#college!au ross

[mybrokenveins3000]

Freshers - College!Ross Macdonald

A/N: HII!! This is my first time writing anything on Tumblr, let alone the 1975 related. I hope you guys like it. Ignore how my grammar is all over the place, quotation marks and commas confuse me.

I move to university in about two weeks, I doubt anything like this will happen, but a girl can dream. Anyways, enjoy! Also, this is dedicated to @hypersonic04 <3

word count: 1.6k

♫ My Funny Girl - Harry Teardrop // Eighteen - Pale Waves

It's almost been a month since you moved to the city for university. Tonight, you're at a coursemate's flat for Pres. Trashy guilty-pleasure pop blasts through the speakers and you're busy avoiding people, drinking by the window. You watch the condensation trail behind a departing aeroplane over the cityscape. You're thinking about where you are now, the kind of people you brush shoulders with, and how easy it is to feel so desperately alone out here.

Despite the air of maturity and the swill of liquor in your mouth, it always shocked you how laughably predictable university boys can be - especially those on your Film course. It's been a month and you're already bored by the typical film bro spiel of "why Tarantino is the best director of all time" and how "there's something manic pixie dream girl about you".

Speaking of, you feel a tall, masculine shadow cast over you interrupting your intense thinking. Cue the "what's your favourite film" question, you think to yourself.

"What's your favourite film?"

Right, here we go again.

"Depends. Who's asking?" you laugh to yourself, still watching that blinking plane.

"Um, me." Now that felt more like a question.

"And, who are you?" You whip around and see a tall boy in a black hoodie. Who is this? He's cute... is your immediate response to the stranger.

You playfully prod at him with your empty solo cup, "Youuu are not on my course."

He laughs gently, casting his eyes to the floor. Despite his shy cadence, there's an effortlessness and confidence about him that is rare to find among these overgrown teenagers. "No, I'm not. I do History."

You squint and he senses your confusion about his presence at a Film student function.

"I came with him", he gestures over to the couch. The scantily clad, mop-headed, binge-drinking, serial flirt, Matty Healy, lounges across your girl friends' legs. You scowl. You and Matty have argued in and out of every seminar you've ever shared. It surprised you that someone like the boy in front of you was here with him.

"He actually told me to ask that question"

"Hm?"

"Your favourite film? He said it's a good conversation starter but I'm beginning to think," he makes a note of your comically disappointed expression, "that he is very, very wrong"

He smiles at you. You can't help but smile back at him. The image of him preparing to talk you flashes in your mind. You smile harder.

"Roman Holiday", he leans over to hear you better over the drowning sound of pop, exposing his neck and the chain dangling around it. "My favourite film is Roman Holiday"

"Never heard of it--"

"YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF ROMAN HOLIDAY?!?!" He certainly didn't need to lean in to hear that. He laughs at the inner film nerd in you coming out.

In that moment, he could see it. You and his best friend having passive-aggressive discussions during seminars. It's stupid to admit the twinge of jealousy he felt at the idea. I mean, you had only just met. Maybe it's the alcohol or Teenage Dream on the speaker, maybe he wants to see that enthusiasm and hear you talk about films forever and ever.

"Maybe we could watch it sometime."

It doesn't help that you blush easily. You can see yourself now, a vision in bright red.

"Does that line work for every girl?"

"I don't know, I haven't used it before," he smiles and rakes a hand through his hair. Fuck.

Wait, let's not get ahead of ourselves. "Who are you again?" you ask before you can glow any brighter.

"I'm Ross."

You reply with your name and extend your free hand to shake his.

The speakers go quiet over this exchange. A drunken voice exclaims "RIGHT, LET'S GO!" followed by peals of laughter and excitement.

You look at each other, hand in hand, knowing that you just started something good. Something good that you don't want to infect with even louder music, sweaty bodies and strobe lights - not now at least. If only Pres could last forever. You let go of his hand.

People flood out of the flat, but a girl friend of yours whose flat this is hangs back when she sees the pair of you not moving.

"Hey, could we stay here actually?" you tell her.

Having hosted so many film parties and Pres, she knows you're usually the first out of the door. She knows that you never do this or feel this, especially not for boys you've only met. But there's something about him and this squeezing in your heart. You don't want him to leave you.

She smiles, turning the speakers back on, the volume set to low. It's Boom Clap by Charli XCX. You wouldn't know this 'til much later, but she thinks you two make a good couple. "You don't need a key to leave and the door locks by itself, so feel free to stay."

Before she disappears out the door, Ross exclaims "Take care of Matty!!"

"No promises!!" she shouts back.

---

Saturday bleeds into Sunday. You're sitting on the floor with a boy you just met. He does History, you do Film. The Bluetooth speaker died in the middle of Colors by Halsey, but you both were too engrossed in conversation to realise it.

The October wind picked up, tossing the plastic cups across the room, but he was too busy looking at you, how the air danced and played with your hair. Neither of you could figure out how to close the window, you were both guests here after all. When he noticed you shivering, his black hoodie immediately came off. He blushed as you put it on, how the sleeves extended past your hands. It was hard for you not to hug yourself and take in his smell of petrichor and aftershave in its entirety. It was hard for him not to hug you.

By this point, you could name all his favourite teachers from secondary school and why the 1900s was his favourite century. He could list your top 10 films in order and the details about your hometown that you love. He recounts what it was like growing up in Wilmslow with Matty. You never knew Wilmslow ever existed, you never knew anyone's words could soften you to Matty.

As he speaks, you notice the distant whir of passing cars, the wind, the hum of the light bulb, and how this is all so tragically and desperately transient.

"What's wrong?" he asks as if he has known you a long time. He has made a note of how expressive you are, how whatever you're thinking or feeling is easy to detect just by looking at your face. You wouldn't know it, but he decides right then and there that he wants to recognise every micro-expression your face could make.

"I like talking to you," you admit, almost sadly.

"I like talking to you, too."

You glance out the window. "But you do know what they say about the people you meet in the first semester," they don't stay.

"Yeah, yeah, I do know, but" he delicately places his hand on your knee, "you're someone people want to keep."

Silence. There's an unspoken force about the two of you. It encourages you to submit to the endearing teenage stupidity and rash decision-making.

"You're someone I want to keep," he says finally. Whilst your eyes, tipsy and excited, have been jumping from surface to surface, his has been fixed on you the entire night.

A thump from the front door interrupts the moment followed by crashing and inelegant, drunken moaning.

"Ohmygod you guys are STILL HERE?!?!" screams that coursemate of yours, popping her head through the door. "MATTY, THEY'RE STILL HERE!"

A tiny "ᶠᵁᶜᴷ" can be heard from another room. You and Ross laugh to yourselves, not surprised by the scene unraveling before you two.

"You know I love you guys but do you mind fucking off?"

Ross is already stood up and helps you onto your feet. You could get used to this. You plant a chaste kiss on her sweaty forehead followed by "You know I love you. Use protection."

"Have fun, mate!" Ross yells down the corridor as you make your way to the door.

"ᶠᵁᶜᴷ ʸᴼᵁ"

---

You strike yourself as more tipsy than you realise as you wiggle the door handle and cry, "OHMYGOD, IT DOES LOCK ON ITS OWN!!"

And he's looking at you, smiling that same warm smile, as you get excited over a door. You're still wearing his hoodie.

You notice him staring, "what?"

"Nothing"

"You look like you want to say something?" He takes in a breath and shrugs. "If you wanna say something, just say it," you laugh.

To that, he lifts up your chin with his finger and kisses you.

As soon as he backs away, you toss your arms around his neck and inelegantly smash your face onto his. You can feel him smiling as you kiss. His arms pull you closer at the waist, hands underneath his hoodie.

"I've been waiting to do that all night," he whispers as you pull away. The streetlights and skyscrapers blink through the windows of the dimly lit corridor. Only this time in the face of the city, you don't feel alone anymore.

"Are you busy today?" he asks, tucking a stray hair behind your ear. You're still slung around his neck. It's all stupidly endearingly familiar, but also so new. You kiss through the conversation.

"No, no, not busy... do need to do my laundry though."

"Good, so do I." You silently agree to do it together.

You take his hand in yours and walk down the stairs.

"I'm someone you wanna keep, huh?"

"You're someone I wanna keep."

[ro-writesstuff]

patience - college!au matty healy blurb

minors do not interact, all fics are 18+.

a/n: tbh i just finished watching the latest season of the great british bake off and an idea popped into my head.

summary: after practice, all you want is to make dinner then go to sleep; the boy in your kitchen had other plans.

content warning: dancer!au, cursing, matty being sweet

Matty had been wanting to get better at baking.

Admittedly, he had just finished watching the latest season of the Great British Bake Off and figured it couldn't be that difficult, right?

***

After a long and aching practice you just wanted food. You headed to the local convenience store -they were still open?- and grabbed yourself a frozen pizza and snacks and headed back to your communal kitchen.

Looking through the glass, you see some guy muttering to himself and mixing something in a bowl. Rolling your eyes and checking the time -00:36- you figured you’d get cleaned up and hopefully he’d be gone. Dance bag hitting the floor and your roommate still working on homework, you hopped in the shower.

Trying not to think of your imperfections that your teacher pointed out in class, you wrapped a towel around your hair and put on some sweatpants and a hoodie.

Pressing the elevator button to level one, you sigh as the day's stress finally start to leave your body. To be honest, you liked nighttime; away from everyone else and the outside world being still for what seemed like just you.

You opened the common room door with a click, as the stress returned. The boy from before was still there. You flashed a friendly, but short smile which he returned.

Stepping towards the microwave, you see it has a half-torn note with almost illegible handwriting.

Not working.

Your eyes roll in the back of your head so hard it gives you a small headache. Seriously? Meanwhile, the clattering of dishware behind you reminded you that you weren't alone. Your eyes wandered over to the oven that had a pan with some dough on it.

Seeing the annoyance and hint of disappointment in your face, he apologizes.

"Sorry," he said. "I'll be done with it in, like, ten minutes. Swear."

Honestly, Matty had no idea what the hell he was doing. He was following the recipe he found, but had lost himself and half his dough along the way.

Mumbling a response, you plopped on the couch and put on your favorite show in the meantime. The cushions softened under your body as your eyes followed the television show on your phone screen, watching the characters interact across the screen, their voices starting to jumble into unintelligible sound.

***

Matty looked at the time. It was definitely past ten minutes. In fact, it had been about forty-five and you'd fallen asleep within the first five.

In fairness, Matty felt pretty bad. He was determined to make the best batch of cookies of his life after his class, which turned into the early hours of the morning.

As he took out his project out from the oven, he traded it with your frozen food. It was the least he could do after, you know, conquering the whole two countertops for at least three hours. He gently cleaned the area, careful not to wake you up just as the oven beeped.

Guilt spread in his chest as he walked over to you, peacefulness clear on your face. "Hey," he gently pushed on you, "I'm finished with the oven, and I put your food in there, too."

Rubbing your eyes, he took in your gorgeous features, the fluorescent lights flickering above you.

"Oh, uh, thank you," you said. He gave you a look, one you couldn't quite figure, accompanied with a smile.

"Have a good night," he said, gathering his items and heading towards the door.

A bit delirious, you scan the counter -cleaner than you thought it would be- eyes landing on your pizza. Next to it sat two chocolate chip cookies, one burnt to a crisp and one almost underdone. A light chuckle leaves your throat as you grab your things and leave.

[zaccosnacco]

Drew these two in college years! Ross def had an edgy phase i mean dude literally dyed his hair black since nobody in his family has black hair- Robert I could see getting into aliens, maybe hyperfixiate on them,, he seems like he’d love them

I would of drawn Roy but I genuinely had no ideas for him so you just get these two for now

Hatzgang vs College

[softguarnere]

Hurting my own feelings in the Bridgerton x OC wip this morning but also having the time of my life with it because it's giving me modern au ideas >:)

[mj-writes]

Ross & Ali

Alisa and Ross can't stand each other. Despite that, from the moment they met, neither could ignore their mutual attraction. After a heated encounter when Alisa pushes Ross a little too far, the lines get more than blurred.

Ross & Ali, read now on Wattpad!

[wintaerbaer]

ringing in the year (jjk)

summary: Your six-year relationship with Jungkook certainly hasn't been devoid of the occasional mishap. But when Seokjin accidentally winds up with a gift meant for you, Jungkook's proposal may wind up being the biggest blunder of all.

pairing: Jungkook x Reader

rating: generally sfw, sans a handful of swear words

genre: established relationship au, pure fluff, bit of a crack fic

word count: 2.2k

a/n: this was so fun to write, and a bunch of the details were inspired by real life events! thanks to @animeniacss for brainstorming this one with me and sprinting me through it. wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year! <3

MASTERLIST

Jungkook knows he’s messed up several times over the course of your six-year relationship.

There was the time in college when he wanted to cook you dinner and, upon realizing that he didn’t have a corkscrew to open the bottle of wine, tried to pry it open with a screwdriver and sprayed most of it all over the kitchen and himself.

There was the time when he ate suspiciously old-looking dumplings out of the fridge for lunch in spite of Hoseok’s warnings and spent your anniversary date that night going in and out of the bathroom.

And of course, there was the time when he'd insisted that it was fine for you to get frisky in the living room because Jimin wouldn't be back until tomorrow. Only to realize, oh wait, it's Saturday, the second the man himself walked in the door with both Yoongi and Taehyung in tow, all three getting quite the view of you and Jungkook on the area rug.

But this right here, he thinks, has got to be his biggest fuck-up of all, watching Seokjin peel back the wrapping paper on his white elephant gift to reveal a white mug that says, in large black lettering, “WORLD’S BEST WIFE.”

“Awww, Jungkookie,” he coos, raising the mug up above his head to show it off. “You’re proposing?”

He is, in fact, trying to propose, but certainly not to Seokjin. Every New Year’s Eve since sophomore year of college, your friend group has gotten together to party and do a holiday gift exchange that consists of a white elephant round and a general present swap.

Jungkook, wanting to propose amongst your friends and on what you’ve always said is your favorite day each year, had intended to give you the mug and propose later in the night. But, it would seem, he must’ve mixed up the two presents, putting your mug into the white elephant pile instead of the travel mug he had meant to contribute.

“Ah, Y/N,” Seokjin is now sighing, “I’m so sorry you had to find out this way.”

You're giggling, wrapped in a burrito blanket that was courtesy of Hoseok. “It's okay. I understand that your love can't be denied.”

“Actually, hyung,” Jungkook finally gets the courage to pipe up. Is it hot in here? It feels hot in here. He might be sweating. “Can I talk to you in the kitchen for a second?”

“You need to talk now?” Hobi asks, wearing a t-shirt that also happens to be a collage of Seokjin's face–his white elephant offering. “It’s Yoongi’s turn. Let’s finish the white elephant, and then you can talk.”

“But–”

“I want Namjoon’s,” Yoongi says, snatching up the gift and tearing away the paper to unfurl a large black Snuggie. “Oh, fuck yeah.”

“You got a Snuggie?” Jimin jeers in Namjoon’s direction. “Lame.”

“Lame? It’s funny,” Namjoon argues.

“Yeah, if it was 2008.”

“Hey, I’m not complaining.” Yoongi slides his arms into the sleeves, settling into the couch and eyeing the rest of the group warily.

Jimin rolls his eyes at him. “No one is going to steal it, hyung.”

“Nobody better fucking steal it.”

The game actually finishes with no steals. Namjoon opens up your gift (a KFC-scented fire log) and Jimin and Taehyung choose each other’s only to find out that they both bought Bob Ross Chia Pets. With the game over, your group devolves back into party mingling–Yoongi dozing off on the couch in his new Snuggie, Jimin and Taehyung heading immediately to the dining room to get started on their chia projects, and the rest of you trying to decide which party games you’re going to play as the night goes on.

But when Seokjin stands up, declaring that he’s heading to the kitchen to get a drink for his “fun new mug,” Jungkook jumps to follow him, bringing along the slab of granite with twenty dollars taped to it that he’d opened (“I’m renovating my countertops,” Yoongi had explained).

“Hyung,” Jungkook hisses as Seokjin reaches into the fridge for a beer. “I need that mug.”

Seokjin turns, sizing him up in the glow of the refrigerator. “Then you probably should’ve picked it.”

Jungkook huffs in exasperation before stepping in closer, lowering his voice to a harsh whisper. “Listen, I am trying to propose to Y/N tonight.”

“With a white elephant gift that anyone could’ve gotten?” He clicks his tongue, scolding. “That’s just terrible planning, Jungkookie. And proposing with a mug? A little boring.”

Color rises to Jungkook’s face, giving his cheeks a natural blush. “We were watching reruns of The Office when I kissed her for the first time. And it wasn’t supposed to be a white elephant–you know what? It doesn’t matter at this point. I just need the mug back.”

He reaches for the counter, intending to steal the mug away, but Seokjin gets there first, cradling it to his chest with a pout. “No, it’s mine. I opened it, and I’ve already imprinted–”

“We never should’ve let Y/N show you Twilight. Here, look.” He raises the granite sample and money in his hands, offering it up. “I’ll give you Yoongi’s gift and the gift I was supposed to be giving for the game. You’ll get two.”

Seokjin narrows his eyes in suspicion. “What was your original gift?”

“A travel mug that says, ‘Weird to be the same age as old people.’”

He gets a wrinkled nose in response. “Well I like this one better. The other one calls me old. This one says I’m the best wife ever.”

“Oh my God, hyung. You’re not a wife!”

“I’m not old either!”

Jungkook throws his arms up in frustration, practically launching his hunk of stone across the room. “Then what am I supposed to do? You’re really going to ruin my entire proposal?”

“Hmm.” Seokjin lifts a hand to his chin, the other still clutching the mug to his body. “Thirty-two-race drunk Mario Kart?”

“Hyung.”

“What? You want the mug–this is how you can get it.”

Jungkook scrubs a hand over his face, accepts the inevitable. “Okay, fine. I’ll do it.”

“Hooray!” A clap of his hands as Seokjin practically skips from the kitchen. “I’ll get us set up!”

By the time Jungkook drags his feet into the living room, Seokjin has already gathered a crowd, your friends piling onto the couches and armchairs to watch the upcoming event. Surely they’re expecting a slaughter; Seokjin is notoriously a Mario Kart ace.

“You looking to get drunk, babe?” you ask, settling into the spot next to him on the couch. “There are easier, less humiliating ways, you know.”

He pouts, eyebrows squishing together. “Thanks for the vote of confidence,” he grumbles, immediately forgiving you when you press your lips to his.

“For luck,” you say, giving him one more peck before sitting back to watch Seokjin hand him a controller, shot glass, and bottle of soju.

“Pick your character.” He plops onto Jungkook’s other side, selecting his own racer on the screen.

“Peach? Really?” Namjoon teases.

Seokjin shoots him a look. “I don’t wanna hear that from a basic-ass Mario main.”

Jungkook, meanwhile, chooses Donkey Kong, and loads up the first map, Peach and Donkey Kong lining up in their pink and yellow go-karts at the starting line.

“May the best me win,” Seokjin says, a split second before the light goes green.

He does win the race. And the next one and the next one. And Jungkook is three shots in before he even knows what hit him, fingers wrapped tightly around the controller.

“Not too late to back out, Jungkookie,” Seokjin jests, nudging him in the ribs. “At least leave with your pride intact.”

But before Jungkook can even respond, mouth already half-open in indignation, you wrap a soothing hand around his knee, massaging lightly.

“You've got this, Kook. You can do it.”

The sound of your voice puts him at ease almost instantly, and he ignores Seokjin, loading up the next track. This time, he does his best to relax, letting the feel of your palm siphon away his anxiety.

This is for you. He can do this for you.

The race is close, their cartoon avatars neck-and-neck until Jungkook manages to gain an edge at the very last second and blow through the finish line first.

“Holy shit!” Taehyung exclaims. “The Kart King lost?!”

“Calm down, it's one race,” Seokjin says. But he shifts forward on the couch as he takes his shot of soju, clearly miffed. “We have twenty-eight more to go. I like my odds.”

Seokjin wins the next one again, celebrating with a whoop, but Jungkook goes on a run after that, winning three in a row so they're tied. And once the thirty-second race has been driven, Seokjin has won sixteen, Jungkook has won sixteen, and they've each drunk two bottles of soju apiece.

“TIEBREAKER RACE,” Seokjin slurs, swaying on his feet. He's played the last dozen games standing up, claiming it “helps with the turns,” whatever that means.

“I think you two have had enough,” you say, patting Jungkook lovingly on the arm. “Just call it a tie and leave it there.”

He jerks away, stretching his arm out like he thinks you're going to try and take the controller from him. “No, Y/N! I need that mug!”

Your lips pull down into a frown. “What mug?”

“I think Y/N is right, you guys,” Namjoon chimes in. “You both need some water.”

“Everyone shut the fuck up. I'm trying to sleep,” grumbles the Snuggie blob.

“ONE MORE RACE!” Seokjin yells, insistent. “FOR IT ALL! FOR THE MUG!”

“Again, what mug?”

But you don't get an answer. Instead, Jungkook shouts, “FINE! RAINBOW ROAD, ASSHOLE!” and everyone's eyes fixate on the screen, eager to find out who will emerge victorious.

Both characters rip off the starting line, Seokjin quickly obtaining a mushroom power-up that gives him a speed boost and comfortable lead. But after Jungkook lucks out on a green shell throw, causing Seokjin to spin out of control, he takes the lead as the first lap ends.

“C’mon, babe!” you cheer, Jimin and Taehyung joining in in their desire to see the Kart King tumbled from his throne.

Jungkook holds his lead for most of the lap, but Seokjin takes it back after a couple more mushroom boosts and a red shell. The final lap is tight, the lead going back and forth and back and forth until all hope seems lost as Seokjin begins to pull away on the last leg…

Only for him to cut the final turn too closely, allowing Jungkook to bump him right over the side of the track and into space before blasting across the finish line.

The room erupts in cheers, Jungkook leaping to his feet with a shout even as Seokjin falls to the floor with a scream of anguish. You stand as well, trying to give your boyfriend a hug, but you’re shocked when he moves away from you instead, preoccupied with something on the dining table.

He crosses the room–dodging Jimin and Taehyung, who are now flossing over Seokjin’s prone body–to grab the “WORLD’S BEST WIFE” mug and triumphantly raise it in the air before stumbling back to where you stand both perplexed and amused by the scene before you.

“This,” he says, clumsily pressing the mug into your hands, “was supposed to be for you.”

“World’s Best Wife?” you ask, heart hiccuping as you begin to have a suspicion. “Like Michael Scott’s mug?”

“Yes!” The word feels heavy moving off of his tongue, and he suddenly regrets not being sober for this. “Because uhhhh…I have this for you, too. Shit, wait.”

He fumbles around his pockets, panicking until he finds the ring, slips it out of his pants, and drops to his knee with a graceless thud.

“Ow, crap. Y/N.” He takes your hand, and in spite of the absurdity of it all, in spite of the fact that part of the room is now fawning over you while the other part is either sleeping or on the floor, you feel tears pricking your eyes.

Really, you couldn’t think of a more perfect scene.

“Y/N,” he begins again–slowly, like his words need to be corralled, “I love you. So much. And I know I may sometimes be forgetful or foolish or careless–sometimes I might accidentally spray wine all over the kitchen or ruin a proposal because I gave Seokjin the wrong present by mistake–but I just…love you.” He blinks, thoughts drifting away from him as the soju continues to take its toll. “I’m sorry. I’m not sure what I’m saying is even making sense, but…I find I don’t mind having those moments as long as you’re there with me. I’m fine making a fool out of myself if it’ll make you smile or laugh so…” He hoists the ring up just a little higher, eyes hopeful. “Marry me?”

A leaping sensation takes off behind your ribs as you gasp, “Yes, Jungkook. Of course, yes.”

For someone who’s drunk, he surges back up with incredible speed to capture your mouth in a kiss, dragging your body to his and swaying you side-to-side.

“Congratulations, you two,” Yoongi says through the applause of your friends–even Seokjin managing to clap his hands like a seal from the floor. “Now can I please get some fucking sleep?”

a/n: please consider liking, reblogging, or commenting if you enjoyed :)

[pinootgu]

a terror academia au has come to me in an insane vision (based off of my experience at elite research uni)

- crozier is going for tenure. its his second time. he hates the dept and franklin is chair this year (its not going well)

- the liuets r dif grad students. little is rethinking this whole grad school thing and probs would he happier in an mfa or something. irving came straight out of undergrad from a small liberal arts college and is having a bad time with unresolved issues. george is just happy to be there

- fitzjames is either a double ivy OR a double alum of their public uni. i dont know which is worse.

- le vesconte is fullbright. makes sure everyone Knows.

- jopson is a postbac w a non traditional undergrad path (not graduating @ 22) and is on the fence about grad school (he commits and gets in to everyone's joy)

- des voux is an annoying undergrad who you hate got into the program and the position he is in (privileged and Aware)

- franklin needs to retire but wont. made chair and is realizing that being chair Fuckinf Sucks.

- blanky runs one of the labs or libraries. doesnt teach classes and is staff

- collins is an engineering masters student that is working in it in the dept under contract. he is Struggling in all ways.

- james clark ross is on sabatical (prestigious residency abroad)

- hickey isnt even a student he's just a guy that keeps fucking with the grad student/ta strikes as an outside leftist that kind of fucking sucks (revcom probs)

[alice-apparently]

some haikaveh/kavetham fic recs

because I stayed the hell away from genshin fanfic for a long time and then consumed about 600k words in a week after my friend recommended me two fics so I returned the favour and made them a list of the best I’d read which I thought also deserved to be shared a bit more widely

rumors, fame and reputation - actor au, fake dating, idiots tm, 27k

The White Lie - canon setting, fake dating au, 40k

rose, thorn, bud - canon compliant fontaine lesbians, 2k (don’t question why that’s mixed in)

an exercise in faith - drunk confessions, 8k

All Signs Point North - jealousy, 10k

Your tears don’t fall (they crash around me) - violence (good), 2.5k

in all dishonesty - modern college au, they are idiots tm (mainly kaveh), 30k

transparent night - Sumeru Archon Quest, 9k (might be my favourite haikaveh fic)

the kübler-ross model on romance - 5 stages of grief (regarding being in love), 10k

Contrasts in the City of Wisdom - the concept is just so funny, 3k

sweetheart, darling - modern au, pet names, cute, 2.6k

paradisaea is live… - streamer au, (technically unfinished if you look at chapter count (with slightly ambiguous haikaveh) but works absolutely well as an end point - if I hadn’t looked at the chapter count I’d’ve thought that was the intended ending), 22k

sent with hate - modern au, fanfic writers (don’t question it, it’s great), 17k

pomp and circumstance - aka the pining with alhaitham special, classical musicians au, 86k

it’s not me, it’s you - less fake dating more fake break up au, idiots tm (mostly kaveh), 5k

all in a day’s work - klee, loose in sumeru, or also, klee ex machina, 7k

in my dreams there you are - cute, 7.5k

first love, worst love - modern uni au, ‘enemies’ with benefits to lovers, idiots, 11k (slightly explicit)

[secretsecretbunny]

Just friends: stray kids smau.

Get to know the characters/story set up.

pairing: lee minho x f!reader - roommate!skz.

genre: fluff, angst, smau, (maybe smut in the future idk yet, may have written parts as well) roommates au.

notes/set up: boys are non idols, but some still do music/dance + other jobs. they all live together in a big ass house that's owned by richboy!felix's family. chan, minho, changbin, and y/n were college friends. chan and felix are cousins. felix, hyunjin, han, seungmin, and innie were college friends. literally all college dropouts which is what they all bonded over. ended up living together by association basically. chan, bin, and han are still 3racha, and are known, just not famous.

↓about them↓

chan: nicknames- channie, dad, pops, paparacha, sometimes gets called chris but usually only when someone's mad/serious. producer for social media musicians/small time musicians, and 3racha. almost always at the studio. group dad. supportive, sweet, helpful, responsible, overworker, protective, peace keeper. loves his friends more than anything, also loves music, romcoms, running/jogging, working out with changbin. well off but not super rich.

minho: nicknames- min, catboy, grumpy, twinkle toes, dancing queen, loverboy, hoe. choreographer/dance instructor. cold on the outside, squishy in the middle. doesn't express his feelings well, but tends to be softer around y/n. loves cats, movie nights, night walks/drives, and true crime podcasts. social weed smoker and drinker. hardworker, sarcastic, flirty, funny, makes inappropriate jokes. he likes to pretend he doesn't care, but secretly does.

changbin: nicknames- binnie, bin, binbo, crybaby, muscle man, beefcake. personal trainer, duh. loud. straight up himbo. his appearance scares people but he's protective, kind, caring, and will cry at cute things/when he's happy. absolutely loves cute things, y/n's cooking, cheesy TV dramas, rapping, working out, and affection. all around soft boy until you piss him off.

hyunjin: nicknames- hyune, hyunnie bun, jinnie, gorgeous, rapunzel, punzie, bob ross. he's rich. also sells his art. sarcastic, blunt, artistic, boujie, addicted to shopping. also likes to pretend he doesn't care, but probably cares too much. loves painting, drawing, and being lazy with his friends. a little in love with felix, no one can tell if he's serious or not. will absolutely start painting on the walls, floors, or ceilings just because he can. everyone loves it though.

jisung: nicknames- hanji, ji, hannie, babygirl, smokeshow, bud, han yolo. does random odd jobs and makes a suspicious amount of money from it + sometimes streams with felix. stoner, great friend, supportive, anxious, hyper, has mad adhd, loves anime, rapping, and sweets. he's a little weird but in a good and cute way. loves sharing his weed with his friends. also loud.

felix: nicknames- lixie, lix, pixie, sunshine, golden boy, richy rich, brownie boy, angel. also just rich, part time streamer. literally sunshine ofc. social butterfly. always trying to drag y/n or one of the boys somewhere. sweet, generous, kind, happy, excitable, loves cute things, baking, video games, and also anime. him and ji bond over it.

seungmin: nicknames- seungminnie, minnie, puppy, bitch, dickhead, devil. luxury dog walker (started his own dog walking business). sarcastic, sometimes rude, easily annoyed, but overall a great friend. likes dogs more than people. protective af but tries to hide it. will 100% shut off his rude and sarcastic comments if his friends really need him. loves pranks, coffee, singing, writing, and scary movies.

jeongin: nicknames- innie, in, babyboy, coffee boy, bigmouth. barista at a fancy coffee shop. wants to make his own money and not live off of his wealthy parents. sweet, kind, generous, can be sarcastic when he wants to be. loves animals, coffee, video games, asmr, and singing. can't keep a secret to save his life. plays innocent but is definitely not. once smoked weed and and cried because he couldn't remember how to make a latte. never smoked again. he's the only one of the boys who calls y/n noona.

y/n: nicknames- bug, bubs, princess, tiny, sweetheart, pretty, feisty, attitude, noona. has lots of secrets and trauma. no one knows what she does for work. she refuses to tell the boys and any time they have tried to find out she catches on and puts a stop to it. they just know she's getting paid well. sweet, kind, funny, people pleaser, messy. has an attitude sometimes and can hold a grudge. when in a fight or flight situation it's 50/50. she'll either punch you in the face or run so far her legs turn to jelly. acts confident and bold: isn't. just a great actress. gets sad often but pretends she's not. loves cooking, ghibli movies, plants/flowers, cuddling, fire, and her friends. hates her family. smokes with ji a lot but is a social drinker. she grew up really poor so she tends to get anxious about spending money/people spending money on her. 100% gets princess treatment regardless.

Socials:

part one || part 1.5 || part two || part three

[yearsbecomingcool]

randomly started thinking about 2000s college au!simon so here’s some headcanons for that!!

- he gives off huge pop punk fan vibes and is probably involved in his local scene and goes to shows constantly

- he’s big on moshing and crowd surfing (and will stage dive on occasion)

- he has his lip pierced and a couple tattoos (one on his hip and maybe some on his arms too)

- he definitely is going to warped tour (warped 05 would be life changing for him)

- he gets offended when kate accidentally takes him out of her top 8 on myspace

- he forms a very short lived pop punk band and plays a total of one show before he realizes he’s not cut out for it

- he tries skateboarding and actually gets pretty decent at it (until he falls off his board and breaks his wrist and refuses to ever skateboard again)

- he is wearing skinny jeans 100%

- he’s also trying to copy ryan ross’s fever era hair and failing miserably

- he’s a very active myspace user and unashamed of it

- he would either work at a concert venue behind the bar or at a movie theater

- every month he burns a new cd and makes a new mix for himself

- he makes mixtapes for his friends too and personalizes the covers for them

- deena definitely goes to shows with him and will crowdsurf and mosh but sam, kate, and josh all kind of hang back on the edge of the pit

- he drinks so much monster it becomes hazardous to his health

[jaimereyesbug]

Introducción ☾𖤓

Hello, el nombre es Jaime Reyes. I’m from Texas, El Paso.

Im 17!! Bday on October 2nd!!

I made this account since I know some people from my new highschool have got some here!

I go by he/him pronouns

Roommate: @cassandra-e-sandsmark

OOC:

This is a High school au me and a friend created!! If you wish to join please tag me to your intro post, your character should be about 14-18(sometimes 19)!! And also should be young dc characters (like Teen titans or Young Justice) however if you want an older character like Jason Todd to be apart of this, you can make it so that he is in college, or not, same goes to characters like Bruce or Barry Allen. But this rp is centered around Young DC characters

Here are some of the accounts part of this (more will be added)

Students:

@half-a-goat

@roboticguy

@jonno-kent

@billybatsonz

@dameswayne

@barthallan

@mikael1256

@dukealicious

@luke-the-loogie

@totally-tim-drake

@percieve-me-dont-forget-me

@midrew

@maya-nobody-ducard

@maryjayden

@cassandra-e-sandsmark

@kon-el-konner-luther-kent

@j0k3r-jun10r

@cazirole

@ianwayne2rich4dat (You got rejected by the school board Ian Wayne sorray)

@moss-loves-dinosaurs

@kryptonite-with-consciousness

Teachers:

@celeste-dennel

@betterthanbetterhelp

@lilith-rose-ross

[mybrokenveins3000]

Hey I just read all of your college Ross pieces and I love them!!

What about one night if reader goes out and ends up too drunk and calls Ross so he comes to pick her up and takes her home. Maybe she's trying to talk about her feelings for him but he doesn't want her saying anything she'll be embarrassed by. Or she asks him to stay the night so he sleeps on her floor

A/N: Oh. My. God.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, thank you for the love and for readingg <3 It really means the world to me. SECOND OF ALL... ANON... YOUR BRAIN IS SO LARGE. I am going to PASS OUT. Thank you for this request, my heart might just burst. I might have gone over board, this is the longest thing I've written thus far. Anyways, here goes nothing... enjoy ;)

Drunk Call - College!Ross Macdonald

word count: 1.5k

♫ Heavenly - Pale Waves

This party is excessive and headache-inducing - the music is bad, the people even worse. You don't even know why you're here. When your flatmates asked "why that party?", you simply replied, "just for something to do".

You're slumped down by the foot of the couch, tangled between legs, empty bottles, empty cups. No matter how much you hammer at the side of your phone, all that blinks back is a fat 0%.

The liquor is not sitting right in your stomach, you're not in the mood, and each thrum of bass reminds you of him.

You haven't seen Ross for what feels like forever. He had gone back to his hometown for the week whilst you stayed in the city. There was something noticeably different about the setting without him, the lights felt dimmer, the air felt colder.

You were conscious not to disrupt his week at home, spending so many nights staring at an untouched keyboard. Oh, the amount of text messages you thought up but never sent.

But you knew he would be back today, which was your main source of hope in this tragic, alcohol-punctuated moment.

Without a second thought, you pull at a semi-familiar friend's trouser leg and ask if you can borrow their phone. After a reluctant "yes", you're punching a familiar number onto the screen, then the bright and inviting call button.

The phone buzzes softly in your hand as you lift it to your ear.

Pick up pick up pick up pick up--

"Hello, this is Ross speaking."

You relax at the sound of his voice. You were beyond the border of missing him.

"Hello!!" you exclaim, loud enough to hear yourself over the music - which is to say deafening from his side of the line.

"Whoa," it's like you can hear him wincing, "is that who I think it is?"

"Mhmmm"

"Where are you? Are you okay?" You selfishly smile at the twinge of panic in his voice as he registers the state you're in.

"My phone... it died... This is the only number I know," you gulp, "off by heart."

He's speechless, already devising a plan to save you. If only you could see him now, a blushing mess, half worried, half desperately in love.

"Are you busy?" you add before he can react to the former statement.

"Uhh no, just finished practice. Where are you?"

"Oh, practice... GUYS, I'M ON THE PHONE WITH A ROCKSTAR!!" you announce with such pride to a room full of strangers and acquaintances, once again almost deafening him on the other side of the line. And yet he's hanging onto every word, even if it hurts him.

"Okay, I'm coming to get you," he laughs, "don't worry, I think I know where you are."

"My hero!" you tease, "but please come soon, the music is so bad and I miss you, Ross, I FUCKING MISS YOU--"

You accidentally hang up.

---

Not two minutes later, you see a familiar, flushed face enter the room. Did he run here?

The scene is hazy and fragmented, but you could recognise the space he takes up in any room, even in this state. Ross towers over the crowd, a vision in black denim, searching over moving heads and smoke. Then he locks eyes with you.

You wave at him, still sitting on the floor by the couch. He seems to sigh in relief, hand on his heart.

You spring up as he approaches, unaware of the bottles and cups you've knocked over. He takes you in - you, slightly unravelled but the same as ever. Still beautiful as ever.

"ROCKSTAR!" you cry as you flop into him, catching his eyes crinkling at the name. And you're back in his arms, so inviting, not so dissimilar to the comfort of home. "How did you know I was here?!" you beam at him.

"Matty mentioned it. He wasn't invited," he laughs.

"Lucky him."

You stand there in the middle of the room holding each other for a while, both revelling in how much you've missed each other. For a second, it's warm and quiet. If it took one long week and a bad party to experience this, you think, then it was all worth it.

Suddenly, the song changes to a particularly insufferable one. You both groan like you're one body, one mind.

"Let's go?" he says.

"Let's go."

---

You dance in and out of streetlights down the path to your accommodation, humming one of his band's songs, one from the night of the gig. Ross's walking right beside you, arms at the ready in case you fall or turn where you're not supposed to. Even as you stumble, he gazes at you with amazement at how beautiful you look without even trying.

"What was that thing?" you blurt out.

"What thing?" he hums in response, his alertness veiled by a sense of calm, eyes still glazed with wonder.

"You know, that thing you said when we first met? I'm someone you want to keep, was it?"

"I don't know what you're talking about. I never said that." he teases, his playful grin giving away his lies.

You throw your arms out and scream into the night, "I'M SOMEONE YOU WANT TO KEEEEEEP!!"

He laughs awkwardly, eyes widening at your sudden outburst. But he adores you. In this moment, that's his only truth.

"Ah, okay, let's take a break"

He settles you down onto a nearby bench. You take in a deep breath of fresh air which turns into a yawn.

Your head starts to droop, but he quickly rests it on his shoulder as he lowers down to sit next to you. Always ready to take care of you, to save you when you let him.

"So suave, so so nice, so nice" you mumble drowsily, half to him, half to yourself.

"What was that?"

"You're so nice... And so good-looking," you can't stop your mouth from moving, "I really like being around you and I missed you so much, but I don't know if you felt the same!! But you're so nice, sometimes I just want to--"

"Okay, okay, that's enough," he slithers his arm around your waist and hoists you back up onto your feet before you say something you'll regret.

But he's unable to bite back a smile. In another world, he would let you speak, but he knows you and knows better than to let you talk yourself into a hole you can't escape.

Not yet, he thinks, not like this.

"Hey! You could compliment me, you know," you nag as you start walking again.

There's a pause as he really considers his response.

"...you know you're gorgeous, right?" he finally sighs, breath visible in the crisp night air, "besides, everything I'd say, I'd want you to remember."

---

He gently lays you down in your bed, but you can't seem to let go of him.

"I don't want you to go", you whine, "won't you stay?"

"For how long?"

"Stay forever."

His eyes soften as he looks down at you, your arms still clasped around his neck. Only you have the power to render him speechless like this. It's so easy for you to get what you want.

You let go of him, aggressively patting the empty side of the bed.

"Call me old-fashioned, but I don't share beds with drunk girls," he says. He takes a stray pillow and blanket, and plonks them onto the floor beside you so he can monitor you as you sleep. By this point, you've already passed out.

---

Ross can't sleep. He doesn't mind the floor, but stirs at every sound and movement you make, constantly checking if you're okay.

Throughout the night, he finds himself looking at the details of your room, at books, concert tickets, and photos of friends and family - pieces of you that he wants to know more about.

He watches you, so peaceful, in awe how he has someone like you in his life.

My life would be so boring without you, he thinks.

---

You wake up just as he walks into the room with a cup of tea. He sets the cup down by the bedside table with a soft smile. The air of domesticity is something you could live in forever.

"Hi," you mumble through fluttering eyelids, filtering the Sunday morning sun.

"Hi. Are you doing okay?"

You nod as you sit up. He sits on the bed, brushing the stray hairs from your face, the warmth of his hand like a healing force. You can't tell he hadn't slept because of how happy he looks just to be there.

You reach over for the tea with the comfort of knowing he made it just how you like it.

"I didn't say anything weird, did I?" you croak, sipping the tea.

"No, not at all," he replies.

There's a moment of silence. The morning birds fly past the window, the steam of the mugs mists your eyes.

"I missed you too, you know," he finally says, "I missed you so much."

A/N: Didn't proofread this but HOPE YOU ENJOYED. I'll probably edit it a bit when I come back, but I wanted you to have this sooner rather than later, anon. THANKS FOR YOUR REQUEST AGAINNNN

[ro-writesstuff]

designated drivers - matty healy

minors do not interact, all fics are 18+.

a/n: this fic is so funny to me idk why lol

content warnings: alcohol, drunk people

“Oh my god, they’re all drunk.”

After finals, you and your friend group got together and de-stressed by celebrating the holidays and having a potluck. Bottles of tequila, rum and vodka scattered around the countertop accompanied by iconic red solo cups and rock- ‘n’- roll in the background.

You and Matty had a couple of shots and drinks, but you weren’t on the same level as your friends. Sure you weren’t sober, but you definitely weren’t drunk either. A few of them had settled on smoking a few blunts and edibles, while the others drank themselves into oblivion. You know, college.

You and Matty had been dating for just under three months, unbeknownst to your friends. It was quite fun, sneaking around. Not that you were ashamed of Matty and vice versa; it was just new and you didn’t want to say anything to your friends in case it didn’t work out.

The group played a few drinking games and board games. Laughs and jokes were made along with several other drinks over the course of the night. As you separated into little cliques the night began to quiet down; light music and a slight breeze coming from the window settled the mood. Some of you went for a walk or to smoke outside, and others played card games as a film played in the background.

You were refilling your drink as Matty slid hand on your waist, it being blocked from view by the tall bottles of alcohol and countertop. You were always worried about your friends seeing those little things, however Matty cleverly found a way around them.

Reveling in his presence, you poured your drink, recognizing his familiar scent of cigarettes and musky. The smell of tequila escaped his breath.

“I have a proposition, darling.”

You giggled at the boy, turning to see an alcohol-induced glaze starting to appear in his eyes. He always turned extra British when he had some alcohol. His curls fell so perfect on the top of his head, so bouncy and full of life, just like Matty. Raising the cup to your lips, you inquired,

“What is your proposition, dearest?”

“I tell Jeremy we’re together.”

You almost spit out the liquid. That’s not what you were expecting him to say at all. The idea was completely absurd. You guys have kept your secret for three months and this was how he wanted to tell his friend? Yeah, no way.

“He won’t even remember, look at him! Please, please please my love?”

Although Matty respected the mutual decision to keep your relationship private, he was bursting at the seams not telling any of his best mates. He’d slipped up once or twice, almost mentioning he had a girlfriend who was the prettiest and smartest person he’d ever laid eyes on when his friends were talking about girls they were interested in.

It wasn’t fair that he had to listen about girls all the time and couldn’t even talk about his.

You looked over at your friends’ state. Mumbling to himself, eyes glassy and red, and his slurred words and balance was enough to fail two sobriety tests. Although he never usually drinks, this was the one case that he let himself get quite plastered. A sigh escaped your lips.

“Fine.”

Practically squealing, Matty gave you a quick kiss on the cheek, slugging down the rest of his drink. Mumbling an excited ‘thank you’ as he walked away, he got himself into character.

He lightly knocked into his friend, words slurred and slow, “Mate, mate. Need ta, need ta tell you somethin-” A fake hiccup.

You were surprisingly impressed by his ‘inebriated’ tendencies.

He slung his arm around his friend's shoulder, “But you can’t tell anyone, okay?”

Still wobbly, your friend Jeremy got serious. He was a good friend to both of you, so you knew this was going to end decently okay.

“Of course. Not a w-”

“Shush,” Matty planted his pointer finger on Jeremy’s lips. You chuckled to yourself in disbelief that you let this happen.

“Okay, okay,” he pushed their bodies facing you and the counter.

Your boyfriend points at you with his cup. “Y/N and I are together.”

You could practically see Jeremy’s brain explode. His eyes widened and he drunkenly ‘ran’ over to you, almost taking himself out and a chair with him. “W-wait are you n Matty- ?”

You giggled. “Yeah, Jer.”

“Well fuck me!”

“She’s cute isn’t she?” He tapped your nose as you swatted his hand away, Matty still off balance and words slurred as his other arm slid around your waist. He was really committing to the bit.

“Damn. That- that’s great, but,” he thought for a minute. Both your hearts stopped for a moment.

“I have to take a piss.”

You both chuckled as he mumbled a goodbye, almost walking straight into the bathroom door.

“See? Wasn’t that fun?” Matty teased.

“I guess so.” You gave him a shy smile.

I guess it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if your friends knew about you two.

[ash-lien]

HEY YA'LL NEW DANDY'S WORLD AU!!!

ACTING INDUSTRY AU!!!

@joen-lenawley and @buzzshaws are also part of it!!!!

this is probably very unoriginal and i really dont like it

Basically it's where the toons are like-not the toons...? They're seperate people from the toons and they have like backstories and lives and everything, so the toons in this WILL have different names. Because they aren't the toons. They're actors. Acting as the toons. If that makes sense. The first letter will be the same to keep it simple and make it easier to remember. They don’t live at gardenview and the majority of them are actually still in college. This AU focuses on like acting industry stuff and getting exploited and like toxic workplaces and other stuff about shitty 90s acting life and HOMOPHOBIA!!!

WHAT ARE TOONS?

Toons, in this AU, are a separate species from humans. As a result of toons being so similar to humans, and having a similar intelligence, there is a sort of “speciesism” against them, for looking like objects, being small, etc. etc. However, they still are different creatures from humans. Toons require “ichor” as a human body would use blood, to survive, and the body uses it up instead of recycling it. As a result, toons often have “machines” in their houses or workplaces that help them extract ichor to keep them alive.

WHAT ARE THE TWISTEDS? (WILL BE UPDATED AND EDITED)

information can't be shared until later in the story ;)

all i'll say is: even though they're show directors, delilah didn't get a degree in biology and life science n stuff for no reason :3

NAMES THUS FAR (WILL BE UPDATED AND EDITED)

POPPY: Penelope/Penny

BOXTEN: Benjamin/Ben Debussy

COSMO: Charles/Charlie

TISHA: Tiffany

SHRIMPO: Shawn Sashimi

RUDIE: Ross

LOOEY: Louis 

BRIGHTNEY: Brittany Light

TEAGAN: Taylor

TOODLES: Tina Poole

RODGER: idk man

CONNIE: Coraline

FINN: Finley

RAZZLE: Rylan

DAZZLE: Dylan

GLISTEN: Gabriele Mirrorton

FLUTTER: Felicity Swift

GIGI: Giselle

SCRAPS: Scarlette

GOOB: Gael

VEE: Veronica 1.0

ASTRO: Austin

SPROUT: Sam

SHELLY: Shannon

DANDY: Devan

(yes we named the mains after their toon handlers kill me if you want.)

SHIPS IN THIS AU:

FASHIONSHOW (it grew on me ok!?!?!? pansexual gabriele for life)

the rest are TBD

WHO WILL BE THE MAIN CHARACTERS???:

uhm ok so im actually not so sure about this part yet.

Penny and Benjamin will be 2 of the main characters, Gabriele, Veronica and Brittany do become pretty important as well. Im not sure about the rest yet.

Gabriele especially. He isnt that important at first but he does become very important later on.

ALSO PS: THERE IS A LOT OF MISCHARACTERIZATION IN THIS. THE ACTORS AREN'T EXACTLY LIKE THE TOONS THEY ACT AS, JSUT LIKE ANY OTHER ACTING THINGY, SO IF A CHARACTER IS MISCHARACTERIZED, KNOW IT'S PROBABLY ON PURPOSE.

if you survived this yap session then u get a donut 🍩🍩🍩🍩🍩🍩🍩🍩🍩

[sasheneskywalker]

Weekly Batman/DC Fic Recs (1)

This week I've read two delightful character studies, one focused on Barbara Gordon and the other on Jason Todd. There's also a hilarious SI/OC fic from the perspective of Tim Drake and two fantastic fics where Lonnie Machin/Anarky plays a major role. Apart from that, two delicious smutty fics got an update: Bruce/Dick/Jason college au and Slade/Jason western au. We also have an amazing DCU, MCU and X-Men crossover oneshot! Hope you enjoy the recs <3

Delta T by Havendance In one universe, mere seconds stop Barbara Gordon from sniping Black Mask. In another, she takes the shot.

G | No Archive Warnings Apply | Batman (Comics) | Helena Bertinelli & Barbara Gordon

this city is the place to be by Jezebunny Gotham city is going to be destroyed in twelve hours.

Jason doesn't see any point in stopping it.

What does he owe anybody, anyway?

T | No Archive Warnings Apply | Batman - All Media Types | Jason Todd & Bruce Wayne

Domestication Protocols for Nocturnal Fauna by rozaceous, vermillion_crown It’s been years since Tim's thought about the secret identities of Gotham’s winged wonders. A chance encounter while searching for college roommates that won’t burn the place down gives Tim a lead and the hope of new accommodations. The only thing he has to do is pretend that he doesn’t know anything.

Easy.

("—and they were roommates!" SI/OC edition)

T | Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings | Batman - All Media Types | Jason Todd/Original Female Character(s), Tim Drake/Original Male Character(s), Dick Grayson & Original Character(s), Original Female Character(s) & Original Male Character(s), Tim Drake & Original Female Character(s)

The Assassination of President Luthor by the Radical Lonnie Machin by NiteWrighter "Hi. I’m Lonnie. So I guess I should start out by saying, I don’t believe violence is a sustainable tool. It’s not. It’s a reflection of our ugliest, most base instincts. But it is the current language of the state, so I apologize for bringing my voice to the conversation."

President Luthor has been brutally killed by a magical weapon, and Anarky has claimed responsibility. The Justice League is struggling with the ensuing fallout, instability, suspicion, and speculation, while a power vacuum opens up in the world of the Rogues. What does a world without Lex Luthor look like? Is he truly gone? Has a greater chain reaction been kicked off by this single death?

T | Major Character Death | Superman - All Media Types, Justice League - All Media Types, DCU (Comics) | Clark Kent/Lois Lane, Diana (Wonder Woman) & Clark Kent & Bruce Wayne, Lana Lang/Pete Ross, Tim Drake/Lonnie Machin

The Half-Life of Sixty Seconds by sunnymusings "The problem with thinking like a detective is not actually that thinking like one is too strict or structured. There’s organization on a document, but Tim’s mind is not a bullet journal. It’s not a legal form, it’s not a spreadsheet, it’s not a ledger.

It’s messy and human and creative. Loose, unstructured, instinctual. Detectives aren’t good at solving cases because they work like machines; it’s much the opposite. It’s that creative mess which aids in seeing between the structure of presented facts, reading the code, and then cracking it. It’s like tracing a spider web back to its center. There’s an observable track leading exactly where one needs to go— a veritable method to the madness— but it’s still art, all the same, even to the broom that ruins it.

So, when Tim is presented with a countdown, it’s not just a mechanical, factual understanding of time that pushes hard against the inside of his ribs; it’s a too-clear visual of a digital clock-face, neutral and unyielding, counting down from sixty in his neocortex. Artistic and messy and emotional.

There is only one place to go once one is caught in the web."

Based on Red Robin #16. Missing Scenes and Relationship Building.

T | No Archive Warnings Apply | Batman - All Media Types, Red Robin (Comics) | Tim Drake & Lonnie Machin, Tim Drake/Lonnie Machin

Making The Grade by MelodramaticMrTails Jason partners up with the rich and beautiful Dick Grayson and quickly finds out the Wayne family secret- and that Dick wants him to join in on it.

E | No Archive Warnings Apply | DCU (Comics), Batman - All Media Types | Dick Grayson/Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson/Jason Todd

Nothing to Nobody by Jae_Cillian The kid—Jason—stared at Slade with wide, alert eyes. Big and round like a doe—startled in its grazing, frozen in the sights of a predator. He leaned forward, one hand still gripping the pistol but the other anchoring his weight against the floor as if to stand and chase after Slade. But with Slade’s eye on him, Jason didn’t dare move an inch. All tense lines and silent shudders of breath that Slade could see quake along the kid’s ribs, Jason reminded Slade of a stray dog. Snarling and snapping its canines when he got too close, but whimpering and whining when he walked away.

Slade wondered how long it’d take to tame the kid; and, thereupon, realized he might enjoy the challenge of it.

--

In which Slade, while chasing after the Joker gang's bounties and stolen payroll, finds Jason—battered, beaten, and abused at the gang's hands—alone in the mountains. Intrigued by the kid's feral tenacity, he offers Jason a chance at revenge.

E | Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings | Red Hood and the Outlaws (Comics), Deathstroke the Terminator (Comics), Batman (Comics), DCU (Comics) | Jason Todd/Slade Wilson

Five Supersoldiers Walk Into a Bar by bittercape He spots him through the binoculars, far away and disappearing fast. Logan is, more than anything, a hunter. He knows how to watch, and he watches the sniper moving away, after a single well-placed shot. He moves just like Barnes did. Everyone has a particular way of moving, if you know how to watch. And Logan, as mentioned, knows how to watch.

Logan knows it cannot be him, knows he died, falling from a train. No normal human could survive that. And yet …

He drops down from the watchtower. He’ll catch hell for this, sure. But he has to know.

T | No Archive Warnings Apply | Marvel Cinematic Universe, X-Men (Comicverse), DCU (Comics), Deathstroke the Terminator (Comics) | Logan (X-men) & James "Bucky" Barnes, Logan (X-Men) & Natasha Romanov, Logan (X-Men) & Slade Wilson, James "Bucky" Barnes & Slade Wilson, Natasha Romanov (Marvel) & Slade Wilson, James "Bucky" Barnes & Natasha Romanov, Steve Rogers & Slade Wilson

[thehandmaidenofcreativity]

Pining Idiots (college edition)

Chapter 10: When I say party shenanigans, I mean SHENANIGANS

WC: 6,811; Rating: 18+

Read Chapter 9 here!

Chan and Seungmin attend game night to round out the perfect day. With the change in the dynamics of their relationship, a few things feel distinctly different as the night goes on. Everyone has a great time, and many of them are able to follow through on their own agendas.

Author's Note:

Like Halloween night, this party (and entire chapter) will not follow Chan or Seungmin's perspective so that you can get a better picture of everything going on and a little insight into both of their thoughts at times.

Additionally, this chapter kind of sets up several potential side stories that I may write within this au, as was one of the inital intentions when we discussed writing this fic. Hyunsung was the only original little bonus work, but as I wrote more and more, we realized there are a lot of things we'd like to see with these characters.

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When Chan and Seungmin arrive at Seonghwa and Hongjoong’s apartment, they’re met with a chorus of cheers. Everyone offers them hugs and congratulations as if they’d just gotten engaged rather than just had their first date. Chan is a bit taken aback, and Seungmin probably would’ve been embarrassed in any other circumstance, but they’re both so incredibly happy to finally be together, especially after such a successful first date, that they welcome all the attention. 

Hyunjin and Felix whisk Seungmin off to a corner to pump him for information. They pepper him with questions about what they did and how he was/is feeling. He’s laughing, struggling to escape Hyunjin’s grip on his hand only to be swept into Felix’s arms. “Okay, okay, chill guys.”

Felix nuzzles his face into Seungmin’s neck with a big smile. “Then answer our questions, Seungminnie!”

“At least tell us if you guys –” Hyunjin not-so-subtly checks to see how close others in the room are before continuing quietly “– had sex yet.”

Seungmin’s blush is immediate and deep. He tells them about his afternoon with Chan, including a brief description of their love-making, ‘cause that’s the only thing he could call it. The three of them are all giggles as they celebrate Seungmin finally getting to be with Chan the way he’s always wanted. 

In the kitchen, Chan is giving a similar, though slightly less detailed, account of the date to Jisung and San.

“Oh a pottery date!” Jisung whips his phone out and starts looking something up. “Hyunjin is super into drawing and painting. Maybe I should take him to one of those places where you paint pottery or something.”

“Don’t you think you should actually ask him out before you start planning dates?” Chan teases. 

Jisung pouts, but San speaks before he can. “I was going to recommend one of those wine and canvas places, but I guess that might be less fun when you’re underaged.”

Hongjoong comes up beside him, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “You can actually do that pretty easily at home; Seonghwa was actually talking about making a party of it sometime soon. You just buy the stuff and follow a Bob Ross video.”

“Is that why you have that painting in your bathroom now?”

“Yeah, he did pretty good, didn’t he?” Hongjoong’s smile is full of love and pride. He turns to Chan and Jisung. “You guys should take a look at it! And if you’re interested, tell Hwa; it’ll make him happy to know people would be down if he hosted it.”

They agree and start making their way out, drinks in hand. Chan goes to hand Seungmin a drink while Jisung goes to check out the painting. Wooyoung grabs Jisung before he hits the hallway, though, yelling about how it’s time to really get the party started and having everyone gather around him.

“You realize, once again, that this is not your house and thus not your party, right?” Hongjoong interjects as he enters the room. 

“I realize no such thing,” Wooyoung pouts. “Seonghwa hyung, you want me to take over, don’t you?”

The grimace on his face seems to show that Wooyoung’s whining isn’t hitting the mark. “Woo, you should just relax and have fun. Hosting is more than announcing games; if you took over, I’d want you to handle everything, like restocking and cleaning up messes. You can have one night of not being the center of attention.”

“But hosting is fun!” Wooyoung is still pouting. “You should get to relax! I’ll handle everything.” 

Hongjoong gives Seonghwa a smile and a thumbs up behind Wooyoung’s back. Seonghwa smiles gently at Wooyoung. “You’ll really handle everything, including clean up?”

“Yes!” When Seonghwa assents, Wooyoung asks him to go get as many green legos as he can. When he returns, he has a container with color-coded compartments, making it easy for Wooyoung to check the approximate amount. 

“Okay, so here’s how this works,” Wooyoung begins, handing the container back to Seonghwa. “Hwa’s going to give you ten legos to use as your dollars. You also get 3 penalty shots to hand out if someone rejects your challenge. If you’re all down, we can just make tally marks on our arms when you give them to keep track.”

“The penalty shots are going to be blueberry soju until it runs out, ‘cause I don’t want any of that shit left in my house by the end of the night,” Hongjoong adds. 

There are a few laughs and murmurs of agreement. 

Wooyoung continues. “Whoever has the most ‘money’ by the end of the night wins. The game supersedes any other games we’re playing or whatever, so some might get put on hold while shit’s goin’ down.”

Everyone collects their legos then group up throughout the apartment to talk and start smaller games. Once the last person gets theirs, Minho announces that it’s time for the first challenge of the night. 

“Wooyoung is going to strip down to his underwear and run around the building.” He wiggles his eyebrows at Wooyoung, holding a lego out to him. “Right?”

Wooyoung just smiles and starts stripping. 

“I figured there’d be more drinking before Woo took his clothes off, but honestly, I don’t know why,” Jongho laughs. 

Several of them go outside with him to witness, while others just look down out the window. When they come back inside, Wooyoung looking quite pleased with himself, Yunho offers him another lego to keep his clothes off. No one else offers any challenges while activities pick up. A group starts playing beer pong while another starts a game of Uno. As expected, Wooyoung establishes a few house rules for the game - kisses to make the skip sting less, one drink on a draw two, two drinks on a draw four, a shot if you fail to say uno. 

Seungmin relaxes happily on the couch, watching Chan and Felix get adorably competitive playing Uno, playing with the rings on Hyunjin’s fingers while he animatedly explains the model he’s building for a class. Yunho sits in rapt attention until Yeosang comes up to challenge him to switch clothes with Hongjoong; theirs is the most drastic height difference of the group.

While they change, Seungmin goes to sit behind Chan, legs bracketing his body and arms wrapping around his middle. Hyunjin sits beside Jisung, who is laying another draw four down, to Felix’s dismay. Changbin giggles and whispers something to Felix. 

“Got a challenge for ya, Jisungie.” Felix rarely looks so devious when he smiles. “Have you ever heard of a 69 push up?”

Jisung rolls his eyes. “Lame, Bin, you know I’ll be able to knock ‘em out easy.” He flexes his impressive arms to punctuate his point. 

“We know you can handle push ups, Ji; the question is, how will you handle them when you’re lowering your face into Hyunjin’s crotch.” Hyunjin chokes on his drink, sputtering, when Changbin says this. 

Felix gives him a vaguely apologetic and pleading look. “You’ll help with his challenge, right Jinnie?”

When he recovers, Felix comes to whisper in Hyunjin’s ear. He agrees, likely not wanting to watch Jisung ‘69’ someone else. With his agreement, Jisung’s cheeks heat up, but he doesn’t back down. Uno pauses as Yunho and Hongjoong emerge from the bedroom. Hongjoong is absolutely swimming in Yunho’s jeans and t-shirt; the shirt was already oversized on Yunho, so it’s nearly at Hongjoong’s knees, the neck wide enough to show off his collarbone as it sits askew with sleeves reaching his elbows. The pants drag along the ground by a few inches. Yunho, on the other hand, is lucky that Hongjoong hadn’t opted for skinny jeans tonight, or he wouldn’t have been able to get his pants all the way on. As it is, he looks like he’s prepared to walk through a 12-inch flood. The shirt is tight and small enough that it looks like a crop top.

Yunho’s bare midriff inspires several wolf whistles and catcalls. When it settles down again, Changbin makes sure no one forgot Jisung’s challenge. Hyunjin lays down on the ground, and Jisung props himself over him in push-up position. He needs to do 15 push-ups, but on number 8, Felix pops up and sits on Jisung’s back, the surprise of it nearly making him face plant onto Hyunjin’s junk. 

Hyunjin lets out a laughing sigh as Jisung yells about dirty tricks. He finishes the set, but with Felix wiggling on the last one, he struggles a bit and ends up gently pressing his face into Hyunjin’s crotch for a second before he can push back up. Felix hops off, and Jisung scrambles back, face and ears burning red as he apologizes to Hyunjin. 

For his part, Hyunjin is giggling. “It’s okay, Jisung, though typically guys kiss my face before they kiss my dick.”

This does nothing for Jisung’s embarrassment, his eyes go wide and his mouth drops open. The rest of the group laughs along with Hyunjin, who has clearly gotten bolder after a couple drinks. Seungmin gives Chan a squeeze as they watch Hyunjin lean forward, taking Jisung’s cheeks between his hands, and pull him in for a kiss. 

Jisung still looks a little stunned afterward, but pulls himself together quickly. He stands, giving Hyunjin a hand and a cocky grin. “Do you wanna go get another drink?” They head off to the kitchen, smiling and giggling at each other as Jisung wraps an arm around Hyunjin’s waist.

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With this, it seems the challenges are picking up, because San and Yunho amble over; San plops himself next to Minho with a smile. “Can I kiss you for a dollar?”

Minho raises an eyebrow at him and glances over at Jeongin. “Like a peck or for how long?”

All eyes turn to Wooyoung, who preens with all the attention on him. “Let’s say kisses need to be 5 seconds or more!”

In lieu of a verbal answer, Minho grabs San by the nape of his neck and drags him in for a kiss. San’s hand lands on Minho’s chest, kneading into it gently. After several seconds, Chan finally just counts ‘4, 5’ out loud to signal an end to the kiss. Minho pulls back with a very satisfied look on his face as he smooths where his shirt that was rumpled under San’s grasp. Yunho drops a lego into San’s hand that he passes over to Minho.

Seungmin realizes he would’ve read way too much into Chan’s interference prior to their confessions. On the other end, Chan is just feeling relieved seeing the smile that Jeongin gives both San and Minho. 

“Well, that was hot as hell,” Wooyoung announces before turning to Changbin. “Make out with me for a dollar?”

Changbin grins and holds out his palm. Wooyoung slams a lego into it; he grabs onto Changbin’s hand and drags him over to the couch. Reminiscent of Jeongin and San’s first kiss, Wooyoung straddles Changbin and starts kissing him, much to Jongho and Yeosang’s dismay as they’d already been occupying the couch. 

Deciding that it’s time he really participates and ready to get away from Wooyoung’s enthusiasm, Jongho approaches Yunho. “I’ve got a challenge for you: post a picture of your toes on Instagram with the caption ‘first one’s free, next is $100.’”

As Yunho considers, Mingi steps in. “If you’re gonna do that, you’d better make ‘em look nice.” He looks around, noticing the big smile on Hyunjin’s face after hearing the challenge. “Hyuni, I’ll give you a dollar if you lotion his feet before he posts.”

A chorus of laughs and sounds of disgust fill the air as Hyunjin and Yunho shake hands in agreement. Yunho, much less put off by the couple making out on the couch than Jongho, plops down right next to them, leaning into Wooyoung as he takes his sock off. 

Wooyoung’s retaliation is sitting back on Changbin’s lap and grabbing Yunho’s face to plant a smacking kiss on his cheek after proclaiming, “Oh Yuyu, don’t be jealous; I’ll kiss you, too.” He turns so he can sit sideways across Changbin’s thighs and watch the action. 

Seonghwa materializes beside them to hand Hyunjin a bottle of lotion. Yunho’s socks come off, and Hyunjin gets to work. On the second foot, he pretends he’s going to take a bite before he applies the lotion. Luckily, Minho snapped a picture at just the right moment so that it looked like he actually did it. When he finishes, Yunho takes his own picture and posts it. Several of them make sure to go comment under the photo, some positive, some negative. 

Seonghwa taps Wooyoung on the shoulder then tips his head toward the kitchen and his eyes light up. He leaves and comes back with a few boxes in his hands. “Since all other games have stopped, I think it’s time for a tournament!” Seonghwa pulls out one of those huge sticky note pads that teachers use and puts one up on the wall. It has a bracket already drawn onto it.

After taking a better look at the boxes, Yeosang says more than asks, “The pepero game?”

“How did you determine seeds?” Jeongin asks.

Wooyoung smiles, probably happy that there doesn’t appear to be any push back on playing. “Easy, age order.”

“Ah yes!” Jisung claps his hands, grabbing a stick and handing it to Jeongin. “That means first up is the baby and our resident grandpa.”

Chan sucks a breath in sharply, eyes to the ceiling, while Minho and Changbin laugh. maniacally.

Jeongin puts the cookie between his teeth and steps up to put his hands on Chan’s shoulders. Chan sighs and starts biting. Ultimately, his lovely, plush lips are his downfall, and he loses the game, but Seungmin is sure to give him a kiss and promises to win the whole tournament in his honor.

To do so, when the second round begins – 8 matches going simultaneously – Seungmin starts off strong. He offers Hongjoong a dollar to let him win. The junior is very easily swayed, but Mingi, like a devil over his shoulder, says that he should take a kiss instead of a dollar. 

“You know what, that seems like a great idea.” Hongjoong grins at them before winking at Seungmin. “I’ve heard great things after all. I’ll take the dollar and a kiss.”

Seungmin and Mingi both blush at that.

“Better decide quick before other people finish and notice us not playing.”

Seungmin drops the lego into Hongjoong’s waiting palm. Then he leans in and kisses him. He does his best to live up to his reputation, and it seems like he succeeds when he pulls back to see the slightly dazed smile on Hongjoong’s face. And with that, Seungmin’s on to round 3.

Minho wins his match against Felix and sees that he’ll be facing Seungmin next while Changbin’s victory over Mingi pits him against San. He sidles up to Changbin, mischief in his eyes. He gets up close to his ear and whispers, “Did ya see how San won?”

Changbin jumps with a yell. “Damn it, Minho. I’m getting you a collar with a bell.”

“Kinky.”

“Oh my god, stop,” Changbin laughs. “Why does it matter how he won?”

Minho boops him on the nose. “It matters, ‘cause that’s how I want you to lose.”

“Why would I do that?” When Minho holds up a dollar, he shrugs. “Okay, how’d he win?”

“When they got close, Woo decided to stick his tongue down his throat. That makes at least 4 of us who have kissed him tonight. Did you see Innie’s face after I did?”

Changbin glances over at their youngest friend. “He definitely didn’t seem unhappy about it.”

“So, I wanna test a theory.” When Changbin looks like he’s going to interrupt him, he puts his hand over his mouth. “You know I won’t play any games that’ll hurt him. If it looks like it might, I’ll stop and talk to him. But until then, let’s see how many people we can get to kiss San tonight.”

Just then, Yunho bursts out laughing; Mingi reads over his shoulder and follows suit. After the third time they’re asked, Yunho explains that he’s already gotten two requests for more feet pics, one has already sent a payment through.

“Oh my god, Yunho delete the post!” Seonghwa laughs.

“No, leave it up!” Wooyoung yells immediately. “Make that money, make purse, baby!”

Jongho waves a dollar in front of Yunho’s face. “Split the money with me since I made you make the post from the start. And I’m with Woo, leave it up and see how much we can make.”

“We?” Yunho side eyes him. “I never agreed to splitting it or actually sending more pics.”

Jongho gives him a flat look. “But you’re going to, aren’t you?”

Wooyoung claps his hands and raises his voice then. “While Yunho thinks that over, the show must go on! Time for round three, bitches!”

Minho shoots a look at Changbin, nodding back when he salutes him. He steps up to Seungmin with a grin. “So I heard you say you’re winning this whole thing for Channie?”

“Yeah,” Seungmin laughs. “Wanna forfeit to help me?”

Minho makes a face. “Nah, I only cheat at games for me.”

Seungmin cocks his head and gives him one of those smiles that’s downturned at the edges. “Fair enough.”

When they begin, they’re both careful and slow; Seungmin is trying to figure out how to ensure his victory when Minho surges toward his face and his tongue is suddenly in his mouth. He’s probably less startled than he should be, but considering how the night’s gone thus far, Seungmin expects many more kisses from people who aren’t his boyfriend tonight; so he goes with it, wrapping his arms around Minho’s waist and drawing him in. To his delight, the move does seem to surprise Minho, who lets out a cute little squeak. 

“What’s wrong, Minho,” Seungmin giggles, tightening his grip. “Thought you wanted to kiss.”

“Watch yourself, Kim Seungmin,” Minho narrows his eyes at him. “Or you’re gonna get what you ask for, and you can’t handle me.”

Seungmin rolls his eyes with a smile. He risks dropping a quick peck on Minho’s lips before he bolts away from his grasp. Minho laughs and turns to find out the state of the tournament. He’s pleased to see San advanced, assuming Changbin followed through. That makes his next target Yeosang, though he’s barely even properly met him. Luckily, Changbin has a solution. The two of them step up to either side of Wooyoung wearing matching grins.

“I don’t know what this is, gentlemen,” Wooyoung looks back and forth between them before wrapping an arm around their waists. “But I’m very about it. However, I’m in the middle of hosting a tournament, so maybe we should talk in a bit.”

Minho smirks. “What an intriguing prospect. We should talk about this later, but for now, we need your help before the next round begins.”

Wooyoung raises an eyebrow at him. “Go on.”

“We’ve decided to try to get everyone here to kiss San tonight. Can you get Yeosang to throw their match to kiss him?”

“Is that how he beat you, Binnie?”

“Yep.”

Wooyoung laughs. “Me too. I’m not sure Sangie is gonna be down to cheat at the game, but I feel like San might do it so each of his rounds for sure ends in a kiss.” He skips over to get San on board.

“An ‘intriguing prospect,’ hyung?” Changbin cocks his head at Minho, his tongue darting out before he pulls his lower lip between his teeth. 

Minho steps in close to him, lips grazing Changbin’s ear when he leans in close. “It’s not like we haven’t considered it before.”

Across the room, Wooyoung starts the next round. Seungmin places his hands on Jeongin’s waist as they start. As they get close, he squeezes gently; Jeongin jerks at the touch, causing his lip to make contact. Seungmin celebrates his win as Jeongin accuses him of cheating. They look to Wooyoung to make the call.

“I didn’t see any cheating,” he says truthfully, as he’d been watching as San grabbed and dipped Yeosang like they were dancing, then kissed him passionately. Seungmin could’ve done anything, and he would’ve been none the wiser; his level of drunkenness doesn’t lend well to multitasking. “Seungmin wins! Final round: Yeosangie vs. Seungminnie. Let’s go!”

Yeosang is still swooning just a little after the kiss. Seungmin ops for going the way he did with Hongjoong, offering a dollar for the win. He doesn’t have much time to consider as Wooyoung is loudly repeating ‘let’s go’ until they put the cookie between their teeth. Yeosang ends up shying back, allowing Seungmin to win. 

Chan scoops him up in a celebratory hug. Seungmin holds on tightly. “Told you I’d win for you, babe.” Chan blushes deeply as he nuzzles his head into the crook of his neck.

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“Alright, you guys are adorable, blah, blah. I need you both to kiss San.” Minho narrows his eyes at both of them in turn. 

Seungmin smirks as Chan sputters, “Why would you need us to do that?”

“Why wouldn’t you want to do it?” 

“Well, I mean, to start, we’re dating now.”

“That didn’t stop Seungmin from sticking his tongue in my mouth like 5 minutes ago.” 

Chan swings his head around to look at Seungmin with wide eyes. Seungmin shrugs. “He kissed me first; how else was I supposed to assert my dominance?”

He and Minho both cackle as Chan looks bewildered. “I don’t know how much I like you two getting along now. Seems like it’ll be bad for my health.”

“Don’t worry, Channie,” Minho pats his cheeks. “I won’t steal your man. Anyway, San has kissed the most people at this party, so I decided I want to get him to kiss everyone here. So you’ll do it? I’m willing to pay.”

“Sure, but I still don’t understand why,” Seungmin shrugs. He holds out his palm and Minho drops a couple dollars into it and flounces away. He leans in close to his boyfriend, speaking softly. “I guess we didn’t actually talk about our comfort levels with things like kissing our friends for games and stuff. I didn’t make you uncomfortable, did I? We don’t have to kiss San.”

“No, baby, it’s okay.” Chan kisses his cheek. “I know you’re comfortable with that kind of thing, and I am, too. I’m not really concerned about it when it’s, like, party games… If you’re wanting to kiss people in another context, we can discuss that another day.”

“Baby, huh?” Seungmin teases, smiling wide at the blush creeping up Chan’s chest. He wraps his arms around Chan’s neck, resting his forehead against his, as Chan’s take their place around his waist. “I’m not interested in kissing anyone besides you outside of games. Except maybe Seonghwa, ‘cause Felix says his kiss game is, like, god-tier, and I feel like I should experience it.”

“You’re such a brat,” Chan laughs before capturing Seungmin’s lips with his own. They’re in their own world for a minute until Minho hip checks Chan, breaking their kiss.

“I said kiss San, not each other. If you’re not going to, give me my legos back.”

“Keep your pants on, we’ll get to him.” 

Minho narrows his eyes at them. "Actually, I have a better idea. Carry on.”

Seungmin looks back at Chan. “That’s not a good sign, is it?” Chan shakes his head with a laugh. 

In no time, Changbin, Jeongin, and San are in front of them. “Minho said they’ve already agreed and taken their payment, so you’re all good. Right, guys?”

At their agreement, San takes a step closer to them, sneaking a glance at Jeongin, who looks like he’s holding in a laugh. “So I’ve never actually kissed two people at once, do we just go for it?”

Chan and Seungmin’s heads whip around to find Minho coming toward them with a shit-eating grin. “You guys wanted to keep kissing each other, right? Also, Woo says threeway kisses should be at least 7 seconds since there’s more people involved. Hop to it.”

Wooyoung slips in between Minho and Changbin, an arm around each of their shoulders. “Yes, at least 7. Also, why am I so naked and other people aren’t? Sannie, Channie, I’ll give you both dollars if you take your shirts off, too. I know what San’s got going on, –” he throws a wink in San's direction before looking Chan up and down– “and you’re clearly nothing to sneeze at, so leggo.”

Chan and San blush furiously while the rest of them start laughing. Seungmin encourages Chan to submit to Wooyoung’s will; when he starts pulling at the hem of his shirt, Chan allows him to take it off of him. 

Across the room comes an exasperated “fuck, man!” from Jisung. He makes his way over, Hyunjin, Mingi, and Juyeon on his tail. He puts a dollar in Changbin’s waiting hand, then digs his wallet out of his pocket and throws in an actual 5 dollar bill. “Where’s your shirt, Chan? Bin didn’t get you to take it off, did he?”

“You said you guys were done betting about whether or not I’ll keep my shirt on!”

“I did no such thing.” Jisung crosses his arms over his chest with a smug look on his face. “I simply acknowledged that you did not approve and agreed to stop making it happen.”

Chan rolls his eyes, but before he can respond, an also shirtless San leans in and whispers to him and Seungmin. “Minho and Jeongin are threatening to start a chant if we don’t kiss, and we already have a small crowd now. Should we get it over with?”

Seungmin brings a hand to his chest. “Kissing me is something you want to just ‘get over with?’ Maybe we should let them chant so everyone can come witness your hardship.”

San lets out an adorable whine, turning pleading eyes on Chan. “How do you deal with all these menaces?”

Chan smiles at him half fond, half apologetic. “Minnie, I assume you’re okay with this threeway kiss nonsense? Come here before everyone gathers around to watch.”

It’s kind of awkward, but not as bad as any of them thought it would be. Kissing to avoid additional attention ends up failing, though, as Changbin starts a slow but loud count for them, and everyone near them follows along. When they hit the 7th count and break apart, even Seungmin is feeling a little embarrassed in the midst of all the hooting and hollering. 

Luckily, a distraction comes in the form of a shout from Hongjoong. “Absolutely not! If you wanna make a fire, it has to be outside!”

“But that’s against the spirit of the challenge” Jongho faux whines as they walk into the room.

“I don’t care, you can’t set a fire in my house!”

“Okay, okay, no fire. Where’s Woo?” Jongho looks around until he finds him in the crowd. “Let’s go outside.” 

Obviously, Wooyoung immediately agrees and heads toward the door, but Seonghwa catches him around the waist. “Oh no, if you’re going outside, you need to put pants on first. Joongie, no fire outside either, please. We don’t need someone calling the police or something.”

“I will put pants on, if you give kisses,” Wooyoung gives Seonghwa a big smile that widens even further when Seonghwa smacks a kiss on his lips without question. “I actually meant kisses for Sannie, but I’m happy I get one, too.”

Seonghwa sighs. When Wooyoung refuses to put pants on in return for his kiss, he ends up giving San one as well. With the promise of no fire-related challenges, a few people follow them outside to see what his challenge ends up being. It’s simple, laying in the street for 60 consecutive seconds. He only has to restart twice because of cars. 

While they wait, Yeosang is challenged to set off his car alarm the next time a person walks by; it ends up coinciding with Wooyoung’s success, so it goes off as he’s standing up. To everyone’s surprise, what turns out to be a goose comes flying out of the guy’s arm, its honking drowning out whatever he’s yelling. 

“Is that a fucking goose?” Wooyoung yells as it lands near him and starts waddling away. 

“Gerald!” The guy starts running toward him, stumbling a bit. “Help me catch him!”

Without question, Wooyoung is running after the goose with this stranger. 

“I always knew Woo would be outsmarted by a goose one day.” Yunho’s comment was met with a few solemn nods. 

“Jyunyangie, isn’t that Eric?” Felix directs his boyfriend away from himself to look at the man running around with Wooyoung. 

He squints into the distance. “Huh, it is. Eric! Leave the goose and come inside!”

Shockingly, Eric immediately stops and shouts, “But how am I going to get it drunk if I can’t catch it?”

“I don’t think you need to get it drunk, bud!” Juyeon calls, rolling his eyes. “Come back inside with us, and you can get a person drunk instead!” He tilts his head in contemplation. “Is it okay for me to invite him to join us? I could always take him home or back to wherever he wandered away from.”

“Nah, I’m sure it’s fine,” Yunho says. “Especially considering he and Woo are literally going to be best friends by the time they reach us.”

They watch as the two of them make their way back up the street, arm in arm, words flying between them at a mile a minute. Challenges complete, everyone heads back inside. They’re met with the glorious sight of Mingi and Hyunjin giving San and Changbin, respectively, lap dances to the wonderful musical stylings of Seungmin, who is showing off his fantastic rap skills. 

“My man, why have you not invited me to a party here before?” Eric asks as he takes it all in, not noticing the way the rest of the outside crew’s faces range from amused to shocked. Wooyoung takes him into the kitchen to get a drink. 

As Seungmin wraps up, Minho lays a hand on the nape of Hyunjin’s neck, slowly guiding his head toward San’s. Hyunjin’s movements slow to a stop as their lips meet. Mingi gets distracted by the scene as he moves to get out of Changbin’s space, losing track of his actions and turning to just sit in Changbin’s lap. Changbin’s laugh rings out as his hands land on Mingi’s hips. 

-

Minho sits beside Changbin with a smile. “Just a few more to go now: Yunho, Jongho, Felix, and Juyeon.”

“Oh, flag on the play there, Min,” Changbin squeezes Mingi’s sides, shocking a squeak out of him, but effectively drawing his attention away from the couple making out. “Aren’t San and Jongho cousins?”

“Oh, uh, yeah,” Mingi looks between the two of them. “Why?”

“Just saving Minho from asking a dude to kiss his cousin.” Mingi still looks very confused. “Don’t worry your pretty head about it. Look, your boyfriend is back, and I think he’d rather you sit on his lap than mine.”

The way Mingi’s face lights up when Changbin says ‘your boyfriend’ is incredibly endearing. He skips his way over to Yunho, slapping Hyunjin on the butt along the way as the other extricates himself from San’s lap. 

“Well, they’re adorable.” Changbin smiles at his retreating form before turning his attention back to Minho as Chan slides into the seat next to him, snuggling up. “I feel like you’ve gotta be running out of tricks if you’re just pushing people’s faces together at this point. What’s your next play?”

“Why don’t you suggest another game?” Jeongin suggests as he sits on the arm of the couch. “How many do you have left?”

“Wait, are you in on this whole thing, too?” Chan looks up at him, surprised.

Jeongin shrugs, but his smirk says that he is. Seeing Minho hold up three fingers, he says, “Let’s play Suck and Blow.”

“Tell Woo, he’s in charge.”

Before Minho can even finish the sentence, Changbin is blowing all their eardrums, yelling for Wooyoung. A moment later, the man in question plants himself in Changbin’s lap, arms, wrapping around his neck and throwing his legs over Minho’s. He wiggles his brows at the two of them. “You trying to get out of here?”

“Not quite yet. Time for a new game,” Minho smirks. 

Wooyoung’s pout turns back into a grin in record time. They hash out the details while Chan and Changbin go off to find Seungmin and Felix. Hyunjin has found them as well, arms wrapped around Seungmin’s neck, leaning into him. 

Changbin steals a glance over at Chan, happy to see the smile on his face. “Guess it’s a lot easier to see them like that now, huh?”

“So much, Bin,” Chan laughs. “I’ve spent so much time being jealous and anxious about him, but now I’m just happy he has Seungmin, and that he helped me to have him, too. What about you? Is something really happening there with Woo, Min, and you?”

“I’m sure nothing tonight, at least,” Changbin’s ears are turning red. “You know how much they’ve both had to drink.”

“Hmm,” Chan smiles. “A great non-answer there.”

“Channie hyung!” Hyunjin wraps around Chan instead the second they reach him. 

Chan is laughing as he holds tight to his waist. “Does this mean I’m completely forgiven?”

Hyunjin giggles and kisses him full on the mouth. “Yes! ‘Cause you wouldn’t help me with Jisung if you thought I was a cheater, and you love our Seungminnie.” He turns to Seungmin, beaming. “Minnie, you were right; his lips are so soft! Can I kiss him again?”

Seungmin, Felix, and Changbin are laughing as Chan’s blush spreads down to his chest, nearly glowing pink. Seungmin catches Chan’s eye and gives him a gentle smile. “Whatever makes you happy, baby.”

“Yay!” Hyunjin air kisses at Seungmin before turning back to latch onto Chan’s mouth, the latter starting with a small squeak, but returning the kiss nonetheless. 

Changbin’s eyes are tearing with his laughter. “Hyunjin, I’m pretty sure he was talking to Chan.”

“Nah, he got it right,” Seungmin shrugs. He raises his voice a tick. “Though I wonder, –”

“Wait!” Felix interrupts, grabbing Seungmin’s shoulders and turning him so that they’re face to face. He pulls a couple dollars out of his pocket and comically pulls open the front pocket of Seungmin’s pants to drop them inside. “I still haven’t gotten to kiss you, yet!” 

With his ‘payment,’ Felix clearly is on Hyunjin’s level and assumes it’s a done deal. His hands land on either side of Seungmin’s face, pulling him in for a soft press of his lips. 

“You gave him multiple dollars for – oh.” Before Changbin can finish his sentence, Felix is diving back in, kissing him as if his life depends on it. Chan and Hyunjin pull apart, watching as Seungmin’s hand finds its way into Felix’s hair while the other pins him against himself, spread across his lower back. He pulls at Felix’s blue locks just a bit, and they all hear his answering moan, muffled by their lips.

“Well damn, Felix,” the goose guy, Eric, says as he approaches. “Juyeon, does your boyfriend have a boyfriend? That’s hot.”

Juyeon good-naturedly slaps him on the back of his head. “You’ve heard of Seungmin, Lix’s old roommate.”

“Yo, the guy Kev hooked up with the monster co–” 

The elbow to his ribs keeps Eric from finishing his sentence, and once again, everyone’s laughing, including Seungmin and Felix. 

“Get your money’s worth?” Seungmin smirks.

Felix kisses him one last time, short and sweet, before bouncing into his boyfriend’s arms. “Yes, thank you Seungminnie! Having fun so far, Eric?”

“Gather ‘round, everybody!” Wooyoung shouts from his spot near the couch. “Time for another game!”

“Oh!” Changbin remembers why he was looking for Felix in the first place. He puts his hand out to block Felix and Juyeon from moving toward the party master. “Will you both drop the card and kiss San for a dollar?”

The couple looks at each other. “Sure?” Juyeon accepts the legos, and they join the others to listen to Wooyoung split them into teams. He tells them they’ll play best of three, he and Minho are team captains. He heavily implies that there’s a bet riding on one of their victories, though those who are in the know recognize it as an unnecessary diversion technique. Juyeon and Felix set up on either side of San. In the first round, Juyeon lets the card fall, bringing them to the final two needing to kiss for Minho’s little game. Felix goes next, playfully nipping at San’s lip when they part; Minho and Jeongin’s brows both raise at that, though Jeongin only smirks when he sees the resulting smile on San’s face. 

“For fuck’s sake,” Yunho throws his hands up. “I wanna play! Switch me.” 

Juyeon trades places with him, and when he’s about to pass the card to San, Yunho turns his head to blow the card aside, grabs San, and dips him low as he kisses him, like he’s in a movie or something.

Cheering erupts from Wooyoung, Minho, and Changbin, setting off most of the rest of the room. Jeongin walks over and drops nearly all of the legos he started with into Minho’s hand. He then grabs San, dragging him over to an armchair; Jeongin sits and pulls him down into his lap, devilish smile on his face as he draws him close and starts to whisper in his ear. 

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A group decides to play again, for real this time, while Minho, Changbin, and Wooyoung slink off to the kitchen. Chan takes a page out of Jeongin’s book, pulling Seungmin onto his lap on the couch; he nuzzles his head into Seungmin’s chest, arms coming around his slim waist like a belt. “Are you having fun, Minnie?”

“Yeah. Honestly, this has been so much better than most of the parties we’ve been to this year.” Seungmin’s smile is nothing short of lovely. The alcohol and excitement leaves a pretty blush across his cheeks that Chan wants to kiss every inch of. He doesn’t notice Seungmin examining his own face, thinking nearly the exact same thing. “And not just because I know that when all the games are over, I’ll still get to kiss you. Whenever I want.”

Their eyes connect then, the magnetic pull between them becoming irresistible, luring them in until their lips meet. Despite the abundance of (mostly) platonic kissing tonight, it feels like it’s been a lifetime since the end of their date when they last kissed like this. As if their bodies had been waiting to recognize home in the form of the other’s lips. 

A while later, someone knocks into them, breaking the spell. Minho clearly bumped them on purpose, based on his expression. “Seungmin-ah, I think your Hyunjinnie is looking for you, and I need to borrow Channie hyung.”

When Seungmin finds Hyunjin, standing between Jisung’s thighs as the latter sits on the kitchen counter, heads together, voices low, he realizes that Minho had just been getting rid of him. Still, Hyunjin could be spacey when drunk, so it’s possible he had been looking for Seungmin at some point. 

“Hey Jinnie, Jisung,” he ventures. “Were you looking for me, by chance?”

“Minnie!” Hyunjin draws out his name for a few seconds. “Isn’t Jisungie so handsome? And he kisses as well as Chan. We’re so lucky.”

Jisung is torn between being embarrassed and proud. Hyunjin just looks so happy and comfortable. Seungmin feels a certain warmth in his chest. “We are. What about you, Ji, feeling lucky?”

“Incredibly.” Jisung leans toward Seungmin, stage whispering his next thought. “Honestly, this seems like a dream. Is he real?”

Hyunjin giggles, swaying on his feet a little. Seungmin almost wonders if he did it on purpose so that Jisung would return his hands to his hips. Seungmin leaves them to it, wandering back out into the living room. Chan and Minho have been replaced by Seonghwa and Hongjoong on the couch. 

It’s nearing 4 a.m., and it seems like people are starting to clear out. San and Jeongin pulled an Irish goodbye a while ago, as did Jongho. Felix and Juyeon head home with promises of texts when they arrive home. A bit later, Yunho, Mingi, Yeosang, and surprisingly, Eric say their goodbyes; Eric has heart eyes, following Yeosang right out the door. Seungmin accepts a kiss on the cheek from Seonghwa as his group finally makes their way to the door, Wooyoung in tow. Hyunjin bemoans not getting to kiss Seonghwa tonight until Jisung reminds him that they can kiss a little more to make up for it. 

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