#crying over my keyboard someone plz give me a hug

[softguarnere]

Like A Girl (Like A Man)

Shifty Powers x OFC

Chapter 39 - Epilogue: Donadagohvi

Summary: She studies her husband’s face. It’s lined with age, but still as beautiful and as bright as the day she met him. A/N: Alright, y'all - we've made it! But before we get started, I've got some things I have to say. This fic was started during a very strange era. I hated what was going on in my life but didn't know how to fix any of it. Long story short, but I decided to run away one day, and ended up in Toccoa. While standing in the military museum there, I started thinking about Deborah Sampson (a childhood hero of mine), and wondered what would happen if a story like hers happened during WW2 - specifically, if she was a paratrooper. Thus, Zenie appeared in my brain, and this epilogue wrote itself in my mind as I went through the museum. I was never sure if I would share this fic until the second that I hit "post." Zenie was just a way for me to blow off steam, to escape - to fulfill my desire to be someone else for a bit. (Coincidentally, all themes throughout the fic.) I didn't know how people would respond to this story, or to this character, and I only ever had the courage to start uploading chapters because of friends like @latibvles and @liebgotts-lovergirl who showed enthusiasm for it. So I couldn't upload this chapter without a massive sgi (thank you) to them, as well as to everyone else who has read this fic and been so kind to it, and to me. Thank you for welcoming me into this fandom. Thank you for allowing me to share the Cherokee language with you. Thank you for all the support you've given me for both my writing, and as friends. Whether you knew it or not, all that kindness came at a time when I really needed it, and I appreciate you all. Without further ado, here's the last laglam update, in which the fic's title finally makes sense. Much love 💖 Warnings: language, alcohol Taglist: @latibvles @liebgotts-lovergirl @lady-cheeky @dcyllom @mads-weasley @ithinkabouttzu @mrs-murder-daddy @lieutenant-speirs

Eugene looks just the same as he did when Zenie first met him. So do all the other men on this side of the reunion. For her part, she also looks the way she did when she first met all of them – albeit like a girl rather than like a man. For now, her hair is long, and her chest unbound.

No one seems to have figured out why they all look young again, and it has only been mentioned in passing during the reunions. There are better things to do, like visit with those they can, and pass between the ones they left behind, feeling their hearts swell with love as they watch them laugh, watch them remember – watch them live.

Another thing that no one has figured out is why they seem able to come back to this world at certain times. David Webster says he once read that the veil between their worlds thins during certain times of the year, and that maybe this is true of the Easy Company reunions. Zenie, however, likes to believe that it’s the love of the people still living who allow them to come back. All that love with nowhere to go. Love so strong that remembering the people you felt it for brings them back.

No time to wonder now, though. Gene is already smiling at her in greeting.

“Hello again,” he greets as she joins him.

“Gene,” she teases him with an affectionate poke to his ribs. “You haven’t aged a day since I met you in forty-two!”

“Eh, I don’t know about that, Tommy Boy,” Luz’s confident drawl digresses as the radioman swaggers up beside her. “You look a little taller. What, did you finally hit puberty or something?”

Zenie rolls her eyes, but there’s no malice to it. She did, after all, keep him in the dark about her secret until her very last day in Europe. Instead of leading him on, she asks, “How does everyone look?”

“Us? The same as ever. Them? – “ Luz gestures towards the reunion that can’t see them. “ – Well, I guess they’re aging with grace.”

“Have you seen – “

“Bill and Babe are at the bar, as per usual. And your darling husband is somewhere around the middle.”

Zenie takes a step forward before turning quickly to face her friends. “Do y’all mind if I . . . ?”

Gene smiles. “Go ahead. That’s why we’re here.”

Grateful, Zenie takes off through the crowd. Visiting her friends like this is something she always looks forward to, but visiting those she left behind is a rarer treat, and she would like to check up on them. Especially Shifty. 

Bill and Babe – to no one’s surprise – are the easiest to find. They’ve got the bartender in stitches with their jokes, and their own accented guffaws are like a lighthouse cutting through the crowd that makes them easy to navigate towards.

“Siyo, boys!” Though they can’t see or hear her, Zenie takes a seat beside them at the bar. “What’s new with y’all?”  

“They’re drinking everyone under the table, as usual,” a familiar voice beside her announces as none other than Joe Toye takes a seat beside her. His expression is just as relaxed and confident as when they were young, but as he watches their living friends, something like longing flickers behind his eyes. “Too bad that we can’t show them who the real champs are anymore.”

“At least we can visit them.”

Joe nods, smiling sadly. “You made your rounds yet?”

“Not yet.”

“Well, we got time,” her friend assures her. They have nothing but time, actually. And they use it to sit with their friends, laughing along with their jokes and making their own, even though Bill and Babe can’t hear them.

As their jokes turn to remembrances, Zenie finds herself swept up in Babe’s retelling of the time she chucked an apple at Cobb’s head back in Holland. She barely remembers the scene, able to recall only a flash of anger and a split-second decision. Babe’s version is far better – he paints her out to be some sort of knight in shining armor coming to defend the honor of her friends.

Bill shakes his head and chuckles into his drink. “Goddamn. Zee sure could make a scene.”

“You weren’t even there when her secret got out,” Babe notes. “Now that was a scene!”

“No one ever brings it up,” Bill marvels, his eyes roaming over the crowd, searching for something. “You would think everyone would talk about it all the time. I mean – shit! A woman disguised herself as a man and made it from Toccoa to the bitter end before she got found out, and no one at the reunions brings it up.”

Zenie can’t help but smile at that. It’s true – her secret got out, she had to leave in a state of semi-disgrace, but at the Easy reunions, she was usually only acknowledged as Shifty’s wife. Sure, every now and then someone would tell a funny story about Sergeant Driver before throwing a knowing wink in her direction, but after all this time, it’s like they’re still keeping her secret for her. For her own part, she never brings up her service, except to mention in passing that she met her husband during the war. Even her own children seem to be under the impression that she must have been a nurse or a WAC, using that explanation to fill in the story’s blanks. Zenie never confirmed or denied their suspicions.

“Wish she were here,” Babe sighs. He orders another round of drinks, three this time, before placing one in front of the seemingly empty bar stool beside him – unknowingly, right in front of Zenie. He raises his own glass as he offers the last one to Bill. “To Zenie.”

Bill clinks his glass against Babe’s in a toast. “To Zenie.”

“To the best friends I ever had,” Zenie adds. During her last reunion – and even during the last year or so of her life – she could sometimes swear that she could feel a presence that she couldn’t explain. An unshakable feeling that those she loved who were already gone were somehow watching her would wash over her, though she could never explain why she felt that way. Now, she wonders if her friends feel that way about her. Just in case they do, she channels all her love into those words, hoping and praying that they can feel it.

As if on cue, the bittersweet moment ends when a woman with sleek, dark hair approaches the bar, smiling. “Uncle Babe! Are you ready?”

“Luna.” Zenie watches as her daughter throws an arm around each of the men at the bar, her smile just as bright as her father’s, outshining the sun itself.

“The real question is, are you?” Bill teases his goddaughter, cocking an eyebrow. “Don’t forget, kid, that your uncle is a champion jitterbug dancer.”

Luna sizes up the man in question. “Well, I’ve been practicing.”

“Don’t worry about her.” Babe takes one last sip of his drink and waves off Bill’s concerns. “Her mom could have been a champ, too. It’s in her genes; she’ll be fine.”

“The DJ said it’ll be the next song . . .” Luna begins explaining as she hooks her arm through her uncle’s and leads him towards the small dance floor.

Bill watches them go, chuckling to himself. “Real firecracker.” He glances at the drink set out in honor of Zenie. “God, I wish you were here, little brother. It’s not the same without you.”

“I am,” Zenie assures him. She’s only been gone for two years, but things have changed. That might have scared her once. Not anymore. “I have to go find Shifty. You don’t mind, do you?”

Bill doesn’t answer, of course, but it’s polite to ask all the same. Granny didn’t teach her to mind her manners for nothing.

Zenie weaves her way through the crowd of both the living and the dead. She greets several people, stops to exchange a handshake and a kind word, and sends a nod to those who she catches lurking at the edges of the room – people like Liebgott and Captain Speirs, who only show up in the margins of the reunions, watching, but never joining in. She needs to thank those two specifically at some point. But it’s like Joe said – they’ve got time.

As Luz promised, Shifty is seated at a table in the middle of the room. Their sons, Wayne and Willie, sit on either side of him, laughing along with some story that he, McClung, and Popeye are in the middle of telling. Zenie finds a space to stand behind her husband, being as present as she can. She places one hand on Wayne’s shoulder, and the other on Shifty’s.

At the moment of contact, Shifty’s posture stiffens, and his head turns slightly. Zenie freezes, like she’s just disrupted something. Has she? Can he feel her here?

Shifty only listens to the story being told halfheartedly now. He smiles and laughs in all the right places, but it’s obvious that he’s distracted. These reunions are supposed to be fun. Sure, they can get a little emotional at times, but she doesn’t want her husband missing out on her account. He’s still got a life to live. He needs to be in the present moment and enjoy it.

Zenie bends slightly so that she’s close to Shifty’s ear. She doubts anyone else at the table knows that she’s here, but she wants this to be a private moment for the two of them.

“Shifty,” she whispers. “I’m here. I just wanted to make sure that you’re okay.” She has to pause for a moment to think about what she wants to say. It’s one thing to plan what you’re going to tell somebody, and another thing entirely to deliver the message. Sometimes things get lost in translation. She learned that during their break back in the war.

She studies her husband’s face. It’s lined with age, but still as beautiful and as bright as the day she met him. God, she misses him. She misses all of them.

“The boys look well,” she continues, looking between their sons. “I hope they’re taking care of you for me. They’ve always adored you.” She pats Shifty’s shoulder. She shouldn’t take up his attention too much longer. “Take your time. Enjoy it. I’ll be waiting for you, okay? I’ll see you soon, Shifty.”

Not sure if it will work, she plants a kiss on his cheek. When she pulls away, she watches as Shifty’s hand comes up to touch the place where they made contact. Maybe he really can feel her here.

“Gvgeyui,” Zenie says. I love you.

Gene is waiting at the edge of the crowd when she finds him again.

“How’d it go?” He asks.

Zenie nods. “Good. You?”

“Good.” Gene’s dark eyes flick over the crowd. “It’s nice we get to do this.”

It is nice. Bittersweet, mostly, but it’s good to see their loved ones again, even for a short time before they have to go back. But returning isn’t bad, either. The weather is always warm. And there are people she loves waiting for her there.

In fact, she should get going for exactly that reason. Granny wants to dig ramps soon, and Mama informed her that there would be a pie waiting upon her return. No matter which side of the gauzy veil she’s on, there is always someone waiting for her, and always a place that she belongs.

For strength, Zenie takes Gene’s hand and gives it a squeeze. He returns the gesture, and they begin to walk away from the crowd. But before they go, Zenie can’t help but glance back at Easy Company one last time. Her eyes, as always, land on Shifty. She’ll see him again. She’ll see them all again, in one way or another.

“Until we meet again,” Zenie informs them all, whether they can hear her or not. “Donadagohvi.”

[a-small-batch-of-dragons]

No/Anything Special

Prompt: So. I read your Torchwood fics, and now i want more Hurt/Comfort with Ianto and Jack. Plz?

Yes you can let's take care of these boys.

Read on Ao3

Warnings: brief allusion to jack's abandonment issues

Pairings: janto, can be platonic or romantic you decide

Word Count: 2339

It’s the last time Jack goes into the field when Ianto hasn’t looked over the briefing extensively.

Or, Jack's abandonment issues suddenly rear their ugly heads and Ianto's having none of it.

It’s the last time Jack goes into the field when Ianto hasn’t looked over the briefing extensively.

Ianto’s phone buzzes and Jack’s name lights up the screen.

“Captain, shall I assume the Chinese #3 is still the order of the evening?”

“Ianto?”

Tosh. Ianto curses himself for not having his comm in and switches the phone to sit in the crook of his shoulder. His fingers fly across the keyboard as he starts to bring up the location of the SUV. “What’s happening, Tosh, where’s Jack?”

“Hey, Ianto, listen. Jack’s in a not-so-good place right now.”

“What happened?”

“I don’t know, he just—we were walking down an alley and there was a mannequin just lying there. Then he was on the ground.”

Bollocks. “Is he alright?”

“I’m driving him back, he can’t be behind the wheel right now.”

“Pulling up your location now,” Ianto mutters, still typing away, “alright, you’re about twenty minutes out. You buy the thrift warehouse?”

“We’re at the exchange, yes.”

“Okay.” Ianto rattles off the directions as he makes his way through the Hub. “What his status?”

“I’ll tell you when I get there.”

“Okay.”

Ianto hangs up the phone and rushes outside, barreling down the stairs to the lot. His breath condenses in white puffs as he slams his fist on the button, anxiously down the alley for the SUV. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he curses. Should’ve brought a coat. Should’ve checked the traffic report.

Should’ve been there.

Ten minutes later, the SUV pulls into the garage. He catches sight of Tosh’s hair in the driver’s seat and a slumping figure in the passenger’s seat. Jack.

Owen jumps out of the backseat, Gwen in tow, both carrying something large. HE gives them a wide berth as he steps into the parking space. Tosh kills the engine. The doors unlock. She steps out and hustles to the passenger’s side. The door opens and Jack gets out. He isn’t wearing the coat. Where’s the coat? A piece of fabric tumbles out of the car and he stoops to grab it, shrugging it on despite the snow. Ianto’s heart melts.

Oh, Jack.

“Come on,” Ianto murmurs, “inside. All of us. Let’s go. This way.”

Jack opens the door and heads straight for the elevator. Tosh follows behind, shooting concerned looks at Ianto as Owen and Gwen start taking care of whatever the Rift spat out. When they reach the main bay of the Hub, they almost run smack into Jack’s back. The man stands frozen, eyes unseeing, coat still dripping with snow. Wordlessly, Ianto points the pair toward the couch, automatically taking the snowy coat and hanging it up. He fills the kettle and sets it boiling.

Tosh eases Jack onto the couch and presses a throw pillow into his arms. Then she comes toward the kitchen.

“I need to stay until he’s alright,” she says quietly, “even if I’m out of sight, I need—I need to be in the Hub.”

“Given that’s what I was going to suggest, yes, that’s alright with me.” Ianto sets the camomile tea bag in Jack’s mug and pours. He knows Jack’s going to want some of the industrial-strength coffee shortly, but for right now, he needs the tea. He sets another mug next to it. “Cup of tea?”

Tosh’s anxiety seems to fizzle, at least slightly. He can’t blame her; he’s just as on edge as she is, perhaps more. He’s just more experienced at hiding it. “Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.”

“Absolument, mon capitaine.”

Her mouth quirks. “You watch Star Trek.”

“Of course I watch Star Trek.”

Ianto grabs Jack’s mug and walks quietly over to the couch, setting it carefully down on the coffee table and taking a seat on the floor. Behind him, Tosh scurries down to the collection rooms, presumably to help and keep the others away.

He looks up at Jack’s face. His eyes look without seeing, rimmed red and swollen. His shoulders slump and his arms curl tightly around the pillow. As Ianto shifts to avoid cramping his leg, Jack’s gaze flicks to his face. He smiles.

“Hey there, sweetheart. You okay?”

He’s rewarded with a tiny almost-smile. Jack pries one of his arms off the pillow and holds out a shaking hand. He takes it carefully and scoots closer so he can hold it without either of them having to strain. He may imagine the way Jack’s eyes soften as they focus on his face, but it’s not likely.

The loud obnoxious sounds of some default ringtone make them jump. Ianto glares over Jack’s shoulder and the phone subsides, almost as if it was him that made it shut up. It should be. Jack is upset right now, no loud sudden noises allowed.

“Hey,” he calls, squeezing Jack’s hand, “it’s okay. It’s just a phone, you’re alright. Keep breathing for me, alright? There you go, good, keep going. Good.”

Distantly, he hears the muttered noises from the Hub, pushing them aside when Jack reaches for the mug. He passes it to him with a quiet: “careful, it’s hot.”

Jack settles back into the couch with a sigh, hand wrapped around the mug. He takes a slow sip. Makes a face.

“This isn’t coffee.”

“No, sweetheart, it’s tea.” Ianto almost laughs at Jack’s pout. “Remember, you need to calm down first before you have any more caffeine.”

The pout doesn’t leave entirely, but it does give. “Honey?”

“One second.” He pushes a corner of the coffee table so he can reach the drawers. Reaching in, he pulls out a bottle of honey and a spoon, setting them on the table so he can stand. “Do you want to pour or tell me when?”

“When.”

“Alright.”

“…that’s good.”

“Okay. Here, keep the spoon in, it’ll help it cool off faster.”

“Wait—“

He pauses, about to sit back down. Jack stares up at him with naked hope.

“...sit with me?”

“Of course,” he murmurs, easing himself down onto the couch. The poor thing looks like a kicked puppy, what is he supposed to do, say no? Opening his arms, he asks: “would you like hugs?”

Jack nods. He shifts closer and wraps one arm around Jack’s back, placing his head on his shoulder. His other arm couldn’t seem to decide where to sit.

“Do you want my other arm ‘round you?”

“Waist.”

“Okay.”

They sit like that on the couch for a while. Above them, Myfanwy calls out, not her normal harsh cry, but something softer. Ianto hides a smile in Jack’s suspenders. Perhaps she’s realized Jack’s upset and is trying to comfort him like she would one of her young. He can’t say he blames her. After a few moments, he feels Jack’s head butt shyly at his own and he lifts his hand to card it through his hair. The soft sounds of scratching and Jack’s breathing permeate the room.

“You can go, Yan,” Jack mumbles after another moment, “I’ll be okay. Thank Tosh for getting me home safe.”

“No.” Ianto holds him tighter. “I’ve got nowhere to be. You need someone to look after you.”

“I know.” Jack’s head lists slightly. “I just—sometimes it’s hard to remember.”

Ianto swallows the rage at the people who’ve made Jack believe he’s unwanted and rests his head against Jack’s. “Not anymore. I’m here.”

“Yeah.” He can’t see his face but whatever expression he makes sounds like he’s smiling. “I’ve got someone to look after me.”

“Damned right you do.” Ianto gives Jack’s waist a squeeze. “Would you like me to tell the others to go?”

“Yeah.”

Ianto pulls his phone from his pocket and shoots a text to the others. He barely has to wait a minute before he receives acknowledgments and hears the cars rattle off.

The garage door clicks shut. Ianto settles back into the couch, letting his head drop to rest on Jack’s shoulder. He closes her eyes, pressing himself against the back of the couch. A metallic sound makes him open his eyes.

Jack’s hands shake so bad the spoon clangs against the empty mug. A soft noise escapes Ianto’s throat unbidden as he takes the mug gently out of his hands and lets him wrap his arms tightly around Ianto’s waist. He keeps murmuring soft reassurances into his hair, even when Jack’s shoulders start to shake as he holds him.

You’re not there anymore. I’m here. I care. I’ll look after you.

After a while, Jack looks up at him, eyes tired, nose red, but smiling slightly.

“You look like you’re feeling a little better,” Ianto murmurs, tucking Jack’s hair behind his ear.

“Mm,” he hums, following the movement, “little.”

“You want me to stay here for a little longer?”

Before he can reply, a loud growl makes them both chuckle.

“Hungry?”

“Guess so.”

“Well, I would ask whether you had the patience to wait for takeout, but I’ll order your #7 first.” At Jack’s sad little puppy face, he relents. “And I’ll make some brownies because everyone needs chocolate when they’re upset. Sound alright?”

Happy puppy faces are so much better than sad ones.

He picks up the mug, making to go and refill it with water, only for Jack to whine and attempt to keep the grip on his waist.

“I’m just getting you some water, I’m not leaving.”

Jack holds on but makes to move with him.

“Oh, you don’t have to get up, I’ll bring it to you,” he says when Jack stands up. Jack just holds on and shuffles along behind him as they make their way—slowly—to the kitchen. Jack pulls out one of the stools and sits down, holding his hands out for the water. Ianto rolls his eyes fondly as he passes him the mug. “Here. Do you want me to talk while I do this or would you rather I stay quiet?”

“I don’t mind, I think I’m past the worst of it now.” Jack drinks some of the water, his voice still a little hoarse. “Thanks for asking, though.”

“Always.” Ianto takes the recipe book down, smiling fondly at the worn cover, and starts gathering the ingredients. “Would you like to talk about what happened? Or do you want me to shut up and make the damn brownies already?”

It’s so nice to make someone laugh after they’ve been really upset, especially Jack.

“No, you can ask.”

“What happened?”

“Uh, well…”

“You don’t have to tell me,” Ianto assures, taking off his suit jacket and rolling up his sleeves.

“No, I want to.” And doesn’t that just fill Ianto’s chest? “I, um—those were the first things that came after Rose.”

Ah.

“I remembered the D—he told me about them,” Jack continues, each word spilling out of him like drawing out some horrible poison, “said that he knew she was—well, he didn’t say it, but I read body language and tone of voice for a living, so I know he meant to say it.”

Ianto’s hands still for a moment. “…say what, Jack?”

Jack huffs. “That she was going to be special.”

Ianto glances up just in time to see Jack hide a horrid glare.

“And I just—I don’t know, he—does he have that with all of his companions? Does he know that they’re going to be his companions? Or was she—she was special, don’t get me wrong, but was she—“

He swallows.

“…was she the only one?”

“No, that makes sense,” Ianto murmurs before Jack can apologize, “that…that makes sense.”

He tries not to smile too big when Jack looks at him with that naked hope again. “It sucks. And you’re right.” He leans on the counter. “And you aren’t. You’re special, Jack, you’re important, not because of what happened to you, but because you’re you, and if anyone tells you otherwise I’ll kill them.”

Jack chuckles. “I think you’ll have to race Owen to them.”

“No, we’ll work together. That’s much more fun.”

There’s that smile.

Since he now has a smilier Jack sitting on the other side of the counter, Ianto gets back to making the brownies. He moves around the kitchen as though it were the archives; measure, pour, put away the ingredients once he doesn’t need them anymore, mix, spray, pour, spread, slot the tray into the oven. When he turns back around, he sees Jack looking at him, smile fond.

“That’s much better.”

“I like watching you bake,” he murmurs, “it’s nice.”

“And here I thought you’d be bored.”

“I’m never bored watching you.” It’s still a touch too fond to be the normal Captain Jack Harkness swagger, but they’re getting there.

“Careful, sir, that’s harassment.” He presses the timer and turns back, hands on his hips. “Well, we’ve got twenty minutes until the brownies are done, want to cuddle until then?”

“Is that harassment?”

“No, sweetheart,” Ianto murmurs, coming back around to Jack’s side, “that’s a request.”

“Then I accept,” Jack says, letting Ianto slip his arms around him again.

The two of them move back to the couch, Jack using the arms wrapped around Ianto to almost yank him down on top of him.

“Jack,” he scolds gently, “don’t hurt yourself.”

“I won’t,” comes the mumble, “jus’ wan’ you close. C’mere.”

“I’m right here, you clod,” he says, letting Jack move him where he wants him, “now shh.”

“You shh.”

Ianto huffs, smiling as Jack snuggles into his side with the determination of a petulant toddler. They lie there quietly, basking in the warmth of the other. Twenty minutes later, the timer beeps.

“Alright, you want vanilla or mint ice cream with your brownie?”

“Both.”

“Will you still want takeout after if you have both?”

“Yes, Mum.”

“Behave or no dessert.”

“I’m sorry, Yan, can I have my brownie now?”

“You’ll have to let go of me.”

“But you’re warm.”

“The brownies will be warmer.”

“…come right back?”

“I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart.”

[unicamendes]

Wandering Romance

Tom Holland, best friend!Shawn x Reader!

A/N: idk just want to put my emotions in a story. I suck sorry. p.s. tell me what to do with my life!! I give u permission! jk plz don’t I already hate my life. Nuff said enjoy! (::

Warnings: angst, heartbroken reader, being a good ass friend, jealous vibes, and language ¿??? Tom being a clueless fuck and asshole :(:

“Uh, wow! Congratulations...,” you felt your eyes get watery and your throat throbbing because all you wanted to do is cry, but you couldn’t, not in front of him, not wanting to ruin his happiness. He had asked you to come over at his place, said he had amazing news and sure as hell it was.

“I’m getting married! I finally proposed to Sarah!”

His voice echoed through your head and pretty sure you felt your heart break into millions of pieces. How are you going to pretend everything is okay while your best friend, the love of your life, is getting married?

“Y/N! Aren’t you excited?” Tom nudge your shoulder, breaking away from your thoughts.

“Y-Yeah. Once again congratulations! I’m so happy for you!” You beamed, knowing you were just faking it.

“You don’t know how much this means to me..to have your approval on such a huge thing.” He chuckle softly.

“Of course! I’m your best friend and I’ll will always be there for you no matter what.” You looked over at Tom, observing him, he was so blissful, this was a different Tom, this is fiancé Tom. You can’t take that away from him. You just can’t.

“Anyway, I would stay, but I got work tomorrow morning. I’ll just see you around.” You quickly got up, the tears were now visible to see. You brushed them off before Tom got the chance to see your state of being.

“Aww, love, I really wanted you to stay so we can celebrate. How about tomorrow after work?” He suggested.

You took a deep breath, clearing your throat. “Uh, can’t, get out late.”

Pretty little liar.

——

The past few weeks have been hell and back. Everyone was giving you shit at work and with the whole Tom getting married being plastered in every tv screen, magazine, and social media. You never seem to get a break from it. You didn’t care about work or Tom getting married. Why? It’s life, sometimes we don’t get what we want. It is what it is. That’s until you get a text from a special someone, that can just lure you back into your feelings that you have been trying to push away.

Tom 🖤

come to the bar. drinks on me. (: x

You have been staring at your phone, reading over the text message for the tenth time, debating to text back a ‘okay sure’ or ‘no, thanks, work tomorrow (:’ fiddling your thumbs on the keyboard, to send the text you agreed on, but found Tom double texted you now.

Tom 🖤

you know you have your read receipts on right? if you don’t come I’ll come get you. not taking a no for an answer!

Shit.

Deleting the previous text and sending a new text.

haha, got me there. send me the address and be there in 10 minutes (:

You let out a groan at your dumbass for forgetting that you had read receipts on, getting up from your couch and heading over to your bedroom to change out of your pajamas. This is a bad idea, you will probably see Sarah with her friends, you can just imagine her flaunting her engagement ring whilst her friends gushed and yelled in excitement.

Fuck, you didn’t really think of that one did you? Maybe you should invite someone to go with you, so that you won’t feel left out.

Heading back to the living room where you left your phone, quickly sending a text. Now you wait while you’re getting ready.

——

“So, you’re telling me you only invited me because you didn’t want to face Tom and Sarah alone?” He teased, his eyebrow quirked up.

You rolled your eyes, hushing him up as you guys were getting closer to Tom and Harrison.

“You’re such an asshole.” You whispered only for him to hear you. He laughed, engulfing you into a side hug.

“You love me though.” He kissed your head. You pushed him lightly away from you, breaking the hug. Didn’t want Tom to think your off the market, that’s if he’s even looking at you, of course he’s not he’s getting married for gods sakes. He doesn’t look at you the way he looks at Sarah, with such adoration and love.

Finally catching up to Tom and Harrison who were standing near the bar, ordering some more drinks. Harrison was the first one to take notice of your presence.

“Y/N!” He put the drinks of shots on the marble table. “Didn’t think you’d actually come! How are you?”

Tom snap his head up to the sound of your name, looking over at you. He didn’t like that you brought a guy with you.

“I’m good, didn’t think I’d actually show up too.” You giggled. “How are you?”

“Pretty fucking buzzed, but I’m alright. You must take a shot with us.” He took a hold of your hand guiding you to the rest of the group. You got a hold of your friend’s hand to tag along.

“Look who decided to come!” Harrison yelled out. The group hollered with ‘ay!’ and ‘hello’s’. Harrison patted your shoulder before returning back to the bar.

“Y/N! You’re here! We missed you!” Zendaya took you in for a hug. She looked at the man behind you. “Shawn Mendes. You know him?” She was amused.

“Uh, yeah. The perks of having friends who are movies stars.” You smirked. Zendaya took a look at the two of you, seeing that you were holding hands. She gave you a nod of approval confused as to why she needed to nod at you, then it hits you, you were still holding Shawn’s hand. You let go of his hand quickly. Shawn furrowed his eyebrows at the sudden action.

“Hi, nice to meet you. Y/N has told me a lot about you.” He extended his hand for her to shake, but only met with a hug. He awkwardly chuckled, being let go and for her to admire him more.

“Didn’t know Y/N will bring a famous singer. How long have you guys known each other?” She questioned.

“Since we were 17.” They both said in unison.

“So, three years.” She assumed. “Anyway, welcome Shawn, now let’s say hello to the rest of the group.”

“Z, where’s Tom, I think I should at least say hi to him.”

“Last time I checked he was with Harrison. Ask him.” She shrugged. “Shawn, do you drink?” You heard Zendaya ask, as you were leaving to look for Tom. You roamed around the place, to finally catch a glimpse of Tom..and Sarah.

Shit. Fuck. You can do this. Smile and greet.

Walking over to Tom and Sarah, with a smile on your face. Tom noticed you and took a hold of Sarah’s face, kissing her. The smile on your face disappeared only to feel the ache in your heart, your eyes watery, tears threatened to spill.

What the fuck? It’s like he knows how to ruin every mood of yours. Especially your fake ones.

You took a step back, only to bump into someone. You turned around only to be met with Shawn’s eyes.

“I can’t be here. Can we take a walk, please?” Your voice breaking. Shawn understood what was going on, he saw everything. He thought Tom was being an asshole. He interlock your hands with his, guiding you outside.

“Can’t believe I decided to come. I came here to be supportive and he does that shit in front of me. It’s like he knows that I have feelings for him. Ugh, he’s such a fucking asshole. I hate him!” You rant to Shawn, anger filled your bloodstream.

“I know, hun, wanna walk it and talk it out now?”

“Yes.” You intertwined your arm with his.

-

It has been 20 minutes since you have walked around the block not too far away from the bar. Shawn and you have been talking about what happened inside. You needed to let everything out or else you’d end up doing something irrational.

“Why do you love him? I don’t really understand that.” Shawn interrupted your rant. You paused for a second, licking your lips, thinking for a bit.

“Nobody has ever asked me that.” You admitted, squinting your eyes. “Hmm, that’s something new.”

“Do you love him? Or do you just like the idea of being in love?” Shawn continued, you looked at him in disbelief.

“What?”

“Y/N, after knowing you for three years-almost four years, all those years were just you talking about Tom, but you never explained why you love him or when you started to love him. So, tell me why do you love him?” He let go of your arm, now looking at you clearly.

“I..I don’t know, maybe I just love him. I can’t really explain, but all I know is that it hurts me to see him with her, it has been two years since they have been dating and it still hurts like a fresh cut, it fucking hurts because he would never love me the way I love him. Now he’s getting fucking married and I have lost my chances with him! Not that I had any, gosh I had hope for us, but that’s gone..and it feels like I lost him!” You cried out, finally letting the emotions out from all the pretending and fake smiles. Tears stained your cheeks, nose red, eyes getting red and puffy.

Fuck.

Shawn’s heart was breaking, he hates seeing you like this, since he was the only one who knew about your love for Tom. He knew everything, you trusted him more than your group of friends.

“I wanna go back home.” You sniffled. “Shawn, please take me back home.” You emphasized, hoping Shawn gets what your hinting on.

“As in, back to Toronto?”

Bingo.

You hiccup, “Yes.”

[greyias]

tr8r goes to the beach — er, I mean, Traitor Among the Chiss initial thoughts

I have gotten… okay not much sleep. Maybe third time’s the charm. Anyway, I’ll just mash on the keyboard and see if anything somewhat coherent comes out.

Spoilers below the cut.

Storywise, having read the datamined dialogue ahead of time, I knew we weren’t going to get all *that* much in the way of content this time. Which seems a bit weird, considering how lopsided the cutscenes on this storyline have gone. However, having recently replayed through Forged Alliances on *cough* one of my Sentinels, these very short cutscenes with dialogue is actually pretty in line with the SoR stuff, at least in length. Seeing as the next part is supposedly the finale, a four act structure is kind of, well, weird. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ But whatever. I understand since the last installment had the “twist” of Theron being the “traitor”, they have to attempt to maintain that charade here.

]Maybe the real traitor was the friends we made along the way — oh wait.

So, first up, we get to meet Saganu! For the one person on the internets who hasn’t played through the IA storyline (aka me), it was fun meeting him! He seems like an interesting guy, so that should be a fun little bit for my new Chiss agent whenever she gets that far into the storyline. Hopefully Vector won’t mind too much. We also meet Raina, who seems a bit soft-spoken (not to mention a touch nosy, but considering she’s in intelligence, that kind of comes with the territory), and loyal to the Ascendency. Given that this was also the first time I’ve really met this character, I also liked her. Another reason for me to buckle down with my (actual) Agent while waiting for the next bit o’ story to drop.

And I mentioned it before but Copero is pretty. Like really, really pretty. I plan on sneaking through the FP on one of my stealth characters at some point to get more pictures, possibly in 4K, because damn that place is gorgeous. I would do the same with Umbara, but I am not lying when I say that the train makes my computer cry.

The atmosphere of running through Copero, and especially facing off against Boss #2, I think I mentioned before, but I was getting some major spy-fi vibes from. Between the gorgeous scenery on the outside, the henchmen just lounging around in various cafes, some just goofing off, some stealthed and waiting to pounce was giving me serious flashbacks to those cheesy fight scenes from shows like Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Wild, Wild West. Like seriously, I know I’m chasing supposed tr8r boyfriend throughout this, but he should have been there with me, at least in spirit! This atmosphere is right up his alley. I’ll have to re-run it with him as a companion, so at least we can pretend to get our 60s Spy Flick on. Maybe I’ll put on the Austin Powers soundtrack in the background.

Mechanic-wise, I kind of miss my godmode droid, who makes re-running the story flashpoints much easier.  It certainly would have helped when facing off against the first boss, whose mechanics I suspect have something to do with those tank droids but was just trying to power through on the third attempt. The other two bosses were a breeze, because Sentinels are ♥.

There was some interesting by-play going on between all of the characters. I can’t help but get the feeling that these cut scenes are heavily redacted/reduced. I think they were trying to save the big reveal for the end that, but it kind of messed with the pacing beforehand. Bioware, I’m usually pretty lenient on story telling, but you’re kind of shooting yourself in the foot by trying to withhold information to preserve your twists.

First up, we have Miss Suspicious Sith. Maybe she’s just paranoid at this point, but I’m finding her so all over the map during this storyline, either I have the worst handle on Lana’s character, or there’s something weird going on here.

What was that for, Lana? Who were you nodding and giving secret signals to while the Outlander is busy talking to our unexpected guests? Why did the camera insist on focusing on you for this? Is it because he said where Theron was? Um, okay, if that’s the case, was that really a necessary cut? We like immediately go there in the next cut scene. STOP BEING SUSPICIOUS LANA. I HAVE TRUST ISSUES RIGHT NOW.

*ahem*

I mean, not that that’s your fault. We’ve been sort of written into a corner here. My poor sweet knight. She just wants everyone to get along. And yeah, I saw The Letter™, but I’m not even going to attempt to touch addressing that right now because it’s a whole other can of worms. And I’ve had my fill of needless dash drama I need to be operating off more sleep before I attempt to tackle that.

Hint: I think it’s suspicious

Also interesting in the “Wait? Am I imagining that?” realm of awkwardness: Was it just me, or was Valss (here on out to be referred to as Force!Chiss, because I’m just like that) checking out Theron’s ass?

Like seriously, look at him a bit more hungrily, pal. I mean don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to look at but--

Probably more meant to be evil smirk of evil.

Theron seems to be very studiously not looking at Force!Chiss. If there’s an attraction there, it seems to be one-sided. Which makes sense, even during Shadow of Revan, Theron was mostly focused on business. And well, he’s particularly motivated at the moment to finish up his spy shenanigans. Okay honestly, between his letter and the way he said “this is goodbye” back on Umbara, I kind of get the feeling he’s viewing this a suicide mission. Idiot.

Just like in the short story from the dev blog, he’s still having a very, very hard time staying in-character. You see him break character a few points in this scene, as the magnitude of what he’s gotten himself into seems to be weighing pretty heavily on him here. You got a little too comfy on Odessen, didn’t you, buddy? What with your nice, warm bed, and loving girlfriend, and all those people you actually kind of sort of liked? Makes it hard to go back to being a lone wolf secret agent trying to save the galaxy by himself. Maybe you’ll think about that the next time you decide to blow up a train in a very subverted attempt to play hero, hmmmm?

God, Theron, will you stop making those faces? It makes it hard to stay mad at you when I have to suppress the constant urge to hug your dumb butt.

The latest superweapon Theron has to blow up (it’s his schtick, along with taking out Dark Council members) is on a mysterious planet of mysteriousness. “Of all the gin joints in all of the planets in all of the galaxy, why do I have to go back there?” My guess is Yavin, with Ziost as a runner-up. Yavin’s got more lore (and that new PVP map), but Ziost has more bad memories. I’m bad at guessing, though, so watch it be something like Ilum or Hutta just to be like that.

Actually I know a few people are trying to decode the map, they have much better guesses since they: A) Know how to read a map B) Probably don’t get lost traveling in a straight line

Anyway, yeah, Force!Chiss happily hands a bomb over to blow up the map, thinking he’s found his soulmate in property destruction. Theron doesn’t have the heart to tell him all of Umbara was a bit. There’s mention of Force!Chiss having a vision, but after rewatching the scene a few times, I’m still trying to figure out if he’s pro- or anti-Apocalypse. This is one of those things I think they were trying to leave vague because Drama™. God I wish they had released this storyline as one giant chunk. This constant speculation and second-guessing of everything is killing me.

Back in the other land of spy games, Saganu forgot to do his research on Grey and asks her to go ahead and execute her prisoner. Oh. Oh Saganu. If she didn’t even punch Saresh in KOTET, why is she going to murder someone for a political alliance? Anyway, Syndic is going to be roomies with Saresh in the Greyverse. Maybe they can bond over how much they hate Theron Shan together in the brig. I smell a new sitcom coming.

After a series of puzzles I apparently just blindly walked through (THERE WERE MACROBINOCULARS??? SERIOUSLY????) we finally get to the big boss scene. And someone is in T-R-O-U-B-L-E:

Theron of course is pained to see Force!Chiss face off with his beloved Outlander.

I’m sure the subtle as a sledgehammer storytelling is to have me believe that Theron is purely concerned for the safety of his fellow conspirator, but depending on where Force!Chiss falls on the Apocalypse spectrum:

Theron is either like “Crap I’m getting everyone killed. Maybe I should have thought this brilliant plan through?” or possibly just “Shit, don’t kill my girlfriend plz”. Whenever the devs decide to stop being greedy with the facts, maybe we’ll find out.

So, all’s well that ends well. Sort of. Theron got away to tr8r another day. Grey accidentally started a Chiss civil war because she said murder was bad, but in traditional Fractured Alliances fashion, she’s probably just going to send Saganu a fleet of warships as an apology or something. Lana seriously needs to invest in a stationary set for the Commander or teach her how to write “sorry bro” on a napkin or something. At this rate there’s not going to be much of a fleet left, and I’ve got the strange feeling we’re going to need it soon.

But finally, we’re allowed to go “Hey, wait a minute!”

“Hahaha, oh, Commander, you silly goose, Theron’s proved himself to be a dirty filthy tr8r. The tr8r-est of the tr8rs. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain! ANYWAY I’M GOING TO IMMEDIATELY CHANGE THE SUBJECT—”

I’m thinking Lana’s feeling left out, Grey. Maybe you should offer her a fleet of warships. After all, she got tazed on the last mission and you were more concerned about your boyfriend blowing up a train, and you have given them to everyone else at this point. Time to offer the Official Highwind Apology Package™.

I digress.

We cut over to Theron, and the next big reveal—

Wait? Could this be???? COULD THERON *GASP* NOT BE A TRAITOR? COULD HE BE UNDERCOVER? NO ONE SAW THIS COMING! WHAT A TWIST TO THE TWIST!

But actually what’s more interesting, is that someone on the other end of the holocall forgot to turn on his voice modulator this time around. And my oh my, isn’t that voice familiar?

GUESS WHO!

Hi there, Indo!

So I take it after the big Alliance soiree at the end of KOTET, you decided that the only party that could top it would be an Apocalypse Party, eh? Hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to pass on the punch/Kool-Aid. I’ve seen what it did to your last recruit.

Although, this does explain Theron’s hair and new jacket. No one can beat Indo Zal at being the Galaxy’s Next Top Model. He had to sabotage the competition, because the fauxhawk was a threat to that magnificent pompador and it had to be eliminated. Theron feared for Old Red’s safety and hid him in the nearest closet.

According to the roadmap, the next installment will be the last in the Fractured Alliances storyline, and you know what? Thank god! Like, usually I enjoy the serial format, but this particular storyline? I would have appreciated being dropped all at once, instead of them spreading this unrepeatable content across over nine months. I mean, sure, it gave us Gravedrog, but I’m not sure even Gravedrog is worth all of this in slow, drawn out and excruciating fashion.

I have thoughts on where this is all going, especially Indo’s involvement (go check out his codex entry. It’s interesting), but I’m going to save that for a spoilery, speculation thread filled with datamining and some other stuff from my observations.

I mean, I know I’m sounding a teensy bit critical, but overall my opinion on this storyline hasn’t changed. As long as they don’t stick the landing and do something stupid and jump the shark worthy, such as breaking up my OT3 Dream Team, or killing Theron and/or Lana, this has the potential to be building up as one of my favorite storylines. I really hope they don’t skimp on the emotional payout at the end, though, because all of this angst that’s building up needs somewhere to go!

I’ve got my suspicions that this storyline is actually a lead-in/build up to something much larger, although I have literally no evidence whatsoever to back that up. I guess we’ll truly see when we finally get part four next year. I hope it’s a meaty part, and it finally gets everything out in the open.

[rfa-headcanons-blog]

Loss (Yoosung)

-Insert obligatory loss meme which I do not really understand-

I wrote this story some time ago lol. Time sure flies – just like my quality of writing, they fly away as time goes on apparently. Kappa. ~ Ion

Prompt: Person A is crying over Person B’s death. “Please don’t be sad if you have done badly. We all have untapped potential inside us, and as long as you find it, you can do it and succeed. That is my belief to the school body, as the school president.” As all the students applauded politely at the end of Yoosung’s speech, he could not find the person he was expecting for the most - Rika. He saw Zen, V and Jumin at the back of the hall - why would Rika be missing then? As they were about to take a picture together, Yoosung probed them. “Where’s Rika? Why isn’t she here?” Zen visibly flinched when Yoosung asked the question. Jumin glanced at V - for once, he seemed worried. “Why not we take a picture together first before I explain.” V pointed at the chair, encouraging Yoosung to sit first. Yoosung was frowning, clutching onto the bouquet of roses tighter before taking a seat. The lights flashed before Yoosung stood right back up again, asking about what happened to Rika again. There was a long pause before Zen answered. “Yoosung… Rika died. She had committed suicide.” “Wait, how? Why? She was fine at the last party!” “Yoosung, please calm down-” “Calm down? How can you ask me to calm down when Rika has now left RFA? And left me behind?” As Zen was trying to console him, Yoosung was just left numb. Zen must be lying. That must be it. He must be lying. No way Rika would commit suicide. But Zen would not lie about something this serious, right? “It’s true, Yoosung.” V kept his eyes down to the floor, avoiding eye contact from him. “What?” How could that be? Yoosung refused to accept that. Her innocent smile when she talked to him, the happiness she spread when she threw the parties, the pats she gave when he gave ideas to her about the upcoming parties… When did she even wanted to commit suicide? Words could not even comprehend the thoughts going through his mind before they all went to a single voice. “What happened to my cousin?” It must have been V’s fault. After all, they were together - about to get married, in fact. V must have done something which caused her to commit suicide. He walked up to V threateningly, demanding an answer. “V! Tell me what happened to Rika!” When there was no response from him, Yoosung just clenched his fist in frustration, wondering why he had not answered. “V, answer me!” V only walked away from Yoosung instead, leaving Jumin and Zen with him. Rika had committed suicide. The sentence resonated inside Yoosung’s  mind, as he stared at the carpet of Jumin’s limousine, still struggling to accept that fact. What was he going to do now that she was gone? She always told him to work hard, do his best and try his hardest. What did those words mean to him now that she was gone? Were all his efforts actually wasted after all? When Yoosung got back home, he just rushed into his room and locked it. He stared the puppy doll Rika handmade gifted to him. “Hug him if you miss me!” Yoosung embraced it, screaming in anguish before ripping them, throwing them at the computer. It landed perfectly at the keyboard, bringing the computer back to life. It showed a picture of him and Rika together, which only reminded him that he would never be able to take any more pictures with Rika now. He went up to the computer, reminiscing about the past. Doing volunteering work with Rika. Taking care of Sally with Rika. Seeing how Rika made all those parties a success, like magic. How long had he been crying now, to the point his tears were totally dried up now? He was just staring at the computer, still sniffling and giving out weak, exhausted sobs. The screen blinked, beeping to give Yoosung an alert before one of his friends messaged him in Tweeter. Ringabel: yo ys you want LoLoL lolololol Yoosung was rather doubtful. As the school president, he should set an example to the school body that games were bad and they should focus more on studies instead - however for some reason, he could not be bothered anymore. After all, he had graduated as one - he not the school president anymore. Yoosung: Sure. But I need to download it first, right? Ringabel: yes yes! OMG ys is playing with us??? OMG I need to introduce you to the school guild Yoosung: School guild? Ringabel: it’s called Deathgems Ringabel: come come just download we’ll explain later Ringabel: the game isn’t that big it should only take five to complete installing Yoosung got curious, which he then downloaded it. It was quick and fast, and when he entered he was really surprised when he received an invitation to “Deathgems”. He accepted. Ringabel: welcome to Deathgems!!!!! TizDaHero: welcum help needed at top quick WindAgnes: yeah Tiz and I can’t protect 4eva IdeallyEdea: shut the f*** up mid need help also ring where u gank plz I GOT NO HELP TOO SupermanYoosung: ??? Don’t say vulgarities. It’s bad. Who are you all? IdeallyEdea: omg sissy just f****** help me Ringabel: okay ys ignore Edea 4 a while. go click on Taric, the guy with a hammer wearing pink suit Ringabel: u will be support for me IdeallyEdea: what about me Ringabel: we get double kill then we help you okay SupermanYoosung: ??? Ringabel: just do it please Yoosung did and jumped slightly when the narrator gave out a gasp when he selected the character instead. The character soon spawned at a corner of the game, leaving poor Yoosung now confused and wondering what he should do. Ringabel: okay now go bot Yoosung clicked on the bottom of the map as he followed the pop-ups, explaining how to play the game. As he continued, he started learning about how Tiz and Agnes were strong partners matched together, Edea was incredibly good at playing alone, while Ringabel knew strategically how to guide the rest of the team to victory. While Yoosung took some time to learn, he slowly managed to get a grasp on the game and finally understood how to play it. He soon understood the character and got absorbed into it. How did he not know about this game before? It was so fun! He was shouting, yelling, having the ride of his life as he got killed, or the enemies got killed. And then there was the climax where either team would do their best to kill one another, to the point where everyone actually died, so nobody won the fight. They were laughing so much by that time, complaining how bad they were. By this time Yoosung was really comfortable with one another, pretty much opening to them. As the enemies’ crystal burst into tiny pieces, the screen lighting up victory once again. Ringabel spammed smileys and happiness to others while everyone joined in, happy with their constant victories even though Yoosung was only still new. Edea soon explained that she needed to sleep before the others soon slowly agreed and left for bed, leaving Yoosung alone. He checked the time. “Wait, it’s 4 am already?” Yoosung was shocked about how much he played, and how he actually had not completed any of his work. Rika would definitely- Oh. Yoosung bit his lip, returning back to the reality that his cousin had already died. Tears threatened to fall again, while he slowly went to bed and plopped onto it. It was different this time - he could not feel anything. Yoosung was just numb all over. He was too tired to cry, too tired to be angry at V, too tired to even pick up the call that apparently someone was still trying to reach him. He just left the phone vibrating as he slowly fell asleep, sinking in a never ending dark abyss. — “Yoosung! Time for breakfast!” Yoosung pushed away an arm which was shaking him, frustrated. “I want to continue to sleep…” “Kim Yoosung!” Yoosung immediately shot up, awake as he scrambled to wear his clothes. His mother took the chance to leave while Yoosung rushed to pull his hoodie. “Sorry, I’m coming! Please don’t be angry anymore!” As he walked out, his mother only chided him for his outfit. “We’re going out for breakfast, let’s go. Your father and sister are already waiting.” Family breakfast? Yoosung could not help but feel sour about it. Family meals… That was how Yoosung met Rika for the first time. “I want to be alone, mom. It’s okay, I’ll skip breakfast.” He ran back into his room, locking the door behind him as his mother started banging on the door, calling him worriedly. Tears only rolled down his eyes as he went back to bed again, before closing them. Why did Rika die…? — By the time his family came back, he had already woken up. He was playing LoLoL again, this time with other people in Deathgems. He was shouting away again, laughing when the others cracked a joke, before screaming again about how he was about to die. For some reason, gaming was the only thing that made him feel slightly happier. It helped him forget about the pain of losing Rika, at least for a while. Days later. Yoosung had now not come out of his room, but when he did, he only chugged down a few cups of water and ate some food his mother had prepared before going back into the room. Three weeks after. Yoosung would take the food and drinks into his room when it was time for his meals, before going back into his room again. The time he came back out would be when the next meal is ready. There was always constant yelling until 4 am, and the rest of the family are angry about it. His mother had scolded him off before about it, but he still continued to do it once in a while. By then, they had already tolerated for months. “Yoosung, it’s the first day of college! You need to go to school now!” Yoosung was still playing his games, yelling and screaming loudly. He was wearing a dirty hoodie, shaking slightly as he slammed onto the keyboard, grumbling at the enemies. “Wait wait, not there, don’t engage- Nooooo! Why did you start fighting?” The floor was scattered with chips and dirty clothing. Dirt and dust were already collecting at the corners of the room. Mould could also be found at pieces of incomplete eaten bread. There was also mould on the wallpaper, creating a musty odour. As his mother switched his computer off, Yoosung could only whine before keeping quiet and starting to change his clothes for school. As she left, he just started to slip off his hoodie and started wearing his uniform for college. What exactly happened which made him enter into college again - in fact, with a scholarship too? He shrugged as he could not be bothered to give a damn to the world anymore. Dragging his feet out of the house, he walked past a dog which was wagging his tail happily, barking as it was chasing a butterfly. For some reason, he would use to laugh at it - now, he could barely even bring a smile on his face. He opened the chat - Seven was online, saying to work hard, do his best and try his hardest in school. Somehow, it felt familiar, but Yoosung could not pinpoint it anymore. It felt like nonsense. Yoosung★: Sure, thanks. Somehow, he already knew that today was going to be a long day.