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pbelfz · 1 year ago

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Two to One | 14 |

Pairing: Bakugou x Reader x Midoriya Chapter Title: Angling Chapter 13 | Chapter 15 Story Masterlist Summary: You are a simple college girl working at a cheap, back alley café! The top heroes, Deku and Ground Zero, visit your work in hopes of ordering coffee, but they pick something else up instead. You begin an interesting relationship with the pair, while slowly becoming aware of certain underhanded tactics they are using. Idolization isn't always that bad... Right?

WARNINGS: coercion, corruption kink, virginity loss,

“So, Deku, have you seen what news articles are saying about you recently?”

The TV talk show host, Ema, on her show, Ema, changed the topic to an attention-grabber, and the audience noticeably silenced. Izuku sat across from her, relaxed in a white button-down with the sleeves rolled up half-way and the top two buttons undone. He must have shaved this morning – or his makeup crew did it for him – because the light stubble that was growing in was nowhere to be seen.

The interview played on the small cable television kept in the staff backroom of Satou’s. (Y/n) was on lunch break and glanced periodically at the TV, trying to convince herself she didn’t actually want to watch.

Deku smiled back at the host. (Y/n) knew that he was probably aching to slouch in that chair or at least rest his cheek in his palm. It wouldn’t be a good look for the Symbol of Peace, though. The public didn’t know how tired he always was.

“There’s quite a lot of news articles that say a lot of things about me,” Deku replied, and he wasn’t wrong. (Y/n) had been wise to keep her Deku and Dynamight news consumption limited to Twitter – for what it was worth, anyway.

Ema grinned, glancing at the crowd and back to Izuku.

“Well,” she started, “Some people have noticed how often you cross your legs, Deku.” Her gaze flickered to Izuku’s current posture. His legs were crossed, all right. The camera zoomed in on them. Izuku waited patiently.

(Y/n) never took her eyes off of Izuku. His brow twitched the slightest hint at the urge to furrow, but he didn’t. He continued to offer a kind yet curious closed-mouth smile.

“And we all know what it means when a man is able to cross his legs!” Ema looked to the crowd, checking her own presentation in the monitor.

The crowd was heard giggling, especially when Izuku finally made a face that must have been itching to press through. However, he’s been in the public eye for eleven years now; he’s learned many tricks of de-escalation, redirection, and humor.

Izuku kept his legs crossed and a soft smile. He fought the desire to shift in his seat, knowing how talk show hosts picked apart any sign of weakness for the audience’s pleasure, even if it wasn’t on a predetermined script. “I don’t really think that tracks…,” Izuku’s reply wasn’t as well-thought out as it could have been. He was juggling to maintain composure and his reputation for a comment that was off-script. As the Symbol of Peace and the Number One Hero, Deku became rather strict about how his image was viewed.

“Oh, really?” Ema gave the audience and then Izuku an impressed look. (Y/n) noticed Izuku’s smile was less prominent now.

Izuku then took his Ema-branded and provided mug of coffee that was sitting on the table between them and gave a purposefully overexaggerated sip. The audience laughed. Ema laughed as well, and while everyone was distracted with Izuku’s slight diversion, he sent a glance at his personal assistant, who was standing just out of sight behind the stage. She understood what his look meant. Izuku continued to smile as he set the cup back down on the table.

Sakurai, Izuku’s assistant, quickly made her way over to Izuku’s head of PR team, Fukuda, who had already communicated to Ema’s team that Izuku would no longer be a guest on Ema in the future. Sakurai briefly mentioned that Ema should quickly change the topic or otherwise face a lawsuit for a breach of contract. The head of Ema’s team hurried to signal her from her earpiece.

“So, Uravity was–,” Ema hesitated, and Izuku knew she must have gotten the signal. “You and Uravity teamed up this past week against a class SS villain. What was that like?”

Izuku uncrossed his legs, smoothing his pants, much more comfortable to discuss hero work. (Y/n) lifted an eyebrow at the TV. She wondered what all that was about.

Katsuki’s kisses had a tendency to come with unchecked desperation, almost like he was searching for something within (Y/n). She wondered if he kissed Izuku with the same heat, but as her eyes watched him pulling away from Izuku, still sucking on his tongue, she couldn’t help but want a taste, too.

Izuku’s cock prodded against the inside of (Y/n)’s cheek, heavy and thick. Watching them kiss above her proved to be distracting, as her previously long licks and sucks mellowed into kitten licks. Izuku broke away from Katsuki once more, looking down at (Y/n) in his lap. His hand rested on her cheek with his thumb making its way between her lips, pulling her mouth open even further. She looked gorgeous – the most beautiful he’d seen her – with his hardened penis slipping slightly out from her slacked jaw.

“You okay?” He voiced his concern. He checked in with her more regularly than Katsuki did. (Y/n) was brought back to the task at hand, and she wrapped her lips around Izuku’s tip once again, swirling her tongue around his slit. Izuku watched, captivated, his chest heaving as he groaned with each suck. Katsuki’s cock bobbed next to her face as he kneeled next to her. It was almost teasing, the way it brushed against her jaw. She glanced up at Katsuki, now taking Izuku further into her mouth, allowing him to sink deeper as he tested her limits, but Katsuki was fixated on sucking on Izuku’s nipples. With a cock stuffing her throat, she sputtered, but Izuku stayed where he was.

“It’s okay, you’re doing fine,” came Izuku’s words from above her. She felt his hands on her jaw, massaging her neck to allow him in further. She whimpered around him, opening her mouth even wider as Izuku slipped almost to the hilt. “Oh, fuck… Watch the teeth, baby,” he directed her, feeling her throat swallow around his shaft. “Ohhhh, my god…”

Katsuki marveled at (Y/n). Tears were streaming down her face, the most he’d ever seen. He bent down, kissing Izuku’s navel and then his tuft of pubes before he felt (Y/n) attempt to push him off of her. Izuku pulled out immediately. Spit and precum engulfed Izuku’s cock and spilled out of (Y/n)’s mouth as she gasped for air. Izuku knelt down, capturing her lips in an open-mouth kiss, swallowing everything.

Katsuki yanked Izuku off of her, smashing his lips against Izuku’s. He’d been left out long enough. As soon as she recovered, (Y/n) hungrily took Katsuki’s cock into her mouth, making him moan against Izuku.

However, he hesitantly pulled away from her. He shared a glance with Izuku, and (Y/n) watched as they silently shared a conversation with just one look. Izuku met (Y/n)’s eye with a small, kind smile. He knelt down, embracing her and exchanging a sweet kiss on the lips before pulling away.

“Do you think… tonight is the night?”

(Y/n)’s stomach stirred at Izuku’s suggestion. She saw movement in the corner of her eye, finding Katsuki flicking his wrist around his shaft. He waited a moment before speaking up.

“She’s more than ready,” fervor dripped off his tongue. (Y/n) didn’t have a moment to reply, yelping as Katsuki repositioned her onto Izuku’s lap, lying her back against him and facing Katsuki. She finally got a good look at the Number Two Hero’s face, and he was damn near ravenous. She felt Izuku’s hands on her – or were they Katsuki’s? – stroking her arms, her legs, her hair. The men moved with such fluidity and harmony; someone was spreading her legs, and someone else was stroking her breast. Izuku’s hard cock pressed between her cheeks, mere centimeters away from her cunt.

A honeyed haze clouded Izuku’s foresight. “Lube, Kacchan,” Izuku held his hand out, and Katsuki passed him a tube of their preferred lubrication from the nightstand drawer. (Y/n)’s breathing picked up, but neither of them seemed to notice. Why weren’t they noticing? She heard Izuku pop open the tube, and Katsuki’s fingers were stroking her slit, paying particular attention to her clit. (Y/n) squirmed against Izuku, who shushed her. She was feeling hot, too hot, too warm. Everything was burning. They were too close, there were too many bodies. She was going to suffocate.

Izuku reached forward, and his lube-covered fingers gently prodded (Y/n)’s pussy, easily dipping inside. Izuku pulled out, reaching further to stroke her pucker with his fingers, making (Y/n) gasp and recoil slightly at the intrusion. Or were they Katsuki’s fingers? God, help her. Regardless, Katsuki laughed, low and sensual.

“Who’s takin’ which hole?” Katsuki addressed Izuku, his eyes fixated on (Y/n)’s sopping cunt. Izuku’s fingers swept through (Y/n)’s hair; he appeared to be thinking.

“Stop…”

Both men paused immediately.

“Stop, please.” Her voice was no more than a whisper; it surprised her they heard her at all.

Katsuki shot backwards, unraveling himself from (Y/n), while Izuku’s brow wrinkled into a furrow, looking down at her in his arms. They hadn’t noticed she’d been crying. Izuku swiftly shifted and turned her around in his lap, cradling her. It was almost instinctual how he attended to her.

“Hey…,” he was kind. He put on his hero tone, the one he used with children who cried after being saved. “What do you need from me, hm?” (Y/n) felt stupid and small when he spoke like that, but right now, it made her feel safe. (Y/n)’s silent tears quickly became sobs. Katsuki watched with wide eyes as Izuku rocked her softly. The men exchanged looks, but they said no words. Guilt washed over the two of them, but Katsuki felt it smack him harder than Izuku. “We stopped. We’re done, we stopped,” Izuku’s hushed whispers consoled her.

“I’m sorry,” Katsuki’s tone was muffled and quiet – or as quiet as it could be. The apology slipped out easily, naturally almost. How many times would he have to apologize to her? Katsuki didn’t move from his spot, kneeling at the corner of the bed, putting himself as far away from (Y/n) and Izuku as he could. Izuku pressed his lips to (Y/n)’s temple. He inhaled, smelling the sweet scent of her leave-in conditioner.

“It’s okay, you’re okay,” he uttered to her. Katsuki only watched, unsure what to do. Out of all of his years of quirk-training, his hands have never felt so heavy and out of his control. He wanted to help, to reach out and hold her, too, but he was afraid of making things worse.

“We don’t have to do anything else tonight,” Izuku stated, both to (Y/n) and Katsuki. (Y/n) then seemed to spring upright, and Izuku let her, watching as she wiped her tears away, but her sniffling remained.

“No, no. I can do this. I can,” she was convincing herself than the heroes. Izuku looked her in the eye, frowning. He kept himself from shaking his head. He felt like (Y/n) might be too sensitive for anything disapproving right now.

“Do you want to get some ice cream? Watch a movie, maybe?” Izuku offered alternative things to help calm (Y/n) down. Katsuki’s gaze turned downward. Something filled Katsuki, almost akin to envy but darker. They both had approached (Y/n), so why did he feel like the only bad guy in the room?

Katsuki huffed, unable to gather his words, watching (Y/n) slowly nod. She wasn’t ready for this. Not both of them, anyway.

Izuku leapt up from the bed. “Well, good!” Katsuki and (Y/n) watched him. Izuku shimmied back into his pajama bottoms. “Let’s go watch a movie, then.” He turned to face his partners, taking in (Y/n)’s red-rimmed eyes.

“I’ve been dying to watch the new Spider-Verse movie!” (Y/n) knew Izuku was trying to lighten the mood, and she appreciated it. He held her pajama shirt, which was previously forgotten about, along with her matching shorts on the bed. “Arms up!”

(Y/n) unenthusiastically put her arms up for Izuku to place her shirt over her head. The cotton slipped on easily, Izuku making sure her hair didn’t get caught anywhere. (Y/n) reached behind her and retrieved her shorts, slipping them on herself. Katsuki watched them both as he pulled his own pajama bottoms back on; Izuku hadn’t looked at him since they called it quits tonight. Neither had (Y/n).

Izuku held his hand out for (Y/n) to hold, and he pulled her to her feet. Her tears had dried, and her sniffling faded. She was shaken up, feeling guilty for leading them on. Katsuki watched Izuku lead (Y/n) out of the bedroom, heading for the living room to start the movie.

Katsuki sat on the bed, removing himself.

He slept in the bed alone that night, while Izuku and (Y/n) slept on the couch.

“We need to talk about last night,” Katsuki stood at the door of Izuku’s home office. It was six in the morning, and everyone was preparing for the day – Izuku and Katsuki more than (Y/n), who waded around in the kitchen with instant coffee in her hand, threatening to spill on the floor with each sleepy sip she took.

Izuku glanced up at Katsuki from his computer before returning his attention back to the monitor. Izuku liked to squeeze in a jog in the early mornings, so he wore blue gym shorts and a compression shirt that clung and stretched around his pectorals. He was trying to send some files to his work email and sidekicks before he started his day.

Izuku’s fingers moved with lightning dexterity on the keyboard. “We will,” he replied without looking at Katsuki. The latter scoffed.

“Will we?” Katsuki sounded more direct than he intended to, making Izuku finally offer a punitive stare in his direction. Katsuki glared back at him. All the All Mights on Izuku’s office merchandise seemed to become even more lifeless than they already were.

“Kacchan, I’ve got it handled,” Izuku attempted to pacify his partner. He was too tired for this. (Y/n) appeared beside Katsuki in the doorframe.

“Is something wrong?” She asked in the middle of a yawn. It was a question she found herself asking too often with these two. Katsuki all but pushed her into Izuku’s office.

“We need to talk about last night,” he blared, pulling out chairs for himself and her to sit in. Izuku rubbed his face, stretching the skin of the corners of his eyes, and ran a hand through his hair. When something nibbled at Katsuki’s nerves, he just couldn’t let it go. It was like an ice pick, picking away at his scalp. He wanted this settled, and he wanted this settled now.

“Katsuki, I’m supposed to be out the door by now,” Izuku tried.

“Too fuckin’ bad, Deku. Family meeting,” Katsuki slouched across from Izuku at his desk, his knees spread wide and his arms crossed, with (Y/n) sitting beside him. She just wanted this over with.

Izuku checked his watch. A gold Rolex that (Y/n) could’ve sworn she’d seen Katsuki wear before. They must’ve had matching ones.

“Alright,” Izuku relented with a sigh of a word, leaning down and rummaging through a drawer on his desk. The sooner they got this over with, the sooner everyone could start their day. Izuku sat back up, placing a few documents on the empty space of his desk. (Y/n) couldn’t see the details of the text from her angle.

“(Y/n), are you okay?” Izuku finally addressed her. They locked eyes, and the first thing (Y/n) noticed was that Izuku wasn’t smiling.

(Y/n) played with the ends of her hair – an anxious trait that both Katsuki and Izuku’s eyes flickered towards. “Yeah, I’m fine… Last night just shook me up a bit.”

“Is there anything we can do differently next time to make you more comfortable?” Izuku asked. (Y/n) glanced between the two of them. She couldn’t help but feel like this was a business transaction, especially being seated at Izuku’s desk like his consumers.

She stumbled over her words. “I don’t know. I mean, maybe? I was just overwhelmed. I didn’t know what to do.”

Katsuki butt in, louder than he should’ve been and shaking his head. “You didn’t have to do anything.” Izuku’s posture didn’t falter as he continued to face (Y/n), but he gave Katsuki a pointed look.

“We can try again whenever you feel ready. There’s no rush,” Izuku commented, picking up the forms and placing them back in a drawer of his desk. (Y/n) watched his scarred hands move about the polished cedar top, wondering if a similar one sat in his agency office.

Katsuki stared at Izuku. He already apologized, but Izuku had not. Katsuki’s finger tapped on his bicep.

“In the meantime,” Izuku’s gaze flickered away. He appeared hesitant. “We can establish a safe word. To use whenever you want us to stop what we’re doing.”

Katsuki looked to (Y/n), who glanced between the two heroes. “Safe word?”

“A word you say to let your partner know to stop everything. We can also use the traffic light system: green, yellow, red. Green means we can keep going, yellow typically means to slow down or check in, and red means to stop,” Izuku was on the cusp of rambling.

“Why can’t I just say ‘stop’?”

Izuku and Katsuki met eyes, and Katsuki scratched the back of his neck. Izuku answered.

“Sometimes, it can be unclear if you actually want to stop. A safe word allows for no discrepancies.”

(Y/n) nodded, but she wasn’t sure she understood quite yet. “Do you and Katsuki already have one?”

“It’s ‘Bronze Age’,” Katsuki grumbled. “Finger snapping if we can’t use our mouth.”

(Y/n)’s chest thumped at the implication. “Can I use the same, then?”

Both men nodded quietly, and Izuku finally smiled, checking his watch. 6:15am. He stood, ready to head to the door and go on a quick morning jog.

“You on birth control?” Katsuki blurted. Izuku jolted at what appeared to be his volume, pausing with his hands on the top of the desk just as he pushed his chair out to stand. It was admittedly a question he was also curious about. (Y/n) jumped, too, eyes bolting.

“I am.”

There was a pause no longer than a beat. “But that doesn’t mean I’m okay with unprotected sex! Um–!”

Izuku silently released a breath, and Katsuki relaxed, too.

The “family meeting” concluded itself, as Izuku would be running late if they continued. (Y/n) didn’t feel like this conversation was over, though. Izuku was the first to leave, skipping his morning jog entirely and throwing his daily routine off. It didn’t bother him as much as it would have Katsuki.

Katsuki waited at the door for (Y/n) to put her shoes on. He was dropping her off on campus today. He hadn’t said a word since Izuku left, but that was normal.

“Thank you for wanting to talk about that, Katsuki,” (Y/n) said as she tied her laces. Katsuki grunted in response.

“Izuku’s such a gentleman,” she was thinking aloud, remembering how Izuku prioritized her comfort over his own sexual pleasure. Safe words were a new concept to her, and she felt warm at being introduced to them. Katsuki snickered from above her, and she tilted her head to look at him.

“You kiddin’? Idiot fucks like a rabbit.”

Date nights felt magical and yet few and far between with Katsuki and Izuku. It was difficult for everyone’s schedules to correspond, and even more difficult for the heroes to put aside their hero mindsets to relax accordingly. Alcohol helped.

The trio sat in the VIP section of a high-end restaurant, much like the one on their first date. The only difference was this restaurant served freshly caught and prepared seafood, hibachi-style. (Y/n)’s anxiety was no secret, glancing around at the other patrons sitting lengths away with their backs turned to them, paying them no mind. No one even questioned who she was and why she was with the top two heroes when they all arrived. There were no paparazzi in sight, almost like they were barred off from this district, and Izuku and Katsuki were at ease.

It didn’t take a genius to realize that neither of them liked having the cameras on them at all times. Apart from their own suburban home, the small, dark corners of expensive restaurants seemed to be their only retreat into some semblance of normalcy. Katsuki had the decency to smile more often, and something that previously stiffened Izuku rolled off of him in waves, leaving behind a much looser, playful man.

“I can drink, too, right?” (Y/n) was being sarcastic, but she still hesitated when she reached for her sake. Izuku laughed and nodded. Katsuki smiled as he bit into his sushi.

“Yes, dear,” Izuku kid. He and Katsuki already had their share of sake, feeling warm. (Y/n) sipped on the hot liquor, feeling it mix nicely with her food in her belly.

“So, (Y/n),” Izuku started. “How’s work going?”

(Y/n) froze, almost dropping her chopsticks as she reached for the fatty tuna sushi.

“We haven’t heard you talk about it much lately,” Izuku added, focusing on his food. Katsuki eyed her. (Y/n) wanted to know where this serious-Izuku came from. Just a moment ago, they were laughing about how the lewdest photoshoot Izuku’s ever agreed to was a closeup of his middle and ring fingers, fingering a grapefruit. Izuku retorted by saying that the scandal of Katsuki’s suit being ripped around his crotch haunted the Explosion hero for years. Their agency still gets rather… colorfully worded letters regarding the incident.

But now, (Y/n) felt all eyes at the table on her again.

“We know you’ve been missing work,” Katsuki was always grumbling. When he wasn’t grumbling or mumbling, he was shouting much too loud for any conversation he was a part of. (Y/n) had half the nerve to ask him to repeat himself.

“How–?”

“We’d stop by to grab a coffee, and you wouldn’t be there during the times you said you were,” Katsuki explained. (Y/n) quieted down.

Izuku spoke almost fluidly, like they’d already planned out this conversation ahead of time. “We were thinking you should quit your job.”

The table went silent. Katsuki stopped chewing, maybe even stopped moving, all to gauge (Y/n)’s response. Izuku watched her. The other guests of the restaurant carried on with their families, dates, and friends, ignorant of the debacle occurring just a few feet away from them.

Izuku felt the need to explain, his palms dry of any sweat that could have produced. “I mean, you’re living with us now. We’ve got you covered on the bills, tuition, anything else you need.” (Y/n) met his eye. He wasn’t smiling. She really, really wished he was smiling. Izuku trailed off, hinting that he wanted to know how (Y/n) felt about the idea. “I know, it’s sudden…”

“Izuku,” she started, “You always say ‘we,’ but how does Katsuki actually feel about me living here with you both, jobless?” (Y/n) felt resentment rise up into her words.

“It was my idea, actually.”

Katsuki.

(Y/n)’s head snapped in his direction. He wasn’t looking at her, but he met her eye with a sincere glint right when she turned to him. He was telling the truth.

(Y/n) slumped back in her seat, wanting to sink into the plush leather cushions of the booth seat. Her eyes skimmed the generous rations of food on the table, only half dug into, for an answer to their question.

“You don’t have to decide now–,” Izuku attempted to be gracious.

“But we already–,” Katsuki interrupted him.

“Kacchan,” Izuku firmed his tone.

“Don’t you fucking ‘Kacchan’ me,” Katsuki snapped, miraculously managing to keep his voice down, even lowering it an octave. He turned to (Y/n), getting heated. She could tell when he was getting upset by the way his upper lip curled into a small snarl. “We’ve already set up a bank account for your own personal use, and we’ve been wiring money to it every paycheck.” He whipped around back to his partner with a viciousness. “If she doesn’t decide now, I want that fucking money back in my wallet tomorrow. It’s been weeks of this shit.”

This was the first (Y/n) heard about this, and it made her dizzy. They have money where? For whom?

“Why haven’t–?” Before (Y/n) could finish her thought, Katsuki gave her an ultimatum.

“There’s 3 million yen – and counting – in a bank account that we’ll give you access to only if you agree to quit your job. Today.”

(Y/n) gaped at him, bewildered and brazened. What the fuck?

“What the fuck?” Her thoughts couldn’t even form into the words she needed. Izuku was quiet, letting Katsuki say his piece.

“Don’t you ‘What the fuck’ me, either. Do we have an agreement?”

(Y/n)’s mind moved at ninety miles per hour comprehending the past two minutes. She quickly weighed the consequences, still feeling much too blurry. What were they asking of her exactly? Quit her job? How would she support herself? Oh, well, she’d have the 3 million yen in the bank… And she’s living with them now… Usually Katsuki is the one preparing her meals… They’re paying her tuition… Still, though, something felt innately anomalous for her. She’d been providing for herself since she was a teenager, and now suddenly, there’s two men in the picture who want to do all the hard work for her? She didn’t really know how to feel about that. However, at the same time, why was she fighting it? This could lead to an easier life for her. She’d been fighting for so long, and now an opportunity to just focus on her studies – something she’d been desiring forever – has just fallen in her lap.

“Can I think about it?” She had to try.

“You can think about it until it’s time for us to leave the restaurant. Then, I want a decision. Just fuckin’ knowin’ how some of my money’s just sitting in there for you makes me goddamn sick to my stomach.”

(Y/n) swallowed, feeling like she’d just been picked up and thrown every which way by the tornado that was Katsuki. He said it was his idea for her to quit, but now he’s upset about the entire thing? Her back felt tight. It’s been hurting lately whenever her anxiety acted up.

Work at Satou’s for 900 yen an hour or rely on Katsuki and Izuku fully? At least now she can say she’s not cheap; her pride cost 3 million yen. Still, she was hesitant. And stubborn.

“Would there be restrictions on how I use that money?”

Izuku shook his head, looking at Katsuki, who turned away, resting his cheek in his palm. “You’re going to get your own card, and we’re going to be putting money regularly in the account. Like, an allowance,” he explained. Katsuki seemed to withdraw from the conversation entirely.

“’Allowance’ as in I need to earn this money?” (Y/n) hammered him.

Once again, he shook his head. “No. ‘Allowance’ as in Kacchan and I will continue putting aside money from our paychecks and wiring it to your account for you to use.”

(Y/n)’s stare seemed to harden just a pinch. “If I quit, can I still work my last two weeks?”

“Yes,” Izuku affirmed matter-of-factly. Katsuki tapped his finger.

(Y/n) had to think about what she was going to tell Hana.

The room felt heated – maybe it even was, (Y/n) couldn’t tell anymore – and the bodies were so, so warm. Especially Katsuki. (Y/n) told him that he ran hot, and he told her to shut the fuck up before spreading her legs to dip his tongue into her cunt. Izuku slipped underneath Katsuki, wrapping his lips around his hardened cock and sticking his tongue out to lick around the base of his shaft while the head prodded the back of throat. Katsuki gasped into (Y/n)’s pussy, her slick covering his chin. He reveled in the sensation of Izuku sucking him off from underneath, feeling him wrap his hands around his hips, pulling his ass down further, encouraging him to fuck his mouth. Instead, Katsuki pulled his hips back, bringing his tip to Izuku’s lips. He knew that if he fucked his throat, he was going to cum early, and he was trying to hold out. Katsuki’s lips encircled around (Y/n)’s clit, sucking and nibbling, and her hands pulled on his hair. He pulled away to watch as he inserted a finger into her, and then a second one, before flicking his tongue against her clit once more.

She came quickly and in waves, splashing on his chin and down his neck to his chest, squealing like a freshly made porn star.

“Oh my fucking god,” Katsuki was mesmerized at the mess she made as he finger-fucked her through it, encouraging her to squirt more. “More, keep coming, c’mon.”

Izuku’s hands had wandered, and while he continued to suck Katsuki off from underneath him, his fingers were tracing a line up his ass. He spread Katsuki’s cheeks, eliciting a groan from his partner from above.

Katsuki pulled off (Y/n)’s breast with a wet pop. “Deepthroat,” Katsuki instructed before returning to his suckling. Or demanded, depending on the outlook. Regardless, Izuku did as he was told, relaxing his throat and feeling Katsuki begin to lightly thrust his hips. (Y/n) watched Katsuki’s hips move, running her hand through his hair as he popped from one tit to the other. He thrusted lightly into Izuku’s mouth, careful of his partner’s gag reflex, even though (Y/n) was sure Izuku didn’t have one. She watched as Izuku used his free hand to stroke himself, taking note of his technique to pleasure himself – when he twists his wrist near the tip of his cock, how tight of a grip he uses, how he plays with his balls. One of Izuku’s fingers on his other hand circled around Katsuki’s asshole, and she bit her lip. Suddenly, Katsuki pulled away from both of them, flushed and panting.

“Fuck, I’m gonna cum if we keep this up,” he was out of breath. “I need a minute.”

Izuku laughed and nodded, still on his back on the bed. (Y/n) was also breathless, but she felt intentional.

“I want to try tonight.”

Both of the men looked at her. “You sure?” Izuku asked. He was looking at her upside down. (Y/n) nodded. Izuku sat up, reaching for her hand and pulling her forward. (Y/n) collided into his chest, but he was smiling. She loved when Izuku smiled.

“We have to figure out how to do this, then.”

Katsuki was back in once he heard this, and he already had an idea in mind.

“Deku on bottom. I’ll be in the back,” he was stroking dick as he spoke. Izuku started to move into position when he felt (Y/n)’s hesitance.

“I-um…,” (Y/n)’s guilt made her tentative, “I don’t think I’m actually ready for… Both of you…”

They all stilled. Katsuki’s hand ceased its motions mid-stroke. “Maybe just one at a time? Or just one today?” She offered, but she had to keep herself from wincing because the suggestion felt like nails on a chalkboard.

(Y/n) couldn’t see, but Izuku and Katsuki looked at each other. They were trying to determine who it was going to be that took her virginity. Katsuki turned to (Y/n).

“Who do you want it to be?”

Izuku watched carefully. (Y/n) held back a groan, feeling the tension. Why couldn’t they just rock-paper-scissors this shit out?

Izuku opts himself out. “I’ll wait my turn,” he smiles, but (Y/n) can tell it doesn’t meet his eyes. “Can I hold you while he fucks you?” (Y/n) nodded quietly.

Izuku shifted on the bed, moving behind (Y/n), cradling her between his legs. He’s still hard; (Y/n) can feel him between her shoulder blades, leaking precum against her neck. His touch was soft, pulling her hair out of her face and placing kisses on her temple and ear. She melded into him. It was his job to make her feel comfortable right now. He liked to watch, anyway.

Katsuki got a good look at her as he spread her legs. He tapped her inner thigh as he stroked himself, the condom wrapper in his mouth.

“S’read your t’ighs mure,” Katsuki said, lowering his tone. (Y/n) did as she was told; she would’ve normally been really embarrassed about doing this if she hadn’t just squirted all over his face a few moments ago. Katsuki ripped the condom open, carefully rolling it onto his hard girth. (Y/n) thought it looked really weird – seeing a penis covered in latex.

Katsuki flicked her clit a couple of times, making her flinch and hiss, but she bit her lip once she saw him grip the base of his cock, lining himself up with her cunt. Izuku praised her as he pushed in. Katsuki let out the most guttural groan she thought she’d ever heard from him.

“Oh my fucking god, how are you this tight?”

“Shhh, you’re doing so good, baby. You remember your safe word, right?”

Katsuki was going as slow as he could, but holy fuck, was he barely making it by. He ground his teeth in order to still his hips from pounding into her. Izuku’s hands busied themselves by either playing with her nipples or stroking her hair, but he couldn’t pull his eyes from Katsuki’s thick, long cock sinking deeper and deeper into (Y/n)’s tight, virgin pussy. He felt the jealousy pull at him, but he pushed it back; he was going to get his turn. Katsuki had to be first at everything, after all. Maybe this was Izuku’s punishment for being the Number One Hero.

He had been so entranced by how well (Y/n) was swallowing up Katsuki, he’d forgotten to check in with her. He glanced down at her face; she was grimacing and breathing like she was giving birth. He kissed her. “You’re okay, you’re doing so, so well. You’re so beautiful, so gorgeous. Look at how well you’re taking him.”

“Ohhhh my god,” (Y/n) moaned.

“Shit, you’re bleeding,” Katsuki’s hips stopped moving. He was halfway in. He’d never been someone’s first before, so he was taken off guard. “Do you want to keep going? We can stop if–?”

(Y/n) thought it was sweet when Katsuki let his worrywart out. She shook her head vehemently, smacking Izuku with her hair.

“No, no, no, it’s just starting to feel goo-mmmm!”

“Fuck her through it, Kacchan,” came Izuku’s order. Katsuki nodded, too captivated by how tightly her cunt was squeezing him to bite back. He repositioned slightly, giving himself a better angle, and rolled his hips slowly. (Y/n) yelped, her eyes rolling back. Katsuki thrusted with precision and practice, and he was going slow for her. Izuku’s eyes flickered from where their sexes met to (Y/n)’s face, both giving him fuel for his own pleasure as he stroked himself.

Katsuki’s breath quickened, and Izuku recognized that it was getting harder and harder for him to control his pace. His hands balled up the sheets beside them; Izuku was surprised his quirk hadn’t activated. Perhaps, he thought too little of Kacchan’s control over himself. That had really only happened about a handful of times. Still, he seemed afraid to touch (Y/n). Izuku has been the one caressing (Y/n)’s body, while Katsuki has been the one doing the fucking.

“If you want him to speed up, you have to tell him, love,” Izuku uttered to (Y/n).

“Faster, Katsuki. Faster, please!”

That was the only permission Katsuki needed.

Katsuki leaned forward, gripping the headboard beside Izuku’s head, rolling his hips with a sudden urgency about them. The sound of skin slapping filled the room, and Izuku was getting close to his own orgasm, too. Katsuki must’ve been close the entire time, but he was drawing it out for (Y/n).

Izuku just brought (Y/n) to her third orgasm by stroking her clit, making her cunt clench even tighter around Katsuki. (Y/n)’s head had been bobbing onto Izuku’s shoulder for some time now, already fucked out even from Katsuki’s previously slow pace.

Izuku reached down, wrapping a hand around (Y/n)’s neck, pulling her head up and holding her by her jaw. He pressed lightly on the sides of her neck, testing the waters.

“Watch him fuck you. Look him in the eye while he fucks you.”

“Izuku–!”

Katsuki looked up from where he was splitting her open and met her eye. His hips slammed into her once, twice, three times.

“I’m cumming, I’m cumming, oh my fucking god,” Katuski groaned, filling the condom with his seed. He leaned over his partners, his softening cock pulling out of (Y/n). Izuku leaned up for a kiss, which Katsuki happily indulged. Katsuki moved from between (Y/n)’s legs.

“Your turn,” Katsuki had quickly recuperated, but (Y/n) was a different story. She whined, and both men turned to her.

“I’m… I think I’m done,” she was tired and sore. She wanted to go to bed. If Izuku was hurt, he didn’t show it. Or he thought he didn’t. Katsuki glanced at his boyfriend. Izuku didn’t look at him. He just knelt down and kissed (Y/n) on the forehead.

“Another time, then.”

#tto #the story is finally picking up #deku x bakugou x reader #midoriya x reader x bakugou #katsuki bakugou x reader #bakugou x reader #midoriya x reader #izuku x reader #deku x reader #katsuki x reader #mha x reader #bnha x reader #bakudeku x reader

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defrosted69 · 2 years ago

Text

My MVP

Ahn Yujin fan fic

"Number 6 aims it and….. MAKES IT!! The Flover Sharks College are now 15-0 for their start of the season!"

Cheers erupted through the roof as everyone was screaming at the top of their lungs. The school's gymnasium wasn't this full nor was it being broadcasted on national television. For years, your College team rarely gets televised on TV and if there is a way to get unto the cables of people, it's when your team is facing the popular and well known College University teams. But guess what? Ever since you came, things have changed for the better.

Who are you to bring in such crowd and media coverage? Oh your just one of the best young Point Guards as of right now in College. But this success comes from when you were highschool. Just like your story in College, you entered a very unknown High school where Basketball games weren't making any headlines. With your talent and skills, you easily blazed through the conference with ease earning every possible accolades from MVP, Scoring title, finals MVP, and assist title. Your constant skills brought the media all over your school.

With that kind of pressure, you would surely feel a little bit of fear and worry right?

Nope.

You couldn't careless of the people's expectation at all considering you were just focus on being better everyday on and off the court. To you, the media wasn't anything special as you consider it as a distraction in your goal.

"Ah yes hello Mike, right now I'm with today's best player Y/N Roh. Y/N you have been attracting attention since High school and now that your in College, does that somehow waver you?"

"Oh, umm thank you for that question Mr. Mike but honestly speaking, I'm not really focused on the media and stuff like that. I just go out there and do what I am asked from our coach and win. That's all what I think all the time."

"I see, well now, your team has made a historical accomplishment by being the first team to go 15-0 in a season. How does that feel knowing that you're the one leading this run?"

"Umm I'm not really the one leading anything. Basketball is a team sport and everyone in our locker room made this run possible."

"Well thank you for your time Y/N, good luck and nice win."

"Thank you Mr. Mike."

With that, you left the court and headed to the locker room. The locker room of the basketball team was usually dull and quiet but with you in, it has turned 180. Your teammates were all hyped up and excited to play college basketball once again. Your coach told everyone on the team that they should be humble and they should keep getting greedy. Of course this was your mindset from the beginning since regular games doesn't mean much to you.

After taking a shower and changing your clothes, you went out of the locker room and headed out of the building.

"Hey, it's our MVP."

You chuckled hearing that familiar voice as your eyes met with a beautiful pair of brown eyes as she smiled and waved at you.

"Did you wait long Wony?"

"Yup, me and Yujin we're waiting for you."

She smiled brightly as you tilted your head to the side and there you saw the geeky yet tall girl hiding beside Wonyoung. Yujin met with your eyes and she immediately blushed and covered her face with her clip board. Even though she was quite tall, she was very timid and a very shy person.

Wonyoung and Yujin were part of your highschool memories that carried on into College. When you first entered highschool, you weren't really much talkative as you prefer the silence and peace around you and this made everyone create a mysterious persona around you. But Wonyoung, being one of the most popular girl in the campus and also being known as an extrovert. Decided to be your friend. Of course you didn't mind it all since there could never be peace without chaos anyway. Wonyoung as that friend that always joke around and makes herself a fool sometimes and this is where Yujin comes into play. Opposite of Wonyoung's out going goffy personality is the timid and nerdy Yujin.

If Wonyoung prefers talking about Boxing, Yujin prefers to talk about Narnia books. They were literally the opposite of each other and yet somehow, they work well together. Meeting Yujin was quite a memory. You remembered when you first met her and she was shivering, literally. when Wonyoung brought you over to their table.

You know that you need to be very careful of your words consider Yujin's personality and that's what you did. You began to talk to her about the books she was reading, liking her simple hobbies such as star gazing, reading about planets, creating Lego pieces, and even discussing about myths such as the GOATman and skin walker. Slowly but surely, Yujin began to trust you and it was a wonderful feeling seeing Yujin warm up to you and show her true self.

There are time where Yujin would be bullied by other students but you weren't afraid to get dirty for Yujin. Both you and Wonyoung consider Yujin as a very fragile girl and seeing her cry would literally break both your hearts.

"Hey Yujin."

"Y/N.. Umm.. C-Congrats on winning today."

She showed you a small smile as you blushed a little and chuckled at her remark. Everything that Yujin does really make your flutter cause why you may ask? It's a simple equation really.

You like Yujin.

And no it didn't start recently, no. You actually began to like Yujin since the 2nd year of your highschool. It was when she finally began to trust you a lot and that's where your friendship with her began go build up. But you couldn't have the balls to confess to her. Why? Because you were afraid. You know that Yujin treasures the friendship you have with her considering she only has you and Wonyoung as friends. She was a loner without you two and it's just really like that.

"Thanks Yujin. Btw, It's already late at night. How come you two are still out?"

Wonyoung glided herself clinging her arms around you as she immediately gave you her puppy eyes which most males and even females would melt. This of course have an effect on you as you could feel your own cheeks turning red as you looked away from her.

"We wanna see you dummy~"

She changed her voice to a more cuter tone and you could feel your heart racing to its core. The loud beatings it was making was surely felt Wonyoung as she leaned in her chest bumping into your arm. It's softness made you lose your senses as your thoughts was slowly burning down to its core. Images of inappropriate scenes flashed before your eyes and you hated it.

Well as much you hate it, Yujin does too.

She hates it when her best friend Wonyoung would clobber you like her own toy and cling to your arms. She hated that right now, she was making you flustered when in fact she should be the one making you flustered. Jealousy is the word that could describe her feelings right now but who is she to be jealous of Wonyoung. What she lacks is all on Wonyoung. It's like God created Wonyoung to be so perfect that sometimes, Yujin would think to herself that she is a nobody at all. She hates to admit it but sometimes, she's jealous of how perfect Wonyoung is in every category. And right now, Wonyoung was showing her how much her skill in making anyone flustered so easy.

And it's infront of the person she admires.

Yup, Ahn Yujin likes you. The moment you showed interest in her books, she immediately fell in love. Some would say it's not that real when you fall in love so easily but you managed to do that with her. Yujin was a big fan of Korean dramas and her favorite genre is Rom-com. She always admires and dream of Guys that can make her laugh and show interest to what she loves to do and you checked all that list. Time and time again, she keeps telling herself how much she needed to restrain herself from showing any signs that she liked you. It was difficult but she somehow did it.

But she was also scared.

This admiration was bigger than her love for BTS, or Izone or even Twice and even Fromis_9. This was bigger and more powerful than that. It was love. She loved you so deeply that she has done small things towards you.

One of them is giving you her notes in subjects back in highschool. She would get out of her comfort zone just to help you in your struggling subjects. She also stayed in the gym helping you count your shots made and missed.

But the most significant things she could have done was when she, one of the top students back in highschool, take a blame for you. This really shook the entire school system that they had to change the school rules. The student council even had to interrogate you but Yujin defend you with all her might. She didn't want you getting into trouble knowing you have a very special game to Attend. And that memory is still on your mind because you still owe Yujin that. If she didn't take the blame of something that you were accused off, your legacy could in basketball could have been buried in the mud.

Till this day, you were still thinking of ways on what or how you will repay Yujin for that action she did.

"Well, see you around Y/N. I-I'm going first Wony.."

"Ah,Good night-"

Yujin didn't let you finish your sentence as Yujin hurriedly climbed the stairs to their dorm room as Wonyoung could only laugh at her best friend's action.

"She's so easy to read."

"Do you really have to do that?"

"Oh come on now. Y/N, you know damn well that Yujin likes you and she likes you too. When is she gonna man up, or better yet, when will YOU man up? Huh??"

You could only take a deep breath and exhaled it as you placed a hand on you forehead. Wonyoung was a confusing and unpredictable friend. Her usual antics is not something you could track that easily. And right now, you weren't sure if she's spewing facts or if it was her usual bullshit. Either way, you shook your head and denied her.

"Wony, she doesn't like me like that-"

"Accusations! False, Accusations…"

Wonyoung pointed her finger at you and did a complete copy of the meme as you chuckled at her.

"Y/n, I'm telling you this in advance because I really, And I mean I REALLY like you to marry and give Yujin kids because right now. There are Guys planning to ask for Yujin at the incoming Ball. And one of those is someone famous like you, Park Daniel."

You really didn't know how to act towards that information. One part of you was glad that Yujin was being adored considering her timid personality and you were afraid that she wouldn't feel relevant to others. But the majority of your feeling is that, you simply didn't like it. You felt like none of them was capable enough to be worthy of her.

"It's your choice Y/n. I really wanna help you two out but if you won't admit it then I'll help Yujin look preety for whoever invites her at the ball."

Wonyoung walked away leaving you frozen at your spot and the words that Wonyoung said really drilled deep into your mind. Were you this much of a coward when it comes to confessing your feelings to someone? Somehow, taking a bunch of nobodies to the finals and winning a championship seems so easy compared to this task.

You sighed and glided your hand through your hair. The stars was very beautiful tonight and it reminded you how Yujin would act so excitingly whenever she connects a star constellation. Her cheerful face, her beautiful smile, her eyes that show the beauty of the galaxy, everything about her just looks so beautiful and this made you realize something.

You're so deeply in love with Yujin.

Heat began to make their way unto your cheeks as you suddenly was flustered walking home. People might look at you weirdly seeing you all red and smiling like an idiot. But your heart was at peace thinking about her.

The girl named Ahn Yujin.

You really did like her.

You loved her more than anything.

"Say Wony…."

"Hmmh?"

Yujin and Wonyoung was now in their respective beds hoping that sleep would take them in but unfortunately for Yujin, she couldn't properly get her sleep just yet. Wonyoung on the other hand is watching her favorite Drama as she plans to skip her morning classes for tomorrow.

"I'm born to be single aren't I?"

Wonyoung had to blink her eyes a couple times to wake herself up. What her ears heard and how her brained processed it didn't made sense as she immediately sat up from her bed and looked at the girl over to her side. They both have their respective beds on each side of the wall making it easy for them to wake each other up. But Yujin suddenly felt embarrassed by her confession as she pulled her blanked up to cover her half of her face.

"Where is this coming from?"

Wonyoung asked as Yujin kept quiet for a few seconds. She wasn't really sure if it was just her exhaustion kicking to her or she's completely over at the idea that nobody will eger love her.

"I-I mean compared to you, I don't think nobody would love me like how everyone would.."

Her voice quiet down but Wonyoung's sharp ears caught it nonetheless. It was preety obvious that her best friend was once again hating herself and this was one of her habits she often encounters with her. It would only be natural considering that Wonyoung was the complete opposite of Yujin but being the best friend of hers, she knows when to help her and right now, she needed to remind Yujin that she's not who she's thinking about.

"Yujin, what did I tell you about my plan in life?"

"You mean your ultimate goal?"

"Yup. Say it to me again."

"Well. Ummmm.. Your goal is to die a virgin so that you won't be able to share any of your families business to anyone making it crumble and file for bankruptcy because, you, the 12th descendant of the Jang family, want to end the bloodline of your greedy family. "

Wonyoung smiled as she got of her bed and jumped next to Yujin's bed. The tall girl was startledat first but was able to compose herself again.

"You're right except for that Virgin part."

"O-Oh, so you're not a virgin?"

"….."

"Wony?"

"Can we not talk about this?"

"O-Oh, okay.."

Wonyoung took in a deep breath before cuddling with Yujin and smiling happily.

"Yujin, What your saying is a lie. You're loved by a lot of people. I'm already one of those people. Heck, those birds you feed at the park every Sunday morning actually loves you. Notice how they would wait for you every morning?"

"Y-Yeah but-"

"And there's Y/n too. He actually looks out for you a lot more than me and I honestly don't mind it all. Y/n cares a lot about you Yujin."

Just by the thought of you immediately made her heart race faster than normal. Wonyoung being close to her, was able to hear how Yujin's heart beat was calling out to you.

"N-No he's not. H-he's like that to everyone."

"Oh really? Then you wouldn't mind him seeing someone else then?"

It shouldn't have bother her a lot but it did. All that hiding of her so called feelings towards you finally reached it limits. She saw multiple scenarios on her mind seeing you smiling so happily with a girl which wasn't her. This torn her heart apart and it really got her feeling so sad. Tears began to form on her eyes and Wonyoung immediately stood up and hugged the girl tightly.

"I-I'm sorry I didn't mean to-"

"I like him…"

Once again, Wonyoung blinked a couple of times before pulling herself away from the crying girl. She looked surprised which was all an act. Behind the facade she was doing, she wanted to scream so loud because her faith and hypothesis was finally answered. She just now needed it to hear it again.

"I'm sorry what did you say Yujin?"

"……I like him…"

Yujin's voice was now so quiet it was hard to hear what she was saying. But Wonyoung, she caught it. She can now finally die in peace knowing her best friend like the person she was shipping with to begin with. A big smile appeared on her face as Yujin widen her eyes. She was already familiar with Wonyoung and the smile that was plastered on her face indicates nothing postive to her.

"Y-Yah Wony don't tell him please!"

"I won't. I won't but, here's the thing. Do you plan to tell him? The ball is just days away and many possible things could happen there and the worst thing that could happen to you is, Y/n is with someone else than you."

Yujin's frown only got bigger as that was really the worst possible scene her eyes can land too. She was sure that no matter how many romance movies or series she would watch, it wouldn't do anything to mend her broken heart. But the question still remains.

Was she really gonna risk her friendship with someone special to her just for the sake of love?

"I-I don't know. I don't know Wony. Will he even accept me? I'm an introvert who loves building Lego and reads fantasy books. Heck I'm a nerd through my heart and he's…. He's the opposite of me.."

Wonyoung felt the sadness in her voice as Yujin once again cried softly. She really hated it when Wonyoung sees her best friend crying and it just triggers something inside her to go violent. There was that famous incident when she saw some bullies bullying Yujin in the hallway back at High school and Wonyoung didn't hesitate to throw hands. She legit broke someone's nose and even dislocated one of their arms with her trained martial arts.

"Should I break Y/n's finger? Naaah that's too much. I love him… AS A BROTHER, yall though you caught me slipping?"

Wonyoung chuckled but she began to formulate an idea and boy did a crazy idea popped into her head. She smiled brightly as she grabbed a hold of Yujin's shoulder.

"Want me to help?"

"H-How?"

She smirked and chuckled which only scared Yujin. It wasn't everyday when you see Wonyoung showing her Heel side.

"Oh no…"

"Well it's like this.."

"It's weird for you to call me out Y/N, are you perhaps inviting me to the ball-"

"I like Yujin."

Well that was fast. Wonyoung blinked a couple of times before realizing what she heard. She had to rub her eyes for a bit and used her pointy finger to clean both her ears.

"I'm sorry what did you just say?"

Wonyoung asked again this time hoping to hear what she heard was correct. You could only look down embarrassed as your cheeks was turning redder by the second. Just saying that you like Yujin to someone close to her was embarrassing as it is. But one way or another, you have to get this out of your system and say it to someone. Of course, there's the risk of being exposed considering the person your telling this is her best friend after all.

"Wony, I'm sure you heard me loud and clear."

"No, Not at all. What I heard is that you like me"

You could only chuckle at her remark as you looked up to her and sighed.

"I said I like Yujin. Your best friend and..well my friend too."

"Ahhh, okay."

Wonyoung acted like she didn't care at all but deep inside, she was screaming and dancing celebrating this win. Her plan had just been executed and you weren't aware of her amazing plan that she has yet to play out for the two of you.

"Your not suprised by this?"

You asked. You were perplexed and perhaps the shock was enough to convince Wonyoung that it was an important matter. Or maybe Wonyoung already knew that you like Yujin but you were confident that you didn't show any signs that you like Yujin at all. Or perhaps Wonyoung was hiding that she felt sad seeing that she'll be the third wheel in the trio. That sudden though sadden you as you realized what you have done.

"I'm sorry Wony I shouldn't have-"

"Why are you apologizing? Did you do something wrong?"

"Well I though that you would feel… Left out?"

Wonyoung could only laugh out in amusement by your words. Perhaps Wonyoung can finally see why Yujin fell for you.

"Aish, you're too kind Y/n. Why would I be left out? Come ooon~ you know damn well I ain't marrying nobody so why would I be left out? Besides, I plan to adopt a lot of puppies and maybe even cats as my children."

You laughed at her but perhaps she was right. Wonyoung didn't need to be worried about being left out because she already planned to live alone. It's quite saddening to know but after what Wonyoung has gone through with her family business, being alone was the best option for her.

"But Y/n."

"Yeah?"

"Someone already asked Yujin at the ball"

The world suddenly stopped for you. Everything around you was put into a silence state as your brain process what it just heard. Your heart was already sending message through your brain that Yujin was going to the ball with someone else and not you. The feeling of missing the most important shot of the season was nothing compared to seeing Yujin in the arms of another man.

Of course this was bound to happen considering that Yujin was very beautiful girl inside and out. Only and Idiot can't see that but it was still painful because the person you like will be dancing to a guy which isn't you. Wonyoung noticed the shock and dissapointment on your face as she would be lying if she said she didn't feel sad for you. Her plan involved this and it was very essential considering this would only be amazing at the end.

"I-I see…"

"Say, do you want to help Yujin shop for whatever she need for the ball? I was suppose to help her but perhaps you needed this more than me."

Wonyoung's suggesting kinda made you look like a pathetic lovesick man clinging to a hopeless love, or maybe even a one sided love. It did hurt your pride but if you had a chance to at least see the beauty of Yujin for the ball, then you'll take it. Fuck it, this could be your only chance to say your feelings for her and have her with you but will you be able to say it?

"Yeah, sure why not."

"Okay great. I'll message you what time to pick her up at her dorm. With that being said, Bye bye~"

"Yah, At least treat me to something to eat. I'm hungry…"

You pouted your lips and rubbed your belly showing that you were hungry. Of course you weren't that hungry but perhaps you need more time to ask on how your gonna confess to Yujin with the help of Wonyoung. Wonyoung on the other hand rolled her eyes playfully as she walked away with you following from behind constantly teasing her.

There you stood infront of a familiar dorm building. It was only exclusive to female students of the Flover University. You were waiting outside of the gate waiting for the girl that your heart beats for. Honestly speaking, you weren't really feeling good about this because it was basically for you to say goodbye or confess to Yujin. One mistake and everything that you both shared could be jeopardize and your relationship from close friends can be moved down to strangers. And that's something you don't want to happen.

Your senses was on edge. It was quite normal for you to feel a little worried and terrified of big moments when it comes to the court such as draining the game winning shot or doing crucial free throws. But this, this time, that worry and anxiety blew up through the roof. No moment in your basketball career could top up this moment you were going through. Every second passing by, your fingers were twitching from anxiety and you were not mentally prepared on what will happen today.

"S-Sorry I took a long time..I'm sorry I kept you waiting."

Your eyes were glued to the girl that was standing infront of you. You were damn sure that the sunlight radiates behind her and the birds sang her a very beautiful song. It felt like today, the world's Main character was Ahn Yujin and you were a bystander or an NPC. Her hair was tied up creating a small bun up her head. Her usually black metal coated glasses was replaced with beautiful brown hazel contacts that can mesmerize anyone in her sight. Her baggy and oversized Hoodie was replaced with a white knitted cardigan that is mixed with a beautiful white shirt and denim pants. Infront of you was the girl that rang multiple calls in your heart.

Yujin didn't know what to do next as her blush began to show on her cheeks. Wonyoung basically gave her a makeover and at first, she didn't wanna do it as she wasn't the biggest fan when it comes to makeup. But Wonyoung being the sly fox that she is managed to convince Yujin to give her an overhaul and a little bit of makeover just for her. The silence from you was making Yujin uncomfortable as she looked to the side embarrassed.

"Y-You look amazing Yujin."

Yujin was red as a tomato hearing those words out of your mouth as her heart was beating so fast. A small smile cracked upon her face as the two of you began to walk away. You were honestly nervous than the media interviewing you because beside you was the most beautiful girl your eyes landed into. You began to talk to her like the usual and the two of you immediately got lost on your own world. Even thought Yujin showed more of her beauty, she was still basically that girl that like Legos and fantasy books.

The mall was full packed considering today is the weekends. Wonyoung has given Yujin things that she needed for her Ball and it was only 3 things, a Make-up, A necklace and finally, a dress that she will use. Yujin was honestly confused why Yujin would ask her to buy new Makeup equipments when they have a cabinet fully stacked of makeup. But who is she to complain though, Wonyoung gave her one of her Credit card and she was allowed to buy anything as long as it is under those 3 things that was required to buy.

As Yujin was busy checking her list to buy, You on the other hand was getting annoyed how other guys were looking at Yujin. A sense of jealousy and anger was curling around your body but you kept your cool. In fact, you had no right to be jealous at all considering that Yujin was not your romantical partner so you kept it in for yourself.

"Wh-What?"

Yujin hand was suddenly intertwined with yours as you walked ahead with Yujin following you from behind. Her heart was basically racing and her cheeks had immediately turned red. This was one of her imagination turned reality when her hand intertwined with yours. It felt so warm holding your arm as her eyes focused on her hand. While she was busy observing your hand, your cheeks was turning red and you were hiding that big smile appearing on your face.

You thought that you can hold it in with all that jealousy stuff but in the end, you didn't like it when Guys eyed her like a prey. Your instinct kicked in and you unconsciously grabbed her hand out of the heat of the moment and right now you weren't sure where to go next.

"What the fuck! Why did I do that! Now Yujin thinks I'm a weirdo! Fuck!!"

The silence between the two of you was loud as you were just aimlessly walking around the mall not knowing what to do next. Yujin abruptly stopped you walking any further when she tugged your clothes behind you. She was also feeling the heat on her cheeks as she avoid eye contact with you.

"T-This is one of t-the shop that we need to go to…"

Yujin stuttered her words but you heard her clear as day. You and Yujin went to the Make-up store and immediately, your nose scrunched up smelling the amount of perfume and powder all over the surrounding. Yujin couldn't help but chuckle softly seeing your disguted face. You looked back and hear her laughing really soften your heart. A small smile appeared on your face yet your brain was telling you that this could be the last time you'll ever see her laugh and smile around you.

"You still don't like perfumes?"

"It's not like I don't like em Yujin. It's just that, every perfume known to man is mixed in the air right now and it's just straight up making me dizzy."

"Oh no, that's not good. Do you wanna sit down for now?"

You could only stare at her lovingly. Hearing how she was so kind and considerate of you really made you happy and sad at the same time. Every moment you will spend today with her will be memorable so you should make the best out of it.

"No, I'm good. So what's the agenda here?"

"Ah, well Wony told me to buy makeup stuff…."

"Huh? I though you two are already have a lot of those."

"Yeah we do but somehow Wony wanted the newest product for me."

Of course the best was for Yujin because she was the best. It didn't take a genius to know that Wonyoung nothing but the best for her best friend who could possibly be entering a new stage in her life. You could only stay quiet and nod your head as you followed Yujin around looking for Make-up that she will use. Honestly speaking, your hands was still intertwined and both of you didn't want to let go, especially you.

"Hello Ma'am, Are you perhaps looking to buy some lipsticks? We have a great deals for couple right now and they are the hottest sale as of right now."

A sales lady said making Yujin widen her eyes as the familiar Color of red appear on hee face.

"Ah, N-No we're not a couple"

"Oh? I guess I must have interpret it wrong then."

As the sales lady and Yujin converse about the product she was aiming to buy, you slowly removed your hand into hers as her words came at you like a fast break and you fumbled the ball out of bounds. It was heartbreaking that Yujin said that you two were not in a relationship even though it was the truth. But that's how life works, sometimes you get what you want but majority of it, you'll be met with heartbreak.

You could only look down and sigh heavily as you had to composure yourself. There was no reason for you to look upset when the girl you like is having a fun time so far with you.

"At least, I'll see her happy. Just for today, with me.."

You thought yourself as you continued to hide your sadness under your mask. Yujin ended up buying a few makeup and left the store. You weren't holding her hand anymore as any misinterpretation could lead to more cracks on your heart and you didn't want to show your sadness to her.

The next destination was her dress for the ball. Honesty speaking, you were both excited and sadden at the same time. Excited cause you'll be seeing Yujin in a dress. It was dream come true for you as the shy and timid girl you know will be rocking the best dress the world has to offer.

It didn't take that long when the two of you arrived at the tailor shop that Wonyoung has recommended. Upon entering, your eyes had landed on multiple dres hanged on a wall. For sure Yujin will rock any dress but then, there it was. Your eyes froze seeing the perfect dress that will show her beauty to the world. It glittered as the light of the store shined on it.

"Yujin, maybe try that one?"

You didn't hesitate to point at the lavander dress that caught your eyes. Yujin's eyes widen seeing that her favorite color was imprinted to a dress that actually looked so beautiful. She didn't really know if it would blend well with her but you made sure that it was the perfect dress for Yujin.

"Yes, Hello, how can I help you?"

A sales lady approached you as you said

"Can my friend try that Lavander dress please?"

"Sure. Right this way Miss."

Yujin nodded her head as she followed the sales lady into the dressing room. You on the other hand sat down waiting patiently as you tried to calm your nerves down. A small smile appeared on your face imagining Yujin with that purple dress smiling happily towards you. But that small happiness popped as soon as it was getting into the best part. The reality of Yujin dancing with another man was inevitably and that really stings your heart.

You may have seen the dress but you're not the person she would be dancing with.

"Umm… H-How does it l-look?"

The curtains was moved to the side and you looked up to see an angel in a dress unworthy of you. The lavander silk dress just elevates the beauty of Yujin from the outside and the little pearls that is all over her torso was a cute touch. The patterns engrave on the silhouette of the dress left a snowy trail. You were frozen unto your own feet as your eyes didn't even blink admiring Yujin.

"Oh my, looks your boyfriend is at awe Miss."

The sales lady said as Yujin's heart began to race faster and her cheeks turning redder by the second.

"A-Ah he's no-"

"Yeah, yeah. Her boyfriend will surely be at awe seeing her dress."

Yujin immediately turned around to face you as she noticed the small frown forming on your face and your overall stance just didn't radiate much joy like she was used to.

"Oh, are you not her boyfriend sir?"

The sales lady asked. You wanted to laugh or even let out a chuckle but that would be rude considering you're not even close to that title with Yujin.

"Nope, I'm just merely her friend."

You smiled but Yujin knows you better. She knows it when your lying to yourself and coating yourself from the pain you were going through and right now, she can tell you were in deep pain but hide it off with a smile. That broke the heart of Yujin because hearing that you only see yourself as a friend towards her, it was painful. She loved you dearly yet you admitted that your nothing more but a friend towards her.

"Wony, Please…. I hope your plan works"

"I wonder if Yujin's enjoying the ball.."

You spoke to yourself as you laid on your bed watching the ceiling for the past 30 minutes. Your phone has been sitting idle on your side not receiving any call, messages nor notifications from anyone. Tonight's event was very memorable for everyone especially those people who is taking a huge step for their relationship with someone. Tonight was a make or break step for them which was gonna be memorable.

But for you?

You were laying in bed, watching the ceiling as every second pass by. What's the thrill of tonight when the person you like is going with someone else. Should you go there and let your heart break even more?

"Fuck this, I need a drink."

You stood up from your bed and walked the familiar steps in your place. Everywhere your eyes looked was a memory with Yujin and this only made it so crushing and heavy for your own heart. You wanted to forget about it or perhaps, just close those memories off with the help of liquor. That guy has never failed you when it comes to forgetting things and leaving you able to sleep peacefully. Standing infront of your refrigerator, you pulled the door and grabbed a can of beer and opened it. With one chug, the alcoholic beverage ran down your throat living a stinging sensation on it. Your head began to fill dizzy but immediately returned to normal as you took your feet to the living room.

You plopped down with your drink at hand. It felt so empty in your room. You were already aware that you were all alone in this room but the fact that you might be living all alone in the future scared you. A sour and painful chuckle came out of your mouth as you took a sip from your drink.

"I'll be so lonely because nobody I will meet will be Ahn Yujin…"

It was painful to think that right now, Yujin is smiling, laughing, and happily dancing at a guy that isn't you. Yujin would be the center of attention because she has always been beautiful and her attire tonight surely made that happen. A fiery feeling suddenly ignited inside you as you were familiar with this feeling.

"Why am I such a fucking coward? I can take the last shot yet I can't fucking confess to Yujin? I'm so pathetic!…"

This was gonna be a problem for you. You didn't want to sleep frustrated because the drink would not take effect. So what do you do calm down? You stand up and go outside of your small balcony letting the cold night breeze greet you.

"No matter how many drinks I'll chug down. I'll never forget Yujin…"

At this point, all the things that made you adore and love Yujin flashed before your very eyes. Her sweet smile, her beautiful laughter that always send butterflies to your stomach, her amazing vocals that she hides when in fact everyone should br aware of her singing voice, her soft hands. Tears began to form on your eyes and slowly, they became to heavy as you began to sob heavily.

"Yujin… I love you so much…"

You promised yourself that you would be letting her go tonight but your heart just couldn't let her go just like that. Even though you know that you have no absolute chance now, your heart still desires for her.

"Y/n?"

"Now I'm even going crazy. I can even hear her voice right now"

"Y/n…."

"Wait a minute.…"

You looked behind you and there she stood.

With the lavender dress that you helped her pick. She stood there looking beautiful as ever yet her eyes showed sadness and concern. You froze in place not wanting to move at all because your mind and heart was admiring her. The person Yujin was looking at was so broken that she felt her heart crack piece by piece. The man that she admired and always stood beside her always smiling and giving her postive energy was broken. She didn't want to see this at all. She clenched her fist and walked towards you not giving a damn about her dress. She engulfed you in a warm embrace that immediately soothes your broken heart.

Happiness,

confusion,

excited,

and scared.

Those four emotions bottled inside as you didn't really know what was going on but your body instinctively hugged her back. You held her close to your body and just like that, your sadness and worries was washed away in her embrace. Yujin could hear your heart calming down as she looked up towards you. Her soft pair of dark brown eyes locked with your own and there you saw your own reflection.

Broken

Yet

Was repaired

The

Girl

You

Loved

"What are you doing here Yujin?"

You managed to ask her despite your trembling voice. Yujin didn't let her eyes off you as she used her hand and wiped away the tears that was falling off your cheeks.

"I'm sorry Y/n. I thought Wonyoung's plan would work but in the end, I came running towards you."

You were visibly confused. There wasn't any indication that the two girls planned something in fact, what is even the plan to begin with.

"Yujin, what are you talking about?"

Yujin took in a deep breath because this was the moment. She has to say it now or else everything could be in vain after everything the duo has prepared for. But the pressure was on Yujin because she has to confess everything, and that means ger feelings as well.

"P-Please don't get mad at Wony but you see, Wony kinda planned out this whole I'm dancing with another man thing. And the ending was suppose to be me D-dancing with you at your apartment. but Wony saw not replying to her so she decided to check up on you and she immediately informed me about you drinking alone in the balcony. I-I immediately ran as fast as I can to see you… "

You lost trail because your brain could only process the words Dancing with you. You stared at her who looked embarrassed as a red tint appear on her cheeks.

"So wait, does this mean that everything that happened when we went to the mall is all Wonyoung's plan?"

"Y-Yeah… I'm sorry I didn't mean to-"

"So, Shall we dance?"

Yujin widen her eyes as you smiled at her. There was no hint of annoyance or anger on your face, just your usual smile that she has grown accustomed to.

"I think I have the perfect music for this night."

You pulled out your phone and played a song very familiar with Yujin as she couldn't help but chuckle.

"Seriously? That song?"

"Come on, you like this sing."

With a nod, you offered your hand towards her who happily accepted your hand. Your left hand pulled her back closer to her as the two of you began to step side to side dancing to the slow music that was playing. Both your eyes didn't leave each other as both of you smiled. This was the ending you were looking for and perhaps this really is the true ending. But what if it wasn't?

You have to stand firmly and say what your heart desire towards her. Ahn Yujin was the girl for you but were you the boy for her?

"Yujin.."

"Hmm?"

"Why… Why did you two did this?"

This was it. Yujin has to answer truthfully or else everything will crumble down even her friendship with you. She was nervous as sweats began to form behind her back. Her smile didn't dissappeared as she looked at you with an unfamiliar feeling. Your heart began to beat louder as Yujin stares at you.

"Y/n, through out our friendship, I'm forever grateful towards you for everything you did to me. The way you stood by my side whenever I feel down and sad. I'm thankful for that. Especially since you're……you're the only person that my heart desire"

Stunned.

You were stunned and speechless. Yujin's stare at you wasn't an unfamiliar feeling. It was what your heart desire to see everytime you think of her. The feeling of love.

She was in love with you.

"Y/n, I love you. You're the one I like-"

You had to stop her or else you wouldn't be able to control yourself anymore. Your lips connected with hers as Yujin widen her eyes. Her imagination every night of this scenario had become a reality that she wish not ending. The night was still young yet your love towards each other was burning with passion. Yujin placed her arm around your shoulder as she kissed you back. Her lips was in sync with yours and you had to pull away catching your breath.

You didn't want to die now do you?

"Yujin. All this time, all this years. My eyes were only fixed towards you and no one else. The moment I saw you smile happily, I fell in love instantly. And that small crush I had in Highschool only grew bigger when I spent a lot of time hanging out with you. "

"Y/n…"

"Yujin. No, Ahn Yujin."

"Yes?"

"I know I'm not the perfect man out there and there maybe a lot of skilled guys out there that are more suited to be with you. But I, will do everything I can to show you how much I love you so…"

You kneeled down with one leg as Yujin gasped covering her mouth. You smiled and grabbed the nearby flower in the small vase on the kitchen table and offered it to Yujin.

"Will you be my girlfriend, Ahn Yujin?"

Yujin couldn't hide her tears anymore as she began crying out of happiness. She removed her hand and was smiling while crying. Instead of accepting your flower, she gently tackled you for a hug as both of you came crashing down on the floor with her sobbing and clinging to you tightly.

"Yes! Yes! A thousand yes!!"

Yujin said as both of you eyed each other and laughed whole heartedly. This was the true ending in fact. Your heart was now at peace as the girl you loved and admire was at your arms clinging to you and even smiling. You would risk everything just to keep her smiling and happy and even though there would be challenges along the way, both of you trust each other to the point nothing will scare you of what's to come. Perhaps you didn't need to attend the ball to show your true feelings for the girl you loved.

"You did good wonyoung.. You did good."

Wonyoung smiled happily as she pulled away from your apartment room smiling happily as she heard everything.

"My mission here is done. Fufufu~"

With that, the tall girl left the scene with a happy and proud face plastered on her face.

#fluff #kpop fanfic #fanfic #kpop #ive #jang wonyoung #ahn yujin

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ghostoriessoc · 12 days ago

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#015. camera-woman

To put an experience afloat on a shifting body of water like a little boat. . .

bwah!

TV — CH29

Delighted to share with you a little poetry book I wrote this year, it's titled CAMERA-WOMAN and it can be read for free on Issuu.

These poems were strongly influenced by my lifelong fondness of television. On a broader sense, this book takes a dive into the possibilities regarding the close relationship between words and pictures. CAMERA-WOMAN also ruminates on the fundamental link which ties our body senses, the stimulus of the world and the particular meanings constructed by our thinking. What is the body if not both the recorder and the searchlight of our spirit? What is art if not the screen and the speaker to our unraveling, translucent and unbounded? Passions and pains, fictions and non-fictions; we are objects and subjects under constant changes of pace and light, frame by frame—thought by thought. CAMERA-WOMAN is a Poetry/TV Zapping experience provided by the cable network of my body and brain on fire.

Please, feel free to grab the remote control and watch some television with me. . .

CLICK HERE TO READ CAMERA-WOMAN

CAMERA-WOMAN is a poetry book written and designed by Laura C. Rosales. The digital copy of CAMERA-WOMAN published on Issuu and promoted in this blog is for reading purposes only. All rights reserved. 2024.

Texto en Español:

Encantada de compartir con ustedes un pequeño libro de poesía que escribí este año, se titula CAMERA-WOMAN y se puede leer gratis en Issuu.

Estos poemas fueron influenciados fuertemente por mi afición de toda la vida por la televisión. En un sentido más amplio, este libro se sumerge en las posibilidades concernientes a la estrecha relación entre palabras e imágenes. CAMERA-WOMAN también reflexiona sobre el vínculo fundamental que une nuestros sentidos corporales, los estímulos del mundo y los significados particulares construidos por nuestro pensamiento. ¿Qué es el cuerpo si no la grabadora y al mismo tiempo el proyector de nuestro espíritu? ¿Qué es el arte si no la pantalla y el altavoz para nuestro desenvolvimiento, traslúcido y liberado? Pasiones y dolores, ficciones y no-ficciones; somos objetos y sujetos bajo constantes cambios de ritmo y luz, cuadro por cuadro—pensamiento por pensamiento. CAMERA-WOMAN es una experiencia de Poesía/Zapping-de-TV provista por la compañía de cable de mi cuerpo y cerebro en llamas.

Por favor, siéntanse libres de tomar el control remoto y ver algo de televisión conmigo. . .

CLICK AQUÍ PARA LEER CAMERA-WOMAN

Los poemas fueron escritos originalmente en inglés y al momento no hay traducciones al español disponibles para su publicación.

CAMERA-WOMAN es un libro escrito y diseñado por Laura C. Rosales. La copia digital de CAMERA-WOMAN publicada en Issuu y promocionada en este blog tiene fines únicamente de lectura. Todos los derechos reservados. 2024.

#poetry #poetry in English #publicación externa #camera-woman #laura rosales

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thecrtbimbo · 8 months ago

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Starting off strong with something I'm very lucky to own! This is one of the many, many branded CRT televisions that trickled out from the late 90s to the early 2010s.

🎶Isn't she looovely... isn't she wonderful! 🎶

This one specifically was manufactured in March of 2012. Surprising, considering that by that point, most people had long made the switch to HD flatscreens. My guess is that this was one of the very last ones, if not the last one they ever made.

This CRT is themed around Beauty and the Beast, which might sound odd at first, considering that the film released 21 years prior, until you remember that it actually got a theatrical re-release in 2011! This would certainly explain the March 2012 date on the TV. There might have been another one or two after this, but like I said, it's pretty likely that this was the last one. This picture isn't mine btw, I found it on an eBay listing that sold who knows how long ago. It also shows off the matching DVD player (with ADORABLE wand remote) and tiara that would have clipped to the top of the unit.

I love just about everything about this TV. The gorgeous gem buttons, the hearts on the sides where the speakers are, the remote with a little mickey head on it..

And, I mean, come on. It's pink for god's sake. What more could you want?

It's almost perfect.. aside from the fact that the screen has this weird, green tinge to it that never really seems to go away, even after letting it warm up. It's only really noticeable when dark colors are on screen, though, so it's not too bad.

Tuned to a black and white channel for maximum green.

Other than that, it's a pretty stock-standard CRT. AV ports on the back and sides (but not the front like most others, for some reason) and coax for all of your cable-y needs, and the previous owner was even kind enough to leave some filth on it for me. What a champ!

But yeah, that's about it for this one until next time. Take care of yourselves. I'll be watching Bluey in style like a god-damn princess.

#crt tv #nostalgia #technology #television #obsolete #crt monitor

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covertenforcer · 4 months ago

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— BASICS

Name: Dimitri Shay (Shvedov) Age / D.O.B.: 33; October 17th Gender, Pronouns & Sexuality: Cis Male; He/Him; Demiromantic, bisexual Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts Affiliation: Army, ranger/sniper (former) FBI (current; non-corrupt) Brotherhood (current) Job position: FBI - Organized Crime, Undercover agent Brotherhood - Enforcer Education: High school FBI Training Academy Relationship status: Single Children: None (that he knows of) Positive traits: Observant, charismatic, righteous, confident, witty Negative traits: Temperamental, impulsive, aggressive, blunt, deceitful, callous

(more stats/info here)

tw: drug usage

— BIOGRAPHY

A third generation Russian-American, Dimitri was born in Boston, Massachusetts under a single mother along with his twin brother. While she worked hard to support them, Dimitri was often left wanting attention as she was constantly working multiple jobs. He was often left alone, having to entertain himself or watch the news on the television as they lacked any cable. There was a slight bitterness that formed, watching the other kids his age interacting with their parents happily. And while Dimitri understood the reasoning behind his mother’s absence as he grew older, he decided he’d get attention one way or another.

This led to a series of petty thefts, drugs, absolutely falling into the wrong crowd in his early teens. While he could see the frustration on his mother’s face, Dimitri rationalized it as negative attention was better than none at all. However, it accumulated in Dimitri getting caught by the police in attempting to hotwire a car. Sentenced to juvenile detention until he was eighteen, the offense was later expunged from his record as he had been a minor with little harm to others.

When he was eighteen, Dimitri was quick to leave home, hoping it was the least he could do for his mother after the trouble he had caused her. He joined the army soon after, serving for eight years and multiple tours as a sniper. While his record was impressive, there was concern over how calloused he could be towards the opposing side, often compartmentalizing during acts of violence to avoid later guilt. He did grow bonds with his comrades, rising up in the ranks, though he rarely keeps in contact with those people in the current day.

Immediately after being discharged, he would apply for the FBI and went through the Academy at Quantico.

Within three years, at the age of twenty-nine, Dimitri would become an undercover agent due to his skills of deception and some knowledge of the underground from his teenage years in Boston. It’s a task not for the faint-hearted with temptation at every corner and Dimitri wouldn’t deny that he had at times been tempted. Given his hot-headed streak, he would often blend in with other gang members. The FBI were quick to bring up his past records despite the fact they had been expunged and pad his files with more crimes of varying degrees. They removed his record with the military, instead layering it with years of crime.

after assisting in taking down a small time mafia boss in his hometown, he was reassigned to new york, where he would be planted among the brotherhood. He uses his Russian surname of 'Shvedov' when undercover with a long list of felonies and no mention of his military time on his file that the FBI had given him.

dimitri has no qualms in bending the law or committing crimes as it’s a mean to gather intel and report back. with a promise of immunity, he has to separate his own desire for justice with the persona he is meant to play. though, some times, it feels as if the two worlds merge and the lines become blurred.

— WANTED CONNECTIONS

Ex-lovers - While in the military (and somewhat during the FBI before he began undercover work), Dimitri was certainly a player. Most likely most of them did not end happily so y/m having a grudge is great!

Military connections

Someone recognizing him from his previous undercover job in Boston, MA

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mariacallous · 1 year ago

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Maybe A League of Their Own was doomed to strike out. A passion project in all senses of the word, it was a reboot hell-bent on showing the queer lives in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League that never made it into the 1992 movie. More succinctly, it was the kind of reimagining (long-form, prestige-y, tapping into an existing niche fanbase) that often only gets a shot thanks to a deep-pocketed streamer. It got to play one season. Last spring, Amazon Prime Video renewed it for a truncated second one. Last Friday, that plug got pulled; Amazon pointed the finger at the ongoing writers’ and actors’ strikes.

Abbi Jacobson, the Broad City star who co-created the series, hit Instagram to say that blaming the cancelation on the strikes was “bullshit and cowardly,” but the fact remains: The show’s life on Prime Video is over. Amazon also canceled the second season of the William Gibson adaptation The Peripheral, despite having renewed it back in February. Hollywood is a ruthless business, no matter which network or streamer a show calls home.

When the world looks back in, say, 30 years, the halcyon days of streaming will be looked upon as optimistic and fleeting—a time when Silicon Valley largesse meant Amazon would drop hundreds of millions of dollars on the Tolkien adaptation Rings of Power and Netflix would back money trucks up to Shonda Rhimes’ house so she could develop Bridgerton. In all likelihood, those kinds of deals will still exist in 2053, but as competition in the streaming space gets tighter, the moonshot projects will likely be fewer and the emphasis on return-on-investment will only increase.

This writing has been on the wall for a while, but got reinforced this week when The Hollywood Reporter pointed out that streamers are increasingly guiding users to ad-supported versions of their services, largely by increasing the cost of their ad-free tiers. Earlier this month, Disney announced that the cost per month of Disney+ and Hulu would be going up three bucks. Paramount+ swapped its $10 ad-free plan for a $12 one that includes Showtime. Netflix offers a $7/month ad-backed plan and a premium one that costs more than $15. Peacock, in July, upped the price of its ad-supported version by one dollar and its ad-free iteration by two.

As long foretold, this all just seems like streaming becoming the new cable TV. Now that there are more streaming services than there used to be network television stations, people are trying to save money on all those subscriptions. If ads help them do that, so be it.

But if every streamer is just a TV network, or some sort of modern-day HBO-in-the-'90s equivalent, that could leave content like The Peripheral or A League of Their Own in the lurch. Advertisers want to know they’re reaching eyeballs, and shows with small, albeit devoted, fanbases may not be the ones to lure those ad execs in. Once again, any show that isn’t at the level of a Seinfeld or Cheers may only get a season or two. The prestige stuff could still go to networks like Showtime or HBO, networks that traditionally got away with more because they didn’t have to worry about advertisers, but even HBO—and its streaming home Max—is run by someone who comes from Discovery and, as The New Yorker detailed this week, has become a “Hollywood antihero.”

There’s also the matter of live sports. For years, live sports has been the thing that has kept fans from fully cutting cable cords. But as Hulu, Amazon, YouTube, Apple, and others have moved to incorporate sports into their offerings, the necessity of getting ESPN or something like NBA League Pass via cable subscription has gone down. That’s cool and all, but it also means those wanting to follow the NFL now do so via a half-dozen networks, including Prime Video. And advertisers are following them.

This is what we mean when we say no one is winning the streaming wars. It’s not that one day there won’t be streaming services, or that just one or two will dominate, it’s that eventually mergers, consolidations, and spinoffs will leave viewers choosing between a handful of channels they really want, just like they chose cable packages in the past. All the networks will be vying to offer the most-viewed content, not niche shows like Minx. Maybe the Hollywood strikes will end and streamers, which are bargaining alongside the studios, will start paying the same residuals networks do. Maybe Apple will buy Disney after all. Maybe no one will be in their own league.

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therecordconnection · 1 year ago

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Ranting and Raving: "Sleeping with the Television On" by Billy Joel

youtube

1980 was a good year for Billy Joel. His seventh studio album, Glass Houses, continued his upward momentum as a superstar in a number of ways. Glass Houses was his second number one album (52nd Street was the first one, released two years prior), he scored his first number one hit on Billboard (“It’s Only Rock and Roll to Me”), and three other songs from the album were Top 40 hits (“You May Be Right,” “Don’t Ask Me Why,” and “Sometimes a Fantasy”).

Glass Houses was an album that made a deliberate attempt to break away from the lighter, softer, and more ballad-y songs that he had been starting to become critically trashed for. Songs like “Just the Way You Are,” “She’s Always a Woman,” and “Honesty” had been successful hits, but the cost was that it started giving people the wrong impression that Billy and the band couldn’t rock with the best of them. By 1980, Joel had started playing arenas and stadiums, so those songs would only do so much and go so far in larger venues. He was gonna need to start coming up with bigger sounding songs that packed a real punch if he was gonna continue the upward swing and deliver a rock show that the growing audiences at his shows would really remember.

“Sleeping with the Television On” represents the best attempt at doing that. It also might be one of the best songs that represents every strength Billy had as a songwriter.

Billy Joel is a man who would rather talk to you about his album cuts rather than his hits, which makes sense. I imagine someone can only talk about “Piano Man” or “Uptown Girl” for so long before there’s nothing left to say. “Sleeping with the Television” on the other hand, is a song I have many things to say about.

The song begins with the end of “The Star Spangled Banner,” which then fades out and segues into a droning tone. This used to be the norm back in the day. TV stations would sign off for the night (imagine that!) and just transmit static until morning. That’s what the warning "Tomorrow morning you'll wake up with the white noise" means. If Diane, the woman Billy is singing to in the song, really did fall asleep with her television on, that's what she would hear. Nowadays, Diane would either hear some random channel if she still pays for cable for some reason, or she’ll wake up to Netflix asking her if she’s still watching Schitt’s Creek. Other than that little explanation, the lyrics to this song have aged very well.

Lyrically, the song is all about refusing to take chances on possible love interests. This is expressed by looking at it from two points of view that Billy sings about. The first set of verses are aimed at a woman named Diane, whom Billy has been watching all night somewhere. The last set of verses are about Billy himself. Diane is described as a hard and overly defensive woman, someone who puts up a front and won’t let anybody try to sweep her off her feet. Billy argues, “You'll shoot 'em down because you're waiting / For somebody good to come on.” The criticisms he fires at Diane are the same ones he will also fire at himself. You can’t know for sure who the “somebody good” is unless you take a chance and talk to somebody. Billy puts Diane down probably because he sees too much of himself in her and he’s aware of what happens to those who don’t take chances.

Oh, You say you're looking for someone solid here You can't be bothered with those 'just for the night' boys Tonight unless you take some kind of chances dear Tomorrow morning you'll wake up with a white noise

In a way, one could find similarities between Billy singing to Diane here and Billy singing to Virginia in “Only the Good Die Young.” Both songs involve him trying to convince a woman to take a chance on the wild side for a change. There’s also the connection of Billy trying to convince both girls to take a chance on him. In Virginia’s case, that’s having a Catholic girl try to laugh with the sinners instead of cry with the saints. For Diane, he’s warning her about what will happen if she doesn’t give anybody a chance. There’s nothing more sad than going home alone and having only the television to keep you company, as far as this song is concerned. Billy decides that he can see through Diane’s defenses and determines that it’s her attitude that’s the big problem.

Your eyes are saying talk to me But your attitude is "don't waste my time" Your eyes are saying talk to me But you won't hear a word 'cause it just might be the same old line All night long, all night long You're only standing there 'Cause somebody once did somebody wrong (all night long, all night long) But you'll be sleeping with the television on

Billy Joel has always had great strength as a lyricist. When compared to the other piano man Elton John, Billy tends to shine more, probably due in part to the fact that Billy writes his own words, Elton doesn’t. It isn’t just that Billy writes his own words, it’s more that he tends to be a very honest man in his lyrics, perhaps a bit too honest sometimes. You hear him sing the words to his songs and you just get the sense that what he’s singing is coming from the heart. This helps him greatly when he has to perform and sing his own words to an audience. Last time I wrote about Electric Light Orchestra’s “Telephone Line” and how Jeff Lynne never leaves any trace of himself on the page. Billy on the other hand, leaves a lot of himself on the page. Part of what makes the lines in the later verses have real impact is that Billy has never tried to sell a version of himself that didn’t feel authentically him. If you consider Billy Joel a “rock star,” then he has everything going against him when trying to carry that title. He’s a short king at five foot five, he looked like a weird cross between Sylvester Stallone and Billy Crystal (especially during the seventies when he had that bushy afro thing going on), and he was a piano player in an age where the only beloved members of rock bands were the guitar player, the frontman, and maybe the drummer (if they’re lucky). He’s a “rock star” in the same weird way that somebody like Elvis Costello is a “rock star.” They’re dorks, but they’re such honest dorks that they wrap back around to being cool. If you wanted to make an analogy and link him to a Beatle, he wanted to be cool like George but had to settle for being dorky and earnest like Paul, which isn’t a bad thing.

In the case of “Sleeping with the Television On,” there might be more truth to his words than fiction. The best verse of the song is when Billy starts pointing the zap gun at himself:

This isn't easy for me to say Diane I know you don't need anybody's protection I really wish I was less of a thinking man And more a fool who's not afraid of rejection All night long, all night long I'll just be standing here 'Cause I know I don't have the guts to come on And I'll be sleeping with the television on

“I really wish I was less of a thinking man / And more a fool who's not afraid of rejection” is one of the best and most honest lines Billy has ever written in my opinion. If any rock star of the era had said this I would’ve laughed it off as a lie. Mick Jagger has never thought this, David Bowie has never thought this, none of the Beatles could’ve ever sold that. Part of what I think makes Billy Joel’s music hold up is that his words resonate with every dork and lovable loser that’s just like him. The ones that have had to step out of their comfort zone and take a chance, knowing full well it might blow up in their face. I said that Billy puts Diane down probably because he sees too much of himself in her, but I also think it’s a case of Billy wanting to shoot her down before she even has the chance to reject him.

Your eyes are saying talk to me, talk to me But my attitude is "boy, don't waste your time" Your eyes are saying talk to me, talk to me But I won't say a word 'cause it Just might be somebody else's same old line

In his mind, he can’t be rejected if he never makes a move and he curses his inability to take a risk. We’ve all been there at one point or another. Don’t waste your time because it’s probably gonna end badly. Don’t use a pick-up line that some poor woman has had to hear a million times, both in person and on various dating apps. It’s not simply a song about a guy dunking on a woman for being too choosy and overly defensive, there’s more to it than that and Billy sees it. He’s criticizing her because he acts the same way she does and he doesn’t want to see it happen to her. It’s a song about defense mechanisms and how a reliance on them will cause you to possibly lose out on something that could be good for you. Unlike ELO’s “Telephone Line,” which was a song about a romantic situation where the outcome was undetermined, Billy knows how this scenario ends: “We're only standing here 'cause somebody might do somebody wrong / and we’ll be sleeping with the television on.”

I admit that there are probably better ways to highlight loneliness. I imagine a lot of people who aren’t alone fall asleep with the television on. My parents have been falling asleep with the television on together for over thirty years. I have plenty of friends who say they turn on long Youtube videos or they’ll turn on a movie, get comfy in bed, and then immediately conk out. However, Billy sells the idea that sleeping with the television on is a sad fate. You can picture it, right? Sad, lonely little Billy Joel goes back home, probably cleans up his house a little, makes a late dinner or something, sees what’s on TV, and then falls asleep on the couch in a dark living room, the only sounds he hears waking up the next morning are the news or whatever channel was on during the night before. There are more gut wrenching ways to show loneliness, but Billy picks one that probably not a lot of people would think of.

The lyrics aren’t exactly positive, but the music sure as hell is. Billy set out to make bigger sounding and more rocking songs with Glass Houses and he absolutely succeeded and then some. “Sleeping with the Television On” is just incredible! It’s this wonderfully concise song that’s just barely three minutes, it’s tight as hell, it’s bouncy, and it’s just a fun tune to listen to. What blows me away with this song is how weirdly herky-jerk it is. That intro has strange places where the band starts, then holds a note, then starts, then holds a note again. It’s like a jet ski riding on a lake. It’s smooth, then you hit a wave and you jump up a bit, then you’re back on the lake like nothing happened. It’s a real testament to the talent of Billy’s classic backing band because this song sounds deceptively easy, when in reality one bad mistake can fuck it all up and get it wrong. If you play it too slow, the song just sounds like you’ve got a band that doesn’t know what they’re doing. If you play it too fast, the rhythm gets all messed up and the song becomes too herky-jerk and way too much, it becomes too loose. The band plays this at the perfect tempo and they know where to start, when to hold, and when to keep the rhythm consistent.

Speaking of consistent rhythm, the real star on this song has gotta be drummer and “Most Italian Sounding Name In Town” award winner, Liberatori “Liberty” Devitto. Focus on him when listening to this song and it’s such understated work but it really adds a lot. He’s constantly switching up the beat every few measures to match the changes in Billy’s vocal melody and where the song is going. It’s wonderful. I’ve counted at least four different kinds of beats he plays in the song. He never stays on one of them for too long and you can hear Neil Peart do something similar on Rush’s “Subdivisions.” What makes it stand out and makes it so wonderful is how it’s only a slight change every now and again to keep things fresh. He never throws a wrench in the song and he doesn’t bring a lot of attention to it either so it’s easy to not even notice how often he’s changing things up.

“You May Be Right” and “Sometimes a Fantasy” were the songs from Glass Houses that proved Billy was capable of writing hard rocking songs that could stand with the best of the them, but if “Sleeping with the Television On” proves anything, it proves that Billy Joel understood the genre of “new wave,” which was something that was only just beginning to crop up at the start of the decade. Arena rock bands of the early eighties like the Rolling Stones or Foreigner or Journey wouldn’t be able to pull off a song like this, but early eighties new wave acts like Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Joe Jackson, or XTC absolutely could. The song rocks, but it still retains and mostly keeps the polished pop elements that made Billy a huge star at the end of the seventies and would keep him working through the eighties and beyond. That little keyboard solo in the middle of the song lasts less than twenty seconds, but it’s such a fun little thing. It’s another memorable part of a very good song. Nothing overstays its welcome here and the song has no wild tricks up its sleeve. It knows what it wants to do, what it wants to be, and just goes for it. Most importantly, it does it right and it doesn’t waste your time. It’s just a fun and enjoyable little song on a pop-rock album, which is sometimes all that you really want.

“Sleeping with the Television On” wasn’t one of the singles from Glass Houses, but it absolutely could’ve been. In a way, it might be better for it that it wasn’t. It’s tucked away on the second side of the album, waiting for any curious listener who wants to find it. Its creator certainly wants you to find it. It still gets played today as part of the many songs Billy Joel performs as part of his residency at Madison Square Garden that seemed endless (until he announced that it will finally be coming to an end in July 2024, with his 150th performance at the venue. Get tickets while you still can!) Billy Joel’s hits are more than worthy of attention, but so are his album cuts. What you get with “Sleeping with the Television On” is a wonderful piece of pop-rock that serves as a warning and explores the consequences of not taking chances. It’s a lesson in not being so defensive; that there’s a beauty in leaving yourself exposed and open for what could be a good opportunity. There’s the obvious risk that you’re gonna get hurt, but the song argues that taking a chance and getting hurt is better than going home alone and having nothing but the sounds of the television to comfort you. Hell, if any rockstar was gonna tell you that taking a risk might lead to something good, it’s Billy freakin’ Joel. That man is the epitome of “shoot your shot.” After he got divorced from his first wife in 1982, that man dated a supermodel who later had the nickname “The Body” (Elle Macpherson)! That guy got to be married to Christie Brinkley for nine years! If he can make stuff like that happen, shit, we all should take a chance and shoot our shot. Sometimes it works... though it helps if you’re a really successful and good piano player on top of that.

Regardless, it’s a good lesson from one of New York’s finest. Take a risk and make a move. Fortune favors the bold and if you’re lucky, you’ll still fall asleep with the television on, but there will be somebody to share breakfast with in the morning.

#original post #ranting and raving #billy joel #Youtube

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strobarium · 8 months ago

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like...damn-near indescribable experimental extraterrestrial pop? come with me...

long-ass title...

"pvr pregnant teens // before abstract tech support schedule // dad turns 50" by tirestires

(from "shadowdog." if Los Angeles by Flying Lotus didn't exist, this would be my #1 album like, ever. i love it.)

HOOO MAN,

i just got this album SURPRISE RECOMMENDED to me by a longtime friend i havent spoken to in a while who i met from twitter. as i kinda imply in the title i have such a hard time fucking describing how it sounds to Anyone. i got sent stems (song layers, basically) for one of the songs a while back (me and the artist eventually became friends!!!) and even THAT and being LITERALLY TOLD in detail how the post-processing worked and shit just DID not clear up as much as i thought it would! it is so immense! between the way it sounds (btwn production and the fact that the lyrics are basically indecipherable except if u read the lyrics sheets and listen Very Closely), the...Weird (but lovely) cover art, the word-salad artist name & track names and the sorta lost media-y nature of it (it was on bandcamp but just Disappeared. luckily it was archived as you can see) like. its almost like fucking, aliens made it or something!!! i like this record a lot Lol theres truly nothing else like it on this earth

...ANYWAY.

this song evokes a lot of memories of (oldest sibling) hooking up their laptop to the television in the upstairs living room (i will always have an i guess strange fondness for VGA ports/cables for this reason lmfao) and showing me and my older brother stuff. specifically songs and like. cool comics and shit they'd get put onto from tumblr. (they used the website a lot before i eventually did, and have seen many parts of it i havent) was a whole new world of the internet to me at the time! i kinda cited it as deviantart-adjacent in terms of energy, so i could Kinda understand aspects to the culture but a lot of it was just very new to me. was cool. i really do miss having someone like that in my life who could put me onto stuff like that with a High success rate. would be nice to have that again. shrug.

would recommend this one for anyone into dense, maximalist sound design and a huge ear for i guess....melodic layering? yeah that sounds about right.

ALSO LISTEN TO THE ENTIRE ALBUM WHILE YOU'RE AT IT! PARDON THE FUCKING WEIRD LYRICS AND THE WEIRD TITLES I THINK THE ARTIST WAS GOING THROUGH A PHASE OF SORTS WHILE HE WAS PRODUCING THE RECORD W HIS HOMIES . WAGH . WORTH A LISTEN THOUGH IMO

~ E.K.S.G.

#come with me (abst)#song recommendation #album recommendation #experimental pop #electronica #music

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fredseibertdotcom · 2 years ago

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Click here for my posts about MTV and here for Fred/Alan’s MTV work.

The first MTV poster. Summer 1981.

I’ve been searching for this poster (or at least a file of it) for almost 20 years. It was the first poster we did for MTV in the summer of 1981, and maybe because it was in a somewhat outdated style it sort of got sidelined and I didn’t save it.

We were so late in finalizing the MTV logo pretty much all of the promotional merchandise that we put together to promote ourselves to record companies, music managers, advertisers and cable operators (and of course, ourselves) were rushed. Consequently, even though our logo animations were leading the channel into what became our loose, illustrative design style for MTV’s first few years, the earliest stuff was a bit of a hodge podge that we thought might work.

Artist David Willardson led the 70s California based music business through an innovative era by reviving the airbrush and using it to give a unique spin to 12″ vinyl album covers, which had generally been either photography of the musicians or abstract illustrations. By the end of the decade it was the cool way to showcase music. By 1980 he’d partnered with artist Charles White III in the Willardson+White studio in Los Angeles. Around the time we started thinking about MTV, Manhattan Design –Pat Gorman, Frank Olinsky and Patti Rogoff– had started their studio in the spare room behind a tai chi studio above Bigelow Chemists in New York’s Greenwich Village. I’d grown up with Frank and one thing led to another and we hired the team to design our logo. 500 tries later not only did we have the ‘M’ we had our main designers for the first several years of the network.

Because of the speed at which we needed to ramp up once we settled on the logo weeks before our August 1, 1981 launch led to a lot of creative decisions that would have little effect on the overall approach we’d eventually take to design on the channel.

This poster, which fit into the prevailing record business of the past decade, would really be in complete opposition to my thinking for our channel. Which was, simply put, that MTV: Music Television needed to be the leader of the music biz –hell! the entire culture!– MTV needed to be what was next. It’s a great poster, a wonderful illustration, to be sure (well, I probably would’ve left off the artists; within about a month after our debut, most of them would be yesterday’s news). But, if you take a look at some of our other work, you might agree that with this piece we definitely hadn't become “next.” Yet.

PS: This poster led to one really stupid design decision on my part which plagued the production groups for several years. In my attempt to be organized and professional with respect to design, I took a cue from this poster’s type design, a variation of the Kabel family of typefaces. I insisted that all our on-air typography use Kabel, taking the choice out of individual designers. The typeface wasn’t really suitable to early 1980s television technology, but I insisted. Dumb!

.....

Credits:

Art direction: Manhattan Design (Pat Gorman, Frank Olinsky, Patti Rogoff) Airbrush illustration: Mick McGinty for Willardson+White Creative Direction for MTV: Fred Seibert & Alan Goodman

Click here for my posts about MTV and here for Fred/Alan’s MTV work.

.....

…::: Addendum (July 7, 2023): I thought Manhattan Design had originally told me this poster illustration was done by Charles White III of Willardson+White. Through some research that I didin’t pay attention to –that is, I never looked carefully at the credits at the bottom right of the poster!– it turns out the artist was actually Mick McGinty.

So, I reached out to Mick’s website and got this note back from his son Jobey:

Hey Fred...we actually still have the original, and I have a print hanging in my home studio. It's one of my absolute favorites that Dad did, myself being a guitar player as well.

I would love more information on it if you have some, and I will gladly send you photos of the original. Dad had it hanging in his studio for about 20 years, but then it hung in my bedroom during high school, until I moved out and it went back to his studio. While I was in high school, Dad was offered a pretty large sum for it...he said I could use the money to go to college, haha, but I lacked some ambition and decided to keep it...and this was in 1996 or 1997.

Most of Dad's illustrations are going to go to Heritage Auction in August [2023].

So glad to hear from you and meet you...anytime I get to have contact with someone that my Dad worked with it's always a huge gift and blessing to me. Jobey

My response:

Oboy! What a nice note, thanks so much!

As it turns out, persistence is a quality that can work out once in a while. I found the poster on a rare rock poster site from Germany, of all things. It got sent to me right as I came down with a serious medical condition, and now that I'm OK, I'll be able to finally open the box!! Looking forward to getting it linen backed and framed.

I'll tell you what I know of the poster, given that I was the client rather than the commissioner, Hope it's helpful.

I was the original creative director at MTV. About a year before we launched on August 1, 1981, my creative partner (eventually, my business partner) Alan Goodman and I commissioned Manhattan Design to create a logo for the channel-to-be. (Actually, I went to my childhood friend, Frank Olinsky, who had been a fantastic artist since I met him at 5 years old, and not for nothing, a lifelong music fanatic. He'd just started a design collective with two others, Pat Gorman and Patti Rogoff, and the assignment broadened to their firm. Which, by the way, was housed in a storage room behind a tai chi studio above Bigelow Chemists, on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan.) It took at a year of over 500 comps before we were satisfied with the eventual, final logo.

The final corporate approval of the design went on way too long and by the time we asked Manhattan Design to come up with our launch poster (mostly for the cable operators we needed to put the channel on their systems, and advertisers we needed to give us their money to survive). Frank thought Willardson+White would be the right shop for the illustration (Frank himself was a fantastic illustrator, kind of out the Seymour Chwast style, but he had become sick of his own work and preferred designing) –after all, airbrush was the most exciting thing to happen to 70s album design, and pop design in general– and after they sketched out a comp, you dad did the fabulous work.

Honestly, until I stumbled upon the information that your father illustrated the poster, I was completely in the dark about it. I think Manhattan Design told me it was Charlie White who did it, but maybe I misremember, or possibly they told me a name they thought would impress me.

After the poster was printed (in a very small quantity) we went on to the main work of the channel. Personally, I was interested in moving past the styles of the 70s, not just in album design, but in animation design too. My boss wanted everything to look "modern," by which he meant the kind of Star Wars style of computer controlled animation and, of course, the airbrush kind of thing. I loved both of those things, but I felt like MTV needed to forge its own path, and not follow anything else. How would we be considered special if we were followers? When he said "Star Wars" I blurted out I wanted us to look like Gumby –claymation– and convinced him we couldn't afford the more expensive stuff (claymation was way out of the mainstream by the 80s, and I let him know that the studios needed the work and would do stuff for us at a budget more in line with what we could afford).

Bob Pittman –my MTV boss– left us alone, creatively and it gave us a chance to work on Frank to do our work in a more flat illustrative direction; he could execute that personally. Reluctantly, and given the startup budgets we were working with at the beginning –it took several years for the channel to be financially successful– Manhattan Design steered us right into the pocket I was looking for, and it helped make us famous during the first decade.

Anyhow, that's what I know. If there's anything else you're curious about lemme know, it'll probably ping my brain to things I've forgotten.

Take care, sincerely, Fred

#posters #MTV #1981 #illustration #MTV design #Manhattan Design #graphic design #David Williardson #Willardson+White #Mick McGinty #MTVposts #Bob Pittman #Alan Goodman

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