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sailorsero · 4 years ago

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nothin’ else like this - nsfw

author: claire (@sailorsero) ship: solo adult bakugou katsuki, dash of adult bakugou x gender neutral reader, side adult kaminari denki x adult shinsou hitoshi prompt/genre: birthday & food kink themed solo play wordcount: 2887 warnings: explicit sexual content, swearing, kink, food fetish/food kink/sploshing a/n: • written for the Bakugou’s Birthday Bash Collaboration - check out the masterlist to see everyone elses!) • shoutout to @foolishfortuna who is writing an amazing food fetish kiribaku that inspired me to write this kink • i do not give permission for this (or any of my writing) to be reposted, by anyone, on this or any other website. please don’t do it! • title from ‘birthday cake’ by rihanna

nothin’ else like this *** pinkyofficial • HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BLASTIEST BOY IN THE GALAXY!!! @explosiongoddynamight LOVE YOU!!! 💥🧡🍹🎂😘 CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU AND GET TURNT WITH MAH BOYSSS!!! BAKUSQUAD BABY!!! 👬🧍‍♀️👬 GO TELL DYNAMIGHT HAPPT BIRTHDAY Y’ALL!!! #dynamight #pinky #birthdaybitch

its_cellophane: happt birthday @explosiongoddynamight pinkyofficial: @its_cellophane suddenly we’re a squad of 4 #cellowho theredriot: Look at us 🥺 can’t wait to celebrate together, love you guys!!! happy birthday bro @explosiongoddynamight ♥️ chargebolt: But can we get #birthdaybitch trending tho?? 🤔

Bakugou tutted, flicking through the photos Mina had posted to Instagram. One from last years Hero Gala, with Tweedle Dumb, Dumber and Dumbest crowded into his personal space - all smiles, suits and champagne flutes. A post-graduation selfie with the woman herself, where he felt so triumphant at moving onto the next stage of his quest to become #1, that he hadn’t even objected to the filter that gave them huge eyelashes and bear ears. A couple from their most recent meetups, candids from their school days (mostly taken without his knowledge, let alone permission; the only one that he was posing for featured a double middle finger that had set Iida off for a good fifteen minutes), one from a photoshoot his publicist had strong armed him into and his friends had christened ‘The Great Bakugou Thirst Trap of 2020’.

Bakugou did not consider himself a sentimental person, or someone who placed a great deal of importance on his own birthday; he hadn’t even made any fuss when you told him you were needed in Osaka for a mission that would take you away two days before he turned 24.

But he couldn’t help but go back to the first photo of the bunch, allowing himself a soft smile he would deny under oath.

His 17th birthday, his first birthday with - ugh - real friends. He remembered rolling his eyes when Racoon Eyes had given her blindingly pink phone to the waitress, yelling at Sparky and Tape Face when they’d shoved themselves into the same side of the booth as the rest of them, growling when Shitty Hair had told him to ‘say ‘cheese’, Bakubro!’.

They all looked so young, pre-undercuts and piercings and late teenage growth spurts. He’d have to remember the (very secret) happiness that night had brought him next time Kirishima annoyed him by stepping mud into his carpet or Kaminari pissed him off by opening his big fat mouth.

Bakugou was drawn from his thoughts by knocking on his office door. Knocking that started out strong for the first hit, dropping noticeably into something more tentative for the rest; probably once they remembered whose door they were knocking on. Kirishima had once told him that the interns drew straws on who had to ‘rattle the beast’s cage’ (interact with Bakugou). He’d know; that idiot had been rattling Bakugou’s cage 25/8 since their first year at Yuuei.

“Come in!”

The door opened far enough for an assistant who had already been by this morning with a sack of birthday cards mixed in with regular fan mail to poke their head through the gap.

“Mr Dynamight, Sir, there’s another delivery for you.”

Bakugou nodded, leaning back in his leather desk chair and stretching out his back. Damn paperwork day, and on his birthday. Fuck, was 24 the age your back started aching from sitting in a goddamn chair?!

The assistant continued as they approached the desk, despite the fact that Bakugou didn’t fucking ask.

“It’s a cake, from a lovely bakery downtown; a delivery person just dropped it off. Their cakes are exquisite, by all accounts.”

They stepped back from the desk once the baby blue box was securely placed down, a white satin ribbon wound expertly around it. An embossed logo Bakugou recognised shone under the overhead light.

The blonde’s quirk made short work of the ribbon, burning it idly with one hand so the rest could be severed with ease.

Bakugou flipped the lid of the box up, letting it fall fully open so he could inspect the contents. He blinked. He blinked again.

It was a cake. A strawberry shortcake, slathered with cream and fresh fruit, and perfectly placed in the centre was a chocolate disc with immaculately piped words.

♡ HAPPY BIRTHDAY DYNAMIGHT ♡

“It’s from your fanclub!”

He let his eyes drift back up to the assistant, who - from what Bakugou could infer from the overly positive, cheery tone he was using - clearly thought Bakugou was seconds away from blasting the expensive gateau across his office, and was trying to avert having to call the janitorial staff back up to this floor. He understood; unbridled, perhaps not-always-reasonable rage was kind of his brand, and the cleaners had already had to make a return journey today after Kaminari had set off several sprinklers making toast.

A cake. Yes, a cake. From his fanclub. A cake from his fanclub. That he was definitely going to eat and nothing else, nothing weird! A cake for him to eat. At home. In private. As soon as possible.

“That’s-” He cleared his throat and tried again. “That’s...great. It looks delicious...yes. Thanks. That’s all. You can...go.”

The assistant looked like they were struggling to process the combination of words that had just left Bakugou, but he was pleased when they decided to take this struggle on the road and left his office with a rushed “Yes, Mr Dynamight, Sir, thank you, you are welcome, good bye!” and the click of the office door.

Bakugou barely had time to drag his fingers through his hair, letting out a breath he had apparently been holding since he’d spoken, before the door opened again.

“Knock knock!” “You know he says it doesn’t count if you say it instead of doing it, especially if you’ve already open- Denki!”

Bakugou groaned as Kaminari shot across the room, peering into the still-open box on the desk. “Ooh, that looks amazing, bro! Can I have some?”

“Hey, Kats! Happy birthday, man!” Kirishima beamed at him before dropping his gaze to the cake Kaminari was currently eyefucking. Bakugou slid the box an inch or two closer to himself. He steadfastly ignored the other blonde’s question.

“Thanks, Ei. What’s Dunce Face doing here - world’s worst birthday present?”

Kirishima snorted, clapping Kaminari on the shoulder. “Ran into him a few blocks away on our patrols; figured we’d catch you now to say ‘happy birthday’ on the actual day instead of waiting for Saturday!”

Kaminari brought out what he probably considered the big guns; his finger guns, that he did for literally everything. “Happy birthday, Blasty! Speaking of your birthday, where did the cake come from? Sent with luuurve from Osaka? Although, that would be weird because you don’t even really like sweets and this won’t keep until Saturday when we get togeth-“

“It’s from my fanclub, Pikachu, and keep your staticky hands off my cake!” Bakugou flipped the lid back down, shielding the cake from view.

“Man, don’t be like that - there’s no way you’re gonna be able to eat all that by yourself!” Kaminari whined.

“Relax, Denks - you know Y/N has a cake ordered for Bakubro’s Belated Birthday Blowout!” Kirishima patted his back consolingly.

“I really wish you’d all stop calling it that. God, letting you guys have their number was a fucking mistake.”

Kaminari looked thoughtful; it was terrifying. “You know, I heard, one time, a hero got given a homemade cake by a fan, and when they took a bite of it, they realised they had a mouth full of the fan’s pubic hair!”

“Dude!” “What the everloving fuck, Dunce Face?!”

Kaminari just beamed, apparently proud of himself for making Bakugou question his life on the anniversary of his birth.

“Firstly, does this cake look fucking homemade to you? Secondly, where the fuck did you read that? ‘Disgusting Stories for Stupid Fucking Idiots Monthly’?”

Kaminari shrugged, nonplussed. “Sero told me.”

“Yes, then. Same thing, pretty much.”

Kirishima interrupted, looking thoughtful. “If you think Bakubro’s cake is full of pubes, why do you want to eat it?”

“Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had a mouthful of pubes, bro! ‘Toshi’s more of an au naturel kind of guy…”

Bakugou saw Kirishima’s (painful looking) thinking face intensify, and intervened immediately. “Ei, do not pull at this thread. He-“ Bakugou punctuated with a harsh jab towards the electric hero. “- has told us several times that he’s had Mindfucker’s dirty feet in his mouth before, not to mention all the bodily fluids, and then there’s all the disgusting public places they’ve fucked, and-“

“Don’t kinkshame me, bruh!” Kaminari cut in, sounding lowkey offended, but Bakugou noted the look of pride from before hadn’t diminished, even a little bit.

Bakugou snorted. He constantly shamed Kaminari and his walking corpse of a boyfriend, but that was because they were shamelessly disgusting oversharing nymphomaniacs and someone had to do it. Preferably before one of them creamed their pants in a karaoke bar again. That was Shinkami shaming, not kinkshaming.

He definitely had no room to kinkshame people; not with the plans he had for this cake.

***

Bakugou slammed the door to his apartment shut with his hip and laid the bakery box down on the side table so he could make quick work of his boots and jacket.

God, that had to have been the longest taxi ride of his life. He couldn’t risk the subway with such a precious cargo, so he’d had to sit in the back of the cab next to the box (that he’d had to resist the urge to belt in) and sweat in silence.

Bakugou didn’t know where this kink had come from - maybe he’d watched too much Food Network in his formative years, or passing by the bakery with the amazing smell opposite his junior high school twice a day for three years before going home to jerk it had warped his sexuality; all he knew was, he was gonna fuck this cake.

It was a shame that you were miles and miles away and unavailable for a Facetime like no other; introducing you to his kink had been one of the best weekends of his life, and he was pretty sure - if he knows you as well as he thinks he does - you’d placed an order for two birthday cakes for his belated celebrations.

Maybe you’d got other stuff in mind, too - pie, custard, ice cream, syrups, chocolate, sushi, spaghetti, fruit…and now he was half-hard, still fully dressed and standing in the hallway.

Well, you weren’t here now, but it was his birthday, dammit! He would just have to play alone, and send you some photos afterwards.

Bakugou seized the box and made quick strides until he could place it down on his bedside table.

The comforter flew off of the bed, pooling into a lavish lump on the floor right before the pillows landed one by one on top. The undersheet was last, leaving the rubber sheet beneath exposed to one of the only two people who knew it was there in the first place.

The box made its final move to the middle of the protected mattress, where Bakugou tilted it just enough to be able to coax the cake free with help from gravity and without getting it all over his hands. Not yet…

Bakugou made short work of his clothes, kicking his pants and briefs off impatiently a second before climbing onto the bed and kneeling beside his prize.

Normally, he’d take his time, play around more, have more of a plan, but today, the anticipation had him on a knife edge already. It had been nearly four hours since he’d unwrapped this gift, and he was dying to play with it.

Bakugou leant his knees spread apart, sinking into a squat so he was as close as he could get to his treat.

He was fully hard now, and gave his cock a couple of quick pumps, letting his fist settle loosely from the base down as he took a deep breath and brought his leaking tip to the side of the cake.

His breath left him in a quick rush when the first contact was made; the cream was on the cooler side, and the smooth finish of the outside of the cake was everything he had been missing since he’d last indulged himself like this.

It took all the self control Bakugou had to only push the head in, then pause and take a breath, focusing intently on every sensation as he pushed in as slowly as was physically possible.

The afternoon of waiting felt like edging, so the sensation against his cock, inch by inch, was almost too much as it was not enough.

The sponge was almost as soft and velvety as the cream, but providing some texture and resistance that felt as delicious as the dessert looked.

Bakugou let out the first of many moans as he bottomed out, the air in the bedroom already beginning to smell like sugar and strawberries - just the right side of cloying, and he knew before long it would be so heady he’d be dizzy from it.

He pulled out almost as slowly as he went in, raising himself back up a little and bracing himself with his hands on the other side of the intact cake, leaving him looking over it on his hands and knees.

His reentry at a slightly higher point of the cake wasn’t quite as slow as the first breach, but he’s never been known for his patience.

Bakugou pulled in and out a couple of times, leaving a clear hole to fuck as he began to do just that, his hips begnining to thrust in a steady rhythm.

It didn’t take long for the squishy sounds coming from between his legs to turn into sloppy ones; the delicate cake was beginning to buckle already, the defined layers enveloping his cock becoming mushy around him.

Balancing his weight on one arm, he swiped his now-free hand across the top of the cake, coming away with as generous a handful of cream and strawberry slices as he could without threatening the structural integrity of the cake prematurely.

Bakugou raised his hand and smacked it right into the middle of his chest, before smearing it across his right pec, rubbing purposefully over his nipple as he did so. His hips sped up slightly without intention - or him noticing - as he alternated between smearing the food deeper into his flushed skin, and tugging on his nipple.

He could hear whimpering in his ears and it took a beat or two for Bakugou to realise they were coming from him. Fuck, it all just felt so good.

He blindly grabbed another small handful, this time coming away with some cake mixed into his spoils, before repeating the treatment on his left pec, but with a roughness borne of his increasing desperation.

“Fuck, fuck, shit, I-“ He hissed out a breath, pinching his nipple firmly as he felt the cake begin to collapse inwards, the squelch of the fucking he was giving it echoing in his ears.

A final scoop of the dessert onto his fingers went straight into his mouth, his plush, pink lips parting to accommodate three fingers; he was close.

Bakugou’s balance was starting to go as his orgasm approached, so he pulled his fingers free from his tongue and resumed his position, but beginning to sink lower into the mess he was fucking into his mattress protectors. From his angle, his balls began to slap what was left of the sides of the sinking cake, and the noise that created tore another moan from the blonde.

He could feel the sticky mess coating his crotch and inner thighs, closing his eyes as he lost himself in the feeling of indulging in the kink that turned him on like nothing else, wanting to savour something he knew was nearly over.

“Oh my fuck- ing, shit, oh, fuck-“

Bakugou’s hips were moving at a frantic pace now, chasing a release inside the cake while it still had an inside.

His orgasm had been teetering for a couple of minutes, then came all at once. A shout turned into a long, drawn out moan that was almost a cry, as he spilled his release in one, two, three bursts; biting his lip so hard, he’d discover later he’d drawn blood.

His arms gave out before he’d come back to himself, his lower half landing into the gooey puddle of expensive baking with a splat that would almost have been enough to get him half hard again if his soul hadn’t just shot out of his dick into a cake.

The blonde let out a deep, satisfied sigh, smiling dopily into the shiny, specialist bedsheet. Happy birthday to me, indeed.

Bakugou had only just had the energy to raise himself back onto his hands and knees when he had to find a little more to turn his head towards the door at the sound of it creaking open.

“Awh, did someone get you a birthday cake, babe?”

He nodded. You were back early.

You dropped your duffel on the floor, taking your first step towards the bed as you slid your shirt off with ease.

“Ooh, good - you saved some for me! I’m starving…”

#happy birthday bakugou!!!#my writing #bakugou katsuki #bakugou x reader #bakugou #katsuki #bakugo #bakugo x reader #bakugo katsuki #bakugo katsuki x reader #bakugou katsuki x reader

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jjmaybankxpogue · 4 years ago

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ᴘᴏᴏʟ ᴄʟᴇᴀɴᴇʀ « ᴊᴊ ᴍᴀʏʙᴀɴᴋ ᴥ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ »

✎ Word Count: 1.1k+

✎ Genre: Smut

✎ Warnings: Unprotected sex, kinky JJ, dirty talk,

✎ Inspo: JJ saying housekeeping, but i switched it up a bit

All characters are aged up to at least 18

ONESHOT

Not my gif

Your kook parents hired JJ to clean your pool, or so they thought...

“Ugh, Bryce is such a bad pool cleaner” your mom complained walking into the house “then get a new one” your dad said “hm, can you I have to go with Taryn for wine now” your mom said “sure i guess” your dad said “you should hire a pogue” you suggested “they have to work hard and do things well if they want to live” I added “good point” your dad agreed.

Two days later “were leaving, oh the pool guy should be here soon” your dad said “um why when you're gone and im not” because we booked this trip before, he was only available now” your dad explained. “Who even is he?” I asked “I forgot his name” My dad said gathering his and my mom's suitcase and getting out the door “see you in a week” my mom said trailing behind my dad and locking the front door when she’d left.

Minutes after your parents left the property the pool cleaner showed up, which you had dreaded. You opened the door “JJ?” you said happily “oh hey” JJ said. He was the only pogue you didn't hate since you were friends when you guys were younger. “Well uh, I'll go clean the pool now” JJ said “yeah uh right” I said, feeling the tension. We both went out back, JJ beginning to clean the pool, and me in my bikini getting a tan and scrolling through instagram. Although I did catch JJ staring at me a couple times I was too busy caught up in the new social media drama.

A while later JJ had finished cleaning the pool “okay i assume this is for you” picking up a 50 dollar bill off of the table and handing it to JJ “thanks, see you soon” JJ laughs “wait!” you call right before he leaves “yeah” The blonde replied “c’mere” you said also kind of walking toward JJ. Without hesitation you put your soft hands on the sides of his face and kissed him. He then pulled you in by your waist and kissed your gentle lips for a minute more before asking “are your parents home” “nope” I smiled “thank god your an only child too” JJ said. Right there in the front foyay you got on your knees in front of JJ, batting your eyelashes as you looked up at him. You pulled down his shorts and boxers leaving his dick that sprung up as soon as the waistband was out of the way.

You held his long veiny cock in both of your hands and kitty licked the head of it; tasting his pre-cum. JJ moaned at the slight touch of you, this being something he could only imagine happening. You put his full length in your mouth starting slow and progressively going faster. “Fuck Y/n” JJ groaned tilting his head back for a second then admiring you on your knees, you gagged and he quite clearly liked that. Your bikini bottoms were really wet but not from any water, instead from JJ being verbal. “Mhm fuck im gonna cum” JJ moaned loudly. I took him out of me and caught a breath of air looking at him smiling then going back to your job. You took his whole cock again and deepthroated it until he came. “God you’re so good” JJ praised which made you let out a muffled moan. “Y/nnn” “I- holy shit” JJ said moaning. JJ released in my mouth as I swallowed all he had to give me.

I stood up face to face with JJ once again “fuck me on the counter top” I begged “okay princess” JJ said following me into the kitchen. JJ held my waist and helped me jump up onto the island top then took off his Coors cutoff shirt giving me a view of his abs. JJ put both his hands on the countertop beside my thighs and leaned in for a quick kiss. He took off my bikini top and played with my nipples “only if you knew how long i've been jerking off to thinking of you” JJ told me “ohhh, me too” you winked “i can't wait to feel me in your pussy” JJ teased “don't wait daddy” I said like I was one of his sluts. He pulled my soaking bikini bottoms down and places his hard cock into my dripping core, he gave me a second to get comfortable then started thrusting “awh fuck Maybank!” i yelped rolling my eyes at the instant pure pleasure. “Lay- shit.. Back” JJ said, I did as I was told then he put my legs on his shoulders and now he was hitting my g-spot every time. I couldn’t keep myself together, I was moaning so uncontrollably. “JJ” I yelled “you like it babygirl?” JJ asked followed by a couple moans “Y-yes”. My walls were tightening as I came close to my orgasm which caused JJ to moan uncontrollably as I was. “JJ please don't stop” I begged through my moans. My walls got to their tightest then loosened as I was orgasming. When I was cumming JJ pulled out causing me to squirt then he put his wet cock back in and thrusted until I could feel him spill inside of me. When the blonde finally pulled out my pussy was overflowing with his cum, it leaking onto the island top. “Wanna ride my thigh?” JJ asked, i was quick to nod; still speechless from the sex

We walked over to the couch and I got on JJs thick thigh as he played with my boobs. I was moving my hips back and forth to stimulate my clit. JJ loved seeing you ride his thigh. I was extra sensitive from what JJ had just done to me and riding his thigh felt so good. “Mhm” I moaned, rolling my eyes and tilting my head back enjoying every second of this. “You’re so pretty sitting on me” JJ praised. I went as fast as I could to achieve the best climax possible. It sent shivers down my spine as I was at my high, when I was calming down JJ was telling me how good I am and praising me.

We hopped in the shower together and cleaned each other off. Then when we were done I gave JJ one of my own 50 dollar bills as a tip for sex “no i cant take a hundred, angel” JJ said “my treat” I smiled “and come back tomorrow” I told JJ “okay i will” JJ smirked and left the house.

REQUEST

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salmonskinrolltf · 4 years ago

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Nerdflix - Phase 1

Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3

I knew I was causing a scene in the dorm hallway, dressed in nothing but a pair of skimpy shirt shorts and my messenger bag. But what can I say! I was feeling a bit overheated from wrestling practice. And maybe I wanted to overheat a few guys and gals on my dorm floor while I was at it.

The lock beeped when I slid my student ID into the slot, and I dropped my messenger bag on the floor with a grunt. I heard a startled Yelp from the couch. Ugh. My roommate. He’s nice enough but he’s SUCH a nerd.

“Hey Manny.” I grunted.

“How many times do I have to remind you, Teddy? It’s Immanuel.” In a huff, Immanuel pushed up his glasses, which immediately slid back down his nose again. I noticed he was wearing a dorky denim jacket with a thick lining. What a weirdo, it was like 72 degrees in here. Well I guess that’s what life is like when you’ve got absolutely no meat on your bones.

“Bro, take it easy. Your name doesn’t just roll off the tongue.”

“It would if you actually attended your Spanish class instead of playing games all the time,” he said snippily.

“In wrestling, it’s called a match, dude. Not a game. Maybe you’d know that if you unstuck your nose from a textbook every once in a while.”

“That’s not fair! I have fun!”

“I’m sure streaming sci-fi shows and going to comic conventions counts as fun for someone, but not for me. You’d have to drag me kicking and screaming to one of your all-day binge watches.” I strutted off to my bedroom door, confident that the little pipsqueak had had enough.

As I shut the door, I could have sworn I heard him mutter under his breath, “oh no, I won’t have to drag you at all...”

————————————

The next morning I was just sitting down to my morning protein shake when I heard an entrancing melody coming from the TV. I glanced over and saw Immanuel rummaging through his knapsack to find his glasses cleaner while one of his infinite dorky sci-fi shows began. The logo blaring across the screen said “Nerdflix.” Huh. Never heard of that one before. Must be some new streaming service.

After the logo faded away, the screen flashed bright white, dazzling my corneas. As I blinked away the spots and my vision began to unblur, the entrancing melody began again as the show’s title sequence rolled through images of spaceships darting across inky black voids, daring heroes fighting bug-eyed monsters, and sexy ladies in green paint swooning beside them. It looked exactly like every other show the nerdlinger had ever binged during our time as roommates, but something about this one compelled me to keep watching. Must have been the babes. The title card read “Startales.”

I shrugged and opened Instagram on my phone.

Immanuel sat down with his bowl of Wheaties and watched Captain Tiberius con his way onto the astro-frigate of a band of pirates, hack into the mainframe, and deliver cybercredits in equal amounts to the poor families all throughout the horsehead nebula. I gasped when he nearly had his head torn off by a ravenous bat-beast, and it wasn’t until the credits rolled that I realized I had sat through the entire episode, not scrolling through my phone once.

I scratched my bulging chest, jaw agape in astonishment. “Manny, dude, that show was actually pretty cool. Mind if I watch along with you next time?”

Immanuel grinned. “Sorry Teddy, no can do. I’m actually starting a big project this week. But you can go ahead and use my account if you’re really interested. That was the first episode so you literally haven’t missed anything.”

I smiled, too broadly I thought. What had gotten into me? “You know what, I think I might! Thanks!”

After Manny left for class, I couldn’t help but wonder... was Captain Tiberius going to give the rose quartz sword to the king, or keep it for himself? I glanced at my phone’s clock. 7:45AM. I wanted to hit the gym at 9 before my 10AM Spanish class, so that left me time for at least one more episode... I glanced down at the remote. Ah, what the hell!

Tiberius had just swapped chalices with the space witch trying to poison him when I glanced down at my phone again. Shit! 9:45?! How had I sat through two and a half episodes without even noticing?

So much for my morning pump, but at least if I rushed I could make it to class on time.

I burst through the door of my Spanish classroom at 10:01, red-faced and out of breath. So much for not being late. I guess my internal timing was off. Missing a morning pump can do that to a guy. I adjusted the strap of my stringer tank, which had fallen over my left shoulder, and made a move toward my normal seat in the back row. Only... now there was somebody sitting in it. Professor Alvaro shot me an impatient look and I was forced to take the only remaining seat, all the way in the front. I wasn't used to having the professor so close to me, so I had to pretend to take diligent notes, all the while wondering whether Tiberius would end up choosing to marry the space princess Athena or his childhood best friend Xendra, the farmgirl with the heart of gold.

This did not end up working out in my favor when the pop quiz was passed around, and I got a big fat whopping D. Maybe Immanuel was right. I should spend a little more time studying if I want to keep that athletic scholarship. It hurt me to delay Startales any longer than I had to, but I promised myself that between my last class and my wrestling meet tonight, I would study Spanish like there was no tomorrow. Then after wrestling, I could return to the welcoming arms of Captain Tiberius.

Back at the dorm, when I was making flash cards for common verbs and adjectives, Immanuel came in with a huge duffel bag under his arm. He chuckled knowingly at my feverish scribbling on the notecards. "I never thought I'd see the day."

"Watch it! I might actually be doing homework like a nerd, but I can still take you down, Manny!"

"Maybe. Maybe not..." with a mysterious grin, he vanished into his bedroom. Weirdo.

That night was the final wrestling meet of the season, and everyone was counting on me to perform.

What a time for me to get the yips, right? Again and again I ended up on my back, slammed against the mat. I couldn't quite maneuver my body like I knew I could. I just felt... weak. And small. Sure, I still cut a striking figure in my singlet, but I couldn't help like I used to be MORE striking. And didn't I used to have a tattoo? No, that's ridiculous. Tattoos don't just disappear. This isn't the holodeck on the starship Experian.

After being used to mop the floor, I just wanted to run home and hide under a blanket on the couch, but my buddy Rico clapped an arm over my shoulder and insisted I grab a post-match smoothie with him. When we sat at the table clutching our drinks (I ordered a small, my appetite just wasn't feeling it that night), he shot me a concerned glance.

"What's with you today, man? Girl problems?"

I sighed. "I wish it were that simple. Just a bad day, I guess."

"Well, even the golden boy has to have a bad day sometimes, right? Oh hey, what did you decide you're doing next season? Soccer with your cool friend Rico or baseball with a bunch of losers who don't deserve you?"

I clapped a hand on my forehead. "Oh shit, I totally forgot to even THINK about that. My mind's been stuck on Athena vs. Xendra, not soccer vs. baseball."

"Umm... what?"

"Nevermind. When's the deadline again?"

"Tomorrow, dude."

"Well, I guess we'll both know what I decide by then, right?"

"...right."

"Well... Gotta jet."

I darted out of the shop. Hmmm, not my best social interaction of all time. A weird capper at the end of a weird day. Time to self-medicate by returning at long last to Startales! I practically ran the last few steps to my dorm, hopping on the couch and pressing play.

Three episodes later, I could hear Immanuel's cardkey pinging the lock. I turned to him, smiling warmly. "Dude! I can't thank you enough for letting me use your login! This show is the shit!"

He smiled and stuck his tongue out. "Sick! I'm so glad you're digging it, dude! I knew you would!"

My brow furrowed at that outburst. "Dude? Sick? I don't think I've ever heard you say words that have entries on Urban Dictionary."

“There's a first time for everything, brah." Immanuel grinned a cocky grin and stuck his tongue out. This cheeky mood was doing wonders for him. His skin seemed a little clearer and... were those new glasses? They actually looked kinda cute. Actually, this was a whole new 'fit, as far as I could tell. Still buttoned up and dorky, but actually tailored and showing off a lean figure that had more sinewy strength than I'd have imagined.

I watched in awe as he sauntered over into his room. Well, I guess people really can change. If he keeps this up, I might have to check for signs of Altruvian brainworm possession, like the one that almost killed Lt. Dirgle on Startales... Speaking of, I turned back to the TV to continue my binge.

Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3

#Jock to Nerd #Nerd to Jock #College #Roommate #Body Swap #Personality Change #Nerdflix #Latino

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deardragonbook · 3 years ago

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How I use Trello for Book Series Management (a Free alternative to so many of those overpriced world building programs!)

I constantly see posts about how these world building programs changed the way you write, help you write faster and accomplish more. And then you go in and they’re super expensive and you read comments are people are like, well, I’m too poor for this, shame.

And I’m just like, okay but... there are alternatives, ya’ll know that right? Right?

So, today I’m going to talk about my alternative and how I use it.

This might not be the best tool for everybody, it works really well for me but I do compliment it with a timeline and a map that I keep separate (will eventually get round to an couple of posts about how I do them).

I use Trello, for this tutorial, I’m specifically going to use this board, I’ve made it editable (I think, I don’t usually work with other people) so you can play around and get a feel for it, please don’t mess it up too much so others can mess with it later.

I had to make a separate board for this tutorial to my usual book board because spoilers! Like, big spoilers. Like, the entire series outline is up there, but I’ve copied pretty much the same lists:

Progress: Here I keep track of what I’m up to and more importantly I will store outlines and drafts through attachments. Basically just another backup (you can never have too many).

Scenes Book 1: Here I write down anything and everything I would like to include in the first book. This can be important things, plot points or silly bits of dialogue.

Done Book 1: Once I’ve written something into the draft I will move the content from “Scenes Book 1″ here.

Future Book Scenes: Here I write scenes I plan to include later on in the series but don’t have a specific book for yet.

Cut Content / Just Writing: If something that was previously in “Futre Book Scenes” or “Scenes Book 1″ gets cut, due to plot changes, fluidity or any other reason, I will move it straight here. This is also a place I use when I get the urge to write something random.

Locations: a quick list of important locations for me to reference (usually because I forget names or spelling).

Characters: a quick list of character’s full names and sometimes pictures for me to reference (usually because I forget surnames).

The second and third I have several off (for each book) and I will drag them to the very end of the screen once I’m done with them. Right now in my original board all the book 1 content is at the very back (where Characters is on this example board).

Each little white square with text is called a card. As you can see, you can add attachments to cards (the little paperclip), these can be images that show up on the main board, perfect for characters or locations:

Or they can also be documents (pdfs, word documents...) perfect for saving drafts. (I uploaded a social media planner just to show you can upload PDFs because it’s what I had on my ipad, don’t pay it much notice).

As you can see below, in each card you have the option to write a description. I don’t think there’s a limit to how long this can be (I’ve never found it), and if you have the time and motivation Trello has several formatting options you can use to make it look more appealing. I don’t tend to use them but it’s nice that they’re there. (This shows up on your card on your board as couple of lines underneath the title, so you can easily see which cards have content in them and which don’t).

If after writing a nice little description you want to add something but don’t want to add it to the description, Trello allows you to add comments, I use this for clarifications or quick added info. (This shows up on your Trello board as the little speech bubble with a number referring to how many comments).

This is an example of a character sheet with a photo and description I made to give you an idea of how to do this!

(Yes, there are two characters in the photo as a pose to one, it’s the last picture I saved on my ipad, just roll with it).

Now that you’ve seen a quick walk through how I use Trello, you’re probably wondering why Trello? Why not posts its or normal lists? Well, Trello has a simple yet powerful feature that makes managing my storm of ideas far easier! The easy drag and drop feature. As well as how quick it is!

Check out this quick video of me moving cards around like I would when editing my main series, creating a new list for book 2 scenes and adding a card.

youtube

Are there better apps out there?

Probably.

But trello had served me extremely well for years now! I love it’s functionality, and none of the features locked behind premium seem particularly important to my personal experience.

Another thing to keep in mind is it’s online, which means I have Trello on my phone, ipad and computer and use it in all three locations. A lot of programs are not available on all of these systems which can make for a slower experience. Especially when I wake up at 3 in the morning and need to add a card somewhere, being able to just reach out for my phone and throw it in is a huge advantage!

They also allow you to add Check lists. My current WIP Oppida Institute for Reformation is actually fully outlines in Trello, I use the comments to write out scenes that are important and hide ticked of boxes for a cleaner look.

I use a different Check List for each Act of the story and so far it’s been a very good experience!

If you have any questions about specific aspects of Trello, feel free to ask because I’ve been using it for a long time and feel like I have a pretty good idea about most stuff.

And if you use a different program for managing series, why not tell us about it? You thinking of trying out a new program?

As always, feel free to:

Buy my book here. (Or read it on amazon unlimited!)

Check out my website

Check out my wattpad

Check out my Instagram (you can see some of my art! Plus real time updates on what I’m up to)

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dani-of-the-cosmos · 4 years ago

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*how the signs are acting during quarantine*

~with a touch of unsolicited advice: my venus in cancer’s specialty~

<3 pick your sun, moon, rising, mars, mercury, venus, or dominant sign <3

aries

overall, restless. the day seems to drag on and on, and they cope with it by playing video games and snapchatting someone every 20 seconds. self-hatred lingers in the back of their mind, because of all the time they have to analyze themselves. at random times (usually at night), they may be hit with big waves of profound emotions, where they just need to cry it out and acknowledge how lost they feel. may wonder what their purpose is, or where they fit in in the big scheme of the world. gets philosophical, but not in that condescendingly vague, optimistic way--they truly want answers, because the nothingness is just getting to be too much.

taurus

is actually doing pretty okay. is reading a lot about how they can improve themselves, and probably have a few google docs open with plans on how to upgrade their life. they’ve probably started a garden of some sort, or bought some plants to take care of. the day may seem to pass by quickly for them. they fill their time with watching movies and discovering new recipes to cook. has started getting more sleep, which makes their alluring eyes even more beautiful. the downside is that they may feel a bit groggy, or their head feels heavy, because even the most security-loving, routine-oriented zodiac sign needs some variety.

gemini

getting really excited about all these new methods for self-improvement: exercise, mental health, new projects, clearing their skin, etc. is consistent with these newfound activities for a few days, then gets annoyed when they don’t have 45 inch hips, a 22 inch waist and graceful, 11-shaped abs after less than a week of the chloe ting hourglass program. talks on the phone as they sit on the toilet. watches youtube videos about how to achieve the glow-up that they crave, but can never commit to a single video’s advice. wants something exciting to happen in their life, so they lean into their big emotions and taboo curiosities to compensate for the lack of stimulation. on their phone a LOT.

cancer

has gotten even more beautiful since the quarantine started. loves the simplicity they’re getting accustomed to, but also constantly worries if they’re “making the most” of all this free time. probably will scold themselves after all this is over for not being more disciplined during self-isolation. goes on walks outside a lot, and finds that connecting with nature significantly boosts their mood. observes the quiet beauty around them as a way to cope with the universal chaos of our world. since cancer tends to be a very empathetic sign, they may feel like a sponge for fatigue and suffering whenever they read the news. being aware of the world is great and necessary, but take care of yourself, cancer. know when to take a break from the news.

leo

is really excited about reinventing themselves--they want it all! new clothes, improved mindset, cleaner room, a kinder social circle, new hair--the works. they want to bust out of quarantine looking even more striking than before, with a wardrobe reflecting their new style. probably has either already done something drastic to their hair (like dying it, or the dreaded 2 am impulsive bangs cut), or is at least seriously considering it. really wants to get out of their house and camp out on the beach or something--they miss seeing their friends face-to-face, and try to make up for it by calling them to hear their voices. is irritated that they happened to be born at a time where the pivotal years of their life are being wasted by such an awful series of world events.

virgo

has upgraded their bedroom to look as aesthetically pleasing and soothing as possible. their social life has most likely downsized to 2-3 super close and genuine friends that they call, text, and/or facetime with daily. since virgo is a mutable sign, they’ve probably done a great job adjusting to their surroundings and are helping their family with domestic tasks. however, they may feel anxious, and unsatisfied with their current mindset and resources, so they feel the urge to expand their horizons and feed their genius mind as much as possible! it may be hard to find motivation, virgo, but the world needs a physical manifestation of your potential right now. if you have an idea you want to pursue but are too scared to, take the plunge. this sounds cheesy and cliche but, this is your sign to start!

libra

reminisces a lot about the past. thinks about how they would have handled past situations differently, and mentally shames themselves for it. is probably doing a lot of self-reflection, which is good for their sweet hearts and furthers the progress of their mental health, but also depresses them, as libra energy tends to be highly critical of itself. sleeping in too late and talking aloud to themselves at ungodly hours of the night. finds their mind going on the philosophical route more often than usual. might be posting passive-aggressive mood quotes on instagram

scorpio

is actually exercising pretty consistently like they said they would. their body has been getting curvalicious and toned, and to that i say WOOHOO GO SCORPIO! however, they’ve probably completely messed up their entire sleep schedule, and may be practically nocturnal some days. probably feels really emotional at the moment, and is overwhelmed with the amount of pain in the world that they wish they could singlehandedly stop. may be pretty loner-ish at the moment, and is probably not very active on their social media, because they’re realizing who their truest friends are. scorpio does well with transformation (they’re ruled by pluto, the planet of regeneration) so rest assured, they will emerge from quarantine new and improved!

sagittarius

is eating too much junk food. sagittarius, if you’re reading this right now, PUT DOWN THE CHIPS BUDDY BOY. is probably finding ways to hang out with their friends in person, like yelling across the sidewalk to them while wearing a mask. has been super active on social media regarding current social justice issues. feels enormous compassion for the oppressed and has been signing petitions at the speed of light. probably getting in fights with their family and being a little feistier than usual. i can’t blame them though...sagittarius is a sign that needs entertainment, so they’re gonna be a little punchy in this stagnant yet catastrophic time.

capricorn

has established a daily routine that keeps them feeling grounded and stable. they may realize how little they’ve actually prioritized their own joy in the past, and they’re using quarantine as a way to get to know themselves again. purchases luxury pajamas and is most likely drinking a hot beverage in a mug right now. probably on a health kick. is getting even closer with their closest friends, and basically forgets about acquaintances. cuddling their pets a lot (or fantasizing about adopting a pet if they don’t have one). misses putting on mascara and stepping into that cute skirt, because that sPeCiAL pErSoN isn’t there to see it lol

aquarius

thinking about ways they can make money. getting bursts of hyper inspiration to flip their life around and start working super hard for their dream life. is masking hopelessness, and finds themselves pondering the fragility of human life. may experience thoughts of nihilism that they don’t act on, and is increasingly worried about the state of their environment. is stuck between feeling motivated and believing in their ability to positively transform, and getting depressed and detached from their earthly obligations.

pisces

probably painting their nails a lot. is finding ways to put a little spice of excitement in their life--like making a nice breakfast (at 4 pm, which is like an hour after they wake up lately), giving their pet a concert of them, naked, singing ski mask the slump god songs into a hairbrush they’re pretending is a microphone. stares at themselves in the mirror for too long, letting their insecurities get the best of them. has probably gotten in touch with their grandparents (or any other relatives they usually don’t keep in close touch with) over the phone. may be dealing with worsened anxiety and feelings of depression at this time, and sleeps a lot to try to escape it. their room might be pretty messy at the moment as well, which they’re overly hard on themselves for. pisces: you are such a uniquely sweet and tender soul. take it one day at a time and never underestimate the power of reaching out to someone <3

#aries #taurus #gemini #cancer #leo #virgo #libra #scorpio #sagittarius #capricorn #aquarius #pisces #the signs during quarantine #covid-19 #quarantine #unsolicited advice #i'm psychic i know #astrology #astrologytrash05

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sailorbellewrites · 4 years ago

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Jawbreaker

characters — taehyung x reader (aka kiddo) (ft. members of bts)

summary — taehyung thinks dating you is easy and it is, until it isn’t. then he doesn’t know what to do.

wordcount — 8.3k

information — one shot. fluff. femme reader. character inspired by megan thee stallion, cardi b, and lil’ kim. direct sequel to more than you can chew. makes references to no limit. part of the baking news au.

warnings — strong language. mean & aggressive characters. casual mentions of sex and sexual behavior (but no smut because i’m shy). light angst. excessive mentions of the color pink. vague mentions of other celebrities and influencers.

author’s note — i meant to post this months ago, but it just didn’t want to get written. it was actually meant to be attached to more than you can chew, but it just would have been a beast of a story. i actually rewrote this part roughly three times and i am sure there are still some editing mistakes. i’m so sorry for the long wait. i’m not very happy with the final product. i promise the next story will be better.

jawbreaker —

Taehyung really likes you.

It’s not a secret. Everyone knows it. He would shout it from the rooftops if you let him—though you would never let him do such a thing. You were certainly the cooler head when it came to relationship intensity, knowing that if Taehyung had his way, you would be married already. “Oh my god, it’s only been five months,” you once told him in response to a picture of an engagement ring he had saved on his phone. It was a typical Tuesday night date, taking place in your studio as you fiddled with the hook of a track technically meant for Hoseok. “Calm down, lover boy.”

“It’s been almost six months and I just asked if you liked it,” he had replied with a small pout, pulling your chair away from your monitor and closer to where he was sitting on the loveseat. “Isn’t it good for me to know what you like?”

“We’re not there yet,” you replied simply, shaking your head at the way he rolled his eyes at you, as though you were the one being ridiculous.

“I might as well know everything now, so I don’t mess up later. Right?” He questioned, grabbing your left hand in his and fiddling with your ring finger.

“If we make it that far,” you muttered, laughing lightly when he pinches you for your words.

“Answer the question. Do you like it?”

“Hmm…” you hum out, a small smirk settling on your face. “I think you can do better.”

Taehyung thinks he’s in love with you.

That is a secret. No one knows it. He would shout it from the rooftops if he were sure about it—sure that you would reciprocate his feelings, sure that you loved him back; but he’s not too sure. You were almost too cool when it came to the relationship, never going above and beyond the most basic of expectations. You answered every text, showed up to every date on time, and referred to him as “the boyfriend” on a few of your Instagram posts not related to music, but that was about it. And yes, his boss Seokjin had told him that you were putting in more than enough effort for a relatively new relationship, but Taehyung still found himself craving for more.

“But what more could she give you?” Seokjin asks during closing one night, his own soon-to-be fianceé (if everything went according to plan) mopping up the front of the bakery. Seokjin flips chairs on the top of tables, while Taehyung wipes down the now empty display racks. It’s a team effort that allows Taehyung to leave earlier, something he is always grateful for because he can spend more time with you. “Like do you want her to write a song about you?”

“I mean, yes.”

“You’re insane.”

“Just something, you know? Something more than studio dates and donuts. I feel like that’s all we ever do. What do you think, Noona? Am I asking for too much?” Taehyung questions, directing his words to the older woman up front.

She stops her mopping and shrugs, leaning against a wall as she mulls over her answer. Her eyes go towards Seokjin as finally states, “I’d have to agree with Jin. But we have half of our dates in the kitchen after hours, so maybe we’re the wrong people to ask.” Taehyung sighs, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “If you’re not feeling satisfied, though, you should just talk to her about it. You know what they say, communication is key.”

“I don’t know how she would feel about that,” he replies, imagining just how easy it would be for you to misunderstand him or write him off as needy—though he didn’t exactly think being needy for you was a problem.

“Aww, don’t be like that. You never know what she might say. She could surprise you.”

At this time, Seokjin flips the last chair on top of its table and moves toward his girlfriend with a cheesy grin. “Wow, what is this mess? You call this mopping? Have you ever mopped before? Have you ever held a mop before? If you needed help from a master cleaner like me, you could have just asked sweetheart,” he teases, grabbing the mop from her hand and pressing a sloppy kiss to her forehead.

His girlfriend cringes away from the kiss for a moment, but ends up leaning into the man nonetheless as she whispers, “You get what you pay for.”

He scoffs. “I don’t pay you.”

“Exactly,” she replies smugly, hand going up to pick dried frosting off of her boyfriend’s collar. Seokjin lets out a choked laugh, arm slipping around her shoulders and pressing her into a too tight hug. She pretends to struggle against him for a bit, before eventually wrapping both her arms around his waist and squeezing just as tightly.

Taehyung watches the silly display of affection with wide eyes, warmth flooding into his heart. The two people in front of him were so clearly in love that he couldn’t help but feel it too. It was plain as day. This behavior wasn’t something he was often able to do with you though. Taehyung understands well that no matter what he did or said to you, your responses would always be carefully calculated. He respects how methodical you are in the way you carry yourself, as though you are afraid something could go wrong at any moment. He knows it’s not easy, which is why his admiration for your handling of relationships in a notoriously cut throat industry grew almost everyday.

Yes, Taehyung knows he loves you.

Yet, as he watches the way Seokjin and his girlfriend begin to playfully fight over the mop, an intense love in their eyes, Taehyung finds himself wishing that you would let go and love him too.

People don’t always believe that you’re a rapper. They tend to assume that you’re Hoseok’s girlfriend or a groupie when they meet you, failing to make the connection that you’re the infamous Kiddo until they see you on stage. You know why, of course. You’re the only woman in your crew, you’re nowhere near as popular as the other guys, and you don’t dress like a rapper. Or at least, that’s what Yoongi told you one night as you shared a cigarette behind the bar after a performance.

“It’s the biggest thing holding you back,” he mumbled, the cigarette between his lips looking like it would slip out at any moment. You knew it wouldn’t, but you still eyed it carefully just in case. Attempting to quit had made you hyperaware of its presence, but you knew Yoongi wouldn’t let it drop. He was always so in control—one of many things about him that you envied. “You look like you’re ready to fuck at the drop of a dime.”

“Maybe I am,” you had grumbled back, eyes still on the cigarette. His words were trying your patience, though you didn’t know if your irritation was caused by their truthfulness or your desire to smoke. “Do you have a problem? Cause I can solve it for you.”

“I don’t care if you dress like a whore,” he snapped at you. “Goddamn, you’re being a bitch tonight. Here, take this!” He snatched his half smoked cigarette out of his own mouth in annoyance, shoving it at you. You accepted it happily, choosing to ignore his insults in favor of savoring in your relapse.

You had long ago realized that most of the men around you would never understand how you dressed. The clothes you wore for performances and photoshoots were provocative to say the least. Vibrantly colored lingerie, leather, lace, and heels most others would deem too tall for comfort littered your closet. Your hair was always meticulously styled and your nails were always done in extravagant fashion. You made sure that your outfits highlighted as much of your body as possible, keeping all eyes on you. It was a far cry from the hoodies and occasional leather jackets sported by your friends, but you didn’t care. Your clothes made you feel powerful. The image you had constructed and thoroughly maintained worked to push your career further, making you stand out in the sea of sameness that had become common for the rappers around you. But those in your circle never see it that way.

Taehyung does, though. Taehyung watches with rapt attention as you show him the new pieces you buy, listening carefully as you explain why certain tops have to be paired with certain bottoms for maximum effect. He wordlessly takes pictures of you with various filters and backgrounds, never complaining when you ask him to take more because you don’t think they are good enough. He doesn’t tease you when you get cold from the lack of fabric, nor does he yell at you when you have unfortunate wardrobe malfunctions like the guys. Instead, he offers you his sweaters or quickly adjusts your clothes before you can even notice the problems. Taehyung knows just how important your image is to you.

Or at least, you thought he did.

“What?” You question, tone edging on impatient as his reflection continues to stare you down in the mirror. You refuse to turn around and face him physically, trying to keep your focus on the highlight you’re attempting to apply in the inner corner of your eye without poking yourself. The tension in your small bathroom is suffocating, but you don’t want to act on it. An argument is the last thing you need.

“I always watch you do your makeup,” Taehyung answers robotically, eyes still on you.

“Yeah, but—”

“But?” He cuts you off, making you pause your motions in shock. He’s angry and you don’t know why. It puts you both in unfamiliar territory. While Taehyung has seen you angry a million and one times over small things relating to music, venues, promoters, and fans, you cannot say the same for him. The angriest he had ever gotten in front of you came when he suddenly had to pick up extra shifts at the bakery because a coworker had caused a car accident and that moment was nothing like this.

“Can you just stop fucking looking at me like that? I’m trying to concentrate.”

He lets out a tense laugh of disbelief at your words before exiting your bathroom and moving to sit on the small couch in your living room. He’s not surprised to find you following him less than a minute later—you were never one to back down from a fight and you both were in the beginning stages of one. When you position yourself directly in front of him, he drops his head to hands and averts his eyes to the floor in a desperate attempt to calm himself down.

“What crawled up your ass and died tonight?” You ask.

“Go finish your makeup,” he requests quietly, words stilted as he refuses to look up at you.

“Not until you tell me what’s wrong.”

“It’s nothi—”

“It’s not nothing. Don’t lie to me. You can’t even look at me right now.”

Taehyung’s head shoots up at your words, jaw clenching as he realizes his efforts to stay calm were futile because he can’t look at you without feeling another wave of anger crash over him. “Your outfit,” he bites out.

“My outfit?” You parrot back to him in sarcastic disbelief. “You’re staring at me like I fucked your best friend and murdered your mom over… an outfit?”

“You might as well have,” he mumbles under his breath, before stating a bit louder, “It’s lingerie.”

He says it as though it’s obvious, but it’s not to you. “I-I… a-are you serious?” You stutter out, mind still trying to process his words. Taehyung doesn’t verbally respond, choosing to move his eyes back to the floor instead. You wrack your brain for the right thing to say, because what you actually want to say would likely lead to a breakup and you absolutely don’t want that to happen. You feel as though you’ve been transported into a particularly cruel episode of The Twilight Zone, where you watch your perfect boyfriend turn into one of your evil exes right before your eyes. “I… I wear lingerie for shows all the time. You’ve never had a problem before this. Hell, this covers more of me than what I was wearing earlier today. You didn’t seem to mind then.”

“It’s different.”

“How?” You shout out, frustration evident in your tone.

“You wore that for me a month ago,” he replies, looking up at you incredulously. His blood began to boil the moment you opened your apartment door, immediately realizing that you had planned to perform in the black lace set. You were even wearing the same black and gold heels with it. He knew for a fact that you bought the lingerie for him, a slightly belated birthday present given to him in your studio. You made him cum as many times as it took to get tears running down his face, then took him to your place and cooked him his favorite food for dinner. He almost told you he loved you then, but decided against it lest you believed he was exaggerating his appreciation for your actions. It was the single most sentimental thing you had done for him in your relationship thus far and you knew just how sentimental Taehyung could get. In his mind, you should have known better than to think that he would want to share any part of that night with the world.

You look down at your clothes, eyes acknowledging that it was indeed the set you purchased with his birthday in mind. It took you hours to find, trudging through the bitter cold to four different lingerie stores before you settled on it. However, you still didn’t see the problem. “So what? It’s not like it has your cum stains on it or anything.”

“God, do you always have to be—don’t be crude right now. I’m being serious,” he grits out, feeling intensely out of control.

“Well what would you prefer I say?” You ask, exasperation heavy in your tone. You feel tired and annoyed, knowing this argument might affect your performance later in the night.

“I want you to say that you’ll change.”

“No,” you reply after a beat, a dark laugh surrounding the word, though it lacks any humor. “No fucking way. I’m not changing.” You couldn’t believe that he was asking you to do such a thing. It wasn’t the first time that a person you were dating had made such a request—in fact, your ex had made the request often and it was equally as often ignored. However, it was the first time Taehyung had asked you to change and all you could feel was hurt. You couldn’t believe he fell so easily into the simple trap of insecurity that had tainted your previous relationships. “Look, unless you have a real reason for me to change, you’re just gonna have to get over yourself.”

“I just gave you a real reason,” he stresses bitterly. “And if you cared about me at all—”

“It’s not about caring for you, Tae! They are just clothes. They don’t do anything, but sit on my body and make me feel good. You, of all people, know that. It’s stupid to as—”

“It’s not stupid to ask you to keep some things private!” He yells, up on his feet with a fire raging in his eyes. You can feel your heart beating hard in your chest, nerves getting the better of you because you aren’t used to this level of rage from him. It’s a feeling both too familiar and too uncomfortable at the same time. It was everything you didn’t want in another relationship and everything Taehyung had promised not to be through his sweet words and actions—and yet you found yourself back there again. “You’re not wearing regular clothes or basic lingerie you buy just to perform in. You bought that specifically for me! You had sex with me in that. So now everyone at your show and everyone who follows you online is going to know exactly what you look like when you fuck me. I didn’t sign up to share that part of my life with the whole goddamn world!”

His rant finishes in a roar, the last sentence screamed so loudly that the final words come out hoarse and broken. His eyes are rimmed red, but he continues to stand tall, bracing himself as he expects you to respond in kind.

You don’t.

Rather, he watches you take a large step back and whisper, “Get out.”

“What?” He responds dumbly, unable to fully comprehend your words. It wasn’t in your nature to extinguish fights so completely, preferring to keep going until disagreements had naturally run their course or threats of violence had been made. You never walked away and you certainly never let others walk away. This was different. This hurt.

“You don’t get to yell at me over clothes. You don’t get to yell at me, period. So get out.”

You watch as Taehyung takes in the full meaning of your words, opening his mouth briefly as though he wants to argue more, but closing it again. Giving you a rough nod, you can do nothing but watch as he grabs his jacket, slips on his shoes, and exits your apartment, slamming the door in his wake.

Eight days. Eight long days. Eight miserable days. Eight long, miserable days of Taehyung slowly losing his mind. You had not spoken to him or seen him in eight days. Every single attempt he made to contact you was ignored. If it weren’t for read receipts and the fact that you had kept all the pictures of him up on your Instagram, he would have assumed that you were broken up. Although, at this point, he would have preferred a break up. At least, he could have made moves to win you back. This current situation left him stuck with nowhere to go.

“What do I do?”

“Well you can start,” Namjoon states, setting a pastel pink mug engraved with his wedding date down in front of his friend, “by drinking that.” Taehyung stares at the clear liquid inside of the cup curiously before shrugging his shoulders and taking a swig. His tongue instantly curls back into his mouth as his taste buds are assaulted by a strong, bitter flavor. He slams the mug back down on the coffee table with a gag. Namjoon lets out a chuckle at his reaction, sitting down beside him with a matching mug of his own. “Drink slow.”

“Is this vodka?”

“A strong drink for strong business,” Namjoon responds, taking a sip of whatever he has poured into his own cup. Namjoon had invited him over at the end of his shift, taking note of how much Taehyung had been moping around the shop. His mood was bad for business, apparently, and Namjoon was the ultimate fixer when it came to those sorts of things. “Now I think I know what happened, but can you tell me your side of things again?”

Taehyung throws his head back, staring at the ceiling as he recounts the argument once more. It’s all he’s been able to think about, hyper focusing on every sour facial expression and negative word you said. It makes his heart hurt; he misses you. “And then she told me to get out, so I did. I haven’t spoken to her since.”

“Ouch. How long has it been?”

“Eight long days and counting.”

“Damn, I guess she knows how to hold a grudge. Good for her,” Namjoon comments with a light laugh, as though he was impressed by your actions. Taehyung wants to scream, but he settles for a deep scowl. “But I really don’t think you have anything to worry about Tae. She still claims that she is very much taken. You aren’t broken up or anything.”

“I just want her to talk to me,” Taehyung whines, hands running through his hair in distress. “Ugh, I shouldn’t have left. I should have stayed and just fought it out.” Namjoon laughs at his words, but Taehyung continues, “I keep listening to her songs just to hear her voice, but it’s not enough. I don’t want Kiddo saying she’ll fuck me to sleep, I only want her.”

Namjoon snorts, nudging his younger friend with his shoulder. “That’s so stupid, Tae. You know you can’t have one without the other. They are the same person. If you keep separating her into different parts in your head, the two of you are gonna keep having these problems.”

Taehyung hums out a confused note. “What do you mean?”

“Your girlfriend is kind of like a jawbreaker.”

Taehyung grunts, reaching for his mug again. “Listen, if you’re about to describe all the ways she’s going to keep hurting me, don’t bother. Jungkook already did that—twice. And it was worse the second time around.”

“I mean the candy,” Namjoon starts, pausing to take another sip of his drink as he contemplates the best way to continue. Taehyung thinks Namjoon is the only other person in the world whose way with words rivals your own. He speaks with a certain amount of care and consideration that make Taehyung jealous. Perhaps, if he were more like Namjoon, he wouldn’t be in this mess. “A jawbreaker is this candy ball that’s really popular abroad,” he continues. “They are huge, big, and sweet—but hard. You can’t bite through them like normal candy. You’ll break your teeth or dislocate your jaw if you try, thus the name jawbreaker. If you want to eat it and enjoy it, you have to suck it down.”

“If this turns into some sex thing, I swear to god—”

“It’s a metaphor, you pervert. Keep up.” Namjoon chastises.

“You’re the pervert,” Taehyung mutters gruffly under his breath, taking a long swig of the vodka in his cup. “Fine. Continue.”

“Jawbreakers have different layers and flavors. The more you suck on it, the more layers you’ll get to experience; but at the end of the day, it’s still all the same candy.”

“I hate this metaphor.”

“You hate it because you don’t understand it,” the older man says sagely, giving his friend a slow head tilt. “It’s really quite simple if you think about it.”

Taehyung clicks his tongue in annoyance. “Just spit it out, Joon!”

“She’s a sweet girl, Tae. You and I both know that. You approached her because you were attracted to her, but you stayed because she’s obviously more than a pretty face. She’s just not always going to be that easy to digest though—at least not all the time. Sometimes you might get the layer that cooked you dinner for your birthday and other times you might get the layer that thinks nearly nude bar fights are appropriate. It’s still the same candy, just like it’s still the same girl. You have to take your time with her like you would a jawbreaker.”

Taehyung’s ears perk up at Namjoon’s words, panic shooting through him as he questions, “Did she get into a naked fight?”

“Last year. It didn’t start nak—don’t worry about it.”

Taehyung places his cup back on the table, dropping his head forward with a deep sigh. “So you’re saying I just… have to wait this out until she’s ready to be with me again?”

“Well she hasn’t technically left you yet.”

“And you’re sure there is nothing else I can do? There’s nothing here that I’m missing? I don’t want to wait anymore. I just want to be with her.”

“I know that, but if you want to be with her, you just have to accept who she is. Don’t think she’ll change or come running back to you just because you do something extravagant. She’s not gonna suddenly see your point of view or be rescued from her own bad judgement. You’re not actually her hero, Tae. That’s not how life works.”

“Things are fine when she’s not wrapped up in her whole Kiddo persona—”

Namjoon cut him off with an annoyed groan, shaking his head roughly. “You’re not getting it. You say you want to be with her, right? That means you want to be with all of her, including all the shitty ‘Kiddo’ flavors and colors that go along with it.”

“But—”

“Kiddo isn’t just a persona. It’s her. And if you don’t like it, maybe you don’t need to be with her.”

Taehyung wants to argue back, but can’t find the resolve to do so as guilt and shame begin to settle in his chest. He never consciously thought that his favorite parts of you were separate from your rap identity, but he couldn’t fight Namjoon’s words. While he respected the more sexually aggressive side that came with your career, he clearly adored the soft and sweet side of you more. He wonders, glumly, if he’s treated you differently because of his preference, only to be crushed by the realization that the argument proved he had been.

“I’m in love with her,” Taehyung murmurs quietly, making Namjoon sit up. Everyone knew Taehyung’s feelings for you were strong, but no one expected love to be in the cards. Sure, it had been closing in on a year in terms of a relationship, but on the outside looking in, things still appeared fairly casual between the two of you. Your behavior from day one hadn’t changed at all.

“Is that right? Are you sure?”

Taehyung nods, words coming out like a stream of conscious thoughts. “I love her. I’ve known for months. It’s just sometimes… I feel like I get more Kiddo than I do—I mean you’re right, they’re the same person, she’s just one person. I just wanted something that didn’t have to be a part of her image for once. I was never trying to control her or separate her, but I just…” He stops when he can no longer think of what to say, leaning back into the couch with his eyes going up to the ceiling.

“I know,” Namjoon states suddenly, “and she knows too. She’s not innocent in all of this. I told her as much when I saw her.”

This information shocks Taehyung. “You spoke to her?” The older man hums an affirmative sound and nods. “When?”

“A few days ago. She came into the bakery.”

“She came in?” Taehyung asks, voice increasing in pitch as he turns to fully face Namjoon. “Where was I? Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

“Calm down, Tae. You were off. She just wanted donuts, but didn’t want to see you,” he answers with a mild shrug. “It’s probably better that you weren’t there. Jungkook refused to serve her and then Hoseok started arguing with him and threats started flying—it was a mess.” Taehyung groans, knowing that if anything, Jungkook’s actions only made you more angry at him. “But Jin and I were able to calm things down.”

“Do I even want to know what she said?”

“To Jungkook? A lot. Your girl has a hell of a mouth on her. I haven’t heard some of the words she used in years. Seokjin was blushing.” Taehyung lets out a sad laugh, thoughts racing with all the possible things you could have said. Part of him wished he was able to hear all the things you had uttered and seen the shocked look on people’s faces, but he supposed it was better that he wasn’t around. “But to me?” Namjoon continued, “Not much. Things involving your sex life should be private. It’s just going to cause problems in the future if she keeps trying to bring it to the stage. She knows better.”

“So you told her I was right?”

“You were both wrong,” Namjoon replies smoothly. “You shouldn’t have tried to force her hand and she shouldn't have crossed that line. Neither of you were thinking of each other. You can’t be selfish in a relationship.” There is a beat of silence, Namjoon’s statement lingering in the air for a moment. “I know how some people feel about her, but I actually like you two together. In all the years that I’ve known her, I don’t think she’s ever been with someone who cares about her like you do.” Taehyung can’t help the small smile that tugs at the corner of his lips, nodding slowly at Namjoon’s words. “Just give her a little bit more time. Things will work out.”

He looks at you like he’s seen a ghost. He feels like he’s seen a ghost. It’s been ten days.

“Hi,” you say quietly. You come off as shy, eyes bouncing around the displays, but never settling directly on Taehyung even though he’s right across from you. It feels odd, not at all like how your relationship normally functions. Any other day would have found you leaning the entire upper half of your body on the counter, throwing out suggestive quips as you ordered in an attempt to make Taehyung stutter. Your current lack of confidence is startling, causing Taehyung to stare at you for a few seconds longer than normal as he searches for any changes in your face, hair, and shape. It’s only been ten days, but he knows just how much can change in ten days. Relief floods through his system when comes to find that—physically—you look just as he expects you to.

Finally, he breathes out an equally gentle, “Hi, stranger.”

The tease hits you harder than he intended it to, with your back straightening out and eyes narrowing. “I’m a stranger now?”

“Well, I haven’t seen you in ten days…” he trails off, the sarcastic lilt to his tone making you visibly bristle with discontent.

You should have expected the cold shoulder, given how long you had gone without speaking to him. You needed more time to process than you realized and going to your friends didn’t help. To say opinions were divided on the matter was an understatement. Some people were disgusted by what you wore, while others were furious with Taehyung’s behavior. You were most surprised by Hoseok, who normally sided with you when it came to relationship troubles. This time, however, he turned his nose up at your outfit choice and referred to the various ways Taehyung had attempted to reach out to you as “pathetic and underserved.” Yoongi had no strong opinions one way or the other, but his fianceé had plenty to say (which only served to rile you up again). She couldn’t believe how serious his demands were and how easily he left your house. She wondered, quite loudly, where the sweet and perfect Taehyung had gone.

But it was actually Namjoon’s words that dealt a huge blow to your ego. He dressed you down in a way that only he could, never raising his voice or calling you names, but calmly explaining all of your missteps to you until you felt smaller than a coffee cup. His final words had been running around your head for days: “I know it’s not what you’re used to, but sometimes it pays to be soft. You can’t have a successful relationship if you’re going to be so hard all the time.”

Thinking of his words once again, you inhale slowly to calm the little fires building in your heart. “I’m sorry for that,” you start, taking another deep breath before continuing by saying, “I shouldn’t have ignored you. It was wrong.”

Taehyung takes in a shocked breath of his own at your apology. He had expected a bit more pushback or an apology without actually saying the words. You were never one to easily admit when you were wrong, your pride being too strong for such casual admittances of guilt. Your repentance most often came in the form of covering drink tabs or ordering food. This sort of softness was new to him and all he could feel was thankful.

Leaning over the counter, he grabs your hand in his own and presses a gentle kiss to the back of it, smiling widely when you don’t pull away. “I’m really sorry too. I mean it. I know I must have told you a hundred times already, but I cr—”

“It’s okay,” you stop him, squeezing his hand gently so that he knows you are serious. “Namjoon said that we’re both idiots. We’ve said our sorries and I want to just leave it at that.”

Taehyung lets out a short chuckle at your words, pressing another kiss to the back of your hand because he finally gets to hold it again. “ Well, I would never call you an idiot. I’m more than ready to leave things be if you are. I really, really missed you.”

“I—”

“Hey Tae, can you help out in the bac—oh!” You let go of Taehyung’s hands quickly as he turns to find Jungkook standing in the kitchen doorway, a tray of bread in his hands and his eyes locked on your in a fierce glare. “You really came back here? What? Was there nobody to free off of at the Krispy Kreme?” He questions, audacity laced through his words. It was clear that there was no love lost between the two of you.

You roll your eyes dramatically, spitting out, “Bite me, bread bitch.”

Jungkook’s eyebrows raise at your insult, visibly tensing up. He opens his mouth to retaliate, Taehyung sharply states, “Don’t start!” Jungkook’s jaw locks in frustration, eyes shooting to his coworker in anger, but Taehyung keeps going. “Not right here and not right now. Seokjin will kill us. Bite each other’s heads off later, outside of the shop. Please!” Although there were very few people in the bakery, it was beginning to gain a small reputation amongst the older crowd for being a place for “rough housers;” Seokjin and Namjoon would crawl into individual balls and die if another incident occurred.

Jungkook clicks his tongue in annoyance, but otherwise relents, quickly placing the tray on the counter. “Hurry up and finish whatever this is. There’s a big takeout order of macarons that we need to get finished before five.” Taehyung nods in affirmation, a pleading look in his eyes that appeases Jungkook enough to send him back into the kitchen.

“I fucking hate him,” you grumble as soon as the younger man disappears through the door.

Taehyung turns to face you, reaching for your hand again only to find that you have shoved both of them in the pockets of your coat. “He’s just over protective, that’s all. You should have seen him when he found out who his sister was dating. Once you get to know him, you’ll se—”

“I don’t want to get to know him,” you state matter-of-factly. “He’s an idiot who thinks I’m using you for fucking donuts. Honestly, who would risk falling in love for donuts? They’re good, but they’re not that good. You can buy donuts anywhere.”

Taehyung stiffens, mouth dropping open in shock as he takes in the full implication of your words. Did you love him too? You had never said anything even mildly similar to him. You didn’t talk about your feelings for him unless pressed and even then your answers were short. Confessions of desire and attraction were saved for intimate moments in your studio or his apartment, where no one but Taehyung could hear them. Even then, they were often cushioned between jokes that led to him scolding you, telling to stop pretending that you didn’t like him. You never seemed close to confessing love, but your words made it appear as though you had been in love with him all along.

“Did you just… say you love me?” He questions quickly, mind still reeling.

“Huh” You question, the confusion that washes across your features slowly melting away as you come to realize the implication of your words. It doesn’t surprise Taehyung when you mutter, “I didn’t say that,” but his heart drops to the bottom of his stomach anyway. The small flame of hope he carried in his heart extinguished momentarily, as he mentally kicked himself for getting his hopes up. He was lucky you were even talking to him again—a declaration of love was just ridiculous. Life wasn’t a hallmark movie. He didn’t know what he was thinking.

Biting back his disappointment, Taehyung swallows before replying, “I misunderstood. That’s not even what you were talking about.” You blink slowly at his words, eyes shining as though you have something to say; however, you just end up biting your lip and casting your gaze down. “Just… please don’t even think about Kook, okay?” Taehyung pleads, wanting nothing more than to grab you in a hug or kiss your cheek to get the physical reassurance that things were completely okay between the two of you. Instead, he settles on asking, “Can I see you after work tonight? I get off at six and I can bring you some takeout.”

You break into a small smile, nodding your head once. “Bring a donut and some hot chocolate and you have a deal.”

You really like Taehyung.

It’s not a secret. Everyone knows it. You would write about him in all of your songs if you could—though, of course, you could never do such a thing. You didn’t want to subject Taehyung to that type of scrutiny, knowing all too well how many problems came along with dating a rapper when they weren’t waxing poetic about their relationships on tracks. People ate up those types of songs, only to place severe judgements on the rapper’s partner as though they were an expert. “You never talk about me in your songs,” he once told you, referencing a song called “Fiancé” that had been released by one of your friends. It was a typical Tuesday night date, taking place during closing time in Baking News as Taehyung mopped the floor around your feet. He taps your legs lightly with the edge of his shoe. “Isn’t that kind of weird?”

“It’s too much work,” you had replied, kicking your feet up so he could mop underneath them. He thanks you quietly, quickly getting to work so that you can lower your feet once more. “People are gonna read too much into it and make all of our lives a living hell. Just as Yoongi.”

“So you’re never gonna write about me?” He questioned jokingly, setting the mop to the side to hover over your seated form.

“I write about you,” you quickly retorted, craning your head up to look at him. He leans down and places a small peck on your lips, going in for a second with a small hum. “It’s just for my eyes and ears only.”

“Don’t you think I deserve to see?” He said, standing again to resume his task. From the kitchen, you hear the telltale sign of metal pans dropping. It’s followed by a loud, yet muffled “fuck” from Seokjin and the laughter is his girlfriend.

“I don’t think you’ll like all the things I have to say about you, lover boy.”

“Hmm…” he hums in a mocking way, facing away from you as he works on a particular sticky patch on the floor. “I’m going to disagree with you there. I like everything about you, even the cheesy love songs you write about me.”

“Who said the songs I write about you are love songs?” You quip, making him turn to you quickly and point the edge of the mop at you accusingly.

“Stop pretending that you don’t like me!”

You think you love Taehyung.

That is a secret. No one knows it. You would write about it in all of your songs if you were sure about it—sure that he would reciprocate your feelings, sure that he wouldn’t leave you high and dry when the going got tough and things had to happen that he didn’t like. But you weren’t sure; relationships were always a gamble and you knew the stressors would only grow when your career really took off. One wrong outfit choice had Taehyung turning into your exes right before your eyes. It made you wonder what would happen if you did the wrong collaboration or wrote the wrong lyrics. You tried your best to make it clear to Taehyung that you didn’t want to be in yet another awful relationship filled with fights and arguments, but it seemed like a real possibility regardless of your efforts. It was a tough pill to swallow.

And yet, as you stared at the lanky man seated on your couch, watching as he tried to sneak yet another picture of you wearing the custom, pink bunny ear headphones he got you for Christmas, you knew that you didn’t want to let him go.

“Put the phone away!”

“Just smile for me one time.”

“Stop.”

“I haven’t taken a picture of you in almost two weeks. My Instagram story is dying without. Let me take a picture.” He leans closer, laughing when you move to smack his phone on the floor, but miss.

You groan deeply, shaking your head at his antics. “It was not two weeks. You’re so goddamn dramatic.” You find yourself smiling for him nonetheless, legitimately laughing at him as he moves his phone around to catch you at different angles. After about 10 clicks of the camera shutter, you move to knock the phone away again. “Cut it out, Tae.”

“I’m not finished,” he whines out, though he still continues clicking away.

“Who died and made you paparazzi?”

“I’m better than the paparazzi. I’m your number one fan,” he murmurs, pushing your arms away from his phone. “You gotta get used to this, especially if you’re gonna be the number one rhyme killer in Korea.” He explains, bringing up a potential new tag Hoseok had come up with a few weeks ago.

“That’s more than enough for your Instagram story.”

He huffs in faux annoyance, leaning back on the love seat to scroll through all the pictures he took. “These aren’t even for my Instagram,” he reveals, tone still playful. “It’s for me only. I’m the only one who deserves to see you this cute. I gotta at least have that to myself.” You scoff loudly at this, anger filling your chest instantly. You know that he only means it as a joke, not realizing exactly what he was insinuating with his words—but it still stings, the wound from your previous fight not completely healed. “What’s wrong?” He questions, only to panic when you let out an annoyed grunt and turn around in your chair. It takes it a moment to click in his head, and then he’s sitting up, dropping his phone and pulling at your chair to try and turn you back around. “Baby, it was a joke. I promise, I didn’t mean it like that. I was just saying that I wasn’t going to put them on social media. Nothing more.”

“I didn’t know studio time had to be kept private too,” you reply sarcastically, planting your feet firmly on the floor to resist Taehyung’s actions.

“I didn’t mean that. Come here,” he says, pulling you with more strength until you’re facing him again. “Don’t be mad at me. You know how I feel about you. I wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.”

You shake your head, trying to remember Namjoon’s words and not start another argument. You fight to keep your voice level as you say, “Sometimes I think I know how you feel, but then you say things like that and I start to question your intentions.”

Taehyung is silent for a moment, eyes busily searching your face for something, though you cannot tell if he finds it. He reaches for both of your hands, cradling them in his gently as though they will break in any moment. “Don’t say things like that. You know my intentions and you know exactly how I feel.”

“I don—”

“I’m in love with you,” he interrupts you, squeezing your hands in his when he realizes what he’s confessed. You’re mildly shocked by his words, eyes widening like saucers. He takes your silence as rejection and starts to ramble. “If you don’t love me back, it’s okay. I’m not… you know I’ve been attracted to you for a long time, so of course I’d fall faster than you. But I can wait for you to fall in love with me too. I waited for months for you to even accept going on a date with me, so you know I’m patient. Just don’t question my intentions, I only want the be—”

“If you love me, then why do you want to have me all to yourself?” You question, voice meek.

He furrows his brows, irritation painting his features before they soften once more. “That’s not… I don’t want to keep you all to myself. That’s not even possible. You’re Kiddo,” he teases lightly, “Loved by everyone and belonging to no one.”

“But, obviously you want to keep certain parts of under wraps. For your eyes only, you know? And I just don’t get how you can say that you love me, but you want to control me like this.”

He sighs deeply, head falling forward as he admits, “It’s just… we don’t have anything, you know? We don’t have a single thing that we do that’s just our thing. Dates in the studio, hanging out in the bakery, watching old movies on my couch, even sex now—it’s all things we do other people too. And I know, I really know that your career comes first right now. I just sometimes want… more.”

You bite your lip, Namjoon’s words once again becoming prominent in your head. Removing your hands from Taehyung’s, you spin around in your chair to face your desk. Taehyung tries to stop you once more, his argument falling on deaf ears as you quickly grab the pink notebook sitting and hand it to him. “Look through it,” you order.

He stares at the book in his hand, knowing exactly what it is, but still unsure as to why you gave it to him. “Baby, what’s in here?”

“You said you want more. There is it,” you answer, before turning back around to face your monitor. The sound of pages turning makes you anxious, so you slip your headphones on and load up a messy track that you had been having trouble with. Time passes by slowly and your heart can’t stop fluttering as you think about all of the pages he has to look through and all of the words he has to read. Taehyung is thorough. He’ll give each page the time it deserves, regardless of how nervous you feel. Time ticks on. You turn up the volume on your headphones.

You do not know for certain how many minutes have passed when your headphones are suddenly knocked off of your ears; all that you know is when you turn around to berate him for his act, his lips are covering yours in a harsh kiss. You only briefly return the kiss, pushing against his chest to get him off of you, though he only moves an inch away from your face. “You’re in love with me,” he accuses wryly, a big smile on his face. His hands settle on your waist, squeezing gently in delight.

“If you tell anyone I let you read that, I’ll kill you,” you respond, though you can’t get the tone of your voice to reflect your words. His happiness is contagious and you can feel yourself soften in his embrace. “I’m serious, Tae. No one is allowed to read that notebook.” Your lyric notebook was something you kept to yourself, only sharing a select few pages with those around you when you were going to lay down vocals. For your eyes and ears only. Sharing it in its entirety with Taehyung was already a big step, never mind what you actually had written in there.

“But, wait. What are the numbers for?”

“What numbers?” You feign confusion.

“The numbers on the last page of the book.” You roll your eyes at his words and he nudges his nose against yours. “No time for lies now, I already know that you’re in love with me.”

“Days without cigarettes,” you mumble. His smile somehow becomes even wider, so large that you think his face might split in two. “I swear to god, Taehyung, if you tell any of the guys about this, I’m gonna beat the shit out of you myself.”

“I love you and you love me and you write love songs about me,” he teases. He hoists you up to your feet, pulling you into his body and wrapping his arms around you. You follow his lead, burying your face in his chest. “You’re even quitting smoking for me. How did I get so lucky to have a woman who loves me so much?”

“Stop it,” you whine, face flushing with embarrassment.

“Stop pretending that you don’t love me,” he whispers, hands moving up to cup your face gently. The way he looks at you reminds you of your first date. It leaves you completely vulnerable. “Thank you for trusting me with this.”

“Donuts and hot chocolate and lyric notebooks. That’s our thing. Nobody else can share those with you or me. Deal?”

“Deal!” He agrees quickly, leaning down as though he’s about to kiss you, but stopping short just before his lips press against yours. “I knew you were a softy,” he coos, pressing a kiss to your lips before you can reply. You allow yourself to enjoy it.

#taehyung scenarios #taehyung fluff #taehyung x reader #v scenarios #v fluff #bts scenarios #bts fluff #v x reader #au: baking news #sailor belle writes

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oursustainablefuture · 4 years ago

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What A Year As A Small Business Owner Taught Me About Sustainability, Upcycling, Thrifting, and Running a Brand

Written By Campbell Fauber for Our Sustainable Future

In Summer 2019, I launched the first collection of my sustainable clothing brand, Dauntless Denim, curious to see how people would respond. While I did not focus on creating an array of clothes, I decided to focus on thrifting and upcycling denim jackets, which was something I had never tried before. In short, thrifting and upcycling are two specific ways we, as consumers, can keep our planet cleaner. This process was exciting but challenging, and I definitely learned a lot. Here are some important things I learned along the way.

1. If You Can Upcycle, Do It!

Upcycling is a way consumers can reuse something they own by transforming it into something new and unique. In my own life, I began thinking of ways I could practice sustainability, which involved trying on a more personal level to keep myself from getting rid of clothes I didn’t wear anymore. I decided to upcycle thrifted denim jackets that I found at a local secondhand shop. I gave the jackets a new life by sewing on colorful fabrics that were bold and eye-catching. Upcycling is a great way to make something new out of what you already own and encourages creativity and self-expression. Upcycling is also environmentally-friendly because it helps reduce what goes into a landfill, such as clothes. With all of this in mind, I encourage you to find a piece of old clothing in your closet (or even something laying around your house) and consider upcycling it or, rather, transforming it into something completely new and reimagined.

2. When In Doubt, Thrift.

Before I started Dauntless Denim, I had gone to Goodwill a few times to look for some old clothes I could wear again. However, it wasn’t until I officially started my business that I had truly learned how great thrifting was for the environment. I found a local secondhand shop near my house and decided to stop in and see what it was like inside. There were organized racks of clothes of all kinds (e.g. sizes, colors, brands). It was incredible to see so many items ranging from men’s to women’s to kids that were for sale. Immediately, I headed to the denim section and soon discovered a rack of old denim jackets that I could use for my first denim jacket launch. I picked out a few pieces, which were way cheaper than the original price (a perk of thrifting!), and left the store feeling happy and accomplished. All in all, I encourage you to thrift whenever possible. Not only does thrifting help reduce clothing waste, it also helps support your community and establishes your new sense of style. You can also (often) find high-quality clothes for extremely low prices, which is a win-win! Lastly, thrifting is a better option than shopping at fast fashion brands. Consider thrifting at your local secondhand shop for some fresh clothing finds.

3. You Can’t Be 100% Sustainable, But You Can Try And Do Your Part

Another thing I learned about owning a sustainable small business is that not everything you do is going to be 100% sustainable. Like many other companies and brands, there is never going to be a way to be fully eco-friendly, whether it be in supply chain or production practices. In other words, there is still going to be waste of some kind and the environment will still be impacted in some way, shape, or form. However, what helped me in the early stages of planning my business was that if I can try and do my part for the environment (in my case, it was upcycling denim jackets in order to keep them out of landfills), I could feel lile I am doing what I can to help keep the environment a little bit cleaner. I also realized that even if I do my part in trying to help the planet, I am not capable of impacting the environment in such a large way that the climate change crisis is magically solved. Knowing this, though, I still feel like I need to do my part, even in a small way, to keep my community cleaner and more educated about sustainable practices, including upcycling and thrifting.

4. Cultivating Your Own Ideas & A Brand Takes A Lot of Brainstorming

Something else that I had to take into consideration when I pondered whether or not I wanted to start my own business was what my brand was going to be centered around and what types of ideas I had that would help distinguish me from other brands. I began brainstorming what I envisioned my brand to look like. What was I passionate about? What was feasible and within my skill set? What did I want to potentially sell? All of these questions were top of mind when I first started to wonder what I was going to do with my business. Then, I began trying to think of ways I could create a unique brand that was unlike others I had seen before. That’s when I decided to take the route of sustainability and upcpcycling, which was honestly something that I had been thinking on and off about earlier. Upcycling was also something that had crossed my mind a few times, but I had never really sat down and thought about how I would implement it into my business model. The moral of the story is to not be afraid of starting your own business! The entire process is exciting and motivating. However, it is important to keep in mind that it does take a lot of time and effort to create a brand that is equally unique and feasible. Make sure you are passionate about what you’re doing and don’t be afraid to think outside the box and get outside your comfort zone a little bit.

5. Social Media Marketing Taught Me More Than Just Marketing!

For me, creating a sustainable brand, and a business in general, meant that I had to spend a lot of time brainstorming and researching the different ways I could effectively create products and also engage with consumers and my community. For example, I had to practically teach myself how to do social media marketing and use Etsy as a platform to sell my products. While this was indeed time consuming, I learned a lot about myself throughout the process. First, I learned that I have to always stay on top of trends in order to sell products (mainly denim jackets and later on, masks) that would catch the eye of the consumer and be relevant enough to do well among similar products. Secondly, I learned that when using platforms such as Instagram to show off my designs, I have to be deliberate in terms of what I post, when I do it, and what I choose to write about in my captions. The more time I spent on social media, the more I learned the ins and outs of digital marketing and the ways I could target consumers. Thirdly, I learned that I have to be patient during this process. Many times since I started my brand, I got too frustrated with myself when something didn’t go right. I immediately wanted to give up and I began questioning what I was doing and if being a business owner was even the right path for me. However, once I took a step back and learned to not put so much pressure on myself for things that didn’t necessarily go right the first time, I could approach each and every situation with more understanding and more clarity. As a result, this helped me market my products better on social media and reach a larger audience that really felt connected to my brand and what I was selling. Looking back on my experiences, I wouldn’t trade being a small business owner for the world.

Interested in learning more about Campbell’s brand? Follow her Instagram @dauntlessdenim to stay updated on her newest releases & her Etsy @shopdauntlessdenim. Also, check out her most recent mask releases as well as the one-of-a-kind upcycled jackets and skirts that are still available for purchase on her Etsy Shop.

#articles #our sustainable future #writing #sustainability #eco friendly #upcycling #fashion #design #sewing #small business #small business owner #thrifting #sustainable fashion #sustainableliving #social media marketing #study #stuyblr #journalism

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kerikaaria · 3 years ago

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Borahae Slimes Haul #4!

Oh hey look at me doing this within a more timely fashion than the others haha. I ordered every slime from this restock, so get ready for a really long one!

LOOK AT ALL THAT STUFF! All seven slimes: What’s Your Dream, The Most Beautiful Moment In Life, Lost in a Maze, U Wrong Me Right Ddaeng, Shine Dream Smile, Beautiful Prison, and Not Seven With You. Plus EXTRA candies and goodies because Dean went all out for the anniversary, the photocards and stickers, a thank you card and even a recommended playlist of a bunch of BTS’ most-loved songs over the years! To say I was excited to dig in is an understatement! I was in the middle of getting ready to move (in less than a week at the time I got the package) but I couldn’t help but get into these gorgeous slimes immediately!

As always, you can check out the Instagram (BorahaeSlimes) or blog (@borahaeslimes) for updates! Items are on sale on the Etsy shop by the same name whenever a new restock is up. Dean has been selling out INSTANTLY so be ready to buy at launch to make sure you don’t miss out on the slimes you want! And of course, if you are 18 or older, Dean writes some really awesome mxm fics over at @eternalseokjin! Alright, time to get into the slimes!

Also, I’M SORRY I can’t make the pictures side by side.... I tried editing on mobile to do that but tumblr is dumb and keeps giving me an error and not making the changes v.v

What’s Your Dream

What’s Your Dream is based off of BTS’ debut song, No More Dream. It smells very much of a teenage boy who loves his cologne a little too much (kudos to Dean for making it a smell I can enjoy even though I usually hate cologne smells XD). The bingsu and little crystals give it a lovely texture. Even if I don’t have too much to say about some of the slimes, they’re all really great!

The Most Beautiful Moment In Life

The Most Beautiful Moment In Life is of course inspired by the albums of the same name, and the storyline they started. I had to ask Dean how what I was supposed to do with a “jelly float” slime because I was confused lol. It was kinda cool to see the gray slime just float inside of the clear red before mixing it :) When mixed, it’s still very much a red color, just a little deeper and less clear. The smell is kind of confusing to explain. Dean describes it as “the grey city streets and the sweetness of dying youth.” It does have a bit of an underlying sweetness to the smell, and I think the other part is reminding me of an incense? Overall a very unique and pleasing smell! (Also the charms were perfect and I love the lollipops!)

Lost in a Maze

Lost in a Maze is based off of Young Forever and is a basic slime with a mini fence and some feathers for accessories. I didn’t dare let those feathers anywhere near the slime (lol), but the items certainly match the song! The smell is very soft and refreshing, so it’s a great slime for someone who wants something simple!

U Wrong, Me Right, Ddaeng

This slime was one of the ones I enjoyed the most! U Wrong, Me Right, Ddaeng is based on Ddaeng and is one of his more intricate slimes. The overall texture is so nice and the little pops of color still show through the black really easily even after being fully mixed. The smell is kind of musky. Definitely similar to an incense but personally it reminds me of some of my family’s birthday and holiday parties growing up. I had some relatives who smoked a lot and kept their house completely closed off so those smells would kinda just stick around... That sounds really gross but I promise this scent is a much cleaner smell! The slight muskiness to it just reminds me of that. :)

Shine, Dream, Smile

Shine, Dream, Smile is GORGEOUS. LOOK AT HER. SO BEAUTIFUL. So much glitter and sequins and just uuuggghhhh I love it! Definitely very fitting for a slime based on Mikrokosmos! The purple is so pretty while staying very clear, and it has a very clean, light smell that just puts a smile on my face.

Beautiful Prison

Next up is Beautiful Prison, inspired by ON. When I tell you I had a mini freak out when I saw the state that my slime came in.... It was by no fault of Dean’s! But the clay topper settled a tiny bit into the slime and there was a thin layer of slime covering it. I was so worried! But then I started to very lightly scratch at it and I luckily was able to uncover the topper good enough to get some good pics! When I say that cracking the clay topper is satisfying, I mean it. I’m not a fan of ASMR (it gives me the wrong kind of shivers, more like the kind you get from nails scratching a chalkboard lol), but those little cracking sounds were so satisfying to hear even as I felt bad for destroying that beautiful piece of art. It’s hard to describe the scent, but it is a soft, kind of nature-like smell and I really like it!

Not Seven With You

The SHOWSTOPPER of the release! Not Seven With You is of course, based on We Are Bulletproof: The Eternal and it is AMAZING! So much detail and thought went into this beauty! I was SO upset when the slime was too sticky (because it was HOT that week) when I took it out to put the clay checkboard in the bottom because that meant I’d have to let it sit overnight for the bubbles to come out. But I patiently waited until it was clear enough to get a decent picture. Not perfect, but that’s because I was just too excited to finish playing with it the next morning!

The cloud slimes that come with it provide the lilac and lily scents, and it smells so soft and beautiful! I took my time to play around with it before fully mixing. It’s just so pretty!

When I finally took all the slime out and began to mix, I felt bad for ruining that clay (once again lol) and would have missed the cloud slime texture if I didn’t get some more cloud slime as the free extra! It looked really cool and marbled as I mixed it, so of course I took another picture of that. The ending color is a purple-tinted grey because the black from the checkerboard is just too overpowering. But you’re left with a TON of slime and it’s such an AWESOME texture! I seriously adore it! It’s soft and smooth from the clay, and also airy from the cloud slimes. Kind of like a butter slime, but lighter and softer! This slime was SO AMAZING! My only regret is that I can’t undo the mixing to play with all the individual parts again lol.

Extra Slime

For the extra slime, Dean gave me a white little cloud slime that smells sweet, kind of like bubblegum! I love playing with it because I adore the soft, fluffy texture of cloud slime now that I’ve had a taste of it!

So that’s it! Another AMAZING release from the one and only Dean! Check out the shop on Instagram or here on tumblr for updates when new releases will be coming so you can be sure to get some of his amazing slimes next time!

Also, here’s a bonus. As I mentioned at the beginning, I recently moved. And I got some shelves set up to proudly display all the slimes I’ve gotten from Dean. Here’s a picture of that!

#slime #borahae slimes #slime review #keri chats #bts inspired #bts slimes #bts inspired crafts #eternalseokjin #lovely mutuals 💜#dean baby 💜

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whenihaveyouromione · 4 years ago

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When I Have You - Chapter 15

Read on Fanfiction.net or ao3 if you’d prefer!

If you’d like to see fanart for this story and sneak peeks, follow this story’s Instagram account whenihaveyou.romione!

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Chapter 15

"Mr Weasley, you may have been invited here today, and you also may be considered a lifetime honorary member of this school; however, that does not give you the right to use such language in my office."

Ron flushed, glaring at the umbrella stand he had just tripped over in the headmistress' office, sparking a tirade of language that his mother would have severely scolded him for. As she wasn't there, it seemed that Professor McGonagall had taken on that role.

"Er, sorry, Professor," he said, glancing at her sheepishly.

Harry, who had more elegantly emerged from the fireplace, smirked.

McGonagall's lips curled into a thin smile as she beckoned them further into the spacious office. "That's quite alright."

It was the first weekend of November, and Hermione and Ginny had organised with the Headmistress for them to not only visit Hogsmeade for the day, but for them to also spend the day at Hogwarts as well.

When Ron had first received the owl, he'd been hesitant about returning to the place that now seemed like a past life to him. Harry had had his concerns too, but as the weeks wore on, and the more they discussed it, the more the idea had grown on them.

"It'll be good to see how it's turned out since the repairs, won't it?"

So here they were, landing via the Floo Network in Professor McGonagall's office, being greeted warmly by her (minus the scolding Ron had just received).

Ron had only ever been in this office a few times, but it looked very different to how he remembered Dumbledore keeping it. McGonagall was definitely a lot cleaner, and she had far less extravagant objects. More useful ones, too.

He and Harry both sat down in two armchairs McGonagall had just conjured for them.

"Where's Hermione?" Ron asked, looking around.

"Having breakfast in the Great Hall, I’d imagine," McGonagall said with an air of amusement. "With your sister as well, whom I'm sure you're just as excited to see?" she added with a raised eyebrow.

Harry snorted beside him, and Ron flushed again.

"Yes, her too."

“So, I hear the two of you are doing well in your training with the Ministry?” McGonagall said, smiling between them. “Top of the class, so I should think.”

“Along with Neville,” Harry said cheerfully. “Yeah.”

“Ah, I am pleased to hear about Longbottom,” McGonagall said fondly, now staring somewhere off in the distance. “I always knew he had it in him…” She turned her attention back to Ron and Harry. “You’ll make fantastic Aurors. First hand experience, which is what the department has been lacking for many, many years.”

Ron beamed at the compliment. He could remember his meeting with McGonagall back in fifth year, and how he’d uncertainly expressed his desire to become an Auror to her, and the surprised look she’d given him. Then she’d handed him many alternative brochures, encouraging him to look carefully into them and to consider his options. He’d left deflated that day, almost giving up on the idea of ever becoming an Auror.

And now… now she believed he would be good at it.

His smile widened.

“Er, how’s things here, Professor?” Harry asked. “How’s —”

“Everything is as well as could be,” McGonagall answered. “I must say, though, the older years have thinned, but the first years numbers are as large as ever. I wasn’t expecting it, but it seems that parents still wish for their children to receive a magical education here. I’ve no doubt that within a few years, the school will be at capacity again.”

Harry nodded, followed by a silence.

McGonagall jumped to her feet a moment later. “So, I suppose you’re both keen to see Miss Granger and Miss Weasley?”

Ron clambered to his feet eagerly. He’d not seen Hermione in over two months, his only correspondence with her twice a week via owl. He was desperate to just lay eyes on her again.

McGonagall smiled knowingly as Ron regained himself and walked to the door, feigning near disinterest.

They walked in silence through the corridors. The castle looked just as it had before it had been destroyed, despite some new portraits hanging around. There were no cracks, no places that showed where the walls had been blown to bits only a few months prior.

And yet, Ron still knew he had made the right decision by choosing not to come back. It felt good to visit, but training as an Auror, living in his own place — well, Harry’s place — was where he needed to be.

Ron’s stomach lurched into his chest as they drew nearer to the Great Hall. He didn’t know why he felt so nervous — he’d been nothing but overjoyed when he’d seen Hermione after she’d gotten back from Australia — but this time had been even longer. He’d not so much as held her hand in two whole months, and part of him had become used to her absence. Not in a way that meant he was happier without her being there — he certainly wasn’t — but he’d realised how dependent he’d become on her. He’d become used to seeing her every day, having her there when he needed her or when she needed him. It had taken a week or so, but that dependency had disappeared when they were apart, and now he worried that it meant that they wouldn’t be as close as they had been.

The Great Hall was packed with students, all dressed and excitedly talking about the first Hogsmeade visit of the year. It took Ron all of three seconds to scan the crowd and spot Hermione, Ginny and Luna all huddled at the Gryffindor table, talking amongst themselves. None of them had seen Harry, Ron and McGonagall enter.

“Well, enjoy your breakfast, boys,” McGonagall said, and she marched on ahead towards the teachers’ table at the front.

“Come on,” Harry said, grinning, and he too moved forward.

All three of them were so engrossed in their conversation and their food, that Ron and Harry were able to slide onto the bench beside Hermione and Ginny respectively without them noticing.

Ron kissed Hermione’s cheek, causing her to jump and flinging some egg into the air, which landed on some poor, unsuspecting first year at the Hufflepuff table. The boy whirled around, caught sight of Harry, paled, and looked determinedly back at his food.

“Hey!” Ron said, beaming at Hermione, and the concern he’d felt only moments ago vanished with the smile she returned. His heart pounded in his chest at just seeing her, that intense feeling of love he always felt when he laid eyes on her, was there, as strong as ever — stronger, even, with their two months apart.

“Hey!” Hermione replied, throwing her arms around his neck. “I didn’t realise you had arrived yet.”

Ron cast his eyes across the table to where Ginny had caught Harry in some embrace that had some girls casting alarmed looks around them. He turned back to Hermione quickly and said, “I haven’t missed that. But I’ve definitely missed you.”

She laughed, sliding her hand under the bench and squeezing his. “I’ve missed you too.”

“How’s it been, being back?” Ron asked, relieved that Ginny had finally let Harry up for some air. “Weird?”

“Of course,” Hermione said. “I mean, it’s quieter, especially in the Common Room, but it’s been good. NEWTs are… interesting, though.”

“Interesting!” Ginny scoffed. “You would have thought, you know, after what happened last year, the teachers would have eased up a little. But nope, it’s work, work, work. Apparently with the desperate need for jobs now, with half the Ministry, er… gone, they need to make us even more ready. Should have taken a leap from your book and started a career without finishing school.”

“It’s not that bad, is it?” Harry said. “I mean…”

“No… it’s pretty bad,” Hermione said. “I’m struggling to keep up, actually…”

“You’re struggling?” Ron asked, staring at Hermione with amusement. “Then I’m very glad I’m not here.”

Ron helped himself to all the food he could reach and piled it onto the clean plate that had appeared in front of him. “I missed Hogwarts meals,” he groaned. “Nice to have someone cook for you for once.” He cast a nervous glance towards Hermione, but she only smiled at him.

“House-elves are being paid now,” she said brightly.

“Oh, good,” Ron said, shovelling food into his mouth.

“Once you two are done pigging out,” Ginny said, eyeing Harry’s heaped plate with a raised eyebrow, “we should probably get going. Beat the crowd, you know? First Hogsmeade trip in over a year — it’s going to be packed.”

Ginny was right. Fifteen minutes later, the four of them plus Luna were exiting the Great Hall and making their way out of Hogwarts and towards the all-wizard village. It was a cold November day, so they were all rugged up well.

As they walked, Ron slipped his hand into Hermione’s and bent to whisper in her ear. “You know, once we reach the village, we could give the others the slip, sneak into an alley and —”

“Ron!” Hermione said, loud enough for the others to turn to them curiously.

“Are you whispering disgusting things to her?” Ginny asked.

“None of your business,” Ron said. He then said only to Hermione, “I was only joking, though if you wanted to, I’m not going to argue.” He grinned, causing her to roll her eyes.

“And what a sight that would be, if we’re caught,” Hermione said. “Imagine that, me being expelled, because I was found in a side street of Hogsmeade with you…”

“A sacrifice I’d be willing to make,” Ron said, nodding seriously. “It would mean you could come home again!”

Hermione seemed to not know whether to laugh or tell him off, but settled for a smile in between.

As the others walked ahead, Ginny and Luna filling Harry in about the seventh year classes, Ron stopped and spun Hermione towards him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her closer. There, he kissed her — the first damn kiss in two months — and it felt amazing.

“Merlin, I missed you,” he said when they broke away. “I missed that.”

Hermione smiled, gazing up at him, her arms around him. Ron kissed her again, wishing for nothing more than to stay there forever and not let her go.

They stood like that for a while, ignoring the disgusted looks from other students who passed them on their way to the village. It was Ginny’s voice that broke them out of… whatever it was.

“Well, we’re off to do something that doesn’t involve waiting for you,” she said, sounding annoyed. “Once you two can manage to get your hands off one another, we’ll see you in the Three Broomsticks around midday, alright?” And she grabbed Harry’s hand, pulling him up the path. Vaguely, Ron heard her muttering something along the lines of, “Revolting, honestly.”

Luna followed hastily behind them.

Ron laughed, following his sister, Harry and Luna up the path with his eyes. Once they were out of sight, he said, “I was wanting to do that before, but McGonagall was there… I think she’s onto us, you know?”

“And does that matter if she is?” Hermione asked.

“Er, well, no, I guess not,” Ron said, feeling slightly embarrassed now. He was an adult — he was perfectly entitled to have a girlfriend, and he was also entitled to kiss her — when and wherever he wished.

“Come on, you idiot,” Hermione said, taking his hand and pulling him after her. “It looks like we’ve been abandoned. Where would you like to go?”

“My offer from before still stands,” Ron said.

“And my answer still stands,” Hermione retorted. “Not happening.”

“Fine. How about Honeydukes then?”

“Honeydukes it is,” Hermione said, beaming, and she continued to pull him along the snow-covered track.

They had to be the last ones to enter the village despite being some of the first to leave, because every so often, Ron stopped walking just so he could kiss her. By the time they reached the sweet store, it was packed with excited students all greedily filling bags with as much as they could.

“Maybe we should go somewhere else?” Hermione suggested, looking warily around.

“Just let me get some stuff,” Ron said, digging into his pockets for some Galleons. “Our place needs some sweets, you know? And all those times Harry got stuff for me over the years… I’ll stock up.”

“If you say so,” Hermione said, and she followed him to a corner of Jelly Slugs and Every Flavour Beans.

It took a good amount of time for Ron to select and pay for them, stuffing his pockets with as much as he could. By the time they left the shop, it was half an hour until midday, which was when Ginny had suggested they meet in the Three Broomsticks.

“Where to now?” Hermione asked as they made their way past students again, all whispering excitedly to one another.

“Honestly, Hermione, if you said you wanted to spend the rest of the day in that dingy cave Sirius stayed in all those years ago, I’d agree, because it would be with you.” Ron slipped his hand into hers once more as they continued walking. “Though, I wouldn’t mind checking out the new Quidditch shop that opened here.”

“Oh, that’s right!” Hermione said brightly. “They have that new broom, don’t they? The Firebolt Three.”

Ron looked at her incredulously.

Hermione shrugged. “I spend most of my time with Ginny these days. I’ve heard her mention it a few times.”

They came to stop out the front of a shop that had, for a long time, been abandoned. Now, it had a fresh coat of paint and in the large glass window was the fastest broom in the world. Ron groaned with longing.

“One day,” he murmured, pushing through the crowd of students, “one day, I hope to earn enough to be able to buy myself one.”

“You will,” Hermione said. “Aurors earn good money.”

“Not trainee Aurors,” Ron said. “I’ll have to wait three years. Then there’ll probably be a more expensive, better one out that I’ll have to save for all over again.”

“And then you can buy that one,” Hermione said gently. “Is there anything in there you want to buy, or do you want to head to the Three Broomsticks now?”

Ron took another longing look at the broomstick before turning around and heading back up the street again. He couldn’t help but feel slightly miserable at knowing he probably would never be able to afford the best broom, whatever it was.

Even though they were early, they found Harry and Ginny already waiting at a table in the corner, Butterbeers in front of them. Ginny waved them over.

“You two finally came up for air, I see,” she said as they slid into two seats opposite her and Harry.

“Says you,” Ron scolded. “If I remember correctly, you and Harry were in the Great Hall —”

“Where’s Luna?” Hermione asked, looking around the busy pub.

“Well, I’m not sure,” Ginny said. “She said she had to meet someone and went off.” She shrugged.

“Butterbeer?” Hermione asked, looking at Ron.

“I dunno. If I’m not a student, am I allowed Firewhisky?”

“Probably, but as I am a student, I can’t get you one,” Hermione said.

“Er, alright,” Ron said. “Butterbeer is fine.”

Hermione went over to the bar to order their drinks. When she came back, Ron and Harry were filling Ginny in about everything happening at home.

“That reminds me,” Ron said, taking a sip of the Butterbeer, “Mum insisted we come over tonight for dinner. Me and Harry. She said Percy is bringing someone — his Muggle girlfriend, I assume. The one none of us have met — and said something about it being really important we’re there for it.”

“Wait, you’re going to get to meet this Audrey?” Ginny asked. “That’s not fair!”

Ron and Harry shrugged.

“But I guess that means he’s told her about us, then. About who he is. Will be a shock if she shows up to the Burrow and doesn’t know anything.”

They spent the next half an hour speculating about what Audrey would be like, eventually reaching the conclusion that she had to be almost like Percy, otherwise he probably wouldn’t be taking the relationship seriously.

“I bet she got top of all her classes in her Muggle school,” Ginny said. “They’ll be a perfect match.” She then looked at Ron determinedly. “Write to me about her straight after. I want to know everything. Take a picture if you can.”

“I’m not going to take a picture of someone I just met!” Ron told her, raising an eyebrow. “What has gotten into you?”

Ginny flushed slightly, averting her gaze. “I’m just interested, that’s all. She’s a Muggle. I mean, wouldn’t it be interesting if we had a Muggle in the family.”

Ron watched his sister with amusement. “You and Dad should talk more,” he said.

“Well, just write to me, alright? At least tell me a bit about her.”

“Yeah, alright,” Ron said, resisting the urge to sigh.

They stayed in the Three Broomsticks for the remainder of the afternoon. The pub began to thin out, leaving just them, a few other students, and now bringing in the general wizarding population. Some were looking a little shady to Ron the later it got.

“Er, we should probably go,” he said. “You know, get ready for this all-important dinner.” He jumped to his feet, the others following suit.

“I really wish you didn’t have to go,” Hermione said, slipping her hand back into Ron’s as they made their way back to Hogwarts. “I wish we could spend more days like this together.”

“Well, when you’re done with school, we can,” Ron said. “Every weekend, every day off… though, training is going to get more intense after Christmas, I reckon. That’s what we were told anyway.”

They walked in silence for the remainder of the way, Hermione only speaking when they reached the entrance doors. She turned to face him, staring up at him with a sad smile. “There’s usually a visit around Valentine’s Day. I’ll let you know —”

“You’re coming for Christmas, aren’t you?” Ron asked, desperation laced in his voice.

Hermione continued to look at him, her smile fading completely. “Ron, it’s just… NEWTs are… they’re hard. There’s a lot of work…”

“But —” There was a sinking feeling in his chest that hadn’t been there a moment ago, overriding the elation of finally spending a day with Hermione. He stared at her. “You have to come home for Christmas. I’ve… I thought you would!”

“I want to,” Hermione said, taking his hands in hers. He pulled them away. “I really do. But — Ron, please understand…”

“I’ve got to go, or I’ll be late,” Ron said miserably, trying to step past her. “I love you.”

“Ron.”

He turned around to face her again. Her smile had returned. “I’ll see what I can do, okay? I’ll… well, I suppose a day or two away from here won’t hurt, will it?”

The disappointment in Ron lifted. “You’ll come home?” he asked.

She nodded, continuing to smile. “Even if it’s just for a few days.”

Ron gathered her in his arms, lifting her off of her feet. He kissed her hard on the mouth. “Good!” he said. “Because I wanted us to spend our first Christmas together. I had plans.”

“Plans?” Hermione asked curiously. “What kind of plans?”

“You’ll see!” Ron beamed. “Just, please promise me you’ll come home. Please.”

“I will, Ron,” Hermione said, standing on her tiptoes to kiss him. “I promise.”

Hermione walked him all the way up to McGonagall’s office, opening the door just as Ginny said, “... they’re probably suffocating each other again. Honestly, I don’t know what — oh, hi, guys!” She grinned.

“I thought we agreed that you would be leaving at three o’clock, Mr Weasley,” McGonagall said with a small smile. “It’s a little after that.”

Ron chose not to answer, instead, letting go of Hermione’s hand, kissing her lightly (because it just didn’t feel right grabbing her in his old teacher’s office) and then went to stand beside Harry by the fireplace.

They landed back at Grimmauld Place, this time Ron stepping more carefully out so as not to trip over anything, and waited for Harry to step out a moment later.

“I’m exhausted,” Harry said. “I forgot what it was like…”

“Yeah, well, you can’t be too exhausted,” Ron said. “We’ve still got Mum’s dinner.”

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classicalpianovibes · 3 years ago

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Habits

This week I have been forming new habits. My problem has been that I am a bit too addicted to the internet. That has been going on for years. Last year I tried creating new habits, but because I didn't have a clear plan and not enough discipline I failed.

Now I have a plan and clear goals, small enough for me to keep up. I've reduced my time on YouTube and Instagram successfully from between 5 and 7 hours a day to under 2 and it feels refreshing. I chose to start with small daily goals; 30 minutes of piano practice, reading ten pages of a book and rising out of bed right when the alarm clock wakes me up, not a minute later. I also decided to become more active on this blog, because it's something I enjoy doing. I'm aiming for a few posts a week.

At first it was difficult. I read the ten pages late at night, almost fell asleep while reading, and accidentally opened Instagram on my phone a few times a day, just out of an old habit. It was difficult to be without the internet, too much of the time I just stared at the blank screen of my computer. But, what helped me was that I started cleaning up the house, made my practice/reading environment a bit cleaner, clearer and comfortable. I made a habit journal, decided that I'll get a reward after each week of successful habit building. I just pushed through the uncomfortable and gained enough discipline in the process.

You can try getting out of an old habit by replacing it, little by little, with something that you feel like you want to be doing more of. The first few days are difficult, but the most crucial. One of the easiest ways to get rid of a bad time-consuming habit is to just reset your environment: clean up and reorganize your surroundings. You can also try going out for a trip to the forest or to the beach. Just doing something that resets your brain for a few days helps. This is a new start. Build the life you want your future self to have. Build habits that guide you closer to the person you want to be.

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whatevshollandarchive · 5 years ago

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Spring Cleaning (T.H. x Reader)

request: Hey, can I maybe request a Tomxreader where she lives with the four guys. And she always/often appears in the background of ig stories, but she kinda gets a lot of crap and hate and that's why she never wants to be on live ig and stuff, but the boys (who all love her so much) dont know. They find out because her phone won't stop ringing, after she was in Tuwaines story, dancing with Haz. And they all make a live from her phone, and say that all the hate is not cool and that she's family. Thanks❤ - @shootingstarsaretearsofheaven

summary: Tom & the guys find out that their roommate has been recieving hate after a morning of spring cleaning and go live to ask the fans to stop spreading negativity.

words: 3k

warnings: minimal swearing, hateful comments

a/n: the usernames included in this are supposed to be fictitious and i apologize if these are anyone’s real username. please leave feedback! requests are open!

links: masterlist;

(not my gif)

The boys were becoming more active on social media as days came and went, which meant you were appearing on people’s timelines more and more often. And that was both a blessing and a curse.

You loved seeing the guys share silly little moments with the fans. Tom had so many people supporting him online and he just loved letting them in on his life every once in awhile. But, that came with the fact that people didn’t necessarily like you being in his life.

Dating Tom and living with him and the guys had been a secret for awhile. You didn’t know what the fans would think of you, and you were worried it wouldn’t be good. And turns out, your suspicions were correct.

Anytime you’re featured in something that any of the guys post, you’re spammed with hate from their followers, even if you were just in the background of an Instagram story. It was pretty bad, but none of your roommates ever seemed to notice it. And the last thing you wanted was to bother Tom about it, so you kept it to yourself. You built up a facade against the comments when they were all around, trying to be strong regardless of what people had said about you.

“Spring cleaning!” Harrison announced, holding a broom and dustpan in his hands as he walked into the living room. You were sitting beside Harry on the couch, in the middle of an episode of New Girl on Netflix, when Harrison moved to block the screen.

“Hey!” You laughed, before pausing the episode.

“Come on, get up off your lazy bums,” Harrison said, gesturing for the two of you to move along. “It’s time to get some cleaning done.”

“How much cleaner can this place get, Haz?” Harry asked, eyebrows raised in dismay.

You stood up, shaking your head at the two boys. Tom and Tuwaine wandered into the room from the backdoor, catching sight of Harrison holding out the broom to Harry.

“What’s all this?” Tom asked, looking from you to Haz.

“Harrison says it’s time for “spring cleaning.”” You replied, giggling. Harrison shoved the dust pan out to you with a pointed look, and you frowned, hesitantly taking ahold of it.

“Mate, since when were you into cleaning?” Tuwaine asked, laughing, but Harrison just glared back at him.

Eventually, you all followed Haz’s instruction and began to clean up the house a bit. Music played from Harry’s speaker in the kitchen as you and Tom wiped down the counters and cabinets, laughing to one another about how ridiculous Harrison is.

“Spring cleaning,” You giggled. “I’ve never heard Harrison say that before in my life.”

“Right. Literally two nights ago on live, he said that he hated having to clean,” You smiled to yourself, but Tom stopped what he was doing, studying you while you worked. “Hey, we were thinking about going live later. You should hang out with us then.”

You lifted a shoulder in a small shrug, pretending to be immersed in wiping down the white countertop in front of you.

“I dunno, Tommy,” You told him, feeling his eyes on you. “I don’t feel up to that, you know?”

He watched as you casted him a small glance over your shoulder with an apologetic smile before turning back to the counter.

“Love, please, just for a few minutes?” Tom asked, sticking his bottom lip out in a pout when you turned to him.

“Maybe.” You walked away, setting the rag down on the counter to go find Harrison to see what else there was to do.

But, Harrison wasn’t doing much other than controlling the music on Harry’s phone. And it looked like you weren’t the only one noticing that.

Tuwaine appeared at your side, arms crossed.

“Harrison, why haven’t you been cleaning?”

The blonde looked up at the two of you, before holding up the phone.

“I’m DJ-ing, man. Gotta have a good soundtrack to clean.” He stated with a grin. Tuwaine sat down on the couch with a mirrored grin, shrugging slightly.

“Then I am taking a break.” You playfully rolled your eyes at them, putting your hands on your hips as you looked down at Haz. He scrolled through his phone before deciding on a song. His thumb pressed down on the play button and the music began to play through the speaker.

“Okay, I guess I’ll let your little break slide since you picked a good song.” You told him with a smile. He hopped to his feet, singing along with the song, coming up with a silly dance to the beat.

Harrison made his way to your side, grabbing your hands to make you dance with him, earning a surprised laugh from you. You gave in, singing and dancing around with him. Tuwaine was chuckling from the couch, and you heard Tom ask, “What in the world?”

You noticed him leaning against the wall of the hallway, watching you and Harrison with a small smile.

Harrison let out a triumphant laugh, swinging you around with a grin.

“I think I’m stealing your girl, Holland.”

“Keep dreaming, kid.” You told him and he let go of you with a wink.

“We’ll see.”

Harrison turned down the volume a little bit, humming along to the words. Tuwaine was looking down at his phone, typing away, as Tom came up behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist.

“So,” Tuwaine began, tossing down his phone and turning to Harrison. “Has spring been cleaned?”

Tom laughed, his chest vibrating against your back as you leaned into his touch. Everyone’s eyes fell onto the blonde, who gave a small shrug.

“Sure, as long as Harry’s done in the garden.”

“I’m gonna go hit the showers, then.” You said, wiggling out of Tom’s hug. You glanced around the room quickly, trying to see where your phone was, but figured you’d find it later and went on to get in the shower.

After you left, Tom plopped down onto the couch with a sigh. Harrison raised an eyebrow at his friend.

“What’s up?” The sound of the water rushing in the shower filled the silence along with the music from the speaker between the three of them before Tom began talking. He understood wanting privacy, he really did. But, you were always so quick to opt out of photos or live streams, or just anything like that. He wanted people to see how involved in his life you were.

“She said no to the live again,” Tom said, staring down at the coffee table in front of the couch, shaking his head slightly. “I don’t get it. She’s so private all the time, but just a little check-in with the fans would be enough.”

A phone vibrated on the kitchen counter but they all ignored it. Tuwaine pursed his lips.

“Have you tried talking to her about it, like, seriously?” He asked, and Harrison nodded, pointing towards Tuwaine.

“Yeah, maybe you should sit her down and explain to her that it’s worrying you.” Tom looked up at his friends, nodding a little bit, fidgeting with his fingers.

“I’ve tried that, though, and she always just dodges it,” He replied, sadly. “I dunno, I don’t want to pressure her if this is just wanting to be private.”

Another buzz of a phone sounded from the kitchen, and then third, and a fourth. They’re heads all turned in the direction of the phone.

“Who’s is that?” Harrison asked, confused. Tuwaine held up his phone, and Harrison pulled his own from his pocket, and held up Harry’s, which was playing the music on the speaker.

“Mine’s in the bedroom.” Tom rose to his feet and walked into the kitchen.

“Must be Y/N’s then.” Tuwaine commented, watching Tom intently. Tom leaned across the counter to pick up your phone as it vibrated another time.

“What the…” His eyes fell upon your lock screen, which was filled with notifications from what looked to be a bunch of fans.

“What is it?” Harrison’s voice called, but Tom didn’t respond. Instead, he started scrolling through the notifications. People were mentioning you in comments and tweets, and were DMing you over and over.

erika.holland: you don't deserve to be with tom

summers-tom: why would you wear that? it doesn’t even look good on you

gigglyosterfield: anyone else see tuwaine’s story with @y/n? yeahhh, i’m not into that.

More and more notifications appeared on your phone as Tom looked through some of them. He couldn’t even begin to process it. He sat back down on the couch, passing your phone to Tuwiane. His eyes widened when he saw all the hate being thrown towards you. Harrison leaned in, brows furrowed as he flicked through some of it.

“Oh my god.” Tuwaine said, scratching his chin as he glanced between Tom and Haz.

“What’s going on?” Harry asked, walking inside from the backyard, wiping his hands down on his jeans. Harrison handed him your phone. The screen had gone dark, so Harry gave them a confused look. “What-”

“Just..,” Tom began, his voice tense. “Look at her notifications.”

The phone buzzed in his hand, and his mouth fell agape. Tom put his head in his hands. This is why you wanted to be so private online. He felt like an asshole.

“Oh...that’s…” Harry trailed off, letting the screen go dark again. He passed Harrison the phone and it vibrated in his hands.

“Can you turn do not disturb on?” Tom muttered, and Harrison fumbled to figure out how to do that, but Harry ended up grabbing the phone again and turning it on. “How could I not have noticed this stuff?”

“It’s not just on you, mate.” Tuwaine told him.

“Yeah, we haven’t noticed it either.” Harry added, setting your phone down on the arm of the couch.

The sound of the water stopped and they heard the shower curtain open. Tom’s head snapped up, and he glanced back in the hallway before looking back to his friends.

“Look, don’t post anything about this yet, alright?” Tom said. He kept his voice lowered, and he looked each of them in the eye. They all nodded in agreeance, watching as he got up off the couch. “I want to talk to her about it first, and then we can all do a live or a video explaining how this isn’t okay. I just need to talk to her beforehand.”

He made his way into your shared bedroom, closing the door behind him. You were standing with your back to him, a white towel wrapped around your figure as you looked through your jeans in the dresser drawer. Tom slowly sat down on the end of the bed, trying to figure out what he was going to say to you.

His brown eyes looked to you, wondering why you didn’t talk to him about the hate. He could have stopped it, he could have prevented it from getting this far. He wouldn’t have left it as is if he had known it was happening.

“Y/N.” Tom began, his voice soft. You hummed in response, your back still to him as you decided on a pair of pants and shut the drawer. When he didn’t continue, you faced him, eyebrows raised.

“Tommy?” You tossed the jeans onto the bed beside the other pieces of your outfit, but waited for him to respond before you started to get dressed.

“Um, I want to ask you something real quick.” You nodded, starting to slip on your underwear and clothes. Tom let out a small sigh.

“Okay,” You replied, pulling your shirt on over your head. “What’s up?”

You pulled on your pants and plopped down next to him on the bed, looking at him expectantly.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were getting hate?” He asked. His eyes studied your features, watching your body rise and fall slowly with the deep breath you took. You tore your eyes from his face and just shook your head.

“It wasn’t your problem to deal with.” Tom watched as you pushed yourself up off the bed in disbelief.

“Y/N,” You wandered over to your vanity, picking up your hairbrush. “If I had known it was happening, I would have done everything I could to stop it.”

You pulled the brush through your wet hair, feeling some water droplets fall onto your forearm as you did so. You wondered how he even found out, but then you realized you hadn’t bothered to find it before getting into the shower.

“It’s not your problem, though, Tom. And besides, I’m fine, really.”

“It is my problem. You’re my whole world, love. I don’t want people treating you like that,” You turned away from him, letting out a sigh while squeezing your eyes shut. A few tears roll down your face, recalling a few of the comments that stung the most in the past. Tom’s arms snaked around your waist, pulling you in close. You let out a small sob, cracking open the facade you’d once worked so hard to keep up with. Tom rested his chin on your shoulder, tightening his grip on you. “This shouldn’t be happening, Y/N. Let me say something about it.”

You lip quivered as the tears kept falling from your now puffy eyes. Tom softly let go of you, moving to stand in front of you. He brought his hand up to your cheek, wiping away some of those tears with his thumb. His eyes were soft and reassuring.

“Okay.” You whispered, watching a small smile grow on his face before he pulled you in for a hug.

“I love you more than you could ever know, darling.”

An hour and a half later, you found yourself sitting at the dining room table with all your roommates. After you had finished crying into Tom’s chest and put on some light makeup, you walked into the living room to find Harrison, Tuwaine, and Harry all sitting there anxiously. Their eyes all flew up when they heard you walk into the room, wondering how you were doing. You gave them a smile, silently thanking them for being there for you.

“I think we should say something on the live. And then afterwards tweet something or make a post on our stories?” Tom said, and Harry nodded.

“That’s a good idea.”

“How’s that sound, Y/N?” Tom met your eye and you didn’t say anything for a moment, trying to wrap your head around this.

“Let’s do the live on my account.”

So, everyone positioned themselves at the table while Tom set your phone up against one of Harrison’s shoes. He opened up your Instagram and pulled up the camera. You grew nervous, hoping this would work, even in the slightest. He pressed live, starting it, and within a few seconds, people came pouring into the livestream.

You watched as the different usernames appeared on the screen, little colored hearts floated up from the bottom corner. You were too scared to say anything yourself, so you bumped your knee against Tom’s. His fingers interlocked with yours as he greeted the people who were sending in wave emojis and hellos.

“How’s it going, everyone?” People already were asking questions. You scanned the chat, dreading the inevitable comments that would be typed about you. But, nothing mean was appearing yet as more people filled into the stream. So far so good, you thought. “We decided to do the live on Y/N’s account today, obviously.”

“You know, to keep you on your toes.” Tuwaine joked, giving a wink, which made everyone laugh.

“Yeah, but also we want to talk about something that’s been going on for way too long.” Harry said, leaning further into frame. You looked down at your hand in Tom’s underneath the table with a deep breath.

“We wanted to address the things that people have been saying about Y/N and the messages being sent to her,” Tom began with a sigh. Harrison nodded somberly, his blue eyes watching the comments. “It’s not cool to consistently comment rude things about her at all. She’s the nicest person ever and she doesn’t deserve this.”

“Yeah, this never should have become such a huge problem. Y/N’s been pretty quiet about these messages and we’ve unfortunately overlooked them for so long, but seriously, you guys shouldn’t be doing this.” Harrison added, running a hand through his hair. You watched as people in the comments began to send heart emojis, and call the people who were sending hate clowns, which put a small smile on your face.

“Y/N is super important to us and she’s a huge part of our lives. We shouldn’t have to hide her or exclude her because some of you out there have mean opinions.” Tuwaine said, and the guys all nodded.

“We love her and it’s sad to see all this negativity about someone we all care about. It’s hurt her and I just don’t get how some people can take pride in hurting someone’s feelings. Especially when they’re as amazing and talented and beautiful as Y/N is.” Tom smiled at you, and you hid your face in his shoulder, trying to hide your red face.

“So, if you’re posting or sending in hate, please stop because she’s in our lives and she’s not going anywhere. No use in being a jerk about someone you don’t even personally know.”

The people in the comments were overwhelmingly supportive and nice, and you slowly became more comfortable throughout the rest of the livestream. After addressing the issue, you and the guys began answering fun questions from the chat and hung out with the fans. And then, after you had ended the live, each of you individually sent out tweets, quickly giving a recap of what was said on the live.

Instead of getting tweeted about how horrible your outfit choice was, you were being tagged in posts talking about how you didn’t deserve the hate and how beautiful you truly were. It was a start, but you knew that things would get better soon. And more importantly, you had the best boyfriend and roommates you could ever ask for.

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