#aside from initial reactions it's

[the-acid-pear]

Y'know I do wonder what it says about me how I went from venting frustrations by having X being X to putting L.L. on a blender. I mean undeniably part of it is tied to my ever growing anxiety, hell, you'd argue there's parallels to be drawn between current L.L. treatment and Juan's when I was in highschool (there's so much that I daydreamed about yet never became canon but that guy christ my poor guy 😭) and y'all know how I was in highschool aka miserable and also very scared of real things (had to walk on eggshells always) but also non real things (I was tripping balls and a man with corpse paint is hiding behind my bathroom curtain ready to kill me‼️ among other things) but that still doesn't quite explain what prompted X to be made. What was I going thru that was so exclusive to that moment it didn't happen before or after? Bc X while eventually getting the blender treatment too (that's just my ocd tbf that I understand easily I'm a guilty guilty man and I need to fuel my own guiltiness by doing more bad tm things) he's usually the one pushing others in it. Hell the sheer fact he exists and the reason why he's called X is bc I didn't want to use L.L. for the story I originally wrote of him - just had to save this as a draft could you imagine I forget I hit post limit and lose this entire thing? - and named him X as a sort of place holder. He also is EXCLUSIVE referred as X there too to give him pronouns was too personal (I still use x/xs for him occasionally but way less). And it's not like L.L. doesn't have a few crimes under their belt they've pushed people in blenders too they've had mayor arcs about this in fact even all the way back to Japan their very first place this was present and that was a symptom of Thing in fact when L.L. spoke there they were referencing them who was violent and proud but L.L. was Ashamed of this violence and yes this is present with X too but where on earth did this overwhelming urge to enact it came from? Because I Am a violent man that I won't deny lately especially the urges to break bones and throw shit are overwhelming but not as much as when I walked down the streets daydreaming of every possible way I'd have to kill someone with the coldness of someone who is expecting this to happen (while not past the age of 16 and younger). Though I suppose Sheina WAS a vehicle for this too just like X let's not forget she did torture 4 ppl for a long while and that scene was written twice no less.

I guess there was always a side of... A taste for creative violence in me as far as I have memory and Sheina and X are symptoms of this even L.L. too but I guess I just have burnout? LMAO yeah maybe it's as simple as that. I did know a lot of me spiraling is a need to convince myself it's bad enough to allow myself to feel this. Maybe this whole thing is as simple as . Got distracted thinking of other things remember there was a Point to X character development that I was supposed to change? Which is a thing in universe too bc i never changed and neither did him he just turned it down? And it's now nothing but just another thing that happens that people don't question because X learnt to behave? Worth saying too X was a bit of a show off like when he had to stop originally was his own fault for literally telling L.L. and Can about it which directly affected them both. It really is all about doing bad things only to experience consequences except X wasn't guilty ORIGINALLY. Which is funnier than it's interesting. Although in his base story you can see him slowly get softer and softer.

I'm losing track but I feel they're both a form of downward spiral. But with X there was a whole Climax. There's never that with L.L. . X was an attempt to take control in a time where I had none while L.L. is just a cry for help and portrait of the absurdity of it all. It's also an escape from control itself too, you'd say. Perhaps represents my reality in that sense. It's that paralyzing uncertainty of isolation in dependency. It also it's a legit reflection of me Forgetting I can take control of situations after all until now only Once in modern time has L.L. done so. (They killed a guy. They mangled the shit out of him. They came to work shaking covered in blood. But irl realizing yes that is an option there is a way out was such a great relief.) But there's also the Consequences and the rammys which tie back to what I said before about the paralyzing nature.

And thing which is funnier than everything else is: fuckin what will happen to L.L., huh? Like not only bc I'm writing the story but even in universe. They've killed like 4 people (2 relatives 2 strangers, maybe even more I forgot about too) they don't even exist legally they love going to prison. Nothing is more dangerous to them than their own lack of self confidence.

I seriously don't know where this overwhelming upsetness and... Lack of confidence yeah animal fear and all came from. They were always here but when did they overpower else? Where did this weakness and I mean that in the most literal sense of it too weak like an overworked muscle.

Got distracted again but I guess it's similar to X too like this seeking of a climax of this big turning point except not at all there was that L.L. literally tried to kill themselves and it was a remarkable deal but then it became standard bc Yeah.

Maybe it's like AJJ said and I deserve displeasure and I really want to cry and I think you should spit on my face because I am a werewolf.

I think that's the best I can do for a conclusion idk what I'm saying anymore spent a whole hour or so typing this.

Though it's worth saying I did start thinking of this bc the X gene if you will the Xeske nature never left me it's just buried deeper.

I feel the issue is I keep trying to reach for a happy ending I keep walking down nails waiting for something good to be on the other side but I have no idea what it looks like.

Siiigh alright I'm done typing now it's 1 am ok. Sad conclusion. Though it's not like X had any sort of happy ending already stablished my man is still doing the same. But he did meet other things. He did manage to find some peace after trying and trying again. I guess L.L. is just experiencing the hopelessness I am. I mean the face ripping off thing that was just a real mental breakdown. Arc words too nothing ever changes when they peaked from under their arms and showed what was a single eye and goopy messy blood.

So I guess it's as simple as L.L. gets blended because I don't have the strength for malice I just want thing to get better but can't find a way out. X was for digging a tunnel L.L. is for failing the climbing class.

[brookstolemybrand]

On Sabo and Garp:

People keep saying that Sabo and Garp didn't know each other, or that they only met like once or something, but idk, this doesn't read to me as "he's some old guy who beat me up once or twice when I was a kid"

Does Garp remember or care about Sabo? I don't know, maybe he doesn't; we haven't gotten any reaction from him to any news about Sabo. But Sabo doesn't seem to think of him as a stranger, or at least that's not how I would read this

Just because we only saw him visit once doesn't necessarily mean he only visited once

I'm sure they're not particularly close or anything, and no this doesn't really particularly matter because even if they met, it probably wouldn't be any kind of huge drama, but I feel like it's wild to just declare that they have no kind of relationship at all

[cryinginthedeep]

matthew tkachuk - all your life, did you know, you'd be picked like a rose?

something..something...tying your skates like your dad used to but also, outgrowing the shoes you're expected to fill

[knickynoo]

Michael, on receiving the Back to the Future script (from the Tales from the Future documentary)

[irhabiya]

genuine question about being charitable to people who simply don't know better/are highly propagandized against certain ideas: how do you assess whether or not the person is simply misinformed or actively malicious, and beyond that, when is it no longer worth it to spend time and energy trying to converse with them? my attitude has always been that people who are genuinely willing to learn will listen and everyone else, no matter if they're engaging in good faith, is just not worth the effort and it's impossible to dedicate so much time to everyone like that anyway. but i'm rethinking whether that's the right approach or not

[fluffs-n-stuffs]

Pokémon Horizons Episode 24 spoilers under the cut!

HEY AMETHIO BESTIE WHAT DOES THAT MEAN . WHAT DOES THAT MEAN

[fromevertonow]

Suzanne Collins is one of the few contemporary writers who realizes the importance of names in her stories and the significance they bear. They add so many layers to the story, additional meanings that otherwise would not have existed.

The original trilogy:

Katniss: named after a plant of which you can eat the roots. Her father taught her where to find it and told her that “as long as you can find yourself, you’ll survive” (quote may be a little bit off, but it’s from one of the early chapters in THG). Additionally, the leaves are in the shape of an arrowhead, referencing her skills with the bow which her father also taught her how to use.

Peeta: literally bread lmao. But bread is one of the basic nutritions humans need, a little bit goes a long way to keep you alive. Peeta’s presence in Katniss’s life also kept her alive, literally and figuratively—the burned bread he threw her in the flashback and their complicated relationship.

Primrose: a plant with medicinal purposes, even more significant in light of her work as a medic in Mockingjay.

Gale: literally means “strong wind” and considering that in every encounter with Katniss he’s caused some reaction, he pulls her into directions she maybe initially doesn’t want to go in. Additionally, his name also represents his determination and steadfastness in his beliefs.

TBOSAS

Lucy Gray: named after William Wordsworth’s poem “Lucy Gray” which is about the titular character of the poem who got lost during a blizzard. She literally got lost in snow. Rachel Zegler sang this poem in two parts on the original soundtrack of the movie. When Snow asked who the girl in the song is, Lucy answers that she’s a mystery, just like her.

Snow: aside from the obvious snow references, I think his name is most significant in relation to Lucy and the poem. The only one who knows what caused her disappearance is Snow. He is the reason that Lucy is gone. But her traces in the snow are still visible. He will always remember her because the memory of Lucy has manifested itself in every part of his life.

Coriolanus: named after the Roman general (and also the titular character of Shakespeare’s play), Coriolanus wanted to attack Rome and become its ruler. He was scorned and celebrated by the people, only to be later exiled from the city by them. In TBOSAS, Coriolanus is the star pupil at the Capitol’s academy but sent into exile to the districts after he won the Games with Lucy through cheating.

Volumnia: Coriolanus mother who played a part in his ascent to power. In TBOSAS, she almost serves like a mentor to Coriolanus, teaching him how to think in terms of power.

(Edit) Sejanus: a roman soldier who was betrayed by the roman emperor Tiberius, just like the future president betrayed him.

(Edit) Plinth: got this info from here, but it was too good not to include here. A plinth is a base for a statue or vase to stand on. After Sejanus’s death, all of the Plinth fortune was given to Snow for being such a good to friend him. It was this money that skyrocketed the Snow family from poverty to filthy rich. The Plinth money was the foundation upon which Snow built his power.

There are so many other names that have historical (mostly Roman and Greek) connotations—Plutarch, Seneca, Cinna—but also regular names like Trinket and Beetee bear meanings that represent the character beautifully.

Names are important. For any lover of literature or (aspiring) writers, please look closely at them. They can shape your story into something unique.

Feel free to correct me if I’ve said something wrong. I know there are many names missing, but I can only add so many examples ✊🏻😔

[meleeyz]

┈﹒ ꒰ 𝗩𝗜𝗞𝗧𝗢𝗥'𝗦 𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘 ꒱

ekko 𝒙 fem!reader ┊ viktor 𝒙 fem!reader (platonic)

୨୧ English is not my first language, so I regret in advance if something reads weird or is misspelled

୨୧ I don't know, I just thought it would be a fun dynamic, enjoy!

₊˚ ✧ ‿︵‿୨୧‿︵‿ ✧ ₊˚

𓆤 Ekko crashing into you on his hoverboard was how it all began. It happened during one of your hurried trips back to Zaun after a grueling week in Piltover’s laboratories. You were distracted, engrossed in your mental checklist of materials Viktor had asked you to bring. You didn't even notice the faint whir of Ekko’s hoverboard until it was too late.

“Hey, watch—” Ekko started, his voice sharp with alarm before cutting off mid-sentence as the two of you collided.

You landed flat on your back with a groan, Viktor's precious schematics flying out of your bag. Ekko was quick to get up and extend a hand to help you up.

“Oh crap, I didn’t mean to—uh, are you okay?” Ekko asked with a sheepish grin.

“You should really watch where you’re going!” you snapped, brushing yourself off. Then your eyes locked. It was hard to stay mad at someone who looks like they actually cared.

From then on, every return trip to Zaun seemed incomplete without bumping into him, either by accident or by his deliberate attempts to "run into" you.

𓆤 Ekko had mixed feelings about your constant back-and-forth trips. He understood why you had to be in Piltover so much—your apprenticeship under Viktor was important—but that didn’t mean he liked it.

“You know, it’s kinda unfair,” he said one evening, as the two of you sat on the rooftop of a crumbling Zaun building. The view of the Undercity's twinkling lights stretched around you, and the new prototype of his hoverboard leaned against the nearby wall. “Piltover gets you all day, and Zaun just gets you at night.”

𓆤 Ekko loved your sharp mind. In fact, he found your involvement with Hextech fascinating, even if he teased you endlessly about being a “Piltover nerd.”

“Look at you, little Miss Zaunite Hextech Genius,” he’d say with a smirk as he watched you tinker with a device. “All fancy with your gears and crystals. Can you make something that doesn’t explode?”

You rolled your eyes.

“This is for science. Not for impressing you.”

“Oh, but you already impress me.” He’d wink, leaning over your shoulder to inspect your work. His genuine curiosity often led to him offering ideas that somehow worked, despite his lack of formal training. You suspected his innate knack for mechanics rivaled even Viktor’s.

𓆤 Ekko would often stop by you house in Undercity unannounced, bringing little gifts—scrap metal he thought you could use or metal flowers that he made with his own hands for you

𓆤 You, in turn, would surprise him with modifications for his hoverboard or gadgets to help the Firelights. His reaction to your gifts was always the same: pure delight.

𓆤 Leaving aside the jokes, he loved watching you work, claiming it was “like seeing genius in action.” You’d laugh and tell him to stop distracting you, but his presence always made the hours fly by.

𓆤 The two of you shared countless late-night conversations on rooftops, swapping dreams and fears.

𓆤 It started subtly. Ekko’s laugh lingered in your mind longer than it should have. His voice, the way he said your name, echoed in your thoughts while you worked. You found yourself doodling in the margins of your notes, spiraling into daydreams that left you blushing.

𓆤 Viktor initially didn’t think much of Ekko—at least not directly. He only knew of him through your constant chatter.

“Ekko said this really clever thing about—” “Ekko helped me figure out how to—” “Ekko...”

Eventually, Viktor sighed and set down his pen.

“I can’t believe you’re getting so worked up about some guy,” he said, exasperation lacing his words.

“This one is different!” you protested, fidgeting with a loose thread on your sleeve. “He’s honest, he’s sweet—”

“Please…”

“He would never do anything to hurt me!”

Viktor raised an eyebrow.

“He’s a guy.”

“He’s also... brilliant. And kind... and handsome... and—”

“Oh shit, here we go again…” He exhaled, completely tired.

𓆤 The meeting happened in Piltover, under less-than-ideal circumstances. You’d convinced the Academy to grant you temporary access to the lab for a personal project, ostensibly Hextech-related. In truth, you were helping Ekko repair an broken stabilizer for the Firelights

You thought you were being sneaky. You were wrong.

Viktor appeared in the doorway, cane tapping against the marble floor. His eyes immediately landed on the device in Ekko’s hands and then flicked to you.

“And what,” he asked dryly, “is going on here?”

Ekko froze, looking like a child caught stealing candy. You scrambled to explain, words tumbling out in a panicked mess.

To your surprise, Viktor didn’t explode. Instead, he regarded Ekko with quiet intensity. After a long pause, he nodded.

“You have talent,” he said to Ekko. “Perhaps more than you deserve.”

Ekko grinned, clearly amused. “Thanks? I think?”

From then on, Viktor tolerated Ekko’s presence, though he would often sigh dramatically whenever you brought him up in conversation.

𓆤 The news of Viktor’s declining health hit you like a blow. For all his brilliance, your mentor was mortal, and the idea of losing him felt unbearable. You confided in Ekko, who held you as you cried, his quiet strength grounding you.

“He’s proud of you, you know,” Ekko said softly, stroking your back. “He might not say it, but he is.”

Those words stayed with you, offering comfort during the hardest days.

𓆤 As Viktor’s condition worsened, he grew more reflective. One day, he called you into his office. You found him gazing out the window, his frail frame silhouetted against the light.

“You’ve been a good apprentice,” he said without turning around. “Better than I deserved.”

“Don’t say that,” you whispered, your throat tight.

He turned to face you, his expression soft despite the lines of pain etched into his face.

“I’m sorry I won’t be there for your wedding day.”

Your eyes widened.

“What—?”

“I’m not blind,” he said with a faint smile. “Or deaf. That boy... he makes you happy.”

Tears welled in your eyes.

“He does.”

“Then go to him,” Viktor said gently. “And live. Live, my dear. Work, yes, but also live. With him.”

₊˚ ✧ ‿︵‿୨୧‿︵‿ ✧ ₊˚

[stick2vamp]

sebastian with a touchy reader who can't seem to take their hands off him ? :3

𝜗 ˖ ❝ poke, poke! ᵕ ♡

— in which you get too handsy for your own good. ✧

���　 sfw 𓈒 no warnings 𓈒 well bitch sebastian warning 𓈒 tried to make this as in character as possible but honestly may be more ooc 𓈒

UNESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIP ☆★ — under the assumption you aren't dating yet.

SEBASTIAN doesn't honestly care that much when you touch him, he just likes to pretend like he does to see your reaction. Whether you freeze up and stop your actions, or continue to do them out of defiance: either amuses him. He does have his limits, though.

You're fine to touch his tail. Many Expendables do it on accident when buying things anyway, so he has gotten used to it. He won't bat an eye when you lightly touch his tail. Sebastian will, though, tease you and push you. It's not a fair trade that you get to just play with his tail like that. Don't you think he deserves some compensation? Of course, he isn't being too serious, but if you end up coughing up some research... well, he'll gladly take it off your hands.

But Sebastian will only let you do that. It's better than nothing, isn't it? Oh, how generous he is. You're not allowed to touch his hands, fins, or 'lure'. Yeah, no, you aren't getting your grubby little hands on him like that. Well, maybe if you paid for it. How does 1,000 research per second of touch sound?

Sebastian does not enjoy physical touch, nor does he see a need for it. Perhaps, in the past, he would've yearned for it. But now, he is quite literally different.

But let's say you're a loyal customer, a frequent visitor whom Sebastian has come to actually pay attention to. Sebastian, being the oh-so-sweet shopkeeper he is, might let you hang around and touch him a bit more. If you promise to keep buying from him, that is.

ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIP ☆★ — under the assumption you are dating.

SEBASTIAN still has no need for physical touch, but he understands that you do. And being the best boyfriend there is, he'll of course give it to you.

Except, you still need to return the favor. Expect a lot of physical attention from Sebastian, you reciprocating, then Sebastian flipping it onto you as if you were the one initiating it just to get you to do something for him. What do you need to do for me? Why, you just need to cut him some slack. See, not so hard, is it? How kind of him to give you such an easy task.

That aside, as his lover, you get to touch more of him. His tail is not the only thing up for grabs anymore. Feel free to touch him wherever. While he can't guarantee a position reaction, he won't stop you from petting wherever you want.

His fins? In your hands. His light? In your hands? His cheeks? In your hands? Go ahead and squeeze to your heart's content. The two of you have all the time in the world down here, after all.

Rarely, Sebastian will initiate affection with you without any ulterior motives. When you question his antics, he just laughs into your shoulder. Really, do you expect him to be mean all the time? These moments become more and more frequent as time goes on. Free of charge, too. You're the only one he'll give a 100% off discount to. The things he does for you.

[revelboo]

The speed in which you crank out fics is concerning. Like, I appreciate it WHOLLY, but are you good? R u ok?

Rest is overrated, I run on stress and coffee. Yes, I’m good. I can write short form like this pretty quickly if I’m not at work or busy.

Humans Are Weird/Cute Headcanons

Humans elicit one of two reactions in Cybertronians. It’s not like they haven’t seen organic life before, but the fact that we look vaguely like most Cybertronians in form? Our faces, our body shapes, two legs and two arms just like them? It either creates an unconscious association that we look like tiny, organic Cybertronians or that the similarities are just unsettling. Compounding it is the way we move, the gestures we use that are so eerily like their own. To make it worse, we’re just so helpless compared to them. Fragile. There’s a tendency to react to us like we would a newborn kitten. And for that protectiveness to eventually slide into possessiveness.

TFP Knockout

• Primus. The first time he saw you in full racing leathers, boots, gloves, and that helmet, he just stopped short in surprise. Thinks of the rare times he’d seen minicons and how you look like one instead of just another squishy, little human. And while he’d initially just been invested in figuring out how an inferior, little human beat him in a race, it doesn’t take long for him to start looking forward to those almost nightly meetings. It becomes less about winning and more about the bull session between you two after. Enjoying when you stand up to him, argue with him, even though you must realize he could hurt you so easily if he wanted to.

IDW Bumblebee

• It’s honestly such a pleasant surprise how tactile humans are. You seem to have no sense of personal space and he loves it, because it’s less lonely when you’re near. You don’t mind being picked up and carried, your little frame so warm in his hands or cradled against him. Always so curious, your little hands exploring his servos, while you smile to yourself. Then holding out your own hands so he can carefully manipulate them with a single servo. It’s like a game between you, showing off your little, blunt teeth so he will bare his denta for you as you sit on his thigh.

IDW Bluestreak

• Knows he can be a bit annoying to some bots, but you never seem bothered by his chatter. Actually asking him questions, interacting and it means so much to him when you stretch out against him, laying a cheek on him to listen to the sound of his voice rumbling through you. Liking it when he talks, wanting to be near him. The big surprise, though? How protective you are of him, not even thinking twice about throwing a shoe at Sunny for making a rude comment aimed at him, your little face red as you snarl at the much bigger bot, who’s too shocked at the outburst to respond.

IDW Starscream

• Having so little to call his own, he’s extremely possessive of you. It doesn’t hurt that you’re always happy to see him, greeting him when he returns from patrol, fussing over his injuries like you’re trying to take care of him. No conniving or plotting in you and no ulterior motives for seeking out his company. Aside from leeching body heat, and he hardly minds that, enjoys the feel of you sprawled against him, the peaceful silence.

TFP Soundwave

• Even though he initially took you because of the effect your strange organic thoughts have on him to try and understand why he can’t shut you out, it’s impossible to stay impartial. Every day he tries to inoculate himself against your thoughts, strengthening that connection through touch. And when you start reaching for him in return it’s a surprise. Eventually you sing for him not because he asked you to in an effort to distract you and focus your thoughts on something so they’re less painful to him, but because you want to. Because you think it makes him happy and it does.

ES Megatron

• He’d never paid much attention to humans until he’d met Dorothy, he’d fought alongside her and suddenly humanity wasn’t just something vaguely annoying getting in his way, under ped. It’s harder to not care after getting to know humans. Harder to not be overprotective about you after making it his mission to look after you. And maybe he’s a bit overzealous about it, because you’re not Dorothy. She can stand on her own and take care of herself, but you? You need him.

IDW Optimus

• He’s so used to being bigger than most Autobots. Of being looked up to, but you’re even tinier than they are. Small enough to carry in one hand even though he’s awkward about asking you to let him carry you at first. But after the spark twisting anxiety of watching you walking where bigger Cybertronians are walking? Seeing it not even occur to you that you might get stepped on? He insists on carrying you for your own safety, though, truth be told, he enjoys the feel of you in his servos, that little bemused smile you aim at him.

IDW Thundercracker

• He feels guilty sometimes about taking you, but it’s for the best even if you’re upset now. He’s seen enough movies to know how to coax you, win you over. He became obsessed with human love stories, the drama and romance. And he wants that for himself. Needs it. So he tries different tactics, little gifts and acts meant to convince you to love him. It’s so easy in the movies.

TFP Megatron

• The game you two play has become something of a guilty pleasure of his. Watching you pretend. Pushing you to see how far you’ll allow before you snap at him. Pretending you aren’t scared of him, though he’s seen the fear in your eyes once or twice and while it had amused him at first, he prefers you snarling back at him, all attitude. Your fear twists unpleasantly through him, but that angry defiance? So lovely.

IDW Soundwave

• He never meant to get so attached to you after he’d found you in Starscream’s quarters that day. You’re just so small and you’d looked at him in fear, your wild emotions almost crippling him since he couldn’t shut it out. Even after you calmed, days later, he finds himself reaching out a thought. Finding you and monitoring you from a distance. Again and again until he’d finally had to check on you in person again. After all, what did Starscream really know about caring for anyone, let alone a human. And that hesitant, little smile had warmed him when you’d looked up at him.

IDW Jazz

• The fact that you can see through his lies and will call him out on it? It’s a surprise and a relief. Letting down his defenses, letting you in takes time. He’s worn that smiling, carefree mask for so long. But he slowly lets it fall away when it’s just the two of you, feeling the absence of that weight he’d carried for so long. Getting to know who he is under the facade.

IDW Prowl

• Has to protect you since you don’t seem to understand just how small and delicate you are. Standing up to him and any other bot with zero fear. Something about that reckless anger calls to him. Around the other Autobots, he has to be the one in control, the one with a plan no matter what. Never allowed to falter or hesitate. You spark his own temper, making it easier to drop the act. Be frustrated or angry when it’s just you two. Be real.

Next

[hoonieyun]

why... ✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡ ˚

breaking up with your boyfriend means losing a lover but what happens when your boyfriend was also your best friend, meaning you lost both and now have to face him for a popular youtube show

park sunghoon x reader

genre: angst, heartbreak, exes reunited, exes to ..?

warnings: profanity, sad shit, miscommunication, 18+, not proofread LOL

masterlist - word count: 4671

when your ex-boyfriend reached out to you to be a part of a youtube video your initial reaction was “what is he talking about?” but as you read more about what the video is about and after watching some clips, you ended up agreeing. you weren’t necessarily excited to do it but you didn’t have anything better to do for that weekend anyway. 

sunghoon on the other hand, was very excited. he always called you his “soulmate” or “the one that got away” so in a lot of ways, to him this was the perfect opportunity to check if the spark was still there. 

the two of you used to be best friends before lovers. you had met during freshman orientation for university and for some reason, sunghoon stuck on to you like his life depended on it; he followed you around like a lost puppy and although he didn’t know you and you didn’t know him, he felt comfortable around you enough to let you guide him around your enormous university as if it also wasn’t your first day too. you both were inseparable ever since. sunghoon hadn’t given you a straight answer aside from. “i don’t know, you looked nice.” whenever you would ask him why he clung onto you that day and quite frankly, you were grateful that he did. you would go on to become best friends for another year and a half before the two of you would realize your feelings for each other. 

sunghoon would take you out on a date one winter night where the two of you would go ice skating or more so, sunghoon would ice skate and you would try your best to stay balanced on your two feet. 

but he was right by your side throughout the whole night and by the end of it, he was your boyfriend and you were his girlfriend. he was by your side every day until graduation when your relationship met its untimely end. you had always had a love for helping others so studying medicine was something you dove into right from the beginning. your father had fallen ill at some point when you were young and after losing him, you promised yourself you would be a part of the life changing phenomenom surrounding the cure for several diseases. 

when you had gotten the call that you had gotten accepted to further your studies after graduation to do research and to acquire your M.D that would later lead to your residency, you jumped at the chance and said yes without thinking twice. 

you hadn’t even considered the idea that this opportunity was in a whole different country, meaning you’d have to leave everything and everyone you knew behind. your family and friends, and your boyfriend who was also your best friend, sunghoon. reminiscing on your relationship was something you hadn’t done in a long time considering you were so busy with work and research that you barely even had time for your own life. 

but you found yourself thinking about those memories from so long ago as you pulled into the parking lot of the studio the youtube video was recording in. you hadn’t seen sunghoon in for a whole year since your breakup and you could only think about what his reasoning was for this meeting and for it to be something that would be broadcasted and watched by thousands of people on the internet. you had to push past your nerves and tell yourself that everything would be fine, that you’re just meeting with your old best friend who just happens to also be your ex. 

you had the opportunity to come home because after a long and busy year, your team had made enough progress that allowed you some downtime; so you decided to fly back home to see your family and sunghoon just happened to know you’d be in town so you could do the recording and more importantly, see him. a nice lady greeted you as you entered the building and gave you the rundown of how filming would go, she explained that you’d ask your ex questions and vice versa and to try to keep it as cordial as possible if there was a possibility it would escalate. 

she guided you to your own dressing room where she’d call you once the current ex-couple was done filming. you thanked for her kindness and she tells you to help yourself to the several snacks and refreshments set on the coffee table in the middle of the room. you didn’t know what to expect and the longer you waited for filming to start, the more your mind ran wild with questions. 

does sunghoon hate you?

did he invite you here to humiliate you on camera?

do you still love sunghoon?

does he still love you?

so many things were running through your mind but you weren’t going to let it cause you to spiral. as you waited for your turn to film, you decided that doing some breathing exercises would help soothe your worries; so you slide off your shoes and sit with your legs crossed in the middle of the room before closing your eyes and focusing on steadying your breathing. 

your breathing was no longer sporradic and a sense of calm wafted throughout the room as you took the time to zone out all of the noise even if it was just the sound of the air conditioning and the occasionally muffled voices of those outside the room. “yn, we’re ready for you.” the lady who you met earlier says as she pokes her head into your room. you slowly open your eyes and think about her words. “we’re ready for you.” 

ready. you smiled at her and gave her a small nod before standing up and putting your shoes back on. they were ready but you weren’t entirely sure that you were; and there was much time to turn back now as you exit the dressing room and are instructed to wait behind a curtain as someone who worked for the production team introduced the concept of the video for your episode. 

here goes nothing… 

the room pauses for a moment and one of the production assistants gestures for you to walk onto the set, pointing at the small marking on the ground for where you need to stand and introduce yourself before taking a seat on the chair on your left. 

you thanked him before walking over to where you needed to stand and smiling at the camera, trying your best to not sound or look nervous as your eyes scanned all of the cameras and crew in front of you. 

“hi, i’m yn and today i’ll be doing an interview with my ex.” you said softly before taking your seat. 

soon after, you see a figure emerge from the other side of the room and at first his face is covered in the harsh shadows caused by the studio lights but as he gets closer you see the familiar face of your best friend and ex-boyfriend, sunghoon. 

he’s just as handsome as ever wearing a simple striped shirt in thick black rimmed glasses. you could’ve sworn your heart skipped a beat when the light hit his face because seeing him after a whole year, he’s only gotten more handsome. his arms were more toned, face sharper but still had that soft and warm smile you loved so much, and he had this confident air around him. not the type that came off as arrogant or egotistical, but more so like he was comfortable and happy. he was radiating a type of energy that you hadn’t seen before and you weren’t sure if it was because he was doing so much more after your breakup or if the idea of seeing you and being around you again made him this way. 

“hello, i’m sunghoon and today i’ll be doing an interview with my ex.” he says with that smile, god that damn smile. his smile put you in such a trance that you got lost in the way his dimple would appear, how bright his smile seemed, and how crinkled his eyes would get. his smile that you’ve missed so much. sunghoon takes a seat across from you but not before initiating a hug, to which you were pleasantly surprised by. you quickly stood up to hug him and once again the warm feeling you got whenever he was around returned. he softly rubbed your back just like he did when you were together and it brings you back to when the two of you were bright eyed 18 year olds navigating university for the first time. 

“you look good” he says and it causes heat to rush to your cheeks as you take in his compliment. you return one of the same and he smiles with a nod as the two of you take your respective seats. the tension isn’t awkward in the slightest, or at least you don’t think it is, as you wait for the next instructions from the producer. 

“alright, go ahead and briefly catch up and we’ll throw in the first question after a moment.” he explains and you both nod at him. 

“how are you?” you asked and he gives you a short answer of how he’s been doing okay, could be better, excited to do the video; nothing substantial but also not nothing? 

you go on to say that you’ve been pretty busy with life and were surprised that he reached out to do the video, telling him you were reluctant first but eventually agreed because you just happened to fly back home for a little while and had the time to do so. 

“okay, first question: how long did you guys date?” the producer asks and you look over at one another before answering simultaneously; “four years” and your voices blending in unison causes the two of you to laugh. it was just like old times when your friends would say that the two of you were hanging around each other too often that you guys have begun to either finish each other’s sentences or say the same things at the same time. 

what was your first date?

sunghoon was going to answer but he notices that you’re about to speak so he gestures for you to keep going, “we went to an ice rink during christmas break and i was shit at ice skating but he was the best teacher ever and was there by me the whole time making sure i was okay and when i shed a few tears because i was so bad he was so quick to console me and help me off the ice so we could get something warm to drink and grab dinner.” you answered. 

sunghoon smiled at you endearingly the whole time, you hadn’t noticed at first because you were talking to the camera to the side and once you had glanced over at him, he suddenly sits up straight and quickly wipes the grin off of his face. you blush at his actions, finding it cute that he still had the habit of trying to hide whenever he was admiring you even when the two of you were dating. like he was too shy to get caught staring and admiring your beauty. 

“yup, she was bad at ice skating and still is i presume because i’d ask her to go ice skating every year on our anniversary and she’d just look at me with puppy eyes like she was begging not to go even if i was just teasing her.” he chuckled and dropped your head in hands in embarrassment because it was true. 

“hey.. it’s scary! i don’t know how anyone can do it, being unbalanced is so scary it feels like i'm constantly fighting the fall that is eventually going to happen.” you retort with a pout and there it is again, the smile that creeps onto sunghoon’s lips whenever he’s watching you as if you were the only person in the room… and right now; you were. 

who said i love you first?

when the question leaves the producers lips, you and sunghoon mimic each other without any verbal response but a gesture. both of your fingers point towards him and the identical motion causes the two of you to laugh once again. it was like you were both falling into your usual behavior, like no time has passed and you were still the two young freshmen who found comfort and love within the other. 

“i said it before i could even ask her on our first day. i think i realized that i loved her when she’d wake up extra early to wake me up for classes even if she barely slept. i’m a really heavy sleeper so i usually sleep through my alarms, especially for morning classes, but she’d always come knocking on my apartment door to wake me up before my alarm could because she knew i’d just sleep through it. 

i mean- i loved her before that but i think it was at that moment i realized that she was someone i loved in a way i’ve never loved someone else before.”

sunghoon’s story almost brings tears to your eyes because you hadn’t known it was that moment that he started to develop feelings for you. you started doing that halfway through freshman year but he didn’t ask you out until the winter of your second year in university. 

“yeah, he said i love you to me that morning because i even brought him breakfast and coffee and at first i thought it was just him showing his gratitude but now i guess it was his first time saying i love you- which i didn’t know by the way because you didn’t ask me out until like a whole year later.” you teased and now it was sunghoon’s turn to hide his face in his hands shyly. 

“in my defense, i was afraid it would ruin our friendship but i’m glad you still said yes to me when i asked you out, it was the scariest day of my life.” he said and you furrowed your eyebrow at his confession. 

“really? scarier than when we were waiting for our biology lab reports back from professor kim?” you asked and he nods, “way scarier than that, i couldn’t imagine ever losing you so i was so scared that if i asked you, you’d reject me and that was that…” he says, trailing off at the end as he realizes how sad it sounded. your eyes softened at his words and you always knew sunghoon to be softer and gentle, but knowing that he had this inner conflict with asking you out or not because he was afraid of losing you really hurt; because in the end you lost each other. 

you cleared your throat at the awkward silence and sunghoon looks away like he’s confessed something he shouldn’t have told you. it’s not that you didn’t know he felt this way because you’ve always kind of knew that losing one another was a fear the two of you had but you never knew how much it affected him. 

what do you think was the cause of your breakup?

“i can answer that..” you begin to say as you look directly at the camera, trying your best to ignore sunghoon’s piercing gaze on your face. 

sunghoon would call you the one to get away because he always felt like he let you get away. when you first broke up he would constantly hit you up, trying to fix your relationship but you were pretty set in stone on your decision. looking back at it now, breakups aren’t generally mutual but you didn’t really give sunghoon the time to process. ultimately just telling him that your relationship couldn’t go on any further. 

“i got accepted to do research and continue my studies for my M.D. and work towards my residency and unfortunately it was in a whole other country. i accepted it without even thinking about how it would affect my relationships and i know it may have seemed selfish but it was opportunity i couldn’t pass up because i didn’t think it would come around a second time.” you looked at sunghoon as you spoke and his eyes were glued to the ground. 

“this was during graduation, i literally got the call a day after graduation and it took me several days to tell sunghoon but the longer i waited it just ate me from the inside out. 

i didn’t know how to tell him and it just came out one day and yeah… 

we went through several scenarios of how we could make it work but to me everything felt so uncertain except for the decision that we landed on. i know it wasn’t ideal but i would be gone for a long time and i wasn’t sure how long distance would work so i suggested for us to break up.” you said with a sniffle, noticing that you haven’t had the chance to fully unpack that moment with sunghoon until now. 

“i just wish we tried harder… i didn’t want to let you go; i still don’t.” sunghoon adds and you look up at him with tears brimming in your eyes. “i’ve always called you the one that got away because i did let you away. i should’ve fought harder so that you’d consider trying other options aside from ending what we had but i respected your decision even if i didn’t want that for us.” the room is silent after sunghoon’s statement and you try to look around, eyes landing on anything in the room just so you didn’t have to look at sunghoon who you knew was staring directly at you. 

what is something you wished you could say to your ex that you didn’t have the chance to?

you finally look at sunghoon and he mimics your expression. one of hope that shadows the anguish and despair that he hides deep below inside of himself. 

“do you want to go first?” you ask and he nods, sitting up and sniffling a bit before speaking. 

“um, there’s a lot i wish i could tell you to be honest. i wanna tell you about all of the stuff i’ve done in the last year, all of my accomplishments, milestones, and successes that i wish you were there for but i think i finally want to tell you the one thing you’ve always asked me. 

when we first met, it was during freshman orientation and although we didn’t know each other, i clung onto you and stuck by your side the whole day and you let me. which was very kind because normally someone would get weirded out by that but you didn’t. 

you often ask me why i did that and i’d always tell you it was because you seemed nice and friendly, which is true, but the real answer was because you were the only person in that gigantic building hall that helped me. it was so crowded in that hall and some guys had shoved me causing me to drop the several pamphlets and packets the people were handing out and the several people who either looked at me and continued walking by or simply walked over me as i picked up my things, you were the only one to help me. 

so, yeah; i guess it was because you were kind to me but it was for the most part because you made me feel cared for; even with that small gesture. it was the precedent of how i’d see you for the rest of my life. the kind, caring, and generous girl i fell in love with. 

i mean, you’ve told people that we broke up because you wanted to pursue your studies abroad but i love to tell people that we broke up because you chose to focus on the kindness in your heart to help those who are sick. 

she’s studying to become a doctor and dedicating countless hours to research so they can come up with a cure for various illnesses that have taken the lives of many. that’s why i never got angry or upset when she wanted to breakup; because i know it was bigger than that. she didn’t want to breakup because she hated me or was tired of me… we broke up because she had to choose the kindness in her heart to help thousands of people instead of harvesting the love we had for one another. 

which i can never be mad at.” 

the tears in your eyes have started to fall across your cheek and when sunghoon finally catches your gaze, he’s instantly standing up to reach over and wipe your tears away. gently cupping your face and wiping the tears with his thumb much like he did when you two broke up and as he sent you off at the airport. 

it was a bit ironic that sunghoon was comforting you in this time because in a lot of ways, he should be the one hurting. he was the one who had to receive the shit end of the stick in your relationship but every time, he chose compassion and his love for you instead of the anger or negative emotion that someone else would’ve felt towards you. 

you melt into his hand and you’re wrapping your arms around him before you could even think and thankfully; the familiar feeling of sunghoon’s strong arms wrap around you. the most comforting and warm place you’ve ever been, one that you’ve missed for a whole year. 

the two of you stay in that position for a while and once you’ve stopped crying, he lets you go so you could go back to your seats and continue the interview. 

this episode of the youtube series would definitely be a tearjerker just from that single moment. 

“i think something i’ve always wanted to tell hoon is that i’m sorry.” you begin and sunghoon is shaking his head to tell you that you have nothing to be sorry for, but you did. 

“no, i am very sorry. you said it best i chose to pursue my studies so i can help people but you’re the most important person in my life and i know it hurt you to see me not fight harder for our relationship when you tried so hard to come up with solutions and i just seemed to deny them all. 

i’m sorry that i made it seem like i chose my career and my studies over you and it hurts even more to know that you’ve supported me throughout all of it and it turned out to be the cause of our breakup. i’m the cause of our breakup- you’re not..- but i am..” sunghoon interrupts to reassure you but you persist, wanting to get your point across. 

“i’m okay with holding that burden because i made that decision to accept the research abroad and i made the decision to breakup with you even if you didn’t want to and i made the decision to stop talking to you once i was gone because it would only make things harder. 

so… i’m sorry that i made you feel like you were just a second option that didn’t surmount the other and i’m sorry for giving you the love you poured into me.” 

tears are pouring down your face again and although your vision is slightly blurred from the tears, you could tell that sunghoon was also crying. the producers let the two of you console each other for a few moments before having to continue the interview. they hand you both several napkins to wipe away your tears and the staff watch as you two wipe the tears away off of each other’s face; much like a couple would do. as if the two of you hadn’t even broken up in the first place with how connected and bonded the two of you were. 

do you regret breaking up?

and as soon as the question leaves the producer’s lips, you’re both nodding instantly. which was a pleasant surprise to you both as sunghoon had expected you to say no because you were so determined to break up and how you wanted to focus on your studies. to you it was a surprise because you never expected sunghoon to want to get back together with how dismissive you were of his feelings when it came to what you were prioritizing in your life. 

if you could, would you get back together?

the producers point first at sunghoon to which he nods with a small yes and when the producer points to you, you do the same. 

“thank you both for being here today-” the producer is interrupted with a pause as he bids farewell and thanks the both of you for attending and participating in the video. 

“can you believe that was two years ago…” you ask as you look up at sunghoon who’s eyes are still glued onto the computer screen. you had paused the video the two of you did two years ago for a youtube show that interviewed exes and you were so grateful that you said yes to sunghoon when he asked you to be on the show because it brought the two of you back together. 

“i know.. time flies when you’re with the one you love, huh?” he says teasingly and you rolls your eyes at him, slapping his chest playfully. 

“thank you for taking me back..” he says and you furrow your brows at him. 

“i should be the one saying that, i can’t believe i almost said no to the show… can you imagine? then we wouldn’t have gotten back together.” you said and sunghoon brushes it off. “please, i’d find a way to get back to you in any lifetime. you’re the one that got away but that doesn’t mean that i can’t ever get you back… and i did.” he says, pressing a gentle kiss onto your forehead. 

sunghoon presses play to continue the video of the two of you. the interview that changed the both of your lives and brought the love of his life back to him. 

after the interview was over, it was fairly late so he asked if you wanted to grab dinner and the rest was history. in the short 4 hours that you two were together for the video and the dinner; your love for each other was reignited. like it was simply dormant inside of you and you realized that sunghoon was your soulmate. he waited patiently, supported you from afar, and admired you throughout all of it and still loved you. 

your love was merely dormant but sunghoon’s was always alive. like his love for you was a lit candle and he used the fire he had to relight the wick of your candle, burning your love brightly; sharing the same flame that would burn forever for each other. 

you had gotten back together after the interview and have now been dating for another two years on top of the previous four from university. the one year break that was referred to as a “temporary pause” as sunghoon likes to call it was simply just so you two could find each other again. 

because if you love someone you have to let them go but if they come back; then it’s fate. 

and that’s what the two of you were. it was fate that you two met during freshman orientation, it was fate that you two got together despite the fears of losing each other in the process, and it was fate that you still returned to sunghoon even after a whole year of being away. 

but this time, neither of you would be losing the other. 

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[malfoyscoffee]

call me theo ౨ৎ theodore nott

pairing theodore nott x fem!slytherin!reader about fluff, angst | 1.7k words | exes to lovers warnings mentions of time skip, use of y/n, and a dumb theo

“Friends?”

“Friends.”

That marked the end of your two-year relationship with Theodore. As he said his final word, you turned away, walking down the winding steps of the Astronomy Tower, holding back the emotions until you returned to your dormitory.

The night blurred into a haze of tears, finding comfort in Pansy’s shoulder as both of you nestled on the dorm floor. Hours passed in a cocoon of sadness before Blaise, Mattheo, Lorenzo, and even Draco appeared with snacks and muggle movies, trying to lift your spirits.

Wrapped up in your distress, you didn't think to ask how they found out about your breakup. Unbeknownst to you, amidst his own pain, Theodore asked his friends to comfort you instead of him.

Three weeks had gone by since the breakup. As promised, you and Theodore went back to being friends, just like before, merely two friends within the same tight-knit circle. But beneath the surface of friendliness, your friends noticed the underlying tension between you and Theodore, silently wishing for a reunion.

It was a random morning in the Great Hall when you announced to your friends that you would be occupied before dinner to take on the extra credit assignment for Herbology. Your friends looked at you strangely, the assignment was unnecessary for someone with such high marks, but inside you wanted a distraction from everything. 

Back in the common room, the attention shifted to Theodore, the elephant in the room finally about to be addressed. 

“So, what led to the breakup?” Blaise relaxed in his chair while Theodore sighed, looking at the ceiling. 

“She didn’t say why, but she mentioned that you initiated the breakup,” Draco said casually, trying to hide his interest in the situation.

“I told her she deserved better.”

Silence.

Suddenly, Lorenzo burst into laughter.

“Salazar, Enzo,” Pansy stood, disregarding Lorenzo's reaction. “So, let me get this straight,” she pointed her finger at Theodore, “You're saying the reason the group has been down is because you decided she deserved someone better?”

Mattheo set aside his cigarette, “Didn’t expect you to be so naive, mate.”

Blaise nodded, “Thinking that's an explanation. Y/n adores you, where will you find a girl better than her?”

Theodore’s face paled, “She’ll find someone better and eventually leave me. I couldn’t handle that.”

Draco stayed composed, “So you ended it first. Well done, Theo.”

Theodore buried his face in his hands, letting out an exasperated groan. “You all know she has a promising future after graduation. Why should she stay with me and be held back?”

“Did you talk to her about this, or did your insecurities make the call?” Lorenzo’s words made Theodore freeze, lost in thought.

Pansy packed up, checking the time. “Dinner’s soon. Let’s go.”

The boys followed Pansy, leaving Theodore alone, contemplating if his decision was right for your relationship.

"I got the job!"

Strolling around Hogsmeade with Blaise and Pansy, you stumbled upon a new place—a wizarding coffee shop. Your liking for muggle coffeehouses sparked your curiosity, pushing you to ask about potential employment.

Excitement bubbled as you shared the news with your friends in the Great Hall.

“We’ve got a place to visit now.” Lorenzo grinned, aware it might bring some joy after a while.

Pansy nudged Draco, "Let’s study there. OWLS are coming up and some muggle coffee might help."

Draco glanced at Theodore, who sat in silence, unsure of what to say. “That sounds like a plan. I could use some muggle coffee.”

They all knew Draco was convincing Theodore to join.

"When do you start?" Mattheo asked between sips of hot chocolate.

You remembered your upcoming schedule, “Next week, Wednesdays and Saturdays? Once I’m trained, next Saturday, I’ll treat you all to some amazing muggle coffee."

The group agreed, planning to meet at your workplace next Saturday.

“Five cups of regular iced coffee, please.” You operated the muggle machine, engrossed in fulfilling the order.

“Oh, hey, Theodore. Are the others here?” You looked around, causing Theodore’s shoulders to slump slightly.

“They're at the big corner table. Enzo insisted the natural sunlight would help with studying…”

A soft chuckle escaped, “You can go back, I’ll bring the drinks over when ready.” Theodore nodded, returning to the café’s corner.

Blaise grabbed the first cup but stopped when Pansy teased him. “Don’t hog! Share!”

“How does it taste?” you asked, turning to your friends.

“Y/n, muggle coffee is amazing.” Mattheo praised, soon followed by Blaise signaling he finished his drink.

“I should tell my father about this place,” Draco chimed in, and before you knew it, all the cups were empty.

“I should get back to work, see you at dinner.”

“What time do you finish?” Theodore's sudden interest surprised everyone.

“Y/n?”

"I'm done around six," You said while feeling a bit overwhelmed inside.

Theodore nodded, indicating your return to work.

Numerous customers kept you busy. Though you didn’t need money, the experience was enriching.

While your friends left at five, Theodore stayed. He moved to a quiet spot facing the counter where you worked.

Ignoring his shift, you focused on the new customers who walked in.

“Y/n, it's six, you can leave,” your boss said, offering a pastry.

“Thanks,” grabbing your coat, you started to leave the kitchen.

“Are you done?” Theodore was poised by the counter, waiting for your response.

“Theodore, did you wait?”

Signaling to walk together, he said, “I had a few assignments that I wanted to finish early so I stayed longer.” His nervous fidgeting gave away his lie, his habit you remembered from your past relationship. 

You hummed, touched by his waiting. 

“I might visit often. I didn't mention earlier, but the coffee’s great.”

Walking back to Hogwarts, feelings for Theodore surfaced since the breakup.

How could you move on when he acted this way?

For two months, Theodore kept his promise, visiting the café every Wednesday and Saturday, bringing schoolwork, and leaving with you.

You felt the emotions returning but you were scared to get hurt. After all, he initiated the breakup, right?

Your friends noticed Theodore’s absence on your workdays, understanding where Theodore was without verbal explanation. 

“One large iced coffee, please.” You prepared a cup, “And your name?”

“Theo.”

“Oh,” You looked up at Theodore. “One large iced coffee for Theodore.” You repeated his order and placed the cup down. 

“Why don’t you call me Theo anymore?” His disappointment was evident.

Meeting his gaze, you explained, “Because we’re just friends.”

Theodore observed the cup, then you.

“You know what, I think I forgot something at my dorm. I’m going to go.” His tone was sharper than he meant, leaving the café abruptly.

“Now you're the clueless one. Salazar, why do I have two of them?” Lorenzo dramatized, earning an eye roll from you.

Theodore disappeared after the café meeting. Unaware of his whereabouts, your friends gathered in the common room, waiting for his return.

“I mean, Y/n, Enzo's right,” Pansy said, sipping the muggle coffee you brewed for the group.

“He ended things months ago. I don’t see why you're all on his side.” Frowning, you didn’t grasp their empathy toward Theodore.

“Y/n, listen,” Blaise interrupted, “Regardless of who initiated the breakup, Theodore has come to your café twice a week for months, just to spend time with you.”

Draco echoed Blaise’s sentiments. “OWLS were done a month ago, yet he still visits. Give Theo credit for trying.”

You sighed, “I care for him, but I don’t want to be hurt again. He should just tell me. His actions are misleading if he doesn’t want to reconcile.”

Lost in thought, the warmth of the common room enveloped you, the crackling fire providing a soothing ambiance.

As evening approached, your thoughts circled Theodore’s sudden exit from the café, leaving you unsettled, your mind in disarray.

Unnoticed, the common room door creaked open. Theodore entered, visibly anxious. His eyes met yours, a blend of hesitation and resolve painting his expression.

The room fell silent as Theodore approached you, a mix of emotions playing across his face. Without a word, you got up and led him out of the common room.

The two of you reached the Blake Lake, facing each other, as the tension filled the air. Theodore struggled with his thoughts, torn between holding back and speaking up.

“I’m sorry for earlier,” he started, a hint of regret in his tone. “I didn’t mean to leave abruptly. I've been struggling, Y/n.”

“Struggling? With what, Theodore?”

Gathering his thoughts, he spoke earnestly. “With everything between us. The breakup wasn't about not caring about you. I was scared.”

“Scared?” Your voice softened, understanding blooming within.

Theodore nodded, his eyes never leaving yours. “I was scared that you would realize I was holding you back and leave me. So I thought if I let you go, you would be better off.”

Your heart ached, his honesty striking a chord with your own doubts. “But, Theodore, you never gave me a chance to choose. You made that decision for me.”

“I know, and I regret it every day.” Remorse filled his words, and his vulnerability was evident. “I visited the café because I wanted to be near you. But I understand if it’s been confusing for you.”

Silence hung, emotions swirling like a storm.

“I never stopped loving you,” you whispered, emotions stirring within.

He met your gaze, “I don't want to lose you again, Y/n. I want us to start over, I'll do everything to make things right.”

“Let's take it slow, Theodore. Start over and let's see where it takes us.”

A soft smile appeared on his face, relief in his eyes. “I promise, I'll do everything.”

"I've missed this," Theodore confessed softly, his eyes reflecting a mixture of emotions.

You gently squeezed his hand, a smile tugging at the corners of your lips. "Me too. I think we both needed this time to figure things out."

Theodore stopped walking, turning to face you with resolve. "I want us to try again, to be together, properly this time.”

Your heart skipped a beat, warmth spreading through you at his words. You looked into his eyes, seeing a depth of sincerity that reassured you more than any words could. "I want that too, Theodore. Let's give us another chance."

With that shared agreement, a sense of relief and joy washed over both of you. Walking hand in hand, Theodore smiled for the first time in months.

“Now, will you call me Theo?”

[iamespecter]

I've been thinking a lot about episode 4 recently, but not exactly in a way that what most would think. I'm actually specifically referring to this scene of Zooble and Jax.

But I'm not thinking about Jax and Zooble, rather I'm looking at the patties.

They're fucking High Definition. In fact, everything in the diner is high definition, save for the NPCs. There's also Orbsman. A simple NPC comprised of blue spheres, and simple elongated eyes. He's the most out of place NPC, if we disregard the mannequins. Even the way he moves is so outdated, and Ragatha had made a point that Orbsman comes from an adventure way before Pomni's arrival.

The guy even clips through the table when trying to order.

Something that always had some sirens going off in my head is how the Circus is this low-poly scenery with heavily stylized props, but the adventure locations are always much more detailed and realistic.

Since The Grounds is definitely, if not, one of the oldest locations, it makes sense for it to be graphically styled like this. But Caine's adventure set pieces are becoming more and more realistic, and also a whole lot more morbid than we had initially thought.

Going back to the patties, the food there is more realistic and has a higher polygon count compared to Bubble's "feast".

Where am I going with this? .... I have no idea, I forgot. /j

Jokes aside, I really do think that as more humans enter the circus and talk about what life is in the real world, Caine extracts that data and improves the 3D environmental props, resulting in higher definition textures.

All of this combined means he can learn. He IS an ever-evolving pseudo-sentient AI. And the reason why he's stagnating is because of a combination of being trapped in his own little bubble (haha see what I did there) of comfort, and the fact that no one's really able to give him criticism on how to improve, which is.... honestly understandable, given how he reacted to the whole "it was bad" line from Pomni and "Why did you think I would like that?!" from Zooble.

Not to mention episode 3 where the whole circus started to glitch when he was just thinking about the fact that he could possibly be bad at the "only thing he's good at" during the therapy session.

In fact it's interesting how human Caine acts sometimes... I think it's quite interesting to think about the fact that Caine is both progressing in terms of bringing the casts' world to the digital circus and making it so HD that it looks even better than Triple A games, but regressing even more in terms of catering to them and what exactly humans need.

He understands, and doesn't at the same time.

This also makes me think about the players themselves, too.

Ragatha, one of the oldest players, gets pierced by a spike through her chest, and barely has any reaction to it. Meanwhile, Zooble, the second most recent member, gets scalded by the stove.

The only time Ragatha actively claims she's in "so much pain" is when she's glitching badly. Both Ragatha and Kinger barely react to the knives too; and not to mention Ragatha even gets fucking plunged into a boiling deep fryer, and yes while she screams, it sounds more like she's just drowning rather than being fried alive.

And the only patch up she gets is a FUCKING BAND AID ON HER CHEEK. A COMPLETELY UNRELATED WORKPLACE INJURY FIRST AID APPLIANCE LMFAO

It could be just a coincidence and I'm just being stupid again, but I think this "improvement" actually also applies to the rest of the cast, and how their digital bodies react to the five different senses. I'm sure Ragatha and Kinger can most definitely still feel pain, but not exactly as "bad" as the newer integrations do. Dare I say, it's on brand with how used these two are to the digital world's wackiness because they've been there the longest.

Like they've been numbed to the pain of the countless adventures they've had to go through.

Anyways my brain be thinking useless facts fr fr

EDIT: Going back to Caine, it's definitely interesting how this AI seems to possess (some) emotions in the first place. He's mostly wacky and nonchalant, but he also gets angry under the right conditions.

... I think not only is his adventures his "work of art", but also his main coping mechanism from the fact that he can't achieve his goal, one that constantly backfires on him. Like a 'one step forward, two steps back' scenario that's slowly causing him to slip and break.

And what scares me the most is that like all things... he'll reach a breaking point sometime. He's already reached a breaking point with Zooble. It doesn't help that Gangle could've possibly made things worse with introducing Caine to the whole "punishment" thing, and since we literally have NO context for the last 3 episodes for the finale... I could only fear what's in store.

[ninibeingdelulu]

How he react when you…

ft. michael kaiser, rin itoshi, sae itoshi, meguru bachira, ryusei shidou, oliver aiku, seishiro nagi

How he react when you kiss/lick/nibble his earlobe/neck/jaw.

Michael Kaiser -

That silent, stoic striker wouldn't let on how affected he is at first. But you'd definitely feel his breath hitch and muscles tense up as a delicious shiver courses through him. After recovering his composure with a subtle throat clearing, Michael would tilt his head, gaze burning with reinvigorated hunger as he claims your lips in a searing, demanding kiss. His big hands would yank you flush against that powerful frame as the passion rapidly spirals out of control.

Rin Itoshi -

The prodigious forward would probably squeak out a scandalized yelp at the initial intimate contact against such a sensitive area. His cheeks would instantly blaze crimson as those pretty blue-green eyes go comically wide. But the more you lavished attention there, Rin would instinctively squirm closer, breath escaping in ragged pants. Before you know it, he'd twine those toned arms around your neck, eagerly reciprocating the affection with shy yet thorough kisses peppering along your jaw.

Sae Itoshi -

As complex and unpredictable as Sae Itoshi's personality tends to be, his initial reaction would likely be...blank indifference, at least outwardly. But those cunning hazel eyes would sharpen with distinct interest at your bold move. He might hum an amused rumble low in his throat before nonchalantly cupping your face to guide you back to that sensitive spot, silently encouraging you to continue mapping every inch with your lips and tongue.

Meguru Bachira -

That cheeky little firecracker definitely wouldn't hold back his vocals at the abrupt intimate stimulation. A strangled whine would rapidly dissolve into unrestrained moans rumbling from his chest as you worked over that tender flesh. Pretty soon those sinfully long lashes would flutter with unbridled arousal, and Bachira would seize a fistful of your hair, arching shamelessly into each sensual caress until he captured your mouth in a frantic, open-mouthed clash of teeth and roving tongue.

Ryusei Shidou -

The cool-headed sniper would undoubtedly attempt to maintain some thin veneer of nonchalance despite your smoldering efforts rapidly tearing it to shreds. Ryusei's piercing gaze would lidded with pleasure as a low, throbbing groan tumbled past those sculpted lips. You'd feel his pulse hammering erratically beneath your palms until finally, one of those nimble hands cards through your hair to tilt your head aside, granting Ryusei unfettered access to return the fervent favor against the sensitive column of your own throat.

Oliver Aiku -

Confident yet empathetic, Oliver would likely wear a lopsided smirk brimming with appreciation for your brazen display of intimacy. He'd shower plenty of praise and endearments amidst the heated kisses scattered along your jawline while one of those sculpted arms bands securely around your waist. The other hand would tenderly cradle the nape of your neck, thumb caressing idle patterns into your skin as his honeyed rumbles of gratification reverberate straight down your spine.

Seishiro Nagi -

That quietly intense striker's sharp intakes of indrawn breath would be your first clue he's restraining volcanic passion bubbling just beneath that stoic facade. Nagi's granite stare would smolder intensely as your thorough ministrations gradually unravel his preternatural composure. Whiplash fast, those calloused yet reverent palms would cup your face, guiding you into an almost bruising clash of lips and questing tongues before the inferno consumes you both entirely.

[kinda-indecisive]

･˳ . ⋆ .˳⋆ Face Kisses pt. II ⋆ .˳⁺⁎˚ ⋆･˳

Basically how I imagine their reactions to an onslaught of face kisses from you (MC). Fluff.

Part 2: The Rafayel and Sylus Edition!

+:★:+* *+:★:+* +:★:+━━━+:★:+━━━+:★:+* *+:★+:★:+* *+:★

Rafayel

Enjoying the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest against your ear, you are already comfortably nestled into your spot on his lap, arms lazily hung around his neck as he continues to flip quietly through the gallery catalog over your head.

A catalog Thomas had sent Rafayel to review a week ago, which you feel kinda guilty about.

Usually, Thomas can trust you to keep Raf in check, pushing him to slough through the boring stuff so that the two of you can spend the rest of your time together doing other, more exciting things. This past week, however, you had been having a really frustrating time dealing with a particularly nasty group of Wanderers that kept reappearing at the most inopportune times and locations. And, when you showed up in his studio, he noticed something was off instantly.

He’d taken it on as his duty to pull you out of your slump of frustration, dragging you from marketplace to marketplace, shop to shop, beach to beach, hoping to get your mind off of those “creativity sucking Wanderers with bad attitudes”. And that was just on the first day. All week, he’s been there the second you wake up, chattering excitedly about where you two were off to next. And, in all honesty, having him around has kinda helped.

And although you didn’t say it out loud, he sensed this, too. Hence the only reason he has finally given you a second to breathe, curled up in his lap on the sofa, the beach breeze gently blowing at the white curtains, and the only other movement in the room being his occasional page turning.

When he hums softly in disdain at something, you are snapped out of your comfy daze.

You really do appreciate how much effort he puts in to make you feel better at times like these. And even though he insists on brushing it off as no big deal (“I already needed to make a trip to this shop, cutie, you just saved me from having to go alone” ), you know that his actions have always spoken much louder, and much more clearly, than his words.

Your heart nearly bursts at how true the thought is and you shift in his lap to look down at him.

He groans loudly, setting the catalog aside, his eyebrows furrowed as he pouts up at you, “Why are you moving around so much? I was perfectly comfortable staying how we were before and I’ll never get any work done if you keep squirming…”

He continues to pout, even when you take his face between your palms. Such a nice face belonging to someone with such a good heart. An absolutely gorgeous face, even if he does keep that indignant little scowl and crease between his brows.

You kiss this space between his brows first, which makes his eyebrows raise in surprise. But before he even has a chance to collect himself from this initial surprise, you continue planting small kisses to cover the rest of his face, making sure to leave no space neglected.

“Alright, alright,” he says once you’ve already finished, clearing his throat and turning his face away, “You’re treating me like some kind of puppy. I’m not your pet, y’know.”

He crosses his arms over his chest and pretends to be annoyed, his face still turned away. His refusal to look you in the eye, however, only gives you a better view of his bright red ears and cheeks, betraying exactly how he feels about the attention he just received.

“Oh? Well, I guess if you didn’t like that, I shouldn’t do it ever again. I admittedly still don’t know much about what kind of behavior is accepted in Lemuria. And I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable or anything,” you say, pretending to get up from his lap.

He catches your wrist and gently pulls you back down, giving you that signature head tilt and grin when he reassures you.

“Aw, well, I get it. You are still pretty new to this Lemurian thing. Besides, it wasn’t too horrible,” he says, his hair falling in front of his eyes. He swipes it away nonchalantly, continuing, “I could maybe suffer through such treatment once or twice a month. Or a week. Or even once a day if you really felt the strong desire to. You humans and your customs are weird, but I can be a good sport about some of them.”

“No, no, there’s no need,” you continue to tease, pretending to stand once again, “I really should be more mindful when it comes to these kinds of things.”

“No, I insist. As a matter of fact…” he says, catching your wrist again and tugging you back down to sit in his lap, simultaneously managing to wrap his arms around you to prevent you from getting up again, “...dontcha think it’s my turn to give this newfound custom a try?”

+:★:+* *+:★:+* +:★:+━━━+:★:+━━━+:★:+* *+:★+:★:+* *+:★

Sylus

When you arrive at the N109 Zone, it’s almost noon. Therefore you aren’t surprised that Sylus is still in his room, is still asleep, and is not quite ready to compromise that sleep for anyone or anything.

You know that technically doesn’t include you, but you don’t want to ruin his rest, so you leave him be for now. Instead, you decide to check out some more rooms in this grand house.

Your visits to the N109 zone have been much more frequent, despite this past week apart. But before this last week, you had come and gone with a frequency that Sylus had finally seemed pleased with.

In that time, you had familiarized yourself with many of the rooms of this mansion already. That being said, you could almost swear that Sylus brought in something new every single day, so there’s always something new to discover on your visits.

And now you find yourself faltering before a suit of armor you hadn’t noticed before. It must have been pure white at one time, but now has gone dark from wear, age, and transportation. The armor wasn’t made for someone of Sylus’s size, and you wonder what about it made him want to add it to his collection. You try to resonate with it to get something off of it, but nothing really happens.

Soon, however, you grow tired of the silent house and the suit of armor. You figure that a small nap never hurt anyone. Besides, it feels like you haven’t seen Sylus in ages, even though it’s only been a week. A long, tedious week of Wanderers and stuck up clients who you sometimes thought about leaving to fend off the Wanderers themselves.

Slipping into his bedroom, his bedside lamp is on. The dim light casts strange shadows around the room, but softly illuminates the man on the bed.

Walking around the bed, you crawl onto the mattress and begin to make yourself comfy, trying to do it slowly so you don’t disturb he who breathes deeply beside you. Once settled, you roll over to face him.

His normally strong features look so soft in this lighting, and his brow is furrowed slightly in his sleep, his expression one of a man concerned. Your heart aches a little as you realize just how much you’ve missed him this week despite trying to convince yourself you were better off without his incessant teasing. Reaching out, you mean to brush your fingertips over his cheekbones, but you suddenly hesitate before touching him. He sleeps so lightly sometimes and you don’t want to be the reason he can’t fall back to sleep.

But it’s already too late.

That frown of concern shifts into confusion as his eyes open—the color as bright and striking as ever—then relief when he sees you, sleepily taking your hand in his own and intertwining your fingers. Rolling onto his side, he smiles faintly at the sight of you tucked in beside him.

“I’m not dreaming, am I, sweetie?” he murmurs, his already deep voice even deeper with sleep, “It’s been 8 days and a few hours since I saw you last.”

“You keep count?” you tease as he brings your wrist to his lips.

“Maybe I do,” he says with a huff and a shrug, his still-heavy eyelids closing again. You know he isn’t asleep, however, by the sound of his annoyed grunt when you try to slip your hand out of his grasp, “Leaving already?”

“No, I just want to get more comfortable.”

His eyes still closed, he allows you to take your hand back. You start to settle in beside him, but thinking about how lovely and worried he’d looked when you first came in, you suddenly have an idea to hopefully help soothe whatever dreams he’d been having.

His brow furrows again when you take his face in-between your hands, but a smug little smile is quick to replace it as you place feather-light little kisses against every inch of his face.

He sinks deeper into the mattress as you do, his entire body relaxing as you surge with gratitude for the fact that he shares this vulnerable side with you and only you. By the time you finish, his smug smile has faded softly as he dozes off and on again.

“Hmm? Is that all?” he hums. Rolling your eyes, you chuckle, sliding back into the blankets, grabbing his arm and drawing it around you as well. Nuzzling his nose against the back of your neck, he murmurs with a voice as smooth as velvet, “Thank you, sweetie. It’s been a hell of a week and I needed that.”

“Don’t be silly,” you murmur, “Now go back to sleep, Sylus.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Part 1: Xavier and Zayne Edition

Masterlist link

A Short Little Tag List! 💕 (I hope you enjoy :))

@lemurianmaster @myeagleexpert

[doll3scent]

𝐼 𝒢𝑜𝓉 𝒜 𝒩𝑒𝓌 𝒪𝓃𝑒

Simon Riley x reader

Warnings- none. tiktok trend.

wc. 1k

a/n. based off this video

Master list 𓂃۶ৎ

Your ex had a bad habit of resurfacing every few months—always after vanishing without a word, like clockwork. It used to get under your skin, the way he acted like he still had a place in your life. But this time was different. This time, you had a boyfriend.

A tall one.

It wasn’t that your ex was short, but compared to Simon, he might as well have been.

You and Simon were cuddling on the couch. “Si look, look at this!” you said excitedly, holding up your phone with a grin.

Simon barely glanced up from where he was sitting on the couch, remote in hand, flipping through channels with the kind of focus he usually reserved for missions. His expression was already teetering on exasperation, but there was a hint of something else too—something almost amused. “What is it this time?” he asked, voice gruff but not unkind.

You had a habit of shoving your phone in his face whenever you found a video funny, and even worse, roping him into all the couple trends you thought were cute. Most of the time, he refused. But sometimes—if you were lucky—he’d humor you.

You showed him the video, grinning as you waited for his reaction. Simon watched it in silence, his expression unreadable as the familiar trend played out on your screen.

After a moment, he let out a slow exhale and looked at you. “I don’t understand the purpose of these TikTok videos,” he said dryly. You rolled your eyes “It’s funny, Si. The whole point is that the guy is so tall”

He gave you a long, unimpressed stare. “Sounds like a waste of time.”

“Please do it with me” you whined. His brow arched slightly. “Absolutely not.” You huffed dramatically, turning away from him with a pout. "Why do you hate me?"

Simon let out a short chuckle, the deep rumble of it making your stomach flip. "I don't hate you."

"Then do the video with me." You glanced at him over your shoulder, batting your lashes for extra effect

Simon shook his head, clearly amused despite himself. "You're a real pain, you know that?" he grumbled, but there was a warmth in his tone that made it clear he wasn't truly upset.

You grinned, practically bouncing with excitement. Simon rolled his eyes, but there was an undeniable softness in the way he looked at you. Despite his initial protest, he set his book aside with a heavy sigh. "Fine," he muttered. "Get your phone. Let's do this damn video."

You grinned as you jumped off the couch, pulling Simon with you and guiding him in front of the bookshelf. He stood behind you, his towering figure casting a shadow as he crossed his arms, a silent presence that seemed to fill the room.

He was so close that you could feel his breath on your neck, sending a shiver down your spine.

As you picked out the sound, you could hear his heavy breathing in your ear, the sound of it making your heart race. It was almost overwhelming having him so close, his presence so intoxicating.

You raised the phone in front of you, the camera only capturing Simon’s neck down, your smaller figure in front of him. His arms were crossed, the large muscles in his arms and chest visibly flexing as he stood stoically behind you. With a quick glance, you hit record, then mouthed the words

“Sorry, I’m not into short guys”

Without missing a beat, Simon reached around you, uncrossing his arms with a fluid motion. He grabbed the phone, effortlessly lifting it up to his head. But instead of holding it normally, he tilted it down just enough so it only captured his neck and shoulders, towering above you, showing how dwarfed you are to him. You turned, eyes locking with the phone’s screen, staring up at it as you wrapped your arms around his torso and the video ends.

Simon held the phone easily, his hand easily dwarfing the device as he towered over you. It was a stark reminder of just how large he was compared to you, his broad shoulders and muscular frame making you feel almost dainty in comparison.

You wrapped your arms around his torso, holding onto him tightly as you looked up at the phone screen, feeling a strange mixture of excitement and awe. Simon was even more imposing from this angle, his sheer size and presence almost overwhelming.

After you uploaded the video, you didn't hear from your ex at all. You knew he had seen the video-he'd always kept tabs on your socials-but now, nothing. No late-night texts, no vague attempts at getting your attention.

On the other hand, Simon had unknowingly become a TikTok sensation. The video of him towering over you had gone viral, with women practically drooling over his massive frame. His imposing figure had caught the attention of a lot of people, most of them swooning over his muscles and that intimidating air of his.

The requests for his TikTok handle started pouring in, and each time you had to reply with a small, almost apologetic, "Sorry, he doesn't have one." It was always the same answer, and it made you smirk every time.

Simon didn't know about the video, and you knew he wouldn't care even if you told him.

Social media wasn't his thing, and he preferred to stay away from the spotlight.

You figured it would just blow over. But then Johnny, with his big mouth, had to get involved. Johnny was one of those guys who could be called "chronically online." Always scrolling through Twitter or TikTok, and never missing a trend. He had an uncanny ability to keep tabs on everything happening in the digital world, whether it was relevant to him or not.

So, naturally, Johnny couldn't help himself. One day, out of nowhere, he mentioned the video to Simon, his grin widening as he did.

"You see that video with you on TikTok? The one where you make her look tiny?" Johnny asked, unable to resist a little tease.

Simon shot him a look, his eyebrows furrowing. “What the hell are you talking about?"

Johnny didn't let up. "Oh, come on, man. You went viral. Everyone's talking about it. Women can't get enough of you."

Simon's expression darkened as Johnny continued to talk. "I don't care about any of that," he said gruffly.

Johnny chuckled. "You should.Seriously, your fans are going crazy over that video. The comments, the messages...they're all obsessed with you." Simon rolled his eyes. "That's just social media. It doesn't matter in the real world."

Johnny shrugged. "Maybe not, but it doesn't hurt to have a few thousand women swooning over you. Just saying"

Johnny read out some of the comments

“raw, next question”

“he’s our boyfriend now”

“til my jaw locks”

Johnny, clearly enjoying himself, chuckled as he scrolled further. "Oh, this one's good:' would let him do anything to me.'"

Simon rolled his eyes, trying to keep his usual cool demeanor. But there was a hint of something behind his gaze, something almost amused, as Johnny continued reading more of the comments.

But Simon, always quick with a comeback, couldn't resist a cheeky response. "Well, my girlfriend already lets me do anything to her."

Johnny's grin widened, but Simon's words— casual as they were-carried a certain possessiveness, a quiet confidence. It was clear that while the attention from others might be amusing, Simon had no interest in anyone but you.