#do it and feel tagged if i forgot about you it wasn't on purpose

[o-sachi]

Then There Was You ‧₊˚ ⋅ Drabble (Request)

ଳ he swore to only keep his eyes on ume and follow his good example, but then you just had to become a distraction ଳ character; sugishita kyotarou (wind breaker) ଳ tags; floof, tsundere sugi, short fight scene, afab reader, no y/n

"You've been staring at her a lot lately huh?"

Just like that, Sugishita was snapped out of his stupor. He rarely narrowed his eyes at Ume, but if someone teased him about her... then not even Ume-chan is an exception to his grumpiness.

"No," he grunts and looks away.

Ume pats his back with a reassuring smile on his face. He said something about how it's okay to like someone because it's totally normal.

Yeah, right. Normal.

But the thing is—Sugishita's an anomaly. He's different in a way that he had never loved anyone before, let alone "liked." Some people were just not made for it and he believes himself to be one of those people. His purpose—he says—is to become stronger so that he can be someone Ume can be proud of. Even better if he could become someone that the great Umemiya Hajime could rely on.

However, he was nowhere near to attaining that. The idea of love is then out of question. He just had no time for trivial things.

It's funny though—how his mind and body are doing completely different things. A part of him doesn't want to stray from the path that Ume has carved for him, but another fuels this urge in him to simply stare at you. Admire you from afar. Because you were the most delicate thing in his eyes.

Compared to the self-assured and confident Kotoha, the new part-timer at the cafe was a bit laidback. But she was the bubbliest and friendliest person that the Furin boys have come across.

Each time they would come and visit the cafe, she'd be standing at the counter with a warm smile on her face. And once everyone has their food in front of them, she would happily listen to Ume's tales about the day's fight or Nirei's rants about the people he "observes." She'd giggle at Sakura's bashfulness and be amused by Tsugeura's enthusiasm.

She had a special talent in that she could make anyone feel at ease.

And Sugishita was sure that it would be the same thing all over again. No matter how nice or kind someone is—they'll be too intimidated to even converse with him.

But that wasn't the case with you.

He could still vividly recall how his heart skipped a beat the day he first met you. The boys had come to the cafe to wind down after a major scuffle. They had cuts and bruises all over, but they laughed as if there was no pain at all. As the newbie, you didn't know better and acted with the utmost concern.

Much to everyone's surprise, you came to Sugishita first.

"Does it hurt?" you ask, pointing at a cut on his arm.

His brows furrow and his lips press into a thin line—an obvious indicator that he is in no need of your help. But he should've known that it wouldn't be enough to push you away.

"Here," you say as you offer a band-aid to him. "Sorry, it's a bit childish with all the elephants on it, but it's all I have."

In spite of his unwelcoming demeanor, you persisted. Even the other guys around him were stunned at your resolve. But they remained quiet, wanting to see how Sugishita would react.

Sugishita sheepishly took the cute band-aid from your fingers, shoving it immediately deep into his pocket.

You smile. "You should wash that up and plaster it on as soon as possible or it'll get infected."

When he finally spares you a glance, he sees the maddeningly bright smile on your face. It almost reminded him of Ume when he annoys him.

"Thanks," he whispered. It took all of his willpower to say one syllable because he knew that there would be consequences.

Sakura piped up. "Oh, so you do know what gratitude is?"

The consequence being—a certain two-toned boy would get on his nerves.

Of course, the usual back-and-forth ensued. Sugishita got too heated up that he nearly forgot the band-aid in his pocket. When he glanced over to you again and saw how you laughed at their bickering... he swore you had done something to his forsaken heart.

He often found himself daydreaming like a kid when recalling that day. It made him happy to an extent, though he'd never admit it. But he mostly repeated the events in his head because he was trying to figure out why his heart was thumping so loud then and why he felt so nervous around you.

It bothered him to no end because he was this big hulking guy and you were... just a girl who probably wouldn't hurt a fly. He had fought guys thrice your size. Yet, here he was; scared at the thought of you sitting next to him and talking to him.

Throughout his daydream, he failed to notice that you had disappeared and went out to buy some milk for the cafe. Kotoha was busy cleaning the kitchen, so the errand was left to you.

It left Sugishita bored. He wasn't really interested in whatever they were talking about and Ume was busy eating anyway. And you were... well, he didn't know where you were. He'd rather be kicked in the shins twice than ask where you had gone.

Everything comes to a halt as they heard commotion from outside. And by the sound of it... it was you. His question was answered in the worst way possible.

"Let go of me! Stop!" you cried out desperately, but to no avail.

"C'mon, lady. We were askin' ye for some change so nicely, weren't we? Don't be a bitch and show us some kindness, will ye?"

The shady group of guys who were outside the convenience store saw you and decided to follow. So here you were, getting mugged.

Everyone in the cafe knew the situation straight away. They were all ready to jump into action, but none of them would have expected what happened next.

To put it simply, Sugishita just shot out of his seat without another word or thought. Kotoha was sure that the cafe's door would fly off the hinges with how strongly he swung it open.

His fiery stare was zeroed in on the scumbags that had you surrounded. His mind was empty except for two things: to beat these fuckers up and to save you.

He stomped over to you, the shady men becoming aware of his approaching and menacing presence.

"Watcha want, punk? Walkin' over here like a—"

The guy's sentence was left unfinished as Sugishita's fist met his face. His punch snapped and didn't waste any time slugging the rest of the men. Though they tried to fight back, they were no match for an extra aggressive Sugishita.

His senses only came flooding back when he felt a pair of arms around him. He inspected the ground below him where the men had fallen unconscious... and then he realized that you were clinging on to him like a koala.

"THAT WAS SO SCARYYYY," you cried. As you did, you squeezed him tighter. You were probably pushing his boundaries, but the adrenaline and fear got the best of you. You could apologize later for the tears that had seeped through his navy blue cotton shirt.

And normally, he would push you away, but strangely—it felt... really good. His hands hovered in the air, unsure of what to do with them. He helplessly looked around. But as he turned his gaze back at the cafe, he saw the boys and Kotoha watching them from a distance.

They were smiling and snickering, flashing a thumbs up at Sugishita for saving the day.

When it finally sank in—he was in a state of catharsis. He still couldn't put a finger on what it was that he was feeling. But all he knew was that he liked your warmth and that you still made him insanely nervous.

To some extent, it was like his eyes were opened to a world never seen before. And you were the key to that hidden realm.

He gulped and slowly placed a hand on your head, gently stroking it albeit he was shaking. Was it from punching too hard or was it because of you? He wasn't sure.

Buuuut, maybe Ume was right about this being totally normal.

o-sachi © 2024 pls do not translate/copy/reupload my work on other platforms.

[03jyh23]

🌷⌇confessions finding our way back part 4; a choi jongho mini-series

ex-boyfriend!idol!jongho x ex-girlfriend!single-mom!reader

│series masterlist│ │next│

│synopsis: five years have passed since jongho last saw you. your lives have taken drastically different paths, with jongho achieving fame and you focusing on raising your daughter, nari, in quiet anonymity. when jongho discovers he has a daughter, he's determined to be a part of her life.

│genre: a slice of life, romance, fluff, some angst

│trigger warnings: unplanned pregnancy, illegitimate child, single parenthood, mentions of panic, stress, mentions of boys loving boys, i did not proof-read it😭

│words: 8.3k

│reminder: what you’re about to read is purely fiction, so let’s keep it separate from reality.

!minors do not interact!

— hi there! i'm back with another chapter! this one is more of an add-on than a full part, but it was necessary to include it to move the story forward and to establish the mood and dynamic between the characters. i also included some elements you wanted to see happening!

love, mon ♡

│taglist: │ @seventeenthingsblr @DALSUWAHA @treehouse-mouse

@ateez-atiny380 @sleepy-kat-here @sndeoki @bomi-ja

@dearinsaniiiity @vixensss @all-fandoms-rise @finnydraws

@hyuckiesgf @ateezswonderland

│ if you wish to be tagged let me know here! ♡

Jongho stood in the kitchen, finishing up the dishes after their meal. He felt happy and light. The laughter from earlier still echoed in his mind, filling him with a sense of warmth and belonging. The words of encouragement and support from his bandmates had lifted a weight off his shoulders. From now on, he knew he was supported and was certain that no matter what, his members loved him. As he rinsed the last plate and placed it in the drying rack, Jongho took a deep breath, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. He could proceed to fight for his little family, confident that he wasn't alone on this journey. The bond with his bandmates had only grown stronger, and their unwavering support gave him the strength to face whatever challenges lay ahead. He was thriving, ready to embrace the future with open arms and a determined heart. 

Lost in his thoughts, Jongho didn't hear Wooyoung approaching until his voice broke the silence. "Jongho?" Wooyoung called out, his voice echoing through the room. 

Jongho turned around, surprised to see Wooyoung standing in the kitchen, a concerned look on his face. "Oh, hyung," Jongho replied, wiping his hands on a towel. "What's up?" 

Wooyoung hesitated for a moment before speaking, his eyes searching Jongho's face. "I just wanted to check on you," he said softly. 

"Thanks, Wooyoung," Jongho replied, offering a small smile. "I'm doing better now, really. Your support means the world to me." 

Wooyoung nodded, his expression softening. "Just remember, we're all here for you, no matter what." 

"I have something for you. Can't believe I almost forgot," Jongho said with a grin. He jogged to Hongjoong's room, his footsteps echoing down the hallway. Even though Jongho knew his hyung was taking a shower, he knocked on the door before entering, his eyes scanning the room momentarily before he spotted what he was looking for. He quickly straight crossed the room and grabbed a purple box from Hongjoong’s desk. 

"I wanted to give this to you earlier, but with everything going on, it slipped my mind," Jongho explained as he returned, holding the box out with a smile. Wooyoung looked slightly taken aback and glanced at Jongho with a mix of curiosity and surprise. "It's from Nari," Jongho said with a warm smile, his head gesturing towards the purple box. "Go ahead, open it," Jongho encouraged, his eyes filled with a knowing anticipation. Wooyoung hesitated for a moment, then carefully lifted the lid of the box. 

Wooyoung's eyes widened in surprise as he carefully opened the box. Inside, nestled among delicate, purple tissue paper, was a small assortment of homemade cookies, each one meticulously decorated with colorful icing and sprinkles. "Cookies?" Wooyoung exclaimed, a delighted smile spreading across his face. "Did Nari make these?" he asked, his eyes shining with curiosity. 

Jongho nodded, an affectionate smile playing on his lips. "Yes, she wanted to make something special for you," he explained, his voice filled with pride 

Wooyoung's expression softened as he carefully picked up one of the cookies, examining the designs. Jongho's smile widened as he watched Wooyoung take a bite of the cookie, his eyes lighting up with delight. "These are amazing," he said, his voice filled with genuine appreciation. "Please tell Nari that I absolutely love them and that she's an incredible baker." 

"Or maybe you could do it yourself?" Jongho suggested, his eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. "You know, instead of me playing messenger, you could thank Nari directly. She'd love to hear from you." 

Wooyoung's eyes widened in surprise, then softened with affection. "You're right," he said, a smile spreading across his face. "I should thank her personally. She put so much effort into these cookies, and it's the least I can do." He looked at Jongho, his gaze filled with gratitude. 

Jongho's eyes twinkled with a hint of mischief as he watched Wooyoung savor the cookie. "You better not disappoint her," Jongho said, his tone light but carrying an undercurrent of seriousness. "She's my daughter, after all, and if you ever let her down, you'll have to answer to me." He finished with a playful smile, but the protective glint in his eyes made it clear he meant every word. 

Wooyoung chuckled, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Don't worry, Jongho. I'll make sure to stay on her good side," he promised, a grin spreading across his face. 

Jongho laughed, shaking his head. "Good. Because if you don't, you're going to have to deal with my wrath," he teased, flexing his arms in an exaggerated manner. "And trust me, you don't want that." 

Wooyoung pretended to shiver, dramatically clutching his chest. "Oh no, not the wrath of Jongho! I'll be on my best behavior, I promise." 

Jongho couldn't help but laugh at Wooyoung's antics, the atmosphere lightening even more. "Alright, alright. I trust you," he said, patting Wooyoung on the back. 

Wooyoung grinned mischievously at Jongho, a playful glint in his eyes. "Aren't you a bit jealous I'm her favorite?" he teased, taking another bite of the cookie. 

Jongho rolled his eyes but couldn't help the small smile tugging at his lips. "Nope, not at all," Jongho replied confidently, his grin widening. "I know eventually she will love me the most. I'm her dad, after all." He winked at Wooyoung, who couldn't help but laugh. 

"Alright, you win this round," Wooyoung conceded with a chuckle. "But don't be too sure, I'll always be her favorite uncle." 

Jongho shook his head, a fond smile on his face. "We'll see about that, Wooyoung. We'll see." 

Wooyoung munched on another cookie, his eyes glinting with curiosity. "So, Jongho," he began, adopting a more serious tone, "what's the deal with Y/N? You haven't really talked much about her." 

"She... she was my first love," Jongho replied softly, his expression turning wistful as memories flooded back. He paused for a moment, lost in thought, before continuing. "She was everything to me. She was kind, smart, and incredibly loving. I remember how her eyes would light up whenever she talked about something she was passionate about."  

"How did you end up together?" Wooyoung asked, his curiosity evident. 

"Y/N confessed first; she was furious that I was taking so long to do so," Jongho chuckled, a fond smile playing on his lips. "She always had this fiery spirit, never afraid to speak her mind. I admired that about her, even if it sometimes meant I had to face her anger. But it was that same spirit that made me fall for her even more." Jongho smiled, his eyes reflecting the fondness of the memory. "After she confessed, I realized I had been a fool for not telling her sooner. We started spending even more time together, whenever I had time between practices, I would be with her, and it just felt right. She supported me through thick and thin, and before long, we knew we were meant to be together." He paused, looking at Wooyoung with a thoughtful expression. "It wasn't always easy, she was living as my secret, we were stealing moments but the love, it made everything worth it." 

Wooyoung's eyes softened with empathy, his gaze filled with understanding. "So, what happened?" he asked gently, wanting to offer his friend some comfort. 

Jongho sighed deeply, "We were stupidly in love, you know, head over heels for each other. But then Hongjoong found out about us and forced us to break up. He thought it was for the best. But now, when I found out about Nari, I-" Jongho's voice trailed off, filled with a mix of regret and confusion. 

"Wait, hold your horses, Jongho," Wooyoung interrupted, his eyes widening in shock and disbelief. "What do you mean Hongjoong made you break up?"  

Jongho took a deep breath, his eyes clouded with a mixture of regret and sadness. "I was practicing on my own, the studio was empty, and as usual Y/N came to see me." he began, his voice tinged with melancholy. "Then suddenly, out of nowhere, Hongjoong came back. The look on his face when he saw us together—it was like a dagger to my heart. I knew in that instant that it was over for us." He paused, running a hand through his hair as if trying to find the right words to convey the weight of the moment. "I was a coward," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I just stood there, frozen. Hongjoong was furious, and I could see the disappointment in his eyes. He didn't even give me a chance to explain. He said that we couldn't afford any distractions, that our careers were at stake. He made it clear that I had to choose between my love for her and my commitment to the band. And she… she just looked at me, waiting for me to do something, to say something." Jongho's eyes glistened with unshed tears as he continued, "But I couldn't. I couldn't bring myself to fight for her, not in that moment. I just stood there and watched her go, watched her walk out of my life." He sighed deeply; the sound filled with a sense of loss. "I watched her go, knowing that I was letting go of the one person who made everything worthwhile. And now, I have to live with that choice, knowing that I broke her heart and mine in the process." 

Wooyoung sighed, his brow furrowed, the cookie in his hand long forgotten. "I just don’t get it. If Hongjoong knew I had a boyfriend and didn’t do anything about it, then why when he found out about you and Y/N, he lost his mind over it? It's so confusing and honestly, it feels unfair. I mean, what's the difference between your relationship and mine? Why was it okay for me to have a boyfriend, but not for you to be with Y/N? It just doesn't make much sense." Wooyoung's eyes searched Jongho's face for answers, his expression a mix of confusion and concern. 

Jongho shook his head, a bitter smile playing on his lips. "I wish I had an answer, Wooyoung," he said, his voice heavy with resignation. "Maybe Hongjoong saw something different in our situation, or maybe he was just trying to protect us in his own way. But it doesn't change that I lost her." 

"I couldn't help but overhear my name," Hongjoong stepped into the kitchen, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern. His sudden appearance caused both Jongho and Wooyoung to turn towards him, their conversation coming to an abrupt halt. Wooyoung's eyes widened in surprise, his mouth opening and closing as he struggled to find the right words. Hongjoong glanced between the two of them, his brow furrowing as he tried to piece together what he had walked into. "What's going on?" he asked his voice calm but tinged with an undercurrent of worry. 

Jongho hesitated for a moment, then spoke up, his voice steady but filled with a mix of emotions. "We were just talking about... the past, and some decisions that were made." He glanced at Wooyoung, who nodded in silent support. 

Hongjoong's expression shifted, a hint of regret appearing in his eyes as he took in Jongho's words. He sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair before responding. "Jongho, I already told you; I did what I thought was best at the time." 

"But was it really the best for everyone involved?" Jongho questioned, his voice tinged with a mix of frustration and sadness. "I lost someone I truly loved, and it feels like that decision was made for me." 

Hongjoong's shoulders slumped slightly, "All of us signed the contracts, Jongho," Hongjoong replied, his voice heavy with the weight of responsibility. "I was only following the rules, as a good leader should." He paused, looking down as if the weight of his own words bore down on him. "You have to understand I was trying to protect the group, to make sure we stayed focused on our goals." 

"But in doing so, you took away something important from me," Jongho replied a bit harshly, his eyes reflecting the pain of the past. 

"It just seems unfair," Wooyoung chimed in, his voice filled with frustration. "Why was Jongho's relationship treated differently? Why did you never approach me about mine?" 

"Jongho was in a relationship during our rookie days," Hongjoong began, his voice tinged with a mix of regret and determination. He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing, "It was a crucial time for us. We got our first prize with Wave, and we were preparing for our Answer comeback." Hongjoong's gaze softened as he looked around the kitchen, searching for understanding in the faces of his bandmates."You must remember the pressure we were under. We were just starting to gain recognition, and every move we made was scrutinized." He sighed, running a hand through his hair again as he continued, "I felt like I had to make a tough decision for the sake of the group. I thought following the rules would help us stay focused on our goals." Hongjoong's eyes scanned the room once more, searching for understanding. "I know it seems harsh, but I was trying to protect what we had worked so hard for. I didn't want any distractions to take away from our success. Do you really not understand my point of view?" His voice softened, filled with a mix of regret and hope that his bandmates would see where he was coming from. The room fell silent, both Jongho and Wooyoung processing Hongjoong's words. "And when it came to you, Wooyoung, your relationship was almost two years after I made Jongho break up with Y/N," Hongjoong continued, his voice softer but still firm. "We were in another place with our career by then. I felt like you were mature enough to navigate both your career and your relationship." He looked at Wooyoung, his eyes pleading for understanding. "I didn't want to do what I did to Jongho, so I decided to trust you and believe that you could handle it without it affecting our goals." 

"I know I was young," Jongho admitted, his voice tinged with a mix of regret and longing. "But I just wish you could have put some faith in me back then. I understand you were trying to protect the group and our dreams, but it felt like my feelings and my relationship didn't matter. Y/N meant the world to me and losing her was one of the hardest things I've ever had to go through." He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. "I know that we were under a lot of pressure, but I believe we could have found a way to make it work without sacrificing our personal lives completely. I just wish there had been more trust in my ability to handle both." His eyes met Hongjoong's, filled with a mix of hurt and hope. "I needed your support back then, not just as a leader, but as a friend and a brother." 

Hongjoong's eyes softened, his expression filled with a mixture of regret and understanding. "I wish I had handled things differently." He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. "I want you to know that I'm sorry for the pain I've caused you." 

Jongho's expression softened as he listened to Hongjoong's words, his eyes reflecting a mix of gratitude and forgiveness. "Thank you, hyung. That means a lot to me." He paused, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. 

"Alright now as we finally cleared the air, it’s bedtime," Hongjoong smiled, "We have early practice tomorrow, so let's make sure we're all well-rested and ready to give it our best." 

"Yeah, San's already asleep. I just came to check up on our maknae," Wooyoung smiled, his eyes filled with warmth and reassurance. 

"I think you should learn how to say no to San and finally send him off to sleep in his own bed," Hongjoong nagged, shaking his head slightly. "What's the point of him living in a separate dorm when he's spending almost every night here?" 

Wooyoung chuckled softly, shaking his head. "San's always been like this. Besides, it's not like I mind," Wooyoung smiled, his eyes twinkling with affection. "I actually enjoy having him around, even if it means sharing my bed most nights." He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "He's just so clingy, but in a way that makes you feel needed and appreciated. It's one of the things I love about him." 

"You are too soft when it comes to San," Jongho pointed out, a teasing smile on his face. "You always let him get away with everything. One of these days, you're going to have to put your foot down and make him sleep in his own bed." 

Wooyoung chuckled, shaking his head. "I know, I know," he admitted, his eyes twinkling with affection. "But honestly, I don't mind. As I said before, San just has his way of making me feel needed and appreciated. It's hard to say no to that." 

Hongjoong smirked, crossing his arms. "Well, just don't come complaining to us when you wake up with no space on your own bed," he teased. "San's a bed hog, and you know it." 

Wooyoung laughed, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, he is. But he's my bed hog, and I wouldn't have it any other way." 

"I am just wondering how you are going to explain your relationship with San to your future boyfriend," Jongho joked teasingly, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I mean, it's not every day you have to tell someone you're dating that you share your bed with your bandmate because he's too clingy to sleep in his own dorm." 

Wooyoung laughed, shaking his head. "Well, I guess I'll just have to find someone who understands the unique dynamics of our friendship," he replied, his voice filled with amusement. "Besides, anyone who wants to be with me will have to accept San as part of the package." 

Hongjoong smirked, crossing his arms over his chest. "Good luck with that, Wooyoung. Just make sure your future boyfriend knows what he's signing up for. Sharing a bed with San is no small feat." 

Wooyoung chuckled, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Well, if they can't handle San, then they probably can't handle me either. So, it will be a good test of their commitment." 

Jongho nodded, a playful grin on his face. "Just make sure to give us a heads-up before introducing them to San’s nightly cuddles. We wouldn't want to scare them off too soon." 

Wooyoung rolled his eyes, but his smile remained. "Don't worry, I'll make sure to ease them into it. Besides, who could resist San's charm once they get to know him?" 

Jongho chuckled, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "You know, Wooyoung, your future boyfriend might feel a bit threatened by your charming best friend who happens to share a bed with you," he teased, nudging Wooyoung playfully. "I mean, it's not every day someone has to compete with San for your attention." 

Wooyoung laughed, shaking his head. "Well, if they can't handle a little competition, then maybe they're not the right one for me," he replied, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Anyone who wants to be with me will just have to get used to it." 

Jongho grinned, raising an eyebrow. "Just make sure to warn them about San's nightly cuddles." 

Wooyoung rolled his eyes, but his smile remained. "Oh, shut up, Jongho." 

The three of them shared a laugh, the tension from earlier dissipating as they enjoyed the light-hearted banter. "Alright, enough teasing for tonight," Hongjoong said, clapping his hands together. 

Wooyoung glanced at the cookie box in his hands, a playful glint appearing in his eyes. "I'm keeping this," he said with a wink, his tone light and teasing. The boy hugged the cookie box tighter, as if it were a precious treasure. "You know, these cookies are really something special," he added, his voice softening. "I will tell Nari she's an amazing baker." With a final nod, Wooyoung exited the kitchen, the cookie box still clutched tightly in his arms. He walked down the hallway, a sense of contentment settling over him. As he reached the door to his room, he glanced back one last time, his heart swelling with affection for his bandmates. "Goodnight," he called out softly before disappearing into his room. 

Jongho and Hongjoong now stood in the kitchen alone, the silence between them comfortable and filled with understanding. 

"Goodnight, Nari's dad," Hongjoong said with a warm smile, patting Jongho on the shoulder. "You've done a great job today." 

Jongho chuckled softly, "Thanks, Hongjoong. It means a lot coming from you." He returned the smile, the weight of the past conversations lifting slightly. Hongjoong nodded, his eyes reflecting a mix of pride and affection. "Goodnight, hyung." 

With one last pat on the shoulder, Hongjoong turned and left the kitchen, leaving Jongho alone with his thoughts. The room felt quieter now, but in the silence, Jongho found a sense of peace. As Jongho turned off the kitchen lights and made his way to his room, a small smile played on his lips. The journey might be tough, but with his little family by his side, he was ready to face whatever came next. 

"I think you are overreacting a little bit," you said as you looked at the man sitting beside you on the couch. His brows were furrowed, a sign that he was deep in thought. You could see the wheels turning in his head as he mulled over your words. 

"No, I'm not," Hyunwoo finally replied, his voice firm. He turned to face you, the seriousness in his eyes took you aback. "This is important," he added, taking your hand in his. 

You gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, trying to ease his worries. "I know it is," you said softly, "and I also know that what I did was right." 

Hyunwoo sighed, his mind was racing with all the what-ifs and the potential outcomes of the situation. "It's just... I thought I was important enough for you to let me know you decided to tell the guy about Nari," he sighed, his gaze focused on a wall in front of him. 

His feelings were valid, and you understood where he came from, after all you’ve been best friends for years now. "Hyunwoo," you started, your voice soft, "you are important to me. You always have been. But this... this was something I had to do on my own." Your friend remained silent, his gaze shifting to meet yours. You could see the hurt in his eyes. "I should have told you," you admitted, "and I'm sorry I didn't. But I hope you understand why I did it." 

Hyunwoo sighed again, a long, drawn-out breath that seemed to carry the weight of his thoughts. "Actually, no, I don't understand why you did it," he admitted, his voice firm. "You don't need him," he stated, his gaze unwavering as he spoke his mind. 

You could see the frustration in his eyes, a testament to the whirlwind of emotions he was feeling. "Listen," you began, your voice steady but filled with empathy, "I know you're trying to protect me. And I appreciate it, I really do. But this isn't about needing Jongho. It's about Nari. She has a right to know her dad." 

Hyunwoo was silent for a moment, his gaze still fixed on yours. You could tell he was battling with his emotions, trying to make sense of the situation. After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke. "I just... I just don't want you to get hurt," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. 

"Why don’t you understand this isn't about me and Jongho," you responded, your voice slightly raised, your frustration growing. "Nari deserves to know her dad. And Jongho deserved to know he has a daughter." Your words resonated in the room, a silent plea for understanding. "Plus, Jongho would never hurt me," 

"Oh, but I thought he already did hurt you once?" Hyunwoo scoffed, his words heavy with accusation and hurt. 

You rose from the couch, hands running through your hair in frustration. "That was very low of you," you shot back, your voice filled with hurt and disbelief. "We were just a couple of teenagers back then." 

"Why are you defending him?"  

"Because people change, Hyunwoo," you found the strength to reply, your voice steady and unwavering. "They grow, they learn, they evolve. Jongho is no exception." You paused, letting your words sink in, your gaze never leaving Hyunwoo's. "Even if I spent such a short time with him, I could see that he has changed, he's matured. He's not the boy I once knew, he's a man now." You swallowed hard, your next words coming out in a whisper, "Yes, he messed up, a big time. But he's more than his past mistakes. He's changed since then. He's grown, just like all of us." 

"He didn't fight for you! He didn't do anything to find you again, to contact you again! You deserve better than someone who just gave up!" Hyunwoo shot back, his voice echoing in the room. He rose from the couch, his entire body tense, neck flushing red from the surge of emotion. His words hung heavily in the room, echoing the hurt and frustration he had been bottling up. 

"He was scared, Hyunwoo," you replied, your voice filled with empathy. "He thought he was doing what was best for me, for us. Can't you see? He was protecting me, in his own way." You took a deep breath, steadying your voice before continuing, "And now, he's ready to make amends, to be a part of Nari's life." 

"How can he be a part of Nari's life though?" your friend scoffed, a hint of mockery in his voice as he crossed his arms over his chest. "He's an idol, for God's sake. His life is all about concerts, photoshoots, fan meetings... Where does he think he'll find the time for Nari in all of that?" 

"He'll make time, Hyunwoo," you responded, your voice filled with conviction. "Jongho wants to be a part of Nari's life and he'll do whatever it takes. Yes, he's an idol. Yes, his life is busy. But that doesn't mean he can't be a father. He's ready to make the effort, to make the sacrifices necessary." You took a deep breath, steadying yourself. "And I believe him." 

"Why do you believe him?" Hyunwoo asked, his voice still tinged with doubt. 

"Because I've seen the change in him," you said softly, your eyes meeting Hyunwoo's. "When he found out about Nari, he was shocked, yes, but he was also determined. He could have easily walked away, but he didn't. He's shown me that he's willing to fight for his daughter, and that means everything." You paused, letting your words sink in. "People do change, Hyunwoo. And sometimes, they just need a reason to show it." 

"Is this about money?" Hyunwoo put his hands on his hips, frustration evident in his voice. He was trying to understand why you would do it, but he simply couldn't find a reason. He had always been there for you; he should have been enough for you. 

Your blood boiled, your eyes wide with disbelief. "You're really going to accuse me of that!?" You could feel your heart pounding in your chest. The accusation felt like a slap in the face, a betrayal that cut deep. "Yes, I'm struggling," you admitted, your voice trembling with a mix of anger and hurt. "But to think that I would stoop so low as to seek money from Jongho? That's a low blow, even for you." Your words hung heavy in the air, the weight of his accusation causing a rift between you. 

Hyunwoo's expression softened, regret flashing in his eyes as he realized the impact of his words. "I'm sorry," he muttered, "I didn't mean it like that. I just... I'm worried, okay?" 

"I know you are," you replied, your voice softening. "But you must trust me. This isn't about money or anything else. It's about giving Nari the chance to know her father and letting Jongho be a part of her life." 

"Y/N, I need to know... do you still love him?" Hyunwoo asked suddenly, his voice filled with a mix of hesitation and urgency. His eyes searched yours, seeking the truth behind your words. 

You took a deep breath, your heart pounding in your chest. Hyunwoo's question hung in the air, demanding an answer that you weren't sure you were ready to give. You met his gaze, searching for the right words. "Hyunwoo," you began, your voice trembling slightly. "I don't know if I still love him in the way you might mean. But what I do know is that he's Nari's father, and she deserves to know him. This isn't about my feelings. It's about what's best for her." 

"Jongho is not what's best for her," Hyunwoo stated firmly, his eyes filled with determination. 

You took a deep breath, trying to keep your emotions in check. "That's not for you to decide," you replied, your voice steady. "Nari deserves to know her father, and Jongho deserves a chance to be in her life. You may not agree with my decision, but it's not your choice to make." 

"Nari deserves a father who won't disappear for months because he's touring outside the country," Hyunwoo voice was laced with frustration. "She deserves a father who will be with her when she suddenly gets sick, a father who will be there in case of an emergency. Not one who will be too busy pleasing his fans." His words were harsh but held a truth that was hard to ignore. You could hear the concern in his voice, a concern for Nari, and you knew he was right. But you also knew that Jongho had changed and that he was ready to be there for his daughter, regardless of his hectic schedule. "A father like me." The words hung in the air, Hyunwoo's confession echoing in the silence. His eyes bore into yours, filled with sincerity and resolve. 

You were taken aback by his words, the weight of his confession settling heavily between you. "I’m not sure if I understand what you mean, I..." You began, your voice trailing off as you struggled to find the right words. 

"I know it sounds crazy," he interrupted, his voice filled with a desperate sincerity. "But I've been there for Nari since she was one. I love her like she's my own daughter. I just want what's best for her, and I truly believe that I can be the father she needs." 

You stared at him, your heart aching with the complexity of the situation. "Hyunwoo, you've been an amazing friend and a wonderful figure in Nari's life. But this isn't about replacing Jongho. It's about giving Nari the chance to know her real father." 

"It frustrates me," Hyunwoo said, his voice filled with restrained emotion, "to hear how you defend him, how you try to justify everything simply because he's Nari's biological father." His gaze bore into yours, a mix of hurt and frustration evident in his eyes. "I've been here for you, for Nari, through everything. I've watched her grow, taken care of her, and loved her as if she were my own. And now, suddenly, he's in the picture, and you're ready to give him a chance just because of biology? What about everything we've built together, the bond we share?" He paused, taking a deep breath, trying to steady his emotions. "I get that Nari deserves to know her father, but it hurts to see you so willing to let him in, after all the years I've been by your side. I'm not saying this out of jealousy or spite. I just... I want what's best for both of you. And I'm scared that he won't be able to give you the stability and support that Nari needs." Hyunwoo's words hung heavy in the air, the weight of his feelings pressing down on both of you. His voice softened, filled with sincerity, "I don't want to see you, or Nari get hurt, Y/N. I just want to protect you both, like I always have." He took a deep breath, gathering the courage to continue, "Because I love you, Y/N. I have for a while now," Hyunwoo added, his voice barely above a whisper. He looked down as if the weight of his confession was too much to bear. "I've tried to ignore it, to push it aside because I didn't want to complicate things. But seeing you defend Jongho, it's tearing me apart. I can't keep it inside any longer. Every moment we've spent together, every laugh, every tear, has only made my feelings for you grow stronger. I always thought that one day, maybe you'd see me the way I see you. But now, with Jongho back in the picture, I'm afraid I'll lose you both." Hyunwoo's eyes were filled with a mixture of hope and despair as he looked at you. "I don't want to make this harder for you, but I can't stay silent anymore. You and Nari mean everything to me, and I want to be the one who's there for you, who supports you, who loves you. Not just as a friend, but as something more." 

His words hung in the air, filled with raw emotion and vulnerability. "I'm not asking you to make a decision right now," he added softly, "but I needed you to know how I feel. Because no matter what happens, I want you to be happy. And if being with Jongho is what makes you happy, then I'll find a way to accept it. But I had to be honest with you, Y/N. I had to let you know." 

You were speechless, Hyunwoo's confession leaving you overwhelmed with a mix of emotions. You took a deep breath, trying to steady yourself as you processed everything he had said. The weight of his words hung heavy in the air; the room filled with a tense silence. 

"Hyunwoo," you began, your voice trembling slightly, "I had no idea you felt this way." You paused, searching for the right words to convey your thoughts. "You've been such an important part of my life, of Nari's life. I can't imagine going through everything we've been through without you by our side." You took a step closer to Hyunwoo, his hand brushed against your arm. The warmth of his touch was comforting, you were about to speak again, to find the right words to address his heartfelt confession, when you heard Nari's cry piercing through the apartment, 

"Mommy!" The sound of her voice jolted you back to reality. You turned your head toward her room, your heart pounding in your chest. The urgency in Nari's voice was unmistakable, and in that moment, everything else seemed to fade into the background. You shared a brief, conflicted glance with Hyunwoo, his eyes filled with a mixture of longing and resignation. "Mommy!" Nari called out again, her tiny voice echoing through the apartment. You could hear the fear and confusion in her tone, and it tugged at your heartstrings. Hyunwoo stepped back, giving you space to move, his expression softening as he watched you. 

"I... I need to go to her," you said, your voice barely above a whisper. Hyunwoo nodded, understanding the urgency of the situation. You gave him a small, grateful smile before turning and hurrying toward Nari's room. You pushed the door open gently, finding Nari sitting up in her bed, her eyes wide with fear, filled with tears. Her small frame was trembling, and she clutched her favorite stuffed animal tightly. 

"Mommy," she cried out again, her voice breaking your heart. You rushed to her side, scooping her up into your arms and holding her close. 

"It's okay, sweetheart," you murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Mommy's here. It was just a dream." You rocked her gently, feeling her body slowly relax in your embrace. As you comforted Nari, your mind drifted back to the conversation with Hyunwoo. His confession, his raw vulnerability, and the depth of his feelings for you weighed heavily on your mind. You knew you couldn't ignore it, but right now, your focus was on your daughter. Nari's tears were flowing down her rosy cheeks, you patted her back gently, the rhythmic motion of your hand a comforting presence against the backdrop of her quiet sobs. You began to swing left and right, a soothing motion meant to calm her racing heart. "Shhh, my sweetheart, Mommy's here," you whispered, your voice soft and filled with love. She clung to you tightly, her small fingers gripping the fabric of your shirt as if letting go would mean losing her anchor. You continued to whisper sweet reassurances, each word a promise that you would always be there for her. The warmth of your embrace gradually began to melt her fears, her sobs slowing to small, hiccupping breaths. As you held her, you felt the tension in her body slowly ease, her muscles relaxing as the nightmare faded into a distant memory. "It's just a bad dream, sweetheart," you murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Mommy's here, and nothing will hurt you." Nari's breathing began to even out, the rhythm of her chest rising and falling in time with yours. You continued to rock her gently, the motion a lullaby that coaxed her back towards the safety of sleep. "You're safe, my love," you continued, your voice a soothing, "Mommy will always protect you." With each passing moment, you could feel her grip on you loosen, her small body growing heavier as sleep began to claim her once more. You stayed with her, holding her close until you were certain that the nightmare was truly gone. Only then did you carefully lay her back down, tucking her in. "Sweet dreams, my little girl," you whispered, brushing a stray lock of hair from her forehead. She mumbled something in her sleep, a soft and contented sound that made your heart swell with love. 

You made your way back to the living room, your mind still swirling with the events of the night. Hyunwoo was sitting on the couch, deep in thought, his hand resting on his chin. He seemed to sit completely still; his gaze fixed on the window as if searching for answers in the darkness outside. The silence between you was thick with unspoken words, the weight of his confession still hanging in the air. You could see the tension in his posture, the way his shoulders were slightly hunched, and the furrow in his brow. It was clear that he was grappling with his emotions, just as you were. As you approached, the floor creaked softly beneath your feet, breaking the heavy silence. Every step you took felt measured, each one drawing you closer to a conversation you weren't sure you were ready to have. Hyunwoo didn't immediately turn to look at you; instead, he remained lost in his thoughts, the distant look in his eyes betraying the turmoil within him. You hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to bridge the gap that had suddenly formed between you. Finally, you took a deep breath and walked closer, your presence a silent offer of support and understanding. 

"Hyunwoo," you said softly, your voice breaking the stillness of the room. He blinked, as if pulled from a trance, and turned to face you. His eyes, filled with a mixture of hope and resignation, met yours. The vulnerability in his gaze was palpable, and it struck a chord deep within you. 

He sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I didn't mean to complicate things," he began, his voice barely above a whisper. "I just couldn't keep it inside any longer. Seeing you defend Jongho, it tore me apart. I needed you to know how I feel." 

You nodded slowly, understanding the weight of his words. "I didn't realize how you feel about me," you admitted, your voice equally soft. "You've always been there for Nari and me. I can't imagine going through everything we've faced without you." 

Hyunwoo's lips curved into a small, sad smile. "That's because I care about you both more than anything," he said. "I just want to protect you, to be there for you in every way possible." 

You sit down beside him, your body turning to him. "And you have been, Hyunwoo. You've been our rock. But this situation with Jongho... it's new and it’s complicated." 

He nodded, his eyes never leaving yours. "I know, and I don't want to make it harder for you. But I couldn't stay silent anymore. I want to be the one who's there for you, who loves you." His words hung heavy in the air; the intensity of his feelings evident in every syllable. "I'm not asking you to make a decision right now," he added softly, "No matter what happens, I want you to be happy. And if being with Jongho is what makes you happy, then I'll find a way to accept it." 

"Hyunwoo, it's too soon to think about me and Jongho, and talking about it with you now seems... wrong," you said, your voice tinged with uncertainty. "I try to push my emotions aside; I can't afford to be distracted. I need to keep my guard up to make sure Nari is okay with all of this." You took a deep breath, trying to collect your thoughts. "My priority right now is Nari. She needs stability, and I have to be strong for her. I can't let my emotions cloud my judgment. Jongho being in our lives is already a big change, and I need to focus on how it affects her." 

Hyunwoo's gaze softened as he listened to you, his eyes reflecting his understanding and concern. "I get it," he said quietly. "I know how much Nari means to you, and I don't want to make things harder." 

You nodded, appreciating his empathy. "I know this isn't easy for you either. But right now, I need to put Nari first. I need to make sure she's okay with all of this before I even think about anything else." You paused, your eyes meeting his. "And I need to figure out my own feelings too. This whole situation is overwhelming, and I need time to process everything." 

"I'm sorry if I've only added to your overwhelm," Hyunwoo said softly, his voice filled with regret. "I didn't mean to make things more complicated for you." He got up from the couch, it felt rushed as if he needed some physical distance from you right now. "I'll give you the time you need, Y/N. Take care of Nari and take care of yourself. I'm here if you need me." 

You nodded, gratitude welling up inside you. "Thank you, Hyunwoo," you replied, your voice filled with sincerity. "I appreciate everything you've done for us." 

"I should get going, it's already late," Hyunwoo said, his smile tinged with sadness and resignation. You nodded, understanding the need for him to leave but feeling a pang of sorrow at the thought of him walking out the door. He hesitated for a moment as if wanting to say something more, but instead, he turned and headed towards the door. You watched him go, the weight of his confession and the night's events settling over you heavily. As the door closed behind him, you took a deep breath, trying to steady your swirling thoughts. 

Jongho was abruptly woken up by a sound that was nothing like his alarm. Disoriented, he squinted in the dim light of his room, trying to pinpoint where the ringing was coming from. His eyes, still heavy with sleep, darted around the space. The persistent noise continued, pulling him further out of his groggy state. With a sigh, he pushed himself up and fumbled through the mess on his nightstand until he finally found his phone.

"Hello?" he answered, his voice low and rough from sleep.

"Jongho, I am so sorry to be calling you out of the blue like this," your voice filled his ears. You sounded stressed, and the urgency in your tone made his heart race. "I know it's so early," you continued, your words tumbling out in a rush. Jongho glanced at his clock; it wasn’t even 6 am. The sky outside was still dark, the first hints of dawn barely visible on the horizon. He rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. "But I need you," you finished, your voice trembling slightly. Jongho's mind raced, a hundred scenarios flashing through his head. He could hear the desperation in your voice, the way it wavered as if you were on the brink of tears. He sat up straighter, all traces of sleep forgotten as he focused on you.

"What’s wrong?" he asked, his voice filled with concern. "Is everything okay?" He could hear you take a shaky breath on the other end, the sound amplifying the tension between you.

"It's just... I know it's Saturday, but something came up at work and my mom's not picking up. She must have put her phone on silent by accident. And I need to rush to work now. Nari... I can't bring her with me," you were talking fast, messily, your words tumbling out in a rush. Jongho could hear the stress in your voice, the way each sentence seemed to blend into the next. "I tried calling mom multiple times, but there's no answer. I don't know what else to do. I can't leave Nari alone, and I can't miss work. I wouldn't be asking if it wasn't important. Can you come over and stay with her? I know it's a lot to ask, especially so early in the morning, but I really need your help." Your voice wavered, the desperation clear as you pleaded for assistance.

"Hey, calm down and breathe for me, yeah?" Jongho's voice was soothing, a gentle reassurance that cut through your panic. He could hear the sound of your ragged breaths on the other end, and after a moment, they began to slow and even out. "That's it," he encouraged softly, "just breathe." He waited until he was sure you had calmed down a bit before continuing. "I know you're stressed, but we'll figure this out together." He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up, already moving towards his closet. "I'm getting dressed right now. I'll be there in no time to pick her up, okay?"

Jongho could hear the relief in your voice as you responded, the edge of desperation giving way to gratitude. "Thank you so much, Jongho. I really appreciate this."

He pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, his movements quick but deliberate. "It's no problem at all," he assured you, slipping on his shoes. "I'm happy to help. Just hang tight and I'll be there soon."

Hearing the calm confidence in his voice made you feel a little more in control. "Alright," you said, your voice steadier now.

"She's going to have a fun day with me," Jongho assured you. "I have a practice today, but she can dance around with us. She'll love it." His voice was filled with warmth and excitement, and you could almost picture the smile on his face. The thought of Nari dancing and having fun with Jongho brought a smile to your own face, easing some of the tension that had been weighing you down.

"You sure it's alright?" you felt the need to ask him again, your voice tinged with lingering concern.

''Y/N, I'm absolutely sure,'' Jongho replied, his tone unwavering and filled with warmth. ''I'm really happy to spend time with her today. You don't need to worry about a thing.'' His voice carried a calm confidence that was deeply comforting, and you could almost picture the reassuring smile on his face. ''This is an opportunity for us to bond and for me to be a part of her life in a meaningful way,'' he added, his words filled with a genuine eagerness that touched your heart. ''I've missed so much already, and I don't want to miss anymore. Spending the day with Nari is something I'm looking forward to, and I promise we'll have a great time together.''

You took a deep breath, Jongho's words slowly dissolving the knots of anxiety in your chest. ''Thank you, Jongho. It means a lot to me,'' you said, your voice softening with gratitude.

''It's no problem at all, Y/N,'' Jongho replied, his tone gentle. ''I'll be there soon. Just focus on what you need to do, and leave the rest to me.''

Knowing that Jongho was so willing and eager to help made you feel a sense of relief that was almost overwhelming. ''Alright,'' you responded, your voice steadier now. ''I'll see you soon.''

''See you soon,'' Jongho echoed the warmth in his voice a soothing balm to your frazzled nerves.

[mimimui]

okay bllk boys as your not so bf was so good BUT IF you are willing to, could you do a sequel where reader either distances themselves or something along those lines

distance (doesn't) make the heart grow fonder (blue lock)

[ first part ] wherein you distance yourself from (character).

includes: isagi, bachira, chigiri, nagi, reo, rin

tags: one-sided, use of profanity, angst if you squint hard enough, boys annoyingly oblivious to reader's feelings, not proofread

a/n: (again) inspired by my not-so bf. i know the longing and mixed signals all too well :p this request has been collecting dust in my ask box but living rent-free in my head so .. enjoy !

you were always the one initiating conversations with isagi. not like you minded though, as long as you got to talk to him, you were happy. you can remember the first conversation you had with him as clear as day—you asked him which page the assignment was. you thought it was an absolutely brilliant plan to start talking to him regularly. it worked, obviously.

but then you noticed how dry his messages were. when you sent him three or four, he would reply back with one. isagi wasn't usually like this, no, he would return your energy all the time. it didn't bother you at first because you know he's busy with his sports, but his disinterest was getting more apparent.

you thought you were a bother to him; you thought you were annoying him, so you slowly stopped talking to him until neither of you spoke to each other at all. you stopped greeting him when you saw him, and you always saw his indifferent facial expression. uncaring, unconcerned.

it's like he forgot all about the conversations you shared. had he suddenly forgotten how close you two were? had he never cared about you? bullshit.

you waited for bachira to put his arm over your shoulders like he usually does, but he didn't today. you brushed it off, maybe he just wasn't feeling clingy yet. bachira always is touching you one way or another when you're together, but he suddenly stopped doing it.

you found it weird when he quickly retracted his hand from you when yours brushed against his. you also found it weird when he was suddenly leaning away from you in class, rather than leaning towards you. it was really weird when he was purposely standing far away from you. no matter how much you tried to get close, he would just move.

saying this only hurt you a bit was an understatement. of course it hurt you a lot, why was bachira suddenly ignoring you? you don't recall doing anything wrong or making anything awkward, so it's uncharacterisitc for him to be so... distant from you.

you decided to do the same. ignore him, distance yourself from him, and stop talking to him. you don't even know if he still considers you a friend.

chigiri slowly stopped asking to borrow your things. you didn't see anything wrong with it, but when you see him borrow things from other people, you feel a bit off about it. you thought it was stupid to feel this way—why is your heart sinking when you see him go up to someone else when he needs something?

you always gave him what he needed. you were always there when he needed something, and you were always happy to help. you loved helping him, actually. the smile he gives you when you let him borrow something is something you treasure.

it shouldn't hurt to see him borrow things from other people, it feels stupid to act this way. but you can't help it. you wouldn't be bothered by it, but the way he also stopped talking to you is what irks you the most. 'okay, you don't need to borrow my things anymore, but at least talk to me?' you think.

chigiri always gave back the things he borrowed from you safe and sound. the only thing he's ever stolen was your heart, and you're afraid he'll return it broken.

you sigh once again as you wait for nagi to go online on the game you two agreed to play together. he said he was going to go on soon, but it's been an hour, and you're bored out of your mind. you message him once more, hoping he'll reply this time. your smile drops as soon as you see his message: "can we play next time? im tired"

there was in fact no 'next time', because you haven't played a game with nagi in forever. every time you ask him to play with you, he will always reject you. he isn't the kind of person to decline a game invite, so you thought it was weird for him to suddenly be tired of playing video games.

games aren't as fun to play when you're alone. but nagi isn't joining you, so you just don't play at all. you were only ever excited to play because he was with you. when you see him online, you're quick to open the in-game chat, but then you notice he's playing with someone else.

it shouldn't bother you, really, but it's funny that you closed your game and went offline. you haven't played that game since.

you understand that reo was a busy person, but you never thought he'd get busy to the point where he no longer has time to spend with you. before, he'd always put in the effort to make time for you, no matter what. but it seems he's forgotten about your planned hangout again because he didn't show up.

the barista gave you a free drink and tried to give you words of encouragement, but you were quick to thank and dismiss them. you left the cafe that day wondering if you meant anything special to reo. he's always treated you differently than others, that's for sure. but did it ever actually mean anything?

you stare at the opened delivery app on your phone, debating on whether or not you should disconnect his online payment from your account. i mean, it's not like you mean anything to him anymore, so it's wrong to use his money.

you sighed as you reconnected your own account, ordering your usual. that was the last connection you had to reo.

you knew rin didn't prioritize relationships. hell, it wasn't on his priority list at all. but you had a glimmer of hope inside that maybe, just maybe, he thinks about you in that way. that maybe because of you, he'll consider being in a relationship.

you knew you and rin were not just friends. friends don't do the things you two do. so when you two flirt, you feel giddy. you thought that rin meant something more with his flirtatious actions, but when he calls you 'just a friend', your stomach drops.

he shares with you that he enjoys flirting for fun, and meaning nothing of it. of course he doesn't talk about you directly, but that's what it feels like. rin says it as if he's sharing a fun fact about himself, even feeling proud of it.

he notices your expression and asks why you look like that. you say it's nothing. nothing, just like what you are to him.

thanks for reading (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶)

[yuulettte]

𝐓𝐨 𝐃𝐫𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐧 [𝐘𝐮𝐭𝐚 𝐎𝐤𝐤𝐨𝐭𝐬𝐮 𝐗 𝐅𝐞𝐦!𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫]

"Don't cry little one, for the sun will come and dry your tears."

✰Tags: Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Unrequited Love, Established Relationship, One-Shot

✰Summary: Yuta Okkotsu is afraid of two things; thunderstorms, and losing you.

✰W/C: 1.2k

✰C/W: Mentions of Trauma, nightmares, and thunderstorms

✰A/N: A quick one shot that I thought of during a thunderstorm.

The sound of pouring rain in a midnight storm filled the tiny cramped area of a dorm room. A huddled body shivered beneath a bundle of covers, the size being almost comedic considering the childlike action. He wasn't always afraid of the dark. It was just on nights like this, after a particularly scary mission, when the abyss seemed to pull him in.

Chest heaving and sweat forming on his brow, Yuta Okkotsu, a special grade sorcerer, slowly came to the acceptance that he was still afraid of thunderstorms. Small hiccups could be heard underneath the sheets, now becoming stained with the tears flowing heavily down his jaw and onto the bed below.

She'd often asked him, "Why do you always look so sleepy?". He'd give her a reply with an awkward half smile, saying "I just end up thinking so much, it keeps me up."

Which was partially true. He'd be thinking about her, her eyes. The way they sparkled when they'd grace his with a prolonged gaze, when she'd eat something she likes, or when she'd listen to her favorite song.

But soon her golden sunshine-like glance would turn into a downpour of bloody rain, the light fading into a series of traumatic memories that plagued him. He was sure they'd follow him to his grave, if he'd ever find the peace of one.

Then the worrying would start. The what if's of their job, of their life's purpose filling his mind like a poison that never fully worked its way out of his system. Those piling thoughts of 'what if' would mostly continue with the word 'she'. Even in his deepest, most terrifying memories, they only remained scary because they could repeat again. They could repeat with her.

And that's why in the sound of a rain storm, that reminded him so much of that day, did Yuta sob her name quietly into his pillow. Except it wasn't as quiet as he'd thought it was.

Suddenly the pitter patter of water on his window was replaced with quick footsteps. Oh so familiar footsteps.

Slamming the door open she came in like a whirlwind, even under his blankets he could imagine her expression. The same one she'd wear whenever he was injured in battle, or whenever he'd burn his tongue on his tea because he sipped without thinking. That adorable, worried, brow furrowed face would be the death of him.

"Okkotsu?!"

Her usually chipper voice was tinged with concern. His body freezing in place. How utterly humiliating.

"H-Here.." He mumbled out, lifting the bedding from over his head and sitting up. Yuta was correct of course, her brows were furrowed and her lips turned down. Her eyes widening as she noticed the tears still trickling down his cheeks.

"So you were crying" The sentence came out just above a whisper. That pretty gaze fixed totally on him, but its sparkle was replaced with worry. It sent a ripple of guilt through his body, akin to the lightning going off outside, the feeling making his stomach drop. God forgive him if he were to ever make her sad.

No use in denying it, but he couldn't help but wonder how she got up there from the second floor so fast. Or maybe he'd been crying longer than he realized. His mind was foggy with sleep deprivation and the need to flinch at the thunder claps sounding every few minutes. Still, Yuta tried to give her a sleepy smile to ease both the awkwardness and his own nerves.

"I had a nightmare, I'm sorry I woke you. I completely forgot your room is right under mine" He was lying through his teeth like it was second nature. Anything to make her stop looking at him like that.

Luckily for him, she was never the type to push in unless he allowed it. Always respecting boundaries and letting him come to her. Maybe that's why he fell in love with her to begin with.

Instead of asking him more questions, she merely sat beside him. Turning to face him in her usual criss-cross sitting fashion. That sparkle returned, her hands suddenly going to cup his cheeks. Well, maybe she wasn't good with all boundaries..

"Eh?" It was practically a squeak as her delicate hands pressed to his face.

"Don't cry little one, for I am here to stay. Don't cry little one, the rain will go away. The thunder will sleep and the lightning will disappear. Don't cry little one, for the sun will come and dry your tears."

Her voice was soothing, like a pure river flowing to cover his entire body. Except instead of cool water, she covered him in warmth. Hands moving away from his face and sliding down to wrap her arms around his back. The sorcerer felt himself relax all at once, tears building again in the corners of his eyes. Like a dam that was about to burst.

One that'd been built over 10 years ago and was finally cracking because of her. He tried to hold himself together, worrying the overflow would drown out her light. But as soon as her head laid on his shoulder, and she started to whisper that everything would be okay, Yuta found himself pouring it all out to her.

He pulled her into his chest tightly, his face pressed into her hair as he breathed her in. Long, heavy sobs escaping him as the waves of grief he'd been holding back washed down his features. His usually quiet, gentle voice turning raspy and strained.

It did shake her, how this often soft spoken, selfless man was breaking to bits in her arms. Not because she judged him, not because she was afraid. But because of how so lonely he must have been. How many nights did Yuta cry himself to sleep here, all alone? How many mornings did he awake more tired than he was before he'd gone to bed? Just how much had he suffered without her fully grasping it?

"It's okay.. I'm here, it'll be okay"

Is all that she could mutter to him between her own tiny sobs. Hands tight in his nightshirt as the two took the brunt of his pain together.

It was almost like for a small moment, he wasn't a Jujutsu sorcerer anymore. He was just him, in her arms, raw and bare before her. She'd stripped any sort of armor he'd covered his heart in, crossed any distance in a single stride. With a single touch of her hand.

It put him in awe as he slowly regained his composure, sniffling and bringing the back of his hand to wipe his eyes. All the weight in his chest from before seemed to diminish while he held onto her. He let out a long sigh before finally, be it reluctantly, letting her go and falling onto his back. His tired eyes looked up at her from below.

She gave him her award winning grin, her eyes meeting her cheeks before closing. He lifted his hand to swipe a tear off her cheek with his thumb, genuinely smiling back at her this time.

"I guess the sun did dry my tears."

He laughed as more drops fell from his dull blue eyes; of which for the first time in years had a glimmer of hope. Sunlight always comes after rainfall, after all.

[five-oh-thirst]

More Than Anything

Prompt Day 19 (alt): Reconnecting

Pairing: Fives/Echo

Tags & Warnings: angst, comfort, post-Skako Minor Echo

Note: Who doesn't love a Fives and Echo reunion? It's short, but I made myself cry with this one. You're welcome.

Read on AO3

"It's been a while," Fives said with a faltering smile.

Echo didn't smile back. "Yeah. I guess it has."

It had only been six hours since Echo was rescued from the Techno Union and brought onto the Resolute. Fives first saw him in the medbay when he was being checked out and fitted with proper cybernetics. It was a sappy reunion for both of them, but now, alone and standing across from each other in Five's quarters, neither knew what to say or do.

"Do you want to sit?" Fives asked, trying to break the awkward silence. He fumbled around the room and pulled out the chair from his desk. "Oh, maybe this is too hard..."

"Fives," Echo said softly.

Whether on purpose or by accident, Fives didn't hear Echo and continued to move around the room. "What about a cushion?"

"Fives," Echo repeated a little louder.

He still wasn't listening and walked over to the thermostat mounted on the side wall. "Is it too cold in here? I can make it warmer."

Echo sighed, but a broken part of his heart felt reassured by Fives' fussing. "Cyare."

Fives whipped his head around. It had been ages since anyone had called him that, since Echo had called him that, and it caused tears to well up in the corner of his eyes. "Yeah?" he asked, voice cracking with emotion.

Echo sat down on the edge of Fives' bunk, the metal in his new legs squeaking a bit as the joints bended, and patted the open spot next to him. "Sit with me."

Fives crossed the room in two strides and sat down next to Echo. He was still clothed in the red medical garments, so Fives couldn't see what was underneath, but the cybernetic arm, the ports in his skull, and the grey tone of his skin, warred with the last image he had of Echo from before Lola Sayu. It was his Echo, his riduur, but it wasn't the same Echo.

Echo could see the uneasiness in Fives' face and feel the scrutiny in his eyes as they darted around his body, and he grabbed Fives' hand with his flesh one to ground him. "It's okay. I know I don't look the same."

Fives gasped like he was caught in a lie. He forgot how perceptive Echo was and felt horrible for revealing those thoughts to him. "I'm sorry. I didn't– I don't–" he took in a shaky breath. "I missed you so much."

Echo smiled for the first time since he was rescued. "I missed you, too."

"Do you think–" Fives paused, not quite sure of the words to say, but the quiver in his voice was all he needed to convey his deepest feelings. "Do you think we could get to know each other again? Like before?"

Echo took Fives' hand and held it up against his hollowed cheek to feel its warmth. "I want that more than anything in the universe."

Cozytober Masterlist

[bteezxyewriter12]

Annoyed Series

Wooyoung

Pairing- Wooyoung x Named Reader

Word count- 914 Words

Includes- Everything is consensual, angst, misunderstanding, sex from behind, angry sex, dirty talk, Wooyoung is duh, fluff

Tag List- @mingtina @jaxminnie @yeosayang @delightfulmoonbanana @tannie13 @y00nzin0 @marsstarxhwa

@yeosxxx @seokwoosmole @jjongsbebe @wisejudgedragonhairdo @meowmeowminnie @woo-stars @borntowalkaway @usagionthered @san-realblkwife @seonghwasstar @jejeyeppeo @soulseobi05 @kpop-bambi @prayerofthehaim @realisticnotes @pinkies-things @insomniacatiny @stephy-nicole13 @mknae-jongho @amyz78 @marvelfamily3000 @bykeynote

Masterlists- check out for more fics

📝Annoyed Series Masterlist

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Dragging her into my room at the dorm, I slam the door shut, glaring at her, so fucking annoyed

She looks at me confused as I walk to her

Turning her around, I shove her down face first on my desk, ripping her pants and panties down

I touch her cunt, feeling how wet she is

"Is this for me or him?", I snarl

"You", she whimpers, "You Wooyoung"

"Are you sure?", I snap, "Are you really sure it's for me and not him?"

"Him? Who him?", she asks as I pull my own sweatpants and boxers down

"Yeosang", I snap, shoving my head inside her

She yelps then moans, squeezing my tip hard

"I don't-"

"Be quiet", I growl, grabbing a fist full of her hair and yanking her head up, "You have some fucking nerve"

Her eyes widen, "What did I do?"

I snort, "Like you didn't know you were flirting with him?"

She did it on purpose

I wasn't paying attention to her, engrossed on the game I was playing on my phone

I admit that

She wanted attention and I didn't give it to her right away

But she didn't have to flirt with Yeosang

She didn't have to get up and go sit next to him, talk in that teasing tone, compliment his arm muscles in the tank top he was wearing

She didn't have to ask him to flex and then feel his bicep while flashing that gorgeous flirty smile she always gives me

It's bad enough that I get jealous all the time, she didn't have to provoke it

"You didn't pay attention to me", she pouts, trying to wiggle down my cock

"Stop moving", I demand, her attempts stalling

"Woo", she whines

"Oh now it's Woo", I growl, "Before it was "Oh Yeosang, you're so strong". Before it was you touching him. And now you want my cock in your pussy. What about his? Do you want his?"

She shakes her head, "No Woo, want yours"

"I think you'll take any cock that wants to fuck you. Just like you'll take attention from anyone"

I'm so jealous and so angry

I want her to open her eyes and see me

I want her to love me like I love her

I want her to realize that I'm ready and willing to give her anything she wants, that I can be exactly what she needs in a guy

But she's so fucking oblivious

"No Woo. I don't want anyone's dick but yours. I promise", she whines

"I think you'll say anything to get me to fuck you", I snap, "So I'll give you what you want"

Snapping my hips, I bury in her throbbing soaked cunt in one stroke, splitting her little hole wide open

I start moving fast and hard, her moans getting so loud right away

"Did you forget that I fuck you?", I snap, pounding in to her pussy mercilessly, "Did you forget that your cunt cums on me? That I fill your cunt with my cum?"

"Nnnn...", she trails off after a particularly hard thrust

"I think you did", I growl, "I think you forgot that it's my dick you cry on, my cock you sob and beg for. I think you forgot that no one can fuck you like I can"

I make sure I bottom out with every thrust, making my head hit her spot, her cunt clenching and throbbing rapidly, keeping me in so much bliss

Her pussy is perfect for me, takes me so well, creams me so much

And all she does is scream for more

"I..I didn't forget", she sobs, her hands holding the table's edge so hard her knuckles are white

Her pussy sucks me in with every move, desperately squeezing to keep me inside

It feels phenomenal

"I think you did", I growl, "Think you forget about me when I'm not balls deep inside you"

"No Wooyoung", she whimpers, moving back as I surge forward, meeting my thrust and taking me deeper into her cunt, "I think about you all the time"

I snort as we move together, the pleasure bringing me closer, "Sure"

"I do", she shouts, as I pound in and making her cum all over my cock, "Fuck! I love you Wooyoung!"

The ecstasy of her pulsing pussy mixed with her words send me right into an orgasm

I sheath my cock inside her, shooting my cum deep in her pussy, moaning her name as stars blast in my vision

As I come down from the bliss, I hear her whimpering "I love you" over and over

Pulling out, I turn her around, her beautiful wet brown eyes looking up at me

Her arms slide around my neck and she says clearly, "I love you Wooyoung"

I'm completely shocked

I did not see that coming

"Really?"

She nods, "You're so oblivious Woo. You're always so concerned with being jealous that you don't see that I'm yours. I was always yours"

"But today-"

"Today I did it to piss you off", she admits, "But I want you. I always just wanted you"

"You have me", I answer immediately, so estatic, "I love you so much Jo"

"Yeah?"

I nod, "Yeah. You're mine"

She nods, "Yeah. Kiss me Woo"

I lean down to kiss her but stop before my lips meet hers, "But no more flirting"

She giggles, "Deal. Now kiss me"

I smile, then press my lips to hers in a soft loving kiss

[itsclydebitches]

Hi. Feel free to totally ignore to ignore this ask I just needed to vent to someone. Have a great day! 

I hate little. (Or somewhat now). I hate this stupid mouse that accomplished nothing for the entire volume.

They were a terrible guide, they weren't funny, they were ugly. And they didn't help Ruby at all.(honestly I would also talk for hours on how much I hated Ruby depression arc especially her breakdown but that's not important now) Hell for the most part I forgot they were even there.

And honestly I probably wouldn't care that much if it wasn't for the fact that then they try to tug our heartstrings by having Neo stomp them.

No! I don't care! This scene was already traumatic enough you seriously didn't need that!

Then they try to connect with this theme how the smallest act can impact someone's life. Which I call bias cuz the only thing Rwby did for them was to give them cheese. They tag along on their own after being lost. Ruby wanted them to leave but they insisted and that got them killed.

And it's not like the paper pleasers who were unhappy about their lives and wanted to ascend little was rather fulfilled and happy with his life. Then wtf all that was for.

Also they shouldn't have wasted an episode of rwby beyond on them.

Please vent away! :D

Little feels like such a wasted opportunity to me (if, you know, we resign ourselves to having some version of Volume 9) because:

a) I love cute familiar-like characters b) I love the fairy tale, butterfly effect lesson of 'One small act can lead to huge results, often times in ways you'll never fully understand' c) Little is the one consistent new character the group gets this Volume and thus should, by virtue of being the first they meet/the longest to hang around, the most developed and significant to the conflict.

But they're functionally useless. Worse, they're boring and (to me) annoying. Ruby helps Little get some cheese. Cute meeting! Would love to better understand why they're trying to gather food when they clearly can't do it on their own and why their tribe is otherwise engaged in hunting Blake (she barely even looks like a cat! Her ears blend into her hair and everything else is human!). Looking back, it feels like there are seeds of Little being an outsider here (why are they gathering alone when that's clearly a multi-mouse endeavor? Is it unusual for a mouse to not have a purpose at their age?), which would have helped to explain their motivation for leaving with Ruby, but as it stands it all just feels so rushed and disjointed.

In repayment for the cheese, Little agrees to be Team RWBY's guide. Great, that's very logical and helpful! Except Little spends the whole Volume engaging in a sleeping gag and reminding the girls (the viewer) that they don't actually know anything outside of their tiny territory.

They're emotionally available to Ruby when she's at her lowest? Sort of, but beyond whether you think those scenes feel forced or not (I personally do), I question why that role isn't given to someone we already care about. You all know I've got plenty to say about the previous Volume, but at least those later episodes had the wherewithal to send Yang after Ruby on the staircase. I honestly believe that part of the reason why some people are upset with Yang's response to the depression arc is not simply what she does do (compare Ruby to Ironwood, physically imply that she's siding with Blake, seemingly ignore Ruby's VERY obvious symptoms, etc.), but what she doesn't do too. By giving Ruby this new companion and trying to make Little an emotional center of the Volume, it deprives the other characters (including Ruby's sister) with that role. Granted, it could have been compelling to double-down on those feelings of alienation, culminating in Yang witnessing Ruby's suicide and regretting the choices that lead them there... but the show decided to turn Ruby's "ascension" into this supposedly feel-good moment instead.

Their death is the tipping point that sends Ruby over the edge? I admittedly like the idea. Giving us a small animal, one that many people are afraid of/find nasty, and equating it to a 'simple soul' could have helped sell the idea that all life - ALL LIFE - is precious. Hell, I wonder if it would have been better if Little was just a mouse. No talking, no magic, nothing but an (arguably) cute animal for the audience to cheer for. I can imagine a version of the dining room scene where Ruby is haunted by the people who have died, but she's also still centered enough to argue how those deaths weren't her fault, only for Neo to senselessly kill this little mouse on top of everything else. Maybe it scurries over when Ruby is beaten and bloody, gives her a little lick, something akin to a smile, this moment where she's connecting with a soul that is literally simple, and vulnerable, and doesn't care what Ruby may or may not have done because it's just another creature she's trying to protect... and then crunch comes the boot. It's a completely unnecessary act of cruelty on Neo's fault and the audience must sit with the death of an animal (something that always tugs at the heartstrings) rather than the arguable relief of being rid of Little.

Don't even get me started on their ascension. It straight up doesn't make sense and has the same kind of 'rule' structure as wishing for Penny to get a new body.

[liyawritesss]

ꜱʜᴜʀɪ ᴡ/ ᴀ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇɢᴇ!ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ

Characters: MCU!Shuri Udaku x Black!GN!Reader

Type: Headcanons

Synopsis: It’s summer vacation, and Riri finally convinces Shuri to come to Chicago for it! However, there’s not enough sunscreen in the world that will prepare Shuri for the onslaught of heat she’s about to endure…

Warnings: vague mention of nudity (you’re changing after your shower and shuri accidentally walks in on you), mentions of cursing, vague mention of a fight, summer fling-esque type vibe until it’s not

A/N: I read some college!au shuri hc’s a while ago and I can’t for the life of me remember who wrote them, but lawd the thoughts that have been swirling in my brain because of them….yall might as well just read it.

Tags: @6-noir @playhousedistee @shuririsdefenseattorney @shuriszn @zayswriting @wrendermedone @writingintheshadowsforever @mbakuetshurisprincess @verachii @slytherin-34 @the_lesbian-fangirl @strangefishflapturtle @cuddl3s4shur1 @shuriislut @dejaonline @babyboiboyega @badass-dora-milaje @inmyheadimobsessed @aaliyg @cafehyunji @h34rtsformilli

Sign Up For My Taglist Here!

The first time Shuri meets you is when she finally succumbs to Riri’s pleas of visiting, and decides to help the young engineer move out of her dorm for the summer. Riri does make a point to slightly mention you, but she can be forgetful at times, and this time may have caused a slight kerfuffle.

Majority of the room was packed in boxes, save for a couple of bags you and Riri had left out with some clothes to change into day of the move, alongside other necessities. Needless to say, Riri forgot you had went to take a shower, and when she came up with Shuri and the princess saw you in low hung sweatpants and your shirt half on, it might have taken Bast herself from keeping Shuri from running out of the room in pure embarrassment.

You definitely scolded Riri, cuz really, how could she be so absent minded? It certainly wasn't the first time a situation like that had occurred…at certain times you thought she was doing it on purpose to try and put you on with someone, but no - homegirl is just scatterbrained as hell.

Shuri didn’t talk much around you at first. She wanted to feel you out, judge for herself if you were a friend or foe. Your personality was similar to Riri’s, if not a bit more rugged from the street influence that still held a grip on you. You had a sailor’s tongue that she wasn’t all too familiar with, but the way you spoke without a care in the world was something she found endearing.

Shuri admitted that her sta in Chicago was made more enjoyable with your presence.You made her laugh in a way that she hadn’t been able to in so long. Besides Riri, you sympathized with her in a way that made her feel human, and not like some royal child expected to take up the throne or some crazy scientist expected to delve into her work like she did previously.

She also admits that the casual dominance that you performed with her had a bit of influence on her as well. You always put it under the guise of ‘You’re new here, it’s easy to get lost in the city.’ as if she hasn’t lived in a technologically advanced metropolis her whole life. Yet when you’d offer her your jacket when she was cold, or guide her with a hand on the small of her back, or allow her to snuggle into your side on the couch whenever the two of you were near; Shuri just knew that there was something…more there.

There would be longing stares after having one too many shots on your end, where you’d sit and watch Shuri as she spoke to Riri or another close friend of the two of you, and you’d wonder how it would be like to wake up to her in the morning, how her lips would feel against yours, wondering how far you could take this little unspoken arrangement before a boundary had to be set.

Shuri’s smart, so she doesn’t miss these kinds of stares. They make her flustered, her chest feels warm and fuzzy, her stomach churning with yearning. But she’s still in that part of grieving where everyone must stay at arm's length, because as quickly as one could enter her life, they could leave, and Shuri was still repairing the damage dealt to her from her family’s passing.

So the two of you engaged in this unspoken romance, this platonic intimacy where you’d hold her close on a walk in the neighborhood, and she’d cook some Wakandan food for you (and Riri, since she’s there as well and she’d never forget her friend, but Shuri has you in mind when she’s cooking); where you’d braid her hair for her before a night out and she patches you up after getting into a fight with a hater, who ended up much worse than you and your couple of scratches and bruises.

For the three months of summer vacation, everything seemed perfect. Too good to be true. You had this beautiful woman who woke you up via facetime calls almost every morning, and you had the privilege of witnessing the side of Wakanda’s last standing royal that no one else got to see - not even Riri. The ghosting touches and stolen kisses became something you craved more and more, but for her sake, you held back.

Alas, the blissful unnamed summer romance had to end at some point. You and Riri would be returning to school, and Shuri had business to attend to back home. It was a bittersweet end to a romance that never made it past the talking stage, both of you wanting so much more but held back by your responsibilities…

Unless, a certain engineer can pull some strings to get her oblivious friends to see just how hopelessly in love they are for each other.

[officeobject]

Gamers, I got a new hobby: keeping up with poll drama! Also, yes, I listened to music in the meantime (it's about that non-sexual grind 😎).

And the newest one:

Like, sure, I maybe cried for hours, and the polls WERE bonus polls which I normally am so good at refraining from but made anyway, due to the massive guilt and existentialism I felt, and the need to just throw away my personality, and I'm also gonna sob NOW, so therefore, the poll was actually serious, made for a serious reason, and was taken seriously, so it's not just drama, I wanted general advice and wanted it quick, so it's not just a hypothetical question based on serious things, or a fun bonus poll, it reflects a deeper on-going issue, and this poll wasn't just/ACTUALLY "fight for me", or "YOOO, simp rp POV, man", this quiz was a question to the world about what I did wrong, IF I did something wrong, what is wrong with me, and what to do, and more, plus there is the fact that I'm a paranoid person, and confine parts of me to the Xanderweb and maybe some private conversations, all of which results in me being more mean and distant towards Colby Tybbles (which is still then by choice), as he, just some teenage ghost who struggles to physically interact with me, have to bring the pieces together of my ever-fluctuating mood and deeply-rooted feelings for him which aren't even his fault and are based on his age and general similarities, especially personality-wise, to some of the people who hurt me, and made me feel this way, that by some miracle, WASN'T the inspiration for this poll ...

But also, LOL, people are fighting (to get their poll thing to win but also they're probably not, I just like to think that)!

So yeah, if someone asks me, THIS is one of my hobbies, and BEFORE, I used to keep up with my polls due to curisity, BUT MAN, this is a societal debate about politics!

Also, no I am not okay, but as always, we can talk about it if you want to, I am an honest person.

Edit: Sorry, I almost forgot, THIS is the newest one:

Also, I will now tag my polls with "Tumblr polls" too, because I have found out the purpose of the tag, me thinks (the purpose is that some may post about polls that aren't on Tumblr).

[cafeinthemoon]

King - Chapter VIII

Chapter 8

Wordcount 3,8k

Title Worthy

Fandom Shuumatsu no Valkyrie / Record of Ragnarok

Previous chapters

1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7

Symbols ⭕ . ➕ . 🖤

Warnings: Poseidon is not a soft man; he knows how to make a girl cry

Tagging @cloveradora @the-dumber-scaramouche @mikkies @sl33py-zer0 @nooneknows8976 (If you want to be tagged in any of my stories, just leave a comment on this chapter or send an ask or a message)

N. A.: So I really wanted a cool title for this chapter, but nothing better than this one :/

Here's something about the quake that I forgot to explain in the previous chapter's notes: the reason why the girls didn't fall in another place when they witnessed the quake right in their first day at the palace was that Proteus was there. Knowing what happens after the quakes caused by his master, he knows how to guide people through the right path and might have a way to protect them from the effects. Since reader was alone when the second quake happened, there wasn't much she could do to protect herself. The idea for these sudden changes came when I was first building my concept for the Lord of the Seas: in Greek mythology, he was an unstable and irascible man, so it would be only fair that his house fitted his temper. It's not clear if hes aware of this, but it's not hard to suppose that he uses this changes to reach his purposes, combined with his extended vision, about which he will speak in this chapter.

Hope you enjoy it :)

Also a change in the gif because... well, you'll see 😅

Nothing in that path was known to you.

The corridors – all of them shorter than the one where you met – were as blue and plain as the first one, and no doors or windows were present in them as well, making it impossible for you to try and memorize the way. Still, you couldn’t help feeling like you were walking in circles, even though your husband took different directions.

And to think that, if he hasn’t appeared at the right moment, I could be dead by now.

You were absorbed in those thoughts when Poseidon stopped in front of a door and put you down, but kept a hand on your wrist, though you would be a fool if you tried to run and take the risk of getting lost again – sometimes, not knowing what he took you for was irritating. He opened the door and, after making you enter before him, he locked it behind his back. You looked around… And found yourself in a familiar place.

He brought me to his chambers again.

You started wondering if that strange transformation in the environment was deliberated, if finding you was his final goal or if it was just a coincidence. Well, if he wanted to find you, he could’ve just sent a servant to the women’s lodge; where else did he think he could find you? But, at the same time, he didn’t seem the type who always chooses the obvious way. He didn’t use to give many explanations on his actions, but you already noticed that everything he did had a reason.

And, that time, you didn’t need to wait for too long to find it out.

Without a word, he grabbed your wrist and led you to the direction you knew the bathing area was. It was a short way, but you took the opportunity to observe the surroundings, and that’s how you noticed how clean and organized the room was: no clothes on the floor, no scent of perfume or essential oils in the air, no messed sheets upon the bed, which curtains were opened and wrapped, as if waiting for the next night; not even the small table and the bottle of contraceptive was visible beside it.

No signs of your passage were present there.

You turned your face away from the scene and tried not think about it, as you finally crossed the small corridor through which you were taken to the shower, that one where you almost drowned.

Is he going to make me bathe on it again?

Fortunately, that’s not what happened.

As you stopped before the shower, Poseidon took the shawl off your shoulders and told you to take off your shoes. He grabbed everything and put it on a place near, where the water wouldn’t reach, then led you to the bathtub area, returning to the shower and leaving you there by yourself. The air was warm, and the bathtub was already full.

Moments later, he walked after you, without his clothes and ready to enter the bathtub. You looked away when he passed by you, only seeing the moment he touched the water with the corner of your eye. When you looked again, he already had half of his body covered in water, in the same spot where he stood with you yesterday.

You took a moment to notice he was staring at you.

– Go to that shelf and bring something to me – he pointed at the shelf in question.

You went there and he indicated the line and the position of the chosen bottle. It was similar to the ones that contained the healing salts used in your previous bath there, but had an orange, creamy substance inside it, like a lotion.

You barely had the chance to observe the label to confirm its nature.

– Bring it here.

You obeyed, kneeling behind him and giving him the bottle. He opened it and gave it back to you.

– Make yourself useful and use it to massage my shoulders.

The order was clear, yet you took a second to process it: he brought you to his room just for you to do the work of a servant? Well, it was useless to argue: you were already there, and the bottle was opened; you couldn’t let him waiting, risking what was left of his patience after the unpleasing task of eliminating an insubordinate individual.

You took a generous amount of the lotion, spread it on your palms – not missing the chance to enjoy its pleasing texture – and started to work.

Somehow, it felt like you were touching his skin for the first time, for you were under a good light, entirely in control of your senses, not having to stand his glare, something that would certainly make your hands shake and interfere in your performance. With all those issues out of the way, you allowed yourself a bit of relaxation, using that time to observe your husband in a way you still haven’t the chance to do, and with that you noticed a curious detail: despite the warmth of the water, his skin didn’t turn rosy, but kept the uniformity of its pale shade, only changing in the spots where you spread the lotion; besides, he had no marks all over his back, even less on his neck; as you looked for them, your hands followed your eyes, trying to guess if there was at least the reminiscence of a scratch or a scar – but nothing could be found, and that was less impressive than scary.

He’s so fast that it’s impossible to touch him in a fight, and I can’t think of someone who’d be brave enough to get so close if he gave them the chance.

As you brought your hands to his neck, you observed something that counterbalanced this thought: his hair wasn’t entirely blond, as seen from a distance, but it had its roots in a silver shade, which changed to the evident golden. Compared to the thing about his skin, it was trivial, almost ridiculous.

Poseidon’s voice brought you back to reality.

– You are getting distracted – he casually commented – Your hands stopped.

It was true: you realized you were lost in your observations, and immediately got back to work. But that wasn’t the end of his admonition.

– Delicacy is appreciated in massaging sessions, but this is too much. Your touch is lacking strength – he glanced behind – Or are you going to tell me that this is the best you can do with these tiny hands of yours?

If your delicacy was too much for him, his provocations were too much for you. You held back a sigh of impatience, but compensated it by burying your nails on his skin.

Is this better for you?

This only caused him a chuckle.

– Ah, this is better. But do not use your nails.

You bit your lip, but said nothing in response. Apparently, there was a way to satisfy him through your aggressiveness – and that was something you preferred not to discuss. You just decided to keep the rhythm and wait until he told you to stop…

Which didn’t happen without a conversation.

– That place where I found you – Poseidon started – It is not one where your presence should be expected. I suppose you went there by accident. So, tell me, where were you trying to go?

For a second, you felt tempted to discuss the strange phenomenon that brought you to that corridor, but changed your mind and kept your answer simple.

– To the Library.

– The servants use to bring books for you at the lodge – he continued – Aren’t they entertaining enough?

You started massaging the back of his neck, your thumbs drawing circles upon his spine.

– I wasn’t looking for entertainment, my Lord.

– What were you looking for, then?

– Information.

– What kind of information? – he pressed.

– Anything that could be useful… to help me in my task.

A tense silence fell between you. You didn’t need to explain what you meant with task. In the end, Poseidon approved your attitude.

– I would not expect anything different from you – and, suddenly changing the subject, –Speaking of this, I have heard that you went to take your first meal in the company of the other girls today, and that this resulted in fabulous interactions between you. Can you speak about this to me?

You swallowed.

Just as expected, nothing stays hidden from him in this place.

– It was strange to me at first, because I’m not used to be in the company of people from multiple folks – you spoke carefully – But everything was alright in the end. The women received me well, and I had Alyssa with me, so I wouldn’t feel alone.

His response to this was a long “hm”, followed by a subtle movement of his left arm, that was resting upon the bathtub’s border: he slowly raised it from the marble, until his hand reached your cheek, his fingers caressing your skin as it started to heat up. Your hands stopped working again.

– You are always so vague whenever I try to have a proper conversation with you, my dragonet – he chuckled – What are you afraid of? Did you forget who I am to you? Or maybe you do not know how marriage works? If this is the case, let me tell you that a woman is not supposed to keep secrets from her husband.

You didn’t reply immediately. You knew that trying to use your tongue without calming yourself down would mean a problem, so you started working on this: taking a deep breath, you forced your hands to move again, this time more gently, your fingers tracing slow paths through his pale skin, as if taking care to not hurt it, even though it was impossible for you to do it. It was now less like a massage and more like a caress.

– And I suppose that this rule works for her husband as well – you started – Or are things different when a god is involved?

That time, Poseidon turned around to look inside your eyes instead of limiting himself to a glance. Fortunately for you, there wasn’t the slightest sign of irritation in them.

– I have been living for too long, girl. So much more than your human mind can conceive. Even if I tried to unveil my secrets to you, I would have to stop in the beginning, for you would never have the time nor the strength to stand them – a shadow of smile appeared on his lips – And with this I guess you already have your answer.

He still had his hand on your cheek; thinking you wouldn’t have anything more to say, he moved it away and turned his back on you again, to which you understood you had to continue your task. You did it, but that time you somehow started to experiment with it, extending your touch to his ears; you used your thumbs to massage behind them, then softly squeezed his lobes between your fingers, going through their length until you reached their pointy upper side. This provoking a surprising reaction from him: his body relaxed, and from the depths of his throat came a low, guttural sound that prolonged itself as you continued your caresses, ceasing when you moved your hands away from his ears and back to his neck and shoulders.

You frowned.

Did he just... purr?

– Are you trying to seduce me, dragonet? – he whispered – Who gave you such idea?

– I’m not trying anything in this sense, my Lord.

– Hm... You are trying to calm me down, then – he inclined his body backwards, as to make it easy for you to touch him – You want to tell me something, but felt the need to prepare my ears first, isn’t it?

Since he was giving you the chance, you decided to take it.

– I want to ask something, if possible.

– And what is it?

You took a moment before replying. That wasn’t an easy question, neither was its answer – that is, any of the answers you could give it.

And they were many.

Why did you do that to Suriah, and Melian and the others? Why did you do this to me? And Doonah? Why are you so obsessed with having all of us around you? And why the hell you need so many children who won’t live as much as yourself? Do you think it’s funny? What do you take us for? What do you know about justice, or love? Do you even care?

What you asked him, however, was much simpler.

– Poseidon-sama… Why did you marry me?

Silence. You didn’t get an immediate, verbal answer from him, but you sensed the change around you: the warmth of the air was no longer enough to bring you comfort; your hands felt a deep, growing tension in his muscles, and even his breath was inaudible now.

But I just started it, and I need this answer. I can’t stop now.

You forced your hands to keep moving.

– You said it was for your own sake, my Lord… – you continued – And that I would never stand your secrets... But if I am part of this… Then it’s not supposed to be a secret.

Strangely, saying those words put you in a state of peace that you’ve never expected to experience, though you could just be silenced regardless of your honesty and the validity of your inquiring. It calmed your heart and gave you the courage to face whatever your husband was preparing as a response.

And this is what he had for you.

– From time to time, I use to extend my vision to the outsides of my kingdom, to be aware of the changes in the other worlds, and to figure out some things that would escape my messengers’ understanding – you still had your hands upon his shoulders; you sensed a slight movement on them as the story followed – Though my apparitions in Midgard became a rarity, I still include it in my examinations, for you are not like the other folks: you cannot stay for too long without supervision.

You didn’t know if you should be flattered or offended by this: having your kind separated from others by a god’s vision was something unique, but the reasons for this might destroy one’s fantasies about it. On the other hand, you had to admit that humans weren’t the most reliable creatures, and given how they’ve treated the oceans all over their existence, it’d be hard to expect a different attitude from the god who ruled over them.

– It was during an ordinary day of observations that my thoughts stopped at your homeland and discovered the women of your time, and among all of them they fixated themselves in you – he explained – Once it happened, I decided I needed to bring you to my domains. And here you have your answer.

More silence. You waited to see what would happen next, but Poseidon didn’t say anything more than this. You bit your lip.

He desired and took me, and that’s all? He really thinks I’m a fool.

You moved your hands away from his body, laying them on your lap. The gesture didn’t go unnoticed by him, but no reaction came from his part.

Your voice was heard, almost a whisper.

– Is this everything?

You closed your mouth and instantly felt like you provoked the sea, for it came to swallow you in the shape of a man who refused to believe you had the nerve to say those words.

The bathtub’s water became choppy and spread with a growing roar when he turned to you, rising out of the tank and soaking your legs and the hem of your dress. At the same time, he leaned his hands on the marble, but kept himself on the tub, in a way that reminded you of a mermaid luring a sailor to death. The fact that you had the Lord of all mermaids in this position, and that, unlike a sailor, you had no experience in the sea, only made things more terrifying.

– Yes, this is everything you need to know, little dragonet – he leaned closer to you as he spoke; his voice was sweet, but his words were pure ice; you glanced down and noticed his right hand moving from the marble and reaching for your thigh – I saw you there, desired you and took you for myself, and I did not need any more reasons for this. There is no secret in it, and I am not sorry for disappointing you in this sense. If humans are always seeking for mysteries where there is none, I am not the one to blame.

You opened your mouth, but closed it again: no words would serve as response for what you just heard. And, well, in reality, nothing passed your lips because your mind stopped working, and your body started acting by itself.

And that’s why you never saw how exactly you did that and why, later, you would find yourself unable to recall it: in one moment, you felt a bubbling inside your stomach, and your entire body started trembling; in the next, all of this stopped, and you saw your left hand raising and moving forward. After this, you only remembered a persistent burning on your palm and your cheeks soaked in tears.

When you raised your eyes to your husband, through your blurry sight you noticed him touching his own face in incredulity, and you swore there was a reddish mark on it. You covered your mouth with your hands.

Is this what I think t is? Did I just… slap him?

Whatever the explanation your mind could give you for the scene, as soon as you saw Poseidon’s hand moving away from his cheek and his glare turning to you, you knew it wouldn’t matter. Yes, no sign of the dark shade appeared in his eyes when you looked into them, but you wouldn’t stay there and wait to see what he would do after experiencing what was probably the worst example of the human audacity in centuries.

You were still kneeling on the floor; you tried to force your body to stand up and move away… but soon you realized you were unable to do it: the water, mixed with soap and lotions, eliminated the friction between your body and the floor, so when you turned to leave, you just manged to slip and fall on your stomach before you could go too far. At the same time, a strong hand made you turn on your back, closing around your leg, and you were pulled back to the bathtub’s edge.

You saw yourself laying on the floor, your dress clinging on your back, your hair floating on the water around your head. Besides, your feet were now passing over the tub’s edge, so that you would never find balance to move and leave your spot. And you had no time to think of anything else, because Poseidon was now leaving the tub and putting himself over you. The air escaped your lungs, and you shut your eyes tight, just waiting for death…

However, it didn’t come.

A hot breath touched your neck, and the voice of your husband reached your ear in a harsh whisper.

– Still, regarding the entire time you stood with me yesterday… – his lips brushed your lobe – You seemed far from disappointed.

You gasped. Your face burned with shame, because deep inside you knew he was right: when you met him, you were impressed, and when he showed himself to you, you admired, desired and accepted him as a man – and you ended up exhausted, but satisfied. That was how you remembered things; that was your truth. And something like this could never stay hidden from the sharp eyes of the god you had before you.

But the hardest part was that Poseidon wouldn’t miss the chance to have fun with it.

– But if you really want one more reason, here you have it – he chuckled; you felt his hand playing with the soaked hem of your dress, lifting it and exposing your thighs – You are a really entertaining creature, human... Keeping you is worthy...

Worthy?

Something stirred inside you at the sound of that word. You gathered courage and opened your eyes, only to find your husband staring back at your embarrassed traits. You looked into them, hoping to find something that explained the use of that word, but Poseidon was clearly better than you in keeping secrets, so the only thing you saw there was desire.

The same desire I perceived when he approached me for the first time.

– Why the surprise, dragonet? – he brought his hand to your face, and his fingers traced a line through your cheek, descending until they found your neck and closed themselves around it – Don’t you find it strange that I still did not eliminate you after everything you have done? That I did not cut off your hand after what you just did? Or did not burn your tongue for the things you said at the dinning room?

You didn’t reply. Still holding your neck, he brought his lips closer to yours.

– I like to keep what is mine intact – he gave you a brief kiss on your mouth – There is no use in breaking you... Especially when I just discovered this strength in your little hands…

It wasn’t hard to guess what was going to happen now.

With his thumb, he separated your lips, and his tongue he found its way into your mouth. It wasn’t too long until he extended his passionate gestures to your chin, your cheeks, your neck and collar, and for his hands to find a chance to free you from your soaking dress. You weren’t left without reaction, though: joining the kiss with a similar enthusiasm, you started to use your hands in him as well, caressing the spot you just slapped, touching the golden strands of his hair falling around his face, and even reaching for his ears, just to see his body’s response during love making.

And it was as intense as you could expect: he didn’t wait a single second to take you to him, tightening you in his arms, pressing your body under his, against the floor.

It’s like watching the sea falling over me.

In the middle of this, your regained your voice. And, as expected, to gather one more reason that would make your husband punish you if he had no regard for your integrity.

– There’s no use in breaking me, my Lord… but you rejoyce in breaking my spirit, right?

You closed your eyes, and the last thing you remembered was his voice making you a question that might have come from his mouth or your own mind.

– Is your spirit this easy to break?

Chapter 9

[yellowhollyhock]

Why do people think it’s mean? I am referring to your tags on that 2003 post. I thought the humor was funny I dunno I guess I am not understanding what the meanness is. They are teenagers teens can be jerks.

post and my tags on it were 03 season 6 and 12 season 1 but I'm answering about 03 because I've watched it more recently and more often

First thing: it isn't a criticism of the characters (who are fictional and would be very pointless for me to nitpick their behavior) but a comment on the writing

And specifically how the writing is different because it's from that era. Mean-spirited humor is always a thing, but it was popular and mainstream at that time in particular (and having been a teenager at the time who didn't find it funny or participate and was therefore labeled as--well, mean, I guess in a way, or at least a stick in the mud, I have some strong feelings and biases against it).

(That said, not being a teenager anymore and having a bit more media literacy, I do want to add, humor changes, what's socially polite changes, it's not the end of the world, and by saying I hate what the writers did, I don't condemn them as people, we were all there together and we move forward together. Personally I still find season 6 enjoyable, just have certain issues with it. Which is what I will be focusing on since it's what you asked about)

So, the point: in earlier seasons the boys are mean to each other in ways that are believable, match their maturity level, and serve a purpose in the story to show them responding to stress or teach us about their characters. Sometimes they cross lines simply making fun of each other, but there are always underlying story beats. It isn't just the writers saying 'look this one's dumb let's laugh at him'

Season 6, especially with Mikey and Raph, feels like the writers are using them as comic relief in a very mean-spirited way. Sometimes that's reflected in the way Splinter, Leo, or Donny treat them, but it's also sometimes just the way the plot moves to exaggerate and poke fun at their flaws, ignoring character growth from past seasons.

When Raph used to call Mikey shell for brains and Mikey called Raph ugly, they were being teenagers. It was a thoughtful piece of characterization showing that being close friends doesn't make them perfect, being isolated is hard and they lash out at each other sometimes. Mikey was especially hard on Raph when he was having to share his space with April; it served a story purpose of showing the difficulty for the turtles in letting another person into their life (not something they've had to do often). I'm blanking on times Raph was harder on Mikey but the point is that he wasn't needlessly mean, sometimes it was played for a joke but it also had a purpose in the narrative.

Season 6? Oh it's sooo funny how no one wants to go watch wrestling with Raph, something he has literally wanted his entire life, btw don't forget he hates the future, isn't it fun to watch the angry turtle be homesick and isolated? Like Leo and Don are certainly less interested and helpful in that scene than they would be in earlier seasons, but the point is that the writers are being mean. We aren't supposed to understand Raph's brothers as being inconsiderate, we're supposed to laugh at him for being sincere and excited :/

Mikey's intelligence is also a huge example. Mikey is extremely clever and competent, but in season 6 they just constantly make him either pick on Raph or obsess over video games and forgot the rest of his character. Okay, so they flattened him a little, that happened to everyone. But it's worse because his apparent lack of intelligence is constantly made fun of. Donny makes a lot of just completely unnecessary comments that don't serve either of their character arcs, and come across much more as him speaking for the writers (and the audience, supposedly) to mock the dumb turtle.

I hate that extremely.

My brain is not in a good space for more examples. But the principle is that the type of humor popular in that era (which the op referred to) (2007ish to like 2014 I think) is, idk the best way I can describe it is emotional slapstick? mocking a character's emotions or lack of intelligence, almost creating a 'straw man' to beat on. Of course that type of humor has always and will always exist but it was a real mainstream popular thing; we don't usually call it 'literary movements' when it's shows and movies instead of writing but idk how else to explain it.

It's very much a thing in early 2012 writing as well, but I feel that sort of worked better because it landed at the beginning of the show instead of the end, so even though it may or may not have been deliberate (I honestly don't know 12 well enough to say), it worked well to play into their growing up arcs. As opposed to the 03 situation where their social maturity from the first five seasons just evaporated (and after a slow believable buildup too 😔)

tldr: the writers' humor is what I refer to as mean-spirited, not the characters. And yes I do think it's mean to mock the act of having emotions or not knowing enough information or struggling with discipline or being homesick (all things Raph and Mikey were mocked for, not just by other characters but by the narrative in a variety of ways)

[mj-iza-writer]

Hello, MJ!! I’ve stumbled upon your works only recently, and I already have a few favourite ones! The ones with the tag “care whimper” (especially about a toothache) :)

So, I have a request for you, if it’s okay for you: )

What about a whumpee, who was initially a hostage, but now they and their whumper have kind of a peaceful relationship.

And one day the whumper (preferably someone who works as a doctor) comes home to a sick whumpee, who is trying desperately not to show that. And you know what I’ve been thinking about? Otitis! Because ear infections are underestimated in the whump community. And, trust me, it sucks. Just imagine the poor grey faced whumpee, unable to even think straight, and all the sounds are blurred, and the pain….

Yes, I love this idea. Thank you for the request, I always look forward to request.

I hope you enjoy.

Whumpee was on the way to the bathroom when they saw Whumper pull in.

They cupped their ear tightly, hoping to relieve some pressure from their ear.

"Mmph, why is he home?", they looked at the clock, "crap I didn't call during lunch to check in with him, he's going to be ticked."

"Whumpee?", Whumper called as they stepped into the house, "where are you? You better have a good reason for not checking in, then ignoring my call."

"Crap, I didn't hear the phone ring", Whumpee sighed, "he's already mad. There's no need to frustrate him even more with me being sick."

"Whumpee don't make me count to three", Whumper called more sternly.

Whumpee walked out into the hall, "sorry sir, I was in the um, bathroom."

"Then why didn't you say that", Whumper sighed, "if you're ignoring me it better stop."

"I'm sorry I forgot to call, I didn't hear the phone ring either. It wasn't on purpose", Whumpee looked down shyly.

Whumper pulled his cellphone out and called the house number.

"You didn't hear that?", Whumper asked as the phone rang loudly, "you're kidding."

Whumpee shook their head no, then instantly felt dizzy.

Whumper watched them lean against the wall as they fought the dizziness.

"Are you feeling okay?", Whumper stepped over to them.

"Yes sir, I feel alright", Whumpee faked a smile, "why are you home so early?"

"I had my day shortened today for some time off. There were too many doctors in today", Whumper placed the back of his hand on Whumpee's forehead, "hmm, you feel feverish. You sure you don't have anything to tell me, I'll find out if you're hiding something in a matter of minutes."

"N-no sir, I'm feeling okay", Whumpee wished to hide.

"Okay, well we'll see about that", Whumper frowned, "go sit on your bed, I'll be in soon."

Whumpee gulped, "okay. I'm sorry. My ear is throbbing and burning. It hurts really bad. I can't hear very well right now, and I'm starting to feel dizzy."

"And you thought it would be a good idea to hide that from me?", Whumper sighed as they helped Whumpee to their room.

"I'm sorry, I knew you were mad at me, I didn't want to frustrate you further", Whumpee sighed as Whumper helped them into bed, "plus I didn't know what kind of day you had, I didn't want to bombard you with issues when you got home."

"Wait here", Whumper sighed.

He came back carrying his home medical supplies.

"Although I appreciate you thinking of me like that", he pulled out a thermometer and placed it in Whumpee's mouth, "I'd rather you tell me, so I can take care of it quickly instead of making me guess."

Whumpee watched as Whumper read the thermometer.

"Yep slightly elevated", Whumper grabbed a few more things, "let's do a quick check up, then we'll deal with the ear."

Whumper quickly did the checks, "aren't you lucky to have a doctor for a kidnapper?"

Whumpee rolled their eyes, "you know doctor and kidnapper don't sound right in that context "

"Trust me, I'm aware", Whumper grinned, "to be fair, you are in a better situation than you were in before I took you. Unless you want to go back to the streets."

"No", Whumpee looked at him quickly, "no please."

"That's what I thought", Whumper pulled out his otoscope and checked the ears, "I'm guessing this is the one", Whumper looked up when he was done.

"Yes sir", Whumpee nodded, then got dizzy again, "hmm", they grabbed their head.

"It looks irritated, I'm guessing otitis", Whumper stood.

"O-what", Whumpee looked at him.

"Otitis, an ear infection", Whumper grinned, "it's painful, and normally last a few days."

Whumpee frowned, "can you do anything for it?"

"It normally heals itself, I can do things to relieve the pain though. If it gets bad I'll have someone write a script for antibiotics", Whumper sighed, "how long has this been going on?"

"I woke up with it sir, it wasn't bad this morning, so I thought it would go away. It got worse a while after you left for work", Whumpee held their ear, "there is so much pressure."

"Okay let's have you lay down, I'll be right back", Whumper left the room.

Whumpee whimpered, they felt worse after talking about everything going on.

Whumper came back in time to see a tear escape Whumpee's eyes.

"Hey, it's okay", Whumper patted Whumpee's head, "I'll get you feeling better."

"I don't feel good", Whumpee started to cry, "I feel like my head is going to blow up."

"Okay, shh", Whumper whispered, "it's all going to be okay. I've got you."

Whumper offered a few pills and helped Whumpee take them with some water.

"That should help relieve the fever and pain", Whumper sighed as he watched Whumpee try to get comfortable.

Whumper made a warm compress and held it on Whumpee's ear.

"This will help as well", Whumper whispered, "I'd like for you to take a nap, I'll hold this on your ear while you fall asleep. Rest will help your body heal more than anything."

Whumper held the compress in place and rubbed Whumpee's head while they started to doze off.

Whumper smiled when Whumpee had finally fallen asleep.

He made a new hot compress and put that over Whumpee's ear.

"My poor little hostage", Whumper whispered as they gently stroked Whumpee's face, "ear aches are not fun, I can't imagine how much pain you've been in today."

Whumpee scrunched their face a little and let out a tiny whimper before relaxing again.

Whumper smiled, "rest well, Whumpee, you'll be okay, I promise."

Thankyou again for the request prompt, I don't get them very often, and I had a lot of fun writing it. I hope you enjoyed.

Taglist. As always please let me know if you want to be added or taken off of the list. It's not a problem at all. @villainsandheroes @the-beasts-have-arrived @sacredwrath @porschethemermaid @monarchthefirst @generic-whumperz @bloodyandfrightened @freefallingup13 @notpeppermint

[cryptidghostgirl]

Omg <3

Well I’d be obsessed with a fluffy Tyler x reader fic where they both are in jericho’s theater, and they both get the lead roles in a romance play. Through a bunch of rehearsals and stuff they eventually catch feelings 🥰 the play can be whatever you want btw, just preferably a show with a cute romance lol <3

I love this prompt. We're doing and musical of Anastasia.

Once Upon a December (soft!Tyler x Reader)

Pairing: Tyler Galpin x Reader

Warnings: high school au. everybody is in school together. dont worry about it.

Word Count: 1794

Status: Unedited

masterlist

Tyler hadn't wanted to audition but, part of the punishment for his acting out meant that he had to start participating in extra curriculars and being an extra in some musical didn't seem so bad. Everything was going to plan, he had auditioned, sang the little song, massively fucked up the dance on purpose, and then, somehow, everything had gone to shit and he had gotten the male lead: Dimitri. Tyler had no idea how it'd happened but now here he was, at the first reading.

The school wasn't a very big one so even if you weren't friends with someone, you still knew who they were. For example, Tyler had never said a word to the girl but when she entered the room and sat in the seat next to him which bore the name tag 'Anastasia' during the first read through of the script, he still knew her name was Y/n L/n.

Tyler had always viewed Y/n as someone a lot more on the reserved side. She was a music kid, always hanging around with the other tortured teenage artists like Xavier Thorpe and Wednesday Addams. However, after only a few rehearsals, Tyler had begun to think that she was perfectly cast.

Anastasia as a character was headstrong, a little snotty, rude at times, and above all a know it all. So was Y/n. She always had to be right, correcting him when he forgot his blocking, whispering notes to him, even going so far as to grab his script right out of his hands and write things in it, muttering about how irritating he was all the while.

Tyler couldn't help but notice that he was the only one she acted this way towards. Sure, he was new to the mostly rotating group of theater kids the school was home to but he couldn't help himself wishing he was welcome to sit with Xavier, Bianca, and Y/n when they were given breaks or that he could even ask Y/n to go over lines with him.

The first time he'd performed his character Dimitri's solo song My Petersburg for the rest of the cast, he could feel her eyes drilling into him. Y/n, the perfectionist, even got yelled at when they were learning their duet In a Crowd of Thousands for not being able to get into character.

"You're supposed to be in love!" the music director had said, frustration evident in his every word, "act like it!"

After their first full run through of the whole show without scripts, the cast had held a party. It had been a Friday so of course there was loud music and too many drinks and even some drugs. Tyler was surprised he'd been invited at all, even more surprised still when Bianca who played the Countess Lily, dragged him off the front porch of whoever's house they were at and forced him to join a circle for truth or dare.

Everyone was drunk, doing stupid things and making too much noise. Ajax who was apparently part of the stage crew, was forced to drink a whole bottle of ketchup. Devina, the Dowager Empress, revealed she had a crush on one of the schools many football players. Xavier had to streak across the backyard. When Tyler got picked, he chose truth and had to admit why he even auditioned in the first place.

Now that it was his turn to ask questions, he turned his hazy gaze directly on Y/n who sat across from him, cheeks flushed and a mostly empty bottle in her hand.

"Y/n." he began, "Truth or dare?"

She turned away from Xavier who she'd been speaking to and looked lazily across at him.

"Truth." she stated after a moment, crossing her arms on the table and leaning forward, "ask me anything Galpin."

"Why do you hate me?" the words had slipped from his mouth before he could stop them.

Y/n looked incredibly taken aback and stayed silent for a moment before hiding her face in her arms.

"it's embarrassing!" she whined and Xavier patted her back as the rest of the cast and crew cheered her on.

"You gotta answer." Bianca laughed, elbowing Y/n who sat back up.

Her cheeks were somehow even redder then they had been before as she made eye contact with Tyler once more.

"I..." she looked away, "The truth is, I didn't audition for Anastasia. I wanted to play Dimitri. I auditioned for him and I didn’t get him but somehow you, who had never been in a single show before and were apparently being forced to be here, you who were trying to sabotage yourself and get ensemble, you Tyler got him. And I got Anastasia. I mean, I’m grateful, I love her character and I grew up watching the movie so it’s definitely cool to get to play her but….”

“why did you want to play Dimitri so badly?” Tyler asked and Y/n looked up at him.

“I answered your truth already Galpin.” she teased, her whole demeanor flipping in a matter of seconds, “my turn now.”

After that night, the pair seemed to have a little more space for one another. There were some kinder words shared and when they had to learn to do their kiss scenes, something the director had saved until the end, they even found a way to laugh about it.

Tyler thought they were just becoming friends at least, until they were all fitted for costumes.

Xavier and he were running lines while Y/n, Bianca, and Devina we’re getting fitted when they heard a shriek.

“do you think everything is okay?” asked Tyler, turning towards the direction the noise had come from.

“It’s just Y/n.” Xavier responded with a chuckle, “She loves getting costumes.”

There was the sound of rushed footsteps and fabric and suddenly, Y/n burst out from backstage. She was wearing a dress of sorts but Tyler couldn’t quite see it due to the way she was holding it up to run.

“guys!!” she squealed before dropping the skirt and spinning, “look what costuming did for me!! it’s an exact replica of her gold dress from the movie!! I don’t know how they swung this but like,, ahhh!! it’s so amazing!!”

It was then that Tyler realized he has never seen Y/n outside of her baggy jeans and tee shirts. He had never been to a show she was in, never seen her in a dress or something tight fitting before, never seen her so happy.

Xavier wolf whistled and Y/n laughed, walking over to them.

“you look great.” Tyler said and he meant it.

He’d never noticed how pretty she was before but here, eyes shining as she fawned over and explained all the detail in her dress, she was gorgeous.

At last it was their opening night. Tyler saw Y/n mouthing the lyrics to My Petersburg from off stage as he sang it. People applauded at the end of every scene. Before he even knew it, they were at their duet.

“I didn’t tell you that.” Tyler said as Dimitri and when Y/n turned to him to say her line:

“You didn’t have to, I remember!”

Tyler saw genuine joy behind her eyes. This was what she loved and having such a passion for something, Tyler realized, was an amazing thing, wasn’t it.

Everyone’s favorite scene and song had been quartet at the ballet.

Tyler had never really thought about the lyrics to that song before but as he sang them that night, something in them resonated with him.

someone holds her safe and warm

someone rescues her from the storm

simple things but ones things clear

it’s fate that brought us here

He and Xavier sang together and Tyler was glad for the stage directions saying he should be looking at Anastasia because he couldn’t take his eyes off Y/n.

They broke off into the four way harmony at the end and he could feel the power radiating off of Y/n as they all came together at the end for the songs final

find a way Anastasia

Tyler couldn’t seem to help it. As the play continued on, he couldn’t help but wish all of it was real. Y/n and he had become friends but that was only friends. Tyler was beginning to realize that maybe he wanted to be more than that.

i didn’t know she matter to me but now i can see she does

conman and princess get their wish and fairytale comes true

He sang, wishing the show to never end because somewhere in his head he knew the truth of it. Tyler knew the way she blushed on stage was just an act, the way she held him, the nervous glances. The kisses even, it was all an act and he knew that.

Three nights later and their final show was almost over. For a high school production of a broadway musical, they had done incredibly.

amazing set, wonderful costuming, stellar performances.

Y/n stood on stage, singing the shows third to final song with a passion Tyler had never heard from her before. It was amazing how much voice she could fit inside her body.

I should be glad I’m where I should be

but nothing is what it was

I didn’t know he mattered to me

but now I can see he does

As she sang, she made eye contact with Tyler from off stage. He thought he was imagining it but, maybe, just maybe, a little part of his brain though, maybe she was feeling the same things he was.

before he knew it Xavier was on stage and Y/n tore her gaze away from Tyler, fear taking over her frame and reminding Tyler once more that it was nothing but a show. He had to admit, she was an incredible actor.

After their final bows and the curtains fall, Tyler was surprised to find Y/n waiting for him backstage.

“hi.” she said nervously.

“hey, you did really well tonight.” Tyler responded.

“I was just wondering…” Y/n seemed so nervous.

Tyler had never seen her nervous before.

“Do you wanna go to the after party. With me I mean?” Tyler asked suddenly and Y/n looked up annoyed.

“Thats what I was gonna ask!” she whined, crossing her arms and looking away.

Tyler smiled.

“why don’t we get changed and head over then.” He said lightly.

“Fine,” Y/n groaned, “just one thing first.”

And she kissed him. It wasn’t for the audience, for rehearsal, for anything except herself and in that moment, Tyler knew: he was in big trouble.

A/N ngl I was really drunk when I wrote this, I am sorry. I will go back in and edit.

[bodypaintsculptures]

High Priestess | Chapter 3: Now Then Mardy Bum

A/N: Hey lovelies!!! Thanks for all the support of the first two chapters!!! As always, I hope you enjoy the new chapter! Don't forget to like, comment and please lemme know if you would like to be tagged! H x

Synopsis: A down on their luck Welsh band, High Priestess, finally get the big break they were looking for - a supporting spot for one of the UK's biggest successes; the Arctic Monkeys. Was this finally the opportunity they needed to kick start their dream careers of being a successful rock band? Or will a tumultuous relationship between the two lead singers and a secret confession of devotion ultimately be too much to handle for the three best friends from Cardiff?

Word Count: 4.6K

Warnings: swearing, drug usage, mentions of death, mental health issues and sexual content throughout this fic.

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Friday came around too quickly for Niko's liking.

Before she knew it, she was shutting up the bookstore and speeding off towards her flat to get ready for the performance of a lifetime. Thinking about that alone made her shudder in nervous anticipation, made her heart beat erratically and palms sweat uncontrollably the closer she got to her place and ultimately, the performance. 

Usually Niko was excited to perform.

She loved being on stage. She loved being in front of a crowd, allowing herself to get lost in the on-stage persona she had perfected over the years. It would make her feel alive, get her heart racing, blood pumping. It was an exhilaration that no amount of drugs or alcohol could rival. Something that just felt right.

But tonight, she was dreading it. 

So much rested on this one performance and the pressures that brought filled the blonde with a heavy trepidation. It frightened her to know that if this went wrong, then it would more than likely be the end. The endof her dream. The end of their dream. 

A dream that Niko had been more than willing to give up on, only weeks ago. To quit music all together, quit the tireless trying of it all and lead a boring life. 

But now, with this opportunity, her dream had become her sole purpose in life once again, just like it had been all those years ago. It gave her a new incentive, a new vigour and she wasn't going to give up on it that easily. Although it didn't go as far as giving her a spring in her step or flip her melancholy on its head, this opportunity gave her a new sense of hope, a hope that she so desperately needed and wanted to revel in.

That didn't mean she wasn't nervous though. Because she was. 

If anything, she was terrified. 

The band had worked tirelessly over the years to even get to this position. Travelling to perform in the small corners of their home country just to get, night after night, weekend after weekend, earning little to no money, but in the hopes that someone, anyone, would recognise their potential. And Niko did not want to be the one that let them down when they finally it. She did not want to be the one that squandered this amazing opportunity for them, just because you froze under the pressure. 

Although the blonde had never been one to do such thing, even when the spotlight rained down on her and only her, even when she was the only one the crowd could hear, the heavy weight of expectations on her shoulders made her mind reel with the possibilities of it happening.

And that scared her even more.

What if she forgot her cue? What if she hit the wrong note? What if she forgot the lyrics?

It would more than likely ruin their chances, and Niko didn't believe she could cope with that.

But they were the "what if's" and Niko was determined for them to remain just that. Even if the prospect of their performance being filmed intimidated her, knowing who would be judging it, she had to remove those thoughts from her muddled mind and just be herself.

Something that was easier said than done.

By the time her inner worries had settled, Niko had already made it to her flat. The usual fifteen minute walk feeling more like five in her befuddled state. 

Pushing the door to her apartment open, or rather barging into it until it would let her in, the blonde had began the countdown to the inevitable. 

The band had agreed to be ready for pick up at 6:30pm, which had given her an hour to get ready. Enough time for some to get ready but when you were as nervous and as messy as Niko was, coupled with her inability to time keep, it wasn't much time at all. 

Upon her arrival, she had trudged her way through her tiny flat after removing her shoes and made a bee-line to the shower to try and relax collect her thoughts. A feat that had taken longer, way longer, than expected having effectively lost herself in the droplets of hot water mindlessly numbing her body. 

Which led to her running late. Surprise, surprise. 

But not late enough that she did not have time to stand in front of her mirror that was resting against the wall of her small living room, and silently praise herself for her unintentional, panic chosen outfit of choice. 

A sheer white flared sleeve shirt with a white lace bralette underneath, a tight black silk split side skirt that sat half way up her thigh, allowing her tattooed legs to show and a pair of zipped Doc Martens which had seen better days, but they were comfortable nonetheless. 

Maybe I should get dressed in a rush more, she mused, running her fingertips through her short curled blonde locks, some of which was tied up into a half ponytail, as to not get her face while she was performing.

With the final touch up to her make up; a simple smokey look with dark eyeliner and matte black lipstick, Niko stood back and admired her appearance with a small smile on her lips. She felt comfortable but most importantly, confident. And that was a first. She felt and arguably, looked hot. Something she wouldn't usually associate with herself, but as she ran her hand across the silky material that covered her curves, she couldn't help but feel happy.

However, given her poor time management skills, the blonde wasn't given long to admire herself as the sound of a car horn being aggressively beeped from outside, snapped her back to the present. Her head whipped to the open window in fright, not sure if to approach it to see what or rather who was making all the noise, and thankfully, she didn't need to as a loud, but recognisable voice rang out; 

"Niko, come on let's go!" The unmistakable voice of CJ's screamed from outside. It was loud enough to wake up the whole neighbourhood, not just her.

Instead of replying, Niko just rolled her eyes at her friends dramatic and silently began to gather everything she needed for the night ahead. Set list, lyric book, guitar... the blonde ticked her mental list one by one before drifting off as her eyes landed on something laying dormant on the side; a perfectly rolled, untouched joint.

She was confused why it was there, having thought she had already smoked it before her shift at the bookstore this afternoon. Yes yes, getting high on the job wasn't very professional, but it allowed her to deal with the boringness of sitting around and doing fuck all for eight hours.

But she must have forgotten to and now it piqued her interest. She contemplated for a few moments if it would be a good idea to take it with her or not, and although she knew the answer was a definitely a not, the blonde couldn't help but think that tonight, maybe, she needed it. She wasn't one to get high before she went on stage, instead leaving the buzz of the crowd and the vibrations of their music to do the job, but at this point, she was convinced that it may help calm her nerves. 

"Niko come on we haven't got all day!" Another scream came from downstairs, catching the blonde's attentions away from her indecisiveness. 

This time it was Larry who had made a her unintentionally roll her eyes but given that they did have somewhere to be, Niko picked up her guitar case and headed out the door towards the inevitable. Not before grabbing the small rolled joint off the side though. Y'know, just in case..

"Oh! You look stunnin' hun!" Larry cooed as Niko finally joined the rest of the band outside her flat. Niko smiled at the man's words, performing a little twirl for him before he brought her into a hug and pecked her flushed cheek. "You're gonna blow their socks off tonight." He whispered supportively.

Now, Niko wasn't usually one for taking compliments, she was usually the kind of person that would shy away from such things and rather fade into the background. But tonight she was feeling particularly confident in her appearance so she thanked her friend with a small smile and handed over her guitar to put into the car's boot before getting into the already occupied car.

Niko was always thankful that Larry was so supportive of their dreams and would offer to drive them to gigs whenever he could. He had given up a lot of time on his evenings and weekends to help them reach this point and Niko knew she and the rest of the girls owed a lot to him if they ever made it into the big leagues.

If.

Exchanging small hellos with her bandmates as Niko climbed into the vehicle, she could instantly feel air change around her, one filled with trepidation. And although the blonde was confident in herself, she still couldn't help feeling the same way. This was a big night after all.

Thank god I wasn't the only one, Niko sighed in relief, and strapped herself in, suddenly becoming too nervous to speak another word.

"Ready?" Larry asked the collective as he jumped into the driver's seat, receiving small nods of approval before he set off on the road to their latest and most important gig to date.

The car journey wouldn't be a long one. Where they were performing was relatively close but the Friday night traffic in Cardiff was a nightmare to navigate making the trip longer than usual. The car was filled with a quiet nervousness the whole drive there, only slightly lessened by the sound of the radio playing.

Larry was doing his best to make the girls laugh or strike up a conversation on anything other than what lay ahead but after a while they fell silent. He could tell how much this meant to them, and could understand why they all felt so nervous, knowing that this could change their lives forever. He also knew how badly they wanted it, to do something that mattered to them, to be somebody in a world of nobodies, and he wanted it for them too.

Even CJ was quiet, which was a surprise to everyone. Usually she would be chatting their ears off to the point where she needed to be told to shut it. That was not the case tonight, evidently. 

However, after a long while of nothing but radio silence, CJ couldn't take it anymore, and had to fill the silence somehow. And that was with her voice; "I think we should perform one of their songs." She whispered to Niko, sat in front of her. "Y'know get in their good books."

Niko had been staring out the window, watching the traffic fly by and the shimmering lights of the city, but now that aimless staring to keep herself calm had been replaced by fear.  

"What? No no no, tha's a terrible idea." She whispered back with wide eyes. Though in the silence of the car, everyone could hear them as they began to bicker. "Just stick to what we know, C."

CJ frowned, not expecting that response of her friends reluctance. Of course, she could hear the shakiness in her voice as she spoke, and knew she was nervous, don't blame her, so was I, but the drummer was convinced this was a good idea. "No Nik, I think this is something we need to do."

Though Niko just shook her head, eyes falling to her clammy hands in her lap. 

"We've performed their songs before." CJ pressed further. She knew it probably sounded like a corny suggestion to perform a song of the band that they would be potentially going on tour with, but the brunette was convince that covering one of them would help them in the long run.

"Not for years." Niko responded with an uncomfortable gulp.

It was a bad idea. To cover a song of the band that were going to be watching their performance and ultimately judging them, didn't sit right with Niko. It almost felt insulting to do so, to destroy a much loved song of theirs just to "get in their good books". It just seemed wrong, and the more she was thinking about it, the more the confidence she had built up was starting to dwindle.

"But we know the lyrics, the notes, timings..." CJ persisted, her arms now resting on the back of the seat that Niko occupied in front of her.

Niko remained silent, staring at her sweating palms as they writhed in her lap at the idea. Though her continued silence seemed to be CJ's cue to continue to pester the blonde to agree. "I think we should do Mardy Bum." No response. "Our version." She added and pursed her lips for a reaction. One she got, finally.  

The muttering of those words finally snapped the blonde's head to her friend seated behind her, her eyes triggered with fright and head shaking. "That's a bad idea."

CJ chuckled at her reaction, pushing herself back into her seat. "Nah it's not; our version is great." She pointedly said with a cross of her arms. Niko again shook her head, making CJ roll her eyes, tapping the person next to her involved in the conversation. "Vi, tell her."

Glancing up from her phone that she had tried to preoccupy herself with, Viola glanced between the two expectant eyes of her friends and sighed;  "I do think it would be good to do, Niko." She reluctantly agreed with the drummer, much to Niko's dismay. Really? "Your voice always sounds beautiful when you do tha' song." The bassist added sweetly. 

Niko, however, was having none of it and instead turned back to face the front, electing to stay silent on the matter. But, of course, CJ continued.

"Come on Nikola..." The brunette cooed her actual first name coaxingly, grabbing her shoulders and giving them a small shake from behind. 

That did not help. Instead, it just made things worse, it made Niko close her eyes, pained by the sound of her real name being used to guilt trip her into giving in. She didn't want the lingering grief that the call of her name held to add to the nervousness she was already developing, but she guessed it was too late for that now.

Niko hated her real name. She hated hearing it being used in any context, having tried years to get the name to die along with her past. But being friends with CJ since she was young meant that the woman knew everything about her, including all her baggage and the drummer knew the call of her birth name would provoke the blonde. 

And provoke her it did, but not in a good way. All the horrible memories of her past came flooding back with the simple call; the hatred, the heartache, the longing of what was lost, all now at the forefront of her mind and that was something she did not need to be burdened with right now. Especially when it came to one thing, one name, his name; Papa. 

Her heart ached just thinking about him. It ached to think about how proud he would have been of her if he was still here today, even if her life had become a misery. He had died when she was seven in a car crash, and since then Niko had never been the same bubbly little girl she was before his death. She never really smiled after that, and she didn't really speak about him either, the pain too much to handle.

He was just a bad memory she'd tried hard to forget, of the life she had willingly given up.

Feeling the rush of grief taking over her, Niko grabbed the one part of him she still had wrapped around her neck and held it in her grip tightly. Trying to push back down the melancholic grief that her memories held with steady breaths was working, that was until CJ opened her mouth again;

"Don't make me use your full name Niko--" CJ sang into her ear.

"Alright, fine." Niko caved, shuddering at the thought of hearing it again and what memories it would provoke. "We'll do Mardy Bum."

"Yes!" CJ cheered happily behind her, falling back into her seat with a happy smile on her face. "This is gonna be amazing."

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The drive didn't take much longer after that dreadful conversation and before they knew it, Larry was pulling up to the venue they were performing at, aptly named 'The Globe' -- something the band dreamt of taking over. 

It was a small concert venue that held about two hundred on a good night and given the lineup of local bands listed to perform, it was hopefully going to be just that.

The trio silently piled out of the car one by one, their eyes fixated on the venue in front of them already filled the crisp Welsh night with the unmissable sound of booming music and laughter. It was early November after all, and Welsh winters were bitterly cold, just with more rain and less snow. 

But it seemed that they didn't have much time to focus on the weather as, as they began to collect their instruments, they heard a voice behind them.

"Are you High Priestess?" The voice asked curiously, gathering their attention. 

Turning to its direction, they saw a man that looked to be in his late-20's staring back at them with furrowed brows poking over a pair of thick glasses.

"Yes we are!" CJ spoke up happily, always too confident for her own good as she challenged the mans question with her own. "...and you are?" She raised an eyebrow, awaiting an answer.

The man, who remained nameless in those moments, had just tucked his phone into his trouser pocket and was now staring at the four of them with a smile on his face. "Oh apologies, I'm Jay, I'm the representative the label sent." Jay held his hand out for them to shake, and with a little hesitation, the four did just that.

"I have to say, I absolutely loved your demo and the guys did too." He added, trying to keep the conversation going as they got back to collecting their equipment.

Though that once again stopped their actions and within seconds he had four pairs of eyes curiously staring at him

"The 'guys'?" A short blonde asked with a very abrupt tone. One that earned a warning stare from the black haired woman next to her. 

"Oh yeah the band, y'know the Arctic Monkeys." Jay responded happily. 

He was still beaming with pride that he was the one that had put this band on the list to begin with and had insisted he be the one that came and watched them perform. Of course, James had agreed, mostly because he thought he was punishing him for the little stunt he had pulled by putting them there in the first place. But for Jay, it was a journey he happily made, after all, he liked the band, and their sound. 

"They were excited by your sound." Jay added but didn't really receive an answer. They were all just staring at each other, maybe in disbelief or excitement, he couldn't really tell.

Were they always this quiet? The assistant pondered curiously before changing the subject to something he'd neglected to ask so far; their names. "Anyway, names... what are your names? And the instrument you play, that would probably be a good start." He let out a nervous chuckle.

It wasn't the first time he had done this but it was the first time he'd actually enjoyed the band he was going to scout. They looked different from what he had imagined and what they had sounded like but looks aren't everything right? And as the old saying goes "don't judge a book by its cover".

The first to speak up was the confident brunette who had questioned his appearance. "Oh well I'm Cleo or CJ. I - obviously - am the drummer and I also do vocals." She smiled, gesturing to the drumsticks she was holding in her hands.

Jay nodded a smile at the drummer before a long haired blonde spoke up. "I'm Viola, I play bass." Her voice was sweet and innocent just as the wave that she gave him.

With another small nod and reciprocated smile, Jay turned to the shorter blonde, who stood with her back against the car and guitar case in her hand. "And?" He pushed as he was met with a blank stare.

"Niko." She said plainly, her face not moving from the cold reception it was giving him. "Lead singer and guitarist." 

Straight to the point, Jay smirked internally. It seemed like a lead singer kind of attitude to have, though he didn't want to judge. Maybe she was just nervous.

Jay then turned his attention to the man that had accompanied the trio of women, awaiting a name. "I'm Larry... I'm not in the band, I just kinda play keyboard when they need me and lug all their shit 'round." He chuckled.

Jay nodded and noted the small creeping smile at Larry's comment onto Niko's face. So she does smile, just not often.

"Well it's nice to meet you all, I'm excited to see what you got tonight." He smiled, not able to stop doing so. He wasn't lying, he was excited to see them perform, having only ever listened to their demo, like twelve times. "Uh, did you 'ave a manager I can speak with?" He questioned the group, remembering what James had told him. Find the manager, tell him the process, and don't fuck it up.

Larry chuckled at the question as the girls all collectively stared at each other. No, was the answer. Though it was an answer that all of them were too afraid to admit to this "Jay" guy. They didn't have a manager, they were their manager. Though Larry's chuckle quickly died down and the smile on his lips replaced by a tight line when he noticed all three women staring at him.  Initially he shook his head, slight enough for just them to see, but when the stares intensified, especially from CJ, he caved.

Oh for fucks sake. "I guess... me?" Larry coughed out.

"Great," Jay smiled brightly. "I just 'ave a few things I want to discuss with you about the process and then I'll leave you a lot to get ready for your gig." The assistant added and grabbed Larry by the arm, leading him towards the venue for a discussion.

Before he was making his way there with the man, Larry turned around and gave the girls an angry eyed stare, making a mental note to kill them for it later. 

Instead of being intimated, however, the women just giggled and waved him away, as they collected the final piece of the equipment they needed.

"He was cute." Viola happily hummed as she closed the boot of Larry's car.

Though her quip only made the drummer scoff in confusion. "Really?"

The leggy blonde turned towards the disgusted brunette with wide eyes. "What? He was!" She knew why CJ wouldn't think he was, but there was no harm admitting finding someone attractive, like Jay. "Right Nik?"

Niko was still leaning against the side of her car, watching Larry and this Jay guy with squinted eyes, trying to discern what they were talking about but they were too far out of earshot.

She shrugged at Viola's question nonetheless. She didn't really want to be dragged into this conversation but here she was. "He looks more like a man that plays video games in his mam's basement than works for a record label, Vi." Her grumbled grimace earning her a cackle from CJ who had begun to make her way to the venue's side entrance.

Viola rolled her eyes at Niko's comment. "He was still cute, though." The bassist pointed to her with a smile and began following close behind the drummer, but stopped when she saw Niko's unmoving figure. "Come on." She encouraged but the singer just stayed rooted to the spot, shaking her head.

That was enough to grab CJ's attention. "Niko! Come on!" She barked like the loud mouth she was.

But Niko still stayed rooted to the spot, gesturing to the joint she'd already retrieved from her bra while the pair bickered over if a man was cute or not. "I'm gonna..." She reached for her lighter that she'd stuffed down the side of her skirt and was just about to light it when CJ interrupted her action.

Lurching forward, the drummer knocked the roll from her awaiting mouth. "Oh no you don't." She tutted disappointedly, stamping it into the floor before it could be lit.

Now, CJ wasn't one to let good weed go to waste, hell in any other circumstance she would've stole it from Niko for herself. But there was a lot at stake tonight and the last thing she needed was Niko to be off her head and mess up because she was too high to focus. That ain't happening on my watch.

"C! That cost me like ten pounds!" Niko gasped in annoyance at her friend's unwarranted actions.

"Well that's ten pounds wasted then innit!" CJ shrugged smugly as she turned to walk towards the venue again, hoping Niko would follow but apparently not. "I ain't 'aving you high on stage! Now come on--" She ushered her with a grab of her arm trying to push the blonde from her spot. "Niko, come on."

Niko puffed her cheeks, standing her ground. She wasn't that her friend had just wasted a perfectly good joint like that but she also did not want divulge her best friend in why she wanted to have a smoke of it. Though, now with no smoke, she saw no option but to mumble the truth. "I just...I just wanted to settle my nerves."

"Why?" CJ frowned straight away as if it wasn't obvious to the overzealous drummer.

But that's where they differed.

Niko was more reserved, more introverted, she let her singing do the talking -- if that makes any sense -- but boy did she know how to do it. With CJ however, the confidence of her drumming extended far beyond the stage and she was probably as confident and extroverted as it gets. 

CJ was an open book, Niko was not.

But that didn't stop CJ from voicing her opinion. "We've done this hundreds if not thousands of times before, we know what we're doing, we have this! We're gonna rock these mothafuckas and get tha supporting spot, and all because a - we are a great band and b - you are one 'ell of a singer." 

CJ's confidence usually rubbed off on everyone but the silence she was met with and the now closed eyes of the blonde in front of her was enough to tell her that the confidence in this case was not shared. So, with a sigh, the drummer wrapped her arms around her best friend's shoulders and bowed slightly to meet her gaze. 

"Niko... look at me." She coaxed and thankfully, Niko did what she asked, reluctantly meeting the dark eyes of the brunette. "We have this okay?" CJ cooed quietly. "We're all in this together."

Niko let out a bated breath, one she hadn't realised she had been holding onto, and gave her best friend a single nod. "Okay... Troy Bolton." She quipped teasingly.

"We both know I'd prefer Gabriella." CJ winked suggestively, making Niko chuckle at her forwardness. "Now come on, I'm freezing me tits off out yer." CJ complained and laced her arm with the reluctant blonde, dragging her towards the venue for the performance of a lifetime. 

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Tag List: @alovesreading @indierockgirrl @atticssmellgood

[inconveniently-discorporated]

Great. Now I'm having self-reflective feelings when it comes to how much I relate to Aziraphale. 🥲

Not putting this one under the cut because there's no pictures, but there will be spoilers and I'll tag as well, so scroll on by if you'd like.

I talked a little bit earlier how I can relate to the feeling of wanting control, and how when that was offered to me by a previous job with a toxic environment, I took it even though I had misgivings about it. And even though I wasn't happy, I was still afraid to leave because I didn't want to lose that control.

Well, I forgot about another aspect of this situation that I can COMPLETELY relate to Aziraphale about.

It's the part where Aziraphale comes in and excitedly starts chattering about how he thinks he was wrong about the Metatron, and how he wasn't so bad after all.

Holy SHIT can I relate to that.

You see, I feel like I am simultaneously petty as fucking hell (cross me and I WILL remember exact dates and quotes), while also desiring to forgive really easily. And like Aziraphale, it's not all completely selfless -- a lot of it is, it simply takes a lot of energy to be angry at someone, and it's really inconvenient to have to work around it if the other person has something you need (e.g., a coworker you need to work with, a shop owner who finds the records you want).

But I also... just generally want to believe that people are good? And I think Aziraphale does too.

One of my former coworkers was extremely toxic. One moment, they would be perfectly fine and get along with the team and actually be helpful. The next, they would be PURPOSELY awful to people with zero remorse. Just saying some of the most hurtful things, being a bully.

What hit me hard is how much I wanted to believe that maybe things could change. I could SEE that glimmer of a good person deep down! Moments of compassion or simply deep understanding. We would go weeks without incident, and I would start to think, "I think there's real progress being made! Maybe I really was wrong about them, maybe there's a reason they acted that way before."

I think that was what kept me there the longest: I kept forgiving them (plural, because it wasn't just this one coworker) for doing hurtful things again and again and again. And I also internalized the treatment as something I was not faultless in -- if only I was better, if only I was not so weird, if only I fit in or understood.

And I see this happening again and again throughout my life. I have a hard time judging intentions, sort of. It's more like, my judgement is STRONGLY influenced by my insecurities and my feeling that most people are generally good and have reasons for what they do.

But I don't know any other way to be? I'm not always wrong. I have someone like Crowley in my life, who is far more suspicious of others -- but I don't feel like they're always right either? It's just HARD, because I would rather believe someone and give them the benefit of the doubt, but I also need to make sure I don't get hurt.

There's no point I'm trying to make. Only that I can relate to why Aziraphale trusts the Metatron. And, damn, Neil did it again with a character that I can feel in the pit of my soul.

[scoops404]

Taking a break from my Powerpoint Presentation (it's google slides but whatever) preparation to circle back to the thing @jestbee tagged me in - my fic graveyard

Before even looking, I don't think I have many. I can think of one big one, but we'll see if there are more when I open it up.

I organize mine by year, so here is 2022:

"5 times Dream called George baby accidentally + 1 time it was on purpose"

HAHAH i forgot about this. 2,500 words. I think I stopped writing it because it didn't feel like it was going anywhere and I got distracted by something else. I think this was right before I got sucked into writing Curse and Cure so my brain went entirely into that and forgot this one... oops

"Trans GNF fic" 11K - I really liked this one actually but I let a few trans friends read it to do a sensitivity beta and um it didn't really pass? they gave valid criticism and to fix it I would have had to kind of scrap most of it and I didn't really want to do that because my brain thought of another idea so I went and did that instead. This was going to be FWB cunnilingus fic very heavily pwp - so maybe it's for the best. I'd rather scrap it than write anything hurtful or offensive, so maybe in another universe ((also, this is the one I was thinking of that I never finished))

"Secret Santa 2022 Fic" 400 words. It never got off the ground because my giftee left the fandom and I wasn't really feeling it anyway (wrote Deep in Dream instead and won't apologize for that) but it was going to be very we-didn't-know-we-were-dating and closely canon compliant (but then i kinda did that with Just One Touch).

"2022 Halloween Exchange" (35 words lol) this also got canceled because it was around the time of the drituation, BUT -- my giftee was @extrasteps who I didn't know at the time when we were assigned, but is now very dear to me. But this was going to be soulmates, george as a witch/seer vibes gnf flying to orlando. george has visions and can see other people's soulmates but doesn't know he can't see his own so when he doesn't see Dream as his soulmate, he thinks they aren't soulmates until they meet and.... I wasn't quite sure where i was going with it but it would have kicked ass

Okay, I guess I have more than I remember...

"The Whether" 2,500 words - this one was going to be about dream's exploration of his sexuality and using George (with permission) as a safe space to explore that by flirting with him off-stream, etc. But like an explicit conversation is had about it where dream makes sure George is okay with that and then he just fake flirts his way into falling in love with George. Delves into physical -- George is like you keep questioning all this stuff, so just suck my dick if you want to try it. You know, because he's such a good friend. This one is absolutely Scoops bonkers crazy because Dream does a drodcast and like talks it out loud and realizes on the drodcast that he's actively in love with George. Peak comedy. I don't remember why I decided not to finish this one, might have been because someone I'm friends with was writing something similar and I didn't want to inadvertently copy so I put it on the back burner and then just forgot about it. in this era of Scoops, I can see that if I talked about this one, then people would have hyped me up and I would have ended up writing it fully probably.

2023:

"George's Pretty Privilege" 660 words. This was like one of those small things I had to write after finishing a big project i'd been working on for months (in this case, deep in dream) for something to be completely different. The idea was all the times George used and then realized his pretty privilege. I didn't finish this one because it was kinda boring and then something else caught my interest. Oh! We did a Spin The Wheel challenge and that made me write Shine Here To Us and that took all my attention away

That's it for 2023, besides a Merthur fic I've been working on forever so I don't consider that one "dead"

I don't even have 2021 on this laptop, but I know of at least one - Dream surprises George in line at a con while he's still faceless and pretends to be a fan. I almost uploaded that one.

Anyway, those are my dead and gone and not being resurrected fics. I hope you enjoyed. I got pretty good in 2023 of picking projects that I actually wanted to invest my time into and work to finish them. Taking that energy into 2024.

If you're a writer, feel free to do this as well!! And feel free to ask any questions you want about any of these ideas :D