#at this point ig it's Part Of The Atmosphere

[2demondogs]

HIIIIIII RAHHH

sorry

Im the same anon who asked you to write the latest arthur x m!reader and omgg you envisioned what i wanted so well! you're an amazing author!!

I was also wondering if you were up to write more parts to this specific prompt of the affair? it doesn't have to be smut again, just a continuation of the story ykyk?

Thank you so much, I'm so glad you liked it! <3 Sorry this took so long, I had an immediate plot come to mind bc I'm fuckin' heavy w this AU but then I got nerfed by life. Original work I'm writing rn is affair-based too... I'm on a messy gay bitches kick I guess lol. No smut in this one.

For the uninitiated, part one is here. On Ao3, I've just added this as a 2nd chapter.

Words: 3.6k Tags: pre-canon, extramarital affairs (reader's married to a gal), chalk full of messy drama, this is like a situationship but even more evil

The bruises Arthur left lasted for nearly two weeks.

You're thankful that the soreness wasn't present for quite as long, coming in hard and fast in the morningtime. It felt like you'd sat on hot coals. Riding home was nearly unbearable, and not only because — for some reason that couldn't've been worth what it did to your heart — the man spent the night with you. Maybe he thought it would feel less transactional than an evening together usually must, though you'd not know. Maybe he holds every man he lays with while he sleeps.

The fact you don't know anything substantial about Arthur, sometimes, bothers you. Your wife wanted to lose her virginity on a more special occasion than her wedding day which also, sometimes, bothers you.

Anymore, you twist the ring around your finger and quiet that blackness in your gut by reminding yourself: if she's got someone else, well— haven't I?

She doesn't, you know. Never have you been one to play those petty games of accusation based only in your own sorrows. As you ready for bed, there is no other man undoing the laces of her corset. Nor does he do them up in the mornings, having learned exactly how tight she likes them done; no other woman fixes your ties when you wear one, nor goes to undo the first button of your collar because it looks less stiff this way.

Stiff is the awfulest thing, your wife believes, a man could be. You suppose you're inclined to agree, in most cases. It certainly does not ease the tension in your shoulders to know you're becoming stiff, and for reasons she's not privy to.

She hasn't got another, no.

Have you?

Firstly, it would break her heart. Or at least, you think as much. It felt too fresh to be desired how you were, openly and hotly, by Arthur. A wife should be her man's best friend and her, his, but is she too friendly? You had rolled that one around your head until the purple on your chest began to fade and you were beginning to forget, with a great sense of regret for how fast memories discolor themselves, how Arthur had looked at you that first moment alone. By then, it was beginning to aggravate you how difficult women's clothes are to do and undo.

Secondly, you hadn't been able to shake the idea that she'd find out. Someone saw you, you fear, and felt so bad for your poor betrothed that they're about to risk their own life to out you. Any minute now, two years of marriage and many more of some sort of love will be lost.

It'd been awful enough trying to fall asleep in a place with such a target over its head. It was foolish, you know now that you are no longer aroused and careless, to not find another, safer room to board in for the evening. It was foolish to feel safe because Arthur was beside you, and even more foolish to let Arthur stroke your hair. It'd only been for a moment. Your wife hasn't thought much of your requests for it every night since then, though her slender, soft fingers kept you awake and tense.

Mostly, you feel confused. Torn, more like; ripped apart. It's unavoidable, now, the answer to whether you like men or not. The wonder is so satiated, in fact, you're starting to fear that you used Arthur for your own exploration in a moment of callous selfishness led only by your prick.

It's soothed by the longing, and then you feel the pain of her delicacy. You're beginning to question if you like women or not. The answer is coming into focus the more you look at her, though she only thinks you missed her enough to be crazy for her.

God, does staring truly count as being crazy for someone?

How distant have I been?

How little have I known myself, all this time?

And yet remains the urge to be pleasant for her. To loosen your collar and yourself and have her draped over your arm, because you do still love her, even if only as some odd sort of close friend that lives with you and dotes on you and fixes your hair when it is windblown and looks at you when you light her cigarettes, because she's forgotten her matchbook again.

You fear, despite this love, you are using her.

There is still a certain, adoring pride you take in knowing how tightly to lace her corset, that she's absentminded but always remembers the dates of things, that she'll be happy if you lay out that food for the stray cats and make sure to feed her favorite one — that calico that looks like it's ninety years old — an extra slice of salami every time she goes to her sister's house for the weekend. Salami, always, because he doesn't like ham like the others do. She can tell if you're lying, somehow, so you always make certain to do it.

You aren't sure why she doesn't bring them inside the house. Sometimes you feel more kinship with the crowd of strays than you'd like.

It's an hour past noon when you hear the approaching of hooves from the parlor. Too spacious, with little to soak up the sound as it wafts in through an open window, cracked to let the summer breeze blow through the stuffy downstairs. Perfect timing, all things considered: you'd just finished a chapter of your Wilde collection.

While you sat the hardcover volume on the coffee table before the couch, you found it odd to hear hooves on second thought. Used to it, anymore, but unless your horse got out of the pasture again — possible, and very tiresome — your wife had not left on horseback.

Her friend's husband had driven by to take your ladies into town, which you declined because you did not care for the man and your wife didn't either. The thought of him wandering the city alone while the women shopped together was amusement of a cynical variety. She didn't want you to bicker with him, anyways, so you'd given her perhaps too much of your week's pay and a kiss on the forehead. She looked like a painting, which of course you told her, in her fine afternoon dress and those earrings her friend had made for her on her last birthday.

Sometimes you consider the very fine line you walk between comfort and wealth, and find yourself a little off-put by it. The house was a wedding gift, and much of it is empty still from your meager pay.

The foyer is rugged, though it needs a wash from the dust and dirt staining it. Door creaking, you try not to walk fast down the steps, though that changes when you see her being helped down from riding side-saddle on an unfamiliar horse by a man you don't recognize— right away. Talking, and she laughs, but it is strained and thick as though she's upset. You last heard that voice out of her when her father passed away.

"Sweetheart?" The brief worry flashes in your mind that she has found someone else; it's your guilt speaking. "What's goin' on?"

Her face appears from behind the broad shoulders, and she starts to meet you where you approach them. You wish your gun were not left in the bedroom, tucked into its holster on the nightstand, because there is something about all of this that is already twisting your gut.

What it is becomes clear soon enough. With her face in your hands, its makeup run down her cheeks and tracks of skin showing through her ruined rouge and eyeliner, you look over her shoulder at the man who's turned around. That thing coils tighter in your belly, twists into something even uglier than fear or anger: excitement.

His skin is beaten freshly red by the sun and his clothes are stained in traildust, but it is Arthur all the same. You should've known by that black hat, though it was too dark to have seen the scuff marks that would've told you from behind, or maybe by the way he stands. Missing the heat but as certain as he had stood staring down at where you were pressed to the wall.

Recognition flashes across his face, too, but he handles it with more grace. You realize she's began to speak, and afix her with all the confusion and sympathy you have.

"—chasin' me! Mister— oh, I didn't even ask your name," she's saying, looking back at Arthur.

He gives her a soft expression, as though she's a wounded animal. "Kilgore," he says. "Arthur Kilgore."

Had that been his name?

Perhaps it's his middle name, or his last. You could've sworn it was Callahan, but maybe in your overwraught mind the last month and a half has morphed it the same it's done to the visions of that evening. It wasn't entirely farfetched to think he might've lied in such a place, either.

She turns back to you, brows scrunched. "Mister Kilgore got them boys off my trail. God, I never should've left them two, they'll surely be worried to death, but I— I jus' wanted to be home, 'n' I hadn't any idea where they was by then." She sighs, shuts her eyes as if she can't bear to say it with her gaze on your face. The mahagony shadow is still painted on her lids. "Oh, I wish I would'a asked you to come with us, honey. I hate bein' alone in that godforesaken town."

Burying her face into your collar, she squeezes around your ribs tighter than you've ever felt, and you stroke her hair. "It's a'right," you soothe, rocking her. "You're home, now."

With her in your arms, Arthur standing awkwardly to the side, it feels— everything feels wrong. You find again that there is something missing from the way you hold her, and this is an awful moment to notice it.

"Well," Arthur says, settling his hands on his belt only to lift them in some gesture of that's enough for me. "I best be movin' on, now. I got—"

Your wife draws back, steps away to swing her body to face him. Her fingers clutch in your shirt's back, and then loosen, though her arm stays around you.

"You must stay for dinner," she says, palm open to him as if to display the offer. "It's the least we can offer. You might'a saved my life."

She turns to you, smiles and drops her tone the way she always does when she's sweet-talking. Her lashes are black and thick with mascara as she looks up through them. "And I don't know what you'd do without me."

For better or worse, you don't know either. You realize that is precisely the problem.

You flush, anyways.

Arthur begins to speak, eyes flicking between the two of you and your house, the stables out back. His face is unreadable, artfully so. You've never been more thankful, nor more curious as to how a man keeps his composure in a situation that's got you feeling like some part of you might implode, toe of your shoe antsily bouncing on the grass.

"I s'pose a hot meal does sound nice," he sighs, humble as ever. He takes his hat off, lays it over his chest. You look at your girl's hair instead, until he speaks, seeing him gesture with the gambler to her out of your peripherals. "Thank you, miss." Arthur finds your eyes, and you think maybe you see some of the tension you feel returned in them. There's a silent pointedness in how he returns his hat to his head instead of waving it towards you. "'N' you, o'course."

Feeling as though it's the right thing to do, you bring her closer by her bicep, sliding a hand around to squeeze comfortingly at the softness that her off-shoulder dress exposes of her arm. "Thank you, mister."

You'd insisted on helping with the cooking, and she insisted you keep Arthur company. It was your expected duty as the man of the house, but what a terrible choice it had seemed, and what a terrible choice it's coming to be.

Some young men had scared her half to death chasing her through the city street. She's alright, physically speaking. You'd been worried when she described it, but she swore she was untouched, which eased your concern only a little. Arthur affirmed as much.

You didn't and don't ask what he did to the boys. A feeling that he is more than he appears comes crawling up your neck, but you disregard it. A man who would stop and whisk your wife away from danger is not a man that you fear, let alone the way he'd treated you.

All you do is wonder if he realizes, based on the blasé expression on his face, the lives he touches. The way he's touched yours, twice now— you're uncertain on how it feels but, nonetheless, he has done it.

A man less keen on disturbing peace and quiet might have spoken up and said the man's got places to be, darling, and sent him away instead of inviting him inside. Punishment must make you feel better, you think, because that seems an even more terrible choice than allowing things to complicate themselves further in the name of your own relief.

Inside, once more. It was beginning to get easier to swallow the inklings of lust and the afterimages burned into your mind, but there is little to stave them off, now. Two weeks' worth of repression is brewing beneath the pressure of the half-dignified face you've kept sealed over top.

He apologizes for tracking dirt in while slipping off his boots, and that gentle consideration strikes you as too-familiar. Your wife laughs and says what a great idea before toeing off hers; all you can think of is jeans pooled around socked feet and smooth, exposed hip-bones. You clear your throat and lead them towards the sofa by a hand on her waist and his elbow.

How many lives has Arthur touched without knowing the burn he leaves behind? It's muggy in your throat, the want and the dismay and the horrible, no-good pleasure of being near him again.

As she disappears into the kitchen, he settles a respectable distance from you on the couch. The idea that he is not interested in any more fooling around makes you want to tear the skin off your hands, forcing yourself to settle for picking at the dirt gathered beneath your nails.

He looks out of place in the tidiness. You study him openly, and Arthur doesn't appear to mind. His eyes are wandering the paintings and scattered photographs on the walls. Fresh freckles are formed along his arms, or maybe you've merely forgotten them; his stomach has lost some of its fullness, which makes you glad dinner was offered and yet leaves you with questions; his his socks are holed against clean hardwood floor.

There's an awkwardness that lays only in how stilted both of you feel, though his own is considerably more concealed. It comes through in the air, a tightness in his spine. There's a thick blanket of oxygen between your bodies that you have no idea how to approach, although you know you shouldn't approach it at all.

"Nice home," Arthur says. His voice seems fuller indoors, warm and rough.

"Nice house," you agree. It's very unlike you to say such a thing. "Cigarette?"

Something ugly inside you wants to plead with him that you are not a cheater nor attached to him, though he didn't seem to care about either possibility with the promise of your warmth, and to lie and say you are only a heartless hedonist. By all accounts, most think the latter is better for a man to be.

Well, as long as he is a hedonist for another woman. You do not contemplate that, or else you'll truly go mad.

Arthur nods, a thanks under his breath. Your fingers fumble with the lighter once you've fished the carton from your breast pocket, almost dry and tasting bitterly of scraped up fuel when you drop the lever to ignite the end of your smoke. Patiently, he accepts the flame when you light his.

You feel terrible, but you yearn. He looks at your hand and he is gorgeous beneath brown lashes.

Oh, how you yearn. There is and there isn't— of so much. Does he understand what his presence is doing to you? He must, for how he turns his eyes up at you across the flame, easy and open and unspeaking but knowing.

"Wife's a pretty gal," he says, once he's settled back into the cushion. You can't decipher his tone, only to decide it's mere polite conversation. "Real sweet. Didn't think she'd ever stop thankin' me." He shrugs. "Jus' scattered some fools for her."

How pompous. You're delighted to hear so many words from him.

"She was scared," you say, as if you were the one who was there. Nothing else comes to you, so you reach over and slide the glass ashtray across the coffee to sit between you, flicking the end of your cigarette into it.

"Dunno what's wrong with fellers these days," Arthur says. He blinks and sighs, face suggesting it isn't just these days as he leans his elbows on his knees. You're inclined to agree, twisting at your wedding band with the cigarette tucked between your lips. "Lonesome lady mindin' her own business." He gestures with his hand, smoke trailing after it. "No reason to bother her."

Silence passes with ash dropped in tray, though not internally. The conversation settles and your mind is back ablaze, with a fresh coat of guilt-paint. God, she could've been kidnapped, and you're—

"Does it bother you?" You're murmuring, eyes set on his. They are clearer in the day, shades of green shining through their blue, set above dark undereyes. "That she's in the other room?"

Understanding crosses his face immediately. You aren't sure if it's an offer, if it's a question, if it's even something you should have spoken aloud. But that strength is there, that odd and nuturing kind that you simply don't have or comprehend, and you feel better that Arthur seems to know what you mean.

"No," he whispers. His voice is gravelly. "You?"

"Yes," you reply. It's the truth.

Despite it, you move closer; so does Arthur.

His hand finds your thigh and the touch sears so strongly you might jump from your skin the moment it leaves, his palm hot, back of his hand covered in hairs bleached blond by the sun. He must be a trailblazer of some sort. Somehow, the urge to know him dies.

It's more exciting this way. How quickly you've leapt from whatever aching, heart-bursting thing that was begging him back to you and straight towards skin-shallow lust. It is hot in your gut as he kisses you, cigarette pinched between his fingers as they trace your jaw, fall to rest on your neck. He tastes so familiar despite the distance between now and then, time and miles. The parlor fades and only the bar would exist, save for the daylight that threatens your hastily shut eyelids, so you squeeze them tighter and place your nose against his throat.

She's making dinner. The sounds of it haven't stopped, idle metal clicking and the sound of fresh-lit crackling in the fireplace. The racing of your heart is enough of a reminder, the anxiety that makes your hand twitch where it clings to the coarse fabric of Arthur's flannel shirt, nails digging in and slipping against it.

You withdraw, even though you want. There are not definite words for the desire, none at all, except maybe consumption or licking him clean down to the bones.

He is everything a man ought to be and Jesus, you want a man.

In the face of him the first time, the worst parts of this new self-discovery had fled and gave way to the goodness of it. All those terrible parts simmering inside you for so long flee again now that he is here, now that his stubble has roughed your chin and his spit dries on your lips once more. You were starting to fear they'd never leave, that the rot would grow stale in you and sour for as long as you lived.

You kiss him again to lick into his mouth, haphazard, all prowess lost in the celibacy since you had sex with him. He accepts it as openly as before, shows you another thing or two. Hot breath grows too loud and you withdraw despite yourself.

What to do now lingers.

You've broken whatever remaining restraint was keeping you sat at the other end of the sofa, and his hand is feeling at the softness of your inner thigh through your jeans. If you don't decide quickly, you'll be explaining a hard-on to your wife, and that thought sobers you.

You told him it bothers you that you are not alone, so he does not question it, despite his obvious disappointment, when you slide inches back to your original seat. Not all the way, but enough that when your wife pokes her head from the kitchen and asks what the silence is about, she suspects nothing more than that stiffness she dislikes so much.

[slutt4ellie]

Summer Blossoms

PT3 - Veil Of Petals

masterlist

PART 1 // PART 2 // PART 4

Falling in love is hard. Worse when you know it can’t happen.

Summery -> You and Ellie were now under the same impression, you’re friends once again, the rough patch of your friendship now supposedly over..if only it was that easy!

This chapter contains -> Heavy with internalized homophobia / A lot of this part is in Reads POV / Angst / Jealous!Reader finally makes an appearance / Cat also makes an appearance 🌚 / Cat and Ellie sorta have a thing / No established relationship but ig it’s implied / Denying of feelings / I describe readers clothing once / Kissing / Lots of confusion / Tensionnnnnnn / They’re both convinced that feelings aren’t reciprocated / Eventual smut! / (Lmk if I missed anything!!!) /

WC : 8k

(Not proofread)

You were desperate. 

You knew you put the nail in the coffin with Ellie.

You could easily sense how the atmosphere between you two changed. Sure you were “friends,” on good pages, but you both felt it. It couldn’t help but feel like the two of you were actively stepping over broken glass at the hands of you. 

You shattered that previous connection as soon as you yelled at Ellie. Agreeing with what the party attendees said, what Jack said. And you wanted so bad to think that maybe a part of that freakout was indeed valid. That the whole situation was the fault of Ellie. But it was just a shitty excuse, something to cover how you actually felt about her. A feeling that you aren’t sure you’ve ever truly had. I mean, the last thing you wanted to admit is that maybe you’ve fallen for a girl.

So you yelled at her without a second thought; you made her feel stupid, gross, like she was the problem. Because to you, that felt easier, far easier than accepting that maybe you not pulling back from her that night, letting your lips rest on her pale skin, mumbling that you were okay with what was playing out actually fucking meant something- 

You genuinely just wanted to ignore that there was a chance it wasn’t all on her. And you knew why. You knew that she was different; from the little moments where she would smile at something you said, it was embarrassing how fast your heart would suddenly increase in pace. Or when her touch would linger, and coincidentally you were hyperaware of anything and everything around you...

You’d like to think you’re not dumb, but it shouldn’t have taken Ellie assuring you that she didn’t see you that way, confirming to your face that she never actually had feelings for you, adding on how you were just her best friend; her uttering those sentences shouldn’t have made you realize that a friend wasn't all she was. It was laughable, because really, how was that the night where it clicked? You genuinely couldn’t wrap your head around that being the moment where you realized you liked Ellie. It was ridiculous.

And now, you’re coming to the realization that the Ellie you liked, that version of her, was gone. And the worst part was it wasn’t in the form of her being a dick or ignoring you. She never deliberately treated you differently. She was just more aware of how you two acted together. She didn’t lie on your bedroom floor, peeking over your shoulder to get a glance of your book. Rather, she stayed on your bed. 

Late nights filled with laughs, and often drives also stopped, and even if you wanted to, you couldn’t even fucking blame her. Ellie stopped making that effort, and in all honesty, you did too. It was a tremendous shift from the beginning of your friendship, which once felt so light, now felt extremely forced. Like you were trying to fix a broken piece of glass, it was impossible to hide those shatters.

Because fuck, it was to the point where the only time you guys would actually hang out was when Joel would come over to see your father. 

It was like she’d be scared to be in your personal space again, and even though you knew Ellie would never tell you, you were fully aware that the outcome of your friendship was your fault. And you weren’t even sure if you could fix it. 

You have a little over a month to spend at your dad's place, and then, soon enough, you’d go back home to your mom's, prepared to pack your bags and leave for college. And it was like a polar opposite from when you first arrived, because despite being desperate in the beginning to leave, you wanted nothing more than to have more time. Try to mend whatever you broke. Yet time was ticking, and you can’t stop the inevitable. You were sure to be leaving soon.

As you are lying on your bed, your mind racing with a billion different thoughts, the faint sound of a yell is heard echoing from downstairs. You sigh and sit up, pushing your palms against your mattress. You’re not even sure if you heard correctly. 

Much to your dismay, soon enough there was a swing of the door, and your father walked in with a bright smile displayed all over his face. “Do I have to get a megaphone for you?” He chuckles, his voice a little strained. 

A dry chuckle leaves your lips, quickly having them curl into a smile. With a light shake of your head, you respond, “No?” You pause and swing your legs over the edge of your bed; you talk as you rise to your feet. “What's up?” 

“Joel and Ellie are coming over today.” He pauses and then continues. “For dinner—and, uh, when Ellie gets here, I just need you two to swing by the grocery store and get some food.” He smiles thoughtfully.

You hate how this one sentence has your body flooding with anxiety; obviously, you’re aware of how you and Ellie have hung out after the lake house; you just didn’t want to be trapped in a car with her…! You can already picture the awkward silence, both of you getting rather quiet in uncomfortable situations. And your silence leaves your dad confused; he awkwardly clears his throat before speaking up, eyes on you. “Does that work on your schedule?” He jokes, offering a different manner. Thankfully, it does help cloud your worries to a certain extent. 

You just nod, a light laugh leaving your lips. “Yes—yeah, sorry, I was just thinking.” You smile at him before turning around to make your bed. Your best attempt to clean up your room before Ellie gets here. It’s also the moment where your smile instantly fades. 

Your dad has noticed a shift in your behaviour since the two of you came back from Joel's lake house. Probably even before that. 

Sure he was aware of how yours and Ellie’s hangouts suddenly stopped, of course being before your father dragged you to the lake house. It was extremely sudden; like as soon as Ellie left Joel sleeping at your house alone, her truck gone, was the same moment where your demeanour changed. Both of yours for that matter. Because of course he saw how you guys talked again after that lake house, but it wasn’t the same. You were far more distant with each other, Ellie only coming when Joel would be there to hang out with him. And he couldn’t pinpoint why. He just wasn't quite sure why the only person you’ve met since you arrived at his farmhouse is now the one he rarely sees you with. 

It was truly like your mind always has something going on inside of it. Zoning out was now a regular thing with you; every so often, in the middle of a conversation, it’s like the gears inside your brain jammed, like you were experiencing a feeling of mystification. 

But unfortunately, your dad being your dad, he just doesn’t think to mention it. He can only assume you're nervous about leaving your mom to go to college. Dwelling on it. And fuck, how you wish that was all it was.

Roars from outside catch your attention; the distinct sound of a truck pulling up is a telltale sound that Ellie and Joel are here. Your dad faces your back as you make your bed; regardless, he still talks. “Looks like they’re here!” He says feet trailing outside your bedroom. Quickly hearing how the creaks of the floorboards make their way downstairs. 

And as soon as your dad is gone, you shut your door and grab an outfit from your dresser, throwing it on as you try your best to fix your messy hair, hoping it now falls along the lines of being decently presentable. And you’re about to head downstairs, opening your bedroom door in preparation, but you stop. Though you can’t actually understand what they’re saying, there are three voices. Joel's, Ellies. And one extra. I mean, you didn’t think you were going crazy, but you were almost sure you heard an additional voice, a woman’s to be exact. It sounded soft, less raspy if anything, that being a clear distinction that it wasn’t Ellies.

And sure enough, you got further confirmation when you trailed downstairs. A woman was standing right beside Ellie. She seemed maybe a year or two older than you; she had tattoos trailing all over her arms and dark eyes, paired with raven hair. And you stopped to look at her for a few seconds and to say she was pretty; that would be a huge understatement, and without any type of warning, you were now immensely mindful of how you looked.

A wave of self-consciousness passed through you like clockwork.

Ellie's eyes were only on the woman, and you were almost sure she hadn't even seen you walking down the stairs. Not till Joel spoke up, his eyes locked with yours as he stepped forward. “Hey kid!” He smiles and continues softly, his accent thick. “Your dad tells me that you here are picking up a few things from the grocery store!” 

And as Ellie hears Joel talk, she finally pulls her eyes away from the woman, her green irises and soft smile now directed towards you. She awkwardly keeps her hand at her waist and waves at you. 

You feel like you have to force your eyes off of her, trying to give your full attention to Joel as you turn his direction, you give him nod to confirm what he said, of course paired with an awkward smile. 

And as you finish your sentence, you're locking eyes back with Ellie’s green ones. You give her a soft smile, waving your hand back at her. 

You try to ignore how the woman’s eyes haven't left Ellie’s side profile, like she's still trying to pin her attention. Although you feel a pang of uncomfortability hit your chest, you manage to talk, an unfamiliar ache staining the area right after. “Yeah—with Ellie, I think?” 

Ellie nods softly at you. And in what's coming, consistency, she looks right back at the woman. The same girl whose name you don't even know...! “Are you going to come with us? To the grocery store?” 

Fucking Christ. You look at the girl, then right back at Ellie. Who even is this, and why is she even in your dad's house? Why was she in the car with them? There are a thousand questions going through your mind. I mean, you literally saw Ellie less than a week ago; there was never even a mention of this woman? ... I mean, of course she didn’t owe you that; you just assumed she’d tell you. 

And it’s like Joel catches your unease and discomfort because he nudges Ellie lightly, directing his eyes towards your face; this has Ellie's eyes following, of course landing straight on you. She reads your confusion, leading her to quickly clear her throat; she manages to mumble out a shitty introduction. “Shit—sorry, this is Cat!” 

Joel smiles and talks, looking at you, then at your dad. “She’s staying with us for about a week, helping me with tasks around the farm! Right before summer ends!” He looks back and forth between you, Ellie, and Cat. 

The tension in the room eases to a certain extent; I mean that was better than what you were leaning towards. Yet it only further confused you in why she and Ellie seemed so…close? You didn’t really understand why Cat seemed so entrapped by Ellie's mere presence, but you tried to ignore it. It’s not your business. 

Ellie absently leans back and forth on her heels for a solid second; she looks at you and Cat. The silence now stretching for what feels like hours. She clears her throat before speaking. Eyes trailing back to the raven-headed girl, “We can head out now...?” Ellie looks at you. “If that's alright with you guys?”

You just nod and mumble out a quick “Mhm,” your hand moving to pick up your pair of shoes, sliding them on both of your feet. Ellie doesn’t necessarily wait up for you, her feet moving out the door before you even get on your second shoe. And of course neither does Cat.

It’s literally like she's some parasite stuck to Ellie, yet it’s like Ellie enjoys her presence! Like she doesn’t care that some woman is following her around...! 

And now, you’re of course getting the feeling that they don’t want you there.

Cat ended up taking the passenger seat without a second thought, so it left you in the back, alone. 

Now leaving you to watch as they interacted with each other.

Ellie would turn back every so often; she wanted to try and include you in their conversation, but you genuinely didn’t understand half the shit they were talking about. It was all about work, specifically work in the farm department, so for half the car ride you were just sitting there awkwardly! You already weren’t excited to be in a car with Ellie, but now you’re in a car with Ellie and some woman you’ve never fucking communicated with. 

You tried your best to push down your judgment on Cat; as the car ride went on, you figured that she seemed nice enough.?

She made Ellie laugh a lot. 

It reminded you a lot of how the two of you sounded before everything went down, and now you’re wondering if you had never freaked out on her that night, maybe that would be you in the front seat, making her laugh at stupid inside jokes. That feeling of reminiscing almost made this whole situation worse. It made you feel fucking sick to your stomach.

I mean anyone with a pair of eyes could see Ellie was equally as interested in the girl, like she couldn’t get enough of her jokes and conversation; you haven’t seen Ellie like that in a while.

And then the muffled sound of Cat's voice shatters through your train of thought, “So…how old are you?” Cat turns around in the passenger seat, eyes locking with yours. 

You pause, your eyes moving back and forth between her pair... “W-what?” You look at your hands nervously, shifting them back up at her as you finish your sentence. You couldn’t understand why you found this woman so intimidating. Maybe it was the fact she asked you a question as you were staring off into space. 

Or maybe how she’s had Ellie’s attention almost the whole drive...!

Cat just simply chuckles and looks at you, her dark eyes looking at your confused face, “Just asked how old you were?” She looks at Ellie and sorta laughs. Ellie's eyes shift to look at her, eyes crinkling at the corners as she smiles, cheeks noticeably turning pink before her gaze focuses back on the road. 

You look at the two of them and fight the urge to roll your eyes. It’s getting a bit theatrical at this point; no way looking at someone has Ellie's cheeks turning fucking pink. “I’m 18.” You look at Cat, clearing your throat in the process. “You?”

She smiles as she directs her attention back at Ellie. “Shit, Williams, didn’t realize you hung around 18 year olds?” She’s obviously kidding; you’re not stupid; you can tell she’s making a joke, but it was fucking dumb; Ellie was 19 for fuck's sake! “Shut up, man.” Ellie chuckles and looks at Cat for a solid second, eyes swiftly moving back to the road.

Cat talks and smiles, “I’m 21.” She chuckles, replying to your unanswered question. You watch as she looks straight back at Ellie. It’s like they couldn’t pull their eyes away from each other.

And you can’t get over how different Ellie’s acting is, like she’s trying to put on a show for some audience. However, the only audience is some chick. Like she’s throwing on some cool facade? It’s weird to say the least; Ellie never acts like this, at least she never acted like this when she was around you.

It makes you want to leave the car. Getting increasingly uncomfortable in the small atmosphere, you feel like they don’t want you there. Plus, the small comment on your age made you embarrassed. 

You just reply to Cat with a simple nod.

And it’s like your prayers are answered because the car finally parks in front of the store. You immediately unbuckle your seatbelt and open the trunk door to get out. 

And you’re starting to think maybe you were wrong; maybe Ellie was still mad. And sure, she had the right to be? But fuck, you were just in serious need of your friendship going back to normal; you hated being whatever this was. 

The worst sting so far was the fact Ellie didn’t even hesitate to open Cat's door for her, in the meantime practically ignoring you. You observe the two of them for a few seconds, neither of them even paying mind that you were in fact also in the car. 

You awkwardly watch as Cat tilts her head at Ellie, batting her eyelashes at her, as if she is starving for some sort of reaction. And a reaction she gets, because almost instantaneously, Ellie's cheeks stain a light pink. Cats hand now trailing her forearm, of course where her tattoo is. 

You’re grateful for the open surroundings of the parking lot. It genuinely made leaving them and walking straight to the grocery store easy, you having zero intent to wait up for them. 

As you were looking for your items, your head kept glancing at the list your father provided; you tried to distract yourself with literally anything. The sounds, the environment, anything that now surrounds you, and unfortunately nothing fucking worked; it’s like you could get your mind off of stupid Ellie. 

And it was ludicrous, outlandish even. She could even lock eyes with you for more than 30 seconds, yet you’re over here in a grocery store fully ready to cry, a familiar burn in your throat appearing. 

Ellie's soft voice has your train of thought snap, “So? What are we looking for exactly? She asks, green eyes on you as she smiles softly. You look around; you see Cat not too far away; she’s fully distracted talking to a worker; your best guess is her trying to find something.

You stare at Ellie for a few seconds, your hand moving itself as you hand her the list, intentionally trying to avoid making conversation with her. Ellie watches as you conveniently ignore her presence, in the sense that you won’t talk to her. That simple action makes her frown. 

“You alright?” She mumbles, awkwardly clearing her throat as her eyes don’t peel away from your figure. You look back at her, eyes finally locking as you nod. “I’m fine.” You say, your voice strong with the tone of confidence. It’s almost like you’re not only trying to convince Ellie there’s nothing wrong, but also yourself. 

You grab a few items from the list, pulling your eyes away from her, actively trying to distract yourself, way better than focusing on how Ellie’s shoulders deflate, catching the fact that you lied to her face.

Her eyes go soft, nodding softly at your response, hands trailing into her pockets. 

She doesn’t even understand; are you mad at her? Because that’s all she’s thinking, her mind is racing, trying to come up with any explanation as to why you suddenly seem annoyed by her. And just as she was about to talk, completely prepared to ask you once again if you were actually okay, Cat walked over in queue, her hand moving straight to Ellie’s shoulder. “You guys okay?” She asks softly; it seems like a general question directed to the both of you. But you see how her dark eyes trail to only focus on the auburn-haired girl. It’s clear to see Cat doesn’t actually care about what you're currently feeling. Clearly just trying to be polite. 

Ellie looks at you rather than Cat; her eyes are trying their best to read you, and for once she doesn’t care how she has Cat's arms on her. Ellie’s gaze lingers on you for an excessive amount of time; she notices how Cat's arms tighten slightly; however, to Ellie, it feels like nothing else at this moment matters. Her eyes are pleading with you, begging for you to break down this newly built wall. It makes the air feel heavy.

You both feel it...

You pause and clear your throat, picking up one of the final items you need. “I’m fine.” You spit out, your eyes shifting towards Cats; you again have to force yourself to look away from Ellie’s green irises. Because once again you noticed that desperate look in her eyes, trying to understand what she might have done to upset you. 

It never wavers either, even after you left the grocery store, all three of you getting in Ellie’s truck, journeying back to your dad's place. Her newfound concern has your chest tighten. The car ride back has a huge shift, everyone in the car growing more quiet than usual; you avoid talking as best as you can, eyes constantly glancing to your hands. 

It didn’t feel extremely long, the car pulling into the driveway shortly after you zoned out. It felt almost like your body moved itself, unbuckling yourself from the seatbelt, opening the car door to land on the ground, the soft crunch of the gravel falling under each pair of feet. The familiar sight of your dad's home offered some comfort, especially after being in a car with Ellie and Cat for so fucking long.

You were the first to enter your dad's home, creating some much-needed space between the pair. As you drag your feet through the home, you hear the sound of Ellie and Cat talking. You also catch the exhausted sigh Ellie lets out, and as you turn back, you see Cat leaning over into Ellie, brushing over her arm as she mumbles an incoherent sentence. 

You don’t stop to listen; instead, you continue with the grocery bags in your hand, and you try your best to pretend the tightening in your chest doesn’t increase. Instead, distract your mind by joining Joel and your father outside on the porch. 

Your dad quickly notices you walking outside and quickly smiles, stopping his conversation with Joel. “Took you long enough, kid.” He jokes a chuckle leaving his mouth. You see Joel snicker, a beer resting in his hands. You just roll your eyes, talking softly. “Yeah, well next time—“ you push the grocery bags in his chest, “you can get it yourself!” 

Your dad jokingly puts up his hands defensively; you look at him for a few seconds, mouth open, as you are about to talk. Yet the sound of the door sliding open caught your attention, your own eyes now peering behind you.

By the time Ellie and Cat join, you hear their chattering, well…mainly just Cat's! You see Ellie positioned right behind her, her green eyes flickering towards you, now desperately trying to catch her gaze. You notice it, and you ignore it, turning around to look right back at your dad.

Ellie sighs. She stops for a few seconds; it’s hard to understand what the fuck is wrong when you refuse to even talk to her. And in that moment she hesitantly turns towards Cat, her voice soft as she speaks. “Shit—I think I left my keys on the counter. Do you mind?” Ellie says, eyes partially on Cat, and in a swift motion flicking back towards you. 

Cat nods; from your position, you can’t hear what she says, but soon enough the door is sliding open, closing only a few seconds after. 

Ellie lingers at the doorway for a few seconds; she’s currently trying to psych herself up. She didn’t get why she still cared so much about your interpretation of her; you guys are just good friends. She knows that now. And plus, she has Cat, someone who she’s 90% sure likes her. 

Regardless, nerves get the better of her, so she’s currently standing awkwardly with her hands stuffed into her pockets; it probably doesn’t help that her gaze is literally burning into your figure, only making her even more fucking nervous. She clears her throat and murmurs a short “Fuck“ feet now moving towards you, the porch creaking with each step. 

“Hey...!” She taps your shoulder lightly, her voice soft and careful. As you turn around, she watches as your gaze lingers on her face, not uttering a word. And that’s what sends Ellie into a state of panic; it was dramatic, sure, but you being completely silent makes Ellie’s heart increase in pace, that leading her to speak once again. “Are you alright? You just seem— She stops as soon as she sees a long sigh leave your lips, eyes closing as if you are exhausted.

It takes you a few seconds to push some words out of your mouth, and as you do, your voice takes a tired tone. “Why do you keep asking me that, Ellie? I'm fine.” It comes out a tad bit harsher than intended, and you watch as her face shifts, starting to materialize with a sad frown. She just awkwardly clears her throat, her hand coming to rub the back of her neck. “I don’t—I don’t know?” She stutters, her voice wavering; she's starting to wonder why she constantly bothers; it’s so clear you don’t fucking need to be checked up on. She doesn’t understand why she can’t get that easy information through her head. 

“I’m—I’m sorry... but I'm fine?” You look at her, your voice now soft as you softly reassure her, both of you looking into each other's eyes for a few seconds. For those few seconds, it feels like it used to. Ellie’s green eyes shining in the sun. You always liked how they looked, something you've never thought to even tell her, and maybe if it was like it was before, you would tell her.

You notice how her eyes are bouncing back and forth between your pair; she clears her throat out of nervousness, looking down as she says her next sentence. “Like, are you mad at me or something?” She asks, instantly awaiting an answer once it leaves her lips. 

You pause for a few seconds; your initial response is to completely deny it, because truthfully you’re not mad at Ellie…You don’t think you are? And shockingly, a large part of you wants to tell her the truth. But the fact that those words feel like they’re burning in your throat makes you second-guess that decision. In all honesty, it feels like you’ve hardly even accepted it yourself; you are sure you like Ellie, but admitting that out loud—no way...

You’re about to talk, taking a long, deep breath, eyes searching for hers. You want to try your best to lay it all out. Maybe give her a watered-down version of your feelings; that way it may not feel as scary. It’s simple enough to say the night in your bedroom meant something, where you laid your head on her chest, falling asleep in each other's arms. That doesn’t necessarily mean you like her? It just means that maybe that night didn’t need to be deemed as some mistake. 

“Ellie—“ 

As you attempt to speak, the sound of the door sliding catches both of your attention. The dark-eyed girl comes outside, her body moving straight towards Ellie, arm instantly looping around hers. She didn’t even stop to acknowledge the fact that you were just talking, and without a second thought, she spoke. “Couldn’t find your keys on the counter, sorry Els…” 

However, Ellie's gaze never leaves your face, and without delay, Cat notices. She sees how it falls on you, like the auburn-haired girl can’t pull her eyes away from you. And it’s like Cat noticing that; it only made her hold onto Ellie tighter, her hand trailing back and forth on Ellie’s forearm. Like she’s looking for a reaction. And although you feel one, you don’t let it show on your face, leaving it carefully neutral; it wasn’t as hard as you thought to act like you hadn't even noticed.

You see how Cat shifts slightly, a soft smile present on her face; it’s subtle, and it makes you wonder what she’s even trying to convey, and you know that this smile isn’t the result of holding Ellie. You see how she's staring right at you! And it makes you confused, because someone who seemed nice in the beginning is now seeming like a burden to have around, and sure she’s Ellie’s…friend, but it appears like she’s doing it on purpose. Intentionally trying to make you uncomfortable! 

And although it seemed obvious to you, Ellie, on the other hand, is completely oblivious. Or at least she's pretending to be; her eyes are still locked on you with an inexplicable amount of intensity, like she’s still awaiting your answer to her question. You watch as her lips part, as if she’s about to talk. You even believe she might, yet not even a second later her lips close and she turns, her green eyes now looking straight at Cat. “Ahh…okay, I think I may have just misplaced them.” Ellie smiles sweetly, clears her throat, and continues. “Sorry for making you look.”

Cat shakes her head and smiles. “It’s not a problem.”

And that’s how it often went. Two quickly became three. If Ellie was at your dad's place, so was Cat. Like they were connected, interlinked in a way. 

And to say it was awkward, that’d easily be putting it lightly. You felt like an unintentional third wheel constantly...! You watched as Cat made it a point to only talk to Ellie, regardless of whether she was in your space! It was comical really; you could be in your bedroom with the pair, and somehow, the conversation would always revolve completely around Ellie. It was as if you were invisible, or maybe some convenient backdrop to their little inside jokes. 

And as always, that's what was happening tonight. 

You would watch as Cat's eyes would always occasionally flicker towards you, as if she was making sure you were still watching as they bonded together; you’d also watch as they would immediately move back to Ellie, like some magnetic connection. Maybe it was dramatic, but even sitting in your small room, it felt like you were miles apart from them. Like you couldn’t break into their invisible thread that seemed to entrap them. 

And it wasn’t even like you wanted to be the centre of attention. It wasn't even about that…? But it was so hard not to notice how they were always talking, and you were just there; it felt like the hangouts were pointless. It was difficult to act like it wasn’t a big deal. And you knew that they were friends after all. You haven't seen them do anything other than light touches, which were always initiated by Cat. And you knew their closeness was not something to be threatened by; plus, Cat left in a few days anyway, her week with Joel quickly coming to an end. 

But knowing that made you sad, and not because of Cat; you were sad because you knew you were shortly after. After she was gone, you had less than a month to spend at your dad's house, and not dwelling on that became an impossible task. 

“Do you mind grabbing the drinks from Ellie's truck?” Cat says cutting off your train of thought. You stay silent for a few seconds, not only out of habit, but you weren’t even sure if she was talking to you; it takes Ellie’s eyes flicking towards you to understand that it was indeed a question directed at you. Your silence is what makes Cat chuckle, heat rising to your cheeks without missing a second. 

“Right...” you mutter, the words barely escaping your lips as you swing your legs over your bed. Cat is already turning her head, presumably to go straight back to meet Ellie's eyes, ready to spike up more conversation. It makes you sigh softly, your legs feeling heavy as you attempt to start moving forward. All you really want to do is leave your bedroom; being in a space with Ellie and Cat is starting to feel suffocating. The task already felt hard enough; your movements haltered and slow, it only got worse as Ellie stood abruptly, standing in front of you, which ends up blocking your path.

You look at her for a few seconds, your mannerisms expressing your clear confusion. Ellie's eyes are staring intensely at you, every so often looking back and forth between you and Cat, Cat's body still sitting on the floor. Ellie's silence comes to an end as she manages to spit out a stuttered sentence: “N-need a hand?” 

Cat's face immediately drops as Ellie talks, silently trying to express her distaste through her eyes; luckily, it doesn't work. Ellie doesn’t even notice Cat's dark eyes on her; all she can focus on is the girl in front of her, the girl who is you. When Ellie looks at you, she suddenly understands why your opinion of her still mattered so much. It’s hard to lose those feelings immediately, even after how persistent she was to lock them away.

Her gaze makes you nervous, eyes trailing to your bedroom door behind Ellie. You pause for a few seconds before attempting to break past her figure, all while forgetting there was still a girl on your floor, actively watching the both of you. Your voice comes out short as you move hastily, “I—I’m fine, Ellie. Thank you, though.”

Ellie quickly shakes her head, cutting you off as she makes eye contact with you once again. “No, no, I don’t mind. The cases are heavy, so...! She says awkwardly as she opens your bedroom door, and Ellie watches as you walk out of your bedroom door; it was clear that Ellie wasn't taking no for an answer. 

You turn around, watching as Ellie mumbles something to Cat. Cats face expressing nothing but a sour expression, she seems mad at Ellie, or maybe even you. Regardless, it doesn’t take long before Ellie leaves Cat alone in your bedroom; a part of you wants to feel bad, but then again, Cat clearly didn’t when she left you out of conversations. 

Ellie is quiet as she walks down the creaky stairs of your dad's house. Truthfully, both of you were doing your best to keep quiet; maybe it was out of awkwardness. 

She is trailing behind you, keys jiggling as she grabs them out of her pocket. And finally she talks, breaking that wall of tension both of you previously had up. “Cat leaves in 2 days, you know?” Ellie says softly, opening the door as you both trail outside. She unlocks her car, quickly grabbing a case of alcohol that Cat purchased.

“Yeah, but who's counting?” You joke, your eyes locking with Ellie's. Your manner has both of you ease up, stepping into territory that felt like how it was before that night. You watch as Ellie's lips curl into a soft smile, a chuckle leaving her lips as her eyes light up slightly. 

You instantly let out a soft sigh of relief; you weren't sure if she was going to laugh at your words. Both of you have been stale, so that little chuckle felt like endless confirmation that maybe it wasn’t doomed, your friendship that is. 

“I was just lettin’ you know!” She says, pausing as she thinks of her next words carefully. Her own mind drifting away from the woman who is still inside waiting for the both of you to return. “There’s a lake you know...?” A quaver in her voice as if she's nervous. 

You glance at her for a few seconds; you’re curious, maybe even a little intrigued. “A lake?” You dampen, eyebrow raising at her words. “Like…a secret one, or one I just didn’t know about.” The pause between the two of you lingers; it almost feels like Ellie’s opening up again, like the doors you were sure you sealed shut are starting to be pushed open, like those cracks are becoming visible once again. You both feel it. 

“How many lakes do you know about?” Ellie tilts her head, a grin on her face as if she's challenging you. Her words make you laugh as you shrug, your voice coming out light as you stare at each other. “I don't know—just what's so cool about this lake?”

“I don’t know; it’s quiet. Peaceful, if you will?” Ellie talks, a stupid smirk on her face as she says the last four words, eyes flickering down to the case of alcohol, promptly being held up in her two hands. “I mean, it’s a little out of the way…” She continues, eyes moving back to you. “But literally no one ever goes there; we could check it out.” Ellie smiles as she looks at you, nervously rubbing the back of her neck. 

“Okay!”

Three days later you guys do end up going out to that same lake Ellie mentioned. 

You found yourself sitting in Ellie's passenger seat of her truck; you genuinely couldn’t remember the last time it was just the two of you in this car, not being forced upon awkward circumstances. Granted, it wasn’t like it wasn’t awkward; the two of you didn’t really know what to talk about. Even so, the soft hum of the engine and the cracking of the radio filled the unwanted silence, which was nice. 

Cat being gone also felt like a breath of fresh air, the weight lifting off the space of you and Ellie. You really didn't realize how heavy the tension had been until it was gone; she was gone. Cat’s presence did always seem to hover, like she was lingering in a possessive sense. Her gestures always being small yet noticeable. Her hands always finding excuses to be on Ellie's skin, the way she would always inch closer during conversations, she would constantly try to claim attention in ways that made you feel left out, regardless of being the person who had been there first. 

The sound of Ellie's car pulling over to the side caught your attention, quickly snapping you out of your long train of thought. The tires were slowly crunching as they came to a stop; her car was now idling, sitting on a dirt patch beside the water. The lake stretches out before you; it was calm and still, the trees on the far side reflecting on the water. It felt like a place that demanded a slow breath, almost like it could wash away everything if you let it. 

“Well...!” Ellie said as she killed the engine to her truck. She opened the door and hopped out of her truck; the dust below Ellie settled as she swung her legs out, planting them firmly on the ground. You watch as she makes her way to your side of the truck, hand reaching for the door as she opens it for you. That little moment had the air change for you. “This is it!” She almost sounded tentative, but there was a flicker of something else, something you hadn’t heard from Ellie in a while. Hope, maybe? Reminiscences of desire for normalcy, it’s something that has been missing between you two for so long.

“This is it!” You repeat, your eyes locked on her as you step out of her truck. “It’s beautiful.” You say eyes locked on the water as you take it all in. The shine of the stars was clearly reflecting on the water; it was all so pretty. 

Ellie stood next to you for a few seconds, quiet at first as she took in the sight in front of her. Slowly she turns her head, eyes locking with you. “It is, isn’t it?” She smiles, the shine of the moon illuminating her eyes. You watch as her eyes move off of you, missing the moment where your cheeks tint a light shade of pink. You’re almost grateful she missed it. 

Surely she’s doing this on purpose... That’s all you can think, the realization making your head spin. And you really couldn’t help but stare at her for a moment. Caught in the sincerity of her expression. Again, a look you haven’t seen in her in a while.

“So…” Ellie says, breaking the newfound tension, her voice a little louder as she says her next sentence, “Are we going swimming?” She spits out, her eyes fixated on the lake in front of the two of you. Her tone is almost casual, with no teasing edge to it.

“Swimming? Ellie I didn’t- you never even mentioned swimming. You spit out, eyes struck with clear confusion. 

Ellie shrugs, a smile present on her face, specifically forming in the middle of her face, framing at the corner of her mouth. “Um, it’s a lake? I sort of assumed you‘d get the memo." She laughs softly.

You glance from the water to Ellie; you try to process her words. Sure, the offer seems inviting; the lake is calm and clear, but it’s not like you brought a bathing suit, plus the idea of jumping in freezing cold water was unsurprisingly uninviting. 

“Hold on?!” You raise your hand; despite the raised voice, your tone is not serious, a clear smile written all over your face. “You came here to what?- swim? After all that talk about it being peaceful and quiet?” You look at her with an amused expression; you have to force yourself not to laugh at her. “Plus it’s almost midnight, not exactly ‘perfect’ swimming weather.”

Ellie smiles and shakes her head proudly, her legs moving fast as she gets to the edge of the water. “It’s perfect swimming weather if you ask me!” 

“Turn around!” Ellie says hesitantly, her voice strong with undertones of embarrassment. Voice going soft and quiet. Bashful even.

“Why?” You ask, your voice instantly betraying your confusion. 

Ellie’s gaze flickers to the side, avoiding yours for a moment, before she groans in frustration. “Just! Turn around!” 

Your movements grow slow as you process her words, still not entirely sure as to what she's up to. Your eyes flicker to Ellie as she shifts her weight from one foot to another, clearly anxious. Those mannerisms make you fold, so you listen, turning around slowly. 

After a few moments you hear the sound of fabric rustling, followed by the sound of a heavy drop hitting the ground. And suddenly you feel frozen. 

Your heart genuinely feels like it stops for a few moments, completely caught off guard. Your brain is trying to process the fact that Ellie seems to be getting out of her clothes right behind you. 

You hear the soft sound of splashes not coming too long after her clothes hitting the ground, and finally Ellie speaks once again. “Alright! Turn around!” Her voice is also a little shaky, leading you to take it as she’s nervous too; that factor makes you feel better. A breath of relief leaving your system.

You try to steady yourself, now breathing slowly, as you move your body at sloth speed to turn around and see Ellie. 

You’re silently thanking the fact it’s night, the dark sky acting as a blanket over everything, the stars twinkling above, making you feel like they’re also watching this scene unfold. Soon enough you see Ellie swim closer into shore. “Okay, your turn!” Ellie shouts, looking at you, her sentence leaving you awkwardly standing. “What?!” You laugh out, No way. No way you're doing all this shit in front of Ellie. 

“The water feels amazing!” She yells out, splashing around with her arms as if she’s trying to prove her point. At the same time trying to calm her own nerves!

You stare at her for a few seconds. “You’re insane.” You laugh softly, your heart rate now starting to calm down. The idea of being in front of Ellie with nothing but underwear and a bra seems terrible, far too vulnerable. 

Ellie thinks for a few seconds, going quiet. “Look!” Ellie shouts, her figure now standing up in the water. You watch as she visibly turns around, as if she’s trying not to make this feel as weird as it does. And you do hesitate, eyes moving to the water below then to the starry night. 

“It’s nice in the water, I promise!” Ellie says softly, a smile evident in her tone. 

You look at her figure from behind, your heart picking back up again as you move your hands to the hem of your shirt. Hands moving above your head as you strip yourself of your t-shirt. The cool air hits your skin, and you feel the need to put back on your shirt, but you don't; you suck it up.

Your hands then move to your shorts, fingers accidentally fumbling with the buttons. The silence between you two is deafening, both under a silent understanding that maybe this moment deserves quietness. And in all honesty, when Ellie heard your clothes falling behind her, her thoughts ended up freezing anyway!

Not too long after ranting about how going in the water was insane, you're now just in your bra and underwear, hesitantly moving to the edge of the shore as you let your legs get covered with the cool water. It is cold but refreshing. 

“Can I turn around now?” Ellie questions, her voice soft as she breaks through the water's gentle movement. It’s softer than before, almost hesitant. The sound of Ellie's small movements almost sounds as loud as your heartbeat, which is saying a lot. 

“Mhm.” You mumble out, body still adjusting to the cool water. It’s up to your chest now, the lake pulling you deeper with each step. Yet it’s not just the water pulling you closer; maybe it’s something else. Like the way Ellie's voice sounds, a little more open, vulnerable, something you again haven't heard in so long before this night. Maybe it’s the fact that you’re both finally here, now in the same space together, the quiet acknowledgment that in this moment, you are both standing on the same ground. 

You glance over at her and really see her, in one of her most vulnerable forms, the same way she’s currently seeing you. The moon reflecting on both of your wet skin. You see as Ellie's eyes are fixated on you, the same amount of intensity yours are holding. There are no walls, no playful manner; it’s just really the two of you, laid out on a hypothetical table for each other to see. It makes your breath hitch.

You don’t even realize it immediately, but the initial space the two of you had eventually started to fade. The steady rhythm of your breathing, everything is unspoken yet clear; you both have crossed the line. 

And maybe it’s the lack of words that's encouraged Ellie to make her next move; there's a clear absence in her thought process, but can you blame her? The way you were looking at her, eyes locked on each other. It all came together to make her incredibly delirious. 

Her body shifts with a small wave of a movement. Her gaze never leaving yours, both of your eyes locked together. It almost seems like she's waiting for something, waiting for you. It’s silent, yet you both know what is playing out, and suddenly kissing a girl doesn’t seem as scary as before.

Ellie doesn’t even wait for permission; she doesn't have to. Her hand reaches out to touch your cheek, the other hand moving to graze your arm. You feel her calloused fingers. Her touch is light but unmistakably deliberate. She doesn’t pull away, and neither do you. It’s a simple connection but electric. 

And without thinking too deeply into it, Ellie closes the gap.

A/N -> after MONTHS part 3 is finally out!!!

I am SO sorry for everyone who I kept waiting, i’ve been on the other side of this and I completely understand how annoying it is to wait for someone to continue their series!

I swear life just got insane and I’ve been so so so busy, not the mention the crazy writes block I was going through!

I will make sure the next part doesn’t take as long as this one, yet i’m not sure how quick i’ll be getting it out.

( I have school, work, and sooo much more so I apologize in advance! )

Ily you all soooo much and thank you for understanding!

(likes and reblogs are always appreciated)

taglist: @diddiqueen @bready101 @mcqueeferson (can’t tag some ppl!)

[floylia]

# MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE ⋆｡ ﾟ☁︎｡ ⋆｡ ﾟ☾

04. I’m so wet tonight 💌

Destiny and fate are liken to strings you can’t untangle with ease. Two simple words with inexplainable concepts. A belief split into millions of definition.

But this might be fate—a doomed fate.

Cerulean eyes meet yours upon striding inside the store. The contact lasts longer than necessary. But within those few seconds, recognition is acknowledged on both sides.

That fateful day when a guy embarrassed himself and you watched it unfold.

You thought that was the last of it. Perhaps not.

You scan the small dairy isle, searching for an energy drink and a bucket of ice cream, while ignoring the pleads in the back of your head—constantly screeching about the humiliating past.

But who are you to feel embarrassed for him?

Why do you feel shame in the first place?

“Cash or card?”

“Cash.” You pass him the total amount, grabbing the wrinkled change you had in your wallet.

He takes it hesitantly, “By the way, about last time...”

Here we go.

“There was a rat in the locker room so I ran out like that. As for what I said… I don’t remember why I did that. But I promise, I’m not… a pervert,” The last phrase was faint as he whispers it in a breath.

You chuckle, “It made me laugh, don’t worry.”

One moment ago he was a grey cutout, now colors are back in his face as a grin reaches the wrinkles of his eyes, “So we’re cool?”

He looks like a dog wagging his tail after seeing a treat.

You nod, “Was that bothering you for a while?”

He breathes a sigh of relief—staring at you as if he had been derived of oxygen, “Yes! I was tossing my body back and forth that night, because my head refused to stop replaying the scene every time I closed my eyes. Can you imagine yourself doing that? Here I thought I was being mysterious.”

Not a single bone in his body was mysterious.

“People remember their own embarrassing moments more than other people’s, don’t stress about it.”

He shows his paper white teeth, “You have a way with words.”

“And you don’t,” You blurt out, recalling that moment.

Laughter engulfs the tense atmosphere.

“Fair enough. Fair enough. I’ll never live that down. My friends tease me enough already,” he hands you your change and the plastic bag worth of snacks.

The pit-a-patter outside makes your head swerve towards the window. Rain droplets fall from the heavens, gearing up as you spend minutes inside the establishment.

Checking the weather today slipped your mind, otherwise you would have brought an umbrella. Even though your dorm is nearby, running through the heavy downpour is not something you enjoy doing on a school night.

Navia would jerk her head in disapproval.

The ginger must have realized your conundrum.

“Here,” He offers you a small black umbrella, “You can use this.”

“No, no it’s alright. You might need to use that later.”

He shakes his head, “The store owns it. We have extra. Just borrow it for tonight. Then you can come back and return it. Think of this as an apology.”

“Thank you. I didn’t want to be drenched today. I’ll return this, I promise!”

A gentle smile pervades his face as he waves a goodbye. He observes you, crossing the street from the foggy window until your silhouette fades with the night sky.

In truth, the store didn’t own the umbrella. They don’t have an extra. It was his — but that is his little secret.

No harm done with a white lie.

NOTES:

kinda rushed (wrote the written parts in one night, i dont usually finish fics in one sitting)

ig he gained aura points?

was gonna post this later but fuck it 🤷‍♀️

SYNOPSIS: There’s a line Childe knows he shouldn’t cross; A line built on years of friendship; A line that happens to cross you, his best friend’s younger sister, grieving her first love; A line where he plays savior, wears a halo, then feign ignorance, because love is a game for fools—and he happens to be the biggest idiot when it comes to love.

When a new stranger invades your life and an old poet writes back.

CHILDE x FEM!READER

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[weasleyreidstyles]

Serendipity; Tulips & Starlight

series masterlist

i decided to make it super fluffy and cute - to make up for the angst to come (ig thats a spoiler?? but not really). if you want more one shots for this series send me a request because this was actually so fun 😁😁

Every year, without fail, the castle halls were full to the brim with wreathes of glittering hearts and ribbons of all sorts of reds, pinks and whites. The Hogwarts student body made a huge deal of Valentines Day every year – the muggleborn students had the most fun with the aspects that made it all the more magical. Each year, Professor Dumbledore would employ a series of real life Cupids to fly about the castle shooting 'arrows of love' towards their targets for the price of five whole Galleons.

Every year you find it sickening. This year is no different.

The Great Hall is swarming with people during breakfast and flying among the swooping owls are at least thirty or so Cupids who drift above the tables, skimming people's heads with the tips of their wrinkled feet. In place of the enchanted sky in the ceiling, red hearts have been enchanted to cascade like rain fall, bursting into balls of sparkling light that falls softly onto the tables, which are decorated in the same shade rather than the traditional scarlet, emerald, navy and yellow of the House colours.

You walk into the Great Hall, followed closely by Theo and Pansy, with distain painted across your face. Theo snickers as Pansy gushes silently over the Valentines decor.

"This is disgusting." You say with a scowl as the three of you wander in behind a group of giggling second year girls. Theo's snickering turns into a full on laughter as Pansy's head whips in your direction, disbelief written on her face.

"How can you possibly hate this?" she asks with wide eyes, as if you're committing some form of treason for hating this muggle holiday. "I think it's an endearing little thing."

"At least it's only for one day, tesoro." Theodore teases sarcastically, moving away just in time to avoid your swatting hand. "Don't you want to be swooned with flowers and chocolate?"

You curse his words as you part ways to the Ravenclaw table, shooting him daggers when he speaks to you in your mind as he sits down.

I wonder...should I pay one of those ugly Cupids to shoot an arrow at Matt for you? He smirks mischievously as said boy wanders into the Great Hall, deep brown eyes immediately seeking you out before he finds his friends.

You send him a smile, that goes unnoticed by everyone but him, before shooting as many cuss words you know towards Theo, who only laughs in response.

I'll take that as a no, then. Enjoy your breakfast, tesoro. Is all he can say before you kick him from your mind with a forceful shove.

He turns to Mattheo and they begin to have a lengthy discussion, but you're not curious enough to find out what it is, more content with drowning yourself in caffeine, if only to fuel your need to survive through the day.

~∞~

The Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom is possibly the only room in the castle that doesn't reflect the rest of the hallways. You should be glad that it no longer looks like Saint Valentine threw up in every single crevice, but the gloomy atmosphere actually makes your mood deplete. Mattheo had been sending you secretive looks all day and you had to admit that you were curious.

He was definitely planning something; it made you nervous, butterflies fluttering anxiously in your stomach.

Professor Snape was still yet to make his dramatic entrance to the classroom; you were chatting with Hermione, Ron and Harry as you waited impatiently for the lesson to start when Harry pointed to something fluttering above your head.

It's not a Cupid. Thank Merlin. But it's still happening in front of so many people and you want the ground to swallow you whole, until you make eye contact with its sender, who was smirking into the crook of his elbow, avoiding your narrowed gaze.

Mattheo had somehow gotten some faeries to flutter about your head, silent and imposing as one by one, they made about a dozen tulips of varying shades of red, purple and yellow, appear on your desk. You bite the inside of your cheek hard to stop the smile spreading across your face, but it doesn't hinder the bright blush that floods your aching cheeks.

"What the fuck?" Ron guffaws loudly, drawing more attention to the four of you, but you ignore everyone in favour of the deep rasp of his voice that enters your mind.

Theo said it would be a hard no if I paid one of the Cupids to shoot an arrow at you. He says, voice filled with mirth.

Yes. I would've run out of this classroom and you would never see me again. You respond with sparkling eyes.

Well I'm glad I listened to him, for once. Do you like them? The flowers, I mean? He sounds almost... insecure; nervous. Two things Mattheo Riddle is not. Your expression softens.

I love them. Did you know that tulips are my favourite flower?

I asked little Weasley for some help with that one. I'm glad you like them, love. His smirk has transformed into a genuine smile as you brave looking at him amidst the sea of your peers, including the eyes of your three best friends.

Within your conversation that only took mere minutes, rather than the eternity you wished it was, the faeries flittered towards your books and rested upon your desk infront of you, bounding the fallen tulips into an intricate bouquet, bound by what looked like a string of glitter, but you knew better.

You and Hermione gasp simultaneously, along with the other girls in the near vicinity of your desk. Harry and Ron only look more baffled.

"I-is that starlight?" Mione whispers in awe as you both stare down at the faeries who grin up at you with sparkling teeth as the bright silvery light acts like a beacon amidst the darkness of the classroom. "Whoever this is has gone beyond what I thought possible for your attention."

"Yeah." you reply with glistening eyes that flick to Mattheo who looks like he's sat on the edge of his seat.

He sees it in your eyes. The emotion that neither of you have dared to voice, too scared to step even further over the line that you were already holding onto for dear life, but that grip was slipping with every passing day.

Mattheo knew then that he would gift you the world if you asked for it; he would give you anything, even something as rare and beautiful as starlight.

The rest of the day is a blur for you. You hardly notice the eyesores that are Cupids flying around like headless chickens, chasing people around the grounds. All you can think about are the Tulips wrapped up in glistening starlight that sit safely in a vase in your dorm room.

~∞~

Meet me in the Astronomy Tower – M

The lone note, that sits on your bedside table, reads. It was not there when you returned from dinner earlier, so it had appeared during the time you've spent in the company of your friends since then.

The day is almost over, the Grandfather clock in the common room is distantly chiming that it is eleven at night, marking one more hour of the day.

You had woken up in a sour mood over what you would have to endure from overbearing couples and lovesick idiots all day. But you had been pleasantly surprised by just how thoughtful Mattheo had been.

And you were not expecting it at all.

Mattheo Riddle who portrayed this persona of pure evil, stoicism and nonchalance to the world had gone above and beyond your expectations of Valentines Day and turned it into something truely magical.

You turn to look at your chest of drawers, where the tulips rest in a glass vase, starlight pooling around them, and into the air, casting a pleasant glow around your room. You had quickly discovered that he had also charmed the tulips to last forever. So they would never die; symbolic true love forever bathed in breathtaking starlight that was bestowed upon the bouquet like faery dust infront of your very eyes.

Quickly you changed into presentable, but comfortable clothes: Black flared leggings and you covered your cold arms with a fluffy jumper that cropped just above your belly button shoving on a pair of dark trainers before you made the short journey out of the Ravenclaw common room towards the neighbouring Astronomy tower.

It only took you ten slow minutes to sneak across corridors, silently praying the Filch and Mrs. Norris didn't turn the corners when you did. But you got to the Astronomy tower without a hitch and descended the steep staircase, wrapping your arms tighter around yourself at the bite of the cold.

"You came." his voice is a soft caress against the wind and you find yourself immediately wrapped up in his strong arms.

"Of course, I did." you mumble into his chest, hugging him tighter as a gust of wind circles the two of you. "I've been thinking about you all day."

"Have you now?" He asks with a smirk that turns into a startled chuckle as you shove against his chest with a laugh of your own.

It's only when you step out of his embrace that you see what he had planned. Your mouth gapes as you take in the scene in front of you.

Set up in the centre of the open room, surrounded by telescope's and magical orreries, is a red and white gingham picnic blanket surrounded by dazzling balls of light that cascade down the stone walls like fairy lights. There are candles dotted about the room, casting a warm glow.

"Matt-" you start but the feeling of his chest pressing into your back has your voice quieting as he presses languid kisses to your exposed neck. You sigh as you relax into his hold. "How long did this take you?"

"Not long. Pansy helped me with the decorations while I got food from the kitchens. Dobby heard your name and went all out." he chuckles quietly as he gently guides you towards the blanket, where a dark brown picnic basket sits among a series of long candlesticks.

"It looks lovely." you say as you move to sit down, Mattheo following closely behind.

Your thigh presses against his as he reaches into the basket, pulling out a bottle of sparkling wine. You smile as he turns to you with a cheeky grin.

"Ready to be wined and dined, sweetheart?" he asks with a smirk as he pops the cork and pours both of you a generous amount. Your smile gives way to a delightful giggle as you clink your glasses together, pulling out a series of food that Dobby had generously prepared for the two of you.

~∞~

"How did you manage to plan all this? From the tulips to the starlight to...to this? It's all so perfect." you ask as you take a bit out of a chocolate covered strawberry.

"Well...Weasley told me about your favourite flowers and their meaning and I figured out how to bargain with the faeries from the forest for the starlight."

"How?" you were intrigued.

"That's my secret, love." he teases. "I'm not allowed to say."

"Not even to me?" you pout and he laughs as he takes a bit out of the pumpkin pasty on his plate.

"Not even you. I can't break a faerie's promise. You know that."

You could reason with that, you supposed. Faerie promises were sacred in the wizarding world.

"I think this is our first real date." you say contently, as you lean back on your elbows, staring at the side of his chiselled face.

"It is, isn't it." he says, nodding his head. One of his hands rests idly against your thigh, thumb occasionally stroking against the fabric of your leggings. "Well I must say, I don't think you'll ever top this."

You let out a loud laugh at his arrogance that has Mattheo swooning as he stares at you.

"What?" you ask, face wide with a smile as you reach up to brush your hands against your mouth. "Do I have something on my face?"

He leans in closer, voice barely a whisper.

"Yeah, you have an eyelash right here-" he reaches his hand to brush away the stray lash that had fallen onto your cheek but before he does, he presses a searing kiss to your lips.

Momentarily stunned, you react a second late before you wrap your arms around his neck, letting him lay you across the gingham blanket. He smiles against your lips and you can't help but lick at the seam of them until he lets you explore his mouth with your tongue, groaning as he grinds his hips against your's.

The peaceful atmosphere is disrupted by the incessant flapping of wings that has you detaching your lips from his. Looking around curiously you spot the intruder floating around in your peripheral.

"I thought I made it clear that I abhored the idea of a Cupid shooting an arrow at us." you say with a huff as the angel like creature lines up it's bow and arrow. To his credit, Mattheo actually looks confused as he swivels his head in the direction you're looking in.

"I- I didn't-" he pauses before shooting a scathing look towards the door. "Fucking Theodore thinks he's so funny."

The Cupid's arrow makes it's mark and all you feel is a pinch, no less painful than a pin prick, before the loud laughter of your friend is heard from behind the door. You'd find it hillarious if it was anyone else, but not while you were having such an intimate moment.

Mattheo looks about ready to maim his best friend, but you stop him by wrapping your legs around his hips.

"Leave it, Théo. He's just being a dick because he's got no Valentine this year." you say, making your voice louder so that Theo can hear you clearly. You hear his receding footsteps along with his echoing laughter that has Mattheo easing up, but he's clearly speaking to Theo as there's a clouded look in his raging onyx eyes.

"Sorry love." he says as he presses kisses down your neck, reaching for the hem of your jumper that is quickly discarded. You look up at him with an expression that has him melting into you instantly. The words are on the tip of your tongue, but something was stopping you; you knew it was irrational, knew that he felt the same way about you.

But you wanted to tell him when the time was right, and no matter how perfect, you knew that this wasn't that moment. You were content in bathing in his otherworldly presence, pressing kisses to his mouth, nose, cheeks and neck as he worshipped you under the stars.

Your time together was a reprieve from everything happening around you; there was a darkness looming about the castle, but in Mattheo's arms you felt infinitely safe.

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(striked out users are ones that i couldn't tag)

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[bibuckaroo]

sooo… BI! BUCK!

i got to THE episode of all the controversial takes and i honestly think it was a well thought out episode. i’ve heard that this episode is from buck’s point of view and i felt like this episode was purposefully misleading and confusing, so i’m attributing that to the fact that buck himself is confused about what’s going on.

we get his scene with tommy in the beginning of the episode, showing that yeah, he might be interested in him, because why else would he go down to where he works to get a tour? (and i do believe he was attracted to him, 100%, but i also think that what may make him attracted to tommy is the similarities he sees with eddie, since he can’t even go an entire conversation without mentioning him) and then eddie arrives there and there’s a shift in the atmosphere immediately. also important to note, that buck talks about how he’s only dated people he’s met on calls and even mentions the whole first meeting with taylor and the helicopter and tommy himself says that never ends well because they’re always grateful at first, and like, correct me if i’m wrong but buck and tommy met on a call, and the gratefulness can come into play too, since tommy helped rescuing bobby and athena (yk, buck’s pseudo parents) and it’s not far off to say this since buck himself at the end of the episode refers to that and tommy helping them and whatever.

at first, watching the episode some scenes could be explained away with getting to be closer to tommy, him asking eddie incessantly about the vegas trip and wanting every last detail and even with chris, but by the scene in the gym is already pretty clear who he’s jealous of. he’s trying to get eddie’s attention so bad it makes him look stupid, he even orders a basketball to believe delivered to the fire station, for the sole purpose of getting a reaction and when he talks to maddie about this whole thing, he admits that he did all of this to get eddie’s attention and maddie scolds him, because this is not healthy for buck, his insecurities made him hurt someone he loves.

also, tommy was definitely interested in eddie, saw that wasn’t going to pay off, switched gears to buck, because saw how desperate he was (an adjective used on the show itself) and saw he was the easier one to score and even so, he expected buck to realize he was trying to get eddie’s attention.

now onto my boy eddie, he did not deserve this at all!! he said so himself he invited buck multiple times and buck always turned him down!! and then he made a new friend and got hurt in the process, honestly, i would be pissed actually!

finally, about tommy… bringing him back was a decision and i’m not saying that it was a good one, i do not like him, he left with a sour taste in my mouth and this episode did not put him in a better light for me. he was probably interested in eddie and probably knew he had a girlfriend and was trying to woo him anyway. then his whole talk with buck? about him wishing he was part of the 118 like that when he was one of the co-conspirators to make it a living hell before? nah, miss me with that! and nobody talks about it! pisses me off!! also, him saying “evan” was getting on my nerves, heard this was a deliberate choice and that the actor was not allowed to say “buck” which makes me think about the fact that only the people who truly know him call him “buck” and eddie and maddie only called him “evan” in moments they needed to get his attention.

i’m glad about bi!buck, don’t get me wrong, but i wish it was with someone who we liked from the start and would be good for him, i mean him and josh had more development than that!! but anyway, i’ll take my wins with my losses ig.

[gazetto-no-ki]

2024.12.14 Ruki on IG:

Introducing more of NIL's 2024 new items.

This is the second notebook set.

Above all, I made it because I personally use it so much. This time, I used candle motifs and posters from ACT1, the first exhibition we held when NIL started, as inspiration.

Lately, I've been mostly using my iPad, but it sometimes just disappears, so this is also a lesson about the importance of keeping things on paper 📖✏️

The towels were made to match the cushion patterns. The design is embossed, and we've upgraded the fabric to be sturdier compared to the previous towels 🙌

And this time, the novelty item is a rubber coaster ☕️

Please check it out.

#nilduenilun_tokyo #nilduenilun #act11 #ruki

These are earrings I made because there were so many requests for me to create them again.

I have two piercings on the opposite side of my stretched ear, so I wanted something small for layering, and this size ended up being perfect.

Because of that, I think these are also easy to wear for people who only have one piercing in each ear. Another great feature is that the back clasp doesn’t stick out, so they’re super secure and practical 😎

#nilduenilun_tokyo #nilduenilun #act11 #ruki

New cushion covers.

Since last year, I’ve been wanting to change up my furniture, but part of me still wanted to keep the room as it was when Koron was here, and honestly, I just didn’t have the energy for it. Still, even just one small item can really change the atmosphere, and I’m glad I made these for myself. Like the previous ones, they turned out great 🙏

The key point is that they have different patterns on the front and back, making it easy to match them with your mood or other cushions.

#nilduenilun_tokyo #nilduenilun #act11 #ruki

NEW TEE⛓️

Featuring a big smiley face printed on the front. Since I regularly collect vintage T-shirts, I combined that kind of vibe with the acid-metal graphic style I’ve loved using since the MASS TOUR to create this piece ⛓️☺️

#nilduenilun_tokyo #nilduenilun #act11 #ruki

[ironunderstands]

I decided to take notes while I played through 2.3… so here they are

First Scene

-stellaron sealed when we were asleep apparently 

-was Sunday the one to tailor everyone’s dreams?

-dreamscape itself exists???

-march’s memories are weird as normal, tentacle tried to reach into her brain but found SOMETHING???

-we were asleep when this all happened and we woke up and immediately asked if it was a dream so something is already up oh boy 

Second Scene 

-firefly and silverwolf yay 

-firefly is still on the wanted list, as Firefly this time 

-it was a missing part of her life she got back 

-Silverwolf helps her out with not being able to move freely, giving her a way out of dreaming ig??? Helps her navigate through unbothered ?

-idk the mechanics of it if you can’t tell

-Miss Samuel as a fake name lmao 

-GENIUS SOCIETY IS HERE?? WHYYY?? HUHHH

-firefly’s script isn’t over yet (third death I assume?)

-“didn’t bring you back to hear an answer like that,” did SW think she already experienced the third death? On her second death was SW the one to revive her, as it seemed like she did that on her own in 2.2?

-yeah she hasn’t done 3rd death yet, and I assume the “unforgettable reward,” is *sighs* time with the Trailblazer 

-“How will I know if I don’t try?” Hmmm this confuses me 

-SW says she’s already made up her mind 

-ooh Kafka asks for some gifts LMAOO, fashionable as always

-to Oti mall I guess, isn’t that one of the people who expressed disappointment in Sunday?

-BLADE ADVICE? telling her to not get tempted, tempted by what?

-YAY SHE GETS NORMAL GIRL TIME THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED

-oat cakes for SW or Kafka or Blade? Aww Stellaron Hunter family bonding 

-oh is she trying to defy the script?

-adding new footnotes to her destiny, hmm

Third Scene

-TOPAZ POV

-I DIED OMGNDNAKDJKWJDD

-were are on the Radiant Felddpar ship 

-Family is there but “Big Boss” isn’t, I assume that’s Jade

-there’s music notes in the air? Robin?

-Topaz points out how weird this choice of location is

-ship belongs to Alfalfa Family

-npc we are talking to also thinks it should have been held in a more secretive area (Moment of Morning Dew)

-not serious enough atmosphere 

-something’s up definitely 

-Topaz thinks conference is just a prelude- whatever Family organizer wanted to assess the IPC’s stance beforehand

-she thinks they either have their own ambitions and want a preliminary agreement, or want to make the IPC back off, we shall see ig

-Big Boss is a her (definitely Jade), Topaz complimented, saying others must be cautious of her 

-tells subordinate Thomas to just tell the rest of her employees to stay focused on the task ahead 

-yeah it’s Jade, act shocked, also she’d get mad if he called her that 😭😭

-walking around time 

-there is music all around the ship 

-not very important but there are paper birds here too

-none of the important figures have arrived to the meeting room yet, so let’s look around 

This is just from looking around:

-why are there dream pools on the ship? I thought we were already in the dream?

-the torment eagle things are here too 

-and nightingale paintings

-Sparkles bombs, delightful 

-why is there a room on the ship that looks like Mishas room in the dream 

-it seems like the Family is already aware of the bombs and is looking for them based on the dialogue of the NPCs

-there’s a lost kid on the ship?

-so many doors are closed off

-absurdist clock fun 

-the quest is titled “All About Eve” like Eve from the Bible? Is that referring to Jade?

-exhibit that hasn’t been delivered yet

-Robin has instructed them to prepare some things but it seems like the Family isn’t ready yet?

Ok I’m gonna talk to the workers now

-ok talked to the one by Sparkles bombs and Sparkle started talking 

-Numby can hear her I think, I don’t think Topaz did

-yeah Topaz doesn’t know they are bombs that Sparkle hands out, apparently she was disguised as man- maybe Sampo?, uh no all the Buttons are in one place 

-somehow nobody pressed a button, I don’t believe that, the NPC also says that all guests are terrified of death, but like, how did nobody press it?

-yep we are in the dream bc she wants to feed Numby and questions the food quality in a dream

-Numby does not like Oat Cake Rolls

-Topaz will give them a better meal in reality

-so why is there a dreamscape pool in the dream 

-asks more about Radiant Feldspar, which is also owned by Oti Alfalfa, just like the store Firefly wanted to go to

-built an Amber Era ago, it sails across all 12 hours- so they are connected you just have to cross them I guess? Or like does it slip through dimensions 

-Topaz recognizes Old Oti, however what’s weird is that despite how she points out how well decorated it is, there seems to be a lot of stuff missing + Robin thing from earlier

-only prestigious guests are invited, so how did that Pepeshi get lost?

-Ship had been sailing since it was built but was halted due to the recent reverberation 

-reverberation aka whatever the fuck just happened in 2.2

-Family attendant repeats that everything has been resolved and the Charmony Festival had to be temporarily postponed 

-so it’s gonna happen on the ship now, and will also resume the ships voyage, so I guess that’s why Robin ordered some things and everything is a bit out of place

-However, why are they gathering Sparkles Bombs onto the celebration + meeting ship? Why not anywhere else?

-Talent Motivation Department mention 

-ppl still coming after Topaz for Jarilo I will kill them <3

-poor girl can’t get a break, JADE IS HERE

CUTSCENE SO MUCH HAPPENED

-Numby does not trust or like Jade at all

-Topaz is fucking star struck on her knees dying down bad gay gay gay 

-Jade commends her for the Jarilo project, saying the Express’s favor is far more valuable than the planet itself 

-Jade says Topaz can tell her anything, then holds out her Cornerstone as if Topaz would talk to it???

-hmmm

-“you can always tell me anything, remember?” Ah so they are close, and Topaz seems to trust her and vice versa, however I (and Numby) do not trust Jade so there is something sinister going on 

Alright cutscene yapping over

-Jade says to drop the title, that they are equals

-Topaz calls her a senior, but I think she just means in rank

-Jade wants Topaz to be at her best- upcoming negotiations leave no room for error

-true purpose of conference: Oti testing limits of 2 stonehearts before offical negotiations can commence, works in their favor bc it will cause future negotiations to go smoother if they can reach an agreement (this is obvious benefit)

-hidden benefit: demonstrates the Family isn’t all that united bc he’s meeting w them first on his own territory + taking control of Charmony Festival too

-they aren’t entirely influenced by the Harmony so their personal desires shine through, influential figures haven’t suppressed their own 

-with the Dreammaster gone, the Family has begun to fall apart slowly, seems like after 2.2 Oti took over 

-Jade taught her to Listen, test and strike, Jade teases her that she changed the order on Jarilo- Topaz’s personal experience  caused this (her seeing her past/trauma in Belabog)

-meeting time!

-meeting esteemed “supporting actor” hmm

-goal is to create an opportunity for IPC to enter Penacony- Aventurine made a small hole for them to enter, and they are going to tear it wide open

Some more looking around 

-the bombs/buttons are gone 😨 and so is that guard 

-was there a projector in that room (with the dream pool) before?

-diff family attendant at that spot before

Ok back to plot time

-oh this is the place where the divergent universe takes place (I started it a bit yesterday lol, oops), seems like that’s what the Genius Society will get a hold of at the end of this?

-Oti is a Pepeshi, and I really like his character model, he seems welcoming?

Looking around time again 

-the mechanism they use for the Divergent Universe is already there- did Ratio and Screwllum meet with Oti beforehand? Is that how he figured out Dormancy?

-some more locked doors

-Whales outside the window.. (Childe flashbacks)

-let’s talk to Jade before we see Oti

-oh we can’t it just makes us walk beside her

Conversation time

-Oti is hospitable, asks them to forgive him for the wait

-Oti is such a businessman that the Strategic Investment Department makes it a requirement to read his biography

-she’s trying to flatter him but I think Jade is also warning him that she and the rest of the department know everything about him and who he is 

-Topaz doesn’t seem to notice that though and praises him for single handedly building Penacony economy 

-Oti noticed Jade’s tactics I think

-he gets straight to the point- future of Penacony

-Oti questions wtf Aventurine was doing and why 😭, almost getting killed and for what?

-oh he figured them out LMAOO, yup that was for an opportunity 

-haha Jade says “fuck he figured us out” nicely

-she puts the pressure back on him, asking Oti how he would respond 

-he first admires her composure at being called out

-“Oti won’t sit idly by when faced with a greedy wolf,” is he referring to the IPC, Aventurine or both?

-offscreen negotiation

-seems he said something that offended Topaz and Jade, Jade says she’s all ears

-Oti says he requested this meeting to dissuade the SID from trying to lay a finger on Penacony

-asks them to back off before they lose face in the future 

-Topaz points out their fuck ups- Aventurine almost getting murdered and the Charmony Festival fuck up, that there are plenty of real issues plaguing the area

-Oti says they need to be more creative in the land of dreams 

-“My actions will help Penacony take a significant step forward by “self-listing” and going public!” What does that mean 

-Jade asks if he’s gonna bypass the IPC and go public on a universal scale (still don’t know what that means)

-rather than letting the IPC take hold, he’s gonna open the sweet dream to everyone in the universe- which is worded REALLY sinister if you ask me- is he gonna try and make everyone in it dream?

-he redirects and says that from today, anyone can become a shareholder in the Land of Dreams, and that’s the Path of Harmony he chooses

-Oti was aware of the Oaks family’s entanglement with the Order, calls them blockheads who prevented this from happening sooner

-Oti is thankful that the “reverberation” (Sunday and Order’s downfall) has allowed for the obstacle between him and his reforms to be eliminated

-publicize their finances so the universe still has faith in them + the Family remains confident in its future

-neither Jade nor Topaz seem happy about this, seems like they don’t feel as if they are on equal footing

-Jade asks Oti if he’s being waiting for Penacony to regain the spotlight, so if the IPC does anything, their actions will be scrutinized by trillions of people 

-asks them to consider their next moves carefully 

-Jade suggests they conclude the first half of their conference, and that they will respond on the behalf of the IPC later

-he just tells them to take their time (Oti is confident he is in control)

Scene 4- Trailblazer POV

-seems that meeting has concluded as Dan Heng asks if the Alfalfa Family had a meeting with the IPC

-Aventurine told them that to “return the favor”

-I wonder what happened in the meantime to get us here

-Welt points out that Penacony hasn’t changed much since the prison era, suggests that Penacony would rather invite the IPC to the table- on the surface to cooperate- but in reality to secure their own survival 

-which is why the Astral Express are now mediators, and Dan Heng doesn’t know who to stand behind

-Welt doesn’t trust the followers of the Harmony to be as innocent as they presume they are

-if either the Family or the IPC were to take control of Penacony, the efforts of the previous nameless to free it from that illusory hedonism would go to waste

-we were in a deep sleep apparently (uh oh)

-one of the dialogue options says that TB felt like they were in a really long dream 

-another asks where Himeko is

-Welt says their adventure in Penacony is reaching its conclusion

-After Ena’s dream shattered, Montour System’s branch of the Family took control of the situation, most members of the Oak Family fell unconscious? But their lives weren’t in danger 

-Gopher Wood, the previous Dreamaster was confirmed to be the mastermind behind everything, however we know that Sunday killed him. But didn’t he kill him in the dream? So how did gopher wood die in reality? Or did like, the power of the Order that Sunday must have used on him cause that, or did he step outside the dream to face Gopher, then go back in?

-Sunday will face a trial: the Family won’t disclose any further details 

-public perceived incident as an attack by evil forces targeting the Charmony festival, believing the Family had failed to safeguard the sweet dream which eroded their credibility significantly

-at least it has the least impact? Even if it’s far from what really went down 

-SIOBHAN IS BACK

-she says they will get over it

-“you don’t know who’s awake and who’s pretending to be asleep”- another ominous line 

-gives them a toast 

-trailblazer asks why she’s there again, Siobhan is just confused 

-asks when they will leave Penacony

-Welt says they will stay a bit longer, just not too long 

-she says this farewell is missing something 

-“maybe a special drink to honor those who are not here” oh yeah Gallagher is gone GONE

-To the Nameless resting in peace… and to Gallagher, oh he’s so gone

Walking around time again 

-everyone but Himeko is here 

Ok taking this many notes is exhausting and is lowkey killing my enjoyment 😭 so I’ll just leave the REALLY important stuff from now on 

-The Family claims the Oak Family used the stellaron to help sink everyone into Ena’s dream 

-others had their own delusional dreams 

-DH says the hidden dangers of the Order have always been within the Harmony, an issue that has persisted in the Family from the very beginning 

-more awareness makes this complicated 

-March has a button now too, says she was told the buttons will explode Penacony if pressed 

-himeko’s been up to something lately she will tell us at the festival

-Siobhan gives us another drink, saying it will “bring back the flavors of Penacony” which makes me believe it will help us get back here somehow 

-Welt is sure it will leave a lasting impression, hmmm

-she says if we happen to find Gallagher, to let him have a sip 

Scene 5: Jade POV

-Oti is tricky but there is still hope

-Jade asked Topaz to make a phone call offscreen, presumably to the express who agreed

-talking in code

-Jade asks Topaz if she thinks Penacony is worth it

-Topaz says yes

-Jade questions if this project is too bland for her

-Topaz says she would be here if it weren’t for Aventurine

-Jade pointed out she entrusted him with a cornerstone, which is as precious as life itself to finish this gamble 

-however Topaz points at out that Jade’s stone couldn’t have made it in without either of their cornerstones: and that the Jade stone allows Jade to see all desires that flow through the dreams to gain a bargaining chip in the negotiations: this must be the “harvest” Jade was referring to in 2.1, seems like this is her Cornerstone’s ability 

-Perhaps that’s why she held it up earlier? To allow Topaz to vent her feelings into the Jade stone?

-Topaz actually staked her Topaz’s stone for Jade’s sake, not Aventurine’s

-Jade is greatful Aven is alive, saying it’s the best outcome, Topaz immediately says they have strayed off topic

-Jade says she will go alone, instructs Topaz to meet “honored guest”- likely the Nameless

-Jade spots Robin

-turns out we were actually in the previously locked off rooms in the back of where we met Oti, he’s still there, and he’s wearing glasses? Was he before? We can’t talk to him tho 

-ah this also unlocked some more doors- it’s where the ship is captained, but the captains room is locked 

-Robin is preparing for Charmony Festival

-Jade lies saying she’s on her way to meet Oti really she’s just here for info before meeting him 

-Robins never met him, she says Alfalfa is respectable when it comes to business, but not necessarily in other respects

-Jade asks where Robin thinks Penacony is heading, Robin is hopeful, thinks Harmony needs new direction 

-“no permanent allies or everlasting enemies,”

-2nd half of negotiations- no Topaz this time

-Jade is gonna be meaner bc Topaz isn’t here you go manipulative queen 

-says Oti is not the only merchant who has seen the changes in the cosmic market over the past ten Amber Eras

-Jade declares that Penacony has no way of sidestepping the IPC and going public, that they can’t stop the IPC, the IPC will tear down and rebuild as they see fit

-tells Oti that if he doesn’t want to be a laughingstock and have everyone after him, he better drop his “pie-in-the-sky-plan” perhaps he was planning on using Sparkles bombs to take out the IPC ambassadors now that the protection of not being able to die in the dream is no longer there- or at least he has control over it

-Jade reminds him IPC controls more than half the news in the universe 

-says trillions of customers will receive a, “The Family’s protection for Penacony has expired. Any mishaps in the Dreamscape could result in permanent brain death,” message from the IPC if Penacony decides to go public

-threatens to make his entire currency worthless with how many contingencies the IPC has, Jade is confident she can pull it off, even from Pier Point

-she promises that the IPC won’t jeopardize the interests of the Family heads under Oti’s leadership if he gives up the plan to go public 

-they (IPC) want allies in Asdana, Jade says they can assist Penacony with financing, will acquire 30% equity shares from the Family, and in exchange will also help rebuild Penacony 

-Oti thinks it’s too much, and worried about the future 

-Jade happily says there are no guarentees- this is based on mutual respect- but the board of directors will consider the interests of the Family heads to some extent

-she points out this would be beneficial for the Family, and for him, if they both take a step back, also points out this will attract more customers like he wanted 

-as the head of the Alfalfa family, Oti accepts, seeing no reason to refuse, but as THEIR (Xipe’s) chosen one, he still needs one final answer (hmmm this is an interesting detail)

-talks about the rise of Xipe and fall of Ena, he asks why the IPC seeks to collaborate with the Family (Harmony) rather than the Order, who is far closer in ideals (Preservation)

-Jade says it’s about credit, saying that through the Preservation, the IPC can perpetually ensure credits value, meaning they have no need for the Order, as they have made their own, with Qilpoths “credit” being the heart of everything

-Oti understands this will eventually lead to the IPC taking control over everything 

-“this universe doesn’t need two types of Order” (Preservation and the Order)

-Oti says he’s convinced 

-code words from before come back in (shit I should have written them down, it was poison something, sweet dew, and apple something, sweet dew shows up this time per Topaz’s invite)

-unsurprisingly, it’s one of the Nameless: Himeko

-Astral Express will be shareholders? Perhaps this is so they can guarantee the future the Nameless wanted like Welt mentioned

-IPC gets 30%, gives 5% to the express to “honor the sacrifices and contributions made by the former Nameless to the Land of the Dreams,” which is A) true B) the real honor is the express now having a foot in the door to prevent Penacony from being like it was before

-Himeko is a member for the board of directors- what board? One in the IPC, or for Penacony, the Family?

-crew agreed to assist in reconstruction of Penacony, and commit to bringing the dreams of Penacony to other worlds 

-However, they really wish for the Harmony to not be distorted again, that tragedy must never occur again

-negotiations end, we (as Jade) will go to meet up w Topaz again 

-Jade believes the family heads will soon realize the situation, and that Oti’s agreement didn’t just represent their agreement, but the followers of the Harmony in general (this last part is only implied though)

-Topaz says she will handle the arrangements for formal negotiations 

-Jade allows her to- gives Topaz a sense of control OOOH THE MANIPULATIONNNNN

-Topaz is shocked bc big responsibility, but Jade interrupts

-she says that Aventurine initiated this case and Topaz was his project partner, but since he overplayed his hand (taking on a case he couldn’t handle on his own?) Jade got pushed to the forefront 

-OOH MORE MANIPULATION, Jade says she came here to help Topaz sort out the toughest issues, saying “I trust you’ll be able to wrap things up quite nicely, little Jelena,”

-Topaz’s objections immediately get pushed aside bc of Jades words, and asks Jade to give Diamond her assurance

-Jade tells her to not worry, Diamond has always trusted them, and Jade will put in a good word for her, and Topaz will get her position (P45) back in no time

-Jade claims her business is done so she’s gonna indulge in her own little hobby (I’m scared)

-which is opening a Bonajade Exchange branch on this ship, whatever that is, Jade believes the guests on this ship had or a wealth of valuable treasures tho 

-it’s a pawnshop, and Jade says she will leave, saying she’ll “see you around Topaz”

-Topaz has one more question, Jade gladly lets her ask, she asks about the dose of “bitter poison”, wondering how Jade got it (I’m guessing her Cornerstone), it wasn’t her cornerstone, a “lady concerned with the future of the Harmony” told her (maybe this is Robin? But it seems like that was their first meeting? Hmm) 

-Jade says she agreed to help her with something later (which makes me think this was Sparkle now haha), and that they can deal with it after they leave Penacony

-“that’s what ‘investment’ is all about”- the seeds of opportunity have already been soon and Jade simply gives them a little bit of nourishment for them to take root, afterwards all they (her and Topaz) need to do is wait patiently 

-like right now, and Jade’s final “guest” boarded the ship

I’m insane about this actually yall. TOPAZ CENTRIC STORY??? WHAT IF I DIED. Also I love the way Jade was written in this, they made her as manipulative as I wanted her to be, so yeah I love her THEY COMMITED TO THE BIT I PRAYED FOR TIMES LIKE THIS

Scene 6: Firefly POV

-she boards (rather sneaks onto) the ship, so I assume she’s Jade’s final guest 

-oh she’s heading to the pawnshop that grants wishes (it’s definitely Jade’s), perhaps to get those gifts she wanted earlier, or defy her destiny like she wanted to earlier?

-hey those closed off areas are unlocked W

-she spots TB, Robin is also there 

-there’s a nice banquet table for people in that room, we got a shot of it earlier during Topaz, Jade and Oti’s meeting, idk what line of dialogue it was for tho 

-Firefly overhears Robin saying that she will, “present a gift to the Astral Express on behalf of The Family as a token of gratitude for the Nameless’ contributions to Penacony”, asking for the staff to help her w the arrangements

-Firefly then asks how to get to the pawnshop, yup it’s Jade’s spot, she gets the directions 

-Silverwolf was gonna meet w the Genius Society? Why? Also apparently she mentioned Jade’s stuff earlier, I don’t remember that though, maybe I forgot to write it down

-we can look for the TB so I’m going to 

-TB is being a dumbass as ever and Firefly is amused 

-she wants to talk to us but Firefly wants to meet Jade first 

-we can’t go over there even if we want to

-Jade made her exchange in the dream pool room for some reason 

-asks Jade to call her Samuel

-Firefly says she wants to give up living, and that she’s willing to give up everything she has

-even Jade is gagged

-Firefly is like yup! Everything!

-Jade says she should turn around bc she’s not familiar with the term, “pawn” aka she’s betting quite literally EVERYTHING

-Jade says she doesn’t have anything of equal value to offer her

-Firefly is upset, says this shop must just be a marketing gimmick 

-Jade says she will help Firefly understand what she means, telling her to go and talk to the other customers, when she understands what “pawn” really means

-we see the TB being stupid again, this time w Dan Heng tagging along

-again she plans on catching up w them later

-first person she meets, Stacy, finally won a gamble w the blessing of Lady Bonajade

-there also seems to be way more guests on the ship 

-second person she meets, a Pepeshi named Dell, gets his crush named Dorothy to go out with him, implied that he wished for her to say yes

-ppl seem to be gossiping about a grey haired person, either Firefly or TB

-yup it’s TB

-someone has been hiding in the Moment of Sol in Penacony under a fake identity, proposing as a professor at Paperfold academy, apparently this intellatron (Walker) found him (idk who him is) with the help of an influential figure 

-ah this is unimportant this was just the wishes of the third person

-Firefly still doesn’t get it, but their wishes did seem to come true

-Jade said it was just to show the exchange was genuine, how she shows how all three of them gave up so much in exchange for their wishes, so yeah, glorified drug dealer, but it is an equal exchange, and Jade only encourages these people’s delusions, giving with the power of her Cornerstone for a hefty price

-uses their endless cycle of desires to get what Jade desires from their whirlpool of horrific decision making 

-Jade knows Firefly’s identity, and she asks Firefly if she’s really willing to give up everything, Firefly isn’t surprised though 

-Entropy Loss Syndrome was thrust upon all of the Iron Calvary in order to keep them fighting for Glamoth, and from falling into the wrong hands 

-Firmament Front is gone so those who know the secret and could cure the disease are nowhere to be found, but Firefly still wishes to continue her existence 

-Firefly asks if the IPC has a remedy 

-Jade just says there might be a silver lining and leaves it at that 

-Firefly realizes that she can’t provide anything of equal value bc nothing she owns has any meaning 

-asks Jade if she’s gonna ask her to restrain the other Stellaron Hunters for her survival 

-that’s not the case though, Jade acknowledges how remarkable close the Stellaron Hunters are, compares them to the Stonehearts, OOOHH LORE DROP

-Jade says like how the Stoneheart follow Diamond, the Stellaron Hunters are, “Traveling on the Path of Finality but struggling against your destiny, attempting to move in the opposite direction?”

-Firefly remains silent

-Jade hopes all of them will visit her pawnshop one day

-Firefly asks if she can see this as an invitation from Diamond to the Stellaron hunters behind the IPC’s back

-Jade says to consider it a person offer, not representing the IPC or SID

-Firefly says she will pass on the offer, but she has a question

-Firefly points out that SW could let the entirety of Pier Point know of this in seconds, so why would Jade ask this 

-Jade says it’s because she believes her and Firefly are the same

OH MY GOD STONEHEART PICTURE

-she believes the Stonehearts band together to get what they want, and have been invited by Diamond to join them whilst on their own journeys

-Jade says all stonehearts carry a void (ambition) that can only be filled from the outside 

-also omg Topaz and Aven look GOOOODD GRERRAAAA TOPAZ LOOOS SO FINE EEJFHJEJAKSKWS RAAAAA AVENNNNNNTURJEJNWKAND AAAA

-so Diamond promised them something, he divided the power of the Emanator of Preservation into ten pieces (for the ten stonehearts) and gave each of us a Cornerstone to fill that void 

-“Mortal flesh is fragile, yet my heart is unyielding like the monolith. For without this resolve, the way of the Preservation would fade into oblivion.”

-Jade says this pledge goes beyond a mere oath, it’s their collateral in exchange for the Stonehearts desires, and their future 

-whatever they gain from it will make the Stonehearts stronger, allowing them to achieve the great cause of the Preservation (what Diamond wants) when the war among the Aeons eventually comes (HUHH WHAT NOWW I MEAN WERE GETTING THEIR GOALS AT LEAST?!!)

-Jade tells Firefly to take her time 

-Firefly says she will, and says it’s shame that the pawnshop won’t give her what she wants, as her last attempt (death?) will end with “hope”

-Walker comes to give her his memories

Scene 7: Trailblazer 

-he points out how the meeting went smoother than expected 

-Charmony festival opening ceremony is starting soon

-AVENTURINE AND BOOTHILL?!!?

-Boothill threatening Aven jokingly but not jokingly, Aven brushes it off

-seems like they came to an agreement off screen

-he notices us + typical flattery, Boothill gives a normal greeting 

-Aventurine admits his words are nothing more than flattery and not genuine (at least due to the option I picked) 

-Boothill says to set aside the under the table stuff as to not spoil the mood

-Aven gives congratulations bc he can’t be there personally (he’s a hologram) to witness the crew getting celebrated 

-Aven says his job was just to give the IPC an opening, which he achieved (even if it was a mess

-Aven says he wouldn’t have been able to dig up such dirty information without the help of a “knowledgeable friend” HMMM IS THAT RATIO???

-Acheron still fucked him up though, and he admits this would have gone smoother had she not injured him 

-we thank Boothill, he’s like it’s nothing I’m a galaxy ranger it’s part of our duty, he’s happy Galaxy Rangers are making a comeback and asks the TB to pass on his regards to any Hunt followers he meets

-BOOTHILL STRAIGHT UP ADMITS THAT AVENTURINE IS GONNA HELP HIM FIND OSWALDO SCHNEIDER WHO HE HAS A SCORE TO SETTLE WITH??? HE ADMITS THAT!!? HUHHH, I mean he did say he’s not one to beat around the bush but still 

-Aventurine also talks about the feud between the Marketing Development Department (Oswaldo) and Strategic Investment Department (Diamond) is fairly well on wok, but he didn’t expect the Galaxy Rangers to get involved

-he thinks things are gonna get spicy 

-I wonder if the IPC knows about this deal between him and Boothill, I doubt it though, and I think Aven might be hiding this from everyone 

-this reminds me that he was deliberately acting like he hadn’t grown around Jade during their conversation in 2.2, which makes me think he’s planning to do something beyond just whatever he is gonna do with Boothill, or at the very least Aven wants to make things easier for himself by acting as if Penacony didnt change him 

-they wish the TB well, Avens hologram disappears 

RATIO.

EVERYONE PAUSSEEE

-he’s standing where the now activated Divergent Universe thing is AAAA

-it’s all over the screen/hj

-OK CALM DOWN BE SERIOUS 

-OFF THE BAT TSUNDERE - “your performance at Herta’s space station was… adequate, I suppose,” thats high praise coming from you hehehhehe

-“Hm, no wonder the gambler likes you so much.” HUHHH??! Can’t keep AVENS NAME OUT UR DAMN MOUTH FOR MORE THAN 5 SECONDS??? We didn’t even bring him up 

-“This individual is my responsibility during the trip. Hmph, nothing more than an errand from the Office of Academic Affairs,” the who of what now? Not the “hmph” and downplaying 

-tells the Trailblazer to take advantage of the opportunity the Charmony Festival provides 

-TB asks Ratio how he rates Aventurine, Ratio says that the IPC and Guild position them as strategic partners; but Ratio sees himself as a teacher, and like everyone in Ratio’s life, Aventurine as a student, Aven isn’t an ideal student, but not utterly obtuse. He remarks that the void inside of him (which could be referring to either the one mentioned as being filled by the Stonehearts or just Aven’s general lack of a will to live) cannot be filled by talent and knowledge. Ratio hopes he doesn’t turn into a philosophical zombie. Which I like that up, and it’s basically someone who behaves like a person but does not have a conscious experience. What I think Ratio is suggesting is that what Aventurine is missing isn’t talent or knowledge, but genuine connections with other people, goals, desires, a purpose, things that aren’t so material 

-TB teases Ratio, saying they thought he would make them get their act together, Ratio says that saying such a thing means we haven’t grasped the essence of learning, OH MY GOD HE SAYS EXACLTY HOW I BELIEVE HIM TO VIEW KNOWLEDGE SOMEONE SEDATE ME

“Acquiring knowledge aims to enhance living” I KNOW THIS IS A SIMPLE LINE BUT ITS LIKE AT THE CORE OF RATIOS PHILOSOPHY, HE WANTS TO SPREAD KNOWLEDGE TO HELP OTHERS GROW AND PICK THEMSELVES UP 

oh my god, that’s why Aventurine isnt his typical student, to improve Aventurine’s life, he DOESNT need knowledge or talent, so Ratio has to try other methods…

Forgive me for the person I’m about to become I fear 

-we say good by to him 😭😭😭😭

-“I detest noisy gatherings, as they intrude upon my thoughts.. What a waste of time” AUTISM!! BRO IS OVERSTIMULATED LEAAVE GO ELSEWHERE WHY ARE YOU HERE UR CLEARLY HAVING A BAD TIMEEEE

Alright bye Ratio onto the next one

-TOPAZ AND NUMBY??!?

-Topaz eco ship mention??

-ooh we ask her about her Cornerstone and if she can transform herself like Aven

-her ability isn’t as “visual”? So it’s not a transformation 

-LORE DROP; abilities of Ten Stonehearts are all different, some can even read thoughts and grasp desires (Jade), she warns us to be careful 

-Topaz is greatful for the timing in Belabog bc it let her and Bronya be friends 

-Jade convo next!

-I picked Sundays name and she went “not a bad name, just lacking in virtue,”

-she does her deal shtick, I’m gonna ask to revive Akivili 

-poor girl is dumbfounded, but she accepts 😭

-she asks for the tail of an animal and I think she asks for the tail of the cat in the stellaron hunters 😭

-sorry Akivili you aren’t returning 

-ARGENTI

-his lines aren’t voiced unfortunately 

-he’s talking about the beauty as always, saying we are already walking that path due to our virtue 

-apparently if an admirer of Beauty gets lost in the pursuit of power, they risk descending into “the Omen of Evil” a form that’s neither human nor beast 

-he compares this to Sunday; whose actions argenti believes were no different from the Omen of Evil, and that he lost his way along the path of righteousness 

-he wasn’t there at the final battle because Ena’s dream was too realistic and he couldn’t bid farewell to a fallen friend who had turned into a beast, so Argenti stayed within the dream for a while 

-he blames himself for not passing the trial of Beauty this time, and for hesitating, wishing to become more determined that ever 

-him and Sunday competing for who has more religous trauma LMAOO

Alright I’m done talking let’s wait for the opening now

-Firefly is here!

-we go over how wack the plot has been 

-she asks if we will be leaving again 

-I picked the idk option and Firefly says not to worry bc we are on the path of the Trailblaze

-Elio told Firefly that her journey will tell her how to live on and the rest is up for her to find out, and she will hunt for leads everywhere, including Penacony 

-TB says that no wonder she was investigating the Watchmaker, but even if she didn’t get what she wanted, Firefly says she get a deal from Jade

-we warn her not to make deals w the IPC bc they are shady

-Firefly is like no dw I didn’t do anything stupid or get anyone involved 

-she apologies for lying to us earlier about being from the Iris Family

-I accept it bc I’m not a cunt but I’m glad they allow you to turn her down 

-OOH FIREFLY’S STRUGGLE AT EXPRESSING HER EMOTIONS YESS HOYOVERSE THIS IS WHAT I WANTED GRRRRR

-uh oh bloodhound family is here 

-Firefly is sad and like “I guess we have to say our goodbyes”

-but she’s hopeful bc her “script” hasn’t ended yet- so they will meet again 

-TB is worried but figures she will be fine, we decide to check on her later after we attend the festival 

-we get a message from Firefly, saying she handled everything but she’s sad she won’t get to see Robin perform 

-Ceremony begins and Robin shows up

-March is fangirling

-Robin is eating as always 

-she’s like “yeah this has been crazy but hey we’re doing it now!”

-thanks Oti Alfalfa for his dedication 

-she’s like thank god it’s over

-oh she brings up the Watchmaker

-she gives a tribute to Misha/ Mikhal Char Legwork for laying the foundations of Penacony

-thanks him for allowing the Dreamscape to exist, that Penacony’s success is rooted in the Trailblaze that the Watchmaker brought with him and only by honoring that spirit can harmony be spread 

-everything is back on track, and Penacony’s family give the Nameless a token of appreciation 

-They give the ship to the Astral Express?!!? That’s a fun one, I think Robin pulled some strings for that one to screw over Oti for throwing Sunday under the bus

-she toasts the Harmony, the Trailblaze, the future of Penacony and the universe, and the generous Alfalfa Family Head, Mr. Oti Alfalfa

CUTSCENE TIME

-Oti is amused by Robins cunning

-he’s SPARKLE TIME

-she put a bomb in the ship and we got 10 minutes to find it oh boy 

Cutscene over 

-she gave us a map at least 

-HASTIEST GROUP CHAT IN EXISTENCE TO FIX THIS

-LMAOO

-this is great it’s bomb hunting time

-because the hounds are stupid and gathered everything spending 48 system hours to press all her buttons 

-it’s hidden among 999 dolls and the challenge is to find where the real one is hidden 

-Robin asks everyone not to panic and that they will prepare for evacuating 

-however the Oak Family has relied on the power of the Order for the guarantee that you can’t die in dreams, but since the Order’s blessings are lost, this bomb might actually kill people 

-everyone agrees to help

-Aventurine isn’t taking it seriously likely because he isn’t actually there, he’s like “Wanna bet who will survive this?” and Ratio’s like “k” bc he’s done w Aven’s shit and higher priorities 

-Black Swan finds 131 fake bombs, area gets evacuated 

-Boothill finds 217 of them with the help of the hounds and Ratio wearing his alabaster head, nobodies found it yet but nobody seems too concerned 

-Argenti finds 145 bombs but again, duds

-IPC found 329, but again, nothing 

-last one is in the cockpit 

-Sparkle rickrolls us

-it’s a bomb 

-they found the remaining dolls but nothing

-Sparkle gives the coordinates of the last, true bomb, and everyone agrees to gather there 

-TB finds Firefly standing by Sparkle’s bomb 

-Sweet Dream no longer has the Order’s protection and if it were to blow up there could be bad consequences 

-she says the design is unique and as if it’s been locked by some mysterious Path force

-nobody knows how to deactivate it 

-Firefly doesn’t think anybody there can fix it

-she says Black Swan might be able to teleport it, but Firefly found a note inside the doll

-a note that’s complete nonsense and says it contains a virus very dangerous to Memetic entities like BS plus a bunch of Bananas for some reason? It’s all very unserious 

-Firefly reminds us that she has three “deaths” in the Land of Dreams

-so this is the third time 

-we’re like nah ur not dying 

-Firefly says she’s not in the dream like normal people, she has a Stellaron Hunters special method (Silver Wolf) that let her to be in here , and it lets Firefly perform feats others can’t 

-as long as she can bear the pain of the memoria pressure, she will be able to dive into the primal Memory Zone and extend a lifeline to the Radiant Feldspar

-she’s gonna try and take it into the depths of the Dreamscape (Primordial Memory Zone) so nobody will get hurt 

-Firefly tells us not to worry and that SAM will allow her to get back safely if she lucky 

-determined to give this story a happy ending 

-Firefly reminds us of Acheron’s words, “The so-called impossible is merely something that has yet to happen..”

-the moment that could disprove the “impossibilities” hasn’t arrived yet

-Firefly has so many choices to make before her “death” in whatever form it takes, and she believes that when the moment arrives for us to make a choice, the answer to our end will already be in our hearts 

-“it is not destiny that shapes us, but we who shape destiny,”

CUTSCENE

Compare astral express and stellaron hunters like light and shadow and tied together 

-OH BOY SO MUCH HAPPENS

-Sparkle detonates the bomb early but it’s actually fireworks 

-she then bops us off the edge of the ship but Firefly catches and saves us

-it’s really cute tbh

-she reaffirms what we said, both that destiny is ours to choose and that the reason why life slumbers is because one day we will wake up

-there’s a little procession of scenes of everyone so far

-highlights being Ratio leaving and Boothill pulling out a gun due to Argentis yapping

-and Aven reminiscing in the place where he found himself again

-we also get a little peak at what Acheron is doing

-she put three flowers on the graves of the Nameless, officially saying by to them 

Cutscene over 

Scene 8; Acheron (although still from TB perspective)

-child wanted to put flowers down for the Nameless? I don’t really understand her first line in this 

-oh the child is Mikhail and the flowers are for the other two Nameless, and when he’s  gone someone placed one for him

-she says “your wishes will always be remembered by someone,” likely talking not just to Mikhail, but the audience

-Now Penacony has finally welcomed the dawn after the long dark night, even if the path ahead won’t be easy 

-“Tiernan, you can now go home”

-the Nameless are also preparing for our next stop

-we say goodbye to the old Nameless, Gallagher and Acheron 

-“in the Land of the Dreams, anything is indeed possible,” - March

-“History may not remember the names of the dead, but the stars will attest to their journeys, the first glimmer of light in the prolonged night often illuminates little, as it is fleeting and the darkness too vast. But because of this, people will remember: As long as something shines in the night sky, then when the first star falls.. countless more will follow, streaking across the horizon.” - Dan Heng, I loved his speech so I had to write it 

-they give a toast to the fallen Nameless

-“A toast to history that no longer remains silent, the passionate and courage’s pursuit, and a voyage that traverses the stars,”- Dan Heng ur COOKING

-we can talk to Acheron, and she calls it a fitting end to our story

-we say bye to Gallagher, who we don’t even know if he was a “living person”, callback to the 13 thing, an “enigmatic” character for sure

-at least our journey and his love for Penacony was real

-we toast him too, and using the drink that Siobhan made for him 

-“to all lies, and the singular truth,”- March 

-she also asks him to not speak in riddles if they ever meet again 

-we say bye to Micah, Welt apologizes for only now speaking to him, Welt asks what the people of Dreamflux Reef do now, many will continue to live there, and “those accustomed to being away will mostly have a hard time getting used to a life of darkness with their eyes closed,” Micah will also watch over the primal Memory Zone as the Order has faded 

-“Penacony’s nights are long, and there are many who are still far from a good nights sleep,”

-they still manage without the Sweet Dream

-toast to the ppl in Dreamflux Reef and their tenacity 

-we finally say goodbye to Mikhail, it started from the moment we met him and it ends by saying goodbye to him

-“just like a clock’s hands that turn round and round, the start and end of each day will always land on twelve o’clock- the advent of time moving forward,” - Himeko, it really is over isn’t it, honestly I wonder now is just what that dream pool and projector were for 

-the entire adventure started bc of Mikhail and it’s ending because of him

-“And then, a new page will be turned.”

-“To Penacony’s past, present, future… and the child’s unwavering dream unto death,”- Himeko

���“the Trailblaze can illuminate the way, but ultimately, the future of a world belongs to those who live in it,” - Dan Heng, just like Belabog and the Luofu huh 

-March has a strange feeling that she had a few stops ago that’s really strong this time, she talks about how many stories these three Nameless have experienced, and she compares them to the current Nameless and their own adventures, and that they lived the “every day” we do now

-but it’s all in the past, and TB says to her that we should live in the present, but that’s what March can’t get out of her mind

-she’s upset at that the Nameless then didn’t get their happy ending, but the TB now shouldn’t live through them, however since us (especially March) has witnessed their lives, their are special to us now, so she hopes their story gets a good ending when it comes 

-but what if those Nameless and us now aren’t special, and we won’t get a good ending?

-if Mikhail might not have had no regrets, how can we know we won’t? 

-“Then, what is this regret we feel in our hearts right now…?”

-Himeko assured that all of them are searching for the answer to this question, that against the backdrop of a cosmos, our lives are fleeting 

-however, even if the universe doesn’t remember the never ending Trailblaze, but people, and those who travel along the silver rail themselves will

-“As long as we remember, their stories (The Trailblaze) will never end,” OH MY GOD THIS MIRRORS WHAT BS SAID IN THE ONE TRAILER WHERE WE WILL CARRY OUR WISHES TO COUNTLESS STARS AAAA

-Mikhail answered this question himself, dying with a smile on his face even after his complicated life

-its meaning will be interpreted by those who come after us 

-it’s not the answer that’s important, but what we can learn from others answers 

-“This is what Trailblazing is”

-March tells DH to tell a dad joke to lighten the mood

-he won’t 

-it’s never a bad thing to reflect 

-we got a long way ahead of us WHOOO

-so it’s time to tell PomPom what we saw

-then prepare for the next stop

-time to say final goodbye to Acheron

-she asks if we remember our first meeting

-we reminded her of an acquaintance 

-because of the Self-Annihilators curse, what she thought was a familiar meeting was merely an illusion, attributing her feelings of that old friend to us the TB

-however you can ask if it wasn’t an illusion 

-Acheron says it’s improbable we ever met before, and there’s nothing left to retrace but Nihility 

-I can keep pushing 

-she doubles down, said this me and your memory of her aren’t the same person

Red Text oh my god

-“But some things will never change,”

-she just laughs in response 

-oh my god she’s talking about her past companions oh no her Kiana her Bronya noooooo NOOOOOOOOOO

-they didn’t achieve the outcome they wanted, but our sheer stupidity makes it feel like they never even left

-she talks about how things can seem so similar yet so different 

-Acheron has wandered alone, encountering “acquaintances” who’s silhouettes overlap with her past

-she asks us what we think her “Deja vu” means

-im going with “the wish to return to the past”

-she says all of our possible answers are incomplete

-it’s something that’s not external, but something that’s within us, an emotion spanning across time from a certain moment in our past to reach us

-every time we reminisce, we notice both the tiny but unforgettable things we leave behind, and the other things that remain constant throughout 

-that’s the summary of our lives, the proof of our shared path 

-within those small moments, those tiny regrets, we glimpse our own essence, and truly “exist”

-Acheron says to “set forth on your voyage without hesitation, Nameless, on the path of the Trailblaze”

-even if our ending has been predetermined (OOH CALLBACK TO 2.1 and 2.2 AAA) there are countless things humans cannot change 

-but before that, there are still many things we can do

SHES WORD FOR WORD REPEATING THINGS 

-“And because of this, the “end” will thus reveal a completely different meaning”

-“this is the meaning of ‘journey’” 

I AM INSANE ABOUT THIS ACTUALLY AAAAAAAAA

THE CALLBAKCS THE REFERNEFES I WAS RIGHT I WAS RIGHT FUCK ALL OF YOU I LOVR YOU ACHERONNNN

-“all those things, beautiful before, are still do now. And I believe… It will still bloom at the end of the Nihility, until we meet again beneath the sun’s rays,” OH MY GOD SHE HAS HER HORNS AND OLD OUTFIT SHES SO BEAUTIFUL 

AND WE ARE GONNA MEET AGAIN AT THE END OF THE STORY AAAAAAAA

Back at the Express

-Pom Pom is crying 

-Dan and March bickering 

-Pom-Pom started crying over the adventure, March has never seen them so sad before 

-now they are angry

-we caused so much chaos and threw the time-table off and if we keep acting like this the Express is gonna run out of fuel 

-well not really they are just masking their sadness

-we take a break in the next car while Himeko comforts Pom Pom

-we chat a bit, those three Nameless must have meant a lot to them 

-we don’t know shit about Pom Pom’s past lmao, but their emotions haven’t become dulled by the grind of time, and they still value every journey 

-we might actually run out of fuel bc due to our existence Pom Pom has had to delay the warp jump schedule 

-the express converts every “Trailblaze” into the energy it needs to run, like a perpetual motion machine

-we are using up fuel much faster than expected, and can only pull off two more warp jumps at most

-which means we must consider our next destination carefully 

-the two worlds nearest to us are the oceanic planet of Lushaka and the Agate World Melustanin

-we still need to vote 

-BLACK SWAN SHOWS UP

-Welts like ‘alright give us the juice’

-she overheard how the express obtains fuel 

-her suggestion could be the lifeline that saves everyone

-OH ITS THE DH = DF LINES YESS

-“those mired memories of yours”

-if the express needs a special trailblazing expedition to recharge its engine, then they should go to a world that even Akivili never even reached, and the express will never have to worry about energy again

-March is like “is that possible?!!”

-a world many don’t even know exists, hidden away by outside observation, only revealed by the light from the monitor of the Garden of Recollection

-fettered by three Paths, its destiny hanging in the balance 

-“The Eternal Land, Amphoreus”

NO THIS IS CRAZY THIS IS CRAZY BECAUSE THAT IS RATIOS HOMELAND SO HOW DID HE GET OUT FROM THERE, A PLACE NOT EVEN AKAVILI HAS BEEN ?!:!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAA

JADE SCENE?!!

YOOOOO

-she calls Sunday a child

-it seems like he tried to escape and got caught

-he thinks he’s gonna die

-his fate is entirely in Jade’s hands

-he wants the pretenses to be over and to just have time to talk 

-she’s glad he’s still a cunt 

-she came to fulfill Robin’s wishes, to offer a trade if he’s willing to accept 

-she talks about his oath between him and Robin of building a haven where everyone can attain peace 

-she asks if he would be willing to speak to her if there was a chance to fulfill that vow 

-Jade sets him free, tells him to see the world for himself

-Sunday doesn’t want to accept it though 

-however the trade is still up, and Jade is willing the wait for his answer 

-she gives him a word of warning 

-“Life is too short to miss out on golden opportunities”

And it’s over

Wow that was great 

OK! I will definitely not be doing this again because oh my god this made the quest take like 10 hours (most of the time was just typing it tbh 😭) made it far less fun than it could have been, however it also really helped me understand what was going on a lot; and I’ll look back on this if I want to remember the plot in 2.3

Overall I think it’s a really satisfying conclusion for Penacony, and any of the things I thought were weird kinda dissipated because they are minor nitpicks at best, and we did say Penacony would have to figure itself out from here

if you somehow decided to read all of these, I admire your patience lmao, and I hope you enjoyed all of the parts in which I started absolutely losing it

I recommend you don’t do this lmao, it’s more fun to just play through and look at the wiki later imo, maybe take more overarching ones after you have already completed a scene? This was certainly a learning experience at least

[honeyhae-svt]

On My Command

SEVENTEEN FANFICTION (SERIES)

AFAB!READER x SEVENTEEN - MDNI!!!

GENRE: Mafia, Businesses, Dark Romance, Smut, Gangs, RomCom, Action, Fem!Reader x Mafia!Seventeen, Baddie!Reader x Businessmen!Seventeen

⚠️ WARNINGS ⚠️: Gunshots, Blood, Language, Manipulation. -warnings for this chapter

♡-Mention of other groups like TXT, EXO, ENHA, G-IDLE, LE SSERA, NCT DREAM, RIIZE (THIS IS A SERIES SO IG I WILL BE ADDING MORE TO THAN THESE WARNINGS) - MDNI OR I WILL BLOCK THOSE WITHOUT AGE INDICATOR ON BIO.

READER IS NAMED LI MEI QUIANG

>>>> IMAGES ARE FROM PINTEREST ♡

On My Command - Masterlist (Chapters)

CHAPTER 4

The living room was a chaotic yet strangely harmonious scene. Wonwoo and Mingyu were deeply immersed in their video game battle, the rapid clicking of controllers filling the space. Seungkwan and Deokyeom sat nearby, casually watching the game unfold, while Minghao stared blankly at the ceiling, lost in his thoughts. He couldn't stop thinking about you—how he had seen you last night and then again in a much more complicated situation.

Jun entered the room and immediately noticed Minghao's distant gaze. He wasn't one to let a good opportunity slip by, so he playfully waved his hand in front of Minghao's face before pulling a small knife from his pocket. Without a second thought, he aimed it behind Minghao's head, but Minghao's reflexes were sharp, catching Jun's wrist just before the blade made contact.

A tense moment passed as Minghao twisted Jun's arm, disarming him and pointing the knife back at him. Despite the sudden confrontation, the others in the room barely reacted, accustomed to the near-daily violence that was just part of life in Seventeen's household.

Jun chuckled, a sound laced with both amusement and a hint of challenge, before he yanked the knife out of Minghao's hand. The blade clattered to the floor and skidded out of the room, stopping just outside the doorway where Joshua stood.

Joshua picked up the knife with a calm demeanor, his eyes cold as he stared at the two. "Stop it or I'll cut both of your hands off," he warned, his voice carrying an edge that silenced any potential retorts.

Minghao sighed, leaning back into his seat as if nothing had happened, while Jun returned his attention to his phone, the moment quickly forgotten.

"Where's the girl?" Joshua asked, his voice cutting through the room's casual atmosphere. Seungkwan turned his head slightly to answer, "She's in the medical room with Woozi and Jeonghan. I think they put her to sleep to run some tests."

"Aren't you supposed to be working on something, hyung?" Deokyeom asked, his eyes not leaving the TV screen.

"Just finished it," Joshua replied curtly before making his way to the medical room, his steps echoing softly in the hallway.

----------------------------------------------

You tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over you, forcing you back down.

"Take it easy," Mingyu's voice cut through the fog, firm yet gentle. "You've been out longer than expected."

"What... happened?" you managed to ask, your voice stronger now but still shaky.

Jeonghan exchanged a glance with Woozi, who looked hesitant before he spoke.

"We had to give you a second dose. Your fever spiked again while you were asleep," Woozi explained, his tone carefully measured. "But you're stable now."

But as Woozi spoke, you noticed Minghao's nervous glance, and the slight shift in Seungkwan's posture. They were hiding something.

A sudden surge of adrenaline cleared some of the lingering fog in your mind. You weren't just a sick patient; you were a hostage, surrounded by people whose intentions weren't entirely clear.

"Why do I feel like there's more you're not telling me?" you questioned, your voice gaining strength.

Jeonghan's smile flickered, a brief crack in his usually calm demeanor. "You're sharp, I'll give you that. But right now, what's important is that you recover."

You narrowed your eyes at him, sensing the evasion. There was definitely more at play here than they were letting on.

Before you could press further, the door swung open, and Wonwoo entered the room, the usual grim look on his face.

"Meeting," Wonwoo said, ignoring your presence entirely as he addressed the older man.

Jeonghan's eyes shifted, and he turned to the others. "Watch her. Don't let her out of your sight," he ordered, his voice cold as ice.

With that, the rest left the room. Whatever was happening, you knew it was far from over.

Meanwhile, in another part of the city, tension was rising. Heeseung stood in his office, his expression dark as he listened to the voice on the other end of the phone. The voice belonged to a woman, cold and commanding.

"I thought I told you to keep her safe? All you did was make things worse," she said, her irritation clear.

Heeseung clenched his jaw, struggling to maintain his composure. He never imagined that you would be taken so easily. If only he hadn't been so preoccupied with his work, he could have arranged for someone to ensure your safety.

Before he could respond, the line went dead, and in a fit of frustration, Heeseung hurled his phone against the wall, watching it shatter into pieces. He took a deep breath to calm himself before storming out of the room and into the meeting area where EXO's members were gathered.

Suho looked up, his brows furrowing as he saw Heeseung's enraged expression. "Kid, you don't just barge in whenever you please. We're having a meeting here," Suho said, his tone stern.

Baekhyun, however, couldn't resist a smirk. "Oh, come on. That girl is not even a pawn in our game. Just let her die, and we'll continue with our attacks," he said casually, earning a glare from Heeseung.

"Baekhyun, watch your words," Chanyeol warned, nudging Baekhyun under the table.

Heeseung's fists clenched tightly. "You guys know we can't let her die, right?" he said, his voice strained with anxiety.

Suho sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. The situation was becoming increasingly complicated, all because of one girl. "We'll lie low for now until we get her back," Suho decided, dismissing the meeting and motioning for Heeseung to follow him.

Once they were alone, Heeseung's anxiousness became more apparent. "How can we get her back?" he asked, his voice tinged with desperation.

Suho studied him for a moment, his expression unreadable. "I can't tell if you're worried about her well-being because you genuinely care for her or because you're afraid of the holder."

"Does that really matter right now?" Heeseung snapped.

"Don't worry. We'll get her back as soon as we can," Suho reassured him. "Just make sure you're ready when the time comes."

Back in the Seventeen house, Joshua re-entered not the medical room, but the meeting one, along with the others, closing the door behind him. "Quiang Mei is the daughter of the Dongye clan in China. They've made connections with EXO," he began, sharing the information he had just received.

Jeonghan's eyes narrowed, a calculating expression on his face. "So, we kidnapped a worthless rock that turned out to be a gem, huh?" he mused, a smirk playing on his lips.

"We can use her to blackmail the family. We could get more than we ever expected," Deokyeom added, intrigued by the potential leverage they now had.

"I've already thought about that," Jeonghan said, his tone serious. "But the problem is, EXO and three other groups-including Enhypen and the Dongye clan-are already working together. That makes it hard for us to make a move."

"And they'll cause us more trouble if they get her back," Joshua pointed out, and the others nodded in agreement.

"Does the girl know who she really is?" Seungcheol asked, his voice cutting through the discussion like a knife.

"No, she doesn't," Woozi replied, glancing.

Seungcheol's expression remained stoic as he gave his next orders. "Never let her find out. And never let her out of your sight." His gaze shifted to Wonwoo and Hoshi, who stood at attention. "I'm putting the both of you in charge."

"What? Why me? I'm terrible at babysitting!" Hoshi protested, earning a smack on the head from Seungkwan. "Are you refusing our boss' orders?" Seungkwan hissed.

"Ow..."

Jeonghan, ever the instigator, pouted. "Why can't I be the one in charge?"

"Jeonghan, shut up before I punch you in the face," Joshua said, standing up and leaving the room as the meeting concluded.

Wonwoo and Hoshi exchanged looks before heading to your room. Hoshi sighed, his laptop tucked under his arm. "Bummer. We have to look after a girl... I never would have imagined babysitting someone," he muttered.

"It won't be that hard. We'll just install some CCTV cameras in her room. Keep her locked in," Wonwoo suggested, his eyes still glued to his device as he played a game.

"Seungcheol hyung wouldn't allow that," Hoshi started, but his words were cut short as Jun came running toward them, breathless.

"T-The girl... She's not in her room," Jun gasped, his chest heaving.

Wonwoo and Hoshi exchanged panicked glances before sprinting off in different directions, searching for you frantically. They had just been assigned to watch over you, and now you were already missing. They knew one thing for sure—if Seungcheol found out, they were as good as dead.

Frantic and on edge, Wonwoo and Hoshi scoured the grounds outside the mansion, sending a couple of guards to comb through the public areas in search of you. They knew that even if you had managed to slip away, the mansion's high security would keep you close. Still, the thought gnawed at them—perhaps a few guards had slacked off, or maybe, just maybe, they hadn't noticed how small and elusive you could be.

The news of your disappearance quickly reached Jeonghan, and fortunately for Wonwoo and Hoshi, it stopped there. Jeonghan was already steeling himself to scold them and the guards who failed to keep watch.

With Seungcheol, Dino, and Minghao out handling business, the news didn't reach them... yet.

The entire household was in disarray, desperately searching for you. Deokyeom and Jun pored over the security footage, but there were no signs of you leaving your room—yet you were nowhere to be found. "Where did that little rat possibly go?" Deokyeom muttered in frustration, his voice tinged with worry. Jun simply groaned in response.

"Some parts were cut off from the surveillance," Jun observed, his finger tracing the gaps on the screen. "Someone probably helped her out."

"Wait, who was the first to leave the meeting room earlier?" Deokyeom snapped his fingers, and the two exchanged a look before sprinting toward one specific room.

When they arrived, Jeonghan, Wonwoo, and Hoshi were already standing there, tension radiating off them. Without hesitation, Jeonghan kicked the door open—only to be met with a sight that made his jaw drop, and the others' eyes widen in shock.

You were sitting on top of a table, Joshua's hands resting on either side of you, your wrists bound together by a thin cloth. His face was so close to yours that your lips were touching.

"What. The."

"Fuck," Jeonghan finished Wonwoo's sentence, the group frozen in place. Joshua slowly pulled away, his expression unreadable as he turned to face them.

"Joshua, what the hell?" Hoshi's voice trembled with disbelief.

Joshua remained silent for a moment, then glanced back at you. Your eyes met Jeonghan's, a silent plea conveyed in the flicker of your gaze—as if to say, "It was his idea."

Joshua sighed, raising his hands in surrender. "Okay, you caught me, but let her explain before I do."

All eyes turned to you, waiting. "What? You're the one who dragged me here and tied my hands," you said, feigning innocence. Joshua scoffed at your words.

"Oh, don't play the victim. Why don't you tell them about your little escape scheme?"

You frowned, clearly not wanting to take the blame. But before you could throw another accusation, Jeonghan stepped in, pushing Joshua aside to free you.

"We won't get anywhere with you two blaming each other. Seungcheol has to know about this," Jeonghan said, untying the cloth from your wrists.

As the five men sat across from you, their eyes bore into you, waiting. But it wasn't just an explanation they were after—they wanted to see if you'd break, if you'd surrender to the pressure or keep up the defiant front.

You met their stares, your focus narrowing on Jeonghan. "Aren't you guys busy? Nothing else to do at all?" you asked, your voice edged with sarcasm. The silence that followed was heavy, thick with unspoken tension. Despite the awkwardness, you kept your composure, refusing to let them see any sign of weakness.

After what felt like an eternity, you finally spoke, breaking the oppressive quiet. "Fine. I tried escaping, but I couldn't even get to the stairs because of your stupid bodyguards. They didn't notice me until this guy"—you pointed to Joshua—"caught me and dragged me into this room. He told me to sit, but when I refused, he tied my wrists."

Jeonghan snickered, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth, clearly entertained by your reluctant confession.

Joshua, however, wasn't about to let you have the last word. "If you had just stayed in your room, none of this would've happened," he said, his voice firm, his brows furrowed in frustration.

"Yeah, but why did you have to kiss me?" you shot back, a devilish grin forming on your lips. Joshua's eyes widened in disbelief—what you said was far from the truth.

You had been the one to pull him into that kiss, taking advantage of the moment while he was tying your wrists. He had planned to secure you in place, then leave to retrieve his laptop from the office so he could interrogate you about what you knew. But instead, you'd ruined everything with that kiss, using your charm to throw him off balance.

Joshua knew your version of events would be more believable—after all, who would trust him over you in this situation? So, he simply glared at you, his brows knit together in frustration.

The others were stunned by what they heard, but they weren't naive enough to take your words at face value. They knew Joshua wasn't reckless—though he did have a tendency to act impulsively at times.

"So, Joshua, I'm guessing that's true?" Jeonghan asked, his tone teasing, though his eyes were sharp.

"It doesn't matter whether I explain or not. You won't believe me anyway," Joshua replied, shrugging in resignation. "But what she said is the exact opposite of what happened."

Joshua's gaze locked onto you, filled with frustration as you met his stare with narrowed eyes and that same small, knowing grin.

"You really put on a show for us," Jeonghan remarked, clearly amused by the spectacle that had unfolded.

Jeonghan’s amused smirk deepened as he leaned back, crossing his arms. "You two are something else," he said, shaking his head as if he couldn't believe the mess unfolding before him.

Joshua sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “Look, this is not how I planned it, okay? She—”

You cut him off, tilting your head slightly, your eyes sparkling with mischief. "Planned what, Joshua? You planning on tying up all your problems from now on?" The playful jab sent Hoshi into a fit of laughter, his hands slapping his thighs.

“Oh, that’s rich!” Hoshi managed between laughs. “What were you planning to do next? Feed her? Maybe brush her hair?”

Joshua shot Hoshi a withering look, though a tiny smirk tugged at his lips. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”

“Well, we were worried about her,” Jun chimed in, “but now I’m more worried about you. This isn’t exactly normal behavior, Josh.”

You couldn’t resist adding fuel to the fire. “It’s fine, Jun. Maybe Joshua just has some... unique hobbies.” You winked, and this time even Deokyeom couldn’t hold back a chuckle.

Joshua threw his hands up in surrender. “Okay, okay, laugh it up. But in my defense—” He stopped mid-sentence as if realizing that no defense would really hold up. “You know what? I’m done. You all can think whatever you want.”

Jeonghan leaned forward, his voice dropping an octave, making the atmosphere feel suddenly more serious. “In all seriousness, Joshua, what were you really thinking? Tying her up? Kissing her? You know Seungcheol’s going to find out, right?”

Joshua groaned, rubbing his temples. “I was trying to keep her here long enough to ask some questions. I didn’t expect her to... to do that.” He waved a hand vaguely in your direction, clearly flustered.

“Do what?” Jeonghan pressed, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

You smiled sweetly, enjoying how flustered Joshua had become. “Oh, just a little something to keep him on his toes. Can’t let these boys get too comfortable, right?”

Wonwoo, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up. “Comfortable? You’re giving everyone heart attacks. Including Joshua.”

“And me!” Deokyeom added. “I had to run here, and you know how I feel about running.”

“Wow, are we really talking about your lack of cardio right now?” Joshua deadpanned, though the corner of his mouth twitched upward.

Deokyeom shrugged. “Just saying. It’s relevant.”

Jeonghan finally stood, clapping his hands to get everyone’s attention. “Alright, enough joking around. We still have a situation to deal with. Mei—uh, I mean, you—” he corrected himself, catching your eye with a grin, “are clearly not going anywhere.”

You shrugged nonchalantly. “Guess not. But don’t think I’m done trying.”

Jun raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really? You’ve got more tricks up your sleeve?”

You leaned back, stretching your arms as if completely relaxed despite the chaos you’d caused. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“Actually, no,” Wonwoo cut in dryly. “I’m good not knowing.”

“Same,” Jun agreed.

Jeonghan chuckled, shaking his head. “Well, good luck trying to escape now. With Joshua on high alert, I doubt you’ll have much luck.”

Joshua smirked. “Yeah, just try it. I’m ready this time.”

You narrowed your eyes playfully at him. “We’ll see about that.”

As you and Joshua exchanged a challenging look, the others shared glances filled with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

“Looks like we’ve got a new game in the house,” Hoshi said, grinning.

“A very dangerous game,” Wonwoo muttered under his breath.

Deokyeom, always the optimist, clapped his hands together. “Well, as long as no one gets hurt, it should be fun, right?”

Joshua shot him a glare. “No promises.”

“Just keep the ropes to a minimum, Josh,” Jun teased, earning a few chuckles.

Jeonghan stepped in, finally taking charge. “Alright, everyone, back to your posts. And Joshua, maybe... try talking next time before resorting to, uh, restraints?”

Joshua sighed but nodded. “Yeah, yeah. Noted.”

As the group began to disperse, you remained seated, watching them leave with a satisfied smile. You caught Jeonghan’s eye as he turned to follow the others, and he raised an eyebrow, clearly curious about what you were planning next.

You simply winked at him, your expression one of pure mischief. “Don’t worry, Jeonghan. I’m full of surprises.”

He chuckled, shaking his head as he walked out. “I’m counting on it.”

The room finally emptied, leaving you alone with your thoughts—and the thrill of knowing you’d managed to shake things up once again. Joshua might think he’s ready for you, but you had a feeling this was just the beginning of a very entertaining battle of wits.

"Where's the girl?" Seungcheol asked, his voice low but laced with frustration. The tension in the room was palpable, and the added complication you caused didn’t help his mood.

"She's in her room," Hoshi replied cautiously, sensing the dangerous edge in Seungcheol's tone. "She’s been on her best behavior the past few days. Maybe we don’t need to push it any further." His attempt to defuse the situation was clear; he didn’t want to see you hurt.

Seungcheol slumped into his chair, rubbing his temples. “If we let her off too easily, she'll keep testing us,” he muttered. He took a deep breath, trying to contain the storm brewing inside him.

Hoshi didn’t argue further. He knew Seungcheol wasn’t wrong, but could he really stand by and let you get hurt? Especially after last night when you had confided in him about your past—how you'd never met your parents, how your relatives passed you around like a burden no one wanted to carry, eventually sending you off to Korea. You were abandoned, left to fend for yourself, with Heeseung being your only saving grace. Or so you thought.

In reality, Heeseung hadn’t saved you out of kindness. It was his job, nothing more. But you didn’t know that, even though you had your suspicions. Something felt off, but you chose to ignore it. For now.

----------------------------------------------

Hoshi’s heart ached as he replayed your story in his mind. As much as his job required him to be ruthless, your vulnerability had hit him hard. He knew better than to let emotions cloud his judgment, but your tearful eyes and soft, hesitant smile made it impossible not to feel something. Maybe it was the way you tucked a loose strand of hair behind your ear as you talked, or the way your gaze lingered just long enough to make him question everything.

“I guess I was stupid for not figuring out what Heeseung really does,” you said, with a small chuckle, lightly knocking your knuckles against your head. “He told me he worked for a small company, and I believed him. Silly, right?” You smiled as your eyes met Hoshi’s, but there was something in your look—something deliberate. You weren’t as naive as you appeared.

“I even tried bringing him lunch once. Thought I’d surprise him. Ended up getting scolded instead.” You let out another laugh, but Hoshi could tell it wasn’t genuine. He was trying not to get sucked into your story, but he found it harder to remain distant. Even Wonwoo, who sat silently in the corner, seemed to be affected, his usually cold demeanor softening slightly.

“Thank you for trusting us with that,” Hoshi finally said, patting your shoulder gently. He wasn’t sure what else to say. He wasn’t even sure if you were telling the truth.

For the past three days, you had done nothing but talk—constantly. You couldn’t act out, not with them watching your every move. So, you shared your story, laying your past bare before them. It was all part of your plan. You’d done this countless times before—tugged at the heartstrings of those around you, made them feel sorry for you, manipulated them. You didn’t do it because you wanted their pity. You did it to gain control.

They were criminals, after all. Kidnappers. Murderers. Manipulating them was the least of your worries. You didn’t feel bad about it. In fact, you were starting to enjoy it.

"Okay, enough for tonight," Wonwoo said, standing up from the edge of the bed. "Just... don’t give us any more trouble, alright?" He looked at you with an unreadable expression, but you knew. You had already started to get to him.

Three down, ten to go. You were making progress faster than you’d anticipated.

----------------------------------------------

After they left your room, Hoshi and Wonwoo found themselves in the kitchen, cracking open cans of beer. The silence between them was heavy, and Hoshi was the first to break it.

“So... what do you think of her story?” he asked, glancing at Wonwoo.

Wonwoo took a long sip of his drink before shrugging. “Could be true. That might explain why her background check came up so empty. But...” He trailed off, not finishing his thought.

“But what?” Hoshi pressed.

Wonwoo sighed. “I don’t think she told us because she trusts us. We kidnapped her, for God’s sake. She’s not stupid. There’s something else going on.”

Hoshi nodded, biting his lip. He’d sensed it too, but he didn’t want to admit it.

"Bring her to me," Seungcheol’s voice cut through the air as he gestured toward you from his office. Hoshi hesitated, knowing where this was going. Before he could move, Wonwoo spoke up.

"I don’t think that’s necessary, sir." His tone was steady, but his words were a gamble.

Seungcheol raised an eyebrow, clearly not used to being challenged. "Oh? And why’s that?"

"It’s our job to handle her. She’s been compliant since the incident, so there’s no need to escalate things right now." Wonwoo stood his ground, his voice calm but firm.

Seungcheol eyed him suspiciously. “Are you two covering for her?”

Hoshi kept silent, while Wonwoo answered, "No, sir. Just trying to manage the situation without causing you more trouble."

After a tense moment, Seungcheol sighed, waving them off. "Fine. But don’t let her step out of line again."

----------------------------------------------

You watched the whole exchange from just beyond the door. As soon as Seungcheol dismissed them, you allowed a small, satisfied smile to slip onto your face. Another victory.

As you step back from the door, careful not to make a sound, you hear Hoshi and Wonwoo's footsteps getting closer. Heart racing, you quickly scan the area, looking for a way to avoid getting caught. Without thinking twice, you slip behind the nearest pillar, holding your breath. You watch as the two approach, completely unaware that you’ve been eavesdropping.

Just when you think they’re about to walk past, Hoshi suddenly stops and turns toward where you're hiding. "You there?" His voice is calm but firm.

You freeze, your mind scrambling for a quick response. You slowly step out from behind the pillar, trying to look as innocent as possible. "Oh, hey... I didn’t mean to hide," you say, scratching the back of your head sheepishly. "I was just... uh, about to head to the kitchen, but I overheard you talking to Seungcheol and thought it’d be better if I didn’t interrupt." You give him a small, apologetic smile, trying to play it off like you were simply minding your own business.

Hoshi raises an eyebrow, clearly skeptical, but before he can ask more, Wonwoo cuts in, his tone casual. "Makes sense. You’ve been good so far, so no need to worry. But next time, just head where you need to go, alright?"

You nod quickly, thankful for Wonwoo’s intervention, and turn to head back towards the kitchen. But just as you're about to go, Hoshi calls out, "Wait a minute. What were you really doing by the door?"

You pause, cursing inwardly. Of course, he wouldn’t let it go that easily. Turning back, you give him your best sheepish grin. "Okay, fine. I was curious about what Seungcheol was saying... and maybe I thought I could help with whatever’s bothering him. You know, since I’ve been... cooperative lately?" You tilt your head slightly, hoping the honesty angle works.

Hoshi crosses his arms, still studying you with suspicion, but after a moment, he sighs. "Just don’t push your luck. You’re not out of hot water yet."

You let out a relieved breath as the tension eases. "Got it. I’ll behave," you say with a wink, hoping to lighten the mood.

You've learned one thing in this house: "You can't slack off." Even though you’re their hostage, sitting around and doing nothing is never an option. They make sure you work for every meal, every drop of water. It’s a twisted form of survival where even basic necessities are earned through labor.

Every day, there’s some errand to run. Mingyu often demands snacks to be delivered to his office, and you’ve become familiar with the kitchen’s layout. You’re also responsible for your own dishes, and it doesn’t stop there. Laundry is another chore—you’ve lost count of the times you’ve helped fold their clothes—and Woozi’s clinic is your responsibility to tidy up when it gets too cluttered, it doesn't clean itself. They remind you that it’s because they’ve bought you necessities—clothes, toiletries—and now you’re paying your dues.

You despise the role of being their servant, but what choice do you have? You’re a hostage, and your life is hangs on the balance.

Today marks your first trip to the training room. Minghao, Mingyu, Jun, and Wonwoo are already there, working out. It’s almost surreal—seeing them so casual in a gym that looks like something out of a luxury fitness club. The room is packed with every machine, weight, and piece of equipment imaginable.

For a brief second, a wave of familiarity washes over you. You've been here before—well, not here exactly, but in spaces like this. Back in your old life, the gym was your sanctuary. You used to go three times a week, a place where you could control something—your strength, your endurance. Now, that world feels a lifetime away, and everything you once loved is overshadowed by the stark reality that you’re not here for leisure.

As Mingyu yaps on about proper form, lifting techniques, and how much he can bench—80% of which is just him boasting—you tune him out, your gaze shifting toward Minghao. There’s something about his quiet demeanor that intrigues you. The two of you have a shared history now, a secret that neither of you have spoken about since that night. His posture is relaxed, but you can feel his tension whenever your eyes meet.

"Are you even listening?" Mingyu's voice snaps you out of your thoughts. He’s holding a dumbbell up, waiting for your response.

You nod quickly, though your attention is elsewhere. "Yeah, totally. You’re like... super buff, Mingyu." You flash him a grin, and he puffs out his chest, satisfied with the praise. You pretend to listen to Mingyu’s ramblings, nodding along and adding the occasional "Uh-huh," but your focus remains on Minghao. He’s trying to act unfazed, but you can tell he’s uncomfortable by your presence. The memory of that heated make-out session lingers between you both, creating an unspoken tension that no amount of gym equipment can dispel.

Finally, you get bored of Mingyu’s self-glorification and decide to excuse yourself. With that familiar, subtle smile that worked the first time, you make your way over to Minghao. He notices you approaching and hesitates, forcing a smile—one that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. "Need a spotter?" you tease lightly, standing next to him.

Minghao chuckles softly, but there’s a hint of nervousness in his eyes as he looks up at you. "Not really, but thanks."

You lean in just a little closer, lowering your voice. "You sure? It looked like you could use some help the other night..." The subtle reference to your shared moment is enough to send a ripple of tension between you two.

Minghao clears his throat, glancing away briefly before meeting your eyes again. "I’m good," he says, trying to sound nonchalant. But the slight flush on his cheeks gives him away.

You decide to push just a little further. "Well, if you ever need a hand... you know where to find me." You wink before walking away, leaving him to deal with the lingering tension as you casually return to your tasks. You can’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction, knowing you're slowly but surely getting under their skin.

~~~You've reached the end. Wait for Chap 5 ;))

On My Command - Masterlist (Chapters)

-AEYA HERE!: your likes, reblogs, follows are very much appreciated. it boosts my dopamine and makes me want to upload asap so yeah, interacting with me really helps ^^

—NYAHAHAHHA how's this, luvvies? ehehehehe hope y'all like this cause it did take me too long to update this. a balance of me posting other stories on tumblr and the other half are just my responsibilities as a f'ng student :^ what do y'all think of this chap, hm? let me know by commenting, voting or adding the story to your reading list! love y'all, mwaps <33333

these past few weeks had not been easy. i think i cried because of stress a LOT that i lost count. anyways, to make up the wait, i'll be posting ch5 asap! maybe tomorrow same time 21:00 sharp? no promises, but i'll do my best! p.s. i miss jeonghan (im posting another jh ff this month!)

FOR THE REQS, I WILL BE POSTPONING IT FOR NOW BUT IM CURRENTLY WORKING ON IT, TY CARATS!

—also, reblog the story if you enjoyed it! once you reblog, i will automatically put you on the taglist. ty luvvies, carats. mwaps!! 💋 XOXO -aeya

taglist: @meowwiie @bts4lifeu-blog1 @asyre @xxxatdy @hjs953012

[coldresolve]

after resting a bit i realize i actually ended up saying nothing about devices that build tension in that dumb music sex tangent. well it was about narrative tension ig but thats kinda different from tension tension, and i never gave any concrete examples of what you can actually do with it, so

make readers aware of the stakes. if it feels like nothing in your world will change whether or not your character fails, there's zero tension. we read stories bc we are obsessed with change

most tension comes from the conflict. upping the intensity of the conflict will raise tension, but so will "shifting" the conflict. an example of what i mean could be something like, a character struggling with something internally and it starts affecting their external experience; a character learns that a third party is involved in the conflict; etc. it doesn't necessarily have to up the intensity, but it'll create that 'shit, how will this effect xyz' vibe, and thats enough

foreshadowing information that the reader doesn't know yet; the reader knows something that the character doesn't; something important is revealed/clicks into place with the worst/best possible timing. just generally being deliberate about how you handle information

knowing when to narrate and when to dramatize. this is sth i sucked at especially in the beginning of mm, ill work on it in the editing phase, but it comes down to shortening the parts of your story that slow the pacing too much. if your pace is at a stand-still, there's no tension.

this is a small thing related to the information point, but i heard a bit of advice forever ago that basically went 'when writing dialogue, make it so your characters are desperately trying to avoid saying what they actually mean'. im paraphrasing but that's the gist, and reluctance is generally great for tension, at least within that character dynamic. have them dance around the issue, bury shit in subtext. keeps things engaging

will the character get what they want in this scene? tension is released the moment you answer yes or no. its that setup/payoff thing i mentioned. the answer has to feel earned, and it should ideally have an impact on the story going forward

once tension has been released, it's hard (if not impossible) to build it back up, and since tension has to mount toward the climax of the plot, you gotta be careful how much you do it. this isn't the same as having breather-moments in there btw

create a strong atmosphere, and pleeeease let your characters stew in it for a bit!! ive seen writers build up some focken riveting atmospheres only for the comic relief character to crack a joke and make the whole thing deflate. humor is great and can easily add to atmospheres, but like i said, once you've released tension, its hard to build it back up

other literary devices that build tension: cliffhangers, tonal shifts, plot twists, time limits, and sudden obstacles. some (ex plot twists) necessitate a lot of work beforehand to feel "earned" - others (cliffhangers, time limits) you can tone down and use more liberally

again, writing is a subjective thing, rules are meant to be broken, you gotta find your own groove, all that. but i hope this answered your question a little more thoroughly nonny

[seeminglyranch87]

Taylor & Travis Timeline

October 2023 - part 1

October 1 - Travis is seen leaving Taylor's NYC apartment around 11am. Travis heads back to his hotel where the team is staying before his Chiefs vs Jets Game at MetLife Stadium

Taylor attends the Chiefs vs Jets game at MetLife Stadium, NJ, with Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Shawn Levy, Donna Kelce, Sophie Turner, Sabrina Carpenter, Brittany Mahomes, Melanie Nyema, Austin Swift & girlfriend Sydney Ness, Ashley Avignone, Robyn Lively, and more. The camera cut to Taylor approx. 17 times during the game and the Eras Tour film trailer played twice during ad breaks. Taylor was seen hugging Donna, saying "you're amazing, I don't know how you do it" when the score was 20-20. Taylor was also seen mimicking Travis. The NFL change their tiktok and twitter pages again to reference Taylor's attendance. Various media outlets post footage of Taylor at the game, Travis likes a post of Taylor's reaction to a Chiefs touchdown. The Chiefs won 23-20.

After the game, Taylor was pictured leaving Zero Bond in the early hours of October 2. (x)

October 3 - Taylor is at Electric Lady Studios, walking in with Keleigh Teller. Taylor's shirt is referencing the song 'Any Man of Mine' by Shania Twain, the first lyrics of which are (x)

"This is what a woman wants Any man of mine better be proud of me"

Her hat says "Still Here", possibly referencing her Karma lyric

"Ask me why so many fade, but I'm still here"

October 3 is also National Boyfriend Day.

US Weekly releases an article with quotes from 6 sources on "Why Taylor isn't hiding her romance with Travis Kelce" (x)

"Taylor has decided she's not going to hide anymore"

"She's going to be her authentic self and enjoy life"

The two "talk every day"

"Taylor's really enjoying getting to know Travis, they're taking it day by day, but she has high hopes. She likes that he's a normal nice guy. He's down-to-earth and isn't affected by fame. She also thinks he's hot"

"Travis is completely smitten"

"Taylor is at a point in her life where she's no longer willing to hold back. If something feels right - like it does with Travis - she's jumping in with both feet. She's very happy and loving life right now"

October 4 - Ep 57 of New Heights airs, part of the title is "The NFL Needs to Calm Down" (x)

"Is the NFL overdoing it? What is your honest opinion on how the NFL is treating celebrities at games?" asks Jason

"I think it's fun when they show who is at the game, I think it brings a little bit more to the atmosphere, brings a little bit more to what you're watching but at the same time I think they're overdoing it a little bit for sure, especially my situation. I think they're just trying to have fun with it... [the celebrities] are not there to get thrown on TV" responds Travis

October 5 - It's Travis' birthday today! He turns 34.

Donna Kelce makes an appearance on the 'Got it From My Momma' podcast. When asked what her favourite Taylor Swift song is, she responds (x)

"I think probably 'Shake It Off' -- we're getting a lot of that lately, about haters," Donna said with a laugh. 

When asked if she's surprised about the infatuation surrounding Taylor and Travis' relationship

"I feel like I'm in an alternate universe because it's something that I've never been involved with ever before," Donna said. 

The NFL release a statement in response to the New Heights podcast episode discussing the NFL "overdoing" coverage of Taylor at the Chiefs games, saying (x)

"The Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce news has been a pop cultural moment we've leaned into in real time, as it's an intersection of sport and entertainment, and we've seen an incredible amount of positivity around the sport."

DJ's Loud Luxury post to IG with a video of Travis saying "POV taylor's bf came to your show before swifties found out about football", to which Travis likes and comments saying "I was turnt up!!" (x)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by LOUD LUXURY (@loudluxury)

October 6 - Travis speaks at a press conference. When asked about how he is adjusting to public interest in his relationship with Taylor, he says (x x)

"As all the attention comes, it feels like I was on top of the world after the Super Bowl and right now, even more on top of the world. So it's fun,"

“We’re learning with the paparazzi just taking photos from all over the place. But at the same time, it comes with it,” he continued. “You got a lot of people that care about Taylor for good reason. You just got to keep living and learning and enjoying the moments. At the end of the day, I’ve always been pretty good at compartmentalising and being able to stay focused in this building.”

“I always check myself and my ego at the door and make sure that I come in with a clear mind,” he said, before being asked his thoughts on Swift’s world. “It’s worldwide, it’s worldwide, man. It’s been magnified for sure, though.”

A report comes out stating that the NFL asked its networks to promote the Taylor Swift Eras Tour Film at the Chiefs vs Jets game, likely in a bid to get Taylor to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show. (x)

October 6 - Taylor reportedly flew to Kansas City "to see Travis" for his birthday to have a "chill night" (x). A sneaky little visit for Trav's birthday.

October 7 - Taylor leaves Kansas City.

Travis flies into Minnesota for the Chiefs vs Vikings game

October 8 - Travis plays in the Chiefs vs Vikings game in Minnesota. Travis injures his ankle during the game but after an x-ray he returns to the field and scores a touchdown. The Chiefs win 27-20 (x) (x) (x)

Travis would later post pictures of this walk-in fit with the caption (x)

"keep it chill like Sauvignon Blanc"

These are lyrics from the song "Lil Boo Thang" by Paul Russell, which contains other lyrics such as

"I'll be shootin' that shot like 2K, girl"

"But I'm tryna get to know you at least Don't take my talkin' to you wrong I can keep it chill like a sauvignon blanc I'ma keep it real when your man long gone If you're lookin' for a friend, then you got the wrong song"

"You a ten, baby girl, but I'm the one"

October 9 - The Messenger puts out an article in which a source states (x x)

"[Travis] jokes [Taylor] is his good luck charm.

“Taylor is having the time of her life at these football games cheering on Travis. [Taylor] and her friends are fully embracing this era and are having a lot of fun being there. Taylor has worked very hard this last year and It’s fun for her to bring all of her friends along, let loose and show support.”

October 11 - Taylor is in LA for her Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour Film premiere. She shuts down The Grove, LA to host a red carpet and early screening event with selected fans, wearing a very 1989-coded blue Oscar de la Renta dress.

Travis, take note, she loved us first <3

TMZ releases an article saying that Taylor intends to attend Travis' next game. The question is, will Travis play with his injured ankle? (x)

"Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ Taylor plans to travel to Missouri to watch Travis and the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Denver Broncos"

October 12 - Taylor attends Arrowhead Stadium to support Travis as the Kansas Chiefs take on Denver Broncos. Taylor is seen cheering on the team alongside Donna Kelce and Ed Kelce. Chiefs defeat Broncos 19 - 8 (x)

The Eras Tour concert film is released today (a day early) due to high demand in the USA and Canada (x)

October 13 - I go to see the Eras Tour concert film! just an FYI :)

October 14 - Taylor, Travis and friends fly to NYC

Taylor and Travis photographed holding hands as they arrive at Nobu, NYC, publicly confirming that they are a couple (x)

Taylor and Travis make guest appearances on SNL - Travis makes a cameo at the end of a sketch parodying the NFL frenzy over their romance. Taylor introduces Ice Spice as the musical guest. (full skit x) SNL IG (x x)

Taylor & Travis attend the SNL afterparty at Catch Steak NYC (x)

According to People (x) (x)

“Taylor and Travis were there all night and they were so smiley, they were so happy,” the source says. “They were so talkative. They were really fun. They talked to every single person in the room that talked to them.” “They were super cool. Super nice, super happy,” the insider adds, noting that Swift and Kelce stayed at the party “until after 4 a.m.” The source also says the pair was definitely not shy with each other.

Although Swift and Kelce “mingled separately,” the pro athlete “kept going over to her and checking in on her every little while, like, ‘Are you good?’ ” the source says. "He was going over and touching her, putting his hand on her lower back or putting his hands on her waist and then they would do a little kiss and then they would go back to talking to whoever they were talking to. He gave her space to talk to other people in the room, and he talked to a ton of people in the room too."

Swift and the Kansas City Chiefs player reportedly carved out some private time at the party, as well. The insider said there was a moment when Travis placed his hands on the “Bejewled” singer’s shoulders “so they're face to face, and then he takes both his hands and grabs her waist. They're leaning in, they're kissing each other." A source told PEOPLE that despite their busy schedules, Swift and Travis are giving romance "a real try." The insider said, "There's not some looming date like, 'Oh, she's going back on tour' and 'his football schedule is getting crazy.' They'll figure it out. He's said it himself, he knows what he signed up for with this attention, but they've spent time under the radar too. They're giving things a real try."

October 15 - Travis attends Eagles vs Jets game to support his brother Jason Kelce at MetLife Stadium, NJ. He is seen leaving Taylor's NYC apartment. Travis is given a friendship bracelet with beads spelling out "on the map" referencing a tiktok trend. He smiles and holds it to his heart. (x) (x)

Taylor & Travis are pictured leaving The Waverly Inn, NYC (x).

A nosey diner shares her observations of Taylor & Travis getting cosy (x)

Annie Williamson told The Messenger. "It looked super romantic and was super intimate."

"I cannot emphasize enough how close they were sitting, like so close and snuggled up."

Ms Williamson also shared a video of the couple leaving the restaurant (x). Thank you for your service Annie 🫡

Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson remind their listeners of the Calm Down with Erin and Charissa podcast recorded on August 3 where they implore Taylor to date their friend Travis (x)

“please try our friend Travis. He is fantastic” 

to which Travis commented on IG

“😂😂 You two are something else!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻 I owe you big time!!”

Go to previous update -> September 2023 Part 2

Go to next update -> October 2023 Part 2

Return to timeline

[nomeniko]

hi :D for the ask game What do you wish more people understood about kazui? Which trial 2 MV do you enjoy the most, and why?

thank you for the ask i would grovel at ur feet in gratitude i hope the sun shines down and makes the light dance for u and you only today

1. if anything ive seen a few theories of kazui possibly revealing himself to be a two faced manipulator of sorts due to his self proclaimed liarness…. like ‘ohh u cant trust what he says he cld be trying to make himself look pitiable to the audience to get voted inno’ sort of theories which is. no he wont do that???

is he a liar? to a degree yes—liar not in the sense that what he says are direct falsities, but more like hes built much of his character to constantly disguise his true intentions/feelings as a defense mechanism. the lies he says are less of words from a schemer and more of redirections from someone who is, all in all, an insecure adult scared of what will happen if he isnt able to meet peoples expectations of him

as much as he calls himself a liar hes mad honest about where he thinks his capabilities lie, which is to say he doesnt believe in his capabilities at all lol. when amane asks him for help with her studies, he turns her down after some consideration bc he doesnt believe himself to be smart enough to help (despite having graduated from a university; sports degree or not credit shld be given where credit is due). when he talks to shidou post ktk attack, he refuses to admit doing any of the work in taking care of the situation and instead puts all the praise onto shidou. even his physical strength and skill (which is arguably the one part of him he does acknowledge and take some sort of belief in) is something he treats as less of something that he has achieved himself and more of an obligation of his—like, hes strong bc to him he HAS to be, bc it is expected of him to protect those who need protecting. he does want to protect others, sure, but much of that wanting comes frm how ingrained it is in him that thats what hes good for, thats what his strength is for (his timeline w/ yuno on her bday says as much nyway)

the way i see it, that self deprication of his plays back into his obsession with meeting the expectations placed onto him, or at least lessening the disappointment of others by lessening those expectations in the first place. if u tell someone that u didnt go to the right university, that u didnt do much to help anyway, that u were born so fundamentally wrong as a person that everything is bound to go to shit as long as ur there (he basically said this to es in his t1 vd im not even kidding), wouldnt that ensure the safety that youre less likely to ruin someone elses confidence in you? less likely to ruin bc in the small chance that u still fuck up, theres not much left to ruin at that point

in the end ig what i wish more ppl understood abt kazui is that hes a liar yes, but not a manipulator. he lies to stay safe, not to be a sadist or whatever. you cant take what he says at face value (in much the same way u cant do the same for any other prisoner tbh), but that does not mean u shldnt take anything he says srsly at all!!!

2. ok this one i have to give a bit of thought, mostly bc i cant pick just one

if the standards were which t2 mv do i enjoy for its direction music n visual wise, purge march takes the cake so quickly. the music itself is so bomb (which like, i cant even find a logical explanation as to why… its just so good to listen to) n the mv itself does such a great job at creating the right atmosphere, both in its flashy theatrics and the subtle uncanniness under it. mayb i have a slight bias bc tpm was the whole reason i got into milgram in the first place, but i stand by it idccc

aesthetic wise, def all knowing and all agony. the horror elements r genuinely disturbing, but not so overbearing that it overwrites the pop style that milgram has going on. i luove the use of amber for blood, plus the filters that remind me of found footage u usually see show up in asian horror movies. i think i was actually terrified the first time i watched the mv

symbolic wise, its cat always and forever god bless. it takes advantage of its aesthetics to hint at subtle secrets so well that it makes me giddy as hell. the use of colors as a part of the set, the transitions frm scene to scene having its own part in making the story, n honestly making the bg more blank than usual readjusts the focus of the mv on what matters p well. i cant mention every detail rn or else id be here all day

[m1ckeyb3rry]

Hiii Mickey! B4 I request smt I just wanna congratulate you on 500 (u deserve sm more) your writing is literally heaven. Shakespeare who? 🤔 Anyway, b4 I completely forget what I came to request and start yapping on about how ur a literature god, may I pls req jealously hc on SitH characters?

Sincerely,

friedrichswifegirlfriendfiancesidechick

── SOMEBODY'S JEALOUS!

Synopsis: Headcanons about how some of the SitH boys act when they are jealous.

Event Masterlist

Pairing: Colt x Reader, Friedrich x Reader, Hadrian x Reader, Marek x Reader

Word Count: 0.9k

Content Warnings: 3/4 of these characters are ocs from a specific fic i wrote so that ig?? also friedrich is a menace but what's new

A/N: you're too sweet anon AHAH thank you so much!! i can't believe you like sith sm that you want to request for it...that's actually so crazy to me but means sm thank you again!! i wasn't sure which characters you wanted so i just did my favs hehe

Additional: part of my 500 follower event! see the event description and rules to make a request of your own.

Colt Grice

i think he would be the pouty type of jealous if that makes sense

like he's not going to say anything outright but he lowkey acts like a child

becomes super clingy in the moment

afterwards is all like "why don't you love me anymore 🙁"

"what does he have that i don't 🙁🙁🙁”

he's cute about it though like you can't even be mad at him because he's genuinely so worried that you like this other person more

definitely would try not to make it your problem though like he recognizes that it's his own issue to deal with so he's not going to get upset with you just for talking to someone

will probably refer to himself as your boyfriend in front of whoever he's jealous of just so that they know their place and he WILL be petty about it

he's a pretty chill guy overall so i don't think he would be too horrible but he definitely has his moments of insecurity and doubt

would not hesitate to fight a man if you expressed that you were majorly uncomfortable though. he literally goes to the gym JUST to be able to beat a man up if necessary

otherwise though he trusts you to handle it

just be prepared for him to be extra affectionate afterwards

Friedrich Visser

unlike his best friend he turns into a supervillain if he's jealous

like friedrich 99% of the time is this sweet, adoring boyfriend (setting aside how sassy he is and how much he definitely teases you)

he jokes around a lot and is relatively unserious most of the time so you literally get whiplash when a guy starts flirting with you and all of a sudden your goofy bf is replaced with his evil twin

he's very tall and he will use that to full effect

modern au friedrich is a boxer so he gets bonus intimidation points for that and canon friedrich is a warrior candidate so at that point any guy might as well give up LMAOAO

he's also creepy looking (STILL HANDSOME GUYS I PROMISE HE'S HANDSOME HE JUST HAS A CREEPY VIBE TO HIM THAT FREAKS PEOPLE OUT) and normally he wishes he was more approachable but now?? it's exactly what he needs

he'll start whispering quietly in a foreign language and the person thinks he's cursing their bloodline (he's literally just reciting the irregular verbs in the preterite tense in spanish)

a glarer. he has a crazy death stare and he will take advantage of it

creates such an inhospitable atmosphere that the person literally just runs away out of fear

then he's back to his regular self and asks if you want a sweet treat or something

he's paying ofc because he's the best boyfriend in the world and you could never dream of wanting someone else. right??? 🤨🤨🤨

Hadrian Amata

to be honest i cannot see him being jealous or at least acting like he is

he is far and away the most emotionally mature person on this list (and probably in the entire sith-verse tbh)

like if someone is hitting on you he'll literally agree with them and tell them he thinks you’re pretty too

he might hold your hand or hug you or something in front of them just so that they leave you alone, but that's about the extent of it i think

he’s not a pushover though. if someone isn't taking a hint he will tell them to leave and then escort you away himself because he doesn't want you to have to deal with that kind of bs

he was raised with a sister so he knows better than to be possessive or controlling

he wouldn't want someone treating xanthe like that so he's not about to treat you like that yk??

major green flag but that was to be expected from him

Marek Birdwhistle

this depends on what universe we're looking at

if it's a modern au where he doesn't get scarred or pre-athyae then he's funny and lighthearted about it

he is canonically the best looking character in the story (besides y/n) pre-athyae incident so if we're talking about a world where he doesn't get tortured and whatnot then honestly just the sight of him near you will be enough for people to back off

like no wayyy are they flirting with you when MAREK BIRDWHISTLE is right there

honestly you might be the one who gets jealous i bet he gets mad bitches 😭

but he pretty much ignores all of them...he only really has eyes for you so although he's friendly to anyone he'll (very politely) reject anyone who makes serious moves

if someone does have the guts to approach you he'll lowkey judge them

he's going to be subtle about it but he won't hesitate to point out their flaws and ruin their self-confidence

now if this is in canon, especially post-athyae...i don't think he gets jealous necessarily because he literally just hates himself so much that it would only make sense if you want someone else

i’m not going to describe his injuries in this because they're pretty horrific and you’ve all read the chapter but yeah. he genuinely does not believe that you love him when he looks like that

he went from constantly being praised for being handsome to people being horrified by half of his face (which is generally kept bandaged but still) so it is a HUGE change for him

he would require reassurance that you are with him for more than just his appearance and that you don't find him hideous at all

omg pls be nice to him fr he deserves better i think the only characters who can claim to be treated as poorly by the narrative as him are the haas twins 😔

[redlazuly]

so i've just joined the pjo series discourse on sm (i've read all the books) so maybe people might have already said this but i feel like the monster fights are kinda underwhelming ?? the fights themselves but the atmosphere around them too. i'm just going to say it point by point to be clearer :

Mrs. Dodds: she's the first monster and threat of the show. i was waiting for something scary and surprising, that would have terrified percy or something. but instead the "reveal" was slow, and there wasn't even a fight, he just kind of opened the sword (even tho we don't even see him doing it) and she just. dies like that ?? it was really easy and i get that they can't just kill percy in the first ep but there wasn't even a bit of struggle or anything. tbh this first fight really dissapointed me. there was mystery that creates an intrigue but she just wasn't scary or a menace imo (EDIT : I HAVE NOW REREAD THE SCENE AND IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THIS IS EXACTLY HOW THE FIGHT PLAYS OUT IN THE BOOK (extract down below) so forget everything i said in this part, i'm sorry. )

2. The minotaur : i liked this one much more than the first one, the car chase was thrilling and the atmosphere of the scene was really cool. i've only got one little thing to say about it, but i think it's just a me thing and i'm nitpicking (idk how to make gifs so i hope you can picture it in your head) :

when sally takes percy's jacket to lure the minotaur away from the boys and uses it as a red cape like in a corrida, i think it kinds of take the attention away from the fear of the monster in itself by being comedic. AGAIN i know i'm nitpicking here but why not say it.

(also i regret that the last scene was so far away from the camera and from the camp border. i know it's bc it's percy's pov but i loved percy's desperation in the movie (I KNOW IT'S BAD) when he's failing to save his mother and finally sees her (and her emotions) when she is gets taken away from him.)

3. Medusa : i LOVED what they tried to do with medusa and how they tried to make us sympathise with her. however, the fight was REALLY dissapointing to me. it kind of happened from nowhere. it's implied that it's annabeth plan but it really happened way too fast and did not give enought time for the viewer to appreciate the threat that medusa can be. it felt way to easy for them to beat MEDUSA. the fight lasted 5 seconds max and it felt shy in a way, like as if they didn't not want to fuck it up.

+ special mention : 4. Clarisse: I'M NOT SAYING SHE'S A MONSTER, I'M JUST PUTTING HER HERE BC TECHNICALLY SHE WAS A THREAT TO PERCY. i like dior's acting, idk anything about her outside of the show but i'm going to be honest : not knowing the cast at all, at first i immediately thought she was drew 😭. she IS a really pretty girl but for me she doesn't emanate clarisse's ares' daughter vibe. when her spear broke she was so GOOD, but appart from that she's just really chill i think ? like she's not menacing, she just kind of a mean girl bully (which clarisse is ig but she's not a menace enough imo) and tbh i think she's just not as "rough" as i think she could have been.

tldr : i think the fights were not scary enough and did not set a good tone for the series. they were also too easy and fast for them to be enjoyable.

of course i still enjoy this show a lot so i will be watching the next episodes and the rest of it so maybe there will be improvements. please yell what you guys think !!

it's the first time i ever talk so much on tumblr, so i hope it was readable. if there was any mistakes please tell me, english is not my first language.

[aalyre]

Hihi so I saw the coward/brave discourse and one anon said they thought Neil brave for staying and though I know that this entire discussion is on the topic on when/if someone can be brave in leaving/staying and i believe you added onto that with that Neil would’ve maybe been more reckless than brave and I somewhat agree with you but also not

The things is that in the end if Neil were a Raven and Kevin left I think Neil would have stayed for the same reasons Jean would never have left with Kevin in canon. Maybe not entirely the same reasons, I think the factor of his loyalty and dependance on Jean, who would have been his partner would also be important and I think that Neil, same as Jean has, would hold lingering loyalty to the ravens as a whole and would also know that him leaving would not be as easily accepted as Kevin’s was. He would know his place more.

Additionally, I think that Neil would never ever ever trust Wymack to take him in. Jean already was in mild (?) disbelief that Kevin truly thought Wymack would be different from Kenton and Jean’s father but add Nathan Wesninski to the equation and no way in hell will Neil ever have a crumb of trust in Wymack. Part of me even thinks that Neil would discourage Kevin to going he didn’t know Kevin would likely end up dead if he stayed with the Ravens (an entirely different Roman Empire that overlaps with this one and have some big influence on eo but that I’m not getting into)

I think that in the end, Raven Neil would not be reckless, nor brave, nor cowardly for not leaving with Kevin; I think that from his point of view after a life in the Nest he would not see escaping as a viable way of survival for himself, same as Jean did not see it that way

I think he’d be maybe a little bit more resistant to Riko/the Ravens than Jean was but truly not much. That is not reckless behaviour nor is it cowardice, nor is it bravery. It is a combination of his loyalty toward Jean (and the Ravens as much as he may hate them and you can’t change my minds on this one), his dependance upon Jean, his position to the Moriyamas as property and not a valuable pet to show off, and his inherent distrust of men old enough to be his father, which stems from not only his father but also in this case includes Kengo, Tetsuji and Jean’s dad. It is what he likely thinks of as survival, the same way Jean would/did.

Sorry for the long and messy rant but I wanted to add some thoughts on Neil as a Raven which is kind of a completely different can of worms from Kevin’s “cowardice” but whatever ig

For the rest I pretty much entirely agree with you on the matter lol

OMG I LOVEEEE YOUR TAKE

okay so surprisingly i never read anything in this discourse before talking about neil’s would be actions if he’d been a raven all along and

1) i totally agree with you, i think that neil, had he always been a raven wouldn’t leave but not bc of recklessness, not because of bravery, nor because of cowardice (basically what you said lmao sorry)

1.5) just before i get to the next point, obv the reckless neil i was talking about before i’d the one we know in canon, so the one who NEVER became a raven, and it’s that personality i took into account when trying to analyzing the situation

2) THIS THREW ME INTO SPIRALING THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW MICH THINGS WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT and i can’t really say much rn cause id need ten cups of coffee and a week to think about it but the few thoughts i got out were

2.1) his nature (wesninski) would have shown up fundamentally differently if he’d been a raven and it shows that nature/nurture are not interchangeable (not sure that’s the right word but basically they can overlap/influence one another)

2.2) i can’t remember why now but while reading your analysis, i had a lightning thought about andrew and how much his influence changed neil and pushed him to fight back (i do believe that neil’s recklessness in canon is brought to the surface by the foxes/the atmosphere at the foxhole court/ the kevin&riko situation) and i can’t remember why it was andrew i thought about so basically my point 2.2 is useless but if u can remember i’ll make sure to share!!

anyway my bottom line is that this pov of the situation is soooooo so so interesting and it puts the characters and their personality in canon into perspective and i LOVE that so thank you!!!

no worries at all about the long text ahaha it’s never a problem for me!

take care and have a great day/night!!!

[aquafe]

you can all argue about the match ban for vini vs lewandowski and have a point.

i don't like vinicius but that doesn't justify the intentional provocations he faces everytime he plays against mallorca, sevilla etc. like, that pattern should be obvious to you? talking about antiracism on your blogs but crying so hard that you tie that to laliga favouring madrid over barça - the same liga that can't even handle their own racism nor corruption since years? what's that gotta do with him getting called a monkey and have that same toxic atmosphere eat him up anytime he plays against them? so it's just coincidence and his bad, spoiled attitude?

we are talking about another ligue in europe in which racism is so common - y'all have become part of it, ups. that's what also connects you with reels user cz they also think that he is apparently priviliged for using the racism card. he has already faced 16+ cases of racial abuse. who tf doesn't become aggressive and fcking tired of getting treated like shit. when haaland does his fiascos he is a proud vikinger ig.

the last blog to whine about this was a gringo barça fanboy, always love to see the diversity on football tumblr:)

[quaissants]

TAGU-TAGUAN.  ›  YANG JEONGIN  ݃  GN! READER

synopsis. he's been hiding his feelings for so long, will you finally come around and find it?

pantone. fluff .. angst .. childhood best friends to ??.

length. three thousand three hundred seventy five (3,375).

cw. self doubt, intrusive people .. food and drinks ... mona’s attempts to be funny. 

tfw. since i do plan on deleting hwablurs, i decided to repost the three stories i wrote (including this one) because they’re.. decent, ig— plus one of them might have a part two so :D

JEONGIN TAKES A DEEP BREATH BEFORE MOVING EIGHT STEPS FORWARD.

quietly sliding the door behind him, he shuffles over to the seat situated next to yours. the chair creaks beneath his weight; his initials have faded on its wooden arm. even though it's been a while since he found himself on that terrace, he quickly settles into the perfect position—the one that lets him view the reunion taking place in your family's backyard.

he looks over at you with a teasing grin. “i thought good hosts socialize with the guests to make sure they're having fun.”

“it's too early to face the nosy aunties. besides,” you return the look and lightly tap your chin. “i'm talking to you, a guest, so doesn't that mean i'm a good host?”

“touché.”

laughter meets in the middle before you cut the connection with an indulgent sigh. you turn to your other side and pick up a juice packet from the mini cooler before offering it to jeongin. your blonde haired friend raises a brow at the familiar drink. “how come i didn't see this at the refreshments table earlier?”

“maybe it's because i secretly bought a box of zesto after mama told me you're coming back for the winter break.” you reply before grabbing your third packet of the evening.

he wonders if he can cover up the sound of his rapidly thrumming heart by obnoxiously sipping through his straw. it seems to work, seeing as how you scrunch your nose and smack his arm. despite knowing what that meant, he continues his action.

you narrow your eyes and playfully threaten him, “yang jeongin, if you don't stop, i will cut you off of your zesto supply and let you suffer with iced tea.”

whether it's the use of his government name, or the idea of having no choice but to consume the infamous store bought mixture, you're not sure which are the magic words. all you know is that they appear to be effective, for he immediately reverts back to quietly savouring his drink. you stifle your chuckle behind your straw; looks like he never grew out of his obsession with the fruit juice.

after less than a minute, jeongin asks for another packet. this time, he decides to take it slow, and scoots towards the edge of his seat. the two of you observe the people below, occasionally tossing a comment into the atmosphere.

as you predicted, the aunts and a few men have gathered to discuss the latest events. meanwhile, the uncles, and anyone else who isn't interested in joining the nosy group, scatter around the backyard. some are taking part in cooking the meat, others are most likely in the living room to watch a basketball game.

it doesn't take long for jeongin to get bored and observe something.. someone that's actually intriguing: you.

the last time the two of you were at an event like this, you loved being part of the crowd. if you weren't being fawned over by the adoring women or sneaking food off the buffet table, you were trying to climb onto your favourite uncle's shoulders. throughout all of that, you kept jeongin by your side. your hand firmly gripped his to make sure you wouldn't lose him among the adults.

and now, despite the shift of your opinion towards such events, he feels deja vu wash over him. it makes sense—after all, he's still the nervous boy who constantly rubs his hands against his jeans, just in case you want to hold his hand and drag him down to the party. and he still chews his straw down to the fine point because so many words are running through his head, there's a chance he might pull out the wrong string.

“they're looking for you.”

“h-huh?” he snaps out of his daze and looks down to spot what you're looking at: the aunties keep glancing at their surroundings, as if they were searching for someone.

you smile lopsidedly and pat his shoulder. “you shouldn't be too surprised. seeing as how you got into one of the top universities in the world, you are bound to be chased by middle-aged women who are hoping to set you up with their kid.”

the grimace that sets on his face works like a feather; it tickles you until you're curling into your chair, chest heaving from the laughter that escapes your lips. this time, it's jeongin's turn to pout and smack your arm.

“please don't feed me to the wolves, i'm too young to become meat.” he pleads, only to shift into mock offense over you acting like you have to think about it.

“i don't know, i've been the center of their attention for the past few years now..” you pretend to think aloud. “a fresh new view would probably make them forget me for at least ten years..”

your old friend deadpans. why is it that even though you're considering sacrificing him for your survival, you still look so angelic? even worse, why is he willing to take your place to make you happy?

“we finally get to hang out and this is how you welcome me back,” it's clear that he's spent too much time with hyunjin when he dramatically sighs and shakes his head. “i'm touched, truly.”

“s-stop-i.. i can't-” you hold your aching sides and try to take your breath back. jeongin offers some assistance by patting your back until your lungs return to their usual rhythm. you cough a couple of times, but it's nothing that a gulp of zesto can't fix.

between the two of you, three more packets are consumed before your throats start to hurt from the fruity flavours. now that his hands are lacking an item to fidget with, the blonde-haired male drags his finger across his carved initials. he tries to etch them even deeper, but his nails are too blunt for such an endeavour, so he gives up on that.

instead, he turns to face you and asks, “how have you been?”

“fine, i guess?” you say, fingers idly tapping the arm of your chair. “i mean, my course is pretty fun so no complaints there. plus i found some friends who are willing to bury their heads on a desk and cry with me whenever finals roll around.”

“that's good to know.” he chuckles before swallowing a nervous breath. “what about dating? has anyone managed to break the npsb's streak?”

“i kinda wish there was, but no one's come close to threatening it.”

perhaps jeongin shouldn't be relieved to hear that, so he keeps it to himself. his hand reaches out to pat your head, just like a mother hen would to soothe her chick. “there there, it's okay.”

you swat his hand, a slew of grumbles following right after it. “enough about that. remind me to introduce you to my dealer.”

“..who?”

“my dealer.” you repeat, the deadpan that crosses your friend's face eliciting you to chuckle. “i swear, he's a master of making mango graham cake.”

“ohh, a food dealer!” the realization belatedly falls upon him, so does the tinge of annoyance. “meanie, you really made me think you were trying to lure me into the dark side.”

a cheeky smirk crosses your lips. “at least i know you'd haul me out if i was.”

“of course i would, who else is gonna bail me out once the aunties find me?”

“your brother?”

“..you know what, may the force be not with you.”

IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT JEONGIN TAKES FIVE STEPS BACK BEFORE HE CAN FOOLISHLY JUMP OVER THE BALCONY AND DASH TO THE BUFFET TABLE.

you watch him with a raised brow. “getting hungry yet?”

your question's answered by the grumble of his stomach.

“we can't go yet, they're standing way too close for us to slip undetected.” he whines, the words in sync with his tummy's second growl.

he knows you're deliberating on something. your nose is scrunched up, gaze zoomed on a random speck on the floor, and fingers gently tapping against the metal handle. seems like he's not the only one who hasn't grown out of all his personal habits.

initially, you don't say anything. you just sit up then get back on your feet, hand held out to him. your blonde-haired companion doesn't take long to connect the dots.

“don't tell me—” the fact that you're still standing confirms his fear.

“come on, it won't be that bad.”

“no? you know the moment they spot me, i won't get out until i've answered every single question of theirs. and i'm very sure i'll have to repeat myself three times because some of them weren't listening during the first and second round.”

damn, the influence that hyunjin has on him is steadily slithering into the spotlight. despite his reasonable excuse, you still keep your hand out. like smacking the nail on the coffin, you smack him with the ultimate weapon: bribery.

“i'll help you get as much lumpia as you want.”

ah fried spring rolls, his second largest weakness.

(of course the first is you, but what you don't know won't hurt anyone.)

“okay, let's go.” he relents, but remembers to rub his palm against his jeans before doing so. with his hand in yours, you lead him down the stairs and into the main space. it's a blessing that you never look back, the uncharacteristic flush of his cheeks would have given him away.

as if they sensed his presence, the middle-aged women almost sprint to get a good look at him. it feels like the rain has come around, but rather than drops of water falling upon him, jeongin's showered with plenty of compliments. the words blend so messily, he barely catches some words like handsome, intelligent, proud, partner..

wait what was that last one?

“have you already found a significant other?” even though aunt cleo's not the loudest, her question strikes the young man quite deeply. everyone finally stops throwing sentences and holds onto their baited breaths to hear what his answer is.

“uh, well.. i, i haven't yet—”

those three words are similar to a trigger; another round of phrases are shot at him. this time, he hears plenty of names being tossed into the mixture. he internally panics, unsure as to what he can do to escape. but when he feels you squeeze his hand, the nerves that twist his stomach into knots unravel.

you clear your throat and smile at the intrusive group, the curve not quite reaching your eyes. “although jeongin would love to answer your questions, he's feeling really famished so why don't we let him get some energy back?”

a chorus of you're right comes through and they finally move aside to let the two of you head to the buffet table. you hear aunt cleo say, “make sure he gets enough portions, dear. i'm willing to gamble my husband's shares that his university doesn't serve the same hearty quality of food as we do.”

“i've got him, auntie!”

the dish that he has been longing for is right there, it's obviously beckoning him, but jeongin doesn't immediately snatch up half a plate of them. the center of his mind is distracted by your words. they run around in a loop, just like one of those vinyl records his father likes to play every sunday afternoon.

that phrase; it isn't new to him. in fact, the first time he heard it was during your first meeting. as the new kid in the neighbourhood, jeongin felt out of place, especially when his parents brought him to the playground. all the other kids had already formed their friendships, so where was he supposed to go?

to the swings, he guessed. as he sat there, watching them have fun with a tinge of jealousy, he hadn't noticed you standing behind him until you tapped his shoulder.

“i'm sorry!” he frantically apologized and got off the swing, almost tripping over his own sneakers as he did so. “here, you can have it!”

“huh? you don't have to go away.” you beamed so brightly, jeongin wondered how that's possible when the sun was supposed to be the brightest. “do you wanna play?”

“me?”

“mhm! but it's okay if you don't wanna, mama said i shouldn't make people do what i want.”

he initially looked down at his shoes before he gave you a nod and a meek smile. “i'm jeongin, 'nice to meet you.”

“you too, innie. my name's y/n, and i know we're gonna be the bestest of friends.”

“how?”

“because i like you already!”

the poor little boy had no time to react for you were already leading him to your other friends who also wanted to talk to him. as the two of you run past your guardians, your mama tells you, “be nice with him, sweetheart!”

“yes mama, i've got him!”

and you kept your word. regardless of how many years pass by, or how many friends slipped through his fingers, you've always been there for him. now, he can't help but wonder if you'd still remain by his side if he told you—

“—yang jeongin!”

the male in question almost jumps out of his skin. he turns to you, eyes as wide as a fox's when it's caught in headlights. concern shimmers upon your visage as you ask, “are you okay? you look like you've been hypnotized by the spring rolls.”

he retaliates by lightly bumping your hip. “i'm trying to guess how many of them i can get before someone looks at me weirdly.”  

“i see..” without hesitation, you take a plate and begin to fill a quarter of it with the appetizer before nudging him to do the same. “no one's going to question why we each have this much when it's almost the usual portion for one person.”

and jeongin barely catches himself before he falls deeper. he conceals the mayhem going on inside of him by remarking, “but we still need to make sure that we're out of sight so there's no witnesses.”

“that's what the kitchen's for, innie.”

SOMETIMES, JEONGIN WONDERS HOW YOUR PREDICTIONS HAVE A HIGH SUCCESS RATE.

just like you said, almost no one has taken a step in the kitchen. there have been a few close calls, but they were very distracted by their quest to get more alcohol. because of that, the two of you get to munch on your appetizer while watching smashed adults for entertainment.

“you see that guy, the one playing it safe with his glass? that's miss camaya's boyfriend.”

jeongin's jaw almost drops to the floor. “hold on, i thought she was with mister pham.”

“they ended it two years ago.” you shrug your shoulders. “he got a job across the world, so of course, they tried long distance, but it just wasn't meant to be.”

“that's a shame, i was rooting for them.”

you giggle over the pout that appears on your sulking friend's face. “cheer up, what's important is that they ended it mutually, and now miss camaya's found someone who makes her just as happy as he did.”

hopping off the counter, you tell him that you'll just head upstairs to get the two of you some more zesto before exiting the kitchen. left in the company of his mind, jeongin's mind begins to delve into another pool of thoughts.

if the two of you became a couple, would it end the same way? he isn't naïve enough to believe that it isn't possible. after all, this is the first time in four years that you're actually hanging out together.  

with how hectic college life can be, is he going to be able to take you out on dates? scratch that, will he have enough money and time to come visit you? it's already a miracle that he managed to scrape enough money for this trip.

all of his doubts gather to weigh down on him, bringing him to cradle his head in his hands. he wants it to stop, but he doesn't know how to do that. that is, until he hears you call his name.

“oh, hello!” he's taken aback by the stranger standing by the doorway, but doesn't look too deep into it yet. instead, he smiles timidly. “i'm sorry you had to see me like that, being around the host involves spending a load of sanity.”

being next to your old friend allows you to punch his shoulder and complain, “hey, i'm not that bad..”

“only in your dreams~”

“you hear that? it's the sound of me cutting off your zesto supply.”

“you wouldn't..”

“try me.”

the two of you engage in a playful staring competition, only to be interrupted by the stranger's laughter. he's a little closer now, comfortably occupying a chair that was just loitering around.

“you were right, bun. he is quite a cool guy.” the stranger compliments him, but the only thing jeongin can hear is bun. he doesn't want to be that kind of person, not when he has no right to be possessive.. but who is this guy, and why is he addressing you so casually?

“jun, you aren't supposed to expose me!”

jeongin's gaze flits between the two of you, confusion adding a splash of color to his fair skin. it's clear that he isn't doing a good job at toning it down, seeing as how you address the elephant in the room, “oh, i forgot. innie, this is yeonjun, the mango graham dealer i mentioned earlier. jun, meet jeongin.”

the laid-back male sends him a warm smile. “nice to meet you, jeongin. bun's told me a lot about you.”  

“nice to meet you too. i wish i could say the same but the only thing someone,” he pokes your side. “has told me is that you're a master in the art of making a certain dessert so i'm pretty much in the dark about you.”

he comes to realize how much he feels like he's looking at a mirror when yeonjun turns his attention to you and pouts. “really, bun? that hurts, really strikes me to the bone.”

you scoff and roll your eyes. “you two just met and you're already ganging up on me, how sweet.”

the two fox kins share a look before grinning cheekily. “it's meant to be.”

your groan serves as more amusement for them. jeongin knows you're mumbling something about them, probably about how much you regret your decision, but he doesn't take it to heart. knowing you, the two of them getting along is a nice impromptu present.

the three of you open up a new conversation, ignorant of the party taking place outside. it's nice, jeongin can't deny that, but he can still feel part of himself threatening to collapse. he endures the odd feeling, even after yeonjun announces his departure.

“can't you stay a little longer?” he asks him again.

the older male shakes his head apologetically. “i have to get up early tomorrow to pick up soobin from the airport.”

“no worries,” jeongin pushes himself away from the counter to share a hug with his new friend. “stay safe, alright?”

“you too. text me when you’re free so we can hang out again.”

when he pulls away, it's your turn to get a hug. except, yours lasts longer than his. and right when he's about to brush it off as a coincidence, you decide to walk yeonjun to the door. he thinks about going with you, but he doesn't have the strength to move from his spot.

his heart, the shelter that's kept his feelings hidden, has fallen apart. and even though you haven't caught him, he lost.

it doesn't matter if he and yeonjun share a few similarities. he isn't the one who tickles the butterflies in your stomach. he can't say that he's the reason your smile never fails to reach the corners of your eyes, because he isn't the one you seek. and he knows that you haven't realized it yet, but someone is threatening your streak.

so jeongin chooses to put your happiness first and takes three steps backward, right back into the place that has been made for him: the sideline.

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