#and they only have my brother bc he worked in a machine shop for a couple years

[inklingofadream]

i desperately wish i could post my brother's company t shirts without doxxing myself, they're SO good. it's killing me, but there are literally like 3 employees tops and the office is the owner's garage

[favfics13]

Seventeen Recommendations Part 3 - 05/24 - ...

Dream Ride by @bambikisss

Summary: You haven't been able to sleep much lately, so you've been driving around at night to help ease your mind. However, you keep passing by the same jet black colored motorcycle every night, which then keeps showing up in your dreams. So when you stop one night to get gas and see the same motorcycle stopped nearby, you decide to meet the man under the helmet.

Have My Baby by @seokgyuu

Summary: When fertility clinics fail to give you what you want, you decide it’s time to take the matter into your own hands. And who’d be better for the job than Choi Seungcheol?

Always Only You by @honeyhotteoks

summary: the date was terrible, awful even, but you just can't call your brother to pick you up. you have to call his best friend instead.

Ode To You by @lovelyhan

Summary: if there's one thing you've learned from all the lives you've spent together, it's that jeonghan isn't always someone you'll end up wanting. he can be crass. he can be secretive. he can be nothing short of vexing. but in the end, he's everything you need him to be. or: 25 lives in which you find and don't find jeonghan.

I Think We Married In Vegas by @ressonancee

Summary: You and Jeonghan have always been friends, and friends go on a trip together, right? And somehow friends always end up marrying in Las Vegas right? And somehow friends become roommates as well right? That all seems very normal when Yoon Jeonghan has a weird addiction to doing the dumbest things ever just for shock value.

Lens Of Ice by @wongyuuu

summary: jeonghan has only one chance left to make it to the olympics. as he embarks on this decisive journey, you, a documentarist, are set to follow him as he seeks the ultimate glory.

Birds of a Feather by @onlymingyus

summary; You and Shua work together on a petition to get rid of the bird kid and then you fall in love.

505 by @lovelyhan

Summary: i'd probably still adore you with your hands around my neck; or i did, last time i checked.

Burnt Coffee by @highvern

Summary: Running a cafe hadn’t been as glamorous as you initially believed. You loved your job; the cozy aroma of the different roasts, the hum of the espresso machine, the foam art you tediously practiced until a cute bear face stared back from the surface of a cappuccino. But any new shop comes with quirks, like the fire alarm that goes off almost every morning. Luckily, the fire station is just across the street and you unknowingly have one of the fireman wrapped around your finger.

Homewrecked by @ncteez

Summary: Wonwoo doesn’t seem to realize that you’re giving him the best option out of a relationship that doesn’t even involve you. With a cheating best friend on one side, and a loyal Wonwoo loving her from two hours away on another, you decide that home wrecking isn’t always a bad idea.  or the one where wonwoo fights internal demons over wanting you bc he’s in a relationship that he doesn’t even realize is falling apart.

Play Again by @shuarush

Synopsis:  after ten years of not seeing your high school crush you find yourself partnered with him at the company you work for. Since you've been rejected before, you try your best to not let any feelings flourish, but Jeon Wonwoo's charms make that attempt especially hard for you.

Fuck The Neighbors by @sluttywonwoo

summary: curiosity killed the cat but satisfaction brought it back- at least, that's what they say.

Guinea Pig by @imloyaltoscoups

Work Me Out by @highvern

Hits Different (...'cause it's you) by @gyuswhore

SYNOPSIS: Kim Mingyu was the first friend your brother had brought home for dinner. Fast forward a couple years, his toothy smile and pierced ears would wedge their way into a permanent place in your heart. Nail to a coffin, never to escape. or; in which you get rejected by the only boy you've ever loved; a rejection you can't quite shake off.

7 Days by @hannieoftheyear

Summary: During a seven-day vacation with your friends, you try to get over your feelings for one of them. Feeling alone, surrounded by people who seem closer to each other than you, you find comfort in the one person that you didn’t know before.

Office Hours by @seungkw1

Hit: Vernon by @smileysuh

Synopsis. You might not be great at taking the large bong your frat friends pass around at parties, but Vernon has at least one pipe you can handle ;)

Drive by @miraclewoozi

Summary: DRIVE -- or, the night you realise it's actually very hard to stay mad at the guy who shows up at your house, throwing stones at your window on a Thursday night, to try and fix something that was your mistake in the first place.

More Than One Member

Forbidden Fruit by @hoshiputa

Summary: “Who do you want to eat your pussy, princess?” “Why do I have to choose? Just let everyone eat.” You felt hands slipping inside your panties, and you just knew they weren't Jihoon's.

Game Over by @lovelyhan

Like We Just Met by @onlymingyus

More Than I Can Resist by @multi-kpop-fanfics

Summary: you love starting your day with your boyfriend and a freshly brewed cup of coffee. but your other boyfriend has a different idea of a perfect morning.

More Than I Can Handle by @multi-kpop-fanfics

Summary: the abundance of snow outside won't stop you and wonwoo from restocking your fridge. and it certainly won't stop seungcheol from getting what he wants from his girlfriend and boyfriend - their undivided attention.

[kushimarutentacles]

So Raiga is my favorite swordsman, then Kisame, then Kushimaru, and then zabuza and the Hozuki brothers.

I think that for the time before Raiga met Ranmaru when he felt empty inside, he tried everything to fill that void. Killed people in different ways, tried different hobbies, did drugs, drank, and had sex.

I think this is how we got Buntan. While I can’t imagine him r@ping someone, I can imagine him having a one night stand or visiting a brothel. Which would be why he didn’t know about Buntan. I can see him having sex with this lady, and being like “hmm this isn’t working. On to the next thing!”

I get the image of him being really awkward, too, adding to why Bun’s mom hates him. Picture it: Raiga’s in a bar, drunk, moping to another random drunk dude about how he feels like he’s dead inside. Dude says something like “well, get yourself a woman! A good shag will fix you right up!” And raiga’s like “no cap??” And the next day attempts to seduce the first woman he sees. She probably is either thinking he’s so awkward and strange he’s cute or recognizes that he’s got the swords and agrees to sleep with him bc she doesn’t want to get zapped or stabbed. Either way, they get to a room and he’s like “okay, I’m a guy and you’re a girl and we’re naked… now what?” And she rolls her eyes and is like “ugh fine I’ll do it” and then after she falls asleep post frickle frackle he’s lying awake, staring at the ceiling like “well that didn’t work.” And just leaves. I doubt the ninja schools have a good sex Ed program so it’s possible he wasn’t even thinking about a child being a consequence.

(I know someone who was part of the Amish community that when she was 15 a boy convinced her that women couldn’t get pregnant their first time and she got pregnant and was tossed out of the community. So I think it’s a situation where he knew where babies come from but didn’t connect all the dots.)

Anyway, this man found an ailing child and, while having no experience in child care, was like “well shit I can’t NOT take you with me, can I?” And they figured out a dynamic that worked. I was a special Ed teaching assistant. Caring for children (and adults) with mobility disabilities is difficult. You add that Raiga didn’t have any classes like I did on how to care for someone like that, and it’s impressive to me that he successfully managed to not only keep Ranmaru alive, but he was THRIVING and loving life! Being a parent brought Raiga deep fulfillment, so I know DAMN WELL that if he knew Buntan existed at all, let alone that her mother at the very least mentally abused her by telling her she was worthless etc, he would have grabbed her up SO FAST and been like “look, a boy and a girl, I have a matching set!”

And as everyone knows, caring for children is expensive. Raiga figured that out pretty quickly I think. He knew he needed money, a stable place to live, and that usual Anbu level ninja work was extremely dangerous. It’s probably the only work he knew, and bc he was raised to be a murdering machine, he doesn’t think “oh well I could be a cashier at a ramen shop” like a normal person. He saw the opportunity to take over the gold mine and took it. It not only gave him the means to care for Ranmaru properly, he could safely keep him on his back at all times, and do his funerals.

I think if Tsunade would have come to the mine herself, she could’ve been like “okay, if you come the Konoha, work for me and stop the funerals, we’ll let you and Ranmaru stay together in the village.” And everything would have been fine.

TLDR: LIGHTNING MAN MAKE BRAIN GO BRRR

this is gonna be a long response so under the cut it goes!

i can't believe i've never CONCEIVED of sad drunk/druggie raiga. mix a sad boy with hallucinogens, oh noooo

i am very onboard with him not knowing the first thing about sex (him knowing it happens naked HKSNCBVNKJNGKJF that's such a good image)

IMO kiri did have sex ed, like people knew about sex and pregnancy because replacing the population was a BIG DEAL, but even so completely ignorant raiga is important to me. maybe it doesn't make sense but raiga's mind is a mess in so many ways.

imagining raiga trying TO SEDUCE A WOMAN IS SO FUNNY HDKFNGJHN he checks out a book from the library and learns about pickup lines. hey girl, nice eyes, he says. the girl just stares and he stares back because he figures she's got to say something at some point, he did the thing!

his relationship with ranmaru was a trainwreck but he did take care of that boy!!! he cooked food for him, which it didn't seem like people were doing beforehand! (it's amazing ranmaru survived long enough for raiga to pick him up--the villagers who were just like here's some cold potatoes and carrots young lad! ough the iron deficiency) so i love the thought of the mom, instead of keeping her a secret, gave buntan to raiga to raise bc she didn't care to. i feel like he would have been forced to be too responsible to go around holding funerals.

"he could safely keep him on his back at all times" you're making me think about how weird it must have been for people to see him before and after ranmaru--hey buddy? you uh. you got a little something on your back there. do you think you need to go to the doctor?

i couldn't imagine konoha taking in a rouge nin at that point, because the protocol for rogue nin was pretty hard set, but i love the thought of them being around more >W<

and for the record, here's how I think Buntan's conception happened: her mom was a prostitute around Katabami, and Raiga's little clanmates were going to her brothel all the time so he decided to check it out. he only went once and cried afterwards, sex was so unpleasant for both him and the lady. she already hated him for being the leader of all these obnoxious men who keep coming around, but when she got wind of the funerals she was horrified. and then she found out she was pregnant and it was a no-win situation whoever the father was, but then the baby came out with the double-ringed blue eyes and it was such an oh no. she drank, she kept everything about raiga a secret other than that he was worthless because she was afraid if bun knew anything more she would really turn out like him. unfortunately this opened the door for shizuma to bamboozle her with talks about what a hero her dad secretly was and how she's carrying on his legacy. it was a trick! it was bait! run, buntan!!

Another really interesting theory to me is one made i think by forgivememadre, that raiga was in an unhappy arranged marriage in kiri!!! AGHH i conceptualize him as literally having lightning god ancestry, bc i love kiri nin being descended from spirits and other creatures, and kiri wanting to continue that lineage makes sense to me. ough.

he makes my brain go brrr too. he has a permanent apartment in there -w-

[moonmothmama]

for some context:

my brother's vacation was pared down from originally a few weeks, to one week because of work things, and then to a little less than one week, because the night before they were supposed to leave,

their fucking basement floods. the toilet floods. everything is flooding. there ends up being a huge crack in a cast iron pipe, that is eventually fixed after the Few Guys (note how i do not say repair people, because we are all pretty sure these are just Some Guys the landlord got to do this) have torn up his bathroom and closet and messed up that entire area of the apartment. (on the phone with me before i arrived, my brother described his apartment as looking like "the fbi were looking for drugs")

so they spend all day cleaning that up. they end up getting less than five hours of sleep before they leave the next morning (four hours later than planned) to drive to another state for their vacation.

and then while they are gone. the basement floods. again.

and naturally i am going "oh shit oh fuck" because i'm thinking it's the plumbing again. my sister in law was the last one to text me so i'm texting her about it like "i am really sorry to have to tell you this but-" and she's like "how bad is it, send pics, i haven't told your brother yet because he's finally happy" and i'm there like

so like an hour later i'm on the phone with my brother. and he's telling me things to check in the basement, and we determine that it is not, thank god, the plumbing again.

this time, it is the rain which has flooded the basement. which, this has only ever happened ONE TIME before in the entire time he's lived here, which is like, idk offhand but it's over a decade at this point

so i am dragging a shop vac out of his garage and dragging it down to the basement and running around getting guitars and amps off of the nasty soaking wet rugs, and i'm moving furniture off of them and getting them kinda rolled up/folded so that when my folks arrive to help me clean this shit up, my dad can easily roll them up neatly and tie them to be disposed of later

and my brother is going "don't do that alone they're going to be heavy wait for dad but also don't let dad do anything alone" because this is my boomer father who is an idiot god love him and WILL do STUPID THINGS and get hurt and wind up in the hospital (it has happened before)

but i know i can get these rugs up off the floor alone so i do it. like, it's not FUN. they're heavy and disgusting and covered in tables and amplifiers and whatnot. but i do it.

anyway. the next several hours are spent trying to get as much water up off the floor as possible. all the rugs have been rolled up and set aside except for the one that has an entire drum kit on top of it, as well as very large speakers and a ton of other things.

my flip flops are those squishy skechers that soak up all the nasty basement water like sponges so my feet are wet this entire time.

i am collecting wet laundry off the floor and putting it in the washing machine. (which that isn't even done yet bc i still have to get a comforter or something in there too). dad is on the phone with my brother who says to put the dehumidifier on. i am mopping up in the corner after we find out we can't run the dehumidifier and the shop vac at the same time bc it blows a fuse.

once things look Acceptable down there, i get my sweaty, disgusting ass in the shower and then FINALLY eat something. leave the fan and dehumidifier running all night (the basement is p much okay now).

also the dog had diarrhea while all this was happening! so. that was my day yesterday

i have just had, honest to god, one of the top three most ridiculous days of my entire life. i'm too tired to go into detail but oh my LORD. perhaps i shall recount my misadventure tomorrow. it is... a lot

[ve1vetyoongi]

wherever you will go | jjk

Pairing: Jungkook x female reader

Genre: actor!oc, director!jungkook, smut, angst, humour.

Word count: 21k

Summary:  Not much happens when you grow up by the coast. Tourists come and go, the theatre where you work shows the same shows over and over and there’s always sand and salt in the air. Your dreams of making it big in the city are exactly that: dreams. When your hopes of becoming an actress are shattered into a million pieces, you find yourself getting drawn to a captivating up-and-coming movie director by the name of Jeon Jungkook. With his bright eyes and charming smile, he seems determined to glue your pieces back together -- even if it means leaving Ocean City behind for good.

Warnings: themes of loss/grief, mentions of death of a parent, dom!jungkook, dom/sub themes, spanking, squirting, unprotected sex, oral sex (f recieving).

Rating: Mature.

A/N: Hello loves! HAPPY JK DAY!! This fic is a lil celebration of our golden boy Jungkook so I hope you enjoy!! This whole fic is sickeningly fluffy and reads like a pretentious YA novel but ya girl wrote this while she was stuck in quarantine a few weeks ago and I debated not posting this bc I lowkey love it lowkey hate it so pleasedonthateme if it’s bad LOL. Also -- just incase you haven’t read the warnings already there is a running theme that deals with the loss of a parent (a topic very close to my heart, hence why this piece was especially healing to write.) so reader discretion is advised if that is triggering to you in any way shape or form!!!! P.P.S Largely unedited so pls bare with any mistakes!

Prelude.

You're late for your work shift, you note, as you catch sight of your watch face glaring up at you menacingly from the arm clutching the handle bars of your bike. As if your mood couldn't get any more miserable -- the dreary morning drizzle that falls from the sky and drips icily down the back of your nape was bad enough.

Goddamn, you groan to yourself as you will your feet to pedal ever faster. Now my hair is gonna be frizzy.

It's a Saturday and the theatre where you work always opens earlier at the weekends. You promised you'd be on time today, but yet here you are, speeding down the worn in sandy sidewalks of your seaside town a whole block away when you should've been opening up half an hour ago.

It's a habit of yours, being late. And as hard as you try, you just can't change a habit. But it can't be helped you suppose. Continuity is all you've ever known. That's the thing about living in a tiny seaside town. Things never change.

The view from your bedroom window has been the same for as long as you can remember — Ocean City — Aka, block after block of rainbow coloured houses with flaky paint leading up to the harbour where boats bob nonchalantly and fishermen reel in their catches beneath the gull filled sky. Beyond it the beach; greyish rolling waves and upturned pebbles nestled atop of hard sand in the winter and clear water and brightly coloured beach towels and brave surfers in the summer.

Nobody ever leaves, and the tourists that arrive in summer never stay. Life becomes a predictable practice, just each day lived out to the next in an endless cycle of never ending continuity. It's suffocating and endless and sometimes you feel like you're just a pawn on a giant chess board, destined to move one agonising square forward at a time, never diagonally. It's hard to change directions when you've been taught to stick to what you know.

You didn't always live here, in this town of continuity. You lived in the big city for a while, where no day was the same as another. But after your mother died you and your older brother were shipped off to live with your dad, who wouldn't know the definition of adapting if it hit him square in the face. He's always been the same square shouldered, balding dude in his forties who never wanted kids and never quite got over losing your mother to the big buck actor she ran off with when you were two.

So that's how you ended up here. Late for work at your job in the country's most prized vacation spot. And your boring reality.

You roll past the beach huts on the shoreline that alternate between vibrant pink and muted blue, barely paying attention to the boardwalk with its little boat house that stretches out into the horizon like a crooked finger. When it gets dark, you can spot the pier carnival lights flashing in the distance from here as they dance across the reflection of the pale white moon and play among the waves.

Even now, the yellow lights of the ornate street lamps that line the water's front shine like tiger's eyes against the sky just like they always have when you turn down the familiar route that takes you past the winding lanes of trinket shops and the happy hour bars and the carnival that feels strangely empty at such an early hour, not a single rollercoaster ride in operation.

Before long you're skidding to a stop outside of the The Crestmont, the old theatre where you work. It's everything you'd expect from a vintage cinema; pink and blue neon lights and a gold trimmed ticket booth out front with a three-sided marquee that extends from the front of the building like a brightly lit airport runway. You hurry beneath it, grateful for the protection it provides from the rain that has started to come down in lashes now, before heading over to the rack around the back of the building where you can chain your bike.

The Crestmont used to be somewhat of a hotspot back in the day or so your told, but these days it only shows cartoons at a discounted price for the neighbourhood kids and the occasional local production of some worn out musical everyone has seen a hundred times before. It's lost all it's magic, everyone says. But you disagree; you probably spend more time here than anyone, and there's magic in every inch of this place.

From the red velvet curtains to the grand chandelier, The Crestmont is one of a kind. Sometimes you disappear into the theatre by yourself for a while unbeknownst to your manager. You can almost taste the laughter and the tears and the love that has been spilled and shared unapologetically amongst these seats. Pure magic.

Your mom left a piece of herself here, too. If you close your eyes you can hear her laughter spilling out into the theatre, or her lilting singing voice filling every nook and cranny like a haunting siren. She was the Crestmont's star. Ocean City's sweetheart.

There's a wall of fame in the lobby. It's covered in portraits crested with gold frames, all filled with pictures of the Crestmont's greatest performers. You've spent hours there — (turns out it's the perfect hiding spot from your manager) — fingers tracing the plaques beneath each one, all inscribed with names that townsfolk whisper with dreamy looks in their eyes. Some are black and white, some colour, but all of them depict pretty faces with beaming smiles that never seem to fade.

Not even your mom's. Her smile is pearly and bright, right above the plaque with her birthdate. And her death date.

And right there at the end, an empty frame. Your frame. You can feel it. You already know how you'll pose for your picture. Hair over one shoulder, hand on hip, smile so convincing that it'll be like every happiness in your heart is written right across your forehead proudly, and you won't have to dull it any longer.

You finish hooking a chain around the handlebars of your bike, catching sight of your reflection in the darkened windows. Staring back at you is a girl dressed in a maroon v-neck with a preppy dicky bow tied around her collar. You frown. The white shirt itches and the high waisted pants make your crotch look weird but the uniform is compulsory. The only thing uglier is the sour expression on your face, which you try to smooth out with your thumb, experimenting with plastering a sickly smile to your face instead. It might be convincing if your lips didn't strain and your eyes weren't so prone to rolling without your permission.

You need to learn to hide your emotions, your father said. You have your feelings written across your face. Customers don't like that.

It's true; customer's didn't usually like you, your unforgiving face or when you spilled cola down their blouse or spat in their popcorn. One more complaint and you were on the path to being fired once and for all, and although in some ways you would be glad to say goodbye to the stupid slushie machine that always gets stuck and the ungrateful customers and the goddamn uniform, you can't loose this job.

Not when it's your ticket to making it big. Then customers will point to your picture as they pass and clutch their chest with a snide superiority, Oh! Can you believe she served me a cola once? I always knew she was gonna make it! instead of Would it kill you to smile a little, honey?

So you swallow a sigh and make your smile as convincing as possible and march inside of the ornate theatre doors of The Crestmont, hoping that today may be the day where things finally change for once.

Where it begins

"I'm going to work!" You call as you you pull a baseball cap down over your hair to cover it's unbrushed wildness. "I won't be back for a while so don't wait up, okay Taehyung?"

You pause with your hand on the door, listening carefully for a response; the small house you live in pulsates with the bass of some indie rock album your brother and his friends are obsessed with at the moment, and your eyes roll when you peer up the staircase and find Taehyung's bedroom door firmly closed like always.

With a shake of your head you scribble out a message on a sticky note — GONE 2 WORK. — and leave it for him to read when he eventually emerges from his man cave in search of sustenance and finds you gone.

You brush away the funny ache that nestles in your stomach. This is nothing new. You're used to not being heard. Your dad is always gone for trips you suspect involve more play than work, and your older brother pretends he's not broken by hanging around with the neighbourhood cool kids and barraging himself in his room for days on end. Despite living under one roof it feels as though you're miles apart, an invisible barrier separating you indefinitely.

You weren't always like this; distant, always stepping on eggshells around each other. You were a family once. A happy one. But since the accident there's been an absence in this house, and nothing has been the same since.

Still, you know that beneath Taehyung's standoffish persona, he's still your big brother. He worries about you. So you tack the note to the fridge and make your way outside.

The lawn is already brown despite it only being late May, and summer is shaping up to be hot and sticky, though you live two blocks away from the beach so the coolness of the ocean still thankfully pervades against your perspiring skin, the gulls already calling you with their high pitched squaks from down at the shoreline.

You've barely made it to the end of the drive before there's the sound of knuckles rapping against glass. You look up and your heart jumps into your mouth. Staring back at you is a pair of dark eyes from behind the upstairs windowpane. Even from this distance you can see how they shine, deep and dark like a cup of black coffee, and you'd recognise the annoyingly cute smirk that matches them anywhere.

Jungkook. Jeon Jungkook. Taehyung's best friend, and, unfortunately, your crush for as long as you knew what the word love meant.

"Hey, Y/N!" Your heart sinks when the window slides open and a messy head of brown hair sticks out through the gap and points at you with a pout. "You're leaving already? Without me?"

Oh; another thing about Jeon Jungkook. He's also your co-worker, which means you spend 16 hours a week in his company, much to the glee of your heart and the dismay of your conscience.

You weren't exactly surprised when you turned up to the Crestmont theatre for your first shift and were left in the capable hands of none other than Jungkook to teach you the ins and the outs of the popcorn machine and the ticket booth.

For as long as you've known him he's been somewhat of a film buff. He practically grew up holding a camera. You always used watch him and your brother making home movies in the backyard, fit with ketchup sachets for blood and endless costumes from your mom's closet. And the one time you stayed at his house when your dad went away for a while after the accident, you saw all the classic movie posters on his bedroom wall; Casablanca, Singing in the Rain, Jaws. So it made total sense for Jungkook to be at the Crestmont. In fact, you couldn't imagine him anywhere else.

That day you were mostly just surprised that he knew who you were at all. While you had spent years watching him from your bedroom window while he kicked a ball around with Taehyung or avoiding his eyes at the table when he stayed for dinner, he had never so much as glanced in your direction.

Deep down you think the reason he was so quick to take you under his wing is because he knew first hand how hard the accident hit your family. You suppose he feels he owes it to Taehyung to keep you in high spirits.

Although if you weren't you and he wasn't him, you'd swear Jungkook's attentions had become almost flirtatious as of late. He always goes the extra mile to spend time with you, and you even though you know it'll end up with you getting hurt you can't bring yourself to stop him.

You see, Jungkook has a gift for subtle charm. Like how he always sneaks you sodas out back on your lunch break, never forgetting the extra syrup — tooth rottingly sweet just how you like it — slipping one of his own dollars into the cash register to avoid a telling off from your manager. Or how he insists on helping you clean up after the theatre is empty, showing you the best secret places like down the back off seats to find misplaced trinkets and the creaky floorboard where your manager hides his cigarettes. How he insists on walking you home after the evening shift, even if he says he's going this way to see Taehyung anyway.

You've spent countless hours pondering over whether his sweet talking words mean as much to him as they do to you. And as much as you know it's unlikely for someone like Jeon Jungkook to ever have feelings for you, you can't help the way your heart speeds up every time he shoots you one of his signature bunny smiles that light up his whole face like he's happiness personified. And you can't bring yourself to hate him for it.

"I did call," you respond matter of factly, finally sucking in a breath of courage to turn around and squint up at him through the afternoon sun with a shrug. "But that trash you're listening too was too loud for you guys to hear me."

Jungkook's eyes widen as he fumbles around beneath the windowsill and pops up again holding up a shiny vinyl record sleeve. You recognise it instantly; it's from his favourite film — Submarine. He hardly ever shuts up about it.

"This is not trash. This is, like, the best movie soundtrack ever made!" He shakes his head as he takes the needle off of Taehyung's vintage record player, music ceasing with a scratch, and slips it into the sleeve with a grin. "Good thing I have it downloaded so we can listen to it on the way to work, hm?"

You roll your eyes and tap your foot impatiently, and at that, Taehyung appears behind him.

"You're leaving already?" He frowns, words directed at Jungkook even as he glances through narrowed eyes at you stood awkwardly on the front lawn.

"Yup. My shift starts in twenty." Jungkook shrugs, disappearing into the room for a second before he emerges again with a backpack slung over his shoulder. "Sorry dude. I can come back afterwards though, if you want?"

Taehyung purses his lips. Even from here you can see the stress lines embedded in his forehead that make him look older than his humble age of nineteen, somehow weak unlike how you always saw him as a kid. Big and strong; untouchable; your brother.

His blunt eyes never quite meet Jungkook's as he shakes his head softly. "'S good. I was gonna try and sleep, anyway, before the sun goes down. Didn't get much shut eye last night. Not with the..."

Nightmares. Taehyung trails off, but you know that's what he's alluding to. The nightmares that turn your big strong brother into a sniffling mess in the dead of night, kicking around mercilessly until you sneak into his bed and whisper to him until he slips into slumber again. Not that you ever acknowledge it in the morning over your bowls of cereal and vacant good morning's.

"Okay." Jungkook's face momentarily falls; a rare occurrence from the boy who seems to be perpetually cheerful. He pats Taehyung on the shoulder gently. "Take care of yourself, okay man?"

Taehyung just nods, letting out a yawn as he rolls into a stretch. "See ya tomorrow."

You're jolted from your thoughts when Jungkook throws his left leg out of the window, then the other, arms bulging in just the right way where they poke out of the sleeves of his plain white tee as he climbs down the drainpipe and lands with a thump on the soles of his high top sneakers.

"Hey kiddo." He grins as he wipes the palms of his hands on the thighs of his ripped jeans, before messing up your hair despite your groan of protest.

"Don't call me that. You're only a year older than me."

You're startled when you meet the pair of warm eyes that glint golden brown in the summer evening light, chest contracting as you look away and break into a fast walk towards the street.

"And you know you can just use the front door right?"

You hear him snort behind you, neglecting to use the front gate and instead launching over the fence so he lands directly in front of you on the sidewalk.

"How am I supposed to impress my best friends little sister if I can't show off my guns?" He flexes his arm, but you just brush past him with a roll of your eyes.

"You're an idiot."

You hear the clunk of his bike chain unhooking from the gate, before a set of wheels pedal up on the sidewalk beside you. "Hey! Where are you going?"

"Uh, to work?" You offer bluntly, squinting at him through the sun. "You should be too, we start in fifteen minutes."

"I mean why are you walking? What happened to your bike?"

You roll your eyes. "Some tourist kids slashed the wheels at the beach."

"Shit. Really?" Jungkook tuts, but you don't miss the glint in his eye as he nods towards the pegs on the back of his bike that were made for carrying a passenger."Then I guess it's my lucky day. Hop on, we can ride together."

You come to a standstill, arms crossed tightly. "I'd rather walk."

"Oh come on!" He wiggles his eyebrows. "It'll take double the time if we go on foot, and I recall it being you who got a final late warning last week."

"If we go on foot?" You laugh breathily, determined to stand your ground. "Just go on ahead, I'm good here."

"Well, I'm not exactly going to leave you here alone on the side of the road now am I? So I'll be forced to walk with you. And I'm older than you remember? Look, I'm already out of breath! My legs aren't what they used to be, y'know."

"Fine!" With a pout you take the helmet resting in his front basket and hook it underneath your chin, biting your lip to stop a smile from gracing your lips at the excitement that lights up Jungkook's features. "But only because I want you to shut up."

"Your wish is my command." He says with a pat to your head. "Hold on tight, okay?"

And as you wrap your arms around his waist, you're sure his ears heat up a deep shade of red, even it could just be the evening light playing tricks on you.

The theatre at the Crestmont feels eerily quiet when its empty.

You know that because even though your shift was supposed to end at 5, you offered to stick around to help clean up after today's performance. Phantom of the Opera.

"Jesus," You groan as you pick up another sticky soda cup that someone had kindly spilled all over the ground for you to clean up, dropping the offender into a black trash bag. "Doesn't anyone around here know how to use a trash can?"

You fall into one of the theatre seats with a sigh and run your fingers over the scarlet velvet, worn yet plush, the texture soothing you instantly. You tilt your head back and let the silence engulf you. No orchestra, no musical numbers, no stage crew shouting directions. No whirring cotton candy machine. Just you and the stage.

From here you can see every detail on the high ceiling littered with renaissance-style paintings of mermaids and babies armed with heart shaped bow and arrows. Your mom was an actress. When you were a kid you used to spent hours staring at them while she rehearsed. You were convinced they came alive once the theatre closed up for the night, their cheeky smiles evidence of a secret only you knew.

A trail of rainbows is cast by the grand chandelier hung in the center, and it draws your attention all the way down the aisles and up to the stage.

The Crestmont is only small, fitting perhaps 200 people at most. It's hardly Broadway. But the fire in your chest ignites as you glance side to side before sidling up the creaking wooden steps that wind up to the Crestmont's center stage. Your favourite part of the whole theatre.

It's not the first time you've done this. You often like to come up here after everyone has gone home, even though you technically aren't supposed to. There's a certain magic about being alone up here as you collect the lone roses that were thrown on stage by tonight's audience. Breathing in the musty smell of butter popcorn that lingers on the velvet curtains, feel the warmth of the bright stage lights glazing your skin. Something about it feels like home.

The first time you ever saw the Crestmont stage was on tv, watching a grainy camera shakily capture your mom in the very same spot you find yourself right now.

Your mom used to have a cardboard box filled with her old audition tapes. Everything from Hamlet to A Streetcar Named Desire, she'd starred in it, and you spent hours together in front of the television set trying to memorise the way she spoke your favourite lines and listening to her lilting voice recite backstage anecdotes about her rendezvous with foreign directors who dined on her in Paris or underground parties with celebrities you had never even heard of as she stroked your hair.

It wasn't until you got a little older that you realised that, just like you, your mom was a dreamer. Sure, she'd visited a couple different states and starred in some makeup commercials once, and that was enough to make her a celebrity in a town as small as this.

But really? She was just a small town actress with dreams larger than herself and way larger than the Crestmont where she made her name. And suddenly the gaps in time where she would disappear for weeks — sometimes months — on end no longer made sense to you. If she wasn't drinking cocktails with the prince of Monaco or clubbing in London, then where was she?

"Down town with those no good roadies," Taehyung told you once. "They made all these empty promises. Told her she'd make it big if she just did what they said. But look how that turned out."

That was the day you realised your mom was a better actress than you ever knew.

She always thought that her dreams would come true. She believed it so hard that you believed it too, naively. But who knows? Maybe they would have if she didn't get into an accident on her way to New York for her big break.

It's easy to imagine how your mom felt up here. She always looked so alive and free in those VHS tapes as she danced effortlessly across the stage with an ethereal weightlessness, the theatre silent except for the melodic sweetness of her monologues that drew tears to the eyes of those who listened eagerly.

If you close your eyes you can hear the roar of the crowd, hands clapping furiously. The orchestra tuning their brass in the pit, bows melodic against strings. Flowers landing at your feet. The deep breath of satisfaction as you take your final bow and the curtain closes.

Just like that you're moving across the stage, reciting the lines you know so well...

"You're gonna be a star like me some day," A voice whispers against your ear, soft and gentle. A memory. Your mom. "Just like me."

And just like that, she's there. In the audience, clapping. For you. And you feel invincible.

The sound of applause breaks you out of your trance. Real applause. You find yourself stood center stage, broom in hand, staring out at row after row of empty seats that gape with the same emptiness that was here when you arrived.

Except one of the velvet lined seats is filled now. Right at the front.

"Encore!" Jungkook whistles, the harsh thwacks of his palms clapping together clanging inside your ears. "Do it again! That was amazing!"

Your chest seizes painfully, a sudden bout of panic turning your blood cold. You feel the colour leave your face. How long has he been here? How long has he been watching?

Jungkook is watching you attentively, eyes soft at the edges with wonder. It makes bile rise in your throat. You can't be up here. Not when there's a pair of eyes looking at you, judging.

"I..." You begin, but the words get caught in your throat.

"I can't do this."

The way Jungkook's eyes widen and he lurches forward to catch you is the last thing you see before your vision goes black.

The boardwalk is strangely quiet for a summer evening. It's happy hour so you suppose most vacationers are already in the bars in their I LOVE OCEAN CITY T-shirts drinking cocktails or whatever. Not that you're complaining.

The smell of hotdogs and vinegar from the vans that line the strip still fill the air, snatches of conversations from children begging their parents to let them go on the waltzer one last time barely audible above the tinkling bells of the carousel. The ride operators drink soda's as they fan themselves with rolled up newspapers, grateful for the gentle hubbub on such a sticky evening, and then there's you, caught up in the middle of it all.

The wooden boards of the pier are warm against he backs of your thighs. You're sat with your legs dangling through the peeling guard rail that lines the strip. It was painted pastel blue at some point but years of sea spray and grubby hands made it fade to a sickly green tinge that matches the ocean.

Speaking of, the ocean would usually be directly below your feet, murky and wild, but today the tide has receded right back to reveal a large strip of sand. The stands suspending the pier rest on top of it so that you could walk right under and around them if you wanted to. You and Taehyung used to do that all the time when you were kids. Searching for barnacles. Exploring the dark places.

"Here. Eat up. You totally passed out on me back there. You could probably do with some sugar."

The soft voice beside you is the only thing loud enough to permeate your daydreams. You don't have look up to know who it belongs to. Jungkook.

He peers down at you, sun beating down against his back. He's holding two vanilla ice cream cones, double scooped, and he thrusts one into your hands before mirroring your position at the edge of the boardwalk.

The walk down here from the Crestmont was more or less silent, and your stomach twists now you realise Jungkook wants to talk.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing." You lie. The ice cream is cold and sweet and covers the bitterness. "I just think it's funny."

Jungkook's tongue sneaks out to lick up the melted cream dribbling down his cone. "What is?"

"How this place stays the same but I feel so different." You were born here, raised here. This place was your whole life once, with it's salty air and bustling casino's. But since the accident, something's been bubbling inside you, swelling and crashing like the ocean below that taunts you and you've never felt farther from home in your life as you do now, looking out over the town that just won't budge, just like the funny ache in your chest. "Forget I said it. I don't know why I'm even telling you this."

Jungkook fidgets beside you and runs a hand through his hair with a sigh."It's okay, y'know. To miss her."

Your mom. You know that's who he means. Just the mention of her stings.

"Mhm." You snort. "Tell that to my family. If we all carried on missing mom then we'd be in pretty hot shit by now."

"If it's Taehyung you're worried about, then don't be. He's stronger than he looks."

"Until he's not anymore. And we lose him again just like—" You pause. You hate how you can hear the pain in your voice so you smooth it out. "Just like before. And I can't let that happen. I won't."

Jungkook shifts. As Taehyung's oldest friend he was there for everything in the aftermath of the accident. He was there when you put on a brave face for the sake of your family. He was there when Taehyung couldn't be any more.

"That doesn't mean you have to be strong all the time. Think about it this way. The ocean isn't always this calm right?" He gazes wistfully out over the ocean that swells and crashes against the shore, fingers twirling the gold chain around his neck. "Last winter when we had that huge storm, the waves were so big they smashed right through the pier support beams."

You furrow your brows. "What about it?"

"The ocean was just too much for the pier to bare and it would've come crashing down forever if half the neighborhood didn't come down to the beach in the dead of night, despite the rain, and hold it together until the storm calmed and the emergency repair boats could get to shore."

It's true. You remember how unforgiving the rain was as it pelted down against your back and froze you through to the bone that night as each and every familiar face from your neighborhood came down to the seafront to lend a hand, your family included.

Jungkook was there too. He was the one who knocked on your door in the early hours to spread the word. He got given free churros for life by one of the pier stall owners as a reward.

"What I'm trying to say Y/N, is that Taehyung has you to lean on, right? So who do you have?" Jungkook says, staring at you head on now. His sincerity almost makes you blush.

You bite your lip. Deep down you know that your beams are just as broken as Taehyung's and it's only a matter of time before they come crashing down into the water, and this time there'll be nobody to hold the pieces together.

"I don't need anyone. I'm just fine on my own. I can handle my ocean."

Jungkook brushes your hand. You flinch, so he pulls it back into his lap. "Well if you ever need a life boat, then you know where I am okay?"

You don't believe him, but he's staring at you so expectantly that you just tell him what he wants to hear. You're good at that.

"Okay." You whisper. "Okay."

Children's laughter bubbles up from the beach. You watch their distant silhouettes dancing among the waves. It's Jungkook who breaks the silence before it settles between you and becomes uncomfortable.

"Anyway, what were you doing up there on the stage today?" He smiles, like he's trying to lighten the mood. "You looked like you were having the time of your life before—"

You feel your cheeks start to burn. How long had Jungkook been watching you at the Crestmont? Had he seen the whole thing?

"It was nothing. I was just being dumb."

"Nothing?" Jungkook cocks his head to the side and punches you playfully. "It didn't seem like nothing."

"It just...it makes me feel close to my mom when I'm on the stage." You admit. "I loved watching her when I was a kid. She was always larger than life in my eyes. She had this way of making you really believe she was someone else. It was like she wasn't just acting -- she was becoming. Sometimes...sometimes I think I liked her better when she was in character."

You shake your head with a small smile. "I like me better when I'm in character. I used to dream about going to New York one day and becoming an actress just like she wanted to. Small town girl making it big in the city and all that." You scoff. "But I'm nothing like her. It's just fun to pretend sometimes."

"You're good. At performing. Like, really good." Jungkook's eyes are wide. When he places a hand on your forearm you don't shake it off this time. "You take after her. Everyone says it."

It's true. There's one photo of your mom in the house. It's in Taehyung's room. When you were younger you thought it was your face staring back at you from behind the glass. Sometimes you'll be walking down the boardwalk or serving soda's at work and you'll hear the whispers. See their heads turn. Is it her?

"Pfft. Looks mean nothing." You scoff. "She was fearless. I can't even speak in front of one person without passing out, let alone a crowd."

Realisation crosses Jungkook's face. "Oh. So that's what happened back there? Stage fright?"

"Uh huh." You roll your eyes. "So don't give me the follow your dreams spiel or whatever."

"Hmm." Jungkook uses his arms as a makeshift pillow so he can lay back against the ground. You mirror him, peering through your fingers to watch how the golden rays of the sun swallow his frame. "Remember that play they made us do in middle school?"

"The Nativity?" You raise your eyebrow. It was the first theatre production you were in, before the accident and way before you had stage fright.

"Yeah." He grins. "I was the sheep. Taehyung made fun of me for months afterwards because of that stupid costume my grandma made."

"Yeah." You snort. "You did look sorta dumb."

Jungkook bumps your arm with a playful pout that makes you giggle. "And do you remember how I forgot my lines on stage and nearly pissed myself with stage fright? God, I still remember how mad my dad looked in the front row. We'd practiced that part for weeks. I don't know why it happened. I just froze—" A small smile forms on his lips. "But you didn't. Next thing I know there's a kid in a gold star of Bethlehem costume running on stage to recite my lines for me. You stole the show, remember that? Everyone loved you."

"That was then." You murmur, but you can't suppress the smile tugging at the corners or your mouth. "I'm not the same person."

"You were a year younger than the rest of my class but you auditioned anyway, because you knew that you were the only person who could play the star. Because you were a star."

Jungkook turns so that his head rests on his elbow and you're suddenly so close you can feel his breath ghost across your cheek. Your heart pumps in your ears as you gaze dips down to his rosy lips and back up to his sparkling eyes which bore into yours.

"You still are a star."

The words echo in your ears, soft and sincere. His tongue snakes out to wet his lips. You lose your breath. And then you jump away, placing a safe distance between your bodies before you can do something you regret.

"And what about you. Are you still a sheep?" You tease, turning your face so he can't see how it burns rosy red.

"Nah. Figured out pretty quickly after that that I was better off behind the camera." He chuckles.

"Oh right. You still have that thing?" You nod to the camera in his lap. It's one of those old ones that looks like the type that needs a film reel and a projector, but it's been modified so there's a little viewfinder at the side to check the footage instead. "Can I see?"

"What?" Jungkook blinks.

"Some of the stuff you've filmed?"

"Oh! Right!" It's his turn to flush now, scratching the back of his neck as he anxiously thrusts the camera into your hands and pays close attention to the hangnail at the edge of his thumb as you watch the footage.

Your eyes widen when a familiar scene rolls out on the tiny screen. You, on stage at the Crestmont. Jungkook filmed you.

"This is..."

"You." He rushes."Yeah, I know. Sorry if this is awkward—"

"No. Not at all. I just—" You watch in awe as the you inside the camera moves across the stage with an effortless grace. How the lights make your eyes shine and your skin brighter than you remember it being in the mirror this morning. "How did you do that?"

Jungkook's forehead creases. "Do what?"

"Make me look like...that."

"I didn't do anything." Jungkook shrugs. "That's just how I see you."

You could listen to him say that all day, but you stop yourself mid swoon.

"Don't say things you don't mean."

"I do mean it. And I'll show you." He wiggles his eyebrows.

"How?"

He grabs your hand and squeezes it. Tight. "I don't know how yet but I will."

You roll your eyes. "Good luck, Jeon."

"You know I like a challenge." Jungkook laughs, and the melodic sound goes right to your chest. "I'll make you see yourself how I see you. Just wait."

"Since when did you have four wheels?" You call to Jungkook with a quirk of your brow, resting your elbows on the window ledge of the beat up truck he pulls up in outside the Crestmont.

It's a sticky August afternoon and the rusty red vehicle purrs— or more like splutters — in the parking lot as Jungkook untangles your bike from the rack and lifts it into the cargo bed like it's weightless. Just yesterday he came by with his pump and a patch to fix that goddamn slashed tyre, and now he's stealing it?

"Hey! What are you doing with my bike?"

He is clad in nothing but a white vest and board shorts, and you can see perspiration glimmering at his temples as the salty breeze blowing from the beach ruffles the dark curls that flop over his forehead.

"This is my dad's truck," His eyes flash with pride as he hops into the open drivers side door and makes the engine growl. He nods to the empty seat beside him and pushes his dark round sunglasses down the bridge of his nose, fanning his face with his hands. "And you won't be needing your bike today. Now hurry up and get in, loser. I've been waiting ages for your shift to finish and the AC is broken."

You raise a brow. "We're going somewhere?"

"Yeah. Why else would I be waiting for you to get in my truck?"

"I mean, we're going somewhere in this?" You nod towards the truck's worn tires, the fumes that wisp from the exhaust pipe like a lit cigar. "Are you sure it's safe?"

Jungkook notices the way you bite your lip. You don't even have to tell him the worries that are running through your mind. It's as if he can read them like an open book.

"Are you still scared of riding in cars?" He questions, softly.

You nod. That's what an accident does to someone. Makes them scared of something they ordinarily wouldn't even question.

"A little." The breeze ruffles your hair and you hide behind it. "I'm getting better." You add, so he doesn't feel bad because you know he does. His face tells you as much.

"It's a short drive, if that helps." He rushes. "And I asked Taehyung and he said you'd be okay, but if you aren't then I can just walk you home—"

"No." You shake your head firmly. There's a funny fizzing in your stomach that's been there ever since that day on the boardwalk, and it's only growing stronger and stronger now you're inches away from Jungkook and his warm eyes and gentle smile. You don't want it to end just yet. It's enough to outweigh the wriggling fear that's always inside you just a little. "Where are we going?"

Jungkook's face lights up and your heart flips when you realise it's because of you.

"I told you I was gonna make you see what I see, didn't I?"

"Oh that was today?" You tease. "Must have missed it it in the calendar."

"Stop asking questions! Just get in. Please?"

"Fine." You walk around to the passenger door, sliding in beside him and throwing your bag into the back seat. "But I need to be home by midnight or Taehyung will worry."

"No problemo." Jungkook salutes as he switches on the engine and the truck roars to life. You clasp your hands tightly in your lap and breathe through your nose. You're okay. You're safe."Home by midnight. It's a promise."

You gaze out of the window to stop your thoughts from running wild. Jungkook turns left, away from town and the beach and everything familiar. You watch it get smaller and smaller in the mirrors, strangely relieved. Strangely excited.

"Now will you tell me where we're going?" You ask.

"Nope." Jungkook chuckles when you pout. "Just sit back. Relax. Take in the view. Listen to the music."

He leans across the dash, making a point to keep his eyes on the road as he fiddles with the stereo. A familiar string of guitar chords fill the truck. You recognise them, even if vaguely. Probably from Taehyung's vast collection of records.

"The Beatles right?" You ask, resting your chin on your knee as you dare to take a peek at him, blushing when you find him already staring at you.

"Pfft, yeah. Of course it's The Beatles! Only their greatest soundtrack, like, ever."

You shrug. "I've never listened to them before, so I wouldn't know."

"Oh come on? You haven't seen A Hard Day's Night?" His eyes widen when you shake your head. "Super Fly? Pulp Fiction? Purple Rain?"

You stifle a giggle at the look of pure shock he's sending you. "Nope. Should I have?"

"Absolutely!" He splutters. Passion shines in his eyes. "You're missing out on some of the greatest cinematography known to man!"

"I guess you have a lot to fill me in on, then."

"I sure do." His eyes soften. "Open the glove box."

You open it. Inside you find an assortment of cassette tapes, old and new. You send him a curious look.

"Close your eyes and choose one." He nods. "Go on."

You do as he says and shut your lids tightly, feeling around until your fingers curl around a tape you're strangely drawn to. When you open your eyes you find a worn box in your palm, yellow at the edges, and you're momentarily disappointed until Jungkook hums in approval beside you.

"Good choice! Dirty Dancing. A classic." He takes it from you and slides the tape into the stereo. It crackles a little before the music starts. "Trust me, you'll love it."

The stereo tracklist flashes amber. 01: Do You Love Me?

"You broke my heart 'cause I couldn't dance," Jungkook sings along in a deep voice, eyebrows bouncing as you loll your head to the side to send him an eye roll. "And now I'm back to let you know I can really shake 'em down!"

The song starts, all vibrant guitar and drums. It has a funky 60's groove, like it belongs in a swing dancing club instead of on the highway at sunset. It's a happy song and you think it suits Jungkook just right.

Speaking of Jungkook, he starts to bob his head in time with the beat, fingertips tapping in rhythm against the steering wheel. He looks adorably dorky, losing himself to the song, like he's forgotten you're even sat beside him.

"You look like an idiot." You deadpan, though you can't cover the laugh that escapes you as he sings along louder.

"No, I look like I'm having fun!" Jungkook rolls down the window and turns up the music so loud he has to shout for you to hear him. "Don't you ever do this? Just give in to the music for a while? Let your body do what it wants?"

"Uh, no. I prefer to just listen." You shout back. "Besides, your body should be focused on driving this car right now--"

"Oh come on! Just try it."

"Try it?" You blink, stomach suddenly knotting."Like now? In front of you?"

"Well duh. Look. Copy me."

He starts to shake his shoulders from side to side, fingers clicking as he nods for you to do the same.

"I...okay." You start to copy, but you catch yourself in the rear view mirror and you just look stiff compared to how effortlessly Jungkook moves to the rhythm.

"See you're doing it!" Jungkook grins, throwing his head back. "Feels good huh?"

"Kinda..." You have to admit there is something liberating about just letting go. "Like this?"

Your knees volunteer themselves to the beat, and then your arms, and before you know it you've got your eyes closed, hair whipping around your face as you speed down the interstate

"That's it. Feel the music!"

Before you know it, the song ends and you realise all at once that you're laughing. Loud and free, enough to make your belly hurt. Jungkook is too, the sound better than any song you've ever heard, and neither of you can seem to stop.

"Oh my god." You pant, covering your face with your fingers, embarrassed. "Now we both look like idiots."

"Don't hide from me." Jungkook bites his lip. You're suddenly aware of how close he is. His arms grab your wrists, pulling them away from your face, but he doesn't drop the one closest to him. Instead he links your fingers and uses your shared grip to change the gear as he turns down a winding road.

"I'm shy." You say, and you can feel the heat in your cheeks.

"Why? You're beautiful." Jungkook puts the car into park. You realise all at once that you've been driving for ages and you didn't even panic once. "Besides, we've arrived. And you're not gonna wanna miss seeing this."

The destination Jungkook seems so excited about turns out to be a concrete parking lot.

"Where are we, Jungkook?" You ask, looking around but finding nothing but tyre tracks and dirt.

Jungkook has already hopped out of the drivers side, sliding over the hood of the car to tug open your door with a quirk of his brow.

He holds out his palm, upturned and calloused. "Do you trust me?"

You bite your lip, heart pounding. Do you trust him?

Your body speaks for you and you slide your hand into his. His thumb traces your knuckles reassuringly.

"Yes." You breathe. "I trust you."

"Good."

You yelp when an arm wraps around your waist and hoists you out of the car, tightly interlocked fingers blocking your vision like a makeshift blindfold. "Don't open your eyes until I tell you to."

"Okay." You giggle, feet stumbling as you try to find your balance with the help of a sturdy hand beneath your elbow.

Jungkook hums gently beneath his breath as he guides you up a path that turns from concrete to loose rock to dampened grass beneath the soles of your beat up sneakers. There's a voice in the back of your mind that tells you to be nervous; who knows where he could be taking you right now.

But as you breathe in the musty notes of his cologne and feel your heart flutter in your chest when he comes to a stop and rests his chin on your shoulder, just close enough to feel his laugh ghost across your neck, you don't care where in the world you are right now as long as it's beside him.

"Now, open."

The sun is startlingly bright when you open your eyes for the first time and see the vibrant meadow that stretches as far as you can see.

Wait — that's not the sun. It's sunflowers. Clusters of them, cheerfully waving with the breeze from where you stand on the path that continues for a few steps before it disappears among their stems.

The sunflowers are a burst of golden colour against the fading green of the meadow, and the horizon beyond that which boasts the silhouette of beach rock against the soft blue of the ocean at sunset. There's tracks here and there where the uncut grass is trampled, like some children had played hide and seek.

You reach out a hand and brush your fingertips over the velvety petals; breathe in the botanical scent of the fresh sunny blooms that dances through the meadow. It's breathtaking, you think. There's no coordination, just freedom choreographed by the wind as the tall stems sway back and forth in their gentle dance.

Before you know it you've taken off into a run, grinning with childlike glee when the tall grass tickles your nose and the sun whispers against your neck.

"Jungkook, this place is—"

"Beautiful right?" You nod breathlessly, blushing deeply when you come to a stop and find him staring right at you. He squeezes your hand and that's when you notice your fingers are still interlinked. "I come here a lot. When I need to think."

"How did you find this place?"

"Taehyung and I stumbled upon it a few summers ago by accident." He says. "Nobody knows about it. It's our secret."

"It's so beautiful." You whisper. "The whole world needs to see this."

Jungkook kicks at a stone with the toe of his boot. "I kinda like it being a secret. This place...is special to me."

"Then why...." The words get caught in your throat. You swallow and try again. "Why did you bring me here?"

"I wanted to show you the things I find most beautiful. Remember?"

"The sunflowers?"

"Well yeah..." He scratches the back of his neck. Swallows thickly, like he's preparing himself. "But I was thinking of something a little different..."

You close your eyes, a smile appearing on your lips as you let the crisp breeze caress your face. "Then what?"

There's a sharp click of a shutter, and when your lashes flutter open in surprise, Jungkook is shaking a Polaroid picture back and forth, his eyes glinting with something mischievous.

"Hey! Give me that—" You reach for the Polaroid, stomach churning with a sudden shyness that makes you hug your arms.

"Just — don't do that okay?" He holds it out of reach, pleading with his eyes. "Please."

"Do what?"

"Give up on what makes you happy just because you're scared." His palm cups your cheek. "You said it yourself. Being in front of the camera is where you belong. Don't you see that?"

"I'm not scared." You feel the heat rise in your cheeks when Jungkook sends you a knowing look. "Okay maybe I am scared. And so what if I am? You've already given me the face your fears spiel and I told you. I'm perfectly happy avoiding every camera known to man for the rest of my life if it means I never have to face them."

"But you've already faced one of your fears today. You got in my car, remember?" He raises an eyebrow, smug. "Well, two technically, 'cause you're here with me now and I know how nervous you used to get around me--"

"Did not!"

"Do too! Every time we talk outside of work you get all shy and--"

"Shut up."

"See! You're doing it right now!"

You don't know what compels you to do it. Maybe it's the heat rising in the apples of your cheeks or the way your heart quickens when Jungkook closes the gap between you, but before you can stop yourself you're reaching up and grasping his face with both hands.

"Oh just shut up and kiss me, doofus."

The smug smirk on Jungkook's face is replaced with wide eyed surprise, his lips falling still for a moment when yours crash against his. But then his steady hands find your waist and he supports you on your tip toes so he can pull you ever closer, melting into the plush press of your lips.

When you pull back, you're smiling. You can't help it. You've been dreaming of this moment since, like, middle school. And goddamn, he even tastes how you imagined. Like black coffee and toothpaste.

"See." He tucks a strand of hair behind your ear. "Happiness suits you."

"Whatever, Jeon." You smirk. "Don't let it go to your head, but it's thanks to you."

Jungkook flashes you the biggest bunny grin you've ever seen, eyes sparkling at your words.

"Wait...stay like that." He reaches for his camcorder in his backpack and points the lens at you. The smile falls from your lips. You place a hand on his arm, grip tighter than you intended.

"Jungkook stop."

"What's wrong? Just keep smiling like that, the shot was perfect—"

"I don't know what to do." You shrug, the lens boring into you like a judgy aunt at Thanksgiving dinner. "The camera makes me nervous."

"Just pretend I'm not here."

You sniff. "I don't want you to not be here..."

"Listen," Jungkook cups your face, thumbs tracing your cheeks fondly. "The reason I brought you here? It's because this place reminds me of you. Beautiful."

"Jungkook--"

"Just like you said, the world needs to see this place. Just like they need to see you."

"I..." Your heart is on the verge of exploding, you would swear it. "Okay." The word rolls off your tongue before you can stop it because somehow you trust him. And deep down, there's still that fizz of excitement mixing in with all the nervousness. The Jungkook Effect. You don't want to lose it to the darkness like everything else.

"I'll try. Just-- don't laugh at me okay?"

"You have my word, sarge." He salutes with a thoughtful grin. "Hold on a sec. I know exactly what you need to get you going."

Jungkook jumps to his feet and you watch with your chin tucked between your knees as he jogs down the rocky path and opens all four of the truck doors, even the trunk, before his head disappears into the vehicle and the same pumping bass from earlier starts blasting into the quiet serene of the sunflower field.

"There," He grins as he returns, out of breath, and sits back down beside you cross legged, holding his camcorder to his eye. "Now do what you were doing before again, but over there. Just pretend you're on stage at the Crestmont, okay?"

You feel the music wash over you and the urge to move hits you like a wave. Jungkook nods encouragingly and there's something in his eyes that flips a switch inside you. And for the first time in a long time, all the passion and spirit and feeling inside you fizzes up to the top and you can't contain it any longer.

"That's it!" Jungkook calls, shutter clicking uncontrollably. "I knew you could do it!"

An oak tree provides sun-flecked shade, a cool sanctuary from the sun that sets on the horizon and splashes the sky's canvas magenta.

Jungkook laid out a checkered blanket from the trunk of his truck which you both lay upon, shoulders pressed together as close as humanly possible, surrounded by your devoured picnic consisting of his mom's fruit punch and bags of snacks he took from the concession stand at the Crestmont when nobody was looking.

"Holy shit, Y/N." He says through a mouthful of popcorn, jabbing his finger at his favourite shot of you in front of the sunflowers. "This is what I've been saying! You're a natural in front of the camera."

"No, you're amazing, Jungkook." You feel for his hand. It's funny how natural it feels already when his pinky links with yours. "Behind the camera."

"You think?" He chews his lip, eyes searching yours for approval.

"I know. You should do something with these. People need to see them."

"I'm thinking of becoming a filmographer, actually"

"Like at the pier?" You think of the tacky photo booth that overlooks the sea in town, fit with all the silly cardboard cut outs that tourists come and take a photo with for a dollar.

"No, I mean a real filmographer." He shrugs, and you're sure there's a trace of a blush on his cheeks. "Y'know. Movies and stuff."

You nod. It makes sense for Jungkook to spend his life with a camera glued to his right hand. You can't imagine Jungkook anywhere else, and you have to ignore the sinking feeling that comes with the realisation that he would eventually leave Ocean City -- and you -- behind for the big screen.

"Well you bet your ass I'll be front row to watch each and every one, Jeon Jungkook."

"My lucky star." Jungkook smiles.

"Always."

He must see the sadness brimming inside you, his body shuffling closer so your knees brush. It's reassuring somewhat.

"Actually...there's something I should tell you."

He shifts under your gaze. The nerves rush back. "What is it?"

"I guess I finished writing my first screenplay..."

"That's like a movie script, right?" You ask eagerly, and he nods. "That's great, Kook!"

"Yeah, it's great it's just --" He pauses, and clutches your hand tighter like he's scared what he says next will make you let go forever. "It's about you."

You pale. "M-me?"

"I mean, it's about you and...and Taehyung! And your mom." Jungkook rushes. "I was inspired by your story at the boardwalk and it just happened! I'm sorry, I know you probably hate me now and think I'm crazy but--"

"Burn it." You deadpan.

Jungkook blinks. "W..what?"

"I said burn it." You pull his hand into your lap and he lets out a sigh of relief. "I don't hate you, Kook. I just think you were right earlier when you said I need to face my fears. And the only way I can do that is by forgetting my past. The last thing I need is a whole freaking movie about it."

He joins in with your strained chuckles. "Sure you aren't mad?"

"Not mad." You assure with a smile.

"Then I'll burn it."

You avoid his gaze shyly. "I'm kinda honoured you wrote about me, though." You admit.

"I guess...I guess I could call you my muse." Jungkook blurts hurriedly. His nose is a deep shade of pink and it makes you want to tease him forever.

"Yeah." You nod to yourself with a smile. "I like that. Your muse."

And then his lips are on yours again, like he can't quite help himself, and you start to forget where yours begin and his end.

This time it's not delicate and sweet. It's slow and languid, hot and heavy. The sunflowers break your fall, Jungkook's lips never leaving yours as he climbs on top of you, one hand tangled in your hair, the other planted beside your head so that his chest hovers above yours. You're almost certain he can feel how hard your heart is pounding in your chest, but you don't care, too lost in the bliss of finally feeling Jungkook's plush lips against your own.

"Come to New York with me." He says breathlessly between kisses, and your heart stops.

"What?" You can hardly drag your lips away from his but you have to be sure you heard him right. New York?

"I mean, in the future. I'm gonna go to New York. Get a job at a film production company or something, I don't know--" He tucks a piece of hair behind your ear. "Come with me."

"I...I can't."

"Why?" He frowns. "Is it me?"

"No! God no."

"Then why? You said it was your dream right?" You nod. "So what's stopping you?"

"I..I have to take care of Taehyung, and my job at the Crestmont and--"

"Okay. Lets pretend none of that exists. It's just you and me." His breath ghosts against your forehead. "Y/N, will you come to New York with me?"

"Yes." It comes out breathless, but you mean it. With every atom and nerve and fiber in your body. "Lets go to New York."

Where things change.

3 years later.

A postcard sits on the Welcome Home! Doormat you and Jungkook bought before you left for New York. You recognise the picture perfect image of Ocean City on the front, and Taehyung's messy scrawl on the back that tells you he's doing fine at his new management job at the Crestmont and he will be sending a housewarming gift imminently.

— Stay smiling, Y/N. Miss you already! Taehyung. :)

With a small smile you tack it onto the bare fridge. It brightens up the empty kitchen somewhat, a little piece of home and a reminder that you don't need to worry about leaving your brother behind to fend for himself so much any more. Since he pulled his life together and got a job at the theatre, it's like he came alive again. Found his purpose.

Speaking of purposes, you suppose that's how you found yourself here. In your very own apartment in a nice complex on the east side. The east side of New York City.

There's a pair of satin curtains hung over the balcony doors, probably left behind by the old tenant as it's the only form of furniture in the whole apartment. They rustle in the morning breeze and you tiptoe across the room barefoot to rip them open, letting your eyes flutter shut when the early morning sun filters through the glass and cascades over your face like a warm embrace.

You press a hand to the glass, studying your reflection; the messy lump of hair atop your head, the soft shadow of your lashes atop your cheeks. And beyond it, New York. Your new normal in all it's familiar glory from your dreams, yet still so deliciously foreign it makes your heart leap whenever a cab horn rings out in the distance or you breathe in the smell of fresh bagels from the shop down the street.

Home. You could finally call it that now. But New York is just a city and this apartment is just a house. The real reason you get to call this place home is because of who you came here with.

Jungkook.

You've been dating for two and a half years by now. He let you borrow one of his old much-too-big t-shirts to sleep in last night. There's a hole in the shoulder and the hem brushes your knees but it's warm and smells like his cologne and your heart expands when you close your eyes and remember this is just the beginning. You have so much to do, so many things to see here in New York. So many things to learn. And there's nobody you would want to explore life with more than Jungkook.

His camera equipment lays in a cardboard box by your feet, and something compels you to take out the old-school camcorder he loves. The leather strap tightens perfectly around your hand and the red RECORD button flashes as you open the doors wide and lift the lens to take in the view. Something tells you you're gonna want to remember this moment forever.

It's not long before a pair of arms wrap around your waist, chin tucked cheekily into your shoulder. "There you are." Jungkook husks, stilly groggy with sleep as his lips ghost across your cheek.

Turning around in his grasp, you find him still shirtless, sweatpants slung low around his hips. He's been working out recently, and you can't deny you don't love how firm his shoulders feel when you brace yourself on them to stand on your tip toes and leave a peck to his lips.

"Morning sleepyhead," you say, running your fingers through the strands of his silky bed hair. It's longer these days, whispering across the nape of his neck and falling across his round eyes sweetly. They flutter closed when you massage his scalp just how he likes it. "I was wondering when you'd finally get out of bed."

"Missed you." His lips turn up when he sees the camera pointed at his face. "Whaddya doing with that?"

"Making memories." You say simply, zooming in on him as he rubs his sleepy eyes. "So we never forget this."

A cheeky smirk appears on his lips as he wraps you in his arms, a surprised giggle leaving you when he spins you around and grabs the camera so he can point it at the both of you, his chin resting on your shoulder now as his bare arm snugly wraps around your waist.

"Hey stop! I just woke up, I look bad!"

"Hello us of the future," Jungkook chuckles, pulling your fingers away from your face when you bury your face in his chest to hide from the lens. "It's our first day in New York and Y/N is being all camera shy--okay, okay fine, lets show them the view instead!"

Jungkook finally flips the lens around so it focuses on the distant silhouettes of tall skyscrapers skimming the blue skyline, before he turns it back onto you guys once more with a mischievous look this time.

"But we have to go now because we have far more interesting business to attend to..." He lowers the camera as his lips start to trail up your collar bone and he smiles when your eyes flutter shut and you gasp at the feeling, but it's quickly replaced by a pout when you wriggle out of his embrace with a stern look.

"Not now. Later."

"Mmf? Why?" He whines, making grabby hands towards you. "You're so warm, jus' wanna cuddle for a bit."

"No time!" You call over your shoulder as you grab him by the hand and drag his heavy feet behind you. "We've got an apartment to decorate."

Before you know it you've enlisted Jungkook's help in laying tarps across the living room floor, two pots of bright white paint plonked in the center. It's not like you could afford a decorator after all. You are two broke twenty-something's trying to make it big in New York, and all that cliche stuff. So you would just have to do it yourselves.

Jungkook's over in the corner, miming along to the guitar solo from some rock song playing from the radio balanced on the windowsill, the paint roller his instrument as he dances around the room with giddy impulse. There's paint all over his butt where he accidentally leaned against one of the wet walls and he's got his hair tied back into a bun at the crown of his head and you watch him out of the corner of your eye while an affectionate smile creeps onto your face no matter how hard you try to curb it.

That's when you notice the camera in his other hand. He zooms in on the stepladder in the corner, the paint spillage in the hall, the heart with Y/N + JUNGKOOK FOREVER written inside it on the back wall. Documenting everything as usual.

He was always filming you, too. Whether you were making coffee in the morning or drying your hair. He'd even slow down beside you on the sidewalk to get the perfect shot.

You find it cute, even though you pretend to hate it. It makes your heart flutter every time you catch him rewinding the footage with a contented smile on his face, like he just captured the whole world with his lens.

It's no surprise when you finish putting the final coat on the wall and step back to admire your handy work that you find him wandering around the apartment with his hand curved around the lens of one of his bigger cameras like it's natural to him. You always joke that thing is like an extra limb, but he looks so calm as he looks through his lens at the room that is now drunk on the afternoon sun pouring through the window, the golden rays like honey on his skin, that it's easy to see that the camera really is a part of him. Passion lies in the soft lines of concentration on his face, in the plump lip tugged between teeth as he fiddles with the settings.

Jungkook sees beauty where others don't, where others can't. It might as well pump through his veins. And it's one of the reasons you love him so much.

You shake your head when you see how a small smile finds his lips when he leans a shoulder against the door frame and lets the camera land on the thing he swears is most beautiful.

"Hey." You warn, shooting a side wards glare at the camera lens you spot Jungkook not so discreetly pointing in your direction. "Stop it."

"Stop what?" He runs a hand through his hair, lips pulling back into a sly bunny smile when you bend down to reach a spot you missed at the bottom of the wall. "I'm not doing anything."

Your upper lip twitches. "Are you zooming in on my ass?"

"What? No!" Jungkook scrunches his nose with wide eyes, a habit you knew meant he was guilty, a pout forming on your lips as he snaps the viewfinder closed and shoves the offending piece of his equipment behind his back.

You narrow your eyes affectionately. "Perv."

"I don't know what you're talking about." He blows a strand of hair out of his face innocently but there's a playful glint in his eyes and you can hardly keep a serious face as you plant your hands on your hips in what you hope is a menacing manner.

"Then lemme see it." You challenge with a nod to the camera behind him.

He feigns indifference, cocking his head to the side like an overgrown puppy. "See what?"

"That's it!" You shake your head, charging towards and him making grabby motions towards the camera. Jungkook looks down at you fondly as he holds it above your head, out of reach, and it only makes you you pout harder. "Hey! Give it!

"Never!" You jump pitifully, fingers grasping around nothing. A melodic chuckle spills from Jungkook's lips when you cross your arms over your chest in defeat and blink up at him crossly. "You have to say the magic word first."

You scoff at the teasing look on his face as he wiggles his eyebrows and waves the camera just above your head, before an idea strikes you and within seconds you're wielding a paintbrush, Jungkook's eyes widening when you point the paint coated bristles at his face.

"Give it up." You hold out your palm with a smug look. "Or the walls are not the only thing getting a fresh coat."

"You wouldn't." He smirks, despite being backed into a corner now.

"Oh yeah?" Without further ado you swipe the brush down the bridge of his nose, swallowing a giggle at the white smudge it leaves behind and his shocked expression beneath it. "You underestimate me, Jeon."

Jungkook pushes his tongue into his cheek, eyes dancing up and down your body before they lock with yours daringly. "You shouldn't have done that."

"Or what?" You taunt playfully, a laugh escaping you, but you quickly bite down on your lip when you see the glint in Jungkook's eyes as he submerges both his hands into the nearby bucket of paint.

You don't run when he steps closer. Instead your breathing quickens, heart doing a funny somersault when he brushes your hair to the side and clamps both of his wet hands on the sides of your jaw to bring your face up to his.

He tastes like coffee and desire when your lips crash together in a delicious tangle of teeth and tongue, all the thoughts racing through your mind dripping away like honey until all that's left is the thump of your heart against your chest and Jungkook's warmth as he backs you up against the wall.

When he pulls away he rubs his paint covered nose against yours, cocking his head and smiling sweetly when he leans back and admires his handy work.

"You have paint on your face." He looks down at his white hands innocently with a shrug. "Whoops?"

His hands trail down to your hips. You reach to your side and grab a fistful of paint, wiping it down the centre of his face and giggling when he groans and scrunches his eyes closed . "So do you."

"Okay, that's it. This means war!" Jungkook growls, strong arms wrapping around your waist, and before you know it you're stumbling over to the mattress in the corner, Jungkook's body hovering over yours.

"You wanna play dirty, huh?" Desire-filled eyes trace your face, travelling down the expanse of your neck before zeroing in on your collar bones. You gasp when Jungkook's lips attach themselves to the sensitive skin, every inch of you set alight when his burning fingers slide beneath the hem of your tshirt and find your thighs. "Always being such a bad girl, huh?"

"So? What're you gonna do about it? Punish me?" You say teasingly, and he stiffens, lips leaving a mark behind on your neck with a pop. Jungkook's narrowed eyes meet yours and you feel your heart speed up with anticipation.

His lips twitch, like they're dying to turn up. "Brat."

With that, you're being flipped over onto your knees with a yelp. Jungkook's hands work quickly and before you know it your tshirt is over your head and the sudden breeze from the open balcony doors against your hardened nipples makes you gasp.

"You love it." You laugh breathily.

"Too much," Jungkook confirms, before his large palm presses you down into the bed firmly between the shoulder blades so that your ass is thrust up in the air. You wiggle is teasingly, though the breath catches in your throat when the first spank lands on your bare skin. Then a second, the sound ringing out through the empty room like an echo and making a damp spot appear on your panties.

"Hey!" You chastise when you remember the paint on his hands that just left two glaring handprints right across your ass.

Jungkook just smirks. "What? Now everyone knows it's mine."

A third slap and you have to bite the blanket to stop from groaning, then a fourth, and a fifth and by then your eyes are watering but in the best way. Calloused hands smooth over the burning area, soothing it.

"Good girl," A raspy voice whispers next to your ear. "Such a good girl for me, taking your punishment. I think you deserve your reward now, hm?"

"Please." You moan as he reaches around to grasp your breast, tweaking your nipples in a way that has you writhing beneath him.

"Don't say I didn't warn you though," Jungkook chuckles as he rips your panties down your legs, gasping at the sight of your dripping slit like it's the first time. He runs a finger down your folds, biting back a groan when it makes your legs fall open a little further, desperate for his touch. "I'm not gonna go easy on you."

"Jungkook, what do you-- oh!." Before you can finish, Jungkook is pushing your face back into the comforter, spreading your cheeks with his palms and licking an agonizingly slow stripe up your throbbing core. His tongue finds your clit easily, toying it with the tip playfully until you're gasping for air.

"Mmf, tastes so good." He murmurs against your folds, the vibrations of his chuckle making you moan so hard your legs start to shake. His tongue finds your hole, swirling around teasingly before it slips inside and you can't handle it anymore.

"Jungkook!" You gasp, reaching behind to grab his hair. "I..I can't-"

"You can." He says, almost a command, mouth leaving your pussy only so he can slide over onto his back and pull you back down onto his face by the hips.

"Oh g-god!" Your hand reaches for the headboard, landing on the wall to steady yourself when you remember you still haven't bought a bed frame yet. Your legs are starting to ache from holding yourself up but you don't care, too lost in the feeling of Jungkook's tongue lapping at your swollen folds as you grind in lazy circles on his face.

"C-close, Kook." You manage to splutter, head thrown back with pleasure when he slides two of his fingers inside you and starts to pump in time with his tongue, the sensation of being filled enough to send you over the edge into a shuddering climax that is unlike anything you've felt before, the only thought on your mind the way your hole clenches around your boyfriend's fingers.

It takes a few moments for your legs to stop shaking, your hearing slowly coming back into focus as you hear both of your heavy breaths intermingled. You look between your legs to find Jungkook staring up at you with a grin, eyes filled with wonder. His chin gleams with your juices, the front of his t-shirt damp as you realise with a gasp what just happened.

"Did I--?"

"Yup."

"Holy fuck." You swing your leg over his shoulder so you're beside him, Jungkook sitting up to look at you, still mesmerised. "I...I'm sorry, that was--"

"The hottest thing you've ever done." Jungkook finishes, grinning at you like he just won the lottery.

You raise a brow, surprised. "Really?"

"Yeah. Can I fuck you now?"

You can't help but laugh at his eager puppy dog eyes, hands practically twitching at his sides to touch you. A quick glance at his crotch confirms the biggest tent in his pants you've ever seen, and you crook a finger towards him with a sultry smile and a nod.

"Let's see if you can make me do that again."

"O-Okay!" Jungkook pulls his shirt over his head eagerly, and then he's on top of you, burning skin meeting burning skin. Your palm runs down his chest, Jungkook's eyes falling shut when it reaches the hem of his sweatpants. You cant help but gasp when your fingers wrap around his length through his boxers, core already throbbing again to be filled. He shivers when your finger circles his tip, admiring the wet patch on his boxers.

"Eager?" You smirk.

"You squirted on my face, Y/N, of course I'm goddamn eager."

"Get these off then." You tug at his pants and he kicks them off without a second telling.

"Your wish is my command."

When he returns to hovering over you, both completely bare now, he pauses. His eyes meet yours, a gentle smile appearing on his lips as he tucks a stray piece of hair behind your ear and grips your jaw protectively.

"I love you, y'know."

You close the distance between you, pressing your lips against his but barely able to keep yourself from grinning with the elation swirling in your chest. "I love you too, doofus. Now hurry up or I'm gonna have to fuck myself."

"That sounds kinda awesome--"

"Kook!"

"Okay, okay, on it!"

Palms spread your legs, and you both gasp when Jungkook runs the blunt head of his leaking cock up and down your slit, coating himself in your juices before he lines it up with your entrance.

"Ready?" He checks, thumb tracing circles into your inner thigh.

"As I'll ever be."

And with that, he pushes inside, his head falling into the crook of your neck with a sigh of relief at finally feeling your walls clenching around his throbbing length. The stretch of his girth stings, but it makes you feel so deliciously full, so perfectly whole to be connected to Jungkook like this that all you can get out is another soft I love you that earns a blissful smile from your boyfriend as he starts to move.

Each stroke makes you lose your breath, the tip of his cock hitting your sweet spot just right. It's when Jungkook takes your nipple into his mouth that you feel a second orgasm start to build, one hand gripping the sheets as the other drags scratch marks down his muscular back in blissful agony.

It's not long before Jungkook spills inside you with a deep growl, your own high hitting you as you feel him coat your walls. He collapses onto your chest, breaths deep and exhausted, and wraps you in his arms before you can even catch your breath.

Jungkook pulls the sheets up over your shoulders and places a kiss to the top of your head. He's so warm you feel yourself start to drift off into a blissful sleep, the smile on your lips never faltering.

"I love you too." Is the last thing you hear him say before sleep takes you under, and you're safe wrapped up in each other's arms.

When you open your eyes, the room is warm with sunset's rose tinted blush, and Jungkook's body is no longer beside you. Rubbing your bleary eyes, you sit up on your elbow and find him on the ground in front of the freshly painted wall, intricate petals and stems flowing from the end of the paintbrush he delicately waves across the surface to paint the prettiest sunflower you've ever seen.

"I'm home!" You hear your boyfriend yell out as he shuffles into the apartment, quickly followed by a yelp. "Hey, Gureum, stop trying to lick my face!"

You can't stop the smile that spreads across your features when a ball of white fluff comes bounding into the living room, the puppy that excitedly jumps into your arms tracking a trail of muddy paw prints over the script in your hands.

"Hey Gureum," You coo, scratching him behind the ears where you know his sweet spot is. "You're such a good boy, huh?"

"Don't praise him! He totally ran away from me in Central Park and I had to chase him all the way home!" You can practically hear Jungkook's eye roll, shaking your head fondly at the mock annoyance in his voice. It was Jungkook who begged you to adopt a puppy for months in the first place, and they've been more or less inseparable ever since — the little guy hardly ever leaves his side. It's safe to say Jungkook is definitely Gureum's favourite.

The smell of coffee and fresh bagels wafts through the apartment, a warm sensation settling in your stomach as your boyfriend rounds the corner and waves a brown paper bag.

"Still got us enough coffee to stay up all night learning lines though." Jungkook grins, dumping the contents onto the coffee table and raising his eyebrows when your hands dart straight for the chocolate cookies. "Speaking of learning lines, how is it going, pretty?"

He nods towards the script in your hand. It's worn at the edges and ferociously dog eared from all the nights you have stayed up until sunrise reciting the words littered across the pages over and over, until it's like your lips are moving by muscle memory and the words are a part of you.

After what felt like hundreds of failed auditions, you had started to lose hope. With every letter that landed on the porch with another SORRY or MAYBE NEXT TIME, you felt all the confidence in the dream you worked so hard to uncover start to dwindle.

But Jungkook was always there, by your side no matter what. Encouraging you when you forgot your lines or holding you when you didn't get the callback. Reminding you to eat whenever you were too absorbed in your work to cook or cheering you on from the crowd at your weekly improv performances.

It was Jungkook who cried with you when the director of the small theatre downtown called and gave you the lead part in his upcoming stage production. Your big break. And you were determined to make sure everything ran smoothly at opening night tomorrow, which is how you find yourself snuggled up on the couch rewinding your VHS copy of Dirty Dancing over and over again until you have every word memorised by heart.

"Pretty good." You say as you pop a salted peanut into your mouth while Jungkook slips out of his tweed jacket. He's been trying to dress more New-York-ish these days, or so he says. More dress pants and less sweats. "Final rehearsals start at five."

"Aren't you nervous?" Jungkook squishes into the space beside you, Gureum cuddling up between your bodies.

Tomorrow night's show is sold out, along with every night after that for the next week. You heard there were going to be at least 700 people there each night.

"Terribly." You admit, stomach churning at the thought of 700 pairs of eyes staring right at you. You try to focus on the fizzing excitement that lingers there too, growing stronger and stronger. "But I think I'm more excited".

"I'm excited to see you up there doing what you love." Jungkook smiles, tucking a piece of hair behind your ear. "My star."

"Well don't get too excited because I still keep messing up this one goddamn scene," You flip the script to a page covered in bright highlighter scribbles and run your fingers through your hair exasperatedly. "I'm totally gonna mess it up and then I'll never get another job and—"

"Shhh," Jungkook takes the script from your hands and runs his eyes over it quickly. "Don't talk like that. You're gonna be amazing — hold up..." He raises an eyebrow. "Is this...the kiss scene?"

You feel your cheeks redden, voice small. "Yes."

"Then you're in luck because who better to help you practice than the best kisser in all of New York?"

You snort. "Wow, I sure could use some of your expertise Good-Sir-Makes-Out-A-Lot."

"Then you're in the right place..." He runs his finger over the script, jabbing at one line in particular.

[Johnny and Baby kiss.]

"Let's start here, hm? For practice, obviously."

"For practice." Your eyes roll but your heart still beats a little faster as he closes the space between you, hand pressing into the wall so his sturdy body hovers over yours, hands instinctively pulling him closer by the collar.

"Come give me a kiss, m'lady..." Jungkook murmurs, but before he can tilt your chin up towards his lips there's a sudden series of frantic knocks at the front door.

"What the heck?"

You both jump out of your skin, Jungkook's eyes narrowing as he glances over his shoulder at the shadowy figure outside, fist pounding the glass fervently, like they're trying to break it down.

"Okay, damn, I'm coming!" He yells with a roll of his eyes. He wraps the blanket around your shoulders as he hops up from the couch with a sigh. "Probably just some dumb marketer again or something — dude, chill! I said I'm coming! — be right back."

The lock slides open and you hear Jungkook gasp. Your stomach drops. "Who is it?"

"Uh, Y/N..." You hear the door click shut and the sound of squeaky shoes shuffling inside. The anxiety in Jungkook's voice makes your heart skip. "You might wanna come see this."

"Huh?" Your legs feel shaky as you follow him out into the hall, chest seizing when you lay eyes on the dripping wet hair and chattering teeth of the shivering man stood before you, eyes dark and grave like they used to be.

"Taehyung?" You splutter, ripping the blanket from around your shoulders and swaddling him in it as quickly as you can, Jungkook already bounding into the other room to get dry clothes and towels after shooting you a terrified glance.

Taehyung grabs your shoulders and pulls you into a tight embrace. His cheeks are wet against your shoulder, but you can't tell if it's because he's been crying or because he's been out in the freezing cold rain — hold on, did he walk here?

"Y/N," He murmurs frantically, eyes darting back and forth but never quite focusing on anything. You knew this look. This is how he looked that day you found out about the accident. Murky, far far away. Devastatingly sad. Something wasn't right.

"What is it?" You ask, pulling him into the living room and sitting him on the couch before his shaking knees buckle beneath him. "What are you doing here, Tae?"

"It's...it's the Crestmont." He whispers.

"What about the Crestmont?" Jungkook appears behind Taehyung, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder, but it's like your brother doesn't even feel it.

"They're tearing it down." He mumbles. "They're tearing down the Crestmont. Forever."

"Okay, now let's start from the beginning."

Jungkook's calm voice lilts from beside Taehyung who, after a warm shower and two cups of cocoa, has stopped shivering and seems to be ready to talk.

A hand reaches across the coffee table to tug on your wrist mid-lift to your mouth, a reminder from Jungkook to stop biting your nails. An old nervous habit you thought you'd left behind in Ocean City but apparently more than just Taehyung showed up here unannounced tonight.

"I...I got a call this morning." Taehyung begins, pausing to take a sip from the mug he cradles in his lap. His hands are shaking so he places it on the coffee table for safe keeping, right beside your discarded script. "It was from a construction company."

"And?" You prod, somewhat impatiently, making Taehyung jump.

"And apparently the owner of the theatre is behind on rent and...and..." He swallows hard. "And they're buying the rights to tear it down and build an apartment complex in its place."

"What?" Both you and Jungkook exclaim at the same time.

Jungkook's fists clench. "I always knew that old man was shady."

Taehyung fumbles in the pocket of the coat he arrived with, retrieving a brochure which he thrusts towards you.

The image on the front is of a metal skyscraper, far too shiny and new to belong in a seaside town like Ocean City. Fusion Apartments — modern living.

Jungkook rakes a hand through his hair, eyes sorrowful as you pass it over to him. "This sucks. Big time." He murmurs. "The Crestmont is the heart of Ocean City. How can they just bulldoze it like it means nothing?"

"That's why..." Taehyung swallows. "That's why I came here. I thought maybe you guys could help me, and we could do something before they—"

"We?" You furrow your brows. "You want us to help stop them from tearing down the Crestmont?"

"I mean yeah, I guess? I figured you guys would understand how important it is—"

You bite your lip. Taehyung flinches when you place a hand on his knee. "Tae. It seems like they've already got it figured out I mean...what can we do about it? The Crestmont has had a long run and maybe it's time for something new in Ocean City..."

"Y/N?" Jungkook warns, but there's a betrayal in his voice. How could you say that? It pains you, but you continue anyway. "What are you saying?"

"I just...I think it's time to let the Crestmont go."

Taehyung stands up so abruptly his mug smashes onto the marble tile.

"How could you?" He roars, but his bottom lip trembles. "The Crestmont is mom's place! It's all we have left of her in that fucking town and you want to just let them burn it to the ground?"

You tut, kneeling to pick up the broken pieces of china with a sharp glance at your brother. "For goodness sake, Taehyung. Mom isn't there anymore. She never was. She was always running off with some roadies and leaving us behind because she thought she was something special."

Taehyung scoffs. "What? Just like you?" He grabs the cocoa sodden script, crumpling it up in his shaking fist. "You are exactly the same as her. Running off to New York and leaving me behind to get your big break."

Jungkook steps forward warily. "Taehyung, you don't mean that—"

"Yes I do! If Y/N had just gotten in the car that day she wouldn't have died. It was all her fault. And now she's just gonna let them take what we have left of her."

"What?" Jungkook blinks.

Your stomach sinks. Is that really what Taehyung thinks? You wouldn't blame him. Deep down, his words strike a nerve. Because you know they're true.

Taehyung's eyes are hazy, unfocused. You reach for him dizzily, but he backs away into the hall.

"I shouldn't have come here." Taehyung whispers. He looks between you and Jungkook one last time before he's grabbing his coat and running down the steps to the first floor.

"Taehyung, wait!" You hear Jungkook's footsteps follow him out into the stairwell, but you're trapped on the ground, heaving for air.

Your hands shake as you pull yourself up to the window pane and watch Taehyung disappear into the gloom of the city, the sorrowful raindrops that lash against the glass mirroring the ones on your cheeks.

YOU: Taehyung??? YOU: [CALL IGNORED] YOU: please Tae YOU: can we at least talk about this? YOU: we're worried about you

It's been nearly 12 hours since you watched Taehyung disappear among the hustle and bustle of New York from your apartment window.

You and Jungkook were out all night searching for him. By the time you gave up the sun was rising and the birds were chirping and Jungkook somehow convinced your shivering form to return home to rest with a Taehyung shaped hole in your heart.

"It'll be okay. He'll be okay. He always is."

A phone call to your dad revealed he hadn't returned home that night; so where did he go exactly?

The weight of that question sits heavy in your chest as you sit backstage at the theatre, staring into your own vacant eyes in the dressing room mirror.

It's opening night. The show is due to start in fifteen minutes. Your lips are painted a deep shade of red, hair backcombed to perfection by one of the makeup artists. Beneath the harsh lights of the exposed bulbs that line the mirror, you look almost unrecognisable.

Confident, strong, successful.

Anyone would say your dreams had come true, or something sappy to that effect. But even as you sit among the hustle and bustle of the costume team and breathe in the fragrance of perfume and powder blush, you couldn't feel further away from the New York version of yourself if you tried.

Staring back at you is a reflection of the shy, terrified girl from Ocean City you worked so hard to forget. Yet here she is, mind whirring with worries for her brother instead of the lines she should be rehearsing to death before curtain call.

This should be your big moment. One which you will remember forever. But all you want to do right now is hold Taehyung close like you used to and tell him you're sorry and that you won't leave him again.

"Y/N!" You're snapped out of your thoughts by a familiar hand on your shoulder. You cover it with your own, instantly eased somewhat when you glance up and lock eyes with Jungkook in the mirror.

"Y/N, I found him."

"What?!" You jump to your feet, chair scraping obscenely. It draws the eyes of the people around you who quickly register Jungkook's polite smile as their cue to shuffle out of the dressing room and leave you two to talk. "Where is he? I need to talk to him—"

"He's not coming."

"What?"

Jungkook sinks into the chair beside you, forehead creased. He runs a hand through his hair and momentarily you catch a glimpse of the old Jungkook. The Jungkook that always took care of his best friend Taehyung.

"I...I gave him a ticket for the show tonight and told him to come. To see how much this really means to you...but—"

Your finger nails press half moons into your palms. "But what, Kook?"

"He was already leaving for Ocean City."

A sob wracks your frame. "Do you think he hates me?"

Jungkook's arms engulf you before the first tear can roll down your cheek, his chin tucking perfectly into the cleft of your shoulder. "Of course not, he's just...he's hurting right now."

"I can't lose him — not like this, Kook..."

"Shh. It'll all be okay."

You jump back and start to pace. "But it's not okay! What he said last night is true!"

Jungkook sucks in a breath. "What?"

Your knees buckle and you crumple. You can hardly breathe, shame washing over you as you admit the truth for the first time.

"I caused the accident! I'm the reason my mom's...she's..."

Jungkook wraps his arm around your shoulder, voice soothing. "What are you talking about?"

"The night of the accident she got a call from some big buck director. She was cast in this huge movie. Her big break." You're speaking to fast, but Jungkook nods to tell you he's listening.

"So she told Taehyung and I we were leaving for New York that night. And we were packing our bags before my dad got home and...and I said I wasn't coming. I didn't wanna leave Ocean City behind."

"I kicked and cried and said I didn't want to go, so her and Taehyung took off by themselves and that's when they got into the crash. She was upset and going too fast. It was all because of me." You start to sob. You've never admitted this to anyone before. Not even yourself. It tears your heart in two to say it out loud. "I'm the reason Taehyung's broken."

"You can't think like that." Jungkook clasps your face in his hands, thumb wiping away a stray tear. He looks scared, but his voice stays calm and convincing. "What happened was an accident. You were a kid. None of this is your fault."

"That's why Taehyung must hate me so much." You choke. "I'm doing what mom always wanted to, but she never had the chance because of me."

"Y/N?" A crew member steps into the room awkwardly with a cough. "I'm sorry to interrupt but the show is about to start. The audience is getting restless."

"Go. I'll take care of Taehyung, okay?" Jungkook pulls you to your feet, engulfing you in a final hug before he pushes you towards the stage entrance at the small of your back. "You're needed out there. Show them what you're made of."

Your eyes widen. This can't be happening. Not now.

"I...I can't."

"You can." Jungkook grabs your face and captures your lips, hard. It tastes salty with tears. "You're my star remember?"

"I love you." You whisper when you pull back, fingers reaching for him weakly as a costume designer hurries you towards the door.

"I love you too." Jungkook calls. His smile is the last thing you see before the door slams shut and there's no going back. "Now go break a leg, pretty!"

Particles of dust float in and out of your vision beneath the blinding stage lights.

Everything feels different from side stage. Your heart races as you press your ear to the velvet curtain separating you from the world, listening to the hubbub of laughing children and chattering adults filtering into the theatre. You imagine them taking their seats, buying icecream from the vendors, alive with anticipation.

The lights dim. You hear the director behind you, shouting something about places please! but it's like you're underwater, limbs weighted as you move like a ghost to your position for the opening number.

Your palms are clammy and you wipe them on your dress.

Show starting in 5...

Your legs turn to jelly. You close your eyes and try to calm your racing thoughts.

4...

Taehyung. Is he okay? Why didn't he come tonight?

3...

Shit! What was your opening line again? Goddamnit, Y/N, think!

2...

Mom. Would she be proud?

1...

You open your eyes.

The curtain is gone, and a pair of hands pushes you out into the harsh white spotlight. You shield your eyes with your fingers, heart dropping when you look up and find hundreds of eyes staring. Staring right at you.

It's like you're on the edge of a cliff, about to dive into the cool water below. Or fall.

Everything starts to blur. You're a teenager again, stood on the stage at the Crestmont. Panic rises like bile in your throat, and you don't know whether to scream or to run.

Run. Run. Run.

Your mouth opens, then closes. There's an awkward cough from the audience. Words run your mind in circles, but none of them are right, and before they can reach your lips they evaporate on your tongue.

Your panicked eyes roam the sea of seats that zoom in and out of focus. Your knees buckle, and you're sure you are going to pass out right here in front of everyone, but then your eyes meet a familiar pair of brown ones that makes the room stop spinning for a moment.

Jungkook. He's smiling at you, fingers crossed in his lap. There's not a trace of nerves in his gaze as he nods for you to go ahead.

I believe in you.

Just then the door to the theatre flies open and every head in the audience turns towards the darkly clothed figure shuffling through the aisles, mumbling sorry's and excuse me's until he reaches the empty seat beside your boyfriend.

He lets down his hood, shakes free a head of blonde hair that's still damp from the rain. He's out of breath, like he ran here.

Taehyung.

Your brother looks up at you, frozen in place, and his eyes soften. He flashes you a thumbs up and his lips curl around the four words you needed to hear.

You can do this.

And just like that, the panic disappears. The words come flooding back, and your body flies into action, moving across the stage

You forget all about the fear, and the anxiety, and Taehyung and the Crestmont. For now it's just you and the stage, together in harmony.

And you've never felt more alive than when you take your final bow and the crowd roars to life, just like you always imagined it would.

Your jaw hurts from smiling, and before you know it you're crying. Because when you squint against the theatre lights, you see Taehyung and Jungkook in the front row, holding each other and shouting your name.

Y/N! Y/N! Y/N!

"Hey! Be careful!"

The bouquet of congratulatory geraniums cradled in your arms gets crushed between your body and your brother's. He practically tackled you as soon as you entered the dressing room, carried on the cheering shoulders of the other cast and crew members.

"Holy shit." Taehyung holds you at arms length. His eyes are ringed red around the edges. "You were amazing, Y/N."

"You really think so?" Tears start to well and you're so happy to see him that you throw your arms around his waist. "I'm so glad you came, Tae."

"Yeah. You were just like her." He smiles. "Just like mom."

You share a small, sad smile. You've heard those words all your life but it feels different when it comes from Taehyung.

Jungkook pops his head into the room. He catches your eye over Taehyung's shoulder, and flashes you a small smile when he sees you cradling him in your arms.

Talk to him. He mouths, and you're suddenly reminded of why Taehyung came here in the first place.

"Hey listen—"

"Taehyung—"

You both start to talk, bursting into easy laughter when the other stops, seemingly hit with the same idea at the same time.

"You go first." You smile, encouragingly.

"Okay." He pulls you over to the couch. "I'm just...I'm sorry for storming out last night. I shouldn't have come here and expected you to help me—"

"No, stop. I'm sorry." You place a hand over his. "I want to help." You hold an arm out to Jungkook, who crosses the room and slides his hand into yours. "We want to help. We want to save the Crestmont."

Taehyung's eyes bulge. His voice drops to a whisper. "Really?"

"You were right. The Crestmont was mom's place."

You think about how it felt to be out there on the stage, in front of a crowd cheering your name. The excitement, the exhilaration. Your first stage.

The Crestmont is your mom's first stage. It's where she felt those same emotions for the first time. You can't let it be demolished. Not for anything.

"She deserves a legacy. We can't let them tear it down. I don't know how yet, but we'll save it."

"Thank you." A tear streaks his cheek, and his arms pull you and Jungkook into a tight bear hug.

"Thank you. For showing me what really matters, Tae." You whisper. "Let's do this together, okay?"

"For mom."

Taehyung holds out his pinky finger, and you link yours with his.

"For mom."

Where things go wrong.

Six months later.

Every second that passes is marked by a deafening tick from the kitchen clock.

Jungkook was supposed to be home 10 minutes ago. You're sat alone at the dinner table, a carefully presented meal for two spread across your mom's old polka dot table cloth. You even lit candles.

With a sigh you drop your chin into your hand, absentmindedly pushing your spaghetti around the dish while your eyes remain trained to the front door that will open any moment.

To be honest, it's been months since you and Jungkook shared a meal together. He spends most of his nights in his office, hunched over his laptop staring at the blinking cursor on some script he'll never finish. And ever since Jungkook's big script got rejected and he fell into a slump of no work, he had to get a job at a local convenience store all day for some spare cash to get you through the month.

You know he hates it. He hates the rude customers and how he can never shower the smell of grease out of his hair.

You know the bickering that turned into arguing that turned into fighting was just a result of his restless aggravation at being shot down too many times. Of watching his dream slip right through his fingers.

But you haven't exactly been as understanding as you should have been. You're overworked too, with the play, and The Crestmont, and you hate how easy it was to accept sleeping apart and missing dinner dates.

So you texted him to tell him you were making dinner tonight. A cease fire of sorts, or maybe just a feeble attempt at glueing back together the cracks that have appeared between you recently with pasta sauce and meatballs.

But he's late. Again.

And it makes you wonder whether there was any point in trying.

"Y/N?"

A gravelly voice jolts you out of your thoughts. Keys jangle onto the counter, shoes are slipped from feet and thrown into the storage cupboard with the creaky door.

"I'm in here." Your voice sounds meek, but you straighten and muster up a smile. To show at least one of you is making an effort.

Jungkook appears in the doorway, clad in his ugly traffic cone orange uniform. His shoulders are slumped, bangs limply stuck to his forehead. He looks tired, exhausted.

"What's all this?" He nods disinterestedly towards your untouched homemade buffet before heading to the sink to fix himself a glass of water.

"Dinner." You cough. He stiffens. "Remember?"

"Oh." He scratches the back of his neck. His eyes flash with something close to guilt momentarily, but then he smoothes it out. "Yeah. Dinner."

"It's okay, you're not too late. We can just heat this up in the microwave—"

"I already ate, Y/N." The glass in his hand slams onto the counter a little too loudly. "At the store."

You can't hide the way your face drops.

"Please." You whisper. "For me?"

Jungkook stares at you for a few seconds, unblinking, before he exhales shakily and pulls out the seat opposite you.

"What's on the menu?" He asks, hands already grabbing for the bottle of red wine in the middle of the table without so much as a glance at the food you worked so hard to prepare.

"Pasta."

"Right."

An uncomfortable silence settles. Jungkook nibbles at a meatball, and you suddenly feel too sick to the stomach to keep anything down.

You jump when Jungkook's fork clatters to the table. He wipes pasta sauce from the corners of his mouth with a napkin and you're sure you can see a slight tremor in his grasp.

"There's something I need to tell you."

His words ring out into the deafening silence that shrouds the apartment. You train your eyes to the candle in the middle of the table that flickers back and forth and carefully place down your own cutlery.

"Should I be worried?"

"No...I mean, I don't know. Maybe." Jungkook waves his hands around and when his eyes meet yours they're distant. Like the table that separates you spans oceans. "Just promise not to freak out."

"I'm not promising anything. Why are you looking at me like that?"

He shifts and the cheap flat pack dining chairs you bought when you moved in creak like they always do. "I...I got a movie deal. They loved the script I told them I've been working on and they want me to direct it."

Your heart fills with something sweet; pride. Even despite your downs recently this is still incredible news. You knew your boyfriend should be ecstatic...so why is he staring intently at the table cloth like it killed his whole family? "That's awesome, Kook. So what's the problem?"

"I gave them a different script."

Something shifts in the air. You hold your breath.

"Huh?"

"The script. The one you told me to burn before we came to New York. The one about you...your life."

Your blood runs cold and it's like your frozen. Just searching through the never ending blackness behind Jungkook's eyes that fails to falter, no matter how hard you pinch your inner thigh and hope you're about to wake up from a bad dream.

"You wouldn't." Your voice sounds strained and Jungkook doesn't even flinch. "You...I don't believe you."

"I'm sorry." He runs an exasperated hand through his hair. "It's just that they hated the first one and I wanted this deal so bad. It's a once in a lifetime chance Y/N, don't you see?"

The boy staring back at you isn't the sweet and sensitive Jungkook from Ocean City or the strong and passionate man from New York. His words get all mixed up in your head as you repeat them over and over and it's as if you don't even know him at all. All you can feel now is betrayal. And just like that all the anger that has been building inside you for months explodes.

"So my life is just a fucking plot for one of your indie movies, Jungkook?"

"It's always your life isn't it? Never mine." He slams his hands on the table hard enough to make your insides shake. "Ever since we came to New York I've supported you, sat back and watched as you achieved all your dreams. And it hurts, Y/N. To come home from my dead end job, and write another goddamn script that nobody wants to even read."

"I came to New York because of you!" You don't even realise you're crying until you taste the hot salty tears that won't seem to stop. "I came here so you could make it big! You're the one who encouraged me to audition for the play in the first place!"

"God, are you really that naive? Don't you see? I came to New York because I saw how much it meant to you." Jungkook lowers his voice, and there's something in his words that makes your heart twist. Pain. His eyes look watery and you long to reach out for him. Like the skin on skin contact will somehow make all of this okay. "And not once have you ever considered how it might feel for me to sit back in your shadow."

"So that's what this is? Jealousy?" You shake your head and get up from the table and turn to leave, but Jungkook grasps your wrist.

"Why can't you be happy for me?"

"I am happy for you Jungkook. And I always will be." Your heart softens and you're reminded of the boyfriend you know. The boyfriend you love. You want to believe he's in there somewhere so you place your hand over his, and for a second he looks hopeful. "But this was never your story to tell. That's what hurts."

He drops your arm, gaze cold and distant. "Then I guess that's it then."

"What?"

The room starts to spin.

"If you can't accept my decision to go ahead with the project then I guess we can't do this anymore."

"This?" You whisper.

"Us."

"Jungkook...Are you saying we're over?"

He drops his head into his hands and lets out a sigh. "Maybe. I don't know."

"You don't know?" You chuckle but it's hollow, empty. "You don't know if you love me any more?"

Jungkook's face drops and he lurches towards you, but you step back.

"No, shit Y/N I didn't mean it like that!" He looks scared. "I was just angry and it slipped out."

"Don't." His arms reach for you again but the brush of his fingertips feels scalding hot, wrong. "Don't fucking touch me."

"I'm sorry..."

"Don't lie to me Jungkook." Your vision is blurred with tears as you rip open the closet and yank out a suitcase. "You're not sorry. I was never your muse. I was just a stepping stool to the top."

"Where are you going?" Jungkook's crying now too. It comes out as a sob.

"Home." You say as you rip open your shared closet door and start throwing your things into the case. "I'm going home. Where I belong."

"I can't lose you like this. Please." He reaches for your wrist again but you're already half way to the door.

"Too late." You say. "I'm going home. And I'm never coming back."

The familiar scent of burned popcorn and candyfloss soothes you as you creep through the backdoor of the Crestmont. It always had a broken hinge which opened just enough for a body to squeeze through. Seems not a lot has changed since you left Ocean City.

It's dark inside. Silent too, without the popcorn machine running and the movie trailers playing on LED screens. You don't know what you expected. It's gone midnight by the time you get back to Ocean City, but you don't want to go home just yet.

Comfort washes over you as you run your fingers over the gilded edges of the counter, and slip beneath the hatch on auto pilot. It feels strange to be back here without the starched shirt and bow tie you used to hate. You've swapped out worn sneakers for heels that click against the tiles and you've performed on stages for crowd's bigger than the Crestmont's but here and now, you feel like yourself. Even though everything in your life has changed, you're still the same small town girl underneath it all.

Without thinking your legs carry you to the wall of fame. The faces smile up at you, like they're saying welcome back.

"Hey mom," You whisper, stopping momentarily in front of her portrait. You stared at it for so long as a kid that you have every detail committed to memory but seeing it up this close makes your breath hitch. "It's me."

With a sigh you force yourself past into the hall. Your hands tremble as you push open the door to the theatre. It's just how you remember it, sparkling gold and red velvet and mystery. But there's yellow tape strung up across all the seats and a sign has been propped up on the stage, red glaring letters burning a hole in your heart as you read them.

DANGER. DUE FOR DEMOLISHMENT. STAY AWAY.

All you can do is let your legs buckle, back sliding down the wall as you hug your knees to your chest and let out a throaty sob that echoes from the high ceiling.

When did everything go so wrong? You must be cursed. Everything you touch gets destroyed.

"Y/N?"

The lights flicker on, bathing the room in a soft golden glow. You wipe your tears, but that doesn't stop them from coming.

"Over here."

Your voice is small but a few seconds later Taehyung's face appears from behind one of the velvet seats. His eyes soften when he sees you curled up in the corner.

"What are you doing down here?" He clambers over the seat to join you, his long legs folded awkwardly in the small space.

"Having a one man party." You snort and point to your tear stained cheeks.

"Are you okay?" His hand covers yours and the contact makes you jump.

"Yes..." You sniff. He raises a brow. "No. Jungkook broke up with me."

Taehyung chokes. "What?!"

"I mean, we fought and then he...he said we were over." Your heart stabs painfully but you shrug. "So I came here. Didn't know where else to go."

He places an encouraging hand on your shoulder. "Listen...I know I haven't always been there for you when I should've. Hell, you always took care of me and I never even asked how you were doing." He offers a small smile. "But I'm here now. And you can tell me anything. If...if you want to."

A few seconds tick by in silence. You try to form a sentence but everything just comes back to the same three words.

"I miss mom." You blurt.

It echoes through the theatre, and you can practically hear the mermaids and the cupids painted on the ceiling gasp. It surprises you too, the combination of grief and relief that washes over you at finally admitting it.

"I know." Taehyung pulls you into his chest, lips whispering against your hair as you let out a sob and it's like all the sadness and denial is rushing out of you like a faucet, filling the whole room up like a water tank. You're terrified of the moment it gets too full, and you stop being able to breathe. "But you're a lot like her, y'know."

"That's exactly the problem!" Your words come out as a yell and it makes you both jump. "Everyone always says I look like her, I talk like her, I act like her. And I hated it for the longest time because I hated her for leaving us!"

"But without even realising it I became her, Tae. I did what I always said I wouldn't and became selfish. I hurt you, and Jungkook and even the Crestmont."

"That's not true."

"It is! And the worst part is I don't even hate her any more. I need her. To hold me, and tell me it's going to be alright. But she isn't here!"

"What does this have to do with Jungkook?"

"Jungkook wrote a script. A long time ago. About mom. And you and I. And everything that happened." You swallow, Taehyung's eyebrow raises though he doesn't look at all surprised by this information, nor as horrified as you that a record of your bleak shortcomings exists for anyone to read. "He got a movie deal. That's why we fought."

Taehyung hums. "You don't want him to make the movie?"

"It's not that I...I want to be happy for him. But I can't." You choke. "It's too painful. Remembering."

Accepting.

"When I said you were a lot like mom, I meant that you are headstrong." Taehyung pauses. "I felt that way once too. Like I hated mom and the goddamn world for taking her too soon. But in the end, the only person I hated was myself. Like however hard I tried I could never get over her, and all the pain I was pushing down into a dark place kept taunting me through the nightmares." He shivers, and you grip his hand tighter. "But one day I realised I don't have to be afraid of that pain any more. That pain is a part of me. But that doesn't mean I have to let it win."

"So what did you do?"

"I let myself feel it . I faced it. The only way I could let mom go was to stop running away." He pats your shoulder. "You need to set the girl in that script free, so you can move on."

And just like that, you're swimming...up, up, up, until you reach the surface of the water tank and you can take a heaving breath for the first time.

You throw your arms around his neck. It feels weird to hug him like this, but it's nice. "I missed you, Tae. Thank you.”

"I didn't do anything." He says. "The strength is inside you, you just need to find it. Just like you need to stop holding on to the past and let the new you shine for once."

You shake your head. "I need to talk to Jungkook. I don't know why I stormed off like that and..." You trail off. "Wait, how did you know I was here?"

Taehyung grins. "I didn't. I got called in to sort some paperwork and I noticed the back door ajar. Good thing it was you and not some crazy with a baseball bat, right?"

"At this time?" You nod to his still pyjama clad state. "Is it important?"

"Y/N," He laughs lightly. There's excitement shining in his eyes. "Someone just bought the Crestmont."

You scramble to your knees. "What?"

"We're staying open, and I get to keep my job."

And then you're hugging again, and laughing and crying because the Crestmont is going to be okay. You're going to be okay.

"That's incredible, Tae! Who is it? Who bought the Crestmont?"

"I don't know, it was an anonymous transaction. But the guy said he would be here...." He glances at his wrist watch, and as he does, the door creaks open. "Around now."

"Hello? Anyone here?" A familiar voice calls out.

"Jungkook?" Both of your jaws drop as you poke up from behind the seats. Sure enough your heart flutters when you see him, all wind swept and out of breath like he ran here.

"I thought you might be here." He scratches the back of his neck awkwardly. "Can we talk?"

The car ride to the pier was mostly silent. Jungkook borrowed his dad's old beat up truck -- it was that or his old bike with the pegs on the back -- and it still smelled like leather and petrol like it used to.

Everything about Ocean City is the same as you remember it. The pier stands strong atop the rocky sand, sea air deliciously fresh as it fills your lungs. The rolling waves shimmer like gold dust below the wisps of pink clouds that greet the rising sun. The beach is a peaceful view at this time. No tourists, all of yesterdays sandcastles swallowed by the sea spray. It took a couple hours to work through the paperwork so by now it's early morning — 5:30am according to your phone lockscreen.

It's chilly, and your skin is covered with goose bumps even despite Jungkook's suede jacket wrapped loosely around your shoulders. But you don't mind.

You've missed this. You've missed Ocean City.

"No ice cream, I'm afraid." The breeze ruffles Jungkook's hair as he emerges from the fairground and settles beside you with his legs poking through the rails. He flashes you an apologetic smile. "I guess the parlour doesn't open until 9..."

You feel a pang in your chest. Being here is like a serious case of deja vu. Countless hours spent in this very spot, eating vanilla scoops with rainbow sprinkles beside Jungkook used to be so normal. When did you grow so far apart that you're surprised he even remembers?

"Jungkook..." You swallow hard when you meet his eyes, hands longing to reach out and stroke the stream of sunrise on his cheek that makes his dark eyes sparkle. "We...we need to talk. About everything."

There's a moment of silence filled only by the calls of seagulls greeting the morning before he speaks. "I sold the script."

He sounds nervous. Like he's not quite sure what your reaction will be.

You swallow. "And you used the money to buy the Crestmont?"

"Yeah." He says matter of factly, scratching a phantom itch at his nape. "I guess I did."

"Why?" Your voice is small.

"I can't loose you, Y/N." He murmurs. "Just like you can't loose your mom. The Crestmont was her everything. But you are mine. And loosing the Crestmont would be loosing a piece of you, and I couldn't stand that."

The breeze ruffles his hair as he reaches for your hand and links your fingers and squeezes hard. You don't make any move to stop him. You know what it means, so you squeeze back and return the sentiment. I'm sorry.

Before you can stop yourself you lurch forward, arms curling around his neck and it's like coming home. His hands pull you flush to his chest, hearts beating in sync and you know everything is going to be okay now.

"Thank you." You whisper against his nape. A tear rolls down your cheek and soaks into his collar and before you know it you're blubbering. "Thank you so much, Kook."

"You aren't mad?" His voice is muffled but you can hear the quirk of his brow.

"Mad? No..no..." You lean back and wipe your eyes with your sleeve. "But what about the movie? And your dream to be a director and--"

Jungkook grabs your shoulders. His own eyes are glassy as he tucks a piece of hair behind your ear.

"That was never what mattered to me, Y/N. Not even a little bit. There's one reason I went to New York and it's the same reason I came back to Ocean City tonight. You."

"But--"

"No but's. As long as we're together, I'm already living my dream." His lips turn up into a smile, his eyes tracing your face like it's the first time and he can't get enough. "And I never ever want to wake up."

You shift in your spot to face him properly for the first time, and emotion hits you like a tidal wave. It's like all of a sudden you realize how stupid you've been; to fight with the man before you, a man who only knows kindness, about the trivial when the things that mattered the most were always right here, in front of you. The things that mattered most were always in Ocean City.

You brace your hands on his shoulders and lean up so your lips are inches apart. His eyes fall shut naturally, and you can't help but laugh with what you can only describe as one thing: happiness.

"I love you." You whisper against his lips. A warm palm cups your jaw and closes the distance between them and you're almost too lost in the way Jungkook's kiss takes your breath away to hear his response.

"I love you too."

"Sooo..." You bite your lip with a coy smile when Jungkook pulls away, the blush upon his cheeks scarlet beneath the sun which is rapidly rising. "I take it we're no longer broken up?"

"Well duh," He swats you playfully. "You think I'd do all this just to dump your ass?"

"Hey!" You pout. "I dumped your ass."

Jungkook shakes his head with a laugh.

"Besides," He glances out over the horizon nonchalantly and shrugs. "I'm gonna need help if I'm gonna start my own film company and run the Crestmont."

Your jaw drops. "A what now?"

"A film company." He explains. "A different type of film company, right here in Ocean City. For the outcasts like me who have a vision that even the biggest names in New York can't see yet." He smiles, so big and bright it makes your heart leap. "I'm gonna show them, Y/N. And everything I need to do it is right here in Ocean City."

"I know you will. I never doubted you for a second." You take his hand and link your fingers, squeezing hard. "And you bet your ass I'll be front row to watch each and every one, Jeon Jungkook."

Epilogue.

"Just keep your eyes shut!"

"I already know where we're going, so why can't I look?" You laugh, attempting and failing to tug Jungkook's interlocked fingers away from your eyes.

"Shush, it's a surprise! Just roll with it."

A surprise. That's what Jungkook said earlier too when he woke you up at the crack of dawn by throwing a dress at your head and telling you to meet him outside in the truck in 10 minutes or else.

By the time you pulled up into the familiar parking lot of your not-so-mysterious destination, the sky was already aflame with the glow of morning skimming the horizon, and Jungkook practically leapt out of the truck, palms unusually sweaty as he grasped your hand and pulled you towards the path quicker than your feet could carry you.

"What's the hurry, Kook?" You get out between heavy breaths, quads burning as the path gets steeper beneath your feet.

Come to think of it, your boyfriend has been acting strangely all week. Like hiding things behind his back when you walk into a room or talking in hushed whispers on the phone to Taehyung when he thought you were sleeping.

"You'll see." The path levels out and you stop. Jungkook wraps his arms around your waist, chin tucked into the cleft of your shoulder like a perfect puzzle piece. "Okay. Now you can look."

You round the corner, heart racing when your eyes flutter open and your vision is filled with a sea of yellow flowers. Your place.

The meadow is just how you left it, tall grass and sunny blooms dancing beneath the rays of morning sun peeking out from between the clouds. A warmth spreads through your chest and you both laugh when Gureum lets out an excited yelp, before bounding off between the stems playfully.

"I think the little guy wants us to follow him." Jungkook raises a brow and throws you a knowing shrug.

Excitement flutters in your stomach like a butterfly trapped between cupped palms. "How could I refuse?"

Fingers interlinked, you part the sunflowers and jog after the ball off fluff bouncing across the meadow, the breeze cool and forgiving as it ruffles the strands of hair that billow behind you.

Eventually you reach the clearing, and Gureum wags his tail at you proudly when you stoop down to scratch him behind his ears.

The sun reflects in Jungkook's eyes, turning them a warm golden brown. "Turn around."

You spin on your heels with a questioning glance. "Why?" That's when you see it. The spot where everything began. The tree where Jungkook kissed you all those years ago has bloomed with fragrant blossoms, and twinkle lights glow like tiny stars around it's branches. A blanket is laid out in the sun flecked shade beneath it, littered with feather cushions and lanterns and a trail of sunflower petals that begin at your feet.

"You did this?" You take his chin in your palms, face beaming despite the tears that have started to blur your vision. "Oh, Kook."

"Surprise." He smiles knowingly, grabbing you from behind and spinning you round and round until you both land with a soft thump in the middle of the outdoor cushion fort. "You haven't even seen the best part yet." He says with a nod to his right.

It's then that you notice the white sheet that's strung up a couple meters away between the trunks of two trees, Jungkook's vintage projector set up in front of it.

"What is this?" You ask, bewilderment evident in your voice.

"Gureum, would you do the honours?" Jungkook chuckles, extending a finger to point at a remote that your puppy obediently picks up with his teeth and drops into your lap with a wag of his tail.

Jungkook tucks a piece of hair behind your ear and takes a deep breath, like he's been waiting for this moment for a long time. "Go ahead. Press play and find out."

Your head shakes fondly, but your fingers tremble with anticipation as they find the PLAY button. You press it and the projector starts turning, a light flicking on at the top that makes a grainy image appear on the sheet.

The first scene is you. A teenager, dancing through the sunflower field, laughter spilling from your lips. The first time you hung out. And then it switches. You, again. Cleaning up a spill at the Crestmont, unaware of the camera. You. Paint in your hair as Jungkook chases you around the apartment in New York. You. Tears in your eyes as you hold baby Gureum for the first time. You. Asleep on Jungkook's shoulder on the subway, the camera panning to his face which lights up in a big grin, lips mouthing three words.

I love you.

Tears are hot on your cheeks, laughing as you remember the good moments and the bad, the funny and the sad, all immortalized forever through Jungkook's eyes.

The film fades out, and you throw your arms around your boyfriends neck. He chuckles when you tackle him to the ground, throwing a leg over his lap so that you can lean down and capture his lips between yours in a kiss that says all the words you want to say but you don't know how to. I love you too.

"I take it you liked it, then?" Jungkook says coyly, thumb stroking your cheek.

"It was beautiful Jungkook." You place your hand over his. "Now I know why you're always goddamn filming me."

"What can I say? You're my muse."

"Shut up." You punch him playfully. "You're gonna make me blush."

It's Jungkook's cheeks that flush pink. "Actually..." He starts to sit up, fumbling around in his back pocket. "There's something else."

"Oh?"

He clears his throat. "The first time we came to this place I knew I loved you. Back then, I said I wanted to show you what I found most beautiful. And it was you. It's always been you." He takes your hand, grip tight. "When we met we were just kids with big dreams. We might be older now but heck -- I still don't know what I'm doing. All I know is dreams come and go but you never left. You always stayed by my side. Which is why I want to promise you something."

"What, Kook?" You manage to whisper. Your heart is beating a million miles a minute in your ears. Is this what you think it is?

Jungkook swallows hard, eyes boring into yours.

"That I'll go wherever you go. New York, across oceans, up mountains -- you name it. As long as we're together, everything will be okay. So that's why I wanted to ask..." His fingers tremble as he produces a tiny black box, flicking it open to reveal a ring that sparkles see through in the sun. "Y/N, will you marry me?"

"Oh Jungkook," You throw your arms around his neck, overcome with emotion now as you capture his lips with your own. "Of course I'll marry you. You didn't even have to ask."

He lets out a sigh of relief, and then he's spinning you around in circles until you're both dizzy with love and belly laughter.

"I love you." He whispers, eyes shiny. His hand gently grasps your wrist as he slides the ring onto your finger.

You've heard him say it a hundred times before, but this time it's different. This time it's forever. Your heart flutters.

"I love you too, Kook."

Where there are new beginnings

Ocean City is the same as it always was.

You wake up each morning to the distant crash or waves, and you fall asleep each night to the tinkling fairground music that makes your heart sing. Tourists come and go, flooding the casinos and eating churros on the beach.

The Crestmont is doing better than ever. Once Taehyung took over as owner, the theatre became the heart of the city, attracting visitors from near and far to see the renowned plays directed by none other than Jeon Jungkook, the most sought after playwright and filmographer in all of the East Coast.

And then there's you. Ever since you starred in one of Jungkook's plays, about a girl from a seaside city moving to New York with big dreams, there's been no shortage of movie deals and acting opportunities thrown your way.

But in the end, you always find yourself coming back to Ocean City.

Tonight the Crestmont reopens for business after some much needed renovations. Taehyung is throwing a party, and there will be plenty of big Hollywood faces attending to see the brand new theatre and the updated __.

But one thing will always remain the same. The picture of your mom hung in the gallery. Her big smile is the heart of the Crestmont, greeting each and every visitor with pride.

And in the empty frame at the end of the wall of fame, there's a new picture.

You. Smiling, with your hair over one shoulder, just how you imagined. And beside you is Jungkook, with his arm wrapped around your waist and Taehyung holding Gureum and making a silly peace sign behind your head.

And you wouldn't have it any other way.

Okay so hi if you’re still here!! I decided to put this at the end because I didn’t wanna spoil the ending so please send love to @brekkiejeon​ !! They sent me the request for the ending of this fic all the way back in January and i’m trash and took like 7 months to finish writing it so i hope you enjoyed it even so lovely !!! <3 thank you for the request and sorry for the wait, this one really got me creative lol! 

Also I’d like to dedicate the smut in this fic to @atastefulwonderland​ because I know you love some good ole JK loving!! Hehe, ily~~

Also lemme know if this was bad because I never usually give OC so much backstory because I want it to be as relatable to the reader as poss obvi but these characters wrote themselves lmao like i’m just the writer i had no control okay???? I just do what these mfkers say. LOL.

[comfyswitcherblanketfort]

Honeysuckle

hi i have no self control and really really really love tattoo artist!jaskier so here we are again. this is a prequel to the nipple piercings fic wherein geralt is absolutely smitten from day one. not the same vibe but im telling myself thats to be expected bc these take place like five years apart lol

Warnings: tattoos. if they make you squeamish this is not your fic, swearing, mild anxiety, not much else

___________________

Geralt’s palms were sweating when he walked into the little tattoo shop above his favorite deli. The artist he booked was nice enough in the email, and the front desk gal was sweet on the phone, but he’d never gotten a tattoo before and his anxiety was telling him to run home and bury himself under all the blankets he owned. 

A familiar voice greeted him when he came through the door, “Hey! Sweet, you’re early! Jask is just setting up the chair!” 

The coily brown haired receptionist gestured to a black leather couch across the room and Geralt just barely caught a glimpse of tattooed vines from under her hoodie sleeve. He nodded and smiled, taking a seat and trying not to look so stiff. The receptionist called another artist over and Geralt was surprised when the taller, purple eyed woman wrapped her arms around her shoulders and placed a kiss on her cheek as they looked at the monitor. It was the good kind of surprise, Geralt decided, the kind that sets you at ease when you were gearing up for a fight. The receptionist caught his unintentional smile and winked at him before he suddenly found his nail beds fascinating.

“You Geralt?”

His eyes scanned over the man asking from bottom to top and nearly lost his ability to speak, “Hm? Thats me.”

He looked like he came straight form the Seattle grunge scene in the 90’s, but showered and with beautiful floral blackout sleeves up to the wrists on each arm. It seemed the only color over his whole body was the few yellow buttercups scattered through the pattern, ending in a bouquet of all sorts of plants and flowers and herbs at his collar bones, only slightly covered by his Heathers on Broadway tank. 

He flicked his wispy brown hair out of his unreasonably pretty blue eyes and smiled so brilliantly Geralt had to remember to breathe, “I’m Jaskier. Come on back!”

Geralt gave him a curt nod and stood to follow. 

“I hope you brought shorts, it might be a bitch to walk home in that.” Jaskier said, leading him into one of the rooms down a long hallway.

Geralt was suddenly regretting listening to Lambert. He wanted to melt into the floor when he realized he would have to say this to the beautiful tattoo artist’s face, “They uh… they zip away…”

“Oh my god.” Jaskier breathed, finally looking at Geralt’s knees, “I didn’t even know they made those anymore.”

“I swear to god, my brother wears them for work and told me to-”

Jaskier waved his hand, clearly holding back a smile, “No worries, Ron Stoppable.”

Geralt rolled his eyes but couldn’t keep from smiling, “Do you make a habit of making fun of your clients?”

“Only when I’m sure they can handle it,” he teased, “Now off with the hideous zipper pants, I gotta shave your thigh before I start the drawing.”

Once Geralt was shaved and positioned every which way on the table/chair contraption, he finally got to see the rough sketch. The marker felt cool and tickled the back of his knee, but surprisingly to him, he kept up a relaxed conversation, almost flirting before he thought better of it. 

“Do you like where everything is? Want any more grass? Or flowers? Now’s the time for changes, don’t be shy.” 

Geralt turned his leg this way and that, looking at the little blue and purple marks in a band just above his knee in the mirror, “You’re the professional, what do you think?”

Jaskier took a step back and reached for a roll of paper towels and a bottle of rubbing alcohol, “You said this was your first tattoo right?”

Geralt nodded.

“Okay, one less flower on the back then.”

“Why?”

“It’s one of the most painful places to get tattooed.”

“Keep it. I like it.”

Jaskier raised an eyebrow, “Alright, Hot Shot. Face down, we’ll start there first.”

Holy fuck Jaskier was right. Geralt had a high pain tolerance, but this was a whole different kind of pain. He had his arms crossed under his forehead and was doing his best to take deep, even breaths but Jesus Christ, that little chuckle-fuck just kept going over what felt like the same spot. But hell would freeze over before Geralt tapped out, so he forced his breath out and kept going.

“Why honeysuckle?” Jaskier asked as he sat back to dip the machine in more ink.

Geralt took the opportunity to shift a bit and breathe easy before he lied, “Just picked it.”

Jaskier’s hands were back on his thigh, “You don’t have to tell me, it’s just not something I’m asked to do very often. Never for a first tattoo.”

Geralt’s smile turned into a grimace as the needles were back at his skin. Whether it was his sincerity, pretty eyes, or Geralt’s desperate need for a distraction, he bucked up and answered his question, “My- ah, someone told me to find a reminder of things I loved. My horse eats nothing but honeysuckle whenever we go on the trails.”

"That's so fucking cute," Jaskier sighed, still attacking the back of Geralt's leg, "Wouldn't have pegged you for a horse guy. What's their name?" 

The pain was easier to ignore when Geralt was rambling about Roach. Jaskier kept the conversation flowing, maybe indulging Geralt’s ramblings a little too much, but by the time he flipped Geralt over to do the inside of his knee they were joking and swapping disastrous college stories like old friends. They took a snack break where the purple eyed woman, Yennefer he'd learned, made fun of his zip shorts and Triss scolded her. It was nice, he felt oddly at home here with these people he’d just met. 

The front half of the tattoo was nothing compared to the back and Geralt was able to breathe and just chat. He did his best to convince himself that the feeling in his chest wasn’t disappointment when Jaskier finally finished and wrapped his leg in saniderm. 

Jaskier leaned on the front desk while they waited for Geralt’s card to run, "What are you doing after this?" 

Geralt's stomach turned with nervous excitement and he truly didn't know how he got his words to come out so casual, "Was just gonna get some ramen and watch reruns, why?" 

Jaskier worried at his bottom lip as he stapled the receipt to some paperwork, "There's a great ramen place around the corner and I don't have another appointment tonight…" 

Geralt positively beamed, "If you can stand to be seen with someone wearing zipper shorts in public, I'd love to."

[tsuumu]

hq boys and their part time jobs.

yet another unseries headcanon post made by yours truly! unlike my last one which you can find here, i won’t be involving every single major hq character so that’s just a heads up!! i can’t always envision stuff fully with every single person...

kageyama tobio: this boy thought that applying to work part-time at a sports shop would be fitting ‘cause of his love for volleyball, completely unaware that this would involve way too much social interaction and tolerance???? like he thought he’d just have to look like someone who does sports and occasionally restock yoga mats but these loud ass kids are coming up to him asking for this that and the other for sports he’s never heard of. suddenly he regrets the entire thing. plus, he has no idea how to use the cash register and it’s his worse nightmare to ring up items without wanting to stomp a hole into it to get the customer’s change.

hinata shoyo: shoyo went straight for the pet shelter because he’s in love with playing with the little puppies. this boy will full on roll around with them, stuff them under his shirt so their heads poke out and just.. intergrate and become one of them... the doggies love him so much n always clamber to sit on his lap because hinata treats them with so much love and kindness!! customers looking for pets often joke about taking him home bc he’s just as excitable and friendly as the actual dogs. he’s also really good at convincing people on the fence to get a pet and explaining their individual personalities because he knows them so well :(

nishinoya yuu: he said: supermarket assistant so he could ride around on the carts, intimidates literally every customer with his ungodly enthusiasm but is determined to help EVERYONE, he’ll run around the store taking people where they need to go but only if he actually remembers where they’re situated. otherwise this boy is like “yeah they’re just... that way.” and bolts in the other direction. gets along with all his colleagues and tells them all about his tournaments with karasuno. he’s not the star employee but it wouldn’t be the same w out him.. often asks the manager if he can taste test the market’s pastry section to which he is rejected every single time.

tanaka ryuu: he’s convinced working in his local gym was him in his element, he wears that tag thing like a badge of honour and just walks around showing people he works there instead of actually doing his job??? he’s also overly enthusiastic and will sometimes cheer on the people working out as if he’s some kind of zealous personal trainer and everybody is like “literally how old is this guy??” he’s surprisingly awesome at reception duty because he’s always chatting to regulars about how they’re doing... the practical side like schedules and paperwork he leaves for someone else, everyone just puts up with him bc he’s a mood setter.

sugawara koushi: don’t get me started on this boy as a teacher’s assistant, like he helps little kids out with their work, tidies up the class during their break times and reads them stories?? he’s THAT senior boy who’s the biggest sweetheart and seeing him handle kids so well is like ... does he want some of his own ?? i’d like to offer my expertise he’s always got a smile on his face, gets along with all the staff much older than him, he’s like this perfect boy they all dote on and he gets super flustered saying he just really likes helping out the children and making them smile. often brings them little snacks too and they all call him big brother BYE.

tsukkishima kei: he does some low-key shit that’s kinda wholesome like working with the eldery or tutoring kids but prefers for literally nobody to know about it because anything he does outside of school is his business. he does it because it’s good pay, there’s not much else to it. if anybody found out he’d be super irritated tbh it’s just an invasion of privacy to him but eventually wouldn’t care because every kid is getting part-time jobs these days.

oikawa tooru: bye he’s THAT guy who got his job at a retail store because he’s pretty. like he has no real interest in clothes or anything but he takes the job as a place to validate himself when girls come up to him purposefully to flirt. he’s winking and laughing with them and also NOT actually doing his job but he brings in customers so at least he’s somewhat useful. doesn’t know how to fold clothes or hang stuff on hangers properly for shit and everyone lowkey wants to kick his ass but he’s actually very friendly and outgoing even if he has no clue what he’s doing. keeps asking if bra sizes come in small, medium and large and everyone just tells him to shut up.

iwaizumi hajime: when picking a job he was like “well what am i good at?” and went from there. he ended up as the local pool’s weekend lifeguard because he had the qualifications and time. again, everyone his age just tries to hit on him and he’s annoyed because it distracts him from the actual purpose of his job. he takes it seriously and impresses his colleagues with his swimming talent and knowledge on first aid. iwaizumi lowkey scares the little kids and they’re kind of afraid to ask him for help so he’s been working on looking a little more friendly.

kuroo tetsurou: kuroo as a tennis instructor assistant or just something sporty other than volleyball because he’s a multi-talented king?? like he’s not a professional by any means but he helps out the youth club and gets along with kids a few years younger than him. fills in for refs at tournaments, makes sure equipment is safe to use and is SUPER good at cheering club goers up when they lose or fail or can’t seem to do it correctly. he often refers to his experiences as nekoma’s captain to relate to them and they really admire his resilience and ask him to tell them more stories!!

kenma kozume: had to be dragged out to do a part-time job. was absolutely against the thought of it until hinata mentioned a friend of his who’d moved to the prefecture near kenma got a job at this new game shop. he was like fine and applied. he just kinda sat and people asked him questions about the games but he refused to do any further socialisation or actual grunt work like shelving, he quit pretty soon after, he just wanted the money to buy a game he ended up purchasing on his way out lmaoo

bokuto koutarou: he was dead set on having a volleyball related job, fukurodani have a club for junior players from all over the city to come and practice together. he was like?!? “and nobody told me??” he’s perfect for it as the captain and ends up as a secondary coach. he shows off A LOT and like kuroo, encourages the kids when they’re down. except kuroo is a more sit down, hand on shoulder, casual talk kind of guy. bokuto gets ridiculously sentimental and tells them dramatically about his lowest memories as captain when fukurodani lost and the kids are genuinely as emotional because of he way he tells it??? idk but they love him and he’s a ball of passion that keeps them going.

akaashi keiji: we are talking pretty waiter at a local gormet restaurant that gets tipped SO MUCH for his true professionalism. knows how to handle every situation with ease and is super calm, doesn’t care at all if someone from his school is there. he’s really just chasing that bag and he’s doing it well. bokuto often picks him up after his shifts so they can do stuff together but akaashi requests it be something calming since he’s tired after work... bokuto is like,, “so no to rock-climbing? alright i’ll reschedule..” the other waiters lowkey HATE the fact he gets tipped so well and they try and figure out his secrets. he has none. he’s just good at his job. i could see kiyoko working a similar job or somewhere lowkey like a flourist or bakery. she’s equally as professional and admired.

ushijima wakatoshi: ANY JOB. give this man any job and he’ll be able to carry it out like he’s been doing it since he popped out the womb. often mistaken for a grown adult so he gets jobs pretty easily? very very professional and aims to do everything perfectly. i think he’d also prefer a vb related job just like bokuto but something that could really get him somewhere big, smth to do with olympics like a paid internship for them .. can you even intern for the olympics lmao?? maybe something for the japanese team. it’s a lot of work to balance school & intern life but he’s very comitted and knows it’ll benefit him in the future. (kageyama was fuming when he found out he could have done that instead of his current gig).

tendou satori: has a job he’s very under-qualified for but somehow pulls off. he’s chilling at the hospital or law firm three times a week after classes or somewhere ridiculous but he’s doing just fine!! doesn’t actually do professional work n helps with small things but it impresses the hell out of everybody he tells, has no interest in persuing those careers but it’s fun for him, he gets paid VERY well for a boy his age and his personality creates a nice, talkative atmosphere in these seemingly tense environments.

miya atsumu / osamu: they both work at a café for novelty because they’re these handsome, athletic twins and it’s a thing that brings people in. they do a lot of fan service stuff and osamu is EXCELLENT like he was made for this job but atsumu is awful at keeping his cool. osamu will be chatting up customers, trying to persuade them to order more and atsumu is having a heated tustle with the coffee machine that’s broken down for the third time that day and it really ruins the magic osamu is trying to create. atsumu has probably sworn loudly. has probably almost been fired. he’s bad at playing along and flirting because he literally just wants them to leave so he can sit down lmao. osamu uses the pastries in the café as inspiration for his own at-home baking fiascos because it’s a stress-reliving hobby.

terushima yuji: he’s that boy in shoe shops that tries to sell you sneakers and he knows literally everything about them even when you really didn’t ask... looking to hit on girls that come in because shoe knowledge is obviously very sexy! alternatively you might catch him in a tattoo shop or sumn real appearance based and he definitely remembers all the regulars and greets them like they’re close friends, we’re talking inside jokes. always seems to know what tattoo people are looking to get purely based on their appearance and initial impression...

the list of unemployed:

yachi: too scared to do ANY job that requires interaction, she’s plagued by it.

hoshiumi: fired for picking too many fights with customers.

kyotani: EVEN WORSE THAN HOSHIUMI though he was strangely very efficient at paperwork.

suna: quit on the first day because it wasn’t what he expected and he doesn’t care about money that much.

lev: his family are like.... rich?? n nobody really expected it but he’s like yeah i really do not need one of those lmao.

yamaguchi: broke things, spilt things, smashed things. he really was trying his best..

aone: intimidated customers too much so they let him go (he was just STANDING THERE.. he deserved better).

sakusa: local venues are filthy, ushijima got the internship spot, no other job interests him enough to persue.

[pipmcmayhem]

Okay Y’know what? I want to make a story time post bc why not. I’m stressed and I want to share my struggles so I’m just gonna go for it.

DISCLAIMER: throughout this post I talk about receiving expensive gifts as a kid. I don’t want it to come off as bragging, and keep in mind there was always a catch resulting in countless traumas. I’m stating this stuff as fact, and I really don’t want to seem entitled but I know that it will come across that way to some. And I’m sorry it does in advance.

Also CW// emotional abuse, gaslighting

SO…

Throughout my life I’ve been gaslit/emotionally abused/scapegoated and just have always had a very fucked up family dynamic. I’m not going to go FULLY into detail on that because there’s just. WAY too much. And this post isn’t supposed to be my full life story; just why the whole deal with my sewing machine is especially freaking me out.

I literally just made a post about my sewing machine and mentioned this in the tags, but I want to share the full story.

In my fucked up life and household, I had one shining light. My Memom. She loved me, supported me, and was always there. If I’m being honest, I was frequently bought nice shit by both my parents and my Memom, but there was a major difference between the two.

My mom would try and buy me anything I wanted, even though she’s always struggled with money in general. We’re both bipolar 1. And she had a bad shopping addiction. A lot of weight fell on her to raise her mentally unstable kids and she would but us stuff to make up for our overall family dysfunction. The problem was that when we got in our heated arguments (you could probably call them fights, but they rarely got physical) she would use the things she bought me as leverage to guilt me into feeling like an ungrateful piece of shit. “After all the expensive things I buy you you have the NERVE to say you have it bad? You spoiled ungrateful bitch!” Etc.

(I’d like to note that she’s bettering herself and working on her recovery now and has made stellar progress, which is why I’m comfortable keeping her in my life. My dad was just distant, example being it was always him and “you people” referring to my mom and brother and I. He’s gotten a bit better too, but definitely has a form of undiagnosed narcissism)

My Memom loved me unconditionally though. She would remove me from that hellhole house to go have sleepovers with her, get me icecream and make nice food (her bean burritos were the best) and was always just… there for me. Always. And as for the expensive things she got me, it was always things that had to do with my creativity. She encouraged me with all of my artistic talents and skills. She’d take me to Jo-Ann fabrics all the time so I could raid the fleece remnants for plushies. I got my first sewing machine when I was 7 (which was a beginner $70 singer my mom got me out of spite towards an art teacher, but that’s another story)

The funny thing about my Memom is if it didn’t have to do with my talents, she wouldn’t even consider buying it. The newest Pokémon game for $40? No way. But, 17” 2007 MacBook Pro (in 2012)? Corel Painter 11? Basically new Wacom Cintiq 24HD from Craigslist? Sure!

That includes my sewing machine. In 2013, she got me the biggest baddest beast of a machine: The Brother VM6200D, otherwise known as the Dreamweaver XE. She financed this bitch for 8k. AND got me TruEmbroidery, which at the time was the only embroidery software for Mac, and was half the price of the machine itself.

…And was still paying it off when she died suddenly in 2015 of an aortic aneurism.

My parents covered the remaining financial payments, which had about 3k left.

So my machine isn’t just a machine to me: it’s a coping mechanism, it was a gift from my Memom, and it’s one of the very few nice gifts that I got just because someone loved me without having it used as leverage for guilt tripping. I love this machine. I cherish it. But he’s also 8 years old, and the AMAZING mechanic we got it from as well as the one that’s always serviced it has never had any major issues with repairs. I’ve always gotten it back in 3 days or less. So for him to have to take it back a 3rd time to try and repair the same issue, and have it in his possession for 16 days now, is definitely freaking me out. I’ve been told that it can be fixed, which it damn well should be able to be considering he’s a Brother and he’s only 8, but damn. Paranoia has not been easy on me, and having no access to arguably my greatest coping mechanism is even worse.

I know he can be fixed but holy shit… I’m just… upset. I’ll reblog with an update when I get him back. But for now, have a bit of context on my beloved Dreamweaver.

And also, here’s a picture of my Memom. I miss her every single day.

[marvels-writings]

Coffeeshop Surprises

Requested by Anon: Hey it’s the anon who asked if you would do hela x reader, sorry for not being specific lol 😅 um maybe an au where hela is good and she’s visiting earth for the first time with Loki and Thor. But most humans steer clear of her bc she’s got that scary aura and yk the goddess of death, but she bumps into the reader and the reader is super sweet about it and flustered while apologizing, which causes hela to be intrigued by her. (Totally fine if you won’t write btw)

A/N: I’m currently jumping around requests by order of inspiration and ideas, sorry, oh and tell me if you want this to turn into a series ;)

Word Count: 1, 671

“Does this look alright?” Hela asked, turning around to face her brothers, she usually couldn’t care less about others opinions on her, she spread her arms away from herself to show the outfit better.

She had chosen an emerald green halter top with the shoulders cut out, the color complimenting her green eyes, black jeans, a simple black leather jacket with silver and green zippers, and black boots with some silver adornings. She’d paired the outfit with simple silver and emerald earrings, her hair loose and resting in soft, black waves on her shoulders, her makeup consisted of a basic smokey eye look and a nude color lipstick. 

Thor nodded at her approvingly, his new short hair was gelled, he wore a light blue t-shirt, a loose light brown jacket, and navy blue jeans with casual sneakers. Loki looked Hela up and down, frowning slightly, he wore an all-black outfit with some gold lines. 

“A bit intimidating don’t you think?” Loki asked, examining the leather jacket from the other side of the dressing room on Asgard.

“You should be the one to talk.” Thor jokes, disguising Mjolnir as an umbrella and standing by the door, opening it for them. 

Loki scowled at him but walked out the door and towards the Bifrost, Hela close on his heels. Hela wanted desperately to walk in front as she wasn’t used to following, but she had no idea where she was supposed to be heading towards. 

It had been a few days since Odin’s death, Hela had gone to Asgard instantly, meeting her brothers. After Hela got to know them, Thor suggested to visit Earth, Loki had been a bit hesitant, but after the goddess had claimed she wanted to go, they agreed and began preparing. 

The frost was an amazing sight, Heimdall gave her a nod, a small smirk on his face as he directed it towards Earth. They stepped through, finding themselves on the streets of New York City soon after. Hela looked around, baffled by the amount of people around her. Thor grinned at a few people, taking a few pictures while Loki rolled his eyes, and Hela raised an eyebrow.

“He’s considered a ‘hero.’” Loki whispered, barely resisting the urge to make air quotes, Hela nodded and tried to smile, intimidating most of the people around her. 

Thor led them towards the nearest coffee shop to try to socialize while talking to them about some of Earth’s customs to Hela. The coffeeshop was different than most, it had wooden furniture, vintage paintings adorning the walls. The kitchen was mainly a dark marble and glass, the ceiling was strung with filament bulbs and the walls with string lights. 

He decided to order different drinks for all of them, settling on a smoked butterscotch latte with fireball for himself, a chai latte for Loki and a black coffee for Hela, he sat down at one of the tables, talking to them excitedly about visiting the Avengers. 

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Loki muttered, glancing around to make sure no one recognized him, he saw some of the drinks being picked up by a waitress with hair/color hair and stunning eye/color eyes, he smirked and decided to change the topic. 

“Sister, why don’t you go get our drink?” Loki offered, gesturing to the counter where the drinks were being handed out.

Hela turned to glance at it and nodded, heading over to the drinks, looking for one of their names. She was just about to go back to the table as the drinks weren’t there yet when she ran into you, her eyes widened when the black coffee which had been on your tray was spilled on her halter top. 

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry about that.” You hurriedly apologized, grabbing the counters from the nearest counter and trying to dry off her leather jacket, Hela frowned, but looked down, taking off her jacket in one fluid motion and draping it over her arm.

“It’s alright, it was an accident,” Hela reassured, you smiled nervously up at her, biting your lip when you realized just how gorgeous she was. 

“I’ll get you another drink, just give me a few minutes.” You said hurriedly, putting the tray down on the counter, unaware of the brunette staring at your back curiously.

“I’m honestly really sorry about your shirt,” You continued apologizing as you rushed around the machines to quickly remake the order, Hela leaned one arm against the counter, watching you, you seemed to be the only person who wasn’t intimidated by her.

“I’m y/n, y/n l/n.” You introduced, putting a cup underneath the coffee machine and extending your hand to shake hers.

Hela flinched, she remembered Thor mentioning something about shaking hands as a form of introduction, she reached out her hand and took yours firmly, shaking it and trying to smile at you. She had been nervous in case she scared you off, but you smiled and shook her hand firmly with warm hands.

“I’m Hela,” She had to bite her tongue to prevent telling you about being the goddess of death and Odin’s firstborn.

“Interesting name.” You remarked, sliding your hand out of hers and picking up the coffee mug, quickly writing her name on it with a little apology note on the sleeve and glancing at the clock.

“Yes, my shift is finally over.” You grinned to yourself, handing her the cup of coffee, about to leave when Hela called your name, you turned around to face her.

“Would you like to join us?” She asked, gesturing to the table where Thor and Loki were watching the interaction curiously. 

Hela watched your reaction, unsure if you would agree, she made a mental note to listen more closely to Thor’s rambling about Earth’s customs since she wasn't sure if she had pushed too far.

“I’d love to, I’ll just change.” You gestured to the door behind the counter, Hela nodded and made her way back to her table, a small smile on her face which she quickly tried to hide. 

“Impressive for your first time on Earth, but you still forgot our drinks,” Loki remarked, she turned around and noticed their drinks were still on the counter. 

Thor quickly rushed and took his drink, sliding Loki’s drink towards him and taking a gulp of his. Hela hesitantly took a sip, finding she liked the drink more than Asgardian drinks. 

“Who is she?” Thor asked curiously, leaning his elbows on the table and looking at Hela.

“Y/n, I think she works here, I asked her to join us,” Hela answered, sipping her drink slowly.

“You invited her here?” Loki asked, green eyes wide, Hela nodded as Thor chuckled to himself.

“She won’t recognize you dressed as a witch,” Thor reassured, Loki scowled at him, remarks cut short when you approached their table, a drink and a chocolate muffin in your hand.

You wore a fav/color lace-up top, white jeans and an acid-washed light blue denim jacket held in one hand, you smiled nervously and sat down when Thor pulled the seat out for you. You thanked him and draped your jacket over the back of the chair before sitting down. 

“This is for ruining your shirt.” You said, pushing the muffin towards Hela, she looked down at it and back at you.

“You didn’t need to.” She reassured, sipping her drink, and leaning back in her chair slightly. 

“So, are you new here? I haven’t seen you around.” You asked Loki smirked into his drink, green eyes glinting with mischief. 

“You could say that.” Hela shrugged, shivering slightly when she noticed the spilled coffee was starting to cool down.

“Oh, you could wear my jacket to cover that up if you want,” You offered, taking your jacket off the back of the chair and holding it out for her. 

Helas eyes widened at the offer, she glanced at Thor who gave her an approving nod, she took the jacket and wore it, pulling the front of the jacket closer and looking down at herself. 

“Why does everyone look better in my clothes than I do?” You muttered into your drink, hiding your awestruck expression with your cup of fav/drink.

The denim jacket was the complete opposite color of what Hela was wearing, but she pulled it off perfectly somehow. She smiled at you and continued sipping her drink. Thor started up a conversation with you about coffee and where you worked, you revealed that this was only a part-time job, you worked here only on Wednesdays and Mondays when you could get the most tips.

“I should probably pay you back for that shirt, there are a few shops nearby that have some amazing clothes.” You offered once all of the drinks were done, Thor dumped the mugs into the trash and grinned at you.

“You don’t” Hela began, but Loki cut her off.

“We’d love to, but me and Thor have some business to attend to, but I think Hela would love to.” He grinned mischievously, Thor turned to him with a frown when he realized what happened, his frown turned into a grin and he confirmed the story, heading out with his brother.

“That was unexpected,” You remarked, Hela nodded, glaring at them as they left.

“Agreed,” Hela muttered, turning to look back at you after taking the muffin you had given her and tucking it in the pocket of the leather jacket which she held on her arm.

“There are a few shops nearby if you want to.” You offered, she nodded hesitantly, you grinned at her and led her out of the coffee shop and towards Macy’s.

Even though Hela had just met you, she was intrigued by you, everyone else she had met on Earth had been trying to avoid her as they were intimidated. You on the other hand, weren’t scared at all, instead, you were taking her shopping because you accidentally ruined her shirt. Hela hadn’t smiled this much in a long time.

Tag List: @capcarolsdanver​, @versdan​, @lesbian-girls-wayhaught​, @lovebotlarson​, @dhengkt​, @5aftermidnight​, @hstoria​, @natasha-danvers​, @veryfunnyal​, @xxxtwilightaxelxxx​ , @ophelias-heart​  , @never-didbefore​ , @justarandomhumanhere​, @the-most-unicorn-of-them-all , @thatssocamryn​ , @lesbian-x-blackwidow​ , @wlw-imaginesss​ let me know if you’d like to be in any of my tag lists!

A/N: This is the first time I’ve written for Hela, thoughts? (and hela anon, if you want this turned into a series message me or send something into my inbox)

[stubbychaos]

8 people I would like to know better!

Thank you so much to @ben-is-a-hoe @maybege @datmando for tagging me in this!! I always have so much fun with these 🥺

Favorite colors: I absolutely love yellow (it's actually the color of my car 💀) as well as pastel pink and purple.

Last song I listened to: The Night King by Ramin Djawadi

Favorite musicians: I have so many??😩 I absolutely adore Hozier, James Vincent McMorrow, Labrinth (specifically their stuff from Euphoria!!!), Florence + the Machine, and Zack Hemsey (his music is great omg) I know they're obviously composers, but Hans Zimmer and Ramin Djawadi are absolutely amazing and iconic and the Interstellar and GoT OSTs still wreck me?? AGHHH Someone come talk to me about music bc I have so many different favorite artists and many thoughts💀 I will literally make a playlist for you if you want me to.

Last film I watched: Idk if it counts, but Hamilton? If not, Birds of Prey, which was absolutely fantastic and I want Margot Robbie to wreck me💀

Last TV show I watched: I have 4 episodes left of Avatar the Last Airbender and I am not prepared for the last agni kai 😬 I barely remember watching with my brothers when I was younger, but I know it's gonna wreck me.

Favorite original character: I've been on-and-off working on an unpublished Din x force sensitive!OFC story for the past few months, so I think she's my fave because she's just a sassy bitch towards Din the whole time and he's just like, "I'm in love."💀 I was going to say Saviin'ika, but she's technically not an OC since she is the reader??

Sweet, spicy, or savory: Spicy 😏 I literally put hot sauce on everything.

Sparkling water, tea, or coffee: I work at a coffee/sandwich shop, so like, I literally drink more coffee than I do water 😭 My favorite is a large vanilla iced cold brew with an added shot of espresso and a splash of almond milk bc dairy wrecks my stomach😩

Pets: So I have my orange tabby, Malley (4 years old and also apparently female ginger cats are rare???), as well as my German Shepherd mix, Rocky (12 🥺), and a long-haired black cat Shadow (20, we've literally had her since I was 5 yrs old and she was only supposed to be a foster🥺🥺) here's some pics of them being cute 💖💕 They're all adopted and literally the best and I would die for them:

I'm gonna tag (no pressure!! I'm sure you lovely ppl have been tagged so many times 🥺💕) @oloreaa @tiffdawg @anxiety-riddled-mando @auty-ren @aerynwrites @huliabitch @acynicalcat @queenofheavenandhell

[a-very-fond-farewell]

The forbidden crack! Untamed prompts: 20/?

CLAMP AU [Wei WuXian & Mo XuanYu are twin brothers edition]: “Yiling BABYLON”

[the reverse!TokyoBabylon au nobody asked for]

[ok. hear me out. I know it sounds weird but. hear me out. this is my second prompt based on a CLAMP work and it will sound far fetched but...trust me. the original manga is named “Tokyo Babylon” and it involves twins of a renowned family of magicians/exorcists working to solve mysteries in their town + a forbidden love between one of said twins and a man belonging to a rival family.]

[reasons why I thought of this prompt based on such source:

1). I know. I am aware. It would have made much more sense to have the Twin Jades of Lan be the exorcists of the situation. but Mo XuanYu deserves to go on adventures as well and, also, the twins in CLAMP’s manga are much more easygoing than the Two Jades so. artistic license. sue me.

2). I wanted Lan WangJi to be ruthless and cold blooded against his will.

3). in this prompt of mine I had to twist a couple of things but.............spare me.

4). the aesthetic bro. the drip.

(which is to say I wanted WWX and MXY to wear the fanciest/most atrocious 80’s/90’s style shit possible. it would have made much more sense for WWX to be the one designing the clothes bc he totally would, but I let poor MXY have his fun with this. also they are both adults in the story)

5). yep. that’s basically it.

anyway, enjoy!]

[under the cut babyyy]

*

Fast paced is the existence of what hides festering the darkness and gray areas of the world, especially in a city like Yiling, where spirits of every kind haunts the realm of the living looking for retribution and vengeance. Neon lights flickering aimlessly in the night as mysterious happenings attract the attention of many. Be it a vending machine suddenly dripping blood from every crevice and nook, or a hanged body making its appearance in a public toilet downtown.

Night after night new ghosts slither through the cracks of reality and slip into this world. Like oil stains spreading out in the endless ocean, rotting away in the corners of Yiling, forgotten and free to gather as much resentful energy from every living source as possible day after day. Making it impossible for the residents to sleep peacefully ever again.

Among such chaos a family was allowed to prosper and shine: the Sanren Clan, household of indisputable fame in their approach to grant peace to the dead. Powerful exorcists as they are, they developed a new kind of purification ritual over centuries of serving the emperor, to the point nobody can rival them in the matters of the underworld. Head of the clan is Wei WuXian, twenty-five-year-old grandmaster of demonism with an eye for the occult and a genius mind to aid him in his endeavors. His twin brother XuanYu, although lacking the spiritual energy required to perform full exorcisms alone, was gifted with a talent for memorization and array design that is unrivaled in the entire nation. Despite being born from a lesser known branch of the Sanren Clan, their incommensurable assets were deemed worthy of attention by the elders and they were allowed to participate in night expeditions since they were children.

But the life of a master of the dead is rarely prone to peace and Wei WuXian fears the day his spiritual energy will give up on him and let him be devoured by the souls under his care. Techniques like “Empathy”, for instance, require him to be briefly possessed by ghosts in order to understand how to help them cross the bridge between the two realms; while demonic possession drains his body as well as his memories in exchange to grant a spirit an outburst through his very body. His twin brother worries for him and tries his best to allow them to live normal lives, insisting they live separately from the rest of the Clan to enjoy their youth.

After all, the Wen Family protects them from harm and Wen Qing herself has suggested for other members of the Clan to take over Wei WuXian’s workload whenever possible, so not to overwork him to death. Hence, ever since Elder BaoShan granted XuanYu’s request, the twins, along with their bodyguard Wen Ning and personal physician Wen Qing, have tried to live relatively normal lives as any other young adult their age. Spending their days playing board games and going shopping, visiting new art galleries and practicing sports.

The bond between Wei WuXian and his brother is so deep the eldest knows he is transparent to XuanYu and that no lie will be strong enough to convince him that everything is fine. So he lets his younger brother do as he pleases, helping him around the small clothing design studio where XuanYu works at even if they are rich and technically don’t lack money at all. He also accepts to live in a minuscule apartment with him and their two friends just to indulge his “need to live like normal college students for once”, even if none of them are enrolled in university. Wei WuXian enjoys the little things his brother is determined to give him and tries to relax by day... knowing too well he has to work by night and channel resentful energy for corpses and spirits to peacefully pass the threshold of the otherworld.

The fact that they also made a new friend in the last year is also one of the reasons XuanYu seems so keen on letting his older brother live outside of the Sanren estate. A quiet man in his thirties named Lan WangJi who works as a veterinarian nearby their apartment. XuanYu has noticed for a while how kindly the man treats Wei WuXian, how fondly he answers to the other’s teasing and jokes, how invested he looks in the younger man’s wellbeing. It would be cruel to separate them.

Certainly, the fact that the Lan Clan is known for harvesting assassins since the beginning of time would be a hindrance to their friendship, and the elders would definitely order the twins to go back home. But, since Lan WangJi doesn’t seem interested in following such bloodied path, XuanYu indulges his brother and plays along with every joke and trick, insisting how little the veterinarian fits in the Lan Clan at every opportunity.

Lan WangJi and Wei WuXian already met in the past, during a mission at night when the latter was barely eighteen and a spirit had just ceased possessing his body, leading him to the culprit of their murder. Lan WangJi had just returned from yet another purge, his fingers still holding the guqin string he had used to cut the throats of his Clan’s enemies. Tired and bored of that life, Lan WangJi found Wei WuXian’s presence refreshing for the small time they spent together on Yiling Bridge that particular night. Even if the boy looks out of it after being possessed, carefree and kind, gentle. Impressed with the younger’s ability to empathize with evil creatures, Lan WangJi made a bet with the boy: that they would meet again in the future and that if, after spending one year together, he were to fall for Wei WuXian, he would stop being a killer and leave the Lan Clan for good.

The only thing Wei WuXian remembers of that night was that he revealed his real name to a stranger on a bridge at night, and that now someone in that town lives knowing him as Wei Ying, not Wei WuXian grandmaster of demonism. So he’s always looking for that person, hoping to meet them again, unaware of the truth, believing to have developed feelings for someone whose existence resembles more a dream than anything else.

Now, one year has passed since the day Lan WangJi has entered the twins’ lives and things have changed. Demons and spirits have become more aggressive over the last few months, whispering to Wei WuXian to get them the revenge they deserve, corrupting his mind with persuasive words and violent acts, making his blood boil and his memories fade night after night. After one particularly long mission XuanYu takes his older brother to Lan WangJi in a fit of panic, asking him to help. Blood is gushing out of Wei WuXian’s eyes, ears, mouth and nostrils; the situation escalated almost to the point of no return, now that even Wen Qing is unconscious and has been taken to safety at the Sanren estate by Wen Ning himself. The demon asked for a price too high, shaking Wei WuXian from the inside out to the point he inadvertently pushed Wen Qing out the way and made her hit her head.

But the sight of human blood awakens something in Lan WangJi, something he had tried to forget about and suppress for months the moment he had met Wei WuXian for the second time in his life, one year ago. Something falls in place and as he watches Wei WuXian regain consciousness he breaks one of his arms and tries to kill him.

XuanYu defends his brother with all his might, throwing talismans to the older man’s face until one of them catches him off guard and blinds him in his right eye.

Lan WangJi is forced to escape, but not before XuanYu is able to cast a spell on him. For as long as he will live, XuanYu will always know where Lan WangJi hides and no amount of spiritual energy will erase the trace.

Dragging his sobbing brother back to the estate, XuanYu reveals what happened to Elder BaoShan, feeling guilty for having trusted a Lan despite the warnings. Elder BaoShan tries to heal Wei WuXian’s injuries and make the early signs of qi deviation regress at the best of her abilities, but in doing so she sacrifices her spiritual energy to the point of losing her sight. Wei WuXian, traumatized by Lan WangJi’s betrayal, has a flashback of that mission from seven years ago and realizes the person he was looking for is the man who introduced himself as Lan Zhan.

Heartbroken, Wei WuXian falls in a coma and XuanYu lets the resentful energy overtake him to the point he decides to go look for Lan WangJi and seek revenge himself. He dies in the attempt and the bond with his twin brother breaks, the backlash so strong Wei Ying wakes up and immediately knows his baby brother is no more.

Assuming the worst, he takes his time healing before deciding to look for Lan Zhan himself and kill him for erasing XuanYu’s existence from the face of the earth.

*

[spoiler, MXY was killed by the Lan Elders to keep their location a secret and they used LWJ’s unconscious body as bait to lure him out while he was consumed with resentful energy. in this case LWJ is innocent.]

[dimpled-gukkie]

Euphoria

moodboard by @euphoriajjkook

Pairing: Surfer!Park Jimin x Coffee shop worker!Reader (feat. sarcastic commentary from Jeon Jungkook)

Genre: fluff, college au and coffee shop au

Warnings: none 

word count: 5k

Summary: You work at the local coffee shop in an empty seaside town. Jimin is a local surfer that has an affinity for buying coffee even though he doesn’t really like it. In a series of shameless flirting, does he get the girl?

A/n: Happy birthday @i-am-today-we-will-survive!!!! Thank you for being my ghost bestie and someone who I could always go to if I needed advice. I’ve talked more to you about my feelings than anyone else and I couldn’t ask for a better first online friend. Anyways, I love you and I hope you have a great day! P.s. I had this planned before you told me about the Tae fic and when you did I laughed really hard bc we really are the same 

The early morning breeze curls around you, tangling itself in your hair as you walk to the small cafe to start your opening shift. The sound of crashing waves fills the air and you sigh, getting lost amongst the beauty of a seaside town. Although many find places like this only suitable for the summer, you love it. You welcome the quiet mornings of the fall, when the snowbirds are gone and you can get lost amongst your thoughts without worrying about running into someone. Unlocking the shop, the bell tinkles above you softly, something you’re grateful for since it is only five o’clock in the morning. Turning on the lights you get started on the day, grounding the coffee beans and setting up the machines. You expect to be alone for a few hours since most of your town just consists of college students now and no one wants to wake up this early but you’re surprised by that familiar chime. Turning around, you’re faced to with a sandy haired boy, both literally and figuratively, beaming at you as water drips from the ends of his hair onto the polished floor. A wet suit clings to his frame and you almost choke on your spit at his defined abdominal muscles and taut arms. Quickly avoiding his gaze you hurry towards the register, keeping your gaze facing towards the keys rather than the boy to hide your frazzled nature. “What can I get you?” You ask, still refusing to meet his gaze. 

“What would you suggest?” He replies flirty, leaning against the counter to press his chin into his palm. You glance up at the movement and a chesire cat-like grin stretches across his face as he takes in your flustered state. 

“Uh…Caramel Macchiato?” His laugh sounds like literal angels and you can’t help but want to hate him for being so perfect. 

“For someone who works in a coffee shop, you sure do seem unsure about coffee.” His eyes twinkle, glittering as brightly as the silver rings on his fingers. Chubby fingers that seem like they’d be so nice and warm to hold that you almost want to reach out and- what are you saying? You’ve just met this boy, you don’t even know his name, and yet you’re already thinking about holding his hand? 

“What can I say? I’m only intelligible after two coffees.” The boy’s grin grows even wider, teeth pearly white like ocean foam, and his eyes turn into sweet crescents. You can’t help but smile back when faced with such an ethereal sight. 

“I’ll take three caramel macchiatos to-go then.” 

“Name?” 

“Jimin.” Fitting. A cute name for a cute boy. The conversation cuts there, although Jimin does hum while you make the drinks. Normally you’d be rushing to make them, clumsily clanking dishes together in an effort to get the customer out of the shop to kill the suffocating silence but with Jimin you feel fine, relaxed even. Maybe it’s because of his warm honey hair and eyes. When the drinks are made, you bring them over to the counter where Jimin twirls a stick meant for stirring your drink between his fingers. 

“Here you go.” You smile, gently pushing them towards him. Your smile falls however when Jimin places his hands over yours and pushes two cups back towards you, only taking one for himself. “Did I do something wrong? Do you not want them?” You ask, crease between your brows defined from your confusion. 

“Nope.” He smiles, taking a sip of his drink before groaning. “Damn that’s good. See you around…Y/n.” Your hands remained wrapped around the drink and only after he’s out of the shop, waving at you through the window when he stops to pick up his surfboard leaning against it, do you bother taking them away. A napkin flutters gently against the counter, one you didn’t even realize he stuck onto your hand. Picking it up, you can’t help but laugh and look away, all while grinning bashfully. ‘Hold onto this until you finish the drinks. Wanna make sure you remember me once you’re intelligible. -Jimin”. It’s complete with a wink and a heart placed delicately in the corner.  

You hurry out of the shop after your shift is over, running off to your first class of the day. When you get to the lecture hall, Jungkook pats the seat next to him and you slide into it, taking a deep breath to relax your rapid heart. “You look like you just ran a marathon.” Jungkook remarks, reaching down to hand you his water bottle from under the table. 

“That’s because it feels like I did.” You tell him, guzzling down half his water causing him to whine. 

“Y/n, don’t drink it all.” You roll your eyes and pull your lips away from the bottle, offering to buy him a new one after class. 

“How about boba instead? Don’t you have a thirty minute break between classes?” Jungkook’s doe eyes become increasingly wider as he gives you his best puppy dog eyes. 

“I see. When it’s your money I can’t even drink half your water but when it’s mine you want a $5 drink.” You tease, already kissing goodbye the last few dollars you have to your name. At least you get your paycheck at the end of the week to replenish your dry bank account.

“Is that a yes?” Jungkook perks up, disregarding your sarcasm. When you nod he cheers, a bunny smile dimpling his cheeks while he claps his hands excitedly. You can’t help the fond smile taking over your face as you watch the him do a happy dance in his seat. Jungkook is like your excitable little brother. The type where you just want to pinch his cheeks and protect him from everything bad in the world. 

“Thanks Y/n!” He chirps, before falling silent when your professor enters the room. As he drones on about the Psychosexual stages you can’t help your mind drifting on to the new patron from this morning. The one with the iron-clad thighs and bright smile. 

You don’t expect to see the object of your daydreams at the boba shop when you enter but yet here he is. He’s not in a wet suit anymore, instead in a pair of what you assume to be board shorts and an oversized white shirt. It amazes you how despite the lackluster outfit you still can’t help but stare completely enraptured with his beauty.  Jungkook nudges you to break your attention from Jimin and you lick your lips nervously at being caught. “Wipe your chin. You’re drooling.” He snickers and you hastily wipe at your chin only to discover nothing is there. 

“You brat.” You growl loud enough to gain Jimin’s attention. 

“Oh hey!” He smiles, cheeks doubting in size as the corners of his mouth push them up. 

“Hi.” You wave shyly, looking behind him at Jungkook’s smug smile. It’s moments like this where he watches your suffering that you wonder just why you’re best friends in the first place. 

“I was hoping to see you tomorrow but this is much better.” Despite his blatant flirting and confidence seeming to exude from his very being, a small blush rises at his words. Your heart stumbles a bit, endeared by his newfound bashfulness. You two stare at each other, you unsure what to say and Jimin smiling softly at you before Jungkook interrupts. 

“I hate to break this umm.. moment but I’m thirsty and she needs to get to class.” 

“Oh right sorry.” Jimin apologizes, immediately stepping aside to let you reach the counter. You glance back again at Jimin to find him still staring, smilingly shyly at you when you make eye contact again. “I guess I should go. See you tomorrow Y/n?” His gaze is somewhat hopefully and your heart starts racing at the implication. 

“Yeah sure. See you then Jimin.” His smile brightens as his name passes your lips and you’re sure in that moment you gave him the key to his heart. One he gladly took as he slowly walks over to grab his drink, winking at you one last time before finally leaving the shop. 

“I think I’m going to die of dehydration by the time I finally get my drink.” Jungkook whines, looking longingly at the poster of the latest special.

“You could’ve ordered yourself you know?” You roll your eyes at his dramatics, checking the time on your phone. You have ten minutes to get to your next class, surely that’s enough time? Except Jungkook orders the most complex thing on the menu which you’re sure is a punishment for “nearly making him die of thirst”, so you end up sprinting across campus, your drink remaining untouched until you’re panting in your seat, cursing Jungkook’s name with each sip you take. 

Jimin surprises you by actually showing up the next day, once again in his wetsuit. His hair curls as the ocean water clings to it, a few tendrils plastered to his forehead that he tries to brush away with his hand. Tickles of sea water run down his face, curving around his jaw to trickle down his neck and down the planes of his chest. You lick your lips and swallow rather loudly, embarrassed because you know Jimin saw you and also because you’ve never wished to be a drop of water until this moment. “I missed you.” Jimin says, leaning against the counter and placing his chin into his palm. 

“That so?” You ask, struggling to hide the smirk on your face. Jimin’s confidence is infectious and you feel yourself becoming more emboldened by his affection by the second. 

“Did you miss me?” He asks coyly, lips curling into a smirk as he expects the answer to be a yes. Too bad for him you’re stubborn and refuse to give him the satisfaction. 

“Nope.” You pop the p for extra emphasis, busying yourself with one of the machines to not have to look at his growing pout. 

“Pouting won’t get you anywhere, you know?” You tease, turning back towards him to pinch his jutted bottom lip between your fingers. 

“Not even when you’re this cute?” He places his hands under his chin and flutters his lashes at you, eyes puppy dog wide and full of innocence. 

“Afraid not.” You pat his head sympathetically. 

“Hmm… you’re a pretty good liar but I can see it in your eyes.” Sinking down onto your elbows you make direct eye contact. Jimin’s face os mere inches from your and it takes everything in you not to turn away. Tension begins to cloud the air around you but you’re too stubborn to break it. 

“And what just do my eyes say?” You cock your head slightly to the side. 

“That you find me attractive. Angelic even.” He winks, grin spreading so far across his face that his cheeks become bread-like and oh-so-pinchable. You stand up then at his words, too flustered at the fact that you’re caught to pretend that you don’t think Jimin is the most attractive man you’ve ever seen. You’re many things, but a liar isn’t one. Let alone a good one. 

“Maybe I do.” You mutter and he freezes like you just took his breath away, the same he does to you every time he enters the cafe. His cheeks dust a light rose color, similar to the one making its way across your own face since you weren’t expecting him to hear you, and you fiddle with the stack of to-go cups to divert your attention away from the beaming boy. “Anyways,” You say, clearing your throat. “what can I get you?” 

“Two caramel macchiatos.” You’re grateful that Jimin doesn’t bother to tease you about your slight confession but can’t help deflating a little because you were hoping he’d say three. That he’d buy you coffee just so he could leave you a greasy note on a napkin that leaves you a happy mess for the rest of the day. Maybe this was his subtle way of rejecting you?

“Oh, okay.” Grabbing the two cups, you turn to head to make the drinks but Jimin’s voice stops you. 

“Aren’t you gonna write my name on it?” He whines and you roll your eyes. 

“Alright.” 

“Honey bunches or babe?” Jimin asks and your head snaps up in confusion. 

“I’m sorry, what?” 

“Which, which would you prefer? If someone were to uhh…call you that? Hypothetically of course.” He turns shy under your gaze, fiddling with his fingers and chewing his lower lip between his teeth. His new shy demeanor is endearing, although you may have to charge him for physical therapy with this whiplash he’s giving you. It’s hard to keep up with the changes in demeanor. 

“Honey bunches. It’s cute.” 

“Write that then. On both, please.” You nod, scribbling the name onto both cups, silence falling between you two as you make the drinks. Jimin doesn’t bother humming this time, opting to instead inspect everything he can see. Which means he accidentally screws up the entire set-up for the creamer area with his fiddling but you’ll let it slide this time. 

“Here you go.” You say, faking a smile like you didn’t spend the entire time you made the drinks wondering just who this one cup was for. Just who was he calling honey bunches? Was he just being nice yesterday? He seemed too flirty to just be friendly but maybe you read them wrong. 

“Thanks. Well, have a nice day…honey bunches.” He says hurriedly, smiling shyly at you before running out of the shop. You stare at the spot he was just in like he’s still there, too stunned to comprehend what just happened. It takes you a few seconds to process everything, and you’re left standing there staring at two cups in your hand while grinning like an idiot. 

Jimin has stopped by your cafe every morning for the past week, buying you two coffees despite your protests and each day your affection for him grows. Not only is he striking, but he’s also funny and kind. He helps you set up in the morning now, setting aside at least an hour each morning just to spend time with you. You’ve never been much of a morning person but with Jimin by your side you’re starting to grow fond of them. “So what’s your plan for today?” You ask Jimin, writing down the new week’s specials on the chalk board. 

Jimin sits next to you, doodling little images onto the board to make it look prettier. His tongue peeks out slightly between his plush lips, brows furrowed in concentration and you almost regret speaking and breaking him out of his trance. Seeing him so engrossed in his work is mesmerizing. “Probably going to head back out for a little while before going to class.” 

“Class?” You ask, completely dumbfounded. To be honest you thought Jimin was a bit of a beach bum, the only time you’ve ever seen him being after his morning surf and that one time in the boba shop. Plus on your small campus you surely would’ve seen him around. 

“Yeah. I’m studying pediatrics at the local university. Why do you seem surprised?” 

Your cheeks burn in shame, not wanting to tell Jimin why you were taken aback. “Didn’t realize you went here.” You mumble and Jimin nods. 

“You thought I just lived at the beach didn’t you?” He asks bluntly and your eyes blow wide at his words. Are you that easy to read? Gaze cast down to avoid his own, you nod your head slightly and Jimin laughs. 

“That’s alright, I know I give off that vibe. I like to surf in the morning for exercise. Gotta stay fit to be a doctor.” He smiles, patting your knee in assurance that he isn’t mad. Your body relaxes under his touch and even though his hand is gone within seconds you can still feel the weight of it on your skin. It’s comforting and you wish you had the courage to tell him to do it again and keep it there next time. But you don’t, so you just end up daydreaming about his hand on you while finishing the menu, eyes occasionally flicking to him every once in a while. 

When the sign is done and placed outside by the open door, you do one final sweep of the shop checking the clock for the time. It’s 6:50 which means the morning rush of college students should just begin trickling in. “Do you want anything to drink? For you this time.” You ask him and he nods, ordering a blended mocha. You immediately get to work, startling when you feel a presence behind you. Turning your head slightly you relax when you realize it’s just Jimin behind you and continue making his drink. He places his chin on your shoulder suddenly causing you to almost drop the entire container of milk.

“Woah! Careful there bunches.” His hands are placed over your own, his front pressed into your back since he rushed into you to catch the milk jug. You’re sure your whole face is on fire, Jimin’s warmth and scent encompassing you. He smiles at you when you turn your head to look at him, like he isn’t the culprit of your pounding heart and clammy hands. “You okay?” He asks softly, eyes roaming your body for any injury even though the assaulting item is in his hands, having not even really touched you. 

“Yeah.” Your voice is nearly a whisper, your mind still lost in the haze caused by Jimin’s body wrapped around your own. Swallowing thickly, you turn back to Jimin’s drink to try and get a grip on your thoughts. Jimin says nothing the whole time and you have to glance behind you just to make sure he’s still there. His hands are presses against the counter that he leans his back onto, eyes never leaving your frame as you rush around. Only when you finish, placing the drink in his hands does he bother to say anything. 

“Have you ever thought of surfing?” He asks, popping the straw in his mouth to busy himself while waiting for your answer. It almost seems like he’s nervous. 

“Yeah…” You mumble fiddling with your fingers. 

“But what?” Jimin pushes himself off the counter to stand upright and moves closer to you, making you look up to face him. 

“I’m scared of sharks.” You whine, covering your face with your hands and Jimin can’t help but chuckle. 

“Bunches, you’re so cute.” He coos, gently pulling your hands away from your face. “Hey it’s okay. I’ll protect you alright? I mean, have you seen these muscles?” Jimin flexes his bicep and pats his stomach like you don’t know he has abs under his wetsuit. The same wetsuit that nearly gives you a heart attack every time he comes in from the way it clings to his frame. The fondness in his gaze captures your attention rather than his body because you’ve never seen him look at you like that. It’s almost like you hold all the stars and you stay silent, wanting this moment to last forever. “Is that a yes?” He asks, hope swirling in his irises. 

“Yes.” His grin is as blinding as the sun outside and he hugs you in his excitement. You tense for a second before relaxing into him, wrapping your arms around his lower torso to pull him closer to you. He smells like ocean water and coconut, likely from the sunscreen he uses, and so distinctly Jimin that you can’t stop yourself from burying your nose into his chest. You miss the way he grins down at you and tightens his grip on your body, completely enraptured. 

“Can you two just confess your love to each other so I don’t have to sit through your endless pining anymore?” Jungkook whines, pushing his sunglasses up his nose. You’re too busy watching Jimin teach the little kids how to surf to hear him. Several baby surfboards lay pressed into the sand as Jimin demonstrates how to properly paddle and jump up on the board. The children giggle as he must make some sort of joke and your heart warms at the sight of him laughing along with him. Your mind wanders to what Jimin would be like as a father and just when you’re getting to the good part Jungkook dumps half his water bottle on you. 

“Kook!” You scream, lurching up from your towel to scramble away from him. Your outburst gains the attention of some of the other visitors and you blush, especially when you hear Jimin call your name. 

“Just thought you needed to cool down.” He winks, nodding his head to Jimin who is now heading your way.

“I hate you.” You growl, flipping him off behind your back as you meet Jimin halfway. This feels almost like an episode of baywatch as shirtless Jimin jogs to you across the sand. muscles rippling under the sun, his hair gracefully flowing in the slight sea breeze. Except you have Jungkook cackling as your soundtrack. “Hi.” You say, becoming breathless when Jimin is only a few feet away. His bronze skin looks tantalizing, like he’s some sort of greek god and you wonder if maybe he is. 

“Hi.” Jimin sounds just as breathless, but you assume it must be the exertion of running in the sand. “What are you doing here bunches?” He asks curiously, cocking his head to the side. 

“Kook and I wanted to get some sun. Plus I thought I might take you up on that surf lesson.” You fiddle with the strands of your hair as you say it, the fear of rejection much too real. What if Jimin didn’t mean it? What if you read the signs wrong and he only likes you as a friend?

“Oh! Yeah okay. The lesson with the little ones is over in a half hour so I’ll just meet you afterwards.” You nod and Jimin smiles back at you. Eyes flicking to Jungkook who you’re sure is filming this whole thing to show you just how embarrassing it was later. “Is he gonna stay around the whole time?” 

“Maybe. Actually probably not. The separation anxiety between him and his video games is strong.” You laugh and Jimin seems to relax a little. 

“Good. I was hoping we’d be alone.” He smiles innocently, yet you can’t help but lick your lips in anticipation. His eyes dart down at the movement holding on your lips so that you bite on them anxiously. If you didn’t know any better you’d think he let out a small groan at the action. “I’ll see you in a bit okay? I-I have to get back to the littles.” Your heart grows two sizes as he jogs back to them and they tackle him into the sand in a hug. 

You might throw up. Looking out into the crashing waves, a surfboard tucked under your arm, you can’t help but wonder what lurks beneath the waves. You know realistically you’re probably fine, that Jimin has surfed his whole life and hasn’t seen one but you can’t help the ominous feeling bubbling in your stomach. A warm hand is placed onto the small of your back and you jump, startled from your own thoughts. “I’ll be right here the whole time okay?” Jimin assures you, eyes boring into yours to show his seriousness. The hand on your back moves to grasp your own lightly, fingers intertwining as Jimin leads you to the water. You glance back hesitantly to where Jungkook sits and he throws you a thumbs up. Taking a deep breath you face back forward and tighten your grip on Jimin’s hand, letting him drag you into the depths. 

The water is slightly cold, similar temperature to your iced tea back at the shore that only has a few ice cubes in it since the rest have melted. It wraps around your hips, the waves lapping against you as the sea foam licks your skin. Jimin lets go of your hand and you whine, reaching out for him for comfort. “It’s alright bunches. We just gotta get on the board now. I’m still right here.” Jimin holds onto you board as you clamber on, knuckles nearly white from how tight you grip the edges. The water feels like it’s trying to buck you off as you move along with the wave and you realize this was a mistake. Just what did you get yourself into all for Jimin’s sweet smile and cute laugh? “Relax bunches.” Jimin says, leaning down onto the board you’re sprawled across to press his face right next to yours. His hand moves up to caress your cheek, pushing stray strands of hair of your face before roaming over your shoulder and down the slope of your back where it rubs small circles. You close your eyes at his ministrations, focusing on his touch rather than the movement of the waves. “You good?” Jimin asks after the rigidity in your body melts away. 

“Yeah. I’m ready.” Jimin grins back at you and you’re jealous by how relaxed he is. You guess it’s because this is his element, the same as you in the cafe. He backs up off the board and drags you out further into the ocean where the baby waves are. 

“I’m going to count to three and when I get to three start paddling okay? Stand up when you can feel the wave under you like we practiced out on the sand.” 

“I feel like this is a good time to mention I suck at skateboarding.” Jimin giggles, throwing himself into you, arms wrapping around your shoulders and face digging into your neck through his fit. You don’t know what to do so you just lay there on the board, blaming the blush on the sun and not the fact that he’s curled around you, and pat his arm hooked around your front. 

“Okay no more fun and games.” Jimin pulls away, suddenly serious. It’s go time baby.” Turning your board around so you’re facing the shore, Jimin holds onto the board as he watches the waves trying to pick out the perfect one. You wait for a minute, nerves buzzing in anticipation, before you hear him begin to count. You paddle as hard as you can and when you feel the wave begin to crest you scramble to your feet, well one foot since your other knee is on the board, but you don’t care because you’re surfing! Too caught up in the excitement you forget how to stop and tumble off the board into the water, pushing up off the sand to break the surface. 

“I did it! Jiminie did you see?!” You yell as Jimin hurries towards you, eyes slipping behind his grin. When he gets close enough he pulls you into him, strong arms wrapping around your lower back and pushing you into the air. 

“Good job baby!” He coos, eyes alight with pride. “I’m so proud of you. I knew you could do it.” Your face flushes at the new pet name and you smile shyly at him. 

“Baby huh?” Jimin unwraps one hand from around you to scratch the back of his neck, nervously chewing on the bottom of his lip. 

“Well, yeah. If you want to be.” 

“Are you asking me to be your girlfriend Park Jimin? Even though we haven’t been on a date yet?” You can’t help the grin taking over your face, elation pounding through your veins. Park Jimin likes you back. Park Jimin likes you. This beautiful boy who you’re pretty sure is actually an angel wants you. 

“Why do you think those mornings in the cafe were?” Jimin winks, giggling at the bashful look on your face. 

“Oh.” 

“So will you? Be my girlfriend I mean?” Jimin licks his lips and your eyes follow the movement wondering how they’d feel against your own. Well, you guess you better find out. Pressing your lips softly against his own instead of replying, you tighten your grip around Jimin’s neck, pulling his body closer to yours. His hands tangle into your hair as he kisses you harder, prying your lips open with his own, groaning when you tug onto his hair then- 

“Finally!” Jungkook screams causing you to break away startled. Turning around, Jungkook has all your stuff in his hands, dumping it onto the sand ten feet away from the ocean. “I have a feeling you’ll be here for a while and I’m bored so I’m leaving. See you later.” 

Turning back around you bury your face in Jimin’s neck, relishing in the warmth while also hiding from the world because you really just made out on a public beach. “So was that a yes?” Jimin asks and you roll your eyes but smile nonetheless. Pulling away you give his neck a light peck before moving back and kissing his nose. 

“Yes Jimin, that’s a yes.” 

“Wow, who would’ve guessed I’d have the world’s cutest girlfriend?” 

“Who would’ve guessed I’d have the world’s hottest boyfriend?” 

“Eww, that was greasy.” Jimin whines but the way his grip tightens around you and his grin grows you know he liked the praise. You’re about to say something else, something snarky, but a shadow catches your attention. A rather large shadow that’s moving slowly through the water and heading right towards you. Your body goes stiff and your hands shake as you point the shadow out to Jimin. 

“Jiminie is-is that what I think it is?” Your voice trembles and Jimin rolls his eyes until he notices the figure and bolts out of the water, you wrapped up in his arms. “I told you there were sharks!” You scream, wrapping your legs tighter around Jimin’s frame as he makes it to the safety of the sand. 

[sharkmobster]

spider verse coffee shop au??

Anon im sorry i wanted to draw the coffeeshop au but ive been so tired lately so imma just overshare about what goes down bc this au is just (thick tombstone voice) : “everybody’s traumatized bitch lets get you a latte”

 • this au is incredibly villain centric bc uhhhhh all i do is think about villains

 • its also very aaron davis centric bc time to project my anxiety onto a grown ass man babey!!

 • anyway this takes place in a normal world where there’s no superheros or avengers or what have you, everyone’s super average 

• like i said this is more or less aaron centric and focuses on him readjusting to society and making connections with other people, and just healing in general. Aaron’s whole deal is that he was wrongfully arrested for defending himself against an off duty cop who was harassing him and ended up with a 10 year sentence  (but was let off a year earlier for good behaviour). He’s got a lot of guilt bc of this if only for the fact that he feels like he let down his brother and Miles (who was a small lad at the time).

 • Fun Fact! Jefferson was the one that picked up Aaron at the jail when he served out his sentence! The ride back to brooklyn was awkward! but also jefferson loves his brother and even tho they’ve had their falling outs he never once stopped believing that his brother was innocent. Jefferson also made sure to pull some strings and ended up getting an apartment set up for Aaron (even though jefferson and rio were 100% down to open their home to him for as long as it took him to get back onto his feet but of course aaron denied them bc he didnt want to be a burden) Aaron’s grateful but he tends to avoid his own family…a lot….

• it’s ridiculously hard to find a job bc nobody wants to hire an ex convict no matter the circumstances and Aaron’s legitimately about to lose hope when he spots an expensive looking shop nestled in between an old arcade and a knick knack shop

 • ‘Vanessa’s Cafe’ is neatly printed above the door in fancy gold lettering. it’s obvious that the owner has serious cash bc the shop looks too damn good and too well maintained to be a regular mom and pop shop. there’s a help wanted sign hastily scribbled on a piece of notebook paper in the middle of the window which is odd since it off sets the professional vibe of the place. But hey it’s worth a shot so Aaron walks in ready to be denied another job only to find the weirdest looking group of people he’s ever seen.

 • The first guy that catches his attention is the very large albino man who looks way too stressed out and manic to be working in a coffeeshop, but the job must pay well because he’s very well dressed.

 • “Liv, for fuck’s sake! Clean your goddamn station!” he’s whisper shouting? Is that even a thing? oh look at that he’s got a full set of razor sharp teeth. huh. that’s a hell of an aesthetic he’s going for.

 • The lady in question isn’t even giving him the time of day, just enthralled by her phone with a smile that looks too peaceful given what’s happening around her. She’s got wild hair tied up messily in a knitted bandana, weird glasses (custom made??) and when she glances up at aaron, her eyes widen in interest like he’s some anomaly to be cracked open. aaron looks anywhere that isnt the wild eyed lady at the counter.

• Theres another big guy that’s hanging around the back, heavily tattooed and lifting stacks of heavy boxes. Aaron takes notice of his prosthetic hand and the tattoo guy takes notice of Aaron. 

• “Lonnie. Customer.” The Tattoo guy seems nonplussed about Aaron and walks into the back. aaron assumes that he’s offended him by staring at his prosthetic for longer than necessary which yeah….yeah he’s probably not happy about the staring. 

 • lonnie’s got a bad case of resting bitch face so he’s glaring at aaron without actually glaring and he’s just rough around ALL the edges so his tones got that nice bite to it as he shouts from across the counter (which is not something you do to a customer but it’s lonnie…..)  "Hey! Ya looking for a job, skinny jeans?!“

 • Aaron blanches at the idea of working with these people but he is absolutely desperate for a job at this point.

 •"Yeah. I just got out of-”

 •"Great, you’re hired! We’re speed running this whole introduction thing, string bean.“

 •and that’s all i got other than like small details like:

 •Peter B Parker owns a ”“’'cafe”“” across from Vanessa’s and its literally just a burger joint that h a p p e n s to sell coffee and Parker will fight you if you call his place a deli ahdhdj

 •Liv and May are dating (big shock) and peter b has to constantly deal with seeing his competition over at his place all the time and it’s yikes

 • Tombstone and Noir will 100% throw hands on contact. They don’t hate each other tho??? Its weird they just like to fight. gives them a chance to work on their banter i guess. Noir works the coffee machine at Peter’s “'cafe”’ so i guess he’s the “”barista”” of the joint but he drinks the coffee more than the customers do

 • Miles and the rest of the spider kids “”“”“"intern”“”“” at the cafe which basically translates to free labor

 •  spider ham works there but he isnt a pig he’s just john mulaney. i know its weird. nobody actually sees him tho so he’s a complete mystery as to what he looks like so he could be john mulaney you never know. the only person who’s seen him is noir and that’s only bc they’re  a thing???

 •oh speaking of everyone being gay:  everyone’s gay

 • Lonnie and Gargan (tombstone and scorpion) are 100% dating but everyone legitimately thinks that the both of them are straight old men despite the fact that they live together, go to work together, hang out afterwards together, and they’re just always together

 • lonnie’s  daughter (janice)  visits every other week (def the product of a divorce he went through years ago) she’s alright with gargan but she’s very distant towards her dad and def has that teen angst phase that she’s going through

 • (lonnie can and will talk to you for hours about how much he loves and supports his daughter despite the fact that their relationship is very estranged)

 • you can find janice hanging out with the cute blond punk girl at that weird burger/coffee place across the street

 • oh gargan’s big and strong despite the fact that he’s missing three limbs, liv works in robotics on the side and constantly tweaks and repairs his prosthetics when they start acting up which leads to them having this weird friendship where they both borrow each other when they need something and dont really expect anything in return (like gargan’s good for getting her supplies and doing heavy lifting when she needs it and liv’s always down to run check ups on gargan)

 • oh yeah liv used to be a scientist but immediately lost her license and phd when she started going above some board members heads to buy less than legal things through super illegal sources

.• that’s another thing, kingpin tends to just hire ex cons and criminals to work in his cafe just bc he believes that a person willing to work hard to better themselves deserves a chance to re enter society again.

 • like they’ve all done bad things but still ended up with a job at the cafe. aaron fought a cop, liv did some shady deals for an illegal experiment, gargan used to run a drug ring years ago due to personal reasons but once he was free from jail he never dealt with the stuff again, and lonnie killed a dude (allegedly. he never went to jail bc they couldn’t prove anything but hey word spread around quick and everyone knew not to go anywhere near this guy)

 • kingpin is in this au btw he’s just……a very depressed man who’s still grieving over his wife and son dying in a car accident

.• he rarely shows up to run the cafe bc its too much for him being in the place that his wife loved and built up from the ground. he used to be the manager after she died but couldn’t handle it and mostly left lonnie to take care of it

• which holy fuck lonnie is trying his best to keep this cafe alive and well and there’s only two other people working there so like its enough to have him scrambling all over the place trying to find more help (thanks aaron)

 •miles doesn’t know aaron’s working at the cafe across the street and aaron def wants it that way bc even tho he’s out of jail he hasn’t actually……visited miles yet….. it’s the shame that’s keeping aaron from reaching out to him which is….sad bc miles doesn’t care what happened he just wants his uncle back.

 • oh oh one more thing RIPeter used to run the deli across the street but had to leave brooklyn to go volunteer at homeless shelters across the states indefinitely so theres no telling when he’ll be back, so he left the cafe under the guidance of pb parker (peter b parker voice: my cafe now)

 •and uhhh thats all i got, like i said this au is just found family trope + the healing we all want + bad people getting redemption which is all the tropes that i love all compacted together in the most cliche au you can imagine!

[nyndelion]

Wednesday 18/march

i’m officially in quarantine and i figured out i should have a sort of diary where i put the things i do every day or else these 3 months i have ahead will feel like a full block of nothing and thats just depressing.

So i’m gonna make a daily post where i put a list of things i did that day. It’s gonna be under a read more so if u dont really care about it u can just skip it c:

Morning

I woke up to the sound of Nina (my cat) crying for food. I had to take her to the vet to take blood samples and she had to not eat for 8 hours before that.

My mom drove me to the vet with Nina. I could listen to a dog crying nearby but i didnt saw anyone else but the cashier and the professionals that took the samples. they also cut Nina’s nails and back hair. Nina was calm all along.

Then me and Nina waited in the car for my mom while she went to the bank and to buy some things downtown. I put some music.

Afternoon

we went back home and I showered. I helped my mom wash the dishes and put away groceries. Then my dad arrived home.

We ate cazuela and assorted salads. We were listening to 80′s synthpop music and joking with my brothers.

After lunch me and my brothers went upstairs and me and Nano (my little brother) played minecraft. Then my parents told us they would be grocery shopping yet again and that i should go out to buy cat litter bc stores that arent supermarkets will be closed tomorrow. So I did, and also bought cinnamon and yoghurt to make some muffins some day soon

Then i came back home, hung up clothes from the washing machine as my mom told me to before leaving. Went back on the computer but just to scroll tumblr and chat on discord

I messaged Josefa (my friend i have feeling for) and showed her the russian dream experiment illustrations i had told her about yesterday. She wants to make a piece of art about an idea we came up to revolving cosmic horror and vengeance on multibillionaires. I want to write the story and she wants to illustrate it. I am very happy about this

my parents came back home and asked for help to set up a mini office for my dad in the computer room next to my room.

then i decided to continue working on an eene drawing i started las sunday when visiting my abuela kela

searched for some elsa farrus and buzzfeed unsolved videos just to put them on watch later

Night

received Nina’s blood test results on my mail but i dont know what it all mean. I’ll have to go back to the vet tomorrow so they tell me whats up and i give back the cat box they let me borrow.

went downstairs to eat dinner (cazuela leftovers and lentejas soup) while watching ice age

then i prepared tea and went upstairs, decided to practice guitar. Played machine gun by slowdive, take me to church by hozier and learned försvinn du som lyser by finntroll.  I took a video of me playing it and decided to tell the new whatsapp music group from the trans peers group im in to practice songs daily and share videos or audios there so its a way we feel more supported to actually practice. I shared the video i took of me playing the song in the chat and also to Josefa. The all loved it, though only Josefa knows the song. I feel very happy to have decided this.

I played some levels from super mario world on Nano’s nintendo switch because he is stuck. I finished 7 levels but then got stuck as well.

now i’m listening to life is strange soundtrack and still deciding if i want to keep practicing guitar, working on my eene drawing, start writing the cosmic horror short story or watch the videos i set up earlier.  I might scroll tumblr for a while and decide then.

To do (tomorrow / some other day)

watch the new buzzfeed unsolved video

tidy my room

organize my college stuff

organize stuff i have to read (both college related and unrelated)

take a video of me playing a take me to church cover (TOMORROW)

work on my wips

start brainstorming for the cosmic horror short story

work on the song Neka (my friend) and I will play someday (its a song called ‘Kaos’ and i just got to figure out a guitar line over Neka’s vocals)

also practice some bass

[lexi-the-twilight-dragon]

Sup peeps! Been kinda absent for a while, so I'm just gonna go ahead and post a little drabble I wrote on my lunch break the other day

PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE

Of course. The first time since joining Freelancer he's had the time, the nerve, or even the means to call his family, and he gets the goddamn answering machine.

FANDOM: Red vs Blue. Some spoilers for S15 but not S16 bc I haven't watched it yet. RATING: Fluff. WORDS: 971 CHARACTERS: Washington, Tucker, Caboose (mention only), Simmons (mention only), Junior (mention only), OCs

~

The phone receiver is still sitting in his hand. It has been for the last thirty minutes, but he still hasn't dialled.

After the Grif siblings had been reunited after half a decade apart, and Earth was confirmed to still be intact, the other Reds and Blues had gotten the idea of calling their own families. Some calls were heartwarming ("MICHAEL!!" The phone wasn't on speaker, but the woman's voice could be heard loud and clear by all in the room. "Hello Rebecca," said soldier replied, completely undaunted by her volume, "And helloes to Mary, Ruth, Magdalene, Esther, Rachel..."), some were a little awkward ("Dad, your grandson is a goddamn ambassador of peace, AND a kickass basketballer! What's not to love about that?") and some, well... (the cyborg didn't look up from his book, but his jaw hardened. "They don't want to talk to me, and I don't want to talk to them. But thank you for the offer.")

But now the phone sits in his hand, and somehow dialling seems more terrifying than anything he'd faced in the last few years.

Just do it. Get a spine and do it.

He's not sure about the spine part, but he does it anyway.

The dial-tone is nearly torture, as well as listening to his own breath on the line, alone like the breath in his helmet after everyone was gon-

"Hey, you've reached Kitty O'Leary. I'm a little busy right now-"

Of course. The first time since joining Freelancer he's had the time, the nerve, or even the means to call his family, and he gets the goddamn answering machine.

"But leave a message, and I'll get back to you when I can. Bye!"

The machine beeps, and he freezes. He's meant to say something here, but...

"H-Hey, Kitty. I-It's David here. You know, your brother. I know it's been a while since we last spoke... if you can call eight years 'a while'." He can't help but cough slightly, talking becoming a lot harder by the second, and not just from the throat injury.

"Just letting you know: yeah, I am alive, against all odds. Life has been... pretty hectic over the last few years." Well, that was a fucking understatement.

It takes him a second to realize: "Of course, you wouldn't know what I've been up to, since I haven't been called by my name in a while, even after Freelancer fell apart. Chorus? Reds and Blues? D'you get that news? Yeah, I was involved there. With the Reds and Blues. An odd selection of soldiers, but they're not so bad once you get to know them.

"So... this being the answering machine, I'm not going to get any immediate answers, but...how're things? You, Mom, Sharon, Daisy? I mean," he has to pause for a second before he continues, "I haven't seen any of you since high school, so... I dunno, am I an uncle yet? Or some other big family event I've completely missed?"

He pauses again. God this hurts. "Listen, Kitty... I'm sorry. I am so sorry I haven't been there, or called you, or written, or anything for so, so long. It has been a long, long fifteen years and I can't even begin to pretend I'm the same David O'Leary that enlisted at 18." Is he gonna cry? He feels like he's gonna cry. "But I'm here, I'm alive and, fuck, I miss you."

Yup, he's gonna cry. Fuck.

"Anyway, I think that's all I can say for the time being. Say hi to Mom and the others for me, 'kay? Bye Kit, love you."

He hits the button, but his cheeks are already wet.

~

"So how'd it go?"

Tucker, surprisingly, is in the kitchen waiting for him. He'd thought everyone had left for bed already.

He smiles lightly, and hopes it hides the tear marks. "Got the answering machine. Just my luck, huh?

Tucker gives him a sympathetic wince. "Ouch. Who'd you call?"

"My sister. First one I could find a number for."

"She single?"

"Tucker, no."

"At least tell me if she's hot."

"You are not flirting with my sister."

"Oh, c'mon! Why are all the sisters off limits?"

"First of all, she's way out of your league."

"Hey, my league's the sword wielders, if you get me. Bow chicka-"

"Tucker, stop."

~

It takes a mammoth amount of strength and all her sense of tidiness to not drop her bag the second she walks in the door, and at least make it as far as the kitchen counter. God it had been a long day.

Coffee is on in seconds, heels are off in only a few more, and almost as a side thought, the answering machine is deployed.

"YOU HAVE, 3, NEW MESSAGES. FIRST MESSAGE:

"Hi Kitty, it's Miranda. Just letting you know the boss has order a new report to be done by next Thursday. I know. I'll do my best to get my share done ASAP, you just focus on your weekend, hon. See you Monday. Bye." "

She groans loudly. Good god, more paperwork? Her head hurts just thinking about it. Is the coffee ready yet?

"SECOND MESSAGE:

"Hey Kitty Kat! It's Sharon! Just wanting to confirm you're still up for bridal shopping tomorrow. I mean, I am super excited and would love for you to come, but like, I won't drag you out of bed if you really need a sleep in. You know my number, just gimme a ring, yeah? 'Kay, bye." "

She doesn't really have the energy to snort, but as if she'd miss shopping with her bride-to-be sister. She's maid of honor, after all.

Coffee's done, so she gets up from the couch to pour it.

"THIRD MESSAGE:

".........H-Hey, Kitty. I-It's David here. You know, your brother." "

Coffee crashes to the floor.

~

A/N: IM SORRY I CANNOT WRITE INNUENDO BUT BOW CHICKA BOW WOW HAD TO BE IN THERE SOMEWHERE.

Of course 'Kitty' is a cat-guy Wash reference. Obviously.

HEADCANONS:

Wash is confirmed to have "several" sisters, which my brain translates to "three". I contemplated there being twins simply to reference that one line in S4 ("So I hear you got sisters. Bow chicka - who are twins! - bow wow!") but I couldn't make it work for me.

Kitty is the straight-laced eldest, followed by bubbly Sharon, David is only a little younger than Sharon, and Daisy is the wild child youngest. Kitty has a stressful office job she hates, and Sharon is about to get married (and Wash is totally gonna show up and surprise her).

As for O'Leary... a roundabout reference to Shannon McCormick. I don't know if he has any Irish in him, but I myself have McCormicks in my family tree, who were VERY Irish, so I went with the next Irish-y sounding name I thought of.

Because I'm self-indulgent like that.

OH! Almost forgot, Caboose has two biblical names (Michael Jesus) so so do all his sisters.

[dogboyautism]

i wanna add on but it got kinda long so ill put a cut. i spent way too long on this (> an hour) and its a bit messy but i gotta stop addin to it

i do think the game continues without the player, but im not sure to what extent, and im not sure if its specifically stated. sans mentions timelines keep resetting even if you havent reset the game at all. i think this could mean either: 1. sans is aware of all timelines, but cant distinguish between the resets of a single player in all the resets hes aware of, 2. the game does continue without the player, as in frisk and/or the monsters run around the underground without you, but loading a save counts as a reset, or 3. (my personal fav) the game continues past the [neutral/pacifist] endings, but if you load a save/reset after the game has ended, sans knows this and just has to deal with that..

i do agree that sans and gaster may have worked together in some form. gaster is an enigma, we know next to nothing about him or sans for that matter (it honestly reminds me of spamton, but im not sure if i really have a point there). we do know that gaster was the previous royal scientist before alphys, and that he fell into the core which seemingly erased his existence from the minds of everyone in the underground (link for W.D. Gaster's wiki page, where this is mentioned). sans uses weapons called "gaster blasters" (thats its sprite name), and has a workshop (wiki link) where you can find a broken machine, blue prints, and two accessible drawers (+2 inaccessible ones).

its hard to tell what the machine is bc its covered, and the blueprints are also apparently hard to read, being written in symbols (wingdings are symbols rather than letters). it can be made out that the prints are for a machine though, so something has to be legible there. interesting point: alphys is also said to have bad handwriting, and was theoretically a scientist along with gaster. im either thinking it was sans, gasty, and alph that wrote the prints, or it was just sans, and they all got shit handwriting lol.

moving on to the drawers, one just contains a badge, maybe a lab id, but thats it. the other one is far more interesting, the contents change depending on things the player did, im just going to list all of it; a photo album with pictures a happy sans with of people the player doesnt recognize (always shows), a photo of you and all the friends youve made in the underground (after the pacifist ending), and most interestingly, a photo of '3 poorly drawn, smiling people with the words "dont forget" write in lowercase' (only found in a later update, after the player talks to clam girl and learns of a character names suzy). who the people are is up for debate, we got no descriptors, but we do know two things. 'dont forget' is deltarune's ending theme, and sans always talks in lowercase.

so i do think the two worked together, and i also think you got a point with the splash zone thing. sans and papyrus dont really have a background, the snowdin shop keep mentions they just kinda showed up to snowdin one day, no explanation:

this might be a stretch, but it could be bc no one remembers that about them. i personally like to think gaster was apart of the skeletons' family somehow, and gaster falling into the core fucked his family up as well. comic sans, papyrus, and wingdings are all fonts used by the three characters, there was a cut song named grandpa semi (mentioned on gaster's wiki, also the brothers are apart of the serif font family), and toby tweeted early concept art for pap (link goes to tweet) thats mentions he "has a brother named comic sans" "and a ___ named ___" in redacted text. i do also wanna point out, 'times new roman' (nother font) also appears on the paper; it may have been just what came mind before papyrus (there is a note to the side, in all caps, like how pap speaks referring to the name as a parental figure) but its not redacted like whoever the other note mentions is, its just crossed out, but still readable. there is also a redacted character sprite in a test room that only says "redacted" in wingdings when spoken to (also mentioned on gasty's wiki)..

it may also prove interesting to bring up; there are two entry number 17s for the true labs section, both are inaccesable in game. one appears to belong to alphys, where she states how monsters cannot handle determination like humans can, and that monsters with too much of it results in the amalgams. the second is entirely in uppercase wingdings, and it reads as follows:

i like thinking that^ refers to deltarune, connection made in the beginning. sans always wants to go back to something, and my original thought was back to the world of deltarune or even the dark world. hell, there may end up being truth in that, well have to wait and see, but for now i just say he wants to go back before the core incident, back where all those friends of his were. he wants to go back to where he was happy.

gaster however, seems to want to go forward. hes described as brilliant (by his followers), he created the core, hes persisted even thought he fell into the core and was "shattered across time and space" (again, said by a gaster follower), and now whats he up to? he talks about darkness growing, which is the main plot of deltarune..

that also brings up a similar question weve had before, who are the two people gaster is asking opinions of? does that mean gaster was in sans' picture, meaning it might refer to sans and alphys? or could it be the player and vessel of deltarune?

it seems like were just gonna have to wait and find out, unless the skeletons are end up a big joke about internet theories and all that, haha god i hope not

Broke: kris hates the player character, is depressed and feels like a puppet on a string

Woke: kris and the player are both 2 halves of a single brain cell and they opened a dark fountain just to keep the player coming back

WAIT WAIT WAIT WHILE THIS IS FUNNY I ACTUALLY HAVE BIG THOUGHTS ABT THAT LAST PART

I DO THINK THAT KRIS OPENED UP THE FOUNTAIN NOT TO CAUSE THE ROARING, BUT TO MAKE SURE THE PLAYER COMES BACK

ok so basically I think the player is keeping Kris alive, which is why Kris puts the soul back in after taking it out and why they move like that. But like... if there's no problem to solve, no game to play... then the player does not open the game, and does not control Kris. SO. kris has to keep making problems to make sure the world is interesting enough for the player so that the player keeps them alive until they can finally get rid of the player.

either that OR kris is possibly aware of when the game shuts down. i think this might b because i remember sans saying something in undertale about how he FEELS it when the game resets. he remembers. but then again he also said that like... when you weren't playing the game it continued...? which is why resetting and opening a new game after completing pacifist to do genocide is the worst thing you could do. if someone could provide evidence tho id appreciate it bc all my memories from undertale are years old.