#besides rain is in fact this type of guy. god bless him

[alligaytorswamp]

af attack with rain.. summer belongs to pyabmxk

[everythingsinred]

Let's Talk About NatsuMikan: Natsume (pt. 20)

PART TWENTY! I've written thousands and thousands of words about this particular character's love. That's really crazy. And you guys read thousands and thousands of words! And we're not even done yet!

We will talk about the second half of this "gap arc", including one of my favorite chapters, and then the school will turn upside down, as we will see in the next part.

Chapter Ninety-Three

Mikan was so exhausted saving Narumi from Persona’s alice that she ended up hospitalized. Nobody else seems to know much of what really happened except Natsume, who spends so much time in the hospital these days that it would have been more surprising if he didn’t know she was there too.

Besides, Natsume knows so much about Mikan. He knows about her mom and that the ESP is interested in Mikan possibly possessing the stealing alice. He knows that she’s in danger. He’s vigilant, as I’ve said, and this vigilance means absorbing all possible information. He overhears Narumi warning Mikan to keep her new alice a secret, and Natsume gets confirmation that Mikan does indeed have the stealing alice, that Narumi knows and wants to protect Mikan too, and that this information could possibly get to the ESP if they’re not careful.

Dead man walking. Or rather... dead boy walking.

He walks away from her room, unseen, coughing. He walks down a hall of doctors and patients and nurses and he doesn’t stand out at all. Natsume’s presence in the hospital is so normal that nobody bats an eye anymore. Kaname is hospitalized for long stretches of time, as we shall continue to see, but Natsume merely goes to the hospital for limited periods of bed rest and for getting huge bags of medicine to take before bed so he doesn’t accidentally pass away in his sleep. Natsume might be in just as much need as Kaname for long periods of hospitalization, but he can’t for two reasons.

One, the school absolutely does not want that. They want their favorite child soldier to be always at the ready. He can’t be at their beck and call at all times if he’s cooped up in a hospital bed. He needs to be where they can grab him easily, and pumping him full of medicine and pretending that’s enough for him is the most they will do.

Two, Natsume absolutely does not want that. Mikan is in more danger than ever, and being sequestered in a hospital without seeing anyone leaves her alone and unprotected. How is he supposed to spy on the ESP and Persona for information on Mikan if he’s hospitalized? He needs to be free as a bird, just like they want him to be, so that he can be at Mikan’s beck and call. At the slightest threat, he will be there for her.

Later, when Bear follows Mikan around while Kaname is sicker than ever, Koko can discern that Bear wants Mikan to steal Kaname’s alice from inside of him. Many people are onlooking, and Natsume has a shocked expression, not because he didn’t know that Mikan has the stealing alice, but because he’s concerned for what consequences may come if more people find out. If the ESP comes to hear any of this, serious issues will arise. Things are already dangerous enough, but if the ESP finds out, then turmoil will come sooner than later.

This is an "Oh, shit" moment! How terrible.

Things get worse when the rumors about Mikan’s alice spread through the upper divisions. Mikan gets chased by upperclassmen who want her to steal their alices because they think their star rank will go up if they can catch her in the act. The ESP seems to have purposefully spread such a rumor in order to speed things along. He wants to push Mikan into a corner, perhaps force her into using her alice and exposing herself, so that he has an excuse to swoop in and take her into his custody.

We see a panel of Natsume hearing the news of the middle schoolers’ pursuit of Mikan and he’s just as shocked as before. Her life is endlessly hectic in the worst way. She is always under attack from rumors and speculation and being honest about her alice will only end poorly for her. This is the last glimpse we get of him this chapter, but his reactions, despite the fact that he says nothing this whole time, is enough to give hints to where his mind is right now. His priorities and concerns are all made clear, building up to when he will eventually be quite needed.

Chapter Ninety-Four

Class B is getting ready for swimming lessons in P.E. Most of the class, especially Mikan, are excited for this.

There’s not much Natsume in this chapter either, but we can see him on the poolside, obviously not well enough to swim. Swimming is one of the most physically taxing exercises because of how much it requires you to use your full body. Natsume can’t waste what little energy he has on P.E. when he has missions to do. Those are much more important.

Mikan may get occasionally down or sad about her alice and the uncomfortable state of things, but Ruka is there to cheer her up and play water polo with her. Natsume simply looks on.

Tsubasa spots him, and instantly looks troubled. He and Natsume are not just both in the DA class now, they’re also going on many of the same missions. He’s also the only one who knows the truth about Natsume’s alice shape, and how much the taxing missions affect his body. Seeing Natsume sit on the side and not join in with the others is not a good sign. He’s not doing well.

Fun and games are over! It was never gonna last long anyway!

The panel of everyone having fun while Natsume coughs by himself, isolated from everyone, brings to mind the page from Chapter Nine, so long ago. The last page of that chapter has Natsume being sent on a mission, in stark contrast to the final panel of the rest of the class having fun and bonding over dodgeball.

He could never join in for long was the message we got then, and it’s not any less true now. Natsume let himself get attached to Class B and to Mikan in particular but his fun happy times of joining in on the fun were never meant to last. He can’t play the sax anymore. He can’t run around with the rest of them. Luna was a warning to him as much as she was to Mikan. His time is running out and his life will always be too different from the rest of theirs. He will always be shrouded in darkness and an imminent death. They can take occasional breaks from the stress and worry of their lives, but he can’t. Not anymore. Not in any real way. Not without it taking a serious toll on his body.

The last page features two groups of best friends: Natsume and Ruka looking out the window at Hotaru and Mikan as they walk through the rain.

Bad things are going to happen. And that right soon.

There’s a feeling of foreboding in this arc. The last page carries some threat with it while also trying to stay on the side of hope. One should not take things for granted is the main take-away, a harsh lesson for these kids to learn, especially in this way.

These few chapters between the Sports Fest and the next arc are almost similar to the gap chapters between the Hana Hime den chapters and the Sports Fest. They are a much needed respite from the heavy chapters before and after. The difference is that these gap chapters are heavier and there’s a threat looming over Mikan and the others in each one. The happiness and lightness of the Valentine’s day chapter are not present, even in this sweet chapter about swimming. Everyone is unsettled and disturbed, aware that something horrible is to come.

Chapter Ninety-Five

And nothing good ever lasts, as this chapter reveals. The tension that has been building for so long is starting to reach a boiling point.

A lot will happen here. Hotaru gets called to the headquarters. Yuka returns to the Alice Academy campus to find Mikan. Tsubasa goes missing.

God, could they stop sending children to get blown up for FIVE MINUTES?!

Natsume and Tsubasa are separated during a nondescript mission. A warehouse explodes and Natsume screams out for Tsubasa, not knowing where he’s disappeared to, or if he’s even still alive.

Tsubasa is missing, his location unknown. Natsume has returned to campus from the mission, but he hasn’t been seen by anybody yet either. He’s busy trying to locate Tsubasa, trying to find information.

Natsume goes on missions all the time. He goes with other DA types and is frequently in life or death situations with them. That being said, he hates most of his classmates, Youichi being one exception. But Tsubasa is different. They have an unspoken respect for each other, and might even be considered friends. They spent a lot of time in the DA class on missions that we haven’t seen in the manga and their work to find--or rather not find--Yuka and protect Mikan has probably brought them closer.

Natsume wants to find Tsubasa because he’s so important to Mikan, because she loves him like a big brother and losing him would break her. He wants to find Tsubasa because Tsubasa is his friend too. If something happened to him on a mission they went on together, then it’s his responsibility to bring him back, and he might even feel guilty for his disappearance as well. Knowing what we do about Natsume’s self-esteem, martyr complex, and tendency to blame himself for everything, he is probably not taking this very well.

It’s exciting and nerve-wracking to see so many people involved in this chapter, but seeing as everything’s coming to a head, many of the characters narratively have to be involved.

Nobara, who discovers that Narumi plans to run away with Mikan to keep her safe from what’s to come, is soon after made aware that she will be blessed with a friend in the DA class: Mikan. Nobara and Natsume do not get along, but so far she’s been diligent in communicating with him about information she discovers that he would not otherwise find out. There’s no way she wouldn’t try to reach out to him, which explains why he knows about it.

Natsume has been mainly absent from the chapter, and from school as well. Nobody has seen him, because he’s too busy trying to find Tsubasa. But it’s nighttime now and everyone is going to sleep. The rumors about Tsubasa’s disappearance are all around the school and he knows that Mikan knows by now. And she’s all alone.

So he takes a break from all the work he has to do to go and comfort her. He cannot leave her alone, even if he originally planned on it.

He appears in her window and she rushes to him. She asks him questions, about where he’s been and all those wounds on his body, but he didn’t come here to talk about what happened to him. He’s here for her. He confesses that he hadn’t wanted to see anyone until he’d found Tsubasa safe and sound, but he had to see her, fearing that she was crying on her own.

They're both sad. They're each other's comfort.

Natsume knows Mikan, that she frequently acts fine even if she’s suffering. Her resilience and determination are great traits, and it’s easy to get lost in the illusion that she should always be bubbly and optimistic and smiling, but even a girl like Mikan needs to let it out sometimes. Finding out that someone you love is missing is not easy, and smiling in the face of that is not something that even Mikan can do all the time. She needs comfort, and Natsume wants to be there for her.

He’s wanted this the whole time, deep down, to be someone she could rely on, someone who could comfort her, and now he’s the only one who can. All the things he’s wanted to do for her this whole time: to comfort her, to tell her it’ll be okay, to hug her. He does it all because after all they’ve been together, she knows now that he’s someone she can rely on.

She’s crying, and she admits that she couldn’t stop even if she wanted to, because she has to cry in Natsume’s place.

Natsume came to comfort her, yes, but he’s been through a lot too. He also cares about Tsubasa and has been suffering on his own for even longer. He also needs comfort, and because he won’t let himself cry, she’ll do it for him. Mikan can see that he can’t afford to not be perfectly composed all the time. She’s thinking of him, too, and it must be nice to be seen so clearly by somebody he loves.

She knows that he's close to Tsubasa too, even if he won't admit it. THEY'RE EACH OTHER'S COMFORT.

He tells her he will find Tsubasa, and “about her too”, which means he’s letting her know he’s taking care of her. He will keep an eye out and try to keep her safe. He’s hinting that he knows about her other alice, and that he’s on top of it. He has to go now, but his farewell--his promise--is his final way of comforting her for the night. She doesn’t need to worry too much about Tsubasa or what will happen with the school, because he will fix it all. He will protect her.

Conclusion

There's something looming over the kids at the academy. Something really bad is going to happen, and everyone seems somewhat aware at this point. Natsume is at the ready for the slightest threat to Mikan, and he will finally be able to spring into action in the next edition of this already-too-long essay.

So... This is the twentieth part. If I'm to guess, I'd say there's not going to be another ten parts to make it to thirty, but I might be wrong, depending on how long my analysis gets in the last parts of the manga. As I post this, I'm about fifty chapters ahead (which sounds impressive but actually isn't considering the Time Travel Arc has groups of entire chapters that I had to skip). Maybe it'll get to something like twenty-eight but I'm not sure about thirty. We'll see. Once upon a time I thought it'd be forty, even! No, not Natsume's. Mikan's, maybe, but not Natsume's.

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[missallsundayyy]

Breaking Boundaries

First oneshot for my first post here and there’s no better ship/pair i’d rather write than Nico Robin & Roronoa Zoro

Things were lively on the Sunny Go as usual. Franky was upgrading the canons on the ship, Chopper and Ussop were being...well...being them as usual. Luffy was bugging Sanji in the kitchen asking/whining when was lunch going to be served and in his words.

"foooooooood SANJIIIIIIIIIIIII!!" the famous straw hat captain yelled from the other side of the kitchen.

"SHUT UP YOU RUBBER GLUTTON"

Nami was focusing on the weather and the sea behavior, navigating the crew to their next destination whilst Brook was beside her asking if he could see her panties in which he received a punch that sent him flying through the ship's walls. Thus starting a fight with the shipswright that was just beside the wall that was destroyed.

"WATCH WHERE YOU LAND ASSHOLE!!!" Franky screamed out.

"Yohoho!! don't get your panties in a twist Franky-sannn"

Aside from all the chaos was the crew's infamous swordsman, Zoro whom was doing impossible training once again. Lifting weights that no humans could ever lift.

"890...891...892.."

He grunts out in training, muscles flexing, his body coated with sweat. He did this everyday at the same spot the moment the sun starts to rise until Sanji calls them for lunch. Not far from the green-haired man.....well in fact maybe 5metres away from him was the ship's beautiful archeologist Nico Robin. Seated as usual on her umbrella armchair with a book on hand. 

She was wearing her spaghetti strap purple tank top that did no effort to cover her large breast and a very small tight fitting jean shorts. It was a very hot day at that, she had put her hair up in a ponytail which was rare because usually she prefered her hair down. Even though it was scorching hot outside and she could just retreat into her room where it would definitely be cooler but it was out of habit that she situated herself here when she read.

She’s elated to be where she was right now. Doing what she loved and surrounded by nakamas that accepted her, cared for her, protected her and loved her. She would give her life 100 million times over for the Straw Hats without a second thought. Back at Enies Lobby she was afraid that that they would find her a burden, a thorn in the flesh even when they proved that they will fight the whole world fearlessly for her. Comparing then and now she was flabbergasted at how many things have changed. Everyone has gotten stronger, more matured. The bond Robin shared with the crew was strong that not even God can sever it, that she was certain for.

Her mind wandered everywhere and anywhere, she wasn't even focusing on the book she was reading anymore. She summarised everything in her head with a content look on her face.

The sounds of Zoro's grunting and counting snapped Robin back to reality, her eyes diverted to the green haired crew member. Her eyes shamelessly stared at his god like body that was now glistening in sweat due to the monstrous work out he does everyday. His muscles was amazing, his abs was rock hard and his chest looked like steel plates had been implanted in him. His face was fierce and focus, never losing concentration.

Zoro was a very very veryyy handsome man, that was what Robin had always thought even when she first joined the crew. She knew he was a very powerful man and a dangerous one at that, the crew was blessed to have such interesting and indestructible members and Roronoa Zoro was one of them. He had many cons to him...well according to Nami and Sanji's list. He sleeps too much, he was too direct with his words so more often than not he always comes off as an "asshole". He drinks too much when he isn't sleeping or training and to top the icing on the cake, he couldn't find his way to the ship's toilet even if his bladder depended on it.

Robin however found him to be interesting as hell and even charming most times. How he was always the calm one amongst all of them and he was a very wise man that stick by his words. He was a strong man with honour and pride. He will no doubt be the type to keep a promise even if will be his demise. Robin didn't know she had a type until she met Zoro, the more time she has with the swordsman the larger her attraction for him grew.

Having a lover has never came across her mind, not that she wasn't interested in intimate relations before, it just never came up until she found herself glancing at him more than she should. Also the automatic position of their area happened to be beside each other every day so there was not much of a choice in that matter. She snapped back yet again to reality still staring at the handsome swordsman, she wouldn't admit it but internally she was swooning over his very very shredded body.

"Oi oi Robin, your staring is bothering me. You should read at your room today, your face is red from the weather right now."  Zoro called out to Robin who was unintentionally caught gawking at him although being the dense man he was, he of course would have not though that she was checking him out.

Zoro had placed all this training equipments down and was now walking towards the self fantasising historian that still had her eyes glued onto him. He walked a few steps towards Robin and stood beside her, taking her lemonade drink right from her side table and gulping all of it down with greed-thirst sounds.  This was another normal thing between them, she would have her drink but she would never drink any of it because before she could, he would always finish it up unless she had coffee. He never did understood how she could swallow the damn bitter beverage. She also was starting to think that subconsciously she would bring the drink for him instead of her.

"Zoro-kun. Sorry for bothering your training  but I don't mind a little heat today and besides the weather has been quite gloomy these past weeks, don't you agree?" Robin held her face with her palm, her usual signature posture. She now sat upright never breaking her stare.

"Rain or shine won't hinder me from my training." Zoro stated simply.

"Fufufu, yet my staring has disturbed your workout?" Robin teased him.

"Tch. You've been doing that a lot lately woman." he turned his head away, folding his arms. Ever since the crew reunited after being seperated for two years, Zoro had noticed Robin's change the most. She had gotten stronger, wiser and more matured in many different aspects.

She would tease him or outsmart him in their little chats which irate the man but in a good way.

"I was thinking if I could company you on watch today if you don't mind." Robin asked hopefully.

Zoro turned his head back to her "Sure. You can do can do whatever you want woman. Let's go to the kitchen already, bet that love cook will start yelling for us anytime soon." he was already walking towards the kitchen but in a pace that told her that he would be walking with her and not just leaving her like that. She smiled and followed him.

"ROBIN CHWANNN! You're looking veryyyyy SEXYYY TODAY!! The lunch I have prepared for you today is just as hot and spicy as you are!!!" Sanji greeted Robin that had walked in with Zoro whom by the way Sanji had not scoop his share onto a plate yet.  Robin smiled at the flirtatious cook.

"That's very kind of you cook-san, this looks delicious. As always your culinary skills are impressive." Robin replied politely, frankly only Robin would acknowledge Sanji's aggressively manic compliments. 

"Tch. Stupid love cook." Zoro muttered under his breath which didn't went unheard by the cook of course.

"What??? YOU WANNA GO ASSHOLE?"

"I WON'T WASTE MY TIME WITH THE LIKES OF YOU"

"YOU'RE JUST JEALOUS THAT ROBIN IS COMPLIMENTING ME INSTEAD OF YOU"

"WHY WOULD I BE JEALOUS OF YOU, YOU'RE A BIGGER CLOWN THAN THAT RED NOSE BUGGY"

The fight between the two men continued while the crew watched on amused, nothing new on the ship.

"HEY LUFFY THAT'S MY FRUIT PUNCH DON'T DRINK IT"

"Cmmonnnnnn Chopper give me some, I'm lazy to go refill..."

Chopper and Luffy both had their hands on the cup that was filled with the cool drink and they both were playing tug rope with the cup and well unfortunately for them the cup had tipped and all of its contents is now spilling at the person that was sitting in the middle of them. That person was......Robin.

*SPLASH*

The room was now silent, Sanji and Zoro's bickering was on hold because of the light spill sound that interrupted everyone.

"Oh shit.." Franky muttered

The red beverage was now seeping through Robin's tank top. Her chest and thighs was now covered with the sweet drink and it was dripping. Robin looked down at her now soiled clothing.

"Oh my.." was all she said.

"Robinnn....im sorry!! I didn't..we didn't mean to ruin your clothes!!" Chopper started exclaiming, feeling guilty. "OI LUFFY! This is your fault you know!! APOLOGISE TO ROBIN NOW!"

Luffy had one hand behind his head, scratching while having a goofy grin "Sorry Robin it was an accident...please don't be mad"

"SERIOUSLY. Why can't the men in this crew behave like proper men in FOR ONCE! You guys are barbaric and I don't know how two beautiful women like me and and Robin got stuck with you guys!!" This time the screaming and yelling was now coming from the ship's navigator.

Robin wasn't mad, in fact she enjoyed all their shenanigans. The crew made life fun, they make her feel alive and everyday she will always have a smile on her face. "It's okay Luffy its okay Chopper. I will go and change into a new shirt." she said with a laughter.

"Well there you go Nami, you heard Robin. She's not mad so I don't see why you're all worked up." Franky joined in to which he received a death glare from the money obsessed pirate.

In the midst of the whole conversation Zoro had been staring at Robin's wet stained shirt accident. Everyone was too busy bickering with each other they had failed to notice that the water just made Robin's voluptuous figure even more prominent. The outline of her huge breast could be seen through the god damn tank top and the fruit punch was still dripping down her cleavage and most of it had splashed onto her thick thighs.

He didn't know what he was doing but he liked what he was seeing. Robin was a beautiful woman and he knew that. She had the perfect curves and her assets were anything but small. She had matured into a sexy woman and he could never deny that. The sight that she had unintentionally presented him with was very fucking pleasing to his eyes. His eyes glued to her soft skin and the way the water would drip down her cleavage because she was laughing and causing her chest to move tentalizingly. He knew she wasn't doing it on purpose but she was sexy without even trying. He shook his head and tried to clear the dirty thoughts that was now forming in his mind 'Why the hell am I thinking about her like that' his mind yelled at him.

"Well excuse me, I am going to take a bath since the punch has made my body all sticky now." Robin stood up and walked towards the door. Sanji on the other hand had knock both Luffy and Chopper's head while yelling something like 'Look what you guys did!' 'Robin-chan's lunch is ruined' 'assholes'

-BOOOOOOOOOMMM-

A loud crash was heard 1 minute after Robin had exited the kitchen. Zoro and Sanji both had dashed out of the door in a fighting stance-run. 

"Whats' going on now!!" Nami yelled.

"Looks like Luffy fell asleep" Franky muttered in half disbelief and half lazed tone.

"ROBIN CHANNN!! ARE YOU OKAY?" Sanji yelled frantically.

Zoro had drawn his katana out ready to slice anyone whom had dared to attack their ship and more importantly Robin.

"So this is the infamous Strawhat crew everyone has been talking about?? You don't seem much if i managed to cuff your deliciously beautiful crewmate here. If i know you guys had such a sexy pirate lady, we would have attacked you sooner!" The malicious voice came from Captain Deck from the Sink Pirates; notorious for sinking every ship they come across with. He was however not interested in woman and was quick to carry Robin and throwing her off the Sunny Go to everyone's horror.

"ROBIN NNNN!!" Chopper and Nami's voiced chorus together,

"ROBIN -CHWANNNN! YOU SHITTY BASTARD HOW DARE YOU TOUCH THE LADIES OF THIS SHIP I WILL POUND YOU UNTIL YOUR INSIDES COME OUT ASSHOLE!!" Sanji shouted with fire engulfing his whole body.

Zoro of course had already jumped in right after Robin was thrown into the sea. His first priority was definitely saving his nakama. Slicing every last one of his enemy would later be the second priority. He dived deep and because he immediately jump in right when Robin was thrown in, she hadn't sink too far for his vision. She was still conscious, eyes wide with shocked with everything that has transpired. He could understand her fear, you can be the strongest fighter with the best abilities but its all over if you get thrown into the water. Her hands was desperately reaching for Zoro. She knew she was safe, drowning in the sea or not, she had her nakama protecting her and always having her back.

He grabbed Robin's hand and pulled her into his body and quickly swam back up in full speed. When they reached the surface, he found himself swimming to an island, the Sunny Go and his crewmates were no where in sight. Now he was just confused, how the hell did he got all the way here now. He now carried Robin bridal style whilst walking on shore since she was weakened by the effects of the sea water.

He lay her down on the grass part of the island and stood up to survey their foreign surroundings.

"Oi woman you okay?" he asked her with concern although he wasn't facing her. Robin who now had herself up on her feet.

"Thank you Zoro-kun, i'm better now." Robin said smiling even if he wasn't looking to see it. "However, seems like we're stranded in here. How did you find this island?" she was already walking around surveying the flowers, sand, grass and anything that might tell her where they were. He scratched the back of his head, "I don't know how we end up here, my priority was only getting you out of the sea and next thing i know, i got us here." he said with a tone of frustration.

'ara...so this is how he looks like whenever we get seperated' Robin's amusing thoughts caused her to laugh behind him. He snapped his head to her "What's so funny woman" to which Robin smile "Nothing. Lets explore this island together, i'm sure Luffy and the others are already nearby." she suggested to which Zoro just grunted in agreement.

The both of them then ventured into the thick jungle of the island.

Meanwhile back at the Sunny Go.

"Geez you can definitely count on Zoro to be lost even when the ship was right above him." Franky grumbled while the crew set sailed for the island Ussop had spotted.

"That shitty asshole took Robin-chwann away! IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME THAT SAVED HER AND WOULD PROBABLY BE ON THAT ISLAND WITH A VERY WET RO-" Sanji fainted from nose-bleed before he could finish his sentence.

"SANJIIIIII!!!" Chopper ran towards his perverted nakama.

"Leave him to die Chopper, he propably don't mind dying" Nami said while shaking her head.

"YOSH! FULL SPEED AHEAD TO THAT MEAT ISLAND MEN!" Luffy yelled to his crewmates.

"Oi oi what do you mean meat island" Ussop replied, "And we can leave stupidity to our captain. Zoro and Robin are missing and there he goes thinking about food" he finished leaving Nami and Chopper nodding their heads vigorously. Luffy laughed "Don't worry! They're strong and i'm not worried."

-BACK TO THE UNKNOWN ISLAND-

"Perhaps the plants here spit poison that could kill you in a second or maybe the soil might swallow you whole the moment you step on it." Robin said voicing her thoughts outloud.

"Oi Robin stop saying things like that." Zoro chastised the historian for always saying dark things.

"Fufufu sorry Zoro-kun." Robin giggled into her palm. 

"By the way......” he started “Robin,i'mgladyou'refineafter2years."

Zoro managed to choke all the words out as fast as he could. He was not one with sweet words but he somehow felt that before the seperation he was very cold with Robin out of all the members of the crew.

It had to do with the whole ‘Miss All Sunday’ business but now when he looked at her, it was as if everything in the past didn't matter anymore.Robin on the other hand was taken aback by his words, she would be lucky to get a grunt out of the swordsman but he was initiating a conversation first and to top that off, he was telling her how he was glad that SHE was okay.

"I'm happy to hear that. You've grown handsomely in two years Zoro-kun" She replied him with a genuine smile. His face instantly reddened from embarasssment. There she goes again, he thought. Always saying things like that and now he looks like a cat just bit his tongue.

"W..we..well you'vegrownbigtoO!"

Robin laughed aloud "Are you saying that i’m fat Zoro-kun?" she stopped abruptly nearly making him crash behind her.

"What!" he panicked. Now these are one of her antics to get him all flustered.

"You said i've grown big, so does that mean I’m fat to you Zoro-kun?" She asked him with an innocent smile, teasing him was her favourite things to do.

"You know what I mean woman." Zoro grunted frustratedly, face still heated up. She? Fat? Farrr from it he thought. Her figure was amazing, perfect if he may be so bold to say.

"So after 2years of not seeing me, thaaat....is the only thing you noticed? I think cook-san has influenced you abit." This has got to definitely get THE reaction Robin was waiting for.

“IM NOTHING LIKE THAT SHITTY BASTARD OF A COOK AND YOU KNOW IT WOMAN!!" Robin laughed at his predictable reaction. "I'm joking Mr Swordsman." And there the nicknames comes again, this woman knew how to push his buttons well.

Then Robin did the unthinkable, she put her hands on her waist and came closer to Zoro and with a low sultry voice with a pose that would drive Sanji into his grave from nosebleed.

"So am I big enough or is there anything else I can change....for you Zoro-kun" Robin said suggestively. She have to admit whilst she finally have people to call her nakama she needed more. She wants that intimate attention just like every  woman. Intimacy wasn’t something she even had time for in the past, it never crossed her mind to romance with men. Now that she’s comfortable and know she has a place to call home, why the hell not.

Now he was just as red a beet, he didn't know why Robin was being flirty with him. She was usually the quiet one, calm, collected and only commented on things when it was necessary. Then again she was the only woman ironically that he didn’t mind invading his personal space. She and him was always in the same room in the ship every damn time and it wasn’t even planned nor did they ever agreed to always have each other’s back. He had always protected Robin, he would be there, ready to cut her enemies. Just like on sky island and fishmen island, as long as he’s around her he will put his life on the line for her

It wasn’t that he wouldn’t do the same for the crew but when he does save her, he feels something for her, he don’t know what he felt but he felt his pride and ego semi boosted from it. It was as if he wanted to impress her and show off how strong he was when she was around him. Maybe because all her life she was used to everyone betraying her or maybe she never had anyone protecting her. If she needed him to tell her that she wanted his protection, he would proudly declare that he will always protect and care for her.

Since she was graciously being so near him, his good eye clearly did not miss everything Robin had to offer. She was obviously testing the waters like this and eventhough he wasn't THAT type of man but he will be THAT if she wants it so bad. He will gladly play along with her game afterall he didn't enjoy being dominated like this.

Zoro grabbed Robin's waist roughly and pressed her figure with his hard and he brought his mouth against her ears.

"You better stop that Robin because i don’t think I can stop myself after this " Zoro growled with his grip tightening on her waist and back. That was an indefinite warning, he was ready to drop the whole ‘nakama’ thing and fuck her right there if she insisted on being a minx. Amazing that they had the whole island to themselves, amazing that his bad sense of direction got just the both of them alone, amazing that his crew wasn’t here to interrupt this moment and lastly Nico Robin was and amazing woman. His mind was flooded with thoughts of her and he thought he was going insane.

“I don’t want you to stop Zoro.” Her voice was filled with want, need, lust and when he looked into her eyes he knew that she only wanted HIM and he was the only one she trusted her body with. Right now her eyes was an open book and he could read every thoughts she had going through in her head.

Mentally he was battling a war, he shouldn’t be indulging in this but he knew he wanted this so bad he could kill someone.

 “Not here Robin.” It had took all of his will power to seperate him and Robin, all that lust and need. Trust him he really wanted to take her right there and then but... “Fufufu, that’s very considerate and sweet of you.”

[stellar-alley]

Of Scales and Sea Glass

•Chapter 1•

 Next Chapter >>

(Summary: Eddie deals with the anniversary of his parent's death. After an intense tropical storm, he discovers something has washed up in his pool.)

Also shout out to @ambitiousskychild on tumblr for being my beta!

~

It’s just water.   You’ll be fine   God, why do you always worry so damn much?

“FUCK” Eddie groaned as he raked his hand through his hair. “Fuck…” He repeated, letting his voice trail off this time. 

It’s been a year, you should be over this by now . 

Sure it might’ve been a year, but that didn’t mean Eddie Kaspbrak was any less terrified of the ocean. Its endless blue and unexplored depths made Eddie want to be anywhere else. It didn’t help that the ocean was literally in Eddie’s backyard. All that he needed to know was that exactly one year ago today, that blue, those depths, took his parent’s lives, and that was enough to scare the boy shitless. Only now, on the anniversary of Sonia and Frank Kaspbrak’s death, did he finally decide to do something about it. 

Eddie stood about 50 feet away from his back porch, his feet in the sand and a towel wrapped over his shoulders. He watched the waves fall and crash over the sand. Tonight the weathermen were calling for a killer storm, which seemed oddly appropriate in the boy’s head. It was almost like his mother was giving him a sign. It was like her way of saying “Eddie-bear, go back inside! The world is dangerous, so stay in your room!” because that’s what she did. 

For most of Eddie’s life, he was fed placebos, convinced he had asthma, and practically forced to be straight. It was all his mother’s doings. Ever since her death Eddie has come to terms with all of his fake illnesses, he’s even been able to come out to his friends! Of course, they all accepted him and helped him whenever he needed it. He was really grateful for the losers he called his friends. 

Lighting struck in the distance, it sent a flash of light over Eddie’s face that caused him to shrink into his towel. The dark clouds that loomed overhead only caused Eddie’s heart to beat harder inside his ribcage. 

Thunder cackled soon after. Eddie’s eyes teared up as he looked up and into the waves, “I-I’m sorry,” He choked, barely able to get the words out. 

Eddie shuffled back into his oceanside house before the rain started, which was good cause when it rained, it poured. The first thing he did when he got inside was close all of the blinds, unable to look out into his backyard without his stomach-turning, the guilt was practically eating away at him. The last thing he saw as he closed the blinds were his pool, the water reflected the dark clouds that loomed overhead, creating a haunting atmosphere. 

The realization caused Eddie to sigh, “That’s gonna be a pain in my ass to clean.” Storms like these always brought the most random crap up from the bottom of the ocean, somehow all of it always ended up in Eddie’s pool. He didn’t even want the pool, he lived so close to the ocean, it was kinda useless. Well, aside from the days when it was too cold to swim in the ocean , that’s when he’d usually heat the pool up and swim in there instead. That was when he still swam. Now he hasn’t used that thing in well over a year. 

After Sonia and Frank passed, The Kaspbrak’s residence was passed down to their only child, Eddie. That house included an underground pool, a house way too big for one person, and an almost private beach that only he and his next door neighbours had access to. (His neighbours on the left never used it though. They were an elderly couple. Sometimes he’d find them sitting outside on the warm days, but they weren’t the outdoor type. His neighbours on the right had their yard fenced off). Eddie never used the pool but kept it clean for the days when his friends came over. They'd go swimming while he read in the shade. 

That night Eddie slept with his ear buds in, music on loud and the covers pulled over his head. He hated how scared he was of the water. He missed the way the waves made him feel. It was something he's never felt before, when he swam he was safe, and free. He's tried to overcome it, but nothing has worked. He'd need a miracle to convince him to get back into the water. 

 ~

Eddie woke up the next morning to the early morning sunlight streaming in through the cracks of his blinds. He mentally cursed out God for creating the sun before he turned over and shoved his face deeper into his pillow. After about 20 more minutes of internal complaining, Eddie finally dragged himself out of bed. His head was waterlogged, hazed by sleep. So when he opened the blinds to his back doors all he saw was a mass of sea shit that now crowded his pool. Instead of focusing on exactly what had washed up onto his property, he simply rolled his eyes and went to go back to breakfast. 

Eddie checked his phone, hoping it’d wake his mind up a little but he sighed as he realized he didn’t have any wifi. His realization brought a thought to the forefront of his mind. “Oh no…. No, no, no,” Eddie mumbled as he padded over towards the nearest light switch. “Fuck,” He leaned his head up against the wall when the lights didn’t turn on. This was something else that happened a lot when they were hit by a storm, the power goes out. 

After breakfast, Eddie got changed out of his pyjamas. He opted to put on an older black tee as he knew he’d be cleaning today. He pulled his iconic red shorts on and slipped on a pair of sneakers. He gathered up all of the cleaning supplies he had set aside for storms like these and set them out on his back porch. 

The morning air smelled of rain and salt. The temperature had dropped a couple of degrees from the previous day, which was refreshing, but it didn’t change the fact that Eddie had a whole yard to clean. 

First, he swept off the porch. He pushed all of the twigs, branches and sand onto the ground below. He noticed one of his neighbour’s palm trees had several fallen branches. That would explain the countless leaves that were scattered across his yard and filled his pool. 

After, he collected as much of the debris from the lawn as he could. Stuffing everything into garbage bags, tying them up, then carrying them to his front yard, where they’d sit until garbage day. Once he was in his front yard, he looked around at his neighbour’s lawns and saw they were all going through the same hell that he was. Everyone was out with garbage bins and shovels, cleaning up the mess the storm left behind. 

“EDDIE! HEY!” A voice called out to him. 

Eddie turned towards the voice and saw his neighbour to the right, Beverly Marsh. He was one of the lucky kids who conveniently lived beside one of his best friends. While the rest of their Losers Club lived no more than 20 minutes away, Bev and Eddie lived the closest, which made it easy for the group to meet up. Even if their meetups almost always ended up at Eddie’s house. 

When his mother was alive, she rarely let all of them come over, but now that she was gone, most of their summer break was spent in Eddie’s backyard, in the pool, on the beach, or in his basement watching movies. Eddie didn’t mind, he enjoyed the company. Especially since living alone got, well, lonely. So he made sure to soak up every moment he could get with his Losers. 

Eddie’s resting bitch face was washed out and replaced by a genuinely happy smile. “Marsh! How’s it hanging?” Eddie said in his best surfer bro voice. 

“It’s totally tubular,” She said, followed by a laugh. “How’s your place? No power?” She asked as she put down the bag she was holding and crossed her yard and onto Eddie’s. 

“Yeah, and my yard is a fucking mess. Don’t even get me started on the pool,” Eddie groaned at the thought.

A smug smile spread over Beverly’s lips, “It’s the days like these when I’m grateful I don’t have a pool. Can’t you just get the pool guys to come and clean it?” She questions. 

“I would but it’d cost me an arm and a leg. I’m just gonna clean then get someone to refill it. It’ll be fine,” He sighed. Eddie was gonna ask if she wanted to help but he lost his chance when Beverly’s aunt came outside. 

“Beverly! Oh, Hi Eddie. How are you doing?” She smiled at him. Beverly’s aunt Katherine was always nice to Eddie, she always helped him whenever he needed it, cooking meals and helping with bills. She was pretty great. 

“As good as I can be after a storm like this, crazy isn’t it?” He nods his head. 

“It really is, on that note, Bev, we should be getting back to work,” She said as Bev nodded. 

“I’ll see you later Eddie. Let me know if you get ahold of the rest of our rat pack, alright?” She winked as she slowly began to back away. 

“Yes ma’am!” Eddie saluted and returned to the backyard. 

He sighed. “No better time than the present, am I right?” He asked himself as he picked up the big net that was propped against the porch, then walked towards the pool.

The water had turned a dark green-grey. It didn’t smell too bad, which was a blessing as Eddie has a sensitive stomach and wasn’t in the mood of adding barf to his list of things to clean. He swept the net over the surface of the water for a couple minutes before noticing how there were a lot bigger pieces of debris than he had realized. 

Looks like we gotta break out the big guns  , Eddie left the net on the side of the pool and went to grab some rubber gloves and one of his big grey garbage cans. He stood at the edge of the pool and stared down at the water below him. It was different when he had the net, he barely had to lean over the edge, but now he was worried about falling in.  What if I lean in, fall, and drown, or get knocked unconscious and die? Eddie calmed his breathing down before it got a chance to pick up. 

“Okay, Eddie, you’re fine,” He let out a shaky breath. He ended up laying down on the pavement, flat on his stomach and stuck his arms over the edge, not daring to let anything below his neck hang over the edge of the pool. Slowly but surely he dragged most of the debris out and onto the pavement, which would then be put into the garbage, but right now he just needed to get everything out of the pool. Amongst the trash and green life he found in the water, he also fished out a pair of glasses, although they didn’t seem like normal glasses. First off, they were pretty big, but the lenses seemed oddly fogged and thick. Reminding Eddie of the sea glass he’s collected over the years of living on the coast. He set them aside and made a note to investigate them further once he was done here. 

After a couple of hours of hard work, Eddie stood over the pool and admired all of his hard work. Sure there was still a bunch of shit at the bottom of the pool, but he agreed to clean that out once the pool had been emptied. There had been a particular pile of debris off in the corner that caught Eddie’s eye. It seemed to be a pile-up of plants and what looked to be a fishing net. He walked over to that side of the pool and squinted down at the trash. Something was dimly shining beneath the pile of soggy algae that covered it. 

Maybe a fish got washed into the pool? Hm, poor dude, Eddie shrugged, about to walk away when the pile twitched ever so slightly, Eddie could have convinced himself he was seeing things, but something was telling him he wasn’t. Determined to see what it was, Eddie quickly grabbed the net and poked the pile of debris. He shied away after the first poke, then moved to poke it again. It twitched again. Eddie’s brow furrowed as he poked it again, a little harder this time. This time it shifted positions, allowing Eddie to see a little bit more of the creature that sat at the bottom of his pool. 

The shine came from scales, and there were a lot of them.  How big is this fucking fish? Oh shit- do I have a shark in my pool?! No dumbass, sharks don’t have scales…

Instead of poking it again, Eddie used the butt end of the net to try to move the debris off of the creature. He was able to push most of the algae aside, but the creature must’ve been tangled up in that damned net. The creature might not have been 100% visible, but he had a better view of it now. 

“Is that? No way…” Eddie began to speak to himself as he examined the creature. “That can’t be...” He said as he examined the part of the creature that looked like it had hair. Well whatever it had that looked like hair, it was inky black, it slowly swayed around-  A HEAD?   “WHAT THE FUCK!” Eddie shrieked as he began to stumble backwards. He stammered and wobbled. But suddenly, one of the bricks that lined the pool gave out beneath him, and he fell forwards. He fell into the pool with a big splash. 

He didn’t even have time to think, his mind was overtaken by panic. Eddie thrashed and splashed, he tried to pull himself to the surface but the water was blurring his vision, making it impossible to tell which way was up. He barely had time to take in any air as he was randomly tossed into the pool. So his lungs ached and his head throbbed. He wanted to scream out for help or stop moving just for a second, in hopes that’d he just float to the surface. But he couldn’t stop, his legs kicked wildly in the water, his shoes heavy on his feet and his clothes constricting his movement. 

He was too busy thinking about his own death to notice the pair of arms that’d wrapped around his waist. Eddie’s lungs began to  burn  , they begged for air, but Eddie knew that he was  not  going to let his mouth open. He refused to die the same death that his parents had. With that, his vision began to blur more than it already was. His mind hazed over and his thrashing minimized. His vision was dotted with black spots, due to lack of oxygen. 

I’m gonna die . 

~

Suddenly he was gasping for air. His lungs heaved as he spat up water and tried to breathe in as much air as he could. He rubbed the water out of his eyes. It took a moment for his gaze to clear, but once he did he realized he was sitting on the edge of the pool, his clothes soaked and his hair filled with leaves and dirt. 

What the fuck happened? How did I get here?  The questions overloaded Eddie’s mind as his breathing quickened, there was so much going on,  too much . 

The water beside him splashed, a light spray of water settled on him. He hesitantly looked over, hoping to see nothing, that he had dreamt it all up. But when he turned his head, he saw something drifting slowly towards him in the water. He hadn’t failed to notice how murkey the water had gotten. It’s green tinge now brown, and a little red. He didn’t even let himself think about what made it red. Eddie panicked and jackknifed, hastily shuffling backwards and away from the water. 

Eddie’s eyes were as wide as saucers, his eyebrows practically in his hairline. His breathing practically stopped as he watched the black hair he’d seen previously slowly poke up out of the water. Eddie wanted to get up and run, call the cops,  something , but he couldn’t. He was frozen in fear and anticipation. He couldn’t help that little bit of wonder that filled his head as the creature continued to come up from the waters’ surface. 

He watched as the head moved up just enough to reveal a pair of impossibly blue eyes. They stared back at him, partially covered by the black hair hanging in its face. Something about the eyes seemed hazy, almost as if they weren’t clear, they squinted for a moment before opening up wide again. 

Eddie could only muster a weak “hi,” as he stared at the creature before him. The blue eyes rolled and bubbles erupted in front of him. The head sunk back down into the water.

A splash caused Eddie to tear his eyes away from where the head once was, and look up. Further down in the pool he watched as a fish like tail splashed against the surface of the water. Half of its fin was covered in the fishing net. The rope digging into the scales. Eddie finally saw what was the cause of the red in the water. The net had various hooks still attached to it. They dug into the scales of the tail, causing it to leak red blood. Eddie’s stomach dropped. 

The tail splashed against the surface of the water again. It acted as a reality check for Eddie as he finally mustered the strength to stand up. Once he was on his feet, he wobbled momentarily before marching towards his porch. He didn’t look back as he closed his patio door. He kept walking until he was in his bathroom. 

He turned on the shower and waited until it filled the small room with steam. The boiling water practically burned all the dirt off of his skin. He was too caught up in his own thoughts to even realize he began thinking out loud. 

“There’s someone in my pool,” He started, his voice distant, “And a fish. A massive fucking fish.” He thought about the mess of hair he’d seen at the bottom of the pool. “No one can survive being underwater that long… No one, but not nothing.”

What if it wasn’t two things in my pool…  

He contemplated the idea for a second, “BUT THEY DON’T EXIST!” Eddie shouted in frustration, thrusting his fist against the ceramic wall of his shower. So many ideas floated through Eddie’s head, he hated it, he hated not knowing what was in his pool. And he hated the fact that the only idea that made semi sense, was that he had a fucking mermaid in his pool. 

“But they’re made-up. Stories, fairytailes.  Not real life, ” He countered, recalling movies like The Little Mermaid and Aquamarine. “But what else explains the tail?” He asked himself in defeat. 

Eddie turned the water to the shower off. His skin was red and raw, he could practically see the steam coming off of himself. He rested his forehead against the wall of his shower and tried to clear his head.  In and out… In and out  , he reminded himself as he took a couple minutes to just  breathe . 

After the hurricane in his head finally calmed down, he allowed himself to think back to what he’d seen outside. Careful to not open the dam of memories, he focused on the tail, the head, the water,  the blood . 

The poor thing is hurt , Eddie sharply inhaled. “Shit…” He recalled the net, and how it dug into the creature's tail. He shivered at the thought of what it must be going through. Then he remembered why he took the shower in the first place, he fell into the pool, and that fish thing, it saved him.

With a new game plan, Eddie finished up in the bathroom, got dressed, then got his fist aid kit and all the other supplies he needed. He went back outside, the sun beating down over his head as he stood on his patio and surveyed his backyard. A new level of determination filled the human. He was intrigued to find out what the hell was in his pool, and this was the best way he could find that out. 

He marched down and to the water’s edge, but all the bravery he had mustered died the moment he saw the creature floating on its front at the edge of Eddie’s pool. 

He raised his hands to cover his mouth, his eyes wide, “Fuck,” he cursed. His mind automatically assumed the worst,  death . But he tried to mentally assure himself that it had just passed out as he didn’t want to panic.

Eddie got down on his knees and carefully leaned over to grab the creature. He held his breath, worried about falling in, but he was able to pull the creature to the edge of the pool. He pushed it over onto its back. He wanted to inspect its face and features but Eddie needed to get him out of the water before those cuts got infected. 

Quickly, Eddie laid a towel down on the pavement beside the pool, worried about what the heat of the ground would do to the fish’s scales. When it came time to pulling the thing out of the water, he hadn’t thought about how much that fucking tale would weigh. He hooked his arms under the arms of the creature and tried to pull him out. He heaved and tugged. 

“Holy shit- you’re  so  fucking heavy,” Eddie gasped,  half way there , he thought to himself. All of the human part was out, and half of the tail, now all he had left was the rest of the tail and the monofin. Eddie took in one sharp inhale before he pulled the rest of it out in one final tug. He gasped as he suddenly landed on his back, the fish flopped down onto the towel beside him. 

Eddie didn’t take too long to recover, he was too interested in seeing what exactly he had just fished out of his swimming pool. He sat on his knees and surveyed the creature that laid uncious before him. 

It was indeed, a mermaid. 

The upper half of its body was made of pasty white skin, as smooth as a shark's skin. It shined in the afternoon sunlight. Its arms were long and fairly skinny with a little muscles. Eddie carefully lifted up one of its hands. He inspected it, noticing how there was an almost translucent webbing that connected his long and bony fingers. Then he let out a small gasp at the claws that laid at the edges of his fingers. They looked sharp, one swipe would surely draw blood. With that, he carefully laid the hand back down by its side. 

Eddie leaned forward a little to examine the creature's face. He lifted a hand, gently pushing some of the soggy hair out of his face. He frowned at the slash that ran across its cheeks, cutting through a wild pack of freckles. His pale skin allowed the freckles on his cheeks to shine like stars on a clear night. Eddie thought about counting them, like he had the stars, but he opted not to as he knew he had more pressing tasks at hand. He took one last glance at the face, allowing himself to soak in the mermaid's features in all its beauty. Yes,  beauty. Even Eddie couldn’t deny it, the creature was fairly beautiful. But now isn't the time for crushes, Eddie shook his head as he finally made his way down to the tale. 

Eddie examined its chest. It was fairly skinny, not malnourished, as in he could slightly see his ribs, but it wasn't too concerning. He noticed a couple bruises and various scrapes that would need to be disinfected. He followed the pale skin down. Suddenly Eddie’s brows furrowed together. The creature had no belly button. But if he had, then the scales would have started just below it. 

Now without the water blurring their colour, he was able to see the scales in all their glory. They were a pastel blue, some places darker than others, the shades varying as the tail continued. The tip of its monofin shined a sparkly silver that could give the real stuff a run for its money.

Finally, he got to his feet and overlooked  all of the creature’s injuries. Sure he had some scraps, cuts and bruises along the upper part of its body, but its tail got the worst of it. The net was tangled up in its monofin and dug into its scales, causing some of them to flake off. 

He raked his hands through his hair, tugging at the ends. “Fuck,” he sighed, realizing how much work he had to do. Without wasting any more time, he leaned over to the abundance of supplies he’d brought outside and grabbed the exacto knife to cut the net. Just as the blade popped out and Eddie leaned in, something cold and slimy grabbed his wrist. His body went cold, head snapping towards the mermaids. His eyes locked with the fish’s. The blues of his eyes were wide and determined. Eddie looked down and realized it was the hand with the knife. Quickly he grabbed the knife with his free hand and tossed it to the side. 

“Hey-Hey, it’s okay,” Eddie motioned his hands to show that they were empty and he meant no harm. Only then did the creature release Eddie’s hand, his head flopping back against the towel.  Eddie leaned over and saw that its eyes were still open, but they were hazed, almost unfocused. Eddie didn’t think too much of it, probably the salt water making him go blind or something. 

“Okay, I’m just gonna try to remove the net, alright?” He asked, but received no response. He leaned back over and pulled his bifocals out of his second fanny pack, then leaned back in and began examining the net. 

The mermaid’s head tilted upwards, it watched the human’s fingers traced along the edges of the net. Its eyes grew wide at the sight of the spectacles on Eddie’s face. 

Eddie noticed the movement and glanced over at the creature. He hummed lightly, wondering what it was looking at. The moment didn’t last too long as when Eddie leaned away from the tail, the creature lunged at him. Its arms out and claws sharp, its eyes filled with determination. Eddie shrieked and fell backwards, his hands flew up to his face. 

After a moment of heavy breathing, he realized he felt no pain. He slowly moved his shaky hands away from his face and looked up at the mermaid. He was surprised to see it carefully holding his bifocals. 

It held it in his hands as if they were so fragile they’d break. The creature slid them onto his face as if it was a second nature. The blue eyes blinked a couple times before its face scrunched up in confusion. It took the glasses off and held them once again in its hands. Now its face was filled with disbelief and worry. 

“What?” Eddie asked, unsure of what was happening. 

The creature looked up at the human with sad, hazy eyes. For a moment they just held eye contact, as if they were having a conversation with their eyes in a language Eddie didn’t understand. Then the creature held the glasses out towards Eddie with one hand, while the other pointed towards its own chest. 

Eddie’s face scrunched up, he hated charades. “What about the glasses?”. 

The creature pointed to itself once again. 

“Your glasses?” Eddie suggested, and the blue eyes widened to an impossible size. A new emotion spread over the fish’s face, excitement. “Yeah?” Eddie asked, and nodded. “Yeah!” Eddie said happily. “Yeah…” he repeated, this time with fear laced in his voice as he had no clue where its glasses were. 

Since when do mermaids wear glasses anyways? What the fuck?

“Wait- You can understand me?” It finally dawned on Eddie, he’d been talking to a mermaid, and it was responding… technically. 

Its eyebrows lowered and their glare became sharp, as if to say ‘ Yeah, so? ’, followed by a slow nod. Now it had used its free arm to prop itself up on it’s elbow so they were almost at eye level. 

Eddie smiled softly at the fish, his cheeks a little warmer than they were before. He nervously chuckled, “Oh, cool”. He rubbed the back of his neck, diverting his gaze around the backyard so he didn’t have to stare into those ocean eyes any longer. His sight landed on the pile of trash he said he’d sort through later that laid on his lawn and he noticed a piece of glass that shined in the light. 

Eddie gasped, he jumped from his sitting position up to his feet and ran to his pile of trash. He snatched the object up off of the lawn and ran back to the mermaid, practically falling down beside it. Eddie got situated on the ground, a wide smile on his face. He held them and carefully opened them up, without any further wait, he leaned in and slid the glasses on the mermaid's face. 

The fish was confused at first, unsure of how to feel about the human being so close. But the small boy didn’t give it much of a chance to react because before he could flinch, his vision cleared. Its hands moved up to its face and felt around, touching the glasses that they knew all too well. 

Finally being able to see clearly, it looked up at the boy in front of it. Its lips curved into a wide smile that got a little giggle out of the human. 

“So I guess those are yours?” Eddie asks. 

The mermaid nods proudly. The moment is cut short when a bolt of pain cuts through the fish’s tail, it grimaces and hisses.

Eddie tenses at the sound, “Oh shit! Sorry, but can I  please use the knife?” He beged, eyes wide and worried. 

The mermaid lies back down on the towel, eyes forced shut. It nods. 

Okay, okay, okay  . Eddie’s thoughts pick up at the thought of being so close to the creature. Not because it’s like- cute or anything,  no  , it’s because he doesn't want to hurt it.  Yeah, that’s why . 

Eddie gripped the exacto knife with enough strength to make his knuckles go white. His eyes skimmed over the net, deciding on where to cut. He found a spot he claimed to be a good start and began cutting. He sliced the net up and into pieces, slowly freeing the tail from its grasp. Soon enough he was just left with the pieces that had the hooks attached to them. 

“Sorry this is gonna hurt,” Eddie said before he carefully pulled the fist hook loose. The fish’s breathing hitched and filled with pain. “ Sorry!”  Eddie grimaced as he pulled another one out. This one leaked a lot more blood and the mermaids hand smacked around the ground, causing Eddie to jump at the sudden sound. It felt like it took hours to fully free the tail, but soon enough the deed was done. 

Eddie leaned back on his hands and tilted his head up towards the sun. “I’m sorry,” he breathed before looking back down at the mermaid. It sat upright now, carefully examining its tail. It reached out to touch one of the cuts. Eddie jumped into action and slapped the hand away. It hissed at Eddie. “Hey! Don’t do that, I’ve still gotta disinfect them, okay?” His tone grew impatient as he cracked open the first aid kit. 

His back began to ache from the hours he’d spent hunched over the blue tail, disinfecting the scrapes and bandaging the deeper cuts. He moved on to the upper half of the creature. 

“Tell me if this hurts, okay?” Eddie requested as the mermaid gave him a side eye look. Eddie began to slowly put pressure on different places on the fish’s chest, mainly the places with the bruises to see if- The mermaid let out a loud hiss. Eddie’s hands shot up and away as its claws came into view again. “Sorry! You have an injured rib, so that’s why it hurts. You won’t be able to move much until it heals,” Eddie explained, his mind going through the healing process when he realized it won’t be able to swim in this condition, and it certainly can’t stay on land in Eddie’s backyard. 

“Oh…” Eddie’s graze dropped, a sudden wave of fatigue washed over him as he realized what he’s gonna have to do. But before he allowed himself to think over the idea too much, he finished cleaning all of the cuts that needed it. 

“O-Okay, so I-um.... I can’t leave you here, and I can’t bring you back to the ocean cause you’re hurt and you need to properly heal. So i’m gonna bring you into my house and keep you in my bathtub, okay?” He rambled in hopes the creature understood what he was saying.  God, I sound fucking insane. This is insane! I can’t keep an oversized goldfish in my tub. But I can’t leave him out here… the pool guys are coming tomorrow and if they see him we’d be in so much shit- It’s the only way  . Eddie finalized his plan with a sigh.   

“You,” he pointed at the creature, “stay,” he demanded before he got up and went back inside. He ran upstairs and into the bathroom, flopped down beside the big bathtub, and began running the water. He set the temperature to warm then took a moment to catch his breath. 

Everything began to settle in. The mermaid, the scales, the storm, the future, the creature’s eyes, its freckles-  Okay, Eddie stop it. It’s a fucking sea creature, you can’t have a crush on it . He huffed and rolled his eyes at his gay thoughts. Eddie’s been out for a couple months now, to his mother's dismay, and he’s been happy. Sure he’s had a couple crushes before, but he’s never had one on a fish person… So he wasn't too sure what to think of that. 

The white noise created by the running water created a soothing atmosphere for the boy, and for a moment, he sat in silence and just  breathed . Though the moment was short lived, a low whale-like sound erupted from his stomach, reminding him about the fact that he hasn't had lunch yet. He looked down at his watch and saw it was already 3 pm. 

Holy shit, time flies when you're with a merman. If I’m hungry then imagine what it must be feeling, when was the last time it ate? What does it eat? Do I have anything to feed it? Okay let’s just focus on getting it inside first- Also? Finding a fucking name for this thing, I can’t keep calling it, well, IT!

Eddie shook all of the static out of his head and pulled himself to his feet. He turned the knob to the bathtub and turned the water off, he hoped the temperature would suffice, he’d find out soon enough. 

Going back to the mermaid in his backyard, he found it in the same place he left it, which was a relief. Still on its back, with an arm on its forehead to shade its eyes from the blaring afternoon sun. It sensed the human before he approached. It moved its arm and tilted its head to look up at the towering figure. 

“Hi again, so I need to pick you up to bring you inside. So you don't… die. Is that okay?” Eddie asked awkwardly. The creature simply shrugged, as if to say ‘Do what you need’. “Okay,  well , you need to help me out cause you weigh a fucking ton and I am not strong. So wrap your arms around my neck and don’t-don’t fucking eat me,” Eddie instructed as he got down on his knees, bracing himself for the weight he’d soon carry. 

The mermaid sat up. Eddie moved his hands underneath the tail, he didn’t wait for the mer to move its arms because he knew if he waited any longer he’d convince himself not to. So he sharply inhaled and lifted the mermaid up bridal style. He wobbled slightly as he gained his balance on his feet. The wobble sent a shiver down the mer’s spine, he jumped to wrap its arms around Eddie’s neck in fear of being dropped. 

The sudden motion made Eddie smirk. “Oh,  now  you do it,” he forced a small laugh. Eddie began to walk forward towards the house, each step harder than the last. 

When they got to the stairs, Eddie’s breath hitched when he went up the first stair, his arms almost gave out from beneath him. 

The mermaid shook and buried its face in the crook of Eddie’s neck. Eddie felt the glasses dig into his neck. With the sudden change of proximities,  the mer’s breath sent shivers down Eddie’s back, it was slow and warm. 

The muscles in his arms burned before he even started up the staircase to the second flood. “Fuck… me,” Eddie murmed, as if it was going to take away the fiery pain that ran through his body. 

Eddie was practically dragging his feet as he walked, unable to bring them up from the ground. His vision was set on the staircase in front of him, so he didn’t notice the one floorboard that was slightly higher than the others. The toe of his foot collided with the floorboard and they went toppling forward, hitting the floor with a big  thump . 

The creature let out a ear bleeding shriek as it fell, then pain erupted from its tail as it landed on the ground. Certainly the extra weight of a human on its torso didn’t help at all. 

Eddie was in shock for a moment, unsure of what had just happened. Looking around he turned and saw he was now face to face with the mermaid. Their eyes locked, both of them wild and concerned. Eddie snapped himself back into reality before he could get lost in the ocean eyes again. 

“I-I’m sorry.  Shit , I’m so sorry,” Eddie stammered, his body weak and his arms aching. He rolled off the creature and onto his back. “I’m sorry,” He croaked, the failure settling in. 

He didn’t move his gaze from the ceiling over his head. He didn’t want the mer to see his eyes as they filled with tears. Something cold rested on top of Eddie’s hand. Hesitantly, he dragged his eyes over to the creature beside him. The hand held onto his own as the mermaid’s lips offered a tight but comforting smile, as if to say,  it’s okay, really . Eddie shifted his hand ever so slightly so the mer’s hand fit more comfortably in his. The webbing that lined the fingers of the mermaid’s hand tickled Eddie’s. Its thumb rubbed slow circles over Eddie’s knuckles. 

“A-Are you okay?” Eddie whispered worriedly. 

The creature was in pain, for sure, but it nodded anyways, for the human’s sake. 

Neither of them were sure how long they stayed like that, hand in hand, breathing laboured and heavy, eyes on the ceiling. Although at some point Eddie’s arms felt a smidge better, and his breathing had returned. That’s when he knew he had to try again. 

“1....2...3!” Eddie lifted the mermaid off the ground again. It seemed just a little easier than last time. This time he kept his breathing steady, and kept his eyes going from the stairs in front of him to his goal, the bathroom. 

Once they stood in the middle of the upstairs hallway, Eddie took a minute and stood and caught his breath. He noticed the way the mer’s eyes drifted and examined his new surroundings. But something caught his eye and Eddie felt one of the arms slowly move away from his neck. Hesitantly he turned his head just in time to see the clawed hand reaching out for Eddie’s own little creature that sat in a fish tank that lined the hallway. It was his pet betta fish, Goldy. (He wasn't a creative kid, okay?).

“NO!” Eddie exclaimed, almost dropping the mermaid again. The sudden motion caused the arm to wrap back around Eddie’s neck in fear of being dropped. “Do  not  eat my goldfish. She is a friend, not fucking food,” he practially growled. 

The creature shrank away, not a fan of the tone Eddie had gained. As much as it wanted to lean  away  from the boy who just scolded him, it leaned  into  Eddie, it liked the warmth his skin gave off. It curled a little deeper into his touch, putting his chin on top of his shoulder and nestling into the side of his face. 

Eddie got the mermaid settled into the bathtub and immediately noticed a change in its mood. Suddenly its eyes had a new sparkle to them and his lips were always semi smiling. 

Eddie sat on the closed toilet seat and took in the sight before him.  A mermaid in my bathtub… This’ll be one hell of a diary entry  . “So! I-er, I hope this isn’t rude, but are you a girl or a boy? I know you don’t have boobs but I really don’t know how this whole  mermaid  thing works,” Eddie stopped himself before he kept rambling. 

The mer lifted two fingers in the air.  Two, second, second option. “Boy?” Eddie tilted his head. The creature nodded. He sighed in relief, “Good, good… I-I’m Eddie by the way.” The creature nodded again then ducked his head down into the water and blew bubbles up at the human. Eddie huffed in amusement at the gesture. 

The human’s stomach rumbled again. He rolled his eyes in response. He didn’t even bother telling the mermaid- merman? Merman. He didn’t bother telling him he was gonna leave cause the mer looked like he was having the time of his life blowing bubbles down under. Once he was in the kitchen, Eddie tried to be quick, opening up every cupboard and checking everywhere for food fit for a fish. The only thing he came across that seemed semi-suitable were fish sticks. Eddie eyed them for about half a minute before ripping the bag open, throwing them into a container then shoving it in the microwave. He made himself a quick sandwich, cheese and ketchup (That was the most unhealthy food Sonia ever let Eddie eat so let him be). He’d barley chewed his first bit before the microwave beeped. He held the sandwich in between his lips and held the container with both hands, moving it between the two cause it was hot. 

Once he was back in the bathroom he took his seat back down on the toilet seat and set the container on his lap. Eddie quickly ate his sandwich, only when he looked up did he notice the merman’s eyes were sitting out of the water, watching him like a hawk from behind his sea glasses. 

“Hungry?” Eddie asked as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. 

The merman lifted the rest of his head out of the water at the sight of the food. Eddie held up a fish stick, “Okay, I know this is like processed shit but,” he sighed, tired of all the talking and manual labour he’s been doing, “It’s all I have.”

The mer shrugged and opened his mouth, asking Eddie to feed him. The human was taken aback at the gesture, but he gave in and picked up a fish stick, tearing a bite-sized chunk off. Eddie leaned forward and held it out just in front of the mer’s face. Its lips felt soft against the human skin as it took the food from him. It gulped it down happily then opened his mouth up again. The fish finished the whole container. 

He opened his mouth again and Eddie scoffed, “I’m all out fish boy! I guess I’ll go get some stuff tomorrow,” Eddie motioned to the empty container. The fish let out a low grumble as he sunk back under the water and blew bubbles at Eddie, as if showing attitude.

“Oh shut it trashmouth,” Eddie retorted, the nickname just slipped out. 

The water sloshed against the side of the tub as his eyes burst back out of the water. 

Eddie let out a nervous laugh at the sudden movement, “W-What? You like that,  trashmouth? ” Eddie said in a teasing manner. The mer’s lips smirked from underwater. The sight brightened Eddie’s smile. 

“Well,  trashmouth, I have no clue what time it is but I’m tired as fuck. I’m gonna go to sleep. You should too, so you can heal,” Eddie advised. He stood, took a step towards the tub and ruffled the fish’s hair. The mer leaned into the touch, the both of them enjoyed the physical attention.

Word count: 7604

I hope you guys liked the first chapter! Let me know what you think in the comments. I will see you guys next week with chapter 2, Sushi and Speeches. Until then, So Long And Goodnight.

~

[Taglist]

@richietoaster @s-onora @that-weird-girl-blog @beproudtozier @ghostnebula @bellarosewrites @s-s-georgie @lermanslogan @iamcupcakefrosting @madidraw @gazebobullshit @thoughtfullyyoungduck @aangzukos @ambitiousskychild @reddieonwheels @breadheadscorpius

Let me know if you wanna be added to the tag list!

[noahstilinski]

Betwitched - Stiles Stilinski

Sorry this one took a while to post, I had to do some research about paganism! I’m not an expert so sorry if I misrepresented it! Also, I read charm as like a piece of jewelry or smth, sorry again if I misunderstood the meaning (english is not my first language)

Hope you enjoy it!

Masterlist

Requested: Yes

Prompt:  Hey, submitting a request! I’m 25, pagan and do a lot of spells, charms and herb-based work, in the woods, so maybe the reader is an apprentice for Deaton or a solo witch? And Derek or Stiles find out about her somehow, (find one of her charms in the woods?). I think they’d either be really suspicious, or try and befriend her, or be really curious about learning with her. Thanks!

Pairing: Stiles x Reader

Word count: 1650

Warnings: Idk

"Where did you find that?"

Stiles blinked several times at the sudden question, not sure exactly what Deaton was talking about until he traced his glance to the charm dangling from his pocket. He hurried to take it out and hand it out to Deaton for examination. "Yeah about that, I found it when Scott took off and left me alone in the woods" Stiles glared at his best friend, who gave him a sheepish apologies shrug. "Do you know what it is?" He knew it wasn't just some jewelry. The charm had a weird shape, one you don't usually see in gift shop crap or mainstream designs. That, and the fact that he found it just beside what he thought to be a makeshift temple. It had caught Stiles' eye, and he preferred making sure it wasn't some cursed relic or anything. 

"It's a charm belonging to... A student of mine, per say" Deaton began as the boys exchanged questioning glances. "This one specifically helps channeling the earth's power for benevolent spells"

"Bene-- What is this? Witchcraft 101?"  "No" He replied calmly. "It's paganism. It's close to druidism. Not quite the same, but we have some characteristic in common" "So who does it belong to?" Scott finally spoke. "Do we know them?" "Maybe. She does go to Beacon Hills High" Deaton said, shifting his glance to the young alpha. "Her name is (Y/N)" /-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/ "Hey, (Y/N), wait up!" You furrowed your eyebrows and turned around at the unfamiliar voice calling your name. You watched as a tall, dark haired boy jogged up to you and matched his walking pace to yours.  "You probably don't know me. Or maybe you do, not that I'm assuming you might but--" He paused his rambling when he noticed your raised eyebrow. It was kind of cute, you thought. "Anyway. I'm Stiles"  "I'd introduce myself too, but it seems like you already know my name" You gave him a smile.  "Right" He muttered to himself. "So uh, I kinda found something belonging to you, or so I was told. Here" He reached in his pocket and handed you the charm you had lost in the forest a couple of days ago, when you got caught by the rain and had to leave in a hurry. You grabbed it from him and looked up with wide eyes, clueless as to how he found it and especially how he knew it was yours. "W-Where did you find this?" You asked with a stutter. "How did--" "Hey, I found it totally by accident" He held your arms up in surrender. "And Deaton told me it was yours. I'm not an evil wizard that can trace back possessions to its owner, I swear" You could only blink at the rapidity of the words that came out of his mouth. You went from panicked, to confused and finally to baffled. You had known this boy for a minute and he made no sense to you. Why was he that far in the woods? From where did he know Deaton enough that he entrusted him with your charm? Why would being a wizard was his best alternative explanation? "Uh" You huffed. "Thanks" "You're welcome" He smiled widely, but then it dropped. "I'm not gonna be cursed or hexed for touching it without your blessing, right?" Your first reaction was to laugh. Loudly. It turned heads to your direction, and Stiles sent them awkward waves until it died down.  "Oh god" You clutched your stomach. "No, of course not. Why would you think that?" "I don't know" He shrugged. "You're the witch... Bewitching things. I think" "I think you've got it wrong" You said, a smile remaining on your lips. You had concluded that this boy was not a threat to your secret, and was probably aware of the supernatural by how he dealt so easily--absurdly but easily--with your occupation. "I'm more of a close to nature type of person. I'm not doing actual magic, not like you're thinking" "Huh, good to know I guess" He scratched the back of his neck. He kept walking beside you, like he didn't want to leave just yet. Again, you found him weird, but strangely endearing.  You were curious about him. "... Would you like to see how it works?" You suggested, and he almost jumped in surprise at the offer.  "You'd do that?" He asked, now walking backwards to face you. "Yeah" You half shrugged with a small smile. "I've got a free period right now, and obviously either you're late to class or you have one too" "Observant" He pointed a finger in your direction. "I do have a free period. Let's go" You walked out of the school and crossed the field toward the woods, and only stopped when you were sure you wouldn't be disturbed. You slid your backpack in your hands and sat down on a patch of dry grass. Stiles sat down in front of you, sending you a curious glance. "Why are you trusting me that easily?" His eyes narrowed momentarily as an obvious wave of doubt washed over him. "Well, Deaton obviously trusts you enough to bring my charm back to me" You replied. "How did you even come to meet Deaton?" "Oh, that's a long one" He sighed, leaning back on his hands. "Actually, not that long. Perhaps complicated. Yeah. Not my secret to tell, but long story short, I know too much werewolves and a dark druid pissed me off" "Wow" You blinked a few times at that roller coaster. "I see how Deaton comes to play here" "Yeah" He nodded. "So you're his student?" "Not quite" You said as you reached for some more charms in your backpack. "He helped me with the basics, and guides me from time to time, but our practice differs too much from one another to hold lessons on the regular" "I see" He hummed. "So. How does this all works?" "Well, you see these charms?" You pointed at the four that were lying on the ground in front of you. "Each one represents an element of nature I can draw strength from. I don't have them all here, and I don't have my herbs either, but I still can cast simpler spells with what I've got" "So basically, your environment becomes a source of power, right?" He asked. "Exactly" You nodded. "I can do multiple kinds of spells, but I prefer to stay on the positive side of the spectrum. You know, good fortune and luck spells, spells to end pain. Even protection spells at large scale, but these require more material" "That's awesome" He smiled. "Can you do any right now?" "Of course, it'll even be with the charm you brought me back" You grinned at him as you put back the rest of your charms in your backpack, not to forget them this time. You then drew a construct in the small patch of dirt in between you and Stiles, then grabbed the charm in both of your hands. "This is a strength spell. I will call upon the earth to assist you in times of hardship and give you the power to overcome difficulties. You ready?" He only nodded, not taking his eyes off the construct. You closed your eyes and muttered the first part of the spell, then placed the charm in the middle of the construct. You offered your hands to Stiles, and it took his a second to understand he had to take them.  You chanted the last part of the spell louder, eyes closed and feeling the subtle power of nature take over. Then, it ended and you brought your hands back to you. "All done" You smiled at him. "Alright, this felt weird" He admitted. "Is it normal? Like is it supposed to happen?" "Yes and no" You answered. "Some people might not feel anything, others do. It depends how sensitive to the supernatural you are, and I can only guess you are more than the average" "Is this good or bad?" He seemed worried for a second. "Again, it depends on you" You shrugged. "In your situation, I'd say good. Since you are apparently surrounded by the supernatural, it gives you an edge to understand and anticipate it without being a part of it" "Uh, I guess that explains a lot" He mumbled to himself. "Well, uh, thanks. This is interesting. I mean, really, that's like, totally awesome" "I could show you more spells, if you'd like" You offered as you gently erased the construct from the soil with your hand. "When I have access to all of my stuff, of course" "Seriously?" He perked up at that.  "Yeah" You smiled widely as you stood up. You didn't think he'd be that interested, and his enthusiasm was cute. You certainly looked forward seeing him around again. "Here, text me when you have some free time" You handed him your phone so he could save your number in his. When he gave it back, you walked side by side toward the school again. You made small talk; you learned he was the Sheriff's son, that you had no classes in common and that he was on the lacrosse team. You found out he had quite the sense of humour, and he seemed a pretty smart guy.  He also told you Stiles wasn't his real name, but that he preferred it because it was way less complicated that way for everyone.  "Hey um, it was nice hanging out with you" You said as you paused in from of the staircase when you got back inside the school.  "Yeah, it was" He smiled, and it illuminated his eyes. You definitely liked his smile, you decided. "See you around?" "You have my number" You winked, watching him wave and walk away. You couldn't wait to see him again.

[icarusatmidnight]

Magic backfires. Everyone knows this.

Talking about that is another question entirely though. It's far easier to gossip, to tsk-tsk in haughty tones behind closed hands with every sad case that makes the headlines. 'Such a wonderful life cut short.' 'Why anyone would try is just beyond me.' 'Playing with such dangerous things, what did they even expect.' For those who survive to live with their burns, it can feel honestly damning at times.

Not for Oleander Thistle though! People can talk behind his back all they want. It doesn't change the fact that he made it out of his alive and that in and of itself will always be glorious. Besides, the pariah life suits just him fine. The less questions asked, the better, yeah? Yeah. So, of course, when his roommate come home with a half of dozen bland-looking flyers advertising some support group for people burnt by magic, Oleander can't helped but laugh.

'Because just as Icarus didn't die because of his mistake, neither did we for ours. We fall into silence though, biting tongues at everyone's opinions and we are shunned when we talk ourselves! Not anymore! Join us at the Small Hours Diner on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 12am-2am because it doesn't have to be that way. We can talk, we can plan and we can fix ourselves for the better!!'

It's ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous!! Still, the words keep finding their way back into his head without his permission as the week passes on. 'Fix ourselves for the better,' it says and Oleander wonders... 

How bad could one meeting really be?

Hiya, guys! Today, let's talk about one of my passion projects, Icarus at Midnight!

Icarus at Midnight is a story about three twentysomething year old insomniacs that attend an informal support group for magical trauma as they try to come to terms with what happened to them. They also maybe might try to become gods. The wording is pretty unclear (and you can absolutely blame Kingcup for that~). 

Set in a magic solarpunky version of Earth, much of our older history remains similar though not exactly the same (like Icarus not dying, he burns himself with magic instead and falls into the Inbetween) and the newer bits just don't flat exist! Magic itself has been known entity throughout the whole of history but it is absurdly temperamental to use. As a result, people have a strained relationship with it. For for small every-day practices, changing hair or watering plants when you’re just on the edge of too tired or just sweeping the house, it’s pretty common to use. Like, playgrounds and subways tend to be littered with small graffiti-sigils. But using magic for anything more significant then that? You’re not playing with fire, you’re playing with a lit stick of dynamite. 

Magic will always backfire. If not today, then surely tomorrow.

Despite all the warnings though, all the strict lectures, all the corny psas, people still get hurt and society in most of the cases will just blame the user. Because they were warned. It’s not their fault they didn’t listen.

There's also many different beings that live within Earth: humans, witches, faes, werewolves, centaurs and vampires and you know, etc in that direction or so we'll be here all day. They all use magic in different ways but there tends to be a common thread throughout all communities that you need to be careful when using it. 

Basically, it's a pretty modern-magic setting because I've always been way too into the idea of redcap blood-drives and  'do for vine' magical dares. Like, can you even imagine?! :D <3 I just love the idea of people being people and using magic for both fantastical and especially mundane reasons!

The actual story follows the lives of three members of Icarus as they slowly deal with their own magical trauma, learn about each other and the world at large and fall down that beautiful hole known as friendship. They also start changing their selves but for the better or for the worse, we’ll see~ ;3 ;3 ;3

Oleander Thistle, twenty two year old delivery kid. Reserved and snarky, Oleander is the main character of Icarus. As noted above, he's actually pretty okay with the whole magically burned thing. He has a bigger plans than getting down about something from his past, like sitting through all the worst b-movies he can find and thrift shopping!! \m/!! He joins Icarus mostly to shut up his roommate and stays because he finds Kingcup entertaining as all heck (and good questionable diner food too). That girl is something special~. 

Datura Kingcup, twenty three year old archivist. Passionate and stubborn, Kingcup is a former child prodigy in terms of magical theory and practice, earning praise from many of the Academia Circles until one day, she suddenly quit magic cold turkey. It’s anyone’s guess why, but given she’s the sole founder of Icarus at Midnight… Well. It seems pretty obvious in retrospect now, yeah? She's very much the type of person to drag society kicking and screaming to her expectations though, not the other way around so she's not gonna let a societal taboo keep her down! This is probably why her and Olea got along like two peas in a pod~.

Thyme Oxeye, twenty one year old stage hand. Silly and empathetic, Thyme walks the tight line between being a blessed saint and a disaster of a trashcan fire. He moved to Dead Leaves by himself a few years back, supporting himself via lots of odd jobs while deeply missing his family back home in the Romneya Backwoods. It's very frequent to find him in the company of animals too, they're just so cute!! He joins Icarus mostly on an anxious whim, hoping maybe he can figure out a way to get back home while attending. So, fingers crossed!!

My plan is hopefully to do a major post a week, like on a character or a location within the world or Dead Leaves itself or just some concept in the world. I think that’ll be a bit fun. c: If there’s anything or anyone y’all are specifically curious about, shoot me a dm or an ask please! <3 

Also! If people would like to added or removed from my tag list, please feel free to shoot me a dm or ask too. c: Now, I’ll off to change a few tags around! I can’t go on using Wormwood for Olea when every time my mind screams Thistle. I’m just gonna give in. :’l

@areixs @reeseweston @mirror-of-too-many-books @missrobinswritings @hiddswritingrefs @merigreenleaf @candlelitwriting @dreamvevo @fannistwrites @loopyhoopydrabbles @rain-likes-to-ramble

[puzzle163]

this might be a little greedy but: OTP questions 1-15 for brugo :P

omg bless

(Since a lot of these aren’t applicable for Edenverse, let’s go with the complicated backstory I came up with and never really used for the marriage one-shot and partially for the Verbo et Opere AU! The short version: Brian works in a motorcycle shop and was adopted/raised by a family with a bunch of other foster kids, Hugo is an only child who flunked a college semester when his heart got broken by his first long-term boyfriend. Brian is on an annual family summer camping trip, Hugo is camping with his parents while he gets his head together to go back to college in the fall. AND GO.)

Who asks the other on a date first?Technically Brian because he was the one who drove to Hugo’s house after they returned to their respective homes to say that he’d decided he didn’t want them to just be a summer flirtation, but Hugo was the one who asked Brian on the first hike they went on together, and at that point there were clearly some sparks flying already. (it just wasn’t an official Date u_u)

Where was their first kiss? Who leaned in first?In the woods while hiking together near the end of the summer. It was very much a mutual lean ;3

How long did they know each other before they started dating?A few months, they didn’t Officially date until after the summer camping trip

How did they flirt with one another before one of them got the courage to ask the other out?In this AU I had Brian being the more romantically-unprepared person, so his flirting was super tsuntsun because he really liked this boy? Whose smile made his heart do flips?? And how do you react to that besides finding stupid reasons to be around him and acting like they’re coincidences??? Hugo was better at flirting but could tell Brian was pretty nervous so his flirting was all super low-key, like holding hands over rough terrain and getting Brian to come stargazing with him.

Where did they go on their first date?Brian took Hugo on a motorcycle ride and they got some food truck type lunch

What did they talk about on their first date? Mostly about what they should do regarding their relationship. By this point they’d spent all summer talking about their lives and hobbies and stuff, and this moment was kind of a big one because they could potentially choose to walk away from each other right then, so as happy as they were to be spending time together again the topic of “should we continue this officially?” was really the only thing on their minds.

Who picked who up, or did they meet up, on their first date?Brian picked up Hugo at his house

When do they make it official that they are dating?Once they talk and decide they do want to continue things, it’s official to them, but it takes awhile longer for them to be official to anyone else. Hugo’s parents aren’t super keen on Brian at first, especially as they’d just watched their only son take the loss of a serious relationship pretty hard the winter before, and they picked up on the “not the most stable emotional upbringing possible” vibes from Brian. So there’s a lot of secretive dates and sneaking out and not taking it super seriously x3 But eventually they get caught and Brian sees how concerned/upset Hugo’s parents are about Hugo choosing him so he slinks out (to ride his motorcycle home...alone.....in the rain........BECAUSE AESTHETIC) and Hugo is of course upset and kind of explodes at his parents for making Brian feel unwanted and it’s a moment of clarity for him because he realizes that he doesn’t just want to date Brian for the thrill of dating someone, or just for sex or just for attention or just to fill time...he wants to be in a relationship with Brian because this is someone he can see spending the rest of his life with. So he sort of steals (...borrows without permission? 8D) his dad’s car to chase Brian down and they talk and kiss in the rain (BECAUSE AESTHETIC DAMN IT) and then probably both catch colds even though they’re idiots.

Who do they bring to their first double date?Charlie and Louisa. It’s not really a double date tbh because the only people romantically attached are Brian and Hugo, but it goes great because Charlie and Louisa initially are wary of each other in a “you seem cool but my friend likes your friend a lot and if he gets hurt I swear to god I’ll cut every bitch in a square mile” but then realize they have a lot in common (DUMB GUY FRIENDS AMONG THEM) and end up being bffs.

Who can’t stop blushing when they are around their partner? Hugo, because in every AU he WILL blush at the drop of a hat

How do they adjust to their partner’s social group?Awkwardly. xD Brian’s social group is basically all his motorcycle shop coworkers who are either gearheads or stoners or both, and Hugo’s social group is all these clean-cut well-brought-up college kids and their first group outings are extremely awkward (Brian’s coworkers invite Hugo’s friends to a Hardcore Heavy Death Metal Concert. Hugo’s friends ask Brian in 100% seriousness if the fact that he has tattoos means he’s been to jail.) Eventually they learn to find common ground though.

Who gets tongue tied around their partner?Oh they both do from time to time, that never gets old =3=

What do they do in public to show that they are dating? Hold hands, walk arm in arm, does one have their arm over the other, constant flirting, the look™, anything else?Holding hands is a big one for them, as well as Hugo having his arm over Brian’s shoulders/Brian having his arm around Hugo’s waist. They also both have The Look for each other.

Who is more likely to give a kiss on their partner’s cheek in public? Probably Brian once their relationship settles into something they’re treating as public and long-term. He loves that he can always get Hugo to blush when he does it x3

Who notices all the small things when they start dating? Hugo mostly, he has experience in a relationship so he notices a lot more, while Brian is flailing around just trying to figure out why he’s having a Feeling and wtf to do about it.

[therainroguefanfiction]

⚜️ Change the Face of History (Skyrim); #3 Saved?

📑 Table of Contents & Information ⤝ Backward

The Captain turned toward another woman who was dressed in a brown robe with a yellow hood pulled over her head. “Give them their last rites,”

Cool, because the last thing I want to hear before I die is the ramblings of some religious nut. Not to mention the fact that Ulfric is still staring me down, the fuck. Seriously, did his mom not teach him that staring is rude?

The priestess held out her arms and began to speak to the sky. “As we commend your souls to Aetherius, blessings of the Eight Divines upon you, for you are the salt and earth of Nirn -“

“For the love of Talos, shut up and let’s get this over with.” One of the prisoners interrupted, stepping up toward the block of wood on the ground.

“I don’t know who this Talos guy is,” I interjected. “But I second that motion… the shutting up part, not the getting this over with part.”

The priestess looked super offended as her gaze switched between him and I. “As your wish,” she huffed before turning and walking away.

“Come on,” the prisoner antagonized. “I haven’t got all morning.”

The Captain came up behind him, her palm against his shoulder blades. With one rough shove, the man fell to his knees. Then she did the man dirty by replacing her hand with her dirty ass boot, shoving him hard against the block of wood.

“My ancestors are smiling at me, Imperials. Can you say the same?” He questioned. Even in the face of death, he showed no signs of fear or regret. Damn.

A man in black lifted a giant axe above his head, not hesitating to swing it downward across the prisoner’s neck, severing the head clean from the body. I flinched, turning my gaze away from the scene as blood spurted from the wound into the air. And then it clicked in my head, like a lightbulb switching on above me.

“The headsman,” I snapped my fingers. “Now I get it!”

The prisoner standing beside me, a man with dirty blonde hair and a bitchy looking expression, turned to stare at me like I was the bane of his very existence. I merely shrugged, turning to look to my right instead, where Ralof stood.

“As fearless in death as he was in life,” he commented fondly.

“Next, the renegade from Cyrodiil!” The Captain called out.

That same unearthly wail from a few minutes before filled the sky once more, causing a pause to arise within the crowd. To me, it seemed like a warning sound or an alarm blaring, but the others didn’t seem to see it that way.

“There it is again,” said the brunette as he turned his gaze skyward. “Did you hear that?”

“I said, next prisoner!” She called again with an annoyed tone. Whoever is next in line, I feel sorry for them. Something tells me this chick is a bitch both on and off the job. You know, one of those stuck up types with a stick constantly up their ass.

The brunette stepped up beside me, giving me a light shove on my shoulder. “To the block, prisoner. Nice and easy.”

My blood ran cold. Wait, I’m the next prisoner?! “N-Now wait just a minute here! Surely someone else is meant to go before me. Chivalry is dead these days, you know? There’s no need for -“

The Captain shoved me hard with her foot and I tripped over the corpse of the man that had gone before me. My cheek smashed against the wood, blood smearing across my skin. Little pebbles on the ground dug into the thin cloth pants I wore. Oh Deadpool, it’s still warm, too… Fuck, this can’t be sanitary. No no no, now’s not the time for your stupid commentary, Rae. Don’t people say if you die in your dreams, you also die in real life? Wait a damn minute. They also say you can’t feel pain in your dreams, but… my eyes widened in fear and realization as I looked upon the headsman.

“It’s not a dream,” I croaked weakly. The sun glinted off the black metal of his axe in the most menacing way I’ve ever seen. I know I always say life sucks balls and, let’s be honest here, it does but that don’t mean I wanna die! How the hell do I get out of this? Is this punishment for that one time I stole gel pens from Wal-Mart as a kid? If so, what kind of fool waits ten years to enact punishment? Ain’t there some kind of divine statute of limitations?!

Another wail, much louder this time. It’s getting closer.

I noticed something large and black dart from behind the mountains in the distance, hidden by the stone tower standing behind the headsman.

“What in Oblivion is that?” Tullius called out in alarm. I couldn’t see it, but it sounded like a sword being unsheathed.

The headsman brought his axe up, preparing to swing just as something large came flying toward us. It landed on the top of the tower, causing the man to stagger, the axe blade lodging into the ground beside me. The earth shook around us and my chest started to burn painfully, but I was far too distracted and full of adrenaline to pay it much mind. Is that a –

“Dragon!” cried a female prisoner.

The black dragon observed the grouping of people for only a few seconds before opening his gaping maw. A roar shook the earth again as the sky suddenly filled with dark clouds, thunder clapping loudly above us. Did he just change the fucking weather by roaring at it? The sims has been doing it all wrong this whole damn time! That explains why my sim always fails using the weather machine and, most times, ends up dead for her troubles. All she had to do was yell at the damn thing.

“Don’t just stand there! Kill that thing!” Tullius ordered, snapping me from my thoughts. Fuck, is this what it’s like to have ADHD? Without the dragon and the beheadings, of course. “Guards, get the townspeople to safety!”

In the matter of a few moments, all hell broke loose. My vision blurred from all the shaking as I pushed myself back from the block, falling onto my behind. A rather sharp rock dug into my ass and I winced. My ears were starting to ring from sensory overload – yelling, crying, roaring, explosions. It was all too much.

“Rain, get up!” Ralof stopped in front of me, leaning down and offering his hand. His voice was urgent. “Come on, the gods have given us another chance! This way!”

With his help, I managed to get to my feet and we ran toward the closest building that was still intact – a tower made of stone. Inside, by the door, was Ulfric, along with a couple other prisoners, one of which was lying on the floor bleeding.

“Jarl Ulfric!” Ralof breathed out a sigh of relief as he slammed the door shut behind him. “What is that thing? Could the legends be true?”

Ulfric, no longer gagged or bound, spoke for the first time and when he did, my body stopped mid-step. He may be a creep with a staring problem, but hot damn is that deep voice of his sexy. “Legends don’t burn down villages.”

The dragon roared outside and the brief moment of calm was broken as everyone returned to fight-or-flight mode – and none of us were dumb enough to fight a feckin’ dragon. So naturally, we all decided to flight. Which makes no grammatical sense, but I said what I said and I regret nothing.

That’s a lie, I regret a lot of things. But not that sentence.

“We need to move,” Ulfric ordered. “Now!”

“Up through the tower, let’s go!” Ralof added.

I didn’t have to be told twice, turning around and darting up the steps, trying to avoid any sharp looking portions of the stone. My feet are gonna be feckin’ dead after this – if I make it out alive at all. I know it’s a long shot, but part of me is really hoping that, when I reach the top of the tower, I’ll burst through the door into a white light and I’ll wake up in my bed, pillow covered in drool and the comforter thrown halfway across the friggin’ apartment. As if to spite me and reinforce the idea that this is, in fact, not a dream, a bolt of pain shot through my foot as I stepped on a piece of chipped stone.

With a curse, I hopped on one foot near the break in the stairs where a flat stretch of stone sat before the stairs started up again. Damn it, universe, let me cling to my false hope, you fuck!

A prisoner wearing the same uniform as Ralof was there, attempting to lift a large chunk of stone that was blocking the way to the rest of the stairs. He glanced over his shoulder at me as he stood with a grunt. “We just need to move some of these rocks to clear the way!”

I held up my hands to show that they are still bound and, therefore, I can’t help with the rock removal process. Before I could speak this aloud, though, the wall beside me exploded inward, sending the man flying forward, his body crushed by several pounds of stone.

The dragon landed on the side of the tower, his mouth near the hole he had created. A deep, male voice spoke the words, “Toor… Shul!” before a spout of flames filled the tower.

I squeaked in surprise when Ralof grabbed the back of my shirt, yanking me backward. If he had acted a second later, I would have been charred Rae! The flames slowly died and the dragon took flight again. “Thank you,”

Ralof nodded, cautiously approaching the hole. “Don’t mention it. I hope you will do the same for me if the situation calls for it.”

The upper part of the stairs had been destroyed, leaving us with no way to continue up through the tower. Now that I think about it, who the feck thought it would be a good idea to escape a giant ass flying lizard by climbing to the top of a tower where we would then be out in the open with nowhere to hide or go?

“See the inn on the other side?” Ralof questioned, pointing at the burning building down below.

Oh, right. Well, in his defense, he is a blonde plus he saved my ass so he’s excused from his stupid idea. I nodded my head, not really paying attention to his words.

“Jump through the roof and keep going!”

“…bitch, you want me to what?”

“Go!” he ordered, giving me a gentle but urgent push toward the hole. “We’ll follow when we can!”

He’s not excused for his stupid ideas! I swallowed hard as I teetered on the edge, looking down at the building. The roof was practically gone, fire quickly eating away at the wooden structure. Oh, this is not going to end well for me. He pushed me again.

I think I can, I think I can.

I jumped before I could talk myself out of it, a cry escaping my cracked lips as gravity took control of me.

I think I can!!

My legs buckled on impact as I landed on the second story, sending me to my knees. Cool, now my feckin’ ankles hurt. Maybe these empire guys can start a list on my feckin’ injuries, checking off each one until there’s no body parts left to injure!

With a huff, I pulled myself to my feet and headed to the other end of the room, where a giant hole sat in the floor. I’m pretty sure the stairs should be here, but they’re long gone. I peered down the hole. The drop isn’t too far – certainly less so than the jump from the tower. Still, I cautiously sat on the floor, my legs dangling over the edge as I shimmied down to the first floor, landing with a soft thud.

Directly in front of me, the wall had been destroyed, leaving behind only a thick wooden support beam. I peered around it into the outside, surveying the situation. The brunette stood in the middle of the road, his sword drawn.

“Haming, you need to get over here.” He called out to a young boy a few feet away. When he didn’t move, transfixed on the dragon soaring across the sky, he added, “Now!”

The child snapped to, doing as he was told. He rushed toward the brunette as fast as his legs could carry him, stopping beside an older man that stood off to the side behind him.

“That a boy. You’re doing great.” The brunette breathed before suddenly crying, “Gods… everyone get back!”

The dragon swooped down and the spot they had just been standing was engulfed in flame. They missed the reaper by mere inches. In his retreat behind the remains of the next building over, the brunette spotted me peeking around the wood. See, this is why I never use stealth skills in video games. Even with a feckin’ dragon attacking, he still noticed my ass.

“Still alive, prisoner?” He questioned, his eyes scanning me. “Keep close to me if you want to stay that way.”

“I have a name, you fuck.” I muttered under my breath before cautiously leaving the cover of the inn, sprinting across the way to where the three were crouching for cover. As bad of an idea as it seemed to stick close to the man that was all but happy to execute me for no damn reason, I didn’t exactly have any options here. I don’t know where Ralof is, there’s a giant fire-breathing weather-changing dragon throwing a tantrum, and the other soldiers would probably cut me down on sight. There’s no way I can survive on my own, especially with no knowledge of this world or how it works. “Can you at least cut me free?”

“No,” he didn’t even look at me before addressing the older man. “Gunnar, take care of the boy. I have to find General Tullius and join the defense.”

“Gods guide you, Hadvar.” The man responded before putting his arm around the boy, who was shaking in fear.

“Let’s go,” Hadvar nodded to me before running off. I groaned, taking off after him. We followed the cobblestone road around a bend, where it went between a burning building and a stone wall. “Stay close to the wall!”

My body reacted before my brain even registered the words and I flattened my body against the wall just as the dragon landed above us, his clawed hand slamming down a mere five inches from my face. Why do I have such a strong urge to reach out and touch it? Would it feel like leather? Soft like fur? Cold because of the scales or warm because of the fire?

“Yol… Toor Shul!” It shouted before breathing fire down on the scattering soldiers.

For science, I convinced myself before slowly reaching my hands up. My fingers were just shy of touching the wing when it took flight again, kicking up a gust of wind and a cloud of dirt. I coughed, waving my hands to try and dispel the cloud.

“Quickly, follow me!” Hadvar ordered.

“Oh, right!” I pushed away from the wall and hurried after him, dodging other people and patches of flaming earth. We headed up a small set of stairs before darting across to a destroyed house. As we ran, I could hear the distressed cries of those around us.

“Tell my family… I fought bravely.”

“What does it take to kill this monster?!”

“Lead with those arrows, dammit!”

“Come on. Give me your hand, I’m getting you out of here.”

“It won’t die, it just keeps coming!”

In the distance, I noticed Tullius surrounded by three soldiers, their bows pointed toward the sky. He noticed Hadvar and called out, motioning toward a stone building up ahead. “Hadvar! Into the keep, soldier, we’re leaving!”

Hadvar glanced over his shoulder, probably to make sure I was still alive. “It’s you and me, prisoner. Stay close!”

Why is he so damned concerned when I was going to be executed, anyway? Wouldn’t it make their life easier if the dragon just… ate me? No, I frowned, shaking my head, because then they wouldn’t have the pleasure of doing it themself.

⤞ Forward

📜 Read more by checking out my masterlist 📜

[vmkore]

loved you a long time (kaichen)

title | loved you a long time (and i wish i had known sooner)

pairing | jongin x jongdae

rating | nc-17

summary | “Listen to me, and believe me when I say this. I love you. I’ve loved you for a thousand years. And I will love you a thousand more to come. Whatever happened to us then, or what happens to us now, that remains forever true."

11,939w

Byun Baekhyun is just so irritating.

He's just so... perfect, first of all. There's not one damn flaw in that boy, and yet, he is so irritating and oh god, do not even get Jongin started on how well Baekhyun knows that he's that perfect. Byun Baekhyun is gorgeous, talented, and sure he has his occasional moments where his heart is in the right place for others. His smile is perfect, his body is perfect, and oh his voice.

And still, more than anything, he irritates the hell out of Jongin — who would be Baekhyun's ex. Maybe it's the very fact that they were together once, that Jongin despises the smaller male so much now. It doesn't help that they're still in the same friend group and it fucks up with everything every time they fight.

Right now, Baekhyun is boasting about his new boyfriend and how perfect he is and how good he is to Baekhyun. It sounds like he's trying to tell Jongin, He is so so much better than you, even as a human being. Does it offend Jongin? Not really, if anything, but does Baekhyun have to shove it in everyone's fucking faces? Especially Jongin's? It's a rather bitchy move and Jongin hates it.

He looks on his other friends around them, curious on whether they're just as annoyed as Jongin is. Chanyeol is most definitely pissed off about it, every time Baekhyun so much as says the guy's name — Kyungsoo — Chanyeol rolls his eyes and quietly huffs. Minseok would pats his hand each time, though he is also mildly annoyed.

Junmyeon seems to be listening, but for all Jongin knows he could be screaming on the inside. Junmyeon has always been good at hiding his thoughts and feelings, considerate of those around him before himself.

Those are the only three with Baekhyun and Jongin, right now. Sehun is off partying somewhere, maybe high and/or drunk. He is not an addict though, but he has always been a very free spirited type of person. If he wants to get drunk, he'll get his hands on any hard liquor and do it. If he wants to get himself high, he (somehow) gets marijuana, and smokes as much as he feels like. Though he is never high or drunk when he's around their group of friends, unless it's a party they're going to together.

Luhan is in China right now, visiting his family, which would explain Minseok's clinginess to Chanyeol — his best friend and ex boyfriend. He has been with Luhan for a solid year, having moved on well from being with Chanyeol. Not that they had a horrible relationship, they're clearly still best friends now. They just weren't good as a romantic couple. (How it took them nearly another year to figure that out, Jongin will never know).

Jongdae was working a bit ago, but in the corner of his eye, Jongin sees the said male come into the small café with rain wet hair. Ease comes over Jongin's body at the sight of his best friend. He's so late, and Jongin could yell at Jongdae for it. Jongin won't though, Jongdae's new job is busy work, he can't exactly blame Jongdae for it.

Their eyes lock, and Jongdae's mouth turns in a grin that immediately distracts Jongin from Baekhyun's still incessant talking and bragging. Jongdae quickly moves toward the table they're sitting at, squeezing Junmyeon's shoulder before continuing next to Jongin. He pulls up a chair and sits himself down, stopping Baekhyun in the process. (Which Jongin could not be more grateful for).

Jongdae chuckles. "What, please continue, Byun. Don't let my arrival stop you."

Baekhyun smiles almost too sickly sweet. "Oh, no, I was just thinking how you were missing out on an amazing conversation here."

"What 'amazing' conversation?" Jongin scoffs.

Glares from the whole table — besides Jongdae — are stabbed right through Jongin. All scream don't fucking go there, Kim. Especially Baekhyun, who looks like he might turn beat red and have smoke coming from his ears.

"Like you have a say," Baekhyun mutters.

Jongin bangs the table with his hands, catching the attention from the other customers and startling his friends at the table. He seethes. "I think I fucking do, Byun. You better shut your mouth before one of us does something we regret."

This is what pisses Jongin off most about Baekhyun. He doesn't let anyone have an opinion that isn't his own, and if you said nothing the entirety of the conversation, then you have no opinion. One of the many reasons they broke up, Jongin couldn't have any opinion unless they shared one. Little fucking manipulative Byun Baekhyun. How does he even have a boyfriend as perfect as whoever this guy is? He must be really tolerant and have every intent to straighten Baekhyun out (oh a blessing that would be).

"Jong, calm down," Chanyeol says quietly, almost afraid of snapping Jongin more. He should be. An angry Jongin is not something you want to cause, nor keep on. "This isn't a good—" Minseok shushes him, however.

"So, Baekkie, when are we meeting this boyfriend of yours? I wanna know what prick is dumb enough to date you." Jongin clenches his fists.

Baekhyun fucking smirks. "Apparently you were."

Jongin shoots out of his seat to practically strangle Baekhyun. He almost makes it, but Jongdae has his hand on Jongin's arm, and his tugging on Jongin to sit back down. Junmyeon gives Jongin a look, one that says it's not worth it. Even Minseok's and Chanyeol's expression scream not to cause more of a scene than they already have. So, Jongin sighs, sits, and avoids eye contact with everyone.

There is not too much conversation after that. Baekhyun stops talking about his boyfriend, surprisingly, and allows others to talk instead. Jongdae animatedly goes on about his job and how talented the celebrities he's working with actually are, and how he wishes he could achieve that. He is a music producer and lyricist, but in Jongin's honest opinion, he should have become a singer. Jongdae has a voice of an angel, and he would have had an opportunity if he didn't turn down that audition from months ago.

After a long while of the atmosphere being lightened, Jongin begins to feel clingy, and his head resorts to resting on Jongdae's shoulder. He has always done that, only with Jongdae though. Jongdae would look over at Jongin each time, smile adoringly, and pet Jongin's head. He does the same thing again, when Jongin places his head atop Jongdae's shoulder, and it makes Jongin giddy. Only his best friend can make Jongin feel that way.

When everyone else is rather distracted and Jongin and Jongdae grow quiet (at least amongst the others), Jongdae whispers to Jongin; "You wanna bail?"

Jongin lifts his head, smiling. "Maybe."

"Come on, I wanna spend time with you, Nini, I miss you."

"Okay, okay," Jongin chuckles. "Can we go to your place?"

"Anything you want, kid."

"I'm only two years younger than you."

Jongin sprawls himself on Jongdae's couch, on his stomach, as soon as they arrive. He lets out an exasperated sigh.

"Hey, you big lunk, don't take up all the space."

A grin appears on Jongin's face and he purposely stretches over the couch. "But I'm so comfy, hyung."

Jongin hears some shuffling and closes his eyes. He feels a light kick at his side. Jongin whines in response, yet he doesn't move from the couch. An elongated hum exits from Jongdae before he flops himself on top of Jongin. The younger male lets out an umf at the impact, then Jongdae's fingers start poking at his sides. Jongin screams and squirms, arms squashing Jongdae's moving hands and legs trying to kick Jongdae (and not succeeding).

"Hyung!"

"Punishment for taking all the space," whispers Jongdae, stopping for a moment, with a smirk hinted in his voice.

"Ooh, kinky."

With that comment, Jongdae starts again and Jongin laughs hysterically, attempting to wriggle out from Jongdae's grasp. The elder's thighs straddling him however, clench tighter on Jongin's hips, trying to stop Jongin from squirming any more.

Soon, Jongin is out of breath and Jongdae's way of torture ends, and Jongdae is simply laying atop of Jongin, with an airy grin.

Jongin sighs after a while of complete silence. "I missed this." he mutters just loud enough for Jongdae.

"What, me tickling you to death?" Jongdae snorts.

"No, just spending time with you."

Jongdae hums. "Glad I'm not the only one, then."

It's been months since Jongin and Jongdae had some time alone together. They've had time with their friends, in a group together, but not like this in a long time. They have been best friends since middle school, and strangely enough in their ten years of friendship, they hadn't been so preoccupied in their lives than they have been. With Jongdae's new job, and Jongin graduating from Uni this year, it's been difficult to find the time.

Luckily, Jongdae at last saw perfect opportunity to leave their group of friends for the night, and it's the weekend now so they can be lazy all they want tomorrow.

Jongin really loves the sound of that right now.

"I'm hungry." Jongin says bluntly.

"Aish, I suppose we'll have to cook then."

After eating and watching a horror movie (which Jongin practically hid his face in Jongdae's arm the whole time), the both of them took turns taking showers, Jongdae first and Jongin last. Jongdae throws Jongin a pair of sweatpants that are too long for him when Jongin comes out of the shower with nothing but a towel and dripping water down his tan skin.

"Stop being so hot." Jongdae says in a whiny, sarcastic tone and a slight smirk dancing on the corner of his mouth.

Jongin snorts as he slides the sweatpants on and falls on Jongdae's bed, wet head in Jongdae's lap. "Would if I could."

Jongdae shoves Jongin's head off his lap at the cheeky statement. "Shithead."

Even cheekier than the statement before, Jongin grins and shifts around until the entire length of his body takes one half of Jongdae's full-sized bed. He turns on his side, watching Jongdae scrolling on his phone.

"I'm gonna have trouble sleeping because of you, hyung."

"You wanted to watch a horror movie."

Jongin fakes a gasp. "And you let me watch."

"My God," Jongdae rolls his eyes, "you're such a kid."

"Am not!"

Jongdae chuckles, placing his cell on the nightstand next to him and shutting the lamp off. He lies next to Jongin, but his back is facing Jongin. Jongdae pulls the blanket over himself, and exhales. Jongin pokes Jongdae's back.

"Don't sleep yet, hyung." he whines, pouting. He nuzzles into Jongdae's back.

Jongin feels Jongdae tense. Albeit it only last for a moment, as a little snort comes out. Jongin clenches his fist and hits Jongdae's shoulder with it, causing the elder male to break out into a fit of laughter.

"Why are you like this..." Jongin pouts more and hits Jongdae again. "I hate you."

Slowly, Jongdae turns over and pats Jongin's damp hair. "Love you too, Nini."

A grin splits on Jongin's face. Jongdae continues to pet his hair, relaxing him. It's quiet, but the quiet is really nice and Jongin could fall asleep to this right now. Humming resonates in Jongin's ears — Jongdae's gentle, comforting humming. Jongin's body goes numb and his eyelids grow heavy. Nothing makes Jongin fall asleep faster, nor does anything calm Jongin more than Jongdae's humming. It's a weird effect Jongdae has on Jongin when he strokes Jongin's hair, and sings or hums a song. It makes Jongin feel vulnerable and more so akin to a child, even if he's twenty-two now. Jongdae has done that since they were younger, and the same effect still comes onto Jongin every single time.

Jongin gives into the dark of night soon enough, but before he fully falls into a slumber, he feels something touch his forehead, and hears Jongdae whisper, "Sleep well. I'm sure you'll know everything soon, love."

Love...?

The sky is dotted with white against a black canvas, along with the moon shining bright into the earth. A cool breeze is in the summer air. A boy, maybe seventeen, quietly runs in the palace hallways toward the secret exit that even he guards know nothing about. He attempts to make himself invisible anytime he hears a guard even remotely close to his path. He hopes his lover has not waited long, with how careful he is being right now.

The boy sighs mentally, and starts a run again. When he finds the exit, he finds himself grinning wide and rushing out as fast as he can.

A tree stands in front of the exit, where a shorter man waits, staring up at the night sky. His name is Kim Dae. He wears a common outfit, despite his rank. An airy, long robe, and the boy can see the bottoms of comfortable shoes under the dress. His hair is down, now, just like the prince's is. Tonight would not be the first time they meet in secret. Albeit, the night feels special to the boy. On clear, beautiful nights like this, he and Dae would walk the gardens outside the palace walls. But the young prince has an inkling, that maybe, just maybe, there will be something more.

Perhaps it is nothing but his overwhelming happiness to see his brother's, the king's, right hand man, though. He rarely ever sees him anymore.

Dae looks up, and the smile he gives makes the prince's knees weak. His smile is beautiful, reminds the boy of a cat like animal with how his lips curl up.

The prince sprints to and hugs Dae tightly, which Dae laughs to and strokes the boy's long hair.

"Excited to see me, are you not?" Dae says, releasing the younger male and his hands on the prince's waist.

"It has been a while, that is all..."

Dae's smile is light and genuine and it makes the prince's heart flutter. The boy blushes and Dae coos, kissing the royal's cheek adoringly.

"Shall we go, then, Prince Jongin?"

The boy, Jongin, hums, grasping the hand Dae held out and twining their fingers together. Dae leads him quietly.

Behind the palace, there is a forest, and if they go far enough, there is also a clearing in the forest. That clearing is special to Dae and Jongin — the place they became close, the place they shared a kiss they knew was dangerous. And then another...and another...and they shared them until their lips were left swollen and nothing but warmth surrounded their bodies.

They go there every night they can now. They talk until it feels like their voices might disappear. Dae coaxes Jongin to sleep with a sweet song, a kiss to his head, cheeks, and a short, albeit passionate one to his mouth. When sunrise comes, Dae would wake Jongin and they would run back to the palace, and back to their rooms as quickly and quietly as they could.

Jongin would love to stay and sleep together all night with Dae. He may love Dae a little too much, and he wishes for the feeling of waking up next to the person he loves. But nothing can be done.

Dae and Jongin approach the clearing. The moon shines brightly on the pasture, illuminating the white flowers sprinkled about. Dae pulls Jongin gently until he finds the right spot where they wouldn't lay in the flowers. They sit. Jongin is the first to lie in the grass, Dae eventually following after smiling fondly at Jongin. Jongin rests his head on Dae's chest, and Jongin senses the lingering smile on Dae's face by the way he kisses Jongin's head and rests his cheek against Jongin's hair.

Serene. That's a feeling Jongin hasn't had in awhile. Between lessons, and the ever ending stress of his brothers and sisters. Jongin hates the palace, living there, being treated like, well, royalty. It isn't living. That's why he sneaks out every now and then, walks around the village closest to the palace. He likes to go to the farther part of this forest too, maybe read or draw in the middle of it.

Then there are times like these. With Dae, late at night, with no other feelings than joy and love. Times like these, Jongin wishes they would just run away together. They would leave all their expensive possessions, go past the clearing, and find the next secluded place they could. They would build a home, and walk to the nearest village together. No one would know who they were, and no one from the palace wouldn't find them.

Jongin can only dream though. This is their life. They go about in the palace, minding each other's business, and yet no one will ever know what they are outside the palace.

Dae lets out a sigh, breaking the silence. He pets Jongin's hair now, and with his other hand, Dae holds Jongin's. Jongin, however, can feel Dae shaking a little. It frightens him. Dae never trembles like this.

Jongin slowly turns over until his on his stomach and his face is turned on Dae's. His eyes are sad, worried and it frightens Jongin even more to see that. He decides it is best not to ask yet and wraps his arms around Dae's neck. Jongin's face presses on the side of his neck, and Dae holds Jongin's waist. His breath trembles as Dae sighs and brings one hand up to stroke Jongin's long hair again.

After a while, Jongin releases Dae and kisses him gently. For now, it is all he can think of to console Dae. He simply does not have the words for this now.

Dae breaks the kiss, cupping Jongin's cheeks.

"What is it, hyung?" Jongin asks this time, carefully.

Dae bites on his lips, moving a strand behind Jongin's ear. Jongin can see the fear in Dae's eyes, and a lump rises in his throat at that.

"Your brother..." The king, Jongin thinks. "He wants to marry you off."

Something heavy drops in Jongin's stomach.

"It's a princess from another kingdom, Soojung. He wants an alliance with them and this is one of the only ways."

Jongin sees the tears in Dae's eyes and how hard he is trying to hold them back. Jongin tries too, but they fall one by one. Dae wipes Jongin's cheeks with his thumbs, and pulls Jongin's head down until their foreheads touch. They remain like that, until Jongin realizes...

"Then let's run away."

"Jongin—"

"No, hyung, I know what you're going to say and no, I won't go through with it."

For a moment, Dae looks at Jongin as if he grew another head. But then, he smiles. Though it is sad. Dae shakes his head.

"You must marry her, Jongin." A tear falls down Dae's face.

Jongin compresses his lips. "No! I told the king I never wanted to marry and I will tell him again. He cannot force me."

Dae sits up, frowning. "You would defy the king? And risk your life?"

"If it is for us, of course."

"Jongin," Dae breathes shakily, clutching Jongin's hand. "We cannot do this anymore."

Tears flood down Jongin's face again. "Why not? If I marry, it will not change me or what we have made of us. If I do not, then nothing changes. We can stay together, hyung, do you not want that?"

Dae casts his eyes to the ground, a strand of his hair falling off his shoulder. "Of course I do. But..." Dae picks at the grass. "It is dangerous. We could both be killed."

Jongin clenches his fists. "Why are you being so cowardly? You said that we would be fine no matter what! You said that when I was terrified of loving and being with you, and now you're the scared one?"

No response comes from Dae. Jongin holds Dae's hands tight, tears sparkling in his eyes. Dae finally looks Jongin in the eye, and Jongin can see his cheeks shining now.

"Why, Dae?"

Dae's Adam's apple bobs and he sucks his lips into his mouth. "You know I love you, right?"

Jongin nods.

"Your mother knows."

An even heavier force drops in Jongin's stomach. "H-how?"

Dae licks his lips. "She—she saw you sneak out. And she followed you the other night and saw us. Sh-she threatened me, said if I did not let you go, she would not hesitate to report that I seduced you. She would also tell the king to exile you."

Heat boils in his stomach, and throughout his body. Of course it is his mother. His controlling, evil mother. Jongin shuts his burning eyes, and tilts his head to the sky, sighing.

"I tried, Jongin. I tried to tell her that I would not get in the way of the wedding. I even told her I would leave the palace and never come back. But she would not have it. Either we stop or she stops us."

Jongin opens his eyes. He swallows down a grunt. Somehow, he manages to smile at Dae again, a much more reassuring one now.

"Then we should run away."

Dae shakes his head again. "No, Jongin, they will still find us if we do."

"It is worth a try, is it not?"

"No, I am not willing to risk your life for that."

"Why not? It is not just mine, but our lives, Dae."

"Exactly—"

"So you would rather not see each other and pretend nothing ever happened between us?"

At that, Dae stops, eyes widened. "That is not what I meant."

"What is it, then?"

Dae nibbles his lower lip, and lets go of Jongin's hands. Jongin feels cold.

"I love you, Jongin, so so much. Truly. I want to remember our times together and my feelings for you... I would never want to forget. But..." Dae swallows. "We cannot do this anymore."

Without thinking, Jongin leans in and kisses Dae's lips. It is sweet and gentle, even a little hesitant on Jongin's part since he does not initiate kisses often. Though it does not last long, once again, as Jongin slowly separates from Dae.

"Jongin—"

Albeit, Jongin holds Dae close, with his nose in the crook of Dae's neck. Dae strokes Jongin's long hair again, and Jongin becomes vulnerable to the touch. And then he begins humming a lullaby Jongin's mother used to sing to him. When Jongin could see the good in his mother. Now, she's nothing but an evil witch that he can't believe he could ever handle. She's ruining his and Dae's lives by tearing them apart. Jongin will not have that. Not in this life.

"Please," Jongin whispers desperately. "Let us run away together."

Dae takes slow, deep breaths. "We cannot."

"You are holding back. I know it. Please, Dae. We could leave right now."

Dae is quiet a moment. Jongin feels his chest rise and fall against his, and unconsciously syncs his breaths with Dae's. Fingers play with Jongin's hair. Yet another sigh leaves Dae's mouth.

"Tomorrow night."

Jongin releases Dae, eyes hopeful, and still teary. "Really?"

"Yes," a smile adorns Dae's lips, "We will go tomorrow night."

Jongin's heart leaps with excitement, and again, he hugs Dae, but this time with joy and force that has them tumbling onto their backs.

The rest of the night is spent together, laying in the grass, kissing under the moonlight. It is spent like how all their nights were. Jongin is first to fall asleep, and Dae is the one to smile and comb his fingers through Jongin's hair. When the sky turns brighter, Dae has to wake Jongin again, and pull him through the woods to get back to his room. Stumbling upon their hidden escapeway, there are no signs of guards or anyone, surprisingly.

Dae pulls Jongin out of sight from the walkway, just in case.

"Meet me here again, tonight, okay?"

Jongin nods, grinning contagiously. "Of course."

Dae smiles back, places his hand on the back of Jongin's neck, and pulls down until their lips clash. At first, it's a kiss Jongin did not expect, but soon he relaxes and moves his mouth with Dae's.

"I love you," Dae says as he breaks the kiss, hands sliding down to Jongin's waist.

Jongin responds with a wide smile, and presses their lips together once more. Then, Jongin is off and back to his room.

Things don't happen as they planned.

To say the absolute least, they are both caught.

The king decides to exile Jongin... and death by hanging for Dae, his right hand. How he, the king, would have the heart for that, Jongin fails to understand.

Jongin is forced by the former queen to watch Dae's execution. Rain hits Jongin's skin and hair. It hits Dae's bloodied skin and white robe as they lead him, and place the rope around his neck.

And then, Jongin remembers nothing.

Jongin wakes the next morning, sweat dripping down his forehead and with heaving, stuttering breaths. He runs his fingers through his hair, elbows on his knees as he tries to take everything he saw. Felt. His eyes and body burn with rage and confusion. He swallows hard, holding back tears swelling his his eyes.

Did I really see him die like that?

Jongin looks over his shoulder, and sees Jongdae still soundly asleep. His back is facing Jongin and his black hair is in all different directions. A sigh leaves Jongin's mouth and his shoulders sag. He lies back on the bed, facing Jongdae and scooting over until his forehead rests on Jongdae's back. His fists clench Jongdae's t-shirt, and Jongin mentally hopes Jongdae won't wake up yet. A tear falls. Jongin breathes.

"Don't scare me like that..."

Jongdae shifts, which makes Jongin internally panic a bit, and scoot away. Jongdae turns over into his other side now, eyes half open and a lazy smile on his face.

"You okay?" he asks.

Jongin shakes his head hesitantly. "Not really."

The smile on Jongdae's face fades slowly. "Bad night?"

"Yeah."

Jongdae grabs Jongin's wrist and pulls him closer. Jongin moves with Jongdae's hand, and can't help but stuff his face in Jongdae's neck, like the him that did with the Jongdae in his dream. The dream was so vivid, right down to how every detail of Jongdae's body is drawn. Jongdae is as warm as dream Jongdae. As safe. The way Jongdae holds Jongin gives him a sense of love, security.

Love, huh?

They were in love in that dream. They kissed numerous times, and Jongin remembers how nice it felt. Jongdae's lips were soft in the dream, and he was nothing but gentle and sweet with every touch. Jongin wonders how it would feel now. He wonders if that dream was a sign for something more than it being vivid.

For now, though, Jongin just wants to stay in Jongdae's arms and never leave. At least until one has to get up and shower or something. He doesn't want to think about that dream right now. But Jongdae's warmth, his arms surrounding him and his hands occasionally petting Jongin's hair out of habit, makes Jongin think of the Jongdae in the dream. His desire to kiss Jongdae becomes greater and greater, and his lips tingle at the thought (or memory) of it.

He has to. Now or never.

Jongin removes his head from the crook of Jongdae's neck, staring up at him. His eyes fall on Jongdae's lips — not too full like Jongin's, but also not as thin as someone else's like Junmyeon's or even Baekhyun's. His upper lip is a little fuller than his bottom, and their a pinkish color Jongin finds he likes a lot. Jongin looks at Jongdae's eyes then, which stare at him with curiosity, concern.

"Jongin?"

That is Jongin's breaking point. Before Jongin can comprehend it, he connects his mouth with Jongdae's. Jongdae doesn't reciprocate it immediately, in fact it takes almost too long for Jongin. He attempts to move his lips more against Jongdae's, waiting for a reaction. Soon, though, Jongdae melts into it. He finds it strange how they feel almost the exact same as they did in the dream — soft, sending the same tingles and warmth. Jongin feels Jongdae's hand touch his cheek, the tips of his fingers in Jongin's hair. Jongin parts his lips, shyly licking Jongdae's top lip. Jongdae opens his mouth and allows Jongin to take control for a moment to experiment. Jongin traces Jongdae's (perfect) mouth with his tongue and can't help but release a tiny sound of satisfaction when Jongdae takes over next.

Way better than kissing Byun, Jongin says to himself. Not that Baekhyun was a terrible kisser, but with how much Jongin hates Baekhyun now, kissing Baekhyun is tainted.

Gradually, Jongin gets on his back, with Jongdae over him and their lips never leaving or the rhythm of their kiss stopping. Everything feels so good and Jongin would wish it to last a little longer. But suddenly, panic overwhelms him.

This could ruin everything.

Jongin pushes on Jongdae's chest, and their lips separate. Heavy breaths come from both their mouths, and all Jongin can do is stare at Jongdae, eyes half-lidded and lips slightly swollen.

When Jongin fully comes to his senses, he manages to sit upright, and Jongdae leans back on his heels slowly. Jongdae swallows. His lips are parted, and there's something in his eyes that Jongin definitely does not like.

"Uhm... I'm sorry, hyung, I..." Jongin stares down at his fingers to avoid eye contact with Jongdae.

"Don't."

Jongin looks up this time. Jongdae has gotten off the bed now, and he's reading out of the bedroom.

"Forget about it, if you must."

A heavy weight falls on Jongin's chest as Jongdae leaves.

The once warm colored leaves have begun falling from their branches, and the air has turned colder and crisp. Grey-white clouds swallow the sky more so than the sun shines. Any sane person bundles up in a thick coat, scarves, and knit caps. It is that time of year again. Where at the beginning of November, Christmas lights fill the city and everyone seems so happy and full of excitement.

Not Jongin. Normally, he quite enjoys this time, between spending time with his closest friends and family members, and when he and Jongdae were going to the same university, they would spend holidays together because it's so far from home.

This year doesn't feel the same. He has barely spoken to Jongdae in the past few weeks, with Jongdae busy with winter songs for different idols, and Jongin with midterms. Then there is the fact, that they kissed. And it was amazing.

Moments like that are fleeting, though. Things could change if anything more was to come out from that.

Even so, Jongin has not been able to get it off his mind. The dream he had that night, as well, has been replaying and replaying many a time again. He even has the same dream sometimes, reminding him of the things he felt after the dream and in the moment of the kiss. He hasn't told anyone about it, or about he and Jongdae kissing that morning. He doesn't know if he wants to. A part of him really wants to forget it all and go back to normal (Lord knows if that will happen), and another... he wants to remember it and maybe, just maybe, believe something good will come from it.

Or maybe he's delusional.

Jongin sighs as he leaves his last exam room. It wasn't hard, but studying for that one was terribly exhausting. Plus he was tossing and turning all night. Not that Philosophy class will affect him in the long run. He pulls his blue scarf up to his chin, letting out a big yawn and checking his phone for any texts from family. Or Jongdae. There's one from his sister, but it isn't anything important so he ignores it for the moment and stuffs his phone back in his pocket.

He walks outside, and is immediately hit with harsh, cold wind, that makes him put his hood up. The cold is almost unbearable today, enough to claim that it might snow. Jongin keeps his hands in his pockets for some form of warmth.

"Jongin!"

He recognizes that voice. Sehun. Jongin turns slowly, and sees the slightly taller male running to him. He throws an arm around Jongin's shoulders as soon as he gets to Jongin, a grin on his face.

"What do you say we go out for a bit?" Sehun suggests.

Jongin scoffs. "I'm not going clubbing with you, Sehun."

"No no, I know that, you're kind of too good for that."

Jongin rolls his eyes at that. "Okay, so, where then?"

"Anywhere you want, bro. My treat."

His only response for a moment is to cock an eyebrow up at Sehun. The younger keeps staring at him intently, until Jongin gives and shrugs.

Jongin chooses the café he and Jongdae were at last with friends (and Baekhyun). The atmosphere has always been really warm and nice there, with friendly employees and the mix of chestnut brown and ocean blue colors inside. Weirdly, the place gives Jongin a sense of home. It reminds him of his mother's kitchen, in a way. He likes that.

When they finally sit down with some hot chocolate, Sehun asks on a whim: "What's been going on with you?"

Jongin cannot find it in him to answer Sehun. Besides Jongdae, Sehun is the only other person Jongin finds he can trust. They've been friends since high school, actually, and clicked instantly despite Sehun's rebellious, bratty personality (at the time) and Jongin's smart, too good one. Jongdae was a bit jealous when Jongin and Sehun began hanging out. It was quite adorable really.

Usually he would tell Sehun straight up everything on his mind, but right now, it's all too painful to talk about. What could he say, honestly?

Sehun lets out a long sigh, before leaning in slightly. "Listen. You've been acting weird the past few weeks and it's kinda scaring me and the others, please don't push me away."

When Sehun was thirteen, his best friend was found dead — overdosed on some type of medication his dad took. It was a suicide. Sehun never said why he killed himself, or really talked about it in general. All he has said is he wished he was there for Yixing, his best friend, more. Maybe it wouldn't have happened. So Sehun tries harder to be that type of friend. He is there for everyone, even as the youngest one in their circle of friends. He's whiny and honestly full of himself at times, but he cares. He cares a lot, Jongin cannot believe it sometimes.

Pushing Sehun away sounds really terrible.

Jongin draws in a deep breath. He lets it out slowly, and says, "I kissed Jongdae-hyung."

At that moment, Sehun was sipping on his hot cocoa. He practically chokes on it. Jongin inwardly panics. But soon Sehun has caught his breath and he looks at Jongin with complete shock.

"You what now?"

"I don't know, I kissed him, Sehun. And it was nice and I can't stop thinking about it and he and I haven't talked since then and I'm really worried he hates me right now—"

"Whoa, whoa, slow down. First, why did you kiss him?"

Jongin presses his lips in a thin line, and he stares down at his hot chocolate. "I—I had a dream?"

"A dream." confirms Sehun.

"Yeah, it was like..." Jongin lifts his head and feels his heart beating hard against his chest by just thinking of the dream, and now he's talking about it. "I don't know, hyung and I were lovers in the dream and our love was forbidden apparently? But it felt so real, and we kissed a few times in the dream and it felt really good there. I guess I wanted the same feeling?"

Jongin looks at Sehun, and sees that he nodded his head. Sehun hums, arms crossed over his chest.

"So I did and he kissed me too... and it was even better and now I don't know what to feel or think. I keep seeing that dream and craving the same sensation."

Sehun parts his lips, and sits upright. "Can you explain the dream to me?"

Jongin hesitates.

What's the damage? Sehun already knows the aftermath of it.

Jongin explains as much as he can. Their social statuses, the bittersweet events of the night, and then, Jongdae's execution. When he comes to the last part, Jongin breaks. Tears fall. His voice cracks a few times. Seeing one of the most important people die in front of him is something he never thought he would go through — even if it might have been just a dream. As Jongin finally cannot contain himself, Sehun comes around the table to Jongin's booth, and embraces him. It doesn't cause much of a scene, as they are on a more secluded side of the café, so Jongin burrows his face in Sehun's neck and cries. Sehun continually rubs Jongin's back and, with his other hand, he pets the back of Jongin's head.

"It's okay," whispers Sehun.

Jongin does not know how long he stays in Sehun's arms. He calms down after a while, but Sehun still holds him even after. Sehun's body is bigger than Jongdae's, and leaner, but even Sehun can't beat Jongdae in this type of position, no matter how close the two are. Jongdae has the ability to make Jongin feel vulnerable and a certain type of love that he never even had with Baekhyun. Yes, he loved Baekhyun once. Albeit, Jongdae still beat Baekhyun in everything. Sehun can help Jongin feel safe at least, but that love? Not even Sehun can do that.

It was Jongdae. It has always been Jongdae.

Jongin lifts his head and Sehun releases Jongin. With his lips slightly parted, Jongin wipes his face.

"Feel better?" Sehun chuckles a little.

"Maybe," Jongin smiles sheepishly.

Sehun squeezes his hand before moving back to the opposite side of the table. Jongin takes a swig of his hot chocolate and breathes slowly.

"Sorry about that..." Jongin says with a red hue ringing his cheeks.

Sehun shakes his head, grinning. "Don't worry about it, Jongin. Now," he leans his arms on the table, this time his expression serious. "Do you want my honest advice and opinion on this?"

Jongin nods. "Please."

"Talk to Jongdae-hyung about everything."

Jongin pales. A heavy pit drops in his stomach. He swallows a hard lump in his throat.

"He'll think I'm crazy or something."

"You know that's not true. Jongdae-hyung is your best friend. He loves you more than anything, why would he think of you that way?"

The swirls in Jongin's hot chocolate are truly fascinating right about now.

"Nothing good will come if you avoid it, you know. Kissing each other won't ruin a friendship. Avoiding the topic — that will fuck it up big time."

December comes around. It's been two weeks since he spoke to Sehun about everything, and he's gone through those weeks with exams and thinking about the advice Sehun gave. The exams are over and done with — one stress factor off his shoulders.

Now it's figuring out how to mend a once perfect friendship. One he misses oh so dearly and wishes they would be back to normal.

The dream has dwindled down to at most twice in a week. He wakes up the same, every time he has it. In tears, with Jongdae's name being the first one on his tongue. He wishes he could control the dream, that he could have protected Jongdae somehow. But the dream never changes. Not even the details of the palace he runs in, nor the pasture they meet in.

Today, Jongin plans on visiting Jongdae at work. It's been too long and he cannot wait any longer. Upon arrival, he stops at the front desk, greeted with a young woman typing away at her computer.

She smiles pleasantly. "Can I help you, sir?"

"Uhm, I'm looking for Kim Jongdae. He's a lyricist here."

The woman hums, types again, and then picks up the phone, dialing an extension number. "Hello, Mr. Kim, there is a man here to see you."

Jongin stares at the ground, the marble design used as a distraction from Jongin's nerves and beating heart.

"Alright, will do."

Jongin looks up briefly, biting his lip. "Is he busy?"

"He said he was packing up now. He should be down in a few moments, if you want to wait."

"Thank you."

Jongin bows respectfully and finds a seat. He twiddles his fingers, and his knee bounces. His breaths come out long and deep. "A few moments" feels like an eternity. He tries so hard to relax, but it becomes too difficult eventually that he ends up pacing around, running his hands through his messy hair, and biting his nails.

Why must he be so nervous now? It's Jongdae, his best friend. There is no reason for—

"J-Jongin?"

The voice causes Jongin's heart to skip. Jongin whips his head around, and his heart beats faster at the sight of Jongdae. He seems tired, with the dark circles under his eyes and his now blonde hair a bit messy. Jongdae wears the black coat and baby blue and pink striped scarf Jongin gave him for Christmas last year, jeans under the coat, and white sneakers. The fact that Jongdae is wearing them right now makes Jongin's stomach fluttery and he doesn't know why.

Jongin stalks closer to Jongdae, and finds it in himself to smile shyly.

"Hey, hyung."

Jongdae swallows, and chews on his lips.

"I, uhm... I wanted to see you..." Jongin breathes deeply, squeezing Jongdae's hand like they always did. "And I wanna talk."

The smile forming on Jongdae's face relieves Jongin. "Then we should head out then, huh?"

Jongin grins and nods. Then he pulls Jongdae in for a hug, head resting on Jongdae's shoulder. The smile he had now disappeared and tears start in his eyes again. But he doesn't let them fall. Not yet. His heart sinks a little when he realizes Jongdae hasn't squeezed him back.

To prevent possibly any more pain, Jongin lets go. Jongdae looks stunned and Jongin doesn't know why.

But Jongdae smiles again. "Come on, let's go. We can talk at my place."

Jongdae guides Jongin to his white car, and suddenly Jongin's knees feel weak. His heart beats so loud and fast, it starts pounding in his ears and hurts his chest. His body goes numb, and he stops walking after they exit the building. The bitter cold air doesn't help Jongin any.

After not too long, Jongdae realizes Jongin has to followed him. Jongdae frowns, turning toward his best friend.

"What's wrong?" he asks as he walks closer to Jongin again.

Jongin only looks at Jongdae and feels. His fingertips prickle, wanting so desperately to reach out and hold Jongdae's hand. His lips are tingling, as if screaming at Jongin, why haven't you kissed him yet! He searches Jongdae's face. He doesn't know what he is supposed to be looking for but his vision flashes — and suddenly, Jongdae is Dae. The man in the dream Jongin has had for so long. He is looking up at Jongin with a concerned pain in his eyes. As a breeze flows by, his long hair moves with it.

Dae comes closer, and his hand squeezes Jongin's arm. "Jongin," he says. "Talk to me."

It is not the formal language he was using in the dream. It is the language Jongdae has always used, relaxed and informal. Hearing that is strange but it is nice too.

"Hey."

Suddenly Jongdae is back and his hand is to Jongin's cheek, and he is wiping the tears from Jongin's face. Jongin did not even realize he was crying now. A dry lump rises in his throat. Jongdae hooks one arm around Jongin's waist, and one around his neck, and pulls him closer. Their bodies touch. Jongin has never felt more complete than he does right now. He doesn't make a sound, if he does, it is muffled into Jongdae's shoulder. Jongin missed this, Jongdae's real touch, his scent, the gentle way his fingers glide down Jongin's hair.

Jongin wishes time would stop, just for a little while.

Alas, all good things must end. They separate, and Jongdae chuckles at Jongin's wet cheeks.

"Seriously, kid, you're too handsome to cry."

Jongin smiles a little at that as Jongdae dries the younger's cheeks.

"You wanna talk somewhere else, or—"

Jongin shakes his head. "No, I want to go to your place. If that's okay..."

"Of course it is," Jongdae messes up Jongin's fringe. "Come on."

For the duration of the drive, Jongdae makes small talk about work, and how he's been. He seems well, but Jongin can tell there's something that hurts more than Jongin could imagine right now. Just by the way Jongdae's voice sounds saying "I've been really good," whatever it is screams in the shake of his voice. Jongin hopes it is not because of him. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt Jongdae.

Jongdae eventually parks his car in front of his apartment complex, and they make it up to Jongdae's place without much conversation.

Everything is still the same, a bit messy but not atrocious. The couch is still the same black, leather one Jongdae practically tortured Jongin on with a tickling attack. It makes Jongin's heart warm and his body relaxes a little. He takes his coat, scarf off, hanging them on the rack at the door, along with his black combat boots. He walks toward the couch and sits on the end of it, pulling his long legs in towards his body. Jongdae comes up behind him, and places his hands on Jongin's shoulders.

"You want anything?"

Jongin shakes his head no. "I just wanna talk, hyung. Please."

Jongdae doesn't respond, and walks around to the other side of the couch, sitting and facing Jongin. Jongin's chest is heavy, and his ears pulse. He has to do this. No matter how terrified he is, this needs to be done, before everything goes to hell. Jongin inhales deeply, and turns his head to Jongdae.

"I had a dream, the night I last saw you," Jongin begins. "And it was... too real. It was good, but only for a short few moments, and..."

Jongin really, really tries not to cry again. All he does is cry these days, and he doesn't like it. It's too much. He swallows, and looks at his knees.

"What was it about, Nini?"

Nini. God, I missed that too.

"There was you and me... in some traditional era, I couldn't tell when and we were in love," Jongin's voice trembles on love. "It wasn't right in the eyes of the king there, and he... he executed you in front of me and..."

He's fucking crying again. Stop. Stop stop stop, you're weak!

Jongdae licks and bites his lip. "What was my name?"

Jongin looks up this time, and blinks his teary eyes. "Uh-uh, Kim Dae."

"Why was it wrong?"

"B-because I was a prince. You were the king's right hand. And both men..."

Jongdae holds Jongin's hand. "Is there anything else... that stood out to you?"

Jongin thinks for a moment. Then: "We planned to run away. Because my mother wanted to marry me off." Jongin nibbles his lower lip. "And, uhm..." he feels his cheeks flush with heat, and he is sure he's beat read about now. "W-we kissed, a lot... and it felt nice."

Jongdae smiles at that.

"I kissed you, hyung, because I wanted the same feeling, I think. I wondered what it felt like to actually kiss you. So..."

"It's okay, Jongin." Jongdae is smiling wide, and even his face is slightly colored with a red hue. Jongin thinks it's really cute. "But, I'm going to tell you something really really crazy, and you have to promise me you'll believe me and won't leave."

Jongin nods.

"I had the same dream—no, memory."

Memory?

"You what?"

Jongdae breathes, and holds both of Jongin's hands. "When I was nineteen, I had the same thing happen. I thought it was a dream for so long, but then I kept seeing it. It felt real, like it all actually happened."

Jongin furrows his eyebrows. "How is that...?"

"So I did some research. I ended up finding out, what I was seeing wasn't just a dream, but a memory. One from a past life. Before I knew it, I had more and more memories come, and they all had one thing in common."

"What was that?"

Jongdae sits himself closer to Jongin, and moves Jongin's fringe from his eyes. "You."

Jongin's lips part. His whole body tingles, and his heart races fast against his chest. "M-Me."

"You. You were in every memory, every life I lived," Jongdae smiles softly. "Whether we crossed paths once or we fell in love, you were there. And now," Jongdae takes Jongin's hand and twines their fingers together. "You're here. You're my best friend, someone I love more than anyone else in the world. You know me, you make me happy. That's all I could ask for."

Jongin smiles, and realizes Jongdae's face is a little closer now. He does not mind it.

"You think I could see the other memories someday?"

Jongdae's other hand lands on Jongin's cheek, drying the remaining tears in his eyes. "I hope you can. There are much, much happier ones than the first one. Even if they all ended badly, there were happier times."

A pang hits at Jongin's chest. "They ended badly?"

"Unfortunately."

"Then what about us now? Can we get a happier ending in this life?"

Jongdae smiles again, and Jongin's heart melts. "We can try, can't we?"

They fall into a perfect silence, one where they're simply lost in each other's eyes. Jongdae's hand never leaves Jongin's cheek, his thumb stroking the skin of it. Jongin stares at Jongdae's mouth a few times, and his own tingles with the desire to kiss Jongdae again.

They've been in love... for a long time. Jongin wonders how long ago the first memory was. Too long.

And now, Jongin feels it. The love he has had for Jongdae, for as long as he can remember. He can feel Jongdae's gaze screaming with a declaration of undying love. Why didn't he realize it sooner? Why did Jongdae know for so long and cause himself so much pain because Jongin was still clueless?

He regrets not noticing Jongdae being even more affectionate in the past years. Not noticing how truly wonderful he is and how much Jongdae loves Jongin. He wishes he knew so much sooner. Maybe before Jongdae.

But it is what it is.

Jongdae leans in a little more now. Their noses are brushing together and foreheads touch. Jongdae's breath ghosts on Jongin's skin. Jongin parts his mouth with anticipation.

"Kiss me."

Jongdae does exactly that. Lips touch, and move swiftly, passionately. Warmth spreads throughout Jongin's body. Jongdae's lips are just as sweet and soft as Jongin remembers. Jongdae opens his mouth first, licking into Jongin's mouth. Jongin moans in the kiss, fingers lacing into Jongdae's hair. Jongdae pats Jongin's knees, and Jongin gets the signal to put them down. Jongdae straddles Jongin's hips, lips never separating.

They keep up like that until Jongdae breaks the kiss, and starts trailing his mouth on Jongin's jawline and neck. Jongin releases a lewd moan, as Jongdae also slowly grinds on Jongin. The roll of Jongdae's hips is so perfect, and his lips on his neck makes his body hotter with desire. Jongdae rolls his hips just right that has Jongin cursing under his breath. Jongdae's fingers begin traveling down to the hem of Jongin's pink sweater, and his hands trace under the shirt. He holds Jongin's waist, and brings his mouth back up to Jongin's lips into a hot kiss, that has the younger's breath hitching.

It doesn't last too long. When Jongdae breaks it, he rests his head against Jongin's and pants.

"Bedroom?" Jongdae asks with a heavy breath.

Jongin grins lazily. "Up to you."

Jongdae climbs off of Jongin, grabs his hand, and pulls him toward Jongdae's room.

One thing happens after another. The reunion of their lips and the discarding of their clothing. Finally falling onto the bed, and their fingers running up and down each other's bodies. Jongdae kissing all over Jongin's body, leaving no area of skin untouched. It makes Jongin feel cherished, the way Jongdae touches him, kisses him. No one else can do that.

How is it Jongin failed to realize that? Jongdae has always put Jongin first, made him feel special, atop of his pedestal. Jongin still failed to see it. Even in the past five years, since Jongdae saw those memories, and put Jongin even higher. And Jongin was still blind to it. Now, it is more apparent than ever.

Jongdae sucks a mark onto Jongin's neck, Jongin caught in a moan of pleasure as Jongdae's lubed fingers bury inside him. Jongin tangles his fingers in Jongdae's blonde hair, and Jongdae crooks his own up, hitting just the right spot. Jongin's lips roll into his mouth, suppressing another cry. Jongdae kisses the spot he has made on Jongin's neck, adding a third finger and spreading them. Jongin's breaths are shallow, and tears form in his eyes. Heat takes over his body.

Not long after, Jongdae has slicked himself up, rolled a condom on, and slid inside Jongin. A whimper exits Jongin's mouth, and he holds onto Jongdae, forehead in Jongdae's shoulder. Jongdae remains still a few moments, and lets Jongin adjust. Jongin's heavy breaths even out. He nods at Jongdae, who was staring at him with concern. Jongdae moves his hips slowly out of Jongin, and back in, hitting Jongin's prostate almost immediately. Jongin breathily moans, and Jongdae's mouth meets Jongin's neck again. He swivels his hips in a slow and deep motion that has Jongin beginning to thrash around. Their lips align in a messy kiss, Jongdae's hands on Jongin's hips, and Jongin's back in the elder's hair.

The rate of Jongdae's thrusts increases gradually, until both are moaning, on the brink of orgasm. Jongin comes first, untouched and with a rather loud moan. Jongdae snaps his hips faster and faster, and finishes next with a guttural groan. His thrusts slow and stop. Jongdae collapses on top of Jongin, but doesn't pull out just yet, as uncomfortable as the semen-filled condom is about now. Jongin keeps his arms around Jongdae's neck, his breaths steadier than before. Jongdae feels warmer than before, and with their bodies together like this, they are even more complete than ever. Jongin does not want to let go, just yet.

In the moment, Jongin sees a vision. It's so so short, therefore he cannot process everything he sees completely. But what he notices is two men, who love each other more than anything in the world. However the world refuses to let them be one. It's forbidden, illegal even.

At least one of them never gives up. One of them will fight for the other, save them, whatever it takes. That is a constant Jongin also notices between this one, and the first one he had. It warms Jongin. Hopefully he — or Jongdae — is brave enough now to fight like themselves in their other lives.

Maybe they'll have a better ending this time. They can try. That's what Jongdae said.

After a bit, Jongdae pulls himself out, and gets off the bed. He isn't gone for long, because he comes back moments later with a wet cloth. As he cleans Jongin off, Jongdae smiles down at him, a sweet and delicate one that makes Jongin's insides flutter. When he's finished, they lie down, with Jongin's head in Jongdae's chest, their legs tangled, and the bedsheets pulled over them.

Jongin cannot help but smile. He's happy. It's been a long time since he's been this happy. Maybe too long, longer than he has lived in this life. He cannot say though. He doesn't know yet.

"You wanna know something?"

Jongin hums sleepily in response.

"I had the biggest crush on you in high school," Jongdae laughs.

A smile lingers on Jongin's lips. "That's cute." The smile disappears. "I wish I'd known."

Jongdae kisses Jongin's head. "It's okay, don't worry about it. I say crush because it was fleeting at the time."

Jongin lifts his head, eyebrows furrowed.

"But now, it's real."

Jongin's cheeks warm. He smiles shyly, nuzzling back in Jongdae's chest.

"I love you," Jongdae breathes. "I love you so much, Jongin."

For a few moments, Jongin has no idea how to respond. He's just finally realized he feels the same way... but is it too soon? At least, for them in this life?

Then again, saying the same back would be nothing but the truth. Jongin would rather be truthful than doubtful, when it comes to this.

So Jongin lifts his head up again, kisses Jongdae softly, and after he pulls away: "I love you too."

Jongdae grins widely, and presses his lips to Jongin's again. Jongin smiles into the kiss, arms back around Jongdae's neck, and Jongdae's on the small of the younger man's back. It's broken again by Jongdae, with his fingers poking at Jongin's sides and Jongin squealing.

The next morning, Jongin wakes up with Jongdae still next to him, the blanket as the only thing covering his bare body. Jongdae woke up before Jongin, him gazing at Jongin with love when Jongin opens his eyes blearily. Jongdae is petting Jongin's hair again, and Jongin thinks he is humming too.

Jongin whines quietly, allowing himself to bury himself in Jongdae's embrace. He doesn't want to wake up yet. Jongdae chuckles, planting a kiss in Jongin's hair.

"Morning, sleeping beauty."

"Shut up, it's too early..."

"It's ten o'clock, Jong."

Jongin whines again. "Too early, hyung."

How Jongdae gets Jongin out of bed within the next fifteen minutes, Jongin will never know. They take a shower together and put some clothes on, but Jongin pulls himself together much slower with his half-sleeping state.

Soon enough, Jongdae is putting his coat and scarf on, and hands Jongin's over.

"Where are we going?" Jongin asks, slipping his coat on.

Jongdae smiles, taking Jongin's scarf and wrapping it around his neck. "Well, I have a short meeting at noon, and we can't cook for shit, so I think breakfast at the café we always go to would be nice."

"What, like a date?"

"If that's what you wanna call it," Jongdae grins cheekily.

Jongin rolls his eyes. Jongdae laughs, leaning up and placing a kiss on Jongin's cheek. He then takes Jongin's hand, threads their fingers together, and pulls Jongin out of his apartment.

After breakfast, they decide to walk to Jongdae's work, as it isn't that far, and it just means a little more time together. Their hands are entangled, and Jongdae had put both of their hands in his pocket, keeping them warm against the bitter cold air. It snowed last night, and it still sprinkles now, but there is definitely a thicker blanket of white on the ground.

"You wanna wait in the lobby for me?" Jongdae asks when they stop in front of the entrance to the building. "I shouldn't be more than an hour."

Jongin nods. "I'll wait for you."

"Okay," another smile appears on Jongdae's face. He kisses Jongin firmly on the mouth, before they both enter and Jongdae runs to the elevator for his meeting.

Jongin sits in the seat he did yesterday, and smiles to himself. The morning has been nice, Jongdae giving his undivided attention to Jongin, and showering him with affection Jongin has craved for so long.

His eyelids suddenly feel heavy. He tries not to close them, but a sudden tiredness overwhelms him. The light is too bright. People are too loud. He just wants to sleep, he wants Jongdae. And before he knows it, he lets sleep overcome him.

Warm water. Sea creatures all around. Green seaweed in every part of the ocean.

Kai hates it though. It gets boring to live as a merman, and for many decades. The ocean never changes, for him. All the other merfolk are boring, and they think him weird, so he cannot make friends, let alone keep them. Squids and fish are weird, and if anything, one or the other becomes a meal for him.

He wonders what it is like at the surface. Kai has seen boats float atop, but never has he seen land. He has been curious about the creatures called humans since he was a youngling. Others say they look like merpeople, but without a tail. Kai always thought that was strange and tried to figure out what they would move with. Nothing ever made sense, however.

Maybe he could float up to the surface, just this once. No one has to know — not even his parents.

When night falls, Kai manages to escape his home without disturbing his family. He swims fast, and looks up, the surface glistening with a strange white light. He decides it is a perfect time to swim up, so he maneuvers his tail until his head is past the top of the water.

He spins around, looking for something that seems different than the water. His eyes fall on one of those boats, albeit it is far away, and heading toward a strange, sandy area. Kai dives back under and swims in that direction, until he notices that the bottom of the ocean has risen. It is almost his length, and he panics, rising back to the surface. He breathes deeply and sees how close he is to the boat now.

There is someone on the boat. They have the same top as Kai does, but he cannot see what they would move around with. Kai debates on whether he should approach. Would he scare the human?

Ah, but he is simply too curious.

He swims above water, until he reaches the back of the boat. He grabs it.

"Hey!" Kai yells.

The human on the boat screeches, whipping their head around. Kai's breath hitches at this human's beauty. It seems to be male, one with black hair like Kai, dark eyes, and a pretty mouth Kai can't help but stare at. He wears some type of cloth over his torso, white, flowy, and black string in the front tied almost to the top. The male's collarbone is spectacular, Kai thinks.

"Oh my God," the male exclaims. "Y-you're a..."

Kai grins at that. "What gave it away?"

"I-I can see your tail, in the water." The male seems terrified, yet at the same time, ecstatic. "Oh Lord, you're a merman!"

"We established that," Kai laughs, leaning his arms on the back of the boat. "My name is Kai. Who are you?"

The male's tongue peeks from his lips, and oh so beautiful this human is. Well, for a merman who has never seen a human in his life.

"Chen. My name is Chen."

Many nights pass. Kai has gone up every night to meet with Chen. He finds many things out about the man. Chen is actually his pseudo name — which he described as a fake name to protect himself from fame. He is a writer of mythical creatures of the land and sea, and lives in a kingdom called 'Exodus.' His real name is Jongdae. Kai has found he likes that name more, and prefers to call Chen Jongdae instead. It sounds nicer to Kai.

He has also discovered, humans move with legs. Walking, they call it. It fascinates Kai, and he wonders how it would feel to have his own legs.

But not only has Kai made many discoveries on humans' way of life. There is one finding Kai has made, that no merperson has ever made.

Love. With a human.

Jongdae is kind, and funny, and better than the merpeople at home. He cares about Kai, asks many questions about his life and even the merfolk's way of life. Kai generally hates talking about himself, but Jongdae liked listening. Kai likes that.

One night, Kai is waiting on the rock that they always meet at, and Jongdae is later than usual. It worries Kai to no end and he hopes that Jongdae is not harmed. He wants to tell Jongdae how he feels tonight. Whether or not Jongdae rejects him, Kai must tell him. He knows it will be worth it... hopefully.

Kai sways his tail back and forth, huffing and pouting. He is becoming impatient. Jongdae should be here by now. Kai gazes up at the sky, sighing once more. Maybe he is not coming.

May as well give up then.

Kai dives back into the water.

He is not sure how much time has passed. All Kai knows is that he waits, every night, for Jongdae to come. He never comes back. Kai is left, with tears falling down his face.

It comes to a point, where Kai has almost given up. Where he becomes ill. Because a disease has come of the merpeople and they can't do anything to stop it. Kai will not hold on much longer.

But he needs to try, just one more time, to wait for Jongdae, before he no longer exists.

Slowly, he goes up to where they met, so long ago. Before he goes up on the rock, he sees a female human, walking alongside the beach. She's pretty, with long, dark hair, a long dress, and eyes that Kai is sure he has seen before.

They look just like Jongdae's eyes.

"Excuse me," Kai calls to her.

The woman looks at him, just as stunned as Jongdae was when they first met. "Oh my goodness, you startled me!"

Kai laughs dryly. "My apologies."

"What are you doing in the water?"

A shrug. "I'm just... here, I guess."

The girl tilts her head, then walks into the water, closer to Kai. The bottom of her dress is getting wet now.

"You're a merman, aren't you?"

Kai blinks. She's not even that close to him, how does she know this? He nods slowly.

"Is... is your name Kai?"

What the hell?

"Y-yes."

She frowns, walking even closer. Kai begins to back away.

"Don't worry, I won't hurt you," she says, "You knew my brother."

Jongdae. It's Jongdae's sister.

"I'm so glad to have found you, Kai," she smiles sadly. "Jongdae told me to find you, and bring you a message."

Kai swallows. "Where is he?"

Her smile soon turns into a frown, and tears in her eyes. "He died, ten years ago."

Oh... so it's been that long, huh?

Kai holds back the tears rising. He shouldn't cry in front of Jongdae's little sister. That would be weak.

"W-what did he say?"

The girl breathes deeply. "He said he was sorry he couldn't see you. And that he lied to you about being ill. And... he loved you, Kai."

Kai cannot control it anymore. Tears fall.

"He loved you so much. He never learned to shut up about you," she smiles, and it looks just like Jongdae's beautiful smile. "He wished he could have told you."

A lump rises in Kai's throat. He puts his head to the rock, letting out a silent sob.

"I loved him too."

"Jongin."

He wakes up with a gasp and blinks numerous times. Jongin's lips part and he feels tears in his eyes. It takes a moment for him to remember where he is and what he is doing here, until he sees Jongdae in front of him, with concern in his eyes.

That's right. He's at Jongdae's work.

Jongin throws his arms around Jongdae's neck, silently crying into the smaller man's shoulder. He can feel the stares on them, but Jongin doesn't care right now. He is just glad Jongdae is okay.

Jongdae rubs Jongin's back, hushing him consolingly.

Soon enough, Jongin is calm. Jongdae pulls back, holding Jongin's face in his hands and drying it.

"It's okay, Nini. I'm right here." Jongdae says, resting their foreheads together. "I'm right here, okay?"

Jongin nods his head. He bites his lip, Jongdae kissing his teary eyelids and giving him a moment to collect himself. When Jongin has, they stand up, and leave the building, hands together once again.

It's begun snowing a little harder, the flakes clumped together and falling like powdered sugar. Jongdae doesn't ask about it, yet, instead, he is just there, holding Jongin's hand, and letting him know that he is not alone.

Jongdae remembered those things. He had no one to tell it to, not even Jongin. Because Jongin was still oblivious. How could Jongdae have handled all of it? Jongin can barely handle it, with two memories that send him into a panic attack. He wishes, more than ever, that he knew back then. Jongdae must have been in so much pain, and Jongin couldn't fix it.

When they find the car, Jongdae doesn't start it quite yet. He turns this time, lips tightened.

"I won't force you to tell me... but if you want to, please do."

Jongin shakes his head. "I—I'll tell you."

Albeit, Jongin cannot find the words yet. It was almost traumatizing, and so painful, how could he have lived a life that way? How did Jongin handle that?

Trembling, Jongin grabs Jongdae's hand. He nibbles on his lip again, breathing.

"I was a merman. You were a writer."

Jongdae hums knowingly.

"And you suddenly died a-and I had no i-idea and your sister came..."

More tears. Weak.

Jongdae turns Jongin's face toward his own. "Calm down, okay, sshh," he pulls Jongin in again, planting many kisses in Jongin's hair.

"H-hyung, are we gonna have bad endings like the two lives I just saw? Is one of us going to die and w-we'll be torn apart again?" Jongin's voice shakes. "I–I don't want that, hyung, I don't want us to be like that again..."

Jongdae lets out a shaky sigh. "I don't know, Jongin," he releases Jongin. "The truth is, anything could happen. But all we can do right now is live as we are now and stay together. We have a chance this time, and we're going to pass it up like that? No."

Jongin swallows hard.

"Listen to me, and believe me when I say this, Jongin," Jongdae holds Jongin's hands tightly. "I love you. I've loved you for a thousand years. And I will love you a thousand more to come. Whatever happened to us then, or what happens to us now, that remains forever true."

There are tears in Jongdae's eyes, and he is trying so hard not to let them out. Eventually, though, one slips out. Jongin's heart clenches.

Jongin breathes, putting his forehead on Jongdae's and the tips of their noses brushing. "I love you too, hyung."

The corners of Jongdae's lips turn up in a grin. He kisses Jongin's hands, Jongin's heart beating fast at the gesture. Their lips meet halfway in a soft kiss, too sweet Jongin doesn't want it to end.

Every breath... Every hour, has come to this.

[airoasis]

"The Passion of Saint Tibulus" | Father Ted | Series 1 Episode 3 | Dead Parrot

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"The Passion of Saint Tibulus" | Father Ted | Series 1 Episode 3 | Dead Parrot

Appears like rain Ted come on Duggal it can be your go I have to say father Hernandez it can be been distinguished having you over however I assume you’re getting homesick for Cuba by way of now right here oh yes my nation is very lovely excellent okay what’s that it continued have a first-rate lifestyles right here on craggy i will raggy i’m going to instead we’ll have two just right neighbors padre doogal father doogal gotta run of path father Jack yes but I have got to say I missed the noise and the lights you know the entire buzz of the huge metropolis we stated it can be that unhealthy you have been in spot Wexford weren’t you I used to be sure what craggy Island has its charms the west a part of the island used to be stunning until it drifted off of path excellent buddy drifted off yes there used to be just a little of a storm and it just got here free huh now we should not have a west part it can be simply north south and east it was once lovely whilst I was there sorry mister do you know Ted your housekeeper is an extraordinarily attractive woman in many instances this celibacy is hard for a person you ought to assess her off of the smooth I think bishop brennan springs to intellect I see oh yes sure Bishop Lynn Renan he is our sort of boss it seems that he was once myself and the union was blessed so they are saying no no he no imply boy or girl son he lives in the us our soul goes to rumor anyway was it Colonel Mustard within the kitchen the candlestick what Colonel Mustard in the kitchen with the candlestick you have Colonel Mustard you confirmed him to me earlier how could it’s Colonel Mustard a view of Colonel Mustard o.K. Father Hernandez your go see yes well I suppose it used to be a never-ending dream the reverend cream Cuchillo and i finished in the drawing-room huh these Protestants up to no excellent as ordinary what’s father Jack looking at what’s that you are watching father Jack o.K. Is that a film you’re watching huh isn’t that Kiefer Sutherland why is that flat liner as you’re gazing what pink John is for the Jackman a bit hard of listening to spouse sure he gets a form of waxy buildup in his ears and then we have got to syringe them it’s not very best it’s exceptional though in a technique on the grounds that you recognize we’re on no account short of candles good that was in his head last week and there is a few extra over there however we have nearly adequate for a papal funeral he is a variety of one man candle factory aunt your father Jack huh be honest he can hear good ample when he desires to look at this father Jack would you love a pitcher of brandy yes oh you see he’s a horrible man okay brandy all proper all proper all correct now say when huh say when huh tell me fairly wanted to stop pouring oh all correct that is it you certain long past anymore hello craggy Island parochial residence father Ted truly speaking ha ha ha hey bishop Brendan how are you sure no all correct excellent yes all right of course sure goodbye bye so that is the boss he’s coming over he needs to speak to us about anything come on we higher finish this it can be need to be the longest game of Clue I’ve ever played how lengthy we have not be aware of 5 hours Ted will have to no longer be some cards in here or some thing on the other hand I have no phrases to say how thankful i’m do that’s somewhat ungrateful – do not you fear father Hernandez dangled a gallows nevertheless I do have some items from the humans of my village please don’t snigger of this simple illustration of Cuban handicraft it can be a video recorder see no no guys yes i’m sorry exam it is an awfully normal mannequin it is only a 3 week pre-file facility do not fear about that it is excellent thanks very a lot father nandus it can be uncommon feather cuenta a step 10 for you Ted then go i have anything improper muy it is very designated you quite would not have you particularly do not need symbol opal it’s a Cuban fertility image i am hoping it brings you as much good fortune as it introduced me yes all right muttering oh yeah good I alternatively come on now drew look the bishop might be right here any minute all right now you bear in mind what I instructed you huh it is very simple a brand new nation to mention what we had been talking about final night time all proper Jeff what have been we talking about final night time hello you understand the rumors in regards to the bishops little mistake all correct yeah what mistake used to be that no Ted his son his son in the united states oh yes he’s a son in the united states sure what’s odd it’s a race race huh that’s news to me Ted we had been talking about it final night Deauville to Father Hernandez who all correct the Cuban lad yeah he gave us a video sure for those who do not forget correct okay just put out of your mind all about it just disregard about it just don’t mention the son have you bought that i have Ted the lights are on however there is nobody home father Brendan is right here hells bells correct showman juga now do not forget no longer a word in regards to the solar hi there bishop how are you come on take a seat down sit down down there your costume beside her father to get mrs.Doyle some tea please how’s the son the son of God how is the son of God how’s everything on the earth faith the world of faith what the hell are you speaking about Crilley good Oh mrs. Darling sign that tea here i am I mentioned mister and i am quality thanks mrs. Doyle will you now not have a cup of tea visibly no no i’m not going to remain I need to get proper to the factor and get the hell out of right here certain you will not have a clog i’m distinct thank you oh one have a call no thanks oh no however each person else is having a cop would you not have one yourself I should not have the time you omitted you can be Bishop piggy within the middle i am best great you sure you won’t have a cop only a drop no Bishop eggy and me simply say yes or is it it is faster think me all correct then yes Mon Tiger lads good i hope you are now not doing torture harm here huh Jack are you behaving yourself thanks did you see your grace what brings you to these materials pondering of sending us back to our parishes a fact danger you’re here unless I let you know otherwise you consider either jack back into a normal parish after the wedding he did in earth lengthy huh surely i am no no no no you were right here unless all of that money is accounted for I didn’t be aware of what after that money I sufficient you went to Las Vegas once that negative little one was alleged to be in Lourdes and as for this cabbage the mere inspiration of letting him back into the actual world after the Black Rock incident yes that wasn’t the amount of persons’s lives a rep to be damaged there were only nuns nuns are humans too my god the strings I had to pull the discontinue the Vatican getting concerned I do not wish to talk about it I just need to get this feeling industry over and completed with film about what movie this blasphemous film The passion of st.Tibula s– now His Holiness has banned it however in view that of some loophole the bloody factor is displaying on this godforsaken dump oh yes that’s correct is it any good you realize if it’s any excellent or now not all i do know is that we have got to be noticeable to be making a stand towards it i have been brought again from my excursion in California to kind it out and that is where you went Larry and Moe are available what do you mean well i know that in general you wouldn’t be competent to arrange a nun shoot in a nunnery however despite that is as much as you to make the church’s function clear make some sort of a protest at the cinema even you will have to be equipped to manipulate that oh thanks very a lot listen that is very severe do not make a balls of it right i’m going to be in touch your grace however this this is not rather my discipline nothing is your subject Crilley you do not need an field and this is the type of a play subject with sand castles and buckets and spades now do what you’re advised right through now that is foolish there may be no one here for God see women and gents i am pleased to say we have a deal with in store in these days for all you lovers of French cinema is this subtitles different is it so titled or is it dubbed it can be some thing anybody stare on the protesting now or what sure I think so or probably we should just stay and spot a little bit little bit of the filling for us good let’s simply get it over with how possibly it’s not too unhealthy Ted it would be in other commitments it’s not relevant whether or not it can be excellent or dangerous Dubin it is the morality we do not agree with correct let’s go dude did your sin good day Michael how are you oh i’m grandpa how’s father Jack what we’ve not visible him when you consider that we the final shall install in season on this plan is bit worn out so we won’t be by myself today all correct however you are making a few circuit it’s an extended story we’ve got the bishop or you know Len Brennan or at gob sheet it is going lad seeing that in film I any taller down here and kick up a bit of a force all right yeah however there is just one dingo yeah you’re style of an simply whatever to show we’re not all correct Oh laughter sorry Michael oh no no no no hindrance in any respect though however in case you could preserve it down I mean we have to believe of different humans that you may count on us make it Michael Michael um i don’t feel you are likely to cook your self that is just a tv no hindrance huh do you need to head on now oh hush or no approach could as good keep and notice the film first so I throw you out after the villain grand grand battle i’m completed we’re still ok from the tub position EJ the fear mm oh you washe was all decibels you’re asking the wrong individual there Ted I might make head nor tails i know for a proven fact that sane tibula swore extra garments than that he was from Norway our summer time the frozen to demise and do you do not forget that bit when sin tipping us he tried to take that banana off the other lad I wasn’t a banana tilden anyway let’s get some sleep hmm give us a B please Bob mm-hmm Beethoven do C please Bob carnivorous air please Bob God no longer blockbusters once more Fettuccine 6:00 a.M.Great an additional 8 hour sleep you’re going to wake 10 oh this is tremendous isn’t it one more great lie in for the boys there is do you need to be horrible Ted wouldn’t be terrible if Bishop Brennan came in and he informed us to get out of the cinema and began protesting again that is ridiculous the position doesn’t open for one more 7 hours what about what they Bishop stated failed to he need us to vary ourselves the railings how we supposed to do that hilarious could have anything proper you go and get whatever i’m going to I just stay right here and preserve a detailed cinema wager they are gonna could want to watch a film that doesn’t begin for one more 7 hours Jack what the hell are you as much as why are not you at the film psycho what what did you say pay attention the dead you see my bag anywhere my traveling bag hmm good if you happen to do see it would you provide it back to me let’s go my bloody passport in it and uh everything right you gonna stand there all day a fats historic bitch on prime to be like there is a massive pile of scheisse yeah ignorant prick dude watch that mouth of yours i will watch nothing i’m going to stick this up your ass oh hello YouTube father how’s methods we’ve not noticeable you in a while we have been just going to have some tea in case you have a drop no thanks mrs.O’Leary no i am best hiya what will we do you for our Father good I used to be looking for a pair of handcuffs actually pair of handcuffs what you need them for oh nothing a lot stuff for me in Ted you and father Ted yeah we’re just trying some thing out Oh truly humorous sufficient I believe we do have a pair i am Sergeant pawns had left them here when he retired retired from what from the police the police used to be Sergeant damage on a policeman um he was sure why do you believe you are the uniform oh I suggestion he was once just having a laugh anyway younger here is the handcuffs k thanks fee great i know my father canine with this type of thing cautious now yeah with this kind of factor Oh father evidently hey Jim i like Italian I obvious your picture within the paper watch right here have a look so it is a blasphemous turn father what is my variety of factor is he mad stuff it’s very immoral Jim you would not adore it is it a kind of nudie factor you would not believe the quantity and oldest unit you see the Latia father – simply the highest section you see i’m looking this left an creativeness howdy well if i’m going to be off goodbye Jim their fathers ah howdy mr.Sheldon mrs. Lin the ardour of seeing time yours what’s that’s it a Western or a musical or some thing we invariably put in Tuesday’s it will get us out of the hustle we noticed a exceptional one a couple of weeks in the past The Crying recreation it was once extremely good k there used to be this first-rate bit ended you see there was once this woman and then you definitely discover it’s no longer a woman but a person oh he acquired his letters let me see it for a second however you get the message I was once it pressured it goodbye considering that I’ve seen one like you’re Billy’s tall Billy’s is rounder on the high maybe whatever then stepping into or her head it just goes to exhibit drew lady nobody takes a blind person or so what the church says anymore hello cut father clearly good day how’s your spouse I hear she hasn’t been good she’s dead father and she are simply a few hours of all rather yes wherever that’s just the way it’s what is the feeling like father what is it any excellent I used to be reading about it within the paper I informed you you must think about going to a movie if your wife is just die right here I could wander it I are not able to act about the funeral important points later fathers I need to say that is uncommon that is probably the most effective Villa with Hudson Joe Rossi Park is breaking all forms of documents due to all this publicity over your protest circle that’s manner oh my god would you appear who it is oh thank god just a little of support that’s fair 54 turn a nun father I get to a seat right Dougal I’ve had sufficient of this we’re leaving give me the keys keys what’s this than your costume why am I watching at a globe of the waters good um how am i able to give an explanation for first of all a resume of the final few days now I do not know when you keep in mind but I got here in here with the inspiration of you making a dignified protest about this village remember that sure yes good just to exhibit the Church’s opposition to the film bus and this is the section that I in finding most interesting you have definitely made this movie the most triumphant film ever proven here isn’t that high-quality I imply persons are coming from everywhere the nation to look the film they’re even coming from Gdansk to look the movie i do know however it’s not that appear there’s you there may be Forrest Gump there’s father Jack honestly looking at the villain now there is a flip-up for the books what right now I believe the satisfactory factor would be for ye three to proceed your careers as priests come fill and promoters external of my jurisdiction huh now Ted I concept that you would like to move to the usa hmm what section do you suppose well dumb Las Vegas i’m sorry i am sorry Ted i’m in South the united states undoubtedly there may be a beautiful little island off the coast of Suriname and they have got a couple of tribes there you’re going to like this and they have been knocking the shit out of each different we have certainly not been ready to find the right man to carry them collectively in the spirit of Christian concord however I suppose that you’re the person well thanks very much no have to thank me incidentally are you aware how to make arrows well to not fear to not worry it can come to you now go blue over to you is not it humorous how some of these places in the Philippines can keep on going and not using a appropriate sewerage approach hmm your honor now Jack the place will we ship you huh Jack wake up Bishop i wouldn’t do that you simply shut up Jack wake up I got you oh my god should you suppose this situation is dangerous wait till you see your new parish just wait until you see well that is it then I think I suppose all we will do now could be p.C. Ted i don’t need to go to the Philippines I imply I are not able to even spell the Philippines I comprehend it starts offevolved with an F i know i do know honey go someplace we would persuade the bishop to vary his intellect if most effective we had some thing we might bargain with I have no idea what’s that Jack did you get a film the final thing I wish to watch now is a movie well that used to be first-rate wasn’t it correct there Ted and will have to we cell him now or will we watch it again I suppose we watch it again you

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"The Passion of Saint Tibulus" | Father Ted | Series 1 Episode 3 | Dead Parrot

New Post has been published on https://hititem.kr/the-passion-of-saint-tibulus-father-ted-series-1-episode-3-dead-parrot-13/

"The Passion of Saint Tibulus" | Father Ted | Series 1 Episode 3 | Dead Parrot

Appears like rain Ted come on Duggal it can be your go I have to say father Hernandez it can be been distinguished having you over however I assume you’re getting homesick for Cuba by way of now right here oh yes my nation is very lovely excellent okay what’s that it continued have a first-rate lifestyles right here on craggy i will raggy i’m going to instead we’ll have two just right neighbors padre doogal father doogal gotta run of path father Jack yes but I have got to say I missed the noise and the lights you know the entire buzz of the huge metropolis we stated it can be that unhealthy you have been in spot Wexford weren’t you I used to be sure what craggy Island has its charms the west a part of the island used to be stunning until it drifted off of path excellent buddy drifted off yes there used to be just a little of a storm and it just got here free huh now we should not have a west part it can be simply north south and east it was once lovely whilst I was there sorry mister do you know Ted your housekeeper is an extraordinarily attractive woman in many instances this celibacy is hard for a person you ought to assess her off of the smooth I think bishop brennan springs to intellect I see oh yes sure Bishop Lynn Renan he is our sort of boss it seems that he was once myself and the union was blessed so they are saying no no he no imply boy or girl son he lives in the us our soul goes to rumor anyway was it Colonel Mustard within the kitchen the candlestick what Colonel Mustard in the kitchen with the candlestick you have Colonel Mustard you confirmed him to me earlier how could it’s Colonel Mustard a view of Colonel Mustard o.K. Father Hernandez your go see yes well I suppose it used to be a never-ending dream the reverend cream Cuchillo and i finished in the drawing-room huh these Protestants up to no excellent as ordinary what’s father Jack looking at what’s that you are watching father Jack o.K. Is that a film you’re watching huh isn’t that Kiefer Sutherland why is that flat liner as you’re gazing what pink John is for the Jackman a bit hard of listening to spouse sure he gets a form of waxy buildup in his ears and then we have got to syringe them it’s not very best it’s exceptional though in a technique on the grounds that you recognize we’re on no account short of candles good that was in his head last week and there is a few extra over there however we have nearly adequate for a papal funeral he is a variety of one man candle factory aunt your father Jack huh be honest he can hear good ample when he desires to look at this father Jack would you love a pitcher of brandy yes oh you see he’s a horrible man okay brandy all proper all proper all correct now say when huh say when huh tell me fairly wanted to stop pouring oh all correct that is it you certain long past anymore hello craggy Island parochial residence father Ted truly speaking ha ha ha hey bishop Brendan how are you sure no all correct excellent yes all right of course sure goodbye bye so that is the boss he’s coming over he needs to speak to us about anything come on we higher finish this it can be need to be the longest game of Clue I’ve ever played how lengthy we have not be aware of 5 hours Ted will have to no longer be some cards in here or some thing on the other hand I have no phrases to say how thankful i’m do that’s somewhat ungrateful – do not you fear father Hernandez dangled a gallows nevertheless I do have some items from the humans of my village please don’t snigger of this simple illustration of Cuban handicraft it can be a video recorder see no no guys yes i’m sorry exam it is an awfully normal mannequin it is only a 3 week pre-file facility do not fear about that it is excellent thanks very a lot father nandus it can be uncommon feather cuenta a step 10 for you Ted then go i have anything improper muy it is very designated you quite would not have you particularly do not need symbol opal it’s a Cuban fertility image i am hoping it brings you as much good fortune as it introduced me yes all right muttering oh yeah good I alternatively come on now drew look the bishop might be right here any minute all right now you bear in mind what I instructed you huh it is very simple a brand new nation to mention what we had been talking about final night time all proper Jeff what have been we talking about final night time hello you understand the rumors in regards to the bishops little mistake all correct yeah what mistake used to be that no Ted his son his son in the united states oh yes he’s a son in the united states sure what’s odd it’s a race race huh that’s news to me Ted we had been talking about it final night Deauville to Father Hernandez who all correct the Cuban lad yeah he gave us a video sure for those who do not forget correct okay just put out of your mind all about it just disregard about it just don’t mention the son have you bought that i have Ted the lights are on however there is nobody home father Brendan is right here hells bells correct showman juga now do not forget no longer a word in regards to the solar hi there bishop how are you come on take a seat down sit down down there your costume beside her father to get mrs.Doyle some tea please how’s the son the son of God how is the son of God how’s everything on the earth faith the world of faith what the hell are you speaking about Crilley good Oh mrs. Darling sign that tea here i am I mentioned mister and i am quality thanks mrs. Doyle will you now not have a cup of tea visibly no no i’m not going to remain I need to get proper to the factor and get the hell out of right here certain you will not have a clog i’m distinct thank you oh one have a call no thanks oh no however each person else is having a cop would you not have one yourself I should not have the time you omitted you can be Bishop piggy within the middle i am best great you sure you won’t have a cop only a drop no Bishop eggy and me simply say yes or is it it is faster think me all correct then yes Mon Tiger lads good i hope you are now not doing torture harm here huh Jack are you behaving yourself thanks did you see your grace what brings you to these materials pondering of sending us back to our parishes a fact danger you’re here unless I let you know otherwise you consider either jack back into a normal parish after the wedding he did in earth lengthy huh surely i am no no no no you were right here unless all of that money is accounted for I didn’t be aware of what after that money I sufficient you went to Las Vegas once that negative little one was alleged to be in Lourdes and as for this cabbage the mere inspiration of letting him back into the actual world after the Black Rock incident yes that wasn’t the amount of persons’s lives a rep to be damaged there were only nuns nuns are humans too my god the strings I had to pull the discontinue the Vatican getting concerned I do not wish to talk about it I just need to get this feeling industry over and completed with film about what movie this blasphemous film The passion of st.Tibula s– now His Holiness has banned it however in view that of some loophole the bloody factor is displaying on this godforsaken dump oh yes that’s correct is it any good you realize if it’s any excellent or now not all i do know is that we have got to be noticeable to be making a stand towards it i have been brought again from my excursion in California to kind it out and that is where you went Larry and Moe are available what do you mean well i know that in general you wouldn’t be competent to arrange a nun shoot in a nunnery however despite that is as much as you to make the church’s function clear make some sort of a protest at the cinema even you will have to be equipped to manipulate that oh thanks very a lot listen that is very severe do not make a balls of it right i’m going to be in touch your grace however this this is not rather my discipline nothing is your subject Crilley you do not need an field and this is the type of a play subject with sand castles and buckets and spades now do what you’re advised right through now that is foolish there may be no one here for God see women and gents i am pleased to say we have a deal with in store in these days for all you lovers of French cinema is this subtitles different is it so titled or is it dubbed it can be some thing anybody stare on the protesting now or what sure I think so or probably we should just stay and spot a little bit little bit of the filling for us good let’s simply get it over with how possibly it’s not too unhealthy Ted it would be in other commitments it’s not relevant whether or not it can be excellent or dangerous Dubin it is the morality we do not agree with correct let’s go dude did your sin good day Michael how are you oh i’m grandpa how’s father Jack what we’ve not visible him when you consider that we the final shall install in season on this plan is bit worn out so we won’t be by myself today all correct however you are making a few circuit it’s an extended story we’ve got the bishop or you know Len Brennan or at gob sheet it is going lad seeing that in film I any taller down here and kick up a bit of a force all right yeah however there is just one dingo yeah you’re style of an simply whatever to show we’re not all correct Oh laughter sorry Michael oh no no no no hindrance in any respect though however in case you could preserve it down I mean we have to believe of different humans that you may count on us make it Michael Michael um i don’t feel you are likely to cook your self that is just a tv no hindrance huh do you need to head on now oh hush or no approach could as good keep and notice the film first so I throw you out after the villain grand grand battle i’m completed we’re still ok from the tub position EJ the fear mm oh you washe was all decibels you’re asking the wrong individual there Ted I might make head nor tails i know for a proven fact that sane tibula swore extra garments than that he was from Norway our summer time the frozen to demise and do you do not forget that bit when sin tipping us he tried to take that banana off the other lad I wasn’t a banana tilden anyway let’s get some sleep hmm give us a B please Bob mm-hmm Beethoven do C please Bob carnivorous air please Bob God no longer blockbusters once more Fettuccine 6:00 a.M.Great an additional 8 hour sleep you’re going to wake 10 oh this is tremendous isn’t it one more great lie in for the boys there is do you need to be horrible Ted wouldn’t be terrible if Bishop Brennan came in and he informed us to get out of the cinema and began protesting again that is ridiculous the position doesn’t open for one more 7 hours what about what they Bishop stated failed to he need us to vary ourselves the railings how we supposed to do that hilarious could have anything proper you go and get whatever i’m going to I just stay right here and preserve a detailed cinema wager they are gonna could want to watch a film that doesn’t begin for one more 7 hours Jack what the hell are you as much as why are not you at the film psycho what what did you say pay attention the dead you see my bag anywhere my traveling bag hmm good if you happen to do see it would you provide it back to me let’s go my bloody passport in it and uh everything right you gonna stand there all day a fats historic bitch on prime to be like there is a massive pile of scheisse yeah ignorant prick dude watch that mouth of yours i will watch nothing i’m going to stick this up your ass oh hello YouTube father how’s methods we’ve not noticeable you in a while we have been just going to have some tea in case you have a drop no thanks mrs.O’Leary no i am best hiya what will we do you for our Father good I used to be looking for a pair of handcuffs actually pair of handcuffs what you need them for oh nothing a lot stuff for me in Ted you and father Ted yeah we’re just trying some thing out Oh truly humorous sufficient I believe we do have a pair i am Sergeant pawns had left them here when he retired retired from what from the police the police used to be Sergeant damage on a policeman um he was sure why do you believe you are the uniform oh I suggestion he was once just having a laugh anyway younger here is the handcuffs k thanks fee great i know my father canine with this type of thing cautious now yeah with this kind of factor Oh father evidently hey Jim i like Italian I obvious your picture within the paper watch right here have a look so it is a blasphemous turn father what is my variety of factor is he mad stuff it’s very immoral Jim you would not adore it is it a kind of nudie factor you would not believe the quantity and oldest unit you see the Latia father – simply the highest section you see i’m looking this left an creativeness howdy well if i’m going to be off goodbye Jim their fathers ah howdy mr.Sheldon mrs. Lin the ardour of seeing time yours what’s that’s it a Western or a musical or some thing we invariably put in Tuesday’s it will get us out of the hustle we noticed a exceptional one a couple of weeks in the past The Crying recreation it was once extremely good k there used to be this first-rate bit ended you see there was once this woman and then you definitely discover it’s no longer a woman but a person oh he acquired his letters let me see it for a second however you get the message I was once it pressured it goodbye considering that I’ve seen one like you’re Billy’s tall Billy’s is rounder on the high maybe whatever then stepping into or her head it just goes to exhibit drew lady nobody takes a blind person or so what the church says anymore hello cut father clearly good day how’s your spouse I hear she hasn’t been good she’s dead father and she are simply a few hours of all rather yes wherever that’s just the way it’s what is the feeling like father what is it any excellent I used to be reading about it within the paper I informed you you must think about going to a movie if your wife is just die right here I could wander it I are not able to act about the funeral important points later fathers I need to say that is uncommon that is probably the most effective Villa with Hudson Joe Rossi Park is breaking all forms of documents due to all this publicity over your protest circle that’s manner oh my god would you appear who it is oh thank god just a little of support that’s fair 54 turn a nun father I get to a seat right Dougal I’ve had sufficient of this we’re leaving give me the keys keys what’s this than your costume why am I watching at a globe of the waters good um how am i able to give an explanation for first of all a resume of the final few days now I do not know when you keep in mind but I got here in here with the inspiration of you making a dignified protest about this village remember that sure yes good just to exhibit the Church’s opposition to the film bus and this is the section that I in finding most interesting you have definitely made this movie the most triumphant film ever proven here isn’t that high-quality I imply persons are coming from everywhere the nation to look the film they’re even coming from Gdansk to look the movie i do know however it’s not that appear there’s you there may be Forrest Gump there’s father Jack honestly looking at the villain now there is a flip-up for the books what right now I believe the satisfactory factor would be for ye three to proceed your careers as priests come fill and promoters external of my jurisdiction huh now Ted I concept that you would like to move to the usa hmm what section do you suppose well dumb Las Vegas i’m sorry i am sorry Ted i’m in South the united states undoubtedly there may be a beautiful little island off the coast of Suriname and they have got a couple of tribes there you’re going to like this and they have been knocking the shit out of each different we have certainly not been ready to find the right man to carry them collectively in the spirit of Christian concord however I suppose that you’re the person well thanks very much no have to thank me incidentally are you aware how to make arrows well to not fear to not worry it can come to you now go blue over to you is not it humorous how some of these places in the Philippines can keep on going and not using a appropriate sewerage approach hmm your honor now Jack the place will we ship you huh Jack wake up Bishop i wouldn’t do that you simply shut up Jack wake up I got you oh my god should you suppose this situation is dangerous wait till you see your new parish just wait until you see well that is it then I think I suppose all we will do now could be p.C. Ted i don’t need to go to the Philippines I imply I are not able to even spell the Philippines I comprehend it starts offevolved with an F i know i do know honey go someplace we would persuade the bishop to vary his intellect if most effective we had some thing we might bargain with I have no idea what’s that Jack did you get a film the final thing I wish to watch now is a movie well that used to be first-rate wasn’t it correct there Ted and will have to we cell him now or will we watch it again I suppose we watch it again you