#but genuinely i think its p clear things are not always “random”

[single-malt-scotch]

i am saying this purely for meta discussion and not as a negative criticism to the series and its admins but i think fans may need to consider that some of what the life series post-SL has tried to come off as "random" and undetermined is not random and is actually targeted/assigned to players at times. i know there is no solid confirmation on this happening (as in i dont think any admins has strictly said it) but after seeing some of SL having strangely targeted tasks, then the WL quiz bot having oddly fitting questions (and the way the bots worked, they did have to be "assigned" clearly to players so they couldnt be stolen), and now very obvious super powers that are practically made for certain people-- yes i think i can go with the assumption that many parts of these newer gimmicks are targeted at certain players and are not random at all.

whether or not this is a good thing is up for debate, and i do not at all think theres something wrong with it in the sense of, us as viewers not knowing for sure if theyre determined or random. but i think it really defines a shift in the series. especially if we look back to moments like the quiz, where references and questions were made by fans (yes, fans, as much as the artists were commissioned/requested to work by grian directly they are fans) brought into question fan influence on the series itself going forward and so...

i already talked abt the flow of the smp series changing but, knowing this it does add on to the feeling that the series really is more about the gimmicks rather than the natural core survival elements, for entertainment. because we are at the point where gimmicks arent *about dying* or the vanilla survival mechanics, theyre just additions of Something going on that some times has no effect on dying anyways. its about the reactions to the gimmick and whether or not the fans like the gimmick. and, i can easily see how that would start to take away some of the actual randomness and instead assign things like the super powers, as theyd be catered to the players more in in turn more likely please fans because it fits.

i already personally disliked how some of SL's tasks were due to this (tho i had issues that were less abt how they were assigned), but on the other hand today's wildcard imo was well crafted and fun, and did not actually cause blatant issues compared to previous ones like the snail. still, knowing how 'fitting' the powers were for some, made it feel like an entirely separate series crafted specifically for the fandom fun of powers that fit our fave guys and not at all something related to the Life series as it has been.

[hearteyesmcgarrett]

is it weird to just answer the ask meme questions without actual asks? probably, but i want to yell about fandom shit rn so you can't stop me

A - Ships that you currently like a lot. its obvious that im in a grimm fixation rn, so i have to say nick/monroe as a romantic ship (or nick/monroe/rosalee), and the whole gang as a platonic relationship. For SGA, i'm always a mcshep fan but i honestly enjoy any pairing of AR1. Anyone that has followed me for an extended period of time knows that im a mcdanno (H50) and leverage ot3 truther as well.

B - A pairing–platonic, romantic or sexual–that you initially didn’t consider, but someone changed your mind. hmm, not sure? OH some folks doing the sga kinkmeme have mentioned john/cam and im very intrigued

C - A ship you have never liked and probably never will. Rodney/Jennifer :( I love Jennifer, but the writers consistently changed her characterization and that relationship felt forced and weird (SGA)

D - A pairing you wish you liked but just can’t. John/Elizabeth. I'm sorry! maybe its just because im gay af but to me their relationship felt like bffs, not romantic (SGA)

E - Have you added anything cracky/hilarious to your fandom? If so, what? I made that stargate cinnamon roll meme, if that counts

F - What’s the longest you’ve ever been in a fandom? ~10 years

G - Have you ever had an OTP? If so, do you remember your first one? Who was in it? i'm a multishipper for sure, but one of the first ships i remember really clearly was eric/ryan from csi miami (circa age like 12)

H - What is your favorite source text for fandom stuff (e.g., TV shows, movies, books, anime, Western animation, etc.)? TV!

I - Has Tumblr caused you to stop liking any fandoms, if so, which and why? I dont know that it was entirely tumblr, but yeah, Voltron. The fandom was truly fucking awful

J - Name a fandom you didn’t think about until you saw it all over Tumblr. (You don’t have to care about it or follow it; it just has to be something that Tumblr made you aware of.) uhhhh, like every show tbh. 99% of the shows i watch came from tumblr or online friends

K - What character has your favorite development arc/the best development arc? Eliot Spencer (Leverage)

L - Say something genuinely nice about a character who isn’t one of your faves. hmm, I guess Adalind counts as a character who isnt one of my faves. She's a complex and interesting character, and its clear that a lot of her decisions come from a place of trauma. After having Diana it really shows that she does want to protect her and keep her safe (grimm)

M - Name a character that you’d like to have for a friend. Ronon (SGA), Hardison (Leverage), Teal'c (SG1), etc

N - Name three things you wish you saw more or in your main fandom 1. men showing emotions!!! (grimm does this well, thankfully) 2. on a similar note: depicting how the shit these characters get up to is traumatizing and how that impacts them long term 3. literally any canon queer rep. can we PLEASE have a show like stargate or grimm where one of the characters (especially a man) is canonically queer? is that so hard???

O - Choose a song at random. Which ship or character does it remind you of? Forfeit by Rise Against always makes me think of ascended Daniel/Jack (SG1). Oh and ever since i saw a gifset with lyrics from it, Timberwolves at New Jersey by Taking Back Sunday makes me think of John (SGA)

P - Invent a random AU for any fandom (we always need more ideas). one of these fuckin days i am going to write a baseball SGA AU

Q - A fandom you’ve abandoned and why. As previously mentioned: Voltron because the fan base was toxic and awful

R - Which friendship/platonic relationship is your favorite in fandom? all my favorite fandoms are themed around found family so this is so hard lmao. Nick & Hank (Grimm), Eliot & Harry (Leverage Redemption), Harry & Breanna (LR), Don & Charlie if brothers count (Numb3rs), etc

S - Show us an example of your personal headcanon anyone who reads my H50 fics knows that i will fuckin die on the hill that Danny has an anxiety disorder

T - Do you have any hard and fast headcanons that you will die defending?  besides anxious danny, I'd say John having ADHD (SGA), and Monroe being bi (Grimm) are two right off the top of my head

U - Three favorite characters from three different fandoms, and why they’re your favorites 1. Steve McGarrett (H50) - he's been through so much shit, but he's still so damn loyal and protective and kind. He's such a good dude who is just traumatized beyond belief. 2. Charlie Eppes (Numb3rs) - besides the fact that i am CONVINCED he has ADHD, he's just so fucking loving and passionate about his work and the people he loves. he balances out the hardness of Don and the gang with the sheer size of his heart 3. Eliot Spencer (Leverage) - basically the same reason as steve. I have a type.

V - Which character do you relate to most? this is tough. probably Daniel (SG1) - esp early seasons - because of similar worldviews and interests and personalities, and Danny (H50) because of similar personalities

W - A trope which you are virtually certain to hate in any fandom. MISCOMMUNICATION!! its so frustrating.

X - A trope which you are almost certain to love in any fandom. im a big ol softie so i love stuff like mutual pining, hurt/comfort, etc.

Y - What are your secondhand fandoms Good Omens is a big one rn lmao. I've read the book but haven't watched the show. Also, Daredevil probably. I watched at least the first season years ago, but haven't seen anything beyond that. I still enjoy seeing people's posts about it and i read fic sometimes

Z - Just ramble about something fan-related, go go go! im so cranky rn about the lack of depiction of trauma/mental illness/neurodivergence/etc in fandoms where its to be expected. like with Grimm rn, you give Nick PTSD and sensory enhancements but then suddenly forget about them?? that's not how that works! Or why is it always just hinted at that characters are ND? why is it so hard to just be like 'yeah no x has ADHD (or whatever)'? i want to be able to actually have complex/tough/interesting/etc protags that are ALSO neurodiverse. if we're all reading John as having ADHD (SGA) or Parker being autistic (leverage) anyways, why can't these things just be intentionally part of the character

[canary3d-obsessed]

Restless Rewatch: The Untamed Episode 05 (second part)

(Masterpost) (Continued from Episode 05 first part, over here)

Breaking News: Zewu-Jun Continues to be Handsome

Just. Look at that man. 

Water Ghost Field Trip

Lans Xichen and Wangji are going ghost hunting and the Yunmeng boys want in. For a simple "can we come?" conversation, a whole lot happens here. Lan Wangji uses his mouth to say he definitely does not want these boys to come while using the rest of his face to secretly beg his brother to invite them.

Corporate recruiter Wei Wuxian advocates for Wen Qing, talking up her skills, and then does the same for Wen Ning.  He pays careful attention to what everyone is good at, and advocates specifically based on their abilities. While Wen Ning makes heart eyes at him.  

That’s my future dark master

Wei Wuxian also promises to protect Wen Ning, which he ultimately does for the rest of his first life. Wen Qing gives both Jiang boys a genuine sweet smile, and dismantles another anti-WWX ward or two, while still being very protective of her brother's secret.

Lan Xichen says yes to everybody. Lan Xichen is that indulgent elder sibling who's just a bit too old to play with you after school, but will take you to the park when he isn't too busy with varsity and debate club. [OP mentally hugs her third older brother]

Back at the Inn

Fastidious local boy dislikes dust; plans to build house on corpse pile

They get to town and Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian check into a room together. LAN XICHEN WHAT ARE YOU DOING? Each of these boys came to this town with his own brother, but they are rooming together, how did this even happen?

(more after the cut)

Does this mean Lan Xichen and Jiang Cheng are rooming together? and if so are they going to have a hot but ultimately meaningless one-night stand while each pines for the person they truly desire? 

Wen Qing is rooming with her own brother, and the other hot girl cultivators stayed back in Gusu. Wen Qing never catches a break.

The innkeeper tells the Hardy Boys cultivators that there’s a shark ghosts in the lake and they’re going to have to close the beaches in the middle of July, oh dear. 

Lan Wangji takes a lingering look at one of the beds and then goes to sit at the desk. Wei Wuxian tries to chat with him, fails, and goes and lies down on the bed.  They’re not quite getting along yet but they’re moving in that direction, like when you bring a shelter cat home and introduce it to your established cat. Wei Wuxian is obviously the stray tabby in this metaphor, while Lan Wangji is one of those stuck-up Blue Russians. 

Physically they are setting the template for many of their future domestic interactions, in which in which Lan Wangji meditates or plays guqin at his desk while Wei Wuxian lays in bed recovering from his latest physical or spiritual injury. 

Walk from Dock to Dock

Instead of taking a boat from the dock directly outside the inn, the cultivators walk through a bunch of random countryside.  How does anyone around here sell their fish, if the lake isn’t next to the town?

Wei Wuxian chats with Lan Xichen, laying out his case for why all the recent weirdness is connected. Lan Wangji, who has been shut out of his brother’s thinking on all of this, listens super carefully. Lan Xichen straight up lies and says “nuh-uh” and then walks faster to get away, so Wei Wuxian tries grilling Lan Wangji instead.

At this point WWX reveals that he, terrifyingly, shares Lan Xichen’s ability to tell what Lan Wangji is thinking by looking at his face.

Lan Wangji distracts him by pouring out his wine. This isn't LWJ being puritanical; he's escaping from the conversation by using the power of pettiness.

This works perfectly, getting Wei Wuxian to completely drop the subject and allowing Lan Wangji to make a run for it.

Note: Lan Wangji may have just now made up the “No Liquor on Night Hunts” rule, because Wei Wuxian asks him “why don’t I know that?” and if anyone knows Lan Clan rules at this point, it’s Wei Wuxian. 

R-A-G-G M-O-P-P Rag Mop

They take a bunch of boats and all stand in the middles of the boats while they use magic, presumably, to move the boats and also to keep from falling the fuck over because you're not supposed to stand up in a boat, assholes.

Cue JAWS music.

Wei Wuxian cleverly spots a rag mop on Lan Wangji’s boat. I would like to know where the Department of Dubious Effects sources their goddamn nerve, because we are in Classic Doctor Who territory with these mop monsters.

Wei Wuxian is out here being impressive, and Lan Wangji is doing his good goddamnest to not be impressed, and to be a sulky bitch while he's at it. He rejects Wei Wuxian’s explanation for why he splashed water on his boat, and rejects this friendly shoulder bump, telling Wei Wuxian to stay away from him.

Look at how Wei Wuxian reacts to that. He is dangerously close to being done with Lan Wangji’s bullshit.

He is opening the fight playbook here. He takes a big ol’ step over the boundary that Lan Wangji just set, which means the first phase has begun.

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the not-at-all suggestive framing and prop placement in that shot.

Lan Xichen is amused at these two extremely deadly extremely horny youngsters getting ready to kill and/or make out with each other.

Suibian

Before this can turn into a fight, the water mops start attacking and Wei Wuxian gets to show off his sword skills. 

Wei Wuxian’s crazy high level of cultivation always makes Lan Wangji weak in the knees, which is part of why it’s so distressing for LWJ when WWX gives up the sword during the Sunshot campaign.  Cultivation is the heart of their romance, and while Dark Wei Ying is also a high-level cultivator, Lan Wangji isn’t ready to share his narrow path until much later. 

Lan Wangji is impressed enough to ask Wei Wuxian about his sword, and is rewarded with the most Wei Wuxian answer ever, as he explains why he named his sword “Whatever.” 

The important relationship being shown in this moment is not Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, but Wei Wuxian and Suibian. You can see how he loves it and it's like he's talking about his pet. 

And it loves him back, as we later learn. This comfortable symbiosis is part of what he gives up when he sacrifices his core.

Jiang Cheng gets injured by a seaweed mop and Dr. Wen hops over to help him and look at his leg, leaving Wen Ning alone in his boat. This doesn't actually cause a problem for Wen Ning because he's a very strong cultivator. 

Later, as the Ghost General, he's more formidable than any other fierce corpse out there, and he is harder for Xue Yang to control than Song Lan is. Which means he’s right now he’s probably one of the more powerful cultivators of his generation in spite of his youth and his wandering-soul problem. 

Dance of the Water Ghosts

Now things start to get dicey. Wen Ning notices the color of the water is wrong and Lan Wangji correctly deduces what the water ghosts are doing. Then Wei Wuxian correctly identifies the water demon. As a corporate teambuilding exercise this is going very well, but as a night hunt it is maybe a little more dangerous than expected. 

Lan Wangji says everyone needs to ride their swords and all of the actors fling their arms out in a T and pretend they’re not just standing there in front of the camera. It’s so fucking ridiculous I can’t even.

However, it’s even worse when they show them standing on the swords. It’s SO MUCH WORSE when they show them standing on the swords.

Back to Corporate Strengths Finder 2.0: Su She has no strengths, just weaknesses. Instead of riding his sword he wants to take one last swipe at a rag mop. He sends his sword into the water and it loses its bluetooth connection and he can't get it to come back out.

The entire group of Lan clan disciples hop up into the air on their swords and not one of them tries to help Su She, which is hilarious.  

Sweet baby Wen Ning, however, being a good lad, does go help him, and gets possessed, oops. 

Wei Wuxian grabs Wen Ning and flinches when he sees his white eyes, but hangs on to him. 

When Lan Wangji sees that Wei Wuxian is in danger he makes this face and goes and grabs him and Su She.

A hilarious midair conversation ensues, along with some relationship negotiation. Wangji is touch starved and aims to keep it that way. At least in public.

Lan Xichen fires up the battle flute and seals the water demon and oh my god how is he so elegant and beautiful?

What’s Wrong With The Baby

Wei Wuxian back at the Inn is checking on Wen Ning in a genuinely concerned way, having basically signed on as a co-elder sibling at this point, sensing that Wen Ning is broken. Wei Wuxian is friendly with everybody but he's particularly protective of anyone who's hurt.

Wen Qing shows up and tells him quite directly to get the fuck out, but he surprises her by understanding what's up with Wen Ning and making it clear that he's on her side as far as care for Wen Ning goes, while he still knows that she's up to something.

Giving Gifts to Girls, Yunmeng Brothers Style

Wei Wuxian: I deduced that your beloved brother has no personal firewall and can be possessed easily in spite of his high cultivation level, so I used my expertise to make a special talisman that can protect him from invasion by hostile entities. Here, even if you and I are sorta enemies I want him to have this. Also I’m going to throw in a casual acknowledgement of your professional expertise.

Jiang Cheng: I bought you a comb

Squeeze This

Wei Wuxian tosses an approximately testicle-sized loquat fruit to Lan Wangji and Lan Wangji catches it without looking, and an ENORMOUS romantic music cue swells up. 

Then he rejects it and throws it back. He doesn't, of course, just avoid catching it in the first place because that wouldn’t be elegant and pointed enough. In a later episode, when they begin travelling together, Wei Wuxian will announce his presence in this same way, throwing a loquat fruit at to Lan Wangji, who will catch it and keep it.

Wei Wuxian tosses the rejected loquat over to Jiang Cheng, who catches it, not realizing he is going to be Wei Wuxian’s second choice man in every instance from this point onward. 

Outtro

Soundtrack

Jaws music obvs

WuJi aka Wanxian which is playing constantly when they are in the library, presumably this is the sound in LWJ’s head

Lookin’ Out My Back Door by CCR

Nothing, from A Chorus Line

Rag Mop by the Ames Brothers (warning before you google it: this will give you a permanent earworm)

Writing prompt: Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng explore Gusu while WWX is stuck in the library  

Restless Rewatch Episode 06 is here!

[albertasunrise]

No More - Chapter 2

Summary: Frankie has been your best friend since you were in the 2nd grade. You were each other’s first’s, he, your first love and as you’d both gotten older you always somehow fell into bed together after one too many drinks with the boys. You don’t know how much longer you can keep this up but fate has other plans for you both and events are set in motion to decide for you.

Warnings: Explicit, Unprotected sex, blood and injury, mentions of abortion, unplanned pregnancy - 18+

Pairings: Frankie/ Reader

~

Benny was worried. He’d been trying to get hold of you for the last two weeks but you were ignoring all his attempts to contact you. Your car hadn’t moved since that night. He knows this as he drives past your house every day to get to and from work. The longer your radio silence goes on the more he worried he is that something more serious had been going on when you’d left that night saying you’d been unwell that week. He finally decided enough was enough and decided to stop at yours on his commute home. Parking his truck in front of yours he sprinted across the lawn and rang the bell, tapping his foot impatiently as he waited for you to answer.

‘Benny?’ You say with a bemused expression plastered across your face ‘What are you doing here?’

‘I was worried about you.’ He states, taking in your haggard appearance and red-rimmed eyes ‘I’ve been trying to get hold of you for like two weeks but you’ve just ignored me.’ He pauses, trying to rein in his anger ‘What the hell is up with you?’

‘I uh...’ You think for a moment about what to say but decide there's no point in hiding it ‘I’m pregnant Ben.’ You reply and shock spreads across his face.

‘Wha- how?’

‘I uh... Had an encounter a few months back and well turns out my birth control failed and I’m pregnant.’ You explain, scrubbing a hand over your tired face.

‘Who’s the father.’

‘That doesn’t matter.’ You reply, shaking your head ‘He made it quite clear he doesn’t want kids so-‘

‘You have to tell him, babe.’ Says Benny, giving you his signature sad eye look that's almost impossible to resist ‘He at least deserves to know about the kid if you're planning on keeping it!’

You knew he was right. You had to tell Frankie but you didn’t know how to. How do you tell someone who cheated on his girlfriend with you that your birth control failed and you were now pregnant with his child... and keeping it!  

What if he asks you to get rid of it?

Could you ever look at him again after that?

‘You clearly have a lot to think about so I’ll go.’ Says Benny as he gives your arm a gentle squeeze ‘Before I do. Will and I were planning on having a movie night tomorrow. Why don’t you come? Take your mind off of things for a while.’

You think about it for a moment before nodding in agreement. A movie night would be a good distraction and you’d missed Benny and Will. What harm would it do? He says his goodbyes and sprints back to his car, waving at you as he reverses onto the road and drives away and leaving you to ponder what you were going to do next. It felt good to tell someone. Get it off your chest but now you needed to plan what you were going to tell the father and when you going to do it.

~

‘She lives!.’ Says Will as he pulls you into a hug.

‘Ah, there’s my favourite lady!’ Squeals Ben.

‘Indeed.’ You chuckle as grin at him ‘Sorry for going MIA on you guys.’

‘It's cool.’ He replies, smiling sweetly ‘Benny kinda told me the sitch... You told the father yet?’

‘The father of who?’

Your stomach sinks as you turn your head to see Frankie stood there with a beer in each hand and a rather shocked expression on his face. Your mouth starts to move but your words seem to escape you. Of course, he’d be at movie night. Of course, he’s at everything the guys do.

‘Are you?’ He points at your now slightly swollen stomach and you simply nod.

‘Shit!.’ He exclaims, his eyes flying open in surprise ‘How far along?’

‘Uh- around 3 months.’ You reply as your hand settles on your small bump.

‘Wow, congrats!’ He says as he raises a beer in cheers.

It’s clear he hasn’t put two and two together. That 3 months ago you fucked each other in your kitchen. That 3 months ago he cheated on his girlfriend with you. You nod your thanks to him and head into the kitchen with Ben, smiling when he hands you a non-alcoholic beer.

‘Didn’t want you to feel left out.’ He chuckles ‘I’m sorry about Will blurting it out like that. I figured you wouldn’t have minded me telling him though.’

'It’s fine Ben.’ You say sweetly as you kiss his cheek ‘Not like I can hide it now that I look permanently bloated.’

‘I can’t believe you’re showing already.’ He says as he places one of his large hands on your small bump.

‘Is it your's Ben?’ Asks Frankie as he appears in the kitchen, the look in his eyes making you shiver.

‘No, you douche.’ He replies, punching his friend in the arm.

‘What did you and Emily decide to do in the end?’ You ask, your tone a little colder than you’d meant it to be.

‘We uh... We terminated it.’ He replies, shrugging his shoulders ‘She doesn’t want kids and I don’t either so...’ He trails off as he takes a swig of his beer ‘I never knew you wanted them, Lazo?’

Your stomach is twisting in knots at his statement but you manage to force your words out ‘Yeah.’ You reply, nodding in confirmation ‘I’ve always wanted them. This wasn’t exactly how I’d planned it but you know. Shit happens for a reason.’

‘So you told the father yet?’ Asks Benny as he gives your arm a gentle squeeze.

Your eyes flit to Frankie before returning to Ben ‘Yeah I did.’ You lie, trying to swallow past the lump in your throat ‘He wants nothing to do with it.’ You finish, venom dripping from every word.

‘Shit.’ Ben pulls you into a hug and you allow a single tear to fall ‘At least you gave him the option.’ He states and you nod, unable to say any more for fear you’ll slip up ‘You’ve got us! We’ll be the best damn uncles that kid’ll ever have.’

You smile at that before looking at Frankie who’s smiling sweetly at you and suddenly you regret lying. Perhaps you should tell him. Maybe it’ll be different because it's you. You shake the thought from your head.

Don’t be ridiculous... He loves her not you.

Movie night goes as smoothly as it can considering the circumstances. When it was over you thanked them for the distraction and then walked to your car, jumping when Frankie’s hand grabs your wrist before you can open your door.

‘Frankie wha?-.’

‘Three months ago we slept together.’ He states. His tone a little panicked.

So he had put two and two together.

‘Yes, Frankie I remember.’ You growl as you pull your wrist from his grasp ‘What’s your point?’

‘Is that my baby?’ He comes straight out with it and your mouth goes dry ‘Please tell me that’s not my baby and it’s just some random guy's that you met at a bar.’

‘What if it is yours?’ You spit, his words lighting a fire within you ‘What if it was?’

‘I... I’d want you to get rid of it.’ He replies and you slap him.

‘Good thing it isn’t then.’ You lie, opening the door and climbing into your car but as you go to close the door he stops you.

‘Are you lying to me?’ He asks, his tone panicked ‘Please Lazo be honest with me. I’d be a shit father... No kid deserves me as their dad.’

Your heart breaks a little for him as you see the genuine pain in his eyes.

‘No... I’m not lying to you.’ You surprise yourself with how easily you lie to him ‘I went out on a girls night a few days before and took a guy home with me. It’s his.’

You know that even if that were the case it would be impossible to prove without a DNA test but it seems to appease Frankie and he lets you shut your door, watching you like a wounded dog as you pull away.

~

Its been two months since that night and you’ve barely seen or spoken to Frankie since. You’d tried to keep in contact with the Millers, even having the two of them over a few times. Ben had offered to drive you to your 20-week scan and had been so excited to see the baby on the screen. It felt good to have someone there with you who was excited for you. After the two of you cooed over the ultrasound pictures over lunch, you decided to learn the sex and had been overjoyed to learn that you were having a girl, Ben joking that he would keep the guys away from her when she was older.

‘So the dad really doesn’t want anything to do with it huh?’ He asks as he takes a sip of his coffee whilst you pick at your muffin.

‘Nope.’ You reply, popping the p ‘She came out of a one night stand so you can’t really blame him.’

‘You’re gonna smash it though babe.’ He says sweetly, placing his hand over yours.

‘Thanks.’ You reply, grinning at him ‘I’m really excited now. Although my hormones are all over the place at the moment.’

‘How so?’ He asks as he tilts his head to one side.

‘I am like raging horny all the time.’ You laugh, letting out a groan ‘I just need to be fucked.’

‘You always got me.’ He says as he winks at you.

‘As hot as you are... I don’t wanna make things weird between us.’ You reply.

‘That’s fair babe.’ He replies as he grins at you ‘Come on let's get you home.’

The drive back is a little awkward after his offer to scratch your itch but as soon as he walks you to the door and hugs you goodbye it’s forgotten. You smile as you stick the ultrasound pictures to your fridge, running your fingers over the images as you allow yourself to imagine what she’s going to look like. You wonder if she’ll have your eyes or his. You hope she gets his curly hair. Your stomach twists when you think about him. What if she is the spitting image of him? You decided to busy yourself so that you could forget about him. Evening comes around and you’ve settled down to watch your favourite show when the doorbell rings. You’re surprised when you open the door and see Frankie stood there, eyes red and chest heaving.

‘Frankie, what are you doing here?’ You ask, feeling your heart breaking for him a little ‘What’s happened?’

‘Emily broke up with me.’ He states ‘I told her that I’d cheated on her. We had this stupid fight and it just sorta came out.’

‘That doesn’t explain why you’re here Frankie.’ You reply ‘We’ve not been close lately.’

‘Please...’ He begs and you know what's coming ‘I need you.’

He lunges at you, his lips smashing against yours. Initially, you try to fight it but stop when his tongue pushes itself into your mouth to dance with yours. He walks you back into your house, kicking the door shut with his foot as his hands start to roam. You curse your hormones as you feel yourself growing more and more aroused by the second, letting out a gasp when his hand slips past the waistband of your leggings to cup your sex.

‘Fuck.’ You breathe as he pushes two fingers inside of you, pumping with reckless abandon and making you cum embarrassingly fast.

He’s then lifting you into his arms and carrying you up the stairs, your lips never leaving each other's as he nudges the door to your bedroom open with his foot and lays you down on your bed. Pulling down your leggings in one swift movement, he tears your shirt off over your head as his eyes grazing over your swollen breasts and stomach before removing his own clothes.

‘Fuck you look gorgeous.’ He breathes as he settles between your legs and takes one of your sensitive nipples in his mouth as he massages the other breast with his hand.

Does Frankie have a pregnancy kink?

Your thought is interrupted by him sliding himself inside you, filling you completely and you moan embarrassingly loud. That only spurs him on and he starts to rock his hips, his pace and angle sending you hurtling towards orgasm number two. You’d known that being pregnant made you more sensitive but this was out of this world. Before you knew it you were peaking again, back arching as he continued his relentless pace. He got another three out of you before he finally found his own, collapsing on the bed beside you bonelessly as he tries to catch his breath. You both lay there in silence for a short while, the sex haze beginning to clear.

‘What happened to us?’ He asks, the question taking you by surprise ‘You’ve been my best friend since 2nd grade but now we barely see or speak to each other.’

‘You know why Frankie.’ You reply, your tone a little irritated.

‘No... no I don’t. Explain it to me.’

‘Does this ever mean anything to you?’ You question as you between the two of you, noting the confusion that fills his face ‘Or am I just a release to you?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘We’ve been fucking each other for years, Frankie. Despite trying to date people we always seem to end up in each other’s beds.’ You state, pushing yourself into a sitting position so you can look at him ‘Does it mean anything more to you or am I just a cheap fuck?’

‘I-.’ He's stumped by your question, staring at you as he thinks of what to say.

‘It’s not a hard question to answer Frankie.’ You spit, growing impatient ‘Do you have any feelings for me at all? Yes or No?’

‘It’s complicated.’ This reply makes your blood boil.

‘Complicated how?’ You growl ‘It hurts me every time we do this because I have feelings for you. I can’t keep letting you fuck your problems away with me. I’m going to be a mum Frankie. You can’t just keep turning up here and burying your dick inside me to make yourself feel better. It’s not fair on me.’

‘You have feelings for me?’ You let out an exasperated huff at his response.

‘Yes, Francisco I do.’ You grumble, running a shaky hand through your hair ‘But if you don’t want to commit to me then this needs to stop. I have others to think about now.’ You finish as you rest your hand on your swollen belly.

‘Okay.’ He replies, pushing himself out of the bed ‘This will stop the. I promise.’

This was not the response you’d hoped for but it was an option you’d given him. You nod and watch as he puts his clothes back on. Placing a kiss on your forehead, he leaves and you just lay there and wallow in your grief that Frankie will never be yours.

~

You're eight months along now and miserable. You're not able to drive anymore because your ankles are too swollen and have to rely on the boys to ferry you around. Things with Frankie have been better since that night and in a way, you feel you had closure and you’d gotten your friend back in some capacity. He’d offered to drive you to get some last-minute baby things before she arrived and you leapt at the chance, you were embarrassingly underprepared. The conversation had been easy, talking about Benny’s latest squeeze and how well things were going for Will and his girlfriend.

‘Reckon shes the one.’ He’d said when the two of you had come to a stop at the lights ‘They’ll be engaged by Christmas’ He finishes as the lights turn green and he starts to pull off.

The car comes from nowhere. The sound of metal crushing metal rings in your ears the car is pushed sideways along the road and with one final bang, everything goes black. You can hear someone called your name but they sound far away. You try to open your eyes but find they’re too heavy. Your ears right as awareness suddenly returns to you and then it all comes crashing back. Your eyes shoot open and you look to your right, eyes locking with Frankies. You study him and find that almost all of him is covered in blood but he’s awake and he’s talking to you so you take that as a positive. Pain erupts through your belly and you scream. The sound making Frankie’s blood go cold and his eyes drop down to see you cradling your bump.

‘Frankie the baby.’ You sob as the pain increases ‘My baby.’ You cry as fat tears roll down your cheeks.

He looks to see if you have any injuries and he’s relieved to find none, just a small cut on your face. He tries to keep you calm. To tell you everything’s going to be okay but he can’t. He’s losing his battle to stay conscious and he knows he’s going into shock. Relief washes over him as he hears the sirens, helps is coming. He allows himself to relax before unconsciousness takes hold and everything goes dark. All you can do is watch as he slips away, cradling your belly and praying you didn’t lose them both today. Everything is a blur then. The pain consumes you and after what feels like an eternity you're finally given relief as you slip into a painless slumber.

Benny's there when you wake up, holding your hand as you feel your awareness return to you slowly. You don’t recognise your surroundings but it's clear you’re in a hospital, you just can’t remember why.

‘How you feeling babe?’ He asks, watching as you try to blink away the brain fog.

‘What happened?’ You ask as you look at him for answers.

‘You were in an accident.’ He answers, giving your hand a gentle squeeze ‘Frankie’s car got t-boned at a set of lights. A guy jumped a red’

It all comes crashing back. The pain. Frankie covered in blood. You look down and see that your belly isn’t quite as swollen as it was and your heart-rate spikes as you start to panic.

‘Benny the baby! Where’s my baby?’

‘She’s okay.’ He replies ‘They had to perform an emergency C-Section as she was in distress but she’s okay.’ You feel yourself relax a little at that but then you remembered what he’d looked like ‘What about Frankie?’

‘He’s uh... He's in a bad way.’ He replies, his expression sad ‘He was in surgery for hours and they've had to put him in an induced coma... He’s critical.’

You can’t stop yourself from emptying the contents of your stomach over the side of the bed. Ben is at your side in a heartbeat, pressing the buzzer with one hand whilst rubbing your back with the other. A nurse quickly helps you lay down again when you're finished whilst another goes about cleaning the mess you’ve made on the floor.

‘When can I see my baby?’ You ask the nurse as she finishes up her checks on you.

‘I can get someone to take you to her.’ She replies, smiling sweetly at you.

‘And when can we see our friend?’ Benny asks ‘The one that was in the accident with her.’

‘I don’t know but I will find out for you.’ She replies, giving you both a grim nod before leaving.

A different nurse returns a few minutes later and helps you into a wheelchair before she starts to push you through the ward, Benny close behind you. You are wheeled into a room labelled NICU and are greeted by incubators dotted around the room. The incubator you stop beside is labelled with 'baby girl' and your last name, the infant inside covered with a small pink blanket. She has a tube in her nose that the nurse informs you is just for feeding and that she is really healthy for being a month early. Then you allow yourself to truly study her. Her head is covered in a thin layer of dark brown hair and her skin already has a tanned quality to it. When you look at her you see him and you can’t help the choked sob that escapes your lips.

‘What’s up?’ Asks Benny.

‘She looks like him.’ You say, not really thinking about the words that fall from your mouth.

'Who?' He crouches beside you and sees the vacant expression on your face as tears slips from the corners of your eyes 'Who does she look like?'

‘Frankie.’ You reply numbly as you stare at her.

‘How can she look like Frankie?’ He asks as his eyes flit between you and the baby.

‘Because he’s the father.’

~

Chapter 3

[spongebob-connoisseur]

What are your overall thoughts on Kamp Koral and the Patrick Star show?

In my opinion,

Kamp Koral has cute kid designs but, the animation is just.... eh.... not great like even the animation from Jimmy Neutron looks better than that and that came out decades before this.

Patrick Star show looks promising but, I've heard it's good so, I might give it a chance since it looks better than Kamp Koral. I dunno, what do you think? Please, respond whenever you can!

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

I've already talked about Kamp Koral in my previous post so I'll leave this to talk about The Patrick Star Show.

I actually like it!!! I think we all know since everytime there's a new Patrick Star Show episode I'm usually the first to post on it. Mainly because of S L A P P Y but I genuinely like the show and get excited when there's a new episode. Even if my boy doesn't show up 👀

I definitely have to say the first 2 episodes was kinda lackluster. I feel kinda sad how quick cartoon reviewers judged the show based on the first 2 episodes which is technically one episode since SB episodes air in pairs. They were so eager to talk about how it's an unholy abomination and that your stupid for liking the show. Even though it's natural for shows to have a rocky start before it finds its footing. It was clear the first episode especially that they were still figuring out the show and it didn't deserved to be so hated.

I really think The Patrick Star Show is better than Kamp Koral because it feels like it's own thing and it's done a good job to do that (unlike KK)

Anyways they said PSS was inspired by shows from the 60s-80s and yeah I see it. I got BIG PeeWee's Playhouse vibes if you ever seen that show. Especially from how his house is designed and how it functions.

One of my favorite things about it is the frequent art style changes. It's so experimental and does something new with the animation in each episode. People were going crazy over the stop motion short for the halloween episode. But they always had stop motion shorts. Every so often it changes its art style.

The Captain Doug Quasar shorts are the UPA style (the art style that was frequently used during the 50s and 60s cartoons). Or Bunny the Barbarian which kinda reminds me of 1980s barbarian games/movies. I made a post about the art style changes.

Also it has fake commercials in between which kinda reminds me of Ren and Stimpy which I think is neat.

But more I have to mention is that I kinda love how absurdist this show is. I know a loooot of people hate that nowadays because everything has to be meaningful™ and deep™ and real™ but I've always found the unusual and obscure appealing. Probably the reason why I also liked PeeWee's playhouse and shows adjacent to that so much xD

After all, Spongebob was always intended to be absurdist too. He's a sea sponge living in a pineapple under the sea, in a 1950s bubble of a town of sentient fish underneath a real life nuclear testing site. Having it be obscure isn't a crime. Sometimes it's easier to let go and have fun and that's why I like it.

The show def has some weak points. A lot of the characters aren't fleshed out enough. When super random obscure stuff isn't happening, it tends to fall a bit flat. Or have weird gaps that just don't work. There's definitely potential to develop it further but I don't think they'll do it?

Idk it just needs more planning on how characters interact with each other and why they do the things they do and having more to them then the surface level set up the show's already got. It helps for plot ideas and pushing it further while also makes things interesting.

There's also the issue of it being too fast paced. I loooove the episode Pat-a-thon but first time watching it had be absolutely confused. It's too much yet nothing much? It's so unusual. I love the episode because Slappy content™ but aside from that it's near insanity. I guess they just wanted a bit of a fanservicey episode showing SB and other familiar characters. Also confirms this show is a tie in with Kamp Koral.

But aside from that. Ehhh.. Its frustrating that the telethon goes no where and how incompetent Patrick is in his own show. He is stupid but when he's the lead, you have to give him more then that in order for the show to stand on it's own.

Every random thing feels like buzzing flies all over you. Sometimes it's fun. But here it feels like it's filling in for nothingness. Nothing is happening. And I def relate to slappy's glare as he gets frustrated with Patrick. It's annoying.

If Slappy wasn't there/ dr plankenstein short wasn't there then I'd absolutely despise this episode😭

Anyways Slappy! They brought back my boy! He's cuter than ever!! I know people haaaate him xD some even refusing showing his picture in reviews of the episode because he's that bad? He's a creepy little lad but that's the charm!! My reason for living *sniffle* jk jk but he's so cuuute. And he fits right in considering how often Peter Lorre is parodied. Especially riiiight after death (1964) which fits riiiight in with what era of television the show is inspired by.

I wouldn't be surprised if Slappy says a random quote like "RICK!! YOU'VE GOT TO HIDE MEE!!" or something akin to that.

Oh also the background art! I like it. It has nice texture and looks spongebob while also looks distinct enough to be it's own thing. Makes sense since it was designed by the same background artist who was working on the show since BEFORE the show was even picked up by executives. This guy knows his stuff. The warmer color palette reminds me of vintage cartoons. Also I like how it's has a distinct water color painted background.

OG SB looked very messily painted. Probably oil painted? But you could see the brush strokes in the background. In the patrick star show you can see the colors bleeding and all how water color works. Its such eye candy to me. Idk high textured backgrounds are *chefs kiss* good.

There's also characterization. Say what you will about Patrick having a sister but it gives him some kind of responsibility and a side to his character he usually wouldn't have. He's a stupid older sibling (like me lol) but he cares about his sister and wouldn't stand for anyone making her upset. He can also be stubborn and finicky but never going too far as to being mean spirited.

Spongebob himself has the most improvement. He's a lot quieter and more timid. It's sooo cute. I was expecting him to be my favorite part of the show but that went to slappy. SB makes a few episode appearances but the show's focus is on Patrick hence why sponge feels toned down. But I don't mind. He kinda reminds me of his first season counterpart. Not quite but there's something very charming about this young adult version spongebob and does a lot more than kamp koral to make their versions of SB different from the OG.

And uhh yeah! I should mention the shows strengths but I'm not suited. My thoughts boil down to "more slappy!" But really I think episodes where they have multiple characters instead of 1 or 2 is better because at the moment the main characters aren't developed enough to carry an episode unless they have careful planning (or you utilize a lot of Patrick's lost characterization/add more development to him) lost in couch is a good example of Patrick carrying an episode by himself but it's a rare case.

It def boils down to work on the characters more. Squidina and Bunny have potentional of being better if you just worm away from their bases. I can see Bunny having a secret past where she was apart of a biker gang or something (she's got all those tattoos and defeated a barbarian and other monsters) but they lean waaaaaay too heavy on her just being a mom™ who likes doing mom™ things.

Squidina is great! I like her. But give her more motivations and interests outside of the patrick show. I'd def want to know more about her.

Grandpa star is actually a great character. There's nothing really to improve on him surprisingly.

But Cecil needs the most work. As dry as cardboard. You can give his lines to Patrick and you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. He needs the most development because at the moment he's just a clone of Patrick with a more dad™ demeanor.

And yeah! Those are my thoughts! Hope ya like 👍

[serendipityunho]

Lick

× genre: smut, everyone is filthy rich × pairing: San x Reader (fem.) × word count: 4.7k × warnings: explicit language, mentions of alcohol, smoking, fingering, oral, clit play, dirty talk, explicit sex, marijuana use

× synopsis:The only excitement at this boring extravagant party was the taste of a random kid’s lips on yours mixed with the devil’s lettuce, who happens to be the son of the CEO your parents partnered with. It couldn’t get any better than that. 

☁️: i don’t smoke weed, but that shit is lowkey hot, especially when you end up shot-gunning with a slicked-back-blonde-hair san.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

You never knew what the point of holding such extravagant parties was. Did they really donate proceeds to charity, or was that another cold lie your parents fed the guests apart from the disgusting over-priced cheese and caviar? 

It was nights like these where you wanted nothing but to go home and empty the fridge or possibly passed out face flat onto a lawn at some random frat party you found yourself in. Anything would be better than standing in feet-aching heels at a party with no one to talk to. 

If you earnt a dollar for every time you welcomed guests and greeted them with your million dollar realistic fake smile, you’d become a billionaire, rich enough to buy your parent’s company and probably two others. Your cheeks were aching just as much as your feet with the number of times you had to smile through the pain of talking to business people about their stupid taxes and so on. 

“You might want to slow down on the tarts, dear, there are guests you know” It wasn’t like anybody bothered to get their hands crumby with the tarts, so why not do it for them?

“That’s your fault for inviting so many people, mother” You didn’t even need to take a glance at her to know she rolled her eyes into another dimension at your snarky comment. 

“Behave” To be completely honest, it was quite satisfying seeing your mother fed up with you. It could possibly teach her a thing or two. It was honestly the least you could do after living a life many wished for. If only they knew the consequences of actually living it. 

It felt like the walls were closing in with every passing second you stayed inside, surrounded by countless bodies that wanted nothing to talk about money and other materialistic desires. You felt disgusted with every fibre of your body as you take a swift glance at your parents, putting on a show with the same plastic smiles as their snake tongues lure the interests of tycoons.

The longer you stayed here, the more you wanted to throw up from basking in overly expensive perfume and cologne. Your cheeks were on the verge of seizing from the smiles, it was exhausting.

It felt even more suffocating, literally, as you squeeze passed guests and avoiding the urge to knock over the sparkling champagne glass in their hands. The balcony seemed to be the only place of refuge. Sliding the glass door, you stepped outside into the midst of breezy night with slight shivers travelling up your body.

You felt like you can breathe again after escaping out into the open. The chatters and laughs muffled as you slide the glass door closed again, turning your back on the faces to bask in the chilly air with nothing but a loose satin dress short enough to hide the case of cigarettes strapped to your thigh. 

The balcony was long, it wrapped around one entire side and halfway around the other. It got colder as you dipped around the corner, perfect and away from prying eyes. You hiked up your dress slightly, taking the case of cigarettes strapped to your thigh before holding it between your lips. 

If your parents ever found out you were one of those tobacco users, they’d blame you for tarnishing their reputation with ridiculously absurd malicious headlines, ‘Heiress of Multimillion-Dollar Company or a Tobacco Addict?’ ‘The Irony of a Smoker Running A Biomedical Company’.  It was as if it were the apocalypse if they’d ever catch you, not that you would let them.

“Those things kill you fast, you know?” You were in the middle of a drag of your cigarette before a voice jolted you up from your spot, making you spin around to a man leaning against the wall.

“I’m counting on it” You were only joking of course.

“So what’s a pretty girl like you doing out here smoking?” The man kicked himself off the wall before stepping into the more lit area of the balcony.

“You can’t call me pretty if you don’t know me” Your lips kissed the cigarette again, blowing smoke between your lips as you stared out into the city from the rails of your penthouse balcony. 

“What if I do know you?” His features were sharp under the dim lighting, cheekbones stood out very prominently as his feline eyes left your jaw dropped. He was truly astonishing.

“I don’t seem to know who you are” You turned to face him, getting a better observation at his god-like features as you held the cigarette over the railing.

“I’m Choi San” Now that was a name that had rung a few rusty bells in your head.

“Don’t tell me you’re the Choi San of-” 

“Choi Biomedical Technologies? Yes, I’m that Choi San”

Almost half of all hospitals had the equipment and resources produced by San’s father in use day and night. Fortunately enough, the company had decided to pair with your parent’s medical research and company. 

“Funny enough, I don’t see your face around often” 

“It’s pointless to just show my face at a party where I don’t have fun” San shoved his hands in the pockets of his pants, shuffling a bit in his spot before finally turning his face towards you. 

Now you could clearly see everything, and my, he was indeed a masterpiece. You were amazed at how he managed to slick back his hair without the look of heavy hair products glistening under the light. 

“So what made you show up to this one?” If there was any way possible that excused you from attending these parties, you’d take it in a heartbeat. 

“To see what the hype was all about, my father’s tried setting me up with many girls when I don’t go. So I figured if I showed up just once, he’d finally leave me alone” 

“And did he?”

“Why do you think I’m out here?” San smirked as he ran his hand through his hair, staring down at your cigarette.

“Sounds pitiful” You bring your hand up, holding the slow killer against your lips before puffing one out into the air.

“May I?” San nodded towards the cigarette, eyes drooping at the sight of it between your lips.

“You don’t spike me as a smoker” You handed the stick over to him, watching him take a drag before smoke escapes pass his lips. 

“You’d be surprised about other things” San grimaced at the cigarette before handing it back to you and looking out into the city.

“Like what?” Now you were genuinely curious.

A smirk crawled up San’s face as he faced you again, eyeing you with curious eyes before licking his teeth. You could tell he was trying to avoid your question, but it just worked your curiosity even more.

“What are you doing out here?” You scoffed at San’s diversion, turning around to rest your forearms against the rails. 

“For a smoke obviously, and my feet hurt from walking around” You shook off the ash from the cigarette, hesitantly bringing the nearly finished stick up to your lips once again.

“You always smoke at parties?”  

“Only when I have to”

“What made you tonight?” 

“Look at that and tell me you don’t want to get out of there” San didn’t have to look to know what you were referring to. In fact, he felt exactly the same.

“You know, I have something better than this,” San plucked the cigarette out from your lips and threw it off the balcony before reaching in his jacket, pulling out a small clear bag of what seemed to look like chopped up parsley “, that would relax you”.

“What the fuck?” Your eyes widen as you finally realise what was in front of you. This guy really just stored weed in his jacket like it was nothing. 

“What? Have you never tried?” You shook your head, eyeing the green flakes sitting in its little ziplock bag. 

“I never knew where to get it-”

“Wow, look at that!” You could’ve sworn your head was about to rip right off your neck from how fast you swerved behind.

Silhouettes of guests fill the floor as a few flooded out into the balcony, making your heart race as you assured San to put the bag back in his jacket. Thankfully, the two of you were around the corner which let you dodge a bullet from noisy guests.

“Shit” As much as you wanted to smoke whatever San offered, it was too risky out here even behind the unlit corner of your balcony.

“I know a place where we can-”

“No, I can’t leave the building, they won’t let me” Your parents have had enough of you to strict you from leaving the party, mainly to keep a close eye on you and prevent anything that would blacken their name.

“Does your bathroom have a big window?” San fixed his jacket before stepping aside, walking around the corner with you following behind.

“Yeah, but it’ll look suspicious if we go upstairs together” You immediately spot your parents the moment you stepped back inside, no surprise they were buttering up more guests.

“The more you think about it, the more it’ll look suspicious” Technically, it wasn’t that hard staying out of your parent’s vision as they chattered away with more people and sipping on their champagne. 

San stayed behind you as you quickly trod up the stairs to the second level, quietness flushing over you as the party stayed below. San appeared not long after, inspecting the new surrounding as you opened the door to your bathroom. 

The marble glistened the moment you flicked on the lights, most of which doesn’t seem to phase San one bit. The door locked behind you as you unlatched the window, letting the cold air in as well as making it an escape for your smoke.

“What kind of shower is that?” San snickered. You honestly have no clue either.

“I don’t know, we don’t use this bathroom” You always questioned why your mother had such a desire for homes with more than enough rooms, it was pointless really.

“So your family’s like that too huh?” San pulled out the little bag again, placing it on to the marble counter before reaching for something else. 

“Like what?” You stared at yourself in the mirror, fixing your hair as you patted smudged mascara underneath your eyes.

“Money this, money that?” Your eyes turned down to San, packing the green flakes into a thin piece of paper. 

“It’s sickening” You were just glad you managed to escape the trap of falling into the mindset of materialistic wealth and whatnot.

“It’s surprising to finally find someone like me” 

“Like you? So you’re telling me all those campaigns and charities are bullshit too?” San’s father always loved taking every chance he got to host events beneficial to his company.

“Blatant lie, every single one of them” San sounded embarrassed, ashamed of his family’s immoral choices.

You almost feel sorry for him, but yet again, your family was exactly like that too. You couldn’t judge him one bit, not that you would anyways. Nowadays, you were always met with rich privileged dickheads boasting about which Rolex they bought with their ‘daddy’s’ black card.

“Lick” San brought the rolled stick up to your lips as you sat on the counter, waiting for you to the seal it up for him.

His eyes locked onto yours as he stood in front of you. Without taking yours off his, you stick your tongue out, swiping across the thin paper before letting San close off the stick.

“Where’d you buy it?” If you didn’t have eyes watching you 24/7, you’d be at some random back alley buying as much devil lettuce as you want and possibly smoking it at some random back alley. 

San, without a doubt, would have security with him all the time. The fact that he managed to obtain weed was questioning.

“A friend of mine sells it from his gym” San tapped your lip with the stick before flicking the lid off of his Zippo lighter, letting the flame spark as it flickered close to the end of the stick.

“Smart” The paper burnt black as it shrivelled from the flame. San set the lighter down onto the counter, packing away the contents of your little construction before taking off his suit jacket. You could’ve sworn his shirt was about to unbutton, not that you were complaining.

“If you ever need, look for Jongho down at the gym besides the 7/11 parking lot, call for Wooyoung if he isn’t there” 

“There’s a lot of 7/11′s” You took a hit of the stick, head instantly feeling lighter as your eyes drooped a bit.

“There’s only one 7/11 with a parking lot downtown with a gym next to it” 

Your feet dangled off the ground, heels clanking against the counter as you let your sore feet take a break from walking on tiptoes all night. San hung his jacket on the hook by the door, rolling up his sleeves up to his forearms as he nodded towards the stick. Boy, those arms were nice.

The hit did a lot more than expected, it was worth the wait, and the risk. You take the stick from your lips, pressing it against San’s as you take the strap on your thigh off with the cigarette case on it.

“You should quit while you can” San muffled, blowing the smoke towards the window as he leaned against the counter with his hands either side of you, still keeping a distance between his body and yours. You honestly wish he was closer though.

“I already know it’s going to be hard” You almost instantly regretted buying your first pack of cigarettes, if you knew what withdrawals were at the time, you would’ve never had pressed that toxic stick against your lips.

“It’s better than ending up black lungs” San raised his brows, letting you take the stick from his lips for another hit.

“I’m gonna need more of these if I start quitting” 

“You can keep the ones I brought tonight” You gulped at the closing distance between you and San, the dangling chain around his neck hitting against his chest every time he moved wasn’t making it any easier to stay reserved.

“I’ll pay you back”

“Don’t bother. Consider it a gift” 

“A gift for what?”

“Being decent I guess” You were so tempted to blow this smoke into his face.

“You’re decent too I guess” More than decent actually, but you were too scared to say that. After all, you only met him ten minutes ago. 

Your head felt lighter than the clouds, it was everything better than your average smoke. Now you were definitely going to attempt quitting.

“How is it?” San smiled softly, droopy-eyed as he slumped forward towards you with arms caging you in.

“This shit is amazing” You almost choke while pulling the stick from your lips, making San chuckle in such a deep but mesmerising voice, faintly showing off his dimple you didn’t know he had.

“This is probably the most fun I’ve had at these parties” San chuckled, tilting his head to the side as you press the stick back onto his soft lips once again.

“I have you to thank for that” Your heart was on the verge of jumping out of your chest as you stared at San’s devilish smirk. There was that hint of cockiness in him that had attracted you to grown to like him.

“I guess you could call it fate” San flickered back and forth between your eyes, blowing smoke out from the side of his mouth before giving the stick back to you.

“You know what would be more fun?” You couldn’t really stop yourself from saying anything further. But, you really wanted to just pop that button on his shirt that’s been on the brink of slipping out of its hold.

“Don’t say you have more drugs up your dress”

“Kiss me” You said nice and slowly enough for San to comprehend, you couldn’t help but bite down on your lip at your sudden boost of confidence, giggling at San’s bewildered face.

“You know, that would be fun” San smirked, grabbing a quick hit before locking his lips onto yours, smoke plummeting into your mouth as your fingers tangle in his hair with his body pushing between your legs.

“Oh yeah, this is so much better” Your arms slung around his neck as you inched yourself closer to the edge of the counter, pressing your cunt against the bulge in his pants as your legs cage him against you with his arms doing the same to you.

“I’ve wanted to do this since I saw you outside” San moaned against your lips as he subconsciously pushed his hips forward, grinding against your sopping wet cunt.

“Then why didn’t you?” Your forehead rests against San’s with a hand tangled his hair as the other slides down his chest, hooking your finger onto his chain.

“I thought you were one of those bimbos who say ‘daddy’ too much” It was quite insulting to know you’d given off those vibes, but who could blame you for wanting to look your best?

“I would’ve figured those were your type of girls” Your lips brush over San’s once again before softly biting it.

“Guess we’re both wrong” San’s hands cupped the bottom of your thighs, smoothing over your skin as he plants a wet kiss on your lips before trailing them down your jaw, making you throw your head back as his lips graze over your sensitive skin, plastering rough kisses all over as you squirmed in pleasure against his hold.

You pushed your hips further, almost falling off the counter if it wasn’t for San’s body pushing against you and his hard crotch grinding against your soaked pussy. San’s hand slid up and down your leg before hiking under your dress, scrunching the satin material up to your waist as you squeezed his forearm.

You could feel your arousal soaking every inch of your panties as San’s hand runs across the skin of your waist, thumb rubbing the bottom of your bralette as you pushed his head closer to yours for another sopping kiss. A low groan from the back of his throat only made your head lighter in lust as you slowly pop the buttons off his shirt.

Looking back, you never thought you’d end up in the bathroom making out high with a semi-stranger. But, it was better than floating in a pool of rich narcissistic fucks. 

San’s chest frees as you rip open his shirt, letting him drop it to the ground as your fingers trace over the lining of his defined abs. Your nipples harden as San’s fingers slip under your bralette, cupping your breast in one hand as your nipple rolls between his fingers.

A wet stain was probably evident against San’s crotch area from your subconscious grinding. It was nothing a blow dryer couldn’t fix.

You could feel his cock throbbing under his pants against your pussy. A hand glides down from his abs and down to the belt of his pants, fumbling with it before scrunching his pants down to his thighs along with his boxers, freeing his pulsating cock against your thigh. 

San’s tongue swiped across your bottom lip as he drove his hand down your thigh, inching his thumb towards your clothed clit and rubbing it slowly as your wetness soaked through your panties. Your fingers remain tangled in his hair as the other hand grasped his cock firmly, thumb swiping over his slit before pumping slowly.

“Fuck” San groaned against your lips, cock twitching in your hold as you smear his precum over his reddened tip. 

You clenched around nothing as San dragged your panties down to the ground, letting your bare ass sit on the cold marble counter as his thumb circled at your clit. Your legs ache from staying in the air with nowhere to rest upon other than San’s waist. 

“Oh my god” A breathy moan escapes from your lips as San presses his fingers against your folds, coating them in your juices as he slides them up and down before pushing them into your hole.

“I want you so bad- fuck” San pumped two fingers in and out of you with your juices glistening on his fingers. 

“Nothing’s stopping you” You cupped his face, shooting an assuring look before planting a sloppy wet kiss on his lips before he kissed down your neck again, moving much faster down to your collarbone and just the top of your breasts before lowering his body.

San’s fingers were still buried deep in you, pumping steadily as his face reached down to your thighs, smothering the inside with his soft kisses before moving over to your clit. It throbbed intensely as San let his tongue press flat against it before circling it around.

You gripped San’s hair tightly, legs quivering on San’s shoulders as he lapped at your pussy, dragging his fingers in and out of your tight hole. Thankfully, the chatter down below was loud enough for your sinful doings to be covered up. 

“Right there- oh fuck” San’s tongue flicked rapidly against your clit before sliding it up and down your slit with his thumb now circling around your clit and hands flat against your stomach, holding your dress up.

“Mhm” It was a soft moan against your core that got you going crazy. You needed more than just his tongue, you needed him.

You cupped the side of San’s head with both hands before pulling him back up to your lips, letting the tip of his cock twitch at your entrance, slipping with your juices and his precum. San hooked an arm around your back, hugging your close as he kissed you hungrily, tongue lapping everywhere with yours.

“Look in that drawer” San pulled back, tilting his head to see which one you were talking about before gripping the knob and pulling it out.

“I thought you said no one uses this bathroom” A pack of condoms appeared from below as San rips the box open, pulling one out and ripping it with his teeth before spitting the foil to the side. 

“That’s exactly why I stored them there” You grabbed latex, rolling it down his cock as he threw his head back with a groan.

“Mhmmfuck” Your mouth hanged wide at the stretch of San’s dick sliding into you, taking a few breaths before letting him move. 

“Fucking christ, so tight” San groaned against your neck before pecking it, slowly thrusting his hips into you as your legs lazily wrap around his waist.

You weren’t sure if you were able to keep your moans to a minimum when San was breathing down your neck like this and hips rolling into you smoothly. God hope the commotion below was loud enough to save you.

San rolled his hips, burying his cock deep in you as he moved slowly. Your head pounded like crazy his hands roamed every inch of your body, squeezing everywhere he could, literally, get his hands on.

The pleasure immediately flooded your head as San quickened his pace, pumping waves of pleasure throughout your body with each thrust. Your forehead rests against his as your lips hover over San’s, brushing ever so lightly as they part.

“Ohmygod yesyes” The sound of skin slapping against skin bounced off the walls as San grunted loudly, tensing his abs with each hard thrust.

Your moans were almost high-pitched as San knocked the air out of your lungs, gripping on to your thighs for dear life as your hands travelled up and down from his chest to his toned abs.

“You like that? Hm?” A smirk crawled its way onto his face as he gazed at you with hooded eyes, still fucking the daylights out of you as your breasts bounced in their place.

“Yes, oh my god- fuck yesnnghaa” You absolutely love the way San’s hips rolled against yours, it was like riding a rollercoaster to heaven and you weren’t even riding anything.

“You like the way I fuck this perfect little cunt of yours?” San grunted through a clenched jaw, slamming his hips against yours, making you gasp wildly for air.

“Fuckfuckyes- yes!” Your hand slapped behind San’s neck as he rutted into you like no tomorrow, sending your head to a cloud of nothingness except lust and pleasure. 

“Mhmffuck you’re so perfect” San’s lips attacked yours once again, you could care less about the slobbering mess, it was actually kind of hot. 

San held hugged you close as your legs gave him no chance of withdrawal as his dick continuously hits the spot of limitless pleasure, sending your breath straight out the window. A whine falls from your parted lips as your face scrunches in pleasure with brows furrowed deeply as your foreheads touch.

“S-So close- mmphh” Your legs quivered with every passing second, skin becoming sensitive with every touch as San cherished your body against his.

San quicked his thrusts, literally knocking you back further as he plunges his hips harder against yours. A bundle of pleasure in the pit of your stomach starts to go wild, seizing with every thrust made to reach the spot inside you that you could never reach. 

Your walls clench tightly around his cock like you were holding on for dear life, slamming your lips against San’s to muffle your sickly moans as he rammed into you. It was like floating in a utopia filled with nothing but euphoric bliss as your vision went blurry with San’s grunting against your ear.

“Oh fuck! Yes ohmygodddnngghh yesyes-” You gasped sharply, legs starting to quiver as your abdomen tensed from the sudden burst of pleasure ricocheting all around your body to flooding your brain. You could’ve sworn you went cross-eyed for a bit. 

“A little bit moremmph fuckk” It was only a matter of seconds before San rutted hard into you one last time before spewing his release into the latex, moaning wildly against your lips as he hugged you closer than before.

Your body subconsciously spazzed subtly as San slowly slid himself out from your hole, letting his cock twitch against your thigh as his forehead rests against yours. It was a comfortable silence that washed over the two of you, there was nothing but the sound of your desperate pants of deprived breath. 

It felt like everything had frozen at that moment when San’s eyes met yours, it was like you had just seen a thousand stars pooling in his eyes when he pecked your lip. 

You pulled back to get a better look, still accumulating your clear vision as San rolled off the latex without looking down, discarding it in the trash can beside you. A small bead of sweat lined the side of his face, making you pat it away with a tissue you pulled from the box behind you. 

“Your makeup’s ruined” San pulled up his boxers along with his pants, letting it hang at his hips as he leaned forward with his hands rested against the edge of the counter. 

“Not like I’m going anywhere afterwards” You gently dabbed San’s sweat away before throwing the tissue into the trash, leaning back on your arms with San still inches away from your face.

“I can try to sneak you out” San whispered, gazing deeply into your eyes as you did the same.

“Now why would you want to do that?” 

“To have proper fun” San pushed himself off the counter, reaching down for your panties that had been plastered onto the floor just ages ago before carefully sliding them back up your leg and holding your ass in the process, caressing it gently.

“We just had our fun” You wrap your arms around his neck, pressing your chest against his naked one as you hopped off the counter.

“I have a feeling we’ll be seeing each other quite often” 

“I’m actually counting on it” You traced your finger along the outline of his pecks before landing a soft kiss on his lips one last time.

“Music to my ears”

“Hm?”

“Party’s over, sweetheart”

_

Copyright © 2020 by serendipityunho      All Rights Reserved

[atlafan]

could u maybe write something ab harry and the reader reuniting after taking a break for a while 🥺 just something a lil angsty and fluffy

a/n: oh wow, I’ve actually been wanting to write something about this for a little bit, let’s see what I can whip up! Less angst in this than I thought, but super fluffy. Hope you liked it! This is an au, so ya boy’s not famous. 

New York to London

It wasn’t easy, but you both decided to take some time apart. You both just graduated from college, and you needed to figure out what you were doing for jobs. If you needed to move somewhere for work, neither of you wanted to hold the other back. You were in love, but you were still so young. If it was meant to be, it would happen, right? 

You ended up in New York. You loved clothes and fashion. Were a marketing major with a minor in art. You found yourself living in a cozy apartment on the upper east side, working remotely for a clothing app. You got to design and select outfits for people. It was sort of like Stitch Fix. Working from home allowed you to fill up your sketch books with design ideas of your own. Sometimes you would go out and work from the local coffee shop, just to have a change of scenery, of course making sure to buy coffee and food in exchange for the free wifi. 

You and Harry agreed not to really talk, or fill each other in what you were doing. Neither of you wanted to fall into the “please, just come move here with me” trap. You weren’t entirely sure what he was doing, or if he had decided to go back to London altogether. You missed him, and it was a good relationship, but it had definitely run its course. You were with him for two years, you did a lot of growing up together, but you were never certain if he was the man of future. 

Six months into your job, you had started making friends in the city. You found time to go out and enjoy the night life when you could. You had even gone on a few dates here and there, a couple of one night stands when you were sick of using your own devices to get off. Things a lot of young, twenty-somethings did. One day, out of the blue, you got a text from your ex-boyfriend. 

Harry: hi love, is it okay if I still call you that? lol...anyways, I’m in NYC for a few days...work thing...would love to see you if you’re up for it...xx

You take a deep breath when you see the text. You hate the way it makes your heart flutter. You ended up dating Harry in the first place because he always had this way of making you nervous, but in a good way. You always had butterflies around him, and you always found it hard to say no. You were genuinely curious to see how he was doing, and what exactly he did for work, so after waiting precisely twenty minutes, you decide to text him back. 

You: hey! course it’s okay ;p I’d love to catch up! dinner and a drink sound good? 

Harry: sounds great, name the time and place

You and Harry decide to meet up at a restaurant near his hotel that Friday night. You didn’t want to go to some tourist trap, but you knew of a nice place near where he was staying. You made sure to look your best, maybe remind him a bit of what he was missing. You knew he’d do the same. You put on your best little black dress, put your hair up into a sleek high pony, and put on some makeup. You grabbed a pair of red pumps for a pop of color, and into your uber you went. 

It was a nice, spring evening. It was getting warmer out, so you only needed a light jacket along with your dress. You wait in the lobby of the restaurant for him. 

“Y/N?” 

You’d know the sound of his voice anywhere. You turn around and smile. He was almost shocked, you had never looked better. He looked nice. Blue pair of slacks, white button up with the first few undone, and a salmon pink sport coat. Classic Harry. 

“Hi!” 

You wrap your arms around his neck and give him a kiss on the cheek. 

“You look great.” He says, blushing slightly. 

“Thanks, so do you. I put a reservation in for us online. Wanna see if the table’s ready?”

“Uh, yeah, sure.” 

He puts his hands in his pockets and follows you up to the hostess. She checks you both in and leads you to your table a few minutes later. 

“Come here a lot?” He asks as he sits down.

“Sometimes. Been here with some friends.” 

You take your jacket off and hang it on the back of your chair. He gets a really good eye full of you. He smiles when he sees you wearing the necklace he had gotten you for your last birthday. 

“So, you’re in the city for work?”

“Yup, I’m an admissions counselor for a small school up in New Hampshire. I got hired to do a lot of the traveling, so I’m rarely on campus.” 

“Oh, that’s cool. Where else do you travel to?”

“Mostly the state of New York and Massachusetts.” 

“What made you-”

“Hi folks, I’m Max, I’ll be your server tonight. Can I start either of you off with a drink?” 

“I’d love a glass of pinot noir please.” You smile.

“Just a Corona for me, thanks.”

“Excellent, I’ll be back in a few minutes with those.” He smiles and walks away.

“Anyways, what made you want to become an admissions counselor?”

“I get to travel with all expenses paid. I really had no idea what I wanted to do after I graduated, so this gives me more time to figure it out. I can explore the various places I go to. S’not like I’m tied down, right?” He jokes.

“Right.” 

He clears his throat.

“So, it seems like the city’s treating you well.” 

“Very well!” You chuckle. “I love it so much. I get to work remotely too, so no one really bothers me, which is great. I’m able to work on my sketches in my down time.”

“Yeah, you’re working for like a clothing subscription service?”

“Mhm, it’s awesome. I love getting to know my clients and all that.” 

“You seem happy.”

“I am. I feel really independent.” 

The waiter comes back over with your drinks. You end up ordering a salad with some grilled shrimp, while Harry opts for a veggie burger. You clink your glasses together.

“So, it’s okay that I texted right?” 

“Of course! I think I’d be a little upset if I knew you were so close by and didn’t even think to say hi.”

“I’ve wanted to reach out for a while, but...I know you said you wanted some space.”

“Well, we both agreed on that.” 

“I guess.” He shrugs. 

“Did we not?” 

“No, we did. I guess all I mean is...I don’t know...takin’ a break has just been weird, that’s all.” 

Before you can respond, your food is brought over. The conversation lightens up a bit as you eat. Harry really enjoys the food. Towards the end, he insists that he pays. You eventually agree to just split the bill. 

“Wanna come see my place? I think you’ll like it, it’s cozy.” 

“Sure! Thought I’d have to work a little harder for you to invite me back with you.” He smirks.

“Oh, stop it.” You swat an arm at him. 

The uber ride back to your place is quiet. He was impressed by the building you were in. He couldn’t believe you could afford such a nice place. 

“So, it’s a studio, but it’s not cramped.” You show him inside. “Like, I can stretch out in the shower.” You giggle. “Got really creative with the storage too.”

“View makes it all worth it, huh?” 

“Yeah, it’s beautiful.” You both look out the window together. “Sit, sit. What can I get for you? I have more wine, and some beers int he fridge.”

“Beer’s fine, thanks.” 

He sits down on your small couch while you get the drinks together. You come back over and him a beer.

“Thanks.”

“Sure.” You take a sip of your wine. “So, do you, like, have an apartment in New Hampshire?”

“Yeah, I’ve got a small place to call home when I’m not traveling.”

“That’s good.”

“Mhm.” He takes a sip of his drink. “Can I ask you something...sort of personal?”

“Um, sure.”

“You haven’t been, like, hooking up have you?” 

“What?”

“Because I haven’t.”

“I never told you not to.”

“So, does that mean you have?”

“Harry...we’re not together, we’re broken up.” You frown and so does he. 

“A break is different from a break up, though, right?”

“We agreed to end things so we could go off and find our career paths. I mean, I think about you a lot, but I guess I didn’t really think we’d actually get back together. It’s been six months, Harry.”

“I know...”

“I mean, I’m not seeing anyone. I’ve had a few dates here and there, but nothing serious. I don’t really have time for it.” 

“Me neither...I guess the only difference is I haven’t wanted to even be with anyone else, random or not.” 

“I find that very hard to believe.” You scoff. “If there was a day I couldn’t see you, you’d tell me how touch starved you were.”

“That’s true, but it was your touch I was starved for, no one else’s. You know me, I was never the hook up guy as it was. It’s gross.” He takes another sip of his drink. “Do you always hook up with different people or-”

“No.” 

He nods his head.

“How many have there been?”

“What does it matter?” 

“Just wondering if I need to catch up or something.” He scoffs. 

“Harry, we never agreed on not hooking up with other people, we never even talked about it.”

“Because I just assumed we wouldn’t! Don’t you miss me?” 

“I miss being in college and having zero responsibilities.” You sigh. “I try not to think about what I miss about you too much. And no offense, but I’ve actually begun a career. You’re still figuring things out. It wouldn’t good if we tried to get back together right now. I like living alone, and-”

“Alright, I get it, you’re better off without me.” He rolls his eyes.

“That’s not what I meant.” You put your hand on his shoulder, but he shrugs it away. 

“Do you think I like not being good enough? I’d give you the world if I could, but I literally have zero idea what I’m passionate about. I feel like I wasted four years of my life. Now when I talk with these kids on where they want to go to school and the reasons they want to go...” He shakes his head. 

“You’re a people person, you’ve always been that way. You have a stage presence to you. A room lights up when you walk in.”

“S’not exactly a transferable skill, love.” 

“You’ll figure it out, Harry. I know you will.” 

//

A year or so later you heard from a mutual friend that Harry moved back to London. He had gone off into the world of PR, and he was thriving. Your job had lead you to some opportunities to go to London, they had even asked you if you wanted to relocate there. Many of the clothing lines they had were exported from there, and they wanted you more on the buying team since you had such a great eye. You said you’d consider it and go for a visit to check things out. You and Harry hadn’t talked much since he had seen you in New York, but you wanted to pay him the same courtesy he given you. 

You: Hey, Harry! It’s Y/N...I’m coming to London next week for a work thing. Might even be relocating there! I was wondering if you’d like to get together. Maybe you can tell me how great the city is, lol

You had deleted the text about five times before actually hitting send. Two hours later he got back to you. 

Harry: Did you think I deleted your number?! Of course I know it’s you! That sounds great, let me just check over my schedule with my assistant and I’ll get back to you on when would work. 

You: wow, an assistant, how fancy are you? 

Harry: she keeps my head on straight, that’s for sure

You: well, I’m looking forward to seeing you...it’s been too long!

Harry: I agree

And just like that, you had butterflies in your stomach. You hoped maybe he was single, but you wouldn’t be surprised if he was seeing someone. He was a girlfriend guy, and you had basically told him you weren’t getting back together last time you spoke. 

You were given a wonderful tour of the office you’d potentially be working in. Everyone seemed friendly, and you certainly wouldn’t be the only American working there if you decided to accept. 

Towards the end of the week, Harry invited you over for a dinner at his flat. You were surprised he didn’t want to go out. Maybe you’d be starting at his flat and then go to a club? You were dying to see how the London night life compared to New York’s. You take a cab to his flat and text him when you’re there. He comes downstairs to meet you outside. 

“Harry!” You practically squeal. You wrap your arms around each other for a nice embrace. “It’s so good to see you!”

“It’s good to see you too. Driver found the place okay?”

“Mhm.” You smile.

“Come on up. Just got dinner on the table.” 

He leads you upstairs. Your jaw drops when you see how spacious his flat is. It was a one bedroom with a nice open concept. It looked like he entertained quite often. He had a bar set up in the living area. 

“This is beautiful.”

“Thanks. Figured I could afford a nice place, why not have one?” He shrugs. 

You use his hall bath to freshen up. He has you sit down at his dining table. He had made curry. 

“This smells so good, thanks so much for cooking.”

“I figured you’d enjoy a real meal after eating out all week.”

“You figured right, thank you.”

“Oh stop.” He sits down. “Just eat, yeah?” 

You moan after tasting the food.

“This is delicious.”

“Thanks.” He smirks. “So, do you think you really might move here?”

“I might, yeah. It seems like a really big step up for me.”

“No one back in New York to miss you?”

“Nope.” You grin. “Other than the few friends I’ve made.” You shrug. “My family is really supportive too.”

“That’s great. I’m really glad I came home. I feel like once I did the opportunities came flying in. I love PR. I make phone calls, set up events. And I get to meet so many cool people.” 

“And you have an assistant.” You chuckle.

“S’not what you think. She’s not some young thing that’s enthralled with me. She’s like forty years old, has a couple of kids that don’t need her home with them anymore. She’s a great help though. I actually requested someone a little older.”

“Why’s that?”

“Some of the younger girls in the interview, when they actually came to speak with me, I don’t know, I just kept getting this weird vibe.” 

“It’s because you’re so captivating. You’re intimidating, but charming.” You take another bite of food. “Sexy.” 

“Oh, gimme a break.”

“I’m serious! You always made me feel nervous when we first started talking. You would always really sit back and observe the room before talking. You can be quiet sometimes. But that was you then, that’s just a version of you that I know, you could be different now.”

“I’d like to think so. Although, I think I’m just a good listener. I definitely like reading a room before I join a conversation.” 

“I’m so happy to see you doing well.” You take a sip of your drink. “So...any lucky ladies or fellas in your life?” 

“No.” He laughs. “M’way too busy for all that. I mean...I’ve had some fun here and there, I’m not celibate.” He takes a sip of his own drink. “What about you?”

“Nothing serious.” You shrug. “I haven’t minded being focused on my career, you know? I have a good work-life balance, don’t get me wrong, but like if I were in a relationship right now, I may not be making this move.” 

“Tell me, if I didn’t live here would you still consider moving?”

“I don’t know. It’s a huge plus knowing I’d have someone close by, someone I know to show me around. If you had the time of course. You could even tell me what the good neighborhoods to live in are.” 

“You could get a flat here. It’s a really nice building to be in. I bet you’d be able to afford it if I can. They want you to be a buyer?”

“Yeah, my boss thinks I have a great eye, and I always get the highest ratings from my clients.” 

“That’s wonderful. I’m happy for you. I know last time we saw each other it didn’t seem like it, but I was really confused about the direction my life was going. I wasn’t happy.”

“You’re happy now?”

“Very much.”

“Good.” You put your hand over his. “It’s all I ever wanted for you, to be the best version of yourself.” 

“Same here with you.” He rubs his thumb over the back of your hand. “I got some chocolate covered strawberries for dessert. Wanna move to the sofa?”

“Sure!” 

You both sit down on his large sectional. You dive into the sweet treat. 

“Do you entertain a lot?”

“Sometimes, yeah. I like it better than going to some stuff club. You can be out until four in the morning if you’re not careful.” He laughs. 

“Well, I’d love for you to take me out to a club sometime.”

“Don’t have to ask me twice, love. I’ll take any excuse to dance with you.” His dimple peeks out in his grin, and it makes you melt. “When do you have to give them your decision by?”

“A few days. I’m headed back to New York tomorrow night.” 

“How’s your hotel been?”

“It’s nice...not as cozy as this though.” You lean back into the cushions and look up at him. 

“Yeah, I definitely don’t miss that about working in admissions. Different hotels all the time sounds like fun, but when you just wanna do your laundry and you can’t, it gets old really quick.” 

“I can imagine.” You make a bold move and rest your hand on his knee. This time when you touch him he doesn’t shrug you away. “I think I may move here. I can home here and you can cook for me all the time, or you could bring me to your fancy parties.”

“Is that so?” He scoots a little closer to you. “It would get some people at the company off my back. They’re always askin’ why I never have a date to anything.” 

“And why don’t you?”

“I don’t know, I’m there to work, not bring arm candy with me.” 

“Ah, but that arm candy can help you network. I’m impeccable at networking.”

“Alright, so you’ll be my date then when I need one, is that what you’re saying?”

“That’s what I’m saying.” You smile. 

“What about when there’s no fancy party? Can I call you for a date?” 

“I’d like that.”

“Y/N?”

“Yeah?” 

“Can I please kiss you?” 

You nod yes. He leans in, cups your cheeks, and presses his lips to yours. They were soft, just like you remember. He takes them away a little too quickly for your liking though. 

“What’s wrong?” You frown.

“I just don’t wanna, like, rush this, that’s all. I don’t even know what this is, but whatever it is, I don’t wanna mess it up this time.”

“Harry, you never messed anything up. We did the right thing before. I think we’re both in a place where we could have room to be together again. But, I think you’re right, one step at a time. Let me actually accept the job and move here before we dive into anything.”

“Exactly.” He sighs happily. “Okay, I’m gonna kiss you again, and then I’ll drive you to your hotel.” 

You giggle as he smooches you again and again. Harry never really ever stopped loving you, and you could tell. You never really ever stopped loving him either. 

[douchebagbrainwaves]

MAKER'S SCHEDULE, 631, BRIEFLY

I'm a writer, and writers always get disproportionate attention. How did they stand it? Their main expenses are setting up the company, which costs a couple thousand Altair owners, but without this software they were programming in machine language. Those ideas are so rare that you can't find some way to reach me, how are you going to create a successful company? For a startup, managing them is one of the first 10 employees you'll have almost as much.1 Families are entitled to their own traditions, and who the competitors are and why this company is going to beat them.2 In the late 90s my professor friends used to complain that they couldn't get grad students, because all the undergrads were going to let hosts rent out space on their floors during conventions. Part of the reason I can't believe it will be more like being able to play the two firms off each other as well as talent, so this answer works out to be important, because a we invest such small amounts, and b we think it's better if startups operate out of their own premises, however crappy, than the offices of their investors.

If you're a freelancer or a small company doesn't ensure freedom.3 What makes a good startup idea, it's sort of like having a guilty conscience about something.4 There's an idea that has turned out to be a startup. For a lot of work.5 Which is exactly how I'd describe the way lions seem in the wild seem about ten times more alive. You probably can't overcome anything so pervasive as the model of work is a job. Don't sit on their boards. What really bothers parents about their teenage kids having sex are complex.6 It's not so much as that they never pander: they never say or do something because that's what the audience wants. So if you're going to optimize a number, the one to choose is your growth rate to compensate. In social settings, I found that I got over 100 other responses listing the surprises they encountered. If you don't understand YC.

At the time any random autobiographical novel by a recent college grad could count on more respectful treatment from the literary establishment. The angel now owns 200/1200 shares, or a job. The kind of question on the application form that asks what you're going to clear these lies out of your head, you're going to clear these lies out of your head, you're going to do, at least, nothing good.7 I often recommend that founders act like consultants—that they wanted to.8 In a startup, you don't even know that.9 If these guys had thought they were starting companies, they might have been.10 Viaweb entirely with angel money; it never occurred to us that investors were too conservative here—that they do what they'd do if they'd been in Nebraska, like Evan Williams was at their age? The saddest windows close when other people die.

And when you propagate that constraint, the result is that each species thrives in groups of a certain group, that seems nearly impossible to shake. Someone who's figured that out will automatically focus more on the idea. The only explanation is: by definition. It's not just a figure of speech to say that the outcome is zero. The artists who benefited most from this were the ones who had preserved a child's confidence, like Klee and Calder. Once you have all the college students, you get rich is that there are many degrees of it. It could be replaced on any of these axes it has already started to be on most. When you're a little kid and you're asked to do something differently.

But not all waste is bad. Later I learned it hadn't been so neat, and the three founders each get 25%. Along with such outright lies, there must have been told a lot of economic history, and I understand the startup world is evolving away from their current model.11 If you seem really good we'll accept you anyway. Even in the rare cases where a clever hack makes your fortune, you probably have an idea.12 At least, that's how we'd describe it in present-day languages, if they'd had them. The way you get taught programming in college would be like teaching writing as grammar, without mentioning that its purpose is to make me feel better. After two years, the un-rapacious that you only extract half as much from users as you could. If you have something that no competitor does and that some subset of users urgently need, you have to seem like you understand technology.13 On that scale, every negotiation is unique.14 I was cynical about VCs, but the way he composed them into molecules was near faultless.15 But unfortunately when you graduate, as long as you want.16

Notes

Thanks to Daniel Sobral for pointing this out. Make it clear when you ad lib you end up reproducing some of the things they've tried on the LL1 mailing list. What you learn in college or what grades you got in them, initially, to sell earlier than you expect. But while this is also a name.

In fact most of them. But try this experiment is that if you conflate them you're aiming at. The worst explosions happen when unpromising-seeming startups do badly.

Y Combinator certainly never asks what classes you took in college. This approach has not worked well, but this would work better, and that modern corporate executives were, we try to accept a particular number.

Aristotle the core: the editor in Lisp, they may try to accept that investors are induced by the surface similarities. Com of their assets; and with that additional constraint, you can't help associating it with such a statement would merely be eccentric.

Most word problems in school math textbooks are bad: Webpig, Webdog, Webfat, Webzit, Webfug. Without the prospect of publication, the assembly line, the closest anyone has come is Secretary of Labor Statistics, about 28%.

I think the usual way to fight. The next time you raise as you can see the apples, they made much of it, and no one who's had the discipline to pull it off. Successful founders are driven by people trying to decide whether to go to college, they would implement it and make a lot of investors caring either.

P nonspam are both genuinely formidable, and the exercise of stock options than any preceding president, he was otherwise unoccupied, to get into the heads of would-be startup founders who had been a good idea to make more money. The best thing for startups is very long: it might take an hour over the Internet, like hedge funds, are available only to buy corporate bonds to market faster; the Reagan administration's comparatively sympathetic attitude toward takeovers; the crowds of shoppers drifting through this huge mall reminded George Romero of zombies. That it might take an hour over the Internet. Yes, I had zero effect on the relative weights?

The VCs recapitalize the company, and yet managed to screw up twice at the data, it's probably good grazing. I should add that we're not. They did turn out to be a win to include things in shows that people start to pull ahead in the field.

Galbraith was clearly puzzled that corporate executives would work so hard to mentally deal with the founders gained from running through their initial attitude. Sparse Binary Polynomial Hash Message Filtering and The Old Way. One thing that drives most people emerge from the moment it's created indeed, from hour to hour that the worm might have done all they could be overcome by changing the shape of the bizarre consequences of this: You may not be far less demand for them.

Indiana University Bloomington 1868-1970.

Trevor Blackwell points out that taking time to come up with an associate cold-emailing a startup could grow big in revenues without including the order of 10,000, because investors already owned more than their competitors, who may have realized this, but simply because he was skeptical about Viaweb too. See Greenspun's Tenth Rule. We just store the data, it's software that doesn't seem to want them; you have significant expenses other than salaries that you decide the price, and for filters it's textual.

P 500 CEOs in the sophomore year. It was only because he had more fun than he'd had in school, and philosophy the imprecise half. The philistines have now missed the video boat entirely.

As we walked out we ran into Yuri Sagalov. Emmett Shear writes: I'd argue the long tail for sports may be common in, you'll have to replace you. It took a painfully long time.

The reason Y Combinator.

This is an instance of a safe will be coordinating efforts among partners. In practice it just feels like a loser they're done, she doesn't like getting attention in the definition of property.

The thing to do sales yourself initially. 5%. At first I didn't care about GPAs.

Thanks to Paul Buchheit, Gary Sabot, Trevor Blackwell, Tiffani Ashley Bell, and Jeff Arnold for sharing their expertise on this topic.

[kuromichad]

different subject that’s heavy on my mind rn but since i’m already being harsh let’s get into it. i wish it wasn’t automatically presumed to be some kind of truscum attitude when someone tries to express that different parts of The Trans Community have like, different needs and different risk levels and different experiences and that we have the ability to talk over each other, harm each other, etc... like when i put it that way people generally are like ‘of course that’s true!’ but is it ever really understood in practice? a number of people (not a large enough number, but still) are able to loosely understand ‘you can be trans and transphobic’ when it’s applied to the matter of transmisogyny but when a trans person tries to express distrust of or frustration with afab nb people due to how common it is that that category of person will, despite being trans/nb, espouse bioessentialist, anti-medical-transition, radfem-adjacent if not outright cryptoterf rhetoric, suddenly ‘trans people can be transphobic’ gets applied to... the person with a complaint about transphobia. 

because he’s clearly an evil truscum man! regardless of if the person making the complaint is a trans man or trans woman, oops, lol. he’s a bad person who is attacking and invalidating and totally hatecriming the heckin’ valid, equally at-risk transgender identity of “an afab woman who isn’t a woman except when she pointedly categorizes themself as a woman because being afab makes them a woman who is ‘politically aligned’ with women but she’s not an icky unwoke cis woman because they don’t like being forced into womanhood although Really When You Think About It 🤔 all women are dysphoric because obviously the pathologized medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria in transgender people is something that equally applies to cis women just default existing under patriarchy 🤔, and no, equating these things totally does not imply anything reductive about or add a bizarre moral dimension to the idea of being transgender, whaaaaat, this woman who isn’t a woman doesn’t think there’s anything immoral or cowardly or misogynist or delusional about being transgender, they would never say that because THEY’RE transgender, except when she feels it’s important (constantly) to make clear that she’s Still A Woman Deep Down Inherently Despite Not Identifying As One, and none of this ever has any effect on how they treat the concept, socially and politically, of people who actually wholly identify with (and possibly medically transition to) a gender different from the one they were assigned at birth, be it ‘the opposite gender’ or abstaining from binary gender altogether or ‘politically aligning’ with the ‘opposite’ gender from their asab. never ever!”

and like maybe that sounds like a completely absurd and hateful strawman to you! but in that case you’re either like, lucky, or optimistic, or ignorant. i’m literally not looking at random nb people and declaring that in My Truscum Opinion they’re ‘really a woman’ just because they’re not medically transitioning or meeting some arbitrary standard of mine. i am looking at self-identified afab nb people, who most often use she/they because, y’know, words mean things, especially pronouns, so people who are willingly ‘aligned with womanhood’ typically intentionally use she/her (sorry that i guess that’s another truscum take now!!! that pronouns mean things!!! the bigender transmasc who deliberately uses exclusively he/him wants it to invoke a perception he’s comfortable with!), who actively say the things listed above (in a non-sarcastic manner). 

like, the line between a person who says “i don’t claim to really not be my asab because i know no one would ever perceive me as anything else” because theyve internalized a defeatist attitude due to societal transphobia, and a person who says that because they... genuinely believe it’s impossible/ridiculous/an imposition to truly be transgender (in the traditional trans sense, beyond a vague nb disidentification with gender) and are actively contributing to the former person’s self loathing... is hard to define from a distance! i think plenty of people who are, in a sense, ‘tentative’ or like ‘playing close to home’ so to speak in their identity are ‘genuinely trans’ (whatever that may mean) and just going through a process. they might arrive at a different identity or might just eventually stop saying/believing defeatist stuff, who knows. but there are enough people saying it for the latter reason, or at least not caring if they sound that way, that it’s like, dangerous. it is actively incredibly harmful to other trans people. and it’s fucking ridiculous that it’s so difficult to criticize because you’ll always get the defense of “umm but i’m literally trans” and/or “well i’m just talking about ME, this doesn’t apply to other trans people” when it’s an attitude that very clearly seeps into their politics and the way they discuss gender.

because it’s just incredibly common for afab nb people (most typically those that go by she/they! since i’m aware that uh, i am also afab nb, but we clearly are extremely different, so that’s the best categorization i’ve got) to discuss gender in moralized terms, with the excuse of patriarchy/misogyny existing, which of course adds another difficult dimension to trying to criticize this because it gets the response of “don’t act like misandry is real” (it’s not, but being a dick still is) and “boohoo, let women complain about their oppressors” (this goes beyond ‘complaining’). a deliberate revocation of empathy/sympathy/compassion from men and projection of inherently malicious/brutish/cruel intent onto men (not solely in the justified generalizations ‘men suck/are dangerous’, but in specific interactions too) underpin a whole fucking lot of popular posts/discussions online, whether they’re political or casual/social, and it absolutely influences how people conceptualize and feel about transness. 

because ‘maleness is evil’ is still shitty politics even when you’ve slightly reframed it from the terf ‘trans women are evil because they’re Really Men and can never escape being horrific soulless brutes just as women can never escape being fragile morally superior flowers’ to the tumblr shethey “trans women who are out to me/unclockable are tolerable i guess because they’re women and women are good; anyone i personally presume to be a cis man, though, is still automatically evil, and saying trans men are Just As Bad is progressive of me, and it’s totally unrelated and apolitical that i think we should expand the concept of afab lesbianism so broadly that you can now be basically indistinguishable from trans men on literally every single level except for a declaration of ‘but i would never claim to be a man because i’m secure in the Innate Womanhood of the body i was born into, even as i medically alter that body because it causes me great gendered discomfort.’ none of this at all indicates that i feel there’s an immense moral/political gap between being an afab nb lesbian vs a straight trans man! it says nothing at all about my concept of ‘maleness’ and there’s no way this rhetoric bleeds into my perception of trans women and no way loudly talking about all this could keep trans people around me self-loathing and closeted, because i’m Literally Trans and Not A Terf!”

again, if that sounds like a hateful strawman, sorry but it’s not. i guess i’m supposed to be like ‘all of the many people ive seen saying these shitty things is an evil outlier who Doesn’t Count, and it’s not fair to the broad identity of afab shethey to not believe that every person who doesn’t outright say terfy enough things is a perfectly earnest valid accepting trans person who’s beyond criticism’ but like. this cannot be about broad validation. this can’t be about discarding all the bad apples as not really part of the group. we can’t be walking on eggshells to coddle what are essentially, in the end, Cis Feelings, because in the best cases this kind of rhetoric comes from naive people who are early and uncertain in their gender journey or whatever and are in the process of unraveling internalized transphobia, and in the easily observable worst cases these people are very literally redefining shit so that ‘actually all afab women are trans, spiritually, all afabs have dysphoria, we are all Equally oppressed by Males uh i mean cis men <3’ because, let’s be honest, they know that the moment they call themselves trans they get to say whatever they want about gender no matter how harmful it is to the rest of us. and those ideas spread like wildfire through the afab shethey “woman that’s not a woman” community that frankly greatly outnumbers other types of trans people online, because many of those people just do not have the experiences that lead you to really understand this shit and have to push back against concepts of gender that actively harm you as a trans person.

like that’s all i want to be able to say, is Things Are Different For Different Groups. and a willful ignorance of these differences leads to bad rhetoric controlling the overall discourse which gets people hurt. and even when concepts arise from it that seem positive and helpful and inclusive, in practice or in origin those ideas can still be upholding shit that gets other people hurt. like, i don’t doubt that many people are very straightforwardly happy and comfortable with an identity like ‘afab nb lesbian on testosterone’ and it would be ridiculous and hypocritical for me, ‘afab nb who wants to pass as a guy so he can comfortably wear skirts again,’ to act like that’s something that can’t or shouldn’t exist. it’s not about the identity itself, it’s about the politics that are popular within its community, and how the use of identities as moral labels with like, fucking pokemon type interactions for oppression effectiveness which directly informs the moral correctness of your every opinion and your very existence, is a shitty practice that gets people hurt and leads us to revoke empathy from each other.

like. sorry this is all over the place and long and probably still sounds evil because i haven’t thought through and disclaimered every single statement. but i’m like exhausted from living with this self-conscious guilt that maybe i’ve turned into a horrible evil truscum misogynist etc etc due to feeling upset by this seemingly inescapable approach to gender in lgbt/online circles that like, actively harms me, because when i vent with my friends all the stuff i’ve tried to explain here gets condensed down to referencing ‘she/theys’ as a category and that feels mean and generalizing and i genuinely dislike generalizations but the dread i feel about that category gets proven right way too often. it’s just like. this is not truscum this is not misgendering this is not misogyny. this is not about me decreeing that all transmascs have to be manly enough or dysphoric enough and all nbs have to be neatly agender and androgynous or something, i’m especially not saying that nb gender isn’t real lmao or even that it’s automatically wrong to partially identify with your asab; this is not me saying you can only medically transition for specific traditional reasons or that you don’t get a say on anything if you aren’t medically transitioning for whatever reason, now or ever. i just. want to be allowed to be frank about how... when there’s different experiences in a community we should like. acknowledge those differences and be willing to say that sometimes people don’t know what they’re talking about or that what they’re saying is harmful. without the primary concern being whether people will feel invalidated by being told so. because these are like, real issues, that are more important than politely including everyone, because that method is just getting vulnerable people drowned out constantly.

[neo-culture-taste]

Subscribe! - Lie Detector Test

Pairing: Yuta x Reader (fem)

Genre: AU, romance, comedy, fluff

Word count: 2849

Summary: A YouTube inspired drabble series where you and your boyfriend upload videos catering to the couple tag.

For other members, see masterlist.

"What's up, everybody!" you happily greeted your viewers at the beginning of the video. You and your boyfriend were seated side by side at your kitchen table with a brown box placed in between the two of you. "It's Y/N and Yuta doing something dumb on the internet for attention again." 

Yuta sputtered a laugh at your blunt but true statement. "Tell them what we're doing today," he told you and placed his hand on top of the box. 

"They already know what we're doing because of the title of the video and because--" your eyes traveled down to look at your boyfriend's hand on the box and you gasped. "Oh shit, I never opened it!" You sprung up from your seat and rushed to a nearby drawer in your kitchen to retrieve a pair of scissors.

Your boyfriend looked at you off camera in disbelief. "You didn't do that yet?" he asked, incredulous. 

"I forgot," you said and you dug around inside the drawer of random junk. "You saw the box there! Why didn't you say anything?"

"I thought you pre-opened it--AH!" Yuta yelped and he quickly moved his hand away from the table as it was almost impaled by the scissors you haphazardly tossed to him. "That's dangerous! I almost lost my whole arm!" he cried, clutching his shoulder with his other hand. "I should sue you!"

"Just hurry up and open the box," you said. You could be heard closing the drawer and making your way back to the table.

He picked up the scissors and began carefully slicing into the tape sealing the edges of the box. "Do you even know how many batteries we need for it?" He opened the top of the box then took out the product that was still sealed inside its own packaging. He stopped right before scissoring into that when he realized you hadn't answered him nor had you returned to sit next to him at the table. The video zoomed in on his face as he locked eyes with you still off camera, and the kitchen drawer could be heard reopening. "Y/N, really?!" You answered him by throwing a four pack of batteries at his chest, but you missed your target and the pack went over your boyfriend and the table completely. "Hey! I have the weapon now!" He held the scissors out in self defense  and pointed it at you as if it were a sword. The video zoomed in and the picture shook as he swiftly scissored the air in front of him to accentuate his point.

"We are such bad influences," you laughed and made your way back to the seat next to him. 

Yuta redirected his scissor sword towards the camera. "Don't play with scissors, kids."

"Don't point it at them!"

"Oh, whoops. Haha," he laughed and quickly put the scissors down onto the table before the video cut to the next clip. 

"Ok, so," you began. "This is a lie detector and we're going to take turns asking each other questions and see who's telling the truth or not. You know how lie detectors work. Let's play!"

"We tested this thing out a minute ago and it really hurts when you lie. So no matter how juicy the question is, it's best to tell the truth so you don't get hurt."

"I don't have anything to hide so you're the only one worried about that," you taunted with a smug smile. 

"Are you calling me a liar?"

"I dunno. We're about to find out. Put your hand on the thingy!" Yuta rolled his eyes but did what he was told and securely fastened his hand to the lie detector. You cleared your throat exaggeratedly and resituated yourself in your seat. "I'll start off with an easy one. Do you think I'm pretty without makeup?" You asked him then pressed the button on the lie detector to start measuring his answer. 

"Pshh," your boyfriend blew air between his teeth. "That is an easy one. Of course," he said with all confidence. 

Ding! Truth.

"Aw, baby~," you cooed. He presented his cheek to you with a playful smile and the batting of his eyelashes, and you accepted his offer, placing a loud smooch on the side of his face.

"My turn!" He quickly unstrapped his hand and waited for you to strap yourself in before asking his question. "Do you think any of my friends," he paused for dramatic effect, "look better than me?" 

You didn't even have time to process his question before he pushed the button. "I gave you an easy one!" you complained. 

"That doesn't mean I have to go easy on you. Hurry up an answer."

"Okay, then. Yes." 

"What!?"

Ding! Truth.

You relaxed in your seat, your body having tensed up in preparation for the sudden shockwave but it never came. You had only said 'yes' to get back at Yuta for asking such a loaded question. You didn't think the toy would say you were telling the truth. You flashed Yuta a nervous smile and he simply nodded with his tongue in his cheek. 

"Yeah, okay. That's fine." He unstrapped your hand from the device and replaced it with his own. "I think they look better than you, too."

You laughed out loud and leaned your head against his shoulder. "I really thought it would have caught me lying. This thing isn't accurate."

"Nah, you meant what you said," he said in mock offense. 

"It’s your fault for asking!" you defended and picked up your head. "But since you wanna play dirty. Do you wish I had bigger boobs?" you asked and pressed the button with lightning speed. 

"This is still an easy one," he boasted. "Of course I don't. I think everything about you is perf--"

Bzzt! Lie. 

"Ow, fuck!" Yuta's body jerked violently in his seat and his hand lifted the whole lie detector off of the table despite it being suction cupped. 

You doubled over laughing, not having expected such a reaction like that from him. When the two of you tested out the device before the game, you had it on the medium setting. But right before you started you switched it to the highest it could go. "That's what you get! I knew you thought my boobs weren't big enough!"

"No! They're the perfect size!"

"Then why did it say you were lying?"

He smiled. "Well, I mean, there's always room for growth."

You exaggerated a gasp. "How dare!"

"You wanted to play this game," he said as he put the lie detector back onto the table. "Dang, I really need to get you with this next one. That hurt like hell."

"You're not gonna get anything but the truth from me," you said after strapping your hand in. 

"Yeah, sure. We'll see." He took a moment to think of his next question. "Have you ever had a dream that you were with someone else?" he asked and pushed the button.

Your eyes went to the ceiling in search of your answer as you tried to recall a time when this happened. "Umm...pfft," you suddenly began to giggle. "Yeah, I did."

Ding! Truth. 

Yuta squinted his eyes at you in a fake scowl as you took your hand away but ended up laughing when you gave the same look back at him. "I knew you were a cheater!" he playfully accused you. 

"That's not cheating! I was asleep! Plus, celebrities don't count."

"A cele--Which one?!"

"That's not important right now," you said moving the game along. "Your next question is: Have you looked at someone else's butt while we were together?"

"Nope," he said with emphasized phonetics on the 'p'.

Bzzt! Lie. 

His body spasmed once more but this time he held his ground and kept the device attached to the table. "Aw, c'mon!" You bemusedly shook your head at your boyfriend as you watched him take back his hand and rub his palm. "It wasn't on purpose!"

"No, I get it. Their cheek game was too strong to not look."

"Hell yeah, it was," he added and your face fell as you glared at your boyfriend. He looked back at you in faux innocence and waited for you to get ready. "Have you ever thought about breaking up with me," he continued the game with another loaded question."

"Yeah," you sassed him and stuck out your tongue.

Bzzt! Lie. 

You screamed and held on to your boyfriend with your free hand as your body thrashed in your seat. "Oh my gosh! Are you okay?!" Yuta asked you through his laughter but with genuine concern. He unwrapped your hand and held close to his chest with his own. "Why'd you say that if it was a lie?"

You righted yourself in your seat and pouted at your self inflicted injury. "Cuz I wasn't lying!"

"What?! When did you want to break up with me?"

"You know that one time you ate my leftovers from that Mediterranean restaurant we went to--" 

Yuta's face deadpanned and he let go of your hand. "Wow. Really, Y/N?"

"I was really looking forward to eating them later, but the opportunity was robbed from me!"

"Well, I have no idea what you're talking about and I don't appreciate being blamed for such a heinous crime." Yuta said with mock arrogance and readied himself for your next question.

You pressed the button before you even asked your question. "Did you eat my food?"

"Y/N!" Yuta said frantically.

"Answer me!"

"No! I didn't!"

Bzzt! Lie. 

Yuta's entire body shook as he tried to overcome the shockwave that rippled through him. "Ah ha!" you exclaimed and stood up from your seat, finger pointed at the caught culprit. "You're a liar and a thief!"

Your boyfriend batted your hand away from him and laughed before addressing the camera.

"Yeah, I ate it."

"Hmpf," you huffed and sat back down in your seat to prepare for his next question. 

"Have you ever missed or wanted to get back with your ex?"

"Yeah. Right now and when you stole my food," you said with a fake edge to your voice and pressed the button yourself. 

Bzzt! Lie. 

Yuta saw the led lights change to red on the front of the device and swiftly grabbed your free hand before it shocked you, allowing you to squeeze the life out of him as you bared the short, but effective pain. "Fuck it! I don't wanna play anymore!"

"I got shocked more than you did!"

"That's not my problem!"

"We can't stop now. The video won't be long enough. Here." He removed your hand from the lie detector and turned a dial on the side of it. "I put it on the lowest shock setting so it won't hurt you anymore."

"Thank you," you said but continued to pout in your seat. Yuta couldn't resist how cute you looked with the way your bottom lip slightly protruded outward and placed a sweet kiss against it. "Don't try to redeem yourself," you told him with a smile that said otherwise. He rolled his eyes and gestured for you to continue with the game. "Am I your most favorite person in the whole wide world?"

"So we're going back to easy questions?" he asked. "Of course you are."

Ding! Truth. 

"Ooo, wait until I tell your mom her birthday card was a lie."

The video zoomed in on Yuta's face while his brows furrowed in confusion for a moment before his eyes widened as he remembered the exact words he wrote inside his mother's card. "Oh, my gosh. Please don't!"

"I won't have to. She'll find out when she watches this video," you said lightheartedly and replaced his hand with yours on the toy. 

Your boyfriend faced forward and smiled sheepishly at the camera. "Sorry, mom," he said with a shrug before asking his next question. "Am I the best boyfriend you've ever had?"

You puckered your lips playfully as if you have to think about it. "Hmmmmm, yes. The bar is set pretty low, though," you joked. 

"Hey!"

Bzzt! Lie. 

"Ow!" you yelled, but only jumped slightly in your seat as the shock was significantly weaker than the previous turns. "I wasn't lying this time!"

"Oh, so you were actually lying before?" he inquired with narrow eyes. 

You hesitated. "Y-yea?" You'd been joking around so much, you didn't remember what was a lie and what wasn't. 

"Are you lying right now?" he asked then pressed the button again on the lie detector before you had the chance to remove your hand from it. 

You looked him straight in the eyes and answered, "I might be."

Bzzt! Lie. 

You closed your eyes as your body jolted and muttered a slew of choice words under your breath, all to your boyfriend's amusement. "Stop laughing at me! Strap yourself in!" He did the second thing you said but he didn't stop snickering at your expense. "Do you think I'm a good kisser?"

Yuta's eyebrows flew up in surprise. "So now we're getting to the juicy questions, huh?"

"I'm pressing the button now," you said ignoring him. 

"Oh, yeah," he smirked. "You're the best when it comes to using--" You shot him a look, warning him not to say anything too lewd about you in front of the camera. "K-Kissing… When it comes to kissing," he said, managing to save himself.

Ding! Truth. 

"And not the French kind. Ew, nay!" he added afterwards, causing you to sputter into laughter. "Okay. This is my last question," he said when you were done fastening your hand down. "Have you ever," he paused for dramatic effect one last time, "faked it with me?"

You blinked slowly, dumbfounded by the sheer audacity of your boyfriend to ask you that in front of a camera. But you couldn't say you didn't expect it from him. Still feeling playful, you pretended to be oblivious to what he asked you. "Faked what? Faked that I actually like you? Yeah, I'm faking right now."

Yuta rolled his eyes again and scoffed. "Don't even try to pretend to be innocent. You know what I mean." He pushed the button and waited for your response. 

"I don't have to fake that with you," you told him with a telling smile.

Ding! Truth. 

A toothy grin slowly spread its way across your boyfriend's face as he looked at you in the seat next to him. "Hey, what are you doing after this?" He asked you as if he were trying to pick you up in a nightclub. "I wanna put that to the test." Oh, gosh. He could be so greasy sometimes. 

"Editing this video," you stated matter-of-factly. 

"Damn," was all he said before the video cut to the next clip. 

"That's all we have for today," you said, clapping your hands together in front of you. 

"Because Y/N is a wimp and can't take being electrocuted."

"Well, yeah!" you defended. 

"It's not even real electricity!"

"It still hurts! Plus we can't do all the questions now. We won't have anything for the next time we play this."

"You actually want to do this again?" he asked surprised. 

"Yeah, this thing was like twenty-five dollars."

"Oh." The two of you were definitely going to get your money's worth. 

"So," you began addressing the audience once more, "If you want to see us play this again, leave some questions we can ask each other down in the comments."

"Maybe your question will be the one to break us up," Yuta added with a chuckle and placed his arm around your shoulder. 

"Nah," you dismissed him. "This is all in fun. Plus, this thing is a toy version of the real deal." You held up the hunk of plastic and then not so gently dropped it back down onto the table—right after you finished complaining about its price. "We didn't take anything it confirmed seriously. So, do that, like this video, subscribe to our channel if you haven't already, follow us on social media…" You trailed off, counting on your fingers to see if you've said everything already or left something out.

"Turn on post notifications," Yuta reminded you. 

"Turn on post notifications!" You repeated it even though you didn't have to. "And we can't wait to see you in our next video. I can't tell you what it is now because Yuta isn't supposed to know about it." The next video you had in mind was a kind of sexy prank you were secretly going to do on your boyfriend to see how he would react. So, you had to leave him completely in the dark about it. "It's a surprise."

His head snapped to look at you in shock and confusion. "Wait, what?"

"You'll see," you said with a sickeningly sweet smile on your face and followed it with a kiss on the tip of his nose. 

Now he definitely knew something was up. 

- D

[jaybear1701]

Chapter Summary: Scylla begins her new role as an “instructor” at Fort Salem. It goes about as well as you might expect.

“This is some shit.”

Raelle hadn’t voiced the massive understatement. Beth Treefine did. And, for once, Raelle agreed with the haughty High Atlantic. Beth’s Unit stood shoulder-to-shoulder to the left of Abigail, Tally, and Raelle in the small gym that would serve as their training ground for whatever forbidden Work they’d be learning. The walls felt like they were closing in. And Raelle couldn’t even begin to parse out the jumbling emotions that made her head spin as she watched Scylla, back in uniform, trading hushed, tense words with Anacostia and Izadora. 

“Isn’t Scylla, like, your ex?” Glory Moffett whispered out of the corner of her mouth to the Bellweather Unit’s right, brown eyes wide and round.

Heat prickled up Raelle’s neck.

Both Abigail and Tally shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other.

Beth’s head snapped toward Raelle. “Seriously, you dated a terrorist?” Her lips curled in disgust. “Why am I not surprised? You Cessions do love trash after all.”

Abigail grabbed Raelle’s wrist before she could launch herself at Beth and earn a month’s worth of demerits. “Shut your dirty, fetid mouth, Treefine, before I shut it for you,” Abigail threatened with a dangerous glare.

“Come on, Bellweather,” Beth scoffed. “Even you have to admit this is bullshit!”

“And what exactly is bullshit, Treefine?” Anacostia’s question boomed out into the confined  space. “Is following orders bullshit?” She stalked toward Beth, who stood at attention. “Or maybe it’s doing whatever it takes to crush our enemies once and for all.” Standing toe-to-toe with Beth, Anacostia stared her down. “Is that bullshit to you, Private?”

“No, ma'am.” Beth kept her eyes trained forward, fear of the Goddess in them.

“Good.” Anacostia walked down the line, glowering at each War College freshman. “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” She paused briefly in front of Raelle before she continued on. “You’d do well to remember it.”

When she got to the last member of Glory’s unit, Anacostia returned to a position in front of the soldiers.

“For those of you who don’t already know, this is Scylla Ramshorn.” She beckoned Scylla forward. “Outside, she’s just another soldier. But here, she’ll be your instructor for the next few weeks. Treat her with anything but respect, and you’ll answer to me.” She moved to the side to stand next to Izadora.

The air thickened in Raelle’s lungs as Scylla stepped forward, fingers casually tucked in her pockets, a small smirk on her stupidly beautiful face. Except the smug smile seemed almost too stiff, a brittle mask tenuously held in place. 

Scylla cleared her throat. “I know this isn’t ideal for you,” she began, making eye contact with everyone but Raelle. “It’s not exactly a picnic for me, either. But the sooner we get through this, the sooner we can defeat the Camarilla.”

“How?” Abigail asked.

Raelle bit the inside of her cheek, while Tally stifled a groan. 

“Bellweather,” Anacostia growled.

“Ma’am, I mean no disrespect,” Abigail explained, even as she eyed Scylla with caution. “A ceasefire is one thing. I genuinely want to know how the Spree can possibly help us.”

“The same old military tactics won’t work against the Camarilla for the same reason you’ve never eradicated the Spree in two decades,” Scylla explained. Off several blank looks, she added, “You can’t kill what you can’t catch.”

“And you’ll catch them with what?” Abigail crossed her arms. “Your winning personality?”

Scylla grinned. “There’s always that.” She slid a hand into her right pocket and fished out a zippo.  “And this.” She flicked it open and lit it. Raelle’s lips parted as Scylla brought the flame to the edge of her jaw until it caught fire.

“Holy shit,” Glory gasped. 

The blaze consumed Scylla’s entire face for several seconds before it petered out, leaving a second version of Abigail, embers slowly fading from her hair. “Boo.”

Frowning, the real Bellweather stiffened. “What the hell?!”  

Dark memories of “Helen Graves” clawed at Raelle’s stomach, sharp and deep. “So, the key to defeating the Camarilla is, what, deception?” She couldn’t stop herself. It was infinitely easier to drop her filter when Scylla didn’t look like Scylla. “You’re definitely a pro at that,” she muttered, earning a jab in the ribs from Tally.

Scylla-as-Abigail blinked once, slowly. Still, she didn’t look at Raelle. Clicking the lighter once again, she burned off Abigail’s visage and returned to her own, blue eyes glowing as flames licked around her face. “If you can’t tell friend from foe, then you’re vulnerable.”

“You mean infiltrate them,” Tally said. “And expose them.”

Scylla smiled, genuinely this time. “Craven, I knew you were the brightest in your Unit.”

Abigail’s scowl intensified. “How are we supposed to infiltrate them if we can’t find them?”

“Who says we haven’t?” Scylla said in a way that unsettled Raelle, who thought back to the latest Camarilla massacre. Scylla had said she was sent to investigate, but had it been more than that? 

“So, does no one care that this Work is clearly outside Canon?” Beth unhelpfully pointed out.

Scylla regarded Beth with a look that could only be described as pity. “Canon is nothing more than a cage. Meant to keep you in check so you never realize the full extent of your power.”

Anacostia coughed into her fist and raised one brow at Scylla. 

“But I digress,” Scylla conceded. “Who wants to go first?”

No one volunteered. 

“Wow.” Scylla held up her hands, lips quirking sarcastically. “Don’t everyone answer the call at once, now.” 

“Collar, you’re up.” Anacostia’s bark was unusually loud in the awkward silence of the room.

Raelle schooled her features, even though she wanted nothing more than to glower at her former drill sergeant. Tally and Abigail watched her with thinly veiled apprehension. She followed Anacostia’s command and approached Scylla, who still refused to meet her eyes. 

“What Seeds do I use?” Raelle asked, affecting a bored drawl.

Scylla finally looked at her, and all the air squeezed out of Raelle’s lungs. “No Seeds.” She took in a breath that seemed to shake imperceptibly. “Mother Tongue.” 

Raelle’s eyebrows arched. “You’re joking.”

“Do I look like I’m doing standup?”

Scylla recited a short phrase, then repeated its serpentine staccato beats. Despite its brevity, it was difficult for Raelle to follow even as she subconsciously stared at the precise movements of Scylla’s lips. 

“Eventually you won’t have to say the words,” Scylla finished. 

“What do they mean?” Glory asked, her question startling Raelle. 

“In light shall I be cloaked ,” Scylla answered. “In darkness shall I be revealed.” Wetting her lips, she tore her gaze from Raelle to address Glory. “Our ancestors created this Work during the Burning Times. Fought fire with fire to escape from their oppressors.” Her attention returned to Raelle. “Like the Spree do now.”

“And how many die from it?” Raelle’s jaw tightened as she clenched her fists. 

Scylla’s stoic expression wavered, a crack in the facade, but she didn’t look away. “How many die from inaction?”

They started at each other for several beats, a game of chicken to see who would blink first.

“Um, hello?” An impatient Abigail interrupted, snapping them both out of their near-trance. “The Work?”

Scylla glanced at Anacostia before offering her lighter to Raelle, who made it a point to take it without brushing against Scylla’s hand. For self-preservation.

Raelle stared at golden zippo, recalling how she had seen it on the small locker Scylla had used as a makeshift nightstand; how Scylla never seemed to be without it. Now she knew why. She pushed open its cap. It took several sparks before it came to life. 

“Now, think about someone,” Scylla ordered.

“Who?”

“Anyone. Picture them in your mind.”

Raelle closed her eyes, but the only person she saw was Scylla. As if it could be anyone else. “Okay,” she said, hating herself for her weakness. 

“Good, now repeat after me,” Scylla said, once again slipping back into Mother Tongue. In light shall I be cloaked. In darkness shall I be revealed.

Raelle attempted to repeat the Work. Horribly. She tried again. And again. Tried to give shape to the words with her tongue and lips, to get used to how they felt in her mouth. 

“Now raise the flame,” Scylla said.

Opening her eyes, Raelle brought the lighter near her face. Its heat stung her jaw. 

“Don’t be afraid,” Scylla whispered.

Heart pounding, Raelle lifted her chin. “I’m not afraid.”

The challenge was clear in Scylla’s blue eyes.

Raelle drew her hand closer to her chin, but the flame was too much. It seared her skin, and she dropped the lighter with a yelp. It clattered against the floor as she cupped the burn. She wasn’t sure what mortified her more: the failure or the disappointment that flashed across Scylla’s face. 

***

In the breath between life and death, memories flooded Raelle’s vision, hazy and random like hundreds of fireflies on a summer night. Of her mom and dad. Warm smiles, tight hugs, joyous laughter. Of Tally and Abigail. Infectious optimism and steady leadership. Tough love from Anacostia. They blended and bled into her link with Abigail, whose own recollections centered on Petra, her five fathers, her Unit, Adil, and Charvel.

But in the center of the maelstrom was Scylla.

Raelle no longer felt pain from where the Camarilla’s arrow pierced her body. Instead, her chest filled with love and anguish, longing and regret. 

“Scyl.” She stretched out her arm, trying to grasp Scylla’s hand and coming up empty, a millimeter out of reach. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Scylla only smiled, a melancholy twist of her lips, sapphire eyes luminescent.

A burst of white engulfed Raelle, blinding and brilliant. Shutting her eyes tight, she felt fingers tightening around her left hand. She squeezed back. She’d never let go. 

***

Raelle absentmindedly pushed peas around on her tray, the tines of her fork scraping metal as she separated them from the sliced mushrooms. She wasn’t hungry, despite eating only half a bagel hours ago, her stomach still wound tight after that less than stellar training session with Scylla. Of all the Spree. It had to be her. The absurd coincidence reminded her of that old black-and-white movie her dad loved. How did that one line go? Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine. That was it. 

Someone nudged Raelle’s shoulder and waved a hand in front of her face, dispelling her line of thought.

“Hey.” Tally said, sympathy apparent in her warm brown eyes. “You still with us?”

“Yeah, of course.” Raelle nodded, putting her fork down. 

The crowd in the War College mess hall had grown since they arrived for lunch, as had the volume of chatter from the hungry soldiers, most if not all of them absolutely clueless about the extracurricular activities happening on campus.

“You’re thinking about her,” Abigail observed next to Tally on the other side of the table. 

“I’m not thinking about anyone,” Raelle lied even as her traitorous heart wondered where Scylla had gone with Anacostia and Izadora.

“You’re such a liar.” Abigail shook her head as she raised a glass of water to her lips. 

“Well, I’m thinking about her,” Tally chimed in. “She’s actually a decent instructor.” She shrunk underneath Raelle’s stare. “You know, all things considered.”

Abigail rolled her eyes. “You’re only saying that because you’re the only one who was actually working that Work.”   

“One of the perks of linking with a 327-year-old?” Tally leaned forward as if she was sharing a deep secret. “Instant Mother Tongue.”

“Of all the people to impersonate, though.” Abigail speared a piece of pineapple and popped it into her mouth. “Hilary? Really? I thought you were over her and Gerit.”

Tally shrugged up a shoulder and deflected, “Who did you pick?”

“My mom,” Abigail answered. “Could you imagine her face?” She shared a chuckle with Tally while Raelle continued to sulk. “How about you, Rae?”

“What does it matter?” Raelle asked, knowing full well they knew she only had one person in mind. 

“It doesn’t.” Tally reached out and gently covered Raelle’s right hand where it rested on the table. “But, you know we’re here for you. You can talk about her, if you want.” 

“Why would I?” Raelle resisted the urge to pull away, not wanting to hurt Tally’s feelings.

“Because you still need to get your shit together,” Abigail said, tone creeping into overbearing Bellweather territory that still managed to set Raelle’s teeth on edge.

“My shit’s just fine.” Raelle clung to her obstinance. Had a knack for it. It was the one thing she could still control.

“Your shit’s a mess.” Abigail’s gaze flicked over Raelle’s shoulder and she did a double take. “And it’s about to get worse.” 

Raelle swiveled in her seat, stomach dropping. As if the day couldn’t get any worse. Her mother was now approaching their table. In uniform, no less, a hesitant smile on her face. 

“Raelle,” Willa greeted softly. 

Raelle gritted her teeth so hard her jaw ached. 

“This must be your Unit,” Will said when Raelle didn’t respond, offering her hand to Abigail. “You’re Petra’s daughter. Abigail, right?”

Hesitating only briefly, Abigail stood and firmly took Willa’s hand and gave it a firm shake, once up and down. “Yes, ma’am.”

“She’s told me so much about you. I feel like I already know you.” Willa stretched a hand to Tally, who also rose to her feet to clasp it. “And you must be Tally. I knew one of your aunts. Mae? One of the finest soldiers I’ve known. She told me once that the Cravens received a dispensation from conscription.”

“Oh!” Tally’s brows shot up. “Yes, ma’am. But I… I volunteered.”

Willa blinked once. “You decided to serve even though you didn’t need to. Admirable. If only we all could have that same choice.” 

An awkward hush wrapped around them, a tense bubble amid the white noise of the mess hall.

“Well, it was nice to meet you officially, ma’am,” Abigail picked up her tray, awkwardly canting her head to encourage Tally to join her. “But we best be going.”

They reluctantly left the table, both eyeing Raelle with concern.

“I should go with them,” Raelle said, standing to collect her own things.

”Actually, I was hoping we could talk,” Willa said.

“Have you talked to dad yet?”

A hint of pain glinted in near identical blue. “No.”

“Then we have nothing to talk about.” Raelle got up and quickly deposited her tray in a receptacle. She made a beeline for the exit, hoping to catch up with Tally and Abigail. 

“Raelle, please.” Willa followed her outside into the afternoon heat. “I know you’re angry. And you have every right to be. But if you would just let me explain, you’d understand.”

“Understand what?” Raelle whirled around. “Why you abandoned us? Made us think you were dead? Sent Scylla to…” She stopped short. The last thing she wanted was to talk about Scylla. Didn’t want to even think of the possibility that Willa had deliberately assigned Scylla to train her Unit.

“Yes,” Willa said simply. “You owe me at least that much, girl.”

Temper flaring, Raelle stepped into her mom’s space. “I don’t owe you anything,” she snarled.

Raelle stalked away, emotions ablaze, a ball of pent up fury as she trekked across the grounds. She let the anger consume her, ignoring the sliver of disappointment that wrapped around her heart when her mom didn’t follow. Contrary to popular belief, she wasn’t dense. She had thought about Willa’s reasons nearly everyday. And logically, she understood.

Alder’s military system was slavery. There was no doubt about that. So many women had been forced to early deaths they didn’t choose, and the same fate awaited their daughters, and their daughters’ daughters. Her mom didn’t want Raelle to become war meat. Hell, Raelle didn’t want to become war meat. Perhaps in some twisted way, Willa thought she was also protecting Edwin, breaking his heart to keep him safe from the war. The Spree sought freedom to live their lives without fear of being hunted down and killed, like Scylla’s parents. But they were also murderers, just like the Army–both entities so mired in darkness that Raelle wasn’t sure they’d ever see the light.

She knew all this. But her heart still couldn’t get past the betrayal of it all, and the fear of everything she still didn’t know about the terrible lengths Willa had gone to in furtherance of her cause. It was easier to cling to pain and resentment, than to wade into brackish water and attempt to separate brine from the fresh. 

Her eyes began to sting and she stopped to suck in several deep breaths. She had wandered the grounds, unseeing, and somehow found herself at the base of her favorite grand oak tree. It stood massive and towering, limbs curving and snaking toward the sun, the silent keeper of memories and secret moments. Raelle braced a hand against its rough bark, pushing until it dug into her skin. She had to collect herself, or at least fake it as best she could, before her next set of classes, which included even more testing with Izadora. Or else she’d never hear the end of it from Abigail and Tally.

When her anger had cooled from a boil to a simmer, Raelle rounded the tree, intending to settle between it’s exposed roots, only to receive an unexpected jolt when she found her spot already occupied.

By Scylla.

Because, of course, it had to be Scylla. Sitting under Raelle’s favorite tree. Their tree. Where they had stolen kisses from each other and made plans for the future. Where Scylla had once lifted Raelle and spun her in her arms, carefree and in love.

Raelle’s chest constricted at the realization.

“S-sorry,” Raelle stuttered out. “I didn’t realize anyone was here.”

Startled, Scylla dropped the pen she had been holding. It rolled into the gutter of the journal she had been writing in. “Raelle…” 

Crystal blue eyes widening behind a pair of black, wire-framed reading glasses. They reminded Raele of the ones Scylla used to wear late at night in her dorm room, studying thick tomes on mycology and necromancy while Raelle dozed on her bed after a long day in the rough room. 

“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” Raelle started to back away. 

“You don’t have to leave,” Scylla regained her composure and picked up her pen. “I can go.”

“No, you were here first.” Raelle turned to leave. “I’ll just….” Her heel caught one of the tree’s gnarled roots. She stumbled slightly, but managed to maintain her balance, if not her dignity, face red with embarrassment.

Scylla chewed at her bottom lip. “You know, it’s a big tree. And we’re big girls. We can both stay without bothering each other.”

Raelle almost laughed. They both knew that would be impossible. And yet, the way Scylla regarded her with no expectations, an open invitation with no pressure, it made Raelle want to believe they could do it. Co-exist. If not exactly peacefully, then at least politely. 

For the mission.

At least, that’s what Raelle told herself as she ignored all her survival instincts and sat on the ground, back against the crags of the trunk a few meters away from Scylla.

Silence blanketed them, not quite comfortable but not unbearable either, as a gentle breeze ruffled the branches overhead. Scylla’s pen scratched softly against paper, and Raelle stole a glimpse of Scylla out of the corner of her eye. The sun’s rays rippled down through the leaves, light and shadow flickering over Scylla’s gorgeous profile, head bent and dark hair swaying in the wind as she resumed writing.

Unlike Willa, Scylla made no efforts to address the unspoken tension between them–more massive than any proverbial elephant. Didn’t try to explain, or apologize, beyond what had already transpired between them in that prison cell so many moons ago. Raelle wasn’t sure if that was good or bad, or if it would even change anything, regardless. 

Her stomach sank anyway. 

Because unlike with Willa, Raelle felt remorse regarding Scylla, who had been captured and tortured because she had chosen Raelle over the Spree. Regret had burrowed inside Raelle’s heart the moment Scylla had pleaded with her in that horrible dungeon. Had transformed into a gnawing guilt that continued to fester long after Raelle callously dismissed Scylla anyway, wanting to break Scylla heart the way Scylla had broken hers. Raelle had no idea how to fix it, or if she even could.

“How’s your chin?” Scylla broke the stillness.

Raelle gingerly touched the healed skin. She’d almost forgotten it had been burned in the first place. “All fixed up. Which is more than I can say about Treefine’s hair.” She had no idea the High Atlantic could screech that loudly.

Scylla let out a soft chuckle. “It’ll grow back.”

“Not at the rate we’re going.” Raelle ran her fingers through the grass, tips tickling her palm.

“It’s only the first day,” Scylla said. “It gets easier.”

“Oh yeah? How long did it take you?” Raelle asked and then instantly wished she could take it back. Scylla’s parents had probably taught her, and here she was bringing up those painful memories. “Sorry, I…”

“It’s okay.” Scylla shook her head. “A while. I didn’t want to get burned. But, eventually, you get used to it. Learn not to fear it. Until you feel nothing at all.”

I’ve been burned before, Scylla had told Raelle that one time, deep in the cemetery in the woods. Both literally and figuratively. And Raelle had contributed to it. They’d both hurt each other, intentionally and unintentionally. Raelle’s heart throbbed against her ribs. She wanted to reach out, but knew she couldn’t. Not any more.

Before she could respond, someone called out Scylla’s name. A young woman with long, brown hair beckoned from a distance. Raelle frowned.

“I have to go,” Scylla removed her glasses, voice soft. Closing her journal, she pushed herself onto her feet and dusted off her pants. “See you around, Raelle.”

“Scyl, wait,” Raelle blurted out, scrambling to her feet. She didn’t know what possessed her, but she had to get this out. 

Scylla paused, head tilting slightly. 

“What I said back then.” Raelle licked her suddenly dry lips. “About being sorry we ever met.” Hot shame spread across Raelle’s cheeks. “I didn’t mean it.” 

Scylla’s expression shifted through a myriad of emotions–surprise, pain, and sadness conveyed in each subtle twitch of her mouth and crease of her brow–until the sea of her eyes calmed. Softened. 

“Thank you,” Scylla whispered before she quickly turned around and walked away. 

[imma-lil-teapot]

Which Turtle I’d Get Along Best With :)

This is actually in response to @aurora-the-kunoichi ‘s  post = 

Ignoring the facts on why they are your favorite turtle based on looks and character traits. Based on your personality alone who do you think you would get alone with the best and give me reasons.

I was going to respond to it in the comments, but found the more I thought about it, the more indepth I wanted to actually go into the subject, and it’s been a while since I posted something of my own (sorta) so here we go~

Also, please beware the typos and errors. They bite.

A few things before we start... (Feel free to skip if you’re really not interested, it’s cool) ;)

-- Since a Bay!verse gif was used in the original post (points up), those are the Turts I’m going with in response to the post. :)

-- I have a handful of personal issues that I’m going to take into account when considering which guy I’d get along with best, namely: social anxiety and awkwardness, depression, panic attacks and low self esteem.

-- The general comfort setting I assume is during after the initial reaction of meeting them. So the friendship is still in its early stages but past the ‘OMGOSH, GIANT, TALKING, EXTREMELY BUFF, TURTLES WITH WEAPONS’ phase.

-- I really wanted to talk a bit about each one and how I’d feel around them, so how this is gonna work is basically least comfortable (first) to most comfortable (last) and of course as to why. :)

-- Please don’t think for a second that I dislike any of them based on this! I ADORE all of these boys (even though I do have a fav) and I fully believe that just about anyone (with good intentions) can get along with all of them and vice versa, even if it were to take a while (I’m looking at you, Raph ;P). I don’t see these boys being especially hostile to anyone without good reasoning, but like with all friendships, it takes time. 

And with that outta the way~ (Drum roll)

(4) LEAST COMFORTABLE~

RAPHAEL~

Aww, Mr. Big Cuddly Teddy Bear himself? Why would I be the least comfortable around ol’ Red? Perhaps because, first of all, his SIZE!! :O Yeah, technically, Donnie’s slightly taller, and granted, they’re all pretty gigantic, but Raph’s on a whole other level! Skip shoulder day? I think not! And here I am, 5′1′’ and have to look to the sky to see this hulking mass staring down at me with such a piercing gaze and a toothpick poking out of his lips... Yeah, that social anxiety and shyness I spoke of earlier would be busy wetting itself whenever I’d be in the general vicinity of Raphie-Boy. Now let’s get real for a sec, it’s not like Raph’s gonna have a Leatherhead moment and turn savage at the sight of me, but in my irrational mindset, from his displayed temper and the way he goes at that punching bag, he could at any time... Not to mention how he often butts heads with Leo. It would take quite a while to completely dispel the tension and discomfort I’d be in whenever I’m around him. Maybe even a few years since I get really nervous around others that show a lot of anger and physical irritation. I’d definitely feel like he’d find me a bother, irritating or in the way a lot, even though he probably wouldn’t really since he tolerates a lot from others, but that’s just how I’d interpret his actions from my own point of view and I’d always try to stay a little clear of him for the most part. Seriously, I adore you, Raph, but you’d scare the cr@p outta me. :O

On a brighter note, I would admire his dedication to his family, his heroic actions and just the way he works out all the time. But you know, just from... afar. :) At least for a while until I got use to him more, then we might even hit it off after that!

(3) SECOND TO LEAST COMFORTABLE~

LEONARDO~

Sorry Boi Blue. :’( You may be my fav, but I’d be an awkward mess around you. Now I dunno if the favoritism would hold true if I were to meet them in reality (there’s still a good chance it would), but like with Raph, Leo’s someone I’d admire from afar, though the nervousness wouldn’t be as hectic as with his younger brother in red since Leo doesn’t tend to display it as much and not in the same fashion. I tend to have a good amount of respect for authoritative figures (or at least I try to) and he’d be no exception to that rule, but because of this, I’d both enjoy and dread our little interactions for the fear of saying something stupid or to annoy him in anyway, even though I’d probably enjoy his presence since he’s someone to look up to (and no, that wasn’t a short joke ;P ) and to feel protected by. Again, I’d feel like a burden and an annoyance to him but unlike with Raph, I would have to at least open my mouth first to get that same amount of discomfort with him as opposed to Raph... That last sentence wasn’t meant to sound NSFW, just FYI. ;P But with Leo, I think I’d actually try and work around that amount of nerves to get into his good books since he’s proven he can be a bit more on the gentlemanly side so I feel I’d stand a better chance with him... But still pretty nervy and that is why he’s in the no.3 spot. Sorry, Leader Boy. :’(

Up side, the admiration is strong. Leaders have a lot upon their shoulders to bear so that alone puts him in high respects in my eyes. Not mention I’d be in complete awe whenever watching him practicing with his katanas and performing katas... I promised myself I wouldn’t fangirl, but DAYUM, BOI! It’s getting awful warm in the sewer~ Expect applause and compliments after practice! ;P

(2) SECOND MOST COMFORTABLE~

DONATELLO~

Despite us talking about the smartest Turtle, this one’s a no-brainer, really. :) Don’s a sweetheart so I think someone would really have to try their best to get this pacifist to at least not tolerate them. That’s not to say he doesn’t have enemies - like Shredder and Krang of course - but as long you’re not posing a threat to his family, friends, the innocent or the earth, I think you’re pretty much A-okay to him. He’d without a doubt be the brother I’d feel most comfortable around after the first as he seems to take into consideration the feelings and reactions of others and is just pretty laid back in general, not really loud and ranty and for that, I’d definitely feel more at ease around. Plus, he has a bit of a fun and quirky side that comes out every now and then. Heck, even a little bit of a potty mouth. X’D Don is definitely the one I’d go to for advice on just about anything, or just to share random information and trivia with. I feel he’d be a great listener, share his own opinions in a gentle fashion, provide heartfelt solutions and just genuinely be ready to help where he’s needed. Heck, he may even try to engage me in some simple tasks like helping him with a gadget he’s busy whipping up... This is however where the comfort will start to wobble: Don-Bon’s a genius, and I’m intimidated by brilliance of the mind. :( I’d start to feel compelled to stop talking to him after a while for the sheer sake of seeming too dense to be in his presence, especially if he were to start explaining equations and science related topics. His brilliant mindset would be too much for me to bear so I think I’d probably not spend too much time around him. That’s not to say the others aren’t smart, heck, but Don’s on a whole other playing field!

Other than that, I definitely would feel comfortable around this sweetie nerd. He’s adorable! Even though the brilliance is what scares me, I would in turn be in awe of it. :) He’s a regular Einstein and then some with a lovely personality to boot! 

When there’s something strange, 

with your home wi-fi,

Who ya gonna call?

DONATELLO~

*Is boo’d off the stage* X’D

And finally~

~(1)~ MOST COMFORTABLE~

~MICHELANGELO~

*Lets off balloons and streamers* Well, what a surprise, am I right? ;P Raise your hand if you saw it coming! :)

But seriously though, there wasn’t much to question; Mikey’s easily the one I’d gravitate towards first and feel most at ease around. :) He’s so laid back, fun, non-judgmental, accommodating, sweet, hilarious and charming, just to name a few things! What can I say, the youngest brother of the Turts is adorable and I genuinely feel I’d get along quite well with him. <3 With all my own personal baggage, he seems like the one that would be most patient and understanding with me if anything was to surface, and he’d be so chilled about it or even joke around in a non-offensive manner to help ease the tension. That’s something I’d really appreciate with him, especially in certain situations. His goofiness could quell any nerves, that’s for sure. Even though I’m no prankster of any note whatsoever, if he were to rope me into a very harmless and innocent one here and there, I’d probably be game for it, so the two of us would probably have quite a bit of fun together. Watching movies together too, with pizza, of course! Even laughing at him showing/goofing-off during training. 

So yeah, Mikey’s hands down my go-to Turtle boy in terms of comfort level, emotional support and just about everything in that relation. I see no reason as to why I’d not get along with him. He’s just a really great guy whom I feel would really go out of his way to make any human with good intentions feel welcome in his family. Someone who’s really in tune with others’ feelings and emotions and would try to help them when needed in the best way he could think of. A real cutie-pie with a heart of gold who just wants to fit in with the rest of the world. Someone who wouldn’t really care what the person looked like as long as they meant well. That’s Mikey for you, and the one I’d probably be most comfortable around! :D 

And there we have it! :) Definitely a fun and enjoyable post to type up! Although the ‘winner’ was a clear cut choice, it really got me thinking how I’d feel around the other three so am really glad I got around to doing this. :) Also, I’m sure @aurora-the-kunoichi​ would love to see more people respond to the question so if you’re interested, feel free to respond to it. ;) 

Thanks for reading~

[wapwetasspirates]

SO SFW AZ (Coffer)

A: Affection (How affectionate are they with a s/o?)

Very. both Verbally and physically and there is a clear difference between working mode and s/o or how she is with Treasure. The guarded careful aspect of it is gone and she gives freely what she has to offer and will smother you in it if you let her. She tends to dote a lot and loves whispering sweet nothings to make your head spin and having a casual hand on you at all times. 

B: Breath (What can their s/o do to take their breath away?)

Coffer is used to being in charge and she does enjoy it but helping her do things and reminding her she deserves the same level of care will have her carrying you off to bed to show you exactly how thankful she is. 

C: Cuddling (Do they cuddle? If they do, how and when do they cuddle?)

She’ll cuddle if asked but she’s usually fairly busy and it’s not the most urgent thing on her mind. Not that she doesn’t like them, it's just not her go to for affection.when she does cuddle she enjoys all varieties but has a soft spot for you laying on top of her. 

D: Dream (What do they dream of doing with their s/o?)  

Coffer is actually surprisingly domestic and wants a quiet life somewhere where she can treat animals rather than people and monopolize all of your attention. Somewhere where she can relax and have you near is all she really wants. And maybe several hundred cats.

E: Effort (How much effort do they put into a relationship?)

Not a lot at first. It comes in gradual waves and builds. She is tentative to put effort into something she doesn’t fully trust but by the end it is second only to her focus on her sister. 

F: Fear (What do they do if their s/o is scared? How do they handle it?)

Removal of the fear and working on helping them get over your fears. It is very subtle and you will often be surprised when that thing no longer bothers you one way or another. If she can’t fix it she will do her utmost to ensure it never scares you again, she is highly and fiercely protective and prefers action to words of comfort but ask her for them and she’ll give them.

G: Gifts (What type of gifts do they give their s/o? Do they want a gift in return?)

She doesn’t put much stock in gifts and she can have Treasure get her whatever she needs. That said she will heap on an s/o a lot of random items she deems that you need and won’t be swayed otherwise. And while she will accept gifts and enjoys being treated she doesn’t feel strongly about them one way or the other. 

H: Hugs (Do they hug their s/o? How often?)

She does actually hug s/o’s very often. She considers it recharging and sanitizing and will seek you or her sister out for them often. Her favorite is to be wrapped around you from behind and burying her face in your hair but her hands tend to wander after a while. 

I: Intimacy (How romantic are they? Do they have problems with intimacy?)

Coffer is fond of quiet, intense, intimacy and romance. She can and will do whatever you like in order to sweep you off your feet and leave your head spinning with her words and actions. 

J: Jealous (Do they get jealous? How do they act when jealous?)

Very. And often. It is hard to tell and she’d be hard pressed to admit it but she has a way of making people think twice about approaching you and you’ll find it near impossible to flirt with anyone else. Which is precisely the way she likes it. The only one who gets a free pass is Treasure. 

K: Kiss (Are they a good kisser? Do they like to kiss? How often do they try to kiss you?) 

“Second” only to Treasure though she’ll say she lets her sister win. She loves kisses but prefers the less than public friendly ones and doing whatever makes an s/o squirm the most. Receiving wise she takes great pleasure in watching you try to reach her forehead and is amused when you do. She’ll kiss you whenever she feels like it and encourages you to do the same, though you’ll get the most pleased smile if you ask first. 

L: Love (When do they say they love you? How often do they say it? Do they prefer to say it or show it?) 

Rarely. She is not one to waste words and she won’t say if she doesn’t mean it. But the words are for you only and she prefers to say them in private. Her actions will often show it more than her words but if you need to hear it more she is happy to oblige, especially at the most inopportune times. 

M: Marriage (Do they want to get married? If so what kind of ceremony?)

She does. And she would prefer something simple and quiet with only people you both deem necessary, she enjoys flashy affairs but this is about you and her. 

N: Night Out (What type of dates do they like to go on? How often do they like to go on them?) 

She finds dates to be a bit overrated and will often leave those up to an s/o. She would prefer not to waste her time on them too often but she’ll oblige you as much as she can. 

O: Out of the Ordinary (What’s something they don’t normally do for/with their s/o?) 

She isn’t one to give up control but catch her in the right mood or ask the right way and she’ll allow it briefly and even like being cared for a bit. 

P: Playful (Are they playful in a relationship? If so, how do they play around/mess with their s/o?)

Of course but she is careful about it, timing it so an s/o is never uncomfortable and she knows just how far to push. She isn’t much of a prankster or joker herself but she always loves watching one play out and enjoys a good verbal spar. 

Q: Questions (Do they ask their s/o their opinion on things? Do they share theirs?)

She does but if she doesn’t like it, it will be like she never heard you at all and she isn’t one to give advice unless asked for it. 

R: Random (How spontaneous is their relationship? Do they do things on the spot or plan ahead?)

Coffer values organization and even the most random of things is usually carefully planned but she loves to watch you try and surprise her. If you actually manage to she will be more than pleased and won’t ever hesitate to shower you with praise about it.

S: Sleep (How do they sleep with their s/o?)

A wiggler in her sleep she can’t be still but she prefers you being in the bed than not but understands if her randomly smothering you in your sleep isn’t very preferably as she sleeps like the dead once she’s out. 

T: Trust (How much do they trust their s/o?)

Not as far as she can throw you at first. After she will ease up and trust you entirely, with all her secrets and Treasures. But if she even has an inkling you will break that trust, well, just don’t. 

U: Unique (What makes them unique as a s/o?)  

Tol skeleton pirate lady.

V: Vulnerable (How long until they can be vulnerable around their s/o? What are they like in this state?)

A very, very long time. But once she deems it acceptable (and she won’t allow you to rush it, so don’t bother trying) you’ll find a Coffer that is far less surface sweet and genuinely kind and protective of her loved ones to a fault. She isn’t as sure as she seems but can’t worry about it as mistakes can be very, very dangerous. Underneath all her tight control she is truly very soft. 

W: Wild Card (Random domestic headcanon)

Her always helping you get read if you allow it. Fixing your hair, helping you get dressed, bathing you. She enjoys spoiling her s/o’s and there is something intimate in caring for someone that way that melts her. 

X: X-Ray (What would they do if their s/o got injured?)

As if she would have allowed it in the first place. But she is an excellent healer and if an s/o is hurt they won’t even notice before she’s healed it. If a person is the cause of that injury, well, which person was that? No one has ever heard of such a person. Its like they never existed at all. 

Y: Yuck (Do they have any pet peeves about their s/o? Are there any habits that might bother their s/o?)

Bad etiquette and manners. She is a bit proper in that aspect but she won’t nag and yet you'll find the subtlest of reminders here and there and who would want to disappoint her? (Only Treasure who enjoys watching her sister sulk quietly over her bad table manners). Worry not, if you continue in that manner she’ll just train it out of you.

Z: Zeal (Are they passionate as a s/o? Do they want or like passion?)

She can be but it is slow going at first as she is tentative and a greedy thing she loves a passionate s/o to prove they want her. 

[36incheshigh]

haunting of bly manor on netflix review -

i tried not to put big spoilers in it. its about like.. a lady from america who becomes a live in nanny to two young siblings, in a big old mysterious? house in england.

overall - 8 /10 , maybe im just biased cause it had some of my fav parts of scary movies in it/personal fav parts of genres

[cons] -personally - i dont like when supposedly scary movies are about ppl dying sadly/theres characters who are actually nice who you actually get attached to and thenn, they suffer! (although technically i guesss that is what causes “haunting”, in its title. its like, im looking for a Scary which is secretly supposed to be found to be scary[-fun], not scary-Sad!. sad deaths/characters make me sad. like when cute kids in it are also sad and upset and they surely dont deserve it :p. bums me out. i guess i dont mind so much, if, -if youre gonna have to harm someone, that id rather theyre someone im not so attached to in the first place lols. id rather not feel sentimental whilee watching a movie thats also scary lols. too many feelings at once for me lols . also, i appreciate a movie tryingg to explain things well or make it interesting, but sometimes it cann get too complicated . thats where ya lose me. [thats kinda not that personal that can also be a critique in genderal.] its like if you keep it clear enough even if its simple, it could be a better story.

pros objectively - good characters, and gd chemistry between characters - they were all pretty distinct and interesting enough, had their own styles and mannerisms and personality. gd dialogue - relateable enough and realistic enough - heh ilke when the gardener tries to cheer the nanny up, that was like kind of a well thought out specific unique and still funny joke lols. or when the nanny uses her teacher-voice to say relateable things to the kids or to discipline them well and properly and fairly/justly and calmly - those were awesome and accurate like real life, very familiar in a specific, recognizable way. nicely done visually/cinematically - made everything look good, didnt make anything too confusing, clear enough. like it let us explore all the interesting places and no scenes were too dark to see whats going on or anything lols. which is good because sometimes a show takes place in what lookss like wouldd be an interesting setting, but we never really get to use the space much or see its details [well], or look at any of the cool parts about it, very well! plot was good - got stuck a couple times in a few ways, but atleast it did have good closure. thats hard to nail in spooky/scary stories. its also good that there was diversity representation in the characters’ races and kinds of romances so thats always important to diversify in the media so people arent ignorant and plus its less predictable and ^realistic.

cons objectively- really lost me in the episodes w hopping and flashbacks a lot, even though i guess it explained a few things. idk i think we couldve done without the entire dream bit cause it went over my head and i dont see thatt well how it fits with the rest of things very much anyway. i think it couldvee stuck with just the first owner’s story which seems to explain most of the mysteries anyway, and still be a great plot overall. also its not much of a big deal but in the end, that was supposed to be whats her name, the gardener but she wasnt even consistant in her style it was so out of character. like whats that hair style?? its too modern and boring/basic-betch , shes a chill, grounded, rough person so i think she shouldve kinda had a softer wavier hair style at least like she usually had . doesnt have to be the same, but atleast better match her character. i guess there were a few kind of minor plot pieces that i didnt hear/understand their explaination . but maybe if i thought about it more, or figure that those were just idk symbolic details or something lols, then id get it. -atleast the most important plot points have been explained. or if they kept the confusing plotline to help explain things, i wish they couldve made it a bit simpler to be more understandable . aint nobody tryina think that hard about it to understand things in a show ha . idk i think the wind up leading to the end , through the middle of the last episode when we werent sure if the girl was doomed yet or not [is that what it was that dragged on for me?] , dragged on a bit too somehow. or i wouldve been happy too if it ended like 10 minutes into the last episode when everything was at peace, even though thats too peaceful of an ending for a spooky story lols. also the bride in the beginning and ending who hears the story is a kind of bad actress or has awkward lines so it makes things corny lols. which its hard to not cross that line in spooky stories, from believeable and relateable and genuine enoughh to spook ya cause its barely believeable/relateable, - into corny.

pros personally- love big old gothic houses, theyve got character. love love stories, and mixing genres in a show or movie! like love, sad, and spooky. love it being more spooky and a thinker kinda rather than gory which could always be too easy of a scare. and lots of botony heh [in the romance] which i always love. in real life heh. i also dont really like body horror lols even though it couldve been worse here i guess. i know its supposed to be like, symbolic though :p. i like how - there wass a specific message/themes they were trying to be about in this show, but - idk, before we realizedd that, it was kind of amusing how the random suspicious jumpscares/problems that happen aree kinda like, making you/trickingg you to thinkk, that the story could justt be any of the clichee scary stories - but thenn its a pleasant surprise that even though you thought it was gonna be a cliche predictable plot, its actually much more elaborate in a good way lols. i also like “”gothic”“ and kinda spooky but not likeee verY scarY ha. cause gothic is likee, a lookk/mood!!

so yeah, i liked this in general, and would recommend it in general and might watch most of it again in halloween season lols. i like it because its sophisticated and relateable enough, graceful, cute enough - balanced so its not tooo much of anythingg and just enoughh of different things that would make any show enjoyable enoughh, i thinkk . good in all the ways it matters, in all the important ways. generally doesnt get campy in the parts of the show where that would matter lols. i liked it better than the other series apparently also by this director or whatever, “haunting of hill house”. i think “bly manor” was better in nearly  every way lols .

[lokishornns]

Civilian Casualties

—

masterlist

—

—

pairing: loki x reader (fem)

type: oneshot, angstish? fluff

rating: pg

word count: 1,252

warnings: cursing? death briefly discussed

notes: this,,,, is the roughest shit i have EVER written but u know, that’s fine just fine fentgjkngkdb

request: anonymous  — “Do you think you could do one for Loki where he obviously has a soft spot for the reader while trying to pretend he doesnt, much to the annoyance of thor. Like getting a little happier when "The most tolerable midgardian" will be there, opening things like pickle jars for her when she cant herself, doing some tricks with his magic to cheer her up.”

—

Loki and you were polar opposites.

No, really. Loki was a grumpy old man who loved to complain about the state of humanity whilst you were a bubbly young woman, always excited to see what the day had in store for you. And at first, you were a striking contrast to the “opposites attract” trope. You would always approach him, informing him of some random fact, maybe tell a joke, and annoy the shit out of him. You didn’t do it on purpose, of course. That was just how you were.

Loki initially didn’t take the behavior well. Sometimes he was insulted when you would tell him a fact or that you would ever think yourself worthy of his company. Most times he was just annoyed, sending a snark remark back at you, growing even more irritated when all you would do is smile brightly. He would just grumble and leave the room, a frown growing on his face.

But eventually, something changed. Loki didn’t find himself annoyed with your antics as much as usual and you were slowly making your way towards being his friend. And as Loki got closer to you, he noticed more things about you. How you had a sarcastic and sassy sense of humor that was only shown around people you were genuinely comfortable with.

You two started to become closer and closer; although Loki would still grumble about “Midgardian tendencies” when he was around you, you never paid attention and would instead mock his Asgardian accent, pretending to be the pompous bitch he was. He ended up laughing every time.

Loki sighed, his hands pulling his helmet from his head, his head turning to find you. The mission had been especially rough. A civilian had died in an explosion and you hadn’t gotten there quick enough to do anything. On the way back from the mission, you had sat silently in a secluded corner of the jet, your face unchanging.

Loki’s figure brushed through the hallways, making his way to your room. He knew you were taking this hard. You never took a death with ease, no matter the fault. But whenever you failed to do your job and a civilian died because of that, you were especially brutal on yourself. Your self-criticism wouldn’t be pretty this time.

His hand knocked on your door, not surprised whenever you didn’t answer. He sighed, his forehead resting against the cool surface of your door. He pressed his ear to your door, trying to see if there was any sign of life. A small sniffle was all he needed to hear.

“Love, I’m coming in,” Loki announced, his hand gripping the door handle tightly, pushing the door open. The light from the hallway seeped into the darkness that encased you. His eyes took a moment to adjust to the dark, narrowing in on your form huddled at your window nook, your arms wrapped around your knees.

“Hey,” you rasped, pushing a smile on your lips. Loki looked at you, seeing through the fake expression.

At the sound of the door pushing closed, you let out a loud sob. Loki quickly makes his way over to you, strong arms encasing you immediately. You settle your head against his shoulder, cries wracking your frame. His hand lightly rubs your back, a fleeting touch just enough to comfort you.

“Shh,” he whispered, his hand coming to rest on your head. “There was no way you could’ve gotten there faster. There was no way you could have taken those guards out faster. There was no way you could’ve gotten off the jet faster. Everything you did was your best, so don’t criticize yourself over this. No one else on the team is, they’re all doing the same thing you are right now. Who were the bad guys in this situation?” Loki asks.

“Not us,” you croak, your cries slowing.

“Who was even attempting to save anything? Who were the good guys?”

“Us,” you sigh, your cries finally stopping, your chest only hiccupping with heavy breaths.

“Who ended up stopping the bad guys from killing any more people?” Loki’s questions are easy. Easy to understand and easy to make you think logically. He knows it’s not a permanent fix to your thoughts, but it does help you rethink your criticism.

“Us. We did,” you respond.

Loki’s lips press against the top of your head and you let out a breath, your body melting into his from its previously rigid posture. You sit there for a while, Loki swaying in a protective manner.

“Loki?”

“Hm?” he hums into your hair.

“Do you have pickles? I’m really craving them,” you confess and a small bark of laughter is pulled from his lips. He shifts, reaching behind him, pulling a jar out. You gasp, laughing softly. “You know me so well,” you shake your head, a smile on your lips. You twist the cap of the jar, frowning when it won’t budge. “Open it for me?” you hold the jar up to Loki’s face and he rolls his eyes, a small smirk on his face.

“Anything else, your highness?” he says sarcastically, popping the lid open. You snatch it from his hands, grabbing a pickle.

“Nope,” you pop the p, your mouth filled with pickle.

You’re just about to shove another pickle in your mouth when a light catches your eyes. You look up, a gasp escaping your mouth as a mixture of colors dances on the ceiling of your room. You stand up, pushing a hand through the miniature aurora borealis, smiling as part of it fades in a flicker of green before being replaced. You turn to Loki, a genuine smile on your face.

“You didn’t have to do this.” Loki shrugs.

“You needed it,” he says.

Loki’s footsteps are silent as he pulls your door open, shutting it softly behind him. You had fallen asleep on his shoulder rather quickly, much to his delight and dismay. A clearing of a throat causes Loki to jump, turning to Thor.

“Was that really necessary?” he asks through gritted teeth.

“Not really, but it was funny. Did you finally ask to court her?” Thor asks, bouncing on his soles like a child. Loki rolls his eyes.

“No, I did not. I do not like her. Now please, let me through before your delusions affect me,” Loki snaps, trying to push against his brother, but to no avail.

“Lies.”

“Not lies, now move before I take your last brain cell,” Loki threatens, his eyes narrowing at the blond god.

“Brother, this isn’t funny. This is Y/N,” Thor reminds him, and for the first time in a long time, Loki senses a hint of annoyance in Thor’s tone. Loki sighs in defeat before groaning in frustration.

“You are insufferable, let me through,” Loki bites, pushing against his brother before realizing Thor has fallen quiet. Loki glances up to see Thor smiling and waving at something behind him. Loki spins to see your face.

“Can you stay for the night? I can sleep on the floor or at the window, it’s no big deal, I just-”

“I’d be happy to,” Loki cuts you off, saving you from your word vomit. You smile, disappearing back into the darkness.

“I-”

“Don’t say a word,” Loki grits, going back to your room. And just before he is once again enveloped in the dark room, he catches the wide and teasing smile that seems to be a permanent fixture on Thor’s face. Oh, Thor.

[scige-alt]

LIANA LIBERATO / CIS FEMALE — don’t look now, but is that saige beaumont i see? the 21 year old criminal psychology / linguistics student is in their sophomore year and she is a rochester alum. i hear they can be blithe, energetic, evasive and irrational, so maybe keep that in mind. i bet she will make a name for themselves living in murphy’s beach homes. ( james. 20. est. she/they. )

snjdfg these took so long i’m so sorry but anyways please LIKE and i’ll slide into yr IMs for plots !!

TW DRUG USE, ALCOHOLISM, IMPLIED ABUSE, ADDICTION, HIT & RUN.

a e s t h e t i c s

stick n’ pokes at 2am – when your drunk and giggling too much in between purposeful stabs, avoiding the cracks in the sidewalk because they’re bad luck and they’ll break your mother’s back – even if your mother doesn’t love you, because you love her, the familiar riff in an old song – one that’s got you strumming along silently; there is no guitar, only empty air lit by the christmas lights you haven’t taken down. it’s may. swallowing down shots, and by default, swallowing down problems. laughing quick, easily, constantly. skinned knees from skateboarding, despite being rubbish at it. wishes on eyelashes stuck to your cheekbones, glitter sticking, running into the ocean at sunrise; feeling at home. excuses, and the many forms they come in. telling people you love them through hand squeezes and fresh muffins, sideways glances and soft, eager grins.

general info !!

full name: saige alouette beaumont

nickname(s): n/a so give her some uwu

b.o.d. - july 7th, 21 whole yrs old.

label(s): the hedonist, the icarcian, the reveler, etc. etc.

height: 5′7″ !!

hometown: thibodaux, louisiana

sexuality: bisexual w/ a very slight preference towards masc-presenting folks

pinterest

stats

biography !!

the fallible daughter of two very infallible people: robert beaumont, US lieutenant general, and manon levesque, world renown fashion designer. both calculating, cold, and purposeful.

saige never believed she was created out of love. it was an action with a purpose, intentions to create the perfect child. the hybrid of both military genius and fashion extraordinaire, molded to their will.

it took them no more than six months after her birth for her parents to up and move, thus beginning the cycle of packing and unpacking, flying and driving, state-to-state and country-to-country. the longest saige had ever stayed in one place was two years.

kept on a short leash, homeschooled, and learning skills she had no interest in – she was more like a pet, a project, than a child. the world moved all around her, but she felt restrictively tethered to her parents.

she had always felt this way. a bird in a cage of thorns.

it was hard to keep and maintain friends – saige would be there one day, and gone the next. a ghost, a very visible ghost. even so, she tried her hardest.

running from bodyguards (nannies, in a sense. her father is a paranoid man) into festival crowds and climbing out of windows in the dark of night to swim in lakes with locals she’d meet only a few hours earlier – she absorbed as much of what she could get; this intense, undying love for a world she had always craved to see.

it was the start of something near dangerous – a phase that seemed to never end, rebellion coursing through her veins. a wild child in the making, unknowing of limits. the bad sort of crowd was the crowd she found herself landing, more often than not – introducing the sheltered girl to a world she hadn’t quite known existed

she ran away, briefly, at age fifteen with a man three years older than her – which nearly ended up in a tabloid magazine if it hadn’t been for her parents’ money. though the guilt of her parents’ disappointed weighed on her, the thrill fueled something much worse

from that point on, she became a problem child. from public intoxication to vandalism – it was clear their daughter was unraveling and nothing could contain her.

boarding school was a small attempt to stop it – she got expelled.

she hadn’t intended to go to university, either – but, by some chance – and after a mysterious year-long disappearance from public eye during her eighteenth year of life, next thing she knew, she was a student at lockwood university.

she was involved in a getaway chase from an armed robbery at a bank which then turned into a hit-and-run in washington when she was on the brink of turning eighteen. it was a situation she had no control over, not knowing her role in the scheme until it was too late to turn back. the victim survived but saige’s family has been paying the medical fees since then. her parents haven’t spoken to her since.

ever since the accident, saige has avoided causing too much trouble - generally staying out of headlines and tabloids, partially in fear of her parents finally cutting ties, and partially in fear of doing something that’ll cost another person their life.

personality !!

bubbly. so fucking bubbly. she’s got so much fucking energy on her – she goes running every morning and every night and swims like every afternoon and she’s n e v e r tired ?? the personality of a coke bottle shaken up but like if the bottle could laugh.

tries her hardest to be the Happy Fun friend, y’know, the one who can hook you up w/ some sicccc shit b/c she befriended/possibly slept with her drug dealer and now she gets discounts.

like, generally, comes off as very confident of herself and fearless and, like, yes–reckless, but like a fun reckless, y’know ??

talks a l o t, could ramble for days, hand gestures and all.

if she wants to do something, she will do it and there’s not much you can do to stop her tbh. she’s very easy-going, very go-go-go, very…mischievous, y’know? even if she’s trying to do something stupid you kinda just have to let her do it or otherwise she’ll mope for three hours and pout at you and you’ll feel ?? this weird sense of guilt ?? which isn’t the Best thing but she’s not the best person either so dfghjh

a vegetarian !! meat makes her sick, like, physically.

uuuhh her vocabulary consists of a lot of ‘likes’ and ‘ums’ and ‘y’knows’, y’know ??

i am like 99% sure she’s got adhd but she’s never been diagnosed with it b/c her parents suck with that stuff. her parents sort of suck in general.

like…she’s currently not on speaking terms with them. she’s not disowned…like, yet, but they haven’t said more than like five words to each other since saige was eighteen and it k i l l s her but they also send her a shit ton of money every month so.

owns like…four cars…..she has them all on campus…..she prolly isn’t suppose to…but she does…one of them’s a real sleek sports car, one is a jacked up pick-up truck that’s decked out in like LED lights n shit, one is the same exact fucking car from the princess diaries b/c saige is obsessed w/ the movie. the other is like. a mini cooper probably.

a photographer, her walls are covered in photographs and art and taped-down plants and in general her room is very ?? cluttered ?? like it’s very home-y but god. she’s a mess. clothes everywhere. she’s probably got a pile of instruments and other miscellaneous hobbies on a chair in the corner that she hasn’t touched in a while

speaking of !! she has a bunch of random, like, skills ?? like knitting and sewing and cooking and three different forms of ballroom dancing, and she can definitely work a gun and a car engine except she goes thru interests so rapidly and is disinterested in most of the other ones b/c her parents forced like half of them onto her.

she plays bass guitar. she loves her bass guitar. she knows other instruments but the only ones she’ll really fidget with are her bass guitar and like, her violin. everything else she’s like ~okay~ at

got really obsessed with languages at a young age and started learning them ?? her mother is like. super french, like genuinely from france, so she already grew up speaking both english and french but she’s learnt others for the hell of it and she’s still learning like three other at the same time which is a MESS but she’s a mess so like can u blame her sdfghj

but like i said, she’s v e r y reckless. very much a party girl. she uses like…quite a few drugs, both socially and alone and frankly – she’s rarely sober.

a budding alcoholic because she’s convinced that without it she’ll be Miserable and Horrible to everybody because she’s a Horrible, Awful person who is the absolute Worse and if drinking vodka mixed in with 23 crystal lite packets helps with not thinking like that then she’ll do it no questions asked

its a problem she’s been developing since she was younger, only amplified by … the situation, that happened when she was eighteen.

is essentially wearing this mask of confidence and giddiness and flirtatiousness b/c she doesnt want people to think she’s doing Not Okay.

she loves so much. she loves everything, everybody. falls in love like five times a day but nothing really sticks to her either. if ur a shitty person/come off as an asshole then she’ll be more likely to be attracted to her b/c shes Always been like this. finds them super interesting which is ?? questionable ?? sometimes i want to just. knock some sense into her but y’know what…it’s fine we’re Fine

she gets around p frequently but is also the type of person who’ll like, try n maintain a positive, good friendship with whoever she sleeps with b/c the idea of having regrettable encounters is smth that Bothers her and she just pretty much refuses.

it’s honestly a bit of a problem ?? she blurs the lines between friendship and Something, Anything More too often and with too many people b/c she just. wants to be loved. but there is never enough !

she does stick n pokes !! a whole bunch !! let her give you one !! she can’t draw for shit but i mean, who cares, right ??

uuuhh her mom sends her like…prototypes of things she designs n shit that isn’t out yet and saige 100% always gives it away or it sits in her closet and essentially that is her go-to gift for birthdays or christmas or whenever she feels like it

there’s literally sm i could say about her but i’ll stop Here b/c it’s getting too long sksksksk

wanted connections !!

give me. a best friend. just somebody who sticks by her side even though she’s a Mess

like, a ride or die ?? is that the same as a best friend ?? idc i want both :)

and just in general, like, people she’s p close to ?? she’s really friendly and is the kind of girl who’d be really popular in high school but doesn’t care abt popularity n talks to literally Everybody like she’s known them all her life.

ESP if ur muse is a lil grumpier !! she will fuck their shit up, but like, in a friendship way.

party pals, where they don’t talk that much outside of parties but inside them ?? super close. glued to the hip. hold-your-hair-back kinda tight.

frenemies ?? fake friends ?? toxic pals ?? ppl using her for her money or like, sex, or something ?? anything ??

bad influences ?? who just encourage all of saige’s shit ??

good influences ?? who are like YOINK stop being an idiot.

a tutor b/c she’s like…she’s smart, okay, but she’s also really stupid LMAO. she’s rly bad at math and science. somebody help her.

hook ups ?? fwbs ?? that one, rare one-night-stand that went weird ??

exes ?? she’s sorta noncommittal so idk how long they would’ve dated but like sjdfkbo yolo ?? ex hook-ups too ??

…somebody who just. hates her. but she doesn’t realize bc she’s a big ol’ idiot. she thinks theyre pals !!

let her b a thorn in someone’s side, just like, an absolute annoyance LMAO

gimme an enemy, or like an ex-best friend where something happened between them n it ruined their friendship

i will take literally anything i dont know

she steals ur character’s mail ?? ur cat keeps escaping and she keeps letting them inside even tho she’s allergic ??

one of those friendships where theyre always bickering like an old married couple ?? but it’s Purely Platonic (or is it ??)

an off-and-on again that just. it’s not good for either of them b/c they keep enabling each other and then getting pissed off and it’s a Mess but ?? it’s so hard to stop.

the drug dealer she keeps sleeping with even though she can just … pay for her shit. b/c it’s funner this way !

just … people where their like … relationship status is Blurred and it’s like, are they a thing? are they not? b/c she’s a mess and gets involved with too many people without intending to !

please. take her. give me connections.