#feels like I’m peering into my dads dating life

[yovrnewromantic]

WORTH IT

ex!husband eddie munson x reader

based on the hc! by me that eddie kidnaps your kids, charging kisses for ransom wc: 1.2K

“You know you can’t keep doing this.”

Eddie can hardly hold back a pout. He knows you’ll criticize him if he lets it slip, reminding him that ‘he’s a grown man for goodness’ sake’ even though his puppy eyes never fail to succeed against you. Except once. Only once, when you filed for divorce circa 12 years ago.

Filed into the back of the van, your children are pressing their faces up against the glass windows. Their eyes are wide, noses are upturned, fogging up the glass with each breath— looking like the myth of pig-men came to life and are giddy to draw smiley faces and ‘hi mom’s into the steamed up glass. Unlike you, they enjoy when their dad kidnaps them, waving their teachers off with forged letters so they can hobble into his car and fiddle with the stereo as he stops at the florist, and biting their lips to stop their excitement when they see your old camaro pull up.

Forget-Me-Nots lay half-forgotten at Eddie’s side as he ruffles his already messy curls, mesmerized as you step out the car, mom jeans and rock shirt hanging loose. You look as beautiful as the day he met you. Some days, he feels like it is the first time he met you, his heart paralyzed by a certain type of warmth at the sight of your face. It’s like everything around you disappears and he recognizes his purpose. You. You make him feel like a teenager in love.

“Eventually I’m just gonna call the cops on your ass.”

Angry is not how you would describe yourself in the moment. The first time it happened, hell, you were pissed. Smoke practically blew out your ears when he first called, interrupting himself with giggles while he announced “The prince and princess of, phh, Munsonville have been exiled along with the King. Haha, oh um— If you wish to see them ever again, you must pay the price!” After the second, third, fourth, and tenth time, it’s only become a nuance.

“Hi, Mom!” your daughter calls out, voice muffled. Her hands are sprawled against the window, the hair that was once well-kept into two braids is now fuzzy and tangled. Her brown doe eyes peering at you, standing on her tippy toes to see. Looking like the splitting image of her father. Behind her, your son is playing with Eddie’s electric-blue guitar, strumming the string so harshly that you cringe, but Eddie doesn’t seem to mind. In fact, he’s still staring at you.

Dumbly, Eddie just sticks the bouquet in your face, his fist inches from your face. “M’lady.” Through the thin stems of your favorite flower, you can see his lopsided smile.

Rather delicately, you take the flowers from his grasp, looking at them for a second too long to keep up your uneffected act. These must’ve been on sale, you assure yourself. He doesn’t remember the flowers you walked up the isle with, he couldn’t have. When you can finally drag your eyes away, your brows are furrowed. Something fluttering in your stomach as Eddie tilts his head, usual shit-eating grin strangely sweet. Small indigo petals flutter to the ground as they’re knocked off their branches from impact of hitting Eddie square in chest.

“Ow!” He lifts his arms up in defense. The purple-blue veins that flex on his bicep matching the shade of the dwindling flowers. “Y/N!”

Finally, easing your attack, your chest rises and falls as you point a finger at his chest. “Give my kids, Munson!”

“Mrs. Munson!” Again, you raise the flowers to wack him over the head, but Eddie’s hand grips your wrist, holding it in place and smiling innocently at you. “You know the drill by now.”

Groaning, you hide your face in what’s left of your flowers, a red hue rising on your cheeks. It’s embarrassing— giving in this easy to your ex husband’s demands, but there’s a special spot in your heart for Eddie that just. won’t. go. away. No matter how many dates you went on, no one could replace him.

Eddie’s hands are gentle as they pry your hands, and flowers, away from your face. He’s close enough that you can feel the heat of his breath. Harshly sighing through your nose, and trying to convincingly eye roll, you choke out, “What do I owe this time?”

“Well, seeing as it took you ten extra minutes to get here from the estimated time…”

You shake your head. “I was busy explaining why the teachers didn’t need to issue an amber alert, dipshi—.”

“Ten kisses.” He’s too happy with himself, rocking back and forth on his heels as he watched the disbelief transform your pretty face.

“Ten?”

He raises his brows, playfully puckering. “Lay ‘em on me, honey.”

It’s never not awkward, begrudgingly (not really) approaching your ex husband with slow, torturous movements. Fingers finding his tattooed skin— which you used to color before you became adults and life went to shit, tracing up the expense of his arms until your hands connect around the back of his neck. He’s nibbling his lip as you inch forward, impatient. When your lips are close enough to touch, your breaths sync and your eyes meet. Heart racing, your eyes flutter shut. Lightly, the plush of your lips meet his— always surprising— soft lips. One.

Again. Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

Six.

Seven.

Eight.

Eddie can’t help himself. His hands fly to your waist, squeezing the flesh he can reach and pulling your closer, shoving his tongue in your mouth when your hands tug on his hair. He tastes just as you remember, like tobacco and cheerios. As his tongue explores your mouth, you moan into his. Betrayed by your own body, dammit. His lips twitch against yours. When his teeth start to clash against yours, that’s when you pull away, a thick string of saliva connecting you. Nine.

Your eyes are hazy, a dumbstruck, lightheaded feeling coming over your body as you lean forward again. Foreheads connecting. Your noses nudging. Panting into each other’s mouth. Far too sensual for a divorced couple. Eddie finishes the last kiss for you, pecking your lips. Your breath hitches when he drags his teeth against the bottom. Ten.

“Pleasure doing business with you,” he chuckles, panting. His large palm finds the bottom of your ass.

“Go to hell,” you whisper against his lips. “Kids!”

“Already in the car, Mom!” Tucked in the back of the car, seat belts buckled, your children look unimpressed. Your cheeks go bright red as you adjust yourself, trying hard not to stomp to the car as you avoid contact with Eddie, who walks slowly, cockily, behind you.

“I’ll call you later, sweetheart!”

You shove your hand out your unrolled window, middle finger up. Eddie’s laugh makes your chest tighten, but you won’t let it show, flipping on your sunglasses and pulling the fuck away from him. Eddie smiles as his kids wave through the window, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans with a knowing look on his face.

He’ll win you back eventually.

—

p.s. 💋

“Mommy, are you and daddy getting back together?”

With your grip tightening on the steering wheel, knuckles turning your white, you meet your five year old son’s clueless eyes in the review mirror— the product of the last time you got back together with his father. “Not a chance.”

not edited or read over 😔

[luveline]

can we please have more coworker JAMES 💜

james calls you something he maybe shouldn’t | fem

You’re feeling at a James-given mark when Sirius appears. 

You don’t know Sirius half as well as you know James nor Remus, but you’re ninety five percent sure he’s a good guy. He’s funny at lunch, whenever Remus has managed to convince you to go with them. He’s like James in terms of scandal. They like making bad jokes. Sirius really likes making Remus laugh, so he must be nice. 

“Hey,” he says, “where are they?” 

You nod toward the boss’ office. “Presenting the last of the Lang and Co.” 

“Oh, right.” Sirius moves in to James’ desk. He knocks one of his figurines over purposefully, then moves one to have its face in the other’s backside. 

“I’ll have to tell him that was you,” you say. 

“Rat. Why?” 

“He’ll think it was me otherwise, and then–” He won’t kiss me later, you’d been about to say. James has grown suddenly and enthusiastically fond of withholding affection whenever you mess with him. As a joke, of course, but you refuse to risk your lunchtime kiss. “You know what he’s like with me.” 

Sirius smiles oddly. “I do.” 

He sits at James’ desk. Ever since you and James… started whatever it is you’re doing, things have been raw for you. Maybe you’re stupid, it’s only kisses, but you’re sort of thinking it isn’t. Like, this is dating. You might not be boyfriend and girlfriend, but you’re exclusive. 

James is too good, and some small part of you doesn’t like admitting it, but the bigger part (the part that wants to kiss him and be kissed by him) knows it surely. How could you have grown to fancy him otherwise?

“Doing anything fun this weekend?” you ask. 

“Not likely,” Sirius says, tucking hair behind his ears. “We’re all helping Remus’ dad paint the house. It’s a tiny thing n’ it won’t take long, but he lives in Aberystwyth. S’gonna take hours to get there and he wants to stay up there ‘cos his dad gets lonely.” Sirius scratches his jaw. “His dad’s nice, mind. I don’t mind going up there. Just hate being stuck in the car when James is driving.” 

You won’t see James this weekend, then. He hadn’t mentioned it. “It’s beautiful in Aberystwyth. Maybe you can go to the beach,” you say. 

“That’s what I’m trying to convince them to do.” Sirius grins. 

“Not the best weather.” 

“It’s always nicer up there. We spent a lot of time up there, you know, in the summers. We ping-ponged between Remus’ house and James’ parents.” 

“Do they live there too?” you ask. 

“Nowhere near.” Sirius laughs, a deep, rich sound. “You think I’d be used to long drives.” 

“Where’s James from?”

“My parents live deep in the West Country,” James says, his hands sudden on the back of your chair. 

Fuck, you think. You had no idea he was coming, distracted by Sirius and the patter of rain against the window. “You creeper.” 

“You’re the creeper. Grilling dear Siri for details on my personal life.” James dives for a biscuit from the plastic packaging laid out on your desk and then away from you. “If you want to know where to send your fan mail, just ask me, sweetheart.” 

“How do you sneak up on me like that?” you ask. 

The space between your chair and the wall isn’t super tight, but it’s still weird to think he’d approached from the right and you hadn’t noticed. Just, James isn’t generous with details about himself and you’re too timid in your standing with him to ask. 

“Practice… Sirius, what have you don’t to my little women!” 

“I thought they were boys?” Sirius says. 

“That gives you no right to knock them over and make them do frankly obscene things to one another. This is a workplace.” James knocks Sirius out of the way, desk chair and all, to set each of his little green figurines onto their feet. The ones that are standing, that is. The sleeping one he puts back in pride of place underneath his computer’s monitor. 

“She told me not to,” Sirius says, not looking at anyone now, peering backward toward the office. “But I didn’t listen, don’t blame our sweet Y/N.” 

“I wasn’t going to.” James sends you a secret smile. 

“She wouldn’t physically withheld me if I weren’t so devilishly fast.” Sirius’ voice warms. “Hello, darling.” 

Remus huffs as he sets down a huge binder of paper. “Hi.” 

“You okay?” 

The tone he uses is so tender, so soft, you aren’t jealous of Remus but you’re not far from it, either. Remus’ frowning is quick to turn up at the sight of his meddling boyfriend. It must be nice to see someone and have them make a bad day good. 

You look up, finding James paused with a hand on his desk. He’s looking at you, impassive. 

“You okay?” you ask him. 

He squints, wrinkles his nose. “Fine. Got shouted at a bit for the reports. Bet you’re glad you have a twisted ankle.” You’re confused at first, then caught. James’ wrinkled face darkens to glare at you. “You lied?” 

“I really didn’t wanna see him today.” Your boss sucks. 

“And we did? Remus, we’ve been betrayed.” 

“James, I knew she was lying, I just don’t care.” Remus rubs his face. “Why shouldn’t one of us escape him?” 

Sirius takes Remus’ empty hand hanging at his side, picture of a concerned lover. 

James, on the other hand, steals another biscuit despite your laughing protesting and nimbly switches off your monitor. 

“Had enough,” James says. Turned away from the boys, he smiles at you playfully, hand twitching at his side like he wants to give you a squeeze. Or a shove. “Your betrayal is noted.” 

“Mm.” You take a third biscuit from your pack to offer him. 

He takes it, letting his knuckles brush under your arm before pulling away. “And filed away for a later date.” 

When Sirius has pulled Remus away for another early lunch, James retakes his chair and slides as close to you as he can be. He looks for your hand under the desk. You pretend it’s just casually there on your knee and not waiting for him to hold. 

“My dad’s family is very well off,” he says, rubbing your index finger with his thumb, “so the estate is huge. They own a lot of land, but he’s not, like, a lord or anything. You’d love it down there though, it’s nice.” 

“I bet I would.”

“Don’t look so surprised.” 

“No, I’m not, I know you’re rich.” 

“Not that sort of surprise. It would be nice to go down there together.” He can tell he’s getting ahead of himself and backtracks. “Well, this weekend I’m going to gorgeous Aberystwyth and you’re…” 

“Doing laundry.” 

“Well,” he says quietly, “maybe you can make some time Sunday night after all of that and we can get a late dinner.” 

“I thought I was in trouble over the twisted ankle.” 

“Who could be in trouble for an injury?” James sandwiches your hand in his. 

“Fake injury.” 

“Oh, my girl,” he murmurs, almost inaudible, “so honest. No punishment on account of owning up to it.” 

Great. My girl and he’s going away for the weekend. James Potter’s your personal nightmare. 

—

james coworker au

[amiableness]

not a request per se but something i started thinking about when you said you were bringing back dad!james. i feel bad for Henry’s mom because being a mom at 20 sounds so hard. i’m 20 right now and i can’t imagine taking care of a child. i want her to get a happy ending but i’m also thinking about her running into james and darling with henry, being the family she couldn’t give them. i feel like that would sting, like even if she is content with her life and doesn’t regret her decision to leave it would still hurt that her fears about y/n and james came true after she left. i can’t imagine having a baby with a man who’s been secretly (even subconsciously) in love with another woman. like i hope that henry’s mom can eventually be on good terms with james and y/n and even be apart of henry’s life, even if it isn’t in a parental capacity

also hi elina! hope you’re doing well and taking care of yourself

hugs and kisses- m

Dad!James Potter x Bsf!Reader ☼ 776 words

my darling m! i picked this request next bc i saw it was from you! series masterlist ; main masterlist

“I think we’ve gotten everything.” You mutter to yourself as you review the shopping list, noting the blend of your handwriting and James’s. It’s a small detail, but it still makes your heart skip a beat. Though it’s only been a few months since you and James started dating, the sense of being a family feels natural. It might seem quick to some, but with you and James, it simply feels right.

“We forgot biscuits.” You glance over at Henry, who is gripping your hand tightly and nodding enthusiastically as if what he’s just said is sheer brilliance.

“Did we? I didn’t see that written down.” You hum, peering into the trolley filled with groceries, sorting through the items mentally.

“Daddy probably forgot,” Henry chimes in, sending you a cheeky grin. “He forgets them a lot.”

You laugh softly at Henry’s comment about James, the warmth of his words brightening your mood. “We’ll get them,”you agree, your voice playful. “But only as a treat for your lunches. I can’t believe you start your first year of school next week.” 

There’s a squeak of wheels, and you turn your head, curious about the sound. To your surprise, you’re met with the wide-eyed gaze of a woman about your age, staring at you with a look of disbelief. Your stomach knots as you realize who she is: James’s ex and Henry’s mum.

“Hi.” You say, the word feeling awkward as soon as it leaves your lips. You immediately wish you could take it back, knowing there’s a good chance she might not want to engage with you right now. Her eyes dart between you and Henry, and she seems momentarily at a loss, opening and closing her mouth as if searching for the right thing to say.

“Um, hi.” She finally responds, shifting uncomfortably on her feet. Her gaze is filled with a mix of curiosity and hesitation.

“Mummy, who is that?” Henry asks, tugging insistently at your hand to get your attention. His innocent question hangs in the air as you look down at him, your heart sinking at the uncomfortable tension.

Glancing back up at her, you open your mouth to respond, but the words seem to elude you, leaving you in an awkward silence.

“I’m just an old friend,” She speaks up, sending you a quick glance. “I went to school with your mum and dad.”

Henry looks up at her with wide eyes, absorbing her words. “Oh,” he replies, his curiosity momentarily satisfied.

“How is—” She clears her throat, her eyes briefly filled with a hint of regret as she glances back down at Henry. “How is James?” 

To distract Henry, you hand him your phone, and his face lights up with excitement at the chance of playing a game. You didn’t let him play games on your phone very often.

“He’s good,” You smile softly. “He’s a bit emotional. Henry starts school next week.”

“Oh.” She murmurs, her voice soft and tinged with a note of hesitation. For a moment, you brace yourself, worried she might become upset. But then she continues, her eyes meeting yours with an earnest look. “Listen, I know I have no right to say this anymore, but I want to thank you. For doing what I couldn’t and bringing happiness to both of them.”

She takes a deep breath, her gaze flickering to Henry, who is absorbed in the game on your phone. “It’s obvious you’re doing an amazing job,” she says, her smile carrying a mix of sadness and sincerity. “I don’t even need to see James to know he’s happier than he’s ever been. All he’s ever wanted is you.”

She offers you a soft, understanding smile, and you swallow hard, fighting back tears. “I don’t even know what to say,”you admit, your voice trembling slightly.

“You don’t have to say anything,” she says, her voice thick with emotion. “I know James and I didn’t part on the best terms, and I said things I shouldn’t have. But I want you to know that I’m truly glad he has you, even though I didn’t feel that way at the time.” She offers a tearful smile, her eyes glistening. “You make a beautiful family.”

You barely manage to choke out a response, wishing her the best, before she turns and walks away down the aisle. Left standing there in shock, you feel Henry’s curious gaze on you. He looks up as he hears your soft sniffle.

“Are you sad, mummy?” He asks, his voice filled with concern.

“No, sweetheart,” you reply, managing a gentle smile. “I’m alright. Let’s go find some biscuits for you.”

please consider reblogging or leaving a comment! it keeps me motivated to write! 💌

[all-purpose-dish-soap]

50 / 820 words / for @keegansshark who converted me to the cult of Hesh <3

...

"Anyone sitting here?"

"Uh, no. Knock yourself out."

You sit down across from Hesh. The mess hall isn’t crowded yet. You have plenty of space. "So. About yesterday."

"Remind me,” he says. “It's been a long week."

You roll an orange in your palms. "I was just wondering. Do you want to?"

"Want to what?"

You stare at him, brows raised, curving your thumbnail into the rind until it dawns on him.

"Oh. That."

You've never seen him nervous, and most people wouldn't peg him as nervous right now. You can see it, though.

"I think so. Yeah. I mean, yeah." Hesh looks down at his tray. "I want to."

You begin peeling the skin off in one long strip. "Haven't had time?"

"I haven't, no. I've... you know... been focused on other things." Hesh takes a long swallow of water. “Military stuff."

"Dad stuff."

"Yeah. Dad stuff."

"You looking to change that?"

"Eventually."

"Hm." You dig your nail into a stubborn bit of orange skin. "But not yet?"

Hesh falters. His eyes flicker down to your hands. "The issue isn’t when I want to. It’s how.”

“Ah.”

“I've never actually dated. Or had a girlfriend. I don't know where to start."

"If you want to give it a shot, I can help you out."

Hesh blinks like he's not sure you meant what you just said. "You? Help me out with women?"

You snort. "Not with women. With sex."

Hesh's brow furrows. "What?"

"You said you’re interested in sex. I'll have sex with you if you want."

For several seconds, Hesh doesn't respond. Then he asks, "Why?"

You shrug and tilt your gaze to the side, glancing at the other soldiers in the cafeteria. They don't pay your conversation much attention. "Because this is No Man's Land. If you're waiting for a golden opportunity, you'll probably die before it comes along."

"No, I mean-- why not one of the other guys in our unit?"

"Pretty sure you could get one of them to do it for you if you prefer that. Keegan once told me about this one time when he--"

"No. No, I mean," Hesh says hastily, "why me? Why are you offering me, uh... what you're offering me?"

You peer at him. He doesn't look nervous, but the tips of his ears turn a darker shade of pink. You lean back and bite an orange slice in half. "Because you've never done it."

"Right. But, I mean, that's not a reason." Hesh pauses, searching for the right words. "You can't possibly be interested in me."

"We're friends, aren't we?"

Hesh glances away again. Friends is strong language for it. "Still."

"You want to know what's in it for me," you guess.

"Yes. I do." Hesh crosses his arms, waiting for you to speak. You pop an orange slice in your mouth and chew slowly. Then you peel away another two slices and begin stripping them of their stringy pulp. "Yeah, what is in it for you?"

"I mean, I’m no golden opportunity, but I’d feel sad if you died tomorrow never having known the touch of another person or whatever. Life sucks out here. We have to take small pleasures where we can get them." You pull a piece of rind out of your teeth and flick it into the pile of orange skins. "Something like that."

"So, out of pity."

At his deadpan look, a smirk spreads across your face. "If that's what you wanna call it. I don't make this offer to everyone, if that's what you're asking. It's Merrick's job to fuck the newbies, not mine."

Hesh's eyebrows shoot up.

"I'm kidding."

“Uh huh.” He's not sure how to feel. It's almost a relief that it's not about him, personally. It's not about him at all. Just No Man's Land. "Aren't there rules about that? Fraternizing, or... or whatever."

You tilt your head at him. It's a little funny to see him flustered. He has the whole act down, usually—refined, quiet, confident strength. Almost a perfect soldier. Lab-grown for the Ghosts.

“It's fine, Hesh, really. No big deal either way. You know where my bunk is if you change your mind.” You scoop orange peel scraps off the table. “You've got a night if you want it."

"Wait," Hesh says as you rise. "It's not that, it’s…”

As you walk away, Hesh barely quashes the sudden urge to stand up, back straight, like the goddamn president is leaving the mess hall. He's not even sure what he wants to say. There’s a strange desperation in his gut to keep the conversation from ending yet.

Instead, he watches you go and his stomach flips sideways.

You dump your orange peel into the compost and head for your bunk. Merrick sits at the fringe of the cafeteria. He looks at you, then at Hesh, and his brow creases in confusion. You shake your head as if to say nah, don't ask.

...

more call of duty: ghosts / masterlist tag

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Okay, I think the situation between Mama Spade and Lilia is absolutely hilarious! I can't but think of Silver and Deuce hearing rumors beforehand that Lilia is going to like to propose to her sometime at Family Day and then spying from out from bushes or trees if that is true and once it happens, it turns out that Lilia just was giving Mama Spade a Ring Pop because he is proposing they go out on a date not necessarily proposing marriage like the rumors claim. Maybe Lilia could also tease them a little or something because he thinks it's funny they assumed that he was actually going to ask Mama Spade to marry him, the silly boys😂

(Hope this request makes sense and I'm excited to see what you will come up with 🥺)

[Referencing this interaction! (Please be warned that it may be OOC; we hadn't formally met Deuce's mom at the time of writing that initial interaction.)]

Family means Nobody is Left Behind or Forgotten.

"I heard Deuce's mom and Silver's dad have something going on."

"I saw them flirting under the apple tree."

"He's going to propose to her before the day's over."

It was that flurry of rumors that the resulting worry that had led Deuce here: in the bushes, where the leaves and branches shielded him from sight. What he hadn't expected was to crash into another body, to be staring into a pair of aurora-colored irises in the dim space between the shrubs.

On instinct, Deuce opened his mouth--but Silver quickly clamped a hand over it, signaling with his other hand to keep quiet. The first year nodded obediently. A silent agreement was made; this was a mission they were in on together.

They peered out from their hiding spot and into the courtyard.

"You haven't had a chance to grab lunch?" Lilia Silver's dad was saying, brows raised in surprise. He addressed a woman with a navy bob, blonde stripes running through it.

She stuck out like a sore thumb among the other adult women in attendance. Instead of a dress or a pantsuit, she was in jeans and boots, a utility belt looped around her waist. Her jacket and cap were emblazoned with White Rabbit Deliveries' logo. A black spade earring shone on her ear, and her makeup was simple: nude lipstick and a faint golden shimmer on her lids.

"No, it's just been so busy today!" Dylla confessed. "I'm not used to sitting in so many meetings. It's usually me, the truck, and the open road. I got so caught up with everything else that eating must've slipped my mind."

"My, that's no good--no good at all. You need nourishment to keep your energy up," he said with the shake of his head. "I believe you're in luck though. I happen to have something to lift your spirits!"

"Really now? You managed to find time to prepare a surprise for me?" Dylla laughed. "Are you magic?"

"I can be, if you'd like." The reply was teasing, said in a tone that suggested something more.

"Haha, what is that supposed to mean?"

Deuce tensed.

Silver's dad was reaching into the pocket of his slacks. His hand, closing around an object he couldn't yet make out.

A ring? Deuce's stomach lurched. B-But...

His mom's promise hit him hard and fast.

“H-Hey now! I may have been a little swept off my feet by him, but I’m not marrying the guy!! No shotgun weddings here!! Wh-Who even marries a stranger they met in a day?!”

Mom... Did you lie to me back then to protect my feelings?

He began to shake all over, filled with an emotion that didn't quite have a label. No, it was all of his emotions at once flooding him. Silver frowned, laying a sympathetic hand on his underclassman's shoulder to soothe him.

"Dylla--May I call you that?"

"Yeah, of course. It'd be weird to keep having you call me 'Mrs. Spade' after all this time we spent together."

"Then I have an important question for you, Dylla. A question so important it may just change the trajectory of your life forever."

"What is it?" She leaned into him, lowering her voice to a whisper. Her eyes shone like pools of starlight. "You're being so mysterious."

He lifted his hand from his pocket, fingers still closed around whatever was in his palm. Deuce caught a glimpse of a sparkle between the index and thumb. His heart stood still.

"Dylla Spade. Will you do me the honor of--"

Deuce couldn't help himself. He tore away from Silver, launching out of the bushes with a roar, his arms flailing wildly.

"ST~OOOOOOP...!!"

The adults startled. Deuce stood before them, panting heavily, teary eyed, some leaves and a few sticks caught in his hair. He doubled over, clutching his knees.

"P-Please, Mr. Silver's Dad...!! If you want my mom's hand in marriage... YOU'LL HAVE TO GET THROUGH ME FIRST, SO PUT'M UP!!" Deuce raised both hands, clenched into threatening fists. In spite of his tears, he attempted to look fierce. "C'mon, let's GO!"

"D-Deuce?! Hold on, sweetie--what's this about?!" Dylla demanded.

An awkward cough sounded from behind him.

"I apologize for the intrusion, father... and Mrs. Spade," Silver muttered. "I tried to stop him, but..."

His father looked at Deuce, then at his own son.

Then he burst out into peals of laughter.

"Kufufufu! I see, I see. So this is what you were up to while we hit it off. Sneaking around and spying on the adults, are we? Naughty boys," he tutted. "What strange ideas you came up with and allowed yourselves to be taken in by."

Deuce blinked. "S-So... You're NOT proposing to my mom?"

"Proposing!!" Dylla smacked her son on the arm. "You're not serious, Deuce!!"

"B-But it really did look like he was going to..."

"Did I?" Silver's dad chuckled, opening his hand. Nestled square in his palm was a comedically large candy gemstone set on a plastic band. "I was merely going to offer this snack I had been saving to enjoy for myself later."

“… O-Oh.” Deuce turned as red as his dorm leader when he was livid. Embarrassment blazed in every one of his blood cells. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

Silver sighed, relieved. “Thank goodness…”

“S-So sorry about that!!” Deuce hurriedly bent into an apologetic bow. “Please forget you saw anything!!”

“It’s alright. No harm, no foul!” Silver’s dad glanced at Dylla, his mouth curling. “Though of course, I was also intending to invite the lady on a no-strings-attached lunch outing if she was interested~”

Dylla’s eyes widened. “You really are a charmer.”

He winked back. “Oh, I know. Should I take that as an emphatic yes then?”

“Yes, yes, a thousand times yes,” she said, roughly running a hand through his hair. It was left a mess, but he only laughed and popped the candy ring upon her naked finger.

Huh… I’ve never seen mom smile like that, even when she was with dad.

“… Hey, Silver-senpai?”

“Hmm?”

“Do you think your dad and my mom are…?” He couldn’t complete the sentence. Didn’t have the courage to. “… Never mind.”

I don’t need to know right now. All that matters is that they’re happy as they are.

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AMITA for lying to everyone I know about my identity’s as a queer/neurodivergent person?

I (18M) am a bisexual, transgender man who is also autistic, ADHD, and OCD. When people hear this about me, even if they know me, I feel like they build up this image of me as an awkward, “cringy” 11 year old who’s obsessed with “cringy” fandoms. And while i have a qualm with this because I know they are looking down on people who are just less masked/higher support needs, I also dislike that they do this because it’s just not who I am. Without the labels, I mostly seem like just a normal dude, if not a bit nerdy.

I also used to be extremely bullied as a kid (7-12) to the point of a suicide attempt, mostly due to homophobic, transphobic, or ablest remarks about me. Since then I’ve completely changed community’s and do not talk to anyone i knew before high school.

When authority figures (Teachers, Show Directors, Investors of the teen programs I lead) apply ablest/transphobic stereotypes or prejudices to me, they also tend to be less,,, normal? around me. Less kind compared to other kids, call me an “inspiration”, or they’ll coddle me when I’m incredibly capable. I do a lot for someone my age- and I know the connections I make now at conferences and whatnot will help me in the long run. My dad’s family is poor, and my immediate family is more comfortable but not that much. I know I’m smart, and I can weaponize that to get a better life for my family by getting good scholarships and jobs in good fields. I can’t just let people who could be very important to my goals look down on me. So i just.. don’t tell them anything about me. They might assume Im odd or “not normal”, and for the most part I let them assume whatever, but if i’m ever asked directly about anything I deny it. Especially in relation to me being transgender; I have the very privileged ability to pass without any medical intervention, and I use that to pretend to be cisgender. Living in the deep south of USAmerica, most of who I am could make my social life very uncomfortable to downright miserable.

Here’s where the problem starts happening. when my social and (what i consider to be a) “professional” life occasionally touch, I wouldn’t be able to be out everywhere socially without someone I don’t want knowing finding out. So i don’t tell any of my classmates/friends/peers about any of my identities either. I hang out with queer and straight people, never be actively homophobic/ablest, and will be very vague about the two questions i’ve ever received about any of that stuff. It’s very, very exhausting to pretend all the time, every day, especially pretending that I’m cisgender because it’s a tricky game, but I can’t really back down and I’m afraid that I might get bullied again if I was ever open about it with classmates.

A few months ago, I was dating this guy, who i’ll call Kai (17M) Kai is also a transgender man, but does not pass at all and is comfortable with it. He’ll get shit sometimes, but also has essentially no straight friends. I told him I was queer when we became good friends, and then told him I was trans after we started dating. I also told him why I lie about being cishet or neurotypical, and while he didn’t seem happy he didn’t push it at first. I told him that I understood if he didn’t want to be in a secret relationship, but because of where we live and what I want to do I wasn’t comfortable with being out again. He said he still wanted to date me, and claimed he would support me, and we had a pretty good relationship overall.

A month after that, he started bringing it up again. He told me that I was more than my identity, and if people didn’t see me for who I am instead of stereotypes, it isn’t worth talking to them at all. And while I agree with the sentiment, it’d never be possible to just not hear someone if they were harassing me, and while I truely dislike a lot of the authority figures that I engage with, they are in the professional fields I’m interested in, and I’m incredibly lucky for getting where I am so early. Kai also said that since I am well known in our very small school (only 300 kids), being out could be a positive influence on what people think about autistic people or trans people. In a particularly heated fight, he even said I was doing a disservice or betrayal to my community by not representing or being proud of being apart of them publicly.

We broke up pretty soon after, but I think about what he said a lot. I know that I wouldn’t be the only out person at my school, and that my school is actually a lot better compared to most local schools, which are a lot larger and… dramatic, but I just don’t think I could be out without going back to how I used to be mentally. And Kai was right about how I could be a good influence on some of the meaner classmates- I do think some of my peers who I ingenuinely connect with might reconsider their prejudices if they knew I was transgender.

I’m intentionally choosing not to take the opportunity to do better. It wouldn’t ruin ALL my relationships with the authority figures I consider to be important holding, since it would just be my school, It might dampen one or two of them. Plus, I’m lying to pretty much everyone who knows me. They build relationships with a false idea of me, and I feel like an asshole sometimes because I’m not honest.

TLDR: I’m a transgender, autistic guy in a very bigoted community. Everybody thinks i’m cishet and neurotypical. AMITA for not being proud of who I am because of potential social losses, and AMITA for lying to people and giving friends/peers false ideas about who I am even if they would not be friends with me if they knew?

What are these acronyms?

[romanitas]

peers out into the abyss, in the year 2024. dusts off spy au tag after nine (??????) years. anyone still here?? hello. i finally bring more of it. here it is on ao3 if tumblr is rude about it.

-

It all comes out rather mechanically and professionally, but Annabeth thinks that might make it all worse.  She knows there are aspects of her life she isn’t allowed to share, and she avoids details like who exactly she works for. It’s almost like she’s giving a summarizing report to a superior, not a boyfriend. But at the look on his face as she unweaves her life, she realizes she should probably stop thinking of Percy Jackson as her boyfriend. She is an infiltrator who steamrolled her way over his life, and he watches her with a deep undercurrent of hurt and hostility.  “I was just supposed to find out more about what was happening with Jason’s dad,” she says, her voice hollow and apologetic. “With the company. I didn’t expect…” Luke and gunshots. Dragging Percy through a dangerous situation when he was only meant to be a window into information. Piper and Jason to be solid, lovely friends. Percy Jackson to arguably be the best relationship she’s ever had. 

“I’m sorry.”

Percy’s quiet. He’d stayed quiet the whole time she spoke, graciously allowed her the uninterrupted time to explain herself, even when she knew she hadn’t deserved it. Annabeth feels like she’s standing on glass, but she’s not about to make the next move. He looks at her, then looks around the room, then back at her. Percy is an unexpectedly thoughtful guy, but this level of silence churns her gut.  She swears she hears the clock ticking. “So, do you like, not even care about penguins?”

She stares at him, befuddled. “What?”  Percy crosses his arms, angrily tapping his fingers against his bicep. “That’s what you talked to me about, when we met. You asked me about penguins.”  The fact that he remembered really shouldn’t surprise her. Her face falls; her reply is haphazard. “Everybody cares about penguins.” “Good, because if you lied about penguins on top of everything else, we might really have a problem.” His tone is bitingly sarcastic, a bullet of its own kind, and she flinches, however deserved.  “I’m sorry,” she mutters, again. “Annabeth, you lied. About everything. About - about - ” He trails off and throws his hands up in the air, before grabbing his water and chugging about half to cool himself down. She doesn’t really know how much it’ll actually cool him down, but it’s his go-to.  “I was going to tell you. That’s why I wanted to meet you - before Luke showed up -” Percy glowers. “Then what? You just - you thought everything would be fine?” She shakes her head. “I didn’t know what! I just knew I had to stop lying!” “Yeah? Took you how many months?” He pauses. “Months. You’ve been pretending to date me for months.” It’s like the reality of that finally, wholly sinks in for him, and his anger flashes with heartbreak heavy enough to punch her own. She can’t even reach out to him. The urge is there, but she restrains it, knowing full well she’s lost the privilege of touching him.  “It was my job, Percy,” she says after a moment, a weak attempt at some sort of defense she knows won’t hold up.  “You’re not even an architect.” He says it like that surprises him most of all, but she supposes she had been rather passionate about it. She knows as much about design as she does intelligence. “No,” she admits, then admits something else not many people do know.  “But I almost was.” He looks at her again, with regret, anger, and even a sort of empathy she doesn’t think she deserves. “I watched you shoot someone.”  Her demeanor betrays her, as she feels her eyes well up. “I had to.” “I know,” he says quietly, frowning. He closes his eyes and turns away from her, pressing his hands against the kitchen counter and leaning against it, like somehow it’s another realization that hammers in the reality of his girlfriend. 

Annabeth uses the brief respite to furiously wipe at her eyes. She doesn’t know how to salvage this. She wants to, badly. She’s simultaneously done one of the best and worst jobs she’s ever been assigned. Discovering Luke changed the game. Falling in love with Percy altered her life entirely. 

It takes a few minutes, but Percy finally turns back around to look at her. He watches her like she’s a stranger despite the knowing flicker to his eyes. He knows a lot about her, the side of her that isn’t a spy, the side of her she sometimes wishes could be present more often. But she is a spy too, and part of the job description includes sabotage. She’s always been very good at that. She’s just never sabotaged herself before. 

“I told you I loved you,” he says, and that hurts most of all, because it sounds like he doesn’t believe it. Like he can’t believe he’d gone and fallen for her, that he played right into her hands. 

Her expression shatters. “I know,” she says, the words catching. She has to tell him now, because she doesn’t know if she’ll get another chance. It’s a ruinous confession but there’s no escaping it. “And I - I fell in love with you too, Percy. I wanted to tell you so badly.”

He looks gobsmacked. “How? When it was all just - just bullshit to you?”

Annabeth shakes her head. “No. It wasn’t. It might have started that way, but -”

“How am I supposed to believe that, Annabeth? How can I possibly know anything you say to me is going to be the truth at this point? I just watched you - watched you take on some guy, shoot him in the leg, and work with a whole team of super spies, and now you’re here trying to tell me you love me?” He almost sounds desperate to believe it himself. Like he doesn’t want to not love her. He runs a hand through his hair, and Annabeth doesn’t know what to say to any of that. “Fuck. Jason and Piper, they trusted you too.” 

“I -”

His face darkens. “I introduced you to my mom.” He whirls on her, eyes hard. “Is my mother safe?” 

Annabeth nods immediately, and the look he gives her might be the worst one yet. “I had a team check on her apartment. And someone’s watching outside, just to be sure.” 

Relief washes over him, but anger still bubbles under the surface. Maybe she never should have gone to meet Sally. Maybe this wouldn’t be happening now, because somehow it feels like Sally Jackson is one of the pieces that made everything feel more real. But that’s wishful thinking, because there was no future with Percy Jackson in the cards under the circumstances in which she first came into his life to begin with. She foolishly allowed herself to feel like maybe there could be - like the laughing and the cuddling and the smiling and the happiness that swarmed inside her could be genuine, if she let go of so many other pieces. If she stopped being a liar. 

Luke always did bring out the worst in her, but she doesn’t even know if she can wholly blame him. Percy’s reaction to the truth was doomed to exist, no matter how she admitted herself to him. Perhaps they were doomed from the start too. She knows that. She just wishes she didn’t know that. 

“It explains some things,” Percy says slowly, like he doesn’t want to say it at all. “I guess I tried to ignore them. I really wanted this to work. I’ve never met anyone like you before.”

“You’re one of the best people I’ve ever met. I don’t want to lie to you anymore, Percy.” 

His face is crestfallen. “And I feel like I don’t even know who you are, Annabeth.”

He looks at her for a very, very long time. Annabeth doesn’t keep track. She’s run out of things to say, run out of excuses, run out of apologies, and Percy looks burnt out on his anger. He’s cradling it, afraid to let go, but tired of holding it. 

He deflates. “I can’t…” 

Annabeth swallows. Waiting. It feels like something of an end. 

“Get out. Just go, please.”

She does.

[thedevilrisen]

Hello! Big Congrats in your celly.......

I'm so bloody happy we met on here 💛

I like the prompt "Not everyone is going to hurt you.” “I want to believe you, I do." For maybe some Nova/Luke Hughes action if your feeling it?

-🐨

Thank you my love! The feeling is mutual! 🫶🏻

-:-

After her reconciliation with her father, Nova cut ties with all of her old 'friends.' She knew there was only really one way to get herself back on track and that was to take herself away from any and all bad influences. No flower did not count, he was a good-bad influence. Or at least a dad approved one.

This action however means she faced a severe amount of scrutiny, particularly from the popular kids. She often got mocked and bullied, ridiculed for going from hero to zero.

She went from having everyone love her to everyone around her possessing malicious intentions. Re-making friends became a nightmare, everyone wanted to hurt her. Some people were her friends before the popular girls told them what happened and they became cold and distant, shutting her out, other's pretended to be her friend before embarrassing Nova in front of everyone.

Eventually after many nights spent crying in her dad's arm begging him to take her out of school, but Sidney refusing until she finished the year as much as it pained him to see her tormented by her peers, they decided as a small family that's what would be in their best interests for Nova to finish high school online.

-

"I can't do this Lu." Nova murrmed, digging her heals in slightly as they approached the restaurant.

"Novs." Luke looked his girlfriend in the eye, or tried to as her eyes scatted all over, scanning her surroundings. "It's going to be alright!"

"Lu, what if they know? What if they pretend, becau-" Nova was rambling now, breaths coming fast, looking at him with frantic eyes.

She was meeting his friends for the first time and after the debacle that was meeting his brothers she was terrified. Quinn and Jack thought she was already a horrid influence on Luke, what if his friends thought the same. She thought off handedly about how his friends could do what her 'friends' did to her and then Luke wouldn't want to date her anymore.

"Not everyone is going to hurt you." Luke mumbled as he pulled the brunette into his arms, brushing her hair out of her face and rocking the two of them gently side to side.

"I want to believe you, I do." Nova mumbled, twisting the ring on his right hand, "My prior experience tells me otherwise."

Luke let out a sigh, he knew that this would be an arduous task but in his eyes, every second he spent helping or being with Nova was worth it. “How about if we go for ten minutes and if you are uncomfortable I will suddenly come down with crippling food poisoning from some bad shrimp we had for lunch.”

Nova stood there and contemplated weather or not that’s would suffice, deciding that not much could go wrong in ten minutes she nodded to herself, took a deep breath.

“Let’s do this. You better be a good actor as well.”

“Don’t worry Novs, I bullshited my brothers my whole life, a little food poisoning won’t be hard to fake.”

-:-

HI! This took forever and I’m still not happy with it but I’m using this as an escape because of you know what! Enjoy!

[allfortheslay25]

Milo’s Christmas Kiss 💕

Finneeee I guess I’ll introduce y’all to Carla, Milo’s first friend and first girlfriend

I tend to forget her name so I just give her variations of Carla like Cara or Cora or Carol 🤷‍♀️

Carla was Milo’s first friend in elementary school. She would defend him from kids who’d pick on Milo for being different (having one dad that he also calls mom, being previously raised in a college dorm, not having grandparents, not understanding pop culture, basically not having a regular childhood like them)

Carla made Milo feel normal. They were dating up until they were 15 (if I’m remembering correctly) they had a messy break up and it sort of made Milo weird with intimacy

Andreil didn’t care too much about her. They were pretty neutral about her around and they were glad Milo had a friend but they just weren’t interested in getting to know her. They tried to stay out of Milo’s personal life but when they broke up, andreil thought that was a mistake and tried to be more attentive to who Milo’s partners are (but it made them a little overprotective)

Carla changed after they started high school and she ended up breaking up with Milo so she could fit in. But ignoring their horrendous breakup and relationship issue in high school, Carla played a great role in Milo’s early life and I think their relationship was very cute (before the drama)

I wrote their fall out to show that some people in your life can change for the worse and it can be unexpected and cruel but it happens. I was a bit inspired by a childhood friend of mine who I’d known since we were 3 years old. Around high school, she changed in order to fit in and I eventually realized the relationship I was clinging onto didn’t exist with whoever she became and we were practically strangers now

But fret not! Milo will eventually find love again (because my sister peer pressured me😭) but I don’t want to spoil who it is yet so y’all will have to wait and I can’t post any of my art of the two of them 🥲

[phoenix-downer]

I Really Could Stay Chapter 1

I Really Could Stay: ~1700 words. Sora and Kairi are starting to feel the strain of endless battles and missions on their relationship. Neither of them are sure they want to settle down and give up their life of adventuring for good, however. But a looming separation on Christmas makes them both think about what they want for the future.

Story Info: Sora/Kairi. Set Post-Canon. Alternating POVs. Established Relationship. Light Angst, Romance, Fluff, Mutual Pining, Hurt/Comfort, Healing, Christmas.

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5

Sora was in one of his moods again.

Riku had known Sora his entire life, and his best friend had never been particularly good at masking his emotions. Not that he was really trying to at the moment. He was currently gripping the controls of the Gummi Ship with a scowl on his face so fierce that it would’ve been intimidating if it were directed Riku’s way.

Long gone were the days when Sora’s scowls made him look like an angry puppy. Riku was always going to be taller and bigger than his friend, but Sora had finally hit his adult height about a year ago and had the strength and fighting prowess to show for it.

Lucky bastard. He was just the right size to still move quickly while also packing quite the punch, as their sparring session earlier today had proven. Riku was stronger but not as fast, and he had a bruise on his arm from a well-aimed Keyblade blow to prove it.

“What’s wrong?” Riku asked, lounging on one of the nearby seats. He took a swig of his green tea and tried to keep reading his book. High school had to get finished somehow, and Riku was already two years past the normal graduation date. Twenty years old and still a student, how lame. At least he’d be graduating soon.

“I’m fine,” Sora ground out, though his tone made it clear he was anything but.

“It’s Kairi, isn’t it?” Riku didn’t even have to look up from his book to sense the change in Sora’s demeanor.

“It’s already been a week since I last saw her,” Sora said, his voice charged with emotion as the Gummi Ship lurched to the right, “and now I get sent on another last minute mission without any break? And right before Christmas too. What if I miss Christmas with her? How are we supposed to have a relationship like this?”

“You’ve managed this long,” Riku pointed out. A week or two weeks of separation was nothing compared to an entire year.

The Gummi Ship bounced up and down, and Riku’s tea splashed on him. He sensed more than saw the daggers Sora was glaring at him.

“Eyes on the skies,” he wryly remarked as he surveyed the damage to his clothes.

“Things are different now, Riku. We’re not kids anymore,” Sora said with just the note of petulance in his voice that made him sound like he still was one. Riku supposed his friend still had some maturing to do. They all did. It wasn’t like any of them had had normal growing up experiences. In some ways they were far beyond their peers; in others, far behind, and times like this made that very, very clear.

“Then stop moping and whining and ask Kairi to marry you already,” Riku said as he mopped up the spilled tea. His friends would have a lot more official recognition and the perks that came along with it if they would just tie the knot. They’d been dating for several years at this point. Why not just seal the deal already?

Sora groaned in frustration, running a hand through his spiky hair as he began the landing cycle. “But that would be even worse! Being separated from my wife all the time? I’d be a deadbeat husband.” He sighed and examined his hands, still tightly gripping the controls as he steered the ship. “We couldn’t bring kids into that mess either. I don’t want to be a deadbeat dad. I’m already a deadbeat boyfriend.”

Riku returned to his book. “Then you’ll have to make a choice. Do you keep traveling the worlds as the hero of the Keyblade, or do you settle down with Kairi?”

“I can’t make that choice yet!” Sora cried, his eyes flashing. Riku grabbed a spare scrap of paper to use as a substitute bookmark. This was going to take more than just a half-assed conversation to resolve. He waited patiently as Sora landed the Gummi Ship.

“If I don’t stop,” Sora continued once the ship’s engines had powered down, “it’s gonna drive Kairi and I apart! But there are still so many people out there who need my help. How can I turn my back on them?”

Riku sighed deeply. When they’d first started this adventure, things like marriage and family and long term commitments had seemed far away. Now those things loomed closer and closer. He didn’t have an answer for Sora because he didn’t have an answer for himself. And Kairi being a Keyblade wielder too made things more complicated. She was often sent out on missions as well, and even the times when Sora was on a break, there was no guarantee she would be too.

“The hero’s dilemma,” Riku told Sora at last. “We’ll never have normal lives, Sora. If you want a normal life, you’ll have to give up all of this,” he said, gesturing to their surroundings. “And no one can make that choice for you. Someday, you’ll either have to sacrifice your relationship with Kairi or your life as a Keyblade wielder. She’ll have to make that same choice if you want to make a relationship work long-term.”

Sora’s head jerked back at hearing the words “sacrifice” and “Kairi” in such close proximity to each other. But he was silent. The only noise was the faint Christmas music playing from the Gummi Ship’s speakers. It took a moment for Riku to notice the teardrops splotching onto Kairi’s lucky charm gripped in Sora’s palm.

Riku hated seeing his best friend cry. It made him uncomfortable because he couldn’t easily fix the problem.

“Listen, I’ll call Master Yen Sid tonight and ask if we can go back early if we finish the mission quickly,” Riku said. It was the best he could do under the circumstances. Maybe they could still make it home in time for Christmas.

“That sounds good,” Sora said, wiping his eyes. “I just wanted to be with her on Christmas. But I feel like Master Yen sends us out on missions on purpose when I’m more agitated and aggressive. Like he thinks I’ll fight better.”

That was entirely possible. Master Yen Sid was a good man overall, but he was also very calculating and would 100% figure out when each of them was in peak fighting condition.

“Well, do you?” Riku asked.

“When it’s between about four days and ten days of being separated from her, yeah, I do fight pretty well. After that I’m so irritable I’m worthless.” His eyes dropped to his hands. “And before that I’m too lovesick to be at my best,” he mumbled.

“With calculations like those, maybe you missed your calling as Ienzo’s research assistant,” Riku wryly replied as he opened his book again. It was surprisingly interesting and far less revolting than discussing Sora’s love life, and he really did want to know how it ended.

“What else am I supposed to do when I’m bored and frustrated?” Sora whined, flopping dramatically on the seat. “If I know when I’m in peak fighting condition, I’ll also know when I’m not. And that means I know what steps I need to take to avoid getting hurt—”

Riku scoffed. “You, be careful? You and Kairi both love to rush into danger, and then I have to fish you out of it. Imagine if you did get married and Master Yen Sid sent you on more missions together. My job would get a lot more stressful.”

“Hey, I’m trying my best here.” Sora scowled and his eyebrows did their best to express his sass, but then he sighed and rested his head against the back of the seat. “Do you think that’s why we don’t get to go on more missions together?” he asked in a small voice.

“You can’t concentrate to save your life when she’s anywhere nearby. You fight really well together, but the moment she gets so much as a cut, you panic and lose your focus.”

“So it is my fault.” Sora’s head drooped and his eyes were pained.

“I wouldn’t look at it like that. Keyblades make things more equal, sure, but you’ll always have certain advantages over her during combat. Magic can level the playing field, and she is a better mage than you—”

Sora pouted, and Riku rolled his eyes.

“—just barely, don’t look so offended. You’re never going to compete with the light in her heart and you know it. And she and you are both better mages than I am. But even with that advantage in one area of combat, the natural differences in raw physical strength between the two of you are still there. And that goes for any guy she has to fight. It’s only natural you worry about her.”

“Xemnas nearly broke her arm,” Sora whispered, resting his face in his hand. The haunted look in his eyes told Riku the memory might as well be from yesterday instead of four years ago. “Like he was just snapping a twig. And even when it’s just me and her…I’m not a big guy, but it still surprises me how much stronger I am than her sometimes.”

“But you know how to properly use and restrain that strength,” Riku pointed out, “and that’s what matters.”

Sora was silent.

“And did you just admit you’re not that big?” Riku asked, changing tactics. “Someone has finally given up on ever hitting six feet tall.”

“Hey, I made it to five ten, that’s pretty dang good for a runt!”

One look at Riku’s face made them both burst out laughing.

“Okay, okay, five eight and a half,” Sora amended.

“Who knew you had it in you.”

“Doesn’t matter, you’ll always be taller than me.” Sora was so mournful and melodramatic about it that Riku burst out laughing again. Sora grinned, and it was a welcome sight. Riku promised himself he’d complete this mission as soon as possible so his friends could be reunited in time for Christmas.

Sora was right. Riku teased him, but all those separations from Kairi couldn’t be good for their relationship. Helping his friends be reunited in time for Christmas was the least he could do.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: This story is based on some ideas Alja and I brainstormed together earlier this year about how Sora and Kairi would handle being separated from each other frequently, and this is both a very belated birthday present for her and a Christmas present all in one. Happy belated birthday and Merry Christmas, @angel-with-a-pipette ❤️

There will be five chapters total, and I'll be updating daily until it's done.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

[fckinwild-kiwi]

Dec. 6th: I sleep better when you're with me

Here is day SIIIIIIIX of @comp-lady’s Domestic December writing challenge!

Warnings: Swearing, Allusions to Smut (This is an 18+ blog, minors dni)   Word Counts: 1.5k+ Words Pairings: Steve Harrington x Reader

Maybe I should have been more honest with Steve when I asked him to come over and bake cookies with my family and me. As it has always been my favorite holiday tradition, I just wanted to share that piece of my life with him. We had been friends for years but being strictly friends meant that we would celebrate those beloved traditions with our immediate families only. A relationship, a real relationship, calls for change. It calls for a shift in the dynamics of the relationship and an integration of family when possible. 

“But why does it have to be now?” Steve groaned, dropping his head into my neck to hide. “Does your Dad even know that we are dating, officially?”

“Well no, I figured we would share the news when you came over this afternoon. I’m sure they already assumed since I’ve been staying with you so often,” I reassured, running my hands through Steve’s hair. “And my parents have always loved you, why are you so worried?”

“Because now it matters, honey,” Steve whispered, peering up at me with hair-covered eyes. “Let me be the one to tell him, please?”

“Oh my god, Steve,” I grumbled. I could not believe this boy. We had known each other most of our lives and my parents have watched him grow up. He was not some stranger with dangerous baggage that my parents would disapprove of. “If you’re that scared, we don’t have to tell them. I just thought you would like to join in some of our holiday traditions with me. You aren’t asking my dad for my hand in marriage.”

“Yet.”

“Honestly, not even if you’re that scared of him,” I barked back. 

“Baby,” Steve said, his eyes softening as he stepped towards me. “I’m sorry. I’m being irrational about this. I’ll talk to your dad and I’ll be fine. I’m just anxious because, for some reason, parents never find me good enough now that I’m not some preppy college kid.”

“You don’t have to pretend to be anyone with me or my family, Stevie,” I mumbled pulling him closer. “My parents have loved you forever and I love you so much. You have nothing to worry about.”

“I love you too, honey,” Steve said, pulling me in for a quick kiss. Pulling away with a small sigh, he grabbed my hand before mumbling, “Let’s do this.”

Together, we walked up the driveway to the front door. Steve took another deep breath, his anxiety just radiating off of him. I never want him to feel inadequate or not enough in our relationship, God knows this poor boy has been through his fair share of shitty relationships. 

“Sweetie,” I heard from the kitchen. “Is that you?”

“Yeah, Mom,” I called back. “I have Steve with me!”

After taking our shoes off, we walked into the kitchen where my Mom was finishing up dinner and my Dad was sitting at the table drinking a beer. “Steve, how have you been?” He asked, setting his beer down. 

“You got this, handsome,” I mumbled in his ear, ushering him towards the empty chair next to my dad. I moved to the side to give them space, catching up with my mom. With his anxiety bubbling up to the surface, I didn’t want to crowd him and make it worse. 

“Honey, come out to the garage with me, I need help grabbing the baking supplies. They’re in the outside fridge.” I followed my mom outside before she stopped, turning around to face me. “Is Steve asking your Dad for your hand in marriage?”

“What the hell, Mom,” I said before laughing. “No, we’re only 20 years old. He’s telling him that we are officially dating.”

“Were you not before?” She questioned.

“I told him he had nothing to worry about, I didn’t know you guys already assumed we were dating?”

“Eh, it was inevitable,” She said, chuckling. We grabbed the stuff we would need to bake later tonight before heading back into the kitchen. Knowing about Steve’s anxiety from telling my dad was causing me anxiety to think about him alone, suffering.

“Hi,” I chirped, walking back into the kitchen and setting everything on the table. I walked over to Steve, planting a kiss on the top of his head. “How is it going in here?”

“Steve thought he was breaking some crazy news story when he told me you two were dating. I told him I thought you two had been an item since 2nd grade.”

I snorted as I wrapped my arms around Steve. “That would have saved us some trouble.”

The rest of the night went by quickly, eating dinner together before prepping the cookies to bake the next morning. Steve was in charge of the sugar cookie dough, while I prepped the Ritz crackers with peanut butter to dip in chocolate the next morning. After three hours of prep, and hands that felt like they were going to fall off, we decided to call it a wrap on the night’s project. I grab a kitchen towel to dry my hands before tossing it to Steve. “Are you ready for bed, Stevie?”

“Yeah, I’m beat,” Steve grumbled, walking the short distance over to where I was standing before wrapping his arms around my waist, and leaning his head on my chest. “I’ll head out soon. What time should I come back in the morning?”

“What?”

“Tomorrow, what time should I be back to finish the baking with you guys?”

I step back to look at Steve. “Why would you leave just to come back early tomorrow? I want you to stay.”

“But your Dad-“

“Thought we had been dating since 2nd grade and we have had so many sleepovers before,” I interrupt, rolling my eyes. “And besides, I sleep better when you’re with me.”

“Baby,” Steve says to me, his eyes softening as he steps forward to bring me close to him again. “Let’s go to bed.”

We walked up the stairs to my bedroom. My parents slept on the first floor, they claimed they wanted to ‘better protect me from break-ins’ but it was really so they could tell if I was sneaking out. It was a win-win for me though to not have my parents sleep on the same floor as me with my boyfriend. We quickly began getting ready for bed, washing our faces, and brushing our teeth. It felt so domestic and natural. Suddenly, saving up to move out became a goal I wanted to achieve, quickly.

“It feels different to be here now,” Steve muttered, walking into the bedroom and lying on my bed.

“Why? Because you finally have the opportunity to have sex with me in my childhood bedroom?”

“What? No,” He whisper-shouted. “I am not having sex with you at your parents' home!”

“Oh my GOD,” I groaned. What the hell was wrong with this boy? I know he was not a saint. He used to brag about all the women he had been with. The way he was so scared of what my parents might think was starting to concern me. What was he so afraid of? Was it me? “What is your problem then?”

Steve sighed, getting under the covers of the bed and motioning me to follow suit. “I have always wanted to have sex with you here, baby.”

“Uh-huh.”

“You know your parents are the first adults that actually made it a point to talk to me and ask me how I was?”

“Steve-“

“No, please,” Steve cut you off, his hand coming up to touch my hair. “You’re my best friend, but you’re also the love of my life. Your family means almost as much to me as you do. So I’m sorry if I’m worrying about their approval too much. I don’t want to let them down, not when they’re the only parental figures that have given a damn about me.”

“I’m sorry I’ve been pushing your feelings away tonight, baby,” I mumbled out. “They really do love you though. More than you can even imagine. And I’m so happy you have this relationship with them. I genuinely think my dad believes we started dating in 2nd grade.”

“Thank you.” Steve leaned down to place his lips on my forehead before whispering, “If it makes you feel any better, all I’m thinking about is fucking you in this room.”

“Can we?” I groaned out, running my hands down his torso.

“Absolutely not,” Steve barked out a laugh. 

“Screw you,” I huffed out. “At least I do it for you, I guess.”

“Never doubt that, baby. You’ll always do it for me,” Steve said, tightening his hold around my body. “Wait, it just really hit me. This is the first time we’ve shared a bed at your house.”

“Yeah, because someone always needed to be the gentleman and slept on the floor,” I grumbled. “You could have been sharing a bed with me for years, Harrington.”

“I know, I should have fucking talked to your dad sooner,” Steve said, causing me to giggle and snuggle closer. 

[toshitophchan]

“When Casey was being a dick about the Pen you got angry because-”

“Because he was insulting my dad. And my grandfather. And everything we’ve worked on together.” Elmo finished. His greens eyes flashed with anger at the memory. “I thought he was doing it on purpose. I kinda thought you all knew.”

“Huh?”

“The paper says the name of the editor on it,” Elmo said. This was news to Nick. He watched Elmo glance around the room and snatch up a discarded copy of the Pen. The date identified it as last week’s edition. Elmo pointed at some writing. “See?”

Nick peered at it.

Editor: E. Zimmer.

“You and your dad have the same initials?”

At this, Elmo flushed a bright, bright red. It was somehow different to how he’d looked when he’d been angry. This time, he looked embarrassed.

Oh…

“You and your dad have the same name.”

“So what,” Elmo huffed, still red in the cheeks.

“He named you after himself.”

“…”

“What?” Nick could feel a wide grin spreading across his cheeks. “What is it?”

“He named me after my grandfather.”

Nick couldn’t help it. He laughed out loud- loud enough that several of the people working glanced over.

“It’s not funny,” Elmo hissed, but Nick could see the beginnings of a grin spreading across his own face all the same.

“I think it’s sweet,” Nick said between laughs. “The three of you with the same name. Though, isn’t that confusing?”

“Well, dad has a nickname,” Elmo said. “Since it was confusing when he was a kid. Everyone calls him Zim. He’ll want you to call him that too.”

“And you and your grandfather?”

Elmo’s mouth pulled downwards into a frown. “It wasn’t really a problem. It was usually pretty obvious who was being spoken to. And now…well…grandfather passed away last year.”

“Oh…I’m sorry.” Nick had assumed that Zim’s control of the Pen was because Elmo Zimmer the first was too old to work anymore. Apparently he’d assumed wrong.

“Look at you,” Elmo said. “Constantly apologising for the bad things in my life. It’s enough to make a boy swoon.” He was joking around but Nick couldn’t help but notice how sad he sounded.

First his mum, then his grandfather. As far as Nick could tell, Zim was the only person Elmo had left.

For some reason, that make Nick sad as well. And then angry.

And then determined.

Roddacember 2024 Day 12 | Relationship Activity

May as well post more of my Elmo/Nick fic for this prompt, because they are my favourite relationship that I totally made up and am probably the only one who enjoys. I just think their dynamic is so interesting, in particular in books like Hot Pursuit, War of the Work Demons, Dead End, and even Crime in the Picture. Like, what do you mean Nick goes over to Elmo's house for a sleepover and wishes this was his life, what do you meaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnn?!?!?! Nick calls Elmo a slob but they lend each other video games!?!?!?!? Crying!!!!!

[l-starlight-l]

The love of a Hero

Dinner for Two

Previous: part1 part2

A/n: I feel like this is silly but I really like seeing Jason in a way that he feels so comfortable and talkative yk! It’s not very comic Jason but it’s my Jason so it doesn’t matter, I hope you enjoy it!

Description: Jason and you open up to each other over some food

Pairing: Jason Todd x Reader

——————————————————————————

:reference:

——————————————————————————

You finished work a little earlier than usual and thought about taking the long way home through Gotham park. It was a scenic route back to your apartment that always cleared your head after a rough day. You had been in Gotham for two weeks and it was going very well. You had made some friends at work including a certain vigilante you spent breaks with, and some kind neighbors. Everyone always gave Gotham a bad wrap but this is the best place you’ve lived so far.

On your walk to the park you get a chilling feeling as if someone is watching you. You check behind you but there’s no one there. You speed up just to be safe. You can see the park a few feet ahead when you run into someone and almost fall to the ground. A large arm catches you, looking up you see a red helmet peering down at you.

“We have to stop meeting like this” he smirks pulling you up

You shake your head and dust yourself off. “You seem to always be in my way, you know” you tease with a smile.

“Maybe I do it on purpose” he winks at you even though you technically can’t see it.

“You’re such a flirt” you roll you eyes to play it off. “What are you even doing here”

“I just got off patrol” he takes off his helmet, “you hungry” he tries to be smooth and he is.

Your mind goes crazy at the thought of going out to eat with him, what if it’s a date. You block all your overthinking out. “I could eat” you say trying to hide your internal panic.

“Good I know the perfect place” he leads the way into the park and up to a food truck covered with fairy lights and stickers. There’s a few people there all enjoying their food, only giving a short glance at the red hood casually grabbing a bite to eat. “My brother use to take me here all the time, they have the best burgers in all of Gotham” he says proudly with a cute look on his face.

All you can do is stare at him. You’ve never seen him like this, you’ve known him for a week and a half but you only talked about work never about personal stuff. “I didn’t know you had a brother” you say a little quiet

“I have quite a few siblings, they all annoy me but they’re family you know” he says while you both get in line for the food. “What about you?” He looks down at you, waiting for an answer like a puppy.

“Well, I have brothers” you say suddenly shy, “and a cousin who’s like my sister, I get along with them fine but they can be so difficult sometimes” you laugh to yourself thinking about your brothers. You never talk about your family, it’s always been a messy topic but it feels good now.

“Do they live close? Is that why you moved here?” He seems so eager to know you it catches you a little off guard.

“Oh no, they would never live here my dad would kill them” you pause thinking about your dad, “I know my little brother is still in metropolis but I’m not sure about the older one” you sigh into the cold air.

“Are you not close with them?” You look up at him and he has a curious but concerned expression.

You shake your head, “not as close as I should be, but things happen you know it’s just how life is. I wish I could see them more often but it just doesn’t ever work out like that” you should feel sad or guilty, that’s how you usually feel when you talk about this sort of thing but you feel understood and heard.

“I get that, I mean I practically live with my siblings and we’re not super close. I want to have a sibling bond I just feel like to much of an outsider to join in now” he says honestly, he isn’t use to talking like this to people but you make him feel so comfortable.

“We’re not so different then” you say with a small nod. You’ve reached the window without even noticing, you quickly look over the menu while he is ordering. He pays even though you insist and insist you got it.

“This just means you’ll have to take me out again, doc” he winks at you while we grab our food. You roll your eyes and go sit on a nearby bench. We sit and eat in a kind but short silence. “I don’t know why I feel like I can be so honest with you, and tell you things I wouldn’t usually tell anybody” he admits after taking a bite of his burger.

“I tend to have that effect on people seeing as it’s my job” you joke but it feels different talking to him then it does talking to a patient. “Although I don’t open up to my patients like I do to you”.

He blushes a bit, it’s a hidden blush so you can’t tell. He wants you to feel the same way he does, so he doesn’t feel so silly for talking about his life. You spent another hour just talking and getting to know each other better. After he walks you home to your apartment, and you part ways for the night. You’ll probably see each other again very soon. Both of you have a feeling you can’t quite figure out, but you know that you like it.

——————————————————————————

[the-guilty-writer]

Gill I just had a thought I must share with you right away. I can’t decide if I like it or not.

Okay, so. Stephen Gideon. (I know he’s in an episode in like season 10 but I haven’t gotten that far so if im so far off just like smack me or summ)

Stephen Gideon. Wiki says he was born in 1980, which would make him a year or two older than RR. I have no idea what Gideon’s family timeline is. So lemme just make stuff up okay? Okay.

RR grows up with this annoying older brother in Stephen Gideon. They’re inseparable. They hang out at the BAU (BSU) together when their dads are working and they solve lil pretend cases and accuse each other of lying all the time. They’re besties. And then, when Gideon’s wife leaves him (I’m speculating I don’t know if this is canon ok) and moves away, Stephen & RR are totally cut off from each other

There’s possibility for more but I want your thoughts on this

The canon timeline of the entire show is so wacky and sometimes just doesn't make sense so honestly making things up is the best way to do it!

As someone who had childhood best friends that were determined by who my parents were friends with I feel very qualified to answer this lol

I feel like RR and Stephen would have been obligatory besties when they were little, like from ages 2-6 ish. Since their dads work together and they're close in age, they're simply expected to get along and be friends, which isn't hard since they're so young. And since Rossi is a single dad in the RR universe you can bet that Gideon's wife probably baby sat her from time to time.

But that is the biggest difference between Stephen and RR- Stephen has a mom who can take care of him and RR just has her dad. I'd imagine that RR would spend far more time at the BSU than Stephen did since Gideon's wife would have watched Stephen most of the time. Rossi would have to find a babysitter, daycare, or watch RR on his own and I bet he didn't get paid as much then as he does now so bringing RR to work was just more cost-effective a lot of the time.

But still, Stephen would have been RR's first "best friend", especially before she went into kindergarden where she could choose her own friends. I imagine she would have been 5 or 6 when Stephen had to move away with his mom. She would have been confused at first, because that's hard to explain to a 5 year old, especially a 5 year old who doesn't have a real concept of what having two parents is like.

I don't know that they would have chosen one another as friends if their dad's didn't work together though. Just from personal experience I know that before I started school, my friends were all my parent's friends kids. That's not to say that we didn't get along, but it's more of an obligation to be friends with them because those are the friends that you have access to.

But those first obligatory friends also determine a lot about who you choose to socialize with when you grow up. All of my friends from the ages of 2-5 were boys because my mom's friends all had boys. I was the only girl. To this day, I have an easier time socializing with men than women because my first social interactions with peers were with boys. I also can't get a date to save my life because I'm such a "one of the guys" girl. Early social conditioning matters.

In an upcoming fic there is a small moment of RR and her thoughts on JJ. RR takes to Spencer right away (in The First Week), but I made it so she isn't quite sure about JJ. Her whole life she has been surrounded by men, so it's not a suprise that she'd need more time to warm up to the girls. I think it's also worth noting that Emily also seemed to grow up with more male friends than female friends and for that reason I think that her and RR would get along really well once they figured one another out. It's a dynamic I'm excited to explore in future fics!

I do think that it would be interesting to write something about Stephen visiting the BAU when RR is an agent there and seeing how Stephen went down one path- poor relationship with his father, no interest in profiling- while RR went down the other- legit became a profiler and has an amazing relationship with her dad.

Hopefully this answered your question just a little bit. I went on kind of a tangent there. I feel like there is some room to explore here, but I'd have to marinate on it to get a better grasp on what RR and Stephen's childhood friendship would look like.

[aajjks]

TPOL!JK

you take in jungkook’s form, he looks somewhat the same. you can tell he’s gotten a lot bulkier, his hair is still cut short, but his shirt is trying so hard to keep those muscles well-hidden. “I just wanted to see your face.” and it takes everything in you to not roll your eyes so you just look back at your screen and continue typing.

he tells you that he does deserve the cold shoulder treatment and you’ve yet to respond to him and it’s killing him to watch you ignore him like he’s not even there.

“I cannot believe that you moved away.”

“so tell me how’s life in Switzerland yn?” your eyes now peer up to look at jungkook who is nervously scratching at his neck. “Y/N” it hurts to even look at it and you’re shocked he still has it. it’s obvious that he hasn’t moved on from you despite the media alluring that him and tina are together. you don’t dawn on it too much because you’re sure your name will be replaced with hers if the rumors are true or he’ll get it removed via laser removal.

“how do you know i’m in switzerland?” you ask and he nods his head at your laptop that shows it belongs to your job in switzerland. touché.

“it’s nice. my mom loves it there” you keep it simple and he’s shocked you’re kind of conversing with him. when he asks why you came back you dodge the question and fire one back at him. “congratulations on your partnership with tina hwang. she’s a popular figure. you guys look nice together”

He’s almost enjoying, the way you look at him or maybe his figure but he doesn’t mind. He loves the attention you give him, because he’s only craved your attention.

When you Actually reply to his question, it’s almost impossible for him to hide his shock, he cannot believe that you’re actually talking to him because after what he said to you if he was in your place, he would literally kill himself

You were right after all, he let his dad get the best of him, and now he lost you all because he believed his words. it almost hurts when he thinks about that night

He almost blushes when your eyes settle on his neck or the tattoo for a while, but his heart breaks when he sees to hurt visible in your gaze.

A waiter comes in between and interrupts your conversation, and then he orders a coffee. Jungkook it looks like you for a while like a creep, he feels like a creep.

He is so frustrated at himself because he’s not over you.

and his eyebrows are furrowed in confusion when you mention Tina. He chuckles when you say that they look good together.

Do you really think he’s dating her?

“we may look good together, but I’m not dating her. She’s just a business partner and I did have a history with her back in high school but that’s it and I was shocked to find out that she was my business partners daughter.”

And now he’s so curious about your dating life. it almost scares him so much if he thinks about whether you have someone in your life. “I bet your mother hates my guts… I actually miss her though she’s a great woman…”

“And why didn’t you go to LA to take that internship? That’s the reason we ended the way we did in the first place?!?”

[whispersofsilence]

Not Yet In Full Bloom - A Plain Jane's Monologue

I’m your average kind of person. A bit fairer than my peers, average height, average built. Black hair. Brown eyes. Pretty generic. I’m not well off, but not to the point of starving either. My family is pretty average too. There’s mom and dad, and our pack of dogs. I have no siblings so they’re kind of like my brethren. Grew up in a small town, yada yada yada. My life is pretty much a tad bit more boring than most. But I think it’s nice, quiet, and simple. And I think it suits me just right.

I don’t style my hair. I get haircuts every now and then, But I have never colored my hair. I am more of the next-door type of person. Or at least that’s what I think of myself. I am turning twenty-six this year, But I only know how to apply three kinds of makeup: Foundation. Lipstick. And eyeliner. And by that, I mean the pencil ones. Not the savvy liquid ones you put on the upper eyelids. Oh, I do know how to put on eyebrow pencil. Or used to, since it’s been years since I applied one.

I do like putting on nail polish though. Not for the girly stereotype associated with it, though. See. I like painting my nails. I feel like an artist every time I do. And, I have never done a manicure or pedicure either. Just the idea of it scares me. Quelle horreur! Oh, and I do not like the smell of perfume. I am not allergic to it. The scent is just too much for me. I can tolerate the mild ones though, especially flower scents. I don’t wear jewelry, either. That one, I am a bit allergic to. I’m especially annoyed at earrings and necklaces. I wear them on special occasions though.

In my closet, you would see a few dresses, yes. Mostly jeans, loose shirts, and cardigans. I prefer casual clothing more than anything else in the world. Teenagers nowadays dress more adult-like than I do. I still prefer wearing my comfy sneakers, Over small heels, or even flat shoes, or sandals. Comfort over style. At any day of the week, my friend! And I prefer to go around without a bag either. Blue jeans, a white shirt, sneakers, and maybe a ponytail. Oh, and my prescription glasses! How could I forget those? They’re much easier to remove and care for than contact lenses!

I don’t drink. I don’t smoke. I don’t date. People would consider me a “goody two-shoes” But I don’t think that is necessarily the case. I don’t drink alcohol because I don’t like the taste of it. I don’t smoke because it stinks. Big time. And the reason I don’t date is because, I don’t believe in dating as a necessity to life. It was, is, and never will be my priority. The world is amazing! There are so many other things to do! I am honestly too busy with life that I want more “me time.” I really can’t imagine sharing my time with someone else.

I do have friends though. I mean who doesn’t? Friends make the world a better place. They are there for you when you need them, And can be annoyingly present when you don’t! School— society— is tough! It’s an introvert’s nightmare. Fitting in but having bouts of wanting to stand out, Then feeling irritated when the spotlight comes on? How contradicting! Yes, my life is a paradox. It could I am really like this, or perhaps confused, Or I’m still in the stage of figuring myself out. However late it is, at this point in my life.

I am a self-proclaimed late bloomer. I am the type to stay at home, just sleeping, Than the type to hangout with friends on a Saturday night. I was like that in high school. I was like that in college. And I can most certainly say that I am still like this today. The only difference perhaps is that I do make the effort now, To go out and meet with friends from time to time, Organize meet-ups, chat about our separate lives. I guess that’s how things are when you get older. You learn to value friendship, and work to keep it going. Maybe it is a form of coping from the daily grind, I don’t know.

I can’t particularly say that I am living a happy life right now. Stress from school, from personal life, and everything in between, Do get in my head, more times than I would want to. But still I go, I go, I go. One step forward, or maybe one step back. The point is, I am moving. I am not stationary. I am moving. I believe that the life we lead is an epic journey. There will always be smooth sailing days, and tumultuous ones. But it is through these moments in our lives that we grow. It is here when we become better versions of ourselves. I am a Plain Jane, and my life may not seem as colorful as others. But hopefully the time will come that I, too, will go into full bloom.