#as Silvia was talking to the two ladies standing next to me while I was nodding along and smiling đ
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Donmar Welcome Event 16th Jan 2024
Also went to a member's welcome event that the Donmar had, which was basically an hour where they served something to drink and told us a bit more about the theatre and the upcoming shows.
The invitation did say they'd have an exclusive tour of the place - on and off the stage - which I'd been quite excited about - but that didn't actually happen :(
Still, it was rather interesting! Learned a few things about Macbeth as well :)
Apparently, the stage stains very easily - which is why I'm baffled at how easy it apparently is to clean, but guess they must have some really lovely red dye that isn't as stainful as pretty much anything else that's dyed red. It also scratches easily - the movement on the stage can easily create little creases where the blood can get stuck.
I'd only seen the bloodbath on the floor once, so hadn't noticed, but was told that it comes up through the floor - probably why it differs so wildly each night how and where David is covered in it!
(As an aside to that - on the first night there wasn't a bloodbath - he was struck with the knife and there was a bit of blood on his shirt instead - now there's no blood at the wound)
Someone asked them about filming productions (not specifically about Macbeth - and they didn't say anything about it) and they told us about the process of deciding whether to record a production or not as it's a very costly affair to do so - which is why it's not something they just automatically do for everything.
They said that either the NT will ask them if they record a show - which means they do everything, and therefore is obviously the much cheaper option for themselves. The NT will let them know what benefits there might be in it for them - but as far as I understood they won't really earn much if anything from it.
So, the second option is for themselves to invest in filming a production by bringing in a third-party filming company that they pay for themselves. It's obviously a much more expensive way of doing it - but they'd also get more money back from it if it sells well in cinemas or online. Obviously, they have gone with the second option - so hopefully that's because they think it has really good marketing potential!
They mentioned that they are always very aware of the fact that not as many people get to see their performances as would probably like to see them - so it's always part of their considerations whether to film it or not when they create a new production.
One of them joked that they could probably keep up a production like Macbeth for three years and still sell-out - but that the theatre is known for putting on about 6 productions each year, so there's a limit to how long their runs can be - plus there's also the availability of actors to consider.
Someone asked if actors (I assume meaning, big name actors) takes a pay-cut to work with them - and yes, they do. Everyone is paid the theatre-standard no matter who they are. The only extra benefit they might offer big names is a taxi to get to the theatre and to escape back home afterwards.
Ah, yeah, think that was about it - everything else was more or less just about the upcoming productions, memberships, and other general things :)
Edit: Oh, forgot to mention that their focus will always be on the production as it's on, then on any potential transfers and then on releasing it for cinema/online - so if they filmed something it wouldn't be released until the live show is done - and sounded like they wouldn't necessarily say anything about it having been recorded (or not) until then as well. So don't think we will hear anything about the plan for it until the show is over.
#Macbeth#Donmar Warehouse#David Tennant#Cush Jumbo#This is just from memory - so yeah free paraphrasing.#Actually the part about the blood I was just lucky to hear đ
#as Silvia was talking to the two ladies standing next to me while I was nodding along and smiling đ#but not feeling competent enough to actually join in on the conversation đŹ#She also mentioned how desperate understudies were for a chance to perform - which is of course very understandable!#but I was just thinking that if I were an understudy#I'm not sure I'd want to go on stage in DT's place đ#especially not for a short super popular run like this đŤŁ
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A home, not a house (JoĹĄko Gvardiol x Reader)
**I got this request a while ago and last night I finally came up with this idea and wrote it. I really like how it turned out so hopefully you all enjoy it too â¤ď¸**
Word count: 2309
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Football players had to move to different countries during their careers. Especially if their home league wasn't the strongest and their talent was too good for it. So one would expect them to become experts at itâŚbut it wasn't always the case.
For Josko, moving to a different country to play for a different league wasn't a new feeling. He had already left Croatia to go to Germany. So now moving to England to play for City should have been very easy for him. And yetâŚ
Josko met you soon after moving to Manchester. You had just moved into your own apartment with one of your friends from uni and wanted to celebrate. The plan was to go have dinner at a fancy place that you'd regret going to once you saw the bill and then go party. You'd regret the drinks for other reasons.
And it was there, at the fancy restaurant, that you met Josko. A few of his new teammates took him there to welcome him to the city and their table happened to be next to yours. But football had never been your thing so the only footballers you would have recognised were the ones doing adverts on TV that caught your attention. Not the ones on that table.
âWe got a table full of hotties next to oursâ, said Silvia, your roommate.
âDo we?â, asked Katie, turning to look at them and not caring about being caught.
You, on the other hand, blushed when you saw two of the boys noticed your friend. And so you refused to look at them.
But soon you needed to use the bathroom and on your way there, you bumped into Josko.
âI'm sorryâ, you apologised and he smiled at you.
âLadies firstâ, he said, motioning for you to walk in front of him.
When you were already inside the bathroom, you laughed. You were blushing again. This shyness of yours was ridiculous but every time you talked to someone you didn't know, your face went all red. And if you talked to a cute guy like the one you saw outside the bathroomâŚ
âWe meet againâ, you heard when you got out of the bathroom and you saw it was the same guy standing there.
âDid you wait for me to get out or something?â, you joked but he surprised you with his answer.
âYes. Sorry if it's too direct but I just thought you were really pretty andâŚâ.
âOh. Thank youâ.
Now your face couldn't possibly get any redder. But the drink you had gave you a little confidence boost.
âWhy were you waiting then? Just to tell me I'm pretty?â
âI was wondering if I could get your numberâ.
âDo you want to go to a club later instead?â, you suggested. It could be a good way to get to know him while you had your friends around.
âI have to work early in the morning. I can'tâ.
âOf course. I'll go with my friends thenâ.
âAbout the numberâŚâ, he insisted, but looked insecure after you refused him once.
âI don't give my number to strangers, sorry. You could be a serial killer for all I knowâ.
Josko burst out laughing when he heard you say that. And he confirmed you had no idea who he was.
âFair. And probably smartâ.
âYeahâŚI'll go back with my friends to eat our overpriced foodâ.
âI'll go back to mine. It was nice talking to you even if you discovered my serial killer persona. It's the beard, right?â
Now it was you who laughed and you felt the urge to actually break your rules and give him your number. But you were interrupted by your friends calling you back to the table.
âI gotta go. Maybe I'll see you around. Not here though. I can barely afford eating here onceâ.
That gave Josko an idea and when your friends asked for the bill, they were told it had already been paid for.
âWhat?â, asked Silvia. âIt must be a mistakeâ.
âNo mistake and the gentleman left a note forâŚâ, the waitress looked at the note again, âthe pretty girl who didnât want to give me her numberâ.
Your jaw dropped but you extended your arm to get the note, making all of your friends look at you.
âYou don't give your number to potential serial killers but I'm not as careful so here it's mine just in case you want me to take you to eat somewhere else. I can pay for the fancy places for you if you want to. But I promised it's not with the money I get from killing people. I spend that on other things.
Joskoâ.
You were grinning reading his note. Josko. You could tell he wasn't English but couldn't place his accent. And now you had a name and a phone number.
âYou flirted with one of the footballers from the other table? I didn't know you had it in youâ, laughed your friend Joanna.
âFootballers?â
âRight. You're clueless when it comes to knowing famous people. Yeah. Those were Man City playersâ.
Even if the word footballer scared you a bit, aware of their reputation, your interaction with Josko made you pick up your phone to send him a text. And that was how you two stayed in contact for a few days before meeting again. It wasn't much later that you started to date.
Your dates had been mostly cute outdoor plans but you felt it was finally time to go to each other's places too. And what you saw at Joskoâs surprised you.
âWhen did you move here?â
âUmmâŚtwo months ago? Almostâ.
âRight. When are you planning on decorating the place? You barely have furnitureâ.
âIt's not something I care much about. And I don't know where to buy things apart from IKEA. You got IKEA here too, right?â
âYesâ, you chuckled. âBut we're not going there. We're going to make this house look like it's one from those renovation showsâ.
âIt's fine. ReallyâŚâ.
âJoskoâ, you started, giving him a look. âYou don't even have a sofaâ.
âIâŚâ.
âLike how do you expect to invite people over when the house looks like this? Silvia and I had to work our magic to make the apartment look half decent but you have unlimited money. This has to change and I'll help you change this house into a homeâ.
âYou like decorating places?â, he asked, smiling at how eager you were to help him with this project.
âI do. Especially when I'm spending someone else's money and not mineâ.
âAnd here I was expecting you to ask me for a Chanel bag and not money to buy paint for the wallsâ, he laughed.
âWe'll save the bag for my birthday. Now let's get to workâ.
The next few hours were spent checking what the house needed. And it needed a lot of things. But it still was a Sunday afternoon and you also wanted some cute time with your boyfriend. So you decided to leave the shopping for Monday.
âUmmmâŚwhere are we supposed to just watch a movie and cuddle? See how much you need a sofa?â
âI watch TV in bedâ, he said, shrugging and you smirked at him.
âIt's that why you refuse to buy a sofa? To take girls straight to bed?â
âYou discovered my masterplan!â
On Monday, you were impatient about leaving work to go meet your boyfriend to go buy all the stuff his house needed. First, you picked up some paint. The walls looked fine but the colour picked for his bedroom was a bitâŚdepressing.
âA room needs light! It needs a bright colour that you see when you first wake up in the morning and makes you want to leave the bed and conquer the world. Or win a match in your caseâ.
Josko laughed, also noticing the people staring at the dramatic way you spoke about paint.
âAnd that is achieved withâŚblue?â, he asked, looking at the blue colour in front of him.
âToo dark. How about this light green? It goes well with the furniture you got in the room alreadyâ.
âIt's cuteâ, admitted Josko, trying to imagine how it'd look. âBut I don't think it'd look good with the bed clothes soâŚâ.
âOh honeyâ, you said, patting his cheek softly. âWe're buying stuff for your bed too. What you have now is too old looking even for my grandmaâ.
Two hours later, his car was full of bags filled with all the stuff you'd use for the renovations.
âOk thenâ, you told him, clapping to get his attention. âNow it's time for the big one. The sofaâ.
âI like taking naps on the sofa so it has to be big enough for thatâ.
âNotedâ, you said, checking an imaginary list.
And it proved to be the funniest part of the shopping trip too.
âWhat are you doing?â, you asked, chuckling when you saw Josko touching the first sofa.
âChecking it's comfortableâ.
âBy gently touching it? Sit on it!â
âI can't. Why if they kick us out?â
It was so cute how worried he looked but you only laughed again.
âSee the price tags? They know you'll spend a lot of money. You can sit on the sofa to see if it's comfyâ.
âOkâŚâ, he said and sat down on it trying to be careful.
You sat down on the spot next to his and bounced a little to check it wasn't one of those sofas that breaks people's backs.
âSomeone is coming to tell us offâ, told you Josko, getting up from the sofa quickly.
But the sales assistant wasn't there to tell you offâŚbut to help you.
âDo you need any help?â
âWe doâ, you said, standing up and leading the negotiations. âWe need a big sofa. It's a big living room you see? And a big manâ, you added, pointing at your boyfriend. âHe's an athlete too soâŚwe don't want his muscles to be hurt by a bad sofaâ.
âOf course. Follow meâ.
âFollow himâ, you told Josko, taking his hand so you could walk together.
The sales assistant walked you to the area where the biggest sofas were and you felt like you were in heaven. Those were too big for your small apartment. Or any apartment you could afford.
âThis one is our most popularâ.
âWe can sit down on it to try it out, right?â, you asked.
âOf courseâ, said the assistant and you turned to wink at Josko.
He just shook his head and sat down as well.
âIt's really comfyâ, he said.
âLay downâ, you ordered, standing up so he had the room to do that.
âWhat?â
Josko was looking at the sales assistant, not you. âIt's ok, sir. We want you to be sure of the purchaseâ.
So, even if he felt a bit uncomfortable, he laid down on the sofa and felt the urge to just close his eyes and nap. It was so comfyâŚand running around all day shopping with you was more exhausting than playing a full match.
âIt's incredibly comfortableâ, he said and you smiled.
âSoâŚthis one?â
âThis oneâ, he nodded.
The sofa was going to be delivered to his house two days later, which worked well for you. It'd take that long to get the rest of the house sorted and getting the sofa would be the cherry on top.
âHave you ever painted walls?â, you asked him when you were done getting his room ready to be painted.
âI don't think soâŚâ.
âNo worries. My dad is a painter and taught me how to do it. I used to go to work with him in the summer sometimes. And he gave me a little brush to helpâ.
Josko smiled imagining a little you doing that. And kept being fascinated by how many things you were good at.
âNo no no. Like thisâ, you told him, grabbing his hand that held the brush and showing him the right motions to spread the paint properly.
âThank youâ, he said, leaning down to kiss your cheek.
âDo you like the colour? It'll look a little darker when it fully driesâ.
âIt looks amazing. I didn't know it could make such a difference but it looks like a different roomâ.
âI knewâ, you told him with a cheeky smile on your face.
There wasn't much left of the walls to paint when you heard the doorbell.
âGo see who it is. I'll finish thisâ, you told Josko and he made his way downstairs.
âIt's the sofa!â, he called and you finished painting the wall before running downstairs to see the sofa.
There were a few workers there placing the sofa where Josko wanted it to be and you smiled seeing how good it looked in the living room.
âI'm doneâ, you told your boyfriend.
âThank you. Do you want to go take a shower while they finish this? And then we can see if it's as comfortable as in the shopâ.
âSounds goodâ.
You kissed him quickly and went back upstairs to shower and put on some comfortable clothes. You were a bit exhausted after the last few days. But so happy about the work done.
âIt looks so goodâ.
Josko looked up to where you were standing and smiled at you. âIt does. Thank you for making my house look like a home. I'm just useless at thisâ.
âHappy to helpâ.
Now it was his turn to go shower and you decided to test the new sofa while you waited for him. But you really were exhausted.
So when he was done showering and went back downstairs to be with you, he noticed you were sleeping already. He laid down next to you to be your big spoon and closed his eyes to take a much needed nap as well.
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Magic and Miracles - Chapter 1
Sanders Sides Big Bang fic, Chapter 1!
< Prologue | Next Chapter | Masterlist
Summary: Roman huffed. âAnyone could have done that.â
âWell, if they knew the spells, then yes,â Logan agreed.
âHeâs just jealous of the grand show you made of it,â Remus chuckled.
âI am not jealous.â
âOh, then why are your eyes so green?â
âTheyâre naturally this colour, idiot.â
âAh, but not in such a poisonous shade.â
Warning/s: food mention, fantasy racism.
Characters: Logan, Emile, Remy, OCs, Virgil, Roman, Remus, Patton, Janus.
Read on AO3
1 | A Whole New World
Logan had been figuratively buzzing with anticipation ever since Mr Ainmosni had come to the bakery and offered him the chance of a lifetime. Now, one week later, he was about to be picked up for his first day of school. Everleigh had come around to see him off, and Emile had made them both pancakes with Crofters jam for breakfast.
âDo you think youâll get to meet the prince?â Everleigh asked during their meal.
Logan shrugged. âProbably not. Heâs never shown his face in public since he was a kid, after all.â
âWhy though.â Everleigh wondered. âHeâs the crown prince after all. Arenât princes supposed to be big public figures or something?â
âPerhaps he hides his identity for the sake of protection. Again, he is the crown prince.â Logan pointed out.
âI guess you have a point there. Ooh, you are going to get to meet some nobles though.â
âWhat makes you so sure?â
âYouâre the first non-noble to qualify for a magic license, so your classmates must be from the nobility.â
âHmm, that seems most logical. Though I will meet and study with them, I doubt weâll become friends.â
âAgain with the selling-yourself-short! Youâre awesome Lo, anyone, noble or otherwise, would be lucky to befriend you. Just donât go getting yourself a new best friend, okay?â
âIâd never dream of it. But if Iâm going to be spending so much time studying, then I hope youâll consider finding yourself more friends.â
âIâve got a library full of books, I donât need more friends than that.â
âEvâŚâ
âOkay, Iâll socialise, if you do the same on your end.â
âI still donât think anything will come of it, but I suppose it wouldnât hurt to try.â
âHey, kiddo, did you make sure to pack enough underwear?â
âDad!â Logan exclaimed in embarrassment while Everleigh snickered at the question.
âIâm being serious, Logan. You donât want to run out.â
âI am positive that Iâve packed everything Iâm going to need.â
âEven your-â
âYes.â
âI didnât finish my sentence.â
âIâve packed clothes, books, hygiene products, spare clothes, and a spare binder.â
âOkay. Donât forget to take a break from binding every few hours. If I hear anything about you neglecting to do so, then make no mistakes Iâll march over there myself to see that you do.â
âI know. I can take care of myself dad.â
Everleigh snorted. âIf it werenât for us, youâd have probably worked yourself to death.â
Logan looked at her with a you-are-not-helping expression, then turned back to his dad. âIâll be fine. Besides, Mr Ainmosni is going to be taking care of us.â
Emile frowned. âI donât doubt that Remy is a good teacher if heâs been put in charge of this, but I feel that heâs not completely⌠responsible.â
âHe definitely fancies you if the constant flirting was any indication,â Everleigh teased.
Logan snickered. âYeah, you went red as a tomato.â
âOh shush,â Emile scolded, blushing at even the memory.
âIâll be okay though, you really donât have to worry.â
âYou know I will either way, but I am proud of you. It feels like just yesterday you two were tiny tots running around the bakery. Now, look at you! A library apprentice and a wizard in training.â
âWe have come a pretty long way, havenât we,â Logan smiled.
Everleigh laughed. âI donât think Iâm anywhere near as accomplished as you.â
âI wouldnât be where I am without you. How else could I have studied those library books for countless hours without you making sure to keep tabs on them.â
âItâs not like I had much to worry about when you read at the speed of light.â
âIâm going to miss studying there.â
âWell, youâre always welcome to stop by. Itâs not like youâre going to the next town over or anything.â
âI suppose. Though I really wonât be able to spend as much time there as before.â
âDonât go getting homesick already, Lo. I already miss you, but this isnât a goodbye.â
âDefinitely not. Iâll probably visit this weekend.â
âThen Iâll be here Saturday morning to hear all about what youâve done.â
Logan nodded. He was glad that they would stay friends, even if they could only see each other on weekends. Heâd known Everleigh since they were babies after all. Not having her around would be weird.
The bell above the shop door rang and the trio in the kitchen heard Remy call. âI have arrived!â
They went to the bakery and saw Remy standing there in the same outfit as before, however this time he had a strange flask in his hand.
Emile frowned. âWhatâs that?â
âMidnight elixir. My own special concoction. Itâs a touch bitter but really helps if you need an energy boost. Want a try?â
âOh, uh, no thank you.â
âWoah, are you guys riding in that?â Everleigh gasped when she saw the carriage parked outside.
It was a standard chestnut brown box carriage with white swirls and spirals decorating it all around, and a pair of beautiful cream coloured horses pulling it.
âYep. Ready to go, Logan?â
Logan nodded. âI just need to grab my bag from upstairs.â
He quickly went and got his suitcase then paused a moment to look around his room. He wouldnât see it again for a while. Honestly, heâd never been away from home for longer than an overnight stay at Everleighâs house. The reality of leaving everything he knew behind was both exciting and frightening. He truly didnât know what to expect at this magic school apart from that heâd learn magic. This was a huge step to take and he wasnât entirely sure of his readiness anymore.
But when he got downstairs and saw his dad and Everleighâs proud expressions, he knew that there was no turning back now. He had a goal after all, and this was going to help him achieve it. He wouldnât freeze up and disappoint them now.
Farewell wishes and goodbye hugs were quickly exchanged, then Logan and Remy got into the carriage and were off. Logan looked out the back window as they drove away from the bakery, out of town, and to the location of the Srednas Magic School.
âMr Ainmosni-â
âJust Remy, kid.â
âRemy, where exactly is the school?â
âThe school is, for now, the Srednas Manor. The Prince wants to have a proper school built, but this first class is only the test run, so to speak.â
âTest run?â
âThe council wants to be sure that a school would be a successful idea before the Prince can order a real one to be made.â
Logan nodded. âI suppose thatâs why itâs not publicly known.â
âYeah, getting ideas through the council is a pain, even for royalty. Iâm surprised they let you obtain a learners license without too much fuss. Though you should be cautious about any interactions with Councillor Allen. He was not happy when he heard the Prince invited you to his school,â Remy chuckled.
âHe wouldnât really be able to do anything against me, would he?â
âWith how you won the favour of his highness and Lady Silvia, not a chance. But you will need to be careful. Now that youâre practising magic, you will be interacting with nobility, and any mistakes made in their world can mean an end to your reputation and career.â
âI donât know if I would do much socialising.â
âKid, you are the first-ever wizard to come from a commonwealth household. Nobles are going to find a way to meet you and theyâll either see you as an opportunity or an opponent.â
âOpportunity?â
âYou already caught the notice of the Crown Prince. Theyâll want to take advantage of that. And at the same time, they might see that as a problem since youâre getting his attention over them.â
âIâve never even met him.â
âThey wonât care. They may even believe you have anyway.â
Logan frowned. âThis is going to be harder than I thought.â
Remy nodded. âYeah, but if you need anything then you can just ask.â
âDoes social standing fall under your teaching duties?â
âNope. But I donât mind helping people, and honestly, I think that you have something⌠special. Youâre forging a path for others who may want to learn magic themselves. I think thatâs worth investing in.â
âSo, this isnât for anything like points with my dad?â
Remy laughed. âWhile that seems like a benefit, I truly didnât think of it before you said something.â
Shortly after that conversation, the carriage came to the silver gates of the Srednas Estate. The driveway was paved with white stones and went all the way up to the large manor house which was built of brilliant dark wood and stone bricks. It looked to Logan like a small castle, with even a tower on the left side that stretched high above even the forest trees.
The carriage stopped just outside of the enormous front door, and Logan found himself staring up in awe as he followed Remy out.
âWell, I believe we are the last to arrive. Follow me to the classroom. The others should be waiting there for us.â
Logan followed Remy down the halls. When they finally arrived at their destination, Logan noted that there were seven small desks set in a sort of semi-circle. They were all facing one large desk with a big chalkboard behind it. As Remy had predicted, the other six students already occupied the room.
Two elves were sitting together by the two desks far left, talking about something animatedly to one another. They looked similar, with broad shoulders, long dark curly hair, and almond tanned skin. Their eyes however set them apart from one another, the one on the left having bright green eyes while the others were deep red.
Sitting on the desk of the red-eyed elf was a water sprite with a kind smile. He had a petit build, bright brown eyes and messy blonde hair with small variously coloured flowers braided in. His skin was a peachy hue apart from the blue-green splotches that identified them as being a sprite.
Standing by one of the large windows in the back of the room were two students. One a demi-wolf, the other a Dragonborn. The Dragonborn stood with an air of confidence and superiority. Paired with the scales that covered the right half of their face, they seemed quite intimidating. Their eyes were mismatched, the left one a normal brown while the right one was bright yellow with a black slitted pupil. Their blonde hair was nearly completely hidden by their ivy cap.
In comparison, their demi-human companion seemed rather timid or perhaps on edge, if their body language was anything to go by. Their tail hung low, slowly swinging side to side, and their wolf ears were focused forward, listening intently to the Dragonbornâs words, while their deep brown eyes glanced routinely around the room and out the window.
On the other side of the room, by a bookshelf full of large tomes, stood the last student. He was slender and pale, with black hair that faded into dark purple and hung slightly in his stormy grey eyes. He was leaning with his back against the shelves, eyes focused on the pages of the book in his hands, at least until Remy and Logan had entered. At that moment, the boy looked up through his fringe and focused his stormy eyes on Logan.
For a moment Logan felt frozen. Those eyes seemed to be reading him like a book. Searching his very soul for⌠something. But the feeling only lasted a moment as the boy looked back down at his book with a thoughtful frown. How peculiar.
âOkay, everyone, take a seat. Preferably at the provided chairs.â Remy said as he turned to take his own seat behind the large desk facing the semi-circle.
The sprite hopped off the elfâs desk and sat at the desk beside them. The Dragonborn took the next seat, and the demi-wolf sat beside them. The boy at the bookshelf returned his book to its place then sat at the desk on the far right. Leaving a seat for Logan between the boy and the demi-human, which he promptly took.
âAlright, class. I donât expect you to become best friends or anything, but we are a small group so I hope you will at the very least get along with each other. For that, youâll probably need to know each other, so weâre going to go around and introduce ourselves. Iâll start. Iâm your teacher, Remy Ainmosni, my pronouns are he/him, and donât worry this is not alcohol,â Remy said as he gestured to his flask. âWho wants to go next?â
âOh, me!â The sprite said excitedly, jumping up. âHi, Iâm Patton Lilyhart, I use he/him, and Iâm excited to get to know you all.â
Remy nodded. âI like the energy. Who wants to continue?â
âI shall.â The green-eyed elf declared, standing up from his seat with a confidant and regal air. âMy name is Roman Elvar Goldheart Arthur Leafstone, and my pronouns are he/him. I am the eldest son of Lady Leafstone and heir of the Lyrecrest Ilse.â
âAn impressive introduction, Roman, but next time you can just say your name is Roman Leafstone, we donât need your full given name,â Remy commented, then gestured to the other elf. âYour turn.â
The red-eyed elf stood, though she held herself with a more casual air and wrapped an arm around Romanâs shoulders. âSup, Iâm Remus, he/him or she/her, and this is my less-handsome twin.â
âYouâre wrinkling my cape,â Roman complained, only to have Remus stick out her tongue at him.
Remy nodded with an amused smile. âOkay, snake eye, youâre up.â
âI am not a snake,â the not-half-snake hissed. âMy name is Janus Embyrn, they/them, and I am a Dragonborn.â
âGood for you, snake eye. What about you, Wolfie?â Remy asked, completely ignoring the fiery rage burning in Janusâs eyes.
âMy name is Willow, um, Redrunner.â
âAre you sure?â Remus asked. âCause you donât seem so confident about that.â
Willow shuffled nervously in their seat. âI- well⌠you see- uh-â
âDemi-humans donât use last names,â Logan declared.
Willow nodded gratefully at him. âYeah, but if needed then we use the name of our pack. I hail from the Redrunner pack and use she/they pronouns.â
Remy nodded then turned his attention to Logan and the stormy eyed boy. âOkay, which of you two wants to go?â
âIâm Virgil Tempest, he/him,â the boy declared.
They all waited a moment for him to say more, but he simply gestured for Logan to go. Logan made a mental note of that and then cleared his throat.
âMy name is Logan Picani and I also use he/him pronouns.â
Patton gasped. âOh my gosh, youâre the star guy! Right?â
âIf you are referring to the spells I cast at the license test, then yes that is me.â
Roman huffed. âAnyone could have done that.â
âWell, if they knew the spells, then yes,â Logan agreed.
âHeâs just jealous of the grand show you made of it,â Remus chuckled.
âI am not jealous.â
âOh, then why are your eyes so green?â
âTheyâre naturally this colour, idiot.â
âAh, but not in such a poisonous shade.â
âLetâs not fight,â Patton intervened. âYou did very well on your presentation Roman.â
âThank you, Pat, but I am still not and have never been jealous. Especially of a human.â
âWatch your words, elf,â Janus growled. âYou wouldnât want us to think youâre racist.â
Roman glared darkly at them but was interrupted by Remy before he could reply. âNever mind presentations, and races, and titles, none of those things matter here so thereâs no need to discuss them. All of you were chosen with equal faith in your abilities as competent mages who could better the kingdom. I hope you can appreciate this opportunity and act civil with each other for the duration of your time here.â
Everyone was silent but Logan could practically see sparks of violent tension between Roman and Janus. They were going to be a problem for each other but with any luck, they wouldnât pull the rest of the class down with them. Logan doubted he had that much luck, but he hoped anyway.
âNow, the rules are as follows,â Remy continued, ignoring the tense atmosphere. âFirstly, you are to stay on school grounds, unless permitted by myself to leave. Secondly, lessons will take place in the late morning and early afternoon, whatever you do outside of that time is up to you. So long as it doesnât interfere with classes then I donât care what you do. Youâre old enough to watch yourselves, and I am not a babysitter, so I expect you to keep out of trouble for the most part. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served in the dining hall, food is allowed outside of these hours, but not permitted inside of your rooms. Speaking of your rooms, you may decorate them as you like, but please remember to keep them moderately tidy as the cleaning staff will only come through once a week-â
âOnce a week?â
âThatâs what I said, Roman.â
âDo you expect our beds to go unmade for that long?â
Remy shrugged. âI would hope you could at least do that for yourselves. Youâre not infants after all.â
Roman opened his mouth to protest further but was cut off by Janus. âWhat food is to be served, exactly?â
âNot sure. You can inquire with the chef for a menu and tell them of any dietary requirements too. If and when you interact with the estate staff, I expect you to be polite and respectful towards them. Any questions?â
âCan we explore the garden?â Patton asked.
Remy smiled. âYes. The estate is yours to explore, apart from the tower.â
Remusâs eyes shone with curiosity. âWhatâs in the tower?â
âNothing you need to concern yourself with. If thatâs all, then I think I ought to show you all to your rooms to get yourselves settled in.â
Remy got up and walked to the door, not waiting to see if anyone followed him. Roman rose in a dignified manner and went after him with Remus walking beside him. Patton practically skipped behind them and Janus followed with their own nonchalant air and Willow beside them. Virgil got up too and looked over to Logan for a split second, almost like he wanted to say something, but decided against it.
It was barely the beginning of his first day and Logan already felt that this was going to be a stressful time. He really had no idea how he was going to navigate interacting with all these people. He didnât have to do that when he was independently studying before. By accepting this chance he was entering a whole new world.
And he was more than ready to conquer it.
#sanderssides#sander sides#sanders sides fic#logan sanders#ts logan sanders#ts logan#virgil sanders#ts virgil sanders#ts virigl#roman sanders#ts roman sanders#ts roman#remus sanders#ts remus sanders#patton sanders#ts patton sanders#ts patton#janus sanders#ts janus sanders#ts janus#remy sanders#emile picani#fantasy au#Thomas Sanders Sides Big Bang 2021#food ment tw
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#FightOn! (04) | OT7
Summary: The University of Southern California is a prestigious school - only the best or the richest can attend. That means there will be a lot of spoiled brats. Two groups start colliding and the entire college shift alongside them. What will happen when sparks starts to flow between them? Drama will certainly be there.
Pairing: BTS with -eventually- female characters
Genre: Fluff, Angst, Smut (in the future), CollegeAU!
Word Count:Â 16k UNEDITEDÂ
A/N: Thank you all so much for waiting. This chapter was taking his time to take form in my head. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy and thank you so so much to all the girls that joined our family and to the ones that are with us everyday! Also, a big thanks to @bunnybubkook for being our editor of this chapter (sheâs helping us improve our writing since our first language isnât English). I made so many mistakes, itâs a shame ooofff Iâll be waiting for your feedback on the asks ⤠Love you allÂ
The Characters ⢠Day 3 ⢠Day 4 ⢠Day 5
The air at USC was electrifying, and it affected everyone. At the Flour Tower, Hyoriâs alarm had just rang. To her surprise, her roommate was already awake. Deo was sitting on her bed, hair all over her face. Honestly, if there wasnât light peeking through the blinds, Hyori would almost swear it was Samara sitting there instead of her best friend.
âAre you ok?â Hyoriâs voice came out hoarse from having just woken up a couple of seconds ago. All she got from her roommate was a grunting sound and a nod. âWhat is going on? Did something happen?â
She jumped out of her bed and into the other, cupping Deoâs face in her tiny hands. The girl looked pale and her lips were more of a red-ish, compared to her usual lip color. It was either because of a cold, because she had been crying, or because she was on her period.
âDid you turn into a vampire or something?â Hyori joked, making Deo laugh.
âIâm on my period.â Deo finally spoke, letting her body fall backwards and into her soft mattress. âIt feels like Iâm dying.â She grabbed Hyoriâs wrist dramatically.
âDo you know whatâs good for cramps?â
âIf you say exercise, Iâm going to kill you.â
âCâmon, come run with me.â Hyori said excitedly. It was rare, but the times it did happen she had the best time running with Deo. The two of them were super competitive, so they would always end up racing each other to see who would win.
As the girls were getting ready for their morning run, everyone was still very much sound asleep.Hyori was used to mornings being quiet, only seeing one or two people on her way to the track field. Today, however, with her roommate tagging along, she could barely hear the birds chipper because they were talking and laughing too loudly.
âOk, are you ready?â Hyori said, getting into her lane and kneeling into position.
âWhat? Wait! We have to make a bet!â Deo said. Sheâs picked up this habit with Jungkook of betting on everything and anything. âBet you I can finish my drink faster than youâ, âbet you I can take a better picture than youâ, âbet youâll be hungover the next morningâ. Because of this, she would always try to make bets with her friends, just for fun.
âFine!â Hyori said, straightening herself. âWhat about... whoever loses has to make the other breakfast?â
âGood enough for me.â Deo shrugged, and both kneeled down on their respective lanes.
âReady...â
âSet...â
âGO!â They screamed at the same time and started sprinting.
For the sake of their breakfast, Deo lost. Or, being truthful, she quit midway because her cramps were bugging her too much, so instead of running, Deo just sat down on the track and Hyori returned to her normal pace.
Once they got back to their dorms, they took a quick shower before heading to the common kitchen where they usually ate breakfast. Deo ended up making enough pancakes to feed two girls that were their floorâs neighbors.
Not too far away, in apartment 203, everyone was awake except for Yoongi. He had stayed up until sunrise adding last-minute details to one of his songs. Today was a big day for him, which also made it a big day for his friends. They were their friends' number one supporters and if there was anyone who deserved love and support, it was Yoongi.
âHey man.â Namjoon spoke to Jungkook, making him jump in his seat. He was too focused typing on his phone.
âOh hey, good morning!â
âYouâre up early. Going somewhere?â Namjoon asked as he took a bite of his apple.
âYeah. I gotta help my friend set up a runaway for this fashion show theyâre having.â
âOh yeah, I think I saw a flyer around campus about that. Youâre going to model?â
âNah, Iâm going to help backstage.â Jungkook said nonchalantly. Namjoon only nodded. âYouâre going to the library?â
âI have an essay to finish, so, yeah. Iâm gonna go now since everyone is still asleep, and once they wake up I know I wonât be able to focus.â Namjoon laughed lightly, grabbing his books and standing up. âIâll see you later.â
âSee ya man.â
Jungkook continued to stay glued to his phone. Ever since the volleyball party he had been talking to this girl he met there, Aashna. Usually, he would only open his social media to check on the million things his friends would post but recently he found himself excited to see the questions Aashna would send him. Their conversations were based on games like 21 questions or would you rather and he had a good time doing it. It stopped him from being bored. Right now, he was trying to decide if he would rather fly like Superman or travel like Spiderman. To him, this one was actually pretty easy. He liked Spiderman so much, it was an obvious choice.
Namjoon, was already in the library. Luckily for him, the crazy old lady didnât hear him heading out today, so he didnât have to waste two hours talking to her. It would take him a while to get in the mood to do his work but there was something that always worked. Scanning the books shelves. Namjoonâs love for books was a big one and just reading the books covers would make him ease into the state of mind he needed to focus and do his work.Â
He had assembled quite the pile of books. In fact, it was so big that it created a wall, such that he was barely visible behind. After 45 minutes, Namjoon realized one book was missing, so he walked quietly to the front desk where a pretty girl was sitting. Her hair caught his attention due to how bulky it was. He cleared his throat before speaking.
âSorry to bother but I need a book on lobbying. I couldnât find it back there.â He said quietly, to not disturb the people that were reading close by.
âYeah, give me a second.â She said and started typing on the computer she had in front of her. âIf you want you can sit down and I'll bring it to your table?â She suggested.
âThank you!â
Namjoon headed back to his table as Silvia, the pretty girl at the front desk, was waiting for the computer to respond. Considering USC installations, the computer in the library was a dump. Specially from Silviaâs point of view. Her close friend Tessa was majoring in Graphic Design, so she was used to the best computers the school had to offer. They basically only took one second to open an adobe program. This computer however, took five whole minutes just to search for a book, but thankfully, she had the patient of a saint. Once the computer finally managed to load the book Namjoon was looking for, she headed for the correct aisle and scanned it until she identified the book Namjoon needed. As she approached, she couldnât help but hear Namjoon mumbling to himself. Curiosity hit her, and she stopped in her tracks.
âItâs just so hard, Celi...â He sighed hard, talking into his phone. âI donât even remember who that was at the party. I remember that she was pretty, and tiny, and had this dark brown hair that was kinda wavy. It suited her so well... I was too drunk to remember her name though. This is so unlike me! And I thought I liked Najma, but if I slept with someone else, maybe I donât?â He continued rambling. âAnyway, I'll see you at lunch. We can talk about all of this then, yeah?â
As Namjoon placed his phone down, Silvia was afraid that he would look back and catch her red-handed. So, she clumsily moved towards his table.
âI have your book right here.â She smiled kindly to him.
âThanks! Iâm sorry I had to bother you, but I really didnât find it.â
âOh, itâs not a problem. To be honest, I was almost falling asleep back there.â She said cutely, making him laugh lightly.
âWell, anyway, thank you!â
âIf you donât mind me asking... whatâs your work about?â
âItâs about Interest Group Perspectives. Itâs for one of my Philosophy classes.â He nodded his head.
âOh, I wonât keep you any longer then. Good luck on that, and if you need anything you know where to find me.â
Silvia started walking back to her post but she couldnât resist on looking back. Namjoon was scanning the book, a serious expression on his face. For the first time ever since she started working at the library, she thought her role was being a mere spectator only, of otherâs lives. She was done being the reader. She was going to become the narrator of Namjoonâs story and help him find someone he deserved. How? She didnât have her plan all figured out quite yet, but what she did have was time. She was going to come up with something.
Somewhere around campus, Jimin was already rushing to meet Deo and Hyori. They had to go help Hobi arrange the space for his sisterâs fashion show but Jimin fell asleep and so, the girls had been waiting for him for the last 15 minutes. He finally laid eyes on the two tiny girls and jogged to them.
âHey babies! Sorry Iâm late!â Jimin smiled big, so big his eyes seemed to shut.
âI hope you donât keep all your girlfriends waiting like this every time you get a date.â Deo sassily said, hugging the boy.
âItâs part of his charm.â Hyori teased back, but also gave a quick hug to the boy.
âLetâs just go!â Jimin whined. âTheyâre waiting for us!â The girls gagged in disbelief to the boyâs audacity but decided it was best to ignore him and just walk.
Back in Jiminâs dorm, Taehyung was tossing and turning in his bed. His roommate had gotten up in such a hurry, that it almost felt like their dorm was under attack. He usually had a quick and deep sleep, but today it wasnât cooperating with his laziness. He rolled around one more time, this time turning to his bedside table to reach for his phone and check the time. It marked 10:47, so he decided he might as well enjoy the day. He quickly got dressed, put his usual drawing notebook in his bag, and headed out. The sun was bright outside, so he decided to stop by the campus cafĂŠ to get something to help his inspiration run a little. His brain was still in sleep mode.
Once he got to the cafĂŠ, as he was waiting in line, already knowing what to order, he decided to take a look around to see if there were any familiar faces he could greet. He did find one. She was sitting on one of the furthest booths of the cafĂŠ, looking at something on her tablet. Once he got his order, he walked up to her.
âHey! I think I recognize you?â He asked, not feeling so sure now that he remembered how drunk he was at the party. âSana, right?â
âThatâs me!â She smiled kindly to him. âYou wanna sit with me?â
âYes!â As he answered, the girl scootched to the side to give him space to sit on the booth. âWhat are you doing here?â
âIâm actually waiting for my friends. They should be here pretty soon.â
âOh, youâre doing something fun?â He asked, excited and curious.
âWeâre gonna have breakfast here, and then weâre going to buy tickets for an exhibition. I donât know if you know the artist. Itâs Benjamin Verhoven.â
âOh? Benjamin...â Taehyung let his thoughts slip through his lips. âHis name sounds familiar, but I canât remember any of his works.â
âWell... you can join us if you want?â She offered with a sweet smile on her lips.
âI canât say no to an invitation like that. Iâm a sucker for art.â He smiled sheepishly. âWould it be ok if I invite some of my friends to join us?â
âOf course! The more the merrier!â
âCool!â Taehyung let out a big smile. âIâll talk to you later then?â
âOf course! Iâll dm you the details!â Sana said in a goodbye tone.
They had begun to talk a lot ever since the party about things like art, music, books â pretty much everything. Their tastes were very similar, so they always had a good time speaking to one another. Taehyung left the cafĂŠ looking like a little kid on a sugar high.
âNO NO NO! SUPPORT ME!â Jin screamed into his microphone. He had been playing LOL for the past 45 minutes, and to say that the game wasnât going his way was an understatement. âFucking noobs!â
AlpacaTower: wtf dude!! Support!! Noob
Otakupandasworld: omw!
AlpacaTower: no! You're a jungler!!
Otakupandasworld: we can still win this!
Jin couldnât even care about his team chatting, as soon as the surrender popped up, he clicked on âYESâ and immediately left his computer. He was too upset to stay and see his screen light up with the word âDEFEATâ. He walked into the kitchen and straight to the fridge, and before opening it, he took a quick look at the kink list. Weirdly enough, it hadn't been updated this week. As he was about to open the fridge, the power was cut out. He immediately regretted not turning off his computer earlier and putting the garlic bread in the oven. Jin took his phone from his back pocket and turned on the flashlight. He walked out of his apartment and into the hall where the electric board was.Â
âOh shit! You scared me!â Esme, the girl that lived front door said, her hands covering her chest from the scare.
âSorry about that.â Jin scratched the back of his neck, trying not to laugh. âAnd sorry about the power too.â
âIt just went out out of nowhere!â She laughed, still a little spooked.
âYeah, I had too many things on!â Jin laughed and made some space so that he could reach the electric board. âYou just have to flip this switch up and it should be back on right...â He stopped, flipping the big red switch on the power board ânow!â As he spoke, the corridor was filled with light.
âWow, I almost got goosebumps.â She teased, making him laugh. âIâm Esme by the way!â
âJin!â He let out his hand for her to shake, and she did. As he was about to turn his back on her, he stopped by his door, turning over. âQuick question, if two vegetarians have a fight, is it still called beef?â He said with an amused look on his face.
âIt depends on whatâs at steak.â She responded back quickly, making Jin laugh.
âI carrot believe you thought of that so quickly.â
âLettuce rejoice over our puns, neighbor.â They both laughed.
Jin went back inside to eat his garlic bread, amused with the slight pun exchange he had just had with his neighbor.
Not so far away, Namjoon was finally leaving the library. One of his close friends from his first year in college had hit him up to have lunch with her, and he missed her so much there was no way he was going to say no. Once he got to their usual cafĂŠ, he noticed Cecilia was already there.
âSorry, I had to walk all the way from the library.â He apologized with a sweet smile that she couldnât resist.
âItâs ok. I already ordered for us. I ordered a large pizza, so we can share!â She told him excitedly.
âPizzaâs here are delicious!â He complimented. They used to go to that cafĂŠ all the time last year. âHow are you? You said you wanted to talk to me?â He changed his expression from relaxed to concerned in a matter of seconds.
âOh...â She was a little lost for words, not knowing how to explain her feelings. âItâs Mark. He keeps asking me for a second chance but... it doesn't feel right, you know? I get this sick feeling in my stomach.â
âHe made you go through so much... You should think it through before putting yourself in a sticky situation again.â
âI know... itâs just hard.â Cecilia sighed, looking lost. âBut enough about me, tell me about you. And that party!â
Namjoon let out a big sigh. âI donât even know what to tell you. I was supposed to be on Taehyung duty. I donât know how I got that drunk.â
âBut what about the girl? Tell me who she is!â She pushed, excited to hear the gossip.
âSo... you see...â He scratched the back of his head, kind of embarrassed. âI donât remember.â
âJoonpiter!â She let out his nickname, shocked and excited. âThat is so not like you!â
âI know!â He sighed. âPlus thereâs Najma.â
âWhat about her?â
âI canât get her out of my mind, even though she doesnât seem to care that I exist?â
âOh of course she cares!â
âAm I just wasting my time with her?â
âOf course not! You canât just give up like that!â Cecilia tried her best to encourage her best friend, but his head was already hanging low. âWhat about your poetry?â
âWhat about it?â
âHave you been writing?â
âA little, here and there. Iâve been trying something new actually.â He said, his morale going up a little.
âWhat is it?â
âI canât say yet!â
âPretty please?â She bat her eyelashes.
âI can read you one of my poems?â
She pout at his recommendation but realized it wouldnât get better than that, so she agreed. âThree poems.â
âFine!â He finally caves in, making her smile big.
As they wait for their food, he gives her his little notebook where he usually writes down his feelings and poems. Cecilia reads them intently and with care. Namjoon canât contain himself and asks what is her favorite.
Some days, we laugh so much that we end up crying Itâs like the blooming flowers. Today I crave those moments The sun rays and the calming breeze I feel lost and insecure I donât like it. The gentle sea can turn into an unforgiving tangle of tears I wish I could turn back to those happy moments The orange sun in the horizon Slowly setting down Gently accepting itâs errors Skies turning shades of pink and pastel blue Suddenly the realization I changed and will change Just like everything going in the wind Where cherry blossoms bloomed and I... I was happy. And I will be again.
- RM
âNo, no, no!â Hoseokâs sisterâs voice echoed through the room, and everyone stopped what they were doing.
âWhat now?â Hobi asked, everyone could feel the attitude in his tone.
âThe banner is all wrong!â She whined. âWho did that?â
âJazzy you need to relax. Youâre freaking everyone out.â
Hoseok sat down on the floor, tired from all the moving they had been doing in the store. They had been working for 3 hours straight. Jazmine had asked his brother to come and help with the store. At this moment, with all the damage of having hired a company to help finish all her clothes in time for the big opening, Jazmine couldnât afford to hire a cleaning team to help put everything together. Instead, her loyal brother found a couple of kind souls that were more than ready to help. The only problem was that in those 3 hours, all that the stylist did was complain and order them around, instead of helping.
âShe totally doesnât know how to handle the pressure.â Jungkook whispered to Jimin.
âRight? I hope she doesnât go this hard later because I wonât model for Hitler.â Jimin whispered back, cleaning the sweat off his forehead as he placed a chair down.
âWhat time is it anyway? Iâm starving.â Jungkook said, and as if his belly had ears, it growled.
âItâs almost 12:30.â Hyori appeared out of nowhere. âWhere are we eating?â
âIâm gonna eat with Tae. You can come if you want?â Jimin offered.
âHard pass.â Jungkook said. He turned to Hyori. âWhere are we eating?âÂ
âHmm... I was thinking about burgers?â Hyori suggested.
âI'm gonna grab my stuff and we can go. I still have to run by my apartment to grab my cameras to take photos later.â
âBring me my jacket please!â Hyori shouted to Jungkook who was already midway. âYouâre taking her with you?â Hyori said to Jimin. nudging her head towards Deo who was trying her best to tie her hair with a hair band that was too tight for the amount of hair she had.
âI want to, but you know how she acts around Taehyung.â Jimin sighed. His only wish was to see his two best friends become friends as well.
âYou should make her go anyway. Sheâs the youngest of our group, so she has little to no say in things.â
âThen why is it always the other way around?â Jimin couldnât help but laugh.
âBecause~~ she has good ideas!â Hyori articulated more with her hands.
âOk letâs go!â Jungkook finally appeared, Hyori's jacket on his shoulder.
âHey where are you guys going?â Deo shouted after the two.
âFor lunch!â They screamed at the same time.
âWha- wait for me!â The girl started running around to grab everything. âWhereâs my phone?â
âWhy are you running?â Jimin asked with an arched eyebrow.
âBecause Iâm hungry and- and they already left!â
âThen we can eat together yeah?â Jimin side hugged the tiny girl. âWhat do you wanna eat?â
âGrilled cheese?â The girl suggested after a long pause.
âGrilled cheese it is.â Jimin smiled sweetly to her. âLetâs go!â He made a weird cheering sound that made the girl laugh, and they both left.
Taehyung couldn't help his excitement, and that's probably why he ran as fast as he could to Carolina's cinematic department. Their buildings were pretty close, he could've just walked there, no need to hurry, but that was Taehyung, the happiness preacher... always planning new gatherings and being excited about it!
He barged through the doors and thanked mentally no one was around there on that Saturday morning, only the girl since she offered to help Yoongi with his art presentation for his mini show that same night.
"CAROLINA~~" Taehyung called while walking his way around the artsy corridors and looking frantically for her "Carolina where are you???"
"HERE!" he heard her voice once a door opened in the end of the corridor, loud music playing, and her head peeking through it, displaying a tired smile.
"For a second I thought you weren't here!" he chuckled while running towards her.
He entered the 'lab room' that was basically just a bunch of computers and mixing tables displayed all over the place. Carolina had returned to her chair and was now glancing at him doing an excited little dance while closing the door.
"May I ask why you're dancing like a weird penguin?"
"Hey- this is the pingu dance, I'm offended!" he said with a fake hurt look.
"Sorry Mr. pingu" she chuckled, always amused by his carefree nature "But why are you so excited on a Saturday morning?"
"I got tickets!!!!"
"Please say Oasis got back together, and you got tickets" she prayed with closed eyes and hands pressed together, mocking him "Please God!"
"I'm going to throw this weird hairy hobbit on you if you don't stop," he said, taking in his hand a little troll doll with purple hair.
"Hey! Not Mr. Junky!"
"He looks so ugly that it's cute" Taehyung laughed while he marveled the doll.
"And it's a troll by the way... Hobbit-" Carolina snorted, making fun of Taehyung, and turning around to focus on what she was making again.
"It doesn't matter! I'm sure Mr. Junky isn't offended- Now can you please pay attention!!!"
"I am" she said, not taking her eyes off the screen in front of her.
"I'm serious-" he went towards her chair and pulled it backwards, the little wheels of it making it easier for him to drag her back "I got us tickets for this new exhibition- I'm sure you'll like it, and I really want to go, so... What do you say? Isn't it 'yay'??"
"I'm in for sure!! What exhibition?" she asked, turning around much more interested.
"That Benjamin Verhoven one!"
"Let me google him, wait." she turned around again to open the web. Taehyung went right after her, leaning on the back of her chair.
"Woah~" he said, once a bunch of photos of the exhibition appeared "That looks so cool"
"Wow! Look at this installation!"
"It seems really cool right?" he said, poking her cheek "You can thank me now"
"Thank you, sir~" she mocked "The tickets are already with you? Or do we have to print them?" she looked up to meet his glance, and at that moment he smiled embarrassed.
"So... about that" he started "We... hum.. we have to buy them first" he quickly looked at Carolina, and she was blinking slowly, her mouth in a line.
"Do you wanna run now, or do you wanna meet Mr. Junky from a close point of view?" she asked with a poker face.
"WAIT! NO!" he said protecting himself with his hands "I was the one finding the exhibition!!!! CAROLINA"
"You clown!!!" she said loudly while tickling him all over.
"Wait- Wait I beg you!" He was kneeling on the floor, laughing with teary eyes "I BEG YOU!!!"
"This is the shock treatment for liars." She got up, sitting on her chair once again.
"I... I'm exhausted," he said while taking a deep breath and sitting on the floor.
"I'm buying the tickets on my credit card then - is Nam going too? Or just the two of us?" Carolina asked, ignoring the almost passed out boy on the floor by her legs.
"Buy for him too! I'm sure he will like to go!"
"Nice! Three it is..."
"Actually, we are going with a friend of mine too, so we're four - maybe more since she will probably be with her friends too," he explained.
"Wait - What? Who's she? Who are the friends?" Carolina looked down with intrigued eyes.
"No need to worry, she's nice, you'll like her! Her friends, I don't know... But she is nice!! Trust me"
"Still, do I know anyone?"
"I don't think so...? She helped me out at the volley party... When I disappeared" he remembered.
"Ugh, that party" Carolina rolled her eyes "Fine. Do I have to buy her tickets as well? Like - I don't even know the people and I'm already buying stuff for them, I'm such a nice person, wow."
"Of course not!" Taehyung laughed "Just buy for the three of us, she already bought hers"
"I like her already" she said and then looked at him "I'm kidding, I need to talk to her first to know that" and they both laughed at her honesty.
"Print them already! We always forget to do that-"
"True! I'm printing" she said looking at the screen focused and then pointing towards her left "Go get them there for me please"
"Yes, captain!" he got up and went towards the printer "Also, do we give it to Namjoon now?"
"No way, he always loses his tickets! I'm keeping his."
"Keep mine too?" he asked while returning to her side.
"You're supposed to be the older one!!!"
"I am! But you're better at keeping stuff," he admitted.
"Not really though... I always lose stuff."
"You're better at keeping things you like," Taehyung reformulated, putting emphasis on the 'like', making the girl point at him.
"On that you're right!" she said, making him laugh.
"I'll go have lunch with Jimin now, wanna come?"
"Ugh..." she rolled her eyes once he mentioned Jimin's name "I'd rather die here from work exhaustion"
"You know, you have to get over that hate you have towards him someday," he said, giving her a forehead kiss.
"Never is a nice day to do that," she answered making him chuckle.
"Where are you eating then?"
"At Ben's" she said simply, making him choke on air "Oh get over it!"
"See you later then! Don't forget to tell Namjoon about the exhibit!" he said, already hurriedly walking towards the door, wanting to hear nothing about that subject.
"I will! See you! Don't be late! You know it's important for Yoongs!"
"I won't! Now say 'I love you' so I can say it back and go!" He already had the door open, ready to leave.
"You're unbearable..."
"Say it"
"I love you, Teetee"
"Love you too! Stop fucking my teacher~ Thanks~ Bye~" and he left Carolina behind, laughing lightly about his awkwardness to accept she was a grown up now.
Yoongi was a nervous wreck. He already checked on his songs at least 5 times, and he had nothing to do but wait. It was a big night for him. It would be the first time he would be performing live, and, as far as he knew, it was going to be a full house.
He got the gig thanks to a friend. He wouldnât be the only one performing, but he was supposed to be the big star of the night. He felt a little better knowing all his friends were going to be there, and this was an opportunity of a lifetime. However, this sickening feeling in his stomach wouldnât leave him alone, so he thought it would be best to try distracting his mind with something else.
He opened his laptop one more time and entered his social media. He scrolled through the feed and saw some posts, but, still, his mind wouldnât let him be. So he decided to dm someone heâd been getting to know for a couple of weeks now.
As Deo and Jimin walked their way to the cafĂŠ they were supposed to eat at, they kept on chatting about everything that came to their minds. Jimin had been telling her about this new friend he made online. He had no idea who she was, but she signed her messages as Cara, and he was intrigued by the strange connection he felt with her.
âWhat about Sarah?â Deo asked, wiggling her eyebrows at him.
âSheâs like a ghost,â Jimin sighed. âI saw her maybe twice or three times, and then never again. How am I supposed to even start talking to her if I canât even find her on social media?â
âWish I knew baby. I'm sure sheâll appear when you least expect it.â
âDoes that mean I have to be ready at all time?â
âWhat?â Deo chuckled. âYou always look good, so youâre always ready.â
âAh~ I donât know what I would do without you.â Jiminâs arm wrapped Deo into a tight hug.Â
âWait- is that? Jimin!â
âSorry?â He smiled apologetically.
âDude! Did Hyori know about this?â Deo frowned. âI swear to god, this stupid plan of yours is impossible to handle.â
âWhat plan?â Jimin quickly blushed. He was a horrible liar.
âDonât you dare lying to me Jimin!â
âJust come eat with us.â Jimin did his best puppy eyes. âHeâs a lot of fun.â
âIâm not upset about him, I'm upset you didnât tell me.â She rolled her eyes at him.
âSorry.â He gave a side smile, but it was too late for his charms to work.
âLetâs just go.â She started walking in front of Jimin, but he grabbed her wrist.
âDonât be mad at me.â He pouted.Â
âI could punch you right now. You know that, right?â She tried to contain a smile from appearing on her lips.
âYou never can.â He teased, launching his arm around her shoulders and squeezing her tightly against him.
The two got to the table, still bickering, but shut up once Taehyung lifted his head up from his phone and smiled brightly. Deo immediately tensed up. She was never very fond of the dude, and with her friendsâ crazy scheme, it made it worse. She wanted to be as far away from him as she could, and in some weird way, Taehyung knew that. That made it fun.
âHey guys! Oh you brought a friend Jiminie~â Taehyung said happily as he noticed Deo giving him a smile and a small wave.
âYeah, you donât mind, do you?â Jimin said nonchalantly while sitting down.
âOf course not!â
âYouâve been here for long?â Jimin asked.
âNot really. Howâs it going?â He was referring to the fashion show.
âGood. Everythingâs done, so all we gotta do is makeup and parade.â Jimin said excitedly.
âYouâre participating too?â Taehyung asked Deo.
âMe? Oh, no. Iâm staying backstage to help.â She said simply.
âOh thatâs nice of you!â
Before they would say anything else, the waitress appeared at their table, menus in hand. They discussed their orders for a couple of seconds, and then were ready to order. They all agreed on going for the same thing.
âThree grilled cheese and three cokes,â Jimin said nicely to the waitress once she got to the table.
âIs Pepsi ok?â The lady smiled politely.
âCan I have a Fanta instead? Orange please.â Taehyung asked.
âSure thing Hun, and for the two of you?â
âPepsi.â Jimin and Deo said at the same time, fist bumping right after with grins on their faces.
âSo...â Jimin trailed off once the table got silent. âDid you finish your video?â He asked to Deo.
âNo, I still have the last theory to see,â she said nonchalant.
âWhat is it about?â Taehyung asked, curious.
âVan Gogh!â Jimin said excitedly, knowing it was one of his friend's favorite artists.
âIt's a conspiracy theory that says he was murdered and didn't commit suicide.â She completed.
âWhat? Really? By whom?â Taehyung asked, confused.
âHis brother, or some kid that used to bully him? Iâm not very sure, I didnât watch the entire video yet.â Deo said.
âTheo?? No way! Thatâs like impossible!â Taehyung said, upset at such an accusation.
âI didnât buy it either, but I also donât think it was suicide. They explained that the place where he was shot was too low for a typical suicide attempt, and that it was most likely that he was shot from afar. The wound wouldâve been much bigger if it was self-inflicted.â Deo made her point.
âStill... I donât know... Whereâs that video again?â
âBuzzfeed unsolved. You ever heard of it?â
âYes! Namjoon watches it all the time.â Taehyung smiled. âIâll check it out... Canât believe he was murdered.â He said the last part more like a whisper.
âThey also said that he used to say that suicide was a cowardâs way to go. I guess it wouldnât make much sense?â Deo continued, intrigued with the situation.
âI believe he had some mental problems... To be incoherent is normal in that case, so I donât know.â
âHmm maybe? I just think it is so weird that they never found the gun and his painting stuff out in that field,â Deo countered. She just couldnât make up her mind about it. To be honest, she had been watching too many conspiracy theories lately.
âFor the time period, it was normal to steal things, so that was probably the case,â Taehyung assured her.
âMaybe.â She wasnât too convinced though.
âItâs probably that, trust me,â Taehyung insisted, feeling very sure of his answer.
Deo made a face, not wanting to start a whole debate with the boy. âImagine a Gogh painting no one got to see because it was stolen. That sucks.â
âRight?! I bet it was a masterpiece!â Taehyung said, overly excited. âItâs a little sad,â he concluded and received a nod in agreement from the girl.
âSo Taetae, what are your plans?â Jimin asked.
âFor today?â
âYes!â
âItâs Yoongiâs show tonight! Wanna come?â He looked happily between the two. âThe more the better! Heâll be happy if he sees the place crowded.â
âIâm going to a fair later tonight, but I think we can go! Right?â Jimin looked excitedly at Deo
âHmm, I think so! Weâll have to talk to the others though, but worst case scenario, we go just the two of us.â Deo smiled to Jimin.
âPlease go! Itâs going to be fun. Yoongi is really talented,â Taehyung spoke with pride in his eyes.
âWhat kind of music does he do?â Deo asked, intrigued. Yoongi was a mystery to basically the entire school. He was very reserved, and the only thing she knew about him was that he was the radio guy. That and some gossip Hyori would hear while tutoring, but some things sounded too crazy for her to believe.
âRap mostly.â
âOh~~ weâll try,â Deo said excitedly. Rap was one of her favorite forms of music, and she was excited to see a new side of the mysterious boy. She was sure her friends would be excited as well.
âSure, invite your boyfriend too,â Taehyung said with a wink, catching her off guard.
âOh yes, Jack is going with us to the fair!â Jimin intervened as he noticed Deoâs expression, but he was entirely ignored.
âOh yeah, weâll be there.â Deo smiled sarcastically to Taehyung.
âSo...â Jimin started, trying to lighten the mood. âLook! The food is coming!â
As those three started eating, Carolina was far from her meal. She didnât mind it though. She was working her ass off to help her friend, and if there was someone who deserved all her effort it was Yoongi. To outsiders, their relationship would seem a little bit odd. They loved each other and would do anything for the other. They were family.
âMaybe we could add some holograms on the colab song?â Carolina suggested, not taking her eyes from the screen.
âI guess. All we have for that one is the background, so that would make it better.â Tessa, one girl Carolina could consider a friend, commented. They would spend most of their time together at the movies. What better way to bond than over that? Movie tastes say a lot about a person.
âA full moon would be nice...â Carolina adds. âAnd we can shine them with that white and blue-ish light from the stage. What do you think?â
âWe canât put too much white, but I like it.â Tessa smiled, satisfied with the results they were showing. âYou never get bad ideas huh?â She teased, making Carolina smile.
âI can say the same about you, you know- and I agree, just a little bit of white.â
âAnd about time â We need to wrap this up so you can take it to Yoongi. What time is the event?â
âEleven sharp! Heâs probably dying with anxiety right now, my phone just beeped for the fourth time in a row, and trust me - that's a lot of texts for Yoongi, a record even.â The girl laughed dryly.
âOh~ poor guy. You should tell him weâre almost done here!â
âIâll send him an audio messing with him first.â Carolina let out her best impression of a villain's laugh.
âDonât!â Tessa whined, but, also, laughed. âHeâs gonna have a heart attack.â
âPoor Yoongs...â Carolina laughs as well. âIâm not doing that to him... at least not today! Heâs too nervous already, and I want everything to go perfect.â
âIt will, donât worry!â
âThanks for helping by the way, really.â Carolina turned serious. One thing she really appreciated was when friends supported one another.
âIt was my pleasure, but if you ever wanna pay me back thereâs this movie I really wanna see as soon as it comes out.â Tessa grinned.
âSay no more!â A week without going to the movies was a week badly spent. âWhatâs the title?â
âSend in the clown~~â Tessa sang the song. âJoker!â
âBro!â Carolina chuckled. âCall me crazy but thatâs like my childhood hero- villain- whatever!â
âIâd go with hero honestly. So youâre in?â
âOf course Iâm in! I would be crazy if I wasnât!â
âAlright!â Tessa said, excited. âI saw in the theater that itâs realizing a little after Halloween.â
âIt is! I saw it too! Itâs a deal.â Carolina pointed her finger at the girl with that âthis is seriousâ look.
âBut... if you had to choose, who would be the best Joker so far?â Tessa asked, intrigued. This was something the two had never discussed before.
"Heath Ledger is forever my soulmate, and forever my favorite joker, but I have big expectations for Joaquin Phoenix! And Jared Leto is a fabulous actor, but the Joker he was attributed, the Gang Joker, is like the worst of them all, my least favorite so..."
"Oh thank god you exist. I'm so sick of hearing people say that Jared Leto's joker is the best one just because he's super-hot. I had such huge expectations for Suicide Squad, and it was a big flop."
âSame! I was so excited and well... Bleh.â Carolina did her best poker face. âOh, and Jack Nicholson was pretty awesome as well! I used to watch him as a kid.â
âYes!â Tessa said, overly excited with the conversation. âI donât know if you saw Gotham, but they cast Cameron Monaghan to play young/teen joker and he was pretty good too.â
âI did, heâs pretty good as well.â Carolina nodded.
The two continued discussing their movie tastes and working hard to finish Yoongiâs concert effects as soon as they could. The boy was a pile of nerves, and everyone knew it.Â
Someone who was also on the verge of having a nervous attack was Hoseok. His sister was driving him crazy, and he was trying his best not to lose it too.
Everyone was back at Jazmineâs store, and the last details were being made. Some people were getting their makeup done, some were curling or straightening their hair, and all were listening to the lecture of what clothes they had to change into.
âYou look so so good! Youâre making me regret not signing up too,â Deo sighed as Tori did a little spin to show her the outfit she was wearing.
âI told you!â The girl grinned. âYouâre always like that. You need to stop that shy act of yours.â
âItâs not an act. Iâm more of a potato than a supermodel,â Deo said, making the other sigh.
âYou are not! Stop!â Tori said. She knew her friend was kidding, but still.
âYouâre staying for the after party, right?â
âOf course! I wouldnât miss it.â
âGood, you know I need my drinking buddy with me.â
âItâs just you and me, against the buzz,â The girl sassily said, making the other laugh.
Not very far away, Hoseok noticed his new friend, a girl that had recently joined USC.
âHey Amber, Iâm so glad you came! How are you?â
âHey Hobi! Iâm good. Iâm excited, but also nervous. I'm sure I'll be ok though! How are you?â The girl asked, turning a little in the makeup chair to give him her full attention.
âIâm a nervous pill, thereâs so much to do! But donât be nervous, you look really pretty!â Hobi smiled gently. He was proud of his sisterâs clothes and happy so many people came to help show them off.
âYouâve got this! The show will go super well.â The blonde cheered. âBut, Iâm clumsy so Iâll need to really concentrate, and thank you! I donât usually wear this much makeup. I've never been good enough.â
A frown quickly appeared on Hoseokâs face. He hated to see people sad. âWhat?! Donât say that! You shouldnât think so poorly about yourself!â His mind raced for the right thing to say. âMy sister is really picky, so if she chose you it was because she saw something in you! Believe in yourself!â He gave her a gentle smile, and squeezed her shoulder lightly.
âI just get nervous around certain people, and then I get clumsy.â Amber hinted. âBut I know itâll be ok. Iâm glad she picked me, all the things from her shop are so nice! You look so good today. You know... In the makeup and stuff.â
âYou think so?â Hoseok was used in being the one giving compliments, but he couldnât deny that receiving them felt good. âThis isn't really my vibe, but I canât deny these clothes look sick. Do you have plans after this?â
âI do! You should wear more clothes like that. Iâm not doing anything after this. Yourself? Did you want to do something after?â
âWe have some champagne and cake hidden for my sister. You wanna stay to celebrate with us?â He offered.
âOf course! I would love to. It sounds fun. She definitely deserves it after putting this show together,â Amber complimented, looking around the room to see all the beautiful outfits.
âShe does. She went a little Godzilla this morning, but sheâs the best.â Hoseokâs gaze turned soft as he spoke of his sister.
âShe is! Sheâs put in so much work, and itâs been so worth it. I can already tell this show will be amazing.â
âI hope so! Iâm grateful for everyone joining, and that includes you! Oh - Duty calls! Youâre gonna nail that ok?!â Hoseok encouraged one more time before turning away.
âIâm grateful for being invited! Thank you so much, I'll see you later. Good luck, you got this!â
Amber continued getting her makeup fixed. Meanwhile, Hoseok ran to his sister. They peeked through the made-up curtain that led to the runway.
âLook little bro, we have a full house!â Jazmine squealed excitedly.
âOf course we do!â He hugged her tightly. âYou worked so hard, everything will go as planned!â
âThank you!â
Lights started flashing and music starting playing loudly through the speakers. Everyone was amazed with the final results. It almost looked like a professional show. As soon as the first model left backstage and stepped into the runway, flashes hit her eyes from all different directions. Jazmine felt proud. Hoseok felt proud. Everything was taking form.
âWhatâs up nerd?â Jungkookâs head peeked in front of Jaeâs lenses.
âJesus Christ! I almost died. That angle does not suit you,â the girl teased, and Jungkook pretended to be offended by her snarky remark.
âWhat do you mean? All angles suit me,â Jungkook said cockily, but he quickly let out a laugh.
âSure.â Jae rolled her eyes. âAre you taking any good shots, or are you just joking around?â
âI bet you my shots look way better than yours,â he teased.
âPfff, you wish virgin boy.â
âOh please.â He rolled his eyes.
âIâm just joking.â Jae loved to see how annoyed he would get at the sound of the nickname.
âYeah, whatever nerd.â Jungkook chuckled.
âSo I was thinking... we could pair up for the project for photography club.â
âSure, the nerd and the virgin boy. Sounds like a bad superhero movie,â he said, making the girl laugh out loud.
âIt sounds pretty rad.â She laughed. âWhat would be your superpower?â
âI would kick their asses and then hang the bad guys by their underwear. Yours?â Jungkook said after a little while of thinking.
âIâd probably throw them math books because everyone hates math,â she explained with a playful smile on her face, âand I'd have glasses, and they would shoot some deadly rays thatâd turn them into dust.â
âSounds like youâve this all figured out,â Jungkook chuckled.
âSo should you. Weâre a team now.â Jae pointed her finger at his face, dead serious. âOr are you not worthy?â
The public was mesmerized by the incredible organization. The models looked stunning, and the clothes were a hit from the start. Sadly, that organization the people were seeing wasnât happening backstage. Everyone was running around and trying to change into their outfits on time for their turn on the runway, where they give life to Jazmineâs pieces.
âComing up I need Jimin and Alissa. Be ready because youâll go in 2 minutes.â At the mention of his name, Jimin got up but immediately sat down.
âOh my god! Iâm so sorry!â The pretty brunette girl almost screamed in Jiminâs face when they bumped into each other.
âAre you ok?â Jimin asked, filled with concern.
âYeah! And you?â She examined him from top to bottom.
âI am.â Jimin smiled. âI didnât see you around ever since the party, Lauraâ He gave her a quick hug. They were from the same dance crew, but they weren't that close.Â
âIâve been kinda busyâ she chuckled.Â
âHey can I-â Jiminâs sentence was cut off by a scream.
âNext model câmon! Câmon!â
âI guess thatâs your cue.â Laura said, tucking the hair that had fallen in front of her face behind her ears.
âIt is, but I'll see you around Delgado?â
âSure- yes, you will!â
The runway continued, and after a couple of hours, all the outfits were shown. Jazmine walked down the runway with all her models as the last song played, and she even did a little speech to everyone there. She was very grateful, and it was getting hard for her to hold her tears in.
âEveryone!â She let her fork click into her champagne glass, already backstage. âI am so thankful to all of you. I appreciate you joining me in this little crazy adventure as well as all of you that woke up super early today to come help set everything up! To my lovely brother who always stays by my side... cheers!â
âCheers!â Everyone held their glasses up and drank.
âSo... did you have fun?â Hoseok sneaked behind Amber making her jump slightly.
âI did!â She smiled big. âYou should feel proud of yourself!â
âI am!â Hoseok gave her a sheepish smile. âThank you, again.â
âAnything you need, you can count on me ok?â The girl said with a sweet look in her eyes.
âIâll keep that in mind.â Hoseok gave her a wink.
 âBANG BANG INTO THE ROOM!â Tori and Deo sang out loud to the song that came out of the speakers, drinks in hand
âWAIT A MINUTE LET ME TAKE YOU THERE!â Jimin joined.
âGo away, this is girlâs fun only.â Tori jokingly pushed him.
âHow dare you!â Jimin tried his best to sound offended, but he couldnât help but laugh. Through Deo, he and Tori had become friends, and he liked teasing her a lot.
âFight me Jiminie!â Tori teased back.
âIâm a gentleman. Excuse you.â Jimin laughed as he walked away from the two girls.
âOh~~ Jiminie~~â Deo teased.
âShut it! Dork!â Tori laughed out loud to Deoâs impression of herself. âGo see Jack!â
While everyone continued partying, the Y group had to leave the party. Jiminâs classmate and friend Jean, had invited them to some local market and they had to shower before going. They were tired from all the running around at the show.
Carolina, on the other hand, had just finished her job and was at her home, taking a shower. Jin was there too. After his pause earlier, he decided to go back to his games and when he noticed, it was almost 6 in the afternoon when his housemate peeked her head into his room.
"Is Dracula home?"
"Ha ha ha very funny" he said while stretching his arms, still sat on his gamer chair.
"Please tell me you ate something" she entered his room still wrapped in a towel, some droplets of water falling to the floor because of her wet hair.
"I ate some snacks while play-"
"Jin!!! For fucks sake, snacking isn't eating properly"
"Ya, you tell that as if I already didn't know!" he got up "I'll eat something before going"
"You better! If you drink on an empty stomach, I swear to my whole vinyl collection, I will leave you there" she threatened with a sharp look making him sigh.
"I will eat something, we both are. And stop treating me like a child"
"The fault isn't mine, you're the one that play games the whole afternoon like one" she said while turning around to leave his room making him follow closely.
"You game too you- you pillock!"
"Pillock?" she turned around and snorted with a smile "You're watching too much Sherlock Holmes for your own good"
"I'm afraid that's your british influence on me, my dear" he joked making her roll her eyes but chuckle nevertheless.
"And yes, I game too but I only like things like assassin's creed or god of war"
"You love Mortal Kombat too, don't lie"
"True, I do love it" she looked up too caught in her own head.
"We should play it sometime, there's a while since-"
"No time for that now! Go to your shower otherwise you're going to be late! I'll leave you something to eat here, go go!" she started pushing him towards the bathroom.
"It's still early!!"
"We both know you take ages in the shower Seokjin" she looked at him with that 'let's get real' eyes they always shared in moments like this, making him sigh again.
"Fine. I do." he mumbled going by himself to the bathroom now "You're being way too harsh today"
"No I'm not-"
"Yes you are~~ You're like Yoongi's manager" he said laughing.
"Yeah yeah"
"Is it because you want a song??" he wiggled his eyebrows before closing the door.
"TAKE YOUR SHOWER!!!!" she shouted making him fall in laughter inside the room.
Carolina texted her group in their usual chat after getting ready, wondering where everyone was and when she noticed that Yoongi was probably home alone, she decided it was time to go to the bottom floor and see how the boy was doing.
âSo how did it go?â Yoongi sat down on his chair and as soon as he did, his nail immediately returned to his mouth. It was his coping mechanism. In his mind, he was looking cool but on the outside... that was a whole different thing.
âOh so youâre pulling the chill vibe on me huh? Thatâs new.â Carolina let out a sympathetic smile.
âI tried but I guess itâs no use with you.â He let out a sigh. âBut seriously, the effects... are they cool?â
âRelax! You know damn well I wouldnât just do anything for you.â Carolina raised her eyebrow. âThey turned out great, all of them in sync with the songs and matching the concept of them.â
âIf thereâs someone I can trust is you. But I was thinking of going in a little bit early so we could try them out and see how they look onstage?â Yoongi suggested. The more he thought, the more excited he was getting.
âSure! I think the boys are already coming, I showered first to come here while Jin gets ready and Tae called saying he was on the way.â
âGood, that way we go together- any news on Namjoon?â
âHe texted a while back saying he was waiting in the lobby- you know, because of the crazy neighbor.â Both couldnât help but laugh. âHeâs probably just waiting for her to leave so he can come up in peace.â
âMaybe we should invite her, so he can have a little fun tonight.â Yoongi teased, making Carolina laugh.
âHe would be so disoriented that he most probably would ruin your show and when I say ruin I mean breaking the speakers, tripping on the cables etc.â Carolina said with a straight face but two seconds later was laughing out loud.
âOh shit.â Yoongi couldnât contain himself just picturing the situation. âMaybe next time.â
âLess nervous now?â Carolina said, a soft smile occupying her features.
âYeah, I'm getting excited now.â Yoongi also smiled. He felt so lucky to have a friend like her.
âYouâll do great as always, Yoongs. And besides, we both know youâre the most talented musician in this place.â
âI know... But I just heard the place will be packed and I only âperformedâ for you guys so that doesnât count.â
âOnce you step on that stage remember your dreams. And if you canât, just look at us.â Carolina pulled him into a hug. âWeâll make sure you donât forget how talented you are.â
âYouâre making me all sappy. I need to channel Eminem to look bad ass.â Yoongi dorks around, showing his cute gummy smile. âBut thanks.â
âThank me one day with a song made specially for me.â
But before Yoongi could answer Carolinaâs sassiness, there was a knock on the door and a head peeked into the room.
âSorry to bother man but Taehyung is out in the living room. He said he was knocking on the door for the past 10 minutes so I let him in.â Jungkook said and right after that the door was fully open by a bored looking Taehyung.
âJeez, I was starting to think no one was home.â Taehyung let himself fall onto Yoongiâs bed.
âItâs impossible that youâve been there for 10 minutes. I've been here for 10 minutes.â Carolina arched her eyebrow and Taehyung showed a guilty smile.
âYou know I'm dramatic.â
âSeriously.â Carolina sighed but laughed right after.
âWhere is everyone?â Taehyung asked noticing they were hanging out at Yoongiâs room and no one else was there.
âThey should be on their way.â Carolina shrugged simply.
âYou guys want something? I have beer in the fridge. I need one.â
âIâll join you.â Carolina answered, getting up from the bed and going to the kitchen.
Jungkook went back into his room to get ready. Meanwhile, Deo and Hyori were almost ready too. As Deo was still tieing her all stars, Jack called and Hyori took the moment to take some shots of the sky. It was almost that golden hour and she couldnât resist to take them, even though her camera roll had maybe 300 photos of that already.
âHey Hyori!â A girl called out from behind.
âOh~ hey Emma! How are you?â Hyori said sweetly when she saw the girl that had called her.
âI'm good. I see we had the same idea.â Emma joked, pointing to Hyoriâs phone.
âIâm a sucker for the sky, especially when it gets all pretty.â The girl confessed.
âMe too.â The two took a moment to watch the pretty sky one more time. âI was actually meaning to text you.â
âReally?â
âYeah, I feel like the only time we get together is for school stuff. And that being said, itâs me asking for your help with bio.â Emma confessed, a little embarrassed.
âBut I donât mind helping you at all!â Hyori said kindly.
âI know! But I was thinking that we could do something fun one of these days? To relax a little for the classâs stress.â
âOh sure!â Hyori smiled to the girl. âIâm going out with my friends now but I'll text you later so we can set something up!â
âIâll be waiting!â Emma said, waving the girl goodbye.
âSo are you ready?â Hyori asked, when Deo came to her.
âYup, Jack will meet us there.â
âWhy did you decided to invite him all of the sudden?â Hyori asked.
âWhat? Because heâs my boyfriend?â
âUhu, I see.â Hyori gave her a lopsided smile.
âDonât worry your pretty little head about it.â Deo teased.
âI donât have to. I know you too well.â
âWhatever floats your boat.â Deo shrugghed. âWhereâs JK meeting us?â
âDonât know, I'm going to call him.â
As the phone rang, the two girls walked to the fountain where they had agreed to meet with Hoseok and Jimin. After the third try, Jungkook finally answered.
âThank God!â Hyoriâs voice sounded as soon as Jungkook answered.
âI was in the shower.â Jungkook said simply.
âHow did me and Deo get ready before you did? Youâre the worst I swear.â
âHeâs still in the shower?â Deoâs voice could be hear through the line. âPut him on speaker.â
âI need to smell good.â He said simply and could almost feel Deoâs rolling her eyes. âUnlike some of you!â
âShut up 5-year-old.â Deo laughed.
âWhere are you?â Hyori asked.
âStill at home, Iâm almost ready and Iâll be there soon.â
âWell you better hurry!â
âYes mom!â
Jungkook hang up the phone and finished getting ready. Once he step foot out of his room, his living room was filled by the typical crowd.
âIs Namjoon coming up or what?â Yoongi asked.
âHeâs probably waiting downstairs.â
âI bet heâs with that sweet lady.â Jin joked.
âDonât tell him that.â Carolina laughed.
âHey Jungkook.â Jin noticed the boy.
âWhatâs up?â Jungkook greeted. âGood luck later man!â
âDonât you know itâs bad luck to just say it like that?â Carolina teasingly said.
âThanks.â Yoongi intervened before the two could get into their usual arguments.
âYou should drop by!â Jin said, with a grin in his face.
âYes, I invited Jiminie later!â Taehyung added.
âSounds like fun, I will!â Jungkook said excited.
âHey if you see Namjoon downstairs tell him to come up?â Yoongi asked.
âSure.â Jungkook replied, walking to the door. âSee you guys later.â He said, winking to Carolina and seeing her reaction before closing the door, satisfied.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The night fell pretty quickly and both groups were having the time of their lives. The Y group was already with Jean at the 626 Market and the X group was already at Yoongiâs show. Before it was his turn, there was going to be other artists and that made him relax a little.
Once they got to the market, they didnât expect it to be that big. The streets were filled with light and music echoed from all around the places. There was a little map at the entrance and everyone was mesmerized to see how big the space was. The food area was composed of 100 different chains and the variety of food and insane. But what really caught their eyes was how big the rides section was. It was a whole another world for them.
âSo what do you guys wanna eat?â Jean asked when they made it to the food trucks.
âI think I wanna try that churro ice cream you suggested.â Jimin said, excited.
âThatâs for dessert.â The girl laughed.
âLook! Corn dogs!â Jungkook pointed and rushed to the truck.
âWhat do you wanna eat babe?â Jack whispered behind Deo as he back hugged her.
âI donât know. Hyo?â
âMaybe a burger? Those look good.â The girl pointed to a truck near them and took some steps towards it.
âI want a corn dog with JK.â Hoseok said excited, following the boy.
âYou?â Deo asked, turning around to be facing her boyfriend.
âIâll have what youâre having.â
âWow, that helped so much.â She rolled her eyes playfully. âBurgers then?â The petit girl turned to Hyori.
âBurgers it is.â Deo managed to set free from Jackâs embrace and intertwined her arm with her roommate, ignoring his protests.
âWhat about you guys?â Jack turned to Jimin and Jean that were still looking around.
âIâm thinking of a kebab? Maybe?â Jimin asked, looking between the two.
âWhy not? Iâm in.â Jack said with a shrug.
âMe too.â Jean smiled widely to the both boys.
As everyone waited in line for their food, Yoongi and his friends had just arrived at his venue. It was a local club/bar that the locals and mostly college students would go to. They werenât very strict with whom they would let in but when it came to serving alcohol, they always asked for IDâs.
âOk, it's not empty but-â Yoongi started looking around.
âYoongi relax, it's still early.â Namjoon pointed out.
âYeah and we all invited some people as well, they will probably arrive a little laterâ Taehyung smiled sweetly.
âThanks.â
âNobody arrives early nowadays...â Jin commented while looking around âBut I'm sure Jungkook will show with his friends, and I invited some people from my department-â
âShould we go to the front already?â Carolina asked impatient pointing towards the spot, not empty but still not crowded.
âYeah, you guys should stay there, front sits are always the bestâ Yoongi chuckled.
âThere's no sits...â Taehyung looked confused to the spot.
âIt's just a saying, dumbass.â
âOh...â he said only, making everyone laugh.
âAnyways guys, I think I'll head to the backstage-â
âAre you sure?â Namjoon asked.
âI'm sure you still have time...â Carolina tried.
âI'm sure. I'll prepare myself better inside.â
âWe'll be waiting for you then! You'll be great, bro!â Taehyung cheered making Yoongi smile.
âI'll go check on you in a few.â Carolina assured him.
âI'll be waiting. Tell them you're a friend of mine, I'll let the guy know you're with me.â Yoongi said already leaving.
âOh yeah, that's my friend!â Jin said to a guy who was passing by him âI'm friends with the singer!â
âCome, let's buy some beer.â Namjoon pulled him towards the bar âYou two stay here guarding the spot.â
âSure thing!â Taehyung said loudly.
âSure thing.â Carolina mimicked Taehyung in a mocking manner.
âAnd may I know why are you so mad now?â
âCouldn't we just be in peace in Yoongi's thing???â she said furious.
âBut we are-â
âNo, you are! And everyone else! Stupid asshole- I don't even know where the friendship came from like-â she ranted.
âYou won't even see Jimin, he'll probably be over the back with-â Taehyung tried.
âWho cares about Jimin, dude?â she looked at him with a confused expression.
âWhat...?â
Everyone had mostly finished eating and were just waiting for the slow eaters like Deo and Hyori and for the one who ate like he were three people in one, like Jungkook.
âIs it really a good idea to be eating before going on the rides?â Deo asked. She loved to go on roller coasters and crazy rides.
âIâm not bringing any sick people back into my car.â Jack laughed.
âEven if itâs me?â Deo did her best puppy eyes and the boy immediately soften.
âDonât make my life harder baby.â Jack retorqued, making Deo make a funny face and give him a kiss right after.
âSo Jean, how do you know Jimin?â Hyori asked.
âOh you didnât tell them?â She asked quietly to Jimin. âWe have some classes together.â
âWeâre friends.â Jimin smiled big.
âYes!â Jean smiled back to him. It was hard for her to have social interactions like this and his answer made her relax a lot.
âSo what do you wanna do next?â Jimin asked her.
âOh whatever you want, is fine with me.â
âCâmon, you were the one inviting so we gotta do something you like!â Hoseok supported, making Jimin nod.
âWell, what about those churros ice cream?â She suggested.
âWe better save that for after the rides.â Jungkook jumped into the convo. His eyes finally left his food and that was when he noticed the girl from the party coming towards his table. âIâll be right back.â
âHey Jungkook! I thought it was you!â the girl smiled as they were only a feet apart.
âHey Aashna! How are you?â He smiled, stuffing his hands in his jeanâs pockets.
âIâm good. Youâre with your friends?â She asked, peeking through his shoulder.
âYeah, you?â
âToo! We should go on a ride together!â The girl said excited.
âYeah, what about the bumper cars? Weâre lacking one person so I was just going alone.â He suggested.
âSounds fun!â Aashna smiled excited.
âSee you there Aashna?â
âYes, and call me Ashi!â
âSee you Ashi.â He chuckled, going back to his table.
Before Jungkook could even sit down, his friends were already teasing and he just shrugged them off with his hand, stuffing his last corn dog in his mouth.
The second artist of the night was up and the club was getting more and more crowded. This one had a bit of a more chilled vibe than Yoongi but he wasnât as good. Still, he entertained the public quite well. In Carolinaâs opinion, he would be a better host than a singer, although his lyrics werenât that bad.
"This song is super good!" Namjoon said loudly "You think I can hear it online?"
"Probably? Maybe the guy has SoundCloud?" Carolina answered.
"MY FRIEND IS AFTER! SUGA!" Jin continued to look like a manager; he had a cup on his hands.
"Woah~ Look at that!" Taehyung pointed to the screen behind the musician.
"What I did for Yoongi is much better, trust me."
"You did him the art presentation?" Namjoon asked surprised.
"Yeap" her eyes were still on the stage.
"Should I record him once he performs?" Taehyung asked.
"Of course you should!" Jin answered "We have to keep some memories for him."
"I'll take some photos, you do the videos, you're taller anyways and that helps." Carolina added making Taehyung nodd "Be sure to record everything from Far Away, the holograms are amazing on that one."
"Holograms???" Namjoon exclaimed.
"I'm very proud of my kid." Jin back hugged Carolina peppering her with kisses, just to mock her.
"I swear to God, Seokjin!" she threatened but he was too hyper to let go, the other two just kept laughing.
As they had agreed, Aashna was waiting for Jungkook and his friends to ride the bumper cars. She rode with Jungkook, Jimin with Jean, Jack with Deo and Hyori with Hoseok. Useless to say the first ones of which team were the ones driving. Mostly, Deo kept screaming at Jack to hit everyone and he barely even had time to react because he was laughing too hard. On the second round, they decided to change the drivers. Jungkook had to hold himself to not get thrown out his car because Aashna was crazy for blood and wanted to hit every single person that would hit them.
âShit, Iâm all sore.â Jungkook complained. âYouâre a terrible driver.â He said, making Aashna laugh.
âHardly as bad as you are.â She teased, hitting his arm playfully.
âPfff as if.â He said, before his arm being pulled. âAnyway, I had fun.â
âMe too, thanks for riding with me.â She smiled sweetly to him.
âIâll see around campus yeah?â Jungkook said before waving Aashna goodbye.
âWhere are we going now?â Hoseok asked, excited.
âWe could go on the roller coaster?!â Deo almost pleaded excited.
âYes!â Almost everyone said at the same time.
âI was thinking of maybe going on the ferries wheel?â Jean asked, tucking Jiminâs shirt, not wanting to be a party killer.
âIâd prefer it too. We can go together if youâd like?â He suggested.
âIâd like that!â
Once the third singer climbs up on stage, Carolina decides itâs time to check on Yoongi backstage. She wanted to go right away the moment he left but decided it was best to give him some space.
"Pssst, Agust D!" Carolina said in a whispery manner while peeking cautiously her head inside the backstage room.
"Nobody ever called me that." He chuckled.
"Well, soon enough everyone will know him." She closed the door "Still, I like Suga way better."
"Because he's not that angsty?" he joked. The girl crossed the room and sat right next to him before answering. His attentive eyes on her.
"No, Suga is angsty as well... But that's the thing... Agust D is only Agust D, Suga on the other hand is you and him. That's why I like him better." Her head now leaned on the back of the couch, waiting for his response, a small smile creeped on his face.
"I don't think I ever saw you getting this emotional." He looked down. "Is the british air doing you good?" Yoongi met her eyes now.
"Is this you thanking me for appeasing your mind?" Carolina chuckled amused. "And no, it has nothing to do with him... I'm cold but you're like- really important to me so... That's how I truly feel."
"Shit, I'll have to work on that song for you now." He smiled awkwardly. None of them were very open about feelings but they understood each other pretty well.
"Remember to look at us when you're up there!" She smiled back and got up to leave, not before he pulled her hand making her look back at him.
"Is it empty out there?" he asked, his front was confident but his eyes never lied, he was nervous, Carolina could tell.
"Yoongs... Trust yourself. We are right in the front, don't forget." She winked and he let go of her hand. Carolina crossed the room again, her hand on the door, ready to leave but not before looking at him again "It's crowded by the way." She left right before seeing his smile go wide.
Now at the top of the wheel, Jean and Jimin were sitting quietly, watching the full moon and the stars upon them.
âWe got lucky it stopped here.â Jean commented after a while, referring to being on the highest point of the fair.
âWe did! Everything looks so pretty down there.â He smiled big and took his phone out to capture the moment. âWanna take a selfie?â
âOh sure!â They posed with a smile and then a silly face before he placed his phone back in his pocket. âMake sure to send me those later.â
âI will! Are you having fun?â He asked, turning to face her.
âI am, thank you for coming with me.â
âThank you~ for inviting me.â Jimin said sweetly.
âOh stop it! It was my pleasure. You are a great friend.â
âSo are you Jean, so are you.â
Back at the show, Carolina was back with her friends. The artist that had gotten up when she entered backstage was now saying his thanks and goodbyes.
"Is he ok??" Taehyung asked once he saw Carolina returning with a beer in hands.
"He was a little nervous, but everything will be ok."
"Who bought you that?" Jin asked coming close to her because of the loud music.
"Myself...?" she answered "I'm a strong, independent woman after all."
"The beauty of equal rights! Cheers!" Namjoon said clinking his bottle with hers overly excited.
"You forgot to add underage in that sentence." Taehyung said.
"It's fine, if anything the beer is mine." Namjoon added with an accomplice look at the girl who side hugged him.
"I just wanna know who's driving my car tonight because I'm a little busy with the vodka." Jin said loudly while dancing, as if he was in another world.
"I can't drive so..." Taehyung answered.
"Don't look at me, I myself don't trust me with a car." Namjoon shrugged.
"I don't have a license but I know how to drive-" Carolina was saying but got interrupted.
"NO!"
"You take the car then." Jin said not worrying too much.
"NOT-"
"Really?" she asked with a funny face.
"Oh boy...." Namjoon took a large gulp of his beer.
"What about Yoongi?!" Taehyung said loudly.
"He's fine I told you already." Carolina answered "I assured him we would be here waiting and-"
"Ya" Jin laughed "I think he was talking about driving?" Taehyung nodded agreeing.
"Oh..."
"Guys, let's decide that later... Let's enjoy first!" Namjoon pondered.
"Anyways I highly doubt anyone will get drunk, we're all here to see Yoongi." Carolina said.
"Agree!"
"I don't know about you guys, but as soon as Yoongi finishes off I'll start celebrating." Jin said still dancing "HEY! DO YOU KNOW SUGA? I'TS MY FRIEND!" he shouted to a bunch of people standing next to them.
Yoongi stepped on stage, a couple of people cheered but his friends were the loudest. They were screaming at the top of their lungs and Yoongi couldnât help but smile. He presented himself as Suga. He started off with a song entitled âAgust Dâ. As the song started playing, everyone started jumping and moving their bodies to the sound of it.
Next up was âGive It To Meâ and when that was already over, Jungkook and his friends arrived. After that, âThe Lastâ started playing and then âSo Far Awayâ, a collaboration he did with a girl he met online that used to do some covers. By that time, everyone had their phones out with their flashlights to fit the mood of the song and arms in the air swinging.
âHeâs really good!â Deo shouted in Jungkookâs ear so that he could hear her.
He only nodded in response. He didnât know this side of him. He knew he liked music and that he like to produce some things but it never crossed his mind that heâd have things this level, this good. He stayed glued to the words until the very last one and once it was over, everyone cheered.
"Ahhhhh!" Carolina exclaimed once she saw Yoongi coming in their direction, she went straight to a tight hug "I'm so proud of you!!!! You were so good, Yoongs!!!"
"Thank you!" he hugged back "Everyone's talking about the art work" he chuckled excited.
"Bro it was amazing!! Woah~" Taehyung came by excited as well "The songs were BAM! grrr" Taehyung let out a bunch of noises and expressions.
"Thanks!" Yoongi chuckled.
"And of course they're talking, I told you to trust me!" Carolina added.
"I wish I could see it as well but I was on stage so-"
"Oh we recorded it for you!!!" Taehyung said.
"YOU DID AMAZING BRO!" Jin came by with Namjoon, greeting Yoongi with his always playful manner.
"You did good, Yoongi!" Namjoon tapped on his shoulder congratulating him. "The lyrics were- Wow, really powerful!"
"Thanks guys!" He chuckled feeling proud of himself. "I see you all had a good time then."
"Of course we did! We'd be crazy not to!" Carolina added.
âHey man, you were great! Congrats!â Jungkook appeared in the middle of the group giving Yoongi a quick hug.
âThanks JK! Glad you showed up!â Yoongi showed a genuine smile.
âOf course! How did you feel up there?â Jungkook asked excited.
âPretty great I must say.â Yoongi chuckled.
âJK MY MAN!â Jin screamed and immediately came in for a hug.
âJIN!â Jungkook screams back, laughing.
âJimin came as well?â Taehyung asked.
âYeah-â Jungkook said but before he could say anything, Jin spoke again.
âWanna hang? Bring your friends, weâre celebrating here!â
âYeah man, come hang!â Namjoon said, beer in hand, cheerful.
âI can go call them?â Jungkook kinda asked, he wasnât really used to these hang outs between his group and his housemates but he couldnât deny he was excited for it.
âHeâs probably busy with his friends guys, let him be.â Carolina spoke but everyone ignored her.
âYeah go grab them!â Jin repeated himself, probably because of the drinks he had already had.
âOh really?? Bring Jiminie!â Taehyung spoke with a big smile.
âIâm gonna call them and Iâll try to find you!â Jungkook said before turning away to where his friends were.
âJungkook left?â Yoongi finally looked back to the group, he had been talking to some people that were congratulating him.
âHe went to get his friends.â Namjoon spoke from beside him.
âIâll be right back.â Yoongi said. âYou came.â He said in the girlâs ear.
âYoongi! You were great! Of course I did! I wouldnât miss it for the world!â
âThanks Linzi.â He let out a chuckle. âYouâre alone?â
âNo, Iâm with some friends. I was just about to leave actually, but I was trying to find you first.â
âWell, thanks for coming!â He let out a smile.
âWeâll talk later yeah? Let me know if you got home safe.â
âI will!â
âFRIENDS! WELCOME!â Jin shouted when Jungkook came back with his friends.
âWelcome where?â Carolina said, sarcastically.
âOh! The stargazing girl!â Namjoon let out once he noticed Hyori.
âHey guys!â Hoseok spoke to everyone in general.
âOh~ hi!â Hyori said shyly.
âLetâs go grab some drinks!â Jungkook said, sliding his arm around Jinâs shoulders.
âIâll go too!â Deo said. The whole situation was freaking her out. They were friends but they were hanging out and it was weird and awkward.
âSure! Anything you guys want?â Jin asked, looking back at everyone.
âIâm good thanks!â Taehyung said, looking away from Jimin.
âWhiskey if you can.â Yoongi said.
âNo thanks, I'll go there later.â Carolina said before wandering off to the dance floor.
âBring me anything.â Jimin winked.
âWhatever youâre having ok?â Hyori said looking to Deo.
âIâm already served.â Namjoon showed his beer bottle. âBut thanks.â
âWant me to come with?â Jack asked Deo.
âNo, youâre not allowed to drink today mr. Driver.â Deo snorted, pinching his cheek.
âLetâs go!â Jungkook said.
âIâll be going with you guys! You wonât be able to bring everything back, Iâll help!â Taehyung said cheerfully.
âNice!â Jin said before turning their backs and going.
Deo had her hands around Jungkookâs arm to not get lost and he was following Jin to the bar. Taehyung was hanging in the back. They had to walk in line because the place was so crowded. Once they managed to get to the bar, they did a little circle.
âWhat was it that they wanted?â Jungkook asked.
âNot a clue, everything is fine!â JIn laughed.
âYoongi wanted whiskey and Jimin was anything...â Taehyung said right after.
âWhat are you having?â Deo asked, turning her attention from the shelves and to the boys.
âMaybe a shot... Canât decide, Iâll ask the bartender for suggestions.â Jin answered.
âNothing for me.â Taehyung said.
âFor me and Hyori... hmm... can be two vodkas with coke.â
âI donât know either. Iâll go with Jinâs.â Jungkook added.
âI like this friend very much!â Jin said to Taehyung while pointing to Jungkook.
âYou have to order for us, theyâll think Iâm 16.â Deo chuckled, talking to Jin.
âThey do have a point.â Jin laughed, amused.
âIâll help ordering because itâs pretty crowded.â Taehyung said, jumping to the bar. âStay close.â He looked at Deo but she just shrugged him off.
âSwear to God!â Deo said in Jungkookâs ear making him laugh.
âGo away underaged kid.â Jungkook laugh, defendind himself from a punch she threw to his arm.
âSo are you!â
âLeave it to us kids!â Jin laughed, looking back.
Once they manage to get all the drinks, they walked back to where their groups last were. Yoongi, Hoseok and Jack were chatting while leaning against the wall about music. Something in Hoseok sparked when he saw Yoongi perform and he was excited to explore that part of himself. Everyone gave them their drink and followed to the next group where Hyori was talking to Namjoon and Jimin was just flirting with some girl.
âDid you find your friend? From the party?â Hyori asked Namjoon. They were still on the topic of the party.
âI did, yes. Itâs that blue haired one that went to grab drinks.â Namjoon pointed once he saw Taehyung.
âHe seems quite hard to miss.â Hyori teased, letting a laugh fall out of her lips right after.
âWell you might find it surprising how many times we already did.â Namjoon laughed too, a little embarrassed.
âI get it. It was a super big house!â
âIt doesnât help that heâs a little unpredictable.â He laughed. âI never asked you thought but, what were you doing on that room?â
âWatching the stars mostly. That party was too loud for a second and I needed some air.â She said simply.
âI can relate to that.â He confessed, feeling a little shy.
âIf you ever need, I know some points around campus where you can see the sky perfectly. Even some rooftops.â She suggested with a grin in her face.
âThat would be nice! Thanks, star girl!â
âYou having fun?â Deo creeped behind Hyori, handing her the drink she choose for her.
âI am thank you.â Hyori gave her a death glare.
âHey do you know where Carolina is?â Deo asked, showing him the drink she had for her.
âUh... She was just here?â Namjoon said confused. He wasnât paying much attention.
âJimin!â Deo tapped on his shoulder. âDid you saw Carolina?â
âYe-â before he could say anything, Taehyung was already going off.
âWe lost her???â
âSheâs there.â Jimin chuckled while pointing to the dance floor.
âOh~~ thank God!â Taehyung let out a sigh.
âHey!â Deo tapped Carolina lightly on the shoulder. âGot you a drink.â
âOh thanks! You didnât nee-â Carolina finally looked at the girl, eyes widden. â-eed to...â
âItâs nothing! But youâre ok? Youâre a little pale.â
âUh... Yeah! Totally! Thanks!â She took a sip of her drink, confused with a million things running through her mind.
âImma go back to the group but if you need to catch some air or go to the bathroom you can call me!â Deo said. She was 100% sure now that Carolina was the bathroom girl from the party, all she had to do now was figure out about which boy she was talking.
âMhmm, sure thanks!â
The time flew by and the party wasnât over yet. Once Yoongi ended his performance, the manager of the club announced that he was the last one but that everyone was invited to stay and have fun. With the regular radio music playing, everyone kept on drinking and dancing and laughing. The smoke from the cigars and dim light made the entire mood. It was going to be a good night. That was until...
âTake your hands off my girlfriend you piece of shit!â A guy yelled over the music and threw a punch.
âFuck you man!â The other guy quickly stood up and threw another punch.
âWhat the hell is going on?â Jack called over, catching the groupâs attention.
âSomeone doesnât know how to handle their drinks.â Jimin shrugged it off.
Soon the manager came in between the two guys and kicked them out. As it was usual policy, he would give a warning but if they didnât stop, heâd have to call the cops. It was a bad image for the club to have drunks fighting right at their door. One of the man that was involved in the fight was a regular. Every once or twice, he would come to the club and would make a scene. The only reason the manager would still let him in was because he spent more in a night than most of his clients in a week. But of course, that would lead to fights.
âKnock it off!â One of the bouncers yelled but it was no use.
âWant me to step in?â The other one asked.
âNo need, the police is already on their way.â
It took them a while, but once they heard the sirens, the two men stopped fighting and ran in different directions. One ran down the street to get away as fast as he could and the other managed to get inside the club.
âThe cops are here! Run! RUN!â
Maybe it was the alcohol in their systems or maybe the fact that half of the people there didnât have the legal age to drink but chaos installed quickly. Everyone was running out through the front door, some decided to use the emergency exit but it was already too late, cops were already covering both exits.
Carolina quickly exchanged looks with her group. She was underaged and there was no way she was going to get caught. She quickly grabbed Deoâs wrist and ran to the backstage area where she had been just hours ago with Yoongi. Hyori and Jungkook followed right after.
âOk listen up, thereâs no way Iâm getting caught. We have to jump out of this window.â She peeked her head outside to see if there were cops there. âThe coast is clear, letâs go.â
Carolina jumped first. âCâmon, hurry up!â
âThereâs no way Iâm jumping out of that.â Deo said.
âWould you rather get caught?â Jungkook glared his eyes to the both of them. He was a pile of nerves.
âThatâs too high!â Hyori panicked.
âIâll go first and Iâll help you get down yeah?â Jungkook sugested.
âOk, but be careful!â Deo said.
âOk câmon!â Jungkook whispered.
âYou wanna go first? If they get to us weâre dead Hyo, we have to jump.â
âAH FUCK!â Hyori flipped, climbing up the window.
âOk Deo... keep your shit together, youâre a cheerleader. Youâre thrown in the air higher than this fucking shit!â Deo talked mostly to herself. âCan I go?â She peeked her head out.
âYes, I get you.â Jungkook told her.
Outside the backstage, the boys were trying to create a distraction to make the policeman that was looking for the agressor inside the club.
âWe gotta do something!â Hoseok said, panicking.
âChill Hope, letâs talk to them and keep them up.â Jack suggested.
âNO! Namjoon pretend to faint!!â Jin almost screamed.
âMe?! I canât act for shit!â Namjoon said, panicking as well.
âGuys keep it down, youâre making it worse.â Yoongi glared at all of them.
âHERE I GO!â Taehyung embraced himself for a fall, closing his eyes as soon as he hit the floor and giving it a special touch my pulling his arm over his forehead. It was a 5-star acting.
âHELP! MY FRIEND FAINTED!â Jimin screamed, getting the attention of the policeman.
âWhat is going on here?!â The cop asked.
âOUR FRIEND FAINTED!â Jin said overly dramatic.
âWhat happened?â The cop asked, an eyebrow arched.
âThe bad guy!â Namjoon started but felt flustered, not knowing what to say after.
âHe pushed him and he fell!â Hoseok said, covering for Namjoon.
âThatâs why he fainted!â Jimin added.
âDid you saw where he went? Which direction?â The cop said anxious.
âInto the bathroom.â Yoongi pointed in the opposite direction of the backstage.
âHEY! What about our friend!â Jin said, too excited with everything going on but thankfully the cop was long gone.
âDude!��� Everyone said at the same time.
âOh yeah.â Jin said nonchalant.
âCâmon, we gotta get out of here to see if they need help.â Yoongi said.
âEveryone has their IDâs?â Jack asked, while him and Jimin pulled Taehyung up.
As the boys waited to leave â the line was super long because the police was checking IDâs at the front door. Deo finally managed to jump and they were hiding behind a dumpster, checking to see if they could move.
âOk I think thereâs a car there.â Carolina pointed to the side of the bar.
âWhy the fuck they need so many cops for a fight?â Deo said frustrated.
âThat doesnât matter now!â Jungkook said, his palms were already sweating. He was tense and Carolina had to hold a laugh.
âOk, be prepared to run if you have to.â The older girl told them.
âHow are you so calm?!â Hyori said, freaked out.
âYou donât wanna know.â Carolina laughed dryly. âOk, on the count of 3.â
The girl started counting. 1... 2... 3! They all started running and as soon as they hit the end of alley, it was exactly what Carolina suspected, there was a car and the two cops that were leaning against the wall noticed them immediately and started chasing after them.
âCâmon!â Jungkook grabbed Deoâs wrist so that she wouldnât stay behind while Hyori and Carolina ran in front of them.
âHOLY FUCK!â Deo screamed, overwhelmed with the situation.
They could hear the footsteps of both cops chasing after them and they various attempts of telling them to stop were ignored. Quickly they got to a crossroad and Carolina took the left road and Hyori followed suit. Jungkook was ready to turn too but Deo pulled him to the other way.
âItâll be easier like this! Hyori is fine with her.â She assured him.
âKeep up just a little longer ok?â He asked, seeing how tired she was already.
âWe gotta find somewhere to hide.â
Once Carolina and Hyori noticed they were alone and they couldnât see the cops, they decided to slow down their pace. They sat down on a bench. They noticed they were on a park but at this time of the night they werenât recognizing it.
âThat was close.â Hyori started, trying to normalize her breath.
âYea-â Carolina stopped mid-sentence. âDo you hear that?â
âWha-â
âWe gotta hide.â Carolina quickly looked around, eyes scanning the place. âAre you good at holding your breath?â
âWhat?!â
âYES OR NO?!â
âI guess!!â
Carolina grabbed Hyoriâs arm and pulled her with her to the fountain. She kept peeking a little but when she saw the light of the copâs flashlight, she dove in, pulling Hyori along with her.
Deo and Jungkook continued running for what felt hours but really was 10 minutes since they got separated from the two girls. That was until they saw a convenience store.
âLetâs go there!â Deo pulled Jungkook.
âWait, we need to control our breaths before we go in.â
âWe donât have time for that! Just smile to the cashier and then you can breathe normally!â
âFuck, letâs go then.â
They immediately walk to the drinks area. Jungkook grabbed a power drink and Deo a water. They heard the doors slide and their hearts clutched a little. They tried to peek but didnât see anything.
âLetâs grab some Doritos.â Deo suggested, telling Jungkook to calm down with her hands.
âI want pringles.â He said nonchalant.
âWhat? You always want Doritos.â
âAnd you always want Pringles.â
âYour point?â She laughed lightly.
âHey kids.â They heard a voice from behind them and turned.
âYes?â Deo spoke, afraid Jungkookâs voice was going to tremble.
âWhat are you doing here at this time?â The cop walked closer to them.
âWe came to buy some snacks.â Deo said, showing the chips in her hands. âIs there a problem?â
âWhere did you came from?â The cop pushed again.
âFrom campus.â Deo answered immediately with an eyebrow arched. âWhy?â
The cop looked at them for a couple of seconds before relaxing his posture a little. âMake sure to make it there safe. Have a good night.â
As soon as he turned his back, Deo couldnât contain the big smile on her face. âLetâs grab some gum too.â
âI swear, one of these days I die because of you.â Jungkook whispered to her.
âWhat did I do?!â
âYou were giving him an attitude!â
âI was no- he was interrogating us for no reason!â She said teasingly.
âI- what?!â
âRelax Gguk. This will be the first of many times.â She winked to him and turned on her heels, heading to the cashier. The only thing she could hear was his sigh.
Back at the fountain, Carolina decided to be brave and peek her head out of the water. She couldnât hold her breath anymore so between drowning and getting caught, it was a close call. Everything was quiet. She couldnât hear the copâs radio anymore so she decided it was now or never. They jumped out of the fountain, fully wet and trembling to the breeze of the night.
âLetâs agree to never speak of this again.â Carolina said, frustrated.
âAgree.â
DAY 5 [COMING SOON]
#fighton!#bts college au#bts social media au#bts ot7 au#jungkook au#taehyung au#jimin au#namjoon au#hoseok au#yoongi au#jin au#jungkook college au#jungkook social media au#taehyung college au#taehyung social media au#jimin college au#jimin social media au#hoseok college au#hoseok social media au#namjoon college au#namjoon social media au#yoongi social media au#yoongi college au#jin college au#jin social media au#bts reactions#bts writing#bts moodboard#bts interactive au#jungkook x reader
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July 2020
Change. Transition and transformation.                      Â
Feeling like a proud mum during my first graduation classâ final exam. Theyâre all gonna leave the nest so soon.
Meeting my colleagues at Michiâs own âIsar beachâ. Ordering truffle pizza. Watching the storm clouds coming closer. Retreating to Michiâs flat. Talking to the dude with the guitar about life-changing travel experiences. Making fun of the stalkers across the street. Psychedelics-talk with Lorenz. Having a last drink at Rosiâs. My first time in a bar in many many months.
Tapas with Lena and Maike. Walking in linen shoes in the pouring rain. Listening to Knorkator on the subway.
New clothes. Loose, high-waisted pants, jeans shorts, a lemon print dress. A graphic, artsy Monki dress. A new hat and a bargain from COS (a sweater for only âŹ5,85, wow).
My spontaneous meet-ups with Manu at the Asian take-away restaurant. Last time I started smiling brightly when a little kid walked past us very proudly with their brand new SchultĂźte.
Rest. A clean apartment. Cleaning in general (weird obsession atm; I even cleaned Manuâs whole kitchen when I was making veggie stew for him during his ear infection; but also I sang Soft Kitty for him). Gardening. Cooling down with water spray, après sun spray and cool-packs from the freezer.
Leoniâs essay actually made me laugh out loud. We had a bet going on. If she managed to use the word turkey in her essay I would have to give her âŹ10. Well, she did it. Also, she invented and app called Teenage Mutant Karate Cats and signed off with Love, Karen. Such a gem.
That feeling when you put the pen down and the work is finally done. So liberating (after grading the final exams).
My blackroll. The only thing that helps after working at a desk for a few hours. My back hates grading papers. And using the kitchen as a temporary workspace. The smell of coffee, the humming of the dishwasher, sitting right by the window. Using all the colours to mark the essays. I love highlighter pens.
The smoke alarm ladyâs charm. I only see her once a year when she comes to check on the smoke alarms but I kinda like her.
Staying late. Singing in an empty school. Not having to be quiet for once.
People standing in for gay rights and diversity. Which is why I loved the Circus of Books documentary. And the Netflix series POSE. Blanca and Pray are my favourite characters, of course.
I was satisfied with the Dark series ending. Couldnât have hoped for more.
Raspberry plants for only 1âŹ. I couldnât resist.
Teaching some English lessons in other classes. Not actually facing any resistance, they really liked working with me. They asked questions and were interested, what the heck? In the final lesson with the 9d ladies we actually carved out some time to learn the cup song and sing karaoke on full volume. The girls showed my a Dua Lipa song I hadnât heard before, I really liked it. And they wanted to hear My Heart Will Go On. Just imagine blasting the Titanic song and a whole group of teenagers singing along as dramatically as possible.
Manu feeding me with Toffifee while watching a brainless rom-com.
A day trip to Chiemsee with Sash. We were ON A BOAT, had Aperol Spritz in the sunshine right by the lake. Lots of walking, talking, inspecting flowers and eating good food. In the end we went swimming (for the first time this year?). How I had missed the water. Browsing magazines on the train. Talking about hair care and secret dreams. Coffee with ice-cream for dinner.
Making snack berries. Dipping blueberries in Greek yoghurt, rolling them in grated coconut and off to the freezer. A great healthy snack. (But of course Iâm also obsessed with actual Raffaellos this month.)
A day at the lake with Verena, Silvia and Nicole. Great picnic lunch, 90âs revival music. Spotting huge fishies underwater. Taking photos of Verena in order to work on some ideas for her back tattoo. Low point: stepping into a bee and the worst sunburn ever.
The Karlsfeld train underpass. Lots of interesting underwater creatures that actually look like vintage illustrations.
Westpark. One of my favourite green spots in Munich. Lunch at Gans am Wasser (veggie seitan kebab), walking over to Rosengarten, ice-cream for dessert. Cycling home. Stopping to pick some flowers.
BBQ with some colleagues. Playing some weird trampoline volleyball game. Chasing Luise (the weiner dog) around. Being the DJ. In the end I sat there with Michi, Laura and Nicole. Drove home with a quite drunk Michi who didnât stop talking.
A picnic with the kids and their parents to say our final goodbyes. Culinary presents from the parents, a graduation T-shirt from the students. Taking lots of photos, talking until it got dark. On the next day I had to go up on stage for the graduation ceremony. I was super nervous but so glad when it was all over. I went home with arms full of flower, wearing my constellation dress. On the parking lot Nicole and I even had a little fun with a helium balloon.
I went straight home to visit my mum on the last school day so I enjoyed a weekend there. Singing with my mum and my brother, healthy meals, inspecting the garden, making a gorgeous bouquet with some sunflowers I had brought with me and buddleja twigs from the garden. Walking through the neighbourhood with my mother, feeding chickens (my mother is just as crazy as me, the video I made of her talking to the birds is proof), going to the fleamarket (also for the first time this year). Meeting Michi U., Sash, Julia, Lena and Obi at Yvonneâs vegan cafe. Iced almond coffee, two full tables filled with vegan food. Talking to the owner about creative projects. Meeting Catrin and Andi at Brillengalerie (Birkenstock inspiration!).
Learning about resonant breathing, medicinal mushrooms and the psychological origin of illness.
Salt with smoky paprika and lemon-infused olive oil.
Harvesting pea pods on my balcony.
Talking to a body therapist. A morning walk through Schwabing. Treating myself to some Bircher muesli and fresh juice. Walking through some stores I had never been to before. Discovering a mirror gallery. Later some vegetarian sushi, Pho and a massage appointment. Lying in bed with Manu, right in front of the ventilator. Eating sinful cookies'n'cream magnum, talking about sex, health, music, life. Making late-night pizza.
Talking to Franzi on the phone. Reading a graphic novel set in Munich. Great drawings of the city. I loved the interior of Pimpernel club. Really well done.
Meeting Laura at her osteopathy practice for the first time. I really like her. Later it turned out that sheâs friends with Becky! Laura taught me how to sit and stand and felt her way into my scoliosis.She has such a soft approach, letâs see how happy Iâll be with that treatment. But I obviously need to join her Cantienica class.
Hardware store, heavy plant transport. Finding a lot of cheap flower pots in the antique store.
Eating my first home-grown tomato. Just a little herbal salt. So nice. You can actually taste the sunshine.
Gute Laune herbal tea. In the middle of summer. With the doors closed to keep the heat out.
This tie-dye idea.
I sat on the balcony when a sudden thump made a tiny little bird fall right in front of me. It had collided with my living room window. Its wing was twisted so I put it right and the bird hopped off, resting in a dark corner, closing its eyes all the time. I looked up how to help and was really sad because the internet warned me that most birds would die a few hours after a collision but after ten minutes the bird hopped onto a twig, some more hopping, and flew off. I really hope you made it, little friend! Have a nice summer!
Watching The Expanse with Lena and Obi. Watermelon-Feta salad with mint. Drinking homemade lemonade, sparkly bloodorange wine and coffee with ice-cream.
An electric blue summer dress.
The Russian-themed SjĂśden autumn catalogue.
Taylor Swift and Bon Iver - Exile. Such an incredibly beautiful song.
Making a fantastic Indian eggplant/chickpea curry with coriander, paneer and tofu. Delicious.
And the last crazy thing I need to talk about this month is Becky. She texted me during the graduation ceremony on the last day of the school year and told me that sheâd be one of my colleagues from now on!! Crazy. The trio is back together. I met her at our usual Italian restaurant and we talked for hours. So much to catch up on. She is still a person I vibe and click with. However, Iâm also a little scared because somehow she represents a chapter of my life I have closed. So she seems a little out of place in this new little corner of the world I have created for myself. But Iâm sure itâs gonna turn out great!
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Will fire inside music Ever Rule the World?
[What you have to know to get started on the working day: Get New York These days with your inbox.]
In May perhaps of 2002, Francesco Clarkâs existence radically altered when he dove to the shallow end of the strangerâs pool. His neurosurgeon at enough time said he had a everlasting spinal twine harm, rendering Mr. Clark paralyzed and struggling to discuss.
Shortly, he had moved back again in with his mother and father in Westchester County. âAfter i noticed the clinic bed in my dad or mumâs property where I utilized to play the piano, I burst into tears.â
But just after decades of rigorous Actual physical therapy, Mr. Clark has proved Significantly of the original prognosis to get Improper, while also commencing a successful skin treatment business enterprise identified as Clarkâs Botanicals. A countrywide ambassador for that Christopher Dana Reeve Basis, Mr. Clark, forty one, life together with his father, mom and an aide, Silvia Golle, in Bronxville.
Speak to ME Alexa wakes me at eight a.m. Voice-activated program has manufactured my lifestyle less difficult. I speak to her 50 times on a daily basis. Over the past seventeen many years Iâve regained my ability to talk and breathe by myself and use my arms. Sleeping is significantly less distressing because I got a Unique mattress that gently turns me while Iâm sleeping. I also rest with splints on my hands and ft.
Staff Perform My mother can make me a triple cappuccino and will get my concoction of thirty diverse vitamins and health supplements arranged. I've a few aides and two distinctive nurses who help me. Silvia continues to be with us for eleven a long time. Sheâs part of the spouse and children. She allows me shave and will get my exercise routine clothes from the closet. Then a Hoyer raise and Web get me away from bed and into a water-proof wheelchair.
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LAB RAT After the accident, I felt like my daily life was on pause although All people was going gentle decades forward of me. Apart from becoming paralyzed, my system didnât sweat. My skin seemed awful and have become clogged And that i broke out. The last thing I wanted to do was glimpse inside the mirror. My father And that i started Clarkâs from a hospital mattress. Iâm the lab rat. I exam lots of the goods we make in the morning. I've a roll-in shower so after screening I clean every little thing off.
PROGRESS My work out uniform is Uniqlo pants, Lacoste shirt, navy blue Adidas sneakers. For the very first three several years I didnât head out. I shaved my head. I wore a similar paper healthcare facility trousers everyday right up until Christopher Reeve passed away. Thatâs when I realized I required to just take obligation for my existence. By 10 Iâm in my guide wheelchair and may use my arms to groom myself. At my desk Iâll read emails. In the final 5 years my wonderful-motor actions have come back.
Entire body Function The garage was once a horse steady right before we turned it into my training and perform space. I've a standing body that looks like an elliptical equipment, and my assistant and aide get me in it. Itâs pleasant to become standing yet again and to defy what individuals explained Iâd under no circumstances be able to do. This moves my hands and legs and prevents osteoporosis, relieves discomfort and stretches my muscles. My apple iphone is tied for the cope with bar. In the week This really is how I make lots of my enterprise calls.
ENDORPHINS For the next hour I do bicycle rotations on my back again for muscle and spine stimulation which allows for aerobic action. I utilized to operate 7 miles on a daily basis and was on the crew team, so it is a worry release. Iâm around 3,000 rotations, that's 6,000 techniques. Then I return e-mails and review my day and the 7 days.
TRIP TO THE CITY My mom and aide get the van All set. Getting the very first van was a way to re-create my independence. It was a large stage in my Restoration and gave me a sense of self. I lately started off taking a look at townhouses around the Upper West Side. Iâm all set to shift out alone yet again. I like remaining close to Lincoln Heart for the opera and also the Museum of Organic Historical past.
The largest problem might be getting a property exactly where I'm able to add an elevator and develop a ramp. If Iâm not executing that, weâll all Visit the Achieved. I grew up in Italy, so I like considering historical perform, Specifically from Van Gogh.
FAMILY DINNER My brother and sister and their people all Are living close by. They appear over for our Thanksgiving-like Sunday meal. I textual content Everybody what to carry and when to point out. My brother grills steak, my mom will make gnocchi and tagliatelle, my niece does dessert, my nephew tends to make and serves the cappuccino. An individual is placing the desk. Some other person is selecting the wine. Thereâs a sense of intention to all of this; thatâs whatâs transformed in my life.
THERAPY My physical therapist arrives over. Iâm relearning how you can crawl. I do planks and moving about on my elbows. I adore it. Iâm Hearing songs â Abba, Erasure, Lady Gaga, Donna Summer time, anything pop and upbeat.
THE CLASSICS By eleven:15 Iâve been aided back into mattress and may observe a Film. I like outdated types, Primarily Hitchcock, like âDial M for Murder.â I much like the elegance, and will catch one thing distinctive when I look at it. Itâs not simply Grace or Tippi, thereâs this ingredient of suspense.
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FIC: Angus McDonald and the Flight of the Flying V (24/24)
[AO3 link]
Theyâve come a long way, but even ten years after the world was saved, theyâre still not quite where they should be. A whim, a missing painting, and a handful of near-death experiences help a flip wizard and his apprentice bridge the gap.
Taako does his best. Angus takes some risks. Introductions are made, bonds are tested, and lessons are learned â better late than never.
a/n:Â Thanks to everyone who read this far, who read from the beginning, who left kudos or a comment or just enjoyed this over-long self-indulgent nonsense. Y'all have gotten me through some tough times, and I appreciate it more than I can say.
And thanks most of all to @orchidcactus, without whom this fic would never have been finished, let alone been any damn good whatsoever. You are the shiniest diamond, and there is no better beta (or friend) in the world. <3
As he woke from a dreamless sleep, Taako reflected that for someone who didnât particularly need it, he spent a lot of time unconscious. Heâd wondered in the past if that was something common to elves, or if he was a particularly lazy example of one. Though to be fair, a good portion of that unconsciousness wasnât exactly voluntary.
Alright, thatâs enough introspection. Where the hell are we?
Taako wasnât in pain, exactly, but he was sore literally everywhere, from toe to tip and skin to bone. He flexed his fingers and his toes (all accounted for) and tilted his head to work out a kink in his neck before he bothered opening his eyes.
Clean bed, with white sheets. Clean room, with no real furniture. Single window looking out at the city. Taako didnât have to be a fancy detective to know what a hospital looked like, though this one didnât look as fancy as the last one heâd woken up in.
He looked to his right, and found Angus asleep in a high-backed chair by his side. His arm was in a sling, and he was wearing his old glasses; Taako still recognized the places where eleven-year-old Angusâ makeshift mending spells had put them back together just a little bit bent.
Taako smiled and took a slow, leisurely breath.
Everythingâs okay.
Then he turned to his left, and found Kravitz sitting in the opposite chair. Arms crossed. Glaring at him.
Or not.
Taako swallowed and chuckled nervously. âHey, rabbit.â
Kravitz leaned over and twisted Taakoâs ear.
âOw ow ow owââ
âDo not rabbit me,â Kravitz growled. âYou nearly died.â
He let go and Taako rubbed gingerly at his ear. âYeah, but⌠I didnât? Soââ
âI get a call from Angus, out of the blue. He put me on with a healer. I had to listen to them detail your extensive injuries, and the likelihood of your recovery, all while I was sitting in our living room reading Fantasy Home and Garden thinking everythingâs fine because you didnât call me!â
âHeyââ
âYou should have called me,â he hissed, anger mixed with hurt. âWhy didnât you call me?â
Taako grumbled, noncommittal. âDidnât really think about it.â
Kravitz scoffed and leaned back in his chair, looking away.
The sad part was, for once, Taako wasnât bullshitting; heâd never considered calling Kravitz for help. Not once.
âIt wasn'tââ âyour business, is what he had been about to say, but Taako cut himself off before he said something he might actually regret. ââI felt like I could handle it.â
âHandle it?â Kravitz whispered in disbelief.
âYeah. Handle it.â Taako frowned. âI can take care of myself. Been doing it a long time.â
âAgain.â Kravitz leaned in and tweaked his ear again. Taako winced and swatted his hand away. âYou. Nearly. Died.â
âSo I made a bad call!â he said quietly, holding his hands out. âIt happens from time to time!â
âAnd what happens when you make another âbad callâ?â
âJeezy creezy, my dude, what is your damage?â he hissed back. âEven if I died, itâs not exactly 'so long and farewell,â is it? Itâd be like moving to another county for you.â
Kravitz looked actually offended, and for a second, Taako was legitimately confused as to why.
âYou think this is about me?â
Oh.
Taako turned. Angus was still fast asleep. Thankfully.
âContrary to what you may think, there are people in the material world who give a damn about your continued presence in it.â Kravitz crossed his arms again. âThink about that the next time you decide to do something monumentally stupid.â
Taako turned back with a sneer. âIâm not exactly in the habit of rushing in, Krav.â
âOh, so this was a fluke, then?â Kravitz asked. âAnd what caused it?â
Taako opened his mouth to respond and Kravitz cut him off.
âI canât believe you sometimes.â He raised a hand and gestured emphatically between the two of them. âYou could have talked to me, could have tried to say something clearly for once in your life. Instead you go off and nearly get yourself killed because running away is apparently the only way you know how to communicate! And then when something happens to you, I have to live with knowing it was my faultââ
Taako reached out and grabbed his hand. Tight.
âListen,â he whispered firmly, glaring at Kravitz. âBecause this is important. Any stupid, callous, selfish decision I make? Thatâs on me. Not you. Not Angus. Not anyone. No one, and I mean no one, runs Taakoâs life but Taako. Capisce?â
He let go and looked away with a scowl.
âNothing I do is anyoneâs fault but mine.â
Silence. Taako hated this kind of silence. It was absolutely miserable. Maybe that hadnât been the right thing to say, or the kindest. But it was the truth. That ought to be enough.
âYou really are very self-absorbed,â Kravitz said flatly. âYou know that.â
Taako nodded, staring at the wall. âYup.â
Kravitz sighed. Taako chanced a glance in his direction. He was resting his head in his hand, rubbing his forehead. He straightened and leaned back in his chair.
âJust call next time,â he mumbled wearily. âTalk to me. Please.â
Taako was about to insist there wouldnât be a 'next timeâ if he had anything to say about it, but decided against it. Instead, he nodded, eyes drifting down to the blanket.
âSorry,â he said softly. âI know Iâm⌠me. And thatâs⌠it can be rough.â
âYes. It can.â
Taako gritted his teeth. When he looked up, Kravitz wasnât smiling, but he wasnât frowning, either. He simply reached over and held Taakoâs hand, ran his cold thumb across along the knuckles.
âBut I donât have any regrets.â
Taako felt his mouth twitch into a smile as he leaned back into his pillow.
âCool.â
Taako dozed off again; he didnât feel at a hundred percent yet, and didnât feel like waking Angus if he didnât have to. He blinked his eyes open to find the boy standing by the door, arm out of the sling and talking to Silvia.
â'Sup?â Taako groaned as he sat up. âWhatâd I miss?â
Angus rushed over and hugged him immediately. Taako winced.
âOkay, okay, still sore, thanks.â
âSorry,â said Angus, pulling away. He looked beyond relieved. âKravitz went to get food, youâve been out for nearly a day and we were starting to get worried.â
âYou kidding?â Taako rolled his shoulder. âIâm the picture of heal â ow.â
Angus laughed â it felt like an age since heâd last heard that â and rested his hand on Taakoâs shoulder. âIâm just glad youâre okay, sir.â Taako smiled and pat his hand. âLikewise, boychik.â
He looked over and saw Silvia standing by the foot of the bed, hugging her elbows and smiling nervously.
âAngus filled me in on everything that happened,â she said. âPretty crazy week youâve had.â
âEh.â Taako shrugged dismissively. âIâve had crazier.â
âThatâs⌠actually true,â Angus said, somewhat reluctantly.
âOh, hey, uh.â Taako gestured vaguely in Silviaâs direction. âSorry for, y'know. Thinking you were evil and shit.â
Silvia brushed it off. âItâs cool. I mean, I would have thought I was evil too.â
Taako nodded towards Angus. âHe didnât.â
She blinked. Angus quietly cleared his throat and looked away.
âNope,â Taako said flatly, propping his elbows on his knees. âNever a doubt in his mind. Should have trusted him to begin with, but Iâm a real stubborn asshole, y'know?â
Angus blushed and gently pushed his shoulder. âTaako.â
âWhat? Itâs the truth, ainât it?â He turned to Silvia. âBoychikâs always been an excellent judge of character. Youâd think Iâd know that by now, but here we are.â
He extended a hand.
âWe cool?â
Silvia smiled and shook his hand. âWe cool.â
âGood.â
Taako didnât let go.
âYou break his heart and Iâll destroy everything you hold dear.â
Angusâ eyebrows shot to the top of his head and his mouth fell open.
Silvia didnât flinch. She leaned in closer.
âLikewise.â
Taako grinned and nodded, satisfied. He let go and turned to Angus.
âYou should put a ring on it.â
Angus sputtered helplessly. Silvia started laughing.
Just then, the door opened and Kravitz walked in. He held up two large paper bags and grinned.
âWho wants Fantasy Panera?â
âOh, hell yes!â Taako clapped his hands together. âGarbage food! Letâs go!â
Taako was halfway through his roughly-adequate approximation of a chicken club sandwich when the door opened again, and a tall woman in plate armor stepped inside. Silvia dropped her sandwich and shot to her feet with a salute.
âLord-Commander!â
âOh, sure, come on in,â Taako said through a mouthful of dry bread. âNot like Iâm recuperating or anything.â
âAt ease, Lieutenant,â the tall woman said to Silvia, amused. âYouâre off-duty, remember?â
Silvia shuffled nervously, then sat back down. Her sandwich lay forgotten on the bed.
âIs something the matter, ma'am?â Angus asked curiously.
The woman shook her head. âNot at all. Simply an informal debriefing.â
She turned to Kravitz, still seated by Taakoâs side, roast beef on rye in his hands. âSir, if youâd excuse us?â
Taako reached over and rested his hand on Kravitzâs wrist. âLike hell.â
The tall woman frowned slightly, and opened her mouth to speak before she was interrupted.
âItâs fine, Dierdre. Theyâre all owed some answers.â
Lady Blisk walked in and closed the door behind her. This time, Silvia and Angus both shot to their feet.
âMy Lady!â
âLieutenant.â Lady Blisk nodded to her. âDierdre explained how quickly you and your captain acted in the face of a, shall we say, reluctant chain of command. Sheâs recommending you for a civil commendation. You should be very proud.â
Silvia looked like you could knock her over with a feather. Taako sneered â both at her thrill at validation and at what he saw as a thoroughly inadequate reward â while Lady Blisk conjured a small floating disk upon which she sat. Silvia and Angus both returned to their seats. Kravitz, to Taakoâs silent appreciation, had done nothing during all this but continue to eat his sandwich; working directly for a goddess made you a lot harder to impress.
âCaptain Yates and his cadre have been sworn to secrecy about what little they know regarding the context of all this,â Blisk explained. âThe only ones who know the full truth about the Door and its Key are the people in this room. Iâd like very much to keep it that way.â
Angus nodded. âOf course, ma'am.â
âYes, my Lady,â Silvia said.
âSure, fine, whatever,â Taako mumbled, taking another bite.
âWhereâs the Key now?â Angus asked. âDestroyed?â
âSadly, the enchantment is too powerful to ever fully destroy,â Blisk said with a sigh. âBut you have my assurance that the Flying V is as far from anyone who might use it as is possible.â
âAnd the Door?â
âLocked. Hopefully for good, this time.â Blisk crossed her legs and rested her cane in her lap. âOf course, this means that the Museum has been informed you were unable to recover the painting â its theft and subsequent destruction have finally made the news.â
Angus nodded. âFigured.â
âRest assured, however, that the city of Neverwinter recognizes and honors your valor, and will richly compensate you for services rendered.â
âOh, thatâs not necessaryââ
Taako slapped Angus hard across the shoulder.
ââŚbut Iâll accept it graciously, ma'am,â Angus said, rubbing his arm. âThank you.â
Blisk smiled. âItâs the least we could do. Truly.â
âWhat about Gavin?â Silvia asked. When all eyes turned to her, she shrank a bit. âI mean⌠whatâll happen to him?â
â'Gavinâ is an alias,â Dierdre explained. âHis real name is Gabriel Vincent Stanton. Lady Blisk expelled him from the Guild of Magi some years ago after repeated offenses regarding misuse of magic and unauthorized experimentation. Apparently, heâd been operating under a number of different names before he arrived at your door, Mr. McDonald.â
Angus grimaced. âHe was very thorough. I checked his background myself when I hired him, and didnât find anything out of place.â
Blisk shook her head. âYou couldnât have known. I doubt anyone would have suspected.â
âMr. Stanton will be spending the rest of his life in a cell,â Dierdre said sternly. âSomewhere isolated and very, very quiet.â
âWait, wait, wait, hold the fucking stone.â Taako set his sandwich down. âHeâs still alive?â
Everyone looked at him. Blisk and Dierdre nodded.
âWhat the fuck?â Taako threw his hands up. âI went through all that shit and heâs not even dead?! Fuck this!â
Angus closed his eyes, amused. âSir.â
âNo, for real! I am very upset! That bitch-ass piece of shit should be in the ground!â
âDeath would be preferable, yes.â
Everyone turned to look at Dierdre, including Blisk.
She shrugged, nonplussed. âWell it would.â
Blisk gently patted Dierdreâs arm, and turned back to the group.
âWell then. Any other questions?â
No one spoke. Kravitz set down his roast beef and extended a hand towards her.
âPickle?â
She considered it for a moment, then plucked it from his hand and took a bite, humming appreciatively.
âI suppose thatâs that, then,â Dierdre said with a chuckle.
âOh!â Blisk said suddenly, swallowing quickly and reaching into a small purse on her belt. âI nearly forgot. There is one last thing. More of a formality, really, though Iâll spare you the ceremonyâŚâ
âY'know, I didnât really think they gave these out anymore?â Taako said as he adjusted his hat and admired the large ornate key in his hand. It was as long as his umbrella and twice as heavy, made of pure gold that caught the sunlight as they left the hospital.
âThey were meant to go to the city gates, originally,â Angus explained, hefting his own key in his arms. âBut since the gates are always open these days, itâs more of a ceremonial thing.â
âCould fetch a lot of dough if we melted 'em down.â
Angus looked at him knowingly. âOr make a nice piece of statement jewelry.â
Taakoâs eyebrows rose. While he reexamined the key in this new light, Silvia came up alongside Angus.
âSo whatâs the first thing youâre gonna do, now that youâre out of the hospital?â she asked.
Angus looked up thoughtfully. âI guess put an ad in the paper. 'Help wanted. Light office work. No murderers need apply.ââ
âMake sure to underline that last part,â said Kravitz.
âDouble underline,â Silvia added. âIn bold.â
âYeah, because the last guy was so forthcoming about his personal history,â Taako said sardonically.
Angus laughed. âMaybe Iâll swing it solo for a while.â
Silvia quirked an eyebrow. âSolo?â
He turned to her and grinned. âWell, not all the time.â
While the two of them made goo-goo eyes at each other, Taako slipped his wrist through the key and let it dangle from his forearm beside his umbrella. He leaned against Kravitzâs shoulder. Kravitz stuck his hands in his pockets and leaned back.
âYoung love, Krav,â he drawled. âAinât it sweet?â
âSickly so, dear.â
A loud horn sounded from the down the street. All of them turned to stare at the very large, very fancy wagon with the ornate side-plating and silver-capped wheels puttering down the street. It came to a stop in front of the hospital doors, and the driver, clad in fancy longcoat, goggles, and driving gloves, jumped down onto the sidewalk.
âA gift from the Lord High Steward,â he said, bowing to Taako. âWith much appreciation to you, sir.â
Taako stared at the driver and blinked. He looked at the wagon and blinked again.
âYou know,â he said, âIâm really starting to come around on that chick.â
âBrilliant,â Kravitz sighed. âNow we have to take the long way home.â
âWho said anything about home?â Taako wrapped an arm around his neck. âWe need to take this baby on the road!â
âTaako, please. Iâd really prefer toââ
âWe could head to Goldcliff,â Taako suggested, wiggling his eyebrows, and drumming his fingers against his husbandâs shoulder. âItâs not more than a week out. Thereâs nice hotels, fancy restaurantsââ
âReally, dear?â Kravitz said flatly, unimpressed. âRestaurants?â
ââand a casiiiiinooo,â Taako finished in a sing-song tone.
Kravitz opened his mouth and froze. Nothing about his expression changed, but Taako saw the red in his eyes light up.
âYou know, it has been a while since weâve had a proper vacation.â
âHell yes it has!â Taako stepped back and pushed Kravitz forward. âNow go and figure out how to drive that thing. Iâll be right there.â
He turned around. Angus had stepped back with Silvia, and was stowing his key in a bag of holding on his belt. As Taako sauntered over, Silvia touched Angusâ shoulder.
âIâll, uh. Wait over here.â
Angus smiled and squeezed her hand. She turned away and walked back towards the hospital.
âWell, Ango,â Taako said with a tip of his hat. âWish I could say itâs been fun.â
âYeah,â Angus replied with a chuckle. âMe too.â
âWas good to see you, though.â
âYou too, sir.â
They stood across from each other, within armâs reach. Taako felt like there was something else he should say, but he wasnât quite sure what.
âI told you Iâm proud of you, right?â he asked, stroking his chin.
âYes, sir.â Angus smiled and adjusted his glasses nervously. âIt meant a lot.â
He nodded absently. âRight. Good.â
âAnd Iâm glad you came. I⌠donât know if I could have done this without you.â
Taako scoffed. âPlease. This idiot wizard? All I do is drag you down.â
âThatâs not true, sir,â Angus said firmly, shaking his head. âNot at all.â
Taako ignored him and waved dismissively. âC'mon, boychik. Donât play. We both know itâs the truth. I taught you a few tricks, sure, kept you fed and clothed and shit, but everything you are now â every good thing, at least â thatâs all you. Donât know where you got it from, but it wasnât me.â âSir!â Angus exclaimed, gently taking Taako by the shoulders. âStop.â
Taako shut his mouth and looked away for a moment â the boyâs gaze had gotten very intense. When he looked back, Angus was fighting tears. Taako felt a tightness build in his chest.
âSir.â Angus spoke firmly, squeezing his shoulders. âYou didnât just teach me how to cook and cast spells. You taught me how to look after myself. You taught me about loyalty, and responsibility, and how thereâs meaning in our mistakes. You were there when I needed you, every time. And all that because an eleven-year-old kid asked to come with you, and you didnât hesitate for a second. I wouldnât be half the person I am if it wasnât for you.â
Taako stared at him. The tightness in his chest got worse. He blinked. Blinked again. His lip began to quiver. He sniffled, looked away, looked back. There was no escape.
Angus blinked back tears, smiled, and said, âI couldnât have wished for a better dad.â
Ah, fuck.
Taako sobbed. Angus pulled him into a hug and held him as he cried into his shoulder. Taako shuddered and shook, clutching tightly at the back of Angusâ jacket as he rode out this despicably visible display of emotion.
âI love you,â Angus said quietly.
Taako sniffed loudly, and so softly he barely heard it himself, whispered, âLove you too.â
He spent a minute there, sobbing into the boyâs shoulder. As he got a hold of himself, he took long, shuddering breaths. Taako gently extricated himself from Angusâ embrace, and shook his head.
âFuck you,â he grumbled, rubbing his eyes. âRuined my makeup, you little twerp.â
Angus reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. Taako snatched it from his hands with a scoff.
âOf course you have a handkerchief,â he said snidely, drying his face. âWhat are you, eighty?â
Angus grinned. âNext time you can conjure one yourself, Mr. Wizard.â
Taako laughed, brief and watery. He wiped his cheeks and then pocketed the handkerchief without offering it back. Angus chuckled and pushed him gently in the shoulder.
âSo,â Taako said, avoiding eye contact. âSee you at Candlenights?â
In his periphery, Angus nodded. âAbsolutely.â
âCool⌠cool.â
He sniffed loudly and exhaled, forcing himself to look at Angus one last time. He looked as upsettingly vulnerable as Taako felt, but he was smiling, and that made Taako smile back.
âTake care, kiddo,â he said.
âYou too.â
Taako tipped his hat, and turned away. He climbed up into the driverâs bench alongside Kravitz, who rubbed a hand across Taakoâs back.
âWe good to go?â Taako asked.
âGood to go,â Kravitz replied slowly. âUnless⌠youâd rather stay?â
Taako barked out a humorless laugh. âHell no. Iâve had more than enough of this fuckinâ town. Letâs get goinâ.â
He looked back while Kravitz started the arcane engine. Angus and Silvia stood on the sidewalk outside Neverwinter General, holding hands. Taako took off his hat and waved it.
âAdios!â
The wagon kicked on and started puttering down the street. Angus and Silvia smiled and waved as they left. As they turned a corner, Taako sighed and leaned against Kravitzâs shoulder.
âGood kid.â
Kravitz kept one hand on the controls and wrapped the other around Taakoâs shoulders.
âThat he is.â
Taako closed his eyes and smiled privately.
I did good.
âSo whenâs the ceremony?â
âWeâre not getting married, sir.â
âReally? Because it sounds pretty serious to me, is the thing.â
âSir.â
âAlright, alright, jeez. Sheâs coming up for Candlenights, though, right?â
âYeah. Sheâs excited about it. So am I, actually.â
âShe hasnât met any of the Bureau before?â
âNope.â
âPoor maydl.â
âI donât know, I think sheâll get along great with everyone. Especially Magnus.â
âYeah, sure, him and his rustic fuckinâ hospitality. But you know heâs gonna be asking about that ring too.â
ââŚshit.â
âYep. Done fucked yourself, boychik.â
ââŚwell, at least Merle will be there to preach about the evils of marriage.â
âHa! If youâre lucky, heâll be half-cut on Redcheek cider before dinner.â
âYouâre cooking, right?â
âNo, Iâll be there cheering Magnus on â of course Iâm cooking! What kind of question is that?â
âJust asking! Thought Iâd get there early and help. Make sure Iâm not getting rusty, y'know?â
âI wouldnât turn down my faithful assistant.â
âApprentice.â
âSure, sure, thatâs what I meant.â âRight. Well, Iâll call again before we leave.â
âCool. Keep it real, Angarang.â
âYou know it. Love you!â
ââŚyeah, yeah, you too.â
#the adventure zone#thezonecast#taako#angus mcdonald#fanfiction#post campaign#mystery#adventure#found family
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The Two Gentlemen of Verona
I had never read Two Guys, A Girl, And Pizza Place â I mean, The Two Gentlemen of Verona (hereafter referred to as Gentlemen or Two Gents) before now. This is probably because itâs not one of the big, hyped Shakespeare plays (see: Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear), but upon reflection it could stand to be performed more often? Small cast, simple plot, neat â if completely ridiculous â resolution.Â
 Anyway, I hadnât read it, but I guessed, based on the title, that it was about two dudes from Verona. And I was right. Thatâs pretty much it.Â
 Without even realising it, Iâve leapt straight from âShakespeareâs Last Playâ (Tempest) to this, which some people believe was âShakespeareâs First Playâ. It was definitely an early play, and an early comedy, written probably somewhere between the late 1580s and early 1590s. While Iâm not usually someone whoâs like, âOh, itâs an early play, which is why it sucks!â it⌠might have something to do with why itâs not great.Â
Donât get me wrong. Gentlemen has friendship, passion, conflict, drama, loyalty, and cross-dressing! (And really, what else is there?) But after stepping off the ship from Prosperoâs cell and landing in Milan, finding this scene on shore is a little underwhelming. Where are the harpy spirits and chess motifs? Why is nobody half naked and swearing at the sky? Also, Gentlemen is #problematic. But weâll get to that.Â
So many, so so many of Shakespeareâs plays are about, or involve intimate male friendships. This is because intimate male friendships were a Big Deal, at the time, and not just in a gay way, but in a totally heterosexual, platonic way. (But sometimes also in a gay way.)Â
The difference between Shakespeare and other writers who lauded male friendships is that Shakespeare is⌠suspicious of them, or suspicious of the idealized versions of them. In all his plays about male friendship, these friendships arenât perfect. I will talk more about this at length during my summary, I guess, but also when we read Hamlet later. (I feel a great many things about Horatio.)Â
The first imperfect friendship weâre going to meet is these guys, Valentine and Proteus of Verona. (A part of me wants to already press pause and say, seriously? Valentine and Proteus? What kinda on-the-nose names are these? But then I remember that, as far as I know, while Chaucer had already somewhat popularised Valentine as a saint of love, I actually have no clue how widely that kind of language was used. And also âProteusâ doesnât just mean âFirstâ (first lover, first character, first play?) but is also, like, a god of the sea? So really I need to calm down about my etymological leaps.)Â
Act OneÂ
Hereâs the deal. Valentine is about to leave Verona to go explore the world (see: Milan), but he doesnât want to leave without Proteus. Normally, these two guys are inseparable! Amigos! Compadres! Guys being dudes, dudes being guys! But alas, Proteus canât leave Milan. Why? Because heâs in looooove. Heâs so gone for this chick Julia that he turns down an all-expenses paid gap year with his bff. In the next scene, we find Julia chatting with her friend Lucetta, and the conversation is basically this--Â
Lucetta: That Proteus guy totally has a thing for you. Julia: Oh my god, really? Lucetta: Uh, yeah! Itâs sooooo obvious. Julia: I guess heâs⌠cute.  Lucetta: Julie⌠babes⌠you literally wrote I Heart Proteus in your notebook eight times since I walked into this room. Julia, looking down at her notebook: Oh shit, youâre right. I mean. What?Â
Julia is so determined to deny that she likes Proteus that when Lucetta says she has a letter from him Julia literally rips it up! And then tries to piece it back together and kisses it? Like Helga Pataki or something. Itâs the weirdest. (1.2.99-123)Â
Meanwhile, Proteusâ dad doesnât understand why his son would want to waste his time at home when he could go have bro-tastic adventures in Milan. (Also, I just checked: Milan and Verona are⌠very nearby each other. You could walk there in just a few days.)Â
Proteus has received a letter from Julia saying she loves him back! Theyâve traded vows! He gave her a ring! But he doesnât tell his dad about that, because he is worried his father wonât approve. So Antonio â thatâs dad â forces Proteus to go to Milan and have some fun, damnit.Â
Act TwoÂ
In Milan, we meet Silvia, the object of Valentineâs affections. Heâs all over her like a rash, but he seems incapable of understanding how she flirts. Ironically, Speed â Valentineâs servant from Act 1 who is supposed to be dim as a rock â seems to be the only smart, funny character who Gets Stuff. (Unless Iâm reading him as being too sarcastic where he is supposed to be sincere.)Â
For example: Valentine writes a love letter to Silvia, and she tells him to keep it. He says, âWait, no, itâs for you?â and she says, âYeah, I asked you to write it. But itâs for you.âÂ
 âIâll write you another one, then.âÂ
 âThen after you write that, read it, and if you like it, good. If you donât like it, then think of ways to make it better.âÂ
 âAnd what if I like it?âÂ
 âThen keep it for yourself.â (2.1.109-123)Â
Exit.Â
Valentine is (I guess understandably) frustrated, but Speed, speaking in rhyme/verse (where he normally speaks in prose), makes fun of the situation, like, âHahaha, you essentially wrote yourself a love letter, lmao.â Speed explains that Silvia is flirting by having Valentine write love letters and giving them back to him. She is giving him love letters: âHerself hath taught her love himself to write unto her lover.â (2.1.156)
I have a soft spot for the fools, especially the fools that make fun of love and romance. Maybe Iâm giving Speed too much credit, and heâs not actually smart/witty, just mean and a foil for the lovestruck protagonists. Fools are pretty much always a case of the wisest words coming from the foulest mouths. ANYWAY.
Silviaâs dad wants her to marry this guy Thurio, who sheâs not keen on at all. And when Proteus turns up, he immediately forgets all about Julia and decides that he also wants to marry Silvia. Men are so predictable.Â
 See, Valentineâs busy ribbing Proteus about Julia, and while Proteus is like, âJuliaâs not a goddess. I just like her, mortal flaws and all,â Valentine is busy espousing the holy divinity of Silvia. Something in Proteusâ brain flips. He must have that goddess.Â
Back in Verona, Julia is coming up with a Flawless Plan to go see Proteus in Milan. She needs to see him again or sheâll die. (2.7.15)
But she canât travel as a woman, alone, without a male escort! So, she does what any rational woman would do, and decides to disguise herself as a boy. (Worth reminding you again: Milan and Verona are about 93 miles apart. Thatâs about a 3 day journey on foot.)Â
 As this is the first time we, on this blog, are witnessing crossdressing in Shakespeare, it is worth reminding you that women did not act on the Elizabethan/Jacobean stage. All female characters are played by boys in drag, essentially. So when crossdressing happens â and it almost always happens with a girl pretending to be a boy â what is actually happening on stage is that a boy is pretending to be a woman pretending to be a boy. Layers! Â
Act ThreeÂ
Proteus is plotting against Valentine, because nothing comes between two best dude friends better than a sexy lady. He tells Thurio â the other suitor â that Valentine has been sneaking up to see Silvia at night and that theyâre planning on running away to elope.Â
Thurio is like, âwtf?â and dobs this in to Silviaâs dad. The Duke is like, âYeahâŚ.. I knowâŚ.. itâs an issue.â Doubly an issue because Valentine has been tryna play the Duke like a harp. The Duke is too quick for this and tricks Valentine into revealing all his wooing techniques, and through some sort of weird trick involving a ladder (the logic of this train of thought remains unclear?) finds Valentineâs love letter to Silvia and is like âAHA!!!! YOU FIEND!!!âÂ
Valentine is told to leave Milan and never return. Boom. (3.1.120)Â
The Duke is all, âGee, Iâm so glad my new friend Proteus tipped me off to all this. Heâs such a stand up guy.âÂ
 Silvia, who was really into Valentine, is super pissed at her dad, and also wants nothing to do with Proteus since heâs the one who screwed everything up for her. Meanwhile, Proteus is trying to play Valentineâs old game, and pretends to be in favour of Thurio marrying Silvia. (Hint: this wonât work out well.)Â
Act FourÂ
 On âthe frontiers of Mantuaâ, Valentine and Speed get attacked by outlaws. If Mantua sounds familiar, itâs also where Romeo getâs banished to in Romeo and Juliet, so itâs clearly where all the rejects from the Italian justice system get sent.
Valentine lies to the outlaws and says he was banished by the Duke for killing a man. And theyâre like, âOh shit! This guy is legit! Letâs make him our leader!â
 And thatâs how Valentine becomes the leader of a pack of outlaws.Â
 Meanwhile, Thurio is futzing up his wooing of Silvia, because Proteus is giving him really bad advice, like singing bad songs and generally being annoying.
 Thereâs also a bit here where Proteus says, â⌠Yet, spanial-like, the more she spurns my love / The more it grows and fawneth on her still.â (4.2.14-5). This is almost the exact same line that Helena says in Midsummer re: Demetrius. Just worth mentioning.Â
 This is when Julia enters, in boyâs clothes. (So, I guess itâs been three days.) She hears this song about Silvia and is like, âWoooooow. Ok. So⌠this sucks.â
 Even worse, she overhears a conversation between Silvia and Proteus, where he says, âLook, I was in love once, but that chick is dead, so⌠Iâm wide open.â And Silvia responds, âThatâs sad and all, but you also stabbed your best buddy in the back like a total tool. So I can never trust you, let alone love you.âÂ
 Silvia plans to escape Thurio, Proteus, and her father, and head to Mantua where she and Valentine can be together. Also, she gets rid of the little dog that Proteus gave her. Because who needs that shit around.Â
 When Proteus sees that his dog has been returned to him, heâs like, âFine! I can up my game!â He turns to Julia, who for some reason he doesnât recognise, a la Lois Lane not recognising Superman when he has his hair done a little different, and says, âTake this ring and give it to Silvia.âÂ
Itâs Juliaâs ring! She is⌠crushed.Â
 When Julia goes to give the ring to Silvia, like a lamb, she basically bursts into tears and says, âI knew Julia. And this belonged to her. And he wants to give it to you. But if she knew⌠she would⌠probably die forever and ever.âÂ
 Silvia â who, in my opinion, realises that this boy is actually Julia â says, âTake the ring, and this purse of money. Look, Iâm crying too. Wow. Ok, bye.âÂ
Act Five (i.e. when things deteriorate quickly).Â
Silvia wants to get the hell out of Milan, and she and Sir Elgamour talk about their plans outside Friar Patrickâs cell. Theyâre gonna run away! That always works well.
 (A lot of conspiring happens in, or by, a friarâs cell â see: Romeo and Juliet.)
 Meanwhile, Proteus being grilled by Thurio about Silvia. Does she like me? Does she hate me? What is going on! What Proteus really wants to know is what Silvia said to Julia aka Sebastian.Â
 But before we can get any answer â the Duke bursts in and announces that Silvia has disappeared! Dun dun dun.Â
âSheâs fled unto that peasant Valentine.â Clever dad.Â
 In the next scene, we find Silvia in the forest, alright, but Sir Elgamour is nowhere to be found! In fact: Silvia is being held captive by outlaws. Iâm sure you, who is not an idiot, can see where this is going.Â
 In the next scene, Valentine gives a speech about how lonely being the inexplicable leader of a band of outlaws can be, and how all he really wants is Silvia. Who cares about unchecked power and the loyalty of violent criminals when the love of your life has been taken away from you? Sigh.Â
 But then, thereâs a suspicious noise â and lo and behold, enter Proteus, Silvia, and Julia!Â
Valentine steps aside into the shadows to eavesdrop on their conversation.Â
Apparently Proteus (and Julia) helped rescue Silvia from the outlaws before she could successfully be taken to Valentine.Â
 âWhat do you mean you still donât want to fuck me!â Proteus complains. âAfter me and my servant rescued you and everything!âÂ
 âDude,â Silvia replies, âI would literally rather be eaten by a lion than have you rescue me from anything.â (5.4.33-34)Â
 âItâs a damn shame when a woman canât love when sheâs loved,â says Proteus. Â
âItâs a damn shame when Proteus canât love when he is loved by Julia who, yeah, I know is still alive, you steaming pile of human garbage. Also, I love Valentine, who was supposed to be your best friend,â Silvia replies â though I may be paraphrasing a little.Â
 This is when Proteus, and I shit you not, âseizes herâ and says, âIâll woo you like a soldier, at armsâ end / And love you âgainst the nature of love â force you.â (5.4.59-60)Â
Thatâs right. Proteus fully intends to rape Silvia then and there.Â
 Valentine leaps out of the shadows and goes to rescue Silvia from Proteus, rightfully calling him all sorts of despicable names that Iâm sure would have been very insulting to someone four hundred years ago.Â
Naturally, Proteus drops everything (âeverythingâ being Silvia) and apologises profusely.Â
 âOkay, cool,â Valentine says.Â
 Wait, what? OKAY COOL? âThen I am paid, / And once again I do receive thee honestâ? How?Â
 Similarly shocked by all these developments is Julia, who swoons.Â
When everyone rushes to her side, she says, âOh, I forgot to give Silvia this ringâŚâÂ
âBut⌠this isnât the ring I gave you to give Silvia. This is the ring I gave Julia!â Proteus says, like a genius.Â
âOh, right. I meant this ring,â Julia corrects herself, taking out the ring that she had given Proteus that he had then given Silvia. (Lots of rings.)Â
âBut wait, how did you get this ring?â Proteus asks, still not getting it.Â
This is when Julia gives up and has mercy on everyone, and reveals herself to not be a little boy named Sebastian but a grown woman! And a very specific grown woman!Â
After a bit of blushing about being seen in such immodest attire, Julia and Proteus kiss and make up. So now instead of a very messy love triangle/square/octagon, we just have two happy couples! Yay, heteronormativity restored!
Thurio, the Duke, and the band of outlaws all then rock up, presumably for the closing song. Are there going to be any consequences for anyoneâs actions? No? Does Thurio hold this against Valentine? Absolutely not! What about the Duke? Any issues with his daughter ending up with the leader of a band of murderers?Â
 âSir Valentine, / Thou are a gentleman, and well derived; / Take thou thy Silvia, for thou hast deserved her.â (5.4.158-59)Â
Nope, and nope.Â
Closing remarks?Â
I think we can see why Two Gents isnât considered a piece of High Art in the way a lot of other Shakespeare plays are. Itâs essentially the Shakespearean equivalent of a sitcom, or a formulaic romantic comedy. When trying to look Deep into Two Gents, most people point to the gender relations and the complications that arise with crossdressing on stage. There are also grounds to investigate the role of forests in Shakespeareâs plays â if it happens in the woods itâs bound to be interesting. Then of course there are the all-encompassing questions about love, and the truth of love, and the relativity of that truth. Proteus was so in love with Julia that he almost couldnât bear to leave Verona, and yet as soon as he saw Silvia, any love he felt for Julia went flying out the window. Shakespeare once said that love looks not with the eye, but with the mind. I would say that Two Gents preaches exactly the opposite. Absence doesnât make the heart grow fonder; it just sets it loose on the nearest soft object.Â
Things to accompany The Two Gentlemen of VeronaÂ
Two Guys, A Girl, and a Pizza Place (1998- 2001) starring Ryan Reynolds.Â
The Road to El DoradoÂ
âSame Girlâ by R. Kelly and UsherÂ
I dunno, every sitcom ever.
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How the Founder of Clarkâs Botanicals Spends His Sundays
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In May of 2002, Francesco Clarkâs life radically changed when he dove into the shallow end of a strangerâs pool. His neurosurgeon at the time said he had a permanent spinal cord injury, rendering Mr. Clark paralyzed and unable to speak.
Soon, he had moved back in with his parents in Westchester County. âWhen I saw the hospital bed in my parentâs home where I used to play the piano, I burst into tears.â
But after years of rigorous physical therapy, Mr. Clark has proved much of the original prognosis to be wrong, while also starting a successful skin care business called Clarkâs Botanicals. A national ambassador for the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, Mr. Clark, 41, lives with his father, mother and an aide, Silvia Golle, in Bronxville.
TALK TO ME Alexa wakes me at 8 a.m. Voice-activated software has made my life easier. I talk to her 50 times a day. Over the past 17 years Iâve regained my ability to speak and breathe on my own and use my arms. Sleeping is less painful since I got a special mattress that gently turns me while Iâm sleeping. I also sleep with splints on my hands and feet.
TEAM WORK My mother makes me a triple cappuccino and gets my concoction of 30 different vitamins and supplements organized. I have three aides and two different nurses who help me. Silvia has been with us for 11 years. Sheâs part of the family. She helps me shave and gets my workout clothing from the closet. Then a Hoyer lift and net get me out of bed and into a waterproof wheelchair.
LAB RAT After the accident, I felt like my life was on pause while everyone was moving light years ahead of me. Aside from being paralyzed, my body didnât sweat. My skin looked terrible and became clogged and I broke out. The last thing I wanted to do was look in the mirror. My father and I started Clarkâs from a hospital bed. Iâm the lab rat. I test a lot of the products we make in the morning. I have a roll-in shower so after testing I wash everything off.
PROGRESS My workout uniform is Uniqlo pants, Lacoste shirt, navy blue Adidas sneakers. For the first three years I didnât go out. I shaved my head. I wore the same paper hospital pants everyday until Christopher Reeve passed away. Thatâs when I realized I needed to take responsibility for my life. By 10 Iâm in my manual wheelchair and can use my arms to groom myself. At my desk Iâll read emails. In the last five years my fine-motor movements have come back.
BODY WORK The garage used to be a horse stable before we turned it into my workout and work space. I have a standing frame that looks like an elliptical machine, and my assistant and aide get me in it. Itâs nice to be standing again and to defy what people said Iâd never be able to do. This moves my hands and legs and prevents osteoporosis, relieves pain and stretches my muscles. My iPhone is tied to the handle bar. During the week this is how I make a lot of my business calls.
ENDORPHINS For the next hour I do bike rotations on my back for muscle and spine stimulation that allows for aerobic activity. I used to run seven miles a day and was on the crew team, so this is a stress release. Iâm up to 3,000 rotations, which is 6,000 steps. Then I return emails and review my day and the week.
TRIP TO THE CITY My mother and aide get the van ready. Buying the first van was a way to re-establish my independence. It was a huge step in my recovery and gave me a sense of self. I recently started looking at townhouses on the Upper West Side. Iâm ready to move out on my own again. I like being near Lincoln Center for the opera and the Museum of Natural History.
The biggest challenge will be finding a property where I can add an elevator and build a ramp. If Iâm not doing that, weâll all go to the Met. I grew up in Italy, so I love looking at historical work, especially from Van Gogh.
FAMILY DINNER My brother and sister and their families all live nearby. They come over for our Thanksgiving-like Sunday meal. I text everyone what to bring and when to show. My brother grills steak, my mom makes gnocchi and tagliatelle, my niece does dessert, my nephew makes and serves the cappuccino. Someone is setting the table. Someone else is picking the wine. Thereâs a sense of intention to all of this; thatâs whatâs changed in my life.
THERAPY My physical therapist comes over. Iâm relearning how to crawl. I do planks and moving around on my elbows. I love it. Iâm listening to music â Abba, Erasure, Lady Gaga, Donna Summer, anything pop and upbeat.
THE CLASSICS By 11:15 Iâve been helped back into bed and will watch a movie. I love old ones, especially Hitchcock, like âDial M for Murder.â I like the elegance, and can catch something different every time I watch it. Itâs not just Grace or Tippi, thereâs this element of suspense.
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