#Maaan I can’t thank her enough for this and she didn’t have to

[caliphoria17]

00:01 KTY joining the Warrior Nun Safe Space on Twitter

00:50 Thanking the fandom

2:06 Her backstory for Beatrice

5:09 What props from set she took home

5:54 Her suggestions on coping

Also, FYI: Her Avatrice Reunion song choice is We Are Never Apart by Nick Mulvey

[youreallyshouldtalkmore]

Crashing into Octavinelle

A.N: My Twst Yuu OC Mia take on the scene from Book 4. 

Twisted Wonderland Masterlist

—————————————————————————–

Mia’s eyes widen before screwing shut as they crashed into the mirror.  She felt herself roll off the magic carpet, but strangely didn’t crash into anything enough to hurt herself. Even as her eyes were still shut, she felt as if she was spinning. 

“Where…where are we?” she murmured as her head swam. 

“Well, well, what do we have here? Patrons in search of a midnight snack, perhaps?” 

“Aww maaan! I was totally ready to squeeze any burglars who here to nab our food supplies but it’s just Shrimpy and the Seal. Laaaame….” 

The familiar voices bounced in her head, as Mia managed to slowly peel her eyes open. 

“Wha? What’re you guys doin’ here?” Grim asked. 

Well, at least one of them seemed to brush this disastrous carpet ride off in a flash. 

Floyd gave a sigh, “Didn’t we already go over this? We can go home over winter break because of ice floes, remember?” 

“Wait, so are we in Octavinelle?” 

“Yes, inside Mostro Lounge to be precise.” answered Jade, his eyes trailing to Mia as she began to shakily stand to her feet. She looked as if she might have inhaled a wrong mushroom, her eyes shaking. She had yet to speak, how odd. 

“Are you okay?” Jade asked. 

“We made it!! We finally broke outta that awful prison!!” Grim cheered. 

“Yess, even I can see that.” Mia snapped lowly, swaying on her feet. 

Before she went down, she had two arms wrapped around hers, holding her up. 

“With your double vision, perhaps?” inquired Jade. 

She looked between Jade and Floyd, “With y'all it’s now quadruple.” 

Floyd snickered, “Shrimpy, does your vision have anything to do with this rectangular flounder-looking guy?” 

“I’m never letting Grim drive me on anything ever again! He can’t even drive a broom properly, why did I trust him with a magic carpet? Ek….” Mia felt her stomach heave. 

“Are you going to throw up?” Floyd asked. 

Why did he sound so cheerful about it? 

“It’s not my fault! Besides, we are out of there! Be grateful, Mia…” 

“There is no escape for you now, thieves!!” came a loud announcement that sent through Mia’s head as two Scarabian students entered the lounge, “I suggest you surrender!!” 

“What is all the commotion about at this late hour? Care to explain what’s going on here?” Azul asked as he surveyed the room. 

“That is none of Octavinelle’s business! Please just hand over the two of them quietly!” 

“Ahh, I see that is Mia and Grim. Hold on, why does Mia look like she is going to throw up? Floyd, don’t stand there as if this is a movie, find her a bucket!” Azul began to panic, thinking more of the amount of money she could potentially sprew on. 

Mia glared at Azul best she could. “Really?” 

He smirked coolly, “Well, the two of you are looking so dingy I thought you were a pair of dust clothes.” 

Mia bite back her usual retort as she straightened feeling a little bit better. She didn’t want to admit that having the Leech twins hold onto her was helping her vertigo, even if Floyd was grinning at her with too much interest. 

“Please save us with your spirit of benevolence!” Sarcasm was heavy, and Mia couldn’t help it. 

Azul pursed his lips as he pushed up his glasses. 

“If you refused to hand them over, you’ll be party to their wrongdoings as well!” one of the Scarabian students cried. 

That got Floyd attention as lifted his head up and bared his teeth, “Are you yankin my tail here? Who do you think you’re talking to?” 

Azul spoke, “No fighting is permitted in Mostro Lounge. This is a place for gentlemen. On that note, I think it’s time we ask these ill-mannered patrons to leave.”  

—

“Are you certain you are okay?” asked Jade sliding her a glass of water as she sat at the bar. 

Mia gave a wan smile as she except the glass, “Yes, I feel better. Thank you.” 

Floyd leaned over towards her from his seat next to her and grinned, “You aren’t goint to hurl are you?” 

“I will hurl this water at you, if you don’t back off.” Mia threatened. 

“Fufufu. So I can’t squeeze you?” 

“Duh no! I just went on the worst rollercoaster ride in my entire life! How is it that the trip with Kalim was pleasant and with this mangy little…” 

“Hey!!” cried Grim. 

“Hush! You can’t drive anything to save your life, or mine. Just last week, we narrowly escape crashing into that tree.” 

Floyd laughed, “You sound worse than Azul with a broom.” 

“He is!!” Mia hadn’t even seen Azul fly a boom, but it couldn’t be worse than Grim. 

Grim glared, “Are you seriously going to keep bringing that up?” 

Azul finally interjected, “Why am I being brought into this stupid argument? Mia you know I have to charge you for that water?” 

Mia glowered at Azul and Floyd thought for a moment, she might go over the table at him. 

Instead, she smiled sweetly, “Add it to my bill.” 

“You heard the lady Shrimpy. Add it to her bill” Floyd guffawed. Jade snickered as Azul rolled his eyes and added it to the sheet of paper he was writing on. 

“Now, I think it’s time to tell me about this Scrabian infighting you mentioned.”, prompted Azul. 

[nolongerwrites]

7 for Dazai 💖 I absolutely adored your last one!

Of course! And thank you so much!!! Sorry if you don’t like country 😔 I’m from Texas so I listen to a little bit of it! In fact, I went to a graduation party a couple of weeks ago and this song started playing but I was so shitfaced drunk and started dancing on the dance floor by myself LMAO!!!

This was a struggle but I hope you enjoy!

DRINKING PROBLEM

“One more night, one more down”

“One more, one more round”

“First one in, last one out”

“Giving this town lots to talk about”

“But they don't know, what they don't know”

Dazai first met you at the bar he would regularly visit when he wanted to meet with Odasaku and Ango. You were sitting by yourself in the Corner sipping on an old fashion on the rocks as you scrolled through your phone. You looked tired and exhausted. It had been raining outside so a bit of water dripped from your hair onto your coat. In one glance he marked you down as absolutely stunning. He sat down in his usual spot and ordered his usual drink before looking at the clock on the wall. He had some time to kill before he assumed oda and ango would be here so he decided To try and strike a conversation with you.

“Maaan it’s been raining a lot recently wouldn’t you say?” Dazai twisted in his chair so he was leaning against the bar counter as he directed his attention towards you.

“Huh? Oh yeah i guess it has been” you looked up at him and smiled before shutting your phone off and setting it on the table. “love the rain as much as the next person but it sure is a pain having to walk around half drenched in water” you took a sip of your drink before shrugging off your coat.

“I haven’t seen you around here before, what brings you here tonight lovely?” Dazai leaned his head against his hand as the bar tender brought him his drink.

“Ah, I’m a college student here. Somtimes school and work gets to be a tad much, I like to have a drink or two once in a while” you swirled your drink around in a circle before setting it back down. “What about you?”

“Just meeting with a few friends. We come here often. Just some co-workers being drinking buddies” he smiled at you and you couldn’t help a blush creep onto your cheeks. “Why are you here by yourself? Yokohama can get quite dangerous at night”

“I don’t have many friends I have to admit. I’m so busy with work and school I rarely get to spend time with them. And even if I do have time, I usually spend it at home because I’m too tired” You signed and pulled out your laptop from your bag. Tonight unfortunately wasn’t a day off.

“People say I've got a drinkin' problem”

“That ain't no reason to stop”

“People sayin' that I've hit rock bottom”

“Just 'cause I'm living on the rocks”

“Not many friends?!” Dazai dramatically threw his hand over his heart and head. “How could a beautiful lady such as yourself not have many friends? Perhaps a Boyfriend? Surly you have a boyfriend” he was sitting at the end of his chair awaiting your answer.

You stopped in the midst of typing in the password to your laptop before covering a giggle with your shirt sleeve. “I’m sorry, I don’t have a boyfriend either unfortunately” Dazai swore he felt his heart skip a beat. “Well your in luck!! I dazai Osaka shall be-“

“Quit bothering that lady dazai” you both heard odasaku walk into the bar and dazai instantly slumped onto the counter muttering something about him ruining his moment

“Oh! He wasn’t bothering me!” You waved odasaku off in a friendly manner before going back to typing. “He was keeping me good company. And now that I know his name I can thank him properly” you gave dazai a friendly smile before thanking him

That’s right. Dazai didn’t even know your name. “What is your name by the way? I don’t think I ever asked?” And you told him. He repeated it to himself in a dreamy state before getting back up from the counter and striding over to you. He grabbed your hand and placed a soft kiss into the back of it before looking back up into your eyes.

“Now that I may continue, I dazai osamu, will here on out be your friend”

And he did. Shortly after his little declaration of friendship, he introduced you to odasaku and ango, who came in shortly after oda. And you quickly became comfortable with them. They did end up telling you what they all did for work. But strangely enough you didn’t really mind. You could never judge someone on what they did for work considering the things you’ve had to do a couple of times. So as you continued to work on college assignments, they talked about how their days went. Somtimes they’d ask you about yours but you would just tell them that they were far more interesting than you.

And this became sort of a regular thing. You exchanged numbers with all 3 of them in case they’d ever like you to join them again. So when the night ended and you started packing your things up. Dazai excuses himself to walk you Home.

“Oh dazai-san it’s fine really! I can handle myself!” You exclaimed as you stood at the top of the staircase “I’m alright really !”

He ended up walking you home anyways.

———————————————

Odasaku, Ango, And dazai did occasionally call you up to have a drink with them. You were more than happy to join them since they genuinely felt like good company. But more than once they would run into you while you were there. Today was one of those nights as dazai sat next to you while you did school work.

“Oh hey, I didn’t know you guys were coming tonight.” Dazai looked at your tired eyes as they were glued to the screen. Only sparing a glance when he sat down. “I’m just finishing up an essay due at the end of the week and my apartment is too quiet for my liking”

“It’s just me tonight.” He replied casually before waving down the bartender. He looked over and saw you had a couple of beers yourself. He noticed you tend to drink a lot when you came here. “ how’s your classes been?”

“Exhausting. I’ve never been more tired in my life. I just know this will all be worth it when I’m finally done” You let out a yawn before ordering another beer. But before you could continue typing, dazai had grabbed your wrist to stop you. You looked over at him and gave him a sympathetic smile “I’m sorry dazai-San but I really need to finish this up”

“Why don’t you take a break? You look like your fixing to pass out from exhaustion” he laughed before releasing your hand and sliding your laptop in front of him. You tried to get it back but dazai kept pulling it out of your grasp. You eventually gave up and both you and dazai spent the night drinking and talking. When you tried to get your laptop back so you could go home, he took it with him. “I’ll finish this up for you in no time! It can’t be that hard right?”

It was. In fact he just ended up having odasaku write most of the conclusion. He dropped your laptop off one morning at your apartment with a note on top stating he finished it for you so you could go to school. You texted him after your class and asked him if he’d be at bar lupin tonight. He immediately texted you back saying it was a regular night with Oda And Ango. You replied saying you’d drop by tonight if that was okay. They didn’t mind.

———————————————

“Do you like her? Don’t hide it we can tell” Odasaku said as him and Ango sat on either side of dazai. “Odasaku who wouldn’t? She’s pretty, smart, and she’s just great company in general! Who wouldn’t like her?” Dazai said in a exasperated motion. Ango only raised his eyebrow and smirked before taking a drink from his glass. “That’s not what I meant-“

“Dazai-San!!!” You shouted on top of the staircase prompting the three men sitting at the bar to turn around. You dashed as fast as you could down the steps and threw yourself onto dazai in a bone crushing hug. “My professor said that was the best essay out of the entire class!! I can’t thank you enough for what you did for me!!”

“ it was nothing! In fact I didn’t really do much-“ Dazai looked over at odasaku only for him to put a finger up to his lips telling dazai to be quiet. He would let him have this moment to himself. Though, he did appreciate the fact that his writing was good. “Maybe you could stay and have a drink with us to celebrate. You definitely deserve it” Dazai said as he hugged you back. “Of course! You said as you sat next to oda and ordered a drink.

You all spent the night drinking and laughing with each other. They toasted you for work done well and you couldn’t help but thank each of them even if they didn’t do much. Eventually the alcohol caught up to you and before you knew it you were pretty drunk.

“It's a broken hearted thinkin' problem”

“So pull another bottle off the wall”

“People say I got a drinkin' problem”

“But I got no problem drinkin' at all”

“Odasakuuuuu dance with me” you slurred as you got up from your chair and grabbed his hand to try and get him up. He shrugged and stood up in front of you grabbing your waist. You smiled and laughed before leading him in a slow dance. He laughed at you every time you stumbled, and every time you accidentally stepped on his shoe. When the next song played you wined and asked Ango to dance with you next. That took a lot of convincing up until dazai and oda picked him up and set him in front of you. You grabbed at him and led him in a similar dance. His clammy hands were pressed against yours tightly as you continued to stumble around. He let you lead because he couldn’t dance to save his life.

“I can’t dance I’m sorry” Ango said as he sat back down in his chair. As You, dazai, and oda laughed as you went and hugged dazai from behind his chair. “Care to dance with me dazai-San?” You whispered in his ear. “With pleasure belladonna” he smiled back at you and grabbed your waist. That’s when the music changed to something more melancholy. You leaned your head against his chest as he led you into yet another slow dance. Your head felt like it was spinning and your body felt too heavy for your feet. Dazai smiled and pulled you closer to his chest.

“I really can’t thank you enough, I haven’t had this much fun in a long time” you whispered into his chest. “Of course, you looked like you needed a break”. Odasaku and Ango quietly excused themselves outside as you two continued to dance. You looked up at dazai with half lidded eyes and he felt himself get lost in them. The bar light shone in your hair and outlined the beauty of your face. He couldn’t help but lean in and give you a small kiss. Which you gladly accepted.

It felt nice to finally get away from the troubles of life and spend time with good friends. You stayed like that for a minute before pulling back and giving him a side smile. You wish it would never end. Even as you continued to dance the night away in dazais embrace.

Unfortunately, that was the last time you saw any of them again.

[ilovereadingandilovebreathing]

Lights Will Guide You Home (Ch. 1)

Story: AU in which Peter Parker, 16, is a homeless vigilante just trying to do his thing in Queens. Tony Stark is a rich superhero who flies onto the scene. Eventual IronDad will ensue.

A/N: Title from Coldplay’s “Fix You.” Sorry if this AU has been done like 10,000 times and if that song has been used like 15,000. Here’s another.

WARNINGS: Guns, gun violence, robbery, cussing, verbally abusive language

- - - - - - - - - - 

It’s only midnight, but Peter’s already feeling the weight of exhaustion creeping into his bones. He stands on the Queens rooftop looking out over the city; the fading yellow streetlights give him a strange kind of warmth in his stomach, a stark contrast to the burn of hunger that usually lingers there. He sighs and leans his head against the post next to him; he pulls up his red ski mask above his nose and inhales deeply, allowing his eyes to slide closed, allowing his ears to absorb the familiar sounds of the city, unhindered as he just exists for a moment.

For a moment he feels like a normal person. Not a vigilante. Not a homeless teenager. Not a crime fighter. Not even a superhero, if he were to be so bold with such a title. For a moment he is just a human being, and that is all he could ask for after four straight nights packed full of activity. Nobody needs saving. Nobody’s chasing him down. Nobody’s crying, “Spider-Man! Help me!” For once Peter Parker can just exist, and for once that’s enough. It doesn’t feel like he has to earn his existence, like he owes the universe anything for allowing him to live when everything he loves has been stolen away from him.

But the moment doesn’t last. It never does.

Peter opens his eyes, blinking once before pulling his mask over his face. He crouches, carefully moving toward the edge of the building, and quiets his breathing as much as is possible, listening intently for what would follow the sound that he thinks is the tell-tale clicking of a lock-pick's handiwork. 

There it is. The rattle of a doorknob, the shuffle of feet. 

A break-in in his typical territory. These guys are getting bold.

Peter positions himself at the edge of the building, peering over but staying as inconspicuous as possible; they’re just a few buildings over in a store Peter has frequented. Had frequented with his Uncle Ben. Their last visit was a little over a year ago...before-

Peter snaps to attention when he hears the cash register shaking, the intruders trying to break it open with brute force. He can’t see them anymore from this building, so he tiptoes over the back edge and scales the back wall as quickly and quietly as he can. He comes around the left corner and listens, hearing nothing, and he comes out to the side, keeping to the shadows just in case. His tinted swim goggles, red ski mask and fingerless gloves, and blue sweatshirt and sweatpants aren’t exactly stealth material.

He can see the robbers more clearly now; one is carefully extracting something from what must be his back pocket, not paying attention to the other who has pulled a gun and is aiming at the cash register. A boom sounds through the open doorway, muted by the windows, and blinding emergency lights snap on. A screeching alarm blares throughout the shop and leaks out into the street.  

“Are you shitting me?!” A rough voice cuts through the din. “We pick the lock and creep around with no detection, and you just had to-”

“I’m...I’m sorry, Man-...uh, maaan.” The second voice is deeper than the first but timid, and Peter can hear two pairs of lungs breathing: one deep and heavy, the other shallow and short. “I just-You were struggling with the drawer, so I thought-”

“To shoot the fucking thing? With your piece of shit gun? Are you serious? You don’t have a silencer!” The owner of the first voice opens what Peter now sees is a tan bag and begins to shovel in money from the register. 

“Wh-what are you doing?! Shouldn’t we go?”

“We might as well get what we can and scram. The cops’ll take a few minutes anyway.”

“I was-Are you sure you could’ve gotten it open?”

“If can pick a fucking door lock, I sure as hell can pick a damn cash register lock!” 

“I just-I didn’t think-”

“You’re right, you didn’t think!”

“Well, I mean it didn’t seem like his security was that good.”

“This is at least a semi-successful sandwich shop, idiot. Of course he has decent security, especially when you go around shooting shit. Why the hell do you think I’ve been staking the place out for months?”

“I’m-”

“Don’t say you’re sorry. Don’t you fucking dare.” The leader has finished stuffing his burlap sack, and he throws it at the obvious younger of the pair. “I swear to god, if we get caught-”

“What? You’ll pee your pants?” Peter winced. Come on, Parker, are you five? 

“S-Spider-”

“Ah, yes, the Spider-Man.” The leader steps toward Peter with carefully measured steps, eyes gleaming beneath his own black ski mask. “The local superhero, here to save the-” He suddenly tries to bolt out the door, but Peter’s enhanced reflexes are too quick, and he easily stops him with a firm arm to the stomach. 

“You’re not goin’ anywhere. You didn’t even finish your-”

“Stop!” The younger voice is quivering, and Peter turns toward it, absorbing the gun barrel pointed in his direction. “Just-uh, just stand down, Spider-Man. Let us go, and you get to live!”

“My god, you idiot; you don’t announce you’re gonna shoot a guy! You just do it!”

“But that’s unsporting-”

“This isn’t a sport, asscrack! This is life or death, here! Shoot him!”

Peter’s hands are spread, palms facing each of the individuals in turn as he breathes, trying to sort out the best scenario for this situation. The one who has to be a teenager is too far for him to disarm without risking getting shot, and he can’t let the man on the floor get away either- 

“Hands where I can see them.”

Peter glances down, and his blood runs cold. The leader has taken advantage of Peter’s predicament and drawn his own weapon, aiming at Peter’s head with a wicked gleam in his eye.

“You’re surrounded, Spider-Man. No hope of escape.” The man on the floor lets out a rough chuckle just the first pitches of police sirens peel through the air outside.

“Shit. You really kept us going this long, didn’t you? What a sneaky trick, but now-”

“Freeze!-” A plainclosthesman is in the doorway, his gun drawn. “Drop your weapons-”

“NO, YOU DROP YOUR WEAPON, OR SPIDER-MAN GETS IT!” The leader screams from his spot on the floor, shaking his gun in Peter’s direction. “WHERE WILL YOU PIGS BE WITHOUT YOUR SUPER-POWERED DOG TO DO YOUR WORK FOR YOU?”

“PUT IT DOWN, YOU PIECE OF SHIT-”

The cop and the robber go back and forth, spewing insults and threats as the sirens grow louder, but Peter tunes them out, facing the one chance he has left.

“Hey, dude. You don’t want to do this.” Peter inches forward, but freezes when the kid tightens his hold on the gun. “Please. I....I know what it’s like to struggle, okay? I’ve been there.”

“You have no idea what my life is like. Don’t try to relate to me.” The kid grinds out, his jaw quaking to match his shimmering eyes. 

“Okay, you’re right. I don’t know your life. But I know mine.” Peter takes a steadying breath. “I know what it��s like to to be homeless. To pack up with whoever you can to up your chances of survival.” Peter nods his head toward the ground. “I use tape to hold my shoes together.” Peter gestures down to his bare feet. “Well, when I’m wearing shoes. Glad you found something thick that you could sew into it. That’s impressive. Did you know how to sew, or did they teach you?”

“Quit chatting!” The leader interrupts from the floor, eyeing the cop with the gun trained on him. “This isn’t a social gathering! Fly, stupid butterfly!”

The kid suddenly spins on his heel and takes off toward the other side of the store, vaulting over the counter and disappearing into the rooms behind. Peter shakes his head and sighs, turning back to the man sprawled on the floor. 

“What are you laughing at, shithead? We got what we came for.”

“He’s gonna have a hard time navigating back there; Delmar keeps this place fully stocked, so much that it’s like a maze to get through to the back alley.”

“I know that, you idiot; I drew him a map of the place and made him memorize it.”

“A map? But how-”

Another boom sounds, and the masked man drops his gun, screaming in agony as blood pools around and out of the bullet now lodged in his upper arm. 

Peter finally registers that a police vehicle has arrived. The driver enters first, shoving past the plainclothes cop toward the attempted thief. The cop yanks the ski mask off of the man’s head, and Peter holds back a gasp.

He, too, had been watching Delmar’s for a while now, and he really shouldn’t have been surprised to see that it was a recent hire under the mask. Likely in his 40s, the red-headed man is familiar to Peter; Delmar rarely took in people outside of his family, but the man has a soft spot for people who are down on their luck. He must have spun some kind of sob story to get Delmar to take him in.

“Huh, well I’ll be damned.” The plainclothesman speaks up first. “Manny the deli guy.”

The cop pulls the man to his feet and pushes him against the counter to book him, shaking his head as Manny continues to yell and the plainclothesman shakes his head. “Makes a damn good sandwich, too, Sucks ass for Delmar to lose this guy.”

The cops each take an arm and escort Manny to the cop car, somehow chatting casually amidst the animalistic howls emitting from their charge. 

“What about the kid? Did Lenox find him?”

“Nah. Back door’s open, so the kid’s probably long gone with the money.”

“Shit. Hate to have to break it to Delmar.”

“We got it from here, Spider-Man.” An officer Peter hadn’t noticed before, a woman with blonde hair and soft brown eyes was taping off the outside of the shop. “Thanks for your help, as always.”

“Oh, no-” Peter clears his throat. “No problem, ma’am. Happy to do my duty.” 

She nods and sets about her work.

It takes everything Peter has not to jerk toward the shuffling his ears pick up from the back of the store. “Uh-Delmar has a, uh, a cat, so I better make sure he’s okay.”

“Oh, sure.” The lady cop gestures over her shoulder. “Make it quick, though. The other guys have to come in here soon to check the place over.”

“Right, yeah, of course, thanks!” 

Peter hurdles himself over the counter and slips into the back rooms, ears peeled for the scuffle of plastic soles on linoleum. What he hears, instead, is heavy breathing, and he follows the sound to the walk-in refrigerator. Clenching his jaw, Peter carefully opens the door-

“Shit.” The kid is huddled on the ground, arms clinging to the bag desperately with his eyes closed, as if he’s bracing to be shot, too.

Peter puts his hands up in a show of peace. “Don’t shoot and neither will I.”

“You don’t have a gun.”

“It looks like you don’t either.”

The kid scoffs. “Dropped it when I was trying to get through this damn labyrinth of a backroom.” 

Peter looks around quickly, and then slips through the opening and into the freezer, pulling it shut behind him and leaving them in darkness. “Look, the cops are still here scoping out the place. They saw the back door, so they think you’re long gone. They’re about to actually search the place, so you might want to get outta here like yesterday.”

“What the fuck? Why’re you helping me? Aren’t you like the police’s dog or something?”

It’s Peter’s turn to scoff. “No. I work by myself and for myself; they just kind of come with the territory.”

“Still. Why help me?”

“....I know you can hear my voice as much as I can hear yours.” Peter’s tone is soft, imploring. “I was in a spot like you for a little while, but it wasn’t worth it. I got out, and so can you.”

“...How’d you leave?”

“A raid I was thankfully absent for. No one turned me over, amazingly.”

“Pack loyalty.”

“Probably. Probably hoped I’d revive the group, too.”

“Yeah. Anyway, this is a nice pow-wow and all,” Peter can hear the other boy shifting. “But I gotta bounce.” The kid stands and carefully opens the freezer door. 

“They’re all out front.” Peter quickly reassures him. He stares for a second then smiles when he takes in the face of his hiding place buddy. “Hiding in plain sight?”

“Exactly. Ski mask makes you stick out. Especially if you’re a black kid when there’s cops around.” 

Peter nods. “Sorry I can’t return the favor.”

“It’s cool. Vigilante status and all that.” The kid pauses. “Here.” He reaches into the bag and hands Peter a handful of bills, 20s from what Peter can see. 

Peter stares for a moment, and the kid shakes it toward him. 

“Street kids gotta look out for each other, you feel? This was a small bust, anyway. A practice.”

Peter’s heart sinks at the implication but eyes the money, the empty pits of his stomach crying out from weeks of going with tiny portions compared to what he needs to eat.

“I can’t. It wouldn’t be right.”

“Spend it all here, and it evens out, right?” The kid quirks a smile. “Don’t over think it.” He shoves the stack into Peter’s lap before looking around one last time and stepping outside of the chilly room. “Take care of yourself, Spider-Man. I’ll see you around.” And he’s gone.

Peter sits for a moment with the money in his lap, his mind spinning as he wrestles with the ethical implications of his actions. He needs to eat. He’s running himself ragged being Spider-Man with so little food to squelch his metabolism.  He used to shelter hop, staying at one place for a bit before switching to another for a decent flow of food, but after a while, he became a familiar, lonely face. They asked too many questions about him, his parents, and why his parents couldn’t ever come with him to stay. This would be his first real meal in weeks. The kid gave him the money, and if he doesn’t eat he can’t be Spider-Man...

Peter sighs, swallowing the guilt knotted in his throat before quickly organizing the bills and sliding them into his sweater for safe keeping.

He goes back through the front of the shop, waving to the cops out front before disappearing as is his M-O.

Peter decides to turn in early that night, thoroughly wiped now, so he carefully creeps up the side of a too familiar brick building. He finally makes it to the uppermost fire escape and pulls down the dufflebag he has stuffed there, removing the chemically produced webs he uses to hide his belongings where no one else can go. 

He really needs to sneak back into the school again soon; his supply is running low. He lives in anticipation of summer when he might be able to get away with making and taking more of the webs to use for fighting and not just storage and survival purposes. He has often daydreamed of what it would be like to use the webs to swing around town, hang upside down, or even make a giant web like real spiders. They would definitely up his superhero status.

Sighing at such fantasies, Peter throws the duffel over his shoulder and hauls himself up to the top of the apartment complex.

“Home sweet home.” Peter mutters under his breath as he crosses the roof for the final jump onto the top of what once was a garden shed. The tenants gave up on a roof garden years ago, so the shed usually sits empty save for cobwebs and gardening equipment long forgotten, a perfect storage place for the items Peter doesn’t want to expose to the rain. The roof of the shed is set at such a small angle that it is nearly flat and therefore not conducive to ridding itself of rainwater, but Peter loves to sleep under the stars, the honks and hums of the city akin to a lullaby, and he has managed to patch critical spots with some moldy tarps, some nails, and a hammer left in the shed. 

Now Peter sets his bag on the wearing shingles and stretches his back, his arms, his shoulders before pulling a warn fleece blanket out of his bag. He spreads the blanket and lays down, pulling off his mask and goggles which he stashes away before conceding to sleep in his Spider-Man costume just once. He’s too tired to change tonight, he decides as he allows himself to drift.

His heart stalls when he hears a low rumbling above his head, and his eyes snap open, searching the sky intently for something he knows he’ll never see. Every once in a while he’ll hear it. It’s never a stormy night, no clouds in the sky, no distant roar of thunder, no smell in the air, but he’ll hear a sound, a low rumbling akin to thunder but not quite the right timbre. Peter has never figured out what it is, but once he swore he saw a dark square floating in the sky on its own, like a ghostly apparition in the shape of a metal panel. 

No such sight appears tonight, but as Peter stares at the sky, his own words drift back to him: hiding in plain sight. Definitely a government conspiracy Ned would believe.

Peter sighs and rolls his eyes before turning onto his side and curling into himself, now fully allowing himself to fall into a well-earned sleep.

- - - - - - - - - - 

Tony Stark sits perched in the cockpit of his plane, gazing down at the city below him with little attachment or interest. 

“You really didn’t have to come with us, Tony.” Happy Hogan speaks up from his seat beside Tony. “I could’ve handled the shipment on my own.”

“Yeah, no thanks.” Tony quips with a scowl, absently fiddling with the Iron Man gauntlet engaged over his right hand. “I spent way too long customizing these arc reactors to have the recipients bitching and calling me as soon as they don’t know how to use them. Might as well go and write everything off as a business expense.”  

“Right, of course.” Happy rolls his eyes and turns his attention back in front of them. “I gotta say, though. I don’t think this plane needs any security from Iron Man himself.”

Tony throws him a look.

“The reflective plates are genius in their simplicity, Tony; no one even knows we’re up here.”

“Of course not, but I know about the plate incident from last year, Hogan.”

“Okay, we flew a little bit too low and bumped one of the panels on the new World Trade Center.”

“Hence why all of my planes are self-flying now.”

It’s Happy’s turn to dish out looks. “No one saw us or reported it. No harm; no foul.”

“Yeah because you left 5 hours late and no one was out to see you flying at 2am.”

“Hey, that delay was your-”

“Is that a kid?” 

“What? Come on, Tony, I know you hate to have your past blunders brought up, but-”

“No, look, down there.” Tony points through the window and down toward a building Happy cannot distinguish.

“Tony, how can you even tell?”

Tony taps on his glasses frames. “Elementary zoom function, My Dear Happy. But, yeah, there’s definitely a kid sleeping on a roof down there.”

“Probably just had a fight with his parents or something.”

“He has a bag next to him.”

Happy scoffed. “Obviously threatened to run away from home and only made it to the roof. I remember someone else pulled shit like that when he was a kid.”

“You have no proof.”

“Rhodey told me.”

“Rhodey wasn’t there. We didn’t meet until college.”

Happy just rolls his eyes again and settles back into his seat. “See anything else with those glasses.”

“Just a bunch of cop sirens.”

“I’m gonna take a nap. Wake me if something interesting happens.”  

“Gee, thanks, Forehead of Security. I feel so safe with you around.”

Happy just snorts, crosses his arms, and closes his eyes.

Tony rests an elbow on the window sill and puts his chin on his palm, languidly watching New York pass below, the lonely little figure soon left behind and forgotten for the moment.

[the-coconut-asado]

Crazy for Kiwi Crickets

When it comes to eating out in Fiji, you are only as good as your last success.

 Consistently get it right and the punters will flock. Anything less than excellent and it’s ‘Maaan that place has gone downhill – but the duck soup at Harbour Centre is the Bomb!’ You can’t actually get duck soup at Harbour Centre, but anything with duck in Suva is a sure-fire winner as they are in constant short supply.

 Fiji is always in pursuit of the New Big Thing. That duck soup place I mentioned was actually the New Big Thing once, so was The Guava Café (doorstep griddled toast and Land of the Giant-sized portions); Singh’s burn-your-ring curry house and the Chinese restaurant at Samabula where you got a decent takeaway and a ringside seat at a sailors’ punch up.

 There are some classics that never go out of fashion. The cream buns at Hot Bread Kitchen – the ‘cream’ is actually buttercream and they sell them in sets of six like monkey bread so yeah, good luck with just eating one; Cardo’s Steakhouse in Denarau – they claim their cattle are descendants of Argentine castaways from the 19th century (kind of yarn that could spark a punch up in that Samabula Chinese restaurant, but the steaks ARE consistently good); Friday seafood lunch at Suva Bowling Club (you may not recognise half the seafood on your plate, and that’s a good thing); And, sadly closed now, The Cottage – tucked behind the main drag in Suva, serving the best local Fiji food and only open at lunchtime. And didn’t we all wail when the owner retired and shut up shop after decades of top-quality chow.

Anyway, it’s quite something when the New Big Thing is your sister-in-law’s café. Weta (Coffee) Fiji, the fifth child of Mue and her husband Darran, opened its doors in March this year. 

The café gets its name from a gerbil-sized cricket native to New Zealand. A quick google search and you can watch a film of a weta fighting a foraging pig, so maybe not exotic pet material. 

While the lion’s share of daily sales will always be the coffee (and we returned with bags of beans to London, it’s that good), it’s the food at Weta that’s getting the lion’s share of hype. World Health Organisation apparatchiks would probably advise not have more than one Honey Butter Waffle a month, yet people are spectacularly carb-loading these Weta signature goodies daily on their way to work. Take a look at the picture below and you could so easily join them.

Aside from the waffle-fest, Mue and cousin Cherie (whose aunt founded that other Fiji café classic Bulaccino) have entered into a kind of foodie face-off with each other, competing to see who can come up with the most mouth-watering innovations. The Honey Butter Waffles already give 1-0 to Mue; but ever thought of combining crispy nuggets of bacon with a rich mayonnaise, slathering it on a chicken schnitzel and sandwiching it all in a toasted mini baguette? Then check out their Chicken Baconnaise Panini and Cherie evens the score. How about a teal-green smoothie that tastes fruity and delicious but you don’t know why? Place your order for their Ugly Green Juice  - a joint invention so let’s call it a draw. I assiduously worked my way through most of their menu over two weeks and couldn’t find much that was less than evil genius.

Because this is a family concern, and Mue does a lot of her experimenting in her own kitchen, I got caught up in the whole entrepreneurial swirl when we were there this summer. Watching while Mue, with apparent carelessness cloaking a keen cook’s eye, tossed ingredients for her Marsala Chai muffins into the food processor at 5 in the morning while simultaneously whipping up a vegan version of her waffle mix. Slavishly watching her EPOS app to see if the sales dial had moved to kerching! levels – in short, generally starting to catch the fever of the hospitality business owner. Is Suva ready for Kava Hot Chocolate? (Kava is the ceremonial drink of Fiji with delicate overtones of mud). Apparently yes, and at least 10 people on the first day of sales had a dreamless sleep that night. Another invention marked up to Mue and another profit stream.

Having eaten our body weight in tropical breakfast patisserie, we left Suva for a few days to head to our own New Big Thing on Fiji’s Other Big Island.   

Savusavu is a picturesque town with a bay big enough to host a fistful of yachts and a marina to moor them. Even though it’s popular, the road to Savusavu – which nestled on the South coast of Vanua Levu - is one less travelled compared to the resort islands of Western Viti Levu. It has a reputation as a millionaire’s playground and we were told ‘be careful, you won’t want to come back’ (do people wrongly assume that we are at home in the company of dicks with yachts?). Anyway, they weren’t wrong about the beauty of the place, and I can now tell them a few tales about some unexpected food epiphanies.

The first was thanks to Sarah, the owner of the Gecko Guesthouse. It said in our Airbnb blurb that she would throw in a cooking lesson if we asked nicely. Which we did, and she obliged, if a little reluctantly at first. We spent one chilled-out evening learning her techniques for snake bean and bitter gourd curries (be sparing rather than slavish with your spices), a-ma-zing fish madras (although we can’t get fresh walu in the West, swordfish would be a decent substitute) and clever hack for cooking rice (err, use an electric rice maker).

However, the piece de resistance of Savusavu is a ‘dive’ (my friend Ije’s word when he saw the Insta post) called Arun’s Hidden Taste of Paradise. 

The name felt a bit at odds with its appearance, which is a little grubby and dishevelled, but don’t be fooled. The clue is in the word ‘hidden’ because if you make it through their mesh-covered door you will taste cassava chips which are meltingly creamy on the inside and quadruple-cooked crispy on the outside and, hands down, the best butter chicken I have eaten in my life. The eponymous Arun, both owner and cook, seemed frankly scared when I asked for a photo, so I didn’t push on asking for the recipe – but kept the flavour profile running around in my head for the rest of the trip.

Obsessed as I was, I hunted down ingredients lists for butter chicken on my bookshelves and I think I have found a pretty good match in Vivek Singh, who based his Cinnamon Club classic on a 1950’s recipe from the Moti Mahal in Old Delhi. But then I saw a recipe for a curry pie in last month’s Delicious Magazine and had the brainwave to make this pie with the butter chicken. And while you might have to make the trip to Suva to get Mue’s original and best Honey Butter Waffles TM, I have slightly adapted her Chai Latte and Choc Chip Muffins  and Ugly Green juice here.

So raise your Ugly-Green juice-filled glass to New Big Things. And watch out for the next one - the launch of Mue and Darran’s Writers Lodge guesthouse with Kava Bar and Weta Café later this Autumn.

You can follow them on @wetafiji. 

 Butter Chicken Pie

You can just make this butter chicken straight with pilau rice and all the trimmings, but turning it into a pie takes it to the next level. This pastry is super short and crispy, thanks to a mix of butter and lard. Don’t be put off by the long list of ingredients or the processes. It’s dead easy over a lazy Sunday and the flavours are so worth it. Serves 4.

 Ingredients:

For the butter chicken:

800g boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces

One red chilli and some coriander leaves

1 large red pepper, seeded and cut into strips

For the marinade: 

120g Greek yoghurt

5 garlic cloves, grated or crushed

1 inch piece  of ginger, peeled and grated

1 tbsp sunflower oil

Juice of 1 large lemon

Kosher salt and pepper to taste

3 tsp chilli powder

1 tsp ground cumin

½ tsp garam masala

½ tsp turmeric

For the sauce:

8-10 tomatoes

1 in piece of ginger, half grated and half chopped finely

4 garlic cloves, grated or crushed

4 green cardamom pods, 2 cloves, 1 bay leaf

2 tsp chilli powder

80g salted butter, diced

2 green chillies, split lengthwise but still joined at the stem

80ml single cream

A few dried fenugreek leaves

1tsp garam masala

1 tbsp. sugar

For the spiced butter:

1 Tbsp. ghee

1 tsp black mustard seeds

1 tsp. crushed chillies

For the pastry:

230g plain flour

1 tsp kosher salt

65g salted butter, and 50g lard, both chilled and cubed

4tsp. soured cream

1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar( or use white wine vinegar as a substitute)

4 tsp. water

1 egg., beaten

3 tbsp. lime pickle (I like Pataks)

2 tbsp. sugar

How to make:

First marinate the chicken. Mix all marinade ingredients, stir in the chicken, cover and pop in the fridge for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight.

 Heat the oven to 220C/ Gas 9. Spread the chicken pieces out in one layer on a large baking tray, leaving a margin on the side to say out the strips of red pepper, tossed in a tsp. olive oil. Cook for 15-20 mins, turning the pieces halfway through so that they cook evenly. Remove from the oven and set aside while you make the sauce.

 Slice the tomatoes in half and put in a large saute pan with 125 ml water, grated ginger, garlic, cardamom, cloves and bay leaf. Simmer, covered for about 25 mins until the tomatoes are mushy (the aroma from this simmer will already be driving you wild with desire). Remove the whole spices, add the chilli powder and simmer for a further 10 mins (Vivek likes to push the tomatoes through a sieve and just use the resultant puree, but I prefer my sauce to be a bit more rugged, a little less refined).

 Add the chicken pieces and the red pepper slices and all their juices and give it a good stir. Slowly stir in the butter, a couple of cubes at a time, and simmer for about 8 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. Add the chopped ginger, chillies and cream and simmer for a minute or two longer. Stir in 1 tsp.kosher salt, crumble in the fenugreek leaves and the garam masala. Adjust the seasoning if necessary then add the sugar.

 In a separate small pan, warm up all the ingredients for the spiced butter until the seeds start to pop. At this stage you can serve the Butter Chicken with the spiced butter spooned over the top, but if progressing with the pie (which I urge you to do) , then set both the chicken and the spiced butter to one side.

Now make the pastry (you can also make this ahead and chill, just bring back to room temperature before rolling out). Combine the flour , salt and a generous grind of black pepper in a food processor. Add the butter and lard and blitz until it has the texture of fine breadcrumbs. In a separate bowl, mix the soured cream, vinegar and water then add to the flour and butter mix and just blitz until the mixture starts to come together (don’t overwork it). Turn out onto a floured surface and bring together into a smooth ball. Wrap in cling film then chill for at least 30 mins.

Heat the oven to 200C/ Gas 6. Brush the rim of your pie dish with the beaten egg, then fill the dish with the butter chicken and drizzle the spiced butter all over the surface. Roll out the pastry in a circle big enough to cover the pie dish, then lay over the top of the dish, crimping the edges to seal and trim off any surplus pastry to neaten the edges. Cut a small cross in the middle to let the steam out during cooking and make some pastry leaves with any pastry offcuts.

Brush all over with the rest of the egg glaze then pop in the fridge for 10 minutes.During that 10 minutes, make the lime pickle glaze by mixing the pickle with 2 tbsp. boiling water and the sugar. Set aside.

Bake the pie for 40 mins then brush all over with the lime pickle glaze and bake for 15 mins more. Serve garnished with the chilli (dipped in a little oil to make it glisten) and a few coriander leaves.

 Mue’s Chai Latte Choc Chip Muffins (and some variations)

When I asked Mue for the recipe she had to quantify her instincts on ingredients, (and thanks for leaving out the eggs first time round missus) but the results were judged by those who ate them as ‘the best they have ever had’. I have slightly adjusted the recipe, using chai latte mix instead of masala chai and used my favourite buttermilk instead of sour cream. (makes 12 generous muffins)

Ingredients:

3.5 cups flour (about 350g) plain flour

3 tbsp. baking powder

1 tbsp chai latte powder

Pinch kosher salt

125g butter, melted

200g sugar

2 tbsp. Coconut oil, melted

2 tsp vanilla

2 cups buttermilk and maybe a tbsp of milk

2 eggs

1 50g packet of chocolate chips plus a few extra for serving

For the streusel topping: 

20g plain flour

10g sugar

10g butter

1 tsp. Chai latte powder

How to make

Heat the oven to 220C/ Gas 7-8. Line a 12 cup muffin tin with muffin holders (I like the tulip-shaped ones in the photo). 

In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, sugar, chai latte powder and salt. In separate bowl mix the melted, cooled butter and coconut oil with the beaten eggs, Buttermilk, splash of milk (1 tbsp) and the vanilla paste. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix with a wooden spoon until a thick, gloopy consistency. Add a little more milk if the mix is too stiff. You want it not quite falling off your spoon. Then fold in the chocolate chips. 

In a third bowl, rub the butter into the flour until you have fine breadcrumbs then mix in the sugar and chai latte. 

Fill the muffin cups evenly (about 2 tbsp. Mix per cup), then top with the streusel and pop in the oven, turning the heat down immediately to 180C/ Gas 5. Bake for 30 mins until a skewer comes out clean from the centre, then remove from the oven and dot each muffin with a few more chocolate chips cool and serve. 

Variations

For Blueberry muffins, omit the chai latte powder and choc chips and stir in 3 oz fresh blueberries into the muffin mix. Bake as before. 

For Apple, Pecan and Golden Syrup muffins. Melt 2 tbsp golden syrup with the butter and coconut oil, then add all the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients as before. Fold in 1 grated apple and 50g coarsely chopped pecans into the muffin mix then bake as before. Dot each muffin with a few more chopped pecans when out of the oven and before they cool. 

Mue and Cherie’s Ugly Green Juice

This is the colour of verdigris but tastes delightful. Just shut your eyes and drink (or colour match with your nail polish, like here). 

Ingredients: 

½ cup frozen strawberries

2 tsp acai berry powder or lingonberry powder

2 tsp Splenda or Stevia sweetener

4 tsp. Spirulina

1-2 Cups nut milk (try to get a nice think consistency, so start with 1 cup and add more to taste

How to Make

Put all your ingredients into a blender, blitz till smooth and serve. 

It’s that simple.

[createdtogetbored]

Riverdale 3×10

So writing these long ass text posts is actually really fun for me and if you actually read it thank youuuuu  😚 (this one is veryyyy long sorry)

Soooo i was expecting a follow up from the previous episode but they most likely couldn’t find a logical explanation as to how he survived.

Hiram and Archie’s relationship remind of me and my ex’s relationship like what Archie thinks of Hiram is exactly how i feel about my exes is it fucked up in their part or my part? Well who knows?

VARCHIE

Veronica is worried about Archie’s hair the second she saw him is so character for her.

I was screaming DO NOT KISS the entire time, and i’m sorry but i will always be bitter and angry to Veronica that she kissed Archie. You may not agree but i wouldn’t do that. Ohhh nevermind they literally had sex? Ohh that is just great Veronica wow. I’m disappointed.

I am starting to believe they have a unhealthy relationship like Dawson and Joey if you watched Dawson’s Creek. It’s like they need each other so much that they can’t survive individually. And i am one of those people who think that’s not romantic but toxic. They had to kiss or had sex because it’s like necessity for their life. Doesn’t matter the consequence which is hurting someone (Reggie)

“What did i miss when i was gone?”

Betty’s look sums it up lol 😕🙄😅

HONEY

They really did throw him a party huh?

“Take a seat lover, let me entertain you”

meanwhile

*Reggie dies internally while watching them*

Veronica wtf

Bughead was so cringe at the party they look so unnatural 🤢

Someone singing for you and looking into your eyes in front of a lot of people while your best friend is dying of jealousy hmmm love that

I watched Reggie the whole scene he literally try to act like he didn’t care offf

And Archie PTSD from the whole thing someone help him pls this town need a psychiatrist more than a sheriff

Archie you don’t study the SAT’s for a day or two it’s a processes you can take it again it’s okay

Archie is me taking an exam

Archie is not okay someone fucking do something

I was never tired of Varchie having sex too much but they really think ‘will you stay with me?’ means sex i-

Ras wtf? Veronica crying while taking her shirt off?

Thay act like a rebound relationship?

Varchie has been dead for a WHILE

JERONICA

THE POP’S SCENE

People say it’s a core four scene but i say it’s a Jeronica scene and you know it sis

“ two chocolate, one vanilla...” TWO BEING JUGHEAD AND VERONICA. These kind of subtle things make me wanna believe they know our existences and they are teasing us for a possible romance help

“Thankfully i hired the Serpents as my full time protecters”

JUGHEAD’S LOOK AFTER THAT SENTENCE IS EVERYTHING LADYS AND GENTLEMAN WE DID IT

it’s like gratitude.

“Sorry Veronica”

“Don’t be”

I-

HE FUCKING CARES ABOUT HER EMOTIONS AND RESPECTS HER NOW AGAIN IT’S OVER YOU BIETCHHES

VEGGIE

MY HEART BROKEN INTO MILLION PIECES CAN YOU HEAR IT????

“I get it. Archie’s back enough said” that is just i- And his voice is so sad like he is about to cry or something

I AM INCREDIBLY ANGRY TO VERONICA SHE COULD’VE HANDLE THE SITUATION WAAAAY BETTER

Don’t get me wrong i still love her very much but am i wrong on this? Maybe getting with Reggie while Archie was gone is way worse but idk i don’t think this as a character regression but she could’ve handled it better

The secret meetings they are doing idk maaan 

Reggie is pissed and i’m alllll for it

While he was shouting at Archie his voice cracked and i died at that point. ‘Like a little bitch’ that did it for me

“Love doesn’t come easily to me these days” I’m a Reggie stan now, okay? The damage has been done

That scene where they talked about cheating. WHY IS IT SO UNDERRATED? I love it, cause it was a whole misunderstanding and then it was too late to fix it’s such Reggie and Archie thing too

That hug at the hospital is 💗💞💘💝💕💕💖  “come here”

COOPERS

I AM SORRY I DON’T LIKE BETTY BUT UMMMM ALICE YOU ARE BEING A HOE STOP IT.

When she said collage found i lost it and she fucking gave it to the farm offffff when did she become a dumb person? When?

I actually felt bad for Betty i have a heart god dammit

I’m still not buying Hal as blackhood sue me

you know this whole messed up dad thing could’ve work if they didn’t make him so submissive at the very start

Celebrating with milk seems oddly psychotic to me

Betty talking to a serial killer aka her dad as if he is therapist killed me

BARCHIE

Omfg when Betty holds Archie’s hand Jughead’s look was sus

Barchie’s relationship is all about trust and if you ask me that’s one big thing bughead doesn’t have so Barchie has a strong foundation sissies you heard it from here first lol

DADDIES (Omg sorry)

Frad and FP

THAT’S HOT (insert will smith voice)

FRED WENT OF HE SNAPPED ON HIRAM and i support it fully and FP’s smile is fucking everything he is like “yes he is my boyfriend how are ya?”

“Sheriff Jones now boy” best part of the episode fight me

ACTUAL PLOT lol

I’m calling it now FANGS IS NOT SAVE SOMETHING’S GONNA HAPPEN TO HIM AND I WILL SUE JUGHEAD

And the most fucked up thing is that Jughead doesn’t even care he puts Fangs life into danger??? Wtf

You’re saying no one knows who Fangs Fogarty is or didn’t look him up? They don’t think a former Serpent member wanting to be in their inner circle sus?

The reaction of Fangs and Sweet Pea when they heard that he killed Joaquin 💖💕💘💗💓💞💖💗💘

So is THE GARGOYLE KING is really tall boy?

Okay hold on hold on JUGHEAD, wtf??? Baiting Archie to Hiram is so messed up? And you’re talking about it like it is a fucking marvelous of a plan

No, you obviously have some PTSD Archie omg

Sweet Pea and Fangs killing someone accidentally is the funniest dumbest shit ever i love them

That scene was really good

Oh btw Jughead ‘no crimes’ Jones how do they have a gun honey?

“We’re gonna throw a party”

“Okay”

AND THAT’S HOW WE FIX EVERYTHING IN RIVERDALE

Jughead being calm like that worries me you are 16 year old boy trying to cover up a murder AGAIN like that’s his friday night plansWe’re welcoming Fangs but not Choni love that for you guys heheheh

HERMIONE AND HIRAM 

“Hiram no”

“Hmmmm”

Damnnnn sis i’m surprised Hermione

Hermione will have an alliance with FP/Fred (they are one) and

Veronica will have an alliance with Jughead/ Serpents

“That’s how i stay alive” ashhsjskskskal

Hermione and FP love that ally

NO CHONI THIS EPISODE  :(

Share your comments if you want cause idk what to think about the whole Reggie-Veronica- Archie thing 

[talesofhavekostca-blog]

Shangrila

Jack Burroughs

December 27th, 2014

Havekost, CA

“Joint.” Jesus says behind me, slightly below the music blaring from Jake’s speakers. I am uncertain if this is actually what he said, so I turn down the radio and yell “What?!”

“I said ‘Light up the fucking joint.’ Don’t you have a couple in your cigarette pack?” 

“Uh..-” I check my breast shirt pocket and pull out my near empty cigarette pack, the contents inside include three cigarettes, two joints and gram of wax in my cigarette cellophane. “Oh yeah, here.” I light up one and hand it to Jesus, and Jake puts up a fit,”Hey, Shouldn’t that’ve been passed to me? I’m the goddamned captain of this vessel! ”

Jesus hits the joints and passes it to Jake, “Dude, chill. Here.”

“Why do you care?” I say as Jesus hands him the joint and Jake inhales and says to me, “I’m pilot, I drive the big metal death machine. You are co-pilot, you handle knobs and or drive for me if I’m too drunk. Jesus, is the passenger. His opinion of anything doesn’t matter until we’re at the concert.”

Jesus says,”It’s because I’m mexican huh?”

“What? No.” Jake says horrified, “You didn’t call shotgun.”

“Oh shut up. That’s retarded. Fucking white people.”

The joint ends up in my hand again and I bogart it for a bit before handing to it Jesus. “Well I’m happy we finally got a night out for ourselves boys, tonight will comprise of alcohol and fun.” I say with confidence.

“Who’re we seeing again?” Jake asks, “Some shitty local bands, I think.” I say.

“We gotta support our local music scene maaan.” Jesus says sarcastically, he then adds, “Also, Jack’s girlfriend’s band’s playing there.” Way to blow my cover,comrade. Et Tu, Brute?

Jake yells “THE FUCKING CUNT’S GOING TO BE THERE.”

I say quietly, “Please don’t call her that. I’m seeing her and-”

He interrupts me, “YOU’RE PLOWING HER AND YOU’RE THINKING WITH YOUR DICK. THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE OUR NIGHT OUT YOU HEDONISTIC FUCKSTAIN! SHE IS THE SISTER OF MY ENEMY YOU BASTARD!”

Before I can plea my case, Jesus speaks up, “Man, leave him alone, he didn't know til this morning. She didn’t even tell him and I already knew since I jammed with them once. They are pretty good, especially the chick guitarist. Oh man, I’d eat her out for days. No bathroom breaks.”

Jake, dumbfounded, “I just imagined some blond girl with a mohawk, chained to your bed, covered in her own waste. You sure can paint a picture, can’t you? Wait, who has the joint?”

Jesus and I both, “You do.” 

Jake looks down at the half smoked joint in his hand and says meekly to no one in particular,“Oh...sorry. Here, Iago, light this.” He shoves it in my general direction and I try to re-light it. “That doesn’t even make sense, Iago didn’t betray Othello with his arch enemy’s sister.” I say, succeeding at my joint’s reignition, “Do you ever pay attention during Mr. Cruickspice’s drama class?”

“No, why would I, drama girls are the worst. If you’re looking for damaged, there’s the place to go. Also,  you admit your betrayal Jack? Eh, whatever, we’ll still make a night of it won’t we boys?” Jake smiles and I have a sick feeling in my stomach as we exit off the freeway, I can’t imagine whatever he’s planning. 

’m on the highway, a miles sign tells me “HAVEKOST 5 MILES, CENTRAL CITY 8 MILES,  ST. FRANCIS 18 MILES,DRESDEN FALLS 23 MILES”

How the fuck did I make it out here? I can at least be thankful that home is the closest as I walk down the highway, my shirt back on completely. I check my pack to see if I have a cigarette. I do, but notice that I now have a tiny car instead of the wax in the cellophane. That must have happened back with the homeless/furry thing. I light my last cigarette and a sign tells me that a diner is down the road a half a mile and I scream ‘thank god’ to the vastness that are the stars, I’m kind of still tripping.

 I make it to the diner and inside there is just a few waitresses and a few random people. No cops, all that matters. 

I sit down at the counter and ask for coffee. I check my wallet and luckily I still have everything. The Waitress says to me “You look like shit, hard night?”

“Ma’am I was in the middle of a furry orgy after getting split from my friends. I have seen the end of days and it isn’t soon enough.” She gets another waitress to cover me. I get my coffee and somebody decides to turn on the tv. The news plays. 

A older white male, with perfect almost square teeth says” Good Morning Havoc City! I’m Tom Thompson. Top Story: an Orgy in Black Justice Park was stopped by local police a few hours ago. Apparently a group of people dressed up in animal costumes were having a decadent display on public property. Excuse me as we switch to to Debra Hunn for more. Viewer Discretion is Advised “

Oh shit.

“Hello, Tom! I’m at Black Justice Park where hours ago, hedonists were having sex in this very public setting. We have video of them. Here’s one where they are doing the act of fornication.”

Yep, on the tv there is blurred mountain of people in animal suits fucking. I’m speechless. 

“Here is another video of them running from the scene, where we also found a...ahh..a random bystander in the mayhem urinating!” The video follows a group of them, one being the Dalmation, However I had caught the eye of the Camera Man , who turns, to see me, half of my shirt on and the other over my shoulder and I have a huge smile and I can make out myself saying “Would you like some tea, helicopter?”  And with my other hand, my dick, surprisingly uncensored peeing. Oh my god. I’m ruined.

Everyone in the Diner looks at me. One of them laughs, the others just ignore me. I ask the room if I can use a charger so I can use my phone for a ride. No one answers but a younger but still worn out waitress let me use her’s.

[whiparoundandcry]

Earbuds dump

someone wanted me to go through all the questions so //cracks knuckles

1: What inspired you to write the fic this way?

dunno what ‘this way’ specifically means, but I tried reenacting the way a lot of my fav fics have been, in way of word count per chapter, character interaction, plot balanced w/ the ship, ect

2: What scene did you first put down?

Maaan, it’s hard to remember what came first now. I have a doc thats like, 20 pages of just notes & me outlining the plot and world building. The first scene written on that doc is lloyd revealing his identity to the team, which actually happens about a year before the start of the story!

3: What’s your favorite line of narration?

hmmmm, I’m a sucker for when the narration contradicts the dialogue- I just think it’s really funny, pfft. can’t think of any large scenes I do that in rn, but I also really like this bit, during the city hall meeting The woman sitting at the corner chair closest to the ninja shifted in her seat, and stared pointedly at Kai and Jay. Kai tried not to shift under her stare, but he could feel Jay stiffen next to him. “You two saved Satoshi the night King’s was attacked, right?” Kai’s mouth was immediately dry and his brain cut out. Her voice wasn’t loud, but compared to the silence before, she might as well have fired a gun. The question itself was straightforward enough, but Kai hesitated to answer - first, because Green ordered them not to speak, and second, he had no idea what she was talking about. I try to keep Kai a reliable narrator (aka I project a lot) and I feel like this part is funny for first-time readers, bc you get the feeling of “do I know who that is??? Did I forget?” then kai confirms it like “who tf”

4: What’s your favorite line of dialogue?

Kai looked up from their hands to meet Jay’s eyes, all warmth and kindness. “I dunno. I’ve only know you for a month, but I still feel as close to you as I do any of them.”

ouch!!!! 

5: What part was hardest to write?

GOD ALL OF THE FIGHT SCENES,,, this fic was so ambitious oh my god. That’s part of why the final chapter is taking a lot longer than normal- big fight scene ;v; also the meeting with the mayor was difficult to write bc like, I dont know shit about how city government works. My search history for the time I was writing that scene looked like I was researching for an essay, christ. 

6: What makes this fic special or different from all your other fics?

I’m finishing it :,3

7: Where did the title come from?

real honesty hours: I thre in the bit about Kai giving Jay his earbuds on impulse. I never planned for them to be a reoccurring symbolic plot device or for them to even exist but damn, here we are.

8: Did any real people or events inspire any part of it?

My relationship with my brother def inspires how I write Kai & Nya. I say that I project onto kai a lot, but I project all of my ‘trans younger sibling’ energy onto Nya. ngl, most everything I’ve done in this fic was inspired by batman tho

9: Were there any alternate versions of this fic?

Yeah, I have around 3 scrapped scenes. I’ll probably never release them, bc they were scrapped for a reason :,3

10: Why did you choose this pairing for this particular story?

Kai & Jay are the most boring out of the four boys :, ) so I figure’d it’d be easiest to fit their charters into the plot I had in mind, I couldn’t think of any way to fit in the “zane’s a robot” or “cole literally died” plot into it without making the entire story about those things. If I was made out of time tho, you bet earbuds would be a polyninja story.

11: What do you like best about this fic?

I honestly just like that I’ve gotten as far as I have into it, and the perception that its gotten has been so incredible //sobs. Aside from that, my favorite parts about it are probably Kai & Nya/Lloyd’s relationship, and also that Nya is trans. I hadn’t seen any fics where she was trans before, and tbfh its my favorite headcanon. I’ll never write a cis nya in my life

12: What do you like least about this fic?

The relationship build up seems kinda... eh? I definitely should've put more into it, but at the same time I feel like I did as much as I could with it, just bc I’m so inexperienced with that stuff. I also with I could do a better job of conveying the vibe that I want this version of ninjago to give off (gritty, rough, gotham) but without being super edgy about it?  Also I’m really upset that Cole & Zane are getting shafted in Earbuds. I should’ve come up with more stuff to include them, but everything I came up with just felt forced, so they ended up just being background characters- which is was more than they deserve, bc they’re honestly my favorite boys on the team.

13: What music did you listen to, if any, to get in the mood for writing this story? Or if you didn’t listen to anything, what do you think readers should listen to to accompany us while reading?

Well, there’s always the 8tracks playlist I made a while back (should transfer that onto spotify sometime) but theres a couple songs that I think fit the characters super well that aren’t on the list • “Fresh Eyes” is a super great Kai&Jay song QwQ “so suddenly I’m in love with a stranger / I can’t believe she’s mine / now all I see is you with fresh eyes” From Kai’s pov @ jay??? hell • “Better days” was a song rec sent in by my good bud hedley-ramsay anon, and it’s perfect for Kai’s POV, as he’s trying to stay optimistic about all the shit thats happening around him “Guess I didn't break it, but I bent it / I know I didn't say it, but I meant it / I shoulda had a little more heart and soul” • “Miss Atomic Bomb” is very very good for Lloyd & Harumi. tbh its a good song for them in canon too, but the dark city vibe it gives off fits so well with the Earbuds AU. “I was new in town, the boy with the eager eyes / I never was a quitter, oblivious to schoolgirls' lies” • “Be Still” is also a super great song for lloyd, in this au and just in general. “Be still / wild and young / long may your innocence reign” DONT CALL ME OUT I REALLY LIKE THE KILLERS

14. Is there anything you wanted readers to learn from reading this fic?

not... really? its a fanfiction about legos, I dunno if there’s any lesson to be learned from it. Be gay & do crimes

15. What did you learn from writing this fic?

writing fanfic is super rewarding & fun!! It’s a pretty pig time sink sometimes, but damn if yall don’t make it worth it. 

thanks so much for your continued support everyone!!! The last chapter has 2 scenes to go and is currently over 10k words 💪

[jincherie]

RHAAAAAA. IM SO EXCITED 4 SIREN!JIN!!! UR SNEEP PEEP WAS SO G8. CANT W8. THIS IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF CELEBRATION JIN NEEDS 4 HIS BDAY. IM V EXCITED. CAN U FEEL MY EXCITEMENT?? WHAT ARE THESE FLOWERS HE HAS?? SIREN!JIN IS RADIATING SUCH BDE THAT EVEN THE LADY IN THE ELEVATOR CAN FEEL IT. DONT BLAME HER. I WAS FEELING IT THRU MY SCREEN. !!!!!!!!!! 💖🔥😋

GAH i know u sent this before I posted it but I hope it lived up to ur expectations!!!!! i was so happy to be writing jin again lmao!!! thank u so much for hyping it up and sending this babe!!! ily !!!! 💖💗💗💕💞❣️💝💓💖💕

sergentculotte said: Oh maaan… Thar siren!Seokjin was everything I needed! Funnily enough, I watched two mermaid movies tonight, the little mermaid (the new movie) and aquamarine, and then I got the notification that you posted, what a perfect addition to my great merfolk-y night! Thanks again for making me feel stuff with your words, xoxo 

UGH YES FCK we love mer-moods in this house!!! fuccc!!!!! thank u so much for reading baby I hope you enjoyed it !!! 💖💗 ugh its been so long since i watched other merfolk-y movies jhfbjbf

Anonymous said: hi, I just found your account because I was scrolling through bts imagines and I was reading a lullaby on canvas for a good 5 minutes (you write so well by the way and now I’m staying up to read your other stuff lol 💗💗) and the app crashed so when I put in bts imagines again it didn’t show up so it’s almost been an hour and I just found your account/ the story again and I had to follow just to make sure I wouldn’t lose your account

HAHA love an obligatory follow!! But I am so so glad you’re here and that you enjoyed lullaby on canvas, thank u so much for reading and sending this my love!!! 💖💗 I’m glad you liked it enough to look for it again :)

rinatemme said: Hello! “A lullaby on canvas” is one of those works that made me feel so happy to read, it has an amazing plot, the descriptions are wonderful and you can practically feel the atmosphere, taste it. Thank you for writing it

hey babe thank u so much for reading aloc and sending such a lovely message!! i’m so glad you like it and think those things, thank u so much!!! 💖💗

Anonymous said: oh my GOD YOUR NEW FIC IS SO! GOOD! WHAT! THE ! FUCK! Allsldksjaldlslaldldjsjjslslsj have an amazing day 💜💜💜💜💜

thank you so much!!! sob!!! you too my love!! thank u for reading and sending this !!! 💖💗💗💕

Anonymous said: hi babe!!! i finally had the time to read a lullaby on canva and T____T this was really freakin cute !!!! and the way jin calls yn flower…. perhaps i cried a little… i love ur writing sooo much ahhh 

nfhbfhjbfhgf god listen i am the biggest slut for a good pet name so i fnjhbfjhbf FFUCKKK i love it too!! sm !!! thank you so much for taking the time to read it, and then for sending his babe!! ily!! 💖

captainship97 said: So I read lullaby on canvas and I loved it! I do have a question though about a siren’s kiss. I’ve done a little research trying to see what mythology says about kissing a siren and didn’t find very much. So when you say that it was taking life force, was it just energy, or life span? If the reader were to continue to kiss Jin here and there would it be considered dangerous or something they can regenerate with sleep or something? Loved the story!!! 💜💜💜    

HAHAHAHA ok to be fair i pulled a lot of shit right out my ass but I wrote that in concurrence with the idea that sirens, at least in this au, ‘traditionally’ lured sailors etc to their demise as they feed on their souls/energy/essence. I figured a way that made sense for them to create a link and siphon the energy would be via kiss. In this sense, I guess they’re not that different from how I shape incubi in my fics LOL. to answer your question I’d say its more like energy! it can regenerate, but too much taken can be harmful. In this au, some sirens are especially greedy and drink it all in at once– they’re the ones that started the myths :3 

ALSO seokjin can control how much he takes, but he can’t stop the kiss from acting as a siren kiss– UNLESS the recipient is his bonded & mated, in which case his mate will be resistant. she can still give energy if she wants but its more a choice. So MC is all good in the end!! (also i’m glad you liked it!!! tysm for reading it and sending this!!! 💖💗)

Anonymous said: OKAY I have so many questions! First of all, seokjin x reader siren fic, I loved it! But also, is it a one-shot, because now I’m just, my mind is, I wasn’t ready. The picture? What is it? Why is the reader so moved by it? When did they meet? Did he move there after seeing her? Did he meet her after she moved to the apartment? How long has the longing been going on? Does he sing for her? because of her? Did he leave his life behind because of her? Just, amazing. no words, incredible, as always. 

it is a oneshot, unfortunately! and seokjin’s artworks aren’t of anything concrete, but a combination of colours, shapes and patterns that evoke feeling in the viewers. there is nothing recognisable within them, yet the contents call to the deepest parts of a person’s being and tug. It is especially potent if the person gazing upon the artwork is the one that he had in mind while making it, as MC found hehehehe. its a little bit magical :)

And they “met” a year or so prior, when Seokjin moved in to the apartment next to hers! Although, that wasn’t the first time he’d seen her...

And yes, when he sings at night it was always for/about her. Ugh our lovesick little siren, singing mournfully about his “impossible, unrequited love”.... over time the tune changed though, often his song reflected how he felt after an interaction he had with her during the day-- it was usually sad if he didn’t see her. And regarding the last question, he left because he wanted to explore and travel in part but perhaps.... also bc of her.... :3

anyway thank u so much for reading and expressing such interest, I love having the opportunity to expand my worlds a little more for you all! thank u babe! ily!

Anonymous said: ahh… i just dropped by to say how much i adore your work. i reread the recent siren!jin fic bc i wanted to do a mock-up story board for the reveal scene (one of my favourite ever parts!!) and i loved the way you wrote it so much, like the whole fic but also that scene in particular. your fics make me so flustered and i get hot cheeks and everything - and yet i find myself creeping back for more. *‘you cast a spell on me’ plays from the speakers* 

a m-mock up storyboard? OMO-- and gah I’m so glad you liked that scene! I love that scene too!! It’s one I had in my head from the moment I started brainstorming and planning it. Perhaps one day I will illustrate it as I imagined it but in the meantime.... ugh... i love it so much. i’m so so glad you liked aloc,, and even my other fics too! thank u for reading and for sending this in babe!!! ily!!! i hope u have a wonderful day!!!

[ororowrites]

42 Reasons: Chadwick x OC: Chapter 3

Synopsis - Introduction- Chapter One - Chapter Two 

 Keeping a dark secret was damaging. Holly appeared fine on the outside, while she struggled with guilt and shame on the inside. She never thought she would open up to anyone about what happened and she wasn’t too sure about opening up to Chadwick about it either. 

“What’s going on,” Chadwick asked, sitting on a stool while Holly paced. “Hey, you can talk to me?” Stopping her in her tracks, Chadwick pulled his friend down to the stool next to him. 

“It’s a lot and I don’t know if I can even tell you,” she replied, hanging her head. “I was in a real fucked up situation and a person that should have been fired was promoted instead. I’ve been blackmailed up until this point and the very person who was involved is skipping around set like he’s not the devil.” 

“Wait, who,” Chadwick asked, trying to think of all the people he had encountered on set that day. No one outside of the regular people he saw came to mind. 

Holly opened her mouth to speak only to quickly shut it before the tears threatened to fall. Once again, she had froze. When her own mother asked what had happened on her last job, the actress brushed it off as a tiny altercation. 

“Who is it, Raye,” Chadwick pressed, now his brows pulling together in brewing anger. Whatever was going on with his friend, he knew it was hurting her. The hot tears trailing down her cheeks were a strong indication of hurt, betrayal and fear. 

“I- Chad, I can’t,” she cried, shaking her head and pushing herself up from the stool. “I’m fine. I’ll be okay,” Holly shooed Chadwick out of trailer to avoid breaking down in front of him. 

“I’m not leaving until you talk to me. You’re obviously upset and I can’t leave knowing that,” he had crossed the trailer and was now standing directly behind Holly, massaging her shoulders. Relaxing under her castmate’s touch, Holly wiped her tears. 

“Honestly, I don’t want to talk about it. It’s silly,” she brushed off, wiping at her cheeks clearing away any remnant of tears. “I need to get over it because I can’t always get my way.”

“Holly,” Chadwick began before being cut off by Holly’s charming smile. 

“I’ll be fine, Chad. Promise,” she attempted to make herself and Chadwick believe the lie and it was almost convincing. 

Not wanting to push her too much, the Black Panther star nodded and pulled away, “Alright, I’ll leave you alone. Just know I’m worried about you and when I find out who you’re talking about-”

“Slow your roll, T’Challa. We don’t need to see anyone lose their head, I’m okay,” Holly lied, letting her hands fall to Chadwick’s slender fingers. When she noticed their laced hands, the actress pulled away and put distance between them. 

Still not convinced, Chadwick backed away towards the door. When she was ready to talk, hopefully she trusted him enough to open up about the situation. Until then, he’d keep an eye on his friend, while also looking for the person who had clearly hurt Holly in the past. 

When the trailer door clicked shut, Holly wrapped her arms around herself and sank down to the couch. Now a dark cloud hung over her world and those old feelings were slowly making a return. The one thing she could use to numb the pain wasn’t even within her reach this time. The liquid form of pleasure was calling her name and it was hard to ignore. For the first time in awhile, Holly would have to suffer because she didn’t want to ruin her new opportunity. 

A few days went by without Ben Wiseman on set and Holly still seemed shook up by his appearance. The industry wasn’t that large and the actress was bound to run into her worst nightmare again. But, for a few years she was able to avoid him and somewhat heal. 

The days and nights on set were long and exhausting but everyone had bonded so well, no one complained. When they weren’t on set, Holly and Chadwick were in fight training together. 

“Ready for me to kick your ass today, Boseman,” Holly joked, pulling her thick curls back into a headband. “I’ll try to take it easy on you old man.”

Being called a old man wasn’t new for Chadwick and he always laughed it off. He looked young in the face but his mannerisms and a few of his ways screamed elder. “Oh, it’s like that, huh? This old man may have to show you a couple of things. Got a little muscle on those arms and you think you’re cute.” 

Holly blushed and shook her head in response. Their trainer had just entered the room with his gym bag and mat in tow. “Wassup fam,” Tony Kenny, their personal battle trainer, greeted the pair. Chadwick had been training with him since Civil War and had became even more advanced in his fighting skills. The actor was smooth on his feet and didn’t move like the old man people called him. Thanks to Tony, Mr. Boseman was in the perfect shape when filming began. 

“Hey Tony,” Holly replied, fist bumping the 6′2 and 195 pound fighter. 

“Hey lil bit. Chadwick, she’s catching up with you in the arm department, bro,” Tony pointed out, while Holly flexed her muscles, teasing her castmate. 

“Maaan! She ain’t working with nothing. Don’t blow her head up any bigger,” the actor teased, ruffling Holly’s curls and earning a slap to the arm. 

“Such a hater,” she stuck her tongue out and began stretching to prepare for their lesson. “I worked on my round house kick and tried those stretches you gave us,” Holly said to their trainer. 

“Cool, cool. I’ll check that out and let you know if you need to work on it some more. Deal?”

“Gotcha,” Holly responded, her spirits higher than they had been in the last couple of days. Being around Chadwick made her temporarily forget about the demons she was fighting. 

Movie fight scenes were always harder than people realized. What people saw on screen was a combination of CGI, intense training, and a stunt double if stunts were too dangerous for the actors. But no one truly understood the hard work that went into action scenes except the people working behind the scenes or on set. 

Chadwick and Holly trained with Tony on their free time in order to perfect their fighting styles and techniques. While some actors opted for stunt doubles, the acting pair attempted to do as many of their own stunts as possible. Training wasn’t easy all the time, but they enjoyed each other’s company and the challenge. Somehow they fit and working together brought a joy that Holly hadn’t felt in awhile. 

“You afraid to slam me,” Holly joked, holding her hands up in defense mode. The actors circled each other slowly, Chadwick’s feet softly patting the mat mimicking a cat. 

“Not at all,” he smirked, swiftly reaching out for his opponent as she ducked away. “Alright, that was luck.” 

“That’s twice in two sessions, you think that’s luck,” Holly teased right before she was pinned down to the mat. 

“You were saying,” the Black Panther star questioned, laughing obnoxiously at Holly’s surprised expression. “I’m the Panther, what did you think would happen?” 

“I’ll give you that one,” the actress stated, picking herself up from the soft blue mat. 

“You ready to go again,” Chadwick asked getting into stance. 

Adjusting herself, Holly got back in position, “Bring it.” 

After a long day of training, the actors returned to set to finish out their day before being dismissed at 3am. Holly hated when her days ended because it meant going home alone and being reminded of Ben Wiseman’s presence within the Marvel family. Chadwick decided to cook an early breakfast to avoid the few restaurants open within the early morning hours. They settled on Chadwick’s comfortable condo in downtown Atlanta. 

“I’m starving so I hope you can cook or I’ll have to talk about you,” Holly Raye teased, sitting at the kitchen counter, while the actor prepared the early morning breakfast. “You usually cook for everyone?” 

He moved around the kitchen, grabbing a mixing bowl, spoon and pancake mix from a cabinet. “Not much. Just for family...or girlfriends ,” he answered, peering up at Holly while he pulled out measuring cups and cinnamon, placing the items on the marble counter top. 

The statement sent Holly’s stomach to her feet. When Chadwick liked you, he didn’t hide it. The way his eyes twinkled made butterflies form. 

When Holly’s eyes finally fell to the counter, Chadwick continued taking out ingredients for his infamous waffles. An awkward silence formed between the two before Chadwick turned on music and began humming along to Raheem DeVaughn’s You. His costar continued watching from her seat, not taking her eyes off his bulging shoulders as he prepped the food. Or the way his lips pursed when he was in deep thought. His attentiveness when it came to the waffles was adorable. Holly kept watching until he startled her out of her daydream. “Can you get me that rice drink in there, Raye,” Chadwick asked, nodding towards the fridge. “Raye?” The sound of Chadwick repeating her name, made Holly jump to her feet and scurry over to the stainless steel fridge.

“Sorry, here you go,” she said, placing the carton on the side of the mixing bowl. “Need me to help with anything, Chef.” 

“There’s turkey bacon in the fridge if you want to get started on that.” 

“Wait, I thought you were-”

“I said for you, stop trying to call me out,” Chadwick laughed, shaking off the accusation Holly was trying to pin on him. 

“Mmmmhhmm, I know you snack on this when no one is looking. It’s okay to admit it. More bacon for me,” Holly stuck out her tongue and danced as she opened the package. Humming to herself, the actress pushed passed her friend and to the stove. “That smells good. What are you mixing in that?” 

“A bit of cinnamon and PB powder,” he replied, reaching over Holly’s head to grab another ingredient from the cabinet. As Chadwick reached up, his body accidentally bumped Holly’s, the roundness of her ass connecting with his hip. “Excuse me,” he breathed, praying she didn’t feel the excitement building behind the thick sweats. Everything seemed to be a domino effect because a startled Holly turned around, meeting him face to face. Great. Here fate was causing trouble once again. 

With their faces inches from each other and in a compromising position, they were frozen in place. Chadwick’s brown eyes landed on Holly’s plump lips, the urge to feel them against his own growing stronger. Slowly, that wall that Holly had built around herself was crumbling away and she felt safe. Safe with an old friend she once had a deeper connection with until they lost touch.

The package of turkey bacon mysteriously ended up on the counter. Chadwick had removed it from Holly’s loose grip before the package ended up on the floor. His lips moved in closer and Holly sealed the deal by closing the space between them. Unlike their onscreen kisses, they didn’t have to hold back. While Raheem DaVaughn continued crooning in the background, the sexual tension between the two actors grew. Their lips connected...

We’ll stop there, but the next chapter will pick up from this point! The next one will be an emotional one. 

Taglist: @sweetcarolinabelle, @babygirlofwakanda, @theunsweetenedtruth, @gorjiss, @wakanda-shit-is-that, @lavitabella87, @destinio1, @airis-paris14, @siriuslycollins

[livingmybestfakelife]

The Shootout

summary: You get injured on the set of your show that Chadwick is guest starring in

This was it, the final scene of the episode and climax for the season 3 finally of your critically acclaimed AMC show Green Room, the show was set in the early 80s during the crack epidemic and your character was a young woman whose late father was a drug lord and left you his club called “Green Room” named for the amount of drug use that went on, preferably marijuana. After losing the majority of the customers that made the club a hit and marijuana stopped being in such high demand, your character makes the drastic decision to cash in on the rise and popularity of cocaine, despite wanting to stay away from it, as your character (named Carmelita Presley) makes more money she also earns herself more problems, and handles it all with as much streets smarts as she has and with the with help of all of the people she can bribe. 

While in the makeup chair getting the final touches done you hear the hair and makeup trailer door open and close, you then hear the sound of your old friends voice “Yo it is hot as hell out there” two other people laugh and he goes to sit down “That’s the Nevada summer for you, thank God this is the last day of filming before our break, as much as I love this show I’m ready to sleep” you say, you can’t see him but you know that Chadwick is nodding “Well this is my fifth and final day, man I wish I didn’t get killed off so soon” “Well your character doesn’t hold that much purpose” you say after your makeup is finished, he sticks his middle finger up at you making you laugh then look in the mirror, you see yourself in all of your beaten and bruised and cut up glory, it was what was left of your characters pretty face after her big “fight” scene between her and Chadwick’s character Maurice “Blue” Sanford, yours and Chadwick’s stunt double fought for what seemed like an hour and the choreography was well done. After Chadwick got done in the makeup chair ya’ll was called out to get ready for the shootout scene between your crew and his crew, this would be the scene where Maurice dies, the director of the episode directs everyone where she wants them to be and what to do, everyone gets their fake guns ready and get into position “and action!” she yells. Even though you’ve done big action sequences like this before but this was by far one of the most intense ones, you knew the bullets were blanks but still couldn’t shake the feeling of them sounding so real, which of course they were suppose to, AMC gave the show a big enough budget to take no shortcuts, it was getting closer now, getting close to where you had to come up from behind the safety of a big slab of concrete and get closer to Chadwick, it would be your character who kills his so you had to get close enough to get a clean shot, as you got closer the gunshots got louder, so loud that it left a ringing in your right ear, you were pumped with so much adrenaline that you almost didn’t feel a bullet his your shoulder, it wasn’t until one of the producers and one of your oldest friends Amaya James noticed blood seeping from your thin white button up “hey she’s bleeding!” you faintly hear her voice, and the director yells cut.

You were confused and didn’t understand what was going on, it wasn’t until you saw everyone looking at you with shocked expressions, but no one looked more worried than Chadwick, you suddenly felt pain from your left shoulder and looked down to see blood, crew members and some of your co stars ran over, everyone thinking that maybe a real bullet was accidentally put in one of the guns and shot you “hey give her some room, call an ambulance!”, Chadwick was the first one to grab you when you begin to loose balance and he fell to the ground with you, you started to get dizzy and and you heard people yelling instructions, cursing and asking where the hell the ambulance was. When they finally showed up you were expected since EMT’s noticed that you didn’t seem to be loosing an alarming amount of blood, it was spotty, either way you were still taken to a nearby hospital and was looked over, though blanks are meant to be fatal as when they have gun powder in them it can still cause injury, and it was no doubt that you were hurt, the blank pierced your skin and obviously caused some bleeding but you were going to live, as for the dizziness and almost passing out, all of that was due to the heat, it being up in the 80s today, but the producers weren’t careless to have everyone outside all day, the shootout was the only scene that was shot outside the longest, and there was plenty of water on standby just in case. After being in the hospital for two in a half hours you were ready to be discharged, you didn’t have to be there for too long since your injury was too alarming, you were even well enough to be back on set and do the scene again, your words, not the doctor, who told you that it would be best to rest for a while before even thinking about putting your body through that again, but you wanted to finish the scene and didn’t wanna waste anymore money and going over the seasons budget. It’s what you had told the producers who didn’t care about all of that, your health being more important but you suggested maybe the editor could loop the gunshots and the camera angles could be more focused on you so that it wouldn’t show no one shooting, just the sound would be heard, after the back and forth they finally agreed and the scene went on, so when “action!” was called, you creeped over to Chadwick in silence, no gunshots heard but you made it look like you were dodging bullets, you made eye contact with before his final words “go ahead and take your shot girl” and you point the gun at his face before pulling the trigger “cut!”, you try to stand up but Chadwick is instantly on his feet going to help you “Why don’t you ever listen, we could have re shot this after you were healed up” he says in a stern tone, you roll your eyes “and interrupt everyone’s vacation? I’m fine Chad, it wasn’t as if I lost a fatal amount of blood” “Always putting others before yourself” he shakes his head and helps you back to your trailer.

He helps you sit down and hands you a bottle of apple juice from your mini fridge “Thanks” you open it and chug it down, feeling more thirsty than ever “God girl, you chugging that like it’s Hennessy” you throw the cap at him and he laughs, you lean your head back on the couch and enjoy the cool air coming from your air conditioner, you wipe away from sweat from your collarbone and Chadwick watches your hand while you do it, he wants to tear his eyes away so bad, knowing that it wasn’t a good look, knowing that he shouldn’t even be looking in the first place, he had a girl, but in that split second he didn’t have her on his mind, which made him feel like a piece of shit. You look over at him and he moved his eyes away and looked over at the sink “Hey, you alright?” you ask and he looks back over to you and smiles a little “Yeah, I’m good, you scared the hell out of me today, I really thought that you might have been done for” “Oh Chad you so dramatic” you joke and try to laugh it off but he looked serious which halted your laughing “Oh come on Chad I was just kidding “Yeah well not me, seriously I was scared”, you lean up and sit a little closer to him “Okay, look I’m sorry, but I’m fine, I appreciate you being concerned but look, see, I’m good, I’m still here” “Thank Good too, I don’t know what I would have done if-” he cuts himself off knowing that if he would’ve kept going then he would say somethings that would have probably made you feel uncomfortable and made him look like an asshole of a boyfriend, but he had already said enough for you to guess what he probably wanted to say but you brushed it off and made yourself look oblivious “Hey, I understand, you’re my friend and I know if I lost you so soon that it would hurt me as well, it’s okay to say that you would miss your friends Chad” he looks back over to you and grabs your hand and plays with your fingers “Alright then, I’d miss you” you smile and he holds your hand up to his mouth and kisses it, you lean your head on his shoulder and close your eyes “Doesn’t that air feel good?” you say changing the subject and he chuckles “Yeah it do, all I got is a crappy little fan in my trailer, how the hell you get good air in yours” “Well I am the star” “Maaan whatever” you both laugh and you hear a knock on your trailer door, you pop up and go to answer it “Hey” you say to a crew member “Hey YN, Mr. Boseman’s girlfriend is here, do you know where he is?” Chad stands up and walks over “Yeah I’m right here, I’ll be out in a minute” they crew member wants to say something but knows it’s not his business so he nods and leaves “YN I uh” “You better hurry up and go before she makes her way over here and thinks you were up to something you weren’t, wouldn’t want you sleeping on the couch tonight” he nods and goes to kiss your cheek, but you dodge it “You better hurry Chad” he sighs and exits the trailer, you close the door and go to pack your things and get ready to head to the airport so you can fly back home to New York, the whole time steady thinking about how you let him him kiss on you, it was on your hand but it was still an intimate gesture, it didn’t help that you cuddled up against him, mostly likely giving him the wrong signal, you were like this with many of your friends, but it never gotten so intimate like what you usually do with Chad, what you do know is that you for sure wouldn’t let this happen again, though you really didn’t do anything wrong, but it still felt wrong, feeling like a homewrecker even though you didn’t even put a dent in the wall.

[magnificentnightmaresuit-blog]

Duty above all

Was it her duty to bring some sense back into him? Could she? Sasuke has slipped through his friends' and family's fingers. He had pushed them away one by one -even her… so she wondered what she was doing there alone with him in that shadowy small room.

She would have laughed if she had the heart to.

Today was Ino's birthday. The girl was the typical bubbly blond girl who radiated with joy and happiness. No missions as ninja or hardships seemed to chip away her sunny smile or her mischievous character. Rather it has reinforced that side of hers, especially after she's seen a close friend almost die before her. That's why she was so popular among the ninja population, and even amongst civilian.

She knew how to be the pleasant meek girl, and fun hard partygoer when needed.

So, the moment Ino told Hinata's stern father that they would drink tea and discuss just among girls, Hinata almost scoffed. Ino didn't even flinch. No one would've believed Hinata had she called Ino out.

Yet there they were: the beer was moving around, the music was blaring and sweaty bodies were sliding against one another. Yeah, she was definitely not drinking tea. The thought made her smile…

Until her eyes fell on him.

He wasn't looking back.

In fact, she was totally invisible to him.

She didn't like how her heart reacted. It felt too implicated.

"Hey, you look at Sasuke-kun?"

The heavy weight that suddenly landed on her shoulder scared her. She tore her eyes from the dark haired young man to look at her left: pink soft hair met her gaze.

"Ah, Sakura-Chan… Not really" she muttered, even though the music was blaring.

Sakura had asked a simple question. She just had to give a simple little answer. Yet a lie escaped her lips as if breathing. It was so natural… it was so vicious and shameful for someone with her education. She had lied about watching him.

Hinata had been watching him the moment he entered the party and he had been ignoring her. That's the truth.

"Really? Well" Sakura said then sighed "I've tried you know? I've tried to help him but he just keeps… how can I put that…?" Sakura screamed over the music.

"Destroying his life?" Hinata said a bit louder.

Sakura laughed "that's too much. Maaan, Hyuga certainly don't know what having fun mean!"

Hinata turned to her side once again and met unfocused green eyes. On closer inspection, she realized that her companion of the night had red puffy eyes. She bit her lips, feeling guilty for being so engrossed in her own head.

"Are you alright Sakura-Chan?"

"What is the problem if Sasuke decided to have fun? I heard that ménage-à-trois was a lot of fun"

"You should put that cup aside"

"Look at you! Look at me! We're here like moping clouds of desolation, bad-mouthing his life's style while he's having fun" Sakura slurred a bit "maybe he's the one who's right."

"Sakura-Chan…"

"He used to be a moping grey cloud too; but since he learned to have some fun with his fangirls, he's cooler, right Hina-Chan?" Sakura chuckled "maybe we could get over ourselves if we tried"

"Sakura-Chan… you're babbling now"

"Whaaat? Oops. Sorry, I forgot that since you're seven, you lost that right. You'd better stay a virgin or the Hyuga won't be happyyyy"

"Sakura-Chan!"

She didn't want to hear any more of that. Sakura's words seemed to be true. Sasuke was just partying like anyone else. He was making out with two girls at the same time, but still, what had she to do with anything? She had enough 'rights' to worry about him and try to reason with him, but not enough to have any says in his choices.

The only persons that had a say was either his actual family or his girlfriend. She could be by some extend family, but it wasn't the case yet… even then, it still didn't mean anything. She was nothing to him, yet that feeling was unmistakable… It had gnawed at her guts for too many a year to create confusion, and she certainly didn't want Sakura to poke around and expose her ugly feelings.

Honor before all.

Hinata heaved Sakura and put her right arm around her neck. She dragged her outside. The drunken girl looked out of it until Hinata brought her some medicine made by the same girl.

It was as disgusting as it was efficient.

"Gah! I can't believe I made this"

"You sure did" Hinata said as she proceeded to sit beside the pinkette "is it better now?"

"Yeah, thanks… sorry for the comment. It was uncalled for"

"I-it's okay." Hinata flushed a deep red "you weren't you… if there's anything I can-"

"I love him so much… It's driving me crazy" Sakura confessed with teary eyes "I've never drunk this much"

"I know that feeling" Hinata said with a grimace "sometimes it isn't the purest of feeling"

Sakura chuckled "he told me that love doesn't justify anything… It isn't enough that I love him or that he potentially loves me… tsk"

A sob escaped the pinkette.

"Sakura-Chan…" Hinata whispered as she reached for her friend.

"No." A sob escaped her tight throat again. "It's okay. Don't pity me over a pathetic heartbreak."

"I know Sasuke-kun isn't easy to fall in love for-"

"Sasuke?"

Sakura instantly laughed so loud, over and over; as if Hinata had told her the world's best joke. Hinata was confused as the laugh kept going on and on, getting some attention from people not far from them.

The sweet and contagious laugh looked genuine until Hinata realized it never reached those crystal-green eyes. It was one of hysteria. Soon enough the dark haired young woman followed suit.

"I don't know why you're laughing… but it was contagious"

"It's just… no, never mind." Sakura smiled, then said "Sasuke is a closed chapter now. No indeed, it's a bad idea to fall for him, but now I know there're even worse love stories"

Hinata listened in silence. There was no beginning or end to the story Sakura was telling, just the middle and little to no information about facts. Maybe it was another hot boy that had an unorthodox lifestyle; maybe it was a story even more shameful than hers. There weren't enough pieces to the puzzle, but there's enough for Hinata not to question the girl further.

She didn't want to talk about her lover. Hinata would respect that.

"I'm torn you know? On one side he's completely and utterly out of limits… I shouldn't even glance his way… on the other side…"

"Your feelings… are too strong?"

"It's more than that… as ninjas we're just tools that are risking our lives every second. I accepted to sacrifice everything like my parents before me, but…" Sakura sighed "Love is the last piece of us and we've got to sacrifice even that?"

It stroked a sensitive cord inside Hinata. Why should they all get sacrificed? Weren't they sacrificing enough by going on those perilous missions? Wasn't it enough that since they are sixteen they danced with death in the name of the village?

For someone like her, this wasn't even a question. Sure, the village wasn't her first priority - her clan was. She had to and did surrender her all to their cause, their plans and their future. Her duty was to preserve her clan's honor and prosperity. Her existence was skewed around and inside that. Nothing else.

No, she wasn't like Sakura.

Hinata chuckled.

"Okay, I've humiliated myself enough. I'd better go home"

"Are you sure you're fine? I can accompany you"

"I'm fine, I'm fine."

"What about Kakashi-sensei? He might be mad at you? Ino had to come up with a lot of… excuses to get this party"

"Kakashi…" Sakura chuckled "he'd be more than happy if I got there drunk with a man at my side. So don't worry"

Hinata was too shocked by her words and the familiarity in her tone. Sakura had always been the polite girl who used suffixes with everyone expect Naruto… then Hinata remembered that she wasn't quite herself.

"I still insist on-"

"I'll go with her"

Both girls turned around to meet dark cold eyes. Hinata stiffened on instinct. She looked back at Sakura, then back again at the newcomer. Despite being aware of the growing friendship between them, Sakura was still a slightly drunken girl and he was a boy. It wasn't like it was Naruto or…

Thinking about his name, she flinched.

"Hey, I mean no harm Hinata-kun. I just wanna help"

"Yeah, but-"

"It's okay Hinata-chan. I'll go with Sai-kun-" she paused at Hinata's facial expression "it's okay Hinata-chan. He won't bite me. Besides, he think I look like a dog, so he won't kiss me either"

Sakura laughed and shrugged. Sai gave them his usual pleasant but fake smile. Hinata was confused. That the pink-haired girl was so keen on having Sai give her company surprised her –after all, the girl's best friend had been interested in him for some time. Besides, they started on rocky grounds. Yet Sakura seemed at ease.

Hinata hesitated. She was ready to call Naruto when Sakura snagged a big chunk of a nearby tree and crumbled it as if it was bread.

"If he ever tries anything, he'll end like this. So stop worrying Hina-Chan"

Sakura smiled and kissed the girl's cheek.

"We'd better start moving Sai-kun"

"Yeah, I'm coming" he said with an agreeable voice.

As he walked toward Hinata, he stopped beside her, landed her hand on her shoulder and leaned over to reach her left ear "if you don't hurry up, Sasuke might go down those girls in… fifteen minutes"

Hinata shivered "S-so what? He's a-a big boy. He… can do whatever he-"

"So that's what you tell yourself at night?"

Hinata pushed his hand away. She glared at him so hard her eyes felt on fire along her whole body. His suspicion, her anger, her fear, her reality… everything melted into one and turned her body into a shaky container waiting to explode.

This was the second time she acted so differently than a Hyuga.

Her father raised her to stay cold-blooded even in face of death.

Here she was, getting flustered over something trivial… or was it?

"What are you implying?"

"He is the brother of your fiancé. His behavior affects his clan's image and it indirectly affects your clan's." Sai said as if he had a perfect knowledge of both clans' business. Funny enough, it managed to soothe Hinata "It's your duty to watch over him in a sense too, isn't it?"

"Yes- I mean, no. No, I-"

"Go to the second floor. Once there, take the first door at your left. You can thank me later".

"Hey, I'm tired. If you wanna stay, I can go alone. Just know that she's got a fiancé who can kick your butt in no time" Sakura screamed, as she moved backward.

"What would I thank you for?"

"Don't mind Sakura…"

"Sai-Kun, what would I thank you for?" Hinata hissed, as she grabbed his forearm.

Sai sighed. "I'm helping you defend your clan's honor. Isn't that a duty of yours? Isn't that why you marry him?"

"I like Itachi-san!" Hinata quickly said with a grimace and a frown. She didn't like where their conversation's going. "I like him. I'm going to join Sasuke-kun but it's just to stop him. That's all there is."

"We all know that it's just a political marriage. Itachi was never around unlike Sasuke. It's okay if you've got feelings for the younger bro-"

"Stop it" Hinata hissed "I'm going to fetch Sasuke-kun and bring him back to the Uchiha compound. You go find Sakura-Chan"

"Of course. Our duty calls us"

"Yes, my duty calls me"

Was it to prove something to Sai?

Was it to prove it to herself?

She kept mulling over their discussion over and over. He had said such things she'd felt insulted. In which ways, she couldn't tell, but there was no way he could've insulted her any more. She cared for both brothers, and she was going to marry the big brother.

That's her duty.

Now, her duty was to preserve their clans from shame…

Her duty was to bring Sasuke back to his senses.

With iron will, she opened the doors from where escaped moans. She prepared herself for the worse, but it wasn't that bad. Both girls were already naked, their bodies betraying the excitement in which they were already basking – goosebumps and perky breasts. Along their inner thighs slid the juices of their pleasure.

The moment her eyes landed on him, his eyes shot open. His eyes were obviously clouded with pleasure, but he didn't feel ashamed of her presence. The girls kept moaning and kissing his skin while his eyes pierced through hers.

The shame of walking in on such a scene burned her skin, but the need to stop him from going any further with those girls was too strong to ignore.

"Sasuke… kun" she said loud enough to get the girls' attention.

"Oh, if it isn't the famous Hyuga" the red-head said with a sloppy smirk. "Wanna join?" she added after some seconds went by.

"What are you saying Akane! You're probably talking to our future sister-in-law"

Both girls laughed, as Sasuke didn't even flinch. Hinata thought she'd die. It took her an incredible amount of self-control and courage to utter her next words:

"We've to talk"

"Hey, can't you see that we're busy knuckle-head?"

Akane emphasized her words by waving Sasuke's dick. Hinata blushed and quickly looked away without any second thoughts. After going so far, her stubbornness was the sole anchor she had left.

She didn't bulge.

"Gosh, hey honey can't you-"

"We're done for tonight"

Sasuke's calm words heaved a huge weight from Hinata's shoulders but outraged the two horny girls. After tons and tons of complain, they still got dressed and asked promises from Sasuke. He made none, much to their disappointment.

After that intimate sight she got of Sasuke she hadn't found the courage to face him just yet. She waited, heard every lustful word and every sound of clothes sliding against one another. It seemed endless, until she got bumped into the shoulder twice and hard enough for her to move away from her previous spot.

Hinata looked at the girl with shock written all over her face. One stopped.

"You think you're better than us because you're a Hyuga? Or because you're gonna marry in the Uchiha clan? With Itachi of all people" Akane sneered "it's amusing to see such a high eminence in such a party. I'll make sure to remember it"

"Is that a threat?" Hinata asked as calmly as possible.

"Threat? Are you afraid I'll spill the beans to Neji? Or your father... or maybe your fiancé?" the red-head pretended to think over it "do I have a reason to?"

"I-I just wanted to talk to Sasuke-Kun-"

"Or have him for yourself. Have fun with him. We certainly prepared him for you" Akane said as she moved away with her green-haired friend.

If Hinata ever replied, it'd have gotten unwanted attention. Maybe it was too late. Sai, now that Akane girl and her friend… she doubted about her presence. She was scared, scared enough to come back to her senses for the time being.

Was it her duty though? To bring some sense back into him? Could she? Sasuke has slipped through his friends' and family's fingers. He had pushed them away one by one -even her… so she wondered what she was doing there alone with him in that shadowy small room.

Yet when their eyes met, she entered the room and closed the door silently behind her.

"Did you hear that?"

Sasuke didn't answer. He just shrugged.

"They threatened us"

"No, just you"

"They'll badmouth you, and me and –and our families"

"It's not like I care. At worse, I'll get nasty eyes from both sides. Nothing new"

"Well, you should care. If not about your reputation or anything, at least for-"

"Not again"

"Yes"

"Did you go through all this pain and catfight to tell me about this old broken record?"

"Sasuke, this" she made a vague large gesture "this isn't normal."

"What's normal, eh?" Sasuke sat forward with both hands crossed between his thighs "having a fiancé at seven?"

Hinata breathed hard. She had to expect it though. He's always been blunt. Apparently it was getting worse over time.

"Why are you looking at me like I insulted you?"

"Why did you bring something personal into this discussion?"

"If I'm wrong that means you're right isn't it? That means everyone from the Uchiha clan is right isn't it?"

"This marriage is for the greater good"

"You're marrying a man you don't even love." Sasuke hissed, his eyes glinting under the moon. "you can't really judge me"

The guilt and shame stabbed right through her again.

"I li-love Itachi-san"

"Answer came too late. Try again"

"I-it still has nothing to do with anything. Look, at your life! You live in excess. That shows how much you aren't doing well. You're hiding your sadness behind alcohol and women."

He glared.

She moved forward until she was a foot away.

"You need help"

That was the last drop for him. Sasuke swiftly got up, scaring her in the process. She backed away but soon realized that for every step she took back, he moved at the same pace toward her.

His glare turned her back into a small kid that had no power against an adult –it burned its way through her skin. Soon enough, her whole body felt restless.

Unable to meet his gaze, her eyes slide to his lips. When fear clawed her back even more harshly, she lowered her gaze to his torso that dimly glowed under the moonlight.

A small voice begged her to get out of the room at that moment.

She resisted the voice.

When her back hit a wall, she closed her eyes…

"I need help?"

… And felt his breath fan her face as his frustration rolled away from his body to penetrate hers.

"Let's say I need help. So what? What has my so-called coping mechanisms to do with you? I've never questioned yours after all"

"Wh-what are y-you talking about?" she asked, but never met his eyes.

"You've stalked Naruto for three years. Daydreamed and obsessed over him. I knew you fantasized about that loser who was just like you but never gave up"

Hinata's head snapped up. She finally looked into his eyes. There's nothing inside them but anger. They were endless pool of darkness and scorn. That's what she as seeing; that's what his words made her feel.

"That's what you thought of me… That I was a loser…"

She remembered Sakura's words. The girl has been right –she knew it. She even wanted to laugh at her own expense but the noise was stuck in her throat. If anything tried to escape her, it'd turn into tears.

Sasuke was the last person on this earth she could cry in front of, not after this revelation.

"That's how you saw yourself"

"What about you? You didn't answer the question"

"You never asked"

"Was I a loser to you?" Hinata hissed. She couldn't scream. Not yet. Not tonight. Maybe never.

Maybe this was the end.

Sasuke removed his hand that trapped her against the wall and moved back.

"You weren't particularly strong… you could've trained. Instead, you kept following a boy who had the hots for someone else"

"All this time you were faking to be a friend. You could at least have the decency to come clean"

"Why? It's your life. It's your choice. Now it's my turn to have my fun, yet you wanna cockblock me. In the name of what?"

"You don't even care about your father? Your mother?"

"I do care. I'm a ninja. I've decided to sacrifice my life like our great ancestors. Should I sacrifice my personal life too?" Sasuke deadpanned "I ain't the virginal goat who gets to be sacrificed"

"Come clean for on-"

Sasuke put this time both hands at either side of her head. She was fully trapped, yet she wasn't looking away. There's an edge in her gaze her whole body was aware of. She knew she shouldn't look so straight into his eyes in such a small place, in such a dark room, in such a tensed state… it felt like a challenge. Hinata knew he liked challenges.

Or maybe it was something else? A lot of maybes and what-ifs swirled into her head, as much as did her anticipation and confusion. What had she expected when she walked upon his naked self? His closest friends couldn't help. His parents couldn't, neither did Itachi that he had adored so much until he reached twelve.

Maybe he was a lost cause?

Or maybe he wasn't?

Sasuke and Sakura seemed to be right.

"I'm not you. I wouldn't have sacrificed my freedom for shit. We're in a village. It's useless and silly to marry to create an alliance that already exists."

His friends weren't against it –Sakura thought he was just a playboy who couldn't settle down; Naruto thought Sasuke was just having fun. Kakashi-sensei thought that was the way to take advantage of good looks and youth. His father had let go long ago, and his mother simply wanted him to settle. His big brother didn't care as long as Sasuke was healthy.

Those were the most important people in his life. So, Hinata felt stupid and guilty. Apparently he didn't think high of her either. Apparently, he never had.

She lowered her head again.

What a sad conclusion, she thought.

"Did the cat get your tongue or what?"

"No… I… Are you happy? Is this what you've always wanted? To have that kind of freedom?"

"We're no kids anymore. Dreams barely have the right to exist in this new reality…"

"I'm sorry to have wasted your time. I'm sure you've got better things to do" Hinata whispered.

Her eyes were already wet. Time's running out; her tears were scraping the back of her eyes, begging for their freedom. Yet, his arms weren't moving away. Yet, she didn't push them away.

If she moved one inch too much, she'd break down.

"You've always been like this… so weak. You'd never say what you think… or when you felt hurt by someone's acts or words…" Sasuke whispered, his breath caressing her right ear "look at me"

Hinata bit her lips. She was going to break down. The feeling was overwhelming… so she fought. She pushed back; hit his chest with pathetic punches. Her fits landed over, and over, and over…

Until she broke down.

Until anger rose in her chest.

"What do you want? Eh, Sasuke-kun? I know I'm weak. I'm a pathetic loser! I can only be sacrificed to be useful! I've always been like this! Now let me go!"

She fought, hit and kicked. It went on and on. He had expected her to calm down but she didn't until he got tired. So, he flushed his body to hers, grabbed her hair, intertwined his fingers into her long midnight strands and turned her face toward his.

Hinata tried again, but her hits were rendered futile as that of a child. There wasn't much she could do.

"I'm sorry"

"You say what you thought about me"

"Yeah, but that's a closed chapter of your life. There's a difference between that eleven year old naïve idiot and this seventeenth joinin getting ready to get into anbu. So, don't play the victim" Sasuke said as he stared at her mouth.

"Maybe you should take some of your advice" Hinata whispered.

Sasuke's eyes moved back to her eyes, letting go of his vice-like grip in her hair "oh yeah?"

"I know why you do this, and… your friends love you. Your family does too… I love you too. So, why do you feel this… need to go around?"

"What if I know this? What if it's just for fun and you're wrong?"

Hinata chuckled "I've been in your shoes. Excess is a coping mechanism for you"

"Would you be happy if I get a girlfriend then?"

"I'll be happy when you try and reconnect with everyone around you…"

"I get it" Sasuke muttered.

He lowered his face until his lips landed on her jaw. Her whole body trembled from that contact alone. At that moment she knew she had waited for it for far too long.

Sasuke left another open kiss under her jaw, on her neck, on the valley of her breast… and he bit her shoulder lightly. He lifted her up until she sat on the table next them. It was high enough for them to kiss properly, with their bodies so close not even a hair could come in between.

When their lower parts met, both gasped. She felt it; she felt him hard and uncompromisingly ready. He wanted her just as she wanted him. The thought was enough for her to rub against his erection until he lost his cool and control.

"Maybe I should try to reconnect with you first"

[crimsonadri-fanfiction]

My Demons (Chapter 15)

Fandom: Naruto (Anime)

Genre: Romance, Hurt/Comfort, Friendship, FLUFF

Pairing: Gaara x OC

Rated: T

(First) (Previous)

If I told you what I was, Would you turn your back on me? And if I seem dangerous, Would you be scared?

-Monster – Imagine Dragons

 Rin waited outside on a tree swing for the first exam to be over. After about another half hour of waiting, people started leaving the building. She saw red hair and ran over.

“Did you guys pass?” Rin asked as she walked next to the three.

“Yep.” Kankurō said. “And you doubted us.”

“I doubted you. There’s a difference.” Rin said. Kankurō frowned. “I knew you two could do it.” Rin said to Temari and Gaara. Temari smiled at her. Rin cupped her hands around her mouth and went up on her toes pretending to whisper something to Gaara. He leaned his head down slightly and blinked when he felt her kiss by his cheek. Rin pulled back and smiled at him before looking at Temari. “When’s the next part?” she asked.

“It’s tomorrow. Baki’ll tell us where to go in the morning.” Temari said.

“Great!” Rin said.

“You can’t help with the next exam.” Baki said to Rin as the four walked up to him.

“I have no idea what you could possibly be talking about.” Rin said looking away. Kankurō face palmed.

“You’ll be waiting with me until they complete it.” Baki said.

“Okay.” Rin whined but smiled at Gaara. “I’m sure I won’t be waiting long.”

The next morning all the candidates who’d passed the first part of the exam met outside of a fenced off area with huge trees. On the fence gate was a sign that said ‘restricted area’ as well as many chains and locks keeping it closed. There was even a paper seal.

“Wow nice place, what is it?” Naruto asked.

“This is the location for the second phase of the exam.” Anko, the second exam proctor, said. “It’s the 44th battle training zone. But we call it… the forest of death.”

“Forest of…death?” Naruto asked.  

“This whole place just creeps me out.” Sakura said.

“It should, they call it the forest of death, and soon enough you’re gunna find out why.” Anko said. Naruto made a face and mocked Anko.

”They call it the forest of death, and soon enough you’re gunna find out why.” He said in a high voice. “Do your worst you’re not gunna scare me away! I can handle anything!”

“So, looks like we’ve got ourselves a tough guy.”Anko said closing her eyes in a smile. She suddenly threw a kunai at him. It gave him a cut on his cheek as it sailed past his ear. She appeared behind him “You tough enough to handle this? You’re not afraid are you?” She put her hand on his face.  “Tough guys like you usually leave their blood all over this forest.” She took out another kunai as a ninja with an extremely long tongue held out the kunai she’d thrown before with said tongue.

“I was just returning your knife.”

“Why thank you grass ninja.” Anko said. “You know, I really only recommend you stand his close behind me if you wish to reach a premature end.” Anko took the kunai back and the ninja’s tongue slithered back into their mouth. Rin moved closer to Gaara with a grimace.

“My pardon. With the sight of blood and your blade slicing through my hair, I’m afraid that I just became a little excited. I meant you no harm.” The ninja said.

“Likewise.” Anko said as the extremely creepy ninja walked away. Naruto looked around Anko, holding a hand to his cheek, and started sticking his tongue out to see if he could do it too. “Seems like everyone here today is quick tempered. There must be something in the air. This is gunna be fun.” She walked to the gate.  “Now before we begin this test I’ve something to hand out to you all.” She turned around and took something from inside her jacket. “It’s just a standard consent form.” She said holding up a stack of papers. “Before the test all of you are going to have to read over this form and then sign it.”

“What for?” Naruto asked.

“Some of you may not come back from this test and I have to get your consent to that risk. Otherwise it would be my responsibility.” She laughed. Everyone muttered amongst themselves. “Now, I’ll explain what you’ll be doing on this test. Here pass these out.” She held out the papers to Naruto who took one and passed the stack to the guy next to him. “The first thing you need to know is that this test will test every one of your survival skills.” Anko held open a scroll with a map. “First I’ll give you all a description of the terrain on the practice field. The 44th battle training zone has 44 locked entrance gates; there are rivers and a forest inside. In the center is a locked tower located 10 kilometers from each gate. It’s in this confined area that you’ll undergo the survival test.” She rerolled the scroll. “The test consists of…” She put the scroll away in her jacket. “An anything goes battle to get your hands on these scrolls.” She held up a white scroll and a black scroll.

“Both of them.” Sasuke asked.

“Yes.” She showed the symbols on each. “You’ll be fighting to get both a heavens scroll and an earth scroll. All together 25 teams will be taking part in this test. So half of those teams will be going after the heavens scroll and the other half will be trying to get the earth scroll. I’ll hand over one kind of scroll to each team and that’s what you’ll be vying for.”

“Okay, so how do we pass the test?” Sasuke asked.

“Your entire squad must bring both a heaven and earth scroll to the tower.”

“That means at the very best half of us will fail.” Sakura said. “More if not every team is able to get both the scrolls.”

“No one ever said it would be easy.” Anko said. “Oh and one more thing, the test has a time limit. You must finish it within five days.

“Five days out there?!” Ino asked.

“What are we supposed to do for food?!” Chouji asked.

“Just look around.” Anko said. “The forest is full of things to eat, there’s plenty to feed all of you.”

“Yeah but,” Kabuto glanced at Chouji. “That’s not all the forest has plenty of; there are man-eating beasts and poisonous plants in there.”

“Oh maaan.” Chouji whined.

“Quiet down,” Ino said. “This is why they call it survival you know.”

“That means with these circumstances there’s no way half the teams will pass the test.” Neji said.

“With the days getting longer, the nights are getting shorter so we will have less time to sleep and less time to recover.” Lee said before smiling. “It is a challenge indeed!”

“Completely surrounded by enemies there won’t be time to rest we’ll have to keep a constant watch.” Sasuke said.

“Right.” Anko said. “This test also measures endurance behind enemy lines. This is designed to be a grueling test and I’m sure some of you won’t be up to the challenge.”

“So um,” Shikamaru raised his hand. “Let’s say mid-exam can we quit?”

“Of course not. In the middle of a battle you can’t say ‘sorry I quit’.” She smiled. “Well I guess you could but it’s probably gunna get ya killed.”

“Oh just great.” Shikamaru said. “This is gunna be a drag.”

“There are also some ways you can get disqualified. The first is simple.” Anko held up a finger. “If all three members of a team can’t make it to the tower with both scrolls after five days. Number two:” She held up a second finger. “If a team loses a member or if a member becomes incapacitated and cannot continue. But most important, none of you absolutely none of you may look at the contests of the scrolls until you’ve reached the tower.”

“W-What if it just happens to flap open and you read it?” Naruto asked.

“Let me put it to you this way young man: You. Don’t. Want. To. Know.” Naruto made a face and whined. “There will be times when a ninja will be asked to carry secret documents the scroll rule is to test your integrity. Okay we’re done. Each team take your contest forms and exchange them over there,” Anko pointed to a small booth with three ninja. “For your scrolls. After that, each team pick a gate and you’ll be let inside.” Anko sighed. “Oh and I have one more word of advice: Just don’t die!”

…

Everyone separated to read and sign the forms. The ninjas by the booth pulled a curtain closed around it. That way each team didn’t know which team had which scroll or who was carrying it and where.

“Alright everyone, we’re gunna start handing out scrolls!” One of the ninja at the booth called out before he went behind the curtain. Everyone stood and team by team went in. When the sand sibs got their scroll Rin ran up to them.

“I’m gunna walk with you to your gate.” Rin said. Baki cleared his throat. “I’m just gunna walk with them.” she whined with a pout.

“Trust me; Gaara won’t let her come with us.” Temari said. Baki sighed.

“Fine.” he said. Rin jumped up and down before walking with the trio.

“Listen up, all the teams have received their scrolls so everybody go to your gate and wait there!” Anko called. “When the gates open the test is on!”

…

The trio and Rin stood in front of their gate. Rin gave Gaara a quick peck on the cheek.

“Good luck.” She said. Gaara nodded silently. Rin walked up to Kankurō. “Don’t die.” Kankurō looked offended. Rin moved to Tamari. “Don’t let Kankurō die.” Kankurō rolled his eyes.

“Shut up.” Kankurō muttered before avoiding the glare Gaara sent him.

“I’ll see you guys later.” Rin said with a smile before walking over to Baki. The two transported away.

“Alright heads up you maggots the second part of the test has begun!” Anko shouted. The gates opened and the three ran in.

Gaara, Temari and Kankurō stopped in a clearing with three other ninja.

“Do you believe the nerve of these sand village ninja, Shibure? Challenging us head on?” One of the ninja asked.

“Yeah, they’re a bunch of fools.” The other said.

“Too bad, kids.” Shibure said. “You should’ve picked your opponents better. Now you’re all gunna die!”

“I’ve heard enough out of you.” Gaara said. “Let’s make this quick; I don’t wanna waste time on this guy.” Shibure’s eyes widened.

“Hey, Gaara.” Kankurō said. “Doesn’t it make more sense to follow these punks and gather information first? I-I mean if they have the same type of scroll as us we’re just fighting an unnecessary battle.”

“I don’t care.” Gaara said. “They looked at me the wrong way. So they’re gunna die.”

“If you think you can kill us,” Shibure took six umbrellas off his back. “then try it!” He threw the umbrellas into the air before putting his hands together. “And now, ninja art: Senbon rain storm!” The umbrellas started spinning and shooting out needles. “Up, down, left , right, no matter where you go I can get you. There’s no blind spot in this jutsu and it’s deadly accurate!” Gaara didn’t move an inch as te needles rained down. Dirt kicked up as they hit but as the dust cleared it was revealed that Gaara’s sand had shielded him. From the opening in the sand he glared at the ninja.

“Is that all you can do?” he asked.

“It can’t be! Not one wound. Impossible.” He put his hands together again. “Alright!” The senbon shot down at the opening but sand came up to block them.

“A senbon rainstorm, huh?” Gaara asked. “I have an idea; let’s make it rain blood instead.”

“He’s created a wall of sand.” Shibure said.

“That’s right,” Kankurō said. “It’s a defense and nothing can get through it. He carries around all that sand in the gourd that he has on his back and when he’s attacked he uses the power of his chakra to harden the sand. It’s a jutsu that only Gaara can do.” Kankurō said as the sand wall fell slowly. “And somehow it happens automatically, independent of his will, so any attacks against him are doomed to fail.”

“Yeah? Well we’ll see!” Shibure shouted.

“Just face it; you guys can’t hope to defeat Gaara.” Kankurō said.

“Give me a break!” Shibure said before running at them. Gaara extended his arms to his sides before bringing his hands together in a triangle. Temari and Kankurō smirked

“Sand coffin!” Gaara said extending his hand. The sand wrapped around Shibure’s leg and soon engulfed him, only his face was uncovered.

“I can’t move!” The umbrellas Shibure had thrown earlier hit the ground, the points sinking into the dirt, around the sand sibs. “Let- let me go!” Gaara took a few steps forward and grabbed one of the umbrellas.

“All I have to do it cover your big mouth and you’ll be dead.” He opened the umbrella and held it over his head. “But that would be too easy, too boring.” He extended his arm and the sand started to rise. Shibure grunted and tried to get free as he went higher and higher. Gaara closed his hand. “Sand burial!” Shibure screamed as his body was crushed by the sand, his blood rained down on his team mates and Gaara’s umbrella. When it stopped Gaara looked up. “There wasn’t any pain. I crushed him with more force than necessary so it was over quickly.”

“Just take the scroll.” One of the ninja said taking from his pocket and putting it on the ground before backing up. “Go on, here.”

“Yes, take it!” The other said. “Please spare us!” Gaara threw the umbrella to the side and extended his hands. Sand completely engulfed the two before he closed his fists.

“We got lucky, it’s a heaven scroll.” Kankurō said picking up the scroll. “Alright, now let’s head to the tower.”

“Just shut up.” Gaara growled.

“Huh?” Kankurō blinked. “Come on, Gaara, let’s go.”

“What? Are you scared? Coward.” Gaara said. Kankurō started walking over.

“Look, Gaara, I know this test is no problem for you, but it’s dangerous for Temari and me. One set of scrolls is good enough. It’s all we need to pass.”

“Losers can’t tell me what to do.” Gaara said holding out his arm. Kankurō grabbed Gaara by the strap that held his gourd.

“Alright that’s enough; sometimes you have to listen to what your big brother says!”

“It’s too bad I don’t think of you as my big brother at all. If you get in my way, I’ll kill you.” Gaara knocked Kankurō’s hand off him and held out his arm again.

“Wait, just hold on, Gaara.” Temari said with her hands up. “You don’t’ have to treat us like we’re the enemy. Look, do it as a favor for your sister, please.” Gaara extended his arm to face Kankuro then swung his arm out to the side again. Sand started to swirl. “Gaara!” He closed his fist and was holding the cork to his gourd.

“Alright, this time.” Gaara said before putting the cork back in the gourd. He started to walk away but stopped and turned his head to the side.  “If either of you breathe a word of this to Rin,” Gaara growled. “I’ll kill you both… slowly.” The two older siblings audibly gulped but nodded. Gaara started walking again and the two let out relived sighs.

Next Chapter

Tagged:

If you wish to be tagged (or to stop being tagged) to know when a chapter is posted let me know via ask/messages/reply.

[billy-batson]

"Here's a hint: I'm not telling you" or "Alright im gonna go cry" (or combined bc that has comedic potential) with Steve-O ❤❤❤

 prompt: also asked by anon: “Alright, I’m gonna go cry” w/ Steve

pairing: steve harrington x reader

rated: t for teen

warnings: cursing here and there

word count: 2647

read it on ao3

Winter time. Winter brought three–no, four good things: holiday season, new years celebration, cold weather, and, of course, your and Steve’s anniversary.

It had only been a year (god, it felt so much longer), since the two of you had begun as an actual thing; since you had become a real couple. The start had been…confusing at first, but after the first date, things had gone smoothly for you both.

As you baked his favorite type of cake from scratch, stirring the mix together as you dropped blue  and red food coloring into the bowl, you reminisced on how you’d both gotten to the point that you were at, now–with him driving down from his university an hour away to visit you.

You had met in science class, grouped together in a lab assignment with two other people: a stoner who clearly wasn’t interested in doing anything, and a quiet, shy girl who wasn’t going to do anything. He had been working on his personal essay for university all throughout class, leaving you to be the leader of the group. 

“Okay, then,” you said aloud after five minutes of silence, the stoner staring out into space, the quiet girl looking down at the table, and Steve, who everyone and their mother knew, nearly banging his head against the table in frustration as he tried to string sentences together to make them somewhat coherent. “I’m Y/N,” you offered, attempting to start conversation among them. The silence stretched on as no one else said anything. “Alright.”

“What’s another word for ‘being a winner’?” Steve had interjected, not looking up from his paper.

“Uh…successful?” you offered, and he mumbled out a quick thanks before returning to his writing. “No problem,” you sighed, knowing that this class would undoubtedly be total and utter crap because of the group you were now forced to work with every time there’s a lab. Dandy.

“We’re uh, introducing each other, right?” Steve said, glancing up from his writing quickly, “I’m Steve.”

That’s practically a given, you thought to yourself silently, but noticed as the quiet girl began to speak. “I’m Amy,” she said softly, her voice sounding unsteady, as though she were underwater.

“Todd,” the stoner said, waving a hand, as though they all couldn’t quite see him. “Fair warning, but lunch is right before this class and lunch time is break time, so I’ll probably be a crap partner anyway–”

“Well, we’re stuck together,” Steve had huffed, “So try to…skip a day or two when we have labs, okay? Don’t think it’d be smart to lose a limb over getting high.”

Todd’s eyes widened, “We can lose a limb in here?!”

Steve gave him a shrug, “I mean, anything can happen when you’re high and working with chemicals. Could even go blind.”

“Oh maaan, really?” Todd asked, collapsing in his seat. 

Steve nodded as though this was a one hundred percent proven fact, “Absolutely,” he said, looking to you and winking. 

Winking?

You couldn’t have been sure that it had even happened until it had, but you decided not to question it. Either way, he had helped you. Even though it was in a small way, it had worked.

You’d interacted throughout the month of September and October every so often that senior year in class and during labs, but you didn’t really know him, know him. You did know that he was better at science than he was at writing, and he was actually really nice, something that you hadn’t been expecting. You didn’t really believe the rumors that the popular jock Steve Harrington had changed from how he was before, but it seemed like they were true. He had changed, and you supposed that there was Nancy to thank for that.

Nancy Wheeler was a good girl. Nice, sweet–didn’t really talk to people outside of her social circle except for Jonathan Byers who, you supposed, she got along well with because her brother was best friends with his brother. He was the only exception.

You’d had a chance to really talk to Steve alone, though, for the first time, at the halloween party. The night had still been going strong, but it had been winding down for you. You’d gone out to the backyard to get a breath of fresh air, away from the smell of sweat and teenage boys and the faint smell of vomit, and were quickly met by noneother than–

“Steve,” you’d said softly, noticing that he was seated against the side of the house, his gaze watching the blue of the pool behind the fence. “What are you doing out here?” you asked curiously.

“Oh,” he said, “Y/N. Didn’t think a party like this was your kind of scene.”

“Yeah, well…” you sighed, sitting down next to him, crossing your legs. “It’s not. But I figured hey, it’s senior year. Might as well do one of the stereotypical teenage crap adults always say we do.”

“Yeah? Like what?” he asked curiously, to which you chuckled and shrugged.

“Like…uh. Get drunk, go to some…party thrown by some rich girl who’s parents are away for the weekend. Dance with some boys. That kinda stuff, I guess,” you said, tucking your hair behind your ear.

“Huh,” he mused quietly before turning to look at you. “And have you done it?”

You raised an eyebrow, “Wait, what?”

“The list,” he said, “The ‘stereotypical things’.”

“Oh,” you said, feeling slightly embarrassed that your mind immediately went to another matter. “uh, can’t say that I’m drunk. Buzzed maybe. The drinks here aren’t that good anyway.”

“Yup,” Steve agreed, and you glanced back at him.

“And what about you? Have you done any stereotypical teenage things at this party?” you asked curiously.

“Well, I, uh–” he laughed, the sound coming out loud and harsh, “Can’t say it’s stereotypical, but I got in a fight with my girlfriend and I’m pretty sure she wants us to break up.” He’s quiet for a moment as he realized that the words were out in the air now, and he couldn’t call them back. “So there’s that.”

“Shit,” you huffed, shifting in your seated spot. “Sorry, Steve.”

“Nah,” he waved it off. “Nothing anyone can do ‘bout it. Been a long time coming, I think.” 

You didn’t say anything, feeling as though it wasn’t your place to speak. He seemed to want to vent, in any case.

“She said she didn’t love me,” he continued, “That whatever we have–had?–is bullshit.”

Yikes.

“Jesus,” you sighed. “That sucks.”

“Yeah,” he stated, “Yeah. It sucks.” He went silent for a moment and said in a deadpan tone, “I think I’m drunk.”

You laughed at that, “Yeah, I think so, too.”

He laughed along with you, almost self deprecatingly, you think, and he says, “My girlfriend probably wants to break up and here I am, drunk and laughing about it. That seems fucked up to me, is it fucked up to you?”

“Just a bit,” you tell him, a wide smile on your face. “Just a lil.”

“Christ, what happened to your face?” you questioned a few days later when you had a lab together. He had bruises just about everywhere, and you’re pretty sure that he has two black eyes.

“An asshole happened,” he huffed, almost collapsing into his chair across from you as the other students came into class. 

“Yeah, well,” you said, your tone deadpan, “You look like shit.”

“Oh, well thanks,” Steve said sarcastically. 

“Hair’s still good, though,” you say to him, slightly perplexed, “Oddly enough.”

“My hair is always good,” he told you, clearly flaunting it as he ran a hand through it, causing for you to laugh ever so slightly, shaking your head with incredulity.

“You’re an idiot, Steve.”

He had asked you out on a not-date during the thanksgiving break, inviting you out to an ice skating rink. 

“Is this supposed to be a date?” you teased him, knowing that the moment you got him to think that this was explicitly not a date would mean that you’d be able to keep your feelings for him under wraps. If he didn’t think this was a date, then you could think it wasn’t a date. Dating was complicated, and you didn’t want to make things complicated. You wanted to keep things simple, especially since he and Nancy had just broken up after nearly a year together. It’d only been a few weeks since then, and you figured that he needed longer in order to not make you seem as though you were “the rebound”.

If he was even interested in you in that way, that is.

“Pfft, no,” Steve replied, shaking his head and rolling his eyes. He deadpanned, asking quickly, “Why? Do you want it to be? Is that what you want–”

“I’ll go to the rink with you,” you tell him before he can finish his questions, not wanting to complicate things. “You’re paying, right?”

“Yeah,” he answered, and you nodded. 

“Cool!” you said, “So it’s a not-date.”

“It’s a not-date.”

Later, it turned out, that the “not-date” quickly turned into just a regular date – although neither of you had noticed it. You had had to hold his hand (clinging onto him totally in the beginning, but moving down to just his hand) in order to keep yourself from falling onto the cold ice (which you had already managed to do before an abundance of times; dragging him down with you every time). At some point, the songs that they were playing became more calm, more soothing, and before you knew it, they were playing specifically songs for couples.

Neither of you had noticed that everyone around you was a couple until you’d pointed it out, finding it odd that everyone had seemed to be in pairs–

And just like that, you fell yet again, this time with Steve landing on the ice before you, and you going down right after him. He attempted to reach out to catch you, which resulted in you collapsing onto his chest, the wind knocked out of both of your bodies as he winced.

“I am so sorry!” you said flusteredly, attempting to get up and off of him.

“It’s fine, I’m fine,” Steve said as you sat back on your knees, the skate only slightly digging into your back legs.

“Crap, I feel so bad,” you said, trying not to blame yourself but seriously failing. 

“Seriously, Y/N,” he said, chuckling as he stood up onto his feet, skates touching the ice once again. “I’m fine.”

You paused, chewing on your lip slightly. “Thank you,” you said in recognition of his efforts to catch you, which was at an expense to him.

“No problem,” he said.

December rolled around before you knew it, and Steve was up to something.

“Alright, what are you planning?” you questioned, narrowing your eyes as you sat with him during lunch at the local fast food restaurant.

“You’ll see,” he said, not giving away anything as he continued to write in his notebook.

“Ugh, can I at least have a hint? Something?” you asked curiously, hating not knowing about something.

“Okay, okay, here’s a hint,” he said, looking up from his paper to look at you. “I’m not telling you.”

“Steve!” you said in a clipped tone, smacking him on the shoulder gently. “You’re being dumb again.”

“Y/N, you’ll see, okay?” he said, “But I guess I can give you a little hint. I guess.”

“Okay, okay, what is it?” you asked curiously, raising an eyebrow.

“I’m gonna take my girlfriend out somewhere she’ll like,” Steve said coyly, and you felt your heart drop for some weird reason.

“Your girlfriend?” you asked, wondering when he and Nancy had gotten back together, and feeling slightly dumb that you hadn’t realized that he was dating someone before. It was dumb, but you had thought that you guys were–

“Oh, shit,” he muttered, bringing his palm to his forehead. “Crap. Forgot to ask.”

“Ask what?” you questioned.

“Y/N, will you be my girlfriend?”

“Okay, okay, wait, wait –” Steve said as he handed the envelope to you as you sat across from one another on his bed. “You read it.”

“Steve, you’re being a baby,” you teased him, taking the envelope from his hands anyway. “It’ll be fine, alright?”

“Yeah, but–” his face darkened with worry for a moment, and he forced a nervous laugh out. “Alright, I’m gonna go cry.”

“Alright, alright, don’t be a baby,” you said, practically tearing the envelope open. You pulled out the letter from inside, skimming past the Dear Steve Harrington at the top and searching for the magic words. As you expected, they were there. Just to mess with him, though, you looked back at him, your face falling ever so slightly. “Oh, Steve,” you said softly. 

“What?” he asked nervously. “What’s it say?” He grabbed for the letter, his eyes scanning the paper quickly.

“I’m sorry,” you said slowly, building his anticipation, “That you’ve been accepted to a nerd school!”

He looked back up at you, his eyes lighting up with happiness. “Holy fuck, Y/N! Don’t scare me like that!”

You laughed, “What? I told you, didn’t I? I knew you would get in!”

“Shit,” he muttered, a breathless laugh passing from his lips. He smiled at you, now, wrapping you in a bear hug. 

“You did it!” you say, rubbing his back reassuringly. “I told you so.”

He sat back away from you for a moment before pressing his lips to yours, his warm, soft lips coming into contact with yours. Still, just like the first time, you get goosebumps as you feel that electric feeling run through your veins yet again.

“I love you,” he laughed in between kisses, “So fucking much.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” you laughed with him, smiling as you wrapped your arms around the back of his neck, pulling him in closer. “I love you, too.”

You were pulled out of your thoughts when you heard a door close shut behind you just as you pulled the cake out of the oven, your eyes lighting up as you saw who was there.

“Steve!”

He had rushed to you and you had practically jumped into his widespread arms, him spinning you around as you pressed kisses all across his cheeks.

“Ooh, I missed you so much,” you said, still holding onto him tightly as he dropped you back down to the floor.

“I missed you, too,” he said, pulling the two of you apart for a moment so that he can look at you. “I still got the most gorgeous girlfriend in the world. Everyone else is dying of envy.”

“Shut up,” you laughed, pulling him down by the lapels of his shirt so that you can kiss him, re-familiarizing yourself with the softness of his lips. You missed this. You missed kissing him, hugging him, having him close by. “I love you,” you said softly, looking up into his eyes as you pulled away slightly, for nothing if not to stare at him. It had been so long since you’d seen him – since late September, maybe? At the start of the college semester? But now, now he was here, and you were together again, just like before. Just like always.

“I love you, too,” he said, cupping your face in his hands before pressing another kiss to your lips. He broke away from you for a moment to sniff the air, saying, “You baking?”

“Uh,” you glanced back to the purple colored cake which sat on the stove, cooling from having just been taken out of the oven, and you said, “Yeah. Didn’t get the chance to frost it, though–”

“No, no, we can do it together,” he said, narrowing his eyebrows as though it was ludicrous that you would do it alone.

“Yeah?” you asked, surprised at the offer. “Didn’t know that you liked to help in the kitchen.”

He shook his head, “Nah. With you, though?” He smiled, pressing a kiss to your forehead. “I’d do anything.”

a/n: thanks for reading! i love him and ended up making this longer than i thought, lmao. (and i made the gif but i digress,) if you enjoyed, please leave a comment / reblog!

tagging: @donnaatroy @keithstellations @dana-in-wonderland

[bughead-fic-request]

I would like to thank @leaalda for making these amazing banners.

This is an effort to spread the word about all fan fiction writers in our little fandom. If you would like to be featured or nominate a writer, please contact me. Please reblog this post if you can and check out some of @allskynostars work!

1. First things first, if someone wanted to read your stories where can they find them.

The can find them on my tumblr;  https://allskynostars.tumblr.com/tagged/allskynostars-fics  or on AO3;  http://archiveofourown.org/users/allskynostars/pseuds/allskynostars/works

2. Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Jenna, I am 23 (24 in a couple of weeks!). I have 3 brothers.. It's been a struggle haha. I was born in London, my parents and I moved to New Zealand when I was 6 months old. And just two months ago I moved back to London with my boyfriend. I've written a few fics, and have just finished my first multi chapter Ever Since New York. I am currently unemployed, but looking for Pharmacy work as that's what I did at home and would like to continue.

3. What do you never leave home without? 

My phone! And keys.

4. Are you an early bird or a night owl?

Night owl, 100000%. I suck at mornings.

5. If you could live in any fictional world which one would you choose and why?

Maaan, probably Middle Earth. Like I would kill to be an elf and shack up with Legolas. Or Thranduil, keep it in the family yunno. Or the Harry Potter universe because magic? Yes.

6. Who is the most famous person you’ve ever met.

I've 'met' a whole heap, like I've paid at cons and things to meet Aidan Turner, Dean O'Gorman, Andrew Scott, Karen Gillan. I went to the Age of Ultron prem when I was in London last time and got photos/signatures with Mark Ruffalo (ultimate fav), Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Aaron Taylor Johnson. I got Robert Downey Jrs autograph but no photo. But just by chance without planning too I met Jenna Coleman. We were visiting my family in Wales and just so happened to drive past during filming. Didn't quite get to meet Peter Capaldi though. And then I was in London last time, me and my best friend walked into Jamie Campbell Bower in the street. The story Is actually so cool but I feel like this answer is long enough hahah.

7. What are some of your favorite movies/TV?

Movies: Eternal Sunshine, Only Lovers Left Alive, Big Daddy (my go to movie when I'm sad, I love Adam Sandler). I always struggle to answer this because after I think of one I should have mentioned! Shutter Island. 

TV Shows: There are far too many but right now Riverdale, obviously. And I just smashed through Brooklyn 99. The OC, Game of Thrones, Doctor Who, SOA, Friends, Being Human, the list goes on...

8. What are some of your favorite bands/musicians?

SO my first favourite and was Panic! At The Disco. Then My Chemical Romance took over my life. Now I'm into The 1975, Arctic Monkeys, Bastille, Hozier, Tom Odell, James Bay, Ed Sheeran. Thanks to my Dad I love Alanis Morrissette and Radiohead. Thanks to my Mum I have a soft spot for Robbie Williams. My music taste is diverse so I listen to a lot of rap. I'll defend Kanye West to my dying breath, I really like Post Malone at the moment too. It chops and changes so so much. Also I've seen One Direction 4 times so judge as you will, ahaha.

9. Favorite Books?

Pretty generic, really. Harry Potter series, LOTR, The Mortal Instruments series and all that go with it. Fault In Our Stars, All The Bright Places, Lovely Bones.

10. Favorite Food?

I love Mexican food.

11. Biggest pet peeve?

Sidewalk Hoggers who walk SO SLOW.

12. What did you want to be when you were little? What do you want to be now?

I always wanted to sing or act, but seeing as I can do neither.. I always wanted to work in the entertainment industry and sometimes still do, like behind the scenes. Maybe in Media. But for now I love working in Pharmacy and want to train to become a Pharmacy Tech.

13. What are your biggest fears? Do you have any strange fears?

I don't have many fears, I have no issue with the dark or heights or anything like that. I HATE bugs, like any kind of insect or creepy crawly, just no. Sometimes even butterflies irk me.

And as far as strange fears, everyone always looks at me weird when I say this, I have a fear of whales.. Like I don't like the ocean or fish, sharks etc, but I can handle it. But whales? No. I get goosebumps and feel like my throat closes up when I look at them. I think it's to do with their sheer size and power. I don't even know why but I just, I can't.

14. When you are on your deathbed what would be the one you’d regret not doing? 

Seeing the world.

Okay... lets talk about your writing!

15. Which is your favorite of the fics you've written for the Bughead fandom?

Probably Who She Was, How She Loved. It was only a one shot, and it hurt like hell to write, but it seemed to get a reaction from everyone who read it and that's what we write for, right? I don't even know where I pulled that fic from, but I really love it. It feels real.

16. Which was the hardest to write, in terms of plot?

Ever Since New York, just to keep it going. I didn't want to drag it out too much, but it needed a fair amount of content. So I struggled at the end there.

17. How do you come up with the ideas for you fic(s)? Do you people watch? Listen to music? Get inspired by TV/movies?

A lot of it definitely comes from music. Like, if the lyrics to a song resonate with me I always think of a story to go with it. Always, even if I have no intention of writing it. I also pull inspiration from certain movies and things, but it is definitely music at the forefront.

18. Idea that you always wanted to write but could never make work?

I really love the idea of room mate fics, I haven't actually tried though. Maybe I could do it.

19. Least favorite plot point/chapter/moment you’ve written?

I only posted the last chapter of ESNY the other day, and the response has been good, but I'm still not happy with it. I couldn't even read it over. I don't really know what my problem is, I guess I just felt it was very anti-climatic.

20. Favorite plot point/chapter/moment you’ve written?

In my fic And Then? There's a scene where Betty & Jug are in the ocean yelling, and I really loved that moment.

21.Favorite character to write? 

Jughead. Always. He has layers...  

22. Favorite line or lines of dialogue that you've written?

Dark. Brown. Not round, more sleek. The complete opposite of the girl who's face was flashing through Jughead’s mind at this very moment. Which he knew, of course he did. That's why he had picked her. With her dark head of hair, and her dark eyes, he would never have to be reminded of the one he was missing.

Except for the fact that he saw Betty Cooper in everything. And everyone.

23. Best comment/review you’ve ever received?

Every comment someone goes out of their way to write about something I've spent time on is amazing. I think it always makes me smile though when they say they can see it all happening as they read. And you know, making them cry when they say fanfic never makes them cry.

24. How do you handle bad reviews or comments?

I haven't been 'lucky' enough to have to deal with this, yet. But I think I would just ignore and delete the comment. Who needs that negativity.

25. If you could change anything in any of your stories, what would it be?

I think I would have included more characters in Ever Since New York, like Archie etc.

26. What is your favorite story you’ve ever written? Any fandom?

I've only ever written for the Bughead fandom, but my favourite is Who She Was purely for the emotions. I'm a sucker for emotions.

27. What are you reading right now? Both fan fiction and general fiction?

I have 51 bookmarks on AO3. So I am reading basically everything right now haha. But in terms of general fiction, I haven't read anything in a while and I need too.

28. Do you have an advice for writers that want to get into this fandom but might be scared? 

As typical as it sounds, just do it. I was so nervous, but this fandom is hands down the best. Everyone is so, so welcoming, and if there are so many people to reach out too if you’re ever feeling unsure about your own work or anything. Just take the dive guys, it's a fun ride.  

[osmw1]

Head Over Heels from the Scarf I Lent Her  Chapter 17 — Amane’s Circumstances

what would you like to read next? suggest titles for me to translate!

Things hadn’t changed much since the shopping trip; Tooru was still being ignored by his friends. Though now, the girls in his class have been not-so-quietly whispering about him too. Not from afar either, but deliberately and up close—just as one would expect from girls.

The boys had been doing their best to not speak to Tooru, save for when they absolutely could not avoid doing so. Getting beaten up is far worse, but this is still mentally straining. There are too many he once considered friends. Nothing he could do but to bear with it.

According to Akane, Amane is still spreading more half-truths. But since he hadn’t been doing anything particularly wrong, Tooru decided to let it go. All he needs to do is just to put on a brave face. Fortunately, neither Jun nor Akane have bought into the rumors and whenever the weather wasn’t great, the three of them would eat lunch together.

There was something else he noticed too. Lately, Jun and Akane have gotten pretty close and it seems like they even hang out together from time to time. She’s rather harsh on Jun, but Tooru had no right to say anything. Jun is as silly as he always had been, but now, he’d sometimes get serious when speaking to Tooru as well. But Jun often gets serious with Akane. Tooru knows that there’s something between the two of them.

“Maaan, it’s hooot.”

Jun grumbles while flapping the collar of his shirt.

The rainy season had past, leaving behind the heat. Students switched to their summer uniforms too and the girls bare their plump, vibrant skin. And since there isn’t a swimming pool at their school, the girls tend to show as much skin as possible.

Though disappointing for most boys, Tooru hadn’t any particular interest. It’s not that he doesn’t appreciate girls in swimsuits, but school swimsuits don’t usually reveal much anyway. Not to mention, Tooru has no interest for any of the girls in his class. Akane questioned whether he was impotent, but Tooru assured her that such is not the case. But to ease the two of them, Tooru brushed it off as just being indifferent.

It’s the end of July and the rays of the sun are scorching. They can’t wait to finish their summer exams and to jump into summer break. Everyone is just as hyped up too.

“Well, of course it’s hot in the summer, Ōyodo.” “But hot’s still hot! Buy me some ice cream?” “Hah?! As if! You know the money in my wallet is mine, right?!”

Tooru has taken a liking to watching them act like this. It’s soothing. It’s like a well-rehearsed old married couple skit.

Satsuki likely has the same routine every day. What is she thinking of? How is she spending her day? How will she spend her summer break as someone who’s no longer alone?

        Just as Tooru was just about to head to the usual place to have lunch with Satsuki, Amane shows up, standing at the doorway to his classroom. There isn’t anybody who dares to make eye contact with her.

Her standard, casual smile turns to a grin as she and Tooru look at each other. What hides behind that grin of hers? Surely, nothing good, but he doesn’t have much of a choice but to follow her.

As soon as he catches a glimpse of her, Tooru started the voice recorder on his phone and slipped it into his pocket. The recording wouldn’t sound the best, but at least it’ll pick up whatever she’d be saying in his face.

They head to the nook beside the caretaker’s room—the same spot as before. A girl, seemingly a friend of hers, passes by, asking if this was a confession. Amane laughs and gives her a No way!  If Amane weren’t around, Satsuki would have the chance to laugh like that. He can’t help but feel disgusted by her. After seeing her friend off, Amane turns back to him with the smile gone from her face, cold and despicable. That’s the true nature of Miyamoto Amane—a witch, a demon. Tooru stands firm, both physically and mentally. How shameful it’d be to break down because of her.

“So, how are things? I’ve made sure that everyday would be filled with fun and joy for you.” “And thanks to you, it has been. I’ve even been able to make trustworthy friends.” “You mean Satsuki?” “Nah. But I’m not telling.”

It’s odd how she just referred to Satsuki. Last time, Amane referred to her as a “piece of shit” but simply as “Satsuki” today. Something doesn’t feel right, but maybe she’s had a change of heart. Maybe she even cherishes Satsuki as her dear younger sister now.

His concerns were soon dispelled. Amane points to the pocket that’s carrying his phone. He flinches slightly, but she noticed.

“Bullseye.” “… what do you mean?”

Tooru stares Amane dead in the eye but she just laughingly scoffs.

“You’re recording this, aren’tcha? You came without your phone last time. Anyone could piece it together.”

She reads him like an open book. Now he knows there’s nothing he can gain with playing the clip to the teachers. No wonder she had been speaking so nicely up until now. She perfectly picked her words carefully as to not incriminate herself. Tooru tries to swallow the lump in his throat, but this time, Amane laughs out loud. He could but stare at her. And right on cue, a group of boys descend the stairs. Tooru’s eyes open wide.

“You guys…”

Tooru’s former friends. They left the classroom as soon as the class was dismissed and hadn’t shown up since. He had not expected that Amane had planned everything. They walk to Amane and stand behind her, looking a little uneasy. If they don’t want to do this, maybe he could convince them otherwise. But surely, that would be out of the realm of possibility. Amane is the type of person that doesn’t need to say much yet have everybody obeying her. There’s nothing that Tooru could say to get through to them, especially not since becoming an outcast.

As if she had seen through his thoughts, Amane laughs even more. Then, she looks over to the boys and ordered them with a nod, motioning towards me. Tooru instantly finds a fist in his face, cutting up the inside of his mouth which pools with blood. As he realizes he is being punched, Tooru staggers and gets kicked on the torso, knocking the air out of his lungs.

“Gah! Cough, cough.”

He glares at the one who started the fight but is surprised. That boy looked nearly as in pain as Tooru. It’s almost as if his punch and kick were directed at himself.

Amane keeps silent as the boy literally kicked Tooru while he is down.

“Augh…”

Another grin spreads across Amane’s face. She got others to do the dirty work for her.

How dirty, how cowardly she is. There are only rumors surrounding Amane because they can’t directly punish her for bullying anyone. Tooru’s body aches and his lungs need air. Fortunately, he hasn’t eaten yet, so he has yet to vomit. They hear the caretaker moving about in his room, perhaps because he hears the noise out in the hall. As soon as she realizes it, Amane shrieks as if she were a delicate maiden.

“What’s the matter?!”

The caretaker rushes out of his room and sees Tooru and the boys. His face turns red as he steps closer.

“What the hell?! Is this your fault?!” “… yes.”

The boy trembles for a moment before honestly admitting to the situation. Then, the grim-looking caretaker kneels down beside Tooru.

“You alright, son? Can you stand up?” “Yes…”

Though he tried to soften his landing after being kicked the first time, Tooru is still very hurt. The caretaker looks slightly relieved as he lends Tooru his shoulder to get him up on his feet. Then, he scowls at the boy and raises his voice.

“You a second-year?” “Yes.” “I’ll be reporting this to the teachers, so you’d best prepare to face consequences. How about you, Miyamoto? Are you alright?” “Yes, I’m fine… I was just here chatting with Tooru and then the boys suddenly came up to him and kicked him. I couldn’t do anything to stop them…”

Crocodile tears well up in her eyes. Her acting would put most Hollywood stars to shame. But even the caretaker knows her by name. Makes sense with her being the smartest girl in school. He nods along, deceived by her words, and looks at her with pity.

“That must’ve been frightening. All of you go back to your classes. I’ll bring him to the nurse’s room.” “Thank you.”

Amane hangs her head down and so do the boys. How could she tell such barefaced lies without so much a flinch? She was the one who ordered them to attack. She’s no victim. But Tooru knew he had to plan his words carefully or else he’ll look like he’s trying to frame her. At this point in time, he has to back down.

“Sir…”

Tooru calls out to the caretaker while limping on one leg but he gets a Shh , hushing him in return. Then, he speaks in a low whisper.

“… Miyamoto did this to you, didn’t she?” “How did you…” “Shh.”

They carry the conversation as they walk to the infirmary. The caretaker hadn’t been deceived. He was intentionally following her little act as he knows exactly what kind of person Amane is. But that raises more questions. Why did he take her side? He could have questioned Amane at the time. He knew what Tooru was thinking and responds in a sorrowful tone.

“All the staff members know what Miyamoto is like. But no one can do anything about it.” “Why…?” “‘cause she can study. Academically, she’s number one in the city. Hell, maybe even the whole country. The principal likes her. He turns a blind eye so that the school looks good.” “That’s…”

… bullshit, is how he wanted to finish that sentence, but his wounds ache too much. The principal is famous for being incredibly stern. But there’s no reason to tolerate bullying just because she’s academically successful. And it’s all just to save face? That even scummier.

“… hold that thought, son. Just keep your head down and she’ll pick on somebody else soon enough. That is assuming you didn’t get involved with her sister…” “Unfortunately, that’s the case.” “Ah. It’s no surprise then…”

It seems like even the caretaker knows of Satsuki’s beauty. Well, she’s pretty by anybody’s standards. In any case, Tooru received some valuable information. The first of which being how the staff knows of Amane’s dirty deeds yet refuses to do anything because she’s smart. Another of which is that Amane has such an ego because no one has knocked her down a peg yet. There’s nothing that he can do to punish her yet, but no one is invincible. With the caretaker’s support, Tooru hobbles all the way to the nurse.

what would you like to read next? suggest titles for me to translate!

contents: /ch001/ /ch002/ /ch003/ /ch004/ /ch005/ /ch006/ /ch007/ /ch008/ /ch009/ /ch010/ /ch011/ /ch012/ /ch013/ /ch014/ /ch015/ /ch016/ /ch017/ /next/

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