#SHAKING HIM LIKE THE GIRL FROM FINDING NEMO

[thesoulbonder]

The Rise & Fall of a Midwest Deadpool

Hey peeps!

So… uh… saw Deadpool… I love this scrimblo of a man so much it’s… a bit of a problem?

No but like this man has altered my brain chemistry it’s not even funny

To illustrate: I stayed up until 5 AM after watching Deadpool & Wolverine in theaters making a 35 Hour long Deadpool playlist and it’s all I’ve been listening to since then, I’ve filled up three separate sketch pages of just Deadpool, two for Wolverine, which is CRAZY RIGHT NOW, and I’ve reblogged literally hundreds of Deadpool related posts onto my reblog account, so much so that I can’t scroll anymore

BUT HOLY SHIT I FEEL GREAT

All this to say - Wade would be the biggest Chappell fan and I won’t even die on this hill. It’s just canon. There is no hill to stand on because he broke the fourth wall and told me personally that he’s a Pink Pony Girl and he dances at the club oh mama aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[munster0us]

There’s a scourge in the guise of sanctity, a perpetrator with a quill

[lesbianfakir]

I love how on Reddit if you try to make a post about Shane it gets slapped with the automod “this is a controversial character, please be civil” and then I come back to tumblr and we the freaks looooooooove shane. 1 million Charlie the chicken doodles be upon ye

[all-purpose-dish-soap]

ok, i know it’s not may any more, but could we please have more mer au. ghost preferably, i just want to shake him around in a bag like that one little girl from finding nemo.

hands you a carnival prize plastic bag with a goldfish-sized mer Ghost inside. feed him twice a day. plastic shipwreck not included. he might look lonely but don't let him convince you to put your fingers in the bowl :)

take the first half of this thing too:

36 / 1k / shark mer Ghost tolerating remora mer reader

...

Ghost doesn’t look back at you as you swim meekly after him. You have to whip your smaller tail twice as fast just to keep up, and you're getting winded already. He makes it look so easy to glide through the water.

"What now?" he mutters.

"Nothing. I didn't say anything."

“You’re thinking it.”

"I was just--" A huge yawn overtakes your reply. You sink in the water for a moment, scrunching your eyes closed, before huffing and darting after him again. "--Just going this way, too."

He knows you've been following behind him since dusk. You should’ve given up some time ago, but you never learn. He slows imperceptibly, just long enough for your catatonic ass to catch up, and then veers to the side so that you--rubbing your eyes with sleep--bump into him. You rest your hand against his tail instinctively and stick to him with the suction pads on your palm.

Satisfied having you in tow, he speeds back up. "You’re not a very good liar, sweetheart."

You mumble under your breath and hand-climb up his back until you're nestled between his shoulder blades instead.

Lazy little thing. Pain in his ass.

Despite grumbling, he does nothing to dislodge you from your spot. You seem to be having a difficult day, and he’s primed to make it worse. You’re the perfect target. When he has the energy--like now, at night--bullying you is his small pleasure of choice.

Then again, he can feel the way you’re pressing up against him, small and clingy and cute as hell. It takes all his willpower not to roll over and stow you against his chest instead.

You remain blissfully unaware of his inner turmoil. You’re more concerned about the emptiness in your stomach.

"You're going hunting, right?" you mumble against his shoulder.

 “Trying to,” he says.

You’ve been tagging along on hunts for days, but you haven’t managed to snag any good scraps in a long while. But maybe tonight, when it’s just you and Ghost. "Mkay."

He keeps waiting for you to get in the way and then pout when he inevitably brushes you off. Instead, you’re silent. It’s bugging him.

Then, scanning the coral, he catches sight of a perfectly tasty-looking snapper. He puts your attitude out of his mind and instead tenses up to begin his hunt. You’re with him, so why worry. Watch and learn.

You peer past his shoulder curiously to see him work. His back muscles tense and shift as his eyes track every one of the fish’s movements. Then he bolts forward faster than the fish can dart away. It whips around in reflexive panic right as he snatches it in one fluid movement.

You watch over his shoulder as he kills it with a practical snap of the spine and begins to disassemble the creature piece by piece, eating the flesh and letting the bones and fins fall to the ocean floor below.

His focus is intense: attention trained on the task, his fingers work as precisely to strip flesh from bone as his jaw works on shredding the pieces of snapper he tears off into his mouth. The muscles in his shoulders ripple beneath your coiled-up body. As always, he moves with efficiency and a certain brutal grace, never wasting a single movement. It's the lethal behavior of a predator, yes, but falling into the repetitive, methodical habit seems to satisfy him.

You unfasten yourself from his back while he's absorbed in his task. The bones and bits of uneaten flesh sinking to seafloor have your interest. You swim after them.

“Don’t go far,” he warns after you. He’s not worried. There’s nowhere you could venture out here that he couldn’t find you within minutes.

You collect the scraps and eat what you can--mostly skin and fins, and they leave you feeling almost as hungry, but you're used to it. Ghost needs the food more than you do, anyway. You glide lazily over the sea floor to comb the sand with your fingers in hopes of finding another snack. Maybe a snail. A crab if you're lucky.

The search leads you to the edge of a long sandbar. It’s about a thousand minnow-lengths at its widest, and there are various shells and bits of debris scattered across the surface. You start to prowl the sandy floor for food, fingers stirring up soft sand into the water.

Ghost’s voice calls out somewhere behind you, but your exhausted brain isn't as reactive as it should be. If you could just find one or two more bites to eat, you think. You tug what looks like a crab carapace out of the sand, but it's just a strawberry-colored plastic bottle. You keep searching. Keep finding nothing of value. You come across a pile of barnacles, shards of coral, small rocks, a stray fishing lure you gnaw on just to be sure...

But no, nothing worth eating.

Your stomach rumbles again. You’re too tired and unfocused. Your movements are slow and clumsy, your senses dulled. You barely hear a sound until a hand comes down on your tail from behind and grabs you.

You jerk and dart away in surprise.

Your movement wrenches a sound from Ghost--a gruff huff of annoyance as he lunges after you. You're fast, but not fast enough. He catches your tail again immediately, dragging you back into his control.

"Idiot," he scolds. "I told you not to go far. If I had been a predator, you'd be dead meat right now."

You relax into his grip instantly. "Oh. Yeah."

He looks at you in that unamused way that says of course I was right. He looks you over with a critical eye. Your eyes are half-open and your muscles are slack. You must be exhausted.

He turns and heads for home with you still in hand. "Right, then."

You see what's happening and wriggle in his grip, hunger gnawing at you again. "Wait, aren't you hunting?"

"No." He's quick and harsh with his response. He doesn't appreciate unnecessary questions. "You're going home. Hunting can wait."

…

[part 1] / part 2

more mer au / more Ghost / masterlist tag

[lvrhughes]

Not If? | A. Xhekaj

pairing: Arber Xhekaj x fem!reader

summary: The team had made bets on when you and Arber would kiss and it was finally the night they ended.

warnings: none? slut shaming barely?

word count: 1k

not my gif!

It was like the minute you met Arber everything clicked. The two of you became inseparable, it was as if the two of you were attached at the hip. 

He was quick to introduce you to the team, warning them even quicker that you were so very off limits. And the team saw that quickly, making a bet (a month after Arber brought you in once) about when the two of you would kiss. 

“So when are we gonna see Squirt again?” Cole played, nudging Arber’s shoulder as he walked past him in the locker room.

“You can’t call her that, you’re barely taller than her.” Arber rolled his eyes, returning to taking his gear off. 

“Okay well, ouch, I am taller than her and I miss seeing your girl.” Cole shrugged, taking his spot in the locker room. 

“She’s not my girl.” Arber mumbled, getting more aggressive with his movements. 

“She basically is, but whatever, bring her out for the team drinks tonight?”

“Fine. Only if she wants.” arber agreed, looking to Cole to ensure he understood. 

Arber was quick leaving, running out to the parking lot with his stuff before everyone else. Quickly headed to your car where you sat waiting for him. 

“Hi Arbs.” You grinned as he got in your car, leaning over the console to touch you, his arms wrapping around you best he could. 

“Hi Squirt.” He grinned. 

“Told you not to call me that!” You giggled, holding his hand as he got situated before leaving the parking lot. 

“Come on, it’s perfect, you're tiny just like that turtle!” He laughed, his body shaking. He loved thinking back to the first time he let you choose a movie to watch, you chose Finding Nemo and declared how adorable you thought the turtles were.

You just shook your head, smiling at the tall defenceman who sat in your passenger seat. The smug smile on his face as you left the parking lot. 

“Oh yeah, it’s team drinks tonight and Cole asked me to invite you. Apparently he misses you.” Arber rolled his eyes while repeating it, making you laugh. 

“I’d love to come.” 

“You came!” Cole was the first to notice you, running around Arber to reach you, wrapping his arms around you. 

“Hi Coley.” You grinned, hugging him back while Arber stood beside, a glare on his face. 

“Give my Squirt back.” Arber grumbled, pushing Cole away from you within a minute. 

“Hey, you can share.” Cole complained, returning to the table while you and Arber followed. 

The team huddled around the table, sat in the corner of the bar. The table was filled with opened drinks, a few phones littered the scene and many, many chairs scattered around the table.

“Arber brought her!” Nick informed his team, meaning a round of cheers while a few others got up to hug you. 

“It’s like you love her more than me.” Arber mocked hurt, his hand on his heart with a mocking expression.

“We do.” Juraj answered, wrapping his arms around you as you laughed.

The fake frown littering his face as you returned to Arber’s arms, his arms immediately wrapping around you again. Keeping your body pressed against his as he sat down beside his team, Juraj on his left and Cole on his right while you sat in his lap. 

“‘M going to get drinks.” You informed him, getting off his lap with a kiss on the cheek, him smiling and nodding. 

You had Arber’s order memorized, walking up to the bartender and repeating both of yours orders. Handing the bartender Arbers card, like he’d always made you, ensuring you could never pay for your own drinks. 

“Hey pretty lady.” A rough voice was heard behind you, pretending to not know he was speaking to you, you faced the bartender still. “Usually when someone speaks to you, you turn.” The man complained, his hand landing on your shoulder to turn your body towards him. 

“Hey-” The man was on the ground holding his nose. 

“Arber!” You gasped, reaching for him as he shook his hand, wiping the blood from the man off. He looked up, walking into your grasp before leading you back to the table. 

“I can’t believe you just did that.” You mumbled, Arber pulling you back into his lap as he sat. 

“He called you a slut I don’t know what else you could’ve thought I’d do.” He shrugged, pressing a kiss to the side of your head as you stared at him. 

“He also called me your girl.” 

“And?Aren’t you?” He looked at you, seeing how you’d react. 

“You never asked.” 

“Okay then I’m asking now, you’ll be my girl?” 

Nodding in reply, leaning to kiss his cheek. He moved, his hand coming up to cup your cheek as he kissed you, encouraging you to run your hands through his hair. 

“You owe me $20, Nick!” Cole’s yell encourages you to break away from Arber, looking at him in confusion. 

“Oh yeah,” Cole started, laughing before continuing. “We all have bets on when you guys are going to kiss.” 

“Not if?” Arber asks, his arms still tightly wrapped around your body. 

“We all knew it was going to happen dude.” 

Arber laughed at the deadpanned look on Cole’s face, Nick coming behind to look at Cole. 

“What are you talking about?” Nick speaks, earning Cole to point at the two of you. 

“They kissed!” He answered, Nick rolling his eyes behind him. 

“Where’s your proof?” 

“You never said there had to be proof!” 

“They’re so stupid.” Arber whispered in your ear, pressing kisses down your neck as you giggled. 

“Look, see he’s kissing her right now.” Cole pointed, trying to get the money from his captain. 

“Fine ugh.” Nick groaned, shoving a 20 dollar bill at Cole, watching a smile grow on the younger boy's face. 

“I won!” He cheered, getting up to collect more money from other teammates. 

You laughed, leaning back into Arber before kissing him once more. Feeling his body relax into the kiss, his hands holding your body against his whiles yours traveled through his hair. 

“I love doing that.” Arber mumbled against your lips, earning a smile as you leaned into him again.

[starswritewhispers]

cozy confessions- nalu

this fic was written for @natsudragneelswh0re for the @allaboutnalu 2024 gift exchange !!

hi hannah!! im your secret santa, omg surprise!!! i tried to follow the fake dating, one bed, and general tooth-rotting sweet fluffinesss prompts (and also found from a mutual friend [shout out lauren] ur general fic tastes) so i hope you love this!! happy holidays, i hope you enjoy your gift aaaaaa

fic below cut

Lucy was really starting to question Natsu’s–and maybe her own– sanity as her eyes trailed over the rustic-styled lodge and the various frat brothers and their dates who were grabbing keys from Loke. She leaned up on her tiptoes, angling her head to shield her lips as she pressed them against the pink-haired man’s ears, voice dripping with syrupy sweetness.

“I’m going to kill you,” she murmured, for what had to be the hundredth time of the night. “This was supposed to be one date.”

“It wasn’t me who forgot that my friends were dating my fake date’s brothers, was it?” Natsu hissed back, faux smile gleaming on his face as his hand easily wrapped around her waist. “Not on me, this time, princess.”

“For once,” she grumbled, settling back down on flat feet to send a quick glower up at her best friend. “I swear–”

“Trouble in paradise?” Loke’s chipper voice cut her off, an all too knowing smirk playing at his lips. “How odd for such a happy couple.”

“We’re fine, mane for brains,” Lucy didn’t even want to begin to try and understand what Natsu meant by that. “Thanks for checkin though.”

“Always a pleasure,” Loke grinned, bright eyes drifting to Lucy. “If you ever wnat to spend time with a real fairytail man, let me know, Luce?”

“I will beat your ass,”

“Oh, I’m sure,”

“Boys, boys,” Lucy cut them off, rolling her eyes as she stepped in-between them. “You’re both pretty, now can we get our room key?” Loke snickered at her words, but easily opened his fist, dropping the key into her waiting palm.

“Sorry, but you two are sharing a queen bed,” Loke began, with a grin that didn’t seem the least bit apologetic. “All the remaining kings were booked so hope you two are cuddly.”

“I’m telling Aries you cried during Finding Nemo,” Lucy threatened, folding her arms over her chest. “And showing her photographic evidence.”

“Girls love a man who is in turn with his emotions,” Loke waved a hand, turning back to his own group. “Have a fun night, you two.”

“I’m seriously going to kill him,” Natsu grumbled, shaking his head. “I’m sorry about that, are ya sure you’re good sharing?”

“Nothing to do about it now,” Lucy mumbled, turning to walk up the stairs. “It’ll be fine, just like freshman year sleepovers.”

“You kicked me onto the floor during those, if I remember right,” Natsu teased, following her. “Usually, quite harshly.”

“Shouldn't have hogged the blankets, then.”

“Hogged?” Natsu placed a hand over his chest and Lucy scoffed, shaking her head. “You wound me with your falsities, woman.”

“Studying Shakespeare in Lit?” Lucy guessed, coming to a stop outside of their room and bending down to slot the key in. “You forgive him yet?”

“No, this shit is ass,” Natsu groaned, a light thud sounding from where he had let his head slam into the wooden door. “I don’t understand half of what he’s saying and Mavis dating my brother can only carry my grade so far.”

“It shouldn’t carry it at all,” she countered, pushing the door open and snickering at Natsu’s startled yelp. “You’re lucky she hasn’t failed you.”

“Shakespeare’s lucky he was born in a time before me or I’d kick his ass,” Lucy didn’t bother to dignity his retort with a response other than a mocking scoff as she walked over to flip the light switch on. “Oh.”

“Fuck me,” Lucy groaned, glancing over the small room. In any other time, she would’ve used the term cozy but when she’d be sharing it with her best friend that she idiotically agreed to fake-date despite being in love with the fool for the past two years claustrophobic would probably be the better choice. “I’m going to give Aries a list of Loke’s roster.”

“Hey!” Natsu protested, ever the loyal frat brother. “She’s different–”

“I know, idiot,” Lucy dragged a hand down her face. “I’m just joking and pissed off.” She turned back to Natsu, blinking at the strange expression that passed over his face. “You good, Natsu?”

“Yeah, of course, it’s just–” he cut himself off with a laugh that sounded almost sheepish, shaking his head. “Nothing.”

“Now I know it’s not nothing,” she walked over to the bed, sitting on the edge to stare up at him. If anything, he grew more nervous, his adam apple bobbing as he swallowed. “Seriously, Natsu, what’s up?”

“Nothing, Luce,” he put his hands up in a mock placating manner. “Just don’t want to know how much shit Loke has planned.” He added, walking over to her to sit beside her.

“He’s really suspicious, huh?” She sighed, folding one ankle over the other. “I guess because we’ve been friends for so long.”

“Shouldn’t that make him less suspicious?” Natsu argued, gaze locked on his hands as he spoke. “I mean, friends fall in love all the time, right?” Lucy tensed, forcing the panging feeling in the chest to subside before she answered. Natsu had never been the best at understanding emotions and he was always far from cruel–he had no way of knowing just how close to the truth he was.

“Yeah, but usually they make a move,” she pointed out, bumping her shoulder against his. “Loke’s probably convinced one of us would’ve said something years ago and that’s why he thinks you’re cheating your way out of the bet–” she shrugged, forcing a smile over her lips. “Which, I mean, you are–”

“Would you?” Natsu cut her off, finally tearing his eyes from where he’d been focused on his hands before. “Tell a friend, I mean.” Another oddly sheepish laugh fell from his lips. “If you loved them.”

Lucy swallowed, ignoring the ache in her heart. “I mean, it depends, I guess?” She fell back onto the bed, letting her head hit the softness of the plush pillow and tried not to wonder if Natsu would still smell of smoke and sandalwood–the way he did during their freshman year sleepovers whenever he’d tangle their legs together in the night before she’d push him out of her bed, before she had realized her feelings and stopped inviting him–or if giving into the cliche was worth it to build a pillow wall.

“On what?” Natsu’s uncharacteristically soft voice was followed by the soft sound of his head hitting the pillow next to her own and she tilted her head, a faint blushing spreading over her cheeks at the near non-existent distance.

“On the friend and our dynamic,” he nodded as she spoke, a pink strand curling over his forehead in an absurdly adorable way. “If I was willing to lose them, if it’d ruin what we have.” If you’d run away screaming, she added, watching the way Natsu’s forehead crinkled in thought.

“Sounds like ya think about it a lot,” Natsu murmured, a soft, nervous, smile playing at his lips. “Anyone in particular?”

“You’re the one asking all the questions,” Lucy reminded him, forcing an easy laugh to tumble from her lips. “Should I be wondering if you’re considering confessing to anyone anytime soon?” She regretted the words the second they left her lips, wished she could reach into the air and gag them back down her throat. She hated herself for uttering them the second a blush as pink as Natsu’s dyed hair spread over his cheeks and a smile so endearing she could feel the yearning in her chest turn to something sharp and green tinged.

“I–” Natsu swallowed, his usual cocky swagger seeming to fail him. “You have to promise not to hate me?”

“Is it someone I don’t like?” Lucy guessed, ignoring the sinking feeling twisting within her gut. “I don’t even think there is a girl I don’t like–is there–or is it like my cousin or–”

“Lucy,” Natsu cut off her rambling, his eyes momentarily dropping her own to glance down at her lips before slowly trailing back up. “If you don’t want this, I really need you to tell me now.”

Lucy could feel the dangerous glimmer of hope grow to a wildfire as she swallowed, forcing the words to slip off her tongue. “Want what?” Again, Natsu’s eyes drifted down to her lips, his tongue darting out to wet his own. “Natsu?” Anything else she considered saying was silenced by the soft feel of Natsu’s lips pressing against her own, and honestly, she didn’t feel like talking much after that, anyway.

Lucy practically melted into the kiss, letting her eyes flutter shut as she tangled her fingers in silky, smoke-scented pink, feeling Natsu’s hand wrap around her waist before tugging her closer, a relieved sigh slipping in the space between them. The books she had always gushed to Levy about were wrong about what kissing someone you love was really like, they were so wrong because it was so much better than anything anyone could put in writing. When they finally broke apart, a slightly dumb-struck, dopey grin was painted over Natsu’s face, one Lucy was sure matched the one on her own.

“If that was just for the bet I’m–” she cut herself off with her own shriek as a pillow slammed into her head. “Natsu–” she squealed, raising her arms up to defend herself from the sudden pillow onslaught.

“Don’t ever insult yourself like that again,” he grumbled, holding himself up by one elbow. “Obviously, I like you, I have for years.” Lucy could feel warmth spread over her cheeks, but she was too distracted by being consumed by the warmth within her to care much about her blush.

“Say that again?”

“For years?” Natsu repeated, his usual shit-eating grin back at home on his face. “Weird request, princess.”

“Not that part.”

“I like you,” he said, a warm smile replacing his grin as he ducked his head down, placing a soft kiss on her cheek. “I like you so much,” her other cheek, “It’s embarrassing,” he added, pressing his lips against her forehead. “Couldn’t even be mad at Loke because I finally had an excuse to try and make a move.”

“You could’ve always made a move, idiot,” Lucy’s words were laced in an almost sickening fondness as she grinned up at him, half-waiting to hear the blaring of her alarm clock. “Clearly, it would’ve worked.”

“Well, I see that now,” Natsu teased, rolling his eyes. “But, like you said,” he shrugged, pulling her even closer. “Didn’t want to risk losing you.”

“You have me,” she muttered, pressing a kiss to his chest before burying her face against it. “As a best friend and–”

“My girlfriend?” Natsu cut her off, excitement working its way into his tone. “Well, both, but–”

“Both, yes,” it was Lucy’s turn to cut him off, a wide grin spreading over her features. “You have me as both.”

“Forever,” Natsu mused into her hair, his smile evident in his tone. A moment of comfortable silence passed before he spoke again, something akin to dread in his voice. “We have Loke to thank for this.”

“He can never know,” Lucy wasn’t sure if she had ever spoken so fast in her life. “We stick with our old story.”

“Agreed.”

Even if they did have Loke’s stupid bet to thank for them finally getting their shit together, Lucy would never be another reason that man’s ego grew faster than the Grinch’s heart.

[cryingpariah]

Jackie: Hi! I’m here to drop off you order of-

Crocodile: *sitting intimidatingly* Do you know why I called you here Miss Living Log Pose?

Jackie: …To drop off your order of Pitch Cigars, South Blue's number one brand of gold leaf cigars?

Crocodile: No.

Jackie: 😗😗 So you didn’t order Pitch Cigars, the South Blue's number one brand of gold leaf cigars?

Crocodile: *confused* What? No that’s not-

Jackie: because it’s fine if you don’t want them anymore! I just need you to fill out this form and circle the reason why you no longer want to the product, in this case it’d be Pitch Cigars the South Blue's number one brand of gold leaf cigars, and-

Crocodile: LITTLE GIRL YES I WANT THE CIGARS BUT I CALLED YOU HERE TO TALK AND WHY DO YOU KEEP SAYING THE FULL NAME OF THE PRODUCT EVERY TIME?!

Jackie: It’s my contractual obligation Sir Crocodile and you wanted to talk you could have just said so Sir, no need to give the run around.

[Crocodile points to the chair opposite to him. Jackie sits. An awkward moment passes and Crocodile recollects himself and Jackie picks at a loose thread.]

Crocodile: *calm again* The boys haven’t appeared in any publications.

Jackie: I mean… yeah? I’m sorry, did you want them to be?

Crocodile: 🙄 Obviously not.

Jackie: *nodding before stopping* ..I have to admit Sir, you’ve lost me.

Crocodile: *rubbing his temple* Is it not your job to go around to find juicy gossip and report back to that bird with your findings? Three rogue Seraphims, one of which still an infant, drop into your lap and I’m to believe you didn’t tell anyone?

Jackie: Yes. Because I didn’t.

Crocodile: Doesn’t seem like you’re a very good employee.

Jackie: On the contrary, Sir Crocodile, I believe it makes me a great one. It is of every journalist belief that everything is a story but it’s my personal belief that some stories are best left private. Not everything is a front page waiting to happen.

Crocodile: *taken aback* …Really?

Jackie: Wholly and truly.

[Crocodile regards Jackie for a bit before running his hand over his face.]

Crocodile: Is this why the boys like you so much?

Jackie: I’ve also been told I’m quite funny

Crocodile: 🤨🤨

Jackie: Okay ow, I’ll try not to take offence to that incredibly offensive look

Crocodile: Here’s what going to happen: you can return to your previous temp position…

Jackie: Aw shucks, a thousand thanks Sir! especially considering I’ve still got to give Gabe and Gryphon those gifts I promised!

Crocodile: BUT I will be there to supervise you, just in case you think about getting a little too comfortable. 👁️👁️

Jackie: I can live with that. Shake on it? *extends hand*

Crocodile: *grumbles but accepts the handshake* Don't make me regret this Jackie.

[Bonus!]

Jackie: *holding Nemo while she reads to him* So the bear goes grrrr and the duck goes quack and the dog goes the marines are here to keep order, not save people!

Crocodile from the other side of the room: *snort*

Crocodile: ..That was a cough not a laugh.

Jackie: 😁😁 Mhm! Whatever you say Sir!

Crocodile: ..I'm deducting 10 cents from your pay.

[the-paris-of-people]

Blue Brownies and Finding Nemo, Part 4: BOTL

Summary:

“So how did you do it then? How did you forgive your mom?”

“I didn’t,” Annabeth shakes her head. “I don’t think I ever will. I just have to hope that I’m better for my future family.” 

Percy cocks his head, his eyes light with wonder. “You think about that stuff?” 

A chapter post-BOTL where Percy and Annabeth finally get to go on that movie date, featuring Rachel Elizabeth Dare angst, complex feelings towards Frederick Chase, fantasies of future Percabeth, and as it turns out, no movie at all?

Tagging: @yojeannie@angelthearsonist@m-cliffords-not-real-wife@that-chick-103@queerynotfound@thefabulousfab-3@montygreen@moonlightredfern @flamingbisexual08

Read on AO3

The person in the mirror at the back of the Delphi Strawberry Service van is a stranger to Annabeth.

Inside, she feels like she’s fought a million battles.  The constant cycle of pouring over Daedulus’ laptop and crying herself to sleep has stretched her thin. Her hair has withered away from the stress of almost losing Percy, then actually losing Luke. The person she sees now looks like the face that launched a thousand ships. Silena had ambushed her outside the Athena cabin, covered the bags under her eyes with a magical shade-match foundation, and woven her hair with golden thread, just like she had it on Circe’s island. 

“Trust me, I’ve seen the way he looks at you.” Silena reassured after charming Annabeth to vent to her about her date with Percy. She tapped her brush against her compact mirror and swirled it across her cheeks as she continued to comfort her, “There’s no need to worry about this Rachel girl.” 

She wasn’t sure about that. She saw the way Percy’s eyes flitted towards Rachel in the Labyrinth, the way they spoke to each other with ease, nothing like the way she and Percy interacted. Yes, she and Percy had gone to the 4th of July fireworks this summer, but she’d also tried to tell him how she felt about him before he left for camp and… nothing. Annabeth had felt so stupid. For reasons including and not about Rachel at all, she was holding onto this movie date like it would be their last.

“Annabeth,” Percy flusters when he sees her hop out of the van on the corner of 72nd street. He’s wearing his nicest green jacket, blushing so red he nearly looks like one of Apollo’s cattles. “You-you look nice,” He finally manages after struggling through his words like he was reading Lord of the Flies in English.

“Thank you,” Annabeth tucks a strand of her braids behind her ear. She notices the shift in Percy’s expression. He knows something is wrong. Normally she would flick a smile his way and tease, but she’s so worn out by the nightmares about Luke and Kronos that she can’t even summon her pride to be vain about her looks. “So, are we going to see this steel man movie or not?”

Percy opens his mouth to correct her, then shakes his head and opens the door for her. 

“Do you want any popcorn or something?” Percy gestures to the snack bar. “Tyson and I used to get a giant tub and share it with my mom. They make it pretty buttery here.”

“No need,” Annabeth smirks and opens the purse Silena gave her. “I have everything we need.”

“I’m confused,” Percy studies the empty lining of Annabeth’s purse. “Is this some kind of Mary Poppins situation?”

“Covered the snacks with the invisibility cap,” Annabeth zips up the bag and slugs it over her shoulder as she heads towards the escalator to the theater. “It’s not just useful for sneaking up on monsters. Plus I snuck some extra M and Ms in the cargo pants pockets.”

“And somehow Mrs. O’Leary didn’t follow you from camp?” Percy asks as they both climb onto the escalator, impressed.

“I fed her some blue gummies before I left.”

“Hellhounds can eat blue gummies? And those giant boar things hate egg salad? Seriously, why doesn’t Chiron just host courses on random picnic foods for monsters before each quest. Then I could get out of archery practice.” 

‘Hey, you’re almost getting better,” Annabeth punches him lightly in the shoulder. “Last time you almost hit the target.” 

“Haha, very funny,” Percy rolls his eyes, even though he knows it’s true. He’s as bad at archery as Annabeth is at gardening with the Demeter cabin. “Now come on. I want to show you something.” 

Electricity sparks through Annabeth’s veins as Percy takes her wrist and leads her down a regal hallway. The hum from her heart is so loud it nearly drowns out her observations as she hurries past the red velvet carpet and black, marble Grecian pillars. She would have to make a note of that later when they were walking back from the theater. With Percy’s fierce urgency, Annabeth expects Percy to be leading towards some kind of secret tomb with rubies and emeralds, but instead, he takes her to a plaque outside the last theatre in the hall. 

“These are what I was telling you about. Each of these theaters is designed after a movie palace from the twenties, a lot of them are still all around New York, decorated in a different architectural style. This one is from-” 

“Art Deco!” Annabeth exclaims gleefully. She marvels at the style of the theater in the photo. “See? You can tell by the horizontal design elements on the marquee and doorways, alluding to Streamline Moderne style.” 

“Horizontal elements? Because being vertical was too old school for the modern style?” 

“Actually, you’re not too far off, Seaweed Brain,” Annabeth rolls her eyes, but a hint of a smile plays at the corner of her lips. “Horizontal lines gave an impression of sleekness and modernity in the 1930s, which I assume is when the original theater was built. See?” Annabeth turns back and skims through the plaque first, absorbing the most important ideas and key words. Then she rereads through it again, more slowly, imagining the construction of the arch and statues… 

“How do you do that?” Percy asks, breaking her concentration for a moment. She quickly refocuses back on the photo of the theater, picking out structural details of the facade that were expanded upon in her reading. 

“Do what?” 

“I can barely spell my own name and you can speed read that entire passage in like, five seconds.” 

“I can barely spell my own name too. I don’t know… being dyslexic, I just got my hands on whatever I could read when I was younger. My dad’s old house had a giant library when I was little, so I tried to read everything in there, and then when I got to camp, I had a lot of free time on my hands in the winter,” Annabeth turns back to Percy, and that’s when she notices how his eyes lay across hers, soft and full of wonder. She remembers how he pulled her in in the Athena cabin, when she had him all to herself at the beginning of the summer, before everything turned sour, how she tasted the sweet, salty taste of his lips even after it had been days since they had entered the Labyrinth. Suddenly, heightened nerves arrest Annabeth. Her heart rate quickens as she speeds through her explanation, doubting Percy notices the uncharacteristic tremble in her voice. “Chiron gave me a book on the Parthenon when I was 9, and then I just couldn’t stop reading, even though it’s still hard for me.” 

“That’s really cool,” Percy’s voice is steeped in awe. It’s the same tone he used when Rachel had gotten them that car in New Mexico, and Annabeth can’t help but to feel proud of herself. “You know, I don’t know if I could ever become good at something that’s that challenging to me.” 

Annabeth frowns. Sometimes Percy was so self-deprecating, it frustrated her. He was totally unaware of his own strengths. “Please, remember when you first started sword-fighting?”   

“Hey, I thought you said I wasn’t bad.” 

“You weren’t,” Annabeth remembers with a glint in her eye. “But you’re even better now.”

“But I didn’t even train that much, I just accidentally kind of… got better as I fought.” 

“Percy,” Annabeth sighs, bowing her head in exasperation. “You’re a talented guy, but you can’t take a compliment to save your life.” 

“Is that supposed to be a compliment? Because I honestly can’t tell.” Percy replies back dryly. 

Annabeth scoffs, but they’ve known each other for so long she and Percy both know it’s free of malice. They both know this is one of the moments in the script they tease each other, but underneath all eye rolls and barbs is a deep understanding and respect of the other. They hold each other’s gaze and both wordlessly break out into smiles, realizing they’ve fallen back into their usual routine after a summer that threw a wrench in everyone’s schedule. Annabeth’s skin buzzes with excitement. She has a glimmer of hope that maybe this is a date, whether Seaweed Brain realized it or not. Yes, this was how they typically interacted, but there was something different in the way they spoke to each other as well, something she saw in Beckendorf and Silena interactions, new sweetness balancing out the usual sour tang.

“You know, it’s a compliment, Seaweed Brain. So just take it and acknowledge you’re a talented guy. Now come on, I want to read the other plaques before the previews start,” She leads the way towards the next plaque even though she’s never been to the theater and has no idea where she’s going, Percy groaning as he trails behind. 

“All the plaques?” Percy questions, his blonde curls rattling as he shakes his head. “I swear, you and Rachel are just like each other. She wanted to read all the plaques when she came here too.”

Annabeth freezes in her tracks like snowboots caught in old snow. She turns to Percy slowly, her face crumpled. 

“You’ve been here with Rachel before?” 

Percy flinches a little at her tone: demanding, hurt, seething with rage. Still, he remains oblivious as he answers her question,

“Yeah, a couple times. She invited me to see a Matrix movie marathon a few weeks ago.”

He came here with Rachel multiple times since he came back from camp. Since he had come back from camp, he’d been hanging out with her, even though he’d asked Annabeth on a date months ago, even though he comforted her and let her hold his hand in the dark and shared his blanket with her as they watched the fireworks. 

“Annabeth?” Percy’s voice is drenched in worry at Annabeth’s non-reaction. “Annabeth? Are you okay?”

“Excuse me,” Annabeth says quietly as she rushes towards the sign for the bathroom. She claims the unisex stall and hunches over the sink. For the first time that day, she finally sees the withered little girl she feels inside. 

The tears come not as an eruption, but as a quiet trickle of disappointment in herself and everything her life had turned out to be. She wanted catharsis and a good cry, and yet, still she’s disappointed herself on that front. 

She had no right to be angry and rude. Rachel was as talented as a child of Athena, as brave as a certain son of Poseidon, and as pretty as a daughter of Aphrodite. She glowed in the darkness of the Labyrinth and even as a statue in the middle of Times Square. She was smart and knowledgeable about art and Annabeth could’ve spoken with her about Jacque-Louis David for hours and hours. She could see why Percy liked her. 

So why did it hurt so much that another person she loved left her for someone else, once again?  

As Annabeth wipes her tears with the pack of tissues she’s stored under her invisibility cap, a sheepish knock taps at the door. 

“Annabeth? Can I come in?” 

“Yeah, that’s fine,” Annabeth calls with a slight bite to her voice. She brushes her tears off her face again, thankful for the magical smudge-free makeup of the Aphrodite cabin, for once. 

The door creaks as an apprehensive Percy walks over and stands next to her over the sink. She averts her eyes down, knowing she’ll start to cry more if she meets his eyes. 

“Hey, I’m sorry. Did I do something wrong?”

The softness of his apology splits Annabeth once again, and she feels guilty all over again for feeling so uncontrollably possessive and jealous over someone who was never hers. 

“No,” She shakes her head, still fixated at the white marble of the sink. “No, you did nothing wrong.” 

“Oh, okay, then uhhhh, do you want to check out the other plaques? I think we still have some time before the previews to read a couple more.” 

“Can we just go to the park?” Annabeth sniffles, finally turning back to Percy. “Riverside?” 

Percy winces as he watches her dab away at the last of her tears. He knows Percy expected her to ask to go to MET or the Morgan Library. She’s never told him, but being by the water is special for her, too. “Yeah, sure, of course.” 

****

The kiss of summer sunshine brightens the scent of the grass so much, it almost smells like Camp Half Blood strawberry fields. The walkway winds around gated playgrounds, filled with children swinging their arms across the monkey bars as their parents lean against each other on a chipped park bench and watch them from afar. The Hudson glitters like the mischievous twinkle in Percy’s eyes, deep blue with flecks of silver and gold, and the thought of it makes her blush, realizing she’s thinking this while she’s standing right next to Percy. She’s thankful all over again for Silena’s makeup, causing her to wonder if she should start wearing blush more around him. 

She and Percy match each other’s long, slow strides, the air between them thick with tension of all the things left unsaid, then thinned out again with the comfort and ease that’s existed between them for years. Annabeth looks back out onto the water and thinks about the stories her dad regaled her with before her stepmother came into the picture. Every so often, he would tell Annabeth how she came to be the most precious gift in his life, how he met the most beautiful, intelligent woman while studying at a magical place called Harvard, how they used to study together at Reading Room on the top floor, with paneled rooftop windows that ushered light that fell onto their faces. They talked in the library for hours, and when they needed a break, walked along Cambridge Harbor with ice cream cones that spilled onto their hands in a sticky mess. Whenever Annabeth was by a body of water, she thought of them happily together all those years ago, then of an alternate reality where they stayed together and the three of them were walking together, too. 

If you loved each other so much, why isn’t she here with us? Annabeth had asked once, and her father’s face crumbled like a wrecking ball taken to a safehouse. Even though she grew older, and logically, she knew her mother couldn’t be with them, she couldn’t help but feel angry and sad that she never tried. Even though Annabeth and her step-family got along now, she couldn’t help feeling like she did before she ran away. If she couldn’t have her mom, why couldn’t she have her dad all to herself, instead of having to share his scattered brain with three other people?

“Hey,” Percy nudges her arm as Annnabeth descends further and further into her imaginary fantasy. “Thinking about your dad?” 

Annabeth realizes she’s subconsciously touching her dad’s ring and drops her hand. She wonders how much she should tell Percy, how ridiculous it seems, but she stares back at him and knows he would understand her. 

“You know why I wanted to come here?” She twists the ring in between her thumb and index finger and stares back out at Hoboken, across the river. “The summer my parents met, they used to take walks together by the Charles River. The way my dad talks about it…” Annabeth’s eyes get misty again, but she wills herself to push them away. “I can tell he really loved her. And sometimes when I walk along a body of water, I imagine that they’re still together and we’re a family. I know, it’s stupid.” 

“No, it’s not stupid.” Percy reassures, with that sweet, genuine tone he uses to comfort her. He pauses for a moment then admits, “Actually, I uh, saw your vision at Siren Bay. I just didn’t bring it up because well,” Percy scratches the back of his head. “I think about my parents getting back together too.” 

“Really?” Annabeth had discussed with her siblings how much they hated having one parent around, but she’d never felt secure enough to broach the topic of wanting her family back together.

“Yeah. I was actually just thinking about them now, even though we’re not in Montauk,” Percy flicks his eyes down for a moment, then towards the kids on the playground. “Did I tell you though that Paul wants to propose to my mom? He told me at my birthday party a few days ago, before my dad showed up.”

Annabeth is taken back. She knew about Poseidon showing up, but not Paul Blofis proposing. “How do you feel about that?” 

“I’m happy,” Percy sounds upbeat, but she senses his voice falter, just the tiniest bit. That was Percy, always trying to accommodate everyone without thinking of himself. “I mean my mom was miserable for so long with Gabe. She deserves to be happy..” 

“Dude,” Annabeth scolds, softly enough to coax him into admission. 

“And….” Percy hesitates, because he can’t say a bad thing about anyone he cares about, even if it’s devouring him alive. “It does make me a little sad too, and I’m angry at my Dad for not getting it together and being with us too.” 

“I know the feeling,” Annabeth murmurs. A gust of wind blows and whips her braids across her hair.

“So how did you do it then? How did you forgive your mom?”

“I didn’t,” Annabeth shakes her head. “I don’t think I ever will. I just have to hope that I’m better for my future family.” 

Percy cocks his head, his eyes light with wonder. “You think about that stuff?” 

“Sometimes,” Annabeth flushes hot. She’s never admitted that to anyone, because it’s embarrassing and illogical and stupid. She knows the rules of their world, but she can’t help but dream. “I know demigods don’t live past 16, but sometimes I picture myself as  a famous architect, maybe a professor giving lectures across the world, and sometimes… I imagine myself with a family, too.” 

Percy purses his lips together and thinks to himself for a moment. “You know, I’ve never thought about it too much before, but a family would be nice.” 

And there he is, holding his gaze with hers again. Annabeth swallows and begins to fidget furiously with her fingers. A building can only be supported with a solid foundation, she realizes, and she never imagined herself with a family until she met Percy. Her heart leaps as she watches the golden light trickle through the tree branches and onto his cheeks. The way he stood was so easy, so relaxed, he slouched without thinking and his fingers always curled casually at the ends, like he didn’t think about what to do with his hands. Annabeth was deliberate in every movement, she overthought everything, and he just.. was. Even when it hurt to be around him, it was easy to be around him. 

“Listen,” Percy breaks the silence with a hoarse whisper. “I’m sorry about Rachel.” 

Annabeth stiffens at the mention of her name.

“Whatever.” 

“Okay,” Percy says slowly. “Well it seems like you really don’t like it when I hang out with her, and I don’t know why.”

He really did have a thick skull.

“No seriously, I don’t care.” Annabeth crosses her arms. “You can hang out with whoever you want.” 

“Well, okay then,” Percy dismisses, annoyed, before turning sincere again. “I just… I know things have been weird between us this past summer, and I just don’t want to be so distant from you.” 

It really was hard to stay mad at him when he was so sweet, even when he was being an obtuse idiot.

“Well, unfortunately you’re stuck with me,” Annabeth brushes him off with a sarcastic comment to avoid the skip in her heart. “If we go down, we’re going down together, remember?” 

“Okay,” A slow smile curls across Percy’s mouth, and the sunshine lit behind him makes it look like a halo with his smile and golden curls.“Good to know you’re still in on that.” 

“Always,” Annabeth says with an eye roll, but she casts one last look at him in the light before turning to pretend to look at the river again instead of his handsome eyes. She curls her hands into fists to suppress the urge to reach out and hold his hand.

“On that note, let’s go get some ice cream,” He leads the way before Annabeth can object. “I’m buying.”

[rebuke-me]

18 + dorky upstage sorry i miss them so bad

18. things you said when you were scared

Bringing his two jumpy partners to a haunted house had not been Jake's brightest idea. Honestly, he thought they'd have fun- it was like the RenFaire they'd taken him to, right? Just with scarier makeup and less thees and thous. And Jeremy liked scary movies, so it'd be fine.

At least, he'd assumed so, until he had Jeremy nearly crushing his hand, and Christine grabbing his arm as they headed through the maze of corridors.

"Jake. If we get out of this alive, I am never letting you pick the dinner on date night ever again," Christine said, her hand tugging him closer.

"It's just actors, right? It's not real, so-" Jeremy started, before a massive zombie leaped out from behind the corner, and all hell broke loose.

Christine's hand left his arm, which was the first red flag. Jeremy gripped his hand even tighter. And then Christine had punched the poor actor on the shoulder, sending him stumbling and making him break character.

"Ow, holy fuck-" The guy said, his zombie groan turning into a completely normal voice.

"What- oh my god, I'm so sorry." Christine said, and Jake felt the urge to apologize, which meant that Jeremy was also apologizing. They chorused 'sorry' like the damn seagulls from Finding Nemo.

"No, it's fine, I'm used to it-" The zombie muttered, rolling his shoulder. If only Christine had punched the other side of him, where the arm was clearly fake.

"We can- we can, like, I dunno, pay you, or- are you going to sue us?" Jeremy's voice was still shaking. "We don't have lawyers-"

"Dude, no, just- don't tell my boss I broke character, I am so fired if he finds out. Just, y'know, scream on your way out of this room like I chased you out or something?"

Jake flashed him a thumbs up. "Yeah. Yeah, okay, cool, thanks, sorry about that."

Christine straightened, still looking embarrassed. "I can totally scream really well. I was Mrs. Rogers in And Then There Were None when I was 13, I've got that horror movie scream down."

Jake grabbed Christine's hand, squeezing it. "You'll have to teach me when we're out of here."

Christine grinned. "How to scream like a girl in a horror movie? Got it."

And that is exactly what she did. Jeremy's scream was possibly a little not-faked, but Jake's was lackluster.

When they finally stumbled out the other end, with no injuries to them or the other actors, they were too busy laughing to be afraid.

[azucarmorena97]

𝙽𝚘𝚘𝚗𝚊 (Taehyung Love Story || Pt.2)

Warnings: This series will have smut. I will label parts accordingly. That being said: ALERT THERE IS SMUT. DIRTY SMUTTY SOLO SMUT. PROCEED WITH CAUTION.

Pt.1 here || Pt.3 || Pt.4

𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚙𝚜 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚕 𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚞𝚙 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚕𝚎𝚐, 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚛𝚝 𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚞𝚙 𝚊𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚢. 𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜; 𝚋𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚘𝚖 𝚕𝚒𝚙 𝚓𝚞𝚝𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚒𝚙𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚌𝚛𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚔𝚜…"𝚃𝚊𝚎𝚑𝚢𝚗𝚐, 𝚠𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝. 𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎- 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚜𝚘𝚗'𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍," 𝚈𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚕𝚏-𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚎𝚛 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚒𝚕𝚝 𝚞𝚙 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞. "𝙲𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚘𝚗, 𝙽𝚘𝚘𝚗𝚊…" 𝙷𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚒𝚋𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚋𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚐, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚒𝚝- 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚜 𝚊𝚋𝚜𝚘𝚕𝚞𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚏𝚞𝚕.

You lean back against the couch, the dark living room illuminated by the screen in front of you. Your legs are crossed one over the other in front of you, and you can't help but chew endlessly on your bottom lip as your mind replays that moment from dinner. "I guess I just like...older girls."

Surely he didn't mean that much older, right? Wait, but even if he did- why would you care? You've known him since he was a teenager, you've seen him spend countless hours playing video games with your son- Why are you so stuck on this? You don't even realize how deep in thought you are until Tae's voice bring you back to reality, "Still hungry?"

You snap your head toward his direction, both startled and a bit frazzled. "Sorry?" "You've been chewing on your nails for the past two minutes," He chuckles. "Oh," You manage a laugh, "I didn't even notice." "A lot on your mind?" He asks, taking a few steps into the living room. "Eh, nothing important," You lie, rolling out your shoulders to try to at least appear more relaxed, "I thought for sure you'd still be knocked out upstairs."

He rolls his eyes, "Well, I tried to get a few hours of rest in, and then Jungkook fell asleep as well- you'd have thought he was the one who's been on a plain for eight hours this morning with the way he's snoring."

"He has always been a...heavy sleeper, hasn't he?" You laugh.

"No kidding. Anyway, what are we watching?" He asks, casually inviting himself over to the recliner next to the couch. "Uh-" You're caught slightly off guard but again, you don't want him to catch onto your weird vibe so you just try to push dinner out of your mind for a second, "Well, I was actually gonna put on Finding Nemo."

"Finding Nemo?" He raises his brows. "Yeah- I know it's kinda lame but also I kind of love this movie- we can watch something else though, I don't mind-" He waves you away, "Don't be silly. I love this movie too. Got any beer?" You nod, motioning to the mini fridge in the corner where the bar is, "We should have some in there."

He walks over and grabs two, popping the caps off of both of them, "I will replenish tomorrow, don't worry." You shake your head, "Don't worry about it, really."

When he comes back, he hands you one and then sits back down.

"Thanks," You smile politely, taking it from him and then taking a sip.

He brings the bottle to his lips and then takes a big swig, "Oh, that's good."

"Goodness, I don't know why it's so weird to see you guys drink now," You chuckle, "I don't think I'll ever get used to it."

He smiles back at you, "Well, what can I say? I'm a big boy now."

There it is again. That look. The same one from dinner.

You nod, quickly averting your eyes and turning your focus to the movie.

A few minutes goes by and you finally get to the scene where thee shark comes and decimates Nemo's mom and siblings.

"I'm not gonna lie, this scene always gets me," He sighs. "Me too...I've kind of always felt that it does well in depicting what it's like for a single parent." "Yeah? In what way?" "Well, I get that Marlon is super overprotective and annoying throughout the movie, but it's only because he has this precious little baby that he has to take care of all by himself. One wrong move and it can all fall apart," You say, eyes falling a bit. "I guess I see what you mean," He nods, taking another drink.

"Yeah...of course, Marlon wasn't a teen mom like me so, he has that on me for sure." He chuckles, "To be fair, we don't really know how old he is." "True, true. I almost wish they'd make another one where he starts dating again, just to see how he and Nemo would handle it." "Wait, are he and Dory not together?" "Dory? No, dummy." "But they're always together," He says, a confused expression taking over his whole face. "Uhm because they're best friends, 'Tae. Men and women can be platonic friends, you know." "Alright, alright," He laughs.

After a moment of silence, he speaks again, "What about you?"

"What about me?" "Do you have any...'platonic male friends'?" His tone is a bit sarcastic, a knowing and rather mischievous smile on his face.

You blush, looking away again, "I...don't think that's any of your business."

"You're right, it's not- I'm sorry," He says, though his smile never wavers.

You clear your throat, "What about you? When are you gonna bring a girl home? I'm sure your family would probably like grand kids soon, right?" You tease. He chuckles, another giant swig of beer. "Oh please- my parents are way too up their own asses to care about what I do... They're not like you."

"I suppose you're right," You sigh, "I'm just glad I can be here for both of you boys. Jungkoook will never have to feel that way with me...his dad is another story."

"Did it ever get easier?" Taehyung asks, his face softening. You swish your beer around in your mouth for a moment while you think, "Yes...and no. I mean, of course things were difficult when 'Kook was younger; he was so rambunctious hyper, and he was always asking for his dad- as he grew up, he calmed down and he asked for him less and less, and we fell into our routine, just the two of us- but I always knew he missed him. Even when he stopped asking about him at all, I could still see the sadness in him, you know?"

Tae nods, face solemn as he listens. "Paired with the fact that I was only 14 when I had him and I never really got to have that regular teenage experience like the other kids... It was definitiely not something that got 'easier'. But he was worth it."

"You don't regret anything?" "Nope. Everything happens as it's supposed to. I firmly believe that." "Me too," He says, staring straight at you. You've always thought he had beautiful eyes, and right now, the way they seem to devour you it making you absolutely weak. Time to go to bed. Abort. Abort.

"Welp, I'm feeling pretty tired. I think I'm gonna head to bed now!" You shoot up from the couch, but you almost lose your balance as soon as you get on your feet-

"I've got you!" In a matter of milliseconds, you feel his arms wrap around your waist to bring you closer. You're in shock, staring up at him with wide eyes- your heart is racing for the second time tonight.

"Thanks- I- I lost my balance..." Your brain can't even form a coherent sentence.

He's looking down at you, lids low, shaggy hair falling in his face every so slightly, "Good night," He says, letting you go.

"Good night," You say back, quickly tucking your hair behind your ear as you walk past him, darting up the stairs to get to your bedroom.

"Mom, do we have any orange juice?" Jungkook stands in front of the fridge, door wide open as he stares blankly inside. "It's right in front of your face," You say, not looking up from your cereal. "Mom, I seriously don't see it." "'Kook, if you make me get up and I find it, I'm going to slap-" "Found it," He says, an exaggerated smile plastered across his face, feigning innocence. "Mother, if I may ask, what's up your butt today?" He sits across the counter from you and pours the juice into a glass. You and 'Kook have always had a very honest relationship; you talk about most things together and, for the most part, you both listen without judgment-

but could you tell him that the reason you're so grumpy is because you tossed and turned all night thinking about his childhood best friend? Absolutely not.

"I...didn't sleep well last night, that's all." "Well, might I recommend letting me take the car for a few hours?" "How would that help me sleep better?" You raise an eyebrow out him. "Well, it would- it would- hell, I don't know. I just wanted a natural way to bring up the fact that I need the car for a few hours today." "No, absolutely not- you're supposed to be doing the yard today." "Yeah, I'm gonna get to it- I just have to do this one thing first." "Nope. You've been avoiding it for months and our yard looks like shit." "I can do it," Tae walks in, bright-eyed and looking a lot more rested than you.

"Yes! That would help me out so much!" Jungkook exclaims, turning to you with a big smile. "No. Absolutely not." "It's not a problem, really," Tae says, coming to stand next to Jungkook. "Tae, no- this is Kook's job. You're a guest."

Tae puts his hand on his heart, letting his mouth fall open in mock hurt, "A guest? A guest?" "Yeah mom, Tae isn't a guest- he's practically my brother. He won't mind doing that chore for me while I go take care of some business." You try hard not to wince at Jungkook's use of the word 'brother', "I don't know."

"Come on, Ms.L/N, I got it. Seriously. I need some sun anyway," Taehyung gives you a reassuring smile and you already feel yourself melting like butter.

"Fine, fine," You wave both of them away, "This will be the only time though." "Awesome," Jungkook and Taehyung do there little bro-five and then Jungkook leans over to kiss you on the cheek, "Thanks mom. It'll only be a few hours and then it's all yours....until tonight when we need it again, of course!" He immediately runs out of the kitchen and back upstairs to get ready for his "business". "Oh God, I can't wait for him to get his car fixed." "Oh please, he's gonna milk this for as long as he can. He was just saying how much he loves not having to pay for all the gas," Tae chuckles, walking over to the fridge. You didn't even realize before that he's been holding a grocery bag this entire time. "Oh, you went to the store?" "Yeah, I walked over to Lawson's to replace the beer I drank yesterday," He says, taking a few bottles out of the bag and setting them into the fridge. "Tae, it was one beer," You laugh, "You didn't have to get a whole bunch." He chuckles, "I know, I just- I just wanted to do it as a sign of appreciation. You let me stay here for free, you cooked me that dinner- this was the least I could do."

"Well, thank you," You say, turning to put your bowl in the sink, though just as you turn, you bump into Tae who's about to reach over for a paper towel, and your face ends up square in his chest.

"Oh sorry," You laugh, not because it's funny but because it's almost like the universe is dangling Tae in front of you like meat in front of a hungry cougar lion.

He laughs as well, "Man, you're kind of clumsy, aren't you?"

"It seems that way these days," You say, quickly tossing your bowl into the sink, "I'm gonna be upstairs for a while sorting laundry. If you need anything, just give me a shout."

"Will do," he says, grabbing the paper towel and wiping the condensation off of his hands.

You hoped the mountain of laundry would be enough to distract you, if only for a couple hours or so, but you easily finished separating in 30 minutes, followed by folding for 25- and then the other hour you've spent casually staring out the window at Taehyung working on the yard. You're just...checking on him.

"I should make him something to drink," You say to yourself, trying desperately to pull yourself away from your window.

Really, someone should make you thirst ass a drink, but we won't talk about that. You go downstairs and start cutting lemons in half- one by one, you squeeze them into a pitcher and then fill it up with water, plus some mint leaves you'd bought earlier in the week. It's just because he's doing you a favor. It's not for any other reason. None at all.

"Tae!" You call from the kitchen window, though he doesn't hear you the first time, as the mower is roaring away, "Tae!"

His head snaps up and he immediately turns the mower off, running inside shortly after. "What's wrong? Is everything okay!?" He asks in a panic. "Oh! Yeah- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you. I just- I made you some lemonade."

A clearly relieved expression washes over him, "Oh- wow, thank you," He says, smiling.

He's drenched in sweat- bangs matted to his forehead and everything. He's always been slender, but you can't help but notice how toned and muscular his arms are.

"Mm, it even smells good," He says when you hand him the glass, "Is that mint?" "Yeah," You say sheepishly, "I like to add crushed mint."

He immediately downs the entire glass, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. Even his neck is beautiful.

"Wow, that was so good. I needed that," he sets the glass down on the counter and then wipes the sweat off his forehead.

"Of course, I know how hot it is out there, and you've been out there working really really-" As you're speaking, he slides his tank top up over his head, revealing his bare torso,

"-hard" You have to actively stop your jaw from hanging open. He's beautiful.

He doesn't even seem to notice.

"Well, again, I appreciate it. I'm pretty much done out there, just a little patch I need to do but I'm so beat right now. You mind if I finish it tomorrow?"

You shake your head, "Better yet, 'Kook will finish it." "That sounds like a splendid idea," He chuckles, wiping his hands off on his shirt, "I'm gonna go hop in the shower."

"Alrighty," You say, and when he's finally out of sight, you let out a deep sigh. You're not sure how the hell you're gonna get through this month with him here.

"Hey, have you heard from 'Kook?" You ask, furrowing your brow when you look at the time. "Yeah," Tae rolls his eyes, "He got 'overextended' with Jennie and postponed our, ahem, 'night on the town' for tomorrow night instead," his tone is super sarcastic, but he seems only mildly annoyed, as he looks perfectly comfortable laying across the couch in his sweats and tee shirt, a movie already playing on the TV.

"Oh God," You follow with your own eye roll.

"Welp, I think it's about time for dinner," You say, checking your phone, "I was thinking of walking over to Burger Bros- want anything?" "By yourself?" He asks, looking over at you. You shrug, "Yeah, I do it all the time." "Absolutely not," he says, turning off the TV and then standing up, "I'm coming with you."

You laugh, "It's just around the corner, it's not even that big a deal." "I would enjoy a nice, brisk walk," He says, "Allow me to escort you to Burger Bros." "Alright, fine," You comply, deciding it best to save your breath as you've seen that, when he says he'll do something, he means it.

The weather outside is perfect; a light breeze, just enough so that you only need a light sweater. It's still a little light, though the street lights have already come on to guide your way around the corner to your destination.

"Oh good, the line is pretty short!" You say excitedly, as usually the line would wrap around the entrance, "Hurry," You absentmindedly grab his wrist and make him jog with you to the end of the line as you don't want anyone who just pulled into the parking lot to beat you.

"Sorry, I'm just really hungry." "No, I don't blame you- I haven't had one of these in so long. I might just order half the menu," he says, eyes glued on the menu hanging on the outside of the restaurant. The line is moving relatively fast, though there are still quite a few people ahead of you, meanwhile the back of the line has extended pretty far. You're lucky you came when you did.

You ended up standing right behind Tae when you were reading the menu for a little while longer, and behind you were two men. You weren't paying much attention to them, that is, until they purposely started trying to get your attention. "If the back of you looks this good, I can't wait to see what the front looks like," One of the men's voices caught your attention and you briefly turned around to se if they were really talking to you. "Come on, beautiful- give us a little spin." You don't respond, choosing instead to ignore them. If you say anything, they'll either take it as permission to keep talking to you, or they'll get angry and try to start something. "You don't wanna talk to us?" Ignore. Ignore. Ignore. Just then, you feel one of them toss a lock of your hair to the side. "Dude, fuck off," You say, turning to them once more. The one who had been talking to you this whole time was some middle aged creep and his friend was no better. Up until this point, Tae hadn't noticed them talking to you, though when he does, he immediately puts you in front of himself in line to get you away from them, "Is there a problem?"

"Problem? We don't have a problem. Now excuse us, kid, we're trying to talk to your big sister here," The man said, dismissively shooing Tae away.

"She told you to fuck off, didn't she? Pretty clear she doesn't wanna be talked to," Tae is pretty slow to anger, preferring usually to be goofy and lighthearted, but you can see it rising in him. His already tall frame suddenly looks three times bigger. "Woah calm down, man. What is she, your girlfriend?" The man looks clearly shaken, but he's trying to play it off by acting tough. "Yeah, she is. So do as she said and leave her the fuck alone. I'm not gonna repeat myself." With that, Tae turns around throws his arm around your shoulders. Immediate butterflies. Without another word, the two men move to the back of the line. "Tae- that was so crazy," You say in a low voice, "They were actually scared." "As they should be. I don't know why they need a man to step in in th first place. Your 'no' should've been enough," he said, staring straight ahead, though he doesn't let go of you all the way up until you get to your food.

It's just for the show, nothing more. Just pretend...

You sit cross-legged no the couch, your burger already half finished along with your fries. Tae sits on the recliner again, drink snuggled nicely in the cupholder. You've been laughing and carrying on about the shennanigans he and Jungkook used to get into in high school, and all of the idiocy in your own teenage years.

All of the tension you've been feeling yesterday and today are almost gone, and you find yourself more relaxed and at ease- though your eyes do occasionally travel to his lips every so often, and you do have to keep your mind from thinking too much about he held onto you in line.

"Oh God, what's worse is I can literally imagine 'Kook doing all of that," You sigh, "He's always been so bad, I don't know where he got it from."

"Hey, Ms.L/N, you raised him," He chuckles.

You laugh as well, but then you look up at him, "You know, I've always hated when you call me that."

"Call you what? Ms.L/N?"

"Yeah." "And you choose to confess that after 8 years?" He laughs, "What would you prefer?" "Anything but my last name- it makes me feel old." "Well, you're most definitely not old," He says, licking his bottom lip, "maybe I should just call you...Noona."

Your stomach flips just at the word, "Don't be silly," You blush.

"Oh come on- does that make you feel old too?" He smirks. "I'm way too old for that," You can feel your cheeks heating up, "Just call me Y/N." "You're like, really hung up on age, aren't you?" He asks, leaning back, eyes fixed on you, "Why does it matter so much how old you are?"

"It- it doesn't," You say, "In fact, I've rarely thought of it at all until recently."

"Oh? And why do you think of it now?" The corners of his mouth are angled upward slightly. He knows exactly why. He's playing coy. There's no way he doesn't know.

"No reason in particular," You play dumb. "Right," He says. "I'm back!" Jungkook's voice travels over from the front door, and you momentarily panic- though why should you? You aren't doing anything wrong, right? Just having dinner.

"Aw, you got Burger Bro's without me!?" He whines, taking his coat off and tossing it next to you on the couch. "That's what happens when you ditch your friend for some ass," You say, eyeing him. He mocks offense, "Mother, I resent the fact that you would think I'd ever choose a woman over my boy. I just, you know, had some business to take care of." "Business, business- you keep saying you have business to take care of, well I've got news for you, after your morning shift tomorrow, the only business you're taking care of is the rest of the yard." "Understood," he says, saluting you before reaching down into Tae's fries and taking a few.

"Here, have some fries," Tae says sarcastically. "Aw, thanks man." Jungkook is oblivious as usual.

"Well, I'm gonna head to bed," You say, standing up and stretching your arms out, "Want me to get your trash?" You ask Taehyung. "No don't be silly-" He says, taking the trash from your hands instead, his finger tips grazing your hand ever so slightly, "I got it." You glance down, the simple touch having sent goosebumps up your entire arm. "Thanks," You say.

You immediately look over at Jungkook, fearing he may have caught onto this little moment- but he's too busy scarfing down the rest of Tae's food. "Good night, Noona" Tae says quietly, a soft smile on his face. "Good night, Tae."

Another sleepless night. You've been tossing and turning for the past hour eyes wide open as your stare at your ceiling. The lights are off, but you definitely aren't. You look over at the clock. 12:30AM. You bite your lip as you go back and forth about whether or not to... You reach over to your bedside table drawer, quietly sliding it open. You reach in and pull out the pretty little battery operated bunny that you bought a few weeks ago while out on a girl's day with B/F/N. You opened it up but hadn't gotten a chance to try it out, you guess now's as good a time as any, right?

You fix your pillows so that they're stacked on top of each other and then lean back, letting your legs spread apart. You adjust your blanket so that it's just covering right up your elbow- you wouldn't want them to be able to hear anything.

You're not quite sure why, but your mouth is watering at the promise of your first orgasm in weeks. It's been the furthest thing from your mind for so long, but somehow, Tae being back has brought it to the forefront of your mind, and now it's all you can think about; a sweet release. You're hungry for it.

You press the on button to gage the intensity of the vibrations, and then gently rest it on your sensitive clit. Immediately, you let your eyes close. "Oh," You moan. You start to move in small circles, teasing yourself incessantly. After a minute, you let your mind wander to where it's been wanting to go since the moment you laid eyes on Tae yesterday. It starts with his eyes; the way his gaze devours you- the ways in which you want him to devour you. You imagine looking into those eyes while his delicate face is in between your thighs. You can practically feel his long arms reaching up to circle your pert nipples.

"Fuck," You whisper, "Oh Taehyung..." What you wouldn't do to hear the beautiful sound of him lapping up your wet pussy, his nose tickling your clit ever so gently. Might you reach down to bury your red fingernails in his shaggy brown hair? Might you grind your delicate sex onto his mouth just to bring yourself close to your climax? No, because he'd pull away before you could. He needs his fix too. Nothing in life is for free, and this moment would be no exception. You circling faster around your clit, the vibrations feeling so utterly delicious. He stands up, his throbbing dick laying gently on your core only for a moment, then he takes it into his hand "Ready, Noona?" "Yes Tae." You slowly insert the bunny inside, careful to be slow, steady. You want to savor the fantasy. "Fuck," He whispers, throwing his head back, moving in and out so slowly, it drives you absolutely wild. "More, please." "You want more Noona?" "Please Tae." "Tell me you want more." "I want more." Each time, the thrust is deeper and deeper, more forceful, more maddening. "Oh God-" You feel it coming. That familiar sensation- "Taehyung." "That's right Noona, say my name," "Taehyung," You can hear yourself getting louder and louder but you can't help it. You almost don't care. All you want is this feeling.

And then finally, here it is. It comes in waves over you, and you feel the wetness immediately. Your body convulses, legs violently pressing together to preserve those last little bits of incredible pleasure, before finally collapsing. Breathlessly, you pant in place, not even bothering to put the toy on you bedside table, tossing it aside instead as you have no more strength left.

Maybe this will make it a little easier to stop thinking about him... Or maybe you just made it worse for yourself. Either way, you're finally tired enough to sleep.

Hope you guys enjoyed! It took me forever to write but I wanted to give y'all something with some meat in it (hehe).

Feel free to make suggestions! Box is open for requests as well. Challenge me!

[animeniacss]

Seoksoo - imperfect Part 1 - Chapter 7 - To Calm You Down

Synopsis: Lee Seokmin likes a lot of things: karaoke, stuffed animals, his friends, his family (when they're not at each other's throats), and when things go according to plan. It's perfect that way. That is...until Joshua Hong, the Education Department TA, stumbles into his view one day and suddenly Seokmin has to start facing the fact that maybe not everything in life will be perfect...but with Joshua, that might just be ok.

Tags: College!AU, ActingMajor!Seokmin, Teacher!Joshua, Romance, Angst, Fluff, Mutual Pining, Misunderstandings, Side GyuCheol, Side JunHao, Side Verkwan, Other Idol appearances, Anxiety/Panic Attacks, Domestic Violence (not between the main couple), Joshua is a dork 90% of the time, (More Tags will be Added as needed)

Length: approx. 6.1k words

Chapter 7 - To Calm You Down

The air, at least around Seokmin, felt so tight that he couldn’t breathe. His legs felt glued to the floor, unable to move even when he tried to bend his legs and free them. He watched Joshua walk deeper into the living room where Jeonghan was still sitting. Like a cat, his head tilted to the side, allowing his long, black hair to dangle in front of his face. When he smiled up at Joshua, he looked completely unphased of the annoying look the American was giving him.

         “Hey.” Jeonghan grinned. His eyes fell on Seokmin, and Seokmin felt himself stand up straighter. “How was lunch?”

         Joshua seemed almost put off by the question, eyes widening a bit. “Wha-? Jeonghan, you said you’d be out.”

         “I was.” Jeonghan’s grin didn’t leave his face. “I went out. I ran to the post office, deposited my paycheck, and picked up the groceries for the week.” Each thing he did, he lifted a finger, until he had 3 in front of his face. “And now I’m home!”

         Joshua didn’t respond beyond a groan that burrowed deep into his stomach.

         “Yeah, but I thought that when you said you were going out, you were going to stay out.” Seokmin watched Jeonghan’s shoulders shake with an amused laugh, before finally standing up and putting his hands on his hips.    

         “Then you need to be more specific, Joshua Hong!” His voice spiked, eyebrows arched in annoyance as he stared down his friend. It felt as if something in Seokmin disconnected from his body. He felt as if he was watching behind glass, the sight and sound of their bickering muffled, but Seokmin kept watching. He was never good at reading lips, so that didn’t even help him figure out what was being said. He felt like the fish inside a fish tank, just waiting for some snot-nosed kid to come and violently tap on the glass and ask if he was ok only for him to die of fear and go belly up, floating at the top of the water. Like the little girl in Finding Nemo that everyone thought was crazy.

         “Can you please go back out?”

         “Why?” Jeonghan’s grin was devilish as he nudged his friend. “I thought you didn’t get like that on the first date.”

         Joshua shouted something that Seokmin couldn’t understand; be it from the fact that it was most likely in English, or it felt as if his ears were stuffed with cotton balls.

         “Jeonghan.” Joshua pleaded, voice strained and desperate. His friend finally conceded hands lifted over his head in defeat.

         “Fine, fine.” He said. “I’ll get dressed and hang out at Nayeon’s for a bit.” Jeonghan stretched his hands over his head. “She should be home from work by the time I get over here.”

         “Good, let her deal with you for a few more hours.” Joshua rubbed his temples, a smile finally forming on his face as he watched Jeonghan turn off the TV and head inside, closing the door behind him. The door closing down the hall woke Seokmin back up, pulling himself back together with a beat and a deep breath. He covered his mouth, watching as Joshua turned his head again. Almost immediately, his smile dropped. Seokmin felt like he was going to combust the longer he was staring at Joshua with such a concerned expression. “Are you okay?” he asked softly, approaching Seokmin once again.

         “Hm?” Seokmin blinked.

         “You look pale…” He reached forward, the back of his hand pressing on Seokmin’s forehead. The gentle touch made Seokmin’s body shiver, and he closed his eyes for a second. No detection of a growing fever made Joshua purse his lips together. “I’ll get you water.” He motioned to the kitchen. “Come sit, okay?” he asked, and Seokmin listened. He finally pulled his feet from the glue he felt trapped in, trudging through the archway with Joshua leading. He made a beeline for the fridge, while Seokmin sank in the little breakfast nook that was set in the corner. He leaned back against the wall, fiddling with his fingers. When he heard the fridge door close and footsteps passing through the kitchen, Seokmin looked back up. Joshua was pouring a glass of water into a little cup for him. The duo locked eyes when Joshua made his way over. Seokmin took the cup into his hands and took a long sip.

         Seokmin had not realized how dry his lips were until the cool liquid hit his throat to the point where it made him sigh in relief. When he set down the cup, Joshua was sitting across from him in one of the chairs, smiling. ‘Thanks.”

         “Sure.” He smiled. “Why don’t we stay here? I can grab everything.”

         “Okay.” Joshua got up, disappearing through the archway. Seokmin heard some fumbling around in the other room before Joshua returned, his arms full of bracelet-making supplies. Seokmin immediately hopped to his feet, reaching out and taking some of the little containers before they fell. They spread everything out. Seokmin counted about 4 large bead containers, 3 of them still practically full, and a large black basket of what seemed to be string, beading wire, clasps, and super glue. Seokmin felt like he was plopped right in the middle of a craft store. When his eyes flashed up to Joshua, he was grinning with so much pride. Seokmin had to smile a bit.

         “This is so much stuff.” Joshua must have heard his awe as he scooted into the little sitting area beside Seokmin, sitting down and reaching for the string. “I don’t even know where to begin.”

         “Here. Give me your wrist.” He said. Seokmin hesitated, but Joshua only offered his hand out for Seokmin to place in. He did so, once again feeling static course his veins at the gesture. Joshua wrapped a piece of bracelet string around his wrist, tilting his head to measure it. Seokmin felt the inability to breathe once again, but this time, he couldn’t care less. He just wanted to sit like this a few seconds longer. “There…” Joshua smiled. In the blink of an eye, he put a knot at the top and attached it to the edge of the table with a piece of clear tape, leaving the string dangling between them, swaying just enough to hit Seokmin’s thigh a bit. “I always like to anchor the string with tape like this.” 

“That makes sense…” Seokmin smiled.

“You can help yourself to any beads you want, okay?” He set two small trays on either side of them. “Use these to hold the beads you want so they don’t roll all over.”

         “Okay…” Seokmin sat in silence for a second. “...What should I do?”

         Joshua shrugged, almost confused by his question. “Whatever you want.” He said simply. “There’s no wrong way to make a bracelet.” Seokmin felt like he could prove Joshua wrong, but he silently began to scan beads while Joshua started his little bracelet. There were so many colors and shapes to choose from; large red beads, small white beads, beads with smiley faces, and beads with letters on them. Honestly, it was kind of overwhelming. He had no idea where to start. What theme did he want to do? Did he want to do a theme in the first place? His lips were knotted in annoyance as he scanned his options. His thoughts were interrupted by footsteps entering the kitchen. Both he and Joshua looked up to see Jeonghan poking his head in, his black hair dangling off to the side as he smiled. Joshua seemed to open his mouth to say goodbye, but Jeonghan stepped to the table and plopped down in front of Seokmin. It allowed him to really get a good view of Joshua’s roommate. He was stunning, a model straight off the runway. It must be true what they say, pretty people hang out with other pretty people. His eyes were gentle, yet holding back a hint of curiosity as he studied Seokmin.

         Joshua looked unamused. “Could you please not look at my guest like you want to eat him?” Jeonghan snorted, covering his mouth. Even his laughs were small and cute.

         “Sorry about before. I’m Yoon Jeonghan, Joshuji’s roommate and long-time best friend.” He immediately extended his hand. Seokmin almost immediately abandoned his beads to take Jeonghan’s head, nodding his head a few times at the older male.

         “Hi. I’m Lee Seokmin.”

         “I know~. Joshuji’s told me a lot about you.”

         “Jeonghan, seriously.” Joshua groaned, eyebrows furrowing in annoyance. Seokmin’s brain immediately tried playing a round of Whack-A-Mole, and previous thoughts of Joshua laughing at him to his friends for his weird behavior popped into the forefront of his mind.

         “Really?” Seokmin asked curiously, glancing at Joshua.

         “Good things, I promise,” Jeonghan said behind another giggle. Thank God. Seokmin’s shoulders relaxed a bit. “Make yourself at home while you’re here, okay? Any friend of Joshuji’s is a friend of mine…”

“Thank you, Hyung.” Seokmin smiled, and Jeonghan returned it just before he checked his watch.

         “Are you staying over at Nayeon's tonight?” Joshua’s tone sounded as if he were pleading, eyes following Jeonghan as he stood up. He was simply given the response of a shrug.

“If she doesn’t kick me out, too.” His tone played up the hurt, but only received an amused smirk from Joshua. “Tch, aaah, fine. I’m off for now. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, you crazy kids.”

“Byeeeee.” Joshua didn’t follow him out, sighing when the door closed behind his friend. Joshua glanced at Seokmin one more time. “Sorry about him. He means well.” Seokmin was silent for a minute, a little tug of his bottom lip holding back what looked to be a smile. “What?”      

“Joshuji?” he asked. Joshua turned his head, covering his mouth with the back of his hand as he laughed. “Where did that come from?”

“He’s called me that since we were kids.” He explained.

“Aren’t you from LA?”

“Yeah, but my parents aren’t. They moved to Los Angeles in the late 80s. We came to Korea almost every year in the summer when I was a kid.”

“That’s really nice.” Seokmin smiled. “But Joshuji?”

“It’s all he calls me. I think he forgot my real name and won’t admit it.” Again, Seokmin had to laugh, a laugh that sent warmth throughout his bones and shone over the field of stiff flowers in his stomach.

“Why not make him a bracelet with your name on it so he doesn’t forget?” Seokmin’s suggestion made Joshua’s eyes widen, a sight that had Seokmin feel butterflies in his chest.

“You’re a genius .” He said. “…Ah, man. Do I have any more ‘J’ beads?” he leaned forward, into the letter beads that were organized by letter and shape. “Aha.” His finger dipped forward and grabbed hold of a little black bead with a white ‘J’ written on it, setting it to the side for later. Seokmin turned back as well, his hand digging into the collection of white beads. He took a small handful of them and set them at his side. He studied Joshua for a few seconds, watching as he slid the beads onto the string, angling it so they wouldn’t fall off in the process. Seokmin looked down at the white beads he had chosen. Leaning forward, he pressed the tip of the string through the hole of the bead. He had to push it a bit, but finally, the string popped through and Seokmin slid the first bead to the knot Joshua had made. Seokmin felt a little bubble of pride in his chest, and he immediately went to get the next set of beads and thread them through as well.

Joshua was right, the simplicity in an activity Seokmin had only imagined children in a summer camp doing was relaxing. He felt so focused on the beads that he barely even realized the time flying by. That is until Joshua called his name to pull his attention over. “What are you making?” he leaned over, eyeing the long string of beads. So far, Seokmin had only gotten some white ones on there and was beginning to add in the orange ones. Seokmin smiled, a bit lopsided and nervous.

“I’m making one for Seungkwan.” He motioned back down to his creation; half done. “He loves oranges so I think it’ll be cute to make him an orange bracelet.” Joshua watched as Seokmin dropped another orange bead through, then a few white ones before adding another orange. “I might put his name on it too.” Seokmin peered in the little white bucket of letters and dug for the letters that make up Seungkwan’s name written in English. His lips pursed together, hand hovering over the beads like one of those claws in an arcade machine, ready to drop when the time was right. Joshua stuck his hand into the bucket and pulled out a few letters, spreading them out.

“There. That’s how you spell it.”

“Oh, thanks.” Seokmin smiled, taking the letters to slide them onto the bracelet. “Do you do this all the time? It looks like you have enough to make one for each kid on campus.” Joshua shook his head.

“I don’t get to do it often, but when I do I try to take advantage and make a few.”

“Does Jeonghan-Hyung do it with you?” Joshua smiled.

“His girlfriend does sometimes.” He said simply. “Jeonghan likes to pretend he isn’t interested but he’ll just sit and watch her do it.” Seokmin nodded. “He makes a good roommate most of the time.”

Seokmin nodded, adding the letter ‘K’ in Seungkwan’s name to the beads. “I get that.”

Joshua was silent for a minute, only the sound of beads rattling around their containers filling the room. He turned, watching as Seokmin pulled at the string, tongue trapped between his teeth as he focused his hands on keeping the beads together. Suddenly, his brows knitted together in annoyance. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t think I like this anymore.” He said. Joshua quickly set his beads down in a way that would keep them on the string before scooting closer to Seokmin. Seokmin tilted his head, almost enough to be resting on Joshua’s shoulder. “I feel like the colors aren’t blending the way I thought they would.”

Joshua glanced down at Seokmin as he spoke: “I think it looks just fine…” he said. Seokmin’s eyes popped up to face the brunette, and he immediately looked down at the bracelet. “Seungkwan will love it.”

“You think?”

“I do. Want me to help you tie it up?”

“Uh, yeah.” He nodded. Joshua smiled, reaching his hands forward. Just as Seokmin was about to pull his hands back, Joshua took them, gently guiding them back to the string.

“You won’t learn if you don’t do it.” Joshua watched Seokmin’s lips turn up into a shy smile before he began explaining how to tie off the bracelet and wrap it together. “I like to super glue the tie just to make sure it stays perfectly.”

“What if this doesn’t fit? I realized this has measurements for my wrist.” Joshua shrugged.

“I think you two have similar wrists.” His hand wrapped around Seokmin’s wrist delicately. He didn’t seem to be measuring it, just leaving his hand there as he dangled the orange and white bracelet in between them, completed and sealed. Seokmin could see him smiling through the gaping hole in the bracelet, and he chuckled. With his palm outstretched, Joshua set the bracelet on top of it. “Congratulations, you made your first bracelet.”

“ Yay .” Seokmin giggled, once again dangling it in front of his face to admire it. After a second, Seokmin looked over at him, eyes sparkling. “Can I make another?”

“Sure.” Josuha was already returning to his own. “For who?”

“Mingyu.” He said.

“What about yourself?” Seokmin glanced over, shrugging.

“I’ll make one after.” He said simply. Without much else, he leaned forward and started scanning for some beads. “As long as I don’t overstay my welcome.”

Joshua chuckled. “No, not at all.” He said. “Stay as long as you want.”

And Seokmin did.

⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔(im)perfect🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌

         Before the duo knew it, three hours had gone by, and the sun was beginning to make its way down behind the skyline. It was too late to be afternoon but too early to be night. When Joshua looked up at the clock on the kitchen wall and saw it was 4, Seokmin caught the second to panic in his eyes. However, he simply glanced at Seokmin and continued working while making some small talk. Seokmin had made tons of bracelets, some better made than others. 

He was currently tying one of the last ones up, pouting. “I can’t get the knot big enough to stop the bead.” Despite not directly asking, Joshua scooted closer to Seokmin, reaching for the string and tying it up within seconds, as if it were second nature. “Thanks.” He said. His eyes scanned Joshua, who was currently making a very long beaded creation filled with various colors and shaped beads. “There’s no way that’s a bracelet.” Joshua’s lips curled up into a smirk as he slid a red heart bead up through the string.

         “Necklace.” He said simply. “It requires a lot more beads and I can do more patterns.” Seokmin watched for a few silent moments. “Mmm.” Joshua turned to Seokmin. “Should I use the neon pink or the clearer pink?” Seokmin’s eyes scanned the part of the necklace that was already completed: different shades of reds, pinks, and whites mixed in with larger clear circles and red hearts. Seokmin hummed.

         “I like the clear ones.” For a second, Joshua pushed his lips together and Seokmin wondered if he made the wrong choice. However, he simply reached forward and took the clear pink, threaded it, and tugged it to the end of the string, allowing it to clack against a solid white.

         “Me too.” Joshua’s comment made Seokmin sigh in relief. Joshua had threaded the beads he had hoarded to his left; long fingers carefully scooping up each bead and threading them with ease. Seokmin admired what he had created so far, and felt his lacked in comparison. Sure, it was his first time, but watching Joshua make something so dynamic while he was simple whites and an occasional pop of orange made his lips curl down in a frown. He looked back at the little stack of bracelets; one for Mingyu, one for Seungkwan, one for Seungcheol because he knew that he would whine about not getting one, and one for Junhui. All of them have the same pattern, four white beads, and a specific color. Rinse and repeat a few times until he put their name, then finish up with another four white and a pop of color before tying it off.

“You really are good at this.” Joshua shrugged.

“Eh, it’s honestly so simple that anyone can be good at it.” Seokmin hummed. “Besides, I don’t do this to be good, I do it because I like to.” He glanced at Seokmin, and his little smile faltered a bit. “You okay? You look lost.” His eyes glanced at Seokmin’s completed bracelets. “I like yours!” He assured. Seokmin glanced at him.

“They look boring.”

“They’re not boring. I think they’re classic.” Seokmin arched an eyebrow. “You know. Classic. When I think of a beaded bracelet from childhood, I think of yours. They’re nostalgic, I guess.” Seokmin wasn’t sure if that made him feel better right away, but he simply leaned back against the wall and watched as Joshua continued to make his own. Seokmin was silent as he studied them, and it made Joshua choke back a chuckle. “I feel like I’m going to get performance anxiety with you watching me so intensely.”

         “Ah, sorry.” Seokmin laughed shyly, scratching the back of his neck.

         “It’s fine.” He glanced at him while his fingers continued to work. It was as if they had a mind of their own. “I don’t mind.” The room fell back into silence, and Seokmin looked around at the different beads. His eyes fell to Joshua’s growing collection, where he immediately caught sight of a little teddy bear bead. It looked like one of the stuffed animals he had back in his apartment, and his fingers reached for it, taking it into his hands. “Wh- hey.” Joshua’s eyes shot up to him. “I need that for my necklace.”

         “What?” Seokmin looked over. “It’s so cute. Where did you get this one?”  

“I honestly don’t remember but I had a few of them. I think from a craft store.”

“Do you have any more?” Seokmin sounded hopeful.

         “No, that’s my only one. The rest of them I used already.” Seokmin’s shoulders slumped, eyes scanning the beads in hopes one would magically pop into view, and everyone could be happy.

         His eyes fell to the necklace, and he pouted again. “It doesn’t even match.” He gasped. Joshua laughed, leaning over to take the bead, but Seokmin leaned away. “Wait, wait, wait. Can’t I hold it until you need it?” Seokmin pouted as he held the little bead in his hands, a sight that made Joshua chuckle.

         “Fine, fine.” He shook his head in amusement and continued his work without much of a later fuss. Seokmin looked down at the bead, rolling it around in his hands. He watched Joshua continue to work on his necklace, knowing eventually he would give up the little teddy bear bead. Joshua finally turned to him again, watching as Seokmin rolled the bead in his hands. “Do you want to keep it?”

         Seokmin glanced over. “Well, don’t you need it for your bracelet?” Joshua shrugged.

         “I can find something else. I have a few other statement beads that I can use for the middle.” His eyes began to scan the beads throughout the table. Seokmin looked down at the teddy bear bead. For a second, he wanted to smile, but then he looked up at the male beside him.

         “Well, yeah, but I really don’t-.”

         “Don’t worry,” Joshua said again. “If you like it that much then keep it.” He said simply. “I think I’ll survive.”

         “Sorry.”

         “Don’t be.” Joshua chuckled.

         “Okay…” Seokmin chuckled. “Thank you.”

         “Much better.” Joshua finally pulled another heat, this time a tie-dye rainbow one that was a bit larger than the rest, and threaded that where the teddy bear bead would have gone. When Joshua glanced over to see Seokmin continuing to roll the bead between his fingers, a smile formed on his lips. “I think it is much cuter now than it would have been on my necklace.” Seokmin’s fingers slowly stopped rolling the bead, tongue quickly swiping his lips because since when were they so dry? When Seokmin turned to Joshua one final time, he was just working on his necklace with a smile on his face.

⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔(im)perfect🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌

         Jeonghan came home just as the moon was ascending over Seoul, and Seokmin knew it was time for him to head home. Joshua gave him a little baggie to put his bracelets in, and Seokmin offered to help clean the bracelet supplies up from the kitchen table.

         “Are you going to drive him?” Jeonghan asked, dangling a set of keys in his face. Joshua shook his head.

         “It’s not far. We can walk. But I’ll need the car for work tomorrow.” Jeonghan hummed. Seokmin was slipping on his shoes when Joshua turned to him. “Is that okay?”

         “Hm? Yeah.” He said.

         Jeonghan leaned on the door frame, hand in his pocket as he watched the duo slip on their shoes and as Joshua grabbed his wallet and house keys. “Don’t be a stranger, Seokmin, okay?” He called. “I’d love to sit and get to know you more.”

         “Ah.” Seokmin nodded. “I’d like that too.” He said, and the older male’s delicate smile only widened.

         “I’ll be back,” Joshua said, motioning Seokmin out the door. Jeonghan waved them off, before stepping into the apartment and closing the door behind him. The duo walked to the elevator once again, Seokmin looking down at his bracelets. Joshua looked over at him, hands in his pockets. “I hope you had fun today.”

         “I never thought our first date would be making bracelets for like 4 hours, but….” Seokmin blinked, the realization of what he just said sinking deep into his bones. When he looked at Joshua, he noticed two things. One: his cheeks were tinted a bit red. Two: he had the biggest and most shit-eating grin on his face. “Uh-.”

         “Date?” He asked curiously, cocking an eyebrow. Seokmin looked around.

         “Date? I didn’t say…I didn’t say date…” His voice got quieter the more he spoke. “I said…mate – wait, that’s worse.” Seokmin hung his head in defeat as Joshua threw his head back in very amused laughter. The hand that was holding the plastic bag of bracelets squeezed the plastic, while the other covered his eyes. “Aaugh.”

         “Oh my God.” Joshua snorted. “You’re so funny.” He turned to Seokmin, still grinning as his laughter subsided. “Did you want this to be a date?”

         “I…” Seokmin kept his eyes away from Joshua. “I don’t know…”

         “If it makes you feel better…” Joshua hummed, making Seokmin finally work up enough courage – or stupidity if he was being serious – to look back over at the grinning man in the elevator with him. “I’d love it if we could call this our first date.”

         At that moment, a complete weight was lifted off of Seokmin’s shoulders. He sighed, his hand finally relaxing from the vice grip he was holding the plastic bag in. “O-okay…” he said, blocking a smile that was creeping onto his face by covering it with his empty hand.

         The duo made their way onto the streets and walked towards Seokmin’s apartment. It was pushing 5 o’clock, and Seokmin wondered if Seungkwan had eaten yet. He had stopped getting texts from his friend hours prior, but he was too focused on Joshua making small talk to worry about texting Seungkwan now.

         “So,” Joshua said. “Can I ask you a question??”

         “Uh, yeah.” Seokmin felt his heart rate increase in just a second. “I guess.”

         “When we first got to the house, you looked like you had seen a ghost.” Seokmin blinked. He had completely forgotten about that, despite it only being as long ago as he could count on one hand. Joshua turned to him. “Were you okay?”

         “Okay? Yeah.” Seokmin said quickly. “I thought I was watching I shouldn’t have, with you and Jeonghan-Hyung.” Joshua’s smile seemed sad, almost apologetic.

         “We’re always like that. Jeonghan’s like my brother in a way. It wasn’t a real fight, so you weren’t intruding or anything.” He glanced at him. “Sorry, though. Probably not a good first impression.”

         “Oh, it’s okay!” Seokmin quickly assured. “I honestly forgot about it until you brought it up now.”

         “Hm,” Joshua smirked, his nose slightly in the air. “I told you making bracelets is a great way to relax.” Seokmin chuckled at Joshua’s confident, almost cocky facial expression. “I honestly might have to write a book and sell it for millions.”

         “A book?”

         “A self-help book.” He said simply. “One about how making bracelets and necklaces is the key to true nirvana.”

“First you abandoned Hollywood for teaching, and now you’re publishing a book?”

“I can do both!” Joshua tilted his head as he looked back at Seokmin. “I’ll call it The Threads of Life: A Few Plastic Beads and You.”

         The sound of both men’s laughter filled the air around them, ripping through the evening air and letting everyone who heard it know that they were enjoying themselves. Seokmin covered his mouth. “I’m so sorry, but that sounds disgusting.” He said quickly.

         “…Oh God, you’re right.” Joshua’s eyes going wide only made Seokmin laugh harder, Joshua not too far behind. “I didn’t even think of that!”

         “I’m sure someone would buy it,” Seokmin assured, and Joshua nodded. Seokmin subsided his laughter as his apartment came into view. He saw the lights on in his front windows and knew Seungkwan most likely was still awake. When he glanced at Joshua once more, his eyes immediately darted down to his lips. Joshua was walking with his chin tilted up, looking at the sunset above before it disappeared behind the horizon.

         “It’s nice out tonight, hm? Pretty.” Joshua said.

         “Yeah,” Seokmin said softly, eyes still fixated on the smile dancing on Joshua’s face. It looked like it was sparkling in the sunset. When Joshua turned back to him, Seokmin’s eyes snapped forward, then directly up to the sky. “Yep. Beautiful sunset. Never seen one like it...”

         As the duo approached the front of Seokmin’s apartments, he turned back to Joshua. “I can make it from here.” He assured.

         “Okay.” He said. “I’ll see you around, okay? I had fun tonight.”

         “Me too,” Seokmin said happily, and he meant it. Joshua ran a hand through his brown locks and Seokmin’s eyes trailed the movement. God, he wanted to kiss Joshua so badly.

         …No. No fucking way. Who kisses on the first date?! Well, some people do, but they just established that this event was a date less than 10 minutes ago! In an elevator! No, if Seokmin went in for the kiss now, he’d make a complete fool of himself, and that Joshua hole in his brain did NOT need to be any bigger. Seokmin only smiled one more time. “Get home safe, okay Hyung?”

         “I will.” He assured. With another small wave, Joshua watched as Seokmin made his way into the entrance to his apartment, the door closing behind him and separating them by a thick, glass door. Seokmin turned his head over his shoulder quickly, offering one final wave before he saw Joshua make his way back down the street they came from. It almost looked like the sunset was enveloping him in an angelic glow. It gave Seokmin butterflies and made him feel like he was in a romance movie. As Seokmin stepped into the elevator, and the heavy doors closed before him, he took a deep breath. A realization hit him like a freight train and had him break out into a giddy grin.

         He just had his first date….

⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔(im)perfect🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌

         Mingyu and Seungkwan were sitting on the couch watching TV and snacking from the pantry when Seokmin came in, closing the door behind him. The males looked up, and immediately their smiles matched his.

         “Hey, stud! How’d it go?!” Seungkwan asked. He practically sprinted from his seat towards Seokmin. Seokmin smiled.

         “It went well.” He said simply. “We got lunch and went back to his house and-.” When he saw the glint in his friend's eyes, he scoffed. “Made bracelets.”

         “Is that the term for it now?” Mingyu asked, pursing his lips together as he mentally tried to figure out how that phrase got lumped into the same category as the ‘devil’s tango’ or ‘doing the dirty’.

         “No. God.” Seokmin choked back an embarrassed laugh. “He makes these really cute bracelets and he showed me how to make them. And we talked and it was very chill. Very nice.”

         “Aww, that’s good Min.” Mingyu grinned, arm draped over the couch. “Come tell us all about it.” He patted the seat between him and where Seungkwan was sitting. Seokmin discarded his shoes and made his way over, settling between his friends. Immediately, Seungkwan passed him the opened and half-eaten bag of chips.

“Where’s Seungcheol-Hyung?” Seokmin asked curiously. Mingyu shrugged.

“At the gym with his friends from work.” He said. “I wanted to be here when you got home so I skipped.” Seokmin’s eyes widened in shock. Mingyu was at the gym so often that he had a second bed there. “Soo.” Mingyu leaned forward.

         “Soooo.” Seokmin hummed. “I don’t have much else to say. It was nice.”  

         “Lame.” Seungkwan teased, sticking his tongue out.

         “Look who’s talking!” Seokmin shouted, looking back over at his friend. Mingyu laughed.

         “Alright, listen.” Seungkwan shifted in his seat, glaring at the two cackling people he called his friends. Seungkwan huffed. “You both just love to remind me that at the end of the day, I’ve befriended two stupid men with one brain cell.”

         “Yes.” Mingyu nodded in confirmation of Seungkwan’s comment. When he looked down, he saw the plastic bag still in Seokmin’s hand. “What are those?”

         “Hm? Oh!” Seokmin’s eyes sparkled. “I made these.” He held them up for the two of them to see. “I made one of all of you. It took me ages to get the right rhythm, but I managed to make all four of them.”

         “Is that one mine?” Seungkwan pointed to the one decorated in orange.

         “How’d you guess?” Seokmin grinned, and Seungkwan followed. He pulled it out. Like it was Halloween, he passed the bracelets to his friends, and Seungcheols to Mingyu as well. “I just need to give this one to Junhui-Hyung.”

         “Cute.” Mingyu grinned, immediately sliding it onto his wrist. To Seokmin’s surprise, it fit pretty well.

         “Tadaaa~!” Seokmin clapped in a loud sing-song voice. He was practically beaming.

         “Aww, thanks Hyung. Did you make yourself one?” Seokmin shook his head.

         “I was going too but I forgot since every time I finished one I thought of someone else I wanted to make one for.” He picked up the teddy bear bead from Joshua, rolling it in his fingers once again. “But I did take this. Joshua gave it to me to keep. Isn’t it cute?”

         “Very.” Mingyu chuckled. Seokmin set the plastic bag on the coffee table. He looked up at the TV and saw there was a movie on. 

“Oh, were you in the middle of something?”

         “We’re watching The Greatest Showman. Mingyu’s never seen it.”

         Seokmin’s head whipped to his friend, who offered a sheepish grin. “Yes, you have! Haven’t you?!”

         “Well no. You just sing the soundtrack to me all the time.”

         “That’s pretty much the same thing.” Seokmin grinned. He nestled back on the couch, taking another chip from the open bag.

         “We were debating buying dinner before he started it,” Seungkwan said. “Hungry?” When Seokmin nodded, Mingyu was already scrolling through locations on his phone. Seokmin wasted no time leaning onto his shoulder, his chin resting on it to get a good look at the options. Seungkwan nestled into view as well, peering over Seokmin’s shoulder. Seokmin looked between the both of them as they discussed some food options. For some reason, he felt incredibly overwhelmed, but not because he was smushed by his best friends. No, something else. He hummed and finally opened his mouth to see if the words would fall out. Fall out they did.

         “Guys, I just went on my first date with Joshua….” His voice was low, almost timid as if he was worried that what he said was incorrect information. However, Mingyu and Seungkwan looked at him and broke out into very amused grins.

         “We know,” Seungkwan said. “Love how you said first, by the way. You guys already planned for date number two?”

         “Well, no…” Seokmin’s voice trailed off, eyes falling on the little teddy bear bead sitting in the plastic bag with Junhui’s bracelet. He seemed to have trailed off for a bit too long, his friends going back to deciding where to order food from. Seokmin listened quietly, but his mind was wandering to other things, other scenarios that kept playing in his head like one of those Choose Your Own Adventure books that Jungkook loved to read with him as a kid. Seokmin always over-thought the options and usually ended up taking the path that caused him to get lost in the woods or have a run-in with a tiger because ‘what if the other way is too good to be true?’

         The entire time The Greatest Showman was on, Seokmin couldn’t get his mind off how badly he wanted to kiss Joshua, and his mind played every single different scenario, good or bad, that could have erupted if he chose to go with his gut and kiss him. He’s glad he didn’t do it because most of the scenarios his brain was coming up with were life-shattering, earth-ending terrible…and all of them ended with Seokmin and Joshua parting ways; Seokmin racking his brain on if he would get another date.

         Joshua texted him fifteen minutes later.

         [Joshua] (now): What do you want to do for our second date?

 Seokmin went down the right path in this adventure book, thank God.

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[that--unusual-person]

Cosmic anon gets it‼️‼️

There is so much more i would do the Starscream like pick him up with my bare cold hands and shake him like the ginger girl from finding Nemo and force him to watch all Shrek movies while all stars from smash mouth plays in the back non stop. Baking him into a cake is also a great options and the salad spinner with him in is just a great way to stim❤️. Just aggressively making that thing turn around and around. i once broke a salad spinner as a kid because i did it so agressivly breaking the handle and making the spinner fall on the floor and partly breaking into pieces. I imagine Starscream just being a puddle at this point, if so then he goes right back in the jar and then i microwaves him because i wanna know what will happen. if nothing does i would bite his head (lovingly) and rattle him around like a dog with their chew toy, barking while doing so and run around on all four running in circles.

I would squeeze him like those stress toys who's eye pop out dramatically and then throw him on the wall and hope he would stick on it right above my bed, that way when i stare on the celling i can see him before i fall asleep ❤️. Bc he is so cool and awesome he should be the last thing i see when i go into dreamland and also the first thing i see when i wake up❤️.

With the others i can't say my thirst for pathetic meow meows oozes for them. Like Starscream has just this pathetic wet sock, crying in the rain while covered in the mud, hopeing you would take him back as a lover while, i will always love you, plays in the back and you just throw a shoe at him to make him go away. He doesn't tho and looks at you with those big silly eyes, you still take him back because there is just SOMETHING about him you don't find in others, kind of vibe.

He is so pathetic and loving, his dumb stupidity grin that melts your heart while his clownery makes you wanna put him in a potato sack where only his head peaks out and put him in the damp,cold, dark basement. He is so dumb and cute and ratty.

Soundwave is just straight up my loving husband that i would wife up and give all my love without the insanity. The Bot is already dealing with so much he deserves a break and a soft tenderly kiss on the cheek while i tell him how great he is. I would draw him like an old painter draws their lover and muse; full of grace and power, elegance that you don't see anywhere else. The paintings of the time where he still was by my side the only thing reminding me how he looks like while my brain slowly withers away. My mind forgetting how his voice filled my hears like a wonderful song and his touch like the warm rays of the sun. But my heart beating for him and knowing even if i forget how he looks like my it will still remember him. Writing love sick writing poetry about the fuzzy warm feeling i had in the past seeing paintings of this mysterious person i clearly knew in the past. Writing about his beauty that shines from the inside out. Watching the moon, thinking of his dazzling eyes feeling cold and lonely not having him by my side, wishing each day that he would finally be here to fall in love a second time❤️ (but your genius for the things you wrote down).

Same with shockwave, but i have to admit i really wanna bite his mono-boob while skedaddling on his body like an insect. My feelings for shocker is in between of soundwave and Starscream.

I wanna cling on his leg and try to shake him around (knowing it won't happen because he is a THICC BOY). he would need me to put me in those child dog leashes or cages to make me stop fooling around and chewing on him. I would probably just straight up gulp down one of his chemicals to mess with him not caring if i die or grow a third arm. I honestly hope i would be his Starscream ❤️❤️ Him observing me in my silly little jar while i lick the glass like stich at the beginning of the movie❤️

I would be the fluffy cat getting petted sleeping on the lap of the villain as they spin around to face the hero of the story.

Anyway i hope it's obvious I'm very autistic about these three.(apologies for the insane ramblings I'm sleep deprived and ate like 13 chocolate muffins).

-thick shockwave/jar Starscream anon

[m4ggotm0ld]

You sent me a pic of your cat so now you suffer the consequences (getting a pic of my dog)

AWWWWHDHDHDHSNS

they’re so cute I wanna put him in a jar and shake him like that braces girl from finding Nemo☹️

[lunagames]

I need to gush about this Devil’s Candy side character

Okay. So, Devil’s candy is a webcomic on hiveworks. It’s about a world of devil’s which is a shorthand for basically aything mythologically monstrous (also generally humanoid) here. It’s also about a boy imp who’s biological project is a person. It’s good. This post is not specifically about why this comic is good.

This post IS about Echo! A sidecharacter, first appearing in an intermission chapter (that’s chapter 9, 8 being the end to a big arc). This is her.

She’s a longlimbed wolf creature with starlight in her hair. She looks incredibly cool. But what I love most about her is her framing.

ALLOW ME TO EXPLAIN! This will take a while.

Like I said we’re in a world of monsters. Our main characters are also monsters. However our main characters are, comparitively, weak. An imp, a fish guy with half skin invisble (you’ll see), a satyr that looks a lot cooler than he is and a vampire that limits his blooddrinking and through that his power. The strongest people in our squad so far are a cyclops girl and the biology project.

What’s important is 1) the fish/invisble skin guy called Nemo is not strong and 2) the intermission chapter is his chapter. Out of his perspective.

Got it? Great enough preamble. Back to Echo. This is her introduction:

Monstrous. And then you have the next page, that I already showed and you see a dapper young lady. And you’re like: Okay author. You got me. You got me thinking this was the big bad wolf.

But see, they did get you.

Nemo is as surprised as you are that she’s suddenly in his bathroom, but he shakes it off pretty quick and they have an amicable exchange. He needs to go to her house, because his dad pushes of PI work on him or something. Unimportant. The important thing is this happens:

And you’re like Oh does he have a little crush? So far in the comic Nemo (and yes, that is him, see through until water remember) has never really looked shy or flustered like this. And we’ve seen him pretty often.

And then she says: “You’ve got me thinking of frog legs... And I say that in the fondest way.“ And he reacts like this:

And you’re like wait. Is he afraid of her? Does he think she’ll eat him? Is that why he’s so uncharacteristically shy? And...

Yeah. She’s a big wolf and he’s a small fish. He may not run away at sight. But maybe his screaming and suddenly falling on the floor upon her suddenly appearing wasn’t only about the suddeness.

Anyway, they get to her house, she introduces him to her friends, the school’s literature club, they go into the office, they find a decapitated head.

Everyone’s terrified. Except... no. Only Nemo is terrifed. The others are pretending. And Nemo notices.

He thinks they’re gonna eat him and they’re not doing super much to reassure him that they won’t. Echo specifically.

She’s always shown from so low. It makes sense. Nemo is small and she is hella tall. But there’s more to it, it’s not that they’re always shown side by side and Nemo is a dwarf. She’s towering over him. She leans over him, closely even as it unnerves him. Often she’s just a silhouette of starlight, a monster you’re too scared to even look at directly. Whenever she’s in focus, so are her claws. So are her teeth.

Anyway, he figures out part of it all, specifically the part where they are all duping him.

He runs.

And Echo pursues.

And let me tell you, she certainly looks like the big bad wolf.

Her shape is beastly, she moves not only faster but in a way where she seems to not be bound to space. She catches him with one claw that covers his entire upper body.

She breathes starlight and tells him that he can’t run away. He has to make it to the end of the story.

And then Nemo hits you with this out of nowhere:

Which frankly slots in more with what’s cool about this comic than just Echo, so uh, topic of another post.

Anyway, look at Echo again. A scary silhouette. And when she’s not her teeth come out. Her eyes are only shown when it would be scary.

Anyway, she’s a good person. Her father and Nemo’s dad set this up as a birthday gift for her (she enjoys mystery novels). She saves our protagonists in a later chapter in a really cool way, where again she seems to be the only one (beside the attacking villain) not entirely bound to space and time.

And this is such a long explanation to say... this is new to me. I have never seen a female character, human/monster/demon/angel or whatever, shown like this. When a female character terrifies a male main character there’s always something else about it. Sometimes it’s comedic, a cute girl that has a scary look in her face or something. Usually it’s seductive, a woman dominatrix kind, whose actions are more about turning on the reader than the male character in question.

Echo has none of that. She’s an elegant character, who doesn’t so much switch into a beastly mode as much as you think she already is one all the time. She’s framed as someone who has the potential to always be terrifying. At any moment, though it wouldn’t be a snap-decision for her. And she doesn’t do much to dispel the notion, no over the top apologies about scaring anyone and it almost looks like she enjoys the occasional scaring. When Nemo asks her if she eats frogs, she says “Not the cute ones” and at the end when he asks whether ‘really‘ no one is going to be eaten she says “Only if you want to.“

But it’s very much the framing. She doesn’t say a lot of threatening things, but the few things she does say is lingered on. And since it’s all out of Nemo’s perspective and he is, of all our protagonist, the one with the most functional  self-preservation instinct, we see her as very much dangerous.

In conclusion: I love her! She’s great. I stan. etc. etc.

Side-note: not sure if the comic is going for them as a pairing. Like I said, she’s very much a side-character and there are other side-characters that appear more and also I guess Nemo has comparitively the most possible romantic interests mentioned (he already made out with someone in chapter 1 technically), but I mean if this dynamic was gender-switched it would be very much like vampire romance stories, wouldn’t it? The Male Lead being somewhat scary even to the main character, even though he wouldn’t actually hurt her? I kinda like them. Unless proven otherwise, I am interpreting Nemo as being a little bit into her, if also still quite a bit terrified.

[juoreze]

I wanna put him in a plastic bag and shake him like the braces girl from finding nemo

comms | insta | kofi

[darklordofthesimp]

k but like i wanna put konig in a plastic baggy and shake him up like that little girl from fuckin finding nemo

Sano please you're treading on thin ice. Someone's gonna make this weird