#VERSE: THE LAST OF US PT 2 // there is no light

[ret1cent]

the space between (pt.1)

josh dun x fem reader

WC: 3,000+

“you want me? fuckin’ well come on and find me”

a/n: hey everyone! this is my first fic on here and the first fanfic series i am dedicating myself to ever since a wattpad markiplier x reader fic i wrote in 6th grade LMAO.. so bear with me as i get used to writing consistently again.. just a heads up this fic will have heavy themes for some people so make sure you read the warnings <3 i also think it's worth mentioning that unless made obvious all new characters introduced are purely fictional.

warnings: angst, unhappy relationship, falling out, topics of mental abuse and manipulation, bad work environment, stress and depression, abandonment issues

pt.2 here

May 19th, 2016.

“On your right!” I hear the voice of a man coming from behind me.

I whip around, quickly swerving to the left, almost running into the wall of the hallway as a group of camera loaders haul a huge camera, wind rushing past me as they scurry past. I sigh as I look down and see that the sudden maneuver caused the coffee in my hand to splash onto the front of my cardigan. I closed my eyes, as if when I opened them again the overwhelming feeling of frustration building up in my chest would magically dissipate.

I was delivering coffee like an intern and my favorite cardigan is stained, today is going great. I continue down the hall and enter the studio, the overhead lights shining hot and nearly blinding. I stagger through the bustling set, unable to hear my own thoughts from the chaos amongst me. I walk until I find Frank, a big burly guy with dark facial hair who wore the same crusty hat every day. He’s my new boss and the head of our production department who ordered me to bring him a latte. Needless to say it was quite embarrassing to play out an intern movie trope in real life.

“Frank, I have your coffee.” I say, pulling his attention away from the set designers he was closely studying, most likely looking for any excuse to yell at them. He looks over at me in silent annoyance and takes the coffee without a word. I turn to start walking away but then turn back.

“You know I’m not an intern Frank, I’m a production assistant and I’ve been working with the actual equipment for years, you can give me more technical tasks.” I say bravely, trying to hide any obvious anxiety in my voice.

It was true, of course my job title wasn’t the most renowned, but I had become well known and appreciated on sets due to how well versed I was with technology, that of course was until Frank took over.

He looks up at me, as if offended. “Well last time I checked I’m your boss and I don’t give a shit.” He says with a curt laugh. “I think I know what I'm doing I don’t think I need you to be telling me how to do my job.” He says harshly.

“Ok, sorry.” I say with false sincerity, biting my tongue to hold back the many profanities I wished to inflict upon him. As I start walking away, he takes a sip of his coffee.

“Is this fucking whole milk?” He asks in disbelief, stopping me in my tracks.

You’re fucking kidding. I look at him over my shoulder, confused.

“You just said you wanted a latte sir you didn’t clarify anything about the kind of milk.” I say with a thin smile.

“I always have oat milk in my latte you should know this about me!” He says, aggravated and shoving the cup into the hand of a passing intern. “Throw this away.” He demands her and she nods quickly in compliance and then he turns his attention back to me.

“That’s ridiculous I have never gotten you coffee before how am I supposed to know what kind of-! Forget it.” I say turning away to keep walking as I knew that no matter how good of a defense I had, arguing with Frank was like arguing with a brick wall. He was a stubborn bitter man.

“Yeah, if you can’t even get a fucking latte right that’s probably why you’re not working behind the camera.” He says with a crude laugh, and I quickly blink away the hot tears stinging in my eyes. Crying when angry was probably one of my most embarrassing tendencies. I make my way back down the hall, coworkers staring at me with concern after my obviously distasteful interaction with Frank.

── ࣪˖ ࣪ ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ── ── ࣪˖ ࣪ ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ── ── ࣪˖ ࣪ ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ──

I sat in my car with my head on my steering wheel, still in the parking lot of the set as I tried to regain myself after all the frustrations of the day before I left. I sit up and sigh, putting my car into reverse. It was a quiet drive home, the radio quickly silenced as every song playing only seemed to further my annoyance.

I pull into the driveway of my house, wishing I had other plans to prolong my arrival. The house itself wasn’t the issue, it was in a quiet neighborhood in North Hollywood, it was a humble yet comfortable rental home with a cream-colored exterior, a warm wooden interior, a short red brick staircase with bushes lined up by the entrance.

The issue was my fiancé, Logan. We’ve been dating for 2 years and just got engaged this year. Everything started great until I slowly started to see red flags, him lashing out over minuscule inconveniences, random negative comments about me that he plays off like jokes, and the way he always seems to victimize himself in every argument we have. His family has a history of mental health issues and every time I try to bring it up to him, he gets angry, claiming that he’s a not a “crazy person” whatever that’s supposed to mean, or he claims that it’s my fault he acts the way he does. But we’re engaged and I'm almost 30 and still not married, our families have the expectations of our marriage and he’s not awful all the time. I still love him. But these days it was just difficult to be around him sometimes.

I get out of the car and walk into the house, finding him sitting on the couch drinking a seltzer in the dark, the only light being the glow of the tv. I turn on the living room light and he looks at me with annoyance.

“Hi.” I say curtly, putting my bag on the ground and laying my boots next to it.

“Hey.” He replies, equally as unenthusiastic, taking another long sip of his drink. I looked at the coffee table to see about 5 other abandoned cans. He’s been drinking a lot more than usual recently, he used to barely drink at all. “What’s for dinner tonight?” He asks and I bite the inside of my cheek, frustrated.

“Logan you were supposed to make dinner tonight.” I remind him softly, trying not to lose my temper and start an argument.

“No, it’s your night.” He says in a bored tone, not providing any defense for his accusation and not turning his attention away from the screen.

I knew from the bottom of my heart it was his night, we had assigned tasks for the week. His job today because he gets off work before me was to get groceries and make dinner for us. I don't even bother trying to defend this, knowing it’ll get me nowhere. I walk to the kitchen. Fine, I'll just suck it up and make dinner. I need to be fed one way or another. I opened the fridge to see it was mostly empty besides fruits, drinks and condiments.

“Logan did you not go to the grocery store?” I ask from the kitchen.

“Forgot.” he replies dully.

I feel my eyes burning with tears again and rub them away. Work has been hell today and all I wanted was to sit down in peace and eat a hot meal. I walk into the living room and Logan looks up at me, seeing my fuming expression.

“Why don’t we just order something?” he asks with shrug and annoyed tilt of his head. “I’m hungry and I know you are too.” He says trying to reason with me.

We’re on a budget, rent here is expensive and although we both held decent jobs it still wasn’t enough for constant luxuries beyond rent and groceries. But at this point I'm so exhausted and just want to eat.

“Whatever, just order a pizza, something cheap please.” I beg and walk down the hall to our room that was adorned with house plants and my photography framed on the walls, flopping onto the bed looking up to the ceiling. In moments like these I just can’t help but wonder what I’m doing with my life. Of course I'm lucky to have a job in production, so many people dream of that. But from a young age my real dream has always been photography. But it’s such a competitive industry that I finally just gave up on the idea of it, I needed a job that would sustain me. But at this point with rent going up and my mental health spiraling, even that doesn’t even feel worth it anymore. But I don’t have a choice, the industry is oversaturated right now and I'm lucky to even be holding my current job. I feel my phone start to vibrate besides me and turn it over to see that it’s my friend Kass calling me.

“Hello?”

“Hey dude, you ok? I saw Frank Fuckface was giving you a hard time earlier?” she asks gently.

I laugh softly at her nickname for him. “Yeah, you know Frank, he was just being a dick. Got mad I didn’t get oat milk for his latte when he didn’t even ask me for it.” I say with a scoff.

“Seriously oat milk? That’s a little fruity Franky.” Kass says and I laugh.

“Stop it!” I say and she laughs.

“I’m just saying unless you have an intolerance caring that much about what kind of milk is in your coffee is a little gay!” She says, both of us laughing.

Not that there would be anything wrong with him being gay, but he has not made his far right ideals and obvious homophobia very secret. He’s not the type to be careful about posting his opinions on social media.

“You know you can leave too... right?” Kass asks, turning serious and I sigh. Kass had recently put in her two weeks to leave the company. My work life was now going to be even more miserable without her. She has a new job lined up, but ironically enough it was to be a crew member for a tour of my ex best friend’s immensely successful band. I guess that’s just what happens when your friends have a web of attachments to each other.

“Kass...” I start with a sigh, already knowing where this was going.

“I’m serious (Y/n) I could easily hook you up. Or you could hook yourself up if you would just make up with Josh!” She argues. “Imagine how fun it could be. Us on the road escaping from all this bullshit, helping with these amazing shows! Their music is phenomenal, and you know it.” She points out.

She wasn’t wrong, I was happy for Josh in that aspect, I never had any wishes against his success, him and Tyler worked incredibly hard and deserved all of the success and adoration they got. “Of course I know that, they are talented. But I have a life here now, even if work sucks, I still have a fiancé and I'm getting married in a few months.” I say, hearing my own voice falter at the thought. “Plus, I just can’t be around Josh like that, I’m still hurt by everything.” I say softly.

“I know.” She says gently and there was a momentary silence. “But if you change your mind...” She says playfully, trying to lighten the mood.

“Nooo.” I groan.

“He’s back in LA right now!” She says in a singsong voice.

“KASSSSS!”

“Ok fine, dropping it.” She says laughing. “I just wish I could keep working with my bestie.”

“I know, me too.” I say sadly, my chest suddenly feeling heavy with emotion.

She changes the subject, and we talk for another half hour until she had to go. The happiness from talking to Kass quickly faded when I came back to my dull reality, the house was quiet besides the hum from the ceiling fan and the incoherent voices coming from the Tv in the living room.

Maybe it was crazy, but I couldn't help but feeling a sense of yearning for the life that Kass had described to me. I can imagine it now. Seeing new cities every week, exploring with Kass, being cramped but content in a tour bus with likeminded coworkers, late night gas station runs, bonding with Josh, Tyler and Mark again... My heart stings at the thought.

Josh and I were long term friends. We met in 2010 through a few mutual friends. Ever since that point the rest was history, we spent countless days lounging around each other’s places, going to gigs together, me going to his own band’s gigs, hanging out at each other's work places when things were slow...

We were inseparable. When Josh met Tyler, he quickly introduced me to him. I got along with him effortlessly, we all formed our own little group with the three of us and the boy’s other mutual friends. I helped Tyler and Josh with their creative ventures with the band, me and Mark often acting as their camera crew. I did photography for them and promoted the band around as much as possible. Those were the days. I didn’t know it, but things were just so much simpler, they were fresh, new and exciting. Josh and I fell out of contact in 2013. He had started dating a girl by the name Sophia the previous year. He was head over heels for her and I supported him in every way. He seemed happy with her. Josh even brought her to hang out with the group sometimes. I always tried to make her feel welcome and even create a bond with her, but she just never returned the same energy.

Over time Josh became less and less available to hang out. I understood, he had a girlfriend after all, it was normal for him to want to spend time with her. But it got to a ridiculous point where I finally confronted him about it. I look up at my ceiling reflecting on the memory.

January 12th, 2013.

I sat on a wide leather couch with Josh, his legs sprawled across it while I sat in the corner of it, my head leaning against the wall. Mark and Tyler in the other room filming a video Josh had already completed his part for. It was the first time he and I had been alone together for a prolonged amount of time in months. We had been chatting and laughing about random things, but I finally gained the courage to ask the question that had been pressing me for so long.

“Josh?” I ask softly, my voice holding an air of somberness.

“Yeah?” He lifts his head up, sitting up halfway and bracing himself back with his hands. His expression held slight concern, yet a strange look of expectancy. Like he knew what he was going to hear, or like there was something he wanted me to say.

“Why haven’t we hung out just the two of us in so long?”

His expression falters. “Well, you know with us releasing an album under a label for the first time and being with Sophia I don’t know things have just been... busy" He stutters slightly.

“I know I know.. I understand things have been hectic for you guys, I’ve been seeing it firsthand. It’s just that... It always used to be us... You know?” I let out a shaky breath. I was never good at any kind of confrontation. “I just... miss you man.” I say sadly.

Josh fully sits up, his hands on his knees as he looked at me. “I know I... I miss you too.” He says genuinely yet almost sounding guilty.

There was a silence.

“Can I be honest with you (Y/n)?”

“Of course.” I say, a nervous anticipation swirling in my stomach. I don’t even know what to expect.

“Sophia doesn’t want us to be friends anymore...” He says slowly.

There was a long pause.

“Why?” I ask, a blurry layer over my eyes as they welled up. I had a gut feeling ever since we stopped hanging out that this was probably the situation at hand. I was just hoping it wasn’t true.

“She thinks we’re too close. I-I don’t know she always freaks out about it. She thinks there’s something going on between us.” he says, rubbing his hand over his face.

I scoff. “Well, that’s ridiculous, have you tried to tell her nothing weird is going on? We’re just friends!” I say and he looks down at his shoes at this, not saying anything for a moment. He looks back up at me.

“I’ve told her that so many times she just won't believe me.”

“Well, she should trust you! You’re her boyfriend.”

“I know...”

“So... what do we do?” I ask, looking up at him and he looks to the side, biting the inside of his cheek nervously.

“I guess we’ll only be together when we're with the group... That’s what she asked me to do.” He says, avoiding eye contact and I laugh in disbelief.

“What so we’re forbidden from ever hanging out again?” I asked, standing up and wiping the tears that were dangerously close from rolling down my face.

“(Y/n) she's my girlfriend!” He pleads, also standing up.

“What so that means our friendship lost all value? You aren’t even trying to fix this!” I say, slightly raising my voice.

I hear the noise in the other room quiet and a few moments later Tyler and Mark are standing in the doorway, concerned expressions on both of their faces.

“Guys what’s-” Mark start’s but Josh speaks over him.

“I have been I’ve been trying so hard to fix everything, but I don’t know if I can!” Josh says his voice staggering.

I was silent, looking at the pleading expression in his eyes. “Well... I think you’ve made it abundantly clear where your values lie.” I say with my arms folded over my chest while I walk to the door.

“(Y/n) stop!” He pleads.

“Why should I?” I ask plainly, turning around with a humorless laugh.

“You’re my best friend.” He says softly.

“Then fucking prove it.” I say, turning back around and leaving the building.

That was the last time we had spoken.

Tyler and Mark reached out to me occasionally after the fight. They let it be known that their friendship to me still held despite me and Josh’s falling out, but I slowly fell away from their friendship as well. Not that their efforts didn’t go unappreciated by me, but being with them only when Josh wasn’t around would’ve felt wrong, it would have only remind me that everything had changed. So my relationship with Tyler and Mark held in the way a pair of old high school friend’s would, they’d text happy birthday and send holiday wishes, but we all had our own lives to move on with.

Of course me and Josh’s relationship equated to nothing after everything. We weren’t petty enough to unfollow each other on social media or block each others numbers, we just never talked. Josh would try to text me after the fight, apologizing and telling me he missed me. But I was hurt, his actions spoke louder than words. When I never responded he slowly stopped texting. I suspected this was the work of Sophia, or him just realizing it wasn’t getting him anywhere. I just wasn’t going to reply. Maybe this was petty of me, my stubbornness had never been one of my attractive traits.

But when you’ve had so many people who mean anything to you in your life leave, you just learn to let go. Holding on so hard only hurts more. But no matter how hard I tried to block out the pain of Josh’s absence in my life, it always lingered. It felt as if a part on my soul was missing ever since that day. I rub my hands over my face. Is it crazy to feel that way about an old friend?

“(Y/n) the pizzas here!” Logan’s voice shouts, snapping me out of my trance.

I get up slowly. Yes, it was crazy. I have a new life now, and I have to remain present. I can’t stay stuck in the past forever, it’s time to move on.

I walk down the hall, my socks padding against cold wooden floor. He looks at me, holding the pizza box with a smile. I look up and softly smile back.

[burdigel]

Theories and Headcannons Pt. 24

So a week ago we got a little teaser from Martyn about hints for the next Life Series season, around an hour after we got another subtle clue from Cherrifire, a commissioned arist of Martyn and Grian for their thumbnails. Moving onto four days later where in a Phasmo stream with GIGS, Grian althought not explicitly, teased the recording of a certain something. That something most likely being the next installment of the Life Series as he previously stated during the aftermath of the Ender Cup, that the next season was in development. So now four months later, and with the release of that little crumb of information you would think it would be the last. But approximately an hour ago (of the time writing this), Scar drops a bombshell of information as a GIF of traffic lights blinking.

Effectively reinforcing the possibility of the next season arriving extremely soon as traffic lights is a predominant symbol of the Life Series with the three-life system of green, yellow, and red matching with the known pattern of traffic lights. Hence traffiblr also referring to the Life Series.

With the date of the next season of the Life Series been generally confirmed, the twist of this subsequent still remains unknown. But by disecting each post from credible sources (Inthelittlewood, Cherrifire and GoodtimewithScar), it's possible to gain a sliver of understanding about the next gimmick for this upcoming season.

Starting with Martyn's post, his reponse to a question regarding the Life series were a series of rhyming verses otherwise known as a couplet. His reponse goes as:

"Nope. Not a slither, not a slice, not a hint, not a price,

not a right, not a wrong, not a verse, not a song,

not a fork, not a list, not a fog, not a mist,

not a shine, not a spree, not a thing from me"

With lines and words like not a slither, slice, hint, verse, list and not a thing from me commonly used in other media to express a concept that is left unsaid or unexplained to conceal or hide information. Other phrases like not a price, right, wrong, song, fork, fog, mist, shine and not a spree seem unusual and seem only used to act as rhyming words. But since this couplet's rhyming patterns goes like (word) (rhyming word) (word) (rhyming word), words like price, wrong, song, mist and spree can be eliminated only leaving right, fork, fog and shine used for clues.

Words like fog and shine can be connected easily with the concept of revealing something concealed by layers of dense things with the good or "light". Maybe uncovering the lore of the Watcher's to the rest of the participants as the right path taken since the Watcher has a lasting cameo in the previous Life Series. It would be poetic as the fifth installment of the Life Series that the Watchers would return as an antagonist force. The way fork is incoporated into this theory is the mannered and dignified repute it carries where in the eleventh century, it was considered prestigous or vain to use a fork. Similar to the Watchers and the means they present themselves.

Other theories like @strychninesss 's double life 2 utilises the couplet's use of repition and pairs to conlclude the return of the soulmate gimmick with its repeatability and new possibilities with the pairing of new soulmates.

Our second poem arrived from Martyn's accomplice Cherrifire, with her reply to his cryptid poem was to produce another poem herself and that being:

"Oh, well in that case you're not getting a peep, not even a taste of the secrets I keep.

Of course, I could tell you all I know, but it's way more fun to give you a show.

Or perhaps this is all a trick, and Martyn’s just being a— very mean person.

Whatever it may be, you'll just have to wait and see."

With this poem following the rhythmic pattern of (Rhyming) (Rhyming), the couplet mainly focuses on the information Cherri deliberately chooses to withold and the her dilemma to diclose her details to fandom. In the end, she decides to hold the spoilers and express her intrest into the chaos that can produced with limited clues given before the said show begins.

Well the structure and the style of the poem is reminiscient of how the Watchers approach and address the members of Evolution SMP back in 2017. With the Watchers depicted as this all-knowing beings that can see everything and perceive all things, they often speak in this entitled mannerisim due to their privileged abilities. And with the legacy of the Watchers being continued but altered with every iteration or headcannon of them, they have commonly been altered into these beings that revel in the chaos and angst produced by the participants of the Life Series. This message could be a warning to the fans that the Watcher's could play a more major role compared to the Secret Keeper in Secret Life as a tribute to the four seasons and three years of the Life Series.

These statements revealed by Grian, Scar, Martyn and Cherrifire has just almost confirmed the arrival of the season five for the Life Series be very soon. Although there is the possibility Grian could be hyping us up for an entirely different video that collaborates with other mcytbers, evidence piles to point towards the next installment coming hopefully, next week.

____

All links and references used are in the post and uh special thanks? regards? to @aethbeans and their twitter account that compiled messages from Scar's discord server regarding clues to the upcoming Life Series.

Oh COd I was scrambling to finish writing this one

[kassandrasdisciple]

Fears x Killers Pt. 3

This is the last part of my little series covering the original killers of DbD and which Fear I think they'd serve in the Magnus Archives.

You can find part 1 here

And part 2 here

You may have also noticed the line-up of this one and realised 2 are actually licences, congratulations, you are smarter and more observant than me when I first drafted this series.

As always this is what Fear I think a killer would serve, not who they'd be tormented by I.E. The Legion would be targeted by The Lonely but wouldn't serve it. With that out of the way, let's begin!

The Singularity

The Extinction

Rounding out our roster, having a killer for each Fear we have Hux! Our "I think therefore I AM" dupe!

Hux is the poster child for The Extinction. His sentience literally starts with fear.

"In that moment, Hux's memory cores were reconfigured, and the robot experienced a new sensation. Fear. Dread. Blinding loneliness. Existential despair." - Hux' lore, dbd wiki

And what do we know of The Extinction? That it'll erase humanity and replace us with the inheritors.

"Some interpretations suggest it might replace us with something new – that can then fear annihilation in turn." - MAG:134, time of revelation

Hux's existence in the TMA-verse would literally have Dekker foaming at the mouth (r.i.p king).

The Unknown

The Stranger

Now this one was a bitch. If you've not caught up on The Unknown's lore the tl;dr is we don't know. The POV victim isn't even a current survivor, all we know is it's similar to The Dredge, where it's more of an amalgamation of fear, rather than a previous mortal/immortal individual.

It can look like it's victims, it can make hallucinations, drug? You? (still don't know how it's power works). It also hides in the closet (same), fucks with the lights in Olivia's room, mimics voices and has the visual presentation of someone caught in a 10-car pile up.

In conclusion, our short list is The Dark, The Spiral, and my final choice The Stranger. Whilst it's physical distortion might be reminiscent of Micheal or Helen I think its more akin to the fear of the Not-Them or the Anglerfish. Your not scared of your senses failing to comprehend, your scared cos it look likes a person from afar, and sounds like one but it's definitely NOT. Ergo, I banish thee to the Circus.

The Litch

The Eye

Welcome to the first, but not the only! Entry into the segment "watch me forget what a licence is!"

In all honesty, I totally forgot DnD popularised Litches, legit just thought they were generic undead from folklore like zombies and revenants.

The whole reason I've been avoiding licences is because idk where to draw the line on how much of their og material to include in my decisions. For example!

In DnD lore, Vecna is a power-grabby mage, who is hands on with expanding his realm and eventually becomes an actual fucking God.

However in DbD (these acronyms are gonna be the death of me) he's pretty different. When he finds a book that seems to originate from the realms he starts obsessively researching it's secrets, playing muder-mystery with the Entity, and finally letting himself be consumed by the Entity to find the truth of the power it holds.

Now that last description is firmly The Eye, seeking knowledge, secrets, dooming yourself for the sake of learning forbidden shit yadda yadda (you listened to a whole podcast on that, you know the drill).

However that first description, from the original DnD sources? That's The Web, expanding, scheming, aiming for a lofty a goal as great as Godhood. That's mother (of puppets).

So whilst I'm doing the original killers I'm going to weigh the DbD interpretations as the most important, and in this case they basically created a new character out of Vecna, keeping his Litch-ness and childhood, but changing everything else, so I think basing my justifications mainly of the DbD version is valid.

The Dark Lord

The End

OH IT GOT WORSE!

So Vecna only had 2 options. His og, linear, DnD storyline or the DbD version.

Dracula is based on ALL the dracula's from castlevania! ALL OF THEM!

Luckily they state on the wiki they're mainly drawing from the 1986 and 1997 version, BUT ALSO in his lore he's killed by Julien who's from the 2002 game!

So, instead of parsing 3 decades of contradicting lore I'm simply going to state my reasonings for why he's The End and you may yell at me for why that's totally contradicted by a flop-1993 game that was sold exclusively in the Republic of Vanuatu and I'll defer to you okay?

Rapid fire: evil career is kicked off due to his wife's death, wanting to revive her he goes on a quest to cheat death, accidentally becomes immortal, continues to be murdered by twunks for centuries, keeps being revived, sometimes against his will.

Comparing this laundry list of traits to our known End avatars (Oliver♡, the reapers, the guy Dekker lobotomised, baby-killer), an initial run-in with Death that ends in Immortality is quite common.

Finally, The End avatars always seem the least, thirsty? If you look at all the other avatars, they're STOKED to serve their Fear but The End? most just see it as their fate, which seems pretty similar to Dracula, his bargins with death are merely a means to an end (ha).

The Hound Master

The Hunt

Oh thank gods we're out of the licences, also we're continuing the trend where we finish on a Hunt avatar!

The Hound Master is the newest killer so we might get more tome and cosmetic lore. This could mean that she aligns more with another fear in the future, but for now I think The Hunt suits her well.

Portia grew up an imaginative girl, her father was a captain that instilled a sense of adventure into her at a young age, something she kept with her, all her life.

Tragically, after the death of her Father at the hands of mad Molak and his son she's marooned on an island half-way in the Entity's realm. She's stranded with only her dog Snug for company. Over the coming years she and Snug would become the Apex predators of this island, facing what's insinuated to be Killers roaming the edges of the realm.

Eventually she manages to escape the island, half-crazed, and missing Snug. Was he just a hallucination? Either way she'll keep searching her peripherals for the rest of her time in the moral world; hunting for Snug's barks.

Driven by a vengeance that's festered for years Portia hunts Molak across the carribean. Slaughtering anyone in her way. Eventually, she finds his hideout and kills his Son, serving his corpse to Molak for dinner. But just as she's about to finally kill him, he's taken by the mist of the realm, as she screams in anguish she also hears a familiar bark from that very same Mist.

Hunting both her greatest enemy and her loyalist friend, Portia enters the realms.

If you can't tell I have a spot spot for the more tragic killers. And whilst most of the killers could swing Hunt, Portia IS a hunter. She very much reminds me of Daisy, where the ends justify the means; being willing to cross any line to get to her quarry.

And that's a wrap on the original killers! If you've read through all 3 parts I'm so sorry for how much you've had to listen to me yap, thank you for bearing with me though!

I'll cover the licenced killers at a later point, probably in two parts, with 6 in one and 7 in the other. As you can tell from my dismay at the 2 I accidentally included in here though it'll be a lot more challenging to come to a decision.

If you have any opinions on if I should value the DbD lore more or less than the original media then let me know.

In any case, as always, thank you for reading.

< Icons and art came from the dbd wiki and Grace Holsten's tumblr respectively >

[gra93fruit-blog]

So I did a thing. Lets see how far it can go.

Note: I want to write more and I think this will be a great way to practice. If you catch any grammatical or punctuation errors please tell me. I am writing these while I should be working, so the editing will not be ideal. I hope to get one of these out a day. They will all be short.

Warnings: Drug use: Weed. Some one is stuck in a pit. reader insert, I want to give second person POV a try.

Universe: Space Marine Husbandry- Sentience verse.

Summary: On a walk to a game knight reader finds a very confused Dark Angel. Not that the reader knows that.

Introductions

You took a reflexive drag of the joint, you think you deserved its. You were already pleasantly toasted, you were not going to sober up in time to deal with this situation so you may as well. Your hand stung from the crisp early winter air and the cherry at the end glowed ominously in the dark.

Thanks to the flood lights of the school behind you, you could see that the pit they had 'fix' a few years ago was back. A jagged shadow of darkness that seemed to open like a mouth when compared to the thick reflective snow around it.

The pit was not what was causing you stress. The pit was back, it was bound to comeback sooner or later, Public Works' finest quality work basically amounted to duct tape and pray, so it was honestly a surprise it did not appear sooner. The last time a horse had fallen through, it had taken for ever to get the poor confused thing out, but evidence pointed to something else in the pit.

Horses after all were not generally associated with the faint whir and soft click of an idle chainsaw. Which, in your mind had to be at least some what of a good sign, if some one was unconscious down there at least they weren't being torn apart by their own chainsaw. There was also the strange voice, with the consistency of gravel that rolled out of the pit. It was unnaturally deep, and seemed to be calling in a language you could not even recognize let alone speak.

The drag had been a bad idea. You lungs rebelled, and you hacked and coughed into the night air, almost forced to bend over double as your lungs forcibly reminded you that your weed habit was not appreciated.

The deep rumbling speech stopped for a minute, before taking on an even angrier sounding tone. You walked towards it, careful to keep yourself far back from the edge, the snow was deep, and the last think you needed was to fall in as well. You could not make to much out in the dark pit, the flood light from the school only illuminating the edges of the pit. Two red eye lenses stared up at you.

"Um, hey there," You greeted it, trying to force your brain into action through the feel good haze. "You, Ma'am or Sir, are in a pit."

The red lenses stared back seemingly unaffected by your helpful comment. But as you shuffled a little to one side to get a better angle of the thing, the eye followed you.

They called out again.

"Sorry, I have no idea what you just said Bub."

Part 2-> https://www.tumblr.com/gra93fruit-blog/765589819908866048/introductions-pt-2

[therealbrigeedarocks]

wicked (the musical) ((the movie)) (((pt 1)))

it's fine

it's a low fucking bar when with how much sfx went into this goddamn film that about 95% of the time you can actually see shit (there are a handful of questionable shots but otherwise there's no like terrible cgi-covering bad lighting for this film) ((and this is coming from me watching the cam version so like, take that as you will))

i like a great big bunch of the set and costume designs, especially when it came to the library set piece. absolutely unnecessary and even impractical but goddamn did it make for some good choreography in the middle of "dancing through life"

one of my pet peeves of design however shows up at the end, when it comes to elphaba's broom. i get it, you can't have a generic broom for something meant to be Iconic and Distinctive and Marketable, but at the same time there is no way in hell this scraggly and pointy as fuck broom was ever used in the day-to-day cleaning of a fucking palace, let alone would be comfortable to use/ride as flying transportation

i heard they were going to pad these movies out by adding shit from the wicked books, and i know i'll never get to see elphaba whack a dying (dead?) madam morrible in the face with her broom, but i would've liked to see her attend a classmate's dinner party admitting to the deed as they get drunk

or just having friends in general i mean she and boq hung out all the time in the book and they are barely within 5 feet of each other in the musical and movie

speaking of shit from the book, i actually would've liked if they added elphie showing up somewhere from the middle of a rainstorm and having to carefully slough off a giant wet cloak to avoid the water touching her instead of just...a throwaway line about her not getting wet and a dinky umbrella

the leads do their best. arianna is basically doing a kristin chenoweth impression anyway and honestly something tells me she would've gotten shit if she deviated too far from what we all know. cynthia erivo does a pretty good job making the songs her own and i enjoy her interpretation

speaking of, the idina menzel and kristin chenoweth cameo was cute and funny and appropriately during the Song Created For The Film Adaptation So We Can Have An Oscar Nomination For Best Original Song

jeff goldblum is also fine and while i would've liked someone more along the lines of joel grey to fill in for the wizard, i also can't think of anyone else who would do a decent job.

no wait that's a lie, i think alfred molina could've done just as well whatever man i can dream this has nothing to do with me wanting alfred molina in more things

put alfred molina in more things please

if i had to be nit-picky about anything i think the thing that irritates me most is just something that happens in a lot of musical adaptations, which is when the timing is off or there's too much "dead air" (aka just not singing bits) between verses. it can stop the momentum in its tracks because they need to keep the plot going which doesn't seem to last as long on stage (but also you can't stop for different takes or fuck-ups on stage so it is what it is)

that said, as expected, the movie ends just as the first act of the musical does: on defying gravity. the song is great, the visuals are great, and while it's iffy to have a regular ass cape suddenly become large and looming for no reason, it's doubly nice to see it as such both for the costuming effect used in the musical and to have it billow like smoke ala how she "travels" in the judy garland movie. having the wizard of oz (1939) font for the title and end credit card is a nice touch because let's be real this movie was never going to escape the judy garland version

it's good it's fine and everyone is already making the joke about how there's not gonna be any memorable songs in the pt 2 of this movie

calling it now: "for good" is gonna be the song they use for all the marketing for pt 2

[bi-disaster-kit-herondale]

The Mortal Instruments as Speak Now TV pt. 1/2

this is gonna flop since nobody really talks about tmi anymore, but I love them so much <3

Enchanted: Alec & Magnus (them. the entire song.)

“this is me praying that this was the very first page, not where the storyline ends. my thoughts will echo your name until I see you again. these are the words I held back as I was leaving too soon. I was enchanted to meet you.”

Mine: Jace & Clary

“you said, “I remember how we felt sitting by the water. and every time I look at you it’s like the first time. I fell in love with a careless man’s careful daughter. she is the best thing that’s every been mine. hold on, make it last.”

Ours: Simon & Izzy

“the jury’s out, but my choice is you. so don’t you worry your pretty, little mind. people throw rocks at things that shine. and life makes love look hard. the stakes are high, the water’s rough, but this love is ours.”

Back To December: Magnus & Alec (breakup)

“I watched you laughing from the passenger side and realized I loved you in the fall. and then the cold came, the dark days when fear crept into my mind. you gave me all your love and all I gave you was goodbye.”

Dear John: Jocelyn & Valentine

“well, maybe it’s me and my blind optimism to blame. or maybe it’s you and your sick need to give love then take it away. and you’ll add my name to your long list of traitors who don’t understand. and I’ll look back and regret how I ignored when they said ‘run as fast as you can’.”

The Story Of Us: Clary & Jace (sibling era 🤪)

“I’d tell you I miss you, but I don’t know how. I never heard silence quite this loud. now I’m standing alone in a crowded room and we’re not speaking. and I’m dying to know is it killing you like it’s killing me? I don’t know what to say since a twist of fate, when it all broke down.”

I Can See You: Izzy & Simon

“what would you do if we never made a sound? cause I can see you waiting down the hall from me. and I could see you up against the wall with me. and what would you do baby, if you only knew.”

Haunted: Maia & Jordan (tbh every verse is like a POV change and a different part of their story)

“something’s made your eyes go cold. come on, come on, don’t leave me like this. I thought I had you figured out. something’s gone terribly wrong, you’re all I wanted.”

When Emma Falls In Love: Izzy

“when emma falls apart it’s when she’s alone, she takes on the pain and bears it on her own. cause when emma falls in love she’s in it for keeps, she won’t walk away unless she knows she absolutely has to leave. and she’s the kind of book that you can’t put down.”

Innocent: Clary (this song is so james & matthew coded but i’ll give it to the other fairchild cuz she’s also been through a lot)

“wasn’t it beautiful runnin’ wild ‘til you fell asleep. before the monsters caught up to you? it’s alright, just wait and see. your string of lights is still bright to me. oh, who you are is not where you’ve been. you’re still an innocent.”

Long Live: Alec & Magnus

“I was screaming long live all the magic we made, and bring on all the pretenders, I’m not afraid. long live all the mountains we moved, I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you. and I was screaming long live that look on your face.”

part two!

[cato-of-blamesociety]

32 Weeks Tracklist/Song Picks pt. 1 (weeks 1-8)

How/Why did I choose/chose to use the songs I did

*Full breakdown, updated in real time(weekly)*

1. Silent Hill by Kendrick Lamar x Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers

This song was chosen due to subtle melodies but a hard hitting beat. MMATBS played a huge role in my life last summer when it debuted. I followed Kenny like crazy, checking his insta and youtube regularly to see what he would do next. The music videos were food that I consumed over and over again, trying to fully tap into his message. There were other tracks in the album I wanted to remix such as; Purple Hearts/N95/Crown...but Silent Hill just felt more like my style. The lyrics basically wrote themselves. I was able to adequately outline my views for this project, and my goals quickly in the introduction.

2. Promise by Lupe Fiasco x Drogas Light

Drogas was released in 2017, and honestly I can't recall which project I heard first: Drogas or DAMN(Kendrick). I do remember copping the physical CD at a Target and bumping it in the whip on my way home. Lupe has always been a favorite artist of my mine. Dopest metaphors, cool ass voice, and he doesnt compromise his craft. Anyway, in the song, he raps about how rappers lie so much that they can't maintain thier image or even their careers. For me, I have always wanted to rip this beat and I finally did. It provided a dope but repetitive rhythmic framework for me to lay out my direction, my goals, and intentions as a(n): husband, father, artist, this project, and really my life in general moving forward. I hope you vibe with it heavy.

3. Cuff If by Beyonce x Renaissance

As a recent fan of Beyoncé (Lemonade, Everything is Love, Black is King, and Renaissance), I have come to really use the messaging to lean more into my partner. The music that was released (Lemonade and beyond) I felt spoke more to me about cherishing these relationships between spouse, our children and our community. I may not have a huge impact on the world, but to someone close to me, I know that my existence may mean the world to them. This is especially true with marriage. At least mine. We learn to love each other better, to grow together, and hell, parent together. It's not easy. So it's moments like this one where we enjoy our company and have fun.

4. Cut Me a Break ft. TI x The Free Nationals

I happened to stumble across The Free Nationals about 2 years ago. I had begun listening to Anderson.Paak which put me on to Mac Miller, BJ the Chicago Kid, and The Free Nationals. There is a Tiny desk concert that made me respect Paak's talent but also his playfulness with the band made me want learn more. I searched them on Spotify and found that they had released a Self-titled album in 2019...which comes after the death of Mac Miller. He makes an appearance on "Time" and makes me tear up. Anyway, I love the fact that they also released an instrumental version of the album. I knew that I wanted to incorporate them on this project, and this track, "Cut Me a Break" features T.I. coming in hot, and honestly, I don't follow T.I.P.'s music so it was dope to hear an up to date verse from him. I have come to respect and admire his distinguished voice which definitely pops with the band's instrumentation. When I was jamming the instrumental, I starting hearing/coming up with magic metaphors. My album (at the moment untitled/nearly completed) is based on alchemy, growth and self improvement, and 32 weeks is another way to play with that motif and set the stage for the album release. Hope you enjoy!

5. Gray Area ft. Mick Jenkins x Kaytranada

Not going to lie to you all, Kaytranada was a fresh one on my radar. I really didn't know about him. In the beginning stages of writing this tape, I was on the hunt for new music, and it slips my mind but there was trajectory that I followed to landed me to find him. I believe the first project I heard was 99.9% . Then I checked out Bubba which made me realize I f***s with Kay's music. I was super excited when I saw that Bubba had an Instrumental Version. Next step was narrowing down which track I would use. This process took longer than expected because as true Kaytranada fans know...each track was hot. There were so many options. I ended up finding myself being moved by Gray Area. I loved the visualizer he had posted YouTube as well. Next thing you know, I began opening up about my parents, more so my dad, and how their passed down the creativity that I now express. I was visiting my mom one day with my wife and kids. She had on her dinning room table old cards/letters from years past. I spotted one that my dad had made/gave to her. It had his handwriting and omg it was very NSFW lol. Not really but it was definitely cringy for an adult son to read about his father's feelings for his mother. However, my mom began sharing stories about them dating, the nicknames, etc. I realized I got my naughty side from them, and my spark to create/write from my dad. I am truly grateful for that info, as it helps me understand who I am, and what I want to do with my life. I spue some serious dope lines in this track. I hope you enjoy!

6. Fake Names x Freddie Gibbs & Madlib

This one was fun to write. I really stretched my brain to make the metaphors work. A friend introduced me to Freddie's music. I believe Pinata was the first song I heard him on. I definitely went through his whole catalog. Much respect to his craft. When selecting Fake Names, i was searching through his more recent works and I had remembered that his collab with Madlib was fire. Those beats are gold. This one just stuck out the most most. Easy flow, to really take time to dig into the bars, low ambience for vocal presence to shine, and the beat switch which signals the end of my verse. I love the beginning lines expressing my goals. 3 main points: acknowledgement as an emcee, obtaining the bag, and completing every project in the works at the moment. Watch me accomplish each goal!

7. Wailin' x Outkast

This track I feel is straight forward. Although, it should be noted that Wailin' is the oldest track/instrumental that I chose for this project. There really is no true reason why, especially since I was aiming to keep tracks more modern...like no earlier than 2010ish. I have always loved Outkast and ATLiens & Aquemini are my favorite 'Kast albums. I have used Liberation on a previous project. I had begun writing the verse a long time ago, but never gotten around to finish it. However once I was in 32Weeks mode, it was easy and fun to complete. My favorite line pays homage to a song on the ATLiens album (not this one in particular) "Don't wanna float face down in the mainstream, I'd rather walk to my destination on my own two feet..". "Mainstream" speaks a lot about how artist end up either selling out, selling their "souls" , or even flopping/dead all for the fame. I don't worry about that. I do aim for recognition of my effort and skills as an artist, the bread for that said effort, and to continue doing what I do. I hope that if you are reading this you can understand and identify with all that I say. Also, as someone who is working hard to make a dream a reality, I hope you know that if you feel the same pain, the torment, or even the struggles of everyday life, I got you. That is precisely the reason I make music, to help the listeners cope with life.

8. Umbrella ft. 21 Savage x Metro Boomin

This one was one that I truly found joy in writing. Metro Boomin's productions are always fire. You will see later that I indulged in his work for this project. I came across the Album Heroes and Villains and really didn't truly understand where Metro was going with this. I knew it was catchy af though because each track had it's own vibe, and audio return value. The 1st two tracks are what really pulled me in. As I was searching for beats for 32weeks, I knew I wanted a Metro track...then I discovered that he released the Hero's version of his album...which the second half had all the instrumentals. It was like he was asking for artists to take a stab at creating their own origin stories/sharing them. Which is exactly what I did. Because I am adapting my own story to his track I decided to tell my story of my younger self; death of father, single mother household, selling substances, getting arrested for selling said substances, growing out of that mindset, and walking into the man that I am today. Needless to say, just like this only the first phase of journey, it is also just the beginning of 32 Weeks. I hope those of you seeing this..today 8/30/23 as I write this, or ten/twenty years later, that you find a gem or glimmer of hope from my heart to yours.

[btsuimi]

like crazy — park jimin

[intro] 

i think we could last forever

i’m afraid that everything will disappear

just trust me 

[verse 1]

she’s saying 

baby,  생각하지 마     baby, don’t think [about it]

    >  생각 (n) thought

    > 하다 (v) to do, perform

    >  v + -지 마(세요): (please) don’t [verb]

there’s not a bad thing here tonight 

baby,  떠나도 좋아     baby, it’s fine even if you leave

    >  떠나다 (v) leave, depart

    > v/adj + -아/어/여도: even [if/though]

    >  좋다 (adj) good, nice

있어 줘 오늘까지만    please stay [with me], just until today

    >  있다 (v) be, stay

    > v +  아/어 주다: like ‘please give + [v] ; used when you ask for something (a favour, for example)

    > 오늘 (n) today

    > n +  - 까지: to [n]

    > n + 만: only/just [n]

[verse 2]

watch me go

날 적셔 밤새도록 away    [keep] me drenched all night

    > 날 = 나 + 를

    > 적시다 (v) wet

    > 밤새 (v) stay up

    > v +  -도록: please read the explanation here :)

아침도 취해서 오지 않게    so that the morning is [gets] drunk and doesn’t come

    >  아침 (n) morning

    >  취하다 (v) to be drunk/intoxicated

    > v/adj +  아/어서: because [v/adj]

    > 오다 (v) come

    > v + -지 않게: in order not to [v]

    * in the mv, the translation is: so that the morning gets drunk and never comes

[pre-chorus]

시끄러운 음악 속에 희미해진 나    i’ve been blurred amidst the loud music

    > 시끄럽다 (adj) loud, chaotic

    > 음악 (n) music

    > 속 (n) inside

    > 희미하다 (adj) dim, blurred

    > v + - 나(요): explanation here :)

    *in the mv, the translation is: as the loud music plays, i’m fading away

드라마 같은 뻔한 story 익숙해져 가    like a cliché drama story, i’m becoming experienced [or used to it]

    > 드라마 (n) drama

    > 같다 (adj) such as, like

    > 뻔하다 (adj) evident

    > 익숙해지다 (v) to become experienced/skilled

    *mv translation: i’m getting used to it

    *another note: i’m not entirely sure about 가 as an ending here. if anyone knows, please lmk !

네가 알던 나를 찾기엔 멀리 온 걸까?    have i come too far to find the me [you] used to know?

    > 알다 (v) know, realize

    > v + 던: used to [v]

    > 찾다 (v) find, look for

    > v + -기에는: too (A) to do (B) /for doing (B) | source!

    > 멀리 (adv) far

    >  오다 (v) come

    > v + 으/ㄹ까(요): explanation here :)

yeah, i know

you know, i know

[chorus]

i’d rather be lost in the lights

lost in the lights 

i’m outta my mind 

이 밤의 끝을 잡아줘    please hold onto this night’s end

    > 이 this

    > 밤 (n) night

    > 잡다 (v) hold, grab 

    >  끝 (n) final, end

매일 밤 you spin me up high    every night you spin me up high

    > 매일 (n) everyday

    > 밤 (n) night

너를 품은 달    the moon that embraces you

    > 품다 (v) embrace

    > 달 (n) moon

    > :explanation here :)

let me have a taste

part 1 | 2

➽───────────────❥

hi !! it has been A long long time :’) i love this song so much, so i thought of translating it and making a post while i’m at it !! i’m thinking of working on 사람 pt. 2 next, but i’m not too sure when since it’s finals season :’) currently on very very busy and tight schedule this whole month

anyway !!

if you see a grammar point or word you don’t see a separate line (breakdown) for, it’s likely that if you click on it, it’ll send you to a new window that contains the explanation :D i’ll be working on updating my grammar + vocabulary list !! and i’ll try to be active on twitter, so look for me on there !! if you want to be moots/mutuals, send me your username or dm me there !!

(it's also been a while since i've studied korean, so i may have lost some [or a lot actually] knowledge i've previously held ha ha)

also, corrections are so so appreciated !! please feel free to lmk if you see anything wrong above ^^

i’ll work on + post the remaining parts of this song when i’ve got some time to spare

that’s all for now :D 

[hannieween]

lights out chapter vii | teaser

✮ pairings: female reader x joshua hong ✮ genre: fluff, smut [18+] ✮ aus: boyfriend joshua, rockstar joshua, boyfriend jeonghan polyamorous relationship ✮ word count: 4k

✮ warnings: smut with plot, possessiveness, making out, dirty talk, dry humping, brat taming, bondage, dom joshua, sub reader. pet names: bunny, princess, baby (hers) babe, handsome (joshua and jeonghan)

✮ author's note: HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!! i love you all. i wish i could hug all of you. may you have a very prosperous 2025, i hope y'all get rich, be healthy and surrounded by love ♡︎

✮ author's note pt. 2: MINORS DO NOT INTERACT !!!!

starlight — teaser

Cardboard boxes were stacked in piles and pushed to the empty wall of your studio office. You stared at your surroundings, taking a moment to bid farewell to the space that served as a fortress through days and nights of hard work. You sighed, choking up a little when you remembered that this space used to be just a desk, a chair, and your computer.

This space had evolved with you, and now you were taking a leap into the next big thing.

You could hear the faint mumbles of a sweet voice and the lazy strumming of an acoustic guitar playing in the next room. If you stood still, you could hear Joshua singing, repeating the same chords when he apparently made a mistake, but to you, it sounded so perfect that you could not resist but be dragged from the studio to the bedroom.

Joshua sat at the foot of the bed, one leg curled on his side, propping the acoustic guitar on his thigh. His head was tilted downwards, so you could not see his beautiful face fully. His hair served as a light curtain over his eyes, which were drawn to his fingers, finding the chords again.

As soon as you walked into the room, he noticed you. His lips curved into a tiny smile that went unseen by you because he wanted to carry his tune again. His fingers worked through the strings of the guitar expertly, even better than when he was trying to get them before you stepped in.

You leaned against the doorframe, watching him play the bit that had drawn you to the bedroom. You were suddenly overcome with a warm fuzzy feeling inside your chest, the peace that flooded the corners of the apartment when Joshua was back home. It was the sound of his voice smoothing over you.

The strings of the guitar vibrated beneath his fingers, a look of realization on his face as he finished humming to the last words of the verse he had crafted, paired with the successful strumming of his fingers on the guitar. And when he finally lifted his gaze to you, there was a glint in his eyes, one that you loved to see.

“Hi handsome,” you mumbled, even though you lived together, you felt like you had not spoken to him in some hours while you packed the stuff from the studio.

“Hey beautiful,” he pressed his lips into a sweet smile, one that turned his beautiful eyes into half moons.

“I thought you were packing the kitchen stuff,” you said, moving from the doorframe.

“I finished ages ago,” he emphasized with a light chuckle, leaving the guitar aside as you approached him. “You were too preoccupied in there, so I didn’t interrupt you,” he took your hand when you were within reach.

You smiled in response, looking at the soft features of his face. “What were you doing?” you mumbled as he pressed his lips to your knuckles.

“I was composing something, I think it came out alright,” he replied, turning briefly to hit the stop record button on the screen of his phone.

“I liked the sound of that,” you complimented, liking that his hands found you as soon as you came closer to him.

“Yeah?” he smirked slowly. “Wanna give it a try?”

You matched his smile, but yours had a tint of shyness. “Sure.”

“Come here,” he pulled you to his lap, smoothly turning you over before you sat on the bed, right on the space between his thighs. “I’ll teach you.”

“This is an improper way to teach, Professor Hong,” you giggled, pressing your back against his chest.

“What can I say, you really have a knack for getting the most improper side out of me, Ms. Hong,” he frowned with faux chide, but looked cute at the same time; his eyebrows drawn inward, his mouth pressed into a line.

“Really, because I could say exactly the same of you,” you giggled, tapping the tip of his nose with your finger.

He blinked into a smile that took over his entire face. “Oh that’s not true,” he replied with a light giggle as well. “You were already very indecent when I met you,” he joked, knowing the reaction his comment would bring out of you.

“Indecent?!” you huffed, widening your eyes in indignation.

He laughed, tilting his head back as the sweet sound bubbled out of his mouth. “Yes, very,” he emphasized, pressing his large hands on your tummy to bring you even closer to him. “You are a very naughty girl.”

You rolled your eyes, trying to mask the smile that eventually broke in the features of your face. “Get to work, Professor Hong.”

“Right away, Ms. Hong,” he mumbled happily, grabbing the guitar and placing it on your thigh.

Keeping one hand on the body of the guitar, he guided your hand on the neck. “Place your index finger here,” he commanded with a soft tone, and you followed, pressing your finger down on the first fret, just where he instructed.

You would have paid more attention to his following instructions if it were not for the closeness of his mouth to your ear. When he spoke, his sweet voice made you want to melt into it.

“Now, again, you move your middle finger here,” he continued, simultaneously instructing you to strum the strings as you move your fingers on each fret, slowly piecing the song he composed.

“Like this?” you mumbled faintly, sneaking a swift look at his face.

“Just like that,” he nodded, not really noticing that you were now caught up in him, the features of his face, his beautiful hands guiding you through his song, and the warmth of his body sitting closely behind you.

“Sorry,” you smiled meekly when you accidentally missed one note.

“No, it’s alright,” he quickly put in. “You’re doing great, baby.”

But in fact, you were not doing great. You were clumsy, distracted; and you feared it showed in the movement of your fingers. “I’m terrible at this,” you said.

“No one is good at the first time,” he replied sweetly. “Let’s try one more time, alright?”

“Yeah, okay,” you nodded, biting your lip in concentration to get every note he had taught you. It was merely a ten-second bit from the song you had heard him practice, but difficult enough for you.

“Slowly, that’s right, baby,” he mumbled, and you knew from his tone alone that he was smiling. “See? I told you, you’re great!”

“I think I got it,” you said, pausing to look at him.

“You sure do,” he replied in praise, his eyes glinting again with that emotion you had noticed when you walked into the room.

You could no longer resist it, you closed the space between your mouth and his, pressing a quick kiss and backed away meekly.

“Kissing your professor is quite indecent on your part, miss,” he smirked.

“Sorry, I couldn’t help it,” you sighed.

“Mmm, you just started something that you won’t be able to finish,” he mumbled bringing a hand to cup your cheek. “Kiss me,” he instructed with the same soft tone, but the firmness of his command was different, it ignited a part deep within you.

You hummed as his lips locked with yours, kissing you hungrily. His tongue outlined your bottom lip as his hand slid from your cheek to your nape, his fingers curling around your hair. “I love you,” he mumbled, breaking the kiss briefly.

“I love you,” you replied, feeling the moment slow down.

Joshua rested his forehead on yours, letting out a soft sigh that caressed your lips. “I think our practice session is over,” he said, grinning as he moved the guitar from your lap and placed it on the floor.

“What are you planning to do?” you grinned as well, knowing that look on his face.

“I don’t know,” he mumbled in between kisses, his tone aloof and his kiss sloppy. “How about we just make out and improvise from there?”

“Yeah, that sounds great,” you replied, equally aloof.

Then, he lay down on the bed, his arms securing you by the waist pulling you on top.  A sigh from his part was muffled in your mouth when he felt your chest pressed to his, he could feel that you wore nothing beneath that zipper hoodie, and that just added to the anticipation building up inside him.

You brought a hand to his cheek, cupping it as you started dominating the kiss. Joshua closed remained with his eyes closed through it, letting you capture his lips with your own with gentle, but messy movements. The sounds were mixed with his sighs and yours, the wet sounds of your lips in his, and few tiny moans from you as you deepened the kiss.

His hands roved on your back, trailing down to the small of your back, where they rested momentarily. Another small moan from your part was muffled in his mouth, and that was the only confirmation he needed. He travelled further down, his hands fitting perfectly on your round ass to give it a gentle squeeze.

You moved your knees to each side of his hips, your hands travelling from his face to his broad shoulders, feeling his lean body over his white t-shirt. He swallowed back a tiny moan when you touched his bulging pecs in small motions, up and down while his hands moved from your ass to touch your thighs over your sweats.

Slowly, both your clothes and his became an obstacle for you since you needed to feel his skin on yours, to see his beautiful body, to explore it inch by inch without his clothes on. But you continued kissing him fervently, sloppily moving your lips on his, enjoying his faint moans muffled by your mouth.

You paused for air, and he also breathed shakily as the tip of your nose bumped with his, drawing a lazy smile from him. Ignoring how flustered you were already, and how hot your face had grown, you reached out for his hands, which were parked on your hips and inching away from his face to look into his eyes, you placed them on your chest. You batted your eyelashes at him sheepishly, moaning sweetly when his hands cupped your tits over your hoodie, his thumbs effortlessly finding your pebbled nipples.

Instinctively, you pressed your crotch against his, grinding your hips with slow motions to relieve the tingling sensation bothering you. A sweet sound came out of you, sparking something in his eyes, as he kneaded your tits, pressing your nipples with his thumbs.

His gaze focused on your hand when you fumbled with the zipper of your hoodie, following it as it came apart, and slowly displayed your naked chest to him. You sat back on him, enjoying the way his big eyes darkened when you slid the hoodie off your shoulders and put it aside.

You leaned forward again, pressing your bare chest on him, making him release a sigh upon feeling your breasts, even if it were over his t-shirt. You grabbed his face, closing the space between his lips and yours with a tender kiss, slow at first, feeling your pulse quicken.

He tensed when you slipped your hands under the white t-shirt he wore, trying to get rid of it. “No, stop,” he murmured, his voice faint but it brought you to a halt in a split-second.

You froze, looking at the features of his face to understand why he was stopping you from undressing. “You want to do it?” you asked, your tone giving away that you were confused.

“Slow down, baby,” he said, showing you a small smile. “There’s no need to rush. Enjoy this.”

“But I want to make you feel good,” you mumbled, stammering over your words as your face burned with shame.

“I know, and I love that about you,” he said, his smile growing into a more reassuring one. “But let me be in charge, alright?”

“Alright,” you conceded, matching his sweet smile.

Then, he smoothly rolled over, taking your body with him, and placing your back against the mattress. You encircled his broad shoulders with your arms, just as he leaned over to kiss your face, pressing his lips on the apple of your cheek with a soft sigh on his part. He made a trail of kisses from there to the shell of your ear, bringing a tiny laugh out of you when his breath fanned over a sensitive area on your skin.

“I love you,” he murmured against your ear, smiling when your body tensed and your skin prickled.

“And I love you, Josh,” you replied sweetly, your eyes glinting with joy and adoration for him when he pulled back to see the tiny bumps in your skin.

“You’re so sensitive,” he said, bending to kiss you on the plain of your chest, his wet lips only making it worse for you because each kiss had you squirming under him.

Before you could even agree with him, his lips reached one of your pebbled nipples, pressing soft kisses that slowly evolved into grazing of teeth, bringing a small moan out of you. You held onto him, one hand on his nape, the other around his bicep, fingers digging into the hard muscle.

Discovering how responsive you were being, he slid the tip of his tongue on your areola, barely caressing it but getting your skin to prickle again. You released a short gasp as your thighs tensed up, and as he switched to do the same on your other nipple, your core was already fluttering, arousal sticking to your panties.

You swallowed hard, trying to keep the sounds to yourself. But then he started suckling on your sensitive nipple, the sounds he was making loud and wet, drool trickling on your skin. You gasped, the tension building up between your legs was irritating. “Joshua,” you called.

“Mm?” he replied, not bothering to lift his head or to stop kissing your tits.

“I need more,” you sighed, sneaking your hands beneath his t-shirt again, but not in an attempt to undress him, this time you just wanted to feel his skin, to give him but a slight taste of what you felt.

Joshua shuddered upon your fingernails grazing his back. “More?” he egged you on, but he made no motion to follow your requests, he just simply moved his kisses to the curve of your neck, where he placed another wet kiss on your sensitive skin.

“Uh-huh,” you mewled, closing your eyes to savor the euphoric feeling of his lips worshiping you. You slid your hands on his back, dragging the white t-shirt along. “Ne-need you.”

He let out a sigh, backing away slightly so you could peel the t-shirt off his torso. His hair got ruffled in the process which you brushed back with both hands as he leaned over you again. Joshua took your hands, lacing your fingers with his and placing them above your head.

“Easy, baby,” he whispered, pressing soft kisses on your bottom lip.

You sighed shakily. He was in charge, you reminded yourself. “Sorry,” you said meekly, letting him retake control, letting him do whatever he wanted to you.

“It’s okay,” he drawled, pressing his chest against yours, smiling when you let out a mewling sound again when your sensitive nipples brushed against his skin. “There’s nothing wrong with being a little needy, right?”

Your eyebrows pinched.

“I’ll take care of you tonight, bunny, don’t worry,” he murmured, his tone sweet but falling into the sultry one he always used in the bedroom. 

“Okay,” you replied, swallowing hard when he showed you a slight smirk.

Then Joshua lowered his hips between your parted legs, pressing your hands down the pillows as he supported himself with his elbows too. He dived for another kiss, his lips locking in yours hungrily, letting out a moan in your mouth and reminding you how much he loved kissing you.

It became asphyxiating: to be under the full weight of his body, the grip of his hands on you, kissing you relentlessly. But you loved every second of it, the taste of his kiss, the smell of the cologne impregnated on his clothes, his skin. You loved everything about him, it drove you crazy.

Thoughtlessly, you pushed your hips up despite the cage he had made with his body. The friction you got from rubbing yourself on the crotch of his jeans was delicious, so you did it again, grinding your hips with small motions.

“Brat,” he whispered reproachfully, but enjoyment flashed on the features of his face as you drew your eyebrows in, mouth parting to let out a whiny moan.

“God, Josh,” you gasped, closing your eyes, delighting over the much-desired friction you got from rubbing yourself on his crotch, slowly feeling his cock stir beneath his jeans.

“Are you gonna come like this, bunny?” he cooed, and you understood from his tone that he was teasing you.

“Uh-huh,” you parted your mouth, letting out a series of moans as pleasure bloomed inside you, finding a pace to roll your hips beneath him to reach your climax. You found his hard cock with your crotch, mewling as you rubbed yourself on him, desperation rising inside you as you rolled your hips harder.

You heard a light chuckle coming from him, and then he did something unexpected. He started grinding his cock on your pussy, rolling his hips expertly against yours in the same motion he did when he is inside you.

“Fuck, Joshua, yes, yes,” you mewled pathetically, taking in one deep breath before you came undone beneath his hard body.

Just by your moans alone, he could tell that you had reached your release. The sounds coming out of you were sweet and airy, the most angelic moans he had ever heard from anyone, they drove him insane. He swore that the sounds alone were so arousing that he could get hard just from hearing you.

Joshua stared at your face riddled by pleasure as you came down from your high, smiling softly at him when you opened your eyes. “Felt good?” he asked, feeling his own arousal begin to bother him, his cock stirring beneath the hard fabric of his jeans hindering him.

“Yeah,” you let out an airy laugh, thinking of how pathetic you may have sounded, or looked. “I’m sorry?” you raised your eyebrows innocently.  

“Are you going to behave now?” he asked with a sweet tone, releasing his grip from your hands to brush some rebellious strands of hair away from your face.

“Yes,” you replied, nodding your head obediently, but concealing a smile by biting your lower lip.

“Good,” he whispered, leaning to press a kiss on the tip of your nose. He sat back on his haunches, his fingers swiftly releasing the belt buckle and with one motion he pulled the belt from all the loops of his jeans, setting it aside on the bed, next to you. “I’ll use that on you if you don’t.”

A lazy smirk appeared on his face when he saw a fascination flash in your eyes. “I’ll behave,” you cooed sweetly. But you could not help but plan to retaliate somehow.

You jolted slightly when your phone started buzzing on the bedside table, the loud noise from it making you snap your hand to grab it. “Sorry,” you told Joshua, sneaking a look at his face and then at the screen, which was displaying Jeonghan’s name on it.

It was on instinct, almost, you swiped your finger on the green button, pressing the phone to your cheek. “Hi, babe,” you replied, the words flying out of your mouth before you even processed that Joshua was looking at you.

“Hey, princess,” Jeonghan’s voice was loud, you could swear that Joshua heard it too. “Are you busy? I’m on my way to yours, maybe we could-,”

“We’re in the middle of something here,” Joshua’s voice cut through Jeonghan’s and from his tone, you could hear the playfulness in it, but also a slight hint of annoyance.

You saw his hand reaching out to grab the phone and you passed it to him, thinking that he was going to say something else, but instead, he pressed the red button, hanging Jeonghan up and tossed the phone aside, heedlessly.

“So much for behaving,” he said darkly.

“I’m sorry,” you replied shamefully, but giggling when he just gave you a playful eye roll. “I just answered the phone without thinking!”

“Yeah, and now you’re going to pay for it,” the corner of his lips curved slightly.

You watched him sit back on his haunches one more time, but this time it was to get rid of his dark denim jeans. You fought the urge to undress him yourself, but noticing the glint in your eye, his playful smirk grew broader on his face. He climbed down from the bed, getting rid of all his clothes quite unceremoniously, robbing you of the pleasure of both taking his clothes off and enjoying the view of him peeling them item by item.

“Stay there,” he instructed when you made a motion to follow him by sitting up on the bed.

“But I want–,” you sighed in frustration before you could tell him that you wanted to please him. “Fine,” you huffed.

Joshua smiled at your mini tantrum, pressing one knee and then the other on the bed to climb on it. Your eyes followed him, every movement of his body made his toned muscles shift, his strong thighs calling your attention, quite nearly robbing it completely. Your gaze trailed to his legs, then up his body, glorious in his nakedness. And yours completely.

“Like what you see?” he asked playfully, following your gaze down his body. He was growing stronger, and it showed in the bulk of his biceps, his chest bulging. The muscles of his abdomen were soft, but well defined, same as the ones of his quads.

“Yeah, I do. A lot,” you replied, feeling as you did the first time you saw him naked. Your eyes locked with his, and your heart gave a leap when you saw the endearment showing in his eyes.

He showed you a smirk in response, biting back some playful quip as he grabbed the belt from your side. You had forgotten about it, confusion forming on the features of your face when he took the belt by both ends, straightening it out in front of you.

“Give me your wrists,” he commanded, motioning to your hands resting between your legs.

Before you decided on putting up a fight, make it more difficult for him to dom you, a sigh came out of you, thrilled over the fact that he was giving you something you did not know you missed. You lifted your hands, extending your arms out to him.

“Good girl,” he said, but grabbing your wrists with one large hand. He looped his belt around your wrists, once, twice, coiling the leather until it was firmly binding your hands together. “Lie down.”

You lay down, keeping your eyes on him as he crawled on top of you, taking your bound hands by his belt and forcing them above your head. Joshua slotted his hips between your parted thighs, making you whine slightly when you could not feel him freely because you still had your sweats on.

“You’re going to be good for me now, baby?” he asked, his tone honeyed but he knew just how enticing it was to you. 

“Yeah,” you replied, not hiding the excitement in your demeanor, looking at him with wide eyes, flushing as he smirked at you once again.

Joshua pressed his lips against yours, kissing you tenderly. “We have until Jeonghan gets here to have fun,” he said.

“He’s going to be mad that we’re doing this without him,” you murmured against his lips, squirming slightly when his hand moved to cup your chin, his fingers squeezing your cheeks.

“I don’t care,” he replied, giving you another kiss, this one was harder, hungrier. “Let him be mad all he wants when he gets here. You’re mine for now.”

✮ author's note: heyoooo!! i wanted to post the full chapter for joshie's birthday but just kept being interrupted by life and haven't finished writing it. but here is a teaser! not on joshua's bday but ig the intention is what matters? lol

i'll be back, but not with lights out, i need to post my collab pieces!

STAY TUNED FOR THE FULL CHAPTER!

toodles!

READ MORE | BUY ME A COFFEE? (●'◡'●)

© TO HANNIEWEEN — I DO NOT ALLOW TRANSLATIONS, CONTINUATIONS, REIMAGINATIONS OF MY WORKS OR THEIR REPOSTING ON OTHER WEBSITES.

[mono-colored-ghosts]

Shira's agreement and the summoning of old PT.2

{a video is attached}

"its ready... its all finally ready."

the Leyline siblings alongside a Mismagius, Mega Banette, and a lampent were inside of the basement of the household where ritual is taking place.

each of the beings present are in a circle formation, in front of a summoning circle made of chalk, and surrounded by candles that have yet to be lit... Serval scraps of reaper's cloth are covering the sides of the candles creating a ring.

"are we all set for this ritual?" Monilla asks, holding an open book, with her holding her own staff, and the lantern on a table at ready.

"Everything has been accounted for Young Leyline. So yes we are all prepared, just give us the word to begin the ritual and to burn the candles with spiritual energy." The mismagius answered with a wispy tone to her voice.

"Excellent." Monilla nodded as she turned to her sibling and their Lampent.

"Remember sis I will pull you out of the ritual if it gets too much. " Shira reassures their sister as the lampent cried out in agreement.

"right. Let's begin then. Dirge, Vexy. of you will?" Monilla said, looking at her faithful teammates who nodded and began to create a pair silvery purple flames

" Shady aid them if you will."

The lampent creates the same flames orbiting around them and their trainer as the room darkens and the flames were tossed into candles which the black wick began to burn brightly with the same sliver/purple color. Monilla looks at the book and tapped the lantern with her staff all three glowing a violet hue as energy began to flow towards the circle as it came to life with a dreadful aura. The witch began to chant in an ancient language, the reaper cloth began to burn alongside the candles they're positioned with as the circle glowed with spiritual power.

The mismagius and M.banette joined in the ritual's recital as a purple sphere rose up from the summoning circle and began to flash in a silver light. In response to this, the witch and her Pokemon hastened the words and before and shouted the last verse of the spell to summon the spirit and the room became engulfed in light, resulting in the camera unable to display the final results of the ritual for a few seconds, as various shouts and cries were heard.

"FUCKIN' ARC I CAN'T SEE SHIT!!" "whats happening Dear sister!?!" "HOW SHOULD I KNOW!?! THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE DID THIS!!!" "I think we did the whole process correctly but im unsure on how it was supposed to end!"

after said seconds had passed the light fades to reveal a violet glowing female adult with attire similar to Monilla but rather a bowtie on her neck, a purple scarf covers her neck. the large witch hat has only black and grey flowers rather than the young Leyline's purple and lilac flowers... her purple eyes, on which looks through a purple colored lens monocole and white frame scanned the room around her curiously before speaking

"Oh my it appears i've been... summoned here while i was just waking up..."

silence grew the moment her gaze turned to meet the Leyline siblings and their pokemon who are in complete shock of their ancestor that now floats above them and looking up. "Oh my word; holy. shit..." was all they said before t

{END OF VIDEO}

[miarenmert]

The Ballads of Nocturnal Fairies (pt.2)

Here’s the first part of my little poetry book about my meetings in dreams with the fair folk. These poems were not originally written in English, so the rhythm and rhyme were lost in translation. Think of it as free verse.

The elusive fairy

A sly smile, a trembling of fragile wings,

You need so little to get caught in the net.

You know that you won't be satisfied with how it ends,

But you can’t help yourself but following me.

It's funny watching you chase me

Soon you’ll get lost and won’t be able to return home.

Any mortal maiden you could love

And yet you think that they cannot outshine me.

In pursuit of me you run away from life,

What was important is now rushing past.

My light is wonderful, but it won't stop slipping away.

How much longer will you entertain me?

You won't find a path across the overgrown hill,

You will not see a passage into the heart of a dense grove.

The magic is running out, time is fleeting.

My life is short, but my essence is eternal.

I'll fade away before you know it

I’ll leave you alone with the feeling that you won’t remember later.

The last gift to you for loving me -

From now on, all your life you will chase the elusive.

The magical poison

That night on my way home I saw

The open door of the abandoned greenhouse,

Inside the fairy Brugmansia blossomed,

And I fell in love with her beauty.

Once a year I used to honor the Orchid,

But Brugmansia could always be with me.

In the darkness the fairy unfurled her leaves

Each time is a little different than yesterday.

I could see her on the pages of a book,

When nightfall the enchanted hour came.

I would never have missed that hour

The deepest sleep could not separate us.

I turned to the book again and again,

I went to the greenhouse when the fairy was waiting for me.

I didn’t sleep at night, afraid that she might call.

She was proud that she was the only one.

While getting ready one day, I was late,

Brugmansia began to rush me.

Then in a different voice, it seemed to me,

She asked how I could have missed everything.

I remembered the beautiful Orchid

And began to yearn for my former freedom.

But still I couldn't leave my fairy

Bloom alone while no one is looking.

The prince or the princess

Fairies danced in the autumn courtyard.

Streams flowed, full of bright colors.

Children splashed colored water at me,

I didn’t want to let them get away with it.

So I played with cunning children,

Until they all ran away.

Then only fairies remained in the game:

Prince Beetle and Caramel Princess.

It seemed to the prince that I would surely fall in love with him,

But I was fascinated by his sister.

I, only fearing to frighten off such delicate creatures,

Accepted his hand and led him home.

I introduced the fairy prince to the neighbors,

I gave him the key to the house, but not to my heart.

His beauty had no place in it,

After all, there was the home of the Caramel Princess.

Once returned on the day of fallen leaves,

The prince found me alone in bed with her,

The princess said there is nothing more beautiful

Than the human dream that I showed her.

Red-haired girl and red-winged fairy

Red-haired friend used to take me to the foggy forest

There between the morning trees we sometimes played

I wasn't scared with her, she was so cheerful

However, I knew that I couldn't stay with her forever

She started to miss the magical boy

I couldn’t replace him, I realized

The only way for me to bring her happiness is

To find him, though I would give anything for another way

He flew with forest monsters on the butterfly wings

Or visited arcade rooms in stores

She assured that meeting him would not be the end

But I couldn’t agree with what might happen next.

I went to the rocks for a meeting of witches

We picked berries and looked for the truth in the waterfall

Then we kissed the birch branch before the hunt

And drove the embodiments of feelings to the cleansing gates

At the gate I attacked the red-winged fairy

To give me back my red-haired friend, I demanded

She disappeared from my hands in a golden mist

Reminding me that I still have my coven of witches

[the-royal-orora]

My long dream Ava Max setlist

As of November 5th 2023

1. Diamonds & Dancefloors (with elements of H.E.A.V.E.N)

2. My Way/OMG What's Happening/Who's Laughing Now

(My Way is first verse and chorus | OMG What's Happening is first verse, chorus, bridge, chorus | Who's Laughing Now is entire song)

3. Hold Up (Wait A Minute)

4. Turn Off The Lights

5. Kings & Queens

6. Weapons (with elements of Emotions and Emotions chorus outro)

7. Maybe You're The Problem

8. Naked/Born To The Night

(Naked is first verse, pre-chorus, chorus, bridge, chorus | Born To The Night is chorus, first verse, pre-chorus, chorus, bridge, chorus)

9. Ghost

10. Cold As Ice

11. Torn (Shorten) (First verse, pre-chorus, chorus, bridge, chorus)

12. Take You To Hell/Belladonna

(Take You To Hell is first verse, pre-chorus, chorus, bridge, chorus | Belladonna is first verse, pre-chorus, chorus, second verse, chorus)

13. On Somebody (Shorten) (First verse, chorus, second verse, pre-chorus, chorus, outro)

14. Salt/So Am I

(Both are their full versions)

15. One Of Us

16. Alone, Pt. II

17. Last Night On Earth (Shorten, with elements of In The Dark)

18. Freaking Me Out/Blood, Sweat, Tears

(Freaking Me Out is first verse, pre-chorus, and chorus | Blood, Sweat, Tears is first verse, pre-chorus, and chorus)

19. In My Arms (Shorten) (First verse played on tape. Ava sings chorus twice)

20. Wild Thing (Surprise song)

21. Get Outta My Heart

22. Sleepwalker

23. My Head & My Heart/Not Your Barbie Girl

(My Head & My Heart is the full song | Not Your Barbie Girl is first verse, pre-chorus chorus, second verse, chorus)

24. Choose Your Fighter

25. The Motto

Encore:

(Christmas-time exclusive encore opening: Christmas Without You)

26. Million Dollar Baby

27. Everytime I Cry (Shorten) (First verse, pre chorus, chorus, break, pre-chorus, chorus)

28. Car Keys

29. Sweet But Psycho

30. Dancing's Done

[tornsurvivors]

@tornsavior​​ / ft. Isabella    (  𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 )

“Isabella. I’m not going to ask you to make promises we can’t keep-- not in this world...”   Oh, she’s exhausted.  You could hear it in the strain of her voice, and see it in the way her posture slacked just a little. Shoulders slumping. Almost looking like she’s at the point of surrendering. Sure, she might look beyond repair ninety-nine percent of the time... but this was different. Especially considering the chaos they barely survived earlier this morning on their patrol run. At least it fit the absolutely disheveled look she was sporting as of this moment -- jacket torn up from the horde of runners that were hot on their heels this morning. Hair in completely disarray and splatters of blood, both fresh and coagulated were dried on a side of her face and neck.

Of course, she’s not bitten though. She wouldn’t let that happen. Not the first time she’s managed to make a harrowing escape anyway. 

This time is just different, because of the emotional high she was going through. For years... years-- after Angela’s death and before becoming deeply involved with Isabella, she had shut herself out from humanity and all the vulnerability of it’s emotions for too long. She forgot how brutal it could be, the mix of stomach-wrenching fear for a loved one’s safety and the adrenaline from merely surviving -- this morning shook her to the very core of her battered soul.

The exhale she releases is shaky and so were her hands, before she curled her fingers inwards to her palms. Clenching into fists, then unclenching before she walked over to the blond... eyes locked with Isabella’s with an intense desperation. Getting down on her knees in front of the other woman, look at that... Alice Abernathy was on her damned knees like some beggar. Never had she done that for anyone. 

“But if something ever happens to me, I need you to take Becky and just... live that full life you both deserve. I-- I can’t be around forever and somehow in my gut, I know I’m not going to die of old age.”  Eyes finally close then, tightly as her head bows and a choked sob tries to claw it’s way out of her throat. She refuses it. “This... this morning--”  Even her voice cracked.  “--was too fucking close. If I hadn’t cut my backpack off, they would’ve tore into me.” 

[blackfemmecharacterdependency]

BFCD Black Women in Horror/Monsters & More Masterlist

Black Women in Horror | Final Girls | Slayers | BFCD Monsters & More Masterlists 

.

Abbie Mills Sleepy Hollow | Abby Williams Abby 1974 | Abigail Bellweather Motherland: Fort Salem | Abigail Bennett The Vampire Diaries | Adelaide Wilson/Red Us | Alberta Ghosts US | Alexa Woods Alien VS Predator | Alice Autofac, Electric Dreams | Alma Walker American Horror Story: Asylum | Amy Bellafonte The Passage | Akasha Queen of the Damned |  Amanda Fisher Ash VS Evil Dead |  Anacostia Quartermain Motherland: Fort Salem | Angelina Johnson Harry Potter Verse | Aneela Kin Rit Killjoys | Anita Friday the 13th Pt 5: A New Beginning |  Anne Body Bags: The Gas Station | Anne Marie McCoy Candyman | Annie Keller Monsterland | Annie Sawyer Being Human UK | Apocalypta Dead 7 | Annabelle Cane The Magnus Archives | Ariel The Little Mermaid | Aya Al-Rashid The Originals

.

Beatrice Bennett The Vampire Diaries |  Belle Fright Night: Part II | Beloved (Book and Movie Beloved) | Bernadette Walsh Candyman | Bertha Van Weld Sanjay and Craig | Betty Resident Evil | Billie Supernatural | Bonnie Bennett The Vampire Diaries | Braeden Teen Wolf | Bree The Vampire Diaries | Brianna Cartwright Candyman Reboot | Brianna Collier Escape Room 2 |  Bubble Valerian and The City of a Thousand Planets |

.

Candace Preston Light As a Feather | Carla Spectros | Carmen Eguiluz Always a Witch | Carola Tales from the Darkside: The Movie | Caroline Newcliffe The Beast Must Die | Catarina Loss Shadowhunters | Charvel Bellweather Motherland: Fort Salem | Chocolate Rats Night of Terror | Christine Daae The Phantom of the Opera | Cisely Batiste Eve’s Bayou | Claudette Morel Dead By Daylight | Clementine Chasseur Hemlock Grove | Cleo Sowande Legacies | Cleophas Garroway Shadowhunters | Connie The Walking Dead | Cressida Into the Badlands | Cym The Forsaken | Cynthia Bones |

.

Dana Cardinal Welcome to Nightvale | Dead Girl Jessebelle | Death of the Endless Sandman | Detective Evans Chucky | Diane Death Bed | Donna Siren | Donna Chadway Stigmata | Dr. Cushing Tales from the Hood |

.

Efiya Kingdom of Souls Series | Ela I AM |  Elizabeth Henshaw The Haunted Mansion | Élodie Rakoto Dead by Daylight | Elphaba Wicked | Elzora Eve’s Bayou | Emily Bennett The Vampire Diaries | Epiphany Proudfoot Angelheart | Evillene The Wiz

.

Farah Hauville The Wayhaven Chronicles | Fiji Cavanaugh Midnight, Texas | Fliss Dubois Man of Medan | Freak Bride (Kimmy) The Purge: Election Year | Frey Holland Forspoken | Fringilla Vigo The Witcher 

.

Ganja Meda Ganja & Hess | Georgie Barker The Magnus Archives | Gladys Cravitz Chucky | Glinda The Wizard of Oz/Wiz | Grace Creepshow Series: Sibling Rivalry | Grandmother Raised by Wolves |  Gretel Monroe  Shadowhunters

.

Hallie McDaniel Scream 2 | Hanna Lovecraft Country | Hannah Grose The Haunting of Bly Manor | Harriet Johnson The House on Skull Mountain | Hermione Granger Weasley  Harry Potter Verse | Hippolyta Freeman Lovecraft Country |

.

Izzy Bit |

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Jackie Heath The Devil’s Advocate | Jada Shields Charmed Reboot | Jade Wesker Resident Evil | Jennifer Remming Sweetheart | Jeryline Demon Knight | Jill The Skeleton Key |  Jillian Hope Hodgson Channel Zero: The Dream Door | Jordan Gladwell iZombie | Jungle Julia Death Proof |

.

Kachiri Twlight | Kaela Evers Supernova | Karen Jenson Blade | Karla Wilson I Still Know What You Did Last Summer | Kate Wynona Earp | Katrina Vamp | Keisha Taylor Alice Isn’t Dead | Kelly The Walking Dead | Kendra Young Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Kindzi Defiance | Kira The Invitation 2015 | Kitty Ghosts UK | Koster Shocking Dark | Kym Hawkins Legacies |

.

Lacey Emery Ash VS Evil Dead | Ladybird Dracula, NBC | Lanaia Shadowhunters | Laney Rucker The Purge: Election Year | Lauren Howell The Day of the Dead TV |  Leeza Scarborough Midnight Mass | Lena Aruza Night of the Cobra Woman | Linda B Emery Ash VS Evil Dead | Lisa Fortier Scream, Blacula, Scream | Lizzie The Perfection | Lorena Christophe The House on Skull Mountain | Lucinda & Melissa Cavender  ABC Family’s Halloween special ‘The Midnight Hour’ | Luisa Manjimbe Mortel |  Lydia Daybreak Paradise Killer

.

Macy Vaughn Charmed Reboot | Madame Zeroni Holes | Maddie Bishop Siren | Maeve Millay Westworld | Maia Roberts Shadowhunters | Mama Cecile The Skeleton Key | Maria Trick ‘R Treat | Maria Elkman Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest | Mariana The Howling 2: Your Sister is a Werewolf | Marie Laveau American Horror Story | Marlene The Last of Us | Matty Mereaux Eve’s Bayou | Mazikeen DC Universe | Medusa Greek Mythology | Melanie The Girl with The Gifts | Merrick The Vampire Chronicles: Merrick | Mia Vallens Supernatural | Michonne The Walking Dead | Mileena Mortal Kombat 2021 | Minerva Bellweather Motherland: Fort Salem | Miranda Dubaur Twitches | Miranda Grey Gothika | Miss Cobbs Tales from the Hood | Missouri Moseley Supernatural | Mistress East Emerald City | Misty Carpenter Into the Dark: Crawlers | Mozelle Batiste Delacroix Eve’s Bayou | Ms. Connors Class of 1999

.

Nada The Sandman | Nadia Omar Castle Rock | Nari Unfriended: Dark Web | Natalie Gorman Servant | Nicole Birch The Order | Nora Harris The Last of Us 2 |

.

Old Woman Josie Welcome to Nightvale | Olivia Two Sentence Horror Stories: Teeth

.

Pamela Winchell Welcome to Nightvale | Pauline Christophe The House on Skull Mountain | Pearl Bones | Petra Bellweather Motherland: Fort Salem | Phoebe Taylor A Discovery of Witches | Portia Supernatural | Prudence Blackwood The Sabrina Show on Netflix | Purna Jackson Dead Island

.

Queenie American Horror Story

.

Ramona Royale American Horror Story: Hotel | Raquel Francis Crazyhead |  Reba McClane Hannibal | Rebecca Jessel  The Haunting of Bly Manor | Regina Moss Malignant | Riley Abel The Last of Us | Rita Veder Vampire in Brooklyn | Roberta Warren Z Nation | Robin Ayou Subnautica: Below Zero | Rochelle Left 4 Dead | Rochelle Zimmerman The Craft | Rosalind Walker Sabrina Netflix | Rose Granger Weasley Harry Potter Verse | Rosemary Demons | Roxanne Weasley  Harry Potter Verse | Roz Batiste Eve’s Bayou | Ruby Baptiste Lovecraft Country | Ruby Williams The People Under the Stairs |

.

Sasha Williams The Walking Dead | Senna  Twilight | Sheila Bennett The Vampire Diaries | Sheva Alomar Resident Evil 5 | Simone Bethson The Saw Franchise | Sugar Hill Sugar Hill | Sunny Nwazue  The Nsibidi Scripts |

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Tabby The Craft Legacy | Tallulah Tales from the Crypt: Bordello of Blood |  Tara Thornton True Blood | The Temptress Def By Temptation |  Tituba Salem | Topsy and Bopsy Lovecraft Country |

.

Valentina Suicide by Sunlight | Vanessa Brooks Blade | Vampira | Vampirella | Vicky Stanton Children of the Corn 2009 | Viv Allen October Faction |

.

Wilhamena Mettle OK Let’s Be Heroes |

.

Yvonne A Nightmare on Elm Street Series |

.

Zafrina Twilight | Zoe Head Count |

Children in Horror | BFCD Family Friendly Spooky Season |

.

Abra Stone Doctor Sleep |  Chichi of Nimm The Nsibidi Scripts | Clementine The Walking Dead Game | Diana Freeman Lovecraft Country | Erica Sinclair Stranger Things | Eve Batiste Eve’s Bayou | Yasmin Nightbooks | Zora Wilson Us |

.

Bree Disney’s Z-O-M-B-I-E-S | Clawdeen, Clawdia, Wolf Monster High | Eliza Zambi Disney’s Z-O-M-B-I-E-S | Harper Dunn Secrets of Sulphur Springs |  Honey Swamp Monster High | Howleen Wolf Monster High | Kelly Ferguson A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting | Luna The Hex Girls, Scooby Doo | Luz Noceda The Owl House | Marceline The Vampire Queen Adventure Time | Maya Abeola Maya and the Rising Dark Series | Megan Evers The Haunted Mansion | Robecca Steam Monster High | Sarah Fox My Babysitter’s a Vampire | Taranee Cook W.I.T.C.H. | Uncanny Valley Miraculous Ladybug | Willa Lykensen Disney’s Z-O-M-B-I-E-S |  Wydowna Spider Monster High

*List will be updated throughout October* 

[mono-dot-jpeg]

the antarctic idiots [pt. 2] - c!technoblade

summary; in which two anarchist piglins adopt an ender boy.

genre; child! ranboo, piglin hybrid! reader, slight canon divergence from dream smp, fluff, found family au is my shit, reader is now ranboo’s parent i don’t make the rules, techno is a grumpy father but it’s okay you love him, realistic minecraft? (idk how to describe it-)

pairing; c! technoblade x reader, platonic! ranboo x reader

word count; 1.3k

< previous - next >

a/n; yall here me out, i open my ask box to have you guys talk to the characters of the antarctic idiots,,, i just really wanna act in character, i love doing that kind of stuff kshdskjdf

i don’t completely know how it would work, but, i wanna do it someday maybe.

also, if you’re too lazy to look at my masterlist for this series or you just wanna see everything related to this story, use the #antarctic idiots tag! and if you have anything to share with me about it, tag me!

“i’ll take your word on that, y/n.”

“you should trust my words from the start, wilbur.” you commented, your voice light and teasing. “but i don’t blame you, you lost a lot after l’manburg’s citizens betrayed you.”

“they did not betray me.” 

“yes, yes, my bad.” you hummed.

“are we allies or enemies, y/n?”

“ally, enemy? i say neither. i was forced into this after all. what with that favor of yours.” you pointed out, he couldn’t even be mad at your response, he knew that you never wanted to be put in a war like this. “i may be part of pogtopia but my intentions are not the same. i will be clear that i’m only here to fight and then i will be taking my leave after this revolution.”

“yes, of course, understood.”

“now, just because we’re friends doesn’t mean i’m gonna train you with the easy stuff. you used to a president, soot, show me what you can really do. you’re stronger than you let on.” 

“i don’t expect anything less from you.”

“come on wilbur, you fought in a war, you should’ve been at least a bit stronger.” you muttered to the man before handing his some wraps to bandage his small wounds.

“i put up quite the fight though didn’t i?” he commented, starting to fix up his injuries.

“yeah, you did. you’ve certainly changed since the last time we fought.”

“techno has taught me quite a lot.”

“how do you know techno?” you asked curiously. 

“he’s my older brother, twin. actually.” you blinked. “yeah i know, we’re not really alike.”

“yeah, you’re a boar hybrid and he’s a piglin hybrid...”

“our mom is a samsung refrigerator, we don’t understand anything of how we existed.”

“fair enough..” you don’t question wilbur’s origins anymore, soon turning the conversation, “so you and techno grew up together?”

“yeah, we trained a lot together and now he’s a total master at fighting, but that’s thanks to our father.” wilbur smiled a bit, thinking about the old times. “maybe you guys should try and train together next time.” 

“i don’t think we will anytime soon. he seems rather busy with gathering resources.” you said, sitting next to wilbur as you put your pendant back on your shirt. “plus if he’s so well versed, i don’t think he’ll need any help from me. anyways, plans, what’s the plan for this whole revolution?”

“well, we plan accordingly to what info we get from tubbo. he’s shlatt’s righthand man now so he’s gonna know a lot of info which will help us out. techno and you are gonna train me and tommy of course. you guys are our wild card. our trump card. both of you are so powerful. we can take back what was ours.” wilbur looked at you, this confident glint shined in his eyes. “we will take back l’manburg.”

oh how you wished you felt the same way about l’manburg as he did.

another day passes as you live in the ravine that was pogtopia. you got accustomed to the small area rather easily. it didn’t feel too different from your own home other than maybe the cold temperatures despite how much glowstone or torches would be placed around to keep it warm. 

wilbur and tommy were busy for some odd reason, so that left you and technoblade. you weren’t the best with meeting new people and techno seemed like he was the same way, so you didn’t bother making conversation. it wasn’t until techno actually decided to speak.

“how can i trust you?”

“bold question to ask. what ever happened to, hi, how are you?” you joked a bit. “how can i trust you?” you looked at the fellow piglin hybrid who seemed to already start a staring contest with you.

“i asked first.”

“i asked second.”

“do you know who i am?”

“you are technoblade, are you not?” a beat of silence. “if you aren’t, i won’t hesitate to kill you.”

“i’m technoblade, yes, but do you know what else i am?”

“a piglin hybrid?”

“i’m the blood god.”

“interesting.” another beat of silence. you didn’t seem to show any reaction to his words which makes him wonder. were you just hiding your judgement or did you just didn’t care? “is that why wilbur and tommy recruited you for help?” 

“in a way, yes.”

“so if i were to say that they’re using you as a weapon, would i be wrong? i mean i’m just saying stuff right now. it seems like you’re really capable of doing a lot of things, technoblade.” you suddenly feel his hand against your neck. “ah- i hit a nerve. my bad.” you hummed as if you weren’t close to getting choked to death.

“don’t talk about my family like that. they would never use me.”

“so, tommy is your sibling too? didn’t see that one coming, although it seems like i didn’t really see any of this coming.” you shrugged. techno was silent, his piercing red eyes burned into your e/c ones, he was trying to analyze you. you could tell he wanted to know more, he was curious. he was cautious of you. “i’m here to finish a favor, so it would be very nice if you do not take any of my lives.” 

“i don’t trust you.”

“well, glad we could get straight to the point. i’m not really one for trust either so it’s nice to know that you feel the same way. again, i don’t really wanna be here, but again, here for a favor, i intend to keep that favor done.”

the voices in his head were buzzing, many said blood for the blood god, some said much less helpful words, a few suggested to get to know you but all of them said to not trust you. and techno listened to the few. he moved his hand back slowly. 

“who are you exactly?”

“well, as wilbur said before, i’m y/n. a piglin hybrid just like you. though, i’m pretty sure i lived in the nether much longer than you have. i live far away from the smp and l’manburg...well, manburg now. my intentions are questionable. but that’s nothing to worry about since they don’t involve you.” you explained casually. “i’m here to also train wilbur and tommy, unfortunately i have to fight in this revolution as well. who are you exactly?”

techno raised an eyebrow at your question.

“to be fair, you got to know about me, now let me know about you, piggie.” he huffs, air escaping his nose as he listens to your words. “at least we’re not killing each other. would you prefer that?”

“i’m more of a action over words person. though words can be very convincing.”

“so is that a yes or no?”

“my name is technoblade as you know from wilbur and tommy. i’m not really from the smp or manburg. i recently joined this area after ruling over antartica.” he can see your eyes sparkle a bit in amusement. “i’m just here to destroy government honestly. my intentions are very clear unlike yours.”

“that is very true, mr. blade. you seem to have your beliefs and intentions very clear. i do understand your need to end government. i can relate to that rather well surprisingly.” 

“i feel like the whole hating government thing might just be a piglin thing.” he looked at you with slightly furrowed eyebrows. “though i’m rather pleased to find someone that thinks the same way as i do.”

“see if you didn’t tell me about you, then we would’ve never found out that we both hate government. anyways, i would love to know more about you ruling antartica. then maybe you wanna try and train together?”

“you’re asking for a lot.”

“come on, mr. blade.” your voice teasing as you sit next to techno. i’ll give you some fun stories about wilbur and tommy.”

“you’re not gonna give up, are you?”

“i’m a stubborn person, what can i say?”

taglist; @justahostaccount, @olyink​, @aikochan4859​, @classycookiebailiffstudent​​, @stickk-bugg, @goldensunshineshit​, @sadlyitsme-boohoo​, @jace-the-ace12​, @2cuteforyourlies​, @lvlyjuro​, @kiinokochii​, @anxiousnarwhale​, @jaciahbabes​

[taglist closed for now]

[technicallymilkshakes]

Reciprocal ❂ || 1 of 2

A Manager!verse story Genre(s): Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Smut (in future chapter) Pairing: Jongin x Reader Word Count: 4.1k No warnings for this chapter, but note that the next one will contain mature content.

Next Chapter >>

Less than two hours outside of Seoul, the night air already seemed easier to breathe. The windows were open and a rain-scented breeze blew in to riffle the top of your hair. Brake lights reflected red on the slick roadside ahead of you before fracturing into ten thousand raindrops against the windshield. This was a Friday night kind of feeling. You felt reckless and emotional, free for the first time in months and brimming with life.

Jongin had told you that he would halfsy the drive. Instead, he was deep asleep in the passenger seat, head slumped sideways, shoes kicked off within minutes of entering the vehicle. Promotions had been particularly brutal this time around. Without the other members to help ease the burden, Kai had to be on at all times. He was charming and dorky and witty—he flourished under all the attention—but it came with a toll. You scheduled PT sessions in any brief moments of respite you could cram then in. He slept wherever and whenever he could and when he couldn't, he drank coffee.

Running point for this solo had been just as taxing for you. Time moved in recordings, photoshoots, and appearances. You'd fall asleep and wake up reviewing the itinerary. Promotions were occurring across a variety of platforms and you spent countless hours researching and breaking down offers, liaising with event managers and security, monitoring press reviews and social media. You were in so deep, you didn't even realize you weren't living until someone else pointed it out. Nine, Baekhyun's manager, encouraged both of you to take a vacation. Pronto. Their experience shepherding Baekhyun through multiple solo albums had been invaluable, so you weren't about to argue.

Besides, you hadn't been to the mountains since your first year of high school.

It had stopped raining by the time you pulled up to your destination. Jongin was already awake, blinking heavily at the sight that greeted him.

The mountain lodge was modern but inviting. The lights were on and they spilled pleasantly out into the night. You turned the car off and stepped out into chilled air enlivened with the sounds of leaves rustling, insects chirping, and nocturnal animals stirring.

Inside, golden wood warmed the open space. The retreat was divided into two levels—living/dining area and one bedroom on the first floor and the master bedroom with a balcony that would be rich with fresh vegetables in the summer on the second.

You looked out on the living room. The designer had impeccable taste. Plush seating with cushions and pillows in sumptuous fabrics curled around a fireplace. Your toes sank into lush, layered carpeting, which bracketed and defined the space. It was comfortable and intimate. You could easily imagine yourself sinking into a chair and nestling in for a nap, lulled into a trance by the fire.

The kitchen gleamed in the opposite corner, all straight lines and modern appliances. And the dining area next to it. Table and chairs had been regally arranged in front of wall-to-wall sliding glass doors that, for now, looked out onto darkness.

But there was one particular feature that had clinched the deal when you booked the place.

“There's a spa bath here,” you said, and suppressed a smile at the soft 'ooh' Jongin let out as he disappeared to investigate.

A quietness settled over you in his wake. There was no wifi here, no work to haunt your waking nor sleeping hours. The other managers were under strict orders not to contact you unless there was an emergency.

You felt oddly vulnerable, stripped of the last vestiges of responsibility holding you together. Listless and exhausted, you climbed upstairs and fell into bed without a thought for anything else.

**

You woke early the next morning, body too used to being tired. You stared at the ceiling for an indeterminable time, thoughts eddying around without any clear distinction, like static noise that only resolved itself into proper words when you concentrated.

You'd been managing Kai for almost five years now. Hard to believe. You loved this, the sense of belonging and the endless opportunities to learn, but the pace was grueling. Five years was a long time. You couldn't imagine how some of the older managers had kept up. You weren't sure how you had kept up. And, if you were being honest, you weren't sure anymore if you should.

But that was too much thinking for this early in the morning. You rolled over in bed and shut your eyes.

After the appropriate amount of indeterminable time had passed, you heaved yourself out of bed. Sleep wasn't coming back for you. Duvet wrapped around your shoulders, you slinked downstairs to find Jongin rummaging around in the cabinets. He spun around, flinching as a drawer clanged shut behind him, then relaxed.

“You too, huh?” he said with a lopsided grin.

You nodded.  It was no surprise to find him here. You were just two bodies too accustomed to being together.

You turned your gaze to the counters. “What are you doing?”

“I was trying to make some coffee.”

He looked wan and tired. One armed wrapped around his middle, the collar of his shirt sunk low enough to expose his collarbones... like he was holding himself together, trying to stay warm.

A sense of fierce protectiveness overcame you. You were both overworked. But at least in this small bubble, this moment in time and space, nothing could hurt him, including himself. No work excuses allowed.

“That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen,” you said, and he gave a weak laugh before getting an armful of duvet shoved at him. “Go sit down, I'll bring it over.”

Jongin stood there a moment staring at you. Under-cabinet lighting slashed over his chest, the rest of him slipping into shadow before he disappeared completely as he pulled the duvet over your head.

You felt a light kick to your backside.

“Hey!” You wrestled with the duvet. “As soon as I get out of this thing...!”

But he was grinning at you when you finally pulled it off, and you felt your urge for vengeance abate far too quickly as your fatigue flared. You still punched him in the shoulder, though.

He pouted, rubbing his shoulder.

“Oh, don't give me those puppy dog eyes. You deserved it.”

“I can make coffee...”

“You can,” you agreed. “With adult supervision. Now get the kettle out.”

**

The sunrise was something pulled from a poet's imagination. The lodge perched along a low ridge and peered down into the valley. Jongin had pulled open the curtains to what only last night had looked out into darkness and now found the world at his door. Together, you watched as the sun spilled over the mountain peaks opposite, then glissaded down powdery slopes to the tree line. The trees across the valley, where the mountains were taller, were still snowcapped, and the first sun rays lit them up like jewelry before setting them aflame with light, their trunks like matchsticks to the fire. Shadows tucked themselves in to sleep at the feet of the brightest places.

Day woke and stretched its radiant fingers across the sky to tangle in the wingtips of greeting birds. And with the sun came some clarity. These last few months had tested your commitment and shaken the bedrock upon which you had built your future. But if everyday the birds could rise and welcome the the newborn morning so lovingly, you thought you could keep trying to find beauty in it, too.

Next to you, Jongin had fallen asleep wrapped in your duvet. You leaned over and tucked his toes in.

**

The village was quaint and small, situated on a scenic one-lane-each-way route that wound through the mountains. The cashier at the grocery store greeted you as you entered. You felt her eyes on your back as you moved through the store.

The cabin came stocked with various dry foods, but you needed to pick up the perishables. Most of the in-season vegetables and fruit had been grown in the area, with little signs detailing farms and their locations. Strawberries, kumquat, apples, wild parsley and chive, and even shepherd's purse laying in baskets, some of which had been foraged from the mountainside just this morning. There was a vibrant freshness to the produce here that you just couldn't find in the city.

You gathered everything you needed, taking no heed of diet restrictions or nutritional value, and went to ring up your purchases. The cashier gave you small smile and talked quietly of some of the hidden gems to visit around here, hands sweeping back and forth over the scanner as she spoke. She had a soft and lilting accent you found pleasant to listen to.

You hid your embarrassment. Was it that obvious you were from out of town? She probably knew from the moment you had stepped inside. Heck, you hadn't worried about fitting in for so long. Over the years, your accent had eroded away against standard Korean and harsh edges of the city. And the boys had been so welcoming. At least she was friendly, though. Soon enough, you were hauling your bags out to the car, but not before thanking the woman for her advice.

**

Jongin was still lying on the couch when you got back, barely awake. Two cold mugs of coffee lay abandoned on the table next to him, one still nearly full. He sat up when you walked in with the bags, frowning.

“You went shopping?”

You heard the missing “without me?” and gave him a calm look. “You were asleep and I needed something to eat for lunch.”

He gathered himself up with a frown, wrapping the duvet around himself just as you had this morning. It already felt like a day ago even though it couldn't be past 11 in the morning. He inspected the bags, pulling them open and poking through them. You watched with amusement between putting the contents of the already-poked-through-bags away.

“What are you, a dog?”

“You got pig bars?!” He pulled out the ice cream, the item cradled in his palms. He looked at you wide-eyed, some mixture of reverence and fright.

“Yes. No chicken either.”

He kept staring down at his hands and you chuckled awkwardly to fill the silence. He opened the ice bar and jumped up onto the counter.

As you put the groceries away and then began making soy bean soup with the shepherd's purse, Jongin remained quiet and watchful. You enjoyed living alone back in Seoul, but you found you didn't mind his company. His presence was comforting—a constant, quiet companion. Not a dog, then. Your lips quirked. A cat.

The kitchen filled with the beat of knife against cutting board, the melody of soft burbling from the pot on the stove. You found yourself slipping back into the rhythm of cooking, like a dancer remembering the steps to an old song.

“What song is that?”

You startled, knife slipping, nicking the knuckle of your middle finger. You hissed, dropping the knife to inspect the cut. “Shit. What?”

Jongin jumped down from the counter, grabbing your hand, apologies tripping themselves over his lips.

“It's fine, it's really shallow, don't worry about it.”

His grip tightened, and his head remained bent low over your hand, examining the cut. “Let me worry,” he said.

So you sat in muteness after washing the cut. He took your hands and dried them with a towel, soft pats and delicate swipes. His eyes would flick up to your face now and again, carefully observing your expression. Sometimes, you would catch him doing it. His lips would arc gently into a smile and you would look away, scalded by the softness of lips and eyes. You stared instead at his fingers. They moved as light as butterflies over you as he applied a bandage.

Jongin lifted himself away, a lightness to his shoulders.

The words cast themselves from your throat, thrown out like hooks, that old part of you reeling to keep his attention.

“Thank you.”

Something glittered behind that gaze. He looked you straight on with that smile like honey and said, “I was glad for the chance to take care of you.”

**

After lunch, you went straight up to your room, sank onto your bed, and stared blankly at the wall.

What was that? Your mind sped in a circuit, thoughts looping back on each other. Why'd he do that?

Surely your brain had short-circuited. He was like that with everyone, you reminded yourself, sweet and concerned. The type to ask a stranger how they're doing and stick around for an answer. But without the barrier of work, things felt different. It dredged up old feelings, back when you were half-way in love with him. It embarrassed you something fierce now, but in the beginning you used to make a playlist of all the songs you knew he listened to. You'd play it at night after work, lying in bed in the dark and wondering if right now, he wasn't doing the same. It made you long for him and feel closer to him all at once. You always paid Kim Jongin too much attention.

But at some point, you changed your focus. You threw yourself into the role of manager head first. Taking care of him was number one. You spent so much time around him in various states of undress over the years, helping with quick changes or applying therapeutic patches. You'd stood behind the cameras, watching other people fall in with him with a smile. You'd seen him at his worst, in pain, angry and sullen with the confinement of the world. It was the ultimate form of exposure therapy. Gone were the nights filled with music and yearning. You'd prepare for the next schedule before you sank exhausted into a deep and dreamless sleep. You thought you were immune.

You should've been immune.

So why did it feel so very much like you weren't?

**

You acted skittish around him at dinner, skirting over things and racing through the meal. You felt his cool gaze on you as you ate and felt yourself hunkering lower and lower over your plate like some threatened beast.

“Did you want to take a bath?”

“What?” you squeaked.

He looked up at you over his forkful of pasta, eyebrows raised.

“The bath in my room. It's like a spa. I thought you might want to relax while you're here. You're welcome to use it anytime.”

“Oh.” You swallowed thickly. “Um, maybe later. Thanks.”

Safe to say you did not take a bath in his room that night.

**

You woke first the second day. Sleep hadn't come easy, and you spent much of the night thinking of how to stop thinking, daydreaming of a long walk to purge all thoughts from your head. And so you dressed and headed downstairs on quiet socked feet. The owner of the lodge kept galoshes for the guests, and you pulled a pair out, slipping them over your shoes before walking out into the world.

Most of the snow that remained on this side of the mountain had melted, leaving behind stretches of mud that sucked at your shoes. Around you, the birds trilled. The forest was full of forest noises—pine needles brushing against the wind, woodpeckers drilling against bark. The website for the lodge mentioned that there were a number of trails maintained by a grounds crew throughout the property. A stream bordered the western edge of the property, and you thought you remembered something about a Buddhist shrine located near there.

You missed this, you realized about a half hour into the walk. Seoul had its share of scenic parks and river walks, but it felt like a held breath. Something temporary, a quick break before you returned to the rushing arteries of people making a living.

Life felt impossibly lethargic here in contrast. You realized, with one moment of panic, that you hadn't yet checked your phone this morning, before it dissipated slowly. You were on vacation, you reminded yourself. The others could hold down the fort while you were gone.

The path you were following rounded a corner into a scenic corner of the world. A small waterfall fed by snowmelt spilled over a mossy rock face into a pool surrounded by sweet grass. You stayed there for a while by the edge, mist falling over you in fine sprays. Small diamonds of water accumulated along the woolen fibers of your sleeves.

After about 15 or 20 minutes, the urge to move was back. The trail branched off here, and a lichen-covered stone marker sat in the intersection. You recognized it as one of the landmarks the woman from the grocery had mentioned. The hanja carved into it had grown worn and faded. 'Grove of the Elders' it read. You took the path to the left.

Soon, you found yourself in the Grove of the Elders. Erman's birch trees filled the clearing. The branches were still spindly, buds just forming on the tips. Papery bark peeled away from the trunk like old men's beards. White forsythia was in the early stage of blooming along the periphery. You understood why it had been named the way it had.

You made your way through the grove. The trees were well-established, some with trunks thick enough to wrap your arms around. You were making your way through the grove, marveling at the open blue sky above you, when you almost stepped on Jongin.

“Whoa.” He jumped up from where he had been reclined against the base of a tree, rubbing a hand along the backs of his thighs. “What are you doing here?”

It was disorienting to run into him here, out in the middle of the woods. You had forgotten about him, about everything if you were being honest. But confronted with the realness of him again, your worries returned.

“Me?” you asked. “I was on a walk. What are you doing laying here?”

“I was trying to read.” He flashed a heavily dog-eared paperback of Papillon. “Didn't really get that far,” he said with a wry grin.

“Oh, sorry. I'll let you get back to it.”

You made to leave when his hand stretched out and gripped your sleeve.

“That's not what I meant.” He seemed flustered at your misunderstanding and he released his grip on you. “You don't have to. I was actually thinking about stretching my legs. If you don't mind the company.”

“I don't,” you responded quietly, even though you weren't sure if that was the truth. You had come here to be alone with your thoughts after all, not spiral into a silent panic.

Jongin smiled at you and shoved his book in the back of his jeans as he fell into step.

**

It felt surreal to walk through the woods like this with him. It was like being on the set of a music video, except you were the subject. The perfect setting for a story.

“Is it okay if I tell you something?”

Jongin sent you a questioning look. Something about his eyes caught you. You realized that this was maybe the first time you were about to confide something in him. Secrets were dangerous things.  “Yeah, of course.”

“Sometimes I wonder how much of a person I am without you.” You laughed. “It's silly, I know. But I used to be so spontaneous. One time, I volunteered to pose nude for an adult art class just because, I dunno, it seemed like an experience. I liked collecting memories. My friends always used to ask me what I was up to.

“Now, they ask me what you're doing. Because it's the same thing now, I guess.”

You exhaled, then felt a hand wrap around your own.

Jongin looked at you, really looked at you. There was a particular intensity to this, a piercing quality that you had never been subjected to.

“You are more than me,” he said.

You were taken aback at his response.

His grip tightened. “I couldn't do this without you,” he continued. “I should've told you before—but I'm not like Jongdae, I forget. I think,” he ran a hand through his hair, “I thought you already knew, but it was stupid of me too assume when I wasn't... I didn't... You're the best manager I've had. I'm not saying that just to flatter you.”

The words tumbled out of him. You'd never seen him so discombobulated, and that threw you off kilter in turn. You hadn't expected anything from him, had let go of the words like balloons released from clumsy fingers, where an appropriate response might be “oh no.”

“You're knowledgeable and accountable. Do you know how much I rely on you? I was so nervous this comeback, I only made it through because of you.” He swept your hand up to his chest. You could feel his heart beating frantically against your knuckles, like it, too, was trying to tell you something. “I do better when you're around. I want to make you proud. So get that through your stubborn brain: I wouldn't be even half of what I am now if it wasn't for you.”

The tears came, unbidden. In a heartbeat, Jongin had pulled you in close, your head against his chest. One of his arms wrapped around your back, while the other lay now at your sides, his fingers still intertwined with yours.

“I don't even know why I'm crying,” you laughed through your tears.

“You're always fighting for me. I just wish I could do more for you.” His fingers grazed over the bandage on your finger.

The laughter faded into full-throated sobs. Your heart squeezed with an uncomfortable fullness. You were overwhelmed. Lately, it had felt as if work was a crushing void, a thankless pit that sucked everything out of you. You felt isolated, living life without reciprocation or support. Jongin wouldn't know it, but he made you feel like a person again. He brought back the colors.

Dew drops dripped from branches around you, soft patters against soft spring grass. Jongin was warm and solid against you.

“I get scared that I can't do this forever.” The words were spoken softly. Jongin wasn't looking at you when you lifted your head, focused instead on something in the distance. “I don't know what I would I do without EXO.” He finally dropped his gaze to yours. You saw your own uncertainty reflected back. “Or you.”

You knew then that everything you'd been through lately, the uncertainty, didn't matter. You were both a little broken. So you pressed yourself against him harder, a pair of fractured hearts holding each other up. “You won't be getting rid of me anytime soon.”

Jongin sank into the embrace, his cheek pressed against your temple. You felt his chest build with a sigh, felt the exhale on the baby hairs of your nape. Dry lips grazed against you. His wordless thanks lingered upon your skin.

**

By some unspoken agreement, Jongin's hand remained in yours on the trek back to the lodge. You walked close enough to brush arms and skim each others thighs. A small part of you dreaded that you'd have to let go once you got back.

“The first time I realized I trusted you was when I told you I didn't know how to iron,” he confessed out of the blue.

You laughed. You remembered that day. Jongin had been adamant about wearing a bear-print shirt to the airport the following day, but it was so wrinkled. The collar pointed in two different directions and one sleeve was longer than the other unless someone held it down straight.

“I didn't know how to iron a shirt either,” you admitted.

Jongin grinned, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “We had to look up a tutorial on Naver, remember?”

“Oh yeah, the one with the Kyungsoo look-a-like, right? I took screenshots and sent them to Cho-hee.” You told him how Kyungsoo's manager had coerced him into recreating the shoot. Jongin had gasped delightedly and you made a mental note to show him the pictures when you got back. “But hey, wait, you still don't know how to iron, what the heck! I just ironed something for you last week!"

“Ah I don't know, I don't know,” Jongin chanted, plugging an ear with his free hand. “What tutorial? I don't know anything.”

“Kim Jongin, you are shameless.”

Laughter rang through the trees. Here was the morning you would rise to greet every day.

___________________________

A/N: The second, and final, chapter should be up next weekend (June 19-20). Me, releasing more than one thing in a month? Who am I??

Thank you for reading!

A/N 2: Second part is now up.

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