#basically all the prompts are wind breaker

[o-sachi]

Superimposable - Drabble for WinBre Week!

ᯓ chemistry too hard for you? good thing you have someone to help you out... ᯓ character; hayato suo (wind breaker) ᯓ tags; college au, floof, friends to lovers (kinda), gn reader, no y/n, has chemistry jargon and concepts (basic explanations at the end if you're curious lol)

[🐟]: for day 2 - school life prompt! @windbreakerweek

"Suo, there's no use. I'm doomed. I've accepted my fate," you say as you plant your forehead on the hardwood table.

You've been in the university library for quite some time now, yet your brain won't absorb this damn chemistry lesson. Who even cares about how molecules are structured?

As pessimistic as you are, your designated tutor was still able to keep a friendly smile on his face. Sure, you were unlucky to not be born a chemistry genius, but at least, you were lucky enough to be friends with someone who is.

Suo Hayato is a close friend of yours and the person who gets the highest marks in your chemistry class. Every. Single. Time.

"You just have to use your imagination. It's highly important since you want to figure out the configuration of the molecule."

He points to a line in the book—reading it and squeezing in a short explanation in between. Despite his many attempts... it was simply impossible.

Suo quickly notices your fleeting attention and decides to close the book. He had something better up his sleeve. "Alright, you have trouble understanding configurations, right?"

You nod slowly—clearly showing the exhaustion that has been building up all this time.

He smiles softly. "Okay then. Let's start from the beginning."

He pulls his chair a bit closer to you. If you were to move just an inch—your shoulders would rub against each other. Normally, such a trivial touch would be nothing to you... but it was Suo Hayato. People would do unimaginable things to be in your position right now.

"First, you need to be able to find the chiral center of these structures. And in order to do that—you need to know the concept of superimposability."

He takes your right hand and places it flat on the table. "Look," he says while placing his bigger hand on top of yours. "They don't line up do they? They're mirror images, but they don't line up perfectly."

"So they're not superimposable?" you ask and he nods. "But what if I turn my hand?"

Suo chuckles softly, fully expecting you to ask that. He takes your hand and flips it over so that your palm was facing upwards. And like earlier, he places his palm over yours. A little more and you could intertwine your fingers with his.

You gulp down—hard. "Don't they line up now?"

"Yes, but are they mirror images?" he poses the question and he removes his hand from yours. "Your palm is facing up while the back of my hand is. So they're not the same."

Suo speaks up again. "So if the mirror images of the molecules are not superimposable, it has a chiral center."

Scratching your head, you tried to make sense of his words. It was clear and unclear at the same time. You were close to getting to that summit of understanding this thing. But there was something missing.

"Then what are superimposable things?"

Suo looks up, as if in thought. In truth, there were so many superimposable things around you—papers, rulers, cellphones. But he thought that would be too boring to make this lesson memorable.

He turns to face you better which prompts you to do the same. You had a feeling he was about to do something. Although, nothing would ever prepare you for what he was to pull next.

"Pretend you're looking into a mirror," he says while pointing at his face. "So we have mirror images now, right?"

"Right."

"What else do we need for images to be superimposable again?"

"They have to line up?"

He hums, satisfied with your answer. But what kind of teacher would he be if he doesn't properly show you, right?

To be fair, your lips did line up perfectly. He let you feel the softness of his lips on yours for a few seconds—making sure you understood what all of this meant. It was quick, but sweet. The small peck rendered you immobile and all you could do was get lost in the pleasant surprise.

Pulling away, he flashes you that same subdued smile. "Wow, they do line up huh? So would you say lips are superimposable or not?"

When he talked like this it made you feel... things. "They're super... imposable..."

His smile widens, glad that you successfully absorbed the concept. He went on with his lecture, excited to teach you more. But it seems like his methods left you stunned and unable to go on any further.

o-sachi © 2024 pls do not translate/copy/reupload my work on other platforms.

a/n - some explanations under the cut

Let's go over the terms:

Configuration - basically how the molecule exists in a 3D space, their rotation and how its components are postioned relative from each other

Chiral Center - atoms with four different groups bonded to it and are mirror images that are non-superimposable

Idk if y'all will understand with just this explanation but yes. (ty socratic)

Superimposability - mirror images that line up

Like this basically (ty Chemistry Stack Exchange)

This is like the very miniscule tip of the organic chemistry iceberg. So reader and Suo have SO MUCH to go over lol. Anyway, orgchem is fun /srs. So was writing this hehe.

[megvmins]

navigation

hello! call me luna or moon (she/her). xxiv. i write and create edits.

basics:

this is a sideblog so all my interactions would go from my main acc (kyanmapng)

please feel free to add to any prompt i love interacting and bouncing ideas off each other - askbox is always open!

this will be 18+ blog so please mdni

some of my works are gender neutral, nsfw will probably always be fem (that's just how I'm comfy writing it)

i hyperfixate on a lot of shows/anime/webtoons so expect it to be multifandom

i'm also on:

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tags:

general writing tag

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jujutsu kaisen tag

windbreaker (webtoon) tag

wind breaker (satoru nii) tag

[story-courty]

"I didn't know where else to go" for that cursebreaker Juke AU you wrote for a prompt fill. If you are in any way feeling so inclined of course.

There were days when Julie wondered why she kept going. There she was, risking her life to save the whole freaking world, wizarding and No-Maj, from all manner of dark and cursed objects, and then Caleb Covington, that rat bastard, decided to convince MCUSA to consider her public enemy number one so he could keep selling cursed objects to dark wizards for a profit. And to add insult to injury, now she couldn’t go home for fear of putting her family in danger. 

But it was the bounty hunters that were really getting under her skin. She was so tired of having to Obliviate every single bounty hunter that tried to bring her in. Especially because they were all so stupid. One would think that a bounty of one million Dragots would tell them about the level of danger they faced, but noooo, they all thought it would be a walk in the park. 

Whatever. 

The government could kiss her grits for all she cared. She became a Curse-Breaker to get rid of dangerous magical items, and that was exactly what she was going to do. 

Which was how she found herself sheltering in a tiny shack in Lycia in the middle of a horrendous thunderstorm. 

Julie had heard legends about Bellerophon’s mystical bow and arrows since she was a first-year at Ilvermorny. It was the only weapon known to have slain a Chimera, and Julie had a sneaking suspicion that a Transmogrifian Torture curse was involved in its success. No one needed to get their hands on something like that, and if she had anything to say about it, they wouldn’t. She’d finally figured out where it probably was (hello, what better place to hide it than the ancient kingdom of the guy who gave it to Bellerophon in the first place) and apparated to Lycia to do some reconnaissance before jumping in. An object as highly coveted as Bellerophon’s bow would probably be covered in curses, and she wanted to go in with her eyes as wide open as possible. 

The storm kicked up a few minutes after she landed, and she barely made it to an abandoned bungalow before the winds hit “carve your flesh from your bones” levels. She yanked her wand out of her boot and cast a quick Impervius charm over the bungalow to keep it from succumbing to the gale-force winds, then settled down on one of the old, dusty chairs to wait it out. 

Hours passed, and the storm didn’t show any sign of letting up. In fact, the way things were going, there wouldn’t be a break in the storm until at least the morning. 

Hm. 

Julie glanced around the room and wrinkled her nose. Dust coated every surface in a thick gray layer that could not have been healthy, something black and slimy grew on the counter in the small kitchen, and the springs in the middle of the bed were so broken that there was almost a hole in the mattress. 

Oh well. Nothing a good Scourgify and Reparo couldn’t fix. 

As Julie settled herself into the easy rhythm of basic charms, her mind rebelliously drifted to a certain ‘Wart who’d been haunting her steps (and her thoughts) like a ghost over the last year. She was honestly surprised she hadn’t found Patterson holed up in this shanty already, but she’d been very careful to keep this particular find a complete secret. She hadn’t even told Flynn she was leaving. Still, it wouldn’t surprise her if he did show up. Damn, it was like he had a Trace on her or something. 

A small smile ticked at the corner of her mouth, and a tiny wisp of hope curled in her stomach. She didn’t necessarily mind him following her all over the world the way he did. He was probably the most beautiful man she’d ever seen, and little eye candy never hurt a witch, after all. And his constant state of irritation was incredibly fun to play with. He was definitely irritating when he got in her way, but she had to admit that he made life interesting. 

Especially after that Horcrux incident in Japan… 

Her arm still ached every time she thought about the sharp severing curse the Horcrux was imbued with. And her skin tingled more when she remembered the scrape of Luke’s callused, gentle hands holding her still as he dripped Essence of Dittany on her arm. And the way he smelled, of leather and pine and… 

Anyway… 

Julie fought through a yawn and pushed all thoughts of Luke Patterson out of her mind.  It was time to focus on settling in for the night. She’d need her rest for whatever showed up around Bellerophon’s bow tomorrow. She kicked off her boots, threw her black jacket over the back of the chair, and pulled her dark purple dress over her head, leaving her in leggings and a loose black tank top. Yawning again, she climbed under the clean covers on the newly-repaired bed and settled her head onto the pillow, sleep just poking at the edges of her consciousness. 

Something slammed into the door of the bungalow, violently yanking Julie from her doze. She rolled out of bed and snatched her wand, then crept to the door, Stupefy already waiting on her lips. 

Whoever was out there slammed their fist into the door three times. 

“Who’s there?” she asked. 

“Molina?” a familiar voice asked weakly. 

Julie gasped and wrenched the door open, barely managing to catch Luke as he toppled on top of her. He was soaking wet and shivering, and his dead weight told her immediately that he was injured. She ducked under his arm and practically dragged him to the bed. 

“What happened to you?” she demanded when she got him on his back. She tried to see where he was hurt, but his clothes were soaked through, and any sign of injury was covered up by the dark fabric. 

Luke raised his hand to his left shoulder and gasped, “There. My arm.” 

Julie immediately shoved his jacket aside and, through the dim flashes of lightning, finally got a look at the problem. Four huge gashes ran from the top of Luke’s shoulder almost down to his stomach, each one flowing with fresh blood now that it wasn’t being washed away by the rain. 

“What in the world-” 

“Bloody Sectumsempra.”

“What?! Who the hell used that on you?” If Julie had her way, that damn spell would have been added to the list of Unforgivable Curses decades ago.  

Luke hissed through his teeth in agony. “I quit Gringotts. Refused to give 'em the items I had before I left. They didn't take too kindly to it and set the other Curse-Breakers on me.” His neck strained as more blood poured from his wounds. “Staghart got in a lucky shot with that damn curse. I got away before he could slice something important off.”

Julie didn’t miss how he said he’d quit Gringotts, but that wasn’t the time to talk about it. “Luke-” 

He went on as if he didn’t hear her. “How’d you find this hell-hole, anyway?” 

Ah, there he was. “Luck. Now shut up and let me see.” Julie shucked his jacket completely off and then got to work unbuttoning his shirt. 

“What are you doing?” 

“I need to see what I’m dealing with.” She dragged her own jacket over and reached into her Extended pocket, pulling out a magic lantern and setting it to float above Luke’s shoulder. The gashes were even deeper than she first thought, and the bleeding was getting heavier with each pump of his heart. 

“That bad, huh?” Luke asked, sweat beading on his forehead. 

She quirked an eyebrow, then waved her wand over him, drying his hair and clothes with a Hot Air Charm. “It’s not good. That curse didn’t hit anything vital, but it’s bleeding way more than it should be.” 

“How can you tell?” 

“Well, it’s a Sectumsempra curse. That’s what it does. Besides, I had the O.W.L.s to train as a Healer as well as a Curse-Breaker in school. I figured having some rudimentary healing skills would come in handy in our line of work.” 

“Damn,” Luke coughed, “a right Hermione Granger, you are.” 

“High praise coming from a ‘Wart,” she said, reaching into her pocket again and pulling out a nearly empty vial. “Here. You can have the last of my Essense of Dittany to at least stop the bleeding.” 

He chuckled. “Feels like we’ve been here before, eh Molina?” 

“I’m pretty sure I said shut up.” She bit her lip as she unstoppered the vial. “I know I don’t have to tell you, but this is going to hurt like hell. So…” She tipped the bottle up and emptied it onto his wounds. 

Luke screamed as green smoke billowed from his wound. He reached up to claw at it, but Julie held his hand down. “I know it hurts, but I promise it’ll only be for a few more seconds.” 

“Julie!” he wailed. 

And then he settled back onto the pillows, his breathing easing into long, slow gasps almost instantly. 

Julie examined his wound, which now looked days old. Fresh skin covered most of the gashes, and the bleeding was held back by several large scabs. “There you go,” she whispered, running her fingers across Luke’s forehead and pushing his sweaty hair out of the way. “All better now.”

He peeked at her through the exhausted slits between his eyelids. “Thank you,” he whispered, reaching out and slipping his fingers between hers.  

Julie’s stomach twisted, and not in an unpleasant way. 

She had no idea what to do with that, so she turned back to her Extended pocket and, gently prying her hand from Luke’s, dug around inside and pulled out vials and jars of varying sizes. “Honeywater, valerian roots, nettle leaves, rose petals-” 

“What are you-” Luke grunted. 

Julie held up a finger. “-dittany leaves, fairy wings, and…” She reached her arm into her pocket up to her shoulder. Where was that stupid vial?

Her fingers closed around an ornate glass bottle. Ah ha. “And silverweed extract,” she said triumphantly. 

“Can I speak now?” 

“Sure.” 

“What’s all that for?” 

She pulled her small silver cauldron and one of her fire-starting kits out of the pocket, arranged the tiny bits of wood on the floor, and touched her wand to it with a quiet Incendio. “The dittany healed your wounds well enough, but you need a Blood-Replenishing potion,” she said, placing the cauldron over the fire and pouring in twelve ounces of honeywater. “It’s going to take a while, though. You should rest.” 

“Julie, you don’t have to do that.” 

“Luke, you’re hurt. Of course I do.” 

“But-” 

“Remember what I said earlier about shutting up? And resting?” 

He didn’t say anything after that. 

While the honeywater heated up, Julie took out a mortar and pestle and pulverized the valerian root, then mixed it into the cauldron once the water started to simmer. On and on she worked, bruising the nettle leaves, combining the rose petals and dittany, and adding them into the mixture. Finally, she dropped the fairy wings in. 

“That has to simmer for another ten minutes before I can add in the silverweed extract,” she explained, doing what she could to avoid asking the question that had bothered her ever since he told her what happened at Gringotts. “It’ll be a couple of hours before it cools. Think you can hang on that long?” 

Luke nodded and blew out a long breath. 

Julie’s curiosity chewed at her stomach until she finally couldn’t stand it. “Why did you quit Gringotts?” 

He gave a bitter laugh. “I’d been instructed numerous times to break the curses on objects, not the ones they caused themselves. Turns out there’s quite a demand for evil artifacts these days. I…” He tucked a guilty shoulder up next to his ear. “I realized you were right. Some things don’t need to exist in this world. And I want to help you get rid of them.” 

A large lump of unshed tears swelled in the back of her throat, but she managed to choke it back enough to ask, “How did you get away? When the goblins had Staghart attack you?” She shouldn’t have asked. She was afraid she already knew the answer, and if she was right, then this whole mess with Luke Patterson had just gotten a whole lot more complicated. 

He settled further into the pillow. “Apparated.” 

Every hair on Julie’s body stood on end. “What?” she breathed, finally looking up and meeting his eyes. 

A small smile slid across his face. “I Apparated.” 

“But…” 

That shouldn’t have been possible. He had no idea where she was, no idea how to find her. 

Yet there he was. 

With her. 

“I thought about you, and then I was outside the door.” 

No… 

“Why would you think about me?”

He looked down at the mattress, then picked up Julie’s hand again and clutched it to his bare chest. “Everyone in my world turned against me. I…” He swallowed and closed his eyes. “I didn’t know where else to go.” His fingers tightened around hers again, and this time when she tried to draw away, he held tight. 

Julie squeezed her eyes shut against a powerful wave of… 

No. 

She did not feel that for him. 

And even if she did, it was too dangerous. There was a price on her head that many horrible wizards would kill for. And she…

She cared about this annoying ‘Wart. A lot more than she was supposed to. 

She snaked her wand up and touched it to his chest. “Somnium,” she whispered. 

He sighed sleepily. “Julie, don’t-” 

“You have to sleep now, Luke. I’ll wake you when the Blood-Replacement potion is done.” 

And hopefully, she could convince him to leave her alone after that. 

He fought the spell for a moment, biting out, “Please…” But then his face relaxed in the empty bliss of deep sleep. Julie watched him for a long time, astonished by just how young he looked when he wasn’t quipping at her. 

Merlin’s beard, now she was thinking in cliches. She needed to get away from this vexing, stupid, wonderful man as soon as possible. 

Still…

She leaned forward and gently brushed her lips against his in a barely-there wisp of a touch. “Thank you.” She leaned back and sighed. “But you can’t.” 

She’d finish the Blood-Replenishing potion, and then she’d make sure he drank it. But after that, she had to leave. She’d go find the bow, destroy it, and then she’d Apparate herself to her next destination. 

He’d figure something out. 

He always did. 

And as she stirred the essence of silverweed into the rest of the potion, she tried to ignore how much that thought hurt. 

Hey friends! "Show Me Your Colors" is giving me fits, so I decided to take some writing prompts from this list! Pick one of my Juke 'verses like Midnights at Mona's or Fall Where They May, or what have you (including ones I invented for prompts like the worms and this HP 'verse) or Remadora, hit me up, and let's play!

[tcm]

Reframing Films of the Past: An Interview with TCM Writers

All month long in March, TCM will be taking a look at a number of beloved classic films that have stood the test of time, but when viewed by contemporary standards, certain aspects of these films are troubling and problematic. During TCM’s Reframed: Classics in the Rearview Mirror programming, all five TCM hosts will appear on the network to discuss these issues, their historical and cultural context and how we can keep the legacy of great films alive for future generations.

Also joining in on this conversation are four TCM writers who were open enough to share their thoughts on their love of classic movies and watching troubling images of the past. Special thanks to Theresa Brown, Constance Cherise, Susan King and Kim Luperi for taking part in this conversation. Continue the conversation over on TCM’s Twitter.

What do you say to people who don’t like classics because they’re racist and sexist? 

KL: There are positive representations in classic Hollywood that I think would blow some peoples’ minds. I always love introducing people to new titles that challenge expectations. 

That said, anyone who broadly slaps a sexist or racist label on a large part of the medium’s history does a disservice to cinema and themselves. That mindset keeps them ignorant not only of some excellent movies and groundbreaking innovation but history itself. 

I think people need to remember that movies are a product of their time and they can reflect the society they were made into a variety of degrees - good, bad, politically, culturally, socially. That’s not to excuse racism or sexism; it needs to be recognized and called out as such for us to contend with it today. But it’s important for people who say they don’t like classics for those reasons to understand the historical context. In particular, we need to acknowledge that society has evolved - and what was deemed socially acceptable at times has, too, even if sexism and racism are always wrong - and we are applying a modern lens to these films that come with the benefit of decades worth of activism, growth and education.

SK: I totally agree K.L. For years I have been encouraging people to watch vintage movies who keep proclaiming they don’t like black-and-white films or silent films. For every Birth of a Nation (1915) there are beautiful dramas, wonderful comedies and delicious mysteries and film noirs. 

 These films that have racist and sexist elements shouldn’t be collectively swept under the rug, because as K.L. stated they shine a light on what society was like – both good and bad. 

CC: First off, fellow writers may I say, I think your work is amazing. I'm continually learning from the talent that is here, and I am humbled to be a part of this particular company. Similar to the prior answers, for every racist/sexist film the opposite exists. Personally, classic musicals attracted me due to their visual assault, creativity and their unmistakable triple-threat performances. While we cannot ignore racist stereotypes and sexism, there are films that simply are "fantasies of art." There is also a review of evolution. In 20 years, what we now deem as acceptable behavior/conversation will be thought of as outdated and will also require being put into "historical context."  What we collectively said/thought/did 20 years ago, we are currently either re-adjusting or reckoning with now, and that is a truth of life that will never change. We will always evolve.

TB: I would say to them they should consider the times the movie was made in. It was a whole different mindset back then. 

Are there movies that you love but are hesitant to recommend to others because of problematic elements in them? If so, which movies? 

TB: Yes, there are movies I’m hesitant to recommend. The big one, off the top of my head, would be Gone With the Wind (1939). The whole slavery thing is a bit of a sticky wicket for people, especially Black folks. Me, I love the movie. It is truly a monumental feat of filmmaking for 1939. I’m not saying I’m happy with the depiction of African Americans in that film. I recognize the issues. But when I look at a classic film, I suppose I find I have to compartmentalize things. I tend to gravitate on the humanity of a character I can relate to. 

KL: Synthetic Sin (1929), a long thought lost film, was found in the 2010s, and I saw it at Cinecon a few years ago. As a Colleen Moore fan, I thoroughly enjoyed most of it, but it contains a scene of her performing in blackface that doesn’t add anything to the plot. That decision brings the movie down in my memory, which is why I have trouble recommending it.

Also Smarty (1934), starring Warren William and Joan Blondell, is another movie I don’t recommend because it’s basically about spousal abuse played for comedy, and it did not age well for that reason.

SK: Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961): Audrey Hepburn is my favorite actress and I love her Oscar-nominated performance as Holly. I adore Orangy as Cat, as well as George Peppard and Buddy Ebsen, who is wonderfully endearing. And of course, “Moon River” makes me cry whenever I hear it. But then I cringe and am practically nauseous every time Mickey Rooney pops up on screen with his disgusting stereotypical performance as Holly’s Japanese landlord Mr. Yunioshi. What was director Blake Edwards thinking casting him in this part? Perhaps because he’s such a caricature no Japanese actor wanted to play him, so he cast Rooney with whom he had worked within the 1950s. 

CC: I cannot necessarily state that I am in "love," but, a film that comes to mind would be Anna and the King of Siam (1946). It is an absolutely beautiful visual film. However, Rex Harrison as King Mongkut requires some explanation. 

Holiday Inn (1942), and the Abraham number...why??? Might I also add, there were many jaw-dropping, racist cartoons.

How did you learn to deal with the negative images of the past? 

KL: I often look at it as a learning experience. Negative images can provoke much-needed conversation (internally or with others) and for me, they often prompt my education in an area that I wasn’t well versed in. For instance, blackface is featured in some classic films, and its history is something I never knew much about. That said, seeing its use in movies prompted me to do some research, which led me first to TCM’s short documentary about blackface and Hollywood. I love how TCM strives to provide context and seeks to educate viewers on uncomfortable, contentious subjects so we can appreciate classic films while still acknowledging and understanding the history and the harmful stereotypes some perpetuated.

SK: It’s also been a learning experience for me. Though I started watching movies as a little girl in the late 1950s, thanks to TCM and Warner Archive I realized that a lot of films were taken out of circulation because of racist elements. TCM has not only screened a lot of these films but they have accompanied the movies with conversations exploring the stereotypes in the films.  

CC: As a Black woman, negative images of the past continue to be a lesson on how Blacks, as well as other minorities, were seen (and in some cases still are seen) through an accepted mainstream American lens. On one hand, it's true, during the depiction of these films the majority of Black Americans were truly relegated to servant roles, so it stands to reason that depictions of Black America would be within the same vein. What is triggering to me, are demeaning roles, and the constant exaggeration of the slow-minded stereotype, blackface. When you look at the glass ceiling that minority performers faced from those in power, the need for suppression and domination is transparent because art can be a powerful agent of change. I dealt with the negative images of the past by knowing and understanding that the depiction being given to me was someone else's narrative, of who they thought I was, not who I actually am.

TB: I’m not sure HOW I learned to deal with negative images. Again, I think it might go back to me compartmentalizing.

I don’t know if this is right or wrong…but I’ve always found myself identifying with the leads and their struggles. As a human being, I can certainly identify with losing a romantic partner, money troubles, losing a job…no matter the ethnicity.

In what ways have we evolved from the movies of the classic era?

KL: I think we are more socially and culturally conscious now when it comes to stories, diversity and representation on screen and behind the scenes, which is a step forward. That said, while there's been growth, there's still much work to be done.

SK: I think this year’s crop of awards contenders show how things have evolved with Da 5 Bloods, Soul, One Night in Miami, Minari, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The United States Vs. Billie Holiday, Judas and the Black Messiah and MLK/FBI. 

But we still have a long way to go. I’d love to see more Native American representation in feature films; more Asian-American and Latino stories. 

CC: There are minority artists, writers, producers, directors, actors with the increasing capacity to create through their own authentic voice, thereby affecting the world, and a measurable amount of them are women! Generally speaking, filmmakers (usually male) have held the voice of the minority narrative as well as the female narrative. I agree with both writers above in the thought that it is progress, and I also agree, more stories of diversified races are needed. 

TB: One important way we've evolved from the movies made in the classic era by being more inclusive in casting. 

Are there any deal-breakers for you when watching a movie, regardless of the era, that make it hard to watch? 

KL: Physical violence in romantic relationships that's played as comedy is pretty much a dealbreaker for me. I mentioned above that I don't recommend Smarty (1934) to people, because when I finally watched it recently, it. was. tough. The way their abuse was painted as part of their relationship just didn’t sit well with me.

SK: Extreme racist elements and just as KL states physical violence. 

Regarding extreme racist elements, D.W. Griffith’s Birth of a Nation (1915) is just too horrific to watch. I was sickened when I saw it when I was in grad school at USC 44 years ago and it’s only gotten worse. And then there’s also Wonder Bar (1934), the pre-code Al Jolson movie that features the Busby Berkeley black minstrel number “Goin’ to Heaven on a Mule.” Disgusting.

I also agree with KL about physical violence in comedies and even dramas. I recently revisited Private Lives (1931) with Norma Shearer and Robert Montgomery based on Noel Coward’s hit play. I have fond memories of seeing Maggie Smith in person in the play when I was 20 in the play and less than fond memories of watching Joan Collins destroying Coward’s bon mots.  

But watching the movie again, you realized just how physically violent Amanda and Elyot’s relationship is-they are always talking about committing physical violence-”we were like two violent acids bubbling about in a nasty little matrimonial battle”; “certain women should be struck regularly, like gongs”-or constantly screaming and throwing things.  

There is nothing funny or romantic about this.

KL: I try to put Birth of a Nation out of my mind, but S.K. did remind me of it again, and movies featuring extreme racism at their core like that are also dealbreakers; I totally agree with her assessment. I understand the technological achievements, but I think in the long run, especially in how it helped revive the KKK, the social harm that film brought about outdoes its cinematic innovations.

CC: Like S.K., Wonder Bar immediately came to mind. Excessive acts of violence, such as in the film Natural Born Killers (1994). I walked out of the theatre while the film was still playing. I expected violence, but the gratuitousness was just too much for me. I also have an issue with physical abuse, towards women and children. This is not to say I would not feel the same way about a man. However, when males are involved, it tends to be a fight, an exchange of physical energy, generally speaking, when we see physical abuse it is perpetuated towards women and children.

TB: I have a couple of moments that pinch my heart when I watch a movie. It doesn’t mean I won’t watch the movie. It just means I roll my eyes…verrrrry hard.

-Blackface…that’s a little rough; especially when the time period OF the movie is the ‘30s or ‘40s film.

-Not giving the Black actors a real name to be called by in the film (Snowflake…Belvedere…Lightnin’). I mean, can’t they have a regular name like Debbie or Bob?

-When the actor can’t do the simplest of tasks, i.e. Butterfly McQueen answering the phone in Mildred Pierce (1945) and not knowing which end to speak into. What up with that?

Are there elements they got right that we still haven’t caught up to? 

KL: I don't know if the pre-Code era got sex right (and sensationalism was definitely something studios were going for) but in some ways, I feel that subject was treated as somewhat more accepted and natural back then. Of course, what was shown onscreen in the classic era was nowhere near the extent it is today, but the way the Production Code put a lid on sex (in addition to many other factors) once again made it into more of a taboo topic than it is or should be.

One thing I particularly hate in modern movies is gratuitous violence, and it perplexes and angers me how America weighs violence vs. sex in general through the modern ratings system: films are more likely to get a pass with violence, mostly landing in PG-13 territory and thus making them more socially acceptable, while sex, something natural, is shunned with strictly R ratings. Obviously, there are limits for both, but I think the general thinking there is backwards today.

CC: The elegance, the sophistication, the precision, the dialogue, the intelligence, the wit. The fashion! The layering of craftsmanship. We aren't fans of these films for fleeting reasons, we are fans because of their timeless qualities.

I'm going to sound like a sentimental sap here, ladies get ready. I think they got the institution of family right. Yes, I do lean towards MGM films, so I am coloring my opinion from that perspective. Even if a person hasn't experienced what would have been considered a "traditional family" there is something to be said about witnessing that example. Perhaps not so much of a father and a mother, but to witness a balanced, functioning, loving relationship. What it "looks like" when a father/mother/brother/sister etc. genuinely loves another family member.

I was part of the latch-key generation, and although my parents remained together, many of my friends' parents were divorced. Most won't admit it, but by the reaction to the documentary [Won't You Be My Neighbor?, 2018], the bulk of them went home, sat in front of the TV and watched Mr. Rogers tell them how special they were because their parents certainly were not. We don't know what can "be" unless we see it.

[coeurdastronaute]

Essays in Existentialism: Boss

Prompt.. Lexa and Clarke sleep together one night, the next morning Clarke comes in to start her new job and turns out Lexa will be her boss (basically how Meredith and Derek first meet in grey's anatomy) yeah cool...love your writing

The tiny townhouse on the corner of Grant and Lincoln was nearly unpacked, but still occupied the unfinished zone of moving in. The furniture was there, with boxes opened and in various states of emptied. Sheets were tossed on the bed, but it wasn’t made. Clothes were rooted through and half hung in the closet at the top of the stairs. The only things in the fridge were little Chinese take out boxes and a handful of sauce packets. 

But that didn’t mean a thing to the bodies on the couch. 

Well tired and sated, the two tangled torsos and limbs hung and clung to each other on the small area, not having much to discuss the night before, but rather making the other body too tired to hear and speak and think, and thus fell asleep in a knot. It wasn’t many hours of sleep between the bar and the sex and the moment one of the bodies shifted and the otehr fell to the floor with a thud. 

“Ow.” 

“What was--”

“Just my back. And hip. And… head,” the body on the floor wheezed slightly, wincing against the pain. 

“Oh shit, it’s daylight,” Clarke squinted toward the windows witn no curtains or blinds and realized how late it was. “Oh fuck!”

“Seems to be.” 

The body on the couch sat up and hopped over the back before snatching the blanket and carefully wrapping it around her naked body. 

“I have to go. I have work...um…”

“Lexa,” she sat up from the floor, propping herself up on her elbows and looking up over the cushions. 

Completely naked, the girl on the floor smiled and pushed away a mess of hair while Clarke looked at her and blushed and tried not to look, desperately. She wanted to look, but that would distract her from the process of getting ready, and Clarke had to get to work. It was her first day, after all, beautiful naked sex god be damned. 

“Right. Lexa. Nice to meet you, but I have to--”

“Yeah, of course,” she nodded, tugging a pillow in front of herself to shield as much nakedness as possible. “Do you live here?” 

“Just moved.” 

“Cool. From where.” 

“I really have to-- It was fun and all--”

A pair of blank panties were held up from the floor by hands attached to a mischievous hand oddly victorious grin. Clarke remembered the same smile somewhere between the whiskey and tequila, the smile nd the eyes and the intent way the stranger in the bar listened to her words. More importantly, she remembered the fragments of the sex and the things that mouth could do and that was the reason for the victory, and it was deserved. 

“But you have to go to work,” Lexa repeated. 

With a graceless motion, Clarke reached over the couch and snatched the offending lingerie before agreeing full-heartedly. 

“It was nice to meet you, Lexa,” Clarke promised. “But when I come back downstairs, you’ll be gone, and I’ll be on my way to work.” 

“Right. Work. I should, too. It was nice, to uh, do this. Maybe we can again--”

The offer was barely acknowledged as Clarke hopped up the stairs and toward the shower, leaving Lexa smiling somewhat, amused at the display before she looked down at herself and chuckled at what the past five minutes of her life looked like. 

XXXXXXXXXX

It was incredibly stupid. It was monumentally stupid. It was the dumbest thing she’d ever done, or at least very close to the top of the long list. But after three weeks of refusing to unpack the house and dealing with the question of employment, Clarke couldn’t handle it any longer, and joined the land of the living again. Perhaps a bit too hard, which was, above all else, stupid. Incredibly stupid. 

Clarke didn’t have too much time to think about anything else as she sprinted into the tall building that had its own distinct imprint on the city. Hair a mess and shirt sloppily in the process of being tucked in, she flashed her badge and rushed toward the elevators as she repeated how stupid it’d been to get absolutely drunk and hook up with a stranger on the couch, and then not setting an alarm, for her first day of her dream job. 

Again and with emphasis, Clarke was an incredibly stupid and gay individual. 

“Ms. Griffin,” the receptionist greeted her with a smile. “I’ve been instructed to ask that you wait right here until Ms. Moore is finished with her phonecall.” 

“Right, of course,” Clarke nodded as she attempted to underplay how extravagantly winded she was. 

Grateful for the moment to process, Clarke took a seat in the reception and processed what the past hour of her life looked like. She somehow woke up and kicked out a very naked woman from her house, that she could almost remember the name of somewhat. And she’d run across town and made it to work. On time, or at least on time enough for her boss. 

Only when she’d caught her breath did Clarke realize that she never got Le-- La-- Lara? Lena? Larry? Fuck. She never got the stranger’s number. 

“Hey, Clarke, thanks for your patience.” 

The woman who interviewed her twice finally walked out from behind the hallowed doors of Woods Publishing, and Clarke gave up trying to remember and prayed she did not smell like as much tequila as she’d inhaled the night before. 

“I’m so happy to be here, Ms. Moore,” she grinned and shook the outstretched hand. 

“Luna is fine. We’re the creatives,” she winked and led Clarke toward the door. “We get a little more freedom than the stuffed shirts in editing and sales.” 

As they moved down the hall, there was a minute smell of weed, and Clarke realized that this job was going to be better than she’d ever imagined. 

“I thought for your first day, I’d kind of get you set up, take you to our morning huddle and pitch meetings, and then after lunch make you meet everyone in a super awkward and invasive department bash.” 

“Bash?” 

“Yeah, well, people stop coming when I call them meetings and ice-breakers. I’ve decided to rename things different, more fun words to trick them into the same meetings.” 

“How’s it going so far?” 

“Amazingly well. Just wait until you see the turn out for your meet-and-greet… I mean bash.” 

Clarke couldn’t help but smile. Her boss was calm and cool, funny and approachable, and most importantly, she was clearly very into her job, which was a godsend. Hiring was often abou personality and camaraderie, as in how well a new personality would fit into a team, and Clarke already felt at home. 

The day went by easily enough, as all first days are known to do. She met her team and got her desk, got to feel out a little of how the day flowed with the promise of her assignments arrival soon enough. Luna passed her off around lunch to one of the teammates, and Clarke fell into enjoying her new coworkers with very light company gossip over not terrible sandwiches in the cafeteria. She learned all about the office romances and the merger, the new corporate structure and how great it was compared to other companies. She learned about the owner’s daughter who started a few months ago and was actually nice to work for, and more importantly, Clarke learned that there was a very lax policy when it came to punctuality. She breathed a sigh of relief. 

By the end of the day, Clarke felt like she would like it there, and was eager to help and work on drawing some of the projects. She was ready to work with the team and she was ready to finally be creative and produce something. 

“Thank you all again, for welcoming Clarke to our team,” Luna grinned and held up her glass as the rest of the team did the same. 

She was right, of course, that calling it a bash did something to make them all want to stay a few minutes later and mingle. 

“Enjoy the gift baskets sent from the studio for our last project, but within reason. And we’ll jump right in tomorrow.” 

“Thanks,” Clarke smiled and accepted a drink. 

“I’ll see you bright and early. We’ll get you started on part of our new programming and onto the new project.” 

“I can’t wait.”

Clarke found herself pulled into a conversation over artwork for the storyboard on the wall in the main rom, and even though it was technically about work, the other artists were more than eager to talk about their plans, even over drinks. 

And then she looked up and nearly spit out her drink before turning around very quickly so that her back was to the familiar green eyes and the person she’d kicked onto the floor that very morning. 

“Looks like the boss decided to make a stop. I’m going to finally ask her out,” one of the guys decided as he stood a little straighter and awkwardly fixed his hair. 

“There’s no way Lexa Woods gives you the time of day,” Raven scoffed, sipping her drink and sneaking a look at the grinning CEO. “I bet you twenty bucks she doesn’t even speak to you.” 

“She’s really nice.” 

“Oh, I know. But I bet she won’t even notice you.” 

Clarke felt the blood leave her face as she hurried to sneak another look to confirm that it was, in fact, hell freezing over. And sure enough, for some stranger reason, in a city of hundreds of thousands of people, she was in the same room as the stranger she drunkenly hooked up with sixteen hours beforehand. 

And that stranger was her boss’ boss’ boss’ boss. That stranger was Lexa Woods, CFO of Woods Publishing, daughter of the owner, inheritor to the castle. 

“What do you think, Clarke?” Raven turned toward her. Just five minutes ago, Clarke liked Raven, but now, she wanted to disappear and Raven was blocking the exit. “Think Dan here has a chance?” 

“I don’t really know anything about her,” Clarke shrugged and downed the rest of her drink, careful to stay turned around. 

She didn’t know anything about Lexa Woods, except how she tasted and the noises she made and this thing she did with her fingers that--

“She hasn’t been here long, but she’s actually not the worst, as far as suits go. She likes the creative floors. Her dad’s given her a few projects I’ve been on and I think we work pretty well together,” she explained, offering Clarke a refill. 

“Cool, cool, nice.” 

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Or you’re a very bad drinker.” 

“I, uh, had a few too many last night.” 

“Hair of the dog then,” Raven grinned and clinked their glasses. “I think I’m going to like having you around, Griffin. At least until you start asking for advanced tech and drive me crazy with your doodles. Oh shit, there he goes.” 

Despite herself, Clarke turned around and watched the illustrator move through the crowd. She looked immediately at Lexa and actually caught her eye. She held the look and she watched Lexa smile at her, though she couldn’t move to return it. Mortification was at the forefront of her brain. That and oddly proud of herself for pulling someone like Lexa Woods, even when she wasn’t on her A game. 

Only when Clarke saw Dan get close, did she look away and break the stupor she found herself stuck in. 

“I can’t believe he hasn’t figured out that she’s gay.” 

“What?”

“Dan has the worst gay-dar of all time,” Raven chuckled. “I almost feel bad taking his money. Almost.” 

Sure enough, as he walked up toward his boss’ boss’ boss, full of confidence and vim, Lexa didn’t even notice him, her eyes firmly locked on Clarke’s as she moved through the crowd, finally deciding to approach. It took a few steps before Clarke realized what was happening, and only then did she feel the two and a half drinks she’d had. 

She really didn’t like Raven. 

“I knew it.” 

Clarke didn’t say a word, but rather looked for a quick escape, though none existed and she already knew that. 

“Hey, I thought I’d come welcome you to the team personally. I’m Lexa Woods.” 

With a smile and her hand outstretched, the CEO stood there, as if she hadn’t gone down on her new employee on her couch. 

“Lexa Woods, as in…” 

“Yeah, that’s my name outside, but don’t hold it against me,” she grinned, holding the handshake a little bit longer. “It was Callie, right?” 

“Clarke.” 

“I’m sorry. Clarke.” 

“I didn’t expect to see you on my first day.” 

“Yeah,” Lexa chuckled. “I can imagine. I like hanging out down here more than upstairs. How are you, Ms. Reyes?” 

“Doing alright,” Raven nodded, appraising the scene before her. “Taking Clarke under my wing, as it were.” 

“I’d be careful,” the boss warned. “It was nice to meet you again, Clarke. I’ll see you guys later. I have a meeting I should try to get to ontime. Punctuality is key.”

Clarke burned red and nodded. 

“Nice to meet you, too, Ms. Woods.” 

“Lexa’s fine.”

“Yeah you are.” 

Lexa just smiled and waved again before disappearing. Dan joined the group a second later and passed a twenty to his friend. The boss left the room a moment later without a look back, and Clarke finally breathed. 

“So,” Raven furrowed. “When did you fuck our boss?” 

XXXXXXXXXX

For three weeks, Clarke managed to avoid all thoughts and ideas of Lexa Woods, CEO and absolute beauty. She didn’t avoid her social media, nor did she avoid much of the idle gossip about her at work, but for the most part, Clarke refused to think about her as much as possible, which amounted to about never. 

Sometimes at work, she was able to go for hours, focusing on her projects. Sometimes, Clarke found herself avoiding areas she suspected she might show up, and for three glorious weeks, she was fairly successful. 

Bent over her drawing board, Clarke found herself in a period of Lexa-less thoughts, happy to escape her life and all else, and instead find some sort of outlet for everything she’d been feeling over the past year. 

“These are very good.” 

“Fuck, you scared me,” Clarke breathed, turning around quickly. “I mean. Not fuck.”

“I’m sorry I haven’t followed up,” Lexa smiled softly, hands tied behind her back as she perused Clarke’s wall of sketches for the short they were doing. “I was out of town on business. How is your first month going, Ms. Griffin?” 

“Do you take such an interest in all of your employees, or just the ones you seduce?” 

“I believe you were the one seducing. I was drunk and adorable and you took advantage of me in my drunk and adorable state.” 

Clarke balked and grit her teeth before seeing that Lexa was making fun of her, which did nothing to calm her. 

“Someone who pins the other to their front door, is not being taken advantage of.” 

She smiled again and Clarke found it infuriating. And hot. But also infuriating a little more. 

“I did do that, didn’t I?” Lexa nodded. “I’ve been trying to figure out how to address that… trist.” 

“It was a fluke, and I think we should stay professional. Like we have.”

“I thought I was keeping it fairly professional.” 

“I just mean, you can’t-- we don’t have to talk about that… trist.” 

“Or we could?” she waited to gauge Clarke’s reaction. “Or not. Definitely not. Very professional. Just pretend it never happened.” 

“Exactly. Thank you for stopping by, Ms. Woods.” 

“Lexa is still fine. We’re going to be working together a bit. Everyone calls me Lexa.” 

“Professional,” Clarke repeated. 

“Casual, even. Professionally casual.” 

“Exactly.” 

XXXXXXXXX

“Professional,” Lexa nodded to herself and tried to catch her breath. The naked body beside her repeated the same thing with a sigh. 

“But we can’t do that again. We were just scratching an itch,” Clarke reasoned as Lexa agreed, humming along with the familiar song. 

If any of that were true, she wouldn’t have been naked in Clarke’s half-made bed, next to a full-naked girl. If she had anything to say about it, they’d be doing it much more and often and professionally. But she was the boss, and she wasn’t allowed to make that call. Clarke had to make it. And Lexa was very grateful that Clarke made it. 

It wasn’t Lexa’s fault that they enjoyed the same bar, or that they happened to notice each other, and it wasn’t her fault that she liked kissing Clarke. 

“I quite like scratching that itch with you.” 

Lexa turned her head and watched Clarke smile before regaining her composure. 

“Don’t sweet talk me, Woods. I’m your employee.” 

“Yeah, but like, only kind of.” 

Clarke turned and gave her a look before Lexa chuckled and rolled toward her, pressing her luck as she pressed against Clarke, kissing her shoulder and her neck. 

“What are we supposed to do?” Clarke turned over as well. “Go into HR and tell them we’re sleeping together?” 

“I could fire you?” 

“Lexa.”

“I could quit?” 

“Shut up.” 

“Or you could agree to go on an actual date with me, and promise not to take your clothes off.” 

“You’re the one that takes them off of me!” 

Despite her wiggling, Clarke let Lexa pull her closer. She ran her fingertips along Lexa’s cheek, squishing her cheeks together so she was making fish lips and smiled at the display, amused at herself and how Lexa let her do that. 

“I zwant tovee hrofeshinal widzth you. Vutd I sink I alike you.” 

“You sound ridiculous.” 

Lexa sighed until Clarke let go of her cheeks, unable to keep the smile there. Instead she held her chin now, between her forefinger and thumb, keeping her steady and there. Fingertips moved up and down her back. 

“I think we can do this without messing up work.” 

“How?” 

“We just don’t work together. I’ll stay off of your projects. Luna has complete control over personnel and who is on what.” 

“If it goes bad?” 

“Then I’ll definitely quit. Sell the company probably. Move to Zurich,” she decided. 

“That plan developed quickly.” 

“It’s always in my back pocket in case a beautiful girl who works for me creates a problem. I will not be caught unprepared again.” 

“Again?” 

“It’s an expression.” 

“Mmm,” Clarke smiled and nodded. 

She didn’t waste a moment. She leaned forward and kissed Lexa because she had to be certain, and she had to find some kind of bravery. She should think about it more, and she should have made a pros and cons list, but something about this moment, this person, Clarke just felt alive, and she’d been chasing it for so long. 

“Did I get the job?”

“You got a date. One date.” 

“I can work with that.”

[manrocket-mo]

It’s Supposed To Be “Hello” - Morgan Rielly

requested: yes (by anon)

prompt(s): “I’m basic so snuggling with Mo as just friends and him kissing your forehead saying that he wants more and wants to be our boyfriend.” but longer because I’m me

word count: 1,193

author’s note: To kick off Mo Appreciation Night, I went off (apparently). I really enjoyed this anonymous prompt and it took off. :)

You had been a hard worker for as long as you’ve been alive. So studious. So driven and passionate about everything you took on. Even the day you met Mo, studying in your favorite Toronto coffee shop for an upcoming exam, had it not been for his curiosity and the lack of table space left in the entire place, you probably would not have even glanced up from your French lit book at him.

“What language?” the blond man across from you wonders, staring at you curiously before taking a sip of his iced coffee.

You look up, quickly pushing your glasses up the bridge of your nose. “Uh, French.” You studied him just as his bright blue eyes did to you. Those eyes were kind and he wore a little smirk that was nothing short of sincere.

“Aur revoirrrr,” he tries, his accent absolutely exaggerated and terrible.

“C'est censé être 'bonjour’,” you laugh to which he quirked an eyebrow. “That means, ‘it’s supposed to be ‘hello’.”

“C’est un ice breaker,” he counters, his eyebrows pulling up, a crinkle in his forehead. “A bad one, but an icebreaker nonetheless…”

You snort, placing your book down and reaching for your coffee mug only to find it empty. 

“Can I buy you a coffee? You may need it to keep you awake reading your francais. Maybe keep you awake if you decide to keep talking to me,” he joked.

You look down and blush. The stranger wanted to keep talking to you. 

“My mom said I should never talk to strangers,” you return, your fingers dancing along the rim of the cup. 

“Well, I’m Morgan. You can call me Mo. Now we’re not strangers.” He gently takes your cup from you and gets up to take it to the counter.

“Almond milk latte,” you call to him. “And Y/N. Y/N’s my name.”

And since that day he decided to interrupt your french lit study time, he was stuck by your side.

The number of times you had ended up at his apartment, sat by him reading over your International Relations coursework while he just enjoyed your company were far too many to count. The number of times you’d catch him staring and watch as his pale cheeks flushed a pretty pink were too many to count. The number of times he would whine and convince you to take an ice cream or dinner or coffee break with him so you could unwind a little were too many to count. 

In your last year of university, the number of times Morgan encouraged you, motivated you, championed you were too many to count.

He was truly your rock, your biggest supporter, your best friend.

So no surprise when you didn’t want to make a big fuss about your convocation, you ended up right back where you always were. This time there were no books, no studying, no headaches. Just you and him, takeout sushi and a little congratulations ice cream cake to celebrate.

“Mo, you really didn’t have to!” you mumbled, taking in the customized cake surface fashioned into a world map.

“Yes, I did! My best friend just graduated from university! Top of the class! I’m just a proud best friend, Y/N. Let me be!” And you giggled, leaning into him, letting his arm wind around you in a heartwarming hug, one of many that day. And he was proud. He let you know it from the moment you woke up to a congratulatory text from him. He let you know it when he picked you up, two champagne flutes in hand. He let you know it when he was the first to find you after the ceremony and spun you around and pressed his signature kiss to your temple. It was just in his nature. It was just Mo being Mo.

And despite your aversion to attention, you loved every single bit of it because it came from him. It warmed your heart. It made you happy, like he always had.

“Come on, cut a slice,” he prompted, getting impatient and no doubt salivating at the sight of his favorite dessert. 

And so you did and devoured nearly half the small cake with him, laughing and as happy as can be, snuggled up into the side of your best friend.

“Have I told you how proud I am of you?” he wonders, his voice soft, the expression he wore on his face even softer.

You giggle, burrowing deeper into his side as a chill runs through you. “Only a million times today, Mo.” He chuckles along, his lips pressing to your temple, his arm pulling you in tighter.

“Well, I’m proud of you. And I'm so happy that I get to share in the joys of this moment with you.” You nod into his side. “And I hope to share in many more, years and years down the road.”

“Always,” you whisper, your arms winding around him.

“I want more,” he murmurs. Your heart suddenly pulls into a gallop in your chest and you pull back slightly to look at him. His eyes are fixed on you. “I want more of you and me, everyday. I don’t want to lose this. You’re my best friend but you’re so much more than that…”

His other hand that isn’t holding you to him reaches for your cheek and his thumb runs over your cheekbone softly, gently. “I love you, Y/N. And I’ve known for a long time now but I just didn’t want to distract you with everything I have going on even though I felt it so strongly. And now that you’re entering a new chapter of your life, I couldn’t let you go forth without you knowing that no matter what, you’ll be loved and cherished and you’ll always have me and… I love you and if you don’t feel the same way, well that’s-that’s okay, too. I just…”

And you thought back to the man that had been nothing but kind and loving and gentle and supportive and so unapologetically himself with you from the moment you met. He had been the person to ground you, support you, love you. He’d been there for you through it all when he could be, through papers that needed one last proofread, through Sunday celebratory brunches to celebrate the end of a semester or the completion of a long project, through parties when you got a little too drunk with his teammates when you just needed to let off some steam, through his ups and downs, as well as yours. He had been there with you through it all.

How could you not love him too?

“Morgan?” you whisper quietly, calling for his attention, his eyes. And when they do connect with yours, you bring your hand up to cup his cheek. “I love you, too.” 

And it’s you that makes the first move and press your lips to his softly. 

“Be mine,” he breathes, his lips hovering over yours, his breath fanning your face.

“You had at me at ‘au revoir’.”

He beams down at you and it was just as you said. C'est censé être 'bonjour.’ It was just the beginning for you two. It should’ve been “hello.”

[kingsten]

 the city is forgetting you, which is to say you should return home — brian jaehyun kang  — december 19, 1994 — sagittarius / neutral good / enfp-t — margate, new jersey. his parents own a bookstore and cafe where he works as a barista or cashier — speaks english, korean, french like actually knows the language unlike jm because he paid attention in school —  attended stockton university which is about a 40 minute drive from his parents house in margate so he would drive in everyday. he got his associates in general studies in 2014, — with some prompting from joel and tom he got the courage to finally leave his hometown for the first time and moved to paris on a scholarship to pursue a degree in business. halfway through he changed majors to music degree. he graduated in 2019 with a ba degree in music composition.  — currently works as a waiter / barista at a small shop in downtown la  — he dreams of opening up his own jazz club in ny or downtown la 

5 things:

EMOTIONS / FEELINGS: - curious  - humble - passionate, yet passive - joyous yet secretive  - pensive and calculating

GREETINGS: - the first person to talk and greets with a smile a slight bow of his head when saying ‘hello’. - ‘what are you doing? :)’ first thing in the morning - forgets to say hello and gets straight to the point when on the phone or even in person. then he’ll stop speaking all of a sudden, blink, then look the person in the eye and ask if he remembered to say hello.  - bone crushing hug and sways the person side to side if he knows them very well. - a small nod of his head and a smile that doesn’t fully reach his eyes. then will proceed to redirect the conversation from himself.

COLORS: - dark blue - light grey  - white - dark grey - earth green SCENTS: - coffee beans - fresh mint - home cooked meals - new books - oil (from fixing cars with his dad)

Clothing: - t-shirts/band shirts from concerts he goes to - skinny jeans/plain or ripped jeans/nike jogging pants - white or black button-ups with an apron that has his parents shop advertised  - converse, adidas, vans, nike,  - adidas hoodies/wind breakers, jean jackets, fedoras, beanies,

Objects: - pens/notebook - airpods - water bottle  - classic hollywood movies - has his nintendo switch on him at all times VICES/BAD HABITS: - he’s not as impulsive as jm but he’s easily talked into things. i.e signing petitions or gym memberships. - he’s not good at saying no to people but he’s gotten better at it since living in paris  - can come across as flighty or overly busy because his schedule is always full and tends to overbook himself or put aside things he actually wants to do - when annoyed he tends to close himself off completely. he just expects people to know why he’s annoyed. - when overwhelmed he’ll turn off his phone for a few days or loses it accidentally  BODY LANGUAGE : - he’s easy to read based on body language alone. when in a good mood he’s alert and at attention and very responsive - when upset he crosses his arms and is visibly closed off.  - always leans forward when listening to an interesting story, eyebrows raised, hands on his knees, held tilt. jm says he looks like a cat watching something. - he’s not afraid to make eye contact when happy and can be touchy when he knows the person. if he finds something funny then he’ll probably grab the person’s shoulder or arm as he laughs. - when disappointed he’ll stare at the floor, crosses arms or shove them into his pockets, when mad he’ll makes eye contact and holds it then looks away, shakes his head, rubs his temples or throws his hands up in defeat. shoulders slumped and a small furrow of his brows. AESTHETICS: - restored cars and 60s jazz playing through the stereo - mussed up hair, dark sunnies, ripped jeans and daydreaming at golden hour - late nights at the drive in or pool parties with a live band playing  - coffee stains on his shirts, notebooks, backpack and basically everything else he owns - long voicemails, hand scribbled notes that are almost impossible to read due to his terrible handwriting, late night fast food visits and stealing fries SONGS: - another day of sun “without a nickel to my name, hopped a bus, here i came. i could be brave or just insane. we'll have to see.” - island in the sun, weezer  - slow dancing in the dark, joji - summertime in paris  - noah and the whale - heart of nowhere 

[aftermathdb]

DEATH BATTLE Review: Aang vs. Ed

Two masters of the elements do battle in the arena of death!

Reportedly, this was supposed to happen last season, but Ben wanted to give the animators enough time to do everything correctly.

Aang′s Preview.

Water…

Earth…

Fire…

Air…

These four elements were the basis of the world, each with their own culture. Some could even bend the elements of their nation. The Avatar, however, could bend all four, and would be reincarnated.

The Avatar would be a beacon of hope and a peacekeeper for the entire world. Keeping balance between everything.

And considering that this story is so well-known, we all know that everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked.

However, before they could destroy the world, the Avatar would stand in their way. Enter, Aang:

Aang, was originally an Air Nomad, and at the young age of twelve, he was informed of the great weight that would be placed on his shoulders. So out of fear, he turned tail and ran.

Which, considering that the Fire Nation slaughtered his people, was probably a good move, as it saved his life. As an airbender, Aang can manipulate the very air around him as a tool for maneuverability and defense. From shields to great gales of wind, Aang can do basically whatever with air. He can even fly by manipulating the air around him.

But as the Avatar, Aang can master more than just his own element.

And after finding kinship with his old rival Zuko, Aang learned a really cool technique:

Lightning redirection. Lightning is normally an instant-kill move, but with the right training, a person can redirect it back at the user, turning their greatest weapon against them.

But when Aang needs a power boost, he goes Avatar State.

In the Avatar State, it’s a do-or-die situation. Aang gets a notable power boost and gives him all the experience of the previous Avatars before him. As for why it’s a “do-or-die” move, it’s because if Aang dies while in the Avatar State, it ends the cycle.

but Aang also has feats to his name as well.

There’s a few jokes involving the hosts, but they aren’t really that great. Also, there’s a notable lack of energy when it comes down to them as well.

Back to the feats, Aang once sent a section of a mountain towards Ozai.

Going into how big the piece of rock was in comparison to Aang, that mountain would come to a weight of…

Over 9000 tons!

And considering his size, Aang’s ability to walk on water means that he would have to be moving at about

67 Miles Per Hour.

Oh, and remember that lightning that Aang bent?- Well, it likely traveled at the same speed of natural lightning. Meaning that Aang would have had to have reacted to it at about…

53000 Meters Per second!

Aang might be a pacifist vegetarian, but he’s proven time and again that there’s a reason why he’s destined to save the world.

After all, you have to let go of fear to be a bender.

Ed′s Preview.

Alchemy. The predecessor to modern chemistry. And one of the best alchemists to live would be one Edward Elric.

Edward and his brother Alphonse were two young boys who wanted to bring back their dead mother, but on the day that they drew the transmutation circle, there were… Not so great results.

The two were lucky to escape with their lives, but Alphonse lost his body. So Edward transferred it to a suit of armor.

While the incident cost Edward his arm, it gave him the ability to transmute matter without an alchemy circle.

And with this, he became the Fullmetal Alchemist.

Edward can mold the elements to his will, and even mold them into different materials.

While there are some restrictions to this power, Ed’s arsenal is limited primarily to his imagination and materials at hand.

Now, Alchemy requires three main things.

Comprehension- Knowing what you’re working with.

Deconstruction- Breaking things apart.

And Recreation- Putting things back together.

Deconstruction can break apart other items, typically things that aren’t people.

With all these powers, Ed has pulled off some crazy stuff.

One time, his arm got bitten by a weird lion-chimera thing. Assuming that it still has the same bite power of a standard lion, Ed’s automail arm can withstand a force of a thousand psi.

He’s survived plenty of heavy explosions. Like one that was worth nearly 100 tons of TNT!

And with his elemental bending powers, he once created a stone fist that would be over 3000 metric tons.

Other Alchemists sometimes have a Philosopher’s stone. And those guys can output over 150 kilotons of TNT worth of explosions.

And at the end of the story, Edward found a way to restore his brother. By giving up his own power, they were finally able to return home.

The Battle Itself.

Zack, Luis, Jerky will be lead on animation and spritework. Aang will be voiced by Emily Fajardo and Edward will be voiced by Alejandro Saab. sprite artists, Elements of Alchemy by Therewolf, sprite artist (If there are any), and Chris Kokkinos lead on audio.

So the battle starts with Aang and Momo just kinda messing around in a marketplace. Because it’s not healthy to work all day.

Unfortunately, Aang says the wrong thing around the wrong person.

So, because Aang hit that one button, Ed decides to try to kill him.

Could be a worse story.

So, the two do battle and Aang ends up knocking Edward into a stand.

Aang continues his offense by bending some rocks at Edward.

Ed decides to fight fire with fire (or in this case, rock with rock), and counters.

Aang decides to go Pokémon logic and decides to use water to counter Ed’s counter.

Ed decides to use grass to counter water…

So Aang counters it with fire. Creating a steam cloud.

Since this is Aang, he tries to talk his way out of the fight. With… Less than spectacular results.

The guy who got two bickering neighbors to stop fighting by telling a lie, everyone!- Look at how well he can talk his way out of situations!

Incidentally, this is a decoy. So, Ed decides to ready the cannons.

Okay, I’ve been putting it off now, but look at the animation here! It’s gorgeous!

Anyways, Aang burns a hole through the cannonball providing a neat little idea for fanfic writers to work with.

The idea of worldbuilding by having two worlds that haven’t interacted questioning how the other does something similar to what they can do is honestly something I’d like to see more often in crossovers.

Anyways, Aang crushes the arm and the cannon blows up, sending shrapnel everywhere.

Gotta get that one in there, huh?

Anyways, Ed uses the distraction to use a transmutation circle to crush Aang in a pile of rocks.

(Please ignore the typo)

And since I didn’t give the prompt earlier, you know how this is going to end.

Finishing blow in

5…

4…

3…

2…

1…

Yeah, by like… two inches.

Verdict + Explanation.

So, right off the bat, Ed technically had the edge in combat experience and was definitely a very tricky opponent to deal with.  But that’s about it.

Sure, Ed can dodge a point-blank bullet, but that’s nothing compared to Aang catching lightning.

As a direct comparison to how Ed’s durability compared to Aang’s there’s a calc for that

Now, this is impressive. But compared to one of Aang’s best attack feats, Ed’s durability doesn’t stand a chance.

Not to mention that Aang’s bending is a lot more straightforward and readily available to utilize than Ed’s alchemy.

Now a Philosopher’s stone would certainly give Ed an edge up, but those aren’t just easy to find. They require multiple souls to work with. So Ed’s own singular soul isn’t enough to work with.

Aang might be a pacifist, but when in the Avatar State, he’s a lot harder to control. And there’s certainly a lot of power to be reckoned with.

Overall impression.

7.1/10

Don’t get me wrong, the fight is gorgeous, but the energy between the hosts isn’t really all that present.

Not to mention the finishing blow. It would have been really easy to have Aang use everything to incapacitate Ed, only for a hunk of previously blown away metal to fall down and crush him. While the Avatar State can have a certain degree of leniency regarding Aang’s own pacifist outlook, it’s kinda hard to justify, as Aang’s pacifism is one of his most memorable traits.

But the music is awesome, and the animation is (again) gorgeous. So, it’s a good fight.

Next Time…

Interesting fact: One of these guys is banned from both Heaven and Hell.

Say… isn’t Lobo a bit of a fourth-wall breaker or something?- Someone’s going to have to get me a source on that.

Is there a fight that you want me to review? - Send an ask/request, and I’ll look into it!

Do you want to read my fanfic based around DEATH BATTLE itself? click here!

Thank you for reading, and I hope to see you next time for…

Badass Bikers of the chains.

[goldenscript]

rule breakers. (m)

↳ based on the prompt, “best friend’s sibling au” → drabbles

pairing: kim taehyung | reader genre: fluff, light smut warnings: light voyeurism word count: 20,453 description: there’s some unresolved history involving your best friend’s brother... but hey, maybe some rules are meant to be broken. author’s note: i get inspired by the oddest little tidbits, and i swear the word count was supposed to be half the amount you see up there. also, say hello to the longest one-shot i’ve done so far.

You have one of the greatest fortunes to be acquainted with the Kims in your first year of primary education, and perhaps it’s what has led you to one of your greatest downfalls (but we’ll get into that later on).

Your best and only friend at the time -after all kindergarten is the toughest on the shy ones- is a girl by the name of Jennie. She’s lively and outgoing, smart as all hell and knows it, and overall, the girl among the rest of the class. For some reason, ones you spent nights on end trying to figure out with no prevail, she picks you to play with. The moment she locks eyes with you, a wide grin already plastered all over her features, she latches herself onto you and won’t let go, and despite your inability to figure out why, you roll with it like many kids do to enjoy this time with a newfound friend.

It doesn’t stop there either. She actually invites you to her house on a play date, something your mother rejoices in as she had fears that your shyness might bar you from proper social development, and you acquiesce within the two weeks of your budding friendship with the extroverted girl, who seriously can’t fight the grin on her lips at the fact that you’re coming to her house the upcoming Saturday for a day of “fun in the sun” despite summer being another ten months. She doesn’t care, and for once, neither do you. You can’t even deny your own excitement at the prospect either, so you’re content to continue chatting with Jennie about the homework for the week now to avoid worrying about it then.

It’s Saturday in no time, and you’re anxious more than ever to be going to the Kim’s house for the very first time. Your mother smiles as she drops you off, pressing a kiss to your forehead before she waves at you. Her eyes are trained on your figure as you knock on the door with a mild tremor, eyes shifting between the light blue paint and the fern perched beside the door. You barely notice the way the white curtains shift off to the corner of your eye though you barely have time to register it in your brain when the door is flung open--a boy with a mop of chocolate brown locks hanging dangerously close to his eyes and a toothy grin meets your wide eyes.

This is Taehyung.

You remember when Jennie told you about her family, naming him right off the bat as the most annoying, gross boy ever that she loved on occasion when he wasn’t trying to show her the worms in their dad’s garden. He has the notorious Kim grin--absolutely unabashed in joy and ulterior motives beyond the innocence their childlike features could mask, and still so strikingly alike, you were absolutely certain that they were indeed siblings.

Behind him are their parents, Jin and Yuna, a peaceful and passive pair who loved that Jennie made a friend she could jabber about as animatedly as she did with you. They’re kind, smiling at you before turning to your mother. They talk to her while Taehyung cranes his head toward the open hallways, giving a squeaky shout of his sister’s name.

Jennie grunts a “What!” from up the stairs.

“Y/N is here!” He huffs, “Hurry up before she dies of boredom!”

She doesn’t say a word until she bounds down the carpeted stairs with a Kim grin on her lips, already locking a hold on your wrist.

“As if she’d die of boredom with me! Maybe with you, Tae!” She giggles, dragging you along.

You turn your head and give your mom a wave while she utters a “Have fun!” A grin on her lips before turning back to Mr. and Mrs. Kim to exchange another string of words before she takes her leave.

Although her departure slips your mind as Jennie leads you outside, releasing your arm and plopping on the soft green grass with an elegant “oomph!” Her legs are folded beneath her and you follow suit, giggling as Taehyung quickly runs past with complaints on his lips about being the ‘boring’ one though she blatantly ignores him.

“Anyway,” She smiles at you, holding an arm behind her back. “I was taking a long time because I have something for you!”

You blink, eyes wide, “Me?”

She nods, leaning in close and even cupping around her lips, “It’s a special thing for our friendship so you absolutely cannot take it off! I mean unless we stop being friends but we’re gonna be friends forever anyway so yeah.” She drops her hand, looking serious, “No taking it off, okay?”

“Okay,” You nod, still trying to figure out what this thing would be. You and Jennie had talked plenty of times about solidifying your friendship together but it still never occurred to you what it could be. You had a handshake already. Hell, you both hung out at lunch. What else was there?

And then it struck you as she has you stick your arm out, tying a small multicolored band made of rope around your wrist. A friendship bracelet.

You stare at it, still amazed as ever at the intertwining of colors and the way they all suit each other. It settles nicely on your wrist and you smile broadly at her.

“Thank you!” You exclaim, touching the way the reds and blues mingle together, a string of black thrown in there as well. Hers is the same color scheme (though hers is white instead of black), just in a different style. The pattern on her wrist crosses in the opposite direction of yours, and it works when it’s held side by side. You touch the half-inch wide material in awe, “I love it…”

“Good, I’m happy. That’s why I was late!” She says a little louder, glancing at the corner of the garden where Taehyung is look beneath the decorative stones for some new creature. He ignores Jennie, his gaze flickering you for a split second before he pretends to get interested by the dark dirt below.

She shakes her head, turning to you with raised brows. “So, how about we play something?”

You nod, “Okay!”

The two of you decide on an imaginative game where you’re in search of a magical world that can only be accessed through the stepping stones. It’s a place where ice cream is behind the foliage of the trees, waiting to be eaten, a place where each step is carefully calculated, and a place where there are “no annoying brothers” according to Jennie. Taehyung only complains when he hears that, eyes flickering to meet yours though you look away immediately and try to avoid his stepping stone to save his feelings.

Taehyung doesn’t bother you two after that though he does manage to wiggle his way in when you’re both complaining that there needs to be some action in your sudden tale of a prince turning into a monster so the princesses must save him. He pretends to try and throw dirt at you two, nearly whacking a brass wind spinner in the process. The shrieks you and Jennie elicit in response are matched his squeaky laughter, the three of you running around in a frenzy until their mother comes to check on what all the ruckus is about.

She returns to a seen of Taehyung beneath you in Jennie, his small pants trickling out in between bits of laughter as his sister attacks his sides with laughter to get him to release you in your failed attempt to “turn” him back to human. You can’t help but squirm, trying to join in as soon as he releases his hold and already calling for mercy.

You two are triumph, and although he grumbles about losing he can’t seem to deny the happiness in seeing how happy you two are with a satisfied grin. He glances at his mom, waving at her as she laughs at you three, a twinkle flashing in her eyes that none of you seem to notice.

“Come in for lunch, sillies.”

When the day comes to an end -basically 6 PM- you three are exhausted, spent from the day yet still housing enough energy to voice your disappointments when your mother comes to pick you up. She’s happy to see you’ve enjoyed yourself, and even Mr. and Mrs. Kim are happy to see their own kids quite elated from the day as well.

Before you go Jennie gives you a hug and Taehyung gives you a small wave, both of which you return, and as you turn to leave, Mrs. Kim is content to say, “Please come again!” with that same twinkle in her eye as before.

The moments to transpire afterwards meld into more memories where Taehyung integrates himself in your adventures, and in turn, your friendship.

Usually asking if you need a third person or if there’s anything he can do to contribute though Jennie often just as quick to shut him down, taking you by the hand away from his vicinity to continue your game without his intrusive presence. But sometimes -okay, most times- he grows a little more sad about the rejection, his sunny smile fading into a deep pout, and then you’re the one who warms to the idea of incorporating him. If it meant keeping his tears at bay, you were all for it. After all, seeing Taehyung, toothy grin inventor, unhappy was far too much for you to handle. It just never sat well with you. So, begrudgingly Jennie would acquiesce, telling her older brother to stop crying before explaining him the gist of the current scenario, earning the two of you a very sunny smile.

As time faded into weeks to months to even years, you found your time spent at the Kims was no longer in make believe adventures in the backyard but lounging there on an old blanket of Jennie’s as you both tried to do your book reports on S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders, your budding kinship with Taehyung began to fade as he entered the seventh grade. The bond between the three of you in hour long playing sessions where he begged to join in on were practically rendered moot the moment he brings Park Jimin into the house.

He’s a perky kid like Taehyung, but he’s no stranger to attention and often basks in it whenever it’s given to him. With a mop of dark hair and a charming smiling, he loves to aim it at you and Jennie though nothing comes out of it with the older Kim by his side to drag him away to his room to play a new video game or do homework. You admit he’s cute but you only told Jennie that once, and she agreed, swearing you to secrecy when you nearly toppled over in laughter considering she actually dumped a bowl of water on him and Taehyung on a dare from your last sleepover with Hani.

But it isn’t those things that really strike your attention as the main catalysts to Taehyung’s sudden departure from your trio--.

It’s actually the way he treats you.

Nowadays, he ignores you, avoids your eye contact, and only vaguely flashes you one of his sunny grins. If you’re lucky you’ll catch him in mid-laughing fit with Jimin when you’re passing by his bedroom to Jennie’s or when Mr. Kim tries to crack a pun joke, running a palm across his features along the way. You’d be lying if you said it wasn’t a sight you missed, but you decide to ask Jennie about it one day.

“Does he hate me or something?” You ask her, lying atop her bed with your palms underneath your head.

She blinks over at you, head tilted as she swivels around on her chair.

“Who? Tae?”

You sit up so you can nod, “He avoids me like the plague and won’t look me in the eye. So, what’d I do?”

She shrugs, halting her twirling, “Nothing, I bet. You’ve always been nice to him. He’s probably just going through like puberty or whatever--y’know like Jisoo’s brother, Namjoon. Apparently, he -like- skyrocketed over the summer and his voice is all hoarse like a donkey’s.”

You have to refrain from laughing though you fail miserably.

“Oh god, That’s weird to imagine. Tae’s always had a squeaky voice.”

She shudders, nodding, “I’ll need to invest in a new pair of headphones if he starts sounding like a donkey.” She lets out a small giggle before looking back at you, “But yeah, don’t worry about him. He’s just gotten weirder since he became friends with Jimin.”

You can’t seem to get it off your mind though you’re not even entirely sure why it matters in the first place. It isn’t like he was going to keep playing make believe with you and Jennie forever… you just didn’t think he’d end up forgetting your existence in the process.

But then again, it just brings the thought to mind: why does it even matter anyway?

Taehyung hates that he doesn’t understand a damn thing about feelings and expressing them.

He doesn’t get it. What does he do? Is he even supposed to be feeling these things anyway? He’s only in the seventh grade, so why is his heart doing funny things around you?

Out of all people, he can’t shake you off his mind.

He remembers the way you scrunch your nose when you laugh at something he says (at least back when he actually talked to you) or when Jennie brings up an inside joke between the two of you that no one else would understand. Or the way your smile shines the brightest compared to any star in the galaxy in his book. It’s so contagious to smile or laugh when you do, and even though he avoids making any eye contact with you now, he does so with his back turned, trying not to let it show just how much you seem to get him to feel things so effortlessly.

He’s not sure how it happened, because after seeing you in the house for six years straight, he should be used to these things. He shouldn’t think twice about what you mean to him because what you should be is his sister’s best friend and nothing beyond that. Hell, you should be considered a sister by now, but instead you’ve become something beyond platonic names. He doesn’t even want to say the word--crush, but Jimin loves to say it whenever the four of you are within the same vicinity of the second floor with a shit-eating grin and coaxes to get him to confess already.

Whenever he sees you, there’s a sudden flutter to his organ akin to a heart murmur, but perhaps it’s the murmuring of his own heart yearning to tell you the truth about his feelings because he feels like shit for ignoring you, but dammit, he’s so scared of talking to you and risking his feelings getting revealed. He’s seen what’s happened when people confess in the seventh grade. It ends in two ways--success or failure, but for the most part, the good looking boys score the girl, and he’s most certainly no Hyungwon, and he doesn’t want to risk doing that to you--of all people. Plus, Jennie might actually kill him if he scares you off.

He just… he wishes he knew what to do with these feelings he can’t seem to control or comprehend a great deal. It isn’t like he doesn’t think other girls are cute or pretty, but it seems like you just come pushing through the crevices of his mind and settle back to the forefront with that smile and kindness that makes him a mess.

“Just tell her and get it over with,” Jimin tells him one day.

It’s another day back at his house as his place was always the most fun with his large array of video games and the plenty of open space, and although Taehyung has no complaints to his best friend coming by, he hates having this conversation because he’s always conflicted between blurting it out or keeping quiet until he’s certain it’s finally died down, because feelings do that eventually right?

Chocolate brown locks go flying across his forehead as he shakes his head. He states, “No way. We’ve talked about this before, Chim.”

“C’mon, Tae,” Jimin says, eyes wide and brows slightly furrowed. “It wouldn’t hurt you to get it off your chest for once.”

“Yes, it does. It will...” Taehyung says, turning his limbs away from the boy. “Unlike you, I can’t get girls so easily, especially not this one.”

Jimin’s features fall for half a second. It’s quite obvious to Taehyun that his best friend is only trying to help alleviate his growing issue, but it’s one that thinking about is something he already does… on more occasions that he really means to.

You’re already on his mind, when he was in 6th grade and he had no true conception of a crush, only vague pieces that never really pricked his mind into a wholesome puzzle, he enjoyed all his time spent with you. He was able to play games of catch with you and Jennie. Sometimes even create a new one that the three of you could play altogether. There were other times where the three of you would hang around in the living room during a sleepover, talking about the universe and if aliens existed or not. It was all normal and easy and it stuck with him even after the hours of your usual midday departure.

But now, he can’t look at you without his mind drifting to his newfound realization of romantic feelings. Or just feelings in general since he didn’t know what being a romantic was. He’s only seen Nicholas Sparks movies and that one really good film that the three of you loved called “Ten Things I Hate About You”. Unfortunately, he could not be the Patrick to your Kat or the Cameron to your Bianca. Not even the Michael to your Mandella. He was just Taehyung, your best friend’s older brother.

“I mean… would it really hurt to let her know? Just tell her and even if she doesn’t feel the same way then you can get over her! That could be pretty beneficial, y’know.” Jimin perks up, eyes alight with a glimmer of hope.

It’s endearing, and Taehyung actually considers the possibility. What we would do to just tell you and see what happens… but then it hits him--.

What if you do feel the same way? What then? What’s supposed to happen after you two realize your feelings for one another? Do you start dating? Are you boyfriend and girlfriend already? Again, he has no actual conception of what to do in either situation. Either get hurt and deal with his first rejection or get thrown into a scenario that he is far from being equipped to handle.

And so, he shakes his head again. His eyes trained on his desk where their finished homework lay. He just wishes it was simple again.

“I can’t even do that…” He sighs, “I still wouldn’t know what to do.”

“Taehyung…” He hears Jimin’s voice, soft and a little sad, but he just flashes the older boy a halfhearted smile even if it didn’t seem to reach his eyes.

“I think it’s better I don’t say anything. Maybe the feelings will go away on their own.”

In this moment, a quote from the Outsiders flashes his mind: “I lie to myself all the time. But I never believe me.”  

Perhaps he just hoped the more he said that the feelings would go away, the more likely they actually would.

The next two years pass by quickly, each one filled with a new adventure with Jennie and Taehyung, nothing but soft smiles gracing his lips or a gentle greeting that comes in the form of a flick of the wrist. It all leads to the big announcement at the end of your eighth year in education.

In the midst of planning your next four years in high school with your best friend, the plans are put to an immediate halt when your mother announces that you’ll be moving to a city nearly an hour and a half away for a new job. It feels like everything’s suddenly been put on pause and your heart can’t bear the news when you break it to Jennie, who actually looks like she could start crying if you keep talking about the notion.

The ideas of experiencing high school parties and later curfews seems like a fleeting ideal as your mind wraps around the mere fact that you will no longer be living in this same, quaint town with the same people you’ve known since you were learning how to read and write, some even before that like learning the concept of sharing and manners with them in the year prior to the real, hard-hitting academics. Even if you can’t say your entire experience in this place is perfect, it was the best that it could’ve been through your eyes, and what’s worse is knowing that high school is going to be spent alone without the comfort of your best friend at your side.

The day you tell your surrogate family the news, their downcast faces are fresh in your mind. Yuna gives you a tight hug and Jin gives you one as well. The former imparting her own wise words before you move onto the next stage in your education before you’re moving onto college. Given, that’s only four years away, you take her kind words to heart: “Don’t let the world change you, okay? Whatever you want, you chase for it because what you want will always set you free from whatever boundaries your mind thinks up.”

Jin just grins at you, a bright, pearly set meets your eyes and it immediately strike you how much it reminds you of Taehyung’s, instructing you on how to throw a mean punch if you ever need to, and of course, you make sure to keep that one in mind as well. Who knows when you’ll need either pieces?

Jennie is an absolute wreck. She makes her upset visible and her bleary eyes make yours prick with threatening tears. Your heart feels like it’s being wrenched together and apart like an accordion as she continues to mention all the things you were supposed to do together during high school, all the things you were going to experience together, all the parties, the sleepovers, the conversations about which teachers you hated and loved together, and all the other components that best friends often did during these fours years before college came and took its course on their lives--the ultimate test to the friendship that would determine whether it powers through or falls apart. And now… it’s not possible.

At least not in that way you both anticipated.

There’s no doubt you two would keep in contact —cell phones, letters, social media… it’s all within your reach and at your disposal so there is not any reason to fear for a future without your best friend. You know this; she knows this. And as begrudging as she is to the idea of letting you go, you two promise to talk everyday and, if you can help it, then visit one another during the summer time or during school vacations because it was absolutely necessary to see one another.

“We’ll have a spring break where we go to the beach or something. Maybe you can come for like a month of summer too!” Jennie says, her eyes are glimmering with hope and anticipation among the sadness that still clouds her warm brown eyes.

You nod vigorously, hoping that she won’t start crying again. Once she starts, you might not even hold back either. It’s worse thinking about the actual moving day when you’re sure the water works are going to burst for certain.

“Of course! When our new place is settled and you’re free, you’re visiting me too okay?”

She flashes you the famous Kim smile, at least an attempt of one, before extending her hand out to yours, “Of course! It’ll be the only thing I look forward to.”

You give her hand a squeeze, feeling your heart flutter at the warmth it provides.

It makes you sad that you can’t even take away the pain. This is beyond something that comforting words and tight embraces can fix, and perhaps it’s just something you two will have to overcome for the sake of each other.

“You should tell Tae when you’re moving.” She says softly, “I’m sure he’d like to be there. Not that I wouldn’t drag him over there but it’s probably better he hears it from you anyway.”

You quirk a brow at her, “Would he even care to come?”

“You never know… maybe he’s grown a heart now that he’s in high school.” She gives you a shrug, but your confliction is obvious on your features because she continues to speak, “Hey, he still cares. You’re the one who used to defend him from me remember? He just has trouble expressing himself.”

“Over what?” You ask her, both brows now quirked upward. “I mean what would he need to express. A simple conversation wouldn’t hurt y’know. And for the past three years all he’s done is ignore me or act really awkward around me.”

“Maybe you make him nervous?” She suggests and her usual sarcastic smile isn’t curved on her lips as she says this, which throws you off over all else. Taehyung being nervous around you of all people? You’re hardly anyone should be nervous around--let alone him.

Your eyes narrow and your brows scrunch together, “Ha-ha. Very funny, Jen. But I’ve been around for like nine years already, why would I do that?”   

She lets out a small huff, “Honestly, I have no clue. I confronted him on it like once but he never told me anything. Just that he really wasn’t sure how to be around you. Whatever that means--just… well, you don’t have to tell him, Y/N. I can do it.”

You smile and nod, “Please do. I want to. I do, but it’s always a door to the face talking to him. He barely looks at me, acknowledges me… I mean I’d understand if I actually did something but the worst thing I did -that I can remember- is stepping on that one stone with his friend Mr. Grey!”

Jennie lets your hand go, trying to cover her mouth of the titters leaving her lips, visibly failing, mind you.

“You still remember that?”

You nod, “It might’ve been second grade but I certainly remember making him cry, okay!” Even though it was a terrible thing at that time, you can’t help but smile as your best friend laughs with wholesome giggles.

Even if Taehyung didn’t want to speak to you, and leaving without a word leaves you feeling off and empty like an unnatural and uncomfortable jab to your side. It gives you an ache in your head and heart, because for the past three years, you’ve been ignored by him. And for the past three years, it’s been on gnawing on your mind as to why this might be.

What did you do? You’re certain that it’s nothing. Could you have done something? Possibly, but how can you ever know if he won’t tell you? But most of all, the same question you had three years ago: Why does it matter anyway?

He’s your best friend’s brother. Why does it matter that he’s been ignoring you? If anything, this should’ve been a blessing. Most siblings were extremely annoying like Jisoo’s older brother, Namjoon! He loved listening into your conversations and wouldn’t relent unless you three blackmailed him with that one time he slipped onto his back after one step into a pool that Jennie (thankfully) recorded.

However, he’s far from being like that. He’s always been supportive and quite respectful toward his sister, always the one to drag Jimin away if the older boy was being too flirty though it was in good fun anyway. You and Jennie didn’t mind, but her brother did in that respect. And it was admirable.

Whatever his reasons are, you’re actually quite surprised to see him at your door on your moving day.

He softly asks if you need any help moving, and when he steps aside, you only see Jimin behind him, waving at you while he goes over to your mom to ask if there’s anything that he can move while it appears the brunet entering your home handles the inside.

You nod, pointing him in the direction of the kitchen where all the silverware and the plates are. One of the boxes is still taped up, a few handmade knick knacks placed inside that your mother was still carefully wrapping up before it got stored away inside the front of the care alongside a few other important, fragile items you both wanted close.

He grabs hold of one of the box of plates with as much grace as a baby deer trying to walk. He huffs a little at the sudden weight but his long, gangly arms manage to grapple onto the cardboard material with a proper grip before he’s asking you where you want it in the truck. You follow him outside, giving him instructions on putting it near the front since most of the heavier stuff has already been loaded into the back.

He nods, placing it onto the metal bed before following you back into the house for another load while Jimin is still chatting with your mother about where what goes.

“Where are Jennie and your parents?” You ask him as you finish the job your mother was setting out to do with the handmade knick knacks.

You try not to make eye contact with Taehyung, but the burning desire to see him is all too powerful as your eyes flicker in his direction to find him staring at you.

He blinks away, eyes trained back on the cardboard box on the counter filled with pots and pans. “Um, Jennie wanted to surprise you with something, and my parents said they’d come in a bit…”

“Okay…” You nod, eyes flickering over his figure. His posture albeit terrible from all his countless video game marathons with Jimin finds purchase in the corner of your counter and his fingers are gripping the box so tightly it’s damn near slipping. “Are you alright? I’m sure you could’ve waited with your parents to come or something...”

He nods quickly, suddenly meeting your eyes, “I’m fine… I—uh; well, I figured I should help out. Jimin wanted to also… so… yeah.”

When you nod again, he adds, “It’s no problem anyway.”

“I hope you aren’t just helping ‘cuz your parents are forcing you to…” You half-joke with a matching half-smile. For whatever reason, if being around you made Taehyung that uncomfortable then you certainly hoped that he wasn’t being forced into being around you. You can accept his discomfort, and if it’s that bad then you’d certainly do your best to alleviate it without too many qualms about it.

“No, I wanted- I mean I want to.” He stammers just a bit. His cheeks dust with slight rouge, but you make no comment on it.

You have your own little dust of pink when you feel yourself smile ever-slightly, but try to ignore it enough to nod once again. “Okay, since you say so…” You rise from your spot, knowing that the busy work can wait as you grab hold of a different box with an assortment of bowls before guiding him back to the truck where it appears Jimin is also shoving one of the containers of your mother’s clothes into the moving van.

You follow suit and Taehyung does the same, and the cycle goes on even as Jennie arrives after another hour with her parents with a item behind her back.

Your mother goes over to them with a grateful smiling, thanking them profusely for sending the boys over to help out and for coming on such a busy day to see you off. Of course, they assure her it’s no problem, and that they’re more than happy to stop by and whenever we’re ready at our new home then they’d gladly come by to check it out and celebrate which your mother was more than elated to agree to.

Jennie sneaks over to you, Taehyung, and Jimin perched on the edge of the truck. Her lips are pulled into a grin as she reveals the concealed item from her back and into your lap. It feels quite light as a whole and it takes up a small, rectangular shape in the newspaper wrapping.

Soon enough, you’re tearing into the paper as the onlookers watch around you. There’s hints of red and canary yellow with some black thrown in on the cardboard packaging. The ideas are already pouring in your head at the Kodak reusable camera now unsheathed in your palms. Before you decide to take action you turn to Jennie with a grin on your own lips, pulling the brunette tightly in your arms.

“Thank you,” You tell her, feeling something well up in your chest. It goes upward into your throat and settles in your tear ducts, but you refuse to let it overtake you. If you start, she’ll start too. For both your sakes, you just muster enough of a poker face and turn to the pair beside you, “D’ya guys wanna take a group photo?”

Jennie voices her affirmation and even Jimin’s chorusing with his own ‘yes.’ It just leave Taehyung, and he barely looks at you when you focus on him. Despite him ignoring you these past few years, you won’t deny that you’d like to have his face commemorated among yours, Jennie’s, and Jimin’s after all of this.

He turns away from your expectant gaze, looking at the ground before softly offering to take the picture instead.

The three of you are quick to voice your complaints, but he merely continues his ministration, ignoring the white noise. He’s almost ready to hop off the truck and walk away until you say, “C’mon Tae, I want you in the picture too!”

For whatever reason, it grows a little silent after that, and as embarrassing as it sounds, you refuse to take it back when you mean every word.

He looks up at you, ignoring the look that Jimin and Jennie both have trained on him. He sounds different when he talks once more, but his still slightly high voice is complete with conviction when he says, “Alright. I will then.”

You grin widely at him, taking a seat beside him while Jennie hails one of the adults to your area. That alone halts the adult conversation, piquing their interest as someone begins to talk back as Jennie takes her spot beside you. Yuna appears with curious eyes before you hand her the camera and ask if she’d be so kind as to taking a photograph of the four of you together.

She makes sure to hear the click of the camera before counting down from three and snapping the shot of the four of you perched at the back of the moving van. There are three photos from that day - one normal one of the four of you, a silly one, and somehow the four of you managed to squeeze in together the rest of the adults altogether. Each one you absolutely knew you would adore.

As sad as the day is, you can’t deny how much you’ve come to enjoy it.

How the sun is just right, hanging in the middle of the sky casting a yellow and orange glow, melding together in a swarm of flames that dance lower and lower into the sky as time continues to pass. Although it reminds you of the fact that your time in this town is up, it brings you joy that everyone could gather and spend it all together.

The last of the boxes are soon packed up, and the tears welling up in your tear ducts threaten to come loose, cascading down your visage in waves as Jennie gives you one last squeeze. Yuna even adds in her own set of warmth as well as Jin. You aren’t surprised Jimin does so as well, but you feel another set of arms soon wrap around you that you swear you never thought you would feel again.

Mr. and Mrs. Kim have long seen released you, going to your mother to comfort her with their words and even appease their own sadness of letting go of their own friend. Somewhere along the way so does Jimin and Jennie, but only to look on with curious eyes veiling the wide ones at this sudden form of contact.

You see Taehyung with pink cheeks adorning his too-small face that housed his too big nose. His long, lanky limbs too long and lanky for his still-growing body. And although he’s nothing like the boy you remember in previous years, you can’t deny the warmth he offers you as he squeezes you tight without another word aside from a soft good-bye before Jennie takes you back up in her arms and lets her water works continue to flow.

“Visit soon okay?” She mutters into your ear, causing a small convulsion to wrack your body. It tickles as she continues but you cling to her tighter, “We’ll get through high school together. Me and you.”

You nod vigorously, “We will… Jen… I’ll see you soon.”

The embrace is broken, sad smiles both perched on your lips before you approach Jimin and Taehyung one more time and Jennie’s gone over to your mother to give her one last hug. You glance between them and say, “I know I didn’t say this earlier but thank you for helping and coming out here. I know it’s not the best way to spend a Saturday but I’m glad I got to see you, Tae…”

With an added nod in Jimin’s direction, you continue, “Chim…”

You turn to go, seeing as everyone else seems to be wrapping up their farewells, trying not to focus too much on the push that Jimin sends in Taehyung’s direction.

When he nearly topples over, you’re at his side. “Are you okay?” You ask, eyes as wide as they can get despite the puffiness overtaking them.

He nods, muttering, “Jimin’s just a dummy,” as the older boy walks off in search of nothing in particular, “I- um- I’m alright by the way.”

His voice is soft again, but you just smile and giving him a little room.

“Y/N-”

You tilt your head at him, eyes meeting his in the ensuing twilight, mind completely blank in the possibilities of what he might say next. It’s been so long since you two have last talked. It’s actually been too long since then. The moment you two will finally talk is here, and it’s invigorating to imagine that, because after so damn long you can finally hear him talk to you instead walking the other way or giving you that really awkward tight-lipped smile and flick of his wrist combination.

“I-” But a voice calls your name, and disappointment plunges your heart into your stomach at the interruption. You look at Taehyung with apologetic eyes, hoping he’ll continue but his mouth is clamped shut. “Never mind.”

“Are you sure?” You ask, still looking at him.

He refuses to meet your eyes now, but nods in response.

“Yeah… I’ll -uh- see you whenever. Good luck.”

You don’t press further, no matter how much your curiosity burns,  just flash his a small smile then take your leave to the moving van with your mother.

The scene passes in a blur - you remember waving at all the melancholic faces, sporting your own as well, and suddenly you’re down the highway toward your new home.

His mind swims with too many thoughts. What he should have done, what he did not do, and what went wrong — especially to what broken sentiments his heart is feeling.

You are gone, leaving him alone; and, he never found the courage to tell you three simple words.

“Did you do it?” Jimin asks, returning to the younger boy’s sides the moment the van begins to disappear down the street.

Soon it’s out of sight.

And suddenly Taehyung feels worse than before. The sun’s already gone down and like the warm and light of the burning sun, you’re gone too.

He shakes his head, “No. I couldn’t.”

As sharp exhales exits Jimin’s lips and he gives him a small shove.

“You know you could’ve. You just chose not to, Taehyung.”

The aforementioned dares a glance at the older boy, receiving a disappointed look. He knew he was supposed to, but even just saying it now wouldn’t have been right either. The more he considered it the day Jennie told him you were leaving, he wanted to denounce the idea of telling you altogether.

He was getting closer and closer to just ignoring the mere fact, pretending it never existed like he thought he should before - after all, feelings go away right? And with enough time he’d forget the curve of your smile or the light in your eyes or the way you’d scrunch your nose is amusement whenever Jimin tried to throw a cheesy pick-up line your way.

He still finds his mind plagued with thoughts of you and the regrets he’s had since the moment he acquired feelings for you, because since then he’s treated you as crappy as he could muster without being completely terrible in hopes that maybe he won’t have to admit to it some time down the road. It’s all too much to believe that he still has feelings for you now.

Nearly four years down the road, and here he is - still in awe over your visage and your hard work. All your passion in things aside from boys and what the girl wear -”because who gives a crap?”- and instead all your focus on academics and making sure Jennie’s on track right with you. Even asking him how he’s been despite his prolonged attempt in shutting you out.

Telling you on your last day in town wouldn’t have done anything but confuse you. And if he could help it, he wouldn’t let you suffer through that phase like he did… like he’s still suffering through it.  

“It’s just not the right time, Chim.”

Maybe one day.

You move that summer before high school begins, unseeing the magic of puberty take its course on the young man by the name of Kim Taehyung, yet leaving him in that same dilemma in which he is unable to see puberty take its course on you as well.

The move away from Daegu is a positive one. Busan itself is beautiful and an opportunity to redefine yourself as a solo person. Back there, you were always one half of a dynamic duo, and now you’re free to finally understand yourself and not be clumped with Jennie in case any mishap happens among your peers though it was highly likely it was because of the two of you but that is besides the point--

Your freshman year is spent getting adjusted to a life away from the place you considered home for the past thirteen years. It’s spent getting to know the other first years, trying to establish some form of friendship to make the entire experience bearable. They certainly came considering you were not part of their middle school cliques, but very few actually withstood the passage of time - a boy by the name of Jeon Jungkook, a girl by the name of Rose, and another boy by the name of Kim Yugyeom. Each other of them were kind, sticking by you and even advising you in the ways of navigating the campus whenever you got lost though there were times when the tallest of the bunch managed to get you all on the opposite side of where you were supposed to go, it certainly saved for plenty of stories that you’d relay back to Jennie, who would do the same with her tales about Hani, Jisoo, Changkyun too, and even some of Jimin and Taehyung.

Now that you weren’t around, it seemed that Taehyung had opened up though you aren’t sure how your presence would’ve changed anything either way you were glad to hear him finally speaking up for himself whenever it was granted. He never gave an indication of contact with you. Not even when you called Jennie and she offered to pass him the phone, opting to do homework or excuse him to go out with the rest of the guys, because someone he managed to befriend Namjoon and Hoseok.

Jennie tells you his voice gained momentum, deepening at the start of his sophomore year and his lanky, awkward limbs grew into their own proportions, leaning him up to almost two two meters. No longer soft spoken or quite as awkward, he seemed to find his place among his friends, earning a title as the most daring of the bunch.

It’s surprising at first, but you’re glad that he has finally found a place now.

Your sophomore year is spent with a new array of challenges, but ones that pay off nonetheless. There are things like feelings and boys and some girls and it’s an utter mess. You don’t even know how to feel or what to think so much as you’re certain that you can’t wait for your spring break when you’ll get to have your best friend come over. The plans you two can do together mostly mean a venture to the beach and it brings a smile to your face to finally have close.

It’s only a little different to see her in the flesh this year. The passage of time is washed over her features, her hair is a little longer past her shoulders, and her limbs have grown just a smidgen taller, and nonetheless she is gorgeous as ever. Her personality has changed little, still the spitfire, ready for the next adventure as you two go on to meet up with some of your friends after she’s settled at your place.

They suggest a day at the beach, and perhaps that’s the day that changes more than you think. For reasons unbeknownst to you, those feelings you’ve never understood resurface and play into your excursions together. You’re not sure why you feel so fond of her, but there are butterflies that ricochet throughout the confines of your stomach the longer you spend with her. That day at the beach changes everything. The feeling of her taking away your first kiss as innocent as it was. Your heart flutters but the two of you know beyond the title of best friends there’s nothing to change that status even with a little kiss that washes away the anxieties you’ve had previously about whether you could actually do it because this is the sole reason why things never worked out with Jaebum anyway (not that he’s very bitter about it either).

Like any other moment between you two, this one is sealed away like a tale for a random day when you’re among friends.

What she tells you afterwards still resonates in your mind, “At least I was the first one.”

“Well, who’s supposed to be the second then?”

She winks and gleams the fact that you might find out the following year — whatever that means.

Your junior year is finally your time to stay at Jennie’s for spring break. It’s exciting to know you’ll be spending that time at the Kim’s, maybe catch a glimpse of Taehyung if you’re lucky, and spend that time with your second family. For whatever reason, he was never present at your brief visits prior to this one. Something akin to being out with the guys or spending nights at their place until your visit was over.

Still, what are the chances of him avoiding you again anyway?

Jennie did say he changed since you were last living there after all.

You find out the day you arrive at the Kim’s. Jennie’s elated visage greeting you at the doorway before wrapping her arms around you and guiding you inside. She has you set all your items in her bedroom while you plop onto her bed, feeling the fatigue of travel finally washing away the longer you’re around your energetic best friend, who’s already chatting your ear off about the plans you two have for the next six days together.

Luckily for you, today is the chill one.

“Where is everyone?” You ask her, sitting up as she swivels around on her chair.

“Mom and dad went grocery shopping since you’re here, Tae’s -um- I think he’s out with friends maybe?” She shrugs her shoulders, “He’s usually out doing something nowadays.”

You nod, feeling oddly curious to see the elusive boy. It’s been too long since you’ve seen him and his mop of dark locks or heard the sound of his voice. Hell, you actually wondered if he sounded the same or if he even looked remotely akin to what you remembered. Time itself usually aids in the transformation but how different did he look now?

“Oh! I finally printed those pictures I was telling you about,” Jennie exclaims, rolling her chair over to the white bookshelf leaning against the wall beneath her window. “Some of them are from last spring, but I have a few from Christmas that you haven’t seen yet. My mom loves the oven mitts, by the way.”

You grin, “Good, I’m glad! Did the tie fit your dad okay?”

She nods, handing you the faux-leather bound album. “Take a look. I think he’s wearing it in the picture. He loved it a hell of a lot more than the Rugrats tie Tae got him. Mind you, dad was even happier that you actually remembered he was a Pokémon kinda guy.”

You laugh, flipping through the pages of the album from the start. It’s large and filled with tons of photos that start from the moment Jennie picked up a camera. Each one a memory that she deemed necessary to be recorded - quite a few had you in it, and you smile at the one you sent her that time you moved.

The top one has you, Jennie, Taehyung, and Jimin seated in the back seat of the moving van with the light of the sun casting a deep orange glow over your smiling faces. You remember Yuna taking the photo, smiling as ever, as she counted down and snapped two shots. This one was the normal one. The second one was the silly one with the eldest of your bunch sticking his tongue out, Taehyung had his nose puffed out with his cheeks, Jennie was cross-eyed, and you were doing a mix of nose scrunch and puffing out your cheeks. It elicits a growing grin on your lips.

The next set is the one of the everyone cramming together. Somehow half of Jimin managed to get cut out and Jin’s shoulders are mostly present, but it’s a photo of that you still have hanging in your room, reminding you of simpler times.

You continue onto the next set of photos, catching glimpsing of a familiar Taehyung in some of them until the next two pages have someone else in his place. It’s a man who has the same mop of dark brown hair as him, but the usually large nose of his face actually fits the rest of his features and the limbs are evened out. He actually looks really tall compared to the others too.

Is that him?

Now that you’re looking at the other faces, you catch sight of Jimin’s - his notorious eye smile is a dead giveaway next to the mop of jet black locks adorning his forehead haphazardly. You see Jennie’s, dark brown like the taller man’s, and a grin that matches his. And suddenly it hits you!--

Same grin… it has to be… right?

“That’s your brother?” You ask, pointing at him.

Jennie blinks, glancing at your finger, before nodding.

“Yeah, why?”

You respond, “He…” Looking at it once more, “Looks different.”

“I suppose so. I did have to buy a pair of those headphones though.”

Your nose scrunches as you giggle at the reminder of donkey screeches back in sixth grade though you still can’t deny how much Taehyung has aged nicely.

If Jennie had not confirmed your suspicions you would’ve assumed the guy in the photos was just some really attractive guy standing between your best friend and her brother’s best friend. But the more your eyes linger on the photo, it becomes undeniable that it is indeed Kim Taehyung, aged gracefully and fruitfully by time and her companion puberty at its finest.

And for anyone, this might seem weird (and perhaps it is) but you’ve spent plenty of time wondering what he looks like now, how he’s been, and what he sounds like because there has been too many times where you swear you hear a deep, baritone voice and it makes you curious who that could be.

You genuinely ponder if could it really be him? It strikes you how much has changed now that you’ve seen him and possibly heard his voice, but you try not to dwell on it so much. After all, why does it matter anyway?

People grow up, get taller, voices change — it’s normal.

So, you continue to flip through the photos, settling on the Kim’s last Christmas photo. The unrecognizable man in the photos is among the four bodies smiling broadly with a grin that is akin to Jin’s, and it’s just presently clear just how much time has passed since you last came around to visit and it definitely makes you wonder just how much you’ve missed since that day three years ago.

> > >

And not even an hour later, you do find yourself face to face with the man you’ve spent that time pondering about.

You’re downstairs with Jennie while Yuna and Jin are preparing dinner together, happy to have you but insistent as ever to get you to relax since you drove over there. The two of you are just giggling over what’s going on in the movie, the two of you coaxing the main characters to think a little more wiser when the doorbell rings and halts your advising.

Jin asks if either one of you two can get it, so you and Jennie decide with rock-paper-scissors, leaving you as the loser and the door opener.

Rising from your seat, you tentatively make your way to the door and briefly check on the peephole. You see a mop of dark locks and open the door, smiling when you see that it’s Jimin, who’s eying you with raised brows.

“Y/N?” He says with a curving grin on his lips.

“Yes, and you’re Jimin.” You reply, he’s ready to flick your forehead like he used to before but he wraps you up in a tight hug instead, earning a yelp in response.

Somewhere in the background, Jennie snickers in response.

“Hey!” You huff when he promptly lifts you from your spot. “Use your strength for good, not evil Chim.”

When he sets you down, he’s about to open his mouth when someone comes jogging beside him. Their attention is trained on the alabaster-skinned boy with a pointed look. A deep voice questioning him, “Are you harassing my sister again, Chim? ‘Cuz-”

“No!” Jimin says immediately, gesturing toward you. His eyes are agleam, a smirk curving on his pinkish lips.“I was greeting Y/N!”

There’s air of mischief as the eldest teen says this, not that you have a moment to question it, because the moment he does, Taehyung’s gaze follows the trail of his arm and rests his sights on your visage. His eyes go wide as if he’s never seen you before, but when he utters your name, your heart is fluttering in an unfamiliar tempo.

When he sees you, he can’t deny how much time has aged you to perfection. The way your hair falls past your shoulders, eyes still lovely as ever, and the smile he sees on your lips from your residual fun with Jimin. He’s not sure what of seeing you has caused his brain to go into haywire, but any other words can hardly formulate sentences as he continues to make eye contact with you.

“Hi,” You say without a moment to spare. A part of you hopes to see if he’ll respond, but another part is still stuck in how brown his eyes are, how much wiser they look now that there’s been some years between his freshman self to now -- a senior in high school no less.

In all the time that has passed, neither of you never would’ve anticipated seeing each other in a flurry of circumstances like this one, and neither of you certainly never would’ve found yourself finding a sudden sensation of chemicals to rush in the your brains and relinquish something as potent as it did, but even as you both stand there staring at one another, he’s thrown back to emotions he thought he forgot about and now you’re thrown into a set of emotions that you never once thought were ones you held for him.

Whatever is the case, the two of you break away from the contact. Its power resides over the two of you like a cloud, leaving one another in a semblance of turmoil to understand what exactly happened just then.

“R-right, um… hi.” He says, blinking once again as Jimin nudges him from the corner of your eye. His voice is familiar, yet far from the soft, squeaky voice you’ve known though you have to admit you quite like the sound of it now as well.

You step aside to allow them a chance at entering and wonder back to your seat besides Jennie. Jimin waves at Jennie and sneaks into the kitchen to greet Mr. and Mrs. Kim before the two are scurrying off into Taehyung’s room.

Jennie looks over at you, cheeks flushed and eyes trained on the coffee table, and asks after nudging you with her elbow, “You okay?”

You blink before meeting her gaze, her coffee brown hues taking in your features with a keen eye, so you nod quickly, “I’m fine. Just surprised to see them s’all.”

The brunette nods, humming an affirmation though the prominence of her cheekbones only tells you that she knows more than you’re letting on.

> > >

The next few days have become an odd nostalgia to the sixth grade when Taehyung did his best to avoid you or keep as far as he could without being too weird about it. He’s mostly been going out with his friends. On occasion, he’ll wave at you, then turn away to leave to wherever is his next venue, but each glance you two share lingers and your thoughts about one another seem to only come more and more frequently. At least on your end, you can’t seem to get him out of your mind.

Coming back to the Kims reminds you of all the times you spent playing with him as a kid then later all the times you spent wondering why he refused to talk to you. It bothered you back then like it does now because you simply didn’t know why he was ignoring you. All you wanted to do was hang out with him, have a laugh… be someone to make him laugh, make him smile, spend time with him. It’s not wrong right?

It’s new to think that these are the reasons why him not talking to you bothered you so greatly, but in understanding your feelings and what it meant to have crushes in the past few years, you’ve slowly started to succumb to the idea of seeing Taehyung as more than just Jennie’s older brother. He was more than that in your eyes, but you never considered him like your own brother either. Maybe that was why it always bothered you. Maybe in seeing him as more than a surrogate sibling and in your irritation of being ignored, you hoped that he would simply see you as more than just his kid sister’s best friend.

Maybe that’s why things never worked out with Jaebum or never started with Jennie though you’re still fuzzy on the latter. You’re sure that whatever’s there for Taehyung runs deep because since you were a kid you saw him in high regard. He was always helping you if you needed it, and if there was a monster at the door he would answer it and try to chase it away. Back when you were scared to sleep over at Jennie’s for the first time, he tried to make that time as comfortable as possible by nestling himself on the floor of the bedroom, making a tent so the three of you could nestle inside with giggles and stories to last until it was midnight and you were all fast asleep.

It isn’t to say that these were the reasons for you to crush on him, but it’s your reasons to see him so fondly because instead of deeming you and Jennie “dumb girls” he played with you two anyway - cooties or not. He made sure to take your feelings into account because that’s what kind of person he was. No matter what he wanted to make sure you and Jennie didn’t have to suffer too much heartache as kids because he didn’t like it himself.

And in all that consideration, you can’t help but recall the fondness you’ve always held for him during this time spent at the Kims. It’s been there. You know that for certain. Without a doubt, it’s become second nature to care for him and Jennie - it’s why you’ve sent Christmas and birthday gifts because you loved the entire family, including them both.

Jennie is indeed your first friend, but to be perfectly honest, Taehyung is your second friend.

Since this realization, an epiphany that cost you a sleepless night, you’ve tried to determine whether they were plausible feelings or not. For all you know, it could just be your own hormonal lust over the sight of your best friend’s attractive older brother over all else, and doing anything with him might actually leave you with nothing in hopes of a relationship or a connection.

You had it with Jennie, that’s for certain, but neither of you pursued anything further. But what about Taehyung? Could anything be there as well?

You’re not even sure if you want that, but an answer is better than waiting forever.

> > >

Later that night, Jennie hears about a party at a Min Yoongi’s house. It’s supposed to be a rager considering it’s a spring break kickback, but she knows that the prospect of alcohol and smoking will turn her parents away from the idea. Especially knowing that Yoongi is one of Taehyung’s friends - not that he has bad friends, per say, but the last time your best friend tried going to one of his friend’s parties, the elder Kim did his best to turn his parents away from letting her go despite him going later on.

“We’ll take my window.” She answers when you ask her how she expects either of you to get out without anyone realizing it. “And we’ll use your car since my parents are gonna be deadass asleep anyway. Tae’ll be out before we are so we’ll just go late.”

It all sounds fairly simple, and you’ve never doubted Jennie’s skills once.

There’s a white fence leaning against the space beneath her window. You scale it and hop down, sneaking out by the fence on the opposite end of where Mr. and Mrs. Kim are sleeping. You’re donning a pair of shorts and sheer blouse, thankful that you didn’t opt for anything other than that as you maneuver your way down toward your car alongside a grinning Jennie. You parked a little down the street, so you’re both quietly jogging over, trying to stifle your excited giggles.

It’s around 1 AM when you both arrive to the shindig.

Min Yoongi’s house is filled with bodies clumped together is masses among the dimly lit living room, red cups in their hands as some dare to take tentative sips. Others down the whole thing like it’s some cup of liquid courage before trying their hand at impressing one another with some sauve opening line. Some seem to be successful while others are visibly drowning as their possible partners walk off in search of other options. At the least, decent music is reverberating against the walls in waves, even the crowd is swaying rhythmically to the well-produced tunes.

There’s a refreshments table on the left side of the room, a crowd of bodies in the center of the floor, and the entrance of the kitchen is at your right past a corridor and at least three other bodies that you didn’t bother getting a good look at.

Jennie’s eyes are gleaming with excitement at the sights, darting between the options,  and you admit that you’re bubbling all over as well.

She leans in close to the shell of your ear and whispers, “What should we do first?”

Your eyes scan the area carefully. Next to enjoying yourselves, you both did not want to bump into Taehyung or any of the other guys if possible.

From where you are by the doorway, you catch a glimpse of Taehyung laughing up a storm with Hoseok about god-knows-what in the kitchen. The former is seated on the counter while the latter leans his hip against the edge.

“Dance floor,” You turn to her, pointing a thumb toward the kitchen. “Spotted your brother and Hobie, by the way.”

By the time you’re on the dancefloor, you two have narrowly missed a stretched out version of Namjoon. You sway besides Jennie, her body pressed against your body in the close-knit circle of dancers, watching as he’s now chatting up a tall girl with long legs and short hair, but the dimpled grin on his lips and the cup in his hand is enough to keep him busy for quite a bit.

At least Tae and Hobie are in the kitchen… Joon’s there. That just leaves Chim.

It reeks of booze and sweat in circle, not that it’s any better on the outside, but you two come out for air after a good twenty minutes.

Perspiration coats the sides of your faces, smiles already curved on your lips, and an insatiable thirst overtaking both of your senses. You two then scurry over to the drinks table for the glorious red cup to quelch yourselves. All it takes is one sip for you to feel the burn tingle through your throat as it goes down. Then you’re taking a long swig until it settles in your stomach and leaves it tingling all the way through.

You’ve never been considered a lightweight. Three, maybe four cups and you’re probably on the precipice of a drunken state, but one does nothing but get your nerves feeling less terse. Since your agreement with Jennie to avoid her brother and his friends at all costs, you’ve tried to be aware of your surroundings and keep the possible deterrents away from you and your best friend, who is now giggling at something that someone named Lisa is saying, a flash of a look in your direction.

Before you can speak, you hear another voice enter the conversation, “Jennie? Y/N? What are you two doing here?”

At your left stands a baffled Jimin, brows raised and hands cupped around his mouth, but neither you or Jennie give him an answer.

Instead the brunette winks at you, “I got this.” She turns to Lisa apologetically and says, “Hopefully I see you later, yeah?”

The blonde nods, watching as your best friend scampers off into the crowd while you make a break for the other side of the crowd. Jimin appears to follow the same path at Jennie, so you try your best to get somewhere safe so she can meet you. It’s silly to think that you’re running away from Taehyung and his friends right now, and a part of you actually starts to slow down in your movements between the crowd of bodies on that realization. After all, what can he do? Send you two home, rat you guys out? Wasn’t he here too? If he was bringing you two down, then you were certain you would do the same just because it wasn’t fair.

By the time you’re on the other side of the crowd, you’re only slightly breathless as you turn toward the open corridor of the hallway. You’re positive that if you see him or Jimin or anyone of his friends then you’ll be sure to tell them that if they are there, then you and Jennie should be perfectly fine with being there as well. If anything, you’d just tell them to screw off.

Not that you mean any disrespect or anything but you need this. Maybe not need it. But it’s a risk that you feel as though you can afford to take when all your mind has been clouded with is over him.

You want to understand why he ignored you so much since you were eleven. You want him to just tell you what changed. And you really want him to stop ignoring you period. It’s not hard to see that it’s just you he’s treating differently. Since your return it’s like being thrown back to sixth grade when he hardly ever wanted anything to do with you, and of course, you’ve been more than willing to ask what you did wrong, but when he goes on and claims nothing then what are you supposed to do but wonder what the hell is going on?

Honestly, if he was here, you’d give him a piece of your mind!

I would tell him that it’s pretty shitty of him to tell me one thing then act another way. I mean… I’d get it if he would just say something. I wouldn’t be so bothered by it if I had an explanation. Simple as that. Yet another part of you thinks, But is it really? Are you bothered that he’s ignoring you because of that or because you’re confused by your own feelings?

You let out a deep sigh before entering the free bathroom to check your phone. There aren’t any new messages from Jennie. It’s nearly 2 AM, and you’re feeling the beer coursing through your veins.

Maybe it is because of him. I just- don’t understand this. Of all people… of all times… why him? And why now?

With a shake of your head, get a grip, you open the door, turning to exit when you feel yourself collide with someone’s chest. Their hands immediately settle on your shoulders to keep you steady.

Have his hands always been this warm?

You’re about to brush them off when your eyes make out the familiar shape of the Taehyung’s straight nose, furrowed dark brows, and wide, coffee brown eyes from the light of the open door.

The words trail off weakly, “Oh shit-! Sorry… Tae.”

“Y/N… what are you-” His eyes wash over your features, taking in your dishevelled state, though they linger longer on the bottom of your face. “Never mind. You’re here with Jennie?”

You nod, brow quirked upward, “You gonna make us go back home?”

“I-” He blinks once again. Now that you’re focused on his visage, you note the way his breath is a mix of mint and that beer. His furrowed brows relax the longer his eyes remain trained on yours, and it seems he hasn’t moved his hands from your shoulders either. He shakes his head, “I won’t. Just… surprised to see you here.”

“Yeah, I know being around me is the last thing you want so seeing me must’ve been disappointing.” You reply, already beginning to slip away from his touch when he tightens his grip to keep you from leaving.

You look at him in confusion.

“Why would you think that?”

“It’s pretty obvious you’ve been avoiding me, Tae. Anyone with eyes can see that, but I can feel it. You leave when I’m around, you can barely talk to me. Let alone look at me… it’s actually a miracle this conversation is happening at all.”

He genuinely looks like he’s at a loss for words though you can���t blame him. Rose and Jungkook have always told you that you’re too blunt for your own good when you’ve had alcohol in your system, but hey… drunk words are sober thoughts right?

“I can leave you alone now.” You say after another moment.

He shakes his head, eyes no longer in a daze on the space over your head but are now trained on you. “No, it’s not like that, Y/N. I- I mean yeah I have been avoiding you but...”

You interject, hoping to coax him back into words, “But what?”

“It’s not for what you think, okay? I don’t hate you. I definitely don’t hate you, I promise.”

“Huh? Then why?”

You’re heart is thudding against your chest, reverberating inside like the bass against the walls, and still you’re not sure what to think or feel. A part of you is burning to know the answer, but another part fears that maybe you overlooked something and maybe he was just uncomfortable around you. It could be a possibility, but it’s one that your heart definitely hoped wasn’t so.

“I- I can’t explain it, okay? You just do things to me and I can’t quite explain it.”

His visage is so close now. It hardly registered in your mind how close they were, but it still elicits a thrumming in your chest. You don’t know what to say or think, but when he’s this close your brain ponders what it’d be like to feel his lips against yours.

“They look soft.”

He blinks, “What looks soft?”

You shake your head, snap out of it goddammit, “Your lips--but explain your thing. Try. Please ‘cause I’ve really been stuck with this impression that you hate me or something, Tae.”

“You think my lips look soft…” He says to himself, his eyes glance at the floor until you wave your hand in front of his face.

“Still here.”

“I don’t hate you, Y/N.” He repeats, taking his time to meet your eyes once again. There’s a quiet determination set in his dark hues. It’s one of the few times you’ve seen it, but having it trained on you is both unnerving and titillating.

His voice is low when he mutters under his breath, “I’d say it’s quite the opposite.”

“What was that?”

He shakes his head, “It’s nothing. Um- remember that day before you moved?”

You nod.

“Well, that day I was going to tell you something. Do you remember that?”

It’s almost instantaneous when you affirm his question. Since that day, you’ve thought back to a lot - always wondering what was he going to tell you. You had too many ideas back then, but none of them ever seemed to suit Taehyung and the patient, levelheaded way he had in going about things. He could never be that person to tell you some half-assed secret about liking pie or joke about dying… no, you knew that it was something important, and for whatever reason, when he didn’t tell you that day you were sure that he’d choose the right time to do it.

Now with this moment happening, you’re hoping that this is the moment of truth.

“Well, I was gonna tell you that…” He utters a guttural “fuck it” under his breath before finishing his statement, “I like you. I mean that I liked you back then. I know it’s silly to keep it from you for this long but I wanted to tell you in person, not over the phone… and really, it’s no excuse to treat you the way I did but I... yeah… That’s why.”

You’re not sure what you’re thinking when you were hearing him out. It isn’t like you weren’t paying attention, but the longer you listened to him, the more you noticed just how soft his lips looked up close, how cute it was to see his eyes dart across your features as he talked, and how his hands on your shoulders never seemed to leave your vicinity or just how much you liked the way they rested on your shoulders...

Even when he has long since stopped talking and the only thing that surrounds you two is a comforting silence, the rest of the world- party and all, there’s an overwhelming desire inside you that you can’t fight. (Not that you want to anyway.)

When your brain makes aware just how close he is, you can’t help but feel yourself lean in to close the distance between your lips.

The feeling of the soft plushness dulls down the beer permeating his mouth. It elicits the same tingling in you- not in your throat; however, it travels up and down your body. Your adrenaline pumps just as erratically as your heart because holy shit I’m really kissing Taehyung right now, and what blow your mind the most is the fact that he’s actually kissing you back.

But just as quickly as the kiss comes, it ends.

You both pull away, watching one another as you stand before one another, probably both trying to register what the hell just happened. Given, you two just kissed, but again you two kissed. It isn’t just everyday that you give into your own impulses and just kiss your best friend’s brother. Nor is it an everyday thing that he kisses you back.

It’s like a looming cloud over you two now that this has happened. Neither of you saying a word, but it feels like you should. After all, didn’t he just tell you that he used to like you as kid? What did this kiss mean th-

Ring!

You nearly jump at the sound, looking down at your pocket to see Jennie’s calling.

When you chance a look over at him, he’s still staring at you; his eyes alight with something vibrant, but his lips are clamped shut as if whatever he said prior to what just happened are the last things he’ll say. Regardless, it causes blood to rush to your cheeks before you excuse yourself to the bathroom to answer your phone.

He only nods, his own cheeks giving way to his own embarrassment but he waves you off.

Once the door is shut, you say, “Jen? Where are you?”

“Better question is where are you? I lost Chim a while ago, but I’ve been trying to find you for the past fifteen minutes!”  

Her voice is relatively clear from the rest of the partygoers, so you just ask where she is.

“I went out front. It was getting hot and stuffy after running from Chim. So are you gonna answer my question?”

“I’m coming to you. I went to the bathroom.” You reply though you don’t hear much else of what she’s saying when your brain is replaying the kiss.

After a moment, you hear her break the sudden silence, “Hello?”

“Sorry, I’m on my way.” You reply quickly, wondering if he’s still outside the door. But when you open it, he’s nowhere to be seen. Where did he…? Never mind, I shouldn’t keep Jennie waiting. “See you.”

You meet the younger Kim outside, a smile on her lips when she sees you. Her eyes are trailing over your visage, searching for any signs of distress that you refused to show over the phone. It’s like she knows something went down, but she’s just waiting for you to expose yourself.  Twelve years of friendship can really help you read someone after all.

“Did something happen back there? ...You look frazzled.”

“Sorry, that beer might’ve gotten me after all...” You say though your brain scolds you for trying to lie right now, and to Jennie of all people.  

“Is that really all that happened, Y/N?”

“Um, I’ll -uh- tell you later, yeah?”

She nods, a brow quirked in interest as if to tell you that she intends to get the truth out of you one way or another.

“You wanna head back in or are you done for the night?”

You think for a moment, if you go back in you’re risking on any more poor decisions -not that kissing him was a poor decision but it’s opened up another box of uncertainty- or did you want to go back home to the possibility of this whole thing being some forgotten memory?

It was probably just a drunken kiss on both our parts… right?

She nudges you, “I can just ask Tae to drive us back if you really don’t feel up for it? He hardly ever gets wasted when he comes to parties anyway, so I don’t think he’d mind.”

“What?” You ask, blinking at her.

Before she continues, you shake your head, “Never mind. Um, I think I’m okay to drive us back. I just had one beer.”

“But didn’t you just say it got to you…?” She raises a brow at you, stepping forward to press her hand to your forehead, “Are you sure you aren’t coming down with anything, Y/N?”

“I’m fine, I promise. It’s just… c’mere,” You pull her toward the direction of your car. “I’ll tell you once we’re inside.”

When you’re settled inside your car, you tell her about the kiss. Her eyes widen for a brief moment before she utter something under her breath - it sounds like “final-fucking-ly” but you’re so spent from what just happened you can’t even find yourself to ask her to repeat herself. You just want to shower, lay down, and sleep.

By the time you two get back, it’s nearly half past 3 AM.

All you do is park down the street, sneak your way into the house, and wait for Jennie to finish using the bathroom. You don’t talk further about what happened though it’s probably on the fact that the one person you do want to talk to this about is someone that’s not even there. It just rings through your mind that the pounding in your mind is because of Kim Taehyung, a boy you’ve known since you were in kindergarten, a boy that ignored you for three years straight because he liked you, and a boy that you just kissed with complete awareness.

By the time you’re out of the shower, hair only a little damp as you clamber into the bed beside your best friend, you can’t help but think back to the conversations you had with her in regards to him, questioning her why he seemed to hate her so and questioning yourself about why it seemed to bother you so much. Then you think back to tonight, to your revelations- it all becomes even more clearer than before.

This is why it matter so much back then isn’t it?

He wishes to savor the taste of your cherry ChapStick and the beer in your mouth.

He never imagined this is what you’d taste like but where is he to care when he’s finally tasting you after years of pining. He knows how long he’s spent trying to repress the feelings he’s had bubbled inside, and now that he’s finally let it loose he feels lighter.

The fact that he got to kiss you after all of that is still replaying in his head- he smiles broadly as he ventures away from the closed bathroom door. It’s all he can think about by the time he’s reached the kitchen, and the questions aimed in his direction go unanswered because what can he say? That he finally told his first crush that he liked her and he kissed her?

It’s not that he doesn’t want to brag about it to the world but that’s all that happened. You two didn’t consummate some hidden, undying love for one another. You two barely even talked about what just happened anyway. And the more he thought about it, he actually has no clue how to go about talking about this with you either. Even when he had the moment to say something post-kiss, all he could do is stare at you in wonder because holy shit you’re still cute as ever and what else is he going to say? What can you two say?

He must’ve looked pretty fucked over this because he’s suddenly getting taken aside by Jimin, who’s looking at him with furrowed brows and concerned eyes.

“Are you okay, Tae? You’re just smiling…. At nothing in particular?”

“I kissed… her…” He answers the older man.

Jimin blinks at him, squinting in the placid darkness. “Kissed who? Are you talking about-”

Taehyung shakes his head, interjecting immediately, “Y/N. We kissed.”

“What?”

“Yeah, we kissed earlier, Chim. Holy shit…” He says softly, looking at the shorter boy with a broad grin. “I’m just not over that…”

“That makes two of us…” Jimin tells him. “So you told her that you love her then?”

“What- I don’t….” Taehyung blinks, shaking his head from the thoughts floating around his head to meet Jimin’s raised brow. “What?”

“Okay, what exactly happened that led up to the kiss? And what happened after?”

“Well, we bumped into each other by the bathroom and I told her what I was supposed to tell her the day she moved. Then it just got really quiet and still and we just… kissed. We didn’t talk afterwards because I think Jennie called her and then I came over here.”

“What? He says in response to the incredulous expression wash over his best friend’s features.

“So, you didn’t ask her how she felt? Or I dunno… try to figure out what that kiss meant?”

“It’s not like I had any time to since Jennie called her, Chim.” Taehyung scoffs, his lips pulling into that of a pout. “And besides, what am I supposed to say? ‘Oh, by the way, I think I’m in love with you, Y/N. I hope that kiss doesn’t weird you out too much?’”

“Well, I would’ve thought you’d at least tried to talk to her about what the kiss means to her as well? i mean are you gonna try to talk to her about it tomorrow or are you just going to keep ignoring her every chance you get?”

It occurs to Taehyung that as irksome as Jimin is being to his happiness he knows that he’s right, that there is an after to this tale, and that he cannot keep running from the moment of truth. You weren’t drunk and incapable of controlling your own actions, so why had you kissed him? What made you initiate it?    

“I’ll give it some time… or something.”

Jimin rolls his eyes, a small smile curving on his lips, “I hope you do… congrats, by the way.”

I will… I’ll talk to her about it… eventually.

The next few days at the Kim’s roll by in ease.

You try not to dwell too much on the events of what had happened that night, mostly to enjoy the rest of your time with Jennie, who was more than ecstatic to take you back to old sites just for the sake of nostalgia.

She takes you to the old arcade you both liked to go to with Taehyung and Jimin, to the movie theaters with the out of this world buttery popcorn, to the old elementary school where you two met and grew up together in, and to the small market by both of your houses for a bunch of snacks to take on your other trip to the park.

Each place holds a place in your memory that you can always correlate to the Kim siblings. If it wasn’t just you and Jennie, then Taehyung would accompany the two of you - if he couldn’t, for whatever reason, then Yuna and Jin were happy to take you two wherever you wanted. You can recall the key events like the time when Jennie sprained her wrist trying to rollerblade at the park or the time when you hid so well by the market everyone else had to give up and how Jennie was genuinely close to tears because she thought you really disappeared.

During those next few days, you’re taken back in time to simpler moments when boys and girls and feelings didn’t muddle with your brain. And despite those moments when you wished you could grow up faster, you can’t deny how much you appreciate your childhood and how much the Kim family helped create most of those memories you cherish to this day.

You tell Jennie your feelings on your last day in town, and she receives you with a broad grin and tight embrace.

“Good, I hope this makes you miss us so much you’ll come back again.”

You wink with your own growing smile, “I will. Just like you’ll come back right?”

She rolls her eyes, poking your cheek, “Of course! Why wouldn’t I huh? The beach is always nice around this time anyway.”

Yuna and Jin brush their daughter aside when you both release your tight holds to give you their own set of embraces, both of them mumbling their gratitude for your visit this spring.

You respond, immediately tightening your arms around them, “It was my pleasure. Thank you for having me!”

They both press kisses to your forehead, setting aside so Jennie can help you shove your duffle bag into the trunk of your car.

Despite what happened at the party, Taehyung didn’t dare intrude on your time with Jennie. He didn’t necessarily ignore you, but every time you two had a moment together, it was silent and almost foreboding in the sense that neither of you genuinely didn’t know how to breach the point of conversation to what you both wanted to discuss most.

You debated on it incessantly. You questioned whether you should or shouldn’t, but of course you knew you should. You just kept choosing not to. For Jennie’s sake, but also for Taehyung’s, because what if the kiss was just something that happened and nothing more?

Given he did like you at some point, but perhaps the reason why neither of you talked about it these past few days was simply on the basis that there was nothing to talk about.

After all, it happened, and that’s it.

Although you’re the type of person to address confusing things with confrontation -nothing aggressive or anything- you decide that this just isn’t the time to do it. You’re leaving (again), so it certainly wouldn’t be fair to Taehyung to suddenly spring the topic of what happened on him. Not to mention the fact that he would be leaving for college later in the fall… like he did with withholding his confession from you, perhaps you would just do the same in this regard. Rather than confusing him the day you’re supposed to leave, you’ll wish him the best of luck and bring this up the next chance you get when you’re alone like at a Christmas party a few years down the road or something.

Once you’re packed and ready, you smile at Mr. and Mrs. Kim and Jennie, the two already waving you off though the latter is calling for Taehyung to at least do the same with them as well. You assure her it’s fine, but he comes bounding out the door to stand with his parents, waving with a small smile as well.  

Your brain wishes you wouldn’t be so considerate, but you’re determined to let him live on because feelings fade right? Especially fuzzy ones like these…

Right?

“Dude, she’s coming here.”

“What? Who? Stop playing this pronoun game with me, Tae!” Jimin scolds him, ready to flick the taller man’s forehead.

“Y/N, Chim. She’s coming here. Same school, same building, same floor. Fuck-!” Taehyung says in a quick huff. He doesn’t know what to think or do at this point. His mind already knows what he plans to do, but his body is still preparing itself on the fact that this is the moment of truth.

He mutters to himself, “What am I gonna do?”

“Well, for starters, you could tell her how you feel,” Jimin quips, his inflection already hinting to the impatience the shorter boy has had with him for the past seven -or was it eight?- years of pining. “Better yet, actually have a conversation with her… wait, that might be difficult for you.”

“I can talk to her!” Kinda.

He can already imagine Jimin quirking a brow at him, looking up he sees his guess is true, “Oh really? So what would you say when you see her?”

“I -um- would say… er...” His heart is hammering at the thought of seeing you again. When he heard you were coming to Seoul, he knew he had to prepare himself. All this time without talking to you, and this was going to be his moment.

“What was that?”

Taehyung groans, “Oh shut up, Chim. Seriously what do I do?”

“Tell her. That’s it. You’ve said ‘maybe someday’ since she moved, so take this as your chance as your damn someday already. Please.”

The brunet releases a deep sigh, running a hand over his visage before nodding.

“That’s the plan.”

The events that transpire after junior year are hardly worth mentioning aside from the fact that not another word is passed between either you or Taehyung about the kiss though it still plagues you at the back of your mind.

Aside from all that-- senior year passes in a blink of an eye.

It’s a joyous time for you and for your friends. Finally free from secondary education, and going onto tertiary school. Some actually accompanying you to Seoul while others chose the local college in Busan. Either way it’s liberating… No more stuffy teachers constantly telling you that what you do now with your life will cement what you will do after university, no more peers either watching you or not giving two craps about you, and no more worries about whether you’ll actually get into university because you’re well on your way to Seoul where you’ll be attending school alongside Jennie (and apparently Taehyung as well).

College is the new beginning. Everyone says so, and you think so too.

This is the place where opportunities will arise and you’ll be able to learn more about yourself than you did in high school, because this is the place where there won’t be any stuffy teachers breathing down your neck or any forgettable students trying to use you for your academic strength. Here, it’s worrying about yourself and doing what’s best for you.

Although you don’t entirely have worry about yourself too much.

Under your mother’s worrisome calls to Yuna and Jin, mostly just for the reassurance that you’ll be fine in Seoul, the Kims suggested to her that if she was that worried then you could choose the same residence hall as Taehyung so he can help keep an eye you. Not that you really mentioned any of the odd behavior that passed between the two of you to either of the parents, you figured you’d appease your birthgiver in that respect.

That was months ago, and you actually forgot about the whole thing until you find yourself on the fourth floor of Potter Hall, standing in the lounge among the other students, Jennie included, being led by Taehyung and a girl named Minah. The two are giving the entire floor a breakdown of the rules and their information in case any of you first years need to contact them.

The rules are fairly simple: No messing with the lounge furniture unless it’s put away properly afterwards, no disturbing students during study hours, no avoidable messes in the bathroom, and for some reason (though you can see why), no two people in the big shower stall of the bathrooms. There are a few others, but these are the ones they liked to emphasize the most, so you don’t argue with any of them.

What strikes you the most in the whole thing is seeing Taehyung. He’s still as handsome as ever, but for the past year and a half since you’ve seen him that day, this is the first time you’ve seen him. He didn’t show up to the visits to Busan and he certainly wasn’t around when you stopped by Daegu. Whatever the chances were, you didn’t have the opportunity. But seeing him now is like seeing him for the first time again.

It’s like the sunrise waking you from an open window in your bedroom- completely unexpected, but nonetheless a wonderful sight. He looks so much older now. His mop of dark hair is still hanging in his eyes, but it suits his now filled-out face. His lips are pulled into a boxy grin, and he looks completely in his element as he answers questions from your peers. He’s almost akin to the boy you saw at the party all those years ago, but there’s no red Solo cup in hand this time.

It’s cute. You think to yourself with a small smile threatening to curve on your lips.

You still had yet to talk to him about it. With Taehyung-less visits, texting or calling him didn’t seem like the right way to confess. You want the moment to be right. Like the way he confessed to his middle school crush. It only makes sense that way. However, the more you didn’t see him, the less you found yourself anxious to tell him and the more you just figured it was just something that came in passing. Whatever was there, you could just store away with the memory, and so you did with full certainty that it wouldn’t resurface.

However, it seems that whatever feelings you stored away your junior year are beginning to resurface at the sight of Taehyung and his true colors. Not that you’ve tried to forget but after a few disappointing Taehyung-less visits, you told yourself that it was better to just let the feelings stave off until they were completely gone. You were certain upon entering that it wouldn’t be a problem, but damn seeing him again elicits waves of nostalgia to permeate your mind, taking you back to the night when your lips made contact.

Since that night, before you decided to store it away, the kiss passed your mind. The softness, the feelings… it was everything you wanted in one after sharing your first one with Jennie. It felt almost identical, even the flutters in your stomach, but the dismissal of the latter kept the former from leaving your mind completely, because at least there was closure with Jennie. You both thought your friendship was worth more than a relationship though you’re both damn sure that it would’ve worked out either way. But… Taehyung?

There’s still so much you don’t know. Why was he still ignoring you long after his crush on you in middle school? When did he stop? Why did he even start? And more seriously, did he still think about the kiss?

The last one is more for your own curiosity on the matter, because you can’t be the only one right?

You try not to ponder it further when Minah cups her hands around her mouth to call everyone else to attention.

When the older girl is certain that everyone is paying attention, she drops her hands and announces with a smirk, “We’ll be throwing a celebratory welcome party for you all tonight. Consider yourselves lucky since classes start on Wednesday so try taking it easy, yeah?”

She leaves everyone with a wink, “See everyone at eleven!”

Afterwards, you and Jennie head over to your room among the other dispersing bodies. The two of you still have plenty to unpack so you decide to start on that before getting ready for the festivities later on.

“Have you talked to your brother since you arrived?” You ask as you lug a stack of tops from your giant purple suitcase.

She shakes her head, “Not yet. I’ll catch him at the party or something. What about you?”

You guffaw, “Not since eleventh, Jen.”

There’s a small smirk curving on her lips, “So, not then… what about now?”

“I mean I wouldn’t mind it- I still have a bone to pick with him about what happened honestly.”

“Better now than never amirite?”  

You nod, setting your stack of clothes in the provided tan drawers. Most of it’s filled now that you’ve emptied out your suitcase. You also have a miniature fridge for food and drinks that you were sure you brought snacks for -- where are they?

“Damn, did I grab the snacks from my car?” You ask as she’s zipping up her suitcase and stowing it underneath her car.

She pauses for a moment before shaking her head, “Want me to go grab ‘em?”

“You don’t have to-!” You say, trying to stand among your luggage and the duffle bag, but she only giggles in response.

“It’s no biggie, I was gonna grab some drinks from the convenience store downstairs anyway.”

You relent, tossing her your keys before turning back to your mission of unpacking. She slips away, and just as quickly as she leaves comes a knock soon afterwards.

You let out a laugh, carefully stepping over your methodical mess to open the door. “Didja forget your keys, Jen-” You blink, taking in the sight of Taehyung in all his brunet glory, “Oh hi, Tae.”

He smiles at you, and it feels like your chest might implode,  “Hey Y/N! How’s moving going?”

“It’s… happening.” You laugh, looking back at the mess you and Jennie unleashed in the meager room. “Were you looking for Jennie or did you catch her on your way?”

He laughs at the sight of the clothes covering your beds, the large stacks all threatening to topple over. There are some boxes of school supplies placed carefully around the room as well. And unfortunately, a large box of Jennie’s shoes too. It’s chaotic, but you know he’s seen worse in his own room.

He whistles before saying, “Wow, and yet that’s still not the worse one I’ve seen so far. And to answer your question, I did. Just wanted to check on you guys... and the other students too. ”

His cheeks are threatening with an onslaught of pink as he continues to meet your gaze, “But, um, that’s good you’re… settling well.”

You nod, “Well, thank you for checking in. How do you like being an RA?”

“It’s actually really fun. I like it a lot. Getting to know people, see little first years… I’m sure you’d like it too.”

You quirk a brow, a small smile threatening to curve on your lips, “Really? How are you so sure about that if you haven’t actually talked to me, hmm?” Not to mean it in insult, but you wanted to see what he’d say in response to that.

“Um.. uh… I-” He’s stammering out of nerves. His hand runs over his visage before he seems to compose himself, “Well, I mean you’ve always been nice and friendly, so that’s something we look for in an RA, y-y’know?”

You laugh, “What happened to Mr. Suave RA Dude earlier?”

His mouth opens before shutting, his cheeks burning as ever as he tries to formulate a response.

You wave it off, “It’s okay. I’m messin’ with ya. I’ll consider it next year. But um, yeah- so far everything’s pretty good.”

He nods, smiling, “That’s good to hear then…” He’s about to turn to leave when he turns to you again, “Oh! Are you coming to the party tonight?”

“Yeah,” You answer, “I’ll see you there!”

He’s about to turn and leave once more, but he cranes his head in your direction with a pink-cheeked grin, “Can’t wait to see you until then.”

With that, he leaves you in a hot-cheeked mess. Your heart thrums even louder now that he’s gone, the conversation going through your head as it hits you that you guys actually talked for once. As fleeting as they are, they always seem worthwhile - at least this moment gives you the impression that maybe you’ll finally have that chance at talking to him about everything.

> > >

The party is in full swing.

Your fellow first years are mingling among each other in the lounge while some music plays off someone’s portable speaker. There’s a makeshift snacks table and what looks like a makeshift mini bar with Minah pouring the drinks into the red Solo cups by hand. Her partner, Taehyung is nowhere to be found, and the moment she spots Jennie, she asks her if she knows where the elder Kim.

The older girl’s features contort in irritation and a huff departs her semi-chapped lips. “Damn him for disappearing on me,” She says before turning back pouring the drinks.

“Who disappeared?” Taehyung’s notorious baritone voice cuts through the loud playing of one of Chance the Rapper’s song.

He has a grin on his lips even as Minah rolls her eyes at him, holding him an empty cup and a can of beer for him to pour. “What took you so long, princess?”

He laughs, “Y’know me I had to get all dolled up for this thing.”

She looks him over, eyes narrowed in playful scrutiny, “Hm, I see no difference.”

He pouts at her, “Aw, my feelings are hurt.”

She scoffs, a smile curving on her lips, “Good! Your ass tried to leave me to do all the work! I’m giving you hallway duty after this, you got it?”

He lets out a guttural groan before turning back to work on the rest of the cups. “Fine, I deserve that,” He says. Turning to Jennie, he grins, “Heyo sis! Enjoying yourself?”

She laughs, grabbing two cups of the beers, “Yeah! We’ll see you later, Tae. Have fun~”

“Drink responsibly!” He warns, watching as you two depart. He only receives giggles in response, a lazy wave from his sister as you two weave through the crowd of students. You can feel something burning into your back but you’ve already rounded the corner toward an open space in the corner of the room.

You’re met with a view of the other three buildings spread nearby Potter. Other floors are hosting their own array of parties, many of them wildly dancing and even yelling so loud, it feels like the sound is resonating toward your own building. None of it really bothers you too much, on a normal basis you wouldn’t be partying like this, but having this taste of freedom in higher education is liberating. Even more so, the taste of your beer -the burn and all- is helping you edge off the sudden wave of nerves nestling at the back of your mind.

Maybe tonight is the night I talk to him about it.

It’s a bit of jump considering he was casually talking to you a few hours ago, but seeing him is a revival of feelings that haven’t left. If you want to move on, whether that’s from or with him, then this is something that needs to be done, because the longer you push it away, the more you know you’ll be scared to speak on any of it. After all, feelings are so damn scary. It’s hard to understand them, especially if it involves someone you’ve known for more than half your life. Taehyung has never has a title above your best friend’s brother, maybe crush too, but nothing more beyond that and it’s not even guaranteed that he feels the same.

You suppose the most important aspect to your feelings is the finality of it. You want answers. You want to put an end to all your confusion. And you hope that he provide this mystery to a conclusion-

“You good?” Jennie asks suddenly, tilting her head at you with raised brows. “Want any snacks?”

You shake your head, freeing yourself from your thoughts, “Sorry, my mind’s just everywhere right now.”

She nods, squeezing your shoulder in sympathy, “Take this,” Her drink now in your hands, “And I will go grab some snacks, yeah?”

You smile, “Thanks.”

Your first beer is gone after another swig. The alcohol flooding your system in its usual burn while you take a tentative sip at Jennie’s cup the moment you leave. You don’t feel your body quiver so much - your nerves mostly washing away the more you focus on the cup than the rampant thoughts running circles in your head. You’re not ready to do anything but stew right now.

Unfortunately, the universe doesn’t want that. (Is it really unfortunate though?)

All you’re doing is sitting by the bay window, holding your second beer when a flying projectile comes in your vicinity and suddenly your second beer is no longer in your grasp but on the front of your T-shirt and denim shorts, some of it is even dripping down your leg in an uncomfortable drip. The perpetrator is some jock mumbling a curse, asking you to pass the Nerf football, which you do with an aggressive lob. You don’t bother staying where you are, opting to travel to the bathroom near your dormitory.

I’ll just tell Jennie what happened after I get this crap off.

All your mind is focused on is getting the stench and stickiness of beer off your body and your clothes that anything else slips your mind - this includes watching your surroundings for any wandering bodies. Of course, there’s plenty of those, but most of them have either stuck to the wall or wandered into the confines of their dormitories where there are actual beds. But it’s this particular one that has you reeling when you realize you nearly plowed through Taehyung on his hallway monitoring.

“Oh shit- sorry!” You say, turning on your heel when you realize you bumped shoulders with the lanky boy.

He barely notices, only focusing on your features when he sees that you’re kind of sopping wet at your waist and down below. “You okay there, Y/N? Try your hand at chugging or somethin’?” He half-jokes, a corner of his lip quirking upward.

You shake your head, “Some idiot spilled their beer on me, so I thought I’d go wash off. How’s playing hall monitor for the night?”

He scrunches his nose, shaking his own head, “If you’ve ever seen movies with a hallway monitor included, then it’s exactly like that - just even more boring.”

“I’d feel bad if I wasn’t doused in beer,” You say with a half smile of your own. “I mean I’d stay out here with you, I just… should get changed…”

“Oh… right,” He nods, his eyes appear a little more clouded than normal as if he’s conflicted with some internal issue, but you make no mention of it.

When you’re about to turn in the direction of your dorm, he stammers, “Y/N, w-wait! I need to -um- tell you something.”

You blink at him, tilting your head, “What’s up, Tae?”  

He licks his lips before taking a deep breath, the cloud in his eyes subsiding just enough to showcase his determination, “Do you -um- still think of the kiss from… before...?”

You freeze in that moment, reiterating his words over in your head just to make sure you heard the question correctly.

“The kiss…?” You say softly.

“Yeah… I mean I get if you don’t remember since you drank that night but I’m asking because…” He lets out a deep breath as if to release a weight set on his shoulders, “Well, because I do. I think about it a lot. Probably more than I should.”

“You do?” You say, taking a step to face his direction. “Really?”

He nods, “I actually like you a lot. Again, probably more than I should, but after eight years I thin-”

“Wait, you what?” You say, hoping to hear him say it again. You want to make sure this is real. This can’t be a dream right?

“I’ve -um- liked you since the sixth grade.” He says, scratching the back of his head in a nervous huff. “I know that’s a really long, fucking time. Jimin even says that’s probably love but I mean who knows? All I do know is that I like you and that kiss really fucked me up over you.”

He stands there watching your reaction though you give little away but a transition of surprise to actual… elation. You break out into a small grin before you reply, “I- I still think about it too, Tae.”

Immediately, he says, “Really?”

“And that kiss fucked me up too.” You add, “I wasn’t sure what to think when I did it, but I knew that I really wanted to kiss you. I knew that I felt something toward you, and I just… couldn’t control myself. Then you kissed me back- all I could think is, ‘holy shit, he’s kissing me back,’ and fuck, I haven’t stopped thinking of it since.”

It’s a quiet moment between the two of you. The kind that comes after the moment of truth. Both your bated breaths suddenly released from your lungs, and all you can think to do is take another tentative step towards him while he matches each one until you’re standing directly in front of one another.

Without a second thought, you ask him, “What did that kiss mean to you?”

He replies, “Everything. It meant the entire world to me, and I have enough bruises from Jimin because I would not shut up about it.”

You laugh when he offers to show you. His lips pulling into a broad grin, “What about you?”

“It answered some questions for me, but it was the second best kiss I’ve had.” You admit, returning his smile. Your mind can’t seem to wrap your head around this whole thing, even the pinch to your arm does nothing but make you think that your brain might just be playing some cruel joke on you, so you grasp his shoulders like how he held yours to steady you at Yoongi’s party. “Fuck… wow, you’re real. This is real...”

“It is. I’m here. This is really happening.”

You meet his gaze, delving into the coffee brown hues in search of nothing in particular. You want to bask in the warmth they provide, you want to understand the emotions behind them… wait, did he just look at my lips? You mirror his gaze, training your sights on his soft, pinkish lips.

Fuck, they still look just as soft as before.

Your brain is still muddled with the first beer, blunt thoughts already formed into physical words as you ask him, “Can I kiss you?”     

He can’t contain his grin, and it’s seriously the most adorable sight you’ve seen. His voice is a low, guttural sound as he replies, “Fuck, please do.”

And you do.

The kiss is like the first one, setting jolts of electricity running up and down your skin, it makes you feel alive more than anything else to feel his soft lips pressed against yours in a matched pace to yours. It’s continues to escalates in a fervid flurry, your tongue grazing his bottom lip before slipping into his mouth and his exploring the crevices of your taste. His is that of beer, mint, and remnants of a cherry lollipop, but nonetheless, a taste so divine you want to keep indulging.

His body presses against yours, his hands intertwining with your soft locks. His breath fans across your visage while the notorious Kim grin graces his features. When he speaks, it’s a deep sound that elicits a shiver in your ear, “That was even better than the first time… fuck…”

The sound of his voice ghosting the shell of your ear ignites a fire in you, and you’re asking him where his dormitory is.

“Let’s make up for lost time,” You smile, pressing your lips to his once more.

He exchanges your grip on his shoulder for his hand, half-guiding and half-glancing at you until he halts your further trek down the hall to press his lips to yours once more. This time you two don’t break away quite as quickly as last time.

“It should be that one.” He points at a dark room right across from where you stopped. It isn’t like you both are paying much attention, but you allow him to move the two of you toward the open door. His hands fumble for the light switch until you take a step backwards and find yourselves in the bathroom.

You hear someone call your name from down the hall, so you push Taehyung toward the large shower stall. You press a finger to his lips when you lock it behind you with your free hand.

When you’re sure you’re safe, you let out a deep breath, walking over to the water control and turning it on.

You whisper, “Sorry, I kinda panicked.”

He shakes his head, wandering over to you, “It’s okay. I like that we can spend time together… in a shower stall.”

You try not to laugh, nudging his chest with your cheekbones prominent.

“I’m sorry, I just want to spend this time with you-”

He finishes, “in a shower stall.”

You try not to laugh again, watching as his lips are pulled into that usual grin of his. When it sounds like he’s ready to let another joke rip out in a hushed whisper, you merely hush him once again, earning you a puppy dog pout.

With a roll of your eyes, you tug on his T-shirt and press your lips to his once more, leaning on the tile wall of the shower area. It’s cool against your skin which is balancing the heat pressed against your still-damp front.

From the sensation of his body against yours, you feel your hips roll against him. He releases a pretty, guttural groan in response, so you do it again.

He whispers under his breath, “Y/N, what are you doing?”

You fail to bite back a smile, “Kissing you… in a shower stall.” You pause for a moment to recall something from earlier, “Unless I mean you write me up since there are two people in here right now.”

He rolls his eyes this time, kissing your nose. He rests his hands on your hips, kissing you again. He mutters between pecks, “You’re so silly. I wouldn’t do that. You’re safe with me as your RA.”

The two of you begin rocking your hips against one another in attempts to create friction between your clothed heat. Your lips are locked until he breaks from the connection to press his soft lips against your jawline.

You don’t realize that anyone’s walked in until you hear Jennie ask from outside the shower stall, “Y/N, are you in here?”

You hum an affirmation, adding in a grunt when Taehyung mischievously rolls his hips again.

“You okay in there? What was that?”

“Just trying-” You huff when he nuzzles his features against your neck, “-to remove this stain this idiot at the party poured on me.”

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that! You want me to go get your towel and some clothes then?”

“Please?” You squeak when he nips at the skin again.

“On it!”

“Thanks!” You say as you aim a glare at the man stroking your cheek.  Only letting out a breathe of relief when you’re certain that she has left the vicinity.

“What?” He asks, batting his eyelashes up at you. “Aren’t you glad you’re sharing a kiss with me in shower stall?”

You let out a small breathy laugh, poking his cheek, “Well, you aren’t the first Kim I’ve kissed, but I’m glad that I can say this one was in a shower stall.”

He breaks out into his boxy grin though it falters in a moment just to say, “Wait, what do you mean by that?”

Before you can answer, Jennie answers, carrying your necessary items, so you pull the curtains around Taehyung. You make sure to let Jennie know that you’ll return after you’ve washed up, apologizing for not reaching out to her sooner. You then grab your necessary items with a grateful smile to your best friend before returning to the probably sopping wet boy.

When you’re sure she’s gone, he tells you, “I hope you know I’ll be asking for an elaboration on what you just told me earlier, miss.”

You set your shower caddy down, placing the clean clothes on top before giving him your answer, “I know but we have plenty of time to make up for what we lost right?”

Taehyung sighs, giving a nod, “Right. That we do.”

He goes to the other side of the stall, allowing the curtain to separate the two of you. Like you said, there’ll be plenty of times for you two to share anecdotes and precious moments together.

Despite all else, he still looks at you in wonder, leaning against the other side of the stall. All these years left wondering if you would ever feel the same, wondering if things would be weird between the two of you if he ever decided to bounce back- now he’s free from his bounds, smiling wide as ever as you rinse off the scent of beer, humming a song he’s unfamiliar with but one he’s sure you’ll be glad to tell him someday.

It’s funny how someday turned into today, and how he broke a rule today as an RA -probably a lofty offense- but moreover, he’s quite amused that you two have finally admitted to your unspoken feelings through drunken stupors and kisses.

All he knows is that he can’t wait to share a proper sober moment with you.

[charis-chan]

Day Four: Hogwarts AU

I know the prompt was Hogwarts AU, but I wanted to explore what happens after Hogwarts.

Enjoy!!

Read on AO3

This was supposed to be easy.

This was supposed to be the easiest job of your career.

And here you are.

Running for your life.

Running for her life.

Heck, maybe even running for everyone’s lives.

Okay, no, that’s an exaggeration.

“Merlin’s socks!” Maggie yells ahead of you. “This will be the last time I follow you!”

“No one asked you to follow me!!!!”

And, really, no one was supposed to be here with you other than Kara.

And you haven’t heard from Kara for maybe three hours.

But, your sister is resilient and basically immortal, so you don’t really worry about her.

(You totally worry about her.)

“You haven’t picked my calls, you asshole!”

You huff. Really, Maggie? Are you scolding me while we run from a small litter of Nundus? Really?

“I was busy, you hot shit Hufflepuff!”

“Don’t you dare bring my house affiliation into this, you slippery Slytherin!”

“And so damn proud of it!”

You make a sharp left turn when a tree suddenly appears in your path.

When you chose to become a Curse Breaker, you were thinking on busting pyramids and hunting down lost treasures, pretty much like that woman in the games Maggie used to play when you were still in school.

“Fucking Slytherin!” Maggie’s voice is a little far away, but you know that the Nundus won’t let you get too separated.

The five cubs and angry mama are sheep-herding you somewhere and you are sure you will meet Maggie there if you do get separated.

“Your fucking Slytherin!” you shout back to her.

“If we die, I’m killing you!”

Her voice is farther away and you contemplate trying to look for her when a slight nip at your ankles make you simply run faster, prompting a little mreowl of excitement from your chaser.

Yeah.

You didn’t think you’d be doing this when you went to the goblins and sign into their Curse Breaker program.

Maybe you’d be better off training to be an Auror like Maggie… her training was shorter, less intense and loads more fun.

(Really, being six months underground, surrounded by short, grumpy, scratch-happy goblins ready to slap the back of your head for breathing wrong… Yeah, Maggie had it better studying under the formidable Harry Potter, who, legend has it, is not an easy teacher.)

But, then again, even if you were an Auror instead of a Curse Breaker, you’d be here, lost in the African jungle, being chased by five Nundu cubs and one angry mama.

You’re here for Kara, after all, for Kara and Lena.

When Kara pouted at you, it was hard to say no.

But when Kara and Lena pouted and started whining like sad puppies… well, you were a goner.

When little Lena Luthor was sorted into Slytherin the same year your baby sister was sorted into Hufflepuff you never thought she’d grow to be another little sister to you.

(The fact that Kara and Lena grew to be fast friends since their first Welcome Feast and that they both were put under Maggie’s and your wings was the only reason you and Maggie ended up together.)

Right now, though, you want to kill them both… little sisters or not.

“Alex!”

Kara’s sudden voice makes you jump and almost trip. No, no, no, that’s not something that you can do right now.

Tripping means falling and falling means little cubs onto you and that means mama Nundu breathing down your neck… literally.

“What the hell, Kara?!”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so, so, so, sorry!”

You look up at her. Oh, wonder that. Your little sister is racing a flying carpet alongside you.

“Are you helping me up, or what?” You glare up to her. “This is the last time I fall for your pout!”

You feel a sudden pull upwards and you bite back a yelp at being lifted. You hate it when Kara uses any magic on you silently. You hate it that she can do magic without a wand and that she’s so goddam good at it… you also hate it when she’s all sunshine and rainbows about it.

“Merlin’s balls, Kara!” you yell the moment you’re put gently on the carpet. “Really, what the hell?!”

Your sister looks down and starts playing with a loose thread on the carpet. “I’m really sorry…” she mumbles.

Your chest is rising and falling with the effort of having sprint for over an hour. “We need to find Maggie,” you tell her harshly.

Kara sniffs and nods. “Lee’s looking for her,” she says softly.

The carpet is slowing down as it goes up, up, up. Up in the air, the silence is almost crushing. You can’t hear the birds anymore, nor the wind rushing in your ears, nor the little feet chasing you…

… only Kara’s pitiful sniffs and, somehow, her crushing guilt.

“Oh, for Morgana’s tits,” you huff. You open your arms. “Come here, you.”

Your sister waste no time in slamming into your chest, practically climbing on your lap and clinging to you, hard. Not only a second after, you can feel her tears soaking your neck, where she’s hiding.

“I-I’m sorry,” she mumbles.

“I know, Kar, I know,” you sigh. You had planned on being angry for at least a day… but of course, Kara has to feel guilty and pitiful and… argh.

The worst thing is that she’s really feeling it, not faking it like she sometimes does when she wants to get her way.

When your little sister said she was going to be a Beast Handler the heart attack you gave your mom with you choosing a breaking curse career was like a little chest pain… and that Lena, little, quiet, passive, Lena was joining her…

“Easy, baby, easy,” you hush her. “It’s okay, baby, it’s okay.”

Kara shakes in your arms, sniffling. “I’m sorry, I-I really am.”

“I know, love, I know. Hey,” you detach her from your neck, making her look at you. Her eyes are leaking and her nose is running. “Hey, hey, baby. Nothing happened… shh, I’m okay, see? Nothing happened.”

“I’m sorry I dragged you into this… that I-I brought Maggie into this too…”

“I forgive you, baby,” you pull her in again, dropping a kiss on her temple. “And Maggie’s a little shit that chose to drop by uninvited… if we’re realistic, it’s her fault the mission went wrong.”

Kara shakes her head. “I-It was Winn’s fault,” she says. “The traps h-he built weren’t strong enough.”

“It was Maggie the one that Apparated in the middle of the operation.” You kiss her temple again, knowing that the carpet will guide you to safety. If Lena is on Maggie retrieval, then you won’t worry at all.

You trust Lee with your life and with Maggie’s too.

“… I’m still sorry…”

You roll your eyes at that. Kara will be beating herself up for days if you don’t make her pay a price or punish her in some way. No matter how many times you tell her she’s forgiven or even that something’s not her fault, she feels guilty and sad when something she does backfires or simply doesn’t work out.

Survivor’s guilt Maggie calls it.

“Okay, baby,” you say into her hair. “Okay… once we are back in Cairo, you are buying Maggie and I a never-ending round of Firewhiskey and, once we are back home, you’re on Tobby duty for a month.”

Kara startles in your arms, going so far as to push you away. “What? No! No Tobby!”

You glare at her. “Yes. Yes, Tobby.”

“Aaaaalex…” she whines. “No Tobby!”

Your glare intensifies. Tobby is the old house elf your mom gave you the day you started living on your own. Tobby is amazing, he’s been there since you can remember and he’s the one that helped raise you. That your mom, in all her pure-blood glory, decided to part with the elf that also saw her grow up was met with tears of happiness and gratitude…

… until you realized the old elf has a knack of cock-blocking you all. The. Damn. Time.

You love him. He was your best friend, your only friend, through most of your childhood, but sometimes, just sometimes, you want to have your little cottage for yourself and Maggie.

Tobby will, and has, spend time at Luthor Manor helping Trinky and Hoppy with the enormous place, but even so, you get why Kara doesn’t like having Tobby around… he is indeed a master cock-blocker.

“Mags and I are trying for a baby, Kar… we really need him out the house.”

Kara’s eyes widen and she’s suddenly climbing on your lap again, hugging the magic out of you. “Oh, my Rao! Oh, my Rao! I’m going to be an aunt!”

You laugh.

It was a secret. Both you and Maggie are not sure if the potion you bought is going to work, but well, you can’t really keep this kind of huge news from your beloved baby sister.

“Tobby can come stay with Lee and I, if that’s what you need,” she tells you earnestly.

“Oh, hell, no! He’s not!”

You both jump at Lena’s sudden indignant yell. While you two were having your heart to heart the carpet delivered you to the small camp you’ve set at Mount Mabu’s base. Maggie, in all her messy, muddy and grumpy glory, narrows her eyes at you while Lena’s pouty lips press into a thin line.

Kara is off the carpet in an instant, going to hug Maggie and managing to almost tackle her to the ground. “I’m sorry, bigger sis!” she half yells half whimpers as she crushes your wife. “I promise not to steal Alex like this again!”

You roll your eyes as you climb down the levitating piece of cloth. You’re not at all surprised to have Lena suddenly attached to you, clinging the same way Kara did not too long ago.

You sigh as you embrace her. You never really thought you will see the baby Luthor as your sister too. “I’m okay, Lee,” you whisper against her temple. “I’m okay.”

It had been a close call, but thankfully, the calming draughts, the sleeping charms and the traps you used made it for an easy to control mama Nundu… that’s it, until Maggie apparated at your side, breaking your concentration and waking up the small litter of cubs you needed to relocate.

“I was so scared…” she mumbles into your breastbone.

You kiss her forehead, knowing that, while Kara feels guilty and she’ll come around until her ‘punishment’ is over, Lena will only feel fear and distress at almost losing both her role models.

After losing Lex to the Veil of Death, his father to Dragonpox and her mother to Azkaban… you’re all that Lena has left.

“We’re okay, little Lee, we’re okay.”

She nods, but her hold on you tightens. “Please, no more scares like that… my heart wouldn’t survive.”

You snort at that. “Says the little Beast Handler… Lena, you give me a heart attack weekly.”

Lena sniffs and you’re not surprised when she looks to fit her head under your chin. You miss the days when she was a little thing and she could fit there comfortably. Now, she’s almost too tall for it, but she still seeks your warmth whenever possible this way. “You know I mostly stay at the lab, healing the animals…”

“… and yet you still manage to almost die twice a month.”

You look over at your wife and sister and you smile at the familiar sight of Kara clinging onto Maggie’s back like a backpack, arms, and legs all around the petite Auror.

She used to do that when things got too much in Hogwarts, when the noises were too much, and the pressure of her own prophesy too heavy on her shoulders… the last kid of a death world, sent to Earth to bring balance… and, just like back then, Maggie simply bears her weight and let her shut off for a little while.

“I’m sleeping next to you tonight,” Lena’s small, yet determinate, voice reaches your ears.

Your eyes find Maggie’s.

You know she’s still upset you went missing for two days, leaving just a rushed note and no way to contact you. Maggie may have made you get used to your cellphone, but the Mozambique jungle is not a place for it and sending a hawk all the way home was too hard on the poor bird.

You know she’ll forgive you in a heartbeat… as soon as you get the chance to actually talk to her. Her Apparating and prompting you both to run for your lives for the sole fact that performing ‘active’ magic near a Nundu is exactly what you can’t do (and what got you into that mess in the first place) didn’t really allow you to talk.

You also know that right now, though, what you need is to make sure your little sisters are taken care of and that, come morning, you actually move those Nundus. The villages that are near their burrow have already lost too many lives to them and the sanctuary Kara and Lena work for refuses to put down six healthy specimens. Dangerous, but healthy.

“Fine by me,” you finally answer Lena. “C’mon. Now that Maggie’s here, we may actually eat something decent.”

Lena bristles at that. “Hey! I can cook!”

You smile, cupping her cheeks and leaving another kiss to her forehead. “Heating cans of beans is not cooking, little Lee.”

Lena pouts at that and Maggie laughs and Kara chuckles and you beam.

This is your family.

A little bit crazy.

A little too tight-knit.

Sometimes all over the place.

Sometimes too reckless.

And always full of love.

“Hey, guys… has anyone seen my wand?”

Yeah… this is your family

[comicteaparty]

January 24th, 2019 CTP Archive

The archive for the Comic Tea Party chat that occurred on January 24th, 2019, from 5PM - 7PM PST.  The chat focused on Pike’s Reach by Mabs.

Featured Comment:

Chat:

RebelVampire

COMIC TEA PARTY- THURSDAY BOOK CLUB START!

Good evening, everyone~! This week’s Thursday Book Club is officially beginning! Today we are discussing Pike’s Reach by Mabs~! (https://tapas.io/series/pikesreach)

Remember that Thursday discussions are completely freeform! However, every 30 minutes I will drop in OPTIONAL discussion questions in case you’d like a bit of a prompt. If you miss out on one of these prompts, you can find them pinned for the chat’s duration. Additionally, remember that while constructive criticism is allowed, our focus is fun and respectfully appreciating the comic. All that said, let’s begin!

QUESTION 1. What is your favorite scene in the comic so far and why?

Superjustinbros

Hello!!

RebelVampire

hey super~!

my favorite scene is probably the fight with ezo and nefayn. largely because of https://tapas.io/episode/1179545 this page. i really just like the first few panels illustration wise cause even though theyre simplistic, i kind of feel like they convey this ominous sense of defeaning silence that is appropriate for conveying tension right after something climatic happens

Superjustinbros

https://tapas.io/episode/1234181

RebelVampire

yes there is also that scene. XD which was some good comic relief considering the comic was being very dramatic at the time.

also a good lesson about making sure someone gives permission

instead of just knocking and opening the door

Superjustinbros

yes

Because naked people

RebelVampire

another comical scene i enjoyed was the where they were showing off their drawings of pella's uncle. https://tapas.io/episode/962506 because man are those some not great drawings. especially that left one scares me

Superjustinbros

Oh my god

RebelVampire

another moment i liked, which isnt a scene but more a scene transition you could say, is when the comic switches from adelaide goofing around and then suddenly the warning bell rings.

https://tapas.io/episode/604008

in particular that page

i really love the shots and especially the ominous overtone the first panel has

cause it really helps visually convey the serious has come

Superjustinbros

I love the art style and general color scheme, lots of pinks and purples

mathtans

Made it, though I may not be mentally all here, today's been crazy.

Superjustinbros

hey Math

mathtans

One of my faves was actually to start Chapter 3, when we looked at the "villains" and the main guy was talking about how he didn't want them dead, more turned to his side. I liked the humanizing aspect of the antagonists.

Superjustinbros

Same

mathtans

Too often we just see things kind of one sided. This didn't go that way.

Superjustinbros

Villains that do more than just want the main character(s) dead are always good

mathtans

As far as comedy goes, I liked the brief scene where Adelaide "winked"... maybe... because she could have been blinking and her hair was in the way.

Though I also liked the "cold feet" bit where Nefayn was laughing and Nassar didn't know. In particular it was sort of called back later when he was thrilled that she liked his jokes.

RebelVampire

yeah i really enjoyed that moment with the antagonists. also partially cause i like it being explained why they dont just crush the army cause adelaide is already being silly meeting them on an open field and not using the fort's defenses as was intended

mathtans

Little one's fussing.(edited)

Superjustinbros

Rebel gets it

RebelVampire

but yeah i liked this humanizing affect too of course. because conflicts of territory are rarely straight forward evil guy wants to rule over all the things

Superjustinbros

^

RebelVampire

that and selfishly i really wanted to like pella and that scene proved to me that it was okay to like him cause hes just a goofy sparkly dude just trying to unite the lands.

Superjustinbros

heehee~

Mabs

Hi there! I'm Mabs and the creator of Pike's Reach! I can't stay for too long because sudden school stuff came up, but I wanted to say THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH for reading PR! Your comments are making me really happy ;w;

Superjustinbros

Hi!!!

RebelVampire

QUESTION 2. Unfortunately for Nefayn, she is cursed twice over both in body and magic. Who do you think cursed her with the first seal and for what reason? Could the culprit be Ezo considering she and Pella seemed to know Nefayn? Why was said culprit pursuing her? In other words, what are their long-term goals in using her? How powerful do you think Nefayn was before the first seal came to be? Now that Nefayn is sealed twice over to be all but human, how will this affect her helpfulness in a battle? Do you believe that Nefayn will be able to undo the seals eventually and return herself to her original form and power? If so, how might this affect her growing relationship with Adelaide?

glad you could stop by, mabs~!

im torn on the culprit issue. on the one hand ezo seems likely cause from her characterization that seems like something shed do. but on the other hand their army is kind of near the end of their campaign since pike's reach is the last one standing and they dont want to murder hobo them. so idk why theyd need nefayn. i kind of like to think theres something bigger gonna show up and pella and adelaide are gonna join forces to defeat it. and that whatever the it is is what's after nefayn. but that could be wishful thinking cause i always cheer for antagonist protagonist team ups when both are basically good dudes with different goals

mathtans

(I swear, my life after 8pm is running back and forth to my little daughter's room.)

RebelVampire

as for goals, maybe using her as a magic conduit. cause thats the only thing i can think of.

mathtans

I get what you were saying about the climactic magic fight scene earlier btw. Just I've never been huge on drama, you know me. ^.^

Superjustinbros

perhaps

also lol math

mathtans

Oh, hi Mabs! I ship everyone!

Superjustinbros

lol

Mabs

Hi there! Yes good, please ship all the characters.

Superjustinbros

Will do~

especially this page https://tapas.io/episode/1221349

mathtans

I wonder if Nefayn was originally that uncle that the General was talking about. Except that would destroy the best ship, so I'm not sure I like that possiblity.

RebelVampire

if were shipping all the ships i now accept https://tapas.io/episode/1077847 this page as canon

mathtans

Yeah, I don't know that it's Ezo. There was also that scene where Nefayn said she thought the big Pike's room seemed familiar, so I feel like she was a citizen of the place somehow.

A teamup would be pretty cool between the two groups. Maybe the West has been getting more organized than they realize, there was some mention of the latest attack being more of a ruse.

Hah. That was a funny one.

Part of me actually ships Ezo and Nefayn, in that sort of 'mortal enemies become friends' kind of deal. So I guess Adelaide ends up with the General's second in command? This was probably heresy to propose.

RebelVampire

idk. shooting someone in the chest seems like a romance deal breaker there XD

Superjustinbros

all ships set sail here

mathtans

It was an arrow of love and respect. Deep down. After all, it didn't kill her.

RebelVampire

but yeah the west could certainly become a threat. or even just one person in the west. like maybe one nation got themselves some guns and are bringing their guns to all the sword fights

mathtans

("It was worse than death, I was made human.")

RebelVampire

LOL

mathtans

As long as they don't bring the gunpowder, it's fine.

RebelVampire

Ezo wanted to make Nefayn human cause she too supports the adelaide/nefayn ship

it was the plan all along

mathtans

Actually, it's not a bad plan. Good way to make the enemy commander very distracted.

RebelVampire

and tbf it does probably take nefayn out of the battle a bit. cause being human has its mortal perils.

mathtans

Here's a possibly related question, who keeps sending the evil things to attack Adelaide? Which makes her sleep with a sword? I don't think it's the general, he seems honourable enough to keep his distance after losing, at least for a while. Maybe it's the same person who did the thing to Nefayn.

Flying is more of a problem for humans.

RebelVampire

i just assumed the magic things showed up of their own accord.

although

pella and ezo dont seem to be plagued by birds

so maybe someone is sending them

or adelaide is special and theyre super attracted to her

mathtans

Right.

Everyone's super attracted to the heroine.

RebelVampire

XD

this is an interesting line of thought

cause i definitey doubt it's pella

cause the impression i got is that this has plagued adelaide for much longer than pike's reach has been under siege

since the sword thing is usually the sign of a long term habit

mathtans

I wonder if maybe the charm that was mentioned as something to keep her safe is actually attracting all the problems. Though it'd need to be something fairies can't pick up on.

Superjustinbros

@mathtans must be one really sexy heroine

RebelVampire

these are some good catches math. i really didnt pay much mind to any of these mentions. that could be though. and tbf nefayn's powers were already partly sealed from the get go so i wouldnt be surprised if shes missing out on some magic things

mathtans

Thanks. ^^ I guess it just struck me as interesting that she's got the sleep issues, and no one else seemed to.

I was wondering if one of Nefayn's powers was to grow big.

RebelVampire

maybe. although i keep thinking its gonna wind up shes a goddess or something O_O

not a fairy sized goddess mind you cause she does mention that fairy form is not her original size

although to the stuff b4 that brings up an interesting point about how much can the magic world interact with the non-magic. cause obviously adelaide being able to see magic and stuff makes her able to interact with it. but how aware does a non magic person have to be before magic stuff can affect them

mathtans

Goddess of sparkles.

RebelVampire

like obviously the others cant see nefayn

but can nefayn like punch them

and theyll be like "oww what a random pain"

mathtans

Well, since magic mines could influence people, I imagine if you make the effect large enough, it'd register.

What if Nefayn caresses?

(I mean, kinda moot now, but still.)

RebelVampire

yeah the magic mines worked. cause if the magic can affect the non magic regardless of their ability to see it, it adds evidence to the idea those birds are super out to get adelaide specifically

QUESTION 3. Magic seems to be at the center of several other mysteries that are presented in the comic. What is Pike’s Reach’s past with magic regarding the mention of a catastrophe involving it? Is Pella onto something about everyone being Adelaide’s age? What might this have to do with the previous lord of Pike’s Reach and Adelaide becoming its lord? How might any of this relate to the fact that Nefayn appears to recall being at Pike’s Reach for a brief moment? There is also the issue of Pella’s missing uncle. What do you think happened to his uncle? How might Pella’s uncle be related to past or present events that occurred in Pike’s Reach? Lastly, will Pella ever discover the truth about his uncle?(edited)

Superjustinbros

That's a cool skill imo

mathtans

Oh yeah, my memory had kind of glossed over that whole catastrophe thing. And the age thing too. Hm, really good points. Maybe they don't physically age in Pike's? Like, they're actually 60, but have the bodies of people much younger?

Again, suspected the uncle might be Nefayn, but that sinks the ship.

Superjustinbros

lol

RebelVampire

if the uncle isnt adelaide's father i will be so surprised

mathtans

Oh! Maybe the uncle is the one who cursed Nefayn.

I wondered about that. If the seeing magic lineage was a direct ancestry. But it might make sense for the uncle to be the one attacking Adelaide too.

RebelVampire

https://tapas.io/episode/970094

like legit look at that family resemblence

https://tapas.io/episode/822837 and pella and adelaide have the same eye color too

and theres no reason it cant be both

adelaide's father and the real antagonist

mathtans

Valid arguments. Maybe it's a red herring though. (Or a red pike! Hah!)

RebelVampire

id even peg him for the causer of this supposed catastrophe. not on purpose. but he vanished and hes after nefayn to try and fix his mistakes.

mathtans

Or maybe he's dead, and he left behind the ultimate weapon to use in case of dire magic circumstances, down in the catacombs.

Or maybe he's undead. He's a necromancer.

Superjustinbros

Could be that now that you mention it

mathtans

As Nassar would say, a very grave matter.

RebelVampire

the charm is the key and thats why the birds are after adelaide. they want that ultimate weapon

birds love ultimate weapons

alternatively he couldve been the one to stop the catastrophe from becoming worse too

mathtans

Adelaide's love is the ultimate weapon.

RebelVampire

cause the fact the catastrophe only took out the elderly or so is implied makes that a very targetted attack. and him being the savior makes sense for why everyone made adelaide the lord.

mathtans

Ah, right, I guess I was still on the "elderly look young" track not the "elderly died" track.

Maybe they were all turned into fairies instead.

Maybe the uncle was turned into a pike.

RebelVampire

or everyone was

theyre all pikes

in the nearby lake

the place was previously called nefayn's love nest, but they renamed it to pike's reach cause theyre always trying to reach those pike

mathtans

spit-take

Lovely vacation spot it is either way.

Mabs

You all are absolutely hilarious and I have really been enjoying reading this. Thank you so much for reading so thoroughly gosh. I have to go to a school thing but I'll be sure to check back later and read the logs! Thanks again

RebelVampire

np and good luck with school~!

Superjustinbros

Cya, Mabs!

And good luck from me as well~

mathtans

Thank you for the creation! Hope school goes well.

Mabs

Thanks again! Bye all~ Good luck with the rest of your discussion

Superjustinbros

Bye!

RebelVampire

ya know, since nefayn doesnt quite remember pike's reach outside of haziness, i wonder if theres some magical third seal that was meant to hide her own memories. a third seal set up by certain uncles.

mathtans

Speaking of school, if there's no older adults, who runs public institutions?

Maybe she set the third seal herself. Nefayn was the cause of the magical catastrophe, doesn't want to remember it.

Everyone fighting about the love nest.

RebelVampire

idk. hard to say without an exact timeline. also without exact knowledge of their system of governance. like for example, education could just be an at home by parents thing. so no actual public institution for it. but i also dont know the cut off date. and maybe no all the old ppl are dead. more its just heavily skewed to one age group

mathtans

"We're in favour of same sex marriage." "Oh, well, we're leaving then." "You realize the founder of this place was gay?" "We're definitely leaving."

I liked Nassar's story, incidentally.

Some good zingers too. "Reel", heh.

RebelVampire

i really hope we get to see more of adelaide's group. cause i feel there isnt enough nassar yet. we need more puns

mathtans

Yis. Looked like we were getting some focus on Berlin towards the end.

RebelVampire

QUESTION 4. Despite the romance and good feels in Pike’s Reach, they are the last fortress standing against the Eastern hordes. Do you believe Pella is genuine about his desire to unite the east to make the country a better place? Why do you think Pike’s Reach is so ardent about not uniting with the rest of the eastern lands? As time drags on, do you think Pella will give into his advisors and stop going so soft on Pike’s Reach? Will Ezo being injured drive them to it potentially? Alternatively, do you think Pike’s Reach and the Eastern hordes might join forces and put their differences aside for some reason? All in all, who do you think will emerge victorious?

mathtans

Ezo's injury could do that (escalate things), since Pella seems to have that thing for her. Honestly, I don't quite see why he's so keen on the uniting to this extent... is it all ego? I mean, why not just be glad you've got 95% of the continent?

It might be interesting if they join forces though.

I hope love emerges victorious.

RebelVampire

i do think ezo's injury is gonna make pella made. at least enough to challenge adelaide to another duel. but then he might also be mad at ezo and be like wtf ezo we were retreating

i dont think its all ego

just more its kind of awkward to not have pike's reach not united with the rest

cause according to that map pike's reach is basically surrounded on all sides

by pella's united country

mathtans

They'll have to redraw all the maps if Pike's given in though.

What the PUC?

Superjustinbros

D:

mathtans

I feel like Ezo needs a friend even more than Adelaide. One who won't keep patting her on the head.

Maybe the injury will mellow her out, but I doubt it.

RebelVampire

i feel like ezo first needs to take a chill pill and stop going all life or death on everything

https://tapas.io/episode/850159 by this map id also assume pike's reach is a strategic advantage cause its closer to the west so if the west tries something its a good outpost to use to stave off an attack traveling in further eastward toward the capital

but all in all i think pella is genuine and really does want to make the country a better place.

mathtans

I can see that. It's a cool map too.

Superjustinbros

Yeah

Feels a lot like Europe/Russia/Asia merged into one

mathtans

"I will bring you love even if I have to smack you around."

RebelVampire

i actually dont know why pike's reach wouldnt want to unite with them to be honest. XD cause trade would be a nightmare at this point cause youd always have to try to skirt and sneak through the eastern horde lands. if the eastern hordes go to war with someone, land troops would be moved through pike's reach anyway. and to me it just seems pike's reach is more holding out for pride

but i guess tbf we dont know much about pella's country. maybe they eat babies and pike's reach has a strict no baby eating policy

mathtans

That's a fair point. Maybe there's something to the whole magic catastrophe, like they used to be a united continent and it went badly for them.

Jelly babies.

Incidentally, they seem to have all the major seasons, so don't live near an equator.

RebelVampire

i mean i guess it could just be an issue they dont want to be governed except by their own ppl or something. idk. i do feel the magic catastrophe has left some scares and suspicions. and ezo is proof pella isnt opposed to magic.

mathtans

Maybe, heritage and traditions or something. Ooh, maybe aliens will come and attack. That would unite everyone.

RebelVampire

this might be the wrong genre for that

maybe nefayn gets kidnapped

and they unite to save nefayn

cause love is the only thing that matters

mathtans

Could be. Oh, that's a thought, since she's vulnerable now and Adelaine owes her one or two.

Oh, and one nice bit I wanted to mention, the gag about her height.

RebelVampire

youll have to be more specific cause my mind is blanking on which specific gag youre referring to XD

although speaking of gags i liked the one where adelaide and nefayn were having the eating contest. except no one could see nefayn. XD

Superjustinbros

Alright, I'm gonna take my leave for now, thanks for the CTP and best of luck to Mabs on the story~

mathtans

(Sorry, little one again.)

The gag with Nefryn still being short... but being at an okay height. (Like, who isn't thinking that... )

That was amusing too. I wonder if you can get away with stuff when you see magic. "Uh, I wasn't talking to myself, no. Sure."

Have a good one, SJB!

RebelVampire

ah okay i know which gag you mean. that one was funny. XD

mathtans

Final closing thought, slow burn romance can be fun for when things come to a peak. Or a pike. ^.^

RebelVampire

i feel in general theres been a lot more jokes like that since nefayn became human

mathtans

It's been good for alleviating some of the tension.

RebelVampire

COMIC TEA PARTY- THURSDAY BOOK CLUB END!

Sadly, this wraps up this week’s Thursday Book Club chat for now. Thank you so much to everyone for reading and joining us! We want to give a special thank you to Mabs, as well, for making Pike’s Reach. If you liked the comic, make sure to support Mabs’ efforts however you’re able to~!

Read and Comment: https://tapas.io/series/pikesreach

Mabs’ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mabsart

Mabs’ Twitter: https://twitter.com/mabs_art

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 o Upon motor no begin flag neglect to begin (come up short begin)

 · Protection delay

 Period between the generator coming to up to speed and voltage condition and security circuits furnishing. This is to permit oil strain to assemble and voltage and recurrence to balance out.

 · Load breaker exchanging

 Period between the generator coming to up to speed and voltage condition and shutting the breaker to acknowledge stack.

 Status Indicators

 Control frameworks give the present method of the generator. Basic pointers that are valuable for administrators are:

 · Start Delay

 · Return delay

 · Cooling run

 · Fuel off

 · Fuel on

 · Cranking or Starting

 · Crank rest or Start rest

 · Failure to begin

 · Crank disengage

 · Running up to speed

 · Up to speed and volts

 · Running

 · On stack

 · Breaker neglect to close

 · Engine very still

 Cautioning/Protection/Alarm

 The control framework screens a few conditions keeping in mind the end goal to restrict generator blames and harm to associated stack. Cautioning alerts are non-basic conditions however inability to deliver may prompt generator inability to begin as well as harm. Shutdown alerts are basic conditions that will trip the primary electrical switch and slice supply to the fuel solenoid. Conditions may have an alert and additionally cautioning parameter.

 Commonplace conditions observed are:

 · Low motor oil weight

 · High coolant temp (Warning, Alarm)

 · High oil temp

 · High alternator winding temp (Warning, Alarm)

 · High alternator bearing temp (Warning, Alarm)

 · Low coolant level

 · Low fuel level (Warning)

 · Under Voltage

 · Over Voltage

 · Under speed

 · Over speed

 · Under recurrence

 · Over recurrence

 · Over Current

 · Earth Fault

 · Reverse power

 Telemetry

 With the headway of microchips joined in charge frameworks it has turned out to be less demanding to discuss remotely. SCADA suite programming, electronic and portable applications are the different arrangements used to connect generator controller to remote gadget. Unitech Solutions For Engine Genset Controller in India

 The utilization of remote correspondence gives various advantages:

 · Travel to site might be kept away from

 · Sites can be left unmanned

 · System parameters can be checked to create patterns and help in early disappointment discovery

 · All operation, support and execution information can be put away on PC and recovered when required.

 · Instant cautions

 · Fault finding

 Conclusion

 The controller is the brains of the diesel generator. Comprising of gadgets and microchip, it can give different capacities going from fundamental to complex. The application and end client necessities should be surveyed to choose the proper controller. Parameters, information sources and yields can be arranged to guarantee clients’ details are met. Exceedingly advanced frameworks require expert specialists to give the coveted result. Unitech Solutions For Engine Genset Controller in India

 http://www.unitechsolutionsindia.com/engine_only_controllers.php

[enginegensetcontrollerinind-blog]

Engine Genset Controller in India

The elements of the generator control framework are to give: control, security and sign. They are intended to give the condition of the generator consistently and the capacity to change that state. Gear required in the control framework includes: Unitech Solutions For Engine Genset Controller in India

 · Measuring instruments (meters)

 · Status markers

 · Protection transfers

 · Warning/Alarm

 · Engine and alternator control

 · Command flagging

 Today most frameworks contain chip permitting to give complex highlights, for example,

 · True RMS yield

 · Component observing

 · Configurable data sources

 · Engine ECU interface

 · Remote correspondence

 Controllers extend from fundamental begin/stop operation to having the capacity to screen and control remotely. It is essential that the application prerequisites and working staff capabilities are considered in deciding the right framework. If not this can prompt having an underutilized framework or a framework that can't meet the prerequisites of the application. Unitech Solutions For Engine Genset Controller in India

 Observing

 Common metering yields are:

 · Hour run

 · Engine Speed

 · Engine oil weight

 · Engine coolant temperature

 · Voltage

 · Current

 · Frequency

 · Battery Voltage

 · Battery Current

 · Power

 · Energy

 Control Functions

 · Start

 Empowered just when:

 o Engine isn't running

 o Emergency stop catch isn't locked in

 o No alerts are available

 · Auto Start

 o Engage starter for a day and age (wrench time)

 o Dis-draw in starter upon motor begin (wrench detach)

 o Dis-draw in starter after an era of motor not beginning

 o Repeat begin endeavor after a characterized rest time and no of endeavors (wrench rest)

 o Upon motor no begin flag neglect to begin (come up short begin)

 · Protection delay

 Period between the generator coming to up to speed and voltage condition and security circuits furnishing. This is to permit oil strain to assemble and voltage and recurrence to balance out.

 · Load breaker exchanging

 Period between the generator coming to up to speed and voltage condition and shutting the breaker to acknowledge stack.

 Status Indicators

 Control frameworks give the present method of the generator. Basic pointers that are valuable for administrators are:

 · Start Delay

 · Return delay

 · Cooling run

 · Fuel off

 · Fuel on

 · Cranking or Starting

 · Crank rest or Start rest

 · Failure to begin

 · Crank disengage

 · Running up to speed

 · Up to speed and volts

 · Running

 · On stack

 · Breaker neglect to close

 · Engine very still

 Cautioning/Protection/Alarm

 The control framework screens a few conditions keeping in mind the end goal to restrict generator blames and harm to associated stack. Cautioning alerts are non-basic conditions however inability to deliver may prompt generator inability to begin as well as harm. Shutdown alerts are basic conditions that will trip the primary electrical switch and slice supply to the fuel solenoid. Conditions may have an alert and additionally cautioning parameter.

 Commonplace conditions observed are:

 · Low motor oil weight

 · High coolant temp (Warning, Alarm)

 · High oil temp

 · High alternator winding temp (Warning, Alarm)

 · High alternator bearing temp (Warning, Alarm)

 · Low coolant level

 · Low fuel level (Warning)

 · Under Voltage

 · Over Voltage

 · Under speed

 · Over speed

 · Under recurrence

 · Over recurrence

 · Over Current

 · Earth Fault

 · Reverse power

 Telemetry

 With the headway of microchips joined in charge frameworks it has turned out to be less demanding to discuss remotely. SCADA suite programming, electronic and portable applications are the different arrangements used to connect generator controller to remote gadget. Unitech Solutions For Engine Genset Controller in India

 The utilization of remote correspondence gives various advantages:

 · Travel to site might be kept away from

 · Sites can be left unmanned

 · System parameters can be checked to create patterns and help in early disappointment discovery

 · All operation, support and execution information can be put away on PC and recovered when required.

 · Instant cautions

 · Fault finding

 Conclusion

 The controller is the brains of the diesel generator. Comprising of gadgets and microchip, it can give different capacities going from fundamental to complex. The application and end client necessities should be surveyed to choose the proper controller. Parameters, information sources and yields can be arranged to guarantee clients’ details are met. Exceedingly advanced frameworks require expert specialists to give the coveted result. Unitech Solutions For Engine Genset Controller in India

 http://www.unitechsolutionsindia.com/engine_only_controllers.php

[unitechsolutions-blog]

Engine Genset Controller in India

The elements of the generator control framework are to give: control, security and sign. They are intended to give the condition of the generator consistently and the capacity to change that state. Gear required in the control framework includes: Unitech Solutions For Engine Genset Controller in India

 · Measuring instruments (meters)

 · Status markers

 · Protection transfers

 · Warning/Alarm

 · Engine and alternator control

 · Command flagging

 Today most frameworks contain chip permitting to give complex highlights, for example,

 · True RMS yield

 · Component observing

 · Configurable data sources

 · Engine ECU interface

 · Remote correspondence

 Controllers extend from fundamental begin/stop operation to having the capacity to screen and control remotely. It is essential that the application prerequisites and working staff capabilities are considered in deciding the right framework. If not this can prompt having an underutilized framework or a framework that can't meet the prerequisites of the application. Unitech Solutions For Engine Genset Controller in India

 Observing

 Common metering yields are:

 · Hour run

 · Engine Speed

 · Engine oil weight

 · Engine coolant temperature

 · Voltage

 · Current

 · Frequency

 · Battery Voltage

 · Battery Current

 · Power

 · Energy

 Control Functions

 · Start

 Empowered just when:

 o Engine isn't running

 o Emergency stop catch isn't locked in

 o No alerts are available

 · Auto Start

 o Engage starter for a day and age (wrench time)

 o Dis-draw in starter upon motor begin (wrench detach)

 o Dis-draw in starter after an era of motor not beginning

 o Repeat begin endeavor after a characterized rest time and no of endeavors (wrench rest)

 o Upon motor no begin flag neglect to begin (come up short begin)

 · Protection delay

 Period between the generator coming to up to speed and voltage condition and security circuits furnishing. This is to permit oil strain to assemble and voltage and recurrence to balance out.

 · Load breaker exchanging

 Period between the generator coming to up to speed and voltage condition and shutting the breaker to acknowledge stack.

 Status Indicators

 Control frameworks give the present method of the generator. Basic pointers that are valuable for administrators are:

 · Start Delay

 · Return delay

 · Cooling run

 · Fuel off

 · Fuel on

 · Cranking or Starting

 · Crank rest or Start rest

 · Failure to begin

 · Crank disengage

 · Running up to speed

 · Up to speed and volts

 · Running

 · On stack

 · Breaker neglect to close

 · Engine very still

 Cautioning/Protection/Alarm

 The control framework screens a few conditions keeping in mind the end goal to restrict generator blames and harm to associated stack. Cautioning alerts are non-basic conditions however inability to deliver may prompt generator inability to begin as well as harm. Shutdown alerts are basic conditions that will trip the primary electrical switch and slice supply to the fuel solenoid. Conditions may have an alert and additionally cautioning parameter.

 Commonplace conditions observed are:

 · Low motor oil weight

 · High coolant temp (Warning, Alarm)

 · High oil temp

 · High alternator winding temp (Warning, Alarm)

 · High alternator bearing temp (Warning, Alarm)

 · Low coolant level

 · Low fuel level (Warning)

 · Under Voltage

 · Over Voltage

 · Under speed

 · Over speed

 · Under recurrence

 · Over recurrence

 · Over Current

 · Earth Fault

 · Reverse power

 Telemetry

 With the headway of microchips joined in charge frameworks it has turned out to be less demanding to discuss remotely. SCADA suite programming, electronic and portable applications are the different arrangements used to connect generator controller to remote gadget. Unitech Solutions For Engine Genset Controller in India

 The utilization of remote correspondence gives various advantages:

 · Travel to site might be kept away from

 · Sites can be left unmanned

 · System parameters can be checked to create patterns and help in early disappointment discovery

 · All operation, support and execution information can be put away on PC and recovered when required.

 · Instant cautions

 · Fault finding

 Conclusion

 The controller is the brains of the diesel generator. Comprising of gadgets and microchip, it can give different capacities going from fundamental to complex. The application and end client necessities should be surveyed to choose the proper controller. Parameters, information sources and yields can be arranged to guarantee clients’ details are met. Exceedingly advanced frameworks require expert specialists to give the coveted result. Unitech Solutions For Engine Genset Controller in India

 http://www.unitechsolutionsindia.com/engine_only_controllers.php

[mrandyzavala]

The Significance of The Uniform

You know, for someone who is really not "into" fashion, I feel like I've written a fair amount of blogs about clothes.  

And here's another one!

The other day, I saw that one of my former employers got brand new rash guards, prompting a series of awesome group shots showing off their shiny new digs.  And that got me thinking about the clothes we wear as zookeepers.

This this amazing ensemble, which prompted my grandmother to ask "Who is that man?" when I showed her this photo of me at work

So for most of us, this is really a matter of function.  But it starts out as a badge of honor, if you think about it. It is pretty awesome to don your first work shirt with STAFF or TRAINER or GODDESS OF THE UNIVERSE on it.  It also immediately identifies you based on the longevity of your tenure at that particular facility.  In fact, there are a lot of things our uniforms do (both good and evil) that I think are worth taking a second to address.

1. As mentioned above, uniforms can identify how long you have been at a place

Look at those crisp new digs.  I was a baby trainer...maybe a month into the job.

D'uh, some of this is pretty obvious.  Let's talk about my first day at Miami Seaquarium.  Or Clearwater (as an intern).  In both cases, these were my FIRST uniforms. Clearwater was the first place I was ever involved in the marine mammal training community.  It had a standard uniform shirt, but everything else was up to me to provide.  So I had swishy black wind pants and Tevas.  I also had no clue what the general "work attire" vibe was, so I showed up to my internship utterly drowning in make up.

Okay, can we just talk about that for a second?  I am still like super embarrassed about this.  I'm not saying it is wrong to wear make-up to work if you're a dolphin trainer.  Plenty of you guys do it and well, good work. 

Just make sure your makeup doesn't run

The thing is, I have NEVER pulled off make-up wearing well, not in any facet of my life.  I just look like some kind of B-movie horror film villain and/or a Bratz doll.  I also bought the cheapest stuff available, mostly because it took me until I was 30 to realize you can buy good stuff (read: waterproof) from actual cosmetic stores, versus my main source of the stuff *cough Walgreens cough*.  Wait, I'm lying.  Walgreens was for fancy occasions, such as weddings and/or first dates that went horribly awry.  Everyday makeup was purchased at the grocery store.  

Anyways, so I totally showed up in my brand new wind pants and a Killer Clowns From Outer Space face to my internship, my enormous quantity of hair draped over my person like a wet towel....let's just say my lack of bleach stains on my clothing were not what tipped people off to my n00bness.

This is a more pleasant image than what I looked like on my first day as an intern

At Miami, I was a little savvier about personal appearance.  But I still felt like a new kid in school when I walked around with radioactively white shoes and perfectly ironed khaki shorts.

Am I right or amiright when I say we can all make pretty decent guesses at the length of employment of animal caregivers based on: sun-fadedness, bleach stains, holes, and/or the intangible badassery that surrounds a confident zookeeper like a magical aura?

2. At some point, new uniforms absolutely make your day

Glory days.

I've worked at places that REALLY care about your appearance, and places that really didn't, and places that were somewhere in between.  And in all of those cases, there was one thing that made everybody happy:

New work clothes.  Especially wetsuits.  Oh god.

My brand new wetsuit (right)!! So shiny and new! 

When I worked for Marineland when it was privately owned, we had a pretty baller logo and the clothes were cool and functional.  We had rash guards, tank tops, normal shirts, wind breakers, wind pants, sweat pants, sweat shirts, swim suits, viser, khaki shorts and pants, and board shorts (THAT WHEN THEY GOT WET THESE HIBISCUS FLOWERS APPEARED OMG OMG IT WAS AMAZING), and the standard issue of full and shorty wetsuits.  I LOVED those uniform pieces.  The only problem was that the super comfy bathing suits um, became see-through around the butt area.

Yeah.  It would start with the butt crack.  And then, like some kind of disease, the fabric surrounding your butt crack would grow into a sheer window so that everyone could see what your momma gave you.   When waiting for new suits, we would wear bikini bottoms in order to prevent the public from gazing upon our glorious cabooses (I mean, they didn't pay enough for that show).  It goes without saying that it was a joyous occasion to get a new bathing suit.

Exactly.

But other things really made a difference.  You work outdoors in FL or any other hot climate, you know that sweat stains turn a color currently not understood by science and will not go away no matter what you treat it with, including fire.  There is a point at which your old work shirt turns a corner into a category that requires action including but not limited to: dragging it behind a shed and shooting it.

At Gulfarium, we had these rain jackets that basically absorbed water and deposited it efficiently to all points of the human body most prone to immediate heat loss.  As such, we decided to pool our money together and use a coworker's absolutely unnatural talent at sniffing out a deal (and her employee discount at Eddie Bauer) to buy some freaking AMAZING foul weather jackets. 

Check out that incredible foul weather gear I'm rocking.  Also, this was a Peeps eating contest.

Guys, we made an entire evening out of this event.  It was an event.  We knew that we had to use our money to buy these things, but these things were incredible.  We all went shopping for them, and celebrated our purchase by GOING OUT TO DINNER.  For months, we talked about how amazing these rain jackets were.  Waterproof pockets, waterPROOF material that only soaked through after hours of relentless downpour but dried super fast, a zip-in fleece for those colder days.  Ah-mazing.   

3. But there is nothing like a broken-in set o' clothes

Look how happy I am in my broken-in wetsuit

Like anything, it is impossible to categorize an experience in absolutes.  Yes, new uniforms are great.  But before it gets to that health-hazard and/or see-through phase, it has its glory days. 

Wetsuits are a fab example of this.  New wetsuits are nice when your old one can basically stand on its own (more on this later), but it really does require some serious breaking in.  There is nothing like slipping into someone else's wetsuit to realize how differently the human body is shaped, even if you are the same size.

Or, ha, like I did for a while, when I would put on a guy's wetsuit before I got one of my own.  I wore it so much that conformed pretty well to my body, except for that enormous, gaping space in the nether regions that made me seriously afraid of encountering the man who used to use that wetsuit.  Or rather, made me wonder why anyone would need a space that large to accommodate any body part.

To creators of male wetsuits everywhere

4. Old uniforms can also make your day the Absolute Worst

Tina consoling me that my shirt doesn't perma-smell THAT bad

Okay, wetsuits are perfectly demonstrable evidence to support this contention.

Once the sun has set on your wetsuit's glory days, it enters into an abysmal hell that at the very least, entails other organisms sharing your neoprene.  Dry rot was my personal favorite.  I have had my fair share of wetsuits where the neoprene had shriveled up and died and was replaced by some kind of mystery material that feels like a combination between a paper bag and the tears of orphaned children.

This usually happened because we didn't take care of our wetsuits "properly", like you would if you were a pro surfer or diver and had access to the right chemicals, the right dry locker environment, and/or didn't wear your wetsuit for 40 hours a week for years at a time. 

"Where did I leave my wetsuit yesterday?"

"Don't ever rinse your wetsuit in hot water," they said. "It'll stretch the neoprene cells," they said.  Okay butthead, you try following that advice when it's 30 degrees out and you are 6 seconds away from end stage hypothermia.  When I needed hot water, it was in times when you know, my hair was literally frozen and I couldn't feel my soul. There was never a time I needed hot water the temperature of lava sprayed all over me when I thought, "BUT THE NEOPRENE".

So yeah, my wetsuits got destroyed over time.  Sometimes, they would get holes in the seems (side note: this was a great way to distinguish between uniform wetsuits when our initials faded....like HEY that's mine, it's got the hole in the left armpit).

5. Every place has orphaned uniforms that usually make us a little sad

Most of the people in this photo have long since abandoned their wetsuits and moved on.  p.s. Miss you guys

There is that rack of wetsuits, or cabinet of old uniforms.  You know it.  It's the one you use for food prep.  It's the one you have interns or volunteers scavenge from.  It's the graveyard of old employees.

Even if I didn't know the people, I always felt a little sad going through the Quitter Closet/Rack and seeing initials of people who had long since come and gone.  I wonder too, who wears my old stuff at the places I've been at. 

BRING THEM ALL BACK

But all of this just makes me realize how much our uniforms mean to us, not just in the utilitarian sense.  They are a historical marker, they are an indicator of seniority in some cases, they conform to you and see you through some of the best and some of the worst times.  They are the butt of our jokes (especially if they actually SHOW your butt).  And so you know what? They deserve a little recognition.  Thanks, work uniforms!

from The Middle Flipper http://ift.tt/2s3Dw4t