#a lot of repeat shots. it's fun but i like the song more than the video

[hatchetfield]

oh my god - he's the axe man!

[murdrdocs]

just read all your imagines and they are so good!! just on here to req anything hobie brown related cos god that man is so fine. maybe like a one-shot where they are fwb cos hobie doest do labels but gets jealous and then asks reader to be his gf and then shows her off to everyone. just like really anything u want to write tbh ✨✨

end of line | h. brown

description. being friends with benefits with your best friend, hobie brown, is fun and all, but you start to realize that maybe firm labels suit you better than whatever this is

includes. slight smut SUGGESTIVE 16+, fem!reader referred to as “girl”, fluff, sweet!hobie, pav gwen and miles mention, rockstar!hobie

a/n: i have no words this was supposed to be uploaded like a week ago but then i went to disney so ... sorry yall. also not edited well bc ... disney. edit: title from the song by daft punk bc tron <3

word count: 1.7k+

things are still in your bedroom. they always are right before he arrives.

you're not a psychic, nor do you have a "spider-sense" (which, with the creepy-sixth sense way hobie described it, you don't want one either), but you like to think that you can tell when he'll come by.

nights when you haven't heard much from him, but the sirens seemed to never stop outside, were usually when your window would creek as it slid up.

you listen out for the sound now as you finish painting your last nail. you'd used the quick dry polish tonight, in hopes that you wouldn't have a repeat of last time, when your fingernails weren't dried but hobie was incredibly impatient and when you were done, you'd realized that your right ring and pinkie fingers were smudged.

the bottle's closed, you'd blown on your nail to ensure it dried, and that's when your window slides open.

there's no point in looking back at him when he tumbles into the room. he starts mumbling complaints as soon as the window's closed, the sound of his shoes unlacing padding his words, something about some common thief who hobie was going to let go but then he went and messed with the lady on the street and her cat.

you'd lost the tail end of his words whenever he started walking closer to you. you sat up straighter, pushed everything out of the way, and waited for him to turn your chair around.

which, when he did, you looked up at him, small smile on your lips as you stared into his deep brown eyes.

"how's your night, hm?" he asked, a courtesy before getting to the real action.

you shrugged, pretending to think. "nothing. just a lot of this."

"no smashing societal standards? picking off misogynists one by one?"

a small laugh in the form of a snort from you. "nah. figured i'd take a day off, you know?" the sarcasm dripping from your words. that's not who you were. you wish you could've been like that, could've been like hobie. but there's one spider-person for a reason.

"oh, yeah, uh-huh..." and hobie trailed off as he leaned in, pointer finger hooking under your chin to pull your lips to his.

it always felt good to kiss hobie.

you'd fantasized about it for weeks before it actually happened. he's your closest friend at the moment, and he occupied the title before this arrangement even existed. and of course you had the worry about ruining your beautiful friendship if you became more, fear that you wouldn't be able to go back and you would subsequently lose probably the best friend you've ever had.

but that was no need to worry. because while you could let hobie pull you up and lead you to your bed, sitting back and pulling you into his lap while he kissed you with a tenderness you know so well, you could also just be friends with him, sitting side by side on the couch and having a movie marathon of horrible biopics without thinking about jumping each other's bones.

there's a balance here that you could only hope would've existed.

and it's never thrown off. not even when he pulls your shirt over your head and his full lips find your nipples and the slightly-faded marks he'd left a few days ago. not even when he switches your position, laying you back and kissing down your torso until he can bury his head between your legs. not even when you whine and cry just a bit, slightly begging for him to pull his suit off so he can fuck into you in a way that only he can.

you try not to think about the equilibrium of your relationship with hobie when your legs hook around his waist and the heels of your feet dig into your lower back. you try to solely focus on the way his cock fills you up perfectly, mostly long with the right amount of girth for your walls, tip reaching deep within you in an almost mind bending way.

but you can't help but think about the way hobie doesn't do labels when he helps you to your bathroom, where he lets the shower heat up while you sit in a shirt he left behind a few days ago when he'd shown up as just hobie brown and not spiderman. you can't help but think about being hobie's girlfriend when his big, veiny hands run along your skin after the shower, smothering you in shea butter as you struggle to hold your eyes open. and you don't bother attempting to fight off the lasting thought of being hobie's while he hums an unknown song to himself with your head on his chest, the deep sound of his voice and the vibration of his chest lulling you to sleep.

you need to be someone's.

the friends with benefits scenario was fun, it worked, it was glorious, but you don't think it's for you. and labels aren't for hobie.

so, you look elsewhere.

you're at hobie's show, standing in the back of the pub with a drink you weren't interested in, with some guy you really weren't all that interested in, either. but he smelled nice, and he seemed nice, and you were just looking to broaden your horizons just a bit.

you and hobie weren't exclusive, but maybe it's a little wrong to flirt with someone else at his show. but you were slightly upset, and craving attention, so it didn't matter.

not until hobie got off stage.

it took a while for him to roam over to you, but even then you were still entertaining the other guy. giggling, tilting your head, batting your eyelashes, your hip popped out and a manicure, that was still fresh, blinging as your hand rested on the bone.

he greets you with a term of endearment that he uses often, but it feels different in this circumstance. you tell yourself that it feels different because you want it to feel different.

"oi, babe! who's this bloke?"

his arm slings over your shoulder and you tense under it. your hands folding over your chest, your smile tightening a little.

“uh this is steven.” your hand reaches out to point to the man, a tight lipped smile spreading onto his lips.

“steven …” hobie repeats the name slowly, and without looking at him you can tell that he’s eyeing the guy up and down.

the air is stiff, the three of you are silent, and unfortunately, steven takes the hint to dismiss himself, and you instantly turn to hobie, a scowl on your face.

“what the fuck, hobes?” you’re pissed, but the nickname still slips off easily.

hobie shrugs and reaches into his back pocket, a cigarette appearing and he sticks it between his lips. instantly, your fingers pluck it out from his mouth, instead putting it in your own back pocket.

instead of looking upset, hobie looks amused. his hands reach out to grab your waist, and you want to give in, but you try to push his hands away instead.

hobie lets you, and you don’t know if your happy or upset with that.

“what’d you mean?”

you stare at him, deadpan, then gesture to where steven had walked away towards.

“you just cockblocked me!”

a cocky grin, almost a little condescending. “i didn’t ‘cockblock’ you, babes. you weren’t trying to get with that guy.” your eyebrow lifts and you can see realization come onto hobie’s face. “oh … you were?”

“yes! of course i was!”

“but why? you are i are together.”

“sure, hobes, but we’re not ‘together’.”

“yes we are.”

“no, we aren’t.”

“why do you think that?”

you suddenly feel a little insecure, eyes scanning the thinning crowd, ears noticing the way the volume in the pub is lowered. “because you’ve never put a label on it, bee.”

another layer of realization. hobie’s hands coming to your waist again, but this time you let him pull you in.

“i didn’t know we needed a label. but you’re my girl. and i’m your guy.”

your body heats up and you bite down onto your lower lip giddily, peeking up at hobie through your lashes.

"thought you didn't like relationships?"

"labels. i don't like labels."

there's a disruption in the atmosphere. goosebumps raise on your skin, the hair on the back of your neck sticks up, and even if you weren't aware internally, the way the magazine you were previously reading floats above the table would've tipped you off.

the portal opens shortly after, but you knew it was coming. it took hobie a while to tell you that he was spiderman, longer to convince you that he was spiderman, and a while longer to convince you of the existence society, and even though you know, you still get a little shocked whenever a portal opens.

he comes through first, thud of his heavy boots against the floor of his flat. the spoon in your mouth clings against the side of the bowl, your free hand reaches out to the tv remote to pause the episode as you look over at hobie.

"oi, didn't know you were still here." is all he says before he's walking over, pulling his mask off on the way, and leaning down. your head tilts up instantly to meet his lips in a kiss, your body warming with the way his hand pushes into the back of the couch, slender but muscular form caging you in.

you expect him to sit beside you and force you to give a recap of the episode, but he stands back, and then three other people come through the portal.

"oh ... are we expecting guests?" surprise sits in your words, the tone amplified when hobie takes your bowl of cereal out of your hands to finish it off himself.

"right," he speaks through mouthfuls, saying your name as an introduction to the other three. "this is pav, miles, and gwendy. spider people." you nod, waving at each.

"this here, is my girlfriend." three sets of spider-eyes widen with the admission and you can already sense what's coming.

"wow, you're pretty. 's nice to meet you."

"i knew it! i could sense the tension as soon as we got here."

"you have a girlfriend? wait. i thought you didn't like labels."

a small smile on your face as you tuck your hands in the pocket of hobie’s sweatshirt that you wear.

in coordination learned from how close you two are, you speak at the same time.

"he doesn't like consistency."

"don't like consistency, mate."

[little-diable]

My Greatest Fear - Dean Winchester (smut)

Don't say I didn't warn y'all. Inspired by Benson Boone's new song "My Greatest Fear". Please like and reblog if you enjoyed reading this, your comments keep us writers motivated! Enjoy my loves. xxx

Summary: Dean broke things off with the reader years ago, the biggest mistake of his life. But when Sam tells his brother that (y/n) is getting married, Dean knows it's time to make things right. He won't leave this life behind without being able to call her his once again.

Warnings: 18+, smut, piv, ex-lovers to lovers, some angst, lots of fluff tho, reader is a runaway bride

Pairing: Dean Winchester x fem!reader (3k words)

Got a lot on my mind that keeps me up at night, I’m tossing and turning, thinking that my life’s gone to waste

“Thank you, sweetheart.” Dean shot the waitress a big smile as she placed his breakfast down, blushing as the handsome man winked at her. The older Winchester brother was too focused on his food to pick up on the uneasiness radiating off Sam, to focus on the sadness swimming in his brother’s pupils. 

“Fuck, that’s good.” Dean’s moans rumbled through him as he ate the greasy deliciousness, sipping on his coffee every now and then. It took him a while to lift his gaze, to allow his green eyes to focus on Sam’s untouched breakfast, forcing Dean’s eyebrows to furrow in confusion. “Not hungry? Shouldn’t you eat something after a long run?” 

“Mhm,” Sam’s eyes were focused on the window, unable to look at his brother any longer. His heart clenched in his chest, his mind was racing faster than it had in the past months, struggling to part his lips. 

“Sam,” Dean’s raspy voice forced Sam’s eyes back towards his older brother, unable to hold eye contact for long. “What’s wrong?” 

Dean had put down his breakfast burger while taking another sip of coffee. He patiently waited for Sam to speak, to spill whatever was visibly plaguing him. But Sam kept quiet, deeply inhaling as if he had to muster the strength to speak. Dean repeated his brother’s name, much quieter this time around, gentle almost – as if he had finally realised that whatever Sam was about to speak would hurt them both. 

“I received an email this morning.” It was a whisper, nothing more, words so obscurely simple that Dean couldn’t help but laugh. But Sam didn’t give in, killing Dean’s hope that Sam was simply fucking with him. Something heavy was about to claw through Sam, something heavy that could determine the outcome of this very day. “It was from Mary, (y/n)’s sister.”

Now it was on Dean to freeze, not expecting his brother to speak her name. Their eyes met, urging Sam to keep on speaking, to tell his brother about the email he had opened with shaky fingers, freezing in his step as he read the words she had written to him. 

“(Y/n)’s getting married, Dean.” Sam was forced to watch Dean sink back into the seat, arms crossed in front of his chest, uneasy eyes staring down at the table. And for a moment, neither of them spoke, letting the words sink in – words that had been Dean’s greatest fear ever since he had left her all these years ago. 

He had been stupid back then, too childish for his own good. Guided by his father’s words, he had dropped (y/n) and the life they could have lived together. His father had made pretty promises, telling his young son of women awaiting him, women he shouldn’t miss out on because of a marriage that would only tie him to (y/n), away from all the fun he could experience. The greatest mistake of his life, a mistake he hated himself for every single day. 

“That’s good for her. I’m happy she found somebody who treats her right.” The words pained Dean to speak, rolling off his tongue with a sharp edge that left Sam cringing. His hand found Dean’s forearm, gently squeezing his brother’s arm in a gesture so unfamiliar, Dean had to stop himself from shaking off Sam’s hand. 

“Dean, I’ve always loved her like a sister, I only want what’s best for her. But you’re my brother, I know how much not having her around scars you, I see it every day on your face. Get her back, try it at least.” 

Of all the things that I've been afraid to lose, my greatest fear of all is losing you

……

“I shouldn’t do this.” They were parked in front of the small church, eyes watching the big crowd of unfamiliar faces. Both Dean and Sam were wearing a suit, knowing that they had to blend in with the wedding guests to find their way to (y/n). “Why should she take me back? Why should she even listen to me?”

“Dean, if there is one thing I know it’s that she still loves you. Let’s get your girl back.” Sam was first to step out into the warm morning, eyes hidden behind a pair of sunglasses as they walked up to the crowd. He felt Dean close, not daring to speak up with his choked-up throat, with his heart pounding in his chest, knowing that this would be his only shot to make things right for once in his life. 

“Mary!” Sam’s voice echoed through the air, eyes focused on the frame of (y/n)’s sister. The young woman flung herself into Sam’s open arms, chuckling into his neck as he held her close for a moment. A moment too long for Dean who was growing more antsy with every passing second. 

“Thank you for coming. She’s making a mistake, Sam. You’re my only hope with this.” The words left Dean frozen, confused eyes flickering between his brother and Mary. He hadn’t read the email Mary had sent to Sam, hadn’t asked any further questions about the man (y/n) was about to marry, trusting that he was somebody she loved. “Come, I’ll bring you to her.”

“What the fuck man?” Dean growled the words at Sam as he followed them through the crowd and towards a small house built near the church. Sam fell into pace with his brother, watching Mary lead them towards the place where (y/n) was currently getting ready. 

“Well, you didn’t think I’d let you do this without knowing (y/n) would willingly leave her fiancé, did you? I wouldn’t destroy her happiness just like that, Dean.” Realistically, Dean should have known that Sam wouldn’t just push him into this without knowing that there was a chance to get her back. Sam had hated him for a while after he had left (y/n), punishing Dean for breaking her heart at any given chance, a broken bond that had needed months to be repaired. 

“(Y/n)? I brought two special guests.” Mary’s voice echoed through the small cabin, ringing in the brother’s ears as they waited outside. Dean felt his hands tremble, forced to let go of deep exhales as Mary opened the door for them, allowing them to step inside. His eyes were drawn to (y/n)’s like a moth to a flame, and his world stopped spinning, unable to focus on anything but her.

It took (y/n) a second to react, seemingly confused about the appearance of the two hunters she hadn’t seen in years. She was pulled into a hug by Sam, giving Dean another moment to admire her, the white dress she wore – a sight he had only seen in his dreams, imagining this very day, with him waiting at the altar for her. Dreams that had evaporated into a hazy nothingness the day he had left her. 

“Hi, sweetheart.” She sank into Dean’s grasp, clinging to him as if he hadn’t been the man who had broken her heart all these years ago. He watched his brother and Mary leave the cabin, giving the two some time alone as they kept on holding one another. 

“What are you doing here, Dean?” (Y/n) mumbled the words against the fabric of his suit jacket, not caring about smudging her make-up, not caring about anything but the way Dean held her close – as if he hadn’t ever stopped holding her. Carefully, Dean let her go, needing to give them some distance for the words he was about to speak, knowing that this could escalate any moment now. 

“I can’t let you marry another man without telling you that leaving you was my greatest mistake. A life without you has always been my biggest fear, I was stupid, so fucking stupid, sweetheart. I shouldn’t have listened to Dad, I should have married you right that day. And I hate myself for not doing it, for letting you go when you have always been my whole world. I know there is no chance for me to make things right, and even though Sammy and Mary hope that I will sweep you off of your feet and bring you back home to us, I know I can’t.” Tears dripped from her eyes, tears (y/n) didn’t care to wipe away. 

“I hated you for years, you broke me, Dean. You took away my life, my friends, the people I had grown to love. You ripped my heart right out of my chest, and even though I tried to fight for it, to regain its strength, I miserably failed. I should curse you, should tell you to fuck off and never show your face to me again. But I can’t. For Christ’s sake, Dean. What are we doing here?” He cupped her face with shaking fingers, letting his forest-green eyes run over her gorgeous face. 

“I want to kill him for getting a chance to love you, time that has been wasted because of me. But I don’t want to take another choice from you. If you want to marry him, I will watch from the first row, hell, I’ll even carry your veil.” His voice shook as he whispered the words, growing tense as (y/n) rested her hands on top of his, still cupping her cheeks.

“And if I don’t want to marry him?” 

……

I'm scared to take another picture of you, 'cause I'm scared to have another thing that I can lose, oh, dear, who am I without you here?

“I thought you were taking me home, where are we going?” Her laughter echoed through Baby, eyes set on Dean’s grinning features. They had left the church a while ago, running away like she had secretly hoped they would. (Y/n) had always been a dreamer, a dreamer who had pictured that very moment since the day it had dawned on her – about to marry a man she didn’t love. A man who wasn’t Dean Winchester. 

“We’ve got another thing to take care of first, I am not losing any more time.” Baby screeched to a halt in front of a pink church, a sight that left (y/n) confused, and Dean and Sam chuckling. They made their way into the church, with her fingers interlaced with Dean’s, with her white wedding gown clinging to her frame, with his suit hugging his frame. 

“Dean, Sam, I didn’t think I’d ever get to see you two around here!” An elderly man greeted them with a big smile. His brown eyes were drawn to (y/n)’s almost instantly, with a knowing smile growing on his lips – a smile that had an almost proud touch to it. “That’s her, huh? Took you quite some time, didn’t it.” “(Y/n), that’s Danny, an old friend of ours we met on a hunt. He could wed us, with Sammy as our witness, if you’ll have me.” Her heart had stopped beating, skipping a few beats as Dean’s words sank in. Her teary eyes found his and with a laugh clawing through her, she pressed a kiss to his lips, drawing a groan out of Dean, who tried to prolong the kiss for as long as possible. 

“I will always have you, Dean.” She was pulled towards the altar, unable to stop her tears from dripping as Danny began speaking a prayer she paid no attention to. All (y/n) could do was study Dean, the love swimming in his pupils, the way he looked at her as if she was his sun, alighting the darkest days with her mere presence. A soul crafted for his to hold onto, to love till their time together would eventually run out. 

“Do you have any rings?” Danny’s soft voice ripped (y/n) out of her thoughts, about to whisper a soft, disappointed “No”, but before she could even part her lips, Sam excitedly spoke up. Her eyes watched the tall Winchester brother, how he reached for his breast pocket to expose a small envelope to her glassy eyes. Wordlessly he pushed it towards Dean, who opened it with an unwavering smile stuck to his lips. 

“I bought these rings years ago, sure to eventually push yours down on your finger. I am sorry it took me this long.” Her sob left Dean chuckling, exposing his also teary eyes to hers. She had held onto all these longings for years, mere dreams that were now finally turning real – as if she was just sleeping through another longing. 

But, you're here, now, and that makes it better, somehow

……

“Let me.” Dean’s soft voice filled his bedroom. He was standing behind (y/n), carefully helping her out of her wedding dress with his gaze focused on the ring clinging to his finger. The past hours had flown by all too quickly, turning her from a runaway bride into his wife. His wife. A title so unfamiliar, Dean had to fight against the urge to pinch himself.

His for eternity. His to love. His to worship. 

“I love you, Dean.” (Y/n) whispered her words as she stepped out of her dress, exposing her underwear-clad frame to his hungry eyes. She was pulled into a teeth-chasing kiss, a kiss dripping with emotions that made her feel all too dizzy, having to hold onto Dean before she could be ripped into another dimension. 

“I love you too, sweetheart. And I’m so fucking sorry for missing out on this for years.” He pressed her down on the mattress, giving her a show as he slowly undressed. Her body was aching for him, needing to feel Dean close after all these long years apart. 

“Stop apologising with words and show me that you truly mean them.” His lips kissed her chest, the valley between her breasts as he undid her bra, exposing her hardening nipples to his twinkling eyes. Dean could cum just from the sight of her naked frame, a sight he had only seen in his dreams for the past years, not daring to imagine being this fortunate again. 

“God, you’re so beautiful. I promise to worship you for as long as you want me to.” Dean’s raspy words vibrated on her skin, covering her body with goosebumps as he kneaded her soft flesh. His cock was pressed against her clothed heat, drawing moans from her whenever he moved against her heat, desperate for the kind of friction that left them both trembling.

“I need you inside of me, Dean.” Her raspy whispers left him groaning against her skin as she raised her hips to help him pull her damp panties down her legs. Just this morning, (y/n) had imagined this very moment, knowing that she’d think of Dean when her husband touched her, a loveless marriage she would have been trapped in. 

“Are you still on birth control?” (Y/n) could only nod her head, mind taken up by the feeling of his wandering hands, keeping her pressed against him. Dean's cock twitched against her naked cunt, brushing through her arousal-covered folds to coat himself, “I love you, and I’ll do my best to prove it to you for the rest of our lives.”

“I love you too, Dean.” He pushed into her with a groan, forehead falling against hers as she fluttered around him. It felt as if he had entered paradise, falling to rest on clouds covering his body. She was his Elysium, his safe haven, the one where Dean could be the truest version of himself. 

He moved slowly at first, both needed some time to adjust to one another after all these years, but the second their bodies relaxed, properly enjoying one another’s closeness, Dean began to move faster. Their bodies met with every thrust, eyes holding a contact so intense, (y/n) feared her heart would explode right in her chest. 

Dean was taking his time with her, this wasn’t a rushed fuck to make up for all the time lost, no, it was so much more. This was the purest form of love, a one-of-a-kind love both had clung to in lonely nights, with wandering minds and trembling hands. This is what they had been destined to have, years ago – a love they were now rediscovering. 

“You feel so good, baby.” He felt her clenching around his cock, drawing another gritty sound out of Dean. (Y/n) was long gone, pushed into another dimension where she only knew Dean, nothing but his love, his touch, his irrevocable longing for her. Sensations she was taken hostage by, unable to shake them. 

His warm fingertips found her pulsing bundle, circling it with just enough pressure to draw his name out of her. (Y/n) could feel her orgasm slithering its way up her body, whispering to her to hold onto her husband, and with her fingernails clawed into Dean’s shoulders, she came. He followed her right down the edge, moaning against her lips as their bodies were moulded together. 

“Fuck, we’ll have to do that all through the night, husband.” (Y/n) whispered the words as a few heavy pants left her, making a laugh claw out of Dean who chased her slightly swollen lips for another kiss. 

“Trust me, I won’t let you leave our bed for weeks, wife.” 

Don't know how the broken pieces fit together if you leave it, so, don't go, don't go, I would take your hand if I could reach it

[stormsplurge]

nobody's fool

warnings: none!

pairing(s): seth jarvis x fem! reader

1239 words

a/n: its not directly inspired by the song but i've been listening to shes always a woman by billy joel on repeat for the last 2 days which is where the title comes from. it's also not proofread at all so please ignore any typos or spelling errors. i hope you guys enjoy this one!

“oh my GOD!” you squealed as the last couple of seconds of the game ticked by on the jumbotron and the “canes win” rang out through the arena. 

the hurricanes had won their first game of their series against the rangers, and the entire building was buzzing.

you could feel nykki next to you screaming her lungs out as the two of you jumped up and down in your seats.

a couple of days ago, after returning from new york and losing to the rangers again, you saw a fire get lit under your boyfriend (and the entire teams) ass. they had come back to playoffs with something to prove, trying not to get swept for the second year in a row, and they’d pulled it off. 

as you walked with the other wags towards the locker room you felt a sudden jolt of energy run through your body. after the last game everyone had been down, seth especially. his tendency to place all the blame on himself was in full force, but this win was exactly what he needed to pull himself out of his head.

you were in the middle of making small talk with gracia when the boys began trailing out of the locker room. brady was one of the first ones out, wrapping his arms around his wife as soon as he was within arms reach of her.

“we’re all heading to the bar.” he said. “you and ton of fun should come.”

“thanks for the invite skjeisy.” you replied, before your boyfriend entered your eyeline. 

you shot out a quick “see you there!” before bouncing towards the entrance to the locker room, practically jumping into seths arms. 

“congratulations!” you giggled as he hooked his arm around your waist and began walking the two of you towards the parking lot. 

if you were enthusiastic about the win, seth was practically bursting at the seams with excitement. his trademark giddiness shining around him like a halo.

“oh my god!” he exclaimed as the two of you made it outside. “i have no idea how we pulled that off.”

“i know how.” you replied. “you guys are fucking awesome thats how.”

“you’re my good luck charm you know, we wouldnt have done it without you.”

“whatever you say jarvy.” you said as your cheeks begin to heat up. 

seth was always selfless, insisting that every win was because of anyone but him. doing everything to shine the spotlight on someone else. 

——

as the two of you drove towards the bar you reminisced on your first christmas in winnipeg together. 

it was a white christmas, something you weren’t used to seeing as you had never lived as far north as seth had, and kayden was telling you about how eager seth was to get on the ice with his brother and his friends. he was smaller than all the other guys but still itching to play with them, begging their mom to let him play for a couple more minutes everytime she insisted he get off the ice and take a break.

seth was too busy helping his mom with something to notice that his brother was telling you every embarrassing story he could possibly think of. blowing through the kitchen like a tornado helping as fast as possible so he could get back to his spot right next to you in front of the fireplace. 

kayden was in the middle of telling you about the first year seth was with the winterhawks, how he’d call their parents every night complaining about how much he missed home, when your boyfriend returned to his spot amidst the piles of wrapping paper littered around the living room. 

“kayden!” he exclaims as he sits down. “stop telling embarrassing stories about me you asshole.”

“i’m just telling her what she deserves to know.” kayden responds, throwing his hands up in mock surrender before a throw pillow lands in his face.

seth lets out a long groan before getting up and pulling you with him, slowly dragging you towards his room. the walls littered with duke memorabilia and hockey stuff. 

“he’s such a dick” he whines as he shuffles towards his desk. 

“i think its hilarious.” you reply, making yourself comfortable on your boyfriends bed, craning you neck to try and figure out what he’s trying to find as he rattles through the drawers. 

it isn’t long before he whirls around, a small turquoise box in his hands, and sits in front of you. 

“seth…” you question, “what is this.”

“okay.” he rambles, opening the box and revealing a small necklace within. “i got my mom a car the first year i played, and my dad a car last year, so this year i wanted to get you something nice.”

tears began welling up in the corners of you eyes as he continued his speech.

“… i wasn’t really sure what to get cause you already have a bunch of really nice stuff back home in raleigh, so i asked nykki for help cause she knows that type of stuff and we picked this out.”

the necklace was a simple circle attached to a chain, with one end of the circle wider than the other end. minimalistic, but beautiful.

“oh my god…” you responded. “i don’t even know what to say.”

the gesture alone was enough to bring you to tears. the drops of salty water streaming down your face and pooling at your chin. 

you were at a loss for words, so you opted for closing the gap between you and seth and pulling him into a deep kiss. 

“do you like it?” he asked after you broke the kiss, finally coming up for air.

“i love it seth it’s beautiful.” you replied and you turned and exposed the back of your neck. “do you want to help me put it on?”

“oh yeah yes totally yes please.” seth jumbled out, words falling out of his mouth like loose teeth.

“don’t act like you’ve never seen the back of my neck before.” you joked, turning to face him after he closed the clapse.

“it’s just, like, different this time i guess.”

“youre adorable when you’re flustered.” you remarked, placing your hands on the sides of his jaw and running your thumb over his cheek. “i guess that means i’ll have to get you to help me put on all my necklaces if i want to keep seeing you like this.”

“i would gladly help you put on every piece of jewelry, you don’t even have to say please.”

“careful mr jarvis, someone might hear you and think you’re in love.”

“i’ll shout it from the rooftops i dont care.” he exclaims, throwing his arms in the air and puffing up his chest. “i’m in love!”

“this is the best christmas gift ever” you giggle, falling back onto the bed in your fit of laughter. seth quickly flopping down next to you. 

as you finished reminiscing and found yourself back in the present, sitting in the passenger seat of seth’s beat up old volkswagon, playing with the tiffany necklace around your neck. 

“i love you.” you said as you brought your free hand over top of where seth’s right hand was positioned on top of your leg, tracing circles over the top of his hand. “i know i say it all the time but i’m so proud of you.”

“i love you too.”

[justmystyles]

Now You're In My Life- Part 2

part 1 here

pairing: Harry Styles x plus size reader

word count: 3.8k

summary: a chance meeting at a diner turns your world upside-down.

warnings: some curse words, but other than that it's tame.

a/n: i definitely didn't expect to have part 2 done so quickly, but this story is just flowing out of me. thank you so much for all of the likes and comments from part 1. i honestly didn't even expect anyone to read it. 🥰

already planning on a part 3. i think after that it becomes more of a collection of one shots than a straight storyline. but you know i had to set it up all nice and cute.

i say it's a plus size reader, while i don't focus a lot on that aspect (because your size should not define you), it will come up, so i just wanted to be upfront about it.

a quick tag for those of you that asked for part 2, so you don't miss it! @thechaoticjoy @cute-as-ducks420 @iceebabies

As the opening notes of Golden began to play, the screams from the crowd quickly came to a  crescendo. Before long, Harry was being lifted up from the stage floor. As he moved around the stage, guitar strapped around him, it looked like he was searching for something… or someone. 

Then his eyes landed on you, and your breath hitched. He was looking for you. His smile widened, and he shot you a wink before moving to his microphone stand. You watched with rapt attention, bobbing your head slightly and mouthing along to the words. 

The show went on, and you couldn’t take your eyes off of Harry. It seemed as though he couldn’t keep his eyes off of you either. They would move in your direction frequently, it seemed particularly calculated during a couple of lyrics. Especially when he was singing ‘What Makes You Beautiful’. You had never listened to One Direction, so you weren’t familiar with the song. You knew you had heard it around before, but that was the extent. Even still, the butterflies that had taken up residence in your stomach tonight were going positively wild throughout that entire song, feeling as though Harry was singing directly to you. 

At one point, while he was speaking to the crowd and reading signs, he turned to your direction, locking eyes with you before asking if everything was okay, and offering a questioning thumbs up. You smiled back shyly, offering a thumbs up in affirmation. 

“Then why aren’t you dancing around and screaming your head off?” He asked with an arched brow. 

Your eyes went wide, recognizing your comments from that morning being repeated to you.

By Harry. 

Onstage. 

In front of thousands of people. 

Despite the house lights being down, you were certain that he could see the bright red blush that spread across your cheeks. You immediately buried your face in your hands. He laughed and frolicked away, continuing the show. 

“Thank you Boston!” He shouted before placing his microphone back on the stand. He bowed and waved, blowing a few kisses along the way. As he moved up the runway in your direction, he locked eyes with you again, lifting his hand to his mouth and blowing a kiss directly at you. Your eyes dropped to your feet, feeling your cheeks heat again. 

You jumped slightly when you felt a hand on your shoulder, you spun around wide eyed to see Jeff looking at you apologetically. 

“Sorry Y/N, I didn’t mean to scare you. I was just coming over to bring you backstage.” 

“Backstage?” 

“Yeah, to see Harry?” He said with a question in his tone, as if you should have known this was part of the plan.

“Oh… right.” You nodded and followed behind as Jeff led you to the backstage area. 

As you walked through the space, you saw the hustle and bustle that came with the post-show rush. It was fun to see, you had closed out many clubs, watching bands and roadies break down, but to see it at this extent was infinitely more fascinating. 

Jeff stopped in front of a closed door, a sign with Harry’s name hanging on the front. He opened the door and signaled with his hand for you to walk in. As your eyes traveled the space, you noticed a couch, across from a mirrored counter and directors chair. A large wardrobe was set up against the wall. You were in Harry’s dressing room. 

“He’s just taking care of a couple of things. Make yourself comfortable, and he’ll be right in.” Jeff said with a smile before leaving you alone. 

In Harry Styles’s dressing room. 

You step over to the wardrobe, looking through the outfits, admiring the sparkle and flair of his stage clothes. You realized you’d probably look creepy if he walked in and saw you going through his clothes, so you moved to the couch, taking a seat and fiddling with the feathers that adorned your shoulders, thanks to Harry. 

The sound of the door opening pulled your attention, and you stood to your spot on the couch, taking a deep breath as Harry stepped over the threshold. His eyes caught yours instantly, and his smile widened. 

Once the door was closed, he stepped up to you. “I knew it.” You give him a confused look. “The black definitely suits you.” He grabs the ends of the boa, wiggling them back and forth. You chuckle, and swat his hands away. 

His eyes meet yours again. “So, what did you think of the show?”

You purse your lips, raising an eyebrow pretending to be deep in thought. “I definitely got my money’s worth.” You joke. 

Harry furrows his brow. “But you didn’t pay any money.” 

“I know,” you smirk. 

“Just as cheeky as this morning.” He chuckles. 

“It was an amazing show, Harry. I was truly blown away. Thank you so much for the invitation.” 

“Thank you so much for coming. I wasn’t sure you would.” 

There was a brief silence as you stared into each other’s eyes. You felt an electricity between you two, but you brushed it off as post-show adrenaline. 

“I should probably go, I’m sure you’ve g-”

“No,” Harry interrupted you. “I’d like you to stay, if you can.” He looked at you with hopeful eyes.

You had told yourself that you would need to kill time to avoid crowds on the train. “Well, I suppose sitting backstage with an international superstar beats drinking alone at Banners.” You shrug. 

“Do you want a drink? I can get you a drink.” Harry offered. 

You chuckled at how quickly the words spilled out of him. If it had been anyone else, you would have thought it was out of nerves, or desperation to keep you there. “I’m good. The drink was just to kill time, I can just kill time talking to you instead.” 

Harry wiped an imaginary tear from his eye and pouted at you. “That may be the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.” You laughed, and he smiled. “You have a lovely laugh.” He said, his expression turning more serious. 

“Oh… uh thanks.” You mumble, taken off guard by the earnest comment. 

“Wait right here,” he placed his hands on your shoulders as if to lock you into your spot. “I’m just going to run and change real quick.” He grabbed a pile of clothes off the counter and moved toward the bathroom. He paused in the doorway and turned back around to face you. “Seriously, I’ll be right back. Don’t move.” 

You dropped your hands to your side, standing perfectly straight and nodding your head solemnly. He smiled and shook his head before stepping into the bathroom. 

“What do we think?” He stepped out of the bathroom with a flourish, showing off his hoodie and sweatpants. He spun around before hitting a pose, crossing his arms over his chest. 

You chuckled and applauded. “Very nice. Soooo haute couture.” 

Harry joined in the laughter and led you to the couch. You took a seat on one end, and Harry took a seat beside you, your thighs grazing ever so slightly. The contact sending a shiver up your spine. 

“So, you enjoyed the show?” 

“Ahh, that’s why you asked me to stay.” You nodded expectantly. “You needed someone to tell you how amazing you are.” 

“No, no no no, I swear!” He insisted. Pausing with an arched brow. “Wait, you think I’m amazing?” 

“Ugh,” you groaned, rolling your eyes.

“Sorry, sorry,” he apologized. “Honestly, I just wanted to talk. Maybe get to know you a little.” 

Your eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Me? But why?”

Harry shrugged. “I don’t know, I saw you this morning, you were dressed all proper and business-like, but then I saw that,” he tapped your lip ring. “And I just said to myself ‘I need to know her’.” 

You feel that familiar heat rush your cheeks again and you drop your gaze, staring at your hands, which were sitting in your lap.

“So far, I know that you have an impeccable fashion sense, and you're quite adorable when you blush.” He leans to the side, bumping his shoulder against yours. “But I know there’s more in there, and I plan on finding it.” 

Your nerves are at an all time high, you don’t understand why he’s so desperate to know you. You’re nobody. But you feel strangely at ease, like you want to open up to him. The two of you talk for hours, though it seems like no time has passed. You talk about your families, you tell him about your job, and your hobbies.

“Wait a minute,” he stops you as you’re telling him about the dance studio you’ve been attending since you were three. “You’ve been taking dance lessons for nearly thirty years and all you did out there tonight was nod your head politely?” 

“I don’t dance,” you shrug. 

He looked at you curiously. “So you’ve just been going to this studio for thirty years to press play on music so other people can dance?” 

“No, I mean I don’t like,” you wave your hand trying to come up with the words. “When there’s choreography, I’m fine. If you just play music and tell me to dance, it’s not going to happen.” 

Harry smirked. “I’m going to take that as a personal challenge.” You roll your eyes, but deep down, his words excite you. “So, if you go to a wedding or something, you don’t dance?” You shake your head. “Not even a slow dance?” 

“No, I like to slow dance. My last boyfriend, whenever we went to a wedding, he would allow me one slow dance.” 

Harry furrowed his brow in confusion. “Only one? He didn’t want to take every possible opportunity to hold you as close as possible?” His tone had darkened, almost as if he were picturing the two of you pressed together. His words definitely made you think about it. 

“Nope, guess not. Probably one of the reasons we broke up.” You shrug. 

He could tell that bringing up your ex made you uncomfortable, so he quickly redirected. “So do you ever do the choreographed dancing in public?”

“Yeah, we uh… I have a dance recital every May. But my mom’s the only one that I ever let come.” 

One thing Harry noticed as he got to know you was that you seemed to keep most people at a distance, you put up walls. He could see it in the way you spoke with him. You used humor and sarcasm to avoid letting people in. Harry included. But he was determined to knock that wall down. 

As you two continued to talk, he would intently to everything you said, asking questions to get as much information as he possibly could. 

You eventually ended up talking about music, you told him about the artists you listen to, the ones that everyone knows you listen to, you had also mentioned that you had a sizable collection of guilty pleasures that you kept to yourself. 

“Okay, so tell me one artist on your guilty pleasure list.” Harry goaded.

“Yeah right!” She scoffed. “I just met you.” 

“C’mon pleeeeeaaaaaasssseee,” he begged, widening his eyes and giving you a childlike grin. You couldn’t help but chuckle at his desperation. 

“Fine,” you acquiesce. “But just one.”

He smirks with excitement, reaching for his water bottle and raising it to his lips as he watched you intently.  

“Harry. Styles.”

Harry chokes on his sip of water, covering his mouth with his hand to stop himself from spitting all over you. Your eyes go wide, afraid you may have just killed an international pop sensation. You pat his back as he coughs more. 

“Jeeze, I’m sorry,” you say in a panic. “It wasn’t even that funny!” 

He waves his hand in front of his face as the coughing subsides. “I’m fine, I’m fine. I just wasn’t expecting that.” He said, his voice raspy. You imagine that’s how he would sound first thing in the morning. You quickly shook off the impossible thought, and turned your attention back to him. “So, if I’m one of your guilty pleasures,” he enunciated the term and winked at you. “Does that mean you’re not going to tell anyone about tonight?” 

“Like anyone would even believe me,” you scoffed. 

“We can make sure they do.” He holds his hand out. “Phone, please.” 

You look at him curiously, but hand over your phone as requested. He swipes up, quickly turning the screen to face you. Once your FaceID registers and the phone unlocks, he taps the camera icon and holds the phone up. 

His free arm wraps around your shoulders, pulling you close. You inhale his scent and sigh, even though he just spent an hour sweating onstage, he smelled amazing. You wanted to make that scent into a candle. He pressed his cheek against yours. “Smile!” He said, displaying that wide, childlike smile once again before snapping a picture of the two of you. 

When he was done taking the picture, he pulled away. You were so disappointed in the lack of contact that you didn’t notice Harry tapping away at your phone. 

“There,” Harry’s voice pulled you out of your thoughts. You looked down, and he was handing your phone back. “Not only do you now have your very own Harry selfie, but I texted it to myself, so now we have each other’s numbers.” 

You smile at him, okay he’s definitely hitting on you. How did you even get here? You look down at the phone and your eyes go wide. “Shit!” 

“Are you alright? If you don’t want my number you can delete it I-” 

“No, sorry.” You interrupted him, you definitely wanted his number. You’d never have the guts to actually use it, but it would be nice to look at to remember tonight. “I just realized the time. I missed the last train! Shit, I’m going to have to take an Uber back to my car.”

“No you won’t,” Harry placed an arm on your shoulder to calm you down, it worked. “I have a car to take me to the hotel. We can just take a little detour and bring you to your car.” 

“But it’s so out of the way for you, I don’t want to put you out.”

“Nonsense.” He stood, extending a hand to help you off the couch. When you placed your hand in his, a spark of electricity ran through you. It was as if your hands were made to fit together. 

“Well, thanks.” You shrug, looking down and realizing you’re still wearing the boa. “Oh here, this is yours.” You place your hands on either side, but Harry’s hands are on yours before you can lift it off. 

“Keep it,” he smiled. “It looks better on you anyway.” 

Your eyes drop to the ground again, Harry places his index finger under your chin lifting your gaze to meet his. “You look down too much, Y/N. Your eyes are too beautiful to hide from the world.” 

You saw his eyes flicker down to your lips briefly, causing your breath to hitch. A knock on the door startled you apart. “H, the venue is kicking us out. We’ve gotta go.” 

Harry opens the door, holding it for you, he bows to you and signals out the door. “M’lady.” You step out of the dressing room and into the hallway. 

You spent the thirty minute ride to your car chatting away with Harry in the back of the SVU that had been hired to chauffeur him around. It was almost three in the morning, you knew you should be tired, but you didn’t feel it at all. You were just savoring every second you got to spend with Harry. 

You arrived at the parking garage that housed your car, the SUV pulled up to the gate. You took a deep breath and turned to Harry. “Well, thanks again.” You began the goodbye you had dreaded since the second he stepped into the dressing room. 

“Nope, not done yet.” He shook his head. “What kind of gentleman would I be to let a lady wander a dark parking garage at all hours of the morning?” He hopped out of the car and ran around, opening your door for you. 

You stepped out, and he walked with you into the payment vestibule. You pull the ticket from your wallet and hand it to the attendant. You notice Harry reaching for something out of the corner of your eye. 

“Eight fifty,” the attendant announces. 

You reach into your wallet, but Harry beats you to it, handing over his credit card. 

“Harry, what are you-”

“I invited you out, you shouldn’t have to pay for a thing.” He said as he signed the receipt and returned the card to his wallet. 

“Okay, but I did have to pay for my train ride.” 

“I guess I owe you, then,” he smirked as he led you into the garage. 

You lead him to your car, clicking on the key to unlock it. “That’s me.” You stand by the driver’s side door, Harry comes up beside you, placing one hand on the window and leaning down to stare into your eyes. “I had a lot of fun tonight Harry, really. Thank you so much.”

“The pleasure was all mine,” he smiled. Then his face started moving closer to yours.

Your nerves got the best of you, and you pulled your head back. “Wha- what are you doing?” You stutter. 

“I’m kissing you.” He responds simply. 

“Why?” 

“Because you’re beautiful, and I really enjoyed getting to know you tonight.” He studied your face. He looked so deeply into your eyes that you swore he was looking straight into your soul. “And if we’re being honest, I think you want to kiss me too.” 

“But I… what… I…”

“Y/N, do you want to kiss me?” He asks.

“Yes, very much I do.” You nod.

“Then stop overthinking it, and let it happen.” 

While still leaning on the car with one hand, the other reached up and cupped your cheek. You shivered slightly, you couldn’t tell if it was from the cold metal of his rings against your face, or the intensity of the moment, Maybe both. 

Finally, his lips met yours. The kiss was tentative at first, but as your hands wrapped around his neck, you felt his tongue slide across the seam of your lips, pausing to play with the lip ring on your left side. You quickly granted him access. Your tongues took a moment, slowly exploring each other’s mouths. 

This was something you had both thought about since you first locked eyes this morning, and you wished it would never end. Unfortunately, after a few moments, you pull apart for air. Your eyes remained closed as your foreheads pressed together, his hand still cupping your cheek. 

“Wow,” you breathed out. 

“Yeah, definitely wow.” He said with a chuckle. 

“Goodnight, Harry.” 

“Goodnight, Y/N.” His thumb stroked your jawline softly. “You have my number, please use it?” 

You nod, so overwhelmed by the moment that you were unable to speak. Reluctantly, he steps back. You sigh, instantly missing the warmth of his body against yours. He places his hand on the door handle, opening it for you.

You get into the car and buckle your seatbelt as he closes the door. You start the car and put it in reverse. Harry backs away, smiling at you softly. Before you can take your foot off the break, you come up with a way to spend another few moments with him. It’s not much, but you’ll take all the time you can get. You roll down the window and he looks at you curiously. 

“You know, it’s late. You probably shouldn’t just be wandering around a dark parking garage by yourself.” You say, followed by the clicking of the door locks. “Get in, I’ll drive you back to your car.” 

Harry smiles, that smile. At that moment you realize just how much trouble you’re in. When he smiles at you like that, you are  putty in his hands. He runs around to the passengers side and hops in. 

“Drive slow.” He says as he closes the door. 

You chuckle and back out of your parking spot. As your car moves at a crawl through the garage, you notice out of the corner of your eye that Harry’s gaze never leaves your face, 

“What are you even looking at?” You ask. 

“You have a lovely profile.” He sees your face scrunch at the compliment. “I mean it,” he laughs defensively. “You’ve got that cute little nose, and those pouty lips.” 

“They’re probably extra pouty right now.” You say, alluding to the kiss you two had just shared.

“Do you regret it?” 

“Not at all. You?” 

“Nope,” he pops the ‘p’ sound. “Thinking about how much I want to do it again, actually.” 

You instinctively pull your bottom lip in between your teeth as you begin to blush again.

“Mmm,” Harry groans. “You’re not playing fair, Y/N.”

As you reach the gate at the front of the garage, you scan your payment receipt. The barricade lifts and you drive out, pulling up beside Harry’s ride. 

“Well,” you sigh. “I think we’ve officially put it off as long as we can. This is where we part ways.” You turn to face him, your heart sinking at the thought of parting. 

Harry leans across the console, pulling you into another kiss. You savor every second of his lips on yours, knowing that he’s off to a new city in the morning, and you likely won’t see him again for a very long time.

You separate, and he looks deeply into your eyes again. “Get home safely, yeah?”

You nod. “You too, I mean tour safely, I guess.” You shrug, silently chiding yourself for your stupid response.

“Goodnight, Y/N.” He says with a sad smile. 

“Goodnight, Harry.” Your voice is barely above a whisper as you try to control your emotions. 

You watch as he gets out of your car, and opens the backseat door of his SUV. He waves one more time before getting inside. As the car drives off, you follow behind it toward the exit. His car moves to the right lane, yours to the left, preparing to go your separate ways. You notice the back window roll down, Harry waves at you one last time as his car takes the right turn. You watch it until it is out of your sight. Once your light turns green, you put your foot on the gas and head home, returning to real life. 

Your life without Harry. 

[onceuponaoneshotfanfic]

Don't You Worry Your Pretty Little Mind

I'll Write Your Name Chapter 8

Roy Kent x Latina!Popstar!Reader

6.8k words

Warnings: Language, mentions of drinking, slut-shaming and mentions of an age gap, me not knowing how making an album works and not letting it ruin my fun, judgey internet trolls being judgey, lots and lots of pining

“Can I come see you in the studio?”

I looked up from the Scrabble board to find Roy staring at me, that hard stare of his that often accompanied a long silence. Sydney was curled up in his lap, enjoying a nice ear massage while we played a quiet game. Somewhere in the background, a movie neither of us was paying any attention to was playing, filling the room with something more than our lack of conversation.

Something had felt different when we returned from the lake. Somewhere between our heated make out session and his weird indifference to being the subject of my song, something had shifted. It was probably just me, I conceded. It was me overthinking and worrying that Roy was going to figure out how I felt. If anything, I was probably starting to weird him out with my awkwardness.

“In the studio?” I repeated, cocking my head at him. “Is Keeley bugging you for pictures of something other than a Scrabble board?”

Roy smirked. “No,” he scoffed. “I was just thinking, you’ve seen me at work. A lot, actually. How about you let me see you at work, sunshine?”

My gaze fell back to the board, to the word wrinkle that Roy had just put down. The album was coming along well, I admitted to myself. In fact, the majority of the songs were brand new as opposed to reworked lyrics from my old albums. Not that Roy Kent needed to know, but he was apparently quite the muse. In the back of my mind, I knew he’d hear all of the songs eventually, but the little nervous part of me wasn’t quite ready for it- especially for him to hear them live in the studio.

And yet, those brown eyes had me murmuring, “Sure, Kent.”

He grinned- one of those real, joyful grins- and turned his attention back to the Scrabble board. “Maybe tomorrow?”

My mind raced, trying to remember what song we’d be recording; I couldn’t remember for the life of me. “Uh, yeah.” I fiddled with the ends of my hair, trying to offer Roy a casual smile. “Sounds fun.”

~

Roy leaned into the leather couch along the back wall. Did she always look this nervous when she was about to record- or was it because of him? No, he scolded himself, rolling his eyes at his wandering thoughts, the same ones that kept wandering to that afternoon at the lake, when she’d sat on his lap for the benefit of some paparazzi and kissed him hard enough to almost make him believe it.

Fuck off, he told himself as he crossed his arms. She was being forced to create an album that was supposedly about a man she wasn’t actually in love with; of course she looked uncomfortable. He’d be foolish to think it was anything else.

“You ready?” Her producer- a loud, lanky guy named Alex- spoke into the microphone that echoed into the recording booth.

She nodded, brushing her hair out of her face. Roy liked seeing her look so casual in a sweatshirt and minimal makeup; she was always stunning, whether dolled up, or in her Greyhounds gear, or in pyjamas. But this look- so comfortable and domestic- was his favorite by far. As if she could feel his soft gaze, her eyes flickered to him. He offered her a tiny smile, trying to tell her how excited he was to see her at work. She offered a shy grin in return and straightened up before returning her focus to her producer.

“Let’s do it,” came her confident voice.

The producer shot her a thumbs up and hit a few buttons, filling the studio with a dreamy tune that immediately warmed every inch of Roy's body. She swayed a little, eyes closed, feeling the music, before she opened her mouth and her eyes- eyes that went straight to Roy.

I feel so high school every time I look at you

I wanna find you in a crowd just to hide from you

Roy couldn’t help but crack a small grin. She’d mentioned at some point how people often said she sounded like a girl that never left high school behind- and now here she was, proudly proclaiming that yeah, she felt like that girl, at least sometimes. He was learning that not only was she fully aware of the things people said about her, not only did she not let it affect her, but she could lean into and make fun of herself. There was something charming and, frankly, kind of sexy about it.

And in a blink of a crinkling eye

I'm sinking, our fingers entwined

Cheeks pink in the twinkling lights

Tell me 'bout the first time you saw me

I'll drink what you think, and I'm high

From smoking your jokes all damn night

The brink of a wrinkle in time

Bittersweet sixteen suddenly

The warmth in Roy’s chest became more of a burning when he heard the words wrinkle in time. The book he’d read on their holiday, one of his favorite books, the one he’d admitted to having read countless times. She’d mentioned it in her song. Roy quickly shook off the excitement that tingled in his fingertips as he listened to her sing about American Pie and feeling like high school; she was adding in details about him, he reasoned. She had to make it seem like these songs were about him, after all. Of course she’d sprinkle in real details so people wouldn’t be able to guess that the songs were about other men, real romances she’d had.

It was all part of the act.

Still, he couldn’t help but grin when she sang about him- or whoever the true subject of the song was- knowing how to ball while she knows Aristotle. It was cute, silly, the words of an infatuated young woman. Lucky man, some tiny voice in the back of Roy’s head thought as he tried not to feel a smidge of jealousy towards whoever had apparently pulled her into the backseat of a car.

“She’s great, ain’t she?”

Roy tore his eyes away from the singer to find her producer grinning at him. He nodded to the empty seat by the controls. Glancing back at the singer, Roy stood and took the new spot, closer to the glass that separated her from them.

Alex continued, “You must be something, Roy Kent. She’s a workaholic, that’s a known fact, but wow. She’s been nonstop these days. I’m getting phone calls and texts and voice memos at two in the morning with nearly completed songs.” He raised his eyebrows at Roy. “M’girlfriend’s starting to get worried,” he joked. Glancing back at the still-singing star, he went on, “But seriously. I’ve worked with her for years, and I’ve never seen her so inspired.” He nudged Roy. “Must be love,” he hummed.

The song finished, her voice soft and wistful and her eyes on Roy. She smiled at him, something that looked like a real smile on her face, with flushed cheeks and bright eyes. Roy couldn’t help but smile back, ignoring every tight feeling in his chest, those tight feelings that kept growing and growing no matter how much he fought them.

“Yeah,” he managed to huff. “Must be.”

~

 Normally, I wouldn’t be caught dead scrolling through the hate and gossip that usually accompanied my name online. But for whatever reason, after a rehearsal for my tour, I couldn’t help the way my eyes stayed glued to my phone, to all the jokes and headlines declaring that Roy Kent was too old for me, that he was a senior citizen and I was a child.

“Must be a slow news cycle,” April chirped as she watched me stretch in front of the dance studio mirrors.

I sat my phone down so I could make myself focus on my cooldown. “It’s stupid,” I grumbled, sitting with my feet out in front of me. “It’s not like I’m sixteen and he’s thirty. I’m a full-grown woman. He’s got what, a decade on me?” I scowled at my reflection. “I write about my exes, they tell me to grow up. I date a nice, stable guy with a good job, and they tell me I’m a baby.” My deep sigh filled the empty dance studio. “It’s like I can’t do anything right.”

April’s face softened as she sat on the floor beside me. “It’s nothing you haven’t seen before,” she reminded me. “They always have something to say about you, babe.”  After a pause, her eyes sparkled. “So, you think Kent’s a nice guy, huh?”

I pretended my heart didn’t skip a beat as I rolled my eyes. “He’s a good friend,” I huffed. “And I hate to think that his own reputation is getting sullied by associating with me. Especially since-” The words caught in my throat before tumbling out. “-since none of this is real.”

“What about your reputation?” April asked quietly, watching me with those gentle eyes that I always hated being on the receiving end of, gentle eyes that were far too familiar.

“My reputation…” I sighed. “Let’s be real, it’s always going to have problems.” I laughed hollowly and picked my phone back up, resuming my scrolling. “But if I’m being really honest, April, if I was in a relationship- an actual relationship- as healthy as the one I’m pretending to be in, well all the shit they say might be worth-”

I froze as words began to bloom and swirl in my head. Ignoring April’s questioning look, I scrambled to my feet to hurry and grab a notebook before those words began to disappear. Lucky, I was able to start scribbling down my thoughts, thoughts that multiplied rather than vanish. My pen continued to fly as April chuckled and loaded me into her car, as she drove me home, as I sat in front of my piano all night. The pen was still moving the next morning as Roy followed April and me into the recording studio, where Alex greeted me with that familiar giant smile.

“You are not still fiddling with the lyrics. It's already perfect,” he scoffed. He shook Roy’s hand as though the two of them were old pals now. “Your girl kept me up all night with this new song,” he huffed. He gave me a pointed look. “Steph looked about ready to kill me when I got out of bed to head down to the home studio.”

“Steph’ll be fine when I thank her in the liner notes,” I hummed, waving him off, thinking of all the other late nights my insomniac tendencies had caused his poor girlfriend. “Now, do you have my music or not?”

The playful annoyance on my producer’s face was replaced with glee almost immediately. “Here, give it a listen.” He placed some headphones on my head and hit a button.

I closed my eyes and tilted my head back, letting my head fill with the twinkling music, something that felt like young love and hope and romance. It was exactly what I’d imagined in my mind- but better. For the millionth time since we’d started collaborating three albums ago, Alex had done pure magic with just a few manic voice memos sent obnoxiously late at night.

“Perfect,” I sighed after only about thirty seconds. I handed him the headphones back and nodded. “Let’s try it.”

As Alex prepared to play the music, I grabbed Roy’s hand and gave him my coyest smile, replaying Keeley’s reminders to really sell this thing in my mind; my chronically online producer was the perfect audience for a little PDA. “Come on, Roycito. I want you to hear this one.”

Roy shot me a curious look and followed me into the recording booth, watching me sit down before joining me. I kept his hand in mine, intertwining our fingers as I nodded to Alex to play the song. When the glittering music echoed inside the booth, Roy turned to me, the corners of his mouth turning up and his eyebrows raised.

Keeping my eyes on his, I opened my mouth and began to sing-

Flamingo pink Sunrise Boulevard

Clink, clink Being this young is art

Aquamarine Moonlit swimming pool

What if all I need is you?

As the song continued, I offered Roy my best smile, the one I realized I wore so naturally when he was around. He returned it easily, with sparkling brown eyes and pink cheeks. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Alex recording us with his phone, mischievous grin on his face. If this was real- if we were real- this would make an adorable video, one I’d cherish and play over and over. Me, singing a song I’d written about Roy, for Roy, pure infatuation all over both of our faces.

At least it would look good on our socials.

But if I'm all dressed up

They might as well be looking at us

And if they call me a slut

You know it might be worth it for once

And if I'm gonna be drunk

Might as well be drunk in love

Roy’s eyebrows flew up when I got to the title of the song. I wasn’t surprised; sure, I wasn’t the sweet little nineteen-year-old I once was- I openly swore and wrote songs about sex now- but I’d never called myself something so crude before. But as I sang it, I found I liked the way the word contrasted against the romantic dreaminess of the song; it kind of reminded me of Roy, a juxtaposition of gruff hardness and tender sweetness.

Send the code, he's waiting there

The sticks and stones they throw froze mid-air

Everyone wants him

That was my crime

The wrong place at the right time

And I break down, then he's pullin' me in

In a world of boys, he's a gentleman

On the word gentleman, I reached out and tapped the tip of Roy’s nose with my index finger. His skin was warm, and I swore the pink in his cheeks deepened. Some small, timid part of me was scared that he was uncomfortable with the attention, with being implied as the muse for this song after his reaction to “Sweet Nothing”. But something in his bright eyes and soft smile told me that maybe, just maybe, he was enjoying himself.

Figuring that he was also playing things up for my producer’s benefit, I let myself lean into the performance, offering Roy flirtatious smiles and bumping his shoulder coyly as I sang to him.

Half asleep

Taking your time

In the tangerine, neon light

This is luxury

You're not saying you're in love with me

But you're going to

Half awake

Taking your chance

It's a big mistake

I said it might blow up in your pretty face

I'm not saying do it anyway

But you're going to

And if they call me a slut

You know it might be worth it for once

And if I'm gonna be drunk

Might as well be drunk in love

Roy shook his head as the music faded. “Fucking amazing,” he murmured, too softly for the microphones to pick up. He leaned forward and kissed my cheek, leaving an undeniable warm spot where his lips touched my skin. “That’s a fucking hit.”

I ducked my head, suddenly overwhelmed by the look in his eyes. Remembering where I was, I looked back into the control room, where Alex had a wide grin and April wore a curious expression. Ignoring my assistant’s raised eyebrows, I nodded to my producer. “Well?”

“It’s perfect,” he chuckled into the intercom. “Seriously, I love it.” He cocked his head at me. “Needs a new title though. Maybe ‘Lovesick’ or ‘Love-Struck’?”

I knew this conversation would be coming. “No,” I said with a small shake of my head. “It’s ‘Slut!’. I don’t want any other title.”

“Kid,” huffed my producer, calling me the nickname he knew made me roll my eyes. “This is a radio hit. Song of the summer. But you’re not going to get any airplay with that title. You're already fighting the fact that you call yourself a slut in the chorus. Don’t shoot yourself in the foot here.”

“No.” I sat up taller, keenly aware of Roy’s arm pressed against mine. “If they can spend the last decade calling me a slut, then I can too. They don’t want to hear me sing it, maybe they shouldn’t have said it.”

Alex groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Fine,” he grumbled as he stood up. “’m gonna go grab some water and cry about the fact that you’ve just cost us our millionth Billboard top spot.”

I rolled my eyes with a grin; he always gave in when I felt passionate about something. “Don’t worry,” I assured him as he left the studio. “I’ll write you another hit.”

“Fucking badass,” came a sigh next to me. When I turned my head, Roy was staring at me with raised eyebrows and a slacked jaw. The corner of his mouth turned upwards in a lopsided grin. “Sticking up for what you want, flipping the bird at the people who talk shit about you. You’re a badass, sunshine,” he chuckled, planting another kiss on my cheek.

“Thanks,” I murmured, ignoring the fact that he'd kissed my cheek without a real audience to witness it. “So you liked the song?”

He nodded earnestly. “Fuck yeah,” he assured me. “Tell me you’re going to do that one live. It’d be fucking magic.”

I paused, glancing at April though the window; she was watching us with something that looked way too much like a smirk. After narrowing my eyes at her, I turned back to Roy. “Well, I was kind of toying with the idea of previewing the album during the tour. Like surprising some of the shows with a new song.”

Those thick eyebrows flew up. “You’ve gotta do it. People are going to lose their shit when they hear these songs.” He shook his head and leaned forward to plant a tender kiss to my temple. “What a fucking mind, indeed.”

Fuck fuck fuck, I thought as I glanced away. This crush, this stupid little crush, was becoming too much for me to handle. Roy Kent was too supportive, too nice, too kind, not to mention too fucking handsome. Why couldn’t he be the moody jackass I first met in Keeley’s office? Why did he have to be one of the most genuinely good people I’d ever met? This whole thing might blow up in my pretty face if I wasn’t careful.

But when I looked back at Roy’s sparkling brown eyes, I felt like it might really be worth it for once.

~

“Hey Roy-o.” Keeley bounded over, wearing something with far too many sequins, and gave Roy a friendly hug. “Where’s your better half?”

Roy rolled his eyes, giving Keeley a small squeeze before letting go. “She’s over with April,” he answered, not bothering to correct Keeley about calling the popstar his ‘better half’. He nodded across Jamie’s living room, where the singer and assistant were huddled in a corner and giggling. As if she could feel his gaze, those familiar eyes flittered around the party until they met his; he swore her smile widened.

Keeley's bright voice interrupted his thoughts. “Have you gotten to hear any of the new album yet?”

“I have,” he said, unable to hide the hint of bragging in his voice. “It’s fucking brilliant so far, actually.” His eyes returned to the popstar- who was already glancing over at him.

“Think she’d honor us with a preview?” Keeley teased, waggling her eyebrows at Roy. “It’d be nice for Jamie’s piano to get used for once.” She wrinkled her nose playfully. “Don’t know why he bought the damn thing in the first place,” she added.

Roy hesitated for a moment as he looked around the party. Jamie had decided to throw a party to show off the pool he’d built in the backyard after the end of the season; after a day spent in and out of the pool, the house was packed with the Greyhounds and their significant others, wearing cover ups and sweatshirts over swimsuits and newly acquired sunburns and laughing over drinks. The “power couple” had, of course, come together, with Roy opting to wear his usual black and his ‘girlfriend’ in a sweet summer dress that looked like it belonged on a magazine cover. Unsurprisingly, she looked lovely as ever, chatting with everyone with ease and looking as if she belonged. She was like that in every room, Roy realized; always relaxed, charming, making whoever she was with feel like they were the most important person in the room. For the millionth time since they’d met, Roy felt awed that the woman he’d thought would be a complete brat and diva was actually one of the most genuine people he’d ever met. And that knowledge had him growing more and more protective of her by the day.

Because that’s what friends are for- right?

“I mean…” Roy cleared his throat. “I guess if she fucking wants to-”

“Great!” Before Roy could finish his thought, Keeley had grabbed his wrist and began dragging him across the room, a movement Roy was surprisingly irked by. She didn’t let go until they’d reached the popstar, who offered Keeley that sheepish smile she always wore around the model. “Hey!” Keeley chirped.

The singer accepted the hug Keeley wrapped her in. “Hi, Keeley,” she murmured. Her body seemed to soften when she realized Roy was looking at her. “Sorry you had to miss the pool party. Rebecca said you had to go rescue a photoshoot or something?”

Keeley nodded eagerly, seemingly pleased that the popstar was engaging her in real conversation. “Yeah, the model was being a bit difficult, so I had to go talk her down. Bummer to miss out on all the swimming, but what can ya do? It's not easy being the boss.” She nudged the popstar. “Well, you know how it is. You're basically running the music industry these days.”

“Oh, I don't know about that-”

Roy rolled his eyes and wrapped an arm around the popstar’s shoulders so he could tug her close. “Oh fuck off with the modesty,” he gently chided. “You’re on top of the fucking world.” He turned to Keeley, holding his head high with pride. “Have you seen her tour numbers? Fucking impossible to get tickets to the show now.” He quirked an eyebrow at the singer. “Good thing I've got an in, otherwise I'd be missing the event of the summer.”

“Think I could manage to score a ticket?” Keeley teased with a wink; funny, Roy didn't feel those usual butterflies.

“Definitely.” The popstar leaned into Roy's touch; fuck, she always made it feel so natural.

Ignoring the fluttering in the deepest pit of his stomach, Roy gave her a squeeze. “Speaking of the show…” Roy cleared his throat and lowered his voice. “Any chance you'd want to preview one of those new songs? Tartt’s got a piano.”

Her eyes widened for a fraction of a second. “I dunno, Roycito,” she hummed, scrunching her nose in thought.

Immediately, Roy shook his head. “You don't have to,” he whispered, loud enough for only her to hear. “You absolutely don't fucking have to.”

She chewed on her bottom lip for a moment- her thinking face, the one Roy had gotten quite used to while watching her work at the lake. He briefly wondered if she was aware of it. “Sure,” she finally said. “I’ve got one I can share.”

In the blink of an eye, the entire party was squeezed around Jamie’s never-been-used piano, eagerly awaiting the opportunity to hear the unreleased song. She looked so at ease as she sat down, all smiles and giggles as the Greyhounds chattered about what songs they liked, teasingly asking if this song was about Roy, speculating if this meant there was a new album coming soon.

Before the singer could even pluck one key, Roy barked out, “Oi, no fucking recording. I see one fucking phone, I’m punching dicks.” When he looked back at the piano, he was greeted with a smile, the kind that was stifling full-on laughter. Roy smirked; he was good at making her laugh, he’d discovered. He gave her a small nod, letting her know that he was cheering her on.

With a deep breath, she looked down at the key and began to play gently, creating a warm tune that Roy hadn’t heard before. Immediately, he liked it and knew that, once again, she’d created a hit.

There's glitter on the floor after the party

Girls carrying their shoes down in the lobby

Candle wax and Polaroids on the hardwood floor

You and me from the night before, but

Don't read the last page

But I stay when you're lost, and I'm scared, and you're turning away

I want your midnights

But I'll be cleaning up bottles with you on New Year's Day

It was sweet, romantic, perfect. Roy didn’t bother hiding his grin as his shoulders relaxed, making him realize how tense he’d been before she started. Keeley seemed to have noticed, because she grinned up at him with raised eyebrows.

Not that Roy noticed, not when he was too busy watching the popstar and soaking in every word she sang.

Hold on to the memories

They will hold on to you

Hold on to the memories

They will hold on to you

Hold on to the memories

They will hold on to you

And I will hold on to you

Roy dared to tear his eyes away from the piano to peek at the reactions of his friends and his team. He watched as Colin wrapped an arm around Michael and leaned in close to his boyfriend; he noticed the way Jamie’s fingertips brushed against the inside of April’s wrist; he caught the tears forming in Rebecca’s eyes and her wistful expression; but none of the little moments made him smile the way the singer’s voice did.

Especially when she finally looked up from the piano to lock eyes with him.

Please don't ever become a stranger

Whose laugh I could recognize anywhere

Please don't ever become a stranger

Whose laugh I could recognize anywhere

As Roy’s chest tightened, Keeley leaned close and whispered, “It’s incredible, isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” Roy breathed, not looking at the model. “She is.”

Without another word, he left his spot next to Keeley to walk over to the piano and sit beside the singer, whose smile widened. She scooched closer to him, not missing a single key and never breaking eye contact. It was as if the room around them disappeared, as if they were back in their quiet little world by the lake, where nothing existed except the two of them and the music she created.

Don't read the last page

But I stay when it's hard, or it's wrong, or we're making mistakes

I want your midnights

But I'll be cleaning up bottles with you on New Year's Day

The moment her fingers lifted from the keys, Roy instinctively leaned close and pressed a chaste kiss to her lips, feeling her smile pressing against his. And he ignored the feeling that, for the first time, he might not be kissing her for the benefit of an audience.

~

When I pulled back from Roy's kiss, I was still smiling. Smiling at the song, smiling at the enthusiastic cheers from the Greyhounds, smiling at the awed look on Roy's bearded face.

But on the inside, I was screaming, wishing that the kiss he'd given me was as real as the feelings that grew inside me every day, the feelings I had poured into this song.

“That was fucking gorgeous,” Roy whispered in my ear, his warm breath tickling my skin. “Seriously, sunshine, I'm having a hard time picking a favorite song.”

All I could do was smile at Roy, with his sweet words and bright eyes, and murmur, “Thanks, Kent.”

As everyone else returned to mingling and chatting, Roy reached down and touched my hand gently. “Let’s go grab a drink.”

Plastic cup in one hand, Roy’s hand in the other, I followed the footballer through the house, offering my most dazzling smile as people commented on how much they liked the song. Eventually, I found Roy leading me up some stairs. Before I could ask him where we were going, he led me into a side bedroom and to the window. Once he pushed the window open, he nodded to me. 

“How about some fresh air?”

Suppressing my surprised grin, I climbed out the window after Roy, accepting his warm grip as he helped me out onto the roof overlooking Jamie’s backyard. The twinkling patio lights below echoed the emerging stars above, making it seem like Roy and I were floating somewhere in space; the sounds of shouts and laughter from the party reminded me that we were still on Earth.

“How’re you doing?”

Roy’s growling voice returned my thoughts from far-off galaxies. “Hmm?”

He shrugged and scooted closer, as if trying to keep me warm. “I know there’s been some shit about our age difference,” he said slowly, searching my face for a reaction. “I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

A hollow laugh spilled out of my chest. “Me? I’m fine. They spend years telling me to grow up, be more mature, stop spending all my time running around with boys. But here I am, with a man, a stable man, and suddenly I’m sixteen and need to be protected and need to be protected from big, bad Roy Kent.” I nudged him and took a sip of my beer. “I’m more concerned about you, actually. Everyone’s acting like you’re a dirty old man because of a couple photos of you grabbing my ass.”

“Honestly,” Roy chuckled. “I’m starting to feel like one.” A blush settled on his cheeks. “Sorry about that, by the way. Guess I got a bit carried away.”

I shook my head. “Don’t,” I assured him. “What did everyone think we’ve been doing, cuddling and holding hands? We’re supposed to be adults in an adult relationship. You’re Roy Kent. Anyone with a brain could assume we’re, well, you know.”

He sighed and wrapped a warm arm around my shoulders. “Yeah,” he agreed, “but I don’t like seeing your reputation take all these hits. That’s not the point of all this,” he reminded me.

“Kent,” I said slowly, fighting the urge to lean my head on his shoulder. “If the worst thing they can say about me is that my boyfriend is a smidge older than me, then this is the best my reputation has been in ages. It’s annoying, sure, but it’s not the worst thing they’ve ever said about me.”

“I guess,” Roy mumbled, tugging me closer. “Just… keep me posted on how you’re doing, alright? If we need to cool things down, or call it off, you let me know. I’ll handle Keeley and Lanie. You’re more important than any fucking plan, you know. Much more important.”

With those kind words, I gave in, leaning my head on his shoulder and watching the lights twinkling below us. For a little bit, I let myself forget all about the press, all about the beautiful ex-girlfriend I saw him whispering with while I sang, all about the party downstairs. Hell, I let myself forget all about the fact that this was a fake relationship with an undetermined but very real expiration date.

For a little bit, I let myself pretend that Roy Kent might love me back.

~

Roy grinned as he watched her nose scrunch in concentration while she studied the chess board on his coffee table. After informing Roy that she’d never played chess before, he insisted on teaching the popstar before their early bedtime. She was spending the night at his place, something he realized was kind of rare; normally they were at her place, mostly because of Sydney the cat. But Sydney was staying with April (and probably Jamie too), plus Roy’s house was closer to the airport. 

The two of them would be leaving early in the morning for their flight- on her private jet- to Los Angeles, where they were due to celebrate her niece’s birthday. Roy felt apprehensive- he wasn’t the kind of guy who met families; even with Keeley, he’d only met her on a handful of occasions. But here he was, suitcase packed so he could fly halfway across the world and meet what his fake girlfriend described as “a typical loud Mexican family”. She’d spent the last week warning him about which uncles would try to get him drunk, about the nephews who were already obsessed with him, about how her mother was going to try to feed him the moment they walked through the door, and about how her very protective father and sister were both going to give him the third degree during their visit.

“They’d always thought I’d bring Dani Rojas if I ever brought an athlete home,” she had joked when he asked what they thought of the fake relationship so far. “Not an old British man.”

Even though this was all for show, so that there would be no suspicion from the press if she showed up to a major family event without her supposedly serious boyfriend, Roy still wanted to make a good impression. His own family pretty much consisted of his sister and Phoebe; there was something lovely about a big family, even one as loud and overbearing as she described to him.

“My folks are really looking forward to meeting you,” she hummed now as she finally moved a chess piece, looking comfortable in her criss-cross position, leaning her back against the couch. “You’re going to be the first boyfriend they’ve met in awhile.”

“Seriously?” Roy took his turn, trying not to smirk when he saw the disappointment on her face when she realized her move had set him up for victory. 

She snorted as they reset the board. “I mean, you’ve met Everett. Not exactly the kind of guy that parents like mine would be excited about. Drinks too much, pants too tight, total bad boy. Scared the living daylights out of my poor Catholic mother. Meeting him would've killed her.”

Roy fidgeted with the pawn he held. “But they’re excited for me? The old man who swears every other word?”

“They say I look happy,” she murmured, eyes on the board. “They’ve seen photos of us, they see that I’m not out partying like I used to. They think I’m in a really good place thanks to you.” She offered him a small smile, cocking her head thoughtfully. “Honestly, I think so too, Roycito. This friendship has been really good for me.” She reached out and touched his hand gently. “So, thanks. For being such a good friend.” 

For a moment, Roy just stared at her hand in his, warm and soft and familiar now. His mind wandered to that afternoon by the lake, the way it had ever since they'd gotten home from holiday, and a quiet voice wondered if all of her was this soft and warm.

Fuck off, he scolded himself harshly. Perverted old man, indeed.

“Oi, I've got something for you,” he murmured. Gently, he pulled back his hand, hoping the movement wasn't too gingerly, and stood up. He walked briskly to his room and returned with a small jewelry box. Trying to keep his signature apathetic expression, Roy handed her the box and sat back down, wondering if she could see the way his fingers twitched in anticipation.

With a coolly raised eyebrow she opened the box. When she saw the silver necklace, a smile broke out across that pretty face.

“It's perfect,” she giggled.

Keeley had mentioned to Roy the idea of giving her some kind of trinket to symbolize the relationship, another piece of evidence that this fake romance was real and very serious, especially in the face of the age gap discourse they'd been facing. Immediately, Roy knew exactly what to get her.

It was a simple silver chain with a little square charm, with a large R engraved in the middle and a tiny number 1 in the corner. A Scrabble letter.

And for whatever reason, Roy didn't bother telling her it was Keeley's idea. Not when he saw the brightness in her eyes as she took the necklace out of the box. Her smile widened when she looked back up at him, at what he knew was his most pleased expression.

“Thank you, Roy,” she finally said, her voice thickening. “Wanna help me put it on? I'm sure the girls would want me to post a selfie or something.”

Roy's stomach sank a little at the mention of the publicists, reminding him of how orchestrated everything between the two of them was, but he didn't let his easy expression fade. Instead, he went around to her side of the coffee table and took the necklace from her hands, not minding too much when her fingers brushed against his. He settled on the couch behind her and brushed the hair off the back of her neck, wondering absently if the back of every woman's neck was pretty or just hers. He lifted the necklace in front of her, smirking to himself when he saw the way she immediately patted the charm against her skin. He clasped it securely into place and gently laid the chain on her neck. However, he didn't immediately remove his hands from her. Instead, he found himself staring at the smooth skin he back of her neckon the back of her neck, wondering how it would feel against his lips. He knew what her mouth felt like, of course; but what about the rest of her?

Spurred on by this newfound curiosity, Roy leaned forward and ghosted his mouth over her bare neck. But before he could properly attach his lips to her skin, his mobile vibrated across the room, breaking whatever spell he was under.

Clearing his throat, Roy scrambled to his feet, ignoring the raging heat in his cheeks and refusing to look her in the eye. He rushed over to where he had carelessly tossed his phone earlier and glanced at the name on the screen: Keeley.

“Yeah?” he grumbled when he picked up. He dared a glance at the beautiful singer; she was staring down at the forgotten chessboard with wide eyes, fiddling absently with the silver Scrabble letter around her neck. Had she felt that little kiss? he wondered, his heart frozen in panic. What the absolute fuck was wrong with him?

“Just checking in,” Keeley chirped, ignorant to Roy’s frazzled state. “You two’ll definitely be photographed when you arrive in L.A. So just make sure to post a few pictures, look like the happy couple, you know the drill.”

Roy nodded, then remembered that Keeley couldn’t see him. “Yeah,” he repeated. “I know the drill.” He cleared his throat and averted his eyes, lest he be caught staring. “Anything else?”

“Are you alright, Roy?” Keeley’s voice was filled with concern. “You’re even more monosyllabic than usual.”

“I’m fine,” Roy lied. “Just, dunno, fucking anxious for the long flight or some shit.” He glanced back across the room; those pretty eyes found his. “I’ll talk to you later, alright?”

Keeley sighed, clearly unconvinced. “Alright. Have a safe flight, Roy-o. Say hi to-”

Roy hung up before she could finish. He stuffed his phone into his pocket and shifted his weight. “Should we get some sleep, then?”

“Was that Keeley?”

He blinked in surprise. Her voice was small, not at all the confident woman he’d gotten used to. “Uh, yeah,” he admitted, cocking his head when he saw her wide eyes. “She says hi and to have a safe flight.” He paused for a moment before blurting out, “You don’t like her very much, do you?”

Flustered. The Grammy-winning, Billboard-topping, record-breaking popstar looked positively flustered as she gazed back at Roy, with her parted lips that formed a pretty little O. “Why do you think I don’t like Keeley?” she asked with an awkward little chuckle. “Of course I like Keeley. She’s great.”

Roy wasn’t convinced. He saw the way she looked when Keeley was around, quieter and more reserved, only speaking to the model when spoken to, almost disappointed when Roy and Keeley were in close quarters.

If Roy was a more foolish man, he’d think the singer was jealous of his ex-girlfriend.

But only an idiot would think that.

Instead of pushing the matter, Roy just shrugged and nodded in the direction of the hallway, of the separate bedrooms they’d be sleeping in. And, as she quietly followed him down that hallway, he couldn’t help but wonder if she’d fall asleep thinking of him- the way he would fall asleep thinking of her.

Taglist: @infinetlyforgotten@ladygrey03@book-of-roses@thatonedogwithablog@misshall14@wibblywobblyvampywolfystuff@akornsworld@itswhateveripromise@purecinnamonextract@oceanncurrent@dearvoidgoodnight@hopefulromances@respondingtoshowerthoughts-blog@hotleaf-juice@emmy2811@captainorbust-blog@preciousbabypeter@shion-ah@royalestrellas@eugene-emt-roe@littleesilvia@teenwolf01@sisinever@yagotgames@queen-of-the-downtown-scene@emmaallisonann@mrdsturd@confessionsofatotaldramaslut@charkachow@mrdsturd@littlepinapple@sunfairyy@shadowzena43@uhmidkmuch@imsoluckyeverythingworksoutforme @alicedsworld @222333777 @thegivenvoid

[winterwhisperz-blog]

Hey i just read your touchstarved headcanons and I LOVE IT!!!

And Here’s my request is that can you do a scenario of TS boys with MC who can speak different languages??? (like Italian or French)

Don’t worry i am a patient person and I won’t rush you. And i hope you’ll make more scenarios of the TS boys in be future.

YES HI HELLO !! I am, SO SO SORRY for taking two thousand centuries to respond to this—I’ve been pretty stressed over work so I haven’t been able to write headcanons as much— BUT TYSM FOR THE ASK !! IM SO HAPPY YOUVE ENJOYED MY HEADCANONS !

I do want to apologize in advance that these are going to be shorter and less one-shot like, than my others. These will be more like my Kuras Headcanons I made awhile ago—(Life has been kicking my butt lately so my motivation has been LOW)

But I hope you still enjoy them !!

Also huuuuge thanks to @danyvhell-writes

For helping me with these ideas !! You’re a saint 🙏

ALR LES GO

Note: gn reader! Fluff

Warnings: PROBABLY OOC PLS DONT HATE ME

Ais

ALR ALR AHAHAHAHA

So, one of my besties would do this A LOT where she would just switch into Spanish and I’d just be there like ???

So I thought it would be funny if you did that with Ais here

Imagine you’re in some kind of argument, a stupid, light one you know— and to annoy him

YOU JUST SWITCH INTO A WHOLE DIFFERENT LANGUAGE

He’s completely stunned, red eyes wide as you just start rambling, (very passionately) in a language he doesn’t understand

As you go on though, he just becomes utterly impressed, watching your mouth as he studies the words coming out of it (and just because he’s flirty LMAOOOO)

After you’ve had your fun, he comments something like “Impressive, Sparrow.” And then asks you, ofc, if you can teach him what you said

To tease him a bit more, you don’t tell him for a bit until he BRINGS OUT THESE GIANT PUPPY EYES

So you do start teaching him, just long evenings hunched over books or a paper as you teach him different phrases and words, the candle light dancing on his focused gaze.

And one day, out of the blue, he starts calling you Sparrow in the language you were speaking(and you also hear him practice words while talking with Princess—AND ITS SO ADORABLE)

After he’s becoming pretty good at it, you then proceed to tease other people(Leander) by randomly switching mid-conversation into a different language <33

Leander

NOW WITH THIS ONE, it reminded me of this really cool video of a guy switching between loads of languages in one song

IMAGINE showing this off to Leander one rowdy night at the Wet Wick

Maybe it’s even one of his favorite songs ??? And hearing you sing it in so many languages would absolutely knock him off his feet.

Another thing I think he’d go CRAZY FOR

Pet names, in whatever language.

Like ?? You call him something like “Mi amor…” for Spanish, or “Tesoruccio.” For Italian ??

He’s done for. Doomed. Dead. Will beg you to repeat it over and over while he showers your hands or arms with kisses.

He’s also one that would definitely be okay with you calling these pet names in public—he wants to be all smug that HES the one called yours.

He probably also learns whatever language you speak as well, might already know it because bro probably had tutors that taught him so many languages man.

In return for the pet names, he probably calls you something like “λατρεία μου” or “latria mu” (My adored !!! 🥹 in greek)

Kuras

NOW, THIS IS INTERESTING

I’m guessing since Kuras is an Angel, he knows like ??? Every language?

So when he finds out you speak others, he’s instantly curious, impressed, and now it’s quiz time.

You pass by a certain object, plant, anything, and he asks you how to say it in your language(s). Even if he may already know, he likes to hear it coming from you, enjoying the glint in your eyes as you explain things.

Another thing he’ll do, is when you’re having a library date, he’ll hand you a book and request you translate it. Either from your language to—whatever language people speak in Eridia ?? Or from that language to yours.

These will turn into nightly strolls with you translating a poem or book as he strides beside you, golden eyes locked on every word.

In return, he’ll translate whatever text into a language you don’t know. (I wonder if angels have a specific language??)

A name for him, I think it’d be cute if you called him 아름다운 천사 (Beautiful Angel in Korean !!)

Whether this is after or before you know he’s an Angel, he finds it both amusing and endearing. (Or painfully ironic if his life as an Angel is a tough subject)

Mhin

OKAY SOSOSOSOSO !! Mhin evidently thirsts for knowledge, they’re a lil nerd and they’re rlly bad at hiding it (A mood really. one of the reasons I love them <3) and my friend mentioned they’re more of a listener? So like I can see them just—paying very close attention to every word you say

At times they may not seem to be listening to you as you ramble, or catch a few words of slang from your language(s). But they’re actually secretly a sponge and soak up every little detail.

And now this may be just me but Mhin gives off such I must impress you with all my random facts vibes.

They ask questions about the languages you speak, the slang, the meanings, how to pronounce things correctly, everything

And then they do their own research, soaking up all they can before appearing to you one day and just starting the conversation in your language(s)

When you show any sign of being impressed, they will look away blushing and try to act cool but nahhh buddy you aren’t fooling anyone we know you spent forever working on that

Similar to Ais, lots of late night lessons where you get to teach Mhin about your language(s)! Just you two looming over an open book, Mhin scribbling down notes, looking so concentrated and you even spot a smile starting to form as they start getting better and better. (I love themmmmm 😭)

Mhin asks you to quiz them a lot, and looks so !! !! Just proud of themself when they pass. (Before realizing it and their self loathing kicks in and they revert back to >:( ) You want to tell them that they don’t need to be quizzed but look at their face !! Let them impress you okay !! They’re top 1 student !!

If you want you can joke about them having to call you Professor(Mc) or something but ur just gonna get a deep frown and glare like 😒 nuh uh AHAHSHS

Vere

Ohhh vere my nemesis. (He’s the toughest for me to write i have to like mentally and physically ambush him in a fast food parking lot before I can get anything outta him)

(I love him so much though so here we go !! Thanks to my friend for giving me a lot of help in this one because otherwise I’d be a doomed woman)

My friend brought up since he’s a fox, he’s very sensitive to sound !! So when you’re speaking in your mother language, he notices how your tone might change, watches as your tongue moves against your teeth or the top of your mouth, idk but he makes it a sensual thing somehow 😭

Definitely flirts with you in your language(s), says the most outrageous thing and watches as you get stunned or flustered by it, absolutely delighted that no one but you (or anyone who’s unfortunately being nosy and can understand) knows what he’s saying.

Okay this may be dumb but it’s so funny to me imagine Vere like putting on his most smooth, seductive tone, convincing the people around that he’s gonna say like the most erotic thing but he ends up just saying something like 💀 “Avocados” in your language(s) or like “Leander looks like a chicken breast” he does it to see you laugh but also because Leander overhears and could tell his name was said and thinks Vere is like— finally coming around but only you two rlly know Vere is just sexily roasting him.

Due to recent lore being dropped, and in his lil character sheet, it says Vere has a huge love for the arts. I think it’d be really neat if you introduced him to things specifically written in your language(s) !! Like books that originated from your country, plays that are only acted in that language(s), just a tour of the language! And if he doesn’t know your languages(s) then teaching him is gonna be like 💀 somehow so flirty

Will definitely call you Professor(Mc) but he makes it sound absolutely horrendous and cringey and you will regret it you probably should turn back

Jokingly will ask if you’ll give him a golden sticker if he behaves—do it, just to humble him.

OKAY WE’VE REACHED THE END WOOOT WOOT !!!! I DIDNT THINK I’D MAKE IT !!! Been stuck in this endless void for ages !!

Hem hem, thanks so much for the ask !!! I’m so so sorry it took forever 😭 writer’s block nearly had my head this time uh oh

Thank you again to my bestie for helping me out !!

Now I hope you see the most beautiful sunset, eat your favorite dessert, learn something new, and have a happy spring !! 🫶🩷✨

[cherrysfanfics-ily]

hi would you maybe write a jesse st. james reader fanfic where the reader is finn's sister and she's a really good singer, like better than rachel!

Here is your request! I hope you enjoy it, I had lots of fun writing it! It may be a more friendly type one-shot with some romantic aspects here and there, but if people want one I can do a part 2 with a more romantic take!! Genre: Fluff

Pairing: Jesse St. James x Fem! Reader

Word Count: 1825

(___’s POV)

I was sat in the choir room with the rest of the glee club the day after Rachel showed her ‘Run Joey Run’ film, with Finn on my left and, surprisingly, Jesse on my right and Rachel looking at the two of them with sad eyes on the opposite side of the room. “ Mom says she’s making alfredo with chicken tonight for dinner,” Finn spoke looking over at me, with a small smile. “ That is the best news to hear, I love her alfredo and chicken.” I smile back. “ Alright glee clubbers, does anyone else have a bad reputation song to share after Rachel’s yesterday?” Mr.Shue asked with a clap of his hands looking around at the rest of us hopefully. I quickly look around, seeing no one else wanting to go, so I raise my hand with a proud smile, “___! Come on up!” Mr.Shue said with a smile waving me up.

I stood from my chair and headed to the front, when I got there I turned to look at everyone seeing everyone watching me, and Rachel glaring at me crossing her arms. “ I’ll be honest I think a bad reputation does not equal a good reputation, I think it just means you’ll never truly have fans but haters,” I spoke looking around at everyone matching Rachel’s glare when I met her eyes, “ But I chose a song that may have a bad reputation but you just can’t help but get up and dance and sing along to.” I finished before I nodded at the band to start the music, and they started playing the instrumental to ‘Girlfriend’ by Avril Lavinge.

“ Hey, hey, you, you, I don't like your girlfriend. No way, no way, I think you need a new one. Hey, hey, you, you, I could be your girlfriend,” I sang starting to rock out to the drums and guitar, ” Hey, hey, you, you, I know that you like me. No way, no way, you know it's not a secret. Hey, hey, you, you, I want to be your girlfriend.” I sang a smirk on my face started to dance a bit, and watched as a few others recognized the song and started to dance in their seats a bit. 

“ You're so fine, I want you mine, you're so delicious, I think about you all the time, you're so addictive. Don't you know what I can do to make you feel alright?” I sang as I started to walk through everyone’s chairs circling Santana’s chair and doing a small shimmy back and forth with her before moving on. “ Don't pretend, I think you know I'm damn precious, and hell yeah, I'm the motherfuckin' princess. I can tell you like me too and you know I'm right.” I continued playfully leaning onto Kurt as he smiled at my antics. 

“ She's like so whatever, you could do so much better. I think we should get together now, and that's what everyone's talkin' about.” I sang standing back up properly before heading and playfully sitting on Mercedes's lap acting as if I was talking about someone with her, before heading back to the front and repeating the chorus. 

“ I can see the way, I see the way you look at me. and even when you look away, I know you think of me.  I know you talk about me all the time again and again.” I sang going and messing with Brittany’s head as if she might have thought of me, “ So come over here and tell me what I wanna hear. Better yet, make your girlfriend disappear, I don't wanna hear you say her name ever again.” I skipped over to Jesse and sat in his lap with a smile on my face, with him smiling back, just having lots of fun before getting up and heading back to the front again to sing the pre-chorus and chorus again. 

“ In a second, you'll be wrapped around my finger. 'Cause I can, 'cause I can do it better. There's no other, so when's it gonna sink in? She's so stupid, what the hell were you thinkin'?” I sang clapping to the beat, with the girls, excluding Rachel, joining me, standing to come to dance with me. “ In a second, you'll be wrapped around my finger. 'Cause I can, 'cause I can do it better. There's no other, so when's it gonna sink in? She's so stupid, what the hell were you thinkin'?” I continued with the guys joining the girls and me up at the front.

I went on to sing the rest of the song dancing with a few different people until Jesse and I started dancing with each other for the rest of the song. “ Hey, hey!” I finish with a huge smile on my face, as the others erupt into cheers having had lots of fun dancing and singing along. 

“ Great job ___! You gave a great example of the assignment, and got everyone up and moving along with you!” Mr.Shue said excitedly giving me a high five as we all returned to our seats, “ Alright. We have a couple of days left of the week, so if you have a song with a bad reputation then you are welcome to share it. I will see you all tomorrow.” Mr.Shue smiled at us heading to wipe off the whiteboard, and out of the corner of my eye I saw Rachel pop up and head over to Mr.Shue. I start to gather my things, putting them in my backpack. “ You ready to go?” I hear Finn ask as I grab my keys out of my bag. “ You go without me, I’m planning on heading into town for a while,” I told him hugging him, while he nodded and waved goodbye as he left. 

I finally finished putting my things in my bag and headed out of the room to my locker to drop off the books I didn’t need tonight and grab the ones I did need. I hear footsteps coming up to me before they stop and clear their throat causing me to turn to look who it is, only to see Jesse. “ Hey ___, that was a great song choice in there.” He complimented me with a smirk, causing me to smile and let out a small laugh turning back to my locker to finish what I was doing. “ Thank you, It’s a song I have on my playlist so it was an easy pick,” I told him, with a smile putting the last book away shutting my locker door, and turning back to look at him.

“ Well either way your voice was perfect for the song, and I enjoyed dancing with you.” Jesse smiled at me starting to lean on a nearby locker. “ I enjoyed dancing with you as well.” I smile back before I notice Rachel down the hallway watching Jesse and me, and I just roll my eyes and lean on my locker, “ Are you and Rachel still together? Or what happened after yesterday?” I ask him curiously. He turned his head to see Rachel watching us as well making her turn away from us and go, before turning back to look at me. “ No, I told her last night that what she did hurt me, with how she lied and used me.” He spoke shaking her head. 

“ I’m sorry you had to deal with that, should’ve warned you that she’s kind of selfish when it comes to glee club. She’s at least lucky that I haven’t talked to her about it yet.” I spoke leaning back against my locker a bit with a cross of my arms glaring at where Rachel just was. “ Yeah?” He questions raising one of his eyebrows. “ Yeah. She does these things to get her way, and not only did she use you and Puck, she used my brother.” I ranted a bit rolling my eyes. “ Well, you don’t have to worry about that since everyone has called her out for it,” Jesse stated with a small laugh.

I watched as he smiled and laughed, which brought a smile to my face, “ I’m heading into town to get some coffee and do a bit of shopping. Just have a fun time after the last few days, do you want to join me?” I ask standing straight again and adjusting my backpack. “ I’d love that honestly, it would be good to take a break.” He spoke, which made me smile a bit more. We both head to the front of the school and head towards my car. I unlock the doors as we get closer and head over to the driver seat, as Jess goes over to the passenger side. We both hop in and put our bags in the back seat so we have enough room up front before buckling in. I put the key in the ignition starting it up as I grabbed a CD case I had in the back, put it into the CD player, and started to play it. As I pull out the song I was left on last time starts to play, “ Great CD choice, and such a great song.” Jesse spoke looking over at me. 

“ I mean you can never go wrong with Gaga, and Judas is an amazing song of hers,” I responded looking over at him quickly before I looked back at the road stopping at a red light. I hear him laugh as I glance over at him to see his head thrown back against the seat before watching the lights. As the light turns green I continue down the road before I’m able to pull into the parking lot of Lima Bean, quickly finding a parking space to park in. After parking I turn the car off, Jesse and I both unbuckle and get out. I make sure to lock the door as we go to head in, with Jesse opening the door for me as I smile at him in thanks. We were quick to the counter ordering our drinks and paying before moving over out of the pay of other people. 

“ Listen ___, I want to thank you for being kind to me even if I didn’t truly deserve it. I also really appreciate you inviting me to hang out with you today. It means a lot more than you know.” Jesse spoke looking down at me with a smile. “ Of course, even if you were on the opposing team that doesn’t warrant being rude to you, and I can’t imagine how it felt for your girlfriend to triple-cast you for her wants and desires,” I told him with a smile, softly putting my hand on his shoulder. He smiles as he wraps an arm around my shoulder as our drinks are called. We go and grab them before heading out to continue with what we planned for the rest of the day.

[imeanitplsmorenamifics]

Heeelloooo!!

could you please do "mastermind" for a nami x fem!reader PLEASE ＼⁠(⁠^⁠o⁠^⁠)⁠／

Hello, hello, hello! I would be more than happy to write this for you! This request is a headcanon instead of a one-shot or imagine, which I hope is okay! If not, then message me, and I can rewrite it for you! Also, fun fact, I listen to the actual songs when I write these requests since it helps with the writing. Most of the time writing this was spent actually singing the song rather than writing 😂 I hope you enjoy it! You can find my Flower Asks here, Hozier asks are here, and my Taylor Swift Asks here. You can find my masterlist here and my rules here. And you can request here! Mastermind: You planned everything to the last detail. They knew it. Characters: Nami, Fem!Reader Pairing: Nami x Fem!Reader TW: Nothing that I can think of. If there is, let me know, and I'll add it!

Mastermind

.·:·.✧ ✦✧.·:·.

• So you had a lonely childhood. Not many people wanted to hang out with you. • In general, a lot of people avoided you as much as they could. You were never sure why. Adults always told you it was because you were always being yourself and they were insecure. • Like that would help you at all. All you wanted was friends; no one wanted to be friends with you for whatever reason. • This shaped your growing up a lot. • As you got older, you learned to tailor your personality. Around certain people, you would act in a way that would get them to like you the most. Once you were around a different person, you would switch to what they would like. No matter who you were around, you were never yourself. • No personal identity much- *COUGH* MOVING ON- *COUGH* • But, in your mind, if that’s what was needed to have people like you, then so be it. At least you weren’t alone anymore. • Your life was a repeated cycle for the longest time. That was until you met the Strawhat Crew. • They docked on your island, and you saw what had to be the most beautiful girl you’d ever seen. At that moment, you knew exactly what you needed to do. • So you set up a way to meet her. You coincidentally were reaching for the same thing in the market and tried to strike up a conversation with her. • For the first time ever, this didn’t work. She only ignored you and went on her way like she never even met you. • You were shocked. People usually thought you were charming. They found themselves not being able to stop talking to you. But this one woman- sigh. You couldn’t leave it there. • You stalked the crew… There’s no better way to put that. You literally stalked the crew. • You watched them to see what they would do. It didn’t take them long to find trouble. You decided that this was your opportunity. You stepped in to help save the day. • This worked out pretty well for you. Their captain took a huge interest in you and told you to join their crew. You gladly accepted, knowing that you would have more opportunities to talk with the orange-haired girl, who you learned was named Nami. • You tried to strike up conversations with her a few times while on your island, but it was nothing of any substance. It wasn’t until you set off with them that you actually made real progress. • You learned that when you actually acted like yourself and not something you thought she would want to see, she was more inclined to hang out with you. • This was surprising for you. When you were a kid, no one wanted to be around you because you were you. Now someone only wanted to hang out with you if you were being you? It barely made any sense. But you didn’t mind being more genuine if that’s what she wanted- • The usual tricks didn’t work with her either. You tried to orchestrate instances where you could come in and save her, but she would always save herself. Not that you minded; it was definitely attractive. • You found that letting things play out on their own was the best thing. So you let things take their natural course (highjacking a few times when you thought it was necessary), and you guys ended up together! • The relationship was probably the best thing for you. You were more yourself than you were before. You didn’t feel the need to take control all the time. It felt… Freeing. • So, eventually, you decided to tell her about your plans that you made to meet her and woo her into a relationship. • You were floored when she said that she already knew.

[tearsofthefilmreviews]

I AM A FAN OF MADAME WEB AND HERE’S WHY - REVIEW

Madame Web is perhaps the most controversial and hated of Sony’s attempts into this universe. I went into this hoping to like it, but having in the back of my head that I might not. My friend predicted a 2/10 or 8/10 from me…and let’s just say it definitely came out in the higher end of things for me. I’ll start this review off with the main negative that loses the film points, and then get into the great stuff it has to offer, and why I think it is an overhated film.

Without further ado…

-The Main Negative-

Our villain, Ezekiel, is the main cost of points. This is mainly due to writing issues with him and the performance being the most lacking of the film, and his vocals feeling too overdramatized. It feels off at times and serviceable otherwise. This is my main criticism of the film, and caused a decent chunk of point loss due to it. There isn’t much else to say in this respect besides the villain overall is messily handled compared to the rest of the film. It’s unfortunate, but it didn’t ruin the film for me whatsoever; it just made it not a 9/10.

-The Technicals-

Before getting into the narrative and acting, I want to touch on the filmmaking aspects of Madame Web. There are a lot of interesting shots and visual effects employed through the film; particularly, whenever we see Cassie’s visions of the future playing out, as well as moments replaying themselves around her, I thought it was very visually interesting and engaging, and really sold the chaos that she must be feeling as this all goes on, and the deja vu that is remarked on. It was honestly one of my favourite aspects of the film, and I am happy it was used to its potential and not just discarded after one use; we see many moments like this through the film. I’ll go into detail on two scenes in particular and why I thought they were executed fantastically.

(Diner Scene)

This scene is one of the highlights of the film, as is the other scene I’ll get into below. The diner scene has both its moments that felt great, and also some quite funny moments. A chunk of it is to the tube of Britney Spears, and there’s what feels like a clearly intentional hilarity to this big, dramatic fight sequence happening with a pop song in the background. I also thought the cinematography during this scene was great, and the transition when Cassie gets stabbed is honestly super satisfying visually. It is another great example of the future sight and rewind powers being used to great effect, and it also uses the setting in a good way. It’s also the prime example of Cassie starting to really come into her powers, as she changes the future that she herself witnessed and participated in; changing the timeline of the web that she and the girls are in. I also really like the lighting in this sequence, between the dark forest roads and the diner itself, the atmosphere of each location is sold clearly. This goes for the whole film as well.

(Metro Scene)

This scene is also excellent, and is a fantastic showcase of the editing prowess in the film. Its mind-bendy in such a fun way. In particular I am talking about when Cassie and the girls are all on the train, and Cassie is seeing the girls dying over and over, as they get on and the conflict begins to kick into gear. It really does a wonderful job of showing how chaotic it is at first for her, having these visions of the future, as things are much more fragmented here than say, in the climax. The train passes by multiple times, people repeating lines and sitting, visions of the deaths…it all blends into a great, chaotic inciting incident as Cassie’s responsibility becomes the girls’ safety. The scene is one of the better ones from Ezekiel too, as is the above diner scene.

(More technical details)

I think there are a lot of interesting - and sometimes funny - shots and editing moments in the film. In particular, the funniest moment has to be the dramatic setup to Cassie trying to climb on walls like a Spidey, only to slump down along the wall to the floor, the dramatic music cutting out as she does so. The film has a very solid script in my opinion; a couple of moments that falter, but they are very few and far between. I really like a lot of the cinematography of scenes in general; it looks very nice, and is visually engaging. There’s many great stills from this film that I can pick out easily, and will definitely apply as wallpaper and profile pictures sometime in the future, when more become easily available online. I really like the visual style the film is able to keep throughout, particularly aided by the cinematography and editing, as well as very solid colour grading.

i think that Sony finally got super-suits down well in this film; they all look very good and fit the characters well…Julia’s in particular, and Ezekiel’s is honestly quite good-looking as well.

Overall the film is fantastic in the technical department, and is directed quite well save for a couple of oddities with the lesser performances, described below.

-Narrative and Performances-

First off, let us get the obvious out of the way. Dakota Johnson absolutely kills this role throughout, and I also especially enjoyed the performances of Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, and Celeste O’Connor, though out of the three the show-stealer is definitely Sydney, who nails the awkward, geeky personality. Costuming was also on point all around; I really liked Cassie’s outfits for the whole film, and Julia’s sweater getup is gorgeous. But yes, they carry the film to upper heights with their portrayals of these characters, and Dakota Johnson continues to cement herself as a great actor. She brings a great energy to the film. Also, I do need to mention that again, Ezekiel’s performance is the weakest, followed by Ben Parker, who doesn’t do much and is more just fine than negative-leaning.

As for the narrative itself, I honestly do quite like the direction they took it. It is interesting and fun, and also really develops Cassie’s character very well, as well as those of the girls. It is to the film’s benefit that they didn’t give the girls their powers yet, because it allowed us to explore their characters before they even have that concept in their heads, as well as truly leaving more room for Cassie’s character development and coming filly into her powers by the climax. Not having the same physical strength sort of powers, Cassie has to be quite clever about solving the conflict since she cannot do a physical fight, and I thought that the filmmakers pulled that off super well; she absolutely outsmarts the villain, and I liked the fact that her powers, while incredibly powerful, aren’t all she needs to win the day. She has to think on the dot as well, and really shows how far she comes from the beginning to the end. She becomes more open as a person as well, less awkward in the ending than she is in the beginning, something that Julia comments on after their initial escape. I also found the moment where Cassie sees her mother’s past very touching, especially when she gets to hug her mother. I do also want to touch on the resolution of the film, and in particular, the moment where the girls revive Cassie after she falls into the water and is blinded. It’s a very well-formed moment, and also a strong foreshadowing example; earlier in the film, Cassie taught them CPR, and it comes into play in a strong way by the end. Thematically the film’s mainly about controlling your fate, and having agency in your life. It also makes a clear connection between its main characters besides simply being acquainted; they have all gone through some form of familial hardship, and are able to further their bond because of that. The girls, while maintaining their agency, also learn to think before they act, particularly forwarded by the diner scene.

I really liked the tone that the film had throughout. It’s very engaging, while having fun and funny moments in there as well. The film, to me, really all comes together through the different aspects of it, and makes for a great experience with a compelling lead and interesting narrative that uses the Marvel universe well. I also consider this film overhated, a term I don’t use very lightly. It has so much going for it that films like Venom and Morbius never had, so that fact it is being compared to those (in a way that’s despite them being made by the same company) is kind of crazy to me, let alone being called worse than Morbius. Dakota Johnson’s performance alone makes this film better than the rest by a lot, in my opinion. I know I will be in the minority to be so positive towards Madame Web, and I am fully fine with it, because I do genuinely like so damn much about this film.

-Cassie-

I do wish to get into Cassie’s character before closing off this review. Cassie is a very interesting character, and the way she discovers her powers is intricately linked to it all. She discovers them when she quite literally dies, and begins to see everything in the future, including much foreshadowing for the film itself. She’s both selfless and reserved; her occupation involves saving and helping lives, yet she is quite awkward when appreciation is shown for it. She also has her priorities straight in her head though; she saves the girls and helps protect them despite being initially frustrated with the turn of events. She scolds them after the diner scene for getting themselves into danger, but its at that point that we see how much she clearly has come to care for them, despite her frustrations. She defeats the villain not just with her powers, but with her own cleverness that she demonstrates throughout the film.

-Conclusion-

Overall, Madame Web is a film I am very happy with, and it held up wonderfully on the rewatch. There’s a lot that I like about it in the technical side as well as the narrative side, and though it isn’t perfect, the lead performances along with the other strong aspects - particularly cinematography, narrative and editing - make this the best Sony Universe film, and a great film in its own right. Interesting ideas and characters as well. I’m a fan!

8.2/10 —> 4.1/5

[tightjeansjavi]

Burning in Hopeless Dream

Boston QZ : Part 7 ‘illicit affairs’

A/N : this was such a fun chapter to write! A break from the angst, (for now) this also turned out to be WAY longer than I originally planned so y’all are getting fed, you’re welcome ☻

Summary: flirting tips with Joel Miller 101. Step one, wake your ass up at the crack of dawn, be smug about it. Step two, be a gentleman and present a thermos of shit QZ coffee to you. Step 3, teach you how to shoot. Step 4, do not allow the enemy to have the upper hand.

~word count : 4.3k~ (you heard that right)

Warnings: age gap (m/c is 28) flirty! asshole! Joel. Pining, teasing, lots of swearing, tension, banter, mentions of guns and knives. (+18) minors dni !

Songs for this chapter:

“illicit affairs” by Taylor Swift

“You Know I’m No Good” by Amy Winehouse

“Kiss With A Fist” by Florence + The Machine

_________________

November 2020 : 5 miles outside the Boston QZ

It was November now. The ground wasn’t quite frozen yet, but there was a chill in the air every morning. You could no longer hear the birds singing outside the window. Your body was slowly accustomed to the lack of vitamin D it was getting, just like how it did every year around this time. Knowing that the cold months of winter were on the horizon, only had you grow more restless. Your routine felt like a death march. Wake up, drink shit coffee. Shovel shit or dump bodies. Return home, drink, sleep and repeat. You couldn’t remember the last time you actually got a decent night's sleep. Your body was constantly exhausted. Your muscles were screaming at you but your brain was constantly running, like one of those stupid energizer bunny commercials from the past. You hated that stupid bunny.

It was early one morning. 4:00 A.M probably, but no one actually kept track of the time anymore. Your restless slumber was disturbed by your bedroom door slowly opening. You kept your knife tucked under your pillow constantly. The sound of your door creaking open was enough for you to grasp your knife to your chest before you shot up from under the coarse covers. You were absolutely ready to fuck up whoever was coming into your space.

A sense of relief mixed with annoyance washed over your features when you saw it was just Joel. His brooding height leaned against your doorframe was enough to make you roll your eyes. Did this man ever not look intimidating?

“Jesus fuck, Joel. You couldn’t have knocked? Given me some form of a warning?” You whispered while tucking your knife back under your pillow.

His expression was amused and even in the dark, you could tell this mother fucker was smirking.

“Sorry about that doll, you’re just a little too easy to sneak up on. You had me for a second there thinkin that you were gonna stick me. Would have been an awful fuckin start to my mornin.” He rasped, his voice was still thick with sleep and his hair was a fluffy mess on his head. Not that you were paying attention to those details. Damn him.

“Yeah, and for a split second I was thinking of sticking you. That’s why we knock. So you don’t end up with a knife buried in your chest, asshole.” You muttered the last part out as you swung your legs over the side of the bed and slowly stood up.

“Alright, smart ass. Next time I'll remember to knock.” He was still leaning against the door frame, arms crossed against his chest.

“Yeah, yeah sure you will. I’ll believe it when I see it.” You grabbed your hoodie from the floor and threw it on before attempting to fix the mess that was your bed head. Using a worn hair tie on your wrist, you pulled it into a ponytail.

“What kinda psycho is up at this early hour anyway?” You asked. Looking over at him as you pulled your hair back.

“The kinda psycho that I apparently am. It ain’t even that early.”

You scoffed then. “Pretty fuckin early to me. Now my real question is, what are you doing in my room at this hour?”

He shrugged then, clearing his throat as he spoke. “Well, couldn’t really sleep. Thought about how I promised you that I’d teach ya how to properly shoot. Figured there's no time like the present.”

“Huh. So that was your first thought that came to mind when you couldn’t sleep?”

“Guess so. Anyway, ‘nough of the chit chat. Get your shoes and coat and grab the gun I gave you.” His tone was not a suggestion. It was a demand and frankly, it was too early to be dealing with his bullshit.

“Sir yes sir.” You mocked his tone then, giving him a sarcastic solute.

“You're hilarious doll, really. Drop the smart act. We don’t have time for that shit today.” He turned on his heel then, leaving your open doorway and walked down the hall.

Your immediate reaction was to flip him off, naturally. Grumbling to yourself you grabbed your backpack, your gun and your knife and threw on your boots. The last thing you grabbed was your thick coat. You could already feel the cold air nipping at your skin.

Joel was waiting for you outside the apartment door. He had a travel thermos for you, filled with coffee. The familiar smell hit your senses immediately and you appreciated the small gesture. Closing the door behind you, you grabbed the thermos from him before taking a sip, letting the warm liquid seep into you. The QZ coffee was shit but it got the job done.

“Thanks. Wouldn’t survive the morning without this stuff.”

He looked at you for a moment then before he took a sip of his own.

“Oh trust me, I know. You’d be intolerable without this shit.”

You gave him a light punch to the shoulder then, it was a playful one.

“Yeah and you’re still a grumpy asshole with or without it.” You brushed past him then, quietly heading down the stairs. You could hear him mutter under his breath about your comment and you grinned to yourself as his footsteps followed yours.

Once you were both outside the apartment, Joel instinctively walked ahead of you. Always feeling like he needed to protect you. It was in his nature. You took the back alleys together, ducking in dark corners as you moved silently. There would only be a handful of Fedra soldiers out at this hour, but it still wasn’t worth the risk of getting caught.

________

The sun was just beginning to peek in the horizon as you neared the hole in the perimeter fence. Your coffee had gone cold at this point. Joel had stood over you, pulling back the torn fence so you could slip through first. He waited, looking around for any signs of movement and when he deemed it was safe, he slipped through the fence without another glance.

The silence between you was comfortable as you walked towards the nearby woods. It was a 5 mile walk to the deepest part of the woods. No one would find either of you there and in a sense, it was peaceful. You had shared a bit of jerky during the walk. It wasn’t much for breakfast but it would have to do. You’d kill for some proper eggs and bacon. Maybe in another universe, you thought.

Joel had wrapped up what was left of the jerky and stuffed it back into his coat pocket. You were surrounded by tall evergreens on every side. They were lightly dusted with freshly fallen snow. The scenery was beautiful, and eerie at the same time.

“You sure no one's gonna find us out here?”

“Nope. Been comin out here for years with no problems. You’ve got nothin to worry about, doll. Trust me.”

Letting out a sigh then you set your bag down on a nearby stump along with your now empty thermos.

“Alright, fine. I trust you but if a clicker comes out of those trees..”

He chuckled then, shaking his head slightly as he finished off what was left of his coffee.

“We’re in the middle of the fuckin woods. Most we’ll see out here is a few deer. No clickers. You’re safe.” His reassurance that you were in fact safe out here was enough for you to un tense your shoulders slightly. You’d always be on alert though. You didn’t have much of a choice; not in this world.

He continued then, setting his bag down next to yours.

“You brought the gun, right?”

“You think I'd come all this way with you, just to not bring the gun with me?” You smirked slightly, unzipping your bag and pulled out the revolver.

“What did I say about ditchin that fuckin smart mouth of yours huh?” His eyebrow was raised and his jaw was clenched slightly as he looked at you.

“Oh shit man, I’m terribly sorry. You see, my smart fuckin mouth is kinda a part of me. It’s permanent. Meaning, it’s not going anywhere.”

“No fuckin shit, sherlock. I know what permanent means.”

It was your turn to smirk now. It was easy to fall into banter with him and you secretly, but not-so secretly enjoyed it.

“Mhm. I was just checkin.”

He let out a huff then. You were insufferable sometimes but he liked the fact that you could keep up with him. In fact, he enjoyed these moments with you. It made him feel all the more human. You were that constant breath of fresh air for him. Better than any liquor, or opioid he could get his hands on.

“Alright. Enough of that. You remember the grip I showed you the last time?” He asked.

“Sure do. You were pretty serious about it, if I remember correctly.”

“Good. Now show me so that I know that you ain’t bluffing.” He had his arms crossed over his chest again, waiting for you to confirm that you weren’t faking it.

You held the gun outwards with both hands. Your grip was firm but from his angle, you looked a bit stiff. “See? I’m a good listener after all.”

“Relax your arms. You’re fuckin stiff and when that kicks-back its gonna go right into your face. What did I say about–”

You cut him off then. “Thumb over my thumb, left hand squeezes down on the right.” You looked over at him then, your eyebrow raised almost as if you were challenging him.

“You gonna do the teachin here or am I?” He walked over to you then, coming up alongside you before he reached out and grabbed your arms, the fast movement caused you to stiffen more.

His lips were at the shell of your ear now and his hands were gentle. “Relax.” He whispered. “Just relax, Gwen. You’re stiffer than a fuckin board right now.”

You felt a shiver run down your spine from his lips nearly touching the thin skin on your ear. For a moment, the close proximity of his body to yours had your head spinning. ‘Focus, Gwen.’ you told yourself in your head. ‘Get your fuckin shit together.’ You relaxed your shoulders slightly, allowing him to push your arms down so that there was a slight bend. His hands were on yours then, rough skin on soft. He adjusted your grip slightly then before he moved his hands off of yours. Just when you thought you were out of the woods, you felt his hands on your waist and despite the biting cold, your skin was on fire from his touch.

“Straighten your back a bit. Yeah, just like that. Good girl.” You could feel his smirk against your ear. This motherfucker knew exactly what he was doing.

You straightened your posture then and waited for his hands to move from your sides but they didn’t.

“Are you fuckin tryin to distract me right now Miller?”

“Nope. I don’t have to try and do that. You just allow me to get in your head.”

You took a deep breath then, cocking your neck to the side slightly as you bit down on your growing frustration. Did he really have to be this close to you?

“Shut up.”

He moved your legs a few steps to the right with his knees and the movement caught you by surprise. You felt like fucking bambi on ice with how easy he was able to maneuver you. It sent brief flashbacks from how he effortlessly threw you on your bed not that long ago. ‘Focus Gwen.’

Joel knew exactly what he was doing. Toying with you was easy and although he knew he was crossing into some dangerous territory, he couldn’t help it. He was drawn to you like a moth to a flame. He liked that he had this effect on you, up until his own brain was screaming at him to focus and get his own shit together.

He moved his hands from your waist then, letting his fingertips drag against the outer layer of your coat before he took a step back, allowing you to feel like you could breathe again.

“Now, you see that tree over there? There's a bare spot right in the middle of it. Think you’re good enough to hit it?”

Your eyes shifted to the tree he was focused on, zoning in on your target.

“Yeah, sure. Easy peasy.”

“Alright, rookie. Need you to take a deep breath in. Squeeze the trigger, not all the way. Breathe out and release.”

You listened to his words then. Taking a deep breath in, you lightly applied pressure to the trigger. Not enough to set it off. When you released your breath, you pressed down all the way and listened to the deafening crack of the bullet being released. You were feeling cocky and expected to hit your target on the first try. Instead, the bullet had whizzed past the target and into some nearby evergreens. missed.

You were silently simmering in your humility and Joel was going to take full opportunity to pick on you for it.

“What was that you said just now? Somethin easy peasy?”

Your jaw clenched then as you bit down on your vile words.

“Alright, big shot. Why don’t you show me how it’s properly done then?” You handed the revolver off to him then, standing off to the side.

“Alright, but you’re just askin for humiliation on yourself doll.”

“Just shut the fuck up and hit the fucking tree, Joel.”

“Feisty. Shoulda gotten you more coffee.” He mused before gripping the gun, just like he showed you. His movements were far more natural than yours. It was all muscle memory at this point for him. A second later and another crack. Joel’s bullet landed right in the middle of the target, sending shards of bark flying into the untouched snow.

He turned to you then, an undeniable smirk on his face as he handed you the gun back, leaning in slightly as he spoke.

“Easy Peasy.” his tone was cocky and it sent your blood boiling.

You were left speechless.

For the next hour, Joel had you practice hitting the target. He didn’t care that you were wasting precious ammo. If you were going to go on smuggling runs with him and Tess, you were going to need to use a weapon outside of your knife. The last thing he wanted was for you to get injured just because you weren’t comfortable with firearms.

“Alright, doll. One more time and then we’ll move on. You’re almost there just need to think about not being so stiff and breathe, for fuck sakes. The enemy is gonna lay one on you before you even have the chance to pull the trigger.”

He was sitting on the stump then, chewing on another piece of jerky as he watched you.

You were determined to hit this fucking tree. You had to prove to yourself that you could do this. All you wanted was to get in on the action. Fuck up some infected and feel like you actually held a purpose in Joel’s life. You listened to every word he said. Remembering to loosen up and breathe. Eye on the target, ‘breathe.’

You took a deep breath, pressing down on the trigger lightly and on the exhale, you released it. Listening to the crack of the bullet as you watched it soar through the air, smacking into the chipped away bark. You had finally hit your target. A sense of pride and relief washed over you in that moment as you turned towards Joel.

“Atta girl.” His lips were upturned slightly as he looked at you.

You gave him a little playful bow then, your boots crunching in the snow as you walked over to the stump he was sitting on and plopped down beside him, nearly pushing his broad form in the snow.

Joel gave you a disapproving look, his eyes lowered as he grumbled. “You really can be fuckin intolerable when you wanna be, doll.”

“I know.” There was a sense of smugness in your voice. It just naturally came out when it was just you and Joel. “Anyway, you kept your promise to teach me how to shoot and now I will do the honors in teaching you how to properly wield a knife.”

“You think for a second I don’t know how to use a knife?” His eyebrow was raised in your direction.

“Oh I don’t doubt that you can use one. The real question is, how good are you really?”

“Guess we’re about to find out.” He offered you the last bit of jerky before he slowly stood up, pulling his combat knife out of his bag, flipping it a couple times in his hand.

You had a feeling that in the next few minutes, you would be forced to eat your words.

Joel loved to see you in your natural element. Right off the bat he observed that you were far more confident with a blade in your grasp. Your posture significantly changed, hell, your entire demeanor had gone and done a complete 180, right before his very eyes. He wanted to see what you were made of. Were you as lethal as you made yourself out to be? How many people had you killed to survive? He wondered.

Joel was far too focused on you to even hear your instructions. He was off in a completely fucking different universe and it was all your fault. You had taken notice when he didn’t respond right away and you rolled your eyes, feeling slightly disrespected. To get his attention, you wasted no time to hurl your blade at the targeted tree. The tip of the blade was embedded in the same spot where Joel’s bullet had previously struck true. The sound of your blade hitting the bark, knocked him out of his trance and had him blinking a few times. Cursing under his breath but you couldn’t make out his words.

“Are you even fuckin listening to a word I just said man?” Your tone was sharp and full of annoyance. Shaking your head you walked over to the tree, the snow crunching beneath your boots and you grasped your blade, yanking it from the dry bark and walked back over to him.

“Zoned out for a minute there.”

“Wow, you don’t fuckin say. Pay attention, Joel. I’m not gonna repeat myself twice.”

His fingers flexed over his own knife. You really did have quite the mouth on you and for someone so petite, your words packed a solid punch. “Easy now, Doll.”

You gave him a look then. Your eyes boring into his for a moment and you both waited to see who would break the tension. You were challenging one another, silently. Who was the weaker one and who would hold their ground. Joel found your stare on him to be just the right amount of intimidating and he found himself casting his eyes away from yours, clearing his throat quietly.

You had won this round, for now.

“As I was saying..” You continued with your instructions and this time, he made damn well sure to listen. He found himself glancing at your lips as they moved. He couldn’t help himself, really. You were truly an enigma in his eyes. A mystery wrapped up with the biggest fucking attitude he had ever encountered.

You showed him the proper position. Where, and how he should stand. You adjusted his grip, made a comment about his posture being wrong. You were right there, invading his senses. Just the brush of your fingers across his covered arm was enough to have him sweating. You damn well knew what you were doing, you had to.

He watched you carefully then as if he was the prey and you were the predator. Oh, how the tables had turned.

“Breathe out nice and slow when you release it. Don’t fight against it either. The blade is a part of you, Joel.” Your tone was too soft for his liking, your breath could be felt against his cold cheek and he gritted his teeth together, his jaw clenching.

“Yeah alright, think I got it from here, doll.”

You smirked then knowing that you had gotten under his skin just the slightest. You rattled him. Taking a step back, you crossed your arms over your chest, giving him a slight nod.

Joel focused back on his target, zoning in on it and like the mother fucker he was, he threw his knife like he had done this 1000 times as well. Joel knew what he was doing but having you think you were teaching him, was the highlight of his day. The tip of his blade struck the chipped away bark with a thud and he looked over at you, smugly.

“You mother fucker.”

“Easy peasy.” He quipped back.

“I can’t believe you right now. What is there that you can’t fucking do?”

“Hmm.” He thought for a moment wanting you to believe he was bluffing. “Can’t think of anythin. Guess I’m just that good, huh?”

“You’re un-fucking believeable Miller.”

“Oh, I know. I absolutely am.”

_______

Joel had decided to teach you a few combat moves. He wanted to get back at you for rattling him and this was the perfect opportunity. He didn’t think about how you were far quicker than him. You blocked his punches easily and you hit back twice as hard. Now it was easy for him to believe that you were lethal, without a doubt. You could tell he was beginning to tire by his staggered breaths, his knees were for sure going to give out soon, his punches at you were becoming un-calculated and sloppy.

Bingo.

Joel felt his legs getting kicked out underneath him before he had the chance to catch himself. His back hit the snow with a soft thud. He hadn’t even had the chance to pull himself up before you were on top of him, pinning him down with your weight. The tip of your blade was held dangerously close to the artery in his neck and his wrists were pinned above his head. How the hell did he end up here? He had no clue.

You leaned down towards him then, hair falling around your face and you had that wild look in your eye. Something about you in that moment was so feral. So lethal. He could feel the blood pounding in his ears from the close proximity. You had this man absolutely fucking stunned, and at your mercy.

“Do you yield?” There was a playful edge to your tone. You were enjoying this, getting back at him for all the times he got under your skin.

Joel let out a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding. He looked up at you, taking notice of the flush in your cheeks, from the cold most likely but maybe, also from him. He took notice of how close your blade was to his throat. Your other hand holding down his wrists and your thighs pressing down on his hips.

He didn’t respond. He instead took charge of the situation again, having no trouble freeing his wrists from your hold and pushing his weight against you. Your knife was yanked from your grip in a flash and tossed into the snow. He had you pinned beneath him now. His body was looming over yours, his breath heavy and he had your wrists pinned on either side of your head. Your legs were trapped between his and you couldn’t even move if you tried.

He leaned down then, his lips brushing the shell of your ear as he spoke. “You hesitated, doll. Now you’re dead. You can never let the enemy have the upper hand.”

Joel had you at his mercy now and he watched as your chest rose and fell. Your breath came out in sharp puffs. “You’re a fucking dick Miller. Fuck you.”

He chuckled then enjoying the fact that despite you and him both knowing that this little game was over, you were still resilient, still feisty and absolutely too stubborn to admit defeat.

“That mouth of yours is gonna get you killed one day Gwen.”

You scoffed. Twisting your wrists in his firm grasp to see if there was any chance of freeing them but he had you good.

“It’s gonna do a hell of a lot more than just get me killed, Miller.”

He was silent then, staring down at you like you were a caged animal, and he was the spectator. You both seemed to be waiting for the other to speak. To do anything. He thought about kissing you. Your lips were so close he could nearly taste them. An illicit affair in the snow, now that would be something.

The weight of his body on yours was no longer present. Your wrists were freed and you finally felt like you could breathe again as you quickly sat up, reaching for your knife and tucked it back into the holster around your hips. Joel had outstretched his hand for you and you grabbed it as he hauled you up from the snow.

You were both silent as you grabbed your bag and slung it over your shoulder. Time had passed and the sky was beginning to grow dark. You had been out there for hours. On the way back to the QZ, you both had stolen glances. The tension was thick but neither party tried to cut through it. Some words were better left unspoken. You both had felt it though. The gravitational pull towards one another. After today, it was undeniably there.

Neither you, nor Joel had won this round.

CHAPTER 8:

[jade-efflorescence]

dream openers for the short n sweet tour

(+ reasons!)

after short n sweet tour openers were announced i thought it would be fun to make a list of my own favorite bands i would have loved to see. please (please please) check these artists out, many of them are indie or largely unrecognized and are so worth the listen!

note: these artists are not on sabrina's radar, so this is just in an ideal world. i also do not know these artists' personal lives or career history.

mikayla geier

SUCH a good fit for this show tbh

has a very sabrina-like "feel what you feel and live in the moment" energy

SO creative. lots of self directed short films for her work and they all turn out amazing

had a little viral moment with her song "paris" which was cute

also has a "former ballet prodigy who is falling in love with dance again" journey which has been fun to witness online

just released her first album!

songs she'd play: dead end, here we go again, i don't feel safe in my body

tenille arts

perfect country rep for the slim pickins/sharpest tool lovers

has opened for a number of country artists, performed at the grande ole opry, and won some music awards

kelly clarkson was a childhood music love, ended up (virtually) appearing on her show sometime in '22

really love her songs depicting girl on girl friendships

released a fairly solid album earlier this year!

songs she'd play: somebody like that, back then right now, high school sweetheart, call me when you get home friends

flowerovlove

not sure why she isn't more mainstream tbh

fun songwriting and catchy melodies, what's not to love?

has a great creative team behind her: music videos remind me of sabrina's dedication to more than just visual shots

has an album coming out this october that she's also touring for! (tickets are super affordable if anyone's out there and interested)

songs she'd play: breaking news, boys, coffee shop, a girl like me

elio

again, not sure how she's so underrated because everything she puts out is amazing

found her debut album this past month and have not stopped playing it on repeat (i'm sorry short n sweet)

collabs with other well known artists but seems to be more lowkey with her solo stuff?

also has a creative bend to her music videos, as seen in her song "sorority"

really can do anything, from ballads to hyperpop to country

songs she'd play: can i make you jealous, allofthat, sorority, i got the boy

katseye

a brand new girl group created by geffen and hybe (the south korean company that debuted BTS)

members come from all across the world, with heritage from the phillippines, latin america, korea, europe/africa, south asia, china, and north america

created by a survival show (a more extensive american idol/got talent) called dream academy, chronicled in the netflix series "pop star academy"

not a ton of songs out but i think they could make it work, esp if they do some covers from earlier pop artists like sabrina did for her eras set

songs they'd play: touch, debut, tonight i might, my way

other artists i considered adding:

the aces

the beaches

boys go to jupiter

glades

peach fuzz

lyn lapid

anna avery

boys world (rip)

[darkshrimpemotions]

My 300th Fic on AO3

I've been on 299 fics published to AO3 for weeks now. At first I was like "299 fics? Wow! That's a lot. That's very cool. I should make my 300th fic something really special." But then I got in my head about it, and nothing seemed good enough.

Then a plotbunny grabbed me by the ears today and shook me like a stubborn ketchup bottle.

So here it is, my 300th fic on AO3. A shamelessly indulgent little one-shot that I wrote for the pure fun of it, like god and our foremothers intended.

Also. Happy Fingers In My Mouth Friday. <3

Read on AO3

Nandor rises from the table, feeling full and satisfied and...happy? At peace? It is a new feeling for him, a warmth that seems to radiate from his center outward, a song echoing in his heart for hours now. A song with one perfect lyric on repeat.

Guillermo.

Guillermo is a vampire. Immortal. Powerful. And he is going to stay with him...them. He is going to live in the mansion with them all as an equal. He will be the last thing Nandor sees each morning and the first thing he sees each night.

Of course...Nandor hasn't actually had that conversation with him yet. To ask him to set up a coffin in Nandor's crypt. The very thought makes him nervous. But Guillermo has always liked his room! So maybe he will jump at the chance to move in. Maybe Nandor won't have to go any deeper than the simple offer. Maybe--

Nandor frowns, his anxious thoughts coming to a halt as his eyes land on the very much still-unbitten man he incapacitated for Guillermo to feed from. Where is Guillermo? He scans the room.

There. Nandor's heart sinks, that warmth in his chest flickering, guttering like an overspent candle. Guillermo is hovering at the edge of the room, hands pressed anxiously to the front of his sweater, one atop the other, eyes darting around the room with uncertainty and a dawning horror that makes Nandor's stomach clench.

He was afraid of this. It's an old fear. It was born the day, some years ago now, when he realized he actually wouldn't mind Guillermo sticking around forever…because he knew from the moment he saw him that this sweet, soft-spoken creature was not meant to survive by the deaths of others. Not due to weakness, no. Nandor has always seen plenty of strength beneath the soft exterior Guillermo projects. But it takes more than strength to make one suited to be a vampire. It takes a ruthlessness, a selfishness that few truly possess. And if Guillermo was going to have a choice, like so many did not–like Nandor himself did not–he would rather Guillermo be ready for the brutal reality of this life than be simply forced to adapt to it.

He has watched Guillermo over all these years, waiting and hoping for a glimpse of some killer instinct, a hungry glint in his eye. Something which would prove Nandor wrong. Something to give him hope.

He thought he saw it a few times. When Guillermo killed Carol, Simon's strange crew member, Nandor should have felt horror. But all he could muster at the time was a giddy excitement. His sweet, timid little familiar...a vampire killer! And at the theatre, chained down with silver and helpless, Nandor had watched as Guillermo tore through the room like a cyclone, and all he thought was yes, yes, yes.

Finally, here was one who could stand at Nandor's side through the ages, face an eternity of death without flinching. The shiver that had run through him at the look in Guillermo’s eyes when his bloody work was finished disconnected Nandor's brain for a moment. He was practically vibrating with excitement the whole way home. He ran ahead to "inspect" the cage--truly what he did was weaken the bars in a few key places--and put on a stern face as the others brought Guillermo down to lock him in.

The look Guillermo had given him then was all indignation and betrayal, but Nandor stood easily beneath the weight of it, shoulders back and head held high. He knew Guillermo would break free in a few hours, and the first place he would come would be to his traitorous master. He would open Nandor's coffin with glorious murder in his eyes, and Nandor would be ready. Ready to fight him, ready to kneel at his feet in the end and offer him what he always wanted: for Nandor to turn him into a vampire.

But then Guillermo had not come for him. Instead, he sat docile in his cage, day and night, declaring that they were his family and he would never hurt them. Trying to prove his loyalty through suffering and perseverance. Nandor's heart had broken, because how could Guillermo hope to live by death if he wouldn't strike out for his own sake? To save his own life?

Whatever fluttering hope Nandor had held onto died completely when Guillermo submitted to hypnosis rather than fight those who would enthrall him...only to come roaring back to life months later when he brought Nandor to his knees with a single practiced move, hissing in his ear that he was immune to hypnosis. He could have killed them all at any time, Nandor had realized. He simply chose not to. That was a different level of power.

It was the kind of power Nandor had known, once upon a time. When you were truly the strongest person in the room, you could afford to be magnanimous to those around you. Perhaps you were even obligated to be merciful. Like a father to his helpless children, sparing the rod not because you can, but because you hold all the power and therefore you must. At last , Nandor had thought then. At last at last at last .

He had not fallen to his knees at Guillermo’s feet, though they were weak enough at the sight of him in the glow of his victory that it would not have been merely for show if Nandor had. He stood tall and looked Guillermo in the eyes instead, and offered him eternity.

Guillermo had accepted with a smile that burrowed beneath Nandor's ribcage, taking up residence there without his permission. But fate had other plans for them, and Nandor once more felt his hope die as he waited on an empty platform for a man who never came.

That was the end of it, he thought. No more resurrections.

But then Guillermo went and got himself turned by someone else.

Nandor had been furious at first. Murderously angry in a way he hadn't felt since he was human, with a beating heart and flowing blood and a ticking clock at the back of his consciousness, counting down his time left on earth. It was harder to summon that kind of rage as a vampire. Everything was muted, far away, when you had forever to feel each feeling.

But he’d felt this like a man with a finite number to his days. His hands itched to do violence, irrevocable, bloody, total. And if there was hurt, lurking somewhere behind that red wall of rage? Nandor wasn't willing to look for it.

But as the days went by and the anger cooled, the hurt made itself known anyway. And as hurt turned to acceptance, a part of Nandor couldn't help but wonder why he was so upset in the first place. Hadn't he waited for this? For incontrovertible proof that Guillermo was ready and willing to take what he wanted? Hadn't he searched for it, over and over, grieving each time it failed to manifest fully?

And now here it was! Guillermo had taken what he wanted at last, found the limit of his patience and his loyalty and his affection. That pained him, of course it did. Nandor had grown to depend on those things, perhaps even taken them for granted. But even as he sat in his feelings of hurt and betrayal and (quietly simmering now) anger, one fact stubbornly refused to remain unacknowledged: Guillermo had stayed.

He had gotten what he wanted, and Nandor had not been the one to give it to him. But he had still stayed by Nandor's side, even though he had no reason to be there any longer and would truthfully be safer somewhere far away. He had gone to the movies with him. Egged him on into going to space and then walked home with him at the end of the night. Slept under the same roof. Slept, Nandor had realized later, inside a gift Nandor had given him. Woken him up, brushed his hair, held his hand as he alighted from his coffin each evening. Even when his life had been in peril, the Baron stalking him intent on murder, had Guillermo fled then? No. He had run to Nandor. Well, to his room, anyway. Crawled into his coffin and left his warmth and his scent within to torment Nandor later. All that night, as Nandor held one of his sweaters like a security blanket and contemplated a world without Guillermo in it, as Nandor faced that world in the form of a corpse lying horribly still in his lap as he wept...Guillermo was hiding safely away in Nandor's most intimate, most private space.

And what does it mean, that they both clutched at something of the other when they needed comfort? Nandor is not stupid, whatever he might allow people to think. He’s been well aware of the way Guillermo looks at him all these years. Nandor has heard the way his heart skips beats and gallops ahead of itself sometimes, on the rare occasions when Nandor allows Guillermo close. He's felt the way his own heart lurches in response, valiantly trying to beat again in answer to Guillermo’s unspoken want.

He knows why Guillermo stayed until he could not, why he withdrew the stake from Nandor's throat when Nandor stood there, ready to die. He knows how Guillermo, who was not even a full-fledged vampire yet, managed to instinctively hypnotize his own mother when she threatened Nandor's undefended back.

It isn't only in fairytales that love can create magic.

Love. He dared not to think of it before, but tonight? When Guillermo’s eyes flashed gold and his canines grew long and sharp between his lips? When he looked at Nandor with pure joy on his face, literally weightless with happiness and levitating three feet off the ground?

Nandor let himself feel it, finally. Love. Hope. Cautious joy. Guillermo was a vampire, and he was so excited. And he was powerful. Nandor couldn't believe how powerful he was within mere seconds of his transition. No fear. No horror. No need to teach him all the little things he could do now. He did them naturally, like he was made for this life.

This life with Nandor. By his side. Forever.

But all of that is crumbling in his mind's eye now as he watches Guillermo fret and flinch on the sidelines of the party he asked for, the life he asked for. Gone is his excitement. Gone is his simple, uncomplicated joy. The specter of an eternity without Guillermo looms in Nandor’s periphery once more, huge and dark and empty. Nandor won’t…no, he can't go back there.

There is a way, of course. Something he learned when he first realized he would turn Guillermo, if only Guillermo were ever to be truly ready. The intricacies of the bond between a sire and their sireling are fascinating, truly. Not quite the simple life-and-death ultimatum he and his friends once thought. They open a path forward now, a way to give Guillermo another chance. A do-over. And oh, Nandor would enjoy at least part of it. He might have forgiven Guillermo, but he will never forgive the vampire who sired him instead of Nandor. Watching Guillermo drive a stake through that vampire's heart would be healing in a way, even as it killed a dream Nandor has only just allowed himself to want.

But he has held Guillermo’s cold, gray corpse in his arms. He has felt the desolation of a world where Guillermo no longer exists, albeit briefly. He cannot do it again. Not now, not decades from now. Never. He would rather walk into the sun. He probably will, if that day ever comes to pass.

So he does what he can live with instead. Crossing the room in a few long strides, Nandor backs Guillermo into the restaurant wall, pinning him there with his body and smothering the man's yelp of surprise with his own still-bloody mouth.

The way Guillermo melts into him immediately is beautiful, intoxicating. It surprises a groan out of Nandor that vibrates through the lips on his to echo in Guillermo’s chest, a feedback loop of desire and a relief so sharp it's almost painful. Guillermo is clutching at him with both hands, pulling him closer, and it's almost enough to make Nandor forget why he came over here in the first place.

Almost.

He draws back from their kiss with a reluctant sigh and can't help but smile at the little whine of protest from Guillermo’s throat, the way he tries to chase Nandor's lips with his own. Nandor holds him back, admiring his wide eyes and disheveled hair, the way the blood from Nandor's lips is now smeared across Guillermo’s own.

"My beautiful little creature of the night," Nandor purrs. "You are having trouble with the feeding." It isn't a question, and Guillermo ducks his head in shame.

"I..." his voice chokes off. Nandor can't have that, his Guillermo crying. He tilts that chin up with one hand, forcing Guillermo to meet his eyes.

"It is okay, Guillermo," he reassures him, soft and sincere in a way he rarely allows himself to be. "It can be difficult at first. Come with me. I will fix."

Guillermo shakes his head, but he doesn't resist when Nandor pulls him across the room, back to where the man Nandor selected for him is still slumped over, unconscious.

"Now," Nandor says, his hands steady on Guillermo’s shoulders. "Tell me what stops you."

"I..." Guillermo is tense under Nandor's touch, but he doesn’t pull away. "It's just...I lean in, and I smell his blood, but...over that, there's...other stuff."

"Mmm," Nandor hums, thoughtful. "And this other stuff...it stops you? It smells bad, or--"

"His shampoo," Guillermo interrupts, barely above a whisper. "I smell his shampoo and I think, this guy was just at CVS, browsing for shampoo, and maybe he picked this one because the smell reminds him of camping as a kid, and I can't...that's just a person , Nandor. I can't kill him."

Nandor's hands clench involuntarily on Guillermo’s shoulders as his heart sinks further. This. This is what he was afraid of. His worst fears are being realized.

But he can fix it. He can still fix it. He leans more heavily into Guillermo’s back, ducking down so his lips are right next to Guillermo’s ear.

"And all the vampires you've killed? Did they not have memories, and lives, and...shampoo? That did not stop you." If his voice is a little harsh, it can't be helped. "And what of all the victims you lured to our home over the years? Were they not people? Did they not also use the shampoo?"

"That's different," Guillermo almost sighs, leaning into Nandor even as he sounds like he wants to cry again.

"How is it different?" Nandor demands.

"I did all of that for you," Guillermo says.

And Nandor....well.

What does Nandor even say to that?

He spins Guillermo around, holding him by the arms and searching his eyes. They're shining with tears of shame and regret, but they meet Nandor's and hold there.

"It's so easy," Guillermo breathes. "To turn off everything else. The guilt, the fear. Regret. All of it. It's so fucking easy when I'm doing it for you."

If Nandor's heart still beat, it would break free of his chest at those words.

"And what of you?” he asks. “Why are you not reason enough?" Guillermo just looks at him, stricken. He has no answer.

"Fine," Nandor says at last. He guides Guillermo to one of the empty seats at the small table, and settles himself into another.

"I will do this for you," Nandor says. "And you? Will do it for me."

"What--" Guillermo starts to ask, but his question dies as Nandor leans in and pierces the throat of the unfortunate man with the awful shampoo.

It is a very well-placed bite, if Nandor does say so himself. Right on the front of the neck--a difficult spot to get to!--and not so deep as to cause a giant mess. The blood wells slowly from the shallow punctures, pooling in the hollow of the dying man's throat. Nandor must have hit him quite hard over the head, because he doesn't stir, not even when his breathing takes on a slightly wet, gurgling quality.

Guillermo stares at the man with mingled horror and pity, and Nandor can't have that. He cannot let Guillermo get lost in the reality of this meaningless human’s fate. He takes Guillermo’s chin in one hand, pulling his gaze back where it belongs. With the other, he dips two fingers in the growing pool of rich, red blood.

"Open your mouth," he orders. Guillermo's eyes go wide, but somewhat to Nandor's surprise, he does as he's told without hesitation.

Nandor slips his bloody fingers between Guillermo’s lips, bracing himself for Guillermo to fight him, to pull away. He doesn’t. He stays still, letting Nandor do what he wants, his eyes never wavering from Nandor’s own.

Nandor sees the moment when the taste hits his tongue.

"Mmmf," Guillermo manages, his lips closing instinctively as he sucks and licks the blood from Nandor's fingers. The little moan of contentment he lets out is more felt than heard.

Nandor is transfixed. He has never seen Guillermo like this, but his mind readily supplies other scenarios where Guillermo might look up at him thus. He feels dizzy. If he needed to breathe he’d be in real trouble, because he is pretty sure he’s forgotten how.

Nandor withdraws reluctantly at last only to coat his fingers in more blood--the pool now overflowing to drip sluggishly down the man's neck and onto the table. He brings his fingers back to Guillermo's lips and can't hold in a little moan of his own at the way Guillermo eagerly takes them in, looking up at Nandor from under his eyelashes as he accepts this offering, his hands coming up to hold Nandor's hand in place by the wrist. His mouth is warm and wet, his tongue gentle and clever as it circles Nandor's fingers, chasing the taste of blood. His teeth graze Nandor's knuckles as he sucks, hard, and Nandor thinks he might die right there. Crumble to dust with his hand trapped in the mouth of his only natural predator. He wishes he could fit all of himself inside that mouth, hide there in the darkness, surrounded by Guillermo, consumed by him.

This was only meant to feed Guillermo, to help get him past the worst of this unfortunate eleventh-hour respect for human life, but it is quickly morphing into something entirely out of Nandor's control. He's half-hard already, after barely more than a minute of watching Guillermo take in his fingers with his mouth like he's just been waiting to do it, waiting for Nandor to offer. His expression as he savors the blood Nandor is feeding him is beatific, practically glowing. Nandor himself might be having a religious experience for the first time in seven hundred years.

He withdraws again for more blood, watching the emotions play across Guillermo’s pretty face as he does so. He feels dizzy, aching with want for the man sitting so close to him. Especially when Guillermo pauses to kiss the tips of his blood-covered fingers before taking them in again, slowly this time, savoring.

"Guillermo," Nandor manages to choke out. When did he lose control of this situation? Did he ever have it to begin with? "Please." He doesn't even know what he's begging for.

But Guillermo must know, because he releases Nandor's fingers with an obscene, wet pop before abandoning his chair to crawl into Nandor's lap. The chair groans beneath their combined weight, but Nandor barely notices. He's too busy getting his hands underneath all those frustrating layers Guillermo wears, too busy tasting the blood on his tongue, too busy reeling from the heady feeling of being at Guillermo’s mercy, body and whatever passes for a vampire's soul.

The corpse next to them--the man is certainly dead now, his gurgling breaths having ceased all together--is cooling, all that remaining blood going to waste. But neither of them notice, far too caught up in the taste, smell, and feel of each other, and the memory they're making.

Someday, Nandor thinks hazily as Guillermo undoes the fastenings holding his robe together with practiced movements, we will look back on this and laugh. Someday far, far in the future .

And if Nandor has to feed Guillermo like this for all that time? So be it.

[invisibleraven]

choosing the right radio station together / the GPP

If there was any two words that made Alex cringe more than any other they were 'Road Trip'.

Not that he minded driving around to see what they could see, or to go someplace. Some of the few happy memories of his childhood involved road trips with his family, so he loved doing it with his partners and friends.

It was just...a lot.

First of all, they had to find a time when all of them were free, which was difficult with two bands, plus Willie and Flynn's schedules for their own projects. Then finding a vehicle to accomodate them all-either a really big van, or an RV were their only options.

Alex usually volunteered to do most of the driving-he was the best driver and honestly enjoyed it. However Kayla did occasionally take over, just to give him a break.

Reggie and Willie got snacks, Carrie and Flynn got games and stuff to do, and Julie ensured everything was packed-including all the meds, clothes, and instruments if they decided they were going to pick up a gig or two on the way.

It was Luke who made it hard, because as much as all of them loved him, he made the trip insufferable when it came to the radio.

He preferred to leave it off, as he wanted to compose his own stuff without distractions. However, the rule had become that whoever sat shotgun got to decide, and Luke couldn't fit his six string up there. So he didn't get a vote.

"No country at least?" he pleaded.

"Sorry bud, it's my turn, and I'm in a Dolly kinda mood," Reggie said with a patronizing pat on the cheek.

A groan went up at that-look none of them disliked Dolly, but hours of her got a bit grating. None of them were sure how Reggie found a station that played mostly Dolly, but they regretted it ever since.

"Hey at least it's better than the talk radio station Carrie would have picked!" Flynn argued.

"NPR is great!" Carrie insisted.

"How about we turn on the latest hit station?" Kayla requested. "We're more likely to hear something that everyone can enjoy that way."

"You mean listen to the same five songs on repeat for hours? Pass," Julie stated.

"Better than the easy listening station that almost put us all to sleep last time," Luke grumbled.

"Okay children!" Alex spoke up. "I am plugging in my phone, and putting on the pre-approved playlist. You don't like it, you find your own way there!"

"But shot gun rules!" Reggie insisted.

Willie sighed, pulling him into a hug. "Sunshine, I get it, I do, but hot dog is driving and since we don't want him to drive us into a ditch, or leave us in the middle of nowhere, I think this is best."

"Can I still navigate?" Reggie asked.

"You'd better," Alex replied with a smile. "I don't trust Luke after last time."

"Hey we had fun in the ghost town!" Luke insisted.

"We were supposed to be in Michigan!"

"Enough arguing!" yelled Julie, ever the peace maker. "We're listening to Alex's playlist or we're sitting with silence until Reggie starts a sing along."

"Oh god, no more sing alongs," Carrie said with a shuddered, blowing Reggie a kiss when he stuck his tongue out at her.

"Alex's play list it is," Luke agreed grudgingly.

"Good," Alex stated. "Now everybody got everything? Anybody need to go to the bathroom?" Everyone was ready-thank goodness because they were already an hour behind. "Then let's get this song on the road."

Finally they got going, but even Alex had to laugh when the first song on his playlist was a Dolly song.

[zealctry]

Dashgame: Never Have I Ever !

RULES: Your Muse and all the Muses they interact with are in a pub somewhere across Space, Dimension and Time. Answer the first 'Never Have I Ever' In Character. At the end of that, let your Muse ask a new ‘Never Have I Ever’ question for the tagged people to answer themself. After those tagged people answered your prompt, they state their own 'Never Have I Ever' and tag you back along with other Muses. Rinse, lather, repeat. original by @treasurechestrpmemes

“ –never have I ever hurt another person willfully. ”

Hidan’s gaze had, within the last handful of seconds, wandered into the distance, drifting with no particular purpose, like a leaf blow in the wind. it snaps back, however, upon hearing that particularly hilarious tidbit. he cannot help himself ( could, but doesn’t care enough to ) from bursting into laughter. a loud, ringing sound, filled with much more mirth than it ( by society’s standards ) had a right to be.

( she’s playing saint, and he finds it funny. whether or not the words are true remains an open question. people talk a lot, but not all words are genuine. people talk a lot, but they are very good at deluding even their own selves. oh well. illusion delusion is the first of all pleasures, and all that rot. )

he picks the glass between long fingers and downs it in one swig. easily.  then reaches dutifully for the bottle, and pours himself another drink, gaze unwavering and unblinking. ( downs that one, too, a smooth shot, the liquid trailing fire down his throat. just for the hell of it. just to make a point. )

the click of his tongue is not as much satisfied as it is mocking.

“ never have I ever fantasized about murder. ”

( oh. and he proudly takes that shot, too. )

tagged by: @hunting-songs xoxo a good bean, love you tagging: @cainiine / @helllords (choose someone fun for the latter account~), @sortilegum / @deviatory (Mal? Vin?), @distortedkilling, @kiigan (modern verse for funsies), @longerhuman, @mxldito, @bedlamology (Loni), @hemat1c (Jiwoon), @senjufound (Madara), @langdhon, @softersinned & anyone else who I am too shy to tag or is currently inactive but feels it for later.

[lithiumcreepblog]

Steve Harrington & Jonathan Byers’

The Great American Road Trip

Day 1. 07/21/1993. Chicago, IL to St. Louis, MO.

Day 1: Jonathan and I are on the Route 66. Finally. We have been planning this trip for a while, and we’re going from Chicago to Santa Monica the whole way through, then visiting Argyle. I’ve been wanting to go on a cross country road trip for a long time, so it’s great that we get to go now. We stopped by a vendor at the pier first and got some sunglasses for the road. Jonathan said I’m too obsessed with sunglasses. I don’t think so though. It’s not my fault I look incredibly cool in them. He looks really good in them too, not that he’ll ever admit it. He wouldn’t let me take a picture of him with two sunglasses on at the same time, but he looked pretty silly. We drove for a few hours to Springfield where we stopped for a quick lunch at a diner. Actually, Jonathan drove and I provided meaningful commentary the whole way. Jonathan also won’t stop filming everything he sees with his video camera… he’s making a film later of our trip. Robin told me I should keep a journal too, write down stuff I find interesting along the way. Which I saw a lot of. One of which is this big statue called The Gemini Giant in Wilmington. He had an astronaut helmet that looks more like a mask for welding, but it was pretty cool. My favorite stop of the day was the detour to the old brick road which is part of the original stretch of the Route. We’re already out of Illinois and made it to St. Louis even with all our stops. But it was already dark when we arrived so we’ll have to see the Arch tomorrow. I’m absolutely wiped because I took over the driving role after Springfield, but today was more fun than I even imagined.

“Do you really have to record everything?”

“Oh yes, this is very important. We’re capturing the essence of Americana… gorging yourself on a hamburger with bacon. Pure American decadence.”

“Give me that, I’m not being the only one with my mouth open on camera.”

“Alright, alright. Here you go, get a shot of our milkshakes together.”

“So, Jonathan. Tell the camera, how have I been as a road trip companion so far?”

“Hmm, very distracting.”

“What? I’m offended.”

“Don’t look at me like a kicked puppy, I mean it in a good way. I’ve just never seen you this lively or taken with anything, that’s all. This is about fulfilling your dream as much as it is about mine. It is like being a kid all over again, isn’t it? Going places we’ve never been before and seeing new things. It’s just hard to focus on the road when your eyes are lighting up beside me with every weird landmark we pass.”

“Nice save there, Jon. I am glad we get to do this together. It’s already some of the most fun I’ve had, and you are a great partner to go on a road trip with.”

“Likewise, Steve. I can’t believe we’ve never done this before.”

“And why don’t you give us something from that book of yours as parting words for anyone who might be seeing this?”

“I don’t think we’ll be showing this to anyone but sure… let’s see… okay, here. ‘What is that feeling when you’re driving away from people and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing?—It’s the too-huge world vaulting us, and it’s good-bye. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies.’”

“Alright… I think I understood what that means… now, back on the road!”

Steve & Jonathan listen to this on repeat for about 5 times before they both grow tired of it. Steve then wonders if there are any other songs about Route 66 to which Jonathan goes on a 15 minute long lecture about the origin of the song, from Nat King Cole to the other renditions. Steve listens with a fond smile as Jonathan becomes more animated behind the wheel, and plays the tape again just for the fun of it.

Souvenirs obtained: one fridge magnet that says Route 66 Illinois for Joyce, one miniature car to put on Steve’s shelf, one postcard set for the memories.