#can you imagine if we got ANY follow up on that last conversation between them. even just Edér commenting on it

[herearedragons]

the thing about writing Edér stuff is that nine times out of ten Elafa Maesy WILL be haunting the narrative in SOME way but not in the way Deadfire tries to make her

[ohimsummer]

✎ . . .❝ WHO DID IT? ❞

—poly!satosugu xmas shenanigans, satosugu x reader, justice for satoru he just wanted to make candy canes !

The day was going well. Splendid, even. It’s almost Christmas, and the chilly weather makes sure to remind you, flakes of snow peppering the ground and crunching beneath your boots. You’ve completed the task of some nice, last minute shopping for your husbands’ students, picking up some coffee orders, not forgetting a few of Gojo’s favorite desserts from that same coffee shop, and then you were back home in no time. Walking inside, you’re engulfed with a feeling of warmth and coziness, the smell of sugar with a hint of peppermint permeating in the air. Your call of ‘I’m back!’ suspiciously goes unanswered, but you assume your husbands are either distracted or out of earshot.

The honeyed scent of sugar grows stronger as you enter the kitchen, setting bags of gifts and groceries on the floors and countertops. Speaking of countertops…your brows knit, mouth agape in absolute shock as you really take in the center of what was once gorgeous marble. You hear Gojo’s boisterous laughter in the living room, Geto’s faint conversation underneath, and make a beeline straight for them. Upon your arrival, Geto spots you first, and the wide-eyed glance he shares between you and Gojo is very telling.

It’s a simple question.“Who did it?”

And yet getting an answer, at least from one of them, is like pulling teeth.

Satoru halts mid-sentence, turning to beam innocently at you, ignoring the bitter look in your eyes, out for blood. If Suguru’s simmering glare at his idiot counterpart is any indication, then you’ve already gotten your answer.

Said idiot is so good at playing dumb, as if something like this isn’t obviously his doing. “What’s wrong, baby?”

A small breath of exasperation leaves Geto as he takes in the interaction. He thinks Gojo is really in for it this time, he can tell by your body language alone that you’ve got some choice words for this man. Maybe you’ll actually kill him this time. Geto chuckles a good riddance, so low even he can barely hear it. Can’t afford to show too much amusement, lest he get caught in the whirlwind of your fury.

Your foot taps, impatient. Brand new countertops. Not even a month old, they told you to consider them as part of an “extra early Christmas gift”. Ruined with large, faded, circular marks right in the center, on display, and faintly reeking of peppermint.

Suguru grows hot as your furious gaze shifts to him, finger with a mind of its own as it points to Gojo. “He wanted to make candy ca–“

“What the hell, I thought we had an agreement?”

“I’m not taking the fall for this with you over that dumbass idea.”

“Dumbass? You were on board when I suggested it!”

“And that was my mistake for assuming you’d done more than five minutes of research and knew what you were doing.”

“Well, excuse me for trying to get in the spirit of Christm– ow!”

The sharp pinch on his ear leaves Satoru yelping like a hurt dog, stumbling along as you drag him into the kitchen, and Geto takes extreme joy in the small snippets of Gojo’s excuses as he fails to plead his case.

“Baby, my extremely beautiful, lovely, gorgeous wife, I just miscalculated a little, a tiny mist–“

“Mistake?” With your incredulous tone, one can only imagine the look on your face right now. “Look what you did to the countertop, Satoru, don’t come in my damn kitchen tryna be a professional chef or candy maker or whatever!”

A groan. “Technically,” and Suguru cringes immediately, head sinking back on the couch. “It’s all of our kitchen.”

The immediate silence afterward is heavy enough to weigh down a bear. Followed shortly by Satoru’s meek “Ya know what, you’re so right, baby. Your kitchen.”

[imaginesforfandom]

Beskar Hearts

hiii!! i'm so sorry for taking so long to write this request :(

Din Djarin x fem!Reader

She/her pronouns used!

Anon request :)

Summary: After a long and grueling bounty hunt, the reader tries to engage Din Djarin in conversation, only to be met with coldness. Frustrated and hurt, the reader demands to be dropped off at the next destination. Din, realizing the gravity of his actions, begins to reveal his true feelings for her. Meanwhile, Grogu plays a pivotal role in bringing them closer together.

Beskar Hearts

The Razor Crest was a sanctuary of silence and shadows, the only sound being the hum of the ship's engines. You sat in the cockpit, eyes glancing out into the abyss of space. Din was seated beside you, his helmet obscuring his face as usual. The mission had been taxing, physically and mentally, and you had hoped for some comfort, some connection, but Din had been distant.

You took a deep breath, deciding to try once more. “It was a tough mission, huh? That last target almost got the jump on us.”

Din grunted in response, his fingers tapping away at the console. You frowned, the ache of isolation settling deeper into your bones. “Din, talk to me. We’ve been through so much together. Why are you shutting me out?”

He didn’t even turn his head. “I’m busy.”

Frustration bubbled up within you. “Busy? Busy ignoring me? We’re partners, Din. Or at least, I thought we were.”

His shoulders tensed, but he said nothing. The silence was deafening, a chasm opening between you. You stood, unable to contain your anger and hurt any longer. “If this is how it’s going to be, just drop me off at the next planet. I can’t keep doing this.”

Din’s head snapped towards you, surprise evident even through the helmet. “What?”

“You heard me,” you said, voice trembling. “I’m done.”

You stormed out of the cockpit, retreating to your quarters. Tears stung your eyes as you collapsed onto the small bed, emotions swirling. You had given so much, endured so much, and now it felt like you were nothing more than an unwanted burden.

Din sat frozen in the cockpit, your words echoing in his mind. He hadn’t meant to be cold, hadn’t realized how deeply his silence had cut you. The weight of his armor felt heavier, the confines of his helmet suffocating. He stared at the closed door you had walked through, heart pounding.

He had always been careful, always kept people at a distance. It was safer that way. But you had slipped through his defenses, had become someone he couldn’t imagine being without. The thought of you leaving was like a punch to the gut.

A soft cooing sound drew his attention. Grogu, the small green child who had become a part of their unconventional family, toddled into the cockpit, looking up at Din with wide, curious eyes. Grogu reached out with his tiny hand, patting Din’s leg as if sensing his turmoil.

Din knelt down, placing a gentle hand on Grogu’s head. “She’s upset,” he murmured. Grogu tilted his head, his large eyes seeming to understand more than a child should.

“I have to make this right,” Din said, more to himself than to Grogu. He stood, determination coursing through him. He made his way to your quarters, Grogu following close behind. Hesitating only for a moment, Din knocked. “Can I come in?”

There was no response. He took a deep breath and entered, finding you sitting on the edge of the bed, eyes red-rimmed. Grogu waddled over to you, climbing onto the bed and curling up beside you, his presence a small comfort.

“I’m sorry,” Din said, the words awkward and heavy. “I didn’t realize how much I was hurting you.”

You looked up at him, pain and anger in your gaze. “Sorry isn’t enough, Din. I can’t keep being treated like I don’t matter.”

“You do matter,” he said, voice softer. “More than you know.”

He stepped closer, though he kept his helmet on, the visor hiding his eyes. “I’m not good at this,” he admitted. “At talking, at… feelings. But you’re important to me. More important than anyone else has been.”

You blinked, surprised at the vulnerability in his voice. “Then why push me away?”

“Because I’m scared,” he said simply. “I’m scared of losing you, of getting too close and then losing everything. It’s easier to push you away than to face that fear.”

Tears welled up again, but this time they were different. You stood, closing the distance between you. “You won’t lose me, Din. But you have to let me in. We’re a team, remember?”

He nodded, reaching out to cup your cheek with his gloved hand. “I’m sorry,” he repeated. “I’ll try to be better. I don’t want you to leave.”

You leaned into his touch, the warmth of his hand grounding you. “I don’t want to leave. I just want to know that I matter to you.”

“You do,” he whispered, pulling you into a tender embrace. “You matter more than anything.”

Grogu cooed softly, nuzzling against you, his innocent presence a balm to both your wounded hearts. In that moment, the walls between you crumbled, and you found solace in each other’s arms. The journey ahead would still be fraught with challenges, but now, you knew you wouldn’t face them alone. Together, with Grogu by your side, you were stronger, and together, you would find your way.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

again, i apologize for having this so late!! thank you so much for the request as well, it really helps getting the creative juices flowing lol. i hope you love this as much as i did writing it!

[touchtheinvisiblestars]

Imagine Benny when he realises Pope called you in help on a mission

"Absolutely not, no." Benny directed his displeasure towards Santi. Knowing this was his doing.

"Ben, please hear me out. I can help," you tried to intercept his anger before he aimed it at Santi. "I've been down here for six months an-"

"Benny I-"

"You what? You've had her here for six months and you didn't tell me." Benny bypassed you, shouting across the room to Santi.

"That's a dick move Santi," Will shook his head, swiftly exiting the room, shortly followed by Frankie and Tom.

"Look, if you guys needed to be involved sooner I would have told you. But if she had regular contact with you it would not have been good for her."

"And what does that mean exactly? You've had her doing what?"

"Santi, please," you tried pleading with him to not dig himself a bigger hole, and you for that matter.

You felt incredibly guilty. But it was an opportunity you couldn't pass up. A chance to go solo and actually try your hand at being right in the middle of the warzone. It what you wanted but working with the Miller brothers had meant you were kept in a kind of bubble. Will because he knew how big of a soft spot his brother had for you, and Benny because of his undeniable crush he had on you. Santi knew this and approached you separately, he probably knew you'd jump at the idea of being pretty much in charge of you own operation. You had kind of used each other if you really thought about it.

"Y/N you weren't even supposed to be back yet. Did they let you go early?" Santi turned his full attention to you, ignoring Benny completely, you felt almost like he was reprimanding you.

"No I finished my count for the day, stayed for a little while and then I asked if I could leave."

"Were you followed?"

"No, I didn't see any of them follow me."

"Just be cause you didn't see them doesn't mean shit."

Benny stood, stopping the conversation between the two of you. "Woah, woah, woah. I'm going to need you to back up a second. Santi, what the hell have you got her doing?"

Rubbing his eyes, Santi looked up from the terrain maps he had laid out in front of him, "you're probably going to punch me for this, Y/N has been here for the last six months as my mole. She's integrated herself into the inner circle of the group. I didn't ask her to do that though, she's come up with that herself. Ben if you'd have known. She never would have got down here and she would have been pissed at you that you stopped her. You can't always keep her in a fucking bubble."

"Santi do you realise what you've done. You've essentially signed her death warrant. There's no way they don't know she's with you." Benny was practically shaking with anger, but rather impressively for him, wasn't looking like he was going to launch himself at Santi. It may well have been outweighed by his worry for you.

"Ben stop." you tried to interject.

"Y/N, why? Do you know how dangerous this is?"

"Yeah I've got a pretty good idea. Not like it's been plain sailing this whole time. Th-"

"It's been fine. You worry to much Benny." Santi very obviously cut you off. Not wanting you to delve too much into the specifics.

Before you knew it Benny had grabbed Santi by the front of his shirt and pushed him back against the nearest wall. "What happened?"

"Dude get the fuck off me." Santi pushed Benny off him, "early on we had a run in with some of the locals. We used it as a way to get Y/N in there. But there were a couple little complications."

"Stop downplaying it Santi cause you're scared of him. Ben, I was in a fairly bad car accident. I was tailing some guys up north and I didn't read the map properly so I didn't have the road layout set in stone. I completely destroyed this car and lost the guys Santi wanted."

"Why didn't you call me?" Benny said lowly, "I would have come in a heartbeat."

[who-needs-reality-anyways]

Bellamy Blake: A Seven Season Anthology

Season 5x04: Pandora's Box

Bellamy stands in front of the door separating him and Clarke. He realizes now that it’s the shortest distance there has been between them for the last 6 years, and he hasn’t had any time to process the fact that she’s alive. They landed, almost died, and was saved by Madi, who must have been trained by Clarke. So, once again, Clarke saved everyone within minutes of them being in danger. 

The electric buzz of the door sounds and it slides open. For a second he just stares at her, watching her turn to look back at him. She doesn’t move much other than the glance over her shoulder. He can’t imagine the pain she was put through by Diyoza before they got there. Unable to stay back any longer, he rushes over to her and helps her sit up.  

Neither of them say a word right away. They take each other in, raised brows, completely in awe that they are together again. Then, as if their bodies became magnetic, the space between them disappears. He feels her arms around his body, and he does the same, pulling her into him.  

“You’re really here,” she croaks, pressing her face into his shoulder. An action he is oh so familiar with. He is momentarily speechless, so he clenches his eyes shut as they embrace. He could have stayed in that position for much longer, but Clarke pulls away.  

“Madi?” 

“She’s safe,” he responds, finding his voice. The look of relief on her face makes him continue, wanting to give her more good news. “She’s in the woods with the others. Diyoza won’t look for them as long as we’re in control.” 

Then, in disbelief, she asks, “You’re all still alive? Murphy, Monty, Raven?” 

“Echo and Emori. Yeah. Clarke, you saved us all.” 

“And now you’re home,” she says quietly, her voice cracking. Bellamy nods, and their magnets engage again. They bury their faces in each other’s shoulders, hands around each other, taking in each other’s presence. It’s something Bellamy thought he’d never get to do again.  

But once again, she pulls away and turns her head. He follows her gaze through the open door behind them, their hands still resting on each other’s waist as she asks, “Wait, why’d she release me?” 

“We made a deal,” he explains when she looks back at him. “She agreed to open the bunker.”  

Clarke smiles with a quick exhale and a fresh expression of relief, and Bellamy’s heart could have exploded. Bellamy wishes they could stay there uninterrupted for longer, but he has to ensure the rest of his family’s safety. Bellamy stands up and puts the laser-comm to his mouth.  

“Raven, can you hear me? Come in.” He waits a couple seconds, watching Clarke hold her breath until they hear her voice come back over the radio.  

“Tell me everyone is okay,” she says. Clarke releases her breath and watches him begin his conversation. 

“Everyone’s okay,” he assures Raven. “We reached a deal with the people from that ship. And, by the way, the laser-comm is an open line, so they can hear every word we say.” 

“Nice to meet you. We’re not bad people, we--” Murphy chimes in playfully. 

“Raven, keep him away from the radio,” Bellamy cuts him off. There is no reason to ruffle feathers without even trying. 

“Copy that,” Raven says.  

“Anyways, they know the rules, but just to be safe, Colonel Diyoza, here they are again. If anyone tries to get around your security, you pull the plug. If anyone does anything that wasn’t agreed upon, you pull the plug. And if you don’t hear from me every hour, on the hour, you pull the plug.” 

“Is that all?” Raven asks.  

“No, that’s not all. Someone wants to say hello.” Bellamy, with a smile of his own, hands the radio over to Clarke. She pauses for just a slight second before speaking.  

“Raven, Murphy, it’s really good to hear your voices.” 

A tiny moment of silence, and then, “Clarke? I don’t believe it.” Raven breathes.  

“Jeez, and they call me the cockroach,” adds Murphy. Bellamy and Clarke chuckle at the joke.  

Bellamy stands a couple feet away, trying not to hover while she talks to their friends, but also staying close because he can’t bear to be far from her again. He watches the door to make sure no one comes for them. Clarke deserves this moment.  

“Hey, you guys just be careful up there, okay?” Clarke, always worrying about everyone else. “We’ll talk more once this is all over. I want to hear everything.” 

“Ok, but first,” Raven says, sounding like she’s started crying. “Thank you for saving our lives.” 

Clarke’s smile widens. “I miss you both.” 

If only they could continue their reunion of sorts. Bellamy could watch Clarke be happy for the rest of their lives and it wouldn’t be enough. But he knows they need to leave. He places a hand gently on her shoulder. “We got to go.” Then into the radio. “Raven, stay safe. We’ll talk soon.” 

[ravenrothstr]

Once Again Part III🤍

summary. jaehyun and his classmates go through the darkness of adulthood filled with bitterness, where both of them ended finding each other sparks in within

genre. high school! au, second chance love, fluff

words count. 8.0k

disclaimer. the story is fully fictional. other names mentioned are just for the story and pure imagination, with no bad intentions

--｡⋆✮ 🎧 ✮ ⋆｡--

You hold the wooden basket as you follow your mother around with Eunwoo. She wanted to pick flowers for your bouquet. It was a surprise to you that Eunwoo gladly came when your mother invited him, despite what he did to you few weeks ago.

“You have more flowers at the back of the nursery, maam”, the part timer insisted.

In no time, the part timer guided her yo the flowers. You quickly took the chance to confront Eunwoo.

“Eunwoo”, grabbing his sleeve.

“Yes, is there anything wrong, y/n?”

“Everything’s wrong”

Eunwoo didn’t say a word, he knows where this conversation is heading.

“Eunwoo, we don’t even love each other and we’ll never will”, you continue.

“That’s not true, I loved you throughout high school and university”

“You didn’t, you just care for me because you were scared you’re gonna left with nothing and I was the only one who gave you stability”, he avoided your eyes.

“Let’s talk this some other time.”

Your mother left as soon as she was done with the shopping, leaving you and Eunwoo behind. She thought she was giving some space for the lovebirds, little did she know, you planned on confronting him through lunch.

The waiter and waitress welcomes you as you entered the restaurant behind Eunwoo, giving them a bow as well. As you sit across from him, the weight of the relationship hangs heavily on you. With each bite, the tension builds, until finally, you set down your fork and lock eyes with him.

“Let’s call off the engagement,” you said in a calm tone.

“But…I can’t live without you.”

“Oh Eunwoo, you definitely can. I saw how good you are living without me”

Eunwoo's initial reaction is one of denial, but as you confronted with the truth, his defenses begin to crumble. The betrayal twisting in your chest, you maintain your composure, determined to seek closure to this chaotic relationship. You let out a sigh.

“Look, we’re never official, Eunwoo. The only thing that is official is yet the engagement announcement. It’s not your fault that you never loved me; this was all arrangements from the start.”

He stayed silent, realizes the depth of the hurt he has caused you. Deep inside, Eunwoo knew who only had feelings for Ye Won.

“We should let us go. There is nothing to hold on for between us. I don’t want to resent and force you to love me,” you continued.

“I’ll talk to our parents. I was the one who screwed up, I’ll man up to it”

You know how much Eunwoo needed this. The both of you have been following your parents' arrangements forever. You never stood up for yourself or even did something that you wanted. You got lucky that you had a passion towards architecture, but for Eunwoo, you felt way sadder for him. He never liked any decisions from the start.

A few nights later, Eunwoo finally spoke up to both of the parents during dinner. Breaking off the marriage and bravely telling them he wanted to marry Ye Won. He knows if it wasn’t Ye Won who is the one giving the stability then he should be the one.

The dinner was bizarre with both parents angry one second and then apologizing. You anticipated it all, feeling like you were only a prize to be won and Eunwoo didn’t like the prize. Through the chaotic dinner, you slowly approached Eunwoo that night after. Gently thanking him and praising his actions. He let out a soft smile to you, he knew he just had let go of one of the best things he had in life.

“I’ll always be here for you”, as he gave you one last hug.

—

Sooner or later, Jaehyun and Eunwoo continue collecting evidence at night planning out their big plans. But things got more complicated when there was a fire accident at the Tranquil Grove. Both companies needed to send proofs of their legal documents.

Panic rises when Evergreen Associates discovers the files from the Tranquil Grove went missing. Some speculated it was because of the long duration of the project causing lost of misplaced files, some speculated that the documents were never passed to Evergreen.

Jaehyun and Eunwoo knew all along this was Nexus Architects evil scheme, putting Evergreen Associates in bad shape to frame them for bribery. The court listening today was not good for Evergreen Associates once again as they failed to provide any solid evidence.

You looked at the reminder buzzing through your phone that morning, you took a look at the reminder.

SCHOOL REUNION, 6PM

Letting out a long sigh, bumping your head against the vanity mirror. You forgot the event that had been arranged; you got lost in the chaos between Nexus Architects and Evergreen Associates. But you have always promised yourself to attend reunion events as you never really contacted or socialized with any of them, so attending these events is your bare minimum effort.

A mix of nerves and anticipation courses through you. You take a moment to compose yourself, adjusting your outfit and smoothing down any stray hairs. Despite knowing that attending the event will inevitably lead to questions about the recent break off of your engagement, you understand the importance of facing the situation head-on.

With a deep breath, you step through the entrance, the familiar sights and sounds of the reunion greeting you. Gathering your courage, you approach the group of your former classmates gathered in a corner, their laughter ringing out above the rest, plastering a smile on your face as you prepare to engage in conversation and face whatever questions may come your way about your recent life events.

"Hi y/n, glad you made it", said Saerom, embracing you as you felt the hug was a little longer this time.

"Come sit, next to me", Miyeon said.

"Y/n, you're not wearing your engagement ring. What happened?", Chaeryong asked.

The awkwardness washes over the room. They had all silently agreed not to broach the topic of the engagement, fearing it might cause you discomfort. However, it seems Chaeryong was more interested in gossip than your well-being.

"Well, it's a long story. We actually called off the engagement."

"Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear that. What happened?"

"Stop asking her things, y/n's going through a lot right now," Miyeon defended as she turned to face you.

"That must have been really tough for you. But you made the right decision if it wasn't meant to be."

"Of course, it was definitely a difficult decision, but I think it's for the best in the long run."

Miyeon smiled at you, hoping it gave you a bit of comfort.

As you settle in with the girls, you can't help but notice Jaehyun and the other guys, who are seated at another table across the room. Speculations about Jaehyun's whereabouts begin to circulate among the girls, each one offering their own theories and suspicions.

"Have you been seeing anyone lately?" Miyeon inquired.

"Not really. I'm taking some time to myself after the engagement,"

"Well, if you ever need a distraction, there are plenty of eligible bachelors in our batch," Miyeon teased playfully.

"Speaking of eligible bachelors, have you seen Jaehyun lately? He's looking even hotter than before," Saerom remarked, her tone tinged with admiration.

You couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance at the mention of Jaehyun's name, but you tried to brush it off with a nonchalant reply.

"Hm, I hadn't really noticed," you said, attempting to mask your true feelings.

"Are you kidding? He's practically smouldering over there, sorry Miyeon," Saerom teases.

"Hey, Seokmin has his own charms", eliciting a round of laughter from the group.

Feeling overwhelmed by the chatter and the weight of socialising, you quietly slip out of the venue, craving a moment to gather your thoughts. Stepping outside into the cool night air, you take a deep breath, allowing the gentle breeze to soothe your frazzled nerves.

As you lean against the wall, your mind wanders back to the conversation inside. Lost in your thoughts, you're startled when you hear footsteps approaching. Glancing up, you see Jaehyun standing a few feet away, his expression unreadable in the dim light.

"Out for a smoke?"

"No, just taking in some fresh air"

You nodded, welcoming the comfortable silence that enveloped both of you as you absentmindedly played with the small stones at your feet. Jaehyun recalled your occasional need to recharge your social energy, understanding your quiet moments.

"Are you okay to talk now?"

"Yes", you said.

"I heard about the engagement," he says gently, careful not to overstep any boundaries.

For a moment, neither of you speaks, the silence between you heavy with unspoken emotions. Although he was there to comfort you the night you found out about Eunwoo and Ye Won, you were mostly left alone after the incident. You swallow hard, mustering up the courage to respond.

"It's been tough, but I guess it had to happen eventually, right?"

"I can only imagine," Jaehyun replies, his voice filled with empathy.

Neither of you says anything for a moment as you try to steer the conversation in a different direction.

"So, Saerom said you were looking really attractive back there," Jaehyun chuckles.

"She said that?"

"Yeah, she clearly did. 'He's practically smouldering over there'," imitating Saerom and both of you shared the laughter.

"So, do you think I was the hottest at the table?"

"You definitely were, but I've always liked your office looks"

"Office looks? You mean a suit and tie with comma hair?"

"Yes!", you confirmed with a grin.

"Well, in that case, I'll make sure to dress up like that more often," he returned your smile, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Looking forward to it," you said with a playful wink.

As the reunion winds down, the group gathers for final photos, capturing the moment. You smile for the camera alongside your classmates but feel exhaustion creeping in. With a nod and a wave, you bid farewell, ready to retreat home.

Near the exit, you notice a group of girls whispering excitedly, eyeing Jaehyun. Rolling your eyes at their obvious infatuation, you brush it off and head out, eager to leave the chaos behind.

The atmosphere in the courtroom was tense as the next hearing commenced. Lawyers from both Nexus Architecture and Evergreen Associates were poised for battle, armed with stacks of evidence and prepared arguments.

As the proceedings unfolded, it became clear that Nexus Architecture was determined to pin the blame for the bribery scandal on Evergreen Associates. With carefully crafted testimonies and falsified documents, they painted a damning picture of Evergreen company's alleged involvement in the illegal activities.

Despite the efforts to prove the accusations wrong and present their own evidence, the odds seemed stacked against them. The judge listened intently as both sides presented their arguments, weighing each piece of evidence carefully.

In the end, the judge announced that a verdict would be delivered at a later date, leaving both parties anxiously awaiting the final decision. As the courtroom emptied, the sense of uncertainty hung heavy in the air, with the fate of Evergreen Associates hanging in the balance.

You couldn't help but feel a surge of anger and frustration at the injustice of it all. How could Nexus Architecture get away with such blatant lies and deceit? And what would this mean for Evergreen Associates, a company built on integrity and honesty?

Regardless of the situation, you exited the court after a long day. How you wished the day would end sooner; in fact, nothing had ever given you a reason to long for a longer day or another day.

You bumped into Jaehyun unexpectedly on the bustling street, and his warm smile instantly lit up the surroundings with a charming grin.

"It's been a while, y/n",

"Hi, Jaehyun"

"Care to join me for dinner?", his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

The tensions ran high and emotions ran deep, you found yourself at a crossroads. Torn between the firm you want to protect your dignity and the desire to lean on Jaehyun for support in this harsh reality.

"I'd love to", in the moment of clarity, you chose love over pride.

--

As you continued to eat, you found yourself falling in love with Jaehyun's cooking all over again. It was your second time enjoying Jaehyun's cooking, and you couldn't get enough of it.

"Is it nice?", he anticipates your answer.

"It's delicious, you should open a restaurant"

"Really? Why's that?"

"So I can enjoy your cooking every day," giving him a playful grin.

"You don't have to wait for the restaurant, you can come over every day"

You felt your skin tingle, as you remembered he once confessed his love to you. You tried to keep yourself composed.

"You're really good at flirting, Jaehyun. Practise makes perfect?", you teased.

"Don't pretend you haven't kissed me", he countered.

"Oh my gosh, you win. Please stop"

As the evening progressed, you found yourself drawn deeper into his presence, the warmth of his smile and the comfort of his home creating an irresistible allure.

When Jaehyun casually suggested that you stay the night, you felt a surge of excitement mixed with nervous anticipation. Despite the butterflies fluttering in your stomach, you couldn't bring yourself to decline his offer.

"Are you sure?" you asked, trying to mask the eagerness in your voice. Jaehyun nodded, his expression soft and sincere.

"Absolutely. I wouldn't want you to go out there alone in the dark."

With a shy smile and a grateful nod, you accepted his invitation. As the night unfolded, you and Jaehyun found yourselves drawn to the tranquillity of his balcony. With the soft glow of the moon casting a gentle light upon you, you lie down side by side, your gazes fixed upon the vast expanse of the night sky.

"Remember when you confessed your feelings to me?" you ventured, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between you. Jaehyun's gaze softened, his eyes reflecting a mixture of nostalgia and affection.

"Of course I do," he replied softly.

"It was one of the bravest things I've ever done."

A soft smile tugged at the corners of your lips as you reminisced about the moment.

"And that time we kissed," you added, feeling a blush rise to your cheeks at the memory. Jaehyun's expression softened even further, his eyes filled with warmth and tenderness.

"I'll never forget it," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Jaehyun took a deep breath, his gaze locking with yours as he sensed the right moment.

"Y/N," he began.

"I've been thinking a lot lately, and… I don't want to hide my feelings anymore."

Your heart skipped a beat as you waited with bated breath, anticipation coursing through your veins. A rush of emotions washed over you as you listened to Jaehyun's confession, your mind racing with a whirlwind of thoughts and feelings.

"And so, I was wondering if… you'd like to officially date me?"

His words hung in the air, the weight of his confession settling between you. And in that moment, surrounded by the warmth of Jaehyun's presence and the depth of his emotions, you knew your answer.

"Yes"

You set the documents down on the coffee table in the living room and immediately began reviewing them after dinner. Ignoring the homeowner's presence, who was now tidying up the table.

“That’s not a very grateful way to thank me for dinner. I love you too much,” your boyfriend teased.

“Jaehyun, I love you, and thank you so much for cooking. Please let me go through this; it's for the hearing tomorrow,” you replied, focusing on the papers in your hands.

He grinned at you, unable to resist your adoring gaze. Coming over, he planted a kiss on your cheek, signaling his acceptance of the situation.

“What are you looking at?” he asked, peering at the papers.

“It’s the bank account numbers linked to the bribery.”

Jaehyun remained quiet for a moment, recognizing one of the account numbers as he went through the evidence a few times. It was your father’s account number. Unaware of his thoughts, you began to speculate about Jaehyun, fearing he might turn against you.

“I can trust you with this, right?” you asked cautiously.

“Yeah, of course. You can spend the whole night guarding me if you insist,” he reassured with a playful smile.

“I can’t, I have to get home and get to the court early tomorrow,” you explained.

“No, stay with me. I’ll go with you,” Jaehyun pleaded.

“Jaehyun, I’m sorry, but I really need to be with my company tomorrow,” you insisted.

“No, please. Spend the night with me,” he persisted.

“Okay,” you relented.

Jaehyun wasn’t comfortable with the emotions he felt after seeing your father's account number. He wanted to call Eunwoo and get to the bottom of the situation, but looking at you and considering how much you had worked for them, he pushed the thought aside, saving it for the upcoming hearing. That night, Jaehyun found it difficult to fall asleep, his mind filled with assumptions and scenarios.

“Y/N,” he called out in the dark, wondering if you were already asleep.

“Yes, Jaehyun?” you mumbled sleepily.

“Do you like this house?” he asked.

“I love it,” you replied, snuggling up to him.

“Let’s raise our little family here,” he suggested.

You felt a surge of joy in your heart, but sleepiness was overtaking you, so you simply cuddled closer to him.

“Y/N,” he continued.

“Do you think you’ll ever choose me over anything?” he questioned, his thoughts spilling out.

You sensed his insecurity, reminiscent of when he asked if you would wait for him. But knowing you both needed rest and not wanting him to go to bed questioning your love, you reassured him.

“I’ll always choose you, Jaehyun,” you affirmed.

You could hear Jaehyun let out a sigh of relief, his body relaxing against yours. Finally feeling at ease enough to sleep.

“Goodnight, Y/N,” he whispered.

—

Jaehyun dragged his feet into Eunwoo’s office the next morning. With most of the employees at the court, he seized the opportunity to inform Eunwoo about the bank account.

“Y/n's father's bank account is one of the ones on the bribery list,” he blurted out as soon as he closed the door behind him.

“The bank account only consists of Nexus’s employees, we checked. Remember?”, Eunwoo denied.

“No. It was clearly there in the list, y/n had it with her last night”

“So you’re saying that the list we got is wrong?”

“The list might be longer that we expect”.

Eunwoo and Jaehyun spare no time to investigate, tirelessly digging through mountains of evidence, hoping to find something that would clear Evergreen Associates' name. As they sifted through financial records and email correspondence, they stumbled upon a series of transactions that led straight to your father's accounts.

At first, they couldn't believe what they were seeing. Shocked and disheartened, Jaehyun and Eunwoo realized the magnitude of their discovery. They knew that confronting your father would not only be emotionally challenging but could also have far-reaching consequences.

The two of them decided not to execute any plans yet, as they both worried about the aftermath. It would definitely hurt you and they were not ready for that. Nevertheless, they understood the importance of uncovering the truth and holding those responsible accountable for their actions.

--

Jaehyun spent the nights later with you over dinner, just like how you both pictured when you agreed on the relationship. Only now, Jaehyun was paying attention less and less as his mind became clouded with the truth.

“Jaehyun?” you snapped him into the present.

“I’m sorry, y/n. What were you saying?”

“I was asking if you wanted to rest. You've looked tired lately.”

“No, I want to have dinner with you. Let’s eat.”

Just as Jaehyun shoveled food into his mouth, his phone buzzed. You peeked at it. The message from Eunwoo lit up the screen, and Jaehyun quickly read it.

“Y/n, I have to step out for a bit. Do you mind waiting?” Your heart dropped.

The relationship was new, but you could see Jaehyun drifting off. You looked at Jaehyun, noticing his eagerness to leave the table. He insisted it was very important. You felt bad for stopping him.

“Okay,” you said softly.

Jaehyun left a kiss on your temple, gathering his belongings before making his way out of the apartment. You hated the emotions gathering inside you. You decided to leave the table, hoping Jaehyun wouldn’t be out long so you could have dinner together with him.

--

Jaehyun braced himself for the difficult conversations ahead. With a heavy heart, Jaehyun and Eunwoo decided to confront your father as plan. Armed with the evidence they had painstakingly gathered. They braced themselves, knowing that it would change everything and set into motion a chain of events that would shape the outcome of the legal battle.

Arriving at your father's doorstep, Jaehyun's hand hovered over the doorbell, his heart pounding in his chest. Eunwoo stood beside him, a steadfast presence amidst the uncertainty. With a deep breath, Jaehyun pressed the button, the chime resonating through the quiet neighborhood, signaling the beginning of a conversation that would change everything.

Back at the apartment, you waited patiently for Jaehyun's return, unaware of the turmoil brewing behind the scenes. The minutes stretched into eternity as you sat alone at the dinner table. Questions lingered in the air, unspoken but palpable, as you wondered about Jaehyun's whereabouts.

Finally, the sound of footsteps heralded Jaehyun's return, his presence filling the room with a mixture of relief and apprehension. His expression was inscrutable as he reentered the apartment, the weight of his secret conversation hangs heavily on his shoulders.

"Is everything okay?" you ventured, searching his face for answers.

"Yeah, everything's fine, let’s finish dinner first. We can talk later."

Jaehyun forced a smile, masking the truth beneath the surface. With a nod, you acquiesced, though the sense of unease lingered, casting a shadow over the remainder of the evening.

As the court proceedings unfolded, tension thickened in the air. Each moment was fraught with anticipation as the investigation delved deeper into the bribery scandal. Jaehyun's absence became increasingly noticeable, his presence dwindling as the gravity of the situation weighed heavily on him.

The courtroom buzzed with whispered conversations and furrowed brows. The prosecution focused on the account numbers linked to the scandal, intensifying the sense of urgency. Meanwhile, Jaehyun's time was consumed by court sessions and late-night meetings.

You no longer went to Jaehyun's house for dinner, noticing a shift in his priorities and schedule. The once familiar routine of sharing meals and spending time together faded away, leaving a void in your heart where his presence used to be. The strain of the situation began to take its toll, widening the distance between you.

As the court rulings grew more intense, both you and Jaehyun found yourselves consumed by the legal battle, leaving little room for communication in your relationship. Days turned into weeks, and gradually, conversations between you became less, with each of you making less effort to maintain the connection. The distance between you grew, both physically and emotionally, as the demands of the legal battle took over your relationship.

One night, after mustering all your courage, you decided to broach the topic of your relationship with Jaehyun. With a nervousness in your voice, you asked him if he wanted to continue the relationship. His response was a brief "yes," leaving you feeling a whirlwind of emotions.

--

Amidst the tense atmosphere of the courtroom, one day Jaehyun stood up, his voice ringing out with conviction as he exposed the truth about your father's involvement in the bribery scandal. Gasps rippled through the room as it sent shockwaves through the proceedings. You sat in stunned silence, unable to comprehend the truth of what was unfolding before you. Jaehyun's words hung heavy in the air, casting a shadow over the courtroom as the truth was laid bare for all to see.

You couldn’t believe what Jaehyun had done. As the judge delivered the final verdict, shutting down both companies, the weight of his actions bore down on you like a ton of bricks. Amidst the chaos of the courtroom, he tried to approach you, to explain his actions and confront the reality between you. He knew he needed to talk to you, but the timing just didn't seem to align.

Every time he glanced in your direction, you were engrossed in conversation with someone else. Each missed opportunity weighed on him, fueling his frustration and desperation to reach out to you.

Jaehyun found himself lost in the chaos of reporters and cameras flashing around him as soon he left the courtroom to find you, Jaehyun's thoughts remained fixated on you, the one person he desperately wanted to reach. With each passing moment, the reporters' questions and praise grew more deafening, drowning him in the chaos.

You stepped out into the cool evening air, the weight of the day's events heavy on your shoulders. As you walked away from the courthouse, you couldn't shake the feeling that you had left Jaehyun behind, grappling with the aftermath of the verdict on his own. But in that moment, your own emotions were too raw, too tumultuous to face him.

Each step you took felt heavier than the last, the echoes of the courtroom ringing in your ears. You couldn't bear to face Jaehyun, not when the distance between you felt wider than ever. And so, you walked alone, the weight of your decision bearing down on you with each passing moment.

You walk through the alley like a zombie, unmotivated with no will of living. Everything you had work for goes into waste. Never, have ever you thought Nexus Architecture would put the company to bribery. The tears falling at your cheeks warms your eyes.

“Shit”, you muttered to yourself.

Continuing to wipe it off as fast as the tears falling. You hated it, you hated your life. You hated everything that brings you here. The deep thoughts clouded your minds, it’s too fuzzy now. Your legs halted their positions, as if the weight of your thoughts were too heavy for you to carry on.

You brought your palm to your face. You were surprised when that action immediately made you sob in your arms. Wondering why the world is too harsh on you. Just when you were about to continue to walk, you saw Jaehyun’s figure across you. It was no surprise to him seeing you in this state.

“Y/N”

“Please move”, you rushed to pass him.

Jaehyun quickly grabbed your waist as you passed through.

“No, please listen to me”

“No, you listen!”, you raised your voice before continuing.

“You can’t magically appear in my life like this, expecting me to just follow whatever your instincts is or whatever you have ever plan in your life. Do you know how much this means to me? Do you even know what’s left for me? Even if your plan is to make this better for me, you definitely forgot that the one that has to go through is me”, your tears welled up in your eyes.

“Are you saying you rather be the one who bribe? You know how much I had to sacrifice? My childhood home, my comfort place, my time that i should have spent with you, my friends”, Jaehyun argued.

You cried harder. Not because of the situation you were in, but because now you and Jaehyun are only selfish in the relationship. Both of your silence sacrifices that you both never told to each other is taking it’s space in the relationship that now you both are not listening to each other but screaming as your heart that craves for recognition futhers.

Jaehyun looked away from you, it hurts him to see you in pain. He never wanted the company to close down, that was the last thing he thought it would be. But now that things had happen, he too was in lost state.

“Please leave Jaehyun”, you resorted.

Rather than feeling sad hearing your words, he felt anger. His pride could not accept this, he’s too used to being competitive that he took your words too literally without consider your emotions. With everything you have said, that hurts him too, he left you. Turning away stomping his feet and he didn’t look back. You body sank in your position, just like your heart.

“I should have never met her”, Jaehyun talks in his thoughts with rage as his mind flashes memories he shared with you.

“I should have never had lunch with her”

“I should have never sacrifice my time with her”

“And I should have never left her”

He felt the weight of his thoughts as he slows down when he came to his last thoughts. Remembering it has always been you to sacrifice for him, waited for him because you are the one who choose love over pride. Unlike him.

As you sat at a bench nearby, trying your best to calm down before you heard Jaehyun’s footsteps approaching you. You looked at him as he came kneeling in front of you, he rubbed your knee gently and faced you.

“I’ve done so much things to you that I’m not proud off, but my greatest regret is leaving you so please forgive me”, Jaehyun’s eyes turn into glasses.

“I love you and i always will. I know how much you hate to controlled but I’m not leaving you”

Your eyes welled up again.

“Can we go home now? Our home”

“You mean the cheery blossom road?”, he teased. It made you chuckle.

“No, silly. Your apartment, the one you planned to raise our family together”

“Oh you mean that? Sure, let’s go”, as he pulled up your hand to stand.

“Just to let you know, your my home”

You smiled, leaning into his arms that you had wrapped on.

“Jaehyun, I’m sorry too”, he softens to your words.

“If it ever makes you feel better, I forgive you”, your lips curled up at the memory you once said that to him.

“I love you too”

Jaehyun picked you up from the office today, a routine he had faithfully followed for the past year. Despite the challenges you both faced after the bribery incident, you and Jaehyun had embarked on a journey to rebuild your lives together. While it wasn't easy, starting anew was a refreshing change for you, especially after being accustomed to life in your father’s company. Jaehyun's bravery as a whistleblower had opened new doors for him, leading him to a promising position at a prestigious firm in Seoul.

“Hey,” he greeted you with a knowing smile, sensing the exhaustion in your demeanor.

“Hey,” you replied, feeling a wave of comfort wash over you as he took your bag from your shoulder and left a tender kiss on your cheek.

“Never been more proud of my love,” he whispered, his words filling you with warmth and reassurance.

You grinned in response, feeling a hint of shyness creep over you. You were grateful to have Jaehyun by your side, supporting you through every challenge and triumph. As you walked hand in hand with him through the bustling streets, a comfortable silence enveloped you, a silent understanding passing between you.

“Jaehyun, let’s dine out. I’m already hungry,” you suggested, breaking the silence.

“Well, do you have any preference?”

“Anywhere's good,” you replied with a shrug.

Jaehyun led you to a cozy restaurant nearby, where the two of you settled in and placed your orders. As you waited for the food to arrive, you found solace in sharing your day with Jaehyun, venting about the challenges and frustrations you had faced at work. He listened attentively, his eyes lighting up with adoration as he watched you express yourself.

“So, how’s your day?” you asked, turning the conversation to him.

“Nothing much,” he replied with a sheepish smile, a hint of panic flickering in his eyes.

You frowned slightly, craving more insight into his day, but you knew he was often reserved when it came to sharing. Leaning forward, you took his hand in yours, silently urging him to open up.

“Please tell me more,” you pleaded softly.

He smiled, grateful for your understanding, and began to elaborate on his day. Thankfully, the arrival of your food spared him from further interrogation.

After dinner, you retreated to Jaehyun’s apartment, where the familiar melodies of his favorite tunes filled the air. As Jaehyun disappeared into the bathroom for a shower, you couldn't help but sing along to the music, your voice echoing through the apartment. When Jaehyun emerged, toweling off his damp hair, you greeted him with a playful grin.

“Alicia Keys again?” you teased.

He chuckled, his eyes sparkling with affection as he joined you in the living room.

“You should join me next time,” he suggested, his voice laced with invitation.

“Hey, do you want to go on a date tomorrow? Let’s do something you like,” you proposed.

“Sure, how about an Ikea date?”

“I love it already!” you exclaimed, your heart swelling with anticipation for the simple yet joyful date ahead.

—

As you and Jaehyun wandered through the aisles of IKEA, playfully testing out couches and admiring kitchenware, he suddenly stopped in front of a display of cozy living room setups.

“Come on. Pick which colour”, he asked, taking out of the candle holder.

“Well, white does matches your living room”

“Our living room”, he corrects you.

With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he turned to you, a slight smile playing on his lips. You glanced at him curiously, wondering what he was about to say.

"Y/n, I really would to wake up to you every morning”, his gaze locked.

Your heart skipped a beat as his words sank in, and you couldn't help but feel a rush of anticipation.

"Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?" you asked.

Jaehyun nodded, his expression earnest yet filled with warmth.

“I’m asking if you would like to move in with me”

The words hung in the air between you, the excitement of the moment filling the space around you. Surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the IKEA showroom, it felt like the perfect setting for this important conversation. You had always dreamed of moving in with someone you loved, but you had also promised yourself that it would only happen if it was a step towards something more permanent.

"Jaehyun," you began,

"Moving in together is a big step and one that I've always imagined taking with someone I could see a future with. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Jaehyun. But I also want to make sure that we're both ready for this next chapter in our lives”, you were soft but firm.

He nodded, understanding your words. However, he couldn't lie that his heart drops a little upon your rejection.

"I understand. Just promise me you'll think about it, okay?"

The crisp autumn air carried a sense of excitement as you and Jaehyun made your way to the reunion venue, hand in hand. It had been years since you last saw your old friends, and the prospect of reuniting with them filled you with nostalgia and anticipation.

As you entered the bustling hall, you were greeted by familiar faces and warm smiles. Eunwoo, now a proud parent, stood at the entrance with his two young children clinging to his legs. His face lit up as he spotted you and Jaehyun, ushering you over with a welcoming grin.

"Y/N, Jaehyun, it's been too long!" Eunwoo exclaimed, his children looking up at you with curious eyes.

"It's great to see you, Eunwoo," Jaehyun replied, returning his friend's enthusiasm.

You were seated at the table, facing Seokmin and Miyeon. Their wedding had taken place just a few months ago, and the room was blooming with the happiness of their recent wedding. You smile as you observe the sheer joy. Miyeon couldn't resist showing off her sparkling wedding ring, and you couldn't blame her - it was gorgeous.

As you were staring at it, Jaehyun's gaze remained fixed on you. His eyes filled with adoration as he quietly reached out to hold your hand, taking you off guard before he whispered.

"We'll get there", making you smile uncontrollably.

The reunion was filled with laughter and reminiscing as you and Jaehyun caught up with old friends, sharing stories of your lives. As the conversation flowed, Miyeon, with genuine curiosity in her eyes, leaned in and asked you softly.

"So, Y/N, are you and Jaehyun living together now?"

You exchanged a knowing glance with Jaehyun before replying, a soft smile playing on your lips.

"Not yet, but it's something we've been considering."

Miyeon nodded understandingly.

"Don't worry, I know you'll make the right move at the right time", as she remembered how you handled your engagement with Eunwoo.

"I'm sure whenever you two decide to take that step, it'll be wonderful."

As the evening progressed, the event came to an end, and you and Jaehyun began to make your way back home together.

"Should I stay the night over at your house?"

You asked suddenly, catching Jaehyun off guard. Initially, the plan for the night was for each of you to return to your own homes, as Jaehyun needed to prepare for an upcoming business trip. Considering how intense the project was, you thought it might be better to give him space to focus on his work.

"Are you sure? I mean, I would love to, but I just don't want you to feel pressured into anything you're not comfortable with,"

Jaehyun responded, his concern evident in his voice. Recognizing the potential impact of your decision not to move in together on your relationship, Jaehyun took it upon himself to ensure you felt cherished and valued.

You remained silent for a moment, weighing the decision in your mind. Sensing your hesitation, Jaehyun reached out to reassure you.

"It's okay, love. Please don't feel any pressure about not moving in together. Our relationship is about what feels right for both of us and no one but us knows what that is," he said gently, his voice filled with warmth and understanding.

You let out a grateful smile as his words eased your worries, reminding you of the unwavering support and love he always offered.

"Okay, just promise me you'll always tell me if you're not happy or comfortable with something, okay?"

"I promise," Jaehyun replied, his gaze softening with affection.

"And promise to go out on another IKEA date with me before the trip?", he continued with a playful glint in his eyes.

You chuckled, your hand finding his as he squeezed it gently at your gesture.

"Absolutely. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"I'm glad to hear that," he said, feeling a sense of warmth and happiness wash over.

-- You and Jaehyun found yourselves strolling through the aisles of Ikea once again, the familiar atmosphere bringing a sense of comfort and joy as you wandered hand in hand, exploring the various furniture setups and decor options.

Jaehyun's eyes sparkled with excitement as he pointed out different items, sharing his ideas and preferences with you. You laughed together as you tested out sofas and chairs, imagining lazy Sunday afternoons spent lounging together.

As you admired a display of picture frames, Jaehyun suddenly took your hand and pulled you gently to a secluded corner of the showroom. There, surrounded by the quiet hum of the store and the soft glow of the lighting fixtures, he turned to face you, his eyes shining with emotion.

"Y/N", his voice soft yet filled with nervous energy.

You were puzzled, the both of you always had been comfortable with each other. Seeing Jaehyun like this worries you. Your heart fluttered at the sound of your name, your eyes meeting his with curiosity and affection.

"Yes, Jaehyun?"

"I'm a bit nervous actually," he admitted, his ears burning with a hint of pink.

Your heart swelled with tenderness, your love for him growing with each passing moment.

"I've known since the moment I met you that you were the one I wanted to spend forever with," Jaehyun continued, his gaze never leaving yours.

With trembling hands, Jaehyun reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box, its contents glimmering in the soft light of the showroom.

"Will you marry me, Y/N?" he asked, his eyes shining with hope and love.

You place your hands on him, feeling the warmth and reassurance of his touch. Tears welled up in your eyes as you looked at the man standing before you, overwhelmed with emotion at the depth of your love for him. In that moment, surrounded by the familiar comfort of Ikea and the overwhelming presence of love between you, you knew without a doubt what your answer would be.

"Yes, Jaehyun. I will," you replied, your voice filled with emotion.

With a smile that lit up the room, Jaehyun slipped the ring onto your finger. As you held each other close, you knew that this was just the beginning of a beautiful journey filled with love, laughter, and endless joy.

In your married life with Jaehyun, every day feels like a new adventure. You wake up to the sound of his laughter and the warmth of his embrace, grateful for the love and companionship you share. Together, supporting each other through every challenge and celebrating every triumph.

Your home is filled with laughter and love, where you can be yourselves and create cherished memories together. Whether you're cooking together in the kitchen, cuddling on the couch, or exploring new places hand in hand, every moment spent with Jaehyun is filled with joy and contentment.

Soon enough, your home is filled with love, laughter, and the sound of children's laughter echoing through the halls. Bringing an added layer of love and happiness to your marriage, strengthening the bond you share with Jaehyun as you raise them with care and devotion.

From sleepless nights to heartwarming milestones, you cherish every moment spent watching your children grow and thrive. As parents, you and Jaehyun work together as a team, supporting each other through the highs and lows of raising a family.

—

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the cosy living room, the atmosphere was filled with laughter and joy. Jaehyun sat on the floor, surrounded by his two young children, a boy and a girl, who giggled uncontrollably as he tickled them playfully.

"Stop, Daddy, stop!" they squealed, their laughter filling the room.

Jaehyun grinned, his eyes sparkling with delight as he relished in the precious moments with his little ones. You smiled at the view as you watched the clock on the wall from the couch.

"Jaehyun, it's past their bedtime", you reminded.

"Alright, alright, one more tickle and then it's bedtime," he teased, pulling them into a tight hug.

A smile played on your lips as you observed the heartwarming scene before you. Seeing Jaehyun interact with your children filled you with an overwhelming sense of happiness and contentment.

As the laughter subsided, Jaehyun scooped up his children in his arms and carried them over to the couch, where you were waiting with open arms. They snuggled up against you, their eyelids growing heavy with sleep.

"Alright, bedtime, little ones," Jaehyun said softly, pressing a kiss to each of their foreheads.

You tucked them into bed, whispering sweet lullabies as they drifted off to sleep, their soft breathing filling the room with a sense of peace and tranquility.

Once the children were sound asleep, you and Jaehyun shared a quiet moment together, savoring the warmth and love that filled your home. You both indulged in a late-night snack of instant noodles, trying to hide your guilty pleasure from the kids, not wanting them to develop a taste for such unhealthy food at a young age.

"How come you never give me any cute nicknames?" he asked, slurping his noodles. You chuckled, enjoying the banter.

"Well, I love everything about you. Even your name, Jaehyun."

"Do you want me to give you one?"

"Yes, please," he replied playfully.

After a moment of thought, you suggested, "What about Jae?"

"How about 'handsome'?"

"Jae it is," you agreed with a grin.

As the laughter echoed through the room, mingling with the soft glow of the lamp and the warmth of your shared affection, you felt a deep sense of contentment wash over you.

With a glance at Jaehyun, his eyes twinkling with love and happiness, you knew that you were exactly where you were meant to be. And as you leaned in for a tender kiss, surrounded by the love of your husband and children, you felt a sense of peace settle over your heart.

In that moment, you knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, as long as you had each other, you could weather any storm. And as you nestled into Jaehyun's embrace, surrounded by the warmth and love of your family, you knew that you were home.

--｡⋆✮ 🎧 ✮ ⋆｡--

[songbirdseung]

entangled fates / park sunghoon & nishimura riki

where  박성훈 and 西村リキ best friends since childhood, find their bond strained when they both fall for the same girl—YN. genre love triangle au warnings friendship tension, heartbreak, jealousy, angst

you never imagined that your life could become so complicated, that the simple act of falling in love could lead to such a tangled web of emotions. but here you are, caught between two hearts, each pulling you in a different direction. riki and sunghoon, best friends since childhood, now stand as rivals, and you are the unwitting cause.

the day starts like any other, the early morning sun casting a warm glow over seoul as you make your way to the local café. it's your sanctuary, a place where you can escape the chaos of your thoughts and find a moment of peace. as you step inside, the familiar scent of coffee and baked goods wraps around you, offering a small comfort.

you take your usual seat by the window, your eyes wandering over the bustling street outside. your mind drifts back to the events of the past few weeks, to the moment when everything changed. it was at a mutual friend's party, a night filled with laughter and music, when riki and sunghoon both confessed their feelings for you.

riki, with his infectious energy and dreamer’s heart, had pulled you aside, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "yn, i've liked you for a long time," he had said, his voice trembling slightly. "you inspire me, make me want to be better. i think we could be amazing together."

before you could even process his words, sunghoon had found you, his steady presence a stark contrast to riki’s exuberance. "yn, i need you to know something," he had begun, his voice calm and sincere. "you mean everything to me. i’ve always admired your strength and kindness. i believe we have something real, something lasting."

their confessions had left you reeling, your heart torn between the two. how could you choose between them? riki, who made your heart race with his spontaneity, and sunghoon, who made you feel safe and cherished?

your thoughts are interrupted as the café door swings open and riki strides in, his usual confident smile in place. he spots you and makes his way over, sliding into the seat across from you. "hey," he greets, his voice as warm as ever. "hope you haven't been waiting long."

"no, just got here," you reply, offering a small smile. his presence always brings a certain lightness to your day, a feeling of possibility and excitement.

as you chat, catching up on the latest happenings, you can't help but notice the way riki's eyes light up when he talks about his dreams, his passion for dance. it's infectious, drawing you in, making you want to be a part of his world.

but then, just as you're starting to relax, the door opens again and sunghoon walks in. his eyes immediately find yours, a soft smile spreading across his face. he makes his way to your table, greeting both you and riki with his usual calm demeanor.

"mind if i join you?" he asks, his gaze lingering on you for a moment longer than necessary.

you nod, your heart caught in your throat as sunghoon takes a seat beside you. the dynamic at the table shifts, the air charged with unspoken tension. it's clear that both riki and sunghoon are acutely aware of each other’s feelings, and of the delicate balance that now exists between the three of you.

conversation flows, but there's an underlying current of competition, each of them vying for your attention, your affection. riki tells a funny story, making you laugh, and sunghoon counters with a thoughtful comment that shows how well he understands you.

as the morning turns to afternoon, you feel the weight of the situation pressing down on you. how can you navigate this without hurting either of them? how can you follow your heart when it's being pulled in two different directions?

leaving the café together, you part ways with promises to meet again soon. riki heads off to his dance practice, and sunghoon walks you home, his quiet presence a soothing balm to your frazzled nerves.

"i know this is hard for you," he says softly as you reach your door. "but whatever happens, i just want you to be happy. that's all that matters to me."

his words bring a lump to your throat, and you nod, unable to speak. as you watch him walk away, you realize that the choice ahead of you is not just about who you care for more, but about the future you envision for yourself.

and as the sun sets over seoul, casting long shadows across the city, you know that the days ahead will be filled with difficult decisions. but one thing is certain: your heart is entangled in a way you never expected, and there's no easy way out.

the days blur together as you try to navigate the complicated emotions that have taken root in your heart. every interaction with riki and sunghoon feels weighted with unspoken words and hidden meanings. the tension between them, once barely noticeable, now hangs in the air like a thick fog, impossible to ignore.

you wake up early one saturday, the sun just beginning to peek over the horizon, and decide to clear your mind with a walk through the nearby park. the cool morning air and the soft chirping of birds offer a welcome respite from the chaos in your head. you hope the tranquility will help you find some clarity.

as you wander down the familiar paths, your phone buzzes with a message from riki.

"morning, yn! any plans today? feel like dancing?"

you smile at his enthusiasm. dancing with riki has always been a joy, his energy contagious and his movements effortless. before you can reply, another message comes through from sunghoon.

"good morning, yn. would you like to grab lunch later? there's a new place i think you'd love."

your heart sinks. once again, you're faced with choosing between them. both offers are tempting in their own ways, but you know you can't keep splitting yourself in two forever. you need to find a way to be honest with them, and with yourself.

you decide to meet riki first, knowing his infectious energy might help lift your spirits. you send him a quick reply and head to the dance studio where he practices. as you enter, the sound of music fills the air, and you see riki lost in his movements, his passion evident in every step.

he spots you and his face lights up. "yn! you're here! come on, let's dance!"

you join him on the dance floor, letting the music wash over you, your bodies moving in sync. for a while, you forget about the turmoil inside you, lost in the rhythm and the joy of the moment. riki’s laughter and the sparkle in his eyes make everything else fade away.

after an hour, you take a break, sitting on the floor, catching your breath. riki looks at you, his expression turning serious for a moment. "yn, i've been thinking… about us. i know it's complicated, but i really believe we could make each other happy. don't you?"

his words catch you off guard, and you feel a pang of guilt. you care for riki deeply, but the thought of sunghoon and his quiet strength lingers in the back of your mind. you give riki a small smile, trying to keep your emotions in check. "i… i need some time, riki. this isn't easy for me."

he nods, understanding in his eyes. "i get it, yn. just know that i'm here, waiting."

leaving the dance studio, you feel a mix of emotions—joy from dancing with riki, and guilt for not being able to give him a clear answer. you check the time and realize it's almost noon, so you head to meet sunghoon for lunch.

you find sunghoon waiting outside the new restaurant, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to riki's exuberance. he greets you with a warm smile, holding the door open for you as you enter.

the restaurant is cozy, with soft lighting and a welcoming atmosphere. as you sit down, sunghoon looks at you with a gentle concern. "yn, you seem a bit off today. is everything okay?"

his perceptiveness catches you off guard, and you take a deep breath, deciding to be honest. "sunghoon, i've been feeling really overwhelmed lately. with everything… between us, and riki. it's just a lot to handle."

he reaches across the table, taking your hand in his. "i know it's not easy, yn. but i want you to know that no matter what, i'm here for you. your happiness is what matters most to me."

his words are sincere, and you feel a sense of comfort in his presence. lunch passes in a blur of conversation and laughter, and for a moment, you can almost forget the weight of the decision hanging over you.

as you walk home later, sunghoon by your side, you feel a sense of peace, but also a deepening confusion. both riki and sunghoon have their own unique ways of making you feel special, and the thought of hurting either of them is unbearable.

the days continue to pass, each one bringing you closer to a decision you know you must make. your heart is tangled in threads of affection and loyalty, and unraveling them seems an impossible task.

the days stretch into weeks, and the weight of your decision grows heavier. you continue to spend time with both riki and sunghoon, each encounter leaving you more torn than the last. their unwavering affection and kindness only deepen your confusion, making it clear just how much they both care for you.

one afternoon, as you sit in your room, the setting sun casting a golden glow through the window, you decide to seek advice from someone who knows you well. you dial the number of your best friend, sooyoung, hoping she can offer some clarity.

“hey, yn!” sooyoung's cheerful voice greets you. “what’s up?”

“hey, sooyoung. i really need to talk. i’m feeling so lost right now.”

“of course. what’s going on?”

you take a deep breath and recount everything that’s been happening—the confessions, the dates, the growing tension between riki and sunghoon, and the pressure you feel to make a decision.

sooyoung listens patiently, her silence encouraging you to spill your heart. when you finish, she lets out a thoughtful hum. “wow, yn. that’s a tough spot to be in. but, have you thought about what you really want? beyond their feelings, what does your heart say?”

her question strikes a chord within you. you’ve been so focused on riki and sunghoon’s feelings that you haven’t truly considered your own. “i... i don’t know,” you admit. “i care about both of them so much. it’s hard to imagine hurting either one.”

“i get that. but you need to be honest with yourself first. it’s your heart that’s on the line here. take some time, really think about what you want. and remember, it’s okay to take things slow. you don’t have to rush into a decision.”

her words resonate with you, and after you hang up, you feel a renewed sense of determination. you need to find some clarity, for your sake and theirs.

the following weekend, you decide to spend some time alone, away from the noise and distractions. you take a trip to the countryside, a place where you’ve always found peace and solace. the quiet of the rural landscape offers you a chance to reflect, away from the pressures of the city.

as you walk along a serene path, surrounded by nature, your mind drifts to the moments you’ve shared with both riki and sunghoon. you think about the spontaneous adventures with riki, his laughter and the way he makes your heart race. you also think about the quiet moments with sunghoon, his steady presence and the sense of security he brings.

sitting by a gentle stream, you close your eyes and let the sounds of nature soothe your mind. for the first time in weeks, you feel a sense of calm wash over you. you realize that you’ve been so afraid of making the wrong choice that you’ve been paralyzed by indecision.

but sooyoung’s advice echoes in your mind: what does your heart say?

you spend hours by the stream, reflecting on your feelings, letting your heart speak without the interference of guilt or fear. and slowly, a sense of clarity begins to emerge.

when you return to the city, you feel lighter, more certain of what you need to do. you know it won’t be easy, but you owe it to yourself—and to riki and sunghoon—to be honest about your feelings and the time you need to make a decision.

riki couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty after your conversation. his heart ached, but he respected your need for time. still, he wasn't ready to give up. he believed that his love for you deserved a fighting chance, and he was determined to show you how much he cared.

the next morning, riki woke up early, his mind buzzing with ideas. he wanted to do something special, something that would remind you of the bond you shared. as he made his way to the dance studio, he thought about the times you had laughed together, the moments when you had been happiest.

at the studio, riki poured his heart into creating a dance routine, one that would tell your story. every move was infused with emotion, every step a reflection of his feelings for you. he spent hours perfecting it, driven by the hope that this dance would convey what words couldn't.

a few days later, he invited you to the studio. you arrived, curious and a bit apprehensive, but riki's infectious energy soon put you at ease. he greeted you with a bright smile, his eyes twinkling with excitement.

“yn, i’ve been working on something special,” he said, taking your hand and leading you to the center of the studio. “i wanted to show you how much you mean to me through dance.”

you felt a flutter in your chest, touched by his dedication. riki started the music, and as the first notes filled the room, he began to move. his dance was a beautiful blend of passion and grace, each step telling a part of your story together. you watched in awe, feeling the emotions in every movement.

as the dance progressed, memories flooded your mind—the laughter, the late-night conversations, the way riki always knew how to make you smile. you realized how deeply he cared for you, how much effort he was putting into showing you his love.

when the music ended, riki stood before you, slightly out of breath but beaming with pride. “yn, i hope this dance showed you how much you mean to me. i’ll keep trying to make you happy, no matter what.”

you felt tears welling up in your eyes, moved by his sincerity. “riki, that was beautiful. thank you for putting so much effort into this.”

he stepped closer, taking your hands in his. “i know you need time, and i respect that. but i want you to know that i’m here, ready to give you everything i have. just know that i won’t stop fighting for you.”

your heart swelled with gratitude and affection. “thank you, riki. i appreciate everything you’ve done. this means a lot to me.”

over the next few weeks, riki continued to make his feelings known through small, thoughtful gestures. he would bring you your favorite coffee, surprise you with little gifts, and send you encouraging messages throughout the day. his efforts were a constant reminder of his love and dedication.

one evening, as you were sitting in your room, your phone buzzed with a message from riki.

"hey yn, want to join me for a night walk? i know a place where the stars are amazing."

you agreed, and soon you found yourself walking alongside him in a quiet park, the sky above dotted with twinkling stars. riki pointed out constellations, sharing stories and making you laugh. his presence was comforting, and you felt a sense of peace.

“riki, thank you for tonight. it’s been really nice,” you said, looking up at the stars.

he smiled, his eyes reflecting the starlight. “anything for you, yn. i just want you to be happy.”

as you walked back, riki gently took your hand. the simple gesture filled you with warmth. you knew that his efforts were genuine, that he truly cared for you. but the decision ahead was still daunting, and your heart was torn.

back at your apartment, riki gave you a warm hug before leaving. “goodnight, yn. remember, i’m here for you, always.”

as you watched him walk away, you felt a mixture of emotions—gratitude, affection, and a deep sense of confusion. riki’s dedication was undeniable, and his efforts to win you over were touching. but you knew you still had to find clarity in your heart, to understand where your true feelings lay.

when riki arrived home, he found sunghoon sitting on the couch, a thoughtful expression on his face. sensing the weight of the moment, riki sat down across from him, bracing himself for what was to come.

“riki, we need to talk,” sunghoon began, his voice calm but firm. “about yn.”

riki nodded, his heart pounding. “yeah, i figured this was coming.”

sunghoon took a deep breath. “we both care about her, that much is obvious. but we can’t keep dancing around this. it’s not fair to her, and it’s not fair to us.”

“i agree,” riki said, his tone steady. “but what do you suggest we do?”

“we need to be honest with each other,” sunghoon replied. “we need to acknowledge our feelings and find a way to move forward without tearing each other apart.”

riki appreciated sunghoon’s mature approach, but the underlying tension was palpable. “i respect that, sunghoon. and i respect you. but my feelings for yn aren’t going away. i’m going to fight for her.”

sunghoon’s expression hardened slightly. “i get that, riki. but this isn’t a competition. it’s about yn’s happiness. we need to keep that in mind.”

riki’s patience started to wear thin. “you think i don’t know that? everything i’m doing is for her. but i can’t just step aside.”

“neither can i,” sunghoon said, his voice rising. “i’ve been there for her through so much. i care about her deeply, and i won’t back down.”

the calm discussion quickly escalated into a heated argument. voices grew louder, accusations flew, and emotions ran high.

“you think you’re the only one who cares?” riki shouted. “i’ve been doing everything i can to show her how much she means to me!”

“and you think that’s enough?” sunghoon retorted. “it’s not just about grand gestures, riki. it’s about being there for her, understanding her, supporting her!”

“i know that!” riki yelled back. “i’m not some clueless kid. i get it. but i love her, and i’m not giving up!”

“neither am i!” sunghoon’s voice was sharp, filled with determination. “we both want the same thing, riki. but we can’t keep tearing each other apart. it’s not going to help anyone, least of all yn.”

the room fell into a tense silence, both boys breathing heavily, the weight of their words hanging in the air. they stared at each other, the depth of their feelings and the intensity of their emotions laid bare.

finally, riki spoke, his voice calmer but still resolute. “you’re right. this isn’t helping. but we need to find a way to handle this, for yn’s sake.”

sunghoon nodded, the fire in his eyes dimming slightly. “agreed. we need to put her first. no more fighting, no more accusations. just... let her make her own decision.”

with a mutual understanding, they both stood up, the tension between them still present but more manageable. they knew the path ahead would be challenging, but they were determined to navigate it with respect and maturity.

as riki headed to his room, he couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions—frustration, determination, and an unwavering hope that, in the end, love would find a way.

the atmosphere in the apartment had grown tense. riki and sunghoon moved around each other like strangers, the weight of their unresolved feelings for you hanging heavily in the air. their once easygoing camaraderie had been replaced by a strained silence, and both felt the loss deeply.

despite the unspoken tension, life had to go on. riki and sunghoon still saw each other daily, their paths crossing in the kitchen, the living room, and the hallway. every interaction was charged with unspoken words, their friendship now shackled by the emotional battle they were waging.

sunghoon woke up early, determined to make the most of the day. he had been thinking a lot about yn lately, and he knew that if he wanted to win her over, he needed to step up his game. after stretching and planning out his day, he decided to start with something thoughtful and personal. heading to a quaint flower shop, he browsed through the vibrant array of flowers until his eyes landed on a bouquet of yn's favorite lilies. with a smile, he imagined her reaction as he asked the florist to wrap them nicely.

nervously standing at yn's doorstep with the bouquet in hand, sunghoon took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. when yn opened the door, her eyes widened in surprise, and a smile spread across her face. "sunghoon! what are you doing here?" she asked. handing her the flowers, he replied, "I wanted to give you these. I know how much you love lilies." blushing, yn invited him in, and they settled on the couch, talking and laughing. sunghoon listened intently, noticing the way her eyes lit up when she spoke. "yn, I’ve been thinking a lot lately. I really enjoy spending time with you, and I want to make more memories together," he confessed. yn looked into his eyes and said, "I enjoy spending time with you too, sunghoon. you always know how to make me smile." "because your smile means the world to me," he added softly.

later that afternoon, sunghoon took yn to a cozy café where they sat by the window, sipping on their drinks. he had planned a special surprise for her and nervously pulled out a small, handmade scrapbook filled with photos, little notes, and memories they had shared over the years. yn’s eyes widened as she flipped through the pages, teary-eyed. "sunghoon, this is amazing. you did all this for me?" she asked. smiling, sunghoon replied, "yeah. I wanted to show you how much you mean to me. every moment with you is special, and I wanted to capture that." hugging him tightly, yn said, "thank you, sunghoon. this is the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me."

as the sun set, sunghoon took yn to a park where they walked hand in hand before settling on a blanket for a small picnic under the stars. they lay on the blanket, looking up at the sky, and sunghoon spoke softly, "yn, I know things are complicated right now with everything that’s going on. but I want you to know that I’m here for you, no matter what. you mean so much to me, and I just want you to be happy." yn whispered back, "thank you, sunghoon. you’ve always been so kind and caring. I appreciate everything you’ve done." gently, he replied, "I’ll always be here for you, yn. always." they sat in comfortable silence, the stars twinkling above them, and sunghoon felt a sense of peace knowing that he had done everything he could to show yn how much he cared.

as days turned into weeks, yn found herself torn between sunghoon's steady affection and riki's fiery passion. each boy had his own way of showing how much she meant to them, and yn's heart was a tumultuous sea of emotions, unsure of which direction to take. despite her confusion, she valued her friendship with both, fearing that any decision might shatter the delicate balance they had maintained for so long.

meanwhile, riki and sunghoon's friendship continued to strain under the weight of their rivalry. both boys tried to maintain a semblance of normalcy, but the tension was palpable. their interactions were polite but distant, and their shared moments were often marred by awkward silences and sidelong glances.

one evening, yn decided to spend some time alone at a quiet café, hoping to clear her mind. as she sipped her coffee and stared out the window, lost in thought, she heard the door chime. looking up, she saw riki walking in, his eyes lighting up when he spotted her.

"yn! fancy seeing you here," riki said, sliding into the seat across from her.

"hey, riki," yn replied with a smile, though her mind was still preoccupied.

riki noticed her distant expression and leaned forward. "is everything okay? you seem… off."

yn sighed, resting her chin on her hand. "just a lot on my mind, you know? it's been hard trying to figure everything out."

riki's expression softened. "I get it. it's been tough for all of us. but I want you to know that I'm here for you, no matter what. we all are."

yn appreciated his words, but the weight of her dilemma still hung heavily on her shoulders. "thanks, riki. I just don't want to hurt anyone."

"you won't," riki said firmly. "we'll figure this out together. and whatever happens, we'll deal with it."

as they talked, sunghoon entered the café, his eyes immediately finding yn and riki. he hesitated for a moment, then walked over to join them.

"hey, yn, riki," sunghoon greeted, forcing a smile.

"hey, sunghoon," yn said, feeling the tension rise again.

the three of them chatted for a while, but the conversation was stilted and awkward. sunghoon and riki exchanged wary glances, each boy trying to mask their jealousy and frustration. yn sensed the underlying conflict and decided it was time to leave.

"I should get going," yn said, standing up. "thanks for the company, guys."

riki and sunghoon both stood, offering her a hug goodbye. as yn walked out of the café, she couldn't shake the feeling that things were only going to get more complicated.

that night, riki and sunghoon found themselves alone in their shared apartment. the silence was heavy, each boy lost in his own thoughts. finally, sunghoon broke the silence.

"we need to talk," he said, his voice calm but firm.

riki looked up, meeting sunghoon's gaze. "yeah, we do."

they sat down at the kitchen table, the air thick with unspoken words. sunghoon took a deep breath, trying to find the right words.

"I know this has been hard on both of us," he began. "but we can't keep pretending everything is okay. our friendship is suffering, and it's not fair to yn either."

riki nodded slowly. "I know. I hate that things have gotten so messed up between us."

"so what do we do?" sunghoon asked. "how do we fix this?"

riki sighed, running a hand through his hair. "maybe we need to be honest with each other. about everything."

sunghoon agreed. "I still care about yn, and I want her to be happy. but I also value our friendship. I don't want to lose that."

"same here," riki said. "I guess we need to figure out how to separate our feelings for yn from our friendship. maybe it's not about one of us winning, but about finding a way to support her and each other."

sunghoon smiled, feeling a glimmer of hope. "yeah. maybe we can."

as the night wore on, they talked openly about their feelings, their fears, and their hopes for the future. it wasn't an easy conversation, but it was a necessary one. by the time they went to bed, they felt a renewed sense of solidarity, determined to navigate this complicated situation together.

the next day, sunghoon decided to put his efforts into winning yn over with genuine kindness and thoughtfulness. he planned a day full of surprises, starting with a handwritten letter expressing his feelings and ending with a romantic picnic under the stars. riki, meanwhile, chose to give yn space, respecting her need to process everything at her own pace.

as yn received sunghoon's letter, she couldn't help but feel touched by his sincerity. she knew that whatever decision she made, it would be one that considered the feelings of both boys she cared deeply for.

the future was still uncertain, but with riki and sunghoon's friendship on the mend and yn taking her time to decide, there was hope that they could all find a way to move forward, together.

[whoahoney]

Not the Babysitter Pt 2

Steve Harrington x SingleMom!Reader

A/N: Part 2 of my abandoned Steve Harrington fic! This is actually the fic that got me back into writing last year before I tripped and fell down the massive rabbit hole that is Eddie Munson! Still love me some Stevie boy. 😩🤍

part 1 can be found here

Summary: Reader and Sara are back to rent another video from Steve, will he shoot his shot?

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Steve waited for the following week to come; her rental expiring Monday evening. When Monday morning came, he made sure he had nothing to do in case she came the same time as last week.

And he was right.

Around 9:30, the bell jingled and Steve could hear the hushed conversation between the toddler and mama, who looked just as breathtaking as the first time he saw her.

“Nana’s house??” Y/n asked the child holding her hand. “Yeah!” Sara smiled devilishly.

“We’re gonna have to call Nana first but I imagine we can make it happen.” Y/n said as she picked Sara up to put her on hip. That was when she met Steve’s eyes, and it almost knocked his socks off.

He felt absolutely ridiculous. His heart thudded in his chest and he worried she could see his chest throb with adoration.

“So, how was it?” He asked expectantly.

“The Care Bears never disappoint, what can I say?” She grinned and placed Sara on the counter like last time. “Hello, Sara.” He greeted with a smile, which Sara matched bashfully.

“Hello.” She responded softly before turning back to her mothers shoulder, the action tugging at his heartstrings. “How was your week?” Steve asked, now looking to Y/n who couldn’t help but feel all warm inside that he acknowledged her daughter.

“It’s been busy, but I can’t complain.“ She shrugged.

“—Mommy, down.” Sara kicked her feet. Y/n bit her lip and looked around the store for customers and then how far she would wander and what she would grab—

“She can’t hurt anything in here, really. Nothing customers don’t already.” He assured her.

“Okay, don’t go far, okay?” She helped her off the counter and watched her wander to the kids section.

“Okay.” Sara called without turning back.

Steve smiled, “And how was Sara’s week?” He nodded towards the curly haired girl, his eyes showing genuine interest in the way he looked into her mothers eyes.

Y/n about melted on the spot. “She had a good week! Watched Care Bears about 37 times.” They giggled. “Went to the park, painted some rocks—“ his smiled widened in wonder, “—Added tons to our collection, actually.” She chuckled, looking at her fingers nervously.

“Do you have a lot?” He asked.

Y/n nodded, “Mhm. Some of them are raw cuts we’ve picked up on our travels, or some polished ones you can get at the store.” He nodded, again, waiting for her to keep talking, waiting to ask her about ‘their travels’

“And you?”

“Me? Oh, I don’t have any rocks.”

“No, silly, your week! How was your week?” She giggled at his blushing cheeks.

He tsked at himself, averting his eyes to regain his composure. “Oh, I’m just living the dream, you know? Renting movies and sorting tapes is kinda my passion.” He said leaning forward and propping his elbows on the counter. Y/n chuckled at his joke, his heart soaring at the sound. He couldn’t wait to tell Robin he made her laugh.

“Whatever pays the rent, right?” She shrugged. He nodded, for once setting down the embarrassment he felt surrounding his occupation, and wondered when he could ask what hers was.

Y/n dug around in her purse for the video case and then handed it over to Steve. As he accepted it, he realized again why they were here in the first place. He thanked her and marked it on time in the system. “Is there anything I can help you find today?” He asked, returning to his position at the counter in front of her.

Y/n pursed her lips and sighed, “I could use Dirty Dancing if you have it.”

Steve smiled, “Lemme see if it’s here.” He strolled over to the romance section, leaving her at the desk to watch him walk away in his favorite jeans, which were now her favorite too. He ducked behind a display to scan the shelves and saw the empty place Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey belonged.

“Not there.” He sighed, coming back around the counter and typing away before letting the monitor load. Y/n flashed a patient smile that reminded him of the nagging guilt tucked away in his chest.

An elephant in the room he wasn’t sure if she saw too.

“By the way, I’m sorry… for assuming the other day, I really should’ve known she was yours,” Steve shrugged and ran a nervous hand through his hair, meeting her eyes again with a half hearted smile.

“It was dumb of me, and—“

“It wasn’t dumb, Steve. Everyone does it. I’m either her sister or babysitter, don’t sweat it.” Y/n shrugged, which made Steve feel a lot better. She craned her neck to spy her daughter in a near aisle, sitting down with three movies in front of her. Before Y/n took a step to get her, Steve spoke, “Oh, c’mon, I should’ve thought sister before babysitter, I mean, she looks just like you, she’s gorgeous.” He said without hesitation, glancing over at Sara with a chuckle as she began haphazardly stacking the videos from the bottom shelf as high as she could.

Y/n’s blush burned brightly at the compliment, her incredulous smile making his heart pound in his chest, “But uh, I’d still really like to take you out sometime, if you’re free of any other kind of, uh, committed relationship…” Steve stammered, which Y/n thought was adorable.

“Is that your way of asking if I’m single?” She asked with a sweet smile, cradling her chin in her hands. Steve’s face flushed pink at her direct approach. He nodded, wiping a hand over his face to ground himself. “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m doing.”

“I am very single, yes..” she smiled, his heart soaring at the sight.

Finally, things are going his way.

“but..” Steve’s heart stopped beating for a second before she spoke again. She noticed how his smile faltered, quick to explain herself, “No, no, no, I’d love to go out with you, really, I just don’t have a sitter too often, and I wouldn’t be able to… go out like other girls can.. I wouldn’t want to disappoint either of us, you know?” She said, placing a hand on top of his on the counter reassuringly.

Steve’s heart jump-started at the touch, immediately finding a solution to her problem, “I wouldn’t ever expect you to be able to go out with me like ‘other girls can’, and I love that.” He shrugged, Y/n shooting him a look of confusion in response.

“I want something bigger than what the girls around here want from me.” He sighed, sharing a knowing look with her, “I know you’re not gonna bullshit me, you know?” He could feel the oncoming rambles about to bubble out of him but he didn’t care, “Not to mention you obviously have your priorities in order, you’re caring, and responsible—and-and straightforward! That’s exactly what I want. And another thing—“ He leaned slightly closer for emphasis, “I’d be more than happy to take the both of you out to dinner, any time.” His eye contact unwavering from hers.

“Really?” She whispered. Steve wasted no time before he nodded just as gently, “Yes! There’s so many fun things we could take her to do around here, y’know? The parks beautiful, we could have a lunch there sometime! Or to the pumpkin patch in the… fall.” He cringed at his forward thinking.

Regardless, she smiled, her eyes shiny with speckled stars inside that he placed there with his sweet words and wishes. She nodded in response, placing her hand over his.

“There’s a really good ice cream store opening soon, too.” He shrugged and covered her hand with his other. “But for now, we could grab milkshakes at the diner. Maybe watch a movie some evening? Soon.”

Y/n all but melted at his words that dripped with sincerity. She sighed with a smile and nodded after a moment, a soft “Okay.” shocking Steve to his core. “Really?” He asked as if he’d imagined it.

“Yes, really.” Y/n blushed as the computer screen finished loading the inventory. Steve scrolled down, searching the list until he found Dirty Dancing, which was due back today.

“Just say when.” She said with quiet eagerness watching her daughter saunter over with a movie while Steve looked to her mother with adoration hidden behind his eyes. “I have good news and bad news,” He informed her with pursed lips as he came to lean on the counter again. Y/n sat the tape on the counter with a quirk of the brow.

“The good news, is that I am free for you guys any night this week after 6, but the bad news—” He leaned forward on the counter, “is that Dirty Dancing will not be back until tonight. If they show up on time.”

Y/n nodded slightly disappointed, but understanding until Steve came up with yet another solution. “But! I’d be happy to grab it for you as soon as it comes in.” He offered.

Her smile returned to her face at his words. “You really don’t have to do that, Steve, I can always come back.” She countered.

“I want to, really. It also gives me another excuse to see you outside of work.”

Y/n playfully rolled her eyes and dug through her purse for a pen and paper, Steve’s heart racing. She settled on a grocery receipt, ripping off a few inches to write on.

“This is my number,” She jotted down, “—give me a call later? After 7:30 should be good, and, uh, maybe we can figure out when we can watch that movie.” She slid the paper over to him, his index finger pulling it the rest of the way to him. He held it tightly, absolutely stoked at his accomplishment.

“I—I would love that.” He said sincerely, stifling his disbelieving chuckles, remembering he needed to check out Sara’s next movie, the Labyrinth.

“Ooh, I like this one.” Steve said to Sara, who grinned until he could hardly see her eyes and hid behind her moms legs. He rang up the purchase and fought the urge to pay for it himself as she handed him the $3.25.

He bagged it up and slid it over to her with a smile. “Have a good day, ladies.”

“I do it!” Sara insisted, grabbing for the bag. Y/n obliged her and looped her arm through the handles, dangling like a shoulder bag on the small child.

“You too, Steve.” She smiled and shook her head in sheer disbelief as she collected her daughters hand and made her way to the door.

“You’ll be hearing from me later.” He called after her.

She giggled and looked over her shoulder as Sara pulled her hand towards the door. “I’m looking forward to it.” She said.

“7:30!” He reminded after her as she pulled open the door to leave. “7:30.” She nodded and confirmed before the bell jingled behind her.

Steve’s eyes followed them to their car until they were safely inside and out of the parking lot. After that, Steve sank down to the floor behind the counter, holding the paper to his chest; feeling like a love struck fool in high school again.

The feeling worried him, made him uneasy, yet so excited and warm and dizzy. His chest heaved as he checked his watch to calculate the hours between now and 7:30 tonight.

9:45.

“Fuck!” His head fell back with a disappointed thud.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Steve’s day went by remarkably slow until Robin showed up for her shift after school. As soon as she opened the door, ready to inform him of a fight that broke out at lunch, Steve leapt over the counter to meet her at the door.

“ROBIN!” He shouted as he grabbed her shoulders. “What?! What??” She asked, looking for the fire.

“Look what I got today.” He said smugly, a proud smile hung on his face. Robin moved to the counter, Steve following intently.

When she looked up to see the paper resting between Steve’s fingers, her jaw dropped. “Is that—?” Steve couldn’t help but explain before she was able to finish, “Her phone number, that’s right, I have it. She gave it to me, I didn’t even have to ask, technically. She asked me to call her! Tonight!” He said anxiously pacing in front of her as she shrugged on her vest.

“I can’t believe she actually gave you her number.” Robin shook her head at the sliver of paper, fully convinced he’d blown it from the way he’d explained the first encounter.

“Yeah, me either. She’s incredible.” He shook his head at the thought of her.

“You don’t even know her yet!” Robin chided with a laugh. “I don’t have to know all about her to know she’s incredible. You’ll understand when you meet her someday.” He waved her off.

“I hope you make it that far.” Robin patted him on the back affectionately.

And for once, Steve really thought he would.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

When 6:00 came, Steve dropped everything to strip off his vest as fast as he possibly could and tossed it to Robin, who stood behind the counter checking out customers.

“Good luck!” Robin called to him as he pushed through the door and waving his thanks behind him.

Steve treated himself to some KFC because today felt like his day. Every song that played on the drive home made him think of her and Sara.

He buried the worry. The fear of attachment, of rejection. He didn’t wanna feel that kinda pain again, but he was willing to risk it because the girl made him feel different—wonderfully different.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

It was 7:25.

Steve was showered, fed, and waiting on his bed. He sat with his back against the headboard and his legs stretched out in front of him, next to the phone; his arms crossed over his bare chest.

Steve sighed deeply, deciding the quiet was too much. He crossed his room to the stereo, pressing play on his Cars tape and adjusting the volume.

He shook his shoulders out the way he would loosen them before a basketball game, and grabbed his small orange basketball to flop down with on top of his bed.

He threw the ball into the small hoop hanging from his closet with ease, realizing now that he didn’t want to get back up to retrieve it.

He groaned at the agony of trying to pass more time, then checked his watch again.

7:28

“Holy shit!” Steve panicked. His eyes searched for the slip of paper, realizing he didn’t have it with him the entire time he was home.

Steve dashed to the bathroom, searching for his pants before realizing he’d been responsible and put them down in the laundry room.

Finally he spotted the familiar Levi’s label and shoved his hands in the pockets. “Aha!!” He proclaimed as he unfolded the beautiful slip of paper.

Steve ran back upstairs and down the hall to dive onto his bed and dial her number.

He checked his watch as he pressed the phone to his ear; waiting for the call to go through, when he realized it was now 7:35.

His eyes shot open as her voice answered on the other end. “Hello?” She sounded as sweet as she did in person. “Hey! It’s Steve,” He said into the mouth piece, holding the phone with two hands like it’d slip away if he didn’t pay attention.

“Oh, hi, Steve! I was hoping it was you.” An audible smile in her voice.

He chuckled and tried to contain himself, “I’m uh, sorry I’m a little late, I was looking for my pants.” He said before smacking his palm against his forehead as she laughed.

“Your pants? Well, did you find them?” She asked amusedly. Steve relaxed and let himself laugh with her. “Yeah, I did, I-I was actually trying to find your phone number in them so I could call you on time.” He confessed.

“Well, I think you’re plenty on time. Don’t worry, you didn’t keep me waiting long, I just now got sat down with my dinner. It’s… been an evening, you could say.” She said with a bitter chuckle at the end.

“Oh? How so?” He asked, curious to hear about her day. “You don’t wanna hear about all that mess, really. Just toddler things. Screaming, potty training, vegetables, you know, the works.” She joked.

Steve smiled, his cheeks hurting at this point but not caring. “I’d be happy to hear about anything you wanna tell me. Besides, you mean to tell me my girl Sara has a mean-streak? I don’t buy it.” He said with a smirk.

Y/n scoffed, “Oh, boy, you have no idea. They’re little monsters, I tell you. The girl refuses to eat anything that isn’t macaroni or chicken. Broccoli? Forget about it.” She leaned against the wall of her kitchen, sat up on the end of her kitchen counter and twirling the phone cord in her fingers.

Steve loved listening to her, he could for hours and actually find everything interesting. So he did.

She told him about their daily routine; what it takes to get Sara ready to go of a morning, what it’s like when it’s just the two of them and what it’s like when she has to work. He found it all fascinating.

The tiny bowls of breakfast, the hair braids, the pink backpacks filled with emergency clothes in case of an accident at daycare, tantrums over forgotten sippy cups sounded more endearing than he knew they were supposed to.

It just was.

All of it.

“So, she does a preschool program at the daycare? What all can she do?” He asked.

“I mean, they do a lot of arts and crafts, but that does a lot more for their development than most would think. And she can tell you every color and almost count to 10 on her own.” She mentioned. Steve smiled at her pride for her daughter.

“Even if she’s a monster sometimes, it sounds like you’re raising a pretty great girl there.” He complimented which made Y/n swoon against the wall.

“You’re real sweet, Steve.” She said again.

“So I’ve heard,” He joked. “So I have to ask,” he started. Y/n’s ears perked at the change in topic. “Have you given my dinner invitation any thought?” He hoped.

Y/n smiled at his persistence. “I have, actually. And we were wondering if tomorrow evening was good for you?”

As if he’d have to think. “Tomorrow sounds fantastic.”

Part 3

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Taglist lovelies 💖

@weasleylovers @cutiecusp @frostandflamesfanfic @realsuper-dark @hermadroyalhiney @flowersownme @imagineme2you @moonys-star @daydreaming-mood @just-a-lost-princess @the-fairy-anon @loving-and-dreaming

[chronic-escapixt]

His Rose ~ Part 2

(Kai Parker x Bennett OC fanfiction)

content warnings/tags ~ Dark fiction, CNC, dubcon, yandere, murder, abuse, trauma, smut, innocence kink, mutual attraction, slow burn, manipulation, childhood trauma mentioned. Minors DNI

I don't claim ownership of The Vampire Diaries or its characters. All credits go to the rightful owner(s). I only own my original character(s).

Word count: 1.7k

K.P. Masterlist

Burning candles lined each side of the table where Rose and Kai sat across from each other with a map between them. He suggested they use Portland, Oregon as a starting point to locate the ascendant. He told her it was the hometown of the Gemini leader. He lifted the dagger and dragged the jagged edge across his palm to draw blood before dripping it on the map. In turn, Rose started the incantation: “Phasmatos Tribum, Nas Ex Veras, Sequitas Sanguinem…”

He watched, waiting for the location to reveal itself but nothing happened. Even the flames kept a consistent burn, failing to rise as they should in reaction to magical energy. She continued the chant, her voice wavering until he stopped her. “What are you thinking about right now?” he asked.

“I don’t know… I just don’t want to mess this up.” 

“That’s your problem. If you keep imagining yourself failing, then that’s what will manifest in your spells. Magic draws on your energy and emotions.” She nodded and took a deep breath to settle her nerves before beginning again. The crimson droplets twitched before they conjoined into one surging arrow as the candle fire erupted into a light roar. Rose peaked down at the map. “Keep going. You’re almost there.”

She continued until the blood gathered in one spot, the candle flames dying out in unison. “Oh. my. god. It worked…” she whispered as soon as her eyes opened.

“Don’t sound so shocked. You’re a Bennett witch. You know, my coven has a long history with Bennetts. Your magic has to be one of the most powerful of any coven, that’s why they seal prison worlds with it.” He searched her eyes, detecting insecurity, “you doubt yourself too much.”

Her face warmed, but she didn’t avert her eyes from his. “Thank you.. for the advice.” 

“Don’t mention it.”

Without wasting time, they got on the road to Oregon, with Kai taking the first turn behind the wheel. After only half an hour on the road the silence unnerved him, prompting him to strike up a conversation.

“You never told me how you ended up here.” He glanced at her.

“The truth is, my sister Bonnie was supposed to, not me. Her life was bound to the Other Side but it was falling apart and I couldn’t sit back and let her die... again.”

“So, you sacrificed yourself for her?”

“Yeah.. I guess I did. I was looking for any way to help, then this spell practically fell into my lap. It let me switch places with her and time was running out so… I just did it.”

Confusion contorted his face “But why?”

She turned sharply, “Because she’s my sister and she always puts everyone before herself, especially me. But more than that, she’s the smartest and most beautiful person I know. If anyone deserves life, it's her,” she frowned, “if I had more time, I would have told her that.”

He wanted to ask more questions because truthfully, the idea of loving someone, let alone a sibling that much was.. odd, but he saw how emotional it made her, so he went the reassuring route. "You can tell her everything you need to when we get you back home."

She nodded.

After a day and a half, it neared midnight when they arrived in Portland. Rose snored softly beside him having been asleep for the better part of an hour. Kai took over the last stretch of driving, glad that she was sleeping so he wouldn’t have to pretend to follow the map. He didn’t need the locator spell in the first place. The ascendant was exactly where he left it. The spell was a test that showed him she had the ability to do magic. Her low confidence and inconsistency could be an obstacle but he hoped that wouldn't be an issue come the eclipse.

They pulled up to a large white house at the end of a gravel road surrounded by a modest expanse of field and woodland. He nudged her awake before they got out and approached the house.

“The ascendant is here?” she asked, staring back at the facade.

“The spell led us to this address,” he confirmed.

An odd feeling took hold of her. Maybe it was dread, but she couldn’t quite place it. Whatever it was left her feet stationary at the cobblestone just before the porch steps. “Rose… Roseee, are you.. coming?”

She nodded and followed him, pushing down the indiscernible feeling.

Little did she know, this place had unpleasant memories for many, especially those familiar with its bloody history. Having grew to befriend his demons, Kai found a twisted comfort with the place that nurtured them through a childhood of abuse and depravation.

They searched the house together, starting with the ground floor and moving deeper until they reached the study. Her eyes locked onto the brown trunk against the far wall. She removed the heavy grimoires stacked on top and fumbled with the lock.

“I have a feeling it’s in here but the trunk is locked,” she stated. Kai searched the desk, opening drawers until he found a small key. He crouched down beside her and put the key in the lock, turning until the subtle click sounded. She reached inside, pulling out a circular piece of metal with a small reflective crystal in the center. 

Before the night ended, Kai brought her down to the nearby caverns which he said would be an ideal location to access direct moonlight for the spell. Rose followed in silent awe, tracing her fingers along the granite walls that glistened in hues of blue. They stopped below the skylight which granted direct access to the moon above. “It’s beautiful,” she remarked breathlessly. He turned to her, immediately noticing the way her eyes sparkled, taking on a silvery color in place of their usual hazel hue. Her gaze met his just before he could look away and pretend he wasn’t staring.

“We should head back and get some rest. It’s been a long day,” he finished with a stretch and a yawn. 

Bubbles rose to the surface as he topped her glass with Pinot Grigio. Kai insisted she relax while he made dinner in exchange for the meal she made him the other night. She complied despite her desire to help, not only because she knew her way around a kitchen but also just to be close to him. His energy, his scent, the slightest physical contact gave her full body goosebumps.  

Sip after sip had her inhibitions waning until her eyes shamelessly traced his body, the contour of his back, the ever moving muscles that bulged along his arms as he worked with his hands. He was saying something, but it all faded into the background. His broad shoulders were strained by his tight t-shirt, sleeves clinging to his biceps. She silently thanked him for taking off that hoodie before cooking. He poured some wine into the hot pan before bringing the bottle to his lips and taking a generous sip.

She watched with baited breath.

He swallowed then turned to her suddenly, “Do you like shellfish?”

“Yes!” She blurted out loud. If her face could get any hotter it would have, “I mean, yeah… shellfish is fine,” she murmured quietly. Kai turned back to the stove, stifling a chuckle.

They ate a shrimp pasta with a white wine reduction and finished off the bottle of Pinot. Perhaps it was the wine or the way he looked at her like she was the most interesting person alive but she felt open enough to tell him all about her life back in Mystic Falls.

Although he liked to talk, Kai was attentive to her stories, vampires, love-triangles, originals and travelers. He took particular interest when she mentioned a pair of twins, Liv and Luke Parker. “Bonnie met Liv in her occult studies class. She’s really powerful. She gave me a few lessons in channeling.”

Kai looked up from his wine glass, “what about the guy... Luke?”

Rose thought for a second, “Oh, I only met him once. He was nice and I heard he was even more powerful than Liv.”

As the meal wrapped up, he asked if she enjoyed it. “It was delicious. Where did you learn to cook like this?” 

He chuckled. “I’ve had to cook for myself for almost 20 years now, so I’ve picked up a few things along the way.” 

“How did you do it? Spending so many years alone without anyone to talk to must have been difficult,” she inquired.

Kai offered a strained smile, “Loneliness isn’t new to me. I've always been by myself for as long as I can remember.” 

“Why?” she asked. 

“My dad kept me away from my family. He said I was an abomination. In his defense, I’m not like other witches in my coven.. I can’t make my own magic. I can only siphon it from others. Ever since I was little, he forced me to stay away from everyone else or face whatever punishment he felt like doling out. Early on, I wanted to be around them, but I quickly realized it was safer to just stay to myself.”

“Kai, that’s horrible. He couldn't be more wrong about you.”

He raised his hand, “If I touched you right now, I could siphon your magic right out of your body. Doesn’t that scare you?” 

Rose stared back unwavering, “I’m not afraid of you.” She closed the distance between their hands brushing her fingers against his. “I trust you and I’d let you have some if you asked, I'm not that good with magic anyway.” 

For the first time, she did something he didn't expect. He could almost get lost in her soft touch and genuine eyes but couldn’t afford to. Reminding himself of his plan in which her purpose did not include making him vulnerable. His hand slid away and he rose from the table.

“I should get started on the dishes.” 

“I’ll help you,” she chirped after him. 

“No-no, I got it,” he insisted. 

She frowned, suddenly noticing his mood change. Whether she had crossed a boundary she wasn't supposed to or the topic of his childhood made him uncomfortable (or both), she didn't push it any further, hoping that by giving him space, he would feel more at ease and open up to her about his past but clearly, that wouldn't happen tonight. Rose stood up and said goodnight before heading upstairs.

[slumberbash]

　◟ ͜ ◞ 　　 ˚　　　۶𝜚　　A Much Needed Call Out Post.

okay, sorry this is my first and *probably last* post on tumblr since i only use this for rentry graphics and finding inspiration, but this is serious enough for us, the slumber bash, to come out about this a smidge bit early! also per request of a couple of our friends.

this is about the "soot sprites", mainly bixbee / amber. they've been stalking, harassing, and copying us and our friend pearl for a *long* time after we figured out how abusive, nasty, and disgusting they've been to us, our friends, and their own partner. they may also be grooming the other soot sprite, sevyn / muette as well.

we were scrollling through tumblr for rentry inspo and such for a revamp of our interests rentry, and came across a tumblr that looked oddly familiar...

(by the by, if you find and see this like i know you will since you stalk us on absolutely everything, maybe you should clean up your tracks and unfollow us instead of showing your obsession on us and keeping us followed. we don't use tumblr that much unless its for rentry. imagine being THIS sloppy!)

A) thats an image of pearl that wasn't supposed to be spread anywhere else but their tiktok.. which is an ACTUAL crime on top of others they've committed which we could call the police or go to court for. also, we'll get into the responses later and you'll see their stalkerish tendancies come through!

B) that picrew that has black hair and blonde highlights looks a LOT like us and if this is the case and they're an introject of us (which is fucking weird knowing how they were with us and how badly they hate and practically abuse all the introjects they split off of their "abusers") and if that's true we will be asking that and ANY introject they may have to SOURCE DETACH because we dont like that type of stuff and if they're trying to act like they're us (they already have been!) and or pearl... this shittty proshipper limbo rp just got so much worse.

C) they're using PEARLS artwork for another introject which is again, weird as fuck and they didn't even ask permission to do so. why are you obsessing that much over people who are already over you that you split so much of them and their characters and use their images and art that shouldn't be touched by nasty ass proshipper losers?? dont pmo. stop being so embarrassing and maybe be someone your partner can look up to without thinking about it sexually since you have a size kink. yeah, remember telling us we couldn't wear our demonias because we were taller? smh. get a grip.

this was the following conversation between pearl and bixbee. pearl rightfully called them out shortly after i called attention to it because we were semi spiraling due to seeing them being brought up again when we were just trying to do our rentry revamp. bixbee tries to act like a saint per usual and tries to justify their actions which is hilarious because they're always unjustifiable. they say they want no contact with pearl but states they know they post their face publicly on tiktok and probably where they got it from? that is disgusting and they know better at their grown ass adult age!

"please never contact me again" you're always looking for ways to stalk and keep tabs with the people you think have fully 100% wronged you, please rethink your shitty proshipper ass actions and NEVER try the fuck again?

you may see pearl being extremely harsh but we've been dealing with this shit for so long. we're all tired of their bullshit. we currently have a google document of everything that went down between everyone so we'll follow up with this blog when its done, hopefully it'll be posted on a very special day this month!

if you go to their account now, you'll notice how they've actually deleted the post and the comments on it after pearl finished ripping into their ass, as pearl should've. im shocked they can show even an OUNCE of respect after the manipulation, abuse, and grooming they've put us through and the blatant abuse and money manipulation they've put pearl through.

if you see this, please block bixbee and all their accounts and stay safe! bixbee is a genuine danger and harmful person to be around and is grooming their partner, younger sibling, is a fetishizing proshipper who's stolen multiple of our items, lied a ton of times about how situations went down, copied our rentries and used our users for rentry links (/pawtheticbf /pawtheticgf /lillipet), use us and our "aesthetics" (our innocence and trauma.) to make kid ocs who are in proshipping and sexual relationships with older men, which is gross because they know what we've been through, and purposefully tried to trigger us publicly on twitter with our dni and so so much more!

please take caution and spread awareness (reblogs and likes are really appreciated,,) and i'll finish my blacklist document as quick as i can. im disabled and a bit of a forgetful ditz when it comes to stuff i dont really like talking about, but this genuinely needs to be talked about and spread, because they're disgusting and think they run shit when they genuinely don't and need to check themselves into a mental hospital and GET BETTER for the sake of everyone, but we all know they won't.

this is all, thank you for reading and be sure not to use the top and bottom divs we made! they're nf2u and if we find out that bixbee aka the peppermint system has used these dividers, we will be taking legal action that we've tried so hard to avoid doing since we are being the bigger person (not literal! <3) and moving on and accepting what was done to us and bettering our mental state and focusing on our friends and boyfriend!

by the way, the tags are to reach the fandoms we remember they're in, so sorry for bothering you with this content. (they're not into p:eg but it's related to our divs, sorry p:eg lovers!)

[seongminiz]

R U Mine ? - park serim

minors dni ; soft dom!serim x sub fem!reader ; 2432 words

warnings : jealousy/possesiveness , reader is insecure , praise , pet names (princess , good girl , baby) , fingering , unprotected sex , breeding , marking , does serim having a driving license count as mischaracterization ? , he also has a massive cock amen . an attempt at proper grammar but only partially proof read so if u find typos or me being an idiot n writing small comments in between no u didnt

first long-ish work i post on here feeling kinda nervous . no fr this is nerve wrecking idk im not good at writing descriptive smut ffs :D but i loved writing it ngl also something kinda upsetting happened today so it ended up a little more angsty than i intended it to be bc what r my fics if not insane projecting lol. the title is an arctic monkeys song bc oomf (elif) helped me change it (it was a lovejoy song before .... :] )

you and serim have been in a relationship for a few months now, and while of course you have some small arguments here and there, there have never been any big issues between you two. you love him, he loves you, and neither of you would ever doubt that. that is, until you end up being serim's plus one at some kind of event: you've been following him around all evening bc u have almost no idea of whats going on.

now, you're not usually the jealous type, you're okay with serim speaking to women other than you ffs that's his job, but the way some of them at this event are clearly flirting with him sets your jealousy issues off bad. watching your insanely handsome boyfriend be - or at least act - completely clueless about how they're clearly putting the moves on him, especially with how good he looks dressed like that, white shirt underneath his suit jacket straining against his toned body, leaving little to the imagination.. it pisses you off, to be completely honest.

you can't stand it, you can't stand how so many women, most of them you find clearly prettier than you, are able to get his attention like that, completely ignoring you even if you're basically clinging to his arm.you feel inadequate, just a mere presence they barely acknowledge with a small smile before going back to talk to serim. your serim.

what you fail to notice, though, is that serim is well aware of the shift in your mood. he doesn't know exactly what it's about, but he was pretty quick to sense how upset you had become just in a few minutes, trying to talk to as many people and as quickly as possible so you two could get out of there and he could give you his undivided attention.

of course, you don't know, too focused on dwelling on the jealousy building up inside you. you barely notice when serim gently shakes you, trying to catch your attention 'are you okay princess?' you sigh 'yeah.' your short reply isn't of any reassurance to serim, his thumb lightly rubbing your hip 'wanna go home?' you shrug, trying to hide your (very obvious) upset expression 'if we can, yes. but if you still have to... do whatever you were doing, we don't have to-'

'okay, got it. i'll talk to this one last person, and then we can go home, alright?' you nod, his arm leaves its place around your waist and you once again grab onto it, following his steps. your heart drops when you realize that, unfortunately, said person he has to talk to is a woman. which wouldn't even be that bad on its own, you can stand it for a few minutes (you really can't, but maybe you can convince yourself..), but she also happens to be the most attractive, hottest woman you've seen through the entire evening. you tune out the entire conversation, trying not to stare at her because everytime you take in another detail you feel like crying.

when serim finally cuts the conversation off, you politely - albeit coldly - bid your goodbyes to the woman, walking with serim out of the room and towards the parking lot. when you get to the car, you don't even wait for serim to open the door for you - he's dead set on giving you the full princess treatment - climbing in the passenger seat and slamming the door shut.

that's when serim realizes, this isn't just you feeling a bit under the weather, you're genuinely upset - and you weren't at the start of the evening, so he knows something that happened between then and now is the cause of your behavior. the fact you're giving him the silent treatment does irk him a little, but he knows that's how you act when something really bad happens, and he could never get mad at you for it.

despite his concern, serim still calmly gets into the car, turns it on and starts driving out of the parking lot and into the bright, artificially lit streets. glancing at you from time to time, he finds you looking out the car window, arms crossed over your chest, deep in thought. when you reach a particularly empty and straight part of the road, serim takes the chance to place his hand on your thigh, something you're both used to during your late night drives. what he doesn't expect, though, is for you to move your leg, wiggling out of his grasp (not that hard, since he wasn't putting that much strength in it in the first place).

serim raises an eyebrow, eyes still fixed on the road as his hand helplessly goes back to the wheel. his concentration on driving is what makes him miss the way you look back at him, concerned on whether you've gone too far or not. stopping at a red light, serim's eyes immediately find yours, desperate to get to the bottom of this 'what's wrong princess?' you shake your head, absent-mindedly reaching for his hand in search of any possible physical comfort. 'nothing, you're going to think it's stupid anyways,' you mumble. serim frowns, reaching to move a strand of hair behind your ear 'i would never. whatever it is, it's upsetting you, and I don't like seeing my baby like this.' his voice comes off more stern than he intended to, but his soft touch is there to remind you that he's not actually upset at you. he's just your concerned boyfriend.

serim moves his hand from the side of your head to your chin, tilting it so you have no choice but look at him 'so? what is it?' you pout. 'i'm jealous.' the look that crosses serim's face is a puzzled one 'what?' you shrug, averting his eyes 'you spent the entire night talking to other women, all better looking than me. i'm jealous,' you admit. serim is about to answer you, when the light turns green, the cold hue illuminating both of you. serim sighs, speeding up. 'we'll talk about it when we get home, yeah?' you nod, scared that you might have upset him. even if his voice didn't let that out, you can't help but wonder if he's disappointed in you.

serim parks in front of your apartment complex, a few seconds of you two sitting in the car in silence pass, until serim sighs, taking the keys and stepping out of the vehicle, making his way around it to open the door on your side too. god forbid he let you do it on your own again. you walk out, grabbing the hand he extended to you. everything is so silent, you again question if he's genuinely mad at you for how you acted. you knew you were being immature, giving him the silent treatment and all, you're just getting a taste of your own medicine, but you couldn't help it.

you were so caught up in your thoughts you didn't even realize you got to the elevator until the faint 'ding!' of it startles you. you step inside, never letting serim's hand go. 'you know i would never cheat on you,' serim breaks the silence, and your eyes widen in shock to the realization 'that's not what I was implying! i know you wouldn't! i just... those women were all so much prettier than me, and more mature and sophisticated, and hotter and... i'm just me. I felt so out of place, like i wasn't at your level. and it's totally not your fault! but i couldn't help but feel jealous, like I wouldn't even blame you if one day you decided i wasn't enough for you and left me for one of them. and i know you wouldn't but... it still hurts to think about it.' you start rambling, missing how serim tries to stop you a few times by calling your name.

when you finally look up at him, he has the softest smile plastered on his face and, before you can say anything else, he plants a kiss on your lips, his hands immediately finding their way to your hips. 'i would never chose anyone other than you. you're as perfect as you could be, i swear,' you can feel his breath against your lips as he talks, your heart beating furiously against your chest 'i don't care about any of them. you're all i need and you're more than enough, you're too perfect for me' he continues, only stopping to kiss you again. the elevator comes to a halt, and thats your cue to separate, but you know this isn't the end of it. serim's hand finds yours, as he lowers himself to speak into your ear 'i'll show you just how perfect i think you are, yeah?' he whispers, a shiver running through your body at the implication 'will you let me?' you nod furiously, your reaction making serim chuckle 'good girl' he says, kissing right below your ear before guiding you out the elevator.

the short way to your apartment is agonizingly slow, constantly interrupted by stealing kisses from each other and, when you finally manage to step inside, serim has you immediately pinned against the door, locking it behind you as he roughly kisses you. his hands are everywhere on you, your waist, your thighs as your dress slowly rides up to leave you more and more exposed with each movement.

'you don't even know how insane you've been driving me with this dress,' he groans, lifting you up with no effort and, as you wrap your legs around him, you feel his bulge pressing against you, a small moan leaving your mouth. 'serim... need you,' you whimper against his lips, a thin string of drool dripping from your lips onto his. serim smiles, capturing them in yet another kiss as he starts to carry you towards your shared bedroom.

he places you on the bed, your dress lifted all the way to your hips revealing your completely drenched panties. serim can barely contain himself, seeing you all spread out like that, for his eyes only, but he wants to make this all about you and your pleasure.

he starts to slowly undress himself, unbuttoning his shirt before slipping your dress off. your hands brush against his sides, tracing his defined body and tentatively going lower to rid him to his pants - no matter how many times you've seen him like this, it always leaves u in awe how a man this perfect could ever exist, and be your man at that. serim gently takes your hands in his, pins them over your head and places a soft kiss on your lips 'let me do all the work for once,' he says, hooking his fingers in your panties and sliding them off your legs.

before you know it, serim is three fingers deep inside you, opening you up for him bc no matter how many times you've taken him, you'll never get used to just how big his cock is. you've been incessantly whining for god knows how long, about how much you need his cock, you need him, and every time without fail serim replies that 'you already have me, princess, more than anyone in the world, you have all of me.' and proves his point by leaving yet another mark on your skin.

your thighs, your neck, your chest, every unmarked portion of your skin is soon bruised to the point anyone would assume he was the jealous one in the relationship. and maybe he is, just a little bit, recalling how revealing your dress - now discarded somewhere on the floor - was on you, so perfect on his princess but a little too perfect for any other men to look your way.

when serim removes his fingers from you, you're a mess, hair sticking to your forehead, breath heavy, tears running down your cheeks and ruining the makeup you worked so hard on for the event. but that's how serim likes you the most, when you're fucked out before he even gets to be inside of you, his pretty little mess, just for him.

and he tells you exactly that, as his cock finally sinks into you, groaning and rambling about how much he loves this sight, how he's so lucky to have you and how you're his and his only. the sweet praises partially distract you from the stretch, until he bottoms out and you both sigh in unison.

it's not long before serim starts thrusting into you, his pace picking up immediately but never getting quite as fast or rough as it usually would be. he wants to take it slow, savor the moment, his hand holding your hip while the other cradles the side of your face so your eyes don't stray away from him. it's hard to do so, when each thrust hits the perfect spot in you, as you fight the urge to let your eyes close.

'mine,' you moan against his lips, feeling him twitch inside of you 'all yours, princess. and you're mine too, can't stand it when everyone's eyes are on you, you're too pretty for this world.' despite the downright nasty predicament you're in, you can't help the way your heart fills with love at serim's words. you pull him in another kiss, your legs wrapping behind his back to push him deeper inside of you.

'then make me yours in any way possible,' you whisper. serim chuckles, slowing down his thrusts. it's not the first time he cums inside you, but before it was just a result of having unprotected sex. now it's a deliberate choice, to make you his in the most intimate way possible. 'yeah, princess? should i fill you up, mark you from the inside so everyone knows you're mine? would you like that?' you nod, squeezing around him as a particularly hard thrust hits a specific spot inside of you that has you letting out an high pitched moan.

serim's hand leaves your face, his rough fingers rubbing your clit and, before he can even tell you to, you're cumming, shaking as serim helps you ride out your orgasm and reaches his own, spilling inside of you as incoherent praises leave his mouth, telling you how good you've been for him and how much he loves you.

once you've both calmed down, serim presses a kiss to your forehead, holding you tight in his arms so that you can know you're really, uniquely his, and he's not going anywhere.

[beebopboom]

Words of a Wise Angel

(Intro, part 1, part 2, part 3)

Finally made it to the end - four post later for a character that only has around 10 minutes of screen time - and there was going to be more

Originally this was going to be how the Metatron fashioned himself the king in God's game of chess and was going to relate it to Shakespearean Kings heck we were even going to go into Monty Python and the Holy Grail - but honestly I kind of just lost the motivation……maybe in the future I'll revisit.

However I still got shit to say.

(oh my god how did this get so long - I promise I’m a little sane over here)

So let's look into his actions in the show and maybe fill in some blanks

Disclaimer: just want to say I am focusing on The Metatron (obviously), his pov, and how he twist things - not what happened between Aziraphale and Crowley in the final 15, besides like one thing - just heavy emphasis on that

The Judge

(Of a very weird courtroom)

The trial itself seems to mirror Hell's trial in the way there is no true defense - I’m sensing a pattern

In the trial of Gabriel he is centered in the middle - at this moment neither left or right

He doesn't cut in until Gabriel starts going on about what an angel just gotta do sometimes- and brings up a reminder of what happened to the last angel of his position that started with this way of thinking - it after all is a great story for controlling and best not be repeated because then it looks bad on Heaven's part

This establishes The Metatron as a character whose main concern is the reputation of Heaven - that even though this is an action that is casting out worthy he won’t can’t do it because then it would be an upheaval.

But he frames it as a kindness, as if he was doing a favor - it's manipulative, it keeps the "Heaven is all good, here look we are doing a special favor just for you” narrative going

After Gabriel leaves he moves to the side and brings up that it is taking him a while to come back but for the most part takes a backseat to the happenings around him until they start talking about ringing the alarm bells -

He tells them they are just going to have to find him and he is amused about it. Which tells me a few things

that he doesn't want this getting out yet- fewer that know the better

he didn't actually care about what happened to Gabriel - in fact this might even be a better outcome for him in the way he just doesn't have to deal with him any more

he doesn't actually think they will find him

this might just be a great story - let’s just let it play out

Now this is all happening right before episode 1 perhaps bleeding into the time where Crowley and Shax are talking (which begs the question of how does Shax know) - so it is days before we see him again, a very eventful few days

The First move

When he does show back up he’s in a corporation and getting coffee - second in line behind Mrs. Sandwich.

And his eye is on Crowley - he watches Crowley converse with these two humans and bring Mr. Brown back

Now the coffee shop - I lied I do have something to add

So before even ordering what is he witnessing? Maggie and Nina having a moment - where Nina accepts Maggie's offer of help and asks her to go get milk for her and we as an audience can see this is a big moment for Nina.

Now imagine what it is to a staple of Whickber St. and someone who is not hesitant to tell her opinion about Nina's relationship and just so happens to be first in line, Mrs. Sandwich. I would not be surprised at all if she made a remark to Nina - a remark The Metatron overheard, so now he has the following information

they are friendly with Crowley

something is up with their relationship

But now it's his turn to order - and Maggie is back how long did your order take Sandwich!? - and asks for his oatmilk latte with almond syrup and his whole human picking coffee over death being predictable thing - and yet this isn't the end of their conversation

The next time we see Maggie and Nina they are getting ready to head back over to the bookshop but what got them on this conversation in the first place? That's right I'm suggesting the Metatron said or did something. Nothing to overt but something that got them thinking, talking, and maybe wanting to confront a certain duo about it

But back to the Metatron - he has entered the bookshop and interrupted Michael

Now the Metatron has always been a character that uses human expressions and his funny little words. But he comes right out the gate with balderdash and piffle so lets talk about them

They mean practically the same thing and yet he repeats it twice so why? I think it has something to do with their origins

Balderdash - although it is not certain it is said to originate during Shakespearean times, around this time though would have been used to describe a mixed drink

Piffle - started to appear 1860 - 1870ish

They are also both games and when you search them together it is a british show that goes into the origins of words - so yeah just keep those dates in mind

He uses Crowley to point out who he is - the demon who has a bad history with him, another subtle reminder of what going against Heaven gets you.

Then he starts up with the praise for Aziraphale who actually says his name, and we see a shift in tone from when he is addressing Aziraphale and then ordering the Archangels back to Heaven - which here is another one of the human phrases, spit spot

Spit spot - I don't know exactly when it was created but it is most commonly recognized as something Mary Poppins said, which the books where published between 1934 - 1988 with the movie coming out in 1964

But anyway (I promise there is a point to those) the Archangels reaction to him, Uriel's specifically. They are nervous, they are stuttering, they are praising him - they are groveling in front of him as if he were a king, and it reminds me of the scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz. But the Metatron has no time for them and dismisses them. (Lord I talk about this moment a lot)

Ah, just him and Aziraphale now (not really) and they need to have a chinwag

Chinwag - around the 1870s

In response to Aziraphale saying he has made his position quite clear he offers him the coffee - which we know is not something Aziraphale prefers to drink - he offers another option that Aziraphale would not normally take, foreshadowing much?

well I say offered but really it’s kinda shoved in his face.

He separates Aziraphale and Crowley - leaving Crowley behind with a glare and ominous music which really is the first blatant instance of us knowing that the something that is up - is bad

and guess who enters the bookshop - Maggie and Nina here to talk about relationships and interference - convenient timing almost like it was influenced by someone

We join back with the Metatron when he is telling Aziraphale he doesn’t have to make a decision yet and to go tell his friend the good news and then he blends back into the crowd to walk to Muriel at the coffee shop and encourages them to read books. He proceeds to stand up and look into the bookshop, watching

Now the bits of conversation we see from Aziraphale- I see this as a few possible different things

this is the actual conversation and Aziraphale is telling Crowley an edited version

this is the edited version that he is telling Crowley and something else happened

he didn’t edit it and this is actually what happened and what was told to Crowley

but all I know is we didn’t see this full conversation and it reminded me of the misunderstanding conversation between the Nuns last season - either way it's what we got to work with people

Before moving on there are a couple particular sentences I want to point out from this conversation - and I will get to these later

"It's why Gabriel came to you in the first place, I imagine. There are huge plans afoot, enormous projects, and I will need you to run them.”

"Yeah, I've been looking back over a number of your previous exploits, and I see that in quite a few of them you formed a de facto partnership with the demon, Crowley. Now, if you wanted to work with him again, that might be considered irregular, but it would certainly be within your jurisdiction to restore your friend, Crowley, to full angelic status”

The Aftermath

Upon entering the bookshop and getting Aziraphale to say what they both already know happened out loud - he immediately chimes in with the rhetoric of “this is how Crowley always was, he chose this and his actions are his own doing - you Aziraphale are making the right choice here, you can’t change those who don’t want to, those who are damned”

congratulations Metatron you got what you wanted - pls this is sarcastic I’m still salty

Now that he has basically taken care of everything in his way of getting Aziraphale to come with him - he asks if he is ready to go (at no point yet has Aziraphale actually said yes) and asks if he needs to bring anything with him, a dig and a probe to see if there is anything else. He then just starts walking, not waiting for Aziraphale - a manipulation tactic to pull him along

and on the walk to the lift and in waiting keeps giving Aziraphale praise and then finally revealing The Second Coming as he gets in the lift which makes Aziraphale have to choose - it’s the final one and he still has to make it seem as though he actually had a choice.

But what does this all mean? What was the point of doing all this? Why does he need Aziraphale?? What’s with the word choices?

What’s with your funny words, Magic Man?

some of the dates might have rang a little familiar - Shakespeare? the 1860s? Mary Poppins? They are all around the times Aziraphale and Crowley were meeting up - well duh they’ve been meeting up since practically forever

the Mary Poppins one you could look at two ways - the actual time period they were being released, which would have been the 1941 or 1967 dates, or the fact that Crowley inspired his Nanny look after her

Looking at past exploits indeed you were Metatron, or perhaps you were even there hmmmm…

EDIT

The Metatron just used words that are from some important times,

1601 - discussing their arrangement (them working together)

1862 - their holy water fight and then not talking to each other

1967 (or 1941) - they start working and meeting up again and the holy water disagreement is put to rest.

and then he eventually hits him with, "if you wanted to work with him again”

which interestingly enough seems to hit the insecurities that Aziraphale expressed in the coffee shop, on the head - that loss of structure and purpose.

Aziraphale and Crowley also just did some big moves on their own in the bookshop and heaven - ones they weren't working together on. “You came back” is starting to hit even harder

End Edit

But also The Metatron put emphasis on the word friend when referring to Crowley, for the most part he referred to him as “demon” until then, until he pulled his final card - such an interesting word that had such an impact on Aziraphale in 1941 - well played Metatron well played (I hate it)

Now this could have all been a coincidence - if Aziraphale hadn’t picked up on the same thing.

When he interrupts Crowley he says something along the lines, “what’s that lovely human expression, hold that thought”

Hold that thought - came into play around the 70s through 90s and gained popularity due to the rise of broadcast television, like the News. But there is one definition I want to point out as well - “Used to acknowledge that one's attention needs to be diverted from what a speaker was saying.”

or in other words, “remember all those human expressions the Metatron was saying, yeah those have meaning and so does the one I’m about to say - we are being watched don’t pay attention to my words” but well we aren’t gonna talk about it (pls I’m still coping)

The Metatron has certainly done his research - bringing up words and phrases from important times in their relationship - and The Metatron is certainly watching just like he was now

Why does he need Aziraphale?

Now if you remember back when I discussed who The Metatron was in scripture there is actually an interesting overlap between these two with Tree of Knowledge and The Tree of Life - The Beginning and The End. Aziraphale was always meant to have a special part in The Second Coming for the exact reasons The Metatron said - an angel of his talents, an angel who knows about humans - the angel that guards them

But even just ignoring all that - What literally just happened before he showed up

called for Heaven’s help in a time of trouble - the portal

discoporated a fuck ton of demons

declared War on Hell

took charge and was a mediator between Heaven and Hell

and he did this all on his own (I really doubt he counts Maggie and Nina)

Aziraphale did exactly what Heaven had planned - what Gabriel was meant to sign off on - he started back up the plan he put on pause with Crowley - he made that first move

but also the 25 Lazarii miracle - which set off alarms in Heaven - and the Halo - which also set off alarms in Heaven. That’s twice in one week. One would imagine The Metatron would take notice.

EDIT

Let's switch gears a little and talk about why The Metatron mentions Gabriel coming to Aziraphale in their little talk

Whatever other reason Gabriel may have had for going to Aziraphale, giving him something etc., it was all done under a baseline understanding.

That Aziraphale would get it, be a safe space with an understanding that they don't want everything to end for some similar reasons (their demon partners) - and Aziraphale did help him despite not knowing this exact baseline

He helped the Supreme Archangel hide from Heaven and escape punishment - who’s to say he wouldn't help other angels?

The reason The Metatron doesn't care about Gabriel and Beelzebub running off together is because they went off

Their relationship doesn't have the same level of connection to Earth and humans as Aziraphale and Crowley - they didn't want Armageddon to happen because they wanted to keep seeing each other, the Earth part was optional - a matter of circumstance as it was the easiest place to keep seeing each other. Now that they were gone and together - his reason for objecting is practically void.

That is not the same as Aziraphale and Crowley

But also it works in the Metatron favor - Beelzebub is out of Hell. The Grand Duke of Hell just up and left the same time Heaven is getting their replacement Supreme Archangel - it's now time for Hell to be in shambles.

All while The Metatron just came to snipped away the bud - that seed of safety on Earth if another Angel decided to go against Heaven’s plan.

If he gets the angel that put a stop to Armageddon- that chose the Earth over Heaven - that protected his executioner just at the hint he was on the run from Heaven. If he brought that angel back to Heaven he would not be able to be that anymore, do those things anymore - not with being closely monitored anyway. Keep your enemy close and all that.

And he pulled out all the stops to achieve this - the clothes, the words, the coffee

End Edit

But The Metatron also still needs the Bookshop for some reason - a bookshop he left in the care of an angel he just encouraged to read

So he gets the best of both worlds - The rogue angel back under his thumb and an angel that will listen to him going through the bookshop

What does this all mean? What’s the point?

Well he’s an angel in dark, an angel in reverse

When we went over the tarot cards he’s been linked to, but especially the King of Cups, he seems to represent the reverse side of them while trying to maintain the upright version- which is interesting

He’s an angel in trouble, an angel who needs a scapegoat

The Archangel Metatron is a controversial angel, his existence, his story, his position of power. He even has a story under his name where he is punished and demoted by God when someone assumes him to be another God in Heaven

The Metatron as a character that likes to be surrounded by fours, covered on all sides. And each and every one of those angels has done something to get them in trouble - meaning he has dirt.

After all every scribe needs their soldiers - however backhanded it is

and maybe he has something big he is hiding of his own - using the others faults to hide his - something concerning the Book of Life - either him not having it or at least not having all of it

But anyway he has set himself up to be protected from any fallout - he has not been seen, only heard for centuries probably. Sending angels in his place to do jobs (yes, I’m talking about the change to Gabriel being the one at the airbase - I’m giving it a reason)

Until now - until he walked into that bookshop and made himself known. He put himself in play thinking he knows the game, thinking he just brought in the perfect angel to blame things on if they all go wrong(which they will)

but really he just opened himself up to the start of his downfall. Double edged sword and all that

For the next season I imagine he is going to keep up the pleasantries, take up that backseat role, act as a guide, being subtle in his manipulations - he after all believes he got away with it - just all those things until it all comes crumbling down and he gets exposed, and at the center of it all is Aziraphale (and then Aziraphale gets offered his position which he turns down, saying no to Heaven and choosing to be with Crowley) what? I said nothing.

(I think that’d be funny and this is a comedy after all)

It’s the Punishment of an Angel, the Fall of a King

————————————————————————

and that’s all folks - that’s the end- for now. Hope you’ve enjoyed -I had to watch the final 15 so many times and I’m totally ok

[meetmyothersouls]

Thank you to @justagirlthatlovedtoread for the prompt!

Just You

Jonah’s POV

Warnings: just fluff

I don’t like shopping.

I much prefer staying at home reading or watching old films with y/n. But today, she encouraged me to get some time in with pals. And, much to my dismay, she’d already contacted Paul, one of my oldest friends, and of course he was down to meet up.

I’ve been trying to be an active part of our conversations, but I can’t keep my mind off of y/n. She’s probably curled up reading her new book that just came out…I secretly think that’s why she kicked me out for the day. I can’t blame her though, I can’t keep my hands or my mouth off of her for her to focus on reading. I smile to myself just thinking about it.

“You all good there, mate?” Paul asks me, snapping me out of my day dream.

“Ah, yeah, sorry.”

We begin walking in the direction of our favorite pub, but stop at a cross walk. Then, as if calling out to me, I see a shop across the street. I stare at it, the jewelry on display by the window. The rings. Fuck. I imagine y/n as my wife and the thought alone almost makes me run home to her right now.

I don’t even notice the crosswalk changing and Paul making his way across the street. People walk past me, some bump into my shoulder but all I can think about is the massive urge to-

“Jonah!”

I turn around to see Paul walking back across the street, he’s dodging other pedestrians and waving to cars as he makes his way back over to me.

“Jonah-” he must catch my line of sight because his eyes focus in on the jewelry shop and he smirks at me. “What are you thinking, bro?”

I run a hand through my hair and shake my head. “I’m thinking you gotta get me away from here before I buy a ring.”

I’m in and out of conversation with Paul and I last about 3 beers before I decide I’ve had enough. I’m too distracted. I tell Paul goodbye and walk home. I’m not drunk by any means, maybe slightly buzzed, but I’m just ready to get back to her.

I open the door and she’s exactly where I thought she’d be; on the couch, curled up with a book. She’s got a steaming cup of coffee next to her, and she’s got her glasses on that she only uses for reading. The ones I got for her because she said her head was hurting from eye strain. She wears them every time she reads now and she looks so damn hot in them.

She’s lost in her book, she doesn’t even hear me come in. I shut the door and her head pops up.

“Oh hi, baby,” she says, her soft sweet voice filling the air between us. She slides the glasses off and puts her book face down on the sofa, saving her place. She pads over to me and throws her arms around me. God I love her. “I thought you’d be out much later.”

“I wanted to come back the second I left.”

She stands on her tip toes to kiss and I crane my neck down to meet her lips. I can tell she meant it to be a quick kiss but I let it linger. She giggles against my lips and, lucky for me, deepens the kiss. “I know,” she says, when I finally allow her a breath. Her hand falls away from my body and I grab it. She smiles and pulls me to the couch with her. She slides her bookmark back into her book, because folding pages of a book to save her place is blasphemy in her eyes. “Honestly I wanted you back as soon as you left.”

“Yeah?”

“Mhm.” She sets her book down on the coffee table with a heavy thump. How she manages to devour books with that many pages is beyond me. I’ve read books, of course, but not like she does. “So, what did you and Paul do?”

I draw a blank. All I can think about is the jewelry shop. “Oh nothing much. Had a few beers.”

“Of course you did, I’m shocked you didn’t stop at McDonald’s on the way back,” she jokes.

“Just wanted to get back to you.”

“What’s going on in that head of yours,” she asks.

“Just you.” I lean forward and kiss her. She begins to lean back on the couch. I follow her, my body hovering over hers. “And how in love I am with you.”

“Jonah,” she says, like she’s shocked. “I love you too.”

I start kissing her slowly. She relaxes into the sofa and her fingers make their way into my hair. Her legs fall apart allowing me to settle in between them. “You’re my best friend, you know that?” She asks in between our kissing. And as soon as the words fall from her mouth I realize how foolish I was for not stopping at that shop before coming back home.

“Y/n, I forgot something.”

“What?” She says, still dazed from our kiss. “What’d you forget!?”

“Just…something…I’ll be back I promise!”

In less than thrity minutes I’m back across the street from the jewelry shop, only this time I go in. I’m immediately greeted by an older woman, maybe in her late 60s. She puts her book down and I smile. That’s what y/n will be like when she’s older.

“How may I help you, dear?”

“I need to buy a ring,” I say a little too quickly.

“Well then, you’ve come to the right place.”

There’s no one else in the shop so there’s no one else for her to help, she focuses on me and asks who I’m shopping for.

“My girlfriend,” I answer.

“Ahh…soon to be finance I’m assuming?”

I smile and nod.

“Tell me about her.”

“Well, there’s so much I could say about her. I could talk about her for days on end. She loves to read and drink coffee. And she tells me about all her stories like she’s lived them herself. And I love to hear about them. Sometimes I’ll ask her about a book just to hear her talk. And the way she looks at me…god her eyes. She looks at me like I’m the only person in the world that matters…that’s all I need to see to know she loves me.”

I don’t realize how long I’ve been talking until I look up at the shop keeper.

“I’ve got just the ring for your book lover.”

I come back home having been gone an hour. The door is locked. I fumble with the key and it falls to the ground. Y/n must hear me, because before I even bend down to pick it up, she answers the door.

She throws her arms around me and pulls me into a hug. She kisses my neck and all over my face. “Finally!” She says, kissing my lips quickly. “You’ve been gone forever! What did you forget anyways?”

“This,” I say, getting down on one knee. I pull the box out of my coat pocket and look up at y/n. Her hands go to her mouth as she looks down on me.

“Y/n, will you marry me?”

Tags: @danielabetancourth @luna2034 @wandamaximoffbaewrites @twinkledinkleg-blog @justagirlthatlovedtoread @paramorelvrr @thedonswife13 @miniemonie2001 1 1 @jonahhauer-kingg @crazyyynyyyy

[jmagnabo92]

Sailing to Freedom - Ch 10 - One Last Chance

@aroyallybigbangrwrb

Alex gives his mom one last chance to do the right thing before making a decision on whether or not he should follow through with their plan to expose the lies with Liam and Pez.

AO3

***

September 25th, 2020

As soon as they make it into port with cell signal, Alex sends his mom a message about needing to talk to her.  He also sends a text to the group chat with June and Nora stating that after talking to his mom, he wants to talk to them. 

Then he reaches out to Liam as Henry reaches out to Pez.  Time zones mean that it’ll probably be some time before they get anything back, so they decide to go out and enjoy Casablanca.  They don’t expect to get any attention since no one knew where they were going, but apparently, people have been on the lookout for SS Princess Dorothy which has been noted in the press as Henry’s yacht, and they were noticed by early afternoon.

Despite wanting to see more of the city and enjoy another date, the attention they’re getting is making them anxious and they figure it’s better to get back to the safety of their ship.  They still manage a photo though – a terrible tie and gaudy crown, but a tradition that they have yet to fail at any of their ports. 

Luckily, they had gotten responses from Pez and Liam, so by the time they’d gotten back to the ship, they could split up and talk to them alone. 

Alex makes himself at home in the kitchen, sitting on a stool all alone as he calls Liam on his computer.  Despite the somewhat awkwardness between them, Liam’s grinning when he appears. 

“Bout time I heard from you,” he teases.

Alex laughs.  “Yeah, well, I was kind of on an internet – cell phone blackout.  Although, I suppose I should’ve reached out to you sooner.  After you helped me out in January, and I realized how badly I screwed up with you –”

“Hey man, look, you got nothing to worry about,” Liam says, cutting him off.  “While I may have been upset for … a long time, I’m not anymore.  I get it – certain things make sense now.  Something about everything going on and the way you sounded so uncertain and confused when you asked if it meant something – well, it put things in perspective.  I know you well enough that things kind of clicked and … no apologies necessary.”

“God, you’re fucking amazing, you know that?  Aside from our conversation last January, we hadn’t talked for a year before that and here you are spotting that there’s articles questioning my character and defending me like it’s your job.  I can’t even say I deserve that sort of loyalty –”

“Of course you do!” Liam says, cutting in.  “You have no idea the effect you can have.  You were amazing all through school.  My best friend since we were four years old.  You never once abandoned me even when you were the star that everyone wanted, and I was the tagalong.  How many times did I overhear someone suggest you leave me behind only for you to tell them to eat shit and walk away?  I still remember the first time when we were twelve, you didn’t know I was there and I was sure that you’d leave me behind, only for you to say that and nearly get in a fight if it weren’t for Mr. Jackson intervening.  It meant the world to me, and you never faltered.  Like come on, man, you deserve loyalty in spades and it’s a credit to you that despite the fact that it’s been four years since graduation that the team (and some of your admirers) got together quickly to defend you when I asked.”

“That really means a lot, man,” Alex states, trying not to get choked up.  “Seeing everything that people were saying and then, seeing you jump in – I mean, you’re always my best friend, but I thought – it’s hard to imagine that with everything that happened between us that you might feel like maybe I hurt you too much to defend me.”

Liam sighs.  “I won’t say that it didn’t hurt me.  I kept hoping that even with you off to DC that you’d come to realize what was really going on with us.  I kept waiting for you to have that aha moment.  I wanted it to mean something to you, but I was too stuck in my own head to voice it.  I was worried that admitting I was gay and there was something there that we would never be able to come back if you didn’t feel the same way.  But you never did, and then I met someone else, and I took a step back to sort-of heal from a heartbreak I never thought I’d have.”

“I broke your heart and you still –”

“I realized after dating Spencer, who’s also bisexual, and that phone call that you probably were like him, in a way.  As in, maybe convincing yourself you’re straight or pretending to be straight because it’s easier to be America’s heartthrob as a straight man than as a gay or bisexual man,” Liam states. 

“Then I thought about how you’d do anything for your ma, and maybe you wanted to come out, but she might’ve asked that you didn’t.  You already had marks against you as it was when it comes to voters and whatnot – why add your sexuality if you don’t have to?  So, I realized that maybe I put you in an unfair position and I shouldn’t hold it against you.”

He pauses and shakes his head.  “And then, it was basically confirmed when that photo came out and they immediately tried to cover it up.  I knew, then, that something was up and that could’ve been part of the issue.  So, I had to do something – I guess, part of it was ‘cause I blamed your ma for why we never – why we’ll only ever be best friends, but the other part was because I felt bad for blaming you when I was just as dumb.  I never should’ve expected you to know what I was feeling, it wasn’t fair on you, you’re not a mind-reader.”

Alex lets out a relieved breath, he didn’t have to explain, not really, Liam already understands, but he still deserves something. 

“You’re right about that.  Most of it anyway.  I wouldn’t let myself think about what those nights with you were beyond best friends having fun together.  I was just … so overwhelmed with everything and I just – I didn’t want to face it because if I did … and it blew up in my face, then I don’t know how I would’ve survived till graduation without you.  And then, the campaign happened, which came with expectations – even the papers making assumptions about me and Nora – and my ma won, and I was the First Son with even more expectations, and I deliberately just didn’t think about it.  Put it completely out of my mind.  Just like I tend to do with everything that involves feelings and confronting potentially difficult things.  It’s not an excuse, and it doesn’t get me off the hook – because I did hurt you and deserved better than that –, but I knew what I had to do.  So, I focused on what I was meant to be and then Henry went and kissed me and threw my world out of whack.  Still, I – I never wanted to hurt you.”

“It’s not your fault that I was too afraid to say something, but it’s in the past, and since you were the one to make me realize I was gay, I feel like I gotta support you on your delayed bi – I’m assuming – awakening.  It sucks that it wasn’t me but as long as he does right by you, that’s all that matters, especially since I wouldn’t have found Spencer without the whole mess.”

“He does,” Alex admits.  “In fact, apparently, he’s been crushing on me since we first met but because I didn’t realize that I was bi and I thought he was a racist asshole (he’s not – long story), I started a one-sided rivalry with him, and well… somehow I ended up here on his boat, talking to you about the chaos of my life.”

Liam laughs.  “I’m here for it.  Honestly.  I think it’s hilarious – well, somewhat hilarious – and I’m dying to know the full story.  I assume you’re calling so that I can get the story and use it to help you.”

“As long as you’re game for it.”

“Oh, you know it.  I’m taking your ma keeping you in the closet personally and I wanna do whatever I can to help you.”

“Brilliant!”

***

“How’d the talk with Liam go?” Henry asks as Alex appears on the top deck to get some time in the water. 

They’ve decided to go a bit off the coast to go swimming but not far enough that they would lose signal since he still needs to talk to his mom.

“Well,” Alex says as he sits to apply sunscreen to Henry, who had immediately handed him the bottle.  “I still feel bad despite his assurances that apparently, I broke his heart.  He says it’s just as much as his fault for never saying anything and that we were probably better off because he wouldn’t want to be in the news for dating me, and how I had enough going on and how maybe my mom wouldn’t have even allowed it given what’s clearly going on and –” he stops and shakes his head as he applies the lotion to Henry’s back.  Henry probably doesn’t want to hear about what could’ve happened with Liam.  He’s just relieved that he and Liam could go back to being best friends like the silence between them for ages hadn’t happened.  “It doesn’t matter.  The point is, he’s game for it if things don’t change.”

Henry turns to look at him.  “You know it’s okay to talk about it, right?  If you want to discuss Liam and your conversation, I’m here to listen.  I told you about the blokes I was with.”

“Yeah, but that’s different.  You said yourself it was just sex with them, but with Liam we were – are – best friends and –”

“And I’ve never had an issue with you being best friends with Nora or the fact that your last kiss before me was her,” Henry states.  “You are deeply good friends with your exes, I’m okay with that.  I am aware of it, I know your heart, Alex.  I won’t get jealous if you talk about them or your time with them.”

Alex hadn’t realized that he is now best friends with two of his exes, which is strange, but if Henry doesn’t care…

“I just figured… Nora’s different… she’s a woman, so … and that, well, most present boyfriends wouldn’t want to hear about the one that should’ve been my bisexual awakening –”

“I’m fairly certain that we’ve established that we are not normal boyfriends.”

“That’s fair,” Alex states. 

He goes back to applying the lotion, relishing getting his hands all over Henry, as he tells him about Liam.  He’s more than happy to explain the situation and how they’re in a better place now.  He’s relieved that they could pick up where they left off.  He actually set up a date for after he talks to his mom, who hasn’t gotten back to him, so that they could hash out where they’re going from here.  He hopes that Henry and Liam will like each other. 

“And that’s it, so how were things with Pez and Shaan?”

Henry had needed to check in with Shaan so that he’s aware as Henry’s equerry of their plans.  So far, he’s been pretty mute on the chaos, ever the professional with taking Henry’s determination to stay away and be with Alex in stride.  He’s been told not to give certain information away to the crown or any others and has been obeying that despite the crown pushing back. 

“Things with Pez went rather well.  It’s not really a surprise.  He hadn’t considered a plan similar to Liam’s, though he’s game for it.  Apparently, he was half-convinced in lieu of discussions with us that we had agreed with the White House’s lies.  He just couldn’t fathom why your sister and best friend would lie on us like that.  I think it actually hurt his fancy of your sister a little bit.”

“She might be relieved at that,” Alex states, with a small chuckle.

Although June has enjoyed Pez’s gifts and attention, he knows she’s still far more interested in Evan, her boyfriend from college that she has been writing love letters to.  Ever since she confessed that she had come to the White House partially for him, he had been encouraging her not give up on love for herself.  It’s why she’d taken to writing more to Evan in recent months.  If it wasn’t for the secret of him and Henry, he probably would’ve been invited to the Lake House. 

He wanders what he knows about the situation, now…

“Yes, I do believe that Pez is not to be as lucky as I was with our fancies of the Claremont-Diaz siblings,” Henry teases, as he turns around for Alex to apply the lotion to his front. 

Technically, Henry can do that himself, but Alex can’t resist doing it.  He loves the excuse (as if he needs one) to have his hands all over Henry.  If the Alex of this time last year could see him now, he’d be very confused. 

“And Shaan?”

“Erm, well.  It wasn’t the best conversation.”

“It wasn’t?”

“He’s a bit frustrated.  Not with us or the crown, he knows that he’s secured in his position, if a bit bored fielding requests for my presence.  He’s got the answer down pat and he thinks the crown may be coming around.  Between Bea and my mum – yes, my mum, can you believe it – the Crown is slowly realizing that they’re stuck.  It’s obvious that we’re together and that we can sail off into the sunset without anything holding us back, but they’re holding onto the hope that the election will be more important enough to possibly entice us back into hiding.  They’re losing hope by the hour, though.”

Alex hums continuing his work with the lotion.  “If your mom’s on board, then why is he frustrated?”

“Oh, well, that he didn’t want to tell me.  He’s been ever the professional, as is his duty to me, but I was concerned about him, I admit, and he eventually told me that there was a conflict of interest that he didn’t inform me of for the hope that it wouldn’t come up.”

“Well, don’t leave me hanging, baby, what conflict is that?”

“He’s involved with Zahra.”

Alex looks up from where he was rubbing lotion on Henry’s chest to his face to see if he was just messing around with Alex because there’s no way that Zahra could be in a relationship with Henry’s equerry and thinks that’s alright but then also think it’s some sort of ethical issue for Alex to be dating Henry.

“You’re kidding me.”

“No, sadly not,” Henry states with a sigh.  “Apparently, they agreed that they would keep their personal and professional lives separate, and it wouldn’t cause issue, but she took issue with the fact that he knew about us all along after the DNC when she discovered our relationship.  They worked that out, but when she discovered that you’ve been with me since shortly after you stormed the palace and he didn’t tell her about what we’ve been wanting and how we aren’t hiding anymore, it caused a bigger issue…”

“Because Shaan’s bound to do what you want to do – no matter what it means to the crown or the White House – and it was Zahra’s idea to lie on us.”

Henry nods.  “The conflict has troubled him because this conflict will only continue regardless of us coming out or not.  We may want to do things that conflicts with what she wants and that’s an issue.”

Alex frowns.  “I’d hate to think that we’re causing an issue for them, but…”

“It was their own choice, just like this is ours,” Henry assures him.  “Given that there was already a conflict when you stormed the palace and he wouldn’t have told me at Zahra’s request, it’s not as if he hasn’t realized there’s an issue that he has to correct.  If he feels that his relationship is interfering with his job, then he has to make the correct decision for his life.”

“Does that mean that he’s going to quit on you?” Alex questions. 

His frown deepening at the mention of Alex’s storming the palace.  It sounded like Shaan and Zahra had made the decision for them and Alex’s refusal to leave was the only thing that made it possible to be here.  He didn’t like that thought.

“Not likely.”

At first, Alex can’t contemplate the other option if not quitting his job with Henry, but then, he realizes and says, “Oh, she’s going to hate me even more now.”

“She can’t blame you –”

“But she will,” Alex states. 

He knows it in his heart.  She’s been giving him bs since the DNC, since before – when she gave him that list of approved girls to be seen with and yelled at him about the hickey that Henry left after Berlin.  Now it all made sense, she wasn’t just angry about not knowing and the ‘ethical question’ as if Alex’s relationship had anything to do with ethics, after all it’s not as if he’s the president and Henry’s the King.  They’re just two people related to (in Alex’s case) temporary world leaders.  They’re merely figure-heads, their relationship has no bearing on any world relationships. 

Not like Zahra’s job and Shaan’s job.  The fact that they together decided to force the friendship as a way to appease the masses might have been due to their relationship.  The hours of tea trying to make a deal between the UK and the US could’ve been argued as an issue.  The fact that she probably used her personal relationship with Shaan when Alex stormed the palace to potentially make things at a permanent end… only for Shaan to cave at Henry’s command, which they were lucky Henry had heard Alex...  All of those things were possible.  There was a bigger ethical issue with them than Alex and Henry.

Actually, the fact that they tried to sell Henry and June without any ‘ethical’ concerns makes Alex think that it was never who they are to the world, but rather the fact that they’re both men.  Maybe Liam was right about Alex’s sexuality somehow being a problem and he doesn’t like the thought of that.

Henry grabs Alex’s lotion-soaked hands.  “Hey, whatever happens, we have each other, and fact is, we can hide from Zahra for as long as your mom’s president – even if that’s another four years.  And then, well, it won’t matter anymore.”

He’s right, of course.  They could disappear for a while, pop up in ports and surprise the world only to disappear again. 

But he doesn’t want to be in hiding – that makes it feel like the people against them win. 

“You’re right, but I don’t want that.  I want to be out and proud.”

“Then, so shall we be,” Henry assures him.  “Now come on, finish applying the lotion so that we can get some fun in the sun and water.”

“And forget about this mess for a while?”

“Exactly.”

***

September 26th, 2020

It’s early because it’s so late for his mom.  She’d messaged him that she would contact him at 10PM DC time without considering that it’s 3AM where he is.  It doesn’t matter, clearly, because she didn’t offer an alternative timeframe. 

So, here he is, at the desk in their bedroom at three in the morning.  Henry’s reading on the bed just out of sight of camera, there for emotional support. 

They both thought it better that Henry remains unnoticed and unseen if possible.  Playing on his mother’s sense of, well, being his mother to let him be heard and fix this mess. 

It’s her final chance.

One last chance.  That’s what he’d been willing to give before going forward with their plan. 

He hopes that she’ll listen, but even with June and Nora abandoning appearances in support of him, he hasn’t seen the White House change its’ tune. 

So, here he is.

The call connects at 3AM (or 10PM) on the dot. 

He tries to give a smile that he doesn’t feel when he sees his mom still dressed as if she’s being the president and not his mom.  He half-expected her to be in more casual clothing, but he supposes that, given the conversation, she might be thinking of this as more than a mother-son chat.

“Hi mom.”

“Hi, sugar.  How’re you doing?”

“Well, I’ve been better,” Alex states, plainly.  “You?”

“Frankly, sugar, I’ve been a bit stressed about the campaign.  Late nights, long days, more appearances since none of the White House Trio has been attending theirs, anymore.”

He would’ve if he hadn’t been banned, but he doesn’t say that.

“I didn’t ask them to stop going on appearances.”

“I didn’t say that you did, Alex, but your sister seems to think that it’s some sort of solidarity with you to skip out on appearances when we’re this close to the election.  I need the support from my family –”

“And you think I don’t?” Alex asks in a near demand. 

“Alex, you’re thinking emotionally instead of logically.  Logically, it doesn’t make sense to be causing all of this unnecessary chaos when all you had to do was stay in your room until the election was over.”

“You wanna talk logic, ma?  Logically, all you had to do was not lock me up and no one would’ve noticed anything was amiss enough to go searching through security cams just to find out what we’re hiding.  Logically, all you had to do was say nothing.  Ignore the photo and let people speculate.  Logically, you should’ve listened to your son and his wants with regards to his life and reputation.  Have you read the papers?  The articles?  The comments?”

“Yes, I have and while it’s unfortunate that people have assumed the worst about you and we plan to rectify everything later after the election, they wouldn’t have assumed the worst if you had just come home when the photo was discovered.”

It takes Alex a second for him to register what his mom is saying before he shakes his head.  “You really think that is the problem?  That I left rather than be locked up?  That I continued on my trip with Henry rather than you lying about our relationship to the world and using my sister and best friend to do it against my wishes?”

“Surely you understand that a scandal like this –”

“It’s not a scandal!  It’s two people who are figureheads, but not actual world leaders, who fell in love, and kept it a secret because we weren’t ready to come out.  We weren’t hiding because it was some sort of scandal, we just didn’t want the world to comment on what makes us happy.”

He pauses, before plunging into explaining all of the reasons – he has a list – that this wouldn’t qualify as a presidential scandal which goes on for at least fifteen minutes before finishing with, “It would have been scandal if it was you with the queen.  Or Henry’s mom, maybe.  But me and Henry?  We aren’t a scandal, and if we were then you know who else would be a scandal?  June and Henry.  And yet, you’ve been trying to push them forward as some sort of star-crossed lovers or some such nonsense.  You not only encouraged her to lie in interviews, but she had twice as many appearances as I did before you found out about me and Henry and decided to fire me and lock me away in my room.  Do you know what that looks like to me, ma?”

“You know that I’m not homophobic, and don’t you dare suggest that I am, Alexander.”  There’s a sternness to her voice that makes it clear that she’s aware how it looks, even if she stands by it.  “The situation with you and the prince is far different than it is for June and the prince.”

“No, it’s not, and you know it.  Why are you denying it?”

“It doesn’t matter,” she says, dismissively.  “It’s too late to change courses now.  So, I’d like for you to come home and give an interview about how you know it looks bad, but you aren’t dating the prince, you just needed a break from the stress of the campaign and to figure out your options since you left my campaign and the prince offered to go on holiday as friends.”

Alex is so stunned that he can’t even fathom this is real.  His mother had always promised that she’d never make them be something that they’re not, yet, here she is literally asking him to be something he isn’t. 

Does being president really mean that much to her?

“Did you know then?  That Zahra lied about me being okay with the lies and whatnot?”

“I assumed that you would come around to accepting that it was what was best.”

“Yeah, for you,” Alex scoffs.  “So, I guess asking you to do the right thing and correct the lies is out the window?”

“The right thing right now would be for you to come home and do as I ask.”

Now, he has his answer.  “No.  I won’t do that, and I guess now I know what’s more important to you between your career and your son and it’s certainly not me.  You always told us once that you’d never ask us to be someone we’re not – you told me when I was forced to come out to you that you wouldn’t make me do something I didn’t want to do.  That it was my choice and that you’d support me as long as I was 1000% sure that he is my future.  Well, he is, and I hope you realize that I’m not going to give him up just so you can be re-elected.”

Before his mom can even respond, he says, “Goodbye, mom and good luck.”

He exits the meeting with a sigh and ignores it when she calls him back right away.  She’s made her decision, and he knows his. 

Still, he sits there, sadly.  He always looked up to his mother, and between her and Raf, he’s really feeling let down lately.

He feels Henry’s presence within moments, his hands running down Alex’s arms in a soothing manner.  He gets up and hugs him burying his face in Henry’s neck. 

He feels Henry’s arms tighten around him, which gives him the sense of feeling loved and protected.  He knows that Henry’s too polite to rage about Alex’s mother and what she’s doing to him in the way that Alex wouldn’t hesitate to do if the roles were reversed.  Yet, he doesn’t have to say a word to be the comfort Alex needs. 

Still, he’s not going to sleep being this upset, so he leans back and says, “Wanna go for a midnight swim?”

“Anything you want, love.”

***

Hours later, it’s well passed noon even by DC time, when Alex finally calls the girls.  They’d already spoken and confirmed the plan with Liam and Pez, giving them all of their photos and the timeline of their relationship.  They didn’t care about privacy or holding things back to protect their images.  At this point, they want the world to know the truth. 

They’re happy and together.

Still, he needs to talk to his sister and Nora.  They were a party to the lies and his ruined reputation, and they need to air things out before their journey to Bridgetown, Barbados.  He doesn’t want this hanging out there.

This time, he’s in the kitchen.  He’d been wanting to cook something for dinner, and it helps make him feel a little bit more normal.  Plus, it’ll distract him enough that he’ll be able to have a civil conversation because he’s still very angry when he thinks about what they did – even if they’re blaming Zahra and his mother.

The call connects and he sees them together – looking anxious but trying to seem like they aren’t worried about him or the conversation.

“Alex!  Hi!”

“Hi guys,” Alex says, not quite looking at the camera.  “Figure we should talk considering…”

“I’m so sorry, Alex.  I let myself believe what I was told was the best, but I promise that as soon as I got your text and realized everything that I’ve dropped everything to make things right – I just …mom won’t listen and –”

“June, stop,” Alex states.  “I know that mom won’t listen.  She seems to be blaming me for leaving when that isn’t the problem, and I know if I hadn’t left or hadn’t had the space away from the White House to realize a few things that I might’ve fallen in line and done exactly what they asked you to do.  Fake dates and pretending that you’re dating the love of my life, but –” 

Here he pauses, unable to explain why he’s feeling what he’s feeling since if he’d been there, he knows that he would’ve jumped to following the company line.  Fake dates, read articles about how June and Henry are perfect together.  Pretend like America’s Sweethearts were together again even though he hasn’t felt that way about Nora in years.  Hell, he’d sooner return to being with Liam than Nora.  It's not that he doesn’t love Nora, it’s just… they’re friends and he doesn’t want more than that.

“But it’s different because we should’ve known better.  I never should’ve listened to Zahra; I should’ve made sure that it was what you wanted and refused to do it because it honestly makes no sense.  Why is it okay for me to date Henry but not you?  That implications are not pleasant.”

“Yeah, mom didn’t appreciate me pointing that out,” Alex states, tonelessly.  “It does feel that way though, especially when you consider that Henry and I made our feelings clear.  We thought the Crown would be the problem, not the White House.”

When he glances at the screen, he can see that June’s got tears in her eyes. 

“I wish I could take it all back.  Even the idea.  I never should’ve suggested it, but we were talking about what to do before we talked to you and – I just, I am so sorry.  You deserve so much better than how we’ve been treating you and I wish there was something I could do.  Protesting by not doing appearances hasn’t been working and making comments and what not just doesn’t feel like enough.”

Alex clears his throat.  “I appreciate the solidarity.  Not going on appearances probably would’ve helped better if it had been done after the DNC, but it still means a lot to me that you don’t want to cause me anymore pain.”

He pauses, before saying, “As for what you can do, honestly, other than talk to mom about doing the right thing – make her realize that whatever’s going on isn’t the answer – just the comments and working with Liam would be the best.  I gave him photos and the timeline of things, but maybe you could add your two cents?  You don’t have to do it with your own accounts, just maybe dummy accounts?  I don’t know…”

“We’ve made dummy accounts, but maybe that’s the problem,” Nora chimes in.  “As far as everyone’s concerned, we’re not defending you – only your fan club is.  Maybe the answer is to do it as ourselves.  If we step up, we may piss off Madam President, but it’ll show to the world that we think something’s up.  Maybe we could even stage dates with other people instead?”

“Wouldn’t that just put everything you’ve said in question?”

“Well, yeah, that’s the point.  If we start changing our tune, using our own accounts, people will question what we said initially.  That would open us up to pointing out the flaw in the situation.”

Alex thinks about it, it could work.  Although he’s not sure if people wouldn’t just assume that the girls are trying to take the heat off him.  Especially since it’s clear that they’ve backed off the campaign and its related to him. 

“I think it’s a great idea,” Henry says, appearing in the pseudo doorway.  He’d been off talking to Bea and his mom about the situation since he wanted to hear for himself that they have their support.  “It would throw everything into question, and it would leave an opening for the posts Liam and Pez will be making about us.”

“It could also hurt their reputations.  Make them seem like –” homophobes. 

He doesn’t have to say it.  It’s obvious.  If they admit to lying or do something to make it seem like they’re untrustworthy, then they could end up suffering, and regardless of the situation and their part in it, he still wants to protect them.  He wouldn’t want them to suffer for his sake. 

“It’s a fair ask, Alex,” June states.  “After all, it was our words that put you into this mess, it should be our words that get you out of it.  It doesn’t have to be ‘I lied, I never dated Henry’, it can be a post of the two of you cuddled up at the Lake House.  It can be a post about how only you could get Henry to sing karaoke.  It can be a post that compares the two of you to some other famous couple.  There are ways to nod at the issue and make it work to clear things up.”

“I suppose.”  Nothing would be better than admitting to the lies, but they would need his mom’s permission for that.

“I wish we could do more – admit to the lies,” June offers.  “But we can’t – not without mom agreeing and if she talked to you and didn’t agree, then well … I doubt she’ll listen to me.”

Alex nods.  “Yeah, she pretty much wanted me to come back to the White House and agree with the lies.  Pretend I just needed a break that I got burnt out between school, first son, and the campaign – oddly, that’s not far from the truth.  That fire under my ass definitely doesn’t help with anything.  I told her no.  I won’t do it, and she made her position clear…”

“I know.  I overheard her briefing with Zahra.  I knew then that we were going to have to figure things out differently.”  She pauses.  “Unless Zahra uses her in at the Monarchy that she claims she has to force you two to return.”

Henry tenses.  “She can’t.  She doesn’t have that kind of control.”

Alex looks over at him, even as he stirs their dinner.  “Did she try?”

“She did.  He felt duty-bound to tell me, and actually made the suggestion, which I shot down rather tensely.  I am not happy about it.”

Sometimes, he forgets that Henry is the boss around here, but by his tone, Alex has a feeling he reminded Shaan that he is the boss, not the other way around.

“Regardless, we are not returning.  We are, however, intending to leave for Barbados which will give us more than a week at sea.  So, if Alex is okay with it, then I think you two trying to do what you suggestion in conjunction with Liam and Pez’s efforts may be the answer to our problem.”

Alex closes his eyes and thinks through a list of pros and cons and comes up with more pros than cons rather quickly.

“Okay, I’m okay with it.  If this is what you wanna do to help, then, let’s do it.”

“Great,” June says, sounding relieved.  “I love you, baby bro.”

“Love you, too, Bug.”

With that, the conversation drifts into happier things and all Alex can think is that maybe things are going to get better after all.

[silversatin2105]

Hi can i have scenarios with Mikey and Dragon going to the zoo together Mikey tries to feed a giraffe and the giraffe bites Mikey's jacket Dragon is all worried about it thank you so much if you can do this request

Hi

Yeah I can do although I will admit I had a little difficulty with this one as I had to try and imagine a reason for why they would go to the zoo so I had to bend the parameters of your ask a little, I do hope you like the outcome and if not please feel free to critique in the comments and I can write a second draft per request.

“Well that just killed the mood!”

Draken, Mikey and Emma at the zoo scenario:

From the moment Draken saw Mikeys name on the caller ID he could already feel his blood pressure rise, Mikey knew it was his day off and that Draken had important stuff to do but knowing Mikey he knew that his leader would keep calling till he answered so with a sigh Draken answered his phone.

 “Yo, Ken-chin are you free today?” the carefree voice spoke over the phone to Draken as he sighed, he knew that this could only mean one thing, the capricious nature of Mikey wasn’t unusual to the vice leader and with a mental sigh Draken responds.

“No Mikey but I suppose I am now” Draken responded as whilst sipping some water and sitting on his bed, and prepared himself for the next response from his leader and with that the day plan was about to change for questionable results, It had turned out that in a moment of wild impulse Mikey had purchased tickets to the Zoo and he already had given one to Emma leaving one free, Draken got ready and headed to the meet up point where they would travel to the zoo.

“This is sudden but thanks for coming” Emma said with a happy tone to Draken as he looked away with a blush and gave his whole, its nothing response, as they arrived and walked into the zoo, When inside the zoo Mikey took off without them both like an excited child leaving Draken and Emma together, they spent time walking and talking, generally having a good time but the good time didn’t last as more often than not outings with Mikey ended in drama.

“Hey Sir you cannot go into the enclosure with the animals, that area is for staff only” the park attendant spoke out to Mikey, whist viewing the giraffes one of the giraffes had the bright idea of dipping its head down and snatching Mikey’s jacket from his shoulders, in a bad mood Mikey decided he’d climb over the railings to retrieve his jacket and it was then that he was accosted by the park staff for his efforts.

“But that fuckin giraffe has my Jacket!” Mikey responded in an angry tone, Draken sighed, he was on damage control again and on a day that was supposed to be his day off from Toman related activates , with that Draken walked over and began to speak to Mikey and the park staff.

“Oyy Mikey don’t cause these people any trouble, they are only doing their jobs” Draken told his leader with a stern tone, as he began his usual damage control procedure.

“But Ken-chin my jacket” Mikey went on to protest, after a debate between the heads of Toman and much annoyance to Draken, he finally got Mikey to calm down and after a conversation with the staff Draken went to do his usual job of “Negotiating” for the return of the lost jacket.

After an hour or so Draken returned to Mikey and Emma’s side, the latter looking rather bored by now the jacket was returned to Mikey a little worse for wear, the embroidery was clicked, ther was a ripped seem on the left shoulder, It also smelled a little musty and had slobber on the cuffs.

“Don’t worry Mikey well get Mitsuya to repair it, im seeing him tomorrow so ill take it with me. mind you he’s not going to like this” Draken reassured the leader of Toman on that fact as Mikey just stood and nodded and with a forlorn look spoke the following.

“Thank you Ken-chin…You were keeping me right again weren’t you” Mikey approached Emma and hugged her gently, He hated that his actions in some way ruined the day.

“Its all okay Mikey how about we all go for food together?” Emma suggested with her usual happy smile, lead the way from the Zoo back to the car park to their bikes, after eating at a nearby café the three of them parted ways for the evening, the result of the day questionable as the day was ruined but the night meal made up for it.

END SCENE

Warning:

Please do not remove original tags in Re-blogs, don’t re-post anywhere else or alter the original work.  

[desultory-novice]

As fun as The Angst(tm) is, I really hope the Dead People Gang aren't just, like. Trapped in Turbohell Kirbohell forever. For some reason, my thoughts instantly went to Void Termina - Since Void Termina is implied to be reincarnated as a good guy after their defeat as Void, I thought it would be interesting if they got a glimpse of everyone hanging out in the afterlife between the "blowing up" part and coming back as not-as-evil. Plus, now I've got a really funny mental image of that coming up in casual conversation Kirby/Meta/Dedede/some other protagonist and Kirby finding out and deciding "sounds like more potential friends! time to go to hell" to try and (somehow) save them

My own brain was putting a Charlie & the Chocolate Factory style spin on it. They CAN all come back, just...

Sectonia: ...once the Dream Stalk goes to seed

Max: ...once his brain is finished defragging (...or see Seto Kaiba in the manga version of Yugioh)

Magolor: ...when someone succeeds in breaking the crown

Marx: ..."User 'Marx' can rejoin the game in 87,600 hours"

Links to the rest of the mini-series:

Part 1″A Beautiful Sunset” Part 2 “The Sun Never Sets” Part 3 “Screams of Joy”  Part 4 “Visitors” Part 5 “A Perfect Circle”

Relevant: “Conditional” [You Are Here]

--

That said, your bit at the end about "Let's go to hell and rescue everyone!" is partially why I followed this story to its current, silly (?) conclusion! I know it's sounded / looked / been depressing, especially for poor, poor, poor Magolor, but I meant what I said in the tags about drawing this helping me get over some of my own True Arena-induced trauma......

(continued below)

<PS: To the Anon who asked about the Void beach pic? Your answer is here too! Sorry to make you go through all this to find it!!>

...Ahem!

I -liked- the idea of Mags and Marx having come back from their Soul experiences and have used it as fuel, but it honestly bugged me that they seemed to survive when Sectonia and Marx were still MiA...from the same thing? (I get that Max's brain is DELETED but what about his body? I always imagined that even though Star Dream blew up, the "pilot's seat" so to speak was preserved. But...

Basically, even if I could come up with reasons why the other two "didn't" survive, I could never come up with a reason why Magolor and Marx DID outside of "popular characters." ...Not to be too hypocritical, as I'm a dedicated fan of said "popular characters")

But there being a version of Magolor Soul who doesn't "get better" weirdly makes me feel quite a bit better about the other Soul victims. Because... maybe we could be building up to something with them? Maybe there IS a chance for them to come back now, or be saved, like you said. If they're all kinda in the same way...??

(Heck, I probably would have added Galacta as a visitor to the superhell-theme park if I had ANY experience with drawing them.)

Speaking of "the same way" the reason I'd always assumed Marx followed the pre-remake Mago path because they were both in Star Allies, but if there's a version of Magolor who isn't saved, I've started to think that True Arena Marx Soul (:cough: the only form of Marx Soul :cough:) wasn't saved either. Which is both very sad but also, gives me the same sense of hope/unity as the above!

I had a legit "...aww, darn...!" moment last night as I was finishing this up when I realized Fecty's soul was safely under Efly's care and they wouldn't be able to join the theme park enjoyers... Of course, the very idea of an Attraction to delight and amaze would probably trigger Fecty's trauma, putting them in a worse state than Magolor.

Void's also not available to go to the park, sadly.

Speaking of...!

Here you go, anon!