#and might just get a maroon sweater or hoodie too

[theamazingannie]

The world is so unkind to goth people. Trying to buy a new sweatshirt for my university and there’s not so much as a dark gray

[doopdevil]

what are you waiting for? | n.romanoff x fem!reader x s.rogers | PART THREE

PART 1 | PART 2 | MASTERLIST

warnings: cursing ; one-sided love ; angst ; anxiety ; big argument ; death ; grief

pairings: natasha romanoff x fem!reader ; steve rogers x fem!reader (not poly)

word count: 2,770

summary: natasha is at her limit, and perhaps so is steve.

a/n: just as i was about to post this, firefox crashed 😭 anyways i hope you all enjoy this part, it’s about to get real sad up in here!! also, i hope i’m not rushing the story too much. i just really want to establish a certain tone contextually, but if i’m going too slow or fast, lmk! and finally, if you’re interested, my requests are open, and i’m accepting prompts & characters from this list! thank you so so much for reading and i hope you enjoy it!

    “Carol, when will you be coming back to Earth?” Natasha queried. 

    “Not in a while. The planet I’m at was hit hard by the snap. A civil war could break out if I don’t interfere soon.” the pilot languidly explained. Carol’s usual confident demeanor was weakening by the second. She, like the rest of them, was exhausted.

    “Understood. Let’s end this meeting for now and touch base soon.” Those who remained of the Avengers said their goodbyes, leaving Natasha alone again. 

    The assassin visibly slumped in her seat. It was currently 6:00 p.m. Someone who cared for her, a relative or friend would tell her to make dinner. But no one was there to do so. Hours passed like minutes and before she knew it, the redhead had fallen asleep on her humongous stack of papers. A little drool soaked a document-turned pillow. She sat up with a groan and sighed. Nat thought she might as well send it in any way, as she used the sleeve of her maroon sweater to violently rub on the paper. Natasha had been having a terrible day for the past five years now. Every time she’d think that things couldn’t get worse, the universe would prove her wrong. The majority of the responsibilities of leading the Avengers fell on her, thus beginning the feeling of crushing weight on her shoulders. If Natasha wasn’t working, she was asleep, and she didn’t sleep much. She’d volunteer at the nearby shelters, help ration supplies, and work with people who had been alone like she was. Nat was no stranger to being alone. But its presence was not a friendly one. Tony was gone. He and Pepper were secluded in a little cabin, with a new toddler, and everything they needed. God knows where Bruce or Clint was. Steve would come and go, often taking missions in foreign countries. He’d do anything to avoid being in your old apartment. It was dusty and barren – and it reeked of guilt. Although the captain continued doing the best he could, most of the responsibility fell on Natasha. She continued to rub out the stain on the document with growing agitation. The crinkly tear was unpleasant, ringing in her ears as if it were mocking her.  Maybe she could send a drool-stained document in, but she sure as hell couldn’t send in a ripped one. On her last nerve, she threw the contents out and began heading to her room.

    Only Natasha could navigate the organized chaos that was her room. But the room had an emptiness to it. Despite being filled with things that had belonged to her, and to people she loved, they were soaked in the dust. Upon further inspection, it would’ve seemed that she hadn’t touched some of those things in years. Natasha headed towards a soft, lumpy pile that lay next to her bed. She fished a familiar item out and frowned. Y/N’s hoodie. The last time she saw you, you had eagerly lent it to her. “I know you want to be all cool and tough Nat, but you can’t fool me! Just take the damn hoodie!” The Russian was never one for being vulnerable, but she’d make an exception for you. The soft baby-blue garment scrunched up in her clutching hands, its cozy essence standing apart from everything else in the room. It was glowing with its apparent usage and obvious lack of dust. A bit smelly too. Natasha felt the need to hide every time she’d do this. She’d hold your hoodie close to her as if she were holding a hollow shell of you. The assassin refused to wash it. Somehow after all these years, she could detect your familiar scent. She took in a deep breath and held. 20 seconds had passed and she was still holding it in. It was one of the only pieces of evidence that you had indeed, existed, working against the startling fact that you were gone. When she forced herself to exhale, small, silent tears began to flow from her glassy eyes. Even all alone in the compound, she hated crying too loudly. If she remained quiet, no one would know a thing. No one would know how much she loved you.

    The blonde soldier awoke with a start. He silently cursed at himself for making that mistake again. Assuming that you would be laying next to him, head tucked in his muscular arm, content and comfortable from the torments of the world. But what greeted him had been a blonde head of hair on top of a bareback that slept towards the window. Sharon Carter. Back when he refused to sign the Sokovia Accords, she was just a friend and trusted ally. A reminder of what he had lost so long ago. With you being his wife, other romantic endeavors hardly crossed his mind. And then you started to drift apart. Steve took no joy in pushing you away, but the last thing he wanted was for his dangerous life to interfere with yours. Although the captain can admit, maybe he pushed a little too far. So much in fact that he had inadvertently created a rift that neither of you could repair; all for the sake of his peace of mind. He despised that the last words exchanged between you two were so painful. “I don’t want to have children with you.” Even now, he could hear your muffled sobs behind the hotel door with a horrifying clearness. He could’ve sworn you were right next to him.

    To say the captain was hesitant to date again was an understatement. When the blip had first occurred, he was dead-set on bringing you back. Even when things were the worst, he and the Avengers always found a way. Then you’d all be together again; a dysfunctional yet tightly knit family with lots of time to make up for. Steve would finally be able to tell you how sorry he is. All of his guilt and regret would come forth into the open. But now he knew that was just wishful thinking. Years had passed and he had only just mustered up the courage to ask out Sharon. That could only happen after years of guilt and grief, leading to the inevitable: acceptance. His support group helped a lot, and eventually asking Sharon out didn’t seem so self-serving. You’d want him to be happy, right? At least that’s what he kept telling himself. On nights like these, Sharon would always fall asleep immediately, leaving Steve to hold her with nothing but you in his thoughts. He couldn’t be here anymore. 

    Steve rose up from the bed as quietly as he could, sneaking towards a pair of shoes, his keys, and a brown leather jacket. The captain would be out for a while. He desperately needed to leave a place that made him feel like something wrong towards you; the contrary of a husband: a traitor.

    “Natasha, please.”

    “No.”

    “I beg of you, Nat. I need this. I need you.”

    “No.”

    “But you’re the only one who can do this!” you cried.

    Natasha sighed. She knew you’d get to her eventually. You and your alluring presence, perking up adorably at the sight of her giving in. Nat knew how delighted you’d be if she accepted, and she wasn’t one to lose out on an opportunity to make you smile. Regardless of how ridiculously childish it felt.

    “Fine. I’ll get you the damn seal.”

    The amusing sounds of carnival music, laughter, and tacky game effects filled the vicinity. There it stood, powerful and commanding, only a few booths away from you and Natasha. A titillating game of bullseye, all for the prize of an adorably plump seal doll. It had clearly enamored you the second you laid your eyes on its strange, and quite frankly, painful-looking ones. Poor carnival seal. If anyone had the coordination and skill to rescue it from its prison; it would be Nat. She really tried her best to seem nonchalant. But it wasn’t easy with you standing so close to her, squealing in anticipation whenever she hit the target. It felt surreal when you kissed her cheek.

    “Natasha! You fucking did it!”

    Nat’s face in concentration melted into a soft smirk. That fluffy seal would be your prize, and you being so happy would be hers.

    “I’ll take the seal for this lovely lady,” Natasha felt bold, glancing towards you. A surge of confidence radiated off of her once she gave you the enormous plush doll. Making you happy wasn’t a chore, it was an honor.

    “Nat. Thank you! You’re the best, really,” you chirped, before lunging into her for a hug. Natasha always spoiled you and it never ceased to flatter you. If anyone else had asked her to play a carnival game to get them a seal doll, she’d laugh in their face. Knowing how much she favored you, as much as you enjoyed being with her had filled you with a sense of longing.

    “Anything you want Nat. You’ve dealt with me going absolutely insane over… well over all of this!” You gestured towards the scenery surrounding you. A moderately packed carnival glowed in the evening dusk, the lively lights, and chatter enough to affirm that people were still awake. You had asked Steve to go with you, but he apologetically turned down your date offer. He had a long mission in Europe to leave for, and once he was back the carnival would likely be gone. You loved these little pieces of fun in life. Small reminders of your childhood, sacred places to hide away from the clutches of adult responsibility. You were desperate for a break, and Natasha saw that when your face fell at the sight of Steve leaving. She couldn’t leave you alone like that.

    “Anything?” she asked in a whisper, almost shyly.

    “Yes, Natasha. Anything.”

    Natasha’s eyes opened immediately, alert and prepared as always. The bright light from her phone illuminated her bleak, dark bedroom. Steve would be coming by. Great. If anything could derail that intoxicating dream, it was him. Her copper hair swished as she turned towards the clock. 6:00 a.m. It was still dark out. She had only gotten four hours of sleeping and it showed; but quite frankly, she couldn’t care less. Natasha groggily left her room to greet Steve (and maybe even punch him for waking her up.) She turned down a hall where the plexiglass window revealed a sullen Steve, sitting with his bare feet submerged by water. 

    With an exasperated sigh, she hugged her hoodie closer to her, as if to fight off the goosebumps that started to form. 

    “Isn’t it a little late for beer, Cap?”

    Steve turned with a small smile.

    “I think I’m entitled to a drink or two on the weekend, Nat.”

    “Well then, I guess I am too,” she said as a matter-of-factly, sitting down next to him, legs crossed and shaking from the cold. In an attempt to numb herself, she swiped a fresh beer from his hand.

    “I know you well enough to know when you’re upset, Steve,” Natasha continued, “Why the hell is Captain America drinking at 6 in the morning?”

    Steve paused. Natasha was nothing if not relentless.

    “...I feel guilty.”

    “Here here, man. We’ve all been in that boat.  I mean, we’re supposed to be the Avengers and we couldn’t even stop all of this bullshit.” She was clearly too tired for pleasantries. 

    “Don’t get me wrong Nat, I do feel that way. But I was referring to Y/N.”

    She retained the sound of your name with a jolt of pain. The spy had gotten far too familiar with not hearing it. It broke her heart to notice another sign that you were fading away.

    “I’ve started dating again… but I can’t stop comparing her to Y/N,” he sighed.

    Natasha would begrudgingly continue to do what she had always done. The right thing. It wasn’t his fault that she was hopelessly in love with his wife.

    “Steve, that girl loved you more than anything.”

    “Not exactly helping, but-”

    “Jeez, let me finish! I mean that she loved you enough to want you to be happy. I’m positive that the last thing she’d want is for you to spend the rest of your life in pain over her. It would break her heart. If you’re really serious about this new girl, appreciate her for what she is rather than what she’s not.”

    “I guess that is what she’d want,” he paused.

    “What do you want, Nat?” Steve suddenly asked, cloudy blue eyes glancing towards her.

    “World peace. A Thanos torture chamber. Another beer, perhaps. What do you mean?”

    “You’re wearing her hoodie.”

    Natasha was at a loss for words. She’d wear the thing so much she hadn’t taken into account that people would remember it belonged to you. Steve was frowning, staring down into the water with a hesitant look. He began to speak, his tone pained and honest.

    “I’m not an idiot Nat. I should know if one of my best friends is in love with my wife.”

    “I… don’t want to talk about this with you.”

    “If you have something to say, just say it. You’ve been itching to punch my face for years now, haven’t you?” he asked.

    She had managed to keep her emotions in check for all these years, and she wasn’t going to give up now. Not because Steve was depressed with a death wish. Natasha briskly got up, itching to leave whatever this was. 

    “I’m not mad, Nat. I just want to talk about Y/N with someone who understands-”

    “No, you fucking don’t!” So much for keeping it all in. 

    “For years, I have stood by while you were with her. I let you because I thought you could handle it, treat her better than I ever could. And then you fucking leave her for the niece of your ex? Unlike you, I will not stop fucking mourning. I refuse to stop until I’ve torn apart every last bit of those who’ve taken her from me, and you just gave up! Why do you get everything for not doing a damned thing?” Her emotions spilled out like wildfire, finally bursting into flame after years of being contained. Regardless of the aggressive nature of her words, she was honest. That was enough for her.

    For a second time that night, Steve had felt guilty. He shouldn’t have brought it up. Here he was, picking a fight with the woman who had only sought to put everything back together. Before he could speak, her confused voice filled the silence.

    “Someone’s at the door,” both of their eyes instinctively bored into the surveillance screen as if they hadn’t even been arguing in the first place.

    “Oh my god.”

    “What is it?”

    “It’s Scott.”

    Shock. It tore through your body like rose thorns, paralyzing you in a state of utter confusion. You were back in the hotel as if all of the dust had come together the second you broke apart. Although, it was different. Your eyes scanned the room frantically. Somehow, it was no longer the same bedroom you were in seconds ago. Now it was a sort of sitting room. Whose apartment was this?

    In a frenzy you ran for the door, desperate for answers. All of your belongings from what used to be your hotel room were gone, leaving you with no phone and even more questions. You sped down the stairs into the lobby, desperate for even a glimpse of someone else. What you had descended into was chaos. People were running around the ostentatiously decorated lobby, just as confused as you were.

    “This man keeps calling my apartment his fucking hotel room!”

    “I swear, I didn’t break-in. That was my hotel room before-”

    Before he disappeared, you thought. You weren’t the only one to disintegrate into ash. Just how many people were gone? Running towards the doorman, you begged him to let you borrow his phone. Glancing onto the screen, you were taken aback. 2023? What the fuck? In a state of hysterics, you called a number Natasha had given to you months ago, or perhaps years ago, in case of emergencies. 

    The phone rang.

    It continued.

    You chewed your lip nervously. Where was she?

    The ringing was tearing you apart, tears filling your eyes at the lack of her voice. Silence had never been so deafening. 

    “Y/N?” You had never felt so relieved or heard Natasha sound so vulnerable. Her voice was shaking with an unfamiliar tremble. 

    “Natasha?”

[cuttoothed]

Getting this in just under the wire for day 1 of @jonmartinweek prompt “Comfy Jumpers”. I get so much joy from writing these two in s1 and thinking “lol you idiots are going to be in love some day.”

*

Martin knows that Jon doesn’t approve of the way he dresses.

It’s not exactly a surprise. Jon doesn’t approve of much about Martin: his report-writing, his Latin translations, even his very existence seems to irk Jon at times. Frankly, the feeling is mutual. Martin was perfectly happy working in the library, where his boss wasn’t an overbearing perfectionist arsehole, and if he’d been given a choice in the matter he’d still be shelving books and updating the filing systems, not getting glared at for his clothing choices. He’s well aware that Jon never wanted him in the Archives either, but they’re here now, so Mister Head Archivist is just going to have to live with it. They’re both going to have to.

Jon isn’t subtle about his displeasure; it’s difficult to miss his pointed scowls at Martin’s scuffed trainers and graphic-print t-shirts. And considering that Sasha wears jeans and t-shirts some days as well—though admittedly she tends to plain colors or muted prints, rather than retro video game characters—it’s pretty clear that it’s less about the clothes than it is the person wearing them.

Well, Jon can scowl all he wants, because everything Martin wears technically falls within the Institute’s dress code and there’s not a word Jon can say to him.

Martin has always run hot, so as winter closes in and other people are bundling up in heavy coats and jumpers, he throws hoodies over his t-shirts and zips them up only far enough that the bright graphic prints are still clearly visible to Jon’s critical eye.

Yeah, he thinks sometimes when he walks into Jon’s office, get an eyeful of Yoshi and see how you like it.

Jon, for his part, seems determined to outlast the winter in his usual dress shirt and tweed jacket combo. Martin knows that Jon isn’t particularly warm blooded—he’s seen the way the man huddles into his jacket like a tortoise in its shell until the central heating warms the basement up in the mornings—but he still refuses to add so much as an argyle sweater vest to his outfit in deference to the season.

The only concession Jon makes to the weather is a voluminous gray overcoat and a dark purple scarf, which he takes off the moment he gets into the office, regardless of how cold it is before the ancient heating system creaks to life.

And, well, it’s none of Martin’s business if his boss is too much of a pompous arse to dress appropriately for the weather. If he wants to freeze his backside off to maintain his academic dignity, far be it from Martin to intervene. Martin doesn’t feel sorry for him, when he sees Jon blowing on his fingers to warm them up, or briskly rubbing his arms while he waits for the kettle to boil and he thinks nobody else is around. Not in the slightest.

It’s below zero on the day in December when the central heating finally gives up the ghost. Even Martin can feel the chill in the Archives this morning, keeps his hoodie zipped up all the way even when he runs into Jon in the kitchenette. Jon looks miserably cold, his shoulders hunched and his movements stiff as he makes his tea.

“Morning, Jon,” Martin says cheerfully. “Bit nippy, isn’t it?”

“Just a bit,” says Jon sardonically. Somewhere overhead, there’s a metallic clanking as the heating system starts up.

“Finally,” Jon mutters, casting his eyes upward. The pipes creak and clank some more, and there’s an odd whirring sound that Martin’s fairly sure isn’t normal, and then a long, descending groan into silence.

“Oh,” says Martin. “That doesn’t sound good.”

“Bloody hell,” says Jon, and storms off to his office. A while later, he sends an email to inform them all that he’s spoken to Elias and the heating is out for the whole building, and that they should all feel free to work from home for the rest of the day if they choose. Sasha and Tim waste no time packing up, but Martin lingers, agonizing over which notes and references he should take with him. He’s never before had a job where working from home was an option, and he isn’t Tim or Sasha, isn’t someone Jon trusts and actually wanted to work with. Martin needs to make sure he gets it right.

At last he thinks he has everything he needs, but still Martin is hesitating, fiddling with the strap of his satchel. Maybe he should just check in with Jon before he leaves, make sure there isn’t anything else he needs to do. Make sure Jon knows I’m going to be working today, not just skiving off.

The door to Jon’s office is standing ajar; Martin taps on it, and pokes his head in without waiting for a response.

Jon looks up as he walks in, his expression startled. He is wearing a jumper. A chunky knit jumper in a warm maroon color, with a Christmas tree and several reindeer on the front. One of the reindeer has a red bobble for a nose. The jumper is oversized, the ends of the sleeves falling past Jon’s wrists.

It’s...incredibly cute, which is not a term that Martin ever expected to associate with his arsehole boss. Attractive, in a severe, unattainable way, sure, but not cute. Yet somehow, here they are.

“Ah, Martin,” Jon says, looking flustered. “I, uh, I thought you’d left with the others?”

“I was—I just wanted to check in with you first, make sure you didn’t need anything. You should head home too, it’s freezing in here.”

“I—I’m perfectly fine.” Jon plucks at the front of the jumper, looking embarrassed. “This is, ah, I bought this for the Institute Christmas party, but it’s surprisingly warm—and quite comfortable.”

“Oh, that’s, uh, that’s not part of your usual wardrobe then?” Martin hazards a chuckle, and to his relief, Jon huffs an amused breath. He raises a hand to adjust his glasses, but his sleeve gets in the way; he pushes both sleeves up to the elbows, and oh no, that’s even cuter.

“No, not—not usually,” he says. Martin frowns, suddenly remembering.

“You didn’t wear it at the party last week, though?”

“No, it’s—it was from the previous year, when I was in Research. It-it didn’t seem appropriate this year, being in a management role. Fortunately I still had it in a box, though I, uh, I didn’t really expect anyone to see me in it.”

Martin feels a sudden pang of something that might be sympathy. He understands how it feels, the desperate pressure to be professional, to be taken seriously, the constant second guessing of what you’re doing, whether you’re giving away something you shouldn’t. It’s hardly the same, of course: Jon’s not likely to be fired for wearing a silly jumper. But...Martin gets it.

“Actually,” he lies, “I, uh, I have to meet with Sophie up in the library later, so I’m around for the day. I was just going to go out and pick up some early lunch. Thought I’d see if you want anything?”

“Oh, ah, where are you going?” Jon asks tentatively, looking surprised at the offer.

“I was thinking of that cafe just around the corner—maybe get some soup and a sandwich?”

“That would be...very nice, actually. If you’re sure you don’t mind?”

“I wouldn’t have offered if I did,” says Martin, and takes the ten pound note Jon offers him.

“Thank you, Martin,” says Jon, and it’s the probably the most sincere thing Martin’s ever heard him say. He finds himself smiling without meaning to.

“Not a problem.”

It’s too early for lunch, really, but Martin knows Jon never eats breakfast and he missed it himself this morning. He gets two portions of steaming tomato and basil soup and toasted cheese sandwiches from the cafe, and when he gets back, Jon’s found a small space heater to plug in, so his office is marginally warmer than the rest of the Archives. They sit on opposite sides of Jon’s desk to eat, talking about the case that Martin’s working on. It’s the first time Martin’s actually had the chance to properly discuss a case, rather than stumbling through his report while Jon watches expectantly; Jon listens, and asks questions, and even offers some helpful suggestions for Martin’s follow up. It’s...oddly nice.

(Jon also continues to look unreasonably cute in his oversized Christmas jumper, but Martin carefully ignores that.)

The heating gets fixed by early afternoon, and the Archives warm up to the point where Martin can unzip his hoodie. When he drops off his finished case report to Jon’s office, Jon is back in his shirt and jacket, the maroon jumper packed away out of sight. He looks perfectly staid and professional once again. I saw you looking cute, though, Martin thinks, and then tries to pretend he didn’t; he is not going down that route.

Jon glances up when Martin comes in, taking in the “Marvin the Martian” t-shirt that’s now visible beneath his hoodie. Instead of a disapproving scowl, however, he gives a small, hesitant smile.

“Thank you, Martin,” he says as he takes the report, and something flutters warm in Martin’s chest.

Oh no, he thinks.

[kaitycole]

chapter two: how it all began

Summary: Two little friends have always desired one thing: to end up as siblings. So when the chance presented itself after a finalized divorce, who were they to decline such an opportunity to finally bring their parents together?

Pairings: Bokuto Kōtarō x f!Reader

Word Count: 2577

Warnings: Angst. Fluff. Mentions of divorce, cheating, cussing

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters portrayed in this series. Part of the @babythotshq​​ Dearest Daddy Collab

Tags: open (send me an ask to be added!)

October 2018

Jess wasn’t sure if she should take Bo up on his offer, her mind had her convinced that it was just him being friendly. He saw the way he had looked at you and yeah, he said you had just gotten married, but that doesn’t mean feelings just fade.

She had pulled up his contact several times in the two weeks since she’d gotten it. Since she wasn’t familiar with Osaka or Japan at all, there were no run-ins with him which Jess couldn’t decide if that was good or bad.

It was a rainy Friday when she finally texted him; her thoughts had caught up to her and it dawned on her that no number of miles would cure the pain in her heart.

The adult part of her understood that people are busy and Bo wasn’t ignoring her, he is a pro-athlete after all. But the other part of her, the part that isn’t so mature, chalks up the 20 minutes that passed as he didn’t really mean his offer.

Bo was finishing up in the locker room after practice, he pulled his phone out of his bag before stuffing in his practice clothes. He was on his way out when he finally glanced down and saw two notifications.

Y/N: Just wanted to remind you that I won’t be able to text until next Friday! I’ll bring back souvenirs! (4:05 pm)

He didn’t reply, it was painful to hear about your honeymoon and to be fair he didn’t really want a souvenir either; some constant reminder that you were with someone else. Not to mention all you talked about was how much Youta wanted to start a family. Yeah, he really didn’t need that reminder.

He did perk up however when he saw the second text, one from an unknown number.

Jess: Hey. It’s Jess. (3:12 pm)

Bo quickly noticed that it’d been over an hour since Jess texted him and he panicked. Should he call her or text her back? He groaned when he got to the main exit only to see it was pouring and he once again forgot an umbrella.

Bokuto: Hey! Just got out of practice, sup? (4:40 pm)

Jess smacked the palm of her hand against her forehead, instantly feeling dumb for not realizing it sooner. She stared at her screen, suddenly unsure of what to say.

Jess: I was wondering if your offer was still available? (4:44 pm)

A huge grin spread across Bokuto’s face as he read the message. It no longer mattered to him that it was raining heavily as he walked to the bus station or that he’d have to shower again when he got home.

Bokuto: ‘Course! When are you free? (4:50 pm)

Jess: Sunday? Noon? (4:51 pm)

Bokuto: See you then! (4:52 pm)

Saturday was spent texting Bo most of the day, eagerly deciding where they should go. They ended up agreeing to go to the Shinsaibashi district once Jess mentioned needing to pick up a few things for her apartment. They were both surprised when they learned they lived in neighboring complexes, just a short walk to the others.

On Sunday, Bo all but bounced his way to Jess’s apartment. He had mentioned their texts and conversations to Kuroo who was almost as excited as Bo was; Kuroo liked you, he always had, but he didn’t like seeing Bo so hung up on you and Jess gave him a way to let you go. Jess opened the door and was taken back for a moment, the last time she’d seen Bo he was post-game sweaty in a volleyball uniform, but here he was in her doorway wearing tight black jeans and a hoodie taking her breath away.

Bokuto smiled when saw Jess dressed up; when they met she had on a pantsuit, but here she looked more comfortable. She had one a maroon knee-length dress, stockings and brown boots, accompanied with a scarf; her brown hair was down and curled.

“Ready?” He reached out his hand.

“Ready!” She took his hand as she shut the door.

*                      * A few hours shopping around Shinsaibashi and Bo’s hands are full with most of Jess’s bags. She swore to him that she really didn’t mind carrying them, they were hers after all, but Bo wouldn’t hear it. What kind of gentleman would he be if he didn’t help? She has a few new pieces to add to her wardrobe, a couple of picture frames for prints she wanted to hang up and a few beauty ideas.

He motioned for her to head to a café, sitting her bags in a spare chair at their table.

“You sure there’ll be room in your apartment for all this?” He teased.

Her cheeks burn red as she tried to hide her face with the menu, “I’m sorry. I could’ve gone shopping on my own. I’m sure you don’t want to waste a day off running errands.”

He waved her off, “It’s fine. This is fun. My only plans were to watch TV.”

“Oh. I guess I thought you might hang out with Y/N.” Jess smiled at the waitress as she ordered.

Bo quickly ordered what Jess had, not really paying much attention the mention of you had thrown him for a loop. “I…uhm…she’s out of town.” He cleared his throat, “Honeymoon.”

“I…I am so sorry! I shouldn’t have said anything!” Jess’s eye widened instantly feeling awful. “Wow I just keep messing up today.”

“It’s fine. Really.” He took a sip of his water, “I’m having a lot of fun.”

Jess bit her lip before she began to pick at the croissant she had ordered. Bo ate quietly too which was odd for him but he really wasn’t sure what to say.

“So?” They both spoke at the same time causing them both to laugh.

“You go first.” She offered with a small smile.

“What brought you to Japan?” Bo asked, mouth slightly full of croissant which makes her laugh for a second.

She fiddled with her napkin, her mouth dried slightly. “Can I speak freely?”

Bo cocked his head to the side, not fully understanding, “Of course.”

“I guess you could say I have a Y/N of my own.” She bit the inside of her cheek. “His name is Mark and for years he told me that when he fulfilled his goals, he’d finally be ready for a relationship. Well six years is a long time and 5300+ miles seemed far enough to start over.”

Bo nodded, part of him was glad that he met someone who understood, but the other part, the bigger part of him hated it because no one deserves to feel that way.

“Well, Mark sounds like a dick, but I am glad that it brought you here. I like you.” Bo smiled, noticing her cheeks turned bright pink.

“I like you too.” Jess smiled.

*                      * It didn’t take long for Jess and Bo to become attached at the hip; after the first few hangouts they quickly learned they had a lot in common. And for the things they didn’t have in common? They just taught each other about it.

The moment she expressed interest in volleyball, Bo jumped on the opportunity to teach her; even bringing her to the gym to show her a few moves with Hinata and Kuroo. The latter spent most of the time teasing Bo by flirting with Jess, even picking her up when she assisted in a block. Kuroo lived to pick on Bo, but he was happy Bo had someone in his life to help him get move on. He even managed to snap a photo when Bo picked up her, cheering with a sparkle in her eyes when she spiked a ball.

When Bo mentioned that he had always liked plants but couldn’t seem to keep on alive, Jess jumped on the chance to help him. Her apartment was filled with various types of plants; flowers and herbs and Bo loved listening to her go on and on about them. She went out and bought pots, soil and seeds and made it a challenge to see who could grow their plant the tallest; Bo quickly accepted and then in the same breath overwatered the seeds. Jess gifted him a fake plant short after.

Mid-April 2019

“Are you sure I look okay?” Jess asked, for the fourth time since Bo picked her up. They were sitting in his car outside of Kuroo’s apartment. Just like the other three times, he assured her that she looked beautiful.

“You’ll be the best looking one there.” Bo smiled as she rolled her eyes at him. He wasn’t lying, based on what Bo heard from Kuroo it was mostly just going be you, Jess, Bo, Kuroo and Kenma.

She looked down at her outfit one more time; dark blue skinny jeans, a pale pink flowy top with a thin gray sweater. She knew she’d looked fine, this was her go-to outfit back in California, but for some reason she didn’t feel confident in it. Maybe she should’ve worn her black ankle boots instead of her chestnut brown ones.

Her thoughts are interrupted when Bo opened her door, reaching his hand for hers. She gave him a straight smile as he pulled her into a hug. Breathing in his woody scented cologne instantly relaxed her; sandalwood quickly became a scent she yearned for since meeting him.

He lifted her chin with his index finger, making eye contact with her, “You look stunning. Stop worrying so much.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead causing her to smile.

He intertwined his fingers with hers before they walked into Kuroo’s apartment. Kuroo quickly answered the door.

“HEY HEY HEY!” Bo shouted in reply to Kuroo’s “HEY HEY!”

“Hey, Kuroo.” Jess smiled and then blushed when Kuroo grabbed her free hand, kissing the back of it.

“You know you can call me Tetsu.” He winked which caused Bo to pull Jess into the apartment, muttering that Kuroo worked just fine. Bo knew Kuroo was doing it to get under his skin, he wasn’t clueless, but Jess meant the world to Bo and he wanted to protect her. Kuroo was one of his closest friends and yeah, he trusted him, but Mark was still constantly on Jess’s mind. She needed more time to heal.

You were sitting on the couch when Bo and Jess walked in. You smiled at the pair, noting that Bo was still clinging on to her hand and how he had stiffened at Kuroo’s suggestion for her to call him by his first name.

After failing to agree on where to go to enjoy the night, Kuroo suggested seeing which set of best friends knew each other better. Kuroo clearly feeling that he and Kenma would have a landslide of a victory. Kenma shrugged since Kuroo took his gaming console and hid it which Kuroo and Bokuto took as agreeing. Bokuto was game for anything to show off his competitive side and to beat Kuroo.

The only issue was who would be Bokuto’s partner. Jess awkwardly stared between everyone not wanting to step on anyone’s toes.

“Bo, you can have Jess and Y/N. You’ll need all the help you can get.” Kuroo winked at Jess.

“It’s fine, I can sit this game out.”  Jess said, holding her hands up. “I’ll pick the questions to ask.” “Oh no, it’s fine.” You smiled at her, “I don’t mind seeing what you got.”

“Are we gonna have a cat fight?” Kuroo raised an eyebrow which gained a glare from you, an elbow to the ribcage from Kenma and Bo shaking his head.

“No. I just think it’d be fun. If I play, we’d smoke ya!” You teased Kuroo, sticking out your tongue.

“What do ya, Jess? Be my partner?” Bo smiled and you couldn’t help but see the way Jess’s face flushed as she nodded before moving to sit next to him.

You watched the two of them scoot closer to each other, Bo’s hand resting gently on her thigh as if that’s the most natural thing. Bo was a touchy person, you weren’t blind to that but it made you feel…jealous?

Once upon a time, during the first year you met Bokuto, you developed a crush on the two-toned haired boy. You thought that you had been obvious about it and had dropped hints, but Bo never seemed to reciprocate it or catch on. So, you moved on, leaving the idea in your first-year classroom.

“Y/N, ask the first question!” Kuroo shouted.

“Hold on, hold on.” You scrolled on a website until you found what you were looking for. “Okay, we’ll start with Team KuroKen: What’s your best friend’s favorite food?”

“Easy peasy! Apple pie!” Kuroo smirked, knowing he was right.

“Grilled Mackerel.” Kenma sighed, clearly uninterested.

“Correct!” You cheered. “Now for Team Bess.” “Bess?” Jess scrunched up her face.

You shrugged, “All I could think of on short notice.”

“Cool name or not, we’re gonna win!” Bo wrapped his arm around Jess’s waist, pulling her tighter to him. “Jess’s favorite food is mashed potatoes.”

Jess grinned towards you, “And Bo’s is BBQ meat.”

“C’mon Y/N, give us a hard question!” Kuroo begged.

The four of them continued to answer question after question until both teams had a tied score of 20. You began to smirk to yourself when you found the perfect question. It wasn’t that you didn’t like Jess, she seemed nice enough, but Bokuto had been your best friend for years and you didn’t like the fact that someone thought that six months was long enough to act like they knew Bo.

“Here we go, perfect question.” You winked at Jess, “What was the last movie your best friend watched?”

Team KuroKen quickly answered and a confident Kuroo started gloating about how they already won.

“Bo last watched Coco!” Jess exclaimed.

“Actually, it was (your favorite movie) a few weeks ago when I was upset.” You shrugged with a smirk on your face. Jess got up, excusing herself to go to the bathroom.

“WE WON!” Kuroo shouted before teasing Bokuto that maybe he’d have better luck next time.

“Kuroo, calm down.” Kenma sighed.

“No, Y/N, it was Coco.” Bo stood up, shaking his head, “We watched it together a few nights ago.”

“Well,” you stammered, crossing your arms. “How was I supposed to know?”

“You could’ve waited until I answered.” He let out a deep breath.

“That doesn’t make her your best friend.” You all but shouted.

“I can have more than one best friend.” Bo started walking towards the bathroom to find Jess. “You do, you have Youta, right? Why can’t I have Jess?”

Kuroo let out a low, awkward whistle before Kenma shook his head, heading into the kitchen.

“Youta is my husband. Jess is just...Jess. You’ve known her less than a year.”

“But you always said you’d marry your best friend. And so what? Jess is important to me, that should be enough for you to accept her.”

He walked down the hall, knocking on the bathroom door before gently opening it. He found Jess sitting on the side of the tub, tears in her eyes. Bo kneeled in front of her, pulling her into his arms, apologizing.

“Guess I should’ve just picked the questions, huh?” She laughed and a small sob mixed with it.

Bo started to laugh, “You’re something else, you know that?”

Previous/ Masterlist /Next

[fire-the-headcanons]

What's WeaponsEx?" Raven asked.

"There's a big weapons convention every summer in Vale. Tons of businesses show off new stuff. Dust companies, arms manufacturers, defense engineers—" he said.

"And there's an entire wing of the hall for comics!"

"You mean recruiting."

"Yeah, same difference. There's costume contests, artists answer questions and sign autographs—"

"And they get a few famous Huntsmen to come too," he finished.

Qrow listened with an intensity usually saved for forging class. "Whoa, cool."

Raven rolled her eyes. "You're drooling."

Follow the Beacon Taiyang—COSTumes

[Link to Masterpost]

[Hey, look! A normal-length chapter!]

"Ramparts! For all of your cosplay needs!" Summer declared, throwing the door open dramatically. The Taupes followed her in, looking around in confusion.

"This is a costume store?" Raven asked, brushing through a rack of sweaters.

"Thrift store," Tai corrected. "People donate old clothes, they sell 'em cheap, and the money goes to charity. Summer likes to find stuff and make alterations."

"Come on, let's look at suits!" She grabbed Qrow's wrist and hauled him off toward the men’s section. Amused, Tai and Raven followed.

"Okay, we want to find a green suit and vest for Ozpin, and a red suit for Pete," Summer said, already digging through the racks for anything near the right colors. "Preferably double-breasted, but we probably won't find one. We can sew a little gold ribbon around the edges to make it look like him. I've got a scarf we could tie like his ascot. What about shoes? Should we get shoes?"

He accepted the hideous maroon suit she was holding out.  "Our uniform shoes will be fine, Summer."

"Yeah, you're right." She was in her natural habitat now, comparing every dark green suit in the store to one of their photos from Ozpin's file. It only took a few minutes for her to pop back out of the racks with a three-piece that looked to be about Qrow's size. "Try it on!"

"Uh…" He eyed it warily, holding it in front of his face.

"We are not spending four thousand lien on something you're only going to wear once," Raven said, glaring at the tag.

She had a point. Tai glanced over Summer's shoulder at the photo on the scroll, searching for another solution. "Y'know, Ozpin's suit is really dark—the uniform jacket and pants would probably work fine if we got a green turtleneck to put under it."

"I was thinking just a scarf for that bit, actually," Summer said, running to the end of the aisle and grabbing one with horrible stringy fringe. "We'll tuck the ends in under the jacket. Cardboard will work for his tie-pin-thing, and then all we need are some glasses."

The bin was right next to Tai, and he started rifling through. "None of these look like Ozpin's."

"Those weird bendy parts on the sides are probably custom. Just grab some small round ones."

He held up a pair he’d seen almost immediately, and Qrow gingerly took them.

"How does he see though them?" he muttered, squinting. "These are tiny."

"They're also only thirty lien 'cause the lens is cracked, but we can take them out back at school."

"What should we get for the Carmine costume?" Tai asked. "I don't think we're going to find a leather apron here. Or for less than fifty thousand lien."

"What? No, I'm wearing the one I didn't finish in time for WeaponsEx!"

"Come on, you can wear it next year. We've gotta match. Nobody will be able to see the detail on it in the dark anyway!" 

"Fine," she sighed, grabbing maybe the ugliest brown dress in existence off the rack behind her. It looked about six sizes too big for her, layered with thick ruffles in multiple shades. "I'll cut patches of the darker lining for the embossing Carmine has around the edges. There should be plenty of fabric."

She just couldn’t do a sewing project halfway. "That's still way more effort than you need to put into this."

"What's WeaponsEx?" Raven asked.

"There's a big weapons convention every summer in Vale. Tons of businesses show off new stuff. Dust companies, arms manufacturers, defense engineers—" he said.

"And there's an entire wing of the hall for comics!"

"You mean recruiting."

"Yeah, same difference. There's costume contests, artists answer questions and sign autographs—"

"And they get a few famous Huntsmen to come too," he finished.

Qrow listened with an intensity usually saved for forging class. "Whoa, cool."

Raven rolled her eyes. "You're drooling."

"Yeah, it's where the SDC unveiled the Guillotine last year." Summer said, still thumbing through the suits. "The easiest way to do Professor Mesánychta's suit would be to splatter-paint stars onto the school uniform, but anything that would show up might not wash out…"

"Flour." Tai pointed out.

"Ooooh! Yeah!" 

Raven frowned. "It'll just fall off."

"Not while you're wearing it! Your aura kinda holds it in place—I speak from experience. We can make her headband out of cardboard too. Lucky so many of the staff wear dark suits."

They brought their things up to the registers, the twins looking much more at ease with their two hundred lien price tag.

"So, where should we eat?" Summer chirped.

"…We're not going back to the school?" Qrow and Raven shared an anxious look.

"Well… we could, but it'd take like two hours to fly there and back," she said. "Besides, don't you want to go somewhere other than the cafeteria?"

"Maybe, uh, we'll just meet up with you again after, then…" Qrow stammered. 

"What? Come on, that'll take ages," Summer said with a wave. "Come with us to Goldenrod's! We go every time we’re in Vale, they have these giant noodle bowls, it's great—”

"We'll meet you there in a half hour," Raven said. "There's a comic store Qrow wanted to look at."

Why were they—oh. They hadn't been worried about the cost of the suit just because it was frivolous. Tai's ears burned with secondhand embarrassment. "Uh, Sum—"

Summer tilted her head. "You know I love comics… Why don't we all go after lunch?"

Qrow straightened up, bracing himself. "Because we don't have any money."

Raven shot him a panicked glare as Summer wilted. "…Oh." She fiddled with her hands for a second before shoving them into the pockets of her hoodie. "Sorry, I…"

"I—I mean, it's been nice looking around with you two—"

"We'll buy today," Tai said quickly. Anything to make the awkward stop.

"You don't have to—" Raven began.

"No, come on, it's team bonding time! We've got you. And next time we come to town we'll just pack a lunch."

* * *

"So, have you ever visited Mistral?" Summer asked, errantly drumming on the table as they waited. "I guess you said you were from southern Anima, that'd be a long trip…"

"It was. We went twice."

Her eyes widened. "Really? What's it like? I don't really remember Anima that well." 

"It's…more dangerous than Vale," he said, glancing out of the window at the end of their booth. "Unless you're rich. We mostly kept our heads down. …What about your home? What's Patch like?"

Summer shrugged. "Not much to say. It's just a little port town on an island outside Vale. Forest on the west side has some Grimm, nothing big enough to be a real threat."

"It's the most boring place in existence," Tai sighed.

"At least you'd have ships to look at," Raven said. "There is nothing on Remnant less interesting than a farm." Everyone stared at her for a half-second, she'd been her usual withdrawn self all day. She flinched at the sudden attention. "…I've always liked boats."

"Me too," Summer admitted. "But, sailing boats. With sails. You know, the old-fashioned windy kind, not the new big loud cargo ships."

Nobody liked the giant—usually Atlesian—monsters that would barge into the harbor at all hours. Tai gestured with his chopsticks. "Ugh, and that one asshole that always runs too close to the north side of the island and wakes everyone up in the middle of the night!"

"Well, hey, why don't we go to the docks after the comic store? We could take pictures and stuff!"

"Because your camera’s broken. Remember?"

"Oh, yeah." Her face fell a little. "Well, we can still look around."

"There's not actually a comic store," Raven admitted. "We were trying to buy time."

Summer reached across the table, taking her hand in both of hers. "Raven. You're not getting out of going to the comic shop with me and Qrow just because you made it all up."

Raven rolled her eyes, the ghost of a real smile playing around her mouth. "Fine."

Next Chapter: Summer—Mission Critical

[Yet another chapter of Qrow is a Nerd. ‘Suave flirt’ is a valid interpretation of the text, it’s just not my interpretation]

[thatmultifandomhoe]

Strawberry Cream and BBQ - 13

Pairing: Hybrid Hoseok and Human Reader

Overview: Your best friend knows she can count on you for anything, so when she asks you to watch her hybrid while she’s gone for a study abroad trip for four months, you can’t say no. But when these four months are over, things have changed in a way no one expected.

Word Count: 2,170

Genre: Hybrid AU, Fluff, Future smut, Angst, Best friends to Lovers

Warning: None

Master List

Sneak Peak - Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7 - Part 8 - Part 9 - Part 10 - Part 11 - Part 12 - Part 13 - Part 14 - Part 15 - Part 16 - Part 17 - Part 18 - Part 19 - Part 20 - Part 21 - Part 22 - Part 23 - Part 24 - Part 25 (Final) - Move in Day: A SC&BBQ Drabble

©thatmultifandomhoe Do not repost, translate, or use my stories without permission.

The restaurant was nearing the end of dinner rush by the time you arrived, which meant that Hoseok and you were able to get seated at a booth in a moderately quiet area. It was a blessing that there weren’t any kids nearby.

“It’s been way too long,” Hoseok groaned, leaning back in his seat across from you.

“Sue doesn’t take you?” You couldn’t help but ask, slipping your jacket and purse off and stuffing them against the wall. Before leaving, you had exchanged your hoodie for a thin maroon sweater that had triangle cut outs along the neckline and chest. You even slipped on a pair of black bootie heels and threw on light makeup. All while mentally telling yourself that this was in fact, not a date. You had not asked Hoseok out on a date. It was just two best friends going out to dinner.

Hoseok frowned as he took a deep breath. “No. I think the last time we came here, Colin had been with us. He didn’t like going out to a restaurant and having to cook the food himself.”

It was impossible for you to not roll your eyes, making a face at the mention of Colin’s name once again. That didn’t unmissed by Hoseok who softly chuckled. “It’s alright, the guys and I have been here a few times on our own. Just hard to get all seven of us in one place for food at once.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? I would have made time for us to come down here.”

He just shrugged, taking a sip of the soda he had ordered. Before he could say a word, the waiter came by with the raw meat and vegetables, setting everything, including the side dishes, on the side. With everything sorted out and the grill that was built into the table was turned on, he promptly left.

Under the restaurant’s lighting, Hoseok was undeniably handsome tonight. He was wearing all black. A leather jacket, his t-shirt, his ripped skinny jeans and boots, were all black. And with his wonderfully skin kissed tan skin, something you were jealous of from time to time, it made you wonder if he had dressed like this on purpose.

“Don’t worry Strawberry,” Hoseok spoke, smirking as if he knew that you were checking him out the entire time. “I’ll man the grill. I know how much you suck at doing this part.

You immediately pouted, resting your elbow on the table to lean your cheek against your palm. “I don’t suck, I just have poor technique.”

Hoseok laughed as he put the meat on the grill, his eyes crinkling up in the corner as he shook his head. The light above you reflected back on the silver rings he was wearing, making you die on the inside. Somehow, some way, he found out about your weakness for men wearing all black and rings. There was no way he dressed like this when he was just hanging out with his friends.

Then again, it was the majority of the female population’s dream to see the guy they liked dressed all dark and mysterious.

“Besides, I’m here with you now. That’s all that matters.” His brown eyes met your gaze, his words going around your mind on repeat as he gave you a tender smile. One that said more than words ever could.

Oh, dear God. If that didn’t make you want to lean across the table and kiss him right then and there, you didn’t know what would.

You had seen that smile before, had even envied that smile, but you never saw it on Hoseok. You saw it every time Namjoon looked at Katie, his mate. Despite the fact you never understood what Sue saw in Colin, she gave him that same smile.

It was a smile that you always wished your ex boyfriends would look at you with but never did.

Pressing your lips together, you were the first to break eye contact to look back down at the grill, hoping you weren’t blushing. Even if you were, you’d blame it on the heat from the grill.

Hoseok was proud though, his smile widening when you finally looked away. He had been kicking himself ever since you mention dinner earlier. After all that he had planned and put together, he somehow managed to forget that.  However, this was better. Eating his favorite food with the woman he’s in love with…nothing could get better than this.

If he kept playing his cards right, you’d be his girl, and he’d be able to tell you about being his mate. All he needed now was to figure out why Sue had sent him those texts, have you accept him, and he’d be the happiest hybrid alive.

The sizzling of meat drew him back from his day dream. Grabbing his chopsticks, he flipped the meat over. “Can you start putting some of the vegetables on?” He pointed to several of the cups so you would know which ones.

With careful hands, you used the chopsticks to scoop out the food. It might not he been as if fast if Hoseok were doing it, but you preferred taking your time, especially when there was a hot grill right in front of you. “How was Namjoon?” You asked, remembering that he hadn’t mention it when you got home.

“Uh, pretty good.” He slowly answered, focusing on one piece of meat that he couldn’t get a grip on. “Took him to Seokjin’s finally.” The last thing he wanted to do was lie to you, but he didn’t want you finding out the exact truth just yet.

“Is he still making those exotic coffees?”

Hoseok raised an eyebrow as he moved around the vegetables you placed on for him. “Yes, and somehow they manage to not taste as nasty as you’d think.” He was silent for a moment, and then continued. “You know you can go down to the café whenever you want, right? It’s not only for hybrids.”

“I know, but that’s your guys spot. Plus, I’d feel like I’d be stepping in on guy time for some reason if I just showed up.”

“Should I tell that to the other female hybrids who go to Seokjin’s?”

You had been stirring the ice in your drink with your straw when he said that, your hand pausing, eyes lifting to look up at him. “That’s not what I meant,” you softly said.

The sudden emotion you were hit with surprised you. It wasn’t the fact that he talked to other women, it’d be insane for you to be jealous over something like that. It all quite literally, came down to genetics. Those women were hybrids. You weren’t.

Deep down you know it was stupid to get jealous over. The logical side of you kept reminding you that hybrids took humans as mates too. But the emotional part pushed that away, convincing you that Hoseok wanted a female hybrid for his mate. Someone who he could relate to. Someone who wasn’t his best friend.

Hoseok glanced up at you, sensing the wave of sadness despite the neutral expression you wore. His mind raced to figure out what it was that made you suddenly feel this way, hoping that it wasn’t something that he said. An instinctive whine tried to escape his lips, but he pressed his lips together to force it back. He didn’t remain silent for long.

“Come with me next time,” he blurted out, catching you off guard. “To Seokjin’s café. Next time I go, come with me.” That had to be the reason you were suddenly sad, Hoseok thought. If you went with him then all would be well. Right? Plus, he really the idea of being able to take you out again, so much so that his tag wagged against the back of his seat.

The corner of your mouth curled up in a smile, but your mind and emotions were arguing back and forth. There was still a chance that Hoseok’s mate would be a hybrid, and there was nothing that you would be able to do about it. You were just going to have to accept it when that day came.

“You sure?” You asked. Lifting your head off your hand, your fingers tugged at the sleeves of your sweater as you glanced at the food. With a start, you were surprised to see that the majority of it was done cooking. He just started to dish some of it out, handing you a bowl of white rice.

“Yes Strawberry,” Hoseok firmly said. He even stopped what he was doing to look at you, trying to fix whatever happened. Whether or not it was even his fault, he wanted to make you happy again. “I’m not saying that because Seokjin would love to see you at his café, although I’m pretty sure he would. But because I want you there. And it won’t be you intruding on guy time, I promise. We can plan out a day, that it’s just the two of us drinking coffee that shouldn’t taste good but does while scarfing down Jin’s pastries.”

You licked your lips, prolonging your answer. There was no special meaning to his words. If anything, they were just words with a promise of one day getting together to hang out. At least, that’s what you were trying to convince yourself of.

Words were always just going to be words, but the way he said them, that made all the difference. He spoke with such an intensity that your heart quivered that was why you reacted to them. There were no words that left for you to say, because as simple as his were, they were extraordinary. Maybe you were overthinking, reading way too far into what he was asking.

For the rest of dinner, everything seemed to be smooth sailing; Hoseok’s face relaxing as his tail wagged underneath the table when he finally got to eat. He even got you to laugh when he caught a pickled cucumber in his mouth after convincing you to toss it for him. Your mind on the other hand, was still processing it all. It continued to do so long after the two of you left the restaurant to go back to the apartment, disappearing into your respective rooms.

Dinner was still on your mind at midnight, your Literature textbook sitting abandoned on the blankets next to you. Emerson would have to wait until tomorrow for his deep thoughts about life, there was only one person occupying your mind tonight, and he was sleeping in the room next door.

Your heart raced as you remember the way his hand felt on your back when walking out of the restaurant. Soft and reassuring, a promise that he wasn’t going anywhere. Then again when entering the apartment. The gesture was so simple but it instantly brought forth daydreams of him living in the apartment with you, permanently instead of temporary. You tried to tell yourself that wasn’t possible as you dressed for bed. You weren’t his owner, Sue was.

That didn’t stop them.

These moments and daydreams, sudden as they were, continued to come even faster. Going to the café together, him showing you how to dance, long walks whenever and wherever the two of you felt like it, waking up in his arms. They were so sweet and so short that they left you wanting more. Sniffing, you blinked and the furniture in you room blurred. Tentatively touching your cheek, you were shocked when your fingers came back wet with tears.

With your head leaning back against the headboard, you pulled the blankets up to your chin as you stared at a picture of you and Hoseok on your nightstand. You remembered that day. The two of you had been sitting on the couch waiting for Sue to hurry up, planning an all-day trip to the mall or somewhere. Hobi had been on his phone when you suddenly called out his name, quickly smiling when he saw that you had it on selfie mode.

“Why Hobi?” you barely whispered to yourself, taking the textbook and setting it on your night stand before rolling over to your side. “Why did you have to make it sound like a date?”

The only way you were getting an answer was if you went to his room and asked him yourself, but you couldn’t. You were to scared that when you asked, he would just say he meant it as two friends getting coffee. Like how he and Namjoon went there earlier.

If that was the answer you got, your heart was going to be broken beyond repair. It was too late to back out of it now. You said yes to him Hoseok during dinner, but under the wrong context. You’re aching heart wanted to go to Seokjin’s with Hobi as a date, but your mind forced you to settle for a friendly get together instead.

[starscattered-blog1]

;game muses

Name: Clementine, unknown last name Nickname(s): Clem, Sweet Pea Age: 15-16 Date of Birth: Unknown Place of Birth: Unknown Gender: Female Race/Species: Human Language(s): English

Physical Description Height: 5'5” Weight: 121 lbs Eyes: Brown Hair: Dark brown Skin: Brown

Personality/Attributes Personality/Attitude:   Talents/Skills: Unknown Likes: cats, music, AJ, people Dislikes: thinking about Lee, assholes, walkers, spiders, heights, people, being underestimated, anyone touching her hat Fears: being restrained, death Mental illness(es)/disorders: generalized anxiety disorder, PTSD, depression Sexual Preferences: Bisexual biromantic Place/Type of Residence: A rundown boarding school with other kids and teenagers Occupation: None Family: Unnamed mother and father, Lee Everett (father figure), Kenny (father figure), AJ (adopted son)

Other: Knows how to shoot, and use a bow & arrow. Also, her right foot has been removed. Uses crutches to walk.

From: The Walking Dead Game

Name: Brian Yeong-sik Yu

Age: 21 Gender: Male

Height: 6'4" Birthday: Unknown

Death-Day: December 17th

Ethnicity: Korean-American

Occupation: None, Spooky High student

Orientation: Pansexual panromantic

Personality:  He’s a pretty relaxed guy, or so it seems on the outside. He overthinks too much, and often spends his days daydreaming. A bit aloof, though certainly not unapproachable. Introverted.

Likes: drawing/doodling, poetry (won’t admit it), theatre, challenges, dangerous situations Dislikes: blacking out when he eats, how tall he is, being considered stupid, his limbs falling off

Other: has PTSD.

Name: Yoosung Kim Nickname(s):  Age: 21 Date of Birth: Unknown Place of Birth: Unknown Gender: Male Race/Species: Human Language(s): Korean, Japanese, English

Physical Description Height: 5'6” Weight: 121 lbs Eyes: Purple Hair: Blond Skin: Light peach

Personality/Attributes Personality/Attitude: kind,  lovable, clingy, naive, sensitive, depressed Fears: losing his friends/loved ones, insects Mental illness(es)/disorders: generalized anxiety disorder, PTSD, depression Sexual Preferences: Pansexual Panromantic Occupation: Member of the RFA, college student

Other: Has yandere-like tendencies.

From: Mystic Messenger

Name: Asriel Dreemurr Nickname(s): Az, Azzy Age: 18-20 Date of Birth/Zodiac: June 22nd/Cancer Gender: Male Race/Species: Lightener/Monster Language(s): English, Latin (studying)

Physical Description Height: 6′2″ Weight: 142 lbs

Body Type: Slender, toned Eyes: Maroon Fur: Off-white Markings: Dark freckles along his cheeks Other: has two brown horns protruding from his head

Personality/Attributes Personality/Attitude: Asriel, for the most part, is a kind hearted individual. Known as a crybaby when he was little, he… still does cry a lot but not in public places. An emotional person, very empathetic and sympathetic. Can be a bit of a troublemaker every now and then. Shy and reserved, but clingy to those he cares about. Fears: rejection, spiders, pitch black darkness, losing his family, heights Mental illness(es)/disorders: depression, borderline personality disorder, social anxiety disorder Sexual Preferences: Demisexual Demiromantic Place/Type of Residence: Lives in a dorm Family: Asgore & Toriel Dreemurr (parents), Kris Dreemurr (adopted younger brother)

Love Interest: None!

Weapon of Choice: None

Trivia:

-Asriel is in college, studying astronomy and literature.

-he… actually wants to go back to living at home.

-Asriel misses his brother a lot. Cries at night because of it.

-He tries sending Kris gifts through the mail.

-has a limited amount of magic.

-he knows basic hand-to-hand combat.

-he knows ASL.

-Asriel is autistic.

-Asriel is an insomniac.

Name: Suzanne Rewbury (word to the wise: never call her Suzanne) Nickname(s): Susie Age: 15-16 Date of Birth/Zodiac: October 28th/Scorpio Gender: Female Race/Species: Lightener/Monster Language(s): English

Physical Description Height: 5′6″ or 5′7″ Weight: 126 lbs

Body Type: Fit (not overly fit though), has a fair amount of muscle mass but also just a little bit of chubbiness around her waist Eyes: Yellow Skin: Purple Markings: Freckles on her cheeks, self harm scars along her thighs Hair: Mauve

Personality/Attributes Personality/Attitude: Susie is brash and rude a lot of the time, though she IS trying her best to be… well, less of a bully. She is kind, deep down, but it’s hard getting past her rough exterior. She’s extremely protective of those she cares about and isn’t afraid to speak whatever’s on her mind. Hates feeling vulnerable. Fears: being forgotten or alone, death, being restrained, thunder Mental illness(es)/disorders: borderline personality disorder, rejection sensitive dysphoria, depression Sexual Preferences: Demisexual Panromantic Place/Type of Residence: Lives in a small apartment with her father Family: Junix Rewbury (father) & Yvette Behan (mother)

Love Interest: Verse Dependent

Weapon of Choice: Ax

Trivia:

-her father is verbally and physically abusive.

-her mother walked out on her and her father.

-When she was little, she was forced to dress up and fit the stereotypical feminine role. As she turned thirteen however, she grew tired of it and decided to dress and act however she wanted which… angered Junix.

-her soul is white, like other monsters’, but hers is slightly cracked.

-Susie doesn’t know how to flirt.

-knows hand-to-hand combat.

NAME: Sans Aster Spooks Age: 26 Date of Birth: Unknown Place of Birth: Snowdin Gender: Male Race/Species: Monster/Skeleton Language(s): English, ASL

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION Height: 3′0″ Weight: 50 lbs

Body Type: Pudgy, chubby (has an odd red ecto-stomach) Eyes: sockets are black, irises are red & blue Bones are white, Spooks has dark gray/blue rings beneath his eyes.

PERSONALITY/ATTRIBUTES Personality/Attitude: At first, Spooks might seem like an innocent and friendly monster. Polite, mostly. He has a short fuse, and enjoys scaring others. Cracks morbid jokes sometimes. Bitter, if someone mentions his brother or the Queen. He’s the type to stab you in the back and think nothing of it (literally). Keeps up the “cute” facade around people he likes.   Fears: being left alone Mental illness(es)/disorders: anxiety, depression, PTSD, borderline personality disorder, narcolepsy Sexual Preferences: Pansexual panromantic Place/Type of Residence: Lives in Snowdin Family: Unknown father & mother (deceased), Papyrus “Eerie” (deceased)

TRIVIA:

-when Spooks was a babybones, he received the crack to his head. When asked about it, he grows silent.

-the Queen of his timeline is Toriel, NOT Undyne, due to this not only being a Horror timeline but a Swap one as well.

-has his brother’s weapon as a keepsake, as well as his dark orange hoodie.

-he falls asleep at inopportune times, thanks to being narcoleptic.

-his brother (and most monsters from the timeline) have been killed. By whom? No one knows, except Spooks. And he’s not very keen on telling.

-hasn’t ever trained to be part of the Royal Guard.

-has a sentry station set up, usually sleeps at it.

-enjoys drawing and coloring.

-immediately if he sees a human or humanesque being, he won’t hesitate to attack and attempt to eat them.

NAME: Sans Serif

PREFERRED NICKNAME: Sloth AGE: 27 GENDER: Nonbinary but identifies as male SPECIES: Monster (skeleton)

HEIGHT: 3′9″

WEIGHT: Unknown

ORIENTATION: pansexual panromantic

OCCUPATION: Sentry & Judge

MENTAL ILLNESSES/DISORDERS: Clinical depression, borderline personality disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, narcolepsy

PERSONALITY: Sloth is a friendly enough individual and will speak to just about anyone. Don’t let that think he’s an extrovert, because he’s very much an introvert. Communicating with others tires him out, which is sad considering how tired he always is. Deeply depressed and often tells self deprecating jokes and morbid jokes. Jokes around but will take no shit. Flirty around those he likes, but will immediately back off if someone’s uncomfortable or not interested. Loyal to his loved ones.

SIBLINGS: Papyrus (whom he jokingly calls Diligence) LIKES: spending time with his brother, jumping timelines, meeting new monsters, learning about the stars and constellations, Halloween, scary movies, romantic movies, jokes, being flirted with, flirting, dogs, cats, children, sleeping DISLIKES: violence, bugs, the color yellow, being in crowded places for too long, his disorders/illnesses

OTHER:

-has fangs

-can create a cyan ecto-tongue and ecto-stomach (does this often)

-from a multirun timeline (mostly genocide runs)

-wants to be a scientist (used to assist the old royal scientist back in his youth)

-sickly

-often wears fingerless gloves

-has a lv of 100

-has night terrors

Name: Olgilvie Maurice Sonic Alias: None yet, (though might go by ‘Saga’) Age: Early twenties Date of Birth: June 23rd Place of Birth: Mobius Gender: Male (Demiboy) Race/Species: Mobian (African Pygmy Hedgehog) Language(s): English

Physical Description Height: 3′0″ Weight: 72 lbs

Body Type: ??? Eyes: Light green Quills: Light blue Inner ear fur/muzzle/stomach/arms: Very light peach

Personality/Attributes Personality/Attitude: Cocky, loyal, highly imaginative, emotional, persuasive, tenacious, moody, insecure, sympathetic Fears: water, spiders, being restrained, being confined, death Mental illness(es)/disorders: borderline personality disorder, rejection sensitive dysphoria, depression Orientation: Demisexual panromantic Place/Type of Residence: He’s a wanderer, always traveling from place to place Family: Jules & Bernedette “Bernie” (father & mother, deceased), Uncle Charles “Chuck” (roboticized)

Trivia:

-he has autism.

-has a warp ring on him at all times so he can visit other dimensions.

-enjoys fall and winter though he hates being cold.

-really likes sweaters.

-purrs when he’s content.

-his coming was actually fortold by a pair of twin prophets, claiming that ‘a Mobian with the ability to run at the speed of sound will bring back hope to the planet’, or… something along those lines.

-his parents died at the hands of Doctor Robotnik.

-his nose is pink in color.

[shopperschoice]

How to Choose the Best Handbags for Fall/Winter 2022

The connection of women with their handbags is eternal. Every woman loves pairing a nice handbag with any outfit she wears. Whether it is a traditional attire or a western one, there is a purse for every occasion and every garb. It is so versatile! Every season comes with new trends and fashion. Dresses, footwear, accessories and even purses change as per season. And now it’s time for winter – there is a whole new lot of handbags for women trending worldwide. So, what is your handbag inspiration for this fall season? Confused? Read our article as we have brought some amazing handbag styles just for you. Take a look!

Furry handbags: As the season is chilly, we are sure you might have kept all your winter essentials ready such as sweaters, hoodies, knee boots and furry coats - something that keeps you warm! What if we tell you that you can have a warm furry bag too? Many brands are coming up with faux fur coat bags which are a rage among the population. For that matter, even wallets in the same material are quite a swing these days. A classic companion to a furry shearling coat is a matching fur bag. It is extremely soft and fluffy. You can adorn these not only with a coat but also with any type of casual. Are you planning to go to a party? This bag can be your pal there too!

Massive-sized bags: Winter calls for too many essentials that one has to carry. Moisturizers, stoles, face creams and even our extra warm wear sometimes. In addition to this, regular items such as a phone, makeup, AirPods, and napkins are always mandatory. Keeping all this together is a task – but not anymore. Oversized bags can be your rescue! A massive bag has enough space to keep each and everything. It has designated pockets for particular things so that you don’t get lost searching for your belongings. These big bags are an age-old trend but are now repeating themselves again. All thanks to the fashion world for this boho chic look necessity!

Artistic bags: Who said Grafitti can only be on walls? The new world says – art can be anywhere! From rugs to dresses, you will see digital paint like Grafitti print everywhere. The same applies to the bag’s world. Many brands are coming with artistic bags that have unique prints on them. Geometric, abstracts, ombres, animated, and paint finish are some exquisite prints that are trending among teens mostly. They generally come in leather and are ideal for evening dates.

Embroidered bags: We assume you might have seen embroidered clothes. Don’t they look really elegant? The distinctive threadwork is just mesmerizing! Now, get the same work in your ladies handbags as well. Lovely, right? Purses with embroideries are an absolute winter style that can be donned at weddings and casual meetups.

Clutch style: many people think that clutches are a little inconvenient as it has no shoulder strap. However, that could be the case. But let us tell you, if you are comfortable carrying a clutch – you must definitely go for this style in winter. A pillow clutch can hold an end number of belongings and is also perfect for a vacation. We mean you can rest on it like a pillow too! Simple rectangular clutches are also good to carry tabs and note bags. Check out the circle shapes ones as well because even they are veering a lot.

All Red bags: The hoodies and long coats give an international vibe altogether. So, why not adopt the international bag style too? An all-red bag gives French vibes with those long coats. Even you can create this look by purchasing a bag, clutch or sling in any red shade. Maroons and rusts also work! Imagine wearing baggy jeans with a nice blazer and a deep red sling with black sunglasses. Aren’t you looking fabulous? So, what are you waiting for? Grab a red bag now!

Conclusion

Are you loving the new 2022 winter handbag collection? You can grab all of them from Shoppers Choice and fill your wardrobe with a classy handbag collection. From mini handbags to big-size purses – Shoppers Choice handbags are high in quality and are really affordable. You will find various brands here. Their online store has recently been updated with a fresh fall collection that you can browse on their easy-to-use website. So, hurry and shop for the latest collection of handbags now!

SOURCE LINK

[kingz01]

Kingz Review: NYC Capsule Collection

Who isn’t obsessed with a good collection? With the NYC Capsule Collection, Kingz has outdone themselves. While remaining faithful to their strict adherence to quality and impeccable construction, Kingz has encapsulated – see what I did there – the stylish, yet no-nonsense vibe of New York City aesthetic. - gi pants for sale

With their first drop of the NYC Capsule Collection, Kingz brings you a super sharp black gi, two sweet new t-shirt designs, and two of the slickest looking sweaters out there.

Without further ado… The NYC Capsule Collection:

Limited Edition NYC Jiu-Jitsu Gi

Let’s get started with the most exciting item: the NYC Jiu-Jitsu Gi! If you’ve never owned a black gi, this is definitely the one to have. If you’re all about the black gis, prepare to be blown away.

One of the heaviest gis in the Kingz lineup – with a 550 GSM jacket and 12 oz cotton drill pants – this gi was made to last. Seriously. You may find yourself passing it along to your children as some epic jiu-jitsu heirloom. If you’re wary about a heavier gi, don’t be. I think everyone should have at least one in their collection, if only for those cold weather or judo training days.

However, the best part of the NYC Jiu-Jitsu Gi is the styling. This thing is tight! All black, it features pops of orange embroideries, reminiscent of the orange-red of the bricks in older parts of the City that Never Sleeps. The gi also features slick black-on-black details, such as the “Kingz Kimonos” emblazoned across back and… my favorite… a Statue of Liberty on the ribcage and pants.

NYC Capsule Collection – T-Shirts

The NYC Capsule Collection also features two new t-shirt designs.

Keeping with the fresh New York aesthetic, the Est. Orange Bar Tee features a pop of orange on the front left chest and across the back, and “Kingz Kimonos” and “Est. 2011” in clean, urban font. Available in both black and white, the Est. Orange Bar Tee is classic, without being dull.

Looking for something that stands out a little more? The collection’s Statue of Liberty Tee is where it’s at. Available in a maroon or white, the t-shirt features a really cool distressed Statue of Liberty graphic in yellows and oranges. If you’ve ever looked out upon the big lady as she’s cast in that evening sunset glow, this tee just about captures that.

  NYC Capsule Collection – Sweaters

And what collection is complete without some cozy sweatshirts or hoodies?? None, I tell you.

The Athletics Crewneck is about as clean as they come. All black and made from a premium cotton/polyester blend, it features the Kingz logo on the back collar and “Kingz Athletics” and other script emblazoned across the front in super preppy orange font. It’s high-brow, without being too snobby.

My personal favorite, however, might have to be the 1960’s Hoodie. Why? Because it features a nod to the influence of New York City wrestling on the development of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Jiu-jitsu history buffs unite! All black and with a simple orange logo outlined on the front, the back contains a blurb about Rolls Gracie:

For More Info: womens gi pants

[lazywriter7]

Blind date part 3

for @mega-mathi​ who inspired me to finally finish this, and @ishipallthings​ whose prompt it was originally based on:  “you’re supposed to be on a blind date with someone but you sat down at the wrong table and i haven’t been able to get a word in edgewise to tell you that and it’s been thirty minutes” au

Read part one here

Read part two here

He caught her in an elevator.

Well, not quite. He was waiting on the ground floor, trying to remember how to whistle without his hands. It seemed like a whistling kind of moment. Or a whistling kind of day.

Tongue to the back of the throat, loosen the jaw… The elevator dinged quietly, steel doors opening with a swish. Steve did his best to straighten up whatever odd face he’d been pulling.

Judging from Natasha’s almost-expression, he didn’t quite succeed. She was in a dark green sweater that hung loosely on her frame, hair scooped on her neck in a side-bun. She was the loveliest, most generous angel to ever walk the face of this planet.

Oh Stevie.

They moved in synchrony, switching places smoothly as Steve stepped in and Natasha moved out. Steve turned around and shot what was probably the soppiest smile he’d ever sported in her direction. “Thanks. He was great.”

A tiny pause. “He.” Natasha repeated, with absolutely no inflection whatsoever.

The elevator doors closed.

(read more link below)

Any other person would have scrambled for the ‘open door’ button immediately. Steve had faster reflexes than most people.

He stood, motionless, staring at his discoloured reflection in the elevator doors as it began to rise.

Steady jazz started tinkling somewhere in the background – he remembered being…if not soothed, then touched by the thought the first time he’d taken the elevator in Avengers Tower.

“JARVIS, could you turn off the music please.”

The music subsided.

He watched it happen over seventy-one floors. Watched his expression waver, smile crumpling inwards, before his jaw took over and set itself – firm and brittle. Watched the thoughts and realisations track through his eyes, overcast blues turning leaden. It was a remarkable parallel of his thought processes down in the café, actually…before he’d sat down. Three minutes of mounting hope and epiphany, in exact reverse.

Tony Stark was in the café. Tony Stark owned the Tower the café was at, and even if he didn’t, was perfectly within his rights to be there. There was no logical explanation for Tony Stark to be hanging around at a sub-par café the afternoon of Steve’s date. Tony Stark had access to the common area feeds, and probably spied on Natasha persuading Steve into a blind date.

The data was all the same – Steve had just come to the utterly wrong conclusion. Because he was biased and blind. And stupid and lonely.

Tony Stark likes me and wants to date me.

– versus Tony Stark took an hour out of his extremely busy schedule to spy on Steve making a complete fool out of himself on a date with another woman.

Yeah. The winner was pretty clear on that one.

It was…funny, probably. That’s why Tony did it. It was funny, and Steve didn’t get it, because he didn’t get most jokes these days. Like those videos of men proposing to their da – girlfriends, and getting awkwardly rejected and people taping the whole thing and livestreaming and tweeting and whatever else they did these days, snarky commentary that got a thousand likes. He could hear it even now: here we can observe the dinosaur far removed from its natural habitat; a clumsy old drip tryna be smooth and thinking he’s got something to offer to a billionaire – except he couldn’t even fucking make fun of himself right because people in this century didn’t even say drip anymore.

The elevator dinged. The steel doors slid open, Steve staring beyond into the recesses of his darkened floor.

“Captain?” JARVIS prompted quietly.

Steve exited the elevator, moving on autopilot for a few paces before coming to a standstill. The entire place was ‘open plan’, nothing but shine and glass and a sense of uneasiness that burrowed itself deep into Steve’s spine. It had taken months upon months to get over, an inch of tension unscrewing with every day – until Steve had woken up to a sea of rose and gold one morning, a startlingly bright sunrise that seemed to bleach all the shadows away.

Now the sun had already dipped below the horizon, everything he could see tinted dusk-grey. Not that there was much to see – the whole point of this kind of design was to ‘declutter the space’, never mind that it just felt empty. He could…he could move towards the kitchenette, make himself a pot of tea; steam winding idly up, crockery clinking loudly in the silence. Or flip through channels on his television, or climb into bed and pull the covers over his head, staring at absolutely nothing.

His head was silent.

“Captain. Sir is requesting your presence in his workshop, if you would please.”

Fuck him, Steve thought, with absolutely no emotion left to muster. Except that didn’t…that wasn’t…

That wasn’t quite right.

Only to those who deserve it. And he’d been so sure about it too, felt it settle deep in his heart of cemented convictions. Yet it didn’t quite…line up with what Steve was feeling now: resentment broken apart, all raw and tender inside. It’s probably funny didn’t align with the phantom warmth of Tony’s hand for three hours straight, with his tiny, indrawn breath every time Steve called him by name.

It was hard. Hard to remember all the verbal blunders, the stammering, and not feel the sense of doomed certainty creeping on – it all just made so much sense, if it were a joke. If Steve was the butt of it all, the dope who got told ‘you just won a million dollars!’ and believed it while people snickered behind hidden cameras. If this was another rejection in a long line of rejections, for something Steve hadn’t even known he wanted until three hours ago.

Except…and this was the part he kept butting up against. The part where Steve was feeling absolutely miserable, and the idea that that had been Tony’s intention.

“Cap, I think there’s been a-”

“My fault entirely, shouldn’t have come here in the first place. You should probably look for the person you actually–”

“I vote both. Can we do both?”

“It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.”

When he breathed next, it came a little lighter – anxiety loosening its hold on his chest. Maybe he was wrong and it was all just an elaborate construction of ridicule; but damn if Steve was going to be cowardly enough not to find out for sure.

“Tell him I’ll be there.”

~

He hadn’t realised until now, how different Tony had looked in the café.

It was probably the lighting. Everything about Tony’s face was sharp, deeply angular: the lines of his beard and the jut of his chin, and the penetrating, fluorescent light that Steve always saw him under only enhanced this effect. Iron Man was the one who flourished under the sun – swooping across blue skies in a swirl of fiery colour, bright enough to blind.

In the café, he’d looked…mellower, the golden rays of afternoon gentling his lines and edges; yet oddly still compelling. It was the difference, perhaps, between felt tip and oil paint – less polish, more intensity. Now, he was Tony Stark again – industrial-white bulbs overhead lighting his cheekbones in straight, unbroken lines. He was in the same t-shirt, hoodie out of sight, and his eyes appeared black enough to match.

(And yet, out of the corner of his eye, Steve could glimpse maroon wool – the scarf looped round and round what appeared to be a robotic arm.)

“I’m glad you came.” Tony started, words falling quick and efficient. His gaze was fixed just slightly off of Steve’s face, at some point beside his right ear. “There is something that I should’ve…something I need to tell you before you–”

“I spoke to Natasha.”

Tony fell silent. He blinked, thrice in rapid succession; nothing like the languid movements that had captivated Steve so only a couple of hours ago. He looked like he was trying to re-centre himself.

“I didn’t deserve it.” Steve said. “Not this time.”

Studied stillness, like the kind that came only by actively holding back a flinch. Steve watched Tony very carefully not react. Not argue, only dip his head after a second and quietly voice, “I’m sorry.”

Defend yourself you idiot.

But that was okay. That was okay, because Steve was here and he might be the actual worst at first date conversation, but this. This he knew how to do.

There were no rules to bravery, no ways to judge, no way to fuck it up. Just to take the leap.

“Peggy always used to say that nuance was lost on me.” He didn’t stutter over her name, linger on its ending consonants with bitterness at the back of his throat. He just sounded fond. “She and Colonel Phillips used to have these long-drawn discussions about the changing state of international politics – countries and diplomacies and agendas. I listened in, and I appreciated it but…sometimes it just seemed a step removed from relevance.”

“In the field, I have to keep every possible factor in mind before making a call. But at some point, that means to stop thinking and start doing.” Despite his words, he was fidgeting with the base of his thumb. Steve stilled his hands, straightened his shoulders. His heartbeat was kicking up in his ears. “Sometimes it’s easier to…let the overwhelming complexity of it slide away, and simply make a choice.”

“I know that this isn’t that simple.” Except for how it also is. Steve lifted his chin, felt the pulse leap and skitter in his throat like something terrified and utterly free. “But to me, today was one of two things.”

“Either Tony Stark liked me,” Tony stared back at him, dark eyes and trembling mouth and absolutely no doubt whatsoever, “or he was an asshole. And we both know how I feel about the second option.”

Moments trailed away, ears ringing and veins flushed with adrenaline. No matter what happened next, Steve would never forget how this felt. Breathing and speaking and being, without the weight of anxiety bending his head.

Tony stalked across the workshop floor, movements so decisive that Steve almost took a step back. For a second he expected to be gripped around the collar, jerked down to Tony’s level – but Tony stopped scant inches away, breaths controlled and eyes on fire. When he spoke, it was as direct and non-tangential as Steve had ever heard him.  

“I knew you were on a blind date and when I heard you were planning to meet at the Tower itself, I couldn’t help myself. I never intended to take over the date. Or to hurt you in any way.”

“I know–”

“You still need to hear it.” Tony cut through, bluntly succinct. He’d never sounded sincerer. “Also you’re goddamn incredible.”

It wasn’t a joke. And Steve had already known – but it was the difference between closing your eyes and leaping without a parachute, and the moment you were caught. It was staring into Tony’s eyes, breaths ramping up together; like they were seventy feet in the air and still flying, and never wanting to come down.

Tony leaned up.

Steve’s hands spasmed by his side – oh god oh god oh god oh look my anxiety’s back – fingers flexing in imagined, desperate sense-memory: the worn cotton of Tony’s t-shirt, the stubbled underside of his jaw, the thin skin of his eyelids, the spiky softness of his hair. So many places to reach out towards, to touch and stroke and hold, and Steve couldn’t seem to bring himself to–

And then it didn’t matter, because Tony’s lips were right there and Steve closed his eyes. A feather-light touch, a single point of contact. Dry heat and absolute stillness – like they were balanced, perfectly, on the edge and neither wanted to move and break the spell. God, Tony could probably feel Steve’s cheeks blazing with heat from this distance – and it didn’t matter because Steve could feel Tony’s and this was–

Perfect.

Tony pulled away slowly, settling down on the balls of his feet. He seemed a little out of it, tone faintly starstruck. “I feel like I just got kissed by Prince Charming.”

“Oh. Um.” This was far from Steve’s first kiss since the forties, though some people might call this barely a kiss. It didn’t matter. It was perfect. “Sorry?”

“No no, it’s fine.” Tony batted his hands distractedly, still a little wondrous. “I like Disney movies better than pornos anyway.”

“We don’t have to choose.” Steve replied on autopilot – and Tony froze in place for a second, before swaying forward until his forehead hit Steve’s shoulder, hiding his snickers in Steve’s plaid shirt. Because somehow Steve had found a man who appreciated both his deeply visceral awkwardness, as well as his out-of-body sass.

Tony breathed warm and damp against Steve’s chest before tilting his head sideways, bristly beard hairs scraping distractingly over thin cloth. His resting cheek rose and fell with Steve’s breaths, and he glanced up in a smile that could wreck millions. “Blue.”

Steve, who was expecting some kind of devastating comeback/come-on, wrinkled his brows in confusion. Tony’s small, answering laugh vibrated against his chest. “My favourite colour.”

Right, right. First date conversation. Steve wracked his, admittedly slow-functioning brain for an appropriate follow up. Sue him, he had a Tony Stark in his arms. “What shade?”

Tony’s lips curved into something dreamy, taffy-sweet. “Steve-blue.”

Steve stared back, more than a little light in the head. His mouth was moving outside his volition, “That’s not a–”

Tony stretched up on his toes, pecked him again – a soft murmur to punctuate the motion. “Is to me.”

Steve shut his eyes. Waited, for reality to kick back in, for sanity to kick him in the head. Speaking of which –

You’ve been quiet.

You had it handled. Bucky’s voice replied in his head, wry and proud. Now go back to life, hotshot.

When Steve opened his eyes, Tony was still there. He didn’t teach kindergarten by day, or work in puppy shelters by night, though Steve was pretty sure that Tony did more humanitarian work than all the NYC charities combined. He’d probably laugh himself silly at all of Steve’s creased Pocono Mountains brochures, and drag him kicking and screaming to Hawaii in summer. He was an Avenger, and a good man, and…

Always think of the brightest outcome possible before entering a situation.

“I don’t think I could’ve imagined you if I had tried.”

“Well then.” Tony smiled slowly, like the start of a new day and the morning sunrise. “Suppose it’s a good thing you don’t have to.”

~fin

[stan-uris-girl]

Caught - Richie x reader

Request by @tom-holla :hey!!!!! Can I request a richie one where reader has a big crush on him and he teases her about (she doesn’t know that he knows) and it’s all fluff?? Thank you so much!!:)

I write for all the boys and girl in the losers club but Stan is my main man and that's why he is in my username. But do feel free to request about the others!

Also, they are both 16 in this one since I wanted to try out writing about an older Richie. I hope that's okay.

Let's get going!

~

To say that you were oblivious was an under statement, you were practically blind in situations like this one. Not physically blind but socially.

You see, you had this very unfortunate crush on the one and only Richie Tozier. The local trashmouth that never failed to make you smile or laugh with one of his stupid jokes or crude remarks. He made your heart beat 100 miles an hour whenever he made physical contact with you, let that be a simple brush of hands or a hug. Now you might ask 'why is this so unfortunate?' and the answer to that question is, he is your best friend.

You knew how cliché it was, falling for your best friend but what can you do. You couldn't help it, you were just infatuated by the boy with the big glasses.

Everyone knew that this boy was all mouth and he could ramble on about anything and everything not to mention the teasing and dick jokes. But they also knew him as the boy with the glasses and a big crush on Y/N L/N. yet somehow she hadn't found out. Richie wasn't oblivious like she was, sure he wasn't the best at knowing when to stop joking but he knew when someone liked him or spending time with him. He saw it almost right away, all of the signs.

Okay, actually he didn't notice on his own. Beverly had told the idiot that the Y/H/C girl had a "big ol' case of love struck" and started to point out all of the little things she did. The way she shed little longing glances at him when he wasn't looking, the way the pairs hugs and high fives lingered just a bit longer than when they did the same actions with their other friends and the way she always was by his side whenever everything at home got too much and he just wished he could disappear into the earth and she would be right there to pick him back up and dust him off.

Subconsciously he did the same. Richie would look over at her whenever he was sure she wasn't stealing glances at him, he would stare at her to the point that his friends had started joking that he would have flies in his mouth if it was more agape.

Long story short, they were both head over heels for the other.

If you thought the teasing was bad before then prepare to be proved wrong by a landslide. Now the real mocking began. The boy with the big horn brimmed glasses shot sly comments your way as often as he had an opportunity to do so or in the middle of a conversation with the others in the losers club just quietly enough for only you to hear. It even went to the extent of him passing notes in class which was a hell of an experience when you two actually got caught and he had to read it out loud.

The two of you were stuck in year 11 history with the teacher going on about what had happened that previous weekend. So mister Gray wasn't paying attention too the two teens sat in the middle section of the classroom on the left side where the windows were placed, or so you thought.

Richie silently removed the corner of his notebook and started to scribble down a couple of words on the piece of paper. For a brief moment he looked over at you trying to thing of something to write down. His eyes graced your features, adoring them, but then he snapped back into reality and continued to write his little message. Just as he had folded the note messily and was in the action of passing it your way someone spoke up.

"So, Richie." His eyes snapped towards your teacher "If this is so important that it can't wait until we're finished then would you please read the note out loud so that the rest of us can be grazed by your surly very important conversation with Y/N" Mr.Gray shifted so that his weight was on the other foot while his glare burned right into Richie.

"Sure can do!" Richie said and pushed his glasses "this is meant for Y/N if you couldn't tell." Now you along with the others in the class was looking directly at him but his eyes were on you as he started to read the note "I was feeling a little off today, but you definitely turned me on. It's like I have a light switch on my forehead cause it happens every time you look at me"

Now the whole classroom was laughing at him, every kid but you. Your eyes were glued onto your desk as a blush crept onto your cheeks and a small, shy smile played on your lips. You couldn't bring yourself to look at him, what if he saw you and just found it weird that you blushed since it was only one of his jokes. His eyes, on the other hand, were on you until he heard the teacher say something about detention after school. He was sure as hell not going to show up even if it meant more trouble later on.

Yet you still didn't realize that the boy mirrored your feelings with his own, you just thought that he was being his usual flirty self but you didn't notice how he stopped hitting on other girls.

Today all of the losers were going to hangout together at the quarry. No swimming of course since it was far too cold. With all the leaves turning yellow and shades of orange and falling into the water along with the ground and Eddie frantically rambling about how 'all the leaves carried at least 26 different types of bacteria' and how 'you would get sick out of your mind if you went swimming when it's this cold'.

You, Mike and Stan were the ones with cars so today you three acted as chauffeurs. Bev, Eddie and Bill were all riding with Stan since they had hung out earlier that day, Ben was going with Mike because apparently Mike wanted to show him something in his truck. If you didn't know any better you would think that they had all rigged it so that you and Richie were left alone.

But you happily complied and drove to Richie's house. Guns N' roses was blasting on your stereo and your sweater covered hands tapped the steering wheel slightly along with the music. Soon enough you found yourself outside of the curly headed boy's home. You honked loudly and a couple of seconds later he emerged and jogged slightly across his driveway. He was wearing a black hoodie along with black jeans, simple but it made you blush a little.

He still occasionally wore Hawaiian shirts with a white t-shirt underneath just like he did when you were 14 but now they were more toned down if the idea of wearing one struck him. Now he wore more blacks, maroons and grays and you weren't complaining. Not that you would be under any other other circumstances because he's Richie damn Tozier, he'd look good in anything.

He flung open the car door and plopped down into the seat next to yours and shut it again. You started driving off towards the quarry while he was still buckling his seat belt. The two of you were going to arrive early but it doesn't really matter. Suddenly he turned off the music and turned towards you who was still focused on the road.

"Hey, Y/N" he spoke with a slight smile on his lips.

"Yeah?" you answered as you turned the wheel slightly and bit your bottom lip as you concentrated.

"You know what this shirt is made of?" now he looked even more mischievous if that was even possible.

"I swear to god Richie. If you say boyfriend material I will personally kick you -"you were cut short.

"It's boyfriend material" Richie said while a smirk played on his lips and you let out a small chuckle and now you bit down your smile once again but this time to keep you from spilling all your feelings.

Your once slightly irritated face had turned red and you looked down for a moment just to fight back the urge to explain everything from start to finish, how you fell in love with him every day. Every DAMN DAY. How you tried to keep yourself from blushing and smiling at his cheesy pickup lines and the teasing. You couldn't contain yourself any more.

The light shifted slightly as you started to drive through the woods, it now reflected in patches due to the few leaves that still clung hopefully to the trees. Richie's eyes traveled between the beautiful scenery out the window and you. He silently reached for your free hand and intertwined his long and lanky fingers with yours, they fit together perfectly.

You stopped the car and twisted the keys in the ignition to turn it off, slightly shifted in your seat and got out of the car. The cold and harsh autumn air hit your face in a way that sent shivers down your spine. Another thud could be heard as Richie got out of the other side of the car and a little splash followed that as his beaten up boots touched the ground.

"Hey, Richie" his eyes snapped to meet your gaze "I kinda need to talk to you" you said while scratching the back of your neck and walked over to sit on the hood of your car but on the passenger side. You sighed shakily and looked over the beautiful quarry. All the tree shad turned yellow and orange and they reflected down onto the water beneath.

"Yeah, what's up?" Richie asked while moving to stand in front of you. He basically only got this serious when you two were alone but even if it was only you and him it was a rarity. He felt it in the air this time though, this wasn't time for jokes.

"So I kinda like you" you stated while turning a light shade of red and fought a smile "I've liked you for a while now and- actually no, I've been in love with you for a while now and I'm tried of trying to act like the teasing doesn't affect me." the explanation felt so natural, but you couldn't imagine looking into his eyes now that he probably was thinking of a way to reject you.

"I love you too, you couldn't be more obvious though" at that you both laughed and you looked upwards towards him just to lock eyes with him.

"Is that so mr.Tozier?" you asked with a sly grin on your face while Richie now good in between your legs and tucked a strand of hair behind your ear.

"Yeah, your worse at hiding things than Bill is at uttering an entire sentence without stuttering for fucks sake" now he was so close to your face that you could feel his warm breath on your face while he leaned down to look at you directly instead of the biting air that the fall provided.

Suddenly his lips were attached to yours. It took a second to react to the motion but soon enough you responded to his actions. Now your hands found his messy hair and you ran your fingers through it. Richie's hand found your waist to pull you impossible closer. Apparently he felt the need to deepen the kiss so he brought one of his large hands to the back of your neck, now this had turned into a full on make out session. Not that you were complaining, it was just a bit unexpected. If someone had told you earlier in the morning that you would be sitting on your car making out with Richie Tozier later today you would have laughed straight into their face, 'cause you were sure you didn't have the balls to be upfront with your best friend.

"WOAH, well hello to you guys too!" Stan exclaimed with eyes going wide and swiftly looked away, you and Richie broke apart. He and the others had obviously turned up without either of you noticing.

You had been caught. Whoops?

~

Hope you lot enjoyed!

[teamwoah]

How to Organise College Leavers Hoodies Stress-Free

If you should be beneath the impression that men's hoodies - or hooded sweatshirts - are simply a poorly-cut duffel jumper with uninteresting styles, it's time for you yourself to think again. Hoodies have always been the go-to piece of clothing for several people. You are able to toss on a sweatshirt over a set of trousers and know you'd search good. While they've been a very everyday part due to their running undertones, being a knitted sweater, they keep you warm, make for great adding, and are flexible enough for dressing or down. With developers Lil Peep Hellboy Hoodie  their own turns to the comfy clothing, hoodies are here to stay.

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The basic principle in regards to choosing hoodie colors is to help keep it simple. Focus on mild colors like bright, grey, blue, or ivory, and move over to darker shades like dark, maroon, and navy. Like that, you are able to combine and fit your hooded sweatshirts with equally neutral shaded in addition to bright colored clothing.

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When you need your hoodies to participate your type statement, you have to invest time and thought in to picking them. If you are pairing your hoodies with a hat, coat, or cardigan, make sure your hoodie isn't longer than the hat or coat. If you would like to use your hoodies in summer, always check to see if the product is okay linen for maximum comfort.

Today's hoodies for girls are definately not the loose, shapeless and primarily dark products we've been used to viewing on young boys. Now there are females hoodies in all the top custom ranges, in a range of colors and a multitude of beautiful designs. There's number reason for almost any girl never to have a hoodie or two in her wardrobe.

You will find hoodies in velour, silk and cashmere. Juicy Couture makes an entire selection, with and without logos simply speaking or long sleeves, including a mode with a peplum. Kritik produce some bright terry hoodies which staff with corresponding pants as beach and holiday use and Pencey make an imitation fur hoodie that will be really elegant.

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A brand new idea in girls hoodies is hoodie dresses. They're merely a longer size version of a take on hoodie, though usually with short sleeves, in smooth jersey fabric that may be worn as a small dress. Utilized over opaque stockings or trim installing jeans hidden in to stoop shoes these hoodie dresses certainly are a fashionable supplement to a new woman's wardrobe.

Among the modern bejeweled hoodies, as worn by Paris Hilton, are those of the Turned Heart brand. Fantasia is really a richly embellished hoodie with the old looking center style on the rear collection with many small beads. Their Hawaiian Soul hoodie has silk drawstring connections and colorful drops in a center style on the back. Though the Complicated Anchor hoodie features a nautical sense with flared sleeves, and an point concept in rhinestones.

For teens and tweens, Hannah Montana hoodies are the rage. All girls want to look like their idol from the hit TV show, Hannah Montana played by Miley Cyrus. The display has been enormously effective and introduced Miley on her performing career. Women love the type of garments Miley wears in the display and Disney has made a variety of fashion clothing centered on her character. You will find a number of various hoodies in the number, with sparkling metallic features, and with a picture of Hannah emblazoned on the front.

For older women and ladies who prefer to routine, Rockstar's ladies zipper hoodie includes a comfortable fur-lined hood and a stylish gray and white stripe style with the double Dhge Rockstar logo. Far too nice to wear on a cycle this could produce a good informal coat utilized with leggings or jeans on a frosty day. If you should be into snow activities the Roxy hoodies including the Roxy Porter hoodie is manufactured out of eco-friendly materials with a warm sherpa lined engine, great to stop you hot though seeking fully cool.

[halfbloodglader]

Just A Bloody Sandwich (Newt)

Newt x Reader - 2,958 words

So began yet another redundant day in the miserable glade for the blonde haired second-in-command. Waking everyday was like drowning at sea, knowing someday he would succumb to the waves, knowing his lungs would give out. And then, out of the corner of his eye as if a rescue siren had wailed in the distance, an all familiar Y/H, Y/H/C haired girl walked passed his hammock. Her hair shone against the dreary morning sun and emitted a warm glow that gave Newt the fortitude he needed to push up from his hammock. He followed closely behind her towards the kitchen, watching as she threw her arms over her head, stretching. Still half-asleep, Y/N failed to hear someone approach her from behind, the hood of her sweater suddenly flipped over her head.

“G’morning.” Newt put a hand on her shoulder just to feel her warmth and smiled down as she struggled to removed the fabric from her eyes. 

“Mmm.” She mumbled back. They finally made it to the kitchen and just about all of the boys were waving for her to sit with them. This morning, Newt hoped she might just sit with him. But, per usual and to his avail, she ambled off towards the table of runners. She’d taken quite a liking to the greenie, Thomas. Newt hated it because he figured Thomas might just drag her back into the maze. She used to run with Minho everyday until she fell from one of the walls while scouting and damaged her leg.

Breakfast passed at its usually dreadful pace and once he was finished, Newt rushed off towards the gardens. Newt was constantly torn apart. He wanted to spend time with Y/N, talk with her. But he also was too afraid to. Afraid he’d grow too attached. 

“In a rush are we?” A familiar voice piped up, breaking him from his haunting thoughts. “You alright?” She furrowed her brows, looking to the distressed boy with sympathy. 

“Yeah. Just… didn’t sleep I guess.” He admitted, rubbing the back of his neck and huffing. Y/N nodded and sent him a soft smile which he knew meant ‘if you want to talk, let me know.’ She wasn’t one to talk much herself, but Newt figured it was just because she was too busy focusing on her own thoughts. But, when she did start talking freely, all Newt could do was listen.  

When lunch finally came around, Y/N was no where to be seen. This was usual for her. For the first few months, Newt had followed Y/N all over the glade just to see where she went off to. Somedays, she would go climb a tree, sit in the watchtower, hide in his or Minho’s room. Or, like most days, she lay beneath the large oak at the edge of the gardens taking in to cool breeze. And surely enough, there she was. Eating her lunch peacefully, picking at the grass beneath the looming tree was the Y/H/C haired girl. Just as Newt gained the confidence to go say hello, Alby’s voice rang out across the glade. He was calling a meeting in the council hall. Newt grumbled to himself and cursed at Alby under his breath for ruining his chance. He was temped to go and help Y/N up, walk with her to the council hall, but he had to be one of the firsts there.

Boys filtered into the hall one by one, the keepers standing in a circle at the bottom of the building and the rest of the gladers sat up on the stairs carved into the earth. As keepers filtered in, they picked up a thin wooden board with a piece of paper attached and a pencil to take notes. But, just as her mischievous nature would suggest, Y/N snuck one of the boards into her arms as she entered the hall. Newt was the only one who noticed and a small smile tugged at his lips as he watched her prance off, proud of her thievery. She seemed to live just for the little bouts of innocent adrenaline she got from small things like that. Just behind her was Minho, who began complaining about a missing board. Alby shushed him as if he were a child and told the keeper of the runners to carry on anyways. Y/N sat at the top corner of the stairs and pulled out the pencil she took, beginning to sketch on the paper.

“What are you doing?” Thomas scooted up against the girl and stared at the paper as she worked away. 

“Drawing.” She said back, making Thomas roll his eyes. ‘Obviously’ he thought. He took a closer look and realized that it was all of the keepers she was drawing. Gally with his wicked eyebrows, Minho’s face was scrunched in frustration, Winston and Frypan seemed like they could care less and Zart looked as if he had just eaten some sort of mushroom that shouldn’t be growing in the gardens. 

“Gimme that.” Thomas insisted and Y/N handed him the pencil just as she finished the sketch of Newt who leaned against a pillar with a light smirk plastered on his face. Thomas wasted no time in drawing down some devil horns and a tail onto Minho. 

“Hey!” Y/N forcefully whispered, whacking Thomas’ shoulder. He jolted back a little and giggled, handing her back the pencil.

This caught Newt’s attention. Up at the top, Y/N and Thomas hovered over something in her lap and giggled, poking at one another playfully. He wanted to yell up at the the dark haired boy and stop him. But Y/N seemed happy. She was smiling, and her smile made Newt feel at ease. The blonde had to keep forcing his eyes away from the pair as the meeting continued, all he wanted to know was what was on that paper. As the meeting dragged on, the boy couldn’t help but gaze up at Y/N who kept her eyes glued on the paper, Thomas hovering right over her. At one point, their eyes met and Newt’s cheeks immediately flushed, feeling as if a grenade had gone off in his heart.

When the meeting ended, Newt pretended to be busy so he could see out the last person from the meeting. That said person being Y/N. She always left last. Newt kept his head down, kicking at the dirt as he held the door open. Just as Y/N brushed passed, Newt grabbed her arm and pulled her back, closing the door. 

“Give it.” He held out his hand, raising his eyebrow, attempting to be as intimidating as possible. 

“Give what? I took more than one thing.” She grinned mischievously and Newt sighed. “You watched, and let me take it.” She reminded him. 

“The pencil and paper board.” He said, this time emphasizing his held out hands. Y/N smiled a little and gave up the materials in defeat.

Immediately, Newt turned the board around to get a better look at the paper. It was drawings of all of the keepers, including him who was located at the centre of the page. His heart nearly exploded when he saw that his eyes were directed up, as if he were looking at her. In that moment, he knew she’d caught him staring. 

“You’re really good, you know?” Newt scoffed a little and set the board down with the others. “But, I’ve also got to warn you about stealing materials.” He cocked an eyebrow and shied her eyes away. 

“Right. Sorry.” She mumbled, afraid to look up to her friend. The pair shared a strange relationship. They went all the way back to the day Y/N came up in the box. Newt was the first voice she heard, first pair of eyes she met, and the first hand she held. There was this unspoken, underdeveloped connection that both of them were too fearful to explore.

“Well… can I go? It’s dinner.” She asked, breaking Newt from his daze. 

“Uhm-Right. Yeah.” He tried to clear his throat as he opened the door and let her through. Just as he were to ask her to join him, two strong runners came rushing towards her. 

“Y/N! We need your help, c’mon and eat with us!” Minho said excitedly, waving for her to follow before turning on his heel and sprinting back to the kitchen. She may have had a limp, but she was still fast, trailing just behind Minho and Thomas. Dinner was just nearly as painful as the meeting was. Y/N had Minho and Thomas on either side of her as they fawned over a map, smiling and laughing. Amidst their conversation, Newt noticed Y/N hadn’t touched her food once.

“Why don’t you just talk to her? You work with her all day, everyday. But instead, you choose to stare at her during meal times.” Zart piped up from beside Newt who refused to touch his food. 

“It’s not that simple.” The blonde grumbled and his fellow gardner set down his fork. 

“Newt. Yes it is. Just, like, twenty seconds of bravery and boom, you’ve spoken to her.” Zart was tired of always watching Newt gaze at the girl hopelessly during meals and work times. Newt sucked in a deep breath and rest his head in his hand, shying his eyes away from her sheepishly. When Zart had left, Newt pulled out a folded piece of paper from his pocket and opened it up. He had taken her drawings, wanting to keep them as it was the only piece of her he had. His lips were pursed, deep in focus as he examined the carefully placed stokes of lead on the paper.

Per usual, the sun was falling behind the maze walls and a small fire was lit. Some boys sat around it, taking in its warmth and others had already head off to their hammocks to sleep. But one piece of the glade was missing. Y/N was no where to be seen and neither were Thomas or Minho. Newt figured they must all be hanging out in the map room without him. Although Newt was best friends with them, the runners seemed to be a tight knit group. Like every other night, Newt knew sleep wouldn’t come. So, he continued to work in the gardens until the light of the sun completely disappeared and left him unable to continue working. The tall blonde boy slowly ambled his way around the glade in hopes the walk might just clear his conscience. He made sure all of the boys were in their hammocks and the fire was out. But, there was one vacant sling of fabric. The one beside his.

Curious, Newt took the maroon hoodie which lay in it and went off to find it’s owner. The glade wasn’t all that large, but it was easy enough to hide in if someone didn’t want to be found. Unfortunately, Y/N took advantage of this all too often. Newt checked his room first and dropped off the drawing before heading out. Although he had a bed and privacy, he still preferred to sleep in a hammock with everyone else. Out in the distance, deep in the woods, Newt could see the faint flicker of a torch. As he made his way closer he could very easily make out the frame and Y/H/C hair of Y/N. She was peering into the foggy glass which opened to the maze, a perfect spot to see the grievers pass by. Every so often, she’d shift over and take down a few details on her paper.

Newt approached cautiously, and despite his efforts, he snapped a twig under his foot. Almost immediately, the torch went out and the forest fell black. He could hear her scurry around and he strode forwards, hoping to catch her. To his surprise, she tackled him to the ground violently and hit him straight in the jaw with a force he didn’t know she had. 

“What the shuck?!” Newt hollered out, trying to calm the girl, his voice radiating through the whole glade. She held him down and stuck his face again. For someone so small, she was strong and carried a good punch, Newt had to admit. 

“Hey!” Alby’s deep voice bellowed out followed by a few a few other boys carrying torches. When Newt’s face was finally illuminated, Y/N jumped back and clambered off of the boy. 

“Oh my god, Newt! I’m so sorry!” She tried to help him up but he just shook his head, trying to regain his vision.

“What are you two doing!?” Alby may as well have screamed. 

“I-I was sketching the grievers and Newt came but I thought he was Gally! So I punched him! Gally said if he ever caught me out here again he’d banish me so…” Y/N trailed off, giving up. She already knew her punishment. 

“And, you, Newt? What were you doing out after curfew?” He looked to his second-in-command disapprovingly. 

“I came to give her a bloody sandwich!” He reached behind him and held up a smooshed peanut butter sandwich. “She didn’t eat dinner!” He exclaimed and Alby crossed his arms frustratedly as Minho snickered. Newt sent the runner a nasty glare. 

“One night in the slammer, both of you!” Alby motioned for Minho to pick Newt up. 

“Alby! He didn’t do anything wrong!” Y/N complained and Alby gripped her small arm, dragging her out of the forest. 

“He was out after hours, just like you. It’s just one night shebean.”

Alby and Y/N had always gotten along. Sure, her mischievous demeanour and constant disappearing got on his nerves, but she was the only girl in the glade and brought a much needed light and perspective to the glade. He was awful protective of her and Newt really hated it somedays. The pair were thrown down into the pit of the slammer and Newt slumped down against the wall, grumbling. 

“I’m really sorry, Newt…” Y/N sat down in front of him, crossing her legs. “It’s just I was afraid you were Gally and I really didn’t want to get thrown into the maze again…” She trailed of sadly and the last bit hit Newt close to the heart. “And I’ve gotten you in trouble when all you were doing was coming to give me a sandwich…” She stifled a laugh as Newt held out the squished bread and she shrugged. 

“It’s still edible if you’re hungry.” He admitted, giggling lightly. Y/N took it from him thankfully and split it in half, handing a piece back to him. 

“You didn’t eat dinner either.” She raised an eyebrow and Newt could barely see her dimly lit features.

“How’d you know that?” He tilted his head in question. 

“Because I saw?” She said back. Newt didn’t even bother finding out more, munching down on the sandwich, not realizing just how hungry he was. Just a few moments after she finished, Y/N’s stomach grumbled, making Newt laugh. 

“Let’s break out and go make more.” Y/N jumped up on the dusty ground and pulled Newt up with her. 

“And how do you suggest we do that?” Newt stood just a little closer to her, taking in the warmth she radiated. 

“I have a plan!” She said as if he should’ve known. “

A good plan?” He asked doubtfully. Y/N pondered for a moment and reached for Newt’s hand, guiding him towards the slammer opening. 

“I have a plan…” She insisted again.

Suddenly, Newt was giving her a hand up and she reached her arm through the wooden fixture, reaching around to the makeshift lock. 

“You’re insane. You know that?” Newt muttered as Y/N kept shifting her feet around on his hands. She was light, but her weight was finally beginning to atrophy his arms. 

“Obviously.” She mumbled back. For a couple more minutes, Y/N persistently muttered to herself and sighed whenever the knot wouldn’t budge. 

“Talking to yourself now, love?” Newt asked mockingly. Y/N  just kicked her leg back in response, bumping his chest. 

“Yes. It’s the only way I can be sure of intelligent conversation around here.” She forced. Finally, the leather knot that held the door came undone and Y/N pushed it open. These cells weren’t made for someone like small arms like her. Y/N clambered out excitedly and held out an arm to Newt.

“You know this is against the rules, yeah?” Newt had a little bit of fear apparent in his voice now. 

“Not if we don’t get caught.” Y/N shrugged and grabbed his arm, tugging him across the glade. They headed roughly in the direction of the homestead and just before they reached it, Y/N jolted back straight into Newt. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders in shock. 

“Just a bird…” Y/N whispered, letting out a deep breath of relief. She struggled her way out of Newt’s arms that gripped her tightly and she continued to lead him into the kitchen. The boy figured she must’ve done this plenty of times before because within three minutes she had made the sandwiches without a sound and exited the homestead without waking a single person. Sneakily, the pair rushed their way back to the slammer and tied it back up before digging into their sandwiches.

After that night in the slammer, Newt had to admit, he’d willingly take a few punches to the face and a smooshed sandwich if it meant spending that much time with her.

[pindaleng]

Asks Part 2 - 150 asks

blackdowning asked:

all of the taylor asks please and also all of the 150 asks from a couple days ago thanks

Get ready for a ride

1. Who was the last person you held hands with?

Teasingly with my friend Holly

2. Are you outgoing or shy?

Shy af

3. Who are you looking forward to seeing?

My bestie @blackdowning :’)

4. Are you easy to get along with?

I think so! Unless we’re good enough friends that all I do is find ways to antagonize you

5. If you were drunk would the person you like take care of you?

Romantic “like”? Hope so but don’t know them that well ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

6. What kind of people are you attracted to?

People with really nice smiles and laughs and have a great sense of humor because help me if I have to explain memes or can’t make them laugh (because I’m hilarious)

7. Do you think you’ll be in a relationship two months from now?

Lol no way

8. Who from the opposite gender is on your mind?

Thinking of what to text @blackdowning

9. Does talking about sex make you uncomfortable?

Yikes

10. Who was the last person you had a deep conversation with?

My roommates!

11. What does the most recent text that you sent say?

"New year old me my bed is probs gross now“

12. What are your 5 favorite songs right now?

King of My Heart - Taylor Swift

Bad At Love (Stripped) - Halsey

Over You - Miranda Lambert

Over You - Ingrid Michaelson, A Great Big World

Can I Be Him - James Arthur

13. Do you like it when people play with your hair?

Um idk, if I’m comfortable with them?

14. Do you believe in luck and miracles?

Yupperdoodles :)

15. What good thing happened this summer?

Discovered Wynonna Earp and Carmilla :’)

16. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?

Yikes nope

17. Do you think there is life on other planets?

Yessir

18. Do you still talk to your first crush?

LOL nope but he likes my Facebook roasts to our mutual friend sometimes

19. Do you like bubble baths?

What kind of person doesn’t??

20. Do you like your neighbors?

Don’t know my apartment neighbors but maybe the ones across the hall could smoke less weed that’d be great

21. What are you bad habits?

Scratching my head and releasing dandruff, rubbing my face as it’s peeling, shaking my leg, staying up late doing nothing, procrastinating, etc.

22. Where would you like to travel?

Want to go to Japan one day! But otherwise not sure. Europe in general, Australia, Canada? Places with good food and comfortable living arrangements.

23. Do you have trust issues?

Why is this question in so many asks yes I do move on what a clingy question jeez

24. Favorite part of your daily routine?

Going on tumblr

25. What part of your body are you most uncomfortable with?

...all of it? :’)

26. What do you do when you wake up?

Grumble about being awake

27. Do you wish your skin was lighter or darker?

Uhhh I think I’m pretty okay with how it is rn

28. Who are you most comfortable around?

My besties

29. Have any of your ex’s told you they regret breaking up?

Yikes no thank goodness

30. Do you ever want to get married?

Probably! #TaxBenefits

31. If your hair long enough for a pony tail?

Yeps!

32. Which celebrities would you have a threesome with?

Um threesome friendship? Elise Bauman and Natasha Negovanlis cuz I’d be a third party observer as they forget about me and just get to watch them be super great all the time 

33. Spell your name with your chin.

34. Do you play sports? What sports?

In a badminton class rn! I’ve also played sports for funzies like tennis, volleyball, swimming, and basketball

35. Would you rather live without TV or music?

Heck that’s hard. Without TV? Especially if they couldn’t have music in them. But like I’m such tv fandom trash it would be so hard.

36. Have you ever liked someone and never told them?

Hahha yes

37. What do you say during awkward silences?

Um nothing or how’s it going or 

38. Describe your dream girl/guy?

Super funny. Great listener. Eye crinkles when they smile/laugh. Bright smile. Laugh that makes flowers grow. Driven.

39. What are your favorite stores to shop in?

There was a store in Epcot Japan that I could spend like my entire life in. Craft stores, and department stores with plaid/button ups/dressy clothes

40. What do you want to do after high school?

Um in college rn so... college?

41. Do you believe everyone deserves a second chance?

Yuggerduggers

42. If your being extremely quiet what does it mean?

I’m either super exhausted or irritated or uninterested

43. Do you smile at strangers?

Yess’m because I get unreasonably bothered when people don’t smile at me cuz then I think I did something wrong lmao

44. Trip to outer space or bottom of the ocean?

Um bottom of the ocean like under a bajillion pounds of water how cool is that

45. What makes you get out of bed in the morning?

Responsibility and food

46. What are you paranoid about?

SO MANY THINGS. 

47. Have you ever been high?

Tried but didn’t work

48. Have you ever been drunk?

Erp yep

49. Have you done anything recently that you hope nobody finds out about?

Um secret projects

50. What was the colour of the last hoodie you wore?

Maroon

51. Ever wished you were someone else?

All the time??

52. One thing you wish you could change about yourself?

Me? :’)

53. Favourite makeup brand?

Uh covergirl? Don’t really wear makeup 

54. Favourite store?

Teeturtle (online store) has pretty nifty stuff

55. Favourite blog?

@blackdowning

56. Favourite colour?

Red

57. Favourite food? 

Sushi

58. Last thing you ate?

White Cheddar Cheez-its

59. First thing you ate this morning?

Milk with instant coffee, but first actual food PB&J

60. Ever won a competition? For what?

Once was a winner of a letter to santa competition my local newspaper hosted when I was a kiddo and got a stuffed bear

61. Been suspended/expelled? For what?

Nope I’m too much of a goody two shoes

62. Been arrested? For what?

For stealing people’s hearts ;) jk never been arrested

63. Ever been in love? 

Don’t think so

64. Tell us the story of your first kiss?

Was leaving their house and then awkwardly talked for forty minutes by their door then fill in the blank

65. Are you hungry right now?

I literally always am so

66. Do you like your tumblr friends more than your real friends?

Um tumblr friends r real friends

67. Facebook or Twitter?

Twitter

68. Twitter or Tumblr?

Tumblr

69. Are you watching tv right now?

No

70. Names of your bestfriends? 

Internet and Food

71. Craving something? What?

Sushi and love

72. What colour are your towels?

Red and pink

72. How many pillows do you sleep with?

Just one

73. Do you sleep with stuffed animals?

I have some on my bed!

74. How many stuffed animals do you think you have?

Ummm 15-20?

75. Favourite animal?

Pandas

76. What colour is your underwear?

Wouldn’t you like to know ;)

77. Chocolate or Vanilla?

Chocolate

78. Favourite ice cream flavour?

Mint Chocolate Chip

79. What colour shirt are you wearing?

Pink

80. What colour pants?

Blue jeans

81. Favourite tv show?

Supergirl

82. Favourite movie?

Ugh hard one I don’t really have a fave. I really like Now You See Me1 and 2, the Pitch Perfects, The Carmilla Movie, Almost Adults, The Big Short, Polar Express, and I’m sure I’m messing some

83. Mean Girls or Mean Girls 2?

Who tf likes Mean Girls 2 better??????????

84. Mean Girls or 21 Jump Street?

Mean Girls

85. Favourite character from Mean Girls?

Karen

86. Favourite character from Finding Nemo?

Crush?

87. First person you talked to today?

My roommate Holly

88. Last person you talked to today?

So far, my other roommates Hope and Victoria

89. Name a person you hate?

Nick St. Clair

90. Name a person you love?

Betty Cooper

91. Is there anyone you want to punch in the face right now?

Anybody I want to fite sum1

92. In a fight with someone?

Don’t think so

93. How many sweatpants do you have?

Many many

94. How many sweaters/hoodies do you have?

Also many lots love sweaters and hoodies

95. Last movie you watched?

How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days

96. Favourite actress?

Just one??? 

97. Favourite actor?

uhhh Chris Wood maybe? Tom Hanks?

98. Do you tan a lot?

Did when I played tennis in high school

99. Have any pets?

No :(

100. How are you feeling?

Great B)

101. Do you type fast?

Decently quick!

102. Do you regret anything from your past?

SO MANY but also trying to just accept it instead of feel bad about it

103. Can you spell well?

W-E-L-L

104. Do you miss anyone from your past?

Yessss

105. Ever been to a bonfire party?

Um not like super cool burning couches and ten feet tall fires but just chill roasting marshmallows ones yeah

106. Ever broken someone’s heart?

Probsa

107. Have you ever been on a horse?

Yes! It was fun

108. What should you be doing?

Studying for exams stop attacking me

109. Is something irritating you right now?

I’m tired and IT’S SO FRICKEN COLD OUTSIDE

110. Have you ever liked someone so much it hurt?

Hm I don’t think so

111. Do you have trust issues?

I'm against monopolies so you could say I have issues with trust (anti-trust get it haha I’m hilarious give me money)

112. Who was the last person you cried in front of?

@blackdowning

113. What was your childhood nickname?

Awk didn’t really have one

114. Have you ever been out of your province/state?

Yupps!

115. Do you play the Wii?

Uh duh it’s great

116. Are you listening to music right now?

Mmmhmm

117. Do you like chicken noodle soup?

Who doesn’t?

118. Do you like Chinese food?

YES

119. Favourite book?

Freakonomics

120. Are you afraid of the dark?

Kinda

121. Are you mean?

Average ye

122. Is cheating ever okay?

I use google all the time for my hws so I hope so

123. Can you keep white shoes clean?

Lol no my white shoes rn are getting pretty dirty

124. Do you believe in love at first sight?

Yes <3

125. Do you believe in true love?

Yes <3 <3

126. Are you currently bored?

Yes but I also have a heck ton of stuff I need to do oop

127. What makes you happy?

Making other people laugh/smile

128. Would you change your name?

If it would make it sound cooler yah

129. What your zodiac sign?

Gemini

130. Do you like subway?

Delish I might get some soon

131. Your bestfriend of the opposite sex likes you, what do you do?

Lmao

132. Who’s the last person you had a deep conversation with?

Literally this was already a question who made this

133. Favourite lyrics right now?

London girl with an attitude We never told no one but we look so cute Both got way better things to do But I always think about it when I'm riding through - Bad at Love by Halsey

134. Can you count to one million?

Is that before or after seven

135. Dumbest lie you ever told?

Idk if it’s the dumbest but in an interview I said I knew what a company did and then said it wrong but they hired me anyways so who rly won

136. Do you sleep with your doors open or closed?

Closed

137. How tall are you?

5′4″?

138. Curly or Straight hair?

Straight in reference to hair

139. Brunette or Blonde?

Brunette? Closer to black hair

140. Summer or Winter?

Summer

141. Night or Day?

Night

142. Favourite month?

June

143. Are you a vegetarian?

Nah

144. Dark, milk or white chocolate?

Dark chocolate ftw

145. Tea or Coffee?

Coffee

146. Was today a good day?

Yeah :)

147. Mars or Snickers?

Um Milky Way should count under Mars right

148. What’s your favourite quote?

“No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind”

149. Do you believe in ghosts?

How else do u explain how a russian nesting doll ended up in my apartment freezer when neither me nor my roommates did it.

150. Get the closest book next to you, open it to page 42, what’s the first line on that page?

Uh literally don’t have a book near me rn might update later when I find one

[loveinthebones]

can’t you see i’m falling apart, love (want to fall together?)

Word count: ~9, 878

Chapter Summary: Dan is learning more about Phil as time goes on.

Read it on AO3

Check out the art and the artist for this!

Also our lovely beta.

Part Three: Anger, second act (Dan) 

Dan found himself drawn to the golden van more often than not.

It had started out as a bit of playful revenge for Phil’s knowing arched brow when he passed through after the meetings that seemed to come all at once but it turned into something else when the little tradition of Dan getting a single flower from Phil had started...

“I’m going to save my free bouquet,” Dan told Phil, lounging in the space of the open door of Phil’s van with his chin pressed into his chest as he looked at his phone. Phil had on a faded apron that nearly matched his vehicle perfectly. It was dusted with soil and...an array of different stains. Dan was pretty sure that the majority of them were coffee but one blob resembled the stain on a shirt he had lost to a mishap at his first YouTube get together involving too much red wine.

(He had left shortly after to lay across a fountain with still warm stone as he tried to keep the crisps and pizza from earlier in the night from making a reappearance. It had been one of the moments he had felt most isolated.)

“Hm?” Phil grunted from where he sat on the floor, legs wrapped carefully around the pot he had cracked as he filled a replacement with fresh dirt to transfer the poor succulent. “What was that?”

“I’m going to save my free bouquet,” Dan repeated, tapping on his screen to like the post on his dashboard. “For when I might really need it.”

“That’s fine.” Phil clicked his tongue before murmuring, “I’m really sorry, Susan. I didn’t mean to drop you. I’m going to leave you in the nicest ray of sun I can. I’ll even move Thor.”

Dan blinked before he lowered his phone to his chest to take in the smooth, sturdy movements as Phil worked. He couldn’t help himself.

“You name your plants?”

“Yeah?” Phil craned his neck to squint at Dan, swiping his gloved hand across his cheek where a bead of sweat was making his skin tickle. “Doesn’t everyone?”

“Some people do, I guess, but Susan? Really?”

“It’s a good name! A strong name!”

“There are better names.” Dan rolled his eyes and yelped when something crashed against his cheek. He glanced down to the motionless glove in his lap and then to Phil who had gone back to moving Susan to her new home without mentioning his hand nudity.

“You rat,” Dan growled without a hint of heat, picking up the offending article to flop it back and forth in the other’s direction. “I should keep this.”

“Please, don’t.” Phil told him, relaxed and not worried about the potential hostage situation at hand. “I do like these gloves, you know. How about we trade? A flower for a glove?”

Dan took a moment to seem like he was giving Phil’s solution great thought- bringing his temporary prisoner under his chin as he cupped his jaw, tossing it from hand to hand- until Phil lobbed a handful of dirt in his direction with slight force.

It fell short, of course, but that was enough for Dan to grin and lean back. “Alright.”

So Dan returned from his visits from Phil with a different flower clutched in his hand each time. He would give them to Ruthie who was both delighted and amused by the sudden influx of surprise flora. She had taken to putting them in small glasses of water, dotting them around the apartment, and soaking in his misery when he inevitably was mopping up water from their carpet with incoherent noises of displeasure.

@RuthineHayes tweeted: @danisnotonfire is having a hard time with the peony. (Cry laughing emoji)(Water droplets emoji)(Heart emoji)

September 1 3:17pm

@danisnotonfire replied: @RuthineHayes if SOMEBODY would stop leaving them where i move the tripod. that would be great. (Eyes emoji)(Heart emoji)

September 1 7:48pm

The little incidents gave Dan another reason to go visit Phil and tell him what havoc his flowers were wreaking on his existence (with Phil reminding him that he could refuse the flowers which usually ended with Dan scoffing and leaving with another) and somehow, the conversations drifted into ever evolving topics. They could be arguing about which was better: hot chocolate or coffee? and end on what type of Pokemon they would specialize in if they were gym leaders.

Dan was convinced that Phil would fill the role of a grass/poison trainer but Phil was adamant that he leant towards fire with his soft spot for Growlithe and Houndour. Phil surprised him by placing him as a psychic leaning trainer, and Dan couldn’t help but shake his head and laugh.

Sadly, it seemed like there was always a constant flow of people to Phil’s van so they didn’t get to talk as much as Dan would like. He should be astonished at the traffic for Phil’s little business but he wasn’t-not really. Phil made it a point to talk with every customer and help them leave just a smidge happier than before. It was hard to resist the embodiment of sunshine, Dan mused, and he couldn’t blame those that returned to get a bit of Phil’s personal brand of comfortable heat.

Dan was guilty as well. Who was he to judge?

-

It was one of those days in London where the wind nipped at places where your skin was exposed and brought a rosy glow to the surface. The leaves in the trees rustled, and Dan had his hands curled into the sleeves of his black jumper, shivering slightly as Phil sat in a chair with his leg crossed on his knee to prop up the thick book he was reading.

Phil had his left hand in the pouch of the green hoodie he was wearing while his right flipped the pages contentedly.

There hadn’t been anyone by in a while, and Dan was starting to twitch with restless energy and the urge to move about to shake off the slight chill. He let his gaze wander around the sparse set up of Phil’s greenery before letting himself tip back to peek behind the passenger seat where he had been sitting. There were towels thrown over some of the pots and Dan had to smile at the fuzzy maroon blanket wrapped around Loki’s small pot lovingly.

It seemed Phil had been worried about his “babies” and had decided to keep them protected in their home.

“Phil?” Dan called and pouted when Phil held up a single finger, mouthing silent words as he read. “Phiiiil.”

“Yes, Danny-” Phil began, eyes still roving across the printed text before he blinked. Dan caught a flash of pink as Phil licked his lips. “-Dan. Yes, Dan?”

“Did you just call me Danny?” He couldn’t keep the affectionate incredulousness from seeping into the words falling into the air between them even as he squeezed his brows closer together and stretched back over the center console because he knew it irritated Phil. “Don’t call me that, Philly.” He threw back saucily, reaching down for the small black drawstring bag he had taken to carrying.

Phil raised an eyebrow but still didn’t turn his head, determined to finish the page he was having to re-read as he wondered why Dan was such a distraction. “What’s wrong with you, anyway?”

“I’m bored!” Dan groused as his fingers closed around the sleek black camera, glancing at Phil. He pressed the button and drummed his thumbs on screen in an uneven rhythm.

How long has it been since I’ve done a vlog?

Dan’s eyes became slits as he shifted through his memory- rifling through abandoned script ideas, videos that he had chosen to keep private after he uploaded them, and the running list of titles-before he remembered. The last vlog had been when Peej was leaving for his shoot and they had spent the day together wandering around the city, rummaging through thrift shops and antique stores for props.

Has it really been that long? Jeeze.

He pressed the record button without thinking, rolling his shoulders, before pointing it at his face and stating, “Edit this out.” before moving the focus to Phil who was unaware of the camera before clearing his throat.

Phil canted his head toward him, folding the corner of the page deftly as he did, and Dan watched as he placed both feet on the ground. His face morphed into an almost instantaneous grin as he realized he was being recorded.

Has he been on camera before? That is...remarkable.

It was also slightly worrying and Dan lowered the camera so the lens rested on his knee lightly, darkening the footage to black.

“That was...really creepy,” Dan acknowledged with a wince. “Sorry- I was thinking of filming a vlog and-” He was probably digging himself a bigger hole, and his words sped up with the guilt of filming Phil without his prior consent and...the way his whole demeanor had shifted with ease. “Would you like to be in it? You can say no.”

Phil’s expression went lax with a less pronounced but relieved upward turn of his lips and the muscles around his eyes smoothed out as he let himself slant back against the chair. He didn’t seem irked by Dan’s misstep with his arms having moved behind his head, making his chest more prominent, and the fact that he was sticking out his tongue at him.

“You worry too much, Danny,” Phil surmised before continuing in a supportive intonation: “I know it was playful. I can hear! I have ears!” He reached to pull them out and wiggle them for emphasis.

Dan shielded his face with his free sweater paw and groaned, a single chuckle escaping from him.

“I don’t know you.”

“Well, then…” Phil lamented with a deep put-upon sigh, letting his hands fall to his lap. “I guess that me agreeing to be in your vlog doesn’t matter then?”

Dan was glad his face was covered as he felt his pulse quicken at Phil wanting to be in his vlog. There was a happy writhing feeling that seemed to leap from his chest to nestle itself at the base of his throat and he could feel his cheeks straining from how wide he was smiling.

He slid his hand down so it was only obscuring the lower half of his face. Phil was regarding him with half-lidded eyes and slightly parted lips.

Dan’s heart skipped a beat (literally). His hand fell away so he could jerk the camera back into focus and once again, Phil slipped into that shining, peppy persona flawlessly.

Dan scooted to the edge of the seat before settling his feet on the ground and standing slowly, swivelling the camera’s lens to his face and giving his two finger salute.

He had to step into his own...slightly different headspace but for a moment, his lips turned down as his eyes flicked to Phil and he bit his lip in concern before taking a breath to repeat the gesture he had been starting his videos off with since he had set up his YouTube channel.

“Hello Internet!”  Dan greeted before stepping away from the van and rotating slowly so that his fans would be able to analyze the background if they wished- making sure to catch the hand painted ‘Succulents’ sign, the purple cluster of verbenas on the top shelf before slowly making his way towards Phil. “If you have been following me on Twitter...you would know that my life has been overrun by flowers!” Dan wrinkled his nose slightly before he gave a quiet laugh.

Phil pressed his mouth into a thin line and raised his eyes toward the sky for a moment before pressing his lips outward in a face that resembled a squirrel about to eat a nut.

“I thought I would--” Dan’s sentence halted immediately as he caught sight of Phil. He coughed into his elbow and questioned in a strained voice, “What are you doing?”

“Nothing.” Phil claimed with a soft clap before he waved his hands in a blur, palms out and fingers splayed. “Hi guys! How’s it been?”

Dan couldn’t help but feel like he sunk a bit deeper into the ever growing affection he had for the unpredictable florist but he gave an imperceptible swing of his head, reaching out to swat at Phil’s shoulder lightly. “Hey! Don’t steal my spotlight, you spoon.”

“I wouldn’t have to if you were on your game, Danny!”

Oh. Is it going to be like that? You’re on, Philly.

“Right, you are,” Dan agreed easily, pressing the camera closer to Phil so he could capture the brief moment of the other’s surprise: raised eyebrows, slightly bugged eyes. There was a rush of gleeful triumph before he waved a hand dismissively. “I thought everyone would like to meet the culprit. This is Phil, my amazing personal florist, who has also ruined my life.”

Dan extended his arm so he could get them both in frame and Phil stepped to the side to block him from view.

“Plant world domination should be happening any day now but shhh!” Phil pressed a single finger to his lips, looking furtively over his shoulder at Dan.

Holy shit. That smile. Is going to kill me.

Phil was facing the imaginary third audience with a conspiratorial: “But don’t tell Dan!” and Dan was fighting at the acute pang echoing through his chest. It reminded him of Ruth standing before him without any shred of clothing and adoration clear in the way she held herself under his own besotted gaze but this was...sharper. It was nearly painful with its intensity and Dan fought to keep his eyes from stinging with the threat of tears.

“You need to be careful, Dan.”

“What?” Dan paused with the spatula raised to flip over the ham and cheese sandwich that was being grilled in the skillet.

“I…” Sophie tried uncertainly before she took a deep breath. “You talk about this Phil guy like you talk about Ruth.”

“He’s becoming a really good friend.” The words sounded weak even to his own ears.

“Dan…” That single syllable held a note of despondency and a large amount of concern. He could hear Sophie pulling out a chair. “Peej will let you do your thing. He’s a big believer in making your own mistakes and figuring out who you are through those. But..” Sophie paused before she hit him with a calm question to shatter the shaky contentedness his mind had settled into. “I have to ask...are you gay?”

The pungent aroma of the charring bread didn’t reach him as he dropped the spatula. His knees buckled and he caught himself on the counter.

Was he gay?

He had figured out that he had a crush on Phil but he had definitely felt the same...symptoms...for Ruthie. The jumps in heartbeat, craving being in her presence, and the fascination with lips…

Pale smooth lips with a tongue poking out. Pinker, heart shaped lips that always had the form of a smile.

“No...I’m not gay.” Dan choked out, and he heard Sophie let out a hefty sigh. His mouth was dry and as he hastily flicked the burner off, he came to a realization:

He wasn’t gay but that didn’t mean he was straight.

So why didn’t he say that out loud then?

“Ah!” Dan squawked as his cheek was smacked faintly, flinching away from the impact before leaning into the weight still present without thinking about it. Phil had sucked in his bottom lip between his front teeth and that’s when Dan realized he was using the man’s palm as a pillow of a sorts. His cheeks seared with a familiar heat. “I’m sorry--what?”

“Are you okay?”

Phil...Phil was absolutely mind-blankingly, disarmingly…

Standing so close, Dan felt Phil’s breath fanning across his cheeks and he also felt the sheer craving to shuffle closer clawing at his rib cage.

Dan recoiled, taking a step back and gave a false, jagged titter.

“Of course.” The lie tasted sour on his tongue but he let it slither past his lips before aiming the camera that he had dropped to his side on Phil. “Come on, Phil! The people want a promo!”

Don’t focus on me. Please.

Let me be danisnotonfire for now. Not Dan Howell who isn’t gay or straight and falling for a boy with a heart of a lion.

“Er…” Phil was quick to regain his composure, glancing at his hand for a millisecond before dropping it and his line of sight to the floor timidly. “I’m not really good at those but,” Phil showed some teeth but his tongue was safely hidden as he winked. “I am Phil Lester and this is my flower truck- An Array of Sunshine!”

“That...just…” Dan couldn’t even form a coherent sentence as he gave Phil an offended look. “No.”

“I didn’t come up with it!” Phil defended indignantly, holding Dan captive as he turned his head towards him. “Martyn did!”

“Martyn?”

“My brother. He actually runs the website that we take deliveries from…” Phil reached up to knead the back of his neck. “I should probably mention that…”

“Link will be in the descrizzle,” Dan chimed in and pointed downwards where the perimeter of the video would be before he addressed Phil in his calmer speaking voice. “Is it a traditional website?”

“I have one, yes. There’s also a Twitter.” Phil’s eyes skittered away from his, tightening his grip on the nape of his neck before releasing his hold. Dan saw his eyes darken before Phil was dazzling the camera once more. “You guys can check out the Twitter if you want but it’s pretty inactive…” Phil’s frame was quaking- lips jumping with the effort to not peel back and expose his teeth- before he finished his thought: “The handle is @pocketPHIL-” At this point, he swept his hand down his torso. “-ofsunshine.”

“You DID NOT…” Dan angled his chin up slightly so he could jut it out in disbelief.

“I didn’t.” Phil confirmed in a voice so muted and small that it reminded Dan of stardust drifting in the abyss of space. “My partner did.”

Phil laughed but, somehow, it sounded wrong in Dan’s ears. It sounded like giggling even though his lungs were begging for air as he sprawled on the carpet with the light off. It sounded like the slam of the door as he stood in his dorm for the first time with the silence ringing in his ears and homesickness already sitting heavy in his stomach.

Phil has a partner? I thought the business was just his?

It sounded like a human puzzle barely holding the pieces of themselves together.

Dan’s lips separated.

“Hi?” A hushed, apprehensive voice cut in hesitantly, and Dan watched the girl sway from side to side from where she was standing at the table set up next to the van, on the right most side from where they were standing. “I don’t mean to interrupt…” She reached up to swipe a lock of light brown hair behind her ear.

“You’re fine,” Phil rushed to alleviate the girl’s nervousness. “How may I help you?” He moved fluidly around Dan, brushing his fingertips across his upper arm as he passed, so he could help the newcomer.

“You aren’t interrupting anything,” Dan added, ignoring the goosebumps prickling under his jumper at the simple touch. He lifted his camera and jostled it up and down. “I’m just making a video.”

“I know.” The girl spoke, and Dan watched as her cheeks started to flush as she took a sharp breath. “I watch your videos.”

“Oh,” Dan exclaimed in a pleasantly surprised gasp before briefly catching a glimpse of the girl’s face in the shot. “I’m meeting one of you guys! Hold on.” Dan’s thumb flicked the button to stop recording before he made his way over to Phil and the girl, laying his equipment carelessly on the low shelf he passed.

The girl was wringing her hands, eyes darting from Dan to the ground, as the freckles dotted across her cheeks stood out from her tomato red face.

“It’s okay.” Phil giggled lowly, drawing closer to the girl.“What’s your name?”

“Sofie.”

“Sofie,” Phil was properly bubbling over with merriment now as he placed a hand on Sofie’s shoulder with a nearly weightless pressure. “Do you like Pokémon?”

Sofie’s head was level with Phil’s jaw, and he curled his shoulders to bring himself a bit lower and Dan rolled his bottom lip under his teeth. Sofie was looking at Phil with round blue eyes, swallowing, before she answered:

“Er...yes?”

“Great!” Phil cheered, removing his hand from her shoulder to point at Dan. “What type of Pokémon trainer do you think Dan would be?”

This is going to become a thing, isn’t it?

Dan loosely folded his arms across his chest to let out a puff of air, swivelling his head, as he dipped his chin slightly with an indulgent half-smile.

I see what you’re doing. You can’t just woo the people coming to see us.

Sofie hummed thoughtfully, popping out a hip as she drummed her fingers on her chin. “I mean... it depends?” She paused and Dan shot her what he hoped was a smile that would nudge her to say what was on her mind. It seemed to work, and Sofie continued, “Well… I would think dark because of your...uh…” Sofie waved at him inarticulately, even more color flooding her cheeks.

“It’s okay,” Dan encouraged, amused. “You can say it’s because I dress like death. I’m sure Ruthie would agree with you.”

Sofie sniggered, finally seeming to relax as she nodded, “I wouldn’t say it like that...how is Ruth?”

Phil flattened his lips before his tongue darted out to swipe across his top lip as Dan rocked back on his heels, a gentle “Mmm…” tumbling from his throat as the corners of his lips lifted.

“She’s good,” Dan answered, grinning at Sofie teasingly. “She has some news for you guys, but I can’t tell.”

Sofie’s cheeks were straining from how wide she was smiling, and she bounced on her toes before blurting out: “What is it?”

“All I can say is check Twitter.” Dan lowered one eyelid in a cheeky wink. His easy-going image slipped as Phil withdrew from Sofie’s side to adjust a pot of yellow clusters of star-shaped flowers.

“I will!” Sofie bubbled before she curled her fist loosely to hit her palm. “Fire.”

“What?” That outburst had caught Phil’s attention, and he let his arms fall from where he had been reaching to grab a wide, stout cactus to echo Dan’s single word of surprise in unison with the other.

“I was thinking that Dan might be a fire type trainer. Perhaps, with a specialized dark moveset?” Sofie fingers uncurled before circling her chin as her other arm came across her stomach. “You seem protective so you could have a team with a high defense and a beast like Chandelure.”

“I can see that,” Phil prattled as he retraced the small distance he had travelled away from Sofie and Dan. “He could have an Arcanine. It’s a bulky supporter. Though,” Phil frowned slightly. “I had pictured him as a psychic trainer.”

“That’s not something I had considered,” Sofie acknowledged Phil’s typing with a contemplative squint, nibbling on her lip. “It’s possible.”

A series of chirps interrupted their conversation, and Sofie coughed as her cheeks grew hotter once more. She reached into her pocket and glanced at the mobile briefly before sighing and muttering,

“What horrible timing.” before raising her voice to an audible level with a disappointed sigh: “I got to go…”

“That’s okay,” Phil comforted before offering kindly, “You can stop by anytime, Sofie.” Phil pointed to Dan, eyes seeming to glow as he stage whispered: “I’m sure Dan needs a hug.”

Dan rolled his eyes at Phil good-naturedly before nodding at Sofie who froze at the suggestion, letting her slowly tread into his open arms with a springy step. He chuckled as he hugged her a bit tighter. “It was nice to meet you. Thanks for stopping by.”

Phil reached for Dan’s abandoned camera, and if you asked Dan later, he would almost swear that there was a tentative gossamer of tenderness swimming in those eyes as the equipment was carried with diligent care to the passenger seat.

(Or maybe he was projecting. Just a tiny bit.)

-

@danisnotonfire tweeted: i know i know i promised a video on friday. i’m working on it! here’s something: check out @pocketPHILofsunshine for your flowery needs.

October 7 3:27pm

@crabstickz retweeted: @danisnotonfire @pocketPHILofsunshine Eyyy. Getting that promo huh? Does this mean you will be online more? Can we collab?!

October 7 9:13pm

@LouisePentland retweeted: @pocketPHILofsunshine @danisnotonfire Definitely jumping on this train. Perhaps you recognize this face everyone?

October 8 8:04am

@RuthineHayes retweeted: Thank you @pocketPHILofsunshine… our carpet has never been more wet since the flowers have arrived.

October 8 11:11am

-

“I hate you.” is the greeting Dan gets the next day when he strolls up to where Phil is laying on his back, panting. His arms are streaked with dirt, and his chest is rising and falling with exertion as he smears away the sweat that has made its way past his headband.

“Because I’m late?” Dan dropped next to Phil to sit beside him, stretching his legs out.

“That and…” Phil wheezed, tapping his pocket where Dan could make out the edges of his phone. “Do you know what kind of uproar your tweet caused? I’ve gotten phone calls from at least seven people about it.”

“I thought promos were a good thing?” Dan murmured, kicking his heels slowly, watching the dirt shift under the sole of his shoe and travel up the sides. “I can delete it if you want?”

He doesn’t confess: I wanted to show people what they are missing. You should be noticed.

“Nah.” Phil’s fingers prodded his thigh lightly since he hadn’t moved from his position. “It’s fine. The last tweet on that account was a while back though.”

“Was it?” Dan hadn’t gotten a chance to browse the account but he made a mental note to do so when he returned home.

“Yeah,” Phil mumbled, eyelashes dark against his pale skin as he closed his eyes.

They sat in a comfortable silence as Phil’s breath evolved from harsh, whistling gasps to an even, steady flow. Dan pulled his left knee up to wrap his arms around it, taking in how the leaves of the plants adjusted to the changes in the wind and the crunching of fallen leaves as a jogger passed them by.

“I feel like an idiot.” Dan began with a hint of wry humor, and Phil’s eyelids raised unhurriedly.

“Why?”

“I didn’t realize that when you talked about Louise and Chris that you meant Sprinkle of Glitter and Crabstickz.”

“Oh. Is that a problem?”

“Not at all but…”

There was another moment of silence but this one wobbled heavily on their shoulders. Dan brought his other knee up to support his chin. He could still feel the slight pressure of Phil’s fingertips through his jeans, heating up his skin.

Why do you look so tired, Phil?

Are you tired?

Dan couldn’t speak through the nervous lump in his throat.

“Phil...why haven’t you tweeted in awhile?”

“I don’t want to talk about this right now.”

“Okay. That’s okay.”

Dan can’t explain the emptiness echoing in the chambers of his heart as Phil’s fingers leave their spot on his thigh...all he knows is that it hurts.

-

He checks @pocketPHILofsunshine later that night.

@pocketPHILofsunshine tweeted: The flower truck is up and moving again but back in London indefinitely!

2 years ago

@flowersfyeah replied: Aw! Sorry to see you go. Will you ever come back to Luxembourg?

2 years ago

@pocketPHILofsunshine replied: I will make trips up there periodically but not sure if I’ll be taking orders when I am up there.

2 years ago

@flowersfyeah: I understand. Give yourself time and space. Take care of yourself.

2 years ago

Dan brings a hand to clutch at the front of his dark shirt as he lets out a strangled whimper.

What happened to Phil two years ago?

-

They don’t talk about it.

Dan doesn’t ask even as the words throw themselves against his teeth because he knows that Phil doesn’t want to and he’s scared, if he’s being honest.

Phil doesn’t bat an eye.

He still smiles at Dan when he trudges up the path at seven in the morning but there’s a light shadow of purple under his muddy watercolour eyes. It takes Dan going straight to the mixed Zinnias and toppling over their huge pot, spilling a good amount of soil, for Phil to let out the softest of laughs as he hands Dan his gloves.

“We need to put this soil back and make them more comfortable.”

-

His hand had just gotten to the uncomfortable side of warm as he handed Phil the Starbucks cup. Phil immediately encircled it with both hands and a deep contented noise. Dan raised his own cup to his lips before gagging on the coffee as Phil wedged his nose between his thumb and pointer finger.

“Dan? Are you okay?” Phil set his untouched pumpkin spiced latte on the table before slapping Dan on the back in short bursts. “Does your coffee not taste good?”

“What the actual fuck, Phil?” Dan choked, the honeyed scent of caramel clinging to his nose. His eyes were watering but he had managed to not drop his caramel macchiato.  

Thank you for small miracles.

“What?” Phil inquired, clueless to his part in Dan’s near death experience.

“Why would you…” Dan spulttered. He mimicked Phil’s earlier actions, pressing his own nose between his fingers.

“My nose was cold!” Phil defended immediately, his hand leaving Dan’s back to push against his side playfully. “And,” He scooped his cup up to take a deep breath from the small slit for sipping. “It smells like fall.”

“It’s November,” Dan scoffed, nudging Phil’s ankle half-heartedly with the front of his shoe. “I think it’s safe to say that it’s fall.” He swirled his drink absentmindedly.

“What did you get?” Phil pushed his head against Dan’s arm to sniff at his coffee like a curious puppy before his tongue made its appearance with his gleeful, “Nevermind! I know!” He swiped the paper fiber and polyethylene receptacle from Dan’s grip to replace it with his own. “C’mon, Dan. It’s the festive season- try something new!”

Dan regarded the latte with an exaggerated lift to his upper lip and wrinkles screwing up his nose as he sniffed at it with mock unease.

The apples of Phil’s cheeks hoisted higher even as he attempted to shoot Dan an unimpressed look.

He failed but Dan squeaked as Phil’s lips touched his caramel macchiato, tipping his head back to take a mouthful.

“Hey!”

Phil smacked his lips together before remarking, “You can’t go wrong with a Caramel Macchiato.”

Dan observed the way Phil’s eyebrows arched in a silent challenge, and he didn’t break eye contact as he took a swig of the Pumpkin Spice latte. It skated across his tastebuds pleasantly and Dan let out a moan of appreciation.

A tinge that resembled the carnations Phil had been talking to before their coffee break dusted the tips of his ears and across the arch of his cheeks.

“Da--”

“Lester? Is that you?”

Phil straightened immediately, a tiny, strained smile marring his lips, as he turned to face the owner of the raucous, husky voice. He tightened his grip on Dan’s drink before his feet started to move to the man with flaxen hair and sharp grey eyes.

“Alex?” Phil breathed, and Dan’s nails dug into his palm at the unguarded, bewildered confusion in those eyes. “What are you doing here?”

“I agreed to help with one of the animal hospitals in London. Apparently, their nurse bailed because of some personal issues,” Alex informed Phil, and Dan felt his blood start to rush through his veins faster as Phil was clapped on the shoulder none too gently. Dan fought to keep his expression in a semblance of friendliness as those eyes scanned him up and down. “I saw that the Twitter was more active. I didn’t think you would take that up- you being more interested in videos and all.”

“I am friends with YouTubers.” Phil’s voice was unbending with unrepentance even as he regarded Alex with mild exasperation. “I have been in several of their videos. You know that.”

“I do.” There was something to the saccharine tone that had Dan’s jaw clenching, and he made his way closer, stopping at the table where the metal box that served as Phil’s cash holder rested. Alex crossed an arm across his chest to rub at his left shoulder. “I never understood why Aiden encouraged you to be in those.”

Phil’s head jerked back as if he had been slapped, teeth clicking harshly as they came together.

Dan let Phil’s drink tumble from his hand, a low growl rumbling from deep in his chest. He ignored the liquid travelling across the wood as he took a step forward.

I won’t let you hurt him. I won’t, I won’t, I won’t.

“Aiden always said, ‘You’re an entertainer.’-” Phil lowered his face, neck exposed to Alex’s gaze, and Dan could see the way the words were wrenched from a place that was hidden from his own eyes (and oh, how that made the stone walls of his heart crumble and disintegrate to dust). “He wanted me to take opportunities that I wouldn’t otherwise. Remember how he gave me a lap dance for my twenty-first? Even though he was already feeling the effects?”

“He fell on you and laughed it off…” Alex squeezed his shoulder tighter and he let out a ghost of a laugh- brittle and acidic. “You were buzzing but you were still fussing over him and oh, you guys were gross-”

The water streaming down Alex’s face took Dan by surprise and stilled the slow advancement that he had been making, but what threw him off-kilter was Phil’s consoling smile and outstretched arms.

He hurt you. Don’t let him close to you.

I will protect you.

Alex rushed to take solace in Phil’s tight hug and there was smoke climbing up his esophagus and he was being smothered and-

Dan came to himself as he knocked Alex away and wedged himself between the two men with a dangerously sonorous and scathing, “You don’t get to come here and hurt Phil and then have the audacity to hug him. Fuck off.”

Alex smeared the wetness on his cheeks with his palms as Dan’s eyes shot daggers at him. Cautious and curious calculating grey eyes darted to Phil who was wrapping his fingers around the fuming brunette’s bicep firmly.

“Daniel!” Phil snapped, tightening his grip as Dan spread his feet under Alex’s scrutiny. “Alexander is a friend of--”

“A friend, Phil? Really?” He spat, feeling his nails skim his palm as he flexed his fingers restlessly. “He comes here and--” Dan pushed forward as Alex slapped his palms against his trousers and pressed a tiny bit closer to Phil.

“Dan, I’m fine--”

“I have to say I’m impressed by your new boyfriend.” Alex’s eyes were somehow softer as he tilted his head where Phil was visible behind Dan’s shoulder. “Getting in a fight for you when he’s a public figure.”

Dan didn’t register the taunt for the light banter that it was, but his arm was suddenly not burdened by extra weight. He reared back at the assumption, a comfortable toastiness mingling with the whirlwind of rage scorching his blood.

I should tell him that we’re not together.

Ruth and I are…

Dan narrowed his eyes at Alex but his mouth remained stubbornly shut as his own mind rasped:

But you like that he assumed, don’t you?

“He’s not my boyfriend, Alex!” Phil exploded, manhandling Dan out of the way so he could properly glare at his friend. His shoulders squared as he smacked Alex roughly on his chest with an open palm. “You asshole!” The outrage in Phil’s voice was overshadowed by the way his voice cracked, and he pressed his forehead against the back of his hand, breathing heavily.

“He’s not?” Alex’s palms hovered over Phil’s shaking shoulders before they landed and crushed Phil to him. “Shit. I…”

“...were meddling like you always do,” Phil sniffled, and Dan ached to reach out to pull him away into his own arms but he could do nothing as Alex let out a long, audible whoosh, making the hair pushed behind Phil’s ear ruffle. “I get it.”

“You don’t.”

Dan couldn’t stand by anymore and he marched over to Phil. The knitting of his jumper compressed as Dan’s palm came to rest just under his shoulder blades. He tapped his fingers in an idle pattern, starting to drag the flat of his hand across Phil’s spine, as Alex mumbled,

“You and Aiden were supposed to be the first ones married, you know? He’s supposed to be here with you, and Phil, it’s been three years but you still look like the week after-” Phil’s single, broken wail had Dan jumping and Alex tightening his hold. Dan pleaded with Alex silently to stop, please, please but the blonde gave a small shake of his head before continuing determinedly, “He would kill me if I didn’t check on you while I was in town but then- I saw you...you were laughing and sharing--”

“Stop.” Phil sobbed, struggling against Alex’s embrace and jostling Dan’s hand as he did so. “Please. I can’t--”

“Phil,” Alex shushed him softly, and he tugged Phil forward as he drug his feet back until Dan was no longer touching him. “I think we need to talk...seriously.” He pivoted and Dan was met with the back of Alex’s dark blue scrubs, gritting his teeth to keep the venomous insults from leaping from his tongue at the isolating gesture. “In private.”

“Alex, I really don’t want to close up shop,” Phil argued, clearing his throat to dislodge the mucus clogging his voice. “It can wait.”

“Like therapy?” Alex retorted and Phil retreated from his loosened grasp, using the sleeve of his jumper to wipe away the wetness under his nose. Phil’s cheeks were blotchy and his lashes glittered in the sunlight as he raked his fingers through his fringe.

“Alex, you are my friend,” Phil began, shrugging his shoulder to get rid of the trails of salt water on his cheeks, before he crossed his tense arms over his chest. “-but we are not discussing this now. I have to work.”

Alex mimicked Phil’s defensive posture as he sneered, “You’re as stubborn as always. It’s going to be your downfall.”

“Maybe so,” Phil conceded before his lips turned up in one corner in a mockery of his playful cheekiness. “It is good to see you. Really.”

Alex’s head bobbed once before he stomped away from their little standoff, thumping Phil once in the shoulder with a mild hand. Phil watched him go and Dan couldn’t keep his eyes off of Phil who waited until it was quiet enough to hear the birds chirping from a tree a bit further in the park and the distant laughter of the children on the playground before he sucked in air slowly through his nose.

Dan watched the way his chest rose with the action, how his eyes dimmed and flickered like a lightbulb about to go out, while Phil pinched the bridge of his nose as he let out a long exhale. He seemed to deflate along with his lungs- shoulders jumping up to his ears, spine curving outwards so he didn’t take up as much space before he opened his mouth.

“Sorry about him,” Phil apologized sheepishly, scrubbing his fingers through his hair to make his fringe flop into its normal position. “Alex can be...intense.”

“It’s okay,” Dan reassured absentmindedly, tugging the cuffs of his jumper over his hands while he chewed his bottom lip. “I probably didn’t make the best first impression myself.”

“He means well,” Phil explained, twiddling his feet with jittery movements. “I’m sure he knows you did, too.”

Phil’s stuttering breaths mixed with the rustling of the wind and Dan shoved his covered hands deep in his jean pockets.

“Phil?”

“Dan?” Phil wasn’t looking at him, focusing on the way his feet drug through the dirt, how a tiny cloud of particles would pop up before raining on his shoes.

“Who’s Aiden?”

It took Phil a long moment to answer, burrowing his own hands in his trousers in that strange but endearing way Dan had noticed. His tongue swept across his lower lip before his warm breath ghosted over it in a sharp exhale.

“He was my boyfriend.”

“What happened to him?”

Dan’s heart thumped violently against the bones that encased it while the sound of his blood rushed through his ears. Phil didn’t say anything for many thundering, earth shattering heartbeats.

Phil lost the fight to keep himself together, bringing his palms to press against his cheeks as the curtain of salt water overlaying his irises overflowed once more. This wasn’t the body wracking sobs that Alex had caused with his visit but a soundless cry with droplets pooling in the crevices of his fingers.

“He died.” Phil couldn’t even muster the strength to fully engage his vocal cords but Dan heard.

Dan went to his florist, hands hovering over him uncertainly.

What can I possibly say to that?

What could anyone possibly say?

“Can I hug you?” Dan whispered and Phil nodded, head still buried in his hands.

It’s something at least.

Dan enveloped Phil. He circled his arms around Phil’s waist, pulling him as close to him as he possibly could. Phil let his hands drop to wind around Dan’s neck as if he was the only thing grounding him in this moment where he couldn’t force that glittering broken glass smile.

Dan could only hold on tighter as Phil hid his face in the juncture of his neck and cried those horrible silent tears, murmuring, “I’m here.” over and over again.

-

@pocketPHILofsunshine: Making an impromptu trip to Luxembourg. I will be taking a limited amount of deliveries. Should be back in London the first week of December

November 9 4:48am

@pocketPHILofsunshine: Check the website for more details and specific areas!  :)  (Link)

November 9 4:49am

-

From: Phil

Lou has been asking me for your number. Would you mind if I gave it to her?

November 11 2:21pm

From: Dan

what for?

November 11 2:25pm

From: Phil

She said something about a collab? I don’t know. She seems determined.

November 11 2:39pm

From: Dan

ooo i’m scared. go ahead.

November 11 2:43pm

From: Phil

I’ll tell her to be nice! Thanks Danny!

November 11 2:50pm

-

From: Louise

Daniel Howell.

November 12 8am

From: Dan

Hello to u too. some of us like to sleep until a decent hour.

November 12 1:17pm

From: Louise

Seriously? It’s the afternoon!

November 12 1:37pm

From: Dan

not for everyone. phil said u wanted to collab?

November 12 1:40pm

From: Louise

Actually, I would like to speak to you in person.

November 12 1:43pm

From: Dan

about what exactly?

November 12 2pm

From: Louise

Phil. It’s important.

November 12 2:01pm

From: Dan

when are u free?

November 12 2:02pm

-

“Dan, you’ll be fine.” Ruth assured him as they stood outside the glass doors of the London YouTube space. She had her pinkie hooked through his own loosely and Dan released it to take a shuddering breath, combing a few hairs of his fringe into place. “It’s not like she’s some shady serial killer, babe, seriously.”

“I know,” Dan groaned, turning to Ruthie. Her shoulder length hair had been swept into a brown clip primly, and her lips were painted a ruby red. Dan took a moment to take a breath before bumping the back of her hand with his. “It’s just nerve wracking. I stayed up to watch her videos to get a sense of how she is, but you can only see so much through a camera lens and a couple of minutes…”

“You said she wanted to collab with you- I don’t think there is anything to worry about.” Ruth wrapped a hand around the upper portion of his arm to kiss him lightly on the cheek. “Besides, I’m sure Phil is fine. She probably wants to see if you three can do a video together!”

“He died.”

Moisture coated his skin as Phil shivered in his embrace, and the pain of having an extensive vocabulary but with no words at his disposal to make the pain go away…

All Dan could do was sway as he held him and hope that it was helping. Even if it was an insignificant amount.

“I’m fine.” Phil lifted his head after a while with swollen eyes and snot slicked lips, and Dan had to sit there and watch as those eyes closed before, after a trembling breath, Phil gave him a tiny tremulous smile. “Sorry about your jumper.”

“...yeah,” Dan agreed, trying to hide his doubtfulness at Ruth’s reassurance. “I’m sure that’s it.”

Ruth’s fingers gave a gentle squeeze before she stepped back, straightening the cuffs of the grey pinstripe suit jacket she was wearing. She raised up finger guns and clicked her tongue as her heels clacked on the pavement noisily as she backed away from him.

“You’ll be fine!”

Dan smiled but his dimple was shallow and Ruth wiggled her fluttering fingers in a wave before she wheeled around to continue to the filming location she needed to be at.

Dan took a deep breath and rested his hand on the handle.

I can do this.

He opened the door and entered the lobby, relaxing slightly at the familiar atmosphere, as he made his way to the office spaces. Since it would only be him and Louise, it wouldn’t make sense to use one of the large conference rooms. The offices were smaller- they would give the two of them privacy.

That didn’t ease his nerves one bit because that meant that there was less room for escape and his fight or flight response was already activated. His heart was thrumming chaotically and his palms were shaking slightly, but he could do this. He had stood on a stage at VidCon with an innumerable amount of eyes on him, clutching a faulty microphone, as he answered questions, and he had survived.

Besides…

It’s about Phil.

Louise was sitting on a plush blue couch, legs crossed delicately at her ankles. The top portion of her hair was pinned to the back of her head with large ringlets resting on her shoulders. She had a large pink porcelain mug nestled in her lap as she laughed at something Chris was saying.

What’s he doing here?!

“Dan!” Louise greeted, standing at his approach, smoothing down her dark dress after she set the mug down on the glass top of the modern-style coffee table. “Thank you for coming.”

“It’s no problem,” Dan slipped into his professional voice, following Louise’s lead. “It’s nice to finally meet you, officially.”

“Likewise,” Louise affirmed before dipping her head at where Chris was seated beside her. “It’s time for you to go, Chris, darling.” Her eyes didn’t have any crinkles to suggest that she was upset but the slight tautness in the inflection of her words left no room for argument.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m going,” Chris laughed as he pushed himself off the couch with his arm. “Go easy on him, Lou.”

“You’re one to talk,” Louise snorted, slapping Chris with moderate force against his shoulder. “You were being a prat at the meeting,” She chastised, and Chris made a show of rubbing the ‘injured’ area, pouting childishly. “Come on now, off you go.”

Dan couldn’t help but smile at the display of Chris and Louise’s playfully antagonistic friendship. It grew as Chris made a spluttering noise by pressing his tongue and lips together at her.

Chris’ face dropped into a solemn expression a second later, and Dan’s delighted smile dissolved immediately at the change. Chris rested his fingertips on Louise’s forearm delicately.

“Just enough, Lou.” The words held an unspoken warning as well as a note of finality. “Phil would not be happy if you…”

If she what? Dan’s mind wondered.

“Of course,” Louise acknowledged, patting Chris’ fingers before he pulled away and waved enthusiastically at Dan before rushing away from them with quick, hasty footsteps.

It was just the two of them now, and Dan slid his hands into the recesses of his pockets to conceal their now noticeable trembling. Louise didn’t seem much better as she flipped the ends of her hair with her thumb before sighing, motioning to the blue armchair beside the couch.

“I’m not going to bite you, Dan. I just want to talk.”

“You know,” Dan stammered as his legs carried him stiffly to the chair. His hands remerged to grip the edge of both armrests as he fell into it. “I told Phil I was scared of you. I was joking at first but now, I’m properly terrified.” He managed a strained chuckle.

“I know...he made me promise that I wouldn’t give you the third degree,” Louise commented, lips pulling up in the corners a small fraction. “He’s very fond of you, you know.” The miniscule smile that had appeared fell away and she clasped her hands in her lap. “Which is why we need to have this talk.”

Dan rocked onto his left hip then his right, recalling how he used to do the exact same thing when he was a child and his mother was scolding him. He nibbled his lip- catching a dry piece with his tooth, pulling until it stung and a coppery scent invaded his nose.

What would Phil not be happy about you telling me?

The question sat heavy on the flat of his tongue like a fat cat lazing in the sun and he could feel the curve of the letters skimming his teeth like gentle scrapes of sheathed claws. He swallowed before reclining against the back of his chair.

“If Phil hasn’t complained about me, what is the problem?” Dan challenged weakly, bringing his fingers to his mouth to camouflage the tiny bead of blood that he knew was there.

“You made a vlog, recently,” Louise interjected, unclasping her hands to drum her fingers against her knee. “A Day in the Life?”

“Yes?” Dan confirmed with a questioning lilt, unsure why his sporadic vlogging was relevant to the conversation.

“With Phil.” Louise prompted, leaning forward slightly.

Oh.

Dan resisted the urge to press deeper into the cushion supporting his spine.

“Yes?” He repeated, uncertainly.

“When you edited the footage,” Louise continued casually, plucking her drink from the table to take a sip. “Did anything stand out to you?” Dan blinked slowly at her, not trusting himself to speak, and Louise continued as she dropped the mug from her lips. “Because some of those jump cuts are not as neat as they can be.”

“It happens,” Dan countered petulantly, frowning at the unintentional subtle jab to his editing skills.

“There has to be a reason,” Louise retorted with a single arched brow. “Your recent videos are clean cut. You’ve definitely improved since you started so why the sudden choppiness?”

Dan rolled his lips together, hissing inaudibly at the rawness of the throbbing split from his earlier biting, as he resisted the urge to confirm Louise’s suspicions right away.

It was true. He had chopped the footage a bit messily because there were split second frames of Phil’s slightly drooped shoulders and the turmoil that Dan could only imagine the depth of evident in the worn down sheen covering his gaze. When he had been sitting at his computer with his headphones covering his ears… he had known that he couldn’t leave those snippets in, those moments that exposed the cracks in Phil’s armor, to be witnessed and commented on by semi-anonymous users on a video sharing site because it was Dan’s career choice.

Phil hadn’t agreed to be studied by his (sometimes) overly observant fans, and he certainly didn’t agree to the negative commentary that inevitably popped up on every video.

So, he had cut out Phil’s soft, “My partner did.” but that skip was glaringly obvious in the final product.

Maybe it drew more attention to the other snips I did.

It doesn’t matter. She doesn’t need to know your reasoning.

Dan wiggled so he was sitting closer to the edge of the seat, unwilling to admit anything to Louise.

I know I did the right thing.

Even if she was Phil’s friend (and hadn’t been unreasonable so far), he didn’t have any reason to trust her with his thoughts.

Louise surprised him. She didn’t try to cajole him into responding or snark at his stubborn tenacity to not answer her question. Instead, she gave him a lenient, patient smile before she took a deep breath, her nails making a low tink-tink-tink against the porcelain still resting in her hands.

“Phil mentioned that you know about Aiden, so...” Dan’s jolted upright swiftly and ignored the way his vertebrae popped in several places, interested in the name he had heard a handful of times. His eyes followed Louise’s gaze as it dropped to her lap. A faint unhappy note buzzed through the air before she sighed, “Let me tell you a story.”

Dan lips quirked upwards as the tentative light-hearted tease jumped from the tip of his tongue, “Story time?”

“Hush, you.” Louise giggled once before she let herself sink into the cushions, the tapping of her nails ceasing. “I met Phil purely by chance. He and Aiden were in London to look at the Uni here around the time we moved down. They had decided to bring the van to try and sell a couple of bouquets.”

“Phil’s been doing the flower thing for that long?” Dan chortled, bringing a hand to his temple. “I can’t say I’m not surprised.”

“It wasn’t a proper business then. It was a side project,” Louise supplied with a tone that belied her soft spot for An Array of Sunshine and its owners. “Or so, Phil insisted.”

“Right.” Dan’s skepticism of Phil’s past self permeated the way his lips moved with the syllables of the single word. “A side project. Go on.”

“So, I met them both. Aiden was not what you would expect-” Louise brought a hand to cover her mouth as she pulsated with remembered merriment. “He was always dipping his toes in new experiences. It would drive Phil up the wall but,” She angled her head as she pinned Dan with light eyes devoid of any deceit and glimmering with quiet sympathy. “Aiden was so sweet with Phil. He adored him. And Phil…”

I don’t know if I want to hear this.

Dan let backbone curve as his body slid lower in his seat.

“Phil loved that boy, Dan,” Louise told him compassionately, setting her mug on the table, before she rested her hand lightly on his forearm. “When Aiden was diagnosed, he went straight to his advisor to change his face to face lectures to online courses.”

“What…” Dan began, Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed. “...was Aiden’s condition?”

Louise hesitated a moment, fingers compressing his skin before relaxing. Her front teeth sunk into her lower lip as she seemed to come to a decision. “Have you heard of Lou Gehrig’s disease?”

“Um-” Dan hedged, moving his arm to dislodge Louise’s grasp, before he admitted. “No.”

“That’s alright. It’s a motor neuron disease that causes the muscles to weaken and atrophy,” Louise explained easily, running a finger around the shell of her ear to make sure her hair was held away from her face. “Eventually, people can lose use of their arms and legs.” Louise’s voice dropped as she continued, “That’s part of the reason Aiden went to the doctor. He was struggling with using the tools at work.”

Dan’s head swam with this information as he tried to imagine operating without being able to manipulate things with his hands or not being able to stroll about his flat like he did at times. It was a difficult concept to grasp, and he wondered how he would have taken it if he had been the one to receive the news.

Or, been the one who had to see his significant other being told the news.

Aiden had to tell Phil. How could he possibly have done that?

“Why are you telling me this?” Dan managed through his constricted airways. “Chris said, ‘Just enough.’ before he left...is this…” He jerked his hand outwards to Louise before bringing it stiffly to himself. “Is this what he meant? Is this enough or too much?” A realization streaked across his mind in a blaze after he said Chris’ name. “Is Phil not going to be happy you told me?”

“No, no,” Louise pacified him calmly as she stood to pace in the space at the other end of the coffee table. “Aiden’s diagnosis isn’t a secret, Dan. Chris was referring to something else entirely.”

Like what? Dan wanted to demand but there was a painful knot twisting in his throat and a heavy weight on his chest as Louise took a couple of steps forward to turn and repeat in the opposite direction.

“Why are you telling me this?” Dan repeated because he couldn’t think of anything else to say, rubbing at the base of his throat over the divot where his collarbones met his sternum.

“Because you vlogged with Phil,” Louise blurted out, stopping her nervous movement to hold out her upward facing palms. “Phil is still struggling with Aiden’s death, Dan. It’s been three years but they grew up together and it can take years -” Louise stressed, hands waving wildly as her words gained speed. “It is taking years for him to grieve, and he’s still pretending he’s okay and you go and shove a camera-”

“I didn’t know.” The burning, pricking sensation in the corner both of his eyes had him grinding a balled fist into his right one, inhaling through his nose gruffly. He leaned on it. “I didn’t know.”

Louise’s anger melted instantly with his whispered words and she sighed, dragging her feet on the carpet until she was standing in front of him.

“I know,” She mumbled before leaning down to clutch his shoulders. “I just don’t think Phil should be exposed to the craziness that is your comment section. Have you read some of them?”

“I haven’t been on much,” Dan confessed with a sniffle. “Ruthie and I have been spending time together since she’s been filming and I’ve been working on some new skits…”

And missing Phil. He adds to himself as Louise’s eyes flickered to the cheek Ruth had kissed before they had parted ways with a troubled downward twist of her lips.

“You should. Your fanbase has some...interesting things to say.”

-

Previous Part: Anger, first act/ Next Part: Bargaining, first act

[amandaj718]

The Color Theory - Emmerdale Style

Welcome back to the Tin Hat Society. I am your host Amanda (@AmandaJ718).  With the help of my friend Justine (@BeauitifulHusbands), we have been talking about colors and clothing choices being used on Emmerdale.  We are not the first to consider this, but we are noticing a trend that we must talk about.

Since my film class days, I have been analyzing the mise en scene (the arrangement of scenery and stage properties in a play) of movies and television shows like it is my job (I would like it to be my job. Hire me). Anyway, lately, there has been so particular colors being used with Robert, Aaron, and Rebecca that deserves to be discussed in full. Read on if you want to learn about Robrons and Rebecca’s Color Theory!

Robert – Blue/Dark Red(Maroon)

Blues

Wearing blues equals calm. Our brains associate blue as positive and free.  We see this color as trustworthy something to depend on.  

The Positives

Calming/Loyalty/Trust/Devotion/Calm

The Negatives

Deceitful/Depressed/Weak/Unforgiving/Spiteful

How It Relates to the Scene

Robert is feeling a bit free. Rebecca is not in the village anymore. He is with his husband. He has a game with his husband’s best friend/sister's husband (estranged). He is having a good time. He is sticking his foot in his mouth but so is Adam. It is a normal day for them. However, he is underneath depressed and spiteful that his life is a mess. He is unforgiving of himself for what he has done to Aaron and his life. He is hurting Aaron, and that is the last thing he wants to do.

One would even say that the shirt is a sky blue. Light blue is seen as honest or trustworthy.  Which juxtapositions itself with how Robert feels about his actions in the past couple of months.  He does not feel that way at all. He is still conflicted and beating himself up.

Maroon/Dark Red

Red is about power and bravery. We associate red with being confident and driven.  We also associate red with being oppressive and anger.  This is a polarizing color.  

The Positive

Serious/Controlled Power/Ambition/Thoughtful/Controlled

The Negative

Fearful/Bearing/Angry/Resentful/Aggressive

How It Relates to the Scene

Rebecca is back. He is being forced to face his mistake, and everything is serious again. He is stressed out because Ross is the idiot that we all know he is on the daily. Aaron is getting more upset. Victoria’s personality has disappeared and is now up Rebecca’s butt.  Robert is wearing a color he wore a lot during the affair era. He is controlled but fearful as well of what this is doing to his husband whom he loves more than life itself. He is also resentful of Victoria choosing Rebecca over him (then again, we are all confused by that too).  As time goes on, he becomes aggressive towards Ross, plotting revenge.  He went from feeling somewhat better and in control of his future with Aaron to going back into a freefall.

Aaron – Grey/Black/Dark Blue

Gray

Gray is a color associated with depression or unsettling feelings.  It can be associated with a loss that affects the body and soul.  

The Positives

Mature/Neutral/Intelligent/Solid/Stable

The Negatives

Sad/Depressed/Indecisive/indifferent/Isolated

How It Relates to the Scene

Aaron is trying to be different this time. Normally he runs. This time he is going to stay and fight. That means he is going to be mature and stable. Well, as stable as he can be.  He is wearing a lot of grays lately because he is feeling sad. He is feeling indecisive about his and Roberts future. Aaron is holding back on many emotions. He loves Robert. He is upset with Robert. He can be upset. Robert hurt him. However, that does not negate his love.

We have to see how this story plays out before really going into how long the sadness will continue.  Aaron can only stay solid and stable for Robert and himself for so long. Old habits will creep back up in the worst ways.  That has yet to be seen through, but these clothing choices show this could be a possibility.

Black

Black is associated with the unknown. It can represent strength and power but also negative feelings such as depression and feeling aloof.  

The Positives

Comfort/Protection/Strong/Contained/Mysterious

The Negatives

Aloof/Pessimistic/Withholding/Sadness/Negative

How It Relates to the Scene(s)

This is his hoodie in the same scene.  You could argue that the black hoodie was a protective layer since I always thought Aarons array of hoodies were just metaphorical shells to protect himself. He has been wearing a lot of black hoodies. So, he is trying to protect and comfort himself while out in public.  This is a given.

*Aaron wears a dark blue sweater in the 6/16/2017 episode.  Dark blue is conveyed as being superior. Make of that what you want. *

Rebecca – Yellow

Yellow

Yellow is associated with being creative or a sunny feeling.  Bright and happy. It can be considered anxiety-producing for some and conveys a sensitivity to criticism and a retreat from responsibility.  

The Positives

Optimism/Creative/Challenging/Confidence/Fun

The Negatives

Spiteful/Cowardly/Deceitful/Low Self-Worth/Lacking Compassion

How It Relates in General

When we meet Rebecca, she is mostly wearing Reds, Blacks, and Multi-colors.  As I wrote above, the reds equal control and power. The black coloring is mysterious and strong. She was brought on to be fun while trying to be that strong independent woman the show was desperate to sell us.  After ‘The Incident’ episode her wardrobe changes to mostly yellows. Mustard yellow to be exact. According to a few websites, that shade of yellow means a lack of self-worth or self-respect.  

Let me back up for a minute.  Before the turning point in her character’s story, she is feeling powerful and in control of herself.  After ‘The Incident’ she goes out of her way to look brighter and happier while hiding those feelings of lack of self-worth, self-respect, and deceitfulness, spite even?

We see this come out after Robert rejects her the next day.  Her whole attitude goes from sunny to spiteful in a heartbeat.  She starts to throw out accusations and gets bitter about Robert turning back to his husband.  When she thinks, he is deciding to be with her and Robert rejects her again, out comes the spitefulness. In one case, sending Ross after him.

She shows this by lacking compassion towards Aaron and what he is going through.  She is in that mustard yellow around Aaron during her biggest show of manipulation and deceitfulness and lack of compassion. The scene with Aaron as she tries to convince him to leave Robert. She is wearing a very loose mustard yellow sweater. She keeps pushing Aaron with her words and building this case that Robert is the worst person for everyone. Instead of apologizing for her actions and how they affected Aaron (like Robert did the night of the reveal episode) she doesn’t do that. She is spiteful towards Robert, acting like that night was all his doing when it takes two to tango (if we ignore the consent issue like the show).  She is also a coward. Pretending Aaron yelling would affect her thumb-sized baby in her stomach.  Grabbing it at every chance she could, taking the cowards way out of taking responsibility for her actions in this situation.

The show may want us to side with her and think of her as the victim put I believe that is only the outside. On the inside, she is a much darker human being. We have seen it since she met Aaron and it might get worse and spread towards Victoria. Hence why this story might get “compelling” very soon.

What does all this mean?

It could mean nothing. A soap opera operates on a tighter schedule than a prime-time show.  Sometimes they might not have the time to figure out certain clothing choices and colors.  However, with this storyline being the way it is, all we have is the colors of their clothes and their non-verbal actions.  So, I think it is important that we all pay attention to their clothing choices from now on.  It is telling us more than we realize.

What do you think? Tell me below or tweet me @AmandaJ718. Until next time, keep your tin hats on tight and hold on. This bumpy ride of a storyline is not going to be over for a long time.

Here are links to the research. (Check out the websites for yourself. Come up with your own ideas and share them with me and others!)

Blue/Light Blue

Grey/Black

Dark Red/Maroon

Yellow