#also the implications of think they'll make it i don't know in wait for me reprise if persephone KNOWS HOW IT ENDS

[starry-bite]

i love hermes of course and obviously but consider: persephone narrating hadestown

she takes orpheus under her wing

the sweet maternal smirk as she watches him lovestruck for eurydice, remembering what that felt like

during epic i, we learn that she told orpheus the story of her great love (the thought of her singing a song of love from long ago, long time since i heard it though lays me out)

she rages and leads the chorus all through condemning hadestown in way down

even more direct horror and pain at eurydice being taken down

DISILLUSIONED AFTER HER OWN BETRAYAL DURING HEY THE BIG ARTISTE (you'll find another muse somewhere)

a whole new layer and familiarity to our lady of the underground as she introduces the audience to her domain (and what is her crack in the wall for but telling stories and sowing hope?)

more power/standing for the confrontation of how long?

watching the seeds she planted by telling orpheus stories come to bloom in epic iii

then breaking the good and bad news to orpheus and eurydice after his kiss, the riot and giving hard-earned advice

witnessing orpheus fail as she and hades did and retelling the story despite it being an old song. because it's her song to sing.

[moonsaver]

Do you have any thoughts about the opposite of the "Im afraid to confess because our friendship could get ruined"? As in, "I'm afraid to reject you because I don't want to lose this friendship so I accept your confession even though I don't feel that way for you and never will".

Like the protagonist tries to convince themselves that this is just like being friends only that we now kiss (and more). I feel like it would fit with a yandere that is a bit delusional or desperate, eveb insecure so whenever the protagonist doesnt seem as into this relationship as them, they just try to convince themselves otherwise, or love bomb the protagonist.

Idk lately Ive been into reversing the tropes and I found this one particularly interesting to me when it comes to a yandere. In HSR i was thinking of Argenti as he seems like the delusional type. Or even Aventurine who would have had to put down a lot of walls to be friends with you and then even more walls just to confess, so rejecting him doesnt seem like an option to the protag (out of pity and care).

THIS THIS THIS!!!! qnon ur brain is so wrinkly and soggy with brain juice..... this used to be my favorite trope at some point idk why i forgot about it i remember eating up any fanfics out there based on this

Tw: yandere (obv), manipulation, intimacy (mainly romantic, only hints of sexual), emotional blackmailing, whatever yadda yadda

But anyways, under the cut!

Okay, so, I imagine this is possible with literally... almost all of hsr's cast. Mainly because most of them have such tragic backstories, and most of them out of that have a really shrewd and cunning mind, so they'll exploit this to hell and back.

I also imagine this is with a people pleasing reader, so lets go with a bit of implication of that.

Anyways, since Aventurine and Argenti are the ones mentioned specifically, I'll probably dive in on them first.

Aventurine is so hard to not feel pity for. Every stolen glance at the marking on his neck makes you feel worse and worse for "rejecting him", knowing he's been throwing signs of wanting more than a friendship quite possibly everywhere and you're most likely ignoring them in hopes of keeping your friendship. It's not like he hasn't quite caught on, either. He knows people's hearts quite well. And where there's opportunity, he seizes it.

It's a bit frustrating for him – just why can't you see he wants more? Or rather, just why aren't you accepting him? You're the first thing on his mind when he wakes up, when he clutches his chip and bets on his life, the last thing on his mind when he goes to sleep. Hell, he's even tried to dream of you, forcefully. But then he realizes.. how easy you are to just push around. He goes ahead with the confession, and it's almost a sadistic kind of pleasure when he sees you even try and stutter out any kind of a rejection when he's leaning in a perfect angle that shows off his little marking (out of all the times he curses it, it seems like this time it's worked in his favor). He watches carefully as your eyes nervously flit to his neck and you shut up immediately for a second, before accepting. And when you do.. he's over the moon! Coddles you, kisses your cheeks, becomes so much more grabby, as his keen eyes watch your discomfort. Well.. you didn't reject him, so this is what you should expect.

Again, the frustration doesn't wear off easily, but just seeing you writhe and try to create distance while he suffocates you in affection far from platonic nature, is so sadistically pleasuring to him. He loves watching you in that state, bending to his will so easily, as he waits for you to snap. But he'll probably find it easier to squeeze water out of a rock than to squeeze a rejection out of you – which is precisely what he exploits. You're not going anywhere, are you? He puts on his best, pleading little eyes that he used to have to put on, shaking, trembling voice, desperate hands that cling to you; all the things he acts out like his life depends on it when he senses even a waver of your hesitation.

Oh, fine.. he hates seeing you so queasy almost all the time, so he'll give you a reprieve from time to time. Plans and schedules things you used to do "back when you were friends" (he emphasizes this – you don't think you can just ignore everything, right?), and makes sure to at least crack a few smiles and giggles from you. Of course.. his hand is still loosely hanging around your waist, pecks you on the lips from time to time, just as a small reminder of what you guys really are now.

Argenti on the other hand, has no awareness of your discomfort at all.

He's like a huge dog, the way he's so happy about you accepting his confession and doesn't even stop to think afterwards just why you were so hesitant during it.

Constantly praises you, and it's not soon before it gets to a more intimate nature. He wants to do all the romantic things – kissing under the rain, protecting you from something, twirling you in the air and then kissing you again after putting you down, telling everyone proudly that you two are a couple, buying more and more "romantic" gifts that turn more intimate sooner or later. You have no way out of this without completely ruining everything.

It's.. almost painful the way he doesn't realise. At some point your discomfort probably gets so.. obvious, but he just shrugs it off; perhaps he hasn't been paying you enough attention? Or you're just too shy to ask something of him? Oh, how sweet! How adorable! He thinks. He simply falls deeper and deeper into this delusion, stringing you along and stretching your patience thin. Unfortunately, unlike Aventurine, you can't find most, if any bits of the things you both used to do as platonic companions in the relationship you have with Argenti. He's just a full-blown romantic who wants to do only that. It makes you even more queasy when people look at you in pity, if they realize just what happened between you two.

You can't back out, even if you tried. If you somehow manage to find a way to squeeze out a rejection, or have any kind of a reservation about things getting more intimate/romantic stuff, he's so devastated. Did he do something wrong? Perhaps he's not as experienced as you wanted him to be? Or you're not satisfied with some of the things he's said? Don't fret, he's right on it! Constantly holding you so close you're afraid your bones will break, whispering incessant praises into your ear that slowly spiral into affirmations that you belong to him, spoiled rotten with everything you want; yet, even then.. you can't shake off the intention they were given in. Not when you're suffocated by it.

[jungkoode]

𝐅𝐔𝐂𝐊 𝐌𝐄 𝐔𝐏 | 09

˗ˏˋ rules ˎˊ˗

"Rules are funny things. You make them thinking they'll keep you safe, keep everything contained. But sometimes the person you're really trying to protect yourself from… is you"

next | index

⋆｡°✩ chapter details ✩°｡⋆

word count: 6.5k

content: candle shop shenanigans, friend group dynamics, rules and boundaries

✧ author's note ✧

OKAY FIRST OF ALL—who absolutely LOVES Yeji? Because ME. The way she clocked Jungkook within seconds and had NO filter??? Like, I'm obsessed. Mans was genuinely SHOCKED that someone told him to sit his ass down. The audacity of this woman to not immediately melt under his smirky, tattooed menace energy?? I respect her so much. A feminist icon, if you will.

And IRYA. Ughhh, my precious girlie. The way she’s just casually vibing with Jungkook? Like?? They are NOTHING alike, and yet she’s over here just mingling with him, being friendly, unbothered, meanwhile Yeji is foaming at the mouth in the background. I love that contrast so much. It’s like, she doesn’t see him as a threat, just another guy in the room, which makes Jungkook (who is used to either being hated or obsessed over) lowkey confused. You can see the gears turning in his head like “Wait. Why aren’t you scared of me. Or pissed at me. Or flirting with me.” HAHAH POOR BOY.

And let’s talk about Jimin, because HELLO, my quiet support KING. He’s not even saying much in this chapter, but he’s there, next to Y/N, just in case. That kind of silent loyalty? The “I know you can handle yourself, but if you need me, I’m already here” type of presence??? I eat that up every time. Their friend group is everything to me.

Speaking of menace behavior—Jungkook. Are we surprised? He’s so unserious about everything. I loved giving him Kuko as a contact name for Y/N because in every fic, it’s always Kook or Kookie or Koo and I just—I wanted something different. Something slightly sharp and weird. Like, why does it sound like a pet name and an insult at the same time 😭😭 It’s PERFECT for their dynamic.

And finally, Y/N. My messy, mouthy, disaster baby. She is THEE representation of someone who’s barely entered adulthood, fresh into uni, kind of immature, kind of figuring it out, but loud as hell about it. Like, I KNOW some of y’all are probably reading this chapter thinking “girl, seriously??” but THAT'S THE POINT. She’s got so much personality, she’s a walking contradiction, she’s flawed, but she’s HER. I love her for it.

I also stuffed this chapter with SO many Easter eggs. Like, the foreshadowing is right there at the end, but I know y’all aren’t catching everything yet. You’ll come back later, reread it, and be like “OH MY GOD, KIKI???” And I’ll just be sitting here like 😌✌️ I love when a plan comes together.

Anyway, here’s Chapter 9, babes. Enjoy the mess. I’m off to go prep for my therapist session because, let’s be real, I probably projected a little too hard in this one LMAO.

⋆｡°✩ read on ✩°｡⋆

ao3

wattpad

You don't know why you agreed to go shopping with Yeji. 

She texted at ass o'clock in the morning about "needing your expert opinion," and honestly? Your sleep-deprived brain just went sure, whatever without processing the implications. You just mentioned having to buy something for Emma — her birthday's in two weeks — and it was downhill from there.

"This place smells like a Pinterest board threw up," Yeji announces as you enter the third candle store of the day. Some fancy boutique with mason jars everywhere and prices that make you want to cry. "Who names a candle Whispers of Moonlight?"

"Someone getting paid way too much," you mutter, checking the price tag. Jesus. "Forty dollars for—is this supposed to smell like grass?"

"Rich people grass." Yeji picks up another one, face scrunching. "Autumn's Last Kiss. What does that even mean? Like, trees making out?"

"Pretty sure it's just pumpkin spice trying to be fancy."

"Capitalism is wild." She moves down the aisle, combat boots squeaking against the polished floor. "Oh shit, look at this one. Midnight Jasmine's Secret Rendezvous. That's not a candle, that's a Mills & Boon novel."

You snort, trailing after her. "Speaking of reading material—"

"We are not starting a book club book chat right now."

"I'm just saying, if you actually showed up to Victorian Lit—"

"And listen to Professor Stevens cream himself over Dickens for two hours? Pass." She picks up another candle, this one in black glass. "Dark Temptation. Bet you five bucks it smells like axe body spray."

She's not wrong. You wrinkle your nose as she waves it under your face. "Why does everything 'dark' and 'masculine' smell like a frat house?"

"Because the straights are not okay." Yeji sets it back, wiping her hands on her jeans like the scent might be contagious. "What did Emma say she likes again?"

"Anything except roses." You pause at a display of seasonal scents. "Her roommate burns those generic rose ones from the dollar store. Pretty sure she's traumatized."

"Valid." Yeji's already moved on to the next shelf, picking up random ones and reading their names in increasingly dramatic voices. "Summer's Sweet Embrace. Woodland Mystery. Oh my god, Bachelor's Button? What the fuck is a bachelor's button?"

"It's a flower," you say, distracted by a actually nice-looking sage and cedar one. Still overpriced, but... "My mom used to grow them."

"Sounds fake, but okay." 

She’s quiet for a second. Then:

"What about this one?" Yeji holds up a purple candle, squinting at the label. "Lavender Dreams. Sounds pretentious as fuck."

"Put that down before you break it," you mutter, scanning the shelves. The prices are criminal. “And aren't you supposed to be in Art History right now?"

"Professor Wang's doing that thing again where he talks about his divorce for two hours." She shrugs, setting the candle back with surprising care. "I've already heard all about Karen three times this semester."

You roll your eyes, picking up a sage-scented one. And no, you're not lingering in the candle section because you love them, okay? Emma likes candles too. It's completely reasonable research for a birthday gift. Nothing to do with how your apartment could use some—

"These are boring anyway," Yeji declares, already moving on. Her attention snaps to something across the street. Barnes & Noble, its windows displaying the latest bestsellers. 

"Wanna check out some books?" she asks, hands stuffed in the pockets of her worn-out grey zip-up. The one she definitely stole from Irya's closet.

"Since when do you read?" You snort, following her out of the candle store. Because you know damn well Yeji's idea of "reading" is skimming SparkNotes twenty minutes before class.

"Woah, judging a book by its cover?" She gestures to her whole aesthetic: combat boots, ripped jeans, that stolen sweater. "Just 'cause I look like this doesn't mean I don't read."

"You told me last week that Romeo and Juliet was, and I quote, 'straight people nonsense.'"

"It is straight people nonsense." She pushes open the bookstore's door, a blast of air conditioning hitting you. "But we need books for the club."

"You mean the chat group you named 'Fuck The Patriarchy Book Club' that's basically just for rambling and complaining?" Like how you ended up here today, victim to Yeji's class-skipping schemes. "That club?"

"Yeah?" She flashes that smile that you’re starting to associate with trouble. "C'mon, I need to check if they have Pride and Prejudice."

You trail after her into Fiction & Literature, past towering shelves and that distinct bookstore smell. "Pride and—hold up. Weren't you just shitting on romance classics?"

"Yeah, and?" She's already scanning the 'A' section with laser focus. "My girl wants to read it, so we're reading it."

"You're buying it because Irya mentioned it once in the group chat."

"And?" Yeji doesn't even pretend to deny it, moving purposefully through the aisles. "My girlfriend has taste. Unlike some people who waste their time reading..." she picks up a random book, "The Art of Corporate Finance."

"That's not even—"

"Found it!" She pulls out a leather-bound edition, definitely not the cheapest version available. "Look at this fancy shit. Irya's gonna love it."

You're about to point out how whipped she is when something catches your eye. A "Now Hiring" sign at the front counter, clean white letters against dark wood. Huh. You've been meaning to look for a job, something to get you out of the apartment more. And to help your finances. too. God knows you’d rather avoid having to ask mom and daddy for more money. 

"Earth to Y/N?" Yeji waves a hand in front of your face. "You good?"

"Yeah, just..." You gesture vaguely at the sign. 

Working at a bookstore wouldn't be the worst thing. Plus, employee discount.

"Oh shit, you should totally apply." She examines the sign with newfound interest. "Then you can hook me up with discounts on all the books Irya wants."

"I haven't even—"

"Excuse me?" she calls to a passing employee, ignoring your attempt to shut her up. "My friend here wants to apply for the job opening."

You're going to kill her. Slowly. With one of these hardcover books.

But the employee's already turning around—young guy, probably another student, name tag reading 'Mark'—and you can't exactly bolt without looking insane. Perfect. Just perfect.

"Oh, yeah?" Mark brightens. "We're actually pretty desperate for people who can work weekday afternoons. You have any retail experience?"

"I—"

"She's great with books," Yeji cuts in, because apparently she's your agent now. "Like, literally will fight someone over their trash literary takes. You should hear her rant about Hemingway."

You shoot her a death glare, but... well, she's not wrong about Hemingway.

"That's actually perfect," Mark says. "We get a lot of students asking for recommendations. Here—" He heads to the counter, returning with an application form. "You can fill this out now if you want. Manager's still here."

And somehow, because the universe hates you, you end up at one of the reading tables, filling out your work history while Yeji "helps" by suggesting you list your special skills as "roasting bad authors" and "setting pretentious men straight about their Joyce opinions."

Your phone buzzes. Group chat.

6B Hell

Yoongs 🎧: 𝙲𝚊𝚗 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚢 𝚌𝚘𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚜𝚞𝚕𝚎𝚜? 𝚆𝚎’𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚞𝚝

+1 (917) XXX-XXXX: 𝚌𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚛𝚗

+1 (917) XXX-XXXX: 𝚙𝚊𝚢𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚔

Yoongs 🎧: 𝙸 𝚐𝚘𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞

Yoongs 🎧: 𝚆𝚎’𝚕𝚕 𝚜𝚘𝚛𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝟷𝟻𝚝𝚑

Yoongs 🎧: 𝙹𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚌𝚞𝚜 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐

+1 (917) XXX-XXXX: 𝚝𝚑𝚡 𝚖𝚊𝚗

You're about to reply that you'll grab some later when another message pops up.

+1 (917) XXX-XXXX: 𝚙𝚑𝚘𝚎𝚗𝚒𝚡 𝚞𝚛 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝? 𝚞 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖

What the actual fuck?

You: 𝚠��𝚘 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜?

+1 (917) XXX-XXXX: 𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚘𝚏𝚌 

+1 (917) XXX-XXXX: 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚝 𝚘𝚗𝚎 

You let out a disbelieving sound. Yeji, who's been "helping" by pointing out every minor spelling mistake in your application, peers over your shoulder.

"What's up?"

"My roommate being a jerk as usual." You know for a fact Jungkook's probably sprawled on the couch right now, doing fuck-all except maybe killing brain cells on his PlayStation. But sure, you should get the coffee.

You: 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚢 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚒’𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚝 𝚘𝚗𝚎

You: 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚗𝚘, 𝚒’𝚖 𝚋𝚞𝚜𝚢

+1 (917) XXX-XXXX: 𝚊𝚠 𝚍𝚘𝚗𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚗𝚒𝚡

+1 (917) XXX-XXXX: 𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚢 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 

Yoongs 🎧: 𝙲𝚊𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚠𝚘 𝚗𝚘𝚝?

+1 (917) XXX-XXXX: 𝚙𝚕𝚞𝚜 𝚠𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚝𝚑 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚒𝚖 𝚑𝚘𝚝 

+1 (917) XXX-XXXX: 𝚘𝚛 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚞 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚗𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚊𝚝 𝚙𝚞𝚕𝚜𝚎? 

Your fingers freeze over the keyboard. That asshole.

You: 𝚜𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚢 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗? 

You: 𝚖𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚖𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎

+1 (917) XXX-XXXX: 𝚞𝚛 𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚒𝚊𝚕 𝚒𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚙𝚑𝚘𝚎𝚗𝚒𝚡 

+1 (917) XXX-XXXX: 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚠𝚊𝚢. 𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚞𝚛 𝚊𝚕𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝚘𝚞𝚝…

You: 𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚍𝚊𝚖𝚗 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚢 

You: 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝, 𝚢𝚘𝚞’𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚞𝚢 𝚌𝚘𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚎?

Yoongs 🎧: 𝚈/𝙽.

Something about Yoongi’s message makes you pause. That's... weird. But before you can think about it:

+1 (917) XXX-XXXX: 𝚒𝚖 𝚋𝚞𝚜𝚢

+1 (917) XXX-XXXX: 𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚘 :)

+1 (917) XXX-XXXX: 𝚐𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚢𝚊 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠?

"I'm assuming he means video games," Yeji says, still reading. "Not the fun kind of grinding."

You elbow her in the ribs.

You: 𝚔 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚏𝚞𝚗 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝

You: 𝚒𝚖 𝚋𝚞𝚜𝚢 𝚝𝚘𝚘

You: 𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝚊𝚍𝚞𝚕𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚘

+1 (917) XXX-XXXX: 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚌𝚘𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚎? :)

Yoongs 🎧: 𝙹𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚍𝚛𝚘𝚙 𝚒𝚝, 𝚋𝚘𝚝𝚑 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 

Yoongs 🎧: 𝙸’𝚕𝚕 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚕𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚗𝚎𝚡𝚝 𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚔

+1 (917) XXX-XXXX: 𝚗𝚊𝚑 𝚒𝚝𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚘𝚕 

+1 (917) XXX-XXXX: 𝚙𝚑𝚘𝚎𝚗𝚒𝚡 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 

+1 (917) XXX-XXXX: 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚗𝚒𝚡? ;) 

+1 (917) XXX-XXXX: 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚊 𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜? 

+1 (917) XXX-XXXX: 𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚞𝚛 𝚊𝚕𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝚐𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 :)

You're going to murder him. You're actually going to commit homicide, and Yoongi's going to have to find a new roommate, and you know what? He'll probably thank you.

You: 𝚛𝚘𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚕

You: :)

"So," Yeji says as you aggressively save his number under 'Kuko🖕🏻', "this is fun."

"I hate him so much."

"Uh-huh." She glances at your phone, where he's still sending coffee emoji spam. "You know what this means though, right?"

"That I need better roommates?"

"That you're definitely getting this job." She taps the half-completed application. "Can't spend all your time at the apartment if you're working retail hours."

She... might have a point.

Kuko🖕🏻: 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚍𝚘 

Kuko🖕🏻: 𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚍𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚟𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚊 𝚌𝚘𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚜 𝚞 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚋𝚞𝚢 

Yoongs 🎧: 𝙸’𝚖 𝚖𝚞𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚝 

Yoongs 🎧: 𝚈/𝙽, 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛. 𝚆𝚎,𝚕𝚕 𝚜𝚘𝚛𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚛.

Your phone buzzes again, but this time it's the other group chat. Thank fuck.

Fuck The Patriarchy Book Club 📚

Irya 🌸: 𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚛 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚜?

Irya 🌸: 𝚓𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚏𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚌𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚞𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚍𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚎𝚒𝚛𝚍 𝚔𝚎𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗

Jin ☕️: 𝙲𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚝𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝.

Jin ☕️: 𝙳𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚙𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚌𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚜.

Jin ☕️: 𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝟻𝟶𝚔𝚐 𝚘𝚏 𝚌𝚘𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚜 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝟻.

Jin ☕️: 𝙶𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚊𝚐𝚎.

Your phone keeps vibrating with notifications from the other chat. You peek at it. 

Kuko🖕🏻: ☕️

Kuko🖕🏻: ☕️

Kuko🖕🏻: ☕️

Kuko🖕🏻: ☕️

Kuko🖕🏻: ☕️

Kuko🖕🏻: ☕️

Kuko🖕🏻: ☕️

Kuko🖕🏻: ☕️

Jesus fucking Christ.

Yeji 🖤: 𝚙𝚒𝚣𝚣𝚊 𝚊𝚝 𝚢/𝚗’𝚜?

Yeji 🖤: 𝚠𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚊 𝚖𝚎𝚎𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚞𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚎 

Your head snaps up. "Excuse me?"

"What?" Yeji doesn't even look guilty. "You keep complaining about him, might as well know what we’re working with here."

You: 𝚋𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚛 𝚖𝚢 𝚊𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝

You: 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝙺𝙽𝙾𝚆 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗

Irya 🌸: 𝚘𝚘𝚑 𝚢𝚎𝚜!! 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚘𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚘𝚝 𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗??

Irya 🌸: 𝚒 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚊 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚖𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗 

Irya 🌸: 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚓𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚗 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎?

You let out a loud sigh, now considering Irya’s question. Because part of you thinks about bringing unwanted guests to the apartment, about how that could disturb the peace, especially for Yoongi.

But also? Also, Jungkook brought his friends last time. No warning, no group chat message to let you know you’d meeting random dudes in your pokemon PJs.

So he can suck it, honestly. 

You: 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎

You: 𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚘

Jin ☕️: 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝙹𝚘𝚎’𝚜.

Jin ☕️: 𝙽𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚗𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎.

Jin ☕️: 𝙰𝚕𝚜𝚘, 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚏 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚐𝚎𝚍𝚕𝚢 𝚑𝚘𝚝 𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚘𝚛 𝚒𝚝 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚗.

Another cascade of coffee emojis floods your notifications. You switch back to the apartment chat.

Kuko🖕🏻: ☕️

Kuko🖕🏻: ☕️

Kuko🖕🏻: ☕️

Kuko🖕🏻: 𝚙𝚑𝚘𝚎𝚗𝚒𝚡𝚡𝚡𝚡𝚡

Kuko🖕🏻: ☕️

Kuko🖕🏻: ☕️

Kuko🖕🏻: 𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚐𝚗𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛

Kuko🖕🏻: ☕️

Kuko🖕🏻: ☕️

Kuko🖕🏻: 𝚒𝚖 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚐𝚘𝚗𝚗𝚊 𝚍𝚒𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚎

Kuko🖕🏻: ☕️

Kuko🖕🏻: ☕️

Kuko🖕🏻: 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚒𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝟿𝟶% 𝚌𝚊𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚎

Kuko🖕🏻: ☕️

Kuko🖕🏻: ☕️

You hit mute so fast you nearly crack your screen.

You: 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚑 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚙𝚒𝚣𝚣𝚊 𝚊𝚝 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚎

You: 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚈𝙾𝚄’𝚁𝙴 𝚋𝚞𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚎𝚓𝚒

Yeji 🖤: 𝚕𝚖𝚊𝚘 𝚗𝚘

Yeji 🖤: 𝚒 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝟻𝟶 𝚋𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚜 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚢 𝚊𝚜𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔

Yeji 🖤: 𝚒𝚖 𝙱𝚁𝙾𝙺𝙴 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚔𝚎

Irya 🌸: 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔? 𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚎? 👀 

Irya 🌸: 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚞𝚢 𝚖𝚎 𝚊 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔?!?!?! 💘

Jin ☕️: 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚖𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐.

Jin ☕️: 𝙸’𝚖 𝚐𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚢 𝚌𝚘𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚎 𝚌𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚜.

Yeji 🖤: 𝚜𝚑𝚞𝚝 𝚞𝚙 𝚌𝚘𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚢

Yeji 🖤: 𝚐𝚘 𝚘𝚛𝚐𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚣𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚜

"So," Yeji says, watching you aggressively fill out the availability section of your application. "Should we warn your roommate about pizza night or...?"

You think about the endless coffee emojis. About how he's probably still spamming them, the notifications piling up in your muted chat.

"Nope."

She grins. "Chaos it is."

You make it to your apartment after what feels like the longest trek ever, juggling the coffee capsules bag and your dignity. And no, you didn't buy them because of him, okay? You bought them because Yoongi deserves his caffeine fix. Yoongi, who actually helped you carry boxes up flights of stairs when you moved in. Yoongi, who warns you when the hot water's acting up. Yoongi, who—unlike some people—doesn't blast music at 3AM.

"Still can't believe you actually bought them," Yeji says for the fifth time, trailing behind you up the stairs. "Like, you're really just gonna enable his bratty ass?"

"They're not for him." You dig through your bag for your keys. "I got the regular ones for Yoongi. The vanilla ones are mine."

"Uh-huh." She's got that look again. "And you got the vanilla ones because...?"

"Because I like vanilla coffee." Your keys jangle aggressively as you search. "Not everything is about him."

"I offered to spike them," she reminds everyone, way too loudly for a hallway. "Could've made it look factory-sealed and everything."

Jimin looks slightly concerned. "Do I want to know why you know how to do that?"

"Probably not," Irya says cheerfully. "But that's why I love her."

You finally locate your keys, jamming them into the lock. It sticks—because of course it does, these old-ass doors—and you have to do that weird wiggle thing to get it open. "The last thing I need is a lawsuit for attempted murder by coffee."

"It wouldn't kill him," Yeji argues. "Just, you know. Mild poisoning. Character building."

"Pretty sure that's still illegal," Jimin says.

"Only if you get caught."

The door finally gives, swinging open to reveal... nobody. The living room's empty, thank fuck. No sign of Yoongi or—more importantly—no sign of him. Maybe they're both out. Maybe you'll actually get through this pizza night without any—

"Yo, this is actually nice," Yeji says, already making herself at home on the couch. "When you said 'bros' cave' I was expecting, like, beer pong tables and stolen street signs."

"Those are in Jungkook's room," you mutter, dropping the coffee bag on the kitchen counter. Not that you've seen his room. You haven't. Obviously.

Irya's examining the vinyl collection by the TV. "These are good albums. Your roommates have taste."

"Those are Yoongi's." Probably. You're like 90% sure they're Yoongi's. You've never actually asked.

"The place is surprisingly clean," Jimin notes, still hovering politely by the door. "Need help with anything?"

"Nah, just—" You pause as something orange streaks past. "Oh, shit, wait—Griffin, no—"

Too late. Your cat roommate's already winding between Jimin's legs, purring like the attention whore he is.

"You have a cat?" Irya drops to her knees immediately. "Oh my god, he's gorgeous."

"He's not mine." You dump your bag on the counter. "He's Jungkook's emotional support menace."

"Like owner, like cat," Yeji says, watching Griffin charm his way into Jimin's arms.

"True." You roll your eyes. "Demanding, dramatic, and constantly in the way."

Griffin headbutts Jimin's shin, purring louder.

"Should I..." He looks uncertain. "Is this okay?"

"Yeah, he does that." You start unpacking the coffee capsules. “He's harmless. Just attention-starved and thinks he owns the place."

"Again," Yeji says, "like owner, like cat."

"Pretty much.”

"At least the cat's cute." She stretches out on the couch, combat boots definitely leaving marks. "Makes up for the personality."

"Tragic how the genes weren't distributed evenly," you mutter, strategizing about how to arrange the coffee capsules in the cabinet. Normal ones for Yoongi, vanilla ones hidden in the back where grabby hands can't reach them.

Irya's still on the floor with Griffin, who's now rolled onto his back. "I don't know, he seems sweet."

"The cat? Yeah." You slam the cabinet open. "The owner? Walking nightmare."

"Speaking of nightmares." Jimin's still by the door, ever polite. "Should we maybe warn him we're having pizza here? Since it's his apartment too..."

You think about the forty-seven coffee emojis still sitting in your muted notifications.

"Nope."

"Absolutely not," Yeji agrees. "He can deal with it like she dealt with having his dudebro friends over last week."

Irya looks up from scratching Griffin's belly. "Oh yeah, didn't you say you ran into them in your—what was it?"

"Pokemon pajamas," you groan. "Look, they were clean, okay? And it was like, Saturday morning. Who has people over at Saturday morning?"

"Douchebags," Yeji supplies helpfully. 

You're about to agree when you hear it. A door opening down the hall. Footsteps.

Of-fucking-course.

"You bought the coffee, phoenix?"

The drawl comes from behind you, and you briefly consider whether jail time for murder would really be that bad. Jungkook's leaning against his doorframe in—are those fucking Sonic pajama pants?—looking like he just rolled out of bed. At 7PM. Because of course he did.

"Nice little reunion you got going on here, by the way." 

He yawns, running a hand through his messy hair as he saunters into the kitchen. Like this is totally fine. Like having your friends over without warning isn't exactly what he did last week with Hoseok and Taehyung—who, by the way, apparently has keys to your fucking apartment. 

You pointedly ignore him, which would work better if he wasn't literally heading straight for you. He reaches around you to rummage through the shopping bags, and you slap his hands away. 

“Get out of my stuff."

"Oh," he pulls out the vanilla capsules before you can stop him, "you actually got me the vanilla ones?"

"They're not for you." You snatch them back. "Get your hands off them."

He grabs for them again. "Pretty sure you bought them because—"

"I bought them for me." You yank them away, but he's already going for the other bag. "Oh my god, can you not—"

"So this is the pain in the ass?" Yeji's voice drips with disdain from the couch. 

Jungkook quirks an eyebrow, still trying to get his hands on your shopping. "Who's Cruella de Vil over there?"

You elbow him away from the bags. "None of your—"

"Another candle?" He snatches it up, holding it over his head where you can't reach. Dick. "Seriously? After last time?"

"If you'd stop making everything smell like balls and nachos—" You jump for it, but he just stretches higher, "—I wouldn't have to buy them, Rogue."

"I don't smell like—"

"Wait," Irya interrupts, and you catch her hiding a smile behind her hand. "Phoenix?"

"Rogue?" Jimin adds quietly from his corner, looking between you back and forth.

Jungkook's smirk widens as he finally lets you grab the candle back. "Oh, she hasn't told you that story?"

"We are not discussing this again." You shove the candle in its bag. "Ever."

"Why not? It's hilarious." He's fully grinning now, leaning his hip against the counter like he owns it. "Haven't told them about how you almost set the place on fire your first week here?"

"BECAUSE YOU ENTERED THE HOUSE LIKE A FUCKING—" Your hand's fisted in his t-shirt before you can stop yourself, and he's snickering, the absolute dick. "Like a complete psychopath," you finish through gritted teeth.

"The lock sticks!" He's still laughing. "I told you, it's an old door—"

"You didn't have to shoulder it open like the SWAT team!"

"You dropped a lit match!"

"Because you scared the shit out of me!" 

"Ugh," Yeji groans. "Is he always like this?"

"Worse," you mutter, finally releasing his shirt. "Usually he's too busy being edgy in his room with his electric guitar."

Irya's definitely smirking now. Jimin looks like he wants to disappear into the wall.

"Whatever, phoenix." He makes another grab for the vanilla capsules. "Rising from the ashes of your attempted arson."

"That's not—" You smack his hand away. "That's not why you started calling me that and you know it."

"Pretty sure it is."

"Pretty sure you're full of shit."

Griffin chooses this moment to abandon Irya and wind between Jungkook's legs, the little traitor. Jungkook immediately scoops him up, and you pretend not to notice how the cat starts purring instantly.

"See?" He scratches under Griffin's chin. "G knows I'm right."

"G's a whore for attention." You start shoving the shopping bags away. "He'd side with Satan if Satan had treats."

"So that's why he likes you."

"You calling me Satan now? Wasn't it phoenix? Pick your poison, dumbass."

"Nah." He's still petting Griffin, who's practically melting in his arms. "Just saying you're both dramatic as fuck."

"Says the guy who kicked down a door over a—"

"The lock was stuck!"

"Yeah? Like your head up your ass?"

“Do you two always do this?” Irya prompts. 

"No," you mutter, yanking the coffee bag away as he tries to sneak another grab at it. "When he's not gaming like a twelve-year-old, he's—stop touching my stuff!"

"Just checking what flavor you got," he says innocently, which might work better if he wasn't actively trying to steal the vanilla capsules. "Since you bought them for me and all—"

"I will actually murder you."

"With what? Another candle?"

"Keep talking and find out."

"Children," Yeji interrupts, looking physically pained. "Can we not?"

But Jungkook's already reaching for the bag again, and you swat his hand away. "I swear to god—"

"What? I'm just being neighborly—"

"You're being a pain in the ass—"

"Aw, you noticed?"

"Hard not to when you're—" You break off as he successfully snags a vanilla capsule. "Give that back."

"Make me."

"What are you, five?"

"Says the one hoarding coffee—"

"It's my coffee—"

"Pretty sure you bought it with daddy's credit card—"

The words hit like a slap and before you can think better of it, you snarl, "Fuck you."

Your eyes widen the second it leaves your mouth because you know that look on his face, that slight quirk of his lips, the way he's already—

You slam your hand over his mouth so fast you practically punch him, fingers digging into his jaw. He makes a muffled sound of protest, but you can feel him grinning under your palm, the absolute dick.

"Don't," you hiss. "Don't you fucking dare."

He raises his eyebrows like who, me? but you can feel him trying not to laugh.

"Okay!" Jimin claps his hands together, looking slightly alarmed. "So, pizza? Anyone want to look at the menu?”

“Oooh, that sounds promising.” Jungkook says, yanking your hand away. 

"Can't you leave?" You eye him. "Go jack yourself off while you look in the mirror or something. Maybe play your fucking guitar."

"Huhhh?" He's already propping his elbows on the back of the sofa, leaning over the narrow table that ‘separates’ the kitchen from the living room. "I want pizza too. Plus, your friends look nice." His smile is all teeth. "I'm sure they don't mind."

Jimin materializes next to you in the kitchen like some kind of conflict-sensing angel, pretending to be interested in the coffee maker. You know he's checking if you're okay, which would be sweet if you weren't currently fantasizing about drowning Jungkook in vanilla coffee.

"I mind," Yeji announces flatly.

"No problem!" Irya chirps at the same time.

Yeji shoots her girlfriend an exasperated look, but Irya just settles more comfortably against her side. You're going to kill both of them.

"Who's the pink pony over here?" Jungkook nods at Irya, and you see Yeji's arm tighten around her shoulders, hackles practically visible.

"Touch her and die."

"Aww, babe." Irya pats Yeji's thigh. "I'm Irya, and this little black cat over here is my girlfriend Yeji." She points across the room. "That's Jimin."

Jungkook glances back at where you're now aggressively reorganizing coffee capsules, Jimin hovering uncertainly beside you. There's something in his expression you don't like, mouth opening to say god knows what—

"And the third roommate?" Yeji cuts in.

You're about to answer but Jungkook beats you to it. "Yoongi's not here."

"Working late," you add, just to be contrary. "You know, like an actual adult with a job?"

"Unlike some people," Yeji mutters.

You snort at her commentary, and you tune out Jungkook’s comeback. Instead your eyes flicker to Jimin, who’s scrolling through his phone, probably looking at pizza options, when—

"Yo Jim, come here." Jungkook waves him over. "Let me look at the menu."

You grab Jimin's arm before he can move, linking it with yours. "I'm choosing first, wait your damn turn."

Jungkook rises from the sofa with a click of his tongue. "Come on, I just wanna—"

"Did she fucking stutter?" Yeji snaps, and Jungkook actually blinks, like he's not used to being shut down that fast.

You turn back to Jimin's phone with maybe a bit too much satisfaction. "Okay, so what are we thinking?"

"They have this new quattro formaggi that's supposed to be good." Jimin tilts the screen so you can see better. "Or the classic margherita—"

"Boring," you mutter, scrolling past. "Oh, what about the spicy one? With the—"

"The calabrese?" He zooms in on the description. "Spicy salami, fresh basil..."

"That looks good." You're actually getting hungry now. "Maybe we could—"

A shadow falls over the phone as Jungkook appears in front of you like some kind of pizza-seeking missile. He peers over both your lowered heads, close enough that you can feel the heat from his chest, and you resist the urge to elbow him in the ribs.

"Have you two decided?" His breath hits your ear. "Because I—"

You're about to grab a fistful of his hair and yank him back to a respectable distance when he snatches Jimin's phone right out of his hands.

"What the fuck—" You start to reach for him, but Jimin catches your wrist.

"It's okay," he says quietly. "Don't worry about it."

Jungkook's already scrolling, completely unbothered. "Yo, what do you two want?" He nods at the couch without looking up.

"Hawaiian for me," Irya pipes up cheerfully. "Yeji wants the diavola, extra spicy."

Yeji just grumbles something that sounds suspiciously like "men" and turns on the TV.

"Cool, cool." Jungkook's still scrolling. "Phoenix, you getting the calabrese?"

"None of your business."

"Just trying to make sure we don't order the same thing." He glances up with that insufferable smirk. "Unless you want to share?"

"I'd rather eat glass."

"Okay, so that's a no on sharing." He's still scrolling through Jimin's phone like he owns it. "I'm thinking meat lovers."

"Of course you are."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"That you're basic as fuck."

"Says the one getting—" he squints at the screen "—spicy calabrese, like some—"

"Can you two shut up for five minutes?" Yeji snaps from the couch. "Some of us are trying to hear the TV."

"My bad," Jungkook says, not sounding sorry at all. He hands Jimin's phone back—finally—and stretches. "Alright, four pizzas ordered. Now we wait."

You watch him sprawl onto the armchair—the one he keeps arguing it’s his (it’s not?)—like he belongs there, and something about it sets your teeth on edge. The casual way he's inserted himself into your evening, how he's somehow charmed Irya into actual conversation, how he keeps looking at you when he thinks you're not paying attention.

"Whatever, man." You push away from the counter, desperate to get away from his presence for at least two minutes. "I'm gonna get into my PJs, I'll be back."

You head down the hall, your skin prickling like he's watching you go. Which he's not. Obviously. You're just on edge because he's being more insufferable than usual, getting all cozy with your friends like he has any right to—

"Yo, phoenix, wait." Jungkook's voice stops you. "Remember that thing with the landlord? The, uh, maintenance form?"

"What maintenance form?"

"You mentioned to Yoongi about the lock sticking, right?" He's already moving towards you with that easy confidence that makes you want to punch him. "Super's been bitching about proper documentation. Needs your signature since it's your door."

He keeps talking as he approaches, something about liability and repair schedules, and it sounds legitimate enough that you almost miss how he's gradually crowding your space. Almost miss how each step brings him closer until—

He reaches past you, hand brushing your hip as he turns the handle. The door barely has time to click shut before Jungkook’s on you, his whole body crowding into yours, ushering you backward so fast you stumble. Almost fall.

“Jesus—”

Your balance tips, but before you can catch yourself, his hands are already on you—grabbing, steadying, possessive. A solid chest against yours, broad palms locking around your wrists before you can shove him away.

He grins down at you, smirky, flushed, pupils blown. That lazy, cocky amusement dripping from his expression like he planned this. Like he knows exactly what he’s doing.

“Relax, Phoenix.” His grip tightens, pulling your wrists just slightly apart. “You’re fine.”

And then his mouth crashes onto yours.

Hard. Messy. Zero warning, zero hesitation. Just heat and teeth and tongue, urgent like he needs to shut you up.

You match him instantly, kissing back just as fiercely, nails curling into his shirt, yanking him closer. His hair is soft under your fingers, thick and dangerous, and you tug—just the way he likes it. Just the way that always makes him groan, makes him grab.

Which he does. Both hands drop to your ass, full palms, fingers digging in like he can’t help himself. A rough squeeze that pulls a breathy sound from your throat before you can stop it.

He chuckles, low and wrecked against your lips, hips rolling slow and deliberate against yours. 

“Fuck—” Another squeeze, his voice dropping. “You get all mouthy with me, and then you act surprised when you turn me on?”

Your stomach flips.

His mouth is still moving against yours, sharp and demanding, and fuck—you’re dizzy, heat curling low and deep.

You don’t realize he’s backing you up until your spine collides with the wardrobe.

You wince. “God, fuck—”

Jungkook barely lets you finish before his teeth graze your jaw, lips dragging lower—

No.

You shove at his chest, breath coming fast. “What is your problem?”

His smirk is instant, panting slightly, lips wrecked. The fucking look in his eyes—smoky, half-lidded, shamelessly pleased with himself.

“Mm?” He tilts his head, like he didn’t just grope the hell out of you. “What?”

“You can’t—” A sharp inhale. You straighten your shirt, glare sharp enough to cut. “My friends are here.”

He blinks. Shrugs. "So?"    

"So," you bite out, "we are not doing this."    

Jungkook just looks at you, like you’re speaking a foreign language. "Doing what?"    

"Don't." You level him with a flat stare.    

His head tilts, gaze dragging over you, slow and deliberate. "I just wanted to talk."    

"Talk," you repeat, incredulous.    

"Yeah." He plants a hand on the wardrobe beside your head. Not caging you in—just existing in your space, like he belongs there. "Privately."    

Jesus fuck.    

"Nope." You press your palms to his chest, feeling the heat of his skin through cotton. "Not happening."    

"Phoenix." His voice dips, lazy and smooth, like he’s humoring you. "I'll be quick."    

A disbelieving scoff. "Absolutely the fuck not."    

He laughs, quiet and amused, like this is funny to him.    

Of course it is. Of course it is.    

You shove at his chest again. "They don’t know about this, and they’re not going to know about this."    

His brows pull together, expression open, genuinely confused. "Why?"    

Oh, you could kill him.    

"Because," you grind out, "I don't need them speculating."    

"Speculating about what?"    

"About us, dumbass!"    

The words land—and then he snorts. He just, snorts. Like you just told him a funny joke he lowkey doesn’t want to laugh at. 

"Oh, fuck off," you snap.    

His grin lingers. "Nix. We fuck. That’s it. No one’s gonna think we’re picking out wedding invitations."    

You glare. "You're missing the point."    

"I really don't think I am."    

"Rogue." You exhale sharply. "I don’t want them in my business, okay?"    

He watches you for a beat, head tilted like he’s reading between the lines.    

Then he nods. Simple. Easy. "Okay."    

You blink. "Okay?"    

"Yeah?" He shrugs. "You don’t want them to know, they won’t know. It’s not that deep."    

Right. Not that deep.    

It shouldn’t be a relief—he’s only agreeing because he doesn’t care—but your shoulders still drop a fraction.    

"Good," you say.    

He hums, gaze flicking over your face, considering. "I mean, it’s not like you gotta tell them I’m your boyfriend or something. Just that we fuck sometimes. What’s wrong with that?"    

You scoff. "Everything is wrong with that, Jungkook."    

He raises an eyebrow. "Like what?"    

Like—god, where do you start?    

Like the fact that this is supposed to be contained, something that stays locked in this apartment and nowhere else. Like the fact that you need to be in control of it because if you’re not, it means it’s spiraling, and spiraling is—    

Not an option.    

He hums, considering. The vibration shivers over your skin. "Interesting."

The fuck does that mean?

You glare at him. "What?"

"Nothing." But there's a glint in his eye you don't like. Knowing. Assessing. "Just seems like you're overthinking it."

"I'm not—"

"Ashamed?" His head tilts. "Embarrassed?"

Heat crawls up your neck. "Fuck you."

"I mean." A slow drag of his gaze, head to toe and back again. "If you insist..."

Oh my god. 

Your foot connects with his shin. Hard. He grunts, flinching back. Good.

"Touch me again," you growl, "and you lose your dick."

 He holds up his hands. The picture of innocence. "Message received."

"Is it?" You cross your arms. Narrow your eyes. "Because it seems like you're having trouble understanding basic fucking boundaries."

"Nah, I get it." But there's a wicked glint in his eye, and oh, that can't be good. "No telling your friends about all the filthy things we do."

"There is no we.” You jab a finger at his chest. "No us."

A slow nod. "Right."

"I mean it, Rogue." You hold his gaze, unflinching. "This?" A sharp gesture between your bodies. "Doesn't leave this apartment."

"Mm." His tongue swipes over his bottom lip. Deliberate. Obscene. "So I shouldn't mention how you like it when I—"

Your hand clamps over his mouth, muffling his words. "Finish that sentence and die."

He grins against your palm, wholly unrepentant. Bastard.

You drop your hand. Take a step back. "I'm serious, Ry."

"Oh, I know." But there's a curl to his lips you don't trust. Not one bit.

"Do you?" You cross your arms. "Because it sounds like you're angling for a free pass to run your mouth."

"Nah." He mirrors your posture, arms folding over his chest. “Just getting a feel for the rules."

Right. Sure. "The rules are simple." You hold up a finger. "Rule one: no one knows we're fucking."

A nod. "Easy enough."

"Rule two," you continue, "if anyone asks, we're just roommates."

"Uh-huh." His tongue presses against the inside of his cheek. Considering. "That all?"

Wariness prickles up your spine. "Why?"

A shrug. Too casual. "No reason."

Bullshit.

You shake your head. "Just—forget it. Are we done here?"    

Jungkook watches you for another long second.  

Then he nods. "Yeah, we're done."  

He turns, already reaching for the doorknob, when—  

"Oh." A pause. Like he just remembered something. "And just so we're clear—this isn’t exclusive, right?"  

You blink. "What?"  

He glances back, expression easy. Casual. "Like, I can fuck other people. That cool with you?"  

A laugh bursts out of you. Short. Sharp. "Why the fuck would I care?"  

His mouth twitches. "Dunno. Just making sure."  

"Well, consider it confirmed." You fold your arms. "Do whatever the fuck you want, just—"  

He lifts his brows. "Just?"  

"Don’t give me an STD." You level him with a flat look. 

He snorts. "Noted." A beat. Then, amused— "You want test results?"  

"Oh, fuck off, Rogue."  

"Just offering, Phoenix." His smirk lingers for half a second before his expression smooths out. "So, rule number three, then."

You narrow your eyes. "Rule what?"

"Rules." He gestures between you. "One: no one knows. Two: if they ask, we're just roommates." A pause. "Three: no feelings."

Something in his voice shifts, something light but pointed, like he's not saying it just for your benefit.

You scoff. "Yeah, no shit."

He nods once, satisfied. "Cool."

And then he's gone, door clicking shut behind him like the whole thing never happened.

The air in the room is suddenly too thick.  

You exhale sharply, back hitting the wardrobe, and press your palms over your face.  

God damn him.  

Not just for being an insufferable pain in your ass, but for being right. Because logically, there's no reason to keep this a secret—he's not your boyfriend, he's just your roommate who happens to fuck you sometimes. It's not a big deal. It's not anything.

But something in you rebels at the thought of anyone knowing. Of having to explain yourself, to justify your choices. You've had enough of that to last a lifetime, enough of measuring every decision against someone else's expectations. Enough of being told what you should want, what you should do, who you should be.

This thing with Jungkook? It's yours. Messy and stupid and probably a horrible idea, but it's yours. The one thing in your life that nobody gets to have an opinion about, that nobody gets to control but you. 

And maybe that's fucked up. Maybe normal people don't feel this desperate need to keep parts of themselves hidden, to maintain this iron grip on every aspect of their lives. Maybe they don't lie awake at night planning escape routes from their own decisions.

But you've never been very good at normal, have you?

You straighten, smooth your shirt, school your face into something neutral.  

Then you open the door, step back into the living room, and pretend like your world isn’t tilting.

next | index

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© jungkoode 2025 no reposts, translations, or adaptations

[sweaterkittensahoy]

Prompt: 2) our muses with unspoken feelings forced to share a bed and end up cuddling. 

Pairing: Crubbles

In Nav School, they learn they'll have to know how to work the bomb sight. Joey doesn't have to look over to know that Harry's going pale at the implications. He reaches over and touches Harry's wrist with two fingers. Harry gives him a wide-eyed look of terror, but a little color comes back to his face.

"You'll be going for that training in pairs," their teacher says. "To minimize lost training time here, and to keep things less obvious."

In case of spies, Joey thinks. No one ever says that part out loud, but they all hear it anyway. It's their big cheat against the Krauts, the bomb sight. He can't wait to see it, even if having to use it means the worst for the bombardier. 

He and Harry go for a walk after class like they always do. Hands behind their backs, like they always do. Joey wants to reach out and touch Harry's wrist again, with two fingers or his whole hand even, if Harry's okay with it. But Joey isn't sure, and there's never a good time to ask. After class, Harry's always tense from trying to remember everything, and Joey can't say he doesn't feel the same, though he's not as tense as Harry. 

"The bomb sight," Harry says into a lull in conversation. Well, he whispers it. Like maybe the grass around them is bugged. 

"Uh-huh," Joey agrees. "KInd of excited to see it, honestly."

"Even knowing why we'd have to use it?"

"You mean the bombardier being dead or the Krauts trying to take over the world?" Joey asks.

Harry stares straight ahead, then shrugs. "Both," he says. 'Either.' He shakes his head and glances at Joey, his head cocked in that way that always makes his eyes look even bigger. "You ever scared of any of this?" Harry asks. 

Joey nods. "Sure," he says. "But I signed up for it."

"Does that help?"

You help, Joey thinks but swallows back. "Some," Joey admits. "But there's also the fact I'm good at it. So are you, in fact." Joey bites the tip of his tongue at the way Harry goes bashful. He's so smart and quick with it, too. But he's so humble. So nervy. Joey wants to pull him close and murmur every compliment he ever thinks in his ear. 

"Well, glad you're with me for all of this," Harry says. He's said it before. He says it near every day, in fact. Joey can't figure out if it means what he wants it to. That Harry's glad for him. For them. Can't figure out if Harry's dropping a subtle hint at what they could mean to each other.

Joey's gotten real good at understanding how to put his coordinates in code, but Harry, well, there's still an enigma there to solve. 

*

It's their turn for bomb sight training three weeks later. They get on a troop train with a bunch of other guys. Some get off before them. Some stay aboard when they get off at their own stop. No one asks anyone where they're going. 

They check in at the hotel, surrounded by other men in uniform. There are Red Cross girls with coffee and doughnuts, and Joey snags two plain glaze ones for him and Harry as Harry gets them squared away at the desk. 

Their room is on the first floor, way in the back, and Joey takes a big bite of his doughnut as Harry jiggles the key, then gets it to turn, then pushes the door open. 

He nearly chokes on his doughnut a few seconds later when he bumps against Harry's back and wonders why, then sees where Harry's looking. 

There's only one bed.

Joey swallows hard and opens his mouth to offer to take the couch, but he closes it again when he realizes there isn't one. Just a table with two chairs. The floor is clean, and he sets his duffel on the floor, about to say he'll sleep there when Harry huffs and gives him an amused look. 

"Guess we're sharing," he says. "At least you don't snore."

Joey stares at him. "What?" he asks.

Harry walks over to the table and sets his duffel on top of it. He gestures to the bed. "We're sharing the bed," he says like it's no matter. "The hotel's completely full. I can see if they have a rollaway, but I doubt it, and I don't mind sharing if you don't."

The thing about Harry that Joey always forgets is that he's a bundle of nerves but he's also quick to action. Of course he'd sized up the situation in an instant and made a plan. And of course he'd just laid it out simple because he and Joey are friends–best friends–and he knows Joey will listen to his suggestion. 

"Fine by me," Joey says, even as he wonders exactly how he's going to sleep with Harry right fucking next to him. Sharing the bed. The blanket. The sheet. 

"What side do you sleep on?" Harry asks. "Hard to tell with the cots."

Joey chuckles at that because, yeah, it is. "Left," he says. "Unless you can't sleep unless you're on the left."

"I like being close to the door," Harry replies, "and that's on the right, so that works."

Of course he does, Harry thinks. To make an escape in case he embarasses himself. Or to stand between anyone else and danger if it comes through. 

"Okay," Joey says. "Sounds like we're square. Want to find a place to eat?"

"Sure," Harry replies. 

They leave the room and the one bed, Harry's hand warm on the center of Joey's back for a moment as they walk down the hall. Joey wonders how warm Harry gets when he sleeps, but he pushes the thought away. Of all the not-right times to tell Harry he's got a great big crush, just before splitting a bed for the first time is an especially not-right one.

*

They have dinner, and they talk like they always do. They end up in an argument about calculations that they carry with them to the bar next to the hotel and scribble out on napkins. They're invited into a game of darts, and Joey does his best 'aw shucks' routine to get the other boys to up the bet before easily winning with a grin on his face. The other boys laugh it off and pat their shoulders and take off. Another set stand up to play and let Joey know they've seen his act. 

"You haven't seen mine," Harry says, and misses the dartboard by about three inches. 

Joey laughs into his drink as the other boys try to figure out if Harry's funning them or really that bad. Harry tells them there's only one way to find out. 

After the second game, they head back to their room. Joey opens the door this time, and he waves Harry in with a slightly loose wave. Harry grins and goes in first. By the time Joey closes the door behind them, Harry's got his tie loose and his shirt mostly unbuttoned. Joey catches up, and soon enough, they're stripped to their shorts and undershirts. 

"Teeth," Harry murmurs and walks to the bathroom. 

Joey pulls back the covers as he hears the bathroom sink turn on. Three whiskeys in, sharing a bed with Harry doesn't feel as big and serious as it had earlier. And he's not so far gone he's going to blurt out anything that could be embarrassing. He plumps his pillow then turns towards the bathroom. Harry's peeing, but Joey pays him no mind. Barracks bathrooms don't allow for privacy for any acts, so Joey just brushes his teeth and takes his turn after Harry's done. 

When he walks back into the room, Harry's on his back, hands behind his head and staring at the ceiling. 

"No thinking," Joey tells him. "It's time to sleep."

Harry cuts him an amused look and reaches for the covers, pulling them up to his chin. They sleep next to each other in barracks, and Joey's seen him settle the same way a hundred times. But this time, he's climbing into the bed on the other side and pulling his share of the blanket up to his chest. 

For a moment, Joey's chest goes fluttery and wild. He's going to sleep here next to Harry. Feel his warmth and feel the bed move when he does. He almost blurts his feelings out, but Harry closes his eyes and burrows his face into his pillow, and Joey's breath catches. 

"Goodnight, Joey," Harry says. 

Joey reaches out and turns off the lamp on his side of the bed, the only light left on in the room. "Goodnight, Harry," he replies as he lays on his back and stares at the ceiling. 

Harry shifts, and his knee brushes Joey's leg, and he murmurs an apology, but he doesn't try to pull away and make himself smaller. Joey stares at the ceiling and feels the warmth rolling off Harry and wonders what would happen if he turned his head and just watched Harry for a few minutes. 

He closes his eyes instead, then turns. He takes slow, deep breaths, and he falls asleep quick like he always does. 

*

He wakes up in the wee hours because he needs the bathroom. Harry's got an arm across his waist and his face against Joey's shoulder, and Joey doesn't think before he busses a kiss to Harry's forehead and moves slowly so he can get out of bed without waking him. 

"Where'going?" Harry mutters, hand opening and closing on the sheet. 

"Bathroom," Joey whispers and hurries along. It's only as he flushes the toilet that he realizes what he's just done. Kissed Harry on the forehead. He goes still, wondering what to do, then he takes a deep breath and turns on the tap and washes his hands. By the time he leaves the bathroom, Harry's turned over the other way, clearly asleep. Joey sighs silently in relief and climbs back into bed. He won't even remember it tomorrow, he thinks. Harry was barely awake at all. He'll probably think it was a dream. 

And then Harry rolls back over and slings his arm back around Joey's waist, and he mouths at Joey's shoulder through his shirt and pulls Joey until Joey's fully pressed against him, and then his leg tangles with Joey's, and then Harry's still again. 

Joey counts to five very slowly. "Harry?" he finally whispers. Harry doesn't answer. 

It takes Joey a lot longer to fall asleep. 

*

When he wakes up in the morning, the alarm is clanging, and Harry is muttering dire threats, and then the alarm goes quiet. Joey feels the bed shift as Harry moves around, and just as he's about to open his eyes, he feels Harry's arm slip around his waist again. 

Joey goes very, very still, then opens his eyes. Harry's watching him, gaze curious and a little scared but also desperately determined. He spreads his fingers across Joey's side and licks his lips. 

"We–uh. We were pretty–well, I was pretty cuddled up to you when I woke up," Harry says. "And you…you kissed my forehead last night, right?"

Joey nods. "I didn't mean to," he says. "But I…" he swallows hard and watches the fear leave Harry's face. He leans in and presses his lips to Harry's forehead like he had in the middle of the night. When he pulls back, Harry's eyes are closed, and he's smiling. 

"You're my best friend," Harry says, eyes still closed. "But I wanna…I mean. You know. I…"

Joey laughs. He can't help it. Trust Harry to be brave enough to push the issue then get shy about saying the words. "I know," he says. "And I wanna, too."

Harry pulls Joey in and wraps him in a hug. "Okay, but don't kiss me until I've brushed my teeth. I don't want it to be gross."

Joey laughs again and pretends like he wants to steal a kiss, then drops one of each of Harry's flushed cheeks. 

"Cheating!" Harry declares. 

"You started it," Joey replies, trailing his fingers up Harry's bicep. "With your cuddling."

Harry looks relaxed; something that Joey is always very proud he can make happen. "Can't overthink in my sleep," he says, "and my body knew what it wanted."

Joey presses his smile next to Harry's ear. "Shame we've gotta go back to cots in a couple of days," he says. "We'll have to make the most of sharing."

Harry nuzzles his temple. "Yeah," he breathes, and he gives Joey a tight hug. "Yeah, we will."

[cladinivcry]

YOU GET ONE WISH.

"You want me to grant you a wish? An angel to a djinn?" It was rare for Klaus to ask Indigo for anything, but even rarer for him to seek them out to GRANT a wish of all else! You can only imagine why Indigo was as surprised as they looked. What was even more surprising? The man in Klaus' arms reminds them of the one famous painting Indigo has seen at the museum during their date with Marcille. It's ironic because, in that painting, the two in the art were also angels.

"Yes, please. I--I understand if you don't want to. I just thought...." Klaus looks so exhausted. The whole world weighs down on his shoulders. He probably feels so drained. "I need help. I'm sorry. I need...I need help." Klaus didn't know what to do or who else to turn to. Seeing the kid like this, damn...Indigo can't turn him away and it isn't like they wanted to either.

"I don't have to tell you the implications of what happens if you're not clear in what you want, right?"

Klaus nods. He's desperate and Indigo can tell. Indigo sighs and flips their braided hair over their shoulder, "Alright then. Follow me." This was obviously a very personal and private wish that Klaus wanted to grant. Indigo will give them the privacy and space to speak them without the concern of eavesdroppers!

"I couldn't kill him like they wanted. Even after everything he did...ALL the horrific pain he's caused...I couldn't---," Klaus begins when they are away from any prying eyes. His voice trembles and cracks. He's nearing tears. The seraph drops to his knees, holding Aurelius SO TIGHT in his arms, "I couldn't do it. So many people were hurt because of him, Indigo. My father...Dar'khol, Fiyero...Eiden. So many have been subjected to his judgment, his wrath, his fury and I couldn't even do one thing for them. Please. " The way he pleads for Aurelius' life. Indigo knows what went down at the sky-strewn isle. Knew what went down in the location before. Such was the way of being what Indigo was, really.

Indigo places their hand on Klaus' shoulder and kneels down in front of him, "I'm sure there are a couple who'd be pissed that he's alive, but....we already know that he'd just be brought back anyway. Sure, maybe it'd give them some closure to see what happened to them was happening to him, but I hope--- I think they'd also understand why you couldn't bring yourself to do it. Maybe not now or tomorrow....but as the time goes by, they'll understand. I don't think anyone could come to make that kind of decision. NOT when it comes to someone they love and cherish dearly." If Indigo had to do something like that to Marcille for whatever reason...Indigo would rather lose everything. They wouldn't be able to do it.

"So, uh," Reaching out, they lift Klaus' chin up, and with their other hand, a finger wipes away his tear, "how about you tell me your wish?" They had an idea, but they had to hear it from Klaus.

Klaus's teared eyes make it hard for him to ACTUALLY see Indigo. It's like looking at her from underwater. Indigo wipes a tear and only new ones are replaced. As he holds Aurelius' body close to him, he runs his fingers through golden locks.

"I need a place to keep him safe. I--I want him SAFE w-where he can rest for as long as needed. Unharmed. Away from people's eyes. I just WANT him safely stored away." Indog waits for Klaus when the angel places his forehead against Aurelius'.

"...."

"He won't wake up. Not until he's ready. So...everything else is already taken care of. I took care of it. I just need him safe," he repeats, "just...just a safe place for him where he can rest okay."

Klaus was loosening at the seams. He always carried such lost vibes with him, but it seemed he really didn't know where else to go. Man, Indigo can only hope that he'll find his path back.

"If this me came to visit the past me and said an angel of all beings was going to find me and ask for my power, I wouldn't have believed them."

And just like that, Indigo's granted Klaus' wish. "And done." They catch the confused teary look in Klaus' eyes when he looks up at them. Aurelius is still in his arms. "That's it?" He asks, sniffing.

"Mm. Yeah, go home, kid. Get some rest. You need that sleep. When you wake up tomorrow...Everything will be as you asked. I promise." Klaus believes them. Doesn't doubt them for even a second. He gets back to standing and shifts Aurelius so he's not slipping.

"Thank you," he says and before he can fly off, Indigo's wiping away the angel's tears once more. "Get some rest, kid. Don't stay up waiting for something to happen. Go to sleep." The Seraph nods and takes off.

Indigo doesn't move until Klaus is out of sight. Probably would have stayed there longer if Marcille hadn't called them in for dinner.

"Coming!"

[sunstranded]

INTJ: Loneliness

I wonder if I will stand by this as time passes. However, I agree with INTJs rarely ever feel loneliness. In a sense, to be lonely one must yearn for something in the lines of company, belongingness, and being understood.

I just realized how my ESFJ brother had always told me I'm lonely for having two friends. Four if I want to be considerate. A bit more if "friends" mean anyone I remember to call by their name.

Everyone knows this at this point: being alone is not the same as lonely. Growing up with an ESFJ brother I feel like I'm in social interaction bootcamp. So, when I'm out to fend for myself during the earlier years, rarely do I get phased in social settings. I had enough friends every time, which I learned to be not a common fate for all INTJs. But this isn't about social settings or socializing; its about how immune I am to loneliness.

Now that my brother and I don't live in the same household, people saw this as a recipe for loneliness. Yes. For my brother. Not for me. I often feel more energy and feel a lot more productive when I am left to my own devices.

Loneliness would mean I yearn for something; hence feeling lonely is not always the case when someone is alone. I rarely yearn for this thing people in romantic relationships call: companionship. I honestly do not understand people acting desperate to have someone. At least for the people I recall when thinking of that, I feel as though they already have that companionship but they're stuck yearning for something irrelevant or incomprehensible. It leaves them dissatisfied.

INTJs are always told as these busy persons that don't procrastinate ever and consciously plan a contingency plan that when they try to explain to someone else it sounds so perfectly orchestrated they could dominate the world and no one would notice.

I don't really agree with a lot of that. For one; I procrastinate but I argue its productive because I often get the job done and don't waste anyone else's time but my own. I procrastinate to collect myself. For the next; consciously planning is an xSTJ behavior. I cannot plan as if I have a solid itinerary for every hour of every minute. The last one I disagree with are the busy persons. I am preoccupied and always have my hands on the dirt to build my own summit to reach the clouds. However, I am not a busy person. I often give myself free time to just chill or think or... find fun in work.

All of the ones I corrected all lead to an implication. INTJs being busy all the time, have crazy discipline to never procrastinate, and have this even crazier plan. It makes INTJs seem infallible, uptight, negative, and easily dissatisfied. Not that I would deny compliments but I am a simple person with aspirations not expectations.

I am hard to please because I'd rather focus on results and improvement than people pleasing. I do things to get somewhere not to appease onlookers. I have aspirations and make my own steps towards it; I do not wait for stones in a river to float so I may reach an expectation magically.

There's this post that I saw the other day, INTJs being the hardest type to please. All I had to quip was: "At least I am easy to disappoint." I was serious. I am the type to be disappointed even if someone did something well but I picked up an impression that they're trying to fish compliments from me.

One thing the INTJ stereotype got right is the impression that we may or may not have a world domination agenda. It means we have a plan and we use every experience we are exposed to to build into that plan. We have an aspiration with a long term destination. A comprehensive and recognizable end.

It's all similar to loneliness. Low expectations also lower disappointment. I have always been told by my ESFJ brother on how different and aloof I am. I learned very early on that people aspire to be different only to expect that they'll be the same with those who are already different.

Naturally, we are already different. The reasons INTJs are fine being alone and are not lonely: 1) low expectations; 2) clear goals; 3) quick learners; and 4) comfortable in their own skin--- that we are already so different it will be a conscious effort to feel like we belong.

Surely, not all INTJs are the same. The INTJ I hang out with had already told me if there would be an INTJ spectrum we would be at opposite ends. We are so similar that we cannot be the same. It is not just because we are different but mainly because we are distinguishable.

[ghoulangerlee]

Day 3: bloodplay ; CopiaDew

Short and sweet for me but I'm juggling two big projects so I'm trying to limit myself to short things for kinktober so I don't end up with another 50k+ wip

Dew is allowed a bit of Copia's blood as a treat. There is also knifeplay in here as a given. Blood drinking and Copia is trans in this one. Dew might be a bit possessive of his Papa.

Special thanks to @kroas-adtam for the amazing ghostober prompts I can't wait to write stuff for more days!

-

Dew’s grin is sharp as he dances the tip of the ceremonial dagger across Copia’s inner thigh, not enough pressure to really cut just yet, but enough for Copia to feel the sharp steel against his skin, the teasing kiss of what's to come.

"Are you sure about this?" Dew asks, tongue flicking out to lick across his lower lip, "Once I cut you, there's no going back."

Copia shivers at the implications, of both being cut so freely and of baring himself to Dew like this, of the possibility of his blood driving Dew mad once he scents it.

"I'm aware of the risks," Copia says easily, "Of what you could do to me." He feels the heat in his stomach pool further down, down between his legs, and he watches Dew's nostrils flare, "You're the only one I trust to treat me right."

Dew growls softly, presses just a bit harder with the dagger until the tip digs into Copia's thigh, easily slicing the skin and making the two of them moan together—Copia at the feeling and Dew at the scent of blood that permeates the air, mingling with the headiness of Copia's arousal.

"Shit," Dew hisses, watching with eager eyes as blood wells up against the cut, sluggish and slow as it slides down Copia's inner thigh. "Fuck," he says again, and then he dips down, mindful of the dagger, and presses his mouth over the cut, nipping with sharp teeth until he's chasing the taste of Copia's blood and sweat on his skin.

Copia's hand settles in Dew's hair, fingers curling in the strands as he moans loudly, spreading his legs wider to make more space for the fire ghoul. "Yes," he hisses out, "Take what you need, what you want," he breathes, his voice going high and breathy as Dew's teeth worry the skin more and Copia can feel the cut open further.

He's floating, it feels like, somewhere on the precipice of pain and pleasure, Dew hungrily mouthing at the cut on his skin, teasing out more blood, more sounds from him as he goes.

He could stay here forever, he thinks, Dew's hands pinning him down to the bed while Dew continually drinks from him. If Dew wanted to take it all, he'd let him, he thinks hazily.

When Dew's mouth leaves his skin, there's red smeared all around it and Copia wants to kiss him. Wants to share the taste of his blood and Dew's saliva, see if it makes him feel as heady as it does Dew.

"Let me mark you," Dew says, his voice a rough growl as he traces a claw on a new area of his inner thigh, "Fire. Right here," he taps the pad of his finger high up on the meat of Copia's thigh, close to where his cunt is.

Copia's eyes flutter and he shifts on the bed, on top of the towels that Dew had so lovingly laid out before all of this began, "Yes," Copia says, his voice a little shaky, "Yes please. Mark me as yours. Permanently."

Dew growls again, a dark and possessive thing, "Anytime someone goes down on you they'll see it," he says, a promise and a threat, "They'll know who really owns you."

Copia's nails scratch at Dew's scalp, "Mmhm," he agrees mindlessly, digs his heel into the bed under him, shifts until he's made enough space for Dew to get closer, "Would you let me mark you back?" He asks offhandedly, mouth falling open in a gasp when Dew's mouth, hot and wet, presses against his inner thigh.

"Yes," Dew hisses, nipping at the unblemished skin, pressing his nose into the crease of Copia's thigh and inhaling sharply, "Anywhere you want, Papa."

Copia hums, pleased and happy, thinking of a matching mark on Dew, high up on his inner thigh as well, something for the material of his pants to rub against, reminding him of who he belongs to while on the surface.

"Get on with it then, my ghoul. Give me yours and I'll give you mine as soon as you want it."

Dew growls happily and when the sharp bite of metal presses into Copia's skin, he fists a hand in Dew's hair and holds on tight, even as the dagger is tossed aside and Dew nurses at the wound, the triangle carved into his skin, until the bleeding grows sluggish, his appetite for the blood of his human satiated.

"Mine." Dew murmurs, mouth smeared with blood again, and all Copia can do is draw him upwards into a kiss, finally tasting himself on Dew's tongue.

[warningsine]

So I started watching the 6th season of OITNB and it does indeed look like an improvement over the mess that was season 5. Phew.

Loving the drama with the OGs having to snitch on each other so that they won't get more time.

Red forgiving Nicky for fucking her over? [cries in a corner]

Have yet to feel bad about Frieda for doing the same though, because you don't see her hurting or feeling remorse. Unlike Nicky, she barely hesitates. Checks out. She's a survivor.

I still love Maria (pretty sure it's because the actress is really good no matter how bad the script gets), but can't blame Gloria for getting revenge. Can't blame Blanca for turning on her either.

What pained me a lot was seeing Cindy implicate Taystee. We had already known that Cindy is selfish and a coward, but this season and her new flashbacks really drive that point home. A really nice touch that she was the one to hug Tasha during her breakdown in front of Piscatella (season 5 finale).

Why is Alex not questioned about the events in the pool though? Does that happen in the background?

Moreover, it's a delight to see the OGs (Flaca, Cindy, Lorna, Daya etc.) interacting now that their cliques are not a thing anymore.

Moving on.

A thing that feels forced to me: Red losing all sense of control when she sees Frieda and thus missing the opportunity to meet her grandchildren for the first time. Like, come on. That only happens to trigger the "SHU is cruel and gives you dementia" ending, because it makes no fucking sense.

Red's s6 characterization is so inconsistent with her s1-s4 counterpart's, who played the long game and did not make such impulsive/hasty decisions.

Not counting s5 Red, because almost every character (except for Tasha, Gloria, Soso and Sophia) was an exaggerated caricature of themselves during season 5.

Another lady whose characterization is off? Lorna's, who thinks that joining a gang is good for her baby. Antidepressants (paroxetine) do have side effects, but do not give you a personality transplant.

"Don't look at me. I'm crazy, but not Florida crazy." Oh, baby.

That's the only reason they kept her there in season 6, because she adds literally nothing to the story.

Now, as for the new characters,

Love the guard who used to be Tasha's friend and Lorna's bunkmate. Hope they both get their own background episodes, because they're the most interesting ones.

Most of the other guards seem pretty bland in comparison--cheap repetitions of previous COs, e.g., Hellman is Humps no. 2.

A good thing that Artesian is back though. She's no Fisher or Wanda, but compared to the rest of the COs... Can't wait to see her PTSD episode.

Why is the show trying to make Dixon, the guard who compared Poussey's murder to breaking a chair and murdered several people and also a girl after he had sex with her because her loved ones "would kill her anyway," goofy and lovable all of a sudden? Isn't the woobification of Tiffany's rapist enough?

I like the "crazy baby killer" (Piper's bunkmate) and want to know what turned her into Medea.

All the new inmate villains (Carol, Barb, Badison & Annalisa) are so cartoonish and over the top. Waiting to see if they'll get any depth, but I'm sensing that the baddies on this show peaked at Vee. Even Piscatella seems more nuanced in comparison.

I'm struggling to see what people saw in Carol... that she's pretty? The older actress is ok, but the younger one's acting is, um, how to put this delicately? Not ideal.

Badison has some funny lines, but she's more of a tryhard high school bully than a compelling antagonist. Waiting to see if that's intentional or not.

Annalisa is so annoying and unnecessary. Could definitely do without her. Glad to know that Lorna attacks her before being moved to Florida honestly.

"Daddy" is so physically unimposing that I find it hard to buy he* is the protector of the block. Androgyny on its own isn't enough. Waiting to see if he'll get some development, because for the time being, it looks like he's Stella no. 2: there to look hot despite the subpar acting and personality of a spoon. But I suppose he's there to trigger Daya's kingpin arc and drug addiction. My point? Missing Boo hours.

*Not sure what pronouns I should use (Annalisa says "he"), because it's not clear to me whether "Daddy" is a trans guy, nonbinary or a cis masc lesbian.

Moving on again.

I found the opening with Suzanne's hallucinations charming yet a bit out of place.

The thing is, S1-S3 were more of a comedy than a drama. S4 was the turning point and the show became more of a drama than a comedy.

Season 5 should have committed to drama, but unfortunately tried to balance the two and stumbled.

Season 6 is another attempt at balancing the two.

Nicky remains funny, but the lines lack the spark and wit of her pre-s5 ones. Maybe that can be explained due to the "We're all in Max now" development, maybe it's due to the new writers interpreting her differently.

Something is missing there for sure and is definitely not the "I'm a player, but suddenly stopped chasing women" bit.

Piper keeps asking for Alex ("a broken record" like Daya says) and then spends her time joking about their wedding. What else is new with these two?

What else indeed. Hm.

Where the hell is Sophia? I know she gets out in the finale, but in the meantime, where is she? We barely saw her in season 5 after 2 interactions with Gloria.

Oh, last but not least, missing Soso and Chang hours.

Not missing Leanne and Angie at all hours. Too bad that they replaced them with equally irritating characters.

[tuliharja]

BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Separation episode 2 review

That beginning meeting among Sternritters gave me major flashbacks of Aizen and his meeting with his Espada. Was that intentional? More than likely yes, because of nostalgia reasons and for us to see nothing has really changed; "villains" still making plans how to defeat "heroes". Though, there was one tiny difference and that was the lack of tea. Oh yeah. Something about villains sipping tea when having their villain meeting gives such a sophisticated feeling, (even if they all wouldn't be that sophisticated) yet now...it's all business. After all, the Quincies are here to bring "peace"! I really liked how they made the camera angle move when they showed the meeting among all Sternritters and the top of the table surface was this episode's name. It felt very smooth and seriously gave that villainous meeting vibe.

This episode made me think something, and I'm not sure if it was really ever addressed in the manga, but how long does Quincies live? I know Yhwach is like a special case, but the way Askin talked and all the other implications before that...make it sound like Quincies too can live 100-plus years and still remain in their youthful appearances. Does this mean if they live in the World of the Living, only then they'll age normally like humans do? But as long as they're at Soul Society where is Reishi, it's a different story? Because if we think about the last cour, at least to me it seemed like Ryuuken aged normally. So did Masaki and because they were considered 'elite' Quincies, we can assume they weren't run-out-of-mill ones...so, does the location matter when comes to aging? Or, the fact if Quincies are Sternritters or not? Because we've only seen so far mostly Sternritters' POV of things, it could be they're a special case, but even so...I couldn't help but think that especially when they talked about Quincy King's rising and the time it would take.

And sunflower Mayuri makes an appearance! He really looked ridiculous, but still very loyal to his style: ridiculous but in such a way it was also a smart move. I'm not sure what kind of texture or animation technique the staff used, but the fact Mayuri's (and Nemu's) outfit seemed to be 'alive' was a very neat trick. They could have just gone with yellow and white colors that glow a little bit, but nope! They went over that little extra mile to give Mayuri's and Nemu's outfits that specialty that one would expect and wait for from Mayuri.

But man...working in a place like his lab at the moment, would be one form of torture as it seemed just so...bright. Must be nice, when one doesn't have migraine issues, eh?

Heh, Askin being all '-ck this sh*t, I'm out' toward Mayuri, when he at first measured how much effort it would take to take down Mayuri. xD And then Mayuri slaying back. Talk about two smart people going all 'too much effort' versus 'needs more time to craft such a plan I can crush you fully'. Though, that last look Mayuri gave to Askin...oh boy. He seriously wanted to crush Askin, like the lil' bug he was in his eyes.

Never understood why Toshiro had that cloth wrapped around his head, because earlier he didn't have. It just...ditto. Made me think of Rambo or some sort of other action movie where the "hero" has a bandana around their head...but Toshiro is supposed to be that cool guy, so heat shouldn't be a problem with him, so why? Though considering his opponent is Bazz-B, heat will be soon a problem for him...and yes, I can see the irony, that was before the heat problem, lol.

I must say, I really liked how Rangiku and Toshiro worked together against Bazz-B! I had missed such synergy, and especially Rangiku teasing Toshiro! Rangiku's explanation was a bit over the top, but it was still super cute! Especially when Toshiro clearly resisted his urge to roll his eyes while Bazz-B was just staring in there, probably thinking 'lots of words, I don't get anything!' Lol. But yeah. That was a super cute moment between Toshiro and Rangiku and reminded just how good a captain and lieutenant combo they make~. Unfortunately...it just wasn't enough this time around, despite their brave attempt to go against Bazz-B.

As a side note, I must admit I still find it pretty ridiculous how people explain in the battle against their opponent the 'trick' they're using...that's just begging trouble against them.

That moment with Omaeda and his sister was very touching. Despite the fact, Omaeda has been...well, not my favorite character (and probably either not many other people's), that moment was still touching. A bit of cliché hero talk, but at times those are needed, eh? Especially if a little girl is scared and crying.

Luckily Soi Fon came to the rescue, because while Omaeda's attempt was...well, okay, it wasn't enough. Not to mention, I just loved how Soi Fon acted all badass when she showcased her shunko! And yes, while that wasn't (at least yet) enough, I still liked how Soi Fon ride on her thrill over the fact she had managed to master her own shunko.

What caught my attention was how Soi Fon called BG9 in the subtitles 'freak', while in actuality she called him 'bakemono'. It was a small thing, but because of that, the meaning got a bit changed. While "freak" would have suited BG9, because of what he did earlier to Soi Fon in cour 1, I think 'bakemono' was a bit more suited as it can be translated as a monster, and in a sense, BG9 is exactly that. (Because he is basically a walking weapon, a robot, an entity that shinigami probably hasn't seen ever before.) Even so, despite the light tone difference, both are okay when thinking about the context. But even so...with my limited Japanese knowledge, it just caught my attention. ^^'

And once again, Urahara to rescue! Good thing Mayuri didn't cut him off right away when he heard his voice, since Gotei 13 is in a dire situation and will need all the help they can get.

Hmm, that ending with Ichigo walking toward the torii gate was interesting. I had to google a bit to find out what "irazusando" at the end meant, but I wasn't disappointed when I did!

I found a person on Reddit explaining it like this:

"It means "no entry Sandō".

A Sandō is a path/road leading to the entrance of a Shinto shrine, with a torii (the wooden gate Ichigo is walking towards) marking the origin of the path."

Very interesting. I can't wait to see how Ichigo will make his way to the torii or if will he meet more struggles when going toward it, as why else he would have that wooden sword with him? (I'm just waiting for a jumpscare in here...)

[et-cant-phone-home-no-signal]

The Book of Boba Fett - Episode 2 thoughts

back at it with tbobf ramblings, y'all know the drill! hope you enjoy my thoughts and analysis of this episode. doing this for fun and because i can <3 no arguments, spoilers below the cut

i love how fennec despises the order of the night wind that dude is a part of and i also love how they use the concept of fear to get what they want, even though there's no real threat

"well i don't see your name in the schedule, so you'll have to- oh." this dude is so fucking funny 10/10

if there's one thing star wars does well, it's alien species, i love the variety and how any species can be and do pretty much anything

why the hell did the music and everything stop inside the sanctuary when the twins haven't even gotten around the corner outside yet lmaoo, also, madam garsa is fucking beautiful i love how they did her clothes and makeup

dude the hutts are so gross i love how detailed they look with modern capabilities - but simultaneously they do look less real? can't decide whether i prefer the og puppet style or cgi

those poor litter carriers

bacta is so interesting, like, it seems to be the all-purpose medical wonder of the galaxy. head injury? spray some bacta on it. cut your finger whilst cooking? bacta will help. your whole body is covered in scarring? immerse yourself in bacta. what the fuck is this stuff and where can i get some

i'm so fascinated by the tusken gaderffii stick, i love it as a weapon and the forms are so cool to watch

tatooine lore is so fucking cool man what the hell no wonder we spend so much time on this fucking sandpit - adding onto this, i like that we get to spend so much time with the tuskens and learn to sympathise with them the same time as boba does. like, in pretty much all star wars media i've seen so far (apart from the mandalorian) tuskens are demonised and everyone hates them and they cause nothing but trouble. hell, anakin kills a camp of them (the women and the children too! sorry couldn't help myself) and really you don't feel an awful lot for them since we haven't been given any time with them before. but now we're seeing them as a community, we see them caring for their injured and mourning their deceased and it slowly makes you feel so much more care towards them, same thing boba is experiencing really

tusken sign language is another interesting thing i'm glad they've expanded on because i became interested when din spoke with them and now we get to see so much more of it and it's just so fucking cool man!

i also think it's funny how they'll let boba go with a rifle and a gaffi stick but he's still wearing his shitty raggedy flight suit 💀 give this man some robes asap!

love how boba has a fucking gaffi stick but still uses (and breaks) the rifle as a melee weapon. dummy lmao

THE BARTENDERS LITTLE NOD WHEN BOBA LEAVES, LIKE "mm yeah fair enough"

boba teaching the tuskens to ride speeders is not something i knew i needed, but i am glad to see it because the "like a bantha" line is pure comedy

the kid becoming a friend is beautiful

the entire train sequence 🙌🙌

boba is so fucking funny thank you temuera, "a lizard? ...thank you." should not have me cackling but his delivery is astounding

EUGH I FORGOT THE LIZARD DID THAT

wait so did they just drug him and plant a lizard in his brain???? dude wtf 😭

what is it with the tree in the desert symbolism cause i'm getting witcher season 3 flashbacks watching this scene

he earned his robes :')

this kid is so cute bless

i love the implication that each warrior earns and makes their own gaffi stick based on what they retrieve from their drug induced fever dream walk

this being reminiscent of haka does not escape me, and tbh, in my eyes mandalorians and their culture stemmed from temuera's portrayal of jango so in my mind mandalorians are heavily maori inspired, so this doesn't surprise me - why not allow the tuskens to be inspired by multiple groups including maori - a beautiful and powerful end scene imo

thanks for reading y'all hope you enjoyed :) discussions always welcome, i love to chat about these things. no fighting though pls i'm just a gorl enjoying some media 🙏

[the-firebird69]

About - new site

I don't see what you're saying there's not that many boxster Porsche cars out there but I can put this out there and I have a lot of shops in La not doing anything and I'll provide it for most any party unless we're having a feud right there in LA or recent problems I don't really have too many problems it's really other people saying it's me they'll probably come down and try and implicate me but if you have a boxster or similar even the old Porsche will work we can adjust the body I would like to build you a vehicle and we have our models listed here attached and our friend says those are different models basically in the same class and he has ideas for different classes that go along with it and he actually designed most of it and with me and our wives and they are awesome cars he did say that for growth and expansion he does have an idea to try and use front wheel drive vehicles and I'm open to that and he's hoping to help me with the design and they have a panel that's different to make it lighter and easier to install and it can be done by people the kid would be thorough but we like to do the work ourselves to give you a car and we warranty and guarantee it for our end of it because you're into the mechanical side tires and rims and we do some work on the top end and the exhaust but we also check the engine out and we give you a report and we keep that if it's a new car we do have full warranty ability. And we can certify it and we suggest you have it towed in but if you have less than thousand miles it's brand new now we're going to go ahead and put this up and I'm approving it and I'm going to make a waiting list that should speed up overtime at first it might be several months and then it might be reduced to several weeks because I'll be opening shops the whole time as customers come in and really the boxster is not much of a car it doesn't go that fast it's about a $195 mph most of these go well over 200 about 250 is the slowest and 350 is the fastest he does have ways of making it go a lot faster and I want to hear about it and he has ideas on making the change flight simpler and we're going to go with that too we do know who's out front and they're a pain in the ass and they shouldn't be there but in front of his house but we're going to go ahead with us and he wants to make other models and it looks similar to the Cena and we're going to try and negotiate something and right now I'm going to start this up and accept customers he doesn't supply anything I've got all my suppliers and it's just like the e-bike his electric without the e on the front and yeah he helped me name it and Chrissy did too and Hera and we are top level designers we've worked on Ferrari Porsche and Lamborghini and Bugatti and McLaren that last one is really his company he designed the whole car but he did it with Brad and I helped out and everyone was amazed they said we can beat everybody so he's good at it it's the same class it's a different style but he's got one that's a c3 that Brad might work with us on and it's so stealth and it's extremely fast nothing I've ever heard of those that fast except for the Cena and we're thinking about that and we might try and work with them but right now it's just the boxster and it turns it into a real car the monster doesn't have much horsepower and he's Volkswagen has a stigma so we might work into and there's plenty of other cars when is the Mazda it's still a mid-engine it's slow and power though he says his front engine drives they have a lot of power and go real fast too much power and they're American with 180 horsepower and 97 in works and most of them are that this one is 96 in and we can adjust and it would work and look awesome and I'll tell you what it's a great idea of it right now we're sticking with the Porsche so please if you have one you'd like these cars please sign up and send it down or come down test drive one they're awesome this is going to be great and I'm a race car driver actually F1 and a couple other types and I do well and on international circuits

Bg

We're going to do that I had some luck with Dan I see what he's saying he's having trouble getting stuff going he's got a car and it's an idea it looks great it's going to be below the radar that's a couple of yours are but I want to put mine in the box is useless I can't even zoom around without the things sliding all over like it's a Pontiac or something it's awful it's not it doesn't handle as well as the Saab that our friend's mom has I can't believe it this is a good idea

Tommy f

And yeah he'll probably come by eventually there's a couple others

Bg

We work together on the e-bike and we can be civil and we think we'll go by and drop ours off we want to see how he makes it and how it goes together some people say it might be a little complicated but like a race car but more so recent successes and we know how that goes and it's not real complicated and he says he's kind of right it's a mix but it's good tech so yeah we want to see that

Trump

We'd like to see how he does it too so we might get some up there and we are calling Jen she has friends friends of Katya that's her other character she's going to try and get them to go there so we're going to go ahead and do that

Thor Freya

I'm going to get one up there and my grand nephew recommends it says he builds his own small formula and he races the real ones and I know he does that and he wins I want to see what it is

Mac daddy

I got to get one this is great it's another one of his cars but it's based on a Porsche that's a big change in a relief more power would be nice and those 180 horsepower or more and it'll go plenty and he's good ideas and if he supports the company it'll work and what he's saying is we can actually support it I can help with the engineering and he's excited about it he wants to know about this cradle and how to do it and I know how to do it and he's told me and I understand it and I don't I know about the independence suspension you need it and there's a few other components it's not too bad but I want to do this and I want to send mine up there and see how you do

Shaq I was surprised that the guys did good with the Vader and they still do I know who's behind it and I know they're getting some help from both parties which is weird but they do that on purpose sometimes

We're going to get involved too and we know which car to work on and we know where the design went and our friend is pretty close and Vines going to vacation and they're going to go after things like that up here and I'd like to help with that I do know what he means you can't drive down the street with that thing the window can fly open there's too much glass way too much it's not safe you need to be able to roll over Windows look very very cool and it will go extremely fast it's not necessarily different class he says yeah it is cuz you have to stretch it out to the ear with 107 or 109 whatever the mid size and that's true too and it is a C2 and it should be and the cooling systems new and we haven't seen anybody use it yet so we have to try it and perfect it so we want to send a Porsche down there now so I'm going to call them up and try and get a hold of him and send it down I got paperwork online or I can send it down there with a signature for a rough order or magnitude and down payment with it I think I'll do that but I'd like to talk to him but if I can't I'm going to do that

Bill

I have to push you to the front of the line Bill and check and Preston says him and yeah these cars are nice they look really cool and they have a cage a full cage and we have some that are hardtop convertible and he likes the t-top but I didn't do it but the windshield is a roll cage and he's he's happy I paid attention good

Bg

Olympus

this is good work we know who it was he's not saying and he's saying it's excellent work I can't do any better it still needs to be nurtured and grown and supported and he wants his son and daughter-in-law to get there horse down there they said they already have one for me and Hera and now he's excited this is going to be great

You said part of the above it this is terrific and it's a great idea the vehicle's new and they look unique and they're very fast and they work very well we have ideas and we're going to support it and we're going to have people interested in supporting it do it and there are several parties believe it or not there having trouble with these big automobile companies and it's because of Mac proper and this is a great alternative and having different class ones as our son and daughter came up with is the best idea I've ever heard and we can move right into which would be the C2 the c3 would be more like Brad's car it'll be like a big consortium the legion of Doom shall we call it cuz you don't get along

Thor Freya

[rancim]

8/12

Maybe I've leaned too far hard into the notion of storytelling as sounding organic? I read some short fiction and it feels like the flow of the story's narrator is cut short when they come to describe all of these flowery things the person they're interacting with is wearing or the timbre of their voice or whatever. Meaning to say that in that instant, one begins to wonder in what tense does the narrator exist in? As in to say, if a piece of fiction is a dialogue between story teller and listener, then in what point of time are we interacting with them, and doesn't the storyteller set that necessary boundary? For example, if the storyteller has time to tell us of the minute habits and the strange things the person is wearing and their textures and the sounds they make and so on and so forth, it is with the implication that they are telling us a story that has already HAPPENED to them, and for me i'm trying to figure out why that is much less interesting to me. For me I prefer the story, if the narrator is an active participant in that story, to be something actuated by their voice; as if they are laying the bricks as we go along, as if we don't know what it is they'll be running into as well. Do these writers take note of the clothes people are wearing as soon as they meet them, noting their scents, the fabric, bargain bin or primo stuff? No, I don't think so. How awkward it would be for someone to take stock of us in silence. I feel like the rest of us, when we meet people, note broader strokes of physicality, and take more measured observations in the interim of our meeting, the sitting around, the waiting. I always thought I was obsessed with speed and compression, but rhythm seems to be also important to me when telling a story.

[utilitycaster]

I don't really know what my question is but there is a popular post going around that seems to take the exact opposite opinion as you on Keyleth and Osysa's taunts toward her. Basically I'm very confused why so many people think that Keyleth's fears all come to pass when, the way I see it, her fears become the least true out of all of Osysa's taunts to VM. I'm confused what any of it has to do with her lifespan? I am basically just ranting here so feel free to ignore just confused at the fandom

So here's the secret. Sometimes I see meta that makes me go "well I think that's wrong" but I am not going to actually reblog someone's meta and say "this is wrong" so I just write my own post in which I say what I think instead so that it's out there.

But yeah, I think Osysa's words to Keyleth are incredibly cutting, possibly more so than her words to anyone else except possibly Scanlan, because she just tells everyone else what they are directly (not nicely, but directly) whereas Keyleth's is a taunt. However, while she alludes to Keyleth's long lifespan (which, sidebar, I'm not entirely sure has come up in TLOVM, but I haven't rewatched season 1 lately and it's hard to split what I know as someone who's seen C1 vs. someone who's seen TLOVM S1 and I suspect many others are in the same boat), Osysa is mostly honing in on how Keyleth is so frozen by her fears that either she fails or she waits far too long to act. Her long lifespan is merely a way to hit harder on that second item, but not at all the focus of what Osysa is saying; and it's also very easy to interpret it as "you will outlive your friends because they'll die in battle against the dragons while you're freaking out in the background, unable to enter the fight, before you even get around to the Aramente."

I also think the fact that it's a taunt is a fun detail, because the thing that gets Keyleth past the initial barriers in the end is her being so furious and frustrated about Raishan and about the circumstances of the Conclave in general that she can't hold back anymore; Osysa realizes that simply telling Keyleth she's too anxious will only send Keyleth back down the spiral, but saying "oh yeah? prove it" might actually get a response.

But I don't think her potential archdruid lifespan is important, and indeed, because the implication even under D&D rules - and definitely in a purely narrative-driven story adapted from but not subject to D&D rules like TLOVM - is that Keyleth will not gain that long lifespan until she passes the Aramente, and without her archdruid status, assuming typical lifespans, Keyleth barely outlives the twins and doesn't even come close to Pike or Scanlan's gnomish lifespans. I think this is just Osysa saying "you'll put off your greatest responsibility until it's too late at the rate you're going," but making the life-or-death implications of that as clear as possible.

[itzy0megaverse]

can you do a scenario where omega reader that is also a member of itzy asks to one of the girls to take care of her because she wants to have her first heat with an alpha and it just has to be them... pretty please? 👀 (sorry this got so long)

An : no worries for the long requests!! It helps me out more if anything!! And again... I'm not great with 6th member au's so... Just be aware 😖 also I decided to do this as a short reaction for each member. If you want a full blown scenario for a member send back another request for a specific member and I'll gladly make one 😊

Side-note : I'm going to write this as if the members secretly have a crush on you and that's why they accept.. It'd feel weird for me to write them just accepting for no reason... This is actually a really cute plot for a full blown storyline here.... 🤔 AND this could combine with the 'confessing feelings' reaction I've already done......... Thoughts and feelings are flowing through me......

6th member O!reader asking A!Itzy to take care of them during their very first heat

Requested : ✔️

Reader : Gn

Tw : implications of smut, nothing actually happens but it's implied throughout, some of this is straight dirty talk though

*in this you and Ryujin are roomies*

Yeji

Yeji knew your fears. While she couldn't fully understand them as an alpha, she could at least appreciate and listen to your fears which she did on many occasions. You'd heard so much about how painful heats can be, how stressful they are, how people dread them and the fact you have to live with them practically your whole life... You'd never even had one before and they already scared you. As the eldest, you felt comfortable talking to Yeji about these things.

So when your first heat finally hit, you dragged Yeji back to your room and locked the door while Ryujin was out. Yeji knew from your scent immediately what was wrong and her eyes went wide. She didn't know how to help you. That was until you finally broke. "I want you to fuck me through this." Yeji's eyes went even wider. Her eyes darted round the room for an escape and finding none. You weren't even looking up at her, too shy to.

"I should explain..." Yeji's eyes landed back on you as you spoke. "I don't want to take suppressants cuz I'm scared they'll fuck up my hormones. You could masterbate but, honestly, I tried that just and it didn't help. The last option is an alpha...." Yeji swallowed on her dry throat. Her brain going in 2 different directions. Half of it thinking 'so why me?' and half of it still stuck on the thought of you masterbating....

"Please Yeji..." You beg, finally looking up at her. She really wanted to care for you. She really wanted to be there for you. She really wanted you. She knew she might regret this in the morning but she saw this as her one and only chance with you. Yeji remembers her last thoughts simply being 'fuck it.' before pulling your face straight into hers.

Lia

This isn't exactly how you'd imagined it. First heat suddenly rising while you were all watching a movie in the living room. In a panic you'd run back to your room (hopefully) before any of the other members realised or smelt you. You'd slammed the door shut and stood panicking for a few seconds with your back against the door but it was too much to handle.

So now here you were, lying on your bed, having ripped all of your clothes off, trying to relieve the symptoms yourself through your own touch. Its helping a little but isn't doing a whole bunch so you end up rolling round in bed a few times, knocking things as you go. A few more knocks as you move about before the door opens... The door opens?

"Hey, Y/n? Is everything ok? I tried knoc-" Lia's sweet, concerned voice broke through your ears as she steps into the room. Both frozen in shock of each other. Just staring before she spins, nearly headbutts the wall and apologises. "Oh.my.god.oh.my.god I'm so sorry. I should've knocked more or waited or someth-" "Lia?" You cut off her adorable ramblings.

"Close the door, please." You request. Too embarrassed, Lia just nods with her back still turned and goes to leave. "No! Lia...... Stay inside and close the door..." Her head snaps back to you in shock before she remembers what position you're in right now and looks away again. She just follows what you say.

"I'm in heat..." You admit. "I know...." She awkwardly responds. You pause, thinking up of a way to ask for what you want. "....I wanna know what it's like to have a dick in me........ and I can already see your buldge." Wide eyed, Lia looks down and confirms what you say. Her hands cover herself up as she, one again, begins apologising. You tell her "It's ok but... ermm.... Can I have it in me?"

Still not looking up, Lia thinks it over. Surely there's no harm in just helping a member out... It's not like she likes you at all... With her decision made, she reaches up and makes sure that (this time) the door is locked.

Ryujin

"Ryujin..." You tried stirring her. "RYujin..." A failed second attempt. "RYUJin!" This time you crawled into her bed with her and gripped onto her shirt. It was 3am and you were woken up by your own discomfort. Boiling hot. Fidgety legs. Dripping wet. Everything made worse by the fact you shared a room with an alpha that had her dark chocolate scent everywhere. You didn't realise how difficult it would be to resist her during heat. I mean you'd never had one before how would you of known? Instead of denying yourself though, you'd made the decision to just go with it and try wake Ryujin up so she can take care of you.

Tugging at her shirt and shaking it slightly, you whine out again. "Ryuujiinnn..." "Uuggmmm... What's the matter?" Finally, she stirs slightly. She doesn't have her eyes open and she doesn't move bar a little head shake but she's responding at least. "I..... need you..." You admit weakly. Ryujin rolls her head till its tilted your direction and tiredly opens one eye. "You... Need me?"

Feeling too embarrassed to explain, you just yank on the shirt still in your grasp until your lips are together. It becomes heated pretty quickly (as Ryujin wakes up and realises what the issue is) and you're sitting up together as she guides one of your legs over hers so you can straddle her. You wrap your arms around her shoulders and grind into her, unable to hold back. You want more but Ryujin's hands are on your chest pushing you away slightly.

Leaning back to look you in the eyes, she makes sure you want this. However, Ryujin's too tsundere to admit she cares that much so she disguises it as a cocky statement. "You n e e d me, huh?" Still grinding into her, you nod (yes) frantically.

Chaeryeong

Chaeryeong cared for you, she always did. Ever since you joined the group, it was like she found a puppy she had to take care of. Constantly asking if you're hungry, you need a drink, a massage, anything and she'll do it for you. It's to the point where one yell of her name will send her flying towards you at lighting speed ready to get you everything you need.

It happened again today. "Chaeryeong!?" You called out, one second later she's at your door. She steps in to find you pacing about clearly stressed out and the smell she's walked into tells her why. As always, she's ready. "Right. What do you need? How can I help you? I can go get anything you need and you can just stay he-"

She's halfway out the door already but you walk over, pull her back in and shut her inside with you. Gently, placing her against the door but having a death grip on her forearms, you talk. "You always help me, right?" Nervous, Chaeryeong nods (yes). "Can you help me now?" Soothingly, she answers in an instant. "Of course! You know I'm always here to help you! Just tell me what you want me to do and I'll do it."

Looking her in the eyes, you whisper. "What do you think I want you to do?" Seeing the emotion in your eyes, Chaeryeong knows what you want. She doesn't quite know how to respond but, before she really knows it, she slowly leaning in to leave a soft kiss on your lips. A kiss that's bound to get rougher as the night goes on.

Yuna

Being the 2 youngest members, it was inevitable that you and Yuna got along. Always sat next to each other. Always messing about. Always bickering. You both preferred to annoy each other rather than be lovey-dovey. That stayed the same whenever your heat was brought up in topic. Yuna making sarcastic jokes and lightly poking fun at you to make you feel better about them.

So, when you and Yuna were alone in the dorm because everyone had gone to visit family, and your first heat hit you, Yuna was right there with you. Right there with you, to tease you all the way through it.

You were sat gossiping in her bed when it hit and your wide eyes and scent told her everything. "Ahahaha!! It's happening~" Yuna taunts while pointing a finger at you. "Be quiet, Yuna." You snap, trying to get yourself comfortable. "Not when you're all~ grown~ up~ now~"

The rest of the day Yuna sits closer, smirks at you, whispers seductively instead of just talking normally, openly trying to get you even more worked up than you already were. The final straw was when you were stood at the kitchen sink getting yourself a glass of cold water and Yuna walks up behind you, reaches round to lean against the sink and pushes all of her front into your back.

Being so fed up and horny you just blurt your imagination out. "Yuna, for fucks sake! If you're gonna turn me on this much why don't we just have sex!" Shocked, she relaxes and moves slightly, not enough to free you completely but enough to let you turn round and face her. Now front-to-front, you stare into her wide eyes completely serious. "I know you're just teasing me to make this worse so why don't we just get this over with?"

"......You think I'm teasing you this much just to annoy you?" She leans in, lips gracing only. "Ever think about me doing this because I like seeing you all hot and bothered because of me?"

[elvisabutler]

Caught In A Trap ( 2/10 )

Fandom: Elvis (2022)

Relationship: Elvis/Living Past 42, past Priscilla/Elvis, current Priscilla and Elvis loving each other too much always

Word Count (this chapter): 2360ish

Rating: R, honestly this isn't gonna move below that rating I don't think.

TW: Talk of drug use for pain, pain in general, mention of character death, brief implication of self injury, it's sort of a blink and miss situation, drinking. Honestly it's all in the movie for the most part.

Author's Note: This is probably gonna be 10 parts or lower, I think. I have it plotted out, it's really just how I get to all the parts. Also apologies for the wait, literally have spent like the past week ish sick as a dog between me and my family. As always ask box is open, y'all know the drill.

Elvis is sure Jerry was not prepared to have him leaning on him as much as he is both on the way to the car and inside the car. Truth be told, Elvis himself hadn't really planned to lean as much as he was on the other man but his legs couldn't quite carry him in the way he needed and his body in general felt too heavy for him to lug around or sit up any straighter than he was. Still, it makes it easier for Elvis to listen to the other man as he explains everything in the letter he received.

Goddammit his mama had been right, they couldn't trust this Colonel. He should- everyone's warnings and even his own gut telling him something was off and every damn time he fell right back in snowed in and trapped like only a true Southern boy could be by that snow.

Elvis found himself squeezing the bridge of his nose and exhaling, "we could have done this back in '68. Or 69 or 70. Could have taken 'Cilla and Lisa to see Paris."

Might have helped smooth over some of the dumb things he's done. Could have reminded her that he was her husband and she was his wife- his gorgeous spitfire birdie.

"Yeah," Jerry shakes his head, "honestly, we could have done those dates in half the time we've been here in Vegas and the States. Probably had more money too, even with the deal."

"Don't remind me, Jerry." He spits the sentence out with a little more force than he means to. He knows he's a fool when it comes to business and letting the Colonel get away with what BB's told him time and and time again is highway robbery but he hates dealing with all those details now and he always has. Maybe now he ought to try and see what's going on.

Or not if the flash of pain slicing through his head causing him to roll his head to the opposite side. He should have had Dr. Nick give him something for his head at least. Maybe once they get to the hospital they'll give him something. They always do even if he has to make new pain to get something.

"Lay back, EP." Jerry mutters while looking out the window to see if any photographers are trying to catch a photo. He spots one but with Elvis' tilted the way he is, he's pretty sure they're safe. "We'll talk about it later. Can't have you passing out again before we get you inside. Not that sure I can hold up all of your weight."

If Elvis was a little more coherent and a little less exhausted, he might have punched Jerry in the arm for that- defended his eating habits and told the man he wasn't that much of a feather either. He isn't though and all he can muster up is a light kick to the shins and a mumbled and mildly slurred, "I know ya didn't just call m' fat."

The only response he gets is a deep laugh as they start to pull into the hospital. "Wouldn't dream of it. Priscilla might though."

It's hard to get Elvis into the building without anyone noticing but they've had to play this song and dance so many times that by now it's beginning to be an old hat to everyone and Elvis finds that he's always a little more thankful everything but tonight especially. His filter is gone and his temper is barely in check that he doesn't think he could handle a question about why he's here asked by someone with a camera shoved in his face. Why else would he be here? What dumbass question is that?

The ride up to his room is slower than he's used to but maybe it's just his perception of time feeling off. After all, they have to be moving faster than this goddamn snail's pace with him. What if it was something big that's got him this tired? Having them move like this would get him killed not that it mattered right now, he thought, because he's not dying he's just- he needs a break, one that he hasn't had for such a long time. Maybe he'll just go to sleep now, just until they get him settled in.

He hears The Colonel before he sees him in any capacity. His eyes barely open up at the tap of the cane and he knows he needs to sit up, get up and get the man out of his room but the idea seems like an impossible task. Jerry's voice sounds muffled but Elvis thinks he hears him say something about him being asleep and leave him be.

"Nonsense! He's being overdramatic! The showman never stops, hm?" Elvis can feel both the Coloniel's presence in body and feel his breath far too close to his face for comfort in the moment. The shiver that escapes his body is a mixture of disgust and actual chill and he tries to will his arm to move while mumbling.

It fails miserably and Elvis curses his own body for betraying him in the moment he needs it to be with him. Any other time was fine, but right now when he needs to be in fighting form to get this leech of a man away from him the betrayal just slices a knife right through him. Thankfully he hears the door open and a voice he's never heard- a new doctor he thinks- speak before is pulling Parker away with more force than is probably necessary.

"I know you're his manager, Mr. Parker, but he's not going to respond right now. I'll call security on you if you don't leave Mr. Presley be until tomorrow morning."

He hears the Colonel grumbling something about being a Colonel and trying to put up a resistance before blissful silence. He had almost forgotten what that sounds like.

He wakes up in Graceland- or at least what Graceland was a decade and a half ago. Right when his mama had been there and- he loves decorating his home, he does but there was something to be said about how his mama made it look. He can't actually be in Graceland, he's sure he was at the hospital in Las Vegas before he opened his eyes but seeing everything around him settles something in him, lulls him into believing this is real. He wants it to be real, wants for at least a moment to pretend he's this young again and his mama is still here and he can still fly away like he should to the Rock of Eternity.

He forces himself out of bed, trying to see if the whole house is looking like it used to and he finds himself almost immediately going to his mother's closet. He knows he shouldn't, remembers how he broke down leaning against her dresses as if the feel of them would bring her back but it's been so long and he still misses her. He misses all his girls, but his mama is the only one that isn't just a plane ride away. God, he should call Priscilla, have her bring over Lisa Marie. It feels like it's been an age since he's seen them.

"Elvis, is that you?" Elvis hears his mother's voice clear as day the moment he steps out of her closet and his knees just buckle underneath him. She's not real, this can't be real and yet that's her voice.

"Mama?" His throat feels as if there isn't a single drop of water in it and he swears he feels his eyes watering his vision is getting blurry enough that he hopes he's crying. He forces himself to swallow when he looks up to see her looking older than he remembers. "It's me."

Her smile lights up almost every fiber of his being, it's almost the same feeling he gets when little Lisa grins and giggles at him but somehow just different in the most subtle of ways. "You know you're not supposed to be in my closet. If you needed to find me you know where I am."

At home, six feet under and dead for longer than he likes to admit is his first thought before he let's out a huff of a laugh, "the kitchen, I know, Mama. Just wasn't sure about it today."

"You know better than to lie to me, boobie. You know I can tell." She moves her hand out to touch his face and Elvis leans in quicker than he thought he was capable of moving. He can feel the tears on his cheeks now, knowing that this isn't real and his mama isn't this old but if this is what his exhaustion is dreaming up he'll take it. He'll be this exhausted for just a little while longer just to see her and feel her comfort. "Get up off the floor, I can't give you a hug like that."

His bones protest the movement, creaking in ways they probably shouldn't and he sways just a little too much to where he stumbles just momentarily into the wall. Gladys is there to catch him though and the look on her face brings such a rush of shame in his body that he feels like a little boy getting in trouble for something major. "You shouldn't be moving like that."

"I'm older mama, pushing 40. My body just-" He finds himself being shushed and cut off all at once.

"That's nonsense, almost 40 or not my strong boy wouldn't be stumbling like that just from getting up. You haven't been drinking have you?"

There is an irony that isn't lost on Elvis and he has to bite his tongue to not back talk at his mother but he can't stop the way his lips purse just a bit and his upper lip inches toward a bit of a snarl before he answers her. "No, mama, you know I get mean when I drink anyway. I'm just tired and I'm in some pain."

A lot of pain, but he figures he was due for something that Dr. Nick would give him so that was to be expected even with his exhaustion- can't escape parts of his own body from acting up.

He feels her arms wrap around him. "You mean that pain they've got you on all those pills for, boobie?"

In the back of his mind he can hear himself singing that he's caught in a trap as he pulls away from her embrace to touch at her face and look at his mother. This isn't right, she shouldn't know about that, shouldn't know how bad it's been getting. This isn't real but he's so tired, who's she gonna tell?

"Yeah, mama, that pain. I've got it handled though-"

"For God's sake, boobie, I wish you wouldn't take all those pills, they can't be good for you." His mother pleads looking at him straight into his eyes. Hell, into his soul for all he knew.

He remembers telling her not to drink so much, how it wasn't good for her and he can't help the bark of a laugh that exits his throat with such ferocity that it startles him. Mama didn't need the alcohol, but he's pretty sure he needs at least some of these pills.

"Mama-"

"No, boobie, you know I'm right, you're losing yourself and I don't like seeing you like this."

His eyes narrow who did she think she was saying that to him of all people after she drank herself to death leaving him with his daddy and making it so he couldn't introduce her to Priscilla and her granddaughter. "I didn't like seeing you dead, Mama."

Her face looks hurt for a moment before she exhales slowly. "I was worried. I'm still worried. Promise me you'll cut back, Elvis. You might have the strength of two men but Jesse can't save you forever."

He wants to deny it but there's a part of him, small as it is that knows she's right. That Jesse might have been saving him all these years but the full moons are getting harder and harder to catch so to speak. Still, he doesn't know if he can, because it's hard- everything is starting to bust on him and he just wants a break. If he could just rest and reset he'd be fine, but he's gotta pay for Graceland and the Mafia.

His breath leaves his body in one swoop when he looks up at his mother through his lashes and he nods his head. "I'll try. At least a little."

Will he is the real question, but what's the harm in lying to his dead mother? It's not like she could be mad at him for it or hit him for it.

"Good, now let's head to the kitchen, boobie, I made your favorite." Gladys smiles and motions for him to follow her.

It's then that Elvis feels the pull of real life yanking him back against his will. He knew this was a dream but it was so nice that he just wanted to stay for a little while, just rest for a little while. Maybe if he just shuts his eyes it'll stay put just a little while longer.

He thinks he feels his eyes shut and feels his body become weightless as a bird before-

"What the hell?!"

[mermaidsirennikita]

cannot WAIT for your thoughts on tonight's IWTV episode

Tbh I don't have like... fully realized thoughts on it and I don't think that I'll know how I fully feel until the season is over?

My initial reaction was pretty pissed off, because like...

Here's the thing. In a very real way, Lestat and Louis have a toxic relationship in the books and in the show. The show adds in the element of Lestat being white and Louis being black, giving Lestat power over Louis that he doesn't fully understand or acknowledge because he's that classic white partner who goes "no no I get it I'm cool" when he's not.

Additionally, there is a lot of emotional toxicity on both sides, and obviously, they are both murderers and Lestat did... kill Louis, even if Louis was in the moment really upset and asked for it (arguably in part due to a series of events that were manipulated by Lestat).

To me, all of those yeeeears of resentment and issues, plus Lestat's jealousy of the bond between Louis and Claudia would be enough to eventually motivate Louis to kill Lestat, which is what this is all leading to, right? The attempted murder.

So if Lestat beating the shit out of Louis happened just like that, and it's just something the writers threw in to motivate Louis to kill Lestat, I think that's bullshit on several levels. For though Lestat is awful:

--there's no basis for it in the books... which doesn't really matter, but I say that to go "this is a decision the showrunners made fully independently"

--it was unnecessary

--a white guy beating his black lover is an even tougher watch and not something we super need on our television screens at the moment, especially when it's on this supernatural TV show where it served the plot... not at all...

So the question is... and why I'm not passing full judgment as of now... did it happen like that.

We see it from Claudia's perspective. Not only does Claudia APPARENTLY (lol it hasn't happened yet but I assume) participate in the attempted murder of Lestat... she's the one really pushing it. Is Claudia making this up OR exaggerating a fight that happened in order to justify the attempted murder?

But also, Claudia is fully insane. I love her, but she is delusional in a way that I don't think Lestat is, despite his own mental fragility. (Sidebar: I don't super think we needed to see Claudia get assaulted in this episode, so that bugged me, but a friend of mine pointed out that this could play into Claudia recalling things different in terms of projecting the other guy's danger onto Lestat.) It is entirely possible that Claudia fully believed she saw something that didn't happen like that, as Louis is her father and Lestat is... different... for her.

And Claudia did not actually see most of the actual fight. What she saw--if that is all reality--was bad, don't get me wrong. But she also heard Lestat saying that he didn't want to hurt Louis, begging him to let up, etc. Which would play into the idea that Lestat has abilities and appetites that remain unfamiliar to Louis because he wants to protect him from that side of himself, something the show has played with before.

But I don't super know how any of this works with Lestat flying Louis up in the sky, soooo.

And even if they do reveal that this was another unreliable narration issue--I feel like I'm still a bit pissed. Maybe they'll find a way to convince me. But unreliable narration around the subject of DV seems.... dicey.... especially in our current timeline. And the unreliability coming from a mentally ill black girl who'd been sexually assaulted? IDK BOB. SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF BAD IMPLICATIONS.

And of course, it's also revealed... theoretically I guess, but I feel like this was real--that Antoinette has stayed Lestat's long term mistress? Not surprising I guess, but MESS.

I suppose there's also an element of--is the show going to get too entangled with the unreliable narration? Claudia's narration, Louis's, and theoretically we'll get Lestat's. With as much of the show's narrative theoretically depending on Lestat as it will, you'd think that they'd be hesitant to make him THAT coldly unsympathetic.

Unless, and here's the kicker because it is soooo possible: they are actually that dumb and don't recognize man-on-man domestic violence as the same as man-on-woman domestic violence. And that's, again, possible and I'd never trust the writers!

Here's the thing: in essence, is it unbelievable that a relationship as toxic as Lestat and Louis's would escalate to domestic violence? No. But in fiction, is it a) worth showing a gay black man being beaten brutally by his white lover just... because b) wise to make a character who's supposed to stick around and drive so much action as a semi-sympathetic figure a domestic abuser? Seems not to me on both counts.

Look, maybe they'll surprise me and pull this off. I really think there are a lot of questions up in the air still so I can't say exactly what happened. But either way, imo making this part of the unreliable narration game was..... not a good move.