#also the local used bookstore knows me and my family on sight

[bookwyrminspiration]

guess who just went to the library and DIDNT bring home any books at all!! even though i specifically went around looking at books despite my better judgement!! amazing what we’re capable of <3

[pluckysidekick]

So no trailer this week with two and a half weeks to go, le sigh. We did see ads from local stations (using old promo photos), and we got what appears to be the Nancy Drew 4.01 title and description. Read on for that and a bunch more show and cast bits from the past week.

“The Dilemma of the Lover’s Curse.” They’re hitting the curse head on, which I like. Two different sites posted the title along with an episode description that came right from the season 4 description we got back in January.

Now that we’re so close, the reality of Nancy and Ace having potential love interests is sinking in. We know that Nancy will not risk Ace’s life as long as there’s no solution to the curse. I’m still hopeful for lots of Nace scenes, with plenty of delicious angst. Curious how this squares with Kennedy’s discussion of Nancy and Ace’s emotional openness with each other - I still expect Ace to figure out the curse quickly.

I’m also super hyped about the sins of the town’s past, the multiple supernatural mysteries, and the stories for the entire crew. May 31 is so close I can taste it.

Scott Wolf gave us some insight into S4’s resolution for our beloved characters in a new interview - it was a big deal for them to know it was the final season ahead of time, the season will cover the things that are most important to us, but “not every resolution is going to be satisfying for everyone.”

Glad to hear they planned real resolutions for everyone, terrified about them not all being satisfying. I’m absolutely expecting Nace endgame, but I want good things for all of our family. They’re keeping us on our toes…

We saw lots of our cast this week - Kennedy made a surprise appearance in an Arizona bookstore with her author parents (note this pic is with her mom and the bookseller, not McDad), Maddison was in Paris and England with her Versailles cast and her family, and Riley is appearing in another episode of Station 19 this week.

Alex has been on vacay in Italy and France (Hannah captioned the first photo “Alex doesn’t like PDA. So I fixed it” ☠️). Alex’s new show High Desert premieres this week on Apple TV. There’s a new in depth, spoilery review at AV Club. According to the article (spoiler alert), Peggy (Patricia Arquette) is “no longer speaking to her grown son.” We won’t see Alex until episode 6 - could he play Peggy’s son?

Leah’s show Matlock was picked up for the fall (watch the trailer), and she’s celebrating in Mexico with her bf.

Meanwhile Queen Charlotte is another huge hit with fantastic exposure for Tunji - check out the in depth Tatler profile on our favorite Scotsman, where he draws an interesting parallel between Charlotte & George’s and Harry & Meghan’s experiences - and admits he’s never watched Bridgerton.

In more show news, the Nancy Drew writers’ request for fan input has generated tons of great questions but only chaos from the writers so far - no real answers yet.

Speaking of chaos, Kennedy stepped into the fray to drop four songs from her S4 playlist. “The Winner Takes it All” (no more ace to play), “all my ghosts” (all my ghosts are with me), and “Thinking of You” (cause when I’m with him I am thinking of you) are killing me, the pain. “Big Poppa” has me thinking about Nancy under some kind of spell a la Burning Bride (as she described Episode 2) hitting on everyone in sight - “mackin’ hoes” while “my crew’s behind me.” Now in honor of “Big Poppa”, what if it’s Ryan!?

Finally, two more cast members were added to IMDB - Fred the car towing guy is back for 3 episodes (3, 5, and 13), and there’s a new security guard in Episode 9.

You get a gold star if you made it to the end. Another week, another wish for a trailer and new photos. I’m busy wrapping up The Space Between - expect the thrilling (I hope) conclusion before the season premiere. Also planning a fluffy epilogue, I at least can promise satisfying conclusions for everyone!

[into-the-center-of-things]

day five: looking at local chicago southside sights part TWO!!!

After we left the co-op bookstore we went to Powell's, which is a used bookstore off of 54th Street. It has the same name as the one in Portland, Oregon, but apparently there is no relation between the two of them.

It was a lot bigger on the inside than I suspected. I ducked into the second room in the back and that was where I found the poems! Not as much variety as the co-op but I saw Harryette Mullen's newest book there, so that's cool. They also had The Cow by Ariana Reines which I did end up buying, because it was cheap and I really liked how bizarre it was. Not to mention the purple typeface on the inside.

We walked back to the apartment and @germfreeadulthood made me a little immunity drink (using the immune suport stuff and ginger powder), and then took a shower. I drank it while looking through the Chicago Reader—I don't really look at newspapers so it was cute to see some passionate write ups about new and well known underground heavy music (since I guess The Rumble is coming up, so the were writing about bands particpating or bands in similar genres)...suuuuuper cool, will be looking into the band Torture when I have time.

I accidentally fell asleep for a good 30-40 minutes—I guess I was a lot more tired than I thought, but maybe that means I needed the rest? Was I just feeling weak from that damn train ride still? Is the way back gonna knock me on my ass too? Argh.

We walked to "The Point" afterwards, which is I believe Promotory Point, where Chicago kisses the edge of Lake Michigan. We had to walk through this tunnel beneath the road to get there and people had done a mural of "things they want to do before they die", which was cool, ad well as different encouraging phrases or things they liked about Chicago. Someone wrote something about not liking the cicadas which was funny.

Honestly I actually I kind of love cicadas, I think they are cute and I like the droning noise they make. I am going to try to catch it on video tomorrow or something so I can listen to it when I am home. I would prefer that sound over the clanging of trash trucks or construction any day. We saw a dead cicada earlier today and I wish I had like, been able to keep it and take it home with me. I wonder if its possible to preserve it if I grab one and put it in a Ziploc baggy. I would worry about it getting squished in my luggage though.

Anyways. Lake Michigan is fucking huge.

You can see as far as Indiana from the coast—super fucking cool! There were some sandy beachy areas and some rocky areas, the latter was where @germfreeadulthood and I sat. We put our feet in the water and the water actually felt really good. I wish we bad gone swimming but we didn't have our swimsuits and the sun was setting so it probably wasn't going to be a good idea to get totally drenched when the sun wouldn't be out long enough to dry us. We'll probably come back again before I leave for a proper swim.

There were also some seagulls circling fhis kid throwing crackers at them—they like totally came to him as if summoned and then all perched at his feet. It was lowkey kind of magical and I wish I had taken a picture..

I walked closer to the sand to get a better scope of the area. The beach area was crowded with families and there even was what I think was a wedding happening? They were moving to a dance between the daughter/bride and the father and he got all weepy and I felt weird watching so I left.

After that we took the bus to Saucy Porka, which is like an Asian Latin fusion sort of food place, for dinner. We both got a banh mi and shared sweet potato fries.

The banh mi was kind of meh honestly but the sweet potato fries were absolutely delicious. I had a teeny little cup of Cherry Pepsi because I never drink soda and wanted to try it and it tasted good, but I know it has caffeine in it so I am hoping it doesn't keep me up too late.

We walked back and I showered and I think tomorrow we are going to go to the Art Institute of Chicago!!! Yippee!!

[norirosewrites]

Indie Bookstore Adventures: Austin Edition

Yesterday was my birthday (I have officially upgraded to version 3.1!). When my partner asked me how I wanted to celebrate my new revolution around the sun, I told him that I wanted to spend the day going to my favorite independent bookstores in town, as well as some newer ones that I hadn’t yet had the chance to visit!

If you know anything at all about the indie bookstore scene in Austin, you have probably at least heard of BookPeople – as you should! Not only is BookPeople the largest independent bookstore in the state of Texas, it’s also a cornerstone of the literary community in Austin. (They also make very yummy tea lattes and Italian sodas in their coffee shop, FYI.) And don’t get me wrong, it’s definitely one of my favorite places in town. But for my birthday, I wanted to venture into some new(ish) territory with some of my city’s more hidden gems for book lovers. I was not disappointed.

Titan Moon Comics (Cedar Park) I had visited Titan Moon Comics once before and loved it so much that I definitely wanted to return for my birthday! This little treasure of a comic shop is tucked away in a shopping center in the suburb of Cedar Park. They have an amazing collection of classic and contemporary comics and graphic novels, as well as a decently-sized manga collection. It’s an all-ages comic shop that carries comics that are appropriate for kids and teens alongside no shortage of selections for adult readers. Something that I really appreciate about them is that they carry a lot of selections from women and LGBTQ creators. They also host RPG and CCG events for both kids and adults. They have plenty of D&D supplies, a store membership program, and a comic book club, as well as incredibly friendly and knowledgeable staff. It may require a bit of a trek, but it is absolutely worth it if you’re a comic book lover.

Snags: Labyrinth: Beyond the Goblin City. This is a collection of side stories based off of the classic Jim Henson film told in graphic novel form, with contributions from a variety of artists and writers. As an avowed Henson and Labyrinth fan, there was no way I was going home without it.

Saga: Volume 2: Brian K. Vaughn’s Saga is one of my favorite series. I read the first two volumes in college for a class on graphic novels and promptly proceeded to devour as many volumes as I could get from the public library. Now that I’m older and have (slightly) more disposable income, I’ve decided to start adding them to my home collection. I picked up Volume 1 on my first visit to Titan Moon, and naturally had to acquire the second on this trip.

Black Pearl Books

Black Pearl Books is a Black owned, family-run bookshop, and you absolutely must give it a visit if you’re in the area (or take a look at their online store if you’re not!). They carry titles in every genre and for every age level, as well as some really cool crafts from local artists. They also have a community book exchange where you can take a book for free and leave one in its place! The staff was so sweet and welcoming, and they even gave us a tour around the shop since it was our first time visiting.

Snags: Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury: This is a thriller told from the perspective of two young Black women in alternating timelines who both have a mysterious – and haunting – connection to the “Miracle Mansion” and a host of horrors that lurk within. But it’s not simply a tale of a haunted house: it’s a story about facing the monsters that hide in plain sight, which – unfortunately – are often the people closest to us. I know that it’s going to be a heavy read, but as a survivor myself, sometimes it’s cathartic to read about the darker parts of the human condition; while everyone processes their experiences differently, I know that I personally enjoy reframing survivorship in an artistic way because it’s a way to take control of the narrative of your experiences, which is sometimes the only thing we can do to heal and move on. I’m looking forward to seeing the approach Sambury takes in this book.

First Light Books

This is a new indie bookshop that opened up this year in the Hyde Park neighborhood. The building it occupies was formerly a post office that was an important staple of the neighborhood, and the owners of First Light wanted to ensure that the new bookshop remained a community-centered space. It’s an incredibly cozy shop complete with a book nook and a tiny coffee shop and cafe area, as well as patio seating outside (there’s also a walk-up coffee window that’s open to the public). For being a small bookshop, they have a pretty good selection of titles and some cool gift items as well. They’re also very receptive to community feedback: I signed up for the membership program (because of course I did) and within a day was sent a welcome email with a survey for what sort of books and events I’d like to see at the shop. I especially recommend stopping by if you happen to be around the UT campus, as it’s not too far of a trek north of the Forty Acres – though far enough away for some peace and quiet. Snags: We Have Always Lived in the Castle and Dark Tales by Shirley Jackson: I’ve always enjoyed Shirley Jackson’s short stories, and We Have Always Lived in the Castle has been on my TBR list for ages, so no time like my birthday to get my own copy. I also got my partner a copy of A Clockwork Orange because he’s a fan of the film but has never read the novel.

Kinokuniya

Okay, I’m cheating a little with this one: Kinokuniya isn’t technically an independent bookstore. But it is one of my favorite bookstores in the world, and since my partner had never been, I insisted that we visit for my birthday.

Kinokuniya is a magical wonderland for manga lovers, with a huge selection of notable series as well as more obscure ones, in every genre and age category. (Don’t worry, all of the, um…mature manga are sealed to keep the young’uns at bay.) They also carry manga in both English and Japanese. But it’s not just a manga shop – they have a huge selection of English language books, ranging from literary classics to cookbooks to graphic novels to contemporary YA, and everything in between. If, like me, you are of the witchy inclination, they even have a sizable collection of books on witchcraft and Paganism, as well as a nice selection of Tarot cards. They also have plenty of anime collectibles and a fabulous selection of pretty stationary. Oh, and a sizable section of Studio Ghibli merch complete with a lovable huggable life-sized Totoro plushie, naturally.

Snags:

The Secret History of Christmas Baking: Recipes and Stories From Tomb Offerings to Gingerbread Boys by Linda Raedisch: I.Love.Baking. I detest cooking large meals, but I will happily bake enough cookies to feed an army. And I’m always incredibly busy baking around this time of year to celebrate Yule (the winter solstice). Moreover, I’m a history nerd and I love learning about the obscure or overlooked origins of even the most mundane things. And man, has this book delivered on that so far. The history of so many beloved Yuletide dishes we enjoy in the western world is fascinatingly complex – and sometimes disturbingly dark – interweaving cultures across thousands of years, from ancient Egyption bakers to the medieval confectioners of Baghdad to the pagan Samnites of southern Italy who were cooking up a rudimentary form of nougat in their sacred walnut groves in the time of the Caesars to the interior European Celts to – naturally – the peoples of Germany who gave the English (and, later, us Americans) the modern tradition of the Christmas tree. The book also includes plenty of tasty recipes and fun table crafts to enjoy on the tour, of course.

I also got a special dual-language edition of Winnie-the-Pooh that has the original British English text on one page side-by-side with the Japanese hiragana translation on the other. I have adored Winnie-the-Pooh since childhood (I have an omnibus collection of the original books) and languages are one of my special interests. I already own a Greek copy of Pride & Prejudice, so I figured that this would be another great collectible to add to my tiny multilingual book collection.

Vintage Bookstore & Wine Bar

Yes, you read that right. Vintage is both a bookstore and a wine bar, and it is undoubtedly one of the most gorgeous bookshops I’ve ever been to. This family-owned shop is housed in a beautiful old building downtown with the bookstore and wine bar on the first floor and seating on the first and second floors, along with a small yard outside. They carry fiction and non-fiction YA and adult books (they even have a separate room devoted entirely to fantasy and sci-fi) and the wine bar carries a variety of wines, beer, and mocktails along with some bakery treats. They also have a small market-style refrigerator where you can purchase charcuterie supplies to create your own spread. We definitely hung out here and enjoyed ourselves here for a while (and I recommend that you stop by and do the same).

Snags:

In the Shadow of Perseus by Claire Heywood: Let’s be real: most if not all of the classical Greek “heroes” were no heroes at all. Nevertheless, I have always loved Greek mythology and I never can pass up a retelling of the myths, especially when it includes a feminist reframing. (Case in point, Lore Olympus is my favorite comic. Ever.) This is the story of Perseus as seen through the eyes of the three most prominent women in his myth: his mother Danae, his victim Medusa, and his wife Andromeda. Their stories all intersect to create a very different narrative than the one you’ll find in the classical texts.

The Dressmakers of Auschwitz by Lucy Adlington: I don’t often purchase non-fiction books – if I’m in the mood for non-fiction, I usually prefer to check titles out from the library or borrow from a friend. But this one really caught my eye. It’s a little-known history of the Holocaust centering on a group of 25 female prisoners in Auschwitz who were chosen to sew beautiful garments for the elite wives of the SS guards and officers and used their sewing talents and bonds of found family and friendship to resist the Nazi regime and survive the horrors of the death camp. It even includes an interview with the last surviving seamstress. When we learn about the Holocaust in school or discuss it in conversation, we usually only focus on the fact that Hitler and the Nazis lulled millions of Germans into either supporting their cruel agenda or at least turning a blind eye to the evils of the Third Reich. It’s less common that we hear about the widespread resistance movements from people across Germany (and beyond) – both from targeted groups, and from Germans who did choose to fight back and protect their neighbors. And it’s critically important that these stories get told as well, especially in this day and age when so many of the horrors of the past are reemerging; they remind us that we can fight back against injustice, even in the smallest ways, and we can win.

Honorable Mentions

While they didn’t make my birthday bookstore-hopping list this year, these are some other fabulous local book and comic shops that I recommend: Bookwoman. This is Austin’s home-grown feminist bookstore, celebrating the work of women and queer authors. They carry books in all genres, and they even have a small children’s book section!

Malvern Books. Located near the UT campus just off Guadalupe Street, this is one of my favorite little bookstores in town that primarily carries work from local and regional authors.

Austin Books & Comics. Called “the library of Alexandria of comics” by the Austin Chronicle (and inducted into their “Best Of” Hall of Fame), ABC has been serving the fandom needs of nerds across Central Texas since 1977.

Dragon’s Lair Comics & Fantasy. This local staple has been in business for 35 years, and has since opened four locations outside of Austin (including one all the way in Columbus, Ohio!). It’s a one-stop shop for all things D&D, CCG, RPGs, board games, comics, miniatures, collectibles, and more!

I hope you’ll check some of these bookshops out if you’re in the Austin area. I plan to do more posts like these whenever I have the opportunity to visit new independent bookshops (though they might be a bit scattered since I don’t travel much). Until next time!

[sj-ficrecs]

fic rec 11!

just a random collection of what I’ve read and enjoyed lately. as usual, no specific order.

This is purely a fic rec blog, always reblogging fics I enjoy. usually Bucky x reader, sometimes Steve x reader, Chris Beck x reader, etc. So check out more I’ve reblogged on this page. :) See my past fic recs below:

PREVIOUS FIC RECS HERE! // Q & A

(divider by @bwbatta)

Bucky x reader:

Flashing Lights by @pellucid-constellations​ Paramedic!Bucky x reader

“Bucky’s worst fears come true when he’s called to a scene. If he’s the one with the dangerous job, then why is it your life that’s hanging in the balance?”

Operation: Freefall by @constantwriter85​ Bucky x reader

“When Bucky fell from the train in 1945, he didn’t just leave behind his family and friends. He left behind the girl he was going to marry, a girl he never stopped loving. Decades later, Bucky continued to search for her, only to find out that she had disappeared without a trace in 1955. But when Steve hands over the shield to Sam Wilson, he also has something for his childhood friend—a redacted S.H.I.E.L.D. file code-named Operation: Freefall, a file with more questions than answers. With Sam’s help and a handful of Pym Particles, the file sends Bucky on a trip to the past, trying to solve the mystery and save the woman he still loves.”

Recovery by @wicked-mind​ Biker!Bucky x reader

“After going through rehab and recovering, you move back to town to live with your mother as you sort out what to do with your life, but your mom has other plans that include hooking you up with a hot biker by the name of James ‘Bucky’ Barnes”

Teacher’s Favorite + Sharing My Sweetheart by @suitk0via​ Single dad!Bucky x teacher!reader

“You are first grade teacher and Bucky is a single dad who wants to be involved with everything his little girl - Elaine - does. He’s the dad all the parent’s and faculty drool over. You quickly become Elaine’s favorite teacher and Bucky’s just gotta meet you.”

Uninvited by @mymoonagedaydream​ modern!Bucky x reader

Reader is a close friend of Sam’s. Sam and Bucky are roommates, so reader spends a lot of time with them. Bucky becomes colder towards reader and they ask Sam about it - finding out Bucky, who is taken, is falling out of love w/ his gf because he has a crush on reader.

You Know Me Too Well by @nexusnyx​ Tattoo Artist!Bucky x reader

“there is a thin line between pain and pleasure. that line is real and palpable, except for the times when you sit in bucky barnes’ table and feel his hands holding your skin. his job demands him to hurt you, but the only problem is that you enjoy it. a lot.”

The Slip Up by @justkending​ dad!Bucky x reader

“After a last hurrah to graduating college with a future to be a family practitioner, a little slip up happens… Seven years down the road, just when things just now seem to be going smoothly, Y/N approaches that slip up from all those years ago. She’s not looking for anything right now. She is just where she wants to be in life. It seems the universe has a different idea though. One called James Barnes.”

Invisible String series by @dirty-holy-things​ Bucky x reader

“You were fairly certain that landing a date through court-ordered therapy was some sort of HIPAA violation, if not just an ethical one, but you couldn’t help but be intrigued by the mysterious storm cloud of a man who you shared the waiting room with every Thursday.”

Sacrifice by @wkemeup​ Bucky x reader

“In the midst of an attack, you’re dosed with an unknown chemical and your healing ability becomes compromised.”

Purgatory by @wkemeup​ Bucky x reader

“While on a mission, Bucky becomes dissociated into the Winter Soldier. But instead of becoming a threat, his instinct is to protect.”

Behind the Storm by @wkemeup​ Bucky x reader

“On a mission, you’re hit with a spell that takes away your ability to see. Bucky does what he can to make you feel safe.”

We Were Screaming in Color by @samwlscns​ Bucky x reader, soulmate au

“james buchanan barnes was your soulmate and you were his. despite everything the world threw your way, bucky always kept his promise to make his way back home to you. even if that meant having to lose him more than once.”

Bulova by @babycap​ Bucky x reader

“In the five years between the two snaps that changed it all, life had moved on, as life is want to do. In the aftermath of that final battle, you discover that time waited for no one (least of all you), and those you loved marched forward into it without you. Sam suggests you volunteer at the local retirement community to keep you busy, keep your mind from lingering on what—and who—you lost. In giving back, you find that time can be just as generous as it is cruel. A non-canon compliant, friends-to-lovers fic.”

And They’re Roommates by @golden-barnes​ Modern bartender/roommate!Bucky x reader, New Girl au

“Your boyfriend cheats on you, and now you have nowhere to go. So when you found an ad for a shared loft, you didn’t hesitate to say yes. Come to the realization that you will be sharing it with four guys. Four guys, one of them who is extremely hot and zero brain cells between any of them. What else could you ask for?”

Keep Me Cool by @chouettedubois​ Bucky x reader

“You and Bucky are on your third undercover mission acting as a couple. Things go awry when you fall ill. Cue caretaker!Bucky to the rescue.”

Love in the Workplace by @cxddlyash​ Gardener!Bucky x Receptionist!reader

Working at the same hotel, a new gardener is recently hired.

“Your breath hitches in your throat at the sight of the new gardener. 

“What is it?” Sarah asks you and you clear your throat before tearing your gaze from the man.

“Uh, nothing. I finally see the gardener that the hotel hired,” you mention while walking closer to the place.”

Dad Biker!Bucky being adorable with his kids blurb by @angrythingstarlight​ dad biker!Bucky x reader

dad biker Bucky and his kids making pancakes and breakfast for mom :)

Tap by @houseravenclaws​ Bucky x reader

“bucky never talked much. he fell in love anyway.”

Teach Me How to Love by @thefalconthatcriedwolf​ Godfather/single dad!Bucky x teacher!reader

“Natasha leaves behind her precious daughter, Yelena, and with her dying breath asks Bucky to look after her. You happen to have Yelena in your class this school year.”

To Build a Home by @buckyjamess-archive​ @buckyjamess​​ Mechanic/single dad!Bucky x single mom!reader

“a mechanic and a nurse walk into a schoolyard..both new in the single parent life, chaos arises when the two come together but they wouldn’t have it any other way.”

A Good Kind of Fire by @dolcezzasfantasy​ Modern!Bucky x reader

“Character A runs a flower shop downtown. Character B is terribly allergic to flowers.”

If I Could Fly by @ceeellewrites​ actor!Bucky x actress!reader, social media au

“Bucky Barnes is an actor with a small (just a tiny) celebrity crush on Y/N L/N, one of the industry’s well-known actress. Well, it’s just a celebrity crush, what could go wrong?”

The Rumour by @sidepartskinnyjeans​ Bucky x reader

“after a, mostly, chance meeting with Sergeant Barnes starts a rumour around the compound that soon gets out of hand.”

See the World the Way You Do by @vanderlustwords​ Bucky x reader, soulmate au

“You start to see colour when you meet your soulmate. Bucky thinks that soulmates are a one of a kind thing—you get one and that’s it. His world used to be colourful once and then he lost that. He’s resigned to see black and white for the rest of his life…until flashes of colours would appear from the corner of his eye. And it seemed to happen more and more as Bucky spends time with you.”

Crawl Home to Her by @nexusnyx​ Bucky x reader

“when bucky finaly returns from his mission, he finds you sleeping in his sofa and the apartment much different than when he left. much prettier, with a touch of home. apparently, while he was away you took his advice to “do what you want with the place, doll” seriously - or as a distraction - and now he got to come home to this.bucky’s heart takes a leap and he stands there for a second, frozen in his spot.”

Signed by the Author by @wintersfilm​ Bucky x reader

“on a mission to improve his conversations with sam, bucky wanders brooklyn and into a bookstore where he finds his new favourite book and the most adorable bookseller he has ever laid eyes on.”

Seasons of Love by @constantwriter85​ Army vet!Bucky x reader, modern au

“Bucky gets a service dog, but Winter’s only got eyes for the dog across the park…and her owner.”

One Single Thread of Gold (Tied Me to You) by @pietrotica​ Bucky x reader, soulmate au

“on your sixteenth birthday, the first words your soulmate will speak to you appear on your wrist. in a world where it’s quite common to get a simple ’hi what can i get you’ or common phrases, you’ve managed to get their name. that doesn’t make it easier to find him.”

Sunday is a Family Day by @lazyangeltreemoney​ Bodyguard!Bucky x rockstar!reader

“You’re stubborn, annoying and hot as hell which seems to be an awful combo to mix with Bucky Barnes. However one day he realises he got you all wrong and now there’s a little kid in the mix that needs both of your help.”

[shirophantomvox]

First Date with Chrollo (Human Diary)

Hello everyone! I am back with another “First Date” post featuring the Prince of Darkness. This was an anon post but I can't find the ask anywhere! I have been watching JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures lately and it is a very interesting show. Dio turned into a zombie and he’s so mean to Joseph. Anyway, let’s get into the post. The end is a bit angst-y but I did that to take a slight turn from all Fluff. I hope you enjoy! Part 2 coming sometime this week.m

It is common knowledge that Chrollo loves to read many books. When he was a child, he had time to read and that provided a great source of comfort. Although he seems to be ruthless, every human has the ability to seek compatibility and compassion. Both Hisoka and Chrollo enjoy the romance genre except Hisoka prefers to watch movies while Chrollo loves to read stories. You've known Chrollo since elementary school. You were fortunate enough to be able to move out of Meteor City and attend a better elementary school. As a child, you were an outcast and made few friends but on occasion, Chrollo would see you at a local arcade. Of course, your mother paid for the both of you to have fun but once it was over, it broke your heart because you knew about the conditions he’d return to once he left.

As time went on, you entered college and decided to invite Chrollo on campus so he could be something like a driving force for future success. You’ve been accepted into Yorknew University planning on majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Digital Art. Reaching Chrollo posed a challenge. He never responded to a few messages but on the third try, he answered with an excited response.

“Please forgive me y/n for not responding soon enough. I am more than happy to visit you. I am proud of you and your accomplishments. I do not see myself as a college man but, hey, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it right? I’ll be in touch.”

-Chrollo

At exactly 7 PM on a calm Fall night, standing outside of the campus’ most prominent book store, you began to sweat and your makeup began to drip. Just as you were about to wipe it off, you heard a voice call your name.

“Y/n? Is that you?” He chuckled as he questioned your appearance.

Turning around, you jumped a little at the sight before you. This wasn’t the same Chrollo you remember, of course. He had grown several feet, his face was much sharper, his arms were much bigger, had a bandana tied on his forehead, and he had a few rings on. He was dressed in a white polo shirt, black pressed slacks and black dress shoes. It’s weird. It felt like an arrow was shot through your heart.

“Are you ok? You act as if you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I’m fine! I’m just---You--look…”

“Ah, I see. There’s no need to be flustered. I am the same as when we were kids.”

The Yorknew Sailor Store was designed something exactly like a Barnes and Noble except the walls were painted to match the school’s colors.

The bookstore had a perfectly designed Starbucks, with a wooden finish, black and brown metal tables, beige tile floor, and glass doors.

Chrollo immediately noticed the change in behavior, one he wasn’t used to.

The students were snooty according to him and reminded him of how the city council would act towards him, his family, and those who were like him.

First, you offered to buy him a drink. The good thing about Chrollo is that if you or anyone else offers to buy something, He will not reject it. There is no such thing as having too much pride regarding him.

“Do you drink coffee?”

“Of course I do,” he replied. “But I don’t think I’ve had any of these drinks. A Caramel Macchiato? That sounds good.”

“Order it then! That will give you just the right amount of energy for today’s reading!”

To you, this was just two friends reuniting with each other but something else told you that Chrollo thought it was something more. He only dressed up like this if he was going out with someone special and even then it wasn’t an expensive Polo Short, It was his best t-shirt and jeans.

It boggles your mind how Chrollo acquired his expensive clothing but maybe he obtained a great job and is able to make a living for himself.

“I’d like to order a Caramel Macchiato.”

“What’s the name for this drink?”

“Chrollo,” you responded.

“And for you?”

“I would like a caramel Frappuccino with soy milk and no whip cream.”

“Alright. That’ll be $15.00.”

Chrollo glanced at you wide-eyed.

“It’s ok. I got it.”

You take out your card to pay and as you move out of line you bend over to whisper in his ear. “Maybe you can pay for dinner though.”

He laughed and smiled. “Of course, y/n.”

The bookstore was full of comfortable furniture ranging from light blue, dark blue, white in the lounge area. Both of you decided to sit across from each other on the blue chairs that swallowed you both as you sat.

As he read, he’d point out any interesting points in the book. He got tired of yelling across the table, so he decided to share a chair with you. He could feel the heat radiating from your body.

It was almost obvious that you all were involuntarily flirting with each other. The school was full of couples but occasionally seeing the goofy couple was the highlight of everyone’s day.

“This man was so devoted to a woman that does not know that he exists.”

“Sounds pointless,” you say, still trying to read your book.

“Well, she knows he exists but she is ignoring him and making him look like a fool in front of everyone. He says that there is something about her that he has never seen in any woman.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s her eyes, smile, intelligence, the shape of her lips, and her perfume powder aroma. Those are things that drive men wild.”

You smiled and laughed but came to a quick halt when you felt something along the ridge of your neck made you still. The hair on your neck stood up still as the invading force came in contact with your skin. It was Chrollo grazing his nose against your skin, slightly sniffing in your aroma; slowly breathing in and out.

Closing your eyes couldn’t make your sudden arousal fade. At this point, nearly everybody was looking at you both and looked away. This behavior was innocent for college culture, but it was taken as a cute gesture rather than naughty.

You blush. It was quite surprising that your childhood friend viewed you as something of the sort. It was both flattering and scary.

There’s no denying that Chrollo is handsome but if you dated him and the relationship didn't last, it could ruin your friendship.

At this point, Chrollo had his right arm resting lazily behind your back as his head and next aimed in a position that would allow his nose to lay carelessly on your neck.

“You smell delightful. I didn’t know you wore such expensive perfume. Is it….,” He sniffs again, “Flower Rose?”

“Yes! How did you know? Does your mother wear it?”

“She does now. I bought it for her a week ago and now the guys in the city can’t stay off her.”

Wow. The City. Even though it was a hell hole, it was your hell hole. How is everything? How is your mother? How did you manage to have such an expensive taste in clothing and fragrance?

Chrollo enjoys making others flustered. It's amusing to see them stutter when they’re either aroused or nervous.

On the flip side, seeing Chrollo flustered was the highlight of the century! The bad guys are used to being “bad” but expressing softer emotions makes it amazing and a reminder that they can experience them too.

Grabbing Chrollo’s left hand, you gently kiss it a few times and wink at him. He smiled, hiding his dumbfounded expression, and blushed slightly.

“I see you catch on quick.”

“I was raised in Meteor City. Just because I’m here doesn't mean I have forgotten where I come from. But I didn’t know you liked me.”

“You were the only one that trusted me and played with me when no one would.”

It felt like two magnets were pulling you closer. If he kissed you right here right now, you could just melt into a puddle but before anything happened, Chrollo’s phone rang loud and echoed throughout the bookstore.

Glancing at his phone, you saw an unknown number call, and judging from his actions he stood quickly to his feet.

“I’ll only be gone for a second.”

Hmm. That was odd. During this short intermission, you continue to read your book. Ironic enough, you weren’t into romance novels per se, you enjoyed action and comedy books!

Once Chrollo returned, his face was flushed and his soft demeanor had suddenly disappeared. He looked as if he was going to punch a wall.

“What’s wrong, Chrollo?”

He glanced at you with a somber smile, hoping to convince you that he was alright. “I am fine, y/n.”

“Are you sure?”

“Well, if you count my mother being seriously injured, then yes.”

“Oh no! We can leave now, it’s fine.”

“No, it's ok. She wouldn’t want me to leave you all by yourself at this time of day.” He pointed to the night sky.

Wow! That was quick!

“What do you mean?”

“My mother predicted that I could end up with you...she also predicted that someone would be hurt or in danger if that prophecy was fulfilled. It’s sort of like give or take. In order to make someone happy, someone has to surrender their happiness and I guess it was her.”

A single tear dropped down his cheek and nothing more. He didn’t care if other men singled out his “weakness” because he’d destroy them all and he didn’t want y/n to know about his abilities until later.

The comfort of your warmth against his head provided more than comfort. He felt safe, welcomed, not judged, and vulnerable. He knew that you wouldn’t make him out to be a bad person but instead welcome him home with open arms. You were his human diary.

[melodyalanaroster]

All I Want For Christmas Is You

When Halloween ended, it didn’t take long for the people in the Black Tower to begin their holiday preparations. The Senior Staff were already discussing what acts of good will they would commit during the season, and Alana had begun overseeing the decoration of her family home. “Why are you doing this so early?” Nora asked her. “You know its one of the only times that the family home is full. So, I want to make it to where my family won’t need to do much of the decorating. As Agatha and I are the ones closest, she and I will decorate the tree on Black Friday.” Alana replied. “It’s good that your family follows traditions like that.” Nora grinned. “I’m very thankful that The Red Death allowed me to continue that tradition even during my ascent to power. He didn’t have to do that.” Alana commented. “Because The Red Death still has a soul.” Nora stated. Alana shook her head. “Not just that. He still has his heart.”

★

Throughout the days leading up to November twenty-seventh, the Senior Staff gathered together in the main Recuperation Room. “I think we should give to local homeless shelters!”, “I think we should donate toys to needy kids!”, “Let’s take care of the bills for a few families this month!”, the ideas for acts of kindness poured out from the various members like a waterfall. Alana was deep in thought as everyone else talked. “What do you think Melody?” The Red Death asked. “I think we should make a list of all the needy families in the area, each of us choose at least a couple of them, then provide them with relief and goods this month. I also think that we should get the children more than just toys, but clothes, shoes and books as well. Perhaps, for every child on our list, we get them an outfit, pair of shoes, new book, and a toy. We can even take in to effect the non Christian population and still provide to them, simply for an act of goodwill. That way, everyone gets help, and needy children get a little cheer. They are a lot less fortunate than us, we should give them a bit of what they need and want. Oh, and let’s not forget the children in the hospitals around the area. At least one toy for each of them, and a meal sent to their families.” She suggested. “Do we have the budget for that, sir?” Veronica asked. The Red Death looked at Veronica with an eyebrow raised. He grabbed a tablet, tapped on it for a couple of minutes and handed it to her. “I see. We have more than enough.” Veronica replied. “I think it’s a fantastic idea!” Renee called. “We can even get the Paladins in on this! That way, we can help more people!” Nora cheered. “I’m in.” Derek chimed in. “Here here!”, “Let’s do this!”, “Huzzah!”, the room boomed with approval. “So, it’s unanimous. Melody’s idea wins.” The Red Death chuckled. “We deal with so much death, this is a lovely idea that can help people across the board, even if it is just for a little bit.” Lyra stated. 

After much more discussion, each member of the Senior Staff was given a family to spoil. As they left the Recuperation Room to begin their missions, The Red Death held Alana back. “I know you’re going home for Christmas. When will you be leaving here?” He asked. “Probably the morning of Christmas Eve. Sam and Ken will get to the house the night before, and Mom and Nate are set to come home that day as well. Don’t worry... I’ll be back the day after Boxing Day.” She replied. “You know you don’t need to worry about when you’ll be back. I just want you to have fun.” He grinned. “Thanks for this. Although, I know that, if I’m not back in time for the New Year’s Party, all hell will break loose.” She chuckled. “When it comes to your missions, just buy the stuff for the kids. I’ll buy the food and deliver everything. After all, you are the only person in this tower who is leaving it for the holidays.” He ordered. She looked at him, puzzled. “Are Brandon and Jack not having Nora over?” She asked. “They’ve decided to spend the day here.” He replied. “Ah.” She nodded.

★

“Melody are you ready? It’s time to decorate the tree!” Agatha called from the living room in the main Roster family home. The family matriarch, Margaret, sat in the rocking chair next to a big box of ornaments. Alana dashed into the room. “Sorry, I was working on something.” She huffed. “You’re always working on something. It’s time to have fun!” Margaret stated. “I know, but Oma, you know I’m a busy woman.” Alana explained as she stood next to her grandmother. “I know, but, you need to slow down a bit.” Margaret replied. “I’ve been saying that for over a year, Mom, but she won’t listen.” Agatha commented as she turned on Christmas music. “Sweetie, you can’t be running all the time. Sometimes, you have to sit back and enjoy the view.” Margaret smiled as she held Alana’s arm. “But the view I want to see is almost within my sight! I’m almost to my ultimate goal!” Alana excitedly protested. “It’s not good for you to always be running. Even Nathaniel has been saying that.” Agatha stated. “I know... But still...” Alana sighed. “Alright, let’s get to the tree!” Margaret ordered.

As the three women took decorations and ornaments out of boxes and put them on the tree, they talked about memories. Margaret picks up a purple heart ornament with a pink decoration on it. Agatha: “Awe! Mels! It’s your Hannah Montana ornament! Remember your pop star phase?” Alana: “I’m trying to forget about it...” Margaret: “I don’t see why. You have a lovely singing voice.”

Margaret picks up an ornament that looks like a playing card. Margaret: “Sam’s card ornament! What game was that that she was so obsessed with?” Alana: “YuGiOh! That’s her Blue-Eyes White Dragon. She put it in a card protector and turned it into an ornament for safe keeping.” Agatha: “I thought you all were in to Pokemon...” Alana: “We are. But, we all prefer the games and anime over the cards.”

Margaret picks up an ornament that looks like Merida. Alana: “Mom’s Brave ornament!” Margaret: “We were singing “Noble Maiden Fair” before Disney popularized it.” Margaret picks up a metal ornament that’s in the shape of a cat. Margaret: “Sylvester’s ornament.” Alana, who tears up and begins to sniffle: “I miss him...”

★

“Mels! This is a wonderful idea! I’m glad the R.D.R is doing this! I wanna take part! If there’s a family that I can do that to, let me know!” Severina cheered. “Well, there are a couple of families that are on the list that the Senior Staff and I can’t get to... I’ll send you the details later today.” Alana smiled as they walked around the shops. “Fantastic! I can’t wait to put a smile on their faces!” Severina beamed. “Have you finished your shopping?” Alana asked. “Not yet. I haven’t quite decided on what to get you. Do you know what you want?” Severina asked. Alana shook her head. “The item I want most is on its way... I hope.” She replied. “That book you’ve been talking about for months? What was it called again? The Toll?” Severina asked. “No. The Toll is a book I’m still waiting on. It’s The Living that is on its way. I’ve waited two years for that book. I preordered it when Isaac Marion said that it was available. It’ll be a signed, hardcover, first edition, fresh off the press, copy. It’s that zombie book I’ve been waiting for.” Alana replied.

As they went through the shops and Alana purchased the items for the needy kids on her list, Severina kept talking about how great the holidays were gonna be. “We’ll play games and eat ourselves sick!” She cheered. “And your dad will get mad like he always does.” Alana commented. Severina stuck her tongue out at her. “This year, I don’t care if my father gets angry with me! I wanna enjoy myself!” She scoffed. Alana smiled. “Not to mention, how, if everything goes well, you won’t have to deal with your father any more soon.” She added. Severina hugged her. “Yeah! After that’s all over, my father won’t have any power in my mom’s and my life! I still don’t see why this investigation is taking months to do....” She replied. “Because you and your mom need time to build up your lives so you two won’t fail after he’s gone. I’ve told you that for weeks. Make it to where there is no way that you two will ever need him. During this time, the police and I are getting every ounce of evidence we need to lock your father away for good.” Alana explained.

A few minutes later, they had wandered into a bookstore. “Are we gonna have a snowball fight?” Severina asked. “Probably.” Alana grinned as she looked over the books. Suddenly, a book on a shelf in the book caught her eye. She walked over to the shelf and gazed at the book. It was an old detective novel by Agatha Christie. She picked the book up, looked closer at it, and smiled. A first edition. “I’m sure he has a copy of this one, but he doesn’t have a copy like this.” She thought. She took the book to the counter. “Either you’re a hardcore Agatha Christie fan, or you’re a fan of rare books.” The girl commented. “The man I love is a major fan of Hercule Poirot. I’m sure he has a copy of this one, but it’s not a first edition. This will be a perfect Christmas present.” Alana explained. “Would you like it gift wrapped?” The girl asked, smiling as she rang the book up. Alana shook her head. “No, I like wrapping presents myself.” She grinned as she slid her card in the card reader. “That’s so sweet. I hope he likes it.” The girl handed her the book in a bag with her receipt. “I hope so too. Thank you.” Alana took the bag, looked at it hopefully and began looking for Severina. “Have a great day! Merry Christmas!” the girl called as Alana walked off. “So, find anything good?” Severina asked. “Yeah, Nathaniel’s Christmas present.” Alana replied.

★

“Get in assholes, we’re going light looking!” Alana cheered as Castiel, Priya, and Nathaniel stood before a van. “Why do I have to drive?” Nora asked. “Because it will be good for you.” Alana replied. “Why are we doing this?” Nathaniel asked. “Because! Light Looking is a fun holiday event! We get hot chocolate, fast food, blankets and pillows and listen to Christmas music while we drive around and look at everyone’s light displays! Come on guys! Please?” Alana cheered. Nathaniel, Castiel and Priya looked around at each other and sighed. “Alright, if it’ll make you happy.” Nathaniel slightly grinned as he got into the van. “And why are we here?” Priya asked. Alana looked at them blankly. “Because its more fun with more people and you guys are my friends.” She stated. Priya looked at Castiel, shrugged, and got into the van. Castiel looked at Alana and smiled. “Is this what you really want?” He asked. “Yes.” Alana cheerfully cooed. “Alright, I’ll do it.” He chuckled as he got in the van. “Fantastic!” Alana cheered as she got in.

“Does your family decorate the outside of the main house in Weathering at this time of year?” Priya asked as they drove through the suburban sections of the city, listening to Christmas music, eating snacks and drinking hot cocoa. “Yeah. It’s tradition that the closest family members are required to do it. This year, Agatha and I had that task. There are lights in the trees and along the fence. We even have metal Santa hats for the dragons on the gate and the mailbox. Its not much, but people like it. We used to always get comments from local kids and our postmen before mom, Sam and I moved.” Alana explained. “Why don’t you stop, now that you don’t live there anymore?” Priya asked. “Because that house has been in our family for several generations. It’s been my family’s primary home since my great, great, grandmother bought it when my great, grandmother was a child. Typically, the next head of the family inherits it. It’s going to mom. Then, even though I’m mom’s successor, it will be going to Sam. Decorating it is a tradition that my family follows because, at it’s core, even though most of us don’t live there anymore, it is still home to us.” Alana continued to explain. “That’s really sweet.” Priya cooed.

As they drove through the city they saw many beautiful displays. Lights, music, beloved characters, it all made them feel warm. “Are you all gonna see family this season?” Nora, innocently, asked. Nathaniel and Castiel looked down. “I’ll be seeing my parents, but only for a couple of days.” Priya piped up. Alana put her hand on Nathaniel’s arm. “You could spend the holiday with me. I’m sure my family will happily welcome you.” She whispered into his ear. “I’m not ready for that. Besides, I’ll spend part of that day with Amber.” He whispered back. “Oh.” Alana looked down. “Thank you for the offer.” Nathaniel whispered, lovingly.

★

“Calm down, everyone!” Rayan called as he stood before his class. When the class became silent, he gave everyone a grin. “Now, I know that some of you will be starting your winter break after this, but I want you all to remember, learning does not stop at that door. Take in the beauty of the season, and appreciate the art that comes with it. Have a good break.” He announced as the class ended. Alana walked up to the podium. “You gonna watch the BBC’s rerun marathon of all the Doctor Who Christmas specials during the break?” She asked. “Maybe. You know Christmas isn’t my favorite time of year.” He replied, a hint of sadness in his voice. Alana looked down and attempted to be cheery. “I get that. But, hopefully, something will help you feel better.” She replied as she took a package out of her backpack and set it on the podium. “Merry Christmas Rayan.” She smiled as she walked out of the auditorium.

Rayan looked at the package, curiously, and began to open it. Inside was a DVD copy of Matt Smith’s era of Doctor Who, a Deadpool comic, a set of Batman shaped chocolate, and a note. 

“From one geek to another. I hope this adds some cheer during this season.

                                     - Melody Alana Roster”

He read the note and smiled. “Thanks Alana.”

★

The hustle and bustle throughout the Black Tower became more celebratory. The Jewish members celebrated Hanukkah and invited Alana to join in on their fun. She took part in at least one night of the celebrations. “If you ever wanna join in on our holiday, please feel free to!” The girl who invited her smiled. “Yes, thank you so much for giving us some of your time!” a boy beamed. “Thank you for the invite! It was a lot of fun!” Alana smiled as she left the room. The other members of the Senior Staff were continuing their work on their missions. Alana had dropped off her mission purchases in the Red Death’s office.

“Severina talked to me about the mission. I gave her three families to help out and she went above and beyond. I’m impressed.” The Red Death commented. “She really wanted to help and she loved our mission.” Alana smiled. “That’s amazing. I’ll be sure to give her credit for all the work she’s done.” He replied. “Thank you, sir.” Alana bowed. “Alright, go get ready for your holiday.” He ordered.

★ 

The morning of Christmas Eve, Alana had been walking through the city, getting the last items she needed before she had to leave for Weathering. “Alright, got the treats from that local bakery that I like. Got all the presents loaded into my Mini Cooper, the Tower won’t fall into ruin while I’m gone. Nathaniel and everyone here know when I’ll be back. Sam and Ken got to the house last night. Mom and Nate should be getting there right about now. The shops should all be closing in the next couple of hours. I even got myself some yummy treats for breakfast! I’m still waiting on The Living to come in.” She thought out loud as she made her way back to the Black Tower.

When she got back to Death’s Domain, she saw Nathaniel standing outside her door. “My, my!! It really is Christmas. It’s just a damn shame I don’t have any mistletoe around!” She cheered when she saw him. “I wanted to see you before you leave.” He said, nervously. “I’ll only be gone a few days. I promise I’ll be home in time for New Years.” She cooed as she opened the door and let him in. “Would you like something to eat? I guarantee I bought too much for myself.” She offered as she set her purchases on the table. “Are you sure?” He asked. “I wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t sure. Come on, let’s eat.” She insisted as she pulled out the food and a couple of plates. “Thanks, Alana.” He smiled as he sat down. Alana noticed him placing a package on the ground next to him. “What’s that?” She asked. He looked at her and nervously blushed. “I-I got you something.” He muttered. Her heart skipped a beat. “That’s really sweet! I’ve got something for you too.” She mused. He looked surprised for a second. “Really?” He asked. Alana got up from the table, walked over to the Christmas tree, picked up a present, brought it over to the table and sat down. “Do you wanna do this, then eat? Or do you wanna eat first?” She asked, lovingly. Nathaniel looked at the gift, then at the food, and his stomach growled. “Can we eat first?”

After eating their meal, Alana cleared the table, took the present she had gotten for Nathaniel to the couch, sat down and motioned for him to follow in her stead. He picked up the present at his feet, walked over to her and sat down. He sat the package on the table next to hers. She picked up the small package and handed it to him. “You first.” She beamed. He took it in his hands and began to open it. When all of the paper was off the book, he looked at it. “Its a first edition. Where did you find this?” He asked, shocked, a smile making it’s way onto his face. “There’s a bookshop in the more aristocratic part of the city. I was there with Severina one day and I found it in the back on a shelf.” She explained. “Thank you Alana. I love it.” He blushed. Nathaniel laid the book on the couch next to him, picked up the remaining present and handed it to her. She unwrapped the present, opened the box and looked at the item in shock. “Nathaniel, you remembered!” She choked as she pulled out a blue and white teddy bear. Nathaniel put his hand on his neck and nervously looked away. “Amber dragged me to the mall one day... I saw that in that bear building store and thought of you...” He explained. The bear was a deep blue with white spots all over it, resembling snow. It had yellow pajama’s and a deep blue robe on. On it’s wrist was a large plush bell. Hanging from it’s ear was a tag that looked like a golden train ticket. “Nathaniel, you didn’t have to get me anything...” Alana smiled. “I know, but I wanted to.” He replied. She set the bear down on the coffee table, got closer to him and kissed his cheek, sweetly. “Thank you so much Nath. It means the world to me.” She cooed. He scooted away from her, nervously, and his blush became more prominent. “M-Merry C-Christmas A-Alana.” He stuttered as he grabbed the book. She chuckled, grabbed the bear and stood up. “Merry Christmas Nathaniel.”

A couple of hours later, the gate at the main Roster family home in Weathering opened and Alana’s car pulled into the driveway. Sam opened the door as Alana got out of her car. “Welcome home, asshole!” Sam called as she walked towards the car. “Merry Christmas jackass!” Alana called as she started pulling stuff out of the car. “Good to see you, sis.” Sam patted Alana on the back. “You too, Sam.” Alana smiled. “Mom and Nate aren’t home yet. A package was sent here for you. The Red Death directed it to come here.” Sam explained as they walked into the manor. They walked to the kitchen and sat the goodies on the counter. “Mom and Nate will be home this evening. As for what he sent here, I’m not sure what it is.” Alana replied. “Well, he’s not the type to send gifts like that, is he? He typically gives you guys stuff directly, or sends messengers, right?” Sam asked. “Typically... Unless...” Alana began as her eyes shot up and she bolted to her room.

Alana threw open the door, ran to the bed, pulled out a knife and opened the package. “FINALLY! TWO YEARS OF WAITING AND IT’S FINALLY HERE!” She called as she picked up the book. Two years of waiting patiently, watching out for Isaac Marion’s email updates, a hint of despair when one update said that it might not get finished, hope when the emails began talking about the looming completion, and utter joy when preorders became available had all lead up to this. She opened the book and smelled the pages. “Ahhh... Freshly printed!” She sighed. She turned to the title page and saw the signature. She closed the book, looked in the box, pulled out the two packets and smiled. “The signed bonus stories!” She cheered. She quickly placed the book on the bed, sat down, and delved into the stories. After a few minutes, she placed the packets on her desk. “Those were lovely.” She sighed as she grabbed the book and went back downstairs. 

“He must have seen that it would come in while I’m here!” Alana cheered as she walked into the living room and held up her book for Sam and Ken to see. “Isn’t that the book you’ve been waiting on for a while?” Ken asked. “Two years, yes.” Alana confirmed. “Well then, good for the Red Death. Although, you’d better understand, you can’t tear into that book the entire time. I know you’ve been waiting forever for it, but you need to stay in our world for a bit.” Sam chuckled. Alana rolled her eyes. “I know. I’ll just read in my free time.” She sighed. “Good. Mom texted me, she’ll be home in a couple of hours.” Sam announced.

Hours later, while Sam, Ken, Margaret and Alana were in the kitchen preparing the meal for the following day, the front door flew open, allowing some of the snow to come in to the manor. “Mom!” Sam and Alana cheered in unison as they sauntered towards the entryway. “We’re home!” Lynne announced as she and Nate walked into the entryway and shook off the snow. “Welcome home mom.” Alana smiled as she hugged her mother. “Hey Nate.” She cheered as she hugged her step-father. “Welcome back guys.” Sam smiled as she hugged them. “My babies! I’ve missed you two so much!” Lynne cheered as she looked at her daughters. “Is Nathaniel not with you?” She asked Alana. “No. I invited him, but he’s spending tomorrow with his sister. He came to Death’s Domain this morning and we ate breakfast and did our gift exchange.” Alana clarified. “What did he give you?” Nate asked. “The Polar Express bear from the bear building shop.” Alana blushed. “Awe, he must have remembered your favorite Christmas movie!” Lynne smiled.

It didn’t take long for everyone to eat dinner and get settled into the living room. The Christmas Eve movie that was chosen was Hogfather. As the movie progressed, and Death did the Hogfather’s job, Alana couldn’t help but be reminded of why she chose the Grim Reaper as her R.D.R avatar. It was, of course, an homage to her favorite incarnation of him. She never got over the part of him saving the little match girl in Hogfather. The scene in the movie was playing. “You’re not supposed to do that.” Alfred said as Death refilled the little match girl’s hourglass.  "The Hogfather gives presents. There's no better present than a future." Death pointed out as he picked the little girl up off the street. Terry Pratchett’s version of the Grim Reaper was what she wanted to resemble when doing her job.

After the movie was over, and everyone had gone to bed, Alana made sure to leave a pork pie and a glass of sherry for Santa with a note saying “The Hogfather likes this, maybe you’ll appreciate something different.”. She knew that no one would come for it, but she giggled at the principle of the thing. She went back to her room, put the bear Nathaniel gave her in her lap, texted Nathaniel “Goodnight”, and began reading her book. “I’ll just read a couple of chapters, then I’ll go to sleep.” She mused as she read.

★

The morning of Christmas Day was always a fun one. With no little kids waking up early to make a ruckus, it was up to Sam and Alana to wake up and begin the festivities. As Alana descended the stairs in her pajamas, she smelled bacon being cooked in the kitchen. “Merry Christmas fuckface!” Sam cheered as she stood over the stovetop. “Merry Christmas you overdeveloped cum shot!” Alana mused as she walked into the kitchen, pulled out a griddle and began preparing pancakes. As the pancakes cooked, Alana pulled out her phone and sent a “Merry Christmas” message to Nathaniel. He quickly came back with a “Merry Christmas” message. As the smell of the girls’ cooking became stronger, Ken, Lynne and Nate wandered into the room. “Smells delicious!” Lynne mused. “Can I have some?” Nate asked. “We’re eating good today!” Ken cheered.

Not long after breakfast, there was a knock on the door. Everyone had gotten dressed and was beginning to work on the next preparations for the evening feast. “They’re here early.” Sam smiled. “At this rate, they might as well spend the night here!” Alana commented as she went to open the door. “MELS!” Severina cheered as she threw her arms around her. “Hey Rini!” Alana mused as she hugged Severina. She looked at the people behind Severina. “Hey Viktor, aunt Verity!” She called. Viktor came into the manor holding a large stack of gifts. “Hey Mels!” He smiled as he did his best to balance the stack in his arms. “Do you need help?” Alana asked. “I’d appreciate it.” He sighed. She chuckled and took some of the packages away from him. “Thanks.” He smiled as they walked to the living room and set the presents around the tree.

Throughout the day, the manor filled with the Roster clan and close friends. Agatha, Seraphina, Kirk, Kai and Ravenna had all shown up. As soon as Kai had entered the living room, he was met with sharp glares from Viktor, Severina, Ken, Sam and Alana. “Already judging, I see.” Kai commented as he sat down in a chair in the corner. “If you weren’t so disrespectful, you wouldn’t be receiving this treatment.” Sam spat. “The least you can do is be a good little boy and remain silent.” Severina shot. “Oh, and don’t forget to thank OUR FAMILY for making sure your daughter doesn’t turn into a wretched disgrace like you!” Alana added. Ken and Viktor looked at each other, then shot Kai disgusted looks. “Come on? Nothing from you two?” Kai asked them. “The girls have got it covered.” Viktor stated as Ken nodded in agreeance. Kai then scoffed and left the room. He could be heard muttering the phrases “fucking assholes” and “no respect” as he walked out. A minute later, Ravenna ran into the room, Seraphina following suit. “MELS! SAMI! RINI! KEN! VIKY!” Ravenna cheered as she made her way around the room, giving everyone hugs. “Hey kiddo.”, “Hey Kid.”, “Merry Christmas Ravenna.”, “Good afternoon little one.” they all greeted. “Hey kids.” Seraphina smiled. “Hey Sera.” Alana grinned. “I see you’ve all instantly jumped on Kai.” Seraphina commented. “I know Christmas is about “Peace on Earth” and “Good will towards men”, but he’s been an insufferable prick the past few years, so, we’ll ignore peace and good will in an effort to show him that.” Sam explained. “Not to mention how he’s disrespected mom, Sam and me A LOT over the past few years!” Alana commented. “Sera, he has become a selfish, self centered, overly entitled, fool.” Severina stated. “Okay, I get it. But, can we please tone that down for the holiday? I’ll tell him to do the same.” Seraphina requested. Sam and Alana rolled their eyes. “Fine, I guess.” Sam sighed. “Whatever.” Alana shot.

It wasn’t long before the ham was in it’s final hours of cooking and everyone could gather in the living room to open presents. “Did you get something from Nathaniel?” Severina asked. “Yeah, that Polar Express bear that just came out.” Alana replied. “Awe! He remembered!” Severina cooed. Lynne began passing the presents out to everyone. Ravenna had gotten a bunch of toys from various genres. Superheroes from Alana, Anime from Sam and Ken, Sci-Fi from Lynne and Nate, and Princesses from everyone else. “Looks like her villains are up a creek without a paddle!” Alana joked. “Oh yeah! They won’t know what hit them!” Ravenna cheered. “Mels? Sam? Did you two not get Kai anything?” Seraphina asked. “Nope.” Alana replied. “Why would I?” Sam asked. Seraphina, and Lynne sighed. Kai opened the three presents he received. “Thanks guys.” He sheepishly grinned. Ken, Viktor, Agatha, Seraphina, Kirk, Margaret, Harold, Nate, Lynne and Verity opened their presents. “Thanks everyone.”, “This is so sweet!”, “You all know me!”, “This is lovely!”, “Thanks fam!”, “This is amazing!”, “So cute!”, “Fantastic!”, “I love it!”, “Divine!” they all cheered as they put the trash in the bag. Severina began to open her presents. “Oh my gosh! These are amazing!” She cheered. Alana had gotten her a collection of all of the Pokemon movies. Sam had gotten her a bunch of Sailor Moon items. Viktor had gotten her Disney stuff. The family got her various other things that was on her wish list. Sam opened her presents. The pile of items around Sam looked like an explosion of Batman. “This was awesome!” She beamed. Alana began to open her presents. Agatha gave her filaments for her 3D printer. Margaret gave her a Sailor Moon plush. Seraphina gave her a set of Stewart Semple’s paints. Lynne gave her figures of Death from the Discworld Emporium. Nate gave her Doctor Who items. Verity gave her a black, Doctor Who, long coat. Viktor gave her a Rowlet plush from Pokemon. Severina gave her a set of Sailor Moon Funko Pops. Then came Sam’s presents to her... Alana unwrapped the gift and instantly became awestruck. “Sam, this is a Hong Kong exclusive.” She commented. “Yeah, I got a contact to get it to me.” Sam replied. Alana picked up the item and showed everyone. In Alana’s hand was a portable power bank shaped like the Cosmic Heart compact from Sailor Moon. “There’s more in that box.” Sam smiled. Alana pulled out a Spiral Heart Rod selfie stick and a Cosmic Heart popcorn bucket from Universal Studios Japan. “See, it matches the Crystal Star and Cutie Moon Rod stuff I got for Rini!” Sam beamed. Tears came to Alana’s eyes. “Sam.” She sputtered. “Awe, come on! You know I love you!” Sam chuckled. “Awe!” A bunch of people smiled. 

After the trash from the presents had been cleared away, and all members who didn’t live in the house had put their presents in boxes and bags, Sam, Ken, Lynne, Seraphina, Agatha, Viktor and Alana put the food on the table. The dinner consisted of a massive brown sugar glazed ham, turkey, two different dressings, green bean casserole, yams, mashed potatoes, white gravy, cranberry sauce, carrots, croissants and rolls. The desert table was covered in beautiful snacks brought by several members of the family. Several Christmas themed cakes, snickerdoodles, several variations of sugar cookie, shortbread cookies, gingerbread cookies, divinity, home made hard candy, truffles, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, candy canes, and cheesecake. “I see the feast is a little extra cheery this year!” Verity beamed as everyone sat down. “Yes, this is a major year for our clan! We must celebrate it properly!” Seraphina smiled. “Let’s hope that the table will have more next year!” Agatha cheered. Alana smiled. “Hopefully, it will!” She cooed. Margaret whispered something to Lynne and Lynne stood up. Everyone turned their attention to Lynne. “Family, dear friends, each Christmas, our clan celebrates another year of love, life, and the pursuit of happiness. As the stories tell, this season is for “Peace on Earth” and “Good will towards men”. Our family is no different. The past few years, we have been through many hardships, and, while I know the hardships have yet to end, and I can say that, this past year has brought us many victories. That being said, this is a time to be thankful for what we have, and look forward for what’s to come. I know you all are working hard to achieve your dreams, just as I have. Thank you all for everything you are, and everything you do! Merry Christmas!” Everyone raised their glasses and toasted to Lynne’s speech. “Merry Christmas!” They all cheered.

When dinner ended, they cleaned everything up, got everyone’s “to go” boxes ready and the kids went into the living room. “Mario Kart or Super Smash Bros.?” Sam asked. “Either way, someone is getting their ass kicked!” Alana cheered. “Let’s play Mario Kart! We played Smash last year!” Severina suggested. “I’m in.” Viktor cheered. “I’m out, I’m too full. I’ll sit and watch.” Ken sighed as he laid on the couch. Viktor, Severina, Sam and Alana proceeded to play video games for a couple of hours. Each match ending in cheers, someone groaning, and plenty of jokes and laughter.

Alana’s head had begun to hurt from the games, even with her glasses activated to “videogame mode”. “I’m gonna go to bed.” She yawned. “Okay, do you need help upstairs?” Viktor asked. “Nah, I’ll leave my presents down here, I’m just gonna go to sleep.” Alana smiled as she left the party and went to her room. Suddenly, her phone was vibrating. She took it out of her pocket, looked at it, and answered the call. Alana: “Good Evening Nathaniel.” Nathaniel: “Hey, Alana.” Alana: “I get a present and an evening phone call? It really is the most wonderful time of the year!” Nathaniel: “You sound like you’ve had fun.” Alana: “It would have been more fun if you had been here.” Alana put Nathaniel on speaker phone while she got changed into her pajamas. Nathaniel: “Alana....” Alana: “I know, I know.... You’re not ready for this yet. It’s a big thing to come to the Roster Family Christmas. Especially considering you’d be meeting Viktor, Severina and my aunt Verity. Oh, and we’re not officially back together yet.” Nathaniel: “You know...” Alana: “I know, it’s dangerous. You keep telling me that. But, you’re worth the danger. Not to mention, I’m me. I’ll survive.” Nathaniel: ... Alana took the call off of speaker phone and got into bed. Alana: “So? How was your holiday?” Nathaniel: “It was alright. I hung out with Amber for a while, then she had to spend time with our parents.” Alana: “So, for the most part, you just spent Christmas with Blanche?” Nathaniel: “Yeah.” Alana: “Well, next year, how about you spend Christmas with me?” Nathaniel: “Next year?” Alana: “Yeah. Amber can come too. We can even bring Blanche!” Nathaniel: -chuckles- “Maybe. When we get closer to that point.” Alana told Nathaniel how her Christmas went. Nathaniel: “Wow, you did have a lot of fun!” Alana: “It’s always a bit of a party around here at Christmas!” Nathaniel: “Would your family be okay if I came next year?” Alana: “Mom asked me why you didn’t come this year. Don’t worry, I told her that you and I aren’t fully official yet, and that you’re not comfortable.” Nathaniel: “Thanks Alana.” Alana: -yawns- “Of course. Hey, I’m really tired, I’m gonna go to sleep. Goodnight Nathaniel. Merry Christmas!” Nathaniel: “Okay. Goodnight and sweet dreams my Melody. Merry Christmas.” Alana ended the phone call, put her phone on the charger on her bedside table, grabbed the bear Nathaniel gave her, and curled up in bed. Viktor and Severina lightly knocked on her door, telling her that they’re staying the night and they’ll see her in the morning. Slow, calm, Christmas music rang through the house. Sam knocked on the door. “Mels! Don’t forget! We’re all having a snowball fight tomorrow! Rest up and prepare for battle!” She called. “’Night Mels!” Ken called. A couple of minutes later, Nate and Lynne called through her door. “Goodnight kiddo!”, “Sweet dreams sweetie!”. When the only thing that could be heard from outside her bedroom door was the Christmas music, Alana rolled over and muttered to herself. “He called me “his Melody”. She smiled.

As the calm took over the Roster Estate, the area felt an air of peace. The snow was still falling, the music was soothing, and everyone in the home felt warm and cozy. Sam and Ken snuggled up in their bed. Nate and Lynne cuddled in theirs. Kirk picked Ravenna up off the floor and took the child to bed. Harold had fallen asleep in a chair in the living room. Seraphina told Kai to quit complaining and go to bed, before having a cup of tea with Agatha and Margaret. Verity, Severina and Viktor took refuge in guest rooms. And Alana fell asleep without the fear of her nightmares waking her up in the middle of the night. Just as it should on Christmas, peace and love won, and for one night, all was well.

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I have been wanting to write this one for a couple of years now. It was originally going to be a lot like the first Christmas event for MCLUL, but I ended up taking a lot of liberties.

Oh, for context.... Kai gets a lot of harsh treatment in this one... You might wanna read the Cousin Mels specials.... You’ll find out why the girls can’t stand him. He’s an entitled asshole. But, hey, every family has one of those.

Credit: @candysweetposts for Lynne’s sprite, and most of the components used to make Sam’s and Severina’s sprites. andanguyen for the background of the Roster Family Home

[byeoltoyuki]

Just One Week ⇾  KTH

↳Pairing : You x Taehyung

Genre : Fluff / Slight Angst / idol!au

Warnings: Do not listen/watch 'Winter Bear' prior to reading this fic. You might pass out from cuteness overload. He is so sooooft...

Words: +14k

Author: Yuna

Summary :  When you head back to your home town for 2 weeks to visit your family during your holidays, you didn't imagine it would start with Kim Taehyung nearly stealing your luggage. Then stealing your time. And then stealing your heart.

                                      ✻✻✻✻✻✻✻✻✻✻✻✻✻✻✻✻✻✻

Sunday

*

The airport of your hometown, because it was not located in the most touristic area of your country, was not usually very busy so whenever you came back home to visit your family, getting your luggage back and exiting the place was a quick affair. Today however, it seemed like three flights had landed at the same time and therefore a massive crowd of people was making their way to the baggage claim area. It was pretty annoying seeing as the airport was so small that it had only one baggage belt for all flights and therefore everything was mixed together. You made your way to collect your belongings and sneaked in the middle of a group of people, staring at the suitcases spinning on the belt, looking for yours. You were going to be there for a while.

It had been a while since you came back home to visit your family, you were working in another country and flying home was expensive. But this time you had managed to get a full two weeks of holidays so you booked a flight home right away. Your plans were straight forward: you were going to relax the first week since most of your relatives were working, and the second one would be used to visit most of them as they would be free since it was the kids' school holidays. You had been looking forward to it, you could not remember the last time you were able to spend some time in your hometown without having the urgency of visiting every single people you knew. It was going to be nice to enjoy all the areas you used to frequent when you were a teenager attending school in the area.

You were pulled from your thoughts as you noticed a luggage similar to yours passing in front of you. You pulled it from the belt and looked for the sticker you had placed next to the name tag to confirm it was yours. But it was not there.

"Great, someone's got the same suitcase as me." You initiated to place it back on the belt when you caught sight of a man on the other side who turned around to leave the area, with a luggage similar to yours. And then you noticed your sticker.

"Sorry... Excuse me! EXCUSE ME!" You put back the luggage you had grabbed on the floor and started running towards the man who did not stop, not realising you were speaking to him. Finally, you reached him and touched his shoulder to grab his attention. When he turned around, you lost your breath for a second when you recognised Kim Taehyung from the Korean band BTS, a group you liked a lot among many others. For a second you forgot what you wanted to say and he seemed to notice it, a worried look crossing his face. You regained your composure and said:

"That's my luggage you have here." You pointed at the suitcase he was pulling. He looked down at it, surprised.

"What? Are you sure? I mean I am pretty sure that is mine…"

You bent on your knees and turned the luggage you had grabbed from belt to observe it properly.

"You are Kim Taehyung right?" you asked.

"Er... yes?" he said hesitantly, the worried look back on his face.

"Well I can't read Korean but I assume that's what it says on this luggage. Also, I have a sticker on mine behind the handle. And my name." You pointed at the name tag on his luggage and his face reddened when he realised his mistake, his ears suddenly becoming a bit red.

"Oh my, I am so sorry! I did not realise... Thank you for calling me and I apologise for not stopping before, I thought you were…"

"A fan? A stalker? Well I am a fan, but certainly not a stalker. There you go." You got back up and pushed his luggage towards him, trying very hard not to show how cute you found his embarrassment to be.

"Thank you... Y/N!" He said after you told him your name. "I really appreciate."

"It is my pleasure, I don't think you would have had any use of my skirts and dresses. Or my underwear. So let's just agree I saved your life."

"Well, it would have been a great excuse to do some shopping... Let's just say you saved my wallet."

"Does your wallet really need saving? Aren't you rich or something? If anything, I stopped you from spending your money here and killed the local economy!"

"So let's agree on that then."

The both of you smiled, amused by your exchange, when another male's voice interrupted.

"Are you alright Taehyung?"

You turned to see Park Jimin joining his friend's side, frowning slightly. Your eyes widened when you recognised the man and Taehyung did the presentations.

"Oh right, sorry Jimin, this is Y/N, she stopped me from swapping my bag with hers."

You bowed to him slightly when you saw him do that first, copying his custom. He raised his head back up with a smirk on his face, clearly making fun of Taehyung's distracted head.

"Thank you very much Y/N, sorry about Taehyung, he tends to have his mind in other places."

"Not a problem." You chuckled. "Are you guys going to be here a while?"

"Just for a week." Jimin started and Taehyung took over.

"We are filming a special video together for a duo and our company found that this town has a very nice historical towncentre, so they thought it would be cool to shoot it here. Plus it is not a big touristic place so we should be pretty anonymous for a week."

"Well to be fair you did run into a fan just a few minutes after landing, I'd say that's not a really good start." You laughed and the boys joined you.

"True. But you're alright, somehow I don't think you are going to tell the whole world of our presence here." Taehyung added with a gentle smile.

"Your secret is safe with me!" You pinched your fingers together and pretended to zip your mouth shut.

***

Monday

*

You woke up pretty late on the following day, mostly because of the jetlag. So when you got up, it was to find the house empty. You were not hungry for breakfast because of the time difference so you decided to take your time getting ready in the hope that once you would be finished with your shower and getting dressed, you'd be craving some food. However that was not the case and you ended up debating on what to do next, you had a meeting with a friend planned in 2 hours to spend the afternoon with. You remembered a coffee shop you used to go regularly during high school, not far from the place you had agreed to meet your friend. Memories of the delicious pastries and hot drinks they used to serve made your mouth water and you instantly decided you would go there before your catch up.

The coffee shop was located in a small historical square, only reserved to pedestrian. The square was bordered with various little shops that were selling clothes, jewellery... There was even a bookstore at which you made a quick stop to grab a book to read with your coffee. The coffee shop had not changed whatsoever in the years you were gone and as soon as you stepped inside, memories of your teenage years flooded in your head: the numerous times you stopped for a hot chocolate in the morning because you had forgotten to eat breakfast, your first date with your first boyfriend when you shared a pastry... You ordered your favourite latte and headed back outside to settle down in the sitting area in front of the shop and observe the passers-by get on with their lives.

The weather was very nice, it was sunny but not too warm since it was the middle of spring, you only wore a light jacket on top of your cardigan and you realised you could probably sit outside for hours. You started reading your book for a good 45 minutes before taking a break to order another coffee, when you received it, you sat back and enjoyed looking at the square which was now buzzing with activity. Because it was a Monday, today was not the busiest you had ever seen this square, but there were still a fair amount of people looking at the shop windows. You spotted a mother with her young son walking by, the boy clearly not in a happy mood and complaining.

"But mum! These are girls' clothes!  I don't want to wear that, it's lame!" he whined.

"It's not because it's your sister's jumper that it is only for girls. You look absolutely fine so stop it!" The mother argued back before they both disappeared in the crowd.

You smiled, remembering when you had to wear your brother's clothes, including that one time for carnival where your mother decided she would not buy you the Esmeralda costume you wanted but instead made you recycle your brother's ninja turtle costume. You giggled at the memory and somehow this topic reminded you of yesterday's unexpected meeting with Kim Taehyung the suitcase thief. It was lucky you caught him before he left the airport or he really would not have had anything to wear! You wondered where he and Jimin were today and what areas of your town they would shoot their video in. It was exciting to know that at some point in the upcoming months you would watch a video of a duo between the two men in the place you grew up in. You took a small sip of your coffee and caught a glimpse of a familiar silhouette standing on the other side of the square. You straightened up and finally realised it was Taehyung!

He was walking with a small group of people that included Jimin and a couple of middle-aged men that seemed to be in charge. One of them was pointing his fingers at various historical buildings of the square while the others were taking pictures and notes. Jimin and Taehyung were observing with interest and you guessed they were doing some location research for the music video.

Eventually, Taehyung turned to look at the other side of the square where you were sitting and spotted you instantly. You weren't too sure what to do, not even certain he remembered you, but then a boxy smile appeared at the corners of his mouth. You smiled back, amused when you saw him waving at you enthusiastically and you raised your hand to wave back. If it was possible, his smile stretched even wider and he pinched the sides of his jumper to shake it. The message was clear, he was telling you 'I am wearing my own clothes!'. You chuckled and gave him a thumbs up. He then tried to grab Jimin's attention to tell him he found you but he was speaking with a couple of people and seemed extremely focused so Taehyung looked back at you, a bit disappointed and shrugged his shoulders. Feeling the conversation (if you can call your signs communication that) coming to an end, you raised your cup of coffee for the man to see, pointed at it and then pointed at the coffee shop behind you, then you showed another thumbs up to imply it was good, and finished by rubbing your stomach. Taehyung laughed from afar, he could not hear you but he could well imagine you going 'Yuuuuuum' based on the look on your face. He did not have the time to show you he understood as a man called for his attention and showed him a notebook. He concentrated on the task at hand and when the man let him go, he looked back and noticed that you had gone, a bit disappointed.

***

Tuesday

*

You came back to the coffee shop the following day, earlier in the morning as you were starting to catch up on your jetlag. You planned to spend some time there to carry on reading your book before heading to your mother's workplace to grab lunch with her. When you arrived though, you were surprised to find Jimin and Taehyung sitting at one of the tables, immersed in their conversation. You stopped at the sight and hesitated whether or not you should stop for a coffee as planned, realising it could look like  you were stalking them, especially considering the fact you were planning on staying there for a couple of hours. You wavered, contemplating your options, and finally, you decided to follow your original plan and sat a the furthest table you could find, pretending you did not notice the two of them.

A few minutes later though, as you came back outside with your drink in hand, Taehyung noticed you and called you up:

"Oh hey Y/N!"

Taken aback, you did not react on the spot and by the the time you came back to your senses, Taehyung had gotten up and approached you to say Hi.

"Third time in three days! What are the odds?" He said enthusiastically.

"Pretty high actually, I did say this was a small town." You joked lightly.

"What are you doing here anyway? I thought you guys were going to be super busy all week?"

"It's the first day of shooting today and these things always end up starting late so we thought we'd follow your recommendation  and check out what the coffee taste like here!".

"And?" You inquired .

"Soooo good!" He exaggerated , making you laugh. His cheerfulness was communicative and your smile matched his after just under a minute of meeting him again. "What about you? Are you coming here everyday?"

"Hm not really, It just happened that way. I am here on holidays for two weeks but all my relatives are working until next week so I am just finding things to be busy with. And this used to be one of my favourite places to visit when I was at school so..." You started explaining to him before you interrupted yourself when you noticed Jimin looking at you.

Taehyung followed your gaze and undertook to introduce you to him again. "Jimin, this is Y/N from the airport, do you remember?"

"You nearly stole her luggage? Yes I remember Tae." He said sarcastically. "Hi, how have you been?" He spoke to you directly.

You didn't have the time to respond that Taehyung was already asking you another question.

"Are you sitting all the way there?" he pointed at your table. "Come sit with us Y/N!"

"Erm I..." You hesitated. "No it's fine, I don't want to disturb you, you guys are busy."

But Taehyung was already pulling a chair while Jimin sat back down, smiling at you.

"Please, that'd be nice!" he said.

"And you could tell us all about the places we should take a look at while we're here this week!" Taehyung finally added.

You could see through his enthusiasm that he was really keen on having you sit with them for a bit and you couldn't help but feel flattered at his perseverance. You did not hesitate much longer and put your coffee on their table before heading back to yours and grab your belongings. You sat down with the two men and tackled all the places you knew they could not miss on their stay in the area, Jimin was smiling slightly while Taehyung was listening to your every words, even taking notes of your recommendation on his phone. From the best restaurants in town, local historical buildings and locations, down to the best place to watch a sunset after a long day at work. Time went by really quickly and before you knew it, Jimin looked at the time on his phone and interrupted Taehyung who was telling you of his favourite park to visit in South Korea with passion. You noticed the slight disappointment on his face when he heard the news of having to go, but it disappeared quickly as he turned around to speak to you again.

"It was great seeing you again Y/N, thank you so much for spending some of your time with us! I will definitely try to check out the manor you told us about."

You blushed slightly as he unexpectedly pulled you into a rapid hug to say goodbye, but you regained your composure to wave the two of them off as they left for their next engagement.

***

Wednesday

*

It was halfway through the week when you had been asked by your mother to do the weekly food shopping. So when you got up from bed, you took your time to get ready, enjoying some television while having the biggest breakfast with everything you loved. You caught up on the latest episodes of your series and somehow ended up watching your favourite live performances of BTS. It was surreal to think of what happened in the last few days: meeting two members of the group, with one of them nearly stealing your luggage! You still could not believe you had befriended Taehyung in the short encounters you had with him, but it was so easy to speak with him. You smiled at the memory of how excited he was the day before when you discussed the things to do in the area. You felt a bit nostalgic, thinking it was probably the last time you would see him, before shaking your head, thinking you had been lucky enough to have some quality conversations with him and it would be greedy to want more.

At about midday, you decided that you have had enough of being lazy and motivated yourself to do your chores. You left your house and got into your car without forgetting the shopping bags. You planned on stopping in town to grab some lunch after doing the food shopping and made sure to grab your book, you had nearly reached the end of the story so you were impatient to know how it finished!

The supermarket was not busy at all as most people were working so you had plenty of time to walk between alleys and pick up your items. The job was done quickly and before you knew it, you were back in your car, heading to the town centre, singing loudly to 'Idol', clearly, meeting Taehyung an Jimin had an impact and you were craving to listen to some BTS songs. You interrupted your bad singing as you noticed a familiar figure walking on the side of the road, it caught your attention because you were currently driving on a double lane that was far from the closest houses or shops. It was the last place you expected to see a pedestrian and as you overtook him and looked into your mirrors, you recognised Taehyung.

"What the hell??" You pulled to the side of the road, 100 metres ahead of the man and stood out of your car.

You waved at the man who stopped walking for a second, dubious, before recognising you all of a sudden and waving back enthusiastically. You saw him running towards you with one of his boxy smiles you were starting to get used to and welcomed him with a:

"Fourth day in a row! Nice to see you again Taehyung."

You observed the man catching his breath for a second and couldn't stop yourself from admiring his features, from the red of his cheeks because of the cool weather, to the messy hair because of the running. You gave yourself a mental slap and listened to his question.

"Y/N! What are you doing here?"

You looked around you and burst out laughing.

"Me? Should I not be asking YOU that? Of all the places I recommended for you to visit, you decided the side of a random road was the best one?"

You saw Taehyung blush slightly and scratch the back of his head in embarrassment, he was adorable.

"I was actually trying to go to that Manor you recommended, so I took the bus... But I must have taken the wrong one or got off too early... Either way, I got lost. But it's alright I don't mind! I get to see a bit of the area and the countryside!"

You looked at him trying to justify himself and to your eyes, he was getting cuter by the second.

"Well, the manor is this way." You pointed to the direction with your finger. "So my guess is you did take the correct line, but there are another 5 miles to get there, so you definitely got off too early!"

Taehyung looked towards the direction you were pointing before pulling his phone from his pocket to look at something. You interrupted him.

"I'll drive you." You walked back to your car and open the driver's door, setting a foot inside. "It's gonna take you at least an hour to get there, jump in!"

The man smiled at you and joined you on the other side of the car, he opened the passenger door and suddenly froze as he was about to enter the vehicle.

"Are you alright over there?" You asked from where you sat.

Taehyung finally joined you and distractedly said he was fine. You wondered what must have crossed his mind but brushed the thought away as his happy self was back and he started a conversation with you. You did not know that the reason Taehyung was startled was because he realised how happy with the situation he was and that he enjoyed seeing you, that certainly was an unexpected feeling for him.

Ignoring what was going on in his head, you observed:

"You've got a nice camera, you enjoy photography?"

"Yes, I take it with me whenever I can, you never know when you'll find something nice to shoot or when inspiration will strike! Do you have any passions yourself?"

"I actually own a similar camera to yours, just a different brand, and I can relate to what you are saying about taking it everywhere just in case, but I am not as thorough as you. It gets heavy walking around with all the different lenses I own!"

Taehyung laughed lightly and the both of you carried on discussing the topic. It was agreeable for the both of you to find someone with a similar interest and before you realised, you were arriving to the location of the manor. Taehyung stopped talking and his eyes opened wide.

"Wow." he exclaimed.

You observed him from the corner of your eyes, finding his reaction adorable, but completely understandable. The manor was more like a castle, surrounded by gorgeous gardens, so the man probably did not expect that.

"Have you eaten yet?" Taehyung surprised you with his question.

"Er no, I was on my way to the town centre when I found you."

"Me neither." He pointed to a burger restaurant just outside of the historical property. "Do you want to stop there quickly to grab a bite?"

*

The next thing you know, you were stepping out of the restaurant, both eating an ice cream as a dessert. Taehyung had insisted to pay for the meals, saying it was his fault you had to stop and could not go home, and even though you assured him it was fine and you were actually happy with the situation, he would not waver. So at the end of the meal, you dragged him to a separate ice cream station and told him to pick a flavour.

You were now walking towards the 'castle', licking the delicious dessert happily, when Taehyung slowed down and pulled his camera out of its bag, taking a shot of his hand holding the ice cream with the monument in the background. You smiled, thinking it was exactly the kind of thing you would do when visiting a new place. You waited a couple of seconds when an idea crossed your mind; Taehyung was about to lower down his arm, having finished taking the shot he wanted, when you joined him by his side and lifted your arm to bring your ice cream next to his. He turned his head to you, surprised and you blushed, realising what you had just done. You were feeling so comfortable with him that you just acted the way you would do with your friends and family. But surprisingly, Taehyung's smile grew wider and he pulled his camera to take the picture, he then looked at the small screen displaying the new image before showing it to you. You were dubious, feeling something was not quite right and by the man's face, you could tell he was of the same opinion, then, without exchanging a single word, you both crossed your arm so that your ice creams would form a triangle, with the manor sitting in the middle of it. Taehyung snapped the new pose and you straight away looked at it together. It was perfect.

You probably spent 2 hours inside the manor, admiring the beauty of the place, and sometimes looking for Taehyung who would get distracted and lose track of the group you were visiting with. The problem was that you were too a bit like Taehyung, and eventually the two of you were left on your own to continue the visit without your guide. It was not really an issue, you knew this place really well after all. So instead you took advantage of this situation to make it a visit of your own. When you deemed that you had seen enough rooms, you led Taehyung to the first floor terrace outside to have a look at the panorama. The view of the gardens was outstanding and the sunny weather was making it even better, you were chatting comfortably with Taehyung, telling him what you remembered of the history of this place, exchanging ideas for the photos he was taking. It was such a fun unexpected day with him, you did not want it to end.

"I totally disagree, that character's death was absolutely uncalled for! His sister was the one who schemed the whole thing, she was the mastermind and yet not the one who got punished!"

"Well he should have been smarter and keep his distances. But in my opinion, he was pretty boring anyway so that's not a big loss."

The two of you were exchanging opinion on a TV series you both realised you liked. Suddenly, Taehyung stopped and looked around, analysing his surroundings. You recognised the look of him having an idea and tried not to disturb him, curious to see what he would do. He moved away and leaned on the balustrade to shoot his picture before coming back to you, handing you the camera to look at the image. It was gorgeous, you could see both the castle and the gardens, you smiled at the man.

"You have a good eye, It is beautiful Taehyung."

The man smiled back at you before frowning slightly, expressing his hesitation to you:

"I wish I could have stepped further back so I could get this fountain in the shot, it would have made a great symmetry with this window." he pointed at an element on the image, a bit disappointed.

An idea started to emerge in your brain then, and you teased him slightly:

"You know what you're missing in your photos?"

Taehyung looked at you with surprise, not expecting you to say something like that, and stayed silent, unsure of what he was supposed to say.

"The element of danger. And risk." you declared before extending your arm to grab his camera. Startled, he handed it out to you without thinking and within seconds you were leaving.

"What... What are you doing?!" Taehyung asked as he saw you sneak under the security cordon, ignoring the sign that said 'Do Not Enter - Staff Only'.

"Wait don't go there!" he shouted while you disappeared.

"Trust me. And look at the view while I'm gone" you winked at him.

You were gone for a whole five minutes and Taehyung had the time to contemplate the view, but his thoughts somehow drifted towards you and this newly found friendship that arrived unexpectedly. He had traveled many times to locations before but this was the first time he met someone he connected with so quickly. He spent his life meeting new people, thousands and thousands of them, but actually developing a relationship with someone was rare. He was missing this spontaneity of speaking with someone with no ulterior motives than to just chat and exchange interests and jokes. It was so refreshing to discover a new country with a new person and actually feel normal, without the pressure and the stress of looking after his actions in the fear it would end up on the internet. The hint of a smile appeared on the man's lips, before he turned around suddenly, hearing you coming back from your mischievous action.

"I think you are going to like this shot." You told him while looking at the pictures you've just taken on the back screen of the camera.

"I did not realise I made friends with a criminal, I am not looking for problems you know!"

You could have taken this seriously if it wasn't for Taehyung's amused smile.

"Ssh, not so loud!" You whispered loudly in a conspiracy kind of way. "I'll let you in a secret, you can show me any "Do not enter" sign of this town, and I'll know where it is! I am a major outlaw here!"

Both you and him giggled after that little game, and eventually Taehyung asked to see the pictures you had taken on his camera. You hesitated for a second, you had not only taken the shot he tried to do earlier with the gardens and the fountain, but you also had taken a couple of pictures of Taehyung observing the panorama from the castle's balcony without him noticing. You thought he probably would enjoy them, seeing how he posts pictures of himself as a tourist here and then, but the thought of him seeing them in front of you made you blush. You decided to be honest:

"Ok, I have to say, I may have taken a couple of extra shots, but don't look at them now! You are so good at photography, I am a bit embarrassed to show you. So please look at them later once I am gone? Please?"

Taehyung seemed surprised at first and then nodded with a gentle smile on his face. He was finding your embarrassment adorable so he made you his promise without hesitation. He took the camera from your hands and held it in front of the two of you so you could select the image he was trying to take earlier.

"Wow Y/N, this is amazing! I did not realise you could see so much better from higher up. The angle looks so different!"

"The power of criminals." you teased him before he punched back your arm lightly.

The rest of the afternoon disappeared very quickly, 'time flies when you're having fun' as they say... The two of you were now walking to your car, you had offered to drive Taehyung back to his hotel rather than letting him take the risk of taking a bus and getting lost again. He had accepted happily. You were already sitting on the driver's seat while the man was having a last look at the Manor House with a smile. Suddenly, an idea crossed his mind and he bent his head to look at you inside the car, looking excited.

"Y/N, let's take a photo!"

"What?" You asked, stunned.

"Come on out! Let's take a picture together, as a memory!"

Flustered, you observed the man taking a few steps away from the vehicle and get his phone out of his pocket. Seeing as you did not move, he waved at you as if he was saying "What are you doing? Come on!". You unfastened your seatbelt and got out of the car, your legs somehow feeling like marshmallow. When you reached Taehyung's side, he grabbed your wrist and turned you around so the both of you would have the castle behind. He lifted his phone in the air to take a selfie and strike a pose, making a V with his fingers. You smiled shyly, still flustered by his invitation.

"That is not the pretty smile I saw all day Y/N, please do it again for the picture!"

You blushed even more and managed to smile naturally as soon as you regained your composure. Taehyung then looked at the photo with a smile and showed it to you. You observed the image fondly, feeling Taehyung's gaze on you and decided that, actually, you wanted that picture too! You took out your phone from your pocket, unlocked it and extended your arm as far as possible so that the two of you would fit in the frame. Unfortunately your arms were significantly smaller than the man's and what seemed easy for him was a struggle for you. No matter how you angled the phone, it was impossible to fit everything in, you, Taehyung or even the castle! The young man laughed at your troubles and took a step behind you, lowered himself on his legs and dropped his head on your shoulder. You blushed furiously at the contact and instinctively turned your face to look at him. He then took advantage of your distraction to take your phone from your hands and snap a handful of pictures without warnings.

"Taehyung, what...!" you started.

He ignored you and carried on taking pictures.

"I am not stopping until you smile, beautiful!"

It was as if his last sentence finally unlocked your shyness and liberated you to be fully comfortable with him, so you smiled as brightly as his presence had made your day and you could see from the selfie mode on your phone that, as soon as he noticed that, his smile grew even wider, although you did not think it possible. You ended up playing around for a bit, taking probably a thousand different selfies of the two of you smiling, laughing, acting silly, sulking, showing your tongues, making the V sign with your fingers…

Eventually you both managed to sit in the car, ready to leave. You were busy wiping out the tears of laughter blurring your vision when you heard Taehyung asking:

"So, where to?"

You looked at him, stumped.

"I thought I was taking you back to your hotel? Don't you have a big day of work tomorrow?"

Instantly, Taehyung started pouting and your heart skipped a beat.

"But I want to spend more time with you and have more fun discovering the area. I am bored to death at the hotel!"

"I am sure Jimin would be happy to hear that." You teased him, ignoring what he said about spending more time with you on purpose, for your own sanity.

Taehyung shrugged his shoulders, claiming Jimin would not mind, they saw each other everyday after all, and shortly after, he turned in his seat to face you, a serious look on his face.

"But, for real though, I am having so much fun with you, and I can't remember the last time I was able to act so naturally around someone I just met. I'd love for this day to carry on... If you don't have anything else planned that is?"

"Erm, Yes... I mean no..." You stuttered before taking a big breath. "I have nothing planned for the rest of my day, my week even, but there is just that one tiny thing I should have done a few hours ago before I picked you up…"

"What is it?"

"I really need to drop the food shopping at my house. It is all in special bags that keep the food cold but some items really should be in the fridge as soon as possible now…"

"Well if you don't find me too creepy or scary I am happy to give you a hand dropping these at your house if it means we get to stay together a little bit longer!"

You paused to make it seem like you were thinking about it, but really your choice was already made, at this stage you just wanted to tease him a little bit. You saw the young man staring at you, a hopeful look on his face, and it made you happy. You enjoyed the feeling of having someone wanting to spend time with you. As soon as you agreed with the plan, you had the joy of seeing Taehyung's face brightening up before he put on his seatbelt with excitement.

After a short drive to your house, you invited Taehyung to wait for you in the living room while you were sorting out the food shopping in the kitchen. Within seconds of discovering the room, he noticed your Nintendo Switch with excitement and you turned it on for him to have a look at your games. When you had done what you needed, you joined him in the living room only to find him customizing a vehicle on Mario Kart.

"Having fun?" You asked, surprising him.

"Care to join me for a game?" He patted the space on the floor next to him.

You ended up losing track of time, probably racing each other for a good hour before your phone rang and interrupted the race you were in. You paused the game and startled the man by doing so, he was going to complain and ask why you stopped the game when he heard you speak:

"Oh hi Mum... Yes it's all done... In half an hour?? What time is it?" You glanced at the clock and realised it was just passed 6pm, which meant she was going to come back anytime soon. "Actually I am with a friend at home now... No I don't think he will..." You looked over to Taehyung who was staying quiet next to you. "Actually, I don't think I'll be around for dinner either so don't wait for me... Ok that's fine... Drive safe... Love you too…"

You hung up the phone and looked over to your new friend.

"Have you got any plans tonight?"

A bright smile from the young man welcomed your question as he confirmed that he didn't whatsoever.

30 minutes later, after finishing a competitive game of Mario Kart (and losing, you hated to admit it but Taehyung was significantly better than you), the two of you were back in your car. You had not told Taehyung where you were taking him even though he had strong suspicions since he helped you pack blankets and some food in the car. You were both currently singing loudly to your 'Feel Good' playlist as you called it, which was a mixture of songs that made you happy such as Uptown Funk from Bruno Mars or September from Earth, Wind & Fire. However, you were so caught up in your singing that you forgot another song that makes you really happy and that happened to be on your playlist too... Idol, from no others than Taehyung's group. Awkward. By the time you realised what was playing, Taehyung had caught your phone to stop you from changing the song and started to rap happily along Namjoon's voice.

"You can call me Artist, you can call me Idol!" He raised his hands in the air, mimicking his hyung's signature moves.

You blushed furiously as you felt his eyes on you, staring at you with a mischievous smile. If he had any doubt that you knew his group and was a BTS fan, it no longer existed. Surprisingly though, he did not tease you that much apart from the intense staring and you finally started singing with him for the last chorus. When you eventually reached your destination, Taehyung stepped out of the car and he admired the area with a broad smile.

"Is this the hill you recommended? The one with the perfect view of the city and the most amazing sunset?"

You nodded and opened your car to grab what you brought. Taehyung came to your rescue as soon as he saw you struggling with the big blankets and cushions you piled up in your arms, taking them away from you. The hill was completely covered in grass and wild flowers, and a few other people had the same idea as you as you could see several groups and couples spread out in the field, waiting for the sun to set. You picked an empty spot, isolated from the rest of the crowd, and installed your blankets before settling down and observe the view.

The sun was not going to come down for another hour so you engaged in a relaxed conversation to pass the time, snacking on some food you thought of bringing.

"Have you lived here all your life?" Taehyung asked.

"Until I graduated from uni, so most my life really. Then I found a job abroad and just went for it. All I wanted to get out of this place, but now that I live somewhere else…"

"You realised how much it means to you, and how precious your hometown can be…"

You turned your eyes to the man, amused.

"You can relate?"

"I left Daegu when I was pretty young. It's not that I was looking forward to leave, I was pursuing my dreams so I was super excited. But I didn't realise what I had there until I left…"

A peaceful silence settled between the two of you, like an understanding. It was so easy speaking to him, laugh with him, share things to him. Everything felt so natural. This friendship, this relationship, was developing so quickly, any other times you would have been frightened and slowed things down. But it felt so comforting, unique and precious that you didn't want to use the brakes. Maybe it was the inevitable time limit this relationship had that made it like that, so it was easier to embrace the moment, knowing it could all be finished once you drive him back to his hotel. You had been incredibly lucky to meet him 4 times in a row, but you doubted it would happen again, it was a small town indeed but he did mention earlier that in the upcoming days he would be incredibly busy shooting his scenes for the music video, so he would no longer have time for himself to hang around town.

"You see that big park over there?" You broke the silence and pointed your finger to the horizon. Taehyung looked up and nodded. "Next to it was my primary school, I went there from the age of 3 to 10. Every week we would walk to that park with the entire class to practice a sport. I have a lot of memories of those walks, it always took us so long, imagine walking a class of thirty 9 years old kids, so with my friends we got into the habits of telling each other stories. A lot of them were horror ones! I remember this specific story about a cursed doll that would wake up during the night and count numbers while saying where she was, slowly making her way to the bedrooms, until she reaches the parents' room, become silent, and when she starts counting again, she has added another 2, because she had killed the parents, and she was now coming to your bedroom."

"Sounds scary."

"It was. Especially that young!"

"I take it you like horror stories then?"

"Oh no! Quite the opposite! I hate them with a passion! And I blame this doll for starting the trauma! Seriously, put me in front of a scary film and I will not sleep for 2 weeks."

Taehyung cracked up and encouraged you to tell him more, so you started another story of your childhood.

"After primary school, I went to that school over there, with the tower." You pointed towards the direction of the building while the man was trying to find it. But he struggled and even though you tried to give him other indications, such as buildings nearby, he would still not find it. So without thinking, you got up on your knees and placed yourself behind his back, placing your head on his shoulder next to his, and your arm on the other side of his face.

"Right there, do you see it now?" you asked him, pointing your finger again. When no answers followed, you turned your head to look at him and was surprised to find him staring at you, your nose brushing against his as your faces were so close from each other. By instinct, your head pulled back away from his a little, giving you more space to see the blush spreading on his cheeks. To be fair, you could feel your own cheeks heating up too. That is when you noticed the little mole under his nose... You gave yourself a mental slap as now was certainly not the time. Taehyung turned his head back towards the view and raised his arms.

"I think I can see it now, is it next to the orange building? Where there are three trees forming a triangle?"

You welcomed the distraction gratefully.

"Yes! That's the one." You cleared you throat, stepping back from your position and sitting back next to him, wondering what the hell came across your mind to do that. "I spent four years in that school, until I turned 15. I don't really have great memories there to be honest, I was an awkward child, quite shy and a few kids ended up bullying me. But I met one of my best friends there, so there is some positive to take out from it."

You smiled a little, for good figure, not really meaning it. For a second you got lost in your memories, reminiscing about these times. When suddenly a large warm hand enveloped yours, entwining his fingers with yours. There was no need to look as you knew it was Taehyung's, obviously. You squeezed back his hand and continued:

"Then, I ended up in that school over there, until I turned 18. Now you can't miss that one, it was huge. And right next to the main shopping avenue!"

"Oh I see it! Did you end up doing more shopping than studies?" He joked around.

"I'll have you known that I was a very good student mister!"

The man looked at you, with an expecting smirk painted on his face.

"Alright! I might have skipped class a couple of times during the sales period! I was broke okay? I had to be the first to catch a good deal when there was one!"

"Haha don't worry, I'm not one to scold you about shopping!"

"Again, we are back on that luggage thing, I am now convinced you wanted to get the wrong one so you could buy new clothes!" You teased him about that time you met at the airport, nudging him with your shoulder.

A clear laugh tickled your ears, Taehyung was laughing wholeheartedly, and it was the most beautiful sound you had ever heard. What you did not realise though, was that at the same time, Taehyung was contemplating your happy smile, thinking it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. When he calmed down from his laughter, he said with a soft smile on his lips:

"It was just a happy coincidence."

The two of you carried on discussing for a while, until the sky finally darkened and the sun started going down, painting the horizon in bright pinks, oranges, purples and blues. The spectacle was breath-taking and during the whole sunset, Taehyung did not let go of your hand. When you both settled into a comfortable silence to watch the beautiful sky, you managed to summon enough courage to drop your head onto his shoulders, using it as a head rest. You felt the surprise from Taehyung, his head turning your way to witness you resting on him. Your heart was beating like crazy, wondering what the hell you had just done again for the second time in one evening. And you weren't even drunk. But the atmosphere was so special and intimate that you wanted to enjoy it at its fullest. With no chances for regrets later.

You courage paid off and heart made a full loop in your chest when you felt his head rest on top of yours. You both stayed like that for a while until the sun had completely disappeared and the sky was pitch dark. When eventually you looked around you, it was only to see that you were the last ones around and everybody else had left. A quick look on your phone revealed that it was way past 11pm.

"Taehyung, you need to be back at your hotel! You will be shattered tomorrow…"

The man stayed silent for a second and you were not able to tell what was crossing his mind at the time. He looked disappointed, happy, relaxed... All of them at the same time and maybe something else you could not pinpoint... Hesitation.

Eventually he got up, pulling you from the ground with his hand still linked to yours.

"Alright, let's go back to the real world then."

***

Thursday

*

You woke up pretty late on that day. You went to bed much later than usual after all, you dropped Taehyung back to his hotel and once you got home yourself, you struggled to fall asleep, spinning endlessly in your bed. Your brain had refused to turn off, playing over and over again the events of the previous days. How you met Taehyung at the airport when he nearly took your luggage for his, how you saw him again from afar the following day, how you met him again at the same coffee place and ended up having a drink with him and Jimin... And how you spent the whole of Wednesday with him, visiting a castle, joking around, taking pictures, taking selfies, and watching that sunset together…

It felt so unreal to have spent moments like these with a man like that. Like for any celebrities you stanned, you had perfectly embraced the fact that you would not see them any closer than on stage or on a TV screen.

But you actually spent a day with Taehyung, and you held each other’s hand. And it felt so natural and easy that you were struggling to process it ACTUALLY happened. And that you may have developed a crush on him. Now that's a truth bomb that blew up in your face when you woke up, right before the moment that it was over, you two would not see each other again. You were a tiny bit angry at Taehyung for messing up with your head like that, especially after what he did when you dropped him at the hotel.

After a good 20 minutes in the car, driving the man to his hotel, you stopped in front of the entrance, putting your warning lights on as you were not planning to park since you were just dropping the man off. That's when you realised that the two of you had been completely silent during the journey and although it had been comfortable, now it was starting to get awkward.

"So..." You had started and Taehyung had turned his head to you, an expecting look on his face.

"Yes..." He said.

"I had an amazing time Taehyung. It was so great to spend some time with you like that, I had a lot of fun." You smiled softly and concluded. "I can't wait to listen to that new song you are preparing with Jimin, it's going to be amazing I'm sure!"

All things considered now that you were thinking back to what happened, he did look a bit disappointed after you said that, he maybe was hoping for something else.

"Thank you for your kindness Y/N, I had the best day. For real. I haven't felt like that in a long time."

He smiled at you one more time, before opening the car door and throwing his legs outside. He got up, turned around and grabbed the door in his hand as he bent down to look at you. He stared at you for a few seconds, visibly searching for his words:

"Take care Y/N." He finally said.

You raised your hand to wave at him shyly, when suddenly he engulfed himself back in the car, sat on the passenger seat and leaned over you to give you a quick kiss on the cheek. He got back out of the car as quickly as possible, closed the door and finally walked in his hotel.

You sighed at the memory of last night, the whole reason why you spent the beginning of the night spinning in your bed. You had totally developed a crush on him. Too bad were never going to see him again.

Your day went pretty quickly, you managed to busy yourself by visiting your mother at her work, having lunch with her since you skipped dinner the night before to spend the time with Taehyung. You had been tempted to go back in the town centre as you had been doing the last few days, but you had no real reasons for it so the only explanation to it was that you were hoping to meet with Taehyung  again. But you knew he was going to be really busy so that would only feed your hope to end up in disappointment. So you behaved yourself.

And eventually, it was the evening and you were watching a film with your mother after dinner. You were scrolling mindlessly on your phone at the same time since you had seen this film before and did not need to pay full attention to it. When the twitter notification saying that @bts_twt tweeted on their account, you paid no special attention to it and clicked on it by instinct. Your heart jumped when you saw the picture that was posted.

It was the photo of Taehyung you had taken at the manor the previous day, without him knowing. The one where you ignored the sign that was forbidding entry to this section of the castle. The picture you asked Taehyung not to look at until you were gone. It had completely slipped out of your mind, but clearly not Taehyung's as he took a look at it, and probably even enjoyed it since he posted it on the official BTS twitter account. You checked the caption, written in English for once, and giggled lightly.

'This picture is a crime'

You remembered fondly how Taehyung called you a criminal when you came back from the forbidden balcony and clicked on the tweet to see people's responses.

'The real crime here is how beautiful you look!'

'My new phone background!'

'OMG how is it even allowed to be so handsome?'

That was very true, he was so beautiful on this image, the perfect candid shot, unaware he had his picture taken. You saved the image in your phone, grateful to have an extra souvenir from this day you spent with him (on top of the million selfies you took together), when an idea emerged in your head.

You clicked on the tweet to write a response yourself, taking a few seconds to think of the best way to let him know it was you, without others understanding, if he ever came across the tweet anyway. A quick search on Google images and you found your happiness. So you posted a picture of a very similar sign to the one that was displayed at the castle 'Do Not Enter - Staff Only' and wrote a few words 'I'll let you in a secret, you can show me any "Do not enter" sign of this town, and I'll know where it is!'. It was exactly what you said to Taehyung after coming back from your little 'expedition' and nobody else apart from him should understand the reference.

Your heart was racing like crazy after you tweeted your comment. It was ridiculous really, there were already thousands of tweets responding to his post, what were the chances of him seeing it? Why did he even tweet that? The picture made sense, he posted pictures of himself for the fans regularly, but the caption was very specific. Was he trying to get in touch with you? Were you just imagining things because you missed him already?

You put your phone down on your side, pretending to be chilled about it. But all you wanted to do really was to stare at the screen without interruption, hoping for an answer, a clue, something. But you knew better than to do that, expecting to be disappointed and hurt, so in order to protect yourself, you even turned your phone upside down so you would not see if you received a notification. By some sort of miracle, you managed to push the matter out of your brain for the rest of the duration of the film you were watching, and when your mum got up to go to bed, you reached out and grabbed it, turning the screen on.

You had received a DM on Twitter, from an account you did not know, and there was nothing written by the look of it, just 'XX sent you an image'. Curious, you opened the app and took a look at the message.

It was the picture Taehyung had taken of the manor's gardens, the one that ended up in you 'breaking the law' to get another angle for that image. Or a very similar one. You heart clenched, you were hoping it was Taehyung. It could only really be him, using a private twitter account with nothing on it. You wondered for a second why he would only send you a pic rather than just tell you it was him, but then you understand he did the same as you, he tried to be cautious, he probably needed to confirm it was you for sure. So you thought for a while of what the best response would be and ended up sending him a picture of the manor itself, there was no room for doubts here, it was the historical building you both visited.

You press 'sent' and waited for a response, your heart racing like crazy in your chest. It was like the person on the other end had been waiting for your answer with impatience because in the same minute, you received a response: the picture of your two hands holding the ice cream cones, crossed, with the castle sitting in the middle. You started gigging without being able to control it, making little jumps of excitement on your sofa.

It was HIM.

It was definitely Taehyung.

Only him had that picture.

You decided to carry on sending him pictures, before starting speaking to him for real, so you debated to send him one of the million selfies the two of you took. But you quickly changed your mind, it was the internet and it was better to be cautious. You searched on your phone for an appropriate image and found a selfie of yourself from the day, displaying the brightest smile, with a tiny Taehyung far in the background behind you. You edited the picture by adding a little sun emoji on top of the man's face and sent it once you made sure it was safe.

The picture you received in return made you squeal  as you were not expecting it. Taehyung had sent you back one of the selfies you took, where he had his arm thrown around your shoulder and your heads were leaning against each other's. Giving up on sending pictures, you texted him.

'Hi there 🙂 Fancy seeing you here'

'Hi Y/N, missed me?'

'Actually I did, my day was really boring today after yesterday's craziness. How was yours?'

'Really busy, we finished shooting really late, I've got back to my hotel about an hour ago and I am up at 6am tomorrow for more.'

'Aaw you are working really hard, you can do it!'

'Thank you 🙂 Tomorrow I should be finishing around 6pm, and then it will be another big day like today on Saturday as it will be the last day to shoot the video.'

'And then you're going back to Korea on Sunday morning...' you concluded sadly.

Taehyung didn't respond straight away after your last message, but the app was indicating that he was typing, then not saying anything, then typing again... You realised he was probably deleting what he was writing and was struggling on finding what to respond. You felt guilty, wondering if you should have just kept your disappointment for yourself. A new message finally appeared:

'Are you free tomorrow at 6pm?'

***

Friday

*

It was nearly 6pm when you got in the car to head to the hotel Taehyung was staying in with Jimin and the rest of Big Hit's team. After he asked you if you were free on Friday, he invited you to come over to his hotel to spend the evening together one last time before he left, to have a few drinks, play some games... "I'm not accepting 'no' for an answer!" he said. He confirmed he would be finished by the time you arrived at the hotel, and that Jimin would be there as well, so you guys can get to know each other. He seemed really excited about that last part and you felt touched to know that he wanted his bestfriend to get to know you.

You entered the main hall of the hotel and found a couple of sofas at the back to wait for Taehyung to come and pick you up. 5 minutes later though, it wasn't his blond locks that appeared but Jimin's shy smile. You waved at each other and when he finally reached you he explained:

"Taehyung is not finished with his scenes yet, he just sent me a text to let me know and make sure I get you. Sorry about that!"

You followed the young man to the suite where he and Taehyung stayed in for the duration of their stay in your home town and admired the beauty of what is basically a small apartment in a hotel with separate bedrooms, a living room, a bathroom and a small kitchen area.

"Wow that is an impressive hotel room." you stated.

Jimin smiled at your comment and invited you to sit on the sofa in the 'living room'. The area had a sofa, 2 armchairs, a coffee table, a mini-fridge and a large TV, on which you noticed a Nintendo Switch plugged to it, most likely Taehyung's. Now you understood why he asked you to bring your own games. You sat on the edge of the sofa, a bit awkwardly, unsure of what to do next. Until Jimin started speaking and decided to make it even more awkward.

"So Y/N. I heard you and Taehyung did things two days ago!"

"What?!"

For a short moment, your stomach had dropped, wondering what the hell Taehyung had told his friend. What could he have mentioned? Did he talk about the time at the hill? Did he mention the fact he held your hand? Or when he gave you a kiss on the cheek when you separated? You would have thought that was the kind of things to keep in private, but going by Jimin's comment, did he tell him all of that? And was it a big deal anyway? It certainly affected you and shook your heart, making you realise you definitely developed a crush on the man. But maybe he did not see it that way, he is a very openly affectionate person in the first place, so maybe you were getting all worked up over nothing.

"Wow, I was not expecting your face to change like that. I was teasing you!" He smiled and crashed in the sofa next to you. "Taehyung told me you guys visited that castle and checked out that hill with the nice view and sunset! He showed me a thousand pictures as well. So many of them. I don't even think he showed them all...". He finished with a tone reflecting despair.

You saw an opportunity here to tease him back and get revenge.

"Oh I see! Do you want me to show you my pictures?" You took your phone out of your pocket and unlocked it.

The pleasure you had in watching Jimin's face drop was indescribable and a smirk quickly appeared on your face. When Jimin realised what game you were playing, he burst out laughing, followed closely by you. When you both calmed down, you started chatting of nothing and everything, you were pleasantly surprised to see how easy it was to speak with him, thinking he would have been a lot more shy with you. You had a common topic of discussing how distracted Taehyung could be to end up getting lost like he did on Wednesday, he had apparently done the same mistake a few years ago in Norway, leaving the rest of the group worried.

Without noticing, an hour went by, you were both sipping on some white wine Jimin opened. Well. You were sipping. Not Jimin. He was drinking the alcohol like it was water and teased you on how slow you were to finish your glass. It was all fun, but you knew your limits and you did not want to be drunk by the time Taehyung finally arrived. Because wine made you sleepy and that would not be good. You don't know how it happened but you were now playing 'Just Dance' with Jimin in front of the TV. Jimin started talking about Taehyung's games and how he was rarely playing with him because he was not fond of the games he owned, and you somehow gave yourself the mission to find game he would enjoy so he could play it with Taehyung.

You blamed it on the alcohol giving you the courage to do things you would never do with someone you barely knew.

Jimin had been really excited to discover a song from Blackpink in the game and you had both been dancing to the choreography of DDU-DU DDU-DU on repeat.

That is how Taehyung found you shortly after, moving to the beat of the song (pretty approximately on your side if you had to be honest, whilst Jimin was obviously nailing every move). He stopped on the doorstep as he observed the scene in front of him, neither Jimin or yourself had realised he was there.

"OH WAIT 'TIL I DO WHAT I..." You both shouted as you raised your arms, absorbed by the moves on the screen.

"...Hit you with that ddu-du ddu-du du!" Taehyung appeared between the two of you, holding his fingers like they were guns and followed the choreography.

Jimin seemed unphased by his best friend's sudden appearance and carried on dancing. You, on the opposite, were stunned and stayed still for a few seconds before the reality of the game caught you back.

"Wait... How are you doing this move with your shoulders?!" you asked suddenly to no one in particular.

You played a couple more songs, laughing brightly, teasing each other on your various dancing skills (you stood in-between the two men and kept bumping into them as your clumsiness was through the roof today, probably not helped by the couple of glasses you had drunk. Eventually, Taehyung joined you and Jimin, grabbing himself a drink, and you spent the rest of the evening chatting in the living room, joking around, playing games together, taking pictures... It was the perfect evening between friends and once again, you were marveled at how easy it was to be friends with them. Especially with Taehyung, it had always felt very easy and natural with him, and tonight was no exception.

Slowly, as the evening went by, everybody calmed down and you started watching videos on Youtube, showing each other funny clips, cool dance clips of other artists. Jimin was the first one to fall asleep, he was sitting on his own on a single comfy chair, while you and Taehyung were sharing the large sofa. Well actually you were alone on the sofa and your new friend was leaning against your legs on the floor. You had your feet propped up on the coffee and your hand was tangled in his hair, mindlessly stroking them, while Taehyung was humming happily.

"Hey Y/N..." Taehyung broke the silence with a whisper.

"Yeah..?"

"I am leaving the day after tomorrow…"

Unsure of what to respond to that, you stayed silent. A knot had formed in your throat anyway, threatening to make you cry if you tried to force words out of your mouth.

"I think you need to show me the town centre under the night lights before I leave."

You smiled gently. And off you were.

Your hometown at midnight was eerie, there was absolutely nobody in the streets and your footsteps were resonating against the cobblestones of the old town. It was a beautiful sight to watch the old buildings illuminated by special lights, even for you, even though you had grown up here. You never had many occasions to visit the town centre after midnight as a child, for obvious reasons. You shared a few anecdotes with Taehyung as you walked past some places that triggered your memory and it felt nice to see he was genuinely interested in you, asking more questions about your life. You wanted to do the same, but the knot in your throat would reappear every time you thought of something to ask him, since you knew that his answer would always imply him being far away.

After a while, you both agreed to get a taxi. Once in it, Taehyung asked for you to be the first one dropped off home. You couldn't help but notice that it did not make sense as you would drive past the hotel first, but maybe Taehyung just did not realise that. You refused to let your mind think any further than that, but you did nothing to correct it, enjoying every last second you got to spend with him for the last time. It would usually take a good twenty minutes to drive from the town centre to your family house, however, because it was the middle of the night, there was absolutely no traffic and you realised it was going to take half the time to get home. You mentioned it to Taehyung who didn't say anything in response. But it's not like there was anything to say to be honest. It was completely silent in the taxi, apart from the music playing on the radio, and you felt like the atmosphere had changed. Your mind was buzzing with all the things you wanted to tell Taehyung, but you stopped yourself from saying anything that was related to how you felt about him. You tried to think of other topics, but it always came back to the urge you had to confess to him. So you stayed quiet, biting your lip to stop you from opening your mouth.

"When are you going to pick up your car at the hotel tomorrow?" Taehyung surprised you with his question.

"Mmh... Probably in the morning, I'll get my mother to drop me on her way to work so I don't need to pay for a taxi."

"Ah ok…"

The car became quiet again.

"What time is your schedule tomorrow?"

Taehyung looked at the time on his phone.

"I am supposed to be on set with Jimin in 6 hours. And then we don't really have a finish time. The plan is to finish by 10pm to get the night shots done, but realistically and based on experience, we'll finish 3-4 hours late."

"Oh wow, hopefully you can have a lie-in in the morning. You deserve that much."

A small smile appeared on the man's face.

"My plane is in the morning... I might no go to sleep at all."

You did not respond anything to that. And he did not add anything either. It was unspoken, but you had both looked for extra options to see each other again, and find none. It was the end.

'Do I take a left here miss?" The drive broke the silence and asked you.

"Oh yeah." You leaned forward to make sure he could hear you properly.

"Take a left and then straight over to the end of the road. It is the last house on the left."

You sat back in your seat, your heart racing at the prospect of saying good bye, when your felt a large hand grabbing yours gently. You looked at Taehyung, surprised, but he was looking out of the window. So you did the same and pretended to not notice it. Finally, the taxi came to a stop and your hands separated. You opened the door and said:

"Well. This is me…"

"Yes…"

"I hope you have a good last day tomorrow and that your schedule goes smoothly." You blurted out rapidly, afraid to let another awkward silence settle between you two.

"Thanks. Enjoy the rest of your holidays here."

You smiled at each other. And you concluded first.

"Ok so... Bye Taehyung." you waved at him with a shy smile.

"I'll miss you."

"Me too. Take care of yourself please."

You closed the door and the taxi started driving straight away. You observed the car turning around and hoped to catch one last glance at the man on the back seat. But the back windows were tinted, you wiped out a single tear from your cheek with your hand and headed back inside your house.

***

Saturday

*

You woke up with great difficulty in the morning and a slight hangover from the alcohol Jimin made you drink the previous night. You cursed at him for being such bad influence and your mind wandered off to Taehyung, wondering if he woke up fine this morning for his last day of shooting. Soon enough you were in your mum's car heading to the hotel to get your own vehicle back. As you were driving in the town centre, one of the street was blocked and a diversion was put in place, creating a little bit of traffic.

"Oh I forgot they were planning on blocking this road today." Your mum said. "I read it a couple of weeks ago on the town's newspaper, something to do with a film being shot here."

That's when it clicked in your mind.

"It's a music video actually…".

You spotted a couple of guys who seemed to be part of the Big Hit team heading inside the shut down area, but couldn't see anything else, or anyone else.

Eventually your mum dropped you at your destination and you were already driving back to your house, making a giant detour in order to avoid the town centre. To avoid traffic you told yourself.

Your plan for the day was to distract yourself enough to not think about Taehyung's last day in your country, so you had organised a full on clean of the house, followed by lunch with your mother, before meeting friends in the afternoon in another town. That should do it.

It worked just fine for most of the day really. You left no room for your thoughts to wander around when scrubbing the kitchen tiles, your mother was so happy to have you with her for lunch she didn't stop talking even for a second, and you hadn't seen your friend for so long that you had a lot to catch up on! Including meeting the adorable puppy she had just adopted a couple of weeks ago. You spent hours playing with the baby dog, taking pictures with him and posting them on your social medias , trying to teach him tricks with your friend (but all the baby cared was to bite your fingers with his sharp needle teeth).

The next thing you know, it was 10pm and you were back home, debating between watching a film and playing a game on your console. That is when you gave up on your resolution. Taking your console out of its bag reminded you of Taehyung, and a wave of melancholy took over you and you started missing the man. You picked up your phone and opened up Twitter, mindlessly heading on BTS' twitter account, to see if he had posted anything about his day.

"He is probably still working." you whispered to yourself, seeing what the time was on the screen. However when the page loaded you let out a gasp.

A picture of Taehyung with his dog Yeontan was published a couple of hours ago with the caption in english: 'I'm cute with my puppy too!'. It was clearly an old picture, as the young man had a different hair colour on the photo. Your mind went wild the second you saw the caption and the adorable picture. You gave up on putting some distance between you and him, you gave up trying not to think about him, how he was, what he was doing. You wondered if he posted this because of the images you shared earlier in the day with your friend's puppy. You wondered if it meant he was stalking your social media profiles. You wondered if he was thinking of you too.

You grabbed a pillow, shoved your face in it and let out a scream of frustration. You didn't know what to do. Respond to the tweet? Send him a message? Ignore it? Despair swallowed you whole once again when you remembered that, whatever that was, he was still leaving in the early hours of the following morning. In the next 6 hours. You ended up watching Friends for the next couple of hours, not really paying attention to the show.

Your phone vibrated in your hands and you were surprised to see that you had received a message from a Twitter account you did not recognise.

"Hi Y/N, it's Jimin!"

You sat up straight on the sofa, surprised to be contacted by him.

"Oh hi! You ok? How did you get my twitter handle?" you responded.

"I stole Taehyung's phone to get it."

You blushed intensely when you realised that Jimin might have read your conversations with Taehyung.

"And can I ask why you did that? lol" you asked.

"Y/N. We are friends right?"

"Er... Yes?" You started to get worried with the turn the conversation was taking.

"And friends tell each other the truth right?" he continued.

"I guess so, when it is for their best interest I imagine."

"Exactly! So I'm going to tell you exactly what I said to Tae today."

"Ok?" You were really wondering where this whole conversation was heading now.

"Just go for it. Be brave. Take a leap of faith."

"Hm... Not sure I am following you here Jimin..." In reality you had a sneaking suspicion Jimin realised you liked his friend and wanted you to tell him that. But just to make sure you were not going to make a fool of yourself, you played dumb.

"Oh come on! Meet me halfway here! I'll just add one more thing: Tae has been miserable all day, and even more since he posted that picture on Twitter and is thinking that you didn't see it."

"Right. I get the message."

You really did, and Jimin finally gave you the last bit of convincing you needed. You shoot up from your seat, turning the TV off and grabbing your coat.

"I can't believe I had to intervene that much." Jimin carried texting you as you were getting ready. "I swear next time I will make you both pay for my services!"

Not wanting to leave him on read, but not wanting to take the time to respond with a full sentence, you just sent him a thumbs up emoji and shoved your phone in your pocket, grabbing your car keys on the way out.

*

Your best guess to find Taehyung, based on your discussion with him the day before on how every single schedule finished late, was to go to the town centre, where you knew they were filming today. When you parked though, you were surprised to see the street was not closed anymore and members of staff were carrying the filming materials to vehicles.

"Y/N!"

You turned around to look where you heard your name shouted from, only to see Jimin waving happily at you.

"What are you doing here?" he asked you when you reached each other.

"I followed your advice! I took a leap of faith. I came to see Taehyung, is he around?" you asked the man

"Argh! Why didn't you ask me where he was before you left, silly?!"

"Because you were complaining about interfering and threatening to make me pay for your services so I thought I wouldn't make my debt any bigger!"

Jimin laughed and you joined him.

"To be honest, I am not sure where he went." Jimin finally said. "We are meant to leave to the airport shortly, I even got my luggages with me. I guess he would have gone to the hotel to pick up his stuff? I am not sure though, he has been gone a while now.

"Thanks Jimin, I owe you one!" You thanked him as you were already heading to your car."

"You owe me two actually!" You managed to hear Jimin shouting back to you and laughed. You waved goodbye in response.

A few minutes later, you had parked at the hotel they had been staying for the past week, making the comment to yourself that in all the years you lived in this town, you had never spent this much time in this area than this week alone.

You entered the hotel lobby and headed out to Taehyung's room, you had no patience for the lift, so you took the stairs and climbed them two by twos. Eventually, you arrived in front of his door, completely out of breath.

"You're an idiot Y/N... You can't even speak now..."

You waited a couple of minutes to catch up your breath and gather the courage to knock at the door.

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*

You waited a few seconds for a response, but nothing came. You tried again.

Still nothing.

"Tae? Are you there? Are you asleep?" You tried to speak through the door, cautious not to be too loud as this was the middle of the night.

Still nothing.

You took your phone in your hand, debating on what to do next. Contact Taehyung? Contact Jimin? You really weren't sure.

"Excuse me miss?"

A voice startled you and you jumped in surprise. It seemed to be the night guard, checking up on you.

"Can I ask you what you are doing here?"

"Erm... I was here to visit my friend? Mr Kim Taehyung?"

The man looked at you suspiciously, but then eventually decided he could just give you the information you needed.

"I am afraid he has checked out of the hotel some time ago miss."

"Oh."

You felt your stomach drop, and your heart probably. You were so incredibly disappointed, tears started to swell up in your eyes. You managed to contain them in front of the man and thanked him for his help. As you headed outside, you reviewed your options.

You were not sure what time his plane was, you were not sure where Taehyung was. You could always text him, or Jimin. But after everything you just did tonight to see him once again, and after all of it didn't work out, you started thinking maybe it just wasn't meant to be. Maybe you were just forcing things to happen, and it was time to give up now. You really were not one to believe in destiny, but after these failures, it was just the world telling you to stop trying. You stepped outside the building, your head low. You were biting the inside of your cheeks to stop the tears from coming out. But as soon as it started pouring down with rain, you realised it would make no difference to cry, the tears would mix with the rain drops, and nobody would notice.

Not that there was anybody outside at this time of the night.

Until the rain stopped because an umbrella appeared on top of your head and a voice you were craving to hear desperately resonated behind you.

"You were difficult to find."

You turned around instantly, and forgot to breathe when you realised Taehyung was here. Holding an umbrella above your head. Glowing with the brightest smile on his face. You slapped yourself mentally to get some words out of you.

"You can talk." You laughed. "I went to two places to find you. I think I worked a lot more here to find you."

"I went to your house." He said. "I rang the doorbell and your mum opened the door."

"Oh." was all you were able to say.

"She doesn't speak English." He added.

"No. She does not." You agreed, starting to feel really sorry for the man.

You both took a pause. The rain was getting heavier and heavier. You were blushing at the intense stare Taehyung was giving you. His eyes were absolutely glued to you, it even seemed like he was not blinking, simply too busy contemplating you. You forgot to breathe again.

"Ok... Maybe you did work harder to find me."

Taehyung took a step forward under the umbrella, you were now touching. He was so close to you, you could feel his breathing on your face.

"And also, I am the one who actually find you."

He raised his hand to your face and moved a hair strand, stuck on your forehead because of the rain, behind your hear. He didn't pull his hand away after, letting his long fingers grazing softly against your cheek. Your heart was beating like crazy, it felt like it was coming out of your chest. Or maybe it was Taehyung's you couldn't tell anymore, you were so close, your bodies were pressed against each other's. You could see every details of his face, his adorable mole under his nose, you could probably count every single one of his eyelashes...

And you could tell how soft his lips must be.

And warm.

Because he was now kissing you.

And you were kissing him back.

While one of his hand was on your cheek, you reached out for his other hand and entwined your fingers, before pulling him closer to you, as if it was possible.

This was the dreamiest kiss you ever had in your life, so soft and yet so passionate. There was no pause, you could not get enough of each other. It felt like you were not the only one who restrained yourself during the week. Taehyung ended up confirming it for you when you finally separated. Your lips disconnected but your eyes didn't. You could imagine your eyes were glowing as much as his. It was a beautiful sight, Taehyung looked so blissfully happy, all you wanted was to kiss him again. Instead, you linked your arms across his chest, hugging him like you've been wanting to do for what seems like forever.

"You don't know how long I've been wanting to do this." Taehyung said, putting his arms around you in return, laying his head on top of yours.

"As long as I've been wanting to?" You asked him, not giving him a specific time.

He smiled at you, pecked another quick kiss on your lips.

"Most definitely."

You gave him a quick kiss too, struggling to resist as much as him. But as you were about to separate again, he whined like a child, started pouting and you cooed at the sight.

"You are the most adorable person in the world Tae." You rubbed your nose against his, and he did the same.

"And I love you. Can I stay here one more week with you?"

[sagemoderocklee]

Ooh, directors commentary on TAOL?? I know it's an epic so maybe just on the chapter where Lee and Gaara are traveling in Jade Country :3

sorry for letting this sit in my ask box for a couple days. i got kinda sidetracked and then had to go back to work today, which is not a fun time tbh but the evils of capitalism and so on....

anyways, im thrilled you asked for this particular part of TAoL because I absolutely loved that chapter (x) and put a lot of work into it between building up the culture of Gyokukakushin and making sure all the Arabic and Chinese I used was legit (which is partly why it took like 4 months to write). plus the chapter has a lot of great GaaLee moments that make me really happy.

one of my biggest downfalls as a writer is how long it takes me to actually finish anything. as i think most people who follow my writing know, i tend to prefer lengthier stories with lots of heavy politics, and that tends to mean that the build up of romance takes a while... which is again how i like it. i prefer a slow burn--a proper slow burn, not these 2k fics tagged slow burn. i mean, 100k into the story and the most you’ve got is an accidental hand brushing another and some intense eye contact... which admittedly TAoL has given more than just a little bit of physical contact and intense staring, but my point is that when i say slow burn i mean S L O W

anyways, onto the actual director’s commentary

So, Jade Province--as it’s not a country in itself, but a province within Wind Country--is a sprawling section of the south-east portion of Wind. I started building Jade Province and its capitol, Gyokukakushin sometime before I started on Ch10 of TAoL, but it was all a very loose idea. I’d initially conceptualized some things about it for the one shot I wrote, Keepsakes, because I’d been doing some background work on the Kazekage lineage and the culture surrounding the Kazekage family--such as arranged marriages, treaties, etc.

My idea is that Karura and Yashamaru are actually from Gyokukakushin. They would have been the children of a person in the political sphere within the capitol, and the marriage between Karura and Rasa would have been arranged early on and she would have been sent to Suna as a pre-teen or teen so that she would feel that Suna was home. I imagine she and Rasa would have married sometime when she was between 18-20. This was the main reason Rasa was able to take on the roll of Kazekage, based on the family tree I built up for the Kazekage line--he was the only one who was married and could produce heirs.

Not that any of this ever comes up during TAoL. In fact, Gaara doesn’t even realize that in going to Gyokukakushin he’s actually visiting half of his ancestral home. However, there’s a lot of fun hints about his connection to Gyokukakushin if you recall the many mentions of the color the same shade as Gaara’s eyes in that chapter. This was a specific nod to his heritage, and something that the locals definitely would have been fascinated by because there’s lots of significance surrounding that particular color in the region. I also wanted to use the reference to his eyes to highlight Lee’s particular fascination with Gaara’s appearance, and especially the element of Gaara’s eyes and the many ways he looks at Lee.

The biggest challenge within this chapter, of course, was the fact that I was using languages I’m not familiar with and had to find a good place to gather resources. Thanks to @ghoste-catte I discovered that reddit (of all places) has a translation subreddit which I was able to use to help bring that aspect of the story to life in an organic and respectful way. My Japanese is rusty, but I have a much better grasp on it than I do Chinese or Arabic, and so I spent many, many, many, many, many..... many hours searching for resources, watching YT vidoes, at the bookstore--I even bought a small book on Arabic. In the end, the subreddit was way more helpful than anything else because it allowed me the chance to get more concrete explanations from native speakers, so I could understand exactly why something was said the way it was. Most of the phrases used in that chapter aren’t really Gaara saying anything special--things like “be quiet” or “stop”--which I usually alluded to with Lee racking his brain trying to drudge up the vocabulary Gaara has taught him.

However, there’s one line--which I hope people did not turn to google translate for--that makes me especially happy, and that line really would not have been possible without that subreddit. I think the best part about being able to successfully navigate the challenge of using other languages is creating the same confusion Lee feels for those readers who doesn’t know those languages, and for those who do, offering them a nice glimpse at what’s going on that Lee cannot grasp. It’s fun and really changes the experience for each reader.

Language is such a beautiful and intricate aspect of people and culture, and my biggest fear with approaching the use of Arabic and Chinese was not only saying the wrong thing, but being disrespectful. So it was an incredibly good experience, and I was incredibly lucky to receive the help I did!

Building up the tension between Gaara and Lee was something I’d really wanted to execute well, too. It’s not often I write stories where the romance doesn’t start from scratch. With TAoL, Lee needed to already be in love with Gaara, and that was a big stress for me because I’m constantly asking myself: is this earned? I think one of the biggest failings of fanfiction is that people don’t ask that question. You really have to ask if your romance is earned. If your character growth is earned. If a redemption arc is earned. And I constantly worry that I’m moving too quickly with romance in particular, especially for Gaara and Lee. I’m not big on putting them together without a lot of development, and I’m not big on established relationship fics (that aren’t sequels) for them either. I like the work it takes to get them together, I like the journey of getting them together. And I don’t like it to be easy.

But for me, TAoL is one of my best actualized works. I think Alliance really helped me build the skills I needed to execute a story like TAoL on so many levels--from the complicated political landscapes, to the cultures, to the relationships between each character. And so I do feel like Lee being in love with Gaara at this point in their lives makes sense, and does work despite the fact that we didn’t see him fall in love with Gaara during the course of this fic. There are subtle nods to his feelings for Gaara in the early chapters, but I didn’t go too hard at indicating those feelings until really the second Lee chapter, this chapter I’m talking about now. I think there were some hints in the first Lee chapter--the chapter where he broke Gaara out of prison and whisked him away from Suna--but I tried to keep those things to a minimum, partly to not over do it and ease people in to that, and partly because I wanted to keep the suspense alive surrounding the real purpose for Lee being in Suna.

So when they get to Gyokukakushin, it really gave me a much better chance at showcasing his feelings. There were moments prior to Gyokukakushin, but those were from Gaara’s PoV--like the moment within the destroyed village, Myoujou, where they’re hiding from the group of shinobi and Gaara’s trying desperately to get Lee to focus his chakra enough to mask it.

But the success of that particular moment is lost on Gaara because he doesn’t really know how Lee feels about him at that point in time, so his impact on Lee is entirely lost to him....not to mention he’s dealing with a lot of grief and trauma, so he hardly has the wherewithal to be paying attention to whether or not his rescuer is secretly in love with him.

One of my favorite tender moments is this one:

“Do you have a favorite word?” Lee asked, before a yawn interrupted him.

“In Indigosi? Or in general?”

“Both.”

Gaara glanced at Lee from the corner of his eye. “Affection,” he murmured, almost as though he were afraid to admit it. “In Indigosi...” Gaara was silent, his gaze shifting away from Lee to the window. A warmth spread across his brown skin, a blush rising on his high cheekbones. “Rohi.”

He looked down at Lee, something bright behind his eyes.

Heat burned Lee's face like an inferno. “What does that mean?”

Gaara looked away again, hiding from Lee in plain sight. “My soul." The words hung in the air with some other meaning, one that Lee could not decipher. Gaara would forever be a paradox, an ever expanding puzzle for Lee to piece together. He didn't ever want to figure him out completely, but he would never stop trying to get as close to epiphany as he could.

“That is beautiful,” Lee told him as another yawn overtook him.

“I should let you sleep,” Gaara said, moving to get up.

Lee stopped him with an imploring hand against Gaara's forearm. “Stay? You did not finish telling me about your trip to Dusk Country.”

“You kept interrupting,” Gaara teased lightly, settling back into place.

Lee smiled up at him, ever so slightly cheeky. “I promise I will be quiet.”

“You're going to fall asleep,” Gaara corrected.

“Probably. It is very late.”

I love so many of the emotional scenes from this particular chapter, but I love how simple and sweet this moment is. There’s such a wealth of affection in small actions, and I really wanted to highlight that Lee and Gaara have grown closer during their time traveling from Myoujou to Gyokukakushin, and things that were born of necessity (like sleeping close together for warmth) are now things done because they want to. There’s comfort in the closeness of sitting next to one another, there’s something peaceful about Lee falling asleep while Gaara talks to him. It’s a nice moment, less high emotion and more quiet contentment, which I think is much needed after everything they’ve been through.

I think that my other favorite scene would be the scene on the beach, right after they’ve watched the sand artist and Gaara makes his model of Suna. That scene is a complicated affair for Lee because he’s both enjoying his time with Gaara and feeling guilty for enjoying that time together. And of course Gaara’s got a lot going on too, which Lee can only guess at.

One of the other things I really enjoyed about this chapter is the fact of Lee and Gaara being in disguise, and really the use of their aliases. I particularly like any excuse to get Gaara to call Lee “Ren”. I’m particularly in love with that stroke of genius regarding Lee’s alias, and there’s a certain emotion, a certain connection that I really hope I could convey with how they use each other’s aliases.

I could probably talk about this chapter forever, but unfortunately there’s also thins I don’t want to say at the risk of spoiling future chapters since this is still a WIP (and probably will be for a while longer, though we’re almost halfway there! Two more chapters to the halfway mark!) Thank you so much for sending this particular ask anon! I had fun chatting about it and I hope you enjoyed reading my comments! 

[sunshine-pup-fics]

V O O D O O // Shinso x Reader

So I actually really like this quirk idea and want to develop it more and make an actual character out of it- but we’ll see how it goes!

Also, this idea just hit me and I really like it... But idk if I managed to write it well... also Shinso feels a little OOC? :p

(Y/n) frowned, gazing down at her supplies before her. There were a plentiful amount of small glass bottles littering her desk, each with a label with something scrawled on it.  She traced her fingers across them, scanning the names for what she was searching for. She finally picked out one of the bottles, holding it up to the light. There was a small amount of liquid, perhaps enough for a few drops. She sighed, putting the bottle back as she quickly packed them all roughly away. She fled to her bedside table, grabbing her phone and purse, before slipping them into a messenger bag. She slung it over her shoulder, heading for her bedroom door. She skidded down the halls, sliding on her socks as she searched for her parents, which she finally found in the kitchen. “I’m going to the store super quick, do we need anything for dinner?” Her mother glanced at her, smiling as she hummed softly. “Ah, if you could grab some snacks for your lunches that would be great. There should be some money on the counter.” She gestured vaguely toward the other side of the kitchen before returning to her cooking. (Y/n) swipes the few notes from the counter, then headed toward the front door. She slipped on her shoes then hurried out the door.

(Y/n) dawdled down the sidewalk, eyeing the colourful storefronts. There were bookstores and clothing stores, with the local grocer just down the road. However, she turned into one of the stores, a small one that was painted a deep blue. A little bell jingled as she pushed the door open, and the scent of lavender seemed to smack her in the face as she headed in. There was a small portion of the wall covered in plants, beside it was a small couch. The rest of the room had shelves lining the walls, with a variety of different sized and different colours bottles sitting atop them. (Y/n) headed for one of the shelves, plucking a bottle from it and heading straight for the counter, which was nestled in the back corner. It was decorated with more plants, as well as some different crystals ranging in size and colour. There was an elderly lady behind the counter, who smiled warmly. “Another bottle of lavender? Is it for your newest little friend?” She expertly scanned it, slipping it into a small paper bag. “Thank you!” (Y/n) chirped. She handed over a few yen notes, taking the light paper bag and bidding farewell before heading back out to the street. She turned to her left, continuing down toward the grocery store. There was a dull chime as she entered, but no one paid her any mind. She began down each aisle, picking a few items each time. Arms full, she headed quickly toward the counter. There were a few people already standing in line, so she joined the queue. A few moments passed before she caught sight of a flash of purple in the corner of her eye. She casually turned to glance at it, only to be staring at none other than her classmate, Shinso. “O-oh. Good afternoon, Shinso.” She timidly bowed, averting her gaze away from him. The boy cleared his throat, keeping his gaze off her as well. “You’re... (Y/n), right?” The girl bobbed her head. “General studies, class 1-C.” They fell to silence. Shinso idly glanced around the store, while (Y/n) resorted to staring down at the food in her arms. Her head suddenly jumped to look at him, and she opened her mouth as if to speak.  Shinso brought his gaze to hers, quirking a brow. (Y/n) closed her mouth, lightly shaking her head as whispered a “sorry, it’s nothing.” 

Shinso seemed to notice her more the next day. They were in the same class, yet he’d never really seemed to notice her. She sat near back, on the furthest row from the door. He wasn’t sure why he was suddenly curious about her. He pinned to the fact that he just wanted to know what she was going to say in the supermarket. He kept seeing her in the corner of his eye. Talking to someone or grabbing a book, or even just passing him in the hall. He kept noticing her, but she seemed totally oblivious to him. Not once did he catch her gaze. It even occurred to him that he didn’t have an inkling of an idea to what her quirk was. The final bell rang and there was a flurry of scraping chairs as the students hurried out of the classroom. Shinso stacked his books, slipping them into his bag before slinging it over his shoulder. He turned to leave, before hearing a small voice call his name. “Excuse me, Shinso.” He glanced over his shoulder, seeing none other than (Y/n) weaving around the tables toward him. She paused before him, gripping her bag strap as she gazed over his shoulder. “I just... wanted to ask if you were feeling okay? I-uh. The rest of the class-Uhm- noticed that you seemed less agitated.” She chewed her lip. Shinso furrowed his brow, before lightly nodding. “I don’t know why you need to know, but yeah. I’ve been feeling... better, than usual.” Shinso couldn’t describe it. As soon as she said that, (Y/n) seemed to glow. Her eyes lit up, and a soft smile graced her lips. She tried to play it off, scuffing the floor with her shoe and pretending to not be too interested. “Oh, that’s nice then! I uh- I have to get going. A few people in the class were just curious.” She bowed her head before ducking around him. He turned to watch her, only catching her (h/c) hair disappear past the door. If he was already curious, he was surely infatuated now. He felt drawn to her. He felt as if he was already comfortable with her like she calmed him down. And he was going to figure out why.

For the next few days, he tried to coincidentally ‘bump’ into her. In the hallways, during lunch, he even headed back to the convenience store a few times in hopes he might catch her again. She hadn’t seemed to change her behaviour, she either didn’t notice his glances or she didn’t care. Yet he had caught her stealing glances at himself a few times. Today had produced futile attempts, as usual. He’d wandered around the store after school, eyeing different foods and drinks in order to at least pretend like he was shopping. However, it didn’t seem she was coming today either. He picked up a bottle of water, quickly heading to the register and paying before shuffling out the door. He turned to continue down the street, only casually throwing a glance over his shoulder. And then he spotted her. Her unmistakable (h/c) (h/s) hair bouncing with each of her steps as she hurried up the sidewalk. She was heading the other direction, but he scrambled to follow her, weaving through the few people wandering the street. He slowed when he passed the store she has come out of. His gaze flickered between the two, before he came to a stop, watching her disappear around a corner. He hesitantly turned toward the store. It was painted dark blue, with a worn-out awning bolted to the wall. He craned his neck, peering in through the tinted window. After a few moments of deliberation, he headed for the door. He nearly jumped when a small bell rung as he pushed the door open. The first thing he noticed was the distinct smell of lavender. He felt as if all his jittering nerves seemed to settle almost immediately. He gazed around, simply taking in the small store. “Do you need anything, dear?” Shinso spun on his heel, realising the middle-aged woman seated at the counter at the back of the room. She was smiling politely. He glanced toward the door. He was too far in to back out now. He sheepishly wandered toward her, coming to a halt as he gazed at the nearest bottles, trying to read their labels. “What can I... hmm.” The woman trailed off, glancing him up and down, brows furrowed. “May I ask what you sell here?” Shinso inquired. The lady seemed to snap from her trance. “Oh, we sell natural oils and extracts. They’re mostly used for things like incense and natural remedies.” Shinso picked up one of the bottles, frowning when he noticed the price. “If you don’t mind, could you tell me about that girl that was just in here?” Shinso tensed as the women sent a stern look his way. “Dear (Y/n)? She’s one of my best customers. Very polite and so dedicated to her craft.” She seemingly smiled to herself. “She’s been buying a lot more lavender than usual recently... must be for someone...” she paused. Her gaze then shot to Shinso and she grinned. “You! That’s where I recognise you from! Ah, of course! You’re her newest victim.” She chimed. “Excuse me?” The woman quickly waved him closer. “Oh, I shouldn’t say it quite like that. You’re a classmate of hers, correct?” Shinso nodded. “(Y/n) has a quirk fit for the hero course, yet it apparently did no good against the machines they set you lot against in the entrance exam. She’s absolutely wonderful. I can’t remember exactly what it’s called, but she uses voodoo dolls! Like in the movies! Bless the girl, she makes dolls for her family and friends and bathes them in oils and showers them with love. Of course, her quirk is involved and whatever she does to those dolls actually does affect the person.” “Wait, are you saying she-“ “Oh! I’ve gone and said too much already! Here, take this lavender oil and give it to her next time you see her, alright? Now shoo! I can’t go blabbering again!” Shinso couldn’t even get another word in. A small bottle was shoved into his hands and he was ushered out the door. 

Shinso was nervous the next morning. He wasn’t sure why. All he had to do was talk to (Y/n). It’s not like he hadn’t done that before... but before he hadn’t know anything about (Y/n)... he trailed the school halls, paying no mind to the other students that killed around. Every step toward the classroom felt a little heavier than the last. He felt as if he had become hypersensitive. He could hear her beautiful laugh from the classroom down the hall. He was in so deep now. He tried to act inconspicuous, simply walking into class. (Y/n) was by her desk, talking to one of her classmates. All he had to do was act natural. He shuffled over, pausing a few feet away as they quickly finished their conversation. He cleared his throat, quickly gaining their attention. “Excuse me, I need to speak to (Y/n). Would lunch be alright?” The girl in question looked surprised, stuttering for a moment before nodding. “O-okay. Yeah. See you then.” She kept her gaze locked on her books, and if Shinso wasn’t mistaken, a faint pink flushed her cheeks. (Y/n) stood quietly by the cafeteria door, watching the few stragglers make their way into the lunchroom. She rocked on her heels, gaze trailing up and down the halls in search of the purple-haired boy. She slipped her hand into her pocket, absent-mindedness beginning to fiddle with the little doll she kept in her pocket. Shinso finally appeared, coming to a halt a few steps away. “So... what is it you want to talk about?” (Y/n) asked. Shinso pulled something from his pocket. Held between his thumb and forefinger was a small bottle. (Y/n) knee instantly what it was. “A-Ah... right... Shinso- I-I don’t mean any harm by what I do! I swear I don’t do anything bad! I know it sounds bad you include voodoo dolls but-“ Shinso cut her of with a frown. “Look, that old lady said some stuff, but I want to know from the source. What’s your quirk?” (Y/n) tensed, a knot tying itself in her stomach. She hesitantly opened her mouth. “My quirk involves what’s commonly known as voodoo dolls. I make them all myself... essentially, like the movies, whatever I do to the doll happens to the person... in a sense. So I... I've made dolls of my friends and family and I take care of them. I use essential oils like lavender-“ She gestured to the bottle he was holding, “to help them feel calm.” She smiled sheepishly. “And uh...” she pulled her hand from her pocket, revealing a small doll in her hand. It had a mess of purple wool hair and matching button eyes. It even had a small u.a blazer. Shinso started at, mouth left hanging open. “Sorry if it’s been to invasive or anything...” Shinso shook his head, earning a surprised gaze. “Why? Why would you care about some classmate?” He took s step forward. “You just... you always looked tired, stressed, overworked. I could see it. So I figured I could help. Even just a little bit...” Shinso watched as her gaze fell to the floor, tracing the tiles. “There’s something else, isn’t there?” He pushed. “I guess once I heard about your quirk... I felt like maybe we were already closer... i... i got shunned by my old classmates for having such an evil quirk. They always said that I’d always be capable of more harm than good. Whispered about how at any moment, I could kill someone...” she sniffled, keenly aware of the wet streak down her cheek. There was silence. Shinso wordlessly shuffled closer. He gently took (Y/n)s spare hand, and pressed the bottle into her palm. “I’ve felt the best I have been in a long time. I’ve actually been able to have a good nights sleep... could you... please, keep doing whatever it is you do.” He fell silent, quickly looking away, pink encroaching on his ears. (Y/n) let a smile grace her lips. “Gladly.” Shinso stepped back, shoving his hands into his pockets. His stoic expression returned. “However I’ll buy any of the oils you need. I’m not allowing you to spend so much money on me.” “What-“ Shinso sharpened his gaze. “Okay. Okay... would you like to accompany me to the store after school then?” “Sure.” “See you then, Hitoshi” (Y/n) turned on her heel and disappeared through the cafeteria doors, leaving behind a stuttering Shinso.

[withabackpackandcamera]

February 24th, 2020

Day 10: In Manila To Catch Up With An Old Friend

Today, I woke up late but early enough to figure out my flight home before my lunch meeting with Andrea. After washing up and making a call to an EVA Air agent who confirmed that I was good to go on my originally booked flight, I was finally ready. Luckily for me, I didn’t have to hail a Grab taxi; instead, Andrea had instructed her parents’ driver to drop me off at her office building where I would meet her before walking out to grab lunch closeby. After a short drive, he dropped me off at Andrea’s parents’ company’s building (they might own the building?) in Bonifacio Global City, the business part of town that Andrea worked in, where I waited for Andrea to finish a meeting before going out for lunch. 

Her meeting ended late so I ended up having to wait for a bit. Eventually, she came down to meet me in the lobby and we were then off to lunch. We walked around the area and ended up getting lunch at Green Pastures, a healthy food place closeby. After perusing the menu, we ordered the Nose To Tail Cauliflower Bowl (Lechon Sisig) and an Umami Bowl with some healthy juices to drink. It was a good, healthy-tasting meal to have after a few days of not so great eating. We caught up over lunch about everything we had missed in each other’s lives since Stanford but couldn’t get to everything because she had to meet up with her family at the Shangri-La Hotel around the corner for an ING promo event where she was supposed to pick up her new iPhone. At the ING event, I ended up meeting her dad Stephen Sy and two of her sisters, her older sister Stephanie and her younger sister Angela. Because it took awhile to wait for the iPhone distribution process, we sat there and continued chatting until Andrea finally got it. After claiming her prize, we strolled back to her office where I dropped her off before continuing to wander around the area until her workday was over. 

I ended up walking through Bonifacio High Street, a street lined with brand-name stores and restaurants, while killing time and waiting for Andrea. I took a peek into Fully Booked Bookstore and ended up hanging out there for a while, slowly walking through each floor until I had seen all five floors, after which time I left the bookstore to continue my exploring. But around this time, the rain started to fall. Instead of walking too far from Bonifacio High Street, I just stayed in the area to avoid getting too wet with my camera on me. I strolled into and out of a couple of stores until the rain finally started to calm down and eventually stop. When the rain stopped, I jumped over to a little shopping center I had found and walked through there looking for a place to grab a drink. I didn’t find anything worth purchasing but sat around to rest before getting back up on my feet. 

By this time, it was getting close to late afternoon. With some time left, I decided to roam the streets of BGC with the goal of finding as many wall murals as possible before dinner (supposedly, over the years, they have had artists paint murals in BGC). So I started my scavenger hunt for public art murals in the area. After seeing a couple, I spotted a Chatime boba shop. Just what I was looking for! Boba was really what I was craving for my thirst so I stopped by Chatime for some boba before continuing my hunt. I walked around and through and past cars stuck in post-work traffic and saw a couple murals before it finally got dark. It was time to start walking back to meet up with Andrea. 

Once she was done with her work day, she again met me downstairs and we walked a block or so to dinner at Manam, a restaurant that was very well known and popular for its traditional Filipino comfort food. Because I didn’t know what I wanted to order, I let her do all the ordering since she had strong recommendations for some dishes. We ended up ordering House Crispy Sisig, Pancit Palabok, and a dessert of Bibingkang Ube. Even though my appetite wasn��t yet back to 100%, the food was delicious! The House Crispy Sisig was like crispy pork that was well seasoned. Pancit Palabok was crispy rice noodles soaked in egg (I think) with some mushrooms, shrimp, and squid in it. Yum! And the Bibingkang Ube was a dessert similar to warm pound cake with ube on it. A delicious dinner and a great catch-up conversation lasting close to three whole hours! Productive and fun! 

After a long time sitting on our butts and eating, we finally got up to walk it all off before getting picked up by Andrea’s driver. Once we were at home, she showed me around the entire house and brought her mom down to say hi (I met her mom ages ago on Andrea’s first day at Stanford and she still remembers me!). Before showering and packing for the airport, we fit in another hour of chatting and catching up before I REALLY had to get ready and head to the airport. But before long, I was all clean and all packed and ready to go. Sadly, the trip to Manila was very short and I didn’t get to hang out with Andrea as much as I would have liked. But the time we did spend together after 7-8 years was super productive! A very well-spent 24 hours in Manila! 

Once I had signed their guestbook and said goodbye to Andrea, her kind driver drove me to the airport and dropped me off at my terminal. And man was I lucky in getting there a bit early because the line to check into my EVA Air flight was devastatingly long. I waited and waited and waited until I finally got to the check-in desk and received my boarding tickets. Shortly after, I was through security and at a lounge, where I spent about an hour hanging out before boarding my very early morning flight to Taipei. Taiwan, here I come again! For one long, hopefully productive layover! 

5 Things I Learned Today:

1. Bonifacio Global City, also known as BGC, is a financial district in Manila that was built on an old army base that was sold to developers and real-estate people some 20-30 years ago. Over that time, the area has developed at an exponential rate and has now become the booming commercial and financial area in Manila. 

2. Focus Global Inc. is a company that specializes in marketing and distribution and is one of the leading distributors in the Philippines of local and imported products, like Tempur-Pedic and Ethan Allen brands. AND, Andrea’s family owns the company. Whoa. 

3. You can’t get free WiFi ANYWHERE in the Philippines and Singapore without a local phone number. Why do people make life so hard??

4. The Philippines were once colonized by the United States for something like 48 years after a long history of colonization by Spain. The Philippines were even occupied by Japan for a short period of time from 1942-1945 during WWII.

5. Sisig is a dish that is mostly composed of leftover pork parts that haven’t been used for other dishes that are then chopped up and cooked on a sizzling hot plate and served with rice.

[themarktcor]

Maybe your church needs to stay “closed”.

One of my favorite movies of all time is Jurassic Park. I’ll never forget going to see it around my birthday in 1993 and I walked out absolutely amazed. Before the mayhem starts, one of the main characters makes a statement I’ve never forgotten. He says to the park owner, “You were so preoccupied with whether you could do something, you never stopped to consider whether you should!”

I have genuinely come back to this statement time and again through the years as I see our world advance. It seems that discovery is so deeply celebrated that we are always looking at what we could do while never thinking about whether we should.

I would say this is definitely true of the church. Understand, by “the church” I mean the people who God has transformed by His Gospel, not the building you may meet in once a week. Just look at some of the things we’ve realized we could do without really thinking about whether they should be done:

- we are called to be with those who need Christ so we’ve put our own coffee shops inside our buildings in hopes they will pass up their local Starbucks and wander in to hang out with us

- we are challenged to help the poor and needy but are straddled with unbelievable debt from ministry loans and overhead costs

- we are to point people to the Word of God with every breath we take and then build bookstores in our church buildings where the Bible is intermingled with popular authors and books by the connected church leaders

- we are to declare His wonders from one generation to the next but we have built ministries for children and teens that resemble amusement parks

Somehow we have lost sight of the fact that the church is His, and He doesn’t need expensive facilities and well-marketed programs to get His Gospel to the world...he simply needs us.

Reexamining Priorities

I remember a tv show a number of years ago where they took people from two completely different lifestyles and had them swap lives for a week. One episode involved an atheist going to live in the home of an Evangelical Christian family. They wanted to show the atheist their faith/ministry by taking them to their church (building). While there they talked about the multi-million dollar facility and how many people came. While the atheist was kind, she asked a very pointed question,

“How many poor/needy people could you have helped if you hadn’t spent tens of millions of dollars on this building?”

The family was silent. Whether it was editing or legitimate shock, the family had no response to this question. I don’t know what was harder to watch, the fact that they didn’t have an answer or the fact that they thought showing of the building would impress the atheist. The extravagance of our buildings have got to make us look a bit ridiculous to an unbelieving world. At its worst, we seem hypocritical.

However all this is to say, we’ve pretty well proved the church is not the building during this crisis. We’ve seen ministry change for the better as it is not fixed on the very wrong church growth question of “...how do we get them into our building?” Think about this, what would the believers in the book of Acts think about what the church looks like today? How often do your church leaders stop and look at what the church was intended to be vs. what it has become for you?

Ministry Closed?

Even though our buildings are empty does not mean ministry is closed. Just ask any of the number of people out there serving others in the name of Jesus during this season. I’ve talked with many people who are stepping up to help, who previously would have waited for the church to organize an event. Closed buildings, social distancing requirements, and limited staff interaction has not closed the real church...in fact, it has opened it like many of us have never seen before.

What if this is something that God has wanted from us for a long time. Let me be clear, I don’t believe God released a virus on us killing so many people and significantly impacting the economic stability of us all just to wake up His church. However, we know Scripture tells us in Romans 8:28 that “...we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

A New Start

Now, we find ourselves in a whole new world. Covid-19 has brought things to a screeching halt and no nation has been left out. Everyone has been impacted in some way in their family, job, schooling, and even their church. We are literally at a point of “do over” for many things in our world so maybe it is a good time to decide what needs to pick up where it left off before this all hit, and what possibly needs to change completely.

I would argue this is a conversation we all need to have in our evangelistic churches all over the world. We hear talk about opening things up and returning to normal (even if it is a new normal). Much of what I hear from church leaders is about getting the doors open and getting “ministries” going again. My question is simple, why?

It seems that we all need to pause and really evaluate what has been difficult about this season, but also, what has actually worked really well? What things are working that we never would have tried if it hadn’t been for this global event?

Our Options

We have a unique opportunity to think not just about what we COULD do next, but also a chance to rethink what we SHOULD do. So, what should we do? 

Open the buildings back up and do everything you can to get back to the way things used to be as soon as possible. Let’s be real here, this is what most church leaders will do. Once this is said and done, most will try to get back to the status quo.

Shut it all down and sell the buildings. Make the church be the church and step into a new era of ministry where the gospel can run free. Again let’s be real, this isn’t practical in any way. While we do need to be a people God can use to let loose His Gospel in the world, closing it all down won’t and shouldn’t happen.

Look at what has begun and go back ready to have short discussions and take immediate action. To me, this makes sense. We should already be having conversations about what changes need to be made based on what God has shown us in light of the pandemic. BUT, these conversations must have immediate actions. Ministry has taken off for many in the past few months, the best way to shut it down is to form a committee...

A Unique Opportunity 

We are at such a defining place in history. We, the real church (not the buildings), have a unique opportunity before us. My hope and prayer is that we will not settle for the comfort of what was but instead will let God reshape us for a revival of His Gospel like none of us have ever seen before.

[insidemylibrarymind]

New year, new books.

I want to talk about new releases again! I know I do these posts every month, but that’s more focused on pretty covers than on books I know in advance I want to read, no matter what their cover is, so I wanted to do a list of upcoming book releases I cannot wait to come out. This will also be my final post of “end of the year” series, so we are going strong into 2020. Let’s chat about books!

Yes, No, Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed — I already have an eARC for this book and I recently started reading it, but I am not that far into it. This book follows Jamie and Maya, and I think it will deal with local politics and activism, as well as ROMANCE. A healthy balance which we love to see.

The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood — I don’t know much about this one, except for the fact that it’s anticipated by EVERYONE and that it’s about an orc princess that becomes an assassin for a wizard, which sounds badass. This is also compared to LeGuin, who I love, so EXCITING.

Weather by Jenny Offill — I’ve been meaning to read Jenny Offill for ages, and her new book sounds amazing. Said to be about a family and a nation in crisis, it follows a woman who works as a librarian (and a fake shrink on the side) and how she deals with the letters she receives from an array of different people when she starts working on a podcast. The blurb is confusing, but so intriguing and I really want to try and get to this one.

Of Curses and Kisses by Sandhya Menon — Contemporary spin on Beauty and the Beast set in an elite boarding school, WE LOVE TO SEE IT.

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Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare — My excitement for Clare’s previous series has diminished, but I love the short stories I read about the cast of characters in Chain of Gold, so this has the potential to be amazing and I am excited

Docile by K.M. Szpara — With a tagline of “There is no consent under capitalism”, this has the potential to be my favorite book of the year. Set in the future where people become Dociles to repay their debts, our hero Elisha becomes indentured to the heir of the family who invented the drug being given to Dociles and the whole debt resolution act.

Every Reason We Shouldn’t by Sara Fujimura — Figure skating! Hate-to-love! More kinds of skating! Korean MC! CUTENESS AND FLUFF! Cannot wait!

Wicked As You Wish by Rin Chupeco — I haven’t read any books by Rin Chupeco previously, but my friends love her books PLUS this sounds brilliant. It’s a story set in Arizona, but the protagonists are actually refugees from the Kingdom of Avalon, which was enveloped in ice by an evil Snow Queen. We follow the prince of Avalon, and the girl who happens to be a spellbreaker. It sounds so good, I literally cannot wait.

Harley in the Sky by Akemi Dawn Bowman — I loved Bowman’s previous novel, so I am super excited for her new release, which is described as The Greatest Showman meets This Is Us, and is about a girl who joins the circus after having a huge fallout with her parents.

My Dark Vanessa by Karen Elizabeth Russell — This is a story about Vanessa, told both in the past, when she was fifteen and involved with her teacher, and in the present, as she comes to terms that she wasn’t actually involved willingly in that relationship, as her teacher was accused of sexual abuse by another former student. Sounds devastating, but I think it will be fantastic.

The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin — A new Urban Fantasy release set in New York, where five people must come together to defend the city from an ancient evil.

The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo — A Tor Dot Com novella set in a world inspired by Imperial China, about a princess who is sent south for a political marriage, who befriends Rabbit, her handmaiden.

Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore — Set in the 1970s in a small town in Texas, this novel follows a teenager who is brutally attacked, and a woman who decides to take justice into her own hands, when the system fails to do so.

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All Adults Here by Emma Straub — This novel follows a woman who after she witnesses an accident, starts questioning her parenting decisions and the lives of her children and grandchildren, and how she influenced them and the mistakes she made. Sounds exactly like my kind of book and I have heard good things about Emma Straub.

Beach Read by Emily Henry — The first Adult Romance on the list! This follows two writers, one who writes rom-com and the other who writes literary fiction, who challenge each other to write in each other’s genres in order to overcome their writer’s block or whatnot. And they obviously fall in love. THE PERFECT SET UP, honestly.

By the Book by Amanda Sellet — A YA Romance following a girl obsessed with 19th-century literature, who makes a guide on what to avoid in guys based on those books, only to end up falling for a boy who embodies the no-nos on her list. CUTE.

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End of the Day by Bill Clegg — Possibly the most exciting book on the list, it’s the new novel by Bill Clegg, who wrote one of my favorite books of all time, Did You Ever Have a Family. LITERALLY CANNOT WAIT, I have no idea what this is about but I am sure it’s about family and very character-focused. WE STAN.

This Is All Your Fault by Aminah Mae Safi — The novel follows three girls over the course of one day, as they try to save a bookstore they are working in. This sounds so good, I cannot wait to read it.

The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water by Zen Cho — Tor Dot Com strikes again, this time with a story about a bandit who joins with a band of thieves in order to protect a sacred object.

  The Thief on the Winged Horse by Kate Mascarenhas — Mascarenhas wrote The Psychology of Time Travel, which I loved, so I am excited for her sophomore novel, about a doll-making family, which puts emotions into their dolls, and about Persephone, who wants to learn the craft that her family entrusts upon men only. But then, someone steals one of the most prized possessions of the family. It sounds BRILLIANT and I love Mascarenhas’ writing, so exciting times!

Set Fire to the Gods by Sara Raasch and Kristen Simmons — A YA Fantasy said to be a mix between ATLA and The Gladiator about ELEMENTAL GLADIATORS. I cannot wait, truly.

Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar — Inspired by Hindu mythology, the novel follows a girl who is the daughter of a star and a human, who must travel to the star court in order to save her father. Honestly, this sounds brilliant and the cover is STUNNING, so a win-win situation.

Loathe at First Sight by Suzanne Park — An office hate-to-love romance, reminiscent of The Hating Game, only set in the video game industry and with a Korean MC? SIGN ME UP.

And those are all the releases for the first part of the year (sort of), that I am super excited about! I would love to hear from you — any releases you are excited about and that I should add to my radar? Let me know!

                                                                                                                    xxx

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  2020 Releases I Am Most Excited About New year, new books. I want to talk about new releases again! I know I do these posts every month, but that's more focused on pretty covers than on books I know in advance I want to read, no matter what their cover is, so I wanted to do a list of upcoming book releases I cannot wait to come out.

[hereticpriest]

Sparks Part 1

John Wick Post Chapter 2 AU

John was made excommunicado but without the bounty on his head. He moves away and lives a normal life for once.

Warnings: None for this chapter. Future chapters may become NSFW. Canon-typical violence and swearing may occur in later chapters. Will be tagged.

@lvngdvns

It took a while for John to feel comfortable after his expulsion from the world he’d lived in most of his life. Unlike when he got out the first time, he felt quite certain that someone would come after him just for the prestige of having killed John Wick. He wasn’t protected in the same way he was the first time. He didn’t have a contract out for his head, but he was no longer welcome at the Continental, and he had plenty of enemies around the world.

His new home was outside of the city, up in a less inhabited region of upstate New York. The town closest to his new home was quaint, with only a bookstore, a pet store/groomer home business, a grocery store, a bank, a family restaurant, a hardware store and a gas station. The neighbouring town had a Target and a couple of chain fast food places, but anything beyond that would require a longer drive into the city. He had everything he needed close by, he had his dog, and he finally had the time to grieve.

Peace didn’t necessarily come easy to John. It took him months to stop looking over his shoulder and pulling his gun over random noises at night. He stopped wearing his tactical vest suit every day after a couple of months, though he didn’t get rid of it. It took him a while to become comfortable going out, but after a couple of months, he became a regular at the local bookstore. It was a small business owned by a young local woman, and it contained the only decent coffee in town. The Nestled Nook was in the old bank, so it had a very old school aesthetic and a reading area in the back which was once a vault. It was also one of the few places in town that had free wifi, and the download speed was faster there than it was at his house.

Which is how he met Natalia.

Natalia owned and operated The Nestled Nook with only minor assistance from her sole employee, Courtney Holland. Where Courtney was loud and boisterous in her efforts to sell product, Natalia was calm and disarming. Where Courtney was the epitome of youthful optimism, Natalia was what one would think of when hearing the phrase ‘an old woman in a young woman’s body’. They were opposites in almost every way, including in appearance.

Courtney had a sunkissed tan, pin-straight brown hair, and brown eyes that were so light they looked like the colour of honey. She was younger than Natalia by only four years, but her youth shone in a way that made the age gap so much more pronounced. She was not so average in height, but extraordinarily average in weight, and carried both off quite well. Tall as a beanpole with a slight pear shape and thighs that she claimed could snap a man’s neck, Courtney was one hell of a woman.

John couldn’t claim to be very fond of interacting with Courtney at length, as she had a tendency to push boundaries and ask probing questions. That being said, she had also married the owner of the local pet store and had helped him quite a bit when he was choosing things for Dog. He liked her well enough but kept her at arms-length in order to avoid her prying.

Natalia, on the other hand, was as white as a porcelain doll if not for the freckles dotted across her skin. Her hair fell in red curls around her face when she let it down, but she generally kept it in a loose bun held with hair needles and a whole lot of luck. Her eyes were such a light shade of blue that they were nearly grey, framed by long, pale lashes and crow’s feet at the corners that she was far too young to have. Natalia was average in height at about 5’6, but her shape was closer to a typical hourglass figure. She was toned where Courtney was soft, but she always made the excuse that it was from carrying books all the time.

John didn’t believe her when she waved off Courtney’s questions with that excuse, but he wasn’t supposed to be listening from his place in the stacks. He was waiting for Courtney to head back into the coffee bar area so that he could speak to Natalia and get her latest recommendations. She always knew what to suggest, and she always seemed to know when he needed a distraction. Despite his best efforts, he found her to be a rather tempting distraction. Natalia was just over half his age, a gentle soul, and most certainly not his wife. That being said, he had spent quite a bit of time adjusting to his new life and thinking about Helen’s note to him. She had made her wishes quite clear before that as well. She didn’t want him to dwell and close himself off completely. She told him he needed something to love. It had been just over a year since Helen passed away, and he finally felt some measure of peace.

Courtney batted at Natalia playfully, then glanced in his direction and smiled. She leaned in to Natalia’s ear, whispering something he couldn’t make out right before tweaking Natalia’s ear. Natalia’s cheeks turned pink, the blush showing easily on her light skin, and she tried to punch Courtney on the arm but missed. Courtney danced out of her reach and laughed full and loud.

“Even just one good one would last you for a while, Nat. You’re not as old as you act; you can’t use being too busy as an excuse forever.” Courtney practically sang, moving past him through the aisles towards the coffee bar. As she passed him, the brunette winked playfully and threw out a quick “Evening, Mr. Wick.”

Natalia had turned away from him, fanning herself and muttering something about nosy employees sticking their noses into her business. She wore her typical uniform: a black skirt that flared out around her stocking covered thighs and a white button-up topped with a cozy cardigan. If she wasn’t wearing a button up, she usually wore a sweater or a book-themed t-shirt.

“Natalia.” John greeted her quietly, a bit of a smirk tugging at his lips when she jumped in response.

“Oh! John, sorry, you startled me.” Natalia turned to face him, offering him a warm smile that caused the corners of her eyes to crinkle and emphasized her dimples.

“Sorry, my fault. I didn’t mean to sneak up on you. I’ve finished the last couple of books. I was wondering if you had any more suggestions?” John murmured, rubbing his short beard. He certainly didn’t look as intimidating as he usually did, considering his suit had been replaced by plain blue jeans and a white crew neck. That being said, his posture had only softened a bit and he was still just as quiet as he used to be.

Natalia laughed quietly, offering him her arm as a joke. Her laughter grew louder when he actually took her arm, large hand closing around her bicep to feel out her muscle tone.

“Of course, Mr. Wick. What are you looking for today?”

“Fiction. I’m interested in something different today…” John trailed off, starting to over-think his choice.

“And what would that be, John?” Natalia asked, leading him in the direction of the fiction novels.

“… Romance, I think.” John said before he could worry too much and talk himself out of it.

“Oh, I see. What sort of romance were you thinking? Are you looking for something mixed-genre where the romance is only part of the story, or flat-out romance? Serious, or light-hearted?”

Well, apparently that had flown right over her silly ginger head. John thought briefly of what Helen would tell him in this moment, oddly enough. She wanted him to be happy. She would be upset with him if he wasted away by himself. She was his best friend, and she knew him better than he knew himself some days.

“Would you like to get dinner with me tonight?” John asked after using his grip on Natalia’s bicep to guide her to stop walking. Wide blue eyes caught his gaze, and he offered her a small, reassuring smile. The young woman was silent for a moment, and he started to worry for a second before the corners of her lips turned up.

“Oh, of course John. I didn’t mean to leave you hanging there, I apologize. I just… wasn’t expecting that.” Natalia’s smile was brighter than usual, and there was a humour to her voice that usually wasn’t there. He took that as a good sign, considering the redhead was usually quite reserved. He nodded briefly, stepping just a tiny bit closer so she would have to look up at him.

“Do you want to eat at the Old Chelsea, go out of town, or would you like me to cook?” He asked, releasing his hold on her bicep, though he couldn’t help a small smile when Natalia caught and squeezed his hand.

“If we eat at the Old Chelsea, we will not get a single moment of peace. If you want to cook, I’d be happy to help?” Natalia offered, then giggled softly, “And what you’re thinking is completely correct – I am most certainly using you for your adorable dog.”

John snorted, and Natalia’s smile widened in response. She led him through the stacks to the romance section, pulling out a book before he could catch the title. Three stacks over, she grabbed another book, and lastly, she led him over to a ‘New Releases’ stack to pick up the sequel to one of the books he had read recently. She stacked up the three and put them in his hands, then scribbled her cellphone number onto a piece of paper which topped off the stack of books. John smirked at the sight of the number and the heart drawn next to it.

“Here are my suggestions. Take a look, and then come see me if you need more help. Text me what time you want me to come over. And your address.” Natalia leaned up to kiss his cheek, then headed up to the front of the store, leaving a smiling John Wick with the slightest hint of a pink kiss on his cheek from Natalia’s lip balm.

Twenty minutes later, he purchased all three suggested books from a smirking Courtney. She didn’t say anything, but it was clear she knew, approved, and thought she was very smart for predicting this.

“Bye Mr. Wick. Have a good night.” Courtney sang cheekily after him.

“I intend on it.” He retorted, waving at her over his shoulder, then letting out a short laugh when he heard a thump followed by Courtney yelping.

913 Bois-Franc Ave. Any time after 4, dinner will be at 5:30. Dog is excited to see you again. – JW

Be there with bells on. I’m excited to see him too. What should I wear? – NJ

You just said you would be wearing bells. – JW

Dress comfortably. It’s just me. – JW

I need to wear something under the bells, John. – NJ

Don’t even. I realized it as I hit send. I will be there just after 4. PS Courtney says you have lipstick on your cheek. – NJ

[rainbow-hatted1]

What Boredom looks like

1. You just opened up a web browser. What is the first site you visit?

https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/

Yeah, that’s sort of my jam. Reddit in general but that is my go to.

vv more below if you wanna deep dive. vv

2. You just walked into a bookstore. What section do you go to first?

The local published section. If it’s a good bookshop they usually have one. Usually it’s poetry, or short essay compilations or local history books but I tend to like the offerings and you’re supporting people who don’t have a big platform yet.

Otherwise, comics and fantasy are my next first stops.

3. You are hanging with your closest friends. What are you most likely doing?

Lately, not much of anything. Arguing… not talking… depressing things.

Ideally, though, there’s a good meal. Either we’ve cobbled it together on our own or it’s a decent take out option and video/board games. Quidditch if it’s a nice day. Basically, where we can sit and bullshit and laugh a lot. That’s the best time with my mates.

4. You just turned your car on. What station is the radio tuned to?

The independent/alt/rock station. In spite making pop music myself I don’t listen to it a lot. Which is probably weird.

5. You have just woken up for the morning. What is the first things you do?

Try to go back to sleep.

6. Complete this phrase: You cannot buy happiness, but you can buy____.

Tacos

7. What would you do if you woke up as the opposite gender?

Probably touch my boobs entirely too much. Liz calls them boob checks… well, if they’re quick and random, this would probably be fondling.  I am ashamed of this answer but it’s likely what I’d do.

8. Are you more likely to cook for yourself or buy food from a restaurant?

I’m prone to laziness but I actually find cooking relaxing so cook for myself. Saves money too. It’s just a good practice to have in general.

9. If you had to lose one of your senses, which one would you rather lose?

Smell, probably. I enjoy food too much to lose taste. And between sight and hearing, I’d miss not having those senses and touch is just kind of important as a human being.  

10. If you could relive any one year of your life, how old would you be?

Dunno

11. Would you take a bullet for anyone you know?

A few someones

12. Would you rather be rich and dumb or poor and extremely intelligent?

Poor and intelligent. Better chances of bettering my situation with that one.

13. What TV character do you most relate to?

Sam Gardner from Atypical.

14. You just walked into a supermarket. What section do you first go to?

Produce. Yeah, you all thought I’d go for the bakery and desserts. Don’t lie.

15. Is sex before marriage wrong?

No. It’s human. So is waiting. It shouldn’t be as polarizing as it is. Sex is part of life and how you want to experience it is entirely up to you.

16. You just won the lottery. What is the first thing you do with your winnings?

Get a lawyer and not tell anyone I won. People get shitty when you have a lot of money. They expect you to make it rain and I wouldn’t. I’d also take the weekly installments. More money overall and you are far less likely to tank yourself with the winnings. Just saying.

17. If your best friend admitted that they have a crush on you, how would you react?

I would be awkward as fuck. Love him, not like that and he has a girlfriend so yeah… it’d be fucked up.

18. Will the USA ever have a female president?

At this point in time: no. Again, this is a polarizing question that shouldn’t be. A woman could run the country I’m not women in charge by that answer. Don’t read into it. I’m merely saying, that with the way the country appears to be currently they will not vote for that. I’m sorry. It’s stupid.

19. You are carpooling with your friends. Are you more likely to be the driver or a passenger?

Passenger. I don’t drive.

20. How short is too short for skirts and dresses?

I’m not ancient or wearing a skirt so I don’t think it matters, but I tend to prefer more modest options on girls.

21. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, without any consequences, what food would you choose?

Pizza.

22. It’s Saturday night. What are you most likely doing?

Sleeping.

23. You go on a blind date. Your date is extremely beautiful and physically captivating, but you hate their personality. Would you want a second date?

No.

24. How strict should gun laws be?

I think Australia had the right reaction to a massacre

25. Would you rather be the worst player on the best team or the best player on the worst team?

Best player on the worst team. Hopefully, they wouldn’t resent me and we could have a good 90’s style underdog story.

26. How well do you work with others?

Not well.

27. You have the ability to cure only one fatal disease and eradicate it forever. What disease do you choose?

I don’t want that power. Either way people are gonna die and wonder why I couldn’t cure all cancer or something else that’s just as bad…and inevitably another disease will surface that’s worse. There will always be disease even if we don’t like it.

28. If you could go back to college and choose a different degree to study, would you?

Well, considering I’m not in college yet I can still change my mind on that one, but I probably wouldn’t. Care of Magical Creatures but I haven’t zoned in on the specific avenue I want to go in that field yet.

29. Where do you see yourself ten years from now?

Er… traveling the countryside looking for magical creatures and documenting them in the wild. It’d be cool if my friends joined once in a while.

30. Are you pro-life or pro-choice?

Pro-choice isn’t anti-life, for fucks sake people.

31. Would you attend a same sex wedding if invited?

Yeah. If my mates fell in love and get married, I’m gonna be at the party regardless of sexes involved.

32. So far, what has been the greatest day of your life?

The first time HM played to a sold out crowd. That was pretty shocking. We’ve done it since and Nik has carried on doing it on his own but that day was scary and humbling and epic.

33. Has anyone you know ever been arrested?

Yeah, wrongly so but they saw what they wanted and went that’s our guy. Luckily, he didn’t get sent away for good.

34. If it could be one season year-round, what season do would you want it to be?

Fall. But like warm fall not close to winter fall. That fall sucks.

35. What is your biggest regret in life?

Saying such shit things about Anna and Charlie’s mum because I was mad at him. We’ve never recovered from it and it was a stupid in the moment blind rage bullshit thing I can’t ever take back.

36. If you could bring one celebrity back from the dead, who would it be?

John Lennon, probably. But the thing is, not everyone is upset their deaths were untimely. That’s more the livings problem than the dead, I’ve come to learn.

37. What offends you the most?

When people assume how I’m feeling. I’m not exactly easy to read, I know that, and I have a hard time wrapping my own head around my thoughts and feelings. So when I am feeling something and someone says I’m feeling another way because my face doesn’t wash with an emotion or my reaction doesn’t match like it allegedly should it’s really upsetting to me and just makes things worse.

38. Would you rather have an ugly hairstyle or be bald?

Do what you want. It’s just hair

39. At what age did you have your first alcoholic beverage?

16. Yeah, I think that’s right.

40. What do you think happens to us when we die?

Ideally, you move on to another plane. Kind of like a multiverse but one for endings. For a bit you can linger between the here as we know it and there but eventually you either stay and become a ghost or a poltergeist (which depends solely on your continued mental state on the matter of your death) but most move on beyond the veil.

41. What do you think is the best way to quit smoking?

I don’t know.

42. If you could take home any one animal from the zoo, which animal would you choose?

A bear of some sort. Polar, Grizzly, Black…. Whatever they’ve got. Not all zoos have the same bears.

43. Were humans created or did we evolve from earlier species?

I’m gonna go out and say something that pisses people off but I don’t see why it can’t be both. Something came out of nothing which is creating, right? The act of creating something is taking elements and making them something or straight up creating an element. What did that, I don’t know. But at one point there was a creation moment. From there everything on this planet has changed and adapted to the situations and surroundings they came into. Life is change, you don’t change you can’t survive. So both. Both sound right to me.

44. What scares you the most?

Losing everyone I care about… and bugs. Fuck bugs

45. What personality trait turns you off the most?

I hate when people play dumb.

46. You got offered a job to do something you hate, but the pay will make you rich. Do you take it?

No.

47. If today you only had what you were thankful for yesterday, how much would you have?

Sadly, not very much probably.

48. How often do you get mad or upset at yourself?

Everyday.

49. If you could choose one celebrity to be your parent, who would you choose?

I’ll keep my parents, thanks but to answer the question: Reign. At least I’d still have family.

50. If you could only listen to one musical artist for the rest of you life, who would you be listening to?

I would probably choose not to listen to music after a bit. I like variety and I’m not always in the mood for an artist of one flavor but the Beatles? At least their breadth of music is pretty wide.

51. Have you ever used you cell phone while driving?

No

52. Has anyone you were close to die way too young?

Yes.

53. Is world peace possible?

No, I don’t believe it is. It’d be great if it could be. There’s no reason for all this hate but people are always going to clash. We get on for a bit and then boom, it’s done. Peace is an impossibility but we should still strive for it regardless.

54. You go on a blind date. You date is extremely ugly and physically appalling, but you are madly in love with their personality. Would you want a second date?

I don’t know. I want to say yes, be that guy who doesn’t care. Looks really are not everything but ultimately, you should be attracted to your partner. If you aren’t it isn’t likely to work even if their personality is the most beautiful thing in the world.

55. How did you discover that Santa Claus isn’t real?

My little brother told me and I was devastated.

56. Do you believe in God, or some form of higher deity?

I honestly want to but I have a hard time wrapping my mind around how things can be the way they are if a loving god is out there watching us. I think the Futurama episode where Bender gets life on his ass is a great example of how my brain wants to look at it.

And then I read the Bible and get to stories like Zechariah and I’m just left thinking that guy probably had a stroke while praying and the rest is a coincidence.

57. If you could save someone you deeply cared about, but it meant breaking a law, would you do it?

Fuck yes. Without hesitation

58. What is the dumbest thing you’ve ever done for money?

Sold my soul for a sickle once.

59. If you were to make a YouTube video about what you know most about, what would the subject be?

Magical Creatures. I could go on for a very long time about that topic.

60. What do you think is your greatest personality flaw?

I’m rigid. I have a hard time shifting directions when I get going.

61. If your friends spoke to you the way you speak to yourself, would you still want them as friend?

I haven’t got many actual friends so maybe. Better than being alone, I suppose.

62. Have you ever “woke up like this”?

No one has ever “woke up like this”. It’s a lie. It’s always a lie. Even if they look good, that caption shows intent and planning: don’t fall for it.

63. You got offered a job to do something you love, but the pay is one of the worst out there. Do you take it?

If I really fucking love it, yes. But I’m also in a position where I can have a shit paying or no paying job and basically be fine.

64. What do you think is your best physical feature?

My lips?

65. What do you think is your worst physical feature.

My nose is big.

66. Do you know anyone who has committed suicide?

Not suicide no. But I know people who have considered it. Glad they didn’t follow through.

67. What is the nicest thing you’ve ever done for someone you don’t know?

I dunno. I have a habit of giving my bus ticket away if it still has time on it. I know it’s not much but as for random acts of kindness that weren’t really put on display for charities or a fluff news story, that’s the one I’ve got.

68. Have you ever had a night’s dream come true?

No, can’t say that I have.

69. Would you reject a date offer from someone you didn’t like?

yes

70. Which do you think is worse: Failure, or never trying at all?

This is one of those what I say is not really what I do things. I think the second is worse but I often freeze when it comes to choices like this. When I’m by myself: I freeze.

[afteriwake]

Old Books & New Flames (14/18) - NEW CHAPTER

And finally, some new stuff! Here’s a bit of domestic fluff involving a very messy Rosie Watson and Seb’s own family.

Old Books & New Flames - When Sebastian Moran asks local bookstore owner Molly Hooper for a job, all he wants is a second chance to live the life he should have been living before prison. What Molly gets is more than a loyal employee and good friend. What she ends up with is what she had always wanted her entire life: happiness.

READ CHAPTER 1 | READ CHAPTER 14 | HELP ME SURVIVE? | COMMISSION ME? | BUY ME A KOFI? | MY PATREON

Things remained calm even as she and Seb went back to her home and waited. She worked on the website and the things she could do for the store in the privacy of her home, and Seb spent time on her comfortable reading chair reading or puttering around her home fixing things. There was a nice sort of domesticity to the whole thing, and now, as she took a break two days into it all, she watched as Seb played with Rosie and smiled.

Rosie was a toddler, so there were all sorts of things she could get into, but Seb was keeping a careful eye on her in the yard outside Molly’s sight. He was blowing bubbles for her and Rosie was laughing and trying to pop the ones she could get to. The scene set her heart aflutter. She hadn’t even been serious with him for long, and suddenly she just had this vision in her head of the two of them staying here with children of their own and it felt so right. Luck, or at least a lucky bastard named Sherlock, may have set their paths together, but she wanted him to stay with her, here, forever.

They just had to get rid of the stone around their necks that was James Moriarty first.

With the smile still on her face, she turned her attention back to the inventory lists. There had been a package delivered, a rather heavy one, with more books that Sherlock had gotten back which Jim had stolen. She was adding them back into the inventory lists that she had sorted of books that would be available online and books that she would save for a cash infusion if it was needed. The three of them who worked in the shop had talked and they now planned on shutting down the store for two days over the weekend of the festival to get the electricity worked on, which would be a loss of income but it would also keep the store from burning down due to faulty wiring so it was needed.

She had found herself wondering how much more inventory had been stolen over the time Martha had been sick and was comparing the lists of what she had with the inventory lists Martha had given her, every once in awhile jotting down another book to have Sherlock look for. Some of these books she was sure were already in the hands of collectors and she’d never get them back, but it couldn’t hurt.

The door opened and Seb came in, carrying a giggling and very dirty Rosie on his hip, a grin on his own face. “Someone found a mud puddle,” he said.

Molly pulled away from the laptop and went to take her out of his arms. “Oh did you now? And did Uncle Seb leave you enough time to make a mud pie for your Aunt Molly?”

“No!” Rosie said, shaking her head and giggling some more as she clapped her muddy hands.

“Oh, that’s too bad. Aunt Molly will just have to make a mud pie for all of us and you can get all messy eating it later.” She took Rosie from him, not caring about the mud getting on her, and then gestured to the bedroom. “I’ll give her a quick wash and change, but you should put the shirt in the laundry bin. She got you good.”

“I will,” he said, leaning over to kiss Molly’s cheek before heading to her bedroom. Molly took Rosie to the loo, fully intending to give her a bath and let her have some fun playing with the rubber duckies Molly had there for her. It took about forty minutes but when Rosie started yawning Molly decided bath time was over and she’d get to work on making the pudding pie for dessert for the three of them after she changed Rosie and put her down for a nap.

When she came out Seb had changed into a button-down shirt that was a smidge big for him, tucked into the waistband of his trousers, and she shook her head. “As soon as things are settled, you and I should go to London together and get you some nicer clothes.”

“It is a bit big, isn’t it?” he said with a chuckle.

“Are you wearing an undershirt?” she asked. He nodded as she moved closer and when she could she began pulling the shirt up out of the waistband and unbuttoning it. Soon the shirt was open to show him wearing a white vest underneath, and then she nodded. “Much better.”

He had a grin on his face as he pulled her in closer and dipped his head down to kiss her. “I think it will be interesting going out clothes shopping with you, as long as you try a few things on for my enjoyment.”

She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I just might.” She looked up at him and saw the warmth in his eyes and a sparkle there as well. “You’re really good with Rosie.”

“I’ve always been good with kids even though I never had the chance to have any. I have nieces and nephews in the States I used to try and see.”

“Are you…?” she asked.

“Can’t leave here for a while because of the early release agreement, but I’ll get to see them eventually. I’ve already missed so much, but I got letters and I got phone calls in prison. My half-sister is the only one I had left and she’s helped as much as she could.”

“Does she have Skype?” Molly asked suddenly, pulling away as an idea came into her head. “Because I talk to my friends in London that way sometimes, and we could set up an account for you and you can see them and they can see you while you all talk.”

“She does. We used it a few times in the past.”

“Then go log on and see if they can talk. Or call her first. Where in the States is she?”

“New York City.”

“I don’t think it’s too early. Go call and see if she can let your nieces and nephews talk to you. I’ll go read where Rosie’s at to give you privacy.”

There was a look of fondness on his face as he looked at her and then went for her landline to call. She took her tablet as well as a book and went into the room she used to put Rosie down for a nap, content to settle down in the chair there and do a little work and a little reading. The mud pie could wait if it made him happy and he got to see his family for the first time in who knew how long. She could know, of course. She just had to ask him, and she would...later. Right now, it was time for him to reconnect.

Rosie had just woken up and she was entertaining her when Seb walked in, a relaxed smile on his face, and he nodded back behind him. “I want you to meet some people.”

“You don’t have to--” she started, but he shook his head.

“Matilda is insisted. She wants to say thank you.”

“Matilda is your sister?”

“Niece, actually. They were celebrating her birthday today and with everything going on here I had forgotten to call, but Mattie says this was a better present.”

Molly smiled and reasoned she could leave Rosie on her own for a few minutes, and so she went out to where her laptop was and saw a woman who looked quite a bit like Seb with dark brown hair and four children of various ages on the screen, all trying to get the first peek. “Joannie, this is Molly. Molly, this is my sister Joannie and her four children: Matilda, Alice, Sam, and Erik.”

The chorus of hellos made her smile widely and soon, Seb’s family was asking a million questions and she sat down to answer them and talk to all five of them at once. She hardly noticed Seb leave to go get Rosie and come back out to feed her, she was so enthralled with everything they were telling her and asking her. Eventually, it was time for them to go out to dinner for Matilda’s birthday, but Joannie made her promise next time Seb talked to them she’d be there, and she thanked Molly once again for letting the kids see their uncle and making him and them so happy.

“They really like you. You’ve spent an hour with them and didn’t even realize it, I bet,” Seb said.

“Oh, they’re just lovely,” Molly said, turning in the chair to face him. “I’m so glad you could see them today.”

“I am too. It’s been too long and they’re getting big. Mattie’s about to graduate and she’s been planning on coming to school abroad, so she may be here next year for college somewhere. She’s much smarter than any of us so maybe she’ll go somewhere in Oxford and I can see her.”

“She’d be more than welcome here,” Molly said. “I can already tell Amelia will absolutely adore her, so she’d probably have friends here, too, in the village.”

“Thank you for that,” he said, coming over with Rosie and pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “I’ll make Rosie something to eat, but I heard there was some talk of mud pie. The kind with instant pudding and crumbled bourbon cremes on top?”

“And a crust made out of them too,” she said with a nod and a smile.

“I can’t wait,” he said before drifting back towards the kitchen and putting Rosie in a high chair so she could watch him make her dinner. Molly watched with a pleasant feeling in the pit of her stomach. Even with the bad things going on and the uncertainty, today, at least, was a very good day.