#anyways. happiest birthday to my dear friend. you know who you are

[sunnfish]

[ID: A digital illustration of Hanzawa Masato from Sasaki to Miyano, from the waist up. He is submerged in a bathtub, wearing a white funeral kimono. His hair floats around him, and the water warps his body and the surroundings; he is smiling mysteriously with his eyes gently open, and he has a mild nosebleed that diffuses into the water. It’s colored with saturated blue-greens, blue-purples, reds, and bright whites, and it’s rendered in a painterly style. The artist’s signature “sunnfish” and the date “May 19 2024” are written near his arm. /End ID]

'cause back in my day we didn’t need no feel-good pills and no psychiatrists

no, we just bled out in our baths

God-damn it, we liked it

[Marsha, Thankk You for the Dialectics, but I Need You to Leave - Will Wood]

[michellemisfit]

WEEKLY TAG WEDNESDAY

Happiest of birthdays to our dear @energievie who created today's birthday themed tag game. WHOOP WHOOP! 🥳

Thanks for the tag @deedala 🎉 @gallapiech 🤩 @vintagelacerosette 🙌

---

When is yours? 1st March

Where were you born? Switzerland.

How do you feel about your legal name? Are you using it online and/or IRL? Michelle is a nice name. I'm perfectly happy with it. I do however absolutely hate the Beales song I was named after. Think it's one of their worst songs. And I regularly forget that I have a middle name, not even cause I hate it or anything, purely because I think it's pointless. It's Aline.

How about your sign? Do you feel it "fits"? I'm Pisces. And I guess so..? I don't really know much about signs, but people who do tell me it fits, and I believe them. @celestialmickey - come and weigh in! haha

What's your earliest memory related to your birthday? Weirdly enough my earliest *birthday* memory that comes to mind is actually my brother's birthday, when he turned maybe 6? And I would have been 3? My parents had a weird thing about getting me small gifts on his birthday, because I was younger and they didn't want me to get upset I guess? Anyway. There's a photograph of him blowing out his birthday candles and me holding a little sheep stuffed toy that I got for his birthday. I remember loving that sheep a LOT! For my first birthday memory I actually don't really have one until about age 6 or 7? I had a birthday party in our party room and my mum made me invite the whole class, even though I wasn't friends with anyone at school. One of the girls gave me a doll as a present and I genuinly just didn't know what I was supposed to do with this thing and had no idea how to react when I unwrapped it... it was very awkward and I'm sure I was less than graceful. Not the best memory lol

What's one of the best gifts you've ever received? When I first moved to London I felt like I was required to go back to Switzerland for birthdays and Christmas celebrations, even though those were difficult, associated with a lot of bad memories, and never ever fun. I moved to London at the beginning of October with a suitcase of clothes and not much else, and we pretty immediately went on the Dirty Pretty Things break up tour, so i didn't even sleep in my new London room very much for the first 8 weeks. Going back to Switzerland for that Christmas was particularly hard because I hadn't been in London for long, I had barely any stuff that belonged to me, and there was a certain feeling of 'maybe it was just a long holiday, and I'm gonna wake up and live in Switzerland again', because I did a lot of extended holidays to follow bands around the UK in the two years leading up to my move so... yeah, it was rough. And then when I returned home to London Ruth and her mum had bought me my own bedsheets (zebra striped), and made up the bed in my room, and put a big bow on it, and I'm basically in floods of tears just thinking about it now. They made me a home that I was welcome in. And I’ll never forget that.

How about one of the best you've given yourself? I honestly can't think of anything that was a "birthday" gift to myself. hmmm. When I quit smoking I put £5 into a jar every day, that I wasn't spending on cigarettes, and then Ruth and I went to New York and attended Elsie Fest with my 'No Longer a Smoker' money, buying VIP tickets that came with awesome seats and a tonne of free booze... that was EXCELLENT! haha

What's your favourite cake flavour? Not a big fan of cake. I like raw cake batter an awful lot better than actual cake. So I now always ask for chocolate mousse for my birthday :)

How about your favourite flowers? Wild Flowers. And I quite like interesting twigs, too.

Have your ever thrown a birthday party? If yes, tell us about your favourite one. Oh yeah, I throw awesome parties. Here's just a few recent ones, or you can check out the Mys in the Kitchen tag for what may get served at my birthday parties... haha Though actually a couple of years post pandemic I wanted to have a brithday party, but keep it small and covid friendly, so I had a Cocktail & Cookie Icing party, which was so much fun!! I highly recommend everyone to throw a party at least once in their life, that includes like a fun workshop element. We had such a good time!

What's the ultimate birthday song?

Because it’s my birthday and people have to let me play it haha

There we have it! Birthday fun! Now it's your turn @deedala @ian-galagher @iandarling @darlingian @celestialmickey @crossmydna @too-schoolforcool @rereadanon @rutherinahobbit @the-rat-wins @tsuga-of-mars @heymrspatel @gallawitchxx x @iansw0rld @ohkate @palepinkgoat @lynne-monstr @loftec @sickness-health-all-that-shit @faejilly @junemermaid @jrooc @mikhailoisbaby @creepkinginc @francesrose3 @callivich @blue-disco-lights @sleepyfacetoughguy @stocious @spookygingerr @lingy910y @suzy-queued @greentealycheejelly @thepupperino

[danpuff-ao3]

Aaah, I'd meant to send you birthday wishes from work but that obviously failed, so here's a late-evening pop of the champagne cork for you, Danni my dear! I hope you've had the happiest of birthdays, and that you're feeling relaxed and cherished and totally indulged. And I hope you know you're cherished here as well; that you're a gift unto yourself and a delight to know! Also a brilliant author with a narrative voice that hurts the gut and breaks and illuminates the heart, while salvaging splendor from the materials of loss and ugliness. May this year bring you happiness upon happiness and much joy in your own creativity and sense of self!

I wanted to write you a Snarry snippet, but I'm pants at dashing things off in the moment, so it doesn't quite come off to my satisfaction. It doesn't really end; it's just there. But I'm dropping it here anyway because I don't have any other gifts to give you (and I'm still reeling from your latest tour de force).

Have a marvelous vacation! 🍾🎂💝😘💖

"I don't get it," Ron said. "I don't get how you can go from my sister to that awful, ugly git."

"An ugly git with a fanciable arse," Harry joked, fending off irritation at the fact that even his oldest friend refused to understand.

Ron had outgrown the juvenile impulse to mime sticking his finger down his throat, but he still grimaced in disgust as he said, "You're barking. Let's be honest, you of all people could have anyone you – "

Harry cut him off with a glare, and Ron caught himself before straying too far into rubbishy Boy Who Lived territory.

A few seats over, Charlie slanted Harry a speculative glance, as if intrigued by the topic of Snape's arse. Harry hid a smile but was canny enough not to oblige him.

He wanted to tell them You haven't a clue. Because it wasn't only about a nice arse. Severus did have his moments of beauty. Severus had his moments of belonging so completely to Harry that it blotted out everything else.

But those moments weren't meant for just anyone. They weren't meant for Ron or Charlie Weasley, for Hermione or Luna or Ginny. For all that Severus liked to insinuate their sexual compatibility into public places, there was a privacy to having a relationship with him, a sacrosanct quality that made everything five times more intense than Harry was used to.

Yes, Harry had been profoundly disturbed at first to discover it was Severus Snape's hard-faced respect, Snape's coal-black pessimism and tendency to bristle and stand his ground – even when his ground was patently wrong – that sent his cock and his temper soaring.

And Severus, after his initial recoil and ice-cold certainty that he was being pranked, had exploited that knowledge to the hilt.

Unfortunately, Ron couldn't just leave it. "It's not so much that it's a bloke, Harry. But why limit your, erm – " His discomfort smeared the words together into a smirk-worthy yerm, and the rest of the sentence proved what Harry had suspected, that he and Hermione were discussing Harry's love life behind his back. " – your erotic possibilities? No one in their right mind would call Snape sexy."

Exasperated, Harry almost shot back that no one had ever been concerned about how he was limiting himself when he was fucking a girl. But since that girl had been Ginny, it would be beastly to talk about her like that.

Then he considered mentioning the fact that, far from feeling limited, he didn't think he could take much more possibility in his sex life, as Severus would do anything he wanted.

It was true. Having bluffed his way through his own insecurity, braced every bloody time for Harry to mock him – because Severus hadn't yet got beyond his conviction that Harry was immensely more experienced than he, and that his own deprivation in this area made him, as a forty-something man, ridiculous – Severus would submerge completely in the 'erotic possibility' and take Harry with him.

PI!!!! My dear sweet friend. I am lost for words. 🥹 You are much too kind to me (which I fully appreciate.) I had the most lovely of birthdays, with much joy and indulgence! Sunny days, magical sights, and heaps of delicious food! But best of all was all the love sent my way. I am truly blessed to have so many generous, darling people in my life. 🥰

Now...ahem. [TW: fangirl shrieking ahead]

Truly, the Universe has smiled on me for my birthday! After all, imagine had this little snippet not existed???? When it's so very much everything I want and need from Snarry!!!!

Things I love:

Ron (and co.) not really "getting" Snarry? Biggest checkmark. Not enough of that out there!

Outright accusations of "ugly" [insert dreamy sigh here]

Snape's fanciable arse??? I know you've written that before and truly if any bit of Snape has to be stunning, if not his cock, then his arse will do! (But truly, both would be just fine by me!)

Severus did have his moments of beauty. Severus had his moments of belonging so completely to Harry that it blotted out everything else. -- I'm not sobbing, you're sobbing. But really, it's moments like these that make me LOVE the "ugly" word. It's why I LOVE honing in on other people's opinions and issues, and beauty standards, it's kicking them square in the balls! Yes, he's ugly in a sense. But that doesn't mean he's not beautiful. And really, isn't that the most perfect example of beauty? When it's everything within shining without? (Okay let me tuck my feelings back in there, sorry about that.)

More of Severus using personal details as weapons, as in: their sexual compatibility. To shock and horrify those around them. It feels quite petty on the surface, but also an almost defense mechanism deep down (even if he doesn't quite see it.) The whole "If I say it first, it won't hurt me if you say it" idea. Because if he's using it to shock/horrify people, then it won't matter when they're shocked/horrified. Or, even as punishment for being shocked/horrified. Truly, I'm obsessed. What a perfect bastard he is. (With quite the fanciable arse, I've heard.)

and stand his ground – even when his ground was patently wrong – hi yes it's me I'm in love.

Also Severus initially thinking the whole thing is a prank???? YES YES EXACTLY.

no one had ever been concerned about how he was limiting himself when he was fucking a girl. - and Harry too gentlemanly to speak of her like that, haha! Though in fairness, the dude he's fucking is SEVERUS FLIPPIN' SNAPE.

Severus would submerge completely in the 'erotic possibility' and take Harry with him. -- all the possibilities with these 2? 100% my favorite part. All of the passion and obsession and how I'm pretty sure they'll never get enough of each other. And not even just the erotic possibility, mind you, but....well, that erotic possibility sure is something!

Anyway um this was perfect and everything I could have ever wanted and I'm obsessed with it and if you wanted to put it on AO3 I would be in full support of that 👀 But as is I am forever grateful and like sobbing. Because these are my BOYS. 😭 And you do them such justice. You always remind me of why I fell in love with them (on the off chance I'd ever forget haha!)

[faceglitchsworld]

It's the 17th of August here, which means that the best leader was born today.

Happy birthday Yonghoon 🥳

Have the collage I made for him 🥹

The P A I N I went through for finding the pics you have no idea 😭

Google tricked me idk how many times with Kanghyun, believe me. I searched his name and the Pingu fanboy came instead, I don't trust my eyes anymore 😭

Anyway, despite my official blindness, I'll leave the letter for him now.

Dear Yonghoon,

It's been a while since your last update from the military. I must confess, even though I know that next year you'll be back to us, it seems like it's been an eternity since you enlisted.

I remember the shock I had when I heard the news. It was inevitable at the time, I knew that at some point you should have gone but still, it looked like sudden news regardless. Onewe are incomplete without your voice, Yonghoon.

But I also remember how you cheered us and told us that you'll manage to keep in touch with us in a way or another. And you did it. You really did it, Yonghoon.

I remember how my eyes were on the merge of tears when I saw you singing for your colleagues at the training camp. Your hair was freaking short at the time, a true bald scalp 🤣 But despite that, seeing you singing Universe_ in front of your colleagues, receiving applauses and love for your talent made me relieved a little.

Then I saw some group pictures from the training camp and I saw how happy you looked and how you got along with your colleagues so easily. Honestly, I'm not surprised by that, you've always been Onewe's social butterfly to me and I will not be surprised if you made a new friend there.

And I remember how, when "Still Here" came out, you called Giuk during the live and you sang a little bit of the song. It was another moment where I really felt how much I missed you. And I thought I would have been strong enough to endure your missing.

I look up every message and post you left on the fancafé, every time you perform with the military band, I'm searching every clip just to hear your voice again. I even listen to the little audio bits you left almost every month. I don't even check up the translations anymore, I just listen to your voice and that's it because I really missed you and I want you back.

Almost a year ago I decided to give you the title of Best Leader because of these actions. Since then I have met other amazing leaders who work hard for their role and keep the group together. But you...you're always the best one for me. I can't wait to see you with Onewe once again.

2024 is very near and when I see you being discharged I think I'll be the happiest Weve in the world. This is my birthday wish for you today. I wish to see you healthy and strong when you'll be back.

I hope this day will be bright and you'll spend the best time ever with your colleagues. And eat a lot of food.

Happy birthday, Best Leader ❤️

[clemencetaught]

FERRE; SWEET, WONDERFUL, DEAR FERRE!!!! HAPPIEST OF BIRTHDAYS TO YOU 🎂🎉🥳🍰!!!!

May this day be full of fantastic moments, pleasant surprises, good company, delicious food and everything great that the world has to offer 💖 I hope this new year for you is covered with happiness, success, good health, memorable experiences and heartwarming situations 😊✨️!! I'm wishing you the best today and ALWAYS!!!

You are such a supportive, understanding, creative and marvelous soul;; your presence is a bright light that brings comfort, ease and joy 🥺 I thank you IMMENSELY for your friendship, for all those lovely chats where we freely go back and forth with our thoughts (I LOVE!! READING ALL YOU HAVE TO SHARE!! I'D READ ENTIRE BOOKS OF THAT!!); for all the stories we've written and developed together (ALL THOSE MARVELOUS PLOTS THAT BRING ME BOTH JOY AND PAIN ((but its okay, I signed up for the wounds 😭😂)), I KEEP THEM ALL IN MY HEART AND I AM CONTINUOUSLY THRILLED TO WRITE AND CREATE WITH YOU!!!) and for!! Giving my muses and I a chance 🥲

It's been nothing but AN HONOR, to get to know you, chat and write with you, and I hope we continue to do this fOR MANY MORE YEARS (I mean…you're stuck with me, THE RECEIPT IS LOST SO YOU CANT RETURN ME HSOWAKBAAJ 😂)!!

It also makes me very happy to celebrate your birthday once more, I HAVE MY PARTY HAT ON AND I'M THROWING HEART-SHAPED CONFETTI ALL OVER THE PLACE 🎉🎉🎉🥳🥳🥳❤️

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING, PLEASE HAVE A FANTABULOUS DAY!!! I CARE YOU AND ADORE YOU HEAPS, MY FRIEND!!!!

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! ✨️✨️✨️✨️

@jeoseungsaja alex has me like:

ALEX!!!! 🥰🥰🥰😭😭😭💕

you know nowadays it’s so weird to me?? To remember when there was a time where I wasn’t writing or plotting with you- it's hard to believe that we started writing together about two years ago...which is why i am SO GRATEFUL that you gave me the chance to not only write and plot with you but also be your friend 🥺🥺🥺 you are a SUCH a kind and thoughtful person and i'm sure everyone who is lucky enough to be mutuals with you can testify in my favor here and the judge is also biased towards me, sorry folks, the right to a fair trial in this case?? no such thing fjksldjf 😌

ANYWAYS i can only say i have such wonderful and intricate characters and plots on here because of my wonderful and creative partners such as you and all of our lovely mutuals 🥺🥺🥺 any day i get the chance to interact with you always is a good day in my book!! I always feel like a dash of dophmomine when I see u around 💕💕💕 and you know i am ALWAYS an excited puppy for our plots and  your characters ( and even MORE PLOTS….we could have 1923947373 and I would be down for more still DHDJDJD 😂😂😂 )- I also v sorry for the pain i gib u ( black knight verse )and for the pain coming in the future too ( thg verse WHICH ALSO THANK YOU JUMPING IN THE HOLE AND DRAGGING HYUK AND HAE GEON AND WILDER AND JAEHWAN AND ALL UR OTHER CHARACTERS IN TOO, it’s big enough for everyone 😌 )….if it helps it gives me pain too and any pain u gib me I shall take stride….I’ll also pay u ( and ur charas, hyuk especially )back with happiness I swear ( + tissues and consoling too 🥲🥲🥲 ) 💕💕💕💕

but thank YOU for your sweet, sweet message- I will admit when I woke up on my bday I wasn’t in most amazing of moods but reading ur message put a huge smile on my face ☺️☺️☺️ you are such a bright spot on this hellsite and most certainly a ☀️ on my dash and I am very thankful to have met you- I’m always in awe that I get to be able to interact with someone who is not only an excellent writer with characters that jump off the page but also a decent and genuinely all around good person 🥲🥲🥲 this is all to say just like you said, unfortunately for us both I will be stuck to u like superglue even after this hellsite dies 😂😂😂 not even returning the receipt will help u there!!

all in all though, thank you SO MUCH for the birthday wishes ( and YOUR GIFT DONT THINK YOURE GETTING AWAY WITH ME NOT NOTICING 🤩🤩🤩 )!! care you so much and I know for sure that this year will be as wonderful as the last since you’ll be there 🥰🥰🥰

[formagdalene]

a thousand scented candles

I guess we haven't actually talked about it to this extent.

My dear friend, you have changed a lot since then. Have you noticed too?

The saddest part about losing him was losing that part of you as well. Through rose-tinged glasses, I always see you as an angel. A funny, sweet and humble angel sent by God to bring sunshine into every one's life.

You brought sunshine in my life even though I thought I had enough of it. You brought sunshine in his life and I knew he did need a lot of it.

It was a marvel to watch your relationship. It was comforting to know it exists.

Soulmates.

It was comforting to know there exists a specific person in this world that would match you in ways you didn't think was even possible. And it's never what we expect, isn't it? Who would have expected the two of you?

If we can give levels of love for friendships my love for you exceeds my love for him. So my sorrow is mostly the sorrow of knowing one of the people I treasure the most lost something important to her.

Watching you talking over a grave, watching you cleaning it, watching you talk about the same old stories time and time again--because there's no new ones to make anymore--

It breaks my heart.

Recently too, you developed an obsession for scented candles.

I remember that box of half-used scented candles bought from different stores. I wonder if you ever tried lighting them up all at once at night. I wonder if you ever hoped it would be like a beacon to guide him back home.

Back home to you.

Because there would be no you without him, and no him without you.

But now I know you light them up to celebrate milestones.

Never got to that stage. A Lavender-scented wax candle lights up --Happy graduation anyway.

Never growing old-- a vanilla flavored soy teacup is lit up--Happy Birthday anyway.

And we will continue to celebrate milestones like this.

I know someday, Pam.

I know someday you'll find your soulmate again. And I'll be one of the happiest people for you.

He will be too.

[lonesomeseafairy]

JUST A SMALL LITTLE GIFT FIC HEHE!!

[ JUST SAYING THIS IS MY THOUGHTS ON RIELLE AND I'M SO SORRY IF I GOT IT WRONG!! ]

====

A sincere Thank you

----

Rielle, at First, was confused by the Sudden arrival of a Letter to his Dorm. Then followed by Fletcher rushing in with the most Unexpected thing to say:

"Rielle! Someone from Night Raven College has sent a Gift to you!"

Now, Rielle only had one person in Mind who'd know it's his birthday today, And it was Azul, but, considering their past.. It's impossible, so who?

Rielle sighs as he stands up, Going to the Tired male and ruffling his hair. "Alright, Let's see this Gift of mine, hm?" Fletcher nods and the two got out of his room, and Onto the Dorm's lobby.

====

When Fletcher pointed at the Gifts, he expected for one of Those to be from the NRC Student, but.. He was proved wrong when Fletcher gestures towards near the Entrance.

There layed a Beautiful Spear, colored in Deep Blues, with it's Blade shining beautifully by the Sun's bask. The staff was Long, so the Blade was Slender and pointed, alongside that, by the Connection of the two layed a Customized brooch, Silver and Metal mixed to create the Main body, with some Pearls on the side, but the Gemstone in the middle was the most Surprising one.

It was a Citrine.

Rielle had his fair share of Knowledge on Gemology, and it's Pyschological meanings.. So, he was quite surprised to see it.

A Citrine stone meant Gratitude, if gifted, it means the Gifter sincerely appreciated their time spent or whatever the Giftee did to recieve such a stone. It meant as a Sincere Thanks, and Rielle felt flattered.

The prince reaches out to touch the Elegant spear- bit was stopped mid-way when he heard Fletcher speak.

"Here was the Attached letter to it, I-I believe it was for you?"

"Really now?"

Rielle takes the Letter and opens it, Maybe this can reveal the Gifter's identity?

"Hello, Rielle,

I hope this was sent in time for your birthday, I'd hate it if it were sent a Day early or late. If it does, then, Happy Birthday, Dear friend"

...Could it be Azul? No, he wouldn't call Rielle a Friend, much less 'Dear friend'

"I have not much to say, so, I'll keep this letter short. I'd simply like to thank you for your Efforts in making me feel welcomed, from during the Student Exchange Program. Truly, I didn't expect to, have a Great time there, I give my deepest Gratitude.

Alongside that, I'd like to thank you for, Aqquainting me, I know we're not Friends yet since I only stayed there for a Week, but, It meant a lot. Whilst most of my Fellow peers were Mostly anti-social or had made harsh interactions, I was amazed by the Service RSA has given, so, truly, I enjoyed my time there.."

Rielle hummed, who was this person? That time from the Exchange Student program...

"Well, That is all I have to say for now, Happiest of Birthdays, Rielle, may your Celebration not falter to show The Love and Care those around you give and you give back.

Sincerly, Othello Spiegel"

Oh! Now it clicked!

That small guy that Rielle met with, the one who was Cold in terms of attitude, but..

Wow, How.. Flattering.

"I-is everything alright, Rielle? What's so funny?" Fletcher asked, confused yet Curios why Rielle suddenly laughed. The merman simply smiles at the Smaller male and snorts.

"Nothing, just.. Just felt like this was a Weird but, Cool gift"

====

Meanwhile at NRC...

Othello hummed as they drank their Afternoon tea, appreciating the silence around them as it was the crew' day off from the forge. So, Othello basks in silence.

Countless pearls, carving tools, and a Large chunk of Citrine layed infront of them, their hands, bandaged from Carving metal and silver, but, It was worth it.

They layed back on their Chair, staring outside the Clock tower's window.

"Happy Birthday... Rielle"

=======

OH MY GOD I HOPE I DID RIELLE RIGHTTT!!

Anyways! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THIS BABY BOY!! I HOPE HE GETS WHATEVER HE WANTS ON HIS BIRTHDAY!!

It’s my oc Rielle’s birthday today!!! 🧜‍♀️🍴🐚

[ensnapemysenses]

Hi! Can i request Severus finding out that the memory his child uses to cast a corporeal patronus is a memory with him? :)

You Think of Me?

Genre: Pure Fluff

Warnings: None

Word Count: 693

A/N: This is so cute my heart can’t take it!!! I hope I did it justice and of course, Snape has a daughter since we all agree he's a girl dad :)

Masterlist

Severus waits on the platform at 9 ¾ for his daughter to arrive home for the summer from Hogwarts. As the train pulls into the station he can’t help but smile as the students begin to filter out. He catches a glimpse of her in a window, starts waving, and walks up closer to the train. She runs down the steps and jumps into his arms laughing and giggling as he gives her a little spin and a kiss on the forehead before setting her back down. 

“How was your fourth year at Hogwarts?” Snape asks as he wheels his daughter's trolley along and back through the wall at the platform.

“It was amazing!”

“That’s great, honey! What was your favorite thing that you learned?” 

“I learned to cast a Patronus, dad!”

“Really? That’s super-advanced magic! Was it a full fledge corporeal Patronus?”

“Yes! It was a unicorn! They're supposedly very rare!”

“That they are!” Snape replies with a huge smile on his face. “Those with a unicorn Patronus usually are healers.” Knowing that his daughter is able to produce a Patronus at all has him bursting with joy, but the fact that she may be destined to live a life helping people makes him happiest of all. Perhaps she will never know the heartbreak of losing people instead of saving them that he himself has had his whole life. “Who taught you how to cast a Patronus? That’s not in the Hogwarts curriculum!” he teases.

“They just added it this year! The new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor decided to offer weekend lessons and I signed up. Only a few of us were actually able to produce one!”

“That’s amazing honey! You know, I’m so proud of you right?” he says embracing her in a hug and ruffling her hair a bit with his other hand.

“I know! Dad, guess what memory I was able to use to cast the Patronus!” she says tapping her feet on the ground in an excited little dance.

“Hhhhmmm, perhaps a memory of your friends? Or your mother?” he replies, thoughtfully.

“Nope! Guess again!”

“Well if it’s not one of those, I guess it’s got to be a memory of perhaps your cousins or something then.”

“Wrong again! Do you give up?”

“I assume I do,” he chuckles as he lifts her trunk into the back of his car. “What’s the happiest memory that allows you to cast a Patronus, dear?”

“I was having a hard time casting my Patronus and I tried every memory that you mentioned, but the one that ended up working was one of you.”

Severus halts in his action of moving things around in the back of the car to better fit the trunk in it and he turns around to look at her, his eyes beginning to fill with tears. “Really?” he asks in utter disbelief.

She nods. “Well, it’s really a collection of memories with you that work best. You teaching me how to dance in the kitchen at age 5 while humming a tune, you letting me help you collect ingredients from the garden for your potions, and getting to watch you as you brew them countless times, and that time when you baked me a birthday cake at age 8 and we couldn’t stop laughing because you added salt instead of sugar but we ate it anyway.”

Tears start falling from Severus’s face as she continues to detail collections of memories with him that allow her to cast her Patronus. When she’s done, he wipes his tears away and hugs her tightly. 

“I love you so much, sweetie,” he says with a small sniffle. 

“I love you too, dad,” she replies smiling proudly as they pull away from the hug.

“I think that’s enough crying for today he says as they get into their seats so he can drive them home. Do not tell your mother about it when we get home,” he laughs.

“You know I will!”

“Of course, I expected nothing less. I’m sure she will find it amusing,” he smiles as he pulls out of the parking spot and begins the drive home.

[prentissinred]

The Set Up

Rated: T Warnings: Implied sexual content Pairing: Aaron Hotchner x Emily Prentiss Word Count: 4.7k Read on AO3

Aaron and Emily reluctantly agree to be set up on blind dates.

~~

A birthday present for @carrotskoalasandbooze. My tech girl in arms, fellow Dramione lover, and favorite dog mom.

Us Aquarius folks aren’t prone to displays of emotion, but just this once...

I adore you and feel so lucky and grateful that I get to know the brilliant, kind, lovely human that you are. Happiest of birthdays my dear friend ❤️

~~

“Emily. Explain something to me.” JJ grasped her hand across the hightop table, the ends of her words slurring together just enough that Emily made a note to cut her friend off soon. “You haven’t been on a date since you slept with Mick Rawson, what, four months ago? Why are you so opposed to me setting you up with someone?”

“Because I’m fine, JJ! You know how insane things have been at work. I have no desire to bring a man into my life right now.”

It was a half-truth, the reality a slightly more complicated answer that Emily would never admit to.

“Anyway, my vibrator and I are getting along just fine, thank you,” Emily waved away JJ’s objection before she could voice it, ignoring the pointed look shot her way by the couple at the next table.

“It’s just a date. What’s the worst that could happen?”

“Who’s going on a date?” Penelope approached the table with a fresh round of drinks.

“Emily. If she decides to stop being so stubborn, I want to set her up with a friend of mine.”

“Oh!” Pen’s eyes went wide. “Do it, Em. Do it!”

“Pen—”

“You have two friends in committed relationships. Do this for us. We need it.” Penelope pulled Emily’s remaining free hand towards her, Emily now literally stretched between her two closest friends.

“You guys are the worst, you know that?”

“On the contrary, we are fantastic friends who just want to help our brilliant, gorgeous, available friend get laid.”

Emily bent her head to sip her drink, knowing from experience that once these two women latched onto something, resistance was almost always futile. As if she could sense that Emily’s resolve was beginning to crumble, JJ began prodding Emily incessantly on her arm.

“Give in, Emily. You know I’m not going to let this go.”

After another ten seconds of persistent poking, Emily groaned, resigning herself to her friend’s enthusiasm. “Fine. FINE. Thursday night, okay?”

Penelope and JJ grinned at each other across the table in sadistic victory, finally giving Emily full agency of her hands once more.

“Am I allowed to know anything about him, at least?”

“Nope,” JJ replied, popping her lips on the p. “I’m not letting you stalk him online and come up with an excuse to get out of this.”

Emily unleashed her most draconian stare but it went ignored as the other two women clinked their glasses.

The night ended a few hours later with Emily and Penelope escorting a swaying JJ home and depositing her into Will’s amused arms.

Back in the safety of her own bed, Emily stared at the ceiling and felt an unpleasant churn that had nothing to do with the alcohol slowly fading from her system until, at last, she turned over into a restless sleep.

-------

Emily hefted her duffel bag into her arms, huffing as she attempted to use her free hand to turn the key to her room. Earlier that night, when Emily found Penelope in the sitting room of their hotel — or more accurately, the sole inn in this microscopic Alaskan town — she was informed the team had already sorted themselves into pairs for the available rooms. Dave had, of course, latched onto the only single bed available. Derek and Penelope claimed the one room on the ground floor, while the remaining girls, and Aaron and Spencer, had neighboring rooms upstairs.

The door finally clicked open, and Emily walked in to find Spencer sitting against the headboard of one of two beds, a handful of pretzels frozen halfway to his mouth.

“Hey Reid. What—”

“Oh Emily, there you are,” JJ walked out of the bathroom and perched herself on the edge of the second bed. An awkward pause passed between the three of them before JJ chipped in, “Spence is scared of Hotch, so he wanted to hang out here.”

“I’m not scared of him,” Spencer retorted. “He’s just being really intense right now. He’s looking over the case file and pacing up and down the room. I started eating,” he held up the snack bag in his hand, “and he just stared at me. So I left.”

The two women chuckled, then laughed even louder when Spencer mumbled plaintively under his breath, “I just wanted to eat my pretzels.”

Emily could feel for him, knowing all too well how severe Hotch could appear at times, but she was also exhausted and eyed her now occupied bed with envy. It was cold, too cold, the chill spreading from the tip of her nose down to her toes. All she wanted was to crawl into the warmth of the covers and sink her head into those inviting pillows.

“It’s cool, Reid. You stay here, I’ll take the other room.”

“No, Emily, it’s fine—”

“Don’t worry. Stay, eat your pretzels. I need to get off my feet, and I’m not going to bother Hotch if I’m sleeping.”

Spencer couldn’t help but look relieved despite his attempts at protest. “Thanks, Emily.”

Emily nodded, wished them good night, and made the short trip to the next room. Hotch answered her knock, a brief flicker of irritation at being interrupted smoothing into surprise.

“Emily?”

“Surprise. You have a new roommate.” She didn’t give him a chance to ask, sidestepping past him into the room. The fire was already roaring, saturating the room with a pleasing orange glow, comforting her immediately.

“What happened to Reid?” He closed the door and stepped back into the room. He was still in his clothes from earlier that day, and a small part of Emily’s brain noted the casual sweater and jeans suited him well.

“You scared him off,” she chuckled, dropping her bag unceremoniously at the foot of the empty bed.

“What?”

“You know, that whole,” she waved her hand in the general direction of his face, “silent, stare-y thing you do. He’s hiding out in JJ’s room.”

The thick lines of his eyebrows furrowed, mouth set in a tight line that served as an exemplary depiction of the expression she was referring to. “Anyway, I offered to switch. Figure I’d be less of a bother to you. And let’s face it, you don’t really scare me.”

She winked, which only made his eyes narrow further, but he walked back to his bed, seemingly without further objection. Emily took her cue to use the bathroom, performing a truncated version of her usual nighttime routine, her only goal at the moment to make it to bed.

When she emerged, he was predictably still buried in his files, a cup of something warm cradled in his free hand. Emily slid into the covers of her bed, sighing at the blissful feeling of stretching out her legs under a pile of warm blankets, and slowly melted down into her pillow.

“You know you should get some sleep.” He didn’t react, so she pressed on, “We’ve done as much as we can for the night. Get some rest. Once Pen’s finished the background checks, we can tackle it fresh in the morning.”

She expected him to continue to ignore her advice, but to her surprise, he scrubbed a hand down his face, his exhaustion plain and clear. Nodding, he finally spoke, “You’re right.”

He retreated to the bathroom, and Emily snuggled further down. She was on that teetering edge of sleep when he came back into the room, stopping on his way to bed to add an extra log to the fireplace. Emily turned to her side to thank him, but the words promptly dried in her mouth.

He had dressed for bed. A white undershirt that fit snug against his torso and grey sweatpants that hugged his backside in a way she was sure would be considered illegal in several countries.

He looked…delicious.

Emily imagined crossing the short distance between their beds and climbing on top of him, straddling his thighs and tracing her tongue along that newly discovered skin between the hem of his shirt and the band of his pants—

“Emily?”

The deep timbre of his voice broke her out of her salacious fantasy. He was frowning at her again. Probably wondering why she was staring at his stomach. His surprisingly tight, defined stomach.

“Is everything okay?”

She blinked. “Yeah.” It came out cracked and hoarse, like she had just screamed her way through a rock concert. Trying again, “Thanks for keeping the fire going. Good night.”

She didn’t wait for his reply, promptly turning over to hide the rapidly forming blush making its way onto her cheeks. She heard the rustling of his sheets, the sound of his head hitting his pillow, and the click of the lamp. Finally, he wished her good night.

Any exhaustion she might have felt had burned out of her. Adrenaline was sparking every nerve, her heart hammering like she’d just run through the training course at Quantico.

It wasn’t that she had been totally oblivious to Hotch’s attractiveness. She saw the way cops and detectives eyed him when he entered a precinct, the women who would approach him on nights out only to be turned away with the utmost politeness.

Yet never before had it been placed on such brazen display. Never before had she felt her body react so viscerally, intent on acting and disappointed when she didn’t.

It didn’t help that she had always held a certain fondness for her no-nonsense boss. Her respect was not easy to come by, and yet he always held it, even when he was being his most irascible self.

She squirmed as she lay there, all hope of sleep lost, uncomfortable with the way her body was reacting to the images her brain still insisted on producing. When they heard a scream pierce through the window later that night, Emily couldn’t help but feel a dash of relief as she threw on her clothes and escaped.

-------

“Aaron, you have to get yourself out there. You can’t just spend your weekends cooped up in your apartment.”

Aaron looked up from his paperwork at his friend, scoffing, “I am not cooped up—”

“Jack’s soccer games don’t count. Unless you’re telling me that you’ve finally started talking to those single mothers.”

“Dave, I appreciate that you have an interest in my personal life, but—”

“Give me a good reason,” Dave interrupted, holding his hand up before Aaron could answer. “And don’t say work or that you’re too busy. Your life is not going to get any easier.”

Aaron’s eyes darted briefly towards the bullpen when he heard Emily’s laugh, watching Derek and her needle Spencer through the blinds of his window.

“It’s just not the right time, Dave. I’m not looking for a relationship right now.”

“It’s not a relationship; it’s a date. Just dinner, with a perfectly lovely woman I know. When was the last time you went on a first date? High school, with Haley?”

When Aaron said nothing, focused on absently sorting the papers on his desk, Dave persisted, “You need to put yourself out there. Casually, no pressure. What’s the worst that could happen?”

Aaron knew this was only the beginning. His friend, while well-meaning, dedicated as much effort into pulling Aaron out of his supposed social stagnation as he did putting serial killers behind bars.

“One dinner, and then you don’t bother me about this for the foreseeable future.”

Dave answered a grin that made Aaron immediately wary. “Deal. I’ll set it up. Thursday night.”

-------

Aaron could not fathom how he ended up here.

A casual dinner with the team, celebrating the end of their case, turned into a night on the town. In Vegas, of all the horrors.

He could blame the two beers he had with dinner, softening him enough that he didn’t put up much of a fight when the team insisted that he join them.

It was a decision he was deeply regretting now, tucked away in one of the many booths lining the walls of a nightclub. It was a swanky place Derek had brought them to, with dark velvet walls, high ceilings, and lights that danced over the tops of the bodies. The bass thundered, each pulse bringing Aaron closer to the brink of a headache, while he waited for Derek to arrive with their drinks.

Dave sat across from him, looking entirely at ease as he observed their surroundings, a synchronous sea of bodies that swayed and gyrated to the unrecognizable music.

“What exactly are we doing here?” Aaron had to raise his voice to be heard across the table.

“Enjoying ourselves, letting off some steam.”

“Speak for yourself. This isn’t exactly my idea of a good time.”

Dave simply chuckled, unsympathetic to Aaron’s souring mood. In a momentary respite, Derek arrived with their drinks, Aaron immediately taking a grateful sip of his whiskey.

“Are the girls not here yet?”

“Not yet. I can’t imagine it takes this long to change your clothes—”

Aaron spotted her before Dave finished his sentence. Emily. Dressed in a black dress with thin straps over her shoulders, draped over her body like glaze on a cake, nipping in and stretching over her every curve.

His mouth went dry, an unfamiliar clench hitting low in his belly. He could feel the flush rising up his face, hoping the relative darkness kept it hidden from view. Ducking his head, he focused on his drink, frown lines wrinkling his forehead as he attempted to make sense of the last thirty seconds of his life.

It wasn’t that he was completely blind to Emily’s attractiveness. Of course he noticed the way people watched her. The cops that offered to drive her around during a case, the men who approached her at bars to widely varying levels of success. Even the woman who had once boldly walked up to their entire team and asked Emily to dance, only to walk out of the bar with her twenty minutes later.

Yet, he had never experienced anything like this. Even after the bonds of his marriage had faded away, the fact of Emily’s beauty had always been just that. Not an opinion to hold and covet for himself.

“Where’s JJ?” Dave’s question broke Aaron out of his musings.

“She played the pregnant lady card,” Emily shrugged, and Aaron’s eyes instantly went to the graceful movement of her bare shoulder.

Derek pulled Emily into the dance floor, spinning her around so her hair rippled out behind her and the brightness of her laugh carried over the din of the crowd.

Aaron knew he was being blatantly obvious — he could feel Dave following the direction of his gaze, trying to ascertain what was holding his interest — but Aaron couldn’t help himself.

Her body moved with confidence, eyes closed as she danced with a lightness he rarely witnessed. As if they hadn’t just finished a case with a kidnapped kid, as if she didn’t carry the burdens of life and death on her shoulders.

It was intoxicating to watch. Even as people filled in the gaps, obscuring her from his view, he drank in every half-darkened glimpse.

An image trickled into his mind, impetuous and overpowering. He imagined walking through the throng, finding her in the center. Wrapping an arm around her waist, pulling her flat against his body. Learning the slope of her neck with his lips, the scrape of his teeth against her skin as he tugged down that impractically small strap—

“I’m getting a refill,” Dave announced, interrupting the wayward path of his thoughts. “You need anything?”

Aaron shook his head, not wanting to add further fuel to his overactive imagination. He couldn’t deny the burn he felt. That impatient, fiery thing, eagerly fighting to crawl its way out of him.

He swallowed the rest of his drink in one fell swoop, embarrassed at himself, craving someone he had no right to want. Someone he had only ever possessed the utmost respect and admiration for.

Eager to leave before Dave returned and insisted that he stay behind, Aaron gathered his coat and fled.

-------

“Thursday night, 7pm. He’ll be at the bar wearing a blue blazer. Oh! Em, you should definitely wear that dress you bought last week.”

-------

“7pm on Thursday. She’ll meet you at the bar in a red dress. Now, let’s talk about what you’re going to wear.”

-------

The restaurant was crowded and buzzy, a trendy spot that everyone seemed to be raving about in recent weeks.

Emily weaved through the tables towards the bar where a group of patrons were mingling, the bartender busy behind the counter. A man stood off to the side, forearms resting on the counter, his navy blazer stretched across broad shoulders, tapering down in an excellent fit. She took a moment to admire him, reminding herself to be nicer to JJ in the future, before clearing her throat lightly and placing a hand on his shoulder.

Recognition hit her slowly, but when it did, her mouth fell open. “Hotch?”

“Emily?” He seemed equally surprised, his eyes dragging over the length of her before his expression settled into one of understanding. He pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering so quietly that Emily just barely made out, “I’m going to kill him.”

Her stomach was making a slow crawl up to her throat, and she mentally rescinded any previous decisions to be kind to her friend. “What are you doing here?”

He sighed, running a hand down his face as he confirmed her suspicions. “I think our friends have a poor sense of humor.”

Emily ignored the tiny, unwelcome pang of hurt in her chest and laughed, “I guess so.” Taking one last glance around the bar, she hoped that this was all just a misunderstanding and her actual date — and not the man she had spent the better part of four months wanting — would step forward. When it was clear that wouldn’t happen, Emily stepped back and said, “Well, enjoy your free evening. I’ll see you tomorrow,” then turned and quickly made her way out of the restaurant.

Aaron cursed quietly as she walked away from him. He saw her reaction to his mindless comment, only discernible because he knew what to look for before her mask slipped into place. Before he could talk himself out of it, he followed her, catching up to her just before she reached the door.

“Emily, wait.” She stopped, looking up at him with no small amount of wariness.

She was lovely. A slight curl at the ends of her hair, makeup making her chocolate eyes appear even bigger than they normally were. Her long-sleeved red dress, with its low cut in the back, made his pulse quicken to an almost painful degree.

“We’re here, we have a table. Why don’t we have dinner anyway?” Sensing her hesitation, he added, “As friends.” It took her a few seconds, but eventually, she agreed.

They were seated in a small booth near the back. L-shaped and intended for couples, so they were sitting perpendicular to each other. Aaron had to commend Dave on his attention to detail, even if he was still irked by his friend’s meddling.

The atmosphere was undeniably awkward. They picked through the starter bread, talking about work as the safest topic of choice.

When their meals arrived, and they were down a glass of wine each, she began asking questions about Jack, and Aaron inquired about the new apartment she had just moved into. It was better, if a little stilted. A marked difference from the ease they usually had with each other. Aaron didn’t realize how much he valued it until it was gone.

Halfway through their entrees, he braced himself to ask the question that had been plaguing him.

“Why did JJ decide to set you up tonight? With me?”

She avoided looking at him directly, though they had both been culprits of that this evening. “She’s always been perceptive like that. She should have been a profiler; her talents are wasted,” she chuckled.

Emily expected a response, even a dry laugh, but he was silent. Prodding at his food with his fork as he seemed to be thinking through something serious.

Finally, he asked, “Perceptive?”

“What?”

“You said JJ was perceptive. What was she…perceiving?”

She balked at the unexpected question, fighting the urge to pick at her fingernails, but knowing he would easily latch onto her tells. Instead, she smiled, hoping he didn’t notice how strained it was. “Oh, you know, that I haven’t been on a date in a while. That’s all. She and Pen are far too invested in my romantic life.”

She hoped that would be the end of it, but he was watching her now with a new focus, scrutinizing her with the keen eyes of a profiler. She wondered briefly if this was how subjects felt in the interrogation room, their every thought and feeling laid out in painfully transparent view.

“Hotch, what—”

“You didn’t ask me.”

“I’m sorry?”

“You didn’t ask me why Dave set me up. With you.” His voice had taken on a richness she hadn’t heard before. Deeper, softer, like the first decadent bite of chocolate cake.

“Okay, why?”

“Because,” he reached one hand towards hers. Not grasping it, simply skating his thumb lightly over her knuckles as her breath hitched at his touch. “He’s probably figured out that I care about you. More than I have any right to.”

Any chance of her finishing the rest of her meal vanished, her insides rioting violently. She felt like a giddy teenager learning about a schoolmate’s crush. Nothing like the adult, independent, mature FBI agent she supposedly was.

She didn’t realize she hadn’t said anything until he pulled away, back ramrod straight as he averted his eyes.

“Of course, if you don’t— that is, if I misunderstood— we can forget this—”

“Aaron.”

Supremely grateful for their current seating arrangements, she leaned towards him, brushing her lips ever so softly against his.

When she pulled back to gauge his reaction, he smiled. Not the smile she’d seen on rare occasions before. No, this smile was private, just for her.

His fingers grasped her chin, tilting her towards him so he could kiss her properly.

At the taste of him, Emily could feel her blood rushing in her ears, a potent high reminiscent of the irresponsible adventures of her youth. His tongue teased against her bottom lip, but before she had the chance to deepen the kiss to a point that would be ill-suited to their public setting, he broke away. An adorable flush on his cheeks, eyes half-lidded, a heavy exhale escaping his mouth, he looked as affected as she was.

“Well, this night turned out better than I anticipated.”

She grinned, stamping her lips to his once more.

“Aaron?”

He brushed his knuckle over her cheekbone, looking unbearably fond. “I like the sound of that.”

“Is Jack spending the night at Jessica’s?”

The shift in his expression was instantaneous, the heated look as his eyes dropped down to her lips again stealing her breath with its intensity. He nodded, and it sent a pulse low in her stomach.

Emily turned in her seat, scanning the restaurant until she caught the attention of their waitress. “We’ll take the check now, please.”

-------

Aaron struggled to remember a better Friday morning in recent memory.

He woke to the view of Emily’s head resting on his chest, her hair fanning out in beautiful contrast over his white sheets. He tightened his hold over her waist, and she pressed closer to him still, her leg draping over his.

“Good morning.” He pressed his lips into her hair.

She hummed, twisting in his hold so that she lay on top of him, tucking her head under his chin as his fingers traced patterns over the skin of her back.

“Morning,” she mumbled into his chest. “It’s early.”

He chuckled at the reluctance in her voice. “We have to get to work.”

“Isn’t one of the perks of sleeping with the boss getting to come to work late?”

He rolled them over until she was smirking up at him, her legs wrapping around his hips. Nipping at her bottom lip, he said, “Unfortunately not.” Making his way up the length of her jaw, he added, “Though I’m hoping there are other benefits.”

Emily laughed in agreement, threading her fingers into his hair, holding him in place as he worked over her neck, careful not to leave any marks behind.

“What do we tell them?”

He paused, lifting his head so he could meet her eyes. “What would you like to tell them?”

She trailed her fingers over his lips, smiling when he kissed her fingertips. “It would be nice to keep this to ourselves, but I don’t see much chance of that happening.”

He agreed, then knit his brows together as he seemed to contemplate what he was going to say next. “Emily, I know we didn’t talk much yesterday. But I hope you know this isn’t— it’s not just about—”

She kissed him then, cupping his cheek in her hand, feeling the scratch of his stubble on her palm. “I know, Aaron. For me too.”

He gifted her that smile then, the one meant just for her, and her heart flipped in her chest. She moaned into his kiss as it deepened, wrapping her arms around and arching into him. When he traveled down her neck, she said, “You realize they’re going to be insufferable.”

“Undoubtedly.”

“How much grief do we give them?”

“Honestly,” Aaron mouthed the word against the top of her breast, “I’m finding it difficult to be upset with them right at this moment.”

Emily giggled —giggled — and then sighed as his lips moved down, down her body. Very difficult, indeed.

-------

“So?” JJ and Penelope greeted Emily as soon as she passed the double doors, looking frighteningly like the smiling version of twins from a horror movie. “How was it?”

Emily didn’t miss the glance JJ threw to the kitchen where Aaron stood making his coffee. She’d reluctantly left him that morning after their shower went longer than expected, so she could get some fresh clothes at her place. Her friends trailed behind her as she walked to her desk. Dave stood nearby, casually leaning against Spencer’s desk with his head buried in a newspaper, conveniently within earshot.

Emily dropped her bag into her chair with an exaggerated sigh. “Really, JJ, the next time you set me up with someone, the least they could do is show up.”

“What?” JJ exclaimed, unable to stop herself from looking up at Rossi in horror, who had dropped the paper from his face.

Emily fought the urge to laugh and continued, “I got there, and there was no one waiting for me at the bar. I stayed there for half an hour before I finally went home.”

“Emily, are you being serious?”

“Why would I lie about something like that?” she retorted, arching an eyebrow at her blond friend. The excitement in JJ’s face fell, her expression tightening into one of concern.

“You’re right. Emily, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what happened.” JJ turned to glare at Dave, who shrugged his shoulder, looking equally confused.

Emily thought to herself that for a team of highly trained agents, they were disastrous at keeping their cool.

“Conference room. Five minutes.” Aaron barked as he passed them, striding up to his office.

The rest of the day passed in its usual fashion. Hotch, appearing more brusque than usual, assigned them their consults for the day as JJ and Rossi stared at him from across the round table. Emily caught them in the kitchen afterward, heads ducked together and whispering heatedly.

Around lunchtime, Aaron passed her desk and chanced throwing a sly wink in her direction, and Emily thought that she could really get used to sleeping with her boss.

When the sun set and everyone started packing their bags to return home, Emily watched Aaron turn the lights off in his office and close the door behind him. Derek, surprised that his boss was planning to leave the office at a reasonable hour, remarked, “You’re leaving?”

“Yes.” He walked up to Emily’s desk, smiling down at her warmly. “Ready to go?”

“Yup,” she grinned, taking his hand in hers as they walked to the elevator, leaving shocked faces and gasps in their wake.

Just as they entered the elevator, Aaron’s arm coming around her waist as she pressed the button for the lobby, an unmistakable shout came from the bullpen. “I KNEW IT.”

[izurokikun]

The plan was simple. Use the directions from Dustin's super smart computer nerd of a girlfriend, Suzie, find the NINA PROJECT, get there and save El. Simple! Or…maybe not…

"And welcome to Nevada my dudes!" Argyle announced, nodding his head to the sign ahead stating their arrival. Jonathan turned around to face Will and Mike who were sitting in the back of the van not focusing on anything in particular . "You guys should get some rest,okay? I'm sure we'll need it when we get there." He said. Mike and Will both responded with a slow head nod. He looked at the pair for a moment before sighing, rolling himself over to rest. "If you need a break, let me know." He'd mumbled to Argyle before falling silent. "Course dude! Y'all better listen n' get some shut eye!" Argyle laughed, beginning to hum a tune they couldn't quite place.

Will leaned against the glass pane of his window, old water streaks smudging his vision. There was a lot to think about. A lot to say, but no words that he could think of to verbally state much of anything. There was still a few smears of blood on the chair from before, though he tried not to focus on it too much. The panic has died down exceptionally since they left Suzie's house. Mike seemed he was tired and nervous, but also somewhat relived. He must be happy we're going to find El, isn't he?

Will couldn't help but smile at him picking his cuticles. Mike worries so much for those he holds dear. He would stop at nothing to make sure that his friends and family stay safe. "We're friends! Just friends..!" The thought suddenly came back from the roller rink. They've already talked it over, but those words stung more than Will had even realized. He loves El, he really does. He's glad to have a sister like her but sometimes he gets jealous on how close she and Mike had become and just how quickly. Will opened his mouth slightly to ask Mike something only to see his head leaning on the side of the van. Oh, he fell asleep… Will thought, turning back to his window.

 A sharp, high-pitched ring sounded suddenly causing Will to squeez his eyes shut on instinct. It didn't ease the pain, not really anyway. It was still somewhat better than just sitting there though. It died down but Will couldn't help but feel a sort of unease about it. "It must be because I haven't slept properly." Yawning, he leaned against his window again and tried his very best to get rest like his brother has asked. He was hoping for a simple dream to escape to, even just for a moment. An abstract recreation of Castle Byers and their D&D set-up came into view,  familiar young voices laughing about something that was going on. Will missed these care free days with his friends. He misses his friends and his old house. Much to his own suprise, he really does miss Hawkins, Indiana. 

The dream consisted of Will's happiest moments. Birthday parties, sleepovers, pulling all-nighters to vanquish evil from the small towns of goblins and merchants. Everything moved so fast that Will wanted to stop in the moment and enjoy it again, just one more time. "Happy birthday dear William! Happy birthday to you!!" He wasn't reliving it himself at first, but rather watching a replay of his life in a third-person perspective. Joyce stood across from him filming , Mike, Lucas, Dustin, himself and Jonathan laughing and clapping and smiling. The lights began to flicker ever so slightly, causing Will to shift uncomfortably. 

A distorted sound flashes memories he'd rather forget. Wandering alone in the Upside Down, the mind flayer forcing itself into him in the medows despite his constant shrieking of fear and disapproval. He's become the one to experience it on his own as that cold familiar shiver strikes his skin unforgivably. The faint tune of Happy birthday to You still hummed eeriely as Will made his way back into his childhood home. It was dark and covered in various vines and a goo of some sort. Particles of dust or...maybe pollen floated heavily in the thick air. He didn't want to keep going but something was drawing him in, like he couldn't stop even if he tried. It wouldn't let him.

[omiscurls]

I love your writing and how much you’re able to bring out the true personalities of each character!! I was wondering if you could do Kaeya, Xiao, Diluc, Zhongli, and Childe celebrating y/n’s bday. (My birthday was a couple of days ago but I didn’t receive any greetings from my genshin team for some reason... 😔)

happy birthday

a/n: SO SORRY FOR THE DELAY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! as for your problem, have you tried looking in character>voiceover>voicelines? the wishes should appear there, i dont know what happened if they don't

plot: celebrating the reader's birthday

contains: kaeya, diluc, tartaglia, xiao, zhongli

warnings: brief mentions of alcohol, otherwise pure fluff

kaeya

a surprise party

to be completely honest, kaeya barely cares about his own birthday enough to even remember the date

and obviously he does remember yours, how could he not, but- he's just not used to celebrating, you know?

so watch him know very well your birthday is coming up, with a mindset like: "okay, you've got time, you'll figure something great out, it's gonna be amazing"

and the day or two before he realizes, he indeed wants to do something great and amazing, but he completely ran out of time

fortunately, who cares about reservations when your brother's a bar owner, right?

he figures out that if he waits till sunset with the party he still has an entire day he can spend of preparing everything he needs

so as you sleep peacefully, he sneaks out of the room at the break of dawn, ready to work his ass off

he doesn't want you feeling bad, after all, right?

the thing is, you do start to feel a bit bad, as an entire morning goes by, and not only is kaeya nowhere in sight, literally nobody is! you walk through the streets of mondstadt, looking for any familiar face to spend the time with, but the city seems awfully empty of your friends. you end up having fun at diona's cat's tail, her complaining about everyone, and you, surprisingly, joining in, but it still doesn't replace the companion of your friends.

you go over your day as per usual, and decide to bake yourself a cake, since you think that'll cheer you up. you run out of flour, though, so it's necessary to go over to the store and stock up on some. right as you cross the city's main square, you run into diluc.

"oh, sorry, haven't seen you" you say, not even lifting up your face to look at who's chest did you bump on, until he grabs your wrist, stopping you in your tracks.

"someone looks dejected" he says, and you almost want to punch him for not realizing why. instead of doing that, however pleasing it sounds, you just shrug your shoulders. "come on, you look like you could use a special drink of mine"

and with that, he pulls you towards angel's share, letting you complain about your day, though you don't explicitly say it's your birthday, still mad he didn't remember that on his own.

"so he completely ditched you without a word?" he acts surprised and offended "that's so awful-" he continues, opening the door before you.

just as he opens it, and you hear the word "awful" you see the bar as if for the first time. flowery garlands are up beneath the ceiling, the tables are arranged differently and covered with colorful, pastel table cloths, music is playing. the backdoor is opened and you see the outside of the building decorated in a similar manner, candles and fairy lights spread all over the place.

the sun is slowly setting over the buildings visible through the back door, and the atmosphere inside borders on magical, but to top that all off-

"happy birthday!" you hear a lot of voices shout, and your eyes widen at the sight of all those who you hold dear present. you can't help but smile, seeing all of them cheer, grinning from ear to ear.

"i-" you look over at diluc "how'd you pull this off?"

you swear you saw him crack a soft smile before admitting that he in fact, didn't. you're about to ask who did, then, but you're interrupted by a silvery voice, coming from behind you.

"i did" the voice says, a hand moving to cover your eyes "wanna guess who?" you hear a whisper inches away from your ear, shaking from surprise.

affection swells in your chest as you quietly say "kaeya", your smile growing fondler, knowing that aside from all your friends, he's here too, and as a mastermind, at that.

"hope you don't hold leaving you by yourself for a couple of hours against me" he continues, arms sneaking around your waist, chin rested on your shoulder "d'ya like it?"

emotion gets the better of you, and you don't know what to say, so choose only to nod eagerly.

"a lot" you finally whisper, much to kaeya's satisfaction.

"happy birthday, then" he says, suddenly pulling away from you, as to exclaim loudly "attention everyone!!" he takes a fork to ring on his glass "i hereby declare, that the next round's on me!"

cheers fill the room, along with one "yea right" and another "like we'd believe that" before the owner of the bar speaks up as well.

"as much as i'd like to see that" diluc settles "today's drinks are on the house."

diluc

a magical evening

so he’s a fan of planning

not a diehard fan, but a fan nonetheless 

it’s just, he would rather have things planned ahead than wake up a day before and not know what to do (like a kaeya) like an idiot.

so you bet he has already calculated how much time he has left the moment you told him the date of your birthday.

unlike kaeya, he prefers to be working alone, but also likes to keep his plans a surprise. he himself hates surprises, but has to admit, doing one for someone else is quite the fun 

he stays quiet about your birthday coming up until the very last moment, and if you want to ask him if he wants to do anything with you that day, he says he already has something in mind, you know, nonchalantly. as if he hadn’t been thinking about it for archons know how long 

he’ll wake up before you just to wish you a happy birthday the moment you wake up, and he might be unusually affectionate for a bit, but don’t even bother asking what he has planned out - he won’t tell, not even if you beg. 

diluc wanted to kick you out of the house all day. “oh, there’s shopping to be done” “oh, this lady wanted to talk to you”, or “you know, come to think of it, didn’t jean say she had something she’d wanted to show you for your birthday?” every lame excuse in the book, he has used it. 

you decide to finally grant him what he so obviously wanted, and leave, choosing to walk all around the city, and even outside the gates, you make it quite a trip, not knowing when to come back. 

you smile upon thinking about how secretive he tried to be, but how even he, the mighty descendant of one of the noble families of mondstadt, a man as collected and stoic as can be, couldn’t contain his excitement. you saw all his little side smiles and the way he bit his lip a little after settling today’s rough plans with you, he was so happy, you’re satisfied just by seeing that, sometimes forgetting the real reason for why he was actively plotting something. 

you walk and walk, and then walk some more, but your legs start to hurt, and you’re growing hungry, so you decide to finally get back home. 

when you approach the winery, you can see the lights in the ballroom are lit up from a mile away. your heart can’t help but flip with excitement, since diluc hates using the room, hates throwing parties, and would much rather just forget it exists. 

it’s a beautiful venue though, looks like something out of a fairytale, and you always tell him how much you love it. it’s no surprised he decided to use it, but you can’t wait to see it anyway. 

as you get closer to the building, it becomes more and more apparent that the ballroom isn’t the only place that got upgraded to a five star level for one night and one night only. the building looks amazing, and the gates are open all the way, as if there was a party to be thrown and guests to arrive any time soon. 

but as you’re welcomed into the mansion, there’s no one else in the hall, other than a dressed up diluc, his hair in a high pony, just how you always said you liked it, wearing a suit you hadn’t seen on him since... well, you don’t even recall. 

“well, if it isn’t my honorary guest” he announces with an official tone, almost making you a bit flustered. 

“what’s all this? am i not, i don’t know, underdressed?” you giggle nervously, and he approaches you, a tiny little black box in his hand. 

“you could wear a potato sack and shine brighter than all the stars together” he says softly, showing you the little box. “and as tradition orders, happy birthday.”

you carefully open the box, a simple, silver necklace resting on the little cushion inside. you take it out, and watch the ornament, but can’t for the life of you figure out what it is. 

“you see” diluc provides an explanation “it’s a common thing to do to gift someone jewellery as a gift, and almost as common to have necklaces with your star constellation. that is, the allignment the stars were in the moment you were born. but i decided, that i wanted to give you one with the alignment that shone on the sky on the happiest day of my life. well, according to mona it did.” 

you stay silent for a second, astonished with the present, before asking 

“and that is?”

“the day we met.”

tartaglia

how to surprise your lover 101

when i tell you this boy knew EXACTLY WHAT HE WAS DOING from the moment he first thought of it

now. he loves celebrating, anything, really, the atmosphere of a party is almost magnetic to him

he grew up thinking every person deserves to have an amazing day once a year, only about themselves, so it’s very obvious to him that he IS doing something, and it needs to be huge

now, in a family as big as his, it was hard to keep things a secret, so he developed a whole plan on how to avoid having you finding out what he was planning

and that is: by having you know

it’s really getting annoying, how everybody keeps walking up to you, for a good week now, and asking if you’re excited for the big party childe’s throwing. the first time you hear it, you almost immediately run to confront him about it, since you explicitly said that a party, a big one, at that, is the last thing you want.

he obviously says that it’s nothing, and you needn’t worry about that. not that you trust his words, obviously, but you let it go, partly because you know how attached he is to the idea of a huge celebration, and partly because arguing with someone as stubborn can really be tiring.

so you settle, and fake a smile for every conversation with the alleged “guests” for your alleged party, thinking you’ll just suffer through it and then just do something with your childe the next day, having yourself plan it.

the wait is stressful, and when you finally see tartaglia walk through your bedroom door, dressed up really nicely, with a soft ribbon to tie on your eyes, so you wouldn’t see anything before it’s “time”, you almost want to ditch him, but that would be too rude.

complying begrudgingly, you let him guide you through the city, feeling the cold evening air hit your skin, wondering where did he set up this party of his, since you don’t hear anything.

oh god, is everyone gonna jump out of hiding yelling “happy birthday”? please, not that, at least not that.

when he finally unties the material covering your eyes, you see nothing but a wooden platform at the end of the harbor, with a blanket set up, some really nice-smelling food and what appears to be champagne laying on it. the sun is setting slowly behind the mountains in the distance, the only sound you hear being waves crushing on the rocks.

you can’t help but gasp.

“but” you turn around to face childe with a questioning look “what about the party?”

“what party?” he looks surprised “i never said anything about any party” he adds with a knowing smirk.

as you analyze your surroundings, he watches you with a soft smile.

“come on, don’t be so shocked now” he finally says “i know you better than to plan you something you’d hate. i’m not THAT much of an asshole”

his giggle sounds almost too good in the beautiful scenery around you, and you can’t help but let your eyes water for a little while, before rapidly blinking the tears back.

“is this more similar to what you’ve dreamed of?” he asks.

“yeah” you whisper “yes, it is”

“well, that’s the only thing that matters. shall we?” his hand points to the blanket, and you nod, smiling.

this may or may not be inspired by that one episode of Brooklyn 9-9

xiao

trying something new

birthdays? what’s that

you mean to tell him he has lived two thousand years of his life without realizing the day it was brought to him should be celebrated?

yup, no, you can explain it all you want, he still doesn’t get the idea. he just finds it to be way too trivial, okay?

what gets to him, though, is that there’s a custom of doing something meaningful for the person celebrating their birthday, to make them feel important

well, you should’ve led with that, that he can do!

he would never just go and straight up ask for help if he needed any. so don’t be surprised if you hear yet more new stories about the yaksha that allegedly lives near wangshu inn sneaking into the kitchen, or watching through the glass.

he spends HOURS waiting for the chef to finally prepare the dish he hopes for, and once he does, he follows every step very carefully. and then again. and again. and one more time, up until he feels he can do it himself.

when he finally gets to enter said kitchen, it’s already way past midnight, and everything is dark, barely visible. he manages to find his way around, though, preparing all the ingredients, and starting to mix them the same way the chef did.

turns out it’s not as easy as it looks, for example, he didn’t measure how long this thing is supposed to be cooked, or on what temperature, so the process gets a little messy at one point. he might even have to start over. like, twice, tops.

it’s already nearing dusk when he finishes, taking the fruit of his works with him.

as per usual, you wait for him on the roof, and as per usual you don’t realize he’s right behind you until he speaks up.

“happy birthday” he says out of the blue, causing you to jump up in shock.

“oh my, xiao, you scared me! again!” you laugh.

“it’s today, isn’t it?” he continues, as if he didn’t hear you. when he sees you nod, he awkwardly shows you the package he held behind his back, watching closely as you open it with a questioning look.

inside, there’s a carefully wrapped serving of almond tofu, it could use a little bit of touch ups, but it still looks and smells delicious nonetheless.

“did you do this yourself?” you turn around to face him, smiling in disbelief

“mhm” he gets a little flustered, and decides not to tell you about his little kitchen adventure. “is it… is it good?” he asks, and you smile even more fondly.

“why don’t you come over here and taste it with me?”

zhongli

one can never go wrong with a classic

zhongli knows every single tradition there is to know.

literally.

so you don’t have to even tell him anything - he knows. he might not know what to do with his knowledge, but he does know what would make you happy

this man is a gentleman who believes that some moves to make someone swoon never get old

he even got a free day from work just for the occasion, or he may just think he told hu tao that he wants it? either way, he’s not there. not like his boss isn’t used to it.

right as the clock strikes 5 pm, you hear a knocking on your door. checking how you look one last time, you smile to the reflection in the mirror, and walk over to answer.

as you open said door, you find yourself dumbfounded at the sight of a completely soaked zhongli, rain pouring heavily behind his back. his hair sticks to his face, and all the layers of his suit seem drenched to their very core, but a smile you see so rarely paints his face, as he presents you with a bouquet of flowers.

and my oh my, just how huge is it! he barely even manages to hold it in hand, and the flower crowns hide his entire chest and half his face when he places them in front of you.

“i believe this is for you” he says gently “are you ready to go?”

you can’t even find the right words, as you size the bouquet up, taking it from him with a quiet “thank you so much” before taking it back to the house, already in search of the right vase to put them in.

“may i come in and dry myself up a bit?” he asks, still from the doorstep, and you laugh before granting him the permission.

when the both of you are ready to go, you meet in the hallway, both smiling softly at the other, a bit awkwardly, as the beginning of every meeting is.

“you look even better than usually” he finally says, pride rising in his chest at how your grin widens.

“same goes for you, mr zhongli” you answer just as cheekily, waiting for what he’s gonna say next.

“well, thank you, but i don’t think today’s about me now, is it?” he counters with a bit of a side eye. “shall we go?” he points to the open door, and the both of you leave, you grabbing his arm to fit under one umbrella.

“may i ask where’re we going?”

you can’t miss the way his smile turns prideful and confident as he says:

“i” he accentuates “am taking you out to dinner”

he might feel a bit offended by how sarcastically you gasp at the revelation, but it’s okay. as long as he gets to see you laugh, it’s okay.

daily reminder that requests are open [here]

[jade-parcels]

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The bunnies’ other jobs!

From my bunny cafe au

((I am so peeved :((( I had this all written out!! And I deleted it by accident!! Darnnnnn!!!))

Anon asked “You mentioned that some of the bunnies have day jobs so do they all have jobs outside the cafe or just a few?” (Something along these lines…again…I deleted it by accident 😔)

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Diluc/‘Angel’

After his father got bored with the wine industry, he passed the whole company off to Diluc on his 18th birthday in order to shift his focus to mining. Diluc found himself swamped with all kinds of business decisions while just barely being an adult. He expanded the company and hired some very trustworthy people to handle things for him so he could finish college

When the business was given to him, Diluc and Kaeya had an explosive fight over it. Kaeya felt like he deserved to have some say in what happens to the business, he’s still a part of the family! But Diluc refused to let him in on any decisions so Kaeya packed his bags and left (not before cussing him out in front of their father, staff and business partners). He was just in a silly, goofy mood. They’re fine now, not on the best terms but they do chat and meet up for lunch on occasion.

He is filthy rich, he couldn’t spend all of his all of his money if he tried, so he doesn’t really need the job at the cafe! Kaeya got him the job because he knew his brother was stuck in a weird, antisocial funk and needed some fun in his life

Diluc loves this job, he has a great time, but it isn’t his main job. His priority will always be the family business!! If he has to quit his job at the cafe, he would in a heartbeat

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Kaeya

Kaeya was going to go into the police academy but was scouted out by a modeling agency. They had seen him at Ragnvindr company events and thought ‘well damn’ so they gave him a pretty generous deal

Kaeya makes a good living off of modeling, the tips and paycheck from the cafe. He rakes in cash pretty quickly just cause he knows how to get it. That, and his dad sends him checks every other month as well. Kaeya thinks of it as ‘I’m sorry’ money. He isn’t wrong

He doesn’t travel much for modeling, which he doesn’t mind, so he kinda just hangs around the city with a lot of free time on his hands between photo shoots. That’s why he got this job at the cafe! It gives him something to do and it’s fun as hell ;)

Albedo

Bedo is one busy bunny. He finished college early and is getting his masters degree online. He works most days at the cafe and on the weekends, he tutors other college students in bio/chem/science related subjects

(He was actually Xiao’s tutor back when he was failing chemistry!! Xiao is very thankful for Albedo’s help!!)

His dream is to become a biochemist, he’s always been interested in cells and what makes up living beings. So having a career in that field would make him the happiest man alive

His mother and sister live outside the city in a more rural area so he spends a lot of time FaceTiming the two of them! Klee is always so excited to hear about Albedo’s experiments or the people he’s met while working in such a bustling, fun city :)

Zhongli

Zhongli is a simple man! He’s a bunny waiter and an artist

He creates intricate pieces based on folklore from different cultures, focusing mostly on dragons. His favorite medium is paint, he loves painting on glass and layering the panes in order to create a 3D piece

He sells his works to galleries, shops and anyone who wants them! As long as they appreciate the story behind the artwork. Sadly…He undersells his work. He could def be making more money but he just does not desire money or material goods the way others may

So he got his job at the cafe in order to help out his dear friend Ningguang, not for money, he only planned on working there for a month or two until she got more bunnies but…he ended up really loving the people he works with :’) he looks forward to working with them now and texts/calls them outside of work to meet up for lunch or bowling (such an old man thing to do omfg)

Dainsleif/‘Sweetie’

Dain was a bouncer at another bar before leaving to come to Celestia’s! He’s good friends with Beidou, they belong to the same motorcycle club so when she was talking to him about the lack of security at the cafe/bar, he stepped in to help out

Little did he know…he’d actually become a bunny…And like it

This is his full time job now, he doesn’t have another for the time being. While he is a bunny at the cafe, he still keeps an eye out for any threats to his coworkers and has access to the offices upstairs (Ningguang’s office and the security office)

When he isn’t waiting tables, he’s upstairs in a tank top and sweatpants keeping an eye on the security cameras and talking to the other security guards through their ear pieces

Ajax

Ajax is a student who doesn’t really have much time on his hands

He mows lawns in the summer and he’s quit his job as a cashier to come work at the cafe! He mostly works night shifts his cause he’s still going to school aaaaaand he’s on his college’s swim team! He’s about to graduate so he works close with his coach to help train the others on the team

He doesn’t really want his family knowing that he skips around in a skimpy bunny outfit and fucking customers most nights but I mean…They’re bound to find out if they see him in pictures people post

Xiao/‘Tofu’

Xiao is an art student!! He wants to be a tattoo artist :)

He’s already got one sleeve of tattoos, it’s unfinished but you can’t really tell just by looking. When he isn’t at the cafe, he’s either in class or shadowing Ganyu, his best friend and tattoo artist. Their art styles greatly differ, she focuses her craft on cutesy, colored tattoos, but she is skilled. And Xiao looks up to her

Xiao admires Zhongli too, they met at the cafe and when Zhongli found out Xiao wants to be a tattoo artist he told him that once he’s licensed, he wants to get a tattoo from him :’)

Baizhu/‘Honey’

Baizhu is a (mostly) full time pharmacist, hence why he isn’t usually at the cafe

He also has a niece, Qiqi, who he babysits often. He loves her very much so he has no problem watching her! Baizhu will even bring her to the pharmacy with him when he’s swamped with work. In the break room, he has a play kitchen, coloring books and a bunch of puzzles to keep Qiqi occupied while he works :)

When he’s not at work, he’s at home resting. He has chronic pain flare ups in his back and shoulders that can make life miserable :( he has plenty of good days that outweigh the bad! And as a pharmacist, he has access to any medicine he needs to make his life easier!

Dottore(Alain)/‘Doc’

Alain’s an oral surgeon who’s a little bit….too into his job

He isn’t phased by blood or gore so he’s easily able to conduct procedures that would make other squeamish. He’ll pull teeth, put in dental implants, remove rotten tissue, any of that without even flinching

Outside of that, he works at the cafe. He wears a mask in order to avoid being recognized even though at his job as a surgeon, he’s usually wearing a medical mask anyways. It’s just a precaution

This has nothing to do with his career but he used to be a tap dancer and actor so he’d join in on local theatre shows! He helped build sets when he wasn’t rehearsing. He doesn’t have time for that anymore (which kinda makes him sadddd) but he has all kinds of theatre playlists on his phone and in his car that he’ll sing along to

Scaramouche/‘Boss’

Scara’s job at the cafe is his main job! His side job is something you may not expect from such a grump

He works at an animal shelter! In fact, he brings cats home to train so they have an increased chance of being adopted. Someone is more likely to adopt a potty trained, socialized cat than a feral cat who doesn’t know what a litter box is. So Scara brings them to his apartment for some one-on-one socializing, training and cuddling

One time he offhandedly mentioned working at an animal shelter while he was working at the cafe and sure enough, three separate customers from the cafe came by to adopt!!! Only one actually took an animal home but he was still surprised that those people had listened to him and cared enough to come by

Scara is a jerk most of the time but when he’s at home…by himself…With a lil kitten sleeping in his lap while he plays games on his PC…Yeah, he softens up a bit

So as you can see, we have a very diverse group working at the cafe! They’ve all learned a lot from each other, come to appreciate each other’s friendship and come to help each other out when one of their coworkers is in need or upset.

[sunnysunoo]

Love Letters ; Sim Jake

Pairing: Jake X Reader

warnings: explicit language and cursing

word count: 3k words

genre: friends to lovers au! fluff with tiny pieces of crack lmao

Jake was always known for being this perfect guy in school. I mean, they're not wrong. They always described him as if he's this walking piece of art in the hallways. People would stop to just stare at him. You'd stare at him all day too, but you set priorities first: writing him love letters.

You're no Lara Jean, but I guess you can say that she's what inspired you to write Jake letters. Who needs Peter Kavinsky when Jake Shim exists anyways?

note: Not me completely disappearing off of tumblr for like months and then showing up again suddenly lol. I got really busy the past few months since I was completing requirements for school, and I really didn't have the motivation to do anything at the time so I took so time off to take care of myself first so I hope you understand :) But now since it's summer break, I am given at least 2 more months until I go back to school in August :)) Here's the long-awaited Jake imagine that I completely forgot about lmao hope you enjoy <3

P.S I finished writing this at 1:26 am so please excuse the really shitty plot and grammar ill rewrite it once i wake up

tag list: @cha-raena ( sorry for the rlly late post bestie )

Dear Jake, First of all, I will never call you Jaeyun because calling you by your English name makes me feel like I'm your friend. Calling you by your Korean name makes us feel like we're cold strangers to one another and I don't want that. I want us to be something more than that, but it's hard when you don't even know who I am. I'm surprised how you don't grow tired of me just dropping letters right into your locker every time you open it, and that's one of the things I love about you. You don't just throw away people's efforts and you treasure them with care. It makes my heart beat so fast as if I ran miles away from here.

We're already one year left until we graduate high school, and I don't want to end my high school years without you realizing my feelings for you. I know for sure that you would never reciprocate the feelings that I have towards you, so I want to treat this as closure in case we do forget about each other in the future. Yours truly,

Moon

__

"How is this person not over you? That's like the tenth one this month," Jay said, looking over Jake as he reads the letter from his secret admirer. Jake has always been receiving these letters from the same person everyday for the past four months. He's thankful for the letters because they definitely make his day better, knowing that there's someone out there who loves him as who he is regardless of looks. He's not gonna lie that these little notes and letters make his heart race too. "Do you have any plans with finding the person behind the letters?" Jay asked as he watches his best friend trying to hide the small smile that's been growing. No one really knows who this mysterious person is and why they decided to name themselves the moon, but we don't judge anyone in here. If they want to be the moon in their next life, then so be it. "I really want to find the person who's making these letters," Jake shoved the letter in his backpack, trying to not wrinkle it. "But I don't know where to start." "Who's finding who?" A voice popped suddenly beside the presence of the two boys. You leaned beside the locker beside Jake's, watching him as he grabs his books from his locker. "Did Moon drop your daily letter today again?" "They did as usual," Jake wasn't even surprised. He would expect the letters every time he enters the school in the morning. He would open his locker to see the usual small letter placed inside his locker. He usually arrives at seven or earlier, but he's surprised that he could never even catch a glance of this anonymous sender around the campus. "Should I go to school at five in the morning?" "Five in the morning? Isn't that a bit too early?" You questioned, followed by a shaky breath. "The school doesn't even open until six." "I could just walk to that nearby convenience store I always pass by to grab a coffee." He argues, closing his locker shut before walking towards his classroom.

You and Jay followed beside him, and you sneered under your breath, "You don't even wake up to your alarm clock."

"Why don't you even want me to go early anyway?" He glances as you try to give him an answer. But before you could say something, Jay replies first.

"You’re probably hiding something." He said. You rolled your eyes and narrowed your eyes at him. "You are so weird." You grunted, before walking ahead of them. You feel panicked because you were scared that you made yourself obvious to them.

__

You were inside your classroom sitting on your desk. There were only fifteen minutes left before lunch, but you had eaten your packed meal before instead of going to your school cafeteria. You were fidgeting in your place, conflicted about Jake finding his secret admirer, not knowing that it was you who's been sending him letters the past few months. You're not scared of him finding out that the letters were from you; that was the entire reason why you wrote him letters in the first place. You're scared of how he was gonna confront you about it. Would he like you back? Would he hate you? Would he avoid you?

Your mind was full of scenarios but you were suddenly brought back to reality when a hand planted itself on your desk. You look up and saw Jay standing in front of you, eating sushi with his other hand. His face kinda looks like he knows something, and it's freaking you out a bit.

"What?" You asked, suddenly flustered over how his eyes stared right into you. He took the seat in front of your desk and flipped it so it was facing you. He sat down and blurted the phrase that you were dreading to hear from anyone.

"So, you like Jake?"

You suddenly feel like punching him in the face with his sushi.

"What??" Your body felt like, and you were left a nervous mess. Your heart like it was going to pump right out of your chest any minute, and your hands started to sweat.

Jay's mouth formed into a smirk. He caught you. "Jake may be a bit oblivious, but I can totally see right through you."

“Haha...no you don’t,” You tried to deny, but it was all useless when his expression looked unconvinced.

“Oh yeah? Then why are you all red? You look like a bursting tomato.”

“You don’t know that," You leaned further into your seat, playing with the strings of your hoodie.

“C’mon Y/N, you’re not even trying. Just give up and admit it,” Jay was trying to help you confess your feelings for Jake. Frankly, he knew it was you sending him letters this whole time—how can Jake not see it?

With a heavy sigh, you slumped and laid your head on your desk, embarrassed. “Fine. I like him, okay? Are you happy now?”

The smirk on his face grew wider, feeling proud of himself. You are not dealing with his annoying crap this early in the morning. He grinned and munched on his half-eaten sushi. “I knew it.”

“Congratulations,” It was muffled because you hid your red face away from him. All that was on your mind now was how you could book yourself a flight all the way across the world.

“But seriously, since when did you have a crush on him?” You raised your head to face him, giving him a look that could kill, except Jay finds it entertaining rather than intimidating.

“I started having a crush on him when we were in fifth grade. It was at a friend's birthday party, and he saw me being all quiet and lonely. Honestly, I forgot who’s birthday that was.” You told him the very first time you had discovered feelings.

“He saw how sad I looked so he accompanied me the whole time. He was even trying to feel more included in the games and stuff.” You felt a smile ghosting on your lips as you can still vividly remember how you felt your heart tug the first time. “It was kinda like I fell in love at first sight.”

Jay faked a gag, so you lightly punched him in the shoulder. He may be a bit of an asshole, but he’s one the most caring and kind people you’ve ever met. It honestly felt good spilling out your feelings about Jake to him.

Speaking of, Jake was watching you two play around and laugh at Jay's little jokes from outside, and he felt something burning from inside him. Was it that he felt jealous of you and Jay?

No, he can’t be...right?

Maybe it was because of how he felt separated from you and Jay because of him being a separate class.

Yeah, maybe it's because of that.

__

Dear Jake,

I just had the most bizarre day today, and I felt like telling you about it.

It was chemistry period, and we had to be partnered with someone for a lab project. I ended up getting paired with Yeojin. We kinda created this unexpected friendship, which I love. We would crack jokes at each other, tell funny stories, it was so fun to be with her that we had completely forgotten about our project. So now, we both got a detention slip for making an accidental explosion.

How about you? How was your day? I hope it was just as fun as mine. If you feel like the day just wasn't as happy or you're feeling down, just now that it's okay to feel that way because days like these just lasts for 24 hours. It will be all over before you know it and you'll be greeted by another day. Maybe it will be different, and you would be all happy again just like how my day went. Maybe being with you would be my happiest day yet, and I couldn't wait for that day to come. See you soon :)

Love,

Moon

__

"Yeojin!" Jake called, seeing her walk down the opposite way. "Hey, mind if I ask you something?"

"Hey Jake," She greeted him with a smile. "Sure, go ahead."

"Could you perhaps give me any information about your partner in Chemistry?" He had hopes of getting any kind of description about his mysterious sender, but he was instead given a sad frown on Yeojin's face.

"Sorry Jake, but that person told me not to tell you about their information." She gave an apologetic smile. "I wish you all the best in finding them!"

Jake muttered a small "okay," and sighed before walking away, feeling defeated.

Yeojin knew that he was gonna ask about Moon the moment he called her from across the hall. She couldn't wait to tell you about this.

__

"Hey Y/N," A voice said from behind. You turned around to see Jake with his backup hung on his shoulder. He brought his hand up and raked his hair, and you felt your face grow red. Jake is like a gift from the gods. How can someone look so ethereal even if they're just standing there? You could stare at him all day. You couldn't even understand a thing he said until he started waving his hands in front of you.

"Hello?" You blinked multiple times as you were brought back out to reality. You saw Jake's face grow into concern. "Are you okay? spaced out."

"O-oh..No, I'm completely fine." You reassured him, feeling embarrassed. "What were you saying again?"

"I was asking you if you wanted to go to school with me early tomorrow."

Well, shit.

Your eyes started to go wide, and your hands started to go clammy.

"Tomorrow?" You repeated, voice trembling.

'Well, yeah." He pouted his lips, and you felt like melting into a small puddle in your place. Your heart started to pound heavily.

Oh my fucking god, he is so adorable.

"Okay, sure I can go with you tomorrow," You weakly smiled at him, slightly tense.

How we're you going to give him the letter now?

__

"Good Morning," Jake said as he watches you close the gates of your house. It was past five in the morning, and you were a mess.

"Morning," You replied back before running your fingers through your hair, getting rid of any flyaways.

As you started walking your way to the bus stop, Jake kept on glancing towards you from time to time. He knew you were pretty, but since when did you become really beautiful in his eyes?

The walk was pretty quiet, but it was a comfortable silence. For him, mostly.

Meanwhile, you couldn't stop freaking out. You had written a letter the night before, but you don't know how you were going to slip it into his locker without him taking notice. If he saw you, he would know.

"Are you sure you're okay? You've been like this since yesterday," Jake blurted. You looked at him before heaving a sigh.

"It's nothing," You mouthed, suddenly feeling anxious and gloomy.

"Something on your mind?"

"Something like that." It was hopeless. I guess he would have to miss this letter today. It was the first time you skipped a day, and you're feeling guilty that you would have to see Jake's face sadden that he wouldn't receive it today.

As you two stop at the bus stop, Jake looked slightly panicked as he was rummaging through the pockets of his blazer before looking through his bag. "Hey, do you have an extra pen? I left mine at home and I have a quiz today."

You snickered, "Out of all the days, Sim Jake. The same day you have a quiz is the same day you forget your pen."

"Very funny." He scoffed.

As you unzipped your bag to grab your pencil case, a folded piece of paper fell out without you realizing it. When Jake went to pick it up, he notices that it was folded the same way as the letters in his locker. It looked so identical.

Once you already got your pencil case out, you were about to hand it to him when you saw what he was holding that made your body freeze with your hand holding the case in the air.

"Why were one of my letters inside your bag?" He glanced at you, waiting for you to reply.

If you were freaking out before, this is a whole other thing. The thing that you were fearing the most is happening right before you.

"Maybe it fell into my bag yesterday..." You stammered, making up an excuse to look like it was an accident. You were tightly holding onto your pencil case, chanting many curse words in your head as you watch Jake unfold the letter.

"I don't think I've received this one yet," He said before he opened the letter and read it.

You watch as his expression formed into confusion as he reads through the paper. It only took a few moments before something in him clicked that it was you sending him the letters.

"Y/N," He began, and you started quivering in fear.

You should've known this would happen, but you didn't expect it to happen this sooner. In fact, you believed that this wouldn't happen at all. But it did.

"Let me explain," You eventually gave up and accepted fate and watch as your identity as "Moon" be revealed to your crush. You're now exposed so you didn't have any other choice but to explain everything. "Yes, I am Moon. I was the one writing you the letters that you've been getting in your locker."

Jake's face was unreadable. He looked bewildered and puzzled. He was trying to comprehend what was happening right now. All this time, it was you?

"I started crushing on you when we attended that birthday party before. I didn't want to confess my feelings for you because I was scared that you were going to harshly reject me, so I started writing down letters as a way to tell you how I feel about you without making you feel awkward around me." You continued, eyes suddenly taking an interest in your shoes. They were brand new too.

Jake was silent, and you felt your heart crack into pieces. You were mad at yourself for being so careless about it that he ended up finding out about you as his secret admirer. You wanted nothing else but to run back home, lock yourself in your room and cry with your sad playlist on loop.

You were expecting a harsh rejection coming from him, but what surprised was how he took dangerous steps towards you, minimizing the gap between you two. He placed his hand under your chin, forcing you to look up at him.

"I don't plan on rejecting you Y/N," You stare into his eyes as it reflects the sunlight of the early morning. "I'm actually happy that it was you."

You look at him, puzzled. He lowly chuckles under his breath before leaning over to place his lips against yours. It was a light, quick kiss, but it brought you feeling ecstatic. You've dreamed of this moment before, and now that it happened, you thanked your clumsiness.

As he pulled away, you were sure your face was a red mess.

"Thank you," His smile was as bright as the stars in the sky. It was the most beautiful thing you've ever seen. "Thank you for making me like I'm special to someone."

You felt flustered over his words. You were scared that he could hear the sound of your heart pounding loudly. The butterflies in your stomach were going wild, and you felt like this was all a dream.

"So, what am I to you now?" You broke into a smile as he grabs your hand, intertwining your fingers with his.

Jake acted as if he was thinking, "Hm..maybe my best friend still?"

He bursts into a fit of giggles as he sees your smile slowly disappear, replacing it with a look of disbelief. You removed your hand from his and walked at a faster pace away from him.

He ran to match your pace beside you before holding your hand again, "I'm sorry, I won't ever do that again. Is my girl mad at me?"

"Oh my god, it's only five-fifty, Jake." You too broke into laughter over his cheesiness, but your heart fluttered over the thought of Jake calling you his.

__

HERE’S A LITTLE BONUS! since I've made you guys wait for 4 months :(

"What the fuck?" Was the first thing You heard from Jay as you and Jake entered the classroom. All of your classmates were staring at your and his hands intertwined together.

Jay stood in front of you two, crossing his arms together. "Can one of you explain when this happened?" he motioned towards your linking hands. You and Jake smiled at each other before walking away, leaving Jay in a fit of joy, and confusion.

[halaboyz]

–– PHOTOGRAPH // CHANHEE.

pairing: photographer! chanhee x  fem! reader genre: fluff, bffs to lovers word count: 2k warnings // notes: profanities, cliche, cheesy things and shitty effort of making lines ;; happiest birthday to our choi chanhee!! may he be blessed for his heart full of love <3

"You're coming to my exhibit, right?" He said as he hands you one of the tickets, and you chuckling because of the name of his exhibit.

"What kind of name is this?" You stifled a laugh, "My Art Speaks Words I Want to Deliver to You,"

Chanhee watches you hold on to dear life as you burst out laughing, wiping the tears that have escaped your eyes.

"Well, if only the linguistic major here helped me pick out some words I don't even know exists," He glares at you, "Then maybe we could've picked a better name, am I right?" He rolls his eyes as you calmed down, finally taking a seat beside him on the couch.

“Okay, okay Mr. grumpy, I’m sorry,” You said between laughter. Looking at the time and date, you nod, your smile slowly fading to a frown.

“What’s wrong? You can’t come again?” He frowns with you, a pout coming out of his lips. Your heart broke by the sight, knowing that even if he had hundreds of exhibits already, you haven’t come to one because of work.

“I’m afraid I’m gonna have to miss this one too,” You tackled him into a hug. “I have a very important meeting set by last minute,” You mumbled against the crook of his neck, causing him to whine.

“I was so sure you’d go to this one though..” You hear him mumble, as a sigh came out. 

“How are you so sure?” You raised your eyebrows at him, sitting up. 

“I checked your schedule!” He exclaimed, getting the ticket from you. “I can’t help it. You always have work when I handle an exhibit and wow, are you still my best friend?” He dramatically stands up, making his way to the other couch in front of you.

“Aw,” You whined, tailing him and throwing yourself at him again making him groan. “Give me that,” You reach for the ticket, only to be pulled by Chanhee again.

“Can’t you just cancel it?” He pouts, looking desperate.

“Look, I’m not the client. I can’t just cancel whenever,” You pressed his cheeks together, wiggling his face. “But give me the ticket. If they can set meetings last minute, they might cancel things last minute too. We’ll never know,” You reached higher, grabbing the ticket.

Chanhee huffed, making you lose your footing and it all happened so fast, you instinctively put out your elbow to support your fall– well, on the floor. You didn’t know Chanhee had that goddamn fast reflexes as he pulls you close to him, making you elbow his.. danger zone.

You shrieked as chanhee silently suffers, his face saying it all. 

“Oh my fucking god..” You muttered, pressing your lips to a thin line to stop yourself from bursting in laughter. 

Chanhee lets out a small groan as you slowly remove your elbows, your face mirroring Chanhee’s pained face.

“I’m so sorry,” You mumble, letting out a small laugh.

“I’d kill you if you laugh right in front of me,” He sighs out, crouching and wriggled his body all over the couch.

You were red. Oh, no. Not because of what just happened, but because you were stopping yourself from laughing. You knew Chanhee meant every word he said.

“You should fucking go at my exhibit after busting my balls,” He mumbled against the throw pillow.

“Hey! Not my fault you pulled me!”

You were redder. Oh, no. Not because you were now suppressing your laughter, but how you remembered how close Chanhee was to you just minutes ago if it weren’t for his unfortunate luck.

He suddenly stands up, wincing.

“Are you kidding me?! If it weren’t for me, you’re injured and crying and we’re probably on the way to the hospital right now!” He sighs out, the pain finally fading second by second.

You fanned yourself, trying to focus on what your friend was saying.

“Anyways,” You shake your head. “I’ll do my best.” You smile at him apologetically before sticking out your tongue, and ending the night while getting tackled by Chanhee– as if he was possessed by Changmin.

You bounced your feet continuously, waiting for your client. You just prayed for it to be really, really short to get to Chanhee’s exhibition. 

You knew how important this was to him, and it broke your heart that as his best friend, you can’t even go to one. 

Or was it because you’re starting to see Chanhee in a whole, different light?

There are a few times that your heart thumped abnormally at the sight of Chanhee frowning, and you can’t put your finger on which emotion was it. Did it hurt you because you were his best friend and you can’t go, or did it hurt because you were still a best friend? Either way, if it were the latter, if you were his girlfriend– no, you didn’t deserve him. 

You can’t even make time for him as a best friend, how’d you do if you were his?

Starting to overthink, you were thankful by the sound of your phone rang for a second, signaling a message.

chanhee: go or this friendship is over. grr sent 3:35pm

You knew he was joking. Partly, you guess. Or maybe not. You suddenly became nervous, your feet bouncing doubled. You sip on the drink, you had twenty-five minutes left to run over his exhibit, but the client–

You jump as your phone suddenly rang, making you tremble. Your client was finally calling, after being late for fifteen minutes already.

And oh my god, your heart could have burst from the news. You hailed a taxi as fast as you can, and the smile on your face can’t stop rising.

Finally. You were finally getting to see his exhibit.

You smile more at the thought, more to expect of Chanhee’s reaction. You felt nervous, excited, and giddy. It wasn’t the first time seeing Chanhee’s works, as he’d been part of the photography club since college, but it still made you excited and proud of what he’s become.

You sighed in relief as you look outside, the big name– My Art Speaks Words I Want to Deliver to You welcoming you. 

3:50.

Ten minutes. You just need to run, no biggie. 

“Hi, I’m uh.. Chanhee’s friend.” You smile at the guard, handing him your ticket while still trying to catch your breath.

“Oh! You’re! You’re! You’re the friend!” He exclaimed, excitedly opening the door for you. “You’re just in time! Well, technically, you’re.. running a bit late but! Doesn’t matter. You’re finally here!” You just look at him confusingly, nodding your head as you roam your eyes on the big place.

Your heartbeat is twice as fast more than running. 

You felt combusting quite literally. Your eyes wandered to each picture, letting it sink in that those in the pictures..

Were you.

It was all you.

There were only a few people left, smiling as they take in every photograph that wasn’t even them.

“These are so sweet. The name of the exhibit literally says it all,” A woman in her middle 30s, you guess, said as she clung to her probably husband’s arm.

“It does. The photographer’s indeed talented. Even makes me giddy,” You chuckle as you eavesdropped, reverting your attention back to the pictures.

All was black and white.

But it didn’t matter.

What colored his world was you– it has always been you. 

A black and white picture doesn’t do justice to how much light you bring to his dull world, it was just you that he needed in order to make a simple black and white picture to be beautiful.

Your smile. It was one of the things he loved seeing, he loved taking a picture of. It made everyone around you smile too, and it made him upset that it wasn’t just him making you smile.

Your hair, how every single hairstyle suits you, how it flows across your face, and how you always brush it back when it frustratingly gets in your face. One of his favorites and loved taking a picture of it along with the pout on your face.

Your eyes, which spoke a thousand words and held millions of stars and also one of the millions of things he loved about you, and seeing it on a picture didn’t make sense as you needed to see it in person to make you feel butterflies on your stomach.

Every move you did was captured on his camera, and you didn’t even realize the tears have already gone out of your eyes.

He made you beautiful.

He made you feel beautiful,

Because you always were.

You didn’t need to be pretty in everybody’s eyes, you just needed him. 

You were already in the last picture, and oh were you certain chanhee wasn’t the one who took this. You felt thankful enough Changmin, your other friend, had quite the skills in taking pictures too because this.. was just perfect. 

You didn’t need to be pretty in everybody’s eyes, you just needed him. Because he is what completed you.

It was a picture taken afar of you sleeping in the library on one of your college days, and Chanhee was supporting his head with his palm, looking– just looking at you with heart eyes.

“Oh my fucking god,” You sighed out, crouching as you messily wiped your tears away, though it still kept on spilling.

“You’re finally here.” That sweet, familiar voice that enchanted you sighed out, from the corner of the four-walled place. He was leaning on the wall, looking as if he had finally had the burden out of his chest. “So, what do you think?”

Just like the pictures, you didn’t need words. You just throw yourself at him, nuzzling against his neck as you cried like a baby.

He sighs out again, relieved, as he buried himself more to you and engulfing each other’s warmth. His hands continued to calm you down by caressing your back, and you tried your best to stop crying.

Chanhee pulls back, taking your face to his hands and wiping your tears away.

“Hey, look at me,” He leans closer to you, lifting your face up softly. “If you didn’t get the whole point of this exhibition then.. I might just smack you in the face.” 

You let out a small defeated laugh, wiping the tears yourself.

“I love you too if that was what it meant.” You look at him straight in the eyes, slouching your shoulders. You took his face into your hands too, pressing your lips softly in his.

He smiled in the kiss, his hands making their way to your neck as he kisses you back.

More than perfect.

The moment you were both out of breath, you break the kiss but let your foreheads linger with each other, smiles on your faces.

“Just.. how many times have you tried doing this?” You whisper, taking ahold of his hand and intertwining your fingers. 

You pull him in front of the last picture you’ve seen, now clear as ever without your tears on the way.

“Oh, I think out of my hundred and fifty exhibits you missed,” You roll your eyes, the sarcasm his voice spilling. “It's my 98th try. That’s why I really needed you to come.” He looks at you, thinking it was much better seeing you in person rather than just a photograph– as if it's like the first time seeing you all over again.

“And if I didn’t come? Would you really have the guts to break this friendship?” You face him back, taking his other hand.

“No, I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant I’d take it in my own hands and just.. straight up confess.” He craned his head sideward, challenging you.

“I’d been feeling very weird these days too, I just realized how much I am so in love with you if it weren’t for your art speaks words I want to deliver to me,” You chuckle, making him throw his head back.

Perfect.

Chanhee loved everything about photography, and he loved photography because it’s able to take what’s beautiful and he can cherish it forever. He loved it because not only it can take pictures of his friends, or nature, or what he found beautiful and calming, but it has the power to turn everything into a memory he can keep. He loved photography, he loved taking a picture of you, he loved you.

[hyunnows]

love, [Y/N] | jjk

► PAIRING: Jungkook x reader

► CONTENT/WARNINGS: angst, mentions of fluffy memories, mc death, lots of Jungkook tears, best friends!au, mentions of unrequited love

► WORD COUNT: 2k+

► RATING: pg13

► SUMMARY: "It’s not fair that he was holding the last of you in his hands, unable to focus on anything other than the last words he’ll ever receive from you."

↳ A/N: I got this idea at 2:36 am and I don't know where it came from but oh well. This was meant to be a 300-word blurb and we ended up at 2k lol. I haven't written anything for Jungkook compared to Tae, and honestly, this maknae has been climbing my bias list so here's a semi-self-indulgent fic filled with angst and crying! I hope you enjoy it, please feel free to leave feedback and reblog! Also, STREAM BUTTER!

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Shaking with fear, Jungkook gripped your hand tightly, tears pouring out his red eyes as your patient monitor fluctuated slightly. With a quivering lip, he croaks, “C'mon [Y/N], wake up. For me? Please…”

He feels your small fingers squeeze his own gently, weakly, and hope beams across his face. But just as soon as the hope had come, it vanished, your paling fingers going stiff in his palm. The once steady beeping now a quickly accelerating sequence, the sound ringing in the brunet boy's ears as his eyes go wide and breath cuts short.

He feels the nurses pull at him, trying to drag him out the room and he thrashes against them, his nails digging into your hospital bed with all their might until his knuckles turn white and his vision blurs. Loud sobs rack through his body as he slumps in the nurses’ arms, pressing the balls of his palms into his eyes, trying to stop the tears and the burning. His cries almost choke him, the occasional cough jerking his body harshly.

When he sees the familiar face of the doctor, he prays that the downcast gaze and frown don't mean what he thinks.

“[L/N] [Y/N],” Seokjin takes a breath, his own eyes beginning to water at the words he's about to utter, “time of death: 2 am… I'm sorry Jungkook. I did everything, I-I tried every voltage and pumped her with liquids a-and everything I could d-do—I couldn't save her. I'm so—so sorry.”

It's like his entire world has crumbled in a second. His arms and chest are suddenly heavy, his lips, throat, and face feel dry and dehydrated, and his eyes can't decide if they want to be open or closed because of the stinging sensation they feel when he tries either. Sitting on the floor in front of your room, he takes the hand Jin outstretched and wobbles inside, only to fall back down the moment he sees your dull figure.

He doesn't care that a small crowd can see him babbling incoherently as he tries to apologize to you through his sniffles and whimper, crawling to your hand and lacing his fingers through yours.

Eventually, Taehyung and Jimin pick him up and drag him out of the building you took your last breath in. Jungkook didn't try to resist, knowing he was in no shape to put up a fight or drive himself home. He needed to get out of there anyway, the smell of death only he could detect suffocating him slowly.

On his way upstairs, Taehyung holds him back, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a short stack of envelopes—maybe two or three—rubber-banded together and hands them to the younger. “Her first day in the ER, she m-made me promise to give you these if she—if she… You know…”

Hearing they were yours, he takes them gently and swiftly, immediately holding them close as if they were his lifeline. He gives Taehyung a silent, stiff nod before turning and dragging himself to his room.

He doesn't open them right away, taking his time to admire your adorable calligraphy and observing every smudge or erased pencil mark you'd left on their light material.

He's not surprised to find every letter addressed to him, because it wouldn't be the first time you two had given each other messages the old-fashioned way, and he smiled softly at the “before you read” attached to the first envelope.

If you're not Jeon Jungkook, please don't read these. If you are, know that I'm still with you, in these letters, in your heart, our memories and that I will always be here, even though I'm sorry I can't physically be here with you right now. These are letters I've written to you, but never sent. They're from the bottom of my heart and they say everything I've ever wanted to tell you.

—[Y/N]

His heart beats harder as he opens the first letter, doing his best not to tear the envelope and keep it perfectly intact for him to save.

There are two Polaroids safety-pinned to the letter, both with his face and yours smiling brightly at each other. He gently unclips them, tucking them safely into the [Y/N]-specially decorated sleeve. He breathes in deeply and unfolds the letter, immediately tearing up at your handwriting on the wilting paper.

Dear Jungkook,

I know you don't think it's cool or modern to send letters, so I won't send this.

Anyway, I want to thank you for always being there for me, my big, strong, human-shoulder-tissue. I couldn't be luckier than I am to have you as my best friend.

And I know this is going to sound cheesy, but I love you more than anyone or anything in this world. You're the diamond to my sky, the sun to my earth, and the person I would choose to spend the rest of my life with.

In other words, I'm in love with you, Jeon. I wish you were in love with me, but I'm already the happiest girl in the world being by your side every day.

Your Best Freind,

[Y/N]

His heart pounds against his ribs, because you had been in love with him. You had wanted him to be the last face you'd ever see. You were right in front of him, your heart on your sleeve for who knows how long, and he hadn't known until you were dead. His face contorted into one of pain at the reality, and he squeezed his eyes shut to stop the tears, taking long, shaky breaths before opening the second letter.

This note is considerably newer than the first, its edges still white and crisp, but the deepness of the creases tells him it's at least a few months old.

Dear Jungkookie,

Lately, I've been sick—which you know because I've told you. I haven't told you about my feelings yet because I don't want to scare you or pressure you, but I'm probably going to die before I ever get to tell you these things.

Since I told you how I felt in the last letter, I'm going to try and describe why in this letter. Reason number one, your presence. You always manage to just enter a dark, tense room and make it so much brighter and more comfortable. I don't know if it’s your smile or your laugh or the way you don't care if you're embarrassed or not, but you just manage to make everyone feel comfortable in themselves.

Reason number two, your kindness. I had never seen someone run back inside, get an entire table's worth of food, and give it away before. You're always so willing to give, despite the cost. I hope you never change.

Reason number three, it's kind of odd but I fell in love with your voice. Not just the way it sounds pretty when you sing, but the way it has the power to comfort whoever you’re singing to. I’ve always been able to come to you for support and comfort.

Reason number four is you know how to turn a bad day into a good one. You can talk to anyone who’s down for five minutes and you’ll turn them into a giggling, grinning mess.

Reason number five, you’ve always made me feel loved. Even though our entire relationship has been platonic—at least on your side—you’ve always checked up on me, held me, and made sure I knew I was enough and I can’t thank you enough for that.

Number six is your passion. You always put your all into everything you do. Be it making breakfast for the boys or helping me with a project I put off until the last minute, you make sure it’s all or nothing.

Seven is that you taught me how to love unconditionally. I always believed in falling in love and finding the one, but I never knew how intense it felt to be able to give your all to someone and not expect a single thing in return—until I met you. From the way your nose scrunches when you smile, to how you tilt your head when you’re confused, I love it all. From the best thing about you to the worst, it’s all you, and I wouldn’t want you to ever change. Every scar and blemish, each pore and lash, I’ve fallen in love with all of them because they make you, you.

I know you don’t feel the same, and in complete honesty, I love you so much I don’t even care. As long as you’re happy and I’m able to spend as much of my time by your side I’m happy.

He chokes on a sob when he finishes the second letter, tears dampening the card stock as he shivers. His heart clenches harder as he folds it back up, giving both pictures a once over before pinning them back on the letter.

Opening up the last envelope, a cry racks through his body, and he’s ugly crying now. The necklace he’d given you perfectly washi-taped against the letter. He pulls it off, tucking it tightly into his palm, and holds his breath. This time, the letter is a small, short piece of paper folded in half once.

He almost can’t read your small, dainty handwriting through his bubbling tears, but manages.

Hi Jungkook. Did you see the necklace?

It’s the one you bought me for my fifteenth birthday, that I told you I had lost. For a while, I had, and I remember I was too scared to tell you, but you noticed before I could anyway. I was so relieved you weren’t mad at me because I didn’t know what I would do if you were. I still don’t.

Anyway, the point of this short, last letter is to tell you how I want you to remember me. I don’t want you guys to think of me as your sickly friend who died when you were in your twenties… but I want you to remember the good memories we made together. I want you to remember the day we met, when I accidentally broke your bike and when we were both grounded for four months for sneaking out of our houses for our first party. I want you to remember how we got sick together because you couldn’t let me walk home alone in the rain, but you couldn’t drive and we both forgot jackets and umbrellas. I want you to remember the day you forgave me for losing the most precious thing anyone has ever given me, because that’s the day I fell in love with you.

This paper’s running out of space so I’m going to wrap this up. I want you to remember everything good about our time together, and not what ended it. Don’t think about how I’m gone, because I’m still with you, after death. These letters, the photos, and this necklace are what I’m leaving behind for you to keep. Don’t cry when you think of me, don’t think of the fact that we’ve been making our last memories, just don’t forget me.

Jungkook clutches the necklace tighter, afraid to drop it. Not only had he lost you, but he’d also missed out on the opportunity to be with you because he’d been too scared to ask you out while you were alive. He’d been in love with you since you two were eleven, tried to confess to you when you were fifteen, and lost you at twenty-three.

It’s not fair, he decides, it’s not fair that your love never got a real chance and it never would. It’s not fair that all these years you thought your feelings were one-sided when he reciprocated them ten-fold. It’s not fair that he was holding the last of you in his hands, unable to focus on anything other than the last words he’ll ever receive from you.

He sucks in a deep breath, barely croaking out your sign-off, “Love, [Y/N].”

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[rosaliepostsstuff]

Good for him | G.W.

Pairing: George Weasley x reader

requested, based on the song Already Gone by Kelly Clarkson

summary: Maintaining a relationship while going through grieving process becomes too exhausting for Y/N and George so they part ways. But what happens once they both take control of their lives back and meet again?

word count: 2.5k warnings: grief, mentions of death, insecurity, fluffy ending (hope i didn’t miss any warnings, in any case please let me know)

tags: @izzyyy-1 ;  @hufflepuff5972 ; @pandaxnienke​

 You walked around the flat above the shop, and you thought about the day you helped George and Fred move in. Memories came flooding back to you, you had just graduated Hogwarts, you were all so full of life, looking bright into the future even as the war was tightening its grasp around you. But you couldn’t have expected it to take so much from you.

The door to the flat opened slowly with a creak and you saw a shell of a man walk in. You were standing in the middle of the small entry hall, clutching your bag filled with little things you had left at George’s over the years, things you would now take with you.

He came back after undoubtedly spending the whole afternoon at a pub.

You looked at him and you felt a lump in your throat as tears slowly clouded your vision. You looked at him and once again you wondered if what you were doing was right.

You loved George with all of your heart, loved him more than anything. He had changed your life in so many ways and left his mark on you. And you knew that nobody else could ever love you the same way he did. You were supposed to be each other’s forever, but grief had other plans for you.

After months, you were exhausted. You had tried and tried to help George up after he collapsed along with his brother but it got just too much. You had your own process to go through and you couldn’t do that while pouring all of yourself into a relationship that no longer physically existed. There is a boundary between trying your hardest for love to help someone get better and hitting a wall, trying to help someone who doesn’t want to be helped while losing yourself in the process. You hoped he would move on and find happiness with someone eventually. He was bound to find someone better, someone, to give him more than you could.

At first, he was angry. He felt betrayed. He resented you for leaving him when you were supposed to love him. Looking at him like that hurt you, it almost made you break and take it all back, but you couldn’t. Because love just wasn’t enough to keep you together.

So when his initial shock passed you parted your ways in mutual agreement.

 As time went on you slowly got better and better. You focused on yourself, on your career and in time you felt something that resembled happiness. You felt almost at peace, but it was a start.

Almost a year has passed since your break up, and one late afternoon you got an owl and felt a pang in your heart upon reading the name.

You tried to avoid George in fear of losing all that progress that you’ve made in moving on. But you also felt that he didn’t deserve to just get ignored by you and you were curious about his intentions.

My Y/N,

I probably don’t have the right anymore to call you mine, but it feels wrong otherwise.

I missed you. I hope time has treated you well. I know it helped me heal. I know I’m not fully there yet, I still have a long way to go, but I’ve woken up enough to see how shit life is without you. I don’t expect you to just let me back into your life, but if you would, that would make me the happiest man in the world. I just wish to see you and talk to you.

Please don’t ignore this letter, I beg you. Even if you don’t want to see me ever again, please, don’t leave me hanging, I hate uncertainty. Please, before I let you go, tell me you’re alright.

Yours,

George

And so, with a shaky hand, you wrote back:

George,

You know well what we did was for the best. You should move on and find someone who will truly make you happy and give you all that you deserve. I can’t do that for you.

Y/N

You didn’t get another letter from him.

You tried to push George out of your mind again, always trying to find something to occupy yourself with. Until months later, an owl delivered a beautiful, formal-looking envelope to your windowsill. Hermione and Ron were getting married.

You’d been successfully avoiding all Weasley’s gatherings, even though Molly never failed to invite you. Christmas, Easter, all the birthdays. You knew she saw you as one of her own regardless if you were dating one of her children or not. But until now you didn’t want to take that risk.

However, a wedding was too important, and both Ron and Hermione proved great friends to you in the past. If they invited you, that meant they wanted you there. And part of moving on meant you couldn’t just avoid George forever.

 You had apparated just outside the Burrow. You saw the wedding tent with some people already there, you scanned the crowd, subconsciously looking for him already. You fixed your dress and with your legs a bit shaky, you approached the entrance.

“Y/N! Hi- !” Ginny elongated, walking up to you with her arms spread wide and a huge smile on her face. “Hey, Gin,” you smiled dimly. “It’s so great to see you, it’s been so long..! I’m really glad you came,” she gave you a proper Weasley hug, one full of emotion, showing you how she really missed you. “I know it was probably not easy,” she added a bit quieter, giving you a knowing look. “But anyway, I’ll take that!” she gestured to the gift bag you were holding in your hand, “I’m on gift duty today, thank you-“

“Do I have a seat assigned?” you asked, looking at the rows of seats for guests. And that’s when you saw him, talking to someone by the wedding arch. His back turned to you, but you recognised him by his posture alone. He was wearing a dark navy three-piece suit. One could get really lost looking at this man.

“Yes, yes, Fleur will show you while I put this away. Fleur..!”

You avoided looking in his direction, afraid of catching eye contact. Waiting for the ceremony you thought to yourself you’ll have to meet him sooner or later, but you just didn’t want to be caught looking at him first. You have moved on. He has moved on.

 You glided through the sea of guests with a glass of champagne in hand, some of them headed to the dance floor, some to their tables, just like you. You kept your eyes trained on where you were going, careful not to bump into someone but not looking anyone in the eye.

“Y/N,” called the voice that felt like home. You froze in spot, bracing yourself, then turned in the direction it came from.

“Hi,” he said with the tiniest smile and his eyes filled with uncertainty. He looked a bit better than the last time you saw him. His face seems to have aged a bit during this short time, his cheeks a bit hollow. But he didn’t look as tired, the dark circles under his eyes lightened up a bit. His face was clean-shaven and his hair cut. He looked very handsome.

“Hi, George,” you said the name out loud after so long.

His eyes moved down over your body and back up again, “You look beautiful,” he said sincerely. You shifted on your feet and tightened the grasp on your glass a bit, “Thank you, you look really smart.” He smiled a bit wider. There were a million things he wanted to say at that moment, but he didn’t know which one to lead with. Which one would prompt you to give him your attention and listen to the rest. “May-... may I have a dance..?” he asked quietly, barely audible in all the noise, music playing and people partying. You panicked slightly. You did not feel ready for that. “I… I was just going to sit down for a bit, talk to some other guests. Maybe later,” you blurted out the last part and regretted it almost instantly. There was a bit of a pause between you, George did his best to hide his slight disappointment. “I’ll hold you to that,” he said, with a fraction of the glint in the eye that you knew well. With that, he turned around and walked away, just his head visible above the crowd.

Your heart fluttered a bit. This felt like old George.

You did your best to shake that feeling off, then noticed Molly next to one of the tables. You owed her at least a conversation.

Not for a moment has she made you feel guilty about not seeing her all this time. She engulfed you in the biggest hug, showing you just how happy she was to see you. Your spirit lifted instantly, and she hasn’t mentioned your break up and asked about your life, what you did in the meantime. Yet inevitably, the conversation somehow shifted to the topic of Fred’s passing.

“We’ve gotten better, we’re trying as best as we can. That’s what Freddie would’ve wanted,” she said with a wide smile and her eyes a bit watery. “Even Georgie’s getting better,” she nodded, looking at him in the crowd. “Sorry, dear, I promised myself I wouldn’t mention that with you…” she got a bit flustered. “It’s- it’s okay Molly,” you smiled as best as you could. “In this case, I do have to say – it is a shame, dear. You know you’re a Weasley to me but I’d always hoped I’d have you as my daughter.” She rubbed her hand on your shoulder comfortingly, “you were good for him, you know? Even Fred always said that…” You stayed silent, focusing all your might into stopping tears forming in your eyes. “My, I better leave before I make even more of a mess. Do have a nice time tonight, dear,” she gave you one last, warm smile and walked off. Leaving your mind in chaos.

“George..?” you tapped him on the shoulder gently, and even the feeling of his warmth on the tips of your fingers felt tingly. He turned to you right away with a smile that had you weak in the knees, then reached his hand out for you to take and gestured to the dance floor with his eyes.

His touch brought you comfort. He held you just like he always had, as if you picked up right where you left off, right before everything went wrong. George’s touch made you forget about everything around you, and as he led you in dance, you lost yourself. If only he’d lead you outside and into the sunset, without a word, you’d let him.

“You know, I was hoping… If you’d see me today, see how I finally got a hold of myself, pulled myself together, everything would change,” George confessed, his voice strained with emotion. The music slowed down and you were just swaying with it. You looked up at him and he continued. “I mean, why did we end things, Y/N?” he asked desperately.

You looked back down, not able to meet his eyes anymore. He went on before you could answer.

“I was a mess. I was in a dark, dark place, Y/N... I didn’t have enough grip to support you as I should’ve, so instead, I dragged you down with me.” George lifted his head high, looking up at the illuminated ceiling, trying to keep his tears from falling. He didn’t want to fall apart now. “I’m sorry. I know I told you that when we... when you left. But my perspective’s changed, I can see better now and I want to say that again – I'm really, really sorry.” “George, please...” you plead, all your thoughts and doubts from the past coming back to you. “I- I feel so bad... that I couldn’t help you,” you confessed, “it hurt me so much, but I wasn’t enough.” You tried to stifle the sobs, tears streaming down your face now.

George pulled you closer, pulling you flush against him and wrapping his arms tight around you. You tried to find comfort in him, your hands fisting his crisp, white shirt.

“It was not your fault, okay Y/N/N? There was nothing more you could’ve done for me,” he said, resting his cheek on top of your head. “...but it’s behind us now. And not for one moment have I stopped loving you,” he confessed.” “But why...?” you cried, “George, I’ve given you the chance. I let you go so you could move on,” you grasped the shirt tighter, “so you could find someone better... You deserve so much better.” “There is no one better! Give me another chance and I promise, I will spend the rest of my life proving to you how perfect you are for me if that’s what it takes..!” He exclaimed, pulling away a bit to take your face into his hands and look you in the eyes. “Just let me, please.”

All words escaped you the moment you looked into his eyes, holding such sincerity. So you just nodded and smiled weakly, feeling a huge weight lift off your shoulders.

George slowly brought his face closer to yours, leaning in he searched your eyes for any signs of uncertainty until the very last moment when your lips touched. His lips were slightly chapped but so welcoming. When you kissed him back, letting go of his shirt to slide your hands along the soft material to his chest, he brought one of his hands to your waist and used the other to deepen the kiss. The song playing was slowly coming to an end, the singer’s soft voice accompanied by delicate piano melody seemed to set a rhythm to your lips. When it ended, he held your lips together still for a moment, then pulled away.

The breath you took then was the first proper breath in years for you, you breathed George in and felt intoxicated. Your eyes darted between his loving gaze and dazzling smile.

“I love you,” he chuckled, caressing your cheeks with his thumbs. “I love you back,” you said breathily, wrapping your arms around his body and relaxing into him.

 George kept his promise and did not falter in proving to you how perfect you are.

The summer sun was slowly setting, the light wind pleasantly warm. Your eyes were set on his face, eyes closed and a relaxed smile on his lips, as his head lay in your lap. One of your hands was gently stroking his soft hair, while the other he held in his, on his chest. The sunset left a pinkish-orange hue on everything, making it seem even more magical.

You could stay like this forever, you thought, but Molly stuck her head out the window, motioning for you to come inside for dinner. Right as you were about to nudge George, his stomach grumbled, making you chuckle.

“Ugh, when’s dinner gonna be ready…” he groaned sleepily, opening one of his eyes. “Just now, actually. Come on, love, get up.”

So the two of you got up, going inside, hand in hand. And you were each other’s forever.