#and adding my own melodies and stuff in random places just for fun but like

[urbanfiltered]

cringe corner express

[onestowatch]

Aidan Bissett Wants You to Know It’s Okay to Be Alone [Q&A]

Photo: Brooke James

Aidan Bissett’s sunny and effortless disposition contrasts the chaotic ode to classic rock that is his latest track “Dumped.” The introspective and cathartic nature of his latest offering speaks to age-old feelings of heartbreak while doubling as an optimistic reminder that cloudy days cannot last forever.

Releasing soft-spoken tracks followed by headbanging, classic-rock inspired hits, this young artist’s music truly feels alive, shifting and evolving from one release to the next. With a soulful dedication to “music first, lyrics second,” Bissett is steadily creating his own lane defined by a relentless drive for experimentation. We had the chance to talk to Bissett about his creative approach, his latest single, “Dumped,” and plenty more. 

Ones to Watch: So, tell me the story behind “Dumped?”

Aidan Bissett: Wow, that’s a good question. I wish when I wrote it, it came from like, I had just been dumped… Well, okay, I had sort of been dumped. I don’t know how to explain that, but let’s just say I was in a relationship, taking time off, in a sense. When we were writing it, it was me, my friends, Ryan and Sean, and we were writing in a zoom session for like three hours. It was not a good song, and none of the three of us wanted to say it was a bad song. So, we were like, “OK, we are going to go take a break for a little.” 

Then I pulled my guitar off the wall and started messing around, because when I get bored, especially in sessions, I like to try and take my mind off things. I’ll play random chords and sing random lyrics, like ad-lib over them just for fun. So, I started playing like three chords that are all throughout “Dumped,” singing this hook line that—it’s going to sound really weird—“I’m taking dumps all the time.” The guy I was producing it with was like, “OK, gross,” but that actually could be really cool… what if we change it to “I’m getting dumped all the time.” And I was like, “Woah.” That’s kind of how it started and we were on a roll and wrote the whole song in two hours.

And the song does mean a lot to me, because I have actually been dumped, multiple times. It sucks, it’s not a fun feeling, so every time I listen to it, it is kind of an “f you” type of song. Like, “yeah, I got dumped but I’m better off on my own anyway.” I always like that feeling better than wallowing in sadness. So, for anyone who does listen to it, I hope that it helps bring you out of the mourn and into a new light.

In the music video, you are seen reading an “Idiot's Guide To Love.” What was the last book you read?

I do love reading, I’ve always liked reading. I have not, in the past year, read a ton of books, which sucks because I actually do like reading. Well, okay, my senior year of high school I read like 13 books but a lot of them were for school. But they were still good books! I’m in the middle of reading Dune, which is very good so far. So, hopefully, I can finish that before the movie comes out. But yeah, I do like reading… when I have the time to sit down with my ADHD mind.

“Dumped” is a noted sonic transition for you. Can you tell me about how you approach your genre-spanning sound?

I don’t really like putting myself in one genre. I’m in a certain lane in the sense I do indie-pop, I do alternative, but I don't want to do straight pop. I feel like it's such a box, and it’s so limiting. I just love exploring different sounds, so even from the start, I put out “Different,” and then the second song was “Worst Girls Of All Time,” which was a completely different sound than the indie-pop wave that “Different” is. So, me putting out stuff like this after “Communication” is me exploring new sounds. To be honest, the things I like to hear always change, the bands that I’m listening to are always changing, and I take a lot of inspiration from a lot of different bands. I just love trying new things. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t, but it just keeps me on my toes instead of just doing the same formula over and over again.

What are you listening to right now?

That’s a good question, it’s kind of all over the place. There’s this one girl, Remi Wolf, who I’ve been non-stop listening to… I have been listening to her for a minute. When she put out her first EP, I loved it. But now, she’s putting out these new tracks and Solomonophonic, her producer, he’s just incredible and her voice is incredible. They are doing so many things that just aren’t normal in this time of music; it’s just so her own lane. I find that really inspiring in the sense that she’s carving her own path and not following in the line of others.

I feel like I’m always listening to Wallows no matter what. I always have them ready to go. COIN. Role Model’s rolling out new stuff so I’m excited for that, he’s kind of taking a change in his own discography. [The] sounds that he is doing are definitely a lot different from his earlier stuff. This guy, binki. He’s actually opening for Role Model on this tour. Oh my gosh! His music’s insane, so cool. It’s got so many sounds going on, similar to Remi Wolf, there’s so much going on, you’re like ‘wow.. I’ve never heard something like this before.’

For those who don’t know, you write, record and produce your music all by yourself. Can you walk me through your creative process?

Yeah, I’m very musically-driven. Everyone has their own thing, I feel like a lot of artists, like the Olivia Rodrigo types, are lyrically-driven. I’m definitely music first, lyrics second. So, when I sit down to write something I try and get something I latch onto. I’m like, “Oh, this sounds cool. Lyrics could sound cool over this.” Anytime I go into a session or I’m recording by myself, I try to lay down some form of music, and then I’ll freestyle lyrics or freestyle melodies over the top, or pick a melody I like and throw lyrics over that melody. Whether that’s a hook or a verse, that kind of just depends on how I’m feeling. It’s definitely a bit unconventional compared to other artists. I feel like artists are a bit more put together when it comes to writing music just because I’ve only been doing it for like a year-and-a-half. But I have my own process, and it works. Every time I write something I learn something new. I’m excited to see, even a year from now, what my process will be… and even if it's completely different or efficient, who knows?

Tell me about the influence of music in your childhood and the decision for you to be a musician at a young age - you started playing electric guitar very young - what was your household like? Musical family?

My dad wanted the kids in our family, I have two other siblings, to play an instrument for two years during our young adult life. He wanted us to play piano before we got to pick, so we had two years of piano and then we had to pick an instrument. So, my sister went and played two years of piano and didn’t really stick with it afterward. Then, it was my turn and I was like, “Well, I don’t really want to play piano, can I play guitar?” And since I was the only one who asked, who expressed interest in a different instrument, he was like, “Sure.” I started in second grade and I’ve stuck with it the entire time. I took lessons for years, and that’s how I kind of got into the classic rock scene. My dad was a huge classic rock fan so he showed me all greats… and that was all I listened to for years. It definitely had a large impact on what I did. I would even play in little recitals, and I always played classic rock songs like AC/DC or Guns N’ Roses.

It wasn’t necessarily a musical household, like my dad isn’t musical, my mom isn’t musical. The reason he wanted us to play an instrument is because his mom made him play an instrument as a kid, so he was like, “You guys get to do that, too.” But it is true, one of us ended up using it.

What do you want people to take away from “Dumped?”

It’s an amp-up song. I want them to feel energized, to be happy with yourself. Getting hurt in relationships happens all the time, but it's okay to get hurt in a relationship. It’s kind of how you bounce back, and I want this song to be like a bounce back. Like, you hear it and, “Oh! This is me bouncing back! I don’t need to sit and cry anymore, because that’s not fun.” Sitting and crying is okay, everyone’s done it, but there’s a point that you reach, in that break-up phase, when the crying needs to stop and you need to go out and live and be the person that you are, independently. So, I would hope that it inspires you to be your independent, wonderful self again.

Is there anything else you would like to say about your music, or in general, that you want to take the chance now to say?

Well, I’m sitting on a lot of songs. So, I’m excited to get all the rest out, and again, everything is so diverse. All the music is so diverse, I just feel like each song is its own thing, which I really enjoy. I feel that’s really unique to my own music, where you’re getting something new every time. I’m moving to LA. That’s the other thing. So, if anyone sees me in LA, please stop me and say hello!

[formeandmyfics]

Jugenea Fic

IN STITCHES

just a short, random, fun one

1956

New Frontier Hotel

Vegas

It was nearing 4 a.m. when Judy turned out the lamp on the nightstand and snuggled into the feather-down comforter of her hotel bedroom. The darkness, along with the fresh, cool sheets, made her immediately drift off into sleep. As she did so, her mind replayed tonight's events.  

She was nearing the end of her contracted show at the hotel. Every show had been a success, and with such a great audience, she was having a blast. Unfortunately, that morning, she had come down with laryngitis. She could speak alright; singing, even a slow melody, her voice had come out raspy and trying any loud or high notes sounded like a good impersonation of Mickey Mouse. She panicked. She could not cancel that show, not just because of financial aspects with the hotel, but because she didn't want to have newspapers write more false claims as to why she cancelled, which some columnists had gotten almost venomous since she left MGM. Most importantly, she also didn't want to disappoint her fans.  

With Gene's quick thinking, he contacted their buddy Jerry Lewis, whom was in town, and begged him to help Judy out. Fortunately, he came through, but told both of them, "I'm scared shitless. I don't know what to do out there." Judy was nervous, too! She didn't know how the show would pan out or how the audience would react.

Gene had said to her, "They just want to see you. That’s all. You can sit at the edge of the stage and talk to them about the weather and they'd be happy. That's how magnetic you are, so go and use it. Go out there with Jer' and just have fun."

Jerry did his comedy bits, bantered with Judy, leaving her in hysterical laughter, and they interacted with the audience. Jerry also sang some of her songs, in her normal arrangements, including 'Rock-A-Bye' with Judy as his personal cheerleader by his side. The crowd didn't mind at all that she couldn't perform. It was a very intimate evening, and all-in-all, a smash. She was so very grateful.  

After the show, she had a late dinner with Gene and a few friends, including Frank and Lauren, who surprised her by showing up to the show. By 2 in the morning, more people started coming around their booth in the bar and the noise was too much for Judy's exhaustion. Gene wanted to stay there with Frank a bit more so he told her to get some sleep. Giving him a kiss goodnight, she went up to the room. After reading a book, she finally got sleepy and head to bed. And boy, it felt marvelous.  

In the downstairs lobby, Lauren shook her head, annoyed, as she walked hastily up to the front desk in the hotel's lobby.

"May I use the house phone, please?"

The receptionist nodded, "Here you are ma'am," then placed the phone on the corner for her.

"Thank you." She immediately dialed the Kelly's hotel suite. When there was no answer, she dialed again, but no answer.  

"Dammit, Judes," she murmured as she clicked the phone down. She hoped Judy hadn't taken a sleeping pill.  

The Kelly's suite was quiet, and dimly lit, as Lauren entered with Gene's key. The double doors to the bedroom were shut, no light coming from beneath them, so Lauren knew Judy was dead asleep. Still, out of curtesy, she knocked before entering. Walking over to the empty side of the bed, she turned on the lamp there.

“Judy,” with no response, Lauren kneeled on the bed and leaned over to softly shake her friends arm, “Judy. Wake up, hun.”

She stirred before turning, a puzzled look on her face, clearly still more asleep than wake, “Betty?”

“Yes, it’s me.”

“What are you doing in my room,” she asked sitting up.

“Something’s happened. Are you awake?”

“What time is it?”

“4. You gotta get up. Gene’s got himself in a dilly,” Lauren said getting off the bed to grab Judy’s silk robe which hung over the vanity chair.

“What do you mean,” she asked alarmed.

“Some drunk asshole kept running his mouth and Gene kept antagonizing him. It ended in a brawl and Gene cut his arm pretty bad.”

Judy bolted out of bed putting her robe on, “Oh my God. Is he alright?”

“He’s okay, but the cut’s pretty deep. He won’t stop bleeding. The bartender gave him a rag to hold on his arm. I told him he needs stitches but he won’t stop arguing with me,” Lauren said as she followed Judy into the living room.

“Where is he now?”

“Downstairs with Frank talking to the house detective.”

“Oh, wonderful,” Judy said upset, “What should I do? I can't go down there like this. Lord knows what would come out in the papers if someone saw us.”

Just then there was a knock on the door and Lauren went over and opened it. Gene came in first, and irritatingly nudged Frank’s hand off his back, as he did so.  

“Gene, what the hell have you done now?”

“I’m fine,” he said upset himself before he plopped onto the sofa.

“You’re not fine. You need stitches.”

“I don’t need fucking stitches, Betty. I told you that.”

“Please don’t talk to her like that, let me see,” Judy said sitting next to him.

“Don’t worry about it,” Lauren replied unphased, “He’s cranky and has a gash the size of the Grand Canyon. I think it’s all the blood loss that’s messed with the tone in his voice.”

Judy tried not to smile at Lauren’s sarcasm, but Gene shot her a dirty look as if they were siblings. When Judy got the rag off of his arm carefully, she looked at her husband horrified.

“For Christ sakes, Gene.”

“Baby, I’m okay.”

“You’re not okay. You’re still bleeding. Look at the damn rag. It’s soaked,” she cried out.

“He needs a hospital.”

“He’s not going to a hospital because that’s dramatic and a waste of time,” Frank cut in, “Just call the house doctor.”

“I’m not taking him to the hospital or calling the house doctor,” Judy said getting up and walked across the room towards the phone, “If this gets out, people will think he came down with a Judy Garland ailment.”

“Judy,” Gene yelled shocked, then shot her a look over his shoulder, “That’s not funny.”

With the phone to her ear, she waved him off, clearly had been poking fun at her own expense.

“Who are you calling,” Frank asked.

“Tom Jacobs. He came to see the show tonight and is staying at the hotel,” she said of their doctor friend, a prominent Beverly Hills physician, “Maybe he can come look at Gene.”

“You’re going to wake him up at four in the morning,” Gene asked.

“Yes, so my husband doesn’t bleed to death...Hi, Tom? Hi, it’s Judy. I’m so sorry to wake you up, but I don’t know what to do. I’m alright, but Gene’s got himself in a pickle. He cut his arm pretty bad and we think he need stitches...”

“I DON’T NEED STITCHES,” Gene yelled interrupting her.

Judy continued, looking at her husband upset and yelled back at Gene covering the receiver with her hand, “He DEFINITELY needs stiches! Ok. Yes. Room 209. Thank you, darling. Buh bye.”

She walked on back over to Gene and sat down next to him again, “Why did you antagonize him, especially when you know he’s a drunk. You know I hate that stuff,” she said in a stern, wifely manner.

“If you heard the things he was saying, you would have thrown your martini in his face,” Gene retorted leaning his head back against the couch tired.

“Judging by what he was saying, she would have thrown it on his crotch,” Frank agreed.

“How hammered are you,” Judy asked.

“Scale?”

She sighed impatiently, “1-10.”

“4.”

“I highly doubt that.”

“No,” Lauren interrupted, “He didn’t drink that much.”

“I can attest,” Sinatra added.

When Gene rolled his head to look at her with a ‘see’ expression, she smiled, softening.

“What did the house detective say,” Lauren asked her buddy next to her.

“Threw the guy out and I sweet-talked him and he let us go,” Frank quipped quite proud.

“Are you in pain,” Judy asked sweeping some of his hair back with her fingers.

“No. Can't really feel my arm right now.”

“Can you feel this,” she asked and leaned in to kiss his cheek.

“That I can definitely feel.”

When the doctor came, Lauren and Frank said their goodbyes to give them privacy. Tom looked Gene over and took his vitals.

“Well, here’s the deal, bud,” Tom said, “Your vitals are great. Your blood pressure is just a little high but that’s to be expected after what happened. And your wife is right. You definitely need stitches.”

“Fuck,” Gene said to himself.

Judy looked at Tom and whispered, “He hates needles.”

“Tell ya what, pal, I’m gonna give you some happy juice so while I suture you up, you won’t feel a thing.”

Judy lit herself a cigarette as the doc worked on Gene’s stitches, who looked like he was asleep. She paced slowly back and forth. The movement caught Gene’s eye and his head slowly rolled to look at her. He tried focusing his eyes a moment, and when he did, he made a silly grin.

“Hey, you.”

Judy stopped in her tracks and looked over at him, exhaling.

“How are you feeling?”

“Come here,” he said and reached his free arm out towards her, lazily.

“Gene, don’t move, please,” the doc said looking through his magnifying glasses.

Judy immediately went over and took that hand so he wouldn’t continue to move.

“You’re beautiful.”

Judy let out a surprised chuckle, “Even at the crack of dawn, huh?”

“Is that what it is?”

“Pretty much.”

“You look familiar.”

Judy’s eyes widened and she looked up at Tom who just smiled not lifting his eyes, “Don’t worry about him. It’s the same effect as if he’s coming off anesthesia. He’ll be fine.”

“Well, you look familiar, too,” Judy played along.

“I’m Gene Kelly,” he stated proudly, but still with a slurred speech.

“Nice to get reacquainted, I’m Judy Kelly.”

His smile faded and he furrowed his eyebrows, “We have the same last name? Oh, no, you're not my sister are you?”

Judy let out a laugh but quickly cleared her throat, “No, darling, I’m your wife.”

“What’s your maiden name?”

“What an odd question. You want my maiden name or my given name?”

“Pick.”

“Well, you probably remember me more as Judy Garland.”

“Wait,” Gene went to sit up but Judy pushed him back, “I married Judy Garland?”

“Yeeeees,” she teased.

“Holy shit,” he mumbled to himself which made her laugh again.  

“Oh my goodness,” she giggled.

“How long we been hitched?”

“5 years.”

“How can I not remember this? Where have I been this whole time?”

“You’ve been with me...dancing me off my feet and giving me two little Kelly’s.”

“We got kids?”

“Yes, sir,” she said reaching for her cigarette again, “A four-year-old girl and a one-year-old boy.”

“Can I see them?”

“I’m sorry, darling,” she giggled feeling a tad uncomfortable with her husband’s temporary amnesia, “Your parents came and took them home with them a few days ago. We’ll be with them again next week when we leave here. Tom,” Judy said a bit worried, “How long is this going to last?”

“Oh, it’ll wear off in about an hour, if not sooner. It’s a completely normal reaction, Judy, don’t worry yourself.”

“I’m worried he’ll want to re-do our honeymoon and have two more kids in that next hour since he can’t remember,” she teased.

They both suddenly heard Gene softly snoring and Judy felt relieved.

“I don’t think you’re going to have to worry about that. He’s going to have a very restful night’s sleep.”

“He’s such an idiot sometimes,” she said looking at her cute, sleeping husband, “But he’s my idiot.”

[futurebicon]

Pls can we have something written on when Remus hears Sirius singing for the first time? Maybe when he’s in the shower or something?

There was a tie between Sweet Creature by Harry Styles and Can’t Help Falling In Love by Elvis so I did both. Also I just really like Sign of the Times by Harry Style and Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson (Also I went off the Glee version of the song because I’ve been binge watching)

This kind of spiraled into something more then I thought it would be but I still kind of like how it turned out.

Very very very brief mention of child abuse and depression.

“Baby” Remus called out as he walked into the house, closing the door softly as he pulled off his shoes. He heard no response from his boyfriend but could hear soft music playing from one of the spare rooms.

“And oh we started, two hearts in one home” someone sang as a guitar played along.

“It’s hard when we argue, we’re both stubborn, I know, oh” the voice continues, the notes flowing perfectly together.

“Sweet Creature, sweet creature, wherever I go, you bring me home” Remus stood in shock listening to his boyfriends voice. Hitting high notes like it was the easiest thing in the world. He walked down the hallway, his footsteps quiet.

He leaned against the door frame of the spare room, the walls holding guitars and records Remus had just thought were decoration or stuff that Sirius had haphazardly bought for fun. He didn’t know that he actually played them.

Sirius was turned away from the entryway, unable to see his boyfriend staring at him in awe.

“Sweet Creature, sweet creature, when I run out of road, you bring me home. You’ll bring me home.” He strummed out the last few notes.

“Didn’t know you could sing” Remus revealed himself. Sirius jumped and spun around.

When he saw his boyfriend he blushed. “Not really”

“Not really? Sirius that was amazing.” Remus exclaimed.

Sirius shrugged his shoulders and blushed harder.

“Baby. That really was amazing.”

Sirius smiled slightly. “Thanks”

“When’d you learn how to play?” He asked walking over and sitting on the leather couch.

“When I was younger. One of the only things were we’re allowed to do other then school and hockey.” Sirius confessed.

“Is that why you don’t sing much?”

Sirius shook his head. “No, it was one of the only things I enjoyed in that house. I don’t really know why I don’t sing a lot.”

“Well can you please play more often for me? You’re voice is beautiful” Remus stood up and kissed his boyfriend. Sirius smiled and nodded.

“Play another” Remus told him “Please?”

“Fine” Sirius groaned sarcastically. Picking up his tan guitar, adjusting himself on the stoll he was sitting on as he placed his guitar in the correct position.

He pulled the guitar pick out from between his teeth, where he had put it when he pulled it out of the strings. He strummed his guitar to make sure all the notes sounded right.

“Wise men say, only fools rush in” he sang as he strummed the tune. Remus smiled as he recognized the age old love song.

“But I can't help falling in love with you”

Remus stayed silent as he listened to the love of his life singing. His eyes closed as he let the sound of his voice surround him.

“Take my whole life too. For I can't help falling in love with you. For I can't help falling in love with you”

Remus opened his eyes and stood up. “I don’t think you understand how much I love you” he said against Sirius’s lips.

***

“James? Are you actually being serious right now?” Finn asked. The guys were all over at the Cubs apartment as the girls had a ‘girls night’. The older kids for some reason trusted with the younger ones.

“No, I’m not kidding. I didn’t know that you had to take the wrapper off the cupcake or muffin until I was 14.”

“Wait how often did you have cupcakes and muffins?”

“I ate a muffin every morning for 8 years”

“How are you even alive?” Dumo exclaimed.

“It’s just paper!”

Sirius rolled his eyes at his best friends stupidity. Stretching to reach behind himself to pick up the guitar that the Cubs had for decoration and to make them look cool.

Remus looked at him and smiled, Sirius sat up and moved to lean against Remus’s side, bending his knees with his feet on the couch.

Sirius tuned the awfully out of tune instrument with quickly. Rolling his eyes at the mistreatment and the fact that they didn’t have any picks.

The guys didn’t hear as he started strumming the guitar, too busy still trying to figure out how James mind worked the way it did.

He hummed until the chorus, too caught up in the familiar peace of the vibration the strings sent through his fingers. Forgetting everyone else in the room.

“Just stop your crying it’s a sign of the times.”

Everyone stopped talking as they heard the voice.

“We gotta get away from here We gotta get away from here. Just stop your crying it’ll be alright They told me that the end is near. We gotta get away from here” He sang out, his fingers gliding across the strings.

Everyone’s had looks of shock while Remus smiled and enjoyed the singing he had grown to love even more.

“We never learn we’ve been here before. Why are we always stuck and running from the bullets? The bullets” he rose his voice high.

“We gotta get away. We got to get away. We got to get away. We got to get away. We got to get away . We got to, we got to, away. We got to, we got to, away. We got to, we got to, away.”

Everyone’s jaws continued to drop lower and lower and he hit higher and higher notes. Holding the last note out for a lot more than a few seconds.

He continued to just strum random but beautiful notes out of the guitar before everyone was snapped out of their shock. James slow clapping.

Sirius turned red as he realized what had happened. He put the guitar on the grounded and moved back so he was on Remus’s lap, hiding his face in his neck.

“Wh- how. Damn you can sing” Kasey stuttered.

“At least that’s guitar was put to good use eventually” Logan elbowed both his boyfriends, who he was constantly making fun of for having the never used instrument.

“Play something else.” Leo said.

“No”

***

“I’m bored” James shouted 20 minutes into the 4 hour bus ride.

“Me too” people shouted their agreement.

“Sirius sing” Leo called out.

“Absolutely not” Sirius scuffed from his place on Remus’s lap, his legs sprawled on the empty seat beside him.

“Can he even sing?” Talker asked.

“Yes” everyone who had heard him responded.

“No, I can’t”

“And play guitar” James added.

“Stop it” Sirius kicked James’s seat.

“Oh if only we had one here” Kasey sighed dramatically. He stood on his seat and opened the overhead compartment. “Oh wait” he pulled out a whole ass guitar.

“What the actual hell Blizzard?” Sirius exclaimed.

“Sing” he forced him to take the guitar.

“I’m not singing.”

“Then play” Dumo told him, everyone had gathered in the back of the bus, sitting in seats around him.

“No”

“Please, baby” Remus asked him, kissing his lips.

Everyone smirked, knowing Sirius can’t say no to Remus.

Sirius huffed out a breath, bring the guitar up into his arms. “At least tell me you brought a pick.”

Dumo pulled one out of his pocket and handed him one.

“This is mine from home!” He looked at Remus. “And my guitar!” He inspected the instrument closer.

“I like hearing you play” he shrugged, kissing his lips again. Sirius rolled his eyes.

Sirius turned back around and began playing a simple melody.

He, again, got lost in the feeling that took him away. Away from his worries of hockey, of the future. Away from his parents screeches and painful punishments. Away from his own mind that told him he would never be good enough, didn’t deserve anyone’s love.

The simple strum turned into the sound of a song and lyrics where leaving his mouth as everything finished dissolving away.

He started playing the song Remus had been listening to occasionally for the past week, Sirius able to know the cords when he hears them. His fingers danced with the quick cords.

“As he came into the window was a sound of a crescendo. He came into her apartment. He left the bloodstains on the carpet”

Everyone who had heard him sing before smirked at the wide eyes of everyone who hadn’t.

“Annie, are you okay? So, Annie are you okay? Are you okay, Annie? Annie, are you okay?”

Everyone sat there, listening to his voice rising and falling, his fingers crossing the strings so fast they could barley see them. Dancing across them as easily as he skates, like it was second nature.

“You've been hit by, you been hit by, a smooth criminal. So they came into the outway. It was Sunday, what a black day. Mouth to mouth resuscitation. Sounding heartbeats, intimidation” he sang the familiar lyrics.

Everyone got lost in the sound of the song echoing throughout the bus.

“I don’t know” his voice grew high quickly, holding the note out.

His fingers flying faster and faster along with his voice, taking quick breaths between the verses.

“There's a sign at the window. That he struck you, a crescendo Annie. He came into your apartment. Left the bloodstains on the carpet. Then you ran into the bedroom. You were struck down. It was your doom, Annie. Annie are you okay? Will you tell us that you're okay? There's a sign at the window . That he struck you, a crescendo Annie. He came into your apartment. Left the bloodstains on the carpet. Then you ran into the bedroom. You were struck down. It was your doom, Annie. You’ve been hit by, you’ve been struck by. A smooth criminal.”

Everyone exploded in applause.

“Man, if I could sing like that I would never stop singing” Talker said.

“Okay I thought they were lying but that was way better then I could ever think it would be” Kris shook his head with a smile.

“Why haven’t you played that before?” Remus asked him.

Sirius shrugged. “You’ve been listening to it this week so I played it”

“Wait you learned how to play that in a week.” James asked.

“No, I listened to the song”

“Hold on, hold on. You listened to the song and then you knew how to play it?” Dumo asked, pointing at Sirius as he kneeled against the back of the chair.

“Yeah”

“WHAT” Leo shouted.

“How is that even possible?” People shouted out different questions.

“Play another one” Olli called out.

Sirius shook his head but picked up his guitar again.

By the end of the 4 hour bus ride Sirius was sure he wouldn’t have a voice until next week.

They all tested the ability they were convinced was impossible. Making him listen to a song a few times an then play it.

He played it perfectly everytime, smirking at the looks on their faces.

A few day’s after Sirius got his voice back Dumo just so happened to have a get together that night.

He was shoved into a chair as soon as he got in the house.

“What’s this surprise we all just had to see?” Lily rolled her eyes.

“Go” Dumo said. Giving him a guitar they had bought because his other one needed new strings from over use.

Sirius shook his head.

“What’s going on?” Nat asked.

Sirius quickly launched into Smooth Criminal again as soon as the guitar was in his hands. Skipping the beginning cords and starting on the lyrics. This tome singing all the high notes.

By the end of the song the girls and kids had the same exact looks their husbands, fathers, and boyfriends had a week before.

I know nothing about actually playing music but I can’t do anything if I don’t have music playing.

@lumosinlove

[sibyl-of-space]

Final Fantasy IX ~ Melodies and Memories

"Jesters of the Moon"

There are a lot of very good video games in the world, but it takes some luck and circumstance outside of a game's control for one to reach me at just the right time(s) and place(s) in my life that it has a tangible impact on who I am -- who I want to be. One that carves out a space for itself in my soul that will never be removed or replaced.

I've just finished playing Final Fantasy IX for the first time, and there's no doubt in my mind that such is the case here.

(Continued below readmore.)

I drew this art last year, when I was mourning my attachment to an old favorite game that I just don't feel the same way about anymore: Majora's Mask. I wanted to draw something that captured my feelings about it, because sometimes art is the best way to talk about something when the words don't want to come.

Why is "Jesters of the Moon," the name of a random song in the Final Fantasy IX soundtrack, plastered in the middle of this Majora's Mask fanart? Especially considering I hadn't even played Final Fantasy IX yet when I drew this?

The reason is exactly that "luck and circumstance" that allowed me to fall so uniquely in love with the game.

"Mt. Gulug"

In 2008, someone on YouTube uploaded a Majora's Mask parody-slash-let's-play series called "Majora's Mask: The Things Which Were Taken Out." The series has since become unlisted and won't be linked here out of respect for the creator who probably doesn't want things they said and made in 2008 being spread all over the internet, but because of Unregistered Hypercam 2 reasons, the series inserted other background music over the video and didn't record the actual game audio.

I didn't recognize any of the music, but I watched these parody videos on repeat because in addition to being funny (...at the time, in my mind, at least), I really really loved the music. It got to the point where I would sometimes be playing Majora's Mask and get disappointed when I approached Goht and the Mt. Gulug theme wasn't playing in the background.

I had forgotten about these videos for a really long time in the interim, but I remembered them at some point when I was thinking about Majora's Mask and I found them again. The creator had cited the Final Fantasy IX soundtrack for virtually all of the background music used in the videos, and I realized that despite knowing literally nothing about the game, I had become really fond of - and weirdly nostalgic for - the songs from it that I now recognized.

So I looked up "Jesters of the Moon" and played it on repeat while I drew out my feelings in colored marker. A few months later, I realized that my backwards compatible PS3 can also play PS1 games, and eBay had FFIX for PS1 at a good price. I had nothing to lose by ordering it and seeing what the source of all that fantastic music was like.

"Vamo Alla Flamenco"

I started my playthrough knowing nothing about what to expect from the game. I'd never played a Final Fantasy game before and my overall JRPG experience has been mostly limited to Tales of, Persona, and more recently, mainline Shin Megami Tensei. The only things I knew about Final Fantasy were a) the Tidus laughing scene, and b) Sephiroth. IX seemed like it had vibes I would enjoy, but beyond that I knew nothing about what the experience would be. So I approached it with a "let's have fun and see how it goes" attitude, naming my party members the first silly thing that came to mind, ending up with "Swaggy," "OwO," "Bitchin," "Gunz," and "SWOOORD" to start with.

(For the record I do not regret those names whatsoever.)

I was immediately struck by how differently the game uses music in comparison to all of my previous JRPG experiences. This was not a game where the composer was given a list of theme songs that were slapped on top of a mostly completed game-- this was a game constructed with the soundtrack in mind as a part of the writing process.

The opening act plays almost like an opera (side note, yes I know one of the other FF's has a literal opera, I haven't played that one): you traverse the same locations from different perspectives as different characters, introducing the cast with lighthearted humor and dramatic irony out the wazoo. While you traverse the city as OwO, OwO's theme is playing in the background, coloring your perspective of the city and the narrative. When you switch to Gunz patrolling around the castle, Gunz's theme accompanies your movement and informs his character and mission. I am so accustomed to "location themes" being the norm in virtually all video games that experiencing character and/or narrative themes as BGM instead while I bumble around town changed my entire perspective on what music in games can do and be.

The operatic feeling is definitely intentional, because the game uses a play-within-a-game narrative device to hit you over the head with its themes in a way that is somehow poignant and artful while also being extremely blatant. That is a hard balance to strike, but it manages. The whole game is like that: it is completely straightforward and tells you exactly what it's about at heart, but it does it beautifully.

At any rate, I was enamored with this intro and had a very fun time, but I wasn't obsessed or anything and ended up putting it down. I spent several months on the first half of disk 1 with weeks passing between play sessions. I liked the game plenty, but life stuff happened and I decided to get obsessed with Dai Gyakuten Saiban and Ghost Trick for a while. No regrettis.

It was already clear, though, that FFIX was going to be special to me. My compositions for my team's game in the Global Game Jam in 2021 were directly inspired by FFIX's opera-like intro. I wrote two character themes for our game that would serve as background music when you play as the two protagonists, coloring your journey differently even when moving in the same spaces. I was intentionally trying to mimic the way music is used in FFIX as an exercise. The themes I wrote are definitely some of my strongest work so far.

(You can check out the game here if you want, I promise it is significantly shorter than Final Fantasy IX.)

"Melodies of Life"

Music caused me to pick up FFIX the first time, and music caused me to return to it. After months of not touching or really thinking about it, just earlier this week I was inspired to play it again, because - again - I listened to the right song at the right time.

I was again mourning the loss of something, in this case a friendship, for reasons I'm not going to share here. I had already heard the song "Melodies of Life" because it came up when I was looking up FFIX songs to reblog on Tumblr a few months ago, and I decided to listen to it again. Even without knowing the game context, the song itself really spoke to me in that moment: "a voice from the past, joining yours and mine, adding up the layers of harmony" - it kind of made me feel at peace with the fact that I had a lot of positive memories of that friendship and I could keep those at heart while also moving on in the present. ...I'm also a sucker for music metaphors, so there is that.

I was really moved by this song, cheesy as it is, and I was also definitely in the mood for a distraction. Picking up FFIX again felt like the best move.

It was, and my life is forever changed.

The game never stopped being beautiful and funny and touching, and the soundtrack never ceased to amaze. I recognized concepts I've seen in other games but never had I seen them used so artfully. I adored the fantasy world and non-human cast, I found myself enticed by random encounter for the first time because it made me feel like I had to struggle to survive a difficult journey. Music, gameplay, visuals, and story felt like one cohesive work of art for the entire duration.

Life circumstances got me to play the game again, but the game itself was so captivating and wonderful that I binged the entire rest of it - disks 2-4 - in less than a week. Everything else that the game had to say, it told me itself, in its own context, and I was ready to listen.

"You're Not Alone!"

This is going to make me sound like an emotionally-stunted twenty-something, but it has been years since a work of media has got me to have a really good cry. I used to cry playing games all the time as a kid but recently I'll find myself getting emotional, sure, often tearing up, but getting completely red-faced and snot-nosed because I physically cannot contain the emotions being evoked by a work? Years. I can't honestly tell you the last time it happened with certainty.

I feel like an emotional band-aid has been ripped off. I was f*cking sobbing during the entire duration of the "You're Not Alone!" sequence. It didn't matter that what was happening was obviously coming from a mile away, because the delivery was so raw and emotional and human!!! A whole game's worth of Swaggy punching first and asking questions later to save his friends, being Protag McProtag endangering himself for others in any and all circumstances, for the payoff of all of his friends forcing him to stop being such a primadonna and let them help him for once. It's true, too! He relies on them just as much as they rely on him! And the game doesn't just tell you this, no, it lets you try to solo all these fights and waits until you realize how boned you are until they come bail you out.

When Bitchin showed up with her "looks like you need a hand" I wanted to straight up yell at my tv. YES I DO!!! YES I DO NEED YOU BITCHIN!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!! I half knew that SWOOORD was going to heal me before I got truly KO-ed but I had been unmercifully wiped in "unwinnable" battles before in this game, so I legit thought I might have to re-do that whole part of the game again, and I was so relieved and thankful when she showed up and healed me.

This moment exemplifies everything that I adore about this game. It doesn't just tell you its story. It shows it to you, it sings it to you, and it and lets you play it out and feel it for yourself.

"Game Over"

This song is all too familiar to me. Gizamaluke's Grotto was very unforgiving for a first-time Final Fantasy player, especially one who didn't happen to pick up Big on the way for a fourth party member early on.

I hadn't heard the piano part in a few months, though, because when I picked the game back up I started just mashing to reload before it got to that point any time we wiped. I didn't hear it again until the game was truly over, this time for good.

I let it play for a while. Not too long, because I have a CRT TV and didn't want "The End" to get burned in. But a while. Enough to meditate on what I'd just experienced, and how I was feeling about it.

There's so much more to say about the game, far more than I could put in a blog post. But I don't think I need to describe these thoughts in words. I can do what the game did, and use music, use art, use stories, use metaphors, and use symbols to communicate what I mean; and hope that someone else is able and willing to listen.

And although a written record of my thoughts likely won't be preserved for all that long, maybe the feelings and the memories will be, so long as they have been shared.

[heartofsnark]

Cooking with Tsuneko (Custom MC) Headcanons

Notes: This was a Ko-fi request by @otomemonogatari , she specifically wanted Tsuneko and Mamoru cooking together, but for the sake of headcanon format and ‘cause I thought it’d be fun, I decided to do them all. If you don’t know Tsuneko is my mc in my series Black Market Wonderland. She is my baby and I adore her. And if you’re not reading that series and like her character here, why not give it a chance…..?

Also, I’m still getting a feel for writing Luke and Shuichi, they aren’t in the fic at this point and I haven’t written much for them. So, if it sucks I apologize. Also, no Hikaru cause I haven’t played him yet and I have no how he’d interact with Tsuneko at this point. So. 

Eisuke and Tsuneko can surprisingly work pretty well together, when they want to, they just usually do not want to. They’re both similar in a lot of ways, not that either of them would ever admit this fact. They’re both perfectionist and efficient workers, there will be a lot of snide comments along the way though. Tsuneko and Eisuke cooking together would start with her giving him shit. 

“Can you even cook? I mean, you’ve probably had chefs your whole life, so I doubt you can.” 

“There’s nothing I can’t do.”

“You can’t pet cats or eat peas, but go off my dude.” 

He’s scowling as he makes his way over to the kitchen where Tsuneko is, she’s grinning that it worked. Eisuke washes his hands and ties a white apron over his expensive designer clothes. She’s snickering at how stupid it looks, she’d try to hide it, but she doesn’t care if she hurts his feelings. 

“I’ll sift the cake flour, you get the parchment paper and pan ready; trace the pan on the parchment paper, cut it out then grease the paper and pan.” 

“Because you can’t draw or cut straight.” 

“Draw on the fucking paper.” 

Once she’s sifted through the cake flour enough, she looks over to see Eisuke has finished greasing the pan with shortening, glaring at what sticks to his fingers, like it’s personally offended him. 

“It’s not gonna apologize to you.” 

His glare switches to her and he wipes his hand off on the apron. It continues to go well, both taking tasks and easily able to follow directions, though neither misses a chance to make a snide comment. 

By the end of it the two perfectionists have crafted a downright beautiful looking strawberry sponge cake. They then proceed to destroy it fighting over the strawberry on top. This is why we can’t have nice things. 

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“Why don’t you just learn to make your own omelets?” 

The look of concern on Soryu’s face makes Tsuneko laugh. She just figures it’s a practical skill, everyone should know how to cook for themselves and rolled omelets aren’t that hard. Soryu isn’t a stupid guy, so, what’s the worst that can happen?

He looks beyond awkward and clumsy as he ties on an apron. Tsuneko is trying her best not to snicker; he’s a complete fish out of water. 

“First, we just need to crack some eggs, very simple,” she says as she cracks one of the eggs into the bowl then gestures at the rest of them. 

Soryu reluctantly grabs an egg; he cracks it and promptly drops about half the shell into the bowl. She stifles a laugh as he awkwardly apologizes and picks out the shell. His cheeks are tinted red and a part of her feels bad, but not enough to stop her from insisting he cracks another. 

He tries to crack it against the counter before dropping the egg into the bowl, maybe he thinks it’ll help. Instead, the egg falls onto the counter instead. She bursts into laughter and his face turns about three shades darker of red.  She takes care of cracking the rest then adding in the mirin, soy sauce, and salt. 

“Okay,” she brushes oil over the pan and pours about a third of the eggs in, “now just let that cook about a minute then we’ll roll it, ‘kay?” 

Soryu takes over the pan while Tsuneko goes to get the spatula; her back is turned for a second before she hear Soryu yell. The kitchen is suddenly hotter. 

She turns around to see flames shooting up from the pan, Soryu’s hand thrown up in defeat as he backs away. Tsuneko grabs a pan lid and covers it, smothering the fire. 

“What the actual fuck happened?!” 

“I don’t know.” 

“My back was turned for less than a second.” 

“This always happens or it explodes.”

“Explodes?!”

Soryu awkwardly scratches the back of his head, cheeks red and avoiding eye contact. 

“You know what, how about you just go read,” she offers, taking off the lid to look at the burnt egg remains. 

He nods in understanding before making a beeline out of the kitchen. 

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Cooking with Baba, did you mean an hour of him flirting with her and then there’s food at the end? 

They’re both good cooks, Baba more so than Tsuneko. In true gentleman fashion, he keeps offering to do some of the more manual stuff for Tsuneko which while sweet can also be irksome.  

“Want me to dice those tomatoes for you, pretty lady?” 

“Don’t annoy me when I have a knife.” 

It’s also worth noting that Baba tends to just know how to cook, he doesn’t need to recheck or look over recipes. This does nothing but stress Tsuneko out as she is someone who triple checks what to do next before she does it. 

“Now to add in the peppers and shallots.” 

“Wait, let me double check, we might need to do,” Baba is already adding them in as she checks the recipe, “and that’s exactly the next step, how do you do that?” 

“Have I managed to impress you?” 

“If I say yes, will you stop winking at me, you fucking weirdo.”

Eventually, the dish comes out virtually perfect and mouth wateringly good. 

“Made with love.” 

“Don’t make me puke.” 

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Ota was not invited into the kitchen, he just showed up, to the absolute dismay of Tsuneko. Being the grade A little shit that Ota is, he just continuously gets in the way and annoys her.  It’s a constant battle of her batting his hands away from throwing random things into the batter. 

“No, the cookies do not need tomatoes.” 

“Don’t be boring, Koro.” 

“Mustard is not a part of the recipe!” 

“It might be good, you don’t know.” 

“I most certainly do know.” 

“I swear to fuck, if you put one pickle in there I’m smothering you!” 

It’s a constant struggle of smacking away his gremlin hands and making sure he’s not ruining something. The process of making cookies takes about an hour longer than necessary thanks to Ota’s shenanigans. 

Then comes time to decorate them, Tsuneko is suddenly out of her league. 

“What is that?” 

“Depends….what does it look like?” 

“That’s not how that works, Koro.” 

“It’s…supposed to be a bunny…”

“Pfffft, it looks like a sick plant.”

“Shut up, what did you make, art boy?” 

“Look, I drew you.” 

The frosting decoration on the cookie is a floppy eared dog and she promptly smacks it out of his hand. 

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“Are you gonna help?”  She asks as Mamoru is loitering around the kitchen and grazing, instead of making himself useful. 

“Wasn’t planning on it,” he grumbles as he starts to pop something in his mouth, she smacks his chest, not that it stops him.

“Either help or leave.” 

“Ugh, I’ll try not to get in the way.” 

She rolls her eyes, not quite sure why he isn’t just leaving. He expects her to cook him food, but won’t leave so she can do so in peace, maybe he just likes being an irritant. 

“Wash your hands and you’ll need an apron.” 

“Why do I need an apron?” He grumbles, half-assedly washing his hands. 

“Actually wash them, don’t just run water over them, you gross fuck.” 

She squirts soap over his hands and then goes to find an apron. There’s a couple aprons tucked away in her kitchen, there’s a few that are plain and more that are cutesy.  She decides on a pink ruffly My Melody apron, he wants to be an irritant; she’ll be one right back. 

“There, my hands are- what is that?” 

“An apron.” She tries to keep her tone even, but the way his eyes widen at the apron cracks her up.

“I’m not wearing that.” 

“Seriously, it’s just an apron, so you don’t stain your clothes.” 

“I don’t care that much about these clothes.” 

“That’s like, your one suit that doesn’t have stains, wear the apron.’ 

“Why does it have to be that one?” He glares at it like the pink ruffles have personally hurt him. 

“It’s the only other apron I have.”

“Why can I wear that one?” He points at the apron she’s wearing, dark blue with just a simple black cat, Jiji, peeking out of the pocket. 

“I’m wearing it.” 

“This is ridiculous, I don’t even wanna cook-”

“Too late, put on the apron.” 

He groans and rubs a hand over his face. 

“C’mon, I’m literally the only person who’ll see it; your masculinity can’t be that fragile.” 

Another groan and he yanks the apron from her hands, tying it on. She presses a hand to her mouth and sputters out a laugh; the feminine apron looks so goofy against his gray rumpled suit. 

“Shut up, brat.” 

“Okay, now would you strain the noodles for me,” she finally manages to get focused after a few more giggles at his expense. 

“Fine,” Mamoru grabs the pot by the handles and carries it to the sink with the strainer to pour, “FUCK!”

The pot clatters and topples over, splashing boiling water over Mamoru. 

“Shit, quick!” She grabs turns on the faucet and runs cold water, getting Mamoru’s hands under it. 

“How did you even manage to drop that?” she chastises as Mamoru groans in pain as the water cools his red skin. 

“I don’t know, just happened, fuck.” 

“Come on, the food can wait.” 

Tsuneko gets a cold compress, burn ointment, and bandaids before leading him to the couch. She gently rubs the ointment over his burned skin, earning winces and whines from him. Once that’s done, she carefully places some pink bandaids with My Melody on them over his blisters. 

“They match your apron,” she teases. 

“Haha, hilarious,” he grumbles as she puts the cold compress on his hand. 

“I had no idea you were so accident prone, maybe we should keep you out of the kitchen.” 

“Sounds like a plan.” 

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Rhion would be so excited to help Tsuneko in the kitchen, but his eagerness doesn’t translate to being skilled at cooking. Thankfully, while a disaster on his own, he follows Tsuneko’s directions well enough to avoid absolute catastrophe.  Though, Tsuneko babies him a bit, not letting him take over the more dangerous or important things. 

“Add in a cup of flour.”

“Got it!” 

“A pinch of nutmeg.” 

“Done!” 

“I’ll take care of the mincing and the oven.” 

He nods in understanding, humming along to the radio as they cook. Occasionally, when there’s a wait time he spins and twirls to the music. He’ll pull at Tsuneko’s hand and try to convince her to dance along. 

“No way, not happening.” 

“Coooooome on Alice,” he says with a pout. 

“Even your puppy dog eyes can’t make me dance, sweetie.” 

He whines when she pinches at his cheek, before continuing his antics. She watches and laughs each time he nearly falls over. 

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

Tsuneko groans, a pain going through her hand. She’s trying to chop up chicken and vegetables to cook. 

“What’s wrong Sexy Bones?” 

“Holy fuck,” Tsuneko practically jumps out of her skin and turns to see Luke suddenly looming over her shoulder, “we need to put a bell on you or something.” 

“Are you hurt?” 

“Oh, I fell and hurt my hand earlier, so it’s hard to cut everything up.” 

“You should relax it.” 

“Yeah, well, I’m trying to cook.” 

Luke steps towards the counter, blocking Tsuneko from moving back towards it. He produces a scalpel from his pocket then uses it to quickly and efficiently cut everything up. It can’t take him more than a minute or two. 

“Is that all you needed cut, Sexy Bones?” 

“Uhhh, yeah, thanks.” 

The eccentric doctor wanders off, properly to read some medical text book and Tsuneko is left confused but thankful. 

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Shuichi has a tendency to micro-manage and Tsuneko has a tendency to hate that. While they both do well following instructions or recipe to absolute perfection, Shuichi tends to be more prone to breathing down someone’s neck. 

“Do you think you’re chopping that thin enough?”

“The pieces are practically see through.” 

“Did you preheat the oven to the right temperature?” 

“Check it yourself, if you don’t believe me.” 

“You managed to do it right.” 

“Yes, I’ve been cooking for years and I’m also capable of following basic instructions.” 

“I wasn’t aware.” 

“I’m this close,” she nearly presses her fingers together, “to stabbing you.” 

“This is basic supervising, if you can’t handle someone looking over your work, that’s not my fault.” 

“Firstly, this isn’t work, you aren’t paying me. Secondly, you’re not just looking over it, you’re micro-managing. No one would put up with this.” 

“You’re ridiculous.” 

“Fine, let’s see how you like it, you take over the rest of the sides and I’ll supervise.” 

“Fine.” 

“I don’t think you chopped that enough.”

“Are you sure you added enough sugar?” 

“Maybe you should stir that more.” 

She continues nagging him the same exact way he did to her, looking for any chance to criticize or correct him.  He stays calm mostly, just giving an annoyed sigh. 

“Did you spray that with nonstick stuff?”

“You just saw me do that,” he finally snaps and glares at her. 

“Awww, do you not like having someone breathing down your neck.” 

“Fine, I understand, I’ll relax.” 

“About damn time.” 

~Did you like this set of headcanons? Wanna request something similar? Just wanna support me? Consider buying me a Ko-Fi!~

[pepperonijem]

i. kilig || marahuyo

i. kilig → series masterlist

Kilig (n.) Filipino: refers to the feeling of excitement due to various romantic situations, including the feelings of butterflies in one’s stomach, heart fluttering, and uncontrollable smiling

Pairing: Peter Parker x Filipino!Reader

Warnings: I write a few words and phrases in Filipino, but there’s a glossary at the bottom with the translations!

Word Count: 2.6k

Summary: Peter Parker gives you butterflies and makes your heart melt, kilig, if you will; prompt “Those things you said yesterday… did you mean them?”

A/N: I wrote this for @dinnafashsoldat’s (rip I can’t tag you :( ) wonderful POC writing challenge. This was so amazing to do and it made me feel really empowered as a Filipino to put out a fic that truly celebrated my culture. Thank you so much for giving this opportunity! 

The halls of Midtown were quickly clearing out as everyone went home for the weekend, and you wished you were included in the exodus. You let out a sigh as you slowly walked to your locker, overhearing bits and pieces of conversations as you crossed through. Lex was volunteering at the local animal shelter on Sunday, Jeremy was visiting his relatives upstate, and you were pretty sure you heard someone mention something about a carnival coming to town. Unlike them, however, your weekend was going to be filled with nothing but cooking, cleaning, and of course, your nosy and tsismosa aunts who loved to ask about your love life. But before you could even be home for their weekend-long interrogation, you were stuck here at school for an “emergency” aca-deca meeting.

You reached your locker and pulled out your deca notes, which at this point in the semester was just full of random doodles. You shut the door, but paused and opened your notebook to take a quick look at the scribbles that congested each of the recent pages. The doodles were pretty embarrassing, you thought, as they were mostly his name with a bunch of hearts around it, and the words “crush kita” beside it. There was the occasional round small flower, but the majority of them centered around him. Your notes were basically an unsent love letter to the boy who sat across from you every meeting, the one, the only –

“Peter Parker!” you exclaimed as you quickly shut your notebook, hoping that he didn’t catch a glimpse of the many times and the many fonts you wrote his name. His name came out as a squeak out of your mouth, and you mentally kicked yourself for being so awkward. You coughed to clear your throat, and attempted to lean against your locker to try and look natural, but came off looking all the more awkward. Peter let out a small chuckle and your heartbeat accelerated in reaction to the melodious sound of his voice. “W-what can I do ya for?” you managed to stutter out. He gave you an endearing smile, and you lost your balance, nearly slipping to the floor, before Peter’s impossibly fast reflexes caught you. He had both of his arms around you, and for a second you let yourself savor the feeling. He had a concerned look on his face and you realized that your mouth was agape and your eyes were wide. You snapped out of it and pulled yourself together, trying to shed the layer of sweat that built on your palms against the fabric of your jeans. “I’m fine, everything’s fine,” you tried to save. Peter didn’t buy it, but he nodded in response.

“I just wanted to let you know that Mr. H is about to start,” he explained. You nodded in response and let him know that you’d be there in just a second. Peter headed towards the classroom down the hall and you smiled at him when he turned back around before he entered the room. You groaned quietly and rested your head against the locker. You mentally chided yourself for the interaction before finally regaining your composure and walking into the classroom as well.

The desks were arranged in a cluster in some semblance to a dinner table, and since you were the last to arrive, you took the seat that was left in between your cousin Ned and Mr. Harrington himself. Ned waved to you and you smiled at him. The meeting went by quickly since it wasn’t really over anything important, and you were slightly annoyed at the fact that you had to stay after school to hear that it was Flash who called the meeting to talk about his uncle’s new car to replace the one Spider-Man trashed last year after homecoming. After the meeting you decided to linger for a little bit, since Peter and Ned were still there. Peter moved from his seat across the table to the one on the other side of Ned. Ned pulled out his phone to check his messages and leaned over to show you.

“My mom’s already at your place,” he mentioned. “She just texted and asked if we can stop by the store to buy some stuff on the way home.” You pulled out your own phone to make a note of it and noticed three texts your mom had left you.

From: Mom

Anak, u need to buy bell pepper for the pancit.

From: Mom

Where r u now?

From: Mom

*Picture Message* see? The pancit doesn’t look good without the bell peppers

You laughed quietly and showed Ned the messages, causing him to laugh as well. Peter leaned over Ned’s shoulder to look at the messages and you held the phone closer to him so he could see the picture of the noodles your mom sent you. Peter’s eyebrows shot up in curiosity and he let out a hum in delight.

“What’s that?” he asked Ned. “It looks really good,” he added and as if on cue, you heard his stomach growl. He quickly placed his hand over his stomach to try to quiet it, and Ned let out a laugh.

“This is pancit,” you began explaining. “It’s a really popular Filipino food. Ned’s and my relatives are coming over to celebrate…” you trailed off and furrowed your eyebrows. “Actually, I have no idea why they’re coming, but I know we’re having a party,” you said. “My mom’s been cooking all morning, and Lord knows, the minute I step foot into the house, I’m headed straight for the kitchen too.”

Ned nodded as you explained the day to Peter. “Yeah, we have to go pick up some bell peppers before we go, and judging from the picture, they’re expecting a lot of people.” He added. “Why don’t you come, Pete?”

Your eyes widened and you felt yourself choke on air at Ned’s invitation. Part of you wanted him to reject it, wanting him to save himself from the incessant and relentless questions all your titas would have for him, and by association, you as well. But the other part of you wanted him to come, so you could introduce him to the colorful and delicious world of Filipino culture and of course, spend time with him. Peter had a thoughtful look on his face and you watched him intensely as he considered the offer, your heart and brain tearing you in two desires, until he finally nodded his head.

“Sure,” he shrugged. “If your parents are okay with that?” he looked towards you for permission. Your mind was screaming for you to tell him that your parents are suspicious of any male friends you have, that you would be too busy to entertain him, but against your judgement, your mouth opened.

“The more the merrier,” you smiled and the three of you packed up and made your way out of the building.

You, Ned, and Peter drove to the Asian market that was near your house and you and Ned showed Peter the various smells and thrills inside. The two of you showed him the snacks you would eat as children, your dad’s favorite brand of cheese flavored ice cream (the one that had real chunks of cheese, you explained), and even took him to the seafood section to show him how you and Ned used to make the crawfish fight each other with the tongs. Peter looked like he was having the time of his life, and the childlike amusement that was etched onto his face made your heart skip a beat. All of a sudden, you felt more relaxed around him, now that you had shared a piece of your identity and your heritage with him, you felt excited to bring him home. The three of you were having so much fun that you almost forgot to buy the bell peppers your mom asked for.

As soon as you pulled into the driveway, the familiar scent of garlic and soy sauce flooded the car and you heard your stomach growl in response to the smell of adobo. The three of you walked to the door and even from outside you could hear the sounds of a teleserye playing in the background. Peter stood behind you and Ned, in hopes that if your mom yelled at the two of you for coming home late, Peter would act as a buffer. However once you opened the door, you were faced with one of your titas whom you haven’t seen in years, and she smiled at you sweetly. You squealed as she pulled you into a hug and she kissed both of your cheeks. “Ay nako, you’re both so big now,” she exclaimed before turning to Ned and greeting him similarly. She pinched his cheeks and Ned gave an uncomfortable smile in return. Peter let out a laugh at that and your tita looked over your shoulder, her eyes widening as they saw him. You and Ned shared a look of panic, not knowing what was going to happen next. She pushed past both of you and stood in front of Peter, whose jovial face was now replaced with one of worry as she looked him up and down. “And sino ito?” she asked with a smile. Before you opened your mouth to respond, Peter cut you off.

“Uh, I’m Peter,” he introduced himself and extend his hand for her to shake. You looked at him with disbelief, not knowing if he actually understood her question or if he just blurted out his name. Your tita laughed at his extended hand and instead pulled him into a hug, the same way she greeted you and your cousin. Peter grunted at the tight hug, but smiled nonetheless.

“Peter,” she repeated. “We don’t shake hands here. Here, you’re our kapamilya, part of our family,” she explained with her hands still on his shoulders. “I’m Tita Baby,” she introduced, before ushering all three of you in the house. You and Ned began to slip off your shoes, and Peter followed suit, mimicking everything you and Ned did without question. He continued to follow the two of you around, introducing himself to your aunts and uncles and even your cousins, who got him to agree to a Super Smash Bros. tournament later that night. Peter blended so well with the people in your life, and your heart warmed at the thought of having him over at future parties. You even introduced him to your parents, and your dad made a quip about Peter being your boyfriend once he walked away to follow Tita Baby as she introduced him to more people. You showed Peter the different foods your mom had made, everything from biko to the lechon that was sitting in the center of the buffet, but the pancit was his favorite. And when your dad turned on the tv to the karaoke machine, the adults cheered loudly, and Peter looked at Ned with a panicked look as Ned dragged him to the living room. You followed behind them, waiting for a turn as you sang loudly with your Tita’s rendition of Fame. This was your favorite part of the night, as it was a time to be ridiculous and extra and to just have fun.

As you sang and danced, you didn’t notice the way Peter was looking at you. He felt a smile creep up that he had no desire to suppress. There was something about the way you looked when you thought no one was watching that had him absolutely smitten. This wasn’t the first time he was able to see you in this state of pure bliss, but he was grateful for every time. Of course, he thought it was just as cute, the way you got all flustered around him, but he loved these moments just a little bit more. He thought about today, and he was so glad the plan he and Ned had devised actually worked and how flawlessly it went too. Ned had told him about this party a few weeks ago, when Peter explained that he wanted to finally tell you about the way you make him feel, and Ned came up with this plan to get you two to spend time together and for Peter to know you better. He was still on cloud 9, but when you finally turned to him after your fantastic version of Open Arms, he snapped back to reality and he felt his palms sweat. You smiled and leaned over to let him know you were going to get more food, and he decided to go with you and stood up, following a few steps behind you. He turned towards Ned, and gave him a thumbs up, thankful for his guy in the chair.

You and Peter turned into the kitchen, now empty as all the adults were busy singing. “Singing sure works up an appetite,” you joked as you reached for a new plate. Peter chuckled along before clearing his throat. You looked up to see the worried look he had on his face. “You alright, Pete?” you asked and stepped closer to him. “I know the sinigang isn’t for everyone and I’m sorry I made you taste it –” you began to ramble before Peter cut you off.

“No!” he exclaimed. “It’s not that, it’s…” he trailed off and drew in a breath. “Okay, this is gonna be really bad, but I’m gonna do it anyway. Kailangan kong sabihin sa’yo, na talagang mahal na mahal kita.” You dropped the paper plate in response at the way your native tongue rolled out of Peter’s mouth and you saw him begin to panic. “Oh my god, did I say it all wrong? I’m sorry, it’s just Ned has been teaching me some Filipino and showing me some Filipino movies, which make me cry by the way, and I thought it would be cute and –” You were about to respond when Ned entered the room, and talk about awful timing, told Peter that his family was going home, so Peter needed to come too. Peter looked at you sadly, with his words still hanging between the two of you like a red string. Your brain was still in shock, and you didn’t even recall walking to your bed or falling asleep, until you woke up the next day.

The rest of the weekend went by uneventfully, and you avoided looking at your phone at all, believing that if Peter did text you, it would be to take back what he said. You couldn’t let that happen. So, you thought, if you didn’t check your phone, you could still pretend that you lived in a universe where Peter Parker liked you back. And that worked for the rest of Sunday, but as soon as Monday morning rolled in, and you pulled up in Midtown’s overcrowded parking lot, you saw him waiting at your usual spot. He waited for you to get out of the car, and his mouth opened to say something, but closed once again. You took his silence as your cue and you softly asked, “The things you said the other night… did you mean them?”

“Every word,” he replied just as quietly. Your heart did a million flips and before he could add anything, you leaned forward to land a soft kiss against his lips. As you pulled away and saw his eyelids flutter back open and you nervously pulled your lip between your teeth. “Wow…” he trailed off, still surprised at the contact.

“Mahal din kita.”

G L O S S A R Y:

Tsismosa: gossip, one who gossips

“Crush kita”: I have a crush on you

Anak: child

Adobo: a pork dish

Teleserye: Filipino soap operas

Tita: aunt

“Ay nako”: oh my

“Sino ito?”: Who’s this?

Biko: A dessert made with sticky rice and coconut milk

Lechon: a huge roasted pig

Sinigang: a tamarind-base soup with pork and vegetables

“Kailangan kong sabihin sa’yo, na talagang mahal na mahal kita”: I need to tell you that I really, really, truly, love you.

“Mahal din kita”: I love you too

TAGGING:

Permanent –

@wowkenobi @poeticbarnes @parker-peter-parker @marvel-biatch @freightcarcap @somethingintodarkness

Peter Parker –

@tomsfireheart @almighty-rogers

Want to be tagged?

[eversojoe]

Random stuff about me / I got tagged

HEYHO! It’s been quite a bit since I’ve been tagged in a thing like that. So thanks to @copper-cable for the tag :D (A month after the fact... BUT HEY better late than never c:)

What’s your favourite song(s) to sing/hum?

Mhhh, I actually don’t have a goto for that now that I think about it. If I hum I generally just mash many melodies together.

What’s your favourite flower/tree/plant?

I’m not much of a plant guy, I just like seeing most of them. But if I had to answer I quite like most kinds of passiflora. They just bloom so beautifully and grow quite large.

What’s your favourite color?

Orange! The more subtle tone like in a sunrise. Though I find many colors appealing!

What do you always doodle?

Rarely anything, because I rarely find myself having paper and pen in front of me. But when I do, it’s usually simple shapes.

How do you take your coffee/tea?

With tea it depends, but usually with nothing else added. Coffee is a whole different story. As much milk and sugar as possible, hahaha

Favorite candle scent?

Not one in particular. But the slight smell of unscented candles is already pretty great to me.

Sunrise or sunset?

They are both beautiful! Though I tend to go with sunrise more. It’s just much more quiet with most people still at home.

What perfume do you wear?

None. I only use a deodorant stick after my daily shower. I’m not too fond of strong artificial smells. They tend to be really disturbing for me.

Favorite quite?

“Perfection and power are overrated. I think you are very wise to choose happiness and love.” - Iroh from the Avatar series It’s still the quote that moves me the most... which is pretty much the case for Iroh as a whole.

Favorite self care routine?

Curling up in bed and thinking about my characters ;u;

Fuzzy socks or house slippers?

I have neither >_> I have really bad blood circulations, so it wouldn’t matter either way. I usually go with blankets though.

What color are your eyes?

Brown

What’s your favourite eye color on other?

Every color on every person can be beautiful, no favorites here...

Favorite season? Why?

They are all beautiful and fun in their own regard. I only dislike really hot days, but I like all the other days.

Cheek, neck or nose kisses?

-> KISSES <- ;u;

What does your happy place look like?

Always depends. Sometimes I just want to be alone in a forest or a cuddly room, other times I just want to have trusted company.

Favorite breed of dog?

BIG DOGS ;u;

Do you ever want to be married? If so, what colors would you pick for your wedding theme?

To be honest... I don’t have very high opinions on weddings. I’m happy for everyone who goes with it, but I just need close friends. But I’m also not planning my life ahead like that... sooooo who knows?

Cursive or print?

As soon as I was allowed to write print again I went ahead... now it’s at least readable xD

Favorite weather?

There is always something fun to do, so I don’t mind most weather. Other than the before mentioned, hahaha

Not gonna tag anyone, but if the questions seem interesting you can use me as the tagger! It certainly was fun for me! C:

[cheollies]

Soulmate!Jihoon

a/n: anon requested a soulmate Jihoon with some ridiculousness added into it

Soulmate au where you will occasionally do or say what your soulmate does or say

Jihoon assumes he must have murdered a whole village in his past life to be cursed with this

“WHAT THE FUCK” is his everyday sentence

Just wants to finish his English paper but he can’t really do it when his fingers are moving around the keyboard typing what he thinks is fanfiction

“goddammit”

After about five minutes he gets his control of his hands again and has to erase the full blown fanfic that is displayed on his screen

Was playing a shooter game with the guys when all of a sudden he stood up and started running and all the guys are laughing because they have never seen Jihoon run in his entire life

One time you were sobbing because you hadn’t slept in 24 hours and someone drank all the milk and Jihoon did not have a fun time

Jihoon is blubbering (but he’s not crying) his voice is coming all choppy and whining and Jeonghan is videotaping Jihoon screaming about how sad he was that someone drank all the milk

The boys have so much dirt on Jihoon to be honest

And Jihoon doesn’t really do anything embarrassing to be affecting you

but Jihoon sleeps a lot, which means you often fall asleep on the bus or in class (which you don’t mind at all) but it’s not entertaining when you’re falling asleep at work

once in class screamed “GET THE FUCK OUT SEUNGCHEOL”

you got scolded by the teacher after class about how inappropriate that was and that blaming it on your soulmate is not a legitimate reason

for some reason, Jihoon can’t fathom why you trip a lot and why does he have to experience the trip along with you

literally is walking in an empty hallway before he tumbles to the ground screaming “Fuck”

one night, a night that made Jihoon’s heart flutter, he couldn’t sleep at all and he didn’t know if you couldn’t sleep either or if his restlessness was keeping you awake,

but suddenly a small humming tune spilled from his lips, he quietly hummed the sweet tune and in just a few minutes, the tune disassembles from his mouth and he slips into a slumber with a smile on his lips

once petted Soonyoung’s head while cooing about how cute of a puppy he was (obviously he’s assuming you’re petting a dog)

luckily it was only soonyoung there and he threatened the poor boy that if he told anyone what happened, he’ll make sure he never lives

has to be careful when he drinks something because you like to be spontaneous with your actions and the last time he spilled hot coffee on himself

basically carries his whole closet with him because of you

Jihoon will sometimes use his soulmate as a scapegoat to be mean to the other members

*slaps Seungcheol*

“sorry that was my soulmate”

*moves the chair so Soonyoung falls when he tries to sit down*

“it was my soulmate”

“No one cares Wonwoo. Sorry that was my soulmate again”

“YOU LITERALLY SAID MY NAME JIHOON STOP LYING”

Jihoon finds you

He finds you because he wants to censor you and your flamboyant actions from ruining another one of his sweaters

Remember how you wrote fanfic while he was trying to write his English paper, well Jihoon thanks the lord for google doc’s change history because he’s able to go back and replace all those words he previously deleted

Searches by the paragraph to find you

Finds your tumblr

Accidentally spends 100 years stalking your tumblr (SOMEONE AT MY NEW JOB DID THIS TO ME BUT WITH FACEBOOK ASDSDKJFH)

Also finds your other social media

stalks you once again on all of them

“dude Jihoon that’s just creepy”

Doesn’t care though because wow are you really his soulmate, you’re wayyy out of his league to be his soulmate is what he thinks

Gets scared because initially he was just going to outright say “I’m your soulmate” but after seeing your face and everything you post, he’s all nervous now

Creates a tumblr and befriends you

You only know him as @ woozi and that he likes and reblogs everything you do

But then Jihoon gets really addicted to Tumblr and starts reblogging his own things and then you follow him and start reblogging his stuff because damn he reblogs aesthetically pleasing stuff

Flashback to that late night when he couldn’t sleep and was humming that tune, well he decided to compose a little melody with that tune and you FLIP OUT when he posted it on his tumblr

“WHERE DID YOU HEAR THAT TUNE”

When jihoon first got that message he didn’t really know how to respond so he just says it straight

“I’m actually your soulmate”

Before Jihoon knows it, he’s screaming and jumping everywhere (curtesy of you on the other end)

You two finally decide to meet at a nearby café, and although you don’t know what he looks like, he knows what you look like already

The moment he steps into that café, and his eyes land on you drinking coffee, a smile tugs on his lips because wow were you more beautiful in person, when you look up and meet his eyes, it just kind of clicks

When you two are together, everything just feels like it’s fallen into the right place for Jihoon, your crazy actions and words he doesn’t mind any more

When he’s with you, everything just fits, all movements and words fit together so perfectly, it’s like the reason for burst of actions/words beforehand was because he needed his other half

Together, random actions/words seem to cease

The more comfortable part of the relationship took a while to develop since Jihoon is more shy and introverted

But once he hits that point, boy is he savage as fuck

“I hit soonyoung today, I told him it was because of you”

“What the fuck Jihoon”

“He was annoying me, I also may have accidentally spilled coffee on some of the guys”

“LEE JIHOON”

The first time he said ‘I love you’ he didn’t really say it to your face

you were sitting at home watching television when suddenly you just start talking

“I don’t know, it’s hard to explain what I feel with her. I like her. I want to be with her a lot. She makes me happy.”

There’s a pause which you can only assume is the other person talking.

“Love her?” You can actually feel the hesitation in his voice, “Yeah. I guess I do love her”

Your heart really swells at that statement and you can’t help but smile the entire day until he walks into your apartment

And you know how stubborn he can be, and how he would never admit it to your face

When he gives you a weird look, asking why you look soo happy

You just rest your head onto his shoulder

“I guess I do love you too”

Jihoon is bright red now and he’s cursing the lords for having you hear that but at the same time, he’s kind of relieved you found out that way because he was secretly afraid his lack of affection would take a toll on you

Soulmate Jihoon, despite catching you into your fanfictions early, loves you even though he doesn’t admit it a lot. His small affections of holding your hand, and forehead kisses make up for everything. And the fact that you take all the rap for his wrongdoings towards his member, makes him know that you indeed are his soulmate.

[paradisefovnd]

8-12 for the multi muse meme

multimuse ask meme accepting

put this under a readmore bc it’s gonna get long

what is each of your muses otps? notps?

ruth balakov  - otp: anything gay notp: darth vader??? idk

samir chaudhry - otp: i rlly like the thing goin on with @cverture‘s beth (im super slow in replying but ??? i like what we’ve got goin on) notp: voldemort

tutankhamun “tut” mcmullen  - otp: ROWAN notp: that ask when rowan dumps him :(

jughead jones - otp: burgers notp: humans

melody valentine - otp: ALEXANDRA CABOT as written by @shenaniganelous notp: sadness

mark darcy - otp: BRIDGET OFC notp: not bridget???

choi han-kyul - otp: eun chan i cry :’) notp: someone who writes him off as a stupid playboy (and refuses to see his potential)

dr. noelle akopian - otp: a nice bath and glass of wine notp: any human who doesn’t treasure her like she deserves

greg serrano - otp: i’m trash but rebecca (also happiness) notp: greg and josh? (it’s not a bad ship i just can’t feel it for my greg? he thinks of josh as a bro and he can’t get those sexual feelins goin for chan)

maya - otp: aNYONE WHO TREATS HER WELL SOMEONE TAKE CARE OF MY BB notp: someone who is mean to her :(

valencia perez - otp: anything gay notp: valencia and men

johnny castle - otp: bABY notp: someone who takes advantage of him

blair warner - otp: GAY MOMS notp: not gay moms??

jo polniaczek - otp: GAY MOMS notp: not gay moms!!!

emily gilmore - otp: happiness notp: never having growth or independence 

meredith quill - otp: diggin her and claire played by @iiinfiltrator!!! notp: ego

alice longbottom - otp: frank notp: what happens to her in canon

arthur weasley - otp: MOLLY notp: not molly

victoire weasley - otp: teddy, anything gay notp: idk??

helga g. pataki - otp: ARNOLD! notp: someone mean to her :(

effie trinket - otp: haymitch and anything gay notp: president snow??? idk

katniss everdeen - otp: madge :’) notp: men

jane villanueva - otp: michael, rafael, PETRA notp: adam :( (altho i might love him we’ll see)

michael cordero - otp: JANE GLORIANA VILLANUEVA notp: death :(

rogelio de la vega - otp: xiomara :’) notp: ppl being mean to him

elle woods - otp: VIVIENNE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! notp: professor callahan?

ryan atwood - otp: taylor townsend :’) also marissa i cry notp: lindsay 

pam beesly - otp: JIM notp: roy

fitzwilliam darcy - otp: elizabeth (maybe charles bingley??) notp: sadness

jane bennet - otp: charles and anything gay notp: mean people

queen clarisse renaldi - otp: JOE notp: sad

sabrina fairchild - otp: anything gay notp: david what a icky person

capheus onyango - otp: HAPPINESS notp: being pressured into things :(

princess fiona - otp: shrek, anything gay notp: lord farquaad

shrek - otp: fiona notp: dragon

charles brooks - otp: liza notp: his ex i forgot her name whoops

josh - otp: liza, happiness notp: cLAIRE IHATE

chuck bartowski - otp: SARAH notp: JILL >:(

denny duquette - otp: life notp: death :/

why were you drawn to each one of your characters?

ruth balakov  - i’ve had her character in my head for such a long time, and i was finally just like “fuck it! i’m gonna write her!” bc i love parks and rec, but i just can’t play leslie bc there’s too much history and stuff and i really wanted to play a quirky nina fc bc i used to have one that i loved, and it just seemed like a perfect fit

samir chaudhry - i felt a desperate need to reply as an astronaut to @cverture‘s beth, and so samir was born 

tutankhamun “tut” mcmullen  - tut’s origin story is one of the best!!! so, @idyllicism and i decided to use this randomizing character generator to do a fun random thread, and it gave me tut (which is why his name is so out there) who has grown so close to my heart, and i am thankful

jughead jones - tbh i added jughead bc i wanted to write him properly aKA ASEXUAL! I’M LOOKIN AT U RIVERDALE

melody valentine - tbh… i added her bc i wanted to write her with jenna :) and also i loved archie comics as a kid and always thought melody was so beautiful and her voice came easily to me so !

mark darcy - buckle in, this is gonna be a long ride. bridget jones’s diary is one of those movies that i love to death. it’s one of my sick movies, it’s one of my sad movies, my homesick movies, it helps me feel better. so, watching bridget jones i’ve always identified with both of the lead characters, but there’s something about mark that was especially easy for me to access. i’m still trying to figure out exactly what it is, but there’s something to him that i just…understand, if that makes sense. when i decided to make a multi-muse, he was one of the very first characters i had as a muse bc i knew i had to add him. he’s in my heart and soul. 

choi han-kyul - so han-kyul is another one of those characters who i just really strongly identify with. in coffee prince, he’s someone who undergoes some huge development in who he is, and when i saw the drama for the first time, it aligned with some things i was dealing with in my own life. his relationship with his father, his coming to terms with his sexuality, his maturation, his longing to live up to his own potential, it all just hit me. another heart and soul character. 

dr. noelle akopian - i added her for the funsies

greg serrano - i think i added him because he helps me come to terms with some real life stuff i have going on and also because i loved his development and wanted to explore that past what the show was able to give us

maya - honestly she’s the most pure being, and i just had to add her

valencia perez - valencia is a goddess who deserves better and i’m looking forward to exploring why she is the way she is

johnny castle - when i saw dirty dancing, i fell in love with johnny, and that’s pretty much it. god bless. 

blair warner - i cANNOT fuck this is taking so much longer than i thought it would, but i have so many muses, and want to give them all their proper due, and fuclasfhdads. so from the beginning, i walked into a gas station this summer, and one of the employees was like “oh my god, you look exactly like blair from the facts of life!” and i was like “haha thanks!” bc i didn’t know who she was, but my dad who was with me was like “oh my god she does!” and then he was like “she’s like her more than just in looks too” meaning our personalities were similar. so OFC i had to watch this show to see my doppelganger. and WOW i was amazed bc she’s the closest i’ve ever seen to myself in physical aspects but also we’re very similar personality-wise too, and after my first episode, i fell in love, and i just had to add her as a muse

jo polniaczek - i didn’t expect jo, but after i watched that first episode, i fell in love just as i did with blair. honestly, the writers and cast can say she’s straight all they want, but jo is a gay icon, and it’s just so cool to see a character like that who’s so layered. jo is sensitive but also tough. she’s gone through a lot, but still holds such compassion and i love her to death and fuckfdsakfasf she’s honestly ruined all human beings for me now bc she’s the ultimate. 

emily gilmore - so, emily is another one of those relating characters. what can i, a 22 year old baby bi, have in common with an old middle aged straight? well, let me tell you: a LOT. i identify so much with the way that emily has tried all her life to succeed in the society she was brought up in and having set ways of doing things and then just…letting go and trying to make herself happy. it’s inspiring and i love her. 

meredith quill - listen, i’m not a fan of superhero movies, but i like the guardians of the galaxy series, and when i saw the second movie, i fell instantly in love with meredith and her light, and i had to add her

alice longbottom - i have never read the books, but i’ve read a lot of fandom stuff, and i just love the longbottoms, and i like that there’s a certain amount of freedom there to explore who she is and her story

arthur weasley - arthur reminds me of my dad, and his voice comes super easily to me which is why i added him

victoire weasley - again, i like the amount of freedom i’m afforded in figuring out who she is and all that

helga g. pataki - this is another heart and soul character. as a kid, i was also mean and dramatic and precocious. i was a LOT like helga. even today, i struggle with trying to soften myself for the benefit of others because i can come across as intimidating (idk why??). but i just…it’s just like damn. i get you, helga. we both have an alcoholic parent, tense relationships with our older sisters, and we both don’t have a TON of friends and just feel kind of…out of place, i guess, in the world we live in. we’re a little out of place and i just get her. i understand her, and i’m glad that she exists. 

effie trinket - she’s just such a fascinating character, and i want to explore her more

katniss everdeen - i get her

jane villanueva - see, jane is someone who i think i look up to. she’s someone i wish i could be more like. i chose to add her as a muse because i love her and just want to give her a nice life bc lord knows she deserves it

michael cordero i added him bc he loves jane and is a huge dork and so caring and i lvoe him

rogelio de la vega - in a weird way, this is another character i relate a lot to. we’re both dramatic and a little vain, but we also care a lot about our family and most of the time, our intentions are good. he’s honestly such a fun character, and i’m glad i added him. 

elle woods - i added her bc she’s amazing??? one of the best people of all time??? and her voice came easily to me so i was like “all right!!!!”

ryan atwood - he’s my fave character from the oc. i love his development, and i love how he’s not exactly who you expect him to be. you think he’s gonna be this big troublemaker, but actually, he just wants a stable life, and he wants the people he loves to be happy. he just wants peace

pam beesly - she’s another heart character. i think a lot of people find it easy to relate to pam bc she goes through so many relatable things, and her story is overcoming insecurities and becoming more confident, and i think that’s something a lot of people can see themselves in. 

fitzwilliam darcy - i mean, i’ve always loved pride & prejudice, and i’ll be damned if darcy isn’t the easiest character for me to understand (a lot like mark)

jane bennet - she holds a special place in my heart bc people have said i’m like jane, and i’m always like “i wish” bc she’s the softest, most pure, most kind person, and i just needed that positivity in my life

queen clarisse renaldi - mY LOVE i love how they made her so layered in the movies, giving you hints of her background. i’ve always been interested in exploring her past, so i added her as a muse (another character whose voice came easily to me)

sabrina fairchild - sabrina is one of those movies i would watch after school was i was younger. i loved the romanticism of it and the costumes and music, and as i grew older, i started to think that it would have made for a more interesting movie if sabrina dumped linus at the end rather than ending up with him. what’s so interesting about that movie is her growth. she goes from a very dark place and undergoes some major development while still holding underpinnings of her past despite desperately trying to leave them behind. 

capheus onyango - i love sense8, so i knew i wanted to add muses or a muse from there, and going through all the characters, capheus’s voice was the one that came most easily to me. he’s more than just his optimism, and i love having him in my roster bc he has such warmth and compassion for those around him. he worries about how his actions will affect others, and i just have such immense love for him. 

princess fiona - me??? i grew up on shrek, and i love it in the most unironic way possible. i sincerely adore the movie and the musical, and fiona is a character i’ve always loved and related to a little bit. 

shrek - but more than relating to fiona, i probably relate to shrek more. my family has always joked that i’m like an onion too and that i have layers just like shrek. he grosses me out a lil with all the farting and earwax, but otherwise, i love shrek and think that for living alone for years after being abandoned by his parents, he was able to grow rather quickly once meeting other people, and shrek is good in my book

charles brooks - he’s another darcy like character, although i don’t love him as much. i added him bc lbr the younger fandom needs him

josh - mY SON i love josh and i think that he has so much growing to do, and i love how the show has left some of his background open so that i can take a lil bit more liberty in figuring him out. i also love his adventurous spirit and his ease while also being so loyal and loving. he’s someone i really love. 

chuck bartowski - chuck is one of those types that’s easier for me to write, and i think it’s just cause one of our core values is the same: family. family is one of the most important things to him, and it’s one of the most important things to me, and i think we just get each other in that aspect and more. 

denny duquette - “i’m a man! i’m a strong virile horse of a man stuck in the body some weak sick bastard that I don’t know, like or recognize. now if you knew what that feels like, you would have never convinced me to let a battery run my heart. if you knew what that feels like izzie, you would have let me go.” this is why. 

which muse is the most fun to write for?

again, i have fun with all of them, but probably rogelio. he’s just so much fun to write. helga is a lot of fun too! and ruth!

is there another muse you’ve been thinking of adding or writing for? who?

i mean, there are always more muses i’m thinking of adding. i’ve thought about adding na ae-ra from cunning single lady, but i’m pretty sure no one would write with her, so i haven’t added her yet. 

i’m planning on watching the good place, and i just know i’ll probably wanna add someone from there

adding someone from frasier would be cool, but like…i highly doubt there would be an audience for them. like i’d love to write niles or smth, but idk if anyone’s even watched it. i mean, that hasn’t stopped me before, but i’m not pressed about it rn

i’ve always been wanting to add elizabeth from the crown because she’s another one of those characters i just super strongly relate to, but seeing as how she’s actually a real person, i haven’t. this is where i get a little confused because i know she’s a real person, but also, the show takes liberties, and she’s not actually queen elizabeth. like if i could take her character and make her not the real queen of england i would? but i just don’t know about what other people think of that? i dont knowslfjhads it’s a weird situation. 

also someone from the west wing

what is something everyone should know about your muses before interacting?

sometimes, the muse for a certain character isn’t always there, so i can be really slow in replying. 

[bangtan-babe]

You’ll Be Okay (Part 5)

Characters: Jungkook x Reader/ Yoongi x Reader

Summary: While on a flight to Korea, you meet Jungkook. But you somehow find yourself remembering your time with Yoongi. It brings back emotions and leads to unexpected events taking place.

Length: 2k

Genre: Angst/ Fluff

 Part 1. Part 2.  Part 3. Part 4.  Part 5.

The front door had been closed for about 2 minutes. But my stare remained fixed on the wooden frame. My eyes somehow refused to leave. Once they did,  I knew that I would have to face reality. In that frozen position, a feeling of disappointed traveled from my head to my toes. Partially because I wanted Jungkook to be a decent guy. For so long I didn’t trust anyone. I was hurt and distressed with my life. When I met someone that offered an escape from that situation, I wanted it to last more than anything. I wanted my friendship with Jungkook to last. But I was beginning to think I had been nothing but naive. And that just killed me inside.   

.\

It was around 8 pm and I was walking through Myeongdong. A nearby shop caught my attention due to the explosion of colorful clothes that were displayed. I walked quickly toward the tables to look at random shirts and dresses. I found a few items that I liked but once I saw the price I instantly put them down. I figured I would just leave and head back home. But, as I was making my way out, a finger tapped me on my shoulder. When I turned around I saw that it was the bartender from last night.

“Oh hi! Hani right?” I exclaimed surprised to see her standing in front of me. Her hair instantly caught my attention. In the bar it was dark so I couldn’t really make out the color. But now I noticed it was a warm pink which seemed to match her style well.

 Hani smiled kindly at me. “Good to see you again. What brings you to my shop?” she casually asked.

I was shocked to hear that she owned the store. “Wow, that’s so cool that this place is yours. The clothes are really…interesting,” I chuckled hesitating to figure out how to describe everything.

She noticed that none of the stuff was really my style given what I was wearing. “It’s okay, not everyone likes to wear such bright colors. But I love it,” she remarked laughing. “Anyways, do you live nearby?” Hani added.

 I nodded my head. “Yeah, I’m staying at an apartment complex nearby,” I answered.

 I was about to ask her where she lived, but before I could, an intense beat suddenly started playing in the store. I saw Hani’s eyes light up in excitement. “This song is my favorite!” she exclaimed bopping her head to the music.

 Somehow it seemed to me that this behavior was normal for her. I started laughing. “Who is this?” I asked curiously while also amused at her expressions.  

 “BTS! Do you know them?” She asked still moving along to the music. I noticed that customers were giving her odd looks but it seemed like she didn’t care. I shook my head to signal that I had no idea who they were. Hani was shocked.

 “You need to listen to them right away,” she blurted. As she said that she pulled out her phone and scrolled through her songs. The first one that she played was called “Blood Sweat & Tears.” Surprisingly I really liked the melody of the song. Hani then went on to play “I Need U.” As the song progressed I asked Hani what they were saying. She translated a few lines of the first verse, which was a rap.  

“Because of you, I’m becoming ruined. I wanna stop, I don’t want you anymore. I can’t do it, this sucks.”

My eyebrows rose. The message was powerful because internally I felt as if it was being directed at me. “Wow that’s deep,” I commented in awe.

Hani nodded her head. “Yeah they are really talented-” She paused for a second  - “I just remembered! They’re having a small concert for their fanclub tonight. Do you want to come!?” She looked down at her watch. Omg it’s already 8:50 pm. The concert starts in 10 minutes!” she exclaimed stunned to see how soon it was starting.

I thought about what she said. Should I go? I mean I didn’t even know the artists. And I hated being surrounded by screaming teenagers more than anything. “I don’t know…it’s pretty soon and-” Hani stopped me.

“Please it’ll be a lot of fun. Trust me I don’t usually like Kpop but they are really talented. It’s definitely worth seeing them.” I still remained unconvinced. “It’s free,” she blurted.

My decision suddenly changed. “Well, I want to go now,” I chuckled. Hani lit up in excitement.

 “Good! Let me just close up the store and we can go,” she explained as she made her way to the the cash register. I stood outside wondering if I was making a big mistake. But I disregarded those thoughts and forced myself to have a good time. I needed to relax and do something fun. Seeing how the past few days had been filled with loneliness and drama, listening to music would take my mind off of everything.

Once Hani closed up her store, the concert had already begun. The pessimistic side of me began wondering if we would be allowed to enter the venue. “Is the place nearby?” I asked as I followed Hani through the busy streets of Myeongdong.  

“It’s like a 45 minute subway ride,” she casually explained.

I grabbed her arm. “Hani, they might not even let us in at that point,” I doubted. But she didn’t listen and decided to continue walking as she assured me that the staff would definitely let us in.

.\

The venue ending up being in Hongdae. When we existed Hongdae station,  a shiver ran up my spine. Just thinking about last night’s events made me want to run back home and curl up in my bed. Yet, there I was still walking. Well, at that point Hani and I were running to the concert venue. Surprisingly it was fairly close to the subway so we were able to get there without having our makeup drip to the floor. I noticed that there wasn’t anyone at the door of the entrance. Fortunately, we made it in without being questioned or dismissed. However, when I looked down at the time I saw that it was already 10 pm.

 “When does the concert end?” I asked Hani who was too caught up in finding the stairs that led down to the hall where it was being held. “I don’t know like 10:30 maybe,” she responded.

My eyes widened. I can’t believe I came all the way down here to hear a song or two. “It ends in like 30 minutes,” I pointed out in disbelief.

 Hani suddenly stopped making her way to the stairs which she finally found. “Wait really?” she wondered as she pulled out her phone to look at the time. As the clock flashed, I saw her eyes were filled with disappointment. I felt bad for her considering she wanted to see them more than I did.

 I let out a sigh. “You know what…let’s just go in and enjoy the last few songs they perform. I mean we did come down here after all,” I smiled trying to cheer Hani up who looked completely heartbroken. I walked ahead of her and began walking down the stairs.

 “You’re right,” she remarked as I heard her footsteps behind me.

.\

Hani and I began making our way past girls who were screaming and hiding their faces. The space didn’t seem that big so I assumed there were only about 100 people there. Yet, with all of the fans squished toward the stage everyone was so close to each other that it was impossible to get through. Despite the difficulties, we eventually made it toward the third row and stood right in the middle. The group was probably backstage preparing for their closing songs considering that no one was on the stage. Suddenly a man came out but no one was cheering.

I nudged Hani. “Is that one of the members?” I asked remembering that Hani BTS had seven members. While I knew the number of people, I still didn’t know what they looked like. All I knew was that their music was fairly good and their lyrics were intense.

Hani shook her head. “No, I think that’s one of the staff members,” she explained.  

 The man that came out grabbed a microphone and began speaking to it. I couldn’t really comprehend everything but I sensed that it must not be something good since the crowd kept complaining.

 “They’re performing their last song now because they have to go to an early interview tomorrow,” Hani sighed. Even though I didn’t know the group that well, I was disappointed too. I could have been wrapped up in my blankets at home. But instead, I was surrounded by heavy breathing and sweat.

After the man left, the lights dimmed down and the room became filled with screams. Shadows walked on stage and the crowd lit up. I counted seven people and my heart suddenly began to pounce. Somehow concerts have a way of making you feel excited, whether you like the artist or not. It must be the overall experience and environment. Then the lights came on.

.\

In that burst of light, I recognized two faces. I felt sick to my stomach. My heart was pounding out of my chest. As the people behind kept pushing to make their way to the front, I was trying to find some sort of escape. But it was impossible to get away. My eyes traveled to him. To the guy that shattered me, broke me completely, and destroyed my life.

I saw Yoongi standing there with a microphone in his hand. And what broke me down, even more, was that to his right was Jungkook. They were both smiling as the music played in the background. My eyes darted back and forth from Yoongi to Jungkook. How was this possible? Why didn’t Jungkook tell me? How could I be such a fool? Why was the universe so cruel? A million goosebumps ran up my body as I stood there unable to move. It felt like I was being stung by needles each time I looked at them. Did they even see me? I felt torn inside.

 Suddenly as Yoongi began rapping, I felt a knife enter my heart. There was this pain that he expressed through his lyrics that I found so unfair. If anything I should be the one that was mad. He had no right to showcase himself in that manner. The second my eyes settled on his face, he looked up towards the middle and we stood there facing each other. There was a sudden pause to his lyrics. But of course, like the artist that he was, he continued on. Yet, his facial expression stiffened and the corners of his mouth fell. I knew he saw me.

 I ran out of there once I found a space that I could make my way through. I didn’t even say goodbye to Hani, who was entranced by the performance. I felt bad but I needed to leave. I needed to get away from him. As I burst out of the door and walked up the steps, I heard a loud applause coming from the stage. Tears rolled down my cheeks and I started walking quickly, trying to hide my face in my sleeve.

 “Y/N!” a raspy voice called behind me. I shut my eyes and walked faster.

 The voice became louder and more broken. “Y/N! Stop please!” it pleaded. I froze with my back to the figure. I didn’t want to turn around because I knew who it was. From the first syllable that came out of their mouth, I recognized who it was instantly. But I was hurt and didn’t want to confront what I already knew. I closed my eyes and I felt him move to the front.

 “Y/N, please look at me,” he sighed. I clenched my fists and my lips began to quiver more. But I forced myself to stop.

 I scoffed. “There’s nothing to look at Yoongi.” But I did open my eyes. And when I did I saw his blonde hair and pale face staring straight at me. His hair was sweaty and he had a towel wrapped around his neck. A million thoughts went through my mind. The countless memories we shared enveloped me completely. It was like a projector began playing flashbacks of our relationship in my head.

He hadn’t responded to me yet. But I could tell that his eyes were saying everything. He was confused and stunned. He was ashamed but also angry. He was curious about how I was and wondered why I had come. I sensed all of these things just by looking at him. I didn’t need to hear his bullshit excuses. Even though I wanted to know what I did wrong. More than anything I wanted to know why he never contacted me again. I waited for this moment for a long time. It was part of the reason why I moved to Korea. Yet, as I stood in front of him nothing came out of my mouth. I was frozen and unable to formulate a question.

 His expression suddenly hardened. “Why are you here?” he spat.

 His words hit me like shards of glass. I clenched my fists so hard that my nails dug into my palms. My lips pursed together. I opened my mouth to speak but was stopped by someone running behind me. I turned around to see Jungkook breathing heavily and looking anxious. He ran up to my side and I shook my head in disgust.

“How can you do this to me?” I scoffed turning my attention to Jungkook. Jungkook stared at me intently with a softened expression. Then he looked at Yoongi. I noticed that Yoongi looked confused at my sudden statement.

 “How do you know each other?” Yoongi questioned.

[breathlessbucky]

At Last

Bucky Barnes x Anxious!Reader

Summary: Reader decides to get her butt out there and finally attend one of Tony’s parties, including time with Bucky.

 A / N:  This is horribly sloppy writing, but I just needed to get something out so I could find my groove again. So please cut me some slack with this one. :)

Warnings: Little cursing, minor low-self esteem, possibly bad writing (unedited), etc. 

“Y/N, it’s just a silly party. Just a rather large group of people hanging out and relaxing. Nothing bad is going to happen, honey,” Natasha was trying to console you and coax you into going to one of Tony’s more fancier parties of the year. Currently, you were balled up in the pillows of your bed, Natasha trying to comfort you like a mother would. 

She was already dressed up in a fancy white dress, hair was done and ready to head to the penthouse of the tower. “Nat, go without me. I’m fine in my ‘fortress of solitude’. Go have fun, you and Wanda, you don’t need me.”

“Your right, I don’t need you. But I want you to be with us, have a little fun. Every time we go out anywhere you skip out, claim you're tired or not feeling well,” She sighed, standing up off the bed. “But I won’t press you any further if you really don’t want to come. If you change your mind, I brought you a couple things to wear.” 

Even with your eyes closed, you could hear her making her way to the door, where Wanda waited patiently outside. Before you heard the click of the door shutting, Natasha spoke once more. “Bucky is going to ask where you are, and I guarantee when he finds you aren't coming, he’ll be sulking in the corner the rest of the night.”

After she left, you didn’t move, processing her words. She was right, after all. You always denied going anywhere. Paranoia, anxiety and low self-esteem always stood in your way. Guilt seeped through your stomach, thinking that if what she said about Bucky was true. Everyone always claimed you two were made for each other, put together by the gods. But doubt always prickled the back of your mind, like a rope yanking you away from believing he reciprocated the feeling.

You groaned, hugging your pillow even tighter. Why was your brain fighting itself constantly? In an attempt of distraction, you reached over and turned on the TV, only to instantly be playing Crazy Stupid Love. You cursed at the screen, but not changing the channel. Come on, are you really going to pass up a Ryan Gosling movie?

You dug out your hidden stash of candy and started binge eating (favorite candy), throwing some pieces at the TV while muttering grumpy comments. “It is not that easy to find meaningful love in the first place,” you grumbled. While most people yelled at the television during sports, it was your own specialty to yell at Rom-Com’s. 

About 30 minutes in, your eyes wandered to the dress Natasha had hung on the door handle for you, just in case. You had to admit, it was a really pretty dress. There was a pair of simple black heels next to it, begging to be worn. You tore your eyes away from the outfit before you could think more of it. Turns out it was a matter of minutes before you were out of bed, feeling the fabric of the dress under your fingertips. You had always been jealous of girls that could really pull off a beautiful dress, but you were never one of them. In all honesty, it was just your brain throwing you off. 

Another truth you had to admit to yourself, you were so tired of feeling like this. Anxious, afraid, stressed, sick to your stomach with loneliness. What did it matter what people thought of you? Maybe you weren’t the best Avenger, maybe you weren’t the best as socializing. You're always going to disappoint someone, so why the hell are you still worrying?

Right now, you could put on this dress, and go to this party. You could have fun, spend time with your friends. No, the Avengers had been your family for a while now. You could spend time with him too.

For a split second, you felt a surge of courage in your chest before doubt riddled your mind. Would Bucky like the dress? Would he make a comment, or would he even notice you in the crowd? No. These questions had to stop, enough what ifs.

Time to suit up.

30 minutes earlier

Bucky stood on the outside of the growing crowd, watching people drink and mingle. Of course Tony had to invite a little more people the necessary to his party. Bucky had only come because Steve had convinced him, telling him it’d be nice to relax, and how Buck could spend extra time with her. After many eye rolls and denials, he had reluctantly agreed to come. 

He had been brave enough this evening to roll up the sleeves of his white collared shirt, revealing his metal forearm. Some girls had approached him several times asking him to dance with them, but he brushed them off. There was only one girl that was ever on his mind nowadays.

It didn’t even make sense, why his heart had chosen to become romantically inclined to Y/N. She was way out of his league and he knew it, but he couldn’t stop himself from wanting to be around her every second of the day. She was always sweet and kind, (if you're on her good side). She was always considerate and made sure that Bucky was well. He couldn’t keep his mind off of thinking about her supple lips and how her (messy, curly, straight, etc.) hair cascaded down her back and framed her flustered face. And those big (y/e/c) eyes that he could never resist, damn, he was screwed. But Bucky had no clue how to be in a serious relationship. The last thing he had that was even close was a one night stand in the 40′s. Things had surely changed.

He saw Natasha and Wanda walked through the elevator, hoping that Y/N was trailing behind them, but no luck. He met eyes with Nat, but she only gave him a sympathetic look and shook her head slightly. Bucky sighed, taking another sip of his drink and leaned against the wall. This was going to be a long night.

present time

So you know that feeling when you feel very confident about your outfit inside your home, but the moment you step out the door you regret every decision you ever made about this moment? Yeah, that was currently happening. 

You were now standing in the elevator alone, going up, and trying to properly breathe. The black dress Nat had loaned you worked perfectly for your body shape, and the heels weren’t even that uncomfortable for now. Your hair was (favorite style)’d neatly, and only very light makeup powdered your face. Lets just day you felt like you were going to throw up.

Clutching the fabric of the dress like it was a lifeline, you heard the elevator ding, music loud on the other side of the door. “Okay, Y/N, you can do this. You're going to be fine. Just find Nat.” You breathed to yourself, the door opening.

The lights in the penthouse let out a soft warm glow, giving just enough light to see people comfortably but not to be harsh. Candles were placed on each stand-up tables, and people in nice clothes were scattered around everywhere. Honestly, matched up with the view of New York, it was romantic and gorgeous. 

Before you could get a chance to look out into the crowd closely, you heard a surprised gasp from behind you. “Y/L/N, What on earth are you doin’ here?” 

You recognized Sam immediately, turning to find him in a nice dark shirt. “Uh, I’m not really sure,” You nervously laughed, ducking your head down. “Well, glad to see your actually alive and outside of your room. May I suggest getting a drink to start off the night?”

Bucky POV

(listen to At Last by Etta James for this part)

Leaning against one of the penthouse beams by the windows, Bucky watched the city traffic from above. Boredom was now an understatement. But that was until he heard a little bit of commotion going on behind him at the bar. 

He looked over his shoulder to see Natasha, Sam, and Wanda surrounding a head of beautiful (y/h/c) hair, that Bucky knew all too well. His heart picked up pace as he realized that Y/N had actually shown, and especially when she turned and Buck could see her fully. She wore a beautiful black dress that displayed her curves and her hair was (favorite hairstyle) that framed her face. Her eyes were bright as she showed off that gorgeous smile, her cheeks flustered slightly like normal. Bucky’s brain couldn’t process much more of her, stuck on an overload of his senses with how much he realized he craved her by his side constantly. 

His gaze lingered on her form for a little longer before she turned to him, finally noticing him standing across the room. Her grin turned into a shyly sweet smile as they met eyes, and Bucky felt a pull telling him to go to her. As Nat, Wanda and Sam saw Bucky heading over, Nat winked at Y/N before they left. Pushing past random people, he didn’t take his eyes off her as he finally reached Y/N. “Hey, doll.”

“Hi, Bucky. Thank god your here too,” She said, her voice light. Bucky couldn’t help but grin. She made him so happy. “So, how come you finally decide to show? I gotta say I'm pleasantly surprised,” He asked while signaling the bartender. “Well, I got tired of watching cheesy movies and eating candy and thought about seeing what was going on upstairs,” She sighed. The bartender arrived, Bucky signaled Y/N to order first. “Classic Manhattan, please.” Buck added on, “Whiskey, neat. Thanks,” 

“Let me guess, you were getting into some soppy romance movie and felt bad about yourself so you came up here, right?” Bucky said, chuckling and meeting your eyes again. You rolled your eyes, but not being able to hide that he knew you too well. “Maybe. You know I’m a sucker for that stuff,”  You admitted, a guilty smile on your lips.

Before Bucky could reply, he recognized the beginning melody of a song he actually recognized. “Oh, oh no. You have to dance with me now,” Bucky said, putting his drink down. 

3rd Person POV

”What do you mean I have to dance with you now?” She questioned, giving him a look. Before he could answer back, he grabbed her hand and pulled Y/N lightly to the middle of the dance floor, amongst other slow dancing couples. Y/N’s breath caught in her throat as Bucky turned to her, his eyes silently asking if what he was doing was making her uncomfortable. To reassure him, Y/N lifted up her hand, signaling for him to take it. Time seemingly slowed down as they both realized how much they enjoyed this moment. He accordingly sliding his fingers between hers and looped his cool chrome arm around her waist. She could tell he was slightly hesitant, like he was eager but afraid to break Y/N all at once. 

He slowly pulled her closer to him, almost possessive like, till her body was pressed against his broad chest, and Y/N followed his calm and steady steps as the song’s true beat began. All the nervousness she had been feeling since she stepped into this dress disappeared into the night, till is seemed to be only her and Bucky dancing. 

“At last...”

“My love has come along...”

“My lonely days are over...”

Bucky breathed out shakily, admitting to himself that this had been the first time he was close to a girl (other than trying to kill her), since the 40s. He relished the feeling Y/N’s heart beat against his, and how right it felt to have her in his arms, safe and sound. 

“And life is like a song...”

“Oh yeah yeah,

At Last...”

Bucky slowly moved his head forward, just enough to rest his cheek on Y/N’s hair. Y/N moved to rest her head in the crook of his neck, closing her eyes as she thought about how she never wanted to let go.

“The skies above are blue..”

“My heart is wrapped up in clover...”

“The night I looked at you...”

For the rest of the song, they stayed in perfect harmony wrapped up in the other's limbs, simply existing for each other. 

“Okay, sunshine, I think we need to take you back to your room,” Bucky said, leading you out into the hallway. You let out a girlish giggle, placing your hand over his on your arm to make sure you didn't stumble. “Oh, whatever. I’m perfectly fine, especially when you're here,”

Bucky rolled his eyes with a smirk. Y/N had become terribly drunk after the past couple hours, and Bucky had taken on the liberty of watching out for her. He honestly expected her to be a crying weepy drunk, but she thought everything was hilarious after her 4th Manhattan. Afters successfully getting her into the elevator, he was suprised when he felt her finger touch the tip of his nose, her making a ‘boop’ sound. “You're pretty cute, with your face and all. I don’t even know why you're with me when you could be with that pretty black-haired girl that was staring you down all night.” She points a finger in her mouth and made a ‘bleh’ sound. “If I did leave, who would be there to drag you to your bed?” Bucky said, hands still on her arms considering her state. 

“Meh, I’d make it. ‘Might take me a couple hours, but I’d do it.”

The rest of the way, Buck had to fight her back into her room, where she started refusing, claiming ‘sleep was for the weak’. “Why are you so stubborn, doll?” He said, opening her door with a creak and pushing her in. “Because I want what I want.” 

“I’m afraid that doesn’t make sense, either.”

She scoffed at him, taking off her heels and flopping on her bed. She must have seen that Crazy Stupid Love was still paused on the TV, as her face turned to a frown. Buck watched her curiously for a couple seconds in silence. “Why is it, that everyone but me seems to be able to get men? I mean, Nat could literally seduce anybody or anything. Wanda obviously has a cute thing with Vis. But why am I the odd one out?” She spoke softly, all the giggly playfulness out of her expression. “Well, who says your the odd one?” Bucky said, sitting next to her. He had forced his voice to be as gentle and comforting as possible, seeing that her eyes were filled with some unknown emotion now. He longed to engulf her in his arms again, reassure her that someone, that he, loved her truly and deeply.  

“I haven’t even been close to a guy since high school, and I don’t have the courage to talk to anyone. Not to mention I have no idea how to act. Everyone just sees me as invisible, like always...” She sighed, putting her hands in her lap. Her hair was messier than previous, illuminated from the soft light of her nightstand lamp as she tucked it behind her ear. Her breath smelled faintly of alcohol, her lips pink and wet from running her tongue across them. “I know for a fact that isn’t true. Plenty of guys were staring at you tonight,” He growled the last part, remembering how protective he felt over you. If anyone of those guys would have approached you that night Bucky would have certainly knocked their teeth out. 

She ‘pffft’ again, shoving his shoulder back when Bucky couldn’t contain himself any longer, catching your cheek and pressing his lips into hers. 

She didn’t pull away as Bucky let it last for a few more seconds, basking in the feeling of her warm lips on his. After she still hadn’t responded, he pulled away slightly, wondering if he had crossed a line. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t of-” He muttered, dropping his hand. Before anything else could be exchanged, left the room, running his hands through his hair as he walked back to the elevator. What had he done, had he ruined everything? Maybe she wouldn’t rememberit in the morning, maybe she’d pretend it didn’t happen-

“Bucky!” He heard a hoarse voice yell, and he turned back around just in time to see an angry stomping Y/N, before she jumped into his arms, grabbed his face and kissed him bruisingly. Thank god because of Bucky’s reflexes, he caught her hips just in time and kissed her back thouroughly. 

Gasping for breath, Y/N pulled back, lips already swollen. “I adore you.”

Bucky only smiled and pulled her in for another hot open mouthed kiss.

At Last. 

Thank you guys for putting up with my shit if you made it this far, this is my first one shot in a while so it’s a little rough :) *applaudes you*

[the-shadow-of-atlantis]

My Friend Got Turned Into A Werewolf

Part 10 Full Moon

Tagging: @melyaliz @sea-quinn @coffee-randomness @speedypan

A/N Red Belongs to @melyaliz

“So how have things been going?” Shaylee asked.

“Busy actually.” Aquata said as she walked through the aisle of the store.

“Oh?”

“School has been a handful but I’ve finally caught up on everything I fell behind on.”

“Oh come on don’t give me that.” Shaylee whined. “What’s the fun of being near werewolves if your not gonna get any action. There’s got to be some cute single ones.”

“Shay.”

“At least tell me Red is nice to look at now.”

“Keep it up and I’m telling Casey.”

“Already heard it.” Caseys voice shouted from the other side of the phone.

“Red and I are kinda on house arrest this is the first time I’ve gotten out of the cabin. So sorry if things haven’t gotten exciting. And for your information Red has always been nice to look at.” Aquata defended lightly.

“Mmmhhhmmm.”

“Shut it Shay.” Aquata rolled her eyes. “How is it that we managed to switch roles after we left high school?”

“I dunno but it's nice.” Shaylee teased.

“I'm gonna hang up.”

“Oh come on, you know I’m playing.” Shaylee said and Aquata sighed. “But seriously how have you been?”

“Fine I guess.” Aquata shrugged despite the fact her sister couldn’t see her. “I dunno, I'm still trying to figure out why I even decided to come.”

“I'm sure if you talk to Auntie Jen you'll be able to get your answer.”

“Yeah that’s a pass.” Aquata laughed and she stopped suddenly realizing the aisle she was in.

“But speaking of feelings, how's mom doing?” Aquata continued as she stil browsed, eyeing the squeaky toys in the pet section.

“Well it's mom.” Shaylee sighed. “I mean you’re probably getting as much food from her as I am.”

“Yeah… still no word from Ezra?”

“Nope.” Shaylee sighed. “We're gonna go see her, you know keep her company. Laura and Carrie have offered to move in again but mom says it's fine.’

“I mean her and dad are finally getting proper alone time. I don't blame her.”

“Ew gross.”

“So much for changing roles.” Aquata chuckled.

“Ugh I don't know how you can joke about that stuff.” And Aquata could practically hear her sister shudder.

“Alright well I'm gonna let you go now. I'll probably give mom a call pretty soon.” Aquata said, picking up a rather large plush hamburger.

“Alright love you.”

“Love you too.” Aquata said as she hung up. She gave the fake burger a squeeze and it let out a small squeak, nodding as she tossed it in the cart.

“Hey sweetheart, is something wrong?”

“Good, I have a question however, is a chew toy a proper gift for a werewolf?” Aquata asked, pausing to hear what her mother might say as she pulled out of the parking lot.

A small laugh filled the car and Aquata smiled. "I don't know mija, you're the one who has more experience with them."

"Hmm true. Okay well if Red doesn't like it I'm giving it to the shelter." Aquata said. "How have you been mom?"

"Good. Your father and I are keeping busy."

"Ew mom."

"Oh get your head out of the gutter nina." Annabella chided. "No, we're looking over the beach house trying to see if anything needs fixing."

"Why? You guys are thinking of selling it?"

"Um no." Annabella paused. "We're thinking of moving back in actually."

"Wait what? So you're selling the house?"

"No, not at all. We're still going to need that house if we have family get togethers... Unless. No wait, sorry. Sweetie just listen, we haven't decided if we are going to move back but well you kids are all grown up now. You're living your lives and well it's time for your father and I to live ours again. I know you and your siblings are worried about us but you don't have to.”

Aquata sighed as she slowed down the car and put it in park.

“Don't feel guilty for leaving. Fresh air is good for you and so is being with friends.”

“Stupid mom powers.” Aquata grumbled.

“I heard that.” Annabella chuckled. “I gotta go sweetie but I love you.”

“Love you too mom.” Aquata said as she hung up and got out of the car.

“Hey you just missed Tyler and Cason.” Red said from his place on the couch.

“Oh right. How did it go?”

“Good my room has been reinforced and they added a couple more protection spells to your room. Or at least some guy did and Tyler and Cason tested them. I didn't know you could transform during the day.”

“Yeah once you're able to get a handle over your wolf you're able to control when you want your transformation to happen. Technically the full moon is already in effect. For newcomers though you need the full power of the moon in order to transform. Once you transform you have access to your wolf you're able to let it come out when you want on full moons. If you practice even more you're able to do half transformations before the full moon but even Tyler hasn’t gotten that far yet.” Aquata explained as she made her way to the kitchen to unload the bags.

“Oh cool.” Red said coming into the kitchen. “What did you get?”

“More tea because we are running dangerously low. Food, oh there's this little apothecary shop in town so cute so I got some supplies for healing. And I got you this for tonight.” Aquata pulled out the large squeaky hamburger and gave it a squeeze.

“A squeaky toy?” Red asked, eyeing it curiously.

“Yeah.” Aquata beamed. “Figured it could help.”

Red smiled and shook his head but took the toy nonetheless. He looked at her but she avoided his gaze as she sorted the food out.

“Are you okay?” He asked.

“Yeah.” She said a little too casually. Red sat down at the kitchen table and looked at her.

"I hate you." She grumbled as she put the last of the groceries away and sat down. Why couldn't she keep her mouth shut around him?

"Ezra ran off a few months ago and my mom took it pretty hard. We're all just really worried, especially Shaylee and me." Aquata sighed as she rubbed her face.

"We've never told mom but we do remember what it was like when Calvin was born when she lost the other one. It was like she was there but the world around her didn't exist. Until she found Ezra and suddenly it was like she was back and nothing had happened. We're just worried she's going to fall into that again. But I just got off the phone with her and she told me that they're thinking of moving back to the beach house. She told me not to worry but-"

"Your family is good at hiding trauma." Red finished and smiled sadly. "For us it was Antoinette."

"Huh?" Aquata asked, a bit confused.

"Antoinette, she was the one who left suddenly. Shortly after Mandy died one day she was there the next she was gone. She didn't even say goodbye. Mom had a fit, thought someone had taken her especially after what happened with Mandy. She turned up, calmed mom down and said she was just going on more adventures and that was it." Red shrugged his arms wrapped around the hamburger and it let out a small squeak.

"I didn't want to leave my mom after that. But one day she told me that I needed to face my new adventure sometime too. May was already starting to have her career take off and I was the only one not really doing anything. So I took off, mom and dad visit from time to time but since they don't have to worry about us anymore they tend to travel a lot more. Though coincidentally they tend to follow Mays traveling plans."

"I guess after everything our parents have been through they do deserve some time for themselves." Aquata said, glancing up at him she couldn't help but ask. "Is that why you joined the X-Men? To go on an adventure?"

"In a way yeah. I mean everyone on the team started going their own way and being in the league means more solo missions. I like being on a team more and I could do that with the X-Men." Red explained.

"Makes sense you always were a team player. Bet you love being with the pack." Aquata nodded and Reds entire face lit up.

"Oh man, the trainings have been awesome. I can't wait to see what it's like running alongside them as a wolf." Aquata could almost picture him wagging his tail and she couldn't help but wonder had he been born a human would this have been the path he would have taken.

"Well, get through this night and you'll get that soon enough."

They had spent so much time preparing Red for the night Aquata didn't even consider preparing herself. She had been close to falling asleep when it happened.

Loud cracks echoed through the cabin and for a split second Aquata thought that it had started thundering. But then the howl of pain followed after and she hid herself in her covers. The transformation didn't take long but the howling didn't stop either.

Aquata's heart felt as if it was breaking, she wasn't sure if he was possibly projecting or if she was just imagining things. His paws paced back and forth in his room, howls filled the air accompanied by the howls from the pack outside keeping an eye. Low whines pierced her ears and Aquata shut her eyes and curled inward.

She wanted his pain to stop. She wanted to ease the ache. But how?

Without thinking she started to sing. Now Aquata had to admit she wasn't the best singer, but this was her favorite lullaby. It was one her father sang to them growing up, it was also the only one she knew by heart.

The howling and whining stopped so Aquata continued. Slowly his breathing seemed to level and a loud thump shook the floor. Aquata remembered all the happy memories she had of the song. Her own idea of it taking shape. It was actually more of a love song then a lullaby, but it was one her father wrote for her mother. A soft howl filled the cabin but it wasn't full of pain anymore instead it seemed to try to go along with the melody of the song.

Aquata wasn't sure when she fell asleep but when she woke up she realized it was later than usual. Carefully she checked on Red to see if he had transformed back. Sure enough when she opened his door she found him lying on the ground, his face buried in the hamburger toy.

She made sure to cook as much food as possible even taking out some of the leftovers from the food her mom had sent. Just as she was finishing up setting the table, Red came into the kitchen pouting his arms wrapped securely around his squeaky toy.

“I officially hate being a werewolf.” He huffed as he sat down.

“The hard part is over. It shouldn't be that bad from here on out.” Aquata said, placing a glass of orange juice in front of him. “Right now you just need to recharge.”

Slowly but surely Red was able to clear off the table and even then Aquata figured she should probably order take out for later.

“That song you were singing last night.” Red said as he put the last plate in the sink. “Why did it sound familiar?”

“My dad used to sing it to us all the time." Aquata couldn't help but smile. "You probably over heard it one of the times you slept over."

“It's a nice song.” Red said softly.

“Yeah it is… my dad wrote it for my mother when she was pregnant with us. It's my favorite song.” Aquata had to admit she was starting to feel a bit homesick.

“And here my parents just sang me boring old nursery rhymes.” Red joked and Aquata let out a soft laugh feeling her spirits lift slightly. Though she completely missed the happy smile Red had when he heard her laugh.

[mengskuniverse]

Traces

ACT 1

Last Fall

He sat there on a bench in the cold morning air, nursing a cup of hot coffee. The park was surreal in the morning like it was from another world and how everything that any body did has a curtain mysticism that tugs on a chord deep inside you.

He lift the coffee to his fair face to fight off the cold and though it did little to fend it off, it comforted him none the less. It reminded him of warm hands that used to keep him warm. Of hands that fend of the cold and intertwines perfectly in between his fingers. Of vague figures in his head that he cant piece together. Of people from a past life that refuses to be forgotten. All of this kept him warm.

He sat there for an hour until a unknown feeling deep inside told him to go home, that he's waiting for nothing. But he told himself "just another hour". So he sat there, his coffee now cold from the morning air.

Then the tugging in his inner chords rang louder, telling him to go home. This time, he followed. He took a cigarette from his pocket, then a lighter. He cupped his hand and lit the cigarette, took a long puff and stood up. Leaves crushing beneath his feet, he leaves.

Volition

The walls reek of cigarettes and paint. Though the smell of moving boxes over powered it temporarily. Erick was in the middle of the clutter, sorting his clothes from books. Beside him is his phone and a Bluetooth speaker. It was playing Lua by Bright Eyes, the tempo set his speed as he sort the stuff into the boxes. He never realized how much stuff he had and how much clutter he accumulated over the years. Small trinkets from events, sample prints for posters he designed and random key chains as souvenirs that friends brought home. Some of them went to a separate box except for a chosen few.

In the middle of his packing a knock on the door came. "It's open" Erick said. A girl in her mid 20s came into the room, long hair, black rimmed glasses that framed her face perfectly and a black shirt that says "Pessimism".

"Malcom couldn't make it. He said he had to band practice." said the girl.

"It's so like him to ditch me, even for the last time." said Erick as he lowered the volume on the speakers. "Well atleast I have you to help me Yan."

"I'm only here for the free coffee you promised." She looked around the room and grabbed a marker, looked inside one of the boxes and labeled it "Shirts". "You don't have a lot of stuff do you?"

"Well graphic design doesn't pay well." said Erick. "Plus most of my money goes to a freakin Creative Suites account since the ad council has been strict with pirated softwares."

"That doesn't seem to stop you from buying cigarettes and coffee." Yan said as she taped some of the boxes. She proceed to another box and checked the inside of it. It was filled with art books and a paper that had an address on it. "Do you really want to go to New York?"

"Mom has always bugged me on moving there for so long. Might as well put my dual citizenship to good use right?" said Erick. "That and a couple of other reasons."

"Couple of reasons?"

"I'm not leaving just because of that, ok?"

"Well it did contribute the most. Didn't it?"

"Can we not get into right now?" Erick lit a cigarette. Yan went over to him and took the cigarette before he could puff another. She look a puff and sat in front of Erick. Erick took another and lit it up. "This is called running away." said Yan.

"No. This is called forgetting." said Erick before taking a puff.

"I've known you for so long, you're not one to forget." Yan stood up and returned to the boxes.

Erick blew a long smoke and whispered under his voice "I can try."

Yan's phone suddenly ran. Her ring tone was the bass riff of Seven Nation Army by  The white stripes. She had a different ringtone for each person. "Yan, Malcom's calling." said Erick as he picked up his own phone. He changed the song to Seven Nation Army.

"Zup ditcher? Having fun not packing boxes?" said Yan as she put Malcom on speaker. "Can totally feel your fun all the way here. Listen I'll make it up to you tonight, come over to the QX, Tracy called us up for a gig. Booze's on me."

"I rather have coffee man." said Erick without looking up from the boxes. "I'll bring a bottle of Bailey's if that'll get you to come out." said Malcom from the speakers. "Fuck." he whispered. "Fine, I'm in." "Awesome, see you there." Said Malcom. Before Yan pressed the red button on her phone, "And Yan, don't bring Joshua, he's an asshole, bye." Then the call got cut off.

"You're still dating him?" said Erick. Yan sighed and took a long puff as he took Erick's phone. "Well, we got back together. Malcom was so busy with his band and you're always zoned out since 'that' happened. Needed someone to talk to." Yan scrolled through Erick's playlist and changed it a Gising by Autotelic.

"But he's such a prick. So clean and organized. He's practically the complete opposite of me."

"That's the point." There was a long awkward silence.

They continued to pack with the music on the background. Suddenly it stopped. They didn't bother to check why it stopped. They continued in silence. The silence was unsettling especially on the 30th floor where the noise of the street below doesn't reach them. Just the sound of the wind and the occasional plane flying by.

Then in the middle of the silence, Yan started humming a familiar tune. A tune they both knew. It started slow with a single note dragging a few seconds then a few melodies entered. Erick stood up and lit a cigarette. Walked to the corner of the room where a digital piano lay on the floor. Yan didn't notice this so it took her by surprise when his fingers caressed the first note. She stopped for a moment and smiled and continued humming. And as the melody continues its crescendo, Yan started to sing:

We saw them coming from miles away, With hearts on their faces and minds out of place. So don’t give me a reason to stay To be fooled by them and take my mind away Because only in your heart, my mind is at bay.

Erick entered:

Steal your heart dear, I know you're at bay For I am a fool for letting you stay When the winds wants you what more can I say But to look down on my feet and walk away

Erick stopped playing. "We should really finish writing that song." said Yan. "I rather not." said Erick before continuing packing.