#a conversation taken from my new FF

[azraphels]

Liam: 34 Dollars… *walks staggering towards the car after all five have left the American Dinner* … 34 Dollars… Mason: look on the bright side… he gave you a little discount Liam: two dollars and a Donuts Nolan: Only two dollars… *looks down at the Donuts that fell out of his hands as he was about to eat it.* Theo: *holds back laughter* Liam: next time I offer you something, it shouldn't be more than a paperclip and a button

[thisismeracing]

Just like in the movies | CL16

― Pairing: Charles Leclerc x actress!reader ― Warnings: curse words and typos; innacurate race schedule. ― Summary: You're shooting a new movie about racing cars, but you did not expect to get a racing heart from a certain driver. (based on this request).

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yourusername

liked by charles_leclerc, chrisevans, and others

yourusername behind the scenes 😜

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formulafan not her trying to be sneaky and hide the cap's number

iguser_ I just now this about to be one of the best movies of the year!

monzayn can you imagine watching the behind-the-scenes live? 😭😭😭

leclainz not charles on the likes lol

⤷ szasaturn he's just like me trying to flirt

tifosilew for the first time I'm super happy with Ferrari's random partnerships bc that way we get to see yn creating her new motorsports fan personality 🙏🏻

charles_leclerc

liked by pierregasly, arthur_leclerc, and others

charles_leclerc what can I do when she's the one who makes my heart beat fast Ferrari? 😮‍💨❤️

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liekdbypierregasly I GOT THE REFERENCE, I GOT IT!!

yourusername I had no idea the hard launch would be hard like this

⤷ yourusername I love it though, Ily

⤷ yourusername il predestinato to have my heart ❤️

⤷ lecred she's just like us fr LOL

lewishamilton 💜 trully happy for you guys

fan4416 not the converses and the I heart my gf shirt IM GONNA CRY

kpopandcars I neeed my own charles leclerc, it's a must now!

anyonebutferrari this post just healed my broken heart and solved all my problems

hamiltontifosi they fell in love just like in the movies I- brb I'm gonna cry myself to sleep :')

────── ⋆🪩 VOICEMAIL: Hi! I hope you guys liked this piece! It was kinda short, but hopefully worth the reading :D let me know your thoughts!

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[dark-night-hero]

Hellooo!! Can I request eleceed, specifically Kayden? I keep on thinking what if Kayden had a non awakened fem partner and keep it a secret (for obvious reason to protect her) then then, she casually meets jiwoo and his friend then one of them asked if she had a bf, since she's beautiful and obviously guys have a crush on her. Then she deny her relationship, because it was supposed to be a secret. Kayden in his human form, got mad because he got denied. HAHAHHAHWHA. Thank you!!

: This reminds me that I needed to catch up on my Kayden x Reader ff I've been writing for a while now butttt.

When you received a phone message from Kayden telling you to come into South Korea after months of no news about him after all the anxious nights hoping he was alright upon hearing the news of him clashing with the top 10 and is currently injured with the rumor of point of no return. You dropped everything and went there as fast as you could. Maybe it was because you're a non-awakened person but you are more careful than ever. Kayden is a powerful individual with countless enemies waiting for his downfall. You knew better than to stand out when you are just a normal, vulnerable individual that could become his weakness anytime.

By the time you manage to reach South Korea, you were not in a hurry to meet up with anybody. Even after Kayden had given you his next instructions which is to meet up with his disciple, an awakened one named Seo Jiwoo, one you badly want to meet, after all, what could your boyfriend be teaching him when you knew better than his nasty attitude towards others.

Anyways, rather than meeting up with this said disciple, you took your time wandering around in the country. It was such a beautiful place to visit. You were really enjoying yourself as much as to your boyfriend's displeasure.

So imagine the coincidence when you met a bunch of teenagers in the grocery as you were struggling to carry your stuffs and they offer to help you up, you were just about to decline but due to the fact that you cannot carry it alone, you let them be. Offering your thanks and apologies as they carry your stuffs into your current accommodation neighborhood when it turns out that one of them were living in the same neighborhood. They were such a lively bunch too, making you laugh from time to time.

Your interaction went from one thing to another, the conversation was going well, that was until you arrived in fron of your accommodation. Ony then did you realise you never told them your name nor have they told you theirs.

"Thats was quite mindlessly of me." You laugh and told them your name in which they did the same. In fact one of them rings a bell, like you have heard about it before, plus the way that boy looks at you seems like you were familiar to him. Have you heard his name before?

"Unnie, unnie can I ask you a question before we go?" It was Soobin? Right? The only girl from the group asked you making you smile and nod. "You look like you're new here and also, do you have a boyfriend?" By her question and the way she and the other boy, Jisoo was it? Seems to be nudging each other. You let out a chuckle and then you halt.

What should you say? That you're taken? You are in fact taken. But that was supposed to be a secret from everyone, anybody in the world. After all if anyone were to know that you, an ordinary, non awakened person was in a relationship with someone like Kayden Break, you would and could be put into danger. Kayden would not want that, you would not want that. Both of you if keeping you safe means keeping you secret.

"No, I don't have a boyfriend." You chuckle and smile but it did not reach your eyes. After all, Kayden would understand as much as you want to tell the world that you are in fact in a relationship with him. Or not? After all no one wants to be denied right in the face right?

"No?! Yes you do?!" You felt your heart skipped a beat as you immediately look pass the bunch of teenagers and saw a familiar man walking straight ahead. "If you don't have a boyfriend then what am I?!" "Mr. Kayden?!" "Hah?" Right outside your place was one fuming man, a dumbfounded woman and teenagers.

"Oh! So it turns out you're the one Kayden talks about as his disciple, no wonder your name sounds familiar." You laugh, wanting to shift on your position but could not, not when your boyfriend's arm were warped around your shoulder, tapping your shoulder with his fingers as he just sat there laying his back on the sofa right next to you legs cross with a scowl on his face. He was not mad as the youngsters right in front of you were thinking, in fact, your boyfriend is sulking.

After a while of talking, the four have finally decided to went off, Jiwoo's house was near anyways so you stood by your door waving them goodbye. Just when they were out of your sigh only then did you heard a familiar voice you haven't heard for so long. "So, you're single huh?" There he was, arms spread out on the couch as he sat there in a relax manner, he was giving you such eye, not the intimidating one, its the other.

"Come on now Kayden, you knew what I'm doing that for, don't be upset." You chuckle, walking your way towards him. "Don't be angry no? I'm sorry." You pout, sitting on his lap rather than on the spacious couch. "I know." You felt his arms warped around your waist. "I never thought it could be upsetting to hear it in person." He mumble on your side causing you to smile. "Haha if anyone were to see you right now they would double take if it was really you." "They'll be dead by the time they find out about us." "Oh even your disciple?" When he did not say anything, you could only laugh.

"Right, he was a great child. You taught him well." "Didn't I?" He look up, your eyes met his as you felt him smirk on your skin. "Yes. You did well Kayden." You shift on his lap so you're facing him before putting your hands on his cheeks. "You're not mad anymore?" You wanted to say sulking but as if he would ever admit. Nevertheless as you caresses his cheeks he tilt his head to the side and get a hold of one of your hands to bring to close to his lips which cause you to shift on his lap once again once you felt him lick the palm of your hands. "Not until you knew who you belong to, Kitten." ... "Come to think of it Kayden, did you not see a fat cat somewhere? I swear I saw a glimpse of i-?!"

[ⓒdark-night-hero] 2024°

: there was another eleceed request but I'm still workin on it HAHA (as well as my 3 research papers)

[vay99]

Law x reader

Let me show you your heart

Anime/Manga: One Piece

Short side note, I've decided to upload my old ffs on here as well since everyone enjoys reading on different platforms and you guys seem to enjoy what I'm reading :)

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Okay, let's get started then." you check a last time before starting your tattoo machine.

"How many tattoo plans do you have left?"

"None after this, I don't think I'd have space left anywhere." Law looks down on his body while you finish the first letter on his thumb.

"Neck, waist, ass-"

"What are you suggesting?" taken back by your last idea the captain squints his eyes, earning a chuckle from your end.

"Nothing, only that you've got spaces left, and you're my favorite person to tattoo~"

"How come?"

"That's my secret. But why don't you tell me what's up with the double death tattoo?"

"It's what they call me, surgeon of death, I figured that it'd look nice." he simply explains, not mentioning a deeper meaning behind it. Which you know it has.

"I'll accept that answer, for now."

Law just reacts by rolling his eyes, he's used to your antics since you've put every single tattoo on his body, which created a special bond between the two of you.

It always takes Law some time until he opens up to you during your tattoo sessions. Letting down his walls is something he still struggles with. Even with you. The only person he ever told his story.

"I was always surrounded by death, wanted to die and now... I get to decide who lives and dies. It was painful, it still is but... it's a part of me." he explains himself, right as you finish his first hand.

"So death has two meanings for you." you say as you begin with his other hand. "Once your experiences with death as a child, and second your profession as a Pirate, Doctor Captain."

"Yes."

"Babe you do know that tattoos don't replace therapy, right?" you've been calling up him that for a while now, having the antic to adress others with 'flirty' nicknames. The first time you called him Babe his face froze and a blush took over his cheeks.

"I know." he grunts, turning his head away from you.

"Law, I hope that one day you'll feel so full of life that your past turns into a scar, fully healed. No more hurting, hiding and hatred. You'll learn to love life, one day."

"And you said this doesn't replace therapy..."

"If you'd go to therapy I wouldn't have to sY this, we could plan a tattoo on your ass instead but nooo." Law chuckles at your response, watching you finish the final letter on his pinky. "All done."

Staring at his fresh tattooed knuckles Laws lips curl into a smile. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." you respond, cleaning the bench and tidying up the place.

On your way to the kitchen you two pass by Penguin, who immediately notices his captains new tattoo.

"I'm the surgeon of the death after all." Law explains him for the third time now.

"And yet you fight to keep every patient alive." Penguin answers.

"Ironic how life can be."

"Don't try to make it sound poetic now, you're exchanging peoples arms with legs all of the time." you join their little conversation.

"Don't forget the hearts." the surgeon chuckles. "What's with that expression?"

"Could you give me my heart so I could draw it?!??"

You've done it, you made Law malfunction like a computer that has too many tabs open. Penguin is startled as well but that's not unusual, especially compared to Law malfunctioning.

"Law? Laaaaw?" moving closer to your captain you poke his cheek.

"Uhm... are you, are you sure about that?" scratching his neck as he comes back to his senses, still taken back by your request.

"Yes, I mean, I won't die so, when else will I get the opportunity to draw my own heart?"

Following your bizarre wish Law takes your heart out of your chest. And definitely not getting distracted by your boobs at all. Nah. Even Penguin is dumbfounded by that.

"Wow, the human body is so fascinating." you express your joy over a technique that Law used to let his opponents freak out. He may have studied every part of the human body but your brain will remain a mystery to the man.

"You're not nervous at all? It's your heart in my hands after all." he voices his confusion.

"If you wanted to crush it you could've done it at any given time, we're in a submarine, there's no escape from you. I've seen Penguin and Sachi try to. I trust you Law." you reassure him, adjusting your view back on your heart.

"Countless times..."

"You never win and yet you guys still try." you pat your friends back before heading towards your room. Which is just a bed, a desk and paper, canvases, paint and brushes all over the place.

Sitting down you immediately start sketching, joining you on a chair Law watches you draw, his favorite thing to do when he wants to feel at ease.

Everyone in your crew believes you're already dating and just keep things really private. But no, Law is just a lovesick man who loves nothing more than spend time with you in comfortable silence.

A couple of days later you've finished your masterpiece, exhausted and happy you waddle over to the kitchen and sink into the big couch. Like becoming one with the soft fabric.

"Here." Bepo places a plate with food in front of you and himself.

"Bepo you're a real darling, thanks."

"You looked exhausted and food always makes me feel better so... sorry."

"You're the sweetest." you say, cheeks full of food already. "Did you drop those food plates off at my place each day?"

"No, the captain did."

You stop in your tracks. Law did what?

"Bepo? Are you sure that was Law?"

"Yes, you didn't notice because you were too hyperfocused."

"He gave me bread. He hates bread." you blink at the polar bear next to you.

"But you love bread."

"Exactly!!!!!" finishing your plate you immediately head of to find Law. You wanted to confess for a while now but you never knew if he l o v e d you or just enjoyed having you around him. But this? Law getting near bread? Voluntarily? That speaks volumes.

The second you find him he begins to talk, not giving you any time to react.

"You trusted me with your heart, now I'll trust you with mine." he casually pulls his heart out off his chest, handing it to you. "You once said that two hearts together look like the hearts people draw... if you want to you could draw ours together..." getting quite at the end of the sentence he bites his lip, unsure which words to use.

"Draw them as they belong you mean?"

Agreeing with a nod Law hides his face behind his hat, face redder than Buggys nose.

"This is the best painting request ever!"

Forgetting what you wanted to do not even minute ago you sprint into your room, carrying Laws heart with you.

Pulling out the painting you made of your own heart, where Law gladly assisted threw pulling your heart out of your rib cage, you begin to sketch your hearts together as one. Which took you one more week.

And yes Law brought you bread during that time as well.

"How do you like it?" exhausted, but happy you present your latest creation.

"It's greater than any word I could use to describe it Can I have it?"

"Of course, it was your request after all." you smile as you hand him the painting.

"This will go right above my desk." his lips curl into a heartwarming smile, a smile so gentle which you've never seen it of him before.

"This is my favorite smile of yours. Maybe you'll assist me next time threw being my model."

"Anything for you." he answers mindless, still absorbed by the canvas in front of him. And that's when you remember.

"Guess I'll start dropping by your office from now on, not to brag but this is an amazing painting." you take a few steps towards him.

"Just like the artist."

"Only because I had a great assistant." you chuckle, gently cupping his cheeks.

"Being your assistant sounds like much better job than captain and doctor." Law sighs, loosely wrapping his arms around your hips, continuingly looking up to you.

"You know you can drop by anytime when they're being too noisy. And be my model of course."

"What kind of modeling are we talking about." He raises an eyebrow, a playful smile on his lips.

"I wanna paint you as I see you, a gentle soul, who cares for others more than himself. A gorgeous smile that will steal everyone's heart, because that's what you did with mine." you brush over his lips with your thumb. "But to be able to capture your lips right I need to get a better look at them."

"My lips are all yours." closing his eyes he pulls you onto his lap. You close the gap between your lips, feeling like your hearts have now become one for real. You still taste the salty rice balls he had for lunch, this would be everything you could think about from now on when you see rice balls.

*A few days later, on deck*

The submarine has submerged from the sea, landing on a tropical island. Law stands by the reling and watches the sun set.

"No better view than the sun set over the ocean, no better smell than the salty air." you smile, enjoying the wind that plays with your locks.

"(y/n), when you said you want me to love life, to let my wounds heal I thought it was impossible. But now, right here, with you, I start to understand what you mean. Thank you, for everything you've done for me."

"You've helped me heal as well Law, when you're with the right person you will heal each other, it comes naturally." leaning your head against his shoulder you keep gazing at the sun, disappearing behind the horizon.

[msgexymunson]

Oh my, there’s far too much choice for that WIP ask game, how on earth am I supposed to choose?!?!

OF COURSE I want some FF goodness (best series ever), but I’m not going to, and I’ll wait it out like a good girl… So instead I’m going to ask for either Midwest Monster or Scream For Me (or both, if that’s even allowed 🤭🫣), and if they’re both already taken then Professor Quinn is hovering very close (extremely close) behind 😆

Kittie 💋

Full disclosure, I went to take a snippet of the fic and ended up reading it all and falling into a 'what next' hole.

Couldn't pick a best bit, I'm like 6k in and not near the smut yet. Its my werewolf Eddie fic, and this is the beginning...

Mid West Monster - Intro

Eddie doesn't know how he got out of the Upside Down. All he remembers are throbbing flashbacks of those weird bat creatures sinking their teeth into him and the blood bubbling in his chest. The wet feeling of his life essence as it drained through all the bites, and the tears falling from Dustin's cheeks as he stared down at him hopelessly. He knew he was going to die. 

Darkness.

The next thing he knew, he was naked, lying on the floor of his trailer. His trailer; not that frightening, vine infested dark mirror. The place looked like a hurricane had ripped through it. The furniture was in splinters in the living room, mugs had been smashed, and hats ripped off of hooks. There were huge gashes in the very walls of the trailer itself, some so deep he could see daylight shining through them. 

He remembered looking down at his body, expecting to see horror and mutilation, a deadly game of tic tac toe played on his torso; but instead what he saw made him gasp in shock. There was blood, yes, but it was dried and crusted, flaking away at a fingertip touch. Underneath, a few light scars were all that remained of his apparent near death encounter. They looked decades old. As he had showered the blood and grime away, he noticed his body looked different, felt different under his fingers. His physique was toned, broader and more defined. He had a six pack without even having to clench and really try. His er… his manhood was bigger, thicker and somehow heavier. And he was definitely hairier.

The scars had all but disappeared a couple of weeks later, same with the murder allegations. Since Vecna's defeat and Hopper's return, all the carnage had been explained away, leaving Eddie to live a normal life. 

The only problem was, he was anything but normal. 

His hearing was incredible, listening to conversations halfway across a noisy Summer school classroom with no difficulties. He was stronger, faster, and so aware of his surroundings sometimes it was just downright painful. Dustin had tried to get him to go to the arcade a few days ago but it was just too much input for his heightened senses and he had to high tail it out of there. 

The biggest change of all though? His sense of smell. 

It felt as if he'd lived his whole life breathing in a gas mask with a pillow across his face and it had suddenly been removed. They were luminous scents, filling his nose with such strength that it was almost better than seeing. The grass, flowers, the path of an unseen wild animal. And the people! Oh God, the people. Everyone was a trail of smell, an orchestra  of aromas, some more distinct than others but all unique in some way.

Yesterday he could smell Uncle Wayne so strongly; a thick cloud of cigarettes, oil and metal from the plant, sandalwood, and, well, the words did not exist for all the rest. It smelled like a comforting, hazy navy blue, which he knows would only make sense to him. He'd even said 'hey' over his shoulder whilst he was sitting on the couch. The crazy thing was, Wayne had walked into their new trailer a few minutes later. 

There was something else too. Eddie's head felt… full. Not of information, he only wished he could get some answers right about now, but another presence. Someone, something was there, other than him. He often wondered if he was just losing his mind, trauma coming out in weird and wacky ways, but as soon as those thoughts came he dismissed them. There was enough evidence to show that he had changed. 

Eddie shuffles into the Summer school classroom, hunched over. He's grown at least a couple inches; that and his broader frame as well as his trademark metalhead look basically made him a moving target. For once in his life, he's trying desperately to not draw attention to himself. 

Jock dickheads will always be jock dickheads though, even when they're retaking English classes. Some 'mouth breather', as Mike would say, a brute of a boy in a letterman jacket and a blonde buzzcut, sticks his foot out and trips him up. Eddie's new lightning reflexes stop him from crashing to the floor, grabbing the edge of the desk at the last minute. 

He's about to just drop it, let it go, until he hears "watch your step, Freak." 

Bite him. 

The thought rings loud and clear in his brain. It's more than a thought though, it's a voice. It's not his, the cadence is different, voice deeper and husky, almost a growl. 

Eddie is shaken to his core, frozen on the spot. Every hair on his body feels like it's standing on end, hackles raising. He blinks the thought away; he doesn't have hackles. 

Standing up, he releases his hold on the desk. Four deep fingernail patterns are etched into the wood. 

This is too much. He turns on his heel and practically jogs to the restroom to splash water in his face. 

What the fuck was that? 

Eddie stares in the mirror, water droplets in his bangs coalescing and mingling to drip down his nose and chin. There's stubble on his jaw even though he shaved this morning. 

He's staring into his own eyes, seeking answers. Then it happens again. 

We should have bit him. 

"What the- who are you? What are you?" 

The mysterious voice doesn't answer; but there's a growl deep in his skull. Squeezing his eyes shut, he pinches the bridge of his nose until it stops. 

Fuck this. 

Eddie leaves school, racing toward his van. Mrs O'Donnells class can wait.

[toomanybiasesss]

𝐔𝐍𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐁𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐄𝐍 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐒 | enhypen vampire ff | 01 |

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

༊*·˚ synopsis. Welcome Students to Lakewood High! Where the most widespread boys happen to be vampires and even werewolves. When a mysterious new student, Choi Y/n, transfers to Lakewood High, the boys find themselves particularly drawn to her. As horrendous incidents begin to piece the academy apart, enemies start to unveil, and mysteries start to confound, it is all up to Choi Y/n to save the fate of all.

༊*·˚ genre. fantasy!

༊*·˚ wc. 2.3k.

༊*·˚ warnings. none!

༊*·˚ a/n note. ahh this is my first post ever! i hope you guys will like it. i went more into detail about this in my trailer video posted on this. feel free to give ideas, suggestions for future posts! this will also be visible on wattpad.

༊*·˚ pairings. enha!femreader.

༊*·˚ playlist link!

CHAPTER 01 ;; _________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐

----------------------------------------------------------------------

It's just absurd. Don't you think? Changing prosperous academies? It's even more ominous that my parents are sending me away for school. I am not the type to get overly enthusiastic about everything or anything. Sometimes this sounds like an excellent possibility to get away from your family, But I prefer to be; by myself, on my own, in my personal space. I have my secrets. Power? Abilities? Not something you often see, maybe only with the fiction tale. It will be an amusing semester. New possibilities and adventures. Right?

----------------------------------------------------------------------

The car comes to a halt, and I look outside of the academy, Lakewood High. Famous for outstanding achievers, bringing out the richest of families, and its remarkable history. A school; that's full of all sorts of secrets and royalty. That sounds like the deal I like. I watch as students appear to the outside. Their laughter of them echoes through my ears. Some even with smiles. Mhmm? Seem like school is out for the weekend. While in my daydreaming self, a voice makes itself known-

Driver: You are going to love it here, Ms.Y/n.

You were coming back to validity, just responding to the older fellow in front of you with a smile and nod.

Driver: Leave me to get your belongings out for you.

The driver excitedly makes his way out of the car, fast to retrieve your luggage. You take one good look before sighing and finally opening the door to the car. You're immediately met with a fresh breeze and the smell of scentful flowers. You close your eyes and take in the stunning scenery.

You: Isn't it lovely?

Driver: Sure is!

As your eyes, open wide, your baggage is already beside you. You were surprised by the two knocks behind you; on the roof of the car.

Driver: Remember to have lots of fun, okay?

You: I know.

Driver: Your parents are just a phone call away.

You pause for a second before saying-

You: Thank you, Quinn.

Quinn flashes a big smile as he opens the door to the car. The car starts as it soon drives away. You give one last wave. As you now stare at the tremendous academy in front of you. The academy was disturbingly exquisite but still looked aesthetically gladdening from the outside. You give another sigh as you grasp your luggage and make your way to your newly awaited school.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

You enter the school. As you look around, you notice some students engaged in their conversations. The academy starts with an elegant staircase with fabulous chandeliers hanging from above. Your eyes continue to observe the school full of royalty.

???: Ms. Y/n, Welcome to Lakewood High!

A voice catches you by surprise. Must be the principal?

???: I'm principal Mae, but you can refer to me as Mrs. Mae.

The woman walks up to you to greet you with a smile. She is well-presented, well-kept and speaks with her firm British accent. You beam at her while offering a hand, which she shakes in return.

Mrs. Mae: This way, please

You follow her up the stairs while still observing the school itself. You look down only to see that the students have taken notice of your arrival. You notice the whispers and stares from the other learners. All eyes stay on you as you walk up the staircase. The new girl detected reward. I despise it.

You soon make it toward a door with unique designs on it. Mrs. Mae opens the door leading to a spacious lounge. Wow. Neat. You make your way inside while closing the door behind you.

Mrs. Mae: Take a seat, Y/n.

Mrs. Mae makes her way to her desk and takes a seat. You look around the room filled with vivid paintings and various illustrations.

Mrs. Mae: We usually don't accept students during the semesters, but your parents happen to be good friends with me. So, I couldn't say no.

The woman says while you take a seat right in front of her.

Mrs. Mae: Ohh Y/n...

Mrs. Mae takes your hands and holds them in hers.

Mrs. Mae: You look just like your mother.

You smile at the compliment. You've heard it countless times from other people, so it wasn't new to you. You soon retrieve your hands to yourself.

You: May I ask, how'd you become friends with my mother?

Mrs. Mae stares at you with sparkling eyes in admiration before answering-

Mrs. Mae: Well, she was my roommate. And soon after, we became the best of friends.

You: And my dad?

Mrs. Mae: I met him through your mother. Funny guy, I'll tell you.

You laugh in response because it's true. Mrs. Mae soon giggles with you.

Mrs. Mae: I'm glad they sent you here. You're a courageous and powerful girl. It is the ideal school for you, Y/n.

What Mrs. Mae said made you feel a type of way. You instantly felt a warm sensation on your neck.

You couldn't even describe it, but it felt so potent. It struck from all over your body. It caught you off guard, but you just brushed it off as nothing.

Mrs. Mae: Well, don't let me keep you waiting, you most probably want to go get some rest.

You watch as the lady takes out a key from her desk drawer.

Mrs. Mae: Here you go! Your key to your dorm.

Mrs. Mae gives the key in your hands lightly.

Mrs. Mae: I'm looking forward to having you here, Y/n.

You grin at her while standing up and finally making your way out of the comfy lounge.

You shut the door behind you.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

You glance look at the key to your dorm.

You: How cute...

???: What is...?

The sudden voice startles you making you gasp.

You: Who are you?!

A tall figure of a boy stood right next to the corridor. It was too dark to see his face or calculate how he looked. You could see his dark-colored hair; he had the school uniform on with some agitation to it as well. He started to walk closer to you, but his facial features were still clouded from your point of view.

???: You must be Y/n.

You: Does the new girl thing circulate that quickly?!

Your statement made the boy chuckle with a smirk left on his face.

???: Haha, you don't even know... I'm Lee Heeseung. Nice to meet you.

Heeseung gives a hand, which you gladly abide and shake.

You: Well. Nice to meet you Heeseung, I'm-

HS: Y/n. Yes, I know.

You look down in embarrassment, forgetting that he already mentioned your name when you stepped out of the lounge. Your actions made the boy laugh once again. You eventually find the boldness to look up. You are met by his gaze, reflecting off by the sunlight. You could now see his big doe eyes looking right at you. They were bold and beyond charming. He finally broke the silence between you two, which nearly felt like ten whole minutes had passed.

HS: Well, I'll see you around, Y/n.

You: Ye-

The boy leaves before you finished your sentence. He does give one more look at you before vanishing somewhere at the end of the hallway.

You: Great job Y/n! You already got your first awkward encounter.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

You: This must be it!

You make your way to your dorm door. You unlock the door leading to a large room itself. You enter slowly while looking around the room layout.

A balcony joined the room. You could see a corner that had already been decorated and daubed. On the wall, it had certificates. Coding and Hacking certificates? Seem as if my roomie relishes that type of stuff.

You keep walking around, but no one appears to be around. She maybe had gone out?

You soon start to unpack your luggage until-

something falls to the ground grabbing your attention. You bend as you pick up what seems to be. A letter?

You stared at the letter for a few moments before opening the envelope it was in. The envelope was; significantly nicely secured and had an extravagant red stamp. You open the envelope displaying a black card-

''An Invitation To Our Bloody Birthday Party

To: Y/n''

Interest begins to fill your mind. What's even happening? Where'd this even come from? You see another letter sticker out of the black card. You quickly take it out-

''You're invited to our bloody birthday party.

Sometimes, walking down the deadly path

Without fleeing from death itself

Can give rise to the most wonderful creation

We hope you will be able to come.''

A party?! This school is living up to its expectations. You stare at the letter once more before sitting down.

You: Lee Heeseung...

----------------------------------------------------------------------

You: I guess this is it.

You make your way toward the estate. The place was inside the woods, not too far from the academy. It would be more or less than a five-minute walk. It wouldn't even be a hard place to find since the lights from the party can be seen from anyone's dorm room window. You stop in your tracks to take a look at the grand residence.

You watch students coming in and out. Students are still clothed in their school uniforms. They're laughing all over the place while more begin to enter the abode. The house lit up in all sorts of colored lights. Music can be heard, from where you were standing, but still muted by the distance. For it is in the woods, it was a huge estate. Perfect size for almost inviting every student in the academy. Assumably.

As you begin walking even closer, everything comes into view now. Harmony can also be more legible. You walk up the stairs leading to the front door. Wavering, you open it.

Instantly, the sound of music blasts through your ears. Shutting the door, you start moving past all the students. You look at all of them. Groups danced all over the show, groups were involved in conversations, and groups played games or some sort.

You start smiling at yourself, considering you weren't planning on coming. Quinn would've wanted me to go anyway. You walk into a bunch of rooms occupied by other people, but you're going into the kitchen area, which is quiet. You had your back towards the kitchen, double-checking no one came in with you. Since I still very much like my own company after all.

???: Y/N!!!

The sudden voice catches you by surprise. You quickly turn around. A girl? She's a tall, stunning figure, with long brown hair that came close to her waist and an unforgettable gummy smile. The girl came walking towards you, still giving her gummy smile.

WY: Hi, I'm Wonyoung.

Wonyoung quickly brings you into a hug which you gladly accept. Does she know me?

WY: I'm glad you came!

She finally says, freeing you from the tight hug.

WY: I'm sorry I couldn't welcome you this afternoon. I had some extra classes to attend. But I'm more than happy that you're my new roomie!

The girl says excitingly. So, she's my roomie. You give her a smile and a nod.

Wonyoung gives another grin before turning around and retrieving something.

You: What's that?

WY: Fruit punch.

She turns back, handing you a cup of fruit punch, which you curiously take. You take a sip from the cold served beverage. The liquid makes you gasp with shock.

You: Wow.

WY: Pretty good, huh?

You give her a continuous nod while she laughs at your reaction.

WY: My recipe.

She says while taking a sip of her own. She watches how you continue to enjoy your drink. She smirks as she takes your drink out of your hands.

She puts both of your cups on the countertop as she turns to you. Wonyoung takes hold of your hands.

WY: C'mon, you are the guest of honor. Let's go dance!

She pulls you by your hands, dragging you out of the kitchen. Damn, I wanted more fruit punch instead.

Wonyoung keeps dragging you until you both reach a crowd of students dancing. No, not the area filled with everyone dancing! She finally stops and sways both of you while still holding your hands.

WY: Enjoy yourself!!!

She lets go of your hands and starts falling into the rest of the mass. Regretting your life decisions, you have the urge to turn back badly, but eventually, give up trying since it's too packed. You accept defeat.

You gradually start dancing, moving to the sound of the music. You close your eyes, absorbing the music, falling into the sound of it. Damn. Lights striking while still being visible even with closed eyes. This is fun. Not something I'm used to, but it's seriously not bad.

Your fun soon begins to fade away. Your interrupted with a strong gush of dizziness soon takes over you. Spoke too soon.

You open your eyes to find a way out of the; overwhelmingly crammed area. You met the sight of two guys staring at you. Your vision is too blurry to see their faces. They keep gazing until you push through the crowd. Why do I all of a sudden feel sick to the core?

Looking for a more peaceful spot. You persist through the halls, looking for somewhat of an empty room, stopping by a door, that's closed. Please, be empty.

You push through the door revealing a long narrow hallway. No ways.

You're quick to tone down your pace but still roaming slowly with your steps. Feels off. You look around the narrow hallway. It's dimmed and has vintage-looking paintings. The hallway echoed with dark royalty classical music. Intimidating, to say the least. A restricted room...

You make it to the end of the hallway. The music slowly starts diverting into an echo. The tune went off-sync. Your dizziness grows more prominent to the point you have to grab the wall for support. A wave of heat hits you, breaking you into a sweat.

Shutting your eyes, expecting the ripple of queasiness to fade away. The sound of footsteps makes itself known behind you. It's approaching way faster than it should. Turning your head slightly, you see a male figure standing behind you. His hands are in his pockets. Giggling is heard from him. Is he laughing at me?

You finally make a complete turn to see the male himself. Vision yet becoming visible. You start panting.

???: Woah. Calm down. I'm not going to hurt you.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ 

[n3ssier]

HELLO im bacc >;)))

So I keep lookin at your introduction post and fsr I CANT DECIDE WHAT TO PICK- I just wanted to ask like, can ya write a headcanon, but it has both Crypto from Apex and Ppl from r6? Im so super grateful that you didnt mind the emount of characters I requested last time 😭😭 i hope its bot a burden if I request again cause i kinda simp for all of the. 💀

You can just tell me if u dont wanna do this, or just scratch sum characters if its too many :)))))

Can you pleease write a ff (or headcanons, ehatevs ya wnat) where female reader LOVES hugs and is a generally super chill yet chirpy friend and as soon as she gets recruited, she becomes all friendly and tries to befriedn them and after like 1st day of meeting, she alredy sees them as her bestfriend and hugs them from behind as a goodmorning the next day-

Chars: Crypto, Echo, Vigil, Kapkan, Glaz, Jäger (Ik its all the same characters but I cant help my simping, also as i said you can not include whoever you want)

Ik its confusing and as I said before, you aint gotta write this at all💀🤚

ALSO- MOOTS? Saw that you needed friends so we can be bfs >:DD

SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG :( ive had a lot going on and ive also got a job now so i have been short on time but finally got round to writing again!! i hope ya dont mind me doing some hcs and also only doing 4 out of 6 sexy men, bc i worry that if i do fanfics with them all then this will be a v long post bc ill get lowkey carried away😞 (also bc im feeling lazy rn, out here getting up 4am sleeping 12pm😭best lifestyle)

crypto

∙you two first meet on your second day on the job, and he is taken aback by how talkative you are (not in a bad way tho dwdw :)

∙the other legends don’t rlly talk to him outside of the gunfights/workplace so he just doesn’t talk to them either, which is why he was so surprised when you came up to him and tried to befriend him as soon as you’d met him

∙the pride he feels when you start asking about his gadgets goes unmatched, he tries to explain them as easily as possible but gets carried away quickly, leaving you a confused mess and him an embarrassed one as he realises how distracted he got

∙the next morning he’s making breakfast in the break room when he feels you hug him from behind, and he honestly is so tempted to put his hands on yours and stay there but he wants to play it off cool ofc so he just greets you and continues preparing his food

∙this is the EXACT moment he fell for ya

glaz

∙he never expected you to be so talkative or cheery when you joined, but he was happy nonetheless

∙will intently listen to you while smiling and give you facts if he knows any on whatever you’re talking about

∙you guys end up talking for like 3 hours just about anything, he’s kinda curious about you, and ends up asking you a bit about your life in general 

∙would make a lot of effort to help and teach you things, seen as you’re new to r6

∙when you come up to him and hug him as a good morning he chuckles before turning around to hug you back quickly and loosely

∙he could get used to this tho

kapkan

∙ngl he is annoyed at first when you talk to him for the first time, he finds the chat pointless, but after an hour or so he lets his guard down

∙he never realised that chatting with people was so fun until this day, or maybe it was just something about you specifically that gave him the good time, who knows !?

∙he honestly thinks ur pretty cute talking about all the random topics that peak your interest, asking him about 1000 questions aswell

∙when he feels your arms around him the next morning he freaks out

∙tries to push you off, as much as he enjoys it sadly he is too flustered and also not used to physical contact

∙he slowly stops pushing you away the more you come up to him and the more you are hanging round with him

jäger

∙when he first meets you he thinks you’re cool asf, especially when you strike a conversation with him

∙similar to crypto, he feels so much pride when you ask about his gadgets, its like a huge ego boost

∙you guys are sooooo chatty, talking about anything and everything, but make the cutest duo

∙you listen to his rambling and he will listen intently to you back

∙there is NEVER a dull moment between you two😭

∙the other gsg9 members are just happy that he has got someone to listen to him so that they don’t have to LMAO

∙when he feels you hug him from behind the next morning he is a little bit confused but happily hugs you back in return, he definitely thinks about it for the rest of the day tho

[thyandrawrites]

You mentioned being Italian, how did you learn to speak or at least write English so well? Your Japanese translations are also pretty good too! I want learn Italian so what would you recommend that would help learn to read and write another language?

Thank you!

The genuine answer? Fandoms. Really. I've been studying languages for most of my life (english since elementary school, french in middle and high school, german since hs and japanese since college) but so far I've only gotten truly fluent in the only language I didn't just approach from a textbook learning angle. My fluency probably also comes from speaking english the longest, but what really improved my proficiency was consuming and engaging with my passions in my target language. Something that I struggle a lot with is staying motivated in the long run. I tend to run out of steam after a while, and I lose all the progress I made. But fandoms feed on my passions, so engaging with them helps me find the motivation to keep going, while also making it less like a chore that needs to be taken care of.

I was a B1 until I graduated high school, but then I started reading copius amounts of fanfic and meta in english, and began writing my own. Reading taught me a lot of common new words I had never encountered before in my textbooks, as well as several idioms, and the longer I kept at it, the more stuff I assimilated into my vocabulary. I spent a couple of years just reading ff, not thinking I had it in me to truly begin writing in my second language, but then it sort of... Just happened. I got a fic idea late at night and wrote a 6k oneshot in one sitting during an all nighter. The fact that I was tired and inspired probably lowered my remaining inhibitions and temporarily muted that part of my brain that was self-conscious. But suddenly, english didn't seem so scary anymore. When I reread what I wrote the next day, after getting some sleep, it wasn't as agrammatical and terrible as I had feared, and that motivated me to keep doing it. I find that a lot of the time what stops us from improving is the fear of making a fool of ourselves. I also didn't comment on fanfic for years in fear of outing myself, and on the rare occasions I did, I always prefaced my comments with an apology for my english. But when you finally get in the mindframe that people don't really care about any mistakes you might make, it was really liberating. Honestly, just have fun! Who cares! Native speakers make tons of mistakes too! I can see that so clearly now.

This was around the time I got into Tokyo Ghoul meta and timidly approached my first analyses. Meta is fairly different from creative writing, but it also helped me improve because it taught me essay writing better than my english teacher marking my mistakes in angry red. When you're trying to explain a concept so that others understand it, rather than just to get a passing grade, you will attempt to break it down into easier concepts and pace it better, instead of just paying attention to SPaG. This also had the side effect of teaching me how to better sort my thoughts and get them across clearly, which has always been a struggle for me in spoken conversations. My thoughts tend to be messy, and I trip over my words a lot (in my native language too), but thinking about going from point a to point b like I'm writing an essay helps me a lot, personally.

The last step was joining a discord server in 2019. I can't stress enough how language is constantly evolving, and how slang and everyday language isn't something you can passively learn from textbooks or online courses. Those are only good as the foundation of your skills. They teach you the grammar and the basic vocabulary, but then you have to engage with real people, you know? I've always struggled to hold a conversation because I'm socially awkward, but discord is useful to me because it is a group chat, so there is less pressure on my end to keep a conversation going. Interacting with people from all over the world taught me to be less self-conscious about my skills, and meeting people of different age ranges taught me a variety of slang expressions to pass for a not-boomer myself, at least at first glance :'D

Moral of the story, do follow courses and use textbooks (those are important!), but also keep in mind those are not the be-all end-all of language proficiency, like school and academia tries so hard to teach you. If you find yourself hitting a wall and not getting any better anymore, take it as a sign your grammar is good enough to take the next step in your journey. So then, try to think of something you have fun doing. A hobby of yours. And then think of ways you can engage with it in your target language.

I had different phases in my life where I explored various things thay way. I got obsessed with a band in middle school and started watching and rewatching the videos they posted online, trying to understand everything they said. This improved my listening skills considerably. Years later I got really into WoW and I learned vocab by playing it and by looking for tutorials online. If you read a lot, consider looking for titles in that language you want to learn. Stuff like this. Listening to music, watching movies or tv series with subtitles (esp if the subtitles are in your target language too). All this stuff helps a lot! And the added plus is that for however challenging it might be at first, you'll stay motivated because it relates to something you already enjoy

[risenwraith]

#123 Aaiiee people!

Staying at sister in Iaw's place is very open house in comparison to the little flat we had.

I walked into the kitchen to see a purple hooded person raiding the freezer. They were maybe(?) a relation and I have no idea why they were in the kitchen and was afraid to ask - they don't live here. Then there was a tall male relation whose name I forget but who walks in whenever. There have been two other friends/people who turn up as and when and walk right in.

Then again, I'm a bald eyebrow-less goblin wearing a saffron coloured shift. (I was gifted it unexpectedly and I have limited clean clothes right now. It does make me look like a tragic white girl who's taken Buddhism a bit too seriously, but what can you do?).

I had a long conversation with T (someone who I think is an actual housemate) who if I understand correctly, spent ages trying to explain WWI Spiritualism to me, and the basic concept of 'as above so below' - which is quantum or magic or both - and also zen archery. All of which I am too painfully aware of, often overly aware of, and vaguely aware of (and wish I knew more of) - in that order.

Then he told me I shouldn't have chemotherapy because doctors are bad evil liars, chemotherapy is poison, and if I just ate more broccoli, that would totally cure cancer.

I was very polite and not sarcastic or scathing or mean at all. But I really wanted to be. Because... Seriously?

Oh yes dear boy, I am letting doctors poison me because I didn't know about the miracle of açai berries and kale oh alas alack fie and for shame, oh foolish me, if only I had drunk more green tea I never would have lost a tit nor ever had the need of this terrible medical poison!

FUUUUCCCKKKK!!!

Look hippy boy, do not @ me. Your last hospital stay was in the '70s for a broken limb, and because someone turfed you out of a bed early, you think every doctor is a bastard and every nurse a bitch. Also you think the old guy you once saw in '74 who didn't know who or where he was immediately after coming out of emergency heart surgery would have been... what? Better off just being dead? Yeah - how dare doctors try and succeed in saving him and he be groggy from not dying. FFS.

I have news for you. 50 bloody years have passed. That's a lifetime. Why do you insist on thinking things are the same a generation ago? Or that one arsehole doctor who didn't care enough about your fracture is the same as every single doctor treating everything in the world ever?

I have to listen-not-listen. By which I mean try to actively not listen to a conversation I can totally hear and don't want to hear at all. (And if I had headphones so I could listen to anything else it would be easier, but like an idiot I did not pack my headphones.)

You think I want this? You think if eating more salad would have saved me I wouldn't already be doing that shit?! You think I don't eat green stuff? Bitch, I hate fast food, I love vegetables, hate grease, meat's okay, sugar's so-so, bread and rice are the best, and I know how to cook a very fine five course dinner party, thank you.

My point is... I'm not having surgery and poison through basic nutritional and culinary ignorance or for fun - I'm having it so I won't die.

Kale and broccoli will not save me you arrogant arse. You do not hold the secrets of the universe. Your salad and berry tea cannot fix cancer. But the hospital can, and is even now, yes, via poison.

We poison the evil cells, and the rest of the body survives - because the body is nails AF - what is so hard to understand about that?

Sorry, I keep trying not to be cross, but every time I think about the conversation it pisses me off something chronic.

[thisismeracing]

King of my heart | MS47 | part. 08

Pairing: hamilton!reader (she/her) x mick schumacher

Warnings: curse words, twitter environment, mention of food, not proofread etc etc. Minors DNI!

summary: It's race week and a lot of thing has been going on at the same time, but fans are ready to dig and discover every possible detail.

a/n: none of the pictures used are mine, they are all from Pinterest and other apps. everything else is made up by me and I do not give permission for it to be published on a different platform. I would appreciate it if those things could be taken into consideration 💛

part. 07 | series masterlist | part. 09 | taglist

theofficialyn posted a new story

mickschumacher posted a new story

estebanocon added a video to his story

theofficialyn

liked by mickschumacher, lilyhme, and others

theofficialyn 🤍🇨🇳 obsessed w China

view all 6,308 comments

ynweeknd obsessed w you 😩

estebanocon 😍

stargirl2 you have such a pure look, who took these pics?

lanawisftie IVE SEEN THIS WHITE HOODIE BEFORE

⤷ hamiltonsiblings connecting the dots

f1wags 🤍🤍🤍 stunning!

⤷ f1facts_ she’s not a wag tho…

⤷ mickyns its a matter of time, just wait

theofficialyn

liked by charles_leclerc, mercedesamgf1, and others

theofficialyn Sunday dump 😀 (stressed)

view all 7,408 comments

monacoprix You guys are not ready for this conversation but: Yn and Charles >>>>

⤷ roscoerule yeah, as friends :)

mercedesf1amg its always good to have you, Yn! We will give you a podium soon 💜

charles_leclerc block

⤷ theofficialyn HAHAHA Im sorry but your react pics are just golden

lewishamilton Im showing Toto this

georgerussell63 I am sure you have better pictures of us, why would you post the one I look scared?????

ynsummerera WHY IS NOBODY TALKING ABOUT THE POST IT??????????

⤷ f1fanatics And what about the fourth picture????!!!! Shes literally soft launching Mick isnt she?! 😭

vigilante_sht I love how real she is w those dumps, shes the best

mickynshipper Looking everywhere for Mick’s like and comment 👁️

taglist: @sachaa-ff

[novelmonger]

FFVI - This is the pixel-era Final Fantasy everyone always points to as being the classic, but oddly enough I've never particularly liked it. I recognize that it was super influential and appreciate the groundbreaking things it did in terms of story and so forth. I'm also super impressed that Nobuo Uematsu basically did an opera in 16-bit. I think my main issue is that I never connected with any of the characters (of which there are many), so the conflict never really gripped me. The final boss battle is super epic and crazy, though!

Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones - Actually my first Fire Emblem game! I'm not sure why, but I really really like the way Fire Emblem does turn-based tactics games even though I don't like FF Tactics. Maybe it's the incredible art and beautiful music. Maybe I just like the support conversations, even though the individual characters are often not particularly unique. The plot of Sacred Stones is also not anything new, what with a king who suddenly starts acting strangely and then oh my you don't think it might be because he's being possessed by a demon, do you??? But I really liked a lot of the characters, and especially appreciated that the two main characters were brother and sister. Sure, you can pursue romances for both of them if you want, but I liked that the male and female leads of the story were supportive and affectionate with each other without any hint of romance between them. Also Franz totally looks like Alphonse Elric.

Five Nights at Freddy's - Honestly, I'm surprised this one didn't win ^^' It's far from my favorite horror game, but I can't deny it's groundbreaking and quite effective. The horror doesn't stick with me the way some games do, probably because I don't personally have much fear of animatronics and that kind of thing. So playing this game is kind of like going on a roller coaster for me - I get a huge adrenaline rush while playing, the jumpscares do get me, but as soon as I turn it off I don't really think about it anymore. I definitely think this is one of the better games in the franchise, though. It capitalizes on the analog horror, what with the grainy video footage and flickering lights and vaguely ominous poses of the animatronics as they slowly (or quickly) make their way to you. And nothing can compare to that creeping feeling of dread when the power dies and you hear the slow plinking of that one song from Carmen as Freddy lurks outside your door, waiting to eat your face D:

Goetia - And I'm surprised anybody voted for this one at all! This is a side-scrolling adventure horror game where you play as a ghost trying to figure out why you died and what happened to your house and the village where you lived. It was an interesting challenge, but I didn't really realize what I was getting into at first. The whole thing has to do with summoning demons and then having to deal with them, so I probably wouldn't have bothered with this game if I'd known that ahead of time. I did play the whole thing, but felt a bit weird about it.

Grim Fandango - Classic adventure game! Which is funny, because it's also very different from any other adventure game I've played; you'd think there'd be more imitators. I like the humor and the Dia de los Muertos influences, as well as the noir-esque storytelling. I kept thinking back to this game the first time I saw Coco XD That being said, I liked this game but don't particularly care to play it again. It was kind of a one-and-done deal for me.

Math Blaster Ages 6-9 - Would you believe me if I told you this game gave me nightmares when I was the target age for it? XD I have to laugh at myself, looking back, because it's just a simple educational game where you have to solve math problems to chase after your robot Spot, who was taken by the evil Gelator, a slime monster who kidnaps Spot to...make himself smarter??? I forget. All I know is that this game was what taught me the formula E = mc², though I had no idea what it meant at the time :P But yes, I was terrified of Gelator, and at the age of 7 was convinced that unless I lay on my back and kept my eyes open at night, he was going to ooze through the ceiling and come get me. I would lie there, back aching and eyes stinging, longing to roll over onto my side and close my eyes, but I was too scared to :C Thankfully, we moved before my eighth birthday, and the change of location cured me of that.

Night in the Woods - Whoa, this one almost won! I'm amazed so many people even know this game exists! I was kind of disappointed in it, to be perfectly honest. It's mostly a whimsical (but dealing with deep topics) little adventure game set in a world of anthropomorphic animals, where a college dropout is trying to figure out what to do with her life and then gets embroiled in some sinister goings-on in her town. I think I just wanted it to be a different sort of story. What with how worked up Mae is getting over the mysterious happenings, I think I was expecting it to be something much less dramatic than it turned out to be, because I thought it was going to be more about how Mae would learn to appreciate her small town and the everyday pursuits of normal life, rather than seeking out adventures and giving up when she discovers "this is all there is." And like...that sort of was the point, but they also nearly died several times, so she still got her adventure. Also, I kept on getting distracted by the worldbuilding (they're anthropomorphic animals and yet there are dogs and cats and squirrels running around that act like normal animals), and was very annoyed by the wishy-washy pastor and the general anti-God sentiment with only a token rebuttal from the other side that simply made it clear the writers of the game don't actually know that much about Christianity. Ultimately, I found myself more interested in the Demontower minigame than the actual game itself (I played Demontower twice to get both endings, so clearly I have my priorities straight).

Okami - I can definitely see why this one won! What a beautiful game. I kind of wish I'd waited to get the Wii version (I played it on PS2), because the motion controls would have been super fun for all the brush strokes. But even so, it was really cool to play through a world of Japanese folklore, as a gorgeous white wolf. I often felt like it was way more wordy than it needed to be, like people would literally just say the same thing three different ways one after another, but overall it was very fun. When I took care of a white rat for a psychology class in college, I named her Ammy after Amaterasu :3

Arbitrarily-Chosen Video Game Tournament, Round 1.6

Welcome to the Arbitrarily-Chosen Video Game Tournament, where we will find out which of the games I've played is the best game of all time!

Why? Don't ask. Just vote and reblog!

[lesbianstarlightglimmer]

what is it with parents that think i should have rainbows and sparkles coming out of my ass at the prospect of a job

[neil-gaiman]

How Did you come up with the first eve in the story about adams wives? I haven’t been able to find anything about her after I read it and I want to know if she’s an actual biblical character or just someone you made

She's from the Midrash. I learned about her as a 12 year old, from my barmitzvah teacher. There was a point in there, long after I'd put her into Sandman, where I was starting to think I'd imagined her, when I ran across her in Robert Graves's Hebrew Myths....

Excerpt from: The Hebrew Myths by Robert Graves and Raphael Patai (New York:  Doubleday, 1964), pp 65-69

Chapter 10: Adam's Helpmeets

(a) Having decided to give Adam a helpmeet lest he should be alone of his kind, God put him into a deep sleep, removed one of his ribs, formed it into a woman, and closed up the wound, Adam awoke and said: 'This being shall be named "Woman", because she has been taken out of man. A man and a woman shall be one flesh.' The title he gave her was Eve, 'the Mother of All Living''. [1]

(b) Some say that God created man and woman in His own image on the Sixth Day, giving them charge over the world; [2]  but that Eve did not yet exist. Now, God had set Adam to name every beast, bird and other living thing. When they passed before him in pairs, male and female, Adam-being already like a twenty-year-old man-felt jealous of their loves, and though he tried coupling with each female in turn, found no satisfaction in the act. He therefore cried: 'Every creature but I has a proper mate', and prayed God would remedy this injustice. [3]

(c) God then formed Lilith, the first woman, just as He had formed Adam, except that He used filth and sediment instead of pure dust. From Adam's union with this demoness, and with another like her named Naamah, Tubal Cain's sister, sprang Asmodeus and innumerable demons that still plague mankind. Many generations later, Lilith and Naamah came to Solomon's judgement seat, disguised as harlots of Jerusalem'. [4]

(d) Adam and Lilith never found peace together; for when he wished to lie with her, she took offence at the recumbent posture he demanded. 'Why must I lie beneath you?' she asked. 'I also was made from dust, and am therefore your equal.' Because Adam tried to compel her obedience by force, Lilith, in a rage, uttered the magic name of God, rose into the air and left him.

Adam complained to God: 'I have been deserted by my helpmeet' God at once sent the angels Senoy, Sansenoy and Semangelof to fetch Lilith back. They found her beside the Red Sea, a region abounding in lascivious demons, to whom she bore lilim at the rate of more than one hundred a day. 'Return to Adam without delay,' the angels said, `or we will drown you!' Lilith asked: `How can I return to Adam and live like an honest housewife, after my stay beside the Red Sea?? 'It will be death to refuse!' they answered. `How can I die,' Lilith asked again, `when God has ordered me to take charge of all newborn children: boys up to the eighth day of life, that of circumcision; girls up to the twentieth day. None the less, if ever I see your three names or likenesses displayed in an amulet above a newborn child, I promise to spare it.' To this they agreed; but God punished Lilith by making one hundred of her demon children perish daily; [5] and if she could not destroy a human infant, because of the angelic amulet, she would spitefully turn against her own. [6]

(e) Some say that Lilith ruled as queen in Zmargad, and again in Sheba; and was the demoness who destroyed job's sons. [7] Yet she escaped the curse of death which overtook Adam, since they had parted long before the Fall. Lilith and Naamah not only strangle infants but also seduce dreaming men, any one of whom, sleeping alone, may become their victim. [8]

(f) Undismayed by His failure to give Adam a suitable helpmeet, God tried again, and let him watch while he built up a woman's anatomy: using bones, tissues, muscles, blood and glandular secretions, then covering the whole with skin and adding tufts of hair in places. The sight caused Adam such disgust that even when this woman, the First Eve, stood there in her full beauty, he felt an invincible repugnance. God knew that He had failed once more, and took the First Eve away. Where she went, nobody knows for certain. [9]

(g) God tried a third time, and acted more circumspectly. Having taken a rib from Adam's side in his sleep, He formed it into a woman; then plaited her hair and adorned her, like a bride, with twenty-four pieces of jewellery, before waking him. Adam was entranced. [10]

(h) Some say that God created Eve not from Adam's rib, but from a tail ending in a sting which had been part of his body. God cut this off, and the stump-now a useless coccyx-is still carried by Adam's descendants. [11]

(i) Others say that God's original thought had been to create two human beings, male and female; but instead He designed a single one with a male face looking forward, and a female face looking back. Again He changed His mind, removed Adam's backward-looking face, and built a woman's body for it. [12]

(j) Still others hold that Adam was originally created as an androgyne of male and female bodies joined back to back. Since this posture made locomotion difficult, and conversation awkward, God divided the androgyne and gave each half a new rear. These separate beings He placed in Eden, forbidding them to couple. [13]

Notes on sources:

1. Genesis II. 18-25; III. 20.

2. Genesis I. 26-28.

3. Gen. Rab. 17.4; B. Yebamot 632.

4. Yalqut Reubeni ad. Gen. II. 21; IV. 8.

5. Alpha Beta diBen Sira, 47; Gaster, MGWJ, 29 (1880), 553 ff.

6. Num. Rab. 16.25.

7. Targum ad job 1. 15.

8. B. Shabbat 151b; Ginzberg, LJ, V. 147-48.

9. Gen. Rab. 158, 163-64; Mid. Abkir 133, 135; Abot diR. Nathan 24; B. Sanhedrin 39a.

10. Gen. II. 21-22; Gen. Rab. 161.

11. Gen. Rab. 134; B. Erubin 18a.

12. B. Erubin 18a.

13. Gen. Rab. 55; Lev. Rab. 14.1: Abot diR. Nathan 1.8; B. Berakhot 61a; B. Erubin 18a; Tanhuma Tazri'a 1; Yalchut Gen. 20; Tanh. Buber iii.33; Mid. Tehillim 139, 529.

Authors’ Comments on the Myth:

1. The tradition that man's first sexual intercourse was with animals, not women, may be due to the widely spread practice of bestiality among herdsmen of the Middle East, which is still condoned by custom, although figuring three times in the Pentateuch as a capital crime. In the Akkadian Gilgamesh Epic, Enkidu is said to have lived with gazelles and jostled other wild beasts at the watering place, until civilized by Aruru's priestess. Having enjoyed her embraces for six days and seven nights, he wished to rejoin the wild beasts but, to his surprise, they fled from him. Enkidu then knew that he had gained understanding, and the priestess said: 'Thou art wise, Enkidu, like unto a godl'

2. Primeval man was held by the Babylonians to have been androgynous. Thus the Gilgamesh Epic gives Enkidu androgynous features: `the hair of his head like a woman's, with locks that sprout like those of Nisaba, the Grain-goddess.' The Hebrew tradition evidently derives from Greek sources, because both terms used in a Tannaitic midrash to describe the bisexual Adam are Greek: androgynos, 'man-woman', and diprosopon, 'twofaced'. Philo of Alexandria, the Hellenistic philosopher and commentator on the Bible, contemporary with Jesus, held that man was at first bisexual; so did the Gnostics. This belief is clearly borrowed from Plato. Yet the myth of two bodies placed back to back may well have been founded on observation of Siamese twins, which are sometimes joined in this awkward manner. The two-faced Adam appears to be a fancy derived from coins or statues of Janus, the Roman New Year god.

3. Divergences between the Creation myths of Genesis r and n, which allow Lilith to be presumed as Adam's first mate, result from a careless weaving together of an early Judaean and a late priestly tradition. The older version contains the rib incident. Lilith typifies the Anath-worshipping Canaanite women, who were permitted pre-nuptial promiscuity. Time after time the prophets denounced Israelite women for following Canaanite practices; at first, apparently, with the priests' approval-since their habit of dedicating to God the fees thus earned is expressly forbidden in Deuteronomy xxIII. I8. Lilith's flight to the Red Sea recalls the ancient Hebrew view that water attracts demons. 'Tortured and rebellious demons' also found safe harbourage in Egypt. Thus Asmodeus, who had strangled Sarah's first six husbands, fled 'to the uttermost parts of Egypt' (Tobit viii. 3), when Tobias burned the heart and liver of a fish on their wedding night.

4. Lilith's bargain with the angels has its ritual counterpart in an apotropaic rite once performed in many Jewish communities. To protect the newborn child against Lilith-and especially a male, until he could be permanently safeguarded by circumcision-a ring was drawn with natron, or charcoal, on the wall of the birthroom, and inside it were written the words: 'Adam and Eve. Out, Lilith!' Also the names Senoy, Sansenoy and Semangelof (meanings uncertain) were inscribed on the door. If Lilith nevertheless succeeded in approaching the child and fondling him, he would laugh in his sleep. To avert danger, it was held wise to strike the sleeping child's lips with one finger-whereupon Lilith would vanish.

5. 'Lilith' is usually derived from the Babylonian-Assyrian word lilitu, ,a female demon, or wind-spirit'-one of a triad mentioned in Babylonian spells. But she appears earlier as 'Lillake' on a 2000 B.G. Sumerian tablet from Ur containing the tale of Gilgamesh and the Willow Tree. There she is a demoness dwelling in the trunk of a willow-tree tended by the Goddess Inanna (Anath) on the banks of the Euphrates. Popular Hebrew etymology seems to have derived 'Lilith' from layil, 'night'; and she therefore often appears as a hairy night-monster, as she also does in Arabian folklore. Solomon suspected the Queen of Sheba of being Lilith, because she had hairy legs. His judgement on the two harlots is recorded in I Kings III. 16 ff. According to Isaiah xxxiv. I4-I5, Lilith dwells among the desolate ruins in the Edomite Desert where satyrs (se'ir), reems, pelicans, owls, jackals, ostriches, arrow-snakes and kites keep her company.

6. Lilith's children are called lilim. In the Targum Yerushalmi, the priestly blessing of Numbers vi. 26 becomes: 'The Lord bless thee in all thy doings, and preserve thee from the Lilim!' The fourth-century A.D. commentator Hieronymus identified Lilith with the Greek Lamia, a Libyan queen deserted by Zeus, whom his wife Hera robbed of her children. She took revenge by robbing other women of theirs.

7. The Lamiae, who seduced sleeping men, sucked their blood and ate their flesh, as Lilith and her fellow-demonesses did, were also known as Empusae, 'forcers-in'; or Mormolyceia, 'frightening wolves'; and described as 'Children of Hecate'. A Hellenistic relief shows a naked Lamia straddling a traveller asleep on his back. It is characteristic of civilizations where women are treated as chattels that they must adopt the recumbent posture during intercourse, which Lilith refused. That Greek witches who worshipped Hecate favoured the superior posture, we know from Apuleius; and it occurs in early Sumerian representations of the sexual act, though not in the Hittite. Malinowski writes that Melanesian girls ridicule what they call `the missionary position', which demands that they should lie passive and recumbent.

8. Naamah, 'pleasant', is explained as meaning that 'the demoness sang pleasant songs to idols'. Zmargad suggest smaragdos, the semi-precious aquamarine; and may therefore be her submarine dwelling. A demon named Smaragos occurs in the Homeric Epigrams.

9. Eve's creation by God from Adam's rib-a myth establishing male supremacy and disguising Eve's divinity-lacks parallels in Mediterranean or early Middle-Eastern myth. The story perhaps derives iconotropically from an ancient relief, or painting, which showed the naked Goddess Anath poised in the air, watching her lover Mot murder his twin Aliyan; Mot (mistaken by the mythographer for Yahweh) was driving a curved dagger under Aliyan's fifth rib, not removing a sixth one. The familiar story is helped by a hidden pun on tsela, the Hebrew for 'rib': Eve, though designed to be Adam's helpmeet, proved to be a tsela, a 'stumbling', or 'misfortune'. Eve's formation from Adam's tail is an even more damaging myth; perhaps suggested by the birth of a child with a vestigial tail instead of a coccyx-a not infrequent occurrence.

10. The story of Lilith's escape to the East and of Adam's subsequent marriage to Eve may, however, record an early historical incident: nomad herdsmen, admitted into Lilith's Canaanite queendom as guests (see 16. 1), suddenly seize power and, when the royal household thereupon flees, occupy a second queendom which owes allegiance to the Hittite Goddess Heba.

The meaning of 'Eve' is disputed. Hawwah is explained in Genesis III. 20 as 'mother of all living'; but this may well be a Hebraicized form of the divine name Heba, Hebat, Khebat or Khiba. This goddess, wife of the Hittite Storm-god, is shown riding a lion in a rock-sculpture at Hattusaswhich equates her with Anath-and appears as a form of Ishtar in Hurrian texts. She was worshipped at Jerusalem (see 27. 6). Her Greek name was Hebe, Heracles's goddess-wife.

[cherrycheridarling]

lockscreen | t.h.

tom holland x famous!reader

warnings: none just fluff

summary: tom goes on jimmy fallon for a game of 'show me your phone'. being the oblivious child he is, tom forgets about his lockscreen.

wc: 1.4k

"Welcome back! We're here again with the star of the Spider-Man series, Tom Holland!" Jimmy's announcement drew cheers from the audience. "Tonight, we are going to be playing a game called 'Show Me Your Phone'."

Jimmy went on to explain the game to the crowd as Tom sat across from him patiently waiting. Jimmy pressed on the button first and ended up showing the world that his last photo was a selfie taken minutes ago in the washroom. That gained a lot of laughs. Then it was Tom's turn.

"I'm terrified. I don't even know what's on my phone." Tom shook his hands before firmly pushing the button. It landed on the iMessage icon. "Oh? My last text message convo?" he began to unlock his phone. Eyes skimming over his lockscreen.

"Yup, and once it's locked in, you can't touch it." Jimmy reminded him of the rules as Tom quickly skimmed through his last conversation.

Tom ran a hand down his face before chuckling, "Oh, geez. Alright, some context, I needed help picking a tie for tonight and my mate, Harrison, is nowhere near helpful."

He placed his phone in front of the camera as the conversation appeared for the audience to read.

Tom: haz what tie? red or blue?

Harrison: youre ugly either way

Tom: you look like dolores umbridge. pick a tie ffs

Harrison: mm my babe umbridge. jokes. i'd say purple

Tom: you're gross and no help at all

Harrison: have fun babe the bed is waiting for you

Tom: don't make me puke before i go on the show

Harrison: puke on me daddy

The crowd bursted out into laughter along with Jimmy as Tom covered his beet red face in embarrassment. "He is going to kill me for showing that." Tom was laughing as he spoke.

"That's hilarious! Okay, my turn." Jimmy ended up sharing a voice memo of him reminding himself to do chores around the house.

Tom wiped his hands on his pants before pushing the large button again. It landed on the lock icon. "What does that mean?"

"You have to share your lockscreen."

Tom's posture visibly stiffened at the information given. He wished he had gotten some warning before coming on the show. A caution sign telling him to erase everything on the iPhone.

His lockscreen was a memory. A keepsake. You. A piece of his heart. A reminder of happiness and the loving moments you shared with one another. It was taken a little over a year ago at Zendaya's house for a get-together with a few close friends.

You were propped up on the kitchen island, a wide smile on your face. Tom standing in between your legs with his back to your chest. Your arms wrapped around his shoulders as he tilted his head and placed a kiss on your cheek. Jacob Batalon had captured the moment. A heartwarming interaction that you had both done an outstanding job at keeping under wraps.

You had been dating for nearly two years. How you had managed to keep it hidden for such an extended amount of time was a wonder to everyone who knew, including yourselves. It wasn't that you were both set on no one ever finding out, you just never saw the need to. It was your relationship, only meant to be shared between the two of you.

Tom hoped you wouldn't be mad if the world found out, but he enjoyed the privacy and the feeling of having something that was only his. Something he didn't have to share with the globe. Tom debated on his options. Showing the picture and making headlines for the next week or refusing to do so and ruining the game while making everyone suspicious of him.

The former won.

"Okay, um." Tom nervously let out a laugh, "Surprise?"

With shaking hands, he placed his locked phone on the stand and avoided looking into the crowd as reactions varied throughout the studio. Gasps, cheers, 'aww's, even some screams. Both of his hands shielded his expression from the cameras as he allowed the audience to examine the photo.

"Oh, my god! W-what?!" Jimmy stammered, shocked what his eyes saw, "That's Y/N Y/L/N! A-are you two?" his eyes flicked from the phone to Tom.

Tom nodded slowly, "Yeah, yeah. It is and we are. Nearly two years steady." this intel drew more shocked reactions from the habitants of the studio.

"This is amazing! We love Y/N! But wow, how did no one know?!" Jimmy was still in disbelief.

Tom smiled at your name, "I may be loose-lipped with movie spoilers, but this is proof that I can keep secrets."

Jimmy's mouth was agape, "I have so many questions and you are so lucky that we are out of time."

Tom released a breath he didn't know he was holding as Jimmy said goodbye to the cameras and they stopped recording.

As Tom made his way backstage to head to his hotel, his heart began to beat out of his chest as he thought about your reaction.

-

Lounging on his hotel comforter, Tom pulled out his phone once again and clicked on your contact. m'lady. Pressing the FaceTime icon.

Your bright smile lit up the screen, illuminating his mood like the sun on a stormy day.

"Hello, lover. To what do I owe the pleasure of this late night call?" you chuckled while sitting up against the headboard of your bed, Tessa laying beside you.

Tom couldn't suppress his grin at your presence even if it was through a screen, "Hi, darling. I didn't know if you would be awake. Isn't it nearly three in the morning there?"

You nodded and pushed your glasses up on your nose, "Had to run some lines with Tess before filming tomorrow. She's a great actress." you panned the camera over to the sleeping pup.

"Sometimes I think you're only with me for my dog." he joked with a light laugh.

"Shoot. I thought I had you fooled." you teased back, "Why did you call, bum?"

He scratched the back of neck and avoided looking at the screen. That was enough for you to know that something was up.

"What part of your movie did you spoil this time?" you chuckled.

Tom shook his head with a smile, brown curls flopping on his head, "Nothing about my film, love. More or less about us." he mumbled the last bit, but you heard it.

Your shoulders tensed involuntarily, "I'm gonna need more information than that."

"We were playing a game where you have to show certain things on your phone and I had to show my lockscreen and, well, you know what my lockscreen is." his nerves grew with every second that your face stayed expressionless.

"Okay. How did they react?" you stifled a yawn.

Tom's eyebrows furrowed at your response, "Y-you're not mad?"

You chuckled, "Do you want me to be mad?"

"No, no, no." he quickly protested, "I just didn't know if you were ready to tell the world about us and I'm sorry for not informing you before making that big of a step in our relationship."

You smiled at the caring boy in your life. His thoughtfulness overpowering any negative emotions that could've surfaced. You weren't mad at all. Two years was a long time to keep a relationship hidden especially when both of the parties are well known to the public.

"No need to apologize, mi amor. It was about time everyone found out. Long overdue if you ask me. I would've appreciated a heads up, but I'm not mad." you insisted, and it was true.

Tom visibly relaxed at your words, "The audience was shocked and some gushed and screamed. Can't wait to see the headlines and news articles tomorrow."

"I can see it now: 'Spider-Man Actor, Tom Holland and Actress, Y/N Y/L/N's Hidden Love'." you spoke in a mocking voice making your boyfriend laugh.

"Can't forget; 'All the evidence of their relationship that the public overlooked'." he joked in the same tone as you both laughed together joyously.

Your laughter died down while a peaceful smile lingered on your lips, "I'm glad you had fun tonight. I should get some rest. Need to be in hair and makeup at seven."

He nodded understandingly, "Have fun on set, darling. I'll talk to you later. Goodnight, sleep tight, sweet dreams."

"Goodnight, sleep tight, sweet dreams, lover." you gave a little wave before ending the call.

[phati-sari]

Arshi FF: Tere Bin - Chapter 8

Read from the beginning | Chapter 7

Chapter 8: Ranjha (listen while reading)

Khushi

“What was he doing here?”

Khushi answered without turning, her head resting on the window sill as she studied the moon. “I don’t know.”

It’d taken a long time to escape to the room she shared with her sister after they’d first stepped through the doors. First, Amma had asked about the hospital visit, making Khushi recite everything the Doctor Sahib had said while Bua-ji interrupted often to ask questions. Babu-ji had soon taken over, asking to see the paperwork Khushi had collected and asking a few questions of his own. Still full from the gol gappe, Khushi had nibbled on some puri under Jiji’s watchful gaze while the family considered the payment plan the clinic had laid out.

Luckily, no one had asked exactly how she’d gotten home.

“You were in his car, Khushi.” Jiji came to stand next to her, her tone coloured with disapproval.

“The auto broke down. He was driving past.”

“He, of all the people in Lucknow and Delhi, just happened to be driving by? At the exact moment your auto broke down?”

An odd defensiveness flared in her chest, words popping out of her mouth before she’d thought them through.

“What can I say, Jiji? My phone’s battery was dead, it was dark. He offered to drop me home.”

Jiji reached out to touch her shoulder. “Did he fight with you again?”

No, he bought me gol gappe.

“No more than usual,” Khushi tried to smile at her sister. “I’m fine. Really. He drove me home. That’s all.”

Though she looked unconvinced, Jiji stepped away with a nod to ready herself for bed. Khushi waited until she was alone to snatch her bag from where it hung on a hook. Her searching fingers found the business card he’d offered.

“Well, it’s just that you like arguing so much, and we argue so often … I think we should keep in touch.”

At the time, she’d been so startled that she’d simply taken the card and slid from the car without answering. Jiji, fortunately, had been too busy scowling at him through the windows to notice as she’d slipped it into her bag.

The card was thick, the surface almost velvety to the touch. It sported a bright red logo in the top corner and announced his name in crisp black letters — ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA. Khushi shook her head to clear the unbidden memory of correcting his name on hundreds of letters.

The writing on the card included a number she recognised for the reception desk at the head offices and an email address that his managers monitored. But he’d scrawled another number untidily along one side with a black pen.

His personal number, Khushi realised with a jolt.

It felt strangely intimate, though logic reminded her that she’d had the same number saved in her phone before he’d broken it on the storeroom floor.

Why is he still in Lucknow?

On the heels of this thought came another: Why should I care?!

Her mind was suddenly awhirl with memories — raised voices and shouted words, a fall from his window, the broken door to the storeroom. His airs about money and power. The terror of the guesthouse.

Khushi ripped the business card in half, her breath coming in rapid pants, and then tore it into even smaller pieces. Tears stung in her eyes. She scrunched the pieces into her palm as Jiji returned to the room.

“Make sure you wake up early tomorrow,” her sister draped her towel near the window. “We’re going to the temple.”

“Okay.”

Waiting until Jiji was occupied with something in the cupboard, Khushi returned the ruined card to her bag. In the bathroom, she brushed her teeth and washed her face before studying her reflection. Her pulse was a chaotic drumbeat in her body, her thoughts a wild tangle. And underneath it all was something that thrilled and scared her at the same time, something that had followed her to Lucknow.

                                    #####

“Everything leads back to him,” Jiji had groaned, rolling on her side on the bed they shared. “Just go to sleep quietly.”

It had been a week since they’d returned to Lucknow, and Khushi had been comparing the price of potatoes between Lucknow and Delhi. Or at least, that was how the conversation had started. She couldn’t remember how they’d gotten to talking about that Laad Governor.

“You’re right Jiji. We’re in Lucknow now and we’ll soon forget that we ever went to Delhi. Or that we met such cruel, haughty people. Although … Anjali-ji had such sweetness in her. It’s a shame that we had to leave without saying goodbye to her. At least we met one nice person in Delhi. Oh … and Nani-ji. Maybe two nice people. And Aakash-ji, I suppose, though —”

“— Khushi! Are you going to count out every member of his family? Your mind is like a compass that’s always stuck on him!”

“And why wouldn’t it be?” Khushi had asked hotly. “He sent me there to do some meaningless task, knowing the place was about to collapse.”

“I know. You’ll never have to see him again, Khushi. You resigned from that awful job, you gave him an earful, and now you’re here and he’s there.”

The words should have elated her, but they only left her feeling strangely hollow.

                                    #####

That hollowness sat heavily inside her as Khushi joined her sister in their bed a few minutes later, sliding between the covers with a sigh.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Jiji’s voice was soft in the dimness.

“Yes.”

“You barely ate dinner.”

“I’m not hungry.”

A short silence, in which Khushi’s mind unhelpfully replayed the way she’d fallen into his arms yet again.

Oh Devi Maiyya, couldn’t you find another place to make me slip? You mustn’t have liked the offering I left you this morning.

“I’m glad we came back to Babu-ji,” Jiji said softly. “I can’t imagine being away from home at a time like this.”

“The doctors said that as long as he rests properly and takes his medicines, there’s nothing to worry about.”

“He isn’t resting nearly enough, even with both of us at the shop.”

Khushi nodded her agreement, “He’s worried about the bills.”

“Bua-ji and Amma are talking about selling some jewellery. I thought I’d give them my bangles.”

“I have bangles we can sell too.”

It took a while for Jiji’s breathing to fall into the deep, slow rhythm of sleep. Khushi lay awake, her thoughts chasing each other in ever-tightening spirals.

The night of the photoshoot. The softness of her pallu as it slipped. The scorch of his gaze as it roved over her body and left her feeling singed. The electricity between them on Teej, every touch a bolt of lightning. The weight of him pressing into her in the storeroom.

She flushed, skin prickling and warmth blooming in secret places.

Stop it, Khushi. A handful of gol gappe is all it takes for you to forget his cruelty?

She turned onto her side with a huff. Sometimes it felt as though her life had been split into Before and After, as though falling at the fashion show had created an entirely new Khushi Kumari Gupta. A Khushi who was strangely compelled towards him, a Khushi who’d come dangerously close to swooning in his arms today. A Khushi who wanted something she had no name for.

“I didn’t know the situation at the guesthouse was that bad!”

“Do you really think I would’ve sent you there if I’d known? Is that what you think of me?”

For the first time, she allowed herself to entertain the idea that he hadn’t sent her there on purpose.

So what if he hadn’t? I was still trapped there for an entire day. He was wrong.

But the thought was impossible to dislodge now that it’d wormed into her mind. Having assumed he’d wanted to argue every time he’d approached her, she now considered whether he might have been trying to explain. She saw their interactions in a new light. The sweets, the cheque.

Did he feel guilty? Was he trying to say sorry?

She eventually fell into an uneasy sleep, tormented in her dreams by his eyes, his voice, the memory of his touch. She woke just before dawn, breathless and damp with sweat, the sheets tangled with her legs. Flinging them off, Khushi sat up in bed. Her sister made a questioning noise.

“Sleep, Jiji. It’s not time to wake up yet.”

A nameless storm raged in her chest, making it hard to breathe. She squeezed her eyes shut.

I should hate him.

A lurch in her tummy.

But I don’t.

Padding slowly over to her bag, she fished out the pieces of the business card one by one. There was a roll of tape amongst the paper and pens scattered on the table in the corner. Khushi glanced back at her sister as she sat. It took a few minutes to line up the jagged edges, to press the tape along them with trembling fingers until she could read his name again.

He’d set down a challenge. She wouldn’t back down.

    ********

Thanks for reading :) I know some of you may be disappointed with the level of introspection in this chapter and where I chose to end it. Tere Bin is Arnav’s story, one where he has to work out what he wants and how to get it while Khushi is in Lucknow. While I intend to dip into Khushi’s point of view where the story demands it (and I feel that her presence greatly improved Chapters 6 and 7), it will focus heavily on Arnav. I am not intentionally writing something to annoy or disappoint readers. I’m trying to do something very specific with this story, and like all experiments, I’m learning as I go :) 

[imeternallylove]

Just my first ff 🤧🤧🥲

NYC | LONDON | YOU | ME

Dr Stephen Strange x F.Reader

[fluff!]

Stephen Strange

On a lazy morning in New York Sanctum Sanctorum, my private residence. I brush my teeth slowly. Wearing a normal red-black t-shirt that I prepared last night, not the mystical Cloak of Levitation. Thinking bout’ something is waiting for me. A smile appeared when I saw my hair messed up, and I just left it as it was. It looks so cool, right?

Y/N

Standing in, looking at my swollen and ugly face at the apartment in downtown London, remember I have to get ready for lunch. I slovenly apply light brown eyeliner, even the lines are out of shape, but Nah... It looks natural anyway. The lips are some soft pink with a rosy cheek. Wait, I need perfume too. Yes! I do look nice today.

Stephen Strange

After all my things were done, I went back to my room and wore my favorite jacket and sneakers. Today I have a date and holy shit! It's going to be late if I don't leave my house right now. The haste made me forget to lock the door so... yeah, let it be, I won't be late back home.

Y/N

It's a bit cold today, so I put on a red hat and a brown scarf. My bedroom is messy all the time, it's the reason why I can't find my black boots. Ugh! Finally, I ended up with white canvas, I hurriedly stepped on the elevator but god sake!! -- I forgot to lock the door!!!

Stephen Strange

The parking was full, I had to find an area for a while until I was almost upset. Then, I hurriedly went to the cafe. The inside fills with aromas of coffee and pastries, and the outside has a small garden, yes, "She" chose to sit here instead of inside.

Y/N

I finally came to the crowded subway. Waiting about ten mins then entered the bogie. Not long after, I pressed my buttocks to sit in the window-mounted station, my favorite place in the subway. Little glancing at the wall behind the bogie cabinet began to move, I can't wait to see "Him," my date.

Stephen Strange

The parking was all taken, I had to find an area for a while until I was almost upset. Then, I hurriedly got into the cafe. The inside fills with the aromas of coffee with pastries, and the outside has a small garden, yes, "She" chose to sit here instead of inside.

Y/N

I tightened my coat tightly and walked into the large hallway in a good mood, where "Sherlock" was making a booking to have lunch together with me. This restaurant is vintage style. Yea... He knew that this is one of my favorite places in this town.

I like both the food and the atmosphere here. He must have prepared this to flirt with me, God can't help me hold on to smiling, of course, I gave him a lot of impressions for our second date, he will.

Stephen Strange

"Irene" grinned when he saw me walking in. And it's always been a bright smile from the first time we met. After I sat down, she opened the menu. Soon we ordered coffee, sandwiches, and chocolate yogurt cake. We started with a funny conversation. She asked about my recent job before I was Sorcerer Supreme. And, I asked about her hobbies. We were telling strange and amazing funny stories, and she ended by asking me to go to the sea. I did not reject that.

Hmm, yes... Right now.



Y/N

I can't believe that I... I completely forgot where the table was and I... I was lost on the 2nd floor! Didn't take too long. I couldn't find out that he had reserved the innermost table, which was attached to the bar, and that was it. He was looking at me with a peeking eye when I accidentally bared his teeth at him as the waiter placed the apron. I felt a little tense and nervous. But what? It's no big deal when we're going pretty well... I think so.

Stephen Strange

Not too long to feel bored. We finally reached the sea, Irene and I walked in the mid-afternoon hot summer breeze on the beach. Right now, people are not very crowded. I looked down at the fine white sand, which contrasts with the pale sea. And watched the sky turn a faint orange.

My heart is confused, I can’t accept the truth... I cast my sunglass-obscured eyes to the round sun, which continually shone upon us. Irene looked very happy today, she looked fun, which made me have pretty fun. It might be because of her cheerfulness that made me feel more comfortable than ever.

Y/N

Lunch ended nicely and warmly. At this time, Sherlock and I were walking in a small park, which was not too far from the restaurant. Even though we're in the center of the city, in this garden, it's so quiet, peaceful. It also gives a feeling of unspeakable relaxation to me.

I laughed as he acted as he was embarrassed while we were hand-holding. He looked cute and charming when talked about his cases. I listened to him in a soft voice full of excitement. And that made me forget almost all the problems I was facing during my stay with him.

Stephen Strange

Of course, before we go back home, it will be dark, both of us think the best way is to come back to my home first. Why? Because we were both lingering. Let the time pass without a hurry right in front of the door, we were laughing and scrambling about what we have done together today.

Irene told me that she loved being with me so much that she couldn't withdraw. Along with talking about the next day, we will "date" again, then I realized that my heart was pounding hard. And it was very turbulent as well.

Y/N

We stand in front of my apartment. The sky was now completely black. Sherlock walked with me to the front of the elevator inside the lobby floor and to the front of my room. Where along the way we all talked about today And he's still the same polite guy to me.

He said that today I dress prettier than every day. I already know we will "date" again someday and why are my cheeks red like this. And even if only giving a simple smile without saying anything, I think it's not difficult to understand what I'm feeling now.

Stephen Strange

I don't know how I brought myself to bed. And I don't know when I will stop smiling. But now I only know that Irene Adler, she makes me smile like a dog... It's best for several months ago.

Y/N

I dropped my heavy body on my bed as I stepped into the room. Until now, I still haven't stopped thinking about all that I have done with Sherlock today. I'm sure it was a very good time... Sherlock Holmes, this guy is so good! OMG!! I can't force myself to stop smiling. What should I do? Urg!!!

Stephen Strange

A few days later, Irene came to my house, We chose to watch a funny movie together. Of course, in a fucking funny rhythm, the popcorn in a bowl that I made spilled over the floor. But that was fun because I saw another pov of her and it feels good to laugh along with her so so so well.

Yes! Her cheeks are red too.

Y/N

Sherlock came with a horror film in hand. His smile made me not hesitate to open the door and prepare the popcorn for tonight. We both sat on the carpet next to the sofa with the popcorn bucket in the middle. In the end, it was me who almost didn't know about this movie. It was so scary that he asked if I was okay. He solved that problem by hugging me from behind and used his hands to close my eyes when some scenes made me startled. Oh dear god, my face turns red, it's so red!

Stephen Strange

We met again on a rainy day at my house. Irene talked about the dusty acoustic guitar standing beside the bookshelf. So I picked it up and played her a song that I used to play regularly, she lay on my lap, slowly spreading out soft hair as her breath took a rhythm when she fell asleep. Until the sunset.

Y/N

We haven't seen each other for almost two weeks. Until today, Sherlock stood in front of my room with a violin, which he seemed unable to play but he can. The songs he played made me so happy that I accidentally moved my feet and sang along to the melody.

He and I let the time pass by until dusk.

Stephen Strange

After we both finished the dinner that she had done. Irene said goodbye to me with a smile as usual. And finally, I am the only one left in the house. Then I took a shower and went to bed but during that time I thought of 'who was lying on the other side of this bed. I raised my hand to my forehead. I don't know how to deal with this feeling. I know well why I can't sleep even after trying to suppress my eyes in every way.

I know it all

Y/N

When only I was left in the room my brain was filled with something again. I walked all the way to the wide bed. Surprisingly, it looked more empty and vast every day. I let out my breath. Even Sherlock's violin sound felt good but it did not make me forget what distracted me.

Yeah, his voice wasn't 'that' voice, It's not the one I want to hear right now.

...Not at all

Stephen Strange

We are preparing dinner again the next day, feeling so uncomfortable. And it was Irene who mentioned my abnormality first. Because of that, I tried to explain it to her. But then it completely messed up the shit. She cried and ran away.

Y/N

This was the first time that I didn't open the door for Sherlock to enter the room for no reason. After realizing that I was wrong, several hours have passed. But he was still standing there waiting I was so confused like fucking crazy. And it was me who couldn't stand it. The door was finally opened. But there were no words between us while I was crying.

Stephen Strange

I sat on the sofa to reflect on what happened and where 'she' was while pressing my phone's photo library to find her photos. I promptly understood what happened to me. What the hell is why I'm waiting for her back for too long?

It is now that I realize how much I miss her now when I picked up the iPad. ... and found the fastest flight to London.

Y/N

Everything's going boring I sighed as I scrolled through the pictures my mom sent me when she felt lonely, hoping it would help me feel better too. Until it stops at that face, it was him. I try not to think about him. But he was the one that I want to see right now, so I will not let myself suffer anymore.

Inside the living room, I spent an hour with my notebooks to book a flight to get back to where I had been... It's in New York.

Stephen Strange

I muted the eardrum alarm when it roared. In fact, I deliberately set it up for fear of leaving the house late. But right now, I'm in a taxi that was taking me to the airport. So I laughed lightly when I remembered that today I woke up earlier than usual and hurried, it was abnormal, which I knew why.

Y/N

It's been 9 hours since the flight that I booked to come here one way. I thought I was doing well when both legs brought me and a small backpack in front of his apartment just before the sunset. Until arriving at the door I decided to ring the bell only two times. I privately thought that I would finally meet him. But it's not like that. Because apart from silence There was no response from the people in the room at all.

Stephen Strange

The plane was late landing but it's okay. Just tired and confused about why I don't use the spell. I can't believe that I will be rejected by three taxis. But those things didn't make me feel as bad as she wasn't at her home. I tried to calm down with disappointment. But in the end, I chose to pour out the hope that was carried far by the wooden fence. Before deciding to continue to go to the sea... I just want to go back to the place where we often spend time together. Even if it's getting dark.

Y/N

I left my pride on the ground, calling him instead of waiting hopelessly.

Stephen Strange

My phone rings, her name on the screen. And I have no hesitation in answering the call.

Y/N

"I'm home... Stephen"

"I'm home too, Y/N," said Stephen "I'm at home."

I laughed as I started to understand something, I guess what expression when he heard the answer “Stephen, I'm in New York right now,” he still gives a shit silently, so I listened, the sound of familiar laughter.

Stephen Strange

"Baby? Oh," I stop, then continue "Y/N, you're alright there?" I said, after stopping laughing. She replied "I'm fine there, just wait for you at the mysterious Sanctum." Then change the tone to whisper.

"Damn Y/N, Can you close your eyes and take a welcome kiss from your wizard?"

Y/N

There is not my answer, I just giggle and closed my eyelids. And even if it is impossible... although the distance between the two cities would make him and me thousands of miles apart. It's unbelievable, you know?

I felt that our lips were actually touching each other.

Stephen Strange

Y/N opened her eyes, and now I'm in front of her face. The Cloak of Levitation pulls the rose bouquet from my hand, making me touch her face more comfortably, "Promise me, you will not leave me alone here?”

I look at her eyes, the most beautiful in the universe, and she glances at my sling ring. "Can you use the spell to take me to your kitchen?" She smiles brightly, "I wanna bake your chocolate yogurt cake."

I laugh, taking her little hand tight. "And you Stephen, you will do a cup of hot choco for me, right?" she said and smirked at me.

"Sure darling"