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kisskissbanggang · 5 years

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The Sabotage of Simkung House - Part 1

[Stray Kids Multi Fic - 5K Words/20Min. Read - Lee Know x Female Reader - Non-Idol!au, Variety!au - NSFW/Smut, Plot - Reverse Harems, Variety Shows, Secret Hook-Ups]

This was your weirdest casting call yet. The assistant was taking the longest time looking back and forth from your headshot to your CV, and it was making you anxious. You could be doing better things on a Thursday night than get scrutinized more than usual. Finally, after an agonizing fifteen minutes of near silence on your end, the assistant motioned for the casting director to come over. This new person looked from the CV, to the headshot, to you, in a repeated loop until they ultimately asked you to stand up, turn in a circle, and walk around the room. You felt like a show dog, but relief finally came as the casting director motioned for you to follow, not leave. Was this your weirdest casting call ever? Probably. Would you pass up an opportunity to sign? Of course not.

Yet another eager assistant trotted up to intercept you as casting led you down the hall. “I got this,” he explained, politely shooing away the casting director and redirecting you into a new office.

“Hi,” he greeted as he sat you in a chair, “so we’re glad you're here. I’m Felix,” he introduced himself, offering you a hand to shake before he sat you in a chair in front of the big desk in the room. He remained standing as he animatedly explained himself. “I’m the assistant for our executive producer. We know this has been a little unorthodox.”

“That's fine! I know some AV producers have really high standards,” you shrugged with a polite smile. You hadn't been shooting adult videos long, but in the time since you started you’d definitely had some weird auditions. None as weird as this, still, but weird nonetheless.

“Right,” Felix nodded, “we were impressed with your materials. I'm already familiar with your work--” he blurted out before cranking back, biting into his lip as he blushed. You modestly nodded for him to continue. “--but I never realized you had such credentials otherwise. You have a very nice acting resume.”

“I've never needed both before,” you explained apologetically, “so I just left everything on there.”

“No no! It’s better than I could've dreamed of. I had no clue you went to school. And you’re bilingual? I thought I recalled you using English once or twice in streams, but I never realized--” Felix paused again, realizing his continued admission. You nodded for him to get going once again.

“Don’t be embarrassed,” you kindly encouraged, “I’m glad you’re familiar with my work.”

“I am,” he eagerly nodded as he pulled some materials out from a folder sitting on the desk , “And we want you. So can I explain?” He waited for your approval once more before he launched in. We’re casting a new variety show. It’s called Noesengnam House.” The first piece of material he slid across the desk was a logo: a cheesy, bubbly text in front of a silhouette of a chiseled man with a graduation cap on. You raised an eyebrow. However, being enthusiastic was key to landing any gig, so despite any doubts you put on a smile.

“Alright. So we’re focusing on smart, sexy guys?”

“We’re making smart, sexy guys,” Felix clarifies, and he’s so proud as he passes five headshots across the desk. You’ve always been puzzled by these overenthusiastic assistants, like they have a stake in every good idea so they have to be good. “This is like charm school, but for guys. The catch is they have to get equal marks in all their subjects by the end of the season in order for all of them to win their prizes.”

You got the smallest bit distracted looking over the faces of these five men, wondering how charm school worked as a concept with porn actors. “So the subjects are…?”

“What,” Felix suddenly halted, “not interested in the prizes?”

“I assume it’s money,” you flippantly shrugged, “so what are they supposed to be getting high marks in? I assume I'm working with them, so I'm interested in what they’re doing.”

It was Felix’s turn to shrug. Somehow, he apparently hadn’t predicted this. “The usual: manners, fitness, home economics, academics. They’re all secretly cast to have a specialty, so they have to work together to figure out each other's strengths and weaknesses.”

You finally held up your hands to formally stop him. “I'm sorry,” you politely apologized, “but I think I'm missing something. Where do I fit in?”

“Ah, that's the fun part. We cast them for variety, not for adult content. This will be their first venture.”

“For all of them?” You dubiously marveled, starkly curious how this would affect their performances. Almost no one was ever proud of their first time for more than sentimental reasons.

“Yes, all of them,” Felix proudly nodded, “in our counterpart series, Simkung House.” He slid a new logo across the desk, the first crossed out and a bubbly pink text replacing it, with the silhouette of a -- no, really -- french maid tickling her duster under the chin of the man in the original design. The cartoon male even had blush added. You raised a sharp eyebrow at Felix.

“Simkung? Who's the heartthrob, me or them?”

He jokingly waved you off, as if you could dare be so modest. “You, of course. They’re the stars of the daytime show, and you're the star of the nighttime show. Every good dormitory needs a housekeeper.”

“Daytime show?” You asked, backtracking. Your head was starting to swim with details.

“Yes. We actually have a daytime slot for Noesengnam House.”

��And so this--” you tapped on the gaudy pink logo in front of you, “is airing? On television?”

Felix slowed down a second. “Not quite,” he admitted, “it’s an online subscription for a well-negotiated price. Our clientele are loyal, and word of mouth has been our biggest asset.”

“So I just sleep with everyone.”

“Of course not,” Felix grinned, wagging a cheeky finger at you. “You’re working for a prize as well.” He slid a new graphic across the desk, this one a table of information. One row had a heart, the one below had a broken heart, and the one on the bottom simply had a question mark. The zeroes populating the prize side of the infographic made your pulse race. “Our five budding bachelors are all yours for the taking, but they can’t find out about each other. They each have to think they’re the one you chose. If you bed one of them, that’s 50 million won.”

Felix’s grin grew more wicked as your eyes widened.

“If one of them finds out about the others, you’ll lose 60 million won each. So control of information is key.”

“And what’s this?” You asked suspiciously, pointing at the ominous question mark.

“That,” he explained, “is for added drama being incited. You’ll find out later.”

“So what if I get all five?” You asked, feeling a bit foolish for getting excited.

“Then you get the prize,” Felix said seriously, “There's 500 million won at hand here, but you don't get to earn any of your penalties back for anyone finding out.”

You felt a little nauseous. That much money could get you a modest house, and maybe a car, and maybe all sorts of things.

“Where’s the contract?” You cautiously asked, not wanting to sound too eager.

“Of course,” Felix nodded as he pulled out two packets from under his pile of promotional material, one for each show, “I figured you’ll want copies for your manager--”

“I manage myself,” you firmly replied to Felix’s surprise, taking the copies from him and grabbing a pen from your bag. You flipped through, immediately crossing out any transfer of representation and exclusivity clauses. You had to be able to work after this, and you had to be able to keep up your own streams on the side during production if the schedule allowed. Your pen paused as you hit something interesting.

“What’s this about accommodations?”

“We’ve leased a house for production instead of making a studio more habitable for the cast. You’ll need to be accessible at all times given our schedule.”

“So my stream…?”

“Sadly, you’ll need to take a hiatus,” Felix pouted a little in sympathy, “but we’re confident you’ll find new fans. Now, are you going to use that pen to sign? Or do you want time?”

A miniature war broke out in your head over the prospects, but you quickly tried to decipher why -- the contract practically led in with the fact you’d get five million up front. That would help pay the bills in advance and settle some debt that had sat while money was tight. If you said no, someone else would say yes. You would meet new guys and network, and possibly come out with more money than you had going in.

You signed.

---

Felix wasn’t around on your first day on set, but you had his card in case you needed him. You wheeled your one suitcase to the front door of the handsome house, and an assistant immediately herded you to your room, further away from the chaos currently happening in the main living space. The bottom floor of the house mostly contained the impressive home gym, but appeared to also be where the laundry room and your room were located. You noted cameras tucked into all sorts of corners and crevices, some more obvious than others.

Your room was modest, with a small bathroom attached and its own fair share of cameras around. It was cutely decorated, a little feminine with warm string lights and soft textiles, but not very personal. It could've been any girl's room, but for now, it was yours. Felix had assured you that the cameras in here would only ever be on at night, and always with a signal of one of the bulbs on your string lights blinking. You opened your closet to get a feel of the space and where you could put your things when you saw your uniforms set out for you. A number of soft blouses with coordinating skirts hung on padded hangers, ready for you to mix and match. When you opened the drawers beside them, you found pairs of sensible tights and delicate pantyhose, some patterned and some not. Thankfully, the costumes were pretty sensible. You didn't want to be parading around in a french maid costume, swishing petticoats in boys’ faces or bending at the waist to show off some frilly panties. If the show wanted you to actually seduce these men and do it with some romance and dignity, the modestly cute uniforms would work just fine. You did also bring some of your own clothes, something Felix so graciously insisted upon, so you had options should you grow tired of the same look.

You unpacked and changed into a pale pink blouse with a black pencil skirt and some grey tights before heading upstairs where you were immediately intercepted by another assistant.

“Noona,” the younger man politely greeted, “you must be our housekeeper.” You nodded with a smile in return, popping the first button on your blouse when the assistant held up a lavalier mic to clip on. He quickly averted his eyes as you threaded the cord down and around to your back, endearing you, but just a little.

“What's your name?” You asked, watching for some sound tech to signal that you were fine or needed adjustments.

“I’m Seungmin, noona. You can let me know if you need anything. For now, we'll get you to a stylist and get you today's pages.” Seungmin showed you upstairs to the attic of the grand house, a de facto control center just above the main floor. A stylist swept you up and sat you in a chair while Seungmin fetched your pages. As the first episode, you would really only get a short introduction with the other staff: a cook, and a valet. For some reason, these cast members didn’t also reside in the house, but you didn’t need to question the producers at the moment and cause trouble. The main cast appeared to be downstairs already getting set for their first takes, their voices muffled through the thick rugs placed on the floor on this level. A text beeped through your phone that you had stashed in the pocket of your apron, and you opened it.

>How's my star? Ready for your first day? Can I get a picture? I have the big boss here.

You rolled your eyes at Felix’s antics, but took a reluctantly cute selfie anyhow, even winking for the camera.

>Perfect. It's like your first day of school and I'm so proud lmao. Big boss says to tone down the sass. Clients are more into Hidden Charm.

A heavy sigh fell from your chest. You were already nervous for your first real variety debut, let alone with the show tonight lurking ahead. Seungmin appeared right next to you, ready to lead you downstairs as the stylist set your hair one last time.

The lights in the living room were a bit irritating and took a second to adjust to, but the room itself was great. The home was impeccably decorated, modern and smart and just cozy enough to not feel sterile. You were sat next to your other Staff cast members while the main cast finished up in the dining room, your introductions awkward and brief. An errant bead of sweat traveled from the nape of your neck down your back when the rest of the cast were led into the living room, tempting you to shiver until the crew was done setting up.

You watched, distracted in the middle of rising from your seat when the cast filed in from the dining room down the hall, stretching and chatting as they took a quick break. The boys all had on some coordinating iteration of the same uniform, capitalizing on the ‘college boys in their dorm’ concept the show was toying with. First was Minho, a perfectly pressed crease undisturbed on his slacks despite filming all morning, and his sleeves bundled up over his hands as he nonchalantly entered the room and immediately took a seat on the couch. Next came Jisung, glasses gradually sliding too low and one end of his necktie a little too short. Changbin followed, looking down his long nose at a loose thread on his sweater vest, with Hyunjin right behind stopping him to fuss over it himself. He stooped down to see better and brazenly reached under the material to pull the loose thread back through before being prodded along by Chan pulling up the rear. Hyunjin straightened up, smoothing out his blazer and adjusting his beret before joining the rest of the boys on the long sofa, Minho now having scooted off to sit on a tufted ottoman. Chan casually rerolled his shirt sleeves and brushed a hand through his ashy blonde hair, opting to stand until the crew was ready. The assistant director stepping in to run down the scene finally pulled you out of your reverie. Clearly, your co-stars’ headshots didn't do them justice, but did they think the same of yours?

The scene was simple: following the round-table of introductions in the previous scene, the cast meets the staff before picking roommates. That was it, that was your big debut, and for some reason it was nerve-wracking. You and the staff all nodded greetings before filming even began, before you took your marks off camera. The boys were all polite, but none of them treated you with any familiarity. You would have to remember to ask Felix if they actually had seen your headshot before coming to set.

Finally, cameras rolled. As the Seniors of the group, Minho and Chan led the discussion, but Chan was clearly filling his role as the show’s host. He spoke well, and with plenty of charm, but something definitely struck you as odd about him. You just couldn’t pinpoint what. Your cue snapped you out of your train of thought and you suddenly remembered you were nervous, just as you walked on set and into the irritating lights. The valet introduced himself first, and then the cook, and, to your horror… You forgot your cheesy intro line.

What was it?

Amazing. Your first shot would require a reshoot, and it would be because of a flub.

You momentarily floundered, opting instead to roll with it and improvise.

“Hello, boys,” you beamed as you greeted them, “I’m your housekeeper. Keep a good home while you're here, since I'll be the one cleaning it. I hope you have nothing to hide.” You topped it off with a wink, and the boys all shared a momentary air of surprise. You didn't blame them -- it was awkward, cringy, and too ‘sassy.’ The Big Boss probably hated it.

But the boys laughed. Actually laughed. The take finished without any more problems, and the stylist ran up to reset your hair between takes.

“Was it bad?” You whispered as she touched up your makeup.

“No, I liked it!” She smiled, reassuring you a little. In fact, the AD asked you to run it again the way you had, surprised you could improvise at all. The retake went more smoothly, and you finally allowed yourself a sigh of relief as the scene cut for transition.

As the boys finally wrapped up, you set about your other duties. When the cameras weren't formally set and manned, the planted cameras caught plenty of action from the boys. The valet had it easy; he was come-and-go as the plot necessitated, but you and the cook actually worked. Your contract outlined that while the boys were usually “on” from eight o'clock to eight o'clock, that you were an actual part-timer during the day and working at night. You could “work” your show during the day, but you couldn't interfere with the daytime activities. If you were needed as a housekeeper during the day, then that was priority, and these bookshelves apparently came with dust on them. You set about dusting as the boys transitioned from their scripted work to more casual filming. They each gave you a look as they filed back out of the living room to get set up in their rooms. Some expressions were cryptic, Hyunjin and Chan especially, but some were clear, like Minho’s small grin as he subtly looked you up and down as you reached for a tall shelf. Not wanting to shy away from an opportunity, you smiled back.

The rest of your day was pretty simple, all things considered. You dusted and swept and tidied up a little, but since all five men had just started living in the house, there wasn’t much else at the moment. The house calmed down considerably as the huge crew dispersed for the day, now resembling just a mostly normal home. You hung out and snacked in your room as you heard everyone eating upstairs, only emerging once you heard their chairs scooting free of the dinner table. At that moment, one of the bulbs on your string lights blinked three times and then turned off.

You immediately straightened up where you sat in bed and cheerily waved at the camera. Felix had outlined that you would never have to do much talking if you didn’t feel like it. You rose from your bed, turning to fix the bow in your apron before heading out of your room, giving the camera an extra wave. As you turned to ascend the stairs, a figure landed right on the bottom step in front of you, making you jump with a startled laugh.

“Chan--!” You gasped into a giggle. “I'm so sorry, you surprised me.”

“I’m sorry, noona, I’ll be more careful,” he nodded cordially as he briskly moved to step around you. You quickly took note of the basket in his hands.

“Wait!” You jumped back in front of him. “You don’t have to do your own laundry, you know. Besides, you already have some on night one?” You held your hands open for him to set the basket into and he hesitated before reluctantly giving it up to you.

“It’ll take some getting used to, noona, thank you. I just wanted to take care of my uniform and my street clothes from before I got to set.”

“Fair enough,” you smiled warmly despite his stiff demeanor, turning heel back towards the laundry room as Chan hesitated again before heading back up the stairs. Working quickly, you set about separating the meager pile of laundry and getting them started on washing before you returned to your original plan and headed upstairs yourself.

Through the living room was the dining room, and beyond that was the kitchen down the hall. You peered in, spying a sink full of dishes from dinner. You pulled on some gloves and got to washing when your ears perked up at the sound of the kitchen door swinging open. Just like that, your assumption was right: someone had to be a late-night snacker in the cast. And, of course, it was Minho.

“I'm sure you could’ve eaten with us if you wanted,” Minho slyly grinned as he pulled open a cabinet and peered inside. His uniform was swapped out for a much comfier number, a simple henley shirt and pajama pants. The thin layers hugged the subtle outlines of his figure and suggested that despite his casual nature, he still put in effort for his looks. He came away from the cabinet with a box of cookies and offered it to you. You smiled and silently declined.

“I appreciate that, Minho, but I'm just the help.”

“Yeah, but you’re pretty,” he said bluntly, quietly picking the box open, “and I feel like we could be friends.”

You watched, quietly impressed with how cool Minho could be. He silently, nonchalantly took a bite of a cookie and offered you a bite of the same. Could you really say no to an advance like that?

Sure you could. Where was the fun in making it easy? You spied a camera in the corner of the kitchen, tucked under the hanging cabinets. Stepping aside, Minho instinctively circled with you, opening your conversation up for the camera.

“It’s only the first night, Minho,” you teasingly scolded as you leaned forward and took a bite of the proffered cookie, “you shouldn't be so eager.”

Minho surprised you again, his thumb instantly at your lip and cleaning off a crumb you hadn't even felt.

“Are you sure you're just the help?” He laughed quietly. “You don't act like it.”

“I can act however you want me to,” you teased back, enjoying the way his eyes lit up at your little repartee. You locked gazes as you let his thumb caress your bottom lip, watching for his reaction when dipped your chin to take the digit between your lips for just a moment. You took a step back, leaning back against the counter. His turn now. Minho set the box of cookies down, a devilish grin tugging at his lip as he stepped closer.

When the door swung open once again. You both rapidly turned away from each other, your hands plunging back into the sink and Minho turning back to the cabinets. Changbin blinked at the two of you.

“‘Sup,” Minho cheerily greeted, “I'm making myself something to eat. Want anything?”

“Nah,” Changbin shook his head as his eyes darted between the two of you before settling on the box of cookies on the counter. He stiffly reached between you both and grabbed it. “I'll be just fine with this. Unless you wanted--?”

“No, thanks, that's fine, like I said, making myself something,” Minho enthusiastically prattled on, making himself look busy as he started facetiously searching for pans in the bottom cabinets under the counter. Changbin raised an eyebrow before shrugging, popping open the box of cookies and digging in as he left the kitchen.

A beat passed in the silence as you both waited for Changbin’s footsteps to disappear, but you didn’t get a chance to say anything before you felt Minho press up behind you where you stood at the sink. You let yourself have a small smile as he reached his arms around you, grabbing a kitchen towel and pulling your hands out of the sink to dry them. His head leaned down over your shoulder, his breath tickling your neck as he took his time before you grew impatient. You leaned back against his chest, opening up your neck for him. Minho breathed you in and brushed your hair back, the impression of his smirk pressed into you as his lips brushed against the delicate skin.

You turned in his arms, playfully pushing him back a couple inches by the hips, and he instantly stepped closer, getting on with it already and driving his lips against yours. His flannel pajama pants did next to nothing to hide his growing erection he was currently grinding into your thigh. You kissed him deep, readily spreading your legs for him as his hands searched you and played with the hem of your skirt.

“Right here?” You asked coyly.

“As if we weren't pushing for that this whole time already,” Minho chuckled as he kissed you up and back against the counter. He spun you back around, pressing your hips against the sink as he kissed and nibbled at your neck. “Say it,” he implored.

“Fuck me,” you replied breathlessly, gasping as Minho immediately pulled your skirt up around your hips and bent you over the sink, his fingers dipping below the waist of your tights and tugging them down. His fingertips probed your dripping entrance from behind and you gave an encouraging moan for him to continue. “What,” you grinned back over your shoulder, “chickening out?”

“Sorry, I wasn’t expecting this,” he teased, “you sure you want it? You did say it's the first night.”

“Give it to me,” you said adamantly. Minho smiled back as he pulled out his hard length. One hand gripped your hip as he guided himself in, groaning as your depths took him deep. You squeaked out a surprised moan when he bottomed out before both his hands were on your hips now and pulling you deeper around him.

You clapped a hand over your mouth to keep from getting too loud as Minho fucked you over the sink, his hips bucking hard against you as his length filled you up. Once he set a reliable rhythm, one hand crept lower, between your legs to caress your clit as he fucked you.

“I want to make you cum,” Minho gritted behind you, “tell me how and I'll do it.”

“Keep doing what you’re doing and you will,” you taunted.

Minho seemed pleased with your answer, his fingers still rubbing firm circles on your clit as his cock drove in and out of you even faster. You pushed your hips back against his, gripping the counter hard as the refined angle helped hit your spot more consistently. Minho let out a deep groan at the sound of your quickening whimpers, the sound of you approaching your orgasm making it difficult for him to keep up his own pace.

“Minho,” you gasped, “I’m gonna--!”

You threw your head back as you cried out, quickly muffled when Minho pressed his own hand over your mouth. He kept it there, his other hand still holding firm onto your hip as he fucked you through your orgasm and on his way to his own. You whined and moaned into his palm, the way his own desperate groans combined with his stuttering grip on you making you lightheaded. He came hard, suddenly, emptying himself inside you as he gritted out hushed curses and panted breaths.

You both stayed there, connected at the hips before Minho pulled out and brought you back up from the ledge of the sink. It was sweet, the way he helped put you back together and kissed your cheek.

“Thanks,” he panted with a grin, still catching his breath, “hope this won’t make anything weird.”

“Of course not,” you smiled back as you brushed your fingers through your hair, “we can even do it again some time if you’d like.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. What’re friends for?” You winked, and Minho’s laugh was almost bashful as he playfully nudged your shoulder. His hand lingered on yours before he gave a cute wave and finally walked out of the kitchen.

You waited a beat for Minho’s footsteps to disappear before you found the closest camera in the corner of the kitchen and gave it a wave and a smile. You finished the dishes and left them to dry and exited the kitchen, nearly screaming in surprise as you ran right into someone.

Another assistant, blinking in surprised relief and taking a deep breath.

“Well done, noona,” the assistant laughed quietly.

“Who are--”

“Jeongin, noona, sorry.”

“Where have you been hiding?” You asked, bewildered.

“Upstairs in the control room. I come in when the day crew leaves to help supervise in case you need anything.” He handed you a bottle of water and you nodded your gratitude, uncapping and taking a sip as you looked him over. He was an actual infant. He must've gotten roped into the industry right out of school. “Any other plans tonight?”

“Don’t think so,” you chuckled. “The show won’t be much fun if I get everything done in one week.”

“Sounds good, noona. You’ll be getting some rest then?”

“Sure will.” You waved goodbye to the assistant as he crept back up the stairs and you headed down towards your room, making a quick stop to make a change over in Chan’s laundry for him.

You stripped down in the comfort of your room, waving as the camera blinked on and you pulled on your pajamas. The sheets were welcoming as you crawled into bed, blowing a kiss to your viewers before the camera blinked back off. Your phone buzzed with a text from Felix as your eyelids grew heavy.

>Good show tonight. Great start. The big boss loved it. Can you wear the dark blue blouse tomorrow? I want to see if it looks better than the pink. And don't make tonight a habit. We gotta keep things interesting. ;)

You sighed, now suddenly curious how you would “keep things interesting” between all five boys and wondering who would be next.

#skzsmutnet #stray kids smut #stray kids fanfic #stray kids fanfiction #lee know smut #lee know #lee minho #stray kids minho #kpop smut #kpop fanfiction #stray kids scenarios #stray kids imagines

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veganmamaroo · 4 years

Text

Shortaki Week 2020: Day 5 - Pinky Swear

What happens when Gerald and Helga have to do their Uniquely You project together? Hint: it leads to good old-fashioned Shortaki goodness! It’s set right before the Season 2 episode “Best Friends.”

Also on FanFiction: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13657713/1/Shortaki-Week-2020-Day-5-Pinky-Swear

Title: Pinky Swear

Word Count: 10k

This fic is set right before the Season 2 episode “Best Friends,” where Arnold does a Uniquely You presentation with Rhonda and Nadine, and also plays the middle man in helping the two friends reconcile.

In the episode, there is a quick passing conversation between Arnold and Gerald that goes something like this:

Gerald: Glad my presentation is over. Being “Uniquely You” with Helga? Man, that was humiliating!

Arnold: Yeah, it was. I’m glad I got Rhonda and Nadine as partners. They always get along.

This fic is about Gerald and Helga’s presentation. How does this glossed-over presentation fit into Day 5 topic of “Pinky Promise” in Shortaki Week 2020? Read on to find out!

________________________________________________________________

The final bell rang, and it couldn’t come soon enough. It was Friday afternoon, and Helga had had quite enough of P.S. 118’s nonsense for the week. She couldn’t wait to get home, throw off her shoes, prep for the Wrestlemania episode airing that night, and pig out on pizza and pork rinds.

“Hey Helga!” She heard a voice call out from behind her. Her signature stomp down the hall came to a stop, and she growled to herself in anger. She knew exactly who it was, and what that person wanted to discuss. She really didn’t want to talk about it now, but knowing how stubborn he was, he was going to get what he wanted. Fine. But that doesn’t mean she wasn’t going to make it easy for him.

She turned around with a threatening, “What?!” to see a reluctant, and seemingly exhausted, Gerald walking toward her. As he got closer to her, he rolled his eyes and said, “Come on, Helga. You know what we have to do. Let’s just get this over with.” His eyes were slightly pleading for her compliance.

She outwardly scowled at him, but inwardly, she took a moment to observe the situation. He seemed just as miserable to be teamed up with her for this stupid Uniquely You project as she was with him. Okay, at least they had that in common. That, and they both had a deep place in their hearts for one utterly selfless, endearingly bold, loyally optimistic, compassionately warm football-headed love God. Not to mention their appreciation for sweet, rational, intelligent Phoebe.

Sheesh, she had more in common with Tall Hair Boy than she thought.

Maybe that’s why it was so hard to be around him.

She rolled her eyes obnoxiously and sighed heavily, trying to display outright distaste of his presence. “FINE, Geraldo,” she sneered.

Gerald looked like he was trying to keep his cool, but with Helga, civility was challenging. He crossed his arms defiantly and said, “So, do you want to meet at your house? Monday after school?”

Helga suddenly felt her breath hitch and heard her heartbeat in her ears. Her thoughts went to the shrine of her beloved in her closet. She could picture it now: Gerald in her room, excusing himself to go to the bathroom, opening the closet door before she could stop him, his body becoming frozen in his shock, jaw to the floor, him starting to say, “What the...?”, the very fabric of her life quickly unraveling, the world exploding...

Come on, Helga ol’ girl. Get it together. Come up with a quick excuse to avoid him coming over before he gets suspicious. “You can’t!” she said abruptly. Well, THAT was smooth.

He didn’t seem to notice her panic. “And why not? You don’t have a little sister that derails everything.” He put his hands on his hips.

“You can’t because... because... our bathroom is being renovated!” she blurted out, relieved that she was able to come up with something believable on the spot. Feeling more comfortable, she started settling into the lie. “There’s dust everywhere, noises going on until 8 in the evening, we’d have to share a bathroom with Big Bob... trust me. You don’t want to do it at my house.” She waited on bated breath, hoping he would buy it.

Gerald sighed, his eyes weary. “Alright Pataki. Fine. My house it is. Monday after school. You can come around 6:00, after my family eats dinner.”

Helga inwardly high-fived herself. Her secret of loving his best friend would live to see another day.

Gerald continued, “But be warned. My sister is a pain. And my brother, well, he’s a pain, too. Hopefully they won’t distract us so we can get this all done in one evening.”

Helga waved him off and said, “Yeah, yeah. Now, if you’ll excuse me,” she began as she started walking away, turning around and walking backwards, “I have a date with Phoebe, Wrestlemania, and pepperoni pizza.” She turned back around and headed for the double doors that lead outside.

Gerald’s demeanor lightened up immediately at the mention of Phoebe’s name. “Tell her I said hi!” he shouted after her.

“Moron,” Helga uttered under her breath and she slammed her hands into the metal bar door handle, opening the door with a loud crash.

Recalling the conversation, Gerald stood there, shaking his head with a small smile of disbelief. “Mmm mmm mmm! Doing a project with Helga Pataki. This is really going to suck,” he said to himself.

————

Monday at 6:00pm, Helga was knocking at Gerald’s door. She felt a little flit of excitement in her stomach, knowing that she was about to be in a space that Arnold often occupied when they weren’t at school together. While in Gerald’s home, she planned on taking some mental notes of how Arnold spent his time there. She would relive those memories in her mind in front of the shrine later, she then decided.

The door opened. Helga was expecting Gerald to open the door, so she was surprised that she had to look up higher to meet eyes with someone taller and older. Probably his older brother. “Yeah?” the teen answered.

“Um, is Gerald home?”

He grinned devilishly. “Yep. Hey, Gerald! Quit pooping and come to the door! Someone is here to see you!”

Helga chuckled as Gerald appeared at the door in haste, trying to push his brother out of the way. “Jamie-O!” he said in a whiny voice that Helga had never heard from him before. “Seriously? I wasn’t pooping. I was helping Mom with the dishes.”

“Sure, you were,” Jamie-O said as he grabbed Gerald, putting a wrestling move on him that left Gerald with a twisted arm, yelping in pain.

Helga, thoroughly entertained by this exchange, couldn’t believe how great her short time at the Johansson house was playing out already. Here she was, seeing Gerald get knocked down a few pegs, without having to put forth any effort whatsoever. She liked his other brother already. With a laugh, she said, “Seriously, Gerald? You don’t know how to dodge an arm wrench to a vertical wrist lock? Man, what a wimp.”

Jamie-O laughed at what Helga said, looking at her with an impressed expression. He let go of Gerald, with Gerald attempting to recover. Jamie-O said to her, “Hey, I like you! A friend that isn’t afraid to tell it like it is. Nice to meet you...” motioning toward her with an outstretched hand, asking for her name.

She smiled proudly, accepted his outstretched hand with a firm handshake, and said, “Helga G. Pataki.”

Gerald, still disgruntled and straightening out his shirt, butted in. “Ugh, of COURSE you two would get along.” Staring daggers at Jamie-O, he added, “And we’re NOT friends.” Not even looking at Helga or formally inviting her into the house, he turned around, started stomping up the stairs, and said, “Come on, Helga. Let’s start the stupid project.” Deciding not to push Gerald further, Jamie-O and Helga shared a humored wide-eyed grimace at each other before she entered the house and followed Gerald up the stairs in silence. While climbing the stairs, Gerald shouted over the banister, “Mom, I’m gonna be in my room with Helga doing our project!” Helga heard a faint, “Okay, sweetheart!” come from downstairs somewhere.

As she ascended the staircase, she looked at the photos adorned on the adjacent wall. Photos of a happy family of five lined the wall, with a new photo to see every few steps. She would never admit it out loud, but she felt a pang of jealousy seeing Gerald in photos with his family. Despite Jamie-O being a jerk to Gerald, the home reeked of love and closeness, a stark and obvious difference from her own home.

She followed him into his room. As she walked in, she felt like she knew this place. She realized it felt so familiar because it very much reflected the personality of its occupant: bold colors and posters of celebrities, athletes, and characters she overheard him yammering on about when she was eavesdropping on his and Arnold’s conversations were all over the walls.

Gerald threw himself on his bed face-up, clearly needing a moment to compose himself. With a sigh, he covered his eyes with his elbow and said, “Be glad you don’t have an older sibling.”

Helga gave a small, knowing laugh. Since Gerald was basically a dog with a tail between his legs at the moment, her guard was down. She didn’t feel the need to give a retort or maintain her reputation, for the moment, anyway. She leveled with him instead. “I actually do have an older sibling, and she’s the worst.”

Keeping his elbow up, he suddenly lifted his head and peered at her with surprised eyes. “Really?” he asked. “Why did I think you were an only child?”

Helga shrugged her shoulders and started slowly pacing room, eyes on the many items on the walls. “She’s ten years older than me. She doesn’t even live at home anymore, but it’s absolute torture when she visits.” She stopped her pacing and returned eye contact with him. “Does your brother wrestle you like that often?”

Gerald sighed, threw his head back on the bed, and returned the elbow over his eyes. “All. The. Time. And I hate wrestling, so I don’t know how to fight it. Man, I can’t even walk down the hall without his stupid surprise attacks.”

An idea began to brew in Helga’s head. “I could teach you a few defensive moves to get him off your back,” she said casually.

Gerald, surprised and eager, propped himself up with his elbows. “Really? You would do that?”

With an air of power, returning back to her slow pace around his room, she said over her shoulder, “For a price.”

“Of COURSE,” he spat, sitting up, with his legs dangling over the side of the bed. “And here I was, foolishly thinking that you were actually being nice for once.”

Retort engaged. She spun around, pointing an accusatory finger at him. “Hey, I can be NICE.” Realizing the irony of her stance, she put down her finger and relaxed her shoulders. “I’ll teach you some moves, and in exchange, we do this project my way, on my terms,” she said, pointing her thumb to her chest. “I choose the topic and how the presentation is going to go.”

Gerald squinted his eyes with suspicion. “And what exactly would that look like?”

Helga tried her best to suppress her evil grin. “The topic is wrestling, with me demonstrating some wrestling moves on you. Me in the dominant position, of course.”

Gerald groaned. “See, I knew you couldn’t be nice. You’re going to make me look like a fool.” He attempted to reason with her. “Is there anything else you’re interested in? Anything besides wrestling?”

Helga pondered that for a moment. What interests of hers would she feel comfortable putting on display for all her classmates to see? Ballet? No. Poetry? No. Her obsessive infatuation with Arnold? HECK NO.

She returned from her thoughts to respond to him in a mockingly lighthearted tone. “Nope. We’re doing wrestling. Do we have a deal?”

Gerald mulled it over for a second. He sighed with his eyes closed, as if he was about to say something he might regret. He looked at her. “It’s a deal as long as we do moves that keep me on my two feet. Nothing on the floor, and nothing in the air.”

Helga nodded. “Fair enough. Deal.” She extended her hand to make it official, and Gerald met her hand. It was a solid, one-shake handshake. In a serious tone with a touch of smugness, she said, “Okay, let’s start with how pathetic it was that your brother got you in a wrist lock without even trying.”

For the next 30 minutes, Helga showed Gerald some defensive moves. She asked Gerald which moves Jamie-O frequently put on him, and provided some ideas of how to break free from those holds. She even let Gerald practice the defensive moves on her, slowing down the pace step-by-step, allowing Gerald to get his feet wet with it. She took the lesson seriously, and felt that familiar passion she felt for her hobbies shine through. In fact, she realized that this was the first time she had ever practiced these moves on another human being, as no one in her social circle was into wrestling like she was. She was enjoying herself, with Gerald Johansson, of all people. He was listening fully and absorbing her lesson well.

When he managed to escape Helga’s attempt to get him in a wrist lock, she looked at him with an impressed expression and said, “I think my work here is done.”

Gerald smiled, obviously proud of himself. “Wow. That wasn’t so hard!” He stopped, realizing the shift between them. “Uh, thanks, Helga. That was... really cool of you to show me that.” He smiled to himself and said, “Now THERE’S something I never thought I’d say.”

Helga confidently put her hands on her hips. “Like I said, I can be nice. For the right price.”

“For the right price,” he echoed with a smirk. He went over to his mirror, checking his high-top fade, making sure his hair still looked fly after practicing wrestling moves for a half hour. Still looking at himself, he said, “I wish you could be that nice to Arnold.”

Helga’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of Arnold’s name. Recovering, she laughed and crossed her arms. “HA! Please. The ol’ Football Head deserves it.”

“What?” Gerald spun around, shocked that she was using those words to describe his true-blue best friend. “Arnold is the nicest person there is. What does he do to deserve anything but kindness?”

Helga froze. Her body felt the familiar sensations that always came with anyone going anywhere near her secret love for Arnold: tight throat, rapid heartbeat, stuttering, babbling, and shifty eyes. She tried to play it cool. “W-Well, y-you know, he’s... always butting into people’s business!” was the best thing she could come up with.

He gave her a deadpanned expression. “To help them.”

“Well, it’s annoying!”

Gerald shook his head at her childish response. But suddenly, his face lit up, as if a lightbulb went off in his head. “For the right price... you’ll be nice...” he said quietly, half to himself, half to her.

Relieved that Gerald distracted himself from prodding Helga’s intentions any further, she raised an eyebrow. “Yeah. What about it?”

Gerald gave her an intense stare. “What if I asked you to be nice to Arnold for a week? What would I have to pay to make that happen?”

Helga scoffed. “Why do you want me to be nice to a dopey little football head?”

Gerald broke eye contact and starting pacing back and forth. “His birthday is next Monday. I’m strapped for cash, and I’ve been going crazy trying to think of what I could do for him. But this,” he said, as he slapped the back of his hand into his other palm, “THIS could really make his week.” He stopped pacing and looked at her. “So, name your price.”

Helga tapped her chin in thought. She had a reputation to protect, and being nice to Arnold for a whole week could compromise that. Jeopardizing her reputation carried a hefty price tag.

On the other hand, lending Arnold a kind hand for a week could benefit her, too. It could show Arnold that she’s more than a tormentor. She’s passionate, funny, witty, and intelligent. Who wouldn’t want a girl like that? This could be push she needed to make Arnold finally see that Helga G. Pataki was the perfect girl for him.

She wouldn’t show her cards, though. She decided to play hard to get. “I’ll be nice to Arnold if you do my homework next week. That includes projects due next week, too.” She crossed her arms triumphantly, smirked, and did a quick eyebrow raise, as if to say “take that.”

Gerald deflated. “You mean, I’d have to do your History of Hillwood essay due next Friday, too?” It was a demanding project. It required you to find someone who has lived in Hillwood over 30 years, interview them, and write a 3-page paper about how much things have changed over the years.

“Yep,” she said, emphasizing the p sound at the end of the word. There’s no way he’ll take the bait, she thought.

After a few moments, he relented. “You drive a hard bargain, Pataki, but I’ll take it.”

She uncrossed her arms and her jaw hung open, surprised that he didn’t even try to negotiate terms with her. Wow, he must be desperate, she thought. What a sap!

“Wow, really?” She said immediately out of shock. “I mean, alright, Geraldo. But we gotta set some boundaries here. I don’t want to be TOO nice. Can’t have Hair Boy falling in love with me or anything.” Reverse psychology. Can’t have him suspect anything.

“Fat chance,” he said with a laugh.

His response hurt, but there was no way in heck she’d ever let him see that. “For starters, I’m not going to go out of my way to be nice to him. If the opportunity presents itself, fine.”

Gerald nodded. “Fine.”

“And,” Helga continued, “he CANNOT know that we have this agreement.”

“Wait, what?” Gerald said loudly. “But how else will he know what I’m getting him for his birthday?”

“Ugh, do you need a pat on the back for your good deeds?” she asked in annoyance. She was no stranger to being charitable in the shadows, and it irked her that other people needed validation for their acts of kindness. “And do you know how mortifying it would be for the class to know that I was being nice to Arnold because you asked me to? NOBODY is going to know about this except you and me.” She pointed to him and then thumbed her chest.

Gerald groaned. “Alright, alright.”

Helga was insistent. “Promise me. No. PINKY SWEAR that this will never get out. If it does, Old Betsy will be paying you a visit, along with a surprise wrestling move that I KNOW you can’t defend yourself against.” She held out her pinky finger toward him.

Gerald shot her an irritated expression at her verbal jab before extending his pinky finger, locking with hers for a beat. “Fine, I pinky swear.”

Helga did a single nod and said, “Okay. Starting tomorrow, I’m going to be nice to Arnold. My last day will be next Monday, his birthday. That’s when you’ll begin doing my homework.”

Gerald nodded in confirmation. “Right.”

Helga was on her way out the door when she turned around and said, “Oh, and I’ll come up with the whole Uniquely You project. All you have to do is show up and be my warm body while I put you in a headlock in front of the whole class.” She smirked, gave a two-finger salute, and walked out of his room.

Gerald sat with a deadpanned expression. “Mmm mmm mmm! How does Phoebe put UP with that chick?”

———

Tuesday

Tuesday morning arrived, and Helga decided to leave early and walk to school instead of taking the bus. She was feeling a little nervous and was trying to walk it off. She didn’t want to blow this. Being nice to Arnold was out of character for her, so she was going to have to spend the remainder of the week on her toes. Besides, Arnold usually took the bus to school, to she figured she could avoid him if she walked. In fact, that was basically her plan for the week: try to avoid Arnold as much as ��

“Oof!”

“Ow!”

She collided with something, or someone. That’s what you get for stressing so much and not paying attention. Get it together, Helga! Sheesh! She found herself on the ground, feeling discomfort in her chin and chest, where the brunt of the collision occurred. She shook her head, came to, and found her bearings.

And there he was.

On the ground, right in front of her.

Those beautiful green eyes, brighter than normal in the light of the sun, staring wide-eyed at her, giving her his undivided attention. His unruly, yet incredibly sexy, blonde hair, a little more disheveled than usual after their collision. His shocked, yet concerned expression, which sent a shiver across her chest and down her arms like a small shock of electricity. Oh, my love. I have knocked you out of your reverie, distracted by whatever images conjured up that adorable little football head of yours, thoughts lucky enough to hold your attention to take you away from the present world around you. What I would give to be even a minuscule musing in your daydreams. Ooh.

Her eyes panned slightly behind him to reveal Gerald, who had to have been walking alongside Arnold. Gerald stared at her with anticipation, not knowing what to expect come out of her mouth with their recent deal.

She was on display. Okay. You got this, Helga ol’ girl. Just... be nice.

Arnold spoke first, starting to stand up and dust himself off. “Helga, are you okay? I’m so sorry.” He extended his hand kindly, attempting to help her up.

Normally, she’d scoff, ridicule his tendency to daydream, ignore his extended hand, and throw an insult his way before stomping off.

Instead, she found her hand taking his. His hand was soft, and it even felt kind. She inwardly swooned as he quickly pulled her up. Her eyes flitted at Gerald for a beat before responding with, “That’s okay, Arnold. I’m sorry, too. I guess we were both a little distracted, huh?”

His hand reached up to rub the back of his neck. “Yeah, I guess so.” His face suddenly showed realization, confusion. “Wait... what did you just call me?”

Ha. He realized instantly that I didn’t call him a football-headed klutz for once. “Um, Arnold? That’s your name, isn’t it?”

Out of Arnold’s field of vision, Gerald smiled smugly behind him and nodded his head at Helga in approval. He was loving this. She made every effort not to roll her eyes at him, let alone sock him in the face.

Arnold just stared at her with wide eyes for a second. She honestly didn’t know how he was going to react to this change. Was he going to be in shock? Was he going to shrug his shoulders and move on? He surprised her by teasing her in a friendly manner. “Uh, yeah.” He chuckled to himself for a second. “I was starting to think you had forgotten it,” he said with a smirk, his eyes meeting hers.

She rolled her eyes playfully. “Yeah, yeah. I know your name.” As she started to walk backwards toward their P.S. 118, she said lightheartedly, “Keep your head out of the clouds, would ya? You’re gonna poke an eye out.” Before turning around, she shot a quick eyebrow flash and smirk at Gerald as if to say, “Ha! Told you I could do it,” turned around, and let the two of them watch her walk away. She played it cool, but her heart was pounding.

Behind her, she faintly heard Arnold say to Gerald, “What was that?” She heard Gerald respond with, “I don’t know, man.” She smiled to herself and inwardly giggled, picking up her pace to create some distance between them, exhilarated by the exchange she just had. She did it. She was nice to Arnold, and the world didn’t blow up.

Don’t get ahead of yourself, bucko, a voice inside her head said. Being nice to him with no one else around but that doofy Tall Hair Boy, who is in on the secret, easy. Doing that in front of your dimwitted classmates? Might be a little harder to navigate.

She decided to ignore her inner voice and revel in her elation, for once.

———

What do you even do with yourself if you’re not launching spit balls at the love of your life in class?

She had to cut that ritual out of her life this week, as she knew that he hated her spitballs of fury/passion. She realized that, without busying her hands with tearing and rolling tiny bits of papers into spit balls, she felt awkward. As she listened to Granola Boy drone on and on about cruciferous vegetables, she tried drumming her fingers, twiddling her thumbs, and even braiding her hair. It all felt off.

“Are you okay, Helga?” a meek whisper next to her said. It was Phoebe. Sheesh, was it that obvious?

“Yeah, I, uh, am feeling a little jittery this morning, that’s all.”

“Okay, Helga.” She went back to listening to Mr. Simmons’ lesson intently. Phoebe wasn’t the type to chat in the middle of a school lesson. She’d probably pry a little more during lunch. She imagined Phoebe trying to lead Helga in some hippie-dippy breathing exercise to calm her nerves. She smiled to herself. Her and Phoebe were like night and day sometimes.

She found that the rapture she felt that morning from her exchange with Arnold was fading fast. Without her throwing spitballs at him, he didn’t have a reason to turn around and look at her. And he didn’t.

She was eager for lunch to start so she could get her mind off Arnold and those gorgeous tufts of blonde, spitball-free hair of his.

———

The lunch bell rang. Arnold was having a good day. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but for whatever reason, he felt really focused. He listened to Mr. Simmons’ entire lesson on cruciferous vegetables with unanticipated enthusiasm. He had to admit that it made him want to reach for some broccoli at lunch time today.

Out of unconscious habit, he tipped his head downward and started shaking his thick hair with his hands. When he looked down at the floor, it dawned on him that something was amiss. The floor beneath him was clean. Wait... where are the spitballs? he finally realized. He sat up and looked around his seat, wondering if it was in a different area. Nope. The floor all around him was free of spitballs. He ran his fingers through his hair one more time.

“Did you drop something?” Gerald asked, bringing Arnold out of his thoughts.

Arnold looked up. Behind Gerald, Arnold’s eyes fell on Helga, who was on her way out of the classroom. He hoped that she would make eye contact with him, which could give him some sort of clue as to why she didn’t pelt him with spitballs today. However, she didn’t even look at him. She left the room. Arnold sat there, bewildered.

Remembering that Gerald asked him something, he responded, “No, I guess not,” distantly. He got up out of his desk, and the two headed for lunch.

——-

Helga grabbed her tray and started dragging it across the lunch line table. She was in a deep debate with Phoebe, who was standing in front of her, about why it would be much better to be 50 feet tall than 50 millimeters tall when the tapioca pudding caught her eye. It was the last one. As she went to reach for it, she bumped hands with the person behind her who was also reaching for it.

“Oh, sorry, Helga. You’re in front of me. You take it.” It was Arnold. Her heart began to beat faster upon hearing his sweet, tender voice say her name. Man, why does he DO this to me?

Her thoughts went back to the last time this happened. She had ended up purposely spilling the pudding all over his shirt. She and all her classmates laughed at him while he frowned and headed to the bathroom to clean up.

She winced at the memory. That was a crummy thing to do to her beloved Football Head.

Here was a chance at redemption.

She took the tapioca pudding in her hands and, faking him out, placed it on his plate for him. “Nah, that’s okay. It’s yours,” she said.

He looked up at her. “Really? Are you sure?”

Such a naive little twerp, she thought affectionately. Never change, my love.

“Yeah, I’m sure,” she said. “I ate way too many pork rinds this weekend, anyway. Still trying to balance myself out. Maybe I should listen to Simmons and get myself some watered-down cauliflower.” You sure are chatty when you’re being nice, her inner voice noticed, leaving Helga to feel sheepish.

Arnold laughed, making her heart flutter and her inward embarrassment dissipate. “Yeah, I know what you mean.” He paused for a beat. “Thanks, Helga. That was nice of you.”

“Don’t mention it,” she said, as she paid for her food and quickly left before the awkward silence settled in.

Phoebe was waiting for her, tray in her hands. As they walked to find a seat, she said, “That was nice of you to give Arnold the tapioca pudding.”

“I SAID not to mention it, Pheebs,” Helga shot back.

“Unmentioning!” Phoebe sang, without skipping a beat, as they sat down.

Helga reflected on her second encounter with Arnold that day. He thanked her. And he laughed at something she said. This was the best day she’s had in a long time.

——

The rest of the day went without a hitch. She found a new way to channel her energy away from making spitballs in class: doodling little football heads in her notebook. It was a lateral move, but hey, at least it didn’t infuriate poor Arnold and stayed within the guidelines of the deal with Gerald.

As originally planned, she tried to avoid Arnold as much as possible in an attempt to avoid tarnishing her reputation or making a fool out of herself. She didn’t have contact with him for the rest of the day.

After the final bell rang, she was walking down the steps of school on her way to the bus when she heard a, “Hey, Helga! Wait up!” She turned around and saw Gerald in the near distance, approaching her. She did a quick scope of the landscape to see if the coast was clear of Arnold before saying, “What do you want?”

Gerald seemed to be in the lookout, too. “I’m gonna make this quick. I told Arnold I needed to talk with you about the project. He’ll be walking outside any minute.” Helga impatiently crossed her arms as Gerald did a quick look behind him before lowering his voice in an enthusiastic whisper, “You were great today! Seriously! It was totally believable. And get this: he definitely had a good day. My plan is working! Just keep doing what you’re doing and your homework is good as done for next week.”

Helga would never admit this out loud to Geraldo, but she appreciated the confirmation that his best friend had a great day. Instead, she said with a wave of her hand, “Well, doi. Of course I was great.”

“At least you’re modest about it,” Gerald said sarcastically as Helga looked behind him to see Arnold and Sid leaving the building together in the distance. Helga did a nod in Arnold’s direction to show Gerald that his friend was coming. “See you tomorrow, Tall Hair Boy.”

“Bye, Helga.”

Helga didn’t stick around long enough for Arnold to approach. She turned around and started walking home. He had a good day! Because of ME!, she swooned. She engulfed herself in loving thoughts of him as she walked home.

——

Wednesday

It was halfway through the morning. Helga had her head resting on her hand lazily as she doodled. Helga’s distraction doodles evolved from scattered Football Heads to now a full picture of a scene with hidden Football Heads sprinkled throughout.

She casually looked up and caught Arnold staring at her.

She shut her notebook immediately, out of fear that he had seen what she had been drawing. It was a silly knee-jerk reaction; he was too far away to see her notebook. Her heart began beating harder, and her eyes had to readjust to the rush of adrenaline she felt from his sudden attention.

This was no accident. He was turned around in his seat, staring at her with a confused expression. His hand resting on the back of his chair flipped upward, as if to say, “What gives?”

He wants to know why his head isn’t the target of my hostility anymore, she thought with an inward giggle. She played dumb... well, sort of. She responded with an exaggerated, yet sarcastic expression that said, “What ever do you mean, Arnold?”

“Arnold, whatever conversation you’re having can wait until the bell rings,” Mr. Simmons kindly informed Arnold, making him spin around and face forward once again.

“Sorry, Mr. Simmons.”

Helga smiled, still flying high off of his acknowledgement.

———

At recess, Helga sat with Phoebe at the picnic table in the sun. It was beautiful out, seasonably warm for October. Helga was leaning against the table, face toward the sun with her eyes closed, as if she were sunbathing. Phoebe was reading a novel she couldn’t put down.

“Hey, uh, Helga?”

Helga cooly blinked one eye open. It was Arnold, sweetly standing there like the perfect specimen he was. After he had initiated a silent conversation in class, she had expected him to come talk to her face-to-face today. She was prepared with an excuse and everything.

“Yeah?”

Phoebe, engrossed in her book, scooted down the bench and turned her back to the conversation without even looking up. She didn’t want to be disturbed during the climax of the story.

Arnold sat down next to Helga. “You haven’t launched any spitballs at my head this week.”

“It was that obvious, huh?”

“It’s kind of hard not to notice,” he said with a smile. “It’s been... nice.”

“Yeah, well, don’t get used to it, bucko,” she said, lightly elbowing his arm. “The custodian must have found my straw and thrown it away. One of these days, I’ll remember to bring one back to class,” she lied.

She felt the urge to continue talking. She didn’t know why, but acting nice opened the verbal floodgates. “To be honest, it’s been hard for me to focus in class without it,” she said with a chuckle. “As it turns out, ripping up tiny bits of paper occupies my twitchy fingers while Simmons drones on and on.”

“That’s why I sit up in front. It forces you to listen. You know how I am. Always daydreaming.”

“Yeah, I know. We all know. It’s entertaining for all of us when you get caught,” Helga laughed.

“Hey!” he said with a smile, pretending to act offended.

“Well, it’s true! It’s kind of your thing.”

“My thing?”

“Yes, your thing. One of your things, anyway.” Her open hand gestured toward the playground. “Every single one of us on this playground has snapped you out of a daydream at least once.”

Arnold looked around at the playground. “Wow, you’re right. I’ve never thought of it that way before.” He paused, and with a sideways glance, he asked, “What’s another “thing” of mine?”

“Being blindly optimistic,” she answered casually, without missing a beat.

Arnold rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. “Wow. You’ve got me pegged. I guess that’s also my thing.”

“They’re good things to be, you know.”

Arnold looked at her. “You think so?”

“Don’t get me wrong. They’re annoying qualities. But good ones,” she offered. They allowed her backhanded compliment to hang in the air for a moment. “Just be thankful your thing isn’t being fat, dumb, and pink, like Harold.”

“Helga...”

“I’m just saying!”

There was a brief moment of silence before Arnold spoke. “You know, you have some good “things,” too.”

“I-I do?” asked Helga, eyes wide, her walls being torn down. She was genuinely taken by surprise. He offered up that statement unprovoked.

“Well, sure. You’re smart. You’re funny. And deep down, I think you’re nice. I think you just choose not to show it.”

Helga sat in silence, staring into her hands. The silence was extremely uncomfortable for her. She felt exposed. She hated feeling exposed. On any other day, she would’ve snapped at him or called him a name to move on from the awkwardness. However, her competitiveness wasn’t going to let Gerald win this, so she was going to have to handle this without her tough exterior.

She didn’t know what to say. Unable to tear her mind from the discomfort, she finally responded. “Well, maybe you’ve got me pegged, too.”

Their eyes met. Helga’s eyes approached his with her vulnerability. Arnold’s eyes approached hers with kindness and reassurance.

The bell rang, breaking their gaze.

The two were then distracted by their previously silent bench mate. Phoebe shut her book in triumph with finality, tilting her head back, and breathed out a relieved and elated sigh. “Done,” she said out loud. She realized she was being watched. Snapping out of her trance, she peered over to see Arnold and Helga both staring at her, confused.

She shrugged awkwardly. “What? It was a good one.”

Arnold’s eyes met Helga’s one more time for a brief moment before Helga said, “Come on, Pheebs. Let’s go. You can give me a one-minute summary of the book on our way back to class.”

“Coming!” Phoebe answered. Excited to share her story, she started sharing highlights of the book.

While Phoebe chattered away, Helga was completely tuning her out with thoughts of her beloved. He gets me, she reflected. And he had nice things to say about me, even after all of the misery I’ve put him through. Oh, I adore you, my blindly optimistic, daydreaming football-headed Love God.

“Uh, Helga?”

“Yeah, Pheebs?”

“… correct me if I’m wrong, but you and Arnold… back there… were you talking?”

________

When school ended, Arnold and Gerald left the building of P.S.118. Arnold breathed in a lung full of fresh, outdoor air… well, as fresh as Hillwood air could get, anyway. It was beautiful out. It was always nice outside around his birthday.

“Hey Gerald, do you want to walk home today? It’s really nice out.”

Gerald shook his head regrettably. “I know, man, it is. But I’ve gotta get started on that History of Hillwood project. I’m interviewing Mrs. Vitello in about 30 minutes. I’m gonna take the bus. You comin’?”

With a tinge of disappointment, Arnold obliged. “Yeah, I’ll ride with you.”

“Man, you are so lucky that you live with someone who has lived in Hillwood for 80 years! This project is in the bag for you.”

Arnold laughed. “Yeah, it was really easy. I finished my project weeks ago. Every day is History of Hillwood at the boarding house.”

Arnold looked off at the path he would have taken had he decided to walk. His eyes fell on Helga, who was walking alone. It looks like Helga thought it was nice out, too, he thought.

While still looking at Helga, Arnold asked, “Have you noticed that Helga has been acting different this week?”

“Different how?”

“She’s been… well, nice.”

Gerald looked at him incredulously. “Helga G. Pataki?” he asked. Emphasizing each word of her name. “Nice? You should see what she has planned for our Uniquely You presentation. You won’t think she’s so nice then.”

“I’m serious, Gerald! She hasn’t even called me Football Head this week!”

“Whatever you say, Arnold. Whatever you say,” Gerald said dismissively. Arnold didn’t push the conversation further. He knew his best friend, and that was one of Gerald’s ways of ending a conversation with him politely. He didn’t expect Gerald to understand, anyway. He had zero interest in getting to know Helga on a deeper level. Those two were like oil and water.

Unlike Gerald, Arnold found her fascinating. Her bullying was maddening sometimes, but there were moments, very brief moments, when she would peel back a layer and reveal a tender, caring side of her. He wished he could learn more, but Helga didn’t work that way. It helped to catch her on good days.

As Arnold climbed onto the bus behind his friend, he hoped that Helga’s life was going well enough to bring out this more considerate side to her.

_______

Thursday

Arnold sat at the lunch table with Gerald, Sid, Stinky, and Harold that day. Sitting with those three was always… entertaining, could be a kind word to describe it. Sid and Stinky had bet Harold that they could make him laugh while he chugged his whole carton of milk. Harold, unable to back down from a food-related challenge, confidently accepted. Mid-chug, Sid and Stinky started making fart noises with their armpits, leading Harold to spray milk everywhere. Harold tried to balance his laughter and the milk streaming out of his nose. With deadpan expressions, Arnold and Gerald wiped sprayed milk off of their faces while Sid and Stinky high-fived each other in celebration.

After the moment died down, Sid asked the group, “Oh hey, do you guys think we can delay our baseball game today after school? I need to pick up something from the store from my mom, and the store closes at 4:00. I was thinking we could meet at 4 today instead of 3.”

All the boys nodded their heads. Gerald added, “We’re all okay with it. It’s Helga you need to convince.”

“Oh, right. I forgot.” Sid’s posture started to wilt. “Boy howdy, I really don’t want to ask her. She’s going to freak.”

“I don’t know, Sid,” Arnold said, unconvinced. “Helga’s been a lot nicer this week. She might handle it well today.”

Sid, Stinky, and Harold stopped and looked at Arnold with stunned expressions. Gerald froze, eyes shifting back and forth between the boys and Arnold.

“Are you kidding?” Sid asked rhetorically.

“What are you talking about, Arnold?” Stinky added. “She’s been a regular armchair critic this week. Come to think of it, that’s how she is every week.”

“Remember when called me fat in front of the whole class when Simmons caught me eating that Mr. Fudgy bar during math earlier?” Harold cried. He crossed his arms, and under his breath, grumbled, “Madame Fortress Mommy…”

“Wait…” Arnold said, holding his hand up, trying to process. “Helga has been… normal to all of you all week?”

The boys gave each other puzzled looks. “Arnold, are you okay?” Sid asked.

Interrupting the interrogation, Gerald quickly got up from his chair, stood behind Arnold, and put his hands on Arnold’s shoulders. “Arnold, I think you need to be the one to ask Helga to postpone the game today. Clearly, you’ve got the magic touch this week, my man.”

“Me?” Arnold asked. He looked at his friends. They all were nodding their heads rapidly, all seemingly trying to avoid Helga Pataki’s wrath.

Arnold got up and the crumbs off his shirt. “Alright, I guess so. Here goes,” he said, scanning the cafeteria.

He spotted her getting up out of her chair to throw her food away. He began to follow her. She didn’t seem to notice him at first. Not wanting to startle her, he waited for her to throw her food away before getting her attention.

“Hey, Helga.”

She yelped and did a startled jump. Oops, so much for not startling her. Once she realized it was him, she yelled. “Criminy, Football Head! Why do you have to sneak up on me all the time? Sheesh!”

Arnold looked back to his friends at the lunch table. They were watching him with grimaces on their faces.

“I mean,” Helga said, in a much calmer voice this time, causing Arnold to turn back to her, “you, uh, scared me, A-Arnold. What do you want?”

Arnold rubbed the back of his neck with his hands and down at the floor for a moment. “Sorry, Helga. I didn’t mean to scare you.” He looked back up at her. “I just wanted to see if you were still playing baseball this afternoon.”

Helga squinted her eyes in confusion. “Yeah. Every Thursday at 3 at Gerald Field.”

“Right,” Arnold confirmed. “It’s just that, well, Sid is busy doing something at that time, and he wants to know if you –”

“Arnold?” she interrupted.

“Yeah?” he asked, half expecting her to confirm his friends’ concerns and start flipping out on him.

“Can we move away from this trash can?” she started to wave her hand in front of her face. “It smells like something died in there. Literally.”

Relieved, Arnold responded. “Oh, right. Sorry. I guess the trash can isn’t the best place to start a conversation, huh?” He took a few steps to the left.

Helga followed him, plugging her nose. “Seriously, what IS that smell?”

They heard Curly’s maniacal laughter coming from the nearby air vent.

“Twisted little freak…” Helga mumbled as she caught up with Arnold.

“Anyway,” Arnold continued, “Can we postpone the game until 4:00?”

Helga put her hand on her chin in thought. After a moment, she shrugged her shoulders and said simply, “Okay.”

“Really?” Arnold asked in surprise. “Thanks, Helga! Sid will be so relieved.”

Helga squinted her eyes in suspicion. “Did that little twerp send you over here?”

Arnold’s eyes shifted to the left, “Uh…”

“Don’t bother lying, Football Head. You’re a terrible liar.” Arnold looked at her with rigid eyes. “Well, it’s true! Another of your “things”,” she added with a smirk, in an attempt to lighten the conversation a little bit. It worked. Arnold looked down and smiled to himself.

“Don’t worry. I won’t say anything to him… now. I’ll just torture the ever-living daylights out of him on the baseball field later.”

“Helga…”

“Oh, alright, I won’t torture the poor sap,” she conceded. “You’re no fun.”

“I’m no fun because I don’t take pleasure in other people’s torture?” Arnold asked.

“Aw, come on,” Helga pressed. “You know it’s kinda funny when Sid gets all twitchy and nervous.”

Arnold stopped for a second. He wanted to stick up for his friend, but she did have a point.

“Aha!” she said with a smile, pointing to Arnold’s face, as if his expression gave his thoughts away. “See? You know it’s true.” She crossed her arms in triumph. “Again. Terrible liar.”

Arnold looked at Helga with serious eyes and a small smile. “Since when did you get so good at reading me?” Woah. That came out a little more… personal than he wanted it to.

Helga didn’t seem to notice. “We’ve only known each other for the past 6 years. Doi.”

Arnold nodded, taking that in. “That’s a long time to know someone, huh?”

Helga crossed her arms, stood beside him, and lightly elbowed him as she said, “Six years too long, if you ask me.” Her eyes met his, her blue eyes laced with humor. She’s joking with me, he thought with a smile. It struck him that, in that moment, he had never noticed that she had blue eyes before. They were… pretty. How has he never noticed this in all the years he’s known her?

The bell rang.

“Oh, criminy,” Helga cursed. “I still need to take a leak before class. If I’m not back in time, cover me, would ya?”

Arnold chuckled lightly at her candor. “Sure, Helga.”

He smiled as he watched her run off. He quickly went back to the lunch table to throw away his food. His tablemates had already moved on and were probably back in class by now. How long had I been talking to her? he thought as he quickly made his way back to class.

When he made it back to Mr. Simmons’ class, everyone, including Mr. Simmons, was still situating themselves. He went to Mr. Simmons and informed him that Helga was using the restroom and would be back in a minute or two. Mr. Simmons nodded and thanked him for letting him know.

It was a minute after the second bell that Helga came back in the classroom. Mr. Simmons was writing something on the board and didn’t even look her way, let alone say anything to her. Helga glanced at Arnold, and Arnold reassured her with a wink. She gave him a small smile and retreated to the desk in the back of the room.

_____

Friday

Arnold and Gerald were on the playground, sitting on the swings, but not really swinging on them. Gerald was quiet. Arnold found himself looking across the playground to the jungle gym, where he saw several classmates talking to Helga. She was animated in her conversation, and laughing. He couldn’t tell what she was talking about, but whatever it was, she was in her element.

“Have you ever noticed before that Helga has blue eyes?” Arnold blurted out.

Gerald shot him a death stare, mixed with confusion. “What?” he asked in irritated disbelief.

Arnold realized the mistake he just made. “Oops,” he said sheepishly. “Sorry, Gerald.”

“Let me be VERY clear. I do not want to talk about Helga Pataki right now. Seriously, ANYTHING but her,” Gerald said assertively, with a tinge of desperation in his voice.

“Right,” Arnold said. He decided to shift the conversation to his birthday weekend.

_______

It had been a good day for Helga.

She still couldn’t believe Gerald let her put him in a chin lock, as well as several other compromising positions, in front of the whole class... consensually. It was executed perfectly. As Helga broke down the moves step-by-step, the class seemed to be interested. When she put Gerald in embarrassing positions, it emitted giggles from their classmates, which was what she wanted. She couldn’t stand the guy, but she didn’t want the class to laugh him out of the place. She just wanted to deflate his giant ego a tad. She had a heart, you know.

Later, on the playground, a few of her classmates even approached her, revealing that they, too, watched wrestling. Maybe there was something to this Uniquely You presentation. Simmons was still a granola boy, but hey, this project singlehandedly improved her week: she discovered some mutual interests with several of her classmates, she got to mortify one Gerald Johansson (with his consent... she couldn’t stress that enough), and she had several pleasant heart-pounding encounters with her beloved. She hadn’t felt this good in a long time.

And it was only going to get better: next week, no homework.

It was early evening. Bob was in the mood for Chinese take-out, so for once, he actually managed to order it and make it happen. Helga’s belly was full and she felt satisfied. In fact, she felt like taking a walk to walk off her dinner and enjoy the beautiful October weather.

She found herself at Tina Park. She stuffed her hands in her jacket pockets, feeling the evening air get chillier. Up ahead, she saw what she thought to be her beloved Football Head sitting on a bench. She had to do a double take, as she often gets distracted by football-shaped objects around her: clouds, flower arrangements, shadows, plants... you name it. She had to get a closer look. As she got closer, she confirmed that it was, in fact, him.

This is surprising, Helga thought. He normally hangs out with Tall Hair Boy on Friday nights.

In a good mood and feeling a bit feisty, she approached the bench. “Hey, Arnoldo. What’s shakin’?”

Arnold looked up at her, surprised. “Oh, hi, Helga.” He gave a small smile that faded immediately. He resumed looking back down, fiddling his fingers together.

Something’s bothering him. “Mind if I sit with you?” she asked. Arnold shook his head, and she sat down next to him.

They sat in silence for a second. Normally, Helga would’ve felt intense awkwardness in a situation like this. However, she felt uncharacteristically calm. Wow... I need to strangle my frenemy in front of my classmates more often.

Before she could say anything, he spoke up. “Can I ask you something?” he asked.

My beloved, my muse, my sun and stars, wants MY advice? Oh, my kind-hearted football-headed darling, how I wish to relinquish your anguish with my words and lift you back up to your noble fortitude. “Yeah, sure.”

“Let’s imagine it was Phoebe’s birthday weekend. What would you be doing?”

She felt kicked in the stomach. She could see where this was headed, and she didn’t like it. She took an unobserved deep breath in before responded. “Well,” she said through the exhale, playing it cool, “I’d probably be spending it with her doing something she wanted to do.”

“Exactly!” Arnold exclaimed with his arms outward for emphasis.

“Why?” she urged. She knew the answer, but she wasn’t about to show her hand.

Arnold sighed. He leaned forward, placing his elbows in his knees, his hands touching each other. “It’s my birthday on Monday, and I wanted to spend the weekend doing fun stuff with my best friend,” he said, with his anger picking up. He sat up. “But he’s busy. Can you believe that?”

“D-doing what?” Helga asked. She felt the nervousness in her voice. She really hoped he wasn’t going to say what she thought he was going to say.

“Homework,” he said incredulously. “You think he would’ve planned his time better to be able to hang out with me on my birthday weekend, right?”

Helga felt like she got sucker-punched in the stomach. Arnold confirmed what she had feared: Gerald was busy doing her essay. She just knew it. By holding up his end of the deal, Gerald had to sacrifice his time with his best friend on his birthday weekend. She felt terrible.

Arnold got quiet. “I don’t think I’ll be seeing him much this weekend.”

Helga couldn’t take it anymore. She had to take care of this and make this right. She sprung up. “That sucks, Arnold,” she started, “but I just remembered that I have to... feed my cat.” She inwardly winced at the terrible excuse she just made. She started to walk away quickly before turning around and saying, “I hope your weekend gets better,” before running off.

Arnold scratched his head. “Helga has a cat?”

——-

Helga knocked on the green door. It was getting dark now, and she was officially shivering. When she put on her light jacket when she left the house, she didn’t realize she’d take a one hour detour.

A man with a serious face answered the door. “May I help you?” he asked. His tone was firm, yet he was poised. With a blowhard for a dad, she definitely didn’t know what having a dad like this was like.

“Hi, Mr. Johansson,” she said. He seemed like the type of guy who liked formalities like that. She had something to take care of, and she just wanted to appease him and get him the heck out of her way. “I need to talk to Gerald. It’ll only take a minute.”

He scrunched his eyebrows downward. Maybe I was too direct, she thought. “Okay,” he answered, “but only for a minute. It’s getting late, you know.”

She nodded her head in understanding. He called for his son, in a stern, yet still-asking kind of way. The whole thing felt foreign to her.

Gerald appeared at the door. When he saw her, his face became hard. “What do you want?” he asked in disgust.

“The deal is off,” she said firmly.

Gerald’s face softened. “What?” he asked, as if he didn’t quite understand.

“You heard me. The deal is off. You don’t have to do my homework anymore, and I don’t need to be nice to Hair Boy anymore. It’s done. Finished. Kaput. Capiche?”

Gerald looked like he couldn’t believe his luck. However, he was still confused. “But why? You’ve basically held your end of the deal. Why back down now?”

Oops. She hadn’t thought this far ahead. Better think of something fast, and this time, nothing involving cats. “It’s too hard to be nice to the ol’ Football Head. I can’t take it any longer.” She crossed her arms and put on her signature scowl, signaling that she wanted this conversation to be over.

Gerald did a small laugh and shook his head in disbelief. Helga hoped that he would, in true Gerald form, not prod Helga further. “If you say so, Helga,” he receded. He reached behind the door and excitedly started to put his jacket on. “Well, since my weekend is now wide open, I’m heading out. I interviewed Harvey the mailman this afternoon. Do you want me to send you the audio, and you can use it for your project?”

Helga nodded. “Yeah, that’d be cool. Thanks.” She paused, hoping she wouldn’t sound too interested when she asked the next question. “Where… um, are you going?”

“To Arnold’s,” he said, without skipping a beat. “It’s his birthday weekend, after all. He’s pretty bummed that I couldn’t hang out with him, so I’m going to go surprise him.”

Helga tried to act casual. “I saw him at Tina Park near the east entrance on the way here.”

Gerald was too preoccupied to notice her pretense. “Cool, thanks, Pataki.” He shouted to his family that he was going out. He closed the door behind him as he bounced down the steps past her.

Before heading off, he turned around. “Hey, uh, thanks again… for being nice to Arnold this week. It really made his week.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Helga said with a wave of her hand. “Don’t say I never did you any favors, Geraldo.”

Geraldo smiled, turned around, and ran off eagerly down the street.

Helga watched him go. When she was sure he was out of earshot, she placed her hands on her heart and whispered, “Happy birthday, Arnold.”

#shortakiweek #shortakiweek2020 #shortaki #day5 #heyarnold

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chouetteffraie · 5 years

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Why do you think skk is so popular 🤔🤔

This is a loaded question, dear nonnie! Coming right out of the gates with a toughie huh?

Soukoku is a behemoth of a ship. Getting initiated into the fandom, it’s probably one of the first ships you’ll see. With soukoku fanart popping up in the bungou stray dogs tag all the time and, out of 13144 bsd fics on ao3, 5655 of them including soukoku, it’d be hard not to see the immense fanbase it has. So, we come to your question nonnie: what makes soukoku so popular?

Please note: this comes from the perspective of a relative nonshipper, and I only speak for my own opinions and observations. I’d love to hear anything you have to add!

under a read more because it got a little wordy!

1. Foe Yay

Foe yay is a term used by TV Tropes to define the shipping of two characters who are enemies, whether it’s because the operate on opposite sides of the law or they just don’t like each other. Overall it boils down to this: the hostile tension between them can be easily read as romantic or even sexual if you choose to read it as such.

Media is up to interpretation, so where one person sees bitter enemies, another sees a viscous round if flirtation. Neither are wrong interpretations, even in regards to the canon legitimacy of a ship- I hold this viewpoint because I believe canon can be anything you want it to be; it’s an open field to sow the seeds for creativity. So, in any situation where they are together, there’s automatically a possibility for that moment to be regarded as a ship.

2. Their history

Let’s be real: people love a story where two characters know each other like the back of their hand. While that may not be the case, it’s a pretty solid fact that of every character in the series (that’s still alive- sorry, oda), Chuuya is the one who knows Dazai best. Everyone in the ADA may (or may not have) heard about his time in the mafia, they may have heard him talk about his darker days, and they can see what he’s capable of, but they weren’t there with him. Chuuya was.

Chuuya is the only one that’s still around who, through being partnered with Dazai in the past, knows that darker side of him the best. Akutagawa, as his subordinate, only knows the version he saw as an underling. Chuuya saw more of the real him as an (almost?) equal. Dazai isn’t very open with his personal details; he never was. But there are certain things Chuuya doesn’t need told like others might because he was there, and that sets the foundation for a nice potential ship.

3. Their partnership

I don’t remember the exact phrasing, but soukoku was and is described as an ultimate powerhouse, an unstoppable duo. In order to be part of a team that rises to such infamy, there has to be a certain bond, one where the members can work together and trust that the half of the job that isn’t theirs will get done efficiently.

Not only do they have that certain bond, one where they can trust the other’s strengths and play off them to emphasize their own, it’s almost like the two characters were made for each other - in a way. In terms of their abilities, Chuuya’s could legitimately kill him when he uses it, and he has no way to stop it. The only way it can be stopped is through Dazai- he’s dependent on Dazai if he wants to perform to the best of his abilities (slight pun intended). Dazai, however, would be incomplete in the team without Chuuya; where he’s tactics and intimidation, Chuuya’s more the powerhouse and action guy he needs. While capable independently, the two are better together. They allow the other to perform just a little better than they would alone.

4. Their trust

Because of this partnership, the two of them trust each other. Chuuya has literally admitted this to Dazai (yeah I see you “I used Corruption because I trusted you” squad) They know what the other is capable of- Chuuya is especially aware of Dazai’s darker habits he tries to hide- and Dazai knows how Chuuya will respond and trusts him to be loyal and dependable as he’s always been.

5. Their current bond

William Shakespeare once said (something along the lines of),

“Love me or hate me, both are in my favor. If you love me, I’ll always be in your heart…If you hate me, I’ll always be in your mind.”

What that means is that any strong emotions, whether positive or negative, towards a person will put them in the forefront of your mind. When you have a crush, you often think about them all the time, are reminded constantly of them, and have strong reactions when they are mentioned. When you hate someone, you tend to think about them all the time, are reminded constantly of them, and have strong reactions when they are mentioned. Thank you copy and paste.

Love and hate have very similar “symptoms,” so it’s easy to see why enemies could be viewed as lovers in denial. Let’s be real, denial is a sexy, sexy concept to play around with in fanfic. Who doesn’t love a good slowburn and some classic mutual pining?

Even now, in the current timeline, Dazai lives to pester Chuuya constantly, who is the perfect target with his temper and confrontational attitude towards Dazai. You know what that is? Chemistry. I’m not talking strictly romantic, either. As two characters, they go well together: they interact and bounce off each other in an entertaining and believable way.

Overall, soukoku is what I see as the most fundamental ship in any fandom. For Durarara, it was shizaya, for Voltron, it was klance- the whole “rivalry” thing seems to attract shippers, and for good reason. Soukoku has a few unique spins to it to help shippers make their point, and I know I’ve missed a lot of them in this quick little ask. Still, I hope this gives you an idea as to why I think it’s so popular!

#asks #soukoku #skk #bungou stray dogs #bungo stray dogs #bsd #dazai x chuuya #dazai #chuuya #attempted meta #chuuya nakahara #nakahara chuuya #osamu dazai #dazai osamu #long post #dear nonnie

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allisondraste · 5 years

Text

5 Questions

I was tagged by @tortuosity-writes. Thank you! I’m going to answer about my current WIP, Temperance , which is my primary writing focus at this point!

1.) What was the idea that started the story?

It all started with an angst prompt of “Going somewhere?” which I filled and which involved me throwing a wrench into the relationship between Alistair and my Warden OC, Lucia. To summarize, Luce goes to Amaranthine without Alistair and he assumes the worst. Once I did that terrible thing, I immediately had to write a fix-it fic in which I put them back together (It’s here, although its no longer completely accurate). Now, as part of this fix-it fic, I created a Cousland OC with the express purpose of being another wrench in Alistair and Lucia’s relationship. I did not even bother to come up with a unique name for her, as I expected to use her once and toss her to the side after a squished my OTP back together angstily. Unfortunately, the unforseeable happened. Elissa, or “Liss” as I had begun to call her endearingly, developed this charming little personality, and quickly became a favorite character of mine. She was equal parts kind, funny, and strong, and I just knew that I could not end her story with her being tossed to the side. She deserved better!

Prior to writing the story, I had just begun another playthrough of Dragon Age Awakening, and I developed an obsession with mild interest in Nathaniel, and so he ended up becoming Lucia’s main companion in her quest to Denerim to repair her relationship with Alistair. I originally intended, right until the middle of the story for him and Anora to have A Thing. However, as the story was drawing to a close, and as I became to Liss, it hit me. A Nate/Cousland pairing would be really fun and solve my problem. Not only would it let me do something with my new OC, but it also gave me a reason to explore Nathaniel’s character further, and to write a story that allowed me to explore themes I love like coming of age, resilience, and intimacy that defies any typical sense of the word. Thus the fic was born.

2.) Did you make an outline? Did you stick to it?

Back in March of 2019, I sat down for three hours and mapped out the fic. I knew that I needed some semblance of structure because my one previous attempt at a long fic failed miserably due to my lack of plan and direction. Also because I intended to jump back and forth between the past and the present, with certain key moments mirroring one another. I knew that it would take some forethought to make that work. I started out with 25 chapters to complete the story, and estimeated a wordcount of about 72K. While I stuck to the original pattern, I realized that there was so much more of the story (particularly the past) that I wanted to tell, and so I ended up adding chapters. My chapters also grew in length. So now I have 41 chapters plus an epilogue planned, and I just finished up Chapter 30.

3.) What’s the favorite part of your story?

It’s really hard to say what is my favorite part of the story since it is in progress, but I do know that there are certain types of scenes that I have enjoyed writing the most. I’ve really loved delving into platonic relationships, especially the relationship between Nathaniel and Fergus, which is something that just organically developed as I was writing. I loved delving into family dynamics and the different relationships that these characters had with one another.

Outside of that, proably my favorite part(s) so far have been when Liss and Nate first met, Nate’s last summer in Highever, the reunion, and the most recent chapter that I based off of Nate’s entry in World of Thedas Vol. 2. It’s all been fun, but those were the funnest! ;D

4.) Who is your favorite character and why?

I have several favorite characters, some of them expected (Nathaniel and Liss, of course), but others that surprised me that I enjoyed writing them so much. Fergus Cousland is one character that I have written that I just absolutely adore. He often acts as the voice of the writer (as well as the reader from time to time), and so he gets to say the things we all want to scream at the main actors in the story. Another character that I’ve developed such a fondness for, even in his incredibly small role, Benedict “Ben” Kenric, one of Bram Kenric’s “unnamed” siblings that I gave a name and a personality, and who is just an absolute puppy dog of a human. He’s a fellow squire of Nate’s in Starkhaven and a really close, loyal friend. A real Ride or Die kind of person.

5.) Did anything happen that surprised you as you were writing?

Loads! I think some of the more surprising “huh, Allison. Didn’t expect that one,” things include: retconning Thomas Howe’s death, a thing that wasn’t a thing with Sebastian Vael, and the fact that I absolutely LOVE writing Rendon Howe (even as much as I want to kick him in the stomach every time he shows up in a chapter). One surprise that is not related to the actual writing of the story itself has been the immense outpouring of encouragement and support that I’ve gotten since I started writing. I’ve been very fortunate, and it’s made the journey so much fun!

I’ll tag @ravenqueen89, @chaotic-good-hawke, @darlingrutherford @bitchesofostwick , @laurelsofhighever , and anyone else who sees this and would like a reason to talk about their projects, both complete and WIPs. (No obligations of course!!)

#my writing #long post #temperance #dragon age #fanfic #tags

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summerseachild · 5 years

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Summersea’s GoT Season 4 Rewatch 2019

Otherwise known as: “The Long Slow Slide to D and D Running Out of Material from the Books”

4x01:

1. The visuals of Ice getting melted down are SO PRETTY (while RoC plays on the background 😎 living my best Lannister Life over here.)

2. Jaime getting the sword and trying NOT to be Lord of Casterly Rock and HOLY SHIT TELLING TYWIN NO and getting away with it.

3. Tyrion is trying so hard to greet the Dornish politely... poor guy.

4. It’s pride month so I’m just pointing out that Oberyn is soooo biiiii and This Bi Girl loves him. And him playing with the flame and Ellaria trying to stop him from killing the Lannister who insulted him... I just love their dynamic.

5. Drogon is just a big happy dragon-Cat and in Dany’s first appearance of this season. He PURRS.

6. I love Jaime and Cersei’s scene with Jaime’s new hand. They snipe at each other, but it is SO how they interact.

7. Jon and Sansa reacting to Robb’s death :(

8. GUESS WHO DID NOT MISS JANOS SLYNT OR ALLISER THORNE AT ALL THATS RIGHT MEEEE. Also Alliser is Peter Knox in a Discovery of Witches so I just HATE HIS FACE.

9. TREAT THAT BOOK MORE CAREFULLY JOFFREY YOU LITTLE SHIT and treat your uncle more nicely too. Jaime looks a little taken aback at what a little turd his oldest has become, but handles it well I think.

10. Jaime and Brienne trying to sort out how to keep his vow to Catelyn 🤣

11. YES ARYA GET NEEDLE BACK. Also Sandor being like NO CHILD COME BACK HERE DO NOT RUSH INTO DANGER WITHOUT ME is precious.

12. Sandor Clegane saying FUCK THE KING gives me such satisfaction

13. I should not be so happy about Arya re-enacting the time when Polliver

14. But I am happy that Sandor got his chickens

4x02

1. So I had forgotten that the girls who were in the scene where Theon gets cut are Myranda and the girl Ramsay is hunting later. I remembered how much I hate the Myranda thing real quick, though.

2. I love Tyrion being understanding of Jaime’s disability because HE WOULD BE. Also Tyrion pouring wine on the table to be like “look spilling is no big deal” is PRECIOUS.

3. Bronn knocking Jaime around while sparring is a great source of joy to me.

4. Theon finds out that Robb is dead when he’s got a RAZOR TO RAMSAY’S THROAT I can’t with Alfie’s face.

5. Every time I see Joffrey chop that book in half I want the purple wedding to be right now.

6. Tyrion trying to make Shae leave :...(

7. KEEP AWAY FROM SHIREEN, RED WOMAN, said Davos probably a lot

8. Question: why don’t the direwolves being food BACK to the hungry humans? Especially when Bran can warg into them?

9. So I want to go through every frame of that vision Bran has with the weirwood because the one we haven’t seen before is a Dragons over King’s Landing. Those ARE THE ROOFS YOU SEE IN THE NEXT SHOT FOR THE WEDDING.

10. Haha oh right this IS the purple wedding ep ooops I’d almost forgot. Not sorry for wishing death on Joffrey but sorry for Cersei’s sake and everyone else it fucks over.

11. Loras having eye sex with Oberyn cracks me up I mean they both have eyes and good gaydar... (bi-dar? queer-dar?)

12. Is Margaery... flirting with Brienne? Or is that just Margaery’s personality?

13. JAIME’S FACE when he sees Brienne and Cersei talking is SO FUNNY he’s like shit shit shit DANGER

14. What did Qyburn DO for Cersei that she is recommending to other women? She told him symptoms were gone in a previous ep in a weird mysterious way... did he help her end a pregnancy?? How long has it BEEN since Blackwater? This never comes back again but I’m super curious.

15. Oberyn has zero chill around Tywin and I love it.

16. Margaery looking like she is is going to murder someone during the war of the five Kings show is A Mood. (I mean... there IS about to be a murder.)

17. I don’t think the Tyrells planned it but Joffrey being a shit and making Tyrion touch his wine goblet and SANSA TOUCHING IT TOO played right into their hands.

4x03: oh brother here comes altar sex

1. I want very much for Hector Barbossa to be waiting at the top of that ladder for Sansa after approaching the ship and the creepy fog. But no it’s Petyr Baelish. Ew.

2. Hello new Tommen! Good to see you again after Karstark killed your identical cousin! Also Tywin being like GOOD KINGS ARE SMART AND LISTEN TO THEIR SMART ADVISORS. (That moment when a sitting US president needs to listen to Tywin. Scary?)

3. Altar sex has not aged well for me. I’m not a J/C shipper who thinks they’ve got a healthy relationship that’s all sunshine and kitties. I know the two of them have a messed up dynamic, but this scene misses the mark in so many ways and I hate it. I wish they would have left it out rather than done it wrong. (Also I think it was a tryout for me for “can you get a valonqar scene right?” And the answer was a resounding NO.)

4. Speaking of healthy relationships though Sam and Gilly are cute and sweet and awkward and everything that is good and pure in this world.

5. And so is Davos telling Shireen about his smuggling adventures.

6. Oberyn sat his beautiful self right in the middle of the Kinsey scale and said THE VIEW IS GREAT HERE. What an icon. Also offering Tywin fricking Lannister a seat on the bed where you were just having sex with like FOUR DIFFERENT PEOPLE was A Move.

7. Tywin TELLS OBERYN ABOUT DANY and Oberyn looks like this is the first he’s heard of it.

8. Tyrion saying goodbye to Pod gave me a decent sized lump in my throat.

9. Daario taking down the Champion Of Meereen with one thrown dagger and one slash of a sword is sexy as fuck and I don’t care who knows I think so.

4x04

1. Missandei teaching Grey Worm and just hanging out with him is so important to me this time around.

2. Jaime and Bronn are weird friends and I kind of love it.

3. The Kingslayer Brothers: coming soon to a stage near you. I’d buy that band’s shirt.

4. Olenna Tyrell is a STONE COLD LADY and I love that about her. She protected her granddaughter and I respect that.

5. That is A LOT OF WINE IN THAT GLASS Cersei my love. Also Jaime TRYING to convince her Tyrion didn’t do it hurts me. He loves them both so much, but they all hurt each other.

6. Ser Pounce is a big fluff like my Freya!

7. OATHKEEPER AND THE WHITE BOOK AND THE ARMOR. Brienne’s face is so pure when he gives it to her.

8. I had near forgotten all of this stuff at the wall with Olly and Jon and the cannibals and the mutineers at Craster’s and waiting for Mance’s army. (We know where my heart is though, don’t we...)

9. SIT DOWN LOCKE. I forgot that human shitstain showed up at the wall looking for Bran.

10. We didn’t need the mutineer plot. What did it add? What did we learn about the world or its people? Nothing we didn’t already know. What. Was. The. Point. We’d already seen the walkers and knew about the babies, we knew the world was violent and classist. WE KNEW.

11. I love when Summer is like HELLO BROTHER GHOST OH NO A TRAP

12. The white walker riding across the frozen lake... what a gorgeous image, and the ice henge...

13. WHAT DO THE BLUE EYED ICE BABIES GROW UP TO BEEEEE DO WE EVEN KNOW

4x05

1. I’d say long live King Tommen, but I’d cry.

2. Cersei is beauty she is grace she wants to punch Margaery in the face. (But actually is acting like she might need Margaery to help Tommen? That scene was hard to read.)

3. Meereen has a lot of cool geometrical carvings.

4. Dany thinking about what kind of ruler she wants to be and what responsibilities she has to the people she freed? THAT IS WHO SHE IS, D AND D YOU DICKS.

5. Sansa’s like “greeeeeaaaaat another creepy little kid” when she meets Robin.

6. And Lysa lets it ALL OUT about what Petyr has had her do... wow.

7. Cersei is going along with the Tyrell marriages way too easily what is her game.

8. Tywin is... almost treating his daughter like someone he can trust and have a conversation with? What is this?

9. And then there’s the stupidity about the mines running out. Wtf.

10. Arya is a little drama queen with saying the Hound’s name last while HE WAS LISTENING.

11. Lysa is SO DAMAGED. Poor Sansa.

12. Aw Brienne you don’t know what a loyal kid you’ve got in Podrick give him a chance.

13. Arya practicing water dancing is so cool.

14. Cersei and Oberyn talking is actually really interesting. And they talk about Myrcella :....( and Oberyn is TELLING THE TRUTH about her being happy.

15. Cersei got her A BOAT for her birthday because she LIKES THE OPEN WATER I had forgotten that and I am freaking out for fic reasons because of fics I haven’t written yet that involve Myrcella being good at boats.

16. Geez Pod I don’t know how to skin a rabbit but I know you need to before you cook it. And... does Brienne actually need help with that armor, or does she realize Pod needs to feel useful? I’m going with the second.

17. I had forgotten how creepy Jojen’s visions were.

18. Bran warging into Hodor and killing Locke is... problematic, but Bran had every reason to think Locke was going to kill him. Good fucking riddance.

19. Jon being happy to see Ghost XD

20. So... there’s just a troop of Crasters daughters out there still? Idek.

4x06 the laws of gods and men (and by men we mean Tywin)

1. Braavos is so pretty! I love her. I love her canals, I love the Titan, I love the domes, I just love her.

2. I remember when people lost their shit over Mark Gattis being in this episode. He is quite good here, and Davos is quite clever.

3. Salador’s joke about the red shirt is FUNNY and I’m not afraid to say so.

4. No one wants to see Ramsay having sex.

5. EVERYONE wants to see Yara giving a great speech.

6. She... ran from some dogs when she was burying her axe in dudes’ GUTS five seconds earlier? LAAAAAAME. Yes yes she also saw how fucked up in the head Theon was (more awards Alfie deserved and didn’t get), and she did want to lose any more people when he wasn’t willing to come but the way this was cut it reads like she was all OH NO DOGS which is the stupidest thing ever.

7. NOOOO POOR GOATS. I get that dragons have to eat though...

8. I cannot believe Dany didn’t take the time to FIND OUT WHICH MEEREENESE WERE LESS TERRIBLE. They would have been fucking allies. BUT NO LET’S JUST CRUCIFY PEOPLE WITH NO IDEA OF THE NUANCES OF THE LOCAL SITUATION. What stupidity.

9. At least she’s trying to learn??? She’s so small on that throne in a huge room. What a great shot.

10. Oberyn is a bisexual who CANNOT SIT IN A CHAIR NORMALLY. I am not complaining.

11. I cannot see the scene of Jaime and Tyrion walking down into the courtroom for the trial without giggling at the memory of the outtake where they dance like dorks into the room and down the aisle.

12. Jaime looking at Tyrion like YOU ARE NOT HELPING YOURSELF is a mood.

13. How did they get the poison necklace? Didn’t Littlefinger throw it in the Blackwater FAR off shore? A bit AFTER he killed Dontos? How does Pycelle have it here? Maybe they washed up together? Maybe D and D forgot Petyr tossed it in the bay? WHO KNOWS???

14. Jaime trying to convince Tywin one last time and offering to leave the kingsguard in exchange for Tyrion HOLY SHIT I FORGOT HE DID THAT. Cersei never would have spoken to him again if he’d left her and married and gone back to the Rock and given Tywin what he wanted. Jaime KNEW he was screwing over a relationship that means SO MUCH TO HIM but it’s TYRION’S LIFE we’re talking about here. That’s how much he loves his little brother.

15. Tywin is like DONE so fast Jaime barely gets the offer out lol

16. And it all would have worked if Shae hadn’t walked through those doors.

17. Do we know WHY Shae agreed to testify to this? What did Tywin offer her or threaten her with?

18. WHAT ARE YOU DOING LITTLE BRO WHY ARE YOU SAYING THIS?! is Jaime’s face all the time this scene.

19. Tyrion’s “confession”is such a piece of acting wow Peter enjoy your Emmys.

4x07

1. Jeez Tyrion didn’t know Jaime COULDN’T save him. He had no idea that losing his hand had affected his abilities that badly. That... hurts.

2. Arya, Sandor, and the dying farmer is such a great scene... And Arya only killing that asshole only after Sandor learns his name for her so she knows the name of the man she’s killing.... A++ would watch again.

3. Everyone LISTEN TO JON he has seen things none of you have.

4. Tyrion finding out Bronn has been bought is so very upsetting but I love this scene.

5. But really though once Tywin named The Mountain champion, anyone who Tyrion asks to be his champion at this point he’s basically asking to die.

6. Dany’s like “well I guess fucking Daario isn’t going to cause a political disaster at least.”

7. I had forgotten how fascinating Selyse and Melisandre’s interactions are.

8. IS THAT SETTING UP BURNING SHIREEN FUCK THAT.

9. Dany is capable of nuanced thought when it comes to innocence and guilt of whole groups of people and WE JUST SAW IT with how Jorah changes her mind and I’m JUST SO ANGRY.

10. That is the only time we get the story of Sandor and the fire from his own mouth and I did not mean to be this moved.

11. Hot Pie talking about food (oh yeah and Arya) is so precious. And now I want steak and kidney pie. With gravy.

12. “Using honest feelings to do dishonest work is one of her greatest talents.” The truest thing Tyrion has ever said about Cersei.

13. What a great snow castle. Too bad Joffrey part 2 knocked it down.

14. Ew ew ew Petyr kissing Sansa is so skeevy and gross.

15. “A great deal might change between now and never” is a great line though.

16. I hate Petyr but it’s good he pushed Lysa out the Moon Door before she killed Sansa.

4x08

1. Jon and Co all reminding Sam that Gilly is a survivor is so great. Brotherhood at its best.

2. Missandei and Grey Worm are young people with old souls and their relationship is precious to me.

3. Alfie is SO GOOD at showing how deeply Ramsay has him under his control even when he’s alone with the Ironborn.

4. Petyr is part Braavosi? Fascinating.

5. Sansa TOLD the Lords of Vale who she was??? Her testimony is such a good bit of acting on Sansa’s part. It’s a lie hidden in a lot of truth, and she was QUICK to think it through and come up with it.

6. Jorah telling Dany about the pardon is a scene that breaks my heart. 💔 She is HARSH here but I love the full blown Targaryen on display.

7. Roose being like TELL ME WHAT YOU SEE like the Lion King cracks me up so hard.

8. I will never give Ramsay the Bolton name in anything I write as long as I am a fan of this show out of pure hatred. He is Ramsay Snow forever and always.

9. I remember I was so worried that they were going to have Petyr try to sexually assault Sansa. OH I WAS A SWEET SUMMER CHILD.

10. Arya laughing at the news of Lady Arryn’s Death is an immensely human reaction and I love that she just CANNOT STOP.

11. I know people hated that scene with Jaime and Tyrion talking about beetles but I have two takeaways: first, a septon tried to touch Jaime once???? Headcanon: Little Jaime looked that septon dead in the eye and said “my father wouldn’t like that” and it never happened again. The septon was summarily replaced. Second: Jaime has never thought about ANYTHING in his whole life as deeply as baby Tyrion thought about beetles.

12. Oberyn is so fun to watch fight and Jaime agrees with me.

13. You don’t need him to confess Oberyn really you don’t you GOT HIM my beautiful prince.

14. How did the Gods make their will known if BOTH champions killed each other dead, huh Tywin? (The Mountain is... less Dead?)

4x09

1. Sam mulling over the legalistic interpretation of their vows and Jon trying to explain what sex and love are like are both SO CUTE.

2. I love that everyone around that fire has heard the “Tormund fucked a bear” story and I’m kind of sorry Ygritte didn’t let him finish.

3. Maester Aemon revealing his Targaryen identity was lovely. Also Sam Cussing to get Gilly in the gate= AMAZING

4. Alliser Thorne ADMITTING HE WAS WRONG? I am dead of shock.

5. Sam and Pyp talking about fear and bravery is... so darling.

6. They have A GIANT RIDING A MAMMOTH and I will forgive a small amount of nonsense for giving me that image.

7. See Alliser looking at the horn blower like REALLY? IN THE FUCKING MIDDLE OF MY SPEECH? Before they realize it’s the horn at Castle Black is PRICELESS.

8. Speaking of which I may not like Alliser but he gives a good “let’s not die” speech.

9. Bless Grenn for getting Janos Slynt off the wall.

10. Pyp dying in Sam’s arms was not something I was ready for.

11. You’ve heard of horsepower... now get ready for MAMMOTH POWER (wildling used mammoth salesmen probably)

12. Sam remembering that being NICE to Olly when asking to go up the wall rather than just screaming at him is... telling.

13. Grenn is THE BEST KID AND I LOVE HIM

14. Ghost is going to EAT SOME WILDLINGS

15. Ygritte :...(

16. How is Tormund even ALIVE??? He’s like a frickin PIN CUSHION.

17. “They held the gate” is a line that will make me cry now. Grenn and co. Didn’t let that giant through :...(

3x10: back when D and D remembered the Children existed that one time

Also back when Jaime had a plan that didn’t end with ANY OF HIS FAMILY KILLING EACH OTHER BUT TYWIN ENDS UP DEAD ANYWAY WHY ARE WE LIKE THIS.

1. Jon deciding single-handedly that he’s going to KILL Mance Rayder. Boss move.

2. Oh FFS. Pull the stick out of your ass Stannis and let Mance be.

3. Qyburn is like “out of my way bitch I’m doing necromancy”

4. Cersei telling Tywin the truth to get out of Marrying Loras is... still... making my jaw drop and I KNEW SHE WAS GOING TO DO IT. And there’s ACTUAL EMOTION on Tywin’s face and EVERYTHING SHE SAYS ABOUT PAYING SOME REAL FUCKING ATTENTION TO HIS FAMILY IS TRUE

5. Ah yes “Jaime writes his family’s dialogue” part one. I CHOOSE YOU OMG AND SEX IN THE LORD COMMANDER’S OFFICE I CANNOT BELIEVE WE GOT THAT. Even if I’m still on the fence about whether Jaime would be ok with doing it THERE I’m mostly on board because she JUST TOLD DAD THE TRUTH AND TOLD HIM HE WAS THE ONE SHE WANTED AND I DON’T KNOW WHO LET THE SHIPPERS WRITE THIS SCENE BUT YAY.

6. Dany is still learning all kinds of nuance... I feel like the year contract thing was an attempt to balance her need to be a liberator and the reality on the ground?

7. You are telling me that the Dany who was that upset at Drogon eating ONE child let him burn a WHOLE CITY? I call bullshit.

8. Also this is a CLASSIC example of “one sibling does something wrong and the other two get punished for it” poor Viserion and Rhaegal.

9. Maester Aemon knows how to give a mass eulogy.

10. MEANWHILE NORTH OF THE NORTH HI BRAN meet the hugest weirwood in Westeros AND SOME ICE ZOMBIES

11. POOR MEERA I FORGOT SHE HAD TO HELP JOJEN DIE

12. If the children can do that WHERE ARE THEY LATER

13. holy shit bloodraven is creepy

14. Arya and Brienne meeting :) so cute

15. And Sandor being like YOU ARE TOO NAIVE TO PROTECT HER is cute in its own way.

16. Wow Brienne and Sandor really knock the shit out of each other how are they still alive.

17. Sandor saying awful things to Arya to make it easier for her to kill him was tragic and you can see the desperation in his eyes even as he says the worst of it.

18. JAIME LANNISTER MAKES DECISIONS HE WILL REGRET LATER LIKE NOT GOING ALL OF THE WAY TO THE BOAT WITH TYRION

19. I Had forgotten how rough that last conversation between Tywin and Tyrion was and how devastating those performances are.

20. Varys being like oh fuck those bells I’m going too... prescient.

21. Love the music with Arya on the ship to Braavos!

#summersea has feels about got #summersea got rewatch 2019

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its-negans-lucille · 7 years

Text

Masterlist

LNF = Link Not Found

Erik Killmonger Prompts!

Amber Eyes 1 - Present Synopsis: Erik notices you, Okoye’s right hand woman as soon as he walks into the throne room and is immediately intrigued. You deal with losing your King and an important part of your culture. Diverges from the original plot and contains spoilers!

Hidden Talent Synopsis: Erik has enjoyed your food for over a year and has become rather accustomed to it so when you leave he has to try his own in the kitchen. You return early and realise he could cook the whole time much to your dismay.

Beer Synopsis: Erik has had a crush on you for as long as he could remember and now he has to make a choice: you or the future? Well, he could do that or drink his sorrows into oblivion for a couple of hours.

Negan Prompts!

Fancy Meeting You Here - Part One - Part Two Synopsis: Imagine y/n was a part of Rick’s group, but she’s been kicked out by Rick, cause Daryl & her were always fighting (mostly cause Daryl had a lil crush). After being alone for few weeks, the reader stumbles upon Negan’s men. They bring her back. Negan tried several time to get her as his wife but she always refuses. When the line up comes y/n is here, hidden. She grabs Negan’s arm when he’s about to kill Glenn & just say Yes, so he knows she’ll become his new wife and doesn’t kill Glenn. All Rick’s group is surprised to see her.

His Queen Synopsis: Hi! I was wondering if you could do a oneshot or something where the reader is practically believed to be like Negan’s queen and all his people respect her like they respect him? She’s always where he is and they’re inseperable kinda thing please? :) - Via Anon

Ankle Biter Synopsis: Your dog ran away from Alexandria and when you went to find her you found someone else had already found your Golden Retriever.

The Silent One - Part One - Part Two - Part Three - Part Four [LNF] - Part Five - Part Six - Part Seven - Part Eight - Part Nine - Part Ten - Part Eleven - Part Twelve - Part Thirteen - Part Fourteen - Part Fifteen - Part Sixteen - Part Seventeen - Part Eighteen - Part Nineteen - Part Twenty - Part Twenty-One - Part Twenty-Two - Part Twenty-Three - Part Twenty-Four - Part Twenty-Five - Part Twenty-Six - Part Twenty-Seven - Part Twenty-Eight - Part Twenty-Nine (On Hiatus) Synopsis of Story: The Reader refuses to talk to Negan while Negan is intrigued by them and is determined to charm them but things go bad when the you choose to run from the man who was so determined to have you.

You Can Look, But Don’t Touch Synopsis: Can you do one where the reader is really tiny and she has long 4c hair(which is Afro hair) and she’s in the lineup with the group and when Negan sees her he sees she’s really pretty and he kneels down to inspect her and he’s close and he goes to touch her hair and she head butts the crap outta him! And when he looks back at her she just shrugs and goes “don’t touch my hair”. He takes a liking to her😊 - Via Nonnie

Unforgettable Synopsis: You and Negan get in a ferocious fight… A tickle fight?

My Father - Part One - Part Two - Part Three Synopsis: When you’re Negans daughter and you get taken by another group as revenge and Negan comes to save you.

Nurse Synopsis: Where the reader lives in the Sanctuary with Negan and goes off on a run with a few people, but she gets hurt, (idk shot in the shoulder or something) and she tries to hide it from Negan but he finds out and gets mad that she hid it from him. -Via Anon

Goddess Synopsis: Negan x Plus Sized reader. You’re one of Negan’s wives and you’re feeling insecure about your body size. Negan of course puts that to rest.

Saviour Synopsis: Imagine you have been in a relationship with Negan for the past few months. Ever since you arrived he hasn’t dealt with the wives & he is obviously devoted to you. One night a horde of walkers get in to the sanctuary. When he arrives at the saviours safe spot you are nowhere to be found. You are cornered on the other side of the compound & he has to fight to get to you. - Via Anon

Blood Rose - Part One - Part Two Synopsis: You have a crush on Negan. You leave him little drawings of him and flowers and poems and it secretly becomes his fav part of the day. One day you accidentally get caught by him. -Via Nonnie

Things You Need Too Know Synopsis: Can I request where negan teaches the reader how to defend themselves and even gets her, her own bat? With lots of fluff? - Via Anon

Hide and Seek Synopsis: It’s night and you somehow escaped the Sanctuary, only to end up in a forest, you get lost and Negan is following you and toying with you. -Via Anon

Tease Synopsis: Negan wanted you, oh how he wanted you. But you decided that you’d tease him a little before he got what he wanted. Original prompt was: You’re not a leader, you’re a fucking tyrant!!”

It’s Okay Darlin’ Synopsis: One where the reader was in a different group before she met Negan and she was raped by someone in that first group and she’s in a relationship with Negan but she doesn’t feel comfortable with having sex yet because of what happened and Negan finds out and gets mad and wants to find the guy who did it but she calms him down and just fluff. -Via Anon

Med Kit Synopsis: negan x reader where during lunch amber keeps making fun of a new girl in the compound who is plus size and the reader is pissed off so she tells amber to shut up b4 she punches her and later in her room negan comes and asks her and is impressd+fluff.

The Scars We Bare Synopsis: You are Negan’s wife and your face gets a cut that will scar and you’re extremely self conscious but Negan puts that to rest! - Via Anon

Wounds - Part One - Part Two - Part Three Synopsis: You found Negan in a sticky situation and you help him out of it. A bit of smut in the last chapter.

Promise Synopsis: Male!reader is feminine and gets picked on by the saviours a lot but Negan takes a liking to him and is always giving looks and being over-protective of reader

Paradise Synopsis: NeganxDeaf!reader where he meets her at Alexandria and is immediately attracted to her

Laundry Synopsis: You are falling behind on points, especially after a fight with a fellow Saviour. Negan has a solution, be his bride.

Baby Lucille Synopsis: Negan finds you crouched over the toilet so you have no choice than to tell the big man that he’s going to be a father. His reaction surprised you.

A Game Of Tag Synopsis: You have a maternal instinct and that’s why you became a teacher at the Sanctuary’s school. But what you didn’t account for was Negan.

Staff Synopsis: You are being chased by the Saviours by taking out four of their men, when you finally meet the infamous Negan he is amused and enamoured by you.

At Least Synopsis: You jump in front of Glenn to save his life and Negan seemed rather enamoured by your action and decides that he rather likes you.

Ten O’Clock Synopsis: You (A Lesbian) and Negan begin to compete for one girl. eventually, you come to a compromise that fits the both of you.

Fury Synopsis: Negan carries on trying to push you over the edge and when he eventually does, he is not disapointed.

Sanctuary Synopsis: Negan confronts three siblings who were abused by their father and he makes them an offer

Smirks Synopsis: Negan has been flirting with you for a while now but when he finally makes his move you reveal to him that you are actually gay. Prequel to Ten O'clock

Strong as Steel Synopsis: You and Carl are together but when Negan arrives one day and takes a liking to you everything goes to hell

Survive Synopsis: You are Daryl’s 19 year old, kickass, niece, Shauna, and when you and your group were at the line-up Negan decided to take a little souvenir. You. Since then you have grown to love the man who had imprisoned you and you had recently found out that he had Daryl, Negan promised to take you to him…

Stretch Marks Synopsis: You have many stretch marks that you are self conscious of, but Negan puts that to rest swiftly and easily.

Head Start Synopsis: You come across some of Negan’s men and they take you to see the man himself, he seems rather impressed by you.

Twins Synopsis: You have a protective twin brother, Dylan, who tries to protect you from Negan. Tries being the key word.

Claimed Synopsis: You are Rick’s daughter and unfortunately the Gods have decided to punish you by loving the wrong man, Negan. You and Negan are just getting down to business when your little brother, Carl, walks in.

Father’s Love Synopsis: Negan’s daughter (you) has recently started a relationship with Rick Grimes, the leader of a community called Alexandria. Negan geting into protective dad mode and has a little chat with Rick on how his little girl is to be treated.

The Danger of Caring Synopsis: You are an artist who has been at the Sanctuary for four years now and since the day you arrived you have loved Negan. He, however, doesn’t feel the same. (Angst Fic)

Lucille Synopsis: You and Negan have a child of 5 years old and she seems to have picked up on some of Negans vocabulary. So when she says a bad word Negan steps in and tells her that it’s a bad word while you are stifling your giggles and Lucille is looking completely confused!

Boo Hoo Synopsis: You are a mercenary who’s only love is battle, though negan seems to be trying to change that. You share stories around a campfire about your past.

Use Your Voice Synopsis: You are very shy so when Negan comes to town and begins to try and coax you out of your shell you’re reluctant, but eh, who are you to refuse?

Okay Synopsis: You are weak and beaten after a particularly bad row with your husband. Negan finds you laying on the floor, blood all around you. All he wants you to know is that you’ll be okay.

Double Standard Synopsis: You decide to question Negan on his double standard. On how he is free to sleep with whomever he likes while his wives must remain loyal to him and only him. This gets Negan thinking.

Thank the Lord for Repairs Synopsis: You are physically disabled and unfortunately your wheelchair is in repairs. But hey, why have a wheel chair when Negan can carry you everywhere!

Old Friends - Part One - Part Two Synopsis: You and Negan have been friends since you were kids yet when the apocalypse hit you were separated have been ever since that is until one day when the Saviours come knocking at your communities door.

Bertha Synopsis: You were a model before the apocalypse, not just any model, but a model who did sexy photo shoots and one day Negan gets his hands on one of your sexy magazines.

Proud Synopsis: You are Negan’s daughter and when Negan is getting stressed about Alexandria you have to go and being him back down to earth.

Kissed By Moonlight Synopsis: You are trans man and have fully transitioned. Everything is going well until Negan starts dreaming about you and he comes to confront you about said dreams.

May we Meet Again Synopsis: You are Daryl’s twin and suddenly Negan seems to take express interest in you. Merle and Daryl try to stop his advances but it’s going to take a little more than that to dissuade Negan.

Moonlight Synopsis: You suffer from breast cancer and you tell Negan about this fact.

Open Doors Synopsis: You are physically disabled and when a new arrival at the Sanctuary and starts making ablest remarks you try and keep it to yourself. Until Simon walks in and like a good boy he goes to Negan and tells him about the verbal assaults. You are left feeling low, but Negan puts a stop to that.

Coach Synopsis: You have been on your own for a long time now. Your mother and family were dead and you had no one left in the world. At least that’s what you thought until you run into your old coach, Negan.

A Romantic Synopsis: Negan has been attempting to woo a woman for months now but what he doesn’t know is that she is Aromatic! (Warning severe second hand embarrassment)

What Are the Chances Synopsis: You were Lucille’s little sister and when the end of the world occurred Negan was the one who looked after you. That was, however, until you were separated. You finally found Negan, but when you were in a lineup with your group.

Trichotillomania Synopsis: You suffer from Trichotillomania - a mental disorder which compels you to pull out your hair in large clumps. One time Negan finds you in one of your states and he makes sure to help you.

Acne Synopsis: You suffer from bad acne but because it’s the end of the world you can do nothing about the zit’s that haunt you day and night. That is until Negan has had enough of you hurting your face by popping them and comes up with a solution.

In Sickness and in Health Synopsis: You are super sick and Negan takes it upon himself to look after you.

Drinks Synopsis: It is your birthday and you may have had a little two much to drink … more thank a little really. Negan takes it upon himself to help you out of your drunken state. (Negan x Physically Disabled Wife!Reader)

All I See - Part One - Part Two Synopsis: You are blind and your day was going really rather well until the Saviours turned up and Maggie shoved you into a small cupboard. Soon Negan and Rick come round and you, unfortunately can’t keep quiet for long.

Satisfied Synopsis: You are trying your best tome keep under the radar, disguised so that Negan does not recognize you but when you see a little girl being threatened you step in and blow your cover.

Snuggles Synopsis: You are Negan’s husband and with him working late you have to wait up to ungodly hours to see your husband. Though, it’s all worth it in the end.

Seared Synopsis: You are Daryl and Merle’s sister and after a fight Negan takes you to the Sanctuary, you and him have an interesting car journey.

Stakes Synopsis: You’re a teenage boy and we all know that being a teenager is tough but when you call your boss and your idol (Negan) ‘dad’, unironically, it all gets a whole lot worse.

#Negan #Negan TWD #TWD Negan #Not yet finished #The Wlaking Dead #TWD

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thethingwewrite · 7 years

Text

War Game (Part 1)

Summary: Your whole world have blown up against your face. You are faced with your destiny. What happened to you? Is this green-eyed man the reason your life is turned upside down?

Request from @ariannnawinchester : Could you make a dean x reader in a one tree hill AU with both smut and fluff?

Word count: 4776

Pairing: Dean x Reader

Warning: Nudity, Smut (Not described)

A/N: Hi, guys here is the rewrite of the Making New Changes. There will be 5 different part of this fic or maybe more. I am not sure yet. As you know it a One tree hill AU. Also another witch fic, yeah I know I dig witch, bad ones. I wonder what does it say about me now? :D. Anyways I hope you enjoy this fic and let me know how you feel about it. Thanks to @mrswhozeewhatsis and @aingealcethlenn for betaing this fic.

Tag: @like-a-bag-of-potatoes, @dr-dean, @helvonasche, @wevegotworktodo, @thorne93, @aprofoundbondwithdean, @faith-in-dean, @roxy-davenport, @fangirl1802, @percywinchester27, @bloodysideofhell, @girl-next-door-writes, @kittenofdoomage, @supernatural-jackles, @mysupernaturalfics, @izawrites, @jelly-beans-and-gstrings , @ariannnawinchester, @thing-you-do-with-that-thing, @jensen-jarpad, @secretlyfurrydragon, @bloodysideofhell

SPN Tag Sheets: @thinkwritexpress-official , @itsemmyb , @ezauraemmaline , @charliesbackbitches, @deandoesthingstome, @deerlululucy, @walkingencyclopediaoffandom , @gryffindorable713 , @manawhaat, @growleytria, @thegleegeneration, @samtomydeanwinchester , @supermoonpanda , @sis-tafics , @amaranthinecastiel @becs-bunker , @meganwinchester1999 , @samanddeanwinchester67 , @ferferelli, @iridianuniverse , @the-morning-star-falls , @ackleslaugh , @fangirling-instead-of-working , @hellbentcrowley @eyes-of-a-disney-princess , @kayteonline , @spnsimpleman , @faith-in-dean , @mamaimpala @for-the-love-of-dean , @winchesterfiesta , @salvachester, @sleep-silent-angel, @gadreelsforbiddenfruit , @trenchcoats-and-bees , @curliesallovertheplace, @jencharlan , @skybinx-blog,

Let me know if you want in or out the tag

(Y/N) POV

You carefully leaned on the bridge ramp from your hometown, Tree Hill, your helmet in your hand. A tear fell down your cheek as you thought about having to leave. Dan Scott, your boss, gave you the chance to go, or you wouldn’t see the sun again.

You watched the sunset, as its last rays partially illuminated the town. You wiped the tears away, recalling all the blissful moments you’d had and the bad ones that put you in this situation. Starting from sleeping with a hunter, to Nathan being in a wheelchair, Lucas in the coma, Brooke injured, Hayley’s miscarriage, and Payton…

You shook your head as you thought of her.

All this was because you didn’t follow Dan’s instruction in the first place. You technically tried; you gave them false directions, fake clues and even locked them away. Only, hunters are way too suspicious, smart, and hard to get rid of. You exasperatedly sighed at yourself for being too pretentious, for thinking you could outsmart them.

When darkness was surrounding you, and the lights of the city turned on one by one, you knew it was time, so you walked to your motorbike. Just as you were about to put your helmet on, you heard his voice calling you. You stopped, closed your eyes for a second, not needing him right now.

“Look, it’s no...” you started, turning to meet with a Colt 45. You pulled your hand up. “You don’t want to do that!”

“Really? Give me one good reason?" he said with his deep voice while unlocking the safety.

Three weeks ago

You rolled your eyes. “Whatever,” you said to your boss’s secretary as you walked in his office 10 minutes earlier than planned.

This new secretary was a bitch, always questioning your motives here and glaring at you from a distance. You started to miss the old one, Miss Hale. She was a very caring old lady, too lovely for this world, but she could also be manipulative. You smirked at that as you sat down in front of your boss's desk waiting for him. Miss Gile, the new secretary, didn’t like that you’d arrived early and acted like the place was your own. But, you knew well that he never appreciated anyone being late.

He practically owned the town and was a member of the town council. You were his most loyal employee; he could always count on you to do his dirty work. You were the first one he called when he needed someone to clean up a mess. Just then, the door flew open, crashing into the wall with a loud ‘bang!’. Startled, you turned to see Dan Scott walking into the room before he slammed the door shut. The frown on his face made you immediately understand that he’d had a bad day.

You knew that his wife was demanding a divorce again and his sons didn't want to talk to him. On top of that, the council was questioning his recent action during the fiasco that was the new moon celebration. He stared at you with a harsh and scary glare. You swallowed, expecting the worst.

“We have a serious problem. Hunters are in town questioning people about Keith’s death. I don't want that here, right now. I already have enough with the council on my ass about it. Make sure they leave, and quickly, or take care of them,” he ordered.

You nodded, knowing well that he was the reason Keith was dead, and you’d help him cover his tracks. “Alright. Anything else I should do?" you asked, standing up.

Dan frowned deeply. “Not really. Just try to be discreet this time. And if you need help, ask Rachel,” he said, thinking about it. “Probably need to scare James Howard a little. He is running for both mayor and president's council against me this year. You need to be creative with the hunters in town.”

“Alright. Have any idea where the hunters might be right now?" you asked.

Dan raised an eyebrow. “Do I look like I have time to do your job?"

“Right. Sorry, sir. I will do my best,” you said, walking out of the office.

A moment later you walked into what you called ‘your office,’ but someone else might call it a closet. It was a cramped space, only fitting you and probably one other person, if they were small. Well, at least that’s what a regular person would see. You made sure nobody saw the real size of the room.

It was just like one of those crazy science laboratories from those movies where the scientist always fails to destroy the world. The room had a dim light; the walls were painted black and nothing hung on them. It was a workplace, and you didn’t need anyone to learn about your private life. Not like there were many people who came here, but the few that did come weren’t very worthy of trust. Besides, Dan already knew where you lived.

In the center of the room, there was a creamy marble table with a few oval tubes, each with a different color liquid inside and some connected to each other. There were also three heavy books at the end of the table and what looked like a cauldron in the middle. On the right side of the table was a library full of grimoires and potions. At the end of the room was a traditional desk among all those strange things. You went behind it, opened the top drawer and took out a map.

You pushed the things that were on it aside, barely caring if any of the stuff fell to the floor. You opened the map, then took the black crystal you had around your neck and extended your hand above the map.

“Dimitte ergo me, inveniet eos,” you repeated three times (let me find them).

The necklace started to spin around slowly before going faster; you had to hold it firmly in precaution. When it was time, you let it land on a little part of the map, making you smirk.

Dean POV

The second Dean Winchester crossed the bridge to enter Tree Hill, he knew something was off by the vibes the town was giving him. He repeated it to Sam a few times as they arrived at the only motel in the city, called Hill Motel. Dean stopped complaining about it when Sam insisted that there were too many disappearances in the town to leave it like that.

The worst part was when the Impala broke down right after their visit to the police station. After checking his car for few minutes, he eventually let Sam call a garage. The tow truck came only after 30 minutes, and Dean was beyond pissed. He almost threatened the kid, that if his Baby was more hurt than it should be, then he would have to hide on another planet. But the teenager, only around 17, didn't seem to be very impressed by Dean’s temper and Sam had to calm Dean down a bit. Sam knew his brother would never let anyone touch his Baby and, thanks to him, no one would.

Somehow, probably with his puppy dog eyes, he made sure that Dean would be able to fix the Impala himself. It would cost a little more than expected and it would require them to stay longer than needed in town, but Dean didn’t care. No one else would touch his car. Then, as soon as he fixed Baby, they would be able to leave the city.

They were about to leave the garage when Dean realized that the kid had the same last name as the previous victim, Keith Scott. His name was Nathan Scott, and he had short black hair and blue eyes. He was the same size as Dean and shared a slight resemblance with the victim.

“Sam. I’m staying here,” Dean said as they walked out to the car Nathan rented them.

Sam raised an eyebrow at him. “Why? We still have other interviews to do. Nathan assured you no one would touch her.”

Dean rolled his eyes. “That I know,” he said. “The kid is related to the last victim,” he pointed out.

Sam immediately understood where Dean was going, but he scoffed. “Do you think he will talk to you after the way you treated him earlier? If I wasn't around things would be different.”

Dean just shrugged him off. “Probably, but worth the shot.”

“Right,” Sam said. “Well, I’ll go to the library. Call me if you need a ride,” he said, before climbing into the car.

Dean nodded, and then went back in the garage. “Hey Kid,” he called as he walked in.

Nathan turned to Dean and held a hand to him, motioning that he was on the phone and would handle him once he was done.

Dean waited and watched him. He didn’t look like a fierce person, more like a nice guy who you’d want to be friends with. But his gut told him not to trust anyone in this town. So, better safe than sorry, he would keep his distance and make sure he got the info they needed. A few seconds later, Nathan hung up the phone and looked at him.

“Do you need something?” he asked.

“I figured I would work on the car now,” Dean said.

Nathan narrowed his eyes. “Sir, your partner already told you that no one will tou…”

“I know, I know. But the faster I fix the car, the sooner I am out of this place and can pay you for everything,” Dean interrupted.

He watched Nathan. He could tell the kid was debating inside if he should let him or not. Finally, after a few seconds, or probably minutes, Nathan nodded. “Alright. You will have to stop at 7 p.m. I don't want you to be here after that.”

“Deal,” Dean said with a grin before going to his car and starting to work on it.

After only a few hours of working on the car and trying to talk with Nathan, Dean learned that Keith was his uncle and that he used to own the garage until his dad bought it one or two months before Keith’s death. While he was under his car, he heard someone coming in, but didn’t pay much attention. Nathan’s tone, however, caught his interest, since it suggested that the person wasn't friendly. He didn’t have the opportunity to hear much of the conversation, but did catch the sound of a woman laughing.

The sound made his stomach flip inside him and he stopped in his tracks, looking towards it. From where he was, Dean could hardly see anything, just a pair of heels turning around Nathan for a second, then walking toward the exit. Dean waited at least a minute before sliding away from the car. He stood up and grabbed an old cloth filled with engine oil.

He noticed the concerned look on Nathan’s face as he wiped his hand with the old cloth. “Hey Nathan,” he called. “You ok, kiddo?”

Nathan sighed and raised an eyebrow at him. “Yeah. You done with the car?” he asked, changing the subject.

Dean shook his head. “Need a new carburetor,” he said. “Probably will take a few more days.”

Nathan frowned. “I will need to look if we have one for your car model, but I doubt it. This car is very rare,” he said walking toward his desk.

Dean was somewhat impressed with his knowledge for such a young age, but he knew not to be fooled by that. “Are you okay? You seem concerned since your girl visited?”

Nathan shook his head, typing on the computer. “She isn't my girl,” he snapped. “Like I said, there aren't many carburetors for your car around here. We will have to order it online.”

Just like that, Dean knew that Nathan wouldn't feel like talking about anything else private, and that insisting would be a waste of time. Dean didn't want to look suspicious and lose the little trust Nathan had given him. Dean knew he had to take small steps with him, somehow.

Nathan POV

Around 8 pm, once he had closed the garage, Nathan decided to drive to the city hall to give his father a piece of his mind. He’d had enough, enough of seeing her always around each corner and enough of her coming to his house, his school, and his job. And most importantly, he’d had enough of his father only caring about them when something big happened. Instead of coming himself, his father would always send her, (Y/N) Morris, his so-called assistant. In truth, everyone knew what she was and what she was capable of doing.

Nathan was tolerating (Y/N) because she was his cousin from his mother’s side. His mother took her in when she was six years old and took care of her until Nathan was born. Except things changed. He had no idea what happened when he turned five; she was taken to a boarding school until she came back three years ago. Nathan never understood her, and he didn't think he probably ever would.

He climbed out of his car and walked toward the city hall. When he was halfway there, he saw his father coming out of the building talking to someone. Nathan didn’t wait for him to finish his conversation and walked straight to him.

“Dad, you need to stop doing that!” he spat.

Dan raised his eyebrow. He sent his employee away before turning to his son. “Now Nathan, what exactly did I do to bother you.” He smirked.

Nathan frowned. “(Y/N)!” he said. “You sent her again.”

“(Y/N)? I didn't send her or anyone to you,” he said. “Probably a friendly visit. She is family, after all.”

Nathan scoffed. “Right. You must have forgotten about that when you sent her away,” he said and started to leave. “Just tell her to stop coming to visit unless she doesn't work for you anymore.”

As Nathan walked toward his car, he could feel his father stare at him, but he could also feel someone else staring. Before climbing into his vehicle, he quickly looked around, but didn't see anyone. So, he shook the feeling off and jumped into his car. The engine was brought back to life as he turned the key in the ignition, and he quickly drove off, thinking he had won an argument with his father.

Later that night

(Dean POV)

After a long day of fixing his car, he had tried to interview Karen Roe about Keith’s death. She didn’t understand the reason why the FBI would investigate his death and barely wanted to answer his questions. Her son, Lucas, made sure she wouldn't answer any. Dean decided to go for a drink. He wanted Sam to join him, but his brother turned his offer down in order to work on the case more. Dean sometimes felt like Sam worked too much and needed more fun. He smirked at that thought. However, a neon sign saying “Tric” he came across interrupted his thinking.

Dean raised an eyebrow at the sign. Was this town trying to send him a message? Or a threat? He wasn’t sure, and as Sam said earlier, he should stop seeing evil everywhere when there wasn't. He shrugged, parked the car in the parking lot, and hoped he would be able to get inside of the nightclub seeing the long queue to get in. If not, he would head back to the motel. Dean usually went to bars, but the nightclub was close to his motel, and he didn't feel like driving around town in a rented car he didn't like.

He joined the queue and waited at least 15 minutes before he was able to enter the club. He ignored all the glares he had received and sat down in front of the bar.

“Agent, I told you I had nothing to say anymore,” a female voice said through the sound of the music.

Dean looked up at Karen Roe and sighed. “I know, but I am not here to ask questions,” he said. “I just want to drink a few beers and have fun.”

Her brows snapped together. “You realize that now that the school let out, the girls in here are mainly teenagers.”

Dean rubbed his face annoyed. “That’s my luck,” he said, looking at the bar and noticing that she wasn't wrong. He wasn't even sure how to tell the difference between those who were over 21 and those who weren’t.

Karen opened her mouth but was cut short. “Not all of them are teens,” said a feminine voice, sitting next to him.

Dean didn’t notice the weird look Karen was giving her, he only focused on the girl next to him, smirking at her and liking the confidence she had. He also liked the curves he noticed through her outfit.

“Really? Is it? Well, as long as you aren't one of them,” Dean said drinking in his beer.

She giggled, “I turned 23 today.”

“Happy birthday…'

“(Y/N) and you are?”

“Dean,” he said with a grin. “Lovely name you have, (Y/N)” he said. “We should party in a place where there aren't teenagers around.” He glanced around once again.

She stood up. "Well, I think that’s a good idea,” she said. “I know a place where they serve good alcohol and don't have teenagers around.”

Dean pursed his lips and stood up. “I’m game.” He put some money on the counter. He was caught off guard when she took his hand to leave the place, as her touch made his stomach flip again. He wasn't sure what it meant, but he quickly pushed it aside, as long he was away from teenagers.

In the parking lot, Dean gently grabbed her arms to stop her. “Listen, my car isn't the greatest at the moment, it’s a rent…” he started to say.

“You that one? Don’t worry. I have my baby with me.” She winked at him before walking toward her bike.

Dean shook his head. “I don't think so, sweetheart. This car isn't the best, but at least it's safe.”

(Y/N) laughed and Dean frowned recognizing it from earlier in the garage. “What’s wrong, Dean. Afraid of a little bike? Or is it just that you want to be in control of the ride,” she said seductively, grabbing the two sides of his jacket and pulling him closer to her.

Dean’s eyes darkened with lust, his hands automatically found their way on her lower back, and a smirk appeared on his face. “Oh, sweetheart. I’m good with letting my partners take control,” he said with a deep husky voice.

She licked her lips, went to her tiptoes and whispered in his ear, “Then let me give you the ride of your life.”

He was nearly panting. “You know just how to talk to me,” he whispered as he was turning his head to kiss her. (Y/N) stepped back and winked at him then walked toward her bike.

Dean watched her as she walked, swinging her hips left to right. He bit his lips and sighed, hoping he wouldn't regret it. He followed her, took the helmet she gave him and sat behind her.

(Y/N) Pov

You parked your bike in front of an old building. It was a huge one that seemed to have 12 floors. You hid a laugh. You had felt Dean’s tension through the whole drive. He was gripping you hard every turn you made, and every time you raced over the limit. You saw that he tried to compose himself like the tough guy he was before you gave him the ride of his life.

Dean’s head turned toward the building and he tightened his lips. “Unless this place hides a smaller building with a bar in it. I doubt we’ll find alcohol inside.”

“Don’t worry, there is plenty of alcohol in this intimate bar, and no teenagers will bother us.” You smiled.

You watched as Dean glanced between the building and you twice. You could tell he had a quick mini-debate inside whether to follow you or not. You decided to interfere a little by extending your hand to him. “Come on Dean. It will be fun,” you said with a smirk. Dean gave in and took your hand before you led him into the building.

Your apartment was on the last floor and lucky you, there was an elevator to reach it. The minute the door closed, a sensual tension filled the room. You’d always had a kink for elevators and couldn’t help but imagine him all over you. You looked at the number and saw that you were only on the third floor.

‘Only nine more floors to go,’ you thought.

You cleared your throat. “Well, this is kinda hot.” You watched him, saw his Adam's apple move, he turned to face you, his face was serious and his eyes shadowed with lust.

“It is?” he asked with a husky voice. “Tell me about it.” He stepped closer to you.

You eyed the number and saw that it was on the fifth floor now. ‘Seven more,’ you thought.

You smirked. “How about we just make it hap…” You couldn’t finish your sentence because he’d pinned you against the wall and his lips were over yours. His hands roamed your body up and down, making you moan against his lips. You gripped his shirt, then pushed him against the other wall. He grinned through the kiss, loving when a woman took over.

You almost ripped his shirt open and smirked before kissing him again. Until you heard the sound of the door opening, you grabbed him by his tie. Dean smirked, he grabbed his jacket that fell down to the floor, his bare chest visible. He liked that you didn’t seem to care about the surroundings. In the doorway, an old lady was shocked to see you almost naked. Dean with his shirt half open while you had your shorts open. You chuckled as Dean blushed and mumbled some excuse as the old lady ran from the elevator.

As you opened your apartment door, Dean had his hand wrapped around you and his lips on your neck, sucking and nibbling it. He used his feet to close the door. You turned to face him, kissing him hard and rough without pulling away. You made your way to your room with him taking off both of your clothes.

You pushed him down on your mattress naked and straddled him, but he stopped. “Hey, I don’t want to ruin the fun, but do you have any condoms?” he asked, smirking.

You smirked in reply. “I am on my pills. Don’t worry,” you said, leaning down to kiss him.

“Still, condoms are safer,” he replied as he stopped you, again.

You rolled your eyes and pulled away from him. “Fine, but you’re lucky you’re hot,” you said, walking into the bathroom. “Don’t touch anything” you called out.

You walked out with a condom you finally found after an exhausting 15 minutes looking for one. You showed it to Dean like a kid who had won a trophy. “Dean, ready for…” You stopped, seeing the book in his hand. “Well, we’ll need to talk now,” you said.

Dean glared at you. “You think, (Y/N)?” he said and was surprised when you straddled him again, but frowned. “What’s the matter? I like the occult, that’s all,” you said.

“You know, it’s called witchcraft,” he said. “You seem to know more, according to this.”

You rolled your eyes. “You seem to know a lot about it. Let me guess? Good Witch?”

“Hunter,” he simply said. “You know I have to take care of you, now?”

“Yeah, I know.” You winked at him. “Look, I’m not going to hurt anyone, at the moment. I was just curious. I swear,” you said, leaning down to kiss him but he stopped.

“Really? Just curiosity?” he asked, looking into your eyes, not sure if he should believe you or not.

You nodded. “Yeah,” you said, grinding on him. He groaned, and you didn’t give him the chance to answer as you started to ride him, forgetting about the condom.

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