#a visit to the Volcano | event

[is-this-even-relatable]

Misfortune Teller

tldr: An older Danny, apprentice to Clockwork, does a lot of field work across dimensions, resetting the timeline, queuing future events, and who knows what else. Occasionally, he warns people about such upcoming possibilities, to set them on the right path. How, you might ask? Well in this case... as a wandering fortune teller.

Crack-fic (oh god, it's getting long and my logic brain won't let it remain as crack) where Danny becomes Clockwork's apprentice after getting his GED. Living his infinite afterlife to the fullest. Inspired by this tumblr post.

Working for Clockwork had been... interesting so far. At first, Danny got frustrated by how vague and cryptic Clockwork was. He'd just shunt Danny off to some ancient time with a few words, his own time medallion (Danny carried it everywhere with him now), and then pop back into the portal, leaving Danny with only the faintest idea of where to go.

Eventually, after enough time (ha!) spent around Clockwork, Danny figured out that it just basically meant that he had free reign and to do whatever he wanted. Because if he went on the wrong path, (like that one time in Pompeii when he had almost caused the volcano to explode a few years too early), Clockwork would just pop on by, say another few cryptic words, and then it'd all be fine and dandy, or as he liked to say, "All is as it should be... Now stop practicing your wail by an active volcano."

After telling Jazz about that (it was supposed to be funny, not concerning), she just sighed and shook her head, with a forlorn "think before you act, Danny!" but hey, it'd turned out fine so far, so who cares how he does what Clockwork asks him to do, as long as it gets done, right? Even if it's with a liiiiitle more mischief than strictly required.

Besides. Danny was the one who had been doing time shenanigans across millennia, not Jazz. And he thought he'd been getting pretty good at it too! He'd actually started giving himself a different made-up background for each universe he visited. Sam and Tucker were helping him keep up with the identities on a spreadsheet, so if he had to go back to one he'd already visited, he'd remember who he'd said he was supposed to be.

---

He was on a call with them one evening while haunting Jazz's apartment, doing just that, when he felt a familiar tingle in the back of his throat, as well as a heightened awareness of the seconds passing by, that always accompanied his mentor's appearance.

Sam was talking about his past stint posing as a god of death when he cut in. "Hey- sorry to interrupt, Sam- Clocky's here, guys, I gotta dip."

"Aw, come on! We hardly talked any this past week since you passed your certifications, man," Tucker complained.

Danny rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Yeah, yeah. Partly on you too though, you've been caught up outside of class, and Sam's schedule is nearly the opposite of yours."

Sam hummed in agreement despiter Tucker's scoff.

Danny missed hanging out with them as much as they had in high school, but hey, life goes on. Or at least, theirs did, to college. After finally flunking out of Casper High, he'd taken some time to get used to his responsibilities in the ghost zone, and when he had, he realized that he didn't really have much enthusiasm or timeleft for his human life.

And he didn't really want to go back home either.

But Jazz had made him tie up any loose ends before he noped-off to god knows where, which frankly, he had to thank her for. Getting his GED took a few years, but it was an accomplishment that could be attributed to Danny Fenton, no ghostliness required. Then he was able to let that tether go free.

Pulled out of his musings by a few more grumbles from Tucker, Danny said his goodbyes, promising to call the next time they were all available.

After hanging up, Danny swiveled around, anticipation already lighting up his eyes an ethereal green.

Clockwork, for his part, had been waiting patiently through Danny's lengthy goodbyes. Although he supposed that it tracked for the watcher of time to be patient. With his job, it'd be a nightmare if he wasn't.

"Phantom," Clockwork spoke, calm as always. "I have some tasks I need you to complete as my apprentice."

And Danny, always ready for adventure, didn't need him to explain any further. "Sure! When do you need me to be?"

Clockwork smiled at that. "I am fortunate you are eager. Follow me."

---

Danny popped into existence in this universe with a burst of cold air and static electricity. He found himself hovering by a clocktower above a sprawling, gothic city. Smog and light pollution obscured the stars above him, to his disappointment. He comforted himself with the fact that he'd probably have all the time he wanted to fly someplace less populated to see them later.

He started off by familiarizing himself with the city. As he flew, he followed the trail of power and met the resident city-spirit, a spooky- but kind underneath- woman draped in black lace, who told him her name was Gotham. He spoke in length with her about this universe, its heroes, and her knights. On that, she was very enthusiastic... or at least Danny thought she was, her projected emotions belaying much more than her gloomy exterior. She told him how her knights had been through a lot and would need some guidance fighting the darkness that pooled in her deepest corners, smiling with too much glee, filling lungs with fear, and terrorizing with cold hard bullets.

Danny could sense that the dangers she spoke of were growing in power, ever slowly. The longer they shadowed people's minds and hearts, an intangible thing grew that lent them more otherworldly pull than their physical forms had right to hold.

That must be what he was sent here for.

But... they were weak, pitifully so for him, infinite king as he was. And besides, he wasn't here in that sense. He was a messenger, a simple apprentice. And he could do this however he wanted.

Cue his talk with Lady Gotham, and subsequent idea to arm her knights. With what? Well, he figured knowledge would be a start. Flying high above the city invisibly, Danny noticed a sea of colors and lights by what appeared to be the city's pier. He flew down, noting that it appeared to be the setup spot for a travelling circus or carnival of some kind.

He considered what to do. One of Lady Gotham's troubles was a madman clown, right? Well maybe he'd be attracted to his ilk here... and with the danger came the knights. Maybe he could catch one of them here?

Danny was floating around at the entrance and beginning to formulate a plan when a flyer caught his eye. Looking for a mystic to read fortunes. URGENT!

Hadn't Clockwork said something about fortunes? And he hadn't made an identity in this universe yet...

A mischievous smile crept across Danny's face, splitting it in two with far too many teeth.

---

Half a city away, a man in all black, perched on the very same clocktower that Phantom had Appeared by, shivered as he felt an ominous premonition about his sanity in the near future...

Said man quickly opened his comms to check in with his many, many kids. Yet even after hearing back from each, he still felt apprehensive.

Somewhere even further, Clockwork laughed.

---

And that's how Danny found himself seated at a fortune teller's booth at a pier in Gotham, two days later, for the Tricksy Traveling Circus's grand opening.

[skyc47su]

Okay so, you're gonna want to sit down for a bit because I have like a little universe of a thing going on here related to this particular Skycotl guard OC

First of all...

MY HEADCANON: There are still LIVING "spirits" (or whatever race or species the spirits are in skycotl) out there. The place our sky children/characters currently reside in is "The kingdom of Sky". So not exactly the whole world, just maybe a continent. So SOMEWHERE out there, it's possible that there are living spirits/humanoids who were safe or survived the shards. After all, it can't be that the heart of Eden affected the whole world, right? It's not like a meteor that killed the dinosaurs. At most maybe it was like a really big volcano that exploded. So CUE my skycotl living spirits and guard OCs (Except for "Avast". They are @breakdownbreakout's guard OC)

Some of the living spirits came to visit the Sky kingdom as a business venture. The most common way they would come was in a flying boat (just like in Season of Aurora cutscenes) or traveling caravans. One of those people who owns and leads a travelling caravan, pulled by trained mantas, is Jebifeld (see image above, 1st person on the leftmost). Now, the Sky kingdom may not be as war-ridden and shard-ridden as before, but one would still need guards to protect their goods. These would be my guard OCs in the above image (except for River, because they're actually the herbalist/healer of the traveling caravan)

The guard squad of Jebifeld's traveling caravan is compromised of Deltos, who was part of his team since the time Jebifeld started his business and was the head of the team until Llaro's death (he had seen many of his old guard teammates die from dark dragon attacks). Has a dragon-slayer title

Younger guards: Paltka (who was also under Llaro and Ohru. A kind guard who prioritizes the safety of her charges) Avi (the youngest guard under Ticho, Mikel and Kelche)

Ticho (was under Kelche and Mikel. Was formerly the head of the squad, but was soon exiled due to a certain event, mainly hurting a sky child. He was hired alongside Avast and Paltka)

Avast (not my OC but he is a very important guard. Quite a loner. He lost his eye in a dark dragon attack that resulted in his senior's death)

Old guards: Mikel (specialist in long-range combat. Besties with Kelche) Kelche (specialist in close-range combat. Loves her alcohol) Ohru (the biggest guard, often tanking dark dragons) and lastly... Llaro (Avast's former senior and the one who brought Avast out of his shell)

So yeah that's just my bit of my little group of skycotl traveling caravan guards OCs ;w; @unidentifiable-swarm I hope you don't mind the tag ;w;

[jesswritesthat]

Miya Atsumu: Housemate Test

Fandom: Haikyuu!! — [ Masterlist ]

Summary: ~1k, fluff, humour

• You and your housemate have certain traditions, it all goes out the window when Atsumu wants in on it.

Warnings: A little cursing

>>>>——————————>

It was peaceful cafe date with your flatmate originally, Nana updating you on events you might’ve missed in passing including her dating life.

“So our housemate test was once again successful, thanks for your assistance (Y/n)~”

That’s when Atsumu had joined you, a friend of yours and also now an acquaintance of Nana, and had immediately picked up on the one thing you wished he didn’t overheat when effortlessly sliding into the seat beside you.

“What test?”

“Nothing at all! How was practice? What are you gonna order?” You quickly diverted, hoping he��d at least be distracted for a moment - except when a Miya wanted to know something, they weren’t easily mislead.

“Great! Made some flawless sets, but I wanna know more about this test of yours, can I do one?”

"Uh well… It's rather superstitious and ridiculous, so it is a last resort when deciding on a man." Came your dismissive flyaway, slight laugh in place hoping you wouldn’t have to go into detail.

"Okay now ya gotta explain." Atsumu leaned forward, resting his arms in the table after gentle budging you as encouragement, however it was Nana who gladly elaborated.

"Basically, (Y/n) comes in wearing the sexiest outfit they own - if the date stares for longer than 10 seconds, no more dates."

"Oh? Didn't know ya dressed up."

"Never have a reason to when I'm around you." Was your witty response, making a face at the Setter next to you who was equally as childish when pouting at you.

"Ouch, but it sounds dumb... is there a backstory?"

"It was a pure coincidence, but one time (Y/n) came home wearing a drop dead gorgeous outfit and the guy I was on date with stared at them for more than 10 seconds. We got together and he cheated on me 2 months in. However, the next time it happened, that date only greeted (Y/n) and I was with him for over a year." Nana finished with a wistful sigh, smiling wider when Atsumu took a disbelieving quizzical tone.

"And ya based an entire strategy on these coincidences?"

"Yup~" Your roommate said proudly, practically gleaming with the pure bemusement of it.

“Alright, I ain’t in a position to question it. Anyway, in practice today Omi-Omi…”

Luckily the conversation took a welcomed tangent now Atsumu had his answers and you’d excused yourself to go to the bathroom. Hopefully that’d be the last time that topic would surface in his presence. Except, you’d never been that lucky.

———

[ Nana: Housemate test required!!! Are you free? xx ]

With a defeated sigh, you responded positively since you were already out it made no difference to leave early as you'd had quite enough of this social gathering.

By the time you'd arrived, you heard her giggle through the door mingling with the chime of your keys as you unlocked it. No more than 3 seconds after you'd walked past the entryway a wolf whistle erupted and you froze in your tracks with a boiling rage building in your chest. It was deathly silent, aside from Nana choking on what you assumed was her wine.

"Was that at me or at Nana?"

"All you darlin'."

If you weren't so furious, you probably would've recognised the voice but instead your fury propelled you in full view with a dangerous darkness in your eyes.

"Nana! Epic fucking fail - you deserve—" That exploding volcano suddenly sucked all of its lava back in and hit an ice age. Atsumu lounged in the main area, once cocky and when you came into view properly there were stars in his eyes, completely awestruck.

You'd expected further teasing but the blonde seemed unable to muster anything, now just simply staring with mouth agape and then shaking his head furiously as to hide his blush.

"Uh— I ah— yer housemate— I was—"

"Miya came to visit, I thought you'd want to see him too."

"The housemate test is only for emergencies, he doesn't count. Atsumu is just a hazard." You pointed an accusing finger at the blonde, Nana even more amused than usual as she smoothly intercepted with her classic charm.

"Aha since we're all here, might as well sit down and chat with us before he has to go right?"

It was as normal between yourself and Nana, however you noted the Setter was more awkward than usual. Especially when you focused your attention on him, however you chalked it down to being the odd one out of sorts.

It wasn't until you showed him out and bid him farewell that you heard a dramatic groan from the down the hallway when you stepped away from the door. Then came the debrief from your trusty housemate on why he was actually here.

"It's funny, when you stepped out for a bit at the café, he asked me a favour."

"I assume that favour had something to do with pulling a housemate test whilst he was present?" You raised an expectant brow and crossed your arms, Nana excited to elaborate and even mimicked Atsumus' kansai dialect in her answer.

"Yes, but how he asked - oh he was a stuttering mess, I think he only wanted to tease you at first but he ended up spluttering something like 'I just wanna see (Y/n) in a dress/suit 'cause it'll be cool'."

"You've gotta be joking." It warmed you in a way, and it was hard to fight off the embarrassed smirk.

"I'm not! Why do you think he was so flustered just now? He obviously finds you really attractive, how blind can you be?" Nana loudly laughed, leaving you with food for thought when she went to her bedroom.

Surely not, Atsumu you assumed was too charismatic and teasing to be flustered by appearance. Let alone someone he already knew. This was a man who openly told you if he found someone hot, or liked their style, a man who dealt with gorgeous fans cheering his name at every game. For you to render him defenceless just by putting on an outfit? Absurd.

Still you snapped to your housemate when she re-emerged from her room only briefly, proud and mischievous smile painting her lips.

"He passed the housemate test by the way, I don't think he looked anywhere else for more than 10 seconds the moment you entered the room~"

<——————————<<<<

[ Masterlist ]

[simply-windy]

The Seven Islands - Phighting Au

The "Seven Islands" are a collection of islands ruled over my deities n their families, each island hosting spawn fountains and a number of demons that inhabit them. Each island has their own characteristics that separate them from the rest and have their own "regional pin' that's given to every demon at birth as a form of identification. Island of Flames: Ruling family: King Firebrand and his grandsons, Prince Dom and Prince Valk The Island of Flames is one of the hottest islands with skyrocketing temperatures during the morning hours and cooler, more tolerable temperatures in the night hours. The waters around his island tend to be hotter too, making swimming a tad of a risk. There is also a dormant volcano located in the very center of the island. All demons born here have a natural resistance to the heat. Island of Storms: Ruling family: Queen Windforce and her son, Prince Banhammer The Island of Storms is one of the roughest and toughest of islands, constantly plagued with harsh weather and storms, those who inhabit this island are always prepared for some sort of dangerous/strong weather events. The Island of Storms is also home to one of the biggest fighting arenas within the seven islands, demons from all over come to show their strengths in hopes of fighting the queen herself. Island of Flowers: Ruling family: King Illumina and his nephew, Snapdragon Sword The Island of Flowers is definitely the most beautiful. Covered head to toe in dazzling flowers, luscious greenery and fruit bearing trees. nature prevails here. The Island of Flowers is also home to the biggest animal population as well. Island of Souls: Ruling family: King Ghostwalker The Island of Souls is a quiet one. A peaceful island where those who're on death's door come to find a resting place. Most elderly demons tend to live on this island for that reason. Peaceful with haunting yet cozy beauty. Island of Plague: Ruling family: King Venomshank and formerly his son, Snapdragon Sword The Island of Plague is one where the undead walk freely and openly, where ghouls and goblins n such come to life. Most demons who inhabit this island also grow up with an immunity to most of the plague and diseases that containment the land. Although food n water are kept heavily monitored to make sure they're containment-free and safe for all to eat for non-native borns Island of Shadows: Ruling family: King Darkheart The Island of Shadows used to be a fun place to visit. Any and all demons were welcomed to come and traverse the darkened waters and shadowy landscape, but now very few demons even LIVE on that island in general. The island nowadays is deemed "unsafe for residency" due to a tragic event that befell the king, causing them to lose their mind and basically overrun the island completely with their madness. Those who remain on the island have fallen into said madness too. Island of Frost: Ruling family: King Icedagger The Island of Frost is snowy and chilled, being the coldest island out of the seven. Peaceful and serene, many people tend to travel there to celebrate winter holidays, go on vacation or simply to see a different form of nature. Many cozy cabins and log houses make up the general housing for residents and such. The waters are incredibly frigid, making swimming a danger for those who're not native born. All demons born here have a natural resistance to the cold.

@discothemechanic is also apart of this au!!!! She's the owner of the Sword in this au. Since she's reworking him, his name is currently unknown as of now and will be added once everything's all set. @seaside-merchants and @young-sharkling , two of my own blogs, are also apart of this au!

[jonathan-samuel-smith]

TW bipolar discussion and nonconsensual kissing, mental health discussion

So about Saturn Girl kissing Jon without his ability to consent to it: I get that she isn't actively deciding to mind control the people around her, but she does have a choice in the matter. Her family wanted her to stay home until she could control her mind control powers, but she didn't want to and left. To me that's like if I noticed I was manic (not hypomanic) and didn't go to the mental hospital... Like I can't control my bipolar but I have the choice to stay away from others when it would harm them. That's not even a good comparison though because my judgement isn't clear enough to consistently do that when I'm manic, whereas she is at baseline and is able to think rationally. I wouldn't blame someone with bipolar because they have no choice, but I'm just saying the obvious choice would be to keep yourself away from others even if it's not fun for you. I feel like I can blame her, because she has a choice.

I do sympathize with her, but I really think she's hurting others disproportionately to the distress she feels stuck at home, and that's not okay.

If you look back on the events with the knowledge that she can't turn off her mind control, you see how manipulative she is, especially to Jon, and she does high-control group tactics: love bombing, isolation, guilt tripping, not letting him have rest alone where he would have time to realize he didn't want this.

I don't like the JonDami narrative that Jon was an asshole for leaving Damian in the past or was running away from his problems, because in my view he was dragged into a cult and I can't blame him for that, especially because he was extremely vulnerable at the time. I also don't believe Jon would have left in the first place if he knew up front that he couldn't bring Damian to at least visit him.

Jon had been in a state of fight or flight for around 6 years (not just talking about the volcano because there was also his verbally abusive grandpa and their deadly adventures and being trapped in space, and then him struggling to survive on the streets and trying to find a way home after he escaped) and the first time he really got a chance to cool down was when he was talking with Damian. He really needs a long break, therapy, and medication because what he went through can't be treated with therapy alone as the stress has chemical effects in the brain that need to be adjusted.

The writers don't care about how Jon should be extremely hypervigilant and defensive and anxious. I guess that's just not brave enough for a superhero, nevermind that leaving the house and getting treatment for these things, learning to trust again, and letting people help you is so much braver than punching guys when you have superpowers. It's natural to fight when your fight or flight is activated in a protective manner, but doing the logical thing when every signal in your body is telling you not to is really damn hard. The only coward is DC for giving Jon trauma and not actually writing a traumatized character.

That all being said, Damian clearly doesn't see how Jon is being manipulated, probably because his head is full of self hatred & doubting & repressed desires to ask Jon to stay, and thinks he needs to go against his abandonment trauma by swinging the pendulum too far in the opposite direction in his speech. With his c-ptsd and abandonment issues I can see him becoming bitter towards Jon for going to the future.

That could make for a really complex fanfiction, don't you think? The conflict coming from their unique life experiences and traumas, and them learning to understand each other like they're always doing. This misunderstanding of intentions born not out of something dumb like hearing the wrong thing or being unclear in language, but from their different points of view.

My jondami au where Jon leaves the legion early is calling me lmao "Isaac we have more problems for you to fix~"

That being said I have no exclusivity to these ideas for writing.

[tiredsurvivoronmain]

Thinking about post-re5 Wesker discretely stalking/following Chris and showing up under his nose and Chris had no idea, for example;

- the bar Chris would visit in RE6 (Wesker lurking in a corner in disguise and watching him, following him around the town while he's drunk and oblivious. Maybe helping him back to his accommodation or speaking him but Chris is so drunk he doesn't even recognise his voice or remember any of it)

- during the events of RE8 Wesker is snooping around the village collecting data while also surveying and spying on Chris and his team

He keeps close tabs on Chris and knows where he is almost at all times, sometimes following him on missions to both collect data/samples from killed BOWs and to observe Chris.

After RE5 Chris becomes his new object of study; his obsession intensifies after his somewhat undignified defeat in the volcano.

[draken-rotzi]

Tarnished Lore?

From my draconic girl Emma?

Yes she got it!

Though it's mostly a set of points in her story, I do need to write them down in a google doc ToT

I usually just throw my characters into the world, not really thinking in a deep backstory until later when I've defined their personality and relationships, they just fall into place and I add into that !

I'll try to make it as short as possible, since its not that much of a linear story I think? It happens paralel to "the chosen" tarnished's journey (the game's canon), so world events can progress without much issue!

Her name is Emmlyn! Emma for short

• Tarnished from the warrior/hero category, draconic mom and blood noble dad who mysteriously left so she basically never met him (Ansbach lol)

• Arrived at the coast in Limgrave, following the grace, led her to Agheel Lake where she met Yura and learnt about dragon communion

• Unable to beat Agheel, made her way east to Caelid, at Redmane Castle she trained (painfully) with the Leonine and Crucible Knight there, managing to defeat the smaller drakes around and crafting her (altered) drake knight armor

• Back in Limgrave convinced Yura to help her defeat Agheel and kept the heart, not doing communion (yet)

• Heard of a dragon at Stormveil, got to defeat Morgott with the help of Rogier. Didn't fight Godrick after she learned that the dragon was a corpse, proceeded to Liurnia following word of glintstone dragon Samarag.

• At Liurnia she met Bogart and Rya, she offered Emma a future visit to the Volcano manor, seeing her interest in dragon hunting the two wyrms around the place might interest her.

• Went to fight Samarag and failed, wounded she had to retreat, deciding to rest against the walls of the Rose Church where she met Varre, who made fun and dismissed her for being so weak.

• Back at the roundtable she notices Rogier's situation and decides to find a way to help him. (Basically what kickstarts her main story)

• Still following grace, she needs to be stronger to explore more dungeons and reach farther for any means to help her friend, she takes Agheel's heart to Caelid where her first step in dragon communion happens, she takes on more dragons around the area to further her goal.

(Not defined yet other than her draconic heritage but for the sake of convenience instead of the dragon eyes she can use a dragon form for a short while now, gives a boost in stats for combat but clouds the mind)

• Hunting dragons leads her back to Liurnia where she beats Samarag, on her way back she finds Varre again who is now interested in her strenght and offers his usual deal, she reluctanctly agrees bc that's another medium for her goal if needed.

(Pretty much Fia's quest minus "enter Ranni's service" happens here)

• Rogier's condition worsens, things get desperate, so she reaches out to Varre and his bloody finger offer.

In the end nothing can help Rogier from dying of deathblight, Emma is left with two curses and the lost of her beloved, she lost the ability to see grace as well.

• Varre takes advantage of her grief and makes her get attached to him (whats better than a knight elevated by toxic love?)

• Some time passes and Emma makes the trip to the Volcano Manor, now with the craving of more dragon hearts. Meets the recusants, specifically Diallos who is the kindest of them, but she keeps him at arms' distance.

(You can insert the DLC here)

• More time passes and they have become friends with benefits, though it distracts her from her duty at Mohgwyns (not good)

• In this story its Varre who sends the poachers to kill Diallos

• Now that again Emma's got no one else she fully throws herself into being a bloody finger (with a side of dragon hunting). It gets to a point where she's almost always in her dragon form, unable to turn back on her own.

(Next bit subject to change tbh lol)

• Her mind and heart broken, in the end funny enough Varre slips speaking about her past lovers' gruesome deaths and thats what does it, the floodgates open and both curses take away her remaining humanity, turning her into a violent mindless beast of blood and fire.

And there it is! I play around a lot in scenarios with my friends but this is basically her canon lore/ending ^^; hardly anything complex but I've been having a lot of fun with it ♡

[tanoraqui]

The Rise and Fall of Empires

Chapter 5: Machinations of Empire

17 – 46 Years after the Fall of Eregion

Celebrimbor had never used a Palantir this much in his life. By the time he’d been old enough, they’d been in Formenos, and Fëanor in his temper forbade speaking to anyone who hadn’t joined them there—and priority rights for sneaking into Finwë’s office to use his stone hadn’t included Tyelpë, barely 40 years old. In Beleriand, it hadn’t been safe to cast one’s mind so wide-open. And in the many years since… 

Well, he’d always been busy, quite happily so, with the work within his reach. He did stay in touch with people outside his immediate city! He traveled, he wrote letters! And Annatar spent enough time tracking events far afield for both of them.

Now, for lack of anything else to do, Celebrimbor spent hours stretching his sight and his will across the Isle of Gift. He observed the building of troopships in Eldalondë, where Elves once visited from Eldamar, and the smugglers darting in and out of the countless small, rocky coves that dotted the northernmost coasts. He leaned mentally over the shoulders of potters and masons, alchemists and electricians and of course jewelsmiths, and whispered advice to elf and man, slave and free alike, if they seemed like they deserved it. He even reached across the sea back to Middle Earth, scrabbling blind until Galadriel reached out to meet him, and exchanged gossip of their shared people: who was still alive, which romances were progressing despite all the duress, how elves of the northern kingdoms could best harass their occupiers next, and how the Númenoreans would likely strike back… 

And he did worse things, because Annatar could only whisper into the dark corners of so many hearts at once, when he also—as he liked to boastfully complain—had to play politics more openly, and help run an Empire, and slowly stoke a volcano to wrath. And Celebrimbor had seen this done by a true virtuoso once, albeit in his earliest youth...

So it came to pass that Annatar stood at the king’s right hand and stifled hysterical giggles as Lord Khôrathôr of Nindamos stormed into the throne room in full panoply for war and demanded that Ar-Pharazón bar his cousin Lady Inzilzôr from the Council of the Sceptre, on the grounds that she was giving bad advice and usurpring his, Lord Khôrathôr’s, rightful place.

[keep reading on AO3]

[quitealotofsodapop]

It'd be hilarious if some of the other pilgrim's decendants did still come visit Wukong. Like, imagine Tang or Pigsy being told that if they were EVER in trouble, go to this far off mountain. Or Mei's parents going camping in the forests because it's "protected by an old friend of our decendant" and it's the only place they feel safe enough to camo in without having to act like a proper royal, not realizing it's where Wukong lives. Imagine if they came across the pregnant king jsut a few years before the Canon events of the show because Wukong never bothered to seal the entrance of the waterfall off of his brother's decendants and baby Mei was just a little too curious while exploring near a waterfall or Tang tripped and fell against the barrier

Sandy also def provides safe passage to the island no matter what, even if it's a pain to navigate the volcanos.

I love the thought of Tang just tripping and finding the Monkey King.

Tang: *sees a pregnant monkey demon hanging out in Water-Curtain Cave* Wukong: *sees his Master's soul standing right in front of him* Tang: "Hi?" Wukong: "Hi..."

After some confusion, and breathless info-dumping from Tang, Wukong calmly explains why he's disappeared from the public eye. Tang makes a promise to stay quiet... but could he hear some tales of his adventures with the Pilgrims pretty please? Wukong chuckles as Tang takes out a notebook to record every word he says. Wukong gains a frequent vistor in the scholar. Tang would spend his life on the island if he could, but the craving for Pigsy's cooking is too strong a siren's call to stay forever.

Little Mei would be so sweet. Wukong feels the littlest hands on his stomach and just knows that fang-filled smile looking back at him. he helps reunite Mei with her parents, both Long-Ao's so very grateful and embarassed by the turn of events. The dragons were too busy in the moment just glad that they hadn't completely lost their daughter to wonder who this mysterious monkey was. It's only after they arrive home that they truly realise. Mei is allowed visit the island as much as she wants growing up. Uncle Sun is like the coolest person she knows! She's super-excited for Baby to get here, babbling for hours at the round stomach about dragons and horses and a super cool stablehand who was a monkey. Wukong adores his honorary niece.

Pigsy fleeing to the island when he was in a bad spot, only to meet someone who looked at him like he was an old friend. He brings Sandy around to meet the guy. They like to hang out without much said between them. Pigsy wonders how long this monkey demon has been pregnant for, since he's looked ready to pop for months now.

by the time Xiaotian/MK is actually born, the friends Wukong has made help him to deliver.

[sleeplessdreamer123]

Fanfic Idea! (Lucemond, modern AU, where Arrax is a kid, Lucerys is his babysitter, Vhagar is an old veteran, and Aemond is a geriatric nurse)

Lucerys was told that he and Arrax were suppose to and visit Vhagar, Arrax's great grand aunt, the last of her siblings, in a nursing home. Apparently, there were signs of her getting weaker (or at least, weaker than she already was) and they'd like Arrax to at least spend time with her before she inevitably goes. Arrax's mother, Syrax, and his stepfather, Caraxes, were supposed to go with him, but an emergency call had them rushing to get out the door. Still, it would be nice for Vhagar to see their younger child.

And Lucerys, intrigued to meet someone who was at least a hundred years old, agreed. When they saw her in the nursing room, Lucerys froze. Vhagar was, in fact, old, but he expected a one hundred year old woman to be laying on the bed with IV drops, barely able to get out of bed. Hee expected her to be on life support with the way Syrax described her. He didn't expect to open the door to her doing lunges with weights. Aside from that, he noticed she was heavily scarred, from her face to her hands to even her feet. He even noticed she was missing a two fingers on her left hand.

She glanced at the door, seemingly uninterested, until she looked down to Arrax barreling towards her. Lucerys noticed her eyes lighting up, carefully dropping the weights in her kneeling position, and opening her arms so Arrax could quickly run to her arms.

She spoke in High Valyrian, her voice thick, powerful for someone her age. Lucerys watched as Arrax spoke, mixing High Valyrian words mixed with common, happily babbling away as he showed her his new stuffed toy, a pearlescent dragon with red spikes.

After he deemed it ok, Lucerys walked towards them. Once Vhagar glanced at him, he immediately greeted her in High Valyrian, surprising her. Not many people know the old language, the Doom, the string of erupted volcanoes, completely wiped Old Valyria off the map long ago, only few survived to ever know the language. They taught their younger generation everything they knew, trying to keep their culture alive through them, even intermarrying to keep their bloodlines pure, to never allow it to be erased. Vhagar was most likely a young girl when it happened, a live witness to the events that unfold, and Lucerys, the History geek that he was, was very interested to talk to her.

Just by his name, she could already tell he was of Velaryon descent. She was old friends with Velaryons, they often came to visit her for a while. She asked who is mother was. He quickly answered that she was a Targaryen. Vhagar huffed, saying he didn't expect the line of white haired brats to produce a Dornish looking boy. It stung a bit, questions of bastardy had always been a sore spot for him, but he shook it off when he saw that he moved on from it, too busy petting Arrax's hair while he babbled on about his school and his new friends. Lucerys placed the basket of treats on her bedside table, an Old Valyrian treat that Vhagar noticed, her eyes softening.

After a few minutes or so, Arrax was sleeping on Vhagar's bed, too tired from the ride and running around earlier on. Lucerys took that as a chance to talk to Vhagar. She was quite an interesting woman, and her life was very intriguing.

She confirmed that she was there, when the volcanoes erupted. She was only four, and it was so long ago, her memories were a bit hazy, but she still told him what she could remember. It was a young woman named Daenys, a Targaryen, who warned everyone of what was to come. Many people didn't believe her, saying that the volcanoes wouldn't erupt, not in such a catastrophic way she was predicting. At that time, Vahagar's family was a loyal friend to the Targaryens, and when they told them the volcanoes will kill them all, they were the first to believe.

Vaghar remembers being on the ship, miles away from Valyria, but the ship still shook from the eruptions. Her home was burning, but at least she and a few others were alive.

She doesn't remember much about their move, but they stayed with the Targaryens, and she made friends with their children. She was close to Visenya, closer to her than any of the others. They were both headstrong, fierce and loyal, ready to protect their own.

They had to be, in order to face the discrimination they endured. They had to flee quickly, and they weren't able to get as much money as they should have, leaving the once proud families forced to work. The Andals were not welcoming in the least, their customs and religions so unlike what they're used to. Some of the Targaryens were forced to change religions to continue to be able to work, and a war was brewing between the people of Westeros and Dorne. There were already offers of money and glory for soldiers, and they cared not much for the glory.

In Old Valyria, it was normal for the girls to fight alongside the men, but it was different in Westeros. She, Visenya, Rhaenys and Meraxes had to prove they could fight just as well so they could earn the money promised.

It was at that war that she lost one of her fingers, she gestured to her index. The Dornish killed Rhaenys, and she and the others went ballistic. She was not careful enough, and, well, she was lucky it was just her finger and not her entire arm. She petted Lucerys' hair, deep in thought. Lucerys was a bit scared she would start having flashbacks and start choking him, but she said that she was wrong about her earlier statement. He looked less Dornish and more like Aegon's brother, Orys, who carried the name Baratheon. He appreciated that.

Lucerys soaked all the information in. She spoke of his ancestors, knowing them personally. She told them of their lives, their little secrets. Did he know that Maegor loved Aenys, perhaps? Oh, his jealous rage when Aenys married someone else was so much like the tantrums he had when he was younger.

That was how they spent their afternoon, telling stories, mostly her recounting her life to him, and he told stories of his own, how their family rose to the top once more, how Vhagar's family was still close lines to hers. Then he asked, a bit delicately, why he never met her, despite their family being friends for years.

She looked sad all of a sudden, the usual energy she had earlier was gone. She looked like she was thinking if she should say something, but the door opened, and Lucerys froze.

His uncle also froze, his eye staring at him as if he wasn't supposed to be there. Aemond then glanced at Vhagar and took a deep breath, ignoring Lucerys and focusing on Vhagar. Lucerys went quiet, looking anywhere else but at them, focusing on Arrax instead, who surprisingly was still asleep. Oh, he is not sleeping tonight.

Aemond took her bp, gave her her dinner, and her medicine, and told her that her visitation time will end soon, before leaving the room.

Vhagar snorted when she noticed Lucerys was still looking at the door, making Lucerys blush at being caught.

She told him not to worry about it, that Aemond was just acting grumpy because he usually talks with Vhagar at this certain time of the evening, asking questions of his own. Lucerys wanted to ask what they usually talked about, but kept silent instead. He told her that him being cold to Lucerys was less likely about that and more likely because he cut out his eye years ago, intriguing Vhagar. He told her how he didn't even remember what the argument was about, that all he remembered was Aemond picking up a huge rock and aiming it at Jace, his older brother, and he acted out in pure instinct. He didn't expect Vhagar to laugh.

"So you're the little brat that brat was talking about." She cackled, leaving Lucerys confused.

She patter him on the shoulder, and told him not to worry about Aemond. She also told him that it was getting a bit late, and that Arrax should be getting home now. She hinted not to secretly that he'd like them to visit again some time.

He thinks he will.

---------

I'm free!! The exams are over and I'm free!!!🥳🥳🥳

[trash-raccoon-boy]

So here's some lmk Wc designs +1 redesign

(I'm still fleshing out this world, trying to figure out how normal and supernatural I want it to be)

Tw:talk of animal death, and abandonment/cruelty

DeadTooth, was a ex deputy back when he was alive and long before he met the Bonestar(lbd). He had always had a strange connection to the darkforest, and one leafbare he met his lady. She saved him from freezing too death, and soo was forever in dept with her.

He would sneak out to visit her, she'd slowly infect his mind and soon have her minion. She'd send him strange dreams and visions, instructing him to kill cats and soon his leader. Of course his ex-leader found out and exiled him, he spent most his times in the dark forest until one day. When he was out hunting one dawn, he was ran over by a monster. StarClan or better known as celestial clan, wouldn't take him because of his tainted soul, but his lady did.

He earned the name DeadTooth, and served as his lady's right hand man. No one knows his living name.

Bai He, currently known as Freezepaw. Was a kittypet and lived with her twolegs out in the city, one harsh winter she was abandoned in the middle of the woods, during a harsh blizzard. She tried chasing after her humans, but they where gone before she knew it.

She wasn't meant to survive that night, she knew that, but unfortunately faith had other plans. While walking through the deep snow trying to find shelter, she started to hear a voice Calling her. Turning around she saw a strange grinning cat looking at her before vanishing, alarmed but curious she chased after the cat before collapsing. She was cold and fearful, as she washed her vision blurred.

Then she woke up! But something was wrong she wasn't in her body, yet it was moving on it's own talking and muttering something about a plan. She tried talking, but the entity paid no mind, to busy controlling it's new toy.

She came to find out it was Bonestar, and with her soul still attached to her body she was unable to leave or go to a afterlife. She watched this horrible cat kill and hurt people, unable to stop her as she built her empire.

The she-cat remembered when the monkie kids came, she remembered feeling relief but also dread. She didn't know much about possession, but she was sure if her body got extremely injured she'd be dead permanently as a lost sprit. Bonestar didn't want to keep her body anymore tho, finding it to weak and fragile.

Bai he didn't know what happened after that tho, she knew the she-cat was defeated and no more though. Unfortunately tho even with the happy ending, her life was far from it. She was still homeless, and still too young to fend for herself, barely 6 moons old.

Fortunately she didn't have to worry tho. Wandering around the City, she happened to stumble upon a abandoned theater which was home of Shadowears. The Loner seeing her pitiful state and remembering recent events decided to take her in, giving her the name Freezekit before quickly naming her Freezepaw a moon after.

(While she's not part of any clan, she is now an honorary apprentice of Macaque's)

Now onto our redesign.

Now I changed his backstory a lot, since most my old backstories where concepts. Also now he doesn't look like rip off Litten. (I couldn't decide between Flametail or Redpelt, for his name)

Red son is the son of Ironwing(PIF) and Bullstar (DBK), His mother was exiled from StarClan when she was found out to be in love with a living cat. She was a darkforest spirit for awhile before Guanyin took pity and gave her back a living body.

Anyways onto Red sons actually Backstory.

Redson was born in desertclan, a warm sandy area surrounded by lava and volcanoes. They where 2 moons old when he met Peachstar (Monkey King) who at the time of the journey was demoted to Peachheart. He doesn't remember much just that Peachheart came to ask for help with something, and his father getting agitated with him. This wouldn't be his last encounter with him tho.

At 6 moons old, he was apprenticed to missingear(place holdername for Ironclad general.) As a apprentice Red paw/Flamepaw was bad tempered, messing with clan boarders, hunting where he wants and having no respect of the warrior code... (Cloudpaw 2.0 lol)

Because of his recklessness his mother feared he'd end up dead before he's a warrior, so at night she'd prayed to StarClan for them to help guide him on the right path. Apparently this ment sending down Lotusflame(Nezha) as his guide, the stary cat followed him everywhere and mentored him on his bad temper. Unofficially becoming his temporary mentor.

(Idk if I'm making this next part canon but thought I should add it) during his apprenticeship, Red son had been hunting closer to the city in hopes of finding better food then the stupid lizards in his clan. Unfortunately he was too careless and unfamiliar with the unfamiliar area, and was caught by a Twoleg.

The Twoleg had fitted him with a leather purple collar, planning on making him a disgusting Kittypet. Fortunately for him tho, he was only gone for a moon. He managed to escape the property the moment a door opened, and managed to find his way back home after a long journey. (Managing to get the collar off somehow)

(The rest is canon)

When he got back to his clan tho he was met with devastation, the clan was destroyed. All his clanmates where missing, including his father, the only one left was his mother IronWind. When asked what happened, she told him how after he was captured, Bullstar went out on a patrol to find him and never came back. During this a ban of rouges who had a vendetta against his dad, attacked the clan. Driving everyone out, his mom was only here in hopes of waiting for her love.

Upon hearing this, Red son was devastated. He wailed and begged for StarClan to help that night, but... There was no reply, not even Nezha answered. He doesn't remember when the spirit left, but he was certain with one thing StarClan was to blame for this. Refusing to help and sit on the sidelines to watch.

Despite his growing resentment, Red son gather enough courage to convince IronWing to follow him and find a new place to live. Eventually finding a place to live under a construction zone.

They weren't a clan anymore, even if they found a few of their lost warriors... What was a Clan without a leader, heaven knows his mother didn't want the position. What was a Clan without faith, what little faith he had faded over the years. Soon he was named a warrior though, and he could officially help his mom.

He spent years searching for his father, and then he did. bullstar was kept in a small cage inside a weird constructed building filled with other cats, among them was the rest of their lost warriors. Red son made a plan to break them out, unfortunately he had no idea a certain cat was gonna become a pain in his tail for a long time.

After getting his father out, he bumped into a kittypet who smelled of noodles. The kittypet seemed to have been spying and following them. Surprisingly stealthy, but not stealthy enough. The kittypet had made a noise that alerted the whole reunited clan.

And well, the rest is history (and will be touched upon some other time.)

[monstersdownthepath]

So what is Jandelay?

One of the earliest and longer-running mysteries in Pathfinder was the identity of the mysterious Jandelay, mentioned only in the statblock of the Oliphaunt of Jandelay. In Mythic Realms, it remained ambiguous if Jandelay was a creature, an event, a plane, or some other mysterious entity, with the only hints about it being the poem carved into the base of the enormous Spindlethorn:

Jandelay, proof against the Maelstrom, Jandelay, of green fields and faultless spires; No sane soul born dares trespass fair Jandelay For the Oliphaunt guards you always.

But five years later, (almost) every question about the mysterious Jandelay was answered in Planar Adventures! It’s a demiplane, but not just any old demiplane! It is a bubble of pure Law floating on the surface of the Maelstrom in stark defiance of the Maelstrom’s desire to subsume all that is back into chaos. It refuses the Maelstrom’s pull and instead exploits the source of all quintessence, drawing it out as needed in order to maintain itself for its unique purpose.

Also known as the Apocalypse Archives, Jandelay is a realm of rolling green grass fields with alabaster spires placed regularly throughout... and thousands upon thousands of stitched-together, chimeric and chaotic arrangements of various biomes, architectures, and environments. Whenever a Watcher places a Beacon of Jandelay down upon a doomed world, it marks that section of the planet for collection by the plane. When the world is destroyed by the apocalypse which summoned the Watchers in the first place, every area marked by the Beacon is torn from the world and placed on Jandelay, merged together with other marked sections with little regard for whether or not the arrangement makes sense, but the magic of the plane and the attentions of the Watchers maintains these sections even when they would have logically crumbled away or annihilated one another (such as if a section of glaciers ended up next to an active volcano). Sapient lifeforms preserved by the Watchers are combined into a Collected, a form of Outsider with the minds and memories of dozens or perhaps even hundreds of creatures, bound eternally to the stitched remains of the world they were “rescued” from and allowed to wander it, but no further.

It’s not directly stated if animal life is taken along for the ride, but what IS canon is that Watchers use their perfect memories and passion for crafting, as well as knowledge obtained from the Collected, to build facsimiles of various flora and fauna that didn’t manage to get saved, using their constructs to decorate the world-sections. Despite this adorable behavior, Watchers don’t exactly make for good company, so the Collected tend to live a lonely existence. It’s not like anyone really visits.

Any knowledge about Jandelay is understandably difficult to come across. How the Runelords learned anything about the Oliphaunt or the plane itself is a mystery that yet endures, because dimensional travel straight up does not work. Any attempt to use Plane Shift or ANY other form of dimensional travel to enter, exit, or even just travel around inside Jandelay fails if the user doesn’t succeed a DC 41 Will save (something the Watchers must be innately immune to despite their statblock saying no such thing, else they can’t escape or re-enter their own home if they roll lower than 15), and Gate or similar effects fizzle automatically without allowing a save unless the caster is Mythic or the source is an Artifact.

So to even know about it, your world will already have to be on its way out the door. You need to succeed a DC 28 Will save (or be immune to Inconspicuous) to see a Watcher, NOT freak out about it, then convince it to tell you a little about itself, and then further convince it to tell you about Jandelay... and if you want to GO there, that’s a DC 41 Will save or you simply can’t without burning another spell slot or resource to try again. And Armageddon continues to breathe down your neck as you try again! And if, by some miracle, you end up there? Well, good luck getting out with any swiftness, especially since you’d need to not only have more castings of Plane Shift, but a safe destination in mind to recollect yourself as you grapple with knowing your world is gone. That kind of thing changes a person! Is it any wonder why knowledge about Jandelay is so hard to come by, when the conditions for gaining even tiny scraps are so severe? (No, you can’t just summon a Watcher; they have far too many HD for anything lower than Gate to work)

It’s not super dangerous in the archives, at least. if you wanted, you could wait to get your slots and sanity back while looking at the past destroyed worlds. Maybe even find your own. The Watchers don’t attack creatures who merely examine the exhibits--that’s what they’re there for, after all--but any attempt to damage them and you’ll find out there’s a lot more of the creepy crawlies than you know about hiding just outside your senses.

And then there’s the Oliphaunt itself. Chaos made manifest, a mountain made flesh, a storm given purpose. It’s the Oliphaunt that protects Jandelay from all intruders, its own presence the one that imposes the travel restrictions for reasons that can only be guessed at (which means that if it’s NOT in Jandelay, one can travel there without making a save! easy, right?) and the greatest deterrent to the Proteans who’d otherwise object to Jandelay’s presence. The origins of the Oliphaunt, and of Jandelay, are stated in surprisingly plain terms: the Oliphaunt created itself, and made Jandelay soon after. Then, Jandelay itself birthed the Watchers to tend to it. The Oliphaunt is stated to be the incarnated form of the idea of the apocalypse; the manifestation of calamity and destruction on a planetary scale, drawn to observe its collection of destroyed worlds for its own inscrutable reasons.

It leads me to believe it was born shortly after the rampage of Rovagug, the collective dying gasps of thousands of worlds and gods coalescing into a single being, and it created Jandelay as a method to assure no more worlds would be forever lost and forgotten; something by no means canon, but it makes the most sense to me. What also is not canon but makes sense to me is that the Oliphaunt, as the incarnation of world-destroying calamities, should not be an entity the players can reasonably fight. We’ll see how I approach this particular challenge this Friday!

[itsseohannbin]

• Like A Volcano | Part Five | •

Han Jisung Mini Series

© itshannjisung, 2024

♡ itsseohannbins masterlist ♡

Series Masterlist

Chapter Genre: Angst⚡️Fluff💕Crack💥

-Bestfriends to Lovers Trope-

Summary: being best friends with the kings of kpop always has its ups and downs, and when you're offered a spot on the next European-American book tour to promote the publishing of your new book, there's one kpop king in particular who just doesn't want you to go.

Pairing: Idol!Han Jisung x Female Reader x Bestfriend Skz

** Includes two of my own original female characters, both whom are romantically involved with two of the members. Chan x Jo / Minho x Ash **

Warnings: Swearing. mentions of pregnancy. mentions/consumptions of alcohol. brief mention of bar fights. PDA. making out. slight suggestive themes. toothrotting fluff towards the end. the boys do not use honorifics.

lmk if I missed any!!

Word Count: 7.9k

**this chapter has been slightly changed & revised**

Enjoy!

The nightclub looked exactly how you remembered it to be; overly crowded, disgustingly sweaty and loud enough that you couldn’t even hear your own thoughts.

There was a point in time when this very scene was exactly what you and your friends thrived off of. The hundreds of slick bodies rubbing against each other in time with the music, the endless supply of alcohol that you would all take advantage of until the early hours of the morning, the open-concept layout that allowed you access to every square inch of the building, VIP or not.

Now, the eleven of you preferred nights in with take-out, karaoke, gaming, home-mixed drinks and old movies. Very rarely did you guys ever go out like this, so when you did, you guys always made the absolute most of it.

Bright neon lights and signs littered the old brick walls. The main dance floor still stood directly in the middle of the club, separated by a few steps downward to give it a sunken-in look. The DJ stage sat above it, strobe lights flashing every color and design in time to whatever was playing over the speakers.

The main dance floor was accessible to everyone, and there were multiple staircases leading up to the mezzanine level where the VIP section sat. From up there, you’d have a full view of the bars, the dance floor and the seating areas, though the VIP section had a bar and seating section of its own.

You knew your friends would be up there in the same private seating section they’d claimed upon one of the first visits to the club after debut oh-so many years ago. The staff made sure to rope it off so anyone who wasn’t apart of the Stray Kids entourage wouldn’t get in.

Big, burly men stood guard at each staircase, ensuring only VIPS got access upstairs, and you would’ve been intimidated by them all if they weren’t all Changbin’s gym buddies who, like Dae-hyun, knew you and your friends closely.

As your feet carried you forwards, further into the heat and humidity that clung to the air, you felt some of your tenacity begin to slip. If Jisung was in here hooking up with some girl, it’d be nearly impossible to find him in the ever-growing crowd. There must’ve been some sort of event happening as there seemed to be more people bustling around than usual.

You took a quick detour to the nearest bar and topped up on some liquid courage, the bartender adding it to Changbins ever-growing tab, before making your way to a staircase, trying to avoid the stares and glares you received from nearly everyone you passed by.

When you approached the familiar security guard standing post at the bottom of the metal stairs, you smiled brightly up at him.

“Ye-jun, hey! The rest of the gang is upstairs, yeah?” you asked as you stopped next to him briefly. Ye-jun, who smiled brightly at your sudden appearance, just sighed and gave you a once over before shaking his head and laughing at you in amusement.

“Why am I not surprised that you’re the one walking in here rocking a three-day walk of shame outfit?” he teased. “I’m gonna’ have to have a serious talk with Dae after shift about letting you in here lookin’ like that.”

You punched him lightly in the arm.

“Fuck you Ye, you know I look good.” you teased right back. You made sure to twirl your body in a circle for added affect, causing Ye-jun’s lower lip to fall between his teeth, his eyes darkening with appreciation.

“Yeah, maybe a little too good, y/n. Jisung better smarten the hell up and get his ass in gear before someone snatches you up. Or worse, I do.”

Your initial reaction was to laugh, but the reality of his words only caused you to sigh and run a hand down your already sweaty face.

“Has Ji been that bad?” you asked, not really wanted to know the answer.

If Jisung and his behavior was beginning to cause problems for the club staff, you were going to kill him. Ye-jun shook his head and laughed at the concerned look on your face.

“No. Bad would’ve been eight months ago when I had to drag him out of the bathroom and into a taxi because he was crying so hard over you that he threw up all over one of the couches upstairs. Now he just jumps from woman to woman, causing fights to break out and making security have to work double time.” he explained, chuckling whole-heartedly at the sheer embarrassed that was now plastered to your features at the news.

“Oh my fucking God.” you exasperated. “I am so sorry, Ye.”

Ye-jun waved off your worries with a smile.

“Don’t be. We’ve had some good action in the time you’ve been gone, mostly from the women he double-times. Cat fights, smashed bottles, broken chairs, wigs being torn off, drinks thrown, nails breaking. Oh yeah, the guys and I have been nothing short of amused lately.”

You buried your face in your free hand while heat rushed to your cheeks and covered the tips of your ears. “Jesus, Ye. Why haven’t you kicked us out and banned us yet?” you only half joked. Ye-jun just shrugged and leaned against the railing as he crossed his arms over his broad chest.

“Bad publicity. Throwing out a group of idols would look bad no matter how we’d try and spin it. Plus, like I said, the guys and I are loving it. Standing here for twelve hours checking wrist bands isn’t really as enticing as it may seem.”

You gave him a wicked smile at that last part.

“I’ll keep that in mind next time I feel like starting a fight then.” you winked, though you still felt awful about the crap Jisung’s put the staff through. Ye-jun chuckled and shook his head one last time at you as you tapped his arm goodbye and ran up the stairs, feeling more desperate to find Jisung than before.

The air upstairs was noticeably lighter, making it easier to breathe the second you reached the top. Behind the panes of glass that bordered off the VIP section, the music was slightly muffled, allowing your mind a moment of peace from the commotion and noise coming from behind you.

You pushed your way through the groups of people that cluttered the area, thanking the heavens it was less crowded up here than it was down below, and stopped just a few feet away from the section where your friends sat. You watched the six bodies that were currently present, admiring your friends in awe.

Hyunjin was perched on the armrest of one of the two couches, sipping his drink while he observed the people around him, no doubt looking for someone to pique his interest. Jeongin sat next to him against the cushions, picking away at the large plate of food that sat on the table in front of him.

Ash and Minho were in their own little world on the other couch, the two of them whispering and giggling to one another as they scrolled through Ash’s phone. They’d stop briefly and exchange looks of intimacy and small, soft kisses before resuming, causing you to blush and look away in order to grant them some privacy.

Jo and Chan were, unexpectedly, also indulging themselves in some PDA, which confused you to the core. Jo was never one for public displays of affection, she usually avoided it like the plague, and Chan was always so fine with it; he too preferred it that way, their intimacy save for the privacy of their bedroom.

But alas, here they were. Jo was sitting sideways on Chans lap, her arms wrapped lovingly around his shoulders as his hands held her tightly at the waist, his face buried into her neck. She was giggling softly to herself as he continued his attack on her skin, leaving kisses along her jaw and throat before dipping to her collarbone momentarily and then tracing his path back upwards. The others didn’t seem to mind, paying them no attention, which only left you feeling more out of the loop.

Something was going on.

You had opened your mouth to question what was going on, to ask when Hell hath frozen over for them to be doing such things publicly, without a care, but you barely got a sound out before Jeongin practically squealed in disbelief.

“Oh my God, Noona?”

He jumped from his spot on the couch, his half eaten chicken wing forgotten as he ran to you with open arms. The remaining five bodies all jumped in surprise at his outburst and they turned to watch as he bulldozed into you, nearly knocking you clean off your feet.

“Y/n?” Hyunjin questioned in time to Jeongins movements as the younger squeezed your waist tightly. Realisation hit him quickly, and before you knew it, he was rushing to your side almost as quick as  Jeongin had.

“Is it really you? Are you really here?” Jeongin asked, his smile brighter than the sun. He barely had enough time to move out of the way before Hyunjin’s large figure came crashing into the two of you.

“Bunny? What the heck are you doing here?” Hyunjin interrupted your reply around a laugh as his hands came up to cup your face so he could hold you still and properly look at you. It was as if he didn’t believe you were actually standing before him in the flesh. He had your face squished so much between his palms that your lips were jutting outwards and you couldn’t form any sort of response back to him.

“Jesus Hyune, give the girl room to breathe.” Jo spoke as she hopped of Chans lap and approached the three of you with a smile. “She’s here to see me, obviously.” 

Hyunjin let go of your face and rolled his eyes at Jo’s words as he stepped out of her way so she could greet you.

“Yes, yes. We all know you two are secretly lesbian lovers.” he dramatically spewed with a shake of his head as he returned to his spot on the armrest of the couch.

“It’s true.” you joked back as you pulled Jo in for a tight hug, happy to see her back to usually cheerful self. “Jo and I are helplessly in love.” 

Chan was right behind her, wrapping his arms around the both of you and squishing Jo between your two bodies.

“We had a feeling you’d show.” he quipped before stepping away, allowing Minho and Ash to come forward next. The two of them hugged you warmly before everyone returned to their seats. Jeongin had grabbed your hand and dragged you towards the couch where he and Hyunjin had been sitting, plopping you down in between the two of them.

“Seriously though, what are you doing home? I thought the tour wasn’t done for another month? What’s going on? And what happened to your arm? Why are you dressed like that? Is everything okay?” Jeongins questions came at you in rapid fire as he began picking at his food once more, a look of concern washing over his features. You sighed and rubbed at your eye, taking a moment to think about how to respond.

“It’s a long story,” you decided. “One we can get into later if you’re really interested and concerned.” you patted Jeongins hand reassuringly. “As for my arm, I fractured it back in Amsterdam. I’m okay though, so please don’t worry.” You reached out to pull a cold fry off the platter on the table but Hyunjin’s hand shot out and grabbed you before you could.

“Uh oh. I’m sensing drama.” he stated, his eyes wide as he looked at you in anticipation. He then went on to ask you the one question you dreaded being asked since your plane left the Amsterdam tarmac. Jo, Ash, Chan and Minho all groaned at his curiosity, though Jeongin looked just as intrigued.

“Where’s whats-his-name?”

You took a deep breath, mentally preparing yourself for the onslaught of questions that would no doubt follow your response. You were hoping you’d have more time before the situation was brought up despite coming all the way here and surprising them. You were too focused on your task at hand to think of appropriate responses while in the taxi ride here, and you mentally scolded yourself for it.

“He’s not here.” you stated simply, surprising yourself with how easy it was to say despite everything Seojun put you through. Hyunjin eyed you as his fingers laced with yours. He seemed to have caught onto the seriousness of the situation and chose his next words carefully.

“Not here as in back at your apartment? Or not here as in-”

“Not here as in not in my life anymore.” you interjected, squeezing his large hand for comfort. Jeongin’s face fell slightly at the news, his lips turning downwards into a frown.

“I’m sorry Noona. I know you really liked him.” he pouted for you. You were quick to wave off his worries as you patted his cheek affectionately, ignoring the way your stomach churned at Jeongin’s claim.

“Innie, please, don’t be sorry. I dodged a bullet with that one, believe me.” you assured him with a smile, mimicking Juho’s words from the other night. Jeongin was half-way through a concerned nod before Seungmin’s voice echoed throughout the small area, his sweaty face lighting up like a Christmas tree upon seeing you sitting before him.

“Holy shit. Y/n?” Disbelief coated his words as he hesitated to move. It wasn’t until you smiled his way and stood up from the couch with your arms open wide did he rush to you like a puppy, scooping you up in his arms and spinning the two of you around. As soon as he put you down a moment later, he pulled you into a tight hug, kissing the top of your head.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice an octave higher as his surprise and joy seeped into his tone. You glanced up at him and smiled before bumping your nose against his chin.

“I just missed you guys so much, I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed to come home before I lost my mind.” you answered jokingly before a mischievous smirk spread across your face. “I’m actually here to confess my love.”

Seungmin’s eyes widened slightly, his eyebrows shooting up his exposed forehead, his lip quivering for an uncertain moment as he tried to read your facial features. He knew about your infatuation with Jisung, nearly everyone at this point did, so his smile was wary and unsure as your hands lifted to play with the hair at the nape of his neck. He swallowed awkwardly, his arms tightening around you as his eyes squinted down at your curiously.

“Confess to who?” he drawled out. Your smirk grew bigger at his inquiry.

“To Jisung, obviously.”

As expected, Seungmin’s face twisted up into a look of discontent and disgust, though his smile never fully faded, his grip still tight around your waist. He knew your heart belonged to his bandmate, but it never stopped him from relentlessly flirting with you every change he got.

“Why would you want to confess to him when your knight in shining armour is literally standing right here in front of you?”

You laughed and scoffed before ruffling his now-blonde hair and giving him a peck on the cheek.

“Seung, you know I love you, but-”

“Yeah, yeah. Not the way you love him.” he waved off your affection with a laugh of his own as he wiped your kiss from his cheek. “He’s nothing but a loser trapped in his own aluminium foil, and for some reason, you’re into that.” he playfully rolled his eyes and frowned as he let you go. A pout sat at his lips as he took your spot on the couch and helped himself to the food you were eating.

“Don’t be pouty.” you mocked.

“I’m not?” Seungmin answered, his frown still present. “I’m just glad it was one of us and not that jackass.”

“One of you that what?” you quipped.

“One of us that you fell in love with. I mean, it should’ve been me, honestly, because I’m irresistibly funny and more handsome than Jisung will ever be, but I won’t hold it against you. As long as you come sit with me.” Seungmin joked around, patting his lap for you to sit down.

You rolled your eyes at him and ignored his invitation, glancing around the VIP section to see if you could spot Jisung. You knew he wouldn’t be up here, it would be obvious if he was, but you still looked for him regardless.

“Where is Ji anyways?” you asked no one in particular. “I need to talk to him before my confidence wears off.”

You didn’t realise you had been bouncing anxiously from foot to foot, toying with the hem of your (Jisung’s) shirt until Ash had reached out and grabbed a hold of your hand, her thumb running soothing circles across your knuckles to help ease your nerves.

“Last I saw he was down on the dance floor with Bin and Felix.” Seungmin answered as he leaned back into the leather couch, his mouth nearly stuffed full with nachos.

Just as you were about to open your mouth and ask who wanted to join you for a dance, Changbin showed up looking sweaty and out of breath. He whizzed past Chan and Jo, who had resumed their intimate acts of affection, and reached for a glass, gulping half of it down before he even noticed you standing there. Upon meeting your gaze, his eyes widened and he nearly spat his drink out across the space between the two of you.

“Bunny?” Felix shouted in surprise as he appeared, pushing past the ropes and coming forward to immediately pull you into a gentle hug before Changbin could. “What the hell are you doing here? When did you get back?”

You squeezed your arms around him for a moment, melting into his familiar embrace before you pulled away and held him at arms length, observing his change in style.

“I got back this morning. But you? What did you do to your hair?” you exclamied upon seeing it, the bright blue color harmonizing his skin tone perfectly. Felix blushed and swiped his hand through the loose locks, smiling down at his feet.

“You like it? I think it looked great. They did such a good job for comeback.”

“It looks incredible!” you gushed as your hands reached up to touch it. You were expecting the strands to be dry and damaged from all the product they must’ve used to bleach it and then dye it, but it was as soft as a feather.

“Yah!” Changbin then interrupted in his loud voice, the tone only slightly annoyed. “Is this why the four of you rushed out of the house so quickly this morning? To go pick her up?” He addressed Chan, Jo, Minho and Ash as he came in for a hug. The four of them nodded in response.

“Why didn’t you tell us she was back!” He asked as he wrapped his strong arms around you and squished you tighter than anyone else had.

“She didn’t want you guys to know she was back until she was ready.” Chan explained calmly, glancing at you before he continued on. “She’s had a lot of shit happen in the last few months and she really needed a rest before you heathens brought more chaos into your life.” He gave you a silent look to see how you’d react to his explanation, but his honestly barely bothered you.

“Because you guys are animals and I needed to fully recharge my battery before facing all eight of you again. I missed you guys a lot, but my time away has dwindled my patience.” you joked as you wiggled in Changbins iron-like embrace. He waited a few more seconds before loosening his grip, allowing you room to breathe. He then held you at arms length and gave you a once over, a look of concern crossing his features before a giggle escaped his lips.

“Your sense of style also seems to be dwindling.” he teased, shaking his head similar to how Ye-jun had. “What the hell are you wearing?” he asked with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

You rolled your eyes and pushed him playfully away from you.

“Keep it in your pants, Bin. I’m here for Jisung, not you.”

You expected Changbin to dramatically clutch his heart and fall to his knees the way he’d done so many times in the past, but instead, he tensed under your touch at the mention of Jisung’s name. A laboured breath left his throat and your stomach began to turn.

“Fuck me.” he whispered as he closed his eyes and rubbed at the bridge of his nose in distress..

“Bin, what’s wrong?” your voice squeaked. You knew his answer just by the look of sheer guilt in his eyes, but it still stung to hear the words out loud.

“He just went off to dance with some girl.” he admitted shyly as he scratched the back of his neck. There was barely enough time for the information to reach your ears before Jo suddenly burst out in a fit of annoyance.

“Binnie, what the hell?” she sucked in a breath at his words, a look of betrayal on her face. “Remember when I told you guys not to let him do that tonight? This is why. Cause y/n’s back, you idiot!”

Changbin shrugged his shoulders and held his hands up in surrender.

“It’s not my fault! I didn’t know Bunny was back, or I would’ve stopped him! I just wanted to let the kid have some fun!” he tried to justify his actions, but Jo wasn’t having any of it. She nearly growled as she rose from Chan’s lap, causing him to reach out to stop her.

You watched as Chan grabbed her by the waist to prevent her from beating Changbin to death with her bare fists, his hands resting protectively across her stomach. He stood with the momentum and nuzzled his face into her neck, whispering lightly into her ear. He was being overly affectionate with her despite the tension that surrounded the two of them earlier in the morning during the ride back to your apartment, and you were becoming more and more confused.

“Jo, Love, please relax. You don’t want to get too riled up. Think about your blood pressure.” you heard him barely whisper as he tried to talk Jo down, his hands moving to rest on her upper arms.

You knew something was going on but you never expected the next words to leave Chan’s mouth.

“Think of the baby.” he murmured. He thought he had spoken low enough for no one to hear, but you did. Everyone did, and everyone minus Ash and Minho whipped their heads in their direction with matching looks of shock crossing their features, Changbins fuck-up momentarily forgotten.

“I’m sorry, WHAT?” you shouted in surprise.

Chan’s face flushed red and Jo scowled playfully at him. 

“Nice going Chris.” she mumbled as she smacked his arm lightly. Chan just let out a sheepish smile and rested his chin on her shoulder as he pulled her back down onto his lap.

“Excuse me?” Changbin was having a hard time comprehending the news.

“You’re pregnant?” Jeongin and Felix spoke at the same time that Hyunjin and Seungmin let out choked noises of surprise. Jo hesitated for a minute to look at Chan before the biggest smile you’d ever seen from her spread across her face. She looked joyful, ironically like a child, and adoration sparkled in her eyes.

“Surprise?” she offered. Smiles and shouts of joy began to slip out as the initial shock wore off of everyone, each of the members present standing to hug and congratulate the happy couple on their news. Seungmin just leaned forward from his spot on the couch to try and give his leader a high-five amidst the chaos.

“Alright Chan! Fifty points for managing to put a Joey in the pouch!” he laughed maniacally. Everyone except Chan laughed at Seungmins inappropriate joke.

Chan instead just deadpanned at his younger member, the signature disappointed dad sigh making a comeback as he shook his head. He looked as if he was ready to put Seungmin up for adoption.

��Seungmin, never ever in your life say those words to me ever again.”

Seungmin just laughed as he forcefully pulled one of Chan’s hands off of Jo’s stomach and high-fived himself with it, looking mischievous and every bit proud of himself. Everyone shook their heads at him before you brought attention back to Jo and Chan.

“So, how far along are you?” you asked.

“Do you guys know the gender yet?” Felix then chided in.

“Oh God, I don’t know if I’m ready to be an Uncle to two idiots just yet.” Hyunjin cried, earning a smack on the back of his head from Minho.

“If it’s a boy can we name it after JYP?”

Jo laughed at the impending questions and hugged Chan tighter to her chest as she answered each of them happily, her body practically dripping with excitement.

“I’m almost four months along. No, we don’t know the gender, we want to keep it a surprise. And no, Seung? We’re not naming it after JYP?” she scowled at Seungmin’s suggestion. You could practically see the wheels of mischeif spinning wildly in his mind, and you decided then to interrupt his next words with a clap of your hands.

“I think this calls for a celebratory drink for everyone! In honor of the both of you.” you interjected, addressing both Ash and Jo in your statement. “By this time next year, we’ll have a mini-Jo and a mini-Min running around together, wreaking havoc with their parents in tow, and I think it’s best for us all to get a head start on the numbing process now.”

Everyone giggled and cheered at your suggestion. All but Chan. His attention was zeroed in on something past the window and down onto the main dance floor.

“I think the drinks can wait.” he said. When his eyes found yours, he nodded and motioned down to the crowd of people who were dancing and singing to the music. You paced to the window and peered through the glass to see what he was looking at.

At first, you weren’t sure what caught his eye. The flickering lights and hordes of people made it difficult to spot what he did, but after a sudden flash of white light lit up the room, it was hard to miss the silver-blonde mop of hair on Jisungs head as he squeezed his way through the crowd, his hands intertwined with a girls.

You gulped loudly as you watched him pull the female away from the dance floor and towards the darkened corners where the bathrooms were located. A wave of heat washed over you and you suddenly felt sick to your stomach from the sight of him with someone else. Someone that wasn’t you.

Everyone had gotten up and peeked through the window to see what you and Chan were looking at, and then they all looked towards you to gauge your reaction and anticipate your next move. Minho must’ve sensed your sudden lack of confidence because he held the remainder of his drink out to you and waited for you to take it before he spoke softly.

“Remember what I said, y/n.” he clicked his tongue. “You deserve happiness. You deserve love. You deserve him. Now go get him.”

The jealousy that sat idly in your bloodstream flared to life as you downed your drink without a problem, barely tasting the whiskey on your tongue while your eyes followed Jisung. You nodded at Minho’s words, but your feet refused to move.

This was it.

This was what you came here for.

This is what pulled you off your couch and dragged you to this nightclub without a second thought, without a single care at to what you looked like and what the outcome could’ve been. 

Maybe you should’ve changed your clothes.

This was what your heart ached for,

He was what your heart aced for.

And it was time to get him back.

You nodded your head again as you felt the alcohol coat your system with a new wave of confidence. You took a deep breath before you glanced to your right where Seungmin was sipping on his glass of expensive vodka through a straw.

Before he could react, you pulled the glass from his hand and tilted your head back, chugging as much of it back as you could.

“Oh, that’s not-” Seungmin paused and watched in awe as you downed the entire glass. “That’s not water.” he finished quietly to himself as you handed him the empty glass and wiped the corners of your mouth, letting the vodka give you that extra boost you needed to get your feet moving.

Satisfied, you turned on your heel and walked away from your friends without another word. Despite the excitement that still hung in the air at Jo and Chans announcement, all nine of them shotued and cheered for you as you made your way out of the VIP area and down to find Jisung, causing others to send weird looks your way.

Your feet seemed to be moving in double time as you became more and more determined, pushing through the waves of people and making your way to the bathrooms, desperately hoping Jisung would still be in the area.

You weren’t about to lose you chance again.

You’d fight the girl with your bare fists if you had to; anything for another chance.

As the alcohol settled in your system, you felt your head grow tipsy, boosting your confidence impossible more. The crowd grew more and more dispersed the closer you got to the bathrooms, making it easier to breathe.

Easier to find exactly who you were looking for.

He was hard to miss.

He had the girl pushed up against the wall near the corner. Her hands were running ravenously over his body; up his back, across his shoulders, into his hair and down again. His face was buried into the crook fo her neck and her smile was blissful even in the dim light as he sucked and bit at her skin.

Upon seeing him in this compromising position, you almost blushed and turned away to leave them be, accepting the fact that he’d moved on from you, but you noticed quickly that Chan had been right. Jisungs hands were planted firmly against the wall he had her up against, and his body was rigid, still, as if he wasn’t enjoying himself in the slightest. That was enough to make you stay. 

He was wearing one of his infamous sleeveless shirts, black and worn out and distressed, much like yours was, and fitted black jeans. His silver-blonde hair that you’d seen online in the comeback trailer was long and messy, sweat causing it to stick up and out in all directions while the girls hands tugged and pulled at it.

The way his shirt hugged his broad shoulders made his back muscles extremely visible, his honey-colored biceps and forearms flexing deliciously as the pressure he applied to the wall rose and fell in time with his heavy breathing. The shirt clung to his body, slick with sweat, exposing his thin waist.

He looked absolutely delectable.

You watched as the girl raised one of her bare legs and wrapped it around his hips, a moan escaping her lips as she tried to pull him closer to her. It was the most dramatic, unnattractive sound you’d ever heard and you sensed she was most likely doing it for his benefit rather than her own, attempting to gt him to touch her, but he resisted.

You felt a surged of pride as you noted it. Yes, you trusted Chan and everything he told you, but seeing it with your own two eyes made it more real, more special.

Jisung didn’t want anyone but you, refused to touch anyone but you.

It made you shudder in delight.

Then, as if on cue, the most delicious groan you’ve ever heard escaped from Jisung’s throat, causing a shiver to shoot up your spine.

“Bubby,” he whined, his voice hot with lust as he practically cried. “Y/n, please.”

That was all you needed to hear; the only thing that sent you flying towards the two at full speed before you could even register what was happening.

He didn’t want her, he wanted Bubs.

He wanted you.

With more confidence than you’ve had all night, you walked right up behind him and laced your fingers into the belt loop of his jeans. In one swift motion, you whirled him off of the girl and pushed him into the corner, caging him with your arms on either side of his face.

You ignored the girl’s confused huffs of anger as Jisung was ripped from her grasp, and pressed your body against him in all the right places, your leg inserting itself between his, your lips coming up to whisper in his ear.

Jisung wasn’t sure what had happened. One minute he was sucking the neck of a girl he didn’t bother learning the name of, doing everything he could to block the image of you from his mind, and the next he was being pushed into a corner.

His first drunken instinct was to fight against whoever it was who overpowered him, which was futile given how much alcohol he’d consumed already, concluding it was probably one of the bouncers looking to throw him out for god knows what this time. But, when he was met with your familiar scent, when the lavender and vanilla hit his senses at full force, his body nearly shut down. When your soft, sweet voice whispered into his ear, the voice that always seemed to bring him back home, he went nearly limp with relief.

“I’m right here Sung. Bubs is here.” you had whispered against his earlobe.

Immediately, his arms wrapped around your waist as your words hit him. For the first time in almost a year and a half, he felt like he was being saved, like he was waking from a dream, a nightmare.

He felt as if he had been spacebound for decades and your voice was the tether he needed to bring him back to earth. Like he had been drowning for an eternity and your voice alone was all he needed to breach the surface and breathe in the oxygen that was you.

He inhaled and slowly opened his eyes, terrified that he’d come face to face with a total stranger, someone who smelled and sounded exactly like you, the love of his life, but wasn’t.

When his eyes slitted open and they found yours staring back at him with nothing but adoration and lover and wonder, his arms tightened impossibly more around you and he practically lost his breath.

With your hair pulled into the remnants of a messy bun, dark bags under your eyes from lack of sleep, the small mole on your left cheek that matched his almost too perfectly, he thought you looked absolutely stunning.

The freckles that scattered across your nose and cheeks like stars in the night sky, the shirt, his shirt, hanging off your body, your shorts barely poking out from beneath the hem, the fucking converse on your feet.

No one could ever compare.

Maybe it was the alcohol swimming through his system, or simply just the lights from the club behind you, but he swore you had an angelic glow.

His savior.

You had come back for him.

Despite the overwhelming amount of happiness that poured into his bloodstream at just the sight of you alone, despite never feeling so relieved in his entire life, his face turned downwards into a scowl as he made eye contact with you.

He didn’t mean for it, but he wanted, needed, to protect his heart.

“What are you doing here y/n?”

His eyes burned into yours. You could tell by the fire in them that he was still mad at you for everything that happened, but the grip he had on your hips and the ever-growing bulge in his pants that was pressed against your thigh told you a completely different story.

“I’m here for you, Ji.” you spoke calmly, adoringly.

Jisung let out a sarcastic laugh and shook his head as he sobered up and glanced around where you had him cornered. He was fighting an internal battle with himself and wasn’t sure which side would win. The side that was still heartbroken and furious at you for leaving and running off with a man who didn’t love you as much as he did, or the side that wanted so badly to melt into your embrace and kiss you like there was no tomorrow.

“What’s wrong? Seojun couldn’t fulfill your needs so now you’re back here looking for me to do it instead?”

Ouch. That one stung.

You expected a bad reaction from him, but nothing like that. You nearly flinched away from his words. Your first instinct was yelling at you to start a fight and let the tears slip, it’s what you were used to from Seojun after all, but Jisung wasn’t speaking maliciously, at least not completely. He had no sides of the story and you knew that.

That was the only reason you took a deep breath and forced a conversation out of your system instead of the usual screaming match you had grown accustomed to in your time away.

“That’s not what’s going on, Sung.”

“Isn’t it though? You had him and you got bored and now you’re back for me.”

He watched you through hooded eyes as you shook your head at his words, but he didn’t give you a chance to respond before he spoke up again.

“Y/n, I love you just as much as I did the day you left, probably more so now that I know what it’s like to live without you, but I vowed to myself that day that I’d never let myself be anyones second choice.”

A heartbroken sigh shattered your body at his words, causing you to shake your head even harder at what he was insinuating.

“That’s just it Jisung. You’re not my second choice.” you breathed out around the lump that was quickly forming in your throat. You exhaled a shaky breath before continuing, not missing the way his eyes widened slightly at your claim.

 “You’ve never been my second choice. You’ve always been my first. Even when I ran off with some asshole who didn’t give a flying fuck about me, when I embarked on an adventure that left me feeling nothing but lonely and empty inside, when I laid awake night after night missing home and wishing desperately I could go back, you’ve always been my first. And I tried to deny it and I tried to run away from it, but I couldn’t. I can’t anymore. You’re undeniable. You’re the only one my heart has ever belonged to. It’s been yours since day one.”

Jisung went still and silent at that, his eyes observing yours closely as he searched for any remains of doubt or skepticality in your resolve, anything that would tell him you were exaggerating or lying, but he found none.

He was suddenly hit with a brick of emotions as he found nothing but honesty and love staring back at him. He was and always would be your number one. He could see that now as clearly as he could see the universe in your eyes every damn time he looked into them.

“What are you saying y/n?” he whispered out so quietly you barely heard him.

A soft smile curled the corners of your mouth as you reached up and brushed some of his hair away from his face, trying to get a better look at his honey-colored skin and adorable brown eyes.

“I think you know exactly what I’m saying.” you whispered back in the same tone. It was a miracle the two of you heard each other at all over the loud music. But at this moment, the two of you were just lost in your own little world, everything else seemed muffled, unimportant.

A smile then pulled at Jisungs mouth, one that wasn’t mean or sarcastic or insincere. A genuine smile, and you knew at that moment you had him. You got him back, and the utter relief that shook your body was powerful enough to make your knees weak.

He was yours.

“I think I want to hear you say it,” he spoke softly, his eyes glittering in anticipation. “But please, please, don’t say it unless you absolutely one-hundred percent mean it. I can’t go through this again. I can’t lose you again.” he begged.

You dimpled at him, taking your hands off the wall and reaching to tangle your fingers in the long, soft hair that sat at the nape of his neck. You gave him a grin and shook your head in awe.

“I love you Jisung.”

He seemed to be holding his breath as he waited patiently for the words to leave your mouth, because once they did, a sigh of relief left his lips and his head fell forward to rest on your shoulder, his arms hugging you closer to his body. He nuzzled his nose against the skin of your neck, inhaling slowly as he tried to relax his frantic heartbeat.

“Say it again,” he whispered, causing a giggle to leave your chest as you held him close to you.

“I love you Ji.” you told him again.

You could feel him smiling against the skin of your neck as he took another deep breath, inhaling the very essence of you.

“Again,” he begged, relishing in the way the words left your mouth so prettily, in the way it made goosebumps rise along his arms and legs, in the way it filled him with so much joy and happines he felt like he could outshine the sun.

You let out a laugh at his persistent request, but complied anyways, tears forming in your eyes and threatening to pool down your cheeks from the sheer happiness filling your veins.

“I’m in love with you, Sungie.”

He pulled away from your neck and lifted a hand from your hips to hold your face. Tears of joy and relief were falling down his puffy cheeks and his thumb wiped at yours as your own tears began to fall just from the sight of him.

“One more time?”

You giggled again, your head leaning into the warmth of his touch.

You’d tell him as many times as you needed to for him to believe it.

“Jisung Han, I fucking lo-”

You never got a chance to finish your sentence before his lips connected with yours as he spun the two of you around, caging you in the corner and encasing you in everything that was him.

The kiss was gentle and sweet, full of love and devotion and longing. Even though his lips were pressed against yours roughly, they felt feather-light, and you sighed into the feeling.

It finally felt like you had come home.

Jisung smiled against your lips once you finally opened your mouth to take a breath, and he took the opportunity to slip his tongue in. The second your tongues touched, it was like fireworks had gone off inside your body.

Every nerve ending in your tongue, in your mouth, in your entire being was on high alert as the two of you slowly and sensually explored each other. You could feel every inch of his tongue as it grazed across yours. The little sparks of electricity that poured from his hands that were holding you so gentle made you feel alive for the first time in months, years even.

When the two of you inevitable had to pull away, breathless and dazed from the intensity of your actions, Jisung leaned his forehead against yours and opened his eyes slightly to stare at you.

“That should’ve been our first kiss,” he whispered as his arms folded around you once more. He was squeezing you tightly, as if he was afraid you’d drift away the second he stopped touching you, and you loved the feeling of it.

“I love you so much, Princess.”

You glanced up at him briefly before you pulled him in closer to you once more, connecting your lips with his in another kiss.

The time, the kiss was hot and desperate, the neediness practically rolling off the two of you in waves. All the years of longing glances, sexual tension, titillating banter and subtle flirting had led up to this moment. The invisible chord that tethered you two together seemed to have finally been pulled past it’s limit and snapped, brining you two closer than ever before.

Jisung slightly bent his legs, his mouth never breaking contact with yours, and wrapped his arms around your thighs, picking you up and pushing you harder into the corner.

As if you had been doing it for years, your legs automatically wrapped around his tiny waist, his pelvis pushing against yours while his chest pinned you to the wall. His fingers were softly stroking the crevice just beneath where your butt ended and your legs began, causing your body to ignite with want.

You ran your fingers through his hair and tugged on the ends gently, pulling away from his lips, a small string of saliva connected yours to his. Jisungs mouth chased you as you went, causing you to softly laugh. You had to put a hand on his shoulder and nudge him to get him to relax and take a breath.

“Wanna get out of here?” You asked breathlessly, your eyes darting from his eyes, back down to his mouth and then back up again.

Like you were a drug he was addicted to, Jisung couldn’t keep his lips off your skin. He planted soft kisses all across your face as you spoke, from your cheek, to your chin, to your nose, and finally back to your lips once more.

“Yeah?” he asked back, taking a moment to stare at you nervously. He bit his lip as you nodded your head yes eagerly.

“Yeah.” you confirmed. Jisung took one of his hands from where he was supporting your ass and brushed a few baby hairs away from your face.

“Are you sure?” he asked, causing you to roll your eyes and let out a laugh in response.

“Just fucking take me home Jisung.” you begged. Jisung smiled at your request and helped you to your feet again. He held onto your elbow as you struggled to regain your composure from the heated kisses the two of you exchanged.

“You don’t have to tell me twice.”

And with that, with his hand on the small of your back, he took you home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Taglist || @sungshineworld @collisvng @ihrtlix @queen-in-the-shadows @cassidymb121

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[devilsrecreation]

Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed headcanons-TLG spinoff edition

Like I said, they’re both comic reliefs and advisors to Jasiri’s clan

They and the rest of the clan (or what’s left of them) have gone back to the Elephant Graveyard, although they sometimes visit the Volcano

They, for the most part, honestly haven’t changed since the events of TLK. They’re still the same hyenas we know and love, albeit they now respect the circle of life

Shenzi loves Jasiri. She reminds her of herself when she was younger, not to mention she knows both the Outlands and Janja are in good paws

Like any good parents, Shenzi and Banzai have become really protective of Janja since they haven’t seen him since he was a cub. They took Jasiri aside and were like “If you break our baby’s heart, we’ll break your spine”

Ed continues to surprise everybody except Shenzi and Banzai in one way or another. Like he can be shown understanding Neema or Nyeusi’s noises

The three are very doting to not only Janja and Cheezi, but to the entire hyena clan too. They especially love Wema and Tunu. They think the twins are the cutest things they’ve ever seen

The three sometimes embarrass Janja by telling Jasiri and the other Outlanders childhood stories. Jasiri thinks it’s hilarious, Janja does not

Shenzi and Reirei have a really really petty rivalry. Reirei’s always trying to one-up Shenzi and Shenzi just keeps wearing her down, which pisses her off even more. Shenzi does a little trolling

Goigoi doesn’t really have an issue with Banzai. He’s kinda scared of him, actually

Shenzi is constantly asking for grandcubs and every time Janja responds with a “Moooooom!”

They are FILLED with stories to tell. Ask them about anything and they’ll have a story about it

The entire clan are BEASTS at fighting. They’re not just retired hunters or whatever they’ll still kick your ass. Badass grandparents right there

[beardedmrbean]

A group of tourists wheel their bulky luggage and wind their way through the crowds in search of the perfect shot.

They huddle on a pavement opposite a convenience store - but this is no ordinary store. Rising behind it is Japan's highest summit, the majestic Mount Fuji.

The snowy 3,776m-peak forms a stunning backdrop for those in search of their next favourite selfie or instagrammable moment. The visitors got what they wanted – and just in time.

Fast forward a few weeks, to this morning, and that view is gone. The once-busy vantage point – the pavement – is now behind a black mesh screen, about the same length as a cricket pitch.

The barrier is the result of a chorus of complaints from locals, who say their lives have been disrupted by jaywalking and littering tourists.

The picturesque town of Fuji Kawaguchiko has been feeling the impact of a surge in tourism - arrivals to Japan crossed a record three million in March and April, driven up by a weak yen and a post-pandemic travel boom.

The screen is a desperate move and a sign of Japan’s struggle to accommodate this many visitors while protecting its streets, its famous spots and its particular way of living.

It has been an eventful Tuesday in Fuji Kawaguchiko.

Japanese officials had announced in late April that they would be putting up a screen - but the hour of installation brought more attention to this rural corner of central Japan. As workers fixed poles and hung up wires to hold the screen, they were surrounded by a scrum of cameras. Tourists gathered as well, curious to capture the hubbub.

If the screen is meant to keep them away, it isn’t doing that - yet.

Around us, visitors wonder how effective it will be: “It may work for a few days. But I’m sure someone will make a hole [in it] and take a picture at some point,” says Kazakh tourist Yuri Vavilin.

He is disappointed he missed the crucial shot but he says he shall return tomorrow and try from either end of the screen.

This dedication is surprising to 65-year-old Kazuhiko Iwama who has lived his entire life in Fuji Kawaguchiko. His house sits opposite the ubiquitous convenience store, with its florescent lights and famous blue sign that says Lawson.

“I see it every day from my window, so I really don’t have much to say about it,” he says, looking at the volcano that draws tourists from around the world. “I guess I take it for granted.”

It’s what many have dubbed a “very Japanese” scene - the banal Lawson shouldering such a spectacular view. It is even known online as “Mount Fuji Lawson”.

Mr Iwama isn’t convinced the screen would deter the most determined of tourists. With the pavement gone, he fears more of them will step on to the street to take pictures.

He says this is precisely the problem - he wouldn’t mind tourists, if they followed the rules.

“They cross the street and they don’t seem to care about the cars at all, it is dangerous. And they leave trash and cigarette butts everywhere."

This is seen as especially rude and careless in a country with few bins on the street - you are expected to carry your trash home and dispose of it there.

The screen was a last resort for local officials. One of them had said earlier in May, “It's regrettable we have to do this because of some tourists who can't respect rules."

They did try less drastic measures. They put up big road signs in multiple languages, telling people not to run onto the road. But, they say, these have largely been ignored.

When we visited weeks before, the road had local security to prevent accidents. We saw one man blowing his whistle furiously and yelling at jaywalkers to stop. When we tried to approach him, he stopped us: “I need to concentrate please.”

On the road, a driver aggressively honked at a camera-wielding pedestrian - a rare sound in Japan - who had parked themselves in front of the Lawson, obstructing traffic.

“I think one person posted a cool picture of themselves in front of this Lawson and it went viral and everybody decided ‘I want to go there. I want that picture on my Instagram,’” says Maddison Verb who had travelled here from the United States.

She and her two friends had been taking turns posing for the picture.

Unlike their serene, filtered photos that would soon be shared on Instagram or TikTok, the scene around them was crowded and tense.

“There's a guy working here just to prevent people from crossing the road. It is insane,” said Coralie Nieke, who had been visiting from Germany.

“If I didn't have social media, I wouldn't have come here. I wouldn't even have known that this place existed.”

She described how overwhelmed she felt by the sheer number of people jostling for that one snap. But, to her relief, she managed to get the “Lawson photo”.

Kikue Katsumata, a 73-year-old local who regularly walks her dog in the area, sympathised with both sides: “I feel sad for those tourists who come all the way to see the view and take pictures, but traffic here is quite heavy, and we are all very concerned about accidents.”

But now, with the screen up, tourists are still not convinced it will do the job.

“I think they’ll stand on the road to get the shot,” says Australian Maddie Godwin, echoing Mr Iwama’s concern.

Other visitors don’t see what the fuss is all about: Wandy Chow, a visitor from Toronto, says, “There are other places you can take beautiful pictures of Mt Fuji.”

Her son, Zachary, says he has found another shop with a good view of Mount Fuji.

But he won't say where. "I don’t want people to go there,” he says, smiling, thinking of his next shareable moment.

[ttngummybear]

Since this is outsider-safe, I'm posting this on my main first.

Let's talk about how they celebrate Halloween at the Den!

Quick refresher: The Den (specifically the main Den in this context) is the central headquarters of the Healers on earth, as well as a sprawling underground city. It is located in the Raven region of Tennessee in a long-dead volcano. Being a city, there are many places within the Den where creatures can live. Most who live here are Healers, but some outsiders also reside here for a variety of reasons.

Community gatherings are fairly frequent these days, and they're an absolute blast. Food, live music, the works. Anyone living in or visiting the Den at the time is welcome, Healer or outsider.

As you can imagine, Halloween in particular is a HUGE deal at the Den! They have a festival that begins a week before Halloween. The celebration ramps up every day, culminating in a gigantic party the day of Halloween itself.

A new addition to the celebration is a set of haunted house attractions around and within the Den. These were set up here after an... Incident just a few Halloweens ago. They range in their scariness from kid-friendly to genuinely terrifying. These are set up outside the Den itself, and it's encouraged for residents to bring guests here to check them out!

Trick-or-treating is a huge deal here, too. There are candy and treat stations dotted all over the Den, and you can get candies here that you can't find anywhere else! Everyone is allowed to trick-or-treat here; It's not restricted to just kids.

On top of the candies here being unique, there are cultivars of produce you can't find elsewhere, too. There's an orchard where all types of magically altered fruits are grown, including a type of green apple that's green all the way through. These apples taste much like artificial green apple flavor, but with more depth and balance, and they're perfectly juicy on top of that. They're used for making perfect caramel apples, and a spicy, shockingly neon green cider.

... Why no doodle for this one? Because I'm going to be drawing and describing the special candies you can get at the Den for the inbox trick-or-treating event this year! No limit on how many candies I'll give each person, come back around as many times as you want! (Translation: if you send multiple trick-or-treat asks, I'll answer each one with a different candy drawing.)