just a little longer, kid. I'll sort it out soon," he says, and puts a hand on your shoulder.

Whenever he takes you to his house, he gives you something: a plushie or a book or some clothes. But you never took those gifts to your orphanage because you were afraid that one day he would simply stop coming, disappear from your life, and all these trinkets would remind you of him. This little biter habit of yours broke Johns heart over and over again. You were still a child, but you were already afraid to get attached to someone.

One day he takes you back to his house once again. After an evening with cocoa and a board game, he hands you a simple envelope. "This is something very important. Take a look. I need your opinion on it." You are confused, but still open the envelope and start reading the document, that was inside it. You can hardly make out the text, overloaded with terms you are unfamiliar with. And then, little by little, understanding comes to you and the letters begin to blur before your watering eyes.

“Is… is it? I…” You try to say anything, but words fail you. So you jump off your chair and run to John. He barely has time to move away from the table when you do not even hug him - you cling to him with such force, as if your life depended on it. You've always tried to hide your tears in front of him, but now they're rolling and rolling down your face. John hugs you back and pats your head to comfort you. “It's ok, it's ok, I got you. You're gonna be ok, little one. We're gonna be ok. Not ok even - we're gonna be good. Together.” His voice is soft and quiet.

Simon

“I'll need you to take the mask off this time. Don't want you to scare anyone in m`house.” Ghost grants John a side eye and scoffs. “John Price lives alone no more?” John nods and continues to drive silently. Initially, Ghost was supposed to visit Captains house just for business, but now he is tormented by curiosity. “Someone trustworthy?” Ghosts voice is still muffled with the mask. “The most trustworthy person out there,” John smiles and Simon takes the mask off. Ghost enters the house before Price, who lingered at the trunk in search of something. Simon hears joyful kids voice. "John is back!" A girl of about twelve years of age runs down the stairs with a loud clatter. But when she sees Simon, she stops in her tracks. Price often leaves for some time, and she is already used to the fact that strangers often appear in the house: Johns relatives, acquaintances who look after the child while he is away. But Simons menacing appearance made her dumbfounded. She takes a tiny step back when Price's voice comes from the street. “It's ok, kid. This is mister Riley, he's my colleague and friend.” Both Ghost and the girl look at each other startled, not knowing what to say. John finally comes into the house and defuses the situation. "Look who we met on the way home," he says, and hands the girl a plush tiger cub. Her face immediately changes and she happily skips to John.

At dinner, she sits her new toy next to her and bombards Price with questions about his work and stories about what she has been doing in his absence. Simon looks from her to John and remembers how the captain stayed in his office until late at night, endlessly filling out some forms a couple of years ago. Ghost thought it had to do with work, but when he once offered to help Price with this paperwork, John refused with strange zeal. And now Ghost sees, what was it all about. And it all was hella worth it: she was the nicest, most well-behaved and happiest kid, Simon seen in a while. 

When they finished their dinner, the girl grinned conspiratorially. "Hey John! Guess what." And before Price could even react, she burst out impatiently and with ill-concealed delight: "I made your favorite dessert!"

"You? Or was it Aunt Meg?" John smirks and Simon realizes he's never seen the captain so happy before. "No, it's definitely me this time! She was just… looking out!"

Price walks into the kitchen and an awkward silence spreads across the living room. Although it seems that only Simon feels awkward - the girl stares at his tattoos with the most sincere interest. "Ehm, so you... love animals?" Ghost squints at the toy tiger cub. The girl smiles broadly and nods, never taking her eyes off Simon's arms. "Do you maybe… want to be a veterinarian when you grow up?" Simon continues this awkward conversation. "No!" She looks up at him and continues loudly, "When I grow up - I want to be a soldier like John!" The shrill sound of spoons and forks scattering across the floor comes from the kitchen.

“Soldier… I thought, kids in her age were supposed to want to become… I don't know, pop stars? Princesses? Figure skaters?” rants Price later that evening, when the girl is already sleeping and he and Simon are standing on a backyard. 

“She doesn't want to become any soldier. She wants to be 'a soldier like John'. You are her hero, Captain.” Simon chuckles, masking the fact, that he envies Price a bit. The undisguised delight with which the girl looks at John, her admiration for even the simplest, most trivial of his stories… No money could buy that.

Ghost visited Prices house throughout several next years, and every time he gradually became more comfortable around the girl. In some time, they could hang out together without any awkwardness. She brought her homework down to the big table in a living room and asked Simon to tell her stories about his work with John. Of course Simon tried not to mention anything too disturbing, but it was difficult, and the stories came out short and inconsistent. But she still thrived on them. “Seems like you are quite good at what you do!” She sounds almost as exited as when she talks to John. “Quite good? Lieutenant Ghost is the legend, kid,” comments Price, entering the room. Little do John and Simon know, this was the exact moment, that predetermined the girl's life for years to come. Now she had not just one, but two heroes and a dream: to become like them.

A few years later, which flew by for Simon like a few days, he and John were already present at her oath. Of the two, Ghost, who kept aloof from the others, seemed the calmer. John seemed to be worried about everything: because his daughter was one of the shortest in her formation, because of the bad weather and the fact that she was about to get wet, because of the form "which was of much better quality back in his time" ... But when she got out of line, when she began to recite the text of the oath, Simon shuddered inwardly. Price's daughter, this little dear miracle, who had been running around the house what seemed like just yesterday in funny pajamas, was reciting the oath... Ghost couldn't believe it.

And when she, with burning eyes and a happy blush on her face, ran up to them and saluted with the words "Captain, Lieutenant", Simon felt his eyes tingle. He left her alone with John so that they could share this very special moment. But a few minutes later he heard her hurried steps and she lightly squeezed his arm in a short friendly hug. "Starting your service with insubordination?" Simon scolded her, but in fact it was one of the brightest, happiest moments of his life. He never thought that someone else's adopted child could become so important to him.

Johnny

“Let go!” The fabric of Soaps T-shirt was stretched, and the seams began to crackle dangerously, ready to burst. "Johnny, cut it out!" - your voice echoed between the gray walls of the neighboring buildings of your base. You tried to work things out quietly, but with Soap, that's impossible. If he decides something, it's as good as done.

You try to hold him by force, but it's not so easy: to a greater extent, it's not your hands that clutched at his T-shirt that stop him, but the risk of ruining that T-shirt forever.

"Hey Soap! The hell is going on here?" Price's voice sounds so close that both you and Johnny flinch and turn around at the same time. "She's holding me by force! And you still ask me what happened?" Soap sounds fierce, but his posture shifts, and he unconsciously shields you from Price, who is looking from him to you. 

"Sorry, Captain. It's all right, the Sergeant and I were just joking." You answer, turning away from Price. But nothing ever escapes John. He walks around Soap, catches up with you and looks into your eyes. "You've been crying." It's not even a question, it's a statement. Price sees your reddened eyes, swollen eyelids. He also knows that you almost never cry. You want to be a good soldier so much, you look up to him and Ghost, you never let your emotions get the better of you. But if something brings you to tears... Something or someone... It's really bad.

“Gonna ask it once…” Prices eyes pierce right through the mask of dumb jolliness, you desperately try to put on. “What happened?” You try to come with anything, but your best shot just sounds pathetic “It's just an allergy, Captain…”

“Allergy my ass…” - Price walks around you and comes back to Soap. “Ok, Sergeant, let's see if you have anything better for me… Same question, I'm waiting.��� 

You look at Soap with a mute pleading, but he does not notice this, his eyes are riveted to Price. “She was dumped today. I wanted to find the bastard and have a word with him.” Soaps voice is still harsh from your fight. You shut your eyes and let go of his T-shirt at last. Price slowly exhales. You know that sound. A quiet long exhalation, a harbinger of a storm. “Who?” - Johns` voice sounds cold and distant.

“Your guess is as good as mine. She doesn't tell, so I was heading to the barracks to find out myself.” Soap finally looks at you, his gaze is absolutely fierce, as if rejecting you was some kind of personal insult to him. 

Price turns around to you once more. One word is enough for him to express both a question and an ominous threat. “Name.” You shake your head, not daring to look up at him. 

John clearly doesn't want so sound menacing to you. And if Soap wasn't around, Price would already wrap you in a tight embrace to hide you from your own pain. But the fact, that someone dared to hurt, to reject you, his little treasure (and it doesn't matter, that the last night you turned 22), makes his blood boil with rage. Of course, he is overprotective as your father, but he believes, it's you, who deserves to choose partners, and they just have to be eternally happy and grateful for your attention. You understand, that your problems have just doubled up… Now both Soap and Price are waiting for you to drop the name, and every next moment of silence seems to only make it worse.

“I need the name, kid. Now, there won't be any fights, we'll just talk. Nice and calmly… And if that bloody moron just happens to slip and fall on the Sergeant's fist - I may not notice …” your Captains` voice was quiet, menacingly quiet. Johnny didn't look any friendlier, his posture was tense and his eyes - furious. You bite your tongue, afraid to say a word. “As you wish. Off to the barracks we head then,” commands Price, and they walk past you.

In a fit of desperation, you take off and rush after them. "Wait! There's no need to 'talk' to anyone, please... It was Sarah... from the office."

They both stop in their tracks and look at each other. This... changed a lot. Of course, they still care about you and want to help, but now, obviously, they will have to reconsider their plans. Soap looks completely lost, Price checks time and rises his gaze back at you. 

"In two hours, both of you. My office." Johns` voice is echoing in your head as they both leave you alone. It's hard to even roughly imagine what awaits you and why John also needed Soap. Perhaps the Captain just wanted to lecture you about relationships at work, and so he invited Johnny, who had several... similar experiences.

But when you and Soap meet on the threshold of Price's office at the appointed time, the captain silently nods to his desk with three empty glasses and a flask. The rest of the evening, these two vied with each other to tell you about different failures in their personal lives. At first you feel awkward, but gradually you relax. Some stories make you sigh sadly, others are so funny that you almost choke with laughter. Little by little, you're feeling less pain from being dumped. Yes, maybe you didn't get someone, you wanted, but you have John and Johnny, who are not embarrassed to tell you the most silly and sad personal stories, just to make you feel less alone even in such a situation.

When you leave Price's office, both you and Johnny's faces are flushed with constant laughter. He puts his hand on your shoulder and says: “Hey, don`ya spend y`tears on that dafty, ok? She lost more than you today! We'll find you a nice lass or lad, that papa Price approves of!” You almost fall over in surprise. Nobody but Ghost knew that Price had ever adopted you. Here at the military base, you and Price were just colleagues.

"What, you think m`blind?" Soap stops and stares at you. "The captain takes care of everyone in his own way, but arranging something like this... The last time, I was in a similar situation - the man just filled me up with paperwork so that I had no energy left for anything else." When he puts it that way, it darts to be obvious to you too: you may kept your secrets, but the way you and Price cared for each other was sometimes on the surface. “Johnny… I don't know, how to put it right, but we really try to keep it…” 

“Keep just to yourselves? Dinae worry, I get it.” He smirks. “Price is protecting you and so will I from now on. So, ma mouths shut.” 

And Johnny keeps his word: he never mentions how you are related to Price, never publicly reminisces about that evening at Captains office. And he also starts a whole operation to find and select the perfect candidate for you, but that's a whole another story.

[madewithangst]

Guilty as sin? [SVT Dino x Reader]

Welcome to the first part of the TTPD x SVT series! Introducing you to our adorable maknae, who has been the biggest inspiration for me to create and finish a story this week. This song is dedicated to all the dreamers, the fangirls, and those seeking to be treated right. Enjoy!

PAIRING: idol!chan x gn!reader GENRE: angst (too much delusional) WARNINGS: mentions of food and drinks, suggestive, reader has a boyfriend, a few curse words WORD COUNT: 3.8k

Series Masterlist | Next

"𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞"

It wasn't supposed to end like this. This journey was supposed to be a brief interlude in the grand scheme of things. Yet, here you are. In this reality. In this present.

You were running late that day.

Well, at least that's how you look at it. You prided yourself on never making anyone wait—a firm believer that punctuality was a virtue you held dear, never wanting to inconvenience others. Everything you needed was already prepared and waiting by the door. As you waited for your ride, you have your best friend on the phone.

"And then how's the boyfriend?"

"He's great."

"You're still seeing him," he remarked, more to himself than to you. You found it unusual to hear his tone lacking the usual enthusiasm as you were more accustomed to his cheerful demeanour.

"It's not that easy, Cheol."

"Fine, we'll talk when you get here. By the way, I know you're not good with strangers, but is it alright if I ask one of my members to pick you up instead? I'm out of the way, and he'll pass by your apartment on the way. It's alright if you don't want to, though."

Do I have a choice? you wanted to retort, but you knew Seungcheol too well. He was the kind of person who wouldn't even let you open the door for yourself; he was just that thoughtful.

"Is he nice?"

"Very much, unlike that dick you're dating. He's the baby in our group!" You ignored his not so subtle insult he just threw about your boyfriend. You sense a hint of pride visible in his voice. So you tried to tease lightly to lighten the mood, "So, a superstar's gonna drive me?"

"Hey, why don't you say that when I'm the one driving you?"

"Fine. I trust your judgment. Just, tell him I'm super awkward, alright?"

"Don't worry. He's pretty good with people. I'll tell him not to be weird."

"𝐈 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧' 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐬

𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧' 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐬

𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧' 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐱"

"Hi, I'm Lee Chan!"

You went to step out on the porch a full 30 minutes earlier than planned, determined not to keep your ride waiting. The early morning air was crisp, and the faint glow of dawn was just beginning to lighten the sky. Just as you took the first step down the porch stairs, a car pulled into your driveway, surprising you.

You quickly gathered all your things. Lee Chan greeted you with a friendly smile, and you returned the gesture with a bow before carefully getting into the passenger seat. "Good morning, hi! I'm so sorry. I really hope I'm not bothering you."

"Not really, it's fine. I'm going to pass by your apartment anyway."

"Cheol insists and I couldn't say no," you explained, feeling immense gratitude for his understanding. His tone was light and easygoing, which calmed you a bit.

"Well, it's Cheollie. It's fine, really!" he laughed, clearly trying to ease any tension, which seemed to work. "It's okay if you want to stay silent, alright? I'll just turn on the radio. I hope you don't mind."

"Oh no, I don't. It's your car."

During the drive, the boy made light small talk, about the weather, your impression of South Korea so far, and how you and Seungcheol knew each other, "We go way back, like elementary school levels," you shared, smiling at the memories. "I appreciate how he hasn't forgotten his roots, even after all the achievements he's had." You also mentioned that you were a sound engineer.

His friendly demeanour and natural charm made the journey feel shorter than it was. You found yourself laughing at his jokes and stories, enjoying the unexpected company.

You had arrived at the studio without realizing it.

"Hey Chan, thank you so much for this. I owe you," you expressed your gratitude as you both got out of the car, very appreciative of his kindness.

"Don't mention it!" he replied with a smile, waving goodbye as you went your separate ways.

You met Seungcheol in the cafeteria to grab breakfast and catch up before proceeding with the recording. As you watched from the control room, you were overjoyed with all the gadgets and equipment, finding it a little funny and impressive how all thirteen boys managed to record so quickly, considering they only got 1-2 lines per song.

The atmosphere in the studio was lively, and you couldn't help but feel excited to be a part of it all.

The recording process stretched on for a week, followed by several more weeks for mastering. During this time, you had the opportunity to build a rapport with the staff, particularly with Jihoon, whose dedication and talent in producing the songs left you in awe each day.

You also had the chance to meet the other members, but your interactions were quite limited due to their celebrity status. They were always surrounded by tight security, even within the studio premises, unless Seungcheol came to check in on you. One time, while you were helping out the audio department, Seungcheol checked on you along with Chan.

"What are you even doing here? You don't even care about me," Jihoon playfully chided, nudging Chan away as he reached for the audio mixer's controls.

"It's because I'm not here for you, loser! I'm checking in on YN!" They were playfully pushing each other, almost like kids playing, which you were grateful for, or else they would've seen how red you turned.

Jihoon settled back into his big ass producer chair, a big grin on his face and you couldn't help but feel that he needed that short break; he had been working nonstop the whole day, glued to that chair. "What a friend you are, Chan."

"Hi Y/N! How are you?" Chan greeted warmly with his signature charm, his smile infectious.

"Chan, hey. I'm good. Actually just being amazed every day by Jihoon," you tried to express your admiration for his talent. The two boys joined in, showering Jihoon with compliments, and you could see the blush on his face, a clear sign of the love and appreciation he received from everyone. You thought he was humble.

As you and Chan caught up, you couldn't help but notice the genuine kindness and warmth in Chan's demeanor.

This led you to look at him in a way you knew you shouldn't, feeling a fleeting moment of attraction that left you momentarily conflicted, your thoughts briefly drifting to your boyfriend. Your mind wandered, 'When will my own boyfriend ask me how I am?'

Scoups announced they had to leave.

"Ji, take care of Y/N," they bid their goodbyes and exchanged hugs. Chan surprised you by pulling you into a hug as well. As you felt his embrace, you couldn't shake the feeling of longing that lingered after he left, a stark contrast to the fleeting thought of your boyfriend.

"𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧' 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐈 𝐛𝐞 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐧?"

When the mastering was completed, a company party was held to celebrate the accomplishments, but it was exclusive to all creatives responsible for the producing and mastering. You were fortunate enough to be friends with Seungcheol and had also won Jihoon's friendship along the process, so you received an invite.

At the party, you mingled with many of the creatives, expanding your network and soaking in the knowledge and experiences of seasoned professionals. You found yourself inspired by their stories and insights, feeling more motivated than ever to pursue your own career in the industry.

As the night went on, you couldn't help but reflect on how far you had come since starting your journey. A beautiful warm feeling in your heart as you look at all the opportunities you had received and excited for what the future held.

The party had a semi-formal dress code, so you opted for smart slacks to ensure comfort throughout the evening.

As your social battery began to drain, you found a moment to sit down at a round table. A waiter promptly served your food, and shortly after, Chan approached and asked, "Is this seat taken?"

"No, go ahead, sit."

True to form, Chan's presence was comforting, and any hint of your earlier drained battery seemed to vanish as if Chan had electrified you with energy.

You both shared laughs, with Chan mostly cracking jokes and pointing out random people, sharing funny anecdotes about them. You found this particularly amusing as you had met and knew half of them from the mastering process.

"Have you tried their cocktail yet? It's so good!"

"Oh, and don't forget to apply Vaseline to your lips every night."

"Moisturizer! Every time I finish shaving."

He was just an ordinary guy, chatting with you about the most everyday things. That's what you liked about Chan—there was never a dull moment when he was around. You were starting to get used to his presence, finding comfort in his company.

Seungcheol and Jeonghan took seats in front of you. "Is this guy bothering you, Y/N?" Seungcheol asked jokingly.

"Why would you even say that?" the boy beside you just whined like a baby. You laughed and carried on with your conversation, enjoying the lively atmosphere of the party.

After a few drinks, the both of you were now eating pasta. Chan took a bite from your plate, and a piece fell on your thigh. "Shit, I'm sorry," he exclaimed.

You both burst into hysterical laughter at the randomness of the situation. Chan quickly took the piece off, whilst you're relieved that you were wearing pants. A faint stain was left, "Hey, it looks like a cursive 'M.'"

As Chan's finger traced the cursive "M" on your thigh, you couldn't help but feel a rush of emotions. His touch, so gentle yet electrifying, sent a shiver down your spine, and a warm sensation spread through your body. His smile was innocent, but the effect it had on you was intense. You were acutely aware of the world around you seemingly stopping, leaving just the two of you trapped in a bubble with his burning touch.

You locked eyes with Chan, and for a moment, you couldn't help but notice how close he was. His presence was comforting yet exhilarating, and you found yourself leaning slightly into his touch, wanting more but also hesitant to show it. You were lost in the moment, caught between the warmth of his touch and the realization that this was a line you shouldn't cross.

Eventually, the spell was broken as Soonyoung approached to whisk Chan away for another one of their antics. As Chan withdrew his hand, the spell seemed to break, and you became aware of the bustling party around you once again. You could feel your cheeks flush with a mixture of embarrassment and excitement, and you quickly looked away to try to compose yourself.

He excused himself and as you watched them go, you couldn't shake the feeling of being caught in a surreal moment, wondering what it all meant and where it might lead.

In front of you, you felt a burning gaze. "What?"

"Can I talk to you?" Seungcheol asked, his tone serious as he gestured towards an empty hallway.

"𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 "𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞" 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝?"

"Chan, really? Of all the boys, you chose Chan?"

"What are you talking about?" You tried to keep your voice low, but you already had a feeling of where this conversation was going.

"You know, I wouldn't mind it because you're seeing a jerk and I want you to be happy. But Chan? It's Chan who you fell for?" Seungcheol's tone was a mix of confusion and concern.

"Can you please lower your voice? People might hear you!" Y/N whispered urgently, glancing around to make sure they weren't drawing attention.

"You—" Seungcheol paused, catching himself before saying something he might regret. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts.

When he finally regained his composure, he looked at you, silently urging you to continue. He's never given this look at you before so you just looked down in fear, "how did you know?"

"Uhm, the way you looked?" You met his gaze, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over you. "Sorry, but it wasn't that subtle, just in case you don't know." You groaned, feeling like your secret was suddenly out in the open when it was supposed to be locked up in a tiny vault, never to be opened.

"Damn it. It was your fault!"

"Mine?!" As the ever-good leader of Seventeen group, Seungcheol was obviously taken aback by this accusation.

"You introduced him to me!" You tried pointing out, but even you weren't convinced by it. You just fell, and you fell hard.

"Oh my god, you've been crushing on him since that day?" The man in front of you looked so pale like a ghost.

"What's so bad about Chan? I get that I'm seeing someone right now, but it's not like something will blossom from this. I'm coming home in a few days anyway," you defended.

"I don't know. It's just weird. He's like a little brother," Seungcheol explained, trying to make sense of his feelings.

"I hate to break it to you, Cheol, but he's an adult and he's not your kid."

Their conversation was cut short when they heard the boys running down the hallway, their voices loud and boisterous.

"Cheollie!" Mingyu called out, followed by Soonyoung and Chan, their voices filled the empty hallway like a bunch of kids running around.

"See what I mean?" You actually found the situation funny, you got his look understanding exactly what he was referring to.

"Hey, is it alright if I bail early? I suddenly don't feel well," you asked, your expression turning slightly uneasy.

"I'll tell my driv--" Seungcheol was interrupted by Mingyu crashing into him and hiding behind his back.

"Cheollie, look at these two!" Mingyu exclaimed, attempting but failing to hide himself.

"I swear to god if you three don't behave yourselves! We're at a company event, not in a GOSE episode," Seungcheol scolded. You felt like he had been through so much that night already—dealing with you and Chan, and then managing the antics of the other boys too.

He then turned to you, "Just tell my driver to come back right after. This party doesn't seem like it's ending soon."

"Huh? You're leaving already, Y/N?" Chan asked disappointment was evident in his tone, but you didn't dwell on it too much.

"Yeah, I don't really drink much, so I got a little light-headed with the drinks we had."

"Oh, I didn't even feel a kick," he boasted.

"Of course, frat boy, it's you," Soonyoung teased him. You don't know why boys do that but they seem to always slap some shit out of their friends when they're all teasing.

"Oy! I'm not a drunk!"

"Yeah, right," Mingyu joined.

"Well, good night, everyone!" you bid your farewell and started to make your way back inside.

"Can I walk you, at least?" Chan offered, looking genuinely concerned.

You exchanged a glance with the eldest, "Oh, it's fine. I'm good. Thank you for the offer, though," you tried to sound politely as you can, feeling a mix of relief and uncertainty about your decision.

"Alright, well have a good night, Y/N," Chan said warmly, bidding you goodbye as the others chimed in to greet too.

You turned to leave the party coming home with a pang of regret, wondering if you should have accepted Chan's offer after all.

Returning to your apartment, the weight of disappointment that usually accompanied your boyfriend's predictable good morning text was conspicuously absent. Instead, there was a curious sense of relief, as if a burden had been lifted from your shoulders.

As you settled in, the memory of Chan lingered, his presence more vivid than ever. You couldn't shake the feeling of warmth that had enveloped you in his company, a stark contrast to the mundane routine of your current relationship.

The night replayed in your mind like a movie. You remembered the way Chan's eyes lit up when he talked about his passions, the genuine interest he showed in your own stories, and the way he made you feel seen and understood in a way your boyfriend never had. The laughter, the camaraderie, the easy banter with Chan—all of it felt more real and vibrant than anything you had experienced in a long time.

You remember the way his finger drew burns on your skin.

You couldn't help but compare the excitement and genuine connection you felt with Chan to the monotony and predictability of your relationship with your boyfriend. His single text message, a mere formality, now seemed like a stark reminder of what was lacking in your current situation.

Despite the late hour and the day's activities leaving you tired, sleep eluded you as you lay in bed, your thoughts consumed by Chan. You found yourself wondering about what could've been.

You hadn't returned to the studio since the party, as you weren't needed there anyway.

"Cheol, I'm coming home early," you decided, thinking it would be best to leave before your feelings grew unrequited.

"I thought you still had a few more days?" even through a phone call, his surprised voice is pretty evident.

"Yeah, I thought I'd start early, you know? Got a lot to prepare."

"Alright, well, this is so sudden. I planned on hanging out before you leave but, if that's what you want, sure. Do you already have your plane ticket?" he inquired.

"Yup. Find someone else to spoil, not me. You've already spoiled me enough with this part-time opportunity!" you joked. "I can't thank you enough."

"What can I say? I'm the best."

"You actually are," you admitted sincerely, feeling a warmth in your chest from the precious relationship you have with your best friend.

"Well, when will I see you again?" he asked, even if you haven't left yet, you can already hear the longing in his voice.

In school reunions?" you joke to try to lighten the mood.

"Ha-ha."

"I'm just a phone call away, Cheol," you reassured him, hoping to offer some comfort. The bond you shared was strong, and you knew that no matter the distance, your friendship would endure.

With that, you flew away from South Korea without looking back. However, your thoughts couldn't seem to leave that place.

"𝐌𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐳𝐞

𝐈'𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞

𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧' 𝐮𝐩 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧' 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞"

"Hi, baby. Look, I know you must be upset, but please hear me out."

You stood at the airport, the cold, sterile surroundings matching the numbness in your heart.

It's now almost an hour.

Each minute stretching like an eternity, as you waited for your ride home. This situation was all too familiar, a painful routine of either waiting for him or picking him up.

"I'll just call you a taxi, alright? And then, I'm gonna treat you to a nice dinner. Sounds good?"

Dinner was indeed nice, except for the part where he brought his whole group of friends. As much as you wanted to catch up with your boyfriend, the whole time you just wanted to lie down in bed, too jet-lagged from all the traveling that day.

Physically, you were there, but mentally, you were still in the studio. You were still at that party. You were still with Chan.

You felt a hand on your thigh, a gesture meant to reassure, but it only served to highlight the growing distance between you. His touch felt foreign, a stark contrast to the intimacy it once held.

It felt like he was encroaching on your space. Despite the happiness of being home and the prospect of spending more time together, every interaction felt jarring, out of sync.

Each kiss felt like poison, leaving a bitter taste on your lips. Every hug seemed to suffocate, the embrace too tight, too restricting. Every touch sent shivers down your spine, but not the kind that thrilled. They felt cold, devoid of the warmth you once knew.

And with every climax, you found yourself calling out a different name in your head, a silent plea for something more, something real.

"𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲"

The day rushed past as the first music video from the album was completed. You had the exclusive opportunity to view it before its public release. Seungcheol even asked for your genuine review and your reaction was beyond words. Your involvement in its production gave you a unique perspective, witnessing the meticulous effort and creative genius behind every scene.

Seeing the boys perform with such passion and talent warmed your heart. Especially seeing him. As a member of the performance team, his dancing prowess was expected, but witnessing it live was awe-inspiring.

A tear escaped, tracing a path down your cheek, a mix of pride and a deep yearning for Seungcheol's advice. While you could end your relationship now, it wasn't that simple. Your career was your priority, and you craved stability, something you doubted Chan could provide as a pop star. While you longed for adventure, what you truly needed was a sense of security and stability in your life.

You yearn for the way Chan makes you feel when you're with him. His presence is like a burst of energy, always leaving you electrified and invigorated. It's a stark contrast to the dynamics of what you actually have now in a relationship.

Seungcheol did mention Chan asking how you've been doing and all that. This made you realize that you needed to distance yourself. Choosing not to entertain thoughts of Chan any longer seemed like the only sensible solution. After all, as a pop star, entertaining others was part of his nature, and you didn't want to be just another audience member in his life, they were programmed to do just that, even for you.

It wasn't supposed to end like this. This journey was supposed to be a brief interlude in the grand scheme of things. Yet, here you are. In this reality. In this present.

But in another life, you would choose you and him religiously.

PSA: This is a work of pure fiction. Any names, events, times, or places mentioned are purely for entertainment and are entirely fictional (well, except for the names of the members).

© All copyrights for the title, lyrics, and concept of this work belong to Taylor Swift. The plot and dialogue of the story are entirely original and created by me, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of this work may result in legal action.

[werezmastarbucks]

dating filip telford headcanons

● drives you everywhere, because

● "you don't need to do it, that's why you got me. let me help"

● calls you darling, bonnie, and mo chridhe in private, as he holds this particular term too intimate and affectionate. Generally he prefers a shorter form of your name

● after some time you find with surprise that he can recite Irish poetry and likes doing that. The softer side of Chibs is generally not demonstrated in the club, and you discover it to be even softer than you would imagine

● so loyal

● likes to grumble. He grumbles so much, like an old man

● adheres to more or less traditional role in relationship, considering himself the protector, the earner, and the boss

● but Chibs is insightful and intelligent; he respects you the way that shows he sees you as a human first. You quickly relax and rely on him and spare yourself of the need to be constantly strong and decisive. There's no danger of being belittled, commanded around or neglected with Chibs

● he never leaves his roots behind, and is a big difference to the Americans around him. You experience his Scottish philosophy and hear the special expressions all the time

● boomer humor. 'Scottish people are temperamental: 50% temper, and 50% mental 🤪'

● will break someone's face at your whim without even thinking. Will deal with consequences later. It's atypical of him as he's more of a mediator, so you try not to exploit him

● likes to praise you verbally, he is very generous at that

● in turn, Chibs doesn't expect any compliments and just accepts love quietly and with hidden gratitude. It's important to him to maintain the stone facade because he believes it to be safer for both of you. But you suspect it's just a deeper lying desire to stay unknown.

● because Chibs manages to live like he didn't have all these very heavy past experiences, but they lurk into the present nevertheless

● needless to say, the one thing he will never forgive is betrayal. And he would never betray, either. His loyalty to the club and to you sometimes even gets in the way

● he always means to kiss you quickly, but the kiss always grows into full French

● forehead kisses

● when Chibs feels dangerous, he only opens his eyes half-way, and you strangely feel the safest

● there's a stark and attractive contrast between his two personalities: the soft old man, and the merciless IRA enforcer

● when he's in his killing mode, he starts looking younger

● listening to music when he drives you in the car

● he can drive you in circles if you really want to just ride the city and listen to music

● at least once, before you started dating, he said to you 'I'm too old/bad/stupid/rough for you'

● Chibs is good at dancing and hides it better than his softest features

● likes discussing 'the boys' with you

● with him, you have an insight unique and very universal at the same time, that a person like Chibs really only needs just love, and nothing else

● likes your legs

● sex is rough more often than not

● won't let the guys call you his old lady, if you don't like this term

● he has this gallant trick where he kisses your hand in a knightly fashion

● he doesn't see himself as pretty and acts accordingly. He says, Scottish people aren't pretty, it's an unnecessary distraction for us

● relationship with him starts at 1. sex, 2. dates, not the other way around. He's not really good at courting someone from the get go, but he is a good boyfriend

● bringing food and flowers without you having to ask

● a lot of things he does are very mature, for example, sitting out the tantrums and arguments, he just allows you to express it all and then continues his day. Chibs doesn't like talking about his feelings too much, preferring to express them through actions. It takes time to get used to. He's not the type to engage in the 'which season do you think I am' type of convos.

● ready to take a bullet for you, no questions asked

● he is generally guarded and respectful with women and impresses all your friends with his seeming indifference

● Chibs' most attractive feature is how unbothered and uninterested he is. But once you have him, he's glued to you for life

● not needy, will be able to go on without even a hug for a long time if he feels you don't want it

● generally Chibs is irritatingly mature and independent, and he teaches you maturity, too

● that's where the real commitment and love are

● zero bullshit guy; he's finely tuned, has high emotional intelligence and doesn't try to seem what he's not

● he openly admits that you can manipulate him and he will obey, because all he has is you, and he enjoys every moment of it. But when it becomes toxic, he draws a very certain limit

● will fight for this relationship but won't humiliate himself

● he's a Scorpio: mysterious, emotional, secretive and complicated.

● sorry the list is big. Like Chibs' dick

[x-aefx]

ONE TIME THING - BELLA RAMSEY

Pictures above are not mine

Summary: unbeknownst to you, you meet actor Bella Ramsey. You two hit it off but your paths lead two different directions.

Bella Ramsey x female reader

Warnings: none

Taglist:

Authors note: I don't know how accurate it is for bella to take a bus or the bus being completely full, however for this story, it is entirely accurate.

I use they/her pronouns for Bella.

"I really have to go" your voice sounded desperate now. You were desperate. Your bus would be here any moment now, currently it was three minutes late, you had been on call with your friend, Aaron for 45 minutes, you were sure 15 of those minutes was spent on you trying to end the call. Your phone was sweaty in your hand from your hold and you had messages you needed to open as you had been ignoring them for the better part of the day. You hated texting, mostly because it made you overthink everything you wouldn't overthink in a real life in person conversation.

"alright alright just bring me back something from work" came Aarons voice from the phone. You rolled your eyes, he asked the same thing every day you were working.

"no promise love you by!" You spoke quickly into the phone as you seen your bus approach. Putting the device into your jean pocket you moved closer to the edge of the footpath.

You greeted the driver with a small smile and a 'how are you' as to not seem rude. Once your ticket was verified you made your way down the bus isle in search of a seat. Every. single. one. being occupied.

You furrowed your brows, surely there would be one seat available.

As if the man in the sky heard you, your prayers were answered by the sound of a voice coming from your right.

"hey, you can have this seat"

Turning you faced the source of the voice. You smiled in gratitude as you sat beside the mystery person.

"thanks, I was beginning to think I'd have to stand or sit on someones lap the entire journey." You really were relieved, none of those options sounded appealing.

"It's nothing." The stranger waved your words off.

They sounded nice, you thought, mid-length brunette hair that was slightly wavy under a cap, clear skin that had a glow, they were definitely attractive.

The sound of a notification broke your train of thought. Pulling your phone out of your pocket you turned it on. To no surprise the most recent message was from Aaron.

You didn't bother to reply. You, for some reason, always did bring him back something. He knew that. The little shit.

Sighing you leaned back in your seat. Your mum had been texting you non stop asking about college, if you had finally met someone and when you'll be visiting. You loved her, but she could be somewhat overbearing. You had visited her over a week ago but clearly that was years ago in her world.

Your friend, Annita had also left a dozen messages. One that caught your attention was about how the train she was on was completely full (much like the bus you were currently on) and how her work place wasn't any better.

Glancing ahead of you, you could see people standing in large crowds from the windows. You frowned, what was happening today? A concert? Surely not. You loved music and concerts even more, you would know if one was on.

Taking a glance at the person beside you (who was occupied by their phone) you decided to pluck up the courage to ask them.

"excuse me, do you know why there's so many people crowding around on the street? Is there something important going on?"

Secretly you were wishing there wasn't something too important going on, you didn't want to seem dumb for not knowing.

"the president of the US is visiting. He's giving out free food." The stranger said with a straight face and serious voice.

"no fucking way!" Your eyes were wide and your mouth hung open.

"nah I'm just messing with you. There's a football match on." Their serious face was gone, replaced with a wide smile. Her tone had humour and happiness in it. You were impressed with their acting skills.

"not funny, I believed you! Can you imagine I go around asking people when the president is arriving? I'd be laughed out of the country!"

You wanted to seem mad, but you ended up joining in with their laughter.

"sorry, I don't actually know why I said that." They apologized but began giggling again the more they looked at you and remembered your shocked expression.

"yeah yeah fuck you." You muttered. You looked up when you heard them laugh again. You didn't think they heard it, but you were glad they weren't offended.

Your eyes moved down to her hands. Each finger adorned with thick silver rings. "I like them. Your rings I mean." You didn't realize what you were saying until the words left your mouth.

The stranger looked down at her hands, she held them up slightly to give you a better view.

"thank you. I always like to have something to fiddle with. Especially with being around people constantly" Looking at her you could tell she seemed genuinely happy about being complimented over her rings.

You hummed in agreement.

"I take it your not going to the match?" They questioned.

"and why do you think that?" You responded.

"you didn't know there was one on." She quirked a brow and spoke as if it were the most obvious thing in the world (it was)

"well maybe I decided to go because the charming stranger on the bus changed my mind." You teased.

"I think the charming stranger should be very flattered. Persuading the pretty girl on the bus to go to the match is no easy task." They teased you back.

God.

Why did they have to look at you like that?

Why did they have to engage in conversation?

Why did you talk to them in the first place?

You prayed silently in your mind your face wasn't as red as it felt.

"and do they have a name? Or do they go by 'the charming stranger'?"

They smiled at you. You felt your heart do a back flip.

"I'm Bella." Straightening up in their seat, they held out their hand for you to shake in an attempt at coming across as professional. It would've worked if not for the way the side of her lips quirked as they tried to conceal their laughter.

Copying Bella, you turned slightly in your seat as you shook their hand.

"hello bella, I'm y/n." You smiled.

"so is it decided? Have you been persuaded to go to the match."

You frowned slightly, "unfortunately I have work." You smiled at bella apologetically.

Bella tried to hide their disappointment. She barely knew this girl, why was she getting so upset?

"where do you work?" Bella decided it would be better to change the subject.

"in Burr & co café. On Bernard Street. It's just a summer job until I go back to college." You explained.

"I'll be sure to stop by." Bella promised.

"the hot chocolate is particularly good." You winked. "Anyways, what about you? Are you in college or do you work?"

Bella was hesitant to tell you about her real job. She enjoyed talking to you and it came easy. She didn't want to ruin it.

"I study environmental science." Not a complete lie.

You were about to say something but was interrupted by multiple notifications coming from your phone. You cringed, bella only smiled, a silent gesture to say they didn't mind if you checked your phone.

You shouldn't have been surprised when the notification on the screen were messages from Aaron. Leave it to him to ruin the conversation you were having with probably the coolest person you have ever met, without him even knowing it. Quickly you opened the message.

You rolled your eyes but secretly you were excited to watch game of thrones. All your other friends had watched it except you and Aaron, so you both thought it would be fitting to watch it together.

"sorry about that. My friend invited me to his to watch game of thrones tonight. Nothing important."

Something flashed in Bella's eyes.

"really? Is it your first time watching it?"

"yep. Have you watched it?" You asked.

"I've seen bits of it. Can't say I've watched the whole thing. Are you enjoying it?"

"well it's been really good so far." You answered truthfully. "tonight we're starting season 6."

Bella's eyes widened slightly, they're lips parted and then closed once she was brought back to reality."well I-uh hope you enjoy it."

You frowned slightly at the way she was acting but eventually decided to ignore it.

"from what I've heard it's supposed to be good." You spoke, the bus was almost at your stop.

It would be a lie to say you weren't slightly disappointed that yours and Bella's conversation was quickly coming to an end. You had momentarily forgotten you were even on the bus talking with a complete stranger, you told her where you worked and everything!

Shaking your head from your thoughts you smiled at Bella.

"well I'm getting off now. It was nice talking to you, stranger. I presume your going to the match?"

Bella's smile faded slightly at the mention of you getting off the bus.

"yeah I am. It was nice talking to you too, pretty girl."

You were sure you were blushing now, you were sure bella could see it too.

The bus stopped.

"enjoy the match!" You told her.

"enjoy game of thrones" bella winked at you and had a smug grin on her face, almost like they knew something you didn't.

You rolled your eyes and got off the bus and towards the café you worked at.

-

A/N :

I hope you enjoyed.

P.s for anyone confused, Bella first appears in Game of Thrones in season 6 (their first acting role)

Part two⬇️

[v6quewrlds]

if ur comfortable, could u write tee or joe with a AKA girlfriend? love ur work 💗

had to respond to this immediately because yes of course i will bae <3

1908, ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA

A week ago, you had casually mentioned to Joe that you were inviting two of your sorority sisters to stay for the weekend. Joe, bless his heart, had insisted on coming along with you to pick them up. You two had never crossed paths at Ohio State during your time there, but he had heard enough stories to know your sorors were a force to be reckoned with.

The moment the sliding doors parted and your friends emerged, you knew you had nothing to worry about. Kia and Taylor, both equally as radiant as the day you met them, strutted out of the arrivals terminal. You practically leaped out of the car, your face lighting up with joy, and the three of you embraced in a reunion filled with squeals and laughter. The years hadn't changed you; you were still the inseparable trio from the Theta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, your bond as strong as ever.

Kia, a petite lawyer with glowing caramel skin and an infectious laugh, spotted Joe first. "Ain't that your man?" she exclaimed, pointing to the tall, visibly nervous figure as he leaned against the car. "Look at that color!" Your two friends giggled, noticing Joe's ill-fated fashion choice.

Taylor almost floated over to the car. "Joe," she called out, her voice carrying over the airport crowd, "we see you tryna rep!"

Your eyebrows furrowed as you followed Kia's gaze to Joe, who was indeed wearing a pink polo shirt. "Oh my god," you murmured to yourself, "I didn't even realize." You had told Joe to wear something that would make a good impression, but apparently, he had misunderstood your instructions.

Your friends couldn't contain their laughter as they approached the car. "Joe, honey," Taylor said, her voice thick with amusement, "are you gonna pledge?"

Joe looked down at his shirt, the realization dawned on him, and his cheeks flushed pinker than the fabric. Kia and Taylor couldn't hold it in any longer, bursting into laughter as Joe looked up, his blue eyes wide with embarrassment.

"Well," Kia managed through her giggles, "you're definitely supportive. And that's all we want for our girl."

You stepped in, placing a reassuring hand on Joe's shoulder. "It's okay, baby," you said, your voice warm with affection. "You look hot in pink."

Joe rolled his eyes, but his tension visibly eased. "Thanks," he mumbled shyly, his sarcasm not quite as sharp as usual. "I'll take your bags."

As he loaded their luggage into the trunk, your friends couldn't stop teasing him about his outfit. "You know, Joe," Kia said, winking, "we might just have to give you a little something for this. Maybe an honorary pin or something."

Joe chuckled, trying to play along. "Yeah, sure," he replied, "just be patient with me. I'm still learning the strolls."

As Kia and Taylor huddled into the backseat, you reached for Joe's hand, stopping him as he closed the trunk of the car. "Thank you," you said, your eyes full of genuine gratitude.

Joe's smile grew genuine, the awkwardness fading away. "Anything for you," he replied, his thumb brushing over your knuckles. You leaned in to kiss him before sliding into the driver's seat.

[ashela-ley]

Can we talk about Cartman's tendency to pet Kyle? And the way Kyle lets him do it?

It's such an under-discussed part of their dynamic. Cartman does this all the time. He does it to tease Kyle. He does it to comfort him. He does it to express gratitude. He even does it to pictures of Kyle when Kyle's not there.

And you could say that's just Cartman, he's just touchy, that's just how he expresses himself . . . except that it's really not. All this petting and stroking isn't something you see him do with Stan and Kenny. (Friends he has said multiple times he loves.) It's not something he does with his actual pet, Mr Kitty. It's not something he does with his mom. It's not even something he does with Heidi or Yentl. There's a lot of hand-holding and kissing in those relationships, but Cartman appears to consider this expected romantic partner behavior, and to be imitating that accordingly. What you don't see with them is the clingy, almost unconscious need to touch he demonstrates with Kyle. Kyle has to be stroked, patted, petted, hugged, poked, pulled on . . . it seems to be a comfort thing for Cartman, and that is just so fascinating to me.

It's also endlessly fascinating to me that Kyle - who has no problem putting Cartman in his place about anything else - allows this nearly every time. Maybe there's some token complaining, but he never actually tries to stop it. It's not "ew, Cartman is hugging me" it's always "why is Cartman hugging me?" and that's a subtle difference I think gets overlooked. People like to claim Kyle's response to Cartman having a crush on him would be disgust, and that Kyman could only ever be one-sided for this reason. But Kyle's response to Cartman being affectionate with him is actually pretty much always confusion, not disgust. I get the impression Kyle doesn't know how he feels about it.

I'm not sure what I'm trying to say here, but it's just so interesting to me, the relationship they both have to touch. Cartman uses Kyle to fulfil his need for touch and connection - and Kyle doesn't often reciprocate this touch, but he pretty consistently makes the concession of allowing it. They're feeling each other out, trying to work out "who are you to me and what do I feel for you?" It's one of the elements of Kyman that makes the ship so endearing, I think. There's this sweetness to it that absolutely should not exist between these characters, but does anyway.

Definitely! You’re right, Cartman does seem to seek out physical contact with Kyle considerably more than with anyone else he isn’t directly romantically involved with and my favourite instances of this is when he does so under the guise of antagonizing him. Two examples of this are the whole ‘Jennifer Lopez’-thing in “Fat Butt and Pancake Head” and Cartman promoting Kyle to the Germans in “Funnybot”. In both cases he uses an instance of disrespecting Kyle as a front to compliment him, with the ‘Jennifer Lopez’-persona constantly being gushing over him, telling him how much she likes him, calling him ‘handsome’ and of course ‘kissing’ him by Cartman pressing his hand against Kyle’s mouth. This is especially interesting considering the fact that later in the episode it is very heavily implied (and then pretty much outright confirmed in “200”) that Cartman really doesn’t have full control over the character. In “Funnybot” Cartman calls Kyle either ‘gentle/soft’ or ‘juicy’ (lol), ‘pretty’, and ‘very beautiful’ in extremely mangled German (which I guess is just regular German in-universe since the native speakers talk just like that) and while the context of the scene is obviously very dark for the viewer, who can infer what’s going on, Kyle doesn’t actually seem to realise what is happening. He doesn’t appear to understand what is being said at all and as such Cartman doesn’t even really have the excuse that he’s teasing him.

This scene fits the reaction you described that Kyle tends to have when Cartman engages him in physical contact very well: Kyle reacts to Cartman excessively touching him with confusion but simply lets it happen. He has every reason to be wary of Cartman’s intentions and yet he makes no effort to stop him from what he’s doing. In “ManBearPig” Kyle wakes up to find Cartman leaning over him and while he doesn’t actually touch him, he does get extremely close to him, giving us the famous image of their faces mere inches apart. Kyle’s reaction to this is incredibly understated: He appears at most slightly irritated and attempts neither to push Cartman off nor to move away from him. Once again, he mostly just seems confused by Cartman’s behaviour but, as far as we can see, makes no further attempts to investigate the reasons behind it. This understated reaction is an indication of an (imo) often overlooked aspect of their relationship, which is that while Kyle is well aware of what Cartman is theoretically capable of, he doesn’t actually seem worried that he’d ever seriously harm him. Personally, if I found myself trapped in a cave with a person who constantly professes his hatred for me and whom I know has no qualms about killing people, and then woke up to find said person looming over me in my sleep I’d be much more worried than Kyle appears to be. In fact, considering everything that has happened over the course of their relationship and how many despicable things Cartman has done, Kyle seems Weirdly Comfortable And Safe With His Evil, Ill-Intentioned Friend. Because that’s what they are: They’re friends. To call it a complicated friendship might be an understatement but when it comes down to it the simple fact of the matter is that these two do like each other. While in earlier seasons a point could be made that they only spend time together out of necessity (with the main four being somewhat isolated from the other kids, as Craig points out in “Pandemic 2”, and Cartman originally being an incidental part of the group as ‘the friend no one likes’), they’ve both long since expanded their social circles to a point where they are no longer ‘forced’ to spend time together for lack of better options. Kyle would be more than justified in cutting Cartman off completely and yet he doesn’t and I can honestly see no real reason for this other than the fact that he simply cares about him as a person.

So I agree that Kyle probably wouldn’t react with disgust to the hypothetical reveal that Cartman harbours romantic feelings towards him. I’m not claiming that he would necessarily be elated but I’m pretty sure ‘disgust’ would not be his first reaction and I think many people who think that it would be might at least partially hold that opinion due to projection: Because while we, as viewers, are frequently meant to find Cartman repulsive both physically and emotionally (his embodiment of the 'fat bastard' trope is a key part of his character, after all), Kyle doesn’t actually appear to overtly feel that way about him – which is to say he does kinda but not exclusively and it’s all just a bit more complicated than that. Kyle being thoroughly confused does seem like the most likely reaction to me. Regarding the physical aspect: Of course Kyle frequently makes derogatory remarks about Cartman’s appearance, specifically regarding his weight (to the point where it’s been a main focus of their dynamic for almost thirty years) but we see several times that his critique actually seems to stem from a place of worry and that he feels bad when he thinks that these comments have actually managed to hurt his feelings (e.g. “Raising the Bar”). Of course, what exactly Kyle’s feelings towards Cartman are is, with good reason, a source of much discussion and I’d claim that Kyle himself isn’t very sure of this. His sentiment towards Cartman definitely seems very erratic, with Kyle going from actively attempting to get him killed in “Fatbeard” to being concerned for his emotional well-being just a season later (“201”, “Poor and Stupid”). This concern Kyle has for a person he supposedly can’t stand has been a pretty consistent part of his character in later seasons and it’s especially striking when compared to the way he disregards his best friend’s feelings when he’s in genuine need of emotional support (“Raisins”, “You’re Getting Old”). This discrepancy is not only an indicator of the complicated relationship Kyle has with Cartman but imho also hints at at least one reason for it. In a (painfully long-winded😅) comment on AO3 I just touched on the similarities between Kyle and Cartman how interesting I find the very different ways in which they deal with their shared character traits. I believe this is something that draws them towards each other, though I’m certain that neither is actually consciously aware of this. You put it so beautifully in your last sentence: "There's this sweetness to it that absolutely should not exist between these characters, but does anyway." There really is an unexpectedly soft underbelly to their relationship that is a lot of fun to explore. While I wont deny the toxic aspects of this ship (in fact, they’re a major part of what I find interesting about it), there is also the surprising potential for a real emotional connection between these characters.

[jaydaaasworld]

Between the Laps

a/n never did an f1 fic before and this may not convey things properly

The sound of engines roaring filled the paddock as the Monaco Grand Prix was in full swing. The crowd's cheers echoed through the streets, their excitement palpable. Amidst the chaos and thrill of the race, the stories of Carlos Sainz Jr. and (Y/N) (L/N) intertwined in a blend of fluff and angst that transcended the boundaries of the track.

Chapter 1: A Chance Encounter

Carlos Sainz Jr. had always loved Monaco. The narrow streets, the glamorous yachts, and the undeniable challenge of the circuit made it his favorite. But this year, something felt different. As he walked through the paddock, he noticed (Y/N) (L/N), a new engineer on his team, standing by his car, staring intently at the data on her tablet.

(Y/N) was new to the team, and though they had exchanged pleasantries, Carlos felt a strange pull towards her. It was as if there was something more beneath the surface, something unspoken.

"Hey, (Y/N)," Carlos greeted, trying to sound casual.

(Y/N) looked up, her eyes meeting his with a warm smile. "Hi, Carlos. How's it going?"

"Good, good. Just thought I'd see how you're settling in."

(Y/N) nodded, her gaze returning to the tablet. "It's a bit overwhelming, but I'm getting there. Everyone's been really helpful."

Carlos smiled, sensing the hint of vulnerability in her voice. "If you ever need anything, or just want to talk, you know where to find me."

(Y/N) looked up again, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thanks, Carlos. I appreciate it."

The paddock was a bustling place, filled with team members, journalists, and fans all mingling in the pre-race frenzy. Carlos found himself watching (Y/N) more than he intended to. She was efficient, focused, and seemed to have an innate understanding of the car's mechanics. He admired her dedication and passion for her work.

Days turned into weeks, and Carlos and (Y/N) found themselves crossing paths frequently. Their conversations grew longer, moving from work-related topics to personal stories. They discovered a mutual love for Spanish cuisine, a shared interest in hiking, and a surprising knack for late-night philosophical debates.

One evening, after a particularly grueling day at the track, Carlos and (Y/N) found themselves alone in the team garage. The sun had set, casting long shadows over the paddock. The sounds of the day had faded, leaving a peaceful silence in their wake.

Carlos leaned against his car, watching as (Y/N) meticulously checked the tire pressure. "You know, I've been meaning to ask you something," he said, breaking the silence.

(Y/N) looked up, curiosity in her eyes. "What is it?"

"Why engineering?" Carlos asked. "What drew you to this field?"

(Y/N) smiled, a distant look in her eyes. "When I was a kid, I used to take apart anything I could get my hands on—radios, clocks, even my dad's old car. I loved figuring out how things worked. My parents encouraged me to pursue my passion, and I ended up studying mechanical engineering. Formula One was a natural fit for me. The challenge, the speed, the precision—it all excites me."

Carlos nodded, impressed. "That's incredible. It takes a lot of dedication and passion to make it in this sport."

(Y/N) shrugged modestly. "I just love what I do. And being part of a team like this, working with people who share that passion—it's a dream come true."

Carlos's admiration for (Y/N) grew with each passing day. He found himself looking forward to their conversations, to the moments when they could steal away from the chaos of the track and just be themselves.