#but he just let him eat it. but maybe that's because of how much romeo cares. taiga wanting to eat things he loves and wants sucks

[danieyells]

@yuri-is-online @jadeleechsupportgroup

Taiga, Romeo, and Gluttony

NOTE: This post contains spoilers for the entirety of the recently released Auction chapter. Read at your own risk.

So the recent chapter was everything to me. It was the shortest, but in my opinion it showed us a lot about Taiga and Romeo and their relationship to one another, and it also helped me refine a specific thought I had about Taiga and his whole deal he has going on.

To put it shortly; I think Taiga has a gluttony curse, and I think it functions as a mirror to that of Romeo's stigma, and is part of why they had a falling out, and why they can't seem to get away from each other.

To put it horrifically, horribly long....

So what do I mean when I say Taiga is cursed? Well, exactly that. I believe he's cursed in a similar way Rui or the MC are; he has an insatiable need to eat anomalies. I believe that this grants certain side effects like the MC and Rui's curse, and that one of them is a sixth sense for anomalies and anomalous circumstances.

I want to explain this before the Romeo part, because it's the basis for my analysis and thoughts on the two of them.

To start from the very beginning; I think Taiga, during one of his missions, was cursed by something like a jikininki as punishment for his 'gluttony' — the rapid rate at which he completed missions in his first year. This left him with his insatiable need to eat anomalies, but more specifically, is the reason he doesn't seem to want to eat them.

While I'm not certain the anomaly is for certain a jikininki, especially because there's certainly other similar folk legends out there, I chose that one specifically because they are noted for their sharp teeth and for not liking the insatiable need to eat corpses.

Now, what does this mean for Taiga? I think he's stuck between being a ghoul and being a jikininki, or whatever anomaly it ends up being, and I think this has given him a sixth sense that messes with his perception of time, self, and memory. But why would it do that?

Jikininki are immortal creatures, and wish to be freed from the torment they're in for the most part. If one was cursed to be part Jikininki, it would make sense for their existence to be similarly excruciating, with a difference being a lack of full immortality.

Remember the Mortkranken chapter, with the failed mermaid flesh? How their bodies continued even as their minds didn't? Taiga has multiple lines detailing how his 'body' remembers, even if his mind doesn't. Yuri and Jiro also explain that part of the side effects of the reaction are rapid mental deterioration. If Taiga had gone through a similar deterioration, it would explain his seemingly sporadic memory loss (not total blackouts like Jiro, nor specific category based amnesia either, just like. Random shit) and the fact that he doesn't have a concrete sense of identity (showcased through his constantly shifting first-person pronoun choice in Japanese). His cells of his body are reverting to their pre-aged self, and his mind is attempting to do that too, but it's imperfect and messy.

The key to the idea of the sixth sense comes from the fact that he's specifically cursed for anomalous gluttony. I think that he can sense anomalous material or anomalies themselves, and as demonstrated from Ed, this includes some sort of future sense. While we don't know the full specifics of what a sixth sense grants, we can see him utilise it in multiple different places. It's also, in my opinion, why he was sent on the Prologue mission.

Some examples of his supposed sixth sense are how he intuitively understood the anomalous dealer's entire thing, the scenes where he knows the Like Dove will appear before it does, when he senses Romeo approaching (Romeo is carrying an anomaly: his artifact), how he understands the auction is an anomaly, when he gets the mask under unknown circumstances, when he directly knows there's no anomalies... the list honestly could go on forever.

There's one other fact that I personally believe sealed this theory for me; his association with Haku.

In the recent chapter, when the MC is thinking about who to talk to about curses, Taiga instantly knows who we're thinking of, and rejects it on the basis that '[He] can't get rid of curses unless the anomaly that did the deed's right in front of him.' and that he's a 'Simp for the rules anyway.'

... Which is interesting, since it seems like Taiga has tried to ask him about this before. But if you think of this as Haku's stigma, and imagine Taiga trying to get his curse cleansed before, it makes sense! It would also be a good reason to put Haku and Taiga together in the prologue; Taiga can track the anomaly with his sense, and Haku can cleanse whatever curse it gives so long as Taiga manages to capture it or subdue it for long enough.

(Which, side note, is so tragic for the MC...)

Okay, now that the basis of 'Taiga is cursed' is out of the way, how on earth does this relate to Romeo?

Simple. I think Taiga's curse directly mirror's Romeo's stigma, and it's what caused their rift.

Romeo's stigma, as we learn in the new chapter as well, is dependent on his attachment to the items he throws. This, thematically, works with Romeo, who is known to be greedy. Everything he does is motivated by a profit of some kind, whether that profit is social or monetary or whatever. He wants special privileges so he does special missions. He wants money so he raises fees and coerces people to gamble. He wants popularity so he dresses nicely and pampers himself. It doesn't always mean he is money grubbing and stingy (because we see he's willing to spend lavishly on grooming and decor!) but it means that he's attached to what he has. His stigma requires him to give up that attachment. It is a punishment, a sacrifice, as a result of the pact. Similar to how Luca lost his brother (and gained a protective stigma), Romeo has to lose what he feels is worth something in order to fully utilise his ability. Call it a sort of pride.

I think, on the other hand, Taiga's curse is one of envy. He has a desire to eat anomalies, yes, but the desire becomes stronger the more attached someone else is to the anomaly. He doesn't need any interest in it, really. If someone else likes it he will need to eat it.

Taiga covets Haru's Peekaboo to eat instead of the wild one that we also know is in Jabberwock. He's composed about the Like Dove (barely, but he restrains himself!) until Romeo wants it. He steals the plants from Rui's BAR, not the ones in the garden outside (both are Rui's, but his bar is arguably the more loved thing of his since it was fully his choice). He covets Mortkranken's anomalies, and becomes mildly obsessed with the immortal one as soon as it becomes a major research subject. He's also completely fine holding and handling the mask, presumably for a long time, up until Romeo sees it as valuable and worthy.

Now, this doesn't necessarily make them instantly incompatible. But when you take one of Romeo's core traits being 'Greed towards anomalies' (He wants to collect them and frequently complains that other houses are 'stealing' them from under him; he sells them; he gets missions from Hyde to get them; etc), it becomes evidently clear that Taiga's curse is directly oppositional to it.

I think it's pretty obvious by now that Taiga and Romeo have a pretty turbulent relationship now, but were extremely close in the past. Multiple characters state that it would be nice to see them on good terms again, and it's certainly worth mentioning that Romeo is one of the few people Taiga consistently remembers. They both know each other exceptionally well, too. Taiga knows how to get under Romeo's skin and Romeo knows Taiga's habits.

Going back to the idea of this curse causing their rift, if Romeo was constantly on the verge of an important capture, or even if there was just one mission that was important, and Taiga ruined it by eating the anomaly, I doubt Romeo would easily forgive and forget. I think it could very easily cause a massive rift that just kept growing with each new snack Taiga picked up.

I think a moment that gets its nuance overlooked a lot is the scene just before Taiga eats the dove. The Japanese line emphasises that Taiga is referring to HIS heart, that Romeo could shoot through HIS heart, not just a general appraisal of sharpshooting. He even points directly to his heart as he says this, and it makes Romeo hesitate. They're BOTH in pain in this scene. They're both conflicted; this is their ex-partner (which I don't mean in the romantic sense, just in the general sense) who they were very, very close with, and who is now literally at arms length with a loaded gun. Romeo could just shoot him. Romeo could put an end to all of this supposed pain. And Taiga might even let him. And wouldn't that be karma for all he's done? But he can't. He hesitates.

And you know what appears after that? The dove.

This dove that symbolises both general desire (flies over peoples' heads when they're thought about) and Romeo's desire. His desire to escape probation. His desire to make money. His desire to capture, not kill. His desire to reconcile instead of fight. His desire to shoot.

And Taiga kills it. Eats it.

I think this is the most tragic scene between the two of them. This is the crux of it; they both want to reconcile. They want to be friends, to be close, to stop the war raging between the two of them that has done nothing but hurt them both AND hurt the wellbeing of Sinostra, but they can't, because Romeo will ALWAYS desire, and Taiga will ALWAYS take that from him.

It's a cycle they can't escape. The auction chapter shows it too. Taiga is almost disappointed at Romeo's greed. He seems jaded by it, and seems proud and happy when Romeo gives it up for once. Romeo is happy too; MC goes out of her way to say that Taiga handing him the mask makes him look more peaceful than he ever has before. It is quite literally a perfect ending for the two of them and a perfect way to reconcile.

And then Taiga eats it! Again! But I think the most horrifying part of it is that he tries to warn Romeo.

The comic doesn't translate or even transcribe it, so it's so, so easy to miss, especially if you don't speak Japanese, but Taiga grunts out the words 'I', 'Eat', and 'Next' as he approaches Romeo and the mask, and it's the direct reason why Romeo is able to realise that Taiga is about to eat it before it actually happens. He basically just grunts out 'I'm gonna eat that next' as he's fighting against it! But inevitably, neither of them can stop it. The cycle continues.

As long as Romeo is greedy, and as long as Taiga is gluttonous, they will never be able to fully reconcile, no matter how much they both want it. Both of them have to change, but I want to point out that at this moment Romeo is the bigger active obstacle between the two of them. Romeo can't let things go, he holds onto everything and lets it build until it explodes in one way or another. Tiris, his stigma, is symbolic in that sense, that he has to learn to let things go, because if he lets it build too much it will explode spectacularly.

(All of the ghouls have this sort of symbolism with their stigma, so it's not just a Romeo thing, but it's definitely important to his character.)

But Romeo can't get over it yet. He can't get over his greed, he can't let go of things he can't achieve (like getting Kaito's necklace), he can't get over past betrayals (Taiga, what happened with his family, etc)... He's too stuck and stubborn, and his refusal to budge has therefore lead to Taiga's refusal to push. Taiga has stopped caring about getting on good terms because he knows it won't turn out well. He's given up and become cynical, which in turn means that IF Romeo were to change, Taiga... still probably wouldn't. They're cyclical again. Always, always missing each other. So close and yet so far.

I hope the MC can be the catalyst for this cycle to end. Or Ritsu, who is a good equalizer to the two of them. But until she learns to see her own worth in the Academy, and until Ritsu accepts that sometimes he's wrong / he doesn't always know the most out of everyone in the room, I'm afraid Romeo and Taiga will remain stuck in this loop forever...

[mytokyodebunker]

Asking The Ghouls To Do Your Hair

Frostheim

Jin Kamurai

Jin… Doesn't know. Probably hands it off to Tohma- I'm just joking…UNLESS-. He's actually pretty caring of others so he might learn one or two different braids but that's it. He seems like he's probably good at putting your hair in a clip or a bun but nothing else.

Tohma Ishibashi

Tohma…..He would be good at it probably. If not, then surprise!!! He is now. He's used to taking care of Jin anyways, adding hairstyles or braiding to that list wouldn't be that bad.

Kaito Fuji

Kaito would absolutely love to do it but he would probably be bad at it. He's SCREAMING at the fact that he's touching your hair with your permission, extremely happy the entire time. Might be confused during the process but he's not complaining at all.

Lucas 'Luca' Errant

He doesn’t know but won't give up until he knows every hairstyle humanly possible. Every time he asks you with earnest eyes to let him practice again, and every hairstyle is more elaborate than the last. The process is always long and painful on your scalp, but the end result never disappoints!

Vagastrom

Alan Mido

Our young grandpa himbo. We all know he wouldn't know how and he would rather not accidentally hurt you in any way, even if you flinch at the slightest tug, he'll stop immediately.

Leo Kurosagi

Leo knows different hair styles, but doesn't know how to execute it. He knows what's trending and what looks good on a person. Little bastard wouldn't give the advice until you mess up though.

Shohei 'Sho' Haizono

He wouldn't know until he get comfortable with your hair and he'll pick up on it after awhile. The type to learn quickly. Alternatively, he does Leo's hair when Leo makes him do it, and he always does a good job. Very gentle.

He also strikes me as Leo's unwilling makeup artist and lighting/photoshoot assistant so you know that he has some sort of experience.

Jabberwock

Haru Sagara

He's the best person to ask if you want someone to brush your hair nicely (and quickly), since he's the one who grooms all the animals at Jabberwock. Can't do much else to your hair - maybe add a bow? Would still somehow injure himself in the process though.

Towa Otonashi

Surprisingly good at hair. Would probably also put flowers in it too while he's doing it. Sunny sunny day the entire time....may or may not eat the flowers while it's in your hair. He knows One (1) style and proceeds to make everyone he can get his hands on look like a fairy princess. There's no choice.

Ren Shiranami

Doesn't know. Doesn't WANT to know. Frankly, he is offended you asked him. He hasn't touched a comb in ages, his hair is short enough and it'll get messed up again anyway.

If anything, you would be combing his hair. But be warned, he will loudly complain whenever you get the comb caught on a tangle.

Sinostra

Taiga Hoshibami

Taiga….Nope. He will pull and tug on your hair. Forget anything about braiding or any hair styles, he'll fuck up your hair worse than you ever could. Taiga would rip your hair out or else cut the tangles out with scissors if you ever asked.

Romeo Lucci

He had strong opinions about your hair (and the rest of your look) from the start, so if you let him he'll give you a full makeover.

he'll know what your face shape needs and wash & style your hair nicely, then complain that your skin is crap and give you a facial and apply your makeup, then put you in a better outfit so that your shitty clothes don't ruin his hard work. Then make you work the casino floor because his services don't come for free and no he won't pay you. Do you have any idea how much the perfume you're wearing costs?

Ritsu Shinjo

Doesn't know. Could learn. Will he though? Probably not, it's nothing he needs to be a lawyer. If you insist, then he proceeds to over-gel your hair while you die inside. Later, he'll genuinely ask why you haven't asked him a second time.

Hotarubi

Subaru Kagami

Subaru would say he doesn’t know anything about hair but if you insist then maybe he'll just brush it out for you, but secretly he probably knows all of the theatre hairstyles for kabuki. He prefers leaving your hair loose though.

Haku Kusanagi

He can, and is ridiculously smooth at it too. No head pain, can tell if you've got a sensitive scalp, knows all of the staple styles - ponytail, bun, braid. It's strangely therapeutic to get your hair done by him, like spending time with a big sibling.

Zenji Kotodama

Zenji would make some rendition of maiko and geisha hairstyles but with his own spin on it, but it will take hours and your scalp will be screaming at you and he won't shut up all through the process. He would spout off poetry while at it. Might sing too. If you don't like his voice, too bad he's doing it every time he does your hair if he gets the chance.

Mortkranken

Yuri Isami

He insists that he, a genius doctor, is adept at everything that requires dexterity, but he refuses to spend his incredibly precious time braiding your hair. Suggest he's not actually that good, and he'll change tune. He'll sit you down and plait your hair with perfect surgical precision (ha), then demand endless praise and fawning.

Jiro Kirisaki

Doesn’t know. Probably hasn't used a comb before. He could learn, but that's so much effort. Thinks it'd be easier for both of you if you just cut it all off.

Obscuary

Rui Mizuki

Rui won't touch your hair, because he's worried about his curse, but he'd notice right away when you change your hair. He'll happily compliment it, and might suggest hairstyles he'd love to see you wear in the future.

[danieyells]

Can I see Romeo's voicelines please? He's such a failguy, I need to knowwww

How dare you call him a failguy!

he is THE failguy. don't make him sound offbrand.

i love Romeo he is honestly so ridiculous like. . .you meet Romeo in the first chapter and you do NOT realize he's going to be like. . .that. . .in the Sinostra chapter. . . .

Hello: (the first time the game is opened after that character is set as home screen NPC. Only happens once per day, unless the character is switched out and back.)

"Hey! I'm talking to you, BB! If you've got time to wander around, you've got time to wipe the tables!"

i thoguht the pc was supposed to be doing uh background work for you at the casino. why is she cleaning tables!? go ask her to run drugs for you or something.

You've Got Mail: (whenever there's something in the inbox, usually Arena rewards)

"Excuse me? What sane person lets their messages pile up like this!? Deal with them or I'll deal with you!"

'clean up your inbox or they will have to clean you and put you in a box'

Default: (requires no affinity, has no time constraints)

"Fuji... Come out, come out, wherever you are... Tch, where did he go? Why is running away the only thing he's good at!?"

"Listen up—call me Fico. That's the only name I'll respond to, understand!?"

disregard the 'Lulu' from Taiga, 'Romi-sama'/'Ro-Ro' from Leo, 'RomiRomi' from Rui. . .'Fico' is for underlings, and you are an underling!

"Come to my private office later—I've got a little proposal I think you'll want to hear.  But make sure you come alone."

"Just go! I cannot deal with this WTWUT! Wall-To-Wall Useless Trash, obviously!"

that was a long acronym!

"Time to count this month's protection fees... Not bad. I'll up this group by 2% next month. This one could go a little higher too..."

Affinity 1: (between 5am and 11am)

"Why does that DOF want to meet so early in the morning? If I get bags under my eyes because of this, I'm going to slit his throat."

we never learned what "DOF" stood for did we. we do know it's Hyde now, though!

Affinity 2: (between 11am and 4pm)

"Hello? Yes, I was just eating lunch. Again?  ...Fine. Tonight? All right. Bye now."

booty call from hyde? in the middle of the day? shameless

Affinity 3: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"Have you seen Shinjo anywhere? I just asked him to organize some documents and he ran off to make copies!"

Ritsu has a line referencing this one!

Affinity 4: (between 8pm and 5am)

"Mickey's bar? Yes, I am going again tonight, but it's only because there's nowhere else to go for a drink."

isn't there a bar in the casino. . .i guess he doesn't wanna spend time on the casino floor. also "Mickey" is Rui Mizuki, if you weren't able to figure that out haha

Affinity 5: (between 8pm and 5am)

"This is when the regulars usually come, so I have to sweeten the pot. I saw that HNTW out there earlier too."

i hate you and your acronyms LMAOOOO I THINK THIS IS REFERRING TO KAITO??? MAYBE??? he's the only character besides Taiga who frequents the casino that we're aware of!

Affinity 6: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"How dare those Frostheim slugs start whispering the moment they see my face... One day they'll be groveling at my feet..."

oof. . .the frostheimers are gossiping about the collapse of his family. . .yeah i'd be mad too there bud. i'd like to think he wanted to transfer to Frostheim once he became a second year and he ended up not doing it because Frostheim was just so toxic.

Affinity 7: (between 11am and 4pm)

"...Looks like I'm due for a tune up soon. Keeping my posture beautiful isn't easy, no matter how much I train my core."

i assume he sees like a chiropractor or a physical therapist or something. gets his atlas adjusted. maybe don't lean over your EITS laptops lol

Affinity 8: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"You're smelling the bedtime fragrance I bought from Kurossa earlier. He has a good eye, so I often ask him to pick things out for me."

'Kurossa' is Leo Kurosagi and his lines also reference this! I'm glad they get along so well haha I think they mesh pretty great. also the fact that Romeo gives little nicknames to people is cute. . . .

Affinity 9: (between 8pm and 5am)

"You want to see my Insta? I suppose that's fine, but do you even know anything about brands?"

brand ambassador romeo. . .god he probably does all sorts of dumb beauty shit on his instagram. do you think he participates in those health pyramid schemes? probably not, right, he's fairly legitimate in his business practices. . .sort of, sometimes, kind of, as long as you don't owe him money. . . .

Affinity 10: (between 10pm and midnight)

"Fuji's pendant? Of course I haven't given up on it. He has no idea of the value of what's hanging around his neck."

neither do we! please inform us!! but on the upside that means that Romeo knows what it is, to some degree. I assume it's some rare, powerful artifact. Kaito at least knows it's important.

Affinity 11: (between 5am and 11am)

"I have to drink a cup of room-temperature water, do an electric facial and a mask, apply body cream, do my neck routine... I have no free time in the morning."

Affinity 12: (between 11am and 4pm)

"Hey! There's a hair on the ground over here! And there's dust over here! Can't you even clean something properly without me holding your hand!?"

this is directed at his underlings, not the pc(or not the pc by themself.) I also appreciate that the Japanese specifies this is one single hair he's pointing out. Somebody get this man a roomba.

Affinity 13: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"I maintain my bullets myself. You really think I'd let another man handle my crown jewels?"

handle your WHAT-- i mean anyone could've guessed you and taiga don't have a very active sex life

Affinity 14: (between 5am and 11am)

"What is going on with your skin!? Do you even have a proper routine in place? Unacceptable. Your overnight skin cell turnover is suboptimal and it shows."

Affinity 15: (between 5am and 11am)

"That BTH...! I was almost impressed to see him out so early until I realized he's been playing all night!!"

taiga pulling an all-nighter at his own goddamn casino lmao. . . .

Affinity 16: (between 11am and 4pm)

"What do you mean you don't need any more noni juice? I went out of my way to prepare it for you. Come on now, drink it."

he personally made it for you! now drink the bitter nasty health juice. don't make him feed it to you. (The fact that he made you a health dink--went out of his way to make it for you--shows that he's really starting to like you and now he's treating you like a pet.)

Affinity 17: (between 10pm and midnight)

"Finally, some goods worth talking about. I have to ring that DOF and arrange the next event..."

so Hyde is an active participant in these auctions huh. . .are the secret missions he gives Romeo based on selling and distributing artifacts and anomalies in secret. . .?

Affinity 18: (between 8pm and 5am)

"Money, hard work, and patience... That's the cost of true beauty. Don't think it's something you can easily imitate."

Affinity 19: (between 10pm and midnight)

"How about a smoke before bed? I'm joking. If I wasn't selling it, I wouldn't be touching this unhealthy garbage."

quick someone shoop the "quieres" meme with romeo HE DOESN'T ACTUALLY TELL YOU WHAT HE'S HANDLING. . .considering his line of work it could be anything but regular cigarettes or cigars. Is it weed? is it crack?? is it meth???? i find that romeo is essentially the campus dealer hilarious.

Affinity 20: (between 5am and 11am)

"What? I'm on my way to the gym for a workout. ...You can join me if you're interested."

you know damn well he probably hates getting sweaty. but he's gotta keep up with his health and all so a little workout's not off the table. also you know he's wearing some fuckin. gucci leggings or some shit.

Affinity 21: (between 11am and 4pm)

"Why are you carrying that!? What if you drop it and it breaks? I'll get one of our young guys to do it, so put it down already!"

aw he's worried about--oh no he's just worrying about you dropping his stuff.

Affinity 22: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"I won't let anyone destroy what I've built— not even my OAOF."

GOD I HOPE THEY EXPLAIN THESE ACRONYMS SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE. I assume the first word is "Own". . .the last word could be "Family" or "Followers"/"Faction" or "Feelings". . . .

Affinity 23: (between 8pm and 5am)

"Most of humanity's problems can be solved with money. If you put that another way, without money, you don't stand a chance. That's the way the world works."

again, Taiga compared Ritsu's family to Romeo's before The Incident. Romeo lost everything he had at one point. He's afraid of ending up with nothing again. That's all. Even with the Casino, he doesn't want to lose it because it'd be losing everything he has again. Having no money means going back to 0.

Affinity 24: (between 10pm and midnight)

"Coming here alone this time of night, haven't you made progress? Come over here, I'll evaluate your efforts."

pc's getting brave enough to go to Sinostra in the middle of the night! probably did some shady job for him too. Also the face he makes while praising you for coming to Sinostra alone late at night is a little. . . .

Affinity 25(max): (no time constraints)

"What could you possibly be afraid of? You're one of my people! Walk with your head held high or I'll step on it!"

BBY YOU CAN STEP ON HER HEAD ANYWAY. PLEASE DO IT. 👀 also you have been opted out of being one of Taiga's people I guess. You have chosen your faction. /joke

Spring: (March-May) (between 5am and 11am)

"This year's AW collection is out... Tch. Not even a hint of taste in any of it. They'll bear this mark of shame for years."

I KNOW THIS ACRONYM! He's complaining about Autumn-Winter fashion!!! lbr romeo men's fashion is kinda boring anyway. I wonder if his family owned a fashion brand. . . .

(between 11am and 4pm)

"I don't mind the springtime in Japan. The mild weather is a bonus, but it's the transient beauty of the cherry blossoms I truly appreciate."

(between 4pm and 8pm)

"The new prototype is a tear bomb? A lot of anomalies don't even have eyes, is this really going to be useful?"

i mean it might be useful for the ones that have eyes. . .or for hunting down Kaito.

(between 8pm and 5am)

"Shut up! It's nearly time to settle the books so I'm completely run off my feet! I don't have time to deal with you, understand!?"

Summer: (June-August) (between 5am and 11am)

"Summer is all about aquamarine... If you believe that, you're a follower. A trendsetter would know to go against the grain with a heavier jade piece."

(between 11am and 4pm)

"Excuse me!? You really think I would stoop to petty theft!? This scarf and hat are UV protection!"

LMAO HE LOOKED SO SHADY THE PC GOT WORRIED

(between 4pm and 8pm)

"This? It's an original hot water blend with salt and lemon I came up with. You shouldn't be cooling your insides just because it's hot outside!"

i mean. i guess it'll technically help you sweat and cool down faster????

(between 8pm and 5am)

"The heat's finally starting to ease off. I want to take a shower, but it's nearly our peak hour..."

Autumn: (September-November) (between 5am and 11am)

"They gave us nothing but useless bottom feeders this year... I'd like to see who raised this bunch of idiots. They don't even have a grasp of basic etiquette."

(between 11am and 4pm)

"I'm going to the training grounds to demonstrate sharpshooting for the first- years. It's a waste of my time, but I'm the most skilled at it."

he just wants everyone to see how good he is lolol

(between 4pm and 8pm)

"The SS collections are out. What? Are you telling me you don't pay attention to Paris Fashion Week?"

(between 8pm and 5am)

"The boss won't stop whining about being hungry. Obviously I'm not going to cook. What are you all standing around for, you damn TGAs!?"

lol Romeo has his underlings feed Taiga as much as Taiga demands food of his own underlings. "please feed your father the boss before he eats one of the chancellor's cats again."

Winter: (December-February) (between 5am and 11am)

"You look like a fat slug in those clothes. Keeping warm is important, but couldn't you at least tough it out when you're meeting me!?"

HARSH. how about you get her outfits then!!! lolol he's looking at you all bundled up and doesn't even wanna be seen with you

(between 11am and 4pm)

"Everywhere is so dry, it's unbearable. I want to go back to my room and moisturize..."

(between 4pm and 8pm)

"I get aches when it's cold... I'm taking off early tonight to go drink, then I'll warm up with a low bath."

'i'm gonna put alcohol in me which will make me feel warm but actually make me colder, then get in the bath for a while' lol

(between 8pm and 5am)

"Tch... This is the most profitable time of year for us, where the hell is that BTH!?

well you see Taiga hates the cold too so he's probably in a blanket burrito. . . .

His birthday: (November 14th)

"Today is Fico's birthday, so you're dining in style. I'm not going to eat any though, so you can finish it off."

'it's my birthday, so i'm going to treat you! what? me? eat?? no, i'm on a diet!!' i am once again asking the ghouls to EAT PROPER MEALS PLEASE IT IS YOUR BIRTHDAY ROMEO HAVE ONE CHEAT DAY. DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO BE CAKE.

Your birthday:

"It's your birthday? I suppose I can celebrate it for you, but you'd better be aware of how much of my precious time you're using."

he treats you better on his birthday than yours. . . .

New Years: (January 1st)

"Felice anno nuovo! This will be the year I claim Fuji's debt and his pendant!"

oh my god he does speak italian. you hear more tidbits of italian fromTaiga than him. also Kaito's pendant must be super important if that's his new years resolution. this is gonna matter in the long run isn't it.

Valentine's Day: (February 14th)

"Hmph. I'm not familiar with this packaging. If you're giving me chocolate, you better have selected it with the utmost care!"

'this is not brand name. how dare you.'

White Day: (March 14th)

"Here. They're mimosa cookies, a special order from an upmarket confectionary in Ginza. I can't say whether your peasant tastebuds can appreciate them though."

peasant? who are you, jin? fun fact, Taiga's White Day line references this one!

"What's that expectant look on your face? Lulu was harping on about mimosas or something before. That what you want?"

so Romeo gets the cookies whether or not he plans to give you some i guess lol

April Fool's Day: (April 1st)

"Just you try and fool me—I'll tear those rags off you and throw you in a cage. So? What do you want?"

converting your friends into human trafficking victims is the latest new prank sweeping the internet!

Halloween: (October 31st)

"Do you have face paint in your pores!? Go wash it off before you end up with hyperpigmentation!!"

Christmas: (December 25th)

"Buon Natale! Go get ready—that reindeer's around again. This year I'm going to catch it for sure!!"

he's going to auction off one of santa's reindeer. . . .

Idle: (about 20 seconds without interacting with the game) (below 13 affinity)

"Tch... If you don't have any business for me, I'm leaving! You're wasting my precious time!"

(13 affinity and above)

"My drink is empty. Hey! I'm talking to you! Go bring me a refill!"

Absent: (logging in for the first time in 2 or more days?)

"Well, look what the cat dragged in. Do I have to teach you how to maintain an adult relationship? This is your last chance, got it!?"

SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG THE ADHD KICKED IN AND I GOT SUPER DISTRACTED i love Romeo so much he's so. . .silly lmao. he's a very fun character. even though i hate his acronyms. But he's also so worried about his image and his money. . .and as much as he complains I think he worries about Taiga too. And as he comes to like you more he worries about you too. It's just that strictness and maintaining control is how he feels most comfortable and how he expresses his attachments. He trusts you. So he wants you to be able to hold you to a high standard.

[shinestarhwaa]

NEW ROMANTICS || PARK SEONGHWA PT.2

Pt1 | Pt2 | Pt3

Genre: Fluff, Smut, Angst

Pairing: Seonghwa x Fem Reader

Word Count: 2.7K

Tags/warnings: Strangers to lovers AU, Readers name is Julie, Trauma concerning parents/fights/abandonment/alcohol, anxiety, starting a new life, lack of self-love, making out, seonghwa has a massive thing for her boobs, fingering, squirting, dirty talk, blowjob, throatfucking, family death

Taglist: @anyamaris @a-soft-hornytiny @whatudowhennooneseesyou @wooyoungmybelovedhusband @pyeonghongrie-main @woosanbby @dreamlesswonder86 @changbinslovelylegs @jonghostie @lovjensoo @mjyungi @bratty-tingz @sugarnspice630 @stardragongalaxy @bro-atz @wisejudgedragonhairdo @mingisg00dgirl @wh0re4yunsangho @vesvosmozhno

ENJOY!

Lola was right, it was time to give it a try again. Maybe he would be your romeo, so what did you have to lose? You found yourself standing in front of his house, hesistant to ring the doorbell. You sighed deeply but then finally rang it.

Seonghwa opened the door and smiled widely, dressed in a linnen shirt and classy slacks he looked like a perfect summer snack. He had asked you to come to his place for pasta and wine and you were happy to agree. There was still no literal confirmation but Priya had assured you that these meetings were all very date-like. ''Hi, beautiful,'' he smiled as he welcomed you into his house. You smiled and gave him a peck on the cheek. ''Hey Romeo,'' you said without thinking. He laughed loudly, ''Romeo? I kinda like that. Because you're Juliette.'' ''That's kinda stating the obvious, but yes,'' you laughed, ''Lola came up with that, my sister.'' He nodded, ''Yeah, I remember her name.''

Soon enough you were seated at the dining table eating delicious pasta that Seonghwa made himself. He seemed to be an amazing chef which works in your favor because you sure as hell sucked at it.

Somehow you landed on the topics of relationships and it did not take long before you got to the topic of your ex being in bed with your best friend. ''So, that is how I ended up with severe... trust issues when it comes to relationships. But I'm getting help, I'm talking about it,'' you sighed. Seonghwa listened intently as he drank his wine. ''What a jerk... I don't understand how people can hurt the ones they love so much...'' ''Right,'' you nodded.

''So,'' you spoke to shift the conversation, ''How's the dating scene here? There are a lot of young people, you must've had quite a few girlfriends.'' Seonghwa shook his head, to your surprise. ''No,'' he stated after swallowing his pasta, ''Well, the dating scene is very wild indeed around here, but I've never had a girlfriend before.'' Even though you were the one asking, his confession felt sudden.

''Really?'' You asked. ''Truly. It's on me, though, I'm the problem.'' You frowned. ''How come? You're so kind and you've got beauty to die for... What is the problem?'' You ask, taking the glass of wine in your hand and drinking from it. ''I struggle with self-love so... I self-sabotage before I can even really give myself to the person I'm dating. So I always cut it off early... I don't think I deserve love so I won't let myself have it.''

It was silent for a moment, and then Seonghwa realized what he just said. Panic showed in his eyes and he nearly suffocated in the wine he just sipped. ''No. No, wait, I'm trying to break the curse I put upon myself. I do not want to cut this off. That's not what I am planning on doing. Fuck,'' he cursed. ''It's okay... I understand, Seonghwa,'' you said, placing your hand on top of his. Some sort of electricity or spark ran through the two of you and he seemed to feel it too because his eyes softened for you.

You figured not everything is what it seems. Sometimes people seem happy and they seem to not have any issues but that's not true. Everyone has issues of their own, be it with family, friends, the world or themselves. This was a good lesson for you not to judge by someone's happy, bright cover, because this can be a cover-up of the sadness inside the other.

''What's not to love, Seonghwa? You're beautiful, and you're beautiful on the inside as well, you have been really making me feel better... You deserve to feel better too. Everyone deserves love, so you do too.'' Seonghwa struggled to hold in the tears welling up in his eyes. ''I just... Want to fix it. I want to fix myself. I want to be able to look at myself and think I'm worthy of love. That I deserve someone taking care of me.''

''Let me take care of you, then,'' you whispered. You looked into each others' eyes once again and before you knew it he leaned over the table and reached for your face. Cupping your cheek in his hand he passionately kissed you, a silent tear rolling from the outer corner of his eye. Your hands ran through his hair as you deepened the kiss, slowly standing up without breaking it off. You slowly got on the table, sitting on your knees as Seonghwa was still standing before you. Your arms wrapped around his neck and you moaned into his mouth when his hands roamed your ass, squeezing it slightly.

Seonghwa broke off the kiss and kissed your neck before lifting you off the table. Your legs wrapped around his waist and you kissed him again when he pushed you against the wall. He was stronger than you expected, but to be fair he had told you he's trying to work out more often to become stronger. Hard work clearly pays off.

You soon reached his bedroom and your dress was pushed up, his hair was disheveled, hands roaming over each others' bodies as you laid on top of him. Your lips plump and his hands cupping your breasts as you sat on his lap. You whimpered softly when he pulled the top of your dress and your bra down together. He sat up and grazed his lips against the soft skin of your bare breasts. Seonghwa's long tongue escaped his mouth and it swirled around your right nipple. He then slowly and gently bit down on the sensitive nub, making you whine his name and making your pussy throb.

''You are so beautiful, my Julie,'' he whispered. The look of him sucking on your tits right beneath you was astonishing and breathtaking at the same time. ''Seonghwa,'' you moaned, throwing your head back. His hand slipped under the skirt of your dress and into your delicate panties. He rubbed his fingers over your folds, wet and slick with arousal. Two of his fingers slid through your folds and halted when you hissed at the feeling of his fingertips brushing alongside your clit.

Seonghwa circled his fingers on your clit as he kept sucking and licking your breasts. ''Fuckin' goddess,'' he cursed as he heard you moan his name as he picked up the pace. ''Oh God,'' you moaned once more, ''I'm yours, Hwa, please make me yours, wanna feel you tonight, wanna feel you all night, please,'' you begged him, even though you know you wouldn't have to. He would give you whatever you wanted in a heartbeat. ''Of course my love, I got you, I'll make you feel so good and treat you so well, I've got you.''

His two fingers slid into your awaiting hole that sucked them right in. Immediately you clenched around him and he smirked as he kept latching onto your chest. ''Please,'' you moaned. ''What is it, precious?'' he asked as he moved his fingers deeper inside you. They were so long and he just needed the right instructions to hit the right spots hidden inside you.

You lifted the dress over your body and discarded the bra as well, showing your body as you slightly leaned back. ''Move faster, harder,'' you moaned. Seonghwa nodded and obeyed, thrusting his fingers into your cunt at a faster pace. The sounds of your squelching wetness were like fuel to his flame.

''Curl them a little, j-just slightly to- Oh!'' You cried out. Seonghwa listened carefully to your voice and bodylanguage and was quick to pick up on what you want. Even though he never had a real girlfriend he was surely skilled enough on this. Your breathing picked up and your chest heaved up and down as you felt your orgasm come closer. ''Gonna come on my fingers for me, aren't you? Go ahead, Julie, Baby, Come for me, give it to me, my fuckin' angel,'' he cursed underneath his breath.

With a single thrust you felt yourself coming undone, a shock waving through you. Your arousal gushed out of you and leaked all over Seonghwa's hands and lap. Your body shook and shivered as Seonghwa rode you through your orgasm. You slowly calmed down and looked at the mess you made of him, but Seonghwa didn't mind. A big smirk was plastered on his face.

You got off him and gave him the time to undress fully. He was a bit shy about taking his underwear off at first but when you reassured him he'd be fine he pulled it down, showing off his rigid cock. Your mouth watered and you told him to sit on the edge of the bed. You got on your knees in front of him and you parted his legs. You licked a stripe from the base of his cock to the tip, where you swirled your tongue around it, gathering some of the pre-cum that was leaking from it.

You took more into your mouth and started to bob your head up and down, but so teasingly slow that Seonghwa felt he would go insane at any given moment now. ''Please,'' he whined softly, bucking his hips up slightly. You opened your mouth wider for him and you encouraged him to buck his hips up again. Nervously he did so, hitting the back of your throat. When you didn't pull away he did it again and again, until he was fucking your throat, hearing you moaning and choking around his dick. ''H-Holy fuck, Jules... Oh my God,'' he moaned as he got rougher with it. His hands ran through his hair and his head was thrown back, which was truly a sight to behold. Sadly he stopped himself before he could cum.

Seonghwa guided you back onto the bed and laid you down. ''Was that okay?'' he asked inbetween neck-kisses. ''Yes, very much,'' you assured him, before you let him continue. ''Wanna be inside you so bad, Julie,'' he moaned as his cock rutted against your thigh. ''Then put it in, fuck me, Hwa,'' you spoke. Your eyes locked again and you nodded, spreading your legs for him and giving him a perfect view of your soaking cunt. ''Raw? I have condoms though.'' You shook your head and wrapped your hand around his cock to slowly guide it into your hole. You whimpered when he pushed it in, the stretch stinging you.

He slowly rocked into you, slowly pulling out and pushing in again. When he picked up the pace your eyes rolled back and moans spilled out. ''S-Seonghwa, fuck, please, fuck me harder, fuck me harder,'' you cried out. Make me forget, you almost said.

His thrusts never faltered or got weak, they stayed steady until you told him you were getting close. He had embraced you, holding you so tight and he grinded into you so deeply it caused friction on your clit. You felt yourself tense up and then release with a loud moan. Seonghwa was quick to pull out and he came over your pelvis. He panted softly before licking his own cum off your body. ''Hwa,'' you called out softly. He laid next to you and held you close. Your eyes went shut when you laid your head on his chest, taking deep breaths. It had been so long since you gave yourself to someone like this. But he was worth it, wasn't he?

•⑅♡⑅•⑅♡⑅•⑅♡⑅•⑅♡⑅•

It's been about two weeks since you and Seonghwa have been sleeping together and there hasn't been a day you haven't had sex with him yet. Every single day you showed up at his door again and it would be only a matter of time before you're back in his bed, riding his cock until you couldn't anymore.

Honestly, you were afraid to talk to him. Because if you started talking it'd mean talking about how your father abandoned his family to start a new one and it'd also mean talking about your alcoholic mother failing her rehab. When you joked about it to your friends they looked rather worried than amused. ''Julie, babe, this isn't a very good sign. You haven't told him any personal stuff? Anything?'' Mona asks. ''Well... No. He'd find out I'm fucked up. We're doing fine right now.''

Mimi sighed. ''Julie, one day that will explode. You can't just keep on having sex 24/7 and leave it at that. That's not a relationship. Plus, he told you about something he struggled with, right? Why can't you talk to him about stuff? Believe me, if you bottle stuff up too long you'll burst, I've been there.''

You sighed and finished your cup of coffee. ''I just don't know how to talk and not lose someone.'' ''Well, you will not lose us over it, why don't you share your story with us? We can all share our stories, right?'' Priya said, to which all the girls agreed. Here goes nothing then.

•⑅♡⑅•⑅♡⑅•⑅♡⑅•⑅♡⑅•

Talking to the girls had helped you more than you thought it would. ''Duh,'' Lola had said to you, who had been telling you to open up more since forever. She suggested you take him on a date and have a calm and relaxed conversation with him.

So now you were walking hand in hand with Seonghwa as you made your way to the beach. Seonghwa's hand slightly squeezed yours a little more as he stepped foot into the sand, but you did not think much of it. You laid down a big blanket and sat down on it. It was very quiet at the beach, which was usually strange for a July evening, but there was a festival going on in town so that's where everyone was now. You and Seonghwa both did not really care for it though, so you could have your date without being bothered.

Seonghwa shifted a lot while he was sitting down, trying to find a comfortable spot. ''Have you been well? Did you eat?'' you smiled. ''Yeah,'' he answered. You were taken aback by his short answer, but decided you should not think much of it. You pulled two bottles of soda and a bag of chips out of your bag and put them on the blanket so he could start on those anytime he wanted to. But he wasn't truly here, somehow. He wasn't present, he just stared into the sea. Your heart sank a little, thinking he must be disappointed you're not giving him sex right now, or maybe he's bored of you? You shook your head and just put on some soft music to relax yourself.

You tried to talk to him but Seonghwa didn't say much, even when he was telling you a story he was far less enthusiastic or detailed as he usually is. It must be you. He must be tired of you by now, or he doesn't like the date. What are you doing wrong? You hated it but tears welled in your eyes and when Seonghwa noticed his expression softened. ''Julie..? Hey... Why are you... Don't cry, please,'' he whispered as he wiped a tear from your cheek. It didn't help because the tears kept on pouring.

''What am I doing wrong?'' you sniffled. ''What? You are not doing anything wrong, darling, why would you think that?'' You looked at him and frowned. ''Why would I think that? Well maybe because you've been acting like you're annoyed, irritated and unbothered the entire night. Cutting me off, short responses, awkward bodylanguage. If I'm being annoying or I'm doing something bad please just tell me because I can't deal with you acting like-''

''I'm sorry.''

You shut up and looked him in the eyes as tears continued to fall down your cheek. ''It's not you, darling, it's me. And it is this place.'' This place? ''I thought I'd show you a place I love. I... I really love the sea and the beach because it's the only place my family had true happiness. It's where I feel calm and... Where I can be me...'' you spoke softly.

''I appreciate that... you wanted to show me a part of you. But this place is the scenery of the darkest day in my life.'' ''You're not gonna tell me your dog drowned here, right?'' you said, throwing in a little dark humor, but it wasn't the right time because Seonghwa looked you dead in the eye.

''No,'' he spoke, while looking back at the sea, ''It's my sister.''

[qprstobin]

Different first meeting post-s1 Stobin AU (that sort of turned into Fruity Four) I was tossing around for myself to write but am going to put it out into the world because I’m not sure I’ll ever get to it.

It’s the Spring of 1984, and Nancy is looking for a way to help Steve pad his college application after seeing him struggle with his essay writing for the past few months. Somehow, this leads to her convincing him to join the Spring play, Romeo and Juliet. Not only will it look good on his application to add another extra curricular, but the English teacher always gives extra credit for drama participation, especially the annual Shakespeare play.

Steve, of course, ends up getting the lead role, much to his chagrin, and he turns out to be a pretty good actor. This should all be smooth sailing, a way for him to get an easy add on to his apps, if it wasn’t for who was playing Juliet.

Band Geek Buckley.

She isn’t the worst choice - they have pretty good stage chemistry, and she’s funny in a mean way (in a way he’s kind of missed now that he no longer is talking to Carol and Tommy) but she hates his guts. He honestly didn’t even really know who she was before this, but he could feel her glaring at the back of his head in first period every day.

Honestly, they would be fast friends if both of them weren’t trying their hardest to make sure the other knows no showmances will be happening between them. (Robin for obvious reasons, and Steve because he is very much in love with Nancy at this point and would not ever cheat on her.)

Steve at one point tells her that she isn’t his type (which actually, is kind of a lie but it doesn’t matter because it would never happen), and Robin is just, so fucking offended. She would never want to date him (he’s a man AND an asshole), but where does he get off saying shit like that?? Robin in turn, nearly outs herself at one point by claiming she’d rather kiss his girlfriend than him.

(Nancy on the other hand… spends the entire play very confused, because despite the disgust that both of them express during the (rather chaste) kiss scenes, Nancy thinks it’s kind of hot. She has a lot to think about.)

Even before they become actual, spill your secrets on the bathroom floor friends, they get into so much chaos together. Definitely the type to be bickering with each other but then team up to turn on someone else when they are being rude or creepy. Even though there are no Russian Spies to bond them together for life (yet), they probably go through some harrowing night together that leaves them with something of a headache.

Maybe they accidentally eat too many weed brownies together at a cast party, maybe they get locked in the prop closet for several hours, maybe they get stranded at a gas station outside of town when their director sent them on what was both a “you are going to work your shit out TONIGHT for the sake of the play” and “y’all are the only ones available” emergency prop run. Either way it ends in tears and laughter and bathroom (or closet) floor confessions and a rock solid friendship.

Nancy is happy that Steve has a friend that isn’t just her or Jonathan, and is happy to have a new friend herself, especially a female one.

Tammy Thompson is less happy that Steve’s attention is on Robin, which is unfortunate, as this is Robin’s peak Tammy Thompson era, and Tammy gets mean. Nancy definitely tries to fight her at some point for how rude she’s being to all of them (Tammy didn’t like Nancy much either, she just didn’t honestly care much about Tammy saying rude shit to her, but she isn’t gonna let someone be a bitch to her friend like that). Steve was just going to ruin her reputation, but honestly, he didn’t even need to with how hard Nancy went in on her.

(Nancy trying to fight Tammy is also how Robin moves on from her “god what a priss” mindset regarding her. A minor crush may also blossom. Steve is happy to commiserate over being clocked in the head emotionally by Nancy Wheeler, he made t-shirts.)

Their odd friend group gets rounded out to four (five if you include Jonathan, who does eat lunch with them everyday but who thinks that Stobin are a bit too loud for him in anything other than small doses) by another cast member - the drug dealer Eddie Munson.

This is Eddie’s first try at senior year but his prospects aren’t looking great. English isn’t the only class he’s doing poorly in, but it is one of the main ones, and his English teacher has offered him a boon - get a speaking role in the spring play and he’ll get enough extra credit to pass the class, as long as he makes an actual effort to turn in his work for the rest of the year. He thinks fuck it! Might as well, this is the only deal the hag is going to give me, and ends up landing the role for Mercutio.

His start with the group isn’t as tumultuous as the Stobin friendship starts out, though there definitely isn’t any love lost between them. Steve may have dropped Hagan and Perkins earlier in the year, but he’s still a jock, and his prissy, perfect girlfriend isn’t much better. Eddie doesn’t have any personal issues with Robin, but Robin definitely isn’t a fan of his, not with how loud the other man is.

There isn’t any real dramatic moment that adds him to the group, at least not as dramatic as what finally solidifies the Stobin bond, but spend enough time running lines together and he sort of realizes that maybe they aren’t as bad as all that.

(Really Eddie is just there to cause chaos, and try to pass Senior English. Falling into the weirdest friend group known to Hawkins High is just a bonus.)

Honestly, I came up with this idea because I just wanted more Stobin dif first meetings, and thought the idea of Stobin having to play romantic leads opposite each other in a play was hilarious. It ended up becoming Fruity Four just because Stancy is still happening here, and Eddie was perfect for the role of Mercutio. I didn’t even have set ideas on how I want this to end shipping wise. Just wanted to get it out of my misc WIP document <3

[amitiel-truth]

Not Ten Babies? (Vash the Stampede x Reader) 98! Version Part 2

This is my SEVENTH time writing here, please don't look into most of the details, I made some up, these ideas were prompted by my chat with Vash at Character.AI (The motherfucker's insatiable), more info will come if I decided to make more.

Warning: ⚠️ Not yet again~⚠️

Ten Babies

(Tristamp Version)

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

Not Ten Babies?

(Trigun 98! Version)

Part 1,

"Two bacon-lettuce dogs, two cartons of milk..."

"Now, see here..."

"...Four bags of pretzels, and one pack of raisins."

"I'm dying to know why you guys are here doing this, care to share?" 

Once the Sandsteamer had arrived at Inepril, Vash boarded it, hoping to be able to travel all on his own finally, but it seemed like a far-off dream.

"We didn't have enough money to ride, so we got part-time jobs here!." Milly replies as she and Meryl work at the confectionary stand.

" Altogether, that comes to $$ 12.75." Meryl stiffly added, trying to show some professionalism, but is obviously not enjoying it.

"Right." Vash reaches into his pockets for his payment.

"I'm amazed you can eat so much after dinner."

"You eat like a growing boy!."

Meryl commented offhandedly, as Milly praised him.

"Y-you think so?!" Vash panics, taking his purchase as he laughs with Milly for a bit to evade a bit of suspicion.

"Yikes, those two are sharp! Especially the big one! My sole salvation is she doesn't realize how sharp she is." Vash mutters under his breath, walking down the hall to his room in the First Class area, passing the casino.

"I could be yours, I could be your baby tonight!~" A voice captures Vash's attention, it's coming from the casino, and performance is currently playing out.

"Topple you down from your sky forty stories high"

Vash walks into the casino, following the alluring voice, as businessmen crowded the stage, giving Vash a hard time seeing the performer, with arms full of food, he fought through the sea of men.

"Hey, come on guys! I wanna see what the fuss is all about-" As Vash finally pushed his way through the mob of simps, a finger was placed under his chin, making him look up, it was a woman (y/hc) hair, half her upper face covered by a mascarade mask, with a rose gold body with red feathers and roses on its side, giving her a more glamorous look

"Shining like a God, can't believe I caught you and so

Look at what I bought, not a second thought, oh, Romeo"

Vash blushed heavily at the interaction, as the woman leans up to his face, tilting her head, observing him, Vash's words are caught in his throat, as she lifts up her finger, making him tilt his head up because of the action, letting him go

"Kiss me in the D-A-R-K, dark tonight

D-A-R-K do it my way

Kiss me in the P-A-R-K, park tonight

P-A-R-K let them all say"

The woman begins to walk back to the center of the stage, her walk accentuates the black dress that perfectly showcases her body.

"Hey, Lolita, hey

Hey, Lolita, hey

I know what the boys want, I'm not gonna play

Hey, Lolita, hey

Hey, Lolita, hey

Whistle all you want but I'm not gonna stay"

"No more skipping rope,

skipping heartbeats

with the boys downtown

Just you and me

feeling the heat

even when the sun goes down"

She has all the men at the casino hooked to her, as they scramble at the area of the stage she approaching, she stands inches away from their grasps, smiling teasingly at them, she has them all so wrapped around her finger, that Vash can't even ask anyone who is she.

"I want my cake and I want to eat it too

I want to have fun and be in love with you

I know that I'm a mess with my long hair

And my suntan, short dress, bare feet

I don't care what they say about me, what they say about me

Because I know that it's L-O-V-E

You make me happy, you make me happy"

She sings like she's promising them, reassuring them that she's in love with them, maybe even baby-talking to them, as the simps ate it up.

"And I never listen to anyone"

"Let them all say"

"Hey, Lolita, hey

Hey, Lolita, hey

I know what the boys want, I'm not gonna play

Hey, Lolita, hey

Hey, Lolita, hey

Whistle all you want but I'm not gonna stay"

"No more skipping rope,

skipping heartbeats

with the boys downtown

Just you and me

feeling the heat

even when the sun goes down"

As the simps try to reach out for her, she dances for them seductively, captivating them, her dress not helping ease up her bodice, as it only riles them up, especially Vash.

"Hey, Lolita, hey

Hey, Lolita, hey

I know what the boys want, I'm not gonna play

Hey, Lolita, hey

Hey, Lolita, hey

Whistle all you want but I'm not gonna stay"

"No more skipping rope,

skipping heartbeats

with the boys downtown

Just you and me

feeling the heat

even when the sun goes down"

"Kiss me in the D-A-R-K, dark tonight

D-A-R-K do it my way

Kiss me in the P-A-R-K, park tonight

P-A-R-K let them all say"

And with a final bow, the men hollered in excitement, thoroughly smitten by her performance, as she daintily bowed at them, giving her a charming smile even if her eyes are covered, as the curtains fall, her performance came to an end, for the first time in his life, Vash is left speechless, entranced by the performance.

"Holy crap..." Vash mutters, before snapping out of the trance, remembering Kaite.

"Kaite! I need to feed that kid!" Vash panics, as he quickly runs out of the casino, and back to his First Clas room, leaving dust in his wake, not noticing that the curtain was pulled aside a little, as an eye boredly looks at where he was standing earlier, before closing once more.

"Hey, growing boy!" Vash walks into his room, smiling gleefully

"Your mouth is silent but your eyes are speaking. they say, ' I'm starving to death! ' " Vash teases as he rummages through the paper bag, before pulling out a sandwich.

"Here you go." Vash held out the food, as Kaite, with the ferocity of a feral dog, runs up to Vash and roughly grabs the bag of food while invertible slamming Vash into the door, as he savagely eat his way through the bag, Kaite can only nod in thanks at Vash, making the man sigh.

"It really is dark, not a single light to be seen." Vash mutters at the surroundings of the Sandsteamer, drinking a cup of water.

"Oh, yeah? It'll be bright soon enough." Kaite commented, as Vash realized it too late, losing consciousness in his first clas room, his drink has been spiked by the boy.

Kaite can only look at Vash with a bit of guilt, before hiding back into the vents.

"Sorry about that, Mr. Goody-Goody." Kaite apologizes, before rummaging through his pocket, not feeling anything.

"Eh? where did I put-"

"Kaite? Are you here?" A gentle voice whispers, walking into the room he's in.

"Ms. Rose? What are you doing here?!" Kaite got out of the vents, as the masked woman walks in, wearing a white fur coat.

"I wanted to check on you, is that a bad thing?" She teases, smiling cheekily at him, before turning her gaze to the passed-out man on the floor, staring at him blankly.

"...you almost got caught?"

"Yeah...didn't have much of a choice so I spiked his drink, oh! and my sleeping gas is missing!" Kaite panics, patting around himself as he suddenly sees a sleeping gas device in front of him, Rose is handing it to him, smiling teasingly.

"Aren't you glad I checked on you?" Rose teases, as Kaite blushes and takes the device from her.

"Now crawl along now, you know Neon hates it when we're a minute late" (Y/N) commented, patting the boy's head before going back inside the vent, following the plan, leaving Rose with the passed-out man.

Rose simply stared at him blankly, disdain flashing through her eyes, before closing them, sighing as she carefully placed the Humanoid Typhoon onto the bed, looking at the man in sadness, she hesitates, before reaching out to stroke his cheek, looking at him with loaded thoughts, as she stands up from the bed turning to leave, giving him one last glance filled with sadness, before turning to greet the Leader of the gang.

Blasting his way through gate 42, walking in with his outfit covered with numerous lights, is the leader of the Bad Lad Gang himself.

"The ultimate magnificent dreadnought raiders! Bad Lad Leader! Brilliant Dynamites Neon...emerges!!." Neon boasted as he pulled out a pistol that also extended his flashiness, and shoots at a certain wall.

"Now, all that glitters in this ship belongs to me!" Neon claims, and the wall he shot at crumbles, revealing Kaite staring at him blankly, with the masked woman beside him, the white fur coat hides her figure, smiling at him flirtatiously as they walked up to him, her high-heeled boots clanking against the metal hallway.

"And that includes you, my Mourning Rose~." Neon purrs, as he held up her chin, making her look up at him as she chuckles at him.

"Of course, Neon~." Rose reassures, a hand on his chest as Neon wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her up to him as she chuckles along with him.

"Ehem!." Kaite loudly clears his throat, tired of their handsy moment, as Neon clicks his tongue, unable to scold the boy with the woman in his arm.

"You worked brilliantly, kid. Now gather all of the passengers in one spot." Neon orders, patting the boy's head with his free hand.

"U-understood." Kaite answers, unable to disobey as Rose sadly looks at the boy.

" Rose." Neon quickly calls her, and she smiled up to him as if she has been smiling the whole time.

"Yes, Neon?~"

"Take us to the party room, would ya? Maybe we could also perform a little performance of our own~" Neon suggested, as Rose chuckles up at him.

"I would be honored to, Hubby~"

"REM!" Vash woke up with a start, dreaming about Rem's song as he tears up, before having to stop as his room was suddenly barged into a raider surveying the room, luckily Vash is hidden at the top bunk of the bed, he was unseen as the Hijacker runs out, unable to see anyone.

"What?..."

At the casino, Neon has some of the crew hold his more prolific hostages at gunpoint, with Mourning Rose by his side, as he looks at the jewelry they confiscated in disgust.

"Crud, is that all you, you a bunch of beggars?" Neon snarls, unsatisfied with what little they hauled.

" Don't try to fool me! Where is it!?" Neon demands, yelling at one of the hostages, before one of his crew runs back to the casino.

"Boss!" The lackey called, as he led Neon and Mourning Rose to a giant vault, bringing along a Sandsteamer crew member with them.

"So, they do have one, and a big one at that!." Neon commented, looking at the size of it.

"Open it up for me, would you?"

"It isn't possible to! Not a single person on this ship knows the combination to the safe! And besides, the coded interlocking key is in the city! It's not here!" The crew member reasoned, unable to perform Neon's request.

"What are we going to do, Neon?" Mourning Rose asked, leaning up to him, as he only smirked.

"I see. thanks for telling me. That means we'll have to break it open." Neon smiles sadistically, shocking the hostage crew member as he and Mourning Rose made their way to the control room, stabbing a map on the control panel, right in front of the Helmsman.

"Once we're around the mountain to the right, go straight. In 5 minutes, when we're within sight of the canyon, head north-northeast...and begin accelerating." Neon orders, over the Helmsman, pointing out the windshield.

"At full speed, we'll arrive in 10 minutes. This is our destination, the Enora Precipice." 

"What!? A-at least let us unload the passengers! please!" The Captain begs as Neon looks at him mockingly.

"Huh? We risked our lives to get here, you should be expected to risk your lives too."

"you depraved lunatic!" The Captain insults heavily, before getting punched in the face by Neon.

"This is the superexpress to your final blaze of glory! If it's not flashy, what's the point!?." Neon preaches, pulling Mourning Rose closer to him as she can only smile outside, but deep inside, she's panicking.

"Uwaaah...I have my work cut out for me this time, don't I?."

The Sandsteamer heavily rumbles as it sustained damage on the unpaved road, its speed also not helping its case, causing the Helmsman to choose and decide to reach up to a lever to slow down the vehicle, but his hand was stepped on by Neon.

"Come on, what are you doing? Isn't that the brake?"

"We're sworn to protect the passenger of this ship! I can't go against that! Even if it kills me!" the Helmsman swears, glaring at Neon, as he smirked.

"Have it your way." Neon agrees as Mourning Rose shot the Helmsman, knocking him down to his back instantly, he can only groan in pain for a moment before unmoving.

"Rose, why did you shoot? I was planning on shooting him!" Neon whines, as Mourning Rose chuckles, turning around to hold his face.

"Apologies, Hubby, It's just that all I've been doing is be your arm candy this whole time, and my finger began to itch..." Mourning Rose pouted as she started to remove the fur coat, revealing her familiar outfit, shocking the captain.

"You're the woman who performed earlier at the casino! not only that, but you're a notorious outlaw as well! Mourning Rose! The criminal known for dancing over your victim's corpses!"

"Bingo!" Mourning Rose corrects, smiling at the Captain cheerfully as if she didn't just kill one of his crew, the Captain can only shiver at how remorseless she is.

"Oh? your finger started to itch, huh?." Neon smirked, as he began to approach Mourning Rose.

Vash pants as he crawled his way into the control room, trying to stop whoever hijacked the Sandsteamer.

"I can finally tell where I am!" he panted, as he looked through the vents, shocked to see a hunk of a man dressed in white with neon lights, kneeling in front of the masked woman he recognized that performed earlier.

"Shall we? My Mourning Rose?~" the man asked, holding up his hand to the masked woman, who chuckles seductively, taking his hand.

Vash is absolutely astonished at the scene before him "…my god…this… this is…" his eyes widen as he stares at the masked woman. He can't hide the utter shock in his eyes, as she chuckles at Neon, removing her mask "…Y/n..?" he nearly shoved his face down the vent "…it… it can't be!" his eyes are nearly popping out of his head as he looks at the woman, his heart pounding "…is that… is that really her?"

The woman didn't hear Vash, as she took Neon's hand "Let's" And with that, they danced an elegant waltz while the woman shoots at the rest of the crew, she even have guns on her feet, as Neon carries him to his shoulders and spin around, effectively shooting at the crew, all of them knocked out,

VASH watches in awe, he doesn't think he'd ever seen someone shoot quite that skillfully "...god... she's a natural with those guns... she can hit anything with 'em! I've gotta admit, I don't know how to do that feet thing... that's gonna take some pract-" Vash quickly snaps out of his shock, and his face goes stony "...god, why the hell didn't I notice all the bodies earlier? I oughta put a stop to this!"

The waltz ends as Neon dips the woman, their faces close together "That was quite the flashy performance, I hope that satisfied your itch, My rose~." Neon compliments as he kisses the back of her hand, before pulling her up to her feet.

 "Oh, thank you, Hubby~" Y/n mutters, holding Neon's cheek, as Vash's stomach dropped at the nickname.

"That's what she always used to call me..."

"I've brought the kid." Neon's henchman announces, as Kaite gasps, seeing that bodies littered the control room.

"Go on!" the henchman pushed Kaite into the control room, making the boy walk up to Neon, who leaned back to the controls pulling Y/n by the waist.

"Now, now, don't look so grim. Sometimes adults have unhappy differences of opinion. I wanted to ask you how to steer this huge clunker" Neon asked, but it sounded more like a demand.

"I don't know the layout of the console...but you need to regulate the amount of CO2 sent to the heating PLANT...and monitor the stress on the boiler. the light and heat to the hydro plant also need to be regulated constantly." Kaite explains, revealing the complexity of the Sandsteamer.

"In other words, it's a pain in the ass. I shouldn't have killed him." Neon spats, glaring at the body of the Helmsman.

"Say...why do you need the steering? It's been accelerating kind of funny...Why don't you just take the goods and split?" Kaite asked, confused.

"Cause the plan's changed, the swag is in a huge safe in the middle of the ship. It's tougher than the usual crap. the worst part of it is, we have no key unless we go to the city! Isn't it sad enough to make you cry? What would you do? the correct response is: you crack the whole thing in half!" Neon grins throughout the explanation, as if it's the most exciting plan he ever made, but frowns in anger when he noticed Kaite isn't responding properly.

"What's wrong?"

"Do anything you want... Do anything you want, but not that!" Kaite begs as Neon looks at him confused.

"You never said you were going to do that! I was only supposed to silence the guards and let you inside! How come we're wrecking the whole ship all of a sudden?! That wasn't part of our deal!!." Kaite cried out, pulling at Neon's collar as tears began to build up from his eyes until Kaite was held up by his head, Neon looks at him unamused.

"Hey, Kid. are you misunderstanding something? I won the goods on this ship...so why do I have t answer to you...before I collect?!" Neon yells as he throws the boy down to the ground, glaring at him.

"You ain't being beautiful!" Neon scolded him as Kaite began to sob, while Rose could only look at them in worry.

"If you're going to use your ship info for a trade...at least prepare for the worst, stupid!." Neon yells, anger evident in his tone, as Kaite pushes himself up by his elbows, coughing some blood and losing a tooth.

"Please...anything but the ship!" Kaite continues to beg as he was suddenly kicked away by Neon.

"Hey, don't be a fool. shut up and do what he says!" Neon's henchman suggests, even he is worried about the boy's well-being.

"Never, This ship is Dad's...This is my Dad's ship!!!." Kaite screams as Neon suddenly rushes up at him, his flashy pistol pointed against the boy's teeth, it clinks as Kaite shakes in fear.

"Enough. I'm short-tempered." Neon grins as he suddenly shoved the pistol more down the boy's throat, grinning madly.

"Go po-"

"Wait, Neon!" Y/n panics, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Isn't this a bit too much? he's just a kid!" Y/n  tries to reason, as she slowly pulls back the arm that has the pistol down Kaite's throat.

"But he's interrupting our plan! and-" Before Neon could even complain, the windshield of the Sandsteamer broke, it was shot at, as a red figure jumps in landing on one of the henchmen and catching the gun falling from midair.

"You okay, squirt? over here!" Vash calls out, as Kaite quickly runs over to Vash's side, hiding behind him.

"Son of a..."

"Pardon me!" Vash shot at the feet of Neon's henchmen, keeping them at bay.

"Don't move now, or you'll get hurt!" Vash tells the henchman before turning to Neon who still has his back to them, but his head turns to the side, able to see them, and finally, Vash noticed Y/n, who still has her arms wrapped around Neon's neck from behind, staring at him with a slitted glance.

"...you're making a big mistake, darlin'." Vash tries to reason, his pistol still pointed at them, "...don't make this harder than it has to be... please..." Vash begs as Y/n continues to look at him with a slitted glance.

"Boss! Sampson was in a passenger cabin!" a Henchman suddenly burst into the control room as Vash realized that Neon's gun was pointed at him and Kaite, shooting away at them, making the two of them flee out of the control room through the windshield, ungracefully falling down to the side of the giant vehicle.

as the two fell, Neon walks up to the broken-in windshield, peering down into the abyss in a bit of confusion.

"Hmm? What's that supposed to be? This is going to be fun!" Neon grins, staring at the darkness Vash and Kaite fell into.

"Hey, doggies!" Neon turns to his Henchmen.

"Yes!?"

"Fetch me a souvenir!"

"Yes!"

"Make it something beautifully gorgeous!"

"Yes!" His Henchmens understood the assignment before leaving the control room, it's only him, Y/n, the captain, and a few who's been keeping guard of the captain now.

"Who is that guy? It seems like he knows you very well, my rose, and whoever he is seems to have brought you in a foul mood" Neon turns at Y/n who's been looking out of the window, disdain flashing through her eyes.

"Let's just say...That he's my old 'Hubby'..." Y/n snarls, her eyes not hiding how much she hates him.

"Oh? So you have a history with my souvenir? well, why don't you go on ahead then?" Neon grins, grabbing her hand and kissing it.

"I'm sure staying in one place and performing for greasy men has made you uneasy, why don't you go ahead and ransack the place as well? you know the plan, my rose?" Neon offers, stroking her cheek reassuringly, as Y/n smiles, leaning into his touch.

" I'd love that, thank you, Hubby~."

Meanwhile, Vash and Kaite pushed their way through the bandits, following Kaite's blueprint of the Sandsteamer.

"Hahaha! What a haul, What a haul!" Vash cheers, running down the hallway with Kaite.

"At the end, take a right!." Kaite navigates, as they reached a room full of tubes.

"I gotcha...these are all voice tubes?" Vash asked, looking around

"Yeah, but...do you think this'll work?" Kaite asks, questioning Vash's plan

"The ball is in motion. we just have to see if they pick up." Vash grins, as all they have to do is wait.

"...Hey Kaite...do you know that lady earlier, right next to that guy?." Vash asked, finally being able to ask about Y/n.

"Who? Ms. Rose?"

"Yeah, her, who is she?."

"I don't know much, she was already with Neon when he first found me, and she's the only one kind to me at the gang, always watching over me, she's the perfect distraction every time we pull a heist, she usually takes care of me out of her goodwill, and with her around, it seemed to have calmed down Neon a bit, but not very much, why? you into her or something?" Kaite asked, suddenly glaring at him.

"W-what!? no! Of course not! just curious cause it's not every day you see a girl with a band of-"

"Hey, scumbags! If any of you drag your heels till time-out, I'll kill you! Bring me the blonde, or else!" suddenly they hear orders coming from the voice tubes, revealing which one is directly in the control room, giving Vash time to bring out his act.

"I'm at the starboard passenger cabins! it's him! the blonde!!" Vash acts, screaming at the voice tubes

"Good, hold him there. I'll send help." Neon orders

"It's no good! he's hid himself with incredible speed!! AAAAARGH!!!" Vash acts out, lightly choking himself to sell the act.

"Ham..." Kaite deadpans, as Vash punches his head while still choking himself.

"Excellent"

"Now I'll be able to guess where they are. But, how am I going to let you know?" Kaite asked, looking at his blueprint as Vash handed him something.

"Isn't this?..."

"Talk into it and I'll hear you. I don't wanna walk into a bunch of 'em in a narrow passageway. I'm counting on you." Vash commented, before turning to leave the room.

"Hold on a second! what are you doing with this lost technology!? who are you!?."

"I'd explain it to you... but you wouldn't believe me and there's no time." Vash replies in a serious tone.

"Anyways, don't worry about little details! see ya!" before Vash could even leave, two bandits had just found where Vash and Kaite is residing, leaving Vash no choice but to shoot them.

"Vash!" Kaite calls out in worry, running out of the room for a bit.

"Goddamn! Why does it start like this!?" Vash panics, before kneeling down beside the bandits

"What is it!?"

"I screwed up. They're bleeding badly! I have to help them!" Vash answers, as he began to treat them.

"Help them? you mean...Do you mean to tell me...you've been trying not to kill them the entire time!?" Kaite realizes, looking at Vash in shock.

"I can't understand you!!" No matter how good a shot you are, you're going to get yourself killed!" Kaite scolded, as he then also realizes that Vash himself has been shot, maybe even injured from his past injuries, but he continues to treat others rather than himself.

"I guess it is kind of stupid of me." Vash grins even through the pain

"That's true...It's sloppy. But, you know what? I made a promise. If I put out even one flame of life...it would make her sad."

"Her..." Kaite mutters

"Don't underestimate the Bad Lad Gang! No, you've got to stop underestimating the entire human race!" Kaite yells as he remembers his past experiences with his parents, the unforgiving planet, and the first time Neon found him.

"Me and them, we've betrayed and let lots of people die. It's too late for us to go back! Your too clean!!!" Kaite tries to talk some sense into Vash, convinced that he's unredeemable.

"Then you should start over." Vash stated as he stood up.

"Your ticket to the future is always...blank." Vash added, a firm with his beliefs before continuing on the plan.

"...Stupid..." Kaite thought as he sits in front of the voice tubes, scattering the bandits.

"Good. keep going straight. there should be a stairway on your right, take it down. don't go anywhere else! that's the only unmanned place." Kaite promises as the door opens to the stairway, only to be greeted with a handful of bandits and its Leader itself.

"Welcome to the party hall. Were my directions clear enough for you?" Neon greets him, grinning viciously at them.

"Kaite...get out of that room, now." Vash mutters into the mic, but not before hearing a familiar hum, before Vash could even process what it was, gunfire erupted, shooting at him, but not a single bullet touched him.

"Hello, Kaite." Kaite flinches in surprise, not realizing that Y/n has been behind him.

"Ms. Rose! It's not what it-" Kaite tries to explain himself, but was stopped when she raises her hand.

"I understand completely, Kaite." Y/n reassures, kindly smiling at him, before the Sandsteamer hit the side of a mountain, as Y/n quickly covers the boy, balancing herself through the ordeal, as the Sandsteamer finally settles, Y/n leans back, looking around.

"Come on, I have a feeling your the only one who can stop this ship." Y/n pulls Kaite out of the room, leading him to the engine hull.

"Ms. Rose! What's happening!? Is Vash alright?"

"Don't worry, he alright, he's at a duel right now with Neon, it will be over in just a bit, we'll need you to help stop this ship." Y/n commented as she continue to walk down the hall with Kaite.

" A duel!? but how would you know that? and how would you know Vash would win?!"Kaite asks, as Y/n chuckles at him.

"Of course I know he would win, he's Vash."

As the two reached near the entrance of the Engine haul, they see three Engineer crews panicking.

"Is there a way to stop the engines?" 

"We have to power down the system manually!"

"Where do we do that? This ship is too old!"

"It's in Engine Room no.2. There's an emergency stop lever inside the control system." Kaite answers, holding the blueprint with Y/n on his side.

"You little brat!" one of them tries to take the blueprint but was pointed at gunpoint.

"I would step back if I were you~" Y/n teases, smiling brightly as she points a gun at the hostile engineer, having to back away from the gun.

"So this is how you did it!" The engineer backed away, glaring at the two.

"I'll never forget...how my crewmate was killed right in front of me! I won't accept your help. we'll stop the ship ourselves!" The Engineer sneered, as Y/n could only look at him knowingly.

"Kaite...Kaite. what you gonna do, Kaite?." Vash asked through the device, as Y/n simply looks by the sidelines.

"Yeah, I know. I have to pay for what I've done." Kaite answers as the three engineers ignore them, working on opening the vault.

"4,500 yarz until deadline!" A robotic voice announces, as the three engineers successfully opens the vault.

"4,000 yarz until deadline!" with the 4,000 yarz deadline, they were able to remove the screws.

"All right, open it!!" The engineers worked on opening the vault, as heavy steam blows through them upon opening it.

"3,500 yarz...3000!"

the three engineers look around the vault, trying to find the lever.

"Where's the lever?!"

"What is this!? This place is like a cellar!"

"2,500!"

"Kaite, do all I need to do is go past those pipes and pull that lever?" Y/n asked, turning to the boy, staring at the hot inferno that contains their safety.

"2,000!""

"Yeah! but you're not small enough to go through those pipes! you'll be scalded!" Kaite franticaly informs her as Y/n began wearing one of the heat suits, willing to help

"I few burns won't kill me, but standing around will." Y/n comments as she struggles to wear the small one they have, before Kaite suddenly took it from her, quickly wearing it before she can even stop him.

"Kaite! wait!!" Y/n tries to stop Kaite, but he already run off into the Vault.

"1,800!"

"It's hopeless! we'll never make it!"

"Calm down! think! think!!" The engineer tries to think of another plan but was interrupted.

"Move!" Kaite pushes his way through the vault, before jumping into the flaming hot pipes, searing in pain, as Kaite reaches for the lever, he braises himself for pain, before grabbing and pulling it down.

"Kaite..." Y/n mutters, unable to help as the Sandsteamer, began to stop, another crash resonated outside the Sandsteamer, before completely stopping.

"I..It stop-"

"Please, give Kaite to me!" Y/n quickly requested, as the engineers could not do anything else but help the boy full of burns, into the woman's arms.

"Kaite...you did good, you took responsibility." Y/n mutters at the unconscious boy, before turning to leave.

"Hey you..." The Engineer from earlier snarls, making the woman stop at her track.

"I'll especially never forget about you, Mourning Rose, you don't dance on your victim's corpse, you dance while you're killing them! you're a despicable woman! what do you have to say about my crewmates that you killed!?" The Engineer yells, as his other crewmates restrain him, only to be met with a chuckle.

"Tell them...that I said 'Good Morning'." Y/n cryptically stated, before walking out of the Engine Hull, and meeting up with Neon outside the Sandsteamer, it seems like Neon's backup ride is totaled.

"Don't get the wrong idea. I paid off my wager. next time we meet, it's no holds barred. I'll take that life of yours, count on it." Neon vows, as Vash could only chuckle, leaning onto Milly for support, as they hear the clicking of heels coming from within the Sandsteamer, it was Mourning Rose, carrying a passed-out Kaite in her arms.

"What was that, Neon? you're the one that saved the Sandsteamer?" Y/n teases, grinning cheekily.

"I said I was paying off my wager!! did you not hear it from there!?" Neon screams as Y/n stops by Meryl, Vash, and Milly, she stands by them but not before glancing at Vash blankly

"Sir.! We just saw that the JuLai police are closing in! We have to move out!!" One of Neon's men panics, making him grin his teeth

"That's surprising, I didn't know they'd come here that quick" Vash mutters, before turning at Y/n with a soft smile.

"So... how did you end up with these guys, darlin'? I know you're not one to do something like this unless you have a good reason, so..." he gives her a soft gaze and opens his arms to hug her "...please tell me this is some big misunderstan...." Vash trails off, noticing Y/n has placed the unconscious Kaite into the confused arms of Meryl, as she walks up to Neon.

"God damn it, we don't have enough time to get our goods! Bad Lad Gang! We're movi-" before Neon could even finish, he was suddenly shot in the back making Vash gasp along with Milly and Meryl.

"What the...my Mourning Rose?" Neon could only stare at Y/n in disbelief, collapsing on the ground as he can only watch as she also shot the other members of his Gang.

"My apologies, 'Hubby', but it seems like my work here is done..." Y/n stated, looking at Neon tauntingly.

" How could you do this? I loved you! I gave you everything I have!" Neon tries to struggle but was only shot another time.

"I don't know, have you ever asked yourself, did I ever love you?." Y/n mocks as Neon started to lose consciousness, as Y/n kneels down, smiling mockingly at him.

"Goodbye, Neon, thank you for quite the adventure~." Y/n thanks, but her tone is ridiculing

Neon fully gives her one final glare, before knocking out dead.

"...Y/n..." Vash stares at Diane in horror, as it starts to sink in what she's done, his eyes are filled with tears now "...what... how..." his voice breaks with tears "...don't tell me that you're actually one of those criminals..." he sighs, and his jaw clenches as he asks his next question" ...do you really intend to hurt the people in this Sandsteamer?" his voice has a hint of anger now*

"Me? Killing people? Don't be ridiculous" Diane mocks as she breaks open her revolver to reload, revealing that she's been using tranquilized bullets the whole time "I'm only after his bounty, I'm in cahoots with the JuLai police the whole time" Y/n reveals smirks grinning at Vash's shocked face.

Vash sighed, he was relieved to know that she isn't a cold-blooded killer, but he's still got questions. "...okay, but why? I'm sure you had to do a lot of work to pull this off. I don't think I'd have the patience to plan it out... you are one crafty woman....so why'd you go through with all the trouble of setting this up?" Vash tries to ease up their tension.

"Cause I'm bored and I'm a Bounty Hunter now, the Ghost Lily" Y/n properly introduces herself, Y/n reveals as she walks past Vash, before stopping for a bit, frowning "You better hide if you don't want the JuLai police to turn you in as well, Humanoid Typhoon"

Y/n advised as she took Kaite back into her arms, as all they could do is watch her go.

"...Who was that, Mr. Vash? Your girlfriend!?~"

(A/N: I can finally sleep~)

[serafiel-jacobs]

Denial is a River in Egypt (Fanfic)

A small continuation of a one shot 🧼

When Romeo first caught Carlo he thought that he was just playing a stupid prank on him.

They were together in their room, as they shared one in Monad and when he entered the bathroom he saw a bar of soap that had clear bite marks.

“Carlo, what the hell is this?” He said as he held the soap in his hands.

“Oh shit” Carlo cursed himself, he had managed to keep it secret from everyone for so long, he is 16 now and the only time he ever got caught was when he had that talk with his father.

Who was right, eating soap bars is the least risky choice once you can’t resist the urge.

“Is this a joke?”

For a moment, Carlo wanted to lie, but he was tired of keeping it secret and Romeo is his best friend, at this point, their bond is too strong to break over something so insignificant like this.

“No, I like eating soap”

Well, he doesn't like the taste, but he likes eating them.

Romeo still thought it was all a joke and didn’t take Carlo seriously.

That is until a few days later when he found Carlo in the bathroom, he thought it was empty as he knocked and didn’t hear a response.

Carlo was holding a bottle of shampoo in his hands, and he was drinking from it.

“Carlo what the hell are you doing?!”

Carlo rolled his eyes, “Romeo it’s not a big deal”

“YOU FUCKING DRANK MY SHAMPOO ARE YOU CRAZY?!”

——-

So many years of knowing Carlo and it’s until now that Romeo finds that he is insane.

Sure, he doesn’t do it that often but who the hell eats soap and shampoo in the first place?!

“Carlo I am genuinely concerned” Romeo finds it disturbing how normal Carlo acts about it, “I don’t want to but I’m actually considering talking to your father about this”

“Oh, he knows don’t worry” Carlo casually says as he writes down notes for his homework.

“What do you mean he knows?!” Romeo is baffled, he knows that Carlo doesn’t have the best relationship with his father but surely his father would do something about this.

“Maybe instead of trying to become a stalker, you should join the opera house” Romeo is such a drama queen, “You are already in the theater club, might as well get a head start”

“Carlo you have a problem”

“No, I don’t, sometimes people do that”

“Name one person that also does this”

“My father”

Romeo lets out a sigh, “Sure Carlo, you expect me to believe your father does that? Come on”

After that, Carlo starts to ignore him and continues his homework. He doesn’t know what the deal with Romeo is lately, but maybe he is just stressed because it’s almost finals season and he is just taking it out on him.

It’s almost winter break, he is going to go back home and spend time with his father, and Carlo starts to wonder how that’s going to go…

——

Just a few days before Christmas break comes and Romeo is trying to enjoy the time he has with Carlo until he leaves.

He is trying hard but Carlo isn’t making anything any better.

Maybe he is the one who is insane because he can’t believe this, he can’t believe what he is seeing.

Sophia wanted to give them both a few gifts earlier, she wouldn't seen them on Christmas as she also had to be with her family; the thing about Sophia is that she actually does give you things you ask for. So when Romeo got that new book that’s a compilation of the most notorious plays, he wasn’t surprised and he was extremely grateful towards Sophia, especially because the only gifts he ever gets are from her and Carlo.

But when Sophia handed Carlo down a gift basket with soaps he felt like he was going to lose it.

“Here you go Carlo!” Sophia sounded excited, “I had no idea you were into self-care that much, it was nice to arrange your gift”

Romeo is speechless and Carlo gives him a smug grin.

“Mmm, something wrong Romeo?” Sophia can sense that the mood is different.

“No, Sophia it’s nothing,” Romeo says as he punches Carlo in his shoulder, “Carlo is just psychotic”

Sophia was confused but she laughed, it must be an inside joke between them.

“Hopefully we can all see each other again soon”

Romeo looks at Sophia and he hopes she never learns about Carlo’s secret.

——

Hours had passed and Geppetto still hadn’t come to pick up Carlo.

Romeo could tell that it was really affecting him, and that he was trying his hardest not to cry.

“He doesn’t care about me…” Carlo looked away, not wanting Romeo to see him cry.

“Carlo, I’m sure there is a reason why he is taking so long” He wants to reassure him, but almost everyone who had families had already left, only those who are orphans stay here at Monad during winter or summer break.

“No, it’s true, he hates me”

“Carlo-“

There was a knock at the door, and someone entered, it was one of the staff members at Monad.

“Carlo I don’t wish to worry you but we just got a call that your father is in the hospital and that’s why he hasn’t been able to pick you up”

Carlo feels guilty that he was angry over nothing and he is also worried.

Carlo packs his belongings and makes his way to the hospital; Romeo asks for permission to accompany him, and thankfully he is given permission but, he has to return to Monad before it gets too late.

“Father!” Carlo shouted as he finally saw his father resting in a hospital room. He was almost crying again.

“Carlo don’t worry, I’m fine” Geppetto tried to reassure him, this was nothing, he just made a little mistake at work.

Romeo gave a small wave to Geppetto, it was a bit uncomfortable being there as this was supposed to be personal but he wanted to be there for Carlo.

“Father, what happened?”

Before Geppetto could even say a word, a doctor came inside the room, she looked annoyed, extremely annoyed.

“So, Mr. Geppetto care to explain how you “accidentally” drank from the chemicals at Venigni works?”

Silence.

This damn doctor, Geppetto was so annoyed at her, she had been so rude from the start, sure, he might have danced a little around the bush about the issue. But once he finally explained it didn’t get any better, she was so judgmental, aren’t doctors supposed to be professional?

She probably dislikes him for some rumor that she might have heard about him, and unfortunately, he can’t let people know why he was in the hospital.

He knows how dramatic people can get, he remembers one time his father was hospitalized for the same reason and they sent him to a mental institution for 2 weeks. At least when someone is a child it’s easier to explain, not much when you are an adult.

His father was fine in the end but that’s when Geppetto quickly learned what was safer to eat and what to try and avoid.

But today as he was about to leave he just, couldn’t resist. It was driving him mad, so many years at Venigni’s works and he always wanted to do it, those pretty blue chemicals that looked like blueberry jam. He was completely alone, and even after having a snack the urge simply wouldn’t go away.

So he just had a little sip that’s all.

“I’ll pay you $100 if you keep quiet about this”

“Well, Mr. Geppetto since you are feeling better we are going to be discharging you in an hour, have fun this holiday season with your son,” The doctor said as he left with the bill in her hand.

Everything was quiet again.

“So, how was it?” Carlo asked his father.

“Oh they taste horribly but it was so fun” Geppetto smiled at his son, and both of them started laughing.

Carlo and his father start talking about some of the things they have tried since the last time they saw each other, and Romeo slowly backs away, both are clearly mentally unstable and deserve to be locked away.

——-

Once Carlo and Geppetto made it back home, they started talking again.

“Is Romeo okay? He was acting a little strange, I hope he wasn’t too worried about me” Geppetto should have considered more his feelings, maybe they weren’t that close but they had still known each other for many years, it must have been scary to see him in the hospital.

“He is just being a drama queen” Of all the things both of them do together and Romeo starts suddenly whining over his little hobby, “Romeo is probably stressed or something, finals were hard and we still haven’t gotten our grades back”

The atmosphere was relaxed, it had been so long since father and son were about to talk properly without some sort of tension in the air.

It felt good, they both do love each other, despite everything, Geppetto knows that he has to change, that he has to take more time to see his son, his son means the world to him, and Carlo knows that he needs to be a little more understanding of their situation, being a single father is hard and his father is trying his best.

“How is school going?”

“It’s going well…” Okay, maybe not that well but still.

Suddenly Carlo remembered something and he had the biggest grin on his face.

“Father you won’t believe the gift Sophia gave me”

[leajdh]

Gold rush

Chapter two: She bruises, coughs, she splutters pistol shots, hold her down with soggy clothes and breezeblocks

He was just a few more steps away from becoming a living legend. Already praised by the media as the honored one, he made a grave mistake which not only put his Ice Hockey career on hold, it disappointed even his most loyal fans so much so that his reputation sank to an all-time low.

Then he meets you; a retired figure skating champion who is now trying to find her purpose in life after her triumphs, all while still being loved and cherished by the media and public likewise.

Satoru Gojo sees his chance to not only get back unto the rink, but also to regain his former popularity.

But he soon realizes it will be a lot harder to get on your good side, because he's everything you despise combined into one person.

Will you give him a second chance and allow him to redeem himself, or is this going to be the match for your life time?

Gojo Satoru x reader (first person narrator)

Ice Hockey AU

FAKE DATING TROPE

Enemies to lovers

English isn't my first language, so expect some grammar errors

18+!!

LINK TO ALL CHAPTERS:

The music stops before repeating the same song over and over again.  

I’ve been on the rink the entire morning, waiting for Masamichi to arrive, but he’s not here and I can’t find him at the resort either. I told him over text message I need to talk to him, urgently, before he has his meeting with Satorus crew. He just texted me an emoji of a man skiing back. 

Great, when he’s skiing I can never predict when he will be here and I need to show him the pictures beforehand. I don’t want to open this pandora's box in front of Satorus manager and whoever is also on his crew. I just want to show the pictures to Masamichi and have him handle the situation. Maybe he would politely decline their request and they would search for another rink to train. I’m not petty enough to ruin Satorus entire career by ratting him out to his crew. Even though he deserves it and I want to see him lose his cool when he realizes whatever happened yesterday between us was just the tip of the iceberg. 

But I tend to let emotions get the best of me, and yesterday while eating my cold burger I kept staring at Satorus autograph and thought to myself I already won against him. I don’t need a rematch. Especially one I knew I had already won. 

Masamichi will handle it the mature way and if he decides to snitch on him, then so it will be. 

I’ve finished the same skating routine for another time and another one and so on until I can't remember how often I’ve restarted the same program. The music stops as I want to get up from my final pose to start again from the center of the rink. But I get distracted by clapping from the tribune. 

I would recognize the sound of this specific applause everywhere.  

“Romeo and Juliet, mhm. Didn’t know you are a pair skater now”, my former coach Mei Mei shouts over to me, pressing the pause button on my phone to stop the music. My vision is blurry but I would spot her figure out of millions. She was the one I always focused on during competition. My sight had always searched for her approval.

“And I didn’t know hell allowed its citizens to visit earth”, I just shouted back in response, realizing how out of breath I am. My body aches for a pause, my knees want to give up, but not in front of her. Never. 

“Romeo and Juliet is for pairs”, she simply says back. Mei Mei is a person of few words and barely laughs. She likes to get her point across without a lot of chit-chat.

“I disagree.”

“Of course you do. You don’t need another person to sell a love story. Still as presumptuous as ever.”

"Presumptuous, yes, but did it work? Did you buy into my love story?” 

I grin at her.

“Did you make this choreo on your own?”, she asks instead.

“Yes, so no need to get jealous.”

“It’s good, it’s different. With a few changes here and there, we could..”, I don’t let her finish her sentences. I know where this is going and I’m not in the mood for a discussion with her.

“I did it for funsies, not for competition.”

“You still land all your jumps, such a waste of talent.”

“What are you even doing here? Don’t tell me you missed me”, I laugh holding onto my knees for support. I overdid it. Fuck, my muscles are about to give up. Just relax, I tell myself and in a few seconds I will have the power to quickly skate out of the rink to sit down. 

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m here for someone else”', her harshness doesn’t hurt me. I’m used to it and I know for a fact that she actually really cares about me. Hard shell, soft core. At least that’s what I’ve been telling myself for years.

“Oh, what kind of masochist decides to hire you”, I snicker, gaining my vision back. 

“Will you be quiet? You must have forgotten but I made a winner out of you. ”

“And here I am thinking it was my lifelong dedication paired with my blood, my sweat and my tears.”

“Four years later and you’re still a snotty, little brat.”

“Add talented and I agree”, I hear giggling and it’s not from Mei Mei. I look around and see three people at the entrance arch. They are too far away for me to notice details, but I distinguish a woman with a plain black skirt and long brown hair. A man with likewise long hair but darker, and him. 

Satoru Gojo.

His white hair I would recognize everywhere. It seems like the other guy was the one who laughed because the woman is sucking on a cigarette, even though it isn’t allowed to smoke in here, and Satoru stares at me with a stone cold face. 

Shit, I’ve hoped to never see him again, particular after what happened the night before. Memories from yesterday creep up on me. I feel heat rushing to my ear and places I don’t want to talk about. 

“My new client is here”, Mei Mei says in the direction of Satoru.

You gotta be kidding me.

“Hockey, really? Didn’t you say it’s for brutal losers with two left legs?”, I exclaim, watching them walk down the stairs. Mei Mei is a former ice skater but as she herself said, she wasn’t talented enough. So she decided to coach and she is amazing at it. She knows bones and muscles more than any doctor. She can see from a mile away when someone steps on the ground the wrong way or when the legs hit a wrong angle after a jump. No doubt in my mind that she is capable enough to train a wounded hockey player back onto the ice. 

“Yes, but money is money, right?” 

She is always saying what’s on her mind. Unapologetic. Some clients would find this utterly rude, but they don’t seem to care. 

I need to get off the ice and away as fast as possible, but my legs are still shaking. I’m afraid I will fall when I try to skate off. This situation couldn’t get any worse.

So I just follow them down the stairs with my eyes, focused on Satoru, who stares right back at me. No smile, no goofy expression, nothing. It’s like he’s ready to go into the rink for a fight. I’m so focused on him that I first take a look at the other guy as he says: “Hey”, adding my name casually: “Long time no see.”

I just look at him and can’t sort out his face. 

“I can’t even be mad at you for not..”, he continues but I screech in a high-pitched voice: “Suguru.”

Right at this moment my left knee gives in and I fall on my side. Gladly I’m used to falling so I know how to save myself to avoid greater damage. Still I fall on my hip and only manage to save my head from hitting the ground by using my elbow to keep my upper body steady. I hit a nerve and it shots right through my limps. I want to scream but it is already embarrassing enough to fall like that, especially after saying a guy's name, so I suffer within. 

“I’m fine!”, I say immediately. It hurts, but I’m fine. Maybe it will bruise but I’ve had worse. The only problem is, I can’t get up. The muscles in my left lower thigh start to constrict, making it impossible for me to even get back on my legs. My ass is therefore glued to the ice. I shift my weight to at least get my legs off the cold ground. Of course I’ve decided not to wear tights today, a foolish mistake.

“You forgot to eat your banana!”, I hear Mei Mei scream. I can’t remember the last time I ate a banana, but whenever my muscles were exhausted, Mei Mei would tell me to eat more bananas. “I will get you”, I hear Suguru say. I’m glad he’s the one offering me help, yet I still tell him I’m good, I don’t need any help. 

Suguru Geto. 

He was the captain of the university ice hockey team, which used to train on this rink before Yaga cut the contract a year after Suguru had graduated and moved to play for the Boston Bruins. He was a heartthrob and probably still is. I can further remember all these college girls giggling on the tribune as they were watching him train. My initial thought was, he would be an arrogant ass, like most hockey players. 

But Suguru was different. He was nice to everyone. He laughed at every joke his teammates told him, he greeted everyone who walked past him and he listened and was actually interested in every conversation he had with fans. 

We saw each other while he was on the rink, because even when the rink was occupied, I spent my entire day in the hall. Usually I was reading and occasionally looked over to him. It seemed like ice hockey was created for him. With such an ease he ruled the rink and demolished his opponents. But most importantly he had truly fun, something I rarely had on the ice. For me skating was all about winning and keeping my mind occupied. I trained so hard that my brain couldn’t hold a thought for longer than a second. Everything was about skating. Nothing else was invited in my mind. 

I was jealous of him in a weird way.  

He was allowed to sometimes come over when the rink was closed to skate, because my mother liked him. She didn’t hold animosity against ice hockey players, unlike me. One time she said Suguru reminds her of my father and I laughed at her. My mother had her delusional moments. There is nothing good about my father. 

There is so much good about Suguru. 

Suguru and I often sat at the same bench but never really talked and I think he was glad we didn’t. Whenever I saw him with his team, he was surrounded by people who wanted something from him, so he must have enjoyed the silence we shared. It’s not like I wanted to talk with him anyway. I didn’t have time for friends, much less for boys. But we greeted each other and sometimes he told me how impressive my jump was and I showed him my support by giving him a silent thumbs up when he looked at me after hitting a goal. 

I only found out about him playing for the Boston Bruins, because he sent me a card after I won at my first Olympics. Reading how he forced his entire team to watch me and how happy he was when I won. He added his condolences for my mothers death, saying he first heard about it through a presenter who mentioned it on TV before my performance, so he’s sorry for not contacting me earlier. In the envelope were two tickets for one of his games in Boston. He wrote that he knew about my distaste against ice hockey, but a little city trip never hurt nobody. He even wrote I’m allowed to read or look at my phone, on condition that I shoot him a thumbs up when he’s making a point. He didn’t leave a phone number or address, so I couldn’t contact him. I’m not sure if I would’ve even done that. After the Olympics I didn’t have free-time. I was giving interviews for magazines, doing photoshoots and had TV appearances. So I never went to his game. 

Eight years have passed since then. Occasionally I was thinking about him, but we never shared a deep bond to begin with and for him to not leave anything to contact him felt like a sign that he was just trying to be nice. Nice how he would be to everyone who lost their mother and later won at the Olympics. I would have felt like a fool for trying to contact him after all these years.  

As Suguru wants to step on the ice, Satoru holds him back and slithers past him, saying he will get me. 

Oh no, I force myself to get up while the woman, who is with them, just says: “Gojo, if you hurt yourself going on ice without skates, don’t expect me to treat your wounds afterwards.” 

But it didn’t seem to bother him being on ice without skates. He slides towards me like it’s the easiest thing ever. For him it probably is. He must have insane upper body strength and don’t get me started on the legs. I mean I’ve seen the pictures, not only before I went into the pub. I googled him again at home while Hime was telling me about her day, mentioning how Satoru and his crew rented the entire third floor and how upset the cook got once she gave him Satorus meal plan with all the extra wishes. 

Before he has the chance to reach me, I’m on my legs again. It’s killing me, but it’s better than getting help from him. He still extends his hand towards me. 

“No really, I’m good”, I say and want to skate past him towards the rink exit where Mei Mei is waiting for me with open arms, but he grabs my arm and throws me over his shoulder like I weigh nothing. Before I even register what I’m doing, I kick my legs, but he holds them in place, whispering to me: “Leaving me out in the cold is one thing, but now you’re trying to kill me.”  

I instantly stop moving.

I forgot I had my skates on. Hitting him at the right angle, they would cut through him like butter. 

“I’m sorry, did I strike you?”, I ask, totally forgetting whose shoulder I’m on. He has his arm wrapped around my upper thighs. His hand is laying precariously close to my ass, while his other arm blocked my kicks. 

“No, I’m fine, princess.”

Just now I’m realizing that he isn’t taking me to the exit where the others are waiting. He’s going across to the other exit. 

“Don’t call me that and you’re going the wrong way!”

“Yesterday you didn’t mind me calling you princess, and huh? Not wearing tights with such a short skirt. Don’t tell me you did that for me.”

“Dream on”, I buzz back to him with a lowered voice: “Now let me go, I can skate by myself.”

“No, we need to talk”, he rustles and pinches me right below my ass. I’m hitting him against his lower back but it doesn't bother him. 

We arrive at the other exit while the others look confused at us from the other side. Great, I don’t want to know what they are thinking. 

He lowers me down and finally lets go of his grip he had on me. I open my skates as fast as I possibly can, not looking up to him.

“As much as I enjoy you kneeling in front of me, we need to talk.”

I get up with my skates in my hands and turn around to leave. There is no need to talk. By now his pea-sized brain must have figured out that I’m playing a part in his whole contract with the usage of the rink. 

But it’s too late.

He fucked up by drinking. 

He broke the contract before it was even completely finalized.   

No need for me to hear his excuses. 

As I’m walking away from him, he doesn’t hinder me. Instead I hear a sound which makes my blood freeze inside my veins.

‘Who’s your daddy, Zenin?’

Followed by me whimpering his name.

My heart sinks as I jump up, turning to him. Satoru hasn’t moved a bit as he holds his phone out for me to see a video. 

“Do I have your attention now?”

I can’t believe it. How didn’t I notice him filming? 

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

This is not good. 

Not good? It’s a fucking disaster!

“Delete it”, is all I mutter once the clip is over. The clip itself is dark, you can barely identify me. But him saying my fucking last name and me being dumb enough to play right into his cards by answering. Fuck. 

Did he plan this from the beginning? 

No, it can’t be. 

He’s just a pervert, who does stuff like that. His obsessive talking about taking pictures of me while fucking him with a Rangers shirt on should have been an indicator from the start. 

“You know I can’t”, he answers.

“Why not?”

“The pictures.”

“Which pictures?”

Pathetic comeback for me, but I’m startled. I can’t lose this evidence. Surely I could ask Masamichi to just believe me or tell him to call Frank. He’s a witness, but I’m not even certain if he would listen to me. He would probably tell me to stop with my animosity against Satoru.

“Oh don’t you dare act stupid”, he puts his phone back into the pockets of his grey training pants: “Suguru has warned me about your dislike towards ice hockey players. Don’t get me wrong, I understand it. But I would’ve never guessed how far you would go.”

“What do you mean, warned?”, I cough.

“Did you really think I didn’t know who you were right from the beginning?”, I look at him, my heart beating a thousand miles per hour in my chest: “I know so much about you, you have no idea.”

I start to lose balance again, holding myself up at the edges of the rink. Partly because of my still exhausted legs, but more so because I feel the panic rise inside of me. I want to puke, knock myself out, just so I can wake up far away from him in a hospital bed and act like none of this is happening right now. 

“Sit”, he points to a bench: “This will take a while.”

I obey and take a seat. There is no way for me to get away. To get out of this situation. If I can live through this nightmare, I can do anything. 

At least for now he’s keeping distance, leaning against the wall in front of me. I’m glad no one seems to come over to bother us. Before I could ask myself why they are leaving us alone, I rant: “I didn’t give me any permission to film me! Do you have any idea how badly this could affect my life?”

“And do you have any idea how these pictures could affect my life?”

“It’s your own fault! You took these pictures, you did it yourself! If I were your average fan, these pictures would be online already!”, I scream at him, holding back tears. 

“Yes, and it was fucking stupid of me. I was reckless.”

“So your own recklessness gives you the permission to film me? Why did you do it? Is this a sick kind of game to get back at my father, something to laugh about with your team?”

He walks over to me, seating himself next to me at the bench, stretching his left leg out. Not looking at me.

“It has nothing to do with your dad and no one will ever see this video, if you keep the pictures to yourself and let me skate here.”

I feel sick. 

“Are you blackmailing me?”, I ask with a shaky voice. 

“No, I’m just matching your energy. You started this foul game, I’m just keeping up.”, he’s still not looking at me, now both his legs are stretched wide open. Relaxation in person. He never seems to lose his cool.

“I don’t understand.”

“I already told you not to act stupid. You made it your mission right from the moment you saw me at the pub to ruin my life and I was dumb enough to not notice it until I saw how you looked at the pictures. Smiling like I walked right into your trap. I realized I’m fucked if I don’t have a quick backup plan.”

We really played each other, but I underestimated him tremendously. He’s right. I thought he is a dumb ice hockey player, who is an easy opponent. I would’ve never guessed that he saw right through me.  

I breathe heavily and try to calm my nerves. I don’t know what to do. Or what to say. I’m on the horns of a dilemma. But I need to solve this quickly. And for this I need to know exactly what his plan is.

“What will you do if I show Yaga the pictures?”

“I will leak the video.”

I bite my teeth: “Then I will show them to your NHL team.”

“No you won’t do any of that and I will tell you exactly why.”

He stretches his arms over his head like he has no care in the world. It makes my blood boil by how calm he seems. He knows he has me in the palm of his hand. I acted the same way as I locked him out of my car. I was so certain that I had the upper hand, that I didn’t realize his real scheme. It wasn’t to fuck me, it was to counterplay my strategy. 

“You’re a world-class figure skating champion without any dirty laundry. You didn’t even say one bad word about your shithead dad to the press”, he gets up and situates himself between my legs. Going on his knees to be on one level with me, while his large hands rest on my thighs. I do nothing against it. I just hold his sight and wait for him to continue.

“You’re still to this day America's sweetheart. Not a chance in the world you would risk your perfect reputation over not sharing your rink with an ice hockey player.”

“And you’re naive if you think I did this because you’re an ice hockey player.”, is the only thing I spit back at him, because he’s right about me. He read me like an open book, even with alcohol intake. He’s not a dumb player who only has parties and sex in mind. He’s a fucking psychopath.  

“So why did you do it?”, he asks, genuinely curious while he rests his chin on my knee. He looks at me like this is all fun and games to him. Like he has already won. 1:0 for me, my ass. This is not a rematch, it’s halftime and I just realized that I scored an own goal. 

“Why can’t you just get another rink?”, I ask instead, while ignoring his question and holding back tears. I can’t win this. He’s so fucking right. I would do everything to keep my reputation high. Thinking more about it, certainly a video like this would make massive waves. I think of all the different outcomes. In today's climate Satorus career would be over. No, let me correct that. Over something like leaking a suggestive video, his career wouldn’t be over. He’s a hot, rich man, who’s loved by many people. He would come out of this with a tap on his fingers. Only the pictures I have could ruin his career. But if he goes down, he will drag me with him. Clearly I would get sympathy from some sides, but still make the headlines. And even when people tell you, they didn’t look at it, they did. It’s the age of the internet. Once something is out there, it will be there forever and haunt you like a poltergeist. The fear has gripped me that this short, dirty talk video would overshadow all my accomplishments. 

I start to cry. 

“There is no time for me to find a new one before the season begins”, he noticed me crying and let out an annoyed sigh: “I’m sorry for doing this to you, princess. But my career means everything to me. You surely understand this better than anyone else.”

Yes I do, and this is the reason why I’m sitting here and declaring defeat. He can have my rink alongside with my dignity. Wait, he already has the last one. 

“I hope you fall and break your neck on my rink”, I say and kick him against his chest, but he has a strong grip on my thighs, not letting go of me as he smiles: “So we have a deal, great! How about we start over”, he exclaims and lets go of my thighs, leaving his handprints on them. I brush over my thighs, trying my hardest to get them away. My action doesn’t seem to bother Satoru as he takes something out of his pocket. 

His phone and mine.

He must have grabbed it before entering the rink. He could have easily just destroyed it. There was no need for him to ever mention the video he has of us. It was nothing more than another game of his. A power trip. To show off that he played me. To show off that he tricked me.   

To show off that he conquered me.

I want to strangle him.

He unlocks his phone while holding mine in front of my face to activate the face-ID. Whatever his plan is, I know I have to accept it. I have never felt this kind of defeat before. I have never felt powerless over a situation. I have never lost. 

Then he hands me his phone and keeps mine.

“Delete the video. And I will delete the photos.”

“How do I know you don’t have a backup?”

“I don’t use the cloud because this thing gets way too easily hacked.”

“You could have it saved to another device or send it to someone.”

“Jeez, how leery. Not sure why I deserve this.”

I just stare at him, unamused while I feel the weight of his phone in my hand. 

“Okay, you can look through all my messages and ask Suguru, I don’t have another device with me.” 

“And how do you know I don’t have a backup?”

“Oh, come on, princess, don’t be silly now. You were way too sure about all this to think that something could go wrong.”

I lower my glance and work my way through his phone without saying a word to him. In a fucked up way I trust him that he has no backup. But I still look through his recent messages on all his social media platforms. There are a lot of chats. Mostly I’m interested in his groupchat with the Rangers team. It’s a bunch of nonsense they ramble about. Asking Satoru about the resort and all kinds of stuff about Hockey. I’m surprised that he didn’t mention meeting me. So he really kept it to himself. Even though there was a conversation going on a few days ago that caught my attention, mainly because I see my name added into it.

Gavel: I still think it's a foolish idea for Gojo to train at the Yaga rink. Can’t trust a Zenin.

Slenderman: There’s a NDA.

Gavel: NDAs always have a loophole. Send it to me, I will find one.

Slenderman has sent a file

Atsuya: I agree with Hiromi, it’s idiotic. Aren’t there other ones?

1: We already discussed that. We requested over a dozen. Yaga is the only one that meets our criterias. No more debate. The situation is bad enough already.

Satoru: Jeez, thanks.

1: you know how I meant it..

Scarface: I also think it’s a dumb idea.

Satoru: Since when do you care?

Scarface has sent a photo (it’s a screenshot of my name in google picture search)

Scarface: notice a pattern?

Satoru: ???

Scarface has sent a photo (it’s a screenshot of Satoru Gojo girls in google picture search)

Scarface: pattern

Satoru: ???

Space bun: He means she’s your type.

Satoru: So?

Scarface: You’re there to train, not to get your dick wet.

Nanamin: I don’t want to be part of this discussion.

Nanamin has left the chat

Ino has added Nanamin 

Gavel: I looked over it, I will send a better version to you, @ slenderman

Slenderman: Thank you, but our attorneys approved this one.

Gavel: They’re idiots then.

Slenderman: @ scarface Thank you for your concern, but our team at Idaho will make sure that Gojo focuses only on his training. 

Satoru: Can’t promise that.

1: …

Scarface: I knew it! Can’t blame you, she’s fuckin’ hot. I would tap that too.

Nanamin has left the chat

Space Bun: Gross dude, don’t you have a girlfriend?

Ino has added Nanamin

Scarface: So? Doesn’t mean I can’t dream

Scarface: and cream.

Nanamin has left the chat

1: I’m just one more comment away from informing coach Gakukanji about this @ scarface

Scarface:  Pls don’t tell daddy, I’m scared. 

1: …

Scarface: Jokes aside, I’m just thinking about the team. If he’s not focusing on getting back on track, we’re fuck, so you better give Q-tip a warning.

Ino has added Nanamin

1: See you in 10, Satoru.

Satoru: Jeez, I was just joking.

1: in 10.

Satoru: okay mom

Gambler: Did someone see my Jersey?

“Gross”, I mutter, not sure what to make out of that. It’s true, he has a type, but I see his type more as models. I don’t notice a huge resemblance with me. But people from the outside see things differently, maybe scarface is right, but that still doesn’t help me on my path of trying to understand what Satoru actually wants from me. A quick fuck? A challenge? My fathers attention? Whatever his intentions are, they are not noble.

“What? Found my nudes?”, he smirks up to me, still sitting between my thighs. 

“What, no!”

“Right, you wouldn’t say gross if you saw them.”, he grins and is skipping through my phone as well. I don’t really mind, because I have nothing of his interest to hide. 

After I checked his most recent chats and made sure his phone is in no connection with another, all while trying not to lurk too much into his privacy, but as I went ahead to his galery to delete the video, I noticed a handful of photos of Satoru with a kid. 

“You have a kid?”, I ask without thinking if I’ve crossed a line by wanting to know something so private, especially for athletes like him. A lot of famous people keep partners or kids behind closed curtains, away from the public eye.

But Satoru just glares at his phone for a second and says: “No, it’s Fushiguros.”

“And who’s Fushiguro?”

He blinks at me, knitting his eyebrows in disbelief.

“You really have no clue about Ice Hockey. Toji Fushiguro, he’s my teammate.”

“Cute kid.”

He blinks at me again, before going straight back to whatever he’s doing on my phone. 

“Yeah he’s a cutie, unlike his dad.”

I don’t question his stance, even though I’m asking myself who Fushiguro is from all the weird nicknames he gave his teammates and go right into his video folder where I instantly find the video and delete it. 

“And you have a cat?”, he questions showing me a picture from my photo gallery. I look at the picture and explain: “Yes, his name is Todo. He’s actually the rink cat, maybe you will see him.”

Three winters ago I found Todo as a kitten under a stack of firewood. As I was about to grab some, I heard his meow and instantly brought him inside. Even as a kitten he was big, but now he’s a huge monster of a cat, who eats like an actual monster as well. I spend more money on his food than on my own. But he’s a lovely black tabby, easily makes friends and loves belly rubs when he’s comfortable with someone. He usually lives in the rink hall because it’s more spacious than my cabin. I sometimes take him with me overnight, but often I can’t find him before I leave. I will definitely get him a friend, but the rescue center in my town doesn’t have a right candidate at the moment. 

“Cute”, he smirks, still looking at the picture of Todo and me.

“Yes, he really is.”

“No, I meant you.”

I make a fake puking sound and declare: “Hope you’re deadly allergic to cats.”

He just laughs deeply into his stomach and I avoid his eyes to focus back on his phone in my hands.

Just to make sure I go ahead into the data bin and permanently scrap the video off. This has never existed. So it never happened. 

I want to hand him his phone back but he’s still fixated on mine. 

“What are you doing?”

“Looking through your google searches.”

“Give me my phone!”, I try to snatch it out of his hand but he grabs both my wrists with his unoccupied one and keeps scrolling with the other. Trying to free myself, he just pulls me closer, pressing his shoulder against my stomach. I have his hair under my nose and I hate to say it, I actually curse myself for thinking this, but he smells so good. Whatever magical spell he has on my brain to even just think that, needs to be shattered. I should not find him attractive, but of course fate has sent me an adonis over to make my mortal enemy.

“Over a dozen searches with my name. Are you in love or something? Honestly, I wouldn’t blame you.”

“Shut up and give it back”, I screech, pulling even more. I tend to forget that he’s a fucking rock.

“Satoru Gojo DUI, Satoru Gojo crash, Satoru Gojo jail. Really?”

“Gosh, let me go”, I say and try again to rip my hands out of his grip. I rather say ‘Gosh’ because if I just utter the word ‘God’ in his presence, he will make it about himself. 

“I take it back. Whoever Michael Byford is, he must be living rent-free in your head. Michael Byford wedding, Michael Byford wife. Shit, princess, you’re in love with a married man?”, but then I can see on his face as he reads more of the searches. The same ones I used when I looked Satoru up. DUI, crash, jail, murder….

He’s confused and distracted which allows me to get my hands free and snatch my phone back.

“Who is he?”, he asks instantly, staring me down, but I don’t meet his gaze. 

“Did you delete the pictures?”, I ask instead, wanting nothing more than to go away.

He simply nods.

So it’s over. No need for me to stay here with him any longer. I push one of my legs past his chest to get up and brush past him. However he’s fast and grabs my shoulder, before I even have the chance to fully get up. He’s asking again who he is. 

Michael Byford; the man who took my mother from this earth, from me. Normally you would think that Satoru should have heard his name if he really does know everything about me. Yet his name is pretty much never written in articles about my mothers death. Most articles about my mothers passing paint her death as an accident, some even say she was in a car and hit another one. I never talked about it or clarified anything, because it happened right before the Olympics and my PR team told me to focus on my performances. Masamichi did everything in his power to handle the situation, but apparently Michael Byford had someone mighty on his side, who had good connections with the press and a whole lot of money. His name and face were erased from most articles and lies were fabricated even though he was convicted. Whoever cares to know how my mother dies, will read about a tragic accident. Only if you dig deeper, you will find words like drunk driver or at best Michael B..

After all these years I never had the strength to talk about it publicly. People thought I handled it so well. I mean I won gold. I should have been devastated and should have resigned from the Olympic team, but skating was the only thing keeping me from collapsing. I didn’t let my brain think for one second. I pushed my body beyond its limits to kill every thought in my mind. And after the Olympics everyone seemed to forget about her death. All I heard about was my victory, which sent me straight into a pile of interviews, photoshoots, campaigns and TV appearances. Once this died down, I wanted to tackle the processing for her death. I wanted to come clear with myself and start to accept it, but Mei Mei has brought up that I need to focus on Nationals and requalify for the Olympics and at that time I chose the easier way, which was to simply not think about her death. Now nearly a decade later I still haven’t engaged in the healing process. I’m only angry and bitter. Angry at Michael Byford and whoever helped him discredit his actions. Bitter with myself for never addressing it. For keeping quiet about her death. For letting him get away with it.

But it’s too late. I missed the train to untangle it. 

Being in the public eye is heaven and hell so to speak. I would open a barrel with no idea how deep it gets. 

People could find me brave for finally speaking about it, for bringing attention to the injustice the press did to my mothers case. I could give speeches about it and maybe help others who went through the same loss. But who am I to do this? I’m not even over it myself. Can you actually get over a situation like it? God, they would praise me as a hero, yet I’m spiteful and my mind is filled with cruel imaginations. 

On the other side the deeper the barrel, the closer it is to hell. And hell would be to come across as needy, fame hungry. Like why is she talking about it now? It’s nearly a decade ago, why didn’t she speak up earlier? Is she using her mothers death to get relevant again? Is the money getting tight and she needs a sob story to sell to the media? Like who is she anyway?

I heard this kind of stuff all before. There is not a year when there isn’t someone going through this exact event with the media and you can never predict the outcome. 

And I hate not being in control. 

But whatever route it would take, one thing's for sure. It would ruin Michael Byfords life. And as much as I crave his downfall, all I saw when I was looking him up online was his little daughter. I would not only ruin her father's life, I would ruin hers as well. I would not be better than Michael. There would be no way for them to be ever truly happy again after I drag them through the mud of the media. Muscle to muscle and toe to toe, her father took my mother from me so I would take her father from her. 

Call me a vicious or vile person for my foul play with Satoru, but I’m not a monster. I would never be able to forgive me for ruining an innocent person's life. I wouldn’t be better than a drunk driver who takes the life of an innocent bypasser. 

“Stop bothering me, you’ve won. Be happy and leave me alone”, I press myself up, still insanely weak on my legs, but I manage it. He stands up with me, all while his hand is still fixed on my shoulder. He’s really testing my body on how easily I bruise. The big one on my hip won’t be the only mark I’m getting today.  

“Who is he?”, he asks again, stubborn as a mule, maybe more like a tank.

“Thought you know everything about me”, I hiss provocatively, now meeting his gaze. If I had an iron rod, I would go full Tonya Harding on him. 

“I’m not letting you go until you tell me”, his grip on my shoulder tightens even more. Yes, this one will definitely become a bruise. 

Why does he want to know? To send me more through hell? To keep me longer in this nightmare of his presence? To find more pieces for his twisted game he’s been playing with me?

“Just let me go”, before he has the chance to loosen his grip, Mei Mei appears, closely followed by Suguru and the unknown woman.

“What is going on?”, Suguru says, looking between Satoru and me, who has by now let go of me. I stand there awkwardly. They came at the worst timing.

“Get over here, now”, Mei Mei wails through pressed teeth at me. I obey and reach for her as she grabs my underarm and pulls me instantly closer. 

First I thought she’s mad at me for some reason, but then I saw her eyes flicker at Satoru. She’s ready to kill him. 

“Are you good?”, she asks me calmly, taking my face in between her palms and observing my face. I’m definitely red in my face from all the crying earlier, so I spin a lie around it. I don’t want to turn this into a big deal. I don’t want them to know why I cried, what all this is about. I simply don’t want to talk anymore. However, since when do I get what I want? So I talk.

“I’m fine, it’s just my leg. Must have torn a muscle or something. You know what a crybaby I can be.”

She doesn’t believe me, mainly because I’m not a crybaby at all. At least not when it comes to physical injuries. She winds her arms around my shoulders to steady me, but more so to give me a strange hug. Like she used to do when I was waiting for the jury to announce my points at a competition and my nerves were making me shake like a tiny tree in a storm. She’s not good with physical comfort. Who am I lying to, she’s not good with comfort in any form. For example the time when I told her about the Devils talent scout, who came into the rink and I panicked, she simply said that he’s just a random man and since when am I crying over an ordinary man. She didn’t understand my concerns or simply didn’t care enough. All along Mei Mei used to find my deep rooted fear for my absent father absurd. Maybe because my mother never spoke bad about him and watched his games on TV with full support like he didn’t completely ghosted us. She was so in love with him. And I will never know nor understand why. For me, he’s as dead as my mother. 

“I will not ask again, Satoru. What are you doing here?”, Suguru is mad, or worried, or both. I can’t tell the difference. Satoru doesn’t say anything. This circumstance isn’t ideal for him. Whatever lie he has in mind, I could easily debunk it and everyone would believe me. 

But I’m tired and sick of this. I want to go home and cuddle up on the couch while Hime brings me some food and tells me everything is going to be fine. 

“Nothing really. He -”, a fast lie, a good and quick one.

“He had to bring me through this exit because he couldn’t turn around without falling too.”

To my surprise Satoru grins at me like the devil himself and call me a fucking psychopath, but my heart instantly skips and screams for a rematch. He has won the first game against all odds, but this was not the real one. It was just a tryout. 

The pictures and the video are gone and so is everything that led up to this moment. Everything that has happened between us, is our secret. I know I could ruin him right now, throw allegations at him and accuse him of anything that comes to my mind. He would be out of my rink in an instance. It would be an easy match for me to win. But I don’t want to play a foul tryout anymore. I will find a way to get him into a dilemma. Into the lion's den with no way out. Complete defeat, so no rematch can save him.

A spiel between true legends. Two legends that don’t underestimate each other. All cards open, baby. Fuck, I can’t wait to see what kind of tricks my opponent has up his sleeve. 

But first I need to resolve this. Neither Mei Mei nor Suguru seem to fully believe me. Granted, it was a bad lie. As if Satoru won’t be able to turn us around. 

Yet, I don’t truly know how severely injured his leg is. Maybe all the training won’t be enough to get him back into the team. Truly pitiful, I can’t hide my snicker after this thought.

They wait for Satoru to say something, but he is as always the least stressed person in the room, so I continue for us: “He just grabbed me to get me back on the bench to favor my leg. But everyone would have tried to run away, because apparently he can’t be quiet for one second. Kept talking my ears off!”

I try to bring lightness into the stiffen atmosphere and it seems to work. Sugurus' shoulders start to relax and a small smile appears on his lips. Mei Meis' hold around me also loosens, but she still seems weary of Satoru.

“We haven’t had the chance for an introduction. I’m Ieiri Shoko, Satorus physician for the time he’s here. If you don’t mind I can have a look at your leg. Making sure everything is fine.”

She is stunning, absolutely gorgeous. An Angel.

Why is she working for a dick like Satoru? 

Probably the same reason why Suguru and Mei Mei are here.

Money.

I introduce myself, but shake my head: “I have these kinds of injuries all the time, no biggie. I just need to lay down for a second and I’m fine again. But thank you and if it isn’t better tomorrow, I will gladly accept your offer.”

I beam at her and she smiles back. 

“So between you both everything is fine?”, Mei Mei asks and before Satoru has the chance to say something, I intervene: “Absolutely. He was even so nice to promise me his help with the beginner skating course for kids. Miguel injured his back a few days ago and I’m actually his substitute but you know me, I’m not good with kids screaming, crying and falling all over themselves on the ice. So it was truly such a relief when Satoru offered to overtake the course until Miguel is fit again.”

Maybe this is a bit of a foul game, but I will allow it for my amusement and to save me some nerves.

“What, Satoru, you know you don’t have time for that”, Suguru expresses confusion.

“Didn’t you hear, I promised it to her”, he genuinely smiles at me while I try to not get red. I would have expected a lot of different reactions, but not this one. He’s really helping me out. 

But why?

“Could be good, easy exercise for him. Training small kids and preventing them from falling requires a lot of strength, fast instincts and speed with steadiness. All while keeping calm”, Mei Mei explains, looking at Suguru. 

“I don’t know if this is a good idea. No one is supposed to know you’re here. This goes against everything we arrange in the NDA”, Ieiri steps in and gives Suguru an alarmed look.

“Not to burst your bubble, but have you seen him? He looks like a giant Q-Tip, good luck keeping his stay a secret”, I utter, referring to how scarface called him in the chatlog. 

Everyone huffs amused at my comment, even Satoru. I look at him and he’s watching me from under his long lashes. I feel like I’m going to faint. A man like him doesn’t deserve to be so beautiful. The world is truly unfair.

“We can discuss that later with our lawyers. And if they decline, I can step in”, Suguru chimes in and smiles at me.

“No, you don’t h-”, I stumble over my words before he cuts me off and states: “I will find a solution.”

He really hasn’t changed since the last time I saw him. He’s still calm and kind. An empathic good soul. I hate myself for dragging him into this. Of course he would sacrifice himself on Satorus and my behalf. Training kids is a fucking pain in the ass. At least for me, but Suguru wouldn’t probably mind. He’s the kind of person who's naturally good with kids. With everyone. 

He’s the type of man mothers brag about to their friends and fathers love to actually hang out with. He’s the kind of person when he’s with somebody other women envy them and other men are intimidated by his presence. He’s the type of man who genuinely cares and always picks the right side. 

He hasn’t changed at all, really. He just got taller, more muscular and his hair is a bit longer, but he’s still a heartthrob. Not in the way Satoru is. Suguru is the perfect portrait of a classic man, a timeless handsome face. Some would argue he has a mysterious manner. Like a fallen angel, damned to stick around flawed humans. 

Satoru seems so opposite of him. White hair versus black hair. Light eyes versus dark eyes. Devil grins versus angel smiles. 

But they are both so majestic in an indescribable way even though they are huge Ice Hockey Players with hard facial features and even harder muscles. And wasn’t the Devil an Angel before God threw him out?

What am I even thinking? 

I should have stopped my train of thoughts after Suguru being a heartthrob and not bring Satoru into this calculus as well.

“Anyway, I should really head out now. It was nice meeting all of you. I will come back later to sign all the NDA stuff, don’t worry!”, I announced and released myself out of Mei Meis hug, walking inside the corridor. 

But I quickly halt, turn around and drop a curtsey while staring daring at Satoru: “And before I forget it, welcome to the Yaga rink.”

He holds my gaze and grins: “And thank you for having me.”

Asshole, as if I had the chance to decline. 

But soon enough I will wipe that arrogant smirk right off his face.

[asherlockstudy]

LMAOO!! ok I'm not gonna spoil the R&L video but plspls if you watch it tell us what you think!!

OKAY I have watched it twice now. It is obviously another symbolic work but the first time I was so dumbfounded by all the weirdness that I got like only a couple of symbolisms. The second watch was more fruitful. So let's get to it!

The Brown Diamond

First of all, the moment we got the title and the teaser I knew this would have potty humour and that, also, it would be about anal again.

The standing doggystyle in the beginning is fun but does not have a significance in the story. However, since the title is "The Quest for the Brown Diamond" it might be an attempt to create a subconscious connection between the two.

It is interesting that the very next scene sort of subverts the expectations formed from the previous one: Rhett is a very awkward and reserved, shy, gentle, intelligent man with many phobias, Horst, whereas Link is Sandy, a loud, crude, angry but good hearted man, with an established interest in women. They seem like total opposites of the characters they play, however there is truth hidden in them i.e Rhett is an introvert and he can be gentle and intelligent and Link can be angry and loud despite being a good person. I don't understand what was exactly the concept behind making the characters diverge so much from Rhett and Link in other aspects. Perhaps it was a red herring.

Whatever they said in the end, there is no more genuine statement of affection than "You look weird as hell...... but you always do".

Horst says he has this hair to have a form of natural shield and this might give as a hint as to why Rhett's character has so many phobias and puts up so many defenses; maybe it's about all the things he considered sinful and unacceptable when he was still in the faith.

The whole quest to essentially steal the diamond is Sandy's initiative and passion, while Horst simply follows because that's what he does, he follows Sandy. This might explain Sandy's assertiveness; by every allegorical work of theirs we have seen before it is implied again and again that Link (perhaps counterintuitively) was actually the pursuer of their relationship. Don't forget Carney in Friday's GMMore freaking saying that Link was Romeo between the two, whom Stevie had just described as an extrovert who pursued his relationship with Juliet! And that was the last episode before this video! Isn't all this...WILD? This also suggests that at this point a lot of the crew members know.

Horst opens tentantively the door and Sandy sarcastically says: "Look, Horst contributing already to the project!". They get in the mansion, where Sandy decides to rub himself on every single surface while Horst watches scandalized. The one time poor Horst tries to mimic Sandy, he realises he was trying to rub on a cherub which obviously kills his mood again. So this is likely about how much Link had to "throw himself out there" to make this work and how hesitant and scared Rhett was in the beginning.

By the way

Of course.

This gives me Rhett mixing his words flashback and saying "Link McLaughlin". Except this here is intentional. Then again someone could say best friends and branded business partners could do that too. However, with all the other stuff here, we can suspect this is not that simple of a case.

Horst pumps them both up with energizing food for the quest and it might be associated with the whole theme of the puzzle video, where it was implied they needed some... assistance in their first times. Sandy has to eat some seaweed, an experience he describes as "cunnilungus with the ocean" and Horst eats a sausage wrapped in bologna, which is the point where he breaks character a little, as Rhett apparently finds this too amusing! This all means that the energizing food scene though is heavily sex-coded.

After a straightTM moment, when Sandy builds up the courage to ask his ex-stepson (Tanner? Tunner?) if his mom still thinks about him, he starts looking for the diamond. He mentions he was looking at his Nana's drawers when he was young but then he asks this to be cut from the film as he doesn't want people to think that about him, which means this too is suspicious and in this case it probably implies he was exploring his feminine side. Ironically, this was also mentioned in the last GMMore, when Link asked for a few more years before he starts dressing like Miss Pingy...!

Meanwhile, Horst doesn't look for the diamond but gives as an empathetic, admiring, caring and loving description of Sandy. Yes, Sandy is frantic, angry, a brute but Horst sees through him and understands why he is the way he is. Sandy's childhood is similar to Link's to some extent.

Sandy follows and gives a shorter but emotional description of Horst: he stands out, he is a little weird but he is good and smart. Sandy also establishes he is protective of him and warns the stepson to not hurt Horst.

AND THEN OF COURSE THEY BROUGHT UP THE PUZZLE ARRYFFUJBIOGD Sandy even has a tattoo of the notorious puzzle piece, while Horst keeps it in his bracelet of things he fears and loves. (If you don't know what the deal with the puzzle is please read this).

Horst finds a guitar and starts playing a sweet song... so sweet that it is literally called

Sandy, much like real Link every time Rhett sings and plays music, stops his frantic search and listens hypnotized to Horst's playing. He joins him by the fireplace and they sing together. It is very sweet, very domestic. When the song ends, the silence between them is heavy and uncomfortable but full of warmth. Sandy asks Horst how he is feeling and Horst admits he is still scared. Sandy, pensive but respectful, decides that they should go, as apparently this whole thing isn't working out for them. He expresses regret for dragging Horst into this.

But, lo and behold! At the last moment, Horst finds a secret door and is suddenly the more excited one who reminds Sandy of their quest. In this secret room, they find a video recorded by the deceased owner of the mansion and the diamond, who gives instructions on how to get the diamond. The quest is bound to a riddle and this riddle IS THIS ONE:

To be shared between three, the heart must not be free but the damage is done if the heart is given to one.

Get it? If you have to give your heart to other two, your heart is not free, but then again when the heart is given to THE one only, that's when shit hits the fan (well literally in this video).

Can you believe it? Can you believe this is the story of these apparently extremely romantic middle-aged Southern youtubers?

The heart, the diamond, is of course inside Bahau moon, a three-ass artifact. Reminds of "the way to a woman's heart is through a worm's / woman's anus".

Sandy and Horst hear noises from upstairs and it appears Brandy, Horst's best friend at work, was trying to steal the diamond before them. And that is because Horst told her their secret as “he tells her everything”. What does Brandy symbolizes? Horst loves her a lot as a friend and keeps no secrets from her, Sandy is antagonistic to her. Sandy gets his hand in this ass first and competes with her for the diamond. Horst follows hesitantly again. They realise neither can win over the heart and all be happy. So Horst implores them to all lay off the heart diamond. In fact, Sandy has grabbed the heart and agrees to let it go only if Brandy promises to also not stick her hand to the ass again. Sorry for suggesting this...but can Brandy be a wife, like Jessie? Once they are all out of the Bahau moon and safe, Horst realises that his "phobias and loves" bracelet is dropped inside the artifact. He begs the other two to get inside the Bahau moon once more so he can retreive his bracelet. This might be associated to Rhett always having this pattern that he wants this to stop, to prevent it but then he is the one falling back to it (check Hazel where he tries to save Link but then Hazel takes him first and in the dig-a-hole video where he pulls Link out of his enjoyment only to later suggest a larger hole than Link did and drive the excavator himself). Horst really begs Brandy, tells her to do it for the sake of their “old good memories” together. This whole thing reminds me of that time Rhett was bringing up a lot that his marriage had gone through a milestone, that he and Jessie had had a very big and serious talk that changed but also supposedly “strengthened” their marriage. And then once Link let it slip that he was present during that serious talk of the couple, which one would expect would have happened privately.

Brandy betrays them, takes the brown diamond and leaves them. The Bahau moon starts releasing toxic gas. Sandy tells the camera man to save himself. The camera man still records Sandy and Horst's last moments from outside the window. As they are dying, they hold hands with their still free hand. Sandy asks forgiveness for everything but Horst does not hold anything against him. Before he takes his last breath, Sandy tells Horst he loves him. They die there, trapped forever. This ending resembles Hazel a lot, where they disappear forever in Hazel's forest. In Hazel, Link was also trying to tell Rhett he loves him before what he thought would be their last moments.

This gives the riddle another dimension, because in the end Sandy and Horst remain with their One, meaning each other, also stressed by the love confession, and this kills them. It is perhaps suggested that Brandy (a wife?) got her heart back and went on with her life, while they can't do the same. They stay trapped with the love that kills them.

And here's another ANON I got, I hope they read it cause I am answering here:

Thanks a lot for telling me!!! Yes it doesn't surprise me one bit. The ending is supposed to have that despair and melancholy of always staying trapped, hidden. Just like Hazel. Very interesting that it was braver before the cuts. Perhaps they thought it would make it too obvious? But, too little is obvious for A LOT of their fans, right? I also don't understand, do they actually want people to pick up on it after all, or not? They confuse me so much.

Unless the few of us still imagine all that stuff lol never in my life before have I seen friends act like that but the funniest thing is that I haven't seen people in love act like that either! Will we get an autobiography from them in the distant future, I wonder? Because we should.

[harmonyckrs]

Act 2, Scene 2 of Twisted Veronaville: A Change of Heart

THE LAST PAGE

Friends are generally hard to make. But when you have a reputation as a cool and mysterious rock star in a small town, there are people who are drawn to you.

Mercutio: Thanks for inviting me to your house, Ripp! I just have one question...

Tybalt: Why exactly is Mercutio here?

Ripp: I heard about the "No Capp without a Monty" rule, so I decided to invite you both here.

Mercutio: All the Capps in Veronaville and you choose him?

Ripp: Do you have a problem with that?

Mercutio: No!...no. It's okay. You're allowed to be friends with whoever you want. Just...Tybalt's kind of weird.

Ripp: (Mercutio clearly doesn't want to get on my bad side, which I can use to my advantage.)

Ripp: Well, I do want to get to know all of you. It's just...everyone in this town seems really nice. And it's a beautiful place, too...much better than the deserts of Strangetown.

Tybalt: You used to live in Strangetown?

Ripp: Yeah. My dad was a general who was stationed there. He was, like, super racist and picked a fight with everyone there.

Mercutio: Sounds like someone I know.

Tybalt: I'm not racist! I pick fights with you because you're a Monty, not because you're Italian.

Mercutio: Never said any names, Tybalt!

Ripp: (This is going to be harder than I thought...but it's fine! Just have to make sure they don't kill each other...)

A couple of days pass as Ripp continued his quest of befriending the other teenagers of Veronaville.

Mercutio: ...And then Tybalt started spinning me around during our fight, like some kind of top.

Hermia: That's unlike him.

Puck: Maybe he wanted to try something new this time?

Miranda: Mercutio! I've finally got the chance to see you!...who's the cute guy?

Mercutio: Oh, right. Ripp, this is Miranda. She's also a Capp, but we're cool.

Miranda: Hi!

Ripp: What's up? It's great to meet another person here.

Miranda: Mercutio, can we talk? There's something I've been meaning to tell you.

Mercutio: Maybe later.

Miranda: Hmph. Fine.

Consort: Do either of you know what's going on with Tybalt? He's been acting unusual.

Hermia: In what way?

*off-key guitar strumming*

Consort: He's never shown an interest in the guitar. Was it because of some movie you kids watched? Who even gave that to him, anyway? There was no charge for it on any of our accounts.

Juliette: It was the new kid, Ripp. I guess Tybalt was inspired by his music.

Consort: Well, it's terrible. You two need to find a way to make him stop. We shouldn't be playing filth like that in here, anyway.

Hermia: I think it's fine. Give him some time and he'll improve.

*BWOMP*

Tybalt: ...Sorry.

Hermia: I didn't know guitars could make that sound.

Juliette: Maybe leave Hermia as the family musician, Tybalt!

Tybalt: NO! I'm starting to get the hang of it!

Consort: ...Tell that kid to take his gift back.

As Ripp continues with his quest to make Mercutio and Tybalt friends, let's get a nice little look at Antonio. Although he usually minds his own business, he's just as deep into the feud as his par-

Antonio: Benvolio, my child? Is that you?

Viola: Huh?

Antonio: Why are you wearing a crop top in the snow? Come inside. I'll cook you something warm...you look ill. Have you been resting well? Eating enough?

Viola: ...I'm fine. I thought you weren't allowed to talk to me? I'm not a Monty anymore.

Antonio: You're still a Monty to me. Now, tell me how you've been doing.

Viola: Well...

Viola: And yeah, that's it.

Antonio: ...

Antonio: You've been staying in the SILO?

Viola: They haven't found me yet, so-

Antonio: Benvolio, that place doesn't even have a bathroom...oh, dear. You know, maybe you can talk to the Summerdreams. With your disguise, you could pass very well for a different person.

Viola: I wouldn't really call it a disguise.

Antonio: (Wait then what's the purpose...oh! I get it now!)...You and Romeo switched bodies in the womb, huh?

Viola: Ha, yeah...Can you call me Viola now?

Antonio: Viola...that's a beautiful name. Before Beatrice was born, Hero and I were deciding between that and Viola for her name...I'm glad someone else sees its value. Now, Viola, if you need anything from me at all, feel free to visit.

Viola: Thank you...I should probably leave, before someone sees me here too.

Antonio: Grab a coat on your way out.

Life isn't easy for a single father for two kids. But Antonio was happy, and his kids were happy too. But every now and again, a thought would pass through his mind...

Antonio: (I should try meeting more people outside of the family...it's what Hero would've wanted, right?...maybe find a new partner...)

Antonio: (And I'd also have someone to help me look after Beatrice and Benedick while I'm at work...maybe Bianca can introduce me to some people.)

Antonio: (Oh, I'll worry about that later. The headmaster for Veronaville Academy is coming over! I have to go prepare dinner!)

Beatrice: Hi, Mr. Headmaster! I'm Beatrice! Do you want a tour of the house?

Beatrice: (Daddy's taking a long time cooking, so maybe if I give him the tour instead he won't notice that something's wrong!)

Antonio: (I wonder who's calling me at this ho-OH SHOOT! MY PORK CHOPS!...ugh, and we're out of meat, too...maybe if I just throw together a quick pie, he won't notice anything...)

Beatrice: Yay! Berry pie!

Benedick: I thought we were having pork chops!

Antonio: Well...it's a special day today.

Antonio: (He's enjoying the pie, but he doesn't seem to be very impressed...oh, no! What if he thinks I'm a bad father for serving my kids dessert and he rejects Beatrice and Benedick from private school?)

*DING DONG*

Antonio: Hm. We don't normally get visitors at this hour...

Beatrice: I'll get it!...It's Aunt Bianca's friend!

Antonio: (KENT? WHY IS HE HERE?)

Antonio: (Everything is fine. Just keep calm. Don't let him provoke you...)

Kent: Hello, Antonio. I wanted to thank you for that advice you gave me yesterday. It was really helpful.

Antonio: (Huh? We didn't even talk yesterday.)

Kent: And...oh, is that berry pie? You always make the best desserts. I'd say you should open up your own bakery, but I know how much you care about your children and their education and all that and I know that the bakery would probably take time away from them.

Antonio: (What is he doing?...the headmaster seems pretty happy with what he's saying. Is he trying to help me?)

Kent: Not to mention how well of a job you do of balancing your family life and your work life! You do a great job of providing for your family while still being there for your kids, even after your wife died!

Kent: Anyway, I'm just going to help myself to a slice of berry pie, if that's okay with you...thanks!

Kent: So, did they get in?

Antonio: Yeah. He said he was really impressed with what you told him...why were you helping me, though? We're supposed to be enemies.

Kent: YOU consider ME an enemy, not the other way around. And your kids didn't do anything wrong. They deserve a good education.

Antonio: Well...thanks.

Antonio: Do you need me to pay you back in some way?

Kent: Consider the pie I'm eating right now as the payment. Anyway, I'm gonna return home. Bianca needs help with the orphans. I'll see you around.

Antonio: (Hm. Maybe he's not as bad as I thought...)

Antonio: (Now I feel really bad about sabotaging date...there's got to be some way I can make it up to him!)

TO BE CONTINUED...

[keepingupwiththecullensblog]

🌟🎬 Welcome back to the season premiere of *Keeping Up with the Cullens*! Grab your popcorn, folks, because we’re diving headfirst into the most dramatic vampire breakup saga of all time! 🧛‍♂️💔 If you thought last season was intense, just wait until you see what we’ve got in store for you this time around. Seriously, why does Edward Cullen make everything ten times more dramatic than it needs to be? I’m talking Oscar-worthy levels of angst and brooding. 🎭🌧️

So, let’s rewind a bit to that so-called “perfect summer” that Bella casually mentions. 🌞 Apparently, she and Edward had the most flawless summer together, but of course, she doesn’t give us any details. Typical, right? 🙄 What does “perfect” even mean when you’re dating a sparkly vampire? Did they go for strolls through the mall holding hands, stop by McDonald’s for some fries (though Edward probably just watched Bella eat), or spend their days trying out human couple things like cooking? 🍟👩‍🍳 Can you imagine Edward learning how to cook by using math and vampire precision, measuring out every ingredient to perfection, only to stand there awkwardly as Bella devours the meal? Or maybe they just hung out in her room, where Bella did all the talking while Edward stared at her like she was the most fascinating creature on Earth—which, to be fair, she is to him. Meanwhile, Edward’s POV would have given us every drop of angst, guilt, love, and torment. Come on, Bella, spill the tea! ☕ We need the juicy details!

And just when you thought things couldn’t get any sweeter, there’s that moment earlier in the day when Edward and Bella are cuddling on the couch, watching the classic 1968 version of *Romeo and Juliet*. 🎥💕 Edward, ever the romantic, whispers Romeo’s lines to Bella, delivering the kind of cheesy, swoon-worthy moment you’d expect from a vampire who’s had centuries to perfect his game. But let’s be real—this moment is all kinds of bittersweet because we know what’s coming next. 😢 It’s like the calm before the emotional storm that’s about to tear Bella’s world apart. 🌩️💔

Now, fast forward to *that* birthday party incident. You know, the one where Jasper nearly turns Bella into a midnight snack. 🍴😱 Seriously, Jazz, what gives? You just spent an entire trip to Phoenix in close quarters with her, chilling in a hotel room like it’s no big deal, but now you’re all, “Better keep away from Bella, she smells too much like human.” Come on, Jazz, what’s the deal? 🙄

After the party disaster, Edward does stay the night with Bella on her birthday, and I have to admit, it’s one of the sweetest moments in *New Moon* (so far). 🥺 He probably didn’t want to ruin her birthday even more, and honestly, it’s a considerate move for someone about to drop a breakup bomb. Imagine, “Happy Birthday, Bella! Oh, by the way, I’m about to break your heart.” Not exactly the best birthday gift, right? 🎁💔 He stays, holding her close, whispering sweet nothings to make sure she drifts off to sleep in peace. It’s a brief moment of tenderness before everything goes south, and it’s moments like these that make you understand why Bella’s so obsessed with him. He stays by her side, making sure her birthday night is as perfect as possible despite everything that went down earlier. It’s heartbreaking to think about him knowing what he’s about to do, yet still trying to give Bella this one last happy memory. 😢

But then, why does he stick around for three whole days after the party, basically giving Bella the cold shoulder? Like, Edward, if you’re planning to ghost her (literally), why are you hanging around, watching ESPN with Charlie? 🏈📺 I get that Edward is waiting for a sign to leave, but three days of awkward silence? What kind of sign was he waiting for—an ESPN ticker reading, "Hey Edward, time to peace out"? 🕒💤 Or was he hoping Bella would break up with him if he ignored her enough? I mean, Bella already knows something’s off, so why drag it out? It’s like he’s torturing himself with the idea of leaving, and honestly, it’s kind of frustrating to watch. I mean, if you’re going to leave, just rip off the Band-Aid, Edward! 😩

And for the love of all things sparkly, why does he choose to break up with her in the woods? 🌲😭 Really, Edward? The woods? It’s like he Googled, “Most depressing breakup locations,” and the woods popped up as #1. Sure, he left her on the path by her house, but still, it’s the woods! What’s next, breaking up with her during a thunderstorm while sad piano music plays in the background? 🎹⛈️ Oh wait, that actually happened… 😅

Honestly, there’s something so obvious missing here that it’s driving me crazy, and I just can’t put my finger on it. Why the woods? It’s right there, but I can’t quite figure it out. If anyone knows what I’m missing, please enlighten me because there’s a piece of this melodramatic puzzle that I’m just not seeing. 🔍🧩

So, as we kick off this new season of *Keeping Up with the Cullens*, we’ve got a lot of questions and not enough answers. Edward’s dramatic exit, Jasper’s sudden distance, and that perfect summer that apparently wasn’t detailed enough to warrant more than a passing mention—this is going to be one wild ride! 🎢 I’m excited (and a little nervous) to dive into the rest of *New Moon* now that I’ve had my fill of Edward’s drama. 🌒💥

[joy-of-life88]

Can I love again? [a Roman Reigns story] 27 Breakfast in bed

As quietly as I could, I went back into the bedroom and saw with contentment that Roman was still fast asleep. Smiling, I put the tray with the prepared breakfast on my bedside tables before I very carefully crawled into bed.

Then I slid close to the side of my sleeping husband. I lifted my hand and brushed a few hairs from his face. He looked so peaceful when he slept. Normally I found it nice to just watch him sleep, but today I had no patience for that.

I leaned toward him and kissed his cheek until I reached his ear. Then I began to whisper, hoping it wouldn't take long for him to wake up.

"Good morning Romeo. Wake up birthday boy." I whispered while stroking his cheek at the same time.

Roman groaned a little, but didn't wake up yet. I frowned and tried again.

"I have gifts for you, my gorgeous husband. And I made you breakfast." I breathed into his ear.

This time I had more success, because slowly his eyelids began to flutter.

"Hey, good morning my love! Happy birthday!" I said and leaned in to give him a kiss.

"Good morning angel and thank you. What smells so good in here?" replied Roman as he sat up in bed and leaned against the headboard.

"Well... I made you a very special birthday breakfast. You can choose whatever you want. I made pancakes, bacon, hash browns, scrambled eggs, sausage and toast. There is coffee and juice. Whatever your heart desires." I said.

"You are amazing, Y/N! How did you and the nugget sleep?" he wanted to know as he put one arm around my shoulders while the other rested on my now 20 week baby bump.

Roman was so proud every time our little one moved. What he didn't know yet was that his breakfast contained another surprise.

"Oh we slept well. Now let's eat before it gets cold. What do you want?" I said as I broke away from him and brought the tray to us on the bed.

"This all looks so great. I don't even know where to start." he praised.

"May I suggest the pancakes, Romeo? They contain a special surprise for you." I suggested, waiting for his reply.

"I love your pancakes." replied Roman.

"Then pancakes it is," I said as I pushed the plate towards him.

"But what's surprising about that, angel?" he asked as he cut himself a piece.

"Oh just look real close." I laughed.

I watched as he looked very closely at the cut pancakes. He looked a little confused. Maybe it was a little too early in the morning for puzzles.

"Why are they pink?" he wanted to know, looking at me.

"Well...." I said, then meaningfully put a hand on my stomach.

"Oh my god! Are you serious?" he gasped and immediately dropped his fork.

In the next second, I was in his arms.

"We're getting a little princess? This is absolutely amazing. I'm so happy, angel." he said as he emphasized word for word with a kiss on my lips, nose or cheeks.

"Yes, we do. After the doctor couldn't see anything last time and you were so disappointed, I went back yesterday and had an additional ultrasound. I was hoping to have better luck this time because I thought how nice it would be to surprise you for your birthday. And it actually worked!" I explained to him as I took his hands in mine and gently placed them over the spot where I could feel our nugget.

The young lady obviously wanted to congratulate her daddy on his special day, too. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Roman later became her favorite. Daddy's girl through and through. She took after me on that one. He was my favorite person, too, after all.

"That's the best birthday present anyone could get, angel. I love you. And Nugget of course. Thank you so much." Roman then said.

"I love you too, Roman. But that's not all for today. Later this afternoon we will have a party with your family. And I have other gifts for you," I replied proudly.

"Really? When did you plan all this?" he wanted to know.

"I've had enough time doing the week when I was alone. But... since I'm not supposed to travel so much from now on, I'll be home a lot. And since you're on Smackdown now, it wouldn't make sense to work for Raw anymore anyway. And as soon as the Nugget is born, I'm sure I'll have enough to do with her. So I think it would be best to quit," I explained.

"You can do whatever you want, Y/N. I supported you in every decision. And honestly, I have to admit that I didn't like that you were traveling alone all the time," he replied.

"I know what you mean. I didn't like it either. But enough of that now. Nugget is hungry. And you need to eat too, birthday boy," I said, and then gave him another kiss.

Then we shared the now almost cold breakfast, but we didn't care. The moment had been just too beautiful to worry about it.

[danieyells]

Puts my mouth against the microphone

Oh my god.

Oh my god they were so fucking close AND TAIGA RUINED IT BUT ALSO. . .HE WAS SO NOT OKAY THERE???? MAYBE BECAUSE HE HADN'T EATEN IN AT LEAST TWO DAYS AT THAT POINT??? BUT LIKE WE ALSO KNOW HE CAN EAT ANOMALIES OF ANY SORT EVEN IF THEY'RE MADE OF SOMETHING SOLID AND CONTAIN NO MEAT. HE WON'T EAT THEIR WEAPONS BUT HE'LL EAT OTHER STUFF. Also he does drink regular human alcohol but i guess he doesn't like processed anomalies???

And the fucking

The whole thing

The everything

Romeo knowing people at the auction because he knows how to be an art dealer

ROMEO AND YURI'S PREEXISTING RELATIONSHIP?????? WHERE THEY KIND OF HATE EACH OTHER BUT ALSO YURI STOPPED CALLING SINOSTRA GERMS WHILE ROMEO WAS LISTENING SO HE EITHER RESPECTS OR FEARS HIM BUT ALSO THEY CLEARLY HAVE NO RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER. . . . ROMEO KNOWS HE USED TO BE IN SOME OTHER HOUSE AND WAS THERE WHEN HE RAN AWAY DOES THAT MEAN HE WAS IN SINOSTRA?? PROBABLY NOT RIGHT THE FROSTHEIM CONNECTION IS TOO STRONG. AND WE KNOW ROMEO KIND OF HOLDS FROSTHEIM IN HIGH ESTEEM EVEN IF HE HATES THEM NOW SO MAYBE MY THEORY THAT HE USED TO BE CLOSE TK THE FROSTHEIMERS WAS CORRECT??? AND HE WAS THERE WHEN TOHMA HAD TO GET YURI OUT???? UUUUUU

YURI SLEEPING NEXT TO JIRO?????

RITSU SAYING HIS MOM HELPED HIM PICK OUT THE SUNGLASSES KDBCHFIDJ

BUT THE OUTFITS WERE OTHERWISE PICKED AND CURATED BY ROMEO??? ROMEO FUCKING DRESSING EVERYBODY AOSBDHDKS DU

TAIGA REMEMBERING THAT HE MET PC BEFORE AND EXPLAINING THE KYKLOS RAN AWAY TOO QUICKLY FOR HIM TO GET TO. . . .

TAIGA MOCKING ROMEO FOR WORKING WITH HYDE. . .SAYING HE THINKS THE WAY HE TALKS TO HYDE IS GROSS. . .TELLING HYDE TO LEAVE ROMEO ALONE. . . . . . ..

And

Dbdhxusndgdudjdh

SO J THINK TAIGA'S GUN CAN ONLY HIT THINGS THAT ARE ACTIVELY MALICIOUS HE CANNOT HIT SOMETHING THAT HAS NO INTENTION OF FIGHTING. HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S HOW IT WORKS

RITSU HITS PEOPLE WITH THE BOOK BECAUSE TAIGA TAUGHT HIM TO USE IT AS A BLUNT WEAPON. . . . . . . . . . .

ROMEO'S STIGMA CAN MAKE LITERALLY ANYTHING INTO A BOMB WITH A BIGGER EXPLOSION DEPENDING ON THE OWNER'S ATTACHMENT TO THE THING.

TAIGA DOESN'T LIKE THAT HYDE IS INVOLVED WITH ROMEO BUT HYDE SAYS ROMEO IS THE ONE DRIVING THEIR INVOLVEMENT SO IF HE'S BOTHERED HE SHOULD TALK TO ROMEO ABOUT IT. . . . . . . .

HYDE CONTINUES TO BE SUS BUT ALSO. . .I REALLY THINK HIS INTENTIONS AREN'T BAD HE'S JUST SUSSY? BECAUSE HE'S LIKE. . .TAIGA YOU HAVE TO TELL ROMEO YOU WANNA WORK TOGETHER WITH HIM AGAIN YOU HAVE TO COMMUNICATE WITH HIM BUT TAIGA GETS MAD. BUT THAT'S ACTUAL GOOD ADVICE THAT WOULD HELP THEM. . .I WONDER IF HE'S TRYING TO DRIVE THEM INTO CORNERS TO FORCE THEM TO TAKE ACTION?

THE HALLOWEEN EPISODE IS NEXT MONTH!!!!!

The way romeo talked about taiga ehen he pulled out the mask, with this fondness snd admiration and in a similar voice to the kne he uses with hyde even though taiga just got through saying it was gross

And taiga clocking that romeo had been so consumed by greed that he was preventing them from leaving and romeo letting go of all the valuables so they could all escape and

And

You'll get to keep the prettiest thing

The little touch to his hair

These bitches are so gay good for them. . . . . . . . . .

AND. AND!!!

TAIGA KNOWING ABOUT THE AUCTION TIAGA BEING QUIET FOR SO MUCH OF THE INVESTIGATION BECAUSE HE WAS ANALYZING AND OBSERVING AND TAKING EVERYTHING IN TAIGA REVEALING THAT HE KNOWS SO MUCH BUT REFUSING TO EXPLAIN HOW AND RITSU CREEPING CLOSER TO HIM ASKING ALL THESE QUESTIONS AND AND HE DEFINITELY SEES PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE RIGHT???? IT'S ALMOST CERTAIN RIGHT????

Taiga was so eepy this whole episode just lying all over the couch and taking naps and sitting in romeo's chair AND ROMEO DIDN'T COMPLAIN! and!!!!

I FEEL LIKE WE DIDN'T LEARN ANYTHING BUT I THINK THIS IS ABOUT THEIR GROWING AND STRUGGLING DYNAMICS RIGHT NOW. I THINK THIS IS ABOUT FINDING PROBLEM AREAS FOR FUTURE RESOLUTION. NOT REALLY A PROGRESSION CHAPTER BUT AN ESTABLISHING CHAPTER. WE LEARN A LITTLE MORE EVERY TIME.

The fact that Romeo's stigma is more powerful based on attachment to the thing he blows up. . .meaning if he wants to really destroy something he has to use something he loves. . . .

WHAT DID YURI MEAN BY THAT ROMEO HAD HIS BRAND NAME STOLEN???? DID ROMEO CHANGE HIS NAME?????? IS ROMEO NOT ACTUALLY ITALIAN????? WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN WHY DOES YURI KNOW ABOUT IT(I MEAN WE KNOW YURI ALSO SEEMS TO LIKE LUXURY GOODS FROM WHERE HE WANTED TO GO IF HE GOT AN R&R PERMIT?) WHEN DID THEY BECOME FRIENDS WHY ARE THEY SO BITTER WITH EACH OTHER NOW BUT ALSO IT FELT KINDA LIKE BANTER BETWEEN TWO GUYS WHO KNOW THEY'VE BOTH BEEN THROUGH SOME SHIT AND RELATE TO EACH OTHER?

AND I WAS RIGHT THAT TAIGA KNOWS HAKU AND HE CALLS HIM "NAGI" FROM HIS LAST NAME. . .THAT'S CUTE. . .AND HIS NEW WARDING CARD HAS HAKU WATCHING HIM IN THE BACKGROUND TOO WHAT'S UP WITH THAT? HE LOOKS UNHAPPY TOO ALSO WTF IS TAIGA EATING THAT MEAT LOOKS PREPARED NOT RAW. LOOKS LIKE FUCKIN JERKY.

I'M JUST HAVING SO MANY THOUGHTS I'M HAVING SO MANY FEELINGS THIS WAS A TREAT CHAPTER. Like i said this is definitely an "establishing the background/situation" chapter more than a progress one but hahsbduxkdnshskdn aaaaaa. . . . . . . . . .it was good. Maybe because i ship taiga and romeo so hard but it was good they squabbled the whole time romeo punches taiga and he just takes it. ROMEO TELLS TAIGA HOW MUCH HE HATES "SPINELESS MEN" BECAUSE HE FEELS LIKE TAIGA'S BEING A COWARD AND TAIGA GETS QUIET AND COOPERATES LIKE HE DOESN'T WANNA BE UNATTRACTIVE IN ROMEO'S EYES THIS WAS A SHIP TEASE CHAPTER.

[ao3feed-gratsu-brotp]

Take a bite of my heart tonight

by akisun

Natsu learns just how rude a Violinist can get when you barge into her practice room. And after Lucy Heartfillia unintentionally transfers into his school, she learns that, much like an elephant, Natsu Dragneel never forgets. Because of him, they both are forced to spend the rest of their day in detention. Accompanied by a temperamental Erza and an innocent Gray. But when they stumble upon mysterious artifacts sought by a vengeful ghost, they're thrust into a supernatural battle that forces them to work together and maybe form an unlikely friendship in the process.

TLDR; Lucy, Natsu, Gray, and Erza start a food fight, become ghost hunters, get thrown into detention, and discuss the complexities of Romeo and Juliet. I’ll let you decide what order it all happens in.

A Ghost Busters Au (of sorts)

Words: 4231, Chapters: 2/5, Language: English

Series: Part 1 of I Need Humanity

Fandoms: Fairy Tail

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: F/M

Characters: Gray Fullbuster, Lucy Heartfilia, Natsu Dragneel, Erza Scarlet

Relationships: Natsu Dragneel/Lucy Heartfilia, Natsu Dragneel & Gray Fullbuster, Natsu Dragneel & Erza Scarlet, Natsu Dragneel & Gray Fullbuster & Lucy Heartfilia & Erza Scarlet

Additional Tags: Humor, Fluff, Near Death Experiences, Sort Of, Natsu says eat the rich, he's also kind of a douche in the beginning sorry, Erza loves the performing arts, Spirits, Alternate Universe - High School, Nalu soulmates, because I say so

Source: https://archiveofourown.org/works/56737600

[dearly-somber]

Let’s jump right into this one because I have lots to say.

Indicating the passage of time through iPhone releases is something I’ve never seen before but it’s so effective istg sometimes I wish I could just pluck this shit out your brain bc ITS UNFAIR (not really) HOW GOOD YOU ARE AT THIS WRITING SHIT. ITS AWESOME TO READ.

Yoongi’s a lone sock in his washing machine mind…. Have I mentioned before how much I love your metaphors? I have? Oh. Well I’ll say again:

📢HOW MUCH I LOVE YOUR METAPHORS📢!!!

Model!Yoongi makes so much sense.

Me kicking the shit out of the girl who ditched him because “she deserved better”:

Okay, plot twist. Validation instead of rejection? Was not expecting that.

DEMONSTRATING MORE COMPASSION FOR STRANGERS THAN HE EVER SHOWS HIMSELF!!?2&!38;R!

Ah, yes: Rock, Paper, Scissors. One of the best choice-making games of the century.

Pretty pretty, indeed my friend. You look at Min Yoongi and bam, you’re blind.

As if you weren’t too much.

We’ll get you there, he’d promised.

Where’s my foresight!yoongi, huh? WHERE IS HE? WHERE IS H—

Lmfao “coming into a place of business during their business hours” has me ROLLING.

TO BEING JUST RIGHT. TO BEING JUST RIGHT. TO BEING JU—

“[…] and I still want you with me when I’m done.”

No bc this. Is so beautiful? Maybe it’s just me but damn this is like. Such a visceral feeling, I feel. Like, yeah, I want you here when I’m done with this. Yeah, I want you here when I’m done with that. GOD, JADE, YOUR WORDS ARE TOO MUCH, TOO BEAUTIFUL FOR ME (not really I love them I want to eat this line 🥹🥹)

He really said “I’m gonna Romeo and Juliet this shit” and climbed up the fire escape like. Ugh. I love him. I love them. OTP right here.

THEY’RE PERFECT FOR EACH OTHER YOU COULDN’T CHANGE MY MIND EVEN IF YOU TRIED. WHO TALKS ABOUT INTERIOR DESIGN WHEN YOU’RE ABOUT TO HAVE SEX GUYS 😭😭

No because this. This was just right. Fucking perfect, dude. I’ll never get tired of your writing, Jade. This is literally better than some published works I’ve read. It’s on par with all the great published writers out there, period.

The love-making scene (because, truly, that’s what it is) at the end is honestly so fitting for this couple, I love it very much. I can’t wait to read the other installments to this pocket of reality from an alternate universe, because goddamn.

foresight (myg)

It all started with a bad joke and a bottle of Tanqueray.

Pairing: Min Yoongi x Fem!Reader Type: One-Shot / Prequel to darksided (no. 2) & blindsided (no. 3,) but can be read as a stand-alone fic. Word Count: 11.3K 😳 Content: SPICY FLUFF (18+ or else - oral (m receiving) and penetrative, protected sex (p in v)); strangers to lovers au; POV switches; discussion of anxiety and negative self-talk; alcohol consumption (primary setting is a bar); tteokbokki; and just the cutest fucking duo. ft. Seokjn and a surprise cameo by reader's cat. A/N: The origin story for my beloved babies, which takes place in 2016 (and uses Korean age, fyi.) I found this photo after I finished writing and nearly fell tf over because this was the Yoongi in my brain; jacket and all, omfg. My actual note (and tags) will be at the end! 💕 Listen to the playlist here. Read Interlude: Sunrise drabble here.

Min Yoongi wanted it on record that he tried.

When Seokjin pushed, and pushed, and pushed Yoongi to ask out that girl, he did. She was someone Seokjin knew from somewhere, and she seemed nice enough. All Yoongi really knew about her was that she was pretty, though he hoped to learn that this was the least interesting thing about her.

If nothing else, Yoongi proceeded out of spite. He wanted nothing more than to shove it in Seokjin’s face that he was capable of being a normal, twenty-four-year-old man. He wanted to prove to Seokjin — and to himself, if he were being honest — that he wasn’t a borderline-reclusive workaholic.

Or, at the very least, he wasn’t exclusively a borderline-reclusive workaholic. He did want to get out and meet new people; just in negligible and infrequent doses.

It had been so long since Yoongi last went on a date that three (3) generations of iPhones had come and gone. Children who hadn’t yet been born were now entering pre-kindergarten, making macaroni art with the motor skills they’d obtained during his romantic sabbatical. It was embarrassing; it was depressing; and it all piled up at his doorstep, barricading him inside his apartment.

There was a vicious cycle at play, making matters worse. It casted Yoongi as the lone sock, swirling and drowning inside his washing machine brain. The plot was as stupid as it was repetitive:

Relentless schedule aside, Yoongi didn’t date because it made him anxious. Then, he’d become more anxious because he wasn’t dating. Ultimately, he’d end up too anxious about his anxiety to address the thing that caused it in the first place. And around and around and around he went.

Why the fuck did people subject themselves to this on purpose?

Asking her out was the simplest part. With a quick text and an emoji — the latter of which Yoongi deliberated over for far too long — he’d knocked the ball into her court. She’d responded within minutes, which he assumed was a good sign. Saturday night, they’d decided, at eight o’clock.

Unfortunately, no part of what came next was easy.

Yoongi had spent the four subsequent days in a tailspin. Spiraling over where to take her, what to wear, and what the fuck to talk to her about. In the few interactions they’d had before, all she seemed to do was pepper him with questions about his career. Like everyone else, she was fascinated by Yoongi: the Concept.

Whether or not she cared about Yoongi: the Person was yet to be determined.

Worse, after three years in the public eye, Yoongi worried that he’d lost track of what once made him relatable. That boy from Daegu — with a chip on his shoulder and a fire in his belly — was traded in for a luxury model. He no longer had to debate between purchasing a meal or a bus ticket home from work because he was now loaded and living in Hannam-fucking-dong.

Ugh.

People looked at him with stars in their eyes, but he could never tell if anyone truly saw him. And even if someone did, what was left to see, anyway? Yoongi doubted that he could pick himself out of a lineup now.

Eventually, after three nights of tossing and turning, Yoongi had landed on something that felt meaningful. He would take this girl to a hole-in-the-wall that he loved dearly, which sat relatively unnoticed in a lesser-traveled pocket of Seoul. It was quiet and unassuming, but had a life of its own.

As far as Yoongi could see, it was the perfect place to find the parts of himself that’d dropped on his rapid, record-breaking ascent. Decidedly unremarkable but worth it, nonetheless. There, she could get to know the person behind the persona. Maybe she’d even come to like who he actually was.

Before heading out, Yoongi had pitched his plan to Seokjin and received a thumbs up in response. Unfortunately, her reaction came from two knuckles down. Her departure followed less than sixty seconds after her arrival. She’d fled so quickly, in fact, that she managed to flag down the very same cab before it could clear the block.

Through her window, she’d shouted out her scathing review: Yoongi was cheap; she would never drink bottom-shelf liquor with him in a glorified dumpster; and she both expected and deserved better because he could access better. Yoongi had stood stunned on the sidewalk as she disappeared — likely forever — in a cloud of exhaust.

Somehow, it felt like that cab had run him over as it peeled out.

To be clear, none of this was painful because Yoongi was disappointed; he wasn’t, not in the slightest. Good fucking riddance. It was worse than that. He felt validated, and he knew exactly how fucking sad that was.

See? Told you so, he’d thought bitterly to himself. Then, immediately, Yoongi criticized himself for being too critical. Hypocrite.

So, there he stood.

If Yoongi followed his instinct and went home, he could rebuild his barricade and watch several episodes of Chopped before passing out alone in his bed. A productive night, despite its fruitless start. But then, he realized, he’d have to answer when Seokjin inevitably called to ask what the fuck went wrong.

Fuck it.

Yoongi shrugged to no one but himself. He then slipped from the sidewalk, through the dumpster’s front door, and straight to the bar. Slumping down onto a leather-topped stool, he rested his elbows against the mahogany countertop and dropped his dejected chin in his hand.

Is this rock bottom? He wondered, Drinking in a bar alone on a Saturday night?

Within seconds, there was a loud crash several meters away. Yoongi jerked his head towards the source of the sound, but he saw nothing. His brows furrowed. All was quiet until a whine erupted from the doorway to the back room.

“Shit, shit, shit!"

Upon standing, Yoongi pressed his hands against the bar and leaned forward to investigate; equal parts concerned and nosy.

On the ground in the doorway, he found shattered remnants of what was once a bottle of Tanqueray. Crouching above the pine-scented wreckage, plucking chunks of glass off the hardwood, he found you.

Yoongi immediately grimaced at your chosen method of disaster clean-up. There was already a bandage wrapped around your finger — with a Hello Kitty pattern, he noted — that confirmed your ongoing battle with clumsiness.

You didn’t need to add to that collection and he couldn’t watch in good conscience while you made that outcome more and more likely.

Mind made up, he crossed quickly to the side of the bar he had no authorization to be on. As soon as Yoongi reached you, he saw the nearby bucket labeled “broken shit.” Then, he clocked the small hand-brush and dustpan resting against it. Wasting no time, he grabbed all three; and without a word, you allowed him to carefully usher you out of the way.

Crouching down the way you had, he began to sweep the broken shit into the dustpan. Too preoccupied to glance up, he asked without looking, “Are you okay?”

When you didn’t immediately respond, Yoongi’s eyes quickly rose to find you with strawberry-pink cheeks and wide, vaguely horrified eyes, and —Shit, was he staring?

Say something. Say anything. For fuck’s sake, Yoongi, at least smile so she knows you’re not angry.

What he landed on looked more like a grimace, he was sure of it, and it didn’t seem to fix that look on your face.

“I’m so sorry,” you squeaked once he finished dumping the glass into its designated receptacle.

You didn’t give him a chance to tell you that an apology wasn’t necessary, opting instead to rattle off your perceived sins at an alarming rate:

“I think I’m the only bartender in Seoul that’s this bad at tending bar. I mean, I didn’t even know anyone else was here — because I wasn’t paying attention — and now you, the patron I’m supposed to be serving, are cleaning up after me. It’s definitely supposed to be the other way around —“

A smile was twitching at the corner of his mouth that he couldn’t prevent. Without a door into the so far one-sided conversation, Yoongi had to jump through the window you created when you finally drew a breath. “Have you got a mop?”

Based on the way your eyebrows knit together, you’d been thrown entirely for a loop. You re-opened your mouth, likely to apologize for not following the sudden twist. Yoongi refused to allow further self-flagellation, though.

Classic Yoongi: demonstrating more compassion for strangers than he ever shows himself.

“For the gin,” He chuckled softly as he gestured down to the puddle at his feet. Suddenly and baselessly bold, he shot you a playful look and tacked on, “And for all the words you just spilled.”

The aforementioned eyebrows shot up as your jaw dropped further. Thankfully, it was amusement and not offense glittering in your eyes. Pretty. As you crossed your arms over your chest, you tilted your head and sized him up with a quick glance.

If this was a test, he was determined to pass.

“Maybe,” you hummed.

Yoongi wanted to volley your nonchalant tone, but he couldn’t swallow the laughter bubbling up from his chest. He was grinning like an idiot; there was no denying it. “Maybe?”

Your eyebrow twitched ever so slightly, the perfect overture to the mischief on your lips. When you replied, that microscopic smirk never faltered: “Let’s say, for arguments’ sake, that there is a mop.”

A manicured finger was held up to stop Yoongi from interjecting.

Mystified, his poor brain tried to crunch the numbers. Statically, it made no sense that — out of the thousands of people he’d met in his life — he’d never come across someone quite like you. In a matter of minutes, you’d pirouetted from adorable, to self-depreciating, to coy and confident.

All-encompassing, all electric, you moved through tone shifts far more gracefully than you did through the bar.

And if he’d done the math right, this was the first interaction he’d had in recent memory that didn’t deplete his energy. In fact, it had the opposite effect. Gazing at you, Yoongi began to wonder if this was how extroverts got to feel as they moved through the world. Like it gave back more than it took. Lucky bastards.

Once Yoongi was thoroughly disarmed, you continued breezily, “Hypothetically speaking, would you let me be the one to use said mop? After all, it’s both my job and my mess.”

“Hypothetically?” He repeated, sucking in a breath through his teeth. Your eyes narrowed further as he paused to formulate a counterpoint. Meanwhile, Yoongi’s involuntary smile spread in a straight line across his face.

You’re a goddamn delight, full stop.

“Assuming, for the sake of this argument, that I do concede the mop in question —” Yoongi raised an eyebrow, “— How could I be sure that you wouldn’t hurt yourself? After all, you did just try to clean up broken glass with your hands.”

If this had been a gun fight and not banter behind a bar, you would’ve shot him dead. Like lightning, you quickly unraveled your arms and held your hands at the ready. That effervescent grin of yours might be his undoing instead.

Eyes alight, you threw down the gauntlet: “Gawi, bawi, bo?”

Never before in your life had you played rock, paper, scissors, and lost at every single turn. You’d also never requested a rematch for every loss before, continuing the game into perpetuity; but you had a hypothesis to prove and a perfectly unique smile to make wider.

No matter what you threw, he’d offered a gesture to counter it. If his eyes hadn’t gotten wider and wider with shock as it just — kept — happening, you would’ve simply decided that he was psychic. A mind-reader, predicting your every move before you’d even settled on it yourself.

Spooky.

At the start, his amusement had been more or less concealed. Withheld, even, like it was dangerous to grin with every single one of his teeth. Eventually, though, his shoulders shook the way yours did; and mirth pooled in the corners of his eyes as he wheezed through laughter with you.

You didn’t know him, but still, you couldn’t help thinking: there he is.

At some point during your unending match, he doubled over to catch his breath. Seizing the element of surprise, you’d darted into the storage room before he could’ve stopped you. When you reappeared with a mop and bucket in tow, you’d immediately begun to address the mess you made. It took a few moments of buffering for him to realize what you’d done.

That time around, he hadn’t shouldered your burden for you and thank god for that. First impressions were never your strong suit, and you were already starting from behind. Always too much, you couldn’t be useless, too.

Instead, he’d simply resigned himself to swapped names and spiked blood pressure as you struggled — stubbornly and independently — to dump the contents of that yellow, wheeled mop bucket into the utility sink. Standing quietly out of your way, Yoongi had looked close to proud when you managed to do it all without spilling a drop.

See, you’d thought, I’m verifiably Not Useless!

Once the evidence of your clumsy crime had been disposed of, you’d returned the cleaning supplies to their rightful space in the storage room’s closet. Similarly, you and your patron returned to your rightful places: him on his stool at the front of the bar; you, finally fixing him a drink behind it.

Ardbeg, single malt, neat.

After sliding the glass across the mahagony to his waiting hand, you glanced towards the front entrance. As usual, there were no pedestrians wandering this way; no cars on the street, either. The only quiet part of Seoul — especially on a Saturday night.

The bar routinely bordered on empty, but it had some magical quality to it: Nobody you saw inside for the first time seemed to be there for the first time. This was especially odd because it wasn’t a place anyone went to, just a place they ended up. Nobody’s first choice, it was a last resort only visible to people who knew where to look for it.

Yoongi was the first one to speak, unknowingly putting an end to your mythologizing. You just barely flinched at the surprise of his voice, but he managed to catch it. Then, he conducted a brief yet careful study of your face to determine whether you were simply jumpy, or experiencing some sort of medical event.

A gesture like that, done in passing, shouldn’t have meant so much to you. Really, all he did was look at you. It felt like more than that, though, because it was the second-kindest thing anyone had done for you in months — and it occurred merely twenty minutes after the first-place winner.

Now, that’s depressing.

“I haven’t seen you in here before,” He hummed, “I only ever run into Yang Daehyun-nim, though it’s been a minute. Honestly, I don’t even know if he’s still around. You know him?”

“Yes, absolutely. He’s my husband.” You deadpanned and Yoongi nearly choked to death on his drink.

You were, of course, fucking with him. The man in question was swiftly approaching ninety, but he looked twice as old. You successfully maintained your ruse until Yoongi’s tongue breached the barrier of his lips and gathered his runaway whiskey.

Where am I? Who am I? Is that legal?

Yoongi simultaneously picked up the joke and his glass. He raised both with pure amusement on his face, “Cheers to the happy couple, then.”

Never one to raise a toast empty-handed, you quickly dumped what little remained of a nearby soju bottle into a shot glass. His eyes sparkled as he watched you race to catch up; even more so when you leaned in to clink your glass against his.

Oh, so he’s pretty pretty.

“To the happy couple,” you echoed.

With both of your drinks dispatched, you grabbed the bottle of Ardbeg to top him up. Expensive taste, you noted, not the low-rent version you were destined for.

If Yoongi hadn’t shown up to order it, that bottle would’ve continued to gather dust on the top shelf. Like you, none of your regulars had the capital to even glance that high. Granted, the sample size was abysmally small at only three (3) people, but the point still stood.

Until Yoongi mentioned Daehyun, you couldn’t think of a single reason why your employer bothered to keep anything like that in stock. Now, that piece seemed to fit. Still, you were puzzled as to why Yoongi would come to a dive like this to drink liquor like that.

Clearly, the man sitting in front of you contained multitudes.

At the exact moment you asked how long he’d been coming here, Yoongi wondered when you joined the staff. Your respective answers came simultaneously, too. His six years easily dwarfed your eight months.

True to form, you joked that he was more qualified to tend bar here than you were. He said his only relevant skill was cleaning broken glass.

It made you sad in some stupid way to realize that you could’ve met a hundred times over by now. Had more conversations like this, haunted the joint jointly rather than on your own. Truthfully, though, you were at least semi-soothed by the timing.

You were a horrible bartender now, but you’d been even worse before. He might not have survived this long.

Once again, Yoongi set your runaway train-of-thought back on track. “Eight months ago.” He took a sip, then he asked, “Is that when you moved to Korea?”

It was a simple question, certainly not an offensive one. The reason it nearly bowled you over was that no one had ever bothered to ask. Nobody seemed to notice the non-native accent that occasionally appeared when you spoke — not unless you referenced its existence first, that is.

Even then, people forgot. You wished you were confident that they simply got used to it, but you had the sneaking suspicion that nobody really listened when you spoke. After all, no one had a reason to give a shit about you, so long as you kept their glasses full.

The weight of your curiosity caused your head to tilt to the side. You allowed a tiny smile to spread as you asked, “What gave me away?”

“Don’t get me wrong —” He held up his hands to prevent a reaction you’d never dream of giving. “It’s not obvious. You’ve got a better grasp than some of my friends do — which is kind of sad, actually. They’ve lived here their whole lives.”

He gifted you a reassuring smile, then came the true prize: he licked his lips absently before speaking again. You had to clench every single muscle in your body to keep from swooning.

That cannot be legal.

“I noticed it earlier, but you were already embarrassed. I didn’t want to risk making it worse.” Yoongi still looked like he was afraid to hurt your feelings. “When you word-vomit — like you did earlier — your consonants sound like they would in English.”

This linguistic assessment didn’t surprise you; it was dead-on. It didn’t embarrass you, either, but you blushed nonetheless. Without thinking, you mused, “Makes sense that you’re the first to say something. You spend more time overseas than most, right?”

For a split second, you swore you saw Yoongi frown. A little twinge, one you would’ve missed if you weren’t so fixated on his every micro-expression. If you could have, you would’ve hit the rewind button and reverted back thirty seconds.

Was it off-limits, finally acknowledging that you knew who you were dealing with? Did it bother him that you did know, and proceeded to speak to him like the glaring disparity between the two of you didn’t matter? Did it matter?

“You mean to tell me —” He started quietly with a flex of his eyebrow. You feared the worst, even though Yoongi didn’t strike you as the type to make your failure to fawn a problem. “— That the place you lived before wasn’t under a rock?”

As soon as he saw your expression morph from panic to blatant relief, his eyes crinkled until every one of his facial features contributed to his smile. It was difficult to process how an expression that gentle hit you like a punch, but it did, and you felt a bit dizzy.

Professionalism be damned, you cracked open another bottle of soju and filled not one, but two glasses. Yoongi smirked — likely unsurprised by your willingness to drink with him on the clock — and easily accepted the shot you slid his way.

“To the worst bartender in Seoul,” You cheered as you raised it.

He rolled his eyes at your self-depreciation, but followed your lead without any meaningful resistance. Like it was choreographed, you both downed your shots in unison. Straight, no chaser. Just the slight burn in the back of your throat and the very first thing your scrambled brain could think to say:

“Do you want to hear a joke?”

Yoongi was clearly stunned by your sudden maneuver, but you didn’t wait for him to co-sign your antics. You cleared your throat like you were about to say something worth hearing, then you warbled, “Knock, knock!”

You expected him to pause again; or worse, to leave you hanging entirely. It was, frankly, stupid how much of an effect the latter always had on you. You were a demented scientist and your bad joke was a litmus test, ready to reveal on the front-end what kind of person Yoongi really was.

Translation: Tell me now if I’m too much. I’m always too much.

“Who’s there?”

He didn’t hesitate. There was no blink of an eye, no breath taken in between your call and his response. This time, it was you who needed a split-second to buffer.

When your brain finally reloaded, you peeped, “Cargo.”

“Cargo who?” Yoongi asked slowly, growing visibly suspicious about where this stupid, stupid road was leading. Somehow, he looked as amused by you as he did continually bewildered.

Springing the trap, you accentuated your shitty punchline with a sing-song tone and pantomime for emphasis, “Car go beep beep!”

Nobody had ever — ever — looked at you the way Yoongi did when you concluded your comedy routine. As if your teary-eyed grin and raucous laughter were something beautiful; and your presence alone wasn’t killing off one, sorry brain cell for every minute that passed.

“Knock, knock,” Yoongi volleyed with a soft chuckle, and without breaking eye contact.

As if you weren’t too much.

Yoongi needed a minute to take inventory.

When he left his apartment at a quarter-til-eight, he was headed out for his first date in a long damn time. It was Seokjin’s setup and that girl’s letdown. For Yoongi, it was another drop in the bucket; one final reason to commit to life as a hermit.

Troll that he was, Yoongi was ready to crawl back under his bridge; emerging only to pose impossible riddles to passersby who didn’t know to stay away.

His brain had given him an out, but for once, he didn’t take it. So, what did he end up with instead?

You, sitting on the bar, going shot-for-shot with him; and telling your self-titled villain origin story with award-worthy narration.

Equally as enthralling as the story itself was the tangential webs you weaved along the way. As he’d already learned to expect, you apologized frequently for the way one thought trailed off in a direction you didn’t intend. He wished you didn’t; he had no trouble following wherever your mind led you.

You, born here but not raised here, returning to claim a master’s degree in photography and to reclaim what you felt you missed out on. Yoongi loved your foreign take on local foods, even if you hadn’t yet acquired a taste for pickled vegetables.

We’ll get you there, he’d promised.

You, gesturing with hand movements so impassioned they nearly knocked you off balance; right off the bar. He was down to listen to you talk about whatever — for any amount of time — because he could feel how much you cared about — well, everything.

Animated, fully alive, and so fucking refreshing.

Him, with one hand on his drink and the other hovering on the bar top near your hip — just in case your full-body laugh did, in fact, provoke a fall.

Yoongi, who do you think you’re fooling?

So, maybe it was never exclusively about concern for your safety — even though you’d demonstrated from the jump that it was warranted. Yoongi was quickly coming to realize that, when it came down to it, he simply liked having you close. He liked you, full stop.

Every now and then, you’d wiggle where you sat, and the denim of your jeans would brush against his knuckles. It was as innocent as contact could be, but for someone so secretly touch-starved, it was bliss. Is this the kind of feeling he gave up, locked away in his tower? It sure as shit made leaving feel worth it.

He was buzzed, sure, but not drunk enough to blame the warmth he was feeling on the liquor. Any flush on his cheeks would only be partly genetic. The rest of it was all you — and the way you talked with your whole body, and that giggle.

Seriously, what the fuck is that giggle? A wind-chime made out of stars?

“Yoongi?”

It didn’t dawn on him that he was staring until you called his name. Then, it dawned on him that he didn’t care if he’d been caught — not even a little bit. Red-handed, all Yoongi could do was smile up at you as you blinked down at him.

He’d thought it before and now he was thinking it again: You are goddamn delight.

You threw your head back and laughed. Maybe it was the soju, or how fucking obvious he made it that he was infatuated with you. Whatever the cause, the effect was music to his ears. He’d record it, if he could, and play it on loop to appease the butterflies going wild in his stomach.

Unfortunately, he was accurate in his prediction. The sudden movement of your laughter sent you reeling, but before you could fall, Yoongi was quick to intervene. He stood abruptly from his stool to secure you; one hand on your hip and the other — unintentionally — on your thigh.

“Shit — Sorry,” Yoongi muttered, though he was very much still holding you. Oh, fuck, his brain screamed as he glanced down at his hand on your thigh. Heart pounding, his gaze flitted from his touch to your face.

Your mouth was still slightly open, but that could’ve easily been attributed to the fact that you’d so narrowly avoided launching yourself headfirst at the ground. If it wasn’t that, then you were looking for the words to yell to get him to back off.

Those were the only possible explanations; and any minute now, his hand would accept his brain’s signal to pull away.

Any minute now. Any —

Yoongi watched it all happen in slow motion and he still couldn’t believe it when you leaned in. Or when your hair slipped over your shoulder and brushed against his. Or when you kissed him quick and pulled back just to smile from mere centimeters away.

“Impressive reflexes.” You were breathless but you still managed to sigh. Have you had freckles this whole time? “What’s that saying? Not all heroes wear Lewis Leathers?”

Your playful tug at his jacket had no force behind it, but even with his feet firmly planted, Yoongi knew that he was falling. His stomach fluttered from the pinnacle of that emotional rollercoaster and, for once, he wasn’t afraid of heights. He’d kiss you again and follow that thrill all the way down.

Or, he would have, if the bell above the door didn’t chime.

Just as quickly as you’d kissed him, you spun around and prepared to dismount from your perch on the bar. Yoongi’s hand still seemed to vibrate, even when you slipped out from underneath. It was absolutely ridiculous that his body missed you already — automatically — but he couldn’t think of any other explanation.

He wasn’t a violent person by any means, but he was suddenly overwhelmed with the desire to throw the incoming patron out on their ass and lock the door behind them.

The audacity. Who does this clown think they are, coming into a place of business during their business hours? For fuck’s —

“Finally!” You squeaked as you stuck your landing. Then, you skipped around the edge of the bar and continued on your way towards the door.

Jesus Christ. Even the way you walk is cute.

Yoongi was initially too preoccupied with watching you to notice the intruder, but when he did, he couldn’t force the exasperated look off his face. That is, until he saw the panicked look on the prepubescent face of the delivery boy.

The poor kid’s eyes bugged out at Yoongi from under the brim of his uniform cap. Immediately, Yoongi felt inclined to atone, to bow. Instead, he offered a mildly apologetic grimace for the heart attack he didn’t mean to cause.

You accepted the bags of food into your arms, beaming like the fucking sun as you glanced over your shoulder to Yoongi. “You said you liked Hongdae Dakgalbi, right?”

Yes. Yes, he did. But his brain was spinning its wheels in the mud because —

What he finally said wasn’t a question, but it certainly sounded like one: “You ordered food.”

Clearly, Yoongi was missing something. He glanced around and confirmed that there was, in fact, an operational kitchen still situated at the far end of the room. He pointed to the small window carved out for taking and producing orders. “What about —?”

“Binna called off,” you shrugged through your explanation. Then, you tilted your head with a coy smile, “Were we supposed to starve?”

Yoongi had questions. A lot of them.

First and foremost: When did you summon takeout and how did you manage to go unnoticed in the process? He was certainly staring at you for long enough to catch it. Or maybe his heart-eyes were getting foggy with age.

Also, we? As in, you ordered food with the intention of sharing it with him? And you paid for it?

When his broken brain snapped back to attention, it registered the fact that you’d settled on top of the stool next to his. You either didn’t notice the smoke flying out of Yoongi’s ears, or you accepted his brain damage for what it was. Either way, you were too excited about the piping hot tteokbokki in front of you to notice the way he still lingered by the door.

The delivery boy was long gone by now; he took the first opportunity to get as much distance between himself and the visibly annoyed person he’d interrupted. Looking at it now, Yoongi’s fingers twitched with a desire to engage the deadbolt. But he didn’t — he, a coward, wouldn’t — so he simply reclaimed the spot next to you.

You immediately held up a pair of chopsticks as you fished out napkins with your other hand. Yoongi stared at them for too long, prompting you to look quizzically up at him. You asked no questions, and he couldn’t think of a single reason why he said it, but he blurted out:

“I’m supposed to be on a date.”

Unfazed by the lack of context, you gently tucked that pair of chopsticks into his useless hand. Yoongi blinked down at them like he didn’t know what to do with them. You went back to unpacking your takeout.

“And I’m supposed to be working,” You chirped, as if what he just said — unprompted — wasn’t completely idiotic. “I won’t tell if you don’t.”

Yoongi shook his head, praying it would knock his trapped thoughts loose. “I meant that I was supposed to be the one buying dinner.” He frowned down at the spread you’d provided. “If I knew you were hungry, I would’ve —“

“Taken a bite by now?” You teased with wiggling eyebrows. “Come on, Min Yoongi, you know the rules. The eldest eats first.”

Stunned wasn’t adequate. Entranced? His mouth hung open, primed to speak, without a single, coherent response on the horizon. Mystified, at the very least. You were always one step ahead of Yoongi, dancing off in a brand new direction.

How on Earth did you do it so easily? How were you so effortlessly bold when he couldn’t even blink without deliberating over the idea for days?

Yoongi wasn’t even jealous the way he would’ve expected to be, meeting his non-neurotic foil. He didn’t want to steal that spark for himself, or try to mimic your fearlessness. If he could just continue to witness it, that would be enough.

You threw him off again when you plucked a small piece of tteokbokki from one of the cardboard containers below and gently maneuvered it into his unwitting, waiting mouth.

Game over. Min Yoongi is done for.

“There we go,” You cooed with a smirk. Then, those chopsticks grabbed a piece of tteokbokki of your very own. You smiled adoringly down at it, winked up at him, and said, “Now we’re off to the races.”

After several minutes of deeply contented, quiet chewing, you turned slightly to gaze at him. You didn’t say anything at first; you simply watched and let your lips curve slightly into an understated smile. Yoongi didn’t care if that was all you did because — for once — he felt seen.

Eventually, you did speak. Your voice was soft, barely casting a ripple through the silence. “Can I ask?”

Your eyes scanned over his face for permission. Yoongi had no idea what your question was, but he doubted that he was capable of saying no to you. Fire at will.

“About the date you’re not on,” You clarified.

The one I was supposed to be on, or the one I might be on instead?

“Why aren’t you on it?”

He didn’t know how to explain any of it without sounding pathetic. He knew he’d rather die than have to relay his earlier misfortune to Seokjin; somehow, though, Yoongi didn’t hesitate to respond to you. Like everything else about the past few hours, it felt laughably easy.

“She’s a friend of a friend,” He began as soon as he wiped excess gochujang from the corner of his mouth.

“He basically harassed me into asking her out because I, uh — I don’t get out much. And I know a lot of people say that, but I really do mean it. You can probably guess as much from my frighteningly translucent complexion.”

Your mouth hitched up at the corner when he joked, but you didn’t laugh. In some odd way, he was grateful that you didn’t — not just because you didn’t enable his self-depreciation, but because you seemed too invested in what he was saying to interrupt him.

Nobody had ever looked at him quite like that before.

He cleared his throat, then he pressed on, “So, I did — and that part was fine. After that, though, I don’t think I slept at all. For, like, days. Now, I think I was just dreading the whole thing, but while it was happening, I figured I was nervous. Rusty, you know?”

Yoongi looked down at his hands, which fidgeted autonomously with his chopsticks. “I put way too much thought into the whole thing — I always do — even though I had this feeling that nothing was going to happen the way I planned.”

He paused, poked mindlessly at a lump of rice, and exhaled a breath he hadn’t intentionally held. Nothing had happened the way he planned, but if it did, who would’ve hand-fed him tteokbokki because they were too impatient to wait?

You dropped your chin in your hand as you continued to watch him. Wordlessly, you reached out with your other hand. Yoongi noticed just in time as you gently removed a piece of lint that had stuck to the tip of his jacket collar. Your eyes followed it as it floated off towards the floor.

Yoongi couldn’t see anything but you.

“You picked this place,” you murmured. Slowly, your eyes drifted back up to his face; he froze solid. The only thing moving was the pounding heart in his chest. “Must mean a lot to you.”

He wanted to be brave and tell you that it meant even more now. He wasn’t brave, though, so he swallowed that thought down with a mouthful of soju.

“She was not a fan, as it turns out. Hated it so much, just from the sidewalk, that she jumped right back in her taxi — yelled at me through the window that she deserved better than to drink bottom-shelf liquor in a dumpster with me.”

You furrowed your eyebrows and he wondered which part of that statement bothered you the most. Having your place of employment referred to as a dumpster would be a reasonable sore spot; one he probably should’ve avoided. Fuck. Could he rewind thirty seconds and omit that part?

“Well,” you frowned, “Joke’s on her. This dumpster has exactly one bottle on its top shelf, and it was apparently reserved just for you.”

He could kiss you. He really, really could.

You shifted on your stool, though, and stared out into the middle-distance at nothing in particular. Deep in thought, too, judging by the way your frown curved even further.

“It’s kind of funny, in a shitty sort of way. She more or less told you that you’re not enough, and people love to tell me that I’m too much.”

It was Yoongi’s turn to frown. Who in their right mind could look at you, experience the goddamn magnet that you are, and willingly detach themselves from you? The thought alone made his jaw clench.

There hadn’t been a single second since he met you — albeit, not that long ago — where he didn’t want to see and know more of you. Where he didn’t beg those seconds to slow the fuck down because the night kept moving faster than he wanted it to.

So far, no amount of time felt like enough.

“You’d think it would be nice, being everyone’s favorite new toy,” You laughed, to Yoongi’s surprise.

Looking genuinely amused, you glanced over your shoulder at him. “And I guess, for a minute, it really is. You do your silly song and dance; and everyone loves you — until they don’t anymore. Eventually, your tricks get boring; you burn them out; then they take out your batteries. You get shelved pretty quickly.”

There was a flicker of genuine hurt in your eyes, but you were smiling when you picked your glass up off the bar and raised it. “To always being the wrong amount!” You giggled.

“Nah.” Yoongi shook his head. He grabbed his drink, touched his glass to yours, and winked, “To being just right.”

One way or another, you spent most nights watching the clock, holding your breath, and waiting for midnight.

On New Year’s Eve, it was hope that bloomed bright in your chest like fireworks. When those final seconds dissolved, it meant closing one chapter and opening another. Something bigger, something better, something blank for you to fill in. A year in fresh white paper, with every color at your disposal.

Ten — nine —

For the rest of your midnights, it was relief that finally allowed you to unclench your jaw and drop your stiff shoulders. Closing time. Freedom to clean up, clear out, and drag your tired, little body back up to your apartment.

Thankfully, when your work hours were over, there were only three flights of stairs separating you from your bed, your cat, and your Netflix subscription.

Eight — seven —

Tonight was an outlier, a statistical anomaly. As the short hand inched closer and closer to twelve, your pulse picked up its pace. For once, it wasn’t relief and it certainly wasn’t hope. It was distinctively dread forming a pit in your stomach.

Even more than that, it was a telepathic plea shooting out from your brain that begged, and begged, and begged for more time. Five more minutes, just five more minutes.

Six — five —

You felt stupid, of course, because you knew that neither of you would turn into a pumpkin when the clock struck midnight. There was no spell, just two strangers who happened to be in the same bar at the same time, with bad jokes and a bottle of Tanqueray.

No bomb would detonate, no one would drop dead. When it was over, you’d simply go home, and Yoongi would go home and then…

Four —

That “and then what?” had you frantic. What if this moment ended and nothing followed? What if the magic didn’t survive the night?

You couldn’t take that disappointment; you knew that much. Gripping tight to your last first night, you tore your eyes away from the clock and looked at Yoongi.

He didn’t notice you staring because he had also become fixated on the clock ahead. His brow furrowed just slightly as he observed it, and you wondered what it meant.

Three —

You knew what you hoped it meant.

For all you knew, though, he might’ve been begging that hand to move faster. The end all, be all of justifications to say goodnight and go. To drop the moment in the bin with the spent, citrus garnishes on the way out; and then crawl back into that bed he spoke so fondly of.

The way you did whenever four zeroes lined up in a row like cartoon cherries on a slot machine. A personal jackpot any other midnight, but the farthest thing from a prize now.

Two —

No. You refused to believe that.

In the reality you’d chosen, he was strapped into that rollercoaster car beside you. He felt his stomach flip the way yours did as you stared down at the path ahead. You didn’t know how you knew it, but you were sure that you weren’t up there alone.

So, when the countdown was over, you took a deep breath and stated, “I’m calling a time-out.”

In actuality, it was more than a statement. It was a shout and it startled him so badly that he flinched.

As soon as he resettled on his stool, Yoongi’s neck could’ve snapped with how quickly he turned to look at you. His eyes were wider than you’d seen them at any point in the last four hours. Those once-knitted brows shot up to kiss the blonde strands brushing against his forehead.

You envied them, as stupid as that was.

“You’re — what?” He peeped.

Even louder than before, you blurted out your explanation. “I’m stopping the clock!”

You might’ve been the sole American in the entire neighborhood, but you could guarantee that you still knew less about football than Yoongi did. Knowing all of that didn’t stop you from making your worst attempt at a metaphor, or throwing your hand out to mime your way through it.

“Flag on the play — or whatever, I don’t know.”

At first, his expression didn’t change and you began to panic. Maybe you could duck down behind the bar and he’d eventually forget that you were hiding there. Then he wouldn’t see how pink your cheeks were; how the hope in your eyes bordered on desperate.

Shockingly, you weren’t delusional. You’d simply underestimated him.

Yoongi glanced down at his watch — already two minutes into Sunday — and then back to you. “Wow. Would you look at that? Only a minute til midnight.”

You could kiss him; you really, really could.

“Do you want to, uh, hang out? With me? Like, not here?”

Yoongi was smirking slightly at your stammering, just enough for you to notice, but you didn’t faint the way your body wanted you to. Instead, you doubled down.

“I live in the apartment upstairs, and this isn’t a proposition — it’s also not, not a proposition — but I need to lock-up here, and I still want you with me when I’m done.”

He blinked rapidly like you’d once again shook him off your tail. You watched in slow motion as his smirk dropped, and his brows dipped back into thoughtful wrinkles at the lowest part of his forehead. It hurt, physically somehow, that there was something to consider.

Were you really this egregiously wrong in your conclusions, or had he finally hit his quota with you and decided that you — this — were too much, too soon?

You wanted to explain yourself, to say that you were just offering for him to come up and sit on your couch with you. Because you wanted to keep this night alive and keep talking for as long as you could. Because this was something and you knew it.

You opened your mouth to do so, but he was the quicker draw.

Yoongi looked genuinely conflicted and you believed him when he said, “I don’t think I can. I have to be up in four hours to —”

“It’s okay!” You chirped. Stupid little bird, flying headlong into a window. You smiled and prayed it looked genuine, but Yoongi didn’t look convinced. Still, you breezed, “Raincheck, then — maybe.”

Maybe when you take the trash out later, you can heave yourself into the dumpster with it.

Deciding that your disappointment shouldn’t be his burden, you grabbed the takeout containers from the counter and whisked yourself over to the trash bin to discard them.

In a magnificent showing of restraint, you didn’t stuff yourself inside it, too. Instead, your tidy tornado kept spinning, picking up every glass you encountered and shoving them hurriedly into the dishwasher below the bar.

Are you suddenly Employee of the Month? Why is this the moment you choose to actually do your job?

With your hip, you nudged the dishwasher door closed much more clumsily than usual. Then, you began wiping down the counter at warp speed; damn near scrubbing a hole straight though the wood.

Why are you so frazzled? Are you really this sensitive after being politely turned down by someone you just met? This is what they mean when they say you’re “too much,” and you know what? They’re right.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Yoongi asked because he was lovely.

You were, as it turned out, as bad an actor as you were a bartender. Your reassuring smile was more unsettling than anything else, but you hoped that — maybe — the shake of your head was enough to dispel the concern from his face.

In case it wasn’t, you quipped, “You’ve already done more than your fair share of cleaning tonight, I think. Thanks again for that, by the way. I ran out bandages, so…”

Your sentence petered out when you finally looked up and locked eyes with Yoongi. His expression was indecipherable and, only for a moment, it made your hurried hands stop moving.

“So, I’m glad you came in,” You finished through an exhale, quiet to the point that it was hardly audible. You hoped he heard you, though, as loudly and clearly as you meant it.

Straightening up, you dropped your bar rag into the “dirty shit” bucket underneath the counter. You quickly wiped your hands against your jeans, laughed with no real joy behind it, and hid your wobbling voice behind a poorly imitated French accent, “Et voilà.”

Yoongi was still staring, still unreadable. For a few moments, you simply looked at one another. Neither one of you made a sound — at least, nobody spoke. There were gears grinding in his head, judging by the look on his face, and you swore you could hear them from across the bar.

“I guess I should — um,” Yoongi eventually muttered as he gestured to the door. He briefly glanced at it, but you doubted that he registered what he was looking at.

Oddly, it wasn’t awkwardness that seemed to have him short-circuiting — not as far as you could tell. It was like his brain was moving faster than it could form words, leaving his mouth open with nothing to say.

You nodded. You knew where he was going with this, and you didn’t want to prolong whatever he was so visibly toiling with.

“Yeah, of course,” You squeaked. Somewhere, the world’s tiniest violin began to play as the corner of your mouth hitched up. “I’ll see you around, I hope?”

Then, Yoongi’s gaze dropped to the phone in his hand. If he heard your question, he didn’t acknowledge it. Instead, deep in thought, he mumbled, “I need to — fuck, okay —” Urgently, he looked back up at you and said firmly, “I’ll call.”

He dashed out the door before you realized the problem with his plan: he had no way to call you.

You’d been so caught up in each other that you never thought to exchange phone numbers. Not only was he now gone, but he hadn’t actually said goodbye.

Seems kind of fitting that yours is the only fairytale without a happy ending, huh?

You occupied the borderline between being a hopeless romantic and a masochist, so you immediately decided that, if you ran, you might catch him before he was truly gone.

Kiss him or kick him, it didn’t matter — you just couldn’t let it end like this.

You skirted around the bar and darted to the door, throwing it open and shocking the bell above it. You were already out on the sidewalk before it had the chance to chime. It was the only sound, and it echoed through otherwise dead air.

Similarly, you were the only person on the street. Judging by the dark windows lining the road, you were the only proof of life in that little corner of Seoul. The lack of visible stars was likely due to light pollution, but you wouldn’t be surprised if they dipped out on you, too.

No matter how many times you looked up and down the street, Yoongi didn’t appear. So, you closed your eyes like an idiot, and wished on a star you couldn’t see that he’d be there when you re-opened them. Standing on the other side of the street, laughing, and asking how you’d missed him on your thirty previous scans.

But he wasn’t.

Yoongi had disappeared like smoke right through your fingers; exiting your night as abruptly as he’d entered it.

You weren’t inclined to stand on the sidewalk all night, stunned by your complete failure to see the plot for what it was. You slipped from the sidewalk, through the front door, and locked it behind you. And once you did, you stood there with your hand on the deadbolt for several moments — just in case.

When no one came to knock, you turned all the lights out and flipped the sign in the front window from open to closed. From there, you made your way to the back of the storage room. Finally reaching the stairwell door in the far corner, you unlocked it slowly like the wait would make a difference.

As you climbed the three flights to your apartment’s entrance, the night’s events formed a whirlpool in your mind. The playback settled it: there was simply no way that you were this wrong — not about this.

Clearly, you weren’t clairvoyant to the extent that Yoongi seemed to be. You hadn’t seen it coming when you nearly fell backwards off the bar, but he did. He’d kept his hand close all night like he sensed you’d need it. Just like he sensed every rock, paper, and scissor.

Even still, it felt like a premonition every time you turned to look at him at the same time he did; and you couldn’t put a finger on it.

That something was more than simply chatting with a person stuck in your close proximity — more than commiserating and drinking simultaneously. That was the nature of your job: circumstantial friendship. Not uncommon, not designed to last beyond last call.

This, though? Cosmic interfere or craziness, maybe, but not nothing. You weren’t superstitious and you didn’t necessarily believe in fate, but the odds of all of this had to be shockingly low.

It felt cinematic, in a way, or straight out of a dream. You would have believed it either way if the pinch of your fingers on your forearm didn’t debunk both theories. It was all too perfectly timed to be a coincidence, though, you knew that much.

Out of all the nights you’d worked at this bar — and all the years he’d been a customer — this was the one time your paths had crossed. And when they finally did, he found you right when you needed him. The same, you hoped, could be said for him.

Too Much meeting Not Enough, proving perfect balance. It was just right, but the ending didn’t fit.

Sure, he knew where to find you — but that was assuming he wanted to. With his quick and wordless departure, your confidence in that assumption wavered as you unlocked your apartment door and stepped inside.

The ball’s over, Cinderella. Sorry about your shoe.

When his third call went to voicemail, Yoongi was ready to launch his phone down the alley.  

There was no fucking way that Seokjin — of all people — was asleep already. This could not be the night that he turned off whatever game he was playing and went to bed at a reasonable hour. Seokjin was rarely reasonable. As it turned out, he wasn’t reachable, either. 

Yoongi growled, kicking the nearby dumpster. He thought that some explosion of physical activity might take the focus off his anxiety, but it didn’t — it just made his foot hurt. 

“Fuck!”

He didn’t even want to make the plans he was now trying desperately to reschedule. He didn’t like fishing; he liked his friend, and his friend liked fishing. So, Yoongi agreed to share the cost of renting a boat that he would have to leave at five o’clock in the morning to catch.

If it's 00:17 now, I have three hours and forty-three minutes until —

The unexpected chiming of his phone stopped Yoongi’s pacing before he could wear a trench into the concrete. “Finally!” 

“Do you always yell at people instead of greeting them?” Seokjin scoffed. As expected, Yoongi could hear some sort of video game blaring in the background.

Typical.

“Hyung, I’m so sorry, but I'm not going to make it back in time. Can we re-schedule this fishing thing?”

Yoongi felt awful for having to ask in the first place, but he felt even worse as he anticipated Seokjin’s reaction. Yoongi swallowed disappointment and stewed in it. Seokjin was quite the opposite, and Yoongi didn’t want to ruin his night. 

To Yoongi’s surprise, he did not get yelled at the way he expected to. Instead, he got Seokjin’s juvenile, sing-song voice directed right into his ear, “Ooh, staying with Hyunjoo, are we?” 

Yoongi, having completely lost the plot, paused for a moment before asking, “Who?” 

“What?” 

Oh, fuck, was that her name? It’d slid out of his brain the second that abuse slid out of her mouth.

Quick to avoid that conversation, Yoongi sputtered, “I’ll give you the story tomorrow, hyung, but I really need to go. Can we push the fishing thing to another day?"

“Oh, I forgot to book the boat, so don’t worry about it!” Seokjin cheered and Yoongi was this close to following through with chucking his phone like a grenade. “Have fun with —” 

Not inclined to wait another second, Yoongi hung up and turned to sprint up the alley towards the bar’s entrance. When he reached it and found the lights out, he skidded to a stop so forcefully that he almost fell over. What the fuck? He tugged at the door handle just to make sure he wasn’t missing something. 

Didn’t he tell you he was going to make a phone call? 

Fuck! He'd said I'll call. He didn't say that he was going to call Seokjin, and he sure as shit hadn't clarified that he was going to do so right that second. There'd been no explanation, no “please wait because I promise I’m coming right back for you" — just a mad dash out the door to get rid of the only thing standing between him and more time with you. 

Shit, shit, shit. 

Yoongi never indulged in unadulterated rage because he decided a long time ago that it took more effort than it was worth. In that moment, though, he felt the overwhelming urge to punch himself right in the face. How did he fuck it all up this badly?

Instead, Yoongi scrubbed his hands over his face and begged his brain to figure out a better plan. He couldn’t just call you because he was too busy making googly eyes at you to ask for your number. He couldn’t pick the lock because it was illegal — and because he didn’t know how.

Unable to do anything else, Yoongi threw his head back with every intention of screaming at the sky. But before he could let his frustration rip out of his mouth, he saw it: his saving grace. 

Mere moments after he sprinted up the alley, Yoongi was tearing back down it like his life depended on it. The end of the iron emergency ladder sat too high off the ground for him to comfortably reach it, but — thankfully — he had garbage at his disposal. Without a second thought, he stacked whatever semi-sturdy trash he could find to bridge the gap between him and your fire escape. 

With all the strength and recklessness of a lovestruck teenager, Yoongi threw his twenty-four-year-old body upwards and grabbed hold of the nearest rung.

Maybe you overestimated that strength a little bit, eh, Yoongi?

He gritted his teeth and pulled himself up enough to swing a leg up, too. Groaning triumphantly, he hooked the bottom of his shoe on the lowest rung. 

From there, it was easy enough to reach the first landing. When it came time for Yoongi to tackle the other two, he picked up the pace — and he didn’t give a shit about how sore he’d be tomorrow. 

Finally, finally, finally, he reached his destination. Unfortunately, that fleeting moment of relief was replaced by fear as he stooped down to knock on your window. Staring back at him through the darkness was a pair of big, yellow eyes.

Yoongi shouted as he stumbled away from the window. He knocked over a planter on his way down, landing on his ass with a crash and a grunt. Adding insult to injury, that black cat looked positively smug as it stared down at him.  

It was quiet when you called out — in English — from another room. “Toph, did you break something? I thought we talked about this, bub." As your voice grew closer, you switched to Korean, "You can't ruin my stuff until you start contributing to this household.”

What's the incubation period for lovesickness?

Yoongi heard footsteps headed towards whatever room he’d failed to break and enter. He saw the light as it flicked on, and then he saw you — wearing a fluffy, tan headband with little, round ears at the top —with a bare face glistening as if you’d just finished tending to it.

Oh, fuck. Is lovesickness terminal? 

If your eyes opened any wider, they might’ve fallen right out of your skull. They would’ve landed where Yoongi did — in the mass grave of pepper sprouts he’d just outright annihilated. But they stayed beautiful where they belonged, and you simply gawked at each other. 

Yoongi spoke first despite not thinking first. “Toph? Like, Beifong?” 

Your shock gave way to the biggest, brightest smile and Yoongi was thankful it didn’t blind him. If it did, he would’ve missed the way your cheeks went pink to match the tips of your ears. Whatever the shade, it was his new favorite color.

Just bury me in this potting soil, doll. I'm dead. 

“Yoongi,” You started with a giggle that turned into a hum when you pursed your lips and tilted your head. Your eyes narrowed and then you asked, “Any reason why you chose the fire escape over the door?” 

The what? 

Sensing his confusion, you leaned out the window and pointed. Yoongi’s eyes followed the invisible line from your fingertip until they located an awning, which sat mere meters away from his impromptu stepstool made of trash.  

Inwardly, he winced. Outwardly, he turned to you with a lopsided smile. “I was checking out your little garden."

Yoongi cleared his throat, now wincing outwardly, “And, uh — then I killed it, a little bit. I promise I’ll replace everything as soon as the shops open. I am so —” 

“Cold? I bet,” You interrupted with a smirk, “Come inside then, Min Yoongi. Just don’t break the window too, alright?” 

You didn’t have to tell him twice.

Immediately, he was on his feet, furiously dusting potting soil off the back of his legs. When he suspected that he’d gotten it all, Yoongi turned around and glanced at you over his shoulder. Even without a question, you knew what he was asking; you signaled okay with your fingers and a giggle. 

With more care than he’d ever shown in his life, Yoongi crawled through the gap you created when you ducked back through the window. Once he had his feet underneath him again, he quickly toed off his shoes and plucked them off the tile.

As soon as he was upright again, you took his wrist in your hand — oh god, your skin is so criminally soft — and led him through your kitchen to the living room. 

Gently, you set his shoes down on the mat beside your front door. Then, you turned back around to gaze up at him. Looking at that face of yours, Yoongi forgot every word he’d ever learned. It was just his hammering heart beating in time with yours, until: 

“So, this is where I live.”

You were close enough that Yoongi could smell the toothpaste on your breath when you spoke, but still too far. You must’ve thought so, too, because you shifted your weight to your other foot and wound up slightly nearer to him. 

Yoongi hummed in reply, though he could barely hear it over his pulse pounding in his ears, “It’s nice.”

He didn’t actually know if that was the case because he’d spent every second so far staring at you, but he had faith that you’d prove him right.

More quiet, more anticipation disguised as quickening breaths.

Like a magnet, you drew him in. Yoongi echoed every tiny move you made towards him until the distance was gone; and he could feel the heat of your body mere centimeters from his.

This close, he could see flecks of gold in your irises that he hadn’t noticed before. Yoongi knew he shouldn't have been surprised. If he'd learned a single thing tonight it was that hidden treasures were par for the course with you.

“Yoongi.” 

It was baffling how you could sound so shy, even with desire blowing your pupils wide. Just as confounding was the fact that Yoongi knew, without question, that you felt it, too — that this new and perfect something was the start of everything.

“Please, just kiss me already.” 

That wasn’t an opportunity he’d ever expect to turn down. 

You were already breathless, weightless, and floating in fucking space when you finally crossed over the threshold into your bedroom.

Because, fuck, that man took your oxygen with him whenever his lips left yours. Without even trying, he’d fashioned himself into a ventilator that you really might suffocate without.  

Thankfully, whenever he pulled away, he didn’t stray far. Even as you both stumbled towards your unmade bed, tripping over obstacles — up to and including Toph, whose favorite spot was between your ankles — there was always one hand on your hip and another lacing fingers through your hair. 

As you moved, you couldn’t help thinking of the leftovers you’d brought home from work before. All single-use encounters, wastes of time that you normally didn’t care to recall. Though he may end up being the last, Yoongi wasn’t the first person to have you in this position.

He was, however, the only person to rescind his tongue just to comment on the tiny, design details of your shit-box apartment. 

“How did you —” He paused to moan into your mouth when your teeth gently claimed his bottom lip. “Find a place with — oh, fuck, you taste like spearmint – original crown-molding in this —” The back of his knees bumped into the edge of your mattress and suddenly, he was sitting. “Neighborhood?” 

There was no way you could ever explain Min Yoongi’s duality. He was unequivocally, fatally hot — and simultaneously, he was the most endearing, grandfatherly person you’d ever encountered. Somehow, this mind-boggling man turned architectural factoids into dirty talk.

You might orgasm on the spot if he brought up your built-ins, and you didn’t know or care what that said about you as a person. 

“I’ll show you the blueprints later if you want,” you giggled while Yoongi ‘s cheeks flushed. Before he could find a reason to feel embarrassed, you tilted his chin up in order to kiss him properly. As you did, you murmured against his lips, “But if you take those jeans off, there’s something else I’d like to show you first.” 

Your little finger was near to his throat as you held his chin captive, so you felt it when it when he growled. Against your knuckle, in your chest, and in that growing ache in between your thighs. There was roughness in him that you’d only seen snippets of, but you’d bet that you could pull it out if you tried.  

Maybe not now while you were both masking nerves, but eventually. 

When Yoongi made to stand, you backed up to give him room to do so. You were already on your knees when his belt came off, unbuttoning his jeans before the leather even hit the floor. As you pulled that zipper down — slowly and carefully — you glanced up at him from under your lashes and watched the breath catch in his chest. 

It wasn’t the first time you noticed how fucking beautiful he was; in fact, that thought had been looping through your mind all night. But there was something new in his expression as he observed you taking his cock into your hand.

Something reverent, like he believed he should be the one on their knees.

A few languid, kitten licks at the tip, and his eyelids fluttered. They screwed shut entirely as you ran the flat of your tongue along the vein underneath. When your mouth finally enveloped him fully, his head drooped backwards as he groaned. 

Your name would never sound better than it did exhaled from Yoongi’s chest. 

More often than not, fellatio felt like an obligation. A quid pro quo, you always figured, though none of them kept up their end of the deal. But with Yoongi buried in the wet heat of your mouth, it was a gift you might never get tired of giving. Every breathy moan and involuntary twitch felt like a prize — and still, neither came close to the way it felt when he looked at you. 

In those fleeting moments when he could focus, of course. 

“I’m fucking dreaming,” Yoongi groaned, bringing his hands up and scrubbing them over his face. “Shit. Perfect figment of my imagination, that’s the only explanation for you. Where the fuck have you been my whole life?” 

You hummed as you let him slip out of your mouth. In turn, it prompted a flurry of expletives to slip out of his. Tracing a feather-light line from hilt to head, you smirked up at him, “Waiting at a bar for you to show up, Min Yoongi. You sure did take your time.” 

“Ugh, don’t remind me,” He laughed, “I already plan to regret that for the next — I don't know — forever?”

He dropped his hands from over his eyes and held them out to you. “Come here, angel. You’re too far away.” 

As soon as you were back on your feet, Yoongi enveloped you in the warmth of his arms. You were halfway to melting when he kissed you; dead and gone when he laid you back against the mattress; and downright astral projecting when the weight of his body was added to yours.  

Not to be dramatic, but is heaven a place on Earth? 

With your head resting comfortably on the pillow, you gazed up at Yoongi as he addressed the tied waistband of your sweatpants. It wasn’t until that knot came undone that you realized: if he’d come home with you earlier — before you’d swapped out your street clothes for shapeless knits — he would’ve had a prettier present to unwrap.  

Lace over your hip bones instead of cotton briefs. A black, balconette bra that made your tits into something worth looking at; not lackluster bareness that barely registered under your paint-stained t-shirt.  

Unintentionally mimicking him, you covered your face with your hands to conceal the way you were blushing. You didn’t even dare to peek through your fingers at him while he dragged your sweatpants down over your legs.

That is, not until you heard the world’s softest chuckle and it hit you like a bus. 

“Pretty girl,” Yoongi hummed. He left a chaste kiss on the top of your left thigh, and you whimpered. So sweet, so brief that your skin still tingled when he moved to mirror that kiss on your right thigh. “Where’d you go, baby?” 

Baby.  

That settled it. Min Yoongi was trying to kill you.

Nobody kissed you that carefully, not ever. No man, no woman, no one in between or beyond spoke to you that softly; turned you to putty in their hands with gentleness alone. Not like he did.

You were going to love him — you already knew it — and that stupid, four-letter word just sealed your fate. There wasn’t a single thing that you could do to prevent it, even if you wanted to. So, your options were limited to one:

Leaning into the fall. 

You reached out with the hand that once covered your face and grabbed him by the shirt to pull him closer. Once he was within range, with the tip of his nose bumping into yours, you stared him dead in the eye and told him just how badly you needed him inside of you. 

It took no time at all for the two of you to cast aside what remained of your clothing. Hand-me-downs mingled with designer items that exceeded the cost of your rent, and you didn’t give a fuck. You discarded your inhibitions in that heap, too, sitting up on your knees as he rolled a condom down his length. 

Yoongi’s return to you was marked by his hands cupping your face. He kissed you until you were no longer breathless, until you felt the rush of air filling your lungs. You followed his lead back down to the mattress where he rested on his side; and without any need for instruction, you draped your right leg over his hip. 

It was the closet you’d been to him, but it still wasn’t close enough 

“Is this okay?” Yoongi broke the kiss just to look at you.  

The fondness in his eyes was competing with concern, but that didn’t surprise you. Considerate to a fault, he’d no doubt been thrown for a loop when you went from zero to one hundred in merely half a second. “I can —” 

Oh, I bet you can.  

But you couldn’t wait. Impatient, through and through — and thoroughly dripping — you shook your head.

Your hand left its place on his bare bicep and dipped down to wrap around his cock. There were two individual heartbeats hammering in sync as you guided him to your cunt, though it sounded a lot like one. 

“Like you said earlier,” You sighed as he pushed into you. “Just right.” 

Six years later...

tagging: @mgthecat @jihopesjoint @jaejoontrashpanda @taebaelove @cyanide-mustard @xjoonchildx @borahae-k @i-purple-buff-bunni @pamzn @myimaginationsrunningwild @nonbinary-demonbrat @yoongiphoria @sstarryoong @xcherrywaltz @btschimeyplanet @persphonesorchid @take-u-2-an0ther-w0r1d @goodsoop @jkoofier (couldn't tag)

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likes are always appreciated, but it's feedback that means the most — whether that's in a comment below, PM, reblog, tags, etc. tysm for reading ✨

a/n: holy shit. just, holy shit. i've spent less time on literal thesis papers than i did on this. i'm so thankful for everyone who blew up darksided and blindsided — i really hope this provides context for how these two got together, and how tf they love each other that much. i will not apologize for the sexual cliffhanger because this smut wasn't going to be included, initially! this was going to end at the bar, lol.

also, this is an ode to those very special (very impermanent) nights with someone new that feel like perfect lifetimes in just the span of a few hours. in my experience, they never went anywhere (which i think made them more special, in hindsight) but i wanted to write a fic where things didn't stop there.

anyways, i'm very tired of writing words now, so please enjoy and let me know what you think 🫶🏻

[sweater-daddiesdumbdork]

Life Is Short So Make It Sweet

Chapter Ten: Pretty Girl Honey

Summary- 7.3k Curtis Everett x Plus!Sized Reader. Your and Curtis's relationship is growing each day as you both learn who you are to one another. Your past sometimes works its way into your mind and out into the open. Fortunately, Curtis is happy to help you work through it.

Warnings- Sexual content, thigh riding, use of pet names, feelings of doubt, past trauma surfacing.

A/N- Thank you all for reading, commenting, and sharing this series. The love shown to Curtis and Honey has completely stunned me, whenever I hear how simply relatable it is, I want to reach out and give you the biggest hug because you are not alone in those feelings. Thank you so much for being such an incredible and supportive community. Special shout out to @what-is-your-plan-today. Dividers made by @firefly-graphics.

Chapter Nine / Masterlist

You and Curtis fell into a comfortable routine over the next few weeks before Thanksgiving. Beginning of the week you two stayed at your own places, sharing texts throughout the day, and for now, you two managed to go out together at least once a week, which suited you just fine with how much you had going on with the after school drama club that you volunteered for.

So your Friday night you opted for the two of you to stay in to watch a movie, well more like so you could sew costumes while making an offer to have some movie playing in the background if Curtis wanted to watch something. Instead, he let you have the living room for your project without distractions. It was relieving for you, for once your boyfriend didn't need you to prioritize him over anything else, and didn’t make you feel guilty about your projects or grow angry that you chose something over him. 

Learning to be in a relationship with Curtis was a real eye-opening experience from your previous one.   

For most of the evening, Curtis let you do your thing after making sure the lighting in the living room was plenty for you to sew by, offered to make a quick dinner later, and then went to work on his Camaro in the garage to keep from distracting you. 

Later that evening Curtis made sure to pull you away to eat some dinner with him, which on this night he had made egg omelets and toast with a side of fruit salad and yogurt that you had brought with you for the weekend. 

During dinner, he was sure to ask about the play, as well as offer to help with the displays, because he could be pretty handy with some tools if you needed the help. The two of you also read over the play together. You found that Curtis had a knack for Shakespeare, including giving you a real show during dinner. Hand to his chest, his tone deepened as he recited. 

“Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow, Creeps in this pretty pace from day to day, And all our yesterdays have lighted fools.” He sprang up, grabbing at your hand and pulling you up to a stand with him, pulling you in closer. “The way to dusty death. OUT! OUT, BRIEF CANDLE!” He paused, his brows coming together as he thought. “Shit I forgot the rest.” 

You started giggling while glancing at the script. “Life’s but a walking shadow…” 

“Oh right! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player. That struts and frets his hour upon the stage.” He wrapped his arms around you, the two of you swaying slowly in the dimly lit kitchen. 

“If I knew you were gonna serenade Shakespeare to me, I would have chosen something not quite so dark. Maybe Romeo and Juliet?” 

Curtis snorted as he shook his head. “Not Romeo and Juliet, that play pisses me off.” 

“It is unsatisfying in the end, not that Macbeth is any better.” You chuckled softly while letting your hands slide along his chest. 

“How about you finish working on those costumes and I will clean up? But not too much longer tonight Honey, cause I will be dragging you to bed soon.” 

You couldn't help the rush that spiraled through you listening to him, giving a nod while going to tiptoes to press a kiss in thanks and you split away back to your sewing. 

You were muttering under your breath a while later while trying to put some thread through the needle when Curtis started making his way through the house after closing the garage down for the night. Turning off the house lights on his way through until he joined you in the living room. “Come on Y/N, let's call it a night?” 

“Just… this last…” Your tongue stuck out from the corner of your mouth as you just about went cross-eyed trying to get it to thread. “... one…” 

“Mmhm.” He strode in and collected your stuff off the couch into a neat pile for the coffee table. “Didn’t your mama ever tell you that your eyes will stay that way?” 

You huffed out in frustration and held your hands out, handing over the thread and needle for him to take and put with the rest of your messy sewing kit. “Would you still like me if I had crossed eyes forever?” He crashed on the couch next to you, his arm circling around you and pulling you to straddle his lap. ”Curtis!” You yelped out in surprise, still shocked once in a while whenever he chose to handle you like you weighed nothing. Something he seemed to take much enjoyment in because as often as you claimed you were too heavy for him to be doing that, he would brush it off and do it twice as much to prove a point. 

“Course I would Honey.” He winked at you and slid his hands along your waist, working his hands just under your sweater to find some bare skin. You shivered in delight at the feeling of calloused palms still slightly cool from being out in the garage earlier laying against your skin. “You just about finished those costumes?” 

You wriggled to get comfy in his lap, your legs folded in a kneel on each side of his thighs and your eyes started to drift now that you were relaxing for the evening. Your hands slid against his chest, fisting slightly in the fabric of his shirt. “I just got to finish the three witches and I’m done with that part of it. Got till mid-December to get this all pulled together.” 

“The kids must be excited?” His hands started to warm up as they started to rub against your back, letting you sink into him a bit more as your body loosened in his hold. 

“Very… Mmmh.” You leaned in closer, pulling up his shirt slightly. “Can we finish this in the bedroom Curtis?” 

“You don’t have to ask me twice.” He didn��t even give you a chance to move off of him, an arm slipped underneath you and with a push off the couch, he lifted the both of you. You wanted to scold him, tightening your hold around his neck and legs around his waist, but you hid your face in his neck, eyes screwed shut, afraid that the two of you might not make it up to the bedroom on the second floor.

“Don’t you drop me!” You muttered against his shoulder, still hiding your face and making him grunt in a slight laugh as he started up the old wooden stairs, all their old house creaks seeming louder to you. 

“Pretty Girl, I would never drop you.” 

It wasn’t till he lowered you on the bed, his hand coming up to ease your hold around his neck did you open your eyes and let yourself bounce onto the bed. “You really shouldn’t…” He didn't let you finish when he crawled over you and started to kiss you, muffling your words to turn into a needy hum as you started to pull his shirt off. When you got it mostly up his chest, he pulled up, this time looming over you as he yanked it off and tossed it over his shoulder to land someplace in the bedroom. Leaving his bare chest above you and making you squirm underneath him. 

“Not tonight Honey, I’m gonna do what I want, when I want.” He fell back over you, his hands pressed on either side of your head while he hovered in close to you, the only thing between the two of you now was his dangling chain that pooled against your chest and your own shirt that suddenly was too hot to keep on. 

Curtis loved seeing you get all shocked, the way your eyes would widen and you would clutch at him while those little protest noises turned into soft little gasps and moans. He kissed you till you quieted your mind in a haze, knowing now that if he let you sit with your thoughts for too long they would eat away at you till you worried yourself out of the mood. It had been a long week, he simply wanted to enjoy being with you as stress free as possible. 

You brushed your hand through the hair on his chest, your fingers tangling in the chain as you pulled him closer and let you take your own kiss, rolling underneath him while your thighs spread to let him settle in closer. Making out in heated kisses, he pushed up your shirt enough to see your bra, rubbing a palm against it and giving a firm squeeze so you would arch into him, that hunger he craved in you sparking. “Let me get this off you.” He tugged, having you lift enough for him to discard your shirt in the same manner he had done with his earlier.

How he got so fucking lucky, he really didn't know. You constantly brushed off praises like you didn't deserve them, although he could see that you craved it. When he had you mindless, just giving into that pleasure sensation inside of you, you would freely bask in his praises. With each touch he gave you he thought he had you there. Your eyes were glazed in lust, your body rolling up to press into him while your nails dug into his back, to ground yourself. His fingers danced across your back till he could twist your bra clasp apart and draw it away to release your breasts. 

Fuck he loved your tits. You were so sensitive there, every pull from his mouth or flick of tongue had you giving him those sweet noises. Huffs of impatience in wanting more as he sucked a nipple in his mouth, a hand sweeping over his buzzed head and grasping at the back of it to press him closer. A flush of kisses was followed by the scrape of his beard, and that always made you gasp. Every time. The rasp of his beard trailing anywhere on you always had you start begging, pleading for more. Curtis loved it, loved this needy mess in his bed he made you. 

Tonight he was sure to mimic it, his chin pressing through your cleavage and twisting to kiss the curve, his other hand cupping the other one while he muttered into your skin, “You have the most perfect tits Honey.” 

There was that puff of impatience from you, a glance up through his lashes saw you pushing your head back into the pillows, whining out. “Suck on them Curtis, bite them. I need it.” He sunk his teeth around one perfect nipple to tug, making you cry out and grab at the back of his head. “Yes, it makes me so horny when you play with them.” A light slap made you jolt, rubbing your hips to his for the friction. 

“You are so pretty like this Honey, my pretty girl.” He groaned out, his hands sweeping down to your waist to hold you still but it wasn’t needed. You went stiff under him, eerily quiet from the small moans and whines you were doing earlier. It made him lift his head in alarm, looking up at you to where you look closed off from him suddenly, wary. Something changed between the two of you and Curtis refused to continue when you closed off like this. “Y/N?” He lifted himself off you and you were tentatively wary, your touch just barely there on his chest. “Are you okay?” Curtis untangled himself from over you to lay at your side, concern on his face. “I didn't hurt you did I?” 

The room turned silent in those seconds he waited for you to answer him, his hand was heavy on the curve of your waist and your gaze went from him to his hand on you. Pretty Girl, you would be such a pretty girl if you didn't have all this weight on you. You could be a pretty girl someday maybe, then I would want you. It ate at you the way that voice was so strong in your mind after so long and of course it had to show up right now. It was your greatest shame and suddenly the small dim light on in the bedroom made you feel so self-conscious that you pulled your arms over your chest to hide from sight. Curtis’s tone was so worried that it made the pit in your stomach heavier as if someone had hit you. It was almost overwhelming how much that one word could knock you completely over. “Yeah I’m fine Curtis, just more tired than I thought I was.” You whispered in the dark. Maybe you could make yourself smaller, curling up slightly so you wouldn't take up so much space. “Sorry, I didn't mean to… Would you be mad if I just went to sleep? I can leave, I probably should go home. I’m sorry.” You could feel yourself starting to ramble, the panic that you messed up settled in your chest, and couldn’t stop yourself. 

You went to pull up to search for the few clothes you had gotten out of, but Curtis’s hand grasped your elbow, pulling you gently back to lay down. “We can just sleep Y/N, nothing has to happen. But I don’t want you to go.” He let you go, seemingly unsure of what you wanted, and tried to give you some space. “All your stuff is here for the costumes and you are packed for the weekend. Stay, please.” 

He was so genuine that you felt conflicted about what to do, but in the end, you gave a nod and a soft whisper. “Okay, I’m sorry.” 

“Don’t be sorry, I’m tired too.” He tried assuring you while getting up out of the bed. Going into his dresser drawers, he pulled out one of his old shirts, knowing you liked how soft they were, a bit too stretched out after all the times they had been washed and handed it to you. You gratefully took it and slipped into it, stripping out of your pants under the blankets. Curtis just seemed to know that you wanted to be covered because he also found some sleep shorts for you. 

“Can you turn all the lights off Curtis?” You asked as you settled back onto the bed and pulled the blanket up. He flicked off the nightlight that he had in the bathroom, leaving the room in almost complete darkness. Having stripped down to boxers, Curtis eased his way back to the bed and stretched out under the blankets next to you. He felt a mile away from you even though you knew he was just inches. You couldn't bring yourself to reach out to touch him. Especially now that you pulled away.

 In the darkness of the room, you couldn't even tell if his eyes were open, you felt shielded, able to lick your wounds and push the fears back behind a locked door. “Good night Curtis.” You said so softly it was barely a whisper. He didn't hesitate though. Nothing about Curtis was a whisper. 

“Rest easy Y/N.” His hand was gentle as he closed the gap between you two and rubbed at your back soothing.

Curtis laid there most of the night going over what happened in those few moments, trying to recall where he touched you and what he said. He respected your aversion to him kissing anywhere below your breasts, knowing that it was because you were self-conscious, even though he assured you that he loved your softer body. One day he was sure you would be okay with it but he respected that it wasn’t something you were comfortable with for now. You had no problem with him touching you, so it certainly wasn't that. In the dark, he would glance over to see you curled on your side at the edge of the bed like you were trying not to take up any space, but he wanted you in his space, in all of it. His house for the first time felt warm and welcoming again like when his grandparents were here, it felt like home. 

Twisting to his side, his fingers traced along the curve of your cheek, still trying to figure it out. All he could remember was telling you how pretty you looked, which was true. In the light spilling from the en suite across the bed, your eyes were full of excitement and lust, your lips parted to give those soft little moans and sighs that turned Curtis hard while he pulled each one from you. Your chest arching into his mouth and hands, your nipples grazing against him for every nerve-ending jolt he could give you, it was like you were all his and he couldn’t get enough of you. In your sleep, you were far more accepting than earlier when you closed off. Muttering in your sleep, you turned into his touch and that made Curtis smile at the sweetness in the gesture. Dropping his arm to your waist, his hand flattened in the small of your back and eased you closer from the edge. You gave a sigh as if you were waking up, but then you turned into him, resettling with your head against his chest and your arm over his stomach like you were hanging on. 

Hours later Curtis eased out of bed, knowing that he wasn't going to sleep any longer. You would wake up soon, so far you had been pretty predictable. On Saturdays, you sleep in till about eight, then if you two don't mess around a bit and cuddle, you would go seek out coffee. Sometimes you even brought your coffee back to bed, not ready to leave the small happy bubble you two created in the blankets on the weekend. Curtis made your coffee just how he had seen you make it. A glance at the kitchen clock showed the hour arm nearing eight as he made his way back into the bedroom.

You were just starting to wake up when Curtis set the coffee mug down on the nightstand, seeing you peek out from under the blanket with a sleepy whimper. “Is that coffee?” 

“Mmhm, it's still hot so be careful.” He warned as he went around to the other side of the bed and settled in while you pushed up to a seat and wrapped your hands around the warm mug to sip cautiously at it. You rubbed at your face a bit to wake up more and after you set your mug back down, you slipped back down into the blankets, cushioning your head on your pillow. Curtis's hand dropped gently to brush your hair back a bit. “How did you sleep Honey?” 

“I always sleep well when I’m here.” You assured him while lifting yourself up a bit to brace against the headboard in a sit and reached for his hand to weave your fingers with his, a show of assurance that you were right where you wanted to be.

“Y/N, I wanted to talk about last night.” He bluntly said, never was one to shy away from what needed to be said. “What happened that made you get all up in your head and pull away?” 

You stared down at your joined hands, more so looking at the way Curtis’s seemed to swallow yours in the most supportive way. He gave a light squeeze in support and you could feel your face screw up a bit, your nose wrinkling up in that way it always does when you are feeling a lot at once. “I do have to apologize for that.” 

Curtis cleared his throat and a gentle grasp on your chin lifted your gaze up to his. “No, like I said last night, you don't owe me any kind of apology. It's really as simple as if you are not in the mood, then you are not in the mood. That's not at all what I’m concerned about.” He pulled your hand into his lap, trailing his thumb pad over your knuckles. “You looked so shut down and just not enjoying yourself, and I want to know how we can work through that so that doesn’t happen to you. You know that you can be open with me, I want you to be.” 

He could see you giving it some thought, working through the night before just as he had in those early morning hours when he couldn't sleep. Curtis kept the gentle caress over your knuckles, willing to wait as long as it took for you to answer. 

“It’s the word pretty.” You finally confessed with a sigh, almost like you were ashamed of yourself. Curtis stayed silent to let you further explain. “I-I heard you call me pretty girl and just… this time it just hit differently.” You squeezed at his hand, really trying to ground yourself. “You ever hear this shit in your mind, like telling you that you need to be better, do better.” 

Curtis nodded in understanding. “Sure, all of us have something we are just not confident in.” 

“Well mine sounds like shit my ex used to say to me.” You could have sworn you felt Curtis tense up a bit. “It was always… You would be so much prettier Y/N if you just lost some weight, tried a little harder on your appearance, and took some pride in yourself. You could be a pretty girl.” 

Curtis snorted in disgust. “That man is a fucking asshole.” 

You gave a sharp laugh and a slight nod. “That’s one way to put it. He was very stuck on appearances. Whenever we went out, he wanted us to look a certain way. Jake was always trying to help me lose weight. At first, I thought it was because he wanted me to be healthy, you know? Concerned for me, that made it a little easier to handle I guess. It’s nice to think that someone cares so much they want you to stay with them as long as possible.” You continued on and Curtis already hated this guy Jake for making you feel like this. “Then over a year ago it clicked that it was… all this…” Your free hand waved over yourself. “he had issues with.” 

“So you left?” Curtis filled it in and you nodded. 

“Yeah, I got offered the job at Mason, broke it off with him, and came here. And now you know. I’m still working through so much of it. I didn’t realize how… much he had changed the view I had of myself. Now that we are involved with one another, I'm recognizing more and more how toxic the last five years with him had been.” You looked a bit wary at him, almost like you were nervous about what he was going to say. “I should probably see a therapist.” 

“Okay, well first your ex was an asshole. You don’t treat someone you care about like shit which is what he did. Second I think you are sexy as fuck and your body is yours. Do whatever you want and I’m going to support you Y/N. If you want to see a therapist, you should, I’m going to support any decision you make for yourself.” 

Your expression started to ease as he continued. “And if saying Pretty Girl upsets you that much, I will do everything I can to not say it, although to me you are. The word for me feels like that sensation I can’t take my hands off you, I just want to love you all over and show you what that word feels like.” Wide-eyed you stared at him in surprise. 

“Wait, that's what you think of when you say that? I don’t want you to stop.” 

“Well, I don’t want you to freeze up like that Honey.” He countered, tilting his head a bit towards you. “But I have an idea if you want to try something out of your comfort zone.” 

“What's that?” You ask curiously and his palm pats his lap, showing you he wanted you to straddle him.

Sucking on your bottom lip while you considered what he was asking, you pulled yourself up to move to your knees, your fingers unweaving from his. “If you don’t like it, all you gotta do is say stop Y/N.” Your gaze lifted and met his, warmth spread through you at his heated glance and you felt the trust there. 

Your leg lifted over him to straddle his lap, his hold immediately rests on your wide hips and pulls you in close to him so that you could lean into his chest whenever you wanted to, leaving the space between you two entirely up to you. Your hand instinctively moved to touch him, you loved tracing his various tattoos scattered across his torso. “I’m going to show you, but you just tell me to stop, m’kay?” His hands rubbed up to your waist while you gave a nod.

“I will, promise.” You said, your tone wistful as you continued to explore his taunt muscles that flexed under your touch, down to the small roll of his belly that was covered in soft dark hairs. 

When your fingers curled in the band of his boxers, you glanced up at him but Curtis gave a light shake of his head. “Not this time Honey, hands up.” He instructed and it was instinctual that your hands shot up over your head and the tee you were wearing was tugged over your head. As soon as it was gone your hands dropped to cover yourself even though the curtains were pulled to keep the room dim in the early morning hours, still self conscious about him seeing you too closely without clothes on.

His hands were warm when they circled around your wrists, firm as he eased your hands off your body and pulled them to rest them on your thighs. “You can touch me, rub your hands on yourself, but no covering yourself up.” His brow raised at you and you nodded in a quick motion. His gaze fell to your breasts and a calloused yet gentle hand covered one, lifting slightly as he moved his thumb in gentle patterns along the underside curve. His other hand was still at your hip and pressed you against him, making you rock forward slightly. “You gotta straddle a thigh Y/N, pick one.” 

Another shift of your legs had you straddling his slightly raised right thigh, giving him the pressure he wanted on your pussy. “Start to move when you're ready.” He nipped back at your neck, dragging his beard against your skin and making your breath hitch, a hand shooting up to cup the side of his cheek, scratching lightly with curled fingers to feel the scratch against your palm. 

You could feel the words starting to bubble up, saying that you should be underneath him because you were too heavy. But they died in your chest, your heartbeat picking up with excitement as he worked his way to the top of your breasts. “What are you up to Curtis?” You take a chance on finding out but a deep chuckle answers you instead, brilliant blue eyes taking you in as his hand at your breast gives a slight squeeze while rocking your hip forward once again, dragging you against his muscled thigh, bare up until the boxers he was sporting bunched up from your movements. A shudder raced through you, feeling just how good the stimulating movements were. You felt a spiral of heat race through you causing you to whine out his name and try to hide your face, feeling momentarily doubtful in your actions. 

“Keep going Honey, feels s’good right?.” He told you while giving another firm squeeze of his hands. “You feel so fuckin’ good grinding on me. I can feel how wet you are getting.” A nip followed his words while you rocked against his thigh again. “Pressing that pretty little clit against me some more Honey, get yourself off.” 

Your hands shoot to his shoulders to steady yourself after your hips seemed to move on their own, giving little bucks when the sensation was too good to control your speed.  pressing a bit harder into his thigh this time, your body arching upwards to meet his hands wherever they roamed on you. “So good…” You muttered, his thumb now dragging against your nipple and pulling harshly to tease you. He wasn't lying the night before, he loved your breasts. Dragging his tongue across your nipple while sucking on it made you press faster, dragging your throbbing clit along his tense thigh. Your fingers dug into his shoulders, leveraging yourself higher, faster. Little surprised gasps escaped you while he lifted his mouth from your breasts to claim those noises as his own in a claiming aggressive kiss. You pushed back down to grind into his thick thigh, forgetting all your worries about being too much in his lap. It was all about chasing that feeling, grinding yourself against steady muscles and the slick noises your pussy was making. Your slick starting to build, friction burning you in just the right way. 

“Riding so good Honey.” A hand grasped your hip to slow you down a bit, really dragging your cunt along to make you whine out needily. “Just feel that sweet pussy make a mess on me.” He continued, squeezing your breast and bringing his mouth back to you, sucking in your nipple. 

“Yeah?” You spat out as you grabbed his head, holding him to your chest while your body took over to get that good feeling building in your stomach and fluttering in your pussy. 

“You’re taking this so well Honey.” He muttered against your breasts, tugging from one to the other side, still helping you rock into his thigh with enthusiasm the faster you started to chase that sensation. Your belly felt like it was going to snap, your thighs quivered and your fingers dug in sharply now, making Curtis groan at the pain you caused. “Fuck, that’s it Honey, look at you riding like you want something.” 

Your mind was clouded with all the most pleasurable sensations, daring you to chase after that feeling for as long as your legs could hold out. Tilting yourself to just drag your clit against him needing at that hard pressure he was sure to give you. “Curtis I want it.” You started to plead, your head falling back and putting more arch in your hips, his thigh now a mess from your dripping slick and your pussy clenching for more. It was a terrible tease that was tantalizing in the promise of an orgasmic blissed ending. 

Curtis lifted away from your bouncing breasts, dragging his thumb against your lips and you sucked onto the pad, whining against his finger with swirls of your tongue. Moving on instinct to chase your pleasure. 

Curtis was sure you were so close, the way you rubbed against his thigh, shaking from the exertion of muscles, you were getting sloppy, less controlled. Your body was screaming to release, pleading eyes kept falling to him and he grasped the back of your neck to drag you close, and kissed you hungrily, dragging out a pleading groan from you. When you two broke, Curtis huffed out in a quick demand. “Cum for me pretty girl, you are doing so good, give it to me.” 

One of your hands dragged over his shoulder and down his chest till you clutched at his chain, the metal tangling in your fingers and biting into your skin, leveraging yourself to chase that ending. You felt it, it was right there, a couple more grinding pushes against his thigh had you curling to his chest, gasping against his shoulder as the wave crashed through you while your body quivering in his hold, Curtis wrapped you into his arms, rubbing at your back and rocking you slightly. “So good Honey, relax… It's okay I got you.” 

You panted lightly and your muscles all burned from moving against his thigh in the manner that you did. You were slightly sweaty, still in a daze as Curtis brushed your hair back, and pressed his mouth to your temple, while whispering how good you were, his good girl. Tilting his head to look down at you, he waited till you pushed off his chest and eased off his thigh to balance back on his lap, catching the last of your breath. “How are you feeling?” 

“Good and used.” You giggled softly and blinked at him, your reaction made him smile. 

“Just what I was hoping for.” He hugged you and let you cuddle in close to him till you were ready to start the day. 

The rest of the week Curtis dropped pretty in different ways. Sometimes he would press the word into your skin like an invisible tattoo when he fucked you so good you would cry. “You look so pretty Honey with those tears.” His hands would rub at your still-shaking body, easing you to relax. 

Other times it might be when the two of you were doing your grocery shopping, trying to incorporate more meals together so you would have him pick out a couple of things you could make at your apartment instead of going out. You would be standing at the refrigerated display of vegetables, plucking up bell peppers trying to decide which color to get when he would slip up behind you, his chin tucked on your shoulder. “What's my pretty girl looking for?” Your thighs would tighten in response, recalling all the times he used that word making you orgasm. Your breath would stutter in surprise at the reaction of your body. If he noticed, he didn't mention it. 

You would send him a text with a snapshot of your outfit for school that day and his response would be a string of texts about how good you looked, just how pretty and stunning you were, leaving you floating on a cloud the rest of the day. 

A couple of days before Thanksgiving found you cutting up those bell peppers when Curtis came over for date night. He brought a bag in with him, which had several changes of clothes that you made room for in your dresser drawer so he could stay overnight, both of you agreeing that at this point instead of leaving at the end of Sunday, they could stay and spend the night, leaving Monday for work from each others house. The next step in the relationship. To be honest you were a little nervous and very excited to have reached this point with Curtis. 

“Where do you want these?” He pulled his boots off and shrugged off his jacket while you wiped your hands dry to go around your kitchen counter to greet him. 

“I left a drawer open for you to find.” 

“Good, I will put them in after.” He pulled you in for an affectionate kiss, making you giggle a bit at his affection. 

“After?” You questioned while hanging up his coat in the closet, stuffing his beanie in the pocket so he would find it tomorrow. 

“After I said hey to my best girl.” He winked and inhaled deeply. “What have you got cooking?” 

“Chicken fajitas. I need to finish them up. You know where the bedroom is.” You winked at him as you left him to take care of his stuff, which he was quick to do as it wasn't much, clothes in the dresser and some toiletries in the bathroom.

He was soon joining you as you started to pull it all together. “Anything I can do to help?” 

“Nah, relax. Have a beer. How was work?” You hummed out while working, sensing him brush a hand along your back in passing as he went to do just that. Sighing when he sank into a kitchen chair and cracked open a beer, the fizzy noise of the bottle muffled in his hand as he screwed off the cap. 

“Decent, kept on schedule and Gilliam is talking that we might be too busy for our January layoff. Although I was looking forward to the time off. “ 

“What do you even do when they lay you guys off for the season?” You asked as you slipped it into the oven and joined him. His arm was held out, enticing you to join him in his seat, and nervously you perched on his thigh before he tightened his hold. 

“Usually some project that old fixer-upper needs. This year I was going to redo the living room floor. Those old wide-beam floors could be stunning once more if properly stripped down. Course to do that I gotta take everything out of there and pack up the bookshelves so they don't get all dusty.” 

You reached for his bottle and sipped from it. “Paint too?” 

“Might as well do it all if I’m doing the floors.” 

“Well Mister, you are in luck because I am a master painter.I repainted this when I first moved in.” You waved your hand around your tiny apartment and Curtis smirked a bit. 

“Oh well fuck how did I get so lucky, how much do you charge?” he joked and you pondered what you wanted to ask for payment. 

“You are lucky, I’m cheap.” You swung back to the stove to stir the peppers and chicken before sliding them into the oven to keep warm. “I will do it for free.” 

“Free? No no… you must let me do something for your time.” He came up behind you, wrapping you into his arms while you stood at the counter, peeling apart the tortillas needed for the fajitas. “I could…” A kiss on your neck made you giggle when you felt the brush of his bristles against your sensitive neck. “... take you out?.” Another kiss just behind your ear had you sinking back into him. “They have an after-hours slot opening at the aquarium.” And that caused you to ease around, suddenly very interested in what he was saying and not just what he was doing. 

“Like one of those nights where you drink wine and enjoy walking around with just adults?” 

Curtis gave a nod, a bit of a shy twist of his mouth as his thumbs brushed lightly at the small of your back where your skin dimpled. “Exactly like that. Are you interested in going?” 

You nodded enthusiastically and wrapped your arms around his neck, going to your tiptoes to flutter kisses around, finally reaching his lips to really show your enthusiasm. “Absolutely! I would love to do something like that Curtis!” 

Clearly, he had picked correctly because your enthusiasm shined all over, even when he slid his hands down to your ass and grasped enough to lift you to perch on the edge of the kitchen counter, bringing the two of you closer to eye level. “I will secure our tickets. It’s happening right after Thanksgiving, so keep your calendar free.” 

“Of course, whatever day you pick will work for me, Curtis.” You wrap your legs around him to keep him close to you, running your hands up his chest while your smile grew wider. 

“I did good?” He smirked a bit while his fingers traced your sides and settled on the thickness of your hips, where he loved to squeeze just a bit, hold onto you cause you were his girl and he loved how comfortably he could settle in between your thighs. 

“Oh very good, I can’t wait to go.” You started to kiss along his jawline and his neck, able to find those little sweet spots of his that made him groan in appreciation. For now, you two were just making out, you would really show him tonight in bed when you rolled him to his back and crawled up between his thighs. You were taking delight in the way you felt him really giving into your direction, the little grunts and groans whenever your tongue pressed to his skin or your lips traced an intoxicating pattern against his neck. 

“You keep going like this and I’m going to forget the last thing I needed to ask you.” He confessed another firm squeeze to your hips to let you know that he needed to focus. One last playful bite to his earlobe had you moving back slightly, your fingers playing at the short hairs at the back of his buzzed head. 

“We can easily pick this back up later, how about we eat dinner and you can ask me?” You offered him, which Curtis glowered playfully at you, his thumb and forefinger catching your chin. 

“Yes but only because it is important, otherwise I would be taking you apart right on this kitchen counter.” 

“Kinky bastard.” You scoffed as you loosen your hold on him and pushed him back slightly to slip down and warm up the tortillas while Curtis grabbed plates from the dish drainer and some utensils. 

“Only for you.” He winked with a quick nip of a kiss to your cheek and moved to finish the task at hand. 

Once it was all set, you two were both making your fajitas the way you liked them and had gotten a few bites in, both of you far hungrier than was known, you wiped some salsa off the corner of your mouth. “So what was this other thing you wanted to ask me?” 

Curtis was thoroughly involved in his food, so his eyes sprang up in question at first but then he seemed to remember, going to take a swipe of his beer to cleanse his mouth. “Thanksgiving, did you have any plans?” 

“No, I don’t have enough saved up to fly home or the time to drive it. I will be headed back to the classroom to give it a good cleaning before the kids all return back from vacation. Why?” 

“Tanya invited us over for the holiday, along with Ella, Sophia, and Grey." He cleared his throat a bit, his voice dropping with less enthusiasm. “She did mention Edgar if we were okay with him coming.. She pulled me aside and demanded I bring you, but I told her I would discuss it with you first.” 

Filling another tortilla up with peppers and chicken, Curtis handed over the container of salsa automatically knowing what you would put on them. “If you want me to go, I would love to Curtis. I can call her later to see what I can make.”

He waited while you made yours before making another for himself. “And how do you feel about Edgar being there?” 

You picked at your fajita before taking a bite and chewing slowly, giving it some thought. “How do you feel about him being there Curtis? I made my peace with him the other night. I have no issue hanging out with Edgar and getting to know him better.” Of course, you turned it around and Curtis had to figure out how he felt about Edgar being around after Halloween. He hadn’t yet really talked with Edgar about it, things were tense between them at work. Edgar was doing his best to give Curtis space at the train yard. Was Curtis ready for forgiving? “It is up to you Curtis. It wasn’t just me he hurt on Halloween.” You reached across and let your hand rest against his arm. “Seems like Tanya feels the same way.” 

“I will talk to her about it, I’m still not sure how I feel.” He admitted and you nodded in understanding. 

“Whatever you decide Curtis, I can’t wait to spend Thanksgiving with everyone.” 

You could tell by the way his eyes softened and he smiled that it was important to him, that these people were basically his family, and getting to bring you into the mix meant a lot to Curtis. 

And you felt the warmth curl through you that you could give him that.