#and despite the weather there are families and companies of friends hanging out

[radioactive-cloud]

had a brief barely-there walk outside (probably less than a minute) and i can't understand whether it made my mood better or worse

[spacequokka]

With a Note (I Meant It)

Pairing: Mingi x Reader Genre: f2l, second chance Rating: PG Summary: You run into an old friend on your way back home. Word Count: 1.2k Warnings: mentions of underage drinking (wine coolers, which is a no-no)

A/N: Last one for the event! I tried to make the song harder to guess. Thanks for reading and happy holidays! <3

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. This is a flight delay announcement for flight 118 to Seoul. We regret to inform you that due to the weather, we're expecting a delay of approximately eight hours. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and we appreciate your patience and understanding…"

You stopped listening as the other passengers seated around you groaned and complained. It was Christmas Eve, and after the flight being delayed for the third time, you were at the stage of acceptance. Maybe you should've booked the flight months in advance instead of last minute. Or chose a different company. Honestly, it wouldn't have mattered much since it'd snow no matter what and the likelihood of being stranded at the airport was a given.

Eight hours.

The terminal was buzzing with families reuniting and friends celebrating, while you sat alone nursing a cup of lukewarm coffee. You were contemplating buying overpriced fast food when you heard your name. You turned your head and gaped when you saw the man's face.

"Mingi?"

"It is you!" He took the seat across from you. "I thought I saw you earlier, but I figured my glasses were smudged up or something." He licked his lips and took a breath. "Are you heading to Seoul too?"

You nodded. "I really thought I'd avoid being stuck here all night."

He smiled bashfully. "I was supposed to catch an earlier flight but got held up with work. My mom's gonna strangle me when—no, if—I get there. She kept telling me to fly out before the snowstorm hit."

"At least someone had some sense. I didn't really give it much thought when I bought the ticket." You pushed your cup around on the table.

Mingi stretched his long legs out, accidentally brushing against yours. Mischief sparkled in those warm brown eyes as he pulled out his cell phone and a bag of chips. The last time you'd seen him had been your high school graduation when things got weird and you both drifted apart. It was weird seeing him now, acting as if he didn't avoid you that summer before going off to college. Did he not remember?

"Want some?" He held out a bag of honey butter chips, his silver rings catching the fluorescent light.

What kind of mind game was he playing? "Thanks." You reached for the bag, your fingers brushing accidentally. Just like old times, except nothing was like old times anymore.

You munched on the chips quietly as people filled and left the terminal, coming to see that their flights had also been canceled, then going off to find food or a place to stay for the night.

"I wonder if it'd be better to get a hotel room." He mused aloud.

You shook your head. "There's a convention going on. Every place is fully booked through to New Year's. Anything you find will be far out and you might not make it back here in time for your flight. Then your mom'll kill you for sure."

He barked out a laugh. "You're right." He fiddled with his phone, turning it over and over before asking suddenly, "Remember when we used to stay up until three in the morning? You'd always fall asleep on the phone and I'd have to wake you up so you'd put your phone on the charger."

You smiled despite yourself. "You weren't much better. You'd fall asleep mid-sentence, then insist you weren't snoring."

"Yeah, but I had a good reason. I didn't want to hang up." His voice got softer, more serious. "I wrote you a letter senior year."

Your heart stopped. "What?"

He nodded. "I wanted to give it to you that morning before the graduation ceremony, but I thought it might ruin what should be a happy day for you." He ran a hand over his white beanie and tugged at it. "So, I slipped it in your purse at Wooyoung's party that night. Blue envelope. You never said anything so I guess…I guess you never found it?"

The memory hit you like a thunderbolt—getting home slightly buzzed from wine coolers, digging through your purse, finding a blue envelope with smeared ink illegible in the dim light of your bedside lamp. You'd thrown it away without a second thought,anything, then passed out the second you touched your bed.

"Mingi, I—"

"It's okay," he cut in quickly. "It was a long time ago." He adjusted his glasses. "But being stuck here with you…maybe it's a sign or something." He laughed, but it sounded shaky. "Wanna hear what it said?"

The airport speakers crackled with another delay announcement, but you barely heard it. In that moment, it was just the two of you—Mingi with his gentle smile and nervous hands, you and your heart doing backflips in your chest.

"Tell me," you whispered.

He took a deep breath. "Why is everything so effortless with you? Smiling, laughing, being happy. You're the first thought in the morning and the last one when I fall asleep. I know our plans for life are taking us in different directions, but I want you to know that I'll think of you constantly. Is that love? If so, I love you more than I can express. One day, if you'll let me, I hope to stay by your side not as a friend but as someone you love in return." He looked you in the eyes. "When you didn't call or even text me, I figured you read it, but didn't feel the same. I was a little dumb back then. Avoiding you so you wouldn't have to let me down easy. Then sometime during my sophomore year in college I realized I'd rather you tell me you didn't feel the same over never knowing how you felt about me…Then Yunho asked me if I was sure you'd read it." His expression turned to embarrassment. "So I asked around if you'd said anything about a letter to anyone and no one could recall you talking about it."

"I was a mess when I got home that night! I couldn't read the words on it and threw it away. By the time I woke up, I forgot all about it. I'm so sorry!"

He nodded with a chuckle. "That's way better than what I imagined." He reached out and touched your hand. "It's okay, though. Really. And I'm sorry for letting us drift apart without telling you why. Feels like I wasted a lot of time, like I missed out on a lot of important moments in your life."

Melancholy wasn't a word you'd ever associated with Mingi and you weren't going to start doing it now. You squeezed his hand. "Then we'll make sure you don't miss anything else from now on. Okay?" You pushed away from the table and stood up. "Come on, I need to get you a Christmas present."

[cloveroctobers]

rust — 11. Bode Leone ~ [Winter Prompts]

A/N: My newer pieces for bode don’t get as much attention so I’m writing this quickly in the sense of HC (notes I guess? my form!) s/o to the snow storm for giving me the motivation to write this 🩵

WARNINGS: childhood fears, freak accidents, and slight language?

PROMPTS ARE FROM HERE & I’m using: ACTIVITIES — Skiing & Taking pictures in the snow + SITUATIONS — Holidays in the hospital.

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Here is where you should have listened to your instincts and not have let your guard down.

Being back at these slopes was a triggering manner and everyone would have understood if you backed out but you didn’t want to break tradition.

You lost your (adopted) older sibling up on these slopes that the both of you snuck into during a brewing storm.

It wasn’t your idea and you were reluctant but your sibling—who was always the daredevil—convinced you that they knew these slopes well (they were dating the kid of the owner) and always did this once the colder weather came in.

They were so sure that everything would be fun and fine, despite the fact that a storm was coming in.

You told them they should have called their friends to hang out with instead, since you were not the biggest fan of snow and wasn’t the most athletic like your sibling but they chose spending their quality time with you that evening.

They were a senior, you were a sophomore and what was supposed to be, just kids being kids ultimately led to your siblings’ tragic passing.

It didn’t bother you as much until you all pulled up to the slopes and you got a good look at it. That’s when yours knees started to buckle, stomach cramped, palms sweaty beneath your thick gloves, and your chest felt tight.

“Hey, you okay?” Bode questions after his mom nudged her head in your direction, you were slowly pacing from the opposite side of the car, doing breathing exercises while the Leone family carried a conversation.

A humorless laugh slipped through your lips, “Never better, can’t you tell?”

Although you attempted to model out your all white fit in a funny manner, Bode saw right through it as he watched your elbow shake while you had your hand on your hip, with a weak pose.

He immediately grips your forearms, “You know there’s no pressure right? We’re just here to have fun and we’ll take it easy but if it’s too much…you let me know and we can get into something more chill instead.”

You simply smile, knowing this was a repeat of last night’s conversation as you lay in bed together, with Bode trying to see where your head was at. There was no way you were going to be the only party pooper and stay back at the cabin…alone.

Especially since you and Mrs. Sharon forced everyone to watch The Bodyguard last night and that scene with Niki always gave you nightmares.

You were sensitive to things like that, which is why you could never go into the medical field, although there was a time where you wanted to major in it—it ultimately did not work out in the case of your mental.

Snow tubing became more of your snow activity as you found the courage to take pictures with your new camera (that Bode surprised you with on Christmas! You hated that he spent this kind of money on you when he was just building his income back but he didn’t want to hear your concerns, he just wanted to see you smile) of Eve and Jake on their snowboards on the opposite route before you scrambled to stabilize yourself on the slope as it got bumpy towards the middle.

Everyone took turns keeping you company on the tubes but ofc the real action was with the skis and snowboards. Something you once liked participating in although you weren’t the best, you once enjoyed the freeing feeling of being on those slopes.

After browsing the photos you managed to get of Mrs. And Mr. Leone, Eve, Jake, and Bode, just examining their faces through the pictures reminded you of the feeling the slopes used to bring back when you were a child and back when your sibling was still alive.

That photo of the both of you cheesing at the end of the slopes, arms tossed over each others shoulders, that your adopted father snapped of you still sat in the entry way of your family’s home. They only came out to the slopes once a year to honor your sibling but it was no longer a place where they spent the winter anymore either.

“Wait up, I’m coming this time.” You say as the remaining faces turn to you at the lift.

Sharon and Vince were already up on the lift unaware of this decision, while Eve and Jake shared a glance and Bode waved them on to go ahead.

He waited for you as you locked up your camera and he was patient as he helped you into your skis. Exhaling your eyes meet the lift where a few were waiting in line for the next.

“Are you sure?”

“I have to,” you state meeting Bode’s sparkling eyes, “Not just for them but for me too. I can’t keep living in fear over what was lost.”

Bode gives you a slow grin, “There’s my girl. And you know I’m right there with you…if you need me that is.”

“Of course I do. I wouldn’t want anybody else beside me.”

Bode smirks, “Aw.”

“Shut up and help me.” You roll your eyes as Bode gently squeezes the back of your neck, “I haven’t been on these in ages.”

Bode laughs a little as he takes your hand, “Yes, ma’am.”

And just like that you’re above the slopes together, with you squeezing the life out of Bode’s knee but he squeezes yours back, timing it all for when it was time to let go.

In more ways than one.

Once you regain your balance on the snow, which you had to do pretty fast, you’re gliding down the slopes and although Bode can definitely pass you like you know he’s itching to, he keeps pace with you just like he promised.

It’s when there’s tears in your eyes and a carefree laugh that escapes your lips, that you realize that you found your courage again.

Bode loves to see it, encouraging you and relishing in the joy that’s on your face. It’s happy tears although you still miss your sibling, terribly, you knew this was something they always loved to do. Their bucket list was to conquer all the winter sports and you honestly believed that one day they truly would.

That joy becomes short lived as you bring your glance back over to your boyfriend, watching in horror as he stumbles over a uneven terrain, his attempts to recover from that don’t go unnoticed as he soon slips over some undercover patch of ice that sends him failing around, unable to keep his balance.

The first roll and impact, you can hear something crunch along with a crack and it isn’t the skiis. Bode keeps on tumbling and you can feel your heart struggling to beat.

Your screams are as loud as ever, catching other skiers attention and drawing the attention of his parents and your shared friends at the bottom of slope.

You’re spooked for a few seconds but bring yourself out of it as other skiers race to help.

“Bode!” You’re on your knees as you scoop his head into your arms, reminiscent to when you held your sibling’s broken body in your lap as the blizzard planned to bury you both.

He’s sweating after he tossed his insulated face mask to the side in an angry manner but he puts on a grimace of a smile as he takes in your tear stained face, “I’m alright. I—

“Don’t you dare say you promise to me right now!”

Emergency services manage to arrive about a minute later before the rest show up to strap bode in before assessing his injury.

Let’s just say the amount of blood and bone was not for the weak!

“Don’t go blamin’ yourself alright,” Jake says to you as you all stood at the car, “Bode’s strong and he wanted to be there with you when you were ready.”

Jake tried to provide you comfort before climbing into the driver’s seat but it was as if he hadn’t spoken.

Vince is in the passenger side, stressed but received the look Jake sent him, knowing that he would have to step in once you all arrived to the hospital.

The drive was certainly quiet enough compared to the initial ride up here and Eve was just happy enough to gain some feeling back in her hand once you let go.

Sharon didn’t even give the option to let you ride with Bode, which was another reason why you felt like it was your fault but she’s immediately apologetic once she gets a good look at you in the waiting room, embracing you and also taking Bode’s words into account on the ambulance ride.

“Mom, I don’t want her taking everything to heart. She’s just as scared as you, maybe even more and we got to make that right.”

Sharon’s never seen Bode love as hard as he did when he’s with you and the glint in his eye and the reassurance he had more for you than himself said enough.

“I could have responded better back there, gave the option on who should have rode with Bode here.”

You’re understanding, already knowing what the Leone family lost before as well.

“I’ll never hold that against you,” you say in Sharon’s arms, “It was probably best anyway…considering I almost upchucked as soon as the ambulance doors closed.”

“Oh yeah,” Sharon nods, “Still don’t have the best stomach huh?”

“Not in the slightest but I don’t know if I would have been able to keep it together enough for Bode so…no hard feelings.”

“Of course not, honey!”

Then you’re all in the hospital room where they’re just keeping Bode comfortable after running some tests and x-rays until the next orthopedic surgeon is available.

“Damn, Bode! I never thought I’d see the day where you would look like shit, dude.” Eve comments, earning a nudge from Jake and a glare from Sharon while Vince just shakes his head.

Bode scoffs, “Yeah, thanks Eve. Love you too.”

You’re right beside him but you won’t touch him, afraid that you’ll make it worse. Your eyes are lingering over his bandaged and covered leg and you can’t get the image out of your head.

“Hey, I’m going to be fine.”

“You don’t know that yet.” You whisper, “you’re all clammy and probably running a fever. Which I feel like…isn’t good sign.”

“That’s just my body trying to recover.” Bode shrugs although Sharon and Vince both share that knowing parent glance.

Vince leaves the room while Sharon tries not to interfere.

Bode can see that you’re not convinced and holds out a hand, “Holding your hand always makes me feel better, though.”

You scoff, “Uh uh, I’m keeping my hands to myself.”

“Please.”

At least he wasn’t too proud to beg!

You sigh, quickly slipping your hand into Bode’s clammy yet warm hand.

He gives your hand a squeeze and lets out a sigh himself as he shifts slightly uncomfortable on the bed before croaking out, “Ah, that’s better!”

Shaking your head at him, you can’t help but to brush his now curling hair back and press a quick kiss to his forehead.

It’s not long after that, the doctor comes back into the room with Mr. Leone right behind him.

He shows the x-rays up on the wall, informing that Bode experienced an open fracture and he’s definitely at risk for infection, which doesn’t settle the feeling in your chest or stomach. It’s determined that he’ll need surgery and you don’t hesitate to let them know that Bode doesn’t look the best, that he feels feverish.

The doctor takes his temperature again and checks his notes to see that his temperature has increased significantly since he got here, which never feels like a good sign.

It’s when he checks on the fracture that you all see that there’s significant swelling and it’s warm to the doctor’s touch. Immediately he’s calling on the nurses and once they arrive he tells them surgery cannot wait another hour or more. He wants to take care of it right away.

The nurses are quick at prepping and the doctor is talking in hushed tones outside the room with Sharon and Vince.

“Why don’t you take a picture?” Bode suggests now with a cap covering his hair.

Eve shakes her head and mutters to the friends, “Yeah man’s lost his mind for sure.”

Jake shrugs his shoulders, knowing what Bode is getting at as your eyes are wide with fear again.

“Are you insane?” You hiss at the foot of his bed now as the nurses work, “Sorry… it’s probably the fever rotting your brain.”

“Ouch.” Jake laughs as he stands beside you, already holding your camera for you.

Bode echoes a laugh, “I’ll take your snark anyday, baby. I mean a picture before I get rolled away into surgery is a badass story I’d love to tell our kids one day…Plus I’ll look much more cooler now than when I’m in a stupid cast.”

Your breathing hitches before you feel your own body fill with warmth. Although you and Bode took forever to get here, being an official couple, and you’ve known each other since you were kids yourselves…this was the first time kids were brought up in your relationship.

You decide with a warning in your eyes, “…Fine but just one.”

“That’s all I need,” Bode jokes while Eve groans and you match her annoyance with a roll of your eyes.

With shaky hands you take the camera from Jake. He gives your shoulders a squeeze before stepping out of the way to give you space.

Bringing the lens up to your eye, you close the other one, zooming into one focal view. Bode looks pale, forehead glimmering with sweat, body slumped, yet there’s crinkles by the corner of his sparkling eyes. He’s smiling but it’s mostly for you and it’s not a wide one by any means but it’s enough as he folds his bulging arms, showing he still has fight in him.

He was right, one picture is all that you needed.

And you find yourself staring at it for a long time while you all wait for him to get out of surgery.

It’s the hope of your lingering shared kiss in the hallway that keeps you going.

“I love you and I’ll see you when you get out. Don’t be diffcult in there.”

“Who me?” Bode smiles against your clasped hands that he brought up to his lips, “Never. I love you too, baby.”

“Until rust?”

“Until we rust.” He recites followed with a wink, giving your hand one last squeeze as you step out of the way, waving at him and hugging yourself as you watch Bode keep his eyes on you until he can’t.

Vince is the one who takes the role of steering you to follow the rest back to the waiting room.

You secretly vowed to never do this shit again but you knew the longer you stared at the photo you took of Bode and ended up showing to Vince and Sharon (Vince got a good chuckle out of this while Sharon scoffed and scolded the boy through the camera but still found herself grinning) and once Bode was well enough to fight fires again, he would be trying his damn hardest to come up with a skiing competition just between you two.

That brings a crooked smile to your face as you slouch in the chair, leg crossed over the other and you toss your head back to stare up at the ceiling.

Waiting…

You were deeply in love with Bode Leone and it was so sickening!

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Read my final winter anthology prompt here.

[the-void-writes]

All That Thaws In The Cold 2024

I had to do another one of these because they’re so good.

Prompt: When The World Quiets

Summary: Will reflects on his past and his family during his first winter under Vesely’s roof.

WC: 1.1K

Will’s dorm was probably nicer than his room back home. The walls didn’t squeak with the wind, the lights never hesitated to come on, and the mattress on his bed was softer than his old lumpy one. His friends had even gotten him string lights to hang over his bed, little stars for him to admire without going outside in the cold.

They had helped him adjust as best as they could, and yet it still felt alien to him. Everything in the facility felt sterilized, barely lived in— barely a home, something Vesely’s company could never be to him.

His home was the people inside of the facility, the ones that had taken him in.

He leaned his head against the window, watching the snow as it fell on a quiet world, a world that had hopefully forgotten that he existed. There was no place for him in Preston anymore… His father had seen to that in an instant. The Shapiro family had no room for a Freak like him, diseased and broken and wildly dangerous. His place was with Vesely’s army, with all the other children who had been thrown away.

The bedroom door slid open quietly. In the reflection of the window, Will watched his godfather peek his head into the room.

“Am I interrupting anything?” Jason asked.

Will shook his head. “Come in.”

Jason stood beside him in the blink of an eye, making sure not to look over his personal space. He was the most respectful and considerate person Will had ever met, at least to him. His employees knew a different version of him, one that could strike fear into the most disciplined soldier. Will could see that man sometimes, in the coldness of his eyes, but he had never seen that chill directed to him. Jason was better than that, better than Isaiah in every way.

“Have you eaten yet?”

Will shrugged. “I don’t feel hungry.”

“Is it your fever?”

“No, that’s fine.” He scratched the scar on his arm, which burned slightly at the mention of his illness. “I’m just… tired.”

Jason nodded politely, but concern rested on his face. Will sometimes wondered if his godfather could read thoughts, or if he was just that easy to read. He shuffled over to the end of the bench so Jason could sit.

“How are you feeling?” Will asked.

“Old,” Jason said with a slight laugh. “I guess I’m at the point where the cold hurts my joints.” He tapped his knuckle against his left leg, earning a dull metallic thud. “Doesn’t help that this thing keeps locking up.”

“I’m sorry.”

Jason smiled. “Why? Do you control the weather? Are you freezing my legs on purpose so I’ll hang out with you more?”

Will’s lips curled slightly. “Darn, you spoiled my master plan.”

They laughed quietly, their eyes turning to the growing snowstorm outside. Despite its intensity, neither of them could hear the winds. A miracle of the facility’s construction, perhaps. Jason leaned his head against the cold glass.

“December’s always a hard time, isn’t it?”

Will nodded slowly. “You’d think it would be happier with all the holidays and bright lights and music, but it’s— it’s so—”

“Cold,” Jason said, “and lonely.”

“Yeah… lonely.”

The boy tucked his chin against his knees and stared out the window at the swirling snow. An arm carefully wrapped around his shoulders, pulling him close.

“Can I tell you something embarrassing?” Jason asked.

“What is it?”

“I used to pretend that you were with me for Christmas. I know you don’t celebrate it, but that was the biggest holiday Vesely allowed us.” Jason chuckled to himself. “I’d convince myself that you were sleeping in the other room, so I could sneak out and leave a present for you. I knew you’d never open it, but I couldn’t stand looking at an empty tree. I needed you.”

Will slowly turned to face him, tears building in his eyes. Jason closed his eyes.

“Forgive me, that was too much.”

“No, it wasn’t,” Will said weakly. “I used to do the same thing for you.”

When Jason opened his eyes, they were full of hope. “You did?”

“You remember the gelt, right? The chocolate coins Grandma Shapiro gave us?”

“Ah, of course. They had already melted whenever she handed them out.”

Will laughed. “Yeah— But for every Hanukkah after you left, I’d sort my pile in half and leave the rest on my desk, by our picture. Then, I’d share one with you each day.”

There was an entire world of warmth in Jason’s smile, years-worth of affection that had never died down. Will couldn’t look at him without feeling his ears heat up, overwhelmed by the gentle attention.

“Just letting you know that you’re not alone,” he said.

“Thank you, Will.” Jason hugged him tightly. “It means the world to me… just as you do.”

For one moment, Will felt like an eight-year-old boy again, enjoying the holidays with his dear family— the one that had truly loved him. He could see his mother’s smile, and his sisters’ laughter-filled faces. He remembered how Jason and Henry would hold him up to light the candles. They had always been there for that small, innocent boy…

“Jason?”

“Yes?”

“Do you ever wish that I was still a kid?”

He could hear the heartbreak in his own voice. Jason held him securely, brushing his hand through the boy’s hair.

“Only in the sense that I wish I could have watched you grow up,” Jason said, “into the wonderful young man you are today— You are wonderful, do you know that?”

Will could barely turn to look at him, let alone muster a smile. Jason chuckled to himself.

“Do you ever wish I was thirty again?”

“No!” Will said. “That’s not what I meant— You’re still great—”

Jason laughed. “I’m only teasing.”

Will crossed his arms. “It’s not funny.”

“I’m hilarious, what are you talking about?”

He pinched the boy’s shoulder lightly, waiting eagerly for confirmation. Will was unable to contain a soft, singular snicker.

“See?” Jason said. “I’m a riot.”

“Yeah, sure.”

Jason pretended to frown, and that got Will to laugh for real. Once he started, he couldn’t stop, especially when Jason immediately dropped the act because he was so proud of himself.

“I’m kidding. You are a riot.”

“Thank you, duck.” Jason ruffled his godson’s hair lightly. “Feeling any better?”

“Much better.”

“Good, that’s good. I’ll let you rest, then. If you start feeling down again, you’re always welcome to come find me.”

Before Jason could get up, Will hugged him as tightly as he could.

“Thank you for everything, Jason. Thank you for wanting me.”

Jason hugged him back, leaving a small kiss on the top of his head. “I’ll always want you here with us.”

[footprintsinthesxnd]

Lucky Strikes

Pairings: George Luz x Carwood Lipton(platonic) Warnings: description of war, injury, shell shock, ptsd, cold weather.

So I actually wrote this a little while ago and completely forgot to post it but this fic all stemmed from a conversation @georgieluz and I were having and the idea was born. This fic links to the moodboard it made for Band of Brothers Appreciation week so if you’ve seen it before that it why. Anyway I hope you guys enjoy.

George Luz would often be referred to as the clown of Easy Company, he was the comic relief, the joyful sidekick to the main character of the story. He was witty, insightful and had the heart of a young boy, pure and full of nothing but kindness. In fact, George could probably count on his hands the number of times he’d been rendered speechless, on D-Day when he’d seen a young paratrooper strung up in a tree, when he’d discovered a family hiding in amongst the rubble in Carentan and now standing in front of his friends as he watched their blood seep into the crisp snow, deep crimson dying the pure white carpet.

The scene rendered him speechless, words forming on his lips fell silent in his throat, his mouth dry, chest heaving with each breath as if he’d been crushed by a Sherman. He’d seen the horrors of war plenty of times before but nothing compared to this.

George stood frozen as he watched Doc Roe working on his friends, watched Bill crack jokes about getting home to the States, watched as his friends were carried off by fellow paratroopers. He couldn’t bring himself to utter a single word. He could hear Lipton talking to him, face hazy and his voice muffled by George’s mind. George found himself pointing towards Buck, surprising himself that he’d heard and understood Lipton despite his obvious lack of consciousness.

He watched, his heart heavy, as Lip walked cautiously towards Buck, kneeling beside the shaking man. To see Buck Compton now, shoulders shaking as he sobbed into Lip’s shoulder was more than George could bear. He turned away, his body stiff, joints moving like an abandoned rusted machine as he plodded through the snow, head hanging low, shoulders slumped. His foxhole wasn’t too far from the scene and he slowly sank onto the icy floor, no longer concerned by the snow that has piled into the hole and the tree branches and debris that lay across one end, that would be tomorrow's problem.

George had always felt like he needed to bring people joy, it was his meaning in life but sat shivering and lonely as he mourned the loss of his friends all George wanted to do was cry, to let out all the pain and heartache but he couldn’t bring himself to let the tears flow, couldn’t bring himself to break. “If I break then they’ll be no one to make anyone laugh,” he’d told himself time and time again, it felt like a burden really, being the light in the darkness and despite everything someone expected you to crack a joke.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lipton’s warm breath fans across his face against the icy wind as he searched the foxholes, checking on each man but specifically seeking out one. George Luz. Lip recalled the horror and agony in his usually energetic brown eyes as he’d fled the scene, too consumed with grief to help Roe and Malarky. Lipton asked around for George but no one seemed to know, each giving another vague answer. It wasn’t until Lipton journeyed back to his own foxhole that he found him, tucked up beneath Lipton’s blanket, his knuckles pure white as his fingers desperately gripped the scratchy army-issued blanket. Lipton spoke softly to him, crouching down and watching as George’s eyes flickered wildly, moving but unseeing.

“George?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Having been too consumed in his sorrow he hadn’t heard Lipton approaching, calling his name or even the large warm weight appearing beside him. It wasn’t until Lipton lay a hand on his shoulder that George jumped abruptly. His brown eyes followed the arm up, meeting the sympathetic face of none other than Carwood Lipton.

He gave George a small crooked smile before nestling down further beside him, his hand still on George’s shoulder. George couldn’t bring himself to meet Lip’s eyes, turning his head away and burying it deeper into his scarf.

“George? Are you alright?” Lip asked, his voice laced with worry, he brushed George’s long brown locks off his forehead revealing the face of a small frightened boy. George shuddered, shaking his head silently. Lipton watched in horror as George’s face morphed into an agonising silent sob, tears began to trickle down his dirty cheeks, leaving silver trails highlighted in the moonlight, illuminating the dark shadows of his face.

Lipton lurched forward, cradling the boy against his chest, whispering to him as he let out all the anger, the pain, the frustration that had been building since D-Day. Lipton had held many a man while they cried, comforted them as they died in his arms, and cooled them down when their anger erupted but not George. Not George. He’d never once seen him exploded with anger, cry after an artillery barrage, he’d not even seen him pray before a jump. Lipton could feel the boy's chest rising and falling in uneven, shaky breaths, knuckles fisting the front of his uniform and his legs wrapping around Lipton’s outstretched ones. He resembled a baby Lemur that Lipton had once seen in a National Geographic book, clinging onto its mother.

“George?” Lipton asked, pulling back from him slightly to watch his eyes silently begging him to stay. Lipton only nodded, giving George a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere.”

With shaking hands George pulled the packet of Lucky Strikes from his breast pocket, lighting one and inhaling slowly before lip plucking the cigarette from his mouth taking a long drag and exhaling deeply. Both men watched as the small clouds of smoke drifted up silently into the dark sky, their eyes aglow from the stars above them.

“Thank you,” George whispered, titling his head upwards to glance at the Sergeant. Lipton nodded and without uttering a word they both knew what hadn’t been said was understood by the other.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tags: @georgieluz @iceman-kazansky @yeahcurrahhe-e @lieutenant-speirs @sharpshootershifty @liberteuniteegalite @msmercury84 @shadowsintheknight @callsign-phoenix @desert-fern @mayhem24-7forever @not-havingthetimeofmylife @floralfloyd @dustyjumpwjngs @theflyingfin @jump-wings

[bridgertonbabe]

You cannot let us hanging like that!! I need to know what happens when Violet sees Agatha again after watching that video tape of her and her dad!!

The next time Violet sees Agatha again is at the latter's birthday party a few weeks later, having successfully avoided her in the meantime with various excuses like babysitting grandchildren and feeling under the weather. At the party Edmund is running interference, ensuring his wife is safe from any one-on-one interactions with Agatha by sending over his children and in-laws to keep her occupied. However despite his best efforts, Agatha finds Violet alone in the kitchen refilling her wine glass and right away she picks up on the younger woman's discomfort from being in her company and she asks Violet why she's feeling so hostile towards her.

"Gee, I don't know Agatha. How would you feel if you found out that the woman you had considered as a role model and looked up to your whole life had slept with your dad?"

The kitchen fell into staggering silence as Agatha suddenly faced the music of the best kept secret she had been sitting on for decades now.

"How... how did you figure it out?" Agatha swallowed uncomfortably as she tried her best to navigate herself through a situation she had never prepared to ever face.

"Oh I think I managed to put two and two together after watching your sex tape!" Violet snapped.

Agatha had no time to react or respond to this startling revelation when suddenly the kitchen doors burst open and the kitchen began filling up with the entire party singing Happy Birthday, circling the woman of the hour as Gareth presented her with her birthday cake. Only Edmund picked up on the tense atmosphere that the party had intruded on, realising right away that his wife had had it out with her lifelong family friend, judging from the horror-struck expression on Agatha's face as she hesitantly blew out her candles and accepted everyone's birthday wishes with a dazed faraway look in her eyes.

[the--aiden]

❝ I am wrapped in a shroud of lost love and drunken mistakes

Name: Aiden Winters Age: 33 Species: fae Lives in: Owns a townhouse in Wolf Crossing Occupation: road crew supervisor and part-time helping hand in the Babbling Brooks ranch on weekends Affiliation: whimsical aosan fantasy (as per family obligations)

Family:

9 brothers and 1 sister (all wanted connections listed under familial here)

Mikael Winters - blog - brother

Sofia Mieux - blog - ex-fiancé

Powers: none Hobbies: Aiden likes working with his hands, be it at work, fixing up broken furniture or hoeing the ground and tending for plants. All his hobbies are part of his work, outside of it he likes to go fishing and gambling.

Growing up with six older brothers could be called anything but boring, especially when while growing up his parents did have three more kids and he was able to also call himself a bigger brother. Aiden always felt like a big part of the family, a literal pack of twelve people. They always had each others’ backs no matter the situation and what was happening and he could say he did enjoy beating up a kid or two to avenge his little sister. He had some high standards to follow in school after the twins which seemed too much for the kid back then, not the brightest bulb of the family. Aiden’s initial goal was to leave Greywood, like his bigger brothers, and go study somewhere outside of the city. This was a kind of a tradition from older generations of his family, very little of them remaining in Greywood past their teens despite their history in town going back to its settling. However, university fell out of the picture when he started dating a lovely girl from high school and decided to stay here because of her. Right out of school he applied for a few jobs, not really wanting to help out the family business. He was quite used to the morbid atmosphere that was the business side of their home, but he was not ready to study for it or be part of the organizing team. He worked at a café but the setting didn’t suit him well as he was too used to being constantly outside, having been part of the football team in high school and constantly wandering around the forest and mountains around Greywood with friends. He quit quickly and put in an application for the road crew, where he has stuck since. He was promoted to a supervisor a few years back, but he enjoys doing the work so doesn’t shy away from it despite being able to do so. Being out in all manners of weather and either cleaning up, filling up holes or digging down for someone’s pipes is a job he likes doing. A few years after he started the job he put a downpayment for a townhouse in Wolf Crossing, moving in together with the girl he was with. At 24 he was ready to propose but she seemed to have other plans and without much of an explanation she told him she needed something new and left both him and the city. The blow of that broke Aiden’s heart and for the next five years he found it hard to start trusting another woman, mostly having a good time and enjoying their company without trying to do anything serious with them. That was until he met a woman who had recently moved to the city and he fell hard. He proposed to her a year ago, ready to start a family and thinking of selling the townhouse and moving down to Mystic Grove where they would be more comfortable once they started building a family, for which he was eager. He worked hard, taking up a second job for weekend mornings and whenever he could fit it in during the week, going up at the ranch to help out with cleaning and fixing what needed to be fixed each time. Little did he know, another blow would be taken before he could get what he really wanted. Six months ago Aiden caught his fiancé in bed with one of his brothers. This time it wasn’t only a woman breaking his heart, but a family member helping her crush it into the ground. Aiden is now back into his old ways, sleeping around when he can and otherwise just hanging out with friends and family. He hasn’t spoken to his brother or his ex-fiancé since, while they both continue living in the same town, which can make some situations weird considering how small Greywood is.

[lolly-pop456]

1. Steven Universe, Spy X Family, and that new sonic one that I can’t remember the name of lol

2. They’re purple and a bit taller than my usual ankle socks. They also have lil sushi’s on them too.

3. I adore smoothies of any kind

4. Depending on the occasion and season it’s usually a semi formal dress or a nicer shirt with dark pants.

5. Over medium

6. A group of bookmarks I’ve collected over the years. Rn I’m using a tarot card that just described the deck.

7. Black probably. It goes with lots of things.

8. Other than books and movies I like older hats. They look very cool and interesting to me and make fun decorations.

9. The ocean for both. Even though I never grew up by it I just find it very soothing to me for some reason.

10. Colors. They can represent more than what someone is telling me to think (aka lyric questions).

11. Glasses. Eyes are too sensitive for contacts.

12. That she’s big and not shy about it since she can’t help her weight for the most part.

13. Pencil. I’m a fast writer so I make a lot of mistakes usually.

14. My back porch or backyard in general. It doesn’t face anything but the trees so it feels very private and uniquely mine.

15. Only one since my wife and I are too forgetful to have more lol. And maybe? It’s technically my wife’s but she forgets about it all the time… poor lil cactus.

16. A very oversized dark grey one with a family friend’s tattoo company logo on it. I got it on sale as it was the last one and not selling well, I like it because it makes me feel small.

17. Like five books hahaha… all from different series that I have one or two of on my shelf already.

18. When they discovered Tenochtitlan. Experiencing the wonder they experienced while first seeing the city would be amazing.

19. I dressed up as a spunky dark fairy once and loved the hell out of it despite having to wear a winter coat.

20. Algebra.

21. Uhh.. I think it’s called Starry Night Over the Rhine? It’s by Van Gogh and basically like that famous stars one but a different perspective I guess.

22. Iced.

23. Love songs. Idk why they’re just the easiest for me to sing.

24. Perhaps too aggressive at times but I’d like to think so. I at least use my blinker.

25. Yep. I want lots more tattoos and my nipples pierced.

26. More so a cook than a baker though I guess I could bake if I focused more. Don’t really have a specialty unless making a family recipe is one lol.

27. Just one amethyst skull, it’s got some creamy white lines and it’s supposed to be a good stone for protection.

28. Oh yeah. I definitely do, been called a mermaid most of my life as a joke.

29. Nope.

30. Yeah. I hang my shirts to the far left, then pants, then like: seasonals and fancy stuff. Then hoodies and bras.

31. Nails, hair, hips I think.

32. One of those iridescent rainbow looks 😍.

33. Earbuds.

34. Easily.

35. When I was little my favorite was a pink dog with a heart nose named Valentine. He went EVERYWHERE with me but uhh… at some point I became convinced he was haunted by something. That’s a story for another time if anyone’s curious.

36. Air hockey.

37. As long as they’re respectful of my space and let me know if they’re behind me.

38. I really like classical piano pieces actually. They really soothe me and not many people would guess that about me probably.

39. Realizing I didn’t sleep until 7pm lmao.

40. Apple. They hold lots of fond childhood memories for me.

41. Black pepper and rose.

42. A few. I think my favorite is the pixel coloring one, since it lets you upload your own photos to draw.

43. On. Fear of the dark is really a bitch.

44. Put it in my Toothless piggy bank.

45. No hahaha. I wrote too hard and fast usually, and even if I slow down it looks like a young kids.

46. I think a band? That or a podcast.

47. When the weather is nice.

48. I mean… I prefer plastic over porcelain but that’s about it.

49. Read a good book.

50. The air is cold but not freezing, indirect air is being pushed in from the ac with a slight hum. Silky sheets and pillow cases with a light fuzzy blanket that’s big enough to keep me underneath despite me tossing and turning. Also a body pillow with a stuffed animal to cuddle.

50 Questions Just Because

What are three shows in your watchlist that you’ve been meaning to get to?

Describe your favorite pair of socks

Do you like smoothies?

What do you wear when you have to dress nicely?

How do you like your eggs?

What do you use to keep your place when you’re reading a book?

What color dominates your closet?

Do you collect anything? If so, what?

What sounds or scents calm you down?

What’s your favorite kind of uquiz question? (Lyric, color, aesthetic, etc)

Do you wear glasses or contacts?

What’s something about your best friend that you love?

Do you prefer to write in pen or pencil?

What are some places where you feel most at home?

Do you have any houseplants? Do any of them have names?

Describe your favorite hoodie. How long have you had it? What makes it unique?

What’s the last thing you ordered online?

What’s one historical event that you would have liked to have witnessed?

What’s your favorite Halloween costume from when you were a kid?

What kind of math are you best at?

What’s your favorite period in art history, your favorite famous work and/or your favorite style of art? If you don’t know any that’s ok!

Iced or hot drinks?

Which songs do you like to sing in the shower?

Are you a good driver?

Do you have any piercings or tattoos? Are there any that you want?

Can you cook or bake? If so, what are some of your specialties?

Do you have any keychains on your home or car keys? Describe them!

Can you swim very well? Do you like swimming?

Did you play with Legos as a kid? What was your favorite set?

Is your closet organized? If so, how?

What’s the last music video you watched?

If you could dye your hair any color, regardless of how you think it would look, what color would you choose?

Headphones or earbuds?

Can you read analog clocks?

Describe your favorite stuffed animal, either now or from when you were a kid.

What’s an arcade or table game (air hockey, ping pong, etc) that you’re really good at?

Do you mind if others are in the kitchen when you’re cooking or baking?

What’s one show you watch or musician you listen to that your friends know nothing about?

What was the best part of your day today?

What’s your favorite kind of tree?

What scent is your deodorant?

Do you have any games on your phone? If so, which one(s) is/are your favorite?

Do you shower with the lights on or off?

What do you do with spare change?

Do you have good handwriting?

What’s the last thing a friend recommended to you that you looked into and actually liked?

Do you like to go on walks?

Do you have a favorite plate or bowl?

What’s your favorite thing to do when it’s raining?

Describe your perfect sleeping conditions

[maliaalonto]

❛❛ 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐀 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐓 𝐆𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐍 , and the walls were very high. She was a mixture of beauty and rage , vulnerability and strength , grace and fire. She was a beautiful storm , not the kind you run from , but the kind you chase ––––––––––––

FULL NAME. Malia Gisela Alonto

NICKNAMES. Mimi by family and close friends only

GENDER & PRONOUNS. Cisfemale + she/her

AGE. Thirty 1

RESIDENTIAL AREA. Downtown Westport

OCCUPATION. Publicist for Alonto & Co.

LENGTH OF TIME IN WESTPORT. 7 months

ABOUT | CONNECTIONS |  PINTEREST

STATS ━

BIRTHDAY. December 20, 1993

ZODIAC SIGN. Sagittarius

PLACE OF BIRTH. Manhattan, New York

SEXUAL ORIENTATION. Bisexual

ROMANTIC ORIENTATION. Heterosexual

RELATIONSHIP STATUS. Single

FAMILY ━

MOTHER’S NAME. Yori Alonto

FATHER’S NAME. Kastor Alonto

BROTHER’S ALIAS. Gabriel Alonto

GRANDPARENTS. Lorenzo and Corazon Alonto

COUSINS. tba

PERSONALITY TRAITS ━

MBTI. tba

MORAL ALIGNMENT. tba

ENNEAGRAM. tba

BIOGRAPHY ━

Malia Alonto grew up amidst the opulence of her family’s sprawling estate in the heart of New York city, where luxury was a constant, and appearances were everything. The Alonto name was synonymous with power, prestige, and success — at least on the surface. Malia’s parents, Kastor and Yori Alonto, were prominent figures in the world of high society, their wealth derived from a string of successful business ventures in finance and real estate. Yet, behind the polished exterior of their public lives, a labyrinth of secrets twisted beneath the surface.

From an early age, Malia was groomed to take her place in this gilded world. Her father, a formidable businessman with a reputation for being cold and calculating, pushed her to excel in everything she did. Her mother, a former beauty queen turned socialite, taught her the importance of perfecting the art of charm, of knowing how to play the game in a world where nothing could ever be quite as it seemed. But as Malia grew older, the weight of their expectations, combined with the undercurrent of unease that ran through her family, began to take a toll on her.

Malia’s early life was marked by privilege but also by subtle tension. The Alonto family’s wealth and influence were built on more than just savvy business practices — there were murmurings of questionable deals, hushed conversations about alliances with dangerous individuals, and whispers of family betrayals. Though her parents worked hard to shield her from the darker aspects of their world, Malia could sense the cracks in the foundation of their seemingly perfect life. It was during her teenage years that she first began to uncover fragments of her family’s hidden history: a mysterious death, a scandalous affair, and more than one betrayal that would have ruined the family name had the public ever found out.

Despite the shadows hanging over her, Malia followed the path set before her, attending a prestigious university where she studied communications and public relations. Her natural charisma, combined with her sharp mind, made her a standout in her field. By her mid-20s, she had already built a successful career as a publicist, working with A-list celebrities, high-powered politicians, and Fortune 500 companies. Her talent for managing crises and crafting perfect public personas made her in demand, but the pressure of maintaining flawless façades began to wear on her. It was a particularly high-profile scandal involving her family that finally pushed Malia to her breaking point. Her father’s involvement in a shady financial scheme, and her brother's high profile murder trial — one that threatened to ruin the Alonto name — became public, and Malia found herself at the center of a media firestorm. The family tried to weather the storm with carefully orchestrated PR moves, but it was clear to Malia that her life had become nothing more than a series of lies and damage control.

Craving a fresh start and desperate to escape the suffocating grip of her past, Malia made a bold decision: she left the city behind and relocated to a small town in the Midwest, a place where no one knew her name and where the constant pressure to perform could be momentarily forgotten.

Malia settled in the quaint, close-knit town of Westport, a place where the pace of life was slower and where the landscape was dominated by towering pines and fog-covered hills. Westport was a far cry from the dazzling lights of the city she had once called home, but it was a welcome reprieve. The townspeople were friendly, though wary of outsiders, and Malia quickly found solace in the anonymity that came with living in such a quiet, insular community.

Though she hoped to leave her past behind, the truth has a way of catching up. Malia finds herself taking on clients in the small town, using her PR skills to help local businesses navigate crises and improve their public image. As she gains the trust of the community, she also starts to uncover the town's own secrets — long-buried rivalries, hidden affairs, and uncomfortable truths. In a way, the town mirrors the world she has escaped, but now Malia is determined to do things differently. Despite her desire to leave her family’s dark past behind, Malia’s ties to her parents and their legacy are never truly severed. The Alontos, always keen to keep their secrets close to the chest, occasionally try to pull her back into their web of manipulation, making her question whether she can ever truly escape the chains of her heritage. At the same time, Malia is beginning to understand that she can’t simply outrun her past — she must confront it head-on and decide how much of her family’s darkness she’s willing to carry with her.

In Westport, Malia is learning to redefine who she is outside of her family’s shadow. She is more than just a publicist — she is a woman carving out her own path, making amends for the mistakes of her past, and slowly beginning to heal. But as the mysteries around her tend to unfold and the past continues to knock at her door, Malia will need to decide whether she can truly escape the ghosts that haunt her or whether she will always be bound to the secrets of her bloodline.

TLDR ━

trigger warning(s): betrayal, lies, infidelity, manipulation, murder

Malia Alonto is a talented and ambitious publicist, born into an affluent family with a legacy that spans generations. Raised in the lap of luxury, Malia has enjoyed the privileges that come with being part of the Alonto clan, a family known for their vast business empire and social prominence.

However, beneath the polished exterior of wealth and success, the Alontos harbor secrets—secrets that will eventually unravel and alter the course of Malia’s life.

Malia’s early years were marked by high society events, international travel, and an education at the finest institutions. As a young woman, she inherited her family’s flair for public relations, rising quickly in her career due to her sharp instincts, charm, and ability to manage the complex reputations of elite clients. By her mid-20s, Malia had become a sought-after publicist in the entertainment and corporate world, her name synonymous with discretion and success.

But her world was upended when a murder scandal shook the Alonto family. Malia’s brother, Gabriel, was implicated in the brutal killing of a prominent socialite, and the media frenzy that followed threatened to destroy the Alonto family name.

While the case remained clouded in ambiguity, Malia found herself at the center of a media storm, forced to protect her family’s image while grappling with the possibility that one of her own could be guilty of such a heinous crime.

In the aftermath of the scandal, facing constant media scrutiny and public judgment, Malia made the decision to leave her high-profile life behind. Seeking refuge from the ever-watchful eyes of the press, she relocated to the small, quiet town of Wesport—a place far removed from the glitz and glamour of her previous life.

She hopes the peaceful surroundings will offer her solace and distance from the scandal that continues to haunt her family.

But Westport is not as quiet as Malia hopes. The town has its own set of mysteries, and as she settles into her new life, Malia finds herself uncovering unsettling truths about both it and her family.

The dark secrets of the Alonto legacy are more intertwined with her past than she has ever imagined. Malia is determined to not only rebuild her career and her life but also to uncover the truth behind her brother's involvement in the murder—a truth that seems to be buried deep within the shadows of her family's history.

As she navigates life in Wesport, friendships form, enemies are likely to be made, and Malia will quickly realize that the truth is always far more elusive than she anticipates.

The weight of her family’s legacy looms large, but Malia is no longer the naïve young woman who once sought only fame and fortune. She's determined to take control of her own narrative and protect those she loves—no matter the cost.

Malia’s journey is one of self-discovery, redemption, and a relentless pursuit of the truth. As she grapples with the complexities of her past and the mysterious forces at play in her present, Malia learns that sometimes, the greatest secrets are the ones we keep hidden within ourselves.

HEADCANONS ━

Her Career. Malia didn’t get to where she is by accident. Alonto & Co. is one of the most powerful PR firms in the world, but Malia built it from the ground up. The pressure to constantly be one step ahead of her competitors, including her rival firm, is immense. She's always in the public eye, always being scrutinized, always needing to be perfect.

Emotional and Societal Burdens. Malia is constantly under the weight of expectation—not just from her family, but from society as a whole. She’s expected to be poised, polished, and impeccably successful at everything she does. The pressure to maintain an image of flawlessness is suffocating. Beneath her cool, controlled exterior, there’s an internal war between the woman she should be and the woman she wants to be.

Control. Malia is someone who thrives on control. She manages the narrative, the situation, and the people around her with precision. However, her family's secrets and scandals are things she can't entirely control. This reality begins to eat at her—especially as she realizes that not everything can be fixed with a well-timed press release or a carefully crafted public statement.

Moral Ambiguity. Malia is a character who often toes the line between what’s right and what’s necessary. She justifies morally questionable actions with the belief that she’s protecting her family, career, and reputation. Her ability to manipulate people and situations doesn’t come from a place of malice but rather from the belief that it’s necessary for survival.

Superstitions. Among family members, there’s a superstition that the Alonto family is doomed to fall apart due to their history of corruption and betrayal. Malia isn’t superstitious, but she does feel like she’s caught in the web of her family’s legacy and that escaping it will take more than just physical distance. It requires confronting her own sense of identity and choosing whether to accept or defy her past.

Professional. In her PR career, Malia always has a backup plan — a Plan B (and sometimes even a Plan C). It’s not just a professional habit; it’s a reflection of her upbringing in a world where things rarely went as expected, and she learned early to be prepared for any eventuality. Whether it’s a work project or a personal relationship, Malia tends to over-prepare for the worst-case scenario. It’s not that she’s overly pessimistic — it’s simply that, after years of family secrets unraveling at the worst possible times, she’s learned that being prepared for anything is the best way to stay ahead. This makes her feel a sense of security, even when everything around her seems uncertain.

She's a perfectionist with a creative side. Malia has always strived for perfection in everything she does—whether it’s her career as a publicist, her appearance, or her social interactions. But what most people don’t know is that she’s incredibly creative in ways that don’t show in her professional life. She’s an avid painter, though she’s never shown anyone her work. Her canvas is a reflection of her inner world—bold strokes of color, yet chaotic and unrefined in a way that represents her desire to break free from the constraints of her controlled life. She keeps her art hidden in the back of her closet, only allowing herself to create in private, where no one can judge her for imperfections.

She craves Normalcy. Though she would never admit it to anyone, Malia secretly yearns for a life free from the constraints of wealth, expectation, and the constant scrutiny of her family. While she enjoys the anonymity of Westport, part of her is still learning what it means to live in a world without high-society pressure or the constant need to maintain appearances. She finds herself envious of people who have "boring" lives — the kind where there aren’t complicated family secrets to navigate, or where social status isn’t a point of constant tension. It's an ongoing internal struggle for Malia, as she grapples with balancing the freedom she desires with the legacy of her family that she can't seem to fully escape.

She's Obsessively Early. Malia has an almost obsessive need to be early—for meetings, social events, flights, you name it. Being early is her way of maintaining control in a world where so much of her life was dictated by others. It gives her a sense of preparation and calm before the chaos of a situation sets in. She arranges everything meticulously in advance, even overthinking small details like what she’ll wear to a simple dinner. This habit stems from her childhood, where she felt she was constantly trying to avoid the mistakes or disappointments of her parents. Being early is her way of proving that she has everything under control, something that’s hard for her to relinquish.

An Incredibly Private Person, Even in Small Town Westport. While Malia does her best to integrate into life in Westport, she’s still fiercely private. She shares little about her personal life, even with the people she comes to trust. At first, her interactions with others are shallow, polite, and always carefully calculated. She rarely talks about her family or past, and when she does, it’s only in small, controlled doses, often deflecting with humor or dismissive comments. Malia’s privacy isn’t just a result of her upbringing in the public eye; it’s a defense mechanism. After a life of living under the microscope, she’s learned that vulnerability is a weakness. She holds her true self behind a mask, uncertain of whom she can trust in Westport.

Secretly Loves Romance Novels. Malia has an almost guilty pleasure in romance novels, particularly the steamy, historical fiction kind. She reads them in secret, often hiding the books under piles of her professional reading. Despite her carefully curated image of being all business and control, she craves the emotional connection and passion that she’s never had in real life. Malia’s interest in romance novels is a stark contrast to her emotionally restrained exterior. She fantasizes about a love that is wild, passionate, and unrestrained, something that seems impossible in her controlled world. Reading these books is a small rebellion—a way for her to feel emotions that she has long suppressed.

Knows How to Throw a Party… but Hates Attending Them. Having grown up in the world of high society, Malia is an expert at organizing and managing high-profile events. She can coordinate a gala, dinner party, or charity auction without breaking a sweat, making sure every detail is perfect and everyone is impressed. However, when it comes to actually attending these events, she dreads them. The endless small talk, the pretentiousness, and the fake smiles all make her feel suffocated. Malia learned to become a master of image control early in life, particularly when her family’s reputation was on the line. While she’s good at orchestrating these events, they always leave her feeling empty. Her ability to throw a perfect party, but reluctance to attend one, is a reflection of her deeper emotional dissatisfaction.

Malia Has a Fear of Being Forgotten. Beneath her well-controlled, stoic exterior, Malia harbors a deep fear of being forgotten or overlooked. Growing up in the shadow of her father’s empire and her mother’s need for perfection, she often felt invisible. Despite being surrounded by the trappings of wealth, she struggled with a sense of insignificance in her family. This fear manifests in her constant need to be in control, successful, and visible in her professional life. Malia’s career as a publicist, where she constantly works behind the scenes to shape public images, serves as a way for her to ensure she’s always “seen”—not just by the public, but by herself. She fears that without this visibility, she’ll be forgotten, just like the many overlooked members of her family.

Understands the Power of Silence. Malia is incredibly strategic in her use of silence. Whether in her personal or professional life, she knows when to say nothing in order to control the narrative. Growing up in a family where every word was calculated for its impact, she learned that silence can be more powerful than any statement. She’s also adept at using silence to manipulate situations—sometimes making people feel uncomfortable or forcing them to confront truths they don’t want to face. Silence is a tool that Malia uses to protect herself. It’s often the only way she feels she can truly have control over a conversation or situation, especially when things start to spiral or feel out of her grasp. It’s also a defense mechanism, a way to withdraw when she feels vulnerable or exposed.

Is Surprisingly Good with Technology. Malia is more tech-savvy than she lets on. While she might not advertise it, she’s very good with social media, websites, and digital marketing, having learned the ropes of online branding as part of her job as a publicist. She’s especially good at creating fake social media accounts to track people or events when needed. Her skill set makes her an excellent strategist when it comes to managing public images and preventing scandals from blowing up in the media. Technology is a way for Malia to control her environment, without the need for face-to-face interactions. While her family’s social power was often rooted in traditional media and appearances, Malia sees technology as the modern battleground for influence—and she’s adept at using it to manipulate and control narratives, even when they aren’t her own.

Still Holds a Grudge Against Her Family, But Feels Guilt for It. Despite everything her family has put her through, Malia still harbors a deep, unresolved resentment for Kastor and Yori. She feels betrayed by them for their emotional neglect, but she also struggles with feelings of guilt. She’s not sure whether she should forgive them or continue distancing herself, knowing that severing ties may destroy what little familial connection remains. This internal tug-of-war between resentment and guilt keeps Malia in a state of emotional limbo. She yearns for the love and approval she never got from her parents but is also terrified of giving them any more power over her. This tension is something she’ll need to resolve before she can fully heal and move on.

[moyerslawnservice]

Importance of Hardscaping in Bethesda and Gaithersburg, MD

It is human nature to beautify objects. Placing a single rose in the vase or hanging photographs on the wall can enhance the aesthetics. Homeowners have a lot of space to play with when in a garden. Planting lofty trees and installing a green lawn adds to the property's beauty, but other elements also add to the look. Apart from working with the foliage, one may carve inanimate objects to make the available space useful, functional, and attractive. It is essential to consider hardscaping in Bethesda and Gaithersburg, MD, to ensure several advantages today. ​ It suffices to know that hardscaping is a part of landscaping wherein the professional works with nonliving materials such as sand, clay, or stones. Creating beautiful structures that enhance the outdoors is the objective behind hardscaping. There are many ways to use inanimate objects to create an eye-catching spectacle. Some of the most popular types of hardscaping in vogue at present include the following:-

· Fire Pit- An outdoor fireplace or a simple fire pit created out of stones or bricks is a functional element that enables the users to relax beside it during the winter. Spending quality time with family and friends seated around the blazing fireplace can be an excellent way of enjoying nature despite the chilling weather.

· Pathways—Trampling through dirt and mud, especially after rain or snow, can be uncomfortable. To supervise the outdoor area throughout the year, it can be a good idea to lay brickwork, concrete, or pavers to form pathways that lead to multiple areas within the garden and yard covered with wild foliage. What’s more? The beautiful paths are also eye-pleasing.

· Retaining walls—Creating a boundary on a property that slopes or is located beside a lake can be highly beneficial to prevent soil loss. Different types of materials and colors may make the boundary look attractive. Its purpose is more functional than adding to the aesthetic appeal.

· Pergola/Gazebo—One may construct freestanding structures at different parts of the garden or yard. Constructed out of a variety of materials and shaped uniquely, these structures double up as a resting space or shading area during hot and humid summer afternoons. They also provide cover during rain and snowfall. Having a sheltered area throughout the garden makes the outdoors more liveable.

· Patios or Decks—Adding a patio or deck crafted from wood, stone, or concrete can help extend the living area. The overhanging space overlooks the garden, making it ideal for enjoying nature when the weather is lovely. The hardscaping professional can provide the customer with an estimate for the construction and maintenance of the deck or patio.

Creating or dealing with an existing garden can be challenging. It is advisable to contact an experienced landscape company in Gaithersburg and Bethesda, MD, with an exemplary track record of handling diverse landscaping services. 

[sexintheraine]

Thank you for everything that you made me feel.

For making me feel alive again after all that I thought was everything, turned out to be less than anything.

The small moments I’ve had with you have made me realize that it’s ok to trust someone again, to feel heard and supported and thought of.

You saying that I deserve open communication and someone’s time and what you’re going through doesn’t take away from how you feel about me, made me fall even harder for you.

You said you wouldn’t handle the dismay like he did. You said I didn’t have to worry about you. And I believed you. I still believe you.

I want to see you. But I don’t want to be overbearing or the only one asking you for your time. I want you to want to steal mine too.

I was okay while I was sick because I slept my days away. I was doing everything I could to get back to healthy. I’m still not 100% yet. But 98% I would say.

I miss your taste. I miss the small glances you’d take when you thought I wouldn’t know. I miss the way I fit perfectly under your arm as you walk me to my car. And the kiss you steal before I watch you disappear and I drive home. I miss your possession.

I want you to stay the night. I want to wake up next to you. I want you to hold me close while we sleep. Legs and bodies tangled.

I want to road trip with you and get away from the noise.

I want to go play billiards at the pool hall near your place.

I want to take that trip to China to steal a piece of the Great Wall.

I want you to be my wedding date to my best friends wedding in August.

I’m afraid I’m no longer falling for you. I’m afraid I’m completely locked in. I’m afraid I can’t help it. I want to run around Piedmont park and have a nerf battle.

I want to watch Kentucky games and take Ruger to the dog park. I want to see movies and hang at the pool when it opens.

For my birthday; I would love to go to my parents cabin with you for a weekend getaway if we can swing it.

I want to watch a match of yours at the gun range.

Maybe go roller blading or ice skating. I wish I knew how you felt about roller coasters…

I want you to meet my parents and my brothers and I want to meet your sisters and yours.

Maybe we go to New York to visit our siblings together. Spend a day with yours and with mine.

I want to dream of the possibilities with you again.

I’ll never look at spicy food and not think of you.

When I send a long text, I’ll wish for your lengthy responses.

I’m not sure what will happen with us next,,, but if I never see you again, I want to say thank you.

Thank you for recognizing what I deserve.

Thank you for making me feel alive.

Thank you for giving me comfort in the midst of bullshit outside of us.

Thank you for being a gentleman.

If this is the end of our beginning…. You still owe me a gladiators game when we cross paths again.

And thank you for being kind hearted and passionate.

You definitely made an impact on me. Even though I’m surprised by the speed. I’m grateful for it. I don’t know where you came from. And I hate to see you go. So I’m hopeful that you don’t. But days are hard when I don’t hear from you now. And that’s how I know I’m no longer falling. I have already hit the ground and now I’m figuring out how to step forward without being too much. — and then the intrusive thoughts take over and I start to wonder if you want to step forward at all.

Of course you do. Your stress level just peaks every week that goes by without the security.

I met you when you were in your element. Making tons and working for a company you respected and felt proud to be a part of despite the desire to change course.

I met you when the dating scene had exhausted you and all these girls were portraying someone they’re not.

I met you and immediately heard your pet peeves. You met me and found my preferences. - there’s always more to learn…. But what I know about you, absolutely intrigues me.

What I know about your family, makes me want to stay so you don’t have to weather the storm alone. Not because you can’t. But because you shouldn’t have too.

I’m one hundred percent overthinking this. We’re not even serious yet. But I wish we were. I wish you owed me the respect of breaking it off if this isn’t what you want. I wish I felt like I could come and be there for you without you having to ask me.

I called the other night because I got off early and my night freed up. I debated not, only for not wanting to look clingy and weird. I’m sure you were busy. I actually know you to be a busy guy. And I LIKE THAT. I’m a busy girl too.

I guess I just miss your voice and the potential of being something wonderful that we have had. its been pretty hard being away from you and I just hope you don’t disappear completely.

… I really hope I see you soon.

I’m still rooting for me and you.

You might not want to put me through the wildness of it all. But I’m asking you to do it.

Choose me.

Tell me how I make you feel.

Show me your fears and your feelings.

Breathe me in.

Stay.

Choose the unknown ahead with me.

Choose the known. Show me what you’re thinking and how you’re navigating. Show me glimpses of your world and your thoughts. Hold me while I show you mine.

[greywoodrpg]

𝕒𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕟 𝕨𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤

he appears as though he was born thirty-three years ago and is actually thirty-three, is a faerie and lives in wolf crossing as part of the road crew and a helping hand at babbling brooks ranch, and is in whimsical aosan fantasy. he looks an awful lot like chris evans.

"The rage in your heart warms you now but it will leave you cold in your grave."

tw: adultery

Growing up with six older brothers could be called anything but boring, especially when while growing up his parents did have three more kids and he was able to also call himself a bigger brother. Aiden always felt like a big part of the family, a literal pack of twelve people. They always had each others’ backs no matter the situation and what was happening and he could say he did enjoy beating up a kid or two to avenge his little sister. He had some high standards to follow in school after the twins which seemed too much for the kid back then, not the brightest bulb of the family. Aiden’s initial goal was to leave Greywood, like his bigger brothers, and go study somewhere outside of the city. This was a kind of a tradition from older generations of his family, very little of them remaining in Greywood past their teens despite their history in town going back to its settling. However, university fell out of the picture when he started dating a lovely girl from high school and decided to stay here because of her. Right out of school he applied for a few jobs, not really wanting to help out the family business. He was quite used to the morbid atmosphere that was the business side of their home, but he was not ready to study for it or be part of the organizing team. He worked at a café but the setting didn’t suit him well as he was too used to being constantly outside, having been part of the football team in high school and constantly wandering around the forest and mountains around Greywood with friends. He quit quickly and put in an application for the road crew, where he has stuck since. He was promoted to a supervisor a few years back, but he enjoys doing the work so doesn’t shy away from it despite being able to do so. Being out in all manners of weather and either cleaning up, filling up holes or digging down for someone’s pipes is a job he likes doing. A few years after he started the job he put a downpayment for a townhouse in Wolf Crossing, moving in together with the girl he was with. At 24 he was ready to propose but she seemed to have other plans and without much of an explanation she told him she needed something new and left both him and the city. The blow of that broke Aiden’s heart and for the next five years he found it hard to start trusting another woman, mostly having a good time and enjoying their company without trying to do anything serious with them. That was until he met a woman who had recently moved to the city and he fell hard. He proposed to her a year ago, ready to start a family and thinking of selling the townhouse and moving down to Mystic Grove where they would be more comfortable once they started building a family, for which he was eager. He worked hard, taking up a second job for weekend mornings and whenever he could fit it in during the week, going up at the ranch to help out with cleaning and fixing what needed to be fixed each time. Little did he know, another blow would be taken before he could get what he really wanted. Six months ago Aiden caught his fiancé in bed with one of his brothers. This time it wasn’t only a woman breaking his heart, but a family member helping her crush it into the ground. Aiden is now back into his old ways, sleeping around when he can and otherwise just hanging out with friends and family. He hasn’t spoken to his brother or his ex-fiancé since, while they both continue living in the same town, which can make some situations weird considering how small Greywood is.

“what power did he attain when settling in greywood?”

None

penned by... geri

[ihni]

Every weather is sweater weather in Hawkins

For Harringrove Harvest day 3: ”Claudia Henderson’s hand-knit sweater”

(Read on AO3)

~~~

“I’ll miss you.”

The voice is low, and coming from outside the partly-open kitchen window that is facing the back of the house. Claudia Henderson pauses on her way to the sink with a pile of plates in her hand and listens, because it’s not the voice of any of the kids – they were all accounted for in the living room, ten seconds ago – but whoever’s speaking sounds … sad. And tonight is supposed to be a pre-Christmas celebration; a night of family and friendship and cheerfulness. She doesn’t want anyone to be sad in her house, especially today. That’s why she insisted on cooking for everyone.

“I know,” another voice says, and this one she recognizes as Steve’s. Which means the last speaker must have been his friend, Billy Hargrove. Max’s brother, the same boy that the kids had such a hard time accepting in the beginning, for whatever reason. Claudia can’t imagine why. He seems like a sweetheart to her.

Steve continues, “I wish I didn’t have to go. But mom got it into her head that we’d spend Christmas together as a family, and –“

“No, no, I know,” the voice of Billy Hargrove comes through. “I’m happy for you. Getting to spend time with your parents, in Europe? Sounds awesome.”

“Won’t be so awesome without you. I wish I could take you with me.”

“I know. But it’s only two weeks.”

There’s silence for a while, and Claudia carefully sets the plates down on the formica countertop and takes a step closer to the window under the guise of reaching for the dish soap.

“Are you gonna be okay, Billy?”

There’s the sound of a laugh, and Claudia’s heart twists with how forced it sounds. “Of course, pretty boy. I think I can handle two weeks without you.”

“That’s not … I mean with your dad. Are you gonna be alright at home, if you can’t come to my place? I can leave you a key, if you want?”

“A key to …?”

“To my house.”

Billy’s voice softens when he says, “It’s alright. What reason would I have to go there, anyway, if you’re not there?”

There’s silence again, but this time it comes with the rustling of fabric and the sound of a kiss. It brings a fond smile to Claudia’s face.

“You don’t have to worry about me, Stevie. I’ll be alright. It’s just for a couple of weeks.” Another kiss. “You’ll be back in no time.” Another. “I can’t wait.”

“Me too.”

Someone calls for Claudia from the living room, and she puts down the dish soap. She can save the dishes for later. For right now, she has dinner guests to attend to and some plans to make.

~~~

It is a lovely evening, all around. Despite what she heard through the open window, the boys don’t let anything show when they come back from their “smoke break”. Claudia, naturally, pretends like she is none the wiser, but watches the boys as they hang out with the rest of Dustin’s friends. Steve is dragged right into the thick of things, of course – her Dusty is so fond of that boy, and by extension so is Claudia – and Billy keeps a little to himself but he looks content enough to sit in an armchair with a mug of eggnog (home-made and very good, if Claudia may say so herself; she used a recipe that was handed down to her by her mother) and watch the kids play their games. After a couple of minutes, his sister rolls her eyes at her friends’ antics and goes to squeeze in next to Billy in the armchair. Billy grumbles, but Claudia can’t help but notice that he doesn’t push her away. She also notices that while Billy’s gaze flits around the room, he seems to be watching Steve the most. And well, it is quite obvious to Claudia that Steve is watching him right back.

Boys. Subtle, they are not.

When the evening is approaching its end – when everyone has had their fill and more of food and drink and snacks and good company – Claudia makes sure to hug everyone goodbye before they leave. And if she hugs Billy and Steve a little bit longer than the others, well. She doesn’t think anyone notices.

They do notice when she steals a couple of hairs from their heads though, if the “Ow!” they let out is any indication, but she laughs and apologizes and says that their hair must have gotten tangled up in one of her rings, and it is soon forgotten.

She puts her plan into motion that very night. When the house is empty and the dishes are done and Dustin has gone to bed, Claudia takes the hairs – blonde and brunet – and carefully braids them together. She goes to her yarn basket and picks out a nice dark blue cotton/wool blend, brings out her knitting needles, sits down in her favorite chair in a well-lit corner of the living room, and starts knitting.

~~~

Christmas in the Hargrove-Mayfield house is … Well. Not something to write home about, even if Billy had had anyone left to write to, back in California.

It could be worse, he guesses. Susan loves Christmas, and Billy’s dad usually tries to keep his temper over the Holidays, which means less bruises for Billy. But it also means more tension, as his dad doesn’t have an outlet for all his frustrations over the course of several days. Billy will take what he can get, though. He’ll take these days of peace, knowing it’ll most likely cost him a blow-out some time in the time between Christmas and New Year.

It’s a farce, of course. One they all play along to. Neil pretends that they’re all picture perfect, when he makes them go to Church and have a family outing to the Christmas fair on the Sunday before Christmas. Susan plays along, only too happy to have the kind of husband that she deluded herself into thinking she’d get when she married Neil. Max rolls her eyes, but has learned enough by now not to rock the boat when the sea is calm. And Billy? Billy plasters a fake smile onto his face and says thank you for dinner and offers to help with the dishes before Neil can tell him, and he buttons his shirts almost all the way up and wears a small ring instead of a dangly earring and generally tries to keep his head down.

It’s easier that way.

He draws the line at caroling, though. Luckily for him, Neil doesn’t seem to expect him to join in when he drags his wife and daughter out to bond with some of their neighbors, so Billy gets a whole evening to himself in the house.

If Steve had been home, Billy would have gone over to his place. They’d have made some crappy food together, eaten in front of the TV, kissed a bit … But Steve is not home. Steve is in Prague, and has only been gone for two days.

Billy has been missing him since before he even left.

It’s fine. He’s fine. He managed just fine before he got together with Steve, and he’ll manage now. It’s just. Breaks from school are not Billy’s favorite time. Don’t get him wrong, he quite enjoys not having to do schoolwork, but he doesn’t quite enjoy having to stay in the house for an extended period of time. Back in Cali, he could go to his friends’ houses, or go to the beach or just hang around downtown. Here, he doesn’t really know anyone well enough to show up during the Holidays without there being a party – which there isn’t – and it’s too goddamned cold to just hang around somewhere outside.

To put it simply; when Steve’s not here, he doesn’t have anywhere else to go. He’s got nowhere to escape to. He can’t do anything but keep his head down and grit his teeth and play the part of the perfect son in the perfect little small town family.

It’s going to be a long two weeks.

He has just settled down in the couch – making the best out of his time alone by eating his heated-up dinner in the living room instead of the kitchen; something he is never allowed to do when his dad is home – when the doorbell rings.

He rolls his eyes and ignores it, turning his attention back to the TV. But it rings again. And again.

With a great big sigh, he heaves himself out of the couch and makes his way to the door. If it’s carolers, he’s gonna scream.

He’s only in a T-shirt and gym shorts, so the cold air hits him as soon as he opens the door, covering his skin in goosebumps.

Outside the door is … Dustin Henderson.

Billy frowns. “Max isn’t here,” he says, and starts to close the door. He is fine with the kids nowadays, and he likes to believe they are fine with him. That doesn’t mean that he is keen to hang out with them.

Before he can close the door, though, Henderson puts his foot inside to stop him. Billy graciously doesn’t slam the door shut anyway, but pauses. “What?”

“I’m not here for Max,” the kid says, grumpily. “Mom sent me. Said to give you this.” He hands Billy a package, wrapped in brown paper and tied together with red yarn. There’s a cardboard tag on it which says Merry Christmas Billy.

Billy takes it, out of surprise more than anything else. “Why?” he asks, dumbly.

“I don’t know,” Dustin says and rolls his eyes, as if his mother’s whims are beyond even his understanding. He indicates his backpack, which seems to be bulging. “But I have more deliveries to make, so. Bye.” Turning his back on Billy, he trudges back down the newly cleared walkway (Billy shoveled it this morning, as a way to keep his dad happy and also to get out of the house), and only belatedly throws a “Oh and merry Christmas, I guess” over his shoulder without even looking back.

Billy doesn’t bother answering. Instead, he closes the door and examines the parcel. It’s something soft, probably clothes of some sort. The paper crinkles when he presses down on it. Part of him wants to open it right away, but it’s only Christmas Eve and there’s something thrilling to know that he will have something to open tomorrow, too. He doesn’t put it under the tree, though. Instead, he goes into his room and places it under the bed. For safekeeping.

~~~

Christmas morning is about what Billy had expected. A slightly stilted family breakfast while they open presents – Billy gets a dress shirt from Susan that he’s pretty sure he’ll never have an occasion to wear, two slightly crumpled ten dollar bills from his dad, and a lighter which actually has a pretty cool skull logo on it from Max – and in the lull that follows Billy retreats to his room for a bit. He puts some music on, but keeps the volume low – it wouldn’t do to interrupt the Christmas music playing from the tinny radio in the kitchen. Then he takes out two more presents. Ones he wouldn’t want to open in front of his family.

The first one is from Steve, who gave it to him before he left with the promise that he would bring back something better from Europe. It’s a small box, the kind that jewelry comes in, and Billy’s heart rate speeds up as he opens it. For a second, he thinks it’s a ring, and he doesn’t know what to do with that. But then he sees that it’s not, not really. It’s a keyring, with a shiny metal lightning bolt attached to it. There’s a note, too. “For your key to the apartment we’ll get when we move in together”, it says. There’s a little heart drawn in the corner, and Billy’s own heart does something complicated in his chest.

Suddenly, he misses Steve so much that he aches with it.

The second present is the one that Henderson brought him, apparently from Claudia Henderson herself. Billy likes Claudia – she is friendly and caring and has never held the fact that he used to be an asshole over him, like the rest of the Party. He flirts with her when he’s over, but she just laughs fondly and leaves him to it without acknowledging it. She’s safe.

But they’re hardly close enough to exchange Christmas gifts. Or so Billy had thought.

Tearing the paper open, his fingers brush over something soft. After pulling it out and holding it up in front of him, he finds that it’s a sweater. A knitted sweater – dark navy blue and simple in design. It looks warm and cozy, but also kind of stylish, and from the looks of it it’s about the right size.

He stands up and goes to stand in front of his mirror. Holds the sweater up in front of his chest. Runs his fingers over it and admires the way the color seems to accentuate his hair and bring out the blue in his eyes. Billy doesn’t usually do knitwear, but Hawkins winters get cold and for something knitted, this sweater isn’t actually that bad.

On an impulse, he pulls it over his head. He’s only wearing a T-shirt underneath it, and is half expecting it to feel prickly – he had a knitted sweater when he was younger that itched like crazy – but it’s not. It’s soft, and strangely warm and …

He runs his hand over his own chest, to feel the texture of it on his skin. It feels like safety. It feels like a hug.

No, really. It feels like a hug. And not just any hug.

Closing his eyes, he can almost hear the whispers of Steve’s voice. Can feel the ghost of his boyfriend’s hands encircling his torso, and feel the warmth from another body at his back, as if he’s being spooned. It’s almost enough to make him imagine Steve’s calm breath on the back of his neck.

He opens his eyes and is almost surprised that he can’t see Steve behind him in the mirror. Because he can still feel him. There’s a smile on Billy’s face that he hasn’t seen in a long time – a smile, not a smirk or a leer. He wonders, absently, if this is how he looks like to Steve.

It’s weird. That a sweater can remind him so much of his boyfriend, when none of them have made a habit out of wearing knitwear. But he can’t deny that wearing this one feels a little like coming home. He decides, then and there, that he’s not taking it off for the rest of the day.

~~~

It helps. Keeping up appearances during Christmas in the Hargrove house is stressful at best, but wearing the sweater somehow makes it more manageable. He doesn’t know how, but it makes him feel less alone, somehow. He even finds himself smiling when he’s helping Susan by setting the table for dinner – because it almost feels as if Steve is there with him, nudging him out of the way and laughing softly in his ear. Unfortunately, Neil sees him and barks, “What are you so happy about?” and Billy has to school his face into something less love-struck.

“Nothing,” he says, shrugging. “It’s just … Christmas.”

He’s in luck. Neil’s face is getting red and he doesn’t look pleased about Billy’s answer, but at that very moment Susan flutters into the kitchen and, having obviously heard what Billy said, sends a blinding smile his way. “I know, there’s just something about the holidays, isn’t it?” Susan loves Christmas. Billy hasn’t been able to relate until now.

He keeps the sweater on for the entire night. While they have dinner, while Billy and Max do the dishes (without arguing, even – Billy goes as far as putting some foam on his chin and pretending to be Santa Claus, which makes Max laugh), and while they all sit down in the living room to watch some Christmas movie.

Neil, Susan and Max sit in the couch. Billy sits in the armchair off to the side. It’s his usual spot for family time like this – always on the outside, never fully a part of the household. Normally, that would make him feel a complicated mix of emotions – because it’s not like he’d really want to sit squeezed in next to Susan or his dad – but today, it doesn’t bother him at all. Because today, he’s wearing Claudia’s home-knit blue sweater, and when he crosses his arms over his chest it sort of feels like they’re someone else’s hands.

He is so distracted by it that he barely knows what goes on in the movie.

When it’s over, Billy knows that his Christmas obligations have been fulfilled, and asks to be excused. Neil grants it, barely looking up, and Billy goes back to his room, where he lies down on top of the covers and looks up at the dark ceiling. Colored lights from the neighbors’ Christmas display light up parts of Billy’s room at random intervals. Outside his window, the snow falls down slowly over Hawkins and covers the world in white.

He rolls over to the side and closes his eyes. Imagines Steve’s arms around him, hugging him close. It feels real enough that he can almost imagine Steve’s heartbeat against his back. It makes him feel safe, and the beat of it lulls him to sleep.

He falls asleep like that, and dreams of Steve.

~~~

There’s something strange about Claudia’s sweater. Not bad-strange. Good-strange. But still. Feeling your boyfriend’s presence whenever you wear it is not exactly a natural thing, Billy thinks.

That doesn’t stop him from wearing the sweater to bed every night. And Steve keeps appearing in his dreams.

~~~

Two days before New Year’s Eve, Neil’s patience for Billy runs out, which is longer than Billy had been expecting. Max is out with her friends, apparently learning how to ski, and Susan is nowhere to be found when Neil finally snaps and lays into Billy for playing his music too loud and leaving dirty dishes in the sink – not caring that it was Max’s turn to wash them.

After, Billy’s got a smarting left side of his face and is tasting blood from where his teeth cut into his cheek, but he looks in the mirror and doesn’t think it’ll leave any marks. Even though he’s on break, Neil is usually aware enough not to leave too much visible damage on his face. Instead he normally concentrates on Billy’s torso, which he’ll be able to cover up with clothes.

Today was no different. Billy got pushed up against a wall while Neil hissed accusations at his face, and then he got a sucker punch to the gut which made him double over. But he barely felt the hits that came after that.

Neil must have been holding back this time, because when Billy lifts up the hem of his sweater (Claudia’s sweater) to inspect the damage in front of the mirror in his room, he finds that there isn’t a mark on him. The pain from the hits has already faded, and it doesn’t hurt at all to breathe or move. He tests it by taking a deep breath, and reaching up and out with both his arms. Nothing. Not a twinge.

Neil must be losing his touch.

~~~

When the break is over, and the Sunday before they’re due back at school, they have another get-together at the Henderson house. The official excuse is to have a nice ending to the break, but the unofficial excuse is to celebrate Steve getting back from Europe and having everyone back in the same state again – Lucas’ family spent New Year’s with relatives in Pennsylvania, and he only returned two days ago.

Billy hasn’t actually met Steve since he got back. He and his parents flew in late last night, and Billy hasn’t dared to call his house in fear of disturbing him or his parents if they’re sleeping. Billy himself has never flown anywhere and hasn’t ever experienced jet-lag, but Steve assures him that it’s the worst.

There is too much nervous energy buzzing under his skin all day, and not even wearing the blue sweater can calm him down. Wearing it today almost itches, with how much he longs to have Steve’s arms around him for real. But they’re not supposed to be at the Henderson house until five.

At four, Max barges into his room. “We going, or what?” She hasn’t met with Lucas in almost a week, so she is almost as anxious to leave as Billy.

Almost.

He doesn’t even scold her for barging into his room, instead he just nods and gets up, grabbing his keys and his jacket as he goes.

They’re the first ones to arrive at Claudia’s house, which he knew they would be since it’s just a five minute drive. Max and Henderson chat loudly while she takes off her winter gear, and then they disappear into Henderson’s room, leaving Billy with Claudia in the hallway. She looks at him, wearing the sweater, and smiles warmly.

Before she can say anything, Billy speaks up. “Thank you,” he says. “For the sweater. It’s … it’s perfect. My new favorite.” He swallows. “Thank you.” It’s just words – not enough to convey how much this one piece of clothing has managed to get him through the last couple of weeks, but he needs to say it anyway. Needs to try.

She seems to get it. Her smile softens. “You liked it, then?”

“I loved it,” he says. “I mean, I love it. Present tense.”

She laughs and opens her arms, and he can’t help himself; he takes a couple of steps and ends up in her arms, with her hugging him and him hugging back. There’s no one here to see him, after all, and despite the strange way the sweater has made him feel embraced for the better part of two weeks, it pales in comparison to Claudia Henderson’s arms around him, and her gently patting his back.

“I’m glad,” she finally says, still smiling, when she releases him. “Now, what do you say about helping me prepare dinner?”

Billy can only nod, and give a shaky smile of his own.

~~~

The others show up, one by one, but it’s not until Billy hears a familiar car in the driveway that he bothers to look up.

“I’m gonna … go smoke,” he says by means of explanation, and leaves Claudia and Mrs Byers and mini-Byers in the kitchen, where they had been helping put everything in order.

For once, he has no intention of smoking. Instead he just gets out on the porch in time to see Steve’s BMW roll to a stop behind Mrs Byer’s little green Pinto. Steve gets out of the car, struggling to bring a handful of bags with him, and Billy’s heart jumps in his chest at the sight of him.

He’s beautiful. His hair is perfect, he’s wearing a new coat that brings out the width of his shoulders, and under the jacket …

“Nice sweater,” Billy says, not even pretending to play it cool as he walks down the steps to meet Steve by his car. Steve turns, and at the sight of Billy his face splits in a grin that makes warmth spread through Billy’s veins. A second later, Billy’s words seem to register, and Steve looks down at himself. Pinches the dark red, almost maroon sweater that he’s wearing under his open coat.

“Thanks,” he says. “It was a gift.” When he looks back up, he seems to notice what Billy is wearing for the first time, and his smile widens. “I see you got one too.”

Billy walks up to him. Reaches up to run his knuckles over Steve’s sweater. “Yeah. Yours is as soft as mine is.” When he looks up, Steve is right there. Looking into his eyes. “It’s gonna sound weird, but it made me think of you.”

“No,” Steve says and reaches out, too. Lets his hand feel along the sleeve of Billy’s sweater, and then up his arm. “Doesn’t sound weird at all. It was the same thing for me, actually.”

“I wore it to bed,” Billy confesses, and doesn’t know why. “Kept dreaming of you.”

“Me too,” Steve breathes. And that’s it. Billy can’t stop himself from dashing forward and pressing a kiss to Steve’s lips, not even caring that they’re in front of the Henderson house and that they can be seen by anyone who walks by or looks out the window.

“I’ve missed you.”

Steve kisses back, almost fervently. “I missed you too.”

And Billy finally, finally – after two long weeks – gets to feel Steve’s arms around him for real.

~~~

In the house, Claudia peeks out through the little window in the front door.

She knows that her particular brand of magic is small-scale. Nothing big, nothing life-changing. She can’t fight monsters or stop time or bring back the dead. But she can bake courage into cookies and bring comfort with her hugs, and with a little bit of effort and a few strands of hair, she can weave love into her knitting, so that two people who are separated by an ocean and a twelve-hour flight can still feel close when they need each other.

And sometimes, that’s enough.

[feriowind]

i wrote up a whooole feral luffy AU bit on twitter last night so am posting it here too (slightly cleaned up) hahaha

Feral luffy AU where the basis is that Luffy is the one who, somehow, set sail the day the celestial dragons arrived and had his boat shot down. 

 He's considerably further out to sea when this happens, and when he falls into the water, he's swept away by a strange ocean current. He winds up on a deserted island surrounded by the same strange currents and it keeps him stranded. 

 Ace and Sabo are devastated by the loss of Luffy, as is Garp, Makino, Dadan and the bandits, and later on Dragon and Shanks when they find out, attempts are made to locate Luffy's body but they never find him, the assumption that he sank too far out into the ocean due to his devil fruit. Ace & Sabo grow up significantly less cheerful without Luffy's presence, but their bond to one another is as strong as ever.

 Sabo fakes his death after begging Garp for help, anything to throw off his family from ever finding him again. Garp agrees because his hatred of certain nobility has grown significantly after Luffy's "death", and he can't stand the thought of losing another grandson.

 Luffy meanwhile, adapts as best he can. Surviving in this new jungle is painful, but doable despite the constant near brushes with death. The true hardship is how lonely he is without his brothers. Luffy has always thrived in the company of others, and without any he struggles, but again, Luffy adapts. 

 He manages to befriend some of the animals in the jungle, and accidentally discovers conqueror's haki when he nearly loses his hat to a predator, his one link to something beyond this island.

 The animals can't replace his brothers, but they ward off the loneliness. Throughout this time, Luffy makes multiple attempts to sail off the island with handmade rafts. Craftsmanship has never been his strong suit however, so they crumble instantly in the harsh currents.

 Perhaps due to luck, the currents always wash him back ashore instead of allowing him to sink and drown. Luffy's speech also slowly degrades over time. As much as he loves talking to his animal friends, the inability to hear someone else speak causes his words to slur and distort

 Ace and Sabo still hold true to their promise to set sail at age 17, but decide that they want to sail together instead of separating. When they finally set sail, they decide to take their time getting to the Grandline, exploring more of the East Blue at a leisurely pace.

After roughly a week of sailing, they get caught in a freak storm and are swept away by a giant wave where they too end up caught in the same strange current that stole Luffy all those years ago. The two wind up unconscious on Luffy's island, where Luffy finds them on the beach.

Luffy doesn't recognize them however, only that wow! For the first time since he arrived, there are other humans on the island with him that are alive! It's an exciting occurrence, and Luffy drags their bodies to the jungle where the tide won't reach.

When poking and prodding don't wake the two, Luffy sets off to gather food for his guests. He still remembers how tired and hungry he was when he first washed ashore, and figures they'd feel the same. As Luffy comes back, Ace wakes up in a panic.

Luffy rushes Ace in excitement and babbles. It's nearly incomprehensible to Ace however, especially in his panicked just-woken hazy-brained state. All Ace wants is to know where Sabo is and where this place is, and pushes Luffy away.

That's when Ace notices Sabo is lying just a few feet away asleep. The tension leaves him immediately and he's able to actually pay attention to the stranger trying to talk to him. 

Luffy is young and shorter than what he would have been had he been able to grow up on Dawn Island. His hair is long, wild and tangled, and he's dressed in furs and leathers. As Ace is studying him, he asks if he's the one who saved him and Sabo. 

For a moment Luffy stares silent, mind untangling the words until they make sense, and then he nods exuberantly. He tries to explain that he found them unconscious on the beach along with their boat, but Ace can barely decipher Luffy's speech. It sounds like someone speaking with a heavy accent at lightning speed.

But it’s then Ace notices the faint scar under Luffy's eye, and the strawhat hanging off his back. That in combination with Luffy's excited movements and speech sets off confusing alarms in his head.

Luffy's dead, Ace knows this, but he forces this strange kid to calm down and asks for his name. Again it takes a moment for Luffy to understand, and he replies. There's that same strange lilt to his words, but it's clear. Monkey D. Luffy! and it's said with a wide, proud grin.

Ace's world tilts then. Luffy? MONKEY D. LUFFY? His brain feels like its shorting out, refusing to register this new bit of information. He thinks he chokes a reply of some kind, but his mind feels blank. Luffy only laughs, not noticing Ace's shock.

In broken speech he asks for Ace's name too, but Ace doesn't hear his question, can only stare at Luffy's face. It can't be Luffy, he thinks. Because if it is... IF IT IS... They're only roughly a week's sail from Dawn Island. Just 7 days.

Is this boy trying to tell Ace that Luffy, in these past 7 years, was only a 7 days boat ride away? And they simply didn't look hard enough? He was here all alone while Ace and Sabo moved on? Ace's heart feels like it's constricting as his vision tunnels in on Luffy.

Luffy's finally noticed that this stranger is looking pale and ill, and pats him in worry. Is he sick? Does he need food? Are you okay, he asks. Ace grabs Luffy's arm then and stares at him with a strange expression. Luffy, it's me, he says, voice shaking. Ace.

Luffy's brows furrow in confusion and he tilts his head. Ace repeats himself, voice growing stronger. I'm Ace! he exclaims, and waits (prays) to see the light of recognition in Luffy's eyes.

Luffy mouths Ace's words silently to himself with frown. Ace? ...ACE! Luffy suddenly leaps towards Ace, landing directly on his chest and crushing him against a tree. He's directly on him and he's got Ace's head clasped roughly between his hands as he stares at his face intently

Ace? Luffy asks out loud, and starts repeating it over and over as he studies Ace's face. Luffy's grip is stronger than expected but Ace manages to give a jerky nod. The piercing stare breaks and Luffy's eyes water. ACE! he cries out in joy and it's the only word he can say.

Luffy wildly paws at Ace's face, then shoulders and arms, as if trying to make sure he's really there, and he's laughing and crying all at once. He then suddenly turns to Sabo on the ground and starts patting his body. He looks up at Ace with a hopeful smile and asks, Sabo?

Ace chokes back a sob because oh. OH. It's really Luffy! He was here this whole time and they never knew! Why hadn't they just looked HARDER? Luffy meanwhile crows in joy and triumph that BOTH his brothers are here with him. 

Ace gets down next to Sabo and starts violently shaking him. Wake up WAKE UP, how can he be SLEEPING when the greatest thing they thought they had lost was BACK. Sabo groans awake and is greeted by the pained teary face of Ace and an equally teary, but grinning stranger

 the shock of the scene jolts Sabo upright and he asks what's wrong? What happened? Ace just points to the boy beside him. It's Luffy, he says through clenched teeth, as if he were trying his best to stave off a breakdown. Huh? Sabo replies, what about Luffy?

 it's LUFFY, Ace grits out again, and this time Luffy chimes in with a cheery, Sabo! and leans in close to his face. Sabo is still confused and Ace nearly snarls in frustration. Luffy's ALIVE, Ace growls, and Luffy laughs. Sabo stares at Luffy and understanding slowly dawns.

 Luffy? he asks in disbelief, and Luffy nods excitedly before crowding in Sabo's face even more. Sabo! Luffy says with a smile and starts repeating his name like he had done with Ace earlier. Sabo, Luffy's been here this whole time, Ace says in a pained whisper.

 This whole time? And the same realization that Ace had grows in Sabo. Luffy, you've been here, all alone...? And we were so close? Sabo's body moves and wraps Luffy's body in a bone crushing hug. Luffy, I- we didn't know! Sabo stammers but it sounds like a terrible excuse.

 Guilt is devouring both Ace and Sabo but Luffy is only smiling. He's overjoyed that his brothers are here, and with their help he can definitely get off this island now! Things do work out!

 We have to go back to Dawn Island, Sabo says suddenly. We need to take Luffy home and we- we gotta tell Gramps! And Dadan and Makino! Luffy's okay! He's okay! And it's like a dam breaks and Sabo is the first one to break down into a full-body sob.

 Luffy gives a cry of dismay and does his best to comfort Sabo. Ace gives in and wraps both Luffy and Sabo in a hug. Both older brothers are whispering apologies to Luffy responds with just wrapping his arms several times around them both in one of his infamous rubbery hugs.

 like luffy had tried to explain earlier, the brothers' ship is beached on the coast and, surprisingly, only suffering a few minor scuffs. their departure is fairly swift, only waiting for the ideal weather after gathering some supplies and luffy's scant belongings

 Perhaps one or two of Luffy's animal friends joins them, but regardless, with the help of a 3 man crew, a sturdy ship, and an actual navigator, Luffy finally escapes the island, and the 3 brothers head home.

 Now all Ace and Sabo have to worry about is helping Luffy readjust to human civilization........

[readers-and-other-creatures]

After the war, now that Touya was living back at the Todoroki estate, it had become some sort of tradition to hang out at the pool and have a barbecue. Natsuo was the one to come up with the idea and everyone had loved it. Well everyone but Touya. The eldest of the Todoroki siblings still felt out of place with his family and it was weird to have lunch with his brother's friends, who he had fought in the past. Despite keeping quiet and going along with it Touya would always sit in a corner, hiding away from the sun, and talk only when spoken to. His boyfriend was the complete opposite: he would chat with everyone and using his powerful wings he was always the first to dive into the pool. Hawks however noticed Touya's elusiveness. He would send a small feather to tug at his sleeve (bc yes he wore longsleeve tshirts even if the weather was melting hot) and keep him company. Hawks could feel Touya's anxiety but he wasn't sure of its cause.

Today Shouto had brought his whole class, even Eraser and Present Mic were there with his kids and coincidentally, Hawks thought, Touya "was sick" and "had to wear a mask as not to spread it." His suspicion was confirmed when his boyfriend got up to grab his drink and accidentaly colided with Eri, who was running arround, and promptly fell into the water. She had seen the scars and staples on his face and was a bit scared. His white tshirt was soaked and very seethrough at the moment. Everyone had turned to look at them and anxiety was written on Touya's face, who just bolted inside and locked himself in his room. Shouto tried to talk to him through the door but to no avail. Fuyumi and Natsuo tried as well but got the same silent treatment. It wasn't until he heard Eri's soft voice apologizing for freaking out.

"I have scars too" she whispered through the door. "They are not as big but I still don't like people staring at them so I'm sorry I made people stare at yours."

Touya slowly opened the door, wary of what he would find. He had changed into dry clothes with even longer sleeves and was wearing the mask.

"Are you sure I didn't scare you? They're big ugly scars." Eri frowned at the words.

"Dad says that scars are never ugly, that they make us beautiful because we survived bad things."

"I don't feel exactly pretty, just a freak" Touya admited, which earned him a hug from the little girl.

"Mr Hawks thinks you are pretty, he looks at you like papa looks at dad." And with that she ran back outside. Hawks feather floated out of his pocket and slowly slided down his cheek, as if saying with that caress that Eri was right.

"You will have to show me what you see in them, birdie" he whispered. "Can you come here? Don't want to be alone."

Hawks was there in a blink, holding him and wrapping his wings arround them.

[mandu-17]

No place like home | Yoo Jeongyeon x reader

Requested by: Anonymous

Request: Hey 👋🏼 I'm new here, but I just wanted to ask if I could request Jeongyeon x Reader? Reader was gone for a few months and Jeongyeon anticipates their return?

Warnings: None

Genre: Fluffy fluff

Wordcount: ~ 1,092

A/N: please enjoy

The sun was slowly rising to welcome another warm day, full of refreshing breeze. With the birds chirpming outside, the delicious smell of coffee and just-baked bread would get anyone out of bed. The weather was incredible, too. Perfect just to wear a simple shirt, no need for a jacket. It was going to be a beautiful day.

But Jeongyeon didn't care.

Few hours after her peaceful morning, filled with light breakfast and an Americano, Twice became the first girl group to hit 9 million followers on Twitter. As a result of such big achievement, everyone's moods in the company building increased. There wasn't a single soul walking around with no smile on their face. Also it was Friday, which meant two days of rest approaching.

But Jeongyeon didn't care about that either.

It was the day that Jeongyeon finally won the bet she made with the members long time ago. Which was about Momo messing up the newest choreography before she would. That way, Jeongyeon got herself a week of her dinners being fully paid by friends.

Although, somehow Jeongyeon didn't really care.

The only thing that mattered that day was you coming home.

It's been already three and half month since the last time she saw you in person and she indeed counted every day herself. Being so long without you was for sure the biggest challenge she had to ever deal with. Jeongyeon didn't know it was physically possible to miss someone that much.

Everything reminded her of you. Your favorite cup that kept looking at her in the mornings, the color of your eyes that she could distinguish in the newest painting hanging in the museum which she went to with Mina one day. She saw you in all these random faces passing by, she heard your voice constantly in her head calling her name, as if you were already back there.

Jeongyeon would come home everyday exhausted, sometimes sick of everything around and how the world just kept adding her some more stress. A hug from you being the only thing on her mind. She'd pay every price to embrace you tightly. Without your touch she felt like going crazy.

You were like medicine. Soothing, understanding and always so loving. That's also how you stole her heart, how you managed to keep it for all these years. To Jeongyeon, only a few things in life were simple.

Music, her members for who she couldn't be more grateful for, her family who she could count on no matter what and of course you who became the first and last person with whom she spoke daily.

There was nothing she could do about that grin forming on her face that only kept getting bigger and bigger as Jeongyeon's feet were climbing the stairs to your shared apartment. The plane which you had flown by was supposed to land around 3 PM meaning you would be the one waiting for her. While in a rush, you couldn't catch a chance to text your girlfriend to inform about safe arrival, although you made sure to be home as fast as possible.

When the door unlocked form the outside, you got up from the couch impatietnly. Despite your whole body being sore from the long flight, you felt the happiest in the last few months.

"Yoo Jeongyeon!" Blood rushed through your veins as you exclaimed with a huge smile on your lips, mirroring your beloved's expression.

In a split second she ran into your arms finally finding that long lost paradise she dreamt of every night. You held her close as if Jeongyeon could suddenly disappear.

"Oh, Y/N." That voice. No phone call could give it its' justice, the effect she had on you never stopped surprising you. “Please don’t ever leave again.”

She seemed so small in that moment, wrapped in your arms while whispering quietly. Seeing Jeongyeon like this always made you want to protect her even more than usual. With a warm feeling spreading through your chest, you squeezed her body and kissed her on the forehead.

“I wish I could promise that, you know it baby.” You frowned sadly. The worst thing was that you really did love your work and how it gave you a chance to travel a lot, but at the same time you hated being away from Jeongyeon with every single atom in your body.

The two of you couldn’t live without each other. You were like puzzles fitting together in so many different ways. No one could make you feel like she did, no matter how much they tried.

“I know, it’s selfish and I’m sorry.” Jeongyeon finally pulled away with a small nod. You could notice glimpse of tears shining in her eyes although as always your girlfriend stayed strong didn’t let any of them fall.

“No, don’t say that. If it was up to me, I’d take you everywhere I go and vice versa, I’d go wherever you do.” Jeongyeon smiled lovingly at your words, her fingers tracing your cheek gently.

“You’re crazy.” She said with a serious tone, making both of you chuckle. You leaned in to touch her nose with yours. After all this time, you craved this kinds of intimacy. You needed it.

“Only for you.”

Your hands pulled Jeongyeon closer by the waist the second you pressed a delicate, sweet kiss on her lips. With a hum of happiness, she replied to it with a smile causing you to pull away immediately.

“Stop smiling, I want to kiss you.” You whined, playing with the hem of her cotton shirt.

“It’s not my fault I’m this happy around you.” Jeongyeon complained exaggeratedly and narrowed her eyes jokingly.

There truly was no one else for you, you thought with adoration. The way one of her hands kept on massaging your nape with love only proved you right.

You sighed a little tired and sat back down on the couch, pulling your girlfriend with you so she ended up sitting on your lap.

“I missed you.” You nuzzled the skin of neck and left there an innocent kiss. Floral fragrance slowly filled your senses and you knew you were home.

“I missed you too.” Jeongyeon wrapped her arms around your neck once again, letting you stay cuddled to her for a while.

You had a hunch it was going to be a long while.