#PHEW that was a big one!!! been dying to make it but damn

[wistfulwatcher]

[dialovers-translations]

DIABOLIK LOVERS Do-S Kyuuketsu VERSUS Ⅲ Animate Tokuten Drama CD ”Agricultural Management, the Vampire Way! ~When Disaster Strikes, a Storm Whips Up~”

Original title: ヴァンパイア的農村経営！ ～災いは嵐と共に～

Source: Diabolik Lovers VERSUS III Animate Tokuten CD

Audio: Here

Seiyuu: Toriumi Kousuke, Katsuyuki Konishi, Midorikawa Hikaru, Kaji Yuki, Hirakawa Daisuke, Kondou Takashi, Takahiro Sakurai, Kimura Ryouhei, Tatsuhisa Suzuki, Kishio Daisuke, Morikawa Toshiyuki, Morikubo Shoutari & Tomoaki Maeno

Translator’s note: Classic Ryoutei Academy coming up with the weirdest classes and assignments for their students. No wonder Karlheinz sponsors the school because the principal is just as bonkers as he is. Anyway, it was interesting to see characters like Reiji, Laito and Carla having to do physical labor out on the field. Meanwhile Yuma is just completely in his element. This assignment was made for him after all. I won’t spoil how the CD ends, but let’s all press F in the chat for our Diaboys.

*Thud thud* 

Subaru: …Ugh…Arghー Fuck! …Why am I here ploughin’ some damn field!? 

*Rustle* 

Laito: Ugh…That’s…my…line…! Ugh…! 

*Thud* 

Laito: Haah~ …Ahー God! I’m tired! 

Laito tosses his hoe away.

*Thud* 

Reiji: Hey, you two! No sleeping on the job! You have barely made any progress! …Laito, grab hold of that hoe at once!

Laito: Eeeh~? 

Reiji: Don’t ‘eeeh~?’ me! This is part of a special class, so I shall ensure that all of you take it seriously! 

Subaru: Che…I don’t give a damn if it’s for school or not…I can’t believe we’re forced to do this crap! Haah…I should have just skipped. 

Reiji: Subaru…I shall not allow for that. Did you not hear me earlier? This assignment has to be done all together as a team!

Laito: If we can submit a stellar report on our task afterwards, the school will give us some kind of reward, right? Not just any reward either, but we get to choose anything we want with nothing off-limits. However, the one condition is that each member of a team contributes.

Reiji: Yes, exactly. And there just happens to be a silverware set which I have been dying to get my hands on. Therefore, I must get an excellent grade at all costs!

*Rustle* 

Subaru: Ahー What a load of crap. …Anyway, they must be out of their minds if they think that this is a job for human labor. Don’t they have some kind of big or impressive machine which can get it done instead!? 

Reiji: This is part of class. What makes you think there would be a tractor available to us? The whole point of the exercise is to get it done through our own strength!

*Clap clap* 

Reiji: Well then, now grab hold of those hoes! As long as I am here to keep an eye on things, I shall not allow anyone to slack off!

Subaru: Che…Fuck off…

Laito: Aah~ …I’m really sick of this. I would have dipped a long time ago if it wasn’t for Bitch-chan being here as well. 

Subaru: Anyway, Reiji! If you’re that stuck up ‘bout everyone doin’ their part, then why don’t you go and call over all those fuckers who aren’t here right now!? 

Reiji: Hm…? Now that you mention it…I have not seen those three in a while. …Excuse me, you! Have you seen Yuma and the others, perhaps? 

You explain. 

Reiji: Ahー So Yuma and Azusa have gone fetch some fertilizer. 

Yuma: Oi, you guys! 

Reiji: If you speak of the Devil…

Yuma: We got the fertilizer. 

He puts the bag down on the floor. 

*Thud* 

Yuma: There ya go. This should do the trick, right? 

Azusa: Phew…Yuma…Where should I put my bag…? 

Yuma: Ah. You can just throw it onto the pile over here. …Thanks, Azusa. 

Azusa: Oh no…It was no big deal.

*Rustle* 

Yuma: I don’t like havin’ to work together with these fuckers, but I guess I have no other choice if I wanna get my hands on that sweet reward. …So, how much of the area have you plowed so far?

Yuma takes a look. 

Yuma: Aah!? You’ve barely made any progress!

Subaru: Oh shut up! The soil’s too damn hard, it’s no easy feat!

Laito: Yeah, exactly! My hands are so tired…

Yuma: God, you’re all such a bunch of weaklings…All you’ve done is some plowin’ and you’re already exhausted? Did you think agriculture was easy or somethin’!? 

You apologize.

Yuma: Nah, you don’t need to say sorry. From what I can tell, the area you and Mr. Know-It-All did has made the most progress. 

Azusa: Eve…Good work…

Reiji: Fufu…While I would never resort to doing physical labor under normal circumstances, my silverware is at stake this time. I am taking this very seriously. 

He turns towards his brothers.

Reiji: Laito, Subaru. How about the two of you step up your game as well and start taking this seriously? 

Laito: That’s easy for you to say…But this kind of work isn’t exactly my cup of tea. I mean, there’s bugs and such crawling around on the field as well, right?

Subaru: I mean, there’s only so much the four of us can accomplish, right? Look at how much ground we have to cover!

Azusa: Four? …Huh…? Now that you mention it…What happened to Carla-san? 

Reiji: We actually haven’t seen him in a while now. I assumed that he went with you two to go get fertilizer but…It seems like that wasn’t the case. 

Yuma: Yeah. It was only Azusa and I. 

Laito: Eeh~? Then maybe he’s sleeping on the job somewhere!? (imitates Carla’s tone) ‘Fieldwork is not the kind of job a respectable Founder such as myself would ever resort to’

Subaru: Haah!? That’s not fair, is it!? 

You mention something about a sound in the distance. 

Azusa: Eh? Eve…? What’s wrong? …You hear something? 

Azusa focuses on the sound. 

Azusa: You’re right. I can hear it too.

Reiji: What could it be? It sounds like the engine of some kind of machine? 

Yuma: …!! Shh, be quiet for a sec! …Ah! This is the sound of a tractor’s motor!

Laito: Hey…It seems to be steadily getting closer to us…!? 

Azusa: Ah! Eve! Watch out!

ー A tractor arrives. 

Carla: …Ugh. 

*Thud* 

Carla: You lot! Why are you here together, doing nothing? 

Subaru: …Excuse me!? That’s what I’d like to ask! Where did you get that thing!? …Actually, Reiji! Didn’t you tell us earlier that a tractor is off-limits because this is part of a class assignment!? 

Reiji: Yes…I was under that assumption. 

Carla: Hmph. I pulled some strings to have this one arranged especially for me. 

He steps towards the group. 

Carla: I do not care that this is part of a special extracurricular activity. Under normal circumstances, a Founder such as myself would never resort to this sort of work. However, I shall make an exception this one time. I have decided that for the sake of getting a new ham stand, I am willing to dirty my very own hands!

Yuma: Your very own hands, you say? You’re usin’ a tractor tho.

Laito: Heeh…I didn’t think even Carla would be so desperate for the reward. 

Azusa: It’s unusual…for Carla-san to be this motivated…

Carla: You may run your mouths all you want. This is all to secure a high score and a new ham holder…You lot! Now that you are in my team, I shall not allow any of you to slack off. Get your tasks done without fail! Do you understand? 

Yuma: I mean, that was always my intention. It’s honestly like a dream come true to be able to work on the field as part of a school assignment. 

Azusa: I’ll try…my best too…

Reiji: It should go without saying that I shall do the same. I never slack off when it comes to school, no matter what the assignment may be!

*Rustle* 

Carla: Woman, what about you? 

You agree to doing your best as well. 

Carla: …Fufu. Well said. Allow me to praise you. …That leaves just you two. Hurry up and prove to me that you are prepared to face this challenge. 

Subaru: Che…Big words comin’ from the guy who showed up late. Pisses me off…

*Rustle* 

Subaru: Hah…But constantly bein’ nagged to work is annoyin’ too…Haahー Fine. Guess I have no other choice, so I’ll do it.

Laito: Hmm~ Well, I suppose I’ll do what I can without dirtying my clothes. 

Reiji: Well then, let us first divide the tasks. There’d be no point in having all five of us plow the field.

Yuma: Damn right. I mean, now that we have a tractor to work with, we can leave that task up to Carla. 

Azusa: What else…needs to be done…? 

Yuma: Ah, next would be creating ridges by raising the earth. Then plant the seeds and water them. Just like that.

Laito: The ridges are made with the help of an animal, right? I want to do that then. I’d like to avoid having to touch the soil directly if possible. 

Azusa: Then…I’d like to…be in the team planting the seeds…There’s a specific kind of vegetable I want to grow…

Yuma: In that case, feel free to use the fertilizer we carried here earlier. I got a really good kind. 

Azusa: Mmh…Thank you. 

Carla: I have something I want to grow as well. 

Reiji: In which case, I shall join Laito in creating the ridges. I am curious whether I will be able to elevate them to a new level. 

Carla: ーー Subaru. What shall you do? Hurry up and make up your mind. 

Subaru: Huh? …Ahー I…

Laito: Don’t you think Subaru should join the two guys planting seeds? He seems like the kind of guy who likes digging around the dirt. 

Subaru: Haah!? What kind of image do you have of me!? 

Yuma: That’s settled then. Well then…If we want to balance things out, I suppose I’d go into the ridges team. I mean, fine by me.

You ask what you should do. 

Reiji: You…Can we ask you to alternate between both groups and assist where you can?

ー You nod. 

Yuma: ‘Kay! Now hold out yer hands, mates!

Azusa: My hand…? Like this…? 

Reiji: Would this do? 

Subaru: Oi, whatcha gonna do? 

Carla: …

Laito: Yeah, yeah. …Come on, you too, Bitch-chan. 

*Rustle rustle* 

Yuma: Exactly. Now we all put them on top of each other like this. 

*Rustle* 

Yuma: ‘Kay! You’ve all got yer hands stacked on top of each other, right? Agriculture is all ‘bout good team work. I want to hear a loud ‘yeah’ at my signal, ‘kay?

Subaru: Haah!? You really think I’m gonna do that lame shit!? 

Yuma: Ya guys! We’re gonna make a great field together!

Everyone: Yeah…!

*TIMESKIP*

You approach the group in charge of the ridges.

Reiji: Oh dear, you. Have you come to help out here first? Thank you very much. 

Yuma: Well then, Sow. Hold this rope and stand there. We’re gonna trace this line to make the ridges. 

*Rustle* 

Reiji: Well then, I suppose we should get started soon. …Ugh…Ugh…

*Thud thud* 

Reiji: Thanks to Carla softening up the soil with the tractor, the hoe digs right in. …Hah!...Hah!

*Thud thud* 

Yuma: I’ll even it out later, so for now ya can just make lil’ piles.

Laito: …As to be expected of Yuma-kun, it looks like you were made to hold one of those hoes in your hands. 

Yuma: Ya think so? Well, I do this at home all the time after all. 

Laito: Eeh~? Every day? I wouldn’t be able to keep up with that. Working on the field is not only exhausting but it gets you all dirty as well. I honestly fail to see what’s so fun about digging around the earth like this. …Say, you agree with me, don’t you, Bitch-chan? ーー I mean, maybe if there was a chance to dig up some kind of treasure. 

You suddenly scream out.

Laito: What’s wrong, Bitch-chan? Why the panic? 

You explain. 

Laito: Huh? Right at my feet? 

*Rustle* 

Laito: …Uwah! A-An earthworm…!

Reiji: Excuse me, Laito! Why are you fooling around? Take your job seriously!

Laito: I-I’m not fooling around…! More importantly, an earthworm popped up…!

Yuma: Ah? An earthworm? Now where is that lil’ bugger? 

Laito: O-Over there! At your feet! Uu…It’s wriggling around…I’m feeling sick to my stomach… 

Yuma: God, you’re makin’ way too much of a fuss over a lil’ earthworm. You should expect this much when out on the field, no? 

You step back.

Yuma: Ah…? Why are you pissin’ yer pants as well? Ya just grab them like this andー

*Rustle* 

Laito: Eek! Hey, Yuma-kun! Stay away from me…!!

Yuma: There ya go. 

He throws it away. 

*Rustle* 

Yuma: Happy now?

Laito: Phew…I thought I was going to have a heart attack. 

Reiji: Good grief…How pathetic, making such a fuss over a single bug. 

Yuma: My thoughts exactly…

Laito: You two just don’t understand! Just how disgusting those creepy crawlers truly are! Aah…Just the thought of them wriggling around gives me goosebumps…

Laito loses consciousness. 

Laito: Uu…Nn…

*Rustle* 

Reiji: Dear god. I cannot believe he passed out over something like this. I feel ashamed as his brother. Haah…

*Rustle*

Reiji: Come on, you. Let us ignore Laito for now and get back to work. 

You seem worried.

Reiji: No need to be concerned. I am sure he will regain consciousness in no time. …Yuma, let us continue. 

Yuma: Yeah. …Come on, Sow. Hold the rope straight.

*Rustle* 

Yuma: Ugh…

*Thud* 

Reiji: Ugh…

*Thud*

Yuma: Still, I didn’t think you’d join this team. Ya seem like the type of dude who wouldn’t wanna work up a sweat.

Reiji: Like I mentioned before, I would not usually resort to physical labor. I happen to be more skilled at using my brains rather than my muscles after all. However…I got a little curious. 

Yuma: Curious? 

Reiji: The vegetables you drop off at our place every so often…They far exceed the ones sold at any store in terms of flavor. I came to the conclusion if you managed to raise such high-quality products in a small vegetable garden, then what would we be capable of growing in our own garden? While we do grow a couple of herbs, we have never grown our own vegetables before. 

Yuma: Heh. Why not give it a try? I wouldn’t mind givin’ ya some pointers. From which fertilizer to choose to how to use the different tools involved, all of it. 

Reiji: Fufu…That sounds very promising. I would love to have you teach me someday. 

*Thud* 

Yuma: Woah…We’ve made some great progress while talkin’. 

Reiji: Yes. It went smoother than I expected. Perhaps we can thank the guy who made a huge fuss and then proceeded to faint on us.

Laito: Uu…Uu…Earthworm…I can’t…~~~

Reiji: Haah…

*Rustle* 

Reiji: You, go ahead and call Subaru and the others. They can already start planting seeds in the ridges we’ve created so far.

You nod. 

Yuma: We’re countin’ on ya!

You run off.

*TIMESKIP*

You approach the other group. 

Azusa: Hm….Ah! Eve!

Subaru: Oh? Are Reiji and the others done already? 

ー You explain. 

Azusa: So we can start planting seeds? …Perfect timing…I just decided what I want to grow…

You show interest.

Azusa: Me? You seeーー I’ve decided to plant chili pepper seeds. Yuma arranged these for me. They’re from the Demon World so they should grow quicker…than normal ones…I’ll let you try some of them…once they’ve been harvested, okay? Fufu… 

ーー Speaking of which…Subaru-san, which seeds did you choose…?

Subaru: Ah? Me…Iーー …It doesn’t really matter, does it? Anyway, let’s go plant them already!

Azusa: Oh…Ah, yeah. Good idea. …Let’s go together, Eve. 

You walk back towards the field together. 

*TIMESKIP*

Azusa: …Ridges have already been made over here. Yuma and the others made them…Well then, I suppose we can plant the seeds here. 

*Rustle* 

Subaru: Hm? Oi, wait. Is that Carla over there? He seems to be crouched down…What is that guy up to? 

Azusa: Ah…You’re right. 

You approach Carla. 

Carla: …Hm? So you lot have come to plant your seeds as well? 

Subaru: ‘As well’, you say? So you planted something as well? 

Carla: Yes, I just finished planting almonds and cashews. 

Subaru: Hah? …By the way, what’s the pink thing sticking out from the ground? 

Carla: This…? Isn’t that obvious? It’s cured ham. 

Subaru: Haah!? What is that doin’ iside the soil!? 

Carla: I mean, the vegetables need proper fertilizer to be able to grow into their optimal form, correct? That is why I decided to bury ham of the finest quality alongside them!

*Rustle* 

Carla: I believe this will allow me to grow the finest of nuts. Fufu… ーー However, I have already planted plenty of them, yet none have sprouted so far. Is something still missing, perhaps? 

Subaru: No…Rather than somethin’ missin’…I think this is a whole different issue. 

Azusa: Ah! Carla-san…Did you already water them? 

Carla: Water? …No, not yet. Hah! I see. So water is the solution, huh? ーー Oi, Subaru! Go and get me water!

Subaru: Again, this makes no sense! Why do I have to do that!? Anyway, there’s no way they’ll grow like that!

Carla: Kuh…Excuse me? They will not?

You try to explain to Carla. 

Subaru: Haah…Just like she said, you have to start with the seeds or it won’t work. 

Carla: …! …No…I refuse to give up…I am positive they will grow…!

Azusa: Carla-san, please don’t feel down…Right! Why don’t we plant some chili pepper seeds together? 

Carla: Chili pepper, you say? Hah! Ridiculous…!

Azusa: Please don’t be like that. Come on? …Eve, you should join us as well. Let’s plant them together. …Here’s a shovel for you. 

*Rustle* 

You thank him. 

Azusa: Mmh. You’re welcome. Here’s yours, Subaru-san. 

*Rustle* 

Subaru: Ah…Yeah…

Azusa: Let’s see…I suppose we can plant them around here? 

*Rustle rustle* 

Azusa: First you create a small hole…

He pours the seeds inside. 

Azusa: And then you add the seeds before closing it up again…

*Rustle rustle* 

Carla: Hmph!

Subaru: Well…I guess this should do? 

They continue planting seeds. 

Azusa: Mmh! You’re all doing a great job! Now we just…

*Tap tap* 

Azusa: Please turn out delicious…

*Tap tap* 

Azusa: Please turn out delicious…

Carla: Haah…What has that guy been mumbling about this whole time? 

Subaru: For some reason, it comes off as really creepy when comin’ from you…

Azusa: Eh? I’m just doing what Yuma always does. When you plant sands…While praying for them to turn out delicious…They actually will, you see…?

Subaru: For real? 

You ask Subaru which vegetables he will grow.

Subaru: Ah? …L-Like I said, that’s none of your business, is it!? 

Azusa: But I’m curious as well…

You agree.

Subaru: …Ugh. …Haahー Fine…Cherry tomatoes. 

Azusa: Cherry…tomatoes…

Subaru: What’s with that face!? Why do you seem so obviously surprised!? …They seemed the easiest to grow according to the manual so that’s why I chose them! Got a problem with that, huh!? 

Azusa: No…Not at all. Well then, here you go. 

*Rustle* 

Azusa: You can have this, okay? 

*Thud* 

Subaru: …Ah. What is this? A name tag?

Azusa: Yeah…I also got this from Yuma but…You should give your plant a name and put that beside it.

Subaru: Let me see… ‘Subaru-san’s tomatoes’? Doesn’t it seem like a grave of some sorts now?

Azusa: Eh? You think so? 

Carla: Hmph! You enjoy crawling into a coffin as a hobby, do you not? This is barely any different. 

Subaru: …!? A-Are you makin’ fun of me!? 

Carla: I am not. I am simply stating the truth. 

Subaru: Like I saidーー 

The other group approaches them. 

Reiji: Oh dear, why the ruckus? 

Azusa: Ah…Reiji-san…Yuma and Laito-san as well…

Laito: Hey there, Bitch-chan~! Haven’t seen you since earlier. 

You ask if he’s alright now. 

Laito: Mmh! I’m back in tip-top shape! Although…I’d rather stay clear from soil for a while.

Yuma: Look, ya guys can fight all ya want, but have ya finished plantin’ the seeds yet?

You nod.

Yuma: Hah? That doesn’t sound very convincin’...But…Oh! They’re already sproutin’! I guess seeds from the Demon World really are on a different level! If they keep growin’ like this, we might just be able to harvest them tomorrow!

Laito: Then why don’t we take a break? The sky is looking gray as well…

Reiji: You are right. It has been cloudy for a while now. Well then, how about we go rest up inside that cabin for a bit?

You all start walking towards the cabin. 

*TIMESKIP*

A storm rages outside.

Laito: It’s really pouring down…

Azusa: There’s even thunder…

*CRASH*

Reiji: I have to admit…The weather does make me rather worried about the seeds we planted earlier. They only just sprouted after all. 

Yuma: Yeah. Young sprouts aren’t well resistant to the rain or strong gusts of wind yet. Perhaps we should have put a few support pillars ‘round the plants to protect them. At this rate, they’ll end up gettin’ washed away by the rain. 

*Rustle* 

Subaru: Haah!? Then what ‘bout our assignment!? I’m not startin’ over from scratch again!

Carla: I agree. My new ham holder is at stake here. I shall not waste this opportunity. 

Reiji: Calm down, both of you. My silverware set depends on it as well, so I refuse to give up already. That being said, haste makes for waste, remember? 

*CRASH*

Laito: But…I don’t think we have much time to waste? The storm’s really picking up outside. 

Subaru: …! Tsk…Oi, Yuma! How do those pillars work? 

Yuma: …!? Don’t tell me…You’re thinkin’ of goin’ out there in this weather!? 

Subaru: What other choice do I have!? I put in all that effort to plant those seeds!  It’d be such a shame…To let my tomatoes go to waste before even gettin’ a chance to harvest them. 

Azusa: But…If you were to step outside right now…Wouldn’t you put yourself at risk as well? 

Subaru: I don’t give a damn ‘bout that! …Somebody has to go, right!? Get out of my way! I’ll go…!

*Thud* 

Yuma: Wait, Subaru! You won’t be able to do anythin’ by yourself! I’ll come with you. 

Azusa: Mmh. I’ll tag along as well. I want those chilli pepper seeds which we all planted together…To have a chance to grow…

Reiji: Haah…I suppose I have no other choice. I am not thrilled about having to go out during a rainstorm, but I shall come as well. 

You offer to join them as well. 

Reiji: No, you should wait here. It is dangerous outside after all. 

Yuma: Let’s get goin’ then…!

They run outside. 

Laito: Ahーah. They actually went outside. 

Carla: Hah! They can build a fort around it all they want, it will all be in vain if you do not tackle the root of the issue. 

You point out that the weather is the main problem. 

Carla: Yes. Exactly. In other words, this weather. 

Laito: Nfu~ That being said…There’s not much we can do about the weather, is there? 

Carla: No, I know a way. I could offset the storm with my magic. 

Laito: Eeh? You can do that? 

Carla: Who do you think I am? I am Tsukinami Carla, King of Founders! ーー Woman, step out of the way. I shall blow this storm away with my powers. Fufufu…Ahahaha! The ham holder is as good as mine!

Carla begins charging up an attack. 

Carla: Haah…

Laito: …Wow! This magic is impressive. I guess I should have expected as much from a Founder…? 

Carla: Aaaah!!!

*CRASH*

*BOOM*

Laito: Coff..coff…Bitch-chan…Are you alright? 

Carla: Hmph! That was a piece of cake for someone of my caliber. 

Yuma: Magic sure is somethin’ else! But I’m glad! Now our veggies are saーー Wait. Aaaaah…!!

Azusa: Oh…They had already sprouted as well…But now they’re all…gone. 

Subaru: …Oi! You’ve gotta be kiddin’ me!? How!? 

Reiji: Could it be…Was Carla’s attack simply too powerful…He ended up destroying the whole field in the process? 

Laito: Aahー

Carla: …A-Ahem…You should be grateful to me for getting rid of that terrible storm, at least.

Subaru: S…So in the end we’re back at square one anyway!? 

ーー THE END ーー

[jessikahathaway]

Baby Talk - Part I

Hellooooo!

I've had this in my WIPs for a while and I wanted to get some of it out so that you all could enjoy it! Let me know what you think and if you want more??? Tag lists are open for all of my ongoing fics so if you want to be added just let me know!

Please enjoy!

Pairing: Jikook X Reader (Jimin X Reader X Jungkook)

Genre: Surrogacy!AU, Polyamorous!AU, Romance. (Future Smut)

Warnings: Medical Procedures, Assault (not descriptive), Profanity. If I forgot anything please let me know!

Words: 11.3k (Phew chill Jess~)

This wasn’t a big deal, you thought to yourself as you signed the paperwork in the clinic.

Just, you know, getting artificially inseminated for money. Nothing weird about that right?

Becoming a surrogate wasn’t something you’d planned on in your life, mainly sticking to your job and working towards a better tomorrow or whatever they say.

You were young, healthy and full of life.

The only thing you lacked, was a full bank account.

The realization hit a little harder than you thought it would. Being a receptionist wasn’t exactly what you’d had planned for your life but, it was simple work and it made you happy.

Going to college wasn’t really ever an option for you anyways. Your parents had died in an accident when you were little, forcing you to go live with your Great Aunt until you turned eighteen. She hadn’t forced you out, but you did leave. Wanting the adventures that life had to offer.

However, you quickly realized that it wasn’t easy pickings out in the world. That’s when the notice came to the door of your apartment that you either paid your late rent in full by the date or you could get your ass out.

Fear trickled down your spine at the thought of being homeless. You briefly thought of going back to your Aunts but, she lived out in the country and the city is where you’d made your home. As much as you cared about her, it just wasn’t going to happen.

That’s when your friend Namjoon and his husband Jim invited you over for dinner.

You were beyond excited, because these two had just had their baby girl Annie.

They had used the local fertility clinic to get a surrogate and had their baby just a month prior. You had been dying to meet the little bundle ever since you heard the news they were having a baby.

God, that kid was going to be spoiled rotten.

Quickly, you had gone over and enjoyed a nice meal with the three of them. Annie still partaking in formula.

You had tried to make conversation, but your eyes kept wandering to Annie and her little hands and feet. You felt a slight clench in your chest at the sight of her round face and sweet eyes.

“Earth to Y/N? You doing alright?” Namjoon’s voice echoed through their lovely, luxe apartment.

“Y-Yeah! Fine, I’m fine,” you smiled.

“You sure?” Jin asked, getting up to take his and Namjoon’s plates to the kitchen.

“Mhmm,” you said, eyes glancing back over at the baby.

“You’re so whipped, Annie has claimed yet another victim,” Namjoon snickered, looking at the blissful gaze your eyes had taken.

“You ever want kids, Y/N?” Jin asked, coming back in with dessert for each of you.

“I guess so, I mean. Just gotta find someone to make the baby with,” you joked half heartedly.

It was no secret among your friends that you were the black sheep. Not dating, not even entertaining the notion of having a significant other. The idea was, honestly, draining.

“Don’t feel like you have to be married to have a kid, Y/N. Single parenthood is just as valid as a couple,” Jin reminded.

“I’m nowhere near financially stable enough to pop out a kid right now,” you sighed.

“No? I thought the job at the hotel was treating you well,” Namjoon said.

“Yes and no, they treat me well. But pay me next to shit... I-I gotta make some quick cash, or I’m gonna be homeless,” you whispered.

“What?!?” The two men shouted, looking at you with heartbreak in their eyes.

“Y/N, why didn’t you tell us you were struggling! We could’ve done something!” Jin says, rubbing his face with frustration.

“No-No! It’s fine, I’ll figure it out! I always do,” you encouraged, trying to keep the fear out of your eyes.

“How far behind on rent are you?” Namjoon asked.

“A little under six grand,” you sighed.

“Y/N!” Your two friends looked distraught.

“I don’t understand how a society can function like this, I hate it,” Namjoon said, looking down at his dessert he no longer wanted.

Annie started fussing, kicking her feet and wanting attention.

Jin sighed and got up, taking his beautiful daughter with him. You and Namjoon sat in cold silence for a while. Neither of you willing to talk to the other.

You were too proud for your own good. Even if it meant crashing and burning, you’d do that before you took anyone’s pity.

“How can we help?” Namjoon asked, looking at you with so much worry.

“I really don’t know Joon, there’s no where that’ll give me that kinda money with my credit and... even if they did I couldn’t pay it back anyways,” you sighed.

“Have you thought about going to school for something? Maybe you can get a degree and, I don’t know I’m pulling at straws here,” he said.

“I can’t go to school Joon, with what money? And even worse, I wouldn’t know what to go into,” you said, swallowing down some more wine.

“I wish we could’ve had you surrogate for us. We paid that woman a small fortune. Had I known you were struggling I would, maybe you could’ve done it instead,” he said quietly.

“How much did you pay her?” You asked.

“Around $80,000,” he said, shrugging.

You choked.

“Damn you filthy rich kids,” you grumbled, crossing your arms over your chest.

“That’s it!” Namjoon said.

“Huh?” You asked, looking at him in confusion and despair.

“You can’t be our surrogate, but you could be someone else’s!”

Your body ran cold at the thought.

“I-I don’t know if I could do that Joon,” you said.

“Doesn’t your family have a high chance of twins?” He said, looking at you with a smile.

“I mean, yes but-”

“Say no more. I know a couple that’s been dreaming of a baby. They actually were supposed to meet the woman who wound up being our surrogate. But she decided to go with us. Jimin and Jungkook, they’re really good people Y/N,” Namjoon said, smiling.

“Namjoon, I don’t know if I can have a stranger’s baby!”

“I mean I won’t force you to sign up or anything. But Jungkook and Jimin are really good guys who have been waiting forever to have a baby. They said they wanted twins but, most importantly they wanted a healthy child. How sweet is that!”

You worried your lower lip with your teeth. This was just ridiculous. There’s no way you’d be able to do it. No way.

“Let me show you a picture of them!” Namjoon said, pulling out his phone.

“Joon really-”

Although, before you could argue anymore, you saw their faces.

A smaller, blond man. Whose smile was brighter than any star. And a taller, lean brunette who looked at the camera with a goofy grin.

“Jimin is the blond, Jungkook is the brunette,” Namjoon explained.

“Okay?” You said, trying to calm your racing heart.

They were both handsome. Deathly so, it made your stomach clench in a weird way to look at them. You wondered what kind of babies they would make. If they had that smile Jimin was packing, no one would be safe. That child would get whatever it wanted.

“I’m just saying, it doesn't have to be them but they’ve wanted a baby for so long and... you could help them with that and get a lump sum of cash on the side. Bad a bing bad a boom! No worries!”

It wasn’t such a hard decision in the end.

You needed the money.

So walking into the clinic had this weird sense of finality to it.

The receptionist looked at you with a smile.

“Hello dear, how can I help you?” She said.

“I-uh, wanted to sign up to be a potential surrogate?” You said, wringing your hands together.

“Of course! Did you bring your medical records and things of the like?”

You nodded quickly, handing over the required paperwork. She clicked away on her keyboard and got you all signed up and ready to go. Soon, you were getting your preliminary check up to see if you were able to have children.

Although your period had some irregularities in the past, the doctor’s said it was probably due to stress and the balancing out of hormones. But it would all work out, you were healthy and fertile!

You managed to tell Namjoon that you signed up without him having a full blown heart attack.

“How long until you need to be out of the apartment?” He asked, sipping his coffee.

“I need to be out in three weeks,” you said softly.

“Well shit you’re kinda on a time crunch there sweets, but don’t worry, you can do it! I’ll let Jimin and Jungkook know that you signed up, they’ll want to meet you. I know it,” he said.

“Namjoon, it’s okay. I don’t care who I surrogate for, as long as it’s soon,” you said, trying to keep your heart rate under control.

“Okay, but Y/N, I’m telling you. They’d be the perfect fit for you!” He said.

You said your goodbyes before hanging up the phone. The days to come would be challenging no doubt.

—

You were rather popular at the fertility clinic it seemed, because you’d had three meetings already.

One was a couple that had been trying for years and it just wasn’t happening so they were resorting to a different method. Although for this one they wanted to do an egg implantation. You weren’t sure you wanted to do that.

Another was an older couple who looked like they were just planning on having kids but their own clocks ran out.

But finally, you got one more call from the clinic.

“Miss Y/N, you’ve got another request for a meeting,” the receptionist on the other line said.

“Oh? With whom?” You asked.

“A Mr. Park Jimin and a Mr. Jeon Jungkook, they asked for you personally,” she said, tone light.

You almost spit out your drink.

Th-They had asked for you?

The fertility clinic was big, a huge database of surrogates and people willing to conceive for the right price.

But they had asked to meet you.

Personally.

“Miss Y/N? Still there?” The receptionist asked, sounding far away from you.

“Yes! Yes I’m here,” you said, coughing.

“Wonderful, they said if you were willing they’d like to treat you to a meal, of course I can’t give out your contact information without consent from you but if you’re willing to meet with them we can arrange this.”

You heard yourself agree before even thinking about it.

Soon, you were on your way to the higher end of town. Heading towards a good Korean Barbeque place that was notorious for having the best meat in town.

Walking in you looked around, noticing how luxurious the place was. It made you feel a little out of place to be honest. But, not letting that get to you the host came up and asked for your name.

“Miss Y/N, ah yes. You’re with the Jeon party, lovely. Come right this way,” he said, taking you back into the bowels of the beast it seemed.

Winding through tables and chairs you found yourself in front of a private room. You didn’t want to think about how much this cost, so you simply just let your mind wander to other fun topics.

Such as the fact that you were potentially meeting your surrogate partners.

“Mr. Jeon? Mr. Park? A Miss Y/N is here for you,” the host said, through the door.

“Let her in,” a higher pitched male voice said.

You bit your lip and waited as the door opened. You looked inside and saw a beautiful wooden table, laid out with the finest meats and other various types of noodles and food. Then, there was the other feast, one for your eyes.

Park Jimin was a smaller man, but so incredibly handsome it made your head swirl. His soft blond hair tucked under a beanie as he looked up at you with what could only be called wonder. He looked at you gently, a small smile making its way to his lips.

Jeon Jungkook was a different story. Lean but cut, tiny waist accentuated by his pants. His arms were strong looking and one was covered in tattoos. His hair was pulled away from his face in a precious man bun that made your heart stutter. His eyes were big and glassy, looking at you. As if breathing you in.

“Hi,” you said quietly. “I’m Y/N.”

“We know,” Jimin said with a gentle smile.

“Come, sit down,” Jungkook said, moving a chair out for you to sit.

“Okay,” you agreed, moving to sit down.

“Get whatever you want,” Jimin encouraged, handing you the menu politely.

“Thank you,” you blushed, trying to not faint with his eyes on you like that.

Ordering a few things for yourself the three of you sat there with awkward silence filling the space. Jungkook wouldn’t really look at you and Jimin seemed like he was too nervous to start.

“So,” you said, clearing your throat. “How long have you two been together?” You asked, trying to sound cheerful.

“Five years,” Jungkook said, placing his hand over his glass.

“Oh wow, congratulations,” you said, rubbing your hands on your thighs.

“Thank you,” Jimin breathed.

“Our friend Namjoon said you were kind of in a tight spot and needed some help financially, is this true?” Jungkook asked, finally glancing your way.

“Y-Yeah, I wish he wouldn’t just tell other people that but, no sense in denying the truth. I’m almost six grand behind on rent,” you sighed, rubbing your face.

Both of their faces fell, looking at each other in worry.

“It-It’s okay though! I’ll be okay, I always am,” you said, trying to keep your tone light.

“It’s okay to be scared, Y/N, I would be scared shitless if I were you,” Jungkook said, taking slow drinks from his glass.

“Yeah,” you sighed, trying to avoid the stinging in your eyes.

“What do you do for work?” Jimin asked, trying to keep the conversation from turning to dark.

“I’m a receptionist at the local hotel. It’s not much, but I really like it,” you said, a grin taking place on your face.

“Hey, if you like it then that means something,” Jimin encouraged.

“So, you two want to have a baby?” You said, trying to get down to the topic at hand.

“Yes, more than anything,” Jimin said, a wistful look crossing his face.

“That’s amazing, to love each other that much and want to build a family is... Super important,” you said, meaning every word.

“What does your family do, Y/N? Do they live here in the city?”

You awkwardly rubbed your hands together.

“Um, my Great Aunt lives out in the country. But, my parents and most of my other relatives have passed on,” you said, trying to hide the emotion that came up.

“Oh, so sorry for your loss,” Jungkook said, face pinching.

“It’s okay, it was a long time ago,” you whispered.

“That doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt,” Jimin argued.

“You’re right, but, it’s okay,” you said.

“So, you have a high chance for twins,” Jungkook said, looking at some papers you didn’t notice were on the table.

“Yes, my mother was a twin. It runs way back in my family,” you said.

“Jimin has a good chance of having twins as well,” Jungkook said, gesturing to his loving partner.

“I do I do,” he said with a grin.

“Do you two want a set of twins?” You asked.

“It’s preferred but not necessary. As long as we get a baby, that’s all that matters,” Jungkook said.

Soon, the food was delivered and Jungkook and Jimin insisted on cooking the food for you. Something about not stressing you out too much.

After a full meal, you leaned back and let your head fall comfortably. Jimin and Jungkook exchanged a glance at each other.

‘She’s the one,’ Jimin mouthed.

Jungkook smiled and nodded back.

“Thank you for the meal, I really do appreciate it. I haven’t eaten like that in months,” you said.

“Well, if you want to have our baby, we would gladly provide you with all the food you could want,” Jimin said.

“T-That’s alright, it wouldn’t be necessary-”

“Yes it would, Y/N. If you carry our child that means we’re responsible for you, everything you need or want will be yours. We swear,” Jungkook said.

“Right,” you swallowed thickly.

“Does that make you uncomfortable?” Jimin asked.

“I-I’ve never really been one for dependence on other people. You know? I like to do things myself if I can,” you said.

“Well, we wouldn’t force you to do anything of course but, if you did want or need anything, we would be more than happy to provide you with it,” Jungkook said.

“Thank you, that’s very sweet,” you said.

“You’d be carrying our child,” Jimin said as if it were obvious.

“Of course,” you said softly.

“Hey, if you don’t want to do this then don’t feel pressured. Don’t let money be an object in what you want to do with your life. It’s not healthy,” Jimin said.

“Thank you,” you said again.

“Well, I think it’s time to get going. I know you’ve met with other couples that have no doubt tried to convince you they’re the best option but... I really hope you chose us Y/N. You’d be the perfect surrogate for us,” Jungkook said, looking at you with a softened gaze.

And you knew it too.

You knew they were the couple you wanted to surrogate for, even if it cost you everything. You knew they deserved it. Not that any of the other families you had spoken to didn’t, but, they were the ones for you.

Your fertile window and ovulation were coming up so you had to make a choice and soon.

You’d met with the doctors at the clinic and they said that they were just waiting on you. Whomever you picked would have a meeting with you before the insemination on the rules and what you would have to do in regards to taking care of yourself. And then the money would be yours in full.

Calling the clinic you told them your answer.

“I would like to surrogate for Mr. Jeon and Mr. Park,” you said.

“Alrighty, I will give them a call and set up the appointment for them to get their end of the deal all set up and then we can get you all ready to go!” The receptionist said.

“Okay, thank you so much,” you said before hanging up.

Namjoon and Jin invited you over wanting to hear the news of everything going on with you.

And you couldn’t wait to see Annie again.

“Aw, you’re getting so big!” You said as you were greeted by Annie’s face in Jin’s arms.

“Yes she is!” Jin agreed. The cooing baby leaned forward, moving to capture your hair in her little fist.

You laughed and took her from Jin easily, he didn’t fight you and let you have your time with her. Rocking and bouncing her on your hip while the pair of them talked in the dining room.

Soon, a knocking came to the door.

Confusion swept over you, but regardless, you went to answer the door anyways.

Annie still on your hip, you opened the door to reveal Park Jimin and Jeon Jungkook, your new surrogate partners.

Frozen in shock the two of them looked at you as if they were equally confused.

You wondered if the clinic had told them you picked them yet. You had just gotten off the phone with them today, so you weren’t. Jungkook’s face went to you to Annie and then back to you.

“H-Hi?” You whispered.

“Y/N? What are you doing here?” Jimin asked, cocking his head to the side.

“Came to have dinner with Jinnie and Joon, and Annie of course,” you smiled, raising the little one up on your hip more.

“Oh, did you know we were coming?” Jungkook asked.

“No, I had no idea,” you said.

“Ah! Are those the boys?” Jin’s voice echoed throughout the hall.

“Yes!” You yelled back.

“Let them in Y/N! We invited them over too!” Namjoon said.

“Please come in,” you said, moving out of their way as the couple greeted Jin and Namjoon fondly.

It appeared as though there were no hard feelings in regards to them getting a surrogate they wanted. But, you could see Jungkook’s longing on his face when he looked at Annie in your arms.

“She’s beautiful,” Jimin said, looking down at Annie as you rocked her to sleep.

“Mhmm, gorgeous. She’ll be stealing hearts just like her dads,” you said.

“Hey, Y/N,” Jimin said, keeping his eyes trained on the little one in your arms.

“Did you make your decision yet? It said on your profile that your ovulation window was coming up and I was just curious,” he said quietly.

“I did,” you said.

Jimin’s face fell.

“I see,” he swallowed.

“Jimin-”

“Alright you two, paws off the baby, my turn!” Namjoon said, walking in.

You handed the sleeping baby over without a fuss before you and Jimin both walked out into the living room. Jimin whispered something to Jungkook and his face dropped. But you couldn’t find the words in your mouth. You wanted to tell them you picked them. You moved to talk to them when you felt Jin’s presence behind you.

“Y/N? You alright?” Jin asked, placing his hand on your shoulder.

“Yeah.”

It was getting later, and you were feeling sleepy from all the food you’d eaten during the night.

Jimin and Jungkook looked at your sleepy form and their hearts broke all over again.

“I can’t believe she didn’t pick us,” Jungkook said, face betraying how he felt.

“Babe, you can’t force her. I-I thought we had a good chance but,” Jimin sighed.

“I don’t want to keep looking for a surrogate if this is going to happen every time,” Jungkook said, pain coming through in his voice.

“Jungkook you know how badly I want this too right? It’s not just you hurting here,” Jimin said.

“We’ve been trying for two years to find a surrogate and when we find one we want, they always pick someone else. Why? Are we that undesirable? I don’t understand,” Jungkook sighed.

“It’s not that,” Jimin whispered. “Maybe it’s just not our turn yet.”

“When is it gonna be our turn, huh?” Jungkook said. “I don’t know how much more of this I can take.”

“We can’t give up,” Jimin said softly. “I don’t want to give up yet.”

“I know baby,” Jungkook said, kissing Jimin’s cheek softly.

You felt your heart pounding in your chest. These poor men were really hurting for a baby. A family to call their own.

Sitting up Jimin and Jungkook looked at you in fear.

“Y/N? Y-You were awake-oh God I’m so sorry you had to hear that-” Jimin said frantically.

“I picked you two,” you said.

Their eyes shot up to meet yours.

Jungkook’s were glossy from unshed tears and Jimin’s were widening by the second.

“You what?”

“I said I picked you two. I want to surrogate for you two,” you explained.

“But-in the nursery you said-” Jimin started.

“I said I had picked someone, I didn’t say who silly,” you smiled.

“Oh thank you Y/N!” Jungkook said, coming over to hold your hand in his.

“You don’t know what this means to us,” Jimin said.

“I know you two want this baby more than anything, I want to give it to you. Honestly, you two have waited long enough,” you said, heart stammering at the look of hope in their eyes.

“You’re perfect Y/N! Seriously!” Jimin cried, holding onto Jungkook for dear life.

“Thank you, you’re very sweet. I’m supposed to go in for the, you know, business end of it on Monday. They said they’d call you tomorrow. I just gave my answer today,” you told them.

“Okay, alright sounds good,” Jungkook said, wiping his eyes furiously.

“You gonna be okay?” You asked, looking at the two of them.

“Of course, more than okay.”

—

Monday creeped up on you quickly, faster than you thought.

You went to the clinic and sat down, getting signed in and everything before you saw Jungkook and Jimin waltz in looking like a million bucks.

Dressed head to toe in designer clothing, you realized you didn’t know what they did for a living. You hadn’t really looked at their profiles all that much. But you knew their baby would have everything they could ever want and more.

Smiling at them and waving, the two of them made their way over to you.

“Hey! What’s going on?” Jimin asked, sitting down in the chair next to you.

“Just waiting,” you said, looking at the pair of them together.

They looked like the traditional power couple. Strong, dependable and handsome to boot. It was kind of overwhelming.

Jungkook was wringing his hands together, biting his lip as he looked around the room.

“You alright Jungkook?”

“Yeah just-”

“Mr. Jeon, Mr. Park and Miss Y/N? The legal assistant will see you now,” a voice from the corner called.

“Let’s go,” you said, standing up and heading towards the back room.

You sat down and the rules of the road were laid out.

If you signed the contract Jimin and Jungkook were the parents of the child. You had no rights unless they said otherwise. You would be given a lump sum of money, transferred into your bank account the day they know you’re pregnant and expecting. If anything happens to the baby such as a miscarriage or something of the like that you had no control over, you would be able to keep the money. But, they would like to try again to see if the next one stuck better.

“So, if you conceive twins, which your likelihood is good, Mr. Jeon and Mr. Park have agreed to pay you double,” you almost choked on your drink.

Double?

“What?” You squeaked out.

“It’s written right here,” the legal assistant said, pointing to the document in her hands.

“Okay,” you said softly, not wanting to make either of them uncomfortable.

“The total of your payment will come to $153,000 dollars,” the legal assistant said. “If you conceive twins.”

Your head swirled.

What would you do with all that money? Jimin and Jungkook looked at you with worry.

“I-Is it not enough? We can give you more if you want-”

“No! No no, that is totally acceptable. More than,” you said.

“Okay, just making sure,” Jimin answered.

“If you would please initial here, Miss Y/N. And then a signature here at the bottom and then you two will also need to sign as well,” she said.

After all the paperwork was done your date for insemination was set.

Jimin and Jungkook looked at you as you walked out of the clinic.

“Hey! Y/N! Hold on,” Jungkook said, walking forward.

“Huh? What is it?” You asked turning around.

Jungkook’s bright eyes blinded you as he gazed into your own. But you kept your breathing steady as you could.

“Do you want a ride home? Jimin and I cleared our schedules so we could be here today, and... Well we don’t want you to get hurt or anything,” he said, pointing to the black suburban.

“Oh, it’s alright I was gonna go to the bookstore and get a few things and then head home but I’ll be fine, no worries,” you smiled.

“We insist, Y/N,” Jimin said, walking forward to take his partner’s hand.

“Um, well... It’s really not that far, I’m sure it’ll be okay,” you said.

“Well, if you’re really sure,” Jungkook said.

“Yeah, but I’ll see you two on Thursday right? That’s when I’m supposed to... Well, you know,” your said, looking down at your feet.

“Of course! If you want us to be there that is,” Jimin said.

“Yes, it’s your baby,” you said.

“Okay, we’ll see you Thursday then,” Jungkook agreed, waving at you before he and Jimin got into the suburban and left.

But you couldn’t help the feeling you had as you watched them drive away.

Sadness.

—

You walked into the clinic Thursday morning, sweat pooling in your palms. You were reaching the end of your wire at your apartment. And you weren’t going to get the money in time. You were worried and didn’t want to bother Namjoon and Jin... So you just kept it to yourself.

You felt the fear and worry eating you up inside as you sat in the waiting room.

The doctor called your name and you headed back towards the room, when someone shouted your name.

Jimin and Jungkook were there, smiling brightly at you.

Your heart eased at seeing the two men, so happy and radiant. Everything you weren’t currently. But, knowing you were giving them something so important really made you feel better. Even if it was just for the time being.

“Oh my gosh, we’re finally getting a baby!” Jimin squeaked.

“Easy, it’s probably not going to happen first try,” you reminded him of what the doctor said.

“Bet I could get you pregnant in one shot,” Jungkook smirked.

“Oh shush Kook. But if you got her pregnant you wouldn’t get those twins you want so badly now would you, butthead,” Jimin said, shoving the younger man around slightly.

You tried to keep yourself from blushing but the redness that twinged your cheeks was there regardless. You were here to get pregnant, that was the end goal of today.

“Alright, Miss Y/N, we’re going to take you back and get you all set and then Mr. Park and Mr. Jeon have said they wanted to take you home after. Is that alright with you?” The doctor asked.

“Yes, that’s fine,” you said.

“Okay, let’s head back then,” Jungkook gave you a gentle smile before Jimin came forward and gave your knuckles a quick kiss.

“Good luck, Y/N,” he said.

“Thanks,” you answered before heading back.

The whole process took around a hour and a half, most of it waiting.

The sensation wasn’t too bad, but you were a little uncomfortable. Everything was super sterile and not how you expected you’d get pregnant, but... It wasn’t your baby at the end of the day. You tried not to wiggle as you laid there, letting Jimin’s seed try to impregnate you.

Finally, the timer went off and you were allowed to leave to go home.

Jimin and Jungkook were sat in the waiting room, chatting with each other excitedly. You knew that this was it, that they were more than perfect for this baby. You were beyond happy you could give it to them.

“Y/N!” Jimin said, walking up to greet you.

“Hey,” you said easily, noticing Jungkook come up behind him.

“We’re here to take you home!” Jimin smiled.

“Thanks guys,” you said softly.

“We brought the car around already so you don’t have to walk too much. Don’t wanna spoil all our hard work,” Jimin said, looking at your tummy with affection.

“Like I said Jimin, it probably won’t happen this time. But you never know, you might have some strong swimmers,” you joked.

“You have no idea, Y/N,” he said, gazing into your eyes for a moment.

Your breath caught in your throat. He looked like an angel wrapped in sin, as if he were so good yet so bad for you. It made your head spin.

Jungkook held the car door open for you and you got in carefully. Jimin sat in the back with you while Jungkook sat up front.

Of course these two had a driver...

Jimin was looking out the window and noticed that they were getting into the sketchier part of town. His worry was eating him alive. He didn’t want the mother of his child staying here! That simply wouldn’t do.

You got out of the car, heading towards your apartment when the landlord approached you. Jungkook and Jimin were still getting out of the car when he exploded at you.

“There’s the little bitch now!” He growled, grabbing your wrist and twisting it painfully.

You yelped, trying not to move so much. It only made it hurt more.

“Let me go!” You said.

“You filthy cunt, you owe me almost six thousand dollars! And you dare to come back here without anything? Huh? Nothing? Where have you been huh? Selling your body to make some cash I bet, that’s what little whore’s like you do right? Fucking pathetic,” he spits at you.

“I-I just need a little more time-” a resounding smack is heard through the parking lot.

Jimin and Jungkook look up to see your head turned sharply to the side and a man gripping your wrist.

Both of the men flew off the handle.

“Let go of her you fucker!” Jungkook yelled, walking forward with purpose.

“Don’t you dare touch her!” Jimin growled, pulling you away from the man.

“Did you fucking hit her?” Jungkook said, looking at your reddened cheek.

“Bitch owes me money, she knows that-”

“Fucker!” Jungkook snarled, grabbing the man by his shirt and lifting him.

“Y/N? Sweetie can you hear me?” Jimin whispered. Your head was swimming with pain and discomfort. Your cheek was screaming at you. But what hurt worse was the embarrassment. They saw it all, that you couldn’t take care of yourself. How on earth were you going to take care of a baby if you got pregnant for nine months? Huh?

“I’m sorry,” you whispered.

“You have nothing to be sorry for, he hurt you. Jungkook put him down and call the cops,” Jimin said.

“I owe him money, I just-”

“You can’t arrest me! You fuckheads, do you know who I am?” He asked.

“Do you know who we are? Hi I’m Jeon Jungkook, heir to the Jeon Law Firm here in the city. You might have heard of us, and she is the mother of my future child and you won’t be putting your hands on her ever again,” Jungkook said.

“I just wanna leave, I don’t... I don’t wanna be here,” you whimpered.

“But Y/N,” Jimin said.

“Can we leave? Please?” You begged, looking up at him with a swollen cheek and glossy eyes. Jimin’s heart broke five times over, seeing you so upset.

“Jungkook, come on. Let’s go,” Jimin said.

“And leave her with this fucking piece of shit? I think not, no we’re going to-Y/N? Are you alright?” Jungkook asked, coming forward and looking at your face with a tenderness you didn’t know was there.

“We’ll take her home with us,” Jimin said easily.

“Okay, yeah. But we’re calling the cops on that dickbag when we get back. I want him arrested for hurting her,” Jungkook said with finality.

“Of course baby,” Jimin said, soothing the younger male.

“Can we just go?” You asked, looking up at them for a moment.

“Yes, of course we can, let’s get you in the car and go back to our place,” Jungkook said, coming forward and getting into the back seat this time. Jimin encouraged you to get inside, so you did, him following shortly thereafter.

“Take us home please,” Jungkook said, shutting the little window between the front of the car and the back.

You sat between the two men, each of them looking out the window and appearing to be deep in thought. You were as well. You hoped this didn’t affect your chances of getting pregnant. You don’t know what you’d do if you couldn’t get this baby. The prospect of so much money on the line, you very future.

Also, you worried for Jungkook and Jimin. You really wanted this to work for their sake too.

They’d been waiting so long.

You were swallowed into the dreamscape of your thoughts. Nothing really getting in or out of your mind. You were just reeling at everything that had happened in less than four hours. You had your first attempt at insemination, went home and got assaulted and now you were heading to the upper end of the city with the two men who wanted you to have a baby for them.

This was all so much to handle.

Finally, the car stopped moving and Jimin quickly ushered you out of the vehicle. You stood there and looked up at the stunning building with a weird sense of fear. It loomed over you, almost intimidatingly so.

Jimin told the driver to go park the car and take the rest of the day off while Jungkook gathered their things from the back. You looked around and noticed that people were staring at you.

No doubt you looked like a sore pink thumb right now. Tear stained and swollen cheeks making you look even more outlandish in the area. But, Jungkook quickly moved everyone inside.

The door man asked who you were and Jimin and Jungkook simply told the truth.

“She’s our surrogate, we’re having her stay with us for a while. If she needs anything, make sure she gets it!” Jimin said.

“Absolutely Mr. Park,” the doorman said.

“Come on Y/N,” Jungkook said, heading towards the elevator.

You followed behind them quickly, getting in the mirrored elevator. Looking at yourself you felt all the anxiety and fear come back. You didn’t belong here, you were wearing a pair of fucked up jeans, a flannel and t-shirt. They were dressed in beautiful clothing, dipped in the finest silks and satins.

You looked like a charity case no doubt.

It made your stomach churn in discomfort. But you kept your mouth shut. You were providing them with a service. And in turn they were paying you. It was a give and take situation. But you couldn’t help but feel as though you were taking more than you were giving.

Jungkook held the door while you and Jimin entered the house. You looked around and the apartment was massive. Bigger than your Aunt’s tiny house in the country. You wondered just how much money these two had.

Soon, Jimin was sitting you down on the couch and tending to your cheek. His heart crumpled when you flinched at his touch. He tried not to take it personally, you were literally just assaulted. But he hoped you weren’t scared of him, or Jungkook.

“Should I call the doctor?” Jungkook asked, coming in and sitting next to Jimin.

“No, she’s just a little swollen, she’ll be alright,” Jimin said, handing you the painkillers and some ice.

“Can she have that?” Jungkook asked, referring to the pain medicine.

“It’s acetaminophen she can have it,” Jimin confirmed.

“Okay,” he said, standing up and heading towards the kitchen.

“Are you hungry?” Jimin asked, looking at you for any signs of discomfort.

“Not particularly, but I should eat. Especially today,” you said, a weak smile on your face. Jimin nodded, but headed towards the kitchen regardless.

Soon after, a wonderful aroma filled the apartment. But you hadn’t moved from the couch, keeping your eyes trained on the TV Jimin turned on for you. You didn’t particularly want to watch the news, but you weren’t sure on how to work this TV. It made your brain hurt. But, whatever, you kept your eyes on the screen, not looking anywhere in particular.

Jimin soon came out, wearing a smile that must be a signature for him or something. He told you dinner was ready and to follow him. Turning off the TV with a swipe of his finger on the screen you marveled at the technology.

He patted your cheek and brought you into the dining room.

Jungkook was finishing putting the food out when you sat down. He and Jimin were deep in conversation. You picked at your food, eating a few pieces if Jimin put them on your plate. But other than that, you sat unmoving in the corner.

You supposed you were still in shock of what had happened today.

Soon, you felt the distinct cramping in your lower stomach, something you were told is to be expected. Especially if the pregnancy took. Letting out a puff of air, you held your stomach. It wasn’t terrible, but the discomfort had you adjusting in your seat.

Jungkook’s head snapped in your direction, carefully observing you.

“Everything alright? Y/N?” He asked, cocking his head to the side in a cute way.

Forcing a smile you nodded.

“Yeah, just cramping a little bit,” you said, keeping your hands together underneath the table.

“Is it bad?” Jungkook asked, leaning towards you.

“No-ah!” You said, clutching your stomach. It didn’t hurt as much as it caught you off guard. But the two men were beside you in seconds.

“Y/N? Do you want us to call the doctor?”

“Is there something we can get for you? Do you want more pain medicine?”

“N-No, honestly, I’m okay,” you said, giving them each a squeeze to their wrist.

Jimin nodded, standing up and moved to start cleaning up the meal. Jungkook placed a couple more pieces of meat on your plate, asking you to eat them. He thought it could help your cramping, but he mainly just wanted to see you eat something.

Soon, the pair of them had cleaned up the meal and had gathered some clothes for you to wear to bed.

“We’ll pick up some stuff for you to wear tomorrow,” Jungkook said smiling.

“N-No that’s alright I can go back and get my stuff,” you said.

“You’re not going anywhere near that building,” Jimin warned, voice low.

“What? I have to get my stuff-”

“We’ll have someone go collect your things and bring them back here,” Jimin said, careful.

“I can go it’s not a big deal-”

“Y/N, please, just let us take care of this,” Jungkook said, quietly coming over to your side.

You were far too tired to argue. But you already felt like a cat in a cage. So you waved off the disagreement and decided to just head to bed.

The cramping was still there, but not nearly as bad as it had been when you were at the table. Laying down helped, but you felt something in your underwear.

Quickly, you went to the bathroom and noticed some blood in your underwear. Biting your lip, you tried to keep yourself from panicking. Putting them back on you went to living room and found Jimin sitting on the couch, looking tired.

“J-Jimin,” you said quietly.

His head snapped up and he gave you a little smile.

“Yes, Y/N?” He asked, coming towards you. You sighed and ran your hands through your hair.

“I-I was bleeding,” you said, voice straining slightly.

“You were? Where?” He asked, brows furrowing.

“M-My, uh, I found it in my underwear,” you said, breathing in deeply.

“Was it a lot?” He asked, keeping a cool exterior.

“N-No, not a lot but it worried me,” you said, trying to keep yourself from freaking out on him.

“It’s normal to spot a little after the IUI, don’t worry. But tell me if anymore happens. They did just shove a tube up your business,” he said, laughing lightly.

Immediately you were put at ease. Sensing your relief, Jimin patted your shoulder.

“It’s okay to be nervous, we are,” Jimin said, nodding towards the closed door you assumed was to their bedroom.

“Yeah, I’m-I just really want this to work,” you confessed, feeling yourself relax a bit.

“We do too, more than anything,” Jimin answered, giving you a genuine grin.

“I’m glad that the baby will have you two as parents, makes me feel good knowing that they’ll be taken care of,” you smiled back.

Jimin’s face seemed to morph into a look of joy and agony at the same time.

“You’re too sweet, Y/N, honestly. Jungkook and I are beyond excited,” he explained.

“Have you always wanted to be a father?” You asked him, out of the blue. Jimin blushed and looked down at his feet.

“Y-Yeah, ever since I was little I always wanted a family to call my own. And when I met Jungkook I knew it was just meant to be you know? Like, everything just made sense,” he said, a sheepish look taking over his features.

“That’s so sweet,” you gushed.

“It’s the truth,” he shrugged.

“I want someone to look at me the way you look at Jungkook, like I’m their whole world and more. I’ve never been one for dating though,” you said, looking down at the floor, embarrassed.

“No? How many boyfriends or girlfriends have you had?” Jimin asked, not thinking. When the shocked look took over your face he back peddled. “I-I shouldn’t have asked, that doesn’t deem your worth or anything like that-”

“None,” you said, blushing bright red.

Jimin’s face changed.

“Tell me if I’m out of line here, but have you ever, uh... You know, um,” he said, rubbing his hands together.

“Oh? Sex? Yeah, I’ve done it before, but it wasn’t really anything special. I don’t even think I-um... Nevermind,” you said, biting your lip hard.

“You don’t think you what? You didn’t cum?” Jimin said, as if he were shocked.

“No! Now keep your voice down!” You yelped.

Jimin frowned.

“That’s horrible, you deserve better,” Jimin said matter of factly.

“It happens, but, this conversation has gotten away from us,” you said, trying to steer it away from your pathetic sex life and more towards the fact that you both need to go to bed. “I’m tired, had a long day.” You said, rubbing your arms.

“Of course, absolutely! If you need anything or something happens, our room is right here just come get us,” Jimin said.

“Okay, thanks,” you said, turning, but not before you wished him a good night.

Jimin gave you a small smile. “Good night, Y/N, sleep well.”

—

Soon your stuff was all moved into the boys apartment. You questioned when you would be leaving, but the boys said that you didn’t have to worry about departing for the foreseeable future.

They had originally wanted you to live with them if and when they found out you were pregnant, that way they could be there through it all. But, these stages after the insemination could be hard on you and they decided to keep you with them.

You felt like a little kid half the time, but you had to call in to work often because of these appointments. And quickly, they tired of it.

“Y/N, we love you and we want you to pick here to work, but honestly your attendance is a severe issue right now,” your supervisor said over the phone. You called in that day because you just were feeling super exhausted.

You hadn’t told them you’d signed up for a surrogacy. You weren’t sure how that would go over, but, maybe you had to if you wanted to save your job.

“I-I’m calling in all the time because I’m trying to get pregnant,” you said softly.

Laughter came from the other side of the phone.

You were being laughed at.

“Oh my God, Y/N, that’s hilarious! But seriously, I have to put you on a two week suspension without pay because-”

“Dawn, I'm serious. I signed up with the fertility clinic and I’m currently trying to become a surrogate for a lovely couple,” you said, honestly.

“Y/N, why did you sign up for that? As far as any of us knew, you weren’t that into kids,” Dawn said over the phone.

“I-I like kids, but the baby won’t be mine to keep. The couple gets to keep them once they are born. I lose all rights as a parent,” you explained.

“That’s kinda cruel... Let you carry the baby for nine months then force you to leave them. I don’t know if I could do that,” she said.

“I-It’s the way it is,” you said. “But I need to have the day off, I have an appointment at the clinic.”

“Y/N, would it be easier if we just let you quit?” Dawn said.

“What?!” You shrieked into the phone.

“Well, it’s a delicate time and we'd have you working on your feet for long hours. I don’t want anything to happen to you or your baby,” she said, sounding sad.

“But I don’t wanna leave you guys,” you whimpered.

“Well, once the little tike is born come back. We’ll hire you back, I promise. If you want to come back,” she offered.

“Y-You’ll really let me come back?” You said, biting your lip.

It would be nice to just focus on the pregnancy and helping Jungkook and Jimin. If you had the option, maybe it would be better to take her advice and go back when you were ready. Hopefully they don’t screw you over.

“Of course we will! We love you! But, right now isn’t the best time for you to be working. Focus on you and your little bundle okay? We’ll be waiting,” she said.

“Oh thank you Dawn! I love you guys too!”

After a little tears ‘see you later’, you hung up.

Soon, a soft knock came to your door. Looking up you saw Jungkook there, dressed to the nines looking at you. Raising a brow you assessed the situation.

“What’s up?” You said, setting your phone down to give him your undivided attention.

“I was wondering if you needed a ride to work, you’re already an hour late,” he said, pointing to the clock on your wall.

“Oh, about that,” you said, rubbing your hands together.

“Did something happen? Did they fire you for being our surrogate? Oh just let me make one phone call, that’s illegal! I’m a lawyer, let me talk some sense into them!” Jungkook said, turning to walk out.

“No, Jungkook! It’s fine, they told me to take the time off. To spend time focusing on myself and to take care of the baby,” you explained. “My job will be there when I’m ready to return.”

Jungkook stopped and looked at you. His features softened before nodding.

“Okay, but if they try to tell you you can’t go back when you’re ready, you just tell me. I won’t let anyone disrespect or lie to you,” he said, a stern look on his face.

“Thanks Jungkook, that means a lot,” you said, giving a smile.

“There’s food in the fridge, all you have to do is heat it up. You have the house to yourself so, do whatever you want,” Jungkook said, waving before walking out of your room.

You sat there for a minute, really mulling over what you wanted to do. Honestly, you were so sore and tired you just wanted to fall back asleep. But you decided that it was better to get up and do some activity. Hopefully that would be okay.

It had been about ten days since your IUI appointment and you were mainly just tired. Although fatigue was a symptom of an attachment. But that was the only symptom you were having, you were meant to test in a couple days to see if you were pregnant, but something had you worried.

If you weren’t pregnant, you’d have to wait a whole other month. They did tell you that sometimes it took multiple tries to successfully impregnate someone. But you really wanted this to work, you just wanted to get this going.

That way Jimin and Jungkook could have their baby already.

You knew they’d be amazing fathers, already with their dutiful actions towards you. So willing to do whatever you asked, but you tried your best not to pester them too much. You tried to make it as though you weren’t even there. But they insisted you join them for dinner so they could make sure you were eating well.

For your day you mainly just puttered around the house, picking up and doing little things that wouldn’t aggravate you. So, you settled down with a book in your hands and soft music playing in the background.

That’s how Jimin and Jungkook found you when they came home. Curled up on the couch with a novel between your fingers. Jimin smiled softly, looking at the picturesque scene.

“Do you think she’s pregnant?” Jungkook asked, looking at his boyfriend with apprehension.

“I hope so,” Jimin answered.

“She’s really tired lately, sleeping late and going to bed early. That’s a sign, right?” Jungkook said.

“It is, but that’s also a sign of a woman’s period coming up,” Jimin warned.

“Damn...” Jungkook said, rubbing his face.

“But I don’t know, she’s due to test soon so, we might have our baby,” Jimin soothed.

You looked up from your book, noticing the pair in the entryway. Giving them a shy smile, you waved, nose getting buried back in the book. Jimin laughed lightly, heading towards the kitchen.

The two cooked dinner, making something easy to digest. Your stomach was on the fritz yesterday so they want to make sure they don’t upset your sensitive tummy. But, as Jimin looked out at you reading on the couch, a blanket draped along your lap. He couldn’t help but love the domesticity of it all. You looked at peace, in your element and comfortable.

Jimin hoped it would stay that way. With you, comfy and cared for.

Jungkook rushed past with the boiling soup in his hands, moving quick like a little kid to set the table for you all. Jimin just laughed, smacking his butt when he came back.

“Hey! Paws off,” Jungkook pouted.

“Hmm? That’s not what you were saying the other night,” Jimin laughed at the scandalized look on Jungkook’s face. “I’m kidding, come on go get Y/N so we can eat.”

Jungkook went to gather you from the living room and was met with an unusual sight. You passed out, wrapped in the blanket with your book on the floor.

He smiled, moving towards you slowly. He placed a soft hand on your head, patting your hair gently. Your eyes opened slowly, looking up at him with sleepy eyes. Jungkook helped you up, leading you to the dining room.

The meal was quiet, Jungkook and Jimin making small talk with you, but mostly you were just eating peacefully.

You ate well and leaned back, as you tended to do when you were full and let out a huff. Jimin repressed the smile on his face with the back of his hand. Jungkook smiled openly, looking at your sleepy form.

Sitting back up you took a few more swallows of water before you stood up and thanked them for the meal and headed towards your room.

Jungkook and Jimin watched you go, each having a weird tightening in their chest at the sight of your swaying hips.

—

You had finally reached the two week mark.

Time to test.

Jimin and Jungkook went with you, driving you to the clinic for your appointment at the ass crack of dawn it felt like.

Jimin was chatting excitedly in the front seat with Jungkook. You could see the looks of love on their faces as they talked about their future with their child. It made butterflies rise in your stomach.

Quickly smacking your cheeks, you tried to forget the sensation of hope building in your belly.

Soon you were all at the clinic, Jimin helping you out of the car. The two men walked on either side of you, making sure everyone knew who you were here with. It made you feel protected, watched over.

Important.

After all the paperwork was done for the visit, Jungkook and Jimin sat down next to you. They interlocked their hands, smiling brightly at each other. You locked your hands together and looked down at them.

“Miss Y/N? Mr. Park and Mr. Jeon? Are you all ready?” A nurse called and you all headed back to a secluded room, a few chairs and the like ready. You saw the needles and everything set up and you swallowed hard.

You hated needles, with a passion.

But you’d done it before, so you’d do it again.

“Y/N? You okay?” Jungkook asked, looking at your paling face.

“Y-yeah, nervous around needles,” you confessed.

“Oh, do you want some water or something?”

“No I’m okay,” you encouraged.

“If you’re sure,” Jungkook said, looking like he wanted to do more...

“Alright! We’re gonna take some blood and a urine sample, so if you two would just wait outside for a moment while we get her changed, then you can come back in if you want,” the nurse explained.

You got changed and hopped up on the table.

They asked a bunch of questions, all fairly standard. Then they brought out the needles. Jimin saw you flinch when the packaging came off and you saw the syringe come closer.

“Hang on,” Jimin said, standing up.

The nurse stopped and looked up in confusion, that’s when Jimin took your hand in his and squeezed.

“You can hold my hand while they take your blood okay? Just squeeze if you need to,” he said, looking at your face for any signs of resistance.

You bit your lip and nodded.

The nurse took your blood quickly, getting a few vials full. Jungkook watched as his boyfriend held your hand the whole time, keeping you calm and at ease.

He hoped with everything he was that this had worked.

God, he wanted it to work so bad.

Soon, the two men were being ushered out of the room so you could do your urine sample.

After everything was done and over with, you got dressed and went to the waiting room. Jimin and Jungkook stood up when they saw you, waving you over to sit with them.

All three of you waited with baited breath as they ran the tests. They kept asking if you wanted anything, water, juice or something to eat. But you politely declined. Knowing if you put anything in your body right now you’d puke it up immediately with how nervous you were for the results.

They said it shouldn’t take too long.

It had been about an hour when a nurse popped her head out, signaling for all three of you to come back.

“Dr. Heinz will see you now,” she said, giving you all a small smile before leading you down the hallway towards the offices.

Shortly, you were sat on a comfortable sofa with Jungkook and Jimin in front of you. Jungkook and Jimin were holding onto each other so tight you feared for their circulation. But, Dr. Heinz was quick to get to the point.

“Well, I want to say, congratulations, Mr. Jeon and Mr. Park... Y/N is pregnant,” he said, talking like you weren’t in the room.

“Oh my God!” Jungkook shouted, standing up and hugging Jimin to him tightly. They kissed several times, tears falling freely down the new father’s faces. Dr. Heinz let them have their moment, smiling at the happy couple. You looked down at your stomach and bit your lip.

So this was really happening...

“Jungkook, I love you,” Jimin said, holding onto his boyfriend tightly.

“I love you too babe, I love you too,” Jungkook affirmed.

“Okay we do have to discuss her health however,” Dr. Heinz said, having the men sit down quickly.

“Is she alright?” Jimin said, looking at you with worry written all over his features.

“She’s at a very fragile point in the pregnancy. IUI can be tricky so we need to be very careful with what happens next. I don’t want her doing anything strenuous. Especially with the lower body until we can get her in for an ultrasound. Her uterus looked good on her preliminary but getting pregnant can really affect a woman’s body, so we need to take all the precautions,” Dr. Heinz explained.

“But is she going to be okay?” Jungkook asked, placing a gentle hand on yours.

You looked at his big hand covering yours, blinking slowly.

“I’m worried about her low white blood cell count. That makes her more susceptible to colds and infections, so you need to be very careful. Her red blood cell count was also low, showing early signs of anemia. So lots of red meat and protein to help keep her levels up. Although the anemia will be aggravated by the pregnancy, so make sure she doesn’t stand up too fast or tax herself too much,” he said.

“I am right here,” you said, glaring at the doctor.

“Sorry Miss Y/N, they’re the parents in this situation. I want them to be informed of your situation,” Dr. Heinz said bluntly.

“There are four of us in this room, I’ll remind you of that. Don’t talk like I’m not here please,” you said, folding your hands and crossing your legs.

Jimin almost burst out laughing.

Damn you were feisty!

He really liked that...

“I-I apologize, Miss Y/N,” he said, swallowing quickly before continuing on. “Also, you’re going to start having more symptoms than the fatigue you mentioned. Morning sickness is extremely common and expected, although every woman is different. Headaches, dizziness and blurred vision are also to be noted. Even some spotting can happen, but please do tell us if you’re spotting or bleeding. Now, do any of you have questions?” The doctor asked, looking at the boys and you.

“Is there any way to know if we are expecting, more than one?” Jimin asked, looking down at your stomach with pure adoration on his face.

“We won’t really know until she’s further along. Quite a bit further actually. But for now, enjoy this. Enjoy the early stages, it’ll be tough but you can pull through. I wish you all the best of luck,” Dr. Heinz said, handing some paperwork over to Jungkook before the three of you stood up and headed out.

Jimin and Jungkook were so excited, chatting with each other about if they were having twins. If the baby was a boy or girl. You were in the car, hands folded in your lap while you looked out the window.

Honestly, you were scared out of your mind.

The doctor had mentioned this was a really fragile part of the pregnancy. That you’d have to be careful, not to mention it was important for your own health as well. If something happened to the baby, something could happen to you and vice versa.

Jungkook insisted on taking everyone out for dinner.

This was a big occasion after all.

Sitting down in the very resturant you all had your first meal in, felt kinda surreal.

Now, you were pregnant with their baby. It felt kinda full circle.

Jimin and Jungkook insisted on getting whatever you wanted. But you weren’t terribly hungry yet, maybe it was the nerves of the whole day catching up. But you ordered a few things, making sure to eat. You knew it made them happy when you did, because it showed you cared about your body and the life growing inside of you.

Jungkook was drinking, a lot if you were being honest. Jimin just watched him as his cheeks flushed red as he continued to talk animatedly at the two of you. Smiling, you filled up Jungkook’s water before urging him to drink some.

“Thanks youuu,” he said, beaming at you.

“You’re welcome, but drink up okay?” You said, gesturing towards the glass.

He did as you asked, drinking all the water. You sighed in relief, knowing at least he’d be hydrated when he went to bed.

“Well, guess you aren’t driving you big lug,” Jimin laughed as he hauled Jungkook out of the restaurant a while later.

“Mmm, we’re having a baby baby!” Jungkook cooed at Jimin, holding his cheeks in between his hands.

“Mhmm, yes we are. Now get in the back with Y/N, okay?” Jimin said, opening the back and helping his very tipsy boyfriend inside. You were about to climb in when Jimin placed his hands on your hips, causing you to jolt so hard you smacked your head on the roof of the car.

“Ow, fuck,” you said, holding your head tightly.

“Y/N!” Jimin yelped. Jungkook’s head popped up.

“What happened?” He asked, looking at you with bleary eyes.

“I just smacked my head, I’m alright,” you said, rubbing your head gingerly.

“Can I take a look?” Jimin asked, biting his plump lips harshly.

“Y-yeah,” you said, leaning towards him.

Jimin’s gentle hands on your scalp proved to be dangerous. Because now, you wanted him to touch you here all the time. Combing his fingers through your hair. Massaging the tender flesh there.

“Well, you aren’t bleeding, but you’ll have a massive bump for a few days no doubt,” he reasoned.

“She’s gonna have a massive bump here soon too!” Jungkook cheered happily, pointing at your stomach.

“Jungkook, enough,” Jimin warned.

Grumbling to himself, Jungkook backed off.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Jimin asked. You nodded, already feeling the throbbing in the base of your skull starting.

“I’ll take a few pain killers when we get back,” you said.

“Okay,” Jimin said, running his hand from your head down to cradle your cheek in his palm. You’re cheeks heated up at the feeling of his skin on yours, but shortly he was retreating to the front of the car.

Soon, you were underway.

Jimin turned on the radio quietly, driving carefully around town.

Jungkook had managed to fall asleep against the window. When suddenly, the car was jerking to the side. Jimin laid on the horn, yelling a couple explicit words out the window. But, Jungkook’s body had already fallen into your lap.

His head rested comfortably against your thighs, arms draping across your legs. Jungkook continued to sleep peacefully while you inspected him. He had a beautiful nose, button like and slotting perfectly along with his already perfect features. His plush lips pouting as he slept. Your eyes widened at him, heart hammering in your chest as you gazed down at him.

He was incredibly handsome.

But, you knew his personality too. He was kind, but strong and sure of himself. He had an air of confidence that was almost infectious. But he also had a childish nature about him. Not immature, but there was something about the wonder in his eyes when he tried something new. Or the nostalgia that ran through him when he ate his favorite food or, just the sparkle in his eyes when Jimin came home.

You, as if possessed, took your hand and ran your fingers through his soft black hair. He groaned in his sleep, gripping your legs tighter. You continued to run your fingers through his hair, watching his face for any signs of discomfort.

Jimin looked in the rearview mirror and saw you stroking Jungkook’s head with a gentle hand. His heart thudded dangerously in his chest. You were so caring and tender, everything you did had purpose behind it.

Jimin felt relief flood him at the idea of you being the mother of he and Jungkook’s child. Technically just Jimin’s but Jungkook was also the father but he didn’t get any genetics in this one.

This one...

Did Jimin want to have more children?

You just got the announcement today and he was already giddy at the prospect of you growing large with his child. But confusion swept through him. Was this just because he was grateful to you? Or was it something more?

Looking at you and Jungkook in the back, he thinks he might already know the answer.

[anika-ann]

3+1 (Un)Wanted Mistletoe Encounters

Type: One-shot, Reader Insert               Word count: 4200

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Reader

Summary:  Kissing under the mistletoe is one of the most famous Christmas traditions; so obviously, it is not Christmas without it at the Tower.

Unfortunately for the occupants, you are not fond of the tradition – at all. 

...or are you?

Warnings: cliché trope, pushy Pietro, discussion of dub-con I guess, language, fluff

A/N: Idea born from this video where John Mulaney says: “If any decoration needs to be MeToo’ed…” and goes on.

Beatiful divider by firefly-graphics

1.

You were no Grinch.

In fact, you actually liked Christmas and the Holiday season, you enjoyed both giving and receiving and you appreciated when people found time to spend it together, whether in their own family circle or with their chosen one.

But. There was one significant ‘but’.

And with this being your first Christmas with the Avengers, Sam Wilson was about to learn about the said but first-hand, because that sweet kind-hearted dumbass with a sass streak walked right into it.

Quite literally.

December 23th, you woke up well-rested, got breakfast, wrapped several presents and were on your way to hunt down a lunch in the communal kitchen, when a voice stopped you in the doorway, where you nearly ran into Sam. Nearly.

“Ah-oh,” he hummed, a shit-eating grin spreading on his handsome face and you stopped dead in your tracks, frowning at the ominous sound.

“What?”

And then came the fateful words: “You’re standing under a mistletoe.”

You see, here was a thing; the tradition of hanging a mistletoe and meeting people under it by chance as an excuse to get a kiss from someone was… stupid. Downright idiotic. Pushing people into something they didn’t have a chance to back out from. Forced affection.

Yeah, that was not happening even if Sam was a real swell guy and you did find a newly hung mistletoe above your heads indeed as you briefly looked up to check if his words were true.

“Okay. And?”

His eyebrows rose in surprise, his tone turning slightly wavering.

“…And so am I?”

“And?” you continued, crossing your arms on your chest defensively, already preparing a rant that would hopefully spread like wildfire and ended this dumb tradition altogether. Or well, at least spread around the Tower so no one would ever try to corner you again.

“Really?” Sam deadpanned and you stared right back at him, your face probably displaying precisely how you felt; unimpressed.

“Yes, really,” you emphasized and pointed up at the offensive plant for a good measure. “This is a stupid concept, objectifying people, women especially. It’s about people being forced into showing affection they might not even feel. It’s bordering on a damn dub-con if not non-con.”

Sam blinked a few times, instinctively retreating as he felt you heating up. He raised his hands in a no-harm gesture to show he got your point.

But you were already on roll and you glimpsed Tony in the kitchen, so you thought that there was no harm in him hearing your speech too, just to make sure that the smug loveable bastard of a billionaire got the message as well.

“It’s like all those poor kids being asked why don’t you give your granny a hug before we go and a kiss to your granddad— well, it’s because I don’t want to and it’s my choice to give affection to someone! And now this thing, this is the tip of the iceberg, really, the last fucking drop- it needs to be Me Too’ed, I swear.”

You found yourself panting as you finished, your hands on your hips now – not that you realized you had put them there – and your belly hot and angry for some inexplicable reason; maybe it was the fact that it was Sam, amazing, friendly and understanding Sam Wilson, who had to go and point this stupid poisonous plant out for you; and have the audacity to ask for a kiss.

Dammit!

“I’m sorry, Y/N,” he apologized sincerely, voice kind and without any hint of hurt or mockery. “It won’t happen again. I see that you might have a point in this.”

All the fight instantly left your body, replaced by warmth of friendship, mingling with a shiver of shame for your quick judgement and outburst. You sighed, easing your posture and offering and apologetic smile in return.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make a big deal of that-“

“No, it’s fine. Like I said, you’re kinda right.”

“Damn right I am,” you hummed, feeling the corners of your lips rise automatically as Sam chuckled and shook his head at your antics.

But hey – you were right. You were not sorry for that.

Still snickering to himself, Sam sidestepped you in the door and patted your shoulder.

As you continued your path as well, you would swear you heard Tony mutter under his breath that you were a Grinch.

Jerk.

2.

“Hey! Don’t I get a kiss?” Clint called out a complaint as you met both stepped into that damn doorway at the same time.

As he pointed up, all you could do was to sigh, close your eyes and count to ten.

It had only been like four hours maybe; perhaps the word hadn’t gotten to him yet that you were not a fan of making out with random people – even if they were family – just because it was Christmas; or as Tony had put it, that you were a Grinch.

Personally, you thought that his insult had been inaccurate; you had given it a thought. Maybe you were more of a Scrooge. Perhaps you should tell him next time you saw him, just to see his face; Tony did pride in his ability to come up with witty nicknames.

You almost spitted out Bah, humbug now, just because.

“No, you don’t,” you said flatly instead, causing Clint’s jaw to quite literally drop as he looked at you with indignation and horror in his eyes.

“But--- but- mistletoe!” he stuttered and you sighed, deciding to explain it to him too – patiently.

“Why should some stupid plant tell me when someone is worth my affection? Someone who allegedly deserved it by simply standing under the same plant as me, no less? Get. Out. Not happening.”

You winced a bit as you registered the snappy tone you used.

Well. Half of the task of explaining it to him patiently went right, you’d call that a success, you supposed.

The poor archer just blinked, staring at you dumbfounded and mildly hurt; as if you had just told him that Santa Claus was nothing but a trick. Phew, as if you were that heartless…

Just-- logic. In fact, you had given this tradition a generous amount of thought since your last encounter under it and you figured out where it came from, historical inaccuracy be damned.

“I mean, where did the idea even come from? I bet it was just because some dude saw another guy mouth-to-mouth a girl, who happened to eat some of this poisonous parasite, may I add, and she was dying, so he gave her rescue breaths before continuing CPR. And the dude thought, that’s a great idea! Let’s make this a habit, just without the poisoning! Yeah, no. You’re not getting a kiss, Clinton,” you finished, satisfied with yourself as you managed to sound calmer this time.

Also, you were kinda proud of yourself for coming up with this story; it seemed very likely.

“That’s, uhm… an interesting take on history,” Clint hummed, watching you with uncertainty and hesitance and your heart stumbled in your chest as you guessed he was about to say something… cheeky, and outraging, in his cute brotherly way. “I need a hug at least tho.”

There we go.

“Nice try.”

You smirked and sidestepped him to be on your way and almost bumped into Steve, quickly shooting him a smile and disappearing out of sight before a silly idea about him and the stupid plant could form in your head – that would be bad and highly inappropriate, as was your crush on him, not to even mention your feelings—bah -!

“What did you do to her?” you heard the sweet supersoldier ask, a hint of accusation in his voice. Your smile widened, heat rising to your cheeks. Always so chivalrous; your heart could fucking melt.

“I asked for a hug after she refused to give me a kiss under a mistletoe,” Clint ratted you out, still hurt and honestly confused.

You stopped in your tracks as you rounded a corner, chewing on your lip guiltily.

Poor Clint; perhaps you had gone too hard on him… he couldn’t have known. You had to be kinder about it next time – after all, you might have been with them for almost a year now and they made you feel like you fit despite being so-so late to the Avengers party, but all of you still had things to learn about each other.

“Ah, you haven’t heard from Sam. Sorry,” Steve’s voice reached your ear, a notch kinder than before, compassionate even.

Compassion; another quality of Steve’s that you loved-

Bah, HUMBUG, that is not that, the L word is a bit much, that is not what’s happening-

“Wait, you knew- oh… Yeah, a heads-up would be nice,” Clint grumbled and made a pregnant pause, the sign of another prefect line coming. You held your breath in anticipation. “So are you gonna give me a hug or should I just get coffee, aka the hug in a cup-“

You held back laugher and swallowed the fondness for the good-natured archer before you could rush back and give him the damn hug.

“Coffee’s always a safe choice,” Steve replied and you thought you heard a chuckle and a grunt, unable to supress a giggle as you jogged away before they could notice you were still within hearing range.

Clint’s following monologue faded away as you walked.

“Nobody likes me. Nobody. I’m gonna die alone, surrounded by people who are too emotionally constipated to give a man a damn hug…”

Yeah, maybe you should give him a hug next time you saw him… no mistletoe though.

3.

You truly believed that that would be the end of it; after all, a day had passed since the first incident, the incident that was left without a kiss, and you doubted anyone was out of the loop at this point.

That was stupid of you. Naïve even. You jinxed it.

You were just after light breakfast, ready to get a little work out in – complete with tacky remixes of Christmas songs prepared to cheer you up – when the supposedly fastest man in the Tower, and possibly the whole world, pretty much bumped into you.

And he had to bump into you just as you were walking through that fucking doorway with that fucking plant which you were supposed to put down right after the encounter with Sam, dammit.

But no, you didn’t want to ruin everyone else’s fun; in fact, Clint had taken it his personal mission to meet as many people as he could under the mistletoe to get a kiss… or a hug. Wanda hapilly shared affection with others, either kissing their cheek of hugging them. People were having fun.

So, obviously, you let it be, confident everyone knew better than to corner you.

No good deed ever went unpunished, especially in the Holiday season.

Pietro grinned as he spotted you, downright delighted, and spread his arms almost as if creating a cage around you, leaving very little room to escape.

You did not like that.

“A kiss for a guy who caught you under a mistletoe?” he hummed warmly with a sprinkle of cheek and despite his cheery demeanour, you couldn’t help yourself and rolled your eyes.

“In your dreams, Maximoff,” you huffed, trying to duck under his arm, only for him to move it so quickly it was only a blur to you.

Quick to move, slow to take a hint. Yep, that kind of behaviour had Pietro written all over it… Okay, now you were being mean, but he was being an ass, grinning wider and adding a wink to the mix, so it was only fair.

“How did you know? I thought it was just my sister who was telepathic?”

“Pietro, leave her alone,” Wanda spoke as if on cue, eyeing her brother with a frown from her spot behind the counter where she was trying to figure out a recipe for a special Christmas pastry from her old country.

A hint of a pout appeared on Pietro’s lips as he reciprocated Wanda’s gaze; unfortunately for you, he was still aware enough of you attempting to escape his cage, so far without using force; though you were inclined to violence should it be necessary.

“What?! It’s tradition! I thought Americans loved that!”

“Well, not all of us, so-“ you explained with a sigh, catching a glimpse of Steve as he now looked up from his spot on the couch where he had been nestled with a sketchbook for the past twenty minutes.

“I could kiss you before you even notice,” Pietro argued smugly, his expression earning a wolf-like edge as you glared back at him.

Well, it seemed your workout was just about to start, you thought, as you balled your hand into a fist, subtly testing the readiness of the muscles of your leg, prepared to kick the damn man-child to his shin or worse.

“She said no.”

Both your and Pietro’s heads snapped to Steve, who was watching the other man with intense displeasure, all complete with the mildly adorable wrinkle on his forehead – a sign of disappointment and irritation – and a voice that carried the gravity of a Captain’s order.

Which in this situation stirred something in your belly, warmth swelling in your chest as he rushed to your rescue; one not needed, but still appreciated. You didn’t react to Steve’s words aside from giving him a quick grateful smile and shooting Pietro a childish told-you-so look.

“She doesn’t have to do things just because it’s considered a tradition. Leave her be, Pietro,” Steve added, less snappy and simply requesting from the speedster to have a tiny bit of respect for your wishes.

Pietro was most definitely pouting now, but he dropped his arms and released you, still blocking the doorway.

“This is ridiculous,” Pietro muttered under his breath, only for you to hear and you gritted your teeth, irritation spiking again.

“You are being ridiculous. Now move or I swear I’ll slap you.”

“I’d like to see you try, Eagle.”

Oh, we’re doing nicknames now? He could use your title earned by being fast and occasionally deadly all he wanted, flattery would get him nowhere at this point.

“Wouldn’t even see it coming, Speedyboy,” you challenged, chin raised in defiance.

It was ironic, really, how much everyone seemed to insist on following this stupid tradition, even with you. At this point, it was practically everyone but Steve; everyone but the one person you’d be willing to kiss – mistletoe or not, though the plant would at least give you an excuse.

But nope, you just had to get stuck in the doorway with this moron instead.

“Ooookay, you two,” Natasha sing-sang, as she was approaching you from the corridor; you completely missed her arriving, that was how much Pietro irritated you. “Maximoff, move, you’re blocking the doorway. And if you corner her like this again, I’ll kill you in your sleep and you’ll never see that coming,” she promised, voice icily serious despite the twinkle in her eye.

You had no doubt she would deliver just what she promised.

Which was exactly why you leaned over to kiss her cheek, earning a brilliant smile from her and a light brush of her lips against your own cheek.

“Thanks, kotenok,” she hummed just as Pietro gaped and complained.

“That’s so unfair.”

You smirked at him, throwing the smugness he had treated you with right back at him as you went to walk away.

“I give affection to whoever I want and whenever I want. Let your super quick brain process that. Happy Holidays.”

You completely missed the slow smile that spread on Wanda’s face at one point of the whole exchange.

+1

You decided to stop walking through that damn doorway altogether – just in case.

But at the moment, no one was around, so you made an exception since you considered yourself safe. Though main part of the feeling of security was that you didn’t think there was anyone left of the Tower tenants (who didn’t pay rent at all, somehow) who wasn’t aware of your opinion on the dumb tradition. No one who would be stupid enough to try.

Yet, when you glimpsed a large figure about to walk through the doorway just as you were few feet from it, you halted in your steps, letting them pass first.

And then there was a gust of wind, a warning coming a second too late and a harsh push to your shoulder from behind.

“Running through!”

You, the newest addition to the Earth’s mightiest heroes, Eagle, known for her quick reactions and not losing her cool easily, only managed to yelp in fright as you were knocked over, unable to hold onto anything and falling straight to the ground.

Two strong hands caught you and pulled you back up before you could hit the floor and you gasped, head spinning from the swift movements-- only to blink your eyes open to meet the prettiest pair of eyes you had ever seen; determined, kind, compassionate, loveable. And so damn blue despite the drop of green in their irises.

Your heart was trying to beat its way out of your ribcage as Steve instinctively pressed his chest against yours, holding you close and secure, grasp firm but careful.

Your gaze couldn’t but wander all over his face as you found yourself in such close quarters with him, his own eyes and his lips – gosh, those lips – working as magnets, always alluring your gaze to linger.

“You okay?”

Mesmerized, you watched those lips to move, barely comprehending what he was asking. His voice was warm; honey sweet and rich in spice, delicious, causing your stomach to flip pleasantly, your heart stammer.

It might have taken you a while to stutter out a reply, but no one ever needed to know about that.

“Uhm… yeah. Thanks-- thanks to you… thank you.”

Steve graced you with a small but no less meaningful smile. “Of course.”

Torturously slowly – as if he didn’t want to let you go any more than you wanted him to – he helped you stand straight and let go of your arms.

The moment you lost his touch, you lost your sanity too. You must have.

Before you could change your mind – or to think anything through – you leaned back to him and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. And perhaps on instinct, you kinda aimed more for the corner of his mouth than the cheek.

He felt warm now too – the tips of his ears turned red in an instant and you, with horror, finally realized what you had done; and just how good it felt to finally show at least a little of what you had been trying to ignore and hide for so long.

Despite his apparent surprise and mild embarrassment, his smile widened a fraction, turning pleased.

“What was that for?” he asked lowly, gaze intense as he studied your face, a hint of a glow in his eyes, something brighter than hadn’t been there before. Hope, maybe?

You certainly hoped. Because you just made an ass of yourself, having acted without thought… and it never felt so good and so awkward at the same time.

Your brain had never been so quick and dumb to come up with a poor excuse either.

“We’re…. we’re under a mistletoe?” you offered reluctantly, your lips still burning after the brief contact with his, head once again nearly spinning due to the proximity – was it just the dizziness or was he leaning in closer?

“I thought you didn’t follow that tradition,” Steve hummed with a grin slowly spreading on his face and through the fog of lovesickness, it finally dawned to you.

You had done exactly what you scolded Sam, Clint and Pietro for – you just went and kissed Steve, no questions asked, no consideration of his possible discomfort.

God, you were such an idiot!

See, that’s why you have banned yourself for as much as imagining kissing Steve and meeting him under the mistletoe! Because when your brain went down that road, it stopped working altogether!

You swiftly retreated a few inches, horrified.

“I—I don’t. I mean. I-- I-I’m so sorry!” you blurted out, words spilling from your lips as the panic rose in your chest. And yet, there was warmth, a pleasant feeling coiling in your belly, breaths coming out short as Steve seemed to erase the distance you had created, his gaze studying you, landing on your mouth. “I shouldn’t have done that! What was I thinking—gosh, I didn’t want to make you-“

You stopped as Steve’s lips kept erasing the distance and ended up a breath from touching yours, tempting, his eyes shining bright with a simple unspoken question. You instinctively licked your lips, heart stumbling in your ribcage.  

“---uncomfortable. Yes, please-“

And then he was kissing you, a little smile playing on his lips as they danced with yours, sweet and soft, hand moving to your nape, thumb caressing the side crook of your neck, drawing a content sigh from you as your eyes fluttered shut, letting you sink into the kiss you had been craving for almost a year.

Your hands sought out his shoulders as he cradled your face, gentle and guiding so he could take more and all you wanted was to give it to him, give him everything he asked for and take it from him too.

Your toes definitely curled in the thick fluffy socks you wore when his fingers squeezed your nape briefly before he withdrew – as if he once again didn’t want to let go for something so boring as oxygen. You wholeheartedly agreed with that sentiment, dizzy from the blissful turn of events.

As you inhaled nevertheless, you were grateful that Steve stayed close enough for you to breathe in him, relieved and delighted smile on your face as you licked your lips, savouring the sensation.

When you met his gaze, you saw nothing but fondness; and your heart could melt.

Steve liked you too. Steve kissed you like he meant it. Now you could die a happy woman but you rather not. You’d rather kiss him again if he was willing.

“Still sorry I did it without asking first,” you whispered an apology even though you were not sorry at all since it led to this.

“It’s okay. I just hope it wasn’t just the tradition that pushed you into kissing back.”

You chuckled and then chewed on your lower lip when thinking of a propriate retort, not missing that his eyes followed the action. Oh, he definitely liked to back, okay. Why had you never kissed before, again?

“I only give affection to whoever I want, whenever I want,” you threw back at him, the words that had a whole new meaning in contrast to when being told to Pietro; not a turn-down, quite the opposite in fact.

And you leaned in, greedy for at least one more kiss, Steve just watched you with a smile, eyes flickering to your lips.

“That’s good to know.”

He didn’t sound like he complained at being at the receiving end of your affection whatsoever.

Maybe, mistletoe wasn’t so stupid after all…

Three rooms over, the red-haired witch was smiling widely as she, thanks to her mental powers, caught a glimpse of what was happening in the kitchen doorway.

“It worked,” she announced, blinking to fully return herself to the present. “Nice work this time, brat moy.”

Pietro scowled at Wanda and couldn’t but wonder about the plan she had orchestrated and asked him to execute.

“How did you know, sestra?”

Wanda just shrugged.

“I had my suspicions before. But when you ran into her the last time, I checked her mind to see just how uncomfortable you made her,” she explained, giving one more scolding glare for his inappropriate behaviour. But well, it led to this and he helped now, so… he was good. “She literally thought she wouldn’t mind being under the mistletoe with the Captain.”

“Lucky bastard,” Pietro muttered, expression only half-sour.

“Shush. Be happy for your teammates. You just flirt anyway.”

The speedster pouted, but didn’t protest; he in fact was happy for the two members of the extended family him and his sister had found. And he indeed was only flirting, enjoying your reactions, talking back and teasing. It was all good fun and he did wish you and the Captain well…

But.

“Well, yeah, but now I won’t be able to do that or to look at her twice. Not without Captain having my head,” he grumbled and Wanda nodded with a grin, not feeling all that bad for him.

It wasn’t like he had his heart broken – more like had his ego tickled; and he had been needing some of that for a while.

“That’s true. Looks like you gotta be faster with the next girl you get your eye on, brat.”

The speedster gasped, shocked at her audacity. “I’ll show you fast-!”

Wanda laughed as she used her powers to freeze him on spot to get a head start.

Now, the Holidays felt truly happy indeed.

S.R. Masterlist

Thank you for reading!

If this fic feels like it’s written differently, then I guess that’s fair… I tried to make the style more drabble-like and failed epically, because I just cannot write short and without too many feelings :D

Anyway.

Happy Holidays to you all! May you be given love and affection!

[miss-tc-nova]

Mine Now - Noctis Lucis Caelum x Reader

It’s not exactly fluff and it’s not the Smarmy Fluffcoat I’ve been dying to work on, but I had to finish it. Even if it’s not perfect, I had some fun. Also, a couple bonus endings because I could. 

~~~~~

               I jump out of the car, eager to stretch my legs after the seemingly endless car ride. “Thank the gods!” I groan while stretching.

               “What are you complaining about?” Gladio teases. “You didn’t drive.”

               I put my hands on my hips and follow him towards the trunk. “Look, sitting in the back with two men that barely understand personal space gets cramped.”

               “I didn’t hear you complaining that time you used me as a pillow all the way to Cauthess.”

               “What can I say? Gotta adapt; when the men can’t do personal space, neither will I.” I grab a bag, sling it over my shoulder, and grab a couple chairs.

               Prompto slaps my shoulder. “Wouldn’t it be more comfortable to sleep on Noctis? He’s got less muscle.”

               “Hey!” The offended man glares at the chocobo blonde.

               I giggle. “Noctis, let’s be honest; you’ve got muscle, but look at Gladio. His arm is as big around as my head. You definitely would’ve made a better pillow.” That doesn’t make him feel any better. “Plus, you won’t flex every five minutes to turn a damn page.”

               “Can’t be all muscle,” Gladio speaks up.

               Ignis butts in. “Well nobody is napping now. Let’s get moving. It’s going to take some time to get to the haven from here.”

               He was right; it took us three hours to get to the haven and the sun was long gone by the time we got there. Once camp is put together and we’re all set for the night, it’s time to relax, maybe play some King’s Knight. I pat my pockets. “Hey, anyone seen my phone.”

               “You mean this?” Noctis asks from his chair, displaying said phone above his head, clearly playing with my settings.

               “What are you doing?!”

               Noctis stands and smirks triumphantly. “You left it in the car. You’re lucky I swiped it before we left.”

               “Thanks for grabbing it, but why are you playing with my settings?”

               I reach for my cell but Noctis pulls it out of range. “You really should pay more attention.”

               “Says the man who slept through a bandersnatch attack,” I huff. “Now can I have my phone back?”

               A mischievous grin slips over his lips. “You can have it back if you can take it from me.”

               “So now we have a bully for a king?” I jump but he clearly expects to make a game out of this. “Noctis! Give me my phone!”

               He chuckles, easily holding said device above my head. “Come on. You can reach a griffin mid-flight; you can reach your phone.”

               “You want me to use my weapons?” I growl. “I will take you out by the shins! Don’t test me!”

               “Oh really? Show me what you got?” Reaching down, I grab his leg and jerk. Noctis effectively hits the ground. “Ow!”

               “I warned you. Now gimme my phone!”

               The man sits up, rubbing the back of his head. “I wanna say that was a cheap move but I asked for it…”

               I hold my hand out for my phone but he instead takes it to pull himself up. “Give it.” The man feigns giving it back, only to resume holding it over my head. “That’s it!”

               I lunge at the King, starting a skirmish that rolls around the campsite. Nobody draws weapons; it’s a simple quarrel over a phone so there’s not going to be any murder involved…Probably.

               My hand comes up, slapping Noctis’s and freeing the phone but I didn’t exactly think it through. The phone soars through the air and I’m pretty sure I’m about to have a useless cell phone. However, Noctis catches it before it can crack on the haven floor in a stroke of luck.

               “Phew,” he sighs. Relieved, he gives me a smile, my phone sparkles in his hand then disappears, and he jams his hands in his pockets. A second later, those cobalt eyes go wide. “Oh…shit.”

               Storming towards him, I grip his jacket. “What do you mean oh shit?!”

               Hands in the air, the King watches me like he does the dangerous fiends we come across. “I, uh, I may have just ruined your phone.”

               “WHAT?!” I change my mind: murder might be involved.

               “Well magic and electronics don’t…exactly…mesh together well. The magic tends to destroy electronics…like phones.”

               As the realization dawns on me, the anger rises. I start rattling the man. “YOU RUINED MY PHONE?!”

               “It was an accident!”

               “YOU LOST ALL MY INFORMATION AND CONTACTS!”

               “I’M SORRY!”

               I hold my hand out, silently demanding my device. Sheepishly, the King summons the stolen phone and slips it into my grasp. Turning away from him, I hold down the power button but I’m not even getting the dead battery signal, which is crap because I know there was at least 50% battery.

               “Rrrrgh!” I hurl the phone over his head and stalk towards the campsite.

               “Where are you going?!” Not answering, I snatch up his phone from the table. Immediately, Noctis starts for me. “Ah, hey! That’s mine!”

               I put some distance between us, holding the phone out of his reach. “Not anymore it’s not; you broke my phone so this is mine now.”

               His face erupts in a shade of red and it’s an interesting sight to see Noctis becoming so flustered. “No! It’s not! I’m sorry I broke your phone but you can’t have mine!”

               Ignis slips from the tent, looking over the minor chaos of me and Noctis. “What’s going on here?”

               Prompto glances up from his camera. “Noctis broke their phone so now they’re taking his.”

               I slap Noctis’s hand away from me. “We wouldn’t be in this mess if you didn’t steal my phone and then sent it to your magical alternate dimension!”

               “Oh,” Ignis hums unbothered. Then his eyes widen. “…Oh!”

               There’s an interesting anxiousness on Noctis’s face. “Come on! Just give me my phone back!”

               “No. You broke mine and lost everything I had on it,” I retort.

               “Please! Give it back!”

               Rolling my eyes, I turn to walk away. A spoon clatters on the ground and I have only a split second to get the phone out of Noctis’s reach. “Excuse you!”

               “Give it back!”

               “No!”

               This turns into the second tussle of the night with the roles reversed. I may be shorter than the King but that doesn’t mean I can’t play my own game of keep away. It’s also in my favor that said man’s desperation works against him, making him far more straightforward and easier to read.

               Noctis reaches across me once again but, with my elbow against his chest, he can’t quite steal my stolen prize. I push back and the man stumbles back, foot catching on an uneven part of the haven’s stony floor and ending up on his ass.

               Grinning triumphantly, I press the home button and swipe to unlock. That’s certainly not what I expected to see after unlocking Noctis’s phone. I expected some picture of a video game scene or a picture of his friends or his fiancée; hell, I even expected a picture of a damn fish. But not this. Noctis’s wallpaper is a picture of us, me pulled against his side as we give peace signs, dirty and bruised, fresh off a hunt; but it’s us.

               Confused, I look back to Noctis who could possibly burst into flames at any moment. I show him the picture.

               “Why am I your wallpaper?” I swear I see smoke coming off him, but he doesn’t answer. “Noctis.”

               “Are you dumb, shorty?” laughs Gladio, closing his book, clearly more entertained by us. “Why else would he have you as his wallpaper?”

               It’s my turn to burn up while Noctis glares daggers.

               Ignis starts working on dinner from his make-shift cooking station. “Indeed. He’s not exactly subtle about it.”

               “Subtle enough they didn’t notice,” Prompto says. The blonde lifts his camera to snap a picture. Now I’m glaring too.

               “Are we sure they’re capable hunters?” Gladio points out.

               Ignis replies, “Just because they’re blindingly oblivious to each other’s feelings doesn’t make them terrible hunters.”

               Noctis and I, equally flushed, glance to each other. The fight’s over; I can’t even look at him without agitating the butterflies in my stomach. Turning away from him, I take a seat at the fire and fiddle with the phone, not even caring that I’m leveling up Noctis’s King’s Knight character instead of mine. Noctis retakes his seat, staring into the fire that masks how flustered he’d been.

               The night goes on far less rambunctious than it began. I’m not sure exactly what it is, perhaps those disturbed butterflies are far more addicting than I thought, but my gaze keeps trailing to Noctis. When I would’ve normally turned away to pretend I wasn’t, I just continue staring when caught. The corners of my mouth turn up and I get my confirmation of the butterflies—he returns the expression a bit bashfully.

               I can exactly say things will progress in a natural or expected way; he’s got Lunafreya after all and I shouldn’t get in the way of that. But I highly doubt I’ll turn him down if Noctis decides to make a move.

~~~~~ 

A Week Later…

               “Can I please have my phone back now?” groans the King,

               I shift in my chair, propping my feet up on his knees. “No. You’re not getting this phone back unless you get me a new one.”

               “But we don’t have any money.”

               I continue tapping away. “Sucks for you then.”

               Prompto leans closer. “If that’s your phone now, why haven’t you changed the wallpaper?”

               “Prompto!” I shout, the embarrassment rising. Getting only a glance at Noctis’s amused face, I launch myself over the back of my chair and chase down the photographer who’s now screaming ‘Sorry! I’m sorry!’ as he flees.

~~~~~ 

A Month Later…

               I pull the jingling device from my pocket. “Hello?”

               The person on the other end of the line hesitates. “Um…Yes, hello. This is Marshall Cor Leonis. I’m looking for Noctis.”

               I glance at said man. “Oh, sorry. But this isn’t his phone anymore.” Noctis frowns.

               “I see. Does he have a new phone number I could call?”

               “Nope. Sorry.”

               “Wait-”

               Before he can protest, I hang up and jam the phone back in my pocket. Not giving an explanation bothers Noctis enough for him to pester me.

               “What was that?”

               “Someone looking for you.”

               He waits expectantly, getting frustrated when I don’t give him more. “What did they want?”

               “He didn’t say. Was just looking for you. Then he asked if you had a new number but you don’t.”

               “Who was it?”

               “Some guy named Leonis.”

               His hands go to his hair dramatically. “You hung up on the Marshall?! Gimme the phone!”

               “No! It’s mine!” I step back defensively.

               “Just give it to me! I gotta call him back!”

               “It’s my phone now!”

               “Just let me call him!”

               “No!” I take off with Noctis chasing after me.

               In the distance, we hear Gladio yelling, “Get a room, you two!”

[7theavenbye]

*  𝙶𝙴𝚃𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶  𝚃𝙾  𝙺𝙽𝙾𝚆  𝚃𝙷𝙴  𝙼𝚄𝙽  :

NAME :  victoria  NICKNAME : tori, vivi, vick . . . . FACECLAIM :   idk,  coconut  head ? PRONOUNS :  she / her or they / them HEIGHT :  5′4  (163 cm)  BIRTHDAY :  april 24th

AESTHETIC :    wait.  aesthetic in  a  sense  of  my  aesthetic , tifa  or  what  i  think  of aesthetics ?     (¤﹏¤)    is  the  3rd  option  safer   probably.  well  I  think  as  long  as  you’re having  fun,  as  long  as  you’re  comfy  exploring  your  character  aesthetic  you  can  do  anything  you  want,  if  it  is  100%  required  to  rp  with  me?  DEFINITELY NOT. 

LAST  SONG  YOU  LISTENED  TO :    rhinestone  eyes,  gorillaz

FAVOURITE  MUSE(S)  YOU’VE  WRITTEN :  zatanna zatara, lulu ( ffx ), yuna, marshall eriksen, eileen galvin  &  sam (totally spies)

*  𝙶𝙴𝚃𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶  𝚃𝙾  𝙺𝙽𝙾𝚆  𝚃𝙷𝙴  𝙰𝙲𝙲𝙾𝚄𝙽𝚃 :

WHAT  INSPIRED  YOU  TO  TAKE  ON  THIS  MUSE :  nostalgia.  FFVII  is  definitely  a  game  that  symbolizes  of  my  childhood  and  how  much  I  had  any  to  worry  unless  escaping  MIDGAR  ZOLOM  TO  REACH  MYTHRIL  MINES  or  if  there  was  a  way  to  escape  Aerith’s  death  cause  i  was  naive  like  that  ( says  the  human  being   that  stalls  reaching  to the end of disc 1 so she doesn’t see her favorite flower girl dying and tifa reaching her hand  to  her  face and  later  running  cause  that’s  how  she  is  :  emotions ?  NOPE  *races*  )    but anyway, I  think  clinging  onto  Tifa’s  character  does  bring  me  a  comforting  energy  in  all senses.  I  indeed  used  to  comb  my  hair  and  tie  the  tips  to  look  like  her  and  Princess Garnet,  so  the  admiration  still  remains.  So  summarizing,  Tifa  does  have  a  big  role  in  my  life  and  she  inspires  me  to  be  a  better  person    . . .   I  hope  this  doesn’t  sound  silly  but  if  does  I’m  sorry  folks  but  I’m  that  cliché  cause  of  everything  she  has  been  through  that’s  just   admirable.

WHAT  ARE  YOUR  FAVOURITE  ASPECTS  OF  YOUR  CURRENT  MUSE:  I have a huge list of tifa’s favorite aspects,  what drove me to write tifa the most is even with a traumatic past she still remains kind and doesn’t close herself to people in terms of shutting off or having limited interactions, as much as she keeps to herself her emotions and feelings, she has a facade of keeping moving on and I think that’s so inspiring.  The way she represents to sector 7, like a true heroine to them,  a helper, even though she is always putting other needs before hers which is not healthy at all she still remains so STRONG. I think we would all be blessed if we had a friend like Tifa Lockhart, remember the mideel scene? WTF. That woman is literally an angel. But at the same time one of my favorite aspects of her is not just her strenghts but also her flaws cause they make her so human to me. I remember a scene in Golden Saucer where Red XIII is doubting of his abilties cause HOJO and Tifa tells him to be strong and when he questions her she is just STOP IT, RED XIII  ! BE STRONG ! in all caps lock cause she also has an edge y’know ? And don’t make me start on her fighting skills cause women with hand in hand abilities are my kryptonite.  So yes, I do love that Tifa can be soft but if you step on her toes . . .  damn you’re cursed.  

WHAT’S  YOUR  BIGGEST  INSPIRATION  WHEN  IT  COMES  TO  WRITING:   i like looking at tifa’s arts on twitter: spykee, s_maii_i, jenbartel, _shillo, xxx_7R  &  kikifjwr  ( these last two only illustrate CLOUD so far, but I’m innerly manifesting them to draw Tifa )  are definitely my favorite artists and also on pixiv.  Music, I love listening to Final Fantasy OSTS in general usually I opt for FFIX, FFVII & FFX songs cause they’re super chill for me (well a few let’s not forget ONE WINGED ANGEL) or Silent Hill OSTS are my favorite to focus cause for a horror game they’re so pleasing to my ears. I also sometimes goes to tifalockhartedit hashtag on instagram cause seeing my gurl in slowmo in Play Date’s song it does balance my chakras when I see Tifa content and reading fanfics in general inspires me to write cause I do get excited to see other tifa’s interpretations and ideas + people who love tifa like has a dear spot in my heart. Photoshop weirdly helps too cause editing Tifa ( firstlovetifa bro. . . )  or her aesthetic does bring ideas & last, replay the games or watching the movie or reading the novels. 

FAVOURITE  TYPES  OF  THREADS : I don’t really  have  a  favorite  ty . . .   ANGST.   *phew phew *    Tagged by: @aceparagon  (thank you  !  ) Tagging:   @gainsborro  .  @webslings  .  @asakishi  .   @hercbled​   &   you   !

[ihatetaxes99]

Death Note: The Glorious Manga Ending (And the anime that failed to deliver)

Well, this is certainly something a tad different from my usual affairs. Yes, I'm delighted to bear the news that I am taking a break from writing sub-par fanfiction and selling weapons to Middle Eastern terrorists in order to follow something a little less creative, but more immediately interesting to me in my current time of writing. I mean, hell, there's probably a 60% chance that no one will ever read this, since I'll likely drop it halfway through and go back to my black market dealings. But, in that small 40% chance that I do get this out the door, or indeed any further than this very sentence before I forget about it for all eternity, then I want to have a little discussion, a fun little analysis. And of course, I'm going to analyse everyone's favourite slice of life fluff comedy, Death Note. Specifically the ending and how I think the manga surpasses the anime in many, many ways.

If you haven't yet read or watched Death Note, then you won't be reading this anyway, so it would be rather pointless at best and an insult to your intelligence at worst to give a recap of how the series works. If you must have a layman's explanation, big murder book gets dropped into the human world, shenanigans ensue. There, now go watch or read it for yourself. Preferably read, as I am about to discuss. The manga is far better, entirely because of the second half. It's no secret that the Death Note anime handled the second half poorly. Content was cut, elements were skipped, scenes were changed entirely and Near, my favourite character from the manga, was done so dirty that he generally ranks as many people's least favourite, for some understandable reasons and others that I consider rather weak. But the main part of the second half aside, I want to talk about the final showdown, the confrontation in the Yellow Box warehouse, and how I feel the anime adaptation butchered a near-perfect ending for the sake of either time, or budget, or maybe to appease Light fangirls (because that definitely has a factor in why I don't like the anime's ending as much.)

So, to recap, most of the confrontation at the warehouse between the SPK and Kira plays out very much the same. Mikami writes the names down, Light reveals himself, the notebook is revealed to be a fake and Yagami has his famous mental breakdown, followed by one of the most powerful lines in the series:

(Note: I condensed the speech to fit neatly into two boxes)

I love this speech. I think it's one of the best in the series, for reasons that very much tie into why the ending in the manga works better. I want you all to think for a moment; I've seen a lot of people say Death Note is a series that doesn't take sides on the conflict. No, that is bullshit. In the early series, maybe, but from the moment Light Yagami killed Naomi Misora, and arguably even earlier than that with Raye Pembre, he was consistently portrayed as being more and more callous, more evil, more of a scumbag. Let's look over what he did, especially in the later stages of the series.

He:

Murdered the FBI agents tailing him.

Only expressed regret over Utika's death because it may negatively affect Kira's reputation.

Watched with no emotion as his father died and indeed, encouraged him to use the Death Note moments before he died.

Mocked Matsuda for mourning his father's death.

Manipulated two seperate women into doing his bidding (albeit, one was unintentional) and killed one himself, with plans to kill the other had he not been killed.

Instigated a riot in New York with the intent of killing Near and the SPK.

Killed FBI agents who were tailing him.

Only cared about Utika's death because it compromised Kira's strong public image and not because he was actually a good man.

Manipulated two seperate women into falling for him (albeit one was accidental) and promptly killed off one with no hesitation, with plans of killing the other had he not met his end first.

Watched emotionless as his own father died and even tried to get him to use the Death Note in his last moments.

Mocked Matsuda for mourning the death of his father and used it in a last ditch effort to distract the detective and escape.

Staged a riot with the intent of killing Near and the rest of the SPK.

And these are just some of them. By the end of Death Note, Light was not a good person. I personally never agreed with him, but he went from a disillusioned kid with a minor saviour complex to A full-blown, sadistic, perverted image of what he used to be, utterly unfeeling and cold-hearted, with a major God complex, a complete lunatic. As Near said, a mass murderer and nothing more. After everything Yagami's done over the course of the series, it was just too satisfying to read this for the first time, and I will concede, the anime did a great job adapting it. I feel a lot of Light fangirls agreed with him because his ideals sounded good on paper, but in reality, they're completely childish and self-serving. I am not one to moral grandstand, I believe those who take any excuse to give lectures about morality are annoying and often hypocritical scum, but my point here is that this is not a man any reasonable person could agree with if he were a real person. So, this teardown of his ego was perfect.

Now, the first big difference is the ultimate fate of Teru Mikami. In the anime, he kills himself in the warehouse, in a scene that makes me laugh every time due to the comically large quantities of blood spewing from him. He dies defending Kira's ideals, believing in his God. Or, if you choose to interpret it another way, he has accepted that Light is not God, and he has nothing else to live for. Either way, the anime lacks a key scene, after Light is shot by Matsuda and begging for help:

This is extremely important, as it continues what Near did with his speech and sets in motion the following trend for what is to come. Light is humiliated, his second most faithful pawn has turned against him, called him scum, seen him for what he truly is, and worse still, he's done it in front of everyone else. Teru Mikami has denounced his God, and this is just the stepping stone for the humiliation Kira is about to suffer. Also, it's worth noting that just before Mikami denounces Kira, there's a scene of Light crawling on the ground, bleeding, calling out for Misa and Takada to help him, seeming to have gone totally delusional, forgetting that Takada was already dead. This may have been excluded from the anime, or it may have been the fault of the subs I was using. It still serves as a vital part of the theme that the final few chapters hammer in, over and over again, that being the complete and total humiliation of Light Yagami. And the worst for our criminal-killing protagonist is still to come.

Finally, we reach the fate of the original Kira, the end of Light Yagami. In the anime, he uses Mikami's suicide as a distraction to escape, wherein he runs off, seeing visions of his past self, and dies out in the middle of a staircase, from a heart attack delivered by Ryuuk, calmly and quietly. This is all very nice and emotional, we see for a moment, Light contemplates what he became and wondering how it could have ended differently, and him dying in the middle of the staircase, as many people have stated before, is oh so very symbolic of how he finds himself unable to reach Heaven or Hell. However, this does not hold a candle to the manga.

This is what Light is like upon his death there:

Yeah, there's no real doubting it, he's going out like a complete bitch. Like the anime was thoughtful and silent, with an underlying sombre soundtrack, in this the once great Kira is reduced to a blubbering mess, throwing a tantrum because he refuses to accept his time is up. It was made very clear to him at the beginning that he was to die at Ryuuk's hand one day and now that it's here, he can't take it. He tries to cheat death, the one thing no human nor Shinigami can do. I mean, just look at the panels. He's a mess. A privileged, pampered brat who isn't getting his way. That is why I consider the Death Note manga ending to be superior to the anime in almost every way. While the anime gives us symbolism and a sense of calm, the manga goes all the way in tearing down this character, who has been a piece of human garbage for years at this point. I find it so satisfying to watch him get what he deserves, not only the death but the shame.

Light's own hubris and mental instability stole from him the honourable death he received in the anime. And that is everything I believe he needed, far more than the mere reality check he was given in the anime.

Phew, damn this was a ride and a half to write. I always appreciate feedback, if anyone wants to share their own thoughts on the ending. Please do feel free to do so, and I'll hopefully be back soon with your regularly scheduled shitty fanfics.

[milkhwi]

detective! jeno

summary: you’re still trying to get the hang of your new internship while following around the best detective in town- lee jeno. who also figured out he stole your heart

genre: FLUFF & slight angst?? + sum comedy too

a/n: back on the grind. kinda. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEE JENO!!

masterlist

-

Lee Jeno. everyone in the police department KNOWS who he is and it’s like a big ass department??? like damn mr. popular

BESIDES him being known for being able to solve cases in like a heartbeat exaggeration

he’s also known for looking stone cold yet his handsome face like omg wHO WOULDNT FALL FOR HIM

at first he looks VVV intimidating because especially during the job?? he hardly smiles??? he’s so strict AND SCARY then again uh not the type of job you’d smile in

but once he smiles EVEYONE MELTS FOR HIM global warming who???

like sometimes a few coworkers would go to work early in order to talk to him at his station since he’s like always the first one there

it’s honestly like a bunch of highschoolers going to school early in order to talk to the cutest guy before class starts and he doesn’t really mind it but jaemin and renjun tease him about it the most

“JENO STOP GIVING THEM THAT SMILE THEYRE GONNA THINK YOURE IN LOVE WITH THEM TOO” -renjun

“JENO MAKE THOSE MOVES” -jaemin

like once he’s in his office he starts to get so serious and very concentrated but everyone gets heart eyes by just looking at him i’m looking at u secretary

but no matter how many people are straightforward about liking him or asking him to out he’s like sorry can’t,, gotta solve some investigations but he’s just trying to reject them nicely

ANYWAYS so his police department was looking for interns and you and some friends decide to apply because that’s the best place you could ever apply to

and you’re like pls accept me pls accept me pls accept me

and YOU AND ONE OTHER FRIEND GET IN AND ITS LIKE YAY!!!

but then your friend lee donghyuck who knows eVERYHTING is like ouu you guys should try staying away from lee jeno. he’s scary when it comes to the investigations. and both of you KNOW who he is and like gulp please don’t make him my supervisor

anyways it’s your first day and you and your friend are nervous because yikes this workforce lowkey kinda dangerous but :DD WORTH IT

then you get all your docs from the secretary and you’re like so who’s my supervisor¿?

“lee jeno“ hahahhaha :,( pls say sike

so then you and your friend part ways and you knock on jenos office, very scared

“come in” phew so far so good

and the hand you’re holding your documents is shaking and you grip it harder to stop the shaking but it makes it worse

and you get closer to him, “hi um,,, my name is y/n and uhhh you’re my supervisor for the time being haha”

and his face lights up and he smiles at you and you’re like damn an angel but then you’re like snap outta it

“oh nice to meet you! i’m lee jeno i hope we can get along well” and internally you’re like damn haechan was wrong huh he’s an angel

so a few days into your internship it’s not that bad?? just some paperwork so you’re like oh this isn’t that bad

plus since you’re stuck in jenos office it’s pretty good since you glance at him every 10 seconds and you’re like damn he was sculpted by gods huh

and you find it cute when he doesn’t understand some documents he has a little pout and you’re like AHHHHHHH SO !! CUTE !! and when he figures it out he HAS THAT ICONIC EYE SMILE AND HIS EYES ARE SPARKLY

and you try not to stare at him when that happens but you can’t you really can’t he’s so wow your heart skips a beat when he smiles ?? and you’re like ?? haha what’s going on with me

and you and jeno are usually the ones who also have to stay late to finish all the paperwork and he’s like “sorry for having you to stay really late ://“

and you’re like “no! no! no! it’s fine!!! i’m used to it anyways” and it’s already the end of week 1 and you don’t think it can get worse than this

n e ways work seems simpler and like that’s not how detectives are sO jeno now takes you to crime scenes since he has another helping hand and this week jeno is so serious?? and cold?? like um where did his smile go

but you help him with a lot of stuff and the crime scene honestly is a bit scary since the murderer is still out there buut it’s ok you’re ok

and you help jeno around the crime scene trying to gather more evidence and you’re like jesus the atmosphere is really dark you can’t breathe like it’s kinda scaring u a lil so you crack a slight joke to lighten the mood up

and jeno just glares at you and you go !!! big mistake and he’s scolding u “please take this seriously there’s no time to joke around” and his voice is a slightly deeper than usual like harsh and now the atmosphere feels darker and you’re like welp great

but besides that you feel your kinda shatter like oh :((( that was a bad idea why’d i do that omg am I DUMB or am I DUMB HE PROBABLY HATES ME NOW

anyways you’re like “sorry” with a sad tone almost to the point your voice cracks but you gulp and go back to trying to find evidence and writing stuff down

and not long after you’re like ?? hm think i found something and you call jeno over and you’re about to touch the evidence and he quickly grabs your hand and is like “don’t touch it !!” and your eyes widen because YOU DIDNT EXPECT THAT??

but thank god the lights were slightly dim because his hand was warm and soft and you feel butterflies in your stomachs LIKE AHHH?!!!! and your face heating up and you look back at him

and jeno looks back at your hand and quickly pulls away and is like oops sorry

and you’re like i-it’s fine obviously trying not o stutter but failing miserably

but jeno is blushing too like omg what did i do

but then you guys gather the piece of evidence + scan the whole scene again one more time

and then you guys head back to jenos office to try and pull things together

but as you’re walking you recall how warm his hand felt and you shake the feeling off and grab both your hands to keep them warm since it’s still early spring and you’re slightly shivering

and jeno notices and is like “oh um are you cold ??” and you nod and he clears his throat and grabs one of your hands and puts them on his jackets pocket and saying “i hope this kinda helps you” and you feel your blush coming back again because!!!!! THIS IS WHAT COUPLES SHOULD DO EXCUSE ME

and you’re dYING but luckily it’s kinda dark out so he can’t see your face turning into a tomato and you just give him a smile

and then once you guys are inside the building he lets go and you’re like :(( my hand feels lonely again pls hold it

but then you’re like WHAT AM I THINKING I DONT EVEN LIKE HIM you do

and like you guys finish early and head home and you can’t sleep because you remember the FEELING OF JENOS HAND ON YOURS and it makes your heart burst

on the other hand you’d think for a detective jeno would KNOW IF HE LIKES YOU OR NOT but he’s also overly confused cue jaemin and renjun face palming

anywaYs a few weeks pass and you guys are assigned a new place to investigate so you get over there early in the morning and then you stop right in front of jenos office because you hear someone else

and then that voice is like “i like you jeno for a really long time and i hope you’re able to give me a chance” and your heart drops and you’re like oh because the rumors about the secretary planning on confessing to jeno were true and you couldn’t deny they had good chemistry and they’d make a really good looking couple

so then you like wait outside the building sighing not knowing why and wondering if jeno accepted her confession or not and you shake it off and wait for jeno so you guys can leave

inside the crime scene you’re just quiet and trying to focus on looking for evidence and the atmosphere feels so off but jeno doesn’t even notice it

and afterwards you guys go back to his office you’re also silent and he’s kinda like ??? but maybe because you had to wake up early

and then you decide to leave early and jenos like oh okay and you’re moping as you leave and you call donghyuck to hang out and he’s like damn who broke your heart

and you’re like NO ONE it’s just,,, idk why i’m sad it was after i accidentally heard the secretary confess to jeno

and it clicks to haechan and he’s smirking and you’re like what spill it

“so you fell for detective jeno huh”

and you’re like no !!! and start blushing

and he’s like omg are you dense you’re an intern for a DETECTIVE COME ON

and you’re like you’re right,, but it’s too late since he’s probably with her now :(((

on the other hand detective! jaemin and renjun keep eyeing eachother because jeno keeps talking about you and how you looked sad today

but at the same time they’re like wait . lee jeno?? falling for someone???

and then renjun is like “you’d think for a detective you’d know if you’re into someone or not”

“does she like you back though??” jaemin curiositly asks

“i,,,, i don’t know?!?!??” AND THEY BOTH GASP BECAUSE?? HELLO THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CLUES AND HES A DETECTIVE

and now it’s jenos goal to figure out if you like him or not with the help of detective! renjun and jaemin

step 1: try to see if they avoid you or making eye contact

so he sees you next to the printer resting on the wall and walks over and places his arm against the wall and basically pinning you there and your eyes widen and you look anywhere but at jeno aND YOURE LIKE UM UHH GOTTA GO

step 2: try to see if they blush if you make a sudden move

and during one of the investigations he hears you calling him over and he pokes your elbow causing you to turn around and your faces are inches away and suddenly you’re a tomato again and jeno teases and is like omg are you gonna have a fever?? and he touches your forehead and you’re so warm he tries not to giggle at how cute you look

and during all of this donghyuck is sipping his tea while you freak out about all the things jeno has done to you and you’re like jeno is gonna give me a stroke and he’s gonna be the one trying to SOLVE WHO CAUSED IT EVEN THO IT WAS HIM

but this plan ultimately helped jeno figure it out and now he’s gonna ask you out because wow his detective skills really helped him out

so one cold late day after going to another crime scene he thinks it’s the perfect timing since the sun is about to set too and you’re shivering but looking at the sky and jeno gives you his coat

and you pause and you’re like “aren’t you gonna be cold??” and he’s like “my hands are kinda cold” and you’re like damn kinda wanna hold your hands but that will lead me to cardiac arrest but your hands brush against eachother and you’re like goddamnit and you wrap his hand against yours and you’re like blushing madly and he smiles at you

and you’re like “better??” and he shakes his head and both of you stop walking and says “now my lips feel cold” and like you guys are really close anywhos so you gotta close the gap

and you’re like hsjdjsiis i’m not that bold bUT STILL and he’s giving that cute small pout and you’re fighting the urge so you bite your lips slightly

but then jeno just pecks your lips

and your heart?? goes 127mph

and he’s like i know it’s sudden but i like you

and you’re speechless?? because lee jeno??? liking someone??? actually?? and your mind is in chaos but you go ahead and peck his lips for 5 seconds and then you’re like “i- i- i like you too” and he pulls you into a hug and says “thank god because i really put my detective skills to work on this case”

[artificialqueens]

The Goode Case, 12/14 (Jaida/Jan) - Juno

Chapter Summary: It hasn’t been a good Tuesday so far for Jaida. With Brita and Jackie seemingly out of the picture, will she be able to help Gigi and Jan?

(A/N: Phew, this chapter was an absolute monster to re-edit, and it’s huge. But we’re now at part twelve! I hope you enjoy this. Thank you for all your support!)

4.12PM

Jaida groaned as she felt herself coming to on the dusty floor, her head still spinning from the fifteen foot drop, sprawled across the floorboards. She lay on her back on the ground for the time being, feeling the dust beneath her fingertips, letting her equilibrium catch back up and the room stop spinning around her.

“What was that noise?” Rock’s voice seemed far away. But it was definitely Rock.

Jaida let her eyes open and adjust to the half-light, taking in the underneath of the staircase, the light from the large window at the top of the staircase dappling the floorboards around her.

It seemed unbelievable that she’d survived the fall unhurt, but she took time to focus over each part of her body, moving anything she could think of, and she seemed to have come out miraculously lucky; no major injuries, nothing numb or broken. She was completely unscathed.

Leaning on her elbows, she slowly rolled herself sideways on the floor, towards a body a couple of feet away, which looked like it was –

A body.

Hardly daring to believe it, Jaida scrambled to her hands and knees, leaning over the figure next to her, she could see who it was.

“Gigi!”

She’d done it.

Gigi was breathing; still unconscious, but her chest rising and falling.

She thought to Thomas’ final action: dragging her off the top floor, to right here, something that might have – might have killed her. It was becoming clearer now. Had he pulled her and Gigi back from his plane, and back to her own physical one, by doing so? Had he saved them?

Thomas had gone, and Jaida knew, somehow, that he’d never be back. Pulling her over the railings had been his final act. He hadn’t been able to save Merle, or himself, from Michelle in life; but he’d now saved Gigi by helping Jaida. He was free.

And she was back, in the twenty-first century, her friends around her. Maybe minus Jackie and Brita, for now, but still … she and Gigi Goode were back.

The heavy plodding footsteps coming down the stairs were Rock’s, and in a flash of blue hair Rock flung herself onto Gigi’s body, ignoring Jaida completely, and gently rolled Gigi onto her side, into the recovery position.

“You’re welcome,” Jaida shook her head, exasperated.

“Is it Gigi?” Dahlia called from up the stairs.

“I think so! What did Jaida say she looked like?”

“It is her, damnit!” Jaida shouted. “What’s going on? Why aren’t you listening to me?”

“Crystal?” Dahlia called. “Can you see if that’s Gigi?”

From the main room came Crystal, who rushed past Jaida to sprawl over Gigi’s body.

“Yes! It’s Gigi! Oh my God!”

“Gigi?” Came another voice from the main area, and Jaida turned to see Jackie, looking dazed, but seeming to have snapped out of the trance she’d been in. “It’s her! She’s done it!”

“But then, why is Jaida …?” Dahlia let the sentence hang.

“I’m right here!” Jaida folded her arms. “And you’re still welcome, by the way!”

“She’s – she’s here!” Crystal pointed to Jaida, but Rock and Jackie both looked around her, confused.

Oh, God.

Jackie’s gasp as she realised was proof enough.

“Am I a spirit now?” Jaida snorted, folding her arms. “Because that’s the last thing I need.”

“Jaida’s down here, in spirit form,” Crystal called to the others. “And she looks pissed off.”

“You’re damn right I’m pissed off! Can you even fucking hear me?”

“Thank God she’s alright! I was worried for a second!” That was Dahlia’s relieved voice. “Just when we heard that bump, she had a kind of spasm or something next to me, and she’s still not back to normal!”

“You – you actually can’t hear me,” Jaida muttered, realising. “None of you can hear me. This isn’t some sick joke.”

Fearing the worst, she walked slowly to the bottom of the staircase, looking to the top.

The sight made her shudder.

Dahlia was shaking Jaida’s own hand, her own physical hand, while Jaida’s physical body lolled to the side, to Dahlia’s shoulder, unconscious.

Jaida winced, feeling like she was going to be sick. Pain flashed through her gut, and she bent double, one hand on the bannister to retch.

Was this projection? How had this happened? Jaida didn’t know how to! So why was she now here, outside her own body?

“Is Jaida – did you say she’s down here?” Jackie asked. “Can you ask her is she can think of something, if I can hear her?”

“I’m not deaf, Jackie!” Jaida yelled, but Crystal turned towards her, breathing rapidly, and repeated Jackie’s words.

“Can – you – think – for – Jackie?”

Jaida rolled her eyes.

Jackie. You owe me big time.

“Oh – oh yeah, I can definitely hear her.” Jackie nodded. “Jai – are you going back to your body?”

Damn right I am!

“How do we get her back in her body? Oh, wait, she’s moving up the stairs now,” Crystal called, watching as Jaida strode away from her.

But Michelle materialised suddenly at the top of the stairs, blocking Dahlia and Jaida’s own body from view. Her face was enraged.

“I don’t think so,” Jaida heard Michelle say. “You may have persuaded him to sacrifice himself, but don’t expect me to go anywhere.”

Jaida immediately turned her face away from Michelle and ran down the two or three steps she’d already climbed, past Crystal and Jackie and into the main room. Crystal watched her go, seemingly unable to hear her or Michelle.

“Is she near me now?” Dahlia called from the stairs.

“No – Michelle’s there, moving towards you – Rock, are you sure Dahlia and Jaida are protected in that circle?” Crystal turned to Rock.

“Yes – she won’t get past the amber on the ground,” Rock replied from next to Gigi. “But help Brita! And don’t look at Michelle for too long, for God’s sake!”

Brita?

Jaida looked around the main room, feeling a rush of relief at the sight.

Brita was sat on the floor, her back leaning against the wall, only about a foot away from Jaida, groaning and putting a hand on her forehead. Although she looked utterly exhausted, at least she didn’t have Michelle attached to her – Michelle was roaming the stairs, turning back from Dahlia and coming down them again, towards Jaida.

Jackie ran right through Jaida to see to Brita.

“Michelle could be back at any moment for you! You need to tell me if you feel her trying to attach to you again. Straight away.”

“Sure, sure Jackie – thanks. Oh, God,” Brita muttered.

With a start, Brita tried to stand, but Jackie shook her head.

“No, stay here for a minute longer.”

“But –“

“I don’t think you can help her right now, Brita.”

Brita was pointing to the opposite wall. Aiden was there, sat upright against the wall, but completely motionless, her eyes open but vacant, not seeing anything. Her glasses lay on the floor by her feet, seemingly forgotten, glinting in the dying daylight.

Crystal bounded through the doorway and came to sit against the wall with Aiden. She waved a tentative hand in front of her face, but there was no reaction. “She’s still not responding?”

“No. And I can’t hear any thoughts from her at all. Just a tune.”

“A tune,” Crystal nodded, worry creeping into her face. She picked up Aiden’s nearest hand and ran a fingernail down her palm, to no response at all. “She hates this. It’s ticklish for her. She hates being tickled.”

“We just need to keep an eye on her, and make sure Michelle doesn’t come back for her,” Jackie muttered darkly.

But Michelle was at the at the doorway now, a half-smile on her face.

Jackie! It’s Michelle!

“What! Where?” Jackie leapt to her feet and turned a full circle.

Crystal dropped Aiden’s hand and pointed behind Jaida; not to Michelle, but to the entrance to the kitchen.

Jaida turned in time to see it before it happened.

The woman from the kitchen fire – Merle, Thomas had called her – stood right behind her; Jaida met her cloudy, white eyes and froze with terror.

Merle grabbed Jaida’s shoulder, and Jaida heard Crystal’s shriek as the same familiar hook at her back happened again, as with Thomas; the world around her melting, she was wrenched away from them again, the nausea filling her up as she screwed her eyes tightly shut …

———

The hotel was in its same glory; but this time, the noise was deafening. Fire was ripping through the kitchen, the sound of roaring, flickering flames louder than Jaida could have expected, and Merle – a live Merle, with hazel eyes and light-brown hair – had a hand on her shoulder, speechless with horror.

Through the flames in the kitchen, behind Merle, right up against the window, Jaida saw a figure, unconscious on the ground. She recognised the long blonde hair straight away.

It was Jan.

Jaida wasted no time. She grabbed Merle’s hand from her shoulder and ran straight to the kitchen door, but Merle was hesitant to pass, timidly shaking her head.

“No way! We’re not leaving Jan in there, are you crazy?” Jaida shrieked, frantically tugging Merle along with her, who seemed too frightened to argue.

Jan was over by the window, which was slightly open, letting air in to fuel the flames. The large open hob was the source of the fire, from what Jaida could see, it having lit up the net curtains and blinds on the window which were falling in embers to the ground and to the workbenches, starting to catch light as well.

“Come on!” Jaida yelled.

Merle was still resistant, panic etched in her face.

“Merle, I’ve just met your brother. You need to do this! To free yourself! You don’t wanna stay here, reliving this, do you?”

But Merle quivered in fear.

“I’m not leaving Jan here, no ma’am, so you’re going to help me too!” Jaida dove into the kitchen through the rising flames.

“Jaida? Not afraid you’ll burn?” Michelle materialised at the kitchen door behind them, her voice with the same soothing quality back in it; but this time, Jaida didn’t even feel tempted to look at her. Her only thought was Jan.

Adrenaline pulsed through her, overtaking any fear she’d felt. Jaida weaved around the workbenches towards Jan at the window. With her free hand, she turned Jan’s shoulder towards her. Jan was thankfully unhurt; breathing, but unresponsive to Jaida’s touch.

Jaida felt herself choking with the smoke, the workbench in front of her smouldering. The fumes from the fire could consume them at any moment. Jaida could still drag Jan with her free hand, but it was much harder than with Gigi.

“Merle, please! Help me lift her! I can’t do this without you!”

Jan was much shorter than Gigi, but far more muscular, and heavier as a consequence. Jaida managed to get her to a seated position, but couldn’t lift her alone. The flames licked higher, casting dizzying, ever changing shadows across the walls, starting to surround them all.

Merle tried to help Jaida position Jan so Jaida could lift her over her shoulder, like Gigi, but was stopped in an instant by the footsteps, coming through the fire towards them both.

“Merle,” came Michelle’s voice, a far sterner, more authoritative tone. “Merle, let Jaida go. Drop her.”

Jaida saw Merle turn around to face Michelle, and start to loosen her grip.

Jaida seized her tighter. “Don’t! This will help you too! Do you want to be free of – of repeating this forever?”

Merle looked from Jaida, to Michelle, to the blinds and net curtains above them at the window, the flames engulfing them fully now.

“Merle –“ Jaida nodded at her. “Yes! Come on!”

The whole oven flickered with flames, workbenches sparked alight all around them. The noise from the fire was deafening, the acrid fumes overwhelming, but Merle was motionless, paralysed by her terror. Jaida felt tears smart in her eyes, from the heat, from the adrenaline fading to panic, to despair …

“Jaida!” Michelle’s forceful tone caught Jaida off guard, and prompted Jaida to meet her eyes.

“Let. Them. Go.”

Jaida was too weak to fight this time; her thoughts dissolved around her, she struggled to stay in the room, but her mind was being enveloped in a soothing melody, and she found herself unable to focus on anything else, her limbs feeling so unbearably heavy …

The heat searing at her skin jolted her out of this trance, as reality flooded back to her, and she realised from the screams that Merle had finally reached up and pulled the fiery blinds from the windows onto them. Jaida shrieked as she felt white hot pain; the crochet line on her wrist, connecting her to Dahlia, burned away; and she herself fading into blackness, just squeezing Merle’s hand, pulling Jan’s unconscious form tightly to her chest, praying this was it –

———

“Oh shit! Oh, this – this is fucking b-bad!”

Jaida could hear Dahlia, but she was so far away.

She felt like she was trapped in a nightmare, her mind replaying images of the fire. But she was safe, back from that plane. Somehow, miraculously unhurt again.

The dimming light of day flooded into the kitchen from the boarded-up window. Out of the corner of Jaida’s eye, only a foot or so away from her, she saw Jan’s dishevelled blonde hair, white sneakers; and internally sighed with relief.

Thank God. Jan’s here.

“Jai! Can you hear us! Please!” That was Brita, her voice still a little weak.

I’m here. Kitchen. Jackie!

Jackie skidded into the kitchen first, followed by Crystal, and Brita lagged behind them both, leaning on the doorframe, still very weak herself.

“Is that – Jan?” Jackie ran to her and turned her into the recovery position, like Rock had with Gigi earlier. “I think we’ll need an ambulance!”

“Oh God,” Brita put her face in her hands. “What the hell did Michelle make me do?”

“Jaida!” Crystal, the only person who could see her, was staring right at her, grinning.

“Is Jaida here?” Brita asked.

Crystal nodded, and pointed to where Jaida lay. “Jaida – can – you – hear – me?”

Jackie. Tell Crystal I’m not fucking deaf.

Jackie squeaked with joy.

“Jai, I’ve never been more happy to hear you!” Jackie wiped away tears from her face as she spoke. “Can you get back to your body? Dahlia was shouting, I think she’s worried that something happened!”

Jaida stood, moving past Brita and Crystal; passing Rock and a slowly rousing Gigi in the hallway; and climbed the staircase, this time completely empty of anyone, shivering when she saw her own body. Dahlia was gulping back sobs, one hand still intertwined with Jaida’s, the other scrabbling at the ground between them, pulling up the remains of the crochet line, still smouldering.

The nearer Jaida got, the more of a pull she felt in her diaphragm, not really pain, but a kind of pleasant ache; until she finally let herself go, and as she did, felt herself drift back into her body, as if drawn by a magnet.

She felt herself gasp, a solid sound and pull at her rib cage. There she was, on the floor, one hand clasped in Dahlia’s, finally feeling the pain on her skin from the burn around her wrist, where the crochet loop had vanished, embers on the ground their only remnant.

She could feel her heartbeat, her pulse. She felt her lungs working hard and her blood pounding. She could feel Dahlia’s solid hand, damp with sweat, she could feel Dahlia’s fear, as much as her own relief.

It was the sweetest feeling, to be alive.

“Dahlia,” Jaida tested her voice, finding it hoarse, and Dahlia’s face flooded with joy as she hugged Jaida.

“Oh God, I was f-fucking scared there! When the tether burned away, I – I thought we’d lost you!”

Dahlia pulled back and slapped Jaida on the arm. “Don’t ever scare me like that again, bitch!”

“I’ll try!” Jaida found strength to chuckle at Dahlia’s words.

Dahlia stood, dusting herself down, and helped Jaida to her feet, and together they made their way down the stairs carefully, joining Rock, still with Gigi. Gigi was starting to twist from her position and groan at the back of her throat, slowly regaining consciousness.

“Jaida!” Brita had appeared from the kitchen and Jaida was engulfed in a tight hug, Jaida still feeling her mind race still with confusion.

“Brita, you’re you again!”

“Yeah she is, Jai,” Dahlia nodded; Brita, a little too overcome to speak, kept her arms wrapped around Jaida, refusing to let go of her.

“How did you guys do that?” Jaida asked

“She just – left me,” Brita replied, finally relinquishing and pointing to the doorway of the main room. “She left me right there, not that long ago, not even five, ten minutes. But I don’t know why!”

“I get it,” Jaida said, “she had to leave you to get to me, because I’d already found Gigi. And then she came after me again when Merle took me to find Jan.”

“Did she entrance you?”

“Almost.” Jaida shuddered.

“And then what?”

“I got – I got pulled back into this plane.”

“You got pulled over the railing the first time,” Rock pointed upwards. “You must have done if Gigi’s down here, and that pulled you out your body as your body was tethered to Dahlia!”

“But – I don’t project!” Jaida objected.

“The fall forced you to.” Dahlia shrugged. “I told you, most people learn it, rather than are born with it. Thomas’ fall would have made you do it, because you were tethered to me, at the top of the stairs.”

“You guys both need to read the book!” Rock scolded.

Brita looked confused. “What book?”

“Anyway, I think that Thomas and Merle are gone for good now,” Jaida sighed. “They helped me survive, even though they couldn’t save themselves. I think – I think that was what they needed to do, to leave that plane. To stop Michelle doing this again.”

“Wait, who’s Merle?” Dahlia asked.

“She’s the spirit who was in the kitchen. And Thomas was the guy on the stairs. The one I saw yesterday morning, too.”

“So – where’s Michelle now, if she left Brita?” Rock asked

From upstairs, one of the double doors slammed.

“I guess that answers that,” Dahlia muttered. “She still could be back though. Be on your guard.”

“And Brita, tell us if you start feeling like someone’s reading your damn mind!” Jaida nudged Brita, who nodded sombrely, linking arms with Jaida.

At Rock’s feet, Gigi was starting to move slowly, still groaning.

“Gigi?” Brita looked over at her, clearly starting to regain consciousness. “She needs an ambulance.”

Jaida pulled her phone from her pocket, and punched the speed dial number on her phone, which went straight to the hospital. “They’ll be here in no time. Ten minutes or so.”

“Gigi? Geeg?” At the sound of her name from Brita, Crystal careered round the corner and slid to her knees before her girlfriend.

Gigi’s eyelids were fluttering at her voice.

“Thank God!” Crystal yelled, flinging herself onto Gigi, who was starting to move her arms, adjust herself, weakly raise her head from the ground.

“Crys,” Gigi managed to croak, “where the heck - ?”

She slowly raised herself up, tried to sit up, and Crystal held a hand at her back to support her.

“Take your time – that’s it –“

Jaida took a step back from them, to move through the main lobby area to the kitchen, followed by Rock and Dahlia. Jackie was still knelt over Jan, wiping her forehead with a tissue, trying to rouse her.

“Jackie,” Jaida gulped, “is she alright?”

“She will be, I think,” Jackie whispered, still wiping stray tears from her cheeks. “She doesn’t seem to have anything attached to her. She’ll be fine, once she’s conscious, anyway.”

“I have salts,” Dahlia announced, pulling them from her pocket. “Not much, but if she’s otherwise unhurt and with no attachments, she should come round pretty fast with these. This concoction and the lavender oil should sort her out.”

“It’s worth a try,” Jackie agreed, as Dahlia unscrewed the top of the tiny bottle, placing some of the mixture onto a tissue.

“That just leaves Aiden,” Rock sighed, motioning behind them. Through the kitchen doorway they could see Aiden was in the same position as she’d been left earlier. Brita had moved over to her from the hallway, and was gently setting Aiden’s glasses back on her face.

Dahlia bent over Jan with the salts, while Jaida grudgingly left her and followed Jackie and Rock to the main room. Gigi was walking slowly, supported by Crystal, to sit at the wall opposite Brita and Aiden. Gigi laid her head in Crystal’s lap and closed her eyes, seemingly still exhausted.

“What exactly happened to Aiden?” Jaida asked.

Jackie held up her palm. “I think she brought me back. I remember hearing this tune in my head, and then her pressing my hand with her thumb, and it fading.”

“She healed you!” Rock’s face was struck with a moment of clarity. “Now I get it. I thought she had something like that! That’s why you couldn’t hear her thoughts, Jackie; healers tend to actively conceal them, otherwise they tend to get taken advantage of. Healing people can really drain them; I knew one back in San Fran, she’d need to sleep for a whole day if she healed someone.”

Jackie nodded. “So I came out of the trance, then Brita, no Michelle, grabbed her. And Aiden wouldn’t let her go. But then Michelle left Brita, and Aiden’s still …”

“It’s my fault.” Brita looked hopeless, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand.

“It’s not your fault! I knew she’d do this, ever since she healed you on Sunday night!” Crystal said, stroking Gigi’s head. “I told her not to, on the bus on the way here, it always tires her out – but she just gets emotional, and then she tries to save everyone.”

“She gets emotional?” Jaida muttered incredulously.

“Well, yeah,” Crystal shrugged. “She does, I swear! She healed me on Friday night.”

“Why didn’t she just tell me she healed people when I asked her yesterday?” Jaida asked.

Crystal shrugged. “She’s a bit shy.”

Jackie anxiously pushed back her fringe. “I can’t hear anything from her except that tune. It’s very eerie.”

“Hold up,” Jaida paused, frowning at Jackie. “I thought you said you couldn’t hear Aiden at all?”

“Well, I couldn’t before, but I can now … I think she’s opened up her thoughts when she healed me. Whether she meant to or not.”

Rock sighed. “If it’s just a trance – and I think that’s all it is – she should just come out of it on her own eventually, if we can get her out the house. But, I mean, that’s the worst case scenario! I’m not suggesting we just leave her alone!” Rock shook her head at their shocked stares.

“What’s Plan B?” Brita asked.

“Well … she might be able to heal herself from someone she’s already healed. Maybe. Most healers form some connection with people they heal.”

“Please,” Jackie muttered, “I can’t deal with any more connections.”

Dahlia appeared at the door of the kitchen, supporting Jan, who looked confusedly round at everyone, her eyes freezing on Jaida. Jaida’s chest constricted. Jan’s face was panic-stricken, her mouth opening and closing, lost for words.

“Jan.” Jaida stood, approaching her slowly, wondering what Jan was making of this crowd. Her eyes widened as Jaida came closer, shrinking away, out from under Dahlia’s arm.

“Brita said – you had a surprise, and then …” Jan shook her head in wonder, her eyes horrified. “What the hellis happening?”

“I think we will need some time to explain it,” Jaida said, raising her hands.

Brita rose and walked cautiously to Jan, who shrank still further. She hugged Jan, as gently as she could, but Jan let her hands hang limp as she did so, not even trying to reciprocate. When Brita let her go, Jan searched her face for some sort of explanation, but Brita was silent, Jaida realising that Brita probably didn’t recall very much at all.

Brita eventually shook her head sadly, her voice quaking as she spoke.

“I’m sorry, Jan. I’m so sorry.”

“I don’t get this,” Jan breathed, shuddering. “What kind of prank are you guys pulling on me? Do you think this is funny?”

“No –“

“Jan!”

But Jan ducked away from Brita’s outstretched arms and sprinted out the door, past everyone. Jaida ran to the doorway, but Jan was already ducking under the hazard tape and sprinting into the street to get away.

Watching Jan run from her, her horrified expression imprinted in her brain, made Jaida’s chest clench in agony.

She leaned against the doorframe, not even trying to stop the tears, the pain from the sobs she’d held in her lungs all day too much to bear. Her body drained of all energy and she sank to her knees, unable to hold herself up any longer.

After an eternity, Jackie’s warm hand found her shoulder, and Jaida felt herself being drawn to Jackie’s chest, resting her head there. Unable to speak, Jaida let the tears fall, feeling the last of her strength unravel as Jackie just silently held her together.

“Jai,” Jackie whispered eventually, but Jaida couldn’t form words. “Jai, it’s – we’ll – let’s give her a bit of time.”

Suddenly, from inside, Aiden coughed; out of the corner of her eye Jaida saw that Brita had returned to sit with her, and was grasping Aiden’s thumb to her own palm, as Aiden had done on Sunday night. Aiden blinked confusedly around at them all, then down at her hand in Brita’s.

One of the chandeliers in the upstairs suddenly fell to the ground in the hallway, and they heard double doors upstairs, of their own accord, slam once again. The whole house seemed to shudder around them, Jackie pulling Jaida tighter into her; the ground vibrating around them, the doorframe shaking.

Then an odd calm settled in the house.

Jaida lifted her head, to the sound of the approaching ambulance sirens, coming towards the house, less than a minute away.

From inside, Aiden asked, “What have I missed?”

4.58PM

“SAGE! Right now!” Rock flicked Dahlia’s lighter at the sage until it was burning again, smoke starting to plume, before waving it around Brita in what Jaida was sure was an intricate pattern, while Brita stood perfectly still, looking more scared now than before. Jackie looked just as unsure, next to her, but Rock was not prepared to argue with either of them.

“Look, you’ve had an attachment, and you’ve been put in a trance by a the same attachment, okay? You’re both getting this whether you like it or not. Better to be safe than sorry.”

“What about Aiden?” Brita pointed to her, laying on the grass.

“She’ll be getting the sage last, when she’s recovered a little. Don’t worry, she’s not getting away either!”

When the ambulance had arrived some ten minutes earlier, Gigi had insisted she had started to feel better, she didn’t need hospital, until Jackie had pointed out that it was now Tuesday, and she had gone almost five days with no sustenance, even though Gigi had said it had only felt like a day or so at most.

“You’re going, and that’s final,” Crystal had told her sternly, pushing Gigi’s hair behind her ears. “Okay? I’ll come with you.”

Gigi’s eyes had softened as she’d planted a small kiss on Crystal’s lips. “Okay.”

Jackie had supported Crystal carrying Gigi to the ambulance, as they both got in; before darting back in to support Brita with Aiden. Aiden insisted on simply laying flat on her back in the grass of the overgrown garden, telling them that normally made her feel better faster. She was still there, her hands running over the grass beneath her, staring at the sky and starting to look a little perkier.

Jaida sat on the grass next to Aiden, and patiently watched as Rock moved around all of them with her bundle of sage, still paying Brita particular attention. Dahlia lit a cigarette at the gate, lost in her own thoughts.

The rain from yesterday had long gone, but the days were still drawing in, and Jaida’s eyes were drawn to the slow sunset behind the few clouds she could see. The shadows were lengthening slowly, day turning into evening before them.

Jaida’s phone was ringing, and she rolled her eyes at the number that came up.

“This is Hall.”

“Hall, this is Lake, What in God’s name has your case leader done to her phone, eaten it? She never picks up any more. We saw there was ambulance at the guest house, ten minutes ago. Is that to do with the Goode case?”

“Yes – Gigi has been found. She’s gone into hospital now for check up.”

“Did anyone think to update Forensics at all?” Darienne sighed. “Good for you. I’m going home. Tell Brita she owes me twodouble mochas.”

Jaida couldn’t help but grin as Darienne disconnected the call abruptly as ever.

She looked at Aiden, who was sitting up carefully, her expression surprisingly serene.

“Do you have any idea what’s happened since you came in the house?” Jaida asked, curiosity finally getting the best of her.

“No, but you all found Gigi, so …” Aiden gave a small shrug. “I’m sure someone will fill me in on the details later.”

[dreamsafterhours]

college boyfriend!markhyuk au series: III (mark’s pathway)

a universe in which roommates!markhyuk meet each other's s/o in class

markhyuk are roommates, my/n and dy/n are roommates, mark and dy/n take classes together and so do donghyuk and my/n — how will their fates intertwine?

genre: fluff pairings: mark+my/n (fem), donghyuk+dy/n (fem), platonic!mark+dy/n, platonic!donghyuk+my/n format: dotpoint AU universe: non idol, college bf warning: some swearing

masterlist

or click here to meet your soulmate, paediatrics!donghyuk!

II ⇤ | III | ⇥ IV

III: 별빛이 내린다 샤라랄라랄라라 (2+2=4)

the meeting of two souls: mark & my/n

hi hello good day how are you? i hope you're well today/tonight this is like 3 weeks late isn't it :D pls don't come after me i lost some motivation to write for a while but here i am now so let's get to it!!

aight so you met donghyuk's roommate for the first time yesterday and,,

you honestly had NO IDEA someone could be that cute

highkey regretting not asking for his name but you were so caught up in lingering on the fact that he implied you were pretty , like wHO DOES THAT ASDFKJL

you highkey shouted the verbal equivalent of a keyboard smash with ur roommate and she was all !! oh so this guy cute cute

you were contemplating whether or not to sneakily ask donghyuk for his name but you were worried bc hyuk has,, crazy sense when it comes to reading people and seeing through their words

and honestly you didn’t want to have to deal with hyuk potentially teasing the shit out of u for having a maybe crush on his roommate whom u’d just met

so you just beat your pillow sleep on it after your roommate reminds you it’s getting late and no life decisions should be made after 12am!! live by it

you wake up craving jjajangmyeon but alas if you were to get any satisfaction of that kind of hunger, it was going to have to wait because

~~ we love ~~ packed schedules ~~ in this house ~~

i hopes the sarcasm was noted in that previous sentence bc now u wish for life to cease

4 weeks into the semester and you were drowning in the midst of reports and lab pracs and content and revision

you were ready to ascend to the next life with only regret and an ability to vaguely explain the properties of a prokaryotic cell and endosymbiosis

but honestly donghyuk’s been a big help throughout the past month

your only friend in classes

official study buddy

2am revision session consultant

personal older brother bc he claimed you as his adoptive sister

another reason your roommate told you to go to bed was bc you literally have

a tutorial class + 2 consecutive 1.5 hour lectures + a 3 hour lab class to finish your day off

with no break for lunch in between :’((

looks like you’ll be starving through your library study session with dy/n

but oop

you find that dy/n had stayed up long after you’d fallen asleep writing her essay 

leaving your dorm feeling a twinge of guilt that u might have distracted her from focusing on her work to listen to your rambles and kept her up later than she should have been

but a text from her in the afternoon reassures u that honestly she wasn’t even planning to write that essay and The Feels™ had just hit her last night and that she made it to class

you: oh PHEW that’s good

you: sorry i didn’t wake you up on my way out, u looked so peaceful i couldn’t bear to disturb

dy/n 🦁: dw dw it’s all g i made it n e way

dy/n 🦁: also is it cool if my friend and his friend comes to the study sesh as well we have to go through some lecture content

you: ah yes don’t see why not :)) i’ll probs have my earphones in the entire time anyways lmao won’t affect me

but will it

“who u texting in the middle of diffusion” cue hyuk peering over at the phone you’re hiding in your lap

you click your tongue at him and lock your phone, “someone twice the man you’ll ever be”

he gasps in mock horror like he’d just witnessed a murder as quietly as he can ,,

“you’re texting a guy? in the middle of diffusion?”

“no. my roommate lmao”

“and what? is it me or your roomma—”

“—my roommate” you glance back up at the prof without looking at him

“ouch”

“you dare?”

“if i don’t dare, who will”

and due to this exchange, you miss the osmosis slide

“ah shit what was osmosis again”

“lmfao what makes u think i know that”

(pause)

“isn't it just.. net movement of free water molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration”

sorry my bio neural pathways are being excited again after being revisited for the first time in two years

/stares at him/ “why was that infuriating to hear from u”

after class you prepare to head to your dreaded 3-hour lab class you have with donghyuk but he stands up and stares into the void blankly

“where am i going”

“where do u think”

“oh, hell, most likely”

you scoff at the accuracy and drag him out of the lecture hall

you look at donghyuk and he’s visibly resisting the urge to poke your cheek when he first puts on his gloves

“what’s with you today”

he stares at his hands forlornly, “idk ask that to my timetable”

“week 4 got u dead huh”

he glances at you with a frown, “don’t act like u’re not dying too”

“damn. touché”

to your dismay, the lab class runs later than scheduled and you get out of it 20 minutes after it was meant to finish but luckily it’s your last class

with a quick goodbye to donghyuk and a text letting dy/n know you were going to be a lil late, u stop by ur dorm to pick up ur textbook before rushing to the library

you were highkey exhausted and just. famished by that point

but a promise is a promise and you weren’t going to back out of one now

especially when you felt like you owed your roommate one and it was you who originally suggested a library session

so you get to the library, bag strap slung over your shoulder, checking the photo of the seats dy/n had saved for you in the library

highkey getting lost once or twice but you manage

you get to the general area and spot dy/n sitting at a four-seater (wow how’d they get that) but you

freeze when you see who’s sitting next to her

it’s ??

????????

????????????????

/error 404/

????????????????

????????

ur heart goes into panic mode bc

it’s not even kidding it’s donghyuk’s roommate

and despite ur brain short-circuiting

you manage to remember that dy/n had said that mentioned her friend’s.. roommate.. also coming along..

and if her friend was donghyuk’s.. roommate..

you: :                             )

you: oh my god they were roommates

and speak of the devil

“oh hey fancy seeing u here”

you turn around and it’s donghyuk legit chills right there

you barely reply a “hi”

“i thought u were going to ur dorm for dinner”

“ah yeah—no i’m.. gonna go over some.. diffusion”

“oii! over here dude” his roommate whisper-yells out at donghyuk

dy/n waves at you “heYY my/n”

donghyuk waves and turns back to you “welp i’m gonna join a study group.. you could join if you came alone? i’m sure they won’t mind”

“about that”

“u waiting for someone?”

“i’m going over there too”

“what?”

he glances over at the table and then back to you

“that’s my roommate. right there next to your roommate”

you point her out and then donghyuk’s jaw drops

“what the fUC—” and you both. burst iinto laughter at the ridiculousness of the situation

like ?? how???

“wOW r u KIDDING”

“HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN”

“talk about a coincidence.. oh my god my cheekbones hurt” he says as he clutches his side

so you get to the table and dy/n tries to introduce u to donghyuk’s roommate

“mark, this is my/n, my/n this is mark”

ah yes so mark is his name, you think

cute name for a cute boi

“nice to meet you again, mark”

dy/n: “?? again?”

mark gives u a rlly wide smile “yeah we’ve met. hi my/n”

you swear you’ve never had your heart flutter like this

fdksoafjadgioarigilf

then mark introduces dy/n to donghyuk and they start talking about how they’re your legal guardian and telling the other to “get in line”

leaving you in middle like “ok mum and dad” but also thinking back to when donghyuk was highkey flirting with you,, and now how he’s flirting with dy/n ,, oh dude he’s flirting

and highkey ,,, you don’t have any hard feelings about it ,, you know she’s also got this kind of humour code and she’s far more comfortable with meeting new people

until dy/n jokes about custody rules and donghyuk replies with “who says we’re split”

ok mum and dad

n e ways you came to study and study you will

so you settle down and go through your notes for the day

albeit being a lil distracted by mark who sits right across from you somehow, somewhy,,

somewhy should be a word you can’t tell me how to english

you keep wanting to steal glances at him but you have to physically restrain yourself from doing so

and also donghyuk who keeps poking u under the table and texting u even though he’s right next to you

💩hyuk: bro

💩hyuk: bro

💩hyuk: bro

💩hyuk: bro

💩hyuk: bro

you: wHAT

💩hyuk: nvm lol

you: im boutta slap u. give me my pen back i saw that

💩hyuk: damn

💩hyuk: also r u hungry

you: terribly

you: why

💩hyuk: does ur roommate have any allergies

you: not that i know of

you: again

you: why

you: u buyin?

💩hyuk: 🤡<- you

💩hyuk: 🤡, how do you feel about dinner

you: invalid question. no variable answer

💩hyuk: alright, 🤡. im not buying for u

you glower at him but he isn’t looking at u,, he leans back and laments about how he’s craving chinese food

did he read your damn mind how did he know

and apparently he’s read dy/n’s mind too at how she jumps up at the mention of chinese and agrees profusely

so you find yourself abandoning your studies for the rest of the night and in a restaurant lmfao

“chill,, guys,,, jjajang is fine”

rock paper scissors for the cheque ends in mark’s tears

“no it’s ok. i’m ok it’s our first meeting as a fateful group and it makes sense! for me to pay”

after you satisfy your cravings the boys walk dy/n and you back to your dorm

mark tells dy/n to give him her bag for him to carry and while she practically gives it up to him, he has to insist that he’ll carry yours too

to which you’re like omg no it’s fine i can carry it it’s not that heavy i swear—

until donghyuk takes ur bag off ur shoulder and passes it to mark

because of the narrow path, you’re forced to walk in pairs and you end up walking next to donghyuk who makes happy sounds about how good that food was and how priceless mark’s face was when he lost rock paper scissors

then dy/n takes the initiative to make a group chat for you four,, asking for donghyuk’s number to add

you give her a look like damn gurl but you have no idea if she saw or if she just ignored you on purpose lmfao

also donghyuk looked way too happy afterwards

either way you slapped her when you got back to the dorm like “SINCE WHEN WERE YOU SO ?? BRAVE?”

dy/n: um

dy/n: honey

dy/n: have you met me

and thus the chaos of a group chat was born and just like a real child, you spent hours on it

dy/n 🦁: ok we inside

you: thanks for dinner again mark!

💩hyuk: he says you’re welcome

💩hyuk: i say we “accidentally” lose our purses next time we go out

you: nah you’re paying next

💩hyuk: y

💩hyuk: y, 🤡

dy/n 🦁: yes y, 🤡

dy/n 🦁: HAHAH WHY IS SHE 🤡

💩hyuk: i thought you of all people would know

dy/n 🦁: why is she just as dumb in class as she is in the dorm?

💩hyuk: i knew it

dy/n 🦁: she poured too much hot water into her tea the other day it overflowed and spilt onto her foot

mark: oh no were u okay

💩hyuk: looks like you’re gonna have to study osomsis

💩hyuk: osmoiss

💩hyuk: fuck

you: yes i’m okay it wasn’t that hot i had socks on too

💩hyuk: osmosis

dy/n 🦁: avoided tragedy luckily

💩hyuk: finally

you: there is a reason you’re saved as 💩hyuk on my phone

dy/n 🦁: HAAHAHAHAHHAHAH

seriously you just don’t know just how much this group was going to mean to you yet

click here to meet your soulmate, paediatrics!donghyuk!

II ⇤ | III | ⇥ IV

shoot me an ask if you’d like to be tagged in future parts!

[shigarakis-fifth-hand]

Ok picture this. Thief!Uraraka x Rich!Reader. And it's as angsty as possible? Like Uraraka really out here just looking for that coin, ya know? She didn't come to play!

Warning: Cursing, smut~ish, major angst, thoughts of suicide, kissing, gayness, cuteness overload

Uraraka sat in the kitchen, eating the last Christmas cookie in the entire building. “Ugh, I don’t see why you don’t want to go to your parents for the Holidays! I love your mom! We’ve gone to my family’s house for the past three years.” Kirishima argued as he and Bakugo carried their suitcases down the stairs. “No! You’re mom makes the best food for Christmas, and we get the pool house all to ourselves! Do you realize how much fucking we can do?!” Bakugo slapped Kirishima’s ass, unaware that Ochako was in the room. 

“Plus, we agreed that your mom does Thanksgiving and Christmas with the cooking. My mom does Halloween and the fourth of July with the decorations and explosions.” Bakugo kissed Kirishima before they walked back upstairs to get more of the luggage.

“Todoroki! Say hi to my mom!” Izuku yelled, running up to him with a phone in his hand as Todoroki walked down the other hallway. “Hi Inko!” Todoroki smiled as Uraraka saw Izuku’s mom on the screen. “Oh Todo, Bora Bora is lovely! Make sure to thank your sister for allowing me to use the family vacation house!” Inko exclaimed as the two boys nodded, smiled, and then hung up the phone. “Now, Touya is going to be here soon so let’s move!” 

Todoroki grinned, taking all the luggage in his hands as they walked, not letting Deku carry any of it.

Uraraka smiled, happy for her friends who were doing things over their holiday break. Her on the other hand... would be at the dorms alone. She was the only one in 1-A who didn’t want to go home. Her parents would be working their tail off, and she would just be forced to lug around heavy boxes, sweep, and do their office management for two weeks straight like she did every year. She would never tell anyone that though... how embarrassing.

“Ochako!” She heard behind her, turning around to look at you. “You were on the phone with your parents while holding your LV purse. Your Gucci slides shined on your feet, and the diamond earrings you had been given by Todoroki glimmered in the light. You were everything Ochako wished she could be.

You were an icon for a boss bitch, a model, powerful, brilliant, gorgeous... and as rich as someone could get. Sure Uraraka had the biggest crush, but more than not she wanted to be you. The luckiest human alive.

Your father, Endeavor Todoroki, and Tensei Iida been rivals growing up, eventually becoming pro heroes and starting their own agencies. Of all of them, your father had grown to become a millionaire by going to America instead of Tokyo, and starting his agency there where the competition was pitiful.

That had led to your family becoming one of the most wealthiest in all of Tokyo, above the Yaoyorozus and Iidas. In fact, you, Iida, and Momo had been close friends since toddler age.

“Yes Y/n?” Ochako responded, coming out of her trance. “My mom says I should invite a friend to our beach house. I know you said you didn’t want to go anywhere for the Holidays, but would you? My modeling agency is sponsoring our trip so we can get massages, go snorkeling, you know. All that fun stuff.” Ochako perked up more as you explained. “W-where is it?” She asked excitingly. “Ever heard of Hawaii? My dad’s main office is there.” Ochako hopped off the barstool and smiled brightly. 

“Sure! I’d love to go!” She hugged you before running to go pack her things. “Wait, I don’t have any bathing suits!” She yelled back as you just rolled your eyes, still on the phone with your parents. “Yes Daddy, email them about my plus one. Just borrow mine, I have a few you can use. No Daddy, it’s not a boy, it’s Ururaka.” You winked at her as she ran upstairs, hurrying as fast as she could as if you would leave her.

Once her bags with packed, Ochako came back to the room to see you on the phone still. She sat down, choosing to watch you adoringly and letting you finish your call. “Yes Claire, I’m having a couples massage with my bestie on the third, and snorkeling on the thirtieth. Now don’t get that screwed up with my photoshoot the sixth, and the fireworks for New Years. Yes, the maid went to the house earlier.” 

As you continued, she stared at you. Wow, she’s so... impressive. If only I could have a sliver of that... power. Or you. Honestly, you seemed to get more attractive as Ochako stared at you. ‘If only I could use this to help my family... I’m so god damn scared of what’s going to happen. Mom isn’t working, and Dad might have cancer. What can I do? I’m a student taking classes at UA full time. There’s no time to work!’ Ochako thought deeply, stressing out.

“Phew, I’m glad that’s over! Just called my manager to schedule our break.” You grabbed her bags happily, carrying them to the car outside. “Wonderful! My sister is waiting at the airport with our jet! Then we can zip over the Hawaii and get this party started!” Ochako found herself shaking as you two entered the large black car.

...

Walking out of the airport, Ochako found herself woozy. That’s what sleeping for 15 hours straight did to you after all. Of course... you looked beautiful. You had been drinking hot water with lemon the entire time, had moisturized every half hour, and had taken only four naps, being half an hour long each.

 You were literally the perfect human being, while Ochako had helped herself to your plane’s supply of cake and soda while watching videos on her phone.

“Look! There he is!” You pointed to the boy wearing only rainbow swim trunks and sunglasses standing on top of the blue Jeep. “Andrew! Babe!” You ran and hugged him. “Chance, this is my friend Uraraka. Ochako, this is Chance, one of the models I’m working with for the company’s LGBT campaign!” Ochako perked up, staring at you. You... liked girls??? She... had a chance?

“You bet it! Hop in ladies!” With ease, you lifted Ochako into the Jeep and followed her in. While you were driving, Ochako couldn’t help but relax greatly. The sea breeze and smell of the ocean salt consumed her, almost making her forget all her problems. But she couldn’t forget all her problems... she had promised her mom that she would fix everything by the new year. 

And here she was... going to party while she ignored her family.

“Here we are!” As you pulled in, Ochako almost passed out. “You like it? Daddy got it remodeled it last Spring. It has two pools, a hot tub, an amazing view, and of course... the beach is only a few steps away!” You exclaimed, taking your bags in and upstairs to your room. Ochako had her breath taken away completely. 

“You... live here? Like... you own this place?” Ochako found herself dying over the marble everything, the flowers everywhere, the splashes of color from the expensive art, and the views outside. “Don’t be silly. This is only our vacation home! Daddy lives here sometimes while he’s recovering from injuries since he stays in America, but Mom and I stay in Japan. I obviously live at UA.” You smiled, walking out to the balcony from your bedroom. “Oh, I almost forgot! Here, you can choose whatever you want!”

You opened the closet to reveal a room the size of Ochako’s bedroom. Filled to the brim with clothes, shoes, jewelry, mirrors, and led lights. “Over the years of modeling I get a bunch of cute clothes! You should only imagine how much I have from when I did child modeling. Oh, and here! Pick out some jewelry for tonight. We can totally play dress up while we’re on vacay. We have to look famous, right?” You laughed, hugging Ochako while walking out of the closet. 

“Oh, and the purse rack is to your left! We can use that when we go shopping or out to eat! I have a bunch of LV so you can use one! I never use them anymore!” You giggled, smiling as you looked back at the view. “Pick out what you want to wear tonight, and a bathing suit for night swimming at the pool! I’ll go downstairs and give the chef recommendations! Any ideas?” You asked, sticking your head in the doorway. “N-n-nope!” Ochako called out as you ran downstairs.

Ochako’s eyes led to the big case of jewelry. It had so many gold chains, so many rings. Dozens and dozens of real pearl earrings. “I can’t... no. I have to.” She grabbed two pairs of pearl earrings, a gold chain, two rings that both had diamonds, and then a pair of heels. You were a size 8, but these were a size four. They were Ochako’s mom’s size. 

Without thinking, Ochako shoved them into her bag and zipped it back up. In the heat of the moment, Ochako looked around, desperate for more. She had found her solution! Steal from the rich and give to the poor! She easily had just taken over 5k from you, and you probably wouldn’t even blink. You would never suspect her, right? Of course you wouldn’t. You two had been flirting with each other since you met. You trusted her.

Ochako stopped herself, slapping herself in the face. “W-what are you doing? She trusts you! You fricking like her you dumb idiot!” She yelled at herself, looking around. No, she had to help her family, even a little bit. Just little things you wouldn’t even bat an eye at.

She took a ten dollar bill under your desk, stuffed the pencil pouch you had gotten from Italy, and easily slipped a Gucci perfume bottle into her bag. “Hey, Ochako!” Uraraka turned around to see you smiling ear-to-ear. “Happy early Christmas!” You held out your hand, revealing a tiny box. “H-huh?” She exclaimed, slowly taking it from you and gasping. Inside was a simple silver ring, polished and perfectly fitting for her small finger. “It’s a promise ring.” You walked closer to her. 

“As to promise that once we become heroes, we will remain friends.” Ochako stepped closer to you, staring at your lips. “And... maybe...” Ochako couldn’t finish her sentence as you two slammed your lips into each other. The kiss was hot and passionate, as if it was releasing all the thoughts you two had had for four years straight of having to resist. “God, once I found out you were gay.” You kissed Ochako’s neck as she tried to talk, moaning in between words. “Once he said LGBT, I knew I had to...” She moaned again, turning you on. You bent her on the bed, running kisses up and down her neck. 

As Ochako was about to remove her shirt, you stopped her. “Let’s save that for after dinner.” You winked, leaving her feeling teased. “So, what are we Y/n?” She asked, blushing from what you had just said. “Well it depends. I’ll be whatever you want me to be. Just say the word.” You moved closer as she sat on your bed, getting closer and closer. “Be my girlfriend Y/n.” She whispered as you smiled, slowly kissing her lips. 

“Well then I guess that ring is more than a friendship ring. What do you think it means?” You asked, kissing her neck tenderly again. “I... don’t know. Once we have so many responsibilities next year, let’s stay together. Promise to make time for each other... and one day, settle down.” You sucked her neck extra hard as she said that. “We’re getting out of UA soon Y/n. Maybe we can move in together to... try things out.” She talked as you continued to kiss her neck.

 She had to admit you turned her on like nobody else could. “Awesome. Well, dinner is about ready. How about we go down and... introduce you to my family. I’m sure they’d love to meet my new... girlfriend. First, let’s get changed.” You walked over to your closet and pulled out an outfit you had prepared beforehand. A white t-shirt and black jeans, cute and tomboyish. 

“Oh, and I promise not to peek.” You winked, before facing away with your back to Uraraka. Ochako picked out a pink sweater and black skirt, thinking as she put it on. Is this wrong? Of course it is. But wouldn’t it be worse to deny this love for her and steal from her? At least she’s happy, look at her. The poor thing will never know, and eventually... you’ll forget all about it. Just... no more stealing.

But as time went on, Ochako found herself being the happiest she had ever been. She woke up to you two full-on making out in bed for at least half an hour, then would spend the entire day watching you model, then you two would eat, swim, walk around, and vacation. Of course... the days started to end even better. Nighttime was when you two couldn’t contain yourselves. There was a hot tub on the balcony right outside of your room, so you two couldn’t help yourself. Surely, you two had found yourselves naked while kissing once or twice. Sure you two were going fast, but Hawaii set the mood so much, and you two were so excited to release all the sexual tension from the past four years

Of course, Ochako also found herself getting more greedy as she adapted to the rich lifestyle. She slipped one of the nice soap dispensers, took one of you dad’s pairs of expensive sunglasses, stole another ten dollar bill she found under your bed, and had somehow managed to slip a Gucci robe from when you were six into her bag. It was stuffed to the brim, but she needed more. Her family would die if she didn’t.

Then, things turned for the worst that one night. “Ochako, let’s go night swimming!” You called out, reaching for her hand. “But I’m not wearing a bathing suit!” She yelled out instantly, still looking at herself in the mirror. You had straighten her hair, and she liked it. “Exactly.” You whispered into her ear as she grinded into you. “Okay then.” She responded, smiling as you two began to walk to the hot tub as you removed your shirt slowly, Ochako watching your every move. That was until you tripped over Ochako’s bag, falling to the ground. Along the way, a shatter could be heard from inside the bag. 

“Ochakie, I’m so sorry. What did I break?” Ochako blushed at the nickname you had given her, before realizing what you were doing. As you opened the bag, your eyes widened. Inside was your old Gucci robe, your new perfume, your soap dispenser, your dad’s sunglasses, and your old shoes along with a bunch of jewelry. 

Immediately your face turned bright red, looking up at her. “You...” You murmured angrily, standing up as she started crying. “I fucking trust you with everything and you stole from me!?” You yelled, not feeling bad at all. “You don’t understand! My family needs the money! They’re going to die if I don’t do something!” Ochako yelled, trying to defend herself. In an instant, you took out your wallet, slipping out five hundred-dollar bills and throwing them in her face. “Here’s your money Uraraka! Now where’s my trust! I was so ready to give you my virginity, give you my life! I wanted a life with you Ochako!” You began crying as she turned silent. “So that’s why you came? I wanted you, you wanted my money? Is that why you came? Is that why you kissed me?” You asked as she stared at you, trying to find words. 

“My dad has cancer! My mom is dying! I’m terrified Y/n! Please don’t be too mad at me! I needed all the money I could get quickly!” She yelled at you, still crying as you stopped. “Ochako, I could write you a check for a fucking hundred grand as we speak! You think that I would poor out my soul to you, but not help your fucking family?! Ochako, I gave you my trust and love! Do you know how hard that was?! But no, everyone just wants me for my money! Everyone! Even you!” Ochako tried to spill out words. 

She tried to tell you that she did love you, more than anything. She tried to tell you that she was obsessed with you, and that she wanted nothing more than to have you in her life. That the past few days had been the best in her entire life because of you. 

But no, all she could do was cry. 

All it took was one look in your eyes, your heartbroken eyes, for her to run out of the house. Out of the house, down the small path, and to the beach. The sunset was shining brightly, shimmering against Ochako’s tears. She was so mad at herself, and the fact that she had messed up the one amazing thing she had with you. Sure, money was great, but ever heard of love? Ochako had felt it only with you, and she had ruined it. Why hadn’t she thought of asking for your help? You were a hero god dammit, one of the most generous and giving jobs in the world. 

“God dammit! God Dammit! God dammit!” She kicked the sand, yelling as she stomped angrily. God... she should just throw herself into the ocean. After awhile of standing there, Ochako heard a noise behind her. “Oh dear, it’s just me. Tom and I are going to the country club’s cocktail party! We will be back around midnight sweetie. Y/n said to tell you to come inside, she’s getting worried. You crazy kids have fun!” Your mom called out as Ochako smiled before running inside and up to your room where you waited on your bed, a stuffed monkey in your life. 

“You know what I love about the Indian monkeys? They’re called gibbons. Funny name right?” You asked, looking up at Ochako as she nodded. She could see the mascara streaks running down your face, and she hated herself for causing that. “See, they’re cool though. Because, even if one of the monkeys makes a mistake like getting lost or eating too much of the food, they’re with their partners for life because they trust each other.” Ochako smiled sadly, understanding what you were saying. 

“When I went to India, I saw how they wouldn’t let you get close to their partners because they were protective, but if their partners walked up to you, they would allow that. It’s because they trust each other with their lives.” You got off your bed, setting the stuffed toy behind you as you walked towards your girlfriend. 

“I need to be able to trust you Uraraka. When- I mean... if we get married, all of this is going to be yours. There’s no need to steal it, you’re welcome to anything. Shoes, you bet. Want to use my perfume, go ahead. Wear my clothes, eat my food, live in my house. It’s all yours because I trust you. Right now, I need you in my life. I need to be able to trust you.” Ochako buried her face into your chest. 

“I’m so sorry Baby! It was the worst decision I could ever make! I got desperate and I did the worst thing imaginable! I’m so sorry!” She cried as you pulled her away. “In other news, both your parents are on my dad’s insurance and are going to start receiving medication right away. Don’t worry, my mom said they won’t have to pay a thing. 

She also said they can stay in our lake house if they want, it’s only a half hour away from UA.” In an instant, Uraraka started balling, pulling you into a tight hug. “Oh my god. Oh my god.” She freaked out, holding you as tight as she could. “I owe you so much! Let me do something for you! Anything!” She begged, desperate to do something nice for you like you had done for her.

“Get on the bed Baby.”

I felt extra gay while writing this but that’s not a bad thing sooooo. Honestly I’ve never found Ochaco cute until now so dangggg, thx bby. I always love your requests they make me so happy when I get one @drbumpkin

[tfw-no-tennis]

mtmte liveblog issue 15

death awaits!

oh god the cover. I aint ready 

the cover of overlords open mouth w/rodimus floating inside or w/e,,,,the overlord mouth fixation continues i see

and of COURSE its by nick roche. of course

oh god the tension and dread in the first page, as we get overlords sinister promise to murder everyone, starting with rewind, and then seeing chromedome rush over to open the door, and knowing that 30 minutes have passed already...

that full page spread of everyone vs overlord is amazing

also I always thought that ambulon was trying to kick overlord but now that I look closer he’s actually jumping away from overlord, having just crashed one of those hover...thingys....into him...which is honestly cool as hell. also I'm never over the fact that ambulon kinda looks like he’s smiling here, just having a grand ole time as overlord tries his best to murder everyone

and chromedome just seeing this and saying ‘rewind?’ is fucking killing me thanks

PIPES NO DONT DO THIS. YOURE JUST RUBBING SALT IN THE WOUND. PLEASE don't talk about how much fun you're having on your wacky space adventure oh god, that’s just asking to be murdered,

GOD AND THERE HE GOES, DRIVING TO HIS DOOM. PIPES NO

AUGHHHHHHHHHH AND THERES OVERLORD WITH HIS GIANT FOOT. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

PIIIIIPES ;_; 

his messed up goodbye thoughts are brutal...plus the final shot of him laying all busted up....god :( 

that guy seriously had some awful luck this trip. rip lil guy

BUT he sounded the alarm!!! so good for him!! that's a pretty amazing final act right there

oh my god I forgot abt this scene where rewind is like ‘so brainstorm why is my husband saying your name in his sleep :))))’ and brainstorm is like ‘haha idk its certainly not because we’re working on a secret project together, so jot that down!’ lmao brainstorm....

also dw rewind brainstorm is not fucking ur husband, just look at his evidentially extensive collection of perceptor-style microscopes...my man is microscopesexual 

I forgot abt the metabomb omfg

‘some of my favorite words are monosyllabic’ rodimus ily, himbo of my heart,

fort max :( rung :( 

oughhghghg I forgot abt the scene of tailgate making cyclonus a new horn ;_; and then cyclonus materializes menacingly bc tg dared to volunteer their room for movie night hvbfshdjkfbaskj cyclonus anti-social icon

AUGHHHH GOD THE PANEL OF RATCHET TALKING ON THE COMMS AND OVERLORD IS JUST, RIGHT BEHIND HIM, WITH HIS BIG STUPID LIPS, OH MY GOD

what the fuck, is drift a flying car??? hello??? what the hell????

seriously he’s got like, rockets and shit, what the fuck

anyways, the entire exchange b/w ratchet and drift here kills me, for multiple reasons.... ‘my faith and my sword’ lmao love it. and then ratchet refusing to leave drift and calling him his friend ;_; aughhh

rodimus w/the squad like ‘lets go gays!!!’ 

also I guess cosmos WAS on the lost light lol, totally didn't remember that, I'm guessing he left at some point to go be in the other series lmao 

I'm sorry but ‘amazing. you speak entirely in name’ is so fucking funny, but also like stfu overlord you're not allowed to be funny

MAGNUSSSSSSSS

now I'm confusing myself lmao, rodimus DID know abt overlord, didn't he??? wasn't that the whole thing???? I don't remember if he was involved w/the whole mnemosurgery plan but he at least knew that overlord was there...but we haven't been told that in-story yet so now I'm questioning that lmao

oh god I forgot that overlord almost kills magnus, jeeeeesus. good thing he’s a russian nesting doll otherwise he probably would've died fr 

also damn that's gotta be scary for everyone else, bc magnus is The Big Guy, and a renown fighter...plus drift got all fucked up...yall are in for a bad time 

tailgate gettin his panic on I see

swerve w/the meta narration lmao 

cyclonus ily sm.......

rodimus charging at overlord....ohhh my boy not your best idea

cd and rewind both saying ‘I thought you were dead!’ HHHHHHHH I'm destroyed fuck it all

rodimus (inadvertently) saving the day by saying ‘til all are one’...iconic!!

FORT MAX IS HEREEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

drift just casually chillin w/no legs

chromedome going into extreme detail about all the mnemosurgery he’s been doing on overlord for WEEKS while rewind is Right There....my dude.

this issue has a LOT of completely white backgrounds but I cant even rlly blame milne bc this seems like more drawing work than usual

oh god cd don't say ‘we’ll finish this conversation later’ at a time like this, that’s never a good idea,

rewind no don't do it :( :( :( 

that panel of cd’s arm getting cut off...AUGHHH

GODDDDDDD IM FUCKING CRYING. AUGHHHHHHHHHHH I.....

so incredibly fucked that cd does what’s best for rewind by blowing the pod up....hhhhh god 

and then that last panel of cd laying on the ground....fucking destroy me!!!!!!!!

also I love that at the beginning of the issue we see whirl with the missile launcher thing, and that’s what cd uses at the end here....good bookends. jro is really great about putting stuff in the story that just seems like innocuous filler/fun character building but turns out to ALSO be plot relevant later

HOLY SHIT I forgot about the cast page with the big red X’s thru the dead people’s profiles....jesus christ 

AUGH this issue was a rollercoaster, phew...and the emotionally devastating conclusion to this arc is still yet to come! 

I will say that it’s super interesting looking back on this, in the sense that rewind & chromedome are introduced as the first ever gay tf couple, and a few issues after we get told this explicitly, rewind is killed. this doesn't really end up being an issue representation-wise bc literally everyone is gay and there are a bunch of other significant gay characters/relationships later on, AND rewind comes back later 

but still! it’s interesting to think about how, at the time this came out, the phrase/concept ‘bury your gays’ wasn't really something that was talked about a lot (or like, it was, but not as often as nowadays, and not really under the term ‘bury your gays’ iirc), but at the time of publication this would have fallen under that trope (though rewind coming back later negates it imo). I think it would've been tough for this story to come out nowadays due to the backlash that would've occurred from rewind’s initial death (it also makes me wonder if there was any backlash when this DID come out) 

to be clear, this isn't a writing criticism - in fact, the reason this is able to work at all is because of the crazy amount of representation mtmte has. it’s like, youre able to kill off gay characters without it being ‘bury your gays’ if literally all your characters are gay by default, and there are a bunch of significant gay relationships happening - technically speaking, any death in mtmte is bury your gays lmao 

this is a completely disjointed rant but my point is like, if this issue came out in 2020 people would probably be pretty put off by rewind dying (understandably), but in the context of the series as a whole I don't consider this to be bad writing/bad representation/bury your gays 

and like, WERE people really mad about this in 2013? I am curious now, bc I would definitely feel kinda betrayed if I didn't know all the stuff that happens later 

but its pretty nice, because now I'm free to enjoy the writing and be emotionally devastated by rewinds death in a normal way, and not a ‘I'm angry at the writers for killing off one of the only gay characters’ kinda way

anyways I'm tired as hell so I'm going to bed, ill continue the emotional devastation later, phew

[linerwriter]

Taps

Phew, it’s been what, two months since I posted a fic? Uh, yeah, sorry, lots of stuff come up that I won’t get into, but I’m back and nearly made myself cry with this. It was partly inspired by @jinmukangwrites for their most recent fic, Graceful (thanks for making me cry jin), but the plots have nothing to do with each other. 

Originally, this started from the idea of ‘what if Wild had been dying ever since he got out of the shrine and the only thing keeping him alive was the Champion’s gifts, but they were also running out of power, so he eventually died’ but it had to be changed because I didn’t know if fallen soldiers also had Taps played at their funeral if they died of natural causes. I may still do the original one, though. At some point.

Anyway, please enjoy! I can’t promise I’ll be back to posting stuff like I used to, but I’ll try to be more active about it!

The last couple lines are lyrics to the tune Taps by Daniel Butterfield.

Twilight didn’t know how he had let it happen. He always expected one of them to die, but never like this, and never him. He was supposed to be the big brother, the pack leader, and he failed.

He could remember the words exactly, they were such a slap to the face. 

“Dying? What do you mean he’s dying?” Wind asked the princess in a panic. She had a bittersweet smile on her face gazing down at her friend, the one she trusted her life with.

“He is dying and has been since that beam was fired.” She stated matter of factly, brushing the knight’s bangs from his sweaty forehead. Twilight wasn’t sure how he felt about her touching his cub.

“So you knew and never thought to tell us?” Warriors growled with a look of malice etched onto his face. Twilight was surprised he could even feel the same amount of hatred in his heart.

“Yes, we did.”

Twilight sighed. It was time to get ready.

On went the stuffy suit, a darker variation of the royal guard uniform with a woven pattern signifying his status faintly seen on his breast. He didn’t have many clothes for this occasion- as a matter of fact, none of them did- but due to their status as heroes, the princess decided it was best for them to wear the ensemble. 

“And on comes the special hat,” Twilight said gruffly, ignoring the empty feeling in his chest. It wouldn’t do for him to start crying now.

“We typically wear the beret when we need to look nice, but since we’re laying an old friend down to rest, we wear this instead.” The old man turned around slowly and took the dusty cap out of the garment bag. “Ah, if only he was around to see this.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Twilight saw Time frown. “What do you mean by that, sir?”

The man chuckled heartily, “I was an old friend of that hero back before the Calamity hit. We used to joke that he’d have to wear the cap at my funeral because he was such a damn perfectionist. Now look where we are.”

Twilight glanced at the sun outside the window. It was nearly time to go.

He took slow steps down the stairs, gently touching his gloved hands to the wooden railing. If he looked close enough, he would see the faint etchings into the wood from the many times they had chased each other up and down these steps. 

Further down into the house he went until he came upon the dining room. A startling memory rose from the deepest parts of his mind, of a time when his cub was okay and safe. 

“Hey, Twilight?”

“Yes, cub?”

“What do you think will happen when I die?”

Twilight looked over to the younger man, a faint frown hidden behind his lips. “Why do you ask that?”

A shrug. “Curiosity. Forget it, pass me the salt, please?”

A swift shake of his head and an about-face later, he came upon the front door and opened it to the fresh outdoors. He took a deep breath in, smelling all of the different, subtle scents in the air, and stepped outside for the first time in quite a while.

“Legend, please come out.” His friend pleaded.

Silence, until, “No.”

The man gave a frustrated sigh, “If you don’t come out, you won’t get dinner!”

“I don’t want dinner!”

“Then what do you want?”

“I want her!”

All at once, the man’s ruffled expression softened into one of concern and understanding. Twilight watched him get up and leave the fire, not coming out until the next morning.

The procession was small. Friends and family only, with friends being minimal and family being massive. No matter whom he interacted with, the fallen soldier was loved by many.

Time came up beside the young wolf, “Have any words to say?”

Twilight shook his head, “None that I would want said outloud.”

Time nodded and the two lapsed into silence. A quick glance from Time later and Twilight sighed, “What?”

“How are you holding up?”

“I’m doing fine, Time, it’s been a couple weeks already.”

“So? Time is irrelevant in regards to the heart.”

Twilight shot a flat stare to the older man, “I’m fine, grandpa, now give me a break and go back to where you’re actually needed.” He nudged his chin in Sky’s direction, who had buried his face in Hyrule’s chest.

Time shot him a warning look, “Fine. If you’re really alright, I’ll go. But if you need me, I’m always welcome.”

“Just go already!”

“Just go already!” Twilight heard the shorter man scream. “We can’t fight them off all at once!”

“But what about you?”

“I’ll be fine, just go!”

He wasn’t fine.

There wasn’t a dry tear in the house by the time they got to the designated spot outside the shrine. It was a quick trip from Hateno to the plateau, even with the number of people and the special cargo.

Twilight wasn’t sure what time it was at that point. It could’ve been midnight for all he cared. That numb feeling in his chest wouldn’t go away no matter what he did, so he had been stuck in a blind haze since he heard the news. He wished it would disappear soon.

“I can’t speak for everyone when I say this,” the princess’s shaky voice startled Twilight out of his thoughts, “but I think, as the person who knew him the most, I can say that he would’ve wanted us all to be here.”

The Gerudo chief nodded her head in agreement, her closed eyes blocking her from the world. “He was stubborn until the very end.”

“Twilight, wait!” Twilight turned around quickly at the sound of his cub’s voice. “I-I’m sorry about what I said!”

“Oh, are you, now?” Twilight snapped. His cub slowed to a stop, looking hurt, but hurridly shook it away, a determined look entering his eyes.

“I know I don’t always seem to care about myself, but I am aware about how you guys feel. I-it doesn’t always come off that way, but I have been trying to take better care of myself. So don’t feel like I don’t, alright?”

Twilight sighed, his anger already fading away. “I know, cub. I know.”

He wished they had more time to talk about it.

He sees them lowering it into the ground. It has to go closer to the side of the mountain or else it would be a shallow grave.

He’s been trying so hard to keep it together. So, so hard. That numbness in his chest is finally going away, but it instead turns into a soul-wrenching wail for something he can’t get back anymore.

Flashes go through his mind of his cub’s long, blonde hair, flailing in the wind. Of his bright blues when they had a successful hunt. Of his heaving chest after having gone through a nightmare. Of the first time his cub smiled and it wasn’t a grin.

And as that lilting melody travels through the hair, calling all of the fallen to rest, Twilight finally allows himself to cry.

Days is gone, Gone the sun,

From the lake, From the hill,

From the sky.

All is well, Safely rest,

God is nigh.

[toxicsquad]

There is no better way to get to know someone than through a good question tag. In this case we have decided to make an Indie game dev question tag with the responses of our four developers. We hope that it will reveal many unknowns, but if you are left with any questions, do not hesitate to use our ask.

What part of game development are you responsible for?

Athe: I write and write, I melt in my seat, I correct, I cry and then I program. It’s an endless cycle. Occasionally I laugh like crazy while I eat Pringles.

Sam: I draw and color without leaving the lines (almost always) the sprites, the illustrations and the ravings that usually occur to us past 3 in the morning.

Illy: English translations.

Sher: I draw BGs

What tools do you use (hardware / software)?

Athe: Recently my desktop PC has passed away, so I’ve had to rescue my old PC from the garage. I also have a laptop that saves my life more times than I would like to admit. As for the software, I need, above all, drive documents, video editing programs, image etc (I have an Adobe package) and of course Renpy and Atom.

Sam: My main friend and companion is my tablet, a wacom intuos S (pistachio color, so cute). As programs I mainly use the Paint Tool Sai, because there is nothing in this life like its stabilizer. And less frequently than I would like (for details, texture brushes, effects ...) I also use Clip Studio Paint, which I only know how to use at about 2% of its capacity ... If someday I have time I would love to stop and learn seriously what can be done with it.

Illy: During the school year I live in a residence, so I use an old laptop, and when I return home I use a desktop computer that never has memory space. I translate the chapters in the same Atom where the complete script is and I keep them in google drive files where I share them with our beta reader. I also use editing programs like photoshop when I have to translate comics or procreate for when my artistic skills are required.

Sher: ipad+procreate+some final tweak in photoshop, I don't need much more

What is your favorite part of the job?

Athe: Would it be wrong if I say that is when we released the episode? During the whole production time everything is very stressful, there are times when it’s really uphill, but when we release a new chapter it feels soooo good. It's like saying to yourself, yeah, dammit, I can do it. Look at everything you've climbed by yourself. You're doing it right.

Sam: In general, my favorite parts are when the first scenes start to be programmed, and I can see the sprites with the backgrounds, the texts, and how the illustrations look. Everything always looks so much better when viewed in-game… I also really like being able to check out the script as it is written. And from the artistic part that concerns me, when I see that my hands capture the idea that I had in my head ... Especially in character designs.

Illy: Having to find a way to translate very spanish expressions into English, research vocabulary that I have never had to use and commenting on some translations with our beta reader (which we adore) to make it understandable without losing the original meaning.

Sher: I like to do the lineart when the sketch is complete, if I no longer have to think about anything else and it's just going through it, I find it very fun and relaxing

What is the most difficult part for you?

Athe: Offf, yes, I admit it, sometimes writing is the WORST. Other times I love it, especially when I can expand on the descriptions or stop at a part that is intimate or that I find interesting (for example, Hasiel's conversation from 6.3, small spoiler: P). But, I HATE having to paste scenes, often the protagonist moves between scenes and you always have to add lines to those transitions that really do not interest anyone, but that otherwise the text would be confusing. Anyway... It is a very wide world, with a lot of history, I have to deal with what I need readers to know to understand the facts, although sometimes it gets a bit boring.

Sam: What part does not... Rather who e.e Zihel and Ariel are a thorn in my side. Especially Zihel. I know it has to do with the fact that it has never been my strength to draw boys, and much less if they are more masculine in appearance... That's why I also suffer a lot from drawing muscles. Another thing that brings me a headache is the perspective of the illustrations. Every time I try to get out of the typical shot or poses a little... It doesn't work out.

Illy: Doughy’s  stuttering ¬.¬

Sher: chairs, sofas, tables... anything with four legs is my enemy

Anything to help or encourage you while you are working?

Athe: I need music, no, seriously, I NEED IT. I’m unable to focus without it. If, on top of that, I can get what I hear to act as a sounding board for what I write, the text is a thousand times better... But the muse is a pretty bad person.

Sam: Having a show/movie in the background that entertains me. The longer the better, so I don't have to stop to think what I want to put on next.

Illy: Eating sunflower seeds to trick my brain and not be tempted to do something else that distracts me.

Sher: I try to see other artists to motivate and inspire me before I start drawing, what I find most difficult is that initial push and that is where I need the motivation, then I usually have something in the background but it is not necessary

Something that’s a pet peeve or discouraging?

Athe: Some narrative climax moments. Generally, they are not important plot moments (that is almost entirely decided), they are often small decisions to go from scene A to scene B, but I can spend a LOT of time deciding which is the fastest and best way to tie those two ends. I'm the worst.

Sam: Many times when starting, I can't get the poses to fit the way I want, for example.

Illy: Finding many parts in a row that I find especially difficult to solve and that make me believe that I have forgotten how to English properly. And looking at how many lines I still have left.

Sher: When I don't know how to fill in some area, if I see something very empty but I don't know how to solve it, I can spend days looking at the screen without being able to advance, even if I have other areas that I could do in the meantime

What is required on your table or work surface?

Athe: Notebooks, sticky notes, pens… I’m a person who writes everything down, especially the tasks, but I also order the story by color schemes. The stack of sticky notes have 9 different colors, each one represents a character and I play a lot with them for a lot of nonsense. Besides, even though I have been writing on the computer for many more years than I wrote by hand, I still have a preference for the analogical.

Sam: Coffee, sweets, chocolate, cereals... And cats.

Illy: My phone, the sunflower seeds, a Capital America: Civil War 1L water cup, sticky notes that remind me of tasks.

Sher: I have nothing really lol all my things are for decoration

Your most productive hours?

Athe: Owl. Totally nocturnal. Although I have several crises a month to force myself to work at other times that always end... Wrong.

Sam: Also at night for the most part, although I can no longer stay awake as long as I endured before having a job (the good old days...) However, in the middle of the afternoon, when the zoo that I have at home is still taking a nap, I also manage to go a long way.

Illy: From when I finish eating until 7 or 8 in the afternoon, when I don't have to cook, clean, run errands...

Sher: I take over for Illy apparently, from 7 or 8 is when I start to get into the mood until bedtime

Do working hours make you forget to eat or make you eat twice as much?

Athe: It depends, in the past I ate a lot, now if I have stress I don't eat anything. If I'm in a normal productive phase and I'm not on my nerves, I'm probably eating by inertia.

Sam: They make me eat more, but especially junk food e.e And they make me forget healthy meals, especially dinner at night.

Illy: It depends on my mood, but I usually eat twice as much.

Sher: I'm generally a VERY distracted person so I don't usually get to focus on a task to get to either of those two modes but I guess when I am sooooooo much on the task, I forget. But that happens like a couple of times a year and "forgetting" is "I delay an hour."

What part of your set up would you improve / change (in aesthetics or functionality) if you had no money limit?

Athe: I'm trying to match some of my peripherals with the rest. They are all a damn different color, apparently I'm cursed... Now seriously, I wish I had a better graphic card that would allow me to make video captures, some speakers and a quality printer.

Sam: Actually, I don't think I need anything more complex than what I already have… But if I had to improve something, I'm curious about the most professional tablets, the big ones with the included screen and all that stuff.

Illy: A new laptop that lets me open 4 chrome tabs, Atom and photoshop at the same time without dying.

Sher: A pc screen that will not change the colors I use on the iPad would be nice, really

Which character are you most like? And why?

Athe: Phew I think the easy answer would be to say Akane ... But, Akane is a better person. : P

Sam: This is very difficult... They are all very different, but still I do not think I look much like any of them. If I have to say something, I could identify with Maske's tendency to avoid problems, and his more homey and calm side. And well… Since Akane has been an OC of mine for many years, surely I have something of her too.

Illy: I think I partly have Maske's instinct to stay out of trouble, and on the other hand Joe's shallowness, although tbh I wish I really did look like any of our awesome babies.

Sher: surprised because (unpopular opinion around here) is one of those who I "least care" about really but I would say that Pin because he is a little dumb, happy and probably has a Satanic room and proud of it

Favorite CG/art.

Athe: AT THE MOMENT. Maske chapter 1. It couldn't be more predictable. I know.

Sam: I quite agree with Maske in chapter 1. But I would also put Pin in chapter 5 and Akane in chapter 6.2 on the top.

Illy: Kyeran in Coco's tank ?? Is he even real? Being basic is my brand.

Sher: surprised again and disappointed but I would say that of angel Hasiel because I like pretty dresses, pretty hairs and pretty wings

Favorite BG/scene.

Athe: The Red Light District amazes me. I already liked the life of that place, its history, but the way of expressing it... Uggg Sher took it to another level. The dirt on the street, the night, the constricted buildings...

Sam: I think I’ll say Raziel’s square, I like it a lot from the first day.

Illy: I don't know if I can choose just one T__T but I would say that the Red Light District and Valefar's pub are at the top.

Sher: for not repeating the red light district that I also like very much, I really like the areas of Coco's laboratory, including the “main” area although the perspective is horrible and makes the characters look tiny, but I like how it looks :(

Your favorite chapter to date?

Athe: Ufff... The first and second one I assure you no, hahaha. I will say that the third one, but also for things that are not necessarily from the chapter, but of the production. It was a good moment. I felt that everything was flowing with ease. We all assumed a clear role, they were times that made us feel comfortable and capable of assuming what came next, I think it was a qualitative leap also, both in texts and in art.

Sam: Oh. Well let's see... Chapter 5 is amazing for me, for everything that happens but also because there are many personalized interactions and choices. I can't say I have a definitive favorite, but it could come close… Also from the last ones I really like the 6.2.

Illy: Chapter 5 has so many details, so many things happen, it's hard not to be my favorite. But the last ones with the specific routes are so great that if I stay with the 5 it’s with the  pain of my heart to have to choose one.

Sher: I would say 5 also because in the end when a lot of things happen is when you remember the most

Twitter​ | Instagram​ | Itch

🚧🚧🚧🚧🚧🚧🚧🚧🚧🚧🚧🚧🚧🚧🚧🚧

No hay mejor forma de conocer a alguien que a través de un buen tag de preguntas. En este caso hemos decidido hacer un Indie game dev question tag con las respuestas de las cuatro desarrolladoras. Esperamos que os aclare muchas incógnitas, pero si os quedáis con alguna no dudéis en usar nuestro ask.

¿Qué parte del desarrollo del juego llevas a cabo?

Athe: Escribo, escribo, me derrito sobre mi asiento, corrijo, lloro y después programo. Es un ciclo sin fin. Ocasionalmente me río como una demente mientras como Pringles.

Sam: Dibujo y coloreo sin salirme de las líneas (casi siempre) los sprites, las ilustraciones y los desvaríos que suelen surgir a partir de las 3 de la mañana. 

Illy: Las traducciones a inglés.

Sher: Hago fonditos

¿Qué herramientas utilizas (hardware/software)?

Athe: Recientemente mi PC de sobremesa ha fallecido, así que he tenido que rescatar mi viejo PC del trastero, también tengo un portatil que me salva la vida más veces de las que me gustaría admitir. En cuanto al software, necesito, sobre todo, documentos de drive, programas de edición de video, imagen etc (tengo un paquete de Adobe) y por supuesto Renpy y Atom.

Sam: Mi principal amiga y compañera es mi tableta, una wacom intuos S (color pistacho, muy cuqui.) Como programas uso sobretodo el Paint Tool Sai, porque no hay nada en esta vida como su estabilizador. Y con menos frecuencia de lo que querría (para detalles, pinceles de texturas, efectos…) también utilizo el Clip Studio Paint, el cual sólo se usar como a un 2% de su capacidad… Si algún día tengo tiempo me encantaría pararme a aprender seriamente todo lo que se puede hacer con él. 

Illy: Durante el curso vivo en una residencia, así que uso un portatil del año que reinó carolo, y cuando vuelvo a mi casa un ordenador de sobremesa que nunca tiene espacio en la memoria. Los capítulos los traduzco en el mismo Atom en el que está el guión completo y los guardo en drive donde los comparto con nuestra beta reader. También uso programas de edición como photoshop cuando tengo que traducir viñetas o procreate para cuando mis habilidades artísticas son requeridas.

Sher: ipad+procreate+algún retoquito final en photoshop no necesito mucho más

¿Cuál es tu parte de favorita del trabajo?

Athe: ¿Estaría mal si digo que es cuando sacamos el episodio? Durante toda la producción todo es muy estresante, hay veces, que se hace realmente cuesta arriba, pero cuando liberamos un nuevo capítulo sienta taaaan bien. Es como decirte a ti misma, sí, joder, puedo hacerlo. Mira todo lo que has escalado tú solita. Lo estás haciendo bien.

Sam: En general, mis partes favoritas son cuando se empiezan a programar las primeras escenas, y puedo ver los sprites con los fondos, los textos, y cómo se ven las ilustraciones. Todo queda siempre mucho mejor cuando se ve dentro del juego… También me gusta mucho poder cotillear el guión conforme se va escribiendo. Y de la parte artística que me toca, cuando veo que mis manos plasman la idea que tenía en mi cabeza… Sobretodo en diseños de personajes. 

Illy: Tener que buscar la forma de traducir a inglés expresiones muy nuestras, investigar vocabulario que no he tenido que usar jamás y comentar algunas traducciones con nuestra beta reader (a la que adoramos) para conseguir que se entienda sin perder el significado original.

Sher: me gusta hacer el lineart cuando el sketch está completo, si ya no tengo que pensar nada más y es solo ir repasando me parece muy divertido y relajante

¿Cuál es la parte que más te cuesta?

Athe: Ufff, sí, lo admito, escribir a veces es lo PEOR. Otras me encanta, sobre todo, cuando puedo explayarme con las descripciones o detenerme en una parte íntima o que a mí me parece interesante (por ejemplo, la conversación de Hasiel del 6.3, pequeño spoiler :P). Pero, ODIO tener que empastar escenas, a menudo el protagonista se mueve de escenarios y hay que agregar siempre líneas a esas transiciones que realmente no interesan a nadie, pero que de lo contrario el texto quedaría mal montado. En fin… Es un mundo muy amplio, con mucha historia, tengo que lidiar con lo que necesito que los lectores sepan para entender los hechos, aunque a veces se haga un pelín peñazo.

Sam: Qué parte no… Quiénes, más bien e.e Zihel y Ariel son mi espinita. Especialmente Zihel. Sé que tiene que ver con el hecho de que nunca ha sido mi punto fuerte dibujar chicos, y menos si son de aspecto más masculino… Por eso también sufro mucho dibujando músculos. Otra cosa que me trae de cabeza es la perspectiva de las ilustraciones. Cada vez que intento salirme un poco del típico plano o poses… No sale bien. 

Illy: El tartamudeo de Doughy ¬.¬ 

Sher: sillas, sofás, mesas… cualquier cosa con cuatro patas son mis enemigos

¿Algo que te ayude o anime mientras estás trabajando?

Athe: Necesito música, no, en serio, LA NECESITO. Soy incapaz de concentrarme sin ella. Si ya consigo que lo que escucho haga de caja de resonancia de lo que escribo, el texto es mil veces mejor… Pero la musa es bastante mala gente.

Sam: Tener alguna serie/peli de fondo que me entretenga. Cuanto más larga mejor, así no me toca pararme a ver qué es lo que quiero poner después. 

Illy: Comer pipas para engañar a mi cerebro y no tener la tentación de ponerme a hacer otra cosa que me distraiga.

Sher: intento ver otros artistas para motivarme e inspirarme antes de empezar a dibujar, lo que más me cuesta es ese empujón inicial y es donde necesito la motivación, luego ya suelo tener algo de fondo pero no es necesario

¿Algo que te corte el rollo o te desmotive?

Athe: Los nudos narrativos. Generalmente, no son nudos gordos de la trama (eso está decidido casi en su totalidad), a menudo son decisiones pequeñas para pasar de la escena A a la escena B, pero puedo tirarme MUCHO tiempo decidiendo cuál es la forma más rápida y mejor planteada para atar esos dos cabos. Soy lo peor.

Sam: Muchas veces a la hora de empezar, no conseguir encajar las poses como quiero, por ejemplo. 

Illy: Encontrar muchas partes seguidas que me cueste especialmente resolver y que me hacen creer que no tengo ni idea de hablar inglés. Y mirar cuantas líneas me quedan todavía.

Sher: cuando no se como rellenar alguna zona, si veo algo muy vacío pero no se como solucionarlo puedo tirarme días mirando la pantalla sin ser capaz de avanzar, incluso aunque tenga otras zonas que pudiera ir haciendo mientras

¿Qué no puede faltar en tu mesa o superficie de trabajo?

Athe: Libretas, post-its, bolígrafos… Soy una persona que lo anota todo, sobre todo, las tareas, pero también ordeno la historia por esquemas de colores. La pila de post-its tienen 9 colores diferentes, cada uno representa un personaje y juego mucho con ellos para miles de idioteces. A parte, a pesar de que llevo muchos más años escribiendo a ordenador de los que escribí a mano, sigo teniendo querencia a lo físico.

Sam: Café, chucherías, chocolate, cereales… Y gatos. 

Illy: El móvil, las pipas, un vaso de 1L de agua de Capital America: Civil War, post-its que me recuerdan las tareas.

Sher: no tengo nada realmente lol todas mis cosas son de adorno 

¿Tus horas más productivas?

Athe: Búho. Nocturna totalmente. A pesar de que tengo varias crisis al mes para forzarme a trabajar a otras horas que acaban siempre… Mal.

Sam: También por la noche en su mayoría, aunque ya no aguanto trasnochando tanto como antes de trabajar (qué tiempos aquellos…) Aunque a media tarde cuando el zoo que tengo en casa aún está echando la siesta también consigo dar un buen empujón. 

Illy: Desde que acabo de comer hasta las 7 o las 8 de la tarde, cuando no tengo que cocinar, limpiar, hacer recados...

Sher: le tomo el testigo a Illy aparentemente, a partir de las 7 u 8 es cuando empiezo a entrar en el mood hasta que llega la hora de dormir

¿Las horas de trabajo hacen que te olvides de comer o te hacen comer el doble?

Athe: Depende, antes comía mucho, ahora, si tengo estrés no como nada. Si me encuentro en un rango productivo normal y no estoy de los nervios, probablemente, esté comiendo por inercia.

Sam: Me hacen comer más, pero sobretodo porquerías e.e Y hacen que me olvide de las comidas sanas, sobretodo de cenar por la noche. 

Illy: Depende de mi estado de ánimo, pero normalmente comer el doble.

Sher: en general soy una persona MUY distraída así que no suelo conseguir centrarme en una tarea para llegar a ninguno de esos dos modos pero supongo que cuando estoy muuuuuuy dentro de la tarea, me olvido. Pero eso pasa como un par de veces al año y “olvido” es “lo retraso una hora”.

¿Qué parte de tu set up mejorarías/cambiarías (en estética o funcionalidad) si no tuvieses límite de dinero?

Athe: Estoy tratando de que alguno de mis periféricos peguen con el resto. Todos son de un maldito color diferente, al parecer estoy maldita… Ahora en serio, desearía tener una mejor gráfica que me permitiese hacer videocapturas, unos altavoces y una impresora de calidad.

Sam: En realidad, no creo que necesitara nada más complejo de lo que ya tengo… Pero por mejorar, me llaman la atención las tabletas más profesionales, las grandes con la pantalla incluida y eso. 

Illy: Un portátil nuevo que me deje abrir 4 pestañas de chrome, el Atom y photoshop al mismo tiempo sin quedarse tieso.

Sher: Una pantalla de pc que no me cambiara los colores que uso en el ipad seria bonito la verdad 

¿A qué personaje te pareces más? ¿Y por qué?

Athe: Ufff Creo que la respuesta fácil sería decir Akane… Pero, Akane es mejor persona. :P

Sam: Esto es muy complicado… Son todos muy distintos, pero aún así no creo que me parezca mucho a ninguno. Por decir algo, me podría identificar con la tendencia a evitar problemas de Maske, y su lado más casero y tranquilo. Y bueno… Dado que Akane es OC mío de hace muchos años, seguramente tenga algo de ella también. 

Illy: Creo que en parte tengo el instinto de alejarme de las movidas de Maske, y por otro la superficialidad de Joe, aunque tbh ojalá parecerme realmente a nuestros bebés geniales.

Sher: sorprendida porque (unpopular opinión por aquí) es de los que “menos me importan” realmente pero diría que Pin porque es tontito, feliz y probablemente tenga una habitación satánica y orgulloso de ello

Tu CG/arte favorito.

Athe: DE MOMENTO. Maske capítulo 1. No podría ser más predecible. Lo sé.

Sam: Coincido bastante en la de Maske del capítulo 1. Pero también metería en el top la de Pin del capítulo 5 y la de Akane del capítulo 6.2. 

Illy: ¿¿Kyeran en el tanque de Coco?? ¿Es siquiera real? Ser básica es mi marca.

Sher: sorprendida de nuevo y decepcionada pero diría que la de Hasiel de ángel porque me gustan los vestidos bonitos, los pelos bonitos y las alas bonitas

Tu BG/escenario favorito.

Athe: Me flipa el Barrio Rojo. Me gusta la vida de ese sitio, su historia, pero la forma de plasmarlo… Uggg Sher lo llevó a otro nivel. La suciedad de la calle, la nocturnidad, los edificios constreñidos...

Sam: Creo que me quedo con el de la plaza de Raziel, me gusta mucho desde el primer día. 

Illy: No sé si puedo elegir solo uno T__T pero diría que el Barrio Rojo y el bar de Valefar están en el top.

Sher: por no repetir el barrio rojo que también me gusta mucho, me gustan mucho las zonas del laboratorio de Coco, incluida la zona “principal” aunque la perspectiva sea horrible y haga a los pj parecer diminutos, pero me gusto como quedo :( 

¿Tu capítulo favorito hasta las fecha?

Athe: Ufff… El uno y el dos os aseguro que no, jajaja. Diré que el tres, pero también por cosas que no son necesariamente del capítulo, sino de la producción. Fue un buen momento. Sentí que todo estaba fluyendo con facilidad. Todas asumimos un rol claro, unos tiempos que nos hacían sentir cómodas y capaces de asumir lo que venía después, creo que fue un salto cualitativo también, tanto en los textos, como en el arte.

Sam: Ay. Pues a ver… El capítulo 5 es una pasada para mi, por todo lo que pasa pero también porque hay muchas interacciones personalizadas y elecciones. No puedo decir que tenga un favorito definitivo, pero podría acercarse… También me gusta mucho de los últimos el 6.2. 

Illy: El capítulo 5 tiene tantos detalles, pasan tantas cosas, que es difícil que no sea mi favorito, pero los ultimos de rutas específicas son tan geniales que si me quedo con el 5 es con un poco de dolor de tener que elegir uno.

Sher: Diría el 5 también porque al final cuando pasan muchas cosas es cuando mas se te queda grabado

Twitter​ | Instagram​ | Itch

[thewebcomicsreview]

Homestuck 2 Liveblog, Part 3 

(See older parts here or on Tumblr here)

Chapter 3: How Are your feelings

We’ve got a new ship, which appears to have sails for some reason, and it’s either rocketing forward with determination, or crashing. Presumably, this is the ship containing the Meatworld Crew, who set out to rescue Rose from Dirk’s mind control. God, this plot is so complicated.

In anyone else’s hands, this is just a microphone. In my hands it’s a pipe boat. 

The one spoiler I had for this chapter was that the ship design was stupid, and...yes. That says “Grandpa Harley” a lot more than the Theseus did, though I don’t think Canon Jake ever smoked.

Oh boy, the narration text is in the first person. It’s also lowercase, so one presumes this is Calliope, in Jade’s body? I thought Calliope was trying to maintain the role of invisible narrator, though, and she’s calling attention to herself more obviously than any of the other narrators.

Me on my way to steal your girl by possessing her and floating around all creepy for three years

JADE: the prince’s power grows.

KARKAT: JESUS CHRIST!

Heh. This art is really nice. Jade’s speaking in Calliope’s red text, so she is indeed possessed by Calliope. Poor Jade. Homestuck proper is 8,192 pages. The epilogue is 100,000 words, and we’re 100 pages into Homestuck 2. Jade has been stuck on a boat, possessed, unconscious, dead,possessed again, or otherwise out of the story since Cascade, all the way back on page 4,109. No wonder she became a hedonist. Of course, who’s fault is it that Jade missed the final battle.

(From Homestuck 1). 

I always read this as foreshadowing that Jade would get a big moment, and it never happened. Hopefully someone on the writing team remembers that Jade is supposed to roar to life and show everyone who’s the real master. But for now, alas, the real master is Calliope, hypocritically fighting for the free will of all by taking Jade out of the story again. Anyway, that was a long tangent and a lot of search (give me back the .txt file of the whole comic, Viz!) back to Homestuck 2.

Oh hey, DaveKat is canon now, I forgot. It’s mildly annoying that Dave and Calliope are in the same scene with the same text color, but whatev.

Aww, Karkat’s wearing Dave’s shirt. How cute. Less cute: Calliope’s added her red to Jade’s outfit, including her logo. She’s really just as evil as Dirk, isn’t she?

Also, I don’t know if this sprite style quite works for a “leaning up in bed pose”

This just looks odd. Probably doesn’t help that we’re see Dave without shades for I believe the first time ever.

KARKAT: OH, PARDON THE FUCK OUT OF ME FOR OVERREACTING A LITTLE WHEN MY GOOD FRIEND "POSSESSED JADE" BUSTS INTO MY RESPITEBLOCK AT 5 AM!

Aw, I missed this, a Karkat tantrum.

I like this dynamic. But if they’ve been on this boat as long as Dirk has been on his, Jade’s been possessed for three years.

Why are Dirk and Calliope’s powers growing, though? Especially Calliope, shouldn’t she be maxed out by now? She literally ate Lord Engl-

....

Oh

Calliope is powerful enough to escape Candyland because she ate Lord English, and Lord English is partially comprised of Dirk, so there’s quite literally a little bit of Dirk inside Calliope right now. That’s maybe something to keep in the back of our minds, but now I’m theorycrafting. 

The only way twenty-somethings can afford an apartment this night is if they live somewhere with a killer commute, which is why it takes three years to get anywhere

Okay, phew. So this Roxy is trans, but the Roxy on Candyland isn’t. That’s something I’m going to have to be careful to remember lest I use the wrong pronoun for the wrong one and everyone gets mad at me.

Dirk, like the coffee, getting roasted here

So, has this crew not been chasing Dirk for three years, or has Dave just been all “I sure am comfortable with you being trans now” incessantly from age 23 to age 26? I guess that’s pretty in-character for him. Everyone seems to not be used to a situation they should be used to be now so far, but maybe that’s just for our benefit as readers who can’t remember all this nonsense? 

I love how Kanaya the Fashion Troll is basically the only character in the entire franchise to go “Fuck I haven’t been onscreen in over ten years I should change my look”. The big bow is Rose’s from way back when her and Kanaya first met, which is a cute nod. 

Okay I get that they want to remind these things to the reader, but Dave. Dude. She’s your sister-in-law. She’s been your sister-in-law for 7 to 10 years depending on how long you’ve been on that boat and she’s been a vampire that whole time. Someone give this boy a set of flash cards, Jesus Christ! 

OBVIOUS FORESHADOWING ALERT: This story is about a “young prince”, and this is going to be a metaphor. The young prince is Dirk, the Prince of Time, and the Rose is....Rose. 

Aww, this is cute. I should have put on Kanaya’s Theme while reading this, it fits the mood of the scene really well.

Oh man, none of these people know John’s dead

fffffffffffffffff

Okay, so that’s 7 years between the end of Homestuck 1 and the Homestuck Epilogues. Dirk’s been on his boat for three years, but we’re with the Meat Crew at the start of their journey, (which means Roxy only recently came out as trans, which I guess makes it less weird that Dave is still processing it).

But god, this is a lot of timelines to keep track of. I guess it’s fun in a way, being intensely convoluted was part of the fun of trying to piece together Homestuck 1′s plot, but I think I’m this close to busting out a white board where and how old everyone is actually fuck it

God as my witness, I will one day have a vague understanding of what the fuck is going on in Homestuck and I will die trying! 

This seems metatextual, in that the characters are more complete when they have like a goal and stuff. Or it might be the Homestuck 2 writers taking a subtle jab at the Epilogue writers, that everyone’s better off having left the epilogues behind and moving on to Homestuck 2. That might be reading too much into it. 

Of course, as soon as I say that we cut from Dave talking about how everything’s better to Karkat talking about how everything’s worse.

Wait, non-god Calliope is on the ship? UGH, the whiteboard already needs to be updated! The epilogues implied she was too scared of god-Calliope to leave her room, so I’d assumed she’d stayed behind. Damn it.

Heh. Also: Huh? Karkat is making a lot of assumptions here, given that Terezi, Sollux, and Aradia are all alive, he never saw Gamzee die, and Vriska dying just made her more powerful.

And that’s the update! I like these character interactions, even though they’re mostly just sitting around and naval-gazing like in Act 6 and the epilogues, because at least it’s got some jokes it feels like it’s all going somewhere. And starting next month, it’s going to be going there twice as fast

[hobidreams]

Hi Rain!! So sorry this feedback is kinda late, I just feel I needed to really do October 1865 justice cus it was hands down one of my favorites thus far!!! The whole thing, from beginning to end, was so thoughtfully written. Like when she finally dons the pink hanbok and is inspecting her appearance in the mirror and wishing her mom was there for advice/guidance really hit hard. Like she really is all alone in this great big palace with no family and minimal friends. And I find that I’m always

PLS DON’T APOLOGIZE & TAKE ALL MY LOVE INSTEAD AHHHHH 💖💖

rooting for our dear mc, she feels like an underdog to me. Quiet, demure, poised, low ranking, but incredibly sweet and giving. “So far, you’ve begrudgingly won a few scraps of respect from the male physicians, and it’s a start.” LIKE YES GIRL GET IT. And when Yoongie comes to her door to get her?!? The equivalent of a man getting out of the car and walking to your door to pick you up on your date. LOVED IT. 

WAIT I DIDNT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT LIKE THIS BUT UR RIGHT LMAOOOO

And the description of his appearance was perfectly detailed- I can imagine exactly what he looks like!! Well done. He truly is “unfathomably handsome.” I especially enjoyed the lil tidbit of the two of them looking suitable for each other despite their marked difference in social status and rank. As if, at least for the night, they’ll look like they belong together. It warms my heart. I love that this Yoongi is still lighthearted with the way he jokes with Eunuch Kim. It’s so nice to see him like this, but continues to make me wonder what else happened to him to change him so drastically??? 

*slow, calculating laughter here* heheh i’m glad u enjoyed the clothing bits though! that’s one of my favorite aspects of the history to research :’)

Her excitement to see the Chuseok festivities is so palpable, and when she realizes “oh god, you just made the prince run” I WAS CACKLING HAHAH and the Jinkook appearace!!!!!!!!!! I WAS HOWLING. I love that you kept the basic appearance of the two from the mv. What a creative way to weave them into the story!!! “the bearded one looks about seconds away from giving the other younger man a good smack with the fishing rod leaning on the wall behind him.” HAHAHA SCREEEEEAM their competitiveness and banter is perfectly written!!! “Yah, you can take your beans and shove them right up your nasty sokgot… I’ll take two orders of each. Preferably not ones shoved anywhere.” I’M ACTUALLY DYING. The dialogue here is hilarious!! 

me: sobbing because humor is so hard & you are so kind T_T

And the way Yoongi passes off the treats to mc and Eunuch Kim!! And when they get mistaken as a couple by her mother’s old friend?!? CLASSIC. I’ve found that old ladies literally give no fucks. I had a patient who would thirst over the same co-worker that I did (and yk, fair, cus he looked like an older, taller JK) She was shameless about it and I wanna be her when I get older haha 

FDSLKDAFS MOOD I WOULD TOO HAHAHAA have u SEEEN JUNGKOOK LATELY??? that BUN? THE SHEER SHIRTS? im D E A D. PHEWW. but seriously old ladies never change, no matter the era HAHAH

ok, but one of the best parts is Eunuch Kim losin his cool over Chun-ja. The way he nearly drops his jeon and is soooo flustered has me so heart eyed for him. I’m so happy to finally be meeting this lucky woman who has ensnared our beloved Eunuch Kim’s heart!! And those letters?! Ugh, I am so fond of hand-written letters. They’re so nostalgic and personal and no one seems to do it anymore. 

heh i’m glad u like letters because-- oop i wont say anything more ;)

Don’t think I didn’t notice that Yoongi chose the bracelet she was eyeing. But are we gonna see him give it to her?? Or does he just secretly have it slipped into her room, cus that would be SUCH a yoongi thing to do. My favorite part though, if I HAD TO CHOSE, was probably the ending scene at the pond. I feel like this is the first time they’ve had the chance to have a REAL conversation. And how her theory that some things in the world are out of their control but can change in their favor if they never give up. Seems like it parallels their predicament perfectly. 

you may be the only person who’s picked up on that conversation FDASLJKAS but yes, it truly is ;-; i absolutely adore those quiet moments between the two of them & writing this one was... phew a ride and a half. there’s a lot of subtext there 🤣

But I need to know!!! WHAT DID THEY WISH FOR?! 

iono 🤭 (youll find out later)

Ugh sweet Yoongi is killing me. I love him, but damn knowing what he’ll become in the next few years has me heart broken. As always, well done Rain. What a chapter to come home to after a long weekend of work!! I’m so appreciative of your writing. Your page is always such a safe and comforting space. Your positivity and kindness really reinforce my idea that you’re a wonderful human being. I hate that you had rude ass anons leaving their trash comments in your asks. As King Yoongi would say, “they’re peasants!” fuck the haters, bubs, and keep shining. You’re a fantastic writer, and I hope that you keep writing what inspires you, and deliver it the way you want!! I know I’ve said it before, but I feel I need to say it again, but I LOVE the way you decided to present MLT. I LOVE the drabbles and the timeline. It’s unique and fresh and will always remind me of MLT. ILYSM, Rain!! As always, please accept all my love and adoration!

sighhh you are so so so lovely. thank you for taking all this time out of your busy life to send me this. it just warms my entire heart. please don’t worry abt my anons; they’ve actually been pretty nice!! i havent ever had a mean anon ever in my inbox or anyone purposefully being cruel in my comments so my frustration was more at seeing how my friends are contiuously disrespected for providing their FREE content. AGH. and they get rebuked if they reply with annoyance, which they deserve to do after being pestered over and over again!!! someone said they had 20 asks in their inbox asking for updates and AGGGGHHH !!! that makes me wanna tear those anons a new one. but anyway. it’s wonderful people like you that keep us going & i wish i had a better way of giving you my gratitude because it doesn’t feel like enough. thank you 😭💗 pls take this happy boy and i hope you have the fantastic day you deserve!!!!