#but it's also set to be unreciprocated and that's somehow BETTER

[swan2swan]

I like how I go "Eh, Dinostar's not such a big deal", then I go to get one unrelated clip and Darius gets snarky with her, reminding me of how Darius just treated her like a Normal Person and she probably Really Liked That and found that relationship to be super-special.

[taegimood]

— bestfriend!ot5’s reaction to you offering to help with their boner ♡

pairing: ot5 x fem!reader (separate) rating: nsfw, mdni wc: almost 3k oops 😭 warnings: some smut (oral obviously, m receiving), suggestiveness, perviness, pet names (babe, sweetheart, pretty girl), tiniest but brief bit of angst in tyun’s, some alcohol in jun’s, beomgyu being an annoying brat lmao

a/n - this took me forever to start (and to finish.. all in one sitting rip my eyeballs) but i loved writing this omg who wants a pt 2 follow-up 🫢

──────────────────────

yeonjun: this is the moment he’s been waiting for, y’all

it’s just like any other tipsy late-night shit-talk sesh on yeonjun’s living room floor, until it’s not. you’ve been lazily sitting against the foot of his couch facing each other while joking about beomgyu’s latest failure to get laid when somehow the conversation turns to your own personal sex lives. it’s not like you’ve never talked about that stuff with jun before; you’re best friends, after all. but something about tonight feels different. maybe it’s because you’ve been drinking, maybe it’s because the dim lighting of his living room is giving it a strangely sensual vibe, or maybe it’s the way he’s looking at you- facing you with his chin in his hand as his elbow rests up on the couch cushion, eyes more lidded than usual and sculpted collarbone peeking out from the sweater that at some point had slipped down his shoulder- but when the topic turns to your experiences with oral and he’s in the middle of complaining about how his last fling always gave him the worst head, what comes out of your mouth as you suddenly interrupt him is a shock to the both of you.

“i could do better.”

yeonjun’s eyebrows shoot up. the words had died on his lips. your own eyes are wide as you freeze, before fidgeting nervously, attempting damage control. “i mean.. from what i’ve been told. just saying.” you swallow hard as you inwardly kick yourself, avoiding his eyes and his silence as you bring the bottle of soju you’d been sharing to your lips in an attempt to feign casualty.

“is that an offer?”

it’s your turn to be speechless, nearly choking as you set the bottle down a little too hard, turning quickly to stare at him in shock; oh, he’s not joking. he watches you expectantly, a level expression on his face; though if you were to blink, you’d miss the smirk that his lips were threatening to inch up into. when your gaze flickers down to see the tent in his sweatpants that he hasn’t even bothered trying to cover, you swallow hard. the tiny crush you’ve always harbored for your best friend suddenly seems not so unreciprocated after all. you collect yourself. you’ve gotta be cool about this.

“well… do you want it to be?”

your best friend’s hands wrapped in your hair and his shameless moans filling the room as he pumps his cock in and out of your throat isn’t exactly how you imagined the night to go, but here you are! you can already tell from the lewd promises and filthy praises that he’s groaning out as you swallow around him — your legs will definitely be sore in the morning. <3

soobin: soobin.exe has stopped working

he didn’t mean for you to see, he really didn’t. you weren’t supposed to be home for another 15 minutes; what else was he supposed to do when it’s the first time all week that his hermit of a roommate has finally left their shared apartment and he hasn’t been able to comfortably get himself off since last weekend?

your convenience store run ended in disappointment as the tuna gimbap roll you were craving turned up empty on the shelves. with a grumble you had just grabbed the nearest container of ramen and a snack for soobin before trekking back to your apartment sooner than hoped for (by either party..), not in the mood to sit there and eat as you’d originally planned; but unbeknownst to you, soobin hadn’t heard you arrive back home, and also unbeknownst to you, he was stuck in a very… compromising position.

“soob, they didn’t have the- oh, fuck.”

rounding the corner into the living room to see your best friend seated on the couch with his sweatpants shoved down around his hips and his head thrown back as his hand fists up and down his very hard - very big cock - was definitely not on your daily bingo card. (or your lifetime one either, to be quite frank.) at the sound of your voice he’s acting faster than you’ve ever seen him move, a pillow shoved over his lap and his large figure smushed back into the couch cushions so quick that you question whether you even saw his cock at all, or if it was just your mind playing tricks on you. you decide that it wasn’t the latter, however, at the sight of his bright red face and quick, heavy breaths- a deer in headlights as his mouth opens and closes for a few moments, trying to find the words to speak.

you’re in the same boat — what are you supposed to say? hey, sorry that i caught you trying to get yourself off in our shared space that i also own which you’re very much aware of? and by the way your cock is the most beautiful thing i’ve ever seen and i want it in my-

wait, what? you don’t even have time to process the sudden warmth between your thighs as soobin finally finds his words. well, kind of. “i-i’m so sorry, i swear i didn’t- i was just trying to- i thought you’d still be a while, i- it’s been so long since i-“ he cut himself off at the last part, an even deeper blush coming over his cheeks at his accidental admission. wonderful, now she’s gonna think i’m some sort of incel. but the last thing that either of you ever expects is happening as you step forward carefully, approaching his shocked form on the couch before stopping to maintain some distance.

“soob.. do you want help?”

let’s just say that his best friend slotted between his thighs as she bobs her head up and down his fat cock with eager moans and a mix of spit and pre-cum lewdly dribbling down her chin wasn’t exactly on soobin’s bingo card, either. but he’ll be damned if he doesn’t pay you back for it right after. <3

beomgyu: *laughs in your face* 👁️👄👁️ switch-up

um, did he hear that right?? it was an innocent instance of you utterly roasting each other into the grave with bullying remarks, just another tuesday for the pair of you- you’re just sitting on your bed in your usual criss-cross legged gossip-time position when beomgyu apparently decides that he’s bored laughing at something soobin did and chooses you as the better candidate to laugh at instead. the plushie of yours that he’d had resting in his lap is now a method of defense as you attempt to thwap him over the head with your own plushie, yelling at him to “take it back!” as he cackles mercilessly after claiming “at least soobin can get bitches if he stops being shy enough, you’re just an all-around lost cause.”

“you don’t even know what you’re talking about!!!” you whine as you finally manage to knock him onto his back, going in for the kill as your leg swings over one of his, your plushie smushing down into his face as his now-muffled giggles still ring out annoying as ever. “i get bitches too!” you defend yourself, although even your own words immediately cause you to cringe; damn, you really do sound like a loser, huh? but your momentary lapse of attention has beomgyu knocking your plushie away, laughing even louder as he responds “that is EXACTLY what someone who can’t get bitches would say.” you groan and smack his chest, rolling your eyes as he cradles himself dramatically. “you’re literally wrong. i’ve dated before! like once. and there was that other guy from the smoothie place last year.. we, like, hung out a few times.” but you’re mumbling now, pathetic to your own ears as beomgyu’s shit-eating grin grows with each word.

“you’re kinda proving my point, here, babe.” you shiver at the pet name, however condescending his tone may be. god, how is he still so attractive even when you want to strangle the fuck out of him? “you’re so cocky,” you complain with another roll of your eyes, an attempt to both distract yourself from beomgyu and distract beomgyu from the humiliating topic. he sits up to lean back on his hands as it’s clear you’re finished with your little murder attempt. “yeah, cuz of my monster cock.. that can get bitches.”

that’s it. the sudden urge to prove yourself to him overtakes you as you snap back, “i bet your ‘monster cock’ has never even seen head as good as what i can give.” another laugh— until he realizes you’re serious. the smile falls right off of his face. you don’t miss the way his fists clench around the blanket he’s leaning back on; or the slight strain in his voice as he answers, voice suddenly low and almost breathless- “yeah?”

you were right; beomgyu’s cock has never gotten head as good as what you’re giving him right now as your throat bottoms out with a filthy gag, no hesitation when you lift off with a pop before sucking on him hard enough to send his head reeling. you know what.. maybe beomgyu wouldn’t mind being proved wrong more often after all. but of course, he has to prove himself to you now, too. <3

taehyun: “if… you want to” he definitely wants to

taehyun was stressed. that was clear to anybody; the recent storm closing the businesses down for the week, including the local gym, and his own job that he of course relied on to pay rent. you had been over at his apartment when the weather took a turn for the worse; so now here you were, snowed in with no where to go, forced to work from taehyun’s computer, eat his food, and wear his clothes. (the latter of which neither of you would admit to being turned on by. …….yet.) taehyun was doing his best to work out from home with what little equipment he had, although he wasn’t able to do much, which frustrated him to no end — not as much because he was a gym rat, but more because it was his primary stress reliever. so today it doesn’t help, of course, that his pretty best friend is currently sat at his desk in one of his baggy sweatshirts and a pair of sweatpants that she had to roll 6 times to fit her little legs.

he didn’t mean to snap at you. when you accidentally knocked his extra monitor off the desk and onto the floor, cracking the screen, it was just because you turned around too fast— you were excited to see him :(— but it’s the last straw of the day for taehyun. he can’t work out properly, his job isn’t paying him during the off-time, he’s had a constant boner from you hanging around in his clothes all week, and now- now he’ll need to go get his stupid monitor fixed once the weather clears up. “shit, tae, i’m so sorry-“

“god, why are you so fucking clumsy, y/n?”

the silence causes instant realization as his eyes snap up to meet your wide, now-watery ones. “i’m.. i’m sorry..” you whisper, and immediately he wants to punch himself. “fuck,” he groans as he shakes his head, coming to kneel down in front of the chair you were still sitting in. “i’m sorry, i didn’t mean to snap at you like that. you’re not clumsy. i know it was an accident, please don’t cry.. i’ll pay for the monitor. it wasn’t your fault.” he’s murmuring while he soothes his hand up and down your arm. you’re shaking your head as you wipe at your eyes. “no, no, it’s okay; i know you didn’t mean to snap. i’m still sorry though. let me help pay for it…. i know you’ve been stressed, tyunnie.” you say the last part quieter, gentler as you meet his eyes. he hates that his cock twitches in his pants at something so innocent; but what you say next makes him feel much better about his own perverted thoughts.

you’re nervous about your next words. you really hope you’ve been reading the room right this last week. “let me help you..?”

his eyes widen, before he quickly recovers in an attempt to keep a level expression. “help.. me?” do you mean what he thinks you mean??? “the weather still sucks. there’s not much you can do, sweetheart.” he chuckles, testing the waters with a pet name as he studies your face carefully for a reaction. his eyes flicker down and quickly back up when your thighs squeeze together marginally in response. a-ha. “no, tyun… let me help you here.” you whisper with a soft, testing touch to the band of his sweatpants. oh, so you definitely mean what he thinks you mean.

who really needs the gym or your own closet after all, when you look so pretty on your knees for him with his cock down your throat as he calls you his pretty girl and promises to fuck you so good later just like you deserve? not the two of you, apparently. <3

huening kai: *spits out his drink* coughing fit

kai wasn’t kidding when he told you that he might be too busy to hang out if you came over, although this wasn’t exactly what you’d had in mind. when you headed over to his apartment you figured he was caught up studying for some big exam or something of the like; what you didn’t think you’d find was him yelling into his headset at beomgyu as his fingers flew over the buttons of his controller, leaning forward in his seat with crazy eyes and 3 open cans of energy drinks next to the screen. you sigh. “kai, really? this is what you meant by ‘too busy’..?” he jumps slightly at the sudden sound of your voice in his room, but doesn’t turn around. “y/n! yeah, sorry- i’m just in the middle of- FUCKING MOVE, BEOMGYU! of a tournament right now, been trying to rank up for hours- BEOMGYU!!!”

you wince at the intermittent screaming, plopping down on his bed to watch as you hear gyu’s protests of self-defense piercing through your best friend’s headset. “i think you’ll need a hearing aid after this..” you mumble, receiving no response as expected. however, you get bored after scrolling through your phone for a while, sulking shamelessly at the lack of attention you were receiving — although you were warned that if you came over he might not have any to give. you sigh, but you understand; these tournaments are important to hyuka, even if you couldn’t care less about them yourself. don’t get me wrong, you love gaming too, especially with your friends— especially with kai — but you weren’t exactly as obsessed as they were when it came to being the biggest legend in this group of - you squint - 100 players that this world has ever seen.

selfishly, you had almost even hoped for more from this evening… you’ve been trying to drop hints lately at your feelings for kai, although your level of success was yet to be determined. this would be the first instance all week that you’d have some alone time together; despite his claim to busyness, you still figured you’d try your luck by coming over. you eye the 3 energy drinks and his bouncing legs with a chuckle. what are my options here? hmm.. you’d worn some particularly short shorts tonight, knowing he’d definitely notice the plushness of your thighs.. experimentally, you stand up and approach his desk, standing next to it so he’d be able to see you if he shifted his eyes to the right. “hyuka, want me to get you some water? i don’t think you need any more of these.” you fiddle with one of the cans on his desk. he hums distractedly in response; you can tell he hadn’t heard what you said. “hyuka..” this time you reach out to card your fingers through his hair, effectively causing his fixed stare to snap briefly over to you in surprise; ‘briefly’ turning into a momentary distraction as his gaze catches onto your shorts, flitting back and forth between the screen and your soft thighs. “h-huh?”

“some water?” you repeat innocently. “o-oh, uh, yeah..”

when you come back, to say you’re shocked is an understatement as the bulge in his shorts has seemingly popped up out of no where, and the bright pink blush on his cheeks tells you he knows it, too. you don’t realize you’re standing there staring at it with the glass of water still in your hand until kai quickly mutes his mic, eyes still glued to the screen as he groans “i’m so sorry y/n, please don’t think i’m gross, i- i had no time to grab a pillow, we’re in the middle of a battle and my score is-“ wordlessly, you’re sinking to your knees and situating yourself beneath the desk. his bouncing legs freeze. “what- fuck, w-what are you-“

“can i help you? you can keep playing your game,” you ask sweetly. the sight of your innocent eyes blinking up at him nearly has him cumming in his shorts then and there as he breathes out, “fuck- are you sure?”

you definitely show him how sure you are as you worship his cock with your throat, all sloppy and wet, making sure his mic stays muted so beomgyu can’t hear the way you’re making him whine and moan as he bucks his hips up into your mouth the best he can. now just wait until his tournament is over and he has you all to himself. <3

[ciactrl]

101624.

Shot by cupid's arrow

Bars and parties weren't really your go-to activities on a Friday night before the long weekend, but seeing as you had nothing better to do, you gave it a shot. Maybe a night out could be the release you needed after a long week. Maybe downing bitter shots, chugging hard liquor, vibing to incoherent music, and dancing with strangers could somehow drown out the stress.

What you shot out without much thought was met with a swift response from cupid, shooting his long, revoltingly strong arrow straight to your heart. He really didn't come to play that night, and here you stood, arrow in chest, heart pounding, mind dazed.

Seonghwa was the last person you could have guessed who would be glued to you for the entire night. He wasn't someone you knew well, merely a presence you occasionally saw in classes, yet the unexpected turn of events felt as if you both shared an extensive, complex history together. Both drunk and running on adrenaline, the two of you spent the night between dancing on the floor, cuddling on the bench, and walking around hand in hand. Occasional conversation helped to establish a better understanding of one another, and perhaps a new beginning as well.

The weeks following the fateful night showered you with nothing short of pure bliss. Weekly dates to cute spots hand-picked by Seonghwa himself, library meetups for group study sessions, and occasional evening texts decorated your waking days. Even though things progressed slowly and no particular labels were placed on your budding relationship, Seonghwa invaded every crevice of your mind and heart. His soft demeanour, his shy touch, his pretty voice, his twinkling eyes; fuck, you were truly down bad for this man.

With the feeling of being on cloud nine, the sudden burst and fall from your euphoric bubble hours before your next get-together hit you with the force of a truck. What was going on? Why did Seonghwa suddenly cancel your date? Why was he now no longer interested? Weren't things going well? Or were you just imagining everything this whole time?

"I just.. I'm not looking for a relationship right now."

Now a day since receiving the unexpected message, you sat across a very apprehensive Seonghwa in the student food court, arms folded in front of your chest and lips tightly pursed. You couldn't help but get annoyed at him for looking as good as always; his soft demeanour, his pretty voice, and those goddamn eyes burned an image at the back of your retinas.

"Did you start everything knowing that? Better yet, did you even have any interest in me at any point?"

Although you wanted to appear calm and neutral, your voice betrayed you as you bitterly spat out your skepticisms. You despised how much this was getting to you; even though you've grown quite affectionate towards Seonghwa, you also knew that these dates could never guarantee a happy ending. They were just ways to get to know one another in a more private, intimate setting, away from the hollering and delusions provided by your friends. There was no reason for labels or specificities when things were still developing, still taking its first baby steps. And perhaps the lack of direction was the beginning of the inevitable.

"I was interested in you, I'd never lie about that. I'm still interested in you and want to get to know you, but as friends.. if you're comfortable with that."

You sigh. Realistically, you know that the two of you will return to your lives before everything started. You both never had much of a connection before all the dates and texts, and you know enough about Seonghwa that he's not one to reach out often. It only stung more since your feelings were essentially unreciprocated and you were the only one who seemed this bothered.

The hazy memories of that night come back to remind you—no, haunt you—of what could have been. A fleeting encounter turned to nothing, a possible new chapter slammed shut. You practically carry around a broken tape player in your mind that keeps looping the same parts over and over, until you can literally see the scene again, until you can feel it..

But most of all, until you can see and feel him.

That night, you got shot by cupid and he really didn't come to play. You still have an arrow lodged in your chest, heart going erratic and mind going haywire. Only this time, you lay on the ground as blood pools around you, surrounding you as if to finalize your sealed fate.

[rodeoxqueen]

Keeping Up With A Himbo: Vergil (I)- Lost In The Sauce

Series Summary: A series of domestically fluffy snippets where the s/o of a Sparda learns just how much of a himbo their lover is.

Work Summary: Vergil tries to cook for you and loses a fight with a salt grinder. 

Tags/Warnings: Gender-Neutral S/O, Domestic Fluff, SFW, Vergil Is A Disaster And We Love Him, Meme References in Title and Story, Implied Touch-Starved! Vergil, 

Vergil always noticed that ever since he moved to your place, he had yet to move a finger when it came to making meals. Usually, it was you who chose to go to the grocery stores and come back home to cook. 

It always brought him good feeling, to sit beside you and have a hot meal with you. However, he soon realized how the scale of responsibilities was becoming lopsided, tipping in his favor. 

You would return exhausted from work, only to cook and clean once more. Vergil was also working at his brother’s shop, slaying demons and all sorts of nasty creatures. 

But he was a subhuman of ungodly stamina, he rarely felt exhaustion as quickly as you did. You knew that. And yet, here you were, still insisting to do most of the cooking. Although it was nice to be pampered, reading a book near the counter as you chopped up ingredients for a hearty lunch or dinner, Vergil knew it was unreciprocated for some time now. 

As of late, your work had become harder, with longer hours and lesser benefits. You found yourself pushing against the clock, having to prepare the evening meal despite the time crunch. You woke up earlier to sleep later. And yet, you staunchly refused to not provide for the two of you. 

He grumbled a bit on the inside, leaning against the counter with his arms crossed. His eyes glanced at the clock. You would be home in an hour, at around 9 pm. Much later than you had already been working. 

Humans are easily tired, and it was a Friday. For you to come home and deal with such a chore would be the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Vergil cursed himself. He was more than capable of doing some tasks around your shared home. After years of living alone, he was not used to all of this-this bliss. How could he be so foolish to not give back to his beloved? 

With strife, he promptly rolled up his sleeves and grabbed your apron. A bit small around his chest, as he was much more muscular than you. 

Thinking of the sight of your face brightening if you came home to a prepared meal, he set out to prove himself as more than capable in the kitchen. 

And perhaps garner some praise from you. Not like he’d ever admit he wanted it.

He opened the cabinets and fridge. Careful hands took out pasta and tomato sauce, setting it on the counter. Vergil read the instructions for the spaghetti, doing exactly what the box told him. 

It was already his job before to open the cans, and the glass jar popped freely of its lid within seconds. 

He tasted the sauce with a spoon, observing that the sole acrid taste of tomatoes did not sit well with him. 

What did you always add? Obviously salt and pepper. 

He did as such, taking out the old salt grinder. He proceeded to grind the salt into the pan of simmering sauce, bubbling perhaps too rapidly and violently. Somehow, no salt seemed to come out. He tsked and incessantly continued his motions for what seemed like whole minutes. 

When that didn’t work, he changed his clockwise motion to counter, and no avail. It must have been jammed in the inside, he deducted. 

He shook the grinder. 

The lid of the grinder fell into the saucepan, a cup’s worth of salt tumbling in also.

Vergil cursed, trying to take out as much salt as he could before it dissolved in the sauce. 

The hands of the clock comforted him, you were yet to be home for some time. 

The sauce was ruined and it was salty like the sea, ten-folded. 

“What can counteract salt?” Vergil thought to himself.

A dusty lightbulb flickered in his mind, and he reached for the little canister of sugar. 

He poured some sugar into the sauce, hoping to revert it back to normal. Years of consuming demonic flesh would do this to a man’s sense of culinary logic. 

The pasta, which he forgot to strain out earlier, flopped miserably into the pan. Vergil gave his attempt a try.  

As if salt wasn’t bad enough, the sugar combined in it made Vergil actually recoil. How on earth did you cook everyday?! 

More over, how on earth did he derail a simple recipe to this? 

Sauce, burnt, salted, sweetened, and pasta forsaken and soggy, Vergil had officially lost his mind. 

He went to take off your apron in shame, and all the hairs on his body stood up when the door opened, earlier than he presumed. 

You came home to a strange smell, kicking off your shoes and leaving your coat on the rack. 

“I’m home!” You called out wearily, ready to make some dinner. 

You expected to see Vergil sitting in his loveseat. What you got was Vergil standing awkwardly in the kitchen, as if he did something wrong and didn’t want to tell you. 

“He looks like that Robert Pattinson meme?” You half-smiled at your internal monologue.

“Ah! You’re cooking.” You say, making your way over to the stove. 

He murmured grumpily. It appeared he tried to make some noodles in tomato sauce. You went to take a forkful of it, when a strong hand caught your wrist. 

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” 

“Why not? You made it!” 

“I don’t want to poison you.” His grip was strong, refusing to let you move your hand to your mouth. 

Instead of putting the pasta to your face, you put your face to the pasta, tricking the devil with your conniving reflexes. He released you with a sigh, his lover Loki-incarnate. 

Vergil expected a look of disgust akin to his own, yet you didn’t allow that reaction to appear on your features. 

“Not bad.” You say with endearment, looking up at him. He scoffs when your eye twitched at the soured taste. 

“You would be a fool to lie to me.” 

“I mean, it’s-it’s something.” You laugh, stirring the very-past-al-dente noodles. 

The fork clinks against something solid in the pot. You fish out the lid of the salt grinder. 

“Oh, oh you really got lost in the sauce.” You deadpan. He stiffens in embarrassment. 

“This was a waste of resources and time. I should’ve been better.” 

“Not to me it’s not. You did do your best. Were you trying to cook for me?” He nodded, refusing to look at you. 

You take another mouthful, noting sweetness. 

“Did you add sugar-” Your answer lies in the half-empty container of sugar. You cover your mouth to laugh. Vergil grumbles again. 

“It’s okay, Vergil!” He still won’t look at you. No matter how much you chant his name, he refuses to turn his head. 

“Hey. Hey.” You try to move his face to look at you. His jaw clenches and he relents his gaze at the wall, opting to be eye-to-eye with his beaming lover. 

“You tried. And that’s all that matters.” 

“And I have failed to make something edible. It’s not fair for me to serve you this after such a toiling week of work-” He glances at the pan with this scorn. 

“But you made something for me. And that’s very thoughtful of you.” You cup his cheek, your boyfriend subtlety leaning to your palm. 

“I’m still not letting you eat the rest-” 

“Oh trust me, I don’t want to.” You butt in, taking out your phone. 

 Takeout?” You offer, pointing to the GrubHub delivery app. 

He agrees, letting you pick out what you think he would like. 

Your grumpy devil sits on his dark blue loveseat, forgoing to untie the apron. You wait for your delivery, sitting in his lap. Your exhaustion from work and the emotional sauce rollercoaster is seeping away from you-

-and into the plush pectorals against your cheek, framed nicely by your usual cooking smock. 

“This man could burn down the kitchen with that apron on and I’d just let him.” You think to yourself. 

He’s lucky he’s cute. 

[thefilmsimps]

2046 (dir. Wong Kar-Wai)

-Jere Pilapil-

I can’t believe this was the first Wong Kar-Wai movie I ever saw.

I was working at a Hollywood Video in its dying days. I’m not sure what drew me to the box. Maybe a customer recommended it, or maybe I recognized Gong Li and Ziyi Zhang in the cast. Maybe I read the back of the box and thought the premise was interesting: an author stung by the failure of an affair writes a novel about 2046, “a place where nothing ever changes”, where people try to relive lost memories, while living through his own tumultuous love life. (Odds are, it was a slow release week, and I was in a Hong Kong cinema phase.) But this was my first Wong Kar-Wai movie, and it’s a terrible one to start with. But somehow it was enough to get me interested in his other work, and some of them are now my favorite movies of all time.

I’ve revisited it a few times in the intervening years, and my opinion wavers wildly, each time. Wong Kar-Wai’s quote that “no man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man” applies here. On first viewing, I was overtaken by the gorgeous aesthetic. The sci-fi parts, depicting the main character’s novel, are radiant and colorful explosions, especially against the shadows and depression that covers the rest of the movie (of course, its depiction of 1960s Hong Kong fashion and settings is equally gorgeous). The acting is top notch: Ziyi Zhang has never been better, and Tony Leung is a powerful, steady hand guiding the movie in his on-screen acting and in the yearning heard in his voice-over. There is a lot to love here, but there is also a lot.

2046 is nearly a series of vignettes where people are trying to connect but cannot. It’s probably the dominant theme of Wong Kar-Wai’s work, which sometimes split the runtime into separate stories (Chungking Express, Fallen Angels) about people falling in love at the wrong time. Here, there are several, overlapping, as Tony Leung’s Chow Mo-Wan (following the events of In the Mood for Love) lives in an apartment, in room 2047 and interacts with the various tenants coming and going from room 2046.On some level, it’s repetitive to see this many people fall in unreciprocated love over and over again. But it’s also a potentially moving portrait of hurt people trying to not hurt, but winding up hurting again. Or, it could be a lesson in savoring the little moments of connection between people as they pass through one’s life. I go back and forth on all of this.

But 2046 is one that holds a special place in my heart, since, of course, I discovered my favorite film by following its threads into the past. As a film on its own, it’s madly overstuffed, with at least 3 subplots and some excursions into a sci-fi metaphor. But as a capper to this portion of Wong Kar-Wai’s body of work, it’s wonderful. There are intentional callbacks here, giving something resembling closure to Tony Leung’s strange cameo at the end of Days of Being Wild (as well as giving an update to one of that movie’s characters). Of course, Leung’s character there and here is dealing with the fallout from In the Mood for Love, jaded and broken. But shots in this movie echo those in that movie. He meets a woman named Su Li-zhen, as Maggie Cheung’s character was. It also does the neat trick of reuniting Faye Wong and Tony Leung, a memorable couple from Chungking Express. This works best as Wong Kar-Wai’s epilogue to the themes he has pursued throughout his career, though it’s a solid and respectable film on its own, too.

[potterandpromises]

91 and 99 for Garcy, please?

Failed Analysis

Set a few months post Chinatown. 

Summary: Lucy has been dropping subtle hints for months. Unfortunately, subtle isn’t Flynn’s style.

Content warning(s): Self-esteem issues, non-consensual cuddling, food, & one (1) murder joke. 

Also on AO3

Flynn wakes to a familiar warm weight curled into this chest. He resists the urge to brush the hair from her face, for fear of startling her, and for ending this moment too soon.

It’s become a habit, after a particularly difficult mission, or when she simply needs to talk, or be with another warm body, for them to sit and talk and fall asleep together. He feels a pang of guilt: she must have needed him last night.

7:03, the clock reads. The others will be up soon, and he briefly considers waking her. But she’s peaceful now and that’s a precious thing, for her and for him, given this tradition won’t last the storm. Hopefully whatever caused her to come here didn’t steal too much sleep. They’ll talk about it later, he decides.

The Mothership alarm goes off.

-

For once, no one died or was seriously injured, which is a success in and of itself. It was the easiest mission he can remember. So, he is moderately annoyed with his joints for aching: there is no good excuse.

(No, middle-age isn’t a good excuse.)

(And he really can’t consider what would happen if he truly got too old for this.)

Perhaps Lucy will want to watch a movie with him, as has become a part of their routine on the less heavy of days—

Lucy.

Lucy is… sitting on his bed, book in hand, and… wearing his sweater. Yup, definitely his sweater.

This isn’t the first time she’s borrowed clothing of his— she’d had to help him with his clothes and sling after Chinatown, and it had been advantageous to borrow something loose-fitting. Then there was the night she’d broken down sobbing, which ended with snot covered shirts. And, most recently before this, she’d just said she was cold. His sweaters look good on her. But he can’t comprehend the scene before him. Maybe she’s cold again, or wants comfort. But she has her own clothes. This time, there is no reason for her to want—

“I can leave if…”

“No, no,” he’s staring, and his stupid face burns, “I’m happy to have your company.” She smiles shyly, and makes room for him to join.

As Flynn settles next to her with his own book, he’s glad for the queen bed this newest safe house provides— not that he hated their last arrangement: Lucy atop his chest. But it didn’t lend itself to casual affairs: they couldn’t read, silently, separately, but together, as they do now.

Flynn doubts he’ll get much reading done at present, though. They still have to talk about this morning, and for that matter, her current choice of fashion. But her contentment is enough to delay it, leaving him to stew.

Is she ignoring what happened out of guilt? they’d talked about that. Embarrassment? they have to be past that by now, right? Denial; simple distress at the memory? Maybe she just wants to move on.

“Lucy?”

“Mm?”

“Are you okay?”

She stiffens next to him, and it’s barely felt. Then she sits up, and he follows her example, licks his lips and waits. He won’t push any further. After a moment, she closes her book with more care then necessary and stares at him, on guard, analyzing. He swallows, it’s been a long time since she’s looked at him like that.

“I’m fine,” she says slowly. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

He gestures vaguely, and she flashes a playful smile. It dies unreciprocated. ”Well, last night—” he starts. “You’ve been more…” he searches for a word that won’t sound accusatory, “affectionate—”

She laughs involuntarily. “Walt, is that what this is—” Something shifts, her smile fades. “Do you not… want that?”

Flynn doesn’t understand the question. Obviously, he doesn’t want her to be in a bad place. But that doesn’t seem to be what she’s asking.

Without an answer, she comes up with her own, and she looks devastated. He reaches out, but she’s already moving away, almost felling out of bed. “I’m sorry.” She’s wiping away tears. “I should go—”

She’s already at the door, and his chest is tight. “That wasn’t a criticism.” She stills, and with one hand on the doorknob, turns back to him. Her eyes hold weariness, and something he can’t name. “I enjoy your company,” he continues, wondering how she’s not internalized that, and knowing the answer. “I’m just… concerned.”

Relief visibly washes over her, and he can breath easier too, but it’s tainted with confusion. “So you— I should go.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I’ll see you later,” she promises, exiting in haste.

The bed creaks as Flynn falls back, exhausted and deeply bewildered.

-

At the top of the stairs, Flynn watches Lucy make tea, which she only drinks to self-soothe. He doesn’t like seeing her this way, but somehow, it’s reassuring to know he isn’t the only one still affected.

Despite his best efforts at analysis, he’s no closer to understanding what happened. It seemed she wasn’t coping well, and he confronted her about it. But clearly, he badly miss-read the situation. And as a result, led her to believe she wasn’t wanted, that what she did and needed was a burden. It was only for one, horrible moment, and he’s knowingly done far worse, but still, it weighs on him.

They need to talk, need to understand each other. Flynn takes a deep breath, tries to cast a friendly face, and steps on the squeaky board he ordinarily avoids on principle. Lucy looks up, then away, uncomfortable.

Okay.

He tries to catch her eye, to offer a smile. But she avoids it, causing Flynn to give preparing his cereal the same focus he affords missions against Rittenhouse.

“That milk is low.“ When he turns, she’s looking into her tea. “There’s a new carton behind the casserole.”

With some reluctance, he sits down across from her. And as she stares to his right at an unappealing mark on the well, Flynn rather wishes he were defusing a bomb. But it’s not like they can avoid each other for long, so: “Are we—”

“You really don’t get what I’ve been trying to convey these past few months.” He stares, and so does she. And before he can ask for clarification, she sighs, frustrated. “Do you honestly believe that I couldn’t ever have feelings for you?” it’s enough for him to short circuit, “Is that it?“

Her eyes are glistening now, and before he realizes it, one hand is halfway to her. But he stops dead, and his fingers close around nothing. He isn’t— she can’t possibly mean…

But there is no other way to take it.

(Is there?)

It’s happening again; except no one’s about to die, and her mother’s body is long decomposed, and Wyatt is fast asleep. And it wasn’t an accident this time, she could have given any number of half-truths or told him to drop it and he would have accepted that. But she wants him to know. She wants him.

(Why?)

“Flynn?”

“I thought…” It comes out croaked. “When I saw you taking with Wyatt after— you know,” but she doesn’t know, “I sort of assumed that was where you wanted to be. Long-term, romantically.“

“No.” She looks more defeated than ever. “No, that’s in the past. Why would you even think that?” There’s offence in her tone on the latter part, and he doesn’t blame her: she deserves better. But clearly, that isn’t how it works.

“Well, there’s certainly plenty of reasons not to,” a million, “but I know love isn’t always convenient— ”

“And I fall in love with you!” she bolts up and the chair scrapes violently against the floor, “Not him.”

Flynn is certain his heart has stopped; her’s too, by the way she recoils in on herself. And they stay like that, faces turning bright pink, Flynn distressingly aware of how someone probably heard that and they’ll have to ether explain themselves or bury some bodies. Then Lucy grabs her tea with enough uncoordinated force to spill it on herself. And he’s far too eager to fetch a towel.

He wants to leave, to process or maybe ignore this (in love), but you can’t unring a bell, and the last thing he wants is for her to think she’s scared him away. So instead, he hovers nearby as she dries her sleeve off and avoids his gaze.

“It could have been a bomb,” he points out.

“What?”

“Our misunderstanding, it could have been about a bomb.”

Her lips twitch, then she gives in to laughter. And when she looks up again, he does his best to reflect her glory in a reassuring smile. “What I’m I going to do with you?” There’s fondness, and love, love, in her bright eyes, the one thing he’d never, ever wanted to hope for. But he did, and she is here.

“Whatever you want.”

With pursed lips, she tilts her chin up. “How do you feel about ice cream?”

-

They lay on her bed, empty bowls temporarily abandoned in favor of cuddling without excuses or false assumptions. “You know, I thought you were flirting back, I mean I guess you were, since you do— “ love, he loves her, she’s known for awhile, “Like me.”

She’d had doubts about the exact nature of their relationship, but he’d made his feelings, his expressions when he thought she wouldn’t notice, difficult to honestly interpret as friendship. So, she thoroughly examined the evidence, as any good academic would, and concluded that the butterflies must be mutual. And last night, she worried she got it all wrong, read too much into it, saw what she wanted to see. But no, the last six months could not just be written off as a misunderstanding; rather, they’re just bad at this.

“This um, isn’t the first time I’ve done that.” Lucy shifts in order to rise her eyebrows at him. “Lorena casually said we were dating, and that was news to me. Good news.”

Half atop his chest, she laughs. Somehow, it feels good to know he’s always been like this.

She climbs upward, so she can rest, and feel his heartbeat under her cheek. “So you want to do this,” she murmurs, because she has to, “Not hiding thing?”

He’s silent too long, and despite all the evidence, she’s scared. “Yes, my love.”

[imagineitup]

Mobile Masterlist

UPDATED : 1/27/18

Current Written Fandoms : Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts/Crimes of Grindelwald, All the Light We Cannot See, The Maze Runner, Rogue One, Solo, Teen Wolf, Dunkirk, Les Misérables, Choices

HARRY POTTER

Draco Malfoy

Coffee and Gray Skies 

A series of time lapses beginning from when you first see Draco at Hogwarts. 

Time 

Time lapses of the interactions between you and Draco beginning at the Sorting Hat and following the events of your brother’s death from the basilisk.

Sympathy  

It is the Third Task of the Tri-wizard Tournament and you are struck with grief when you discover the horrifying news about your brother, Cedric. 

Polyjuice Potion

You are a part of the Golden Trio and confront Draco while under the effects of the Polyjuice Potion during the second year. 

Stressed

You fail your Potions assignment and Draco comforts you and helps you deal with your stress.

Talk to Me

Depression and stress have taken a toll on you and Draco finds out and comforts you.

Bludger 

You are on the Quidditch team and during a match against Slytherin, get accidentally hit by a bludger. 

Shut Me Out 

You have had an unreciprocated crush on Draco Malfoy for years, and he confronts you after you suddenly begin ignoring him.  

I Had To  

You are a muggle-born Slytherin and two students beat you up after you defend Draco Malfoy.  He later confronts you about this. 

Alchemist 

You and Draco first meet each other when you accidentally trip him, but you feel pity towards him when you see him years later, crying.  A certain book plays a prominent role in your relationship.

Everything

You have been feeling insecure about your body for a long time, and Draco comforts you and reassures you that you are everything to him. 

Worth it 

You and Draco are best friends, and someone comes up to Draco and says something disrespectful about you.  He gets really angry and you have to calm him down. 

Magnetized 

Draco has to suffer from the fact that he will never belong with you.  He has dreams about you and every single time he gets close enough to see you, he wakes up.  

The Somber of the Sky 

Draco and you have been best friends since childhood, and he gets angry when he thinks you don’t care about him as much as he cares about you.  

Spring Melts Away the Cold 

Draco Malfoy is elusive as ever, yet somehow he doesn’t seem to dislike you as much as everyone else.  When you finally say hello to him, all the tension begins to melt away, and you find yourself a person whom you can connect with.

Radiant 

You and Draco are in the process of moving in together, incorporates sensory prompt: dust floating in golden sunshine. 

Sirius Black

Misunderstandings

You think that Sirius fancies your best friend and set the both of them up on a date at the Astronomy Tower.  

Not True 

Sirius has doubts about himself because of the multiple howlers sent by his parents, and you comfort him.  

Oliver Wood 

Flirt  

You are the Captain of the Ravenclaw Quidditch Team and Oliver Wood confronts you after winning the final match of the season. 

Lazarus Smith

Not Just a Rumor  

You and Lazarus are best friends but your friendship becomes strained when you reveal the truth about a rumor surrounding your feelings. 

Tom Riddle

Pieces

You confront Tom after discovering that he is the one who has killed Myrtle Warren. 

Pieces (2/2)

The series of events that lead up to part one.

Decide For Yourself 

After a traumatizing incident, you become mute.  Tom is attracted to you and he becomes jealous after seeing you talking to your best friend, Joshua. 

Terrible Things

Tom Riddle surprises himself by developing feelings, of all things, for you, a Muggle-born.  He catches himself falling, desperately but manages to hide his feelings for the most part -- until you are hurt in one fateful care for magical creatures lesson.  He’s terrified and helps you heal, but once you’re better he wants nothing to do with you.

Fred Weasley 

Quidditch

You are on the Gryffindor Quidditch team and help the team win the match. 

Jealous

Fred fancies you, but he goes out with Angelina Johnson to try to make you jealous. 

George Weasley

Seven Minutes

You are at a party in the Gryffindor Common Room and run into your longtime friend, George Weasley.

It Hurts

You and George break up, and the two of you have to deal with your feelings when McGonagall partners you both together for one final dance.

Midday

You work at a bookstore across from Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes and meet George Weasley one fateful day, as you lose a bundle of string. 

Albus Severus Potter

Goodbye

You, like Albus Potter, did not want to be sorted into Slytherin.  You cannot take the bullying and decide to leave Hogwarts. 

Complexities

Albus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy are both in love with you, and Albus has to deal with his feelings of lovesickness and guilt. 

Complexities (2/2)

In Scorpius’s perspective -- how he feels about you and Albus dating

Scorpius Malfoy

Oranges

You are Albus Potter’s twin sister and Scorpius becomes infatuated with you. 

Secrets

You and Scorpius have a secret relationship - until the two of you fall asleep in the library and are discovered by Rose Weasley.

Friends?

You are a transfer-student from Ilvermorny and are dealing with feelings of loneliness and not belonging.  Scorpius attempts to befriend you and make you feel more at home.

Awestruck

You invite Albus and Scorpius to come to visit your home in New York, and it is here where you realize you have feelings for Scorpius. 

Glass

Scorpius is devastatingly sad about Albus ignoring him, and you comfort him to the best of your ability. 

Glass (2/2)

You talk to Albus about his ignoring Scorpius, and Scorpius gets jealous of a slight misunderstanding.

In Reminisce

Scorpius and you are paired up together for a project.  He’s a bit intimidated by you at first, but slowly warms up to you and does his best to show you he cares. 

Lock and Key

Scorpius tries to push you away to keep you safe, but this ends up with you getting in the middle of Delphi’s wrath when she travels back in time with the two boys.

Celestial

When Albus and Scorpius fail in saving Cedric the first time, he comes back to Hogwarts and sees Albus as a Gryffindor.  He also sees that he’s dating you, his childhood friend. 

It’s Cold Outside

Scorpius stops by your apartment when he realizes you’re sick, he manages to help you feel a little better by making you warm soup and keeping you company.

Scorbus

Theatre Headcanons

Remus Lupin

But I Love You

You and Remus break up because you cannot find the significance in your relationship.  He begins to date another girl to make you jealous. 

But I Love You (2/2)

It has been a few months since then, and you can’t help but regret everything that has led to your separation.

Crazy Little Thing

Remus has come to the realization that he’s fallen head over heels for you, his best friend.  Based on the song, Crazy Little Thing Called Love. 

Shatter

Remus becomes furious when he sees your abusive boyfriend hit you, and he and you have sad moonlight confessions.  Ft. pining Remus and the marauders. [இ]

James Potter

Friend Zoned

James is jealous of the friendship that you and Remus have, and doesn’t think he has a chance with you. 

Cedric Diggory 

What Happens to Us?

You and Cedric have been dating for a few years, and you suddenly become furious and scared when you realize he has entered his name to compete in the Tri-wizard Tournament. 

Blaise Zabini

Heartache

You and Blaise have broken up, and Blaise has to watch as you dance happily with George Weasley at the Yule Ball.

FANTASTIC BEASTS/CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD

Theseus Scamander

A Manifestation of Ministry Macabre (1/3) (2/3) (3/3)

You have hated Theseus Scamander for a long time, stemming from when the two of you were Prefects together at Hogwarts.  You run into him again when the two of you are both chosen as likely candidates for the position as Head Auror. 

Gentle Flurry

You are having drinks with Newt, Tina, and Theseus, and you finally figure out why no one will ever go outside with Theseus when it starts to snow.  Cue snowball fights and lots and lots of fluff.  

My Beautiful Warrior

When the alarm alerting the danger of a dark wizard rings through the Ministry, both you and Theseus are sent to subdue the Gaunts and bring them back to be arrested.  You get hurt in the process, and Theseus beats himself up over it. 

Dreamlike Candlelight

You and Newt are getting married, and Theseus reminisces how it happened and tries to come to terms with his pain, while also staying happy and supportive for you both.  Based off the song “Satisfied” from Hamilton.  

Lights

It’s Christmas, and Theseus returns home with gingerbread in his hands and helps you hang up Christmas lights -- a festive prompt.

Sunrise, Sunset

A series of time elapses from when you and Theseus were children, school-age, married, and then working together as Aurors.  A progression of fluff to angst.  A progression of weather.  A progression of sunlight, a progression of daytime.

Doubt

Theseus and you are both Aurors and very good friends, and the two of you always bring each other lunch every other day.  On one fateful mission, Theseus casts his Patronus, and something about it makes him act rather strangely.

THE MAZE RUNNER

Aris Jones

Promise?

You and Aris are separated from each other after Group B completes the maze, and the two of you are reunited at the camp of the Right Arm. 

Just Thinking

You wake in the early morning to find Aris gone, and you find him sitting by the cliffside, thinking.  The two of you talk and watch the sun begin to rise, reminiscing.

Newt

Just Like the Glade

(TDC SPOILERS) 

When Thomas and the others return to the safe haven, you are met with a truth that breaks your heart and throws your world upside-down.  You are given a letter that Newt writes - for you to read if he doesn’t return. 

ROGUE ONE 

Cassian Andor

Hope

You and Cassian are on a mission with K-2, and the droid unknowingly pushes the two of you to come to terms with your feelings quicker. 

SOLO

Han Solo

Perhaps

Han delves into his memories and realizes that it is really you who he has loved all along.

Perception

You are a bounty hunter sent by Lady Proxima to kill Han Solo, yet you find you cannot do it. 

Missed You

After not seeing each other for years, Han has finally come to terms with his feelings for you.

TEEN WOLF

Isaac Lahey

Confessions

Isaac comes to your room and wants to know why you’ve been avoiding him.  Ends in fluff.

DUNKIRK

Peter Dawson

Let Me Go

Peter is leaving for Dunkirk, and you realize that your feelings for him are deeper than you originally thought.  You don’t want him to leave.

Gibson

Home

It is after the war, and Gibson wants to face his fear of the water.  You come with him, and try to help him when he has a PTSD attack. 

LES MISÉRABLES

Grantaire

Unrequited Love and Stuff

(Platonic) You and Grantaire sit on a roof above the ceiling, sharing a bottle of wine, and drinking away all your problems as the night passes on.

ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE

Werner Pfennig

The Sea

You and Werner meet by the sea and have short innocent interactions with each other near St. Malo. 

CHOICES : TRR

Maxwell Beaumont 

We’ll Figure it Out

Maxwell and you have to deal with your feelings and the overwhelming problem of his finances, your duty to Cordonia, and Liam’s feelings.

[dramioneasks]

FAQ FICS: Friend Zone

Dancing In Circles With Greeks By: RZZMG - M, 10 chapters - Hermione Granger needs a break from her attractive co-worker, Draco Malfoy. She heads to Greece for a holiday filled with dancing, good food, shopping, & a sea of sexy, available men to try to get over her unreciprocated feelings. To her surprise, Draco shows up in Greece, too, determined to ruin her fun. 2013 Otter & Ferret Fic Exchange entry. Dramione Romance/Drama.

Tear drops on my guitar By: ethereallie - M, one-shot - "I know I should've told you about my feelings because friends do that, they talk - even if it's hard. I have my fair share of faults too so I can't really blame you. I can't change the past but I can do something about the present. I need time to get over this - to get over you. So I'm asking you now, as your best friend. Give me time to deal with this, to get over you."

Best Laid Plans By: hiddenhibernian - T, one-shot - Hermione goes through a run of disastrous relationships, while Draco patiently bides his time. There is a fine line between patience and leaving it too late, however...

The Seduction - SenLinYu - E, one-shot - “Hermione,” he said in a strained voice, ”please don’t take offense by how blunt I’m about to be, but I’m honestly afraid that if I explain this with any type of subtlety it will somehow continue to elude you.” Hermione’s expression grew indignant but Draco ignored it and pressed on. “I am trying to seduce you,” he said, staring her straight in the eye. Her indignation faded as her mouth dropped open and her eyes slowly grew round. He continued, “I have been trying to seduce you for over two years; ever since I first brought up the idea of our having a book club together.”

Puddle Jumping By: RZZMG - M, one-shot - Flatmates, but not lovers. Draco Malfoy wants to change that fact, but he's a man with too many vices & not enough bravery to jump the puddles of his miserable life to get the girl he wants - Hermione Granger. Will an outing with Hermione one rainy afternoon change everything for them, though? Dramione. Romance-Drama. 2013 DramioneLove Spring-Summer Fest #2 entry. COMPLETE!

Annoying Hermione By: Curiositykils - T, 6 chapters - Out of every witch Draco could have picked to date, he had to pick the one witch that Hermione couldn't stand. AU/ Characters are OOC. Complete

Mousetrap Part I and Part II (Amortentia) by olivieblake - M, 2 chapters - Based loosely on the plot of the movie “Sleeping With Other People.” Hermione is dealing with her “love addiction” (read: pining) for Ron, who’s long since moved on; Draco is sleeping with everything that moves. When they run into each other 6 years after the war, they both manage to find a little healing.

One Of The Guys by OogieBoogie - T, 3 chapters - Hermione Granger is sick of being treated like ‘one of the guys’ by every single male she has ever met. She turns to Draco Malfoy for help. Call it lessons to ‘woman up’, if you may.

Of Pictures and Moments by Erythros - T, 10 chapters - He’d never learn to love her. But then, no matter how excruciating that realization would be… She loved him anyway. HGDM

The Sweetest Downfall By: xXBeckyFoo - T, 8 Chapters - She saw potential in him, the kind that he liked to hide and pretend he was never capable of obtaining. He saw everything that he’s never experienced in her, the kind of things she freely gave to anyone who wanted it. One night, he decided to take from her. They kissed, and the rest came crashing down around them. [Mini-story]

Amateur Cartography - worksofstone - M, 3 chapters - That one-night stand with Draco Malfoy was a mistake. Hermione doesn’t make mistakes, or at least she isn’t supposed to. She’s working hard at  her Ministry career, however frustrating and pointless her job may be, and she’s also got to live up to everyone’s expectations as Hogwarts’s most famous Muggle-born and a top-tier War Hero. So, why is she still sleeping with Draco Malfoy, ex-Death Eater and infamous pureblood? And why isn’t she certain that she wants to stop?

Chasing Pavements By: ethereallie - M, one-shot - Can two people really just be “Friends with Benefits”? a songfic based on the song “Chasing Pavements” by Adele. Enjoy reading!

Leap Year - attica - M, one shot - “Nobody needs anybody, Granger. They just want to the point of pain.” One-shot, old! Written eons ago for sandi wandi at the dmhgficexchange. DHr as always.

Tugging On Heartstrings - LoveBugOC - K, 5 chapters - A friendship blossomed. A bond strengthened. An attraction realized. A love unrequited. A love bloomed.

Thin Strips of Emotion - Mexx - PG13, one-shot - Seasons bleed into one another, years pass, and still he loves her.

Shooting Stars -  tris-everdeen99 - T, one-shot - “I need you because I love you.” She’s going, and he needs to stop her. Before it’s too late. Before she’s gone. Dramione oneshot, written for my amazing best friend - Virg0Luck - on her 13th birthday.

A Series of Unfortunate Events - Geeky-DMHG-Fan - K, 22 chapters - Set after DH and will completely ignore the Epilogue. Hermione keeps running into Draco Malfoy. Will anything other than disaster come from these chance encounters?

Better Late - EternalOphelia - T, one-shot - [OneShot] HGDM. A songfic to the song Cry, Cry, Cry by Johnny Cash. After the war. Hermione and friends live together. She dates often but, even though she sleeps with him on occasion, refuses to get close to Draco. RR!

Thanks to everyone who submitted recs!

[tragedyplagued]

✿ [look. I'm a sleeby fool and too tired to send multiple like heathen bls just... some good stuff for some of our kids. It what they deserve ]

there’s gonna be so many kisses and hugs || @loyaltysworn

31. hot steamy kiss

     look, if they were better employees they likely wouldn’t be here right now. and yet, they somehow managed to remain alpha team even as they hid in the supply closet. hunk pressed joseph against the door and roughly crashed their lips together. there was a desire he had trouble shaking, overwhelming him with a lust. he pressed their bodies as close together as they could be, tongue sliding between joseph’s lips and grinding his hips against joseph’s until moans escaped, caught by the other’s mouth. more. hunk wanted all that joseph was willing to give.

2. all over kiss

     if there was one thing leon was, it was a sappy bastard. he was overwhelmed with emotion as he looked at namiko in the afterglow, so very in love with that sweet face and that soft, sleepy smile. leon couldn’t help himself. the kisses started on namiko’s forehead, trailing down the side of his face to his cheek bone and then his nose. a kiss pressed to his lips and a smile against them. “i love you,” leon spoke softly before kissing at his jaw, then his neck and down his torso. he stopped at nami’s stomach, perhaps getting a little too emotional as tears threatened to spill over. “i love you so much.”

48. unreciprocated hug

     it was absolutely nothing against namiko. wesker just. . . well he didn’t even have words for it. it happened again. and he knew he looked upset and hurt and. . . and, while he really just wanted his mother that was impossible. what was possible was finding comfort with the one person alive that he truly trusted.

     he flinched when namiko touched him. he hated himself for it. he hated the sick feeling in his stomach when nami’s arms wrapped around him and he hated the fact he couldn’t bring himself to hug back. the panic finally set in fully. he could hear nami purring in attempts to calm him down but it was ineffective. there were a lot of tears. there was a vulnerability only namiko would have the displeasure of seeing.

     wesker couldn’t hug back. he couldn’t find comfort in the physical touch. but at least he felt safe. he felt like he wouldn’t do something that would upset his friends or namiko.

21. upside down kiss

     look. . . look. sometimes you just end up hanging upside down from the fire escape. it happens. probably. the good news was that they caught the bastard they were after! that was all that mattered! probably. 

     jonah rolled his eyes as he approached christopher, the man was unbelievable. how did he even manage to get stuck like that?

     “honeybun,” christopher whined uselessly. “wait come here, i wanna try something.”

     and jonah knew exactly what it was, he also knew if he didn’t do it christopher was going to pout for a week about it. or at least until jonah fucked his throat so hard the little bitch couldn’t talk for a week. and he wasn’t sure he’d have the energy for that tonight or tomorrow. so he settled for approaching and giving his face a gentle caress, or trying to. this position was awkward. lips met, eyes closed and. . . okay, jonah had to admit it was different but nice.

     when he finally pulled back christopher sighed. and grinned. “my spidey sense is tingling if you know what i mean.”

     “bye.” jonah said, immediately walking away from his nonsense despite the protest and pleading for help. of course jonah would send another officer to help in a few minutes but for now? let the shithead suffer.

65. “don’t let go” hug

     leon was shaking. the pregnancy-- it. . . it had to be happening. five tests couldn’t be wrong. but it couldn’t be. they had been so careful, they took every precaution, how was this happening? leon was terrified as he pulled them from his bag to show namiko. he didn’t seem angry. he was reacting better than leon thought he would. thank god.

      he wrapped trembling arms around namiko and sobbed, clinging tight to him. what were they going to do? their parents were going to fucking kill them for this. “don’t let go,” leon whimpered. “please don’t let go.”

     “i won’t.” namiko assured.

22. spin the bottle kiss

     was it really any surprise that the dumbass trouble group was playing spin the bottle like mature adults? no. absolutely not. and it really was no surprise that there was a stupid smile on his face when the bottle landed on piers. finn leaned over, hand placed on piers’ cheek before stealing a slow, lingering kiss. gods, he loved this game.

[jiminandlemonade-blog]

I want to be the one you write your love songs about - Part 12

Yoongi.    

Fluff series

New to the series? Part 1  

Missed the last chapter? Part 11

Comeback flashed by. It was hands down the quickest 3 months of your life. You got to experience places and activities you never thought you would in your life.  

It goes without saying, it wasn't the easiest 3 months of your life however. ARMY detectives found out your name, where you lived and also that you worked for BigHit. They found it hilarious however that you were the person behind BigHit's twitter account and you were the ones feeding them on a daily basis. They appreciated that.

At first, it was hard. You could see a fan walk up to you and didn't know whether they were going to hug you and hurl abuse in your face. 99% of the time, everyone was lovely and thanked you for making Yoongi happy. That 1%, it stayed with you a lot. It was the first time you had ever been smacked in the face but thankfully, Taehyung was there and set the 'fan' straight. When Yoongi found out, all hell broke loose and he even announced his disdain at one of the events. There hadn't been anymore slapping incidents, thank God.

But along with new fan experiences, you had the paparazzi to deal with. Good lord. Now they were a challenge. They somehow knew BTS every move and therefore, yours and Yoongi's. You are grateful for the paparazzi though as you get some amazing photos, both in a hilarious and romantic sense. As soon as you got home, you got one of them put onto a canvas. Yoongi and yourself had your arms intertwined and Yoongi was wiping some ice cream from the corner of your mouth with his thumb and the remainder of his hand resting on your jaw and he was looking at you with so much affection.

"Do you love her?" One of the paparazzi members shouted. "Yes, with all of my heart!" He answered back, beaming. That was another amazing memory that you would never forget.

You and the other members grew closer. You beat Jungkook in bowling and you will never let him live it down. It wasn't just any bowling, it was roller disco bowling. Considering he was supposed to be the golden maknae, he was shocking at rollerblading. Taehyung and yourself went to a museum when the others didn't want too. You didn't want to either but he had really supported yours and Yoongi's relationship and you wanted to show him you were grateful. You actually enjoyed it and dragged Yoongi to go with you the next day. Jin wanted to snap your hand off every time you came in with coffee and cake, it was just like back home but this time, your cake was homemade in your hotel apartment and he lived for it. "You're a better chef than me" he would always say. You even baked all of the cakes and patisseries with him for the comeback afterparty.. Even though you specifically said no alcohol in the desserts, Jin didn't care. Your and Jimin's relationship had always been very strong but getting to know him for who he truly was made you value him even more. He was a lot more nervous and timid than you ever thought and you felt like his big sister and would help him as much as possible. Namjoon and Hoseok liked to tease yours and Yoongi's relationship so you decided to get even.. What happens in Asia, stays in Asia.

The memories with you and Yoongi were the most special though. You finally got to listen to the songs he wrote about you. Ones that were full of heart ache, unreciprocated love, the fear of losing you, falling in love with his best friend but also joyous ones of falling love with his best friend, finding out that his love was reciprocated all along and overall being in love. You laughed, smiled, cried, wanted to hold him, wanted to shake him and wanted to kiss him all at the same time whilst listening to the album when it was released.

Every member had their eyes darting you as you were listening to their songs, wanting to know everything that you thought about it. But it was always Yoongi's songs and the lyrics that he had wrote that gave you a sparkle in your eye and everyone picked up on it.  

You and Yoongi also had some rather 'special' adventures of your own. You had no idea whether it was because you weren't in Korea or the fact you were with him constantly but you had sex.. A lot. In many different places. You had sex in the dressing rooms, concert hall seats, back of taxis, other member's beds.. Many times.  

But even if that hadn't happened, you would have been grateful to have been with him and the experience truly meant something to you.  

*Present day*

"I'm so glad we're going on our first holiday Yoongi" you smiled, packing your bags with lots of summer clothes. "Sun, sea, se--" Yoongi paused. "Excuse me? What was that?" Taehyung laughed, popping his head around the door. "Sentimental times..." Yoongi gulped, feeling embarrassed.

"Y/N, I want to give you something" Taehyung said, putting his hands out as if he needed an invitation to come into the bedroom. "Come in you idiot" you giggled, walking over and grabbing his hand that was out infront. "What do you want to give me?" You asked confused, still packing your suitcase and throwing Yoongi his socks and underwear that he was adamant was going in your case.

"Um, I have all of my recording equipment in my case.. I need the other essentials in yours" he stated, throwing them back to you. "Taehyung, tell him. He's adament that he's taking all of the recording equipment for if he gets an idea. He said he wont use it during the day and only during the night if he gets an idea but you know what he's like!" You moaned, shaking your head.  

Taehyung looked at Yoongi as if he was stupid. "Yoongi, you're going on holiday for 2 weeks with Y/N.. The actual love of your life and then you're back for a week and then the process for our next comeback starts.. Seriously, spend some time with her" he demanded, trying to pull Yoongi's mic out of the suitcase. "I'll only take my keyboard and laptop, deal?" He questioned, looking in your direction. You laughed and huffed at the same time. "Deal".

"Sorry Taehyung" you gasped, realising he was waiting for you to finish your flirting with Yoongi. "This is for you" he said, giving you a black bag with pale grey tissue paper inside.

"What's this?" You asked confused, staring at the outside of the bag and not noticing any logo. "Just open it" he laughed. "Wait Taehyung.. you better not have bought me anything" you eyes rolled, knowing how much he liked to treat you. "Honestly, it was nothing Y/N. I asked Yoongi if he thought it would be okay with you and he said yes so if anything blame him" Taehyung rolled off.  

You had no idea what it could be. "I'm scared to look. What's it for?" You asked, being a baby. "Just open it!" Yoongi demanded, throwing a pair of his socks at you.  

You gasped as you peaked inside after taking out the grey paper. "WHY IS THERE A GUCCI BOX IN THIS BAG KIM TAEHYUNG?!" You screamed, feeling your heart beat. "ARE- ARE THESE THE SANDALS*?!" You asked, referring to the Gucci sliders you said you liked when you, Yoongi and Taehyung were shopping together in Tokyo.

He didn't respond. You pulled out the box and immediately dropped it when you saw it was the sliders you picked out. "KIM TAEHYUNG" you shouted, not knowing whether you were more mad or happy. You jumped on top of him giving him a huge hug.

"I am right here you know, get off my girlfriend, excuse me, TAE, seriously, Y/N, TAE!" Yoongi kept shouting as you and Taehyung were hugging on the bed and Tae pretending to kiss you and be all close. "Yoongi, chill man" he said in English, causing an eruption of laughter in the room.  

"I guess um, I'll leave you both too it?" Taehyung said, getting up and walking to the door. "Wait!" You let out, running over to him. "Why did you do this?" You asked, face blushing as you couldn't believe he had done this for you. "For this exact reaction now. Yoongi buys you things a lot, even if you tell him not too. You're like my little sister and I wanted to say thank you for everything you have done for us. This is only a small token to show how grateful I am. I'm expecting this reaction another 5 times.." He trailed off.  

Another 5 times? "THEY BETTER NOT HAVE!" You shouted, as Taehyung ran away squealing like a child. "Yoongi, have they all bought me presents?" You asked, tears filling your eyes. "Don't cry Y/N" he laughed. "They wanted to show how much they appreciate you and the thank you for everything you have done during comeback season. I would have said no if you were upset-" you cut him off. "I'm not upset Yoongi. They're like my brothers. I don't want them to feel as though they need to buy me presents". "It's not that Y/N, they truly love you like I do.. Well hopefully not in the way I do" he smiled, kissing your forehead as you sat on the bed.  

A few minutes had passed and your suitcase and hand luggage were finally ready, as was Yoongi's. "I'm ready!" You beamed, excited for your holiday. "You're not.." Yoongi stated, looking at you. "I'm only going to the airport Yoongi" you blunty mumbled, slightly miffed at the fact he was picking up on your grey sweats and oversized tshirt to travel in.

He laughed. "No, you know I love that look on you" he said matter of factly, knowing exactly what you thought he was making a dig at. "Thank you" he smiled, pulling something from inside of his wardrobe and giving it to you.  

Your eyes started to fill once more. "Who is this from?" You asked. "It's from me" he stated, eyes glistening. This time, it was in a royal blue bag. "This was Jimin's idea by the way, he thought it would be funny for you to have no idea what was inside" Yoongi explained. "Well that little bugger is going to get it when we get back" you stated, causing Yoongi to laugh.

Once more, you gasped. "Yoongi, what the hell?! I never asked for this**" you breathed heavily, pulling out a Gucci bag from the duster jacket. "I thought you could use it as your bag for the Maldives? Y/N, without your influence, we would never have had this success with our music Y/N. Not only that. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me. I know you don't care about presents but I want to treat you." He rhymed off as if it was rehearsed.

You kissed him passionately. "I'm not kissing you because of this by the way.. It was what you said" you stated, cutting the kiss half way through. Before you knew it, the kissing turned into more than anticipated

Yoongi's phone lit up multiple times.

Namjoon: Seriously, your car is here. Hurry up and just finish already

Jimin: They may be small, but I still have ear hyung

Jungkook: Note to self: Buy your girlfriend a bag.

Taehyung: She better not be wearing the shoes

Hoseok: I'm not even home and I know what you're doing. Tell Jin to stop giving me running commentary on your sex life please.

Seokjin: And I thought she was only good at making mini patisseries..

Inspiration:

*: https://www.gucci.com/uk/en_gb/pr/women/womens-shoes/womens-sandals/fringe-leather-horsebit-slide-p-517017C9D009110?position=4&listName=PGEU4Cols&categoryPath=Women/Womens-Shoes/Womens-Slides-Thongs

**: https://www.gucci.com/uk/en_gb/pr/men/mens-bags/mens-suitcases-duffle-bags/soft-gg-supreme-duffle-bag-with-web-p-480500K9RLT8855?position=25&listName=PGEU4Cols&categoryPath=Women/Womens-Lifestyle-Bags-Luggage

Part 13

MASTERLIST

[5hfanfiction]

Hard Feelings/Loveless

Final Chapter

* * *

“I light all the candles, cut flowers for all my rooms.”

* * *

It’s Camila’s last night in LA, and of all the honesty she’s displayed this week, the purest confession she can give right now is this: she’s fucking glad she’s done having to see Fifth Harmony.

Sorry, scratch that: she’s fucking glad she’s done having to see Lauren Jauregui.

Her past few rehearsals have been awkward, taking the stage right after the aforementioned girl group. Lauren always tries to catch her attention before Camila goes on, but the girl simply stuffs her earphones in and struts past, crossing the barrier of security guards that somehow seem to always form in front of Lauren.

She knows it’s brutal, but Camila has come to the conclusion that she simply can’t be friends with Lauren anymore- not until her heart heals from all these cracks. Everyone knows that trying to be friends with someone you’re in love with is a bad idea, the number one way to get your heart broken over and over again. And Camila will be damned if she lets that happen again.

Dinah and Normani, of course, refuse to let Camila have her peace.

“She’s just being stupid.”

“Seriously, if you told her how you really feel she’d drop Ty in a second.”

“Deadass, Lauren would-“

“She didn’t, though.”

Camila sighs, crossing her arms as Dinah and Normani chow down on their slices of pizza, balancing the plates on the bed. The two girls abruptly stop chewing, raising a brow for Camila to continue.

“She chose Ty over me already.”

“That’s not the same, though!” Normani points out. “She thought you just wanted to have dinner as friends-“

“Lauren explicitly said Ty was wary about us hanging out because he’s worried about us dating again or something behind his back. If she really had feelings for me, she would’ve shut him down and had dinner with me.”

A moment passes, and Camila adds, “Even on a best friend level, she should’ve shut him down. What happened to being an independent woman who doesn’t abide by her man’s rules?”

Dinah and Normani shift their eyes away awkwardly, slowly chewing on their pizza in deep thought.

“What? So now I’m not allowed to be bitter?”

“Mila-“

“I get it,” Camila sighs, blowing a piece of hair out of her face. “I’m overreacting, Lauren didn’t mean to hurt me, blah blah blah, right?”

“Not what we were going to say,” Normani forces a sympathetic smile, putting her hand over Camila’s. Her eyes slide to Dinah suggestively, urging the girl to take over.

“Mila, I think Lauren is just…being stupid without realizing it, you know? She hurt you, she knows that but…I think part of her is almost scared to be lonely? And she isn’t picking up on your signals, so she thinks Ty is her only chance at a relationship right now.”

Camila gives her a look.

“I’m not defending her, don’t get me wrong. I just think that if you told her…I think she’d choose you.”

“She didn’t even choose me as a friend-“

“Camila,” Dinah reiterates, raising a brow. “Trust me, won’t you? Just tell her.”

Camila focuses on the covers of her bed. To tell Lauren would be embarking on real territory unknown, turning back time to when she was still a member of Fifth Harmony, when Lauren would admit her feelings but Camila wouldn’t reciprocate, when Camila would admit her feelings and Lauren wouldn’t reciprocate. It’s been years of the same pattern, yet Camila is still afraid to put her heart out on the line; she’s done it before, and every time her heart becomes mangled; two brutal hands ripping it apart.

To be honest, Camila is tired of trusting Lauren with her heart. It’s starting to seem less and less worth it with each futile outcome.

“Hey, Spacey,” Normani snaps in front of Camila’s face.

The girl shakes her head, apologizing meekly. When she sees the two girls before her exchange suggestive looks-all perked brows and apprehensive smirks-Camila shivers. “What? What is it?”

Normani bites her lip. “I think we need a dance party.”

Camila looks at Dinah for an explanation, but the tan-skinned girl merely shrugs, chuckling.

“I’m really-? Not in the mood-?”

“Nonono,” Normani slides off the bed and pulls her phone out of her pocket, a glint in her eye. “I think you know these ones.” 

Suddenly, the opening notes to a very familiar song hit Camila like a bullet to the chest. If it weren’t for Normani already shaking her hips and eliciting chuckles from Dinah, Camila would be seconds away from puking right now.

“Guys, I’m really not-“

But Dinah shushes her, pulling her off the bed by the wrist. Before anyone can blink, these three girls-past and present members of Fifth Harmony-are dancing and singing their hearts out to the girl group’s very first debut album.

In fact, they dance and strain their voices to their first and second album. Not the third, though, for obvious reasons.

That night, Camila is somehow so content with the night that she almost feels high, feels drunk on her happiness with her current friendships, with her current choices. 

And so she pulls out her phone, dials a number she knows will only echo a voicemail, and when it does she speaks the biggest truth she knows right now, in this stuffy hotel room.

“Hey Lauren, It’s me, Camil-…Um, well, I guess you kind of obviously know it’s me. Anyway, I just…really need to tell you something and…I’m too much of a pussy to say it to your face so…here goes: I-…I have feelings for you. I’m-…You know what, Laur? I’m in love with you. And I’m not sorry about that, I’m not sorry that once again I’m the one demonstrating unreciprocated feelings. I think that’s why you cancelling on me for Ty hurt so much, but even on a friend level that was-…Look, I just needed you to know, okay? Please don’t talk to me about this; don’t text, don’t call. I want us to end on a good note- and this is it. I’m owning up to my shit for once. Anyway, yeah, that’s it. I love you, Lauren, but I’ll find a way to move on like I always do. I wish you all the best.”

She falls asleep feeling ten times lighter that night.

* * *

Her phone has been off for the better half of the day, and she only turns it on so that her manager can inform her on what time she’ll be conducting interviews with visiting radio hosts. She doesn’t dare answer her phone when it vibrates with a ringtone set specifically for a certain girl, doesn’t even check her messages. She’s not going to bother with Lauren- not anymore.

Of course, wingman 1 and 2 refuse to let that happen. Normani and Dinah, too, have been blowing up Camila’s phone. She lets them go to voicemail, too, but eventually they stop her just as she’s walking out of her dressing room.

“You’ve got some balls, Cabello,” Normani’s heel clack against the tiled floor, edging Camila back into the room from the doorway. “You have any idea how many times we’ve tried calling? Texting?”

“I dunno,” Camila shrugs. “Twelve?”

“This isn’t a joke, Mila,” Dinah sighs, shutting the door behind her. “Lauren’s-“

“I really don’t wanna hear it. I said my peace; it’s over with.”

“But it’s not over with-“

“Guys,” Camila smiles- genuinely smiles for the first time these past two weeks. “I love you both, and I know you’re trying to help both of us, but there’s nothing there for us romantically. I know that; I’ve accepted that. I just want to move on from this, okay?”

“But there isn’t-“ Dinah jabs Normani in the ribs, shutting her up mid-sentence. She shakes her head, raises her brow until Normani gets the message.

Camila shakes her head. “This again, seriously? What is it?”

“Nothing,” The two girls say simultaneously. Dinah takes over, “Really, Mila, it’s nothing.” She drags Normani out the door, but Camila is still whirling. “Guys-“

They run down the hall, the lights of which begin flashing. Despite Fifth Harmony’s impending call-time, Camila runs after the girls before being hit with something really solid.

She blinks. Oh god.

“I-“

“It’s no problem, Camila.”

This is the dude. This is the fucking dude. Lauren’s boyfriend. What’s his name? Dammit. Ty-?

“I’m really sorry-“

“It’s no problem,” He smiles, shrugging solemnly. “I mean that both ways, too.”

Camila looks at him with confusion. “Wh-“

“It’s no problem,” He pats Camila on the shoulder. “You should probably go after your girl.”

Camila apologizes again, blinking a thousand times before nodding and running off. She thinks she hears wrong, thinks Ty said “girls” and not “girl.” That’s the only logical explanation, right? 

Stupid. Camila sighs when she reaches Normani and Dinah, the two girls putting in their earplugs. 

“Guys-“

But the two girls exchange a look and waltz onto stage, the lights low on them as they take a strong stance. Camila’s heart shakes, fearing the sight of-

Thankfully, though, the brunette is already on stage, too, far from Camila’s reach. Ally squeezes Camila’s arm as she passes by. The lights flicker three times before a dark, bumping intro begins.

Camila really doesn’t have the stomach to watch the girl she just confessed her love to perform, so she makes a turn to leave but-

“Everyone comes with scars, but you can love them away. I told you that I wasn’t perfect, you told me the same.”

Okay. Weird. Weird that they’re opening with the chorus to a song from an album no one likes remembering. Weird that now that they’re transitioning into Dope, another song from an album no one likes remembering. Weird. Fucking weird.

Also fucking weird? That Lauren is suddenly feet away from Camila, staring into her eyes and singing. Even more fucking weird? That now Lauren’s pulling Camila onto stage, still singing into the mic-

It’s here where she comes back down to earth. Lauren. Lauren’s hand still grasping her own. Lauren singing. Lauren singing to her. Lauren glancing back at the audience. The audience staring at her. Staring at Lauren. The rest of Fifth Harmony staring at them both, too.

Briefly, Camila tries to backpedal, shaking her head in fear, but Lauren holds on tight to her hand, grounds her right here, to this moment, this stage, here.

“I don’t know what else to say but you’re pretty fucking dope,” It’s not “I love you”, but maybe it says enough. 

The song ends all too quickly, and suddenly the lights are up, Camila feeling herself burn beneath them, like she might catch fire. The rest of the girls walk towards the back of the stage, getting into another pose, but Lauren stays with Camila, center stage.

She makes sure her mic is away when she asks it. “You love me?”

Camila stutters for a few moments, looking out at the crowd. But she looks back at Lauren, at her goofy smiles, and rolls her eyes, dragging a hand across her face. “Yeah,” She chuckles. “I love you.”

“Good,” Lauren’s eyes are brighter than the stage lights. “Because I love you too.”

She doesn’t even realize Lauren’s lips are on her own until the crowd emits an ear-shattering symphony of screams- that’s how natural kissing Lauren is. They were always meant to fit together, weren’t they?

As Camila pulls back, staring into Lauren’s eyes, acknowledging her all-too-wide-smile, she thinks:

Yeah. Maybe they were.

It ends like this: the two of them are grinning at each other like kids who both share a dirty secret; the lights flicker, and suddenly the intro to Camila’s favorite song from her least favorite Fifth Harmony album is playing, which-again-is weird because Fifth Harmony haven’t played this song in forever; but she looks back to Lauren, who’s raising a brow, then glances at Dinah and Normani, the two of them winking simultaneously, and suddenly a mic is being handed to Camila, and Lauren is mouthing you remember the choreo, right? And Camila does, and the five original members of Fifth Harmony are dancing together again for the first time in a year.

It ends like this: Camila does not rejoin Fifth Harmony, despite the thousands of rumors clogging her Twitter feed a few hours following the show. After hearing a disgruntled sigh, Lauren rolls over in their shared bed, eyes squinting at the light of Camila’s phone. Without saying a word, she seizes the phone from Camila’s hands, tucks it beneath her pillow, and moves closer to the girl.

“They-“

Lauren shushes her. “I’ll tweet something out tomorrow.”

“But-“

She shushes her again. “Tomorrow.”

It ends like this: Lauren and Camila kiss until their lungs burn and their eyes shut indefinitely. They fall asleep, limbs braided together, probably sharing the exact same dream.

Upon overcoming the Hard Feelings:

1.) Fall in love again.

2.) Accept it all.

3.) Sleep for longer than four hours- for the first time in a year.

Camila does all three.

[doctorcarlislecullen]

Hi! How do you think Esme would play into the whole "shape-shifter imprints on Carlisle" situation, assuming she was still in the picture? I'm curious.

Before I get started, I just want to link you to this post from panlight’s ‘Keeping Up with the Cullens’ blog. She basically answered the same question.

Canonically, I really don’t think Carlisle would ever leave Esme. No matter how potent and “right” an imprint may be. Now, that isn’t to say he wouldn’t be remorseful. I definitely think there would be some guilt there, because God only knows how heartbreaking it must be for a shape-shifter to have to stifle their impassioned feelings and settle for friendship with the one person they’re destined to be with. But Carlisle has already found true love with Esme, he has no desire to be with anyone else. With Esme in the picture, a romantic relationship between Carlisle and a shape-shifter would never happen.

But, if Esme were to somehow leave the picture… things may be different. This is going to get angsty, so I’ll put it under the cut.

So let’s say a shape-shifter imprints on Carlisle while he’s with Esme. He has to set them in their place, gently of course, and make sure that they know their relationship will never be anything but platonic. The shape-shifter will undoubtedly struggle with this dynamic, but Carlisle’s their soulmate, and if the only way to ensure his presence in their life is to be his loyal friend, then that’s what they’ll be for him. It’s better than not having Carlisle at all.

But it isn’t easy. When he kisses Esme, the shape-shifter has to look away and stiffen their jaw to battle the swell of tormenting emotions. And Edward is always watching them with pitiful eyes that do nothing to help their constant state of unsettlement. It’s unbelievably painful; the rejection pricks at their skin like ravens at a carcass, an emptiness in their chest gaping like a baby bird’s mouth awaiting the feeding of its mother who will never return to the nest.

Sometimes it almost isn’t worth it. Sometimes Bella’s bound off the cliff doesn’t seem so incredulous. Even in sleep there is pain; deriding dreams of golden, love-struck eyes directed at the shape-shifter, only to wake up to the dark and feel their whole frame trembling with throat scratching sobs. Sometimes death seems like the only way to be free from the burden of unreciprocated love. 

But then Carlisle will put a hand on their shoulder, or ask them how their day is going, or smile a kind and comforting and perfect smile. And then they have to stay. Because God, not even in Heaven could someone see that kind of beauty.

Eventually, after about a decade or two, it doesn’t sting as much. Watching Carlisle stroke a strand of hair behind Esme’s ear doesn’t make the shape-shifter’s chest clench. Seeing the way his eyes dance across her face in adoration doesn’t make their own eyes burn with longing. They still want him, they will always want him, but they’ve grown content with being nothing but a life long companion. And it’s okay, especially on the nights where Carlisle confides in them about dark times from his past, whispering things to the shape-shifter that he has never uttered to anyone else before. It’s fine when Carlisle spends time in the woods with them, a smooth flow in their conversation as they talk about nothing in particular. Sometimes the shape-shifter sees wonder in those golden eyes, maybe a slight hint of desire, but it never lasts. It’s usually followed by Carlisle insisting he has to go be with his wife.

But then the unexpected happens. A tragic turn of events, and Esme is gone forever. And no one talks about it. It hurts too much. 

Carlisle’s even more soft-spoken than before. But his voice, though quiet, is no longer tender. There’s an edge to it that keeps people from even thinking about speaking her name to him. So no one tries to comfort him, and things return back to “normal”. Normal in the sense that they fall into their usual routines, just without Esme.

It isn’t until years later that he finally talks about her to the shape-shifter, about how he misses her, about how there is an engulfing hollowness in his chest. The shifter never says anything to him, they just let him talk, cry, scream. Whatever he needs. Their leisure talks in the woods become venting sessions.

It takes a decade for the tenderness in his voice to return.

Another year later, when the shape-shifter engages in witty banter with him, a genuine smile spreads across his face for the first time since he lost his wife.

It’s a slow process, and even once Carlisle finally lets himself be happy with the shape-shifter and allows love to overcome him again, there is still a part of him that is devoted to Esme. It will always be that way. But that hollow feeling in his chest has been refilled with something pleasant, and whenever the shape-shifter kisses him he can feel that pleasant something radiate throughout his whole body. And that gaping emptiness the shape-shifter once felt now overflows with a seeping sweetness that drips from their chest, churning a stew of emotion in their belly every time Carlisle presses his forehead against their’s and gazes into their eyes.

They were destined to be together. Maybe the universe just wanted to wait until they could match each other’s heartbreak, so that they could find solace within one another. Maybe they were meant to not only love each other, but to also rebuild each other.