#best viewed with high screen brightness (I spent three hours coloring and I would like you to be looking)

[chiropteracupola]

Bodies in my wake / Noose 'round my neck / I'm comin' back again / Better make it quick!

[sehunniepotwrites]

when the ball drops, our hearts stop | mk.l

gif created by @nctsworld​ 

SYNOPSIS ☆ In which being dragged and ditched at a New Year’s Eve gala with your so-called enemy doesn’t end as badly as you thought it would. 

GENRE ☆ enemies-to-lovers!au, fluff, suggestive PAIRING ☆ mark lee x (f) reader WORD COUNT ☆ 2666 WARNINGS ☆ suggestive content ahead!! dirty dancing, neck kisses, alcohol consumption, mentions of cheating, cursing

PLAYLIST ☆ new year’s day - taylor swift

“What are you doing on New Year’s Eve?” had to be the number one question that was sent your way and unlike last year, you didn’t have an answer. Finding your lack of plans to celebrate the upcoming year with a bang, your best friend Wendy decided to drag you to the great outdoors. 

And by the great outdoors, she meant the biggest New Year’s Gala in the city. So there you were, in the grandest hotel in the heart of the city, downed in a glittery silver power suit that hugged your body in just the right way. A matching belt wrapped around to cinch your waist and the low cut of your blazer and lack of undershirt only accentuated the curves you usually preferred hiding. Hair curled up and face painted with the most flattering colors for your skin tone, you were rocking and ready to go.

The gala was packed with people your age and older with a mix of top forty music blaring from the loudspeakers. Everyone was dressed to the nines, wearing suits and dresses that went with the gold and silver theme. Bodies were pressed against each other on the dance floor and you were sure Wendy and her boyfriend Johnny were in that crowd as well. They were always the type to be caught up in all the fun— you, not so much, not since your breakup with your ex that occurred five months ago anyway.

You wanted to stray away from the party scene since it was your ex’s scene as well but fuck it, it was New Year’s Eve and you deserved to have fun. Your definition of fun included an obscene amount of alcohol, courtesy of Son Wendy and the credit card she slipped into the palm of your hand before making her way to the dance floor.

Of course, you promised that you would chat and get to know some people, maybe find someone to share a New Year’s kiss with but it was all a lie. You just wanted your free drinks and the loneliness haunting your mind to fade away.

Three Long Island Iced Teas and a bit way past tipsy into your night, a person pushed their way next to you at the bar, their body pressing against your side as they ordered a drink. You couldn’t see them, your hair creating a curtain and blocking them from view but you felt their eyes on you. It wasn’t until you leaned forward and took another sip of your drink that the person talked to you, immediately recognizing your face.

They called your name a bit cockily and you flinched at the sound, sober enough to pinpoint the exact person next to you but drunk enough to engage in a conversation with him. Swiveling your barstool to face him, you shot him a curt smile, lifting your drink up from the bar in greeting. “Mark,” you nodded as you drank him in. 

“Yo.”

As much as you hated to admit it, Mark Lee was handsome. His hair had been dyed a shade of blond and was styled in a way that made your heart unwillingly skip a beat. His grey velvet suit clung onto his body oh-so-well and the black tie that contrasted against the bright white of his shirt looked almost too tempting, the drunken state of your mind was urging you to pull it so he could step closer to you.

What did people say? Drunken thoughts, sober words? Yeah, fuck that.

“Johnny invited you?” you questioned as you sucked on the straw of your drink. You watched as his eyes flickered from your eyes to your lips for a fraction of a second, his lips curving into the smirk you wanted to punch off his face. Or kiss. 

“Yeah, should’ve figured I would see you when John invited me. You and Wendy are like a packaged deal, you know?” he replied as the bartender dropped off his drink. This time, your gaze was glued to his mouth as he took a swig of his drink, eyes slightly widening as his tongue peeked out before he downed the liquid courage. 

Coughing out of embarrassment, you looked away before Mark could catch you eyeing his seemingly delectable mouth. 

“You look like the mirrorball that’s about to drop,” he commented on your fit of the night. Glancing down at your suit, you frowned. It didn’t look that bad, did it?

When you shifted in your seat yet again, it sent your head spinning for a second, leaving you to grasp against Mark’s toned arm for balance. “I feel like one too,” you threw back. “Is the room spinning?”

“Shit, dude, how much did you drink?” His voice dropped lower in slight concern.

You hold up three fingers before blinking. No, it was four. You raised another finger. 

“All of them iced teas?” 

“Yup!”

He cursed “Where’s your asshole of a boyfriend? Don’t see him around anywhere— doesn’t he know it’s not safe to leave their girl alone at the bar?” Mark pushed, suddenly worried about your safety. He asked if anyone had hit on you yet and let out a sigh of relief when you reiterated that no one had bothered you. Despite the insult thrown your ex’s way, you remembered how considerate the guy was. The only real reason you hated Mark was due to the rivalry he held with your ex-boyfriend.

“I dunno,” you shrugged, shoulders raising and the material of your blazer shifting. Mark coughed, eyes quickly darting away so they wouldn’t land on the deep cut into your cleavage. “Probably sucking face with the bitch he left me for.”

Another long swig of your iced tea and suddenly, the drink was gone with only ice in the glass. You pointed a finger at his face, “Don’t cheat, folks. It’ll wreck a person.”

“Fuck,” Mark muttered under his breath, now fuming with anger that someone would cheat on a girl like you. It only grew when he realized your best friends had left you at the bar alone. He was going to rip their heads off later— how irresponsible of them. 

“Maybe that’s enough drinking for you today,” he told you, wanting to cut you off so you could sober up. He waved a hand in the air to call the bartender over to request two glasses of water, which was immediately prepared for you.

“Drink up,” Mark commanded, holding the straw to your lips. 

You thanked him with a lazy smile before drinking away, sighing at the refreshing feeling of the cold water running down your throat. He held the drink for you in his hands as you continued to work on the glass, only setting it down after you finished it. 

“Thanks,” you whispered, touching your forehead to his shoulder. He felt comfortable and you didn’t want to move as you breathed in the addicting scent of his cologne. You always preferred Mark’s fresh cologne over your ex’s overwhelmingly woody scent. It was consoling and safe and nice and—

“Hey, why don’t we move you to a booth? You’ll be more comfortable there,” Mark softly suggested.

“But what if I want to dance for once?” you whined.

“Let’s get you to sober up a bit more and then I can take you dancing, how ‘bout that?” His breath hit your ear and you laughed at the cold sensation before nodding. A flush that had nothing to do with the alcohol you consumed took over your face as the man you said you hated wrapped a supporting arm around your waist.

An hour later, your drunken state was fading as was the loneliness you were dreading. Mark Lee made an excellent company; he wasn’t at all what your ex painted him out to be. He was kind, caring, and endearingly sweet with the prettiest pair of eyes to match. The way his body wiggled to match his overflowing giggles brought the brightest smile to your lips, something you hadn’t experienced in quite some time. 

The time spent with him in the small booth rekindled the crush you harbored for him before you met your sad excuse of an ex, heart fluttering against your chest.

“Hey,” he leaned over the table, his face so close to yours. “You wanna move closer to the screen so we can see the ball drop clearly? It’s forty to midnight. We can dance, too.”

Your eyes curled up in excitement as you agreed, easily slipping your hand in his like you had done it a million times before. The feeling of his larger hand wrapped around yours sent you into a high that you couldn’t really describe. All you knew was that you didn’t want him to let go and thank god he didn’t.

Mark only held you tighter as you arrived on the dance floor with a clear view of the screen. The bass thumped as he tentatively quirked a brow, silently asking you to dance. You replied by draping your arms over the slopes of his shoulder, your fingertips playing with the hair at the nape of his neck. Tugging you closer at the waist, Mark shot you another look to see if you were okay. The tightening grip around his neck was enough of an answer for him. 

You shivered as his hands ran up and down the sides of your body, his touch almost burning through your glittered suit. When Mark least expected it, you turned around in his hold, pressing your backside against his front. A groan slipped out of his lips before his head dropped against your shoulder, his moist lips ghosting against the exposed skin of your neck. You reached back to hold his head in place as your body grinded into his.

The hand holding your waist tightened at your ministrations, squeezing you in a way that drove you crazy and the pair of lips that left a cautious kiss drove you crazier. The moan you let out and the way your free hand depressed against the one placed on your side was all the confirmation Mark needed to continue the trail of kisses he planned on leaving over the expanse of your neck. You enjoyed the feeling of his lips on your skin so much, your head rolled back and your eyes fluttered to a pleasured close as he nipped at your skin. 

The next half hour was spent with you encaged in Mark’s hold and you weren’t ashamed to say that you enjoyed every minute of it. When catching eyes with Wendy and Johnny across the dance floor, you laughed as your best friend wiggled her brows at you and shot a thumbs up your way. It was then, you realized, that it was their plan to get you two together all along.

Your friends had always mentioned you would get along great, the only thing stopping you was the blasted and unnecessary rivalry that blossomed between Mark and your ex. Now that the terrible excuse of a person was out of your life, there was room for a new man and you found yourself not hating the idea of Mark being the next keeper of your heart.

Five minutes to midnight, you turned around in his hold and smiled up at him. He returned the look with a soft grin of his own. 

“You’re not as bad as I thought you were, Mark Lee.”

“Took you long enough to notice,” he chuckled lowly, the sound sending a warm feeling to the pit of your stomach. “I never thought of you as bad, you know?”

“Is that so?” you countered, your hand freely running through his blond tresses. 

“Yeah, I always thought you were great.”

“Just great?” you teased, leaning a bit forward.

He groaned, “Ugh, dude, you know what I mean.”

“I don’t think I do, dude,” you pushed further, leaving him to touch his head against your shoulder again. You were starting to think that he loved to do it. 

“I always thought you were pretty special,” he whispered into your skin. 

Placing a kiss on the top of his head, you answered back, “I never wanted to admit it but I thought you were pretty special, too.”

“Glad to finally see that the feeling’s mutual,” he laughed before he returned the favor with a kiss to your jaw.

When the countdown from twenty began, Mark shifted both your bodies to face the screen as the people around you started to shout the numbers at the top of their lungs. Wendy and Johnny fought their way through the crowd to get to you and you briefly squeezed your best friend’s hand in greeting. Ready to leave the current year behind and welcome in the new one, you pressed your side into Mark’s before joining in on the countdown. 

You were shining, Mark noticed, like the mirrorball that was projected on the screen. It wasn’t like he mentioned earlier— it had nothing to do with the silver of the suit. It was just you and the way you shined so brightly as your voice blended with the others in the room. You were lost in the feeling and he loved the way you looked under the dim lights. 

He hoped he could see you in more nights to come, for more opportunities to hold you the way he did on the dance floor.

Mark Lee, who was in love with you longer than he could even remember, wanted your midnights and more. He wanted to hold on to the memories of keeping you close and to create new ones if you would let him. 

Hold onto the memories and they’ll hold onto you or so they said.

His eyes were stuck on you like glue as the crowd reached number ten.

Nine!

Mark’s hand wriggled around the ends of your blazer.

Eight!

His fingertips were hot against your bare skin.

Seven!

Mark tugged you closer to him, making you lose your grip on Wendy’s hand.

Six!

He found your hand reaching for his, fingers tangling together like the red string of fate.

Five!

His heart was beating a mile a minute at the feeling of your thumb rubbing against his skin.

Four!

You jerk your head towards him with glistening eyes and the widest smile. His eyes darted down to your colored lips before shifting back to meet your gaze.

“You wanna kiss me so bad,” you teased as your eyes followed his actions and ended up watching his tongue peek out to moisten his now dry lips.

Three!

“And what if I do?”

Two!

“Well, I’m not going to stop you,” came your flirty reply.

One! 

And when the ball dropped from the sky, your hearts stopped for a brief moment.

Cheers for the new year came from all around but Mark Lee didn’t care— all he cared about was your lips fiercely crashing against his. He spun your body round so it slotted so perfectly against his, much like two pieces of a puzzle coming together as a whole. 

The sensation of finally kissing your lips after secretly longing for you was more than satisfactory; it was addictive, more addictive than the drinks he consumed or any other tempting substance that existed in the world. Mark Lee was enthusiastically devoted to kissing you and the idea of ceasing never crossed his mind.

The only reason he did was for you to catch a breath. His eagerness never faltered, his lips running down to your jaw and the sides of your neck. He pecked your temple and forehead as you giggled at his over-the-top display of affection and it was music to his ears.

Pulling you flush into his chest, he whispered a late greeting into your ear, “Happy New Year.”

With your hands resting against his pecs, you glanced up at him with a charming smile, making his heart drop for the second time in the new year. 

“A happy new year indeed.”

author’s note ☆ surprise! happy new year, everyone! (and happy 500+ followers to me!) i coughed this out in like five hours so it’s unedited and not my best work, but i wanted to release something in time for the new year! wishing you the best 2021!! 

this was originally a request and i finally filled it!! ✨

[honeycombme]

Easy as Breathing (PT. 2)

Clyde has never looked so sweet.

Part 2!

(Pt 3 available here!)

Your fingertips shook ever so slightly as they pulled clothes from your dresser. What do you even wear camping. Nothing you dredged up from the depths of your drawers was satisfying the goal you had in mind. Of course, all you wanted to do was feel desirable, but how do you do that when you’ll just be sweaty and gross for the entire weekend? You decided to just text Lauren. You wrote, “EMERGENCY. Wtf am i supposed to wear to keep Clyde’s attention? Surely not the t-shirt from my middle school robotics team?!”

You felt even more frantic. Bathing suits. You didn’t have anything other than a cheap, all black one-piece. You texted Lauren again. “Ok ok and bathing suits...i’m fucked”. You took a shaky breath, piling in essentials you at least knew you’d need. After all the toiletries and whatnot were sorted, you checked your phone. Lauren must’ve been having a ball. 

“Oh sweetpea, honeybear, sugarplum. I’m at the mall right now, what’s your size?” Her text burned into your retinas as you contemplated whether or not to give her this power. You relented, realizing you were already a lost cause and she could only help from here. After she received your text about sizes, she sent a wink emoji. Winking….about what???

You decided to fold up every piece of clothing you ripped out of your dresser while you waited for her to let you know whether or not she had any luck with bathing suits or clothes. You bargained with yourself, realizing t-shirts, shorts, and leggings would just have to do in this case. You folded everything neatly into a duffle bag, cursing under your breath at your nerves. 

Your phone dinged. When you unlocked the screen, Clyde’s name came into view. Your heart fluttered and you felt the butterflies again. You’d been texting on and off since last night you went to the bar, getting to know each other little by little. You learned that  he loves spaghetti and the smell of the Earth fresh after the rain. You learned that he was in the military and that he enjoys the moon more than the sun. You learned that his favorite dessert was peach cobbler. You also learned that you wanted to learn everything about him. 

He texted, “Just finished puttin some booze in a cooler for us, that way everything’ll be nice and chilled when we get there. I’m sure excited to be gettin there and settlin’ down for the night. I hope you’re as excited as I am, darlin.” You leaned against the closest wall you could find, re-reading the text over and over as you sighed. No matter what you wore, you were certain it’d be perfect. 

Lauren proposed that you both drive together to minimize the amount of cars at the campsite. When she showed up, she invited herself in to help you with bags. She looked you up and down as she saw you standing in your living room, closing the door and whipping her head back around. In her hands was a small fabric bag and she began pulling out the contents. 

“Ok so I packed you the swimsuit and a couple other essentials; however, we need to fix this outfit immediately,” she laughed, walking over and placing a hand on your shoulder. “Listen dear, you’re perfect; but if i’m going to live vicariously through you, i’m gonna need you to put these on.” She held out her hand, holding a few items of clothing. 

You unfurled the clothes, revealing a cropped, v-neck tank top, high-waisted jean shorts, a thin, loose cardigan, and a ballcap. You looked from the clothing to her, panic rising in your throat. 

“Y/n, it’s going to be fine. This way you’ll be more comfortable, too. It’s hotter than a rattlesnakes taint out there.” Lauren was perfect. She always had a quip to make you laugh, put you at ease. You ran into the bathroom and changed as fast as you could, trying not to look at yourself in the mirror too hard. When you walked out, she praised you. 

“YEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSS girl, I AM drooling. I’m quite the life saver. No need to thank me, let’s just get outta here, shall we?” With a spring in her step, she grabbed the bag and walked out of the door. You picked up your own bag and shuffled out, locking the door behind you. And so it begins. 

When you arrived at the campsite, there was a man in a guard shack checking every vehicle in. As Lauren approached, she stated the party’s name (Clyde Logan…*sigh*) and the man let you through. You drove for about 20 minutes around and around seemingly endless trees, camp sites, and then back the place you started. 

“Fuck,” gritted Lauren. She was visibly frustrated, and you were no better to navigate the woods than her. You decided to text Clyde. 

“Classic. Girls lost in the woods. Any way you can give me a play by play on how to get there?” You sent your text in a flash. Only seconds later, Clyde’s name appeared on your screen; he was calling. 

Your stomach dropped but you answered quickly (too quickly? Oh shut up y/n). 

“Hey there darlin’ can ya give me an idea of where you’re at? I can walk up to the main street ta meet ya.” His southern drawl was exceptional, I mean. WHERE did he pick this gorgeous twang from, the heavens?  

You chatted quickly about your surroundings, coming about a gentleman holding a phone, looking in the other direction. It was him. His hair was halfway pulled back into a convenient bun, t-shirt ripped open on the sides revealing his sides and chest. You shuddered slightly. When he turned his head your way, Lauren had slowed down drastically. He smiled and waved his arms for you to follow him. The path became littered with branched and trees, the further you drove in, the thicker the foliage became. Lauren kept a decent distance between him and the car. 

“Sure is looking like a snack for you, hmm?” she teased. She bit her tongue and smiled wildly when you glanced at her, pleading. Your nerves were already shot, and you felt way out of your element in this outfit. The skin that was exposed feeling every draft that passed you. 

When the car stopped, your stomach jolted upwards. You exited the car, tugging at the hem of the crop top to try and regain some modesty. Clyde was talking to Jimmy, but when he looked over and saw you, he jogged over to help. 

“Ya made it in one piece, ladies,” he beamed, giving Lauren the quickest of embraces. He made his way to you, smiling wildly as he placed an arm around you tightly, burrowing his face in the crook of your neck. You could’ve sworn he breathed you in. When he pulled away, he eyed you up and down, eyes lingering on the skin between your shorts and your crop top. You were immediately away of your exposed skin again, tugging at the hem of the shirt. 

He led you into the clearing of the campsite, holding you and Lauren’s bags over his shoulder. She reached for hers as he showed you where your tent was, escaping into the tent to set her stuff up. He placed yours down next to his tent. 

“This here’s Jimmy Logan, worst best brother ta ever walk the earth-” Clyde stated as Jimmy walked towards you arms open. 

“And you must be the pretty little thing he’s been ravin’ about, c’mere sweetie,” Jimmy Logan’s arms were around you in the blink of an eye, Your left hand raising to pat his back. As he pulled away, you noticed how bright his eyes were, a stark contrast from Clyde’s molasses colored eyes. His smile was warm and genuine, an honest smile you realized you needed to see. Jimmy’s friend introduced himself and you shook hands, becoming acquainted with everyone. 

When Lauren reappeared, she also received the same introductions, hugs and quips. You were both led through the options for dinner and available snacks, Clyde hanging around in the background sipping a beer. He was tending to a small fire, attempting to build it into one that would last the evening. Lauren and you spent a good fifteen minutes applying sunscreen and bugspray, leaving you both slightly greasy with a bit of sickly perfume hanging on your skin. 

A few hours had gone by and drinks were heavily passed around, sitting by the fire. No one was shy to drink from Jimmy’s friend’s flask after a few drinks, and boy did it burn. You swallowed an accidental mouthful from the flask, trying to regain control of your facial expression as it burned your esophagus. 

“That there is my momma’s best apple pie moonshine,” declared Jimmy’s friend. “She won awards from it….there’s another handle in my trunk.” He laughed, holding his belly as the flask made its way back to him. 

“Sometimes I honestly believe your momma’s been tryna kill you with that stuff,” chuckled Jimmy, slapping his chest as the remnants of the moonshine trickled down. You smiled into the heat of the fire and the heat in your veins. Shit. You were a little drunk. 

You were saved by Clyde pulling out hot dogs and the works. You mowed down probably two...maybe three hot dogs when you felt you had control of your mouth. Jimmy and his friend spent the sunset asking you and Lauren questions about your lives. He kept referring to you as “city girls” and acting in awe of the life you had back in New England. It was interesting to see their reactions to your everyday ventures. 

You asked the same amount of questions in return, learning about Jimmy’s criminal past (he has nothing to hide) and his hopes for the future. Clyde remained quiet and attentive, soaking in all the information. You turned to face him. “What about you, mister tall, dark and mysterious?” You felt brazen, realizing you didn’t mean to put him on the spot. Clyde just smiled at you. 

“I’ll tell ya anything you wanna know, miss.”

You all got to talking about how Clyde came to own Duck Tape, how he and Jimmy got themselves into all sorts of trouble, and how they used to come to this campsite to get away from all the negatives in their lives. 

The sun was beyond set and you began to feel the draft of the air against your skin becoming colder and colder. Without realizing you were, you started shivering; teeth chattering every so often as you attempted to stifle it. It was nerves as well, Lauren and Jimmy’s friend hit it off, deciding to go watch the fireflies by the lake's edge. Now it was you, Clyde, and Jimmy. 

“Welp, since the suns down I’m gonna take this chance to go wash off the day. You guys need anything, you holler.” Jimmy stood promptly, grabbing his bag from beside his tent and walked off into the woods. 

“Shower?” you questioned Clyde. You didn’t realize but he had stood when Jimmy did, perhaps he wanted to go shower as well. 

“Yeah, it’s like a quarter-for-a-few-minutes of hot water deal,” he explained. “It’s in an old log cabin up the road.”

“Aaah,” you teased, “so this isn’t real camping..”

He came to sit by your side, shoving you playfully with his shoulder. “Ain’t nothin’ wrong with wantin ta stay pampered,” he let his hair out of the bun and shook it loose. You could smell the spicy shampoo from his hair, the deodorant clinging to his skin, the peppery cologne he must be wearing…He chuckled at his own playfulness

You breathed in deep. “Mmm tell me you brought some of that shampoo to share, mister Logan.” You smiled sweetly at Clyde and then looked back to the crackling fire. Another gust of wind, stronger than the others, attacked your exposed skin, causing you to shiver. Clyde noticed, getting up and walking towards his tent. How could this hot, muggy place have such freezing night time drafts?

Clyde returned with a balled up piece of clothing in his hand. “Arms up,” he demanded. You looked to him confused, raising your arms. He pulled the material out and draped it around your arms, tugging it down until your hands met the holes of a shirt. He grabbed his own shirt for you to wear...to keep you warm. You melted. It smelled just like him. Not exposed to the smell of burning wood, the shirt exuded his scent, each subtle note gracing your senses. You sighed as the shirt enveloped you, coming to your thighs. 

The heat of the fire on your shins matched the heat in your cheeks now. Clyde seemed closer than ever, yet the two of you were silent. 

“Clyde?” Your voice pierced a scared rhythm of crackling in the embers of the fire. 

“Y/n?” he replied.

“I think you’re too cool for me,” you joked, halfway believing it. 

He smiled wide, “Too cool...ain’t never heard that one before. Truth be told, i’m a little shy. And hell, maybe a little nervous.” 

“Nervous?”

“Yeah...i’m not real good at the whole...smooth talkin’ thing.” He looked from the fire to the ground. You turned to face him. 

“Smooth talkin’ thing,” you repeated. “Clyde, you don’t need to play games with people, you’re the real deal. That’s why all the women at the bar hang on your every word, why I come as often-” You stopped yourself. Don’t give too much away, damnit. Even if the moonshine is strong, you needed to at least not make yourself vulnerable. You looked to the ground, then to his prosthetic arm which was glinting in the fire. In your peripheral vision, Clyde was looking down at you with the faintest smirk. 

“Yes, miss y/n? Please continue,” he demanded.

You huffed a breath through your nose, taking a sip of the drink you had been nursing. “All i’m saying is...I can’t seem to get enough of being around you. You make this whole reassignment..I don’t know...brighter? Sweeter? You make everything as easy as breathing when I come to see you at the bar. I’m sure you get a lot of this, but it sure means a lot to me to have you around.” You weren’t sure where you pulled the courage to say all of this, but you realized you’d begun shaking from nerves. 

Clyde’s eyes contained the image of the fire reflected back to you. Of course they did. He’s the only person that’s made you feel hotter than the West Virginia sun. The only face you’ve pictured late at night when your hands dip below your panty line. The only thing giving you a glimmer of hope for happiness in this lonely town. You were only able to hold his gaze for a moment. His hair was curling at the ends from the humidity, a slight breeze sending the scent of his shampoo to your senses. 

“You must not know how much I think of you, y/n,” he began, “ever since you been comin’ to my bar for a laugh, I’ve been hangin off every word you say to me.” He looked down at his shirt wrapped around your body. “You are the highlight of my day, every time I see your pretty face gracin’ my bar. I love makin’ you your favorite drinks, watchin you sip and be happy with your girlfriend...hell, i’d do anything to make you feel happy,” he chuckled. “I honestly never thought I stood a chance with lady as beautiful as you, always comin to see me in those perfect dresses.” 

You shuddered at the thought of him noticing you in your dress, wondering what you were wearing underneath, how the fabric would feel against his skin…

“Y/n!” yelled Lauren. 

You both perked up, not realizing how close your faces had gotten in your conversation. You became acutely aware of the smoke coming your way in contrast to the scent of Clyde’s body coming closer to yours. You turned to face Lauren, walking with Jimmy’s friend. 

“Yes, Lauren?”

~

@callmehopeless​...because I LOVE annoying you with attention

[eternal-love-song]

Colorful Cavalcade ep 1

Two childhood friends, a former Gym Leader, a Pokemon Breeder, and a psychic Pokemon trainer begin their journey across the region of Talon.

[Pokemon Journey, Original Trainers, Original Pokemon Region, Pokemon Training, Developing Friendships, Adventure, Childhood Friends, Psychic Abilities]

Wordcount: 11k

Episode 1, Treble in Cantor

It was a clear night. The stars were bright overhead, the moon was a sliver in the sky, and the sea spray misted over her face. The song of the ocean mixed with the roar of the fire, creating a peaceful lullaby for the night. Behind her, Cormac was stoking the fire, adding a little more warmth to the air. It was a beautiful night, the kind of beauty that she had spent her whole life enjoying. She wouldn't say that it ever got old, but lately an idea had been floating in her mind more and more.

"Hey Cor?" She looked over her shoulder where Cormac was still poking at the fire. His Corsola was sitting on his shoulder and the Pokemon looked at her before he did. She smiled. Her own Corsola was wading in the water not too far off.

She waited for his pink eyes, so very similar to her own, to glance her way. His white hair danced in the breeze and a few of the hibiscus blooms she'd placed in his hair were being blown away. She'd have to be more careful next time; it was uncommonly sloppy work for her. "What's up Orchid?"

She looked up at the sky again, stretching her arms out over her head as she weighed her words one last time. "What do you think about leaving here?"

"Leaving?" He sounded more confused than upset, so she chanced a glance at him. He was studying her, as if he'd be able to read her intentions out of the air. They had been friends for nearly all their lives, but he still had no idea what she was thinking when she didn't want him to. "What do you mean?"

"I mean..." she hesitated as she walked closer to him, holding out her arm so that Corsola could jump from his shoulder to hers. "Going on a journey. Across the whole region like other trainers do."

"You... want to?" 

The surprise made it hard for her to properly gauge his reaction. She plopped down on the log beside him, facing the opposite way and leaning her head against his shoulder. "Yeah, I think I do. I don't want to go without you, though. It wouldn't be as much fun."

"You just want someone around to cook for you," he grumbled.

She giggled and nuzzled her head against him. She was probably ruffling the flower in her own hair, but she didn't much care about that. "That's not so bad, right? What would Dora do without you? Do you want her to starve?"

He leaned his head on top of hers. "She's not the only one that would be lost without me so I guess I have no choice."

Her smile widened and she couldn't help the burst of excited laughter she let out. "You mean it?"

"Yeah. Kora would be sad if I let you go alone anyway," he told her.

She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed as tight as she could. "You're the best, Cor."

"I kinda am the best, aren't I?" he shot back.

She shoved him and stuck out her tongue at him. "You'd cry if I left you behind anyway. This is for your own good."

"Yeah, alright. Whatever you say, Orchid."

She looked out at the sea where her Corsola, Dora, was making her way out of the water. She scooped the Pokemon up into her arms and spun on her heel in the sand, wisps of her pink hair falling into her face. "We're going on an adventure, Dora! Aren't you excited?"

The Pokemon made excited noises, along with Cormac's Corsola on her shoulder. Cormac watched as the three of them celebrated and she could tell that he was just as excited as she was, even if he was more subdued in showing it.

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

Cantor City was  only a few hours journey from their sleepy beach town. Cormac barely saw any of it when they first arrived, following Orchid to a hotel where they could stay for the night. They spent a long time chatting excitedly from their opposite beds until she fell asleep, leaving him to watch the city from their window.

Honestly, there wasn’t much of a view. It was too late for the city to be too active and their room wasn’t high enough to see above the cityscape, but it was enough. His whole life he’d been able to look out his window to sand and sea, and now for the first time he was seeing something different. 

Cormac thought he should feel something… bigger. He didn’t feel out of place or homesick at all, though. He just felt at peace. He was pretty sure that he could go anywhere as long as he had Orchid and his Corsola by his side. He could have stayed forever in his small town and never wonder what he was missing, and now he could explore forever with them and never think about going back.

With that thought drifting through his mind, he decided to go to bed.  

Cormac was woken abruptly by something shaking his bed. He was startled upright, only to be immediately captured in Orchid's arms. That solved the mystery of what had woken him up before he'd had time to question it. 

"Let's go watch the gym battles!" She squealed, bouncing slightly in her excitement.

"What?" He blinked a few times, trying to wake himself up while Orchid gently shook him. 

"We've never seen one in person! Let's go!" She repeated excitedly. Her expression was bright, pink eyes shining with excitement and her hair already pinned up with a flower. Sometimes it amazed him how quick and early Orchid was able to wake up. Cormac could wake up early when he needed to, but it seemed like Orchid simply never slept.

"This couldn't have waited?" he asked.

"Who would want to?" she asked. "Aren't you excited?"

He wasn't sure if he was more excited than he was tired, but he nodded at her anyway. "Yeah, alright, I'll get up."

"Yay!" she cheered as she tossed the covers off of him and sprung off the bed. She scooped up Kora and Dora where they were sleeping on the table. He let himself fall back onto the bed with a yawn. 

"Time to get up," he said sleepily to himself. 

An hour later, after they were both dressed and fed, Orchid was leading him around the town. Both Kora and Dora were sitting on her shoulders, chatting happily as she led him by the hand and commented on everything. Cormac was torn between watching their excitement and the town around them.

There was a band of people playing music with their Pokemon in the town square and a few onlookers dancing. There were stall shops shouting for attention to their wares, selling souvenirs, food, and merchandise advertising the gym. There were people lounging about near the town well, a sea of calm amid the excited energy everywhere else. He could see a few buildings in the distance; a daycare, a Pokemon center, a pokemart, and their destination; the Pokemon gym.

"Something catch your eye?" Orchid was watching him over her shoulder. Kora and Dora tapping on her shoulder to tell her if she needed to move to one side or the other to avoid something in her path. The sight of three of them so close always made him feel warm inside. He squeezed her hand, reminding himself that he was just as much a part of this bubble of intimacy.

"Only everything," he answered. "How are you able to be so single minded?"

"I was watching everything out the window early, so I took in a lot of the splendor already." Her eyes wandered over her surroundings briefly before returning to him. "Plus, we have plenty of time to look through everything later. Right?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

The gym was wider than it was tall, with statues of electric Pokemon standing on top of each other framing the double doors. There was one person standing at the door that stopped them when they approached. "Challenger or spectator?"

"Spectator," Orchid answered.

He pointed to the side of the building. "Enter where you see the Jolteon statue."

"Thanks." They walked to the side of the building and she dropped his hand to push open the large double doors. "Wow."

The inside looked a bit more like a concert hall than a Pokemon gym. There were rows of elevated seating all around the room and a large stage in the center. The room was reasonably crowded and it took them a bit to find two empty seats in the highest rows. There were Magnemites floating around the room using Light Screen and Barrier to wall off the audience from stray attacks and the other trainers on the side of the stage were fiddling with instruments.

"Do you think the gym leader has their own theme song?" Orchid asked. "How cool would that be?"

"Pretty cool," he answered. Now that he was here, his eyes were glued to the stage. The challenger was already there, dressed in dark clothing and floating his pokeballs in the air. "Really cool."

Then the music hit. Two mohawked girls on drum and guitar started a heavy beat while a guy with spiked hair growled into the mic. The vocals were purposefully low, blending well into the music as the gym leader marched out and onto the stage. She was dressed in bright electric blue, with short dark blue hair cut sharply over her shoulders, and oval shaped sunglasses covering her eyes. There were gloves on her hands and black and blue stocking completely covering her legs. She flipped her hair and sparks shot up from the stage.

"Let's get this battle started already!" she said, tossing a pokeball into the air.

The challenger plucked one of his own balls out of the air. "Let's."

The announcer's voice erupted around them. "This will be a 3 on 3 battle. Whoever knocks out all three of their opponent’s Pokemon wins. Challenger Graham versus Leader Ahu! Begin!"

They threw out their Pokemon at the same time. The gym leader started with a Jolteon, the spiky Pokemon crouching low and letting out a hiss. The challenger sent his Pokeball spinning, sending his Girafarig into battle, the giraffe Pokemon scraping his hoof against the ground.

Beside him, Orchid was flipping open her Pokedex. "I've never seen that tall thing before, have you?"

Cormac shook his head. "I don't think it's very common around here."

Orchid giggled as she turned to him. "Can you imagine seeing that thing on the beach? It's got two heads!" 

He laughed with her, but his eyes were quickly drawn back toward the stage.

“Show him what we’re made of, Jolteon!” The Gym Leader said, striking a pose and pointing at their opponent. 

The Jolteon immediately launched into a Quick Attack, slamming into Girafarig's side and shoving it back. Girafarif’s hooves dragged along the ground, but it stayed on its feet.. Jolteon retreated just as Girafarig used Stomp, its spiky fur standing on end as it hissed at its opponent. Electricity danced along its fur for a moment and then a wave of thunder washed over the battlefield. Girafarig stumbled, a flash of static arced along its skin and brought it down to one knee. 

The Gym Leader laughed, placing both hands on her hips as she smiled at her opponent. “There’s no shame in throwing in the towel, you know.”

“This battle has only begun,” Graham replied.

“Well, can’t say I didn’t try,” Ahu shrugged.

Girafarig glared ahead, but as soon as it tried to move a wave of static flickered through its body. Jolteon rushed at the paralyzed Pokemon, hitting it with Double Kick and knocking Girafarig on its side, back to Jolteon. The Pokemon made a small noise of pain, static still dancing along its spine. 

“Hugo!” Graham called out, fist clenching at his side as he watched his pokemon.

Jolteon rushed forward at the fallen pokemon, only for Girafarig’s tail to jump up and snap at Jolteon, startling the pokemon with Astonish and causing it to flinch. Girafarig took the opportunity to get to its feet, eyes glowing as a rainbow of psychic energy blasted Jolteon. The Psybeam caused Jolteon to stumble, the pokemon trying and failing to shake off its sudden confusion. 

Girafarig took advantage of Jolteon’s confusion to charge across the stage, slamming intoJolteon with a Zen Headbutt. The Pokemon was tossed across the stage, making pained sounds as it struggled to get to its feet. It shook its head desperately, trying to break itself out of confusion and failing. Girafarig galloped toward Jolteon, rearing up and stomping down on it with both hooves. Jolteon gasped, tried once more to get to its feet, and failed.

"Jolteon is unable to continue!" The announcer called.

The person on Cormac's right jumped up from his seat as he cheered. Orchid wrapped her arm around his, leaning closer to be heard over the crowd.

"Aren't you so glad we came?" Orchid asked. "This is so much cooler than on tv."

"Yeah, I can't believe it's this intense already," he answered. Kora jumped from Orchid's shoulder into his lap and he wrapped the Pokemon in his arms.

"Heh, don't think this is over yet," Ahu said coolly. "That was just beginners luck." 

"I'm no beginner," Graham responded.

"Yeah, we'll see about that." She tossed out her next Pokemon. "Show him what we're about, Pachirisu!" The small squirrel let out a cry, its tail flicking behind him.

Girafarig lowered its head for another Zen Headbutt, but the squirrel Pokemon stared up at it cutely. Girafarig slowed down severely, apparently caught up in Pachirisu’s Charm attack, only lightly running into the smaller Pokemon. Pachirisu then rocketed back and forth across the field with Quick Attack as its tail began to glow. 

“Hugo, watch out!” Graham called out, but it was too late. Pachirisu leapt into the air, swinging its tail and firing an Electro Ball, which scored a direct hit to the Girafarig. 

Ahu flicked her hair over her shoulder as Graham recalled his Pokemon.

"Girafarig is unable to fight. The contestants are now tied one to one."

"Get him, Ahu!"

"Show that newby who's boss!"

The crowd was very excited and the music was only serving to hype them all up. Even on stage, the gym leader was tapping her foot to the song being played by the band. Cormac felt a little bad for the challenger. It couldn't be easy to have an entire stage against you.

"Do your best, Graham!" Orchid yelled out from beside him. It seemed they were on the same page again, but as always she was much more up front about it. A few people echoed her calls and she looked over at him with a smile. "I'd hate to see him get discouraged," she said.

"Every crowd should have someone like you in it, Or."

She smiled, sticking out her tongue at him. "Don't tease me, Cor."

Graham sent out an Alolan Raichu. "You can do it, Raichu," he said as he glared at Ahu. 

Raichu charged at the Pachirisu. The squirrel Pokemon dodged and began to roll along the ground cutely, intending to charm it into letting down its guard. Instead, Raichu used Double Team, surrounding Pachirisu with clones of itself. Pachirisu looked around in surprise as Raichu approached, trying to dodge as one of the images surged forward only for the real Raichu to slam its tail into Pachirisu from behind.

Pachirisu glared as it picked itself up from the ground. It jumped to its feet and ran at Raichu for a quick attack, only for Raichu to dodge out of the way. Raichu’s eyes began to glow and Pachirisu was lifted into the air, flailing as it went. Raichu lifted its opponent high into the air before whipping its tail at Pachirisu, slamming it down to the ground.

“Don’t let them win so easily, Pachirisu!” The gym leader yelled.

Pachirisu gingerly picked itself off the ground. It ran in a tight circle before whipping its tail, causing stars to explode from the appendage and rush at Raichu. 

“It used Swift!” Cormac exclaimed. He looked over at Orchid, who turned to smile at his excitement. 

“That’s gonna be bad for Raichu then,” she said. “Think Pachirisu will make a comeback with this?”

“I don’t know. It’s taken a lot of damage,” he told her. The battle seemed really close though. He had to admit, he was rather glad that she’d dragged him out of bed for this. 

Raichu ran quickly around the stage, trying to avoid the white stars tailing it. It dodged one, then two, but the stars simply changed course so that they could all converge on it at once. There was a bright light as the attack made impact and Raichu was knocked off its feet. Raichu rolled over to face Pachirisu, but didn’t get to its feet. Electricity began to dance across its fur before it released a powerful thunderbolt which hit Pachirisu hard. The Pokemon swayed a few times before falling to the side. It didn’t get back up.  

"Pachirisu is unable to fight! Ahu is on her last Pokemon."

"Yeah!" Orchid yelled, clapping her hands at Graham's victory. The crowd seemed to be split now, a few worried murmurs mixed in with the supporting cheers. A lot of people were on their feet, the excitement building the longer the match went on.

The music changed, the vocals and guitar fading out as the drum beat picked up. Ahu grinned widely as she chose her last Pokemon and tossed the ball into the air. "Alright, you've earned the right to see my best Pokemon. Let's kick it up, shall we?"

The vocals became louder as the singer joined in again, followed by a long guitar riff. The music became more intense and faster paced. The crowd began cheering along with the song and it was clear that many of them knew the song well. 

Orchid was watching the stage with the same excited intensity as the rest of the crowd, her head nodding to the new beat as she got used to it. Cormac found himself leaning forward in his seat, too, eagerly awaiting the rest of the battle.

Ahu sent out Luxray, the Pokemon locking eyes with Raichu and strutting back and forth across the stage. Raichu's eyes were glued to the Pokemon until it suddenly became dizzy and started swaying in place.

"Ah!" Orchid gasped softly beside him. "He's confused!"

"It used Swagger," Cormac said softly. The move definitely suited the trainer, so it was no surprise to see her stronger Pokemon start with it.

"No need to play with it, Luxray," Ahu said. "Put him out of his misery."

Luxray pounced forward and used Crunch, taking the Raichu between its fangs and chomping down on it. 

"Raichu is unable to fight. Opponents are two for two."

"Flawless, Luxray," Ahu praised.

Her Pokemon stretched and preened, waiting patiently for its next opponent.

"They really put on a good show," Orchid said. "If I lived here, I'd be out to watch battles all the time."

"Yeah, they really go all out," Cormac agreed. "No wonder this place seemed so lively."

On stage, Graham recalled Raichu and floated another ball into his hand. "It's not over till it's over."

"Trust me, it's over," Ahu told him. 

Graham sent out Reuniclus, the Pokemon floating before him happily. 

"Give him a strut, Luxray," Ahu says, gesturing him forward. Luxray attempted to use Swagger once more, as Reuniclus raised its hands, generating a white orb of light and firing it at Luxray. The orb engulfed Luxray as it mechanically repeated the same motions. 

"Great strategy," Ahu says. "That's really working out for you, I see."

Graham glared at her before turning to his Pokemon. "Come on, Blake! Snap out of it! Use Shadow Ball!"

Finally, Reuniclus shook itself and fired a shadow ball.  Luxray narrowly dodged the blast, but its eyes were glowing and it was forced back into its former strut. 

"Psychic!" Graham orders. 

Reuniclus raised its hands and Luxray was lifted off of its feet and slammed into the ground repeatedly. Luxray struggled to its feet, growling as it glowers at its opponent, small sparks jumping along its fur.

Ahu points at Reuniclus as she yells out, "Discharge, Luxray!"

Luxray howls and lets out a powerful electric charge, hitting Reuniclus full force. It dropped closer to the ground, visibly damaged but still  fit to fight. Then Luxray charges forward and lands a crunch, causing Reuniclus to fall all the way to the ground.

"Done and done," Ahu says. "Good job, Luxray." The Pokemon begins walking back to its trainer side.

"Not yet!" Graham said. "We're almost there, Blake! I know you can do it!"

Slowly, the Reuniclus is able to force itself off the ground enough to aim a focus blast.

"Luxray!" The Pokemon barely has enough time to turn before the force slams into it and tosses it across the stage. It slides to a halt at Ahu's feet. Her mouth opens in shock before she looks down at her Pokemon. Luxray doesn't get to its feet.

"Luxray is unable to continue! The winner of this battle and the Zap Badge goes to the Challenger, Graham!"

The crowd explodes in noise. Cormac is jostled into reality as Orchid throws her arm around him. "He did it! Did you see that? I thought the Gym Leader would win for sure!"

The music had come to a slow end and Ahu reclaimed her Pokemon. He couldn't hear what was said as the Gym Leader crossed the stage to give the challenger his badge. They must have turned their mics off, now that the battle was done.

Cormac slumped in Orchid's embrace. "That was crazy. I felt as tense as if I was the one battling."

"Wasn't it great?" she asked. "We have to watch more gym battles in person!"

"I don't know how Gym Leaders do it," he said. "I'd be exhausted if I had to do that all the time."

"Some people are just made for the stage," Orchid replied.

"Yeah." Cormac was still watching the stage though. The Gym Leader still had her eyes covered, so it was hard to tell what she was feeling, but she didn't leave the stage with the same energy that she had entered it. 

Ahu hated the noise. The crowd became a near endless cacophony as she crossed the stage. She couldn’t tell if they were cheering for her or complaining about her loss, but she held her head up high as she left the room. She felt chased by the noise and tried not to show it.  The heavy door slammed behind her. She ripped the glasses off of her face and tossed them to the ground as she let out a frustrated growl.

"That is unbecoming." Ahu jerked at the voice, turning to see one of the older gym trainers watching her. He had worked under her father and was hard set on upholding the traditions that were in place during his time. She tensed as he approached her, already annoyed at the lecture she knew was coming. He crossed his arms, looking down his nose at her as he began. "You need to learn how to take your losses more gracefully or be strong enough to win more often."

"I don't need this from you," she said as she walked past him. She only got a few steps away before he grabbed her arm. 

"Wherever you think you're going, the gym's Pokemon aren't going with you.”

She shook him off, stomping over to the table and slamming the pokeballs onto it. She reached down to pick up her sunglasses on her way out. "Simsek, you coming with?" 

There was an excited cry as a shinx came running toward her and she caught it in her arms with a smile. It was the only Pokemon in this gym that she could call her own and she never went anywhere without it, if she could help it.

"What about the other battles?" He asked.

"Do them yourself," she said before she hurried off. She looked over her shoulder at him before she walked out the door. "Jerk."

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

The Pokemon center was as lively as the rest of town. There was a Chansey trying to sing to a group of trainers, though it seemed not to be working, and Nurse Joy was bustling busily around the room. Chingling landed on his head and brought his focus back to the screen in front of him as he huddled further into the corner and held up the Zap Badge. 

"I got the badge," Graham said with a small smile, equal parts excited and nervous. "Thanks for lending me Raichu."

The Alolan Raichu waved at him from his sister's shoulder. "Wow! Good job!" She cheered, offering him a few claps. "Are you really sure you want to send him back though?"

Graham scratched the back of head nervously. "He should be home with you guys more."

"That can't be the only reason," His sister frowned. 

"I also..." He looked away from her. "I want to do this on my own."

"What? But you are!"

Graham folded his arms and flipped his dyed purple bangs out of his face. "I didn't raise Raichu, you guys did that. It wouldn't be fair for me to keep going this way." 

She pouted and glared at him.

"Soon, Chingling will be ready for battle and then we'll go all the way to the top. Right?" He looked to where his young Pokemon was floating and it answered him enthusiastically.

She smiled at him then. "Alright. You two take care of each other, you hear? I'll tell mom and dad that you called."

"Alright. Talk to you later, sis."

The screen shut off and he let out a deep sigh. This was going to be a long journey.

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

"Oh! Oh! Cormac, look!" Orchid said excitedly, grabbing him by the shoulders and turning him around. 

"Alright, what am I looking at?" he asked with a smile. His eyes quickly scanned the area around them, but everything was so busy that he couldn’t possibly tell what Orchid was looking at. She had been energetic since the gym battle and it was easy to get swept up in her energy.

"It's the challenger!" She answered, bouncing in her excitement, hands still on his shoulders. "We should congratulate him!"

She began to push him forward and he didn't bother trying to resist. "Oh? Sure you don't just want his autograph?"

"Well if you insist, I can get one for you," she said in a sing song. "But you should really get used to asking for what you want directly."

Cormac couldn't help but laugh.

The man didn't seem to notice their approach, so Cormac was able to get a better look at him. It was hard to make out the finer details when he had been so far away. His hair was black with purple dyed bangs hiding the right side of his face. His clothes, a mix of black and purple with the occasional gold accent, seemed much more formal than Cormac was used to. He'd lived his entire life on a beach though, so he wasn't an expert in fashion. Still, the outfit looked loose and unrestrictive and there were enough details to get lost in.

The man turned toward them just as they got close, his purple eyes widening a bit in surprise.

"Hey!" Orchid greeted over his shoulder. "We saw your gym battle. Congratulations on pulling off the win."

The man stared at them until the Chingling hovering beside him landed on his head, seeming to pull him out of his stupor. "Uh, thank you."

"It was a really good match," Cormac added. "You and Pokemon really did your best out there."

"Uh, yeah..." He looked away and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Well, they did all the work..." he replied quietly.

Orchid rushed forward, bouncing in place as she looked at the Pokemon on his head. "Aww, you have a Chingling too! It's so cute!"

"Chingling!" The Pokemon floated down to Orchid's height and she immediately pulled the Pokemon into a hug. 

"You have a lot of psychic types. Are they your favorite type?" Cormac asked.

"I, um... feel a kinship with them..." Graham answered.

"Oh, I know what you mean," Orchid said brightly. "I've been around water types my whole life, so I feel really connected to them. I'm Orchid by the way. And this," she nodded to the Corsola on her shoulder, "Is Dora."

"Oh, I'm Graham. It's nice to meet you. And that's Poe."

She turned and gestured to Cormac. "And over here we have Cormac and Kora!"

He waved as Kora gave her own greeting. "I hope we're not interrupting anything."

"No, I wasn't doing anything," Graham told them.

"Oh, did you want to?" Orchid asked. "It's our first day in the city and we haven't done anything but watch the gym battle so far. What about you?"

"I haven't really..."

Orchid held the Chingling up to her face. "What do you say? Would you like to come with us, Poe?"

"Chingling!"

"One vote yes!" She smiled at Graham as she moved closer to him. "Would you like to come with us? You don't have to, but it's more fun to explore together." She looked over her shoulder at Cormac as she asked, "Right?"

"Right," he nodded. "I wouldn't mind getting something to eat."

"There was a Pokemon band," Orchid said, turning to him. "Do you think they're still playing?"

"They might be."

She looped her arm with Graham's and smiled at him. "Do you like music? I think I remember there being Spinda. I would love to dance with a Spinda!"

Cormac couldn't help but laugh as he watched Orchid pulling Graham along. It was always fun to watch others being swept up in his friend's current. "What do you say, Kora? Should we save him or let him be?"

The Corsola joined his laughter, so Cormac stayed a few steps behind them as Orchid guided them toward the band, chatting away excitedly.

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

Elaria was in her kitchen when she heard her door burst open. She jumped, nearly dropping the jar she was holding, fumbling to catch it before turning her gaze to Ralts. The Pokemon smiled at her and she sighed, letting her worry evaporate. If Ralts wasn't worried, there was no reason for her to be.

It was only a moment later, following the slam of her front door again, that she heard her best friend's frustrated voice. "I hate my gym!" Ahu yelled in place of an actual greeting as she stomped through Elaria's home looking for her.

Elaria put down the jar and pushed her work to the side, bottles and jars of gels and herbs moved safely to the back of her counter, replacing them with a teapot as she began to make a pot for her guest. "I'm in the kitchen, Ahu!" She called out, rather than allowing her friend to continue her search.

She could hear her friend practically sprint through the hall to reach the kitchen, slamming her hand against the wall as soon as she entered. "I hate my gym!" she repeated loudly.

"I heard you the first time," Elaria said. She placed a plate of cookies on the table for her. "What happened?"

Ahu let out a frustrated breath as her Shinx jumped up on the table and helped itself to a cookie. She took off her glasses as she sank into the chair beside her Pokemon, letting Elaria see the tired look in her eyes. Ralts climbed into a chair, onto the table, to put her hand on Ahu's head. Ahu let out a sad huff of a laugh and smiled at Ralts. "Elaria, your Ralts is so sweet."

Elaria went about pouring the tea and adding sugar to the tray before taking it to the table. "You look tired."

"I am tired," Ahu answered. "Every single battle is so over the top, I hate it. I have to stand there listening to my audience cheer for my loss while pretending to like the loud music and the stage lights, and then backstage my own coworkers tell me that I should be better and to stop losing. As if I lose every battle I've ever been in!"

Elaria pushed a tea cup toward her and Ahu pulled it close to her before dropping in a bit of honey. "I'm sorry to hear that, Ahu. I can't imagine how exhausting that must be."

"It's so frustrating! I wish I could punch every single one of them in the face!"

"I'm not sure that would help."

"I won't know until I try." She took a long sip from her tea cup, draining half the cup with one sip. "I'm gonna steal one of the guitar's and hit my father's assistant with it."

Elaria hummed and nodded as she sipped her own tea. Ahu always felt better after she got her aggressive energy out. It was usually better to wait her out.

"I'm gonna fist fight the next trainer that tries to challenge me. Pokemon and all."

Elaria reached out to pet Shinx, who practically purred under her attention. Ahu took really good care of her Shinx and it was always so happy whenever she saw it.

Ahu jumped up out of her seat, nearly knocking the chair over. "I'm gonna scream!"

"You already are, Ahu."

There was a pause before Ahu dropped back into her chair and pulled her teacup close. She was blushing as she held the cup up with both hands, hiding her face. "Sorry, I got carried away."

Elaria smiled at her. "I think you need to blow off some steam. Without fighting," she added before her friend could comment. Ahu looked away and lifted her teacup again to hide her face. "After tea, you can come with me to the daycare and play with the baby Pokemon. Sound good?"

Ahu nodded, the teacup still pressed against her lips despite not drinking it.

"Good. I'm going to clean up real quick and you can finish the tea."

"What? All of it?" Ahu asked with wide eyes.

"It's supposed to have a calming effect," Elaria told her as she rose from her seat. "So don't rush."

Ahu dropped her head to the table. Elaria giggled as she returned to the counter.

----

"So what do you like to eat?" Orchid asked. Cormac had watched the space between her and Graham grow quickly but subtly, startling with him hunching his shoulders the longer they walked and ending with Orchid unhooking their arms and walking backwards in front of him. Dora had made herself comfortable on Orchid's head and was chatting with Chingling floating in front of them. Graham had relaxed a little when Orchid let go of him, but Cormac suspected that the only reason he hadn't tried to leave was Chingling's chatting and Cormac walking somewhat behind him.

"I like sweet things," Graham answered quietly.

"You hear that, Cormac? He's one of us!" Orchid said excitedly.

The town was as lively as the first time they walked through and Orchid was a whirlwind. She gestured happily at stalls selling pretty trinkets or hummed along when they passed Pokemon singing. She and Chingling harmonized together a few times, which culminated in her scooping the Pokemon in her arms again and spinning around.

"Is she always this energetic?" Graham asked as they watched her.

"Yeah, pretty much," he answered. "You get used to it though."

"I can't imagine getting used to that," he admitted. 

Cormac laughed. "I felt that way when we first met. There's something nice about having that much positivity around though."

Orchid paused in the midst of her spinning and waved at them, Corsola and Chingling waving along with her. Cormac waved back.

"Don't you ever get tired?" Graham asked.

"Yeah, of course I do." He turned to catch Graham's eye. "She can turn it off, you know."

Graham didn't look like he believed Cormac at all. He wasn't surprised though. When Orchid was in high energy mode, she could be a lot to deal with.

They caught up with her in a few more steps and she released Chingling, which went to rest on its trainer's head. "What are you guys in the mood for?" she asked, turning to point at a few specific stalls. "That stall sells Pecha Pie, those tarts are made from watmel berries, and I think those..." she drew out the sound as she squinted. "Oh! They have fruit kabobs!"

"I wouldn't mind one of those," he said.

"What would you like, Graham?"

"Um... I like the watmel berries," he answered.

"Great!" She reached out for his hand, but pulled back at the last moment. She blushed when she saw Graham watching, ducking her head and sticking out her tongue. "Sorry, I'll go get them myself," she said hurriedly and rushed off.

"What was that about?" Graham asked. The look of confusion on his face was so cute Cormac had to stifle a laugh. 

"Isn't it obvious?" he asked. He started walking in the direction that Orchid headed, slowly so that Graham was encouraged to follow him. "She was gonna take your hand."

"Why?"

"Because she's excited and wanted to spend time with you," Cormac answered. "Haven't you ever held hands before?"

Graham didn't answer that, but the puzzled look remained on his face until Orchid came back to them. She had three fruit kabobs in one hand, one with just Watmel berries, and a Pecha pie in the other hand. She shifted the ones in her hand so that Graham's was in front as she held it out to him. "Here you go."

Graham actually smiled as he accepted it. "Thank you."

"And I got this so that we could share it later," she gestured to the pie.

Cormac took the pie in his hand as he leaned forward to steal a fruit from one of the kabobs. 

"Hey! That could have been mine," she objected.

"If it was, then yours was tasty," he answered.

"Rude!" She blew a raspberry at him then laughed as she held the kabob out further. "I guess if you're going to hold the pie, then I can hold this."

Graham seemed perplexed as he watched them, but he ate his berries with a contented expression on his face.

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

Ahu was only slightly calmer by the time Elaria left her house. The exercise seemed to keep her calm and Ralts held her hand while they walked to keep her from taking off in a sprint. Ahu did that sometimes when she was especially restless, running ahead only to circle back for Elaria. Shinx was walking by her side and Elaria smiled down at the Pokemon for keeping her company.

"Hey, was there something going on at the daycare?" Ahu asked suddenly.

Elaria looked up at her. "No, why?"

Ahu pointed ahead of them and Elaria gasped as she saw a swarm of Beedrill around the building. "What on earth!"

Ahu dropped Ralts's hand and took off in a sprint. "I'll see what's going on there!" She said, Shinx rushing forward to run at his trainer's side.

"Wait! Ahu!" Elaria called. She bent down to scoop Ralts into her arms before running off after her friend, knowing she'd be nowhere near fast enough to catch up to her. "I wish she wouldn't rush ahead without thinking,” Elaria said softly to herself. “She only has Shinx with her right now."

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

"Hey! What's going on here!" Ahu yelled as she approached the daycare. Several Beedrill turned to look at her as Shinx leapt forward in front of her, growling as its fur sparked. She hated bugs and this was a nightmare situation for her, but she’d rarely been afraid of things that she wasn’t willing to fight.

The door to the daycare was ajar and after a moment a girl poked her head out. She had fluffy black hair beneath a bright yellow cap, a hair pin shaped like a button with two flowers attached, and bright red eyes. "Oh? Do you work here?" She took a step outside the doorway, revealing a matching yellow jacket over a white shirt, black shorts, ripped black stocking, and black yellow platforms. 

"Wow, that outfit is cute," Ahu said without thinking.

The girl perked up instantly, standing on one foot and spreading her arms to show off the outfit. "Isn't it, just? I think it's super cute."

"Yeah, it looks really good on you."

"Aww, thanks! That really makes my day." The girl blushed slightly with the compliment.

Ahu's distraction didn't last long though. It was hard to ignore the swarm of Beedrill that was slowly closing in around her. "So hey, what are you doing here?"

"O-oh just..." The girl looked around for a moment, as if an explanation would fall out of the sky before she turned and ran back into the daycare, shutting the door.

"What the hell!" Ahu yelled, rushing to the door and banging on it. She turned the knob a few times, unsurprised to find it locked, before banging on the door again. "Get back out here!"

"Sorry, I can't hear you!" The yell was muffled by the door, but Ahu could still hear it loud and clear.

She began banging twice as hard on the door. "Am I a joke to you!" She screamed.

"Hey!" A male voice called from her left. She turned her head to see a guy dressed similarly to the girl. He was pale and blonde, with yellow eyes and his arms crossed over a black and yellow top. He had a similar hat and button pin to the girl, but his hat was brown and his flowers red. His pants were black with scant yellow accents and similar boots. Though all in all, Ahu thought the girl's outfit was much cuter. "Fury Attack."

At once, all the Beedrill turned toward her. "Oh fuck."

Graham wasn't sure what to do with himself. It was only midday and yet the hours had already been filled to bursting. He'd gotten his third gym badge and been dragged halfway around the town of Cantor by two strangers. Instead of feeling utterly exhausted though, he felt... kinda happy. It was fun and confusing and exciting, and he wasn't really sure why it had happened.

He'd watched Orchid dancing with his Pokemon and she hadn't gotten upset when he refused to dance with her. He'd talked to Cormac and wasn't called out for being too quiet or called boring. They'd bought him food and asked his opinions and it was... not something he was used to.

"Here, Graham." Orchid smiled at him as she held out a napkin with a slice of the pecha pie she'd bought earlier. After she had dragged Cormac into dancing with her and they'd both tired themselves, she'd pointed to a quiet spot near the town well. They'd settled there to rest, the two Corsola and his Chingling laying beside them as they passed out pie.

“Thanks," he said quietly. Neither of them seemed to mind how quiet he was, smiling just as brightly at him as they did at each other. It was nice. It was strange.

He didn't feel left out when they talked to each other instead of him and they always left him opening to join in, or else asked him something to pull him into the conversation. Not that it always worked. He wasn't used to having such energetic people around him and all the attention was still a little draining.

Leaning against the well with a slice of pie was nice though. It was good. He could close his eyes for a few moments and just... breathe. The stress of the battle, which he had anticipated for days prior, finally started to drain out of him. And the pie, when he tasted it, was delicious and sweet.

Halfway through his pie there was a bright flash of light in the sky. 

"Whoa! What was that?" Cormac asked.

"It looked like lightning," Orchid said. "Probably a Pokemon battle."

Graham frowned. "That was a pretty big bolt."

Cormac got to his feet and his Corsola was quick to jump up his arm and to his shoulder. "Do you think someone's in trouble?"

"Hard to say from here," Orchid said. She turned to Graham. "Do you mind if we go check?"

"I don't mind," he said quickly. "If someone's in trouble, we should help."

Orchid smiled at him. She quickly wrapped up the remains of their pie, carrying both it and her Corsola. Cormac took off at a run and she waited to make sure he was following before sprinting off herself. Graham found himself keeping pace with her as he ran, feeling something warm settling over him despite the urgency.

They slowed down as they reached the Pokemon Center, where there was a rush of Chansey pushing stretchers through the door.

There was a girl with cyan hair running along one of the stretchers, tears in her blue eyes as she babbled to the Nurse Joy beside her. Graham stopped in his tracks as he recognized Cantor's gym leader Ahu on the stretcher, bruised and breathing heavily. 

Graham didn't even think about it as he followed the group into the Pokemon Center. After exchanging a few more words, Nurse Joy followed the stretcher with the injured Gym Leader to the back, leaving the distressed girl behind.

"Hey, are you okay?" Cormac asked, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. Graham hadn't even noticed his new companions entering beside him and found himself glancing around until he saw Orchid, too.

The girl looked beautiful and delicate, her hair pinned up with a lacy veil hanging down past her shoulders and delicate blue flower ornaments. She was wearing a white dress, the skirt of which unfolded like a flower, a light blue sash around her waist and darker blue shoes on her feet. There were tears in her blue eyes and Graham felt stunned as he looked at her.

"It's terrible, someone attacked the daycare. My friend she... she was trying to help but..."

"That was the Gym Leader, right?" Graham asked.

The girl nodded. "Yes, my friend Ahu. She'd left the gym Pokemon behind though, so it was just her and her Shinx. They were outnumbered."

"Why would someone attack the daycare?" Orchid asked.

"They stole the Pokemon eggs. They could be doing anything." A Ralts placed it's hand on the girl's leg and she gave it a small smile as she reached out to take the Pokemon's hand. "I'm sorry, I haven't introduced myself. My name is Elaria. I work as a breeder at that daycare. I was on my way there when all this was happening."

"I'm Orchid. This is Cormac and Graham. "

"Did you see where the thieves went?" Cormac asked. His expression was hard and serious.

Elaria nodded. Graham was distracted from her following words by Orchid stepping close to him. "Hey, Cormac and I are gonna try to find these missing Pokemon. It was really fun to hang out with you today."

"What?"

"Did you see the look on Cormac's face?" she asked, nodding at her friend. "He's really determined right now. I couldn't possibly let him do that alone. I'm really sorry we didn't get to hang out anymore."

Graham felt like reality was crashing down around him. It was absurd to him that in such a short time he had gotten so used to these two that the thought of them leaving brought him up short. Cormac and Elaria were already at the door as she pointed to something in the distance and Graham felt something not unlike panic well up in him as Orchid turned away.

"Wait!" For a moment, he was surprised that the words came from him. 

"What's wrong?" She looked at him so unassuming, completely opposite to when they'd first met, and he found him hesitating. It struck him that, unlike the first time, she wasn't trying to pull him anywhere and he could just... say nothing, let her leave, and go back to his own journey. He didn't have to get caught up in the whirlwind of these pink strangers.

Maybe that was why he found himself stepping forward and saying, "Let me come. I can help."

Orchid looked surprised but the expression melted quickly into a smile. "You want to help us?"

"Yeah, I do."

"We'd be happy for the help," she told him. "Thank you."

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

 "It's empty," Cormac said as he came out of the daycare. As soon as they had arrived he had decided to go in and look for clues. Elaria had arrived after most of the commotion had gone down, so she could only tell them so much. There had been a retreating swarm of Beedrill, but Orchid couldn't see any sign of them. She and Graham had remained outside, the latter taking a quick walk around the daycare to see if anything would jump out at them.

Cormac was upset. He hated the idea of people and Pokemon being treated poorly. It wasn't surprising to her that he was rushing in this way. She was keeping herself calm in contrast, holding Dora in her arms as something to focus on. As a rule, they weren't allowed to both be upset at the same time.

"There aren't many ways they could have gone to avoid detection," She said. She pointed in the distance at the forested road that led to the next town. "Worth a look, yeah?"

Cormac nodded, taking point as they marched toward the forest. Graham was quiet, which seemed the norm for him, but he had this worried furrow in his brow since they left the Pokemon Center. There wasn't much she could do to cheer him up in a situation like this. 

"Do you hear something?" Graham asked, stopping in his tracks.

She stopped, straining her ears to hear what he was hearing. "Buzzing?"

"Beedrill," Cormac nodded. "We must be close."

"Maybe we can sneak up on them," she suggested. They walked more quietly, adjusting their path to follow the buzzing until they began to see Beedrill through the trees.

"We're running out of silver paint," a female voice said. The three of them ducked further into cover and Orchid snuck her way around a bush until she was able to see a girl in a black and yellow uniform. She was holding a paint brush over a bunch of Pokemon eggs.

"Yeah, I'm starting to run out of blue, too," a male voice added. The male, when she peeked out far enough to see him, was holding an Alolan Meowth. At least, that was what she thought before she noticed the smudge of blue on its coin and realized that it had been painted. "Do you think we took too many?"

"Maybe we can get more paint before the eggs hatch," the girl said. "Pokemon eggs are like, really hard to hatch right? Right?"

"Well, we can paint the eggs anytime," the guy continued. "We should paint the rest of these Eevee, though. They need to look shiny if we're going to make a decent profit, Belle."

"I know, Gil." The girl reached out to pet a half pained Eevee. "They're so cute, though. I wish I could keep one for myself."

He chopped her on her head and she immediately reached up to cover the area, scrunching her face up in pain. A soft chorus of "Ow! Ow! Ow!" being mumbled under her breath.

"No digging into profits, idiot."

"I know that!" she whined. "You didn't have to scold me, stupid Gil."

"I did, too. You get carried away way too easily."

Cormac must have gotten tired of waiting, because a water gun blasted right into the girl's side, knocking her over.

"Who's there?" the guy asked, turning sharply and holding out his paint brush like a weapon.

Orchid crawled over to the girl. "Hey, are you okay?" she asked, helping the girl up while she watched the guy search the opposite direction for an attacker.

"Yeah, that really smarted, though," the girl answered.

"Your name is Belle, right?" Orchid asked. "Are you almost finished here?"

"Yeah and that's Gil," the girl sighed. "Wait a minute..." Belle squinted at her. "I haven't seen you at the Team Midas base before, are you new?"

"Hey, let me trade you, real quick." Orchid reached out for the Eevee as Corsola jumped into the girl's arms

"Why do you have a--" she started as Corsola unleashed a water gun right in the girl's face, causing her to sputter and drop the aquatic Pokemon, but the assault didn't stop.

Orchid looked over at the guy in time to see him knocked over by Corsola's tackle. "Beedrill!" he yelled out, gaining the attention of the swarm hovering not far away.

"You can handle that, right Dora?" she asked.

"Cor!" Corsola nodded, before shooting water at the approaching Beedrill. 

The girl was still sputtering and spitting out water from Corsola's earlier attack, so Orchid ignored her as she leaned down to check on the Pokemon. They all seemed pretty young, but aside from some being painted to look like shinies, they didn't seem harmed, just confused. She ran her hand over them in a comforting manner.

Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Gil flailing wildly as he was held in the air, Graham staring at him with intense concentration. That was pretty handy.

"Cormac, you were really impatient," Orchid yelled at him.

Cormac scratched at the back of his head nervously. "Heh, sorry, I got carried away."

"You should apologize to Graham for making him cover for you," Orchid said. "And now we have a bunch of Beedrill to deal with."

"I know, it was a bad move on my part," Cormac said apologetically. He reached for his belt for a pokeball, calling out his Popplio. "Icy wind, Popplio."

The Pokemon happily complied, taking a deep breath before exhaling an icy chill at the swarm of Beedrill. A slight frost began to coat their wings and a few notably slowed. The rest moved in swiftly.

"Blake, use psychic!" Graham called out. Orchid hadn't noticed him calling out any Pokemon, but she did see when the Reuniclus hovered above him, taking hold of one of the Beedrill and knocking it into several others.

"Oh, I'm so inconsiderate," she said, when she realized he was still holding the Team Midas member. "Let me help with that." She called out her own Pokemon, Dratini uncoiling elegantly between them. "Luna, can you be a dear and keep those two still for me?"

Dratini wrapped elegantly around the two, holding them in place. Graham let out a strained breath as he released his hold. 

"Hey, let us go!" "No fair!" The two yelled.

"Not a chance," Orchid replied. "Officer Jenny would probably like to have a word with you two."

"No way, no way, no way!" Belle said loudly. "Gil, do something!"

"Sweet kiss, Eiry!" Gil yelled out. A Comfey poked its head out from under his hat, kissing Dratini and confusing her. She swayed, her hold loosening and letting the two fall to the ground. Gil grabbed his partner's hand quickly. "We gotta book it, Bells!"

"Stop!" Orchid's breath suddenly caught as she felt a sharp pain in her side. She looked away from Team Midas's retreating form to the Beedrill who’s stinger was being pulled out of her. Her vision swam. 

"Orchid!"

She remembered the Eevee that was still cradled in her arms and turned so that her back would hit the ground when she fell and the Eevee would be protected. 

She stopped being able to focus on the shouting around her. She'd forgotten how much it sucked to be poisoned and the thought made her laugh weakly. "Sorry, I... did it again..."

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

Graham was panicking. He'd failed to catch Orchid when she'd fainted and now he was looking at her like he thought she was there. Cormac might have panicked too, if it was anyone but Orchid that had fallen. Rules were rules though, so he forcefully put a lid on his temper and panic and everything else so that he could be calm. Orchid was better at acting calm when she wasn't than he was, maybe because it was so hard for him to get worked up in the first place.

He went to her side, lifting her head and feeling the back of it to see if there was a bump. "Can you take care of the rest of these Beedrill?" he asked Graham.

The man still looked too wide eyed and like he didn't know what to do with his hands, halfway reaching out but not committed. Cormac was a little annoyed that he was so nearby and let her fall. He pushed the feeling aside as Graham nodded, giving more orders to his Pokemon.

Both his Corsola and Popplio were still attacking, though Dora had come over to stand worriedly by her head. The Eevee in Orchid's arms also seemed to be watching her with worry.

"You always do this to me, Orchid," he mumbled as he reached for her bag. "I swear I'm going to stop letting you rescue Pokemon if you can't stop getting poisoned." He reached for the left over pecha pie, hoping that he could get enough of it in her to counteract the poison.

He propped her up further, sitting behind her to make sure she would fall over and crushing a bit in hand. "Dora, do you mind helping me wake her up?"

A quick splash of water hit Orchid in her face and her eyes fluttered. Cormac shoved the crushed pie into her mouth.

"Eat this or you're grounded," he told her. 

She made a small noise of protest, though he was sure if it was at his words or having pie shoved into her face. He made sure to push her forward every so often so that she didn't get too comfortable and close her eyes. She gasped after swallowing the piece he'd given her and immediately crushed up more. There was another noise of protest, but her eyes opened, if only barely.

The Eevee was making worried sounds to match Orchid's, paws on her stomach as it watched her closely.

"She'll be fine," Cormac said. Then he repeated that in his head a few times for good measure. Orchid would be fine. She was always fine. She survived all the other rescues, so she would survive this one, too.

"They're retreating," Graham said. 

Cormac looked up to see a few Beedrill retreating and a whole lot more on the ground. Dratini seemed to have come to her senses, too, slithering over to their side.

Graham looked awkward standing beside them, not sure what to do. After a few moments of looking around he finally asked, "Is she, um, is she okay?"

"...okay..." Orchid said softly.

Cormac let out a relieved breath and wrapped an arm around her chest as he hugged her, avoiding her injured side. "You have to stop doing that."

She leaned her head back on his shoulder, smiling at him and then Graham. "Sorry." She let one hand rest on Eevee while the other brushed against Corsola and Dratini.

"I can... um..." Graham blushed as they both faced him. He quickly reached for a pokeball and brought out his Girafarig. "H-hugo, can carry her."

"Thanks," she said softly. She pressed her hand against Dratini and the Pokemon moved closer until she pressed a kiss to it's head. "Thanks Luna." It made a cheerful sound as she pressed the Pokemon into its side and it went back into its ball.

Graham held a hand out toward her. Orchid didn't hesitate to take it, breathing out another thank you as Cormac helped push her to her feet. She didn't let go of the Eevee the entire time, nor did it stop watching her with large worried eyes. Graham helped her onto Girafarig's back and she leaned against his long neck in what looked almost like a hug.

"How will... we get these..." She paused to catch her breath, taking a number of deep inhales and exhales before she was able to speak normally, if more quietly than usual. "How will we get so many back?"

"Me and Blake can handle it," Graham told them.

"You're handy to have around," Orchid told him. She reached out for her Corsola and the Pokemon jumped into her arms, resting beside the Eevee.

"Popplio and I can herd the baby Pokemon if you can carry the eggs," he said.

"That sounds fine," Graham agreed.

Cormac pressed the remaining pie into Orchid's hand. "Eat more if you can."

She broke off a piece for herself and then gave a piece to the Eevee. 

"And don't give it all to the Pokemon!" 

She stuck her tongue out as she ducked her head. "Whoops."

Graham and Reuniclus floated the eggs while they led Girafarig forward. Cormac ended up with the other Eevee and Meowth falling all over him, clinging to his head and shoulders when they couldn't fit into his arms. Some of the Pokemon seemed fine walking on their own and he assumed it was the younger ones that were clinging to him.

Orchid spent an equal amount of time eating the pecha pie as she did sharing it, to the point that some of the Pokemon he was carrying squirmed out of his arms to walk alongside her in hopes of getting treats. Which they got. Cormac didn't bother to scold her as long as she kept eating herself and she looked like the poison was, if not out of her system, at least mostly gone.

Orchid and the Pokemon were all looked over at the Pokemon Center and he wasn't surprised to see Elaria still in the waiting room.

"Thank you both so much!" She said. "I don't know what we would have done without you."

"Don't worry about it, I'm just glad that we could do something," Cormac answers.

"How's the Gym Leader?" Graham asked.

Elaria smiled. "She's alright, just really mad that she wasn't able to do more. The couple that run the daycare are alright, too. They weren't poisoned at all, just lost their energy to leech seed, apparently."

"Good," Graham sighed. "That they weren't poisoned, I mean."

Nurse Joy came over to place a hand on Cormac's shoulder. "Your friend seems alright too, but we want to keep her here overnight."

He frowned. "Is she still poisoned?"

She shook her head. "Your idea to give her the pie was a good one. The poison is completely out of her system, but she's still really weak. Also..." she looked over her shoulder. Cormac followed her gaze to see Orchid in the back surrounded by Pokemon. "I think the Pokemon have taken a liking to her. Since they can't go back yet, I think it would be better if we let them stay together, don't you?"

Cormac felt himself finally relax, knowing that she was okay. "Yeah... yeah, you're right."

"Um, would you both mind helping me take the eggs back to the daycare?" Elaria asked. "I want to get the paint off as soon as possible."

"Of course," Graham answered.

"We can probably help with the paint," Cormac said, nodding to his Corsola. It would be nice to have something helpful to do.

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

The next morning Orchid was surprised to see Graham waiting for her in the Pokemon center.

"Hey, are you feeling alright?" he asked.

"Yep, I'm good as new!" She said with a little twirl for emphasis. "Just about to help take the Pokemon back to the daycare. Without me to wake him up, Cormac will probably sleep in so I figured I'd do something useful. "

"Oh, do you need a hand?"

"I wouldn't mind it."

Getting the Pokemon from the Pokemon Center to the daycare was a little chaotic. They were all very energetic, wanting to play more than follow along, and the Eevee she'd personally rescued had taken a liking to her. By the time they got them all to where they needed to be, Elaria had shown up at the Daycare to feed them and they ended up helping with that, too.

Cormac showed up with Ahu when they were done, having a friendly enough chat as they came through the door.

"It's you!" Ahu yelled, pointing at Graham as soon as she saw him.

"Um, hi?" he responded.

"You think you can walk back in here just like that?" Ahu questioned, putting her hands on her hips.

"This is the daycare, not your gym, Ahu," Elaria told her calmly. 

"I heard about what you did," Ahu went on. "You think you can just show me up like that? Twice? I don't think so! I challenge you!"

Elaria placed her hand on Ahu's head. "You just got out of the Pokemon center and you only have one Pokemon."

Ahu blushed. "E-eventually," she added hastily. "I challenge you eventually. I'll get my win back, you'll see."

"Ah, okay?" Graham said slowly.

Orchid stepped around her to hug Cormac. "I hope you weren't worried when I wasn't at the Pokemon Center."

"Nurse Joy told me where you were, and Ahu was interesting company to keep," he answered.

Ahu smiled, tossing her hair over her shoulder and folding her arms. "You bet I am."

"Oh! Graham! I had a question for you." Orchid skipped back over to him, stopping herself before reaching for his hand. "You're traveling to get gym badges, right? Do you wanna come with us to the next town?"

"What?"

"Cormac and I don't really have much of  a direction right now," she admitted. "We're just sort of traveling around, but you seem like good company, so we wondered if you'd want to travel together?"

"It's okay if you don't want to," Cormac added. "We just thought it would be fun."

Graham looked down as he considered it. "It... might be fun."

Orchid bounced on her heels excitedly. "So you'll come?"

"Yeah."

"Yay!" She jumped forward, tossing herself on him in an enthusiastic hug.

Graham looked at her with wide arms, his arms hovering in the air as if he was unsure whether to push her away or hug her back.

"Orchid," Cormac said.

She jumped off of him at the warning. "Ah, sorry! I got excited." She hit herself on the head lightly and stuck out her tongue. "Silly me."

Graham sighed. "What have I gotten myself into?" he asked him.

They parted from the daycare a few minutes later in relatively high spirits.

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

"Oh, did those nice trainers leave?" The daycare lady asked, looking around the room. Only she and Ahu were left, the gym leader pouting over her missed opportunity to battle.

"Yeah, a few minutes ago," Elaria told her.

"We wanted to give you all a reward. This Eevee in particular seemed so attached to that flower girl."

"I could catch up with them," Elaria said. "Ahu, would you help me carry the eggs?"

"Oh, uh, sure?" Ahu answered.

"Make sure the two of you pick one out for yourself, too," The daycare lady insisted.

"What? Are you sure?" Ahu asked.

"Of course. I'm grateful for all of your help and I'm sure Elaria will help you all take good care of them." The old lady came over to give Elaria a hug. "You've been thinking about a journey of your own,. haven't you? I'd hate to see you miss your chance. They seemed like nice people."

"Thank you."

Ahu ended up juggling three eevee eggs while Elaria carried two Eevees. It didn't take too long to catch up with the group and Elaria smiled at them all.

"Hey. We wanted to give you a reward. For all your help," Elaria said. One of the Eevee’s immediately squirmed out of her arms and jumped toward Orchid, who stepped forward to catch it.

"Aw, did you miss me?" Orchid asked. "So cute! I missed you, too."

"So holds the tradition of Orchid getting poisoned to rescue Pokemon and them falling in love with her," Cormac said with a shake of his head.

Orchid didn't seem to be listening as she twirled around with her new Pokemon.

"You're doing gym battles, right?" Elaria asked Graham. At his nod, she held out one of the eggs. "I hope this becomes a strong member of your team."

He hesitated as he stepped forward to accept the Eevee, which seemed happy enough to snuggle into his arms. "Thanks."

Elaria then took another Eevee egg from Ahu's arms and held it out to Cormac. "For you. Thank you so much for deciding to help me. It really meant a lot to me."

Cormac smiled. "I'm glad that I was able to help," he answered as he accepted the egg.

"You guys don't mind having a bit more company, do you?" Elaria asked.

"The more the merrier," Orchid said. Cormac nodded in agreement.

"I hope this doesn't put you out, Graham?" Elaria said. 

"I'm a tag along myself, so I don't have room to complain," He said.

"Companion, not a tag along," Orchid corrected.

Elaria smiled. She took the last egg from Ahu's arms, swapping with the Eevee she was holding. Ahu looked at the ball of fluff that was pressed into her arms and smiled.

"You know what, yeah. Yeah! Me too!" Ahu declared. "I'll come along, too."

"What about your gym?" Graham questioned.

"They can figure that out themselves," she fumed. "It'll teach them to appreciate me more if I ever go back. Besides, I left all the gym's Pokemon behind, so it's just me and Simsek." She nodded to her Shinx. "Plus, I owe you a rematch."

"You don't owe me anything," Graham said.

"I owe you a loss," she said with a foot stomp. "Just you wait. When I have a team of my own, I'll put you in your place. And then I'll find everyone that earned a badge from me and I'll beat them too! And I'll get revenge on those Beedrill while I'm at it!"

Elaria put Ahu's head as her friend got louder and louder. "Forgive her, she's very energetic." 

"Well, at least this journey won't be boring," Cormac said.

"Yeah, no chance of that," Graham sighed.

[missmalice202]

Designing Your Melody: Chapter 11 - Cupid’s Arrow

Chapter 01 - Chapter 10

“Today’s the day,” Marinette uttered nervously, pressing a hand against her churning stomach in a fruitless attempt to untie the knots her insides were tied in. Her nerves were stretched to the limit, ready to snap. She gazed up at the building where her fashion show would take place in a few short hours. She wasn’t ready to go inside. Not until her knees stopped trembling, at least.

She’d been a quivering mess since she woke up this morning. The countless hours of work had all led up to this moment. This was the goal she’d been working toward all these years. Every drop of blood, each drip of sweat, every single sleepless night spent hunched over her sewing machine had been for this chance to showcase her talents and hopefully catch the eye of a famous fashion house that would want to take her on as a designer.

Hands shaking, she gripped the strap of her purse in a futile attempt to steady them.

When a warm arm suddenly wrapped around her shoulders, she shrieked and nearly jumped out of her skin. Spinning in place to view her attacker, she lost her balance and nearly fell over.

“Easy there, Marinette,” Adrien chuckled, hands gripping her arms to keep her on her feet. He gazed at her as she inhaled deeply, trying to keep herself from hyperventilating. “Are you going to be okay?”

Stepping back out of his personal space, she closed her eyes and counted to three, opening them once again to observe her friend.

He’d grown into a truly handsome man. His shining blond hair was artfully styled into deceptively careless disarray, a few wayward strands falling over his brow and into his vivid green eyes. Mouth pulled into a devious smirk, she heard him continue to laugh at her clumsiness. She pouted a bit at how truly handsome he was. It wasn’t fair for someone to be so damn good-looking.

“I’m fine,” she bit, annoyed that he had once again caught her unravelling at the seams. “I’m just a little nervous.”

He laughed. “A little? When I touched you, you nearly came out of your skin.”

“You just startled me, is all.”

Once more, Adrien chuckled softly at her. “You’ll do great. The hard part is already over. Now,” he said as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders once more, encouraging her to go inside with him, “let’s do this, Marinette.”

Gathering her courage, she held her head high and stepped inside.

-xXx-xXx-xXx-xXx-xXx-xXx-xXx-

“Mlle. DuPain-Cheng, music starts in twenty minutes,” the producer – a severe-looking woman with auburn hair pulled into a no-nonsense bun - informed her, clipboard firmly in her hand. “Are your models ready?”

Glancing behind her at her friends, she smiled and nodded her head. She had just finished helping Juleka dress in her first outfit: a tunic length purple sweater with a wide cowl neck that exposed Juleka’s slender shoulders and black floral print leggings. Completing the ensemble was a pair of knee-high platform boots.

Adrien stood next to her looking absolutely dashing in a deep green, v-neck t-shirt, a casual pin-striped blazer emphasizing his broad shoulders and trim waist. Dark washed jeans and white sneakers completed his look. If she had seen him in an outfit like this when she had still been infatuated with him, she would have gushed about how the color of his shirt perfectly matched his eyes and how the blazer drew attention to his perfect butt…

But she wasn’t still infatuated with him, so she’d keep those thoughts to herself, she mused.

“You guys look amazing,” she said happily. “Thank you so much for helping me today, guys. I really appreciate it.”

Juleka smiled softly and said, “No, Marinette, thank you for giving me an opportunity to walk down the catwalk. You’re helping me as much as I’m helping you. I even asked my brother to come today so he could see me model in your show. He was so proud of me when I told him I was going to be modelling during Fashion Week and it’s all thanks to you.. With as much attention as you’re sure to get with your fabulous clothes, I’ll get to shine along side you as your model.” She giggled softly as she cocked her hip out. “With clothes as cute as these, there’s no way they’re not going to love you.”

“She’s right, you know.” Adrien reached over and rested his elbow on Juleka’s shoulder, grinning at her. “You’re going to be a smash hit, my Lady. You’re not alone here. Alya is covering your show for her blog, Nino’s up in the DJ booth cuing up the music as we speak, and don’t forget your parents out in the audience. We’re all here for you and we’re so proud of you.”

“Thanks, guys.” Reassured from her friends’ kind words, she shook her head and focused on the task at hand.

-xXx-xXx-xXx-xXx-xXx-xXx-xXx-

In the audience, Luka was waiting patiently for the show to begin. Looking around, he saw a few familiar faces, which put him at ease. Across the room, up in the DJ booth, Nino had his headphones on, jamming out the music only he could hear as he got his set list ready for the show. Wondering at the small world he lived in, he spotted Alya Cesaire, Nino’s girlfriend, sitting in the front row, taking pictures with her cell phone and excitedly tapping away on the screen. Must be doing a story on Fashion Week for her blog, he thought. He’d run into her a few times when he and Nino had collaborated together on a project.

Personally, he was excited to see his sister in her first fashion show. Really was proud of how much she’s grown in the past few years. When she had first told him she wanted to be a model, he supported her dream whole-heartedly, but worried whether someone as introverted as she could make it in such a cut-throat business.

His worries had been unnecessary. She had proved all who doubted her wrong and had been steadily finding work doing magazine ads and even appearing on a few billboards recently. But nothing could compare to this. Even though it was for an unknown designer, being able to put that she’d modeled in a Fashion week show would open a lot of doors for her modeling career and he wished nothing but the best for his beloved sister. He’d be there to watch over her, after all.

When the lights dimmed, he sat up, eyes focused on the raised catwalk and waited to see his sister. Techno music pounded through the once silent room, increasing the energy level in the room with is solid base beat.

Behind a screen at the entrance of the stage, he saw a feminine silhouette appear, striking a sassy pose with her hip cocked and her hand behind her head. His mouth gaped as he watched his sister - his shy, mild mannered sister – strut down the lane, hair billowing behind her and her eyes on fire. He could barely recognize his sibling in this fierce woman posing at the end of the walk, showcasing the outfit she was wearing.

When she disappeared backstage, the screen illuminated again, this time outlining a male model. His eyes widened when he recognized the man from advertisements plastered with his face all over the city. It was Adrien Agreste, the face of his father’s internationally branded fashion line. Screams erupted in the room as the audience recognized the handsome model strutting down the catwalk with the grace and intensity of a panther.

The designer responsible for this show was very smart to use him for their show, he decided. Come morning, their designs would be plastered all over social media and possibly even the news now that Adrien Agreste was the one wearing them. And his sister would be piggy-backing on top of that fame, launching her own career into possible fame.

Once the blond model retreated backstage to prepare his next outfit, Luka watched as his sister once again took the stage, wearing a completely different ensemble. How they changed her entire look in less than two minutes was absolutely astounding. It must be pure chaos behind the scenes, he mused.

However, his amusement faded as he continued to watch the show. With each ensemble that was shown, his eyes narrowed further. He recognized some of these clothes. He’d seen them taped to the wall when he’d delivered that fabric to his designer.

It’s impossible, he thought to himself. There’s no way such coincidences exist.

Still denying the possibility that the girl he’d been looking for for so long was the one who was responsible for the show that his sister was modeling in, his jaw dropped when Adrien walked out in his final look: the embroidered blazer that Luka had seen hanging on the mannequin.

Suspicions confirmed, he grinned, disbelieving his luck. Now, he wouldn’t have to try to track her down. He found her without even knowing he’d done it. Even better, his sister already knew his elusive designer and could introduce her to him after the show.

He whistled under his breath when he saw the show’s final piece. Juleka came out dressed in a gorgeous dress. The strapless top shimmered with beads under the bright stage lights. A silver-buckled black satin belt transitioned into a full skirt. The outer layer of black satin contrasted beautifully with the deep purple satin lining, visible due to the front of the skirt ending at Juleka’s thighs and the back cascading down to the floor. Opaque black stockings covered her exposed legs and protected the modesty of his sister, which he was secretly grateful for.

She gracefully walked to the end of the catwalk where Adrien was waiting for her. With a final pose, the two models leaned into each other with wide smiles in response to the roaring applause thundering through the room. turning toward the entrance of the stage, they waved, gesturing for someone to join them.

Tearing his eyes away from his stunning sister, his breath caught when the designer stepped on stage. He could almost hear the twang as he felt a punch in the gut, like he’d been shot by Cupid’s arrow.

She was petite and slender, her limbs willowy and graceful as she joined her models. Her dark hair shined blue under the lights, pulled back into a bun at the base of her neck with a few tendrils escaping to caress her neck. Her bright, blue eyes glistened with unshed tears as she stood proudly next to her designs. Pink lips stretched into a grin as she reached her hands out to either side of her and took her companion’s hands. With a final smile at the audience, the trio bowed, thanked the audience for their praise, and escaped backstage.

Luka was stunned. How on earth had he missed how pretty she was when she crashed into him that first day? In his defense, she had been in such a hurry and so he hadn’t had the chance to get a good look at her, but had he really been so oblivious?

Unable to wait another minute to finally meet his elusive muse – and congratulate his sister on a job well done – he rose from his seat and made his way back stage, eager to be introduced to the blue-eyed beauty responsible for the music pounding in his head.

-xXx-xXx-xXx-xXx-xXx-xXx-xXx-

Chapter 12

*OMG, It’s almost time! He knows! Aaaaah! Hahaha, sorry. I’m just really excited for these two to get some time together in the same room. Next time, I promise! But things aren’t going to go so easily for them once they do meet face-to-face mwahahaha!

Once again, thanks for taking the time to read this and give me your likes and reblogs. Leave me a reply about what you like, what you don’t like, and what you’d like to see. Your feedback gives me fuel to better myself and my writing.

Until next time, my lovelies, XOXO*

@write-for-your-life2

[taehyungiestummy]

Blood, Sweat, and Tears -- Chapter Nine

Masterlist    Pervious    Next Warnings: Swearing, verbal fighting, angst(?) Word Count: 5678

“Thank god,” I mumble as I close my computer, gathering up my notebooks and folders to put them back in my backpack. “This day is finally ending.” It has been a long day hanging out alone in the library. At times I felt like I could fall asleep as my work was just getting to be too much. I am ahead in all my classes to the point where I can’t go any farther. Nothing is open for me to look at, so I can’t write the papers, or do the exercises, or whatever else. Now I can relax and focus on the things that truly matter. I stand up, twisting around to stretch out my back. Although comfortable, lounging in a beanbag for long hours has not been nice on my lower back. As carefully as possible, I lift my backpack onto my shoulders, and begin the trek out of the library. Not as impressive as the one at the mansion, but perfect for hiding away from the Fakes. “I wonder what Yoongi will want me to do when I get home,” I hum as I pull my phone out of my jacket pocket. Not a single text from anyone on the lock screen. I slip my phone back into my pocket as I begin the walk to the front of this main building. A lot of classes have been let out at this time, and I have to weave in and out of people as I make my way out. It’s not a surprise that a lot of eyes are on me as I walk past. Some people must have heard about my outburst, and others shocked that I am not dressed up in some colorful dress. Others may just be surprised to see me after all that has gone on in the past month. I do my best to show that I can’t even feel the stares on me, but it does bother me a bit. Being the center of attention has never been a big issue for me, but it feels a bit weird that all these people are looking at me because their perception of me has been altered. That I am not acting the way I have been forced to act in front of them. That I am not longer Princess Min, and instead Warrior Min. A nice change for myself mentally, but people aren’t always that accepting. My lungs fill up with crisp cold air as I step out of the building into the fall afternoon. The leaves have begun to turn into bright reds, yellows, and oranges on the trees that are all over the campus. In just a few more days, Halloween decorations will begin to crop up all over the place. “This is odd,” I scrunch my eyebrows together as I notice a lack of black BMW’s waiting by the curb. There’s a lack of any type of car waiting by the curb. The only vehicle waiting by the curb is a sleek black two-seater motorcycle, with a familiar boy leaned up against the side. Taehyung grins as he enthusiastically waves at me. Sunglasses are sitting atop his shaggy, light purple hair. He’s wearing black skinny jeans, a white t-shirt, a black leather jacket, and black boots. Two helmets are resting on the seats of his motorcycle. “Tae,” I gasp as I rush over to him, managing to slow down as I jump into his arms. My arms wrapping around his neck as I nuzzle my face into his neck. “God, have I missed you.” “It’s good to see you too, babe,” Taehyung chuckles as he wraps his arms around my lower back. “You looked tired before you spotted me.” “You’re like a battery for me,” I sigh, tilting my head to look up at the hacker. Taehyung is already looking down at me; a sparkle in his eye. “Rough day?” “You have no idea,” I rest my cheek on his shoulder. “Had to deal with the Fakes, and then schoolwork all day is something I will never do again.” “That’s how I feel when I hack for days on end. My eyes feel like they don’t want to see another sting of code ever again, and I just want to sleep for months. It is a good thing I am here to take you out. Refresh both of us.” “That’s why you’re here?” I feel a smile take over my face. “Taehyung, were you feeling guilty?” “Just a little,” he presses his lips to my forehead for a split second. “If we are ever going to become a couple, I need you to get to know me. I thought today would be a perfect day to do that.” “I’m just so happy to see you, to be hugging you, and going on a date is just icing on the cake.” “Me saying that I want you to eventually be my girlfriend doesn’t faze you?” “Well, I can’t get any happier, but inside I am exploding.” “How about we release each other, get this helmet on you, and head off to the café I have decided to take you?” Taehyung tenderly smiles, running his hands up my sides. “Sounds like a lovely plan,” I tenderly smile back, running my fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck. We separate from our hug, and Taehyung hands me the smaller of the two helmets. I haven’t even raised the helmet above my head when a voice that makes me want to punch something fills my ears. “Areum, there you are!” Blondie’s annoying screech slices through my brain. “Oh, my fucking god,” I groan, lowering the helmet to rest on my stomach. Taehyung and I turn to see three girls walking towards us; Blondie, Glasses, and Cheekbones are as happy as ever. “Are those the Fakes?” Taehyung whispers as they are mere meters from us. I feel my jaw clench in anger as I nod. “Areum, are you feeling better?” Glasses carefully asks as the three of the Fakes step up. “Was doing splendid until you three stepped up,” I glare at the three girls; acid dropping off my every word. “Who is this?” Cheekbones dismisses my answer, batting her eyelashes at Taehyung. “I’m an old friend of Areum’s,” Taehyung’s voice is deeper than it was moments ago. It’s like he’s taken on a bad boy persona and is not interested in the three girls in front of him. “Taehyung.” “Just a friend?” Blondie bites her lip as she obviously checks Taehyung out. “They just had the longest hug of all time, so I don’t think so,” Glasses points out. “Can you three just please leave me the fuck alone?” I groan, pinching the bridge of my nose with my fingers. “I’m sick of being friends with you. I don’t understand how any of you could think that I like you. I never hang out with you outside of university, and I barely talk to you when we are here. I don’t like you. Do you understand? I do not like any of you.” “Babe, I think we should go,” Taehyung grabs my helmet, placing it onto my head. “If you ladies will excuse us.” “Hope you feel better, Areum,” Glasses gives a small wave before walking off. “Old friend my ass,” Cheekbones grumbles as she follows Glasses. “I am going to forgive you for the hurtful things you just said because I know you are grieving,” Blondie stands up straighter, tears pricking the corner of her eyes. “Losing a parent must be hard. Have fun with your boyfriend,” she sadly smiles. “It’s clear that you two are anything but friends.” She blinks rapidly before spinning on her heel and walking off. “Damn Areum,” Taehyung bends his knees, so he can be eye level with me, adjusting my helmet to be secure on my head. “I didn’t think that you could be that cold. It made me sad because I never want you to feel like that. Why do they make you so angry?” “Those girls, those fake ass girls, I didn’t meet them in college. My father partnered with their fathers when I started high school. I’ve been forced to socialize with them for years now, but it wasn’t until we all got accepted into the same university that my life turned to hell. They’ve never liked me for who I actually am. They have always seen me as the rich girl, whose father is making sure their fathers stay rich. It’s never been about being my friend. It has always been about money. I hate them for it. I hate them for being so fake all these years.” “Well, I like you for you,” he lightly presses his lips to my nose. “And right now, that’s all that matters. So, let’s forget about those girls, and go have a nice first date. Okay?” “That sounds perfect,” I feel my body relax as a smile forms on my face. “Do I look good with this helmet?” “You are the cutest,” he chuckles, turning away to put his helmet on, sliding his sunglasses down to cover his eyes in the process. “Have you ever ridden on a motorcycle before?” “Never,” I nervously shift around on my feet. “You’re not going to go super-fast, are you?” “I am a safe driver,” Taehyung turns make to me, holding his hand out. “Trust me.” “I trust you,” I place my hand in his. “Good,” he smiles, helping me climb onto the back of his motorcycle. “I think you’ll love it. You seem like the kind of person who would like the wind rushing through them, and feeling free.” He settles into the spot in front of me. “Do I need to wrap my arms around you?” I make sure my backpack is comfortable on my back and shoulders. “The girls do that in all the movies I watch.” “If you’ll feel safer, go ahead,” Taehyung glances back at me, a sweet smile on his face. In the next moment, Taehyung starts up his motorcycle, and I lean forward to wrap my arms around his middle. I feel a bit nervous, but I know Taehyung is going to get us to our destination safe and sound. “Ready?” Taehyung’s voice just barely carries over the roar of his engine. I raise my hand up into his view, giving a thumbs-up. Then, before I know it, we are speeding away from the university. Off to my first date in years.

********

“That was actually a lot of fun,” I smile as I slide into the booth. “I was nervous when you started up the motorcycle, but once we were moving, I felt excitement.” “That’s good,” Taehyung places our food and drinks on the table before sliding into the other side of the booth. “I could feel you squeeze my middle when I did turns, but I thought it was super cute.” Taehyung took me out to a small coffee shop on the outskirts of the city. It took a thirty-minute motorcycle ride to get here, and I enjoyed every moment of that ride. I felt so safe clinging onto Taehyung’s torso. Once we got to the coffee shop, we spent a few minutes outside fixing our hair and clothes. Then we headed inside and instantly went to the counter to get order. I decided on a hot chocolate with extra whipped cream, a grilled cheese, and a brownie with powered sugar; Taehyung decided on a cappuccino, chicken wrap, and a slice of strawberry cake. It took a few minutes to get our order, and then Taehyung led us to a booth in the back. “You know, I have a lot of questions to ask you,” I pull my hot chocolate and grilled cheese towards me. “I hope that you’ll be open to answer them.” “Of course,” Taehyung grins, pushing some napkins towards me. “That’s why I decided on this booth all the way in the back, so we could have a bit of privacy.” “I’m not going to hold back,” I smirk as I carefully pick up a half of my sandwich. “I would expect nothing less,” Taehyung takes a small sip of his cappuccino. “Ask me anything that comes to mind.” “What did you tell Joonie?” “That was the easy part of coming out to take you on this date,” Taehyung chuckles. “I was able to hack into your phone and send a text to Namjoon to let him know that you didn’t need to be picked up. That you were asked to help with the book club, and that you decided to help because they all seemed like sweet people. I made sure that you couldn’t see his response, so that I could surprise you. He also doesn’t need to pick you up later because one of the girls said she’d drive you home.” “That’s a perfect cover-up,” I wipe the grease off my mouth with a napkin. “I actually love the book club, and help them out on occasion, so Joonie would believe that without a doubt.” “I know you love the book club,” he shyly looks down at the table. “They are the only group from university that you have had over to the mansion.” “So they could look through the library,” I finish the thought for him. “One day I will remember that you’ve been watching me for years and know every little thing about me.” “Yeah,” he looks up at me, a light dusting of pink on his cheeks. “Anyways, he believed my lie, and is just back at the mansion reading in his room.” “Does Yoongi know you are out here? And does he believe I’m still at university?” I shove my grilled cheese into my mouth. “Your brother was a bit harder to convince,” Taehyung takes a bit of his wrap, giving me a few seconds to collect my thoughts. “He was okay with you staying late at school to help the book club, as he knows that you love to read, but he didn’t like that you were being driven home by someone he didn’t know. It was clear that after your father, he only trusts one person to drive you around, and that’s Namjoon.” “How were you able to convince him?” I feel on the edge of my seat, but I already know the outcome. “I just let him know that you would be alert the whole car ride home, and that you trust the girl that will be driving you home, and that if it would make him feel better, he could have the hackers look into the girl that would be driving you home. At that point I think Yoongi understood that you were not going to change your mind, and let it go.” “You must play me pretty well to have my brother believe it was me,” I smirk, taking a sip of my hot chocolate. “Well, it’s not hard to copy your texting pattern when I can look back at them. Also, I have kept track of you for years, so I feel I know you enough to copy you for a few text messages.” “Now, how were you able to get out of the mansion, and doing your job, for a few hours?” “I’m thankful that I have a boss that understands that I am not a robot, and that there are a team of hackers behind me. I just said that I needed to go out to some computer stores for some parts. Yoongi gave me the okay in an instant, letting me have a few hours to run around town to find what I need.” “Do you actually need computer parts?” I finish off my first half of grilled cheese. “We can go get them after this if you really need something.” “You just want to ride on the motorcycle more, don’t you?” Taehyung smirks. “Maybe,” I embarrassingly giggle. “Is a motorcycle your choice of vehicle?” “Yes,” he nods. “The motorcycle out there is legally mine. It’s the best one I have ever ridden. If I don’t have to drive a car, then I am going to use my motorcycle.” “Have you found anything about my mother? Or father?” I feel the air around us thicken as I blurt out the serious question. “Have the Red Wolves done anything suspicious?” Taehyung’s face shows no emotion as he answers the questions. “All I have found about your parents have been things in newspapers and magazines. Nothing to explain their deaths, or to connect them with any gangs outside of Bangtan. As for the Red Wolves, there’s little on them anywhere, so nothing new. I’ve been working hard to hack into your father’s computer, a task given to me by your brother, and it is heavily encrypted.” “Does that mean he had things stored on it that he doesn’t want anyone to find? Do you think there’s instructions to get through the encryption?” I feel myself getting giddy at the possibilities of information that could be stored on my father’s computer. Information that could explain more than I could imagine. “Whatever it is, it must be important enough that he had someone outside of the mansion set up the encryption for him. He didn’t want anyone to get into it, but your brother is insistent that I keep trying. He believes I can hack into anything, and I’m not going to stop until I can break into that computer.” “Is that the job you were working on before coming to pick me up?” “No, I was working on trying to find out more on the man who is still coming into the bar,” Taehyung takes multiple bites of his wrap, and so I do the same to my sandwich. “I want to be with you when you hack into my father’s computer,” I say after we’ve spent a minute eating our food. “I need to know what is so important that he hid it from Yoongi and me.” “Sure, I’ll come get you before I break past the encryption,” Taehyung pushes his empty plate away. “I can’t guarantee how much longer that will be, though.” “That’s fine,” I take a deep breath. “I think I need some time to prepare myself anyways.” “Can we stop talking about work now?” Taehyung intertwines our legs under the table; his face softening as he looks into my eyes. “I want you to get to know me on a personal level. Not on a job level.” I softly smile, “Of course. I didn’t have anymore questions about work anyways.” “Good,” he flashes his cute boxy smile. “I’m ready to answer any question you want to ask.” “Blood type?” “AB, the universal receiver, and you are O, the universal donor.” “That’s why I give blood at the mansion when it’s needed,” I take a bite of my brownie. “Favorite food?” “Japchae. I love potato noodles made by Jin, and he always surprises me with the meat. I am also in love with strawberries.” I giggle, “I prefer egg noodles, but to each his own. Fresh strawberries from the garden are the best.” “We should pick some the next time they are in season.” “It’s a date,” I can’t help but giggle again. “Favorite color?” “I love black,” he smirks as he nods at my outfit. “As well as white, green, and purple. You’re more of a fan of blues, right?” “Yeah, I would say that I am a fan of all shades of blue. Who would you consider to be your best friend at Bangtan?” “Probably Jungkook, but I do like to talk to Jin when he makes me meals.” “Jin is a lovely person to talk to,” I take another bite of my brownie. “Do you speak any other languages? I grew up learning Korean and Japanese and have been itching to learn another language recently.” “I know Japanese as well,” Taehyung chuckles. “It helps when making code because not many other hackers in the area that I have to deal with know Japanese, so they have trouble cracking my codes. By the time they have made a dent, I’ve changed it up enough that they are back a square one.” “When you have free time, what do you like to do?” “Play video games, watch anime, and now, be with you,” he can’t help smirking as he takes a bite of his cake. “Was that too cheesy?” “No, it was just cheesy enough. I’d love to have an anime watching date with you one day. Maybe on my winter break.” “That would be a great day.” “What is your favorite season?” “Fall. I love the colors that the leaves turn, and the crisp air that makes people wear sweaters, and it is perfect motorcycle riding weather. Spring would also be great riding weather, but it rains all the time, and riding in the rain is one of the worst thing that a person can do.” “I love the summer because I can go to the beach, or amusement parks, or wherever else I want to go. The biggest perk is that I don’t have to go to university.” “I’m a bit surprised that I am learning things about you because of this,” Taehyung reaches across the table to grab my hand. “It makes it feel more like a date when both of us are learning things about the other.” “I have another question,” I tilt my head slightly to the right. “Are you having a good time?” “I am having the best time,” Taehyung’s boxy smile takes over his face. “It’s been a while since I’ve been on a date. It has been a while since I’ve actually like a girl.” “I’m glad,” I widely smile back. “Because I’m having a great time as well.”

********

“Hello Boo,” I sing as I skip into Boram’s office. “I’m here for my last appointment to check on my scar.” “Welcome Areum,” Boram smiles as she lifts her Munchkin cat, Mittens, off her lap. The small black cat has white on it’s paws and the tip of her tail, making her name very appropriate. “You seem especially happy today.” “Yeah, well, it’s been a good day,” I smile as I plop down in a seat next to her desk. “Can Mittens sit on my lap?” “If she’ll stay still,” Boram stands up, stepping over to me and handing over Mittens. “What made today so good?” “It involves a boy,” I begin massaging Mitten’s head as I hold out my right arm for Boram to look over. “A very cute boy.” “Ah, so you went out on a date,” Boram runs her fingers lightly over the now scarred wound that has just a few stitches that have yet to dissolve. “Is this a boy you met at school? Does Yoongi approve?” “I did not meet this boy at university,” I smile as Mitten begins to purr. “Yoongi doesn’t even know I went on this date, so I’m going to say he’s neutral at the moment.” “Well, if you didn’t meet him at school, then where did you meet him?” Boram looks at me before walking across the room to cabinets filled with all different types of medicine. “I’m surprised Sooyoung hasn’t been in here to gossip about it,” I chuckle, thinking of my best friend skipping into Boram’s office to explode with all different kinds of information. “She’s not one to spill secrets if you tell her to keep her mouth shut tight,” the short nurse pushes onto her tip-toes to reach a cream on a top cabinet. “Not that she goes around blurting out things she knows about everyone. She may be a social person, but she knows what to say, when to say it.” “That just might be why she’s my best friend,” I lean back in the chair, making sure that Mittens stays on my lap. “This boy that has made my life so good today, works here at the mansion. He’s a hacker by the name of Taehyung.” “Crap,” Boram falls back on her heels as multiple creams fall from the cabinet above her. “You should get a step stool,” I chuckle as she quickly picks up the cream that she was initially reaching for. “If I really need something, I can always go get Minho,” she takes a deep breath as she turns back to face me. “Taehyung though, eh?” “Yes,” I nod as Boram steps back up to me. “I don’t know much about the hackers, as they rarely come back to this part of the mansion,” she pops the lid off the cream bottle, squirting tiny dots of the clear gel onto my scar. “But I am sure that he is sweet and you two will be a good couple.” “I hope so,” I sigh as Boram rubs the cream into my skin. “Just another scar to add to my collection.” “I think it’s badass and makes you look like a warrior.” “Thanks, that makes me feel better. Still wish it didn’t happen.” “Can’t change the past, can only forge your future,” she grins, walking back over to the cabinets to clean up the mess she made. “That’s a good quote,” I gather Mittens into one arm, standing up from the chair. “Thank you so much Boram for all you have done for me because of this cut. From the stitches, to supervising the make-up, and all the way to letting me come in for scar cream. It really means a lot.” I walk around her desk and set Mittens down on her office chair. “It’s my pleasure as a nurse, and as a friend,” she reaches up to push the different types of creams back into the cabinet. “I’m going to get you a step stool,” I giggle as I walk over to help her place creams back into the cabinet. “I’ll get it in pink to keep with your aesthetic.” She chuckles, closing the cabinet door before turning to look at me. “If you insist, I will accept your step stool.” “Good,” I bring her into a hug. “Boo, really, thank you so much for everything you have done for my family and me. It means a lot that you would decide to spend the rest of your career working for Bangtan.” “I can’t imagine myself any other place,” she wraps her arms around me, giving me a small squeeze to show her gratitude. “You should probably head out now, or you’ll miss your work out.” I pull away from the nurse, a big grin on my face. “But first I need to go order you a pretty pink step stool.” She shakes he head, a chuckle leaving her mouth. “You better get going then, you have a lot to get done in the next few hours before the day is over.” “Hopefully I won’t see you for another injury, but see you later, Boo,” I wave as I skip out of the young girl’s office. “See you later, Areum!” Boram shouts out. “And be more careful as you train!” “I make no promises!”

********

“If I had to give my honest opinion, I’d say that she’s the close to the best fighter we have,” Jimin’s voice fills my ears as I skip into the basement. “She trains harder than anyone I know. She loves the thrill of fighting. It gives her a certain energy that I don’t see in anyone else.” “Are you guys talking about me?” I chuckle as I take a seat on a bench, looking between Jimin, Hoseok, and Yoongi. “If you were, it’s an honor, Chim, that you consider me one of the best fighters.” “Maybe one day we should spar off against each other,” Hoseok grins as he crosses his arms over his chest. “You always fight with Jiminie, but never me.” “There’s a reason for that, Hobi,” Jimin chuckles. “Yeah, I only trust Jimin to work with my sister,” Yoongi looks over at me. “How was your book club meeting?” “It was good,” I pick up athletic tape, starting to wrap my hands. “The club brainstormed fundraiser ideas, talked about books, and decided on the next meeting time. A few also went around campus to put up flyers so more people know about the club. It was a very productive time.” “Next time, I’d like to know you’re going to stay later than normal at least a day in advance,” Yoongi’s voice comes out very stern. “There’s no way I would have known about this meeting ahead of time,” I cut the tape with my teeth, making sure my right hand is securely wrapped. “None of those people have anyway to contact me, and it was my first day back in weeks.” “I just like to know where you are, so I can plan. You’re always too generous with your time when it comes to those clubs. How can we be sure that none of those people are out to get you?” “Even if they are, Yoongi, she can take down anyone that tries to fight her,” Jimin places a hand on my brother’s shoulder. “I train with all kinds of people here, and I know that Areum is the most capable out of all of them. The only ones that rival her are Hoseok and me.” “Besides, no one in that club is after me,” I scoff, rolling my eyes. “They are all book nerds looking to share that love with other book nerds. Its nice to be around people like that. They enjoy my company and support. None of them could hurt another human being.” “We’ll see about that,” Yoongi brushes Jimin’s hand away. “I’m having the hackers look into every member.” “They aren’t going to find anything,” I shrug. “Those are the sweetest people I know at university.” “We’ll see about that,” Yoongi looks away from me. “Are you here for a little training session then, baby girl?” Jimin smirks, trying to lighten the mood of the conversation. “Fuck yeah,” I check my hands to make sure the athletic tape will stay, and then stand up from the bench. “There’s only one reason I would be wearing a t-shirt and shorts in this chilling fall weather.” “Do you two train and then go off to have a little fun?” Yoongi glares at his best friend. “Maybe you don’t train at all and it’s all a cover up.” “Yoongi,” I take a deep breath to control the anger that wants to take over. “Don’t be an asshole.” “I can promise you that we have never done anything like that,” Jimin steps behind me to attempt to put my hair in a ponytail. “If they were, I’m sure I would have walked in on it at least once,” Hoseok can’t help but let a giggle pass his lips. “That’s not funny,” Yoongi glares at Hoseok, causing the cheerful boy to lose all traces of happiness. “Areum will not date anyone who works in the mansion ever.” “Who said you could be such a dick and decide what I can do with my dating life?” I cross my arms over my chest, stepping up to be right in front of my brother. “If I want to date Jimin, I’ll date Jimin. If I fall in love with a boy at university, then I marry him. You don’t get to decide who I get to date.” “As your big brother, I set the rules,” Yoongi clenches his hands into fists. “Now more than ever that dad is gone.” “I am a fucking human being, not a piece of meat,” I feel my jaw set in anger. “The only rules you can set for me are when I have dinner with you, and when I need to be at meetings. Nothing else. You fucking hear that?” “You will not talk to me this way in front of my friends and employees,” he growls, grabbing my upper arm with a tight grip. “You will talk to me with respect.” “Oh, fuck you,” I maneuver my way out of Yoongi’s grip, taking a step back so he can’t grab me again. “Not only are they my friends too, but I am at the top of the ladder just like you. You can’t boss me around like you do everyone else. I have just as much power as you do. Just because I am your little sister doesn’t mean you can treat me like I am weak. I am a badass leader just like you, so fuck off with your rules.” “This discussion is not over,” Yoongi angrily runs a hand through his unruly hair. “You will not get away with acting like a fucking bratty princess in front of others.” “Next time, don’t be such a dick,” I glare right back at my brother. “I deserve just as much respect as you. Don’t you fucking forget it.” Yoongi says no more, the anger clear on his face, as he stomps out of the room. “He infuriates me sometimes,” I grumble, turning to look at Jimin and Hoseok. “He’s just stressed,” Hoseok gives small smile. “He had to take over the business over night, has to deal with his father’s death, and is in the dark about a lot of things.” “I don’t give a flying fuck,” I head over to the boxing ring, climbing inside. “I am not someone he can boss around, take out his anger out on, or grab me the way he did back there. Our father would be disappointed. It doesn’t show that he is tough. It shows that he is heartless and evil. Something my father made sure never overcame him. I am here to help him, not to be a verbal punching bag.” “You really don’t take shit from anyone,” Hoseok’s smile grows. “Jiminie, help me blow off this steam right now, or so help me God,” I begin throwing punches as I hop around the ring. Jimin smirks as he rushes towards the boxing ring. “With pleasure, baby girl. With pleasure.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

And that is chapter nine! A bit of fluff, a bit of angst I guess you could say, and a bit of learning about characters. I hope you enjoyed! Please, let me know what you thought of this chapter. I would love to hear what you felt when reading. And now to focus on making moodboards for Summer Dreams. :D

[illeee-girl]

La La(chimolala) Land Chapter Seventeen: A Lovely Night

jimin x reader genre: fluff word count: 1.5k warnings: none

[Inspired by La La Land]

Read on Wattpad

Read on Ao3

You’re whisked back into a fancy dressing room, complete with a three-paneled mirror and a mini stage—who knew high-class department stores had those?—and the saleswomen waste no time in getting to work. They take your measurements, flip through their catalogues, and hold swatches of fabric up to your face to see how the colors mesh with your skin tone. They even bring in a hair stylist to twist your hair into a fancy bun reminiscent of the 50s.

Why is Jimin having them do all this to me? Did he plan all of this out?

The time-honored question presents itself again:

Who is this guy?

You know much of the answer to that question now. You know Jimin’s many positive qualities; his defining characteristics; the things that make him squirm and the things that make him jump for joy. You know that he loves you—and that you love him. But as you watch a team of uppity department store stylists swirl around you like a hill of busy ants, you realize something.

Park Jimin will never cease to surprise you.

“Which fabric do you like better, Miss Y/N?” One of the salesladies brings you out of your reverie.

“Hmm. The blue, I think.”

“Very well. Naomi,” she motions to a younger worker. “Please inform Mr. Park’s stylist that his tie should be Alfani cornflower blue, swatch number 1DAEEB.” Naomi shuffles off, and you inevitably dive back deep into thought—this time about what Jimin’s going to be wearing.

Moments later, the head stylist announces: “Miss Y/N, you’re all ready.”

And indeed you are. You’ve heard before about how professional stylists can take just about anyone and make them look amazing by highlighting their best features. That’s exactly what this crew has done for you. The electric blue, silky fabric of your dress caresses your figure perfectly. It’s sturdy, but not confining; light, but not revealing. Small, elegant earrings frame your face, and your makeup is just a dusting, but effective. Jimin requested timeless beauty—and that’s what he’s getting.

He walks into the dressing room, turning a new head with every stride. The salesladies’ mouths drop as they see him in his bright yellow suit, crisply pressed and perfectly fitted. Stud earrings that match yours dot his ears. His espresso-colored hair has been combed back, though one strand refuses to conform, falling down across his forehead. The theme tonight seems to be 1950s glam, and Jimin fits the bill perfectly. In fact, he would’ve given every golden-age Hollywood heartthrob a run for their money.

The gaggle of saleswomen eventually moves out of the way so that he can see you; and when he does, his eyes nearly pop out of his head. His sexy runway composure fades fast into boyish bewilderment. The small room fills with the energy of his fixation on you—and your fixation on him. In a matter of seconds, you’re both blushing like cartoon characters.

You’re the one to speak first. “Oh, Jiminie, you look gorgeous.”

Your words give his feet the confidence they need to move. He crosses to the stage where you stand, taking your hand and kissing it emphatically. His eyes travel over you as his brain tries to arrange its thoughts.

“Finally, I’ve thought of the perfect thing to say,” his slight dimple appears.

You smirk. “Well, let’s hear it, then.”

“I can’t take complete credit for it, though. A very wise woman said it first, particularly about the view from the top of LA City Hall,” He smiles crookedly, preparing himself for your infectious laugh. “Jagiya, you look . . . pretty dang awesome.”

_________________________

The night is reminiscent of your first official date, when he took you to the movies and danced with you around the Griffith Observatory.

First, you go to dinner. (Your makeovers took a long time, and Jimin’s hungry again.) He picks a low-key, candlelit Italian place where you can enjoy quiet conversation in your flawless outfits (you know, like normal people). After you split a tiramisu (boy ever did you have to fight your man for your fair share of the dessert), you drive to Griffith Park to watch the sunset (again, you know, like normal people).

The October night is chilly, but in the best way. You and Jimin find the perfect spot: a single lamppost, a lone bench, and no one else in sight. He parks the Prius.

“I have a plan, Jagi,” he plugs his phone into the aux cord and turns the car stereo’s volume up nearly all the way. “Get out and stand over there, and please don’t laugh at me.”

You do as he says. After your planetarium scene, you have a fairly well-formed hypothesis of what Jimin’s about to do.

Then he starts singing Ryan Gosling’s opening part to A Lovely Night, and it takes everything inside you to resist calling your boyfriend a complete nerd.

His voice is clear and beautiful as always. You try to sing back as confidently as you can, though you know your voice will never match his in quality. You jokingly play with one another through the lyrics: “You’re not the type for me,” he sings, and you soon respond with “But, I’m frankly feeling nothing.” You push him playfully with one finger, then hop on top of the bench and wistfully stare out across the sky. But your moment is interrupted when Jimin spins you around and lifts you off the bench. He whisks you into a dance to the jazzy refrain, and you know, more or less, that you’re making a fool of yourself—there’s no way you look as good dancing as Jimin does—but he doesn’t seem to care. He enjoys himself thoroughly, as do you. He twirls you and lifts you up and spins you around, perhaps out of a desire to remind you how strong he is—but mostly to be romantic.

It’s otherworldly, really. Dancing with the man you’re in love with against the starry, purple October sky. It’s the kind of scene you’d write for the characters in your screenplays, the kind you'd only dare fantasize about for yourself.

Maybe, you consider, all of those Disney Princess movies were right. Seeing as how my work is going to be on the silver screen, and how I’m recreating a scene from La Land with Park Jimin at the moment . . . maybe dreams really do come true.

Maybe all of those years I spent hoping that they would were not in vain.

The moment ends: the sun dips beyond the horizon, and the clock says it’s time to head to LAX. You hop back in the Prius, but linger there for a moment, resting in Jimin’s arms until the last ray of sunlight disappears into smooth darkness.

“I love you, Y/N,” he whispers whimsically.

You all but fall into a trance as you say it back.

“We have to go,” you shift the car into gear. You expect him to whine a little at your practicality, but he stays silent.

You hit an unexpected stretch of traffic south of Santa Monica Boulevard.

“I’ve never been so happy to see gridlock on the 405,” you laugh, breaking the silence between you.

His thumb caresses your hand—the one that’s been entwined with his for nearly the entire day. He looks up at the sky thoughtfully.

“What I would give to not have to get on this plane,” he mutters.

“I know,” you sigh. “But you do, and you will.”

“What if you meet some other guy? What if you forget all about me?”

You stare at him in awe. “Jimin, have you seen yourself?” You motion up and down. “Do you think I’ll ever forget all that?” You laugh, hoping a little flirtation will cheer him up.

But the smile it spurs fades fast. “Today was just . . . the perfect day,” he sighs.

“I know. Totally not a waste of a lovely night,” you smile at your La La Land reference.

He raises your hand to his lips. “Absolutely not.”

The drop off lane of LAX is as empty as you’ve ever seen it. A yawn escapes your lips as you glance at the clock—11 p.m., it reads. Three hours until departure: right on time. You find yourself yearning for your bed—it’s been a long day—and hoping that recent events won’t prevent you from getting some sleep tonight.

Jimin had quickly changed into some comfortable sweats in your backseat once you grew closer to the airport—that yellow suit would have attracted way too much attention—but he looks just as handsome to you as ever as he lifts his carry on from the trunk, tears gathering in his eyes.

“Don’t cry, Jimin! Be a strong man! Aigoo!” He fusses at himself.

You wipe a falling tear from his puffy cheek. “You are strong, Jiminie. You are amazing. You can do this. You’re going to walk in that door, get on your plane, and hug all six of the boys super tightly for me, okay? And you’ll text me right before you take off, and right when you land, so that I know you got home safely, okay?”

He nods, wrapping his arms around you in a passionate embrace, disregarding the blinding headlights and honks from the cars around you. The world melts away as he kisses you goodbye.

And it turns upside down when he walks out of your sight.

[ohparkers]

a good day

pairing: peter parker x reader

word count: 3.9k (holy crap)

summary: a day spent at the boardwalk paired with feelings coming to the surface is certainly an interesting combination 

gif credit: @parkerpete

(you thought i was never going to post a fic again? well, you’re wrong. NEVER judge a book by its cover!!!!)

You sit at your kitchen table, the spoonful of cereal only making it halfway to your mouth before your phone buzzes from beside you. The utensil clatters as you hastily drop it back into the glass bowl, causing milk to splash up around you. Grimacing, you press the home button, and the screen lights up. Peter’s contact picture displays on the screen, a stupid selfie he’d taken (one of the many) when you’d left your phone with him one night. It’s a facetime call, and you chuckle briefly at the fact that he took the time to call you like this instead of just texting, but you answer it anyway.

Peter’s face appears on your screen, grainy and pixelated but still clearly giddy with excitement. His cheeks are rosy, the light red hue making his faint freckles pop, and he’s sporting a wide grin. You raise one eyebrow at the camera, moving it so your bowl of cereal is now in view, and open your mouth to speak, but are cut off. “Come down, (Nickname), we’re here!” He pans the camera over to May in the driver’s seat, her waving at the camera, before turning it back to him. “Let’s go, we have no time to waste.” Peter’s voice is higher in pitch than normal, probably from how obviously excited he is, and you don’t even get the chance to respond before he hangs up on you. The phone beeps three times, his picture disappearing from the screen, and you roll your eyes before moving to put your breakfast in the sink. Your parental figure(s) have already left for work for the day, leaving you to lock up after leaving the apartment.

Tucking a stray strand of hair behind your ear, you grab your backpack full of boardwalk-day essentials before heading out the door. It shuts behind you with a loud bang, and after locking both the top and bottom locks, you head down the narrow hallway to the elevator.

On any other day, it would have been a struggle just simply getting out of bed at a reasonable hour on a Saturday morning, but not today. The energy you’d had when you first sprung out of bed with your first alarm somehow managed to stay with you all morning until now. It was probably a combination of exhilaration for the day out you and the two Parkers had planned ahead of you and just simply the fact that you would be with Peter. Somehow, someway, after all the years of knowing him, that boy never failed to make every moment when you were together nothing short of worthwhile.

Adjusting the straps of the worn-down bag you sported on your right shoulder, by the time you’d gotten off of the elevator in the lobby of your apartment building your excitement had almost multiplied. The butterflies inhabiting your stomach fluttered at a speed so fast it spread the feeling through your whole body, and as you walked out of the building into the early summer sun, you practically had to refrain yourself from jumping up and down with delight.

May’s beamer wasn’t hard to spot, the light blue color reflecting the sun’s rays and causing you to place one hand over your eyes and squint. Though she was parked some way down the street, you could see clear as day as Peter got out of the passenger seat and moved into the back. This was normal for you two. Ever since you both met the state requirements for sitting up front, you’d made an agreement that when you were together, you’d always opt to share the back instead. Even as you both grew older and entered high school the agreement remained, and neither of you had ever thought much of it, but May sure had. Unbeknownst to you, some days after she would drop you off at your building, she’d give her nephew side glances as you walked away. He always insists that you were just best friends. She knows better.

Making your way over to the car, you hoist your backpack further up on your shoulder. When your feet carry you the whole way to the door, you reach down to pull the handle open but jump back in surprise when it flies open from the inside. “Seriously, Pete?” You chuckle, bending down to sit down next to the boy who’s now grinning madly at you. “You’re a dork.” Shaking your head and clicking your seatbelt, May laughs from the driver’s seat as she starts to drive. Peter just looks over at you, excitement bubbling over him, making his cheeks rosy and eyes bright. He loves it when you call him that. If it was anyone else he probably would have been annoyed, but not with you. Never with you.

“Come on Eileen” by Dexys Midnight Runners is playing through the car speakers, they crackle every couple of seconds but the song sounds as magical as always. May drums along to the beat on the steering wheel, her brunette ponytail flying around as she dances in her seat. From next to you, Peter is swinging his head from side to side, doing as much dancing as possible within the confines of his seatbelt. His hair isn't gelled today, resulting in the brown curls coming down and bouncing over his forehead rhythmically. He stops every couple of seconds to push them out of his eyes, hands that were previously patting his kneecaps to the beat coming up to push the hair away.

It’s not a coincidence that every time he does this, Peter angles his head over towards you slightly, peeking at your dancing figure through his hands. You're so lost in the music, your whole torso gives away to the familiar harmonizer of the classic song that you've danced around your kitchen to a countless number of times. Peter watches through eyes glossed over with sheer joy as you bounce around. These are the moments, whether it's subconsciously or not, that he finds himself falling in love with every little thing you do, every moment, every laugh, every grin. Peter has seen you in this state on numerous occasions, and each time the sight of you simply being yourself sends his head swimming. He's in deep and enjoying every minuscule second of it.

The bridge of the song approaches, and you finally open your eyes, momentarily snapped out of your daze by the absence of the tune. Cheeks flushed, you turn to look over at the boy in the seat adjacent to yours. He's already looking. Your cheeks flush even harder now, partly embarrassed that he probably just watched that whole ordeal even after so many years spent together, but that emotion diminishes when Peter reaches across the seat and grabs your hand in his. It’s confident, the way his palm so perfectly fits in yours, and he meets your gaze once more before turning back to face the window. As the melody starts back up, you swear you hear him faintly singing along under his breath.

The silence of the car is a comfortable one, and from the front seat, May pretends like she doesn't notice the fact that you two are now holding hands. She tries her very best to hide her smile, though, as she remembers all of the countless nights where she has sat with her nephew and had to repeatedly tell him that it was okay for his feelings towards you to change as he began to grow older. Peter used to be embarrassed by the fact that you started to make his words come out a jumbled mess and every time you came over to his house all he seemed to want to do was be as close to you as humanly possible. By now, he's too far down that path to even question it anymore. He's too far fallen, too far down, too much in love with the girl he's known since they were mere third graders on the school playground.

When the car pulls into the crowded parking lot of the famed amusement park, you and Peter still have your hands intertwined. The music playing from the radio has the volume decreased since now May has to pay for a parking pass and talk to the people working at the booth. It doesn't take long for the car to maneuver its way into a white lined space, and when it comes to a stop, May turns around in her seat and gives you two a glance. “Well, we’re here.” She says, allowing her eyes to briefly fall upon you and Peter’s hands.

You both jump apart, nervous chuckles eliciting from both of your mouths. May just rolls her eyes as she grabs her bag from the passenger seat, and you and Peter exchange looks before clambering out of the car.

The walk up to the boardwalk is sort of a hike, but the boy who has fallen into step beside you makes it bearable. With nervous hands brushing against each others’ more often than normal and hearts thumping loudly in both of your chests, the two of you make your way up to the ticket booth, trailing behind May, who’s chosen to pretend like she doesn’t notice what’s going on ways behind her.

As May talks to the person working at the booth, you rock back and forth on your heels, sandals squeaking against the worn boardwalk beneath your feet. Reaching up to adjust the strap of your bag on your shoulder, you take the opportunity to look over at Peter from next to you. He’s pulled out his phone and is mindlessly scrolling on it, his face downturned and other free hand tucked into the pocket of his shorts. The light gray t-shirt he’s wearing bunches around his arms when they move and your mind subconsciously starts to grow hazy, clouding over at how he makes this look so effortless.  

Your eyes travel upwards, focusing on the curve of his nose (it had always been a little off center - it only made him more endearing) and the clusters of freckles that dot over it. Peter was never one to appreciate his freckles, if anything most days they annoyed the crap out of him, but you never understood why. They look like constellations on his face - they are constellations. He is a constellation.

Peter reaches his hand up to brush the stray strand of hair out of his eyes, and you’re snapped out of your momentary daze. His caramel curls are smoothed down by his calloused palm before his hand returns back to his pocket and you let yourself begin to stare again. You’re in the middle of trying not to stare deep into his tawny brown eyes, nearly failing at your goal, when May’s voice rings out from in front of you.

“Let’s get the show on the road, kids,” She smiles, pushing up her glasses onto the bridge of her nose before motioning with her hand for you and Peter to walk after her, “I know what you’re thinking. I won’t hang around you guys the whole day, don’t get too worried. I’m going to go do my own thing, alright? Just, Peter, text me if you guys get totally exhausted or something. Okay?”

Peter gulps, running his hands down his shorts in an attempt to stop them from becoming so clammy. “Okay, got it. Love you, May.”

“Yeah, thanks so much May! Love you too!” You chorus, earning another beaming smile from the brunette woman before she turned on her heel and headed towards the beach entrance, her overly floppy sunhat bouncing with every step.

Somehow, even though it’s barely been much time since you all arrived at the boardwalk, the sun has grown significantly warmer already. You reach a hand up to tighten your ponytail before stopping to think for a moment. Teeth digging into your bottom lip, before your mind can tell you to do otherwise, you’re grabbing onto Peter’s wrist and beginning to walk over to the various games lining the outer pathway. He’s a little surprised but more so grateful, and after not that many steps he gathers up enough confidence to slip his hand snugly into yours.

It was going to be a good day.

Four games of air hockey (all consisting of you totally kicking Parker’s spidey ass), one wild chase down the length of the boardwalk (he’d stolen all of your arcade tickets and had tried to make it so you wouldn’t notice… you totally did), and a too high amount of soft serve ice cream cones later, you and Peter decide to head over to the main carnival rides.

The sun is setting, and as you walk breathlessly over to the entrance to the attractions, the sky above you is painted orange and yellow. It almost looks like a painting, and it just makes the whole day’s experience that much better.

It sure doesn’t feel like the whole day has passed by, but it has. Time truly does fly when you’re having fun, as cheesy as it sounds, it’s one hundred percent true. The worker at the gate checks your wristbands before letting you both enter. By now, your arm has found its way to be linked around Peter’s. As much as you both wanted to hold hands, the culmination of an entire day spent running around in the sun typically doesn’t make for ideal conditions for you to be holding hands. So this was an alternative - you were still close. You had been close the whole day, but your heart never seemed to stop stuttering in your ribcage despite the fact.

Suppressing a giggle as your eyes scan the large span of rides and land on one, in particular, you tighten your arm around Peter’s and drag him over to one of the lines. He looks confused, but he follows in your footsteps like a lost puppy regardless. In fact, he’s so distracted by the way your face is flushed with sunlight and happiness and the way your arm feels like it’s igniting a fire around his that Peter doesn’t even realize where you’ve taken him until it’s too late.

Brown eyes widening from beside you, he reluctantly pulls away from your grasp. “Y/N, I am not going on the freaking teacups ride.”

You can’t help but burst out into laughter at the look of sheer horror on his face. “Um, hell yeah you are, dude. C’mon, don’t be lame, Parker.” You wiggle your eyebrows, not even giving the person working the ride as much as a glance (if you had, you would’ve seen them looking at you guys like you were totally bizarre - not that you would’ve cared) before pulling Peter behind you.

Still laughing, you bend down to fit inside the compartment, patting the spot next to you for him to sit down. The curly haired boy just rolls his eyes, although you can tell he’s holding in the laughter of his own and plops down next to you. “I can’t believe you’re making me do this.” He shakes his head, finally letting chuckles fall past his lips, and you just grin.

“We both know you’re loving every minute of this.”

“Yeah, you know, maybe you’re right.”

After multiple rides on the Tilt-A-Whirl and what was probably one too many turns on the Zipper, the sun has nearly set all of the way. You’re both tired, but before you call May to come get you guys, there’s one more ride you’ve been wanting to save for last.

The line for the Ferris wheel is relatively short, considering the time of year, but you figure it’s probably because most people have already gone home. You’ve barely been waiting for five minutes before the two of you are sitting down in a red painted cart, squeezing into the small space, resulting in the body contact being slightly more than usual.

When the cart you two are pressed together in with your legs touching reaches the top of the wheel, putting basically the whole park into your view, you spend a moment taking in the view with rosy, winded cheeks and hair flying all over the place. You let your eyes train over all of the rides below you, then soon rest on the ocean in the distance. It’s a picture that you hope your mind never forgets just because of how sheer beautiful it is.

Turning back to the boy sitting next to you, the wind sends your already messy hair tumbling all over your face even more. The sight makes Peter break into a fit of giggles, the corners of his warm eyes crinkling as well as his nose. He’s laughing your favorite laugh of his. There’s a sense of vulnerability to it, in the way he lets himself loose and momentarily doesn’t even care that his face has most likely turned a shade of red. You've been seeing Peter in this more and more lately, especially ever since he told you about his secret.

He stops laughing after a couple of seconds, opening his eyes and looking back over at you. You’re frowning, but you’re not being serious. Peter can tell because of the way your teeth are digging into your bottom lip as you try to suppress giggles of your own.

You two have been so utterly lost in the moment that you don’t even realize the cart has stopped entirely. The only reason you take notice of it now is that not only does the cart stop, so does time.

Before the wave of confidence leaves him, Peter leans all the bit closer to you, lifting a hand to gently fix your messy hair. His hand shakes as he’s tucking the loose strands back behind your ear. You’re looking at him with brows raised slightly, eyes open and glossy from the altitude, and you internally hope that Peter couldn’t feel how much your whole face was burning from his small action.

Time is frozen, so completely frozen your breath nearly catches in your throat.

His hand, still shaking with a million different emotions pulsating through it at the same time, stays on your face. You’ve patched him up after rough Spidey fights plenty of times before this, so the sort-of intimate action wasn’t unfamiliar to you two, but now it’s different. It’s just different, and you both know it, even though no words are spoken.

You know it now, and you still know it as you both lean in, and you still know it when Peter just can’t take it anymore and he pushes his lips on top of yours. His other hand comes up to rest on the opposite side of your face, gentle as ever, so gently as if you’re made of glass and could shatter with just his touch. He tastes like the chocolate ice cream from just earlier, and once the shock goes away, you allow your hands to travel up and hold onto Peter’s wrists. The kiss is short and sweet, but it still manages to take your breath away, partly because of the euphoria and partly because the metal cart you’re sitting in lurches into motion as soon as you two separate.

Peter opens his eyes, face subsequently flushed and eyes shining in the lights from the boardwalk rides. You’ve never seen him smile so wide, and he’s looking at you like you’re the whole universe, like you’re his whole universe, and you practically feel your heart soar.

Even from such a tall height, and even over the creaking of the rusty Ferris wheel carts, the sound of music playing from one of the prize games is audible. You both realize it at the same time.

The song playing is none other than “Come on Eileen”.

You and Peter make eye contact again, infectious grins painting their way onto both of your faces at the familiar melody, before Peter wraps his arm around your waist, pulling you closer to him, so close that your kneecaps are smushed together. There’s a newfound comfortability between you now, one that allows you both to keep smiling those dorky smiles at each other even as you lean in again, up until the very last second before your lips reconnect for the second time that night.

It’s late now, so late that the once illuminated carnival rides lining the boardwalk have now been shut down for the night and replaced by a comfortable darkness. Under any other circumstance, you would be at least slightly afraid of the dark, but not now. Not now, because as you walk alongside Peter, May a few steps ahead of you two, your arms brush against each other rhythmically every couple of feet, and you’re with him. You’re with him, and despite being totally drained from a day of running around and goofing off, you still feel as awake, as alive, as ever. There’s sand in your shoes that crunches as you walk, something that would normally annoy you severely, but you pay no mind because Peter is next to you and he’s doubling over in laughter at something stupid you’d just said and you’re with him and everything is perfect.

The three of you reach May’s car, her climbing into the driver’s seat and not being surprised when neither you nor her nephew calls shotgun. It doesn’t take long for the combination of the exhaustion from such a long day and the serenity of the quiet car to send you to sleep. You’ve ridden in May’s old beamer too many times to count by now, so you already know how to lay to be the most comfortable. Twisting the seatbelt around so it doesn’t totally suffocate you, you casually move so you’re more spread out across the seat. Peter sits to your left, eyes trained to outside the window, arm propped up against the doorframe and holding his chin up.

You admire him for a moment, a contented smile painted onto your lips, before letting out a breath and settling into the corner of the seat. Your eyes have almost drifted completely closed when, as if he could sense it, Peter turns his head to look at you. The moon illuminates his soft features as he smiles, really smiles, and his eyes crinkle like they did when you were on top of the Ferris wheel. A sleepy, happy, lovesick grin inhabits your face in response.

Reaching your hand across the seat, with Peter quickly noticing and doing the same, once again that night your palm is encompassed by his. It’s everything and nothing and so many words unspoken in such a small action, and you squeeze tightly before closing your eyes.

It had been a good day.

TAGS: @nedslaptop @buckysmaingirl @friendly-neighborhood-spideyman @curly-haired-crisp @whosdude @harrysbbby @kaliforniacoastalteens @killaren @mrsmusicaddict @mindfullyeah @newtsscamxnders @trickyholland @harrysfetuscurls @i-cannot-believe- @lilyannez @aevngurs @stephie-senpai @underoosqueen @jvghead-jones-iii @andreagracing @twentychemicalpanics @maria-francis @wannabenice @scottmccallmeup @aussie-mantle @scm435 @makaylahoran 

[wigglywormy]

the challenge [kirishima/bakugou]

ok this was inspired by @ticklishraspberries becuz she made a post about watching a bunch of ‘tickle challenges’ on youtube and so i went and watched a bunch too and i just. i had to write a fic lmao

~1.8k

--

Kirishima sets the lighting up, his tongue poking out of the side of his mouth in concentration as he angles it just so, right over the expanse of the queen size bed behind him.

“Don’t you usually film your stupid videos over by the window in the kitchen?” Bakugou asks, crossing his arms where he stands as he watches Kirishima work. “You know, ‘natural lighting’ or whatever the fuck?”

“Katsuki!” Krishima exclaims, clutching his heart. “You actually do listen to me sometimes!”

“Hardly ever,” Bakugou grunts, tapping his foot on the ground as Kirishima sets up the camera. “You never did tell me what the fuck you’re filming that you need my help with, anyways.”

“It’s a surprise,” Kirishima says, switching the camera on and flipping the screen so he can see himself. He adjusts the angle a bit, clicking a few buttons and adjusting the lens to focus. He spent three entire paychecks on this damn thing, but it’s nice as hell and even Kirishima’s view count has risen exponentially because of the upped quality of his videos. It’s amazing what a high quality video can do to his channel, really.

“I hate surprises,” Bakugou grunts.

Kirishima rolls his eyes. “C’mon, you like being in my videos!”

“I really don’t.”

“Okay, well my subscribers like when you’re in my videos. I always get more views if you’re in the thumbnail.”

“Oh, I see, so you’re just using me for views, huh?” Bakugou says, but there’s a teasing lilt to his voice that has Kirishima grinning and ruffling his hair.

“Aw, babe, that’s not true! Now c’mon, sit down I’m almost done with the camera.”

Bakugou attempts to fix his mussed up hair as he plops onto the edge of the queen bed, and soon Kirishima is hitting the record button and seating himself down right next to Bakugou, their thighs pressed together as he gets them both centered in the frame.

“Hey guys, what’s up!” He says to the lens, grinning wide and throwing an arm around Bakugou’s shoulders. “Welcome back to my channel! As you can see, I have a very special guest for today’s video.”

Bakugou glares at the lens, but his cheeks color just slightly when Kirishima messily kisses his temple.

“And today,” Kirishima says, tightening his grip on Bakugou’s shoulder as he anticipates his next phrasing, “We’re gonna do the tickle challenge!”

Bakugou stiffens and he blinks, slowly, before squirming and attempting to stand up and escape Kirishima’s grip. “Like fuckin’ hell we are, Shitty-hair!”

“Katsuki, c’mon!” Kirishima laughs, tugging Bakugou back and tucking him into his side, sliding an arm around his waist as Bakugou struggles and tries to shove him away. “It’ll be fun!”

“I never agreed to this, you fucker!”

“What, are you scared you’ll lose?” Kirishima taunts, because he knows just how to get under Bakugou’s skin and make him stay put. Bakugou can never say no to a challenge, because his superiority complex would have a goddamned meltdown. Kirishima knows exactly how to rile him up in the best way.

And as predicted, low-and-behold, Bakugou stiffens and glares at Kirishima, pausing his struggling as he clenches his hands into fists. “Like hell I’ll lose to you, dumbass.”

Kirishima squeezes Bakugou closer and grins, turning his gaze back to the camera. “Sweet, let’s do this! Oh, also, thanks to ‘kirikirishimaaa94’ for the suggestion!”

“What the fuck,” Bakugou deadpans. “That’s your username.””

“Yea, I know,” Kirishima says proudly. “I suggested it. To myself. Cause I wanted to make this video so badly and show my fans how cute you can be.”

“Don’t... call me cute,” Bakugou grumbles, but he ducks his head slightly and the usual bite is lacking from his voice. “How the fuck does this stupid challenge work, anyways?”

“So, we’ll take turns tickling each other, and whoever can last the longest without saying ‘stop’ wins.”

Bakugou swallows. “This is fuckin’ rigged. You like being t - ”

“Okay, how about you go first, since you're my guest on the channel!” Kirishima interrupts, a pink tint to his cheeks as he cuts off Bakugou’s sentence with a grin. Bakugou rolls his eyes fondly, shuffling backand lying on the bed with his arms crossed over his chest.

“Whatever. Do your worst.”

Kirishima shoots the camera a sly look before settling himself in between Bakugou’s legs, resting his hands lightly on his hips. “C’mon, it’s a challenge. Put your arms behind your head for me?”

Bakugou pauses, contemplating the consequences of that particular action, but eventually he sighs tightly and begrudgingly raises his arms up, folding them behind his head and resting back on them. The movement causes his fitted black tank top to hitch up a bit, revealing a strip of skin that shows off sharp hipbones and the soft blonde hair of his happy trail.

Kirishima swallows and has to remind himself that he’s on camera lest he pop a damn boner.

Now, Kirishima has tickled Bakugou enough that he knows the exact technique to get him begging in twenty seconds flat. The key is to start slow, and make him use up most of his energy trying to contain his own voice and squirming. And then, once he’s sufficiently wore out, that’s when Kirishima will hone in on his worst spots while he’s void of energy and can’t fight back anymore.

It’s a foolproof plan, and Kirishima smiles as he sets the timer on his phone before setting it aside.

“Alright, babe,” he says, just to see Bakugou angrily flush at the nickname. “As soon as you say stop, the timer stops too.”

“I know, just… fuckin’ get on with it - shit!”

Bakugou gasps and shivers when Kirishima scratches his nails from his exposed hips, up the curve of his waist, and over his ribs. He’s being gentle, just fluttering his fingertips slightly, but Bakugou’s breathing sharply through his nose and his eyes are already squinted shut. It’s cute, and Kirishima is blessed to know just how sensitive his boyfriend really is. It’s a secret he keeps to himself, because he doesn’t want anyone else to see this side of Bakugou.

Well, no one except for his five hundred thousand subscribers on YouTube after he posts this video. But still.

Bakugou’s hands have fisted his own hair, trying to ground himself, and when Kirishima gently digs his thumbs right above Bakugou’s top rib, the blonde snorts and darts his hands down, trying to shove Kirishima’s hands away from the hypersensitive spot.

Kirishima never said anything about not fighting back, so he lets it slide. Besides, Bakugou kind of loses all of his fighting ability anyways when he’s being tickled. He goes into a kind of fight or flight mode, which usually just involves endless squirming and batting hands because Bakugou can’t ever think straight when he’s being tickled.

“Hm, does it tickle too much?” Kirishima teases, leaning down and smiling wide.

“F-fuhuhuck you!” Bakugou manages, his heels sliding against the comforter as he kicks his legs out unconsciously. “Don’t t-tease me!”

“Aw, why not?” Kirishima coos, shooting the camera another smirk before turning his attention back to Bakugou. “When I tease you, you get more ticklish, right?”

“I d-don’t - f-fuck, this isn’t f-fahahair, you motherfuckin’ - piece of  sh- no - !”

Kirishima has firmed his touches now, fitting his fingers into the grooves of Bakugou’s ribs through his thin tank top, and he’s pressing in relentlessly now. Bakugou tosses his head back and finally bursts into laughter, bright and raspy and perfect as always. He has a few faint freckles sprinkled across his pale cheek bones, but his current flushed state has covered them nearly completely, especially as the blush travels down to his neck when he starts to giggle harder.

“See?” Kirishima says, staring at Bakugou but talking to the camera. “I told you guys he could smile!”

Bakugou growls, but it’s not very intimidating around his laughter. Kirishima decides to finally go in for the kill, and he grabs one of Bakugou’s wrists and pins it high above his head, stretching his torso out completely and making his tank bunch even higher up, exposing his heaving belly, and Bakugou’s eyes widen comically when Kirishima holds his free hand up, fingers poised, right above Bakugou’s stomach.

“No - Kiri - Eijirou, not the fuckin’ stupid piece of shit claw you - ”

“Shh,” Kirishima coos, stretching Bakugou’s arm higher before finally descending his hand, fingers curved as they claw at the bare skin of Bakugou’s stomach. He vibrates his hand in the way he knows really affects the blonde, and sure enough, Bakugou tosses his head back and absolutely writhes, arching his back and weakly shoving at Kirishima’s chest with his free hand. His laughter is broken and uneven, and incredibly endearing, really. Kirishima could listen to Bakugou’s desperate little laughs for hours, honestly.

“Fu - fuck, okay, okayokay, shihihit I can’t - ” Bakugou gasps, tears leaking out of the corners of his eyes as electric ticklish sensations spark through his body and around his navel. “Okay, stop! Fucking st-stop - ”

Kirishima releases him and reaches over for the timer, pressing stop and grinning at the time. “Wow, a whopping four minutes, Katsuki!”

“Fuck…. you….” Bakugou pants, his chest heaving as he tries to catch his breath. He rubs at his stomach, trying to dispel the tingly lingering feeling, and he jumps when Kirishima darts down, gripping his chin to place an eager little kiss against the corner of his mouth.

“So cute,” he sighs, brushing his nose along Bakugou’s jawline before pulling back and resetting the time. “Okay, anyways, so - ”

He doesn’t have time to finish his sentence, because the next thing he knows, he’s being flipped onto his back, Bakugou looming above him. His face is still a little flushed, and his hair is even more of a mess than usual. Kirishima has a few brief seconds to admire him before he’s jumping at the light, fluttering touch of fingers along his neck.

“Your turn now,” Bakugou says, fingers immediately burying themselves underneath Kirishima’s arms.

Kirishima clamps his elbows to his sides, trapping Bakugou’s hands as he squeals. “No - wait, wait! The t-timer! You gotta - ah ahahaha K-Katsuki, nooooooo!”

Loud, bright laughter echoes through the room, and Bakugou is at just the right angle that the camera can catch his fond, endeared smile while he tickles the shit out of his boyfriend.

Later, as Kirishima’s editing the video (he lasted an impressive seven minutes, thank you very much, and he would’ve lasted even longer if Bakugou didn’t cheat like a dirty cheater and use his mouth to tickle Kirishima’s neck) he’ll admit that the torture was definitely worth finally capturing on video that soft expression on Bakugou’s face aimed just for him.

He’s going to get so many views on this.

[renee-walker]

fic: forget your perfect offering

I wanted Carol to wear a pretty dress (this is the one I was thinking of, in case anyone’s interested), and then this happened. If you’re expecting any sort of plot or wildness like that, please don’t even click the read more, because you’ll be so disappointed as it’s pretty much allllll smush (with a tiny bit of angst). Idk, apparently I just have ~7k worth of random feelings about them is all.

The title is from Leonard Cohen’s ‘Anthem,’ which is one of my favorite songs in this universe.

*********************************************************

She tries to escape the dance by volunteering to take three consecutive shifts on watch that night.

"You've been pulling at least twice your share for three weeks now." Rosita, arms folded across her sweaty green tank top, snaps a tiny bubble in her disturbingly neon orange gum and stares knives at Carol. "And I'd rather fuck a snake right now than put on some shitty dress and pretend to smile until my face cracks, so you're not stealing my shift."

Aaron's less abrasive but equally stubborn. "Eric and I already figured it all out. I work first shift so he can tend bar and then it's date night. We haven't danced to actual music in years." She doesn't miss the nostalgic expression that flashes over his features and vanishes all too quickly. He pauses, blue eyes darting to different locations on her face as if he's scared that meeting her gaze directly might result in scary consequences. "Besides, I think everyone's-" He stops, words floating like bubbles in the cinnamon-and-clove-scented air of the kitchen. "Everyone's missed you."

Her stomach twists, so many emotions colliding that she imagines she can hear their crunch on impact. But she sets her jaw firmly, determined to keep everything light. Anything else and the cracks might widen and she's not ready to-

Raising a skeptical eyebrow, she stabs a fork into the steaming piece of apple pie on the plate in front of her and shrugs. "I'm almost sure I'm gonna get the flu that night." Throwing him a highly determined look, she blows on the bite of pie not so much because she wants to eat it but because it gives her something to do.

Aaron sighs, and his shoulders drop with a touch of defeat. "Well I wish you wouldn't 'get the flu,'" he says, mocking her with air quotes. "And I'm sure-" He grabs the knife and slices his own piece of pie, swearing and sticking his index finger in his mouth when he burns it while trying to make the transfer to his plate. "I'm sure everyone else does, too."

He leaves her standing in the middle of the quiet kitchen, her only company a crushing sense of panic and a cooling piece of the pie she spent two hours making but no longer wants.

_________________________

She's not even sure whose goddamn idea the dance was.

Probably Tara's.

Or Aaron's.

Even Jesus's, if he was in one of his festive moods.

But ever since they miraculously managed to drive the Saviors away, everyone's been simmering with a dangerous, tantalizing buzz of hope. And somehow, tomorrow night's dance has become the tangible symbol of defiance.

She just wants to spend the night in the watchtower.

Stars, birds, soft wind, night sky, and the cool, comforting bite of her rifle's chill metal under the pads of her fingers.

_________________________

Carol's barely shut the door of her room behind her when a soft knock makes her jump.

Go the hell away, she thinks.

"Come in," she says.

The knob turns and Michonne sticks her head in. "Bad time? I can come back if you're busy."

Carol shakes her head, probably too quickly to be convincing. "It's fine. Do you need me for something?"

Michonne walks all the way into the room and shuts the door behind her, turning to reveal one of the most beautiful dresses Carol's ever seen draped over her arm.

It's a rich, deep burgundy. Floor length. Lace over satin. Cap sleeves and a neckline designed to show off collarbones and . . . whatever else.

"Is that what you're wearing?" Carol closes her hand into a ball to keep from reaching out and touching the fabric, although she's relieved to realize that at least this time her smile feels genuine.

But the sly smirk that transforms Michonne's face instantly erases Carol's half second of ease. "You wish." Michonne walks over and holds the dress level with Carol's shoulders, leaning back to give herself a better view. "Damn, that man has you memorized," she mutters under her breath before carefully stretching the dress across Carol's bed, smoothing the fabric to avoid wrinkles. "It's what you're wearing," she announces dramatically. "And you're gonna look so perfect I'll probably be pissed."

"Listen, I don't know what-"

Michonne silences her with an outstretched hand. "Look, I can't make you put this on and come to the party. But ever since you-" She trails off, rubbing at some dirt on the edge of her arm before she looks back up at Carol. "It would be great to have you there with us to celebrate." She shrugs and then reaches out, her fingers gently squeezing Carol's forearm. "You're one of the reasons we're even alive to do this, and everybody knows that. So promise me you'll at least think about it?"

Carol hesitates, pressing her fingernails into her palm.

Michonne turns toward the door, stopping when her hand closes over the knob. "Enid even asked if she could do your makeup. And Carl's so happy you're back."

Damn, you're good, Carol thinks, her insides spinning like a washing machine on the high-speed cycle.

"I'll think about it," she mutters, glancing again at the dress's vibrant sheen.

"Good."

"Michonne?"

She stops halfway through the door and looks back. "Yeah?"

"Where'd this dress come from?"

Michonne grins, her eyes lit up with some kind of mischief that makes Carol even more uncomfortable. "Daryl brought it back from a run a few days ago. He said he was trying to make sure everyone who wanted to go had something to wear, but strangely enough, you're the only woman in these walls with the right proportions to fit that dress." She lifts a nonchalant shoulder, each word and gesture steeped in sass. "Probably coincidence though."

The door clicks shut before Carol has a chance to respond.

She reaches for the dress, smoothing the satin between her thumb and forefinger.

Irresistibly drawn to the softness.

_________________________

When Carol was in seventh grade, four days before the very first middle school dance, Bobby Davidson stopped by her locker after eighth period and -- with bright red cheeks and feet that couldn't settle for even a second -- asked her if she wanted to go with him.

She and her best friend Katie McKinnon (her full name was Kathleen but she hated it) had both had a crush on Bobby since he moved into their district halfway through fourth grade. Once she'd blushed four hundred shades of pink, nodded shyly, and watched him walk toward the front entrance with a new bounce in his stride, the first thing Carol thought was that Katie would most likely kill her.

But that whole problem was solved five minutes later, when Katie careened around the corner from the band room, practically skidded to a halt in front of their lockers, and announced with what seemed to be the last breath she had left in her, "Oh my god, Carol. Parker Thompson just asked me to go to the dance with him."

(Parker Thompson was only the most popular boy in middle school. He never wore jeans, only those creased khaki pants with the tailored cuffs. He was captain of the basketball team and his dad drove a white Mercedes that remained mysteriously clean, regardless of the weather. His grades would have put him at the top of their class if Carol hadn't already occupied that spot by a comfortable margin.

He didn't like her very much, but apparently that hadn't discouraged him from liking her best friend.)

And just like that, there was nothing to worry about except what to wear and how to fix her hair.

_________________________

Katie almost hyperventilated in Carol's bathroom while they were finishing each other's makeup. Carol dropped the tube of fuchsia lipstick on the counter and pushed her friend's head between her knees. "Breathe slowly, okay?"

It took a few minutes and some distraction from ABBA, but before long Katie was dusting peach-colored blush over her cheeks and kissing a white square of toilet paper to blot her lipstick. "How did you even get my hair to look this perfect?" she asked Carol, her dark blond curls shiny in the bright bathroom light.

Carol grinned, grabbing Katie's hand. "Come on, they're waiting!"

Bobby Davidson bought her a white lily wrist corsage that looked perfect against the deep blue taffeta dress she'd spent six months of babysitting money on.

Skinny and awkward, they slow danced to Elvis and Otis Redding, knees and elbows jutting everywhere.

Bobby talked a lot about cars and basketball, and Carol listened eagerly, not so much because she was fascinated by his choice of subject material but because she was so grateful not to have to come up with topics herself.

They drank bright red Hawaiian Punch that was much too sweet and made Carol feel lightheaded and almost sick.

After the dance and a quick reshuffling to spread chairs on the gym floor, Principal Adamson put on Casablanca.

When Ilsa said, "Kiss me as if it were the last time," Bobby pulled Carol's sweaty hand into his lap and laced his fingers with hers.

She stared at the screen with glistening eyes and a slamming heart, convinced that nothing on earth would ever make her feel so important again.

But that was another lifetime.

Back when hope wasn't roughly synonymous with poison.

Back when she still believed there was magic left in the world.

_________________________

Sophia never went to a dance.

She never frowned at herself in the mirror, trying to blot her lipstick just right or pluck her eyebrows or figure out how much to curl her hair.

She never held up dress after dress, finding some tiny flaw in each one until she dropped dramatically onto the bed, too overwhelmed with her choices to make a decision.

She never paced the length of her own room in precariously high heels, trying to master the art of balance before the big night.

She never lifted her chin for her first kiss, Cherry Coke and bubble gum chapstick and the rush of endless possibility.

Carol wishes she could think of anything else as she squeezes her sheet into her fists and rearranges her body in bed for what has to be the fifteenth time.

But she'll never know what it would have been like, kissing her baby goodbye and watching her disappear in a swirl of perfume and laughter.

One more question mark she'll never erase.

In the empty darkness she buries her face in her pillow and desperately hopes heaven exists, even if she might not make it.

_________________________

The next morning she wakes up before the sky is even light.

She wiggles around for a few minutes before giving up and staring at the ceiling, counting the minutes before she can reasonably go downstairs and find a way to distract herself from the inevitable.

The dress is draped over the back of the chair by her bed, taunting her with a slight shine from the hall light.

She shuts her eyes and turns away, curling her body into the cool softness of her pillow.

And the thing is, she's glad to be back. She is.

But nothing's natural. Not yet.

She still halts conversations just by walking into a room.

People she doesn't even know give her curious, sympathetic looks when she passes them on her way to take watch.

(She wonders what Rick and Tobin told them about her abrupt departure, but she doesn't care enough to ask.)

Daryl's the only person she doesn't seem to make uncomfortable just by breathing.

_________________________

She isn't sure exactly how it happened, but the two of them have fallen into the habit of taking a walk together after dinner.

The first night they all eat together, she ducks out just so she can breathe, so the walls stop moving closer. And a second later she can feel him beside her, the cadence of his footsteps so familiar she doesn't even have to glance sideways.

"I'll go if you wanna be alone," he blurts out before she can even think of something to say. She can't fight the tug at the edges of her mouth. He's so free of bullshit, so accepting of whatever she does or doesn't give back. And maybe, just maybe, that's why he's the only person who helps quiet the screaming in her her brain rather than amplifying it by a factor of ten.

"No, stay." She sneaks a glance at him but he's staring down the road, a dark smear of grease still decorating the side of his neck from when he was working on one of the trucks earlier. "I just needed fresh air for a minute."

"Yeah." She thinks he might add something else, but in his usual fashion he falls silent and lets his stride slip into rhythm with hers.

He doesn't say another word through the entire loop around Alexandria, but the quiet isn't awkward or strained.

When they're almost to the steps of the house, his fingers brush her upper arm so softly she'd think she imagined it if she hadn't seen it happen. "Hey. You okay?" His voice is still so scared, and she's slammed again with the realization that he's not remotely convinced she won't run.

"Yeah, I am."

He nods, but remains still, his body showing no signs of movement toward the house.

"Daryl."

He looks at her then, his face a mess of emotions she wasn't ready to deal with the day he showed up at the door of her house and she isn't ready to deal with now. But she manages to keep her voice firm and strong when she says, "I mean it. I'm okay."

"Gonna walk again tomorrow night?"

She grins. "Probably."

"Tell me if y'want company."

"I do. Want company." Her response is fast and thoughtless and straight from some scary place inside her she still tries to dodge when she's quick enough. But he's too fast for her as usual.

"Good." And then he's taking the steps two at a time, probably to make sure he shuts the door before she can change her mind.

_________________________

After that the walks become a habit.

They rarely say much, maybe some conversation about the supplies they'll need soon or how her garden's coming along or when he plans to go hunting again.

Still, she looks forward to it every night, and on the days when he's out hunting past dinner or gone on a run with Aaron or Rosita or Jesus, she misses it.

Misses him.

_________________________

She's toweling her hair dry when there's a knock on the door so soft she wouldn't have even heard it had she not been dreading it since pre-dawn.

"Carol?" Enid's timid voice barely carries through the wood.

She walks over and pulls the door open to find Enid standing there looking like something out of one of those princess books she used to read to Sophia. Part of her hair is pulled up in a careful twist, while the rest falls over her shoulders in a mass of soft waves. Her eyeshadow has flecks of gold, and she's wearing a royal blue dress that picks up the gems in the earrings Maggie must have loaned her.

"You look stunning."

"Oh god, thank you." Enid's face heats instantly. "I feel so fake. Maggie made me sit still for like an hour and a half. I think my foot's still asleep." She hesitates, clears her throat. "So no pressure, but Michonne said that you were at least thinking about the dance and maybe I could help with your makeup?"

Carol looks at the girl, watches as Enid fidgets with the satin that edges her sleeve.

She's only a little older than Sophia would be now, and only a little younger than Carol was when she and Katie McKinnon decided to to to the prom together because they'd both been dumped within the preceding month.

"It's fine if you don't want to," says Enid hastily, already backing toward the door.

"No, I'm going." The words feel tangible in her mouth, like she ate one too many marshmallows and they've got nowhere left to go. But she manages anyway. "I can't remember the last time I wore lipstick. Will you help me pick a good color?"

The burst of pure happiness on Enid's face instantly makes the night almost worth it.

_________________________

The night Carol went to prom with Katie, they spent two hours getting ready because they were so determined to make sure that Adam and Gerald deeply regretted their terrible life choices.

She remembers blood red lipstick and way too much blue eyeshadow, flatironing her hair for what felt like hours, popping Hershey kisses as they laughed and listened to The Stones, and almost falling down the stairs because she was determined to wear the stilettos she'd never figured out how to walk in.

At the dance, Ed Peletier -- who'd only spoken to her maybe twice in her life, and even then only to ask her for help with trig homework -- strolled over the second that "Crazy" started floating from the speakers.

(No matter how many times she thinks of this moment, the irony's never lost on her.)

"Would you like to dance?" He smelled like expensive cologne and possibly Scotch, not that she was highly familiar with the latter.

Her face hot, she twisted the pearl stud in her ear and said, "Sure, but just this one. I'm here with my friend."

"Just the one then," he replied, extending his hand just like she'd seen men do it in the movies.

And he'd been true to his word, surprising the hell out of her by raising her fingers to his lips and brushing a kiss over them as the last few bars of the song faded. "Have fun with your friend. Maybe you'd like to get a burger after school next week?"

"Carol, let's gooooo." Katie rushed up, flushed and impatient.

Carol barely had time to turn and nod at Ed before Katie pulled her away to the car.

Just like they'd planned on the phone weeks ago, they drove to the lake at the edge of town. They stripped off their stockings and hung their bare feet off the dock, flinging droplets of water that caught the moonlight as they arced through the cooling night air.

And they opened the bottle of gin Katie had stolen from her grandpa's liquor cabinet, passing it back and forth as they worked on the bag of sour cream and onion potato chips wedged between them.

She can still feel the burn of the alcohol stinging its way down her throat and warming her stomach.

Still taste the leftover salt from the chips as she licked the tips of her fingers.

Still see the glowing light circling the moon as it rose higher and higher in the sky.

Still hear the uncontrolled laughter bubbling up from inside her as she and Katie got more and more drunk and more and more silly.

It was the last time she was really free.

_________________________

"So do you think gold?" Enid holds up the tiny eyeshadow compact. "Or silver?" She brandishes one in each hand.

"I think-" Carol hesitates, glancing toward the dress laid out on the bed. "Maybe silver?"

Enid flashes a delighted smile. "I was hoping you'd pick silver. It's gonna be so perfect with that dress." She shoves the gold compact aside. "Close your eyes."

_________________________

She stares at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, fascinated and a little awed by the face that looks back at her.

Her lips are a rich shade of burgundy that almost perfectly matches her dress, and they shine because Enid insisted on just a touch of that roll-on lip gloss that tastes like cotton candy.

Her cheeks are a warm plum with barely a hint of sparkle from the bronzer Enid added at the last minute.

Her eyes -- carefully outlined with deep navy eyeliner and the shimmer of silver eyeshadow -- radiate a much deeper blue than usual.

It's been so many decades since she even tried to wear makeup, to put on fancy clothes, to look pretty.

She's aware that objectively, she's lovely. Stunning even.

But the only part of the face staring back at her from the mirror that feels as if it belongs to her is the quiet sadness that lingers in her eyes, comfortable and familiar.

Somewhere long ago and far away, tucked back in corners of her mind she hasn't visited in decades, she remembers what it was like to walk into a room and turn heads, to stop the action for a split second.

She can feel the music from downstairs vibrating the soles of her feet.

She doesn't want to go.

She wants to stay here, appreciate the picture for a minute, then wash her face and get in bed.

But she gets up, checks her eyeliner one last time, and walks to the door.

_________________________

She makes it down the stairs unnoticed and slips around the corner into the kitchen, surprised but grateful to find the room empty. Pouring herself a glass of cold water, she takes small sips as she steals a look into the crowded living room.

Rick and Michonne are in the corner, pretending to slow dance but it's more a conversation with occasional slight swaying. Michonne is breathtaking in an emerald green sheath that showcases her shoulders. Carol's never seen her in makeup either, and she's delighted by how happy Michonne looks -- cherry red lipstick, brilliant green eyeshadow that matches her dress, and her face intent on whatever Rick's saying to her.

Carl and Jesus are engaged in what appears to be a very serious arm wrestling match, although since Jesus looks as if he's already done at least three or four shots, she gives Carl even odds if not better.

Morgan's "dancing" with Judith, her bare feet on his shoes and her tiny hands in his. Carol's heart hurts watching them, because if there's anything she understands, it's the pain that will always lurk beneath the surface of the enchanted grin Morgan's currently wearing. Doesn't matter though. Judith's bouncing and giggling, the hem of her magenta dress swishing around her pudgy legs, and for now that's so much more than enough.

"Nah, don't move. I'll grab some more paper plates. Just gimme a sec-" Daryl's words drift off and blend into the lyrics of "Purple Rain" as his eyes land on her and he just . . . stops.

"Damn."

For the longest moment, he's both looking at her and doing everything but -- his eyes flitting from her face to her shoulder to the counter to her legs to the sink to her face to her hair and finally back to her eyes.

"You look-" He shakes his head a tiny bit, and a shy grin touches the edge of his lips. "You look beautiful."

"Thank you." She swallows and takes a gulp of her water, suddenly warmer than she was a minute ago.

This gives her a chance to realize she's not the only one who spent some time getting ready for the festivities.

Daryl's wearing dark jeans without a hole in sight and a deep grey, long-sleeved henley. His hair's so freshly washed it's not even quite dry, and he's pushed it away from his face, which at this exact moment is flushed an adorable shade of hot pink.

"You look pretty nice yourself." She says the sentence kind of as if it's all one word.

"Finally took a shower, like you said," he replies, deadpan, and the laughter that bubbles up in her at the memory makes it easier to breathe.

The music changes, some Chicago ballad she remembers from what feels like five lifetimes ago.

"You wanna dance?"

The question is so unexpected that it takes her a second to realize her facial expression must look as if he suggested parachute-free skydiving. "You . . . dance?"

Daryl shrugs. "Ain't good at it, but Merle wouldn't leave me alone until I learned a few things. Always tryin' to get me a date." He shifts on his feet and stares at the floor. "'S'fine if you don't feel like it. I'll grab the plates and-"

"No, I'd love to."

He reaches for her hand (astonishing her again, his palm warm and a little sweaty where it touches hers) and leads her into the living room. Everyone's paired up. Rick and Michonne. Carl and Enid. Aaron and Eric. Father Gabriel's apparently trying to teach Judith how to lead and that's not going too smoothly. Her tiny peals of laughter drift through the air.

Daryl holds Carol's hand and slips an arm around her waist, pulling her a little closer, but not enough to make her uncomfortable. That's when she smells the distinctive scent of whiskey floating over his cinnamon toothpaste. "Are you drunk?" she asks, laughter in her voice.

"Tryin' to be, yeah," he answers with a sigh. "This is a fuckin' nightmare. Was just waitin' for you to come downstairs, but I didn't think-"

"That I'd show up at all?"

He shakes his head. "That you'd look like-" He swallows. "There's no way to be ready for that dress."

"You are drunk."

He pulls back a fraction to look at her, and his eyes are suddenly very serious. "Y'think I gotta be drunk to notice your dress?"

Goddammit.

"I didn't mean that." (She kind of did mean that, but apparently it was the wrong answer.)

"Good." And he surprises her again by letting the momentary flare of irritation pass and drawing her back toward him, this time closer than before. She forces herself not to tense, because even though it makes her strangely nervous, dancing with him like this feels so . . . nice. She lets her chin rest on his shoulder and moves to the music, surprised by how good at this he is, even though she probably shouldn't be if Merle was his teacher. A few yards away, Carl's not having quite as much luck, and she bites her lip to keep from grinning as Enid yelps, "Ow!" and dissolves into giggles again while Carl's face flushes.

The music stops for a second. There's the plastic click of CD cases colliding while Eric searches for his next choice and then she hears the first bars of "Crazy For You."

When Sophia was in preschool, Carol would turn on the '80s station as soon as Ed had been gone for at least half an hour and there was no chance he'd come bursting back through the door, red-faced and cursing about something he'd forgotten. She could see herself humming absently, dancing around the kitchen while she carefully measured out the ingredients for perfect slow-cooker meatballs (although she could never put in as much spice as she liked because Ed would start yelling about how she was trying to give him an ulcer). She had no idea why she loved it so much, because the song left her feeling empty, lost, like something inside her was endlessly wishing and reaching for the impossible. She stirred cracker crumbs into ground beef and blinked away tears as she realized she'd never get the chance to feel that way about anyone, or know what it felt like to have someone feel that way about her. Lots of songs got to her a little bit in one way or another, but this one was different for some reason. Usually by the time it was over, she'd find herself staring out the window or at some neutral point on the blue flowered wallpaper in front of her. And she never once forgot to wash and dry her hands -- making sure not a touch of grease or flour was left over -- before she set the radio back to the terrible country station Ed loved. Sometimes, in hopes that it might improve his mood, she turned it on before he even drove into the garage.

"You okay?"

Daryl's voice almost startles her and she glances up to see the expression of puzzled concern on his face.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry, this song makes me-" But she doesn't even know the word she's looking for or have a clue what to add without deepening her own discomfort (and his too, she's sure).

"D'you wanna get out of here?" Daryl's voice is so low she can barely make out the words over Madonna's chorus. "Help me finish the Jack Daniels I stashed on the porch?"

"Yes please," she replies, and she should probably care about the edge of desperation that sharpens her words but she doesn't.

"Let's go." Daryl touches her elbow lightly to guide her toward the door, and a warm shiver spreads up her arm to the back of her neck, sparking in her hair.

_________________________

"So you were probably prom queen or some shit like that, right?" Daryl takes another impressively large swig from the bottle they're sharing and hands it back to her, clearing his throat a little as the liquor goes down.

They're leaning on the porch railing, staring out into the empty street. The only thing moving is the tiny outline of Rosita, pacing back and forth on the watch platform. It's a gorgeous night, the air cool enough to be refreshing without making her wish she had a sweater, and it's clear enough that she can see clusters of stars, the moon hanging like a shimmery sliver in the sky. The breeze feels soft and comforting as it lifts her hair, and she listens to the eerie, faraway hoot of an owl looking for dinner mixed with the muffled laughter drifting through the living room windows. She kinda wishes she'd rejected the pumps though. It's only been a couple hours and she's already losing circulation in her toes. If there's one positive side effect of having walkers everywhere, it's that comfortable shoes are encouraged.

She smirks at Daryl before taking her own oversized gulp. The liquid fizzes in her mouth and burns in her throat. It's not even good and she doesn't enjoy the taste at all, but she does enjoy the fierce spread of warmth that radiates off her skin the instant the alcohol hits her stomach (thanks to all of her pre-dance anxiety, she's eaten nothing today except half a chocolate bar Tara stole for her after their latest run, so the alcohol has an instant effect).

"Actually, smartass, I went to prom with my best friend Katie, because Adam Jakowski dumped me three weeks before."

"The fuck was wrong with that dickhead?" Daryl blurts out, kicking the tip of his boot against the railing.

She takes another long swallow and hands the bottle back to him, her fingers brushing his as they make the swap. "Doesn't matter. He was an asshole anyway. I think he wound up a hedge fund manager." She smooths the satin of her dress between her fingers. "Katie and I got ridiculously drunk and ate a lot of sour cream and onion potato chips." She laughs, the sound echoing down the quiet street. "One of the best nights of my life, honestly." She stares at one perfectly polished fingernail and her words are much quieter when she adds, "Which probably sounds pathetic."

"It doesn't."

Each word lands with vehemence she hadn't expected, and his shoulders tense before he raises the bottle to his lips again.

"Besides, I can top it," he mutters.

"Yeah?"

He hands the whiskey back to her and chokes out half a laugh, shaking his head. "There was this girl," he explains, scrubbing his hands over his face. "Melinda Tomlinson." His thumb rubs circles on the smooth wood of the railing. "I knew I could never get her to go to prom with me or any shit like that, but I just wanted to buy her a Coke or a sundae after school." He shrugs, locking his elbows and pushing against the railing to stand up straighter. "So one day I bothered to put on my only shirt that didn't have holes in it and I stole a pair of the jeans Merle saved for when he really wanted to score. And I asked her if she'd go to the ice cream shop with me after school."

The warmth of the alcohol seems far away now; she can tell where this story is going and it makes her cold inside. She squeezes her hands into fists and waits.

"She told me she didn't go out with guys who fix bikes for a living and have brothers who fuck hookers." He adds, "Her words," as if he suddenly needs to apologize for profanity. After one long, slow breath, he continues. "So on prom night I stole Merle's truck, drove three hours to this lake in the middle of nowhere, went swimming in the dark until I bumped up against some fuckin' thing I wasn't taking any chances on, and then drank so much that I woke up in the bed of the truck the next afternoon, half naked and sunburned as hell."

The words are flat, emotionless, like he's telling her that they'll need to find salt on the next run or reminding her that she should bring in the seedlings because it's probably gonna rain overnight. But his voice cracks in a few giveaway places and so does her heart.

Without even thinking, she takes the three steps required to close the distance between them and presses her arm right up against his, hard, taking three gulps of whiskey without even pausing to breathe.

He reaches for the bottle, grinning. "You might wanna slow down there. When was the last time you ate anything?"

"Shut up, I'm perfectly-" But at that precise second the whole world starts to shift a little. The trees aren't standing up like they're supposed to and the fence tilts at the wrong angle to the ground. Rosita looks as if she's walking up the platform instead of across it.

Daryl's arms have her instantly, and she's leaning back against his chest wondering why everything is spinning. "You were sayin'?" he asks, but his sarcasm is all affection and no edge. "Let's give this chair over here a try."

In one effortless movement, he swings her up and gently deposits her in the huge Adirondack chair at the far corner of the porch. Before she can open her mouth to protest, he's pulling her shoes off and sitting them neatly on the floor. "Maybe I should go make us some coffee," he offers, glancing toward the living room, undecided. Now that she's sitting down he's only moving in her vision a tiny bit.

"Stay with me for a few more minutes first?" She knows she's drunk because clearly her filter is set to all the way off, but in this exact moment it feels great.

Powerful.

Free.

"I'm not ready for tonight to be over yet."

"Me neither, surprisingly enough," he mutters, and the words are so quiet that if she knew him any less well she'd be 98% sure she imagined them. But he strides over and settles into the chair next to her, his body warm and comforting where it presses against her skin. She notices that he's not holding himself away from her, that he's letting his muscles relax.

They stay like that for a few minutes, and Carol stretches her newly-freed feet, feeling the numbness turn to pins and needles while she tries to guess which song is playing just from the beat. Might be "Billie Jean." They continue to pass the bottle back and forth, but she makes sure to keep her sips a whole lot smaller now.

The party sounds as if it might be winding down inside when she turns her face towards Daryl and says, "Well maybe-" at the exact moment he turns his towards her and says, "We should probably-"

And they both stop.

His eyes are so blue and confused even in the half-darkness of the porch, and she was sure that whole thing where it actually gets harder to breathe was probably only in crappy romance novels but apparently she was wrong because she feels like she doesn't have enough air and her face is very, very hot all of the sudden.

She can't help dropping her eyes to look at his lips; it's nothing more than a tenth of a second but she knows he didn't miss it.

Then she realizes he's doing the same thing, and her heart is slamming so fast she'd probably be scared if she didn't have at least five other things worrying her more.

The music from inside is definitely some sort of ballad now. She's guessing "Almost Paradise."

She lets her eyes meet Daryl's again, and the expression she finds there undoes what little was left of her resolve.

Years later, when her mind wanders while she's making soup or waiting for him to come to bed or this close to falling asleep with her fingers wrapped around his arm, she'll wonder what it was. The whiskey? The music? The chair? The stars?

But she licks the sting of Jack Daniels off her own lips and whispers, holding his gaze so he'll know for certain that she's not joking this time, "On the off chance you're wondering if I'd like you to kiss me, I would." She swallows. "Like you to kiss me."

His eyes widen, and for an agonizing, never-ending moment that hangs there in the quiet darkness like every terrible decision she's ever made, he doesn't move or speak.

And then he shifts just enough to free his arms, takes her face in both of his hands, looks at her for another long beat (but this time with enough of a smile in his eyes that at least she starts to breathe again), and touches her lips with his.

His kiss is soft at first, so gentle and tentative that it's barely there. He's tilting her face ever so slightly each time his lips touch hers, moving slowly, like he's making a map of her mouth.

But it's not even close to enough for her.

"Daryl," she whispers.

"Hmm?" He sucks on her lower lip, barely-there pressure, and her whole body is humming.

"More," she says, pushing his hands away and somehow managing (in a maneuver much more graceful than she deserves after that much whiskey) to toss one of her thighs over his so she's facing him, kneeling over his lap while she looks at his flushed face and forces herself not to think.

Instead, she picks up right where they left off, only this time she's the one making the rules. Her tongue smooths over his lower lip and she can feel the vibration that rises from his chest. Her heart's still slamming, but now it's in the best way, and she smiles when he opens his mouth to her kiss and lets her slide her tongue over his. She breathes in the whiskey and the peanut butter M&Ms he'd been eating before they came out here and honestly they shouldn't taste good together at all but it's perfect and she can't get enough. His hands glide up the back of her dress, fingers trailing over her shoulder blades and the bones of her spine until he's stroking the sides of her neck with his thumbs.

She can't remember the last time anything felt this good.

It isn't until the back of his index finger is absently brushing the top of her breast where it barely shows in her shiny dress that he shakes his head and takes her hands, pulling back.

"Hey, we gotta stop." He's gentle, but his grip on her hands is very firm.

"You don't wanna-"

He shakes his head, and the smile he breaks into in the next half second makes her feel melty all over again. "I do wanna." He takes one of her hands and holds it between his, kissing her knuckles, his chapped lips a little rough yet still soft. "But not when we've pretty much finished a bottle of whiskey between us."

"Being sober's not gonna change my mind," she mutters, lifting herself off him in a move a great deal less graceful than the one that landed her there and squishing herself into the corner of the chair. They’re both tense now, breathing hard.

"It's not gonna change my mind either." She feels his hand on her chin, tilting her head in his direction. "Hey. Look at me, please?"

She does, finally, letting her eyes drift up to meet his. The expression in his eyes is softer and more open than she's ever seen it (save maybe for a split second when she found him after Terminus), and any irritation she was trying to feel evaporates. "I just wanna remember everything," he says, and he rubs his thumb over her cheekbone before dropping his hand. "That's all."

Her eyes sting and her throat tightens, but she doesn't let herself look away when she reaches down to slip her hand into his. "Well, this isn't even close to how I thought tonight would go," she blurts out.

"Me neither." His thumb strokes the side of her wrist. "Figured you wouldn't show up and I'd probably get shit-faced and pass out in Aaron and Eric's garage." He leans his head back against the chair's dark wood and lets out a long breath. "Gotta admit, this is a hell of a lot nicer."

She rolls her eyes but regrets it immediately, closing them to shut out the swirl. "Wow, that was so much whiskey."

"Shit, I shoulda stopped you." She feels the brush of his fingers pushing her hair off her forehead.

"I wasn't exactly shoving the bottle away."

"Want me to sneak in there and bring you some Advil?"

"I should just go to bed. Shit, I have to make it across the whole living room to go upstairs." She winces, squinting at the light that glows through the window and outlines the bodies of everyone who's still dancing.

"Close your eyes. I'll wake you up and make sure you get upstairs when they're all gone."

"Daryl, that's ridic-"

"You think there's anyplace on earth I'd rather be right now?" He pauses, and she can feel his shoulder lift by her cheek as he breathes. "'Cause there ain't."

And it hits her.

She was wrong, dancing in the kitchen making meatballs, a decade and at least four lifetimes ago.

To him, she's the most important thing.

She always has been.

The realization makes her feel even more lightheaded, and she's not ready to deal with any of the mutinous feelings that are ganging up on her from every hidden passageway in her mind she thought she'd sealed off and bolted shut.

So she rearranges herself a little, to make it easier for her to rest her head on his shoulder.

"You good?" he asks, his fingers warm where they land on her forearm.

"Very," she whispers, letting her eyes slip shut again. She listens to the cellos that sound surprisingly far away and realizes that -- in spite of the epic headache she's guaranteed to have -- for the first time in years, she's not dreading the morning.

She's looking forward to it.

*********************************************************

[colbyleclaire-archived-blog]

New Rules || A Self-Para

Content Warning: Anxiety, Unhealthy Coping Habits (Finger-Picking), Unhealthy Relationships.

Many thanks to those who helped out with this, whether through encouragement or beta reading or letting me fiddle around with your characters (cough cough @brieleclaire &  @thehornedprince ). Y’all are the best.

Let’s break our girl down, shall we?

Colby LeClaire thrives on order, or rather, she shrinks at the first sign of chaos.

She thinks perhaps she’s figured out where it came from, how the planets spliced and the stardust fell to create the person she’s become.

Her parents.

Sabine, who was stubborn, steadfast, Amazonian, until she wasn’t.

Remy, who paled in comparison, but was a star in his own right -- kind, bright, warm, until he wasn’t, either, or, maybe he was, just, not as much as before.

Sure, both Colby and her sister were LeClaires, compassionate, loving, loyal, but the differences were vast.

Brie inherited that steadfast nature, the glow, the starlight.

Colby was left with the interstellar junk -- the fear, the doubt, the dread, the anxiety.

Admittedly, there’s always been a part of her that’s envied Brie’s naturally celestial nature. Her younger sister seems to find her place in a group of people easily, and so clearly thrives on human connection.

Colby doesn’t.

At all.

She’s an introvert in every sense of the word, but it’s more than that.  It’s this feeling, this turbulence in the pit of her stomach, this need to be in control, to know what has happened and what might happen next, to list out the possible outcomes and effect of every situation.

Most of the time, it’s okay. Most of the time, she can figure it out. Most of the time, she writes, and she can keep control, she can get the voices to stop.

But of course, like everything in life, writing only helps, until it doesn’t.

1. July 6th, 2017, 11:06 AM.

“Hey, big cheese, I got you something.”

Colby can’t bring herself to look up at her sister, to avert her gaze from her hands and her fingers and the broken skin around her nails.

It’s only been twenty-four hours since she lost her journal, and already her fingers are a mess, not that they hadn’t been bad before -- frankly, given what had happened close to the end of June, and what would happen close to the end of July, she had been surprised at how well she was doing.

“Was” being the key word here, of course.

“Hey.”

The bed moves beneath her as Brie sits and places a soft hand over hers. It’s this action that triggers Colby actually looking up into her sister’s eyes.

They look bluer than normal. Colby isn’t really sure if that’s important.

“It’s just me. It’s just us. Focus, okay? I got you a present.”

The blonde holds out a paper bag with the World of Color logo etched into the front. Colby looks at her, blinking, but doesn’t move. It takes another encouraging look from Brie for her to shift her position and move her hands toward her present.

She removes the tissue paper from the top and places it gently on the bed, before reaching in and pulling out the bag’s contents. The tears settle into the corners of her eyes.

“I know it’s not the same. I know you lost a lot, but...maybe these will help.”

Colby isn’t really sure how she lucked into having Brie as her sister.

That’s one of life’s mysteries she has never questioned.

2. July 15th, 2017, 5:34 AM.

“...but if I DO get coffee during our layover is that going to screw me over? Am I going to regret that? The day stuck in airplane mode is annoying as it is, but the time difference is going to be KILLER...”

Colby sighs, watching as Brie holds her phone to the glass. The blonde smiles brightly at the airline employee, who then looks at her, expectantly. Colby takes a few steps forward, scanning her own phone and hitching her bag on her shoulders, following her sister.

Brie -- who’d stopped talking long enough for both of them to pass into the tunnel leading toward their plane -- intertwines their fingers and picks up the conversation right where she left off. Colby isn’t really paying much attention to her words. Instead, her gaze flickers over the people around them, mostly half-asleep, some sending disapproving glares in their direction.

There’s this strange sense of pride that fills the older girl’s body. Brie is practically the only person who could somehow be this talkative at five in the morning. Colby knows most of this excitement is simply Brie being Brie, though she guesses that falling asleep so early the night before only amplified her chipper manner.

Colby hadn’t slept, but the sound of Brie’s breathing was certainly calming, a high quality soundtrack to which Colby could write, but that was last night, and Brie deserves to be listened to now. Colby blinks, partially to clear the thoughts in her head, and refocuses her attention on her sister.

“What movies do you think they’ll show on the flight? I hope they’re not too ba-- OH! But, what if there are two of them we want to watch? Perhaps we can watch one on one of our screens and one on the other, oui? Split screen, like a computer!”

Colby smiles and gives Brie’s hand a soft squeeze. She knows the blonde means every word, and she wishes she had the capacity to be as excited.

But she has things to do, tasks to accomplish.

Truthfully, she didn’t really want to go to Paris in the first place, not after what had happened, not after who she’d seen -- what if something happened while she was gone? -- but she couldn’t say no when Brie suggested it. She’s never been able to say no to her.

So if she’s going, she’s going to work, and, as they wait to board their first plane of the day, Colby’s already formulating her plan. It’s a plan of synthesis, of data collection. She’ll gather what she can from the journals that line the top bookshelf in her closet. It won’t be everything, but it will be a start, and -- Colby hopes -- enough to toggle everything she’d written down since arriving in Buena Vista...or at least, enough of it so the pictures all come into view again.

“Whatever you want, mon cherie.”

This is going to be okay.

From the last time she saw him in Paris to the first time she saw him in Buena Vista, Colby LeClaire heard from Cedric Arawin once.

It had been exactly two weeks since she’d woken up in her bed, two weeks since she’d reached for him, two weeks since she’d grasped at bed sheets and broken promises.

In the days that followed, Colby was a mess. She didn’t sleep, or eat, or drink, or work, or write, or really do much at all, except sit in middle of the floor in her bedroom and let the tears fall down her face.

Her parents were clueless, speechless, and atypically unhelpful during those two weeks time. Truth be told, it was Brie -- small but wise fifteen-year-old Brie -- who snapped Colby out of it on Day Four.

All it took was moving Colby out of her room and into Brie’s -- a simple act that even her parents hadn’t thought of, but as soon as she’d be settled into Brie’s bed, the girl was out like a light, dead to the world, three days of exhaustion and emotion and dehydration finally catching up to her.

She spent the next two weeks in Brie’s room.

On Day Fourteen, at 6:07 AM, Colby’s phone rang, waking both sisters up. Groggily, Colby sat up and glanced down at her phone screen. She wasn’t sure where she’d put her glasses the night before and tried her hardest to see who was calling without them. This had quickly proved futile, and the brunette reached out to answer it.

Brie stopped her, eyes wide, head shaking, aura serious.

“Don’t pick up the phone.”

It had been too late, anyway -- by the time this commotion had ended, the phone had stopped ringing.

He didn’t leave a voicemail.

Colby probably could’ve expected as much.

3. July 27th, 2017, 10:28 PM.

”I saw him this morning, at breakfast...”

The words are soft, nonchalant. Colby knows Brie is attempting to keep conversation light and ventures to determine the reason why. It’s likely because she didn’t come home last night -- a change in behavior if there ever has been one -- but it might also be emotional leftovers, or simply relief that today is today and yesterday has passed.

But they made it through. One year down, who knows how many left to--

“...except, he left, soon after I arrived, and I didn’t think anything of it, until...”

Colby looks up from her journal at this point. 

She’d made control from chaos. She’d done what she always did, what she does best, but now she’s frightened it’s all going to come crashing down again.

“Until what?”

“Well, when I got back to our room, he was... HERE. Just, like, standing outside our door, as if he was debating if he should to knock or something.”

Colby feels her heart sink. She closes the notebook, sticks it -- and her matching pen -- into the drawer beside her bed. Her mouth is dry, but nothing can prepare her for the words that fall from Brie’s mouth next.

“M-maybe...maybe, you should just give him a chance to explain? Talking just once wouldn’t hurt...right?”

Colby hopes that Brie somehow always stays this naive, this innocent, this hopeful.

“C-Colby?”

“If he comes again, don’t let him in.”

The journal set was perhaps the kindest gift Colby had ever received from her sister.

When she’d opened it properly that night and noticed there were four journals, she couldn’t help the anxiety that washed over her at the thought of having to pick one to start with.

It didn’t take long for her to realize she didn’t have to pick at all.

Colby quickly decided that the best thing to do was split them by content. A journal for her mother, a journal for Cedric, a journal for school-related rambles, a journal for the rest of it.

She kept them all in her backpack, of course -- she was never sure which one she’d want to write in until she found herself reaching for it -- but this was the better way to do it. The smarter way.

She wouldn’t lose everything if she lost just one, though she couldn’t help but count them every half an hour or so, to make sure she had them all.

One, two, three, four.

Everything was okay as long as she reached four.

4. July 30th, 2017, 3:52 PM.

“I heard the Dream House is reopening in the next few days. Someone said we might be getting room assignments today. I hope we are on the first floor! I am getting sick of climbing stairs.”

Colby’s looking down at her hands again. They’re getting a little better -- she’s getting a little better -- but she’s not sure if this will make it worse.

Sharing a room with Brie in the inn had been a dream. It made it easier for the two of them to find each other, to see each other, not to mention they were probably less annoying this way.

No roommates were bothered by impromptu LeClaire sleepovers if their roommates were each other.

“I have to hand it to WDA, they certainly have found a way to force people to mingle with one another. Talk about making new fri-”

The ping of an email notification from Brie’s phone cuts her off, and Colby watches as she practically leaps onto her bed, scrambling for it.

Colby’s phone quickly follows suit, the email notification popping up on her phone. Her actions are slower than Brie’s, but she moves to unlock her phone, too. No sense in delaying the inevitable.

Brie’s hand is holding hers before she even registers the fact that her younger sister has moved to her bed. Her face scrunches and she pulls her hand away, opening the e-mail and beginning to scroll through it.

“Don’t be his friend.”

It takes Colby a second to register what Brie’s talking about, but when she finds her name on the list, it clicks.

“Colby, I am so sorry...”

In the six months they were together, Cedric Arawin did many things for Colby LeClaire.

He taught her what freedom tasted like. Sweet and salty, all at once.

He reminded her how much lungs crave oxygen. He’d deprive her of breath for minutes at a time, tongues intertwined, lips pressed together, bodies close.

He guided her through the lesson of walking against a crowd in every sense of the phrase. She’d never been to a concert before him,  and somehow the view from right beneath the stage was worth the panic of fighting through people to get there.

He showed her what it felt like to mean something to someone else. She’d never doubted the unconditional love of her parents, of her sister, but this was something different. This was the kind of love you worked for, the kind of love you kindled, the kind of love that started with the tiniest of sparks.

He found her starlight. He taught her to glow, to shine.

And by the time she recognized the black hole, it was too late.

5. August 3rd, 2017, 8:41 AM.

She’s put it off long enough. Brie had moved out two days ago, but Colby hadn’t found the courage to.

Now, she has no choice. They need the room she’s in.

Eden Inn has been kind, has been good, to her friends, to her school, to their families.

Colby needed to suck it up.

She clenches and unclenches her fists, before meeting one hand with the other and falling back into the same bad habits she just can’t seem to break. She makes a mental note that she might have to head to the pharmacy and grab more band-aids. She’s not sure if she has enough to last as long as she needs them to.

She’s trying to keep her breath even, trying to remind herself of the plan she’s made, but it’s shaky. Everything’s shaky.

Did she grab all of her journals this morning?

She takes her backpack off of her back and opens it to check.

Don’t pick up the phone. One, two, three, four. Don’t let him in. One, two, three, four. Don’t be his friend. One, two, three, four.

Eventually she feels convinced, and she returns her backpack to her back, grabs the handle of her suitcase, and keeps walking, switching to count her paces, to catching her breath.

One. Breath in. Don’t pick up the phone. Two. Breath out. Don’t let him in. Three. Breath in. Don’t be his friend. Four. Breathe out. Don’t --

She stops in front of room 4A.

Her room. His room.

Their room.

Breathe in, breathe out.

It takes her a second to actually manage to get her key card into the lock. Her hand is shaking too much, she’s shaking too much, but slowly, carefully, she pushes the door open, teeth pressed deeply into her bottom lip, heart pounding in her ears, scared of whatever might be awaiting her...

She waits. She stops. She listens.

She’s met with nothing but silence.

She walks further into the room, fearful of what might be lurking in the shadows, terrified of what she might find.

Three minutes pass before she’s certain she’s alone, though its clear he’s been here. His stuff is thrown about, and it smells like him.

Colby places her suitcase on the untouched bed by the window, adjusting her backpack on her shoulders, and, with another glance around the room, heads right back out the door.

She can’t do this. Not now.

Colby LeClaire thrives on order, or rather, she shrinks at the first sign of chaos.

She’s not sure what happens when all signs point to pandemonium.

She’s not sure if she wants to find out.

[boltinemart]

The Best Understood As A Portable Big-Screen TV

LG Minibeam PH550 Projector

You have just finished your recent project but there is one more task you need to complete- that is the presentation. The problem with traditional projector presentations is that they can easily break and cause you to be blind for a day or two. With portable projectors, however, this does not happen because the screen and content are projected through high resolution lenses onto a screen of your choice which works even in bright light.

Today, portable projectors are a popular choice for meetings, presentations, and more. They’re compact and lightweight to bring with you wherever you go. But did you know that some models also double as TVs? And that wireless bluetooth speakers work well with them as well? And they’re all available on Amazon for cheap prices! With these options available to consumers now, it’s never been easier to say goodbye to the subpar work of the past. But not all models are created equal. A portable projector is capable of many capabilities. And if you want to take your portable projector with you for those special events, you need a solid and reliable model that won’t disappoint.

LG Minibeam PH550 Projector

The LG Minibeam PH550 Projector is best understood as a portable big-screen TV. It just happens to use a 720p projector instead of a screen for its display. The TV part comes from the built-in TV tuner and the coax connector for an antenna or cable. The portability comes from the compact size, light weight, and rechargeable battery. As with most TV’s today, assorted ports and wireless options let you connect other sources — including PCs, tablets, and phones — so you can use it as a standard projector as well. Roughly the size of a thick paperback and weighing only 1.5 pounds, the PH550 pairs a 720p (1280x720) DLP chip with an LED light source meant to last the life of the projector. LG rates the brightness at 550 lumens. However, it adds an asterisk next to the rating which we’ll discuss below.

Picture Quality Compared with 1080p TVs and projectors, the PH550’s resolution limits the detail it can show. Compared with other 720p projectors in its brightness and weight class, however, the PH550 offers far better image quality than most.

Color Preset Modes. The five color preset modes — Standard, Vivid, Cinema, Sport, and Game — are all customizable. Each automatically adds (User) to its name if you make any changes and removes the addition if you reset it to its default. There are also two user modes, called Expert 1 and Expert 2 to avoid confusion with the predefined modes with user customizations added. Using default settings, some colors are a touch too vibrant, giving them a nearly DayGlo effect. With video and other photo-realistic images, this extra vibrancy shows primarily with memory colors — like green grass or blue sky — in brightly lit scenes, and is most obvious in Standard and Vivid modes. It’s far more subtle in Cinema mode, which offers the best color quality and a fairly close match overall to the calibrated projector we use for comparison. Unless you have a particularly critical eye, however, the color is within an acceptable range even in Standard and Vivid modes. Some people will even prefer it to more realistic color. With an HDMI connection, color balance is excellent in most modes, with suitably neutral grays at all levels from white to black. However, Sports and Vivid modes both show a slight tint with some midtones. With a VGA connection, the color balance is excellent in all modes.

Rainbow artifacts are not an issue. The only time I saw them with data images was with one that’s designed to bring them out, and even then, only when I shifted my gaze back and forth quickly. With video, I saw only a few in the entire time I spent with the projector. It’s unlikely that anyone would see them often enough to find them bothersome.

Data Presentations. Although the PH550 isn’t designed for data presentations, it can easily handle them. The touch-too-vibrant colors are even less of a problem for business graphics than they are for video, and the projector holds detail well. One minor issue if you connect to a PC by HDMI is that you’ll have to turn off overscanning, which is not available with a VGA connection but is on by default with HDMI. Overscanning makes the image a touch bigger, scaling it to a slightly larger size by adding a few pixels. This can be a problem for data images. It makes text harder to read, for example, and adds scaling artifacts to areas with closely spaced lines or dots.

Turning the feature off is easy but the setting is more than a little obscure. You have to change the Aspect Ratio option from 16:9 — which is the obvious choice if you’re using 1280x720 resolution and the right choice with VGA input — to Just Scan. With overscanning off, white text on black in our tests was crisp and readable at sizes as small as 6 points, black text on white was highly readable even at 4.5 points, and there were no scaling artifacts in fills that tend to show them.

Video. With video, overscanning ensures that the image fills as much of the screen as possible, but it also contributes to a soft-focus effect. You’ll want to try both settings to see which one you like better. Beyond that, the PH550 handles video nicely. In addition to its near-excellent to excellent color quality, it did a good job of avoiding posterization and held shadow detail well, even in the most demanding text clips. When I connected the projector to a FiOS box I saw only a few rainbow artifacts over several hours of watching TV. Contrast ratio is notably low, with black showing as a glowing gray. This is particularly obvious in theater-dark lighting, where the glow shows in the black background behind scrolling credits or with the black bars in a picture-box format. With the lights on, however, a deep black would get washed out anyway. The somewhat-too-vibrant color also helps compensate for the low contrast ratio by giving the colors a little extra pop. 3D video delivers essentially the same quality as 2D for those aspects of quality that both share. The projector also does well on quality issues specific to 3D, with no crosstalk in my tests and only moderate levels of 3D-related motion artifacts in scenes that tend to cause the problem. There’s only one 3D color preset.

Key Features

TV Tuner. The PH550’s built-in tuner is what makes it a TV. Use the coax input to connect to an antenna or cable TV, run auto-search to find available stations, and you can then watch TV, using the remote to change channels.

Easy Wireless Connections. LG’s Screen Share supports both Miracast and WiDi for easy wireless connection to phones, tablets, and PCs that offer either option.

Rechargeable Battery. The built-in rechargeable battery not only makes the PH550 fully portable, it helps make it a particularly good companion to a cell phone or tablet. LG says a full charge can last from a little less than an hour with the brightest mode to 2.5 hours with the Maximum energy savings mode. Recharging a fully discharged battery takes 3 hours.

Small and Lightweight. The PH550 measures 1.7" by 6.9" by 4.3" (HWD), and weighs only 1.5 pounds including the battery according to my postage scale. (LG’s official claim is 1.4 pounds.)

Both Bluetooth and a Wired Audio Output. LG says it expects most people to use external speakers with the PH550, either plugging into the audio output, or, more likely, taking advantage of the Bluetooth support.

LG PH550 Rear Panel

Usable Audio. The two 1-watt stereo speakers are meant as a fallback if you don’t have external speakers handy. They offer surprisingly high quality audio at a volume suitable for a small room.

Supports Full HD 3D Input. The PH550’s 3D support accepts full HD 3D input from video devices, and it automatically switches to and from 3D mode as needed. The 3D works with DLP-Link glasses only.

Good Lag time. The lag time is lower than most projectors deliver, at 34.2 ms in all modes.

Security. There’s a Kensington lock slot on the back.

Warranty. The price includes a one-year warranty for parts and labor, including the LED light source, which is better than many projectors offer

Performance Brightness- LG rates the PH550 at 550 lumens, but with the hedge that the claim is based on “the perceived brightness equivalent to the brightness of a lamp projector.” In other words, it doesn’t measure 550 lumens on a light meter. Instead, the rating is based on the proposition that the human visual system perceives the LED light source as being brighter than a standard lamp with the same measured brightness. Not having a 550-lumen projector handy for comparison, I can’t confirm the claim. However, I can confirm that I was comfortable watching a substantially larger image for extended viewing than you would expect from the measured brightness. Using AC power, I measured the ANSI Lumens for the three brightness settings. Read More

Read more: The Best Understood As A Portable Big-Screen TV |Boltine.com

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[bonniepospisil]

10 Best Monitors for Xbox One X

Headsets, pro controllers and killer speakers are all good, but without one of the best monitors for Xbox One X, you are never going to be at the top of your game. Which means you won’t see that zombie shambling toward you in time or snipe that Nazi soldier in the watchtower dead in the eye. But shopping for a monitor is daunting, especially if your job is to focus on racking up the frags (or points). There are so many factors to consider. That’s why you are here and as usual, I have you covered with some solid info on the 10 Best Monitors for Xbox One X. I spend way too many hours playing games, so I’ll clue you in on which monitors are best and why, so you don’t waste your time buying an expensive paperweight. I just spent two full weeks playing Xbox One X games on 20 different monitors. Then I researched 20 more, taking into account things like HDR compatibility, refresh rate, resolution, picture sharpness and clarity, design and more. Lastly, I looked at user reviews of these models online and compiled all of the data.

What To Look For In The Best Monitors For Xbox One

The best of today’s 4K console gaming monitors come from top brands like BenQ, Acer, Alienware, Samsung, LG, and ViewSonic, but you can’t count lesser known brands out, which is why I rigorously test and research as many as we can. Today video gamers want 4k resolution, a high refresh rate, either FreeSync over HDMI or G-SYNC to avoid screen tearing while gaming, the right kind of panel (IPS panels offer better all-around visual quality) and low response time for smooth camera movement. It’s also important that a gaming monitor has the proper connection ports. In 2018 alone the industry saw 5.1 million gaming monitor units shipped (R), a figure which will likely be higher for 2019. Many of the monitors below will be a part of those numbers as buyers up their game with new displays.

Our Winner

And now let’s get to my #1 pick. It’s the LG 27UK650-W. LG is a brand name known around the world for quality electronics like smartphones, home appliances, televisions, and monitors. The LG 27UK650-W stands out from the crowd with a 4K HDR display and it comes loaded with features that gamers will go crazy for. From the specs, all the way down to the stand, this LG offering has everything that you want. You won’t find better in this price range.

 #1  LG 27UK650-W - Best Monitor for the Xbox One X

Pros:

Amazing Color Production

Great Gaming Features

Supports AMD FreeSync

Cons:

Needs More USB Inputs

Response Time Is Low

No speakers

The LG 27UK650-W has a lot going for it. This 4K HDR display has many gaming features that will please both hardcore gamers and casual gamers alike.  I put in a decent amount of gaming hours and it blew me away. This 27-inch monitor has an ArcLine stand and some serious versatility. The curve at the base not only keeps things stable but also adds a touch of luxury. It’s very easy to adjust the stand’s height, tilt it back and forth, swivel it, and pivot it any way you want. This LG monitor has a 3840x2160 4K resolution, HDR10 support, nice SDR peak brightness, a 16:9 aspect ratio, 60Hz refresh rate, and a 5ms response time. But that’s not all. It also has AMD FreeSync technology and Dynamic Action Sync so you can look forward to gameplay that is not choppy, with no broken frames.

Low input lag mode combined with all of these other features makes the LG 27UK650-W a very capable gaming monitor. As far as connectivity, LG gives you what you need with a two HDMI 2.0 ports that support HDR and HDCP 2.2, a 1.2 DisplayPort, a USB-C port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Other key features include

Super Resolution+:  Upscaling that gets more data so that it can give you sharper clearer video.

Black Stabilizer: Use this to change the gamma of dark shades so that it doesn’t affect light shades.

Automatic Standby: This will turn the monitor off after periods where there’s no movement on the screen.

More USB inputs would have made the LG 27UK650-W more versatile, and it does have a low response time of 5ms, but everything else that this model offers is simply superb. This 4K monitor wowwed me with its superb color reproduction and gaming features. Very immersive!

 #2  LG 27UD58-B - Best Xbox One X Monitor For Your Money

Pros:

Great Gaming Performance

Sharp UHD Images

Multitasking Screen Split 2.0 

Cons:

Needs More USB Ports

No Speakers

Response Time Can Often Be Slow

LG is known for making quality smartphones, appliances, and smart TVs (R). They also make many gaming displays like the LG 27ud68p and the LG 27uk850w that are highly rated by users online like you and me. The LG 27UD58-B is the monitor that you need if you want it cheap, but don’t want to sacrifice performance. This is a 27 inch gaming monitor that beats out most 4K monitors in the entry-level category. It delivers vivid colors that look great thanks to an Ultra-High Definition (UHD) In-Plane Switching (IPS) panel. Also on board is AMD’s FreeSync which works great with the AMD graphics card in the Xbox One X. The black finish looks great with the ArcLine stand keeping it stable on your desk. It has impressive gaming features, like On-Screen Control with Screen Split, and two HDMI ports and a display port that can both deliver 4K video over a single cable. The 4K Ultra HD resolution gives you a rich pixel density of 163 pixels per inch. You’ll also get a 178-degree viewing angle so that you can see the action no matter where you are viewing it from in the room. That’s great if I have some friends over and they are all watching. On another note, if you are using two monitors, this one is great for your primary sidebar. That IPS panel has 10-bit color depth support through dithering. In fact, it is factory-calibrated to cover over 99% of the sRGB color gamut and this wows you on screen. You can see why this monitor is appealing for its price. The LG 27UD58-B is another fine example of the company’s commitment to quality. If there’s one design flaw here it’s a lack of connectivity options. There are two HDMI ports and a DisplayPort. No USB ports at all. Other key features include:

Super Resolution+ is onboard here as well,

Black Stabilizer feature to darken dark details.

Automatic Standby puts the monitor on standby after 4, 6 or 8 hours of inactivity.

The LG 27UD58-B offers superior performance, giving you a smooth 4K monitor with vibrant colors and crystal clear detail. It gives you all of the great features that you want at a fantastic price. It’s also a great monitor for PS4.

 #3  ASUS MG28UQ

Pros:

Great Picture Quality

Power Supply Is Built-In

Great Pixel Density

Cons:

Contrast Could Be Better

Needs More USB Ports

The Asus MG-series has always been a popular budget alternative to other premium ASUS products and the MG28UQ is a 28-inch Ultra HD monitor that continues this tradition. With a 1ms response time, a flexible tilt and swivel stand and a maximum resolution of 3840x2160 @ 60Hz, this is a great value from Asus. It’s sturdy and sleek with a quality build. The stand itself lets you fully adjust the display to any position you choose. You’ll also love the MG28UQ’s color accuracy. I was surprised by the sharpness and vivid display. This, along with the 1ms response time and Adaptive-Sync technology make this a great buy. The visuals are smooth and Adaptive Synch means that you won’t see any image tearing. As far as connectivity options, it has 3 HDMI ports (1 HDMI 2.0 and 2 HDMI 1.4), along with a single DisplayPort 1.2 connector, 2USB 3.0 ports, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Another interesting feature is ASUS Eye care technology with TUV certified Flicker free and Blue Light Filter. This feature aims to prevent eye fatigue and other eye problems associated with prolonged computer use (R).

ASUS Eye care technology with TUV certified Flicker free and Blue Light Filter helps with less Eye fatigue.

5-Way OSD Joystick for intuitive control.

Crosshair lets you choose 4 different crosshair overlays and adjust them for your playstyle.

On-screen timer.

FPS Counter to show off your framerates.

This is a fantastic monitor that is priced just right. It’s not cheap, but it isn’t overly expensive either. You get great performance, some very cool gamer-oriented features, and surprisingly beautiful images.

 #4  ViewSonic XG2700-4K - Best FreeSynch Monitor For Xbox One X

Pros:

Excellent Image Quality

Lots Of Connectivity Options

Cons:

Not As Bright As Others

Chunky Bezel

Viewsonic makes many quality monitors like the popular ViewSonic xg2402 and the company has a tradition of delivering value as well. The ViewSonic XG2700-4K hits almost all of the right buttons for console gamers and it does so at a great price. This 27 inch has great accurate color, an IPS panel, low response time, Adaptive Refresh technology and some decent customization options. This monitor is a solid choice for those who want FreeSync since it has a DisplayPort connection. So here you’ll find four USB 3 ports, three HDMI 2.0 connectors, a DisplayPort jack, a mini-DisplayPort plug, and an audio jack. I loved FreeSync on this model and found the panel to be very responsive. It also packs in low input lag and a response time of 5ms. That’s not the fastest, but it’s decent for any 4k monitor. I played many hours of Fortnite on this thing and it was a blast. The image quality was great, although not as bright as many other models that we tested. The IPS panel gives you great viewing angles of 178 degrees. So no matter where you are in the room you won’t miss any action. It has excellent color accuracy and the blacks are stunningly deep blacks. It also boasts a 1000:1 contrast ratio. I really liked this one a lot, but one major downside is that thick bezel, which makes it look outdated, bulky and quite frankly, ugly. The low input lag means that when you click your gaming mouse or do anything else, it happens instantly. Key Features

FreeSync monitor technology for smooth frame rates and no motion blur.

Superb Black Stabilization.

Low Input Lag.

The bottom line on the ViewSonic XG2700-4K is that gamers will love it. It has a great contrast ratio that will allow you to see the things that are important in the game. I also like that it has plenty of connectivity options. Image quality looks great. During our testing, FreeSynch was very responsive and we had zero problems with ghosting or tearing. It is a solid choice for console gaming or PC gaming.

 #5  BenQ EL2870U 28 inch 4K - Best Monitor For Gaming And Movies

Pros:

Supports high dynamics range

UHD (Ultra High Definition) Resolution

Great Price

Cons:

Not Enough Connectivity

Built-In Speakers Could Be Better

If you’re looking for a decent 4k monitor that will give you many hours of joy on your gaming consoles at a great price, the BenQ EL2870U 28 inch 4K should be your choice. This UHD monitor performs great whether you’re playing games or watching the latest blockbuster movies. (Action movies look insane.) This entry level 28-inch display offers 4K UHD (3840 x 2160 pixel) resolution at 60hz refresh rate, which is the current standard for 4K. At 28 inches it’s big enough to draw you into the game and immerse you deeply. It also supports HDR10 content and Cinema HDR Mode will enhance the visuals and contrast further. The native contrast ratio is 1000:1 and the dynamic one is 12M:1. Like many other modern monitors, it supports FreeSync as well. It boasts a TN panel with a 1ms GTG response time, which is fast enough for your gaming needs. It makes the experience seamless. This model has an extremely vibrant picture and extremely realistic images with crystal-clear details. It has a nice style, but the stand is not adjustable. I would have preferred that it was. Connectivity is another downside on this 4K UHD IPS monitor.  It just needs more options. It has 2 HDMI 2.0 inputs, DisplayPort 1.4, and a headphone jack. No USB ports. The speakers don’t sound bad, but they are pretty mediocre. The wide color gamuts on this model make everything look natural. Key Features

Brightness Intelligence Plus Technology for a balance between the maximum contrast and vibrancy. You can pick an option he one that brings out the most details with the brightness you want.

Smart Focus allows you to target an area on the screen, so you can focus, with less distraction.

Auto brightness and color temperature detector adjusts the settings for your room environment.

The BenQ EL2870U 28 inch 4K is a superb HDR gaming monitor for multi-use. Watch movies, play games and see everything with sharpness and clarity. It offers very decent game performance and will immerse you for an amazing gaming experience. If you love both games and entertainment this is your choice. This is a very worthy Freesync monitor and one of the better 4k hdr monitors.

 #6  ASUS VP28UQG - Best Budget 4K Monitor For Gaming

Pros:

1 ms Response Time

Great Image Quality

Low Input Lag

Cons

No Built-In Speakers

Asus has a proven track record in the game monitor industry and has annual revenue of $13.9 billion (R). The ASUS VP28UQG is a great example of the company’s experience. Here I felt that they deliver a lot of quality for a great price. This 4K 28" TN monitor has a beautiful design, fast 1ms response time, FreeSync and 1000:1 contrast ratio. The image quality on this monitor is better than most TN monitors thanks to 10-bit color depth and the capability of a crazy 1.07 billion colors. 300-nit peak brightness keeps everything bright here. This model also has ASUS’ GamePlus features including Crosshair, Timer, FPS Counter and Display Alignment. Some buyers might think that the 60Hz refresh rate could be better, but if you are just playing games with your Xbox One X, that’s all you need today. Key Features

ASUS Eye care technology with TUV certified Flicker free and Blue Light Filter helps with less Eye fatigue.

5-Way OSD Joystick for intuitive control.

Crosshair lets you choose 4 different crosshair overlays and adjust them for your playstyle.

On-screen timer.

FPS Counter to show off your framerates.

Between FreeSync, the 1ms response time speed and the 60Hz refresh rate, it’s a very responsive and smooth performer. You won’t see any ghosting or tearing. Just quality images. This 28" monitor has 3840×2160 (UHD) resolution and great specs at a great price. I love that recent ASUS monitors come with so many extras for gamers, which really adds value. This 4k monitor for Xbox has what you need.

 #7  Samsung UE590D

Pros:

Nice Design

Affordable

Fast response

Cons:

Stand Isn’t Adjustable

No USB Ports

Thick Bezels

The prices of 4K gaming monitors have been coming down over the last year as you can see from the other monitors that ranked in our best of list. Here’s another that is popular with gamers due to its great performance and great price. That’s why it won me over. The Samsung UE590D reminds me of the Samsung chg70, but it’s a more recent model. It has a stand that tilts, but that’s about it. There’s no height adjustment here. On one hand, the stand gives it a sleek modern look, but then the 1-inch bezel around the screen takes away from all of that charm. It has a Vesta mount option as well. Looks aren’t everything though. This monitor has it where it counts. You’ll get UHD resolution at refresh rates up to 60 Hz for uninterrupted 4K resolution with no tearing or ghosting. This gaming monitor for Xbox has on-screen settings to adjust things quickly and Game Mode improves darkness or brightness with the optimum balance. I found the color accuracy to be decent for a TN panel if you are both gaming and watching movies. It looked great playing Overwatch and Fortnite with 8 million pixels on the screen. You get a lot of connectivity, but no USB ports here, which is a common thing missing from gaming monitors right now in general. The Samsung u28e590d 4k has DisplayPort 1.2 and 2 different HDMI ports. Eye Saver Mode keeps your eyes comfortable by reducing harmful blue light emissions, while Flicker-free technology reduces eye strain and headaches. Multitaskers will love the picture-by-picture modes which let you watch 2 different input sources at the same time without sacrificing the quality of either. The picture modes are awesome. Key Features

AMD FreeSync and 1ms response time minimizes input lag and reduces image tearing and ghosting.

Picture-in-Picture (PIP) 2.0 technology.

Eye Saver Mode reduces blue light emissions.

The Samsung u28e590d has some really nice features for gaming consoles and while the image quality may not be as stunning as others, it still delivers amazing images and great performance with some very cool features that gamers will love for the price. I loved the picture and picture feature, which is great for gamers who have to multitask. It is one of the more affordable console gaming monitors.

 #8  Dell UP2718Q - A Great True HDR Monitor For Xbox One X

Pros:

Slim Design

Adjustable Stand

Ultra HD Resolution

Cons:

Factory calibrated modes need work

Mediocre Blacks

Dell is no stranger to gaming monitors. They are a trusted name in the industry and are known for quality computers, laptops, and monitors. The company’s u2718q has been a popular model recently and shows that when you buy Dell you know you are getting your money’s worth. I can safely say that while the Dell UP2718Q is not perfect, it is a professional monitor worthy of the brand. This 27-inch 4K IPS LCD monitor with HDR support has great ergonomics and a wide viewing angle. The design isn’t fancy or sleek, which lets this display speak for itself when it comes to what it packs inside. It has a 3840x2160 resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, and a 1000cd/m2 peak brightness. I really enjoyed the vivid colors that the Dell u2718q produces. It has great low input lag for gaming, however, dark room performance leaves something to be desired as blacks appear grayer than true black. This model offers decent connectivity options like 1 DisplayPort 1.4, 1 Mini DisplayPort 1.4, and 2 HDMI 2.0a ports. There are also 4 USB 3.0 ports, 2 in the back and 2 on the left side. I like the extra USB options and wish more of these models followed suit. I also like the factory calibrated modes that it comes with as well, but they aren’t perfect. I love the slim design and games look great on this monitor despite the blacks not being completely black. This is a solid monitor for Xbox One X gamers. Your favorite games are going to look amazing. Dell has delivered a solid gaming monitor here that users can depend on.

 #9  LG 32UD99-W - Best 32 Inch Monitor For Xbox One X

Pros:

Ultra-Thin 1.3mm Bezel

Wide Viewing Angles

Easy To Use Controls

Cons:

Expensive

LG makes our list once again with the LG 32UD99-W, a 32 inch Ultra HD 3840 x 2160-pixel resolution monitor. The realistic images on this 4K display are superb and I really enjoyed gaming on it. It isn’t perfect, but it’s one of the best 4K HDR gaming monitors you can buy right now which is why it ranks at #9 in this buyers guide. It delivers color consistency no matter what angle you look at your screen from, thanks to it being an IPS monitor (in-plane switching). It has a thin and sleek design, although it doesn't swivel, and has a limited tilt range. The  1.3-millimeter bezel looks really nice too. This model has a decent contrast ratio and black uniformity is also very good, with good SDR peak brightness. HDR 10 means that it supports more color levels and I was impressed by how the colors pop out at you. Other features include a 5 ms GTG response time and a 60 Hz refresh rate.  There is no local dimming feature. Surprisingly, the LG 32UD99-W delivers a great sound experience with its 2 5-Watt speakers that cover the 85 Hz range. I was pretty surprised by this. Connectivity is also decent here with two HDMI 2.0a ports, two USB 3.0 ports, and a USB Type-C DisplayPort 1.2. You can watch 4K videos, transfer data, and charge your devices at once via a single cable. Yes, this 32 inch display has a lot going for it. I loved using Screen Split 2.0 on this display, which allows you to resize and display multiple windows simultaneously. There are 14 layouts and 4 of these are picture-in-picture. I absolutely love this feature.  Other LG models that I looked at, but didn’t make the cut are the LG 32ud60b, LG 32ud99 and the LG 27uk650, to give you some idea. Those are good monitors, but this one is a better gaming monitor for Xbox. This model proves that you don’t need a huge 4k version like the Philips 436m6vbpab to experience great gaming. Key Features

Screen Split 2.0

HDR10

Great Speakers

The LG 32UD99-W is a great choice for gamers who love a great visual experience thanks to its wide viewing angles, and response time speed. It delivers superb picture quality thanks to Ultra High Definition (UHD) resolution. You won’t find a better 32 inch display this feature rich or this good looking. One of the best monitors for ps4 and Xbox.

 #10  Acer G246HL - Best 24 Inch Gaming Monitor

Pros:

5ms Response Time

EcoDisplay technology

Great Image Quality

Cons:

Speakers Aren’t Good

Lack of UDB ports

Many gamers have a very small budget, but a big desire for the best experience when PC gaming or using a console. The Acer G246HL is for those people. This 24-inch screen LED-lit monitor is super slim with an X-shaped stand that ensures stability. It looks lovely, but the performance also does not disappoint. The resolution of 1920 x 1080p delivers crystal-clear images for Xbox gaming without any lag or glitches in a 16:9 aspect ratio. A great monitor for PS4 Pro as well. It has a quick response time of 5ms and Acer eColor management allows you to use a customized mode, while Acer Adaptive Contrast Management gives you improved color quality and seamless visuals. It is not Vesa Mount compatible. It has DVI-D, VGA and HDCP ports. Like many models, it lacks USB ports. The only other downside is that the speakers do not sound good at all. This monitor does have a wide viewing angle of 170º so that you can see all of the action from any position. EcoDisplay Technology reduces energy consumption and is better for the environment, which makes this a great buy for those who are environmentally conscious. Key Features

Acer eColor management

Acer Adaptive Contrast Management

EcoDisplay Technology

This monitor for PS4 Pro and other consoles scores big while being cheap, beautiful and performing great. If you are a gamer, I think you’ll love it. EcoDisplay technology is a nice plus. Honestly, gaming on a budget never used to be this good.

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10 Best Monitors for Xbox One X

Headsets, pro controllers and killer speakers are all good, but without one of the best monitors for Xbox One X, you are never going to be at the top of your game. Which means you won’t see that zombie shambling toward you in time or snipe that Nazi soldier in the watchtower dead in the eye. But shopping for a monitor is daunting, especially if your job is to focus on racking up the frags (or points). There are so many factors to consider. That’s why you are here and as usual, I have you covered with some solid info on the 10 Best Monitors for Xbox One X. I spend way too many hours playing games, so I’ll clue you in on which monitors are best and why, so you don’t waste your time buying an expensive paperweight. I just spent two full weeks playing Xbox One X games on 20 different monitors. Then I researched 20 more, taking into account things like HDR compatibility, refresh rate, resolution, picture sharpness and clarity, design and more. Lastly, I looked at user reviews of these models online and compiled all of the data.

What To Look For In The Best Monitors For Xbox One

The best of today’s 4K console gaming monitors come from top brands like BenQ, Acer, Alienware, Samsung, LG, and ViewSonic, but you can’t count lesser known brands out, which is why I rigorously test and research as many as we can. Today video gamers want 4k resolution, a high refresh rate, either FreeSync over HDMI or G-SYNC to avoid screen tearing while gaming, the right kind of panel (IPS panels offer better all-around visual quality) and low response time for smooth camera movement. It’s also important that a gaming monitor has the proper connection ports. In 2018 alone the industry saw 5.1 million gaming monitor units shipped (R), a figure which will likely be higher for 2019. Many of the monitors below will be a part of those numbers as buyers up their game with new displays.

Our Winner

And now let’s get to my #1 pick. It’s the LG 27UK650-W. LG is a brand name known around the world for quality electronics like smartphones, home appliances, televisions, and monitors. The LG 27UK650-W stands out from the crowd with a 4K HDR display and it comes loaded with features that gamers will go crazy for. From the specs, all the way down to the stand, this LG offering has everything that you want. You won’t find better in this price range.

 #1  LG 27UK650-W - Best Monitor for the Xbox One X

Pros:

Amazing Color Production

Great Gaming Features

Supports AMD FreeSync

Cons:

Needs More USB Inputs

Response Time Is Low

No speakers

The LG 27UK650-W has a lot going for it. This 4K HDR display has many gaming features that will please both hardcore gamers and casual gamers alike.  I put in a decent amount of gaming hours and it blew me away. This 27-inch monitor has an ArcLine stand and some serious versatility. The curve at the base not only keeps things stable but also adds a touch of luxury. It’s very easy to adjust the stand’s height, tilt it back and forth, swivel it, and pivot it any way you want. This LG monitor has a 3840x2160 4K resolution, HDR10 support, nice SDR peak brightness, a 16:9 aspect ratio, 60Hz refresh rate, and a 5ms response time. But that’s not all. It also has AMD FreeSync technology and Dynamic Action Sync so you can look forward to gameplay that is not choppy, with no broken frames.

Low input lag mode combined with all of these other features makes the LG 27UK650-W a very capable gaming monitor. As far as connectivity, LG gives you what you need with a two HDMI 2.0 ports that support HDR and HDCP 2.2, a 1.2 DisplayPort, a USB-C port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Other key features include

Super Resolution+:  Upscaling that gets more data so that it can give you sharper clearer video.

Black Stabilizer: Use this to change the gamma of dark shades so that it doesn’t affect light shades.

Automatic Standby: This will turn the monitor off after periods where there’s no movement on the screen.

More USB inputs would have made the LG 27UK650-W more versatile, and it does have a low response time of 5ms, but everything else that this model offers is simply superb. This 4K monitor wowwed me with its superb color reproduction and gaming features. Very immersive!

 #2  LG 27UD58-B - Best Xbox One X Monitor For Your Money

Pros:

Great Gaming Performance

Sharp UHD Images

Multitasking Screen Split 2.0 

Cons:

Needs More USB Ports

No Speakers

Response Time Can Often Be Slow

LG is known for making quality smartphones, appliances, and smart TVs (R). They also make many gaming displays like the LG 27ud68p and the LG 27uk850w that are highly rated by users online like you and me. The LG 27UD58-B is the monitor that you need if you want it cheap, but don’t want to sacrifice performance. This is a 27 inch gaming monitor that beats out most 4K monitors in the entry-level category. It delivers vivid colors that look great thanks to an Ultra-High Definition (UHD) In-Plane Switching (IPS) panel. Also on board is AMD’s FreeSync which works great with the AMD graphics card in the Xbox One X. The black finish looks great with the ArcLine stand keeping it stable on your desk. It has impressive gaming features, like On-Screen Control with Screen Split, and two HDMI ports and a display port that can both deliver 4K video over a single cable. The 4K Ultra HD resolution gives you a rich pixel density of 163 pixels per inch. You’ll also get a 178-degree viewing angle so that you can see the action no matter where you are viewing it from in the room. That’s great if I have some friends over and they are all watching. On another note, if you are using two monitors, this one is great for your primary sidebar. That IPS panel has 10-bit color depth support through dithering. In fact, it is factory-calibrated to cover over 99% of the sRGB color gamut and this wows you on screen. You can see why this monitor is appealing for its price. The LG 27UD58-B is another fine example of the company’s commitment to quality. If there’s one design flaw here it’s a lack of connectivity options. There are two HDMI ports and a DisplayPort. No USB ports at all. Other key features include:

Super Resolution+ is onboard here as well,

Black Stabilizer feature to darken dark details.

Automatic Standby puts the monitor on standby after 4, 6 or 8 hours of inactivity.

The LG 27UD58-B offers superior performance, giving you a smooth 4K monitor with vibrant colors and crystal clear detail. It gives you all of the great features that you want at a fantastic price. It’s also a great monitor for PS4.

 #3  ASUS MG28UQ

Pros:

Great Picture Quality

Power Supply Is Built-In

Great Pixel Density

Cons:

Contrast Could Be Better

Needs More USB Ports

The Asus MG-series has always been a popular budget alternative to other premium ASUS products and the MG28UQ is a 28-inch Ultra HD monitor that continues this tradition. With a 1ms response time, a flexible tilt and swivel stand and a maximum resolution of 3840x2160 @ 60Hz, this is a great value from Asus. It’s sturdy and sleek with a quality build. The stand itself lets you fully adjust the display to any position you choose. You’ll also love the MG28UQ’s color accuracy. I was surprised by the sharpness and vivid display. This, along with the 1ms response time and Adaptive-Sync technology make this a great buy. The visuals are smooth and Adaptive Synch means that you won’t see any image tearing. As far as connectivity options, it has 3 HDMI ports (1 HDMI 2.0 and 2 HDMI 1.4), along with a single DisplayPort 1.2 connector, 2USB 3.0 ports, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Another interesting feature is ASUS Eye care technology with TUV certified Flicker free and Blue Light Filter. This feature aims to prevent eye fatigue and other eye problems associated with prolonged computer use (R).

ASUS Eye care technology with TUV certified Flicker free and Blue Light Filter helps with less Eye fatigue.

5-Way OSD Joystick for intuitive control.

Crosshair lets you choose 4 different crosshair overlays and adjust them for your playstyle.

On-screen timer.

FPS Counter to show off your framerates.

This is a fantastic monitor that is priced just right. It’s not cheap, but it isn’t overly expensive either. You get great performance, some very cool gamer-oriented features, and surprisingly beautiful images.

 #4  ViewSonic XG2700-4K - Best FreeSynch Monitor For Xbox One X

Pros:

Excellent Image Quality

Lots Of Connectivity Options

Cons:

Not As Bright As Others

Chunky Bezel

Viewsonic makes many quality monitors like the popular ViewSonic xg2402 and the company has a tradition of delivering value as well. The ViewSonic XG2700-4K hits almost all of the right buttons for console gamers and it does so at a great price. This 27 inch has great accurate color, an IPS panel, low response time, Adaptive Refresh technology and some decent customization options. This monitor is a solid choice for those who want FreeSync since it has a DisplayPort connection. So here you’ll find four USB 3 ports, three HDMI 2.0 connectors, a DisplayPort jack, a mini-DisplayPort plug, and an audio jack. I loved FreeSync on this model and found the panel to be very responsive. It also packs in low input lag and a response time of 5ms. That’s not the fastest, but it’s decent for any 4k monitor. I played many hours of Fortnite on this thing and it was a blast. The image quality was great, although not as bright as many other models that we tested. The IPS panel gives you great viewing angles of 178 degrees. So no matter where you are in the room you won’t miss any action. It has excellent color accuracy and the blacks are stunningly deep blacks. It also boasts a 1000:1 contrast ratio. I really liked this one a lot, but one major downside is that thick bezel, which makes it look outdated, bulky and quite frankly, ugly. The low input lag means that when you click your gaming mouse or do anything else, it happens instantly. Key Features

FreeSync monitor technology for smooth frame rates and no motion blur.

Superb Black Stabilization.

Low Input Lag.

The bottom line on the ViewSonic XG2700-4K is that gamers will love it. It has a great contrast ratio that will allow you to see the things that are important in the game. I also like that it has plenty of connectivity options. Image quality looks great. During our testing, FreeSynch was very responsive and we had zero problems with ghosting or tearing. It is a solid choice for console gaming or PC gaming.

 #5  BenQ EL2870U 28 inch 4K - Best Monitor For Gaming And Movies

Pros:

Supports high dynamics range

UHD (Ultra High Definition) Resolution

Great Price

Cons:

Not Enough Connectivity

Built-In Speakers Could Be Better

If you’re looking for a decent 4k monitor that will give you many hours of joy on your gaming consoles at a great price, the BenQ EL2870U 28 inch 4K should be your choice. This UHD monitor performs great whether you’re playing games or watching the latest blockbuster movies. (Action movies look insane.) This entry level 28-inch display offers 4K UHD (3840 x 2160 pixel) resolution at 60hz refresh rate, which is the current standard for 4K. At 28 inches it’s big enough to draw you into the game and immerse you deeply. It also supports HDR10 content and Cinema HDR Mode will enhance the visuals and contrast further. The native contrast ratio is 1000:1 and the dynamic one is 12M:1. Like many other modern monitors, it supports FreeSync as well. It boasts a TN panel with a 1ms GTG response time, which is fast enough for your gaming needs. It makes the experience seamless. This model has an extremely vibrant picture and extremely realistic images with crystal-clear details. It has a nice style, but the stand is not adjustable. I would have preferred that it was. Connectivity is another downside on this 4K UHD IPS monitor.  It just needs more options. It has 2 HDMI 2.0 inputs, DisplayPort 1.4, and a headphone jack. No USB ports. The speakers don’t sound bad, but they are pretty mediocre. The wide color gamuts on this model make everything look natural. Key Features

Brightness Intelligence Plus Technology for a balance between the maximum contrast and vibrancy. You can pick an option he one that brings out the most details with the brightness you want.

Smart Focus allows you to target an area on the screen, so you can focus, with less distraction.

Auto brightness and color temperature detector adjusts the settings for your room environment.

The BenQ EL2870U 28 inch 4K is a superb HDR gaming monitor for multi-use. Watch movies, play games and see everything with sharpness and clarity. It offers very decent game performance and will immerse you for an amazing gaming experience. If you love both games and entertainment this is your choice. This is a very worthy Freesync monitor and one of the better 4k hdr monitors.

 #6  ASUS VP28UQG - Best Budget 4K Monitor For Gaming

Pros:

1 ms Response Time

Great Image Quality

Low Input Lag

Cons

No Built-In Speakers

Asus has a proven track record in the game monitor industry and has annual revenue of $13.9 billion (R). The ASUS VP28UQG is a great example of the company’s experience. Here I felt that they deliver a lot of quality for a great price. This 4K 28" TN monitor has a beautiful design, fast 1ms response time, FreeSync and 1000:1 contrast ratio. The image quality on this monitor is better than most TN monitors thanks to 10-bit color depth and the capability of a crazy 1.07 billion colors. 300-nit peak brightness keeps everything bright here. This model also has ASUS’ GamePlus features including Crosshair, Timer, FPS Counter and Display Alignment. Some buyers might think that the 60Hz refresh rate could be better, but if you are just playing games with your Xbox One X, that’s all you need today. Key Features

ASUS Eye care technology with TUV certified Flicker free and Blue Light Filter helps with less Eye fatigue.

5-Way OSD Joystick for intuitive control.

Crosshair lets you choose 4 different crosshair overlays and adjust them for your playstyle.

On-screen timer.

FPS Counter to show off your framerates.

Between FreeSync, the 1ms response time speed and the 60Hz refresh rate, it’s a very responsive and smooth performer. You won’t see any ghosting or tearing. Just quality images. This 28" monitor has 3840×2160 (UHD) resolution and great specs at a great price. I love that recent ASUS monitors come with so many extras for gamers, which really adds value. This 4k monitor for Xbox has what you need.

 #7  Samsung UE590D

Pros:

Nice Design

Affordable

Fast response

Cons:

Stand Isn’t Adjustable

No USB Ports

Thick Bezels

The prices of 4K gaming monitors have been coming down over the last year as you can see from the other monitors that ranked in our best of list. Here’s another that is popular with gamers due to its great performance and great price. That’s why it won me over. The Samsung UE590D reminds me of the Samsung chg70, but it’s a more recent model. It has a stand that tilts, but that’s about it. There’s no height adjustment here. On one hand, the stand gives it a sleek modern look, but then the 1-inch bezel around the screen takes away from all of that charm. It has a Vesta mount option as well. Looks aren’t everything though. This monitor has it where it counts. You’ll get UHD resolution at refresh rates up to 60 Hz for uninterrupted 4K resolution with no tearing or ghosting. This gaming monitor for Xbox has on-screen settings to adjust things quickly and Game Mode improves darkness or brightness with the optimum balance. I found the color accuracy to be decent for a TN panel if you are both gaming and watching movies. It looked great playing Overwatch and Fortnite with 8 million pixels on the screen. You get a lot of connectivity, but no USB ports here, which is a common thing missing from gaming monitors right now in general. The Samsung u28e590d 4k has DisplayPort 1.2 and 2 different HDMI ports. Eye Saver Mode keeps your eyes comfortable by reducing harmful blue light emissions, while Flicker-free technology reduces eye strain and headaches. Multitaskers will love the picture-by-picture modes which let you watch 2 different input sources at the same time without sacrificing the quality of either. The picture modes are awesome. Key Features

AMD FreeSync and 1ms response time minimizes input lag and reduces image tearing and ghosting.

Picture-in-Picture (PIP) 2.0 technology.

Eye Saver Mode reduces blue light emissions.

The Samsung u28e590d has some really nice features for gaming consoles and while the image quality may not be as stunning as others, it still delivers amazing images and great performance with some very cool features that gamers will love for the price. I loved the picture and picture feature, which is great for gamers who have to multitask. It is one of the more affordable console gaming monitors.

 #8  Dell UP2718Q - A Great True HDR Monitor For Xbox One X

Pros:

Slim Design

Adjustable Stand

Ultra HD Resolution

Cons:

Factory calibrated modes need work

Mediocre Blacks

Dell is no stranger to gaming monitors. They are a trusted name in the industry and are known for quality computers, laptops, and monitors. The company’s u2718q has been a popular model recently and shows that when you buy Dell you know you are getting your money’s worth. I can safely say that while the Dell UP2718Q is not perfect, it is a professional monitor worthy of the brand. This 27-inch 4K IPS LCD monitor with HDR support has great ergonomics and a wide viewing angle. The design isn’t fancy or sleek, which lets this display speak for itself when it comes to what it packs inside. It has a 3840x2160 resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, and a 1000cd/m2 peak brightness. I really enjoyed the vivid colors that the Dell u2718q produces. It has great low input lag for gaming, however, dark room performance leaves something to be desired as blacks appear grayer than true black. This model offers decent connectivity options like 1 DisplayPort 1.4, 1 Mini DisplayPort 1.4, and 2 HDMI 2.0a ports. There are also 4 USB 3.0 ports, 2 in the back and 2 on the left side. I like the extra USB options and wish more of these models followed suit. I also like the factory calibrated modes that it comes with as well, but they aren’t perfect. I love the slim design and games look great on this monitor despite the blacks not being completely black. This is a solid monitor for Xbox One X gamers. Your favorite games are going to look amazing. Dell has delivered a solid gaming monitor here that users can depend on.

 #9  LG 32UD99-W - Best 32 Inch Monitor For Xbox One X

Pros:

Ultra-Thin 1.3mm Bezel

Wide Viewing Angles

Easy To Use Controls

Cons:

Expensive

LG makes our list once again with the LG 32UD99-W, a 32 inch Ultra HD 3840 x 2160-pixel resolution monitor. The realistic images on this 4K display are superb and I really enjoyed gaming on it. It isn’t perfect, but it’s one of the best 4K HDR gaming monitors you can buy right now which is why it ranks at #9 in this buyers guide. It delivers color consistency no matter what angle you look at your screen from, thanks to it being an IPS monitor (in-plane switching). It has a thin and sleek design, although it doesn't swivel, and has a limited tilt range. The  1.3-millimeter bezel looks really nice too. This model has a decent contrast ratio and black uniformity is also very good, with good SDR peak brightness. HDR 10 means that it supports more color levels and I was impressed by how the colors pop out at you. Other features include a 5 ms GTG response time and a 60 Hz refresh rate.  There is no local dimming feature. Surprisingly, the LG 32UD99-W delivers a great sound experience with its 2 5-Watt speakers that cover the 85 Hz range. I was pretty surprised by this. Connectivity is also decent here with two HDMI 2.0a ports, two USB 3.0 ports, and a USB Type-C DisplayPort 1.2. You can watch 4K videos, transfer data, and charge your devices at once via a single cable. Yes, this 32 inch display has a lot going for it. I loved using Screen Split 2.0 on this display, which allows you to resize and display multiple windows simultaneously. There are 14 layouts and 4 of these are picture-in-picture. I absolutely love this feature.  Other LG models that I looked at, but didn’t make the cut are the LG 32ud60b, LG 32ud99 and the LG 27uk650, to give you some idea. Those are good monitors, but this one is a better gaming monitor for Xbox. This model proves that you don’t need a huge 4k version like the Philips 436m6vbpab to experience great gaming. Key Features

Screen Split 2.0

HDR10

Great Speakers

The LG 32UD99-W is a great choice for gamers who love a great visual experience thanks to its wide viewing angles, and response time speed. It delivers superb picture quality thanks to Ultra High Definition (UHD) resolution. You won’t find a better 32 inch display this feature rich or this good looking. One of the best monitors for ps4 and Xbox.

 #10  Acer G246HL - Best 24 Inch Gaming Monitor

Pros:

5ms Response Time

EcoDisplay technology

Great Image Quality

Cons:

Speakers Aren’t Good

Lack of UDB ports

Many gamers have a very small budget, but a big desire for the best experience when PC gaming or using a console. The Acer G246HL is for those people. This 24-inch screen LED-lit monitor is super slim with an X-shaped stand that ensures stability. It looks lovely, but the performance also does not disappoint. The resolution of 1920 x 1080p delivers crystal-clear images for Xbox gaming without any lag or glitches in a 16:9 aspect ratio. A great monitor for PS4 Pro as well. It has a quick response time of 5ms and Acer eColor management allows you to use a customized mode, while Acer Adaptive Contrast Management gives you improved color quality and seamless visuals. It is not Vesa Mount compatible. It has DVI-D, VGA and HDCP ports. Like many models, it lacks USB ports. The only other downside is that the speakers do not sound good at all. This monitor does have a wide viewing angle of 170º so that you can see all of the action from any position. EcoDisplay Technology reduces energy consumption and is better for the environment, which makes this a great buy for those who are environmentally conscious. Key Features

Acer eColor management

Acer Adaptive Contrast Management

EcoDisplay Technology

This monitor for PS4 Pro and other consoles scores big while being cheap, beautiful and performing great. If you are a gamer, I think you’ll love it. EcoDisplay technology is a nice plus. Honestly, gaming on a budget never used to be this good.

10 Best Monitors for Xbox One X Read more on: http://www.gadgetreview.com/

10 Best Monitors for Xbox One X published first on http://www.gadgetreview.com/ 10 Best Monitors for Xbox One X published first on http://www.gadgetreview.com/ 10 Best Monitors for Xbox One X published first on http://www.gadgetreview.com/

[angelaakers]

10 Best Monitors for Xbox One X

Headsets, pro controllers and killer speakers are all good, but without one of the best monitors for Xbox One X, you are never going to be at the top of your game. Which means you won’t see that zombie shambling toward you in time or snipe that Nazi soldier in the watchtower dead in the eye. But shopping for a monitor is daunting, especially if your job is to focus on racking up the frags (or points). There are so many factors to consider. That’s why you are here and as usual, I have you covered with some solid info on the 10 Best Monitors for Xbox One X. I spend way too many hours playing games, so I’ll clue you in on which monitors are best and why, so you don’t waste your time buying an expensive paperweight. I just spent two full weeks playing Xbox One X games on 20 different monitors. Then I researched 20 more, taking into account things like HDR compatibility, refresh rate, resolution, picture sharpness and clarity, design and more. Lastly, I looked at user reviews of these models online and compiled all of the data.

What To Look For In The Best Monitors For Xbox One

The best of today’s 4K console gaming monitors come from top brands like BenQ, Acer, Alienware, Samsung, LG, and ViewSonic, but you can’t count lesser known brands out, which is why I rigorously test and research as many as we can. Today video gamers want 4k resolution, a high refresh rate, either FreeSync over HDMI or G-SYNC to avoid screen tearing while gaming, the right kind of panel (IPS panels offer better all-around visual quality) and low response time for smooth camera movement. It’s also important that a gaming monitor has the proper connection ports. In 2018 alone the industry saw 5.1 million gaming monitor units shipped (R), a figure which will likely be higher for 2019. Many of the monitors below will be a part of those numbers as buyers up their game with new displays.

Our Winner

And now let’s get to my #1 pick. It’s the LG 27UK650-W. LG is a brand name known around the world for quality electronics like smartphones, home appliances, televisions, and monitors. The LG 27UK650-W stands out from the crowd with a 4K HDR display and it comes loaded with features that gamers will go crazy for. From the specs, all the way down to the stand, this LG offering has everything that you want. You won’t find better in this price range.

 #1  LG 27UK650-W - Best Monitor for the Xbox One X

Pros:

Amazing Color Production

Great Gaming Features

Supports AMD FreeSync

Cons:

Needs More USB Inputs

Response Time Is Low

No speakers

The LG 27UK650-W has a lot going for it. This 4K HDR display has many gaming features that will please both hardcore gamers and casual gamers alike.  I put in a decent amount of gaming hours and it blew me away. This 27-inch monitor has an ArcLine stand and some serious versatility. The curve at the base not only keeps things stable but also adds a touch of luxury. It’s very easy to adjust the stand’s height, tilt it back and forth, swivel it, and pivot it any way you want. This LG monitor has a 3840x2160 4K resolution, HDR10 support, nice SDR peak brightness, a 16:9 aspect ratio, 60Hz refresh rate, and a 5ms response time. But that’s not all. It also has AMD FreeSync technology and Dynamic Action Sync so you can look forward to gameplay that is not choppy, with no broken frames.

Low input lag mode combined with all of these other features makes the LG 27UK650-W a very capable gaming monitor. As far as connectivity, LG gives you what you need with a two HDMI 2.0 ports that support HDR and HDCP 2.2, a 1.2 DisplayPort, a USB-C port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Other key features include

Super Resolution+:  Upscaling that gets more data so that it can give you sharper clearer video.

Black Stabilizer: Use this to change the gamma of dark shades so that it doesn’t affect light shades.

Automatic Standby: This will turn the monitor off after periods where there’s no movement on the screen.

More USB inputs would have made the LG 27UK650-W more versatile, and it does have a low response time of 5ms, but everything else that this model offers is simply superb. This 4K monitor wowwed me with its superb color reproduction and gaming features. Very immersive!

 #2  LG 27UD58-B - Best Xbox One X Monitor For Your Money

Pros:

Great Gaming Performance

Sharp UHD Images

Multitasking Screen Split 2.0 

Cons:

Needs More USB Ports

No Speakers

Response Time Can Often Be Slow

LG is known for making quality smartphones, appliances, and smart TVs (R). They also make many gaming displays like the LG 27ud68p and the LG 27uk850w that are highly rated by users online like you and me. The LG 27UD58-B is the monitor that you need if you want it cheap, but don’t want to sacrifice performance. This is a 27 inch gaming monitor that beats out most 4K monitors in the entry-level category. It delivers vivid colors that look great thanks to an Ultra-High Definition (UHD) In-Plane Switching (IPS) panel. Also on board is AMD’s FreeSync which works great with the AMD graphics card in the Xbox One X. The black finish looks great with the ArcLine stand keeping it stable on your desk. It has impressive gaming features, like On-Screen Control with Screen Split, and two HDMI ports and a display port that can both deliver 4K video over a single cable. The 4K Ultra HD resolution gives you a rich pixel density of 163 pixels per inch. You’ll also get a 178-degree viewing angle so that you can see the action no matter where you are viewing it from in the room. That’s great if I have some friends over and they are all watching. On another note, if you are using two monitors, this one is great for your primary sidebar. That IPS panel has 10-bit color depth support through dithering. In fact, it is factory-calibrated to cover over 99% of the sRGB color gamut and this wows you on screen. You can see why this monitor is appealing for its price. The LG 27UD58-B is another fine example of the company’s commitment to quality. If there’s one design flaw here it’s a lack of connectivity options. There are two HDMI ports and a DisplayPort. No USB ports at all. Other key features include:

Super Resolution+ is onboard here as well,

Black Stabilizer feature to darken dark details.

Automatic Standby puts the monitor on standby after 4, 6 or 8 hours of inactivity.

The LG 27UD58-B offers superior performance, giving you a smooth 4K monitor with vibrant colors and crystal clear detail. It gives you all of the great features that you want at a fantastic price. It’s also a great monitor for PS4.

 #3  ASUS MG28UQ

Pros:

Great Picture Quality

Power Supply Is Built-In

Great Pixel Density

Cons:

Contrast Could Be Better

Needs More USB Ports

The Asus MG-series has always been a popular budget alternative to other premium ASUS products and the MG28UQ is a 28-inch Ultra HD monitor that continues this tradition. With a 1ms response time, a flexible tilt and swivel stand and a maximum resolution of 3840x2160 @ 60Hz, this is a great value from Asus. It’s sturdy and sleek with a quality build. The stand itself lets you fully adjust the display to any position you choose. You’ll also love the MG28UQ’s color accuracy. I was surprised by the sharpness and vivid display. This, along with the 1ms response time and Adaptive-Sync technology make this a great buy. The visuals are smooth and Adaptive Synch means that you won’t see any image tearing. As far as connectivity options, it has 3 HDMI ports (1 HDMI 2.0 and 2 HDMI 1.4), along with a single DisplayPort 1.2 connector, 2USB 3.0 ports, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Another interesting feature is ASUS Eye care technology with TUV certified Flicker free and Blue Light Filter. This feature aims to prevent eye fatigue and other eye problems associated with prolonged computer use (R).

ASUS Eye care technology with TUV certified Flicker free and Blue Light Filter helps with less Eye fatigue.

5-Way OSD Joystick for intuitive control.

Crosshair lets you choose 4 different crosshair overlays and adjust them for your playstyle.

On-screen timer.

FPS Counter to show off your framerates.

This is a fantastic monitor that is priced just right. It’s not cheap, but it isn’t overly expensive either. You get great performance, some very cool gamer-oriented features, and surprisingly beautiful images.

 #4  ViewSonic XG2700-4K - Best FreeSynch Monitor For Xbox One X

Pros:

Excellent Image Quality

Lots Of Connectivity Options

Cons:

Not As Bright As Others

Chunky Bezel

Viewsonic makes many quality monitors like the popular ViewSonic xg2402 and the company has a tradition of delivering value as well. The ViewSonic XG2700-4K hits almost all of the right buttons for console gamers and it does so at a great price. This 27 inch has great accurate color, an IPS panel, low response time, Adaptive Refresh technology and some decent customization options. This monitor is a solid choice for those who want FreeSync since it has a DisplayPort connection. So here you’ll find four USB 3 ports, three HDMI 2.0 connectors, a DisplayPort jack, a mini-DisplayPort plug, and an audio jack. I loved FreeSync on this model and found the panel to be very responsive. It also packs in low input lag and a response time of 5ms. That’s not the fastest, but it’s decent for any 4k monitor. I played many hours of Fortnite on this thing and it was a blast. The image quality was great, although not as bright as many other models that we tested. The IPS panel gives you great viewing angles of 178 degrees. So no matter where you are in the room you won’t miss any action. It has excellent color accuracy and the blacks are stunningly deep blacks. It also boasts a 1000:1 contrast ratio. I really liked this one a lot, but one major downside is that thick bezel, which makes it look outdated, bulky and quite frankly, ugly. The low input lag means that when you click your gaming mouse or do anything else, it happens instantly. Key Features

FreeSync monitor technology for smooth frame rates and no motion blur.

Superb Black Stabilization.

Low Input Lag.

The bottom line on the ViewSonic XG2700-4K is that gamers will love it. It has a great contrast ratio that will allow you to see the things that are important in the game. I also like that it has plenty of connectivity options. Image quality looks great. During our testing, FreeSynch was very responsive and we had zero problems with ghosting or tearing. It is a solid choice for console gaming or PC gaming.

 #5  BenQ EL2870U 28 inch 4K - Best Monitor For Gaming And Movies

Pros:

Supports high dynamics range

UHD (Ultra High Definition) Resolution

Great Price

Cons:

Not Enough Connectivity

Built-In Speakers Could Be Better

If you’re looking for a decent 4k monitor that will give you many hours of joy on your gaming consoles at a great price, the BenQ EL2870U 28 inch 4K should be your choice. This UHD monitor performs great whether you’re playing games or watching the latest blockbuster movies. (Action movies look insane.) This entry level 28-inch display offers 4K UHD (3840 x 2160 pixel) resolution at 60hz refresh rate, which is the current standard for 4K. At 28 inches it’s big enough to draw you into the game and immerse you deeply. It also supports HDR10 content and Cinema HDR Mode will enhance the visuals and contrast further. The native contrast ratio is 1000:1 and the dynamic one is 12M:1. Like many other modern monitors, it supports FreeSync as well. It boasts a TN panel with a 1ms GTG response time, which is fast enough for your gaming needs. It makes the experience seamless. This model has an extremely vibrant picture and extremely realistic images with crystal-clear details. It has a nice style, but the stand is not adjustable. I would have preferred that it was. Connectivity is another downside on this 4K UHD IPS monitor.  It just needs more options. It has 2 HDMI 2.0 inputs, DisplayPort 1.4, and a headphone jack. No USB ports. The speakers don’t sound bad, but they are pretty mediocre. The wide color gamuts on this model make everything look natural. Key Features

Brightness Intelligence Plus Technology for a balance between the maximum contrast and vibrancy. You can pick an option he one that brings out the most details with the brightness you want.

Smart Focus allows you to target an area on the screen, so you can focus, with less distraction.

Auto brightness and color temperature detector adjusts the settings for your room environment.

The BenQ EL2870U 28 inch 4K is a superb HDR gaming monitor for multi-use. Watch movies, play games and see everything with sharpness and clarity. It offers very decent game performance and will immerse you for an amazing gaming experience. If you love both games and entertainment this is your choice. This is a very worthy Freesync monitor and one of the better 4k hdr monitors.

 #6  ASUS VP28UQG - Best Budget 4K Monitor For Gaming

Pros:

1 ms Response Time

Great Image Quality

Low Input Lag

Cons

No Built-In Speakers

Asus has a proven track record in the game monitor industry and has annual revenue of $13.9 billion (R). The ASUS VP28UQG is a great example of the company’s experience. Here I felt that they deliver a lot of quality for a great price. This 4K 28" TN monitor has a beautiful design, fast 1ms response time, FreeSync and 1000:1 contrast ratio. The image quality on this monitor is better than most TN monitors thanks to 10-bit color depth and the capability of a crazy 1.07 billion colors. 300-nit peak brightness keeps everything bright here. This model also has ASUS’ GamePlus features including Crosshair, Timer, FPS Counter and Display Alignment. Some buyers might think that the 60Hz refresh rate could be better, but if you are just playing games with your Xbox One X, that’s all you need today. Key Features

ASUS Eye care technology with TUV certified Flicker free and Blue Light Filter helps with less Eye fatigue.

5-Way OSD Joystick for intuitive control.

Crosshair lets you choose 4 different crosshair overlays and adjust them for your playstyle.

On-screen timer.

FPS Counter to show off your framerates.

Between FreeSync, the 1ms response time speed and the 60Hz refresh rate, it’s a very responsive and smooth performer. You won’t see any ghosting or tearing. Just quality images. This 28" monitor has 3840×2160 (UHD) resolution and great specs at a great price. I love that recent ASUS monitors come with so many extras for gamers, which really adds value. This 4k monitor for Xbox has what you need.

 #7  Samsung UE590D

Pros:

Nice Design

Affordable

Fast response

Cons:

Stand Isn’t Adjustable

No USB Ports

Thick Bezels

The prices of 4K gaming monitors have been coming down over the last year as you can see from the other monitors that ranked in our best of list. Here’s another that is popular with gamers due to its great performance and great price. That’s why it won me over. The Samsung UE590D reminds me of the Samsung chg70, but it’s a more recent model. It has a stand that tilts, but that’s about it. There’s no height adjustment here. On one hand, the stand gives it a sleek modern look, but then the 1-inch bezel around the screen takes away from all of that charm. It has a Vesta mount option as well. Looks aren’t everything though. This monitor has it where it counts. You’ll get UHD resolution at refresh rates up to 60 Hz for uninterrupted 4K resolution with no tearing or ghosting. This gaming monitor for Xbox has on-screen settings to adjust things quickly and Game Mode improves darkness or brightness with the optimum balance. I found the color accuracy to be decent for a TN panel if you are both gaming and watching movies. It looked great playing Overwatch and Fortnite with 8 million pixels on the screen. You get a lot of connectivity, but no USB ports here, which is a common thing missing from gaming monitors right now in general. The Samsung u28e590d 4k has DisplayPort 1.2 and 2 different HDMI ports. Eye Saver Mode keeps your eyes comfortable by reducing harmful blue light emissions, while Flicker-free technology reduces eye strain and headaches. Multitaskers will love the picture-by-picture modes which let you watch 2 different input sources at the same time without sacrificing the quality of either. The picture modes are awesome. Key Features

AMD FreeSync and 1ms response time minimizes input lag and reduces image tearing and ghosting.

Picture-in-Picture (PIP) 2.0 technology.

Eye Saver Mode reduces blue light emissions.

The Samsung u28e590d has some really nice features for gaming consoles and while the image quality may not be as stunning as others, it still delivers amazing images and great performance with some very cool features that gamers will love for the price. I loved the picture and picture feature, which is great for gamers who have to multitask. It is one of the more affordable console gaming monitors.

 #8  Dell UP2718Q - A Great True HDR Monitor For Xbox One X

Pros:

Slim Design

Adjustable Stand

Ultra HD Resolution

Cons:

Factory calibrated modes need work

Mediocre Blacks

Dell is no stranger to gaming monitors. They are a trusted name in the industry and are known for quality computers, laptops, and monitors. The company’s u2718q has been a popular model recently and shows that when you buy Dell you know you are getting your money’s worth. I can safely say that while the Dell UP2718Q is not perfect, it is a professional monitor worthy of the brand. This 27-inch 4K IPS LCD monitor with HDR support has great ergonomics and a wide viewing angle. The design isn’t fancy or sleek, which lets this display speak for itself when it comes to what it packs inside. It has a 3840x2160 resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, and a 1000cd/m2 peak brightness. I really enjoyed the vivid colors that the Dell u2718q produces. It has great low input lag for gaming, however, dark room performance leaves something to be desired as blacks appear grayer than true black. This model offers decent connectivity options like 1 DisplayPort 1.4, 1 Mini DisplayPort 1.4, and 2 HDMI 2.0a ports. There are also 4 USB 3.0 ports, 2 in the back and 2 on the left side. I like the extra USB options and wish more of these models followed suit. I also like the factory calibrated modes that it comes with as well, but they aren’t perfect. I love the slim design and games look great on this monitor despite the blacks not being completely black. This is a solid monitor for Xbox One X gamers. Your favorite games are going to look amazing. Dell has delivered a solid gaming monitor here that users can depend on.

 #9  LG 32UD99-W - Best 32 Inch Monitor For Xbox One X

Pros:

Ultra-Thin 1.3mm Bezel

Wide Viewing Angles

Easy To Use Controls

Cons:

Expensive

LG makes our list once again with the LG 32UD99-W, a 32 inch Ultra HD 3840 x 2160-pixel resolution monitor. The realistic images on this 4K display are superb and I really enjoyed gaming on it. It isn’t perfect, but it’s one of the best 4K HDR gaming monitors you can buy right now which is why it ranks at #9 in this buyers guide. It delivers color consistency no matter what angle you look at your screen from, thanks to it being an IPS monitor (in-plane switching). It has a thin and sleek design, although it doesn't swivel, and has a limited tilt range. The  1.3-millimeter bezel looks really nice too. This model has a decent contrast ratio and black uniformity is also very good, with good SDR peak brightness. HDR 10 means that it supports more color levels and I was impressed by how the colors pop out at you. Other features include a 5 ms GTG response time and a 60 Hz refresh rate.  There is no local dimming feature. Surprisingly, the LG 32UD99-W delivers a great sound experience with its 2 5-Watt speakers that cover the 85 Hz range. I was pretty surprised by this. Connectivity is also decent here with two HDMI 2.0a ports, two USB 3.0 ports, and a USB Type-C DisplayPort 1.2. You can watch 4K videos, transfer data, and charge your devices at once via a single cable. Yes, this 32 inch display has a lot going for it. I loved using Screen Split 2.0 on this display, which allows you to resize and display multiple windows simultaneously. There are 14 layouts and 4 of these are picture-in-picture. I absolutely love this feature.  Other LG models that I looked at, but didn’t make the cut are the LG 32ud60b, LG 32ud99 and the LG 27uk650, to give you some idea. Those are good monitors, but this one is a better gaming monitor for Xbox. This model proves that you don’t need a huge 4k version like the Philips 436m6vbpab to experience great gaming. Key Features

Screen Split 2.0

HDR10

Great Speakers

The LG 32UD99-W is a great choice for gamers who love a great visual experience thanks to its wide viewing angles, and response time speed. It delivers superb picture quality thanks to Ultra High Definition (UHD) resolution. You won’t find a better 32 inch display this feature rich or this good looking. One of the best monitors for ps4 and Xbox.

 #10  Acer G246HL - Best 24 Inch Gaming Monitor

Pros:

5ms Response Time

EcoDisplay technology

Great Image Quality

Cons:

Speakers Aren’t Good

Lack of UDB ports

Many gamers have a very small budget, but a big desire for the best experience when PC gaming or using a console. The Acer G246HL is for those people. This 24-inch screen LED-lit monitor is super slim with an X-shaped stand that ensures stability. It looks lovely, but the performance also does not disappoint. The resolution of 1920 x 1080p delivers crystal-clear images for Xbox gaming without any lag or glitches in a 16:9 aspect ratio. A great monitor for PS4 Pro as well. It has a quick response time of 5ms and Acer eColor management allows you to use a customized mode, while Acer Adaptive Contrast Management gives you improved color quality and seamless visuals. It is not Vesa Mount compatible. It has DVI-D, VGA and HDCP ports. Like many models, it lacks USB ports. The only other downside is that the speakers do not sound good at all. This monitor does have a wide viewing angle of 170º so that you can see all of the action from any position. EcoDisplay Technology reduces energy consumption and is better for the environment, which makes this a great buy for those who are environmentally conscious. Key Features

Acer eColor management

Acer Adaptive Contrast Management

EcoDisplay Technology

This monitor for PS4 Pro and other consoles scores big while being cheap, beautiful and performing great. If you are a gamer, I think you’ll love it. EcoDisplay technology is a nice plus. Honestly, gaming on a budget never used to be this good.

10 Best Monitors for Xbox One X Read more on: http://www.gadgetreview.com/

10 Best Monitors for Xbox One X published first on http://www.gadgetreview.com/ 10 Best Monitors for Xbox One X posted first on http://www.gadgetreview.com/ 10 Best Monitors for Xbox One X published first on http://www.gadgetreview.com/

[lonniemanning]

10 Best Monitors for Xbox One X

Headsets, pro controllers and killer speakers are all good, but without one of the best monitors for Xbox One X, you are never going to be at the top of your game. Which means you won’t see that zombie shambling toward you in time or snipe that Nazi soldier in the watchtower dead in the eye. But shopping for a monitor is daunting, especially if your job is to focus on racking up the frags (or points). There are so many factors to consider. That’s why you are here and as usual, I have you covered with some solid info on the 10 Best Monitors for Xbox One X. I spend way too many hours playing games, so I’ll clue you in on which monitors are best and why, so you don’t waste your time buying an expensive paperweight. I just spent two full weeks playing Xbox One X games on 20 different monitors. Then I researched 20 more, taking into account things like HDR compatibility, refresh rate, resolution, picture sharpness and clarity, design and more. Lastly, I looked at user reviews of these models online and compiled all of the data.

What To Look For In The Best Monitors For Xbox One

The best of today’s 4K console gaming monitors come from top brands like BenQ, Acer, Alienware, Samsung, LG, and ViewSonic, but you can’t count lesser known brands out, which is why I rigorously test and research as many as we can. Today video gamers want 4k resolution, a high refresh rate, either FreeSync over HDMI or G-SYNC to avoid screen tearing while gaming, the right kind of panel (IPS panels offer better all-around visual quality) and low response time for smooth camera movement. It’s also important that a gaming monitor has the proper connection ports. In 2018 alone the industry saw 5.1 million gaming monitor units shipped (R), a figure which will likely be higher for 2019. Many of the monitors below will be a part of those numbers as buyers up their game with new displays.

Our Winner

And now let’s get to my #1 pick. It’s the LG 27UK650-W. LG is a brand name known around the world for quality electronics like smartphones, home appliances, televisions, and monitors. The LG 27UK650-W stands out from the crowd with a 4K HDR display and it comes loaded with features that gamers will go crazy for. From the specs, all the way down to the stand, this LG offering has everything that you want. You won’t find better in this price range.

 #1  LG 27UK650-W - Best Monitor for the Xbox One X

Pros:

Amazing Color Production

Great Gaming Features

Supports AMD FreeSync

Cons:

Needs More USB Inputs

Response Time Is Low

No speakers

The LG 27UK650-W has a lot going for it. This 4K HDR display has many gaming features that will please both hardcore gamers and casual gamers alike.  I put in a decent amount of gaming hours and it blew me away. This 27-inch monitor has an ArcLine stand and some serious versatility. The curve at the base not only keeps things stable but also adds a touch of luxury. It’s very easy to adjust the stand’s height, tilt it back and forth, swivel it, and pivot it any way you want. This LG monitor has a 3840x2160 4K resolution, HDR10 support, nice SDR peak brightness, a 16:9 aspect ratio, 60Hz refresh rate, and a 5ms response time. But that’s not all. It also has AMD FreeSync technology and Dynamic Action Sync so you can look forward to gameplay that is not choppy, with no broken frames.

Low input lag mode combined with all of these other features makes the LG 27UK650-W a very capable gaming monitor. As far as connectivity, LG gives you what you need with a two HDMI 2.0 ports that support HDR and HDCP 2.2, a 1.2 DisplayPort, a USB-C port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Other key features include

Super Resolution+:  Upscaling that gets more data so that it can give you sharper clearer video.

Black Stabilizer: Use this to change the gamma of dark shades so that it doesn’t affect light shades.

Automatic Standby: This will turn the monitor off after periods where there’s no movement on the screen.

More USB inputs would have made the LG 27UK650-W more versatile, and it does have a low response time of 5ms, but everything else that this model offers is simply superb. This 4K monitor wowwed me with its superb color reproduction and gaming features. Very immersive!

 #2  LG 27UD58-B - Best Xbox One X Monitor For Your Money

Pros:

Great Gaming Performance

Sharp UHD Images

Multitasking Screen Split 2.0 

Cons:

Needs More USB Ports

No Speakers

Response Time Can Often Be Slow

LG is known for making quality smartphones, appliances, and smart TVs (R). They also make many gaming displays like the LG 27ud68p and the LG 27uk850w that are highly rated by users online like you and me. The LG 27UD58-B is the monitor that you need if you want it cheap, but don’t want to sacrifice performance. This is a 27 inch gaming monitor that beats out most 4K monitors in the entry-level category. It delivers vivid colors that look great thanks to an Ultra-High Definition (UHD) In-Plane Switching (IPS) panel. Also on board is AMD’s FreeSync which works great with the AMD graphics card in the Xbox One X. The black finish looks great with the ArcLine stand keeping it stable on your desk. It has impressive gaming features, like On-Screen Control with Screen Split, and two HDMI ports and a display port that can both deliver 4K video over a single cable. The 4K Ultra HD resolution gives you a rich pixel density of 163 pixels per inch. You’ll also get a 178-degree viewing angle so that you can see the action no matter where you are viewing it from in the room. That’s great if I have some friends over and they are all watching. On another note, if you are using two monitors, this one is great for your primary sidebar. That IPS panel has 10-bit color depth support through dithering. In fact, it is factory-calibrated to cover over 99% of the sRGB color gamut and this wows you on screen. You can see why this monitor is appealing for its price. The LG 27UD58-B is another fine example of the company’s commitment to quality. If there’s one design flaw here it’s a lack of connectivity options. There are two HDMI ports and a DisplayPort. No USB ports at all. Other key features include:

Super Resolution+ is onboard here as well,

Black Stabilizer feature to darken dark details.

Automatic Standby puts the monitor on standby after 4, 6 or 8 hours of inactivity.

The LG 27UD58-B offers superior performance, giving you a smooth 4K monitor with vibrant colors and crystal clear detail. It gives you all of the great features that you want at a fantastic price. It’s also a great monitor for PS4.

 #3  ASUS MG28UQ

Pros:

Great Picture Quality

Power Supply Is Built-In

Great Pixel Density

Cons:

Contrast Could Be Better

Needs More USB Ports

The Asus MG-series has always been a popular budget alternative to other premium ASUS products and the MG28UQ is a 28-inch Ultra HD monitor that continues this tradition. With a 1ms response time, a flexible tilt and swivel stand and a maximum resolution of 3840x2160 @ 60Hz, this is a great value from Asus. It’s sturdy and sleek with a quality build. The stand itself lets you fully adjust the display to any position you choose. You’ll also love the MG28UQ’s color accuracy. I was surprised by the sharpness and vivid display. This, along with the 1ms response time and Adaptive-Sync technology make this a great buy. The visuals are smooth and Adaptive Synch means that you won’t see any image tearing. As far as connectivity options, it has 3 HDMI ports (1 HDMI 2.0 and 2 HDMI 1.4), along with a single DisplayPort 1.2 connector, 2USB 3.0 ports, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Another interesting feature is ASUS Eye care technology with TUV certified Flicker free and Blue Light Filter. This feature aims to prevent eye fatigue and other eye problems associated with prolonged computer use (R).

ASUS Eye care technology with TUV certified Flicker free and Blue Light Filter helps with less Eye fatigue.

5-Way OSD Joystick for intuitive control.

Crosshair lets you choose 4 different crosshair overlays and adjust them for your playstyle.

On-screen timer.

FPS Counter to show off your framerates.

This is a fantastic monitor that is priced just right. It’s not cheap, but it isn’t overly expensive either. You get great performance, some very cool gamer-oriented features, and surprisingly beautiful images.

 #4  ViewSonic XG2700-4K - Best FreeSynch Monitor For Xbox One X

Pros:

Excellent Image Quality

Lots Of Connectivity Options

Cons:

Not As Bright As Others

Chunky Bezel

Viewsonic makes many quality monitors like the popular ViewSonic xg2402 and the company has a tradition of delivering value as well. The ViewSonic XG2700-4K hits almost all of the right buttons for console gamers and it does so at a great price. This 27 inch has great accurate color, an IPS panel, low response time, Adaptive Refresh technology and some decent customization options. This monitor is a solid choice for those who want FreeSync since it has a DisplayPort connection. So here you’ll find four USB 3 ports, three HDMI 2.0 connectors, a DisplayPort jack, a mini-DisplayPort plug, and an audio jack. I loved FreeSync on this model and found the panel to be very responsive. It also packs in low input lag and a response time of 5ms. That’s not the fastest, but it’s decent for any 4k monitor. I played many hours of Fortnite on this thing and it was a blast. The image quality was great, although not as bright as many other models that we tested. The IPS panel gives you great viewing angles of 178 degrees. So no matter where you are in the room you won’t miss any action. It has excellent color accuracy and the blacks are stunningly deep blacks. It also boasts a 1000:1 contrast ratio. I really liked this one a lot, but one major downside is that thick bezel, which makes it look outdated, bulky and quite frankly, ugly. The low input lag means that when you click your gaming mouse or do anything else, it happens instantly. Key Features

FreeSync monitor technology for smooth frame rates and no motion blur.

Superb Black Stabilization.

Low Input Lag.

The bottom line on the ViewSonic XG2700-4K is that gamers will love it. It has a great contrast ratio that will allow you to see the things that are important in the game. I also like that it has plenty of connectivity options. Image quality looks great. During our testing, FreeSynch was very responsive and we had zero problems with ghosting or tearing. It is a solid choice for console gaming or PC gaming.

 #5  BenQ EL2870U 28 inch 4K - Best Monitor For Gaming And Movies

Pros:

Supports high dynamics range

UHD (Ultra High Definition) Resolution

Great Price

Cons:

Not Enough Connectivity

Built-In Speakers Could Be Better

If you’re looking for a decent 4k monitor that will give you many hours of joy on your gaming consoles at a great price, the BenQ EL2870U 28 inch 4K should be your choice. This UHD monitor performs great whether you’re playing games or watching the latest blockbuster movies. (Action movies look insane.) This entry level 28-inch display offers 4K UHD (3840 x 2160 pixel) resolution at 60hz refresh rate, which is the current standard for 4K. At 28 inches it’s big enough to draw you into the game and immerse you deeply. It also supports HDR10 content and Cinema HDR Mode will enhance the visuals and contrast further. The native contrast ratio is 1000:1 and the dynamic one is 12M:1. Like many other modern monitors, it supports FreeSync as well. It boasts a TN panel with a 1ms GTG response time, which is fast enough for your gaming needs. It makes the experience seamless. This model has an extremely vibrant picture and extremely realistic images with crystal-clear details. It has a nice style, but the stand is not adjustable. I would have preferred that it was. Connectivity is another downside on this 4K UHD IPS monitor.  It just needs more options. It has 2 HDMI 2.0 inputs, DisplayPort 1.4, and a headphone jack. No USB ports. The speakers don’t sound bad, but they are pretty mediocre. The wide color gamuts on this model make everything look natural. Key Features

Brightness Intelligence Plus Technology for a balance between the maximum contrast and vibrancy. You can pick an option he one that brings out the most details with the brightness you want.

Smart Focus allows you to target an area on the screen, so you can focus, with less distraction.

Auto brightness and color temperature detector adjusts the settings for your room environment.

The BenQ EL2870U 28 inch 4K is a superb HDR gaming monitor for multi-use. Watch movies, play games and see everything with sharpness and clarity. It offers very decent game performance and will immerse you for an amazing gaming experience. If you love both games and entertainment this is your choice. This is a very worthy Freesync monitor and one of the better 4k hdr monitors.

 #6  ASUS VP28UQG - Best Budget 4K Monitor For Gaming

Pros:

1 ms Response Time

Great Image Quality

Low Input Lag

Cons

No Built-In Speakers

Asus has a proven track record in the game monitor industry and has annual revenue of $13.9 billion (R). The ASUS VP28UQG is a great example of the company’s experience. Here I felt that they deliver a lot of quality for a great price. This 4K 28" TN monitor has a beautiful design, fast 1ms response time, FreeSync and 1000:1 contrast ratio. The image quality on this monitor is better than most TN monitors thanks to 10-bit color depth and the capability of a crazy 1.07 billion colors. 300-nit peak brightness keeps everything bright here. This model also has ASUS’ GamePlus features including Crosshair, Timer, FPS Counter and Display Alignment. Some buyers might think that the 60Hz refresh rate could be better, but if you are just playing games with your Xbox One X, that’s all you need today. Key Features

ASUS Eye care technology with TUV certified Flicker free and Blue Light Filter helps with less Eye fatigue.

5-Way OSD Joystick for intuitive control.

Crosshair lets you choose 4 different crosshair overlays and adjust them for your playstyle.

On-screen timer.

FPS Counter to show off your framerates.

Between FreeSync, the 1ms response time speed and the 60Hz refresh rate, it’s a very responsive and smooth performer. You won’t see any ghosting or tearing. Just quality images. This 28" monitor has 3840×2160 (UHD) resolution and great specs at a great price. I love that recent ASUS monitors come with so many extras for gamers, which really adds value. This 4k monitor for Xbox has what you need.

 #7  Samsung UE590D

Pros:

Nice Design

Affordable

Fast response

Cons:

Stand Isn’t Adjustable

No USB Ports

Thick Bezels

The prices of 4K gaming monitors have been coming down over the last year as you can see from the other monitors that ranked in our best of list. Here’s another that is popular with gamers due to its great performance and great price. That’s why it won me over. The Samsung UE590D reminds me of the Samsung chg70, but it’s a more recent model. It has a stand that tilts, but that’s about it. There’s no height adjustment here. On one hand, the stand gives it a sleek modern look, but then the 1-inch bezel around the screen takes away from all of that charm. It has a Vesta mount option as well. Looks aren’t everything though. This monitor has it where it counts. You’ll get UHD resolution at refresh rates up to 60 Hz for uninterrupted 4K resolution with no tearing or ghosting. This gaming monitor for Xbox has on-screen settings to adjust things quickly and Game Mode improves darkness or brightness with the optimum balance. I found the color accuracy to be decent for a TN panel if you are both gaming and watching movies. It looked great playing Overwatch and Fortnite with 8 million pixels on the screen. You get a lot of connectivity, but no USB ports here, which is a common thing missing from gaming monitors right now in general. The Samsung u28e590d 4k has DisplayPort 1.2 and 2 different HDMI ports. Eye Saver Mode keeps your eyes comfortable by reducing harmful blue light emissions, while Flicker-free technology reduces eye strain and headaches. Multitaskers will love the picture-by-picture modes which let you watch 2 different input sources at the same time without sacrificing the quality of either. The picture modes are awesome. Key Features

AMD FreeSync and 1ms response time minimizes input lag and reduces image tearing and ghosting.

Picture-in-Picture (PIP) 2.0 technology.

Eye Saver Mode reduces blue light emissions.

The Samsung u28e590d has some really nice features for gaming consoles and while the image quality may not be as stunning as others, it still delivers amazing images and great performance with some very cool features that gamers will love for the price. I loved the picture and picture feature, which is great for gamers who have to multitask. It is one of the more affordable console gaming monitors.

 #8  Dell UP2718Q - A Great True HDR Monitor For Xbox One X

Pros:

Slim Design

Adjustable Stand

Ultra HD Resolution

Cons:

Factory calibrated modes need work

Mediocre Blacks

Dell is no stranger to gaming monitors. They are a trusted name in the industry and are known for quality computers, laptops, and monitors. The company’s u2718q has been a popular model recently and shows that when you buy Dell you know you are getting your money’s worth. I can safely say that while the Dell UP2718Q is not perfect, it is a professional monitor worthy of the brand. This 27-inch 4K IPS LCD monitor with HDR support has great ergonomics and a wide viewing angle. The design isn’t fancy or sleek, which lets this display speak for itself when it comes to what it packs inside. It has a 3840x2160 resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, and a 1000cd/m2 peak brightness. I really enjoyed the vivid colors that the Dell u2718q produces. It has great low input lag for gaming, however, dark room performance leaves something to be desired as blacks appear grayer than true black. This model offers decent connectivity options like 1 DisplayPort 1.4, 1 Mini DisplayPort 1.4, and 2 HDMI 2.0a ports. There are also 4 USB 3.0 ports, 2 in the back and 2 on the left side. I like the extra USB options and wish more of these models followed suit. I also like the factory calibrated modes that it comes with as well, but they aren’t perfect. I love the slim design and games look great on this monitor despite the blacks not being completely black. This is a solid monitor for Xbox One X gamers. Your favorite games are going to look amazing. Dell has delivered a solid gaming monitor here that users can depend on.

 #9  LG 32UD99-W - Best 32 Inch Monitor For Xbox One X

Pros:

Ultra-Thin 1.3mm Bezel

Wide Viewing Angles

Easy To Use Controls

Cons:

Expensive

LG makes our list once again with the LG 32UD99-W, a 32 inch Ultra HD 3840 x 2160-pixel resolution monitor. The realistic images on this 4K display are superb and I really enjoyed gaming on it. It isn’t perfect, but it’s one of the best 4K HDR gaming monitors you can buy right now which is why it ranks at #9 in this buyers guide. It delivers color consistency no matter what angle you look at your screen from, thanks to it being an IPS monitor (in-plane switching). It has a thin and sleek design, although it doesn't swivel, and has a limited tilt range. The  1.3-millimeter bezel looks really nice too. This model has a decent contrast ratio and black uniformity is also very good, with good SDR peak brightness. HDR 10 means that it supports more color levels and I was impressed by how the colors pop out at you. Other features include a 5 ms GTG response time and a 60 Hz refresh rate.  There is no local dimming feature. Surprisingly, the LG 32UD99-W delivers a great sound experience with its 2 5-Watt speakers that cover the 85 Hz range. I was pretty surprised by this. Connectivity is also decent here with two HDMI 2.0a ports, two USB 3.0 ports, and a USB Type-C DisplayPort 1.2. You can watch 4K videos, transfer data, and charge your devices at once via a single cable. Yes, this 32 inch display has a lot going for it. I loved using Screen Split 2.0 on this display, which allows you to resize and display multiple windows simultaneously. There are 14 layouts and 4 of these are picture-in-picture. I absolutely love this feature.  Other LG models that I looked at, but didn’t make the cut are the LG 32ud60b, LG 32ud99 and the LG 27uk650, to give you some idea. Those are good monitors, but this one is a better gaming monitor for Xbox. This model proves that you don’t need a huge 4k version like the Philips 436m6vbpab to experience great gaming. Key Features

Screen Split 2.0

HDR10

Great Speakers

The LG 32UD99-W is a great choice for gamers who love a great visual experience thanks to its wide viewing angles, and response time speed. It delivers superb picture quality thanks to Ultra High Definition (UHD) resolution. You won’t find a better 32 inch display this feature rich or this good looking. One of the best monitors for ps4 and Xbox.

 #10  Acer G246HL - Best 24 Inch Gaming Monitor

Pros:

5ms Response Time

EcoDisplay technology

Great Image Quality

Cons:

Speakers Aren’t Good

Lack of UDB ports

Many gamers have a very small budget, but a big desire for the best experience when PC gaming or using a console. The Acer G246HL is for those people. This 24-inch screen LED-lit monitor is super slim with an X-shaped stand that ensures stability. It looks lovely, but the performance also does not disappoint. The resolution of 1920 x 1080p delivers crystal-clear images for Xbox gaming without any lag or glitches in a 16:9 aspect ratio. A great monitor for PS4 Pro as well. It has a quick response time of 5ms and Acer eColor management allows you to use a customized mode, while Acer Adaptive Contrast Management gives you improved color quality and seamless visuals. It is not Vesa Mount compatible. It has DVI-D, VGA and HDCP ports. Like many models, it lacks USB ports. The only other downside is that the speakers do not sound good at all. This monitor does have a wide viewing angle of 170º so that you can see all of the action from any position. EcoDisplay Technology reduces energy consumption and is better for the environment, which makes this a great buy for those who are environmentally conscious. Key Features

Acer eColor management

Acer Adaptive Contrast Management

EcoDisplay Technology

This monitor for PS4 Pro and other consoles scores big while being cheap, beautiful and performing great. If you are a gamer, I think you’ll love it. EcoDisplay technology is a nice plus. Honestly, gaming on a budget never used to be this good.

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10 Best Monitors for Xbox One X published first on http://www.gadgetreview.com/ 10 Best Monitors for Xbox One X published first on http://www.gadgetreview.com/