#also. as per usual do NOT feel like you need to match.......we know what happens when we match lengths.....

[gloomwitchwrites]

Missed Hints

King Thorin Oakenshield x Female Reader

Content & Warnings (per the warnings MDNI): fluff, light angst, humor, pregnancy, suggestive themes, fade to black, established relationship

Word Count: 1.8k

With the pregnancy confirmed, you decide to drop little hints until Thorin makes the connections.

A/N: for @protosslady

ao3 // taglist // main masterlist

“You’re pregnant, your majesty.”

Those two little words are enough to make time freeze. You are cold, a bit hesitant, and completely unbelieving of what you’re hearing.

“Are you sure?” you ask slowly, needing to know if you’ve heard her correctly.

The midwife, Lena, smiles broadly. “As sure as the sun rises in the morning. I’ve been doing this for close to thirty summers now. Rarely am I ever wrong.”

Lena’s assistant, Petal, matches Lena’s smile with one of her own. It is radiant and sunny, a stark difference from your sudden anxiousness. “This is wonderful news,” she exclaims. “King Thorin will be so pleased.”

“Indeed,” agrees Lena. “And so will the people when it’s formally announced.”

Both women sigh at the same time, but you are not nearly as excited as they are.

You and Thorin did try for a child many times in the beginning of your marriage. It was enthusiastic—and constant—but nothing ever came of it. While it bothered you, Thorin never seemed to care. He told you that all he wanted was you and that anything else was a bonus.

That is still true. Thorin loves you.

But Thorin is being pulled in a different direction. Erebor needs attention, and Thorin throws himself into service attempting to tackle every obstacle and difficulty on his own. Most nights, he comes to bed late—usually when you’re already asleep. When you wake, he is usually gone, off to take care of his abundant duties. They are piling up, becoming a burden. Thorin does too much, and while you admire him for his dedication, you miss him.

To know that you’re pregnant is a surprise. It’s not that you and Thorin haven’t been intimate, it’s just that it hasn’t been nearly as frequent as in the past. While Thorin is gone, you have your own duties and responsibilities. When the two of you do have quiet time together, intimacy is brief but passionate and almost always followed by the two of you falling asleep in each other’s arms.

“How far along?” you ask, trying to place exactly when it might have taken.

When your cycle never came, you didn’t think much of it. That happens sometimes. But then didn’t occur during the next expected timeframe. With its absence came irritability and random bouts of sudden crying you couldn’t explain. Certain foods smelt odd, and while you weren’t emptying the contents of your stomach, constant nausea made it difficult to complete daily tasks. You knew then that something was different. And now the midwife has confirmed it.

But even with an answer, you’re not sure how you feel.

“I’d place you at about ten weeks. Perhaps eleven,” answers Lena with a slight shrug of her shoulders.

“That far?” you squeak, wincing immediately with how upset you sound.

Lena and Petal’s smiles start to diminish. Their enthusiasm melts away, replaced with furrowed brows and soft lines of concern.

“Is everything all right? You look a bit faint?” Lena places her hand on your shoulder.

“Yes,” you reply, though it sounds like you’re gasping for air. “Surprised is all.”

Their smiles return but it’s subdued.

This is supposed to be a happy occasion. A child means an heir, and it also gives the people hope for the future. Much of Erebor is still in pieces from Smaug’s habitation. That doesn’t even begin to include all the damage and death from the battle. Dale, which was once abandoned and forgotten, is starting to see life again as well. The races of Men are returning to it, hoping to rekindle its long-extinguished flame.

A royal child is a symbol of hope. It’s a moment of celebration for everyone.

“I think a bit of rest for the remainder of the day will do you some good,” says Lena softly. “We will prepare some ointments that you can use to relieve any aches or pains. Bloating is likely, and as the body makes room for the little one, you’ll have some discomfort.” Lena taps her bottom lip and then turns to Petal. “We’ll need to prepare some liquid supplements to take with meals.”

“Of course,” nods Petal. She begins packing up their supplies.

Lena squeezes your shoulder before letting go. “I’ll come check on you in a few days. Bring a few things with me. We’ll talk more then, preferably with the father present.”

“Yes,” you reply, absently rubbing your belly. “That would be best.”

The two women bow and depart quickly, leaving you alone in the royal bedchambers. The room is quiet and your breathing sounds too loud in such a large space. With hands clasped, you twist them over and over again in agitation, needing to move but unsure of how to quell the anxiousness. It’s stubborn like the deep roots of a tree that refuse to give up the dirt.

How are you to tell Thorin? How do you approach this when you rarely see him. It’s just one more thing to burden him with. Perhaps, if you dropped a few hints? Covertly toss the pregnancy in his direction and see if he picks it up?

You know deep in your gut that you shouldn’t worry over this. Thorin will be happy. He will be.

You spend the rest of the day as Lena instructs. Reclining, resting, and reading. Thorin is supposed to return tonight for evening meal. Whenever he promises an early arrival, Thorin means it. Rarely does he make promises he cannot keep.

As dinner is brought in, and the table is set, Thorin walks through the door. There is a bit of soot on his cheek like he’s been in the mines, and his cheeks are slightly flushed. When he notices you, he beams, and there is so much love there that you simply want to melt into a puddle on the floor.

“My love,” he says, moving toward you swiftly. The embrace nearly sweeps you off your feet. He plants a kiss on your forehead and draws back.

“You’re filthy,” you laugh, looking him over. Thorin has been in the mines.

Thorin shrugs sheepishly. “I had to help dig. Structural issues.”

“Wash your hands at least,” you playfully tease.

“Not interested in eating a bit of dirt?” he asks with a laugh.

“Go,” you giggle, pushing away from him.

Thorin disappears and you take a seat at the table. He reappears a few minutes later, face and hands clean. The clothes he wore before are also gone, replaced with simple, fresh attire. He takes a seat next to you, gaze darting over the spread.

“I’m starving,” you begin because it’s true even though you’ve been consistently snacking all day. “It’s like I’m eating for two.”

First hint dropped.

Thorin laughs, and the sound is sweet like honey cake. “I promise, love. You couldn’t eat for me. My appetite is insatiable.” When Thorin says insatiable, he pointedly glances at you with a heated stare.

You perfectly understand his meaning.

You attempt a different angle. “I’ve also been having the oddest cravings,” you say, starting to load your plate.

“What do you mean?” asks Thorin before he pops a chunk of bread into his mouth.

“Different foods. Things I’d never eat together otherwise.” It is common knowledge that pregnant women will often crave highly specific foods and food combinations.

But Thorin doesn’t appear to pick up on the hint. He frowns, then shrugs, continuing to eat without making a comment.

Sighing, you pick up one the freshly made rolls. “I think these buns need a bit more time in the oven.” You stare hard at Thorin, mentally sending message after message. “What do you think?”

Thorin glances up at you then down at his own plate that has five of them. “I think they’re perfect but if you’d like them more done, I’ll let the kitchen know in the morning.”

“Thorin,” you say flatly.

“Yes, my love?” His head slightly tilts, and his gaze becomes pointed. He’s starting to pick up on your agitation. You don’t mean to be cross, but you were hoping that he’d figure it out so you wouldn’t have to tell him outright.

Setting the roll down on your plate, you promptly divert the conversation to a different hint. “We’ve never talked about where we’d put the nursery.”

Thorin’s brow rises toward his hairline. “I didn’t think you wanted to discuss that until we crossed that hurdle?”

Does he hear himself? Does he understand the context of what’s coming out of his mouth?

“You’re right, Thorin. I didn’t want to discuss it until we needed to.” You repeat his words back to him, slightly leaning toward him as you speak to emphasize the point.

Still, it brushes right over his head.

“Some of the advisory council members have brought up financial concerns. Rebuilding Erebor is important but the needs of the people are pressing. Food. Proper housing.” Thorin begins slicing into the chunk of roast on his plate.

Maybe you are going to have to say it outright.

Licking your lips, you ignore Thorin’s change in conversation. “I did receive a few inquiries about baby clothes. Offers to knit a few items,” you shrug.

“That’s kind of them,” says Thorin slowly. “But why—” he pauses, “you’re not—"

Thorin’s features suddenly shift, becoming almost unreadable. His jovial expression is gone, replaced with a stern consideration.

Are you going to have to shout it at the top of your lungs?

Thorin’s lips part. Promptly shuts. Opens again. “Are you…” he begins but does not finish.

You start to nod, urging him on.

Finally, like light igniting in the dark, Thorin’s face transforms into one of shock, then pure joy.

“Truly?”

“Found out just this morning.”

Thorin abruptly stands, pushing himself and his chair away from the table. He is moving toward you, grasping your hands, bringing them to his mouth to kiss your fingers.

“Why not say anything?” he asks.

“I did,” you laugh. “Many times.”

Thorin momentarily frowns before his mouth turns up into a soft smile. “Clever.”

“You’ve been busy and I was unsure of how to tell you.”

Thorin’s thumbs rub little circles over your knuckles. “You can always tell me anything. Whatever is happening. Whatever is on your mind. I wish to hear it.” He kisses the tops of your hands. “Especially something like this.”

“Are you happy?” you ask, voice cracking at the end.

“Happiest I’ve ever been.”

Thorin pulls you up from your chair, his large, muscled arm sliding behind your waist. He drags you to him, his eyelids lowering seductively, all gentleness leaving him to be replaced with desire.

“Are you up for a bit of celebrating?” he asks.

“What kind of celebrating?”

“The kind that landed us here.”

“Thorin,” you gasp, lightly slapping his chest. He snatches your wrist, kisses the pulse point there.

“The food can wait,” and his voice ends on a soft growl.

“Thorin,” you repeat, this time with a rasp to your tone.

He seizes it, draws you even closer. “The food can wait?”

You nod. “It can wait.”

taglist:

@foxxy-126 @glassgulls @km-ffluv @sweetbutpsychobutsweet @singleteapot @glitterypirateduck @tiredmetalenthusiast @protosslady @childofyuggoth @coffeecaketornado @cherryofdeath @mrsdurin @therealbloom @ninman82 @thewulf @ferns-fics @beebeechaos

[filmbyjy]

ARE WE REALLY ENEMIES?

PAIRING: enhypen x fem!reader

GENRE: enemies to lovers trope. angst & fluff

WARNING: a little suggestive on some parts for the hyung line. mentions of throwing up on jake’s part (no, the reader is not pregnant)

WORD COUNT: 10.2K words (because what the shit)

a/n: i wanted to write this for fun but i really also love the concept of enemies to lovers. let me know if you'd like me to turn any of these into actual full fics!

— placing this in case the read more messes up —

⭐️ LEE HEESEUNG

PAIRING: basketball star player!heeseung x manager!reader

it was tormenting to have someone constantly annoy you during class, lunch and basically the whole day. you have never wanted to choke someone alive until you entered the first year of high school.

the said person you'd like to choke alive was named lee heeseung. you swore on your life that he was actually satan in disguise out to torture you.

like any other day, you were about to settle down on your seat. only problem was that, you develop a huge trust issue before you settled down. you see, since heeseung has decided to devote his time to ruin your life...it meant he liked to pull pranks on you. well, pranks was something he'd say but you'd say it's more of a punishment in some way.

your 'favourite prank' heeseung did was the water bucket trick where he placed the bucket of water on top of the door. you went home with soaking wet hair by the way. it got you so mad that you gave heeseung the silent treatment the day after and he did not like it. he kept annoying you the whole day by trying to get your attention.

other than him being your enemy, he was also the resident hot guy or popular boy of your school. which meant, yes, there were girls constantly around him. he played basketball and had joined the school's team quickly due to his talent and height. you cursed him because he also loved to make fun of your height.

since heeseung was on the school's team, they consistently win games against other schools. it wasn't much of surprise since they also had other great players like sim jaeyun or nishimura riki for example. the team was just great from the start. you just so happen to have the 'pleasure' of being the team's assistant manager which was why...

"babe, pass the bottle of water." heeseung demands.

you rolled your eyes, "since when was i your little water boy? also would you quit calling me babe?"

"no, I won’t stop and since you became the assistant manager. now, pass me a bottle."

you grumbled and shoved a bottle into his hand before settling down on the bench. jake slides next to you and throws his arm around you.

"pretty, could you help me?" jake pouts.

"yes, sim?”

"i need a patch on my neck, it's hurting."

you sighed, "do you need a massage or something?"

"yes please." he gives his little puppy eyes.

"turn around-"

heeseung grabs jake's arm and pulls him away. jake whines. you shook your head and just went to check their training and match schedules. training went as per usual, you knew you had to stay until the boys left so you sat down on the bleachers waiting for them to come back to the hall.

"everyone here?" the coach asks. the boys looked amongst themselves.

"heeseung isn't here."

"where is our star player?"

"i think he is still in the showers."

"well, someone go get him."

"the thing is...he won't come out unless (name) drags him out."

you pointed at yourself, "me? you want me to go into the boy's shower room? what if he's naked. i am not risking that chance."

"(name), i am so sorry but since heeseung won't go out if you don't drag him...could you-" you groaned at the coach's words.

"fine, i'll go. only because everyone here needs rest and get home." you say. you entered the locker room.

"yah, lee. you better get out here now. everyone is waiting for you."

“lee heeseung?” you called out once more.

but you don’t hear any shower turned on. you could feel someone standing right behind you before arms wrapped around you. you gasp and turned back to the person.

of course, it was heeseung with that stupid (ly handsome) smirk. you rolled your eyes.

“get changed and get back to the court. everyone is waiting for you.” you were ready to walk out but heeseung tugs your wrist and pulls you back.

“let’s go out together, pretty.”

“I am not waiting for you to change. you’re only wearing a towel. do you even have underwear on under that?”

“wanna find out?” he smirks. you pushed him a little.

“no thanks. wouldn’t like to see something that has been inside someone else.” you said in disgust.

“then would you like to reset it by putting it in you?” he steps forward.

you gagged, “no thanks, lee.”

he chuckles before deciding to change his clothes. your eyes unknowingly trailed on his arms, his back, just his body in general. you caught yourself and blushed before looking away. however, heeseung knew you were blatantly staring at him. which was why he had a smirk playing on his lips as he changes.

“alright, i’m done.” he swings his arm around your shoulder. you rolled your eyes and pushed it off before walking off.

that was simply the dynamic of the both of you. however, you couldn’t lie and say you weren’t attracted to him. heeseung was an attractive guy with a shitty personality which you somehow fell in love with. you hated that you developed this stupid teen crush on heeseung.

“coach? we need to talk.” you say.

“what’s up?”

“there is going to be an issue if we play minjun in the starting line up.”

“what’s wrong?”

“he umm got into a fight.”

the coach sighs, “fine, then who could we replace him with?”

“siwoo. however, as you know…heeseung and him kinda have a hostile history.”

“right. maybe we could change up the usual tactic we use. think we should put heeseung on the bench first?”

“it’s possible but the consequences is that it may be risky. our opponents this time are really scary and only heeseung could handle them.”

“what do you think, (name)? should we take the risk?”

“I think we should.”

you wished you hadn’t mutter those words. now, heeseung was giving you those stanky eyes as you went with your day. you opened your locker to put some stuff but it was abruptly shut.

“I’ll cut to the chase. why am I benched for the first quarter of the tournament?” heeseung says.

“minjun got into a fight. we need to change the tactic, I think it’s better to let this opponent not expect the change.”

“bullshit, you know it’s best to keep the same tactic. we play the best when i’m not benched.”

you turned to face heeseung, “then would rather play with siwoo the whole time?”

“I would rather he doesn’t play at all.”

“then too bad, it’s best for you to not play in the first quarter.”

“but (name).”

“heeseung.” he stops. “please, just listen to me this once. these opponents are not just your regular playtoys that you can beat. they are higher level and I just-” you paused.

“forget it. just please listen to me. don’t complain anymore.” you say. heeseung stands there stunned as he watches you leave.

match day. it was the most extreme match that Decelis Academy had played. even jake was getting worn out. both you and your coach had decided to keep heeseung on the bench for longer. heeseung was itching to play but you knew if he went in now, he’d get hurt.

that’s right. you decided to change the whole thing because you were afraid of heeseung getting hurt. you didn’t want to admit it but you cared about him a lot more than it seems. your coach subs in people after people, none that were heeseung. it was the 3rd quarter of the game.

you were checking up on the tactics and calculated everything. finally, an idea popped into your head as you spot an opportunity. you whispered to the referee and told them to sub in heeseung. you waited until the ball was out. before that, you settled next to heeseung. he never once talked to you during the match.

“we are letting you play.” you say. heeseung turns to you.

“after the first half? you promised me after 1 quarter.” he scoffs.

“heeseung, didn’t you see nishimura get annihilated by the opponents?”

“so? we could be winning by now if I played 30 minutes ago.”

you clenched your fist, “I didn’t want you to get hurt.”

“oh really? would you care that much if I get hurt? we aren’t exactly on the best terms.”

“would you believe me if I said yes? that I care if you get hurt? because I do.” your eyes was glossy. you held back any tears that were about to fall.

“just shut the fuck up.” heeseung says before stands up and gets ready to be subbed in. you let out the breath you were holding. a tear slips out and you wiped it away.

as heeseung gets subs in, you excused yourself and left the hall. you walked over to the school’s garden and settled on the bench. you didn’t know why you even cared. why was it so hard for you to take the hint that heeseung hated you. maybe you should have just let him play.

you wiped the last tears that strayed on your cheeks and went back to the game. you had to watch and review the match. however, it was hard to watch it while heeseung played. thankfully, the match ends.

once again, Decelis Academy wins with ease with heeseung being the top scorer of the match. the whole time as the their coach debriefs, heeseung stares at you. you ignored it.

“all right, good job boys!”

“coach lets get something to eat! after all, we couldn’t have done it without you and manager (name)!” yunho says.

the coach turns to you, “would you like to have dinner with the team?”

you smiled weakly before shaking your head, “you guys go ahead. I don’t feel too well. enjoy, oh and send pictures in the groupchat.”

“aww come on, noona.” ni-ki pouts. “it wouldn’t be fun without you.”

“i’m sorry ni-ki, I wish I could go.”

“aww okay, noona. oh and thank you for helping with this!” ni-ki points to the bandaged up knee. you smiled.

“any time, your legs were bleeding. why wouldn’t I patch that up.” you grabbed your bag. “anyways, I have to leave now. see you guys.” you waved.

the boys waved back. you left the place.

“(name).” heeseung calls out. you didn’t look back. he grabs your wrist.

“let go.”

“did you really mean what you said back then?”

“why? so you can think it’s a lie again?” you turned back to him. “look, just cause we are enemies or on bad terms doesn’t mean I can forget my human morals and let you get injured. i’m the manager for a reason. I help out the coach and I make decisions. the coach is just there to advise things.”

“are you sure it’s just your morals?”

“heeseung, I don’t know what you’re going on about but can you please let me go? I want to go home.”

“do you love me, (name)?”

your heart drops to the pit of your stomach. you felt those feelings coming back to you like a waterfall. it was dumped onto you. feelings that you want to push back because it didn’t feel right.

“I don’t love you, lee.”

“you’re lying.”

“and who are you to validate my feelings? like you said, we aren’t on the best terms.”

“because I know you love me.”

you scoffed, “an utter bullshit. I don’t love you.”

“baby.”

“heeseung, just let me go. before I scream.” your voice wavered. you could feel yourself about to cry.

heeseung doesn’t let you go. instead, he presses his lips against yours. you shut your eyes and felt the hot tears rolling down your eyes. heeseung reaches up to wipe it away as he focuses on kissing you.

he pulls away. his fingers caressing your cheek softly. though no words were exchanged, the both of you knew that this was something you would have to have a serious talk about. for now, you would rather have heeseung in your arms, holding you tight.

⭐️ PARK JONGSEONG

PAIRING: CEO!jay x manager!reader / you are pretty stubborn here and jay is an ass here.

you remembered that cursed smirk. the way he carried himself around as he gloats at the fact that he gets better scores than you. it didn’t help the fact that years later, you’d be working under him.

he constantly made your life harder. other employees may praise him but you cursed him.

“ah, CEO park? oh he is sooooo handsome! he even gave me flowers for Valentine’s Day!”

“oh! you’re right! he gave all the lady staff flowers. roses to be exact. he is such a romantic guy!”

you could gag every time they praised him. you didn’t even get a single rose from him. you got some flower called heliotrope.

‘heliotrope: eternal love, devotion’ what joke was he pulling? was he making fun of you for being single? for being a virgin?

you slammed the bouquet down into the trash can startling the two ladies who were talking. you turned to them with a fake smile.

“it’s work hours, don’t you think you should be focusing on your work?” you threw daggers through your eyes at them. they gulped and nodded before focusing on their work. you sighed.

you felt a tap on your shoulder and so you turned to the person.

“what’s with the frown on Valentine’s Day? did jay not give you head or something?” jake teases. you grit your teeth and hit him. jake winces and pouts.

“could hand this to jay?” you gave jake a resignation letter.

“well, jay is kinda busy with-” you grabbed jake’s collar and the boy gasps.

“I don’t care, this letter better reach him. I am fucking done with his antics. i am going to grow white hair if i continue working here and it doesn’t help that he keeps making my job extra hard.”

jake nods and you let his collar go, “you may leave.” jake runs away. you groaned and massaged your temple. later on in the evening, jake hands you back the same letter.

“where is he, now?”

“in his office but wait-”

you got up from your seat and went straight to his office. you burst into his room and were caught off guard by how jay quite literally has a girl on his lap and they were making out.

“well well well, seems like this is what you’ve been doing during work hours.” you folded your arms.

jay rolls his eyes and pecks the girl’s cheek before whispering something to her. she gets up and walks out, not forgetting to give you stank eye. you rolled your eyes.

“why are you here? can’t you see I was busy? or did you come here to do some unsolicited activities too.” jay smirks.

“with you? in your dreams, park.”

jake runs in, “jay, i’m so sorry.” jay waves jake off. the boy pouts and leaves.

“why are you here then?”

you threw the letter at him, “I gave you this letter but jake came back with it.”

“I don’t approve of you leaving.”

“what kind of person doesn’t allow some who wants to resign leave?”

“you have no reason leave. hence, I didn’t approve it.”

“you don’t make any sense. I have every right to leave, you are the reason.”

“and I am the CEO, I can disapprove of you resigning. besides, shouldn’t you be happy I gave you the manager position?”

“I didn’t want to just be promoted unfairly. you manipulated this.”

“I didn’t, I think you quite fit the manager position.”

“sure, think however you’d like but I am resigning from this job.” you left his office and went back to your own.

you grabbed a box and threw your things in. jay walks in.

“(name). what are you doing?”

“packing because I said I would resign.”

“I already told you that I am not letting you leave.”

you slammed the box, “look here fuckboy. if I said I would leave, i will. moreover, I am done with you. you’ve tormented me since high school, you’ve bullied me through college. do you know how much I hated to hear my own mother comparing me to you?”

jay keeps quiet. you grabbed the flowers and pushed it back to him.

“keep this and give this to that girl you’ve been making out with. i don’t know what you were thinking for mocking my non-existent love life and that i’m a virgin but it’s not funny.”

“I wasn’t mocking you for being a virgin.” jay says.

“oh really? giving me a heliotrope? when it means eternal love and devotion. why would you give that to me when you don’t like me? oh and even if you did, why would you kiss another girl? what kind of sicko does that?”

“(name).”

“just fuck off.” you say. jay keeps his mouth shut and leaves your office. you sat back on your chair and choked up. that was a lot that you dumped on him but it was the truth. you had enough of everything and you wanted to just leave in peace.

once you were done, you carried the boxes out. everyone quietly watches you. you placed the boxes into your car trunk. you noticed jay walked towards you.

"what else do you want-" you gasp when he throws you over his shoulder. "yah! what are you doing! put me down!"

jay does not put you down, rather he carries you back into the building. you smacked his back a bunch of times and flailed in his arms. everyone was staring at the both of you but it wasn't a surprise, this sort of thing happened occasionally. everyone knew you and jay had some sort of hatred for each other.

jay only ever puts you down once he arrives at his office (which was a distance from the entrance of the huge building). once he places you down, he traps you in between his desk and himself. you fold your arms.

"you're really stubborn, huh?" you spat out. jay smirks.

"baby, you really think i'd give up on you?"

you rolled your eyes, "mr.park, it's work hours. what you're doing is workplace harassment."

he snickers before leaning more forward. you could feel your heartbeat quicken. jay lightly places pecks on your neck.

"really? it's not exactly one if you aren't moving away from it." you moved away from it a little since he pecked somewhere ticklish. you stared right into his eyes.

"don't leave." jay says.

"why? haven't you already had your fun with me all throughout high school and college?"

"(name), that's not what i meant. i don't want you to leave not to hurt you even more. i don't want you to leave because i need you."

"what? your last mission before i leave is to take my virginity?"

jay sighs, "no. that's not what i meant too. i like you, alright?"

"then why go makeout with a girl when you like me?" you fold your arms.

"because i'm stupid, alright?"

"great to know that you think so too." you watched his eyes turn dark.

"you're a brat, do you know that?" jay says.

"you pushed me to be like this. i'm force to defend myself every time you speak to me."

jay grumbles, "well i confessed to you. do you like me?"

"well, i can't possibly like someone who has tortured me for the past years." jay huffs. "but i wouldn't lie and said you've made my heart leap a couple of times."

"so...?"

"i do like you too. that was just sarcasm."

jay pulls you into a hug, his arms tight on your waist. you felt your heart race quicker.

“I’ll make it up to you. I promise.” he whispers.

⭐️ SIM JAEYUN

PAIRING: academic rival! jake

studies was everything to you. it was a validation to get your parents to even stare at you in the face. you see, your parents never cared about you. they only cared about the red marks that displayed the total marks and the leaderboard amongst the whole cohort.

you were doing well until a certain brown haired boy came into the picture. everything was daises and glitter, all according to normal but it all quickly disappeared when everyone was in awe by the new student. the new student was like a new shiny object that people loved to stare at.

there was no denying the boy was blessed with good looks but his attitude. god, you have never wanted to strangle someone to death more than ever. jake sim, the epitome of every male lead rom-com. too bad, he wasn’t the main lead in your little drama, rather the villain in your chapter.

— “eeeekkkk jake sim is sooooo cute!!! did you see his latest Instagram with his dog?”

layla. everyone knew about his dog, he loved boasting about his puppy. you must admit though, she is an adorable puppy. her owner however…you’d kill him if you could.

“what’s so special about him?” you questioned.

“that i’m better than you.”

that annoying buzzing voice

you rolled your eyes before turning to face the boy. “god, do you ever just have some humbleness in you?”

“aww that wouldn’t be fun if I was humble with my academics.” jake pouts

“it would be for me so I don’t need to hear your annoying ass voice.” you growled. jake laughs.

“cutie, you try too hard. maybe you should get laid or something. I wouldn’t be opposed to help of course.” you shoved him.

“in your dreams, sim.” jake chuckles.

“would love if you were in my dreams, cutie.” he winks. you gagged.

typical morning. it was the usual and students definitely knew of the rivalry.

— “they’d probably make a cute couple.”

— “I’d say they are probably fucking behind the scenes. I mean, smart people need to blow out the stress weighted on them. right? what better way than to help each other!”

— “I heard jake had a crush on (name) but due to the rivalry, he keeps it hidden!”

complete utter bullshit when you heard the last comment. there was no way, the devil’s son would find you attractive in any way. he literally goes out his way to annoy you. it kept you up at night to even imagine his-

stupidly handsome face…

his stupid handsome, sexy ass, nice body-

no. keep it together. he is your rival. he is your enemy. he annoys the fuck out of you and you hate it. you hate him. there was no way you like him….

and then came the 2nd devil reincarnated into a form of the most beautiful girl. her name was…

“hi, my name is ji-ah.” she says as she holds out a hand. you skeptically shake it because why in the world would a pretty girl like her want to be your friend. there must be a reason.

the said reason: sim jaeyun

yup, the only reason why ji-ah became your ‘friend’ was to get with jake. it’s not like you were jealous.

“you’re funny jake!” she smacks his arm. jake blushes and bashfully smiles.

you could feel the blood raging in you. now what was this feeling? surely, you weren’t jealous. it was impossible.

but alas, jake sim made the impossible, possible. you had feelings for jake. it took you a singular day to figure out. props to you being the smartest student, I guess? however, with jake being entertained by the pretty girl. you couldn’t do much.

so you stopped reciprocate his small little teases. you don’t roll your eyes anymore and instead choose to walk away or ignore him. at first, it made jake stunned but he soon learnt to shrug it off and went about his day. his day being filled with ji-ah. which meant, it wasn’t a surprise to hear they started dating.

however, your heart aches. you want the old jake back, the one who would tease you and flirt with you. now, he doesn’t even talk to you. you were sad. exams made your feelings 10 times worse. you felt your body wanting to shut down on you as you continued to study late at night.

you woke up to find yourself on your study table, the lamp still turned on and you were laying on the math paper you were working on. you felt horrible. it was like you got ran over by a truck or something. you still went to school though. only this time instead of looking so enthusiastic, you had covered yourself with a hood.

during break time, you didn’t feel like eating so you laid your head on the desk and fell asleep. the next time you woke up, the teacher had knocked on your desk. you apologised and asked to go to the bathroom. however, you couldn’t make it to the bathroom when suddenly, your legs gave up on you. you fell to the ground and blacked out.

when you woke up again, you realised you were in the school’s infirmary. you sat up but felt like the room was spinning so you laid back down. the curtain pulls back and jake appears.

“you’re awake.” he says.

“why are you here.” the tone sounding a little too harsh and you nearly winced at it.

“I brought you here because you fainted.”

“you have no reason to stay here.”

“I have every reason to stay here.”

“you have a girlfriend. you should go to her.”

“we broke up.”

“I don’t care.” you say. you try to sit up again but couldn’t because you felt like throwing up.

“have this, I know you have not eaten yet.”

“how do you know?”

“because i saw you sleeping. you didn’t have lunch.”

“was that before or after you broke up.”

“I thought you said you didn’t care?” he teases. you don’t even have the energy to roll your eyes. your lips felt numb, you must look horrible. “let’s get you home.”

“no. it’s fine, i need to study. let’s get back to class.”

“you’re sick.”

“and? that doesn’t stop me from getting higher marks then you.”

“your health is more important.”

“my life depends on my grades so let me get back to class.” you tried to stand up once again but jake doesn’t let you.

“I don’t care if you get higher marks then me. I just want you to be healthy.” jake says.

“and why do you care?”

“because I like you.”

it went completely silent. not a single sound except for the ringing at your ears.

“you what?” that’s before you hurled into a bucket nearby. jake pats your back trying to soothe you as you threw up. he hands you a tissue so you could wipe your mouth. he then hands you a juice box so you could have some energy.

“I like you a lot.”

“but don’t you hate me?”

“hate you? I could never.” jake says.

“then why do always attempt to ruin me? why do you go through the troubles of making my life miserable?”

“are grades that really important to you?”

you sighed, “not exactly but my parents they-”

“only care about your grades? (name), my parents are exactly like that.”

“so?”

“why don’t we date and rebel against our parents together? it’s best thing we could do. they can’t control our lives and what we want.”

“jake…”

he leans in and you covered your lips, “yah, I threw up. what are you trying to do?”

he smirks, “did you think I was going to kiss you or something?” you smacked him.

“shut up.” he notices the tips of your ears turning red and smiles.

“how about I take you home and take care of you, hmm?”

“but my mom is home.”

“oh so you’re not opposing of me taking care of you?”

“jake, I swear to god.”

“come on now, baby. I gotta nurse my girlfriend back to health!!”

he picks you up and you wanted to disappear from the plane of the earth but I guess at least you got jake.

⭐️ PARK SUNGHOON

PAIRING: childhood enemy! sunghoon / roommates au! / one-sided hatred

i'm sure everyone had their fair share of people they hated for no reason when they were younger. however, this wasn't the case for you. you had a reason to hate park sunghoon. he was the worst. what exactly was the reason for you to hate the boy? he ruined your favourite barbie doll. moreover, that barbie doll was the one your late mother gave you before she passed on due to a mystery illness.

you vowed to never chat with him. you prayed to never see him when you started middle school.

alas, the universe cursed you and you saw park sunghoon every grade you moved onto. you remembered the stupid glasses that adorned his face. the annoying laugh that would surround the hallway as he laughed with his friends. after graduating from middle school, you prayed once again to never want to see sunghoon.

it didn't work as you know. you saw him again. you suffered through his teasing for many more years in high school. then college came. as what you knew, sunghoon was going to choose a different college from you and you were happy.

but why was he standing in the same living room as you?

"what the fuck are you doing here?" you say. a smirk slowly adorns his face.

"well, well. fancy seeing you, princess." sunghoon smirks.

since you didn't see sunghoon at the last day of high school graduation, you had not seen him for months. it was a surprise to you to see the boy had changed...a lot. he was a complete heartthrob but that didn't mean you'd fall for him.

you rolled your eyes, "why are you here? i thought you wanted to go to some sports college with your ice skating girlfriend?"

"high school sweethearts don't always last. besides, i planned to make a better and stable living. ice skating isn't a guaranteed success. once i reach 30, i'll be thrown to the side anyways. they only focus on younger talents."

you were staring at him as if he was insane. when did he get so matured? it's only been like 5 months since high school ended. how could he change that much?

"i don't know what happened to you fooling around but i'm sure you'll easily find a girlfriend here. they'll definitely like the little passionate talk you gave me just now." you grabbed the box on the floor. "guess we are roommates. don't talk to me and just pretend i'm not here."

you left and went to the empty bedroom. there were 2 other bedrooms which meant there were probably two other housemates/roommates living in the same dorm. it didn't surprise you to see another guy and girl show up. from what you heard, sunghoon and the guy knew each other. guess they warmed up during the orientation that you didn't go to.

"hi, i'm byeol." she holds out her hand. you smiled and shook it.

"i'm (name)."

"oh, i heard. sunghoon said that you and him knew each other back then. he said something about being high school lovers?" you pinched the bridge of your nose at her words and sighed.

"sunghoon is wrong. we-" you paused. did sunghoon even hate you? it felt really one-sided. whatever. "we hate each other."

"really? cause it seems like sunghoon looked really happy to talk about you."

"gross. me and sunghoon could never be a couple."

“oh really? that’s great…”

“great?” you tilt your head.

“I think I might start crushing on sunghoon. he is so good looking.” byeol shyly says.

“that’s good for you.” you say. however, you can’t help but sense something off. it felt…weird. you just brushed it off though.

“think you could help me? you know him the best since you’ve known him for so long.”

“uhh sure? but like I said, me and him are enemies-”

“yeah but you’ve known him for soooo long surely you’d realise little things right?” byeol pouts.

“well no-”

“great! you’ll help me. thank you!!” byeol skips to her bedroom afterwards.

god, she’s insane…

and she truly was. when she first moved in, you thought that maybe…just maybe you’d have a friend that didn’t fall in love with sunghoon but unfortunately, luck was never on your side. to make matters worse, byeol always tries to play the cutesy card. using aeygo at any given chance with sunghoon. you were surprised he even put up with her. maybe he likes her…

*snap* *snap* “earth to (name). hey, we need to continue with the project.” jake says.

“fuck, i’m sorry.”

“i’m thankful that we are roommates. it’s so much better since we can just stay in the living room and do our work till late at night.”

“me too.”

you hear byeol’s giggling and your eyes went to where the sound came from. byeol’s bedroom was wide open and her lights were off but you could see a slip of light under sunghoon’s door. she was in sunghoon’s room, you couldn’t help but frown at it.

“are you okay?”

“yeah, sorry. let’s continue.”

“do you like sunghoon?”

“no. I don’t.” you continued to draw out what was needed for the project.

“you know…byeol and sunghoon have been hooking up.” you paused after hearing jake.

“why should I care.”

“because I know you like him.”

“jake, I don’t like him.”

“stop lying to yourself.”

“i’m not.” jake sighs and grabs the pen that you were gripping. he places it down on the table and holds your hands.

“look at me in the eyes and tell me you hate him.” you looked at jake but no words were coming out. your lips quiver and your head drops down. jake hugs you.

“I like him.” you whisper.

after that interaction with jake that night, you started to avoid sunghoon. I mean you were already avoiding him since you ‘hated’ him but you completely avoided him even more. you never stepped foot where he did and it’s like you disappeared in sunghoon’s sight.

you locked yourself in your room if sunghoon was home and you never came out.

“congrats on the ‘A’ partner.” jake nudges you. you smiled.

“you too partner.”

“wanna go out for dinner to celebrate-”

“(name).” you froze when you heard that voice. you felt your fight or flight mode kick in and you instantly wanted to get out of there. as you stepped once, sunghoon grabs your wrist and pulls you away from jake.

sunghoon brings you over to a secluded spot. he folds his arms and his jaw clenched. you were honestly kinda scared.

“why are you avoiding me?”

“why do you care?”

“I was worried.”

“and why should you be worried? you have a girlfriend to tend to.”

“what girlfriend?”

“ah right, sorry I meant your little hook up toy.” you fold your arms.

sunghoon pinches the bridge of his nose, “me and byeol never did it.”

“jake told me you guys have been hooking up.”

it went silent after you said it. “so it’s true.”

“(name), is not true.” sunghoon says.

you couldn’t trust him. not when he has constantly ruined your life. you bit your lips to hold back yourself from crying. however, once you blink, a tear escapes. you quickly wiped it away.

“I have to go.” you left sunghoon. sunghoon watches your figure leave. he wanted to run to you but his foot remains on the ground.

back at the house, you threw yourself on onto your bed and cried. you cried for hours and hours, the tears didn’t stop and you didn’t know why. was this what it felt like to be heartbroken? your heart hurts like it was actually torn apart.

there were knocks at your bedroom door but you ignored it. it stops after a while and somehow, you fell asleep. your body was tired, giving up on you after hours of crying. the next morning, light peaks through your curtains and shines down on you. you tried getting up but you felt lethargic. you felt like you were on fire. you got up and you had stumbled out of your bedroom.

you looked around for your medicine that you had. however, before you could even get to the kitchen, your body shuts down. you fell to the ground. the next time you wake up, you realised you were not in your bedroom but you were still in the dorm. you looked around and realised a familiar pair of ice skating shoes in display. the medals and trophies that were displayed on the shelf.

“I still remember when you attempted to throw your silver medal at me.” sunghoon says. your head turns to meet the boy’s figure. he was leaning at the doorframe.

“why am I here?”

“you fainted. you’re also running down fever.” he checks on your temperature by kissing your forehead. you felt your cheeks heating up. “yeah, it’s still pretty bad.”

his eyes met with yours. you swore his eyes flickered onto your lips for a split second. you pushed him away.

“thanks for taking care of me while I was out cold but I can take care of myself now. I don’t need your help.” you tried getting up but sunghoon sighs and grabs your wrist.

“me and byeol didn’t hook up. jake just told you that because he assumed we did.” sunghoon says.

“why are you telling me this?”

“because.” you felt his arms wrap around your waist and his head placed on your shoulder. “I know someone cried yesterday.”

you tried to pry his hands that wrapped around you but failed since he was strong.

“I didn’t know you liked me (name).” sunghoon says. you rolled your eyes.

“I don’t like you.”

“but you were jealous.”

“who said I was jealous. you can hook up with that bitch.”

“hmm but the only one I want is you.” you felt butterflies erupt.

“didn’t you say i’m sick? shouldn’t you be 1 arm away from me?”

“I don’t mind getting sick if I get to hug you like this.”

“god, who knew you’d be such a simp.” you rolled your eyes.

“for you.” he says. you giggled when he snuggles his head at the crook of your neck. “want to cuddle my girl.”

“but i’m not your girl though?” you teased. sunghoon picks you up and places you down on his bed. he quickly wraps his arm around you to cuddle.

“mmm but you are my girl.”

“I never said about being your girlfriend though.” he pecks your lips and you gasp.

“will you be my girlfriend?”

“what if I said no?”

“I know you wouldn’t say no.”

“you’re so full of yourself.” you chuckled. sunghoon pecks your cheek once more. surprisingly, you fell asleep really quickly. guess you were tired and maybe sunghoon’s warmth made you feel comfortable.

⭐️ KIM SUNOO

GENRE: vice president of student council! sunoo + president of student council! reader

if you were to recall back the day you were elected as the president of the student council…you could remember the scowl that was plastered on your vice-president. you could also faintly remember the complaints he let out to his friends when the results were out.

“if I didn’t get the position of president, they should’ve just kicked me out as a whole. who even wants to work with (name). she’s sooooo annoying.”

you grimaced. you understood sunoo hated you but damn he really despised you. to the complete point where he didn’t even want to work with you. too bad though, they made sunoo the vice-president and he was forced to work with you.

lately, the whole council has been busy with the school’s music festival. since your school was a music/performing arts school, this event was the most important event ever. there would be tons of students performing and showing off their skills (those who signed up only).

both you and sunoo had practically been overworked trying to plan the event. how it would go, the lighting, getting the stage ready, etc. you couldn’t even get enough sleep since the teachers would be up your ass for the forms and paperwork. who knew being president would be so hard?

“jungwon, please help me get a signature of approval from Mrs.Jae.”

“on it.” jungwon runs out of the room with the papers. just as jungwon leaves, sunoo enters. he places his bag down on the couch.

“why are you here so early?”

“we need to finish up the remaining paperwork and it’s better we start early.”

“then why didn’t you tell me?

“because you mentioned that this class is important so you need to be there the whole time?”

“I never mentioned that.” sunoo rolls his eyes.

you slammed the pen down and it startled sunoo.

“you can do everything yourself, (name). I have an important class to attend and my grades depend on this lesson. the teacher is going through some exam tips.” you mocked sunoo.

he folds his arm, “you don’t even have proof.”

“look sunoo, how about you take this set of paperwork and do it. I have no time to argue with you.” you grabbed the other half of papers and left the office.

“god, she’s so grumpy.” sunoo grumbles.

you sat in the library for some peace and quiet. it was the perfect place for you to concentrate and you were so happy you were far from sunoo. the air-conditioning blew perfectly and it was nice. it made you sleepy. what if you just…lay your head down on the table for a while.

the next time you woke up, you realised a jacket was wrapped around you. who had placed this. however, you were more worried about the stack of papers that you were tasked to go through. it was gone. you panicked for a second until you noticed the note stuck on your phone.

‘took your other half and did it. once it’s done, I’ll place it on your desk. also you look like an idiot drooling whilst sleeping.’

– sunoo

you huffed. if he was just going to do everything why didn’t he just say so. instead, he made you think he didn’t want to do it. this meant one thing though, this jacket was definitely sunoo’s. you could quickly tell too since there was a whiff of the strawberry lipbalm he uses.

wait how did you know how his lipbalm smells like? you shook your head. no, it’s just because there are times where you and sunoo were close enough while working on some student council work. it’s not because you’ve thought of kissing him. you would be insane to think so.

the next day, you hand sunoo the jacket right as he was talking to his friends.

“here. your jacket, thank you for lending it to me.” you say. this causes his friends to glance in shock at the both of you.

“are you two-” “no. we aren’t.” sunoo quickly shuts down jake’s words.

“we have a meeting later. see you and jungwon later.” you quickly say before leaving. right as you step away, you felt your heart beating fast. what is wrong with you?

it’s nothing. you walked to school quickly. speed walk, power walked to school. which was why your heart is racing.

that’s when you were wrong.

it took you probably 2 hours later to realise, no random person’s heart would race after talking to a guy. a guy they hated as a matter fact. which only meant.

you liked sunoo.

you liked his stupid annoying voice. you liked the fact that he argues with you. you mostly definitely loved the fact that he is the only one who pays attention to you. why did you have to discover this right before the meeting. now you can’t face kim sunoo without imagining his lips on yours.

it was an x-rated thought. why did you have to think about him kissing you and why do you kinda like imagining it. you must be insane.

however, here you are in the meeting with the other council members. they were showing off PowerPoint slides and presenting the flow of the event however you weren’t even paying attention.

“pres, is this okay?” jungwon asks. you hummed a little confused.

“oh, i’m so sorry. yeah, it’s fine. we should also have some of our members be on standby to queue the next group to perform.”

jungwon nods, “I’ll ask haneul if she can be the backstage coordinator.”

“sunoo, do you have anything to add?” you asked.

“no, everything has been well planned. we just need to execute it on that day. hopefully, the event will turn out as successful as the ones our seniors had done.”

“alright, that’s all. great job everyone, see all of you at the festival and please wear something appropriate. you saw what happened to our seniors.” you warned the others. they nod.

each one of them slowly leaves the room and the only ones left were you and sunoo. you had pushed back the chair and made sure everything had been cleaned up.

“are you joining the festival?” sunoo suddenly voices out.

“hmm? oh, no. I can’t sing.”

“but you can dance?”

“i’m too shy to get on stage. I have stage fright.”

“but you dance.”

“it’s just a hobby I do.”

“yeah but you joined a performing arts school.” sunoo says.

“well, that’s pretty obvious huh? can’t I have stage fright even if I am in a performing arts school?” you glared at sunoo. sunoo rolls his eyes.

“I thought I could have a once in a lifetime civil talk with you but you make it impossible to hold a conversation with you.” sunoo says. you gasp.

“the only annoying ass person that can’t hold a conversation is you!”

sunoo glares at you before huffing and leaving the room. once he leaves the room, you let out a sigh of relief. your heart was racing quicker than usual and you hated that sunoo was the cause of it.

the day of the music festival arrived. tons of students were running around trying to play the carnival games that were organised. there were also some redeeming prizes after the amount of tickets they gathered. you sighed, you would love to have fun but you were the council president. you had to watch over everything so nothing goes wrong.

today, you didn’t feel exactly the best. after studying so much for the past few days, you felt under the weather. however, since you were the president, you had to be present. you held onto the wall beside you and steadied yourself. you had to be strong, you couldn’t show your weak side. however, you nearly fell but someone holds onto your shoulder to prevent you from falling.

“hey, are you okay?” it was sunoo.

“yeah. I’m fine.” sunoo places his hand on your forehead and sighs.

“you’re burning up.” he grabs your hand and drags you to the nurse’s office.

“i’m fine.” you say as you arrived at the nurse’s office. unfortunately, the nurse wasn’t around as she went out for lunch but sunoo knew what to take.

“you look pale and you were about to faint. god, did you even eat lunch yet?”

“no I skipped lunch-”

“to do administrative? prioritise your health first, dummy.” sunoo huffs. he hands you a bottle of water and also a protein bar.

“eat this then take the medicine. it’s not good to eat your medicine on an empty stomach.”

“but i’m fine!”

“no you’re not!”

“sunoo, listen I don’t know why you care about me but I-”

“I care because I like you!” sunoo shouts.

dead silence

it’s like you could only hear both yours and sunoo’s breathing only. you were shocked, sunoo liked you? how was that possible? he hated you? what happened to being enemies? i mean, you weren’t complaining since you liked him too.

“the thought of you getting hurt, it also pains me too. you know. I get that you want to study and do well in your studies but please don’t hurt yourself in the process.” sunoo begs.

“sunoo.”

“like come on, you’re already smart. I don’t get why you have to study so late at night. it’s already annoying to see you do so well that I can’t possibly catch up with my crush but damn-”

“sunoo!”

he stops blabbering, “thank you for caring about me and thank you for liking me. I just, didn’t expect you to like me too.”

“you…like me?” sunoo’s eyes widened.

“yes. well, I would’ve said it slightly earlier but you were rambling-”

the boy cuts you off with a peck to your cheek. it catches you off guard.

let’s just say you left the nurse’s office with a boyfriend. people were definitely shocked to see their president and vice-president holding hands and smiling at each other.

⭐️ YANG JUNGWON

PAIRING: class president! jungwon x bad girl! reader. more of a one-sided enemies.

you were I would say a bad student. both in academically and in physical terms. jungwon was the opposite of you. he was the bright star student that constantly gets praised, was appointed class president of your class and was also really kind.

well to others. not to you. you have no idea why yang jungwon hated your guts. maybe, he just hated bad looking people. you’d say he’s uptight and would always turn down party invitations to study.

however, that thought changed when you saw yang jungwon in a loose fitting clothes and sweatpants. it was a comfortable choice but made him look stunning nonetheless. his bangs were down, he laughed with his friends whilst taking a sip of his…is that wine? you didn’t expect him to even be drinking.

clearly, you stared for too long because soon jungwon’s gaze falls onto you. you looked away and simply went about your merry way. however, jungwon didnt stop staring.

“who are you staring at?” jay asks. jake’s eyes trailed jungwon’s gaze and he realised that jungwon was staring at you.

“I thought you hated her? why are you staring at her?”

sunghoon suddenly smirks, “oh? does little wonie have a crush?” jungwon rolls his eyes.

“as if. she’s literally the worst girl I’ve ever seen and had to deal with.” jungwon rolls his eyes.

“and yet she piqued your interest, didn’t she?” sunghoon nudges jungwon.

it was true. though you were a ‘bad girl’ a complete opposite of jungwon. you still piqued his interests and he wanted to observe you. from far of course. or maybe, up close too.

the next day, you walked into class late. the teacher scolds you the whole while you walked to your seat. you’ve practically tuned it out, already used to the yelling in your life.

“detention!” the teacher finally says. you sighed. yet another detention, of course.

“and I will have jungwon tutor you since you are lagging behind class!”

your eyes widened. that flower boy was tutoring you? him? he was literally a bunch of rainbows and flowers every time. after the teacher says so, you turned to look at jungwon. he was already staring at you. great, he already hated the idea of tutoring you. his little cat eyes just slowly turning into a glare as his eyebrows furrow.

yay! you were so excited to have him tutor you (read: sarcasm). I mean, you knew he isn’t evil, he just probably hates you because you’re always in the detention and you are like the worst student possible. however, it’s not like you offended him in any way. the tutor session should be fine!

that was you 4 hours before actually starting the tutor session. you have never felt so intimidated by your class president but why was he so scary while teaching you.

“if x equals to 6 what is y?” jungwon raises eyebrow at you.

“u-uh 15?” you squeak out. it made you sound so weak which is weird because normally you’d be the one who was confident.

“wrong. it’s 24. you got the question wrong once again.”

“right. uh, how you…do this question again?” you asked. jungwon groans.

“I’ve gone through this question 5 times already. how do you not get it.”

“well, if math wasn’t so hard. I would get it.” you groaned.

“well, too bad. suck it up and learn how to do it.” he rolls his eyes.

“why the fuck do you hate me so much? I did nothing wrong? i’m just being myself.” you whisper yelled because you were in the library.

“because you’re annoying.” jungwon says.

“what? I never interact with you in class at all. how am I annoying?”

“every single time you’re late, I have to report to the teacher and it’s tiring to write down everything.”

“sounds like a you problem. you could’ve said no to being our class president.”

“and not be lucky to get leadership points?”

you rolled your eyes, “well, if you don’t like me. you could’ve not come to teach me!”

“I would if I could but because the teacher is counting on me, I have to do this.” jungwon folds his arm.

“you know what? forget it.” you packed your things. “since you don’t want to take the initiative to leave. I’ll leave for you, I have detention anyways.”

as you leave, jungwon’s jaw drops. never in his whole life has someone walked out on him like that. it kinda threw him off. well, okay. it threw him off by a lot.

the next day, jungwon catches your wrist and drags you to the library. it startled you and he pushes you to sit down on the chair.

“we are going to study whether you like it or not!” jungwon huffs and takes out his book. “turn to page 135.”

you were shocked, "hey, you can't just drag me here and force me to study. you didn't want to teach me in the first place!"

"stop being stubborn and flip to page 135."

"jerk." you muttered under your breath.

1 month later, you were still studying with jungwon. he was more civil now at least, he kept his thoughts to himself and you were thankful you didn't have to hear him complain about your mathematics being horrible. he points to the question and asks you for the answer.

"72." jungwon hums at your answer.

"correct."

you sighed in relief, "great. now, this means you can stop tutoring me."

"who said i would stop? you still have 99 more questions and you still have to pass the finals."

"why are you so insisted on helping me? i thought you made it clear you didn't want to teach me?" you huffed and folded your arms.

"seeing your grades look horrible irks me and i hate to see failing classmates so i'm here to help."

"weird. i don't usually see you go around helping our classmates. do you like me or something?"

your words caused jungwon to freeze in his seat. did he like you? no, it's not possible when you're looking really pretty in your leather jacket and coloured hair-

okay...jungwon liked you.

"and if i said i did? what are you going to do about it?"

this time it caught you off guard.

"you what?"

he gets closer to you and you gasp, "i said what if i did? what if i liked you? what are you going to do about it?"

you didn't say anything. completely speechless. you could feel your heart racing. why did jungwon suddenly look so good? you must be going insane.

jungwon pecks your cheek, "alright. turn to page 180 now. we need to cover the next few questions."

you do as you were told. still not getting over the little affection jungwon just gave you. you had to concentrate on your work for now, maybe you'd get your answers later.

or maybe he might actually kiss you for doing a good job. now, that was your motivation.

⭐️ NISHIMURA RIKI

PAIRING: star basketball player! ni-ki x fem! reader (they are college so I sort of aged up ni-ki)

basketball, the sport that ni-ki loved so much and grew to love. besides, with the advantage of being so tall, why wouldn’t he use it?

“heeseung hyung, pass the ball!” he yells out on the court. it was a small game, to train before their big final game. you were there to snap some pictures since you were part of the journalist club of your college. they usually placed someone in charge of sports for the season and this time around you were the chosen lucky one.

your job was simple, take pictures of them playing and then interview the players before and after the match to gather their thoughts. it would be simple, if you weren’t forced to literally take charge of the basketball team. you hated them, they were the worst people ever. okay, one person on the team was and it was nishimura riki. the literal bane of your existence. your enemy the most annoying person you ever met, you wished he wasn’t so good in basketball because he wouldn’t have gotten into the same university as you without his stupid athlete scholarship.

just as you snapped some photos and reviewed them, ni-ki grabs your camera and places it above his head. he was mainly teasing you for how short you are compared to him. you tried jumping to get it but failed multiple times, he laughs.

“aww little shorty is trying sooo hard to grab her precious camera.” he teases.

“nishimura, give it back. if you break the camera, i will break your legs and you won’t be able to play the season.”

he leans down to face you, “and if you break my legs will you play with the team for me?”

you scoffed and grabbed the camera from his hands.

“no. you can suffer yourself.”

just as ni-ki was about to retaliate, heeseung yells after him. ni-ki smacks your shoulders and winks at you before leaving.

“oooo nishimura, stop flirting with your girlfriend while we have practice!!” yunho, a fellow member of the team yells.

“yah! me and that asshole aren’t dating!!”

“you wished though!” ni-ki yells.

“fuck off!” you yelled back.

ni-ki’s teammates laughed as you two bicker. this was how it was, the constant bicker and subtle flirting. you weren’t flirting with ni-ki, at least that’s what you thought. maybe you just didn’t understand flirting but you clearly could tell ni-ki was sort of flirting with you. which was weird because didn’t he hate your guts in high school? why was he so flirty now? maybe he was just going through it, being a freshman and seeing college girls. it gives you the freedom like you are old enough to do something.

finally, it was the final match to the end of the season. you could finally catch a breath because you wouldn’t be focusing on the sports team next season. as the basketball team surrounded each other discussed their tactic, you took a video and snapped some photos. hopefully this would make it more professional.

the basketball team disperses and the game starts. the ball being dribbled down the court and each of the boys moving swiftly. you snapped some photos as they were playing and honestly, you think that the current pictures you took were going to be legendary. just as you put your camera down, you realised the basketball ball was being hurled at you. you closed your eyes ready for the impact but all you felt was someone holding you close and a thud.

when you opened your eyes, you realise that ni-ki had hold you close. the basketball rolling away. he checks up on you before grabbing the ball and going back into the court to finish playing the game. your cheeks were glowing, your face felt hot so you had fanned yourself. a few of the people in the crowd were making noise at the gesture ni-ki had done. it made you want to hide in one corner and just disintegrate into the ground. however, you knew you still had to continue with journaling the match because this was your job as a journalist.

the match continues with the occasional squeaking of shoes because that's how all basketball games turn out. the announcer watches and comments on every move that the players on court had to say. there were a lot of moments where your school's team could've scored a goal but the game was just toxic in general. the other team played dirty multiple times, they always found a way to not get kicked out of the court and manage to get away with it.

ni-ki was starting to get annoyed. his jaw clenches, that is when the whole room felt different. it's like a light switch was turned on because suddenly it felt really dangerous. before the time ended, your college basketball team start scoring more goals. it was brutal to the other team but ni-ki did it. the team won. they carried him up and threw him up in the air as ni-ki held the trophy. you managed to capture that moment and it was amazing.

you were smiling a little. it was heart warming. the team lets ni-ki down and he stumbles over to you.

"i won for you." he says.

you snicker, "oh really now, nishimura?"

the boy nods. "since i won this for you, may I take you on a date as a prize?"

"what is this? i thought you saw me as a threat?" you teased him.

"yeah, a threat to my heart." he flirts back. you laughed.

"go bathe, you stink." you pushed him lightly. he laughs.

"so it's on?"

"shut up."

ni-ki scoffs playfully. "you didn't say no, i'll see you later~" he leaves to bathe.

yup, this was your enemy. a dork but you liked it that way.

taglist[perm]: @ja4hyvn @ahnneyong @milklix @kar0ki @sugarsunoo @http-gyu @simpforniki @vatterie @victoriazynui @myu3ki @jhopesucker @dimplewonie @chwlogy @ilovewonyo @xiaoderrrr @uwuheeseungie @miercerise @liikno @hxney-luga @tiktaktiki @ajayke-reads @yizhoutv @s00buwu @ilovehanni1

[lunarmoves]

May I offer small what if scenario (because this au keeps me thinking about so many possibilities that could happen in this world and they are overflowing in my head gdjsvsb) ? It doesn't align exactly with the timeline so far, but it's more of a brief thought I had.

What if at one point when the uprising starts, y/n was still in the city when more serious fights start to break out but it's at a point where human protestors are still siding with robots to fight for their rights. So public fights are filled with chaos and it's hard to tell who's on who's side.

So what if y/n is trying to get out of the increasingly hostile environment, but to do so they have to cross the very real battlefield that has broken out on the streets. But when doing so they manage to spot a familiar figure among the chaos. They see Sun and, ignorant of what he's been doing since getting out, they try to reach him to maybe try and convince him to get out of there with them, concerned for his safety. Sure, he did seem to hate them to the point they felt compelled to leave, but this situation surely guarantees putting differences aside so they can get to safety together right? They have to admit to themselves they still care about him.

So they make their way to him, nearly losing him a bunch of times as they hide from and dodge all the struggles going around them, his brigthly colored rays the only beacon they have to get to him.

And then they manage to reach him. His back is turned to them and they're so close, but they're afraid yelling out his name will get them unwanted attention, so they instead try to get Sun's attention by grabbing his arm.

And then it happens so fast. Sun turns around like lightning at the touch and it's only because they flinch back that they are alive. They still are struck with something sharp (maybe on the arm that had reached for Sun, maybe their side. The dramatic part of me imagines it's their face that gets hit though) and they stumble back, falling to the ground, holding a bleeding wound and looking up in disbelief, finally taking in Sun's appearance as he stops and also notices who exactly it is he just slashed at.

nonnie i need you to know this ask has been plaguing me literally all day omg. of COURSE you can offer what if scenarios!!! i will say that anything i have written so far in the bleeding wires au timeline is not cemented in stone. anything can change depending on what i feel fits/matches well with the kind of story i want to tell! and above all else, we are exploring different ideas and scenarios together <3 picking robot superiority sun apart and discovering what makes him tick c:

(as per usual, cw for apocalypse elements, such as death/murder, violence, and blood)

so... i'm imagining in this scenario that you do not see sun on the tv news, therefore you have no idea he's alive. after all, you think he's dead--or the robot equivalent of dead anyways--based on what you've seen of the pizzaplex burning down.

the window for you managing to escape the city is getting smaller and smaller with every second that ticks by. you can hear the chaos from your apartment--the screams, the explosions, the car alarms and mechanical whirring of robotic parts. you peek beyond your curtains and are unable to make sense of what you're seeing. there are humans fighting humans. robots fighting robots. humans fighting robots. robots fighting humans. it is an utter mess and you just know that you need to get the hell out.

keep your head down and run, is what you tell yourself when you slip on your bag filled with all the supplies you can fit in it. most of the people in your building have either evacuated or barricaded themselves inside. you make your way down to the first floor and take a side exit.

everything is louder, with you in the open. there is smoke in the air--hazy and stifling--from electrical fires that have erupted on the streets. you creep down the alley you're in until you reach the front edge of the building so you can peer out at one of the roads.

the fighting is close. to your right, you can see the blank faces of service bots with jagged arms that they use to attack some humans using a garbage lid as a shield. past them, there are other humans trying to hot wire a car while another robot stands guard in front of them. to your left, there is nothing but carnage. your eyes glaze over the blood and oil splattered across the sidewalks, the bodies that you can see propped up against buildings. swallowing down the nausea, you decide to stick to the alleys--at least until you reach the main highway, which you know you can follow until you exit the city.

it's--hard. staying out of sight. there is a constant mechanical droning in your ears that keeps you on your toes, ever so wary that a robot's creeping up behind you. in the far distance, you think you hear rapid gunfire. sweat gleams across your forehead and runs down the sides of your face. the smallest of sounds makes you flinch and duck behind garbage cans or dumpsters. you do your best to stay away from the center of the city--where it is inevitably the most chaotic--but somehow you step out of an alley right into a catastrophic intersection not too far from the precise area you'd been trying to avoid. and the worst part? you have to cross it to get to the highway.

as you stand there, heart in your throat while your gaze flickers rapidly across the scene to pick out the safest escape route, you catch a glimpse of something bright far to your right. yellow and red. your eyes latch onto sharp rays and you swear, you swear even amidst all the gunfire and screams, you can hear the distant jingling of bells.

it's sun.

you are frozen in place, staring at him. your grip tightens on the straps of your bag. and you wonder if you are perhaps imagining things. if maybe you hit your head somewhere by accident, or if the smoke saturating the air has gotten to you. but no, you realize, the longer you stare at him. it's really him. you thought he had perished in the pizzaplex fire, nothing but a pile of melted scrap and wires.

you were wrong.

you don't know what to do, for a heart-stopping moment. your mind races as you plaster yourself in the shadow of a nearby store. you... never thought you would ever see him again. you are reminded of the way you had just... left. tired, as you were, of his passive aggression and underhanded comments. the way it seemed like you were never wanted, in the daycare. you're... not sure if you can even face him. not sure if you want to, for that matter.

(he had broken your heart, in a way, in that little daycare. never seemed to really like you, no matter how much you tried with him. tried to get him to understand what he was feeling, tried to be his friend. he never cared for you, even if you had cared for him)

but--as you take in all the destruction around you, the humans bleeding out on the street, the robots tearing themselves apart--you come to the realization that you can't just leave him here. it would mean inevitable death, for him. there is no mercy from any side in this chaotic revolution. maybe the two of you can escape together. maybe he can look past what you are to work with you. deep inside you know you don't want to see him get destroyed. the past year of your life grips tightly onto your shoulders, haunting you even now.

it's like all the sound around you has been reduced to an incessant hum. your sight closes in on sun, defending himself from some robots.

and then you step away from the shadows and into the chaos of a battlefield.

it is the hardest thing you've ever had to do. ducking behind cars and the broken bodies of robots. sliding past humans on the brink of death as they clutch at wounds that pool blood underneath them. dodging the errant swings of arms shaped like knives and axes. the stench--the stench is what gets to you, making your stomach churn. but you don't let it sway you.

all you see are those bright, bright rays.

closer and closer. closer and closer.

and then, you're stepping up behind him, voice caught in your throat as you lay a hand on his arm. your heart beats loudly within your ears.

it happens quickly, too quickly for you to process.

one second you're gripping his arm. and the next, you're automatically flinching back when he snaps himself around. there's an eruption of pain along your cheek, the sudden gush of something hot as you cry out and stumble back. your feet trip over themselves and you feel the rough impact of your tailbone against the concrete ground.

(the scar that will form from this injury is ugly and jagged without proper treatment. you never find peace in your reflection. you will have nightmares of this for months)

your hand clutches at your cheek, but you aren't focused on the pain right now. instead, you stare wide-eyed up at sun.

sun, who stands before you with his head blocking his namesake behind him, casting an odd halo of light around his faceplate. who stares down at you with wild optics and pinprick pupils atop a savage, cruel smile. whose hands and arms and pants are drenched in ruby red.

you stare and you stare. there is only you and him, in the middle of the end of society as you know it. you don't dare breathe.

and then his pupils dilate. he blinks down at you, and for a moment you think he looks taken aback. but you are in a state of shock, your eyes lingering on his sharp fingers. lethal.

("attack the ones in power first, then the weaker ones," sun tells you one quiet day in the daycare. you tilt your head at him in curiosity and he only grins at you, something sharp lining his mouth. "from then on, carnage.")

you should not be here.

your name slips from his mouth and it's like a straight injection of adrenaline coursing through your veins as you realize that you need to get out of there. it's not safe, he's not safe, you should have left.

he says your name again, one of his hands lifting as he takes a step closer to you. there is something in his expression you cannot place, something that is simultaneously soft and angry and longing. and that's all the sign you need.

(sun stands there, looking down at you as you clutch your cheek. and he wonders if he is imagining things. if he hit his head somewhere, or got his wires tangled in the elation of being free. he stares down at you, gaze flickering all over your face as he attempts to decipher what he is seeing in your expressions.

horror fright awe wonder awe awe awe.

he thought you were gone. that he would never see you again. but- you're here. before him after he has thought about you day after day after day. loathing you for leaving him in the daycare. longing to see you again. you left him, you left him in that place. he thought you were friends. you left him feeling like his insides were all scrambled as this want gnawed at his chassis

grab grab grab do not let go go go)

you bolt, scrambling back and up so you can run.

you don't dare look back. your breathing becomes ragged, your heart thunders in your chest. you don't stop, not even when your name gets screamed out behind you--loud enough, it feels, to disrupt the chaos around you.

"come back!" sun roars, but you are long, long gone. and you will be, for years to come.

[judgmentiii]

N25 KAITO X GN!Reader

(Not proof read... as too I am a beginner writer so yes, it's not the best)

And as per request to be @ is @kotarchipelago

Little note you're a Virtual Singer here!! This is a bit based on that area convo, but the reader is not n25 rin or miku! Lastly, you kinda?? I made the reader a little playful or well teasing... I know it doesn't match the Empty Sekai, but I guess you could say that they took on a bit from Mizuki and N25 Luka's personality

You were feeling extra tired today. The sekai seemed much more claming than usual. You couldn't help but lay behind the broken pillars of the sekai and rest. Sure, it's uncomfortable at times, but the atmosphere around was truly so calming. Your eyelids fell really quickly. When you awoke, you felt something soft and uneven under your head.. You slowly opened your eyes, the light of the dull and emptiness of the Sekai wasn't the thing you first thing you met with this time, but a blue haired man. Your head was on his lap. How'd you get here? What is happening? You felt relaxed but at the same time confused. It took you second to realize it was KAITO. You could also feel something stroking your head? It was nice, I guess. It felt like a massage but by KAITO? That's something you'd never think would happen in your time here in the Empty Sekai... He hasn't noticed you're awake, yet he was just staring off into the seemingly endless distance of the Sekai. You raised your hand and poked his cheek. Which startled him. He suddenly looked down and saw that you were awake. You've never seen KAITO's face so red and embarrassed before!

"What do you think you're doing, KAITO?"

You chuckled and he seemed to be a bit speechless. This is the first time you've seen KAITO nervous? Or perhaps embarrassed. "Cat bit your tounge?" You spoke again and finally sat up. "It's nothing, is it suddenly wrong to be kind? Aren't you always telling me to be nicer?" He finally spoke and crossed his arms, his face seemed to get back to normal. If you look close enough from his cold or seemingly angry expression is a small blush. "So? Are the kind of man w-" you tried speaking again yet got cut off by KAITO. "Shut up." He continued "This never happended." He then stood up and tried leaving. "You know I'm not the type to just forget?" You said in a teasing tone, and stood up too, to follow KAITO. "Don't follow me." He turned to you and shot a cold glare, well you would listen if it weren't for the blush on his face! "Don't be embarrassed, it's a cute gesture no?" You chuckled mockingly. He didn't respond, and covered the lower part of his face with his hand, looking down. "Hey... don't be ashamed! The massage was nice!" You teased again.

KAITO removed his hand from his face and the other rubbed the bridge of his nose. You can't tell if you're getting on his nerves or he's embarrased. You were about to speak again, until you heard some chatter from behind you. "Oh! [Name]! And.. KAITO? We we're looking for the others." Mizuki spoke and a bit surprised KAITO was there too, beside them was Kanade. "Isn't it late for you guys, hmm? Still.. what is it do you need?" You tilted your head, you also turned around for a second to check on KAITO, but he just disappeared. Typical. You sighed and tuened back to the two. "I made a new song. I wanted to hear you and the other's opinions." Kanade spoke and handed the phone to you. The song played and it was a calming, and slow tune. Similar to what of a lullaby, the lyrics bittersweet too. The song soon finished and you handed the phone back to Kanade. "You are quite talented, Kanade. Sadly, we could've asked KAITO. I'm afraid he ran of to who knows where." You shrugged and smiled at the two. "I remember seeing Len and Rin play somewhere close by.. though it was probably was hours ago. I believe you could find them, maybe?" Kanade nodded and Mizuki spoke. "Thank you so much, [Name]! See ya!" Mizuki winked and waved by as they grabbed Kanade's arm the two walked away.

(Mizuki and Kanade's POV)

"See, probably if [Name] likes it the others probably will too!" Mizuki encouraged, Kanade was about to speak until they heard someone call them from behind. "Hey." The two turned and saw KAITO. "Ah! KAITO, can we ask you to do something!" Mizuki said, and Kanade handed the phone. "A new song? Huh?" KAITO sighs and plays the song. Kanade and Mizuki were more nervous for his reaction. You could see a small smile but then it quickly faded.

"It is nice. Yet, it feels rushed. You showed the others a new song just a few days ago. Then you come and bring another one. Can I ask my question now?" He sighed and crossed his arms, the cold stare looking down upon the two. "I wanted to ask, eh... How has [Name] been doing the past few times you've visited them." KAITO's voice got a bit softer, and you can see some traces of embarrasment on his face. He rubbed the bridge of his nose once again, trying to regain composure. "Ohh? Well nothing much, she's been normal!" Mizuki tilted her head, they seemed to try remembering anything but yet seems they had nothing left to say. Kanade jsut nodded her head agreeing with Mizuki. "Okay." KAITO says and walk pasts the two. Mizuki caught a glance at his face and he was a blushing mess. Mizuki seemed to have gotten a hint on whats going on with KAITO..

[ryleektv]

Lorenzo Berkshire Headcannons

Part 3

warnings: language, mean enzo (per usual tbh), some NSFW (i'll put a divider before it), manipulation to the max

can you tell he's my favorite yet?? 😭

WC: 660

• runs. gets up ungodly early on completely random days to go running in the mornings and brag about how healthy and fit he is all day

• like there is no schedule to it, he just gets that 3am urge to get his shit together and decides to go running the next morning

• actually good at it though (i run and trust it is not easy 💪😔) and takes long as showers afterwards because bud cannot stand the feeling of being sweaty 

• if he is dating you and actually likes you, like straight up in love with you (i fear this is next to impossible but we going with it) you will get the best treatment of your life, you will not ever be in a better relationship

• you're getting genuine royalty treatment, gifts, constant love and affection, the whole nine yards

• but if bro doesnt actually completely like you, you're getting love bombed to another astronomical level

• down bad - taylor swift. its him.

• will embed himself in every single part of your life simply to know that when he eventually breaks up with you (or becomes bad enough to force you into breaking up with him.. that way you take the blame) you will not be able to do anything without thinking of him

• i've seen a few people talk about that and i fully stand by it

• walking to hogsmeade? lorenzo's bought you your favorite things from every one of these stores. 

• eating dinner?? lorenzo personally molded your food taste to match his so now you cannot eat your new favorite foods without it being all about that first time he made you try a bite of his. 

• trying to sleep in your own bed in your own room?? dont you dare forget all those times lorenzo snuck in just to lie next to you until you fell asleep, talking about the bullshit future he convinced you would happen.

• you dare have sex with another man?? lorenzo did it- you- better and you both know it. 

• watching your favorite movie? he claimed it was his favorite too after you two watched it together and then proceeded to watch it specifically with you about a million times after

• simply trying to hang out with your own pet?? too bad it liked lorenzo better (bro even has the poor cat love bombed) 

• "you used a fork once... turns out forks are fucking everywhere" type shit

• in conclusion, you will barely survive the breakup and he's planned it all out 

• also knows damn well you'll probably come running back because he made all these moments with your favorite things good memories, so now you're constantly associated with these good memories of him that he made to wash out the bad moments that way you'd be more likely to forgive, forget, and come crawling back after a few weeks (at the most) 

18+, MDNI

• firm believer in the fact that he's a switch but you wont know that unless you're in a committed relationship with him (or you get him drunk enough tbh because as i've said before, buddy gets drunk and overshares like crazy) 

• otherwise everyone just thinks he's dom because no way in hell is he subbing for some one night stand 

• you get him all wrapped around your finger and actually manage to fix him up enough to date him for real though, bro is a MESS

• sex drive is through the ROOF

• it's almost abnormal. none of his friends are getting busy THAT often 

• does not give half a shit though

• king of foreplay that ends up borderline better than the actual sex 

• man is a master with his fingers but also the biggest munch known to man?? heavenly combination. 

• not an asshole when it comes down to this type of thing though and will make sure his partner is satisfied. 

• wont sit there rubbing the inside of your thigh for a half hour thinking he's doing something!!!!! what a relief!!!! 

pls feel free to send in any requests because i need some ideas and i really feel like writing something

[redbleedingrose]

🧠 eris 😘😈

I cant believe it took me this long to write one for my main male <3333

Maybe I was saving the best male for last, as per usual, SFW stuff first

Eris is the perfect mate. And I mean the perfect mate. He is so attentive, caring, loving, adoring, just everything under the sun that he could do to make you smile, he will. 

I want to start off by saying, I don’t think that there could be any other trope besides best friends to lovers for Eris. It takes so much for him to trust anyone, and he was definitely a loner before he met you. 

You basically forced your way into his life and his heart. 

And oh my god, the pining that he had for you. I mean constant flirting that he thought surmounted to nothing, but secretly had your heart fluttering. 

He could talk to you for hours about any topic and would never get bored. You could be talking about the most mundane thing like shopping or laundry or something complicated like politics or socioeconomics, and the conversation would just be so lively. 

Eris loves your laugh. It is def one of his top favorite sounds that you make, and he is constantly whispering snarky remarks or sarcastic comments to get you to laugh. 

Constantly buying y’all matching clothes so you both are known as the best dressed couple in Prythain. 

He also gave you access to the Autumn Court jewels when you were only friends?? He basically just nonchalantly handed you the key one breakfast morning to the safe, and said, “Have at it babe” 

And you were just shook??? 

And obviously you didn’t take anything, so when the next ball happened and you came in without any autumn jewels, he was like, “What happened? You didn’t like it?” and you are like “No, no, no. Er, they were stunning, but shouldn’t you save this for your future mate?” 

And he kinda just shakes his head and grabs you by the hand and takes you back to the safe. And then he picks out the jewelry himself for you. 

And he adjusts you in front of a mirror, and then puts the necklace on you. And his warm hands brush against your neck making your arm hair stand up and he leans in to press a soft kiss at the juncture between your shoulder and neck. 

You both are silent as he reaches down and pulls up your left arm, gently locking in the emerald and diamond bracelet before pressing a gentle kiss on your wrist. 

When his amber eyes meet yours, you feel it. And he feels it. That golden thread that ties your hearts together becomes alive and alight with a fire that only belongs on Eris. 

Anyways, y’all don’t make it back to the party 

Now he loves buying you jewelry, and he especially loves when he gets to play a part in designing it and picking out the certain jewels that will be used. 

Other things that are small but so romantic, he will hold your hand always. His warm hands always enclose yours wherever you are, in whatever setting. He needs to feel your touch to feel settled, and if you aren’t around, it usually sets him off in the wrong mood. 

He also does this thing where he wants to make sure that you are never cold. Constantly blowing warm air into your cold palms, letting you slip your fingers into his jacket pocket, he is constantly taking his cloak off to wrap around you, constantly taking off his sweaters before bed so you can go to bed in nothing but his warm clothing. 

OMG can we talk about his hounds for a second?? 

These hounds are supposed to be deadly. They are supposed to be scary and barking at you and chasing after you. 

But they are the sweetest, omg they literally love you more than they love Eris. They are constantly fighting to rest their heads in your lap even though Eris’ is wide open. Eris likes to act exhasrabated and annoyed but you know deep down that he loves it. 

He also loves going horse back riding with you, and having you sit in front of him so he can cuddle you close and hold you. 

You guys also love to explore autumn together and have absolutely gone skinny dipping and have fucked in the forest. Y’all are wilding. 

He was gifted the Vanserra Family Library, and it is only supposed to be kept within the family. For your 10 year anniversary, this male gave you the keys just for you. He had it rennovated just for you. 

Eris loves kissing your palm and the back of your hand before smooching all the way up your arm and into your shoulder and neck. He loves the giggles and squirming it illicits. 

He loves feeding you. This male will literally hide spoons and forks just so he can use his to feed you. He gets this smug smile lilting his face, as he tilts his head and holds out his spoon for you.

He def has a secret stash of gourmet chocolates that he only lets you have access too 

He is very insecure about the scars that have been left on his body by his father. His back is practically littered with scars from the whips that Beron used to use on him. He only begins to like it because you are constantly running your fingers up and down his spine and tracing the scars and kissing them whenever you have access. 

He loves napping with you, especially outside on the balcony hammock. He loves to pull you down into his lap and tuck your head under his chin and just stroke your waist and hips and squeeze at the flesh before he falls asleep 

Eris gets cuteness aggression with your cheeks and is constantly sucking or chewing at them. Like you can’t even be mad at the hickeys he leaves all over your neck because there are straight up hickeys on your cheek from the male. 

Definetly takes you out to vacation all the time. He just adores spending time with you, so he is taking you to cabins that are deep within the forest or the cottage on the seaside or treehouses that are literal houses. 

He also takes you out on dates all the time. He loves supporting the small busniess of Autumn and anytime he hears of a new restaurant, he is taking you there and tips sooo much. 

Dancing. 

You guys have danced in the rain, in the moonlight, on the beach, in the forest, in your room or library or his office. He is wordlessly pulling you in to sway with him without any music. Sometimes, if you are lucky, he will hum some autumn hymns for you. 

Sitting by the fireplace and reading your books together in silence while holding hands is one of Eris’ favorite past times. 

Okay some NSFW headcanons so MDNI!

I think Eris has the filthiest mouth. Some of the stuff he has said has had you cumming instantly on his cock. “such a dirty whore for your high lord” and “you are mine to use whenever I please” and “tell me who makes you feel this good?” and “Beg” or “Say please” and “Don’t cum unless I tell you to or else” and “Bend over or get on your knees” and “Gods, the amount of times I’ve fisted my cock to the way you moan” 

He absolutely loves fucking you with his tongue, he will tongue you until you have orgasmed 3 or 4 times before he even thinks about stuffing his cock inside. He also loves to finger fuck whatever cum is dripping out of your cunt after he is through with you. 

This male also is very exhibitionist. You love riding him while he is seated on his throne. He loves fucking you wherever and whenever. He has fucked you in the hallways, in the bath, in the stables, in the conference room, in the piano room, in the ballroom, in the throne room. Basically any and all surfaces that are sturdy enough in your home has been used. 

At this point, everyone is used to walking in on you. They just roll their eyes and quietly shut the door as they walk out. 

He absolutely has used his fire to tie you to the bed. 

He loves the feeling of overstimulating you until your legs are shaking and your body is convulsing with pleasure and feeling your core tighten around his cock, almost till he feels like he could get stuck in its warmth.

Mother forbid you try to close your legs and yank at his hair as he sucks and flicks your clit, he is spreading you back open with a slap to your inner thigh, “I wasn’t finished beloved, you have one more in you.” - obviously this is consensual, he would immediately stop if you safeworded. 

You love teasing him and he loves teasing you. Sometimes, you will only wear his sweater with nothing else and walk into his office to ride his thigh without even saying anything. Sometimes, he will slide his fingers up and down your inner thigh while you are in a meeting with other high lords, having a full conversation with Helion as though he isn’t cenimeters away from brushing your clit. He doesn’t even need to turn to look at you to know the effect that he is having on you. 

Ugh the way he moans when you suck him off, my goodness, you are constantly on your knees to hear him moan 

Breeding kink?? Need I say more???

Sometimes, Er will spit on your clit and rub it in. 

instant orgasm 

You love ripping his clothes off and he loves doing the same to yours. Ultimately, you are going clothe shopping maybe 4-5x/month because all your clothes end up shredded. 

OMG also??? He loves when you are only wearing a necklace or bracelet that he bought you while he fucks you. 

I get the feeling that he loves to creampie you, but also he loves cumming on your tits and then using his fingers to wipe it off, slipping them into your mouth and ordering you to suck. 

Hearing your laugh is one of his favorite sounds... hearing you screaming his name in pleasure IS his favorite sound. 

Anyway... your panties are constantly wet for this male and he doesn’t forget it. 

Sorry, this was all over the place but I just have so many thoughts for this male I cannot breathe frl. 

[rikeijo]

Today’s translation #759

Spoon.2Di Toyonaga Toshiyuki's interview

Part 2.

-- So a natural way of acting, that doesn't sound like anime, requires a lot of energy?

Toyonaga: That's my personal impression, but for voice acting, that has to match characters drawn in anime-style, there is a certain template that can be used as a base for it, but my plan was to ignore all of this, and instead make all lines my own, and in order to do that, you have to think about 'why is this character saying this line right now?', their background etc., all of it. I care quite a lot, to make this feel real. So it's maybe not very much exhausting physically, but mentally, it can be exhausting, sometimes. Because the longer you do it, the more you identify with the character that you play, and then you cry (laugh), so I try to balance it all well.

-- It makes sense! So, this time, Mitsurou Kubo-san is resposnible for producing storyboards - what was your impression, when you first read them?

Toyonaga: I feel that reading them is just like reading a new comic series by Kubo-san, and it's really so interesting, that it's a perpetual 'what is going to happen next?!' for me (laugh). The overall construction of the story, I should say? The comedy parts and the serious parts fit together so well, and it makes the storyboards very easy to read. I was also very curious to see how the world that she portrayed was going to be translated into anime. And you can feel that the love that Kubo-san has for figure skating is also a part of these storyboards, and I felt that we mustn't let that go to waste.

[Notes: Oh, those storyboards...😆 Yuri!!! is a special case anime for many reasons, but one of them, one that I personally was fascinated by ever since I became a fan, is why they are so unwilling to share this story and the characters etc. with fans.

I mean, the storyboards were there all the time and are still there, all somebody needs to do is to bind them and take them to a publisher. How much could they cost? Let's say they split it into episodes, and it's something like 5000 yens per book, 60000 yens total... (Expensive, but feels so cheap, when I'm thinking about it, rn😆) So many people would absolutely buy them, no matter the price. But you just know they will absolutely never ever publish them (and it was confirmed that they are absolutely perfectly readable, btw, and a lot of material had to be omitted to meet the time constraints).

Imo, it's always been a sort of Sayo&Mitsurou's protectiveness over the characters and the story, a kind of 'only we really know them, and it will stay forever this way ✨'... Yk, that's why there are only 12 episodes and one short comic by the original creators and an extremely small amount of quasi-canon stuff. It's really 'our story&our characters' >∞> money. Compare it to how animes usually have an endless stream of new content, like cd-dramas, short comics, games, collab games etc.]

[damonjuicyscock]

Playlist-Chapter 11: Acquiesce (90s Noel Gallagher X Reader)

Pairing: 90s Noel Gallagher X Reader

Warnings: language, a bit violent (a cricket bat if you know what I mean) a few spelling mistakes, maybe.

Words: 1681 (it's a bit shorter than usual, on purpose ;))

Summary: Oasis are in Rockfield Studios to record their second album. It goes well until Liam fucks up...

A/N: Heya Y'all ! Here's chapter 11 ! I hope you will like it. I chose Acquiesce as the song of the chapter to make it a bit ironic, knowing what happens in the chapter. I won't be publishing next weekend, I won't be at home. I'm going to spend Christmas with some members of my family, and I intend so enjoy this time with them.

Love y'all, have a BEAUTIFUL and SPECIAL Christmas and take care of yourselves !

Enjoy !

“Because we need each other We believe in one another And I know we're going to uncover What's sleepin' in our soul Because we need each other We believe in one another I know we're going to uncover What's sleepin' in our soul What's sleepin' in our soul».

In January 1995, Oasis fired Tony. The man was often fucking up during gigs, so they chose another drummer. That’s where Alan White, or Whitey as we all call him, made its appearance. And even if I was sad for Tony who had become a friend, Whitey was far better than him.

And he would be a great help for the new album. Because everyone, except him and I, was on cocaine or drunk most of the time, and he was really a great drummer.

May 14th 1995-Rockfield Studios:

Here we were in May 1995, in one of the studios that had welcomed good rock bands. Oasis were becoming iconic.

For what would become (What’s the story) Morning Glory?, Noel was constantly composing and writing lyrics until very late. Oasis were recording a song per day. Sometimes, I had to stop Noel for him to rest.

Though we also had good moments, like when we were playing football, when we watched the Blackburn vs Liverpool match, where everyone went crazy, like Liam who was playing with the extinguisher. It was our way of cheering, to have a laugh. Weird, but fun. After the match, Liam went to the pub. It was on May 14th 1995. I perfectly remember it, because this same night, Liam fucked up.

Noel and I were in studio. As per usual, he was writing a song, while I was smoking a joint, drinking a cup of tea and listening to music through the radio. At a moment, the radio broadcast Blur songs with the famous game “Whoever calls first wins tickets for a forthcoming concert.

I hated Girls and boys, Parklife wasn’t bad, but I liked To the end. I imagined myself dancing a slow with Noel. I unconsciously started to hum the melody, and I didn’t feel Noel’s gaze on me until the second chorus of the song and took my headphones off my ears.

What? I asked

Ye’re humming, I can’t concentrate. Even more when it’s a fucking Blur song. He answered

Oh soz. Huh… Don’t think I’m a Blur fan. I just like this one.

Ye’ve got the right to like what ye like. But I’ll start worrying when I’ll hear ye sing Girls and boys.

If it ever happens, kill me please. I said, laughing

Count on me. He chuckled

What’s the song’s name now? I said, indicating his guitar with my head

Champagne Supernova.

I’m all ears.

Noel smiled and played what he already had written.

I don’t know what you mean by “slowly walking down the hall, faster than a cannonball” but I love it.

I don’t know what the fuck it means either, but I think it sounds great.

He put his guitar aside, holding out his arms to me. I put my headphones down, and I approached him and sat on his lap. He wrapped his arms around me before kissing me.

I’m proud of you, you know that? I said

Oh yea? I work hard, me.

Yeah. And I also think you work too much. You better let me take care of you on your birthday.

I’ll let ye do whatever ye want. He answered

And I could even start now… I said, seductively, putting my hand on his crotch

Oh, do it then…

But we didn’t have the time to even start, because Liam was back from the pub and I heard multiple voices, meaning it wasn’t alone.

He entered the room, followed by a man and two girls.

And here’s our kid, the chief and genius of this band.

What the fuck Liam?! Noel said

Uh-oh… I said

I stood up, so did Noel. They started arguing. Noel was furious. Liam wasn’t supposed to bring anyone here. So I approached his guests.

Guys, the party’s over, let’s go out.

They nodded and followed me outside.

I’m soz guys. It’s just that Liam isn’t supposed to bring anyone here. It’s Oasis’s workplace, and the band prefers to keep things private. But don’t worry, you’ll soon have an album to listen to, they work hard for this.

Thank you. We’re sorry, we didn’t know… Liam invited us to come, so we followed. The man said

You couldn’t have known. But here’s a thing for you, if ever cross Liam’s path again and he’s drunk. Don’t follow him. He’s a nice and cool lad but tends to do some bullshit when he downed a few pints. And at least, you’ll avoid Noel’s anger. He’s not angry at you, he loves his fans, but he needs privacy when making an album.

We understand. Thank you for telling us kindly. One of the girls answered

That’s perfectly normal.

They left, and I started walking back to the studio. As I was about to walk past the window, it shattered in front of me, the extinguisher flying through it and landing at my feet, making me scream in surprise.

Me guitar ye fucking knob! Noel shouted

Uh-oh… I said again, this time to myself

I ran back into the studio, trying to make my way through the mess and all the broken stuff, finding the brothers punching each other.

Hey, stop this! I shouted

They didn’t, and Noel grabbed what was close to him: a cricket bat. And just like that, he hit Liam over the head with it. Liam was stunned, and he fainted.

Noel! I yelled

He’s finally off me arse. Come on, let’s go!

Whitey who heard noises entered the room.

What the fuck happened here? He asked

I’ll tell ye, grab the car keys, we’re leaving. Noel said

No we’re not! We have to take Liam to the hospital! I answered, panicked, in front of Liam’s unanimated body

He’ll get over it. Come on before he wakes up, are ye comin’ or not? Noel said

No! Noel, we… we can’t go and leave him like this! You might have hurt him real bad!

I started giving gentle slaps on Liam’s cheek.

Did you hear m… I started

But Noel had left at the moment he heard my no. I heard the car engine start. Liam regained consciousness, and as if he was a fucking cyborg, he got up, and did like his brother. He jumped out the broken window, grabbed a dust bin and threw it at the car that was now leaving.

Ye fuckin’ coward! He yelled

I joined him outside.

Damn right, he’s one. I answered

Liam yelled like a 4-year-old in surprise when he saw me, causing me to yell with him as well.

Fer fuck’s sake, ye scared the shit out of me Y/N, I thought ye left with him.

I was next to you, you dumbass! Didn’t you see me when you woke up in Robocop mode?

No I fucking didn’t. And I’m no fucking Robocop, it’s just adrenaline!

I can believe that! You leapt to your feet and literally sprinted towards the car without a care in the world.

Soz Y/N.

It’s okay. Are you well? I asked, worried for him

Me head hurts.

Come on, let’s put some ice on this head.

*

Here. Put this on your head. I said, handing him a tea towel full of ice cubes

Thank ye. He answered, taking it and putting it on his head

It’s bad enough you don’t have a lot of brain cells, and that cricket bat probably didn’t do you any good.

Ha-ha, very funny Y/N.

To be serious, what has fucking got into you Li’? You knew it would make him furious. Why did you do that?

I wanted to have fun with me fans, me. I’m a man of the people.

I can understand that but bringing them to the studio clearly wasn’t the best idea.

I know.

You should slow down on pints and cocaine Li’. It doesn’t help you. You’re often fucking up because of that. And I’m only telling you because you’re like my little brother. And because Noel clearly isn’t the one who’s going to tell you this.

Ye might be right. Thank ye fer caring Y/N.

It’s okay. Now how about I roll us a joint, we smoke it, and we clean up this mess?

Good idea.

And tomorrow, our kid will hear me. Don’t worry about it.

*

May 15th 1995:

I was having breakfast when I heard a car come closer. I put my cinnamon roll on the table, swallowed what was left of it in my mouth and went outside. Noel and Whitey were back. And the worst thing in all that, is that they acted as if nothing happened. I crossed my arms together and waited for Noel to approach me.

Heya love! He said, coming to kiss me

I slapped him.

You fucking idiot! I yelled at him

OUCH! He answered, his hand on his cheek

Your little brother could have died! What were you thinking?! Happily it’s nothing serious, it’ll only feel like a hangover, but it could have been! Did you think about that Noel?!

Listen, I’m soz okay ? But he broke me guitar and he pissed me off!

And so? Is that a reason to smash a cricket bat on his head and leave like a fucking thief?

Huh… no…

You’re smarter than that Noel, come on! Don’t you ever do something like that ever again, understood? I softened

Yeah, I learned me lesson.

You better.

[kristinamae093]

Hello and happy Sunday, friends! I hope it's been a great week for everyone! It's been hot as balls here with humidity to match, so I've been holed up inside perfecting my hermit-ism (I am a legendary hermit, I legit have messages in my inbox asking if I'm still alive.😂)

With that being said, I've been working on a lot in my moments of mental clarity! Not only with stuff here, but I'm getting back into photography as well, so I guess that's exciting 😬. I'm also working on a character profile for Kyla, my OC from HCTS that I'm fairly pumped about.

Okay, below is the stuff I beckoned you for 🤣😘. I guess you could expect at least one of these this coming week, hopefully maybe probably. Per usual, there's more than six sentences and everything is subject to change and probably will because helloooooooooo, it's me. 🤷‍♀️

One bad word below (thanks, Kyla.)

In this part of HCTS, Bastien asks Liam if he'd like him to contact authorities (regarding Constantine's whereabouts), Liam says we don't want the same thing happening as last time. So, I wrote a little one shot to fill in that blank. 😬 It's called An Apple A Day.

After a time, a loud engine could be heard in the distance. As it got closer, Liam realized it was a semi hauling something to them. The truck stopped a ways away and started backing up. He saw what it was that was being carried, but had no time to register it as the trailer started heading directly for one of the statues at the entrance to the garden.

"No no no–" Liam started, but the loud shatter as the marble hit pavement cut him off. The driver got out and apologized profusely, to which Liam could only clench his jaw and nod. It wasn't that the statue was important, the issue was the gathered press still taking pictures of the ordeal; he knew he was going to have to get creative to try and explain this.

Next, here's a peak into the next part of Here Comes The Sun ☀

Kyla handed Constantine his pole and he took it with wide eyes. “You didn’t tell me you were a professional! That was record time!”

Kyla shrugged. “I guess it’s one of the only good things I picked up from being raised in Farmville.” She chuckled.

A bark of laughter escaped Constantine, but he started coughing immediately after. Kyla quickly grabbed a bottle of water and handed it to him with a concerned expression. He took a swig, inhaled a few deep breaths, and finally calmed himself. He sat his drink down, grabbed his pole, and launched his line into the water as if nothing happened at all.

Kyla stood watching his every move, unsure of what to do. The pollen probably isn’t doing any good for his lungs. We should go back. Constantine sat back down in his chair and rested the pole close beside him; he let out a content sigh, closed his eyes, and raised his head to look up at the sky. He looks so fucking relaxed… Trent didn’t come down here, so maybe this is fine. Yeah… this is fine. I’m not going to mess this up for him.

Last, here's a excerpt from Ghosted titled The Apple Banquet.

“No.” Bertrand firmly responded as he pulled himself from Maxwell’s embrace, “You are not to blame here whatsoever Maxwell… In fact, I may be more at fault here than you..." He took a deep breath and quietly said, "I… I'm afraid I may need to come clean about something…"

Maxwell immediately moved and stood next to Liam with a furrowed brow. Liam felt his heart rate increase and stepped forward instantly. "What do you mean?"

"I… I worry you may find out anyway during your investigation, and I feel after my other atrocious actions I may as well come clean and take my punishment."

Bertrand was suddenly yanked up from his seat by Liam's strong hands. Liam held Bertrand by the collar of his sweater and pulled his face to eye level, nearly lifting him off his feet. "What did you do?"

-------------------------------------------------------

I don't know who I'm supposed to tag, so everyone is getting it lololol. However, please consider this your open invitation to share anything you may be working on, and please make sure to tag me in return if you do! (No pressure, but FEEL ALL THE PRESSURE 🙃)

Ghosted tags - @ao719 @txemrn @imashybish @queenrileyrose @kingliam2019 @riseandshinelittleblossom @dcbbw @tessa-liam @twinkleallnight @amandablink @cordonia-gothqueen @sfb123 @jared2612 @harleybeaumont @bebepac @charlotteg234 @busywoman @malblk21 @angelasscribbles @bascmve01 @iaminlovewithtrr @hopelessromanticmonie @mysticalfangirl @umccall71 @fuckitweball0000 @differenttyphoonwerewolf @lovingchoices14 @emersyn-in-cordonia @aussiegurl1234 @karahalloway @the0afnan

HCTS tags - @ao719 @queenrileyrose @tessa-liam @angelasscribbles @kingliam2019 @differenttyphoonwerewolf @bascmve01 @busywoman @belencha77 @mysticalfangirl @nestledonthaveone @lovingchoices14 @lunaseasblog @malblk21 @sfb123 @twinkleallnight @emersyn-in-cordonia @walkerdrakewalker @tinkie1973 @queenmiarys

[topazadine]

How to Use Chomolungma for Writing Adventure Stories; Or, the Plot Mountain Method

Estimated Reading Time: 13 Minutes

I've become a little obsessed with stories of Chomolungma lately. You probably know this sacred Nepalese mountain by its Westernized name, Mount Everest.

Anyway, I'm never going to scale the world's highest peak because I have no interest in losing any of my toes to frostbite or dying of pulmonary edema. Don't think I'm about to go dashing off into the wilderness.

BUT I think we writers can derive a lot of lessons from mountain climbers when plotting for grand adventure novels.

And why the hell is that? Why Chomolungma specifically? Well, I'll explain.

Just a head's up that my advice probably won't apply to romances, mysteries, or anything other than your typical "we're going on an adventure to slay a dragon or whatever." I don't have much experience in those genres and am not going to step on any toes.

As usual, this is just my opinion. There are thousands of different plotting tools out there, and this is only one of them. If you don't like it, then no need to use it. I'm simply giving you a different option. Alright, let's go!

I am sure you have seen this diagram a million billion times and are very tired of it.

It's not wrong, per se; in fact, it looks much like a mountain. Most stories do indeed have these same parts, and so will yours if you use the Plot Mountain method.

However, there's some things that this simplified version doesn't explain:

It acts as if you're just constantly ramping up pressure. There's no breathers to let readers catch up.

There are no differential tensions to keep interest.

There are no "mini-climaxes" that impress upon the reader a sense of danger.

We are not provided with an understanding of how to create different stages of the plot within the rising action.

There is no discussion of how characterization changes during the course of the plot.

It's not explained how to organize the falling action in order to provide continued tension and character development.

I also have some problems with other common plotting methods, specifically Save the Cat and the Hero's Journey. Mostly, I think that they get really tiring and formulaic because they're just so rigid. There's little room to add your own flare; you're plugging all the shit in as intended.

Save the Cat especially irks me because it basically demands that you divide up your story into little percentages so everything happens right according to this algorithm.

If I start to get a hint that your story was designed by adhering to these standards, then I can just predict what's going to happen and I don't care anymore. "Oh ... there's the B Story. I guess the Fun and Games is coming next. Yippee."

One time, I had someone beta read one of my manuscripts, and she complained that my story didn't exactly match this structure.

"I couldn't figure out where Act 1 ends and Act 2 begins!" she wailed. Well, given that I didn't design my story according to strict acts, it's no wonder you couldn't find them.

Also, I hate math. Don't infest my passion with my nemesis, please.

So, I challenge you to think a bit differently using my method instead. It combines characterization with plot and momentum to offer you a natural setup for a great story. Thinking of your story this way forces you to focus on how all elements come together, and it discourages you from piling on dumb shit that won't help.

My option is also more flexible; I'm not telling you exactly when and where the stuff needs to happen. That's up to you, babe. You're the boss.

Key elements of Plot Mountain

Your plot must be desirable for some reason.

Whatever goal your characters have should feel worthwhile. People spend their life's savings and a good portion of their lives to get to Chomolungma, facing down all the frustrations and disappointments to do it.

While your character may not necessarily know what is in store for them, they should nevertheless have a reason for wanting to achieve whatever you've got going on.

You need to "equip" your characters by giving them the skills and purpose necessary to tackle this challenge.

Mountain-madness-morons who think themselves "Chosen Ones" are generally the ones that fuck up and die. That's why you have all these rich tourists falling into crevasses, where their bodies are trapped forever.

Similarly, you must demonstrate to your readers that your character is somehow worthy of the challenge you're giving them.

Sometimes, this means they have the natural passion and inclination but need some training. At Chomolungma Base Camp, the native Sherpas give their charges some lessons in high-altitude mountaineering before they head off onto the mountain, even if they have experience. This is your "orientation session" for the characters that shows why they, specifically, can handle what you are throwing at them.

Every character has a reason for being there.

This is a good reminder for people who have a tendency to cram a million characters into their stories.

A Chomolungma expedition is not composed of random passersby who feel like going up a mountain today. Everyone there brings something unique to the table and must work in concert to achieve their goal.

This offers you many options for main characters and support characters. For example, an expedition team can have mountain climbers, Sherpa guides, porters, and a camera crew, and you can give your main cast similar roles.

Your characters have agency and make choices.

No one just kinda wanders up Chomolungma. They must consistently make the right decision, and it's rare for a deus ex machina to pop in.

Yes, things fit together to make things happen, and there are sometimes miracles, but for the most part, it is the preparation, experience, and some external circumstances (like weather) that decide whether someone lives or dies. No last-minute Hail Marys or interventions from on high.

There is a time crunch.

It's rare to summit Chomolungma in the winter because it's just too dangerous, so climbers need to head off during the spring and summer, before the weather turns nasty. There's a short window of opportunity.

Because the Nepalese government only issues a limited number of expedition passes each year, and they're so expensive, many people only get one shot in their entire lives. Everything has to go perfectly or they may never get to try again.

Additionally, being at altitude for any period of time is dangerous, which keeps people pushing for the summit even when they want to give up and go home.

You should show the pressure of your plot, explaining why it needs to be done right now rather than ten years in the future. We must feel that this is essential and that time could run out.

Every summit attempt is fraught with peril, and many have to turn back.

It is incredibly common for expeditions to hit bad weather and have to abandon the summit push; every climber knows and fears this.

Demonstrating that it's entirely possible not to hit your climax infuses the story with a sense of danger. It can also help you decide what might be more impactful and relevant to your story: having to turn back (which opens the door for a sequel) or getting to the summit and celebrating.

Not everyone makes it to the top.

You probably know that Chomolungma has at least 200 bodies littered across it, many of which have become signposts for other climbers attempting not to meet the same fate. There are likely dozens of others that have been blown away by the wind into crevasses or buried under snow.

Depending on your genre, you can and should show that others have failed, or even kill one of your characters during the "summit attempt" to highlight the peril.

Thinking of different plot points as camps reminds you that you need moments of downtime.

While you can't overstay your welcome on Chomolungma, you also can't be climbing 24/7; you'll straight up die. It's important to stop, take a break, and acclimate to the different altitudes as you keep going.

"ABC" stands for "Advanced Base Camp," basically right at the foot of the mountain. It's where you actually start your summit push. North Col is also known as Camp 1.

The camps, I think, are the key element of the Plot Mountain method, because they remind you that your story needs to "plateau" at a few different points to give your characters (and readers) time to breathe.

This doesn't mean that there's no tension at all, because things can still go bad at camp. It just means we're slowing down, recapping things, allowing for character development and maybe a bit of backstory.

You can also allow your characters to meet background characters at these camps, knowing that they will not be around forever. These background characters can offer helpful advice, sow doubt, or impress upon us the risks that will be up ahead.

Each "push" between camps is a little different, with unique dangers.

As you head up Chomolungma, there are different challenges to overcome between each camp; this may be steeper climbs or dangerous crevasses with only a tiny metal ladder to keep you from plunging to your death. Driving snow and fierce gusts can blow you off the mountain as you get higher and higher.

And, of course, there's the Death Zone at the top, where's there's practically no oxygen whatsoever and it's so freezing cold that you may lose your feet.

The danger rises with every push toward the summit, reminding you to build the tension and demonstrate the dangers in your story. After each camp, you'll show brand new risks that nevertheless fit into the plot.

A climax can't overstay its welcome.

After spending all this time preparing to reach the top of the world, climbers actually don't get that much time on the summit. It's freezing cold, the air is impossibly thin, and they need to head down before it gets dark.

Similarly, you need to let the climax linger just long enough to offer catharsis without boring everyone. This is the height of the tension, so keep it fast but thorough.

The summit isn't the end of the journey.

Many people rush to the climax and then spend almost no time wrapping things up, which makes the story feel incomplete. While the downclimb doesn't need to last as long as the summit push, you should still devote a chapter or two to the falling action, which may have its own dangers.

Characters must be changed by their time on Plot Mountain.

No one comes back from Chomolungma without changing. Maybe they have a renewed sense of purpose or a better appreciation for life. Maybe they have made friends, discovered themselves, gained better skills.

Or maybe they lost some toes while up there. Or lost a friend.

Whatever you choose, it must be clear that your characters have grown and evolved throughout the course of their story. They need to end up somewhere different internally, even if they are returning right back to base camp.

How to Use the Plot Mountain Method

Here's the major points you'll hit using Plot Mountain. This is a bit of a simplification, of course, because technically Camp 3 is in the Death Zone (above 26,247 feet), but look, we're fiction writers, not mountaineers.

Base Camp

This is the exposition, where you tell us a bit about the characters, the world, etc.

Base Camp -> ABC

We have a sense of momentum, that something is building up, but don't quite know what it is.

Advance Base Camp

The inciting event, where the character understands what is happening and must choose to accept or refuse. If they accept, they head up to North Col. If they refuse, well, you're going to push them up there.

ABC -> North Col

The first challenge (and the first chance to turn back). This is a sobering moment that impresses upon them that they are in peril, but it's not as risky as the next steps. If they came there against their will, this is when they start to get more committed and aren't refusing quite so much.

North Col

The first downtime. We learn more about the characters and get a better idea of the problem, but don't have all the details yet. Characters may still be a little delusional about what is happening. There may still be some resistance.

North Col -> Camp 2

The second challenge, which offers different dangers. The characters have faced difficulty now and have a better understanding of what is at stake. They are older, wiser, and less optimistic.

Camp 2

Characters may be questioning their ability, looking back down toward North Col and wondering if it would be cowardly to leave now. We have a better understanding of the potential dangers and the ramifications of failure.

Camp 2 -> Camp 3

The third challenge. The characters are fully committed and can't walk away. They know what they're going for and refuse to be deterred because they're so close to what they want. The dangers they face now give a taste of what the climax holds for them, impressing upon the readers that something enormous and risky will happen.

Camp 3

We are given a stronger understanding of this plot's full purpose and how it fits into the world. It's a time to stop and reflect on why this is important, what the characters have learned so far, and how their lives will change once they hit the climax.

The Death Zone

The dark before the dawn. Things are at their most difficult, but we're not quite there yet. The tension is extreme, and characters are truly fighting for their lives. They're scared, disoriented, and worn down by the challenges, but still willing to go on. There are no respites and no safe harbors. No one is going to save our characters but themselves.

Summit

Climax. It's fast, but not too fast: we get a chance to soak up what is happening, but we know that it won't last forever. There's a sense of pressure and the need to get out of the line of fire.

Death Zone Revisited

This is an opportunity to demonstrate how tired the characters are and the ramifications of their decisions. Things still feel fragile and dicey. We don't know whether the characters are out of danger just yet.

Camp 3

An opportunity to let the characters rest and reflect. We see the changes that have come about because of the climax and see them differently.

Camp 3 -> Base Camp

There's no need to linger all the way down the falling action; we don't require as much detail because we understand the world. Still, we should get a sense of how the characters navigate this new chapter of their lives and what they have learned.

Base Camp

The finale. It may be triumphant or heartbreaking, depending on what happened at the summit. Muted goodbyes, happy reunions, bittersweet reflection, and a sense that the characters are moving on with a better understanding of themselves.

And that's about it. You can add camps if you need to, or have little biovacs if your characters get stuck somewhere. You can find good places for description during those downtime moments. There's a lot to do!

I've created a masterlist of writing resources that you can peruse at your leisure, all for free.

The posts I write can sometimes take me hours - they're always intricate, always thoughtful. This one took me about 2.5 hours to complete.

I do this as a labor of love for the writing community, sharing what I have learned from almost 15 years of creative writing.

However, if you'd like to support me, maybe you'll consider buying my book? It's $0.99, which is about 7 cents for each minute you spent reading this post.

9 Years Yearning is a gay coming-of-age romance set in a fantasy world. It follows Uileac Korviridi, a young soldier training at the War Academy. His primary motivations are honoring the memory of his late parents, protecting his little sister Cerie, and becoming a top-notch soldier.

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[lserver362reviews]

This was the saddest fucking movie I've ever seen.

This review is going to be all over the place, but as per usual I'm going to start with a deeply personal overshare of where I'm at for this viewing. I'm seeing this as the first watch of the New Year after coming off of 2 months of deeply missing my sister, who lives in another state. This movie understands what it is to go through your little everyday needs while having a giant sibling sized hole in your heart. I sobbed at this movie, especially during the dream sequence of the afterlife, but throughout the whole film I was getting chills. I sobbed last week at Christmas Mass because the priest started his homily with a comment on how all of his Christmas memories are of him and his two older sisters, in the house that they grew up in, which has been sold so that place truly only exists in his memory now. The first thing I thought of when I woke up on Christmas morning was how my sister and I would always get up extra early, before our parents, and just sit together in front of the tree and look at the lights. That's what Christmas means to me. My childhood house is also now sold. I was so affected by Kevin's statement that he doesn't even need to be doing anything in particular with his brothers-it's just the being together. I will be going to my sister's for Christmas next year. It cannot be overstated how masterful Zac Efron is in this film. When David is announced as having the match against the heavy weight champ you just see Kevin embody every emotion. The betrayal, the holding himself together, the wanting to cry, the disappointment, the growing cold. Then again when Kerry gives his father the gun and Kevin bores his eyes into Pam as if to say, maybe if we just pretend we aren't here it'll be okay. I cried very hard at the sight of absolutely swelling Zac Efron cradle his little baby. So beautiful and you just know that this man will try his hardest to not be his father (whether that means running away to protect them from the curse or by remaining and being triggered by his own grief). There was such a delicate balance of conveying his limited worldview, wanting to live up to his dad's expectations (manipulations), and support his brothers above everything else. Just masterful from Efron, and I didn't think I'd see that to this level. I came to this movie because A24, I love Richard Reed Perry, and I'm a huge fan of the talent that is Harris Dickinson. I think the final straw was that A24 mailed me my zine which had the pinup of my baby, Harris Dickinson. I hope to continue to watch everything he does (plug here for FX's mini series, Trust). Every time Harris was on screen I had the dopiest grin on my face because he just makes me happy and especially so as David. And then the unexpected happened. I didn't know anything about the Von Erich's and I certainly don't know anything about wrestling (I did love the Netflix series, GLOW), so this was almost completely foreign territory to me. Wrestling is just heterosexual drag, right? I knew this movie would be sad, and I knew that I'm super susceptible to anything that showcases siblingship, but this was a new level. The tragedy of it all. Sometimes the movie felt clunky but that kind of fit with the body shapes thematically. Some lines, especially from the father didn't feel natural to me. I think Maura Tierney was outstanding for what little screentime she had. The music, the costuming, as well as the camera work was all superb. I also did like seeing Michael J Harney and Lily James. Also I LOVE when a movie has a, Thank God I'm A Country Boy, needle drop (looking at you, Pauly Shore's Son-in-Law)!!! Once again, I was crushed by the ending dialogue and the way this movie just gets what it means to love your family. I loved that two background wrestlers were actual Von Erichs! Maybe I should rewatch Blue Valentine or Dead Man Walking before saying this is the saddest movie I've ever seen but man, I have not sobbed like that in a theater before. I'm glad I managed to stick with it. This movie bonzo gonzo'd my heart.

[howlingrose]

I'm latine and I work at a company that does this,

(not exactly being a cashier, but constantly interacting with customers online) because their degrading wages match or even surpass, by a little, the minimum wage salaries you'd find here.

Keep in mind that minimum wage does not mean living wage. They're definitely not paying living wages.

The bright side for us is that we can get a fixed salary without having to leave home, which saves a lot of trouble and money regarding transportation and time. But I do still think that this is harmful to people. They're stealing jobs from people needing those jobs in their countries and they are still paying less than what our labor is worth to them. I do feel exploited and I do think the working class deserves better everywhere.

Weirldy enough, I can say that I love my job, so I'm lucky there. I like the interaction and I'm good at it. But I hate the company and I feel I'm being treated unfairly the longer I work there. I also suspect they pay less depending on the country, and I think workers from my country have it better than workers from other (poorer) countries.

Just for context, my job is related to culture, turism and travelling in Latin America (kind of, wont provide more info because I'm obliged to not complain about the company with anyone, only my legal partner, so I'm keeping it ambiguous), so probably it is something they need to outsource to Latin American workers in order to provide the experience they're selling, but they're definitely charging in US value and paying us less than 3$ an hour. And we hold their business in our hands.

Whenever you find out a company is doing this, question it, learn what it does. Is this a job someone could be doing locally? Does it make sense to outsource it? And if it does, maybe it is not bad to support it as long as the working conditions are fair for the workers. Which could happen... but it is not my case and I know it is not the case of many companies with this business model.

If you find yourself in a situation like this and if you care for the workers press the company for improving salaries, lessen the minimum worked hours per week (which are usually more than 40), allow workers to not work on holidays without being sanctioned and to take days off because of health reasons without being sanctioned, and implementing paid resting moments between shifts.

This is how life is for some of us, so keep speaking about it.

"labour optimization" holy shit

[ladyazulina]

Azu is Talking - Sleepy Hollow

I haven't seen, read, or heard anything related to the movie, the series, or the story of Sleepy Hollow, I just have my own definition and it's that… I'm feeling hollow inside, and oh so sleepy.

It's actually worrisome, for myself, that I'm actually feeling that sleepy. I know sometimes we need a lot more rest, especially if you go through one period after a rough pre-hormonal stage, sleeping so badly during the entirety of it. You are in dire need of rest. But I have felt the need and desire to sleep to escape or avoid certain circumstances and feelings. I want to sleep to avoid reality. And that's a worrisome approach.

Being able to notice it is a huge step and I'm aware of it, but doesn't make the confrontation any easier.

Weekly Quests Overview Monday: Publish weekly. Tuesday: Celebrate ninth month. Wednesday: Final edit of [REDACTED] adventure. Thursday: English homework. Friday: Penpal correspondence. Saturday: Coffee tasting.

Monday

Quest of the Day: Publish weekly.

I actually did it, yeah, it’s floating around there. But I don’t remember how the day went. I’m having difficulties writing a bit of these weeklies daily, so when I sit down to do the whole writing, it’s usually at the end of the week and I already can’t remember how it started. Unless it left an impression.

If I don’t leave proof in my calendars or in posts on social media, there’s no way for me to know what happened. I guess I spent most of the day trying to finish writing the weekly, and then I posted it when the sun started to set. After that, how I intended to finish one of my editing projects as early as possible, I spent a few hours progressing on that. And that was it.

I should actually give all my projects simple and easier code names so I stop calling them Project #1 and Project #2 followed by a whole needed description to refresh everyone’s—including me—memories.

Tuesday

Quest of the Day: Celebrate ninth month.

Time’s passing by, but I’m really liking collecting every 1st in my belt. This month, though, approached quicker than expected, especially after my partner’s birthday celebration, so we were… caught by surprise. Apart from our monthly routine, we didn’t know what to do. It didn’t make it any less special though.

We’re trying to spend every possible waking moment together because we already have distance between us, but being able to set aside a whole day for Just Us™ is really nice.

I mean, only one day per month is not enough, I’m addicted to those Just Us™ moments and I’m trying to fill our schedules with at least a small one every day (like with our coffee breaks), but that’s usually hard—we’re getting busy, have lives apart, friends, family, responsibilities, a large etc.—, so I can’t really complain with this one day. Sometimes, like last month, we got to sneak a second out, like for his birthday, and soon enough, in about two months, there will be a repeat, but for my birthday.

For which, by the way, I’m pulling together an advent calendar and I’m inviting folks, whoever wants to do something with me, to take advantage of it and set some time apart. You can read more about it in this Tumblr post.

I’m not gonna even try to lie, my favorite part was when my partner relented and we decided on our Iron Valley setting (named Lonely Hill) and created our characters. The random was A Strong Thing™ here, we matched in most of our dice throws and I was baffled. Actually, I believe that’s an understatement. But I’m so excited! He agreed to progress a little bit with our campaign every month, so I’m way too happy! I don’t know, I love Iron Valley, I enjoy it a whole lot, it makes me super happy, it never disappoints. So maybe you will be finding updates about this new campaign sooner rather than later 👀

Oh! Also, btw, I haven’t really been taking into account these days when I’m scheduling posts and stuff, so this week’s post from my Personal Campaign on Iron Valley ran unaddressed. Next week won’t be a new one because I will be sharing this week’s one and scheduling the next, so—sorry, guys! On our monthlies I’m not working on anything, I’m just spending time with my partner, so I neither went with the weekly review. Maybe when I work on scheduling stuff in my calendar, I should share it for accountability. Have I already said I like accountability? Maybe I just need friends…

Wednesday

Quest of the Day: Final edit of [REDACTED] adventure.

I received notice of this from the editor on the weekend, but last Sunday I was battling a hefty headache through the whole day, so I postponed addressing it. On Monday, I received a message from the boss saying that he would look at the editions first and then send it back to me, so I took it out of my schedule until after our monthly, so it was going to be this fine day when I went to look at it.

I wasn’t exactly going to work on the whole edition just on this day and that was obvious when I got to take a look at it. I had a strong hunch when the editor sent me a bunch of questions about the adventure, so I already was… not excited about this last effort.

Not excited doesn’t actually describe it.

The boss personally asked me to not feel disheartened by the editions, but it’s been hard. I spent two days, Wednesday and Thursday, addressing the grammar and narrative changes, suggestions, and edits. The whole ten pages were smeared in red and I could barely breathe through all of it. I needed to stop on the first day after the fifth-page mark before I called it quits, so I could only finish the last five the next day. Now, I just need to address the comments questioning the adventure and the questions the editor threw at me, which I can only say will be nicer than the harsh red editions, but for how much?

Backstage Thursday

Quest of the Day: English homework.

16 pages to fill, 8 from the Student Book and 8 from the Workbook, that could be easier if only I had enough patience to spread them across the week. But no, I just want to end with it when I start it, so I spend around two to four hours weekly growing mad with every passing page, wishing to finish for once, with usually stupid questions to fill. That’s only one unit. I have eight units, and fortunately, this one was the fifth.

I also had the second out of four quizzes, and with an 80%, I don’t feel like I aced it. I passed it alright, yeah, but I could have done better. My second attempt was even worse than the first, so goddess me.

I took care to finish the edition project of the nice and friendly boss before that, I just have to check the changes made by the writers and answer comments, with a big final pass when all’s done.

After English, I worked on my backstage task, one small step at a time. I need order and organization in my life even though juggling this many accounts is unsettling, but I’ll make it through. After I finish separating everything, having clear each account’s purpose, it will all run smoother.

With two projects in the final stages, I feel both better and worse. It’s just that last stretch, but I have had jarring experiences during that same time, so I’m trying to not follow the flashbacks. I can go through. I just have to make a last effort. This time next week I may be free of them, who knows?

At least, so I hope.

Friday

Quest of the Day: Penpal correspondence.

I mean, I wanted to.

I have my angel waiting for more than a month, but we’re not rushing each other, I just remember it every day when I check my email. I haven’t felt like it just yet, but I haven’t forgotten.

And a new email just came, from a penpal who took two years to answer back. I understand the circumstances and I felt happy and all excited about answering back and picking it up again, but my head isn’t there.

I hate forcing myself to answer, but sometimes there’s no other way. The time it takes me is the one I can use to parse how I am feeling, but also, I have been awfully busy as well.

Probably soon 🫶🏼 but it seems I’ll have stuff to do this weekend, so I’m not that convinced just yet. I miss them both dearly and horribly, it’s just a matter of time.

So, about my friend’s birthday gift- let’s better not talk about it yet.

I’m feeling like I’m taking Fridays as a resting day, consciously or subconsciously. I mean, if my body needs it, I shall give it, but it’s bothering me. Sleepy, I have been so sleepy. My head hasn’t been in the proper place this week, hurting way too much; I have also been receiving way too much noise as well, my surroundings weren’t helping, so I have needed the rest. One way or another.

I tried to nap, but I was drifting on and off, watching over a friend’s group chat and waiting for my partner to go have a flash coffee break (of flash it had nothing, he stubbornly stayed until he couldn’t delay his meeting anymore. Tsk), so I couldn’t actually rest but at the same time, when my partner called, it felt as if I had fallen asleep.

I understand there’s something within me trying to stabilize itself, and I’m trying to help to the best of my abilities, but those aren’t good at all. I’m doing all I can. If the best I can do is drop everything and attempt a nap, then that’s what I’m doing. I’m tired of fighting against my body.

It’s supposed to go better in the future.

Playful Saturday

Quest of the Day: Coffee tasting.

I have been eyeing this event for about a week. It’s a Coffeest or something like that, a festival about coffee, and how I’m taking a liking to coffee, it seemed like a good idea to go. I wasn’t all in, but I was going to go, if everything seemed alright around the date.

Everything wasn’t alright around the date.

One of my older cats died a few days ago and I found the body, it was a gore, dreadful, gruesome scene. I had been with him just a few hours prior, so it was also hard to believe.

I have already been feeling down, discouraged with the [REDACTED] adventure stuff, and now this. I didn’t think I was in the mood to go coffee tasting.

In the end, there neither was money. My partner offered to pay for my entry, but I didn’t want to feel forced to go, so I delayed it to the last possible moment, to really confirm if I was going or not. I didn’t. And my mom spent a whole day apologizing for that, because she was the one bringing the event to my attention. I didn’t mind missing it that much, but it feel nice to be acknowledged.

So, I went back to my original plan. Checking changes and answering comments, progressing on my solo witchy game, and starting the second stage of the [REDACTED] adventure’s final edition. I ended doing just 1.5 of all that.

I checked the changes and answered some comments from the editing project alright.

I discovered a few details of the universe of my solo witchy game, but didn’t exactly made any progress apart from formatting-wise.

I didn’t even touched the [REDACTED] adventure. It isn’t even going to star in the magazine issue of this month; I still have the same deadline (two weeks), but it’s not coming out just yet.

I already started the weekend feeling sour, I didn’t want to make it worse. Especially with the outing I have today, one I’m not all that convinced of going. But it’s a family one, and I think I should go. I mean, I actually should be out there, but I’m scheduling this post, so I’m not knowing for certain until it arrives, so let’s hope I’m going and I’m having a nice time or if I stayed, I’m also having a nice time.

For next week, apart from the [REDACTED] adventure and the editing project, I’m not aware of something outside of my (thematic) schedule. I’m planning on having a meeting with my friends on Sunday, we’re still tweaking the details, so I’m not all that sure just yet. Let’s just wait and see.

I have never asked before, but how is your life going? If you ever feel the need to talk with someone, you can reach out to me, I don’t bite. I mean, only my partner, heheh.

[psychelis-new]

Hi, lys, i’m here again :)

I’d love to ask about two dreams that i had, if you don’t mind.

In the first dream, i was looking into the mirror i think and i was touching my hair, it looked very curly (my natural is coily but at the moment it doesn’t really have a pattern). It looked nice, in a way that when i woke up i said “i wish my hair looked like that!”. I was wondering if you knew what’s the spiritual message of hair in dreams because it’s not the first time that i’m looking into a mirror and my attention is being brought to my hair.

~

the second dream is something totally different. so basically i dreamt about a tea leaf card ( i don’t know if you are familiar with them but they’re used in readings), i turned it around and it had a month on it. so when i woke up i said to myself “this is just my subconscious doing subconscious things, it can’t have a deeper meaning” but then the same day a reader that i follow posted a reading titled “most important months of 2024 for you” so that obviously caught my attention and when i clicked on the third group, she mentioned the month i had dreamed about and what it would bring. the reading was positive, but the thing is that it’s not the first time i dream of a month/ season and then it arrives and nothing significant happens. also, i feel like every time i ask for clarification from my guides i don’t really get it so i find it weird that this time i had a dream and right after i was shown this reading. it just feel too /easy/, if you know what i mean. it feels weird lmao.

rather that just having an interpretation of this dream, i’d also love to know if you have had similar experience and how it things unfolded for you after that? :3

Hello! (Got the other ask as well, dw! I'm just too lazy to screenshot and add it lol, sorry)

Hair in dreams can have different meanings according on what you dowith them, how they look (short/long, curly/straight, soft/intricated... also the color) and how you feel. Seeing that usually you look at yourself in the mirror, could be that you're asked to do some self reflection over something that has happened, or maybe on repressed emotions of yours or... to acknowledge your self worth and express yourself, to let go of trying to fulfill others' desires and just be you, cause you can be that confident in you. Mostly I believe it's a sign of checking what is not working (emotionally, what is stressing/hurting) and nurture yourself.

Yeah I know of tea leaf cards. I don't use them but I have seen them being used! This is not really an interpretation you're asking for, but just an opinion Ig? :) Anyway imo when we dream of dates/months, it depends on what the dream is about. Sometimes, as when we see them in readings, they're not to be taken as per se (not to mention in pacs they may not be for us, but you know this better than me). I mean, at times there's a different meaning to them for us personally eg. December is the ending month of the year, could also mean an ending is approaching. It's also the month of Christmas (if it's related to your culture ofc) so maybe there may be a gift or you may be feeling more cozy during that time or spend more time with dear ones... Another thing to take into consideration is that we may also need to stay in a matching energy for that something to happen in that month/date. Again, depending on what it is about, we may go through trials or fallbacks in our healing path and the "something" may not happen at that specific time cause we have changed our energy (maybe when we dreamt of it, we were in another mental/emotional/energetic situation). Since dreams are very intimate and personal (we get downloads/infos strictly for us and from us), it doesn't mean it won't happen anymore and we lost our chance, it means it has been postponed to when we will be ready again. Especially if it's something that still matches our path. (Basically, as in readings, we do have the power to make our path anyway, and the dates we come across through it should not be taken as "expiring dates"). Other times, those dreams can be real predictions. Especially if you get more similarly-themed dreams, at least for what it concerns my personal experience. It's like they show you a path and support you until you take the right action and make it happen (trust your guts on this). This is my experience: on December 2022 I got some kind of confusing news and it gave me huge stress. I think... yes in January 2023 I got a dream in which I dreamt of a specific date (March 8th). I don't dream of dates very often so that kinda stood out but for the "wrong" matter: the dream was about a slightly stressing situation in my life (unrelated to the one I discovered in December) solving by chance (I waited but nothing happened about it on that date. Still...). In between February 2023 (I don't remember when exactly) I started having recurring dreams about a blonde woman helping me solve a situation. I got like 3 dreams in 4-5 close nights, two of them were on following nights. Everytime the issue I was having was different, but everytime it was a blonde woman coming to give me support and a solution. Long story short: a couple of days after the last dream or so, I decided to make a phone call and I got an appointment for March 8th (but I honestly had forgot about the first dream at that point: I remembered and connected the dots months after it was all done!). On that date a blonde woman literally helped me out and relieved my big stress. :) For how I see it, the situation I dreamt of in January was just a sample still pretty unclear in my unconscious, and all of the dreams were there from my Guides to suggest me: it'll be fine, dw. Just do what you know you have to do and can do.

I totally understand that you may feel a bit "weird" (that's not the word for the emotion I was searching but yeah, let's keep that). Try to stay positive but do not let the expectations do it all (at times we may wait so much for a date and get disappointed, especially if we have moved in the previous months just waiting for that date "to free us" or to just make it all better. Or for a specific event that wasn't the one supposed to happen anyway in the first place). And I mean not in a way "Do not believe it", but as in acknowledge it, be thankful, stay hopeful, but focus on you and on your path, on what you can actually do too to get there. I'm sure further infos will come for you, be patient. And remember not all the times things go the same way: this is exactly what ruins/blocks us in life too. We base ourselves on how things went in the past (especially if they went "bad/not as expected"), and so when things seem to repeat similarly, we don't trust them to go any differently. Not even if we're shown more proofs (but that's human: we're trying to defend ourselves from the pain of being let down once again -especially if we have been let down/abandoned a lot in life-. But maybe... we can try anyway? Maybe it's all about changing perspective, staying more open to the possibilities).

Best of lucks! Take care<3

[truckreincarnation]

Shattering Pain | Avery | Trial 2.1 | Re: Frank, Harriet | ATTN: Frank

All of this case was a fucking lot, as per usual, and the newly re-named Avery was not happy about it in the slightest, to understate things by a lot. Whatever he was feeling specifically though… the majority of it was being held Back and out of sight while he trudged through the water to sit in his seat, expression part way between worry and a scowl, not sure which to settle on. And then, he listens, keeping silent even as all of his feelings persist.

At least this time, with his changed eyes, he can direct his aura where he looks, down at his desk alone, instead of at his neighbors when he needs to.

He does glance at Frank momentarily, and Bian for a time, before nodding just once to Meili and then Harriet at some things vaguely, but… finally, it’s their time to speak up. 

“I… Yes, the first blood and injuries definitely happened to Perry while she was in the tree, and then as she fell out of it as well, making that the start of the trail. I… think I have a good understanding of what could have happened there, though I’m slightly uncertain as to why it started. I think… its need to describe exactly what was found there, or go over Perry’s injuries as well and what was around the location of her body in the crafting room, so I… I can start doing that. And I’m warning you now that I’ll be talking about it.”

A little in-character warning for the description of harm to come, because most everyone else seemed to have been avoiding it. He does give a small nod to Harriet first, though. 

“First… I believe that the tree with the makeshift hammock in it was Perry’s regular sleeping spot, as I’ve spotted her there before. The hammock was made of a regular sheet originally from the dorm rooms, and the rest of the bloodied bedding found on the ground under the tree also seemed to have been from there.“

"And as has been said before, the hammock sheet in the tree did look like it had been sliced, though only half of the tear was clean like from a blade, while the other half was more ragged, possibly from gravity or physically tearing it.” 

“Of note so we’re all on the same page, near the ragged side but not exactly on the tear of the hammock, there was only a tiny smear of blood. Meanwhile, there was also a blue bandaid stuck to the hammock near the portion that was more clearly cut, which as Harriet just mentioned, likely came from the blade of the Yuliya doll that was missing its covering band-aid.”

“Of note, there was a small bit of blood on that blade, as well as a fiber that was the color of the hammock stuck on it, though I’ve purified it since then. We also… took the time to check the width of the blade against Perry’s injuries, and it seems like it matches the small cut on her cheek, but no other injuries.”

…Avery pauses, allowing that to… maybe sink in a little bit for everyone else. Then… they take a deep, slightly shuddering breath, before getting themself to continue talking. They’d already warned the others what they’d be talking about, but now it was time to really get into it.

(CW: Detailed Injury talk, Broken bone mention)

“As for the many injuries around Perry’s arms, legs, and throat… There are 15 of those kind in total, and they’re all not especially deep like stabs but also not consistent with each other, all varying in width, length, and depth by a bit. Looking closer as well, I noticed splinters of wood in them as well, which… leads me to think that they happened as she fell from the hammock and hit a lot of branches, which seems to fit the blood stains found on various branches of the tree that were in a pattern that makes that theory possible.”

“She also had… multiple broken bones according to Shroud, that being her right ankle, her left humerus, and three of her ribs. I… imagine those also could have occurred in the fall.”

  (CW: cont, Injury description)“I… I don’t know if what happened at that tree was just… a freak accident, or if anyone was there to cause it and set things in motion. But… I… have a hard time thinking that the killing blow was anything other than the shatterstone crystal that exploded, which… I’ve worked with those before in… my bomb making. They explode when broken over a large area with a large amount of force, and it doesn’t take much more than being dropped on the ground to cause that.”

“They’re… extremely dangerous, and I have… a hard time believing that the shards would have only struck and even gone through her chest but nowhere else on her body if she was just… holding it, or… or something like that. But I don’t know what happened in the crafting room either. If… if anyone has any further questions about how the shatterstone functions though, I can probably answer it.”

(cw: end) 

…So it was a type of crystal that HE had been using and experimenting with before, huh…? Ahaha… 

Once again though, he doesn’t even try to give his own testimony, apparently not finding doing so a priority in all of this. And to be fair, he had a hell of a lot to say. And in the end… of the testimonies shared so far, though there’s a lot of details that might be nice to know, only one thing stands out to him at least at first, as he turns to Frank, going a bit quieter now.

“…Just… to get a better idea of things. Frank, can you… say where exactly you saw Perry, and… what it was you both talked about, if you can…? And just… do you know if she was already… wearing that headband too, when you saw her?” 

He wants instinctively to apologize for even asking it, and for everything Else too, but… he knows that won’t do any good. Not when every time he says the word ‘sorry’ someone tells him not to or worse, entire fights break out. So now, he certainly won’t.

[karahalloway]

The only person she had, was Drake. It was often just the two of them at dinner, Regina taking hers in her room while Constantine and Liam worked late. He was there when she needed a break, showing up with her favorite Chai tea, letting her vent about her day. He was there at every meal, making her laugh with stories about growing at the palace. She mentioned missing the dishes she’d grown up eating and those dishes started showing up at dinnertime.

One minute they were laughing playfully, then she placed a hand on his chest, bare and slick, using his body for leverage as she prepared to jump up and take it back.  As she used her feet to propel herself up, springing out of the water, her body titled forward into his and his hand shot out to steady her, gripping her at the hip. Her other hand joined the first on his chest as she plunged back into the water. They both froze as they found themselves in closer proximity than they’d been since the night in the maze. Her hands lay flat against his chest, his heart thundering under her palms.

I love the imagery of this! I could see everything happening clear as day! Though I always think it's funny that Drake's like 'no, I need to be good...' but then as soon as something happens where they are physically thrust together and she touches him, then all his resolve goes out the window (same thing may have happened with Harper with the whole bikini debacle 🤣)

The logical part of his brain was screaming at him that this was madness. Anyone could walk outside and catch them. But his logical brain was no match for his primal instincts, for the desire he’d been holding back for weeks.

Agreed! The eternal Walker struggle 😅

“Apparently we have a thing for water.” She giggled as she uncurled her legs from his waist and put her feet back on the bottom of the pool.

Hahahahah!

“I’m sure. I’ve always been sure. I was just waiting for you to decide. I love you. I think I’ve loved you since the moment I saw you on that balcony.”

But at night, when he dropped down onto her balcony and she let him into her room, all of the pretenses were gone.

zomg the mental image of this....

...also, as per usual, Drake doing physical things is just 🥵🥵🥵

When he didn’t respond, she continued, “And when Rivala is invaded, the members of the Border Pact will have no choice but to come to their aid, since Rivala is a PACT member nation.

Did you base this situation on the whole convoluted mess of alliances pre-WWI, by any chance...?👀👀

A strangled laugh burst out of him, “Love you, exactly. I don’t know if I can love you and sit here and watch you be married to my best friend! Sleep in his room at night, have his babies……fuck!”

Drake answered Liam, but kept his eyes glued on Riley, “It was her.”

Liam blinked. He was more confused than ever. “What was her?”

“The girl I met the night before your wedding, the one I thought was a waitress.”

I am actually terrified of Liam's potential reaction right now...!!

Liam was in shock. Drake didn’t fall in love, he didn’t do romance or feelings, none of that. But he decided to start with his wife? What the hell was happening?

This line...

Drake cut his eyes back to Liam, “You ignore her, she’s in a new place, surrounded by new people and you’ve done nothing to make her feel welcomed.”

Liam seemed genuinely surprised, “I didn’t realize there was a problem.”

Oh Liam...

Was that irritation she noted in his tone? It was subtle, he tried to cover it, but it was there. That’s what she was to him, an irritation, another obligation. That’s what she had always been to her mother. She hadn’t expected more. She understood what was at stake, countries, peace, lives. If she didn’t, she would have taken Drake up on his offer and ran away with him. It was the only thing she wanted to do; he was the only thing she had ever wanted for herself in her entire miserable life. Her life of duty and sacrifice.

Annoying how it's always the women who are expected to sacrifice these things, right...? That said, this entire scenario reminds me of Empress Elizabeth of Austria - she got married off to the Franz Joseph (there was quite a big age difference) and even though he was besotted with her in theory (he chose her for his wife even though he was supposed to pick her older sister - similar to Diana and Charles actually) she was never his priority. And that affected her emotionally and physically (people suspect she was bullemic and pursued affair(s) with some Hungarian noblemen)

She only wished she had been able to make Drake understand any of it.

I think he does understand... intellectually at least. But I HC (and I think you HC this as well) that Drake is very intensely emotional (which is part of the reason why he tries to hide his feelings bc he doesn't want to get burned by them), so when those feelings aren't validated in the way that he wants them to be, he gets closed off and turns away (towards drink, or in this case reenlisting in the army).

Can't wait to see how all this gets resolved....!!

Star Crossed Chapter 8: Stuck

 Series: Star Crossed

Fandom: The Royal Romance

Pairings: Riley x Liam, Riley x Drake

Rating: NSFW 🍋🍋🍋

Warnings: Mature themes, lemons

Word Count: 3,400

My other stuff: Master List.

The days turned into weeks and the feelings didn’t go away. They only grew.

Liam was always busy, never around. Leo had disappeared to wherever Leo disappeared to. Riley was busy getting up to speed with the duties of her new station, but at the end of the day, when all the advisors and assistants went home to their families, out with friends, to dinner, movies, concerts, art exhibitions, or whatever it was that they did, Riley was left to her own devices.

The only person she had, was Drake. It was often just the two of them at dinner, Regina taking hers in her room while Constantine and Liam worked late. He was there when she needed a break, showing up with her favorite Chai tea, letting her vent about her day. He was there at every meal, making her laugh with stories about growing at the palace. She mentioned missing the dishes she’d grown up eating and those dishes started showing up at dinnertime.

After the day was finished, he kept her company, watching TV in one of the media rooms, hanging out at the pool, occasionally accompanying her into town.

Drake was also left at loose ends. He hadn’t reenlisted, he hadn’t taken Liam up on his job offer and he hadn’t looked for anything else. He filled his days, instead, with her. He knew he needed to make a decision about his future, but he couldn’t, not yet. He found it hard to think past the next month.

They were a month in since their conversation in the hedge maze with a month to go until her honeymoon, a trip on which she’d be expected to finally fulfill her wifely duties. The thought made him sick to his stomach. But he wasn’t going to think about that tonight. Tonight, they were listening to music by the pool, eating pizza and generally pretending they hadn’t a care in the world.

“Heads up, Drake!” Riley called out.

Drake reached up into the air and easily caught the beach ball that hurtled toward his head. He held the ball out of her reach, laughing as she tried jumping to reach it. One minute they were laughing playfully, then she placed a hand on his chest, bare and slick, using his body for leverage as she prepared to jump up and take it back.  As she used her feet to propel herself up, springing out of the water, her body titled forward into his and his hand shot out to steady her, gripping her at the hip. Her other hand joined the first on his chest as she plunged back into the water. They both froze as they found themselves in closer proximity than they’d been since the night in the maze. Her hands lay flat against his chest, his heart thundering under her palms.

He looked down at her, water droplets shining in her hair, the hollow of her throat beckoning him to lick the wetness from it. Suddenly, it was the only thing he wanted to do. His head dipped down to do just that. The ball toppled from his hands, hitting the water behind him, forgotten as both arms circled her waist.

“Drake…we shouldn’t-“ Her words drown in his mouth as his lips collided with hers, swallowing her protests. He felt what little resistance she had left flee her body as she melted into his embrace, his kiss.

Her hands slid up his chest and wrapped around his neck as he deepened the kiss. He tugged her closer until their bodies were pressed tightly against each other. The logical part of his brain was screaming at him that this was madness. Anyone could walk outside and catch them. But his logical brain was no match for his primal instincts, for the desire he’d been holding back for weeks.

His hand glided through her tangled hair as he licked the salt from her chlorinated skin. Her head fell back with a sigh as her hands ghosted across his shoulders and down his back. She breathed out his name, the soft exhale tickling his ear.

His fingers fumbled at the strap of her bikini top for a moment before pulling it from her body and tossing it out of the pool. His head dipped lower as his lips grazed a nipple. Her fingers teased at his hair as she arched her body into him.

A low moan escaped him as he hooked his fingers in the waistband of her bathing suit bottom and slid them down. She kicked a leg to help it off, heedless to the fact that it floated away in the water behind them.

His kisses burned her lips, his touch inflamed her soul, his very nearness enough to push her to the edge, leaving her teetering there, waiting, longing, desperate for more. She clung to him as he pushed her back against the side of the pool, arms and legs wrapping around him as he entered her.

“Goddamn, baby, you feel so good.” He murmured into her hair.

She buried her teeth in him to muffle her cries.

“Fuck!” He hadn’t expected her to cum so soon, so fast.

His thrusts became harder, faster, his fingers digging into her ass as he pulsed into her. His body pinned hers to the wall as he tugged at her hair, nipped on an earlobe and kissed the side of her neck.

“Apparently we have a thing for water.” She giggled as she uncurled her legs from his waist and put her feet back on the bottom of the pool.

“In the water, out of the water, pretty much any time, any place, I can’t get enough of you.” He told her, capturing her lips again.

She pulled away, breathless, “We said no sex until we were sure what this is.”

“I’m sure.”

“What?”

“I’m sure. I’ve always been sure. I was just waiting for you to decide. I love you. I think I’ve loved you since the moment I saw you on that balcony.”

“Drake!” Surprise, and joy, shot through her.

“I’m sorry, I probably shouldn’t have said that, huh? Too much, too soon? Too weird because of our whole situation?”

She laughed as she reached up to stroke her fingers gently across his cheek, “I love you too.”

“Really?” He felt an unfamiliar sensation in his chest. Was that what happiness felt like?

“Yes, really. Now help me find my clothes!”

He released her reluctantly as she retrieved her top then scanned the water for the other half of her swimsuit.

Once they were dressed, out of the pool and dried off, they lay tangled up together on one of the oversized outdoor daybeds that dotted the concrete deck. She threw an arm and a leg over him, he wrapped his arms around her and held her close, nuzzling into the side of her neck, running his hands up and down her arm and kissing her frequently.

Two hours later, he sighed heavily, “I guess we should go in. If we fall asleep out here together, someone’s going to find us and it’s going to cause a huge scandal.”

“Hmmm, I’m so comfortable though.”

“Do I have to carry you?” He laughed.

“That would be nice.” She responded, “But again, scandal.”

“Too bad.” He nipped at her bottom lip as his hand found her breast, squeezing gently. His tongue rolled against hers. “I could go again.”

“Shit.” She breathed out, “Come back to my room with me?”

“Thought you’d never ask!”

After that, he started sneaking into her room every night. Every day was an exercise in restraint as he kept his hands to himself, kept his thoughts to himself and tried not to let his eyes travel up and down her body in front of other people. It was excruciating. But at night, when he dropped down onto her balcony and she let him into her room, all of the pretenses were gone. Falling asleep in her arms and waking up with her beside him became routine. He felt himself fall a little more for her each day. The more time he spent with her, the more he wanted to spend forever with her.

He collapsed onto the bed, sweaty and spent. Pulling her into his arms he asked, “Run away with me?”

“What?” Her head jerked up to look into his face.

“Let’s run away together. Get the hell out of here, you can get the marriage annulled or something.”

“Drake….” She gaped at him in astonishment, “I can’t.”

“Sure you can, my bikes right out front. We could just get on it and go!”

“No, I mean, I could, physically, but I can’t!” She pulled away from him and sat up, pulling the blanket across her body as she did so.

He pushed himself into a sitting position and searched her face as he asked, “Why not?”

“The political ramifications-“

He blew out a frustrated breath as he drug a hand through his hair, “The political ramifications? Are you serious?”

“Drake, you know firsthand how volatile things are right now in this entire region!”

“What does that have to do with us?”

“If I leave, it violates the marriage contract I signed and terminates the alliance that we forged. I know you’re not a politician, but you grew up here, in the palace, with Liam, surely you understand how this works. That if this alliance falls, not only are relations with Cordonia and Monterriso strained, but support for the new peace treaty likely falls as well then the carefully stacked house of cards will collapse.”

“What do you mean collapse?”

“I mean, without Monterriso’s backing, Auvernall will move against Cordonia, and once they do that, they’ll sweep up Rivala on the way.” Rivala was a small country, powerless, but any land route between Auvernall and Cordonia went straight through Rivala.

When he didn’t respond, she continued, “And when Rivala is invaded, the members of the Border Pact will have no choice but to come to their aid, since Rivala is a PACT member nation. Those five countries going against Auvernall will trigger Auvernall’s alliance with Malbonia, who have been looking for an excuse to invade Votara, the biggest of the PACT nations. I could go on about the domino effect, but you get the idea. And while everyone is distracted with all of that, Naumara will use the distraction to invade Monterriso, endangering my people, my family! I want to, Drake, I just can’t!“

“Yeah, it’s ok, I get it.” He rolled out of the bed and started pulling on his clothes.

“Drake, I want to! I wish I could!”

She’d never seen anyone angrily put on pants before, but he managed it. “So, what are we doing here, then?”

Confusion swept through her, “What do you mean?”

“What do I mean? I mean, what the fuck are we doing here if there’s no future in it?”

“I….I love you! We’re having a relationship! Just one that I can’t….I mean…I thought you understood….” Her voice trembled on the edge of tears.

“I’m sorry, Ren, but I don’t know if I can do this.”

“Do what? Love me?”

A strangled laugh burst out of him, “Love you, exactly. I don’t know if I can love you and sit here and watch you be married to my best friend! Sleep in his room at night, have his babies……fuck!”

She flinched as he grabbed a book from the top of the dresser and sent it flying across the room. She curled into herself and pulled the covers higher, “Maybe you should go.”

“What?” His heart dropped into his stomach, “I’m sorry, I wasn’t trying to be an asshole. I just don’t know if I can do this.”

“Well, figure it out. But do it somewhere else. I have to get ready for a luncheon with the Cordonian Lady’s Historical Society.” She wanted to cry, her heart hurt. But she had duties to see to, state functions to attend.

He found her later that afternoon, in the main sitting room off the royal dinning room.

Despite their argument earlier, her face lit up at the sight of him. He was always the highlight of her day. But her smile faltered when she took in his expression. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong. Or everything, depending on how you look at it.”

“I don’t know what that means.”

“It means I’m going to do the right thing and leave.”

“What you mean leave? Why is that the right thing?”

“You know why.” If she was going to stay married to Liam, she should at least try to make it work, right? Him leaving would make that easier on everyone. “I’m reenlisting.”

She opened her mouth to respond but was interrupted by Liam’s voice as he entered the room. “Did I just hear you say you’re leaving?”

Drake reluctantly pulled his focus away from Riley to answer, “Yes. I’m reenlisting.”

“When?”

“I just got off the phone with my CO. I can be on a flight out tomorrow. No point in delaying the inevitable.”

“There’s nothing I can do to convince you to stay?” Liam asked.

“Why would I want to stay?” Heavy bitterness fell from every word, “The fucking aristocracy with its rules and regulations and expectations is stifling. It breaks people. I'm not even a member and it's taken everything from me.”

“Drake's father was a king's guard, he died protecting the royal family.” Liam told Riley in way of explanation.

“Yeah,” Drake said, eyes locked on Riley, “that's what I was talking about.”

Liam’s brow furrowed as he glanced between them, his gaze uncertain, “Uh…am I missing something?”

“Tell him, Ren.”

“Ren?” Why was Drake calling her Ren? Her name was Riley.

Riley glanced at her husband apologetically, “It’s a childhood nickname.”

“Ah.” That only engendered more questions. Why was Drake calling her by her childhood nickname? And what did Riley have to do with why Drake was leaving. “Tell me what?”

“It’s nothing.” Riley replied.

“Is that what it is? Nothing?” Drake’s jaw clenched.

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it!” She cried.

“Would one of you tell me what the hell is going on?” Liam was irritated now. He was busy, he didn’t have time for guessing games.

Drake answered Liam, but kept his eyes glued on Riley, “It was her.”

Liam blinked. He was more confused than ever. “What was her?”

“The girl I met the night before your wedding, the one I thought was a waitress.”

“Thought was a waitress? Drake, you’re not making any sense! Riley isn’t-“

“Yeah, no, I know. But she was wearing a waitress uniform when I met her, so I drew an obvious conclusion, and she didn’t correct me.”

Riley reached for his arm. “Drake, please-“

“Please what, Ren? I’m done lying. I’m done pretending.” He pulled away from her and turned to his best friend, “I’m sorry, Li, I really am but I’m in love with your wife.”

“What?” Liam started to laugh but it died in his throat as he registered the look on Drake’s face. “Oh my God. You’re serious.”

Liam was in shock. Drake didn’t fall in love, he didn’t do romance or feelings, none of that. But he decided to start with his wife? What the hell was happening?

“I didn’t know who she was until I saw her at the altar. I tried to convince myself it was just a one night stand and that it didn’t mean anything, but deep down, I always knew that was a lie. There was an instant connection between us, right from the start. But she married you, so I tried to push my feelings away, I swear to God, Li, I tried. But being here, seeing her every day, getting to know her over the last few weeks…. That only solidified my feelings.”

For the first time in his life, Liam was at a loss for words, “I don’t know what to say.”

Riley sobbed softly into her hands.

“What the hell is there to say? I asked her to run away with me and she said no.” The bitterness coated his stomach, bubbled up in his throat, snaked its way through his heart.

“Ah.” Liam looked back and forth between Riley and Drake completely unsure of the proper response. I mean, what does one say when they find out their best friend is in love with their wife? He was startled that Drake would try to get her to run away, abandon their agreement, shirk her responsibilities. At least she had said no.

Drake cut his eyes back to Liam, “You ignore her, she’s in a new place, surrounded by new people and you’ve done nothing to make her feel welcomed.”

Liam seemed genuinely surprised, “I didn’t realize there was a problem.”

“I’m going to pack.” Drake turned on his heel and walked away.

Riley started to follow him, but Liam reached for her arm, “Let him go. Trust me, when he gets like this, you just have to let him have his space.”

She turned toward him, and they regarded each other awkwardly for a moment. Liam cleared his throat. He knew he had to make this right, make this work. For Cordonia. Was it too late? Was she already in love with his best friend? He felt annoyance rise in his chest. He knew he hadn’t been paying any attention to his new wife, but in all fairness, he’d been really busy, and she had known what she was signing up for. He shouldn’t now be in a competition for her affections.

He tamped down his pique as he reached for her hand. She let him take it. He thought that was a good sign. “Riley…or should I call you Ren?”

She fought against the urge to squeeze her eyes shut as she shook her head, “No, please call me Riley.” She couldn’t bear to hear that name from another man’s lips right now. Only those who she loved most had ever called her that: Her grandmother, her siblings and Drake.

Liam nodded thoughtfully, “Ok, then, Riley. I apologize. I did not realize how unhappy you’ve been here. I’m afraid I’ve been tied up with matters of state.”

Was that irritation she noted in his tone? It was subtle, he tried to cover it, but it was there. That’s what she was to him, an irritation, another obligation. That’s what she had always been to her mother. She hadn’t expected more. She understood what was at stake, countries, peace, lives. If she didn’t, she would have taken Drake up on his offer and ran away with him. It was the only thing she wanted to do; he was the only thing she had ever wanted for herself in her entire miserable life. Her life of duty and sacrifice.

She blinked back her tears and drew in a deep breath as she reminded herself of all the reasons she’d agreed to this marriage in first place. Of course, she hadn’t expected a fairy tale, or a happily ever after, but she had understood the importance of the alliance and she had hoped for at least a friendly relationship with the handsome young prince whose picture she’d been shown. She had believed they could build a relationship out of mutual respect, duty and common goals, commitments. She hadn’t counted on love, certainly not in the form of her new husband’s best friend.

“It’s fine, Liam. I understand.” She did. She understood that she would never be a priority to him, and she understood that her happiness or lack thereof, was only of concern to him insomuch as it affected him.

She also understood the political ramifications of breaking the alliance now. It would have been better to have never entered into it to begin with than to break it after the fact. It would be a show of bad faith. It wouldn’t just embarrass her country on the world stage, it would bring down precarious alliances throughout the region, just as she’d told Drake. She understood that her happiness wasn’t at issue. Her satisfaction with her marriage had never been the point. She understood why the alliance was important, why she had to stay. She understood all of it. She only wished she had been able to make Drake understand any of it.

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

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