#also u guys would not believe how many layers I made for this bad boy

[cobaltcreations]

Me and my partner @the-good-ol-art-corner collaborated on this AWESOME poster for one of our favorite Bendy Aus @toontiedterror by @dictatortirah !! I am in LOVE with how it came out and I am so excited to see how this story and world develops!!

I put so many details into this, it is absolutely silly, but I had a swell time doing them. Those headshots on the missing posters belong to the staff from our own Bendy project @howdy-folks-its-showtime and we didn't even intend to make two versions. But I put so much into the background... I just had to make a version without the foreground to show it off <3

[shuxiii]

Everyday pt. 10

Hanni Pham x reader pt1, pt2, pt3, pt4, pt5, pt6, pt7, pt8, pt9, pt10, pt11, pt12, pt13

A/n meow meow credits to "every day" by david levithan, I am in the stages of insanity at this moment its 7 am and I haven't slept at all, not a single blink of sleep lord save me. P.s: this made me kinda sad this chapter <\3 if u want i recommend listening to "something between us" george romance 101

Day 6008

I go to the computer as soon as I wake up the next morning. But there’s no email from Hanni. I send her another apology. I send her more thanks for the day. Sometimes when you hit send, you can imagine the message going straight into the person’s heart. But other times, like this time, it feels like the words are merely falling into a well.

I head to the social-networking sites, searching for something more. I see that Austin and Hugo still list their relationship status as being together—a good sign. Jiwon’s page is locked to non-friends. So there’s proof of one thing I managed to save, and another where saving is possible.

I have to remind myself it’s not all bad.

Then there’s Haruto. The coverage of him continues. Reverend Poole is getting more testimony by the day, and the news sites are eating it up. Even the Onion is getting into the act, with the headline: WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS TO REVEREND POOLE: ‘THE DEVIL MADE ME EAT THE PLUM.’ If smart people are parodying it, that’s a sure sign that some less smart people are believing it.

But what can I do? Haruto wants his proof, but I’m not sure I have any to give. All I have is my word, and what kind of proof is that?

Today I’m a boy named Jeongwoo. He has diabetes, so I have a whole other layer of concerns on top of my usual ones. I’ve been diabetic a couple of times, and the first time was harrowing. Not because diabetes isn’t controllable, but because I had to rely on the body’s memories to tell me what to look out for, and how to manage it. I ended up pretending I wasn’t feeling well, just so my mother would stay at home and monitor my health with me. Now I feel I can handle it, but I am very attentive to what the body is telling me, much more so than I usually am.

Jeongwoo is full of idiosyncrasies that probably don’t seem all that idiosyncratic to him anymore. He’s a sports fanatic—he plays soccer on the JV squad, but his real love is baseball. His head is full of statistics, facts and figures extrapolated into thousands of different combinations and comparisons. In the meantime, his room is a shrine to the Beatles, and it appears that George is by far his favorite. It isn’t hard to figure out what he’s going to wear, because his entire wardrobe is blue jeans and different variations of the same button-down shirt. There are also more baseball caps than I can imagine anyone needing, but I figure he’s not allowed to wear those to school.

It’s a relief, in many ways, to be a guy who doesn’t mind riding the bus, who has friends waiting for him when he gets on, who doesn’t have to deal with anything more troubling than the fact that he ate breakfast and is still hungry.

It’s an ordinary day, and I try to lose myself in that.

But between third and fourth periods, I’m dragged right back. Because there, right in the hall, is Haruto watanabe.

At first I think I might be mistaken. There are plenty of kids who could look like Haruto. But then I see the way the other kids in the hall are reacting to him, as if he’s this walking joke. He’s trying to make it seem like he doesn’t notice the laughter, the snickers, the snarky comments. But he can’t hide how uncomfortable he is.

I think: He deserves this. He didn’t have to say a word. He could’ve just let it slide.

And I think: It’s my fault. I’m the one who did this to him.

I access Jeongwoo and find out that he and Haruto were good friends in elementary school, and are still friendly now. So it makes sense that when he passes by me, I say hello. And that he says hello back.

I sit with my friends at lunch. Some of the guys ask me about the game last night, and I answer vaguely, accessing the whole time.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Haruto sit down at his own table, eating alone. I don’t remember him being friendless, just dull. But it looks as if he’s friendless now.

“I’m going to go talk to Haruto,” I tell my friends.

One of them groans. “Really? I’m so sick of him.”

“I hear he’s doing talk shows now,” another chimes in.

“You would think the devil would have more important things to do than take a Subaru for a joyride on a Saturday night.”

“Seriously.”

I pick up my tray before the conversation can go any further, and tell them I’ll see them later.

Haruto sees me coming over, but still seems surprised when I sit down with him.

“Do you mind?” I ask.

“No,” he says. “Not at all.”

I don’t know what I’m doing. I think of his last email—PROVE IT—and half expect those words to flash from his eyes, for there to be some challenge that I will have to meet. I am the proof. I am right in front of him. But he doesn’t know that.

“So how are you doing?” I ask, picking up a fry, trying to act like this is a normal lunchtime conversation between friends.

“Okay, I guess.” I get a sense that for all the attention people have been giving him, not many people have been asking him how he’s doing.

“So what’s new?”

He glances over my shoulder. “Your friends are looking at us.”

I turn around, and everyone from my old table suddenly looks anywhere but here.

“Whatever,” I say. “Don’t pay attention to them. To any of them.”

“I’m not. They don’t understand.”

“I understand. I mean, I understand that they don’t understand.”

“I know.”

“It must be pretty overwhelming, though, having everyone so interested. And all the blogs and stuff. And this reverend.”

I wonder if I’ve pushed too far. But Haruto seems happy to talk. Jeongwoo is a good guy.

“Yeah, he really gets it. He knew people would give me grief. But he told me I had to be stronger. I mean, having people laugh is nothing compared to surviving a possession.”

Surviving a possession. I have never thought about what I do in those terms. I never thought my presence was something that anyone would have to survive.

Haruto sees me thinking. “What?” he asks.

“I’m just curious—what do you remember from that day?”

Now a wariness creeps into his expression.

“Why are you asking?”

“Curiosity, I guess. I’m not doubting you. Not at all. I just feel like, in all the things I’ve read and all the things people have said, I never really got to hear your side. It’s all been secondhand and thirdhand and probably seventh- or eighth-hand, so I figured I’d just come and ask you firsthand.”

I know I’m on dangerous ground here. I can’t make Jeongwoo too much of a confidant, because tomorrow will come and he might not remember anything that’s been said, and that might make Haruto suspicious. But at the same time, I want to know what he remembers.

Haruto wants to talk. I can see it. He knows he’s stepped off his own map. And while he won’t pull back, he also regrets it a little. I don’t think he ever meant for it to take over his life.

“It was a pretty normal day,” he tells me. “Nothing unusual. I was home with my parents. I did chores, that kind of thing. And then—I don’t know. Something must have happened. Because I made up this story about a school musical and borrowed their car for the night. I don’t remember the musical part—they told me that later. But there I was, driving around. And I had these … urges. Like I was being drawn somewhere.”

He pauses.

“Where?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “I don’t know. This is the weird part. There are a few hours there that are completely blank. I have this sense of not being in control of my body, but that’s it. I have flashes of a party, but I have no idea where, or who else was there. Then suddenly I’m being woken up by a policeman. And I haven’t drunk a sip. I haven’t done any drugs. They tested for that, you know.”

“What if you had a seizure?”

“Why would I borrow my parents’ car to have a seizure? No, there was something else in control. The reverend says I must have wrestled with the devil. Like Jacob. I must have known my body was being used for something evil, and I fought it. And then, when I won, the devil left me by the side of the road.”

He believes this. He genuinely believes this.

And I can’t tell him it’s not true. I can’t tell him what really happened. Because if I do, Jeongwoo will be in danger. I will be in danger.

“It didn’t have to be the devil,” I say.

Haruto becomes defensive. “I just know, okay? And I’m not the only one. There are lots of people out there who’ve experienced the same thing. I’ve chatted with a few of them. It’s scary how many things we have in common.”

“Are you afraid it will happen again?”

“No. I’m prepared this time. If the devil is anywhere near me, I’ll know what to do.”

I sit right there across from him and listen.

He doesn’t recognize me.

I am not the devil.

This thought is what echoes through my mind the rest of the day.

I am not the devil, but I could be.

Looking at it from afar, looking at it from a perspective like Haruto’s, I can see how scary it could be. Because what’s to stop me from doing harm? What punishment would there be if I took the pencil in my hand and gouged out the eye of the girl sitting next to me in chem class? Or worse. I could easily get away with the perfect crime. The body that committed the murder would inevitably get caught, but the murderer would go free. Why haven’t I thought of this before?

I have the potential to be the devil.

But then I think, Stop. I think, No. Because, really, does that make me any different from everyone else? Yes, I could get away with it, but certainly we all have the potential to commit the crime. We choose not to. Every single day, we choose not to. I am no different.

I am not the devil.

There is still no word from Hanni. Whether her silence is coming from her confusion or from a desire to be rid of me, I have no way of knowing.

I write to her and say, simply:

I have to see you again.

Yn

Day 6009

There’s still no word from her the next morning.

I get in the car and drive.

The car belongs to Kang taehyun. He should be in school. But I call the office pretending to be his father and say he has a doctor’s appointment.

It may last the entire day.

It’s a two-hour drive. I know I should spend it getting to know Kang taehyun, but he seems incidental to me right now. I used to inhabit lives like this all the time—testing the bare minimum I needed to know in order to get through the day. I got so good at it that I made it through a few days without accessing once. I’m sure these were very blank days for the bodies I was in, because they were extraordinarily blank days for me.

Most of the drive, I think about Hanni. How to get her back. How to keep in her good graces. How to make this work.

It’s the last part that’s the hardest.

When I get to her school, I park where Ahn yujin parked. The school day is already in full swing, so when I open the doors, I jump right into the fray. It’s between periods, and I have all of two minutes to find her.

I don’t know where she is. I don’t even know what period’s starting. I just push through the halls, looking for her. People brush by, tell me to watch where I’m going. I don’t care. There is everyone else, and there is her. I am only focused on her.

I let the universe tell me where to go. I rely purely on instinct, knowing that this kind of instinct comes from somewhere other than me, somewhere other than this body.

She is turning in to a classroom. But she stops. Looks up. Sees me.

I don’t know how to explain it. I am an island in the hall as people push around me. She is another island. I see her, and she knows exactly who I am. There is no way for her to know this. But she knows.

She walks away from the classroom, walks toward me. Another bell rings and the rest of the people drain out of the hall, leaving us alone together.

“Hey,” she says.

“Hey,” I say.

“I thought you might come.”

“Are you mad?”

“No, I’m not mad.” She glances back at the classroom. “Although Lord knows you’re not good for my attendance record.”

“I’m not good for anybody’s attendance record.”

“What’s your name today?”

“Yn,” I tell her. “For you, it’s always Yn.”

She has a test next period that she can’t skip, so we stay on the school grounds. When we start to encounter other kids—kids without classes this period, kids also cutting—she grows a little more cautious.

“Is Minji in class?” I ask, to give her fear a name.

“Yeah. If she decided to go.”

We find an empty classroom and go inside. From all the Shakespearean paraphernalia hanging on the walls, I’m guessing we’re in an English classroom. Or drama.

We sit in the back row, out of sight of the window in the door.

“How did you know it was me?” I have to ask.

“The way you looked at me,” she says. “It couldn’t have been anyone else.”

This is what love does: It makes you want to rewrite the world. It makes you want to choose the characters, build the scenery, guide the plot. The person you love sits across from you, and you want to do everything in your power to make it possible, endlessly possible. And when it’s just the two of you, alone in a room, you can pretend that this is how it is, this is how it will be.

I take her hand and she doesn’t pull away. Is this because something between us has changed, or is it only because my body has changed? Is it easier for her to hold Kang taehyun’s hand?

The electricity in the air is muted. This is not going to lead to anything more than an honest conversation.

“I’m sorry about the other night,” I say again.

“I deserve part of the blame. I never should have called her.”

“What did she say? Afterward?”

“She kept calling you ‘that bitch.’ ”

“Charming.”

“I think she sensed it was a trap. I don’t know. She just knew something was off.”

“Which is probably why she passed the test.”

Hanni pulls away. “That’s not fair.”

“I’m sorry.”

I wonder why it is that she’s strong enough to say no to me, but not strong enough to say no to her.

“What do you want to do?” I ask her.

She matches my glance perfectly. “What do you want me to do?”

“I want you to do whatever you feel is best for you.”

“That’s the wrong answer,” she tells me.

“Why is it the wrong answer?”

“Because it’s a lie.”

You are so close, I think. You are so close, and I can’t reach you.

“Let’s go back to my original question,” I say. “What do you want to do?”

“I don’t want to throw everything away for something uncertain.”

“What about me is uncertain?”

She laughs. “Really? Do I have to explain it to you?”

“Besides that. You know you are the most important person I’ve ever had in my life. That’s certain.”

“In just two weeks. That’s uncertain.”

“You know more about me than anyone else does.”

“But I can’t say the same for you. Not yet.”

“You can’t deny that there’s something between us.”

“No. There is. When I saw you today—I didn’t know I’d been waiting for you until you were there. And then all of that waiting rushed through me in a second. That’s something … but I don’t know if it’s certainty.”

I know what I’m asking of you, I want to say. But I stop myself. Because I realize that would be another lie. And she’d call me on it.

She looks at the clock. “I have to get ready for my test. And you have another life to get back to.”

I can’t help myself. I ask, “Don’t you want to see me?”

She holds there for a moment. “I do. And I don’t. You would think it would make things easier, but it actually makes them harder.”

“So I shouldn’t just show up here?”

“Let’s stick to email for now. Okay?”

And just like that, the universe goes wrong. Just like that, all the enormity seems to shrink into a ball and float away from my reach.

I feel it, and she doesn’t.

Or I feel it, and she won’t.

[seungstarss]

friendship over FRIENDSHIP FUCKING OVER IM TAKING THE FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS BACK!!!!!

nah cause what in the actual fuck 😭😭😭😭😭 im deadass unfollowing u the instant i send this ask bc sei bestie ure a fucking psycho YOURE SICK you’re absolutely sadistic i can’t believe u just did that to me 😭😭😭😭 no cause i was v happy just reading ur other cute smaus and then ur crusty ass decides to recommend bet….. NO IM LITERALLY NEVER LISTENING TO U EVER AGAIN 😭 WHY WAS BET LIKE THAT. WHY WAS BET BUILT LIKE THAT. LITERALLY EVERY SINGLE CHAPTER HAD ME S C R E A M I N G AND NOT EVEN IN A GOOD WAY???? U WERE MAKING ME WANNA PULL OUT MY HAIR,,,, EVERYBODY WAS FUCKING INFURIATING AND BY THE END OF IT I LEGIR GAVE UP ON TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THINGS WERE HEADED BC ALL MY THEORIES WERE SO SO SO WRONG 😭 not me giving the best girl agenda to reiko 🤡 not me thinking heeseung would come out top 🤡 not me demonising luna/seoyeon when they rlly weren’t even all that bad 🤡 BYE. BYE. IM SHATTERED. ICB ALL THE CHARACTERS JUST YEETED AWAY YN LIKE THAT…��� HEARTLESS MOFOS 😭 EVEN NICE BOY JAKEY TURNED OUT TO BE A FUCKING LOSER I 😭😭🤌

anyway youre fucking sick for this and i hate u so much 😭 but ok in all seriousness I ACTUALLY FUCKING LOVED THAT SO MUCH SEIIIIIIIU PLEASE R U KIDDING ME???????? I LOVE LOVE LOVE HOW ENGROSSING THE ENTIRE FIC WAS??? I WAS GENUINELY SURPRISED THAT U MADE THE FRAT BOYS INTO BAD GUYS BC NORMALLY WE ALWAYS SUGARCOAT THOSE THINGS AND HENCE WHY I KEPT THIMKING MAYBE MAYBE MAYBE SUNGHOON COULD REDEEM HIMSEFL…… BUT IM SO. SO SO SO GLAD U KEPT THE ENTIRE FIC SO SK SO UNPREDICTABLE?!?! I LOVE ALL THE FUCKING DRAMA???? THERE WERE SO MANY CHARACTERS AND SO MAMY LAYERS TO ALL THE RELATIONSHIPS THEY HAD W ONE ANOTHER I CANT BELIEVE U WERE EVEN ABLE TO KEEP TRACK OF THIS???????? OH MY GOSHHHHHHH IM IN LOVE W THIS FICCCCCCCC PLSSSSS 😭😭😭❤️❤️

SEI BESTIE U DID SOSOSOSOSO WELL!!!!!!!! i’m such a simp for ur work iDEK what to read on ur masterlist next 😭 but pls u rlly know how to make a good smau like ALL THE ELEMENTS WERE THERE???? it was so funny but intriguing and entirely unpredictanle and wild OMG I LOVED ITTTTTTTTTT I RLLY LOVE wicked characters so although the frat boys turned out to be assholes i kinda LOVED IT like it was so fun hating characters >:)))) I WAS GENUINELY ANGRY AT TIMES????? ALSO EVEN YN KINDA PISSED ME OFF TOO LIKE U RLLY SPARED NOBODY !!!! but ugh it was sosososososos good i can’t believe this has been missing from my life 😭

and omg U DID SO WELL ON UR WRITTEN PARTS TOO????? they added sm depth and detail and it was so nice w the way u weaved in all the dialogue too???? IM OBSESSED. WHY ARE U SO GOOD AT EVERYRHING PFFFTTT PLS IM SIMPING FOR SEI!!!! naur cos i rlly rlly enjoyed that omg thank u sm for the rec ;-; NOW I TOTALLY GET WHAT U MEANt WHEN U SAID THAT PEOPLE WERE SCREAMING AT THE CHARACTERS 😭 NAH CAUSE AFTER HEESEUNG DID WHAT HE DID,,, THE CONVO HE HAD W HOON WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN 😭 my lord i need to sit down i need to blankly stare at the wall for a hot minute while i try to compose myself

anyway bet goated sei goated taegyu goated

PLEASE MAI READING YOUR REBLOGS WERE SO FUNNY I CANNOT LIKE,,,, WHEN YOU WERE GUSHING OVER HEESEUNG I WAS LIKE GURLLLL 💀💀💀😈 BUT GETAUQTAAGAUA SOMETHING ABOUT MAKING YOUR CHARACTER SUFFER IS SO SATISFYING??? IM SO SORRY ETSHSTAUAG BUT YES REIKO WAS REALLY A SNAKE AND HEESEUNG. WE DONT TALK ABT HIM, HE'S UNSPEAKABLE. I WAS ACTUALLY ORIGINALLY GONNA DO A SPIN OFF FOR bet! HEESEUNG's BACKSTORY BUT I DECIDED NOT TO BC I GOT LAZY........ BUT LEMME JUST SAY HIS PAST IS TWISTED. (WHICH KINDA EXPLAINS WHY HE'S SO TWISTED AND ALL BUT AHAHAH I SHOULDNT TRY TO JUSTIFY HIM.)

BUT QFAHAFAH YES, I REALLY DIDN'T WANNA GO WITH THE TROPE WHERE THEY ALL FALL IN LOVE WITH HER BC??? IDK I'M NOT THE BIGGEST FAN OF REVERSE HAREM SAURRR... BUT I WANTED TO TAKE THAT IDEA AND TWIST IT 🤩

FSHAFAHA YOU ENJOYED THE WRITTEN PARTS HELP??? BET'S WRITTEN PARTS ARE OKAY, BETTER THAN REVELATIONS BC I FEEL LIKE I IMPROVED A BIT ON MY WRITING FROM REV TO BET (HOPEFULLY) BUT THIS COMING FROM YOU⁉️ THAT'S THE BIGGEST COMPLIMENT EVER

PLS I RECed BET BC I WAS ReALLY CURIOUS TO SEE HOW YOU WOULD REACT TO IT QTAHQTAHQ BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE FEEDBACK? ILYSM 😭😭😭💖

[hi-hey-haechan]

Hi! Could u plz do 37+52+53 w/ Dom!Jeno & possibly light choking? Thank you, I love your work! ☺️💕

Thank you!

37. "Can he make you feel as good as I do?"

52. "You're so fucking hot when you're mad"

53. "We're not just friends and you fucking know it"

Warning: light choking kink

Friends with benefits. That was all you and Jeno were: friends who just had sex sometimes.

Sure, Jeno was by far the sweetest boy you know, who also just so happened to have the same sense of humor as you, and who also was fucking gorgeous. No big deal, though - you were just friends. That's what he always assured you. And you always did the same. You weren’t supposed to be in love with your best friend, the same person who watched awful comedies with you and gave you advice whenever and wherever.

And yet here you were, out on a date with Renjun, and all you could think about was Jeno. Now, Jeno didn’t know that you were out with one of his closest friends, but he shouldn’t care...right? If he just saw you as a friend, then he had no right to be jealous. Maybe Renjun would be your first step in getting over Jeno before you fell even deeper.

“Hey,” Renjun’s sweet voice sounded, “are you okay? You seem sort of preoccupied.”

Renjun was your friend, and he was smart and kind and handsome. You loved him, but not the way you loved Jeno. However, Renjun had asked you out, and you weren’t opposed to the idea of getting over your unrequited love. You wanted to spare yourself more pain you’d feel in the future.

“Yeah, sorry. It’s just school,” you gave him what you hoped to be a convincing smile. Realistically, you couldn’t help but think about Jeno’s slight choking kink, how his veiny, long hand and fingers pressed lightly into your throat, cutting off some oxygen to your brain. His face had a hard look set on it when he choked you, kind of the way he’d look while rapping on stage, as opposed to making a mess of you under him.

The date was going well. Renjun didn’t try to flirt with you; you didn’t flirt with him. The food was amazing, and you guys made casual small talk and shared a few laughs. It was casual and nice. Here was the bad thing, though: you didn’t feel that way about Renjun.

You wanted it to be Jeno who was laughing with you like this, and raving over the incredible restaurant food. Why, Jeno? Why do I have to be in love with you, when I’m not supposed to? Why can’t I do this without messing it up? The entire date, you were preoccupied, and you hoped that Renjun didn’t notice.

When you were walking home, you turned on your phone for the first time in two hours, since you’d kept it off while with Renjun. You were shocked to find four missed calls from Jeno, and possibly a million texts. Shit, you thought to yourself, suddenly remembering. You were supposed to have met Jeno at your place for dinner and a terrible Netflix movie, commonly a Friday-night tradition.

He’d texted that he’d be at your house whenever you decided to show up, so you legitimately ran home, guilt present in your entire being.

The door flew open, your chest heaving as you panted, doubled-over in your doorway. Jeno’s head swiveled to look at you, alarmed at the sudden disturbance of his silence. His brown hair had fallen over his eyes, and his beautiful lips were slightly parted.

You wanted to kiss his perfect lips. You never kissed, due to it being too “intimate” for the casual sex you guys were having. However, that didn’t change how badly you wanted to kiss him, to feel his warm mouth against yours, your bodies close as you told him “I love you” from a simple action. You stared at his mouth constantly, wondering how it would feel to straddle his hips while kissing him deeply.

“Wow,” said Jeno, unimpressed, “you’re only two hours late. Where the hell were you?” His jaw was set, and through his hair, you could see his furrowed eyebrows and piercing glare.

“I forgot. I’m sorry.”

“Answer the question.”

“I was on a date with Renjun.”

And suddenly, Jeno was on his feet. He looked as though he could barely believe the words you’d just uttered. You looked at his ears, which were often a warning sign for his emotions. The tips were red, and it was clear to see: He was pissed. “Renjun,” he stated, as though he could barely believe it. “You went on a date. With my best friend.”

“Why the heck do you look so mad at me?”

“You ditched me, your best friend, to go out with a boy you like.”

“I don’t like him like that, Jeno,” you assured him truthfully. You liked Jeno, of course, but that was beside the point. “What’s wrong with me dating guys, either? It’s not like we’re dating. It’s not cheating on you.”

“It is if you’re fucking him.”

“How?” you inquired, beginning to get angry now. You had come home to apologize, not to argue. Who cared if his voice was, at the moment, so deep and dominant to the point where every syllable of his went directly to your core. “We aren’t in a relationship with feelings. You’re allowed to fuck other people.”

“Did you have sex with him?”

“No!” you insisted angrily. “I’m not like that.” The kind to have sex on the first date, that is.

“But him? You ditched me for Renjun. You’ve been such a bad girl tonight. And what happens to bad girls?”

“They get punishments.” Finally, what you had been imagining all day.

“Finally, you got something right.” Jeno’s ears were red as heck, and his stare was so intimidating that you almost wanted to look away. He bit his lip in frustration, something he did when he was really angry. He brushed his hair out of his eyes before walking right over to you. The both of you slowly tumbled back until you hit the wall. His strong, lithe body was keeping you in place. You were conscious of every single muscle he was pressing against you, and you could feel their slightest tensions.

You needed to say what was on your mind, for your entire being was screaming those words at that second. You were also mentally screaming “I love you,” but that wasn’t exactly something you could say to your friend with benefits. “You’re so fucking hot when you’re mad.”

Kiss me, you wanted to tell him. With his face just inches from yours, it was killing you to not break the distance. You kept your eyes locked with his, showing him that you weren’t going to submit to him so easily.

“You’re probably already dripping wet for me, aren’t you? Just seeing me get mad? Or is it for Renjun?” His face had moved so he was whispering in your ear. His hot breath fanned against your skin, and his lips barely, just barely, brushed the shell of your ear, sending goosebumps through your entire body.

Jeno picked you up, throwing you over his shoulder. He threw you onto the bed when he reached your bedroom. Jeno stripped you immediately, his hands frantic and eager as he removed the layers that separated you two.

Your thighs had been pressing together, attempting to relieve some of the aching that you felt in your core. He hadn’t been wrong when he asked if you were wet. The idea of him doing this to you had been in your head all day, and now it was finally happening.

His hand moved in between your legs, separating them to expose your core.

“Fuck,” he muttered, running his fingers up the slit of your hole, two fingers collecting some of your juices. He ignored the whimper you let out and the bucking of your hips against his hand. “You’re so wet. And it’s all for me, right? Or is it for Renjun?”

There was a slight tinge of vulnerability in his voice, as though he genuinely was worried you’d replace him with Renjun. As a result, you said, “Y-you, it’s always you.” Your last sentence had meaning in so many different forms. You meant it not only in moments like these, but in moments when you just looked at him or talked to him, struck by the person he was.

Since you were so wet, foreplay wasn’t a necessity in this circumstance. Jeno didn’t hesitate to slam himself inside of you, forcing a strangled cry out of your throat, due to the sudden pain of his thick length stretching you out impossibly. The pain was sharp down at your core, but you knew it would fade away soon. For now, you just clutched onto the sheets for dear life.

As he continued to thrust, his thick length managed to hit parts inside of you that were deeper than what he’d initially gotten. He was definitely, not in any way, shy in size, and every time you had sex with him, he’d manage to make you scream his name from just his cock alone. This was only emphasized every time he fucked you.

Pleas, for him to know how much you wanted to cum from his cock. Moans, to tell him how good he was making you feel with each small movement. Cries of his name whenever he managed to find your g-spot, to urge him to continue on. You did all of these whenever he had sex with you, and you fell in love with him more and more.

At this point, his hips thrusted with everything he had, going so fast that you couldn’t even speak or think. When your mouth opened to speak, whimpers and cries passed your lips and skin. Under Jeno, you were always falling apart, completely at his expense.

“Renjun, could he make you feel as good as I do?” Jeno’s voice was practically a growl, and you almost didn’t hear him, both due to how high on pleasure you were and how loud your own moans were. You tried to speak, but a moan fell from your lips instead. “Not gonna answer, hmm?” And at that, his fingers closed around your neck.

It was so hot, how his long fingers and veiny hands grasped your neck, putting the lightest amount of pressure on it. You could breathe, but not clearly. He pressed onto your throat with the slightest amount of force, enough to cut off a small part of your breathing. His face was above yours, fierce and caught up in the moment. His hips were thrusting so powerfully, hitting your g-spot. You could hardly moan out, due to your being choked, but the pleasure was sending you so high. Your eyes were almost rolling into the back of your head, unable to maintain control over your body or the sounds leaving your lips. Then again, there really weren’t any sounds leaving your lips, at this point.

You tightened around him, clenching around his member. The way his tip was hitting your g-spot was pushing you closer and closer to your edges. Jeno let out a swear at how you clenched. “You gonna cum for me? You gonna scream my name?”

Your legs were already shaking. His arm and hand were keeping you in place, head against the pillow. Your eyes had rolled back in ecstasy, and if your eyes weren’t rolled back, you’d be watching how his face screwed in pleasure, eyes closing, jaw slackening, eyebrows furrowed while his hair clung to his forehead with sweat.

You took in a shallow gasp for air, all you could really muster. With a final thrust, your world came crashing down around you, walls closing in around his member. His hand withdrew from your neck, allowing you to legitimately scream out Jeno’s name, body spasming from the intense orgasm that was sending pleasurable waves through your entire building. Your jaw hung open as you inhaled air and cried out his name on multiple occasions, in the span of some seconds.

Your orgasm had sent him over the edge, thrusting a final time as his load shot up inside of you, his hot seed painting your walls. His low moans had filled the room, and they were so hot yet so beautiful at the same time, the way he let out sounds of pleasure like that.

“No,” you said.

“‘No’ what?”

“Renjun could not make me feel as good as you do. Nobody could.”

He realized that you were referring to the thing he’d said during your rough sex. Plus, now you couldn’t walk, so it worked out even better for him.

“Good,” Jeno said. It looked like he wanted to say more, but instead, he just got up and grabbed his clothes. He asked if you needed anything before moving into the bathroom to change.

You had wanted to lie there with him for a few minutes, just enjoying each other’s presence and warmth. Was that something that only couples did? You weren’t sure, but you and him had crossed the “friends” and “lovers” line multiple times. You, as well got dressed, grateful that Jeno had placed your clothes on the foot of the bed.

When Jeno emerged from the bathroom, you beckoned for him to come over to the bed, patting the space next to you for him to sit. He was more hesitant that usual, but he did as you had requested. He looked to you, waiting for you to speak. Your eyes locked, and your heart ached. Jeno looked so beautiful. He always did. But you couldn’t have him, not in every way you wanted him.

Finally, you remembered to speak. “Why did you get so jealous? We’re not toge--”

You were suddenly cut off, his lips pressing against yours firmly, harshly, desperately. His hands flew up to cup your face, and he kissed you with so much love and intensity that you wanted to cry, almost. It was messy and unpracticed, but everything he had was poured into the kiss. You didn’t push him away, even when you finally registered what had happened. This was what you wanted, and it was even more wonderful than you’d imagined.

He broke away with a wrench. Jeno had a horror-stricken expression written across his face, his swollen lips agape in disbelief. “Holy...I’m so sorry. I just...I felt like kissing you?”

“Why did you? Not opposing, just wondering.”

“I don’t know. I mean...we’re just friends.”

“We’re not just friends and you fucking know it.” Your voice rang out through the room. This was how you felt, splayed out for everyone. “I’m sorry,” you said, “but I fell for you. I love you. I know this now means that we need to end things, and I understand why.”

“Did you seriously think that I didn’t love you back? Of course I do. I failed the number-one friends-with-benefits rule, but I couldn’t help it. It’s you. It’s always you.” Jeno’s voice was kind and sincere, and you kissed him in that second. You didn’t want to sort through anything anymore, but the prolonged feeling of his mouth against yours was something he’d wanted.

“You know, I went on a date with him because I wanted to get over you. I didn’t think you’d love me back.”

“Well, I do. Oh my gosh, was the famous y/n wrong about something?”

You answered with a smile. “Yes, and for once, I’m so happy to be wrong.”

[nadana-vhet]

Layers: N’adana Vhet

Tagged by the cutest @verthunder <3 (I don’t have an active FF14 sub because school is killing me so here’s an older screenshot lol). Gonna try answering these as if someone was asking them directly to N’adana, to get down her voice a bit better!

LAYER ONE: THE OUTSIDE

Name: “N’adana Vhet! Thanks for askin’ instead of just calling me the Warrior of Light for once!”

Eye Color: “Green.”

Hair Style/Color: “I get my red hair from my ma’, but I keep it pretty short, around my chin or so, but it’s also pretty curly so sometimes I braid the worst of it back so it doesn’t get in my face while I’m fightin’.”

Height: “I’m uh... five feet and five inches? Shorter than the twins now, unfortunately.”

Clothing Style: “I feel like I’m pretty practical, which frustrates Tataru and some of the other Scions,” she laughs, “I’m almost always in trousers and boots outside of my armor, and I wear this jacket Tataru made me quite a lot. The leather’s so worn at this point that she’s begging to make me a new one, but then I’ll have to break another one in and the leather’ll be all stiff again.”

Best Physical Feature: “Uh, my... eyes, maybe? I like the way they look with my hair, and - don’t tell Tataru - but I like it when she makes me things that match them.”

LAYER TWO: THE INSIDE

Your Fears: “Oh, boy. I think my biggest fear is being forgotten, or failing to protect the people I love. I also never want to see another ahriman - I hate their stupid, gross mouths.”

Your Guilty Pleasure: “Mm... to be honest, I kind of like it when I get to dress up for Scion events. Sometimes Tataru covers for me and I get to sneak off with Alphinaud and Alisaie, and even though I complain about the dresses I really like feeling pretty once and a while.”

Your Biggest Pet Peeve: “When people talk down to me because I’m younger than them. It’s like, I’ve killed primals for gods sakes, can you please just let me talk?!”

Your Ambition for the Future: “I want to be able to protect my friends as long as possible. Maybe when I’m old and grey and can’t lift my weapons anymore, I want to know that I made the world safe enough that someone else won’t have to take my place.”

LAYER THREE: THOUGHTS

Your First Thoughts Waking Up: “Gotta go make breakfast for Alisaie!”

What You Think About the Most: “If I don’t have to think about my duties - and honestly sometimes during the times I have to - Alisaie.”

What You Think About Before Bed: “Gotta get up early enough so I have time to make breakfast for Alisaie (sometimes she beats me to it).”

You Think Your Best Quality Is: “I guess the fact that I’m stubborn as hell. Wouldn’t have gotten as far as I have without it.”

LAYER FOUR: WHAT’S BETTER?

Single or Group Dates: “I’d like group dates more if we could just set someone up with Alphinaud...”

To be Loved or Respected: “Well, if you love someone you should respect them too, right? But I guess... I’d rather be loved. Everyone can disrespect me as long as I have people that will be there for me when I need them.”

Beauty or Brains: “Brains, duh. Just because all the Scions are unfairly pretty doesn’t mean their brains aren’t more important.”

Dogs or Cats: “...Do I even need to answer this one?”

LAYER FIVE: DO YOU?

Lie: “I mean, we all lie, right?” she coughs, “I learned from the best liar I know - right, Urianger?!” “But really, I try not to. I mostly lie about when I’m hurting and don’t want people to worry.”

Believe in Yourself: “Absolutely not, when I think about it for more than five seconds. But I never have more than five seconds to think about it in the moment, so... yes?”

Believe in Love: “Of course!”

Want Someone: “Like... how? Alisaie and I are, uh, a ‘thing,’ if that’s what you mean.”

LAYER SIX: EVER?

Been on Stage: “For ceremonies, sure. I’ve never been in a play or anything though.”

Done Drugs: “The stuff they gave me after Rhalgar’s Reach was something hard. Other than medical stuff, though, I smoked some moko grass during my paladin training in Ul’dah, before I joined the Scions. All it really did was make me kind’ve sleepy, though.”

Changed Who You Were to Fit In: 

LAYER SEVEN: FAVORITES

Favorite Color: “Orange!”

Favorite Animal: “Do carbuncles count? They’re like magical cats! Alphinaud’s carbuncles, especially Moonstone, are super cuddly.”

Favorite Food: “Mm... Tataru’s popoto soup, for sure.”

Favorite Game: “Oh, I love playing Bullshit, especially with the Scions. I’m so bad at lying but seeing Thancred swindle everyone else never gets old.”

LAYER EIGHT: AGE

Day Your Next Birthday Will Be: “22nd Sun of the Second Astral Moon.”

How Old Will You Be: “I’ll finally be eighteen!”

Age You Lost Your Virginity: “Um... haven’t done that yet.”

Does Age Matter: “Yeah, I think so. I don’t understand why people in different stages of their lives would want to be together. I remember so many of my friends back home, in Limsa, dating these creepy guys in their twenties and it was always so... weird.”

LAYER NINE: IN A BOY OR GIRL

Best Personality: “I’ve always liked spunky girls - ones who never back down from a fight, work hard, and somehow still manage to look pretty doin’ all of it.”

Best Eye Color: “Blue eyes are pretty, but maybe I’m just saying that because Alisaie has blue eyes...”

Best Hair Color: “Is it obvious enough if I say white hair?”

Best thing to do with a Partner: “Napping. I never have time to just relax, so if I can squeeze in a nap with Alisaie, it makes my day.”

LAYER TEN: FINISH THE SENTENCE

I love: “Alisaie Leveilleur.”

I feel: “content. For now, at least. Having G’raha around and being back in the Source feels good.”

I hide: “how tired I am.”

I miss: “not having so many responsibilities. Sometimes I just want to be a kid, you know? I love being a hero and all, but sometimes I just wish I could turn it all off for a few hours.”

I wish: “for Thancred to stop snorin’ so damn loud the next room over. Really, I’m ready to ask Tataru to move my room.”

This has been in my notifications for a while so idk who’s done this by now! But this is for u homies: @bard-of-light, @onwesterlywinds, @msviolacea, and @shepherdtothestars. <3

[liw-the-melancholic-apple]

The First One - Bonus scenes in traditional written word

This is a smau and a zukoXreader, although i haven't decided how this ends yet.

Y/n has recently transferred to Ba Sing Se from Omashu university and meets the gaang through a schoolproject they do with sokka and suki.

Masterlist

Bonus 4: Good Morning

The sound of a machine of some sorts woke you up. A look out the window confirmed two things: It was still rather early and Haru’s parents’ neighbours had no idea what an appropriate time for high-pressure-cleaning patios was. Sighing you sat up and looked around. You found your shoes and thought you remembered where the bathroom was.

The short night definitely left its traces on you: Your clothes and hair looked deschevelled, you didn’t smell as fresh as you would like, you had dark circles under your eyes and your voice was rather hoarse. You did what you could without rummaging through the drawers of the bathroom, then you wandered through the house.

There were fotos everywhere. Most of them were of Haru, who you guessed didn’t have any siblings, but some had a very kind-looking couple on them. A wedding picture in which they both laughed at something happening out of frame. It seemed genuine, a true candid shot. He had his hand around her waist and her hand was in mid-air, presumably on its way to fix his tie for the actual wedding picture, but something must have had happened. They both were bending over laughing pointing out of frame looking at each other.

You studied the picture. I made you like the couple. It made you believe in their love and their relationship. It made you want to get to know them. Be a part of that happiness and trust and joy. There was no question why they chose to display this picture. It was amazing!

You watched the couple become parents, buy a house, get older and go through the decades that saw Haru grow from a baby into a smiley toddler, distracted child, unimpressed teenager and openhearted twenty-something. They seemed a happy family. Truly.

The journey through Haru’s life had left you at the front door and wanting some coffee. You found the kitchen empty but quickly discovered a coffee machine. While it was entirely too sophisticated for the broke student you were, you did manage to get it to spew out some dark and caffeinated goodness into a cup you found in the second cupboard you opened. With it you kept on strolling through the house until the living room introduced you to the French doors that lead into the garden. And boy, the garden!

You sat in that little paradise when your phone buzzed and Zuko begged you to talk to him. Apparently, he was at his uncle’s shop working the early shift and there was not a lot to do as it was Sunday. You texted back and forth for a good while.

Yesterday you hadn’t talked to him a lot, outside of him apologising for his uncle and the Sokka-rum-discussion. You know learned that he was a good nephew and studied International Business and International Relations. When you called him out as ambitious, though, he was quick to bring up the words pressure and expectations. You didn’t know him. And whatever those expectations and that pressure were about it seemed you weren’t competent to comment on it or them. Zuko struck you as a private person. You contemplated telling him exactly that. You didn’t. You conveyed the message, though. He seemed relieved. And he liked politics and diplomacy which told you a number of things: 

Be wary of any promises he makes. He might be doing that politician thing where he doesn’t keep them

If you ever want to ruin somebody’s life or career, ask him how to do it, he will have learned about it and remembered

If you ever don’t know how to handle a conflict ask him, he’s into figuring out compromises and status-quo-situation

He probably gives good advice. The kind that will be good for you and not too offensive to others

He is smart

He is into reading

He can find the good in the bad.

After all it sounded like his parents made him study those subjects and if he had had a true choice he would have gone for something else. Yet, he found aspects that he enjoyed, that he could use in his life and that he could be passionate about.

He liked travelling

All in all he was intriguing. A lot of layers to peel back. Whether it be the interest in politics – which were a lot of smoothtalking, manipulation, using popular opinions AND ideologies, the fate and future of countries and people and so many struggles or the family history. You could probably have real conversations with him. And you decided you would like to as well.

Another thing you learned about Zuko was that he was Sokka’s secret source for his part of the Worldhistory project. In the past couple weeks Sokka had gone on and on about how much information he had gotten form an anonymous sponsor.

“Sokka made it sound like you were the discovery of a century!”

“Am I not?” No, for all you knew he wasn’t.

Yes, he was intriguing and most likely multi-layered; yes he was tall and dark and handsome and that scar on his face added several facets to that handsomeness; yes, he had that tea-loving angel of an uncle, but he was no discovery of a century. He was some good-looking guy with an interesting background.

“To be determined” Better not alienate him by telling him he wasn’t all that special. You still wanted to be his friend.

Could you have gone on for two more hours talking to Zuko? Yes. Yes. You could have. But you didn’t because there were footsteps in the house. And it sounded like they were coming from the kitchen. You got up to investigate. Hoping you’d find Sokka, Suki, Toph, Aang or Katara in the kitchen, you would have been okay with Haru, but instead you found an agile white haired gentleman. From the fotos you recognised him as Haru’s father. He was doing something to the sophisticated coffeemachine and congratulated himself. Then he turned around, saw you, got scared and nearly let his cup fall and crash on the kitchen tiles. Instead he just made a weird move with his arm that resulted in a wave of hot liquid jumping into the air and splashing on the floor.

“Ouch!”, the man screamed. “Who the hell are you?”

“Sorry, Sir. Y/n. I’m friends with… I know your son. Haru. We helped him pack up the party yesterday and he told us we could stay here. I assumed you knew…Excuse the intrusion, please.”

“Tyro”, he extended his hand. You shook it.

“You’re not intruding. Haru told us that some of his friends might stay over. I just didn’t expect anybody to be awake yet. And we don’t know each other.”

“Again, sir, sorry.”

“That cup empty?” Tyro pointed at the mug you had brought with you.

“Nearly. I took the liberty of drinking your coffee.”

“Do you want more? I can offer you black coffee and black coffee with milk from the fridge. The thing is supposed to be able to come up with all kinds of fancy drinks, but that’s more my wife’s department. I didn’t bother learning about that.”

“Black coffee would make me really happy, Sir.”

Tyro filled your cup and gestured for you to follow him back into the garden. So, you did. He asked about who you were and how you knew his son.

“To be honest, Sir, there isn’t a lot to tell. I moved to the city for this semester. Transferred from Omashu University. I’m studying anthropology. One of the classes I take together with Sokka and Suki, who are friends with Zuko who used to be Haru’s roommate. Aaaaaaand they brought me to the party yesterday. There I met Haru. The end.”

“You helped him tidy up the speakers and all that jazz after having only met him that night?” You nodded your head yes.

“Commendable.”

You carried on talking to Haru’s dad, brushing on the subjects of family, education and music. The band Haru played in was called “Grounded”. According to Tyro they were “just having fun” but they also “sounded like actual musicians”. This band needed to be inspected.

You told him about Gray Sky and Tiff on the Rocks, the pub you used to play. It turned out that Haru inherited his passion for music from his father. Dad all but interrogated you on you average guitar playing and experience with piano lessons, when his wife walked through the French doors.

She introduced herself to you and asked if you wanted more coffee. As she was the coffee-maker-whisperer, you now were offered the entire range of coffee-drinks and gladly accepted a Cappuccino the size of your head. After she mad you happy with that, she sent you back out, with the intention of preparing breakfast. You offered to help but were quickly shut down.

The moment you sat down in the lounge chair by big tree, Haru entered the kitchen, got a cup of coffee from his mum and was surprised to find you in musical discussion with his father. Thankfully, he did remember you and was delighted to hear that you were a fellow guitarist, even though he was likely a lot more skilled than you were. In fact, you said this multiple times, resulting in Haru running inside and grabbing one of his dad’s guitars.

You  started by playing some of the 90's hits that Sokka had massacred the night before, proving that Haru was better than you. You handed the instrument back to him. 

"How about You Oughta Know?", he suggested. You looked at him, blinking. 

"You said you used to sing in Omashu. Let's hear it."

"Uhm…", you hesitated.

"I'm with stupid", Tyro chuckled. "I'm curious."

"Fine."  You let Haru play a few tacts before you started the verse. He harmonised with you in the chorus, during which Tyro got another guitar.

From Alanis you moved to the Verve; from "Nothing compares 2 u", to "Loser". Haru and his dad loved the 90's. Nirvana, Take That, TLC, Blur, Oasis, Britney, Beasty Boys, you named it they had it. Aang, Katara, Suki, Sokka and Toph joined you three out on the patio, all carrying cups of various coffees and plates full of food. While harmonising to Tyro's lead you remembered that his wife had talked about preparing breakfast. From what you saw on your friend's - yeah friends! - plates, she had not held back. There were eggs and bacon, pancakes, bread, cinnaminrolls and meats, cheeses, jams, butter and honey.

When she herself came out to join the table, she carried a  bowl of yoghurt and nuts, that she assured everyone was an option for everyone. Tyro got his own plate and dat down next to Sokka. He motioned for Haru and you to come eat but you two were determined to finish the decade. So, you did. And then you entered the 2000s. Every now and again you'd pick up the second guitar, while alternating with Haru singing lead and harmonising. You had the time of your life!

Haru's mum topped off your coffees and although your stomach was screaming at you to give it some of the wonderful smelling food, you played and sang for more than two hours. The others enjoyed your efforts and sang along when they were done eating. Tyro relieved his son of guitar duties and jammed with you while Haru diminished the pancakes. 

He then took your spot and you praised the eggs, bacon and cinnamonrolls.

"If you're ever desperate  for something to do, you're welcome to my appartment and put on breakfast!",  you said, all but crying, after noon when you had finished. Haru's mum blushed. But die didn't say no.

After you had finished your breakfast, everyone helped clear the table and load the dishwasher. Tyro insisted you all had another round of coffee, during which there was more music and Sokka got the recipe for the hangover cure smoothie that Mrs Haru  had made him as soon as he entered the kitchen.

You left around 2:30 with many "thank yous" and "you're the bests" and "we can help some mores". Although you hadn't slept much you decided to hit up the Jasmin Dragon to see if Zuko had  died from boredom already. 

[asterekmess]

S3A - E1

Okay, instead of making like massive reblogs of thoughts as I have them for the episodes, I’m gonna just make a massive bullet point list that I’ll add to throughout the episode, so you get One post per episode instead of “Like all nine million of them.”

I put Read-More’s because I care.

Thoughts (of which I have far too many):

I’m in the first ten seconds of the fuckin episode. Why the fuck is Braeden electrocuting Isaac? Like, look, I wanna like Braeden. I have issues with her entire moral system, but I still wanna like her cus’ she saves Isaac. But...how am I supposed to do that when the literal first thing she does is electrocute my boy??? He’s knocked out, not DEAD (not that that’s how shocking someone’s heart even Works) and it’s not like she needs to trigger the healing process. He’s already got Gaping slash wounds on his chest. He’s hurt enough. ALSO. “Be quiet”?? R U Serious? You’re electrocuting him. YOU try being quiet with fucking jumper cables on your chest.

The CGI...is so bad. Oh my god. What the absolute fuck. it looks like Sharkboy & Lavagirl. And why aren’t Ethan & Aiden’s claws doing anything to the bike?

I AM CONFUSION. If the twins don’t have to take their pants off to do the Transformers shit, why do they have to take off their shirts? Can...can I just skip that? Make the big bad werewolf wear an ugly hybrid of two of their stupid ass sweaters? Or do Ethan and Aiden really just like being shirtless that much? (I wouldn’t put it past them)

What is with Braeden and the electricity?

The writing in this show, what the fuck? “I thought I told you to hold on” EXCUSE ME, ma’am. He literally just passed out. His bad I guess.

Guess who has to add the anti-scott tag to this now? Anyway, I hate that Allison’s bit in the intro is her kissing Scott and then drawing the bow. Like, they’re broken up. They don’t get together in this season. Why are they kissing in the intro? That had to have Totally pissed off Scallison fans.

There’s my boy, holding up lizard tattoo designs. Pls tell me he took a pic and sent it to Jackson with the caption “It’s YOU.” Like, yes, way too soon, but man it’s fuckin funny.

This tattoo artist is a good-ass salesman. However, p-sure he’s not a good-ass artist if he had to wrap Scott’s arm up That badly. Like...they have stuff for that. Fuck, the one I got on my ankle, they used SaranWrap and Tape. Just needs to be kept out of the open air for a bit. You don’t need like eight layers of gauze. I do feel for Scott tho. That tat probably cost him like $50-75 before the tip. Oof.

Eyyy, time to be salty. Ya’ll know I love Allison, but does it get any more clear that she totally bailed on everyone after the warehouse? She went to France! She doesn’t even know what happened to Jackson after he got cured. ALSO. Lydia says “Derek taught him the werewolf 101.” Not Scott. Derek. XP

Lydia, honey, leave Allison alone. If she doesn’t want to go on the double date, go alone and make it an orgy. Fun, right? Wait, no. Don’t. You’re 16. Don’t do that!

When exactly did they “agree to give each other the summer”? She said “I’m breaking up with you.” he said “I’ll wait” and then she cried into her dad’s arms. Like...why didn’t we get to see this apparently incredibly important conversation? (maybe because it didn’t happen??)

I fucking LOVE the “I’m just gonna say hi. HEYYYYY! You know....they probably didn’t see us.”

The most horrific thing about that moment was the bad CGI.

I WANNA POINT OUT how cute it is (in a like, sad way cus’ she’s terrified) that Lydia is close enough to Stiles now that she immediately goes for his side and they like insta connect with the eye contact. Not in like a Stydia way, but like, they’re close. she trusts him and goes to him when she’s scared, even though he’s human and you’d wonder if she shouldn’t go to Scott instead, since he’s the werewolf.

SCOTT WHY ARE YOU TOUCHING THE DEAD DEER. Your ability to smell chemosignals/sense emotions has nothing to do with touching. Stop poking the dead animal.

Wait, WHY is there a full moon in that shot? The full moon isn’t for like a week! I COUNTED.

...what? Why the fuck does Braeden think Scott’s an Alpha? Why tho? Like, seriously? WHY? He’s not an Alpha yet. Nowhere near it. And if she knows bc Deaton told her (i think he was the one who hired her) then shouldn’t she know he isn’t one yet? IF SHE KNOWS that she can tell Melissa abt werewolves, WHY doesn’t she know that Scott’s Melissa’s son? Where is the LOGIC?

Scott’s morning routine is giving me Legally Blonde vibes. ~my perrrfectt dayyy, nothing standing in my wayyy~

I can’t tell. did Allison get highlights, or straight up dye her hair brown?

This sweet moment between her and her dad. Yes. Pls.

I will admit, I like getting to see each of their mornings.

Lydia...who are you fucking? Honey, you’re sixteen. Why isn’t whoever the fuck is in bed with you also getting ready for school? What.....the fuck?

Completely different Beacon Hills High School set. I really can’t blame the writers for that.

Wtf Davis? You list Erica and Boyd as being 17...since when? They’re supposed to be entering their Junior Year of high school. They would be 16 GOING ON 17. ANd what the hell do you mean Erica’s birthday is August 16th? She said in the last season that she’d “Just turned 16 a month ago” that was Spring semester. ???? Come on, guys. Seriously. Writing 101, getting to know your characters. I don’t know anyone writing a novel who doesn’t know the exact birthday of their characters. Plus, they cut 2 in. from Gage Golightly’s actual height, while adding an inch to Sinqua’s (according to google, which isn’t always reliable) Whatever. Boooooo.

Uh...that principal was threatened by the Argents. Victoria herself promised to torture him if he didn’t resign. Why does he look so surprised by the fucking sword in his office? For that matter, why is he at the school at all? He KNOWS the Argents attacked him. This should cause problems!

Honestly, Lydia, I love you. Like, go for it. Nothing wrong with not wanting to date and just wanting to have fun. My issues stem from YOU BEING 16. Yes, teenagers have sex. But this is ridiculous. Why is there so much sexualization? I knew a grand total of like....two teenagers who had sex at 16? and like one who did at 15 (which they say in canon she and Jackson were banging before her birthday). Like, it’s not nearly as common as y’all are making it out to be. Knock it off.

WHEN DID MELISSA MEET ISAAC PROPERLY? WHEN did that HAPPEN?

....so why didn’t Derek answer the phone? They literally never explain? He shows up, so...why didn’t he answer?

I’m SO InCredibly Disturbed by Jennifer having everyone’s phone numbers. HOW? In What Way is that REMOTELY appropriate? WHY did no one question it? Why didn’t STILES or LYDIA question it?

So tiny, bugs me so much. He didn’t turn his phone off. He turned his screen off...is it that hard to have him do the right one?

uhhh. Werewolves can smell other werewolves. Wanna tell me why Isaac can’t tell a werewolf just walked in the room? An ALPHA no less?

why TF are Kali’s iris’ and pupils so fucking massive?

So...what was the deal with the birds? Don’t they say later that Jennifer like summoned them? So they aren’t from the Alpha pack scaring animals? And also, how would the Alpha pack be scaring animals if they’re like, in the middle of town? They said in S1 that “wild animal sightings are up” like what 75% or something? “As though something is scaring them out” but that made sense, bc we knew Peter was running around in his full-shift (it’s a fucking full shift, it’s just fucked up) in the woods. But these Alphas aren’t, they’re integrating. So is it Jennifer that the animals are afraid of? Like, does she have sPoOkY aura or something?

More bad CGI.

WHy is no one responding to the woman stumbling around in nothing but a hospital gown?

ONCE AGAIN. Werewolves can Sense Werewolves. SCOTT you sensed Isaac in a BOYS LOCKER ROOM. DUKE IS RIGHT THERE. WHT THE FUCK?

angry smoker doctor  “Why don’t you wheel this joker out of here?” “I’m gonna go smoke” Grrr

Sir. clearly your mask wasn’t tied on appropriately. it shouldn’t just Fall Off when you touch it. there are Protocols! STOP THE SPREAD. also, someone wanna tell me why none of these alphas can keep their claws in? A lil flashy flashy red eye would’ve done the trick just fine.

Okay no, seriously what the FUCK is up with these contacts, you guys? THEY”RE MASSIVE???

Ugh, can I just *swoons* “I’m an Alpha!” slice “So am I.” That is just so fucking smooth. Woo. I feel so safe ohmygod. PLUS. Derek KNOWS Ennis. I can’t imagine how satisfying that had to be.

Uh, Derek, honey. You’re Isaac’s legal guardian. You can just Sign Him Out of the hospital. With clothes and everything. What are you doing?

Honey, what do you mean the county took it over? If they were gonna do that they’d have done it six fucking years ago. Unless you gave it to them, it’s still yours? I did the research. Like HOURS of it.

What do you MEAN there’s a magic healing herb that helps with Alpha wounds? Since when do Alpha wounds need extra healing, I thought they just took a lil longer? ALSO why is it growing INSIDE your house???? SCOTT. Isaac is fucking UNCONSCIOUS. Can your tattoo fucking WAIT A MINUTE?

I have so many questions. WHY does Braeden know who Allison is? If Lydia’s immune to magic, WHY is Braeden able to bruise her? WHY can Braeden DO magic? and WHY is Chris allowed to take Lydia out of school?

ALLISON you had Geometry LAST YEAR why are you holding a GEOMETRY BOOK??

ohhhhmygod, Derek. Derek. DEREK. Your eyes are pretty on a normal day. That little Blink and ruby reds thing? Ohmygod. I just. I wanna take a picture and just stare at it BUT. how tf does this whole red eye thing work? You can see in the dark....but now you also have x-ray vision? You know, I could believe it was thermal vision...maybe? If Scott was still healing for some reason maybe the tattoo would be brighter? Otherwise I have no idea what is going on.

BUT SCOTT”S NOT 18??? He’s Still fucking 16, or even 17, but not 18. WTF? He needs parental consent in the first place (i should’ve mentioned this in the other note abt the tattoo)

uhh...seriously? When someone breaks up with you and tells you not to talk to them anymore...why do you need a reward for doing as they asked? Like, yeah, you’re sad, I feel that. But making it a ‘reward’ sounds kinda weird. You know what makes it really easy not to text the ex that doesn’t wanna talk to you? Delete her number.

WHY THE BLOWTORCH? SOMEONE WANNA EXPLAIN? Peter’s not covered in tattoo from when he was literally burned alive, why the FUCK would a blowtorch create a black tattoo on Scott’s skin?

DEREK. HONEY. Why would Stiles be able to hold Scott still??? Scott’s a werewolf.

All this bullshit to explain away Posey’s tattoo that he got. Like, damn dude, we all like tattoos, but you have a job that needs bare arms on the regular. That was kinda rude.

Where did braeden get clothes? I forgot to ask.

uhhhh. Ephemeral might technically work in that sentence, but that’s still really awkward.

WHY THE FUCK DID YOU DESTROY HIS DOOR? YOU FUCKING ASSHAT. And WHY the instant fucking grr face? “why’d you paint the door?” uhh, leave him alone? He can do what he wants? It’s his house? Also, don’t get all fucking rude about the alpha pack. He told you it was a rival pack.

KALI. PUT SOME FUCKING SHOES ON. JESUS.

Why exactly does Scott see the symbol and INSTANTLY put together that it’s got anything to do with the Alphas or the animal attacks? Where is the logic jump there?

What exactly was the POINT of popping your claws if you were gonna kick her in the face???

UH, Melissa? Why didn’t you tell Scott that there was a whole other person with Isaac?

What is with the face touching, Duke? I’ve never known a blind person who actually wanted to rub their hands on my face to ‘find out what i look like?’

Really not a fan of all these weird jumps and camera angles with the awkward reflecting.

WOah WOah. Allison gets to PAINT her APARTMENT? Wtf kinda BULlshit is that? My landlord won’t let me do that. Rude.

I know they’re imprisoned and it sucks, but they’ve been there for four months, they had to have gotten bored. Do you think they broke into any of the security deposit boxes to see if anything was left behind?

Last thoughts: They really went for it with this episode. I have plans to change a lot of it. Hopefully I can mesh the changes with the general plotline.

[jungnoir]

hai i love ur works it makes me cry most of the time and maybe I did pulled out my hair once or twice reading but through it all I love it rlly. This sad turd wants to maybe send a req for a kun fic bc u seem to hv not done it yet. Any genre or storyline of ur choice I'll take it hehehe if you want ofc no pressure or anything like I'd love it bUT srsly no pressure ILY

of goats and prophecies;

qian kun | “Oh calm down, it’s just an ancient glowing sword. Nothing to be scared of.” ⇢ gods and immortal warriors and goats falling from the sky… and kun wants to share a few choice words with whatever entity that made him a part of a prophecy to kill a demon king. fantasy!au, kinda medieval!au, reincarnation!au if you squint. | 2.2k words. | fluff, hints at reincarnated lovers, humor.

a/n: I’ve actually been in a kun mood lately so!!! here u go. I wrote this during church service (sorry jesus but anon was just too cute and convincing)

When Kun had woken up that sunny November morning, he was fairly certain of how his day was going to proceed. He’d fold back his bed sheets, serve his ailing mother the last of the oats that he’d gathered at the supermarket a few days ago, and go out into the field to tend to the farm. He’d fix the slop for the pigs, milk the cows, collect the chicken’s eggs, rake out the small stables, and by early afternoon, he’d take what he could to sell at the town market. It was never too much, but it was enough to keep himself and his mother alive, and that was enough. Life just scraping by was mediocre, but if he could just stick to his routine, he could continue to live it without any hiccups.

But oh, oh, he couldn’t have been further from right. All of this was completely unintentional, and he’d been saying that several times to you since he’d stumbled down that (literal) rabbit hole chasing after a disobedient goat, but you were fairly confident that meeting him was fate. Destiny. “Prophesied by the gods”, or what have you. The goat in the tomb with you also just happened to be a messenger from Zeus himself, apparently.

No matter what you were saying, you surely didn’t sound like you were of this world.

“I’m t-telling you,” Kun just barely manages to stammer though his words, though you seem as if he’d said everything crystal clear, “you’ve got the wrong guy.”

Yet, if that was true, why did you continue to ignore everything he said?

Deeply sighing (and what did you have to sigh for, exactly? He was in far more disarray than you right now!), you sit up more from the stone coffin you were once sound asleep in, dust swimming around you at its first disturbance in 10,000 years. Or so you said. “And I’m telling you, boy,” the way you pronounce the last word makes him frown in contempt, “that no average human can just fall from the sky and wake me. You are very clearly the servant boy I requested upon my awakening.”

“I’m not!” Kun whines. The goat bleats nearby, munching on some of the grass that had obscured the hole they’d both fallen in through. The animal is calm, as if he hadn’t just been the reason why Kun was now trapped in a tomb with a crazy warrior wielding a- “Gods! What the hell is that?!”

You stop your descent from your coffin, meeting his eyes with curiosity, “What the hell is what?”

Kun had at first thought the shine from your coffin was from the sunlight gleaming on your tarnished metal garb, glinting in his eyes like the jewels that adorned the necks of royals, but now he could see it much more clearly through his anxious haze. There was something else in that coffin, something he couldn’t see pressed up against the stone wall as far from you as possible (which wasn’t much, given the modesty of your tomb). It shined with a white light that rivaled the moon. It didn’t seem to faze you at all. “That! The thing that’s- that’s shining! In the coffin!”

You follow his eyes back to your coffin as if you’d what he’d meant, your hand dipping inside to retrieve whatever was giving off the light. Kun clings closer to the cold stone.

In your hand, you brandish a stunning broadsword. Its blade is incredibly sharp, he can tell from even where he is, and it absolutely glows. It doesn’t glow even from sunlight because its not anywhere in direct contact with it… it does it all on its own. The handle is something else to behold as well, a matching silver to your armor that glints like pearls and diamonds. He wonders how it manages to stay so bright even when you are covered in a layer of dust, hair matted and untamed from god knows what that had been scrambling around in here for the last 10,000 years. Still… you don’t look that bad for someone supposed to be dead.

Almost like you’d heard his train of thought, you turn the sword over in your hand until the point is focused on him and you begin to move forward. A surprised gasp leaves his lips but his knees are locked; he can’t run!

Despite the threatening look of the sword up close though, you don’t look like you’re ready to plunge it into his chest. You stop some six feet away from him and turn the sword sideways so that the edge of the blade is pointing parallel to him. The light from the sword shines on his face and illuminates your own. He swears he sees little blue wisps rising from around the weapon as you steady it, “Oh, calm down. It’s just an ancient glowing sword. Nothing to be scared of.”

Kun laughs humorlessly, jagged fingernails digging into the rock behind him. Momentarily, he dreams that he can melt into it and disappear. “You’re holding it awfully close to my person…”

You smirk, “I wouldn’t kill my servant boy.”

There you go again! “Why do you keep calling me that?”

You lower the sword until it’s standing up at your side, casting an otherworldly glow along the ground. It illuminates your features much better than the minuscule sunlight let in by the hole he’d fallen through. Despite the dirt on your skin, it does nothing to mar your strong features. You’d told him that you were a warrior of the gods, but he didn’t actually begin to believe it until he saw you like this.

You were also attractive, he might say. Maybe. It could just be the lighting.

“Weren’t you listening before? When I told you who I was? (Y/N), the great warrior of Orepus, prophesied to come back from the dead in 10,000 years to vanquish the evil demon possessing your king-“ “Yeah, yeah, I got all that,” Kun’s interruption makes you huff, “but you never really explained the whole servant boy thing.”

You pout in a way unbefitting of a great, supposedly immortal warrior, but it somehow fits your personality well anyway, “The priests who laid me to rest explained that when I would come back, I would need a companion. Someone who would be undoubtedly submitted to me in all matters so that I might properly carry out my duty. You are the boy, for that someone would be the one who would awaken me… and you did.”

“Technically, it was the goat.” Kun mutters, before his eyes narrow in, “and what? Submit to you in all matters? How broad is all matters?” He wouldn’t admit to it either, but a faint blush was beginning to spread to his neck at the possibilities. Goodness, he really needed to get out more.

You seem to know where he’s going with it because your smirk comes back, your form happily caging him in some as you walk forward, “The terms are negotiable.”

Kun places a hand to your shoulder, meaning to stop you where you stood, and for the first time since he’d been down there, he makes actual physical contact with you. Granted, it’s not skin to skin, but something… changes in Kun at that moment (even your taunting words leave his mind). 

In his mind’s eye, you stand there, in all your great glory, shining like your sword as you slay monsters left and right. He is in silent awe of your power and almost pulls his hand back away from you, but something tells him his vision would cease if he did.

Instead, he subconsciously pulls you closer, mouth agape as he visualizes the moments from your glory days to the very rainy night when you were buried. Candlelight fought the rainwater to light the violet sky, and songs chanted in the olden language were sung by the hundreds- no, thousands of people at your funeral. From what he could make out of some of the words, they were all… parts of your story. You really were a divine entity to those people, and you were their only hope for this prophecy. The prophecy to kill Zirzirath, the demon you’d locked away 10,000 years ago in hopes that it would stay, only for him to return once more and take possession of the current king.

His king, the man who was the reason for the shortage in food and the crumbling economy of the kingdom, the man who was the reason that proper medical care was not being given out to the less fortunate and why Kun’s mother was practically on her death bed now as she was. The gluttonous king chose to take everything for himself and to feast on the agony of his people, but it was no doubt that a mere human could never have such power, even one as great as the king. Kun always knew other factors were at play, but only when you’d told him a demon was behind it did it really begin to make sense.

Kun reluctantly pulls away when the vision ends, his eyes refocusing in on you. Your own are wide, gauging, “What did you see, boy?”

“I saw… everything. The prophecy, your fighting, everything.” His voice is but a whisper but the words carry in the tomb like he’d shouted them. “And I heard about me… in the songs they sung… a-at least I think it was about me. They kept mentioning your companion, the only one who could wake you.”

You nod, backing away some, “It’s true. You’re not the first to stumble here, boy, but you are the first to wake me. Why do you think the entry is covered in grass and not stone? Many have tried to do what you didn’t even mean to, and all of them met disaster because of it.” When Kun gives you a horrified look, you clarify, “Only the ones who meant harm.”

“…can you stop calling me boy? I’m… I’m a man, you know. And I have a name.”

“My apologies, what is your name?”

“Kun.” He says, trying to be confident. Your eyes widen a bit and you… you seem to smile. It’s tiny, quickly gone, and strikes a chord within Kun. “W-What? What is it?”

“Nothing,” you say, sounding too afflicted for it to be nothing, “I just… when I was alive, I knew a boy named Kun. He and I were… very close. I never saw him before I was buried, didn’t get the chance. It was urgent I go when I did.”

Kun knows his name is not that special in the kingdom, and probably so 10,000 years ago. But when you tell him this, the pieces of him that still doubt all of this to be true shatter altogether. The odds that you were close to someone with the same name as him so long ago, only to find him again like this (or rather, he find you like this) felt too coincidental to be coincidence.

And the way you study him afterwards, as if seeing him in a different light, doesn’t bother him as much as it might’ve ten minutes ago.

“As much as I’d love to be your companion, I have my mother to take care of. She is incredibly sick and needs me to care for her constantly. I can only tell you what I know and send you on your way.” Kun says, rather melancholy all of a sudden. Despite the shock and information overload he’d received in the little time it took for him to chase a runaway goat into a pit and awaken an immortal warrior, he had always been practical. Family first, always. This warrior would just have to fight their battle alone.

You hum, pondering. A minute goes by before you speak again, “As much as I should be replenishing my power instead of lowering it, a good night’s rest will surely help me sleep off the effects.”

“The… effects?”

“The gods prophecy clearly states that you are to help me, be by my side till the very end, and this means that any obstacle in the way of that coming to pass will be remedied by the gods. Not only do I have my god-given strength, I also can be a miracle worker if need be. That means…” You clear your throat under Kun’s heavy, confused gaze, “…the gods shall allow me to heal your mother. Whatever ails her, it is but a spec in the eyes of the gods and will be wiped clean in a breath.”

Okay, now this was starting to sound really enticing.

“If you can heal my mother… I will swear my life to you.” The sheer determination in his voice both shocks and excites you, setting you going like a rolling stone.

You immediately grin and swing your sword up and onto your shoulder, chuckling, “My, my, sounds like we’ve got a deal, Kun. I think I’ll like you.”

Kun shuffles from side to side and prays, prays, prays to the gods that this isn’t all some illusion his malnourished mind is warping to keep him sane. He prays that this is real, that you can do what you say, and that you really can end the king’s tyrannical reign.

But first… “So… how do we get out of here?”

You look up at the hole in the ceiling before hissing under your breath, “Gods, you’d think they’d leave me a ladder or something. What kind of underground tomb is this?”

The goat bleats in protest.

[widgenstain]

i hope this doesnt sound creepy but what were your thoughts on submergence? I love reading movie reviews/rants about my faves (jamesy)

Lol, no,not creepy at all, I wanted write a few words after I saw it two weeks (?) agoanyway, but got distracted. I hope this doesn’t disappoint you though! Not so many positive opinions here!

(light spoilers under the cut)

The best word to sum up my feelings about this is“meh”. I expected the worst after reading some reviews but it wasn’tTHAT bad. It wasn’t good either though. I felt pretty vindicated in myassessment from January 2016 ; Submergence isn’t abook that translates well on screen. And they didn’t even try very hard. Boy, thatscript is bad…

Sceneslifted directly from the book that anyone with even the tiniest understandingof how good narratives work would have changed, or at least tried to make morefilmable. Instead we got this mess; long, clunky, scientific dialogue thatworks as a build-up in the book but needed to be cut short in the movie andmore importantly: focussed on the message and motives behind it! What does it mean to behuman, to live in certain social structures and how insignificant are we andthose social structures really in the big picture? You don’t have to explain the layers of the Ocean if you can’t get across how vast they really are and what that vastness is meant to symbolise! 

Thedirection doesn’t clear anything up either. It’s so inconsistent in its levelsof subtlety. Especially in the parts that take place in France it needed to be waymore obvious; what attracts these two people to each other? THE importantquestion in a romance!

In the bookit’s intellectual understanding and fascination with the other person’sapproach to topics like love, death, religion etc.. I wasn’t kidding in my earlierpost when I said that in the book they aren’t really characters, but voices for differentworld views that somehow still see their similarities and learn from eachother. The whole thing is supported by their weirdly intertwining heritage andlife story; she’s a biracial cosmopolitan who explores the seas his ancestors sailed,before he became a spy in Africa, who’s deeply involved with Eastern Africanconflicts.

In the movie?Yeah, that first part doesn’t come across whatsoever. They try, but it’s fartoo subtle and the script doesn’t capture the differences/similarities at all. Theyprobably realised that, so they added a lot of sex scenes instead. I was veryworried for them but they’re actually fine.They’re notreally well-matched physically, James looks way older than Alicia (well, he is,widge) but they do have chemistry. Is it the chemistry the movie needs though? No,it’s not.

I totallycan see them as two people who met at a nice hotel on the Atlantic coast and thought“hey u cute!” “hey, u cute too, let’s have some really good sex since we’reboth people who are so good at sex.” And after the three days, they went their ways andmaybe thought of each other during a wank session or two.

It’s notthe chemistry of a couple where he thinks of her in the worst moments of his lifeand she in the most triumphant yet terrifying ones. 

As for the intertwiningheritages? They actually wrote, shot, edited and left in a scene in which hetalks about her being such a “mongrel” of Swedish and Australian heritage. Noone in that whole process noticed the disconnect or the freaking white-washing!Wim Wenders deserves a few punches in the nuts for that.

As for theacting, yeah… I’m not a fan of Alicia, there I said it. I don’t subscribe tothe hate the Fassbender fans/haters/toxically obsessed creeps (who keeps upwith this these days?) throw at her but I sincerely do. not. understand. how shemade it as far as an actress as she has. 

Still, she is ok in this, she showsmore than her usual three expressions and some actual emotions. That doesn’ttake away from the fact that she acts in scenes, not in movies. She’s onecharacter in one scene, another in the next. It - weirdly enough - works bestin the sex scenes where they allowed her to be an unusually tomboyish character,not the ultra-feminine seductress you’d expect in such context. She feels more or less natural and ok in them.

She’s farless believable as the career-driven and respected-by-her-peers scientist andit’s the absolute worst in the “phone” scenes. To be fair the script fucks herover in these as well, turning Danny, a stoic woman of science about to go onthe biggest adventure of her career, into a bawling teenage girl, who’s upsetthat the guy she had really good sex with doesn’t reply to her calls. 

A betteractress than her would have struggled with that garbage too, but with her scene-actingit really feels like you’re watching someone completely different each time. Addthe gloomy goth girl rambling about suffocating in really inappropriate momentsand you’ve got your stitched together Frankenstein character.

James of course knows how to portray a coherent character, but he isn’tat the height of his game either in the beginning. He’s a bit stiff, the whole spy stuff is thankfully short because it feels like an artsy-fartsydirector trying and failing to do James Bond, and the scenes in captivity would have hit much harder if you’d gotten WHY he adores her so and whispers “OH DANNY” all so dramatically.

I mean, I get thatmovie!James is trying to hang on to his sanity as best as he can, but why think of that random girlhe had really good sex with in France? Why not his mother, his best friend or, ffs, his housekeeper in Nairobi he’s known for more than 3 days?! The film doesn’tget this across and it’s sad (I’m also convinced the editor hated them. Herflashbacks show him squinting unattractively and his flashbacks show her from areally unfortunate angle.)

However, hisacting is top notch in the pivotal scene when movie!James’ captors send him into thewater to shoot him. It starts out all dramatic but then he takes it and turnsit into this absolutely painful, human moment where he yanks the audience’sheart out and crushes it like he’s wont to do. Man is he good. From that on Ilike the movie. 

The interactions with the doctor (helloooo Julian Bashir, didn’tknow you were in this!) are the best scenes in the book as well and they’reexcellent. Nothing is black and white, how different can the lessons differentpeople take from the same situations be, etc.? It’s great.

Except whenthe movie suddenly throws all subtlety overboard. There’s a scene where a womangets stoned and instead of focusing on the fucking amazing acting that goes on onJames’ and Alexander Siddig’s faces it has to ram the pointhome with the silliest effects. It’s such a waste of two excellent actors with an amazingly uncomfortable chemistry. 

Still, the scenes with the extremists are awesome. Too short and I don’t think the movie audience really gets how intriguingReda Kateb’s character really is, but they’re part of a movie that could havebeen great. Pity that wasn’t the whole movie.

I was a bitconfused after Tiff last year where Wenders said that he changed the ending butI don’t think he really has? Both are open in ways, but not really. I liked theending in the book and I liked it in the movie, super kitschy lifetime movieshots of Danny aside.

Anotherpositive thing I noticed was the light. Whoever did that really understood whatto do with the beautiful people in front of the camera and how to tell thefreaking story. I swear, the light on her face as he leaves the hotel, in hisprison and in her sub does a far better job at connecting them and explainingthe motives than script and direction together! I hope that light person got paid a ridiculously high amount of money and gets to do more movies.The script person should find another day job though and Wenders should stick todocumentaries from now on.

In short:Meh. Not gonna buy the DVD but maybe will check it out another time when/if itcomes along on Netflix and see if my opinion changes.

[felicityb-reviews]

Review Roundup - February 2018 Week 1

Hello, my loves!! My name is Jace (aka Felicity B), and this is your Review Roundup for Week 1 of February 2018!!

So... Last Friday, I mentioned making some changes to my Review Roundup format. The reasoning being that as I've expanded my network of Korean music channels, It's become very clear to me that it's too difficult for me to write a substantial review of 25+ videos every week without each review mixing into the last. I've also come to realize that I can't include *every* song I find that happens to be in Korean, and that's fine!! Most songs are either ballads or OST ballads (which are even worse), and it's just not worth my time to flog those at you guys.

So, I'm gonna try to explain this to y'all as best as I can. It sounds more complicated than it is in practice, but I wanna give y'all an idea of what's going on.

I'm gonna present to you all the playlist of songs for the week. From there, you'll see a new segment called the Titacular Ten. Yes, I am aware "titacular" is not a word, but catch me not givin' a fuck in these streets. These guys are songs I enjoyed, but didn't like enough to put in the Fabulous Five. They'll be rated (*not* reviewed) according to my replayability scale.

And speaking of my rating scale, I've decided to add a new category called KoKoNotABop (because nothing brings me joy more than pissing off the stans of my favorite K-Pop group). This sits in between Conditional Replay and Trash Bomb with Shuffle Bait. I decided to add KoKoNotABop, because there wasn't really anything for those songs that weren't complete Trash Bombs, but fell short. I could enjoy these songs from time to time, but I wouldn't intentionally put them in a playlist, so I didn't want to call them Shuffle Bait. In short, I just wanted to expand the range of my extraness.

Moving on, you'll see the Honorable Mentions/Trash Bombs of the week after the Titacular Ten. The Honorable Mentions are tracks that didn't make it into the week's Fab Five, but I still wanted to speak on. And if you've seen my previous RRUs, you know what Trash Bombs are.

I haven't had to rated many songs as Trash Bombs, but that should be considered a small mercy. Y'all know how I get when I don't like a song

So!!

Let's get started!!

This Weeks' List

The Titacular Ten

Saturn (Nevada51 featuring Gayoung Seo of Spy Girls)

Rating - Heavy Rotation

Perfectly Perfect (MxM of BRANDNEWBOYS)

Rating - Heavy Rotation

BLOCKED (Ash-B featuring Cherry Coke)

Rating - Heavy Rotation

Ballad of Full Speed (Evolution of Sound)

Rating - Conditional Rotation

Grayish (JUNA)

Rating - Conditional Rotation

Run Away (Mona)

Rating - Heavy Rotation

To the sky (CLC)

Rating - Heavy Rotation

If (Day6)

Rating - Heavy Rotation

Mi Amor (CoCoSori)

Mi Amori Dance Practice

Rating - Heavy Rotation

Good Bye (Hong Jin Young)

Rating - Heavy Rotation

Honorable Mentions

You Have a Crush On Me (No Brain)

If you guys can believe it, this was the type of song I loved during my J-Pop days. Oh boy, does this take me back.

And yes, I do realize this song is literally a decade old. There are idols active in the industry that this song is older than. But I'm gonna need y'all to bring me some freshly prepared fucks to care.

The children deserve to know about No Brain!!

Crush On Me (sorry, that title is too long to be typing over and over) is a punk track that is fun, personified. Every time I queue up the song to play, I just wanna dance the night away~ have my own little party, dancing and singing along. And don't think that you can get away from this song unscathed, cause the hook (neon naege banhaesseo) will stick itself in your brain and torment you till you're singing along like a good little Baby Borgie.

No Brain is a band that I want every single NuGen K-Pop (2014/2015) fan to get into. Every single one of you. Cause while this band is hella talented (they've literally been in the game for twenty years), they don't write music to show it off. They write music because they fucking love it. And that's the best kind, sis. I could clock this song for a lot of things I'd clock a modern K-Pop song for, but I won't because this song is entirely too fun to be picked apart like a science experiment.

My main reason for including Crush On You was that I love how fun this song is, BUT!! I also wanted an excuse to include No Brain's collab stage with Lovelyz from the 2017 MBC Year End Song Festival.

Now *that* was a oollab stage, ladies.

Rating - Heavy Rotation

No Gravity (Yoon Mi Rae)

Yoon MiRae is the OG Korean Female Rapper.

That's not my bias speaking (although it's definitely showing), I've never heard anyone speak ill of Mirae. NEVAH!! And I mean, why would they want to!?!?! She's magical. I literally can't say enough nice things about her.

I literally zone in on her and don't pay anyone else any mind when she's in a song. Whenever she's gracious enough to give us a solo, my wigs bow in reverence to her. I just love this woman so much. She can do no wrong in my book.

Gravity is a pre-release track from Mirae's upcoming Korean album. We have no word on what it's called or when it's dropping, but I already know it's amazing. Gravity is a midtempo rap ballad, and I usually find these cheesy af, but I really like Mirae's take on it. For those of you who've been YMR stans for a while, the vocals are arranged in Mirae's typical fashion - hard hitting rap verses, brackted in by Smoove™ vocals.

Yes, Mirae is the one who has your rap fave givin' Soulful Vocals™.

THANK!! HER!!

Gravity is just so nice, you guys. I don't know what it is about these Korean acts dropping really hopeful and healing tracks this year, but I want it to continue. These types of midtempos are usually reserved for Bad Days™, but I lowkey wanna listen to Gravity all the time. There's enough groove that it doesn't drag my mood down if I'm feelin' good, but at the same time, the uplifting vibe is great for everything kinda sucks.

Off Topic, but if y'all haven't heard Mirae's Black Happiness, I urge you!! It's S U C H a good song!! That's a song that's for the worst of days, sis.

Rating - Heavy Rotation

Free Somebody (Luna of f(x) x HEDA)

I really do not understand what the point of this release was. Can someone from SM DM me on Twitter and explain. Cause sis, this shit made no sense to me.

Firstly, congratulations to Ms HEDA are in order!! If you weren't aware (like me), everysing (a Korean karaoke company) and Genie Music (SM Entertainment's distributor) ran a contest called Battle Singer to select a new feature vocalist for an upcoming Station release. Why SM didn't give her her own Station track, I'm not sure, but I rather liked the way she sounded here. So, I can't be too mad.

Wha I *am* mad at, however, is why SM decided to have Luna and HEDA do karaoke on one of the unused sets of Younha's Parade video, and releasing that shit as a single. Y'all couldn't call in nobody to produce these vocals?!?!?! Every single one of y'all vocal producers were busy?!?!?!

K...

I'm just so over SMSTATION releases varying in quality and effort spent. Some weeks, SM puts in the time and effort to rock that shit out, but then we also get lazy as fuck all releases like these. And I get it, there was a contest attached to this and we don't know if SM is gonna pull Ms HEDA back in for a round 2. I'm hoping they do, but SM is fickle. I just wish this release was up to the standard as Luna and Amber's Lower. Some of y'all thought that song was dry af, but at least the video was dynamic.

Rating - KoKoNotABop

The Fabulous Five

5. Mystery (Jalhyejun)

Mystery sounds like Lim Kim and Neon Bunny decided to team up for a song. They didn't, but if they ever did, I'd need at least three albums worth of material from it.

Mystery is a very cutesy synthrock song. It lowkey reminds me of something Puffy AmiYumi would do 2003/2004, but it mostly sounds like a bonus track on Neon Bunny's Seoulite. Not a bad thing; Puffy AmiYumi were literally my gateway into J-Pop fifteen years ago (I still listen to them), and Seoulite is one of the best Korean albums of 2011.

Mystery sounds like it belongs in a kids' show, and that's exactly why I like it. It's not anything crazy energetic, but it's really fun and every time I listen to it, it puts the biggest smile on my face. And because it isn't super in your face, you could also use it very peppy background music.

We love a versatile queen, sis.

Rating - Heavy Rotation

4. To Do List (Kim Hyorin)

Okay, sis... I was a lil nervous when I heard the teasers for this. Too many of my faves been droppin' ballads as digital singles, and then disappearing into the ether. Hyorin is my girl, but I will *always* put the music first.

Fortunately,I had nothing to worry about; Hyorin did with To Do List what Henry couldn't do with Monster. Give me an engaging ballad.

Hyorin's To Do List is the same flavor of stripped back ballad as Henry's Monster; it's just Hyorin's sweet vocals layered over a clean electric guitar. It's just that she can emote with her voice and is an overall better vocalist.

I'm finding that I really enjoying this style of ballad. There's just an unexpected element to having a song be just electric guitar and vocals, ya know?!?! Like I mentioned above, I was very unsure about Hyorin making her solo debut under her own agency with a song like this, but I can see why she did it. Ballads do stupidly well in Korea, so Hyorin was catering to that market. BUT ALSO!! There's enough spunk here to keep the more adventurous crowd happy.

Of course, Hyorin could also sing me the dictionary, and I'd be like, "YASSS KWEEN!! BUILD THE CHILDREN'S VOCABULARY!! TAKE EVERY SINGLE OF MY WIGS, GODDESS!!".

So what do I know?!?!

Rating - Heavy Rotation

3. Unstoppable (The Night Of Seokyo x Minju)

I normally don't include covers on this list, and I definitely wouldn't put them in the Fab Five. But y'all, this fucking cover. I really wish they covered the entire song, because it's fucking M A G I C A L

Which only makes sense, because the original is even more magical, but still...

Minju and the Night of Seokyo's Unstoppable is a cover of Lianne La Havas's 2015 song Unstoppable. I have no idea why I don't know this song or artist, because they're both magical. I already said Unstoppable was magical, but I'm gonna say it again!! This song is so good!! Can I live in the feeling this song creates?!?! I'd enjoy that a lot, sis. It's just so calm and healing, and I need that to be my energy for all of 2018.

And Ms Lianne, y'all. My wig toppled off my head the first 30 seconds of the song, because ma'am looks like a Black goddess. Can I be her when I grow up?!?!?! She looks so cool, and her music is just so nice. God, I love just Black women, you guys. They're so amazing, and they never get credit for always being ahead of the curve (as mentioned in my Nega Dola review). But I love Black women. I wouldn't be who I am today without Black women. None of us would. And I think it's time that we acknowledge that!!

So now that I've gotten that out of my system (we are unapologetically stanning Black women in 2018 and beyond, sis), let's discuss the Night of Seokyo and Minju's cover of Unstoppable. Absolutely beautiful. Breathtaking. I felt like I was floating. I usually don't care for covers, because 90% of them fall into two categories - a) indistinct from the original because they do everything the original does and b) complete and total trash because they did Too Much™ when reinterpretting it. But Minju and the Night of Seokyo strike the perfect balance - the rearrangement for piano and vocal does Just Enough™ to stand out on it's own without feeling like it's fucked up the vibe of the song.

I really should have just done a standalone review of this cover, since I *clearly* have so much so say on it, but it's just so good. A very big thank you to my girl sunnysidae who found the original version for Unstoppable for me. You're the best, sis!!

Rating - Heavy Rotation

2. Baby Funk (Yoo Naul of Brown Eyed Soul)

Y'all.

Everything about this song n video is so Black!! I'm Shook™!!

I don't know Brown Eyed Soul that well, so I really thought Naul was the Black dude in the video. Thought BES had a whole ass (well, half ass) nigga in the group!!

Baby Funk's name is a little misleading - the only thing Funky about her is that guitar line (and the beatswitch that happens towards the end). But that's fine!! We love a good throwback to the Soul tracks of the '90s!!

I really don't know what to say, but tbh I really shouldn't have to - y'all *know* I L I V E for a good RnB/Soul track. And Baby Funk definitely delivers, babies!! I'm not gonna lie, the video did put me a off little, at first; I can't help but be suspect of the dynamic here. But you know, I'm just gonna receive this blessing, and keep it pushing. Naul made a love letter to Black culture with Baby Funk, and I Appreciate™.

Rating - Heavy Rotation

1. Blind (Planetarium Records)

Trigger Warning - intense strobe lighting effects are used in the live showcase video

One of these days, I'm gonna need to learn these dudes' names. Especially since they refuse to stop terrorizing my wig collection with their group albums.

Sidenote - whoever decided to bait n switch my Black ass with them teasers, ya mama's a heaux. And I expect a full version of T.M.N.T with vocals on Case#3!! That shit is too good to just be an intro!!

*ahem*

When I first saw the teasers for Planetarium's CASE#1, I didn't think much of it. I thought they were an EDM label, number 1. And number 2, teasers didn't really give me anything to be excited about. But they blasted onto the scene with Blah, which had me eatin' my words a lil. I didn't include ha in my Fab Five for that week, but I was definitely paying attention to them Planetarium boys. And then came a live video of Glue (which I did put in my Fab Five), and now Blind.

Blind is a very clear 180 from the very fun, very tropical themed Blah. But catch these niggas drivin' off into the sunset with my wig, because I am B A L D T.

Blind is an intense synthpop track with a slight RnB tilt. Which is to be expect, because Planetarium is an RnB/Hip Hop label. But guys, this song is just S O G O O D. If every idol boy band in K-Pop *has* to do overly series tracks because They're Super Serious Boys Who Very Serious All The Time Seriously™, I'm gonna need them deliver tracks on this level.

Show me you have soul, not that you have abs. I've seen enough shirt lifts to last me a lifetime, kids.

On top of giving us a music video that's a continuation of Blah, the Planetarium boys have also provided us with a live showcase video that you can watch here. Be mindful that there is intense strobing effects during the chorus bits.

Rating - Heavy Rotation

Alright loves, that's all I've got for you guys this week!! I hope the change in format isn't jarring, but I needed to do something to alleviate some of the work that goes into these lists. Cause pretty soon, I'm not gonna have the gobs and gobs of free time that I have now to do them, on top of my standalone reviews. My SHINee Feature Spotlight series has been halted, for now, but tune in on Friday at 12pm and 6pm EST for a special surprise. And be sure to tune in on Monday at 6pm EST for me full length review of the week.

Love, you guys!!

[emperorren]

My first impressions after seeing TLJ

major tlj spoilers after the cut

So do you know that John quote about how the movie addresses fandom theories or something? 

I feel like it’s really spot on. It’s like the movie deliberately flirts with most of the major question marks that TFA left us---who are Rey’s parents? What happened to Luke? Did Snoke manipulate Ben? What’s the deal with Reylo? Who is Snoke, really? Will Kylo be redeemed?

and then kind of spits on them, either giving a bland/disappointing answer, or a non-answer at all, as if saying: THESE AREN’T THE QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD BE ASKING.

It’s VERY anticlimatic, to be honest. but anticlimatic in a clever, deliberate way. I can’t say if I really liked it---I think I need at least a second viewing---but I can see what Rian did here.

So let’s start with the obvious, and for a lot of reasons the most bewilderingly anticlimatic: Snoke. Who the fuck is Snoke?

NO ONE. it doesn’t matter. Maybe he’s an ancient being. maybe he’s just Leia’s former classmate in second grade that had a crush on her and was rejected. We don’t know. He's killed**, and it’s over before we get any real answer, JUST LIKE THAT. He’s always been a smokescreen, which in hindsight was what TFA was trying to convey by having him appear only as a giant hologram. He had a specific function in this story---providing a Palpatine stand-in that the audience could immediately latch on for reassurance, but actually ushering Kylo from a conflicted teenage-like apprenticeship into True Villainy (?)---he’s fulfilled it now, so he can go. Bye Snoke.

Next: Luke. What has Luke been doing? Milking sea brontosaurs and reading ancient books and angsting over Ben’s fall and shockingly enough NOT fathering any magical daughters, AS YOU SHOULD ALREADY KNOW IF YOU WATCHED TFA.

Next, who are Rey’s parents. Aw man. that feels like a punch in the guts, tbh. Because for a while the movie actually toys with your expectations about that and there’s a scene (one of my favs from a purely visual/conceptual/symbolic perspective) in which rey goes looking for answers and sees some ominous looking shadows that you interpret as being her “people”. But those shadows reveal to be just another image of Rey herself. And then comes Kylo who straight up says that her parents were nobodies, just scavenger scum who sold her for a meal, and you’re like. Okay. Why did I spend 2 years obsessing over this?***

Next, what’s the deal with Reylo. This one is strictly connected to the question about Kylo’s redemption, and to me is simultaneously this film’s crux AND real stroke of genius. Because the first half of the movie feels like it’s moving on an enjoyable but predictable railroad of romantic/byronic hero tropes. The force bond is REAL! Kylo and Rey have UST! Kylo looks vulnerable and conflicted! Rey learns about Ben’s backstory and vows to redeem him! Their love for each other will save Kylo from falling completely to the dark side!!!!

And then the movie suddenly... rotates on itself. The story makes a literal U turn the moment you realize that this is not going to go the way you think and that---no, Kylo’s won’t be redeemed (this way).

And maybe love (well, at this stage it’s mutual attraction and curiosity and longing for somewhere, someone, to belong) and good intentions aren’t enough to steer someone from his perceived path (not yet).

It’s not that Snoke wasn’t a malevolent figure manipulating Ben; he was. But Kylo’s agency is MUCH MORE IMPORTANT to his actions than what the average Kylo fan was willing to admit, and the movie is a brutal reminder of that. Kylo isn’t just lost and lonely and traumatized. He wants power. He sees his greatness as a mission. He’s focused, deliberate, and willing to sacrifice a LOT of things to get what he wants. Including his father (he didn’t kill han solo because he hated him---he didn’t hate him at all, as he tells Rey at one point. He killed him because he was a weakness, something that prevented him from fulfilling his true potential). Including Snoke, his mentor, his master, his leader. (perhaps not Rey, though. Not really, if his last scene indicates anything.)

I think we all saw the cracks in Kylo’s armor and his obvious conflict and took it as a guarantee that he’d start the movie more evil and unhinged than ever and then make a shift halfway through the movie towards redemption; TLJ spit in the face of this rather predictable headcanon by having Kylo go a bit darker, then teasing us with a possible redemption-by-force-bond, and then shockingly upgrading him to Ultimate Big Bad instead of Conflicted Anti Hero.

(which is not to say that Kylo’s layers are suddenly gone or that he’s Really Evil---he’s no more evil than he was in TFA, no more evil than he was when he laced his fingers with Rey’s in the hut. He’s just refusing to be put in that nice little box that we, me included, wanted him to fill at the end of this movie.)

(he also kills Snoke instead of Rey, but probably not to save Rey. Not exactly? I mean, also that, I’m sure. But this man’s motives are complex. It was part of his plan all along. He manipulated Snoke into thinking he was weak and foolish, “a boy in a mask” so that he could blindside him. It’s unclear how much of his touchy-feely force bonding moments with Rey was ALSO a manipulation, and how much they were something genuinely unexpected that coincidentally helped him fulfill his plan. When he asks Rey “why does the force keep connecting us”, it’s unclear if it’s a honest question on his part. I’d like to hear your opinions on this.)

This also doesn’t mean that it was all a bait and switch---at least, I hope it’s not. The force bond is real and no matter how and why it was created it’s something that both of them will have to deal with. I personally do believe it’s the Force who brought these two together and made their lives inextricably connected. There must be a reason. Their feelings for each other are also real, now made more violent by each other’s mutual (perceived?) betrayal. This is going to hurt, but at least we have now exited the “they don’t even know each other’s name!” limbo for good. They know that... and many other things about each other now. Probably more than they’re comfortable with.

I also don’t think this movie answered the question of Kylo’s redemption with a resounding no, on the contrary it just made it clear that everything can happen. Kylo’s future looks bleaker than ever now, true, because it seems like he was offered AGAIN an olive branch, a chance of redemption, and instead he doubled down on evil. Sure as fuck those who hated him will hate him even harder, and I guess a lot of neutral fans (perhaps also those Kylo fans who were flat out counting on him being revealed as an innocent victim of Snoke’s manipulation) will turn on him too.

I feel like I did in the aftermath of the Red Wedding: shocked, traumatized, but also insanely curious to see how the narrative rises again after such a low point.

... I can’t believe I wrote this already? I was going to talk about what I liked and what I did not (the movie is hardly flawless tbh), and the squee-worthy fanficcy scenes, and shirtless!Kylo and omg omg omg Luke and Leia (okay that deserves another post) and instead I went full boring analysis lmao. Sorry.

** not sure if Snoke is actually dead. Part of me really doesn’t want him to, because I like eldritch evil in this story and I wanted Snoke to be eldritch evil, a sort of Night’s King that humanity, I mean the galaxy, including the bad guys, unites to rally against. Kylo is many things, but last time I checked he’s still human, therefore still worthy of our empathy. The other part understands that this is how a Normal Narrative would function, and that sounded reasonable enough until a week ago, but now? lmao JJ Abrams good luck untangling this mess.

*** honestly I’m not sure Rey’s parents are just that, either. Maybe the answer we get in this movie is another red herring. I think we can definitely rule out Re/ywalker or Re/ysolo though, because awkward hand touching and asking your nemesis to put something, anything on that sexy naked chest while you’re casually peering into his room via force bond is not something that Cousins Would Do, thank you very much.

[botanistlester]

Sweet Pea (8/34)

Summary: A nickname that goes bitter in your mouth. Cries for help that no one listens to. Gentle hands that make you quake on the ground you’re standing on. When Phil first met Nico, he thought he was a gift from the heavens. But behind the mask lies something daunting, something unnerving, that Phil never foresaw. Through his journey, he finds solace in Dan, the regular at his workplace, who seems to be the only one who sees through Nico’s mask to the darkness underneath. Warnings: Abusive relationship, violence A/N: Hello friends! Thanks for reading another chapter of SP! I'm really loving all of the comments you guys are leaving for me :) this chapter includes some yelling and general angst. There is also brief descriptions of past abuse and . Thank you to @snowbunnylester and @littlelionsloves for being the best betas ever! The lyric at the beginning belongs to the song, The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot by Brand New! Previous | Masterlist

Read it on AO3 Read it on Wattpad

-

Chapter Eight

You are second-hand smoke. You are so fragile and thin, standing trial for your sins, holding on to yourself the best you can.

-

Dan Howell - 2:39pm

Are u working tonight? I wanna come in and see you if you are

Phil Lester - 2:40pm

Work at 5. What’s the special occasion?

Dan Howell - 2:40pm

Miss my BFFL and also need to study for exam

Phil Lester - 2:45pm

You just use me for my serving skills

Dan Howell - 2:46pm

Damn u rite. See you tonight :-)

Phil smiled at his phone despite himself. He couldn’t deny that texting Dan always seemed to make him smile, especially because the banter between them was so easy. It was like a breath of fresh air after living underground for twenty years.

He went to type out a response, maybe put a few smiley face emojis and a flexing arm emoji or something stupid like that, but Nico interrupted him before he could do so.

“Who are you texting that’s more important than spending time with me?” Phil’s boyfriend whined, pausing the show they were watching so he could turn to look at Phil with a pout.

He was right, in Phil’s opinion. Was Dan really more important in this moment? Phil didn’t really think about it before replying to his messages each time he received one, even though he and Nico were literally in the middle of some quality time together. They were even watching something. How rude could Phil get?

“Ah, sorry,” Phil apologised, setting his phone on the coffee table. “Nobody’s more important than you, love. I was just messaging my friend about work tonight.” His phone vibrated again and Dan’s name flashed across the screen, making Phil wince a bit as Nico read his name out.

“Dan? Who’s Dan?” Nico asked, frowning. He didn’t seem mad, really. More confused than anything. “I’ve never heard you talk about him before.”

Phil bit his lip to keep in the fact that he had actually been hanging out with Dan behind Nico’s back for about a month now. And yet, “He’s a new friend.” Phil couldn’t keep the lie from slipping past his tongue. It seemed that Dan brought the liar out in Phil, and he wasn’t exactly happy about it. “We’ve never hung out or anything.”

“Well that’s lame. What do you even have to talk about in that case?”

That was a bit of a weird question, and Phil didn’t quite know how to answer it. Gravity Falls was still paused on the television, and Phil longed to press play on the remote except Nico had the remote clenched in his hand, knuckles turning white. “This and that,” Phil said, shrugging. “We don’t really… talk that much.”

Nico let out a whine and pecked Phil on the forehead. He could most likely feel the thin layer of sweat that had appeared on Phil’s skin, but he didn’t say anything about it. “You hesitated! Why would you hesitate if you don’t talk to him much?”

“I didn’t!”

“Prove it then,” Nico told him, a slight smirk on his face. Phil felt his stomach sink and bile rise in his throat. If Nico saw how much Phil actually texted Dan… he’d know that he was lying. “Show me.”

Phil didn’t know what to do. He wanted to snatch his phone off the table and hide it where Nico could never find it. For some reason, he didn’t want Nico to find out about his new friend. He just wanted Dan all to himself for a while. “Why should I do that? Don’t you trust me?” The words were bitter in his mouth, bile rising in his throat. The idea of Nico not trusting him made him feel sick to his stomach, despite the fact that Phil was outright lying.

Nico snorted and shook his head, a frown playing on his lips. His eyebrows furrowed. “Of course I do. But I just don’t see why it’s such a big deal. If you didn’t have anything to hide, you wouldn’t be afraid to show me your texts.”

“I’m not afraid,” Phil muttered between clenched teeth.

Nico let out a laugh that sounded more like a bark. “Yeah, okay. I don’t believe that.”

A burst of anger surged through Phil, one that was so intense that it nearly knocked him backwards. He snatched his phone from the table and nearly threw it at Nico, disbelief that this was even an issue running through his veins. “Fine,” he snapped, leaning back and folding his arms across his chest. “Read them. I’m not fucking hiding anything.” And yet, his whole body was tense with the knowledge that Nico was going to read his texts, know that he was texting Dan. He didn’t want Nico to know just how much he’d been texting Dan, nor how much time he’d been spending with him. If Nico found out that he’d lied to him just to spend the weekend with Dan, then Nico would never believe him if he told him that he wasn’t cheating on him.

He was going to be sick.

Nico made a whooping noise, smirking as he picked up the phone. Just that smirk was enough to make Phil feel even worse, though he didn’t know that was possible. It made him uneasy, like he was anticipating the moment where that happy facade would crack the moment Dan found the texts on his phone. Nico hummed as he unlocked it, and Phil didn’t have to look over at him to know that he was clicking on the message bubble, seeing a new message from Dan that Phil hadn’t even seen yet, too many messages for two people who rarely spoke, too familiar for two people who had nothing in common. A moment after Nico unlocked his phone, he spoke. “Who’s Dan?” he asked in a dangerously quiet voice that made it hard for Phil to breathe.

Phil shook his head. “Just a classmate,” he muttered.

“I thought Dan was your regular?”

Phil froze. His stomach held angry wasps that wanted to break free, and his hands broke out in a clammy sweat. The panic took over for a moment before he just felt angry. He wanted to snap at Nico, ask him why he’d asked if he already knew the answer, but he didn’t. That’d only make things worse than they were. “He is. But he’s in one of my classes as well,” Phil lied.

Nico hummed and continued to read. His face was expressionless, so Phil couldn’t read it at all. For that, he was both thankful and nervous. Was Nico mad? Was he pissed? He wanted to know what he was thinking. “Sounds like you guys are close,” Nico said coolly.

Phil shrugged. “We just recently started texting. I wouldn’t say we’re close yet.” Another lie because Phil just couldn’t help himself. He just wanted him and Nico to go back to being happy already.

“Right,” Nico said, and he didn’t sound like he believed Phil at all. “Which is why you’re promising another guy to see him at work, calling him your BFFL, and talking about his ‘thicc ass’, as he put it. Why didn’t you tell me about him?”

Because you know him and you hate him, Phil wanted to scream, but he kept it inside, biting his tongue instead. He took a deep breath through his nose to calm himself, exhaling through his mouth. He didn’t like the way Nico’s eyebrows were furrowed, making him look angry as he stared at Phil’s phone. It made Phil fear that he was going to lose him.

“He’s just not an important part of my life yet so I didn’t think it mattered too much.”

Nico scoffed, giving Phil an icy stare. “Don’t lie to me. Are you cheating on me, sweet pea?”

The use of the nickname in this situation made Phil’s stomach churn. The endearment wasn’t supposed to make him feel bad about himself. It was supposed to make him feel good. Why did Nico have to use his nickname now, of all times?

Phil shook his head erratically, feeling angry tears welling up in his eyes. He didn’t know why he was crying, honestly. It wasn’t like he was cheating at all. But then again, maybe he was just feeling guilty that he’d been lying to Nico all this time. “Of course not! I’ve told you, Nico. You’re the only one for me.”

“Then what the hell is this?!” Nico asked, his voice raising. His face was turning a bit red with anger, his eyebrows furrowed. He waved the phone, gesturing to it angrily. “You’re sitting here talking to another guy while you’re with me. Telling him that you’ll see him at work and being all sweet with him. Right in front of me! What kind of boyfriend does that?” Before Phil could guess what was about to happen, Nico threw Phil’s phone across the room. Phil watched helplessly as it slammed into the wall, and he could have sworn he heard a crack as the glass broke, but he wasn’t positive because there was a roaring in his ears that made it too hard to hear.

If Phil could be described as a bubble, he reckoned he would have popped by now. All of his emotions were suddenly charging at him tenfold, all of his frustrations, all of his guilt. He knew that he shouldn’t have lied to Nico, knew that he had been a horrible boyfriend, but to have Nico in front of him telling him how horrible he was… Phil wasn’t able to handle it at all.

The only thing he ever wanted was for Nico to be happy with him. They had so much in common that it was insane. They read books together, played video games together, did everything together. Nico was the only person who’d ever made Phil feel like he was worth something, and Phil had gone and torn it all down with his own two hands. He couldn’t believe that he would self destruct his own relationship, and yet here he was watching as it all came down around him.

“I- I’m sorry,” Phil stuttered, and just like that, the dam broke. His voice wavered and his chest went tight, his hands started to shake, and then, before he could tell himself to suck it up and knock it off before Nico got even more mad, tears began to fall from his eyes, staining his cheeks. He always hated crying because he thought he was an ugly crier, but he couldn’t stop himself even if he tried. “I didn’t really think about it. Dan had just asked if I was working tonight, and I answered before thinking about how you felt.” He gulped, and wiped away his tears. “I promise I’m not cheating though. I would never.”

Nico exhaled, and he seemed to deflate along with his lungs. He settled beside Phil, relaxed a bit against the couch. He reached out and grabbed Phil’s clammy hand. “Just don’t hide this shit from me next time, yeah? You know I don’t like sharing you. I don’t want anyone else to have you.”

“Nobody else has me but you, Nico,” Phil whimpered, and the tears seemed to flow faster now because Nico had told him not to hide anything, and he was still hiding stuff from him. He wanted to talk about it, but he knew he couldn’t because it would only make Nico even angrier, and he didn’t want that. “I only love you. No one else.”

“I love you too, sweet pea,” Nico sighed. “The thought of losing you just makes me… really upset, to be honest. I never want you to leave me.”

Phil could understand that. He felt the same way.

“I’m sorry if I broke your phone. I’ll buy you a new screen and I’ll buy you dinner too. Anything to make you stop crying.”

The words only made Phil cry harder, which was dumb because Nico was right beside him and he wasn’t leaving him and everything was okay.

Except it wasn’t, because Phil was a liar and a cheat and Nico was too good for him. Still, Phil was selfish. He didn’t want to let Nico go. He wouldn’t, no matter what it took. So he didn't. He didn't own up to everything else he was lying about, he didn't argue about the new phone screen or dinner. He just let Nico hold him, and comfort him, all while the guilt continued to build up inside of him because Phil was a goddamn liar.

By four o’clock, Phil was nestled into Nico’s side, his tears having run dry. He had work in an hour but his eyes were almost swollen shut from crying so hard, and he knew that he would not be able to go into work that night.

So with shaking fingers and a scratchy voice, he called up his manager to call out. Thankfully, he sounded sick enough that she didn’t ask too many questions, but he still felt bad that he was calling in just because he was being a crybaby.

He didn’t inform Dan that he wasn’t coming to work that night. At that point, he didn’t think it really mattered anyway.

-

Dan Howell - 6:59pm

You said you were gonna be at work tonight but i just got here and they said you called off :-( are you okay?????

Dan Howell - 7:26pm

Phil pls let me know if ur ok i am concerned

Dan Howell - 7:45pm

Did I do something wrong?

Phil Lester - 9:13pm

Im okay, just got a bit sick. Sorry for worrying you, ill see you tomorrow

-

“You seem upset lately,” Phil murmured, curled against Nico’s side. His chin was resting against Nico’s chest and Nico was running his hands through his hair. They hadn’t said anything for thirty minutes, the silence thick in the air. Phil’s tears had dried on his cheeks, making him feel a bit grimey and like he needed a shower, but he didn’t move. He enjoyed the feel of Nico pressed against him.

Nico hummed and kissed his forehead. It sounded as if he was asking Phil to explain why, so he did just that.

“It’s just… You’ve been tense with me, I suppose? Like, accusing me of cheating and then getting mad at me and throwing my phone? I guess I’m just wondering if I did anything to make you so upset with me, because I really don’t like fighting with you and I want us to be able to trust each other.” Phil took a deep breath and grabbed Nico’s other hand, which was curled around his waist. He entwined their fingers together, loving how well they fit together. He never wanted to lose this. “I love you, Nicky. I just want us to be able to talk to each other about things.”

His boyfriend was quiet for a moment, nuzzling his nose into Phil’s hair and inhaling like he was trying to memorise what Phil smelled like. It was endearing, but tickled the top of Phil’s head. After a moment of that, Nico let out a breath and sat them up slightly so he could lean against the headboard of his bed, cradling Phil to his chest. The position let Phil curl into him better, so he had no qualms against this.

“Admittedly, I have been a bit upset lately,” Nico told him in a soft voice, one that was almost embarrassed. “I’ve been thinking about a lot of things and it’s been making me really agitated.”

Phil perked up a bit, his heart pounding just a tad faster. Nico wasn’t usually one to talk about his feelings like this, so Phil was a bit surprised that he was getting him to open up so easily. Usually, whenever he asked Nico to talk about things with him, Nico always said that everything was okay and put on a smile just for show. Obviously, now was not one of those times. “What about?” Phil asked, kissing Nico’s chest lightly.

He felt Nico shiver under his touch and squeeze him a bit tighter. “Just…” a pause. A deep breath. “It’s my father,” he admitted.

“Your father?” Phil asked, surprised. Nico never really talked about his family. He’d mentioned only a few things to Phil: they’d moved to England because his mum had gotten a job here, he had one brother named Ezra, and his mother’s name was Yvette. That was all Phil knew about his family.

Nico nodded, and from the way Phil’s head was resting against his chest, he could hear Nico’s heart start to beat slightly faster. “He was arrested when I was younger, and my mum called me a few weeks ago to tell me that he was being released in May.”

Phil’s heart started to race in time with Nico’s, wondering what in the hell Nico’s father could have done to not only land him in jail, but also to make Nico stress about the fact that he was getting out.

“What… what happened?”

If it was something Nico didn’t want to talk about, he didn’t show it. Instead, he immediately opened up to Phil, holding him close as if Phil was his own personal teddy bear. Perhaps he needed someone to be there for him after all this time alone. Perhaps Phil would finally be the one to pick him up now.

“I don’t remember much about my father. The only good thing about him that I can recall is how he used to take me to get vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles every Sunday after church. He always played piano music in the car, and it used to relax me a lot. But now, every time I hear someone playing the piano, it just makes me want to throw up.” Phil made sure to stay absolutely silent, even when Nico pressed another kiss to the top of his head. He was being overly affectionate, but Phil was okay with that.

It was probably to hide the pain buried deep inside of him.

“My dad was not a nice man, but I live in constant fear that I’m going to turn out just like him. He used to… used to hit my mom. A lot. He yelled crazy things at her, told her she was a whore, that she deserved to be hit, that she would be better off dead.” Nico swallowed and took another breath. It seemed as if this was hard for him to say because he kept having to pause, and his voice was wavering as he spoke. Phil just held him tighter and vowed to himself that he would never let Nico go. “Sometimes he would duct tape mine and Ezra’s hands together and force us to watch. Sometimes, he would tie my mom up and force her to watch as he hit us. We were living in constant fear of what he would do next.”

Phil felt all of the air leave his body then, as if he’d been punched in the stomach. He turned his head to look at Nico and saw tears shining in those bright green eyes he loved so much. “I’m so sorry, Nicky,” Phil whispered, reaching up and wiping those tears away. He had never seen Nico cry before, and it made him feel as if the ground had been flipped over, turned upside down. “You didn’t deserve to go through that.”

Nico pressed his lips together and shook his head, furrowing his eyebrows. He nuzzled into Phil’s hand, breathing in a sigh. He paused for a moment, closing his eyes, taking a moment to himself before he went on with his story.

“He ended up being arrested because he molested another woman, and I was so angry. At him, at my mom, at the woman, at the police. I just wanted everyone to die. I couldn’t believe he would leave us, you know? That he would do that to mom, to us. The only thing I had been able to feel for a long time was anger, and then hurt. It made me fear that the people most important to me were going to leave me, or that they would find someone better than me. That’s why… that’s why I’m so jealous, I reckon.” Nico groaned, closing his eyes. A tear slid down his cheek and landed on his collarbone, and Phil wiped it off. “I don’t mean to be, it just happens. And then I get so angry because I think about my dad and how he did all that stuff to us, and it just makes me feel like shit, you know?”

“I can understand that,” Phil murmured, smiling softly at his boyfriend, even though Nico’s eyes were still closed. He was breathing heavily, as if there was a huge weight on his chest, and Phil urged him to continue talking.

Even though Phil didn’t think he was going to, he kept talking.

Words spewed out of Nico’s mouth like vomit, until he was telling Phil about all of his secrets and fears. About how he lived in constant fear of how he might turn out to be just like his father. He showed Phil the scars on his arms, ones that were scattered across his shoulders, ones he’d inflicted upon himself over the years because he’d been unable to feel anything other than a numbness in his chest for years and years. He told Phil that he still hadn’t felt anything when he met Phil, how he was depressed and empty and about to give up all hope.

And then he talked about how Phil had given him hope, how he’d made Nico feel things that he hadn’t felt in a long time. He told Phil about how, for the first time in his life, he’d been able to love freely and with a newfound lightness in his chest that he’d never felt before.

When he was done talking, he had tears dripping down his face, and he seemed so vulnerable that Phil climbed into his lap and held him. He held him until Nico’s tears had dried up, until his soft hiccups had disappeared, until his breathing was even and he was littering kisses against Phil’s skin, whispering ‘thank you for listening to me’ and ‘i’ve never told anybody that before’ over and over again, like a mantra.

Phil smiled and tilted Nico’s face up so he could give him a soft kiss on the lips, his chest warm with the knowledge that Nico had some of his own demons to get past and that he was entrusting Phil with his whole heart as well. “Thank you for telling me,” Phil whispered against his lips. “You’re such a strong person, and I know you can get through this. But I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

Nico returned Phil’s smile, albeit a bit watery. “I’m glad I fell in love with you,” Nico told him. “You’re my sweet pea.”

“I’ll love you forever,” Phil promised him. And he fully intended to keep that promise.

-

Phil hadn’t been expecting company.

He’d just gotten home from Dan’s house and was absolutely knackered because they’d decided to make cookies, which had ended in a wild flour fight. Nico had texted him about an hour ago saying he wasn’t able to come over because Ledjon needed his help with something or other.

So Phil wasn’t expecting anybody.

Then why was somebody suddenly knocking on Phil’s door? He almost hadn’t heard it because he’d just gotten out of the shower. A towel was wrapped around his waist, another around his shoulders, and water was dripping from his hair to the floor. It was the worst possible time for company, but whoever was at the door did not give a single fuck.

“Just a second!” Phil called when the knocking came again, and he hurried himself by throwing on a pair of old high school gym shorts and his university jumper. Before he knew it, he was opening the door, and his eyebrows raised in surprise. “Nico!” he exclaimed, throwing himself at his boyfriend and kissing him on the lips. “What are you doing here?”

Nico laughed and kissed him back. When he pulled away, he presented Phil with some items that he hadn’t noticed he was holding. “It’s our six month anniversary and I couldn’t just pass up the occasion! I have to spoil my favourite person, you know.”

Phil blushed as he took the bundle of sweet peas, the box of chocolates, and the last gift, which was a tiny wrapped box. “I feel horrible,” Phil whined, but he was grinning so wide that his face

felt like it was going to split. “I didn’t get you anything!”

Nico laughed and walked into Phil’s apartment, shutting the door behind him. He pecked Phil on the cheek, making the already rosy skin a darker shade of red. “You think I care about that?” he teased, gesturing to his presents. “Some chocolates, a surprise, and of course, some sweet peas for my sweet pea. After you’ve been putting up with my needy ass for months, I think you deserve it, don’t you?”

Laughing, Phil shook his head. He walked over to his kitchen table so he could set the gifts down and grab a vase for his sweet peas. “It’s not a chore to be your boyfriend, you know,” Phil informed Nico, who made a noncommittal noise in the back of his throat. He got the vase from the cabinet above his sink and filled it with water before putting the flowers in them. When he was finished, he set them on the table, beaming. “Beautiful, don’t you think?”

“Almost as beautiful as you,” Nico sang. He came up behind Phil and wrapped his arms around his waist, putting his chin on his shoulder. “Open your present, love,” he whispered in Phil’s ear, making the hair on the back of Phil’s neck raise.

Phil giggled because he just couldn’t help himself, and picked up the little box. It was wrapped in bright pink wrapping paper, which made Phil coo. Slowly, Phil started to peel the paper back, holding his breath. When he was finished unwrapping it, he threw the paper in the trash and gazed at the little black box in his hand. With an excited nudge from Nico, he opened it, only to lose his breath.

“Holy,” he whispered, cutting himself off to swallow. It felt as though there was cotton wool stuck in his throat, like he needed to dislodge it but couldn’t. With shaking fingers, he pulled the locket out of the box and held it up. “This… this is gorgeous, Nico.”

And it was. The locket was one that looked like a book. On the cover, Nico had their names engraved in elegant script to make it seem as though they had a novel written about them. When Phil opened the book up, he found that Nico had put a picture of himself on one side and a picture of Phil on the other. It was something that Phil had never expected, but something he would be wearing every day from now on, something that made his heart ache with such a large amount of love that he felt as if it was going to overcome him.

Nico kissed the back of his neck, nuzzling his nose against his skin. “Do you like it?”

“I… I love it,” Phil murmured, twisting around in Nico’s arms so he could kiss him sweetly. Nico’s lips were soft and pliant against his own and he kissed Phil in such a way that made his head spin.

When they pulled away, Phil smiled as Nico put the necklace on him, his fingers brushing against his neck as he clasped the chain.

“There,” Nico said lightly, kissing Phil’s nose. “Now you can have me with you wherever you go. You’ll never be alone again, because I’ll always be watching over you.”

For a second, the words sent a thrill of terror and desire through Phil, an emotion he didn’t understand. Wasn’t that everything Phil had ever wanted? Yes, yes of course it was. Slowly, a smile started to work its way onto Phil’s features.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Phil admitted, knowing full well that he meant it. He would rather die than give Nico up at this point, even if that was a bit dramatic. It was just that nobody had ever made him feel so loved, so whole, and he would be an idiot if he ever let that go. “Happy anniversary. I’m sure we’ll have many more where that came from.” Nico nodded and his green eyes shown in the light of Phil’s apartment. “That we will, sweet pea, that we will”

Phil wasn’t sure why the words sounded like a threat, when he knew them to be nothing less than a promise… and yet they did.

Chapter Nine

[jooheonies]

Chalkboards And Kisses |2|

Character(s): Reader X Shownu

Genre: fluff

Warning(s): uhh theres side!kihyuk if thats a warning, and this is also just a nonsense drabble like there’s absolutely no plot i wrote it at 3 am so i barely remember what happened

Length: 2.5k

Summary: In which you break a few bones and Hyunwoo is there to take care of you.

You love your job.

You really do.

It’s great, working with kids, watching them grow from bumbling legs that can’t recite the alphabet to bumbling legs that can spell their names with no help.

It’s great.

What makes it a little less great is when a boy by the name of Lee Jooheon gets a little to excitable, a little too enthusiastic on the monkey bars. He swings his legs back and forth a bit, shifting his weight to swing himself up. Unfortunately, his chubby fingers slip on the sweaty metal and send him flying three feet into the air, crashing straight into your body.

Lee Jooheon ends up sitting on your torso, perfectly unscathed.

You, on the other hand, wind up with a sprained ankle and four broken fingers.

/

“I’m sorry!” Jooheon cries, his lower lip wobbling, little tears brimming at the corners of his eyes. “I didn’t mean for that to happen!”

You smile at him, a little resigned and tired. “It’s alright, sweetie. Maybe we should exercise our safety rules next time, huh?” Your legs rest on the bench in the nurse’s office as she binds your fingers together, wrapping bandages over the twitching digits.

He bounces a little on his toes and pouts, wringing his hands. “My mom said that if you make people hurt, it’ll come back to get you. Does this mean I’m going to get hurt, too?”

You wince a bit as the nurse wraps a bandage over your ankle, folding a pack of ice into the cloth. “No, Jooheon. It was an accident and luckily nothing too bad happ–”

You’re interrupted by three sets of flailing limbs bursting through the nurse's door, muffled grunts of pain as Minhyuk presses a hand against Kihyun’s face and Hyungwon steps on their feet.

“Heard you got hurt?”

“Are you alright?”

“Did you try to go down the slide again?”

“God, will you please grow up, you’re too big for that?”

Your brows furrow and you press your hand to your ears in frustration. “Would you all please shut up?”

Their mouth snap shut with an almost audible clack.

“It’s not a big deal–”

“Oh, please!” Hyungwon exclaims. “How is it not a big deal? You’re broken!”

A muffled wail comes from the space next to you, and when you turn around, Jooheon’s face is buried in his palms as he sobs.

You don’t get paid enough for this.

The principal approves two weeks off from work, because the ability to use a pencil is kind of important when you’re a kindergarten teacher.

Minhyuk and Kihyun insist on driving you home, a situation you do your best to get out of, but when Hyungwon proposes driving you home and staying over for two weeks to help you out, it definitely becomes the better option.

/

“So,” Minhyuk drawls as he brings the soda cup up to his lips, sucking noisily through the straw, “how’s lover boy?”

Your fingers come up to pinch the bridge of your nose in exasperation. “His name is Hyunwoo. We’ve been dating for five months, Minhyuk. You know his name.”

“Right. So like I was saying, how’s it going with lover boy?”

Kihyun groans from the kitchen and strides out in a pink apron, knife in one hand. “Stop prying, Lee Minhyuk.”

“No. Go away, ugly.”

Kihyun returns to the kitchen with an exaggerated sigh, his cheeks a little red.

That’s new. Kihyun usually argues with Minhyuk for a good ten minutes.

Minhyuk turns to you, ears red as he chews on his lower lip. “Hey,” he whispers, “can I ask you something?”

Your eyes narrow in suspicion. “What.”

“Okay so this weird but Khyun and I may or may not have gotten drunk two nights ago and we may or may not have made out and he may or may not look really cute in that apron. So I may or may not want a repeat of that night sometime soon. On a regular basis. With other things.” Minhyuk wrings his fingers as he talks, on foot on the floor as he props the other up on your sofa.

You blink. “You like him?”

“Or may not.”

This is new.

Your mouth opens, but before you can say anything, Kihyun comes back into the room, this time holding a pot of soup in his hands.

“Eat, my spawn.”

“And so the ugly returns,” Minhyuk drawls from where he’s splayed across your sofa.

Kihyun sniffs and turns to Minhyuk with a grimace. “I hope you choke on a carrot.”

/

“I still can’t believe a five year old is the reason you have broken fingers,” Hyunwoo sighs over the phone, the faint revving of his motorcycle drowning out some of his words.

“Look,” you snap, hobbling out of the kitchen, a glass of water in one hand, “I couldn’t help it! Jooheon was–”

“He cried about it today when he came over,” Hyunwoo laughs. “He said he broke his favorite teacher.”

You laugh a little, wincing when your fingers slip on the glass. “He’s cute.”

“I know he is,” Hyunwoo murmurs as the sound of his motorcycle dims to a faint hum before it completely cuts. “He was really worried, but then Changkyun took out his legos and he stopped crying.”

Before you can answer him, the lock from your front door clicks and the knob turns. Hyunwoo saunters in, helmet tucked under one arm, a tote bag in his other hand.

“Hey, babe,” he grins as he tucks his phone into his jeans. Hyunwoo’s arms come into view as he shrugs his jacket off, a tight white shirt clinging to his chest. Your mouth grows dry.

“H–hey,” you answer, somewhat distantly as you stare at his arms. Hyunwoo is so nice to look at.

“My mom made you food and packed five blankets and sent over all the movies we have and also pain medicine.”

Hyunwoo walks closer to drop the bag down on your coffee table pulling out each blanket to lay it over your frame.

“Hyunwoo, I don’t need this many blankets,” you try, the sound muffled as he continues layering the blankets over your body.

“No. Trust me. My mom is great. She knows what she’s doing,” he answers, pulling out container after container of food.

“How did you get all of that to fit in there?” You ask, eyes wide in wonder.

“I dunno,” he shrugs. “My mom packed it. She’s like, a genius.” Hyunwoo looks up and smiles at you. “I love my mom.”

He pulls out a container of rice bigger than your head.

“My mom said this’ll last you for at least the day.”

“That’ll last me a week.”

“You gotta eat it all today. This is why you get hurt so easy. Nobody should break bones over a five year old landing on them.”

“Hyunwoo–”

“Hey, honey,” Hyunwoo says, brows furrowed as he reads the back of a pink cough syrup bottle. “Okay so I have baby medicine here. I know you’re small but . . . would this work on you?”

A heavy sigh escapes your lips. “No, baby. God, don’t you get sick?”

Hyunwoo looks up at you, expressionless. “No. My mom takes good care of me.”

“Shut the fuck u–”

“Have you not cleaned?” He interrupts, looking around the room. “Why are there so many crumbs on the floor?”

“Minhyuk and Kihyun came over and they both threw cookies at each other.”

You cross your arms over your chest and lean back into the soft leather of your couch.

Hyunwoo rolls his eyes and sighs under his breath. “When are they going to admit their feelings for each other?”

“Wait–what?” You stutter, voice painted with disbelief and shock. “You knew?”

Hyunwoo looks back up at you with an incredulous expression. “Of course I knew. Everybody knows. Except you. You’re really oblivious sometimes, babe.”

“My whole life has been a lie.”

/

Hyunwoo, as it turns out, is actually really good at taking care of you. He makes sure you take your medicine every five hours, brings you all your meals, and cleans your house.

You conclude that Hyunwoo is perfect. You’ve known this for a while.

Minhyuk and Kihyun come by again the next day, this time with Hyungwon in tow.

“I come bearing gifts,” Hyungwon announces as he walks into the room, dropping a bag of McDonald's down at the foot of your bed.

“A gift that cost you three dollars,” snorts Kihyun, one hand on his hip. You don’t miss the way his other hand is wrapped around Minhyuk’s, fingers intertwining.

“Three dollars plus tax!” Hyungwon exclaims, voice stretched with mock hurt, as he lays a hand over his chest.

Hyunwoo shifts on the bed next to you, the covers pulled all the way up to his chin. “Babe, how did they get in here? It’s six in the morning.”

“‘Sup, lover boy. We all know the passcode to get in. We just wanted to make sure she was doing alright.”

One day Lee Minhyuk will stop being an annoying brat.

Today, unfortunately, is clearly not going to be one of those days.

“Are you two . . . decent under there?” Minhyuk asks, a glint of amusement in his eyes. “Did lover boy enjoy his time here?”

Hyunwoo rolls his eyes and throws off the covers, clad in only a pair of sweatpants.

“Oh my,” Hyungwon says, bringing a hand up to cover his mouth. “Scandalous.”

“Wow, ya’ll are really fuckin’ when she’s broken?” Kihyun mutters, his voice dubious. “Looks like we didn’t even need to show up.”

“Oh my god, Kihyun,” you cry, face beet red, “I was just–”

“She likes it when I sleep without a shirt,” Hyunwoo interrupts, shrugging. He doesn’t seem to realize that just makes you even more embarrassed. “I like it, too. I’m gonna go make breakfast now.”

And with that, he walks out of the room, whistling low under his breath.

Three pairs of eyes whip back to you, watching as you stretch your arms above your head, the blankets pooling around your waist.

Minhyuk is the first one to break the silence. “Is that–is that his shirt?”

Your ears burn, tugging your lower lip between your teeth. “. . . it smells like him.”

“This is disgusting,” Hyungwon announces, legs crossed almost daintily from where he’s perched in your armchair.

“Why did you guys just barge in here?”

“Well we didn’t expect you’d have your half-naked boyfriend in your bed,” Kihyun says, eyes rolling.

Your eyes narrow, lips pursing. “So, Kihyun, has your arm glued itself to Minhyuk’s waist?”

He snatches his hand away from Minhyuk’s waist so quickly he nearly smacks himself in the face.

“He’s short,” Minhyuk says, a smirk gracing his lips. “He’s just trying to hold onto someone tall enough so he doesn’t get lost.”

“I’m not that short!”

“You’re really short.”

“No!”

“Yeah.”

“. . . okay, yeah I’m kind of short. I know I’m short.” Kihyun bites his lip, stifling the smile that threatens to split his face in half.

“God, is this how you two flirt now?” Hyungwon interrupts, disgust clear on his face.

“Shut up and call me when you finally grow a pair and ask out Bona,” Kihyun snaps.

“Shut up, shrimp,” Hyungwon bites back, lips curled over his teeth.

Minhyuk’s eyebrows snap together in a near audible click. “Don’t call him a shrimp!”

“You just called him short!” Hyungwon exclaims, gesticulating wildly with his hands.

“Only I can call him short. Not you.”

“Wait guys,” you mumble, the words coming out of your mouth slowly, dripping with confusion. “Bona? Like the music teacher? Hyungwon likes the music teacher?”

Minhyuk looks at you, nose wrinkled. “Yeah. Everybody knows.”

“Seriously?”

A low voice wafts by from the door, laced with amusement. “Babe. Everybody knows.”

When you turn your head, you find Hyunwoo leaning against the doorframe, a lazy smirk painted across his face, hands crossed over his chest. Even though you’d like to be annoyed that nobody told you, Hyunwoo’s bare chest and the sweatpants slung low on his hips have you forgetting the irritated words on the tip of your tongue.

“God, is she drooling?” Hyungwon murmurs, voice reeking of distaste.

“Get out.”

/

Breakfast is pancakes and coffee with Hyunwoo, admiring the way his back muscles move as he washes the dishes, cooing when he lifts you up in his arms and drops you onto the sofa.

“Sit. Stay.”

He moves around your living room, cleaning and wiping down the furniture, mumbling something about messy friends under his breath, a slight furrow in his brows.

It’s adorable, really, watching him put so much effort into trivial things, but Hyunwoo has always been like that. Always put his everything into whatever he does, be it school or even cleaning your house. His shoulders roll back as he sighs, fingers scratching over his bare chest as he looks around the room, grimacing at the carpet.

“Why do they always throw cookies at each other when they come here?”

You shrug, lips pursing into a pout. “Dunno. But this time when Kihyun threw the cookie too hard and it hit Minhyuk’s eye, he kissed it better.”

Hyunwoo’s face breaks into a smile, a low giggle slipping past his lips. “It’s cute that they finally got together.”

“If by cute you mean disgusting.”

He pulls the vacuum out from the closet and plugs it in, lips puckered as he vacuums. Hyunwoo looks damn good like this, you realize, shirtless, sweatpants hanging low, a trail of hair passing down his bellybutton. You bite down on your lower lip, head tilting to the side as he swivels the vacuum closer to the couch.

“Babe,” he says, jutting his chin to the side. “Move.”

Your arms automatically raise in the air, smiling at Hyunwoo. He sighs and steps forward, turning around as you wrap your hands over his shoulders, palms digging into thick biceps. Your legs curl over his waist, giggling as he hoists you up onto his back.

The muscles tense under your palms as he shifts, pulling the vacuum closer with one hand, the other pushing the couch up into the air. His fingers wrap loosely around the arm of the couch, muscles stiff as he vacuums underneath and you revel in the way Hyunwoo makes you feel so utterly safe.

“Babe,” he hums, as pushes the couch up higher, voice barely audible over the loud whirring, “Hyungwon mentioned he was going to bring take out but I don’t know when he’s comin–”

The front door chimes, lock clicking as it pushes open, interrupting Hyunwoo mid sentence.

Hyungwon saunters in, two plastic bags in his hands, and freezes at your doorstep. His face twists into a grimace, lip curling as he takes in Hyunwoo’s shirtless frame, your body draped over his back, the couch pushed up into the air with one hand, and the vacuum still noisily whirring.

“Disgusting,” he scoffs before turning on his heel and walking right back out the door.

/

“So,” Minhyuk drawls, munching noisily on a fry he pulls off of your plate, “Hyungwon tells me you and lover boy got real nice and cozy last week.”

Hyungwon scowls, eyebrows furrowed. “God, don’t remind me. She really does like it when he’s shirtless. I was appalled when I walked into the room and saw her hanging off his back . . . like some fucking growth.”

“She was hanging on his back?” Kihyun asks, eyebrows raised as he turns to Minhyuk. “Why don’t you ever carry me on your back.”

“Because,” Minhyuk replies, shoving three fries into his mouth, “you’re ugly and I don’t .”

“Yeah? Well you have a small dick and it’s not getting anywhere near my ass tonight.”

Minhyuk’s eyes fly open, hands raising up in defense. “Whoa there, baby, let’s not get carried away.”

Hyungwon rolls his eyes as he takes a sip of his water. “You guys are so–”

“Shut up,” Kihyun snaps, his upper lip ticking at the corner. “You haven’t even asked out Bona.”

“Fuck off, shrimp.”

“I told you to stop calling him shrimp! Only I can do that!”

A groan escapes your lips as you bring your fingertips up to massage your temples.

You love your job, you really do, but also you hate your job.

A/N: sorry ive been so inactive w writing but liek,,,i cant think of any plots for some reason dfhkdjhf this is Rough but i cant bring myself to edit rn im sorry

Masterlist

[mayamatiln]

can u please talk about your love for Johnny DiMarco? gush about it bc me too

sorry it took me so long to answer this. I’ve tried to come up with a coherent way to describe my love for him but I’m not sure this will do it justice but I’ll try. 

Long story short: CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. Not only that but it was subtle character development shown through his interactions as a supporting character. It’s what skyrocketed him to becoming my favorite character because if you didn’t watch him closely you would never pick up on how much he was changing with every new episode he was in. Let me analyze a bit:

Season 6 - He is introduced as just another bully from Lakehurst and honestly I didn’t really notice him until Rock This Town when he was there and watched Drake stab JT. Obviously my initial reaction was to hate both of them so much, just like the other characters on the show did. Especially after he watched it happen then immediately ran away. BUT after watching the episode for the billionth time a crazy thought popped into my head: “Imagine what Johnny is going through in his head.” I mean it was clear by the look on his face that what Drake did was completely not okay with him and he was clearly traumatized by watching it. I realized that he ran away (which was the wrong thing to do) because he panicked and got scared like any 16/17 year old kid would. The show completely skipped over the fact that he was probably heavily interrogated by the cops for possibly being an accessory to murder but I was immediately intrigued by what is possibly going on in this boys head.

Season 7 - When first see Johnny this season he is up to his old bullying ways and in my head I was like “really this kid goes through watching a guy he was bullying die and he just keeps on picking on people like it didnt affect him at all?” But then we get that scene where Toby confronts Johnny about how he watched Drake kill JT and you can clearly see Johnny deflecting and trying to shut it out and forget that it ever happened. To me it was so clear that Johnny was going through some really dark things and the only way he knew how to cope with it was by doing what he usually does and taking it out on other people. He keeps doing this until we get to Bust A Move where we see that Johnny is attending the Red Pines camp along with Darcy. If you weren’t really looking for it you would completely miss him being there but at the beginning of one scene we hear him talking to the group about exactly what I had suspected that he had been going through. He talks about how since JT died he has sorta been off the rails and he keeps asking himself why does he have to be such a jerk. This moment confirmed to me what a complex and layered and extremely human character Johnny was even though he was only a background character. It was the pivotal moment that cemented him as one of my favorite characters. 

Season 8 - These were the seasons where we finally began to chip away at the tough guy exterior and see the real Johnny that he was hiding underneath all because of Alli. Although we only ever saw that relationship from her point of view as a way to tell the stereotypical “young girl gets with older guy and realizes she isn’t as mature as she thinks plot” it was still very clear that the relationship meant a lot to the both of them which wasn’t stereotypical at all. From Alli’s point of view we see her chasing after him but it’s also made very clear that he really does like her just as much (if not more) than she liked him but he was initially too much of a coward to admit it. What was so important about this relationship though is that Alli was the first person, other than Bruce (which doesn’t count), who ever sought him out and genuinely liked him and wanted to get to know him. She was never afraid of him like everyone else was and she was persistent which is exactly what he needed. Like he says in Heart of Glass, she wasn’t just some hook up for him, he genuinely liked her as a person because she took the time to pay attention to him and notice that he is actually kind of a nerd. He likes books and literature and he cares about making sure she gets home on time and buys her a flower when he hopes that she never finds out that he’s the one who sent it and he buys her a heartshaped necklace because he’s never been in a relationship before and he doesnt know what he’s doing. She brought him out of his shell and taught him that he is so much more than a bully and that people outside of his small friend group can genuinely like him. I also want to note how when he lies about her being his first time too, like yes it was bad to lie, but from his point of view he finally found someone who genuinely likes him for who he is and he is terrified of hurting her and her leaving him. Yet again we see Johnny making a big mistake but still it is understandable and realistic because he is in fact a teenage boy.

Season 9 - We start off the season with Johnny making possibly one of the biggest mistakes he has ever made (well at least to me). Him sending Alli’s nudes to Bruce because he was mad that she posted a silly picture of him being HIMSELF was so childish and immature and disgusting. That being said it was completely in character and necessary for his character to hit this low point when things were finally looking up for him. When thing’s don’t go Johnny’s way he has always been known to act out cruelly to those around him and sink deeper into his tight friendship with Bruce who he knows would never leave him. He gets upset and reverts into his old habits and thus loses Alli in the process which is probably the biggest reality check he has ever gotten. Then to top it all off he finds out he has genital warts which seals the deal that he has lost the one person who genuinely liked him and cared about him as a person. He initially reacts just like he always has and returns to picking on others as a way to cope. Then as we get to the episode Why Can’t This Be Love we have another turning point. First I must point out that the part 1 of this episode is one of my favorites because it is the only episode where Johnny has an entire plot from his point of view. In it we see him asking Alli to prom because he clearly still has feelings for her and she immediately turns him down. He tried to rebound and fails miserably because when it comes to talking to girls let’s just say he is a total goof who has clearly lost his touch over the past year with Alli. At prom he sees Alli flirting with Dave at prom and he picks on them out of jealousy, by the end of the episode Johnny watches Alli move on with her life and knows that it is over for good. BUT this is the moment that Johnny also decides to turn his life around. From this moment on we never see him bully or threaten anyone else. He took what Alli taught him and he used it to become a better person and really believe in himself. And to top it all off we get a glimpse that he graduated with honors. I’m so proud of my smart boy!!

Season 10 - We only see Johnny in one episode this season but BOY IS IT A GOOD ONE. I remember when the first promo for Hide and Seek Part 1 came out and you have that moment where we see Sav knocking on the door and then Johnny answered. Let me tell you that I completely lost it. I had come to terms that I’d never seen Johnny or another Bhandarco scene again and it was literally the best blessing ever. Anyway, we see Johnny in college and his amazing slowburn character development arc is finally complete. Seeing Johnny with his life together and being happy and involved in school activities is so important. Him giving Alli advice to get through her hardships was such a beautiful parallel to how she helped him get through his whether she knew it or not. And to top it all off he ended his journey by bringing it all back to the beginning and talking about JT. He mentioned his relationship with his parents and how much of a hard time he had after he watched his best friend kill the completely innocent and harmless JT. Seeing him express how much it truly messed him up was so important especially since he never got the solo plots to tell his side of the story. I still cry when I watch that episode just because I am so proud of the man he has become. Seeing him in this episode also taught that when you go to college you have a change to completely reinvent yourself and let go of any reputations that may proceed you. Also it was a neat way to show that even the terrible people you may have once hated can change for the better and that not everyone’s redemption arc reaches it’s peak once they graduate high school because realistically their lives are just beginning.

Johnny DiMarco managed to witness a trauma just as mind altering as Emma, Toby, and Sean did after Time Stands Still. The only difference is that Johnny never got to have his trauma told from his point of view. He is so underrated because yes on the surface he has done horrible things but in context all of it is completely reasonable and realistic based on the things he has been though. Not only that but he never had one single life changing moment where he realized “yeah I’m over my trauma now I can stop acting this way” much like many characters do when they deal with their trauma during the plot of a single episode. All of Johnny’s recovery was a slow burn over the seasons. With each season he grew more and more mature and he managed to do it all with only ONE plot that centered around him, which was basically a filler plot and nothing really happened. I get hurt when people hate on Johnny because it shows that they really haven’t been paying enough attention to him at all and they aren’t thinking and watching the show knowing that all of the characters are human and incredibly realistic. But unlike many other characters, Johnny never got the proper screen time. 

I like to think that after college Johnny became an English teacher. The cool and rough around the edges kind of English teacher that literally changes the lives of all the kids he teaches. Not only is he passionate about literature, he has the life experience to deal with troubled kids and would easily be able to relate to them and help them through life. Maybe someday he reunites with Alli. Unlike the last time they saw each other they are now both mature and a lot more down to earth. But regardless, I’m so beyond pleased with how Johnny was last seen on the show. They brought his character to an excellent close and did as much justice to him as they could. So all of this is why I love Johnny DiMarco and he is my favorite character that Degrassi has ever had. He had such an underrated and under utilized arc but still he managed to steal my heart. 

[eddiebrock]

harry potter!!!!

YOU ARE THE BEST, THANK U

Top 5 favourite characters: Ginny Weasley, Hermione Granger, Lily (Evans) Potter, Sirius Black, Harry Potter, Minerva McGonagall (that’s six but fuck it)Other characters you like: Dorcas freaking Meadowes (who is actually a favorite but since she’s literally only mentioned once I felt weird putting her in the Top 5 but I want all of u to know that I would die for Doe), James FREAKING Potter, Hagrid, Luna Lovegood, Remus Lupin, Newt Scamander, Tina Goldstein, Narcissa Malfoy, Alice Longbottom, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and the Weasley TwinsLeast favourite characters: Umbridge, Snape, fucking Vernon & Petunia, Dudley, Otps: JILY, Hinny, Tedromeda!!!!!!!, Newt/Tina, Dorcas/Reginald (the rarest of all rarepairs lmao), Fralice, Jacob/QueenieNotps: please don’t send me any anon hate for this lmao i can’t deal, Dra*mione, Dra*rry, Wolf*star (I HAVE MY REASONS), SNILY, apparently snamione and snarry are a thing???? so that’s fucking gross, Regulus/Sirius, CarrowcestFavourite friendships: Ron and Harry, Harry and Hermione, Ginny and Hermione!!!!!!!!!!, Luna and Ginny, James and Sirius, Lily and Remus, Newt and Jacob, Dorcas and Mary, Dorcas and Alice, Ginny and Neville, Neville and Luna, Kingsley and Remus, and like way 2 many more

Favourite family: The Potters and the Weasleys!!!Favourite episodes moment: ‘Humph,’ snorted Professor McGonagall. ‘It’s high time your grandmother learned to be proud of the grandson she’s got, rather than the one she thinks she ought to have – particularly after what happened at the Ministry.’Favourite season/book/movie: I think the third book was probably my favorite book, but Deathly Hallows Pt. 2 my favorite movie (despite some stupid shit that happened)Favourite quotes: i have way, way, WAY too many favorite quotes to list them all, so i’m just gonna put down my favorite under-appreciated quote because i’ve never seen anyone talk about it, but in the cursed child when draco is like “mY sOn Is MiSsInG” and ginny fucking potter gets up in his face and screams “SO IS MINE” and i just???? ugh, man. S O    I S    M I N E. ginny is the bestBest musical moment: Dumbledore’s Farewell & S T A T U E S are two of the most powerful music moments in the entire franchise, sue me, and the only reason i say statues and not Courtyard Apocalypse is because of the absolute masterful cinematography that went along with the song Statues and how the sound was really MADE for that moment, i will fight everyone on thisMoment that made you fangirl/boy the hardest: returning back to statues scene because honestly, ‘Hogwarts is threatened!’ shouted Professor McGonagall. ‘Man the boundaries, protect us, do your duty to our school!’ gets me EVERY TIMEWhen it really disappointed you: not a single canonical bisexual Saddest moment: “Does it hurt?“ The childish question had escaped Harry’s lips before he could stop it. “Dying? Not at all,” said Sirius. “Quicker and easier than falling asleep.” / harry listening to his own parents die during the cursed child Most well done character death: fuck dude, definitely fred’s because till my dying fucking day i will never forget the phrase “the ghost of his last laugh still etched upon his face”Favourite guest star: Dorcas Meadowes counts as a guest star because she’s only mentioned one (1) time and I literally named my dog after herFavourite cast member: Emma Watson (but also Daniel Radcliffe)Character you wish was still alive: Sirius Black One thing you hope really happens: I want Seraphina Piquery to get 100000x more screentime, she is a badass bitch and I could really use some woc American presidentst in my life, also make her BISEXUALMost shocking twist: honestly, snape killing dumbledore. like i know that’s a big joke now like SNAPE KILLS DUMBLEDORE, but man, i remember reading it and just about shitting myself because i could not fucking believe it. also the whole “the elder wanda ctually belonged to draco but then i disarmed draco so it belonged to me but voldemort thought it belonged to snape so,” was WILDWhen did you start watching/reading?: a little over 10 yrs ago or somethingBest animal/creature: B O W T R U C K L E SFavourite location: godric’s hollow, and it’s because of the way it was staged for the cursed child (i talk more about it later on in this massive meme answer lol)Trope you wish they would stop using: it’s not a trope but i’m gonna harp on this again, there is not a single canon bisexual One thing this show/book/film does better than others: fucks up my entire world in less than a second. but in all seriousness, this whole franchise has such a way of touching that piece of nostalgia, and family and love and all these wonderful things that make me and many others feel so warm and safe. it has such an important and underlying positive message to it and i really just don’t think anything else in the world has touched so many people in such a massive and important way like harry potter has. plus, according to an actual scientific study, people who have read harry potter tend to be better human beings, so there’s that, tooFunniest moments: “There’s no need to call me sir, professor.” / “Have a biscuit, Potter.”Couple you would like to see: Newt and Tina!!! Seraphina and another woman!!!!!!Actor/Actress you want to join the cast: Imogen Poots!!!!!!!!!! but that has a 0% chance of happening, so Maisie Williams and Natalie DormerFavourite outfit: seraphina’s crazy cool outfits and hermione’s sweater in the woods in deathly hallows pt. 1 (but in the books, hermione’s perriwinkle yule ball gown)Favourite item: the invisibility cloak for sure, but also harry’s glassesDo you own anything related to this show/book/film?: the sheer audacity of this question…….. the ability to even list it all is……….. unfathomableWhat house/team/group/friendship group/family/race etc would you be in?: GRYFFINDORMost boring plotline: the entire lavender/ron stint Most laughably bad moment: voldemort trying to hug draco lolBest flashback/flashfoward if any: it’s not really a flashback, but in the cursed child, when they go back in time to the night james and lily died, i can’t remember if the script talked about this but on stage, lily (WHO WAS APPROPRIATELY AGED) took baby harry in a stroller out of the house and there were pumpkins and all sorts of cute halloween decorations all around, and it was peaceful and quiet and when they got out the door she was cooing and talking to harry and making all these cute funny faces at him, and i literally could not keep it together. shortly thereafter, when harry’s gone back in time too, on stage they’re all standing there as voldemort walks off the stage and harry’s forced to listen to his parents die. i’ve never wept so much in my entire life. it was so good. Most layered character: i think narcissa malfoy, probably, if not albus dumbledore, who isn’t the most popular character around but face it, the guy’s got layersMost one dimensional character: umbridge, her only dimension is Evil and i’m ok with it staying that wayScariest moment: fucking basiliskGrossest moment: fucking aragogBest looking male: percival graves probably lmao colin farrell is fine as fuckBest looking female: obviously hermione grangerWho you’re crushing on (if any): i always have a crush on ginny and hermioneFavourite cast moment: that time when they’re wrapping up the final movie, and they’re watching this memories video while they were all still in costume, and emma started crying and daniel hugged her and it was just the cutest thing i’ve ever seen and i still cry, also all of them crying and hugging jk rowling at the premiere of dhp2Favourite transportation: definitely broomsticksMost beautiful scene (scenery/shot wise): deathly hallows part 2 where they’re putting up the protective spells over hogwarts, and it’s got all the colours in that enormous shield and it just brings tears to my eyesUnanswered question/continuity issue/plot error that bugs you: WHY ARE JAMES AND LILY PORTRAYED BY REASONABLY PARENTAL-AGED PEOPLE??? THEY DIED WHEN THEY WERE 21 AND EVERYONE DESERVESTO KNOW HOW FUCKING SAD THAT IS, also what the fuck happened to the real percival graves??? is he dead??? do i get to see colin farrell come back as a good guy at any point????Best promo: i will never forget the day that the audio from the SDCC trailer for deathly hallows part 1 came out, and all you could hear was kingsley shacklebolt saying “the ministry has fallen. the minister of magic is dead. they are coming.” and i just remember sitting at my old desk and whispering “oh my god!!!!! oh my god!!!!!!” and playing the audio over and over again and that was like. magicalAt what point did you fall in love with this show/book: “Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.”

[gyakutengagotoku]

GSvsAA - Dual Destinies - Character Profiles

In line with the AJ one, here’s the next in the line up. Check the master post more more of the GSvsAA translation project.

It’s worth noting that while Mr. Takumi is known to have some very obvious or random inspirations for his name puns, there are times when it’s tricky to figure out because of his choice of punny origins. Meanwhile, Mr. Yamazaki & co. tend to follow suit with the obvious, but their puns are often very straightforward and easy to deduce. Sometimes, a name has multiple layers of puns and chances are good that plenty of those puns make their way into the character’s design.

I don’t think it’s lazy design, since simplifying a character’s role in a plot means more care can be taken for the actual mystery, but sometimes it leaves something about the character to be desired. Then again, there are plenty of characters from the first four games in the series that aren’t so memorable.

I’m just obsessed with this series so I know them all. Ha.

Edit: SoJ profiles posted.

Spoilers below.

Main cast

Athena Cykes - Kidzuki Kokone (希月 心音) kidzuki means “awareness” (kinda following how Trucy is named Minuki) and the second kanji in her surname is “moon”. The kanji in her given name, when pronounced shin’on, means “heartbeat”. It can also be translated literally as “heart sound” to refer to her ability to hear people’s voices of their hearts.

Simon Blackquill - Yuugami Jin (夕神 迅) yugami means “distortion” or “twist”, referring to his epithet, “The Twisted Samurai”. The kanji form a phrase meaning “god of dusk”. jin, written as 刃, is “blade”; while the kanji in his name means “swift”. It’s analogous to Edgeworth’s name, Mitsurugi, which is the name of a noble blade of legend. Trivia: He refers to the chief in person using the term danna, a title reserved for Lords and noblemen back during the days of samurai. Since this couldn’t be replicated in English without sounding drastically out of place, it’s been tamed down to a plain “sir”. (Imo, he could very well have gone with “sire” and it’d be just the right amount of tradition and respect, but I guess it doesn’t quite sound Japanese enough.) Incidentally, Taka is Gin, which can mean “silver”, or possibly like the English word (but it’s pronounced with a hard G).

Bobby Fulbright - Ban Gouzou (番 轟三) The ban in his name may refer to a “guard”, though being written as 万 means “many”. Combined with his first name, which consists of “booming” and “three” (like in “two’s company, three’s a crowd”), you get a whole lot of bombastic in one guy. Trivia: His catchphrase is shouting “JUSTICE!!!” in English at the top of his lungs and laughing triumphantly. Imo, the localization's “In Justice We Trust!” has a certain nuance to it that really makes it pop when you realize just who he is, though.

Yep, that’s it. That’s the game. These three right here.

Episode 1

Gaspen Payne - Auchi Fumitake (亜内 文武) “Auchi” is simply “ouch”. His first name is the same as his brother’s but flipped. fumi (文) is “literature”; take (武) is “martial”. I suppose both of them are warriors of words, but I really think their parents the devs just ran out of ideas.

Juniper Woods - Morizumi Shinobu (森澄 しのぶ) mori (森) is “forest” or “woods”; shinobu means “to hide”. Meanwhile, the kanji for zumi (澄) used in the verb sumasu becomes “to look prim” or “to listen carefully”. These two definitions better relate to her from Episode 3, though. Trivia: In the Japanese version of this episode, the crime scene shows in English letters: “S I N O B U”. Since Japanese is typed using romaji, し can be either shi or si. Either way, it’s still pronounced the same. If it weren’t obvious enough from the intro, this spelling would have easily given away the real killer.

Ted Tonate - Barashima Shingo (馬等島 晋吾) barasu can mean a few things: “to expose”, “to take apart”, or “to kill”. He already covers the latter two in the first case, but the first definition doesn’t quite play in until the last one. The last syllable of his first name ties into his first name to make mashingo, or “machine language”; hence the keyboard.

Candice Arme - Kaku Hozumi (賀来 ほずみ) Her full name can be written as 確保済み, meaning “in custody”. kaku may refer to “square”/”cube”; probably referring to how she’s been hit. Her surname and the first syllable of her first name make kakuho, or “guarantee”, which seems to play into her English name.

Edit: Well, I totally screwed up this entry. My bad.

Episode 2

Jinxie Tenma - Tenma Yumemi (天馬 ゆめみ) Her surname as written here refers to the “heavenly horse” Pegasus. yumemiru means “to dream”. More on Tenma below.

Damian Tenma - Tenma Deemon (天馬 出右衛門) His first name comes from “demon”. Tenma, which is also the name of the village, is written as 天魔. It refers to the yokai of the Buddhist sixth heaven in the realm of desire who haunts people and deceives them into avoiding good. According to legend, Tenma tried (and ultimately failed) to lure the young Siddhartha away from enlightenment with earthly desires. Tenma Taro from this game is based on this Tenma. In Japanese folklore, he's described to have a bird-like appearance, hence we have jangly-cackling-bird-demon. 

The Great Nine-Tails - Great Kyuubi (グレート 九尾) He’s based on the Nine-tailed fox of Japanese legend, a yokai of immense power and influence and sometimes disastrous consequences. You know the one.

Rex Kyubi - Kyuubi Ginji (九尾 銀次) His last name is the same as the Nine-Tails. The gin (銀) in his name refers to his silver hair and to the Nine-tailed fox of legend, which is often portrayed as silver. ginjiru also means “to chant” or “to recite”.

Phineas Filch - Zeniarai Kumabee (銭洗 熊兵衛) zeni, as written above, is “money”. (This is what Capcom’s fictional currency zenny is based on.) His last name is a reference to the azukiarai, “The Bean Washer”, a yokai who resembles a small boy that keeps people up at night with the sound of washing beans. Filch here claims that he’s the grandson of an infamous thief who once kept people up by the sounds of his money-washing. His first name is made of bears: kuma (熊) and “bear”; yet he’s frequently called a tanuki instead, especially for his swindling ways.

Edit: Got that the other way around.

Florent L’Belle - Biyouin Shuuichi (���葉院 秀一) biyouin is “beauty parlor” and shuuichinichi is “once a week”. The kanji in his first name come to “excellence” and “[number] one”.

Episode 3

Aristotle Means - Ichiro Shinji (一路 真二) The kanji in his name together mean “one road, two truths”. ichiro, with the same kanji, means “straight” or “directly”, and shinjiru means “to believe”.

Constance Courte - Michiba Masayo (道葉 正世) michibata is “roadside” and masa (正) is “right” or “just”, to parallel Means’ name above.

Hugh O’Conner - Shizuya Rei (静矢 零) His name is most likely picked for the convenience of the recording that’s played during trial. In Japanese, the muffled recording sounds like it’s saying “Koroshite yare!”, which is Japanese for “I’ll kill you!” Thanks to Athena’s efforts, she reveals it’s actually supposed to say “Kora! Shizuya Rei!”, or a scolding “Hey! Shizuya Rei!” The kanji of his last name are “quiet” and “arrow”. His first name can also mean “zero”.

Edit: This one I made a mistake due to mistaken memory. It’s actually kinda hard to make out the te sound in the recording, so I assumed it was excluded.

Robin Newman - Atsui Chishio (厚井 知潮) atsui is “hot”; it can also mean “hot-tempered” or “passionate”. chishio is “blood circulation”, usually referring to hot-headedness. It also doubles over as a gender-ambiguous name.

Myriam Scuttlebutt - Uwasa Atsume (宇和佐 集芽) uwasa is “rumor” and atsumeru is “to gather”; thus, her full name comes to “gather gossip”. Trivia: Producer Eshiro is a huge MGS fan; hence Myriam’s M.O. of traveling under the cover of a box.

Episode 4-5

Solomon Starbuck - Hoshinari Taiyou (星成 太陽) His name comes from the phrase “hoshi ni naritai yo”, which means “I wish to become a star”. taiyou, as written above, means “sun”.

Clay Terran - Aoi Daichi (葵 大地) aoi is the color “blue”. daichi is “ground” or “earth”; also refers to the planet itself. His relative calm and the color blue was chosen specifically to pair with Apollo’s bright and passionate red. (In fact, it may very well have been the localization’s choice to name Odoroki as Apollo that led to the development of this game’s space theme. I don’t remember if it was mentioned in an interview or not, but I’m sure it played some role.)

Yuri Cosmos - Oogawara Uchuu (大河原 有忠) His last name means “bank of the great river”, which is a reference to the Milky Way. It’s known as “The Great River” in several cultures, including Japanese. uchuu, written as 宇宙, means “space” or “universe”.

Aura Blackquill - Yuugami Kaguya (夕神 かぐや) Kaguya is a reference to a famous Japanese folktale from the 10th century, Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. The main character’s name is Kaguya-hime, or Princess Kaguya, who was one of a mysterious people living on the Moon but was sent down to Earth and raised by an old bamboo cutter. I’m not too sure if this tale inspired her English name, but when Princess Kaguya was discovered as a baby, she was described to be the size of a thumb and glowing with brilliant light. The Moon people were weird. (I can also draw the parallel to Simon’s Taka, since Aura may come from the Latin root aurum for “gold”.)

Ponco & Clonco - Ponko & Ponta (ポンコ＆ポンタ) ko and ta are common endings to boys’ and girls’ names, respectively. Aura also likes to call Clonco “Ponkotsu”, referring both to how he’s basically “Ponco #2″ and ponkotsu, “junk”.

Metis Cykes - Kidzuki Mari (希月 真理) Her first name can also be pronounced shinri, meaning “truth”. In turn, shinri, when written as 心理, means “psychology”.

DLC Episode

Sasha Buckler - Umino Shouko (羽美野 翔子) umi is “sea”, and shouko, written as 証拠, is “evidence”. Thus, her full name becomes “evidence from the sea”. The first kanji in both first and last name have to do with “feathers” and “flight”. She’s quite a flighty personality for sure.

Ora "Orla" Shipley - Arafune Elle / Ale (荒船エル / エール) Her last name is made of the kanji for “wild” and “ship”. Her name is Ale, as a shortened form of “whale”, but it doubles as the alcoholic drink too. Actually, it triples as “air”, to complement her trainer. Her supposed real name is actually her sister’s name, and it seems it was just picked to sound similar.

Jack Shipley - Arafune Ryouji (荒船 良治) ryouji as 療治 means “treatment”/“cure”, possibly referring to how he saved two precious orcas and returned them to health.

Norma DePlume - Uratori Reika (浦鳥 麗華) uratori refers to “gathering evidence” as for a news story. reika as 冷夏 becomes “cool summer”. It can even be written as 零下 to mean "sub-zero". She’s quite the contrast to the rest of the sunny crew.

Edit: Note to self: simplify.

Marlon Rimes - Itsuka Ikuya (伊塚 育也) itsuka means “someday”; the kanji iku (育) means “raise”, as in pets or children. In other words, he’ll “become a real trainer someday”. His name may have been chosen for its easy rhyme as well.

Rifle (ライフル) She was named for her dangerous temper, and probably as a shout-out to Mr. Takumi’s naming of Missile. Her daughter Sniper also keeps the same name.

Herman Crab - Sugomori Gaku (巣古森 学) His last name may be referring to su-komori, or “nest-babysitter”, since he keeps li’l Sniper up there. Even the first kanji in his last name is the right one for “nest”. gaku as above is “learning” or “study of” a subject.

Azura Summers - Natsukaze Suzumi (夏風 邪涼海) natsukaze means “a summer cold”, but it can also literally mean “summer wind”. It was picked probably as a stark contrast to Norma’s Japanese name. suzumi is “cooling off”, like outdoors in the breeze.