#and i get to stay in the country and have none of the anxiety being in an apartment brings and not be broke

[mothusband]

if you told me a year and a half ago that right now i'd have a job and be seriously looking at getting a house for myself he'd definitely accuse you of lying and be upset. but no. this is my reality now. my therapist is gonna be so fucking proud.

[misctf]

Country Living

When he stopped to help you on the side of this lonely country road, you couldn’t have been more grateful. You didn’t expect your car to breakdown on these desolate backroads. Nor did you expect a lack of cell service. Your years studying in college didn’t exactly give you the knowledge on how to diagnose and fix cars. But based on all the smoke, you figured something was wrong.

“Aw, don't you worry none, I'm right happy to help y'all out.” He removed his ball cap and ran his hand through his short brown hair, “Name’s Bucky. What brings y'all to this neck of the woods?”

He was certainly taller and more muscular than you- not to mention ripe with the smell of a hard day’s work. And you could tell he was looking you over, the juxtaposition couldn’t have been clearer. Country vs city boy, manual laborer vs keyboard warrior, dropped out of high school vs college educated. The list could go on. But despite the bias you held towards these country folks, you were happy he was helping. And so you introduced yourself and expressed your sincere gratitude. Bucky smiled and gave you a bone crushing handshake.

“Ain't no trouble at all, I'm just glad to help out.” He smiled warmly, his dark eyes, while lacking intelligence, were filled with kindness and just a bit of mischief.

He winks at you and you felt your heart flutter for just a moment. Maybe it was the way his stubble framed his tanned face. Or the way the sweat dripped from his muscular arms as he worked on your car. Or perhaps it was the occasional glances he gave you and the sly smirk that told you he knew you were checking him out.

“I reckon I know what's wrong. Just need to grab a tool from my garage.” He said, wiping the sweat from his brow, “You care to join me? Looks like you could use a sip of somethin’.”

It was true. In the sweltering heat, you were certainly thirsty. And while part of you wanted to stay with your car, you felt beckoned to go with him. And so you did. You climbed into his pick-up truck and watched as he revved the engine. And before long, you were cruising down the old country road with your car disappearing from sight.

“Well, dang if this ain't my favorite tune!” Bucky said, turning up the volume, “You figure you into this kinda music?”

It was some country song. One about cars, beer, and living on a farm. Not something you’d listen to voluntarily. But as Bucky sang in his southern twang, you found your foot tapping along. Soon you were mouthing the words, almost as if you knew the song by heart. And a moment later you joined in with him, the two of you putting your hearts into every lyric. You barely noticed the southern twang that garnished your voice.

“Well, I'll be darned! Can’t believe you like these kinda tunes. No offense intended, but you don't quite fit the mold, do ya?” He says with a chuckle.

Bucky gives your arm a playful punch and you look down at the exposed, tanned skin of your bicep. Your muscles were contracting and seemingly getting larger, highlighted nicely by the wifebeater that clung tightly to your skin. You look up at Bucky and he gives you a wink. Again, you feel comforted by his kind smile and playful dark eyes. You turn away and absentmindedly run a hand over your growing biceps. So firm and tight, the skin somewhat weathered. But deep down you know something isn’t right. Its nagging at you, begging for you to say something. To at least find out what’s happening to you. You want to tell Bucky, but he’s just pulled up to his garage.  

“Mind givin’ me a hand findin’ my toolkit?” Bucky asks. You nod quickly- your anxiety being pushed deep into your subconsciousness. And as Bucky enters the garage, he pulls off his sweaty wifebeater, “Don't pay me no mind, it sure gets mighty hot 'round these parts. You’re welcome to do the same.”

And you follow his example. As you do, you catch a whiff of your pits. The musk that invades your nostrils is a far cry from the vegan deodorant you applied this morning. Moreso, your usually well-trimmed pit hair is now a curly damp bush of dark brown hairs that poke out when you lower your arms. The smell makes you dizzy and you feel like you might fall over, but Bucky lends you a hand.

“Don’t go faintin’ on me now.” He says with a grin, “We got a lotta work to do.”

“Don't you worry 'bout me none, I got this here handled.” You say- the words leaving your mouth without much input from your brain. Bucky’s eyes light up and he grins.

“I shoulda known that.” His laugh fills your ears and you swear it’s the most beautiful thing you’ve heard. He notices you admiring him, “Gotta find those tools now.”

You nod and start rummaging through his garage and workbench. You pick up a wrench and place it down. Then another and another. You never really needed to learn basic mechanic stuff, let alone the names of wrenches. You were more focused on your degree. Your degree in... In...? You stare at the composite wrench in your hand and your eyes narrow. You were studying something at that univer... uni... book-learnin’ place of yours, right? Your thoughts are distracted when some oil spills on your hands.

“Gosh darnit.” You mutter, wiping the oil on your work jeans. Work jeans that were stained and torn from years of laboring.

You turn towards Bucky to say something, but instead find yourself gawking. His perfect stubble across his face, the sweat gleaming on his firm and toned muscles, and the way his chest hairs frame his pecs. Your dick gets hard and you quickly start to massage your bulge. And when you see how well his work jeans fit tightly around his juicy ass, you can’t but help let out a whistle.

“You say somethin’?” He asks, turning to face you, “Yeehaw! Look at you!” He says, clearly gawking.  

You turn to catch a glimpse of yourself in a nearby mirror and your eyes widen. You bounce your juicy pecs, appreciating the light dusting of hairs that decorate them. You raise your thick, meaty arm and flex, causing your muscles to bulge. And then you look at your face. It had squared out a bit, giving it a masculine edge and your cheeks now sported stubble. You felt powerful, and you couldn’t help but continue to flex.

“Hey there big fella.” You let out a masculine moan as Bucky comes from behind you, his arm reaching around, and his hand grabbing a fistful of your muscle tit, “You’re bigger’n a bull in springtime!” You just nod, unable to produce words as pleasure courses through you from his teasing hand, “It sure does get lonesome out here in these parts. Reckon I wouldn’t mind some company, if it ain’t too much trouble.”

He spins you around, your bodies pressing up against one another. His hand moves down your abs and then down your work jeans. He’s staring deep into your eyes now, a primal lust replacing the prior warmth from earlier. And for the first time, you feel lost. Scared even. As though you’re going down a path you wouldn’t be able to back away from. The end of one chapter of your life and the start of another you weren’t sure you wanted.

“Wait a minute... somethin’ don’t feel right. I... this ain’t who I am.” You say, unable to talk like you used to.

“Now, don’t go overthinkin’ it. Just keep your eyes on me.” Bucky whispered, his hands working to undo the buckle on your jeans.

You watch as he pulls down your pants and slowly gets down on his knees. Your enlarged, throbbing dick continues to grow, adding inch after inch. Bucky is nearly salivating as he comes face to face with your monster, and without another word, his tongue traces along the shaft. You moan as his mouth expertly works your cock. He bobs up and down, taking its entirety into his mouth. You feel as his hands wrap around your waist and he grabs a fistful of your muscular ass, causing you to let out another deep, masculine moan. You can feel your dick throbbing, your balls growing heavy with your seed. And as he expertly works the head of your cock, you can feel it. You’re getting close... so close. And then it stops. You’re breathing heavy now, and you look down at him. A sheen of sweat covers your body, dampening your body hair and filling the air with your country musk.

“Wh... why’d ya stop?” You breath out.

Bucky smirks, “You sure 'bout this, darlin’? Leavin’ behind all that city livin’ and book-learnin’? Just you and me, livin’ simple out here?” He licks along your shaft again, “Once you say yes, that’s it. No turnin’ back, no second thoughts. You sure you’re ready for that?”

Was this what he wanted? To bring you so close? To send you into a horny frenzy? To make it so that in this moment, all you’d be able to say was yes? With a smirk and a wink, he went back to sucking your cock. And as he did, you could feel it. You could feel your brain shrinking. Your memories growing up in suburbia vanished. As were your memories of going to college in the city. Nerdy interests like videogames and comic books vanished from your brain, and you felt terror as you forgot about your friends and family. Everything that made you you was vanishing from your mind. Instead, you could feel new interests: farming, hunting, woodworking, lifting weights, and drinking beer with your husband after a long day. Your fashion sense simplified: wifebeaters and work jeans, and honestly going shirtless was preferred. And as your eyes dimmed to reflect your lack of intelligence, and Bucky bobbed up and down on your dick, you finally came, releasing all of who you used to be. And as you filled your husband’s eager throat, you blacked out.

If someone told you who you used to be in your past life, I’m not sure you would go back. When the police came by a few days after your transformation with a missing persons poster of some kid, you had no idea who they were talking about. You quickly forgot all about that encounter. You had more important things like fixing the truck. But before you did that, you should check on Bucky. It’s been a few days, and your balls were mighty full.

[candysunoo]

ೋ◦ ❀❀ enhypen as a

bridgerton story ❀❀ ◦ೋ•

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ೋ◦dearest gentle-reader ◦ೋ•

❀my name is lady whistledown. you do not know me, and rest assured, you never shall. but be forewarned dear reader, I certainly know you.❀

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❀ now, before we shall begin dear gentle-reader there is something you must know. this author has no rights to the Bridgerton stories/ series. thus all of the following are loosely based on them. this author also does not know any of the boys personally; and thus this is not an accurate portrayal or representation of them and their lively hood. thank you in advance dearest gentle-reader. please enjoy. sincerely, your lady whistledown (aka kei ;D) ❀

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ೋ◦ ❀❀ Lee Heeseung - Queen Charlotte ❀❀◦ೋ• 18+ MDNI

❀❀❀ King Lee Heeseung, 3rd of his name, the ruler of Great Britain and Ireland, your new husband.

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❀❀❀ When your tiny island kingdom falls apart under the scrutiny of the large countries around it your brother has no choice but to marry you off. Marry you off to none other than the King of Great Britain and Ireland. Lee Heesesung ascended the throne young after his father tragically died. Years after finally coming of age, his mother decides it’s time for him to marry and produce the next heir, despite his covertly concealed mental illness. When you arrive it seems as nothing can go your way. From mistakingly talking down to the king after being caught trying to run away, to what was supposed to be your honeymoon night your ladies maid explained. But must you know dearest reader, that love does indeed conquer all and secrets don’t stay secrets for long.

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ೋ◦ ❀❀ expected release date: may 22nd, 2024❀❀◦ೋ•

ೋ◦ ❀❀ chapter content warning: strangers - to kinda friends- to lovers, traditional gender roles, 1700’s societal expectations, arranged/ forced marriage, bitchy mother-in-law, mentions of parental death, mentions of mental health and feeling like an outsider, medical malpractice, mention of feeling unloved and trapped in a marriage, SMUT, sex (lots of it), unprotected sex (wrap it before you tap it, put that wiener in a blanket), breeding kink , praise, mention of pregnancy and birth, angst and fluff, idiots in love, MORE TO BE ADDED ❀❀◦ೋ•

ೋ◦ ❀❀ word count: 11.8k ❀❀◦ೋ•

ೋ◦ ❀❀ link to read here! ❀❀◦ೋ•

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ೋ◦ ❀❀ Park Jongseong - The Duke & I ❀❀◦ೋ• 18+ MDNI

❀❀❀ Park Jongseong aka Jay, first of his name, The Duke of Hastings.

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Dearest gentle reader, haven’t you heard? The honorable l/n family is finally debuting the oldest daughter. A vision of beauty, just as her mother was, any young man would be happy to have her on his arm.

That being said being the eldest daughter of eight children can be tough. Especially as you are now of age to enter society. It was exhausting really, the trips to the modieste for the hours of standing for the dropping of hems and the countless arguments between your eldest brother, the head of the family, and your mother. After your father died your brother had become especially protective of you and your other siblings; much to the dismay of your mother. The protectiveness only gets worse when you catch the eye of not only the queen but also a certain Duke who is determined to stay out of the clawing hands of desperate mamas and their daughters.

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ೋ◦ ❀❀ expected release date: June 08th, 2024 ❀❀◦ೋ•

ೋ◦ ❀❀ chapter content warning: fake dating- to true love, traditional gender roles, 1700’s/1800’s societal expectations, mention of childhood trauma, mention of parental death, small mention of attempted assault (nothing graphic y/n gets forcibly kissed, it does not go into detail), retired manwhore jay, anxiety, traditional courting, mention of fighting/ light violence, forced to married - destined to stay, mention of having children, lies of omission, SMUT, corruption kink, virgin y/n, jay talking you through it, wet dreams, MORE TO BE ADDED ❀❀◦ೋ•

ೋ◦ ❀❀ word count: TBD ❀❀◦ೋ•

ೋ◦ ❀❀ link to read here! ❀❀◦ೋ•

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ೋ◦ ❀❀ Sim Jaeyun - Romancing Mr. Bridgerton ❀❀◦ೋ•

❀❀❀ Sim Jaeyun aka Jake, first of his name, 3rd eldest son of his family, and your longtime friend and crush.

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Dearest gentle-reader, ever since the successful seasons of not only his older brothers but sisters as well all eyes have fallen on the 3rd eldest son of the Sim family. Will this be the season he finds a presentable young lady to hold him down to the mainland; or will he end up on yet another voyage across the sea?

Ever since you can remember you have been friends Sim Hyunjin, the middle daughter of the Sim family. Also since you can remember you have had a massive crush on her younger brother Jaeyun, or as he liked to be called Jake. Everyone who knew you knew that you were nothing less than a soft, quiet, wallflower. Always sticking close to the edge of the room, alone and watching the courting couples dance the night away. Jake was always so kind in that regard; pulling you away from the wall and to the dance floor but never letting it get further. Never officially courting you or even giving you the curtesy of signing your dance card. However when you overhear a conversation not meant for you everything changes. Will Jake be too late to fix what he had broken?

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ೋ◦ ❀❀ expected release date: TBD ❀❀◦ೋ•

ೋ◦ ❀❀ chapter content warning: ft. Loossemble/ Loona’s Kim Hyunjin as his sister (they share the same birthday lol), friends- to strangers/ acquaintances- to friends again- to lovers, traditional gender roles, 1700’s-1800’s societal expectations, mentions of hard family situations, mentions of feeling alone and like an outsider, reader gets called names (by Jake he doesn’t really mean it?), flirting, jealousy, heartbreak, fights between friends, POSSIBLE SMUT I HAVEN’T DECIDED YET, MORE TO BE ADDED ❀❀◦ೋ•

ೋ◦ ❀❀ word count: TBD ❀❀◦ೋ•

ೋ◦ ❀❀ link to read here! ❀❀◦ೋ•

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ೋ◦ ❀❀ Park Sunghoon - The Viscount who Loved Me ❀❀◦ೋ• 18+ MDNI

❀❀❀ Park Sunghoon, first of his name, eldest child of his family, The Viscount. The bane of your existence.

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Dearest gentle-reader, after the ever successful season of his younger sister last year Park Sunghoon has declared himself available to be wed. Making him the most desirable young gentleman of this season. May we wish luck to the other young men, as the nagging mamas and their equally difficult daughters shall be all over the Viscount.

Being the eldest son of a prestigious family was no walk in the park. Especially for Park Sunghoon who had taken over as the head of his family after his father’s tragic death. After the past year his mama had been insistent on him marring. Especially after she found out about a certain opera singer and the way he funded her lifestyle. Entering the marriage market his wasn’t looking for love. He was looking for a woman with at least half a head on her shoulders and child- bearing hips. No need for anything else. He just needed a wife. You and your sister had just arrived in town, sponsored by an old family friend to join this marriage season. Staying with Lady Lee Chae-rin was nothing less than a dream. She was kind and understanding towards you, your sister and your mother. Strong willed and outspoken you were determined to find someone for your sister to wed, if not for her, for your entire family. However what happens when alls not fair in love and war?

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ೋ◦ ❀❀ expected release date: TBD❀❀◦ೋ•

ೋ◦ ❀❀ chapter content warning: enemies- to lovers, mention of parental death, traditional gender roles, 1700’s-1800’s societal expectations, arguments, extortion(not by Sunghoon or reader), mentions of family issues, shitty grandparents, rushed engagement, technical cheating (Sunghoon is with readers sister), angst to fluff, Sunghoon is a world class rake, breaking off an engagement SMUT, hate sex, light degradation, some praise, public sex (in a private garden no one else is there)❀❀◦ೋ•

ೋ◦ ❀❀ word count: TBD ❀❀◦ೋ•

ೋ◦ ❀❀ link to read here! ❀❀◦ೋ•

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ೋ◦ ❀❀ Kim Sunoo - An offer from a Gentleman ❀❀◦ೋ• 18+ MDNI

❀❀❀ Kim Sunoo, first of his name, the 2nd son of his prestigious family, an artist, and perhaps your Prince Charming?

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Dearest gentle-reader, love has a funny way of finding its way around the ‘ton. Of course, when there are so many eligible young men and women how could it not? This author happens to think that one of the eligible young men of the ‘ton may find love where he least expects it. Or rather with whom unexpected love comes with.

When your mother died it felt as if the warmth of the universe had gone with her. The flowers no longer grew and the wind no longer sang a tune as it blew. As you approached the age of your debute into society you had some hope. However it was all crushed into small bits when your father married Seo Minhae. The literal devil in disguise. After that her and her ill-mannered daughter moved into and made you a servant in your own home. Pushed out of your room and into the basement, forced to do housework and cook you were treated as nothing. Finally reaching your breaking point you snuck out of the house. Finding yourself at a masquerade ball and in the arms of a tall, slim, dark haired man. Feeling like royalty and like you were on top of the world you had the night of your life. That is until the clock struck midnight.

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ೋ◦ ❀❀ expected release date: TBD ❀❀◦ೋ•

ೋ◦ ❀❀ chapter content warning: strangers- to lovers, Cinderella type content, traditional gender roles, 1700’s - 1800’s societal expectations, mention of parental death, awful evil stepmother and step sisters, running away, slight escapism, mention of depression and slight religious imagery, masquerade ball, reader is implied to be shorter than Sunoo, abrupt abandonment, angst and fluff, SMUT, soft sex, unprotected sex( wrap it before you tap it, put that wiener in a blanket), praise, dirty talk, overall sweet and fluffy, MORE TO BE ADDED ❀❀◦ೋ•

ೋ◦ ❀❀ word count: TBD ❀❀◦ೋ•

ೋ◦ ❀❀ link to read here! ❀❀◦ೋ•

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ೋ◦ ❀❀ Yang Jungwon - It’s in His Kiss ❀❀◦ೋ•

❀❀❀ Yang Jungwon, first of his name, an entitled aristocrat just like the rest; but could there possibly be more lurking underneath his greed for inheritance?

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Dearest gentle-reader, the time has come for the youngest daughter of the l/n family to make her debut into society. Though between you and I founder has it that the youngest of the l/n family is too much to handle when it comes to romance. Loud and outspoken one can only hope the youngest will find someone suitable for her.

Yang Jungwon was the eldest child in his family. He was born for greatness. He planned his whole life as he seen fit on the promise of his inheritance. You however were the youngest daughter, loud, outspoken, intelligent and brash. Yang Jungwon could hardly stand you. That is until he needs your help of course. After his father has taken over the family’s business and title he didn’t seem to want to give it up. Yang Jungwon didn’t know what to do with himself. After all what grounds does his father have to deny him his birthright? Finding a journal from his long dead grandfather, Jungwon finds himself in a bind; the journal is written in an entirely different language and could possibly hold the solution for his predicament. However, the only person he knows who can remotely translate it, even if it’s not perfect, is you. The one person his calm and quiet self can not stand to be around for long periods of time.

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ೋ◦ ❀❀ expected release date: TBD ❀❀◦ೋ•

ೋ◦ ❀❀ chapter content warning: acquaintances- to friends- to lovers, shitty parents, mention of parental death, Jungwon is technically an orphan, threats of disinheriting, mean comments (towards reader not by jungwon), reader is a bit much for Jungwon at times, overall fluffy, heavy petting, make out session, LIGHT SMUT( nothing too in depth just an after scene) MORE TO BE ADDED ❀❀◦ೋ•

ೋ◦ ❀❀ word count: TBD ❀❀◦ೋ•

ೋ◦ ❀❀ link to read here! ❀❀◦ೋ•

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ೋ◦ ❀❀ Nishimura Riki - On the way to the Wedding ❀❀◦ೋ•

❀❀❀ Nishimura Riki aka Niki, first of his name, the youngest son in his family, trapped between the glamorous dream of love at first sight and the harshness of reality.

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Dearest gentle-reader, do you know that true love conquers all? Well this season we are in for a treat, the youngest of the Nishimura family finally has plans on marrying. This old author can’t help but wonder what shenanigans this season will hold.

Nishimura Riki was the youngest of eight children. He had grown up watching all of his sibling find true and meaningful relationships. That was all he wanted for himself. Riki believed in love at first sight. Especially when he saw her Danielle Marsh, your best friend. When his gaze first saw her it was as if he had been struck with Cupid’s arrow. It went so deep in his heart he couldn’t breathe, the entire world was stopped as he watched her from afar. However that didn’t last for long as he witnessed her approach another man, fluttering her eyelashes and giggling at him.

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ೋ◦ ❀❀ expected release date: TBD ❀❀◦ೋ•

ೋ◦ ❀❀ chapter content warning: love triangle, love at first sight, unrequited love- to true love, idiots in love, “let me help you help her”, breaking up engagements, mentions of family issues, love confessions in a garden, heavy petting make out session, ‼️NO SMUT‼️, angst with happy ending, MORE TO BE ADDED ❀❀◦ೋ•

ೋ◦ ❀❀ word count: TBD ❀❀◦ೋ•

ೋ◦ ❀❀ link to read here! ❀❀◦ೋ•

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[stealth-liberal]

Whew, I have a lot to say, and I know for a FACT that not a single non Jewish person on here will give a shit... but I have to vent.

Antisemitism in America is so bad that I honestly don't know if it's safe to send my daughter off to college in 2 years. She doesn't know either. Both of us have discussed her staying home and doing as much of her university education online, so as to keep her safe. She has sensory issues and an anxiety disorder... and already she has been rejected all over the place in her high school campus since 10/7.

The Women's Empowerment Club? The club leader has made it so that no female Jewish student feels safe there, and all of them quit. The little leftist neo nazi in charge of it probably cheered as they left and patted herself on the back for her "praxis". Maybe she can start goose stepping and yelling "Heil Hitler!" while she's at it. But she's not unique. Feminist organizations the world over deny mass rape of Jewish women. Why? Because it's Me Too Unless You're a Jew. They want us all raped and in the grave. Period.

The Pride Club? Forget it. All queer Jewish kids are persona non grata there. Apparently it's cool if Jewish queers are the subject of violence... and I can't say more or I'll start wanting to kill people. I am bisexual, my husband is bisexual, our daughter is lesbian. I have been part of this community since I was 12 as an ally and since I was 15 as a bisexual (took me some time to figure out what I was). My daughter came out in 4th grade for G-d's sake. We've been there, fighting the fight and now... queer organizations all over the world are abandoning us. They honestly hope we will all die, the more violently the better.

I was a proud intersectional feminist and a proud queer woman my whole life. Or at least ever since I could make decisions about that sort of stuff and what I believed. And I have been abandoned, my daughter has been abandoned, for blood sport. Her friends are pulling away from her and we all know why... because she committed the unpardonable sin of being Jewish.

Funny part? The Muslim Student Union has done nothing to her or the other Jewish kids on campus. Ponder that thought leftists if you will.

My son is in 8th grade and for the entirety of his 6th and 7th school years he was relentlessly bullied for being Jewish. We live in a red town and it was right wing antisemitism. It was so bad that I had to remove him for his safety from the school for a while. Now? It's left wing as well, he's catching it from both sides and I don't know how to protect him.

No one cares. Frankly, if my 13 year old son committed suicide to get away from it all... they would throw a party. Another dirty Jew/Zionist down... am I right? None of you give a fuck.

I marched, I protested, I voted, I phone banked. I lived my beliefs in action, and the left betrayed me. They fantasize about me and my children being raped and murdered. The more graphically it could happen, the better for them. Frankly, I think they get off to the videos Hamas released in the privacy of their rooms at night.

There's nowhere to run. Israel isn't an option. I know everyone thinks Jews are dripping in wealth... but I frankly do not have enough money to move my family to the other side of the planet. My husband is in IATSE, the stage hand local. There are no jobs waiting for him there. There are no jobs waiting for me there. I have no family there. Neither does he.

Actually, my husband isn't Jewish. I am, our children are, but he is not. He supports us in our Jewishness 100%, but he is not a Jew and he never wanted to convert. Which is fine with me... but how the hell does that work in a country where there is no civil marriage?

I'm not Orthodox, I don't want to be Orthodox. I want full egalitarianism, so I go to Reform, Renewal, or Conservative synagogues, depending on what is closer to wherever I live. Israel is a VERY Orthodox country, and the options are Orthodox or completely secular. This is a criticism I've been laying at Israel's feet for DECADES.

And Jew Haters better not use this as a way to say how awful Israel is. Not when the countries surrounding Israel are either dictatorships or absolute power, divine right monarchies who kill dissenters constantly.

So... there's really nowhere for my family to go. So I guess I'll stay where I am being a liberal Jew and waiting for the sick marriage of MAGA and Leftists to come to my door and kill me and my family.

None of you care. All of you would cheer. I'll never trust any of you again for the rest of my life. Till the day I die... I'll never trust any of you in any part of my life (online or offline) again.

1 in 5 members of Gen Z think the Holocaust didn't happen. 2/3rds of Gen Z think stories of the Holocaust are exaggerated and that Jews were somewhat complicit in what happened to us. Blame the victim...amirite? The rates amongst Millennials are not as horrific... but they're still bad. You all are going to commit a 2nd Holocaust and pat yourself on the backs. And when history remembers you all as the Nazis part 2... you will babble in your nursing homes that you were "Just trying to save the world from the Zionist/Jewish scourge."

When that happens, I hope you die in a puddle of your own shit.

[malleux]

performance anxiety.

-> lyney x fem!famous singer!reader

-> warnings: mentions of past bad relationship, anxiety, no use of y/n

-> words: 3.4k

[a/n]: this was not supposed to be this long but. not proofread, idk what universe this is in where all of these characters are friends but shut up. i just started writing, gun to my head i could not tell you what happens in this story

Applause. Roses. Adoration. Entertainment. 

You craved the effervescence of the spotlight. The thrill of being on stage. Millions of eyes are on you and you alone– coming together for the sole purpose of viewing you. 

It seemed a bit voyeuristic, but you couldn’t care less as the final notes of your song rang out across stages all over the country and applause replaced the roaring in your ears. People stood as they clapped, whooping and hollering. All for you. 

You stood before them night after night, baring the roughest edges of yourself on the stage for them all to judge. You were vulnerable to every attack possible– verbal, physical, emotional. Yet none occurred, save for the dozens of flowers that showered you every night as you completed a performance flawlessly once again. 

It was only after you made it backstage to your dressing room that you finally took a breath. A very shaky, very exhausted breath. Stagehands ran back and forth, putting up props and fixing light fixtures for someone else’s performance the next night, but they reassured you that nobody could possibly outshine you after you had christened the Opera Epiclese. 

Your first performance in Fontaine. In your hometown. 

“That was amazing!” Your manager burst through the door, a cup of water in her hands. She passes it to you. “One of your best performances yet– not that the others were bad! Quite the opposite, actually–”

“I get it. Thank you.” You chewed on your lip, gazing at yourself in the mirror. You looked frazzled up close with the stage makeup slightly smeared across your face. Not enough for the audience to notice, though. No, to them, you were perfection. “I hope they thought the same.”

“Are you kidding? You were amazing. I bet you made at least ten men think about leaving their wives for you tonight.” You cut your eyes at her, and she backtracked immediately. “I-I mean! Oh, that was such a bad analogy, wasn’t it? I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.” 

It really wasn’t fine, but you weren’t going to make your friend-turned-manager feel any worse than she already does for bringing up the past. You weren’t married– Archons, no– but you lived a fast life that not many were equipped to handle, especially if they were staying home while you traveled Teyvat on a tour. 

Your ex couldn’t handle you and your lifestyle, so he handled others in bed instead. 

It didn’t sting as bad as you would have expected it to. You couldn’t take the time to grieve, not when there was a performance in Natlan the night you found out. Other performers and those who lived a more nomadic lifestyle had warned you about failed relationships and friendships with those who did not stay close or did not understand the busyness of traveling. You truly believed you were the exception, and now you realize that such relationships are impossible. You chose this life, thus giving up the idea of a simple love. Your friends were your manager and the crew that traveled with you, and that was that. You didn’t stay anywhere long enough to culminate true, meaningful connections with anyone. 

“Are you ready for the encore?” 

You swiped another layer of lipstick on and fluffed your hair in the mirror before turning back to your manager. 

“Born ready.” 

—---

Lyney sat on the edge of his seat for the past hour and a half and continues to do so, staring at the dark stage. 

His sister keeps a hand near his chair, just in case he somehow leans too far forward and falls out of it completely. She’ll never understand his infatuation with such a famous singer– it’s not like he had a shot with you anyway. Nevertheless, she made sure to surprise him with front-row tickets the minute she learned of your performance at Fontaine’s beloved Opera Epiclese. 

Lyney nearly cried in happiness and he’s nearly crying now, praying to every Archon above that you’re going to come out for an encore and that this isn’t the end of your show. The tears almost fall as the spotlight graces the stage once more and music fills the room. 

Everyone in Fontaine tried to get tickets for your performance and the most influential of citizens were sure to attend. Furina sat in the VIP box, leaning on her hand as she watched you step back onstage. She was quiet for once, enraptured by your voice. Clorinde was at her side. Neuvillette sat near the twins, seated but smiling. Charlotte and Navia were a bit further back, Charlotte furiously scribbling on her notepad to review the performance. She stopped writing halfway through, though, unable to stop herself from just enjoying the performance. Wriothesley and Sigewinne showed their faces from outside of the Fortress, the former succumbing to the latter’s pleas for tickets. Even Freminet was there, on the other side of Lyney, just happy to see his brother so happy. 

And yet there he was, sitting in the middle of the row, front and center. A perfect view. And there you were, in that jaw-dropping dress that sparkled perfectly in the lights, reflecting the same way the stars in the sky shined. Lyney was positive there were also stars in his eyes, but he couldn’t help it. 

And when the performance was over, Lyney finally sat back in his seat and exhaled a deep breath– one he had been holding since the minute you appeared onstage. 

Lynette looked him over as if to make sure he was okay and happy. She didn’t need any words to tell that he was over the moon. “Are you ready to go?”

“Just– just give me one minute.”

—---

“How long will you be in Fontaine?”

“Probably a week or two, at most.” You hummed, finally eating a snack left for you by the Hydro Archon herself. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been home. I’d like to stay a bit longer.” 

“Hmm,” Furina’s finger tapped her chin�� a clear sign that she was thinking. About what, nobody could tell. “How about another performance before you leave? Many people didn’t get tickets to this first show. You’ve had so many supporters from here since you started. Why not give them a special thanks? Especially me, since I’ve supported you and been your friend for all these years?” 

You squinted at her for a moment, trying to decipher what she could be devising in her head. You weren’t a mind reader, and Furina didn’t necessarily all have it going on in her head, so you opted to just ask her outright. “What could you possibly gain from that?” 

She reeled back, feigning offense. “Nothing! It’s-it’s just that it’s great for business. And we’re having special visitors soon who may want to see. Totally not because I want to watch it again– heh.”

“What special visitors?”

“Why, the Traveler and Paimon, of course!” Furina clapped, “Yes, yes. They’d love to see your performance.”

“Hm.” You continued staring at her, unconvinced that the legendary Traveler wanted to see your performance. But, you did get to perform again and get a part of the profits. You didn’t see why not. “Fine.” 

The squeal that came out of Furina’s mouth was enough to almost break your glass of water– a feat many singers trained to do for years and could not accomplish. Yet, your friend was close to doing it without even trying out of sheer excitement. 

She grabbed your hand once you were done changing clothes and dragged you out of the dressing room. You had no choice but to follow as she led you into the main room, where the audience sat. It looked much different from before with the lights on and the chairs empty. 

Except for two chairs, three people still present in the opera house. 

At the sound of her voice, the three turned around. There was a pair of twins and a younger blonde boy. The twin boy made eye contact with you and seemed to shoot straight up, becoming entranced as he saw you. This was typically a normal reaction for fans, but there was one difference this time. 

You were entranced too. 

Furina looked at the three and huffed. “Isn’t it time for you to go home?”

“Sorry, Lady Furina,” The youngest boy spoke and motioned to the other boy, whose face was bright red. “Lyney just needed to sit for a minute.”

“Is he okay?” You tilted your head, gently shaking free of Furina and walking to them. Furina gasped and crossed her arms, almost angry that she didn’t have your attention anymore as your self-titled “best friend”. “Your face is hot.” 

The twin girl hid her mouth with her hand. “He’ll be okay eventually. I think he got overheated or something. Got all nauseous and dizzy.”

“Oh my Gods, I’m so sorry!” You felt awful– you had told someone that you felt the air was a bit too hot in the audience, but you were brushed off. This just proved that you were right. “You all come with me, there’s fresh water and everything in the guest house I’m staying in tonight.”

You ushered everyone out of Opera Epiclese and into the small building next to it. It was the guesthouse, built solely for performers without a place to stay as they traveled. You were given it for your time in Fontaine and couldn’t be more grateful, especially at a time like this when someone is in need. 

Lyney, Lynette, and Freminet– as you learned their names were– followed you and a pouting Furina into the house. You offered them all a seat on the couches and chairs before running to the kitchen and grabbing a bowl of cool water and a rag. You sat next to Lyney, who was silent the entire time, and neared his face as you put the rag on his forehead. You were a bit confused at Lynette and Furina’s snickering behind you, but you could only worry about the boy in front of you whose face turned even redder at your closeness. 

“Say,” Furina spoke up, “Lyney and Lynette here are performing at the Opera Epiclese tomorrow. Fancy a show?”

“Really?” You looked into Lyney’s eyes, “What do you do?”

He swallowed, and you wondered if he needed a glass of water. “Magic.”

“You’re magicians? No way!” You grinned, “I’ve always wanted to see a magic show live! Furina, I think we should go. I’d love to see more of these two.”

“I do too.” Lynette joined, “We can get you on the reservation list for front and center… unless you’d like to sit VIP with Furina?” 

“We’ll both sit front row. Neuvillette can have front row if he wishes to attend.” Furina grinned at Lynette, and you couldn’t help but feel like you were missing out of something as you cared for Lyney. 

“Wonderful.” Lynette stands up, followed by Freminet. “I think Lyney just needs rest now, but we don’t live far in the Court of Fontaine. We probably need to head out before it gets too late.” 

You nod and hold your hand out to Lyney, who takes a second of staring before taking your hand and hoisting himself up. You both definitely hold on a bit too long to be typical for someone you just met, but exceptions could always be made. 

“I’ll see you tomorrow then, Lynette.” You glance back at the boy at your side. “Lyney.” 

“Y-yes.” He speaks. You like his voice. “Tomorrow evening. I’d love to see you there.” 

After the three left, Furina stayed on your couch and stared. 

You sat across from her, staring back with a puzzled expression. 

This was the longest you’d ever heard her be quiet and it was incredibly unnerving. You couldn’t take much more of this. 

“What?”

Another beat of silence. “What do you mean ‘what’?”

“What do you mean ‘what do you mean’? What did I do?”

“You’ve never done that before.”

“Done what, Furina? I don’t have time for this–”

“Gotten all flustered like that. You don’t even dote on me like that and I’m your best friend.”

“Lynette said that he got overheated during the performance.” You defended, “I had to help him, I felt bad. I told the crew that it was too hot in there but they didn’t listen–”

“You’re stupid.” Before you could retort in offense, Furina leaned forward. “You haven’t been that open and nice since…” 

You’re glad she doesn’t finish that sentence– doesn’t let his name leave her mouth. Furina is right and you know it, but you definitely don’t want to admit that. Especially not to her. 

“I just felt bad.” She doesn’t believe you and you know it. “Fur, you know I can’t. People can’t keep up with my life. He’s cute, but I’m better off alone.” 

Furina looks away for a moment as if to think about what she’s going to say next for the first time ever. “He’s different.” 

“You don’t know that.”

“First, I know him better than you do. I’ve had my fair share of run-ins with that crew, and I’m the Hydro Archon. I know everyone in Fontaine.” She twirls a finger around her hair– a telltale sign that she’s desperate for someone to listen to her. You want to oblige, but your mind won’t let you. “Lyney understands the life of a performer. Has he traveled? No. But I bet he’d be more than willing to travel with you as like– an opening act or something!” She snaps her fingers as if this is some sort of life-changing revelation. 

Your anxiety says otherwise. 

“What about Lynette and Freminet?”

“They can go with you!” She says as if it’s the easiest thing in the world. “Lynette is Lyney’s assistant, so she has to go. Freminet would be good with helping with finances or something. Or if you happen to drop your wedding ring in the ocean, he can get it.”

“Wedding ring?”

“Yeah, for when you marry–”

A knock on the door interrupts her and you’ve never been happier. You give each other confused looks before you get up and open the door a crack. Behind it is a face all-too-familiar, and you open it wider. 

“I-uh, forgot my hat here.” Lyney, cheeks still rosy, rubs the back of his neck in embarrassment. 

“O-oh, of course!” You stammer out, leaving him at the door and finding his hat in one of the other chairs. Furina stares him down in a way that makes him feel like he’s intruding on a very important conversation, but he tries to brush it off as one of her theatrics. 

Lyney’s smile returns when you appear again, his hat in your hands, and tries to ignore the jump of his heart as his fingers accidentally brush yours when he takes it. “Thank you so much.” You watch as his figure begins to retreat from the guesthouse, but he quickly turns around and waves. “And I do hope to see you tomorrow.”

—---

Lyney does, in fact, get to see you tomorrow. 

Peeking through the curtain, he sees you front and center, sitting in the same exact seat that he was in the night before. Furina is at your side, chatting with you happily and ignoring the questioning whispers of her citizens as they question why she’s on the floor instead of in her box. Their questions cease when they see you. 

A bit of jealousy hits him as he sees some citizens ask for your autograph or come up to talk to you, but he can’t dwell on it long before Lynette is behind him. 

“Is she here?”

“Yes.” He lets out a nervous breath. “Everything has to be perfect tonight.” 

“It will be.” She reassures, “And don’t worry about anything else. I have it all covered. She’s come to see you and you alone, so you just focus on being the best you can be.”

Lyney has never been more grateful for his sister than he is at that moment. Sure, it was one thing when she accepted his schoolgirl crush on a famous singer, but when she was actually here, at their show, watching him, she was the best wingman in Teyvat. 

He peeked out of the curtain once more, his breath catching in his throat when he sees you looking directly at him. You wave and send him a soft smile and Lyney can feel his entire body heat up. He’s determined and ready for this show to start. 

And with a short countdown, it does. 

In most performances, Lyney keeps his eyes above the crowd. It’s an illusion many performers learn– don’t look directly at anyone specifically, it’s easier to quell the anxiety of thousands of eyes being on you, judging your every move. He knows you do this tactic as well, getting to witness it firsthand last night as you wowed the crowd from the very stage he was on tonight. He wondered how he could possibly be equal to such a wonderful performance and his mind gets a bit louder as doubts start plaguing him. As quickly as they come, however, they disappear. 

Lyney looks at you. 

You’re dressed beautifully, hair and makeup done simply as if to bare the real you. Oh, how Lyney longs to know the real you. 

You think it’s a funny coincidence when the first rose comes to you. Just a chance that a draft happened to send it directly into your lap after Lyney throws it into the crowd. Same with the second rose, that he passed off to you personally as he walked by after doing his switch trick with the box. You realize it’s not just some happenstance when the performance ends and you are left with a bouquet of roses in your hands, your face hot as Furina teases you. 

“Rainbow roses have special meaning in Fontaine, you know.” She grinned. You swatted her away. 

“I know.” You huff, “He probably uses those in every show to make the little lucky audience girl feel special.”

Furina opens her mouth to speak, but a voice from behind speaks up before she can. “I normally use Romaritime Flowers, and only pull one out of my hat, but I thought tonight I could do something a little different.”

Lyney prays you aren’t uncomfortable when you turn around– the adrenaline of the show is the only thing driving him to speak to you steadily right now, and he didn’t know what he’d do if he got rejected. He’s pleasantly surprised when you do turn around and your mouth is slightly agape, your cheeks darker than usual. He did his job. 

“They’re beautiful. Thank you.”

“Keep them, they’re yours.” Lyney places his hands on yours to push them back when you go to give him back the bouquet, but he doesn’t remove them when you clutch the flowers to your chest. “This is my official offer– let me treat you to dinner.” 

You turn your head to give Furina a look, but she’s long gone. You make a note to curse her out later. 

“Lyney, I want to accept your offer. So badly. But I just know it won’t work.”

Seeing Lyney’s face fall almost makes you want to take it back, but you can’t. You can’t get hurt again. 

“Please,” His voice has gone soft, “How do you know that?”

“It’s happened before. I’m just protecting you. I’m going to be gone soon and you can forget about this little infatuation–”

“No!” Lyney blurts out but quickly composes himself. “You’re not protecting me, you’re protecting yourself. I’m not whatever man hurt you in the past. I’m a performer too, I can handle all the things that entails.” 

“Lyn… This is only my third country on my tour. I have so many more left, I’ll be gone for a very long time. It’s not fair to ask you to wait for me.”

“I think I get to decide what’s fair for me.” You don’t respond, looking away. Lyney takes your chin between his fingers to make you look at him. “And I think that me waiting for you is a fair trade if it means you come back to me in the end. Please, ma chérie. Consider it.” 

You took a breath, weighing the options as seriously as the Oratrice. You think back to your conversations– the ones with your manager, the ones with Furina. Finally, you meet his eyes fully. Lyney hasn’t looked away, a softness in his eyes that you were not expecting.

“Let’s go to dinner. I’ve been thinking of hiring an opening act for the rest of the tour anyways. How do you feel about that?”

[cassielovesdeadwizards]

starchaser 💫

I have no idea what this is. I just started writing and this happened. Enjoy I guess lmao

James’ heart stopped. 

The air around him became stagnant, as if the whole world took a breath it didn’t want to release. 

As he watched the boy on the stage- 

Man. 

He was a man now. Not a boy. 

His heart grew heavy, as if breaking all over again. The freshly healed scar over the crack of his heart splitting open with a sickening snap, that he swore the whole theatre could hear. 

But they didn’t. They were none the wiser to his distress while sitting in the back, his eyes glued to the performer on the stage, watching as his hands moved as he talked. Even while performing he was animated. It was like he was incapable of keeping his hands still. James used to love that about him. 

No. He did love that about him. 

He thought he'd gotten over this. The way he could hear his heartbeat in his ears when he saw him, or the way the skin on his arms would itch with anxiety and his hands would find comfort in running through his hair like he was a teenager again. How his stomach would flip and his eyes would draw to him no matter what he did.

He thought he was over him.

But as Regulus Black took the stage, performing a sonnet of Shakespear that James didn't currently have the brainpower to remember, his beautiful face, and voice, and body, all bouncing off the walls and projecting straight into James' veins...he realised that he never really stopped loving him.

As corny as it sounds to admit to himself, James felt as if he was home. Not the physical type of home, not the type of homeliness that his parents manor in the country gave him, or his old dorm room at university, or his new apartment...the kind of home you feel with a person. the type of home he felt when Regulus would practice his performances for him on rainy autumn nights in his dorm, in just a pair of James' boxers and a t-shirt, the type of home he always felt holding his body against his, feeling how small he felt in his arms.

It's funny how wounds that take months to heal can open back up with a single glance.

He could feel when Regulus became aware of his presence. He felt the atmosphere change...the weight of the smaller man's words became heavier, as if they were getting harder and harder to say with each moment that passed.

When Regulus finished the sonnet, and the audience applauded, James only sat and stared. He stared until his eyes started to water and he realised that he needed to blink. And when the curtain fell, he stayed seated, watching the spot in the curtain where Regulus had stood, as if manifesting him back on stage. He stayed there until the whole theatre had emptied out.

"Sirius would kill you for being here."

The voice rang in his ears, and he didn't reply straight away, as if speaking would break some sort of spell, and this would all fade away into the back of his mind.

When he finally registered Regulus sitting about five seats up, he spoke.

"I know." He said, his voice sounding strained. Not in frustration, or anger, or even discomfort. James doesn't think he could ever feel discomfort in Regulus' company. The strain was more from the longing that plagued his every muscle, his every nerve.

"Then why are you here?" Regulus asks. It was true, that Regulus Black could be perceived as cold and ruthless, a sharp edge to his voice that could have only been created in the cold confines of the Black Family house. But James knew Regulus like he knew his own language, like he knew how to breathe. His coldness was a shield he used to protect his innocence, his naivety.

James could hear the hopefulness that laced his words, each syllable lined in a tiny bit of gold.

"If it's any consolation...I didn't know you were performing. A friend of mind recommended the show." He says, because if there was one thing you should know about James Fleamont Potter is that no matter how many lies he's told in his life, not a single one of them was to Regulus Arcturus Black. "But I'm glad you were."

The words left his mouth out of an old die-hard habit to always tell him the truth.

Regulus said nothing. Not for a while anyway. He just sat in his chair, looking out towards the stage he'd just owned. James didn't look at the stage. He was looking at the side of Regulus' face, at the empty spaces of skin where his love used to be, in marks of red and purple. He looked at the his nose, which he used to kiss and Regulus never used to admit to liking.

Regulus opened his mouth, as if to say something, and then closed it again. James wanted him to say whatever it was he was going to say. He wanted to hear and feel his words, he didn't car if they broke him in two or stitched him right back up, as long as they were directed at him.

"I was scared."

Whatever James had expected him to say, it certainly wasn't that.

"Of what?"

"Of being broken first."

James knew that that was supposed to make him angry. That Regulus had broken his heart in an attempt to beat him to the finish line, as if their relationship was doomed to fail.

But it didn't.

Instead he moved closer, to the seat right beside his estranged lover. He didn't touch him. Partly because he knew that if he did he'd never want to stop...but also because he didn't want to scare him off.

"I forgive you."

It was like all the tension in the room dropped, crashing to the floor and breaking the silence that had grown too uncomfortable to sit in any longer.

"What?"

"I said I forgive you."

"Yeah, I heard you. That's stupid, you didn't deserve-"

"Stop." James said, in an uncharacteristicly stern tone of voice, that even surprised him. So much so he waited a few seconds before speaking.

"You don't get to tell me what I do and don't deserve. What I did and didn't deserve. Do you really think that my love for you was that feeble that it would break and dissolve just because you left me? Just because you shattered me and left me completely inconsolable? Do you really think that your impression on me was that vague, as if I don't love you as easily as I breathe? Regulus, you could have quite literally stabbed me in the back, and I would've returned the knife to you with a smile on my face because I love you so irrevocably that not a single part of me hates you for what you did."

The words hang in the air, the weight of them laying heavy on Regulus' head as he processes them, letting them sink into every bone of his body.

See, what Regulus really wanted was for James to tell him exactly what to do. To look him in the eyes and say 'I want you back' and take him home and never let him leave. Regulus knows that he's damaged. That his nothing-to-be-desired childhood had left him with scars that even now refuse to heal. But if there's one thing he's certain of, it's that the day he broke up with James was the day he realised his self-destructive ways would never let him be happy.

James could sense his internal war, the battle field in his mind, he could see it playing behind his eyes.

James wasn't a stranger to taking a chance.

"Get your coat on. We're going home."

He says, standing up and pulling his own coat over his shoulders, buttoning it up.

Regulus sat and stared, as if his entire body was still computing the words that had come out of his mouth. So James sighed and gently took his forearms, pulling him out of his seat and zipping his coat up. He took him ice cold hand in his own warm one, interlacing their fingers together like a puzzle piece, and he walked him out of the theatre.

James took him home.

James. Took. Regulus. Home.

[mamaestapa]

Matching Necklaces & a Tough Loss

•pairing: Joe Burrow x reader

•series summary: Y/N Y/L/N moved to Cincinnati, Ohio for a new start. Move in day arrives and she discovers something terrible...the apartment complex gave her the wrong lease. Instead of living with who she originally was supposed to, she's now living with the hottest quarterback in the NFL, Joe Burrow. Y/N is stuck living in the same apartment with him for a year...which the two are not thrilled about. However, as time goes on, they realize that maybe this wasn't the worst thing that could happen to them. Will Y/N and Joe stay enemies, or will they find themselves falling in love?

•chapter summary: It’s the day of the AFC championship game. Joe has some sweet surprises for you and you meet Joe’s parents for the first time. However, the night doesn’t end the way you hoped it would…but at least you and Joe have each other.

•word count: 5.3k

•warnings: Angst, fluff, a very sad Joe, crying, comforting Joe, reliving the AFC championship game (literally broke my heart), i think that’s all? this is a very long chapter lol

series masterlist

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January 29, 2023

Today is the day.

The day the whole city of Cincinnati and Bengals fans all over the country have been waiting for.

Today is the AFC championship game. The Bengals will be playing against the Kansas City Chiefs for the second year in a row. Both of these teams are slowly starting to create one of the biggest rivalries in the American Football Conference of the NFL. Both teams have excellent players on both sides of the ball, with both teams quarterbacks being arguably the top two in NFL at this very moment. It should be an exciting game for sure.

Not only will it be exciting, but it'll be quite interesting too. This is one of the most important games of the season. The winner of this game will head to Super Bowl 57 and play against the Philadelphia Eagles in hopes of winning the Lombardi trophy.

The nerves are high today for everybody—all for different reasons too. Of course the game is causing some of the nerves, but there are even more nerves being added to those from the looming game.

First, Emmas due date is today. You are all hoping she doesn't go into labor during the game...

Second, you’re going to be in Arrowhead Stadium for the game. You’ve heard from some of the girls that the fans aren't always the nicest when you’re in their territory. You’re hoping none of you will have any issues tonight...

And lastly, the thing that's causing you to have the most nerves. You will be meeting Joe's parents for the first time tonight.

You were going to sit with the other WAGs, but Joe was concerned for your safety so he asked if you could sit with his parents, just to give him some peace of mind so he wasn't worrying about you during the game...

~flashback~

"You're going to the championship game right?"

You smiled, "Of course I am. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

The corner of Joes mouth quirked up into a small smile, "Good," he said softly. He cleared his throat and began to fidget with the bracelets wrapped around his wrists, "I have something important to ask you."

"What is it?" you asked, setting down the towel you were folding so you could give Joe your full attention.

"The fans can get pretty intense at Arrowhead. I would hate for there to be a situation and I'm not there to protect you Y/n," he sighed, "My parents are going to be at the game, and it would really make me feel better if you sat with them."

Your eyes widened slightly at his suggestion. You still haven't met his parents. You were absolutely terrified to meet his mom and dad. But you do love Joe and you want to make him feel content, especially with the upcoming important game. Any way you could ease his anxieties leading up to game day, you would gladly do.

"But if you don't want to, I get it.” he said, “Maybe you could meet up with them before the game?"

"Joe," you said, smiling softly, "I'm sure nothing will happen. I'll be fine, I promise." you walked over to where he stood by the foot of your bed. You wrapped your arms around him and looked up into his soft blue eyes. "but if it'll make you feel better, I'll sit with your parents."

He nodded as a small smile made its way onto his face, "Thank you." you pulled away from him and got on your tip toes so you could kiss his nose. He scrunched his nose as soon as your lips were away from the tip of his nose. You chuckled at his reaction and went back to folding towels, thankful that you were able to ease your loving boyfriends worries.

~end of flashback~

Isn't he just the sweetest?

Right now, you’re currently in Macee's hotel suite getting ready with a couple other Bengals WAGs. The game doesn't start for a few hours, so you have plenty of time to get ready. As you were curling your hair, Holly and Macee were standing next to you doing their makeup.

"So Y/n," Holly grinned enthusiastically, "I saw you and Joe went Instagram official. That's so exciting!"

You smiled, "Yeah, it is. It feels good to make our relationship public," your smile faltered slightly, "even if some of his fans already don't like me."

It's true, You and Joe went Instagram official just days ago. While you received lots of love and support for your relationship from many fans, you received a lot of hate too. Many girls told Joe he could do much better and that they already didn't like you based on one shared photo. You didn't let it get to you though. You expected to receive some hate. So many girls fawn over Joe every day, so it only makes sense for you to receive hate from those that don't want him to be with anybody. You don't let it get to you though because you know that the real fans of Joes support him and his relationships. As long as he is happy, they're happy for him. And that's all that matters to You. Plus, you’re sure you’ll find a way to get some of those fan girls to come around. Hey, it worked with Joe.

Macee frowned, "Awe Y/n, don't listen to them. They're just jealous. You're an amazing woman and Joe is so lucky to have a beautiful girl like you."

Emma, who was sitting on the closed toilet seat doing her eyeshadow, smiled as she said, "She's right. Don't listen to the haters babe."

"Thanks girls, you're all the best," you smiled at them through the mirror. As you all continued your pre-game glam, there was a knock at the door of the hotel room. All of your heads snapped to the direction of the door. Holly placed her straighter down on the marble countertop, "I got it." She scampered out of the bathroom and down the small hallway, disappearing for just a few moments before she came back into the bathroom holding a white and gold gift box.

"Y/n," she said in a sing-songy tone. He held the box out, "this is for you."

You hesitantly grabbed the box from Holly's outstretched arms. A smirk was on her face as she watched you examine the outside of the box. You furrowed your eyebrows as you noticed there wasn't a tag on it anywhere that said who it was from.

"Are you going to open it?" Macee asked, setting her makeup brush down and watching you.

"I guess so," you shrugged, setting the box on the counter, "I wonder who it's from?”

You unwrapped the gold bow, setting it down on the counter as you took the top off of the white box. All three girls stood together with wide grins on their faces as they watched you open the contents of the box. As you pulled the top off, you let out a gasp as your eyes fell on a number nine diamond necklace identical to the one you got Joe for Christmas. There was also a neatly folded orange jacket and a small white note. You picked up the note, a wide grin making its way onto your face as you saw Joes handwriting:

Your heart swelled as you read his sweet message. You set the note down on the bathroom counter and pulled the jacket out of the box. Your mouth gaped open as you held it up and looked over both sides. The jacket itself was orange, with the front saying Cincinnati in white block letters with a black outline. The sleeves had three large black stars on them, and on the back of the jacket was the number nine and Burrow, just like the back of Joe's jersey. Both his number and name in white lettering with black outline just like the front of the jacket.

"That is adorable!" Holly gushed as you held up the jacket. Emma nodded, her eyes welling up with tears as she looked at the jacket.

"That's not all," you said as you set the jacket down so you could hold up the necklace, "he got me a necklace to match his."

Macee placed her hands over her heart and gushed, "How sweet. Joe is such a great guy."

"He really is," you nodded, beaming with happiness as you looked at the jacket and necklace once again.

"Well, put them on girl!" Holly exclaimed, motioning for you to put the jacket on. You slid the jacket on and looked in the mirror, smiling widely as you took in your appearance.

"Here," Emma said, reaching for the necklace, "may I?"

You nodded and pulled your hair up with your hands so that Emma could put the chain of the diamond nine necklace around your neck. Once it was clasped you thanked her and let your hair back down.

"You look so beautiful," Macee smiled genuinely, "Joe is going to love it."

You smiled, "I hope so."

The four of you went back to getting yourselves ready for the game. As you continued styling your hair, your smile never once left my face and neither did the blush on your cheeks. You were so excited for the game, and you I couldn't wait to see Joe after the game. If the Bengals win, it’ll be a night full of celebrating.

~time skip~

"Section one-o-one, row seven..." You looked up from your ticket to find your seat. You glanced down the row of seats full of Bengals and Chiefs fans. About seven seats in from where you stood at the end of the row, an empty seat was next to a honey blonde haired woman wearing an orange Burrow jersey.

That must be Joe's mom. You thought to yourself. You took a deep breath and made your way over to them, excusing yourself as you walked past the seated fans. The movement of more fans filling the section around them caused Joe's parents to both look up as soon as you got close to their seats. Joe's mom grinned as her eyes fell on your standing figure. She jumped up from her seat and immediately pulled you into a tight embrace once you were close enough.

"Hi honey!" she smiled as she rubbed your back, "you must be Y/n?" She pulled away and held onto your forearms. You nodded, "That's me."

"Joe has told us so much about you," she smiled, "he was right when he said you were the most beautiful girl he's ever seen."

You blushed a deep shade of crimson. You don't think you’ve ever heard Joe say that before. "Awe, thank you Mrs. Burrow." you said, letting out a slight chuckle as you spoke.

"Please, call me Robin." She smiled as she moved out of the way so you could introduce yourself to Joes dad.

"Hi," he smiled, "I'm Jimmy."

"Y/n," you said, holding your hand out for him to shake. He shook his head and pulled you into a quick hug instead. Based on first impressions, Joes parents seemed super nice.

"It's nice to finally meet you Y/n. Joe told us all about you before he came home for Christmas," Jim said as he sat back down in his seat, Robin doing the same.

"We were hoping we'd get to meet you then, but Joe told us you had plans." Robin finished.

You sat down next to Robin and nodded, "My family from Arizona wasn't able to fly in, so I just stayed home and spent some time by myself and with some friends of ours."

Robin frowned, "Oh sweetie we would have loved to have you! I'm shocked Joe didn't invite you. If I had known you'd be by yourself I would have reached out to you."

You smiled sincerely, “Oh it's okay, really. He invited me, but, I didn't want to intrude on your family Christmas."

"Oh stop, we would have loved to have you. You seem like a wonderful girl, plus you make Joey happy." She smiled, reaching out for and squeezing your hand.

"I'm glad," you said, smiling sweetly, "because he makes me happy too."

Robins smile widened and as soon as she was about to say something, the stadium lights dimmed and the pre-game announcements began. You took a deep breath and looked out into the field. The game would be starting very soon. Your nerves were at their worst as the anticipation of game day was coming to an end. In just a matter of hours, Joe and the Bengals could be heading to the Super Bowl for the second season in a row. You really hope that is what the outcome of this game will be...

As the game went on, it was back and forth between the kickers for a while. Each team scoring a pair of field goals before any touchdowns were made. About three minutes before halftime, Travis Kelce caught a pass and ran it in for a Chiefs touchdown. The fans beside you and Joes parents went wild while your shoulders slumped in disappointment. However, with just seconds to go in the quarter, Evan kicked another field goal for the Bengals, making the score 6-13. You tried not to be too anxious about the score as Robin reassured you that they were down at halftime last season and still came back to win the game. You were hopeful that it would be the same way this year, too.

During halftime you sat and talked with Joes parents and got some pictures with fans—which was something you weren’t used to. But all of the fans around you, even the Chiefs fans, were all very friendly. As much as you love sitting with the girls during games, it was nice sitting with Joes parents. His mom is super sweet, and his dad is so fun to talk with. You truly don't know why you were so nervous to meet his parents, they're both so kind and welcoming, just like Joe.

"So Y/n," Robin said, turning to face you, "Joe told us a bit about how you two met, but I want to hear it from you."

You chuckled, "It's crazy."

"Oh we've heard," Jimmy said, chuckling as he too turned to face you.

You let out a soft sigh before you told them the story of how you and Joe met and became roommates. You told them all about the lease switch up and the two of you not being on great terms at first—which Robin thought was hilarious. You told them about your first game experience, your short "fling" with Evan, celebrating Christmas with Joe, and all of the breakfasts you’ve shared together. Most importantly though, you told them about when you first realized you’re in love with their son and how you started dating. You were sure to leave out all of the uh...details that led to your relationship starting though. His parents didn’t need to hear about that.

"A lot has changed in my life since September when I moved to Cincinnati, but I wouldn't change any of it. Being Joe's roommate is the best thing that could have happened to me. It funny but, I'll always be thankful our landlord gave me the wrong lease. Because If it weren't for the lease situation, I don't think I'd be sitting here right now." you finished, smiling softly.

Robin began to tear up as she listened to you end the story about you and Joe. She smiled softly and leaned over, wrapping her arms around you and squeezing you gently.

"Thank you. You've made him so happy sweetie. I haven't seen Joe this happy in a long time."

Jimmy nodded, smiling as he said, "She's right. Joe really does love you Y/n, he has for a while."

Robin pulled away, "It's true. He called me back in early December asking for advice on what to do. He loves you so much, and it makes me so happy to see that you love him as much as he loves you."

You smiled, "I do love him," you gazed out onto the field, seeing the Bengals players coming out of the locker room and back to the sideline. Your eyes fell on Joe and your smile widened, "a lot." You finished softly, blowing Joe a kiss as his blue eyes scanned the crowd. His eyes fell on you and a smile pulled at his lips. He tapped the upper left side of his chest twice and turned back around to get ready to take the field. The bright smile stayed on your face as you watched him take the field with his teammates. Robin and Jimmy beamed with joy as they both watched your sweet exchange. It’s safe to say Joe's parents are very happy with your relationship.

The second half of the game felt like it was going on forever. The scoring went back and forth, and with almost thirteen minutes left of the game, the Bengals were on 2 yard line, getting ready to run it in for their second touchdown of the game. Joe snapped the ball and handed it off to Samaje Perine, who ran into the end zone with ease. Robin, Jim and you all jumped out of your seats and cheered wildly, giving eachother high fives before doing the same to the Bengals fans around you. Evan kicked the extra point, bring the score to a tie of 20-20. If your nerves weren't bad earlier in the game, they definitely were now. There was still plenty of time for the guys to score again, but they are playing against the Chiefs, so it won't be easy to get many opportunities to score again.

The time ticked down and neither team was able to get far enough down the field to score. Both teams were struggling offensively, however, with almost ten seconds left of the game, the Chiefs had the ball and it was 3rd and 4. Mahomes snapped the ball and you held your breath as you watched Mahomes scramble. Not able to make a play, he ran out of bounds. As he ran out of bounds, a Bengals player ran into him, knocking him down on the sidelines. The refs threw their yellow flags instantly.

"Oh god," you frowned as your head fell. The flag was on Cincinnati. With ten seconds to play, the Chiefs had the ball with a new set of downs. “It's over isn't it?" you asked, voice laced with sorrow as you looked over at Robin. Her lips formed in a straight line and she nodded. You watched the ending of the game with your hands covering your mouth the entire time. The chiefs scored the game winning field goal, sending them off to play in Super Bowl 57. The Bengals season was now over.

Your heart broke as you watched Joe walk out onto the field to congratulate Mahomes and the rest of the Kansas City Chiefs. Joe and his teammates have worked so hard all season, pushing through all of adversity and slander from the media as they've been dubbed "the underdogs" of the playoffs. You and so many others wanted to see them succeed so bad. Sadly, they fell short.

"God they were so close," Jimmy breathed out, shaking his head.

Robin frowned, turning to you as she pulled you into a hug, "I'm sorry sweetie. Want to come with us to meet Joe before he heads to the locker room?"

You nodded, smiling sadly at them. You needed to see Joe, but you knew seeing his disappointment would only hurt your heart even more. Once the crowd of fans started to leave the stadium, the three of you made your way to the locker room, Joes mom wrapping an arm around your shoulder as you walked to the tunnel. You were stopped by security, but once you showed your badges to the officers they let the three of you through. You waited a couple minutes in silence, the air somber as players exited the locker room with their heads hung low and shoulders slumped in defeat. The door to the locker room swung open and Joe walked out in his pre-game outfit, holding his bags and looking at you all with a sad smile.

"Hey guys," he said softly, "sorry for making you come all this way."

Joe dropped his bags as Robin walked up to him and pulled him into a tight hug. She rubbed his back as he wrapped his arms around his mother, closing his eyes and nodding as she whispered something to him. When she pulled away from Joe, Jimmy took her place and pulled his son into a tight hug. He pat Joe on the back as he pulled away from him. Joe's eyes fell on you, his beautiful blues growing watery as he smiled sadly at you.

"Hey you," he whispered, gesturing for you to come over to him. You smiled softly and fell into his embrace. You squeezed him gently as you stayed in each others arms for a few moments.

"I'm so proud of you Joe," you said softly. You pulled yourself out of his embrace so that you could place a loving kiss to his temple. It broke my heart to see Joe this disappointed. You knew he was putting all of the blame on himself, even though this loss wasn’t his fault. He pulled way and smiled sadly at you, "Thanks," he mumbled softly. You rubbed his shoulder and stepped away so that he could speak with his parents again.

"We're going to head back to the hotel. We love you so much Joe," Robin said as she pulled him into another hug, "we're proud of you no matter what honey."

"Thanks mom. I love you."

She smiled and walked over to you, pulling you into a hug, "It was so good to meet you Y/n."

"It was good to meet you guys too." you smiled, squeezing her gently. Robin pulled away from you as you said one last goodbye to Jim. The two of them left the tunnel and exited the stadium, leaving you and Joe by yourselves.

You noticed Joe's red eyes and slumped shoulders as he wore a slight frown on his face. You grabbed his hand and squeezed it gently, "I love you Joe."

"I love you too," he said quietly, he let out a heavy sigh as he looked down at you, "will you stay with me tonight? We leave tomorrow morning to go back to Cincinnati."

You smiled softly, "Of course I will. Just send me the address."

"I will," he cleared his throat, "I have to do a press conference, so I'll meet you there."

"I can wait for-."

Joe cut you off, "It's okay. I'll see you later."

"Okay," you smiled sadly, "well, I love you."

"I love you too," he said, voice soft as tears threatened to spill over if he looked at you any longer. He leaned down and briefly kissed your lips before walking down the tunnel to the room he would be doing his press conference in. You let out a soft sigh as you turned around and exited the stadium, deciding to head to Joes hotel and wait for him to get back. You could only hope he'd start to feel better soon. This loss was really getting to him.

~time skip...again~

You were sitting on the edge of Joes bed, texting the girls group chat and thanking them once again for welcoming you into their group with open arms this season. They truly are a wonderful group of women and you already can't wait for game days with them next season. As you hit send, the door to the hotel room opened. Joe walked in and smiled softly at you as he locked the door behind him.

"Hey," you said, voice quiet, "how was your press conference."

Joe slipped his shoes off and shrugged, "Good as it could be I guess." His voice was a bit monotone as he spoke, clearly still upset over the loss.

You couldn’t help but frown slightly at his demeanor. You stood up from the bed and walked over to him. You grabbed his hand before wrapping your arms around his tall frame. Joe wrapped an arm around your upper back, letting his hand come up to rest on the back of your head. His fingers softly ran through the strands of your hair. You stayed in each others embrace for a few moments before Joe pulled away and looked down at you.

"I uh," he rubbed the back of his neck, "I'm going to go outside for a bit. Get some fresh air."

"Okay, do you want me to come with you?"

Joe shook his head, "I'm alright." With that, he walked out of the room and out to the balcony of his suite. You frowned as you looked out to where Joe was standing. His shoulders were slumped as he leaned against the black railing of the balcony, looking out at the lit up city of Kansas City. You pulled your lower lip between your teeth, contemplating whether or not you should go outside to be with him. You knew he was hurting and he needed to cope with this tough loss on his own at some point. But right now, you couldn't let him stay out there by himself as his thoughts of self criticism ran wild. You took a deep breath as you walked over to the sliding glass door, opening it so that you could go outside to be with Joe.

You walked up behind him, careful not to startle him. "Hey," you said softly, placing a hand on his broad shoulder. You wanted to comfort him the best you could. You knew how tough this loss was for him. They were so, so close. Joe looked up at you with a tight lipped smile. His face full of a look of defeat, chin quivering and those beautiful blue eyes were watery with unshed tears that were threatening to spill over at any moment.

You frowned and let out a soft and sorrowful, "Oh." You wrapped your arms around his torso, letting your hands rest on his pecs as you held him tightly. You placed a soft kiss to the middle of his back before resting your cheek against him. You heard Joe sniffle a couple times before his shoulders began to shake. Joe turned around in your embrace so he was facing you. He immediately pulled you into his arms and buried his face in the crook of your neck.

You sat both of you down on the furniture of the balcony, holding him close as he finally let out all of the emotions he'd been holding in since the game ended. You slowly ran your fingers through his messy hair, careful not to pull too hard on any strands of his dark blonde hair. Joes shoulders shook as you comforted him. The frown never leaving your face as you rubbed Joe's back and whispered sweet nothings to him. It broke your heart to see him this upset.

"I'm so proud of you," you whispered before placing a kiss on the crown of his head, "so, so proud."

After a couple minutes, Joes painful sobs turned into the occasional sniff. He pulled his head away from your chest and wiped his eyes.

"I'm sorry," he said, letting out a wet chuckle, "I got tears and snot all over you."

You brought your hand up to his check, stroking his tear stained cheeks. "It's okay honey," you smiled softly, "it's okay."

Joe nodded as a frown arose from his lips, "I don't know why, but this almost hurts worse than losing the super bowl."

Your frown deepened, your tone melancholy as you asked, "Why's that?"

He shrugged and took a deep, shaky breath, "We were just so close. I know I let everyone down. I let my teammates down, my coaches, the fans, my parents, you. I just wanted you to see us get there again. I wanted you to be there when I won my first Super Bowl, Y/n. And I failed at that."

"Oh Joey," you grabbed his hand and squeezed it gently, "you'd never let me down. I'm so proud of you, win or lose. You have worked so hard all season, it's amazing you guys got to this point. Don't let one game get to you. I know it's important to you," you sighed, "but you're going to get to this championship every year. I know you are. And yeah, maybe I didn't get to see you win your first Super Bowl this year, but you have so many years left to get your ring Joe." you brought his hand up to your mouth and placed a gentle kiss on one of the prominent veins in hand, "and I'll be at every single game, watching and rooting for you, win or lose. I will see you get your ring someday, Joe."

He smiled softly and wrapped his arms around you, pulling you into a tight embrace. You hugged him back, squeezing him just as tight as he squeezed you. You breathed in his scent, finding comfort in it even if the smell of sweat still lingered on him.

"Thank you, Y/n. I love you so much." He murmured softly, his voice just a little bit louder than a whisper.

"I love you too, Joe." you kissed his temple, "I'm proud of you no matter what, nine." The two of you pulled away from each other and you held up the number nine iced out necklace that was dangling from your neck. Joe smiled as he pulled the exact same chain out from under his white t-shirt.

"There's that smile," you teased, leaning forward to capture his lips in a sweet kiss. Joe smiled into the kiss and brought his hand up to gently cup you cheek. You pulled away from each other and just stared into each others eyes. You could tell from his dropped eyes that Joe still seemed a bit disappointed with the outcome of the game, but he did seem to be a little bit more upbeat after he had his moment. He leaned back on the couch of the balcony of the hotel room. He put his arm up on the back and gestured for you to join him. You sat back against the couch and tucked yourself into Joe's side. He brought his arm down from the couch and let it rest on your side.

"You know," Joe said, quietly, "I'm actually looking forward to the off-season. I think it'll be the best one yet."

"Yeah?" you asked, craning your neck to look up at him.

"You know why?" he questioned as his fingers began to delicately stroke the skin of your arm. You hummed, urging him to continue. Joe looked down at you and smiled softly, his blue eyes shining from the Kansas City moonlight.

"Because I get to spend all of it with you, Y/n."

A blush rose to your cheeks as you grinned happily at him and his confession. The two of you smiled softly at one another as you laid back and enjoyed the moment together out on the balcony of Joes Kansas City hotel room. As sad as you are that the Bengals season has come to an unfortunate end, you can't wait for all of the memories that you’ll be making with Joe during the off-season.

hey loves!!

WHEW so that was a long chapter, i got so carried away with this😅 also, i didn't proofread this chapter much, so i apologize for any mistakes

i’m also SO sorry for such a long wait with this update. i've been going through some writers block lately, plus i've been extremely busy with graduation stuff. thankfully, i've gotten through the writers block and graduation is over! i should be able to get the last few updates out much sooner now :)

i have four chapters left of this series! we're so close to the end, isn't that crazy? i already have the next two chapters completed, so now it's just a matter of posting them. i'll wait a couple days before i post the next chapter though!

i hope you are all doing well. thank you again for all of your love and support with this series🤍

tags: @jackharloww @ilovejoeburroww @dandelionwrites8 @ijustcrypretty @sinners-98-world @a-moment-captured @stainednailpolishremover @spooky-stoner @xoxokiaraaxoxo @kkrenae @hallecarey1 @jordyn14

[milfjuulpod]

Ciao, amore.

summary: After signing up to study abroad through your university, you find yourself in Italy. Learning a language is one thing, learning to love, is another.

a/n: idk where this came from ! in my head this would be a full fledged fic of sorts but, i wanted to see what The People had to think. if i continue the story ofc the other chapters would be longer than this 😭 anywho! here goes nothing.

warnings: none

The summer air hit your skin with its humidity as you walked through the city of Rome, anxious to arrive at your first class. You were thankful to go to a university that offered study abroad programs, and even more thankful to visit Italy. You had always had an interest in the culture and country, and being here was a dream come true.

You opted to sign up for a beginners language course, although you studied a bit before coming, a little more couldn’t hurt. Before long, you were at the door of a lecture room, in a beautiful university in a beautiful country, ready to learn a beautiful language. As you swung open the door, you were convinced for a moment that being beautiful was part of Italian culture, as your eyes met with a striking green pair. The curvaceous woman waltzed towards you, extending her hand to introduce herself.

“Hi! Melissa Schemmenti, are you taking my language course?” She asked, eyeing your backpack curiously. As you took in the room for a moment, you realized you were the first to arrive. Nervously, you returned the handshake, “Yes! I am, and I suppose I’m early too,” as you continued to introduce yourself to your professor, you couldn’t help but avoid her gaze, looking everywhere but those eyes. Maybe it was nerves to make a good impression as a student, maybe it was the fear of getting lost in the pool of emerald, either way, by the end of your introduction your eyes were at the floor.

“Well, y/n, I’m excited to have you here in my class,” she spoke, pulling your attention back up to her. You nodded and went to pick a seat, letting Ms. Schemmenti greet the other students slowly entering the room. The rest of the class was filled with her talking about the things you would be studying, a little bit about where she’s from, and allowed a few students to speak about themselves as well. You couldn’t remember much though, you spent most of the time looking at your professor with love struck eyes like a puppy. As the clock neared one in the afternoon, Ms. Schemmenti wrapped up the lecture. “I’ll see you all on Wednesday,” she said, leaning against the desk that sat at the front of the room. As you got closer to where she rested, she spoke to you specifically, making sure to create eye contact. “Hang back for a sec kid.”

Anxiety immediately fell to your stomach, what could you have done on the first day to already get asked to stay behind? You sat in a student’s chair closest to where Ms. Schemmenti was, and waited for the room to empty. Once again, it was just the two of you, and once again, you couldn’t look at her. The silence between you and her was making you even more uneasy, nervously twiddling your thumbs.

“Is everything alright hon? I know it’s only the first day but, you seemed so distant,” she finally spoke, worry evident in her eyes. You felt a little bad, here she was, checking up on you, when in all reality you were distracted by her. “I’m alright, Ms. Schemmenti. Just have a lot on my mind I suppose,” you replied, giving her a shrug for emphasis. She looked you up and down suspiciously, before speaking once more. “Alright, if you say so. I’ll see you on Wednesday, hopefully things will be better?” the professor said as she gathered her belongings to walk out the door with you.

“I’ll see you on Wednesday, Ms. Schemmenti.”

[audristarzz]

I've been feeling anxious and stressed with this whole kosa thing im trying not to panic but sometimes it feels like no matter what we do they wont listen to us i just saw a tiktok saying that their not even reading up on this bill which pisses me off more. And we are telling them time and time again to not pass kosa. I remember so many content creators were talking about the dangers of the kosa bill i remember it being talked everywhere and now it's just silence which confuses me why is no concerned about this bill did everyone just forget or just doesn't care anymore. This is just reminding me of the whole tiktok ban thing again but so many people online were talking about that but not kosa at all like this bill is going to affect everyone and then everyone will start panicking if it does pass when they could've spoken out about the bill. I'm sorry for the kinda long rant im just stressed anxious idk what to do i have been calling emailing whatever im just so tired i've been spreading info in my twiiter/x account and none of my mutuals seems to care i know people are focusing about what's going on in palestine congo sudan etc so am i but you focus on multiple things at once this bill can censor people talking about these countries too so it makes me really confused why there's barley anyone concerned about the censorship and online safety thing and the whole government id like literally no one of my mutuals care their just only liking posts about me retweeting stuff about palestine sudan and congo like what about the kosa bill it can censor us talking about israels war crimes hello people you should be concerned and make some noise about kosa. I'll try to distract myself i guess but it's hard not to worry i hope it doesn't immediately go to the house once it fully passes the senate since from my understanding only a committee passed it so it might pass the senate tomorrow or some shit idk. Im glad there's slightly more opposition in the house it gives me hope also do you think even if it does pass that it can be stopped with congressman and the government being sued i heard something about lawsuits in a few posts on here and twitter/x but again sorry for the long rant you can ignore if you want it is a long rant sorry lol.

hello!! don’t apologize for ranting I can understand why it’s very stressful and scary especially since it feels like you have nobody to talk to about this, it is infact a scary time for us right now with everyone going on but I’m very proud of you for spreading awareness about KOSA, I myself am trying to stay positive since there could be things that stop the bill (opposition, the possibility of it getting sued and the fact it’s harmful for lgbtq youth and unconstitutional as fuck) but I’ll admit it the anxiety and stress of it does get to me but I’m not going to give up and neither should you. I learned about KOSA a year ago and the reason why it’s just NOW getting to the senate is because we voiced our opposition, Evan Greer is a reliable source where I get my information and she does a lot to try to keep KOSA from passing. A reminder that KOSA tried to pass before in previous years but didn’t because there was so much opposition of it. Maxwell Frost, a representative opposes KOSA amongst others which is good, Once again, there is more opposition and skepticism about KOSA in the House than Senate. I know it’s scary and worrisome but please, don’t panic and if it gets to the point where it’s to much for your health take a step back from looking at updates for a minute. KOSA won’t go straight into effect after it’s voted to the Senate, and IF it passes it will take 18 months to go into effect depending on which state you’re in. But it’s not to that point yet, It has to get to the House which if we keep voicing our concern and opposition will not pass and then get signed to the president, which given everything that’s been going on in the presidential race, may be a bit tricky or take longer to get too. Senate goes into a break in August so I’ve heard so that gives us time to keep calling/ emailing and faxing. If you have any trusted adult I would recommend voicing your concerns to them, i myself am in a very much homophobic republican family (democratic state tho) and i felt hopeless for awhile since I had nobody to voice my concerns to but then I talked to my older cousin and it made me feel a lot better since she voted for Biden. Im not an expert when it comes to politics and this, I get my research from other amazing blogs on Tumblr, articles and Evan Greer since I don’t have any other social media platforms. But I hope I was able to bring some reassurance to you, if not I apologize but please do not give up because the silence is what’s going to get KOSA to pass, keep voicing your opposition, calling / faxing and emailing. It’s going to be okay and please do not panic, whatever happens tomorrow will be a step forward or back but regardless we can fight it and not let KOSA pass. You’re doing great Anon. 💗

[max--phillips]

I’m just writing some shit out to think through some things re: my job and the fact I live where I do and the greater political climate and shit so like. Idk read it if u want it’s long so it’s under the cut but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I’m staring down having been at this job for a year. I don’t hate my job. It’s not a dream job by any stretch, but I don’t hate it. Combined with it being a smaller company, in a sort of weird niche, and not customer-facing retail, it’s really not bad. (Could get paid more, but I Needed A Job when I got hired so like, it is what it is.)

The people I work with are fine. But, as I’ve become increasingly self-aware about as I approach that anniversary, none of them are like… my people. I had some really close friendships come out of Carvana and Vroom despite them both being dumpster fires in the end, but that was the companies’ faults, not the people. There’s not really anyone here that I get along with amazingly well beyond just like, polite conversation. Which is fine, like, I don’t feel unwelcome (particularly since one of the first little bits of personalization I put in my cubicle was a pride flag to sort of set my tone), but, y’know, eh.

As many of you know I live in Indiana, and while Indianapolis is a blue dot in a sea of red, it is still beholden to the laws our new jackass governor is going to champion (remember that one senator from a few years ago who said that interracial marriage was a mistake and then had to walk it back? Yeah. That guy is now governor of the state of Indiana. Gotta love it) and I am still very much a trans person who would like to continue taking HRT. Leaving the country, while very attractive, is not viable for me because I am lacking in the college degree department and anywhere I’d like to go probably wouldn’t take me on those grounds. Leaving the state though? That I can probably do, and have for some time wanted to go to Minnesota.

How does this fit into my job? Well, a few things. The SAD and ADHD have hit hard this year and I’ve gotten in trouble a couple of times for being late (despite the fact I still get all of my work done and “late” is really only a few minutes, it’s not like I’m showing up 20 minutes late every day or anything. Trying to ask for flexibility and grace has been met with… not a lot of either of that, unfortunately, but it’s not like I wasn’t expecting that 🙄) and through talking about that and trying to get my supervisor to understand what was going on (without outright blaming my mental illnesses because yeah it’s been the better part of a year but I still don’t know how that’s going to go over with these people) another thing that came up was the fact that I rewear a LOT of clothes; my last two jobs, three really, all had uniforms supplied to me and I didn’t need a lot of office-appropriate clothes. (This wasn’t brought up to shame me, I should point out, it was an innocent observation after we’d gotten a little bit off track)

Because of that, especially now that it’s winter, to avoid wearing graphic T-shirts all the time and to stay, y’know, warm, I wear a lot of plain or patterned hoodies that, up until literally today, I was under the impression were a-okay to wear since no one had said anything to me. Well, lo and behold a couple weeks ago our CEO asked each department to get together and solidify their dress codes. And what shows up in the one for the accounting department? No hoodies or sweatshirts.

I should note, the last time this department turned in a dress code to anyone was in 2019 (though the circumstances then is a long complicated story having to do with an apparently god awful former office manager and I wasn’t there for it obviously so who knows), and the hoodies/sweatshirts thing was not on it then, so what changed in the last 6-ish months that made them suddenly not okay ?? :^)

Plus, like, I’m not going to lie, I’ve been ignoring a bad gut feeling the past couple weeks because I was positive it was just… political anxiety, but the more that happens, the more I just feel like I need to get the hell out of Dodge. I’m trans, I’m queer, I don’t keep it a secret, and the people I work with are cishet white people, many of whom are married to each other, and a LOT of whom are religious in one way or another (the current owner of the business went to a Christian university, for instance, and while I’ve met him like. Three times? I’m still… uhg. Idk.) and while none of those facts in and of themselves mean any of them are bigoted, I just can’t help but feel… like something isn’t quite right. Again: no one has said anything or done anything that has made me feel targeted, and I know for a fact I’m not the only queer person here, but it’s just… idk man. Vibes I guess

Like, my gut hasn’t led me wrong too many times in my life, but I don’t even know what coherent train of thought to pull from this mess. It’s just coincidental events that my stupid neurodivergent pattern-loving brain wants to be something but I’m not even that sure it’s NOT something. If that makes ANY sense at all

But the main problem is I’m not going to find a new job in four months when my lease is up that lets me move to Minnesota and get out of here, so I know I’m just going to have to stick it out and save money and bide my time, but I am just. Anxious and tired and I wish things were better. Y’know?

[moonflvver]

Soft Kaeya headcanons agenda, inspired by your Kaeya abandonment anxiety ramblings. May I have some headcanons on a reader who often defends and praises Kaeya even behind his back? Like, reader keeps trying to show Kaeya how loved he is, and they put their money where their mouth is, and step up in their actions?

character: Kaeya Alberich x reader

warnings: none! (fluffy stuff)

a/n: I am always down to further the soft kaeya agenda! I ended up turning this into a little drabble... enjoy <3

w/c: 851 this wasn't supposed to be so long

Kaeya is familiar with the slew of insults that often come his way. He’s been called a lazy drunkard by Diluc more times than he cares to count, and he knows that most people look down on the fact that he spends many of his nights nursing a Death After Noon at the Angel’s Share. He’s seen quite a few people glaring at him mumbling about how he should be out patrolling at this time of night. But Kaeya does his work in the shadows, he keeps Monstadt safe without caring about the praise and fame that comes with a flashy win against the Abyss mages that threaten the outskirts of the city. He’s the one that helps to silently take care of threats that work against the peaceful harmony that the Anemo Archon has worked so hard to spread throughout the country. And most people don’t tend to see that, but you do. 

Whenever he comes back from yet another thankless job you’re the one who comes to knock on his office door and commend him on his hard work. You’re the one who gives him a pat on the shoulder and a word of congratulations after the two of you take care of some treasure hoarders that set up camp a little too close to the city. He’s never really had anyone praise him so consistently, so he’s not quite sure what to say. After a while he quits trying to come up with a flirty one-liner and you see a light blush spreading across his face as he mumbles a thank you. At one point Kaeya convinces himself that this is just how you are. You’re kind, you’re encouraging, you’re loved by practically every citizen of Monstadt. So he chalks up your compliments as nothing more than a result of your generous personality. 

That is until one day when he’s about to round the corner to visit your office he hears you berating a few of the newer members of the Knights of Favonius. He’s a bit taken aback at first. He’s never heard you raise your voice like this, and his curiosity gets the best of him so he inches closer to where you’re yelling at the two men standing in front of you. “The two of you have no idea what you’re talking about. Captain Alberich is far from lazy, he’s the one who keeps everyone safe. Including you two. He’s the one who regularly puts his life on the line to collect intelligence on the Abyss so that we can stay one step ahead of them and prevent countless lives from being lost. He’s a pillar of the Knights and he has more bravery and honor in him than the two of you have combined. So if I hear another insult about him coming out of your mouth, I’ll make sure that the both of you spend the next month patrolling the Whispering Woods.” The two men are silent as you berate them and then you finally sigh, pinching the bridge of your nose while you say, “Dismissed.” 

Kaeya is shocked to say the least. He never realized just how highly you thought of him. The mere idea of you defending him even when he isn’t watching makes him feel like for the first time someone truly sees him. He realizes that maybe you do actually care. You’ve made that much clear through your actions. His recognition that your praise for him is genuine causes him to pause for a moment. He thinks back to each time that you’ve been there to offer a gentle word of encouragement and he realizes that it’s okay. It’s okay for him to trust you and allow you to be there for him because you’re not going anywhere. 

The two men move past him, and he finally walks up to you. It’s then that you realize he’s been there the entire time so you greet him with a sheepish smile and say, “So I’m guessing you heard that.” And at this point he’s giving you the most shit eating grin but it’s not because he’s trying to be condescending. He just can’t hold in how elated he feels now that he’s finally recognized that your actions are genuine. “Yeah I did.” He laughs as your cheeks redden. He continues, “And I just want to say thank y-” but before he’s able to finish you interrupt him. 

“I really meant what I was saying. So there’s no need to thank me for just telling the truth.” And at this point he’s short circuiting as he struggles to find the right words. So instead he settles for placing a hand on your waist and pulling you in for a gentle kiss. His lips are feather light on yours and as he pulls away he says, “I know, but thank you. Not just for that but for everything else you’ve done for me.” And honestly, Kaeya doesn’t think that he’ll ever truly be able to trust that the people in his life will always be by his side but with you, it’s different.

[malcolm-reeds-pineapple]

Now that I know this isn’t the mumps or anything bad I’m going to share the timeline of this illness

About 2 weeks ago, I noticed a small bump in front of my ear. Naturally I assumed it was a zit and was like hehehehe I get to squeeze this bad boy in a few days! Gradually, as the bump got bigger and my hearing on that side got worse, I found out it was not a zit. I was bummed out but it was growing too fast to be a tumour so I googled it and determined that it was an inflamed salivary gland. Mayo clinic said it would go away on its own, so I fuckin’ believed them and then just started sucking on sour candy and lemons to reduce the cotton mouth.

Over the next week or so, I started getting random head rushes with any sudden movements. I assumed I was just not breathing right so I put extra effort into breathing and made a mental note to stop being such a lazy bitch. None of this worked, so I googled again, found nothing, so I assumed my body was falling apart and ignored it.

Other the weekend, I called the non-emergency line on Sunday because I started getting cluster headaches every time I got a head rush. Now the head rushed were also bordering on grey outs. I explained my situation to the nurse, mostly because my mom said to do so. I was advised to go to the clinic the following day on Monday. At this point, my face is noticeably wider on one side. I tell my grandmother what’s going on and, since she’s a former RN, she decides to hear out my symptoms too. It’s at this point that she asks me if I have already had the mumps. I laugh, grey out, and then tell her I was vaccinated for that as a baby I’m pretty sure.

The following day, where I am supposed to go to the clinic, there’s a snowstorm that has people going off the road left right and centre. Between that and my grey outs, I decide that it’s probably not a great idea to go. Despite this, my face has swollen even more and I’m beginning to think that perhaps I do actually have the fucking mumps. My symptoms were fitting and a bunch of old diseases are back in my area since the antivax crowd are awful. I watch the inauguration of the numb skull with my nan, both of us wide eyed and horrified, and I’m momentarily distracted by how fucking weird I feel from my face swelling in favour of feeling weird because a human tangerine who just said he’d take my country by economic force is live on TV spewing a bunch more bullshit that’s reminiscent of another certain historical figure.

That night, I go to bed and do my usual blorbo rotations when all of a sudden, I realize that the left side of my face is somewhat numb. I sit up, sigh, and then wait for it to go away. It does not go away. I google again, find that mumps can cause decreased sensation in serious cases. I then look into that and realize this can potentially lead to meningitis. My mom had meningitis when she was pregnant with me and she maintains that the only reason either one of us made it through that was because my brother (a toddler at the time) kept tapping her head shouting “MOMMY!!!” Over and over again kept her awake until my dad got home from work and took her to the hospital. I do not have a toddler to keep me awake lest I have meningitis; I just have a cat who tolerates me and two family members that were asleep.

Freaked out, I call the non-emergency line back. A numb face isn’t normal, especially not on one side. They are also freaked out. The nurse asks me yes or no questions. Was the numbness sudden? Yes. Had this ever happened before? No. But the question that fucked me up and gave me a wave of anxiety that genuinely made me feel like I was about to die was “is the numbness spreading to any other part of the left side of your body” because in that moment I realized that I COULD NOT FEEL MY LEFT ARM. I freak the fuck out and say “yes” loudly and through tears. The nurse stays calm and tries to calm me down and then tells me that she’s transferring me to 911 to dispatch paramedics to me.

I pack a bag of things to take with me should I get dragged away by ambulance. I pack my chargers, two vape batteries (notably no juice), my headphones, my wallet (notably taking my health card out of my wallet, opting instead to put that in the pocket of my ninja turtles pajama pants), my journal as well as one singular pencil, deodorant, my meds, and for some reason, even though I have not read a book in over 4 years, I brought a copy of On The Road by Jack Kerouac and the second edition of Understanding Media by Marshall McLuan. This is what I thought I would need if they dragged me off to the hospital an hour away.

Anyway, I’m passed off to 911 and Mrs 911 gets my address and then tests me for a fucking stroke. Passed the test with flying colours but they still send an ambulance out because a 25 year old is numb on one side and that’s certainly not fucking normal. They get me to unlock the door and I decide fuck it I’ll just wait in the mud room. Meanwhile it’s a fucking polar vortex so it’s fucking cold and snowy. The ambulance arrives in 45 minutes and I go into the back while the two paramedics check me out. My vitals are fine but they’re like damn you got bumps on the side of your face did you know that and I’m like yes I did know that actually! This is my face that I’ve been looking at in the mirror for many years, and quite a few of those instances were in the last few days. Because my vitals are fine and I’m lucid, they ask if I want to go to the only hospital with an emergency room open at 2am; I reject the offer because I’d have to get someone to pick me up and I don’t want to be a hassle. My insurance also only pays for 85% of an ambulance ride and I’d rather save that for if I really need it.

The next day (yesterday) all is well, although my text to my brother while the ambulance was coming was reason for concern because not a fucking soul knew what happened. They had slept through the entire thing. I woke up late, explained myself, and then spent the rest of the day doing a few chores. Still numb, still unsure what’s wrong with me, so I just ignore everything.

After supper, the numbness gets worse as do the grey outs and my neck is in a lot of pain, more than before. I take a Tylenol and use a hot compress that makes it fucking worse. There is still a snowstorm, I don’t trust myself to drive, but I am genuinely feeling like I need a hospital. I go to my brother, commiserate for a bit, and we both decide it’s best if we go to a hospital just in case it’s bad because, for all intents and purposes, I’ve been ignoring these symptoms for 2 weeks and, considering we all think I have the fucking mumps, we determine that ignoring this any longer may be a problem, especially now that there’s neck pain.

We drive the hour on snow-covered roads to emerge, I go in for triage, and the nurse looks freaked out the entire time in explaining myself. I tell her all about the lumps and bumps, headaches and ear aches, all the grey outs and stuff with four part harmony and the paramedics being sent to my house the night before for numbness and how I don’t know what it is but we’re all a little concerned it’s the mumps. Once I mention the neck pain, she looks more freaked out which doesn’t bode well, so I try and reassure her by telling her that the headaches and ear aches are inconsistent and only last a few minutes.

I’m sent back out to gen pop in the waiting room and I’m seen after only 15 minutes. The doctor’s nice, very calm, and I explain myself again with the four part harmony, feeling like I’ve been saying the same shit time and time again and they must think I’m a drug-seeker for all these symptoms I’m listing out while, aside from a swollen face and neck, I look fine. The doctor then does a factory reset on my face, looks in my ear, and tells me that I’ve likely got a bad sinus infection. He then explains exactly how many glands and lymph nodes are involved with sinuses and he tells me that they swell into a nerve if the circumstances are right. Effectively, I am the one in one hundred people that gets numbness from a sinus infection. I get an attaboy for coming in when the neck pain got bad because I was right to be worried about mumps turning into meningitis after 2 weeks of gradually worse symptoms. I am given antibiotics and told to take ibuprofen to help the swelling.

I’m in and out of the emergency room in under an hour. I go out to my brother and tell him the results and we laugh about everything. Anyway, if you’ve ever wondered if sinus infections can be serious while also being ignorable, you have your answer now. Also, rural hospitals will see a rural address combined with someone who has ignored their symptoms for two weeks and instantly worry because everyone in my rural farming community refuses to seek medical help until they think they are dying.

[anonnie-in-wonderland]

Call Me Crazy...

Rating: T

 Word Count:11.8k 

 Warning(s): anxiety/anxious thoughts, near panic attacks, injury, but also beware the fluff for it is potent

 Summary: When Y/N gets her hands on the newest Samsung phone, she thinks at most she’ll get a little clout with her friends and fewer dropped calls. A direct portal to BTS? Not so much.

 Genre(s): Strangers to Friends to Lovers| Crack Treated Seriously| Fluff| Comedy| Romance| Magical Realism

 Tags: bts x reader | ot7 x reader | poly| FM!POC!reader

 Ch.3:  Don’t Hold Your Breath for a Break

A/N: Hiiii, sorry I’ve been away for so long. 🥺 Life has been pretty stressful. But, I’m back now, new chapter, whoo! I have had this on my mind for a while now, and finally got the chance to incorporate it into this chapter~ I really do hope you enjoy the arrival of the next BTS member to show up, whose dynamics with Y/N are already among my favorites. Also, always feel free to chat with me about this fic if you’d like, I don’t bite and thrive on the engagement! 🤗 I wanna know if anyone wants to guess what is going on or has figured it out yet. This chapter is especially dedicated to the blog who had a super easy tutorial on how to keep your formatting from google docs to tumblr!! Saved me a lot of time. Hehe *PLEASE do not ask about the taglist in this story’s comments*

In the days that followed, Y/N completely fell down a rabbit hole. It felt prudent to look more into BTS, or more specifically, Park Jimin. From a strictly legal perspective and nothing more.

 After all, she was sure his attorneys would be sending a court summons any day now just as soon as they managed to find out her identity and track her down. It was something she lived in fear of.

 Binna was none-the-wiser that the reason she suddenly seemed so attentive about the band’s recent lives was because she wanted to know if they’d mentioned anything. Any clues that would tell Y/N when her days as a free person were coming to an end. 

Honestly, she hadn’t found much. Nothing that would be helpful in allowing her to participate in her own legal defense. Speaking of that, could she even afford an attorney that would be able to stand up against Park Jimin’s? She was sure a global superstar would have the best in the country.

Y/N listlessly scrolled through yet more photos of Jimin—looking for hidden meanings in the recent videos the group had posted was starting to make her feel like she was overreacting at best and paranoid at worst. 

There were pictures of him with a variety of hair colors and outfits, taken over time, and he was flawless in all of them. Even ones she came across where he wasn’t glammed out in full makeup made it obvious he was just one of the lucky ones, naturally born attractive. 

“How many wardrobe malfunctions can one person have throughout their career?” Y/N found herself muttering, spying yet another photo where Jimin’s fancy jacket was sliding down his arm. “Is he allergic to keeping his shirt on his shoulders?”

Though, given how many fan compilations existed that compiled every single moment where Jimin’s shirt or jacket hadn’t quite managed to stay all the way on, it didn’t seem like there were many complaints. Army was swooning and swooning hard if anything. 

But really, being sued within an inch of her life wasn’t even the worst part about it all. If someone saw the “notes” section of her phone, they’d have her committed first, and ask questions later. She’d have her committed, under normal circumstances.

 Because what she had experienced not once, but twice? It went against everything she stood for. Logical, grounded, a firm believer in science and fact. Facts didn’t support phenomena like getting sucked through a mirror and ending up in an idol’s dance studio. 

Facts didn’t support seeing the face of another idol—because she now knew the reason the man in the mirror looked vaguely familiar was because he was another BTS member, Seokjin—instead of her own reflection when she went to brush her teeth. It just…didn’t make sense. 

Science couldn’t support it. It was nuts. Yet it happened to her. And that was the only reason she believed it. Too bad no one else would. Or worse, if and when Jimin announced he’d be pressing charges for assault, and she had confessed beforehand to someone…it would probably be taken as evidence the attack was premeditated.

 Sure, they’d have to prove how she got in. But…but still! She couldn’t risk it. Wouldn’t. Which meant her phone was her only safe secret-keeper. They were co-conspirators in it all. 

Speaking of the damned cursed thing… trying to outright return it hadn’t worked, even though she had the receipt and everything! She still remembered the bizarre events that day.

Y/N was almost out of breath by the time she entered the phone store, embarrassingly worked up in front of the few strangers milling around inside. She got a few curious, side-long glances, and then they went back to perusing the inventory.

“Welcome!” Called an employee already speaking to other customers. “Someone will assist you shortly.”

Y/N gave a short, affirmative nod, trying not to come off anxious as she glanced around. Everything looked…the same as the night she had bought the phone. Shiny new models on display, the monitor above their heads playing a loop of advertisements for different Samsung products, and everything neatly put away and organized. Absently, she began to think over the store’s layout, and the fact that it could have a strong subconscious effect on the consumer. Organization of inventory could actually play a role in whether or not someone wanted to buy something.

But, putting that aside, the store didn’t look like the kind of place that would sell someone a phone that would ruin their life. Looks could be deceiving, though. Who knew what was actually afoot?

“Oh, can I help you, miss?” A middle-aged woman wearing the store’s polo top came over with a tag that said her name was Hayoung asked in an attentive tone.

Y/N was quick to nod. “I’m here to make a return, actually. I bought a phone from your store not long ago.”

“Was the item not to your liking?” Hayoung asked, guiding her over to an available station.

The university student glanced down at the phone in question, which she’d placed back in the original purchase box. “You could…say that.” She mumbled. “I’ve thought about it, and I really don’t need anything even half this fancy.” Telling the woman she thought the phone might have it in for her was out of the question. “So I’d like to exchange it for something simpler.”

Hayoung dutifully accepted the box, scanning the barcode and then lifting up the lid. Y/N had anticipated a smooth return in which she’d flash her receipt, maybe some ID, and have the exchange completed in no time. But when Hayoung’s brow furrowed, she knew she wouldn’t like whatever the saleswoman was going to say.

“Is…is something wrong?”

“Well,” she paused, “Are you sure you purchased your phone here? From this store? I know we’ve had models similar to this in stock before, but this one’s just not ringing up.”

“Really?” Y/N shook her head, rummaging around in her purse. “I don’t see how that could be. I have the receipt if that helps…” 

She then proceeded to go through her small purse, searching the exact spot she knew she had folded and placed the receipt. “Um, hold on a minute please,” Hayoung waited expectantly as Y/N kept looking, growing increasingly more frustrated as she turned the contents of her purse inside out hunting for the receipt. 

No, no way was she ever that careless. She had made sure she put it into her purse before leaving the apartment, and she didn’t exactly care that much in it to begin with! It was all zipped up tight, so how could it have fallen out?!

It took several more long, awkward moments of searching futilely in vein for her to realize it was true. The receipt was no where to be found. Trying to fight down the flush of defeat crossing her cheeks, Y/N cleared her throat, speaking diplomatically, “I’m sorry, I don’t seem to have my receipt on hand after all. I guess I’ll just…try to search it out and return when I do.”

“Oh, there’s no need. Our system can search for and find the purchase if you happen to have the card on hand.”

Y/N wanted to slump over in defeat, “Actually my friend bought it…”

“Oh,” Hayoung tilted her head, “Do you happen to know the account number used?”

Y/N mentally wondered if Binna was free. She shouldn’t be in class right now, right? So it would be okay to quickly give her a call and get this sorted out. She had to leave the store without this phone. That was a must!

 “H-Hold on please!” It was a little embarrassing, snatching the phone she had been trying to return from its box and powering it on. In anticipation of making the return, Y/N had thought to wipe it and remove the SIM card chip, but then recalled hearing it was best to do that at the store when the transaction was complete, in case there was something forgotten on the phone that still needed to be retrieved.

Hastily scrolling down the admittedly short contacts’ list, Y/N located Binna’s number and pressed the button to dial. The phone rang three times, and she anxiously tapped her foot as she waited to see if her friend would pick up. ‘Please, Bin. Come on. Please.’

Of course, as it always was when she needed something to work out, it didn’t quite go smoothly. Binna hadn’t picked up, and she had ended up ending the call right before it switched to voice mail. Typing out a text message asking for the information she needed, Y/N had glared spitefully down at the phone.

“Do you recall the name of the clerk who sold you the phone?” Hayoung asked gently. 

Y/N thought it over, the sales associate’s face floating to mind. “Yes, his name was Suk-kyu.”

“Hmm, that name doesn’t sound familiar.” Hayoung shook her head. “I’ve been employed here three years and never heard anyone go by that name,”

It was unlike her, but Y/N felt she was entitled to a bit of out of character behavior when her jaw actually dropped. “You’re kidding…”

But, Hayoung assured her, she was not. She didn’t think they had ever carried the exclusive Army Edition of the phone. She didn’t know who Suk-kyu was, and Y/N couldn’t find her receipt, the only bit of evidence that might have been able to successfully lift the burden of the phone from her person. She had left the store, apologizing for wasting the patient woman’s time, and feeling like she was at least partially going crazy. 

Needless to say, Y/N had been…anxious about the phone since then. A bit scared, even. A fear she had no choice but to shoulder in silence for the time being. There wasn’t much she could do but continue searching high and low for the receipt and hope it turned up soon.

 In the meantime, she didn’t let on that anything was wrong, using the phone like before, though limiting that to when it was really necessary. No more playing around with it or downloading apps. Nope, she didn’t want to risk getting too attached to the thing. 

The only thing she did besides make calls was research. Things she never would have thought about looking up before. Like, unexplained phenomena with electronics, most of which led to completely wild conspiracy theories or dead ends.

Y/N had been so engrossed in breaking her brain over what to do, she jumped when the apartment door swung open, turning around on the coach to see Binna march in, a few grocery bags in her hands. Keys in her mouth, she gently kicked the door closed, humming to herself until she happened to look up and spot Y/N.

“Oh!” Binna hustled into the small kitchen to set her bags down, then her keys. “Y/N, didn’t expect to see you here right now. You’ve got class today, right?”

“It was canceled…” she sighed, sliding down the couch cushions and placing her phone on the coffee table. “The professor’s out sick with the flu.”

Binna winced in sympathy. “Yikes, poor guy…”

“Yeah,” Y/N took great care not to get sick, so she hadn’t so much as had a cold in years, but she still remembered times when she was a child in bed with chills, body aches and a fever. Once she had even had pneumonia, her mother forced to call out from work and nurse her back to health. “He just wanted us to go over the assignment we’ve been working on since the start of the semester. You know, take this as independent study time basically. But…”

“Buuut, knowing you,” Binna smiled, “You’ve already taken the initiative and gotten a head start a long time ago, so you’re ahead of everyone else.”

“Done, actually,” Y/N confirmed, not afraid to admit to her efficiency. 

Her roommate made a noise of encouragement as she began to put the groceries away. It didn’t look like much. A loaf of bread, some bottles of sauce they’d been running low on, some eggs and a carton of milk.

 “That’s great, since it actually kind of works out. Chin-Mae and Min Su invited me to check out this new steak house that just opened up. I heard reservations are booked out for weeks already, but thanks to Min Su’s connections, we can go this evening. What do you say?” Binna wiggled her eyebrows, trying to entice Y/N. 

“Alright, I’m in,” she agreed.

“Because I’m sure they won’t mind adding just one more to our party, especially if that person is you…” Binna continued to ramble.

“Bin, did you hear me?” Y/N clucked, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I said I’m in.”

Eyes round as the eggs she had put away, Binna blinked, nodded, and finally broke out into an ear to ear grin. “Oh, wow, that’s new. I m-mean not that it isn’t great you wanna join us, but…”

“What?” Y/N felt a little defensiveness creeping up on her, and she probably didn’t do the best job completely hiding it from her tone. “You made the invite, and you said Min Su and Chin-Mae would be fine with it. Did you not…really want me to come along?”

They thought she would kill the mood, the nasty little whisper entered her head unbidden. They thought she was so stuffy and boring.

“What, Y/N, no!” Binna immediately denied, “I’m really glad you can make it,” she shot over to the couch, wrapping her arms around her friend’s neck from behind as she bent over for the hug. “It’s true you normally put up a little more resistance when we ask you to come somewhere. You stay so busy, so I was a little surprised is all. But I’m glad you’re agreeing.”

Y/N’s tense shoulders relaxed, and she mentally sighed to herself, feeling silly. Of course, of course her friends wanted her there. And this was Binna, who struggled to have a bad thought about anybody. Secretly resentful definitely wasn’t her style. 

But with the stress she had been under, and the dread she’d done her best not to give into, Y/N could admit her nerves had been on edge. “Yeah, sorry about that…” she laughed weakly, reaching up and patting one of the arms looped around her neck. “I don’t know where that came from, but I’m happy to eat a little steak if Min Su’s recommending it.” The man had the best luck finding good places to eat, or stores that sold exactly what you were looking for but probably overlooked. 

“Good girl,” Binna uncoiled her arms and leaned back against the couch itself. “That’s the spirit. And hey, I heard from some of the girls in the campus’ BTS fan club that one of the guys on campus might be related to one of the waiters who might have catered the food on the set of a music video for Taehyung!”

She said it in a breathy squeal, and Y/N couldn’t help but smile indulgently. She was almost sure she knew which one Taehyung was, but she still wouldn’t put money on it. It might just as soon be someone else. Maybe Namjoon? 

She’d gotten more familiar with their names but as most of her time perusing videos and photos had been spent investigating Jimin, she wasn’t entirely sure on the others’ faces. Well, besides Jin and J-Hope. 

“Nice,” she said, letting Binna get all her gushing out as she texted Chin-Mae just to make sure it really was okay if she tagged along. Stupid to be anxious about feeling unsure if everyone really wanted her to come, but better to be safe than sorry.

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

She was impressed the minute they walked through the door. Min Su stopped trying to sneak an arm around Chin-Mae’s waist and immediately went over to talk to the maître d. The two men spoke cordially, the head waiter confirmed their reservation, and then they were led to their table with a flourish. 

Binna was practically bouncing on her heels, squealing under her breath. “Can you believe this place?” she whispered excitedly, “I feel like a movie star, coming here.”

The restaurant was definitely lavish, so she understood where her friend was coming from. The tables were polished stained oak, and lit by a candle to provide ambiance, and the floors were a gorgeous brown tile that Y/N suspected to be marble. 

The restaurant was done in a mixture of black, gold with high beam wood ceilings and low atmospheric lighting. They walked past a bar, long and oval, with shimmering glasses the team of bartender would pull down as they did impressive tricks to wow the gathered guests. 

“It’s one of the hottest spots in Gangnam right now,” Chin-Mae commented as they sat down. The table comfortably fit the four of them, and everyone got settled as a young woman hurried over, handing them menus and introducing herself. 

“This is so cool,” Binna exclaimed, still wiggling in place. She shook Y/N’s arm. She was all done up with some icy blue eye shadow that matched her aqua dress, and a more subtle plum shade of lipstick. 

Her hair was secured in a complicated twist by a pin she recognized from the last time they had gone shopping together. Y/N adjusted the shawl draped over her shoulders, pulling down her own strapless dress. Binna had helped her pick accessories, which were mostly shades of amber or gold, and apply some light makeup. 

Y/N chuckled, nodding as she scanned the menu, trying her best to ignore the listed prices. She had come fully prepared to pay her own way, but Min Su insisted the meal was going to be on him. It must have been nice.

 The perks of being from an affluent family, she supposed. The guy was already well on his way to being a successful lawyer, following the family tradition. He had moved all the way from his hometown in China to come and work on his master’s degree at one of the top universities in Korea, just for a change of pace. “Thanks again for letting us crash your date night, guys.” Binna beamed.

“Please,” Chin-Mae scoffed lightly, not looking up from his menu. “What was I supposed to do all evening? Talk to him?”

Min Su pouted, but it didn’t diminish the fond glow in his eyes as he leaned over his boyfriend’s shoulder and whispered something in his ear that gave Chin-Mae pause.

 Their friend cut a sharp look at his partner, smacking his thigh and then proceeding to ignore the man who was happily leaning into him and commenting on the menu. Yeah, nothing new there. Min Su was totally gone on Chin-Mae, as always.

 There was nothing about Chin-Mae’s bluntness or dismissive attitude in public that ever put him off. If anything, the mean behavior only served to make Min Su try harder. Though, she and Binna both knew Chin-Mae wouldn’t be with someone this long if he wasn’t just as serious about them.

 He was just a straight shooter, raised in a family that wasn’t completely accepting of who he was, and unfortunately awkward and out of his depth about how to handle someone as affectionate and doting as the man he happened to fall in love with.

 They were well suited in that regard. Min Su was patient and persistent enough to shower Chin-Mae in all the attention he needed to overcome the lingering doubts about being worthy of such deep love and devotion. 

Y/N was perfectly fine, pursuing the path she was. Career goals first, everything else second. But sometimes, watching them, a little envy did ignite.

 It must have been nice to find something like that, and she was truly happy for them. It didn’t seem likely she’d have time in the near future to go out and chase it for herself, of course. And she wasn’t really worried about it. 

“So, what’ll it be for you guys?” Y/N cleared her throat, interrupting the warm and cozy silence they’d all been existing in.

“Ohh, I think I’m gonna have the smoked chicken and spinach salad, and a side of the fried mushrooms,” Binna announced, tongue poking out in concentration as her finger followed where the items she wanted were on the menu.

“You’re going so easy on him.” Chin-Mae remarked. “I’m getting the iron skillet trout,” he squinted, leaning further into the menu. Min Su only smiled, plucking the reading glasses from Chin Mae’s breast pocket that he had forgotten to put on and placing them on his face for him.

 The absent-minded pat he got on the hand for it made the law student’s whole face light up. “And the chicken fried steak. That okay, babe?” He might not have looked it, exactly, but Chin-Mae had a healthy appetite. And if they were coming to such an exclusive restaurant for the first time, it wasn’t surprising he wouldn’t be keen to hold back.

Min Su was nodding encouragingly before Chin-Mae had even fully gotten the question out of his mouth. “And what about you, Y/N?”

She clammed up slightly, having been looking at the menu, mentally ruling out what seemed too expensive, or wasn’t quite her taste. “Uh, the pot roast sounds like a filling entree.”

“And?” Chin-Mae prodded, interlocking his hands together and leaning on them.

“And nothing,” Y/N shook her head. “It comes with two sides, that’s more than enough.”

“Boo,” Her friend hissed dramatically. “Fine. If neither one of you is going to take advantage of this, then I guess it’s up to me.”

Their waitress returned with a tray of drinks at precisely that moment, and as she set them down in front of the correct person, everyone began telling her their orders, which she jotted down without missing a beat.

 Only Min Su had actually ordered any steak, but, given the price of a 24 oz there was just no way she felt comfortable doing that to the poor guy, even if he was a good sport about it and more than capable of handling a large bill. 

As they sat, sipping their champagne and waiting on the food, something Y/N had been putting off thinking about started floating through her mind. Ever since the whole Jimin fiasco, despite her deep diving and frantic searching, nothing had turned up that indicated anyone was coming after her. 

But she just wasn’t willing to believe she’d gotten away that easily. She almost killed a celebrity. And, due to that, she’d really wanted to seek legal advice from Min Su, under the guise of some far-fetched hypothetical, of course. Her friends weren’t onto her, and she couldn’t give them a reason to be. 

She just had to find a way to casually broach the topic…

“Oh,” Binna gasped from her side, drawing the whole table’s attention to herself. She was carefully scrolling her phone with a freshly manicured nail, scowling slightly. It was so rare that Binna displayed any actual disdain, it had Y/N a bit curious. 

“What’s wrong, Bin?”

“It’s nothing,” she replied immediately, then paused. “Well it’s not nothing but, it’s just…I really wished we lived in a world that respected idols as people, you know? Some people call themselves fans and act like famous people aren’t allowed to have any boundaries.” She then went on to describe how there’d been another sasaeng incident reported on a news site she followed to keep up with celebrity gossip. 

Apparently, it was a pretty serious one, and crazed ‘fans’ had attacked an actress a well-known idol was reported to be dating. Her bodyguard had fended them off, but the actress still went to the hospital with some injuries. 

Y/N perked up slightly, but Min Su and Chin-Mae were thankfully too engrossed in listening to Binna rant to notice. It would be much easier to bring up her question using the information Binna had just provided them as a pretext.

 It was about time she had a stroke of good luck. Stopping to think it over, Y/N cringed. Not that she wasn’t sympathetic to the poor woman who had been harmed because of someone’s delusions. But it just…presented an opportunity she had to take, and….

‘Oh, why am I trying to rationalize it to myself?! I should just ask the question before the subject changes.’

 That decided, she opened her mouth and spoke, doing her best to make it seem as casual as possible. “So Min Su, you’re practically a lawyer. What kind of charges could that person face? Attacking a celebrity and inflicting bodily harm isn’t the same as harassing them for a photo.”

 Y/N silently patted herself on the back, sitting from her glass with an expression carefully schooled to look only mildly interested. Inside was another matter. She was rocking back in forth, heart hammering and eyes wide, waiting for an answer with baited breath.

“Hmm, well, I’ve mostly studied corporate law.” He admitted, playing with a ring on his index finger, “But I do know that given the severity, it’s likely both the actress and the company she’s represented under will press charges. Things are also moving faster these days, prosecuting people who do things like that.” 

Y/N swallowed, eyes fixated on Min Su’s thoughtful expression. “There were also witnesses, so it’s very likely to result in a conviction.” Yes, there had been a witness in her case too. Well, J-Hope had only seen her fleetingly. Maybe. Hopefully not. But if she was on any camera then…it was most definitely over for her.

 “The court could go light on them if it was a first offense…they might be sentenced to a large fine and community service…” Okay, Y/N thought. It would probably drain her savings, but it was still possible to bounce back and have a future, right? She could still put it in the past and become a CEO one day, right?! “Then again, it was a premeditated attack. Jail time is also a strong possibility.”

Her heart sank back down to her feet. Jail. What successful CEO in Korea had been to jail before graduating, and for assaulting an idol no less. 

‘I. Am. Done.’

“What’s the matter, Y/N?” Binna giggled, “You look like you smelled a rotten egg. But I guess hearing about how far some crazy people will go is pretty disgusting, isn’t it? I don’t think I’ll have much sympathy for them, whatever happens.”

“…Yeah…” Y/N said once her words came unstuck. That was another thing. Her sweet friend was going to think she was a criminal. She had known Binna since high school, having shared a homeroom class with her. They were vague acquaintances then, friendly enough to speak from time to time but by no means close enough to hang out between classes or after school. 

In fact, admittedly, Y/N used to wonder if Binna’s perky personality was just an act. It had to be, in her cynical rationalizing, because who was really that upbeat, in high school? 

Later on, she would realize she was just projecting, and once she stopped doing that was when she truly came to appreciate Binna for all that she was, steadfast and supportive. Although they didn’t become close, didn’t become friends, until meeting at orientation when arriving at Korea University. 

“They knew the consequences before they did it.” Chin-Mae joined in, swishing the last of his champagne around before drinking it down. “It’s stupid to think your life won’t be impacted when you run wild like that.”

Except, Y/N wanted to wail. She hadn’t known. She wasn’t a sasaeng, and she knew she had assaulted someone but at the same time she hadn’t really done anything wrong. Except maybe buy a cursed magical phone, that somehow was behind all this.

…Yeah, she’d just keep that thought to herself. 

“Well,” Y/N smiled, “Thanks for giving your input.” She told Min Su, who nodded, humming with a cheerful ‘no problem’.

A cartoony chime went off, and Binna groaned as she stared down at her phone, “Nooo,” she sighed, sounding truly remorseful. “Right now?”

“What’s happening?” Chin-Mae raised a brow.

“Jimin is going live!” She whined, “And normally I’d watch but I’m having such a great time with all of you, and I don’t want to be rude…”

“It’s fine, go ahead.” Y/N said, forcing a smile. “We know how addicted to that stuff you are.” Really, she wanted the floor to swallow her into the abyss. She knew the minute she heard that sound what was going on. If her phone had been turned on, they would have heard the same noise coming from her purse too.

She had made an account on several apps BTS often broadcasted their lives to, and set an alert for just that occasion. There were a couple of false alarms she hadn’t tuned into once she saw they weren’t from the person she was basically stalking at this point. But this was it. The big moment. 

He hadn’t done a solo live since the accident…but Binna said his members had mentioned that he had a small accident while practicing and was recovering well. 

All of Army was behind him, sending him tons of well wishes from all over the world. It was sweet, but she wondered how fast they would turn if they knew she was behind their beloved idol’s injuries. 

“Yeah, what Y/N said,” Chin-Mae rolled his eyes. “Check on your man,” he joked.

Binna giggled, flashing them a cute heart. “He’s not my man,” she replied playfully, “I’d have to get in line for that. Plus, I’m really more of an OT7, you know? It’s really hard to stick with one bias.”

 Nonetheless, when she began to watch, since Y/N couldn’t exactly whip out her phone and do the same without raising suspicion, she subtly leaned closer to at least listen.

Of course, Binna was always more astute than she let on. “Oh, did you wanna see too?” She angled the screen so they could both see before Y/N even had the chance to protest. 

And the live was just starting, the exact same idol she had seen what felt like a lifetime ago was sitting in a room by himself. It looked like he was on a couch, legs crossed, looking small in his soft oversized sweater and giving the camera a cute wave. “Hi, everyone,” his sweet voice said. “Thank you for waiting on me!”

Gushing comments poured in, cheering him and welcoming him back, asking him what he’d been up to, and telling him he looked good. Jimin tilted his head, a coy, secretive smile appearing on his shiny lips. Y/N couldn’t tell if he was wearing gloss or if they always looked like that.

 She had been a bit too preoccupied the one and only time she had the opportunity to see them in person. He had dyed his hair a different color, though. It was now a shade of strawberry blonde that complimented his angelic features well.

 “Well, I haven’t been up to much. Just resting, really.” he explained. “Even on days when I felt better and tried to join practices, the members just shooed me away.” He laughed. “Oh, but look at this!” He reached down, his head dipping out of screen for a minute, popping up seconds later holding a little pot. “Taehyung got me this ‘get well’ plant!” He showed them a cute little sapling.

Binna cooed, Y/N glancing at her then refocusing on his words. Who knew when a hidden meaning would pop up.

“I don’t know how well I’ll be able to take care of it; I’m not sure if I have a green thumb. But I’ll try my best!”

Comments came pouring in again, people saying he was going to enter his plant dad era, because collecting succulents could be addicting.

 Other people gushed at the sweetness of the VMin friendship, whatever that was, and yet more people reminded Jimin that he looked really good. Yet one comment in particular seemed to catch his eye, and he squinted, seemingly intrigued. 

“Hmm? You wish you were a plant so I could take care of you?” He repeated. “You don’t have to be a plant for me to want to take care of you.” The statement was very matter-of-fact, “You’re Army. I’ll always watch over Army.”

Binna sounded like she released a tiny sniffle. “Is he not just the sweetest?” She asked, nudging Y/N a bit. “Since you’re new to BTS, have you chosen a bias yet?”

Y/N wished she could tell her the real reason behind her sudden interest, but that was kind of out of the question. “No, not yet…”

“Y/N’s a BTS fan now?” Chin-Mae asked, “Since when?”

“Pretty recent.” Binna replied.

Y/N was only half listening to her friends, mostly focusing on Jimin’s chatter. Someone was still insisting they wanted to be his plant, and he looked nothing short of amused. 

“Okay, if you insist. Should I start a garden then?” He asked his fans. Y/N watched, stunned, as his bright eyes narrowed into a practiced and very effective smolder. She had seen it in pictures before, but in real time it was really something else, “It’ll be full of so many pretty flowers, and you’ll all bloom just for me, right?” The heady purr of his words sent a shocked shiver right down her spine. 

Binna swooned, while Y/N felt her breath hitch. ‘What… the…hell…was that?!’ A flirty throwaway line like that had never had that effect on her before.

 But then, thinking back, he had flirted with her in the dance studio too. She’d just been too worried to pay attention. Clearly, the man was an old hand at the art of duality, going from wholesome to heathen in five seconds flat. That was…dangerous. 

Binna seemed to already know how she felt, leaning into her with a sigh. “That, Y/N, is what happens when Jimin turns from angel to demon.” Her friend explained. “I’d say you’ll get used to it, but odds are you probably won’t.”

Jimin then went back to amicably speaking to everyone, as if he hadn’t just teased fans within an inch of their lives. The conversation moved on, and he was speaking about upcoming projects he was excited about or a funny habit that he had noticed in his band member. All normal, non-threatening stuff. Y/N was almost thinking she could relax. Almost. 

“What? You want to tell me a secret?” Jimin was reading another comment. “Okay, I’m listening…”

Y/N quirked a brow at the comment. “Sometimes I dream about you.” it read.

The idol grinned, replying casually. “Sometimes I miss Army so much I end up thinking about all of you in the middle of the day.” Y/N’s blood ran cold as he looked intensely at the screen. “It’s almost like you’re there…”

That was it. The sign she was waiting for! He was talking to her. 

“I…” Y/N stumbled to her feet, startling Binna. “Need the bathroom, I’ll be back.”

“Oh, okay.” Her friend said slowly, setting down her phone. “Is anything wrong? You don’t…look so good suddenly.”

‘You wouldn’t either in my shoes,’ she thought miserably. ‘Park Jimin is going to sue me within an inch of my life.’

“It’s alright,” she held a hand to her stomach, selling the illusion of sudden nausea. “Just…lady problems.” She said lamely.

Poor Binna didn’t even question it; she nodded, eyes full of sympathy. “Well text if you need anything.” She squeezed Y/N’s hand. “I’ve got a few extra tampons in my purse.” she whispered discreetly. Really, Binna was too good of a friend for her. 

Y/N rounded the corner in a hurry, blindly guessing where the bathrooms might be located. She passed their waitress, rolling out a cart that she was pretty sure contained their meals. Everything looked delicious, and of course she couldn’t even enjoy the great evening Min Su had generously provided. All because she was screwed. 

She hustled into a bathroom as fancy as the rest of the steak house, and so spacious there would probably be an echo. She hustled over to the sink, activating the handless system by shoving her trembling fingers under it. As she splashed her face with warm water, the dread twisting up her stomach gave way to deja vu. 

‘This is just like…the event at the internship.’ The wild day that would be the beginning of the end of her life. Removing her hands from the water, she gently pressed the pad of her thumb up to her eye, tapping it a few times.

 Her makeup was well done, but it still felt like she could see bags. ‘At least it can’t get worse.’ She assumed. After all, what was worse than this? The dumb phone was put away in her clutch, turned off, and back at the table.

 The very least she could do was fake a smile so she didn’t ruin everyone’s meal, and enjoy what might be her last chance to experience this. They probably didn’t serve many steakhouse dinners where she was going. 

That thought firmly in mind, Y/N squared her shoulders and prepared to march back out, tightly gripping her clutch at her side. Wait, her clutch?!

Binna must have handed it over to her, assuming she might need it. She had said to text if she needed anything, and Y/N couldn’t exactly do that without a phone. Well, at least it was off. Y/N wasn’t totally sure what kind of phenomenon had disrupted her life, but it all started with that phone. 

No sooner had she backed away from the mirror than a wave of dizziness overtook her, sending her keeling forward. Instinctively, she clutched the sink to maintain her balance, almost screaming out when she looked up as the dizzy feeling passed. 

The mirror in front of her was the same as always, a reflection of her wide, mortified eyes. But the long glossy mirror that made up the entire wall of the bathroom at the entrance of the restroom? 

A reflection of another room, just like before. “No…” she whispered, not ready to admit that it was happening again. What was worse? All of it being real, or her losing her mind? “Not again…!”

She clenched her eyes shut, then attempted to get her feet moving. She would keep her head down and hurry right on past, to the exit. That was the plan at least. And she was making good progress to move without falling over in her modest heels, but the minute she actually got closer to the mirrors, a strange feeling overwhelmed her. 

Almost like a compulsion to stop. Y/N felt like she was watching a scene in a movie, watching a victim wander down the hall of a haunted house, towards the homicidal attacker lying in wait.

 Her feet were making her move on her own! Her fingertips reached out, and yet she had no control. She had to touch the mirror, see if that room on the other side was real. But deep down, she knew the answer before her fingers made contact.

It was a strange emotion somewhere between surprise resignation when she wobbled onto a floor that was not marble and found her eyes darting around a room that was not the steak house. 

Pressing against the mirror desperately, she confirmed what a large part of her had assumed. There was no give to the mirror, apparently no way back from the time being. Was she even still in Gangnam?

Her senses were feeding her all kinds of information, and frankly, it was starting to overwhelm her. The raw scents of sweat, male musk, and ammonia could only mean one thing, and it was further proven when she peered around the blind corner of a painted brick wall, only to see two people exercising. 

Well, one was doing stretches, and with the way he hopped up, he had just finished. An older man in a tank top and sweats had pads strapped to his hands, and Y/N watched closely, not even daring to breathe, as the younger man sat down and laced boxing gloves onto his taped hands. 

He stood up, and who she assumed was his trainer got into a defensive stance while the younger man hopped around nimbly. Y/N watched, wide-eyed as they began to train, the guy in the black hoodie practicing blocking, jabbing and dodging.

 It was clear he had put a lot of dedication into this. Y/N was never much of a sports person, but she knew the result of hard-work when she saw it. His moves were fluid, and instead of slowing down, they got quicker the more he went at it. 

Somehow, it never felt like a good time to draw their attention to herself, go wobbling over in her dinner attire, and ask for directions back to the High Tower SteakHouse. She had a few other options, of course, like calling Binna. Or maybe Chin-Mae…but how did she explain it? 

She had gone to the restroom for a few minutes and wound up in a completely different location without leaving the restaurant?! Then again, it meant they would really have no choice but to believe her. 

It was impossible for her to have gone anywhere far when they all saw her leave for the bathroom. Maybe she could sneak out while they were distracted and then call when she was outside the gym, not standing around all conspicuous.

Y/N was weighing the merits of her plan when she heard an excited yell, whipping her head around and watching the trainer give his client a few congratulatory pats on the back, apparently satisfied with the work he’d put in for the day. 

They began speaking lowly to themselves, and Y/N paled when she noticed the only door out of the room she could spot was behind them…. The corner she was standing behind seemed to be where the water fountains and locker rooms were located. 

Hiding out in there was another option, but it didn’t exactly appeal when she would have to keep checking to see when the gym was empty. Right now it was just the two of them, but what if more people came in? 

They’d have questions about someone being dressed like she was, right? Then again she could also be found out just staying put where she was. Ugh…it was beyond frustrating. 

Her luck was completely shot, huh?

A little hope returned when the trainer waved at the young man and then began heading for the exit. She assumed they were done for the day, and the second guy would be done soon too. But not so, because then she’d actually be lucky. 

As soon as his trainer had cleared the room, he gave a loud sigh, beginning to shimmy out of his hoodie. Y/N didn’t think she was close enough to make the door in the small moment he had his vision obstructed, but she was close enough to get an eyeful.

 If his training earlier hadn’t tipped her off that he was dedicated, his physique would have. He was all hard lines, though the minuscule glimpse of a thin waist when his shirt rode up with his hoodie was impressive too.

 She could see a full sleeve of tattoos decorating one arm, and coupled with his longish two-toned hair, a deep brown that gave way to a raging red, he was kind of…hard to look at. Distracting in a way she didn’t anticipate. She didn’t get distracted, not usually.  

He, on the other hand, got straight to business. Oblivious of her presence, he walked right over to the large, hanging punching bag and began to hit it. But he wasn’t just hitting it. Again, Y/N was no boxing aficionado, but she knew he knew what he was doing. 

His strikes were always controlled, his breathing never ragged the way she could guess hers would be. He pivoted on his back foot, and she knew that the small movement put more power into his strikes.

 He was hitting the bag like it owed him money, grunting occasionally, the muscles in his arms and shoulders flexing in his t-shirt. At some point, Y/N figured he would stop. He would either head out the door, or into the locker room, and that was when she would flee. 

Hopefully, wherever the cruel cosmic entity that thought her life was a joke had dumped her, it wasn’t very far from the restaurant. Then again, shouldn’t she have gotten a worried text by now? 

She’d been gone for a while. Or, maybe Binna had actually come to check on her and seen that she had disappeared entirely. Y/N could imagine the freak out as Binna flailed her way back to the table and informed Min Su and Chin-Mae that somehow, someway, she’d been kidnapped. 

What was her life lately, she thought miserably. With nothing to really do but scroll her phone or continue to watch the mystery man go at it, she turned to checking what news was trending for the day. Normally, she at least kept up with news involving the business world, if nothing else.

 The celebrity gossip blogs she left to Binna, BTS investment notwithstanding. Stocks were up at several companies she had an interest in working at after graduation—assuming she made it with her life in chaos lately—so that was good.

 A CEO had resigned from his post at a company she had almost interned at but decided not to at the last minute off a strange feeling. Some scandal involving embezzlement. So she dodged a bullet there.

 And, lastly, BTS’ Jungkook had endorsed some new sports brand, and now merchandise was selling out faster than it could be restocked. The article included a picture of Jungkook, posing in shorts and a t-shirt next to a mountain of different athletic gear for various sports. 

Wait. Y/N could have swallowed her tongue. Wait. That man, the man in the picture and the one boxing…were the same person?!

Feeling like she may just be sick, Y/N did a quick check, and really took in the boxer. That was undoubtedly the idol pictured in the article. 

Not only was she going to jail for assaulting one BTS member (albeit on accident) a fact that she had managed to forget up until that moment, she got pulled back into the same thing that got her in trouble before, and ended up crossing paths with another one?! 

Once it came out what happened between her and Park Jimin, there was no possible way people would believe she wasn’t a sasaeng. The circumstantial evidence just kept getting more and more damning. 

Jungkook. Jungkook. What did she know about Jungkook? Admittedly not much, considering all her focus had really been on Jimin for obvious reasons. She knew…that Binna said he was the youngest in the boy group. He was multitalented, and here her friend swore she wasn’t exaggerating or anything.

 According to her, he was like some kind of Barbie of idols, he could do it all. Those weren’t her exact words, but it was the gist. Jungkook also had a habit of being a little shy around members of the opposite sex, or so it was claimed. 

Y/N personally had always thought all idols had to be manufacturing some parts of their personalities for public consumption. Who knew which parts? None of the scraps of information she had been fed told her anything about whether he was liable to press charges for stalking him or not.

Then again, he was an idol, and knowing that, Y/N had to assume he had gone out of his way to book private gym time, hence why the spacious work out room was empty save for him. Which meant him catching her was going to lead to a world of trouble. 

How good were her odds if she just booked it for the exit the minute he went back to the locker room? Or if he left, she’d wait a little bit to be sure he had cleared the building, then she’d leave too. Waiting…yep…that’s all she could do. If she wasn’t in a dress, and didn’t find the idea so dirty, she would slump over on the floor.

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

Jungkook caught the punching bag as it swung back from his last strike, finally feeling satisfied with his boxing for the time being. His limbs had that good burn that he liked, and his heart rate was up, despite his controlled breathing. But he wasn’t ready to leave just yet, so he decided to switch from boxing to something new. After a break.

Unlacing his boxing gloves, he found his gym bag and rummaged inside for his water bottle. Sitting down on a mat, he took a few sips, trying not to gulp it down too fast. His bottle was empty in no time, despite his attempts at moderation, and refilling before he resumed working out didn’t seem like a bad idea. 

His footsteps echoing in the big empty gym was probably his imagination, but the weird sight when he rounded the corner? That he was pretty sure was real. Leaning against the wall, a woman…no, a girl, dressed up like she had somewhere important to be was nodding off. He froze, staring, all kinds of thoughts flying through his head. 

Who was she? How’d she get in? When did she get in? Was she dangerous? Did he need to call for back up? Jungkook had purposely began training at this gym because it was exclusive. As his fame had grown, unfortunately he had to stop using more easy to find public gyms.

 The one at HYBE was an option, but sometimes he wanted something…quieter. Trainees who came in meant well, and they tried to be respectful besides giving him friendly greetings, but they couldn’t help but gawk, and that made it awkward when he was trying to get in the zone. Here, he had thought, was perfect.

But maybe he was rushing to conclusions. He didn’t know anything about the situation besides a girl in a nice dress was falling asleep by the water fountains while standing up. Her head slumped forward, then snapped up quickly as she jolted awake, eyes wide and alert. 

That was when they locked gazes, and his loose, sore muscles tensed right up. She, on the other hand, curled away like she was facing a thug in an alley. It was bemusing; yeah he’d bulked up a lot in the last several years after he got serious about training. Jungkook never considered himself all that intimidating, though. 

“Are you… staff?” he asked, since it didn’t seem like she was going to speak up first. Not with the way she kept looking like the guillotine was coming down on her head any moment. 

It took a reasonably long time for her to compose herself and answer, which was another pretty big tip off that something was not right. He was ready to whip out his phone and call security. Or at least he would be, if he hadn’t put it on do not disturb and left it in his bag. 

“This is all a misunderstanding, really,” she warbled, her hands slapped the wall behind her like she was trying to steady herself. “I didn’t…I didn’t mean to be here.”

“What?” Jungkook was definitely growing suspicious. No one who wasn’t up to something just answered like that.

“I was just going to wait until you left and I guess I started to nod off…” she ran a shaky hand through her hair, disturbing it a little. “But really, please, if you’ll pretend you never saw me, I promise, I’ll be on my way.”

He backed away quickly as she lurched forward, but before he could tell her not to do anything funny, she bowed very formally, and the idol watched, perplexed. When he didn’t respond in any way, she resumed her upright position, then tried to brush by him with her head down. 

Though, when he noticed the phone clenched tight in her fist, he acted without thinking. Something his hyungs had told him to be careful of doing in the past. At least they weren’t around to scold him.

“Hey,” he seized her wrist, and she stopped in her tracks, though he wasn’t expecting her reaction at all. Her eyes took in the hand on her like she could just flay it off with the intensity of her stare alone, and then she met his eyes head-on, hers surprisingly stony. “Your phone…”

“What about it?” she tried tugging her hand away, but he wasn’t ready to let go just yet. Not until he got some answers. He liked this gym. He wanted to keep using this gym, and at the thought that his privacy was being invaded yet again, and he would have to find somewhere else, yet again, he was getting a little worked up. 

“That’s an Army phone, a Galaxy Z Flip 4: Army Edition.”

Her eyes widened, and then she scoffed, shaking her head. “Yeah, I guess you would know. But to tell you the truth, though I can admire your band’s marketability, this phone itself has been nothing but problems. This is just the latest one. Now, please, let go.” There was some bite in her tone now, her voice surprisingly stern. 

When she tugged again, he acquiesced, something she probably didn’t expect, since she stumbled before catching herself. And when she felt her cellphone tugged right out of her hand? She rounded on him, scowling. “That belongs to me.” She held her hand out, clearly expecting it back.

“Why are you here? This is a private gym, and you don’t sound like you’re staff.”

She snatched for the phone, but he held it away, using his speed to his advantage. “Are you Army?”

“What? No,” she sounded offended by the notion, which in turn offended him. Then again, a true Army wouldn’t do this to him. Wouldn’t invade his space. “And what does that matter?”

“You’re not Army but you’ve got a phone that’s a rare exclusive. Only Army would want to own something like this. And if you’d go this far, you might be a sasaeng.” 

Here, she did pause in trying to retrieve her phone, a bit red in the face under her makeup. “Please, between my class schedule and internship, who would even have the time? The people who think stalking and harassing idols is worth jeopardizing their future for really need…” Surprisingly, the girl tried to jump for the phone like she wasn’t in heels, but he held it above his head, which meant it was way above hers, “…a hobby!”

“So I won’t find pictures you secretly took on this?” Jungkook squinted, not convinced. 

“No!” She hissed, jumping again, “Now who’s invading whose privacy, you…you muscle-headed, bunny-eyed brute!” 

He was so taken aback, he faltered, and with one last pounce, the mystery girl had snatched the phone, though not without a cost.

 Before she could even yell out in triumph, her heel wobbled and her foot rolled. Jungkook watched in slow motion, wincing in automatic sympathy as she went down. 

Time sped up as she cried out, on the ground and clutching her ankle in a dress too nice to be touching the bare gym floor. He stood over her, carefully watching her face at first. He could tell she was in pain, but attempting not to show the extent.

 Something about that alone…took him back to his early days. A wave of nostalgia he didn’t want to feel washed over him. He would hide his exhaustion, sometimes even hide injuries sustained while on stage until the end of a performance, until he couldn’t hide it anymore, just to avoid worrying his hyungs.

 And when they caught him, like they inevitably always did, he’d cry, apologize, worry they would resent him. It didn’t make sense to everyone, probably only to those who had experience firsthand with the feeling. Not wanting to let others down, wanting to live up to everyone’s expectations, struggling with the fact that they were still human.

The girl gingerly tried to shift her injured ankle, and that alone seemed to send a fresh wave of pain throbbing through it. With the way she bit her lip and clenched her eyes to stifle the cry he could just tell. 

And even though Jungkook had been concerned about a million things regarding her appearance, including that she might be another delusional ‘fan’, no one could fake pain that expertly. Plus, she’d have to be some actress to make her ankle swell on command.

 It was probably stupid of him to drop his guard, even for a second, but he found himself dropping to his knees, almost reaching out, and then hesitating. She stared up at him through her lashes, her own eyes as guarded as his had been, but wavering as she focused on ignoring her obvious injury. “I need…I need to call my friend.”

Making up his mind, Jungkook loosely grasped her foot by the heel, ignoring her half-hearted attempts to swat his hand away. He extended her leg, careful not to hurt her as he manipulated her foot to get a better idea of how bad it was. “You rolled it pretty hard.” He finally concluded.

“Yeah, no kidding.” Jungkook briefly met eyes with her again, but she stubbornly looked away. “I wonder how that happened.”

Guilt hit him pretty fast. Yeah. Even if he thought she was an intruder, he should have just called security and let them handle it. They were never far, and there was no way she could have stopped him. Not by physically overpowering at least. 

“Hang on,” he told her, setting her foot down and getting back on his feet. “I can help.”

“That’s a nice gesture,” she ground out, failing to hide a wince, “But really, I have my phone, so I can just call my fri—” she grabbed it and opened it, only for her face to fall. “Really? Now?” He heard her grumble irritably.

Noticing his quizzical face, turned a blank screen to him. “It’s dead.” She deadpanned. 

“Okay, then let me help.”

Jungkook didn’t know this stranger by any stretch of the imagination, but he had anticipated what her response would be. It probably sounded something like “no”, since she seemed disinclined to take his help.

 Was she always like this, so stubborn? Was it some kind of pride thing? He had been there, too; his hyungs really had their hands full with him over the years, didn’t they? 

Retrieving the first aid kit Jimin had gifted him some time back, he made a brisk return to find the girl in much the same position he had left her, staring sulkily at her injured ankle. She looked up when he approached, but didn’t say a word. 

“You might have to take off your shoe.” he informed her.

He waited to get a response, the big plastic kit held by his side. Jungkook wondered if she just planned to ignore him, and if he should take her silence as consent and proceed, but that didn’t feel right. Finally, she mumbled, “…This is really happening…isn’t it?”

Nodding slowly, he popped the kit open and examined its contents, locating the roll of compression wrap. While he did that, he noticed her leaning forward, trying to unstrap her heel without moving in a way that would hurt her foot even more. 

Jungkook had never worn heels, but he always thought anyone who did without falling over must have some hidden talent. Hers weren’t as tall as some, but she was still plucking at the strap with building frustration. 

Guessing she wanted it over and done with just as bad as he did, the idol seized the heel of her foot again, bringing her leg out and reaching for the buckle himself.

If he expected a beaming smile and a grateful attitude, he’d be sorely mistaken. She gave him the stink eye. “I can do at least this much.”

“Maybe, but I can do it faster.” He shrugged, already loosening the heel and sliding it off while holding her foot steady. From so close, and without the shoe in the way, he could really see just how fast the ankle had discolored and swollen. Again, he wrestled with the guilt, absently reaching for the wrap. “So,” he began by holding her ankle at a ninety-degree angle, “Who are you? Because this doesn’t mean I forgot…”

“Believe me, I’m someone who doesn’t want to be here anymore than you want me to be here. I didn’t have a choice, not that you’d ever believe me…” she huffed. “But, because legal repercussions are probably unavoidable, I’ll start by being cooperative. Maybe when they review all this, that’ll work in my favor.” It sounded like she was talking to herself, not him, but then she cleared her throat and extended her hand. “My name is L/N Y/N.”

Jungkook didn’t expect such a strange introduction, and the attempt at a handshake reminded him of Namjoon-hyung. He grasped her palm very briefly, barely holding on to it long enough for their hands to go up and down, but she didn’t seem inclined to want to hold onto him either.

“Y/N…” he repeated. 

“As for what I’m doing here…well, again, it’s not something any sane person would believe.” She switched her focus to watching him meticulously wrap her ankle. It was pretty careful care for someone that could have been stalking him, but he had already started, and if he was going to do it, his sense of perfectionism said he had to do it right. 

“Are you…insane?”

“Excuse me?” She didn’t look very amused, but he guessed it wasn’t exactly a polite question.

“You said a sane person wouldn’t believe you…” he explained. 

“I am not insane,” Y/N rubbed a hand to her forehead. “I just feel like I am lately,” she whispered. “I was dining out with some friends, in the restaurant bathroom and then…”

Jungkook waited while he secured the wrap with some bandage clips and closed his first aid kit. “And then?”

“It’s going to sound insane,” she finished matter-of-factly, “You’re going to call me a liar and accuse me of stalking you, then we’ll be right back where we started.”

Jungkook was torn between still wanting to contact security, but also experiencing some curiosity he couldn’t quite tamp down. “Do you have proof?” It didn’t sound like she did. 

“Proof?” Y/N repeated, arching a brow as if he had just said something strange.

“You’re not even going to try to make me believe you?” he goaded. 

“Sure, help me up and I’ll hobble right over to the mirror. You’ll see exactly how I got here and this whole think’ll be cleared up just like that.” Her tone was so sugary the sarcasm was evident. 

Jungkook figured he had indulged this for this long…why not go all the way. Offering her a hand, he warned her to brace herself, and then pulled her up with ease. “Okay.”

“Okay?” She said warily, trying not to show him how much she was utilizing the wall for support. 

“Okay,” Jungkook nodded, “Show me.”

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

Idols were weird. Y/N wasn’t sure if it was just the fact that they lived in a completely ‘different world’ from normal people or what, but she hadn’t expected her first extended run-in with some world-famous celebrity to go like this. 

Park Jimin was one thing; he’d been concussed, so that was enough to make him loopy. She hadn’t expected anything out of his mouth to make sense. But this guy, Jean Jungkook? 

Totally different. He wasn’t suffering a head injury, for one. And he had seemed angry at first, but still handled her appearance in much the same way a mean boy on the playground would in elementary school. Playing keep away with her phone, really?

He’d even treated her with decency when she tripped and sprained her ankle. God, that was yet another thing she was going to have to deal with. Sprained her ankle! Sprained! How was she supposed to get around campus quickly? It was huge. Though she supposed that wasn’t a concern at present. 

The idol’s strange demand was at the forefront of her mind, seeing as he was right behind her while she hobbled slowly to the mirror, her heel in one hand and her phone in the other. 

She must have looked like a suffering pigeon, doing a funny little hop. But she refused to let him touch her after she got her bearings. It was humiliating enough to have someone see her make a fool of herself and get injured to boot, idol or no idol. Well actually, his status made it even worse. 

And he was watching her oh so closely as she made it to the mirror, taking a deep breath and turned around to look at him with some difficulty. “Here it is.” She said flatly. “How I got in, and how I probably would be able to get out, if life felt like cutting me a break.”

He stepped around her, staring at her incredulously like she knew he would. She would look at herself that way in his position. Jungkook pressed against the mirror with the flat of his hand, one good time, as if to confirm it was solid. “You used the mirror? What, like magic? Like a drama?”

“You’re the one who said you wanted proof; I never said it would satisfy you.” she retorted. “I barely understand it myself, but what I’m saying is the only truth I have to cling to.” Her chin dipped, “No matter how implausible it is…” 

She knew she would get the same result he had when she pushed on the mirror, but as if to confirm her fate was truly sealed, Y/N tried anyway. When her hand went right through, the cool glass giving way to cool nothingness, she yelled, pitching forward.

Jungkook made a noise, something startled, and she glanced at him to confirm he was seeing what was happening. His bulging eyes made it evident that he was. Yes! Y/N jerked her arm away too fast, and in doing so almost fell back on her ass, if not for the lightning reflexes of the idol who moved to extend an arm around her waist.

 Y/N got her bearings, smoothed a hand over her shirt and her racing heart, and tried to hold back her tears. He could see. He could really see. The weeks of going crazy in silence, holding it all in, and someone else…could see.

“Your arm went through the glass,” he breathed.

“More than my arm’s gone through.” Y/N spoke with more confidence, now that there was no way he could deny it. “That’s…how I got here.”

The idol once again moved forward, pressing both hands against the mirror. Nothing. “How?” He wondered.

“I don’t know.” Y/N replied, “It’s been happening since…since I got this phone. So that’s my only theory, that the events are connected.” She held up the dead device and wiggled it around. “Not that that’s a story anyone would believe if I got caught breaking and entering.” 

The idol appeared to be thinking, worrying his lip piercing with his tongue, “Unless they saw it.”

Y/N squared her shoulders, eyeing him up and down. He fidgeted, looking small somehow, despite being fairly tall with a healthy amount of muscle. From close up it was even easier to see than watching him from behind the wall. 

“It might come as a surprise for you to know, not everyone would be as cavalier as you about all this. In fact, I’d go as far as saying your reaction was a bit…strange. Has anyone told you that you’re odd?”

  ‘Nice going, Y/N.’ She thought bitterly, ‘That was over the top blunt. You’re not trying to make an enemy out of the very first person to be witnessing the crazy with you.’

Luckily, the idol didn’t look overly offended. Jungkook pursed his lips, big eyes sheepish as he rubbed his head. “Uh-huh, my hyung.” he said thoughtfully.

“Well…” Y/N gestured vaguely. “Now that you’ve seen what I’ve seen, you know about as much as I do. Would it be too much trouble to ask if I could…go?” Pointing a thumb toward the mirror like she was about to miss her cab would seem dumb if he didn’t know. 

“Oh, right,” Jungkook’s tapped the mirror again. “You’re going back to where you came from.”

“Ideally,” Y/N frowned, “I’ve been gone a long time. There’s no way my friends aren’t concerned about that. And when they can’t find me who knows what they’ll think.”

Somewhat afraid the give they had both witnessed was a one-off, Y/N pressed her hand to the mirror once again, happy when it rippled and went right through. It might have been too late to salvage the evening with her friends, but at least she could salvage her reputation.

[mydisasteracademia]

Honestly, the slight crumbs of worldbuilding are all the more frustrating because of how interesting they are.

Quirkless discrimination: it exists, given how okay the teachers are towards Aldera's bullying of Izuku. Sir Nighteye also thinks Izuku being Quirkless won't make him a good hero, using it as an insult towards him.

The Business Course and Support Course: WHAT DO THEY LEARN? I'd imagine some engineering and management classes/hands on labs in addition to the regular classes. Maybe internships with agencies/compnaies on a manigerial or engineering aspect?

Exactly! What’s the use of worldbuilding if you stay in the same spots the entire time? Keeping it safe is keeping it boring, and honestly that’s the biggest injustice for such an interesting and multifaceted world.

Like, we’ve seen people discriminate against Izuku because he doesn’t have a Quirk (even if the majority were literal children, and kids can be very cruel) - but is that just a him thing? We hardly ever (IF ever) see it elsewhere in BnHA. We hear about it it we don’t recognize its impact outside of being a traumatizing experience for our main. We don’t grasp just how widespread this issue is, and the fact that so many see it as an allegory for real-life disability in an ableist world makes it even more disappointing. We see no aids for those with destructive or harmful quirks, we see nothing for those who’ve lost their Quirks in some way (be it old age or losing it via accident), we see nothing to aid those who ARE disabled - we see none of that. I’m not expecting a Japanese man writing a Japanese-centric story to see it the same way other countries or cultures would, but it would be a genuinely interesting issue to showcase and get people discussing.

And let’s be honest, the other courses at Yuuei essentially don’t exist (save for the designers of the Support Course). What I wouldn’t give to see Business Course students debating the ethics of the hero world, or how to run agencies, or studying to get into law schools with Yuuei’s clout backing them up, or even getting government jobs! I would even take a Business Course kid being disillusioned with how corrupt and greedy the hero world is and having to confide in other students about their anxieties and frustrations. We could’ve had a legitimately interesting arc about 1-A or 1-B kids (or even Shinsou) getting to see other perspectives besides just “heroism is great and nothing is wrong!”

And the Support Course! Where’s the sidekicks, the rescue teams, the spies, or ANYTHING besides weaponsmiths? Where’s the tech kids who got into Yuuei to exercise their abilities in those branches? The hackers? The security experts? All of it would be so interesting to explore but we never see any of it!

I dunno. I really do love BnHA but the insistent refusal to explore any themes besides “let’s throw these inexperienced kids into an adult war” is severely frustrating and disappointing. I know Horikoshi isn’t (and shouldn’t be) expected to talk about everything, but even a little variety would be nice.

[onlyang3ll]

hellooo I adore ur blog and was wondering that since ur requests are open.. can you write about rafe being y/n's first boyfriend - maybe they are back from college but went to the same hs

an: hi hope you enjoy this and my take on this request !!! writing on my phone so bare with me! B nice to me pls i don’t like this but i wanna get some stuff out for you all!!

warnings: mean girls!!! swearing. kissing. not proofread

people would have never assumed little old timid you would ever date big bad rafe cameron. but here we are. first visit back home from college, holding hands walking into the country club.

you and rafe didn’t speak in highschool, didn’t have the same friend group. actually had nothing in common. at least that’s what it felt like at the time. but college changed that. you two had almost every class together.

started studying together because it was easier being from the same place. a sense of familiarity even without being super familiar. rafe was a known d bag to most people. but once you got to know him it was hard not fall head over heels.

“bro when did this happen?” kelce walked up with his hands gesturing to you two, topper was the only friend of rafes that knew of our relationship besides our families.

“bro.. none of your business” rafe mocked him. pulling a chair out at the table his friends sat at, you were quiet anxious because you didn’t hang with this group of people in highschool. they were the ones making fun of you for being a prude or goody two shoes. “sit down, baby” rafe spoke softly.

you took a seat and he sat down in the chair next to you. for a while rafe made small talk with his guy friends, eventually topper got there and he spoke to you more than the others.

topper always said he was so glad rafe found me and that i was the toughest girl out there being able to deal with his shit.

“rafe i didn’t know you were back in town!” some blonde shouted and walked over and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, hugging him. you froze, you didn’t have to deal with girls noticing rafe at college because it was always just you two and your group of friends.

rafe was never a player in your eyes because that wasn’t the rafe you met and got to know. he took the girls arms from around him, and nodded. “yup we decided to come back for the weekend” he pulled your hand into his lap and rubbed it softly with his thumb.

“we?” the girl asked with a dumb founded look on her face. “we. me and my girlfriend” he stated. she glanced over and gave a half ass smile. “oh… i didn’t know you guys were a thing”

you looked at her and gave a fake half smile back, “yup we are a thing. very much a thing” you spoke up, and rafe just smiled at you. “anyways, top i hope to see you at my party later tonight” you let out a small laugh at how quick she was to give her attention to a different guy in the group.

the girl walked away, “hey I’m gonna go to the bathroom” you leaned in speaking softly to rafe. he nodded, “okay baby, I’ll be right here” you give him a soft kiss and head to the restrooms.

“honestly i don’t know what he sees in that freak. I don’t even think she said one word in highschool” you heard a the voice of the girl that was just trying to talk to your boyfriend, and stopped to listen.

“rafe doesn’t date, maybe he is using her for something. would not be the first time he has done that with a girl.” another girl chimed in, and they laughed.

your anxiety spiked. and the rest of the time spent with rafe and his friends you stayed quiet. the girls comments consuming your entire head. you didn’t want to believe that rafe would use you and you wouldn’t lie and say the thought of not being good enough didn’t cross your mind often.

you were some book freak, virgin when you and race got together. he never said things to make you feel insecure but you couldn’t help it.

rafe could tell something was off, I’m his truck on the drive back to his family home where you guys were staying at this weekend and looked over at you. “you okay, bunny?”

you snapped out of your daze and looked at him shaking your head, “I’m fine, just taking in the sights” you smiled. he didn’t buy it, pulling into the driveway he parked. he got out and went over to open your door like always, and you turned to get out but he stood in front of you keeping you in the car. “tell me what’s wrong please?”

you sighed, “i over heard that girl and her friends talking about me..” rafe frowned, “what the hell did those bimbos have to say?” you shook your head, “they just said how you don’t date and that they don’t know what you see in me” you felt a tear fall from your eye and he sighs.

“baby don’t give them your tears, it’s not worth it. they are jealous of you. fuck em” he states matter of factly. you giggle a little at the last thing he said. “you are the only girl for me, i wish i could back in time and make you mine sooner.” he cupped your cheeks and gave your forehead a swift kiss.

“you mean that?” you whispered. “fuck yeah i mean that. you’re it for me baby. like it or not you’re stuck with me” he smiled. “oh wow what a punishment that is” you tease him. “you know when you get sassy it gets me going, and we have dinner with my parents in ten minutes so hold off on that missy” he helps you out of his truck.

“yes sir,” you wave your hand at him playfully. “that does too” he jokes, and taps your bum gently. “let’s go before i keep you to myself for the rest of the night”

[allyricas]

"do not obey in advance"

-timothy snyder, on tyranny

tiktok is back up, or at least it is for now. and hey, i am going to miss a lot about tiktok. the community, the exchange of news and ideas, the humor etc. but i will not cave to a theocratic fascist government.

everyone is saying 'oh we're an oligarchy now' no we have been an oligarchy. we have gone past that now. the christian nationalists who are actively being appointed to help run our government, trump who so desperately wants to be a dictator, and all of the christians who are so fixated on the end times and their religious persecution complexes are guaranteeing that this country is actively descending into theocratic fascism.

do not go back to tiktok. do not make it easier for them to obliterate our rights. delete or disable meta. try to stop using amazon. try to shop local as much as possible and/or affordable.

prepare in what ways you can afford.

look, i am poor. i barely survive paycheck to paycheck, so there's no leaving for me. i am in florida where desatan has already been unleashing this push towards white nationalism. he's banning books, making it more and more unsafe to be trans or queer or a woman or a poc. i cannot leave.

if you can leave the us, we are already past the time to have gone. also, part of me feels we must stay and fight against this. it's a dark time and sadly, so many people are fully ignorant of what's happening and what is coming.

tiktok getting banned only to be 'saved' by trump was just a way for them to control tiktok. state controlled media. a propaganda tool.

please, do not obey in advance. do not put your head in the sand and follow blindly as we watch democracy fully fall in front of our eyes. none of us are immune to propaganda and tiktok is going to be used to spread even more to the people who will go back.

idaho republicans are already trying to get the supreme court to overturn obergefell v. hodges. if it makes to the supreme court, it will be successfully overturned rendering gay marriages illegitimate in states that do not recognize gay marriage. roe vs wade has already been overturned and i predict that a national abortion ban is on the way. mass deportations will start tuesday. trump and his cabinet of horrors want to be able to prosecute journalists who speak against him.

this is no democracy.

they are saying all of this out loud now. no more hiding, no more pretending that project 2025 was never the agenda. we are truly in danger. so, figure out who you can trust and sadly (for me included) this means not trusting family. be careful of what you to say people. have a plan for if you need to run. do the best you can to keep yourself and those around you safe. be wiling to lie to those in authority. being truthful in this situation is not the moral high ground when people are in danger.

this website/bluesky/reddit...we need to mobilize amongst each other. even sharing actual phone numbers and information. we need to build community and create safe places people can go if things get as bad as i think they will.

and this isn't to create fear or cause anxiety, it's just what's happening. i see so many people operating as if things will be fine. like, trump is just an annoyance not an actual threat. this is happening and it is serious. so do what you can to be safe.