#anyway he seems like such a great guy. i mean. he is. but to hangout w him?? he'd just listen to u and offer laughs tips cause he got

[louebel]

man i love jinbe

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

Eddie and Chrissy realized they both had a crush on Steve Harrington at some point. Maybe one day they're hanging upside down with their heads hanging off the edge of his bed when they're talking about Steve, and they make the realization. Eddie fell off the bed in shock while Chrissy giggled at the sight of his ass in the air. They discussed it at great length, and they both came to the decision to flirt with him to see where he's at, to see if he's willing to date both of them.

"We need a plan!" Eddie declared and scrambled to get a notebook out of his closet.

"Eddie, baby, why do you have a floor plan of Family Video?" Chrissy asked in amusement.

"That's not important right now. Anyway, I was thinking that if you distract Robin, I can lead Steve into the backroom, and then when I give the signal, you follow us. Hm, but wait, we still have to have someone to continue to distract Robin. Ooh, bring your cousin!" Eddie exclaimed, his eyes wide.

"I think maybe Robin's going to regret telling us about her crush on Vickie," Chrissy said.

"Ugh, they need to get together already," Eddie said, shaking his head . "So, what do you think?"

"I don't see how anything can go wrong with this foolproof plan of yours," Chrissy said.

"Great! Neither do I!" Eddie exclaimed.

A few days later. . .

"I still don't understand why you guys want me to tag along on your date," Vickie said as they walked into Family Video.

"It's not a date. It's a hangout," Chrissy replied.

"Look, Vickie! Robin!" Eddie grinned and gave her a gentle nudge. "That's a lovely shade of blue that she's wearing, isn't? Really brings out her eyes!"

"Eddie!" Chrissy exclaimed.

"No, he's right," Vickie sighed. "I'm going to talk to her. You guys do whatever you really need to do."

Steve was working behind the counter when they approached. Eddie and Chrissy walked behind the counter.

"Hey, guys, you aren't supposed to be back here," Steve frowned. "Not that it's not great to see you guys."

Eddie grinned before placing an arm around his shoulder and started dragging him towards the back. Chrissy quickly followed them into the break room. Steve opened his mouth to say something when Eddie pulled him onto the couch.

"Shh, just let this happen," Eddie said.

"Eddie, I think you're freaking him out," Chrissy said, giggling, as she sat on Steve’s other side. "It's okay, Steve."

She started to gently caress his arm.

"Not freaked out," Steve said, blushing. "Just curious about what's going on."

"Oh, we just wanted to talk," Eddie said.

"Catch up, see how you're doing," Chrissy said as her fingers trailed down his arm and down to his hand.

"A little birdie told me that you struck out again and that you're thinking about giving up on dating," Eddie said.

"It would be a shame for a great guy like you who deserves it to give up on finding love," Chrissy said as she played with his hands. "You have nice hands, Steve. Nice and big."

"He's got big feet too," Eddie said, grinning. "You know what means?"

"Wait. . .are you guys flirting with me?" Steve asked.

"Is that okay?" Chrissy asked as she placed his hand on her knee.

"Uh, yeah, just give me a minute and let me figure out how to flirt with two people at the same time," Steve said, swallowing thickly.

"You could start off by telling us what you like about us," Eddie said.

"Well, I like how good you are with the kids, both of you, and I like the way you play guitar. You, uh, seem really good with your hands," Steve said.

"Oh, he's definitely good with his hands," Chrissy said as she placed a kiss against Steve’s neck. "His tongue too."

"And Chrissy, I like the way you move. It's like magic. . . The way you dance like no one's watching," Steve said softly. "I like you both. I like being between you, but I don't want to get in between you, you know?"

"What are you saying, big boy?" Eddie asked as he rubbed gentle circles into his chest.

"I think I want to be with both of you," Steve said, looking down at his hands.

Chrissy cupped his chin and forced him to look at her.

"We want to be with you too, Steve," Chrissy said softly.

"Yeah?" Steve asked, giving her a crooked smile.

"Yeah."

Chrissy leaned in and kissed him, smiling against his lips. Steve froze for a moment before responding to the kiss, kissing her back eagerly. She was soft and sweet, but she was also a lip biter, not that he was complaining. Steve was pulled from the kiss by Eddie, who grabbed a fistful of his hair and tilted his head back. Eddie pressed a hard kiss to his mouth, and Steve groaned as Eddie's fingers curled deeper into his hair. Chrissy's kiss had started off sweet and ended up a little rough while Eddie was the opposite. Eddie broke the kiss, his other hand pressed gently against his throat. Steve couldn't think, not at all. Shit. Where was he? He was doing something today, something important. Oh, well. He stopped thinking as soon as Eddie and Chrissy moved their lips to his throat while they used their hands to caress the inside of his thighs. Shit, were they trying to make him hard at work? Oh, work.

"Shit!" Steve cursed as he jumped up off the couch. "Did you leave Robin alone out there with Vickie?"

"Yeah," Chrissy giggled.

"So, basically, no one is running the store?" Steve asked.

"Hey, Stevie?" Eddie asked.

"Yeah?"

Steve turned to him. His hair was sticking up, his lips were swollen, and his neck was all marked up red.

"You look beautiful," Eddie said with a sigh.

Steve grinned and kissed him before doing the the same with Chrissy. They giggled and followed him out of the back room. Robin was leaning against the counter, chatting up Vickie. She looked over at her best friend. With a raised eyebrow, she looked him up and down.

"You look like a whore," Robin said affectionately.

[shawnxstyles]

fireball

DATE: NOVEMBER 24, 2022

summary: the cops get called at a party you didn’t want to go to, but luckily, tom takes you to somewhere safe and sound where no one can hear you.

request: YES!!

warnings: SMUT (m- receiving [oral, deepthroating], f- receiving [hickies, hairpulling, gagging/choking, slight degrading kink], praise kink, bit of dacryphilia, and dirty talking), slight manipulation (of her innocence), alcohol, and soo much dialogue i’m sorry (not)

words: 3.7k

note: OMG YES i love this so much!! i made this into a dark tom fic?? tell me what you guys think! i kind of like dark tom... if this makes you uncomfortable, do not read.

dark/frat!tom x innocent!reader

—

You were not a fan of parties. Cliche, right? You didn’t care.

You loved group hangouts and drinking with people you trust. At parties, you don’t even know most of the people there, let alone trust them with your drunken state. Your friend, Eden, begged you to go, and you couldn’t really say no this time because you said no the last five times.

School has been riding your ass lately with pop quizzes and piles of homework. You wondered why you even decided to go to college sometimes. But a secure, steady job that you like is a decent enough reason to stay.

“I will give you a hundred dollars if you wear this,” Eden delicately takes out a strapless, purple dress that was just above the knees.

“Show me the hundred.”

“Damn it, you know I don’t have it!” She groans and hangs the dress back in the closet with not-so-much delicacy. You would’ve worn it, too, but you also wanted a hundred bucks.

“Here, I’ll wear this,” You pull up an image on your phone of an outfit you already had prepared to wear. You’re almost certain she’ll approve, but you’re going to show her anyway.

“Y/N, that’s hot as fuck! If you already had an outfit, why did you make me search for something?!” She scrunches her face in confusion.

“I thought maybe you’d find something better?”

“Oh, bull!” Eden waves you off as she closes her closet door. “I’m getting some tonight if you know what I mean, so I’m going to get ready. Did you bring your outfit? Oh, of course you did. Go get ready, you bitch.”

You laugh loudly as you walk out her bedroom door. You just love your best friend. Even when she makes you go to stupid frat parties.

—

From the outside, you probably wouldn’t even know it was a party. As long as you were five miles down the street.

The house boomed with techno-like music, and strobe lights shined throughout the large window panes. The second you walk through the door, your face contorts at the rancid mix of alcohol, weed, and sweat. No matter how many parties you’ve gone to (four), you’ll never get used to that mixture. It’s just nasty.

Eden instantly leads you two over to the kitchen where different alcohols are scattered over the counter. You see Fireball and go straight over to the bottle. Not many people like it, but that’s one of the few alcoholic drinks that’s so good, you’ll drink it at a party. You grab the bottle and grab a solo cup. As your hand touches the tower of them, a hand rests above yours. You follow the hand up the stranger’s arm and to their face.

Tom.

Tom is the “leader” of the frat, or whatever it’s called. Captain? You didn’t care for it because people put him on a pedestal for a stupid reason. What was so great about him that people praised so much? Yeah, he was attractive, but he seemed… you couldn’t put your finger on it.

“If it isn't little miss Y/N. I didn’t think you were coming tonight. What made you come?” Tom taunts as he grabs two solo cups. His eyes crinkle with a small smile. A ripped baseball cap fits perfectly backwards on his head, so that his brunette hair pokes out from the sides. “Me?”

“I just felt like going out,” You answer dryly, snatching the cup from his hands and unscrewing the bottle cap. You fight a smile just looking at his smile. It was addictingly gorgeous.

Maybe that’s what he’s so praised for.

“Fireball? You look too good to be drinking Fireball, love,” The small nickname made your heart skip a beat. His words were a bit seductive with a hint of tease. You barely caught his eyes scanning over your body with how quick he did it. You were wearing a silky black v-neck with a black leather skirt. A cheap, gold necklace dangles above your breasts, while some small hoop earrings match. You would be lying if you said you didn’t feel good with your appearance, especially because you don’t go out too often anymore.

“But I want it. You worry about what you want and I’ll worry about what I want,” You nodded surely as you began to fill the cup about a fourth of the way. You wanted to drink a bit throughout the night without getting drunk. You take two sips, already feeling warmer.

“And I want you,” He says so low, you almost didn’t hear him. His words shocked you, sending electricity down your whole body. The music was so noisy and the people shouted the lyrics too loud. But he wanted you to hear him. He wanted only you to hear him.

All your movements stop and the hard bass of the speakers becomes your heartbeat. A wave of heat rushes over your skin as the tiny hairs from your body rise.

“You’re just saying that,” You deny, reaching over the liquors to grab a bottle of soda as a chaser.

“I know you want me, too–”

“How?” You question, cutting him off. He takes a step closer to you with a smirk arising on your face. Your innocence was becoming more visible to him, but you didn’t know that.

Can he really tell if you wanted him? Is that possible?

“I can see the gloss over your eyes, and I can feel the heat radiating from you. Your stomach is probably flipping so much you can’t even breathe. You’re trying to resist me, aren’t you, honey?” Tom takes a strand of hair from the front of your face and tucks it seductively behind your ear. Smoothly, his thumb runs along your jawline and gently pulls down your bottom lip. Immediate butterflies explode in your stomach from seduction overload. “Look at me. Am I wrong?”

You lift your head up slowly, eyes wide with curiosity and apparently lust. A fake, innocent expression coats his face as he slightly tilts his head. You shake your head just as slowly as before, knowing he was right. Based on what he said, you did want him. You’ve never really wanted someone the way you want him right now.

Before you could say anything else, three pounding knocks echo throughout the whole house. The music is cut and nearly everyone becomes silent and still.

“Police! Open up!” A muffled yell comes from the other side of the door. Some people scream and others mumble profanities while running all over the place. Your eyes widen in fear because you’ve never been to a party where the cops were called.

“C’mon follow me!” Tom shouts over the screams and running people. His hand laces through your fingers with a tight grip. Even though you’re scared, those butterflies flutter in your stomach again. Your thick heels weren’t very tall, so it was easy enough to move without slipping.

Tom weaves you both through the crowds strategically, going the opposite way of the wave of people. He leads you down a hallway and to a bedroom, which panics you because you don’t want to hide–you want to run away. However, when you get into the bedroom, you’re relieved to see a sliding glass door that leads into the backyard. Tom stops for a moment and snatches something off of the long dresser alongside the wall. Then you both rush through the door quickly, closing it before Tom drags you away again.

He opens the wooden fence door, pulling you through before shutting it and bringing you around the corner. Now, you were technically in the front yard, but the side of the frat house covers you. He holds you steady against the fence, your heart racing with many reasons but anticipation feels the strongest. This close you could smell his cologne and it’s delightful; something woodsy yet sensual. You spot a black car behind his shoulder and pray that’s where he’s taking you.

“Do you see that car? We’re going there. But the front door is right over there. That’s where the cops are. I’ve done this before, but I’m sure you haven’t. Once the cops break down the door and go inside, we’re running to the car. Okay?” Tom tries to explain as slowly and relaxed as possible because he’s scared for you. He doesn’t want you to be afraid and he wants you to trust him. All you do is nod. He grabs your hand again, but with less intensity, and more delicacy. He brings it up to his lips and kisses your knuckles softly. “Still with me?”

Heat rushes to your cheeks and you fight the urge to a huge smile, but you somehow nod in response. You look away nervously, as your fear begins to die down. He sees this and smirks, glad he is able to distract you from the cops. To Tom, this scene is not that big of a deal because he usually runs away by himself. But you were standing there, so innocent, so susceptible, that he could never leave you alone.

The signal of the door breaking down alerts both of your ears and you look up at Tom again in urgency. He tightly grips your hand again, hopefully not hurting you, and drags you as quickly as possible to the black car across the street. Yanking the keys from his pocket, he clicks the unlock button and swiftly opens the door for you.

“Oh, what a gentleman,” You giggle, but shut the door urgently. He jogs around to the driver’s side and immediately starts the engine.

“Only for you, love,” He winks as he drives away into the night. You don’t even ask where he’s taking you, automatically trusting him.

—

Your mind was racing. You couldn’t stop thinking about Tom and what he told you. You wanted him, and you wanted him bad. You… needed him. But how do you bring it up again? Can you just tell him?

You’ll try that.

“Tom?” Your soft voice fills the no longer silent air. His thumb rubs gentle circles over your thigh, giving you that flipping feeling in your stomach again. You instinctively close your legs, trapping his hand. Your heat pounds with need, but you mistaken it for pain. He opens them again and continues to rub the soft skin of your thigh nonchalantly.

“Yes, doll?” His voice is deep and knowing, but you’re oblivious. A shy smirk peeks on his lips.

“I have that feeling again.”

“What feeling? Describe it to me,” Tom’s fingers inch slowly closer to your privates, making you inhale and slightly hold your breath. You try to remember exactly how he described it, so you could put it into words.

“I have that flipping stomach feeling, and I feel kind of hot. But it’s more intense… and it hurts,” You mumble under your breath out of embarrassment.

God, how are you even talking to him right now?

“What hurts, honey?” Tom questions innocently, keeping his eyes steadily on the road.

“My…privates,” You look down shamefully, while closing your legs again. Tom hums and you can hear his smirk.

“Do you…want me to get rid of that feeling?” He asks as if he’s just as oblivious as you. Your eyes sparkle and turn to look at him hopefully.

“Yes! Please, please, please!” You plead as Tom pulls into a driveway. You don’t even question it, even though you know he lives at the frat house. But you don’t pay any mind to that because the pain between your legs is becoming even stronger now.

“Alright, alright, I got you,” He laughs, turning off the engine. It’s pitch black outside apart from a single streetlight in the distance. The houses beside Tom’s were asleep, you assumed. It was probably pretty late, but you had lost your phone somewhere along the way, most likely when running.

—

Tom leads you through an empty house and into a bedroom. It’s dark throughout the whole place, only spots of moonlight peek through the curtains.

“Is this yours?” You had to ask, hands waving around in the air. You didn’t think Tom would bring you to some random home that wasn’t his. You didn’t want to trespass.

“Technically, yes. It’s mine as well as my parents’ second home,” You purse your lips at the new information. You had always assumed he had come from money.

The bedroom left you entranced in the way it was mysterious. Tom’s dark silhouette caused you to ache more than before. He turned around, staring at your helpless, desperate expression.

“I will help you, but,” Tom starts as you take a seat on the edge of the soft, white bed.

“I’ll do anything, please,” You beg pathetically, crossing your legs to decrease the consistent throbbing.

“Anything? Well, let me finish,” He takes a step toward you, making you look up into his eyes. He towers over you, showing full dominance. Your chest raises up and down with the tension. “You have to be a good girl.”

“I am,” You furrow your eyebrows in confusion as you peer up at him with a pouty face.

“You will be once you listen to me,” He pets the top of her head while you nod in agreement, still slightly confused. “Now, get on your knees.”

You don’t hesitate to obey Tom because you’re really desperate. The carpet is rough and scratchy, but you don’t say anything. He takes your hands and delicately places them on his belt buckle

“Take my belt off,” You nod again as you slowly begin to do so. “Now, my jeans.”

You want to complain so badly because of how slow this is going. But you want to be a good girl for Tom, so you keep your mouth closed and listen. You’re eye to eye with his boxers and without waiting for him to speak, you lower them down. Tom hums in satisfaction and runs a smooth hand through your hair. You inhale at the small touch, impatient.

“You’re so…big,” You note, eyes doe-y and wide. Tom stiffly laughs once with his mouth closed.

“Is that an issue? I thought you were a good girl?” He asks condescendingly, fingers brushing your jawline. The contrast of his rough fingertips ignite flames along your velvety skin. Your eyebrows pinch together in determination because you will be a good girl. Even if he is scarily big.

“Now what?” You gaze up at Tom through your eyelashes, innocence cascaded across your face along with a sense of challenge.

His cock sits big and stiff right in front of you, pre-cum leaking from the rosy tip. Out of instinct, you take your thumb to wipe it away, but more leaks out. You keep rubbing back and forth, trying to get the liquid to go away. Tom sighs from above you, gripping your hair tightly in a fist to halt you. You gasp and look at him again.

“Put your mouth on me, doll. But no teeth. Do you understand?” His intense hold on your hair lets you know he’s serious, so you nod again. “Words.”

“Yes, I understand,” You speak, before licking your lips and opening your mouth. The bit of liquid coats your tongue as you put his cock inside of your mouth. You get a little more than halfway before it’s touching the back of your throat. You instantly gag, wanting to spit. However, your tongue starts exploring, running along the sides and rubbing under it, which distracts you.

Tom groans, making you proud for some reason. Without a warning, Tom starts moving in and out.

“Breathe through your nose– fuck,” Tom’s voice is gravelly and rough when he moans deeply. His grip on your hair controls your head movements, so you’re forced to have his cock in your mouth the whole time. You grasp his thick thighs for support and dig your nails into his skin aggressively. You can feel his muscles tightening with immense strength. You moan on him, sending a warm feeling throughout Tom’s body.

“You like my muscles, baby? Yeah?” You hum against his cock because yes, you like his muscles. You never really cared for them on anyone else. However, you’ve always thought they were so attractive on him. When you’d see him waltzing around campus with his tight workout shirts, you always took a double-take. “Tell me how much you like them.”

His cock slips out from your mouth, coated in salvia. You gasp large breaths throughout your mouth, so you can answer him.

“I’ve always liked your arms. But I’ve always wanted to touch your stomach…” You shyly admit, looking down breathlessly. You stare back up at him with small courage. “I love when you wear your workout shirts around school because I can see how strong you are.”

Tom’s ego flies through the roof and his heart pounds heavily in his chest. The fact that you’ve noticed him around campus makes his stomach flip. He simply hums as his thumb on your jaw guides toward your bottom lip, pulling it down to open your mouth. You obey, widening as he slowly slots his cock back into your mouth like it was made to be there.

You take a deep breath as he begins moving in and out. His pace speeds up and your face gets all tingly. The carpet burns your knees, eventually numbing them.

Saliva spills on your chin and down to your chest. You can’t help but gag every time his tip tickles the back of your mouth. With every thrust, you swear he gets lower down your throat. Your jaw begins to burn and your throat begins to ache. Tears form at the brim of your eyes before they slowly fall on your cheeks.

“Choke on it, just like that. You like this, don’t you?” Tom asks while more tears stream from your face. Although you’re crying, you love it because it makes you a good girl. Pleasing Tom makes you get butterflies.

The throbbing between your legs gets more intense with every thrust and gag. You helplessly close your legs like you had in the car. Tom notices.

“Of course you do, you’re filthy. Just like me,” Tom degrades, whispering the last past, so you couldn’t hear him. Tom’s cock fits perfectly snug in your mouth; coated by your warmth. The tickles and subtle rubs of your tongue make him throw his head back in awe. Your private throbs again, pleading to be helped.

“Do you like when I talk dirty? Do you?” You muffle a moan on his cock, sending vibrations through him. He groans loudly. Your head feels light and your vision seems fuzzy. You assumed if you did this too long, you would pass out. His chiseled stomach peeks beneath his button up, tense as his orgasm nears. 

But of course, you’re oblivious to the fact that he is going to come soon.

“You want to be a good girl, right?” You look at him as best as you can while attempting to nod. You gag again, nearly spitting him out. He continues to ram into your mouth as you drool everywhere. “Then take it.”

More tears spill onto your cheeks. You learn it’s hard to breathe solely out of your nose, and moving your head backwards only slims the opening of your throat.

His pace is rough and quick, making you see stars. His stomach tenses again as he groans a variety of profanities above you.

“Fuck!” Tom yells as he yanks himself out of your mouth. Suddenly, come spurts out from his cock, coating your chin and chest beautifully. Specks of white splattered on your shirt, looking like the stars in the night sky.

Tom strokes himself until he’s breathing steady, mind still blown from you. Somehow, teaching you how to deepthroat rather than you being skilled at it turned him on more than ever. He tugs up his boxers and jeans, not caring about the mess of saliva on him.

“Stay right here, baby.”

You stay kneeled, drenched in his white liquid. Tom exits the room and comes back with a towel and a blanket. He slowly wipes the liquid away with the towel until you’re all clean. A throb still pounds between your legs and you wonder if you’ve been good enough for him to fix it.

“Tom?” Your throat is sore, so your voice comes out squeaky and breaking. Tom’s eyes follow you as you gracefully stand from the kneeling position, knees burning. “Was I a good girl?”

Tom, nearly getting hard again, smiles at your innocence and caresses your cheek lovingly.

“The best,” He says, and your eyes light up in praise. “You’re my good girl.”

A toothy smile widens on your lips before Tom delicately kisses you. The room was so dark and eerie, but the kiss felt like a rainbow and a thousand butterflies. His skillful lips kiss you mesmerizingly, while his fingers brush over your warm cheeks.

The kiss was soft and tender, completely opposite from his previous actions. A heartbeat continued to pulse between your legs the more and more he touched you. With some self-control, you slowly pushed him off of you. You just couldn’t take it anymore.

“Tom,” You whisper groggily. “It still hurts.”

He smiles devilishly, licking his bottom lip.

“Good girls ask nicely,” He raises his eyebrows as he tucks a strand of hair behind your ears.

“Please, please help me, Tom. I need you,” You beg breathily, feeling floaty. Tom smirks, satisfied with your plea. He guides your body toward the bed, laying you down delicately. You melt into the mattress’s comforter as Tom crawls over you.

“Anything for my good girl,” Tom hums as he hovers above your relentless body, trembling slightly with anticipation. His hum follows through the trails of kisses and love bites he discards along your neck. You moan out with each touch of his hands and lips.

“Now what,” You whimper out, wondering what he’s going to do next. You mentally pray he’s going to mend the pain.

“Now, baby, it’s all about you.”

—

thank you for the request ;) i hope you liked it!

[lisaas2418]

Yuu: Now here we have club demonstration.

Deuce: Here in Track and Field, we run fast like lightning. Take a look at Jack, he is fast rather he is in UM or himself. We even won awards for the best.

Jack: Um...this is our award.

Ace: Deuce's club sounds buddy and disgusting or whatever. The basketball is cool as we throw a hoops and get the higher score and- *He was hit by a basketball by Floyd*

Floyd: Cool shot, Crabby!

Jamil: Sometimes I wonder why there's no sane clubmates.

Yuu: You're one to talk.

Epel: We may not win against our rival school but we are lucky to have Leona in our Spelldrive club. A best club leader we ever have.

Yuu: Didn't Leona and dorm cheated in the dorm spelldrive competition?

Ruggie: You know how OP the Draconia dorm is? There faults not ours.

Yuu: Still not right.

Leona: Just move on the next.

Kalim: Light Music Club is fun club where we practice and play wonderful music.

Cater: We work well in our performance, you should see us in our shows.

Yuu: Yeah but you all mostly just hangout and eat snacks.

Lilia: It is still a fun club.

Trey: Well people would see me in cooking club but I am fascinating with science especially learning about plants.

Rook: Yep, Science club is marvelous. I mean learning about different kinds of animals and plants made me intrigue more.

Scar: I rather been eaten than be in the same room as that guy.

Azul: In our board games club, it may seen just a past time but I like the idea of advancing our skills and improve the development. Like chess and monopoly.

Idia: Just don't be in same game as him, he is a sore winner.

Riddle: The Equesterian club is where we train ourselves to ride a horse and take on rides.

Sebek: As a aide to Lord Malleus, I must do my best to ride a horse.

Silver: And its not just riding, we must care for the horses like a friend.

Sebek: You see all animals as friends!

Vil: Well it is cliche but a celebrity like me takes on film club not just for entertainment but the experience taking on different roles.

Ortho: I'm able to learn emotions and take on roles. We should film a movie here.

Yuu: That's a great idea. Maybe a show called, House of Mouse.

Jade: Well the Mountain club is like camping and collecting wild items like mushrooms. But sadly I am only member.

Malleus: Shame as well, Gargoyles club is where I can give out facts about gargoyles but no seem to want to sign up.

Maleficent: How dare there! Those gargoyles what gives fear and protection.

(LMAO I love how Yuu's comments fit so well)

Anyway

Yuu: Well I think for one some people are just not interested in Gargoyles, for two they may truly are a bot afraid of them and third....yeah some if not most are intimdeted by Tsunutaro

Maleficent: I...suppose that would make sense

Mickey: In which club are you Yuu?

Grim: Ahem! 😠

Mickey: And you too Grim 😅

Yuu: We kinda switch everyday, since we can't really decide or we just don't show up. Doesnt exactly matter anyway. No offence to your clubs ofcourse

All: None taken

[writingbirdy]

You and me against the world sal fisher x f!reader

[Sorry for not uploading been sick and now exams have started😅. Also, this is set in modern-day ] (f/n)= female name

It had been a few months since you and the gang all went to college...

Sadly you didn't stay together. Sal and Larry went to a local college, Todd went to a college in another city and Ash went to an art college. Here you were stuck working as you couldn't afford to go into debt and weren't able to get a scholarship.

It was a slow day at the gas station not many people bought anything except for gas... but hey at least after these next two paychecks you can finally do online classes and still have money left over! But even that didn't distract you from not having your friends around with all of them in college you started to wonder if they had forgotten about you... You had seen from Ashley's Instagram that they had all recently gotten together for a hangout. I broke your heart when you realised you weren't invited but not surprised. You had always struggled to be a part of the group, they were your friends but you were not as close as they all were with each other. Just as you went to check your phone the doors beeped indicating that someone was there. "Great just when I thought I could take my break..." you thought putting on your happy service employee smile. "Hello, how may I help you today?" You said in a cheerful tone. "I'd just like to pay for gas. Thanks" the man said as he held up his card ready to pay. "Of course what pump were you at?" "Pump 2" After that you pulled up the cost and he paid. "Hey, have we met before you seem familiar?" He said looking at you.

It was true you looked different from high school.

[This is the look minus the head piece]

Your hair was longer and your style had changed and truth be told the man standing in front of you was non other that Sal fisher. You were a bit upset he didn't recognise you considering you had a huge crush on him back in highschool but hey I guess you weren't truly important to him. "We probably went to high school together but I had changed since then...." you gave a small smile as he walks out the doors. After your shit had ended you noticed that Ash had tagged you in something on Instagram. Opening the app it was photos of you guys back in highschool with the caption "together in every lifetime <3". You didn't bother responding as you knew it was another empty post with no meaning. You unlocked your apartment door and went to your room and proceeded to sleep the rest of the night.

3rd person pov

Waking up to your ringtone was not something [f/n] was happy about. She answered the phone to be greeted with the sound of todd? That was new todd never rang her or even texted her after graduation.

[F/n]: "um hi todd?"

Todd: "Hello [f/n] Ashley has lost her phone so she asked me to call you" he said in a semi monotone voice

Ash: "hey todd did she pick up?"

Ash: "Oh! [f/n] I'm so glad you picked up!"

[F/n]: "it's not like I had a chose"

Ash: "well anyway how about me and you go out shopping in two hours!"

All [f/n] could think of is why now was she asking her to hang out? Also it's still the second semester of college there's not way she has time to shop before class and to make it worse [f/n] had work in half an hour.

[F/n]: sorry Ashley but I have work soon...

She didn't wait for a response and hung up the phone and deleted Todd's number.

2nd person pov

While at work sal came back into the gas station. "Excuse me but do you have any chips that aren't plain?" He asks walking up to the counter. "No sorry we've ran out" you replied ringing his items up. "Ah okay... just one last question?" "Sure..." you were already bored and your shift doesn't finish for another 4 hours.

"Is your name [f/n]?" Sal asked.

"Was it Ashley's post that helped you figure that out?" You said blankly staring at sal.

"Yeah! It's been a while since we spoke would you like to get coffee and catch up?" He stuttered out.

"Why does it sound like you're asking me out on a date?" You questioned praying it was not the answer you would never recover from......

[Hehehe cliffhanger 😈. But seriously it's almost midnight and I just want a chapter out so this can be a two parter]

[toujokaname]

Mischief / Episode 5

Characters: Kohaku, HiMERU, Niki   

"The people who love cooking and aim to be great chefs... They often break down when they face that reality."

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[ Read on my site for a better viewing experience using Ois~su ♪ ]

Season: Spring

Location: Café Cinnamon

One week later. At Crazy:B's hangout spot, the coffee shop Cinnamon.

Kohaku: I just can't wrap my head around it...

HiMERU: What exactly are you talking about?

Niki: Nahaha, Kohaku-chan, you're making that ugly face again~♪

HiMERU: Please don't scowl like that. You're much cuter when you smile, Oukawa ♪

Kohaku: Oh, shuddup. I was born with this face, leave me be.

More importantly... I'm talkin' 'bout that show of ours—the one with the name so embarrassin' I can hardly bring myself to say it...

HiMERU: Are you referring to "Kohaku & HiMERU's Daily Joyful Cohabitation Life"?

Kohaku: Yeah, that one. How can ya say that with a straight face, HiMERU-han?

HiMERU: Once you get used to it, it's really nothing at all.

However, since the official name is unnecessarily long, it seems fans have taken to abbreviating it as "K&H JoyLife."

It appears management is also jumping on the bandwagon and using that name in hashtags

Kohaku: Where'd they even get that shortenin' from? I kinda get it, but also... don't?

HiMERU: Well, what's the issue with "JoyLife"...?

As HiMERU predicted, the show has gained notable popularity with the public.

Niki: Right. It's been updated daily for a week now, so... one, two, three... Umm, it's already on episode seven, I think? Probably?

HiMERU: ...How about taking a bit more interest in idol work, Shiina?

Niki: I'm not interested in idol work is the thing! I do like you guys, though, so I've been tuning into JoyLife pretty often.

It's easy to watch, no stress, so I just let it run in the background while I'm stuck doing tedious chores.

HiMERU: Tedious chores? Like cooking?

Niki: Huh? But it makes no sense to say cooking is tedious?

HiMERU: —Anyway. This program has gained wide acceptance, including those who casually watch videos in that manner, and its view count is skyrocketing.

It reaches beyond those indifferent to HiMERU and Oukawa, or even PBB; it's attracting those who normally care little for Crazy:B or idols altogether.

Niki: Yeah. Crazy:B's style was supposed to be pretty edgy, y'know?

It surprised me to see regular parents and kids at the store chatting about JoyLife.

Rinne-kun's been pouting, saying "They beat me to it!" He's so upset, he's been holed up in his room.

HiMERU: Heh. If only everything had been left to HiMERU from the start, instead of Amagi.

In the end, HiMERU is the best at handling Crazy:B.

Kohaku: Hmm... Well, hate to say it, but I might be with Rinne-han on this one. I really don't see what's so appealin' 'bout JoyLife.

Could it be that we're the ones who are outta touch or somethin'...?

Is there really no need for creativity or actual entertainment in a show?

If a show with us just lazin' around is this popular, then we don't have to think or do anythin' special at all, now do we...?

That's no different from the rare creatures kept at zoos or aquariums.

HiMERU: Yes. Which means that is precisely the ideal standard idols should aspire to.

There's no need for us to think at all. All we have to do is act either beautifully or cutely; in other words, just being charming is enough.

Kohaku: That's just like bein' a doll on display. I still can't accept that.

You've been actin' strange this whole time, HiMERU-han, but now even what you're sayin' has gotten weird. Are you seriously fine with acceptin' this?

HiMERU: Once again, we don't even need to accept it. To embody exactly what everyone desires, without a single millimeter of error—

Isn't that what it means to be an idol?

Kohaku: Hmm... Well, seein' how well JoyLife's doin', I can't exactly argue.

But still, it just... don't sit right with me.

Niki: I kinda get what you're saying, HiMERU-kun.

HiMERU: Shiina? You understand HiMERU?

Niki: Ah! You think I'm too dumb to understand complicated stuff, don't you! Well, that's exactly right!

But, it's kinda the same as cooking.

HiMERU: Hm...?

Niki: Chefs always wanna put their own spin on things, get fancy, but that's not really necessary. Fundamentally, you just need to stick to the recipe.

I'm satisfied with just making and eating the food, so I was pretty fine with it, but...

The other apprentices at the restaurant I trained at, they often couldn't handle the burnout and ended up quitting.

They'd say stuff like "We're not just machines in a factory, repeating the same task over and over!"

HiMERU: ......

Niki: Especially in a restaurant, you have to make the same dish over and over and over again. Like a machine.

The people who love cooking and aim to be great chefs... They often break down when they face that reality.

Being a chef and being an idol are different jobs, but in that way? They're kinda the same, right? Maybe?

[ ☆ ]

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[vinnywinnii]

Assistant PT.2 (Viktor x M!reader)

Hello, this is part two. I'll try writing in more fluff and some intimate scenes at some point, but I'm sticking more to fluff in this moment. Maybe some sexual tension at some point, but I haven't yet decided. Anyway, enjoy part two!<3

After you had finished your work (so a couple hours later) and Viktor suggested you guys hangout and go out somewhere together, you really needed some rest. Though as always, you were resisting it a lot. Now you were basically mumbling with your head down on his desk.

"mmh." You mumble, trying not to pass out and fall asleep at his desk.

"Assistant, you need sleep. You can't keep up with this, you already finished the required assigned work I have given." The tall, slim man spoke. His voice was smooth, and even softer than usual. It sounded very soothing, at least to you. The russian accent also compliments the soft tone he has.

"mm.." you mumble, barely having your eyes open. You head is down on his desk while you mumble short responses, barely making him know that you're still awake.

"And I thought I was overworking.." he muttered under his breath as a soft chuckle escapes his lips. He is slightly worried, you're staying awake just to do extra work. Plus, he's made you stay on night shift almost every night this week. And he knows you work day shift for a different job every other week as well, so you've only been sleeping on your lunch breaks.

That means you've barely been eating as well, really only having an apple and a quick coffee throughout the day. He feels bad for making you work more nightshifts. He already has you for day shifts every other week, you working day shifts for your second job on the other weeks he doesn't have you.

Its worse that you only make enough money to get food for your parents and to pay them rent, even with all this work you've done. He's very proud of you, you're a perfect young man.

He notices you've stopped responding with the cute little sounds and short word responses. He looks down at you, your hair covering your face with you cheek prepped on your arm. You look cute sleeping, your medium length brunette hair covering most of your face. He ends up smiling softly before catching himself, his cheeks growing a bit warm. He's definitely growing fond of you.

"you're a brilliant young man.. you're parents should be proud of you. If not, I'm sure proud of you.." he says, his more professional tone breaking. It's more loving, like he's speaking to someone he's loved for years on end.

He pulls out his notebook, scribbling a few things in the notes and closing it. He then puts it on his disorganized desk set up in the lab and smiles down at you, moving his hand up a bit and brushing some hair out of your face to see your closed eyes and handsome looking facial structure.

"you really are very handsome, and quite lovely to be around.. and you work so hard." He whispers to you, knowing your sleeping very soundly. He seems.. to favor you. Everyone does, but he definitely favors you for more than just you being a fantastic assistant. You're so sweet, so caring.. and very sympathetic. You're just a great person, and you don't find those around a lot.

He kisses your forehead gently, stroking your face. He hopes you don't wake up, he doesn't wanna have to explain why his hand is caressing your cheek. He doesn't wanna be called irresponsible, kissing an assistants forehead and holding his face a bit. He really does adore you, he always has. He just never wanted to admit it those few months.

"I wish you were awake to know how good you really do.. how much people really appreciate you. How much I really appreciate you. I care about you. I cherish you, Assistant.." He whispers, his tone genuine and his smile affectionate. He can't help but feel as if this is wrong.

He's a cold, stern man. He doesn't ever fail to make sure you know what work he's given you, and when it's due to him. These past few months of you being his assistant, you haven't failed once to do something right. You do so well, and he knows you don't believe it. You overwork yourself, just to try to prove you aren't lazy. Yet nobody thinks that, not even him. He admires you, as you admire him.

It's out of character for him to feel this way, to wanna give you simple praise for the work you do. He feels like he's softening for you, and he doesn't know if he should be happy that he's feeling some sort of love. He doesn't know what type of love, but he wants to protect you from this cruel world.. this dark place isn't good for someone as soft and nice as he sees you.

"I'll protect you, from this world. From the bad people here." He whispers more softly, his smile growing as he watches you sleep at his desk.

He ends up taking you to the couch next to the coffee pot you had made him coffee in earlier, setting you down there for some rest. You'll have to wake up in the morning for your second job, but he'll be happy to walk you there and provide for you.

He sets you down on the couch, brushing your hair back with his fingers and wrapping you in a blanket. He hasn't stopped smiling since he saw that cute, sleeping face of yours for the first time. He never wants this to end, but he doesn't wanna ruin a perfectly good professional relationship between you two.

He kisses your forehead once more before he sits in the chair at his desk, next to the couch you're laying on. He lays his head down on the desk, next to his papers; his eyes staying open for a bit longer. He watches you for a bit longer before one last mutter before he falls asleep.

"sleep well, solnyshko." He mutters quietly, his Russian accent making the name slip smoothly off of his tongue.

"...mm." you mumble.

Aww, solnyshko (Солнце, солнышко) actually means "sun" in Russian, it's a term of endearment. It can mean 'little sun', 'my sun', or just 'sun.' i think its the cutest thing!

I hope you enjoyed, I know these have been slow for now, I'm working on it. I'm trying to explain how much Viktor really loves the reader. He thinks the reader is cute, handsome, hardworking, and overall just a great guy. He admires him. <3

[elysium-the-true-faceofsalvation]

[door opening followed by footsteps]

Numen: “Sorry that I’m late. I was… collecting my thoughts.”

Numen: “Hm?”

Emari: “Hm…”

Numen: “Hello….?”

Emari: “Hmm…..”

Numen: “Hello the-”

Emari: “Heya!”

Numen: “Woah!”

Emari: “Oh! Did I scare you, dear?”

Numen: “I-i mean, kind of?”

Emari: “Oh dear! I’m truly sorry!”

Numen: “Don’t worry about it, it was just… Unexpected.”

Emari: “And why was that?”

Numen: “Um… You were just standing there, I didn’t expect you to move.”

Emari: “Oh, sorry about that. I was just…. Thinking.”

Numen: Thinking? About what?”

Emari: “About how to comfort you.”

Numen: “Huh?”

Emari: “It’s just that… You looked pretty distressed when you walked in. I figured something must have happened back when you went to talk to Rinshou-san.”

Numen: “Woah… How did you arrive at that conclusion?”

Emari: “You were pretty reserved when you first walked in. You were looking at the ground while holding your head as well. I think it’s natural to conclude that you were tired in some way.”

Numen: “Wha- … You are really observant, you know?”

Emari: “Is that so… Thank you, I guess! So… Do you want to talk about it?”

Numen: “… Not really.”

Emari: “I understand… You want to change the topic, now?”

Numen: “Yeah…”

Emari: “So… Do you want to do some kind of introduction?”

Numen: “Oh! That would be great! Let me start then. So… My name is Numen, I’m 14 years old, and I’m the Angel of this place, it’s nice to meet you!”

Emari: “What a cute name you have, dear! And you’re some kind of Angel, too?! You just keep getting better and better!”

Numen: “Thank you! I guess…?”

Emari: “Let’s see…”

Numen: “Hm? You’re thinking again…?”

Emari: “Can I call you… Ann-chan?”

Numen: “A-ann…?”

Emari: “It’s a nickname! It’s a combination of the word angel’s ‘an’ and the initial of your name! Did you like it?”

Numen: “… Yeah! I think it suits me!”

Emari: “That’s great to hear, dear! I give nicknames to everyone that I know!”

Numen: “That seems really thoughtful of you!”

Emari: “Thanks! I put a lot of effort into it!”

Numen: “So… I think you should introduce yourself now.”

Emari: “Oh, right. So… My name’s Emari Yamazaki! I’m 17 years old, and I’m currently a high school student! Is there anything else you would like to know?”

Numen: “It’s nice to meet you, Yamazaki-san!”

Emari: “Oh please, dear, you already said that. And also, just call me Emari, okay?”

Numen: “Oh, fine then. So… I would like to ask you something, Emari. Something that I should have asked Aoi, too.”

Emari: “Oh? What is it, dear?”

Numen: How’s your relationships with the rest of the souls been so far?”

Emari: “Oh! I think I’m getting along with basically everyone!”

Emari: “Everybody is pretty fun and nice to be around!”

Numen: “Is that so? I’m glad to hear that! Can you list off some examples?”

Emari: “Okidoki! So, I mostly hangout with Ruru-kun and Aka-chan since they are the nicest ones here!”

Numen: “I suppose that’s Haru and Akari.”

Emari: “Yep yep! Ruru-kun is easy to talk to and seems to enjoy any kind of company!”

Numen: “… Huh?”

Emari: “Aka-chan is just so sweet and bubbly that just being next to her makes me smile! But it breaks my heart that a girl like her died so young…”

Numen: “I know, it’s tragic…. But that’s what Elysium is here for, to give people like her Salvation.”

Emari: “… What?”

Emari: “… Um… Anyways… I also like hanging out with Syo-san! But he can be kind of creepy, sometimes…”

Emari: “I also get along with Ki-kun and Suke-san! Ki-kun is a good guy, he just needs some more self-confidence. And Suke-san is a pretty good guy, so he’s easy to talk to as well.”

Emari: “But when it comes to the other four… Things aren’t going very smoothly. Lo-san is very hard to understand, so I can’t really get along with her. I barely got any chances to talk to Saki-chan, she seems to be isolating herself. Reika-san tells me to go away anytime I try to talk to her, but something seems off about her too… And Rinshou-san…. He doesn’t seem to like me.”

Numen: “Rinshou-san… Why is he the only one you refer to by his last name?”

Emari: “…. He asked me to.”

Numen: “I see…”

Emari: “That’s pretty much it.”

Numen: “Okay…. Thanks for telling me.”

Emari: “Now that I answered your question, it’s only fair that I get to ask you a question too, right?”

Numen: “Hm… I don’t see why not, go ahead.”

Emari: “Great! So, Ann-chan. What kind of people do you like?”

Numen: “… Huh? What do you mean?”

Emari: “Like…. What kind of people do you like to be around? People that you would like to consider friends.”

Numen: “Oh, um… Let me think for a bit.”

Emari: “No pressure, take your time.”

Numen: “I like…. To be around carefree people. People who believe everything will be okay in the end, people who don’t struggle to feel relaxed. They are able to really make me feel at ease, like there’s truly nothing to fear.”

Emari: “…. I see.”

Numen: “So, Emari, I got one more question for yo-”

[bell rings]

Emari: “Hm? What’s that?”

Numen: “Oh, it’s already over?”

Emari: “What? Aw…. What a shame, I was enjoying talking to you.”

Numen: “Me too. But it has to end now. But I do have one more question.”

Emari: “Oh? Ask away.”

Numen: “What do you think about the voting system?”

Emari: “Hmm…. To be honest, I don’t really care.”

Numen: “What?”

Emari: “I feel like as long as you are the one choosing, everything will be okay in the end.”

Numen: “…. Wait…”

Emari: “Is something the matter, Ann-chan?”

Numen: “…. Forget it. Now, Soul N.02, Emari Yamazaki, come, and sing your life!”

[lithiumcreepblog]

for @stonathanweek's Stonathan Sunday. Prompt: Where are we supposed to get a chicken at 2AM on a Wednesday?

those witching hours

When Steve agreed to be Jonathan’s smoking partner for the night, he was expecting a chill hangout after a long day of recon, filled with long stretches of silence and only the occasional conversation every now and then. He wasn’t expecting this.

“Steve,” Jonathan interrupts his thoughts, eyes glassy and mouth curved into a grin. “Who is a chicken’s favorite composer?”

High Jonathan Byers is not what Steve expected at all. High Jonathan Byers is silly. He seems to find everything funny, falling into a fit of giggles at even Steve’s lamest jokes. High Jonathan Byers is talkative. He hasn’t shut up once since the weed kicked in, moving on from one topic of interest to the next with ease. But most importantly– and most dangerously– high Jonathan Byers is clingy. He keeps a firm arm over Steve’s shoulder the whole time, touching and bracketing Steve in his hold.

“I don’t know, Jonathan,” Steve smiles too. He has never seen Jonathan lower his inhibitions like this before. He has always only seen him worrying about twenty different things at once, never this relaxed or laid back. It’s a nice shade on him.

“Bach!” Jonathan shouts, and Steve lets out a snort. Even with Steve’s attempts at impressions from a while ago, this has to be the dumbest thing out of either of their mouths all night.

“That joke made me hungry and now I want chicken parmesan,” Jonathan whines and lets his head fall onto Steve’s shoulder.

“And do tell me, Byers,” Steve chuckles as Jonathan falls into his side even more. “Where are we supposed to get a chicken at 2AM on a Wednesday?”

Jonathan lifts his head and blinks, looking deep in thought. Steve watches as a slow smile creep across his face, knowing nothing good is coming from that expression.

“I bet Hopper has some. And I bet he’s sleeping right now.”

“Are you suggesting we break into the chief’s room just to take his chicken?”

“Why not?”

“Uh… because he’s Hopper?” Steve makes a gesture. That should be obvious, right?

“So what?” Jonathan frowns. “That dude is fucking my mom. I think I deserve his chicken.”

“Okay, let’s put that line of thought to an end there,” Steve says quickly before Jonathan gets any more brilliant ideas. “We are not stealing Hopper’s chicken.”

“Hm, you’re right,” Jonathan relents. “We don’t even know for sure if he has it, anyway.”

Steve lets out a sigh of relief at avoiding another shenanigan– he’s had enough of those in a lifetime.

They stay silent for a while before Jonathan breaks the silence again, head still resting on Steve’s shoulder. “You’re cool, Steve Harrington.”

“Thank you…?” Steve laughs, questioning.

“I mean it. I was wrong about you. You’re a really great guy. It’s a shame I never saw it when we were in school, but I’m glad we’re friends now.”

Jonathan puts his hand up Steve’s shirt as he says this, and for some reason, Steve lets him. Steve assumes it’s not even meant to be a sensual touch, merely a grounding, comforting one; the safety of warm skin against your own. Jonathan’s hand roams a bit near Steve’s stomach before it stills above Steve’s healed scar, still prominent against his smooth skin.

Jonathan furrows his brows. “Does it still hurt?” He sounds so serious all of a sudden, like the high has entirely escaped his system. Steve sighs.

“No, not really– physically, anyway. I still think about it all the damn time though.” Steve puts his hand on Jonathan’s wrist and guides his hand out of the shirt, still holding it after.

Jonathan frowns again. “I know that feeling.”

Then he goes quiet, quieter than he’s been all night, eyes shifting before glazing over as if he’s being reminded of something. Steve wonders what he’s thinking about. Lenora? Seeing his brother be possessed by the Mindflayer? That fateful night in ’83 when their whole lives changed forever? Or is he remembering something from before? The fact that there are even several options to choose from makes Steve’s heart sink even deeper. But he keeps on a brave face, for both him and Jonathan. If there’s anything worse than having bad thoughts, it’s having them while on a bad high.

So he squeezes Jonathan’s hand once in comfort. Jonathan finally breaks free from his trance and grips Steve’s hand back. They look at each other and smile, and for a split second before Jonathan decides that the direct eye contact is hilarious and starts laughing, Steve feels a strong urge inside him that tells him to kiss Jonathan. He quickly shakes the thought away and laughs along. The weed Jonathan scored is definitely pretty weird.

“Okay, let’s sleep this high off, what do you say?” Steve pats Jonathan’s knee. “I promise I’ll find you some chicken in the morning.”

“I’ll be holding you to that, Harrington,” Jonathan mumbles, cuddling closer to Steve. “I don’t want to move. Let’s just sleep on the couch.”

“Are you sure?” Steve asks.

“Hmm… you’re warm.”

“Okay,” Steve lets out an absurd half-laugh, holding Jonathan tighter as he closes his eyes and lets the high wash over him, sending him to that floaty space where they’ll fall asleep.

[teruthecreator]

norm for the askgame ^^

PAPA NEEDS HIS SILLY PIIIIIIIIILLS

Sexuality Headcanon:

bisexual but he’s too busy being like 39 and the sheriff of dialtown so absolutely no time to unpack dat goku

Gender Headcanon:

cis guy. tho any and all butch norms i accept with open and loving arms. sometimes a man can be so butch do you understand

A ship I have with said character:

(looks pointedly at my mingus ask) uhhhhhhhh ANYWAYS other than normingus i also rlly rlly like normgingi!!!!! probably my second favorite gingi ship (first being oliver and gingi) and definitely one i think about often. the like immediate blood bond they forge over the course of ch3 is insane like norm goes from wanting to kill gingi dead to DOING IT ALL FOR THEM WAHHHHHHHHH WAHHHHHHHHHHHH. also dare i say he’s a little yandere for gingi??? i don’t mean that seriously me and my friends just like to call him yandere. he has a yandere face and everything it’s great. anyways idk if i’d call normgingi wholly romantic but it’s certainly something. norm already had a wife but maybe he now has a second one??? in the form of a trash goblin??? idk i dont think they have a label for what they are and it confuses norm but he’s decided just to roll with it for now

A BROTP I have with said character:

norm with the rest of the dateables cast is so fucking important to me. literal besties squad. like the dialtown tool friends epilogue series made me just become OBSESSED with all of them interacting casually. and like every aspect of it is funny and good. i have a hc that norm builds a house just behind the funfair (like in a semi secluded spot) and that house is the hangout center for the entire polycule. karen is over there painting the scenery, olivers hosting movie nights, randy just Comes Over whenever shes too scared to stay at the ticket booth, fucking BIGFOOT drops by sometimes to hang. it’s just kind of beautiful the life norm leads post ch3 like going from being a hermit and wanting to stay secluded to having this rich tapestry of friends?????? genuinely brings a tear to my eye i LOVE NORM AND HIS FRIENDS WAHHHH

A NOTP I have with said character:

i dont really like norm/callum To Be Quite Honest. just isn’t my thang. also don’t care about norm/mr. dickens seems like we are filling a Yaoi Quota with that one but also you could probably convince me of it if u were compelling enough

A random headcanon:

(stares openly at tryt) so i have some opinions about norm’s family… HJGNFHFJFBFJ in seriousness tho i have this whole backstory devised about norm’s wife and the child they have right before he gets shipped off to space and the life that his widowed wife and child lead after he’s gone. his wife’s name is betsy and his child’s name is sylvia-grace but she goes by sylvie and they lead a relatively normal life in arizona until sylvie’s old enough to move out and then she goes to california. betsy dies long before norm makes the jump to the present, but sylvie is still kicking! she has a wife and two adult children of her own by then. i don’t think norm would ever get to really Meet them but that’s for very specific reasons that i map out in my fic The Road Yet Traveled, so if this idea intrigues you feel free to read that or just send me an ask! i could talk about this little family forever

General Opinion over said character:

norm has very quickly climbed the ranks in terms of the dateables. like i adore karen and oliver and randy, but norm is just….ohhhhhhhh he’s norm allen!!!!! he has such an interesting outlook on life and again i think he kinda brushes up with mingus in terms of like . characters i think deeply about. i mean i literally wrote a 30k fic that is Mainly about norm’s reconciliation with the past in forging his future. he’s just a guy i think about often!!!! also i do a voice for him and i will randomly pull it out in vcs just to make everyone laugh, which automatically means he’s one of my favs :-)

i turned his face into a penis one time. dont remember why i did that

[earthtooz]

hello!! how have u been doing? so i wanted to say something to make ur day better (hopefully <3).

think ab nagi asking u to come over because he noticed that u caught interest in one of his video games and he wanted to teach u how to play and how to master the game :( <3 but mainly bc he has the biggest crush on u (u also have a crush on him but he doesn’t know it yet bc he’s too oblivious)

but anyways once u get there yall play and have fun for some time but suddenly u get a phone call from ur friend and u excuse urself to take the call; u go to the kitchen and start talking to ur friend and everything and then suddenly the topic of your conversion turns to ur massive crush on nagi. so u start saying things like “i like him sm” “he’s so cute when he’s concentrated” or “he’s so JANDJWJD when he’s teaching me how to play” BUT u don’t noticed that he’s been eavesdropping on u long enough to ear ur little confessions (😩)

still not knowing that he overheard ur conversation, u go back like nothing happened and sit beside him. some time passed and it’s time for u to go home, but when u guys reach the door and are ab to say goodbye to each other, nagi pulls u close and kissed u (OSJDJWJDJEJR); not satisfied with the kiss he decided to pull u one more time, but this time u decided to do better and kissed him more feverishly- it just turned into a hot make out session ✨✨✨

he then finally says “i like u, yn… so much” AND WHEN I TELL U THAT U COMBUST RIGHT THERE. u tell him how u feel and now u guys have a date on saturday <33333333

just my nagi brainrot taking over me </3 sorry not sorry (if u can turn this into a fic i’d be forever grateful and love ur works btw! 💌)

-💋 anon (if u don’t have one!!)

hello hello 💋 anon, welcome to my blog !!!! if you wouldn't mind dropping ur preferred prns so i can add them to my list, that'd be great :)

anyways, i love this :((( best thing to wake to ever in the morning, especially since i was so mad at tumblr for all the shit it was putting me through. this brightened my day tho so thank u <3

nagi being a homebody makes imagining homely and domestic scenarios with him SO TASTY. his apartment is relatively clean and well-cared for, he has a minimalist lifestyle (not by choice though, he's just too lazy clean up after it otherwise).

but i think nagi is also someone who values his space and privacy, so when he asks you to come over and play some games with him- HIS NUMBER ONE LEISURE ACTIVITY- it's pretty obvious you mean a lot to him. well, to himself at least. you don't understand the memo just yet, but it's safe to say that nagi is overjoyed to finally have someone use his second player remote.

connecting another controller to the console felt surreal and it made him a little giddy on the inside. he grabbed whatever beanbags he had and placed them in front of his tv, setting up a little, but formidable space for the two of you to game freely.

you show up with his favourite snacks and he's ready to get on one knee and propose (you weren't even married), especially when you bring all of his favourite snacks. there's ramen in there too.

the night goes smoothly, thank goodness his setup is working properly, he doesn't use the tv very often to game but since you were coming over, a phone screen and monitor wouldn't be fitting. the clock eventually hits 12 am and nagi says he needs to take a shower, self-conscious about any stench that might come from him that would drive you away. it doesn't seem like the gaming is going to end any time soon, so you tell him to go and you'll chill for a while.

THEN, your friend shoots a text since you told them that you'd be going to nagi's for a hangout, asking how it was. immediately, you call them and they answer before the first ring and you retreat into his kitchen to discuss.

nagi's shower doesn't take too long, just a scrub down and he's back in action. when he reappears in the living room, you're still in the kitchen, too caught up in your ranting to realise that he can now hear you through the thin walls of his apartment.

you're saying things like 'i like him so much, he's so cute', 'he's so sweet, even when i lose', 'he's so funny that it makes him even more attractive!', and nagi is LOSING HIS SHIT. his heart is racing in his ears and he's cursing himself for it bc all he wants to hear is how you're gushing about him when you don't know he knows. shit, you were going to end him, nagi's sure of it.

when you return to the living room, you're a little surprised to see that your white-haired friend has returned. you immediately panic at the realisation that he could have heard you, but the way he's acting all nonchalant and normal indicates otherwise. okay... maybe you were okay.

the night continues on for another hour or so before you let out your first yawn, signifying that it was probably time for you to leave, despite neither party wanting for that to happen. nagi reluctantly gets up to let you out so you can go home, concerned for your wellbeing since it was so late already. he wants to ask if you could stay the night because he's so selfish but hey, nagi's human, and humans have desires.

but when he opens the door, it feels wrong to just hug you as a farewell, so without thinking, he grabs your face and pulls you in for a searing kiss. it catches you off guard, eyes widening for a moment before realising what was happening and melting into him.

without even seeing what he was doing, nagi slams his door shut and presses you against the wood for some kind of stability. you're not too sure when this evolved into a makeout session, but you hardly have any reason to complain, especially since nagi kisses you like he's been wanting this a long time.

it's between kisses that he murmurs a confession of 'i like you', pressing kisses against the corners of your lip in his delirium, unable to get rid of his need to be as close to you as humanly possible.

safe to say you stay the night, plus, you earned a date for saturday!

[radiantlyrey]

Thoughts on Uprising Ep8 “The Reward”

- (pre-viewing note: is this the episode where a program nearly gets drawn and quartered?? I remember this vividly from 10 years ago but it hasn’t popped up yet…..) (note from later: APPARENTLY IT IS!!! OKAY THEN.)

- I haven’t mentioned this yet, but the recaps before each episode are a fucking delight. it’s like a full-on course in double meaning and irony and the delivery is just *chef’s kiss* I know there’s a button to skip the recaps but they’re so fun I usually watch them anyway…….

- cold open: it’s pretty obvious from early on that this is a dream, and I did not realize/remember that programs dreamed! this is useful information for fic-writing, thank you show. the content of the dream itself is a little disturbing, mostly from the way the Renegade is just ragdolling around while Tesler ineffectively tries to fight him. it’s honestly a great way to display Tesler’s insecurities, and very effective at that.

- Tesler has got a good point—they’re wasting too many resources on tracking down the Renegade; they might as well outsource the bulk of the work. his speech in the arena is very effective; Henriksen is a great VA for him, and honestly Tesler is pretty effectively terrifying as the main villain of the series. (nitpick: the “RENEGADE FREE ARGON” sign during Tesler’s speech needs a fricking hyphen after “Renegade.” Though in a delicious twist of irony, the Renegade is trying to free Argon, so without the hyphen there’s a delightful double meaning in there.)

- related to the speech, Tesler wishes the programs of Argon “Happy Hunting” which made me think of Janelle Monae’s song “Violet Stars Happy Hunting!!!” from her first Metropolis album. It is a banger of a song, and it also got me to thinking about whether there are bounty hunters on the Grid at all?? Like, given the Renegade issue in Argon alone, there must be other enemies of the state that Clu wants eliminated, right? (but then that digs into the whole issue of currency on the Grid, which there is no mention of AT ALL and argh) but that’s just my brain running away from me……

- semi B plot with Paige and Pavel (tho I’ll be honest, this ep is all A plot): Paige is doing her job, Pavel is being paranoid, though his paranoia may be slightly justified. also we got Bartik and Hopper hanging around again, and these guys still baffle the fuck out of me, especially Bartik??? But I’ve gone over that like three times now, so I’ll let it lie for now. and it’s absolutely no surprise that Pavel’s being sneaky about things… ugh.

- also the whole neighbor turning on neighbor thing that we see here is… a little disturbing, for a Y7 show??? maybe not, I don’t have a good gauge for these things. it just seems a little reminiscent of some parts of history, to me? I don’t know. (mind you, with the Scars episodes up next, I’ll have plenty to talk about in re: appropriateness for 7 year olds……) (don’t remember much about Scars, but I do remember the fucking TORTURE SCENES)

- meanwhile, it’s nice to see Beck actually hanging out with his friends for once (and also nice that Zed calls him on the fact that he has not been hanging with them very much recently) (ya gotta get a better work-work-life balance there, kiddo) it is nice that Tron deferred to his judgement on what they needed to do about the hunt for the Renegade (and I loved Beck’s “finally he listens to me” reaction….) tho it kind of sucks that their favorite club has turned into an army hangout….

- and then we have a one-scene, one-minute character in Gorn! who fascinates me to no end. apparently memory modifications are possible, but it’s a specialized task that takes a steady hand and a good deal of patience. which Pavel of course lacks. anyway, what a fascinating one-off character; kind of hoping she pops up again at some point…..

- I love that Beck and Paige are approaching this whole “Hopper’s the Renegade!” thing from two completely different angles, both arriving at the same truth (albeit for very different reasons…) Beck’s smooth moves getting in with Link are hilarious, for one, and Paige actually like…. listening to people is cool of her, and another indicator of her complex character.

- and then MARA FUCKS UP REAL BAD HOLY SHIT GIRLLLLLL. Mind you, Tesler’s already in a prickly mood, so it’s no surprise (also considering what he did to Paige’s friends way back when) that he decides to execute Zed and Mara as sympathizers… tho I find it hilarious because literally the previous episode Zed was complaining about how the Renegade is a menace to society, etc. I also like that Mara and Zed are trying to do the right thing even though neither of them like Hopper very much. good on them.

- further notes on the public execution: okay, so it’s more drawing and thirding than drawing and quartering, but nonetheless. (also file under things I’m surprised they got away with putting in a Y7 show…..) love that Beck has a growing history of grand theft auto, what with stealing the roadster from Link to save his friends (and Hopper). the sequence where Beck swoops in to save everyone is really neat, too. that missile gun of Pavel’s was kind of terrifying tho….

- also it is kinda tragic that Beck got to spend time with his friends… but also not. poor kid.

- and re: Zed/Mara - this crush thing between the two of them is going to KILL ME, I swear!!!!!!!! USE YOUR WORDS, KIDS. IT AIN’T THAT HARD!!!!

- all in all: pretty fun episode, though not necessarily a lighter one…..

I may or may not get to Scars (both parts) tonight, we’ll just have to see………….

[fairyfleshprison]

So unrelated segway about raspberries. Last week my friend and i were at the park just chilling and smoking weed after grabbing bubble tea - as us queers do - and we're there getting are sativa in and this stranger walks up. This lady is like "hi excuse me" and we're like "hey!" And shes like "i dont really know who to tell but do you see that guy over there behind the tree, he seems to be throwing up a lot of blood." And my friend and i are like completely silent, and im trynna see where shes even pointing cause the guy is blocked by the tree. And then finally im like "woah...well...thats not...awesome" and my friend agrees and the lady is like "ya i dont know what to do i just like, do i call someone?" And we're both hella spaced so its just more silence. And then shes like "im a visitor here so i dont know what like the rule is for something like this so i thought id come and ask," and she points to here 'im a visitor shirt' and so im like "oh...ah...well i mean its not great if hes throwing up but like you probably shouldnt like...force help onto him...you could just ask him if he needs or like...wants your help and then go from there." But she was clearly uncomfy with doing that so me and friend eventually just get up and go over to the guy. Hes like an old guy, tattered clothing, dirty jeans, he has this alcohol in a brown paper bag - very prototypical situation. So obviously my friend and i clock that hes going through this cause hes drunk, but hes also an adult so its like - we still gotta ask if he Wants the help from us. So we do and he kinda responds but then just basically passes out on the ground for a moment. So my friend calls 911 and explains the sitch, and then at one point they ask like how much blood he threw up. So i squat down to look real quick and its a lot but theres like chunks in it.

It was raspberries.

So my friend tells 911 that its raspberries, and eventually through just interacting with the guy we got him to stand up and he just cleaned his mouth off and stumbled away down the sidewalk.

Eventually my friend and i's hangout ended, and 911 did come when i was waiting for the bus and she stayed in the park waiting for another friend that she was hanging out with the afternoon. But by then the guy had already gone , and my friend texted that 911 couldnt find him anyways so they just kinda dropped it.

So i guess in conclusion, i learned to not eat a bunch of raspberries otherwise someone from out of town will think you threw up ungodly amounts of blood. And then your friend will gain a minor traumatic memory about that time an old guy almost died right in front of us. And then i'll say "to be honest i thought he like threw up his lungs or something dude that wouldve been sooo wild."

do NOT feel bad abt scarfing down a tub of raspberries. there is NO reason at all to ration them like other delicious treats bc they WILL mold as soon as theyre out of your line of sight

[strangeshutter]

˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ dear diary: reflection

I really only made this so I could talk about a girl. I was sitting there and was honestly thinking about dying, which I do often, it was nothing unfamiliar to me, not even really concerning anymore. I was thinking about how I'd rather be dead, but then I remembered that me and this girl and some friends are going to hangout later this week. I don't understand why she means so much to me, especially when we don't talk nearly as much as we used to. We used to spend hours every day together at school, and wed sit next to each other everyday and I can remember drawing together and sharing headphones and just being so sure that I felt something for her. We only talk like once a week now, which sucks because I never feel sure of my tone over text, so it's like does she know that I'm messing around or does she think I'm serious when I joke around and banter? Anyways, point is, the mere thought of her makes me feel so much better, like holy shit we're gonna hang out n shop together and be close to each other for the first time in like months.

That all is great but then there's also a boy. I just recently started talking to him again because we really crumbled last time we got close like this. He was too fast, like within a month he was talking about being obsessed and how I was his heart. Which, usually, I don't mind at all. I just don't think I was ready to be his girlfriend, so when he asked me I said no and he seemed upset by it and I felt really bad. We decided to not be friends but then during no contact I started to kind of miss the nerves of talking to him, of him writing about me in poems, so I texted him and like I dunno. Now, its the same as before and I thought I was more prepared now but I keep wondering if I'll really be happy with him. He doesn't know my favorite color, or what cartoons I grew up watching, or how my dog is my favorite being on earth, or why I think my soul is multicolored. He's so normal, like he thinks he can just learn all that while I'm his girlfriend but I don't want to be with someone unless they already know all of that about me. What if I get with him and then show him all of that and then he decides he doesn't like me anymore and then I get all hurt because I ripped my soul open to show him the mush? It's complicated, and I'm complicated but I guess that's what I get for being a human. I figure maybe I'll just treat him like a friend, be casual and hope he doesn't still like me, we haven't really talked about if the feelings are still there or not just yet.

In other news, I think I like the girl more than him. Even though I don't talk to her nearly as much as him, every time I talk to her i get all happy nervous, but when the guy I get insecure? I think that's the feeling at least, like nervous but in a kind of bad way like all my moves have to be calculated. I don't know why I value his opinion, he's just a guy.

I feel that's all I have to report today.

[llomlsunoo]

김선우 — bewitched

twenty : friend

warnings : none

jay picked you up from your house and took you to the restaurant, conversation flowed easily with jay. you didn’t need to force it, he talked just enough, not too much and not too little and quickly picked up on social cues.

he’s insanely attractive and not only that he has a great personality not to mention that he has amazing fashion sense. but no matter how hard you tried you simply couldn’t imagine yourself with him.

you both got along well and it wasn’t awkward, not even on your first date but for some reason you couldn’t push away the feeling of wishing it was sunoo sitting across from you.

you stayed up so many nights simply trying to convince yourself and your friends that you did not have feelings for your bestfriend, that you were only feeling this way because you found out he was your admirer.

but you also couldn’t seem to imagine yourself with anyone but him. you saw many cute guys in your classes and halls but none of them flooded your thoughts as much as sunoo does. not even close.

so you made the decision, with the help of sooyun, to tell jay that you didn’t think things would work. not only because of your “feelings” for sunoo but also because you were simply too different. you agreed on some things but you quickly realized that it probably wouldn’t work, even if you never found out about sunoo. on the first date you found out that he wants to travel for college and you want to stay in korea, you also wouldn’t like to do long distance since they major your planning to take would simply take up too much of your time to have a long distance partner. there was plenty of other things that you didn’t have in common but that was one example

so once you settled into the restaurant, jay across from you with a pensive face as he browsed the menu.

“yn?”

“jay”

you both said in unison, “oh uh, sorry you can go first” you said with a light laugh, “well,” he cleared his throat before sitting straight in his chair, “i think your wonderful, i mean it, your stunning and you have an amazing personality and i’ve really enjoyed all of our dates but,” he paused to read your expression

but you only urged him to continue, “but i don’t think we would work in a relationship, we are too different and want completely different things in life and for our future. i want someone i can relate to and have similar interests as me and we don’t have many, so while i really enjoy this i don’t think i can continue seeing you” your face dropped a little, jay noticed of course. you didn’t cover it as well as you thought you did.

“i didnt mean like completely stop!” he rushes to say and groans before continuing, “i was gonna add that i want to continue this but as friends, more hangouts than dates. i’m sorry for the confusion, and i’m sorry if you wanted more than that” you sighed in relief

you smiled at him and giggled a little, “that’s funny,” he looked at you confused, “i was gonna say something along the same lines, what i mean is i feel the same way. i’m glad we both realized” it was his turn to sigh in relief

“yeah, anyways is that really the only reason” he raised a brow in a teasing way

“oh shut up” you rolled your eyes but looked at him and realized he was being for real

“well my bestfriend, i recently found out that he likes me and i think i may be catching feelings” you sheepishly admitted.

previous | masterlist | next

⇨ extra

authors notes. my stuff from temu came in 😛

synopsis : in which sunoo had been admiring yn for his entire high school career, leaving little notes in her locker with words of motivation or compliments that had yn constantly searching for who her secret admirer was. not realizing he was right beside her the whole time.

taglist : open

⇨ @valentineluvr @il0vebeomgyu

[ranchthoughts]

Alright pulling my thoughts out of the tags...

You said "Boston does not know everything, and he acts like he does." which so wonderfully sums up Boston - he thinks he knows everything, and he does know a lot, but his own ego and sense of superiority means he assumes he knows everything, and that same ego wouldn't let him show hesitation or uncertainty anyways. But while Boston doesn't know everything, he knows enough to do some damage... and sometimes he accidentally manages to hit on something that will cause more damage than he even anticipated, as you've highlighted so well here with Boston's comments re: Mew.

Like you, I was also struck by how Boston targets Sand first once he's decided to bring the drama to this cozy hangout. Boston comes into the situation and immediately starts scanning for weaknesses. "What's with you and Sand?" "What? We're friends!" -> Ray pauses maybe a hair too long here (and also was just very much making out with Sand) so it's not fully believable, but Sand's expression gives away the most:

The night continues, Ray and Sand's conversation reveals the depth of their familiarity (as you talked about above) and Boston's scrutinizing it all. Again, the topic of their relationship is broached, and again Ray shuts it down ("I'm not his boyfriend"). And again, Sand has the more obviously upset reaction:

Boston's got an in. So when Boston strikes, he aims for the one who has been most visibly hurt so far this evening, the one who seems less secure. Obviously, Boston knows Ray better so it would make sense to read this focus on Sand as "talking to your buddy's new SO, scouting out to see if they are worthy" but I think it is more so a case of Boston calculating the best (read: most painful) point of entry.

Now, I don't think Boston knows Sand well enough to know what good aim he has, I think this is another case of him assuming he has all the cards and getting lucky enough to hit right where it hurts. But Boston opens by saying "I bet Sand likes you. I can tell." -> this is what Sand fears, that he failed in keeping love and sex separate and he has deeper feelings for Ray than Ray does for him (and Ray continuing to insist they aren't boyfriends has been rubbing that wound already tonight). Compounding that is the insinuation that Sand's feelings are so embarrassingly obvious that others can pick up on them.

Boston continues: "My buddy here has both the looks and the dough. His type is hard to come by, you know." Sand's not uncomfortable in his body and he knows he is desirable (his matter of fact "yes I've been hit on by guys" and talk of one night stands), but he's not at his best right now. And while Sand might have the looks, he definitely doesn't have the dough. So Boston talking about how Ray is so obviously desirable and a great catch to Sand (vs. framing this conversation as something like "Sand is so caring and handsome, I see what you see in him Ray") hits Sand hard because 1) he's feeling insecure and disappointed after being reminded of their relationship status (though as you point out, they never discussed changing their relationship status so he should know better... and Sand knows that) and 2) he already feels like he doesn't have much to offer (he's poor, he can't give the time or gifts or experiences Ray with his money can). Boston's comments here reminded me of Mew and Ray's conversation after the pool party, when Mew tells Ray "Don't set your standard too high" and encourages him to go after Sand. The wealthy gang are casually cruel to Sand - sure he's nice and all, doesn't have much to offer, but if your standards are low he's a great pick!

Like you, I've been thinking of bird-inacage's post about Sand. Sand feels inadequate, he blames himself for any short-comings he's had (even if they are a product of structural circumstances), and he doesn't like feeling embarrassed. And now in this scene, Sand's:

1) been put on the spot (in his own house!!)

2) coming to grips with the fact that he does like Ray, a lot, despite knowing better and trying not to get feelings involved;

3) being reminded again and again - and in front of other people - that his desire for a more serious relationship with Ray is just wishful thinking (they did never discuss being anything more than friends, and Ray doesn't seem inclined to change his mind), and it was foolish to even dream of more;

4) having it confirmed, by an outside party, that he doesn't bring much to the table, at least compared to someone wealthier. It's due to Sand's own shortcomings why Ray doesn't (and won't) like him back.

Boston targeted Sand in this moment because he seemed like the easier in, the more visibly weak. But like with Ray, he managed to hit Sand even harder than he intended just by virtue of stumbling into some very sensitive areas.

Fight Night

ALRIGHT! Life is wilder and crazier than normal and I have finally had a singular moment to breathe so it is time to do my first scene breakdown of Only Friends. Jojo and co have been feeding me so well, a literal feast of good sex choreo, hand placements, and puppy dog eyes that it has been impossible for me to figure out where I want to start.  But the end of episode five was just so expertly executed I couldn’t not talk about it, the build up, the explosion, the cool down?! Zero people in this production came to play, they showed up on set day one, gave some of their best performances, and just went about their goddamn day. [insert thirty more minutes of showered praise here]. 

So let’s get in to it: 

The Calm Before the Storm

We’re going to start with Sand and Ray before shit goes downhill, at a moment of genuine connection. This is not the first time we have seen them connect. The first of their peaceful, friendlier interactions are paid for by Ray but Sand quickly moves towards free hang outs with Ray after he gets to know Ray a bit better. I think we can all agree that 95% of the time that Sand and Ray are spending with each other, Ray is asking to be serviced (either seeking out sex, or being fed, clothed, or protected by Sand) [and I do think it is pretty telling that Ray’s idea of friendship is being taken care of in every way, and that Sand fully calls that out as being the role of a father]. But the 5% they do have of these moments of getting to know each other, primarily center around their own family dynamics, but in Episode 5, Ray does start dipping his toes in to getting to know more about Sand’s own hopes and dreams.

Where before Ray wasn’t really interested in Sand’s backstory as much as Sand was interested in Ray’s, now on the balcony of Sand’s dingy apartment, Ray finally starts to ask Sand about himself. And Ray is locked in, just absolutely attentive to Sand as he is talking, rarely looking away, asking follow up questions, and making statements based off of what Sand is saying. Things seem to be flowing smoothly, Ray seems slightly sad that Sand doesn’t know his father, he has an actual smile on his face with he tells Sand that he thinks his mother is really cool, and that he respects her. And of course he would respect the relationship that Sand and his mother have, the obvious love they have for one another, because he never got that from his own family. 

Sand has asked about Ray’s family before now (they talked about Ray’s mother in Ep. 2) but when they were first starting to get to know eachother, Ray brushed off any further conversation around his mother’s death. But that willingness to be honest with Sand is beginning to shift. Ray sits there listening to a birth story that runs parallel to his own, a mother with an unexpected pregnancy after a hookup, a father that wasn’t really intending on having a child, and Ray is faced with what his life could have possibly looked like if his mother was a different person. 

And they’ve been hanging out all day, Ray has seen much more of Sand’s personal life, his family life, it’s Sand’s birthday, they are cross faded, and Sand asks Ray once again what happened to his mother, and Ray takes the opportunity to be honest. He watches Sand refill his glass, and he says “she drank herself to death”. 

Now, personally, this is a very important moment to me in terms of both understanding Ray better as a character, and getting Sand and Ray to connect to each other more. A really important thing to remember about substance use disorders is that they are aware of the health consequences of long term substance use. Ray knows his mother drank herself to death, Ray knows that alcohol in the quantities that he is consuming are dangerous, and he cannot stop drinking. Ray does not have any good coping mechanisms for when his life gets hard, (and we will see a much stronger example of that near the end of this scene), but in the build up to the blow out, we are taking some time to re-establish that Ray has a drinking problem. And we are gaining a bit of further insight in to the genetic history of Ray’s own mental health problems. 

I’d have to go back and rewatch all the episodes to be completely certain, but I think so far the only person we haven’t see call Ray a burden is Mew, Mew who knows that Ray tried to kill himself two years ago, Mew who remembers that Ray said if he was gone he wouldn’t be a burden anymore on his goodbye phone call. I mention his mostly because, if that is true, then that is an indication to me that Ray’s other friends don’t really know that much about him. They don’t know how deeply the idea that he is a burden to everyone around him is rooted in to his psyche. They probably don’t know anything about Ray’s relationship to his mother, after all, she died when he was still in high school. 

We know from the end of Episode 4, that Ray has shifted his interests from Mew to Sand. That is not to say that he is not still in love with Mew, or that he wouldn’t drop Sand as soon as possible if presented the opportunity to date Mew, at least from my perception. But what it does indicate to me, is that Ray is beginning to at least consider Sand someone that care about him, that will listen to him, that will be an emergency contact, and as such Ray is more willing to be upfront and honest about who he is as a person. How his mind works, what his place in his own family is, what his own connection to family is. 

Ray senses he is bringing the mood down, and makes a comment to change the subject, shutting down any potential deeper conversation or exposure to pity that he could have with Sand. We know Sand has been down bad for Ray since like…Dick Down 1, but he is really just embarrassingly obvious with his interest in Ray. The way his face goes slack jawed when he looks at Ray’s face for a second too long? Your cool guy persona is in the fucking gutter. ANYWAY, the point of this is that Sand and Ray are vibing, having a good time, connecting, Ray is opening up more, and Sand is falling deeper in to this infatuation at the first sign of Sad Boi Hours when we cut to Nick and Boston. 

Boston, who has had a genuinely peaceful day thus far. He got some work done for school, he and Nick clarified their relationship to one another, he made out in the pool, and he’s looking to reward Nick for changing by asking if he can stay over. We know that Boston has been blackmailed by someone, we know that as a result of that Boston has decided to “settle down” a bit as it were, spend more time with people who he can talk with afterwards. (If you ask me, this isn’t really what Boston wants, it’s just how he is trying to justify laying low with Nick, someone he thinks he has control over and someone I don’t think Boston suspects is capable of blackmail). 

It is Boston who suggests staying over (I am not going to dig too much further in to his choice to ask Nick, but I will just look respectfully towards the thought that he doesn’t want to be found). 

Anyway, Boston asks if he can stay over, and Nick smiles like he’s won something, and leads Boston inside, where they both promptly interrupt Sand and Ray. Boston’s face lights up when he sees Ray there, but not in any way that indicates that Boston is actually excited to see his friend. More so, that he has gotten +1 Information in his notes on Ray’s comings and goings. 

Boston sees Sand and Ray, and he is scheming already. The very first fact we learn about Boston in Only Friends is that he is The Hunter, and while we have primarily seen this in the way that he hunts-for-that-d, Boston is a hunter through and through, he doesn’t just aim and fire, he plays with his prey. He toys with Top and Nick’s emotions to try to manipulate them in to what he wants, and he sees Ray and Sand together here, and the douchebag gears begin to turn. 

But, Boston needs to know what these two are to each other first, so he can figure out his best approach to fucking with the two of them, so he asks:

“What’s with you and Sand?” 

“What? We’re just friends,” Ray says with a smile and a small laugh, like he is trying to brush off any attempt for Boston to think of Sand and him as anything more. Sand is of course, devastated (and it is at this point I would like to make a tangential remark about the brilliance of the cinematography in this entire scene because it frequently moves between blurry and clear, like the camera is having as difficult of a time focusing on any of the characters as the characters themselves are, since they are under the influence). 

Nick, having already interrupted the SandRay foreplay once today, tries to pull Boston along quickly, to give everyone in the apartment some motherfucking privacy, but no no, when it comes to every other person in the world besides himself, Boston does not do privacy. So he cockblocks himself and SandRay and suggests they all party instead. 

The Build Up

There is this moment of awkward tension, that Nick tries to break by saying that Boston is bothering Sand and Ray, but Sand, having just been reminded that Ray does not think of him as anything more than friends, agrees to all hang out together, thus shifting the mood between himself and Ray from sexual to casual. 

And Boston? 

Oh Boston has already won. 

Now, before I get further in to breaking down this episode, I just need to take a minute and just give a huge MASSIVE shout out to Neo motherfucking Trai. He has absolutely been destroying this role, he is clearly having such a good fucking time. But I don’t care about that part (I do but it’s not the relevant aspect here), I care about how much of Boston’s character, Boston’s internal monologue Neo reveals through Boston’s eyes. 

Boston has been watching how Ray and Sand interact with one another, he saw them make out, he saw Ray grab a cookie from Sand’s mouth with his own, and now, he is sitting here, with Nick pressed up against his chest watching Ray flirt with and cling to Sand. That boy has mischief in his eyes, that boy is a hunter and he smells fresh meat. Boston is The Drama, and while he’s in the middle of his own blackmail saga, he’s found new toys to pass the time until the dust settles. 

This is the face of a man who will cause problems on purpose. This is the face of a man who does not give two shits about upsetting the people in front of him. Boston is a miserable, manipulative piece of shit, and he will drag everyone down to his level. 

I am showering praise in Neo’s general direction, anyway, Boston is studying Ray and Sand’s interactions, the way they talk with one another, all the little things that point towards there being some genuine feelings. 

“The cookie’s getting to me”

“I told you to hold back”

“Well, it’s a good thing I’m not driving” 

“Can I stay over?”

“More often than this I’m going to start making you pay rent”

“Go ahead”

They aren’t talking like this is a one time thing, they aren’t talking like they are just fuck buddies. The way that Ray and Sand are slightly bickering/scolding each other, the way that Ray just so absentmindedly reaches to put his arm around Sand, it reads a very particular way. Especially when you add on the fact that Nick interrupted them in the kitchen that morning. 

Now, something happens here that could have been good. If Boston was a good person, if Boston actually cared about his friends, if Boston wasn’t such a fucking Masshole. Because Sand has been very obviously dopey and doe eyed for Ray for ages and the lines between lust and love have been blurring heavily for him. But when they started fucking, Ray and Sand both discussed and established the nature of their relationship. Only friends. No love, only sex. Friendship can come from sex. Sand wouldn’t take someone like Ray as his boyfriend (liar). But things have changed since their first hook up, at least for Sand. Sand is catching feelings and Sand has not talked with Ray about how his feelings are shifting. 

And Nick actually opens up the potential for Sand and Ray to have that conversation when he asks “Are you and Ray going out?” 

See, Nick is definitely nasty4nasty when it comes to his desire to be with Boston, and Nick is by no means whatsoever a pure person, the man bugged Boston’s car and kept the recording for fuck’s sake, but he is also not an asshole the way that Boston is an asshole. Nick isn’t asking Sand if he and Ray are going out because he wants to fuck with them, he’s asking because he is genuinely curious, because this ain’t the first time that he’s walked in on them.

But don’t pay attention to Mark Pakin’s body language here, because Nick is obviously drunk, relaxed, content, and curious. Look at Neo. Look at Boston. Look at the way Boston is looking at Nick when Nick asks if they are going out:

And look at the way Boston turns his gaze upon Sand and Ray the second Nick finishes asking the question. Boston is picking apart every action, every expression, every movement between Sand and Ray. Boston is calculating. This is not a dude that is just turning to look at the next speaker in a conversation. He’s staring deep into their souls to figure out how they actually feel about each other so he can decide if one or both of them cares enough about each other to be hurt by him.

So naturally, the next shot we get is Ray drunkenly cozying up to Sand, resting his head on Sand’s shoulder, in a way that feels very couple-y, in a way that feels different to the casual arm Boston throws over Nick like he’s got his prize on a leash. 

“You two talk all lovey-dovey like you are a thing, you know?”

Consider the fact that the second that Nick starts saying “you two talk all lovey-dovey, you know?” Ray peels himself off Sand’s shoulder and stares at Nick. And he’s smiling casually, like he finds the question funny, though he doesn’t fully break physical contact with Sand, still resting his arm across Sand’s shoulders. 

Sand is taken aback for a second, like he’s been caught, but he knows that he is not supposed to be falling for Ray. He knows he isn’t supposed to be wanting a relationship with Ray. He knows that this is not the time or space for a “what are we?” conversation, so he puts on a smile and squeezes Ray’s cheeks and says: 

“Look at his face. Look how squishy he looks. He looks just like a dog my mother has.” (Which we can interpret as Sand saying look at him, we cuddle cause he’s cute, I think of him like a pet). Associating Ray with his mother’s dog for me, feels like a way for Sand to try to get Boston off his back, to put his feelings in alignment with how Boston typically views his hook ups, as pets, as toys, as prey. But Sand’s face betrays him more than Boston’s ever could the very second that Ray says “I’m not a dog and I’m not his boyfriend” 

Sand has a moment of quiet devastation hearing that, even though he SHOULD KNOW BETTER. He should not be so upset about an objectively true statement. Sand may think of Ray as special, and may want to date Ray, and may want Ray to be his boyfriend, but they have never revisited their initial conversation about the nature of their relationship. As far as Ray knows, Sand would never take someone like him to be his boyfriend. Sand is just getting caught up in his feelings and this brief reprieve from the hard and labrous and exhausting life he leads is clouding his judgment.   

And Boston goes in for the kill 

“Ray, I bet Sand likes you. I can tell.”

And here is the question of the hour, a question I personally do not believe we have the full answer to, why the fuck is Boston targeting Sand? (beyond the fact he finds it fun). Boston and Sand clearly know each other, Boston knows Sand well enough to know that the weed he is smoking is not his typical supply. Boston came in to Sand’s home, smoked Sand’s weed, and then went straight for Sand’s throat. 

And Sand is a little mad and more than a little anxious. The way First plays the emotions in this moment is brilliant, you can see all these little moments of Sand feeling put on the spot, the way his mouth moves like he is trying (and failing) to maintain his composure. Like he is looking for an escape route, but can’t find one. Especially because Boston will not let him escape, explicitly calling Sand in to the conversation:

The Blow Up

“So what is it, Sand? Do you like him? My buddy here has both the looks and the dough. His type is hard to come by, you know?”

Sand tries to dodge, by putting on his logical person hat for the first time in what is most likely weeks. “Now that you said that” he starts with Ray literally moving his hand to brush it gently against Sand’s shoulders. “My answer has to be yes now, doesn’t it? But if you really want to know the answer, ask me again when I am sober” 

Sand is willing to let Boston win this, to concede here, to admit to liking Ray as if forced to agree expressly because Boston is poking at him about it. But he will not engage in an important conversation like the one Boston is setting up for him and Ray about what they are to each other when they are under the influence and when they are in public. 

Nick is like “alright”, but that is not enough for Boston. (SERIOUSLY LOOK AT NEO, LOOK AT HOW MUCH FUCKING DISATISFACTION IS BEHIND THOSE GODDAMN EYES! Jojo and Ninew fucking thank you for giving me Neo in this role, he’s been craving complex roles since his time on The Eclipse and I’m glad he’s getting to have some). 

Boston is watching, waiting, wanting to see how Ray reacts to Boston speaking for Sand. Unfortunately for everyone, but Boston especially, Ray does not have the reaction I think Boston is expecting. Instead of Ray getting uncomfortable, instead of Ray pushing himself away from Sand, instead of Ray doubling down on him and Sand not being boyfriends, instead of Ray reacting negatively to the idea that this “not his type” poor boy might actually like him he leans in close, he smiles wide, he teases Sand a little in a way that does not feel cruel. 

So Boston has to escalate. Boston has been stalking his prey in the grass for as long as he has been in this apartment, and now it is time to strike. 

“Even if you really do like Ray, I doubt it will work out between the two of you. Ray’s whole ass is owned by Mew” 

BOOM. Instant kill. Boston just made this entire encounter go from 0 to 100. Especially because (as far as we know), he has no goddamn idea about the dent in Ray’s relationship to Mew, and his realization about how Ray and Mew’s feelings are never going to align. 

Ray did not spend all that time sitting in the bathtub staring at a keychain and a Poor Boy shirt for nothing. Personally, I am uncertain where Ray stands with Sand, I think Ray is probably chasing the endorphins of a good and easy lay. I think he is drawn to Sand’s inherent need to act as a caretaker. But as I’ve said before, Ray uses Sand far more as a service provider than he does a person he wants to make genuine connections with, only recently has he started to open up more and seem more interested in Sand as a person.

But Boston is poking at an extremely sore spot. A spot I don’t think Boston considers as a nuclear option, because I don’t know that Boston is aware that Ray tried to kill himself. I don’t think Boston knows that Mew came and saved his life. I don’t think Boston is truly aware of just how deeply important to Ray Mew is because he seems to be one of the first people to make Ray feel less alone. 

Immediate anger. Boston has struck a nerve, gotten a bullseye. If he actually cared at all for his “friends” and their feelings he could have stopped there. Boston is a voyeur, a photographer, all he does all the time is watch, record, manipulate bodies. He can read people well, but he is cocky and overconfident about his own understanding of the situations that have occurred between people in his social circle. If Boston cared, he would see that Ray just turned on a dime, that the loose, casual, fuzzy, flirty person that was just wrapped around Sand has turned in to a tense, focused ball of rage. ““What the hell are you saying, Ton?” 

“What? Sand doesn’t know you’ve been in love with your best friend for years? But Mew is with Top now. Someone beat you to it, man.” 

So…my Dad has this habit of saying shitty things, and over the years we have made safewords with him to tell him when he is approaching saying something out of pocket and he should change the subject (“pothole”), and for when he has said something out of pocket and should probably stop talking immediately (“sinkhole”). My father consistently blows right through “sinkhole” and continues to dig his hole deeper. Boston reminds me of my father. 

Pothole: “Ray’s whole ass is owned by Mew” 

Pothole: “Mew is with Top now. Someone beat you to it, man”  

I honestly don’t feel like I need to use too much space here on Sand’s reaction, because I read a really good post by @bird-inacage about how this revelation hits Sand hard because he may feel stripped of his dignity and see himself as a fool. 

“What a shame for my pal” 

Shout out to Jojo and co for this shot of Nick. Nick who looks horrified. Nick, who I don’t think has seen this behavior of Boston’s up close. I mean, he knows that Boston has something on Ray and Mew, he didn’t really seem to care at that point. But Nick doesn’t really know Mew, Nick only cares about Top insofar as he is competition for Boston’s attention, he’s not really friends with Ray. But he is friends with Sand. And the implications from the beginning of the episode that Ray has stayed over and hung out with Sand all day multiple times, feels like Nick is at least starting to develop some modicum of care/friendship with Ray. And Nick is sitting there, watching Boston be cruel. Cruel to people that Nick actually cares about. Cruel to people that Nick doesn’t think deserve it, and the wheels are turning, so there isn’t much more he can do about it. 

“Oh wait. My bad. I remember you and Mew making out. Did you take his virginity?” (Sinkhole. Boston should probably shut his goddamn little whore mouth at this point)

“Ton, what the shit are you going on about?” Ray asks, shooting up from the ground and in to a standing position [and lord almighty is Khaotung just a powerhouse actor between the way he is able to physically embody Ray’s anger, and just look and act drunk all the time). This has turned in to a fight, Boston has riled Ray up, Boston has already punished both Ray and Sand at this point. But he has to make everyone around him as miserable as humanly possible in as little time as he can, so: 

“Oh? I saw everything. I took some photos, actually.” (SINKHOLE. No seriously dude you need to shut the fuck up right now). 

“What the hell did you do that for, bastard?” Ray is shifting his weight, Khaotung’s breathing has changed. You can fucking tell Ray’s heart is racing, that a blind rage is seeping in to his bones. Ray is livid.

“What? I just want to keep track of my best friends’ romantic moments. Was I wrong?”

 

(Spoiler alert to those reading this post for the body language breakdown: Boston does not actually give a single flying fuck if he is wrong)

“Keep track?” 

And finally someone punches Boston straight in the mouth! And even still! EVEN STILL Boston cannot shut the fuck up. Boston is righteous in the worst possible way. Boston is hurting everyone around him for the sake of “honesty”, “clarity”, “visibility” in a way that Boston himself in his own life actively avoids. With Nick he keeps their relationship status unclear, with Nick he refuses to get photographed, with Nick he hides the fact that he hooked up with Top. But Boston will air everyone else’s dirty laundry, Boston will record and photograph everyone else’s private moments, Boston will give facts as best as he knows them when literally anyone else is involved:

“Sand has every right to know. Ray is in love with Mew. They even screwed! But good thing you came along, Sand. He needs to get over Mew”  

“What does it have to do with you?” Ray is still fucking pissed, and this is a really important and relevant question to ask. Boston has no place in Ray and Mew’s private business. Boston has no right to record them without their permission. Boston has no right to have this conversation about Ray’s feelings with Sand. And Boston does not answer this question. He will not answer this question, because for Boston everyone else’s business is his, and his business is no one’s. 

Now, do I think Boston is lying about Ray and Mew having sex? No. I think there are actually a number of layers to that statement. I think we are either a) setting up to have a killer conversation about people’s perceptions of sex/people’s perceptions of what counts as sex or b) that Boston fully thinks he saw Ray and Mew do something sexual when they actually didn’t [think Ray throwing up while doubling over Mew so it looks like he’s giving head]. And it is worth noting that Ray doesn’t deny the statement, although this doesn’t necessarily mean anything because there are lots of words and fists and vitriol being thrown around at this point, confirming or denying any sexual relationship with Mew is not really going to do anything to calm this situation. 

“If you’re not in love with him anymore, then why did you get so mad?” Boston asks, and I love that this is phrased as a gotcha! moment. Boston thinks asking why someone got mad enough to punch him in the face after he said he was keeping track of his friends' romantic lives by holding on to pictures he had taken of them in secret is definitive proof that he is correct. Ray got real mad about Boston’s doucheness, and that must mean that Ray is love with Mew. 

And he isn’t totally wrong. We know that Ray is in love with Mew, we know part of why Ray is in love with Mew. We know that Sand is now filling a similar role in Ray’s life as the only person who is willing to take care of him. But this question for me highlights a huge aspect of Boston’s character that I do not think we appreciate enough. 

Boston does not know everything, and he acts like he does. 

Ray is getting so mad at Boston because what Boston is saying is true AND Ray is getting so mad at Boston because Ray almost compromised his relationship with Mew by kissing him when he was sleeping. Ray is in a weird place right now in relation to how he sees Mew and how Mew sees him. At the moment, Mew is patient, kind, and forgiving, and willing to maintain their friendship and accept Ray’s apology as long as Ray can get it through his head that Mew is never going to see him as a potential romantic partner. If Ray cannot do that, Ray loses a very important person in his life. (And we see Mew punch Ray in the promo for next week, my hunch is that Nick tells Ray about Boston and Top and Ray tries to warn Mew about Top and Mew takes that as Ray lying to break them up, but that’s beside the point). 

Boston may be correct that Ray is in love with Mew, but Boston has no idea what the fuck he is talking about when it comes to Ray’s current relationship to Mew. Boston does not know that Mew and Ray are in a rocky relationship right now because of Ray’s feelings. Boston thinks that he is right that Ray is in love with Mew because Ray gets so mad so quick, because he does not understand that a huge part of what is riling Ray up is that Boston is poking at a deep injury he thinks is just a flesh wound. 

And still after Boston has gotten a fist to his face, and swung back; even after he has shoved Nick out of the way so hard Nick fell on to the couch; even after they had blown off some steam and were de-escalating to the point of screaming at each other rather than beating eachother up. Boston 

Still 

Can 

NOT 

Quit

“Oh, are you going to be two-timing?”

Boston is literally just…going in to a house that is not his and lobbing grenades all over the place cause he’s fucking bored. Cause he sets Ray off again, leaving Sand, screaming at Boston and Ray to stop fighting (IN HIS OWN FUCKING HOUSE, AFTER SHARING HIS OWN FUCKING WEED). 

Boston listens to Sand, Boston walks away, Boston goes to Nick’s room. But the look in his eye? 

He is not done with this. Boston is not surprised that Ray got mad, Boston was reveling in Ray’s reaction, but I think Ray’s rage went beyond what Boston had anticipated, and this feels to me like an act of war. 

The Cool Down

Boston and Nick remove themselves from the scene and Ray and all his infinitely perfected coping skills rushes to chug as much alcohol as he can. 

Again, thank you to Jojo and co for spending this amount of time highlighting Ray’s addiction, reminding us that Ray is not just a party boy, but is an alcoholic. Ray’s using alcohol to calm his nerves, possibly to forget what happened, and definitely because he has no idea what else to do but run to the most comforting item he can. 

We cut to the silence of Sand’s bedroom. Sand and Ray laying awkwardly side by side. Ray, to his credit, does try to comfort Sand 

“Hey, don’t listen to what Boston said. If there’s something you want to know, ask me” 

The problem is, while Boston does not have the full context for the depth at which he has just hurt Ray, he is still right. Ray loves Mew, and if Ray didn’t, he would not have gotten mad the way he did. Ray can say whatever he wants here, Ray can ask to be trusted by Sand to tell him what he wants to know. But Sand has seen enough of Ray’s behavior, been jerked around enough by Boston, heard too many times in too short a period that Ray does not consider them anything more than friends, and so Sand is back to boundaries and barriers. 

Sand lost sight of himself, and he fell too quickly for a deeply broken boy that he cannot fix, and who is not emotionally available enough to be a good fit for him right now. 

And God, for as much as Sand exists to be jerked around by the narrative and shit on and used by the wealthier characters, I see why First was picked to play this role (besides the fact that there is no one else but Khao that I think could have done Ray, and it’s hard to kick the GMMTV pair-ups.) We have not even gotten to the height of First Crying Over Problems That Are Partially His Character’s Fault in this show yet, but First is a master at microexpressions, and despite the fact that his face is pretty neutral, that Sand has put on this mask, there is just such a palpable disappointment radiating off of Sand. The shine in his eyes is dulled, I saw someone on tumblr say this really looks like the first time that Sand has seen Ray, looked at him without the rose-colored glasses. 

Sand’s mother loves him, I think he is special to her, but it is hard to feel special to someone you have to take care of. In the montage at the beginning of the episode, Sand is shown working, working, working, working and we don’t really see him interacting with other people who he isn’t providing a service to. He sings at the bar, he seems to enjoy that, he seems to have a good time with Yo and Atom, but he is only that close to them because they pay him to play there. He is providing them a service. The only classmates he is shown interacting with are clients he is selling plum wine to. It’s really possible that Sand’s only friend is Nick, and we don’t see them hanging out that much. 

And, I know there is always some contention about how any and all of these characters feel, how much or how little they are telling the truth, etc. But for me personally, I think about when Ray said that he does care about Sand’s feelings, and I at the time he said it, I don’t think he did, but I think by Episode 5 he is starting to genuinely care. 

Ray is getting better at reading Sand, Ray is trying to have a serious conversation, or at least to open the floor to one, and Sand is sad and so he isn’t saying anything, and Ray is able to tell that something is wrong. Ray wants Sand to talk to him, Ray says Sand’s name multiple times, trying to get him to answer verbally. 

And Sand can’t do it, not if he is looking at Ray, not if he has to actually face the reality of how much of a fool he has been, to fall this deep, to fall this fast, to get it in his head that he and Ray were becoming something more than friends. To actually believe for even a second that someone could think he was special. 

So he closes his eyes, and he takes a deep breath, and he says: 

“Forget it. I’m tired. One more thing…This has nothing to do with me.” 

Who is he talking to here, Ray or himself? 

Sand’s inhale in this moment is deep, it’s weary, unsteady, and sad. Sand is gathering the strength to let go of what he thought he had. He is rebuilding his walls, and placing Ray on the other side of them. He cuts Ray out completely the second he turns his back. And you can just see the guilt all over Ray’s face, you can see all these little bursts of realization moment after moment where Ray realizes that he’s losing Sand now too. Even though Sand is likely more of a consolation prize to him, an easy victim of his puppy dog eyes. 

Alone o’clock is not just for Sand, it’s for Ray too. Boston has won yet again because Boston is a miserable sack of shit lashing out because Mew and Top finally fucked and he has to make it everyone’s problem

Tagging the ephemerality squad: @lurkingshan, @waitmyturtles, @chickenstrangers, @ranchthoughts, @twig-tea, @clara-maybe-ontheroad, @distant-screaming

and my blessed mess crew: @so-much-yet-to-learn, @ginnymoonbeam, @bengiyo, @shortpplfedup, @neuroticbookworm, @emotionallychargedtowel because I want attention :)