#flop post (bunny style)

[a-dash-of-ashlie]

ME: ... and that's when she told me SHE was the one pissing on his lawn the whole time!!

MY GIRLFRIEND, SECRETLY PLANNING TO KILL ME: ehehehe!! that's crazy. I love your anecdotes

ME: awww, you're- wait uh.

MY GF THAT HAS CAREFULLY CONSTRUCTED A FAKE ALIBI FOR NEXT SUNDAY: hm ?

ME: w-why are you being called these things,,

GF WHO RECENTLY PURCHASED AN UNLICENSED FIREARM AND WHO HAS PRACTICED MIMICKING MY HANDWRITING FOR WEEKS IN ORDER TO CONVINCINGLY PORTRAY MY DEATH AS A SUICIDE: called whag

[bright-and-burning]

nearly 800 words of norrussell-y stuff based on this post. idk if it's going anywhere so im posting it as is :)

Lando’s tried a lot of things, alright. He’s pulled out all the stops. Gone through all his tricks, and then some.

Last time, the young couple trying to make a home out of Lando’s home left after just a few slammed doors and a shattered plate. The time before that, it took nothing more than cold drafts and some banging on the radiators.

He’s not bad at haunting. He’s quite decent, really. Manages to get long stretches where he’s unbothered, which always has Charles in a huff at their quarterly meetings. He didn’t have to pick a flat in a tiny country with a very expensive housing crisis. Not Lando’s problem there’s constant demand in Monaco even for units with a nasty habit of seeping blood from the walls.

Either way. Nobody’s stayed in his home for longer than six months.

This dickhead’s getting pretty close, though.

He’s fucking infuriating, is the thing. Lando likes haunting. He has fun, snickering gleefully into the sleeve of his hoodie as whatever soon-to-be-former resident he’s fucking with packs frantically to move out.

It’s no fun when they won’t play his game.

George Russell is an accountant. Or a barrister. Or something equally boring and stuffy and un-fun that has him leaving every morning at 7:30 sharp in a nicely pressed suit with a leather bag just dinged up enough to be classy.

Even worse, he’s logical. To a fault. Hangs onto pragmatism like it’s going out of style.

Like he doesn’t keep his kindle stocked with fantasy novels. Lando had peeked. Couldn’t touch it, what with it only having been here a few months, not belonging to the house yet, but he hadn’t needed to. Not when George had set down the tablet to pour a glass of wine and left it face up on the coffee table.

Likes his fiction full of magic and romance and fucking dragons, but God forbid the guy consider for even a moment that he’s being haunted.

Icy cold air filling the hall in late July? Oh, freezer must be on the fritz.

Picture frames falling off the walls? The landlord had said not to use nails on the plaster.

Cupboard doors slamming open and closed at night? Loose hinges. Really, really, really loose hinges. And that pesky draft from earlier. 

Lando’s honestly not sure how that explanation could pass even a little bit of inspection, but George is satisfied.

He’d gotten all new furniture too, so Lando can’t even flop face down on the couch and groan about it for another month. He just goes through, when he tries. Ends up hanging out with the dust bunnies underneath; it’s nice enough down there, dark and enclosed, that he hasn’t stopped launching himself onto the sofa when he’s frustrated. 

He’s under the couch a lot. The dust bunnies have names now.

Lando’s started slamming doors in George’s face, just to see what’ll happen. He’s careful about it, timing it so George won’t actually get hit, but he makes sure it’s close. Maybe if the rush of air ruffles his hair enough, he’ll put the clues together.

Charles has started dropping unsubtle hints about how fast tenants leave when blood pours out of the faucets.

It would work, maybe. Or maybe George would call municipal services, concerned about contamination with the local reservoir and the quality of drinking water in his community. 

It’s not Lando’s style, anyways. Bloody handprints across the ceiling just isn’t as funny as waving his hands around to draw a fluffy dog’s eyes to an eerily empty corner. Takes a lot more concentration to float up high enough to reach, for one. And he likes dogs. They can see him; sometimes, he can even touch them, running his hands through fur and reveling in the warmth of life against his skin.

George doesn’t have any dogs. Or cats. Or fish, even, though Lando’s not sure how he’d get them to behave oddly enough to draw attention. He’s certainly not touching them.

George’s got nothing but his stupid fucking scientific explanations, apparently. Lando’s sick to death of it. Sick beyond death. Whatever.

He sends the door flying shut, centimeters away from sending the dirty dishes George was taking into the kitchen crashing to the floor with it. It's the closest he's cut it, so far.

When Lando sticks his head through the wall to see if he’s finally come to his senses, he’s already reaching for the doorknob, muttering about pressure differentials and open windows.

Lando goes and lays under the couch. His scream is muffled by the carpet.

Not that George would hear anything but a faulty radiator.

[cafecourage]

Have now seen the other post. I low-key wanna read the chain all being bunnies for a day.

- Glitter ✨

I’ll do bunny Headcanons for you just so you know what you’re getting into. I had to do a lot of research for this.

Time:

- Time is a Flemish Giant mainly because of them being on the bigger side of the scale. But also they’re apparently the oldest and calmest breed there is.

- I don’t think he is in a rush to be turned back. If anything he is going to just plop into your lap and stay there. He is an old man let him flop over and rest.

- He doesn’t get the zoomies sadly. The most you get from him is climbing on you or following you around because he wants pets. But he will go to take care of the others too.

- Time tends to be the one papping the others to calm down if they start up again. He doesn’t want to hurt them while in this situation but he doesnt want to overwhelm you.

- He is probably in the middle of the cuddle pile. He is the biggest rabbit of them all.

Twilight:

- Twilight being related to Time also is a Flemish Giant bun. Though I would think he is a bit more fluffy compared to Time.

- THIS MAN IS SO CONFUSED WITH THIS NEW FORM. Like seriously! He isn’t used to being this type of mammal! He feels a bit vulnerable as buns are prey animals and he was a wolf.

- He will have zoomies as he is going faster than as a wolf. Which is wild to his brain as both animal brains are competing. Twilight is probably more dog then bun still as he probably has chased his tail and looked like he was about to take off helicopter style.

- Twilight is probably on Wild and Hyrule duty as they 100% will wonder off and he is the only one that really can track as an animal.

- He is also going to be in a few cuddle piles. BUT MAN DOES THIS BOY LIKE PETS. Him and Wild are going to have a pile on your lap. AKA Twilight is going to lay on top of Wild to get him to stay still.

Warriors:

- It seems French Lops are the most “prized” for rabbits but I’m doing base research. They are normally sweet, calm and Intelligent which sounds a lot like our captain.

- Warriors is slightly weirded out that he is a bun. In the end he is just trying to watch over the younger ones. He doesn’t really mind it but he really hates the feeling of having dirt in his fur. It’s also nice to have his fur brushed out.

- The captain stomps a lot mainly because he wants some sort of order. He is huffing and puffing as shenanigans keep happening while he wants just some kind of peace. You just cant help but coo over how cute he is even while pouting.

- Warriors also wont start cuddle piles but will be dragged into it. Mostly by Wind. He does something similar to Twilight and lays on Wind sometimes just incase but the sailor doesn’t seem to mind.

- WHAT HE DOES LIKE IS BEING PICKED UP. Warriors doesn’t know why but he loves getting held and can’t help but melt into your arms.

Sky:

- I saw an English Lop and pointed screaming SKY. They are very calm and easy natured and very cute but I’m bias and think long ear rabbits are cute.

- Like Time, Sky bee lines to your lap. He wants you to be his pillow now. It’s revenge really. Sky is going to hinder your ability to figure out how to fix this because as soon as you sit down he is in your lap.

- Sky is also the one’s that keep everyone in the cuddle piles. Because he is a chonk boy he is basically a weighted blanket but smol(ish). He just wants everyone to calm down and enjoy the moment of not being in instant danger.

- He probably has gotten almost everyone here to cuddle. Since he doesn’t really have the zoomies due to him being a sluggish boy but also a more chill boy. He just wants cuddles.

- Sky doesn’t care about being picked up tbh. He doesn’t mind it but he really just wants you to sit and cuddle.

Legend:

- Dutch Rabbits visually look like the rabbits I’ve seen before. Given that Legend is angry about being a rabbit in the first place I think a Docile breed would make things worse.

- He is the only one that can talk still, so he is helping you figure out how to help them as you can’t hold the master sword as your not a hero and your trying to figure out how to use a moonstone.

- Legend doesn’t mind being a bun right now as he really just is used to it at this point. If anything he is trying to fill everyone in about how to be one and avoid getting distracted by you.

- This man doesn’t get zoomies anymore sadly but he is still the fastest of the bunch so he is partly crowd control for the younger and partly trying to get everyone to stay together.

- Legend will succumb to a cuddle or two or three. He is going to flop on Hyrule though.

Hyrule:

- The American Rabbit is apparently a rare breed of rabbit. Which Given Hyrule’s whole thing makes sense. Typically they are good-natured and calm.

- Hyrule is going to wander. Though not to far as he really doesn’t like that he is small and killable. But with Wild. Maybe. He does like the new perspective.

- HYRULE LOVES CUDDLES AND TO BE PICKED UP. He isn’t gonna ask for them as its clear that the others want cuddles from you but he will join any piles though.

- Zoomies are rare for Hyrule as he is a bit anxious. He really just doesn’t want to get lost in this situation. He will give chase if he wants to.

- Please brush his fur, he really likes it when you play with his hair as a normal person so it’s 10/10 as a bun.

Wild:

- Beveren Rabbit’s are highly energetic and curious apparently so perfect for Wild! I was going to make Hyrule this one but give its Wild I thought this would be better.

- Wild is the embodiment of though caution to the wind as he will go explore in this form. Hyrule might stop him but Twilight wasn’t going to let him get lost ether.

- He doesn’t mind getting into a cuddle pile but he definitely minds if SOMEONE flops on him. That being Twilight but if you wanted cuddled then thats no issue.

- Wild was made for Zoomies. He has a lot of energy and we know he wont stay still. He might start chases and play time but that isn’t much of an issue since Wind is always up for fun.

- Wild will also 100% try to eat stuff he isn’t suppose to so please stop him. Just scoop him up and bap him lightly.

Four:

- I pick this one on perpose as I wanted to know what was the smallest domestic rabbit. Which apparently is the Netherland Dwarf Rabbit. The only issue that I am reading is that they are high energy and a bit aggressive. Which given how many times Four is about to fist fight people I am going to wave my hand.

- You don’t understand how pissed this man is to still be the smallest bun around. But this just means he is fun sizes for cuddles! You can carry him around with one hand probably and now he has the advantage because you can do things with him!

- Four is also on watch duty for the ones that tend to be more rambunctious. He had automatically helps Warriors with Wind or Legend with Hyrule. He also is probably the most used to being this small because of being minish size. Though this is obviously a bit bigger I still argue once he gets his movement right he is on his A game.

- Four is a cuddle bug and will fall into temptation is any of the boys ask for cuddles. He ends up being squish though but it does feel like he is under a weighted blanket most of the time.

- The Zoomies wont take this guy that often. However he will begrudgingly give chase. It’s fine. He doesn’t want to run around the group chasing Wind but here he is. Zooming around.

Wind:

- This is another breed I looked up because I wanted a specific thing. Marsh Rabbits live semiaquatic lives and are really good swimmers!

- This boy is running into so many people as he wants to play. This boy is a ball of energy and will run circles around the camp. He has jump straight into the water a few times.

- Wind loves cuddle times and will take anyone’s offer to cuddle. Four, Warriors and Legend will be his target to bring into cuddles as it’s fun!

- He is also going to chase Four around for fun as the mini bun’s just want to have fun. So they will probably distract each other.

- Wind is just happy for things are more interesting than traveling to one town to the other. He really just wants to take advantage of this.

[sw33t-d1vine]

YOU’RE SO CREEPY

SPRINGTRAP x GN!READER

ー cw : fluff , halloween !!!! , just u dressing up as springtrap :3

ー word count , 2671

ー a/n : hii !! october has been so busy.. BUT , in honour of the fnaf movie and halloween , i have this fic !!! im also changing my theme again…. this fic was inspired by my own halloween costume :3 i dressed up as him for halloween…. AND one of the costumes mentioned at the end is a costume my bff went as ! i hope u all like this silly fic :3 i’ll get back to reqs soon !!!

・Enjoy what you read ? come join my discord server to see sneak peaks and chat with me and other friends ! Link in my pinned post :)

ー Halloween was something most people adored, including yourself. This year, you had picked to go as Springtrap for your costume. You had made the ears, customized and DIY’ed the whole costume, and prop. Maybe no one would know who you were going as, but who cared. Maybe you just wanted to dress up as a killer zombie bunny.

Springtrap had yet to even see your costume, let alone even know what you are. You only told him it was a surprise, and he’d have to wait and see. Which he thought was stupid.

That was a few weeks ago. He waited days just to see what you were gonna dress up as, and when you came downstairs all dressed up in your costume, his dead heart almost stopped.

His eyes trailed over your body, looking at every detail on the costume. The fake bones sticking out, the fake wires all hanging out, and the big ears on your head that matched his. You had also done your own makeup, making it look like you had scares everywhere.

You really pulled this costume off, he loved it. Even if he didn’t like his own form, he loved how you dressed up as him. It was.. cute.

You held the fake knife prop you made in your hand, giving him a shy smile. “Thoughts?”

Springtrap let out a hum, “I love it.” He tilted his head, watching you do a spin to show off the rest of it. “Very detailed.. and you made all of it?”

Nodding your head, your smile grew. “I did. Since you don’t come to my room a lot, it was pretty easy to hide it from you.” You explained, fiddling with the fake knife.

“How long did it take?” He asked, cocking his head to the side, his ears slightly flopping.

You thought for a moment, thinking. It really didn’t take too long to make.. You thrifted most of the costume and just heavily styled it and added fake wires and such. “I’d say maybe.. 2 or 3 days. Not too long.” You chuckled.

“It’s still very well done..” Springtrap hummed, glancing at the front door. You had left a bowl of candy so you could give them out to trick or treaters. He wished he could do it with you, but he knows he’d probably scare any kids that came. Which would be funny to him, but you’d probably scold him later about it.

When the doorbell rang, you turned your head to the door as well. “Looks like we have our first trick or treater.” You hummed, walking over to the door.

Springtrap watched you hand out the candies to the kids, one who was dressed up as Coraline, and another was a ghost. How cute.

The night went on for a while, kids coming to the door and you handing candies out. A few kids questioned your costume, and you only said you were dressed up as a zombie rabbit. They wouldn’t exactly understand who you were dressed up as.. but he did. and he adored it.

He adored you.

[apple-salad]

I originally posted this on Instagram on Lunar New Year, because of the bunny theme (and I didn’t have any specific themed content), but the outfit itself was for AP's virtual tea party event in 2021. This coord is actually completely impractical as many items needed careful positioning to look good--most troublesome is that I folded an apron in half to wear as an overskirt, so the bodice portion is fairly visible flopping around underneath. But, I guess, it was a rare opportunity to create a "for photos only" event style coord.

All clothes Angelic Pretty except overskirt (leFlacon)

[plushie-lovey]

She’s going to arrive Thursday according to tracking! She’s a Bernese mountain dog and my first Douglas plush!

I used to have one but I never knew they were a Douglas, I think she’s a trooper since that’s what looks most like her although the listing says Trevor but she lays down

What a pretty pooch! Trooper is a great name especially for a Burmese Mountain Dog!!

Douglas is such a great brand of plush, one of my favorites. My buddy Lenny the lobster is one

I think I have a few others from the brand hiding somewhere. Douglas plush are always pretty good quality and quite charming. They're somewhat realistic looking but also have their own style to them!

My favorites are their dog plushies! Here's a couple that I enjoy the look of quite a lot, but there's tons more I couldn't fit in the post

Their flop earred bunnies are also adorable. Look at this multicolored beauty!

Also they have a freaking MANTIS SHRIMP!!

Also have you seen their dalmatians yet? Ik you like them!

Overall Douglas good, I highly recommend this brand 👍

I hope your new friend brings you lots of comfort and joy!!

[fluentinfashionfmd]

NewJeans' New Impact

Welcome fellow fashion lovers!

Keep up with the looks of all your favorite stars…

In Fluent in Fashion, we dive into all of the latest and hottest looks of today’s celebrities, athletes, and influencers, as if you are on the red carpet with them. Each week you will see a new look, along with a breakdown of  each piece and the designer behind it all! At the end of each post, we decide whether the look is Fab or Flop! We hope you enjoy it and find some inspiration. 

XOXO,

Lauren, Avery, and Isabella ♡

Hey there Fashion Lovers!

OMG! I didn’t see you there! This week we are going to be looking at the girls that have been taking over the K-pop scene by storm! The iconic debut in 2022 with their hit song, Attention immediately drew fans in from all over the world. These young women have been making it big by showing off their incredible dance moves, impressive vocals, and of course their tasteful fashion sense! They are the perfect representative and trend-setters for Gen Z! Even their name matches this week’s theme, today we are going to be talking about NewJeans!

6 Style Trends That NewJeans Is Bringing Back With A Fresh Take | Soompi

NewJeans Debut on Hot 100 With 'Ditto' – Billboard

What a genius way to play off of their name then to partner with one of the most iconic denim brands! To kick off NewJeans and Levi's collaboration, the girl group was photographed in the classic 501s. NewJeans is a group that describes the group’s goal to be as timeless to culture as jeans are to fashion. Which makes this collaboration a match made in heaven! In the images below we can see each member modeling Levi’s jeans, along with a close up shot of member Danielle wearing a pair of gorgeous 501s!

NewJeans Announces Details Of Second Mini-Album 'Get Up' | uDiscover

K-Pop Group NewJeans Partners With Levi's® - Levi Strauss & Co : Levi Strauss & Co

Levi's 501 x NewJeans | Women T-Shirt , Jeans & More | Levi's® HK Online Shop

Not only are NewJeans known for strutting their jeans, they are known for their most fashionable Y2K style! Below are a couple of member Hyein’s Y2K inspired looks. In the first photo she showcases a knit beanie hat that was known for its impact in the early 2000s. As well as the infamous hair beads in the second photo that Hyein is rocking! Finally, she is shown holding an adorable Diesel 1dr mini bag in the third photo!

Hyein of New Jeans: How to recreate the K-pop star’s Y2K fashion moments

For NewJeans the fashion is never ending! They have been famously known for trying out many different looks and fashion trends! Below are a couple photos of member Minji, showcasing some designer jerseys for their debut promotions of Attention, one of my favorite songs along with one of my favorite looks that NewJeans has done!

6 Style Trends That NewJeans Is Bringing Back With A Fresh Take

Minji for Attention Via Pinterest

Well Bunnies! That’s all I have for this week with our trendy NewJeans! I hope that you were able to be inspired to try out different styles just as they do with each new album that showcases many new styles! That’s one thing that I love about new jeans, is that they never get old!!

5 Things to Know About HYBE's Latest Group NewJeans

Stay tuned for next week’s post about an artist and fashion icon that you will absolutely adore!!

Harry Styles: Style Evolution | British Vogue | British Vogue

XOXO

Avery

[godjustwontletmedie]

does anyone want to be mutuals on here bc i’m such a flop bye i’m putting my stans in the tags

[fayoftheforest]

Kyle Stan and Kenny for the ask game? :3

(ask is in reference to this post. thank you for the ask!!)

Sexuality Headcanon:

Stan: flip flops between labels but eventually settles on "queer" because he likes the ambiguity

Kyle: my god, this bitch is gay! good for him, good for him.

Kenny: doesn't deal in labels. if you ask him to define his sexuality he'll just laugh. if you keep pressing he'll be like "my type is hot people. so dont worry, I'm not going to hit on you."

Gender Headcanon:

Stan: this fella is a walking identity crisis! he uses he/they pronouns but if you ask him to define his gender he will break down into garbled screaming and run away to go shake and sob in a corner :)

Kyle: cis man, comfortable with his gender identity and aware of where he sits on the spectrum thanks to countless conversations about it with stan. he thinks he's only interested in presenting and being perceived in a masculine way until someone calls him "pretty boy" and then kyle.exe stops working 🥴

Kenny: no label, any pronouns, whatever whatever whatever. "gender? no thanks, I just ate."

A ship I have with said character: okay firstly I must state my affinity for STYLENNY SUPREMACY 🛐 but in terms of non-poly ships:

Stan: Style (shocker), Stutters, Stolkien, Stary, Stenny, Staig, t4t Stendy

Kyle: Style, K2, Cryle

Kenny: Bunny, Crenny, K2, Twenny, Stenny

A BROTP I have with said character:

Stan: Stan & Craig. they openly loath each other, but they secretly see a part of themselves in the other and so are motivated to help each other out in their problems in a fucked up egocentric kinda way >:D

Kyle: Kyle & Tolkien & Wendy form an unlikely friendship because they enjoy doing hobbies together that their friends find boring, like reading and being sensible. they're also the go-to group when one of them needs to rant and rave whilst the other two nod their heads sympathetically

Kenny: Kenny & Bebe as unstoppable beings of sheer power

A NOTP I have with said character: (no hate to people who ship this, it can be cute but it's just not my cup of tea;

Stan: Stendy, when it's basic bland and cishet

Kyle: Mutual Kyman makes me deeply uncomfortable for reasons that I don't need to get into because I'm sure you can all guess. Once sided Kyman (from Eric) can be interesting though, but it's gotta be done Just Right for it to pass my personal vibe test

Kenny: I don't love Kenny ships where he's written with predatory/rapey undertones (this was more prominent in the early fandom days I think). write him however you want but at the end of the day we all know he's a consent king with so much love to give <3

A random headcanon:

Stan: he has acne!! he's self conscious about it but tbh it's cute on him

Kyle: loathes the summer with a passion because of his hayfever. loathes the winter with a passion because he just gets one cold after another. this guy loathes the weather 24/7 and he will make it EVERYONE'S problem >:(

Kenny: my guy can fall asleep anywhere. on a bus? lights out. in class? snoozing. right in the middle of a conversation? zzzzz. his go to response to any problem or crisis is a nap. it drives his friends up the wall but what are they gonna do, whake him? when he looks so sweet and peaceful curled up like that? you'd have to be a monster to distrupt that bliss

General Opinion over said character: good god I love these guys 🥹

[pleasinghellfire]

I Don’t Want to Lose You (Harry Styles x Reader)

Request: What about a Harry Styles imagine, where reader is struggling to cope with the hate brown by his fans at her. She hides it from Harry, not wanted to upset him about his fans. But then it ends up pretty bad and Harry finds out?

Word Count: 8.4k (this is a biggy, get comfy!)

All Rights Reserved.

You didn’t know what time it was as you sat up in bed scrolling through twitter reading the comments from Harry’s fans on the latest update picture.

harrie94: god she need to gtf away from him !!

cinemavol6: harry could do so much better than this hag

grapejuice28: no one likes her. not even gemma or anne. i feel so bad for him. she just wants his fame. fucking gold digger.

sunflowersushi: not to be rude but doesn’t she have a flopping career to be working on

angelsatthecinema: i stg if she shows up to hslot i will vomit

That’s how it went, for weeks since Harry decided he wanted to go public about your relationship. It was on everything, everywhere. The paparazzi were everywhere. The fans were everywhere. On the walks, on the dinners or lunch dates, on the swims between shows, on your socials, on your family’s socials. You couldn’t breathe.

You could feel your heart break with every comment. Jumping between instagram to twitter, going to different posts, seeing everything you were tagged in, it crushed you. You loved Harry so much. You never wanted to use his name for your advantage nor did you ever want to take anything for him. You love Harry, not Harry Styles. You wished his fans could see that.

You jumped up when your phone said to ring. Harry was facetiming you. You quickly wiped your tears and fixed your hair before clicking accept.

“Hi H.” You smiled, clearing your throat.

“Hi darling. I didn’t think you would be up this early. Is everything okay?” Harry said with worry.

“No. I’m fine. How is tour going so far?” You asked, quickly averting the conversation away from you.

“It’s amazing. I love it. I just wish you could come along. I really want you here for my home shows.” Harry scruffed his nose with his knuckle.

“Yeah, I’m sorry. I- I know I promised I just-”

“I miss you baby. Gemma was so excited to show you around town. My mum kept asking if you were gonna show up throughout the set.”

“I’m sorry.” You whispered looking down.

“You’re still coming to the Wembley shows right? These shows are very important to me and I really want you there my love.”

“Umm…” You were hesitant.

“Baby? Is everything okay?”

“Umm…” You didn’t know what to say. You knew how much Harry loved his fans. You didn’t want to get in the way between them. “Yes Harry, everything is okay.”

“Do you promise? You’ve been a little off lately.”

“Yeah. Look, I’ll be there for Wembley.” You gave a convincing smile. “I have to go, baby. I love you.”

“I love y-” You quickly declined the call and went back to the comments.

*

You were nervous as security walked you backstage to Harry’s room in Wembley Stadium. You smiled passing by all the crew, giving each of them a wave or asking how their families were. You were so proud of your boyfriend, knowing all of this was for him. Two completely sold out shows in his hometown.

“Here you go Miss Y/L/N.” The tall security man said to you pointing to a door with a bunny sign on the outside with Harry’s name. “Mr. Styles should be coming back soon. He is next door with his stylist getting dressed for tonight.”

“Okay. Thank you so much sir. I really appreciate all the help.” You smiled at him before you entered the room.

The room was empty. Harry’s normal clothes were scattered on the ground. The screen on the wall was showing thousands of fans slowly entering the venue. You smiled at their amazing outfits, each of them unique in their own way.

You pulled your phone out of your bag when you felt it vibrate.

harrydaily: Y/N Y/L/N entering Wembley Stadium for tonight’s sold out show!

“No, please. No one was supposed to see me.” You whispered to yourself as you watched the comments flood in.

bottleofrogue: ffs not this bitch again

babyhoney: @jefezoff help the leech is here throw her out

sunflowercherry: harry needs to break up with her

hscarolina: so she just follows him everywhere now?

wmsfreak: LEAVE HARRY ALONE!

You wiped a tear reading all the comments over and over again. You hated this. You felt like you were bringing Harry’s career down. It broke your heart that all his fans thought this way of you.

“Darling! You made it! Wait, what’s wrong?” You didn’t notice the door open or Harry entering the room at all before Harry dropped down to his knees in front of you.

He raised his hand up to brush your hair back and wipe your tears under your eyes but you shook your head and pushed him away.

“No. I’m sorry. I can’t do this.” Your voice cracked. You still had your phone open on your lap scrolling through the comments.

“What?” Harry began to panic. “What do you mean? What’s going on?”

“I think I have to go. I can’t be here. I don’t think we can do this anymore.” You started to get up but Harry held your wrist.

“Please baby. Don’t do this. What happened?” Harry’s hands started to shake, his eyes began to tear.

In the hand Harry held, he felt your phone vibrate with notifications after notification of people tagging you in comments.

“What’s this?” Harry grabbed your phone and looked down at the flood of comments.

“Please Harry, don’t.” You tried to reach out to grab your phone back but Harry pulled away from you. “I don’t want you to see it. Please H, give me my phone back.”

“Feeding off me? Using me? What the fuck is this?” Harry began to get upset quickly skimming through the different notifications. “Baby, please do not tell me you believe this.”

You just stood there, looking down at the ground silently crying. He was never supposed to see what they were saying. You were scared that he was going to agree with every fan. He was going to believe them and leave you.

“Y/N? Baby?” Harry threw your phone to the couch and quickly walked over to you. He gently lifted your chin and made you look at him. Harry felt his heart shatter as he looked at the sadness in your eyes. It’s like you lost your light.

“Please tell me you don’t believe what they said right?” Harry’s chin began to quiver.

More tears fell as you just shrugged your shoulders at him. “Maybe.” Your voice was low and hoarse.

“How long has this been happening? Is this why you’ve been distant lately? Why you don’t want to come to any more shows or go out to dinner with me or my family anymore?” Harry asked brushing your hair with a gentle calming touch.

You slowly nodded your head, looking back down to the ground. “Yeah. I don’t want you to think I’m using you for your name. I’m not- I don’t- I wouldn’t-” You began to cry again.

“Darling, I do not think that. At all. Hey, look at me.” Harry lifted up your chin with his finger. It broke you to see the tears falling down from his beautiful green eyes.

“I need you to listen to me okay?” You nodded before he began again. “I do not and have never thought that you are using me. Any fan that says that or anything rude towards you at all is no fan of mine, alright? I love you, my family loves you, my team loves you. You are the kindest, sweetest, most caring person I know.” Harry wiped your tears and kissed you on the forehead, pulling you in for a tight hug.

“Please baby, do not read the comments or believe anything they say. They don’t know you. They don’t know us. Let them think whatever fantasy they want because at the end of the day, it’s you I want to kiss and hold. It is you I want to see dancing at my shows. It is you I want to spend my life with. It is you that I love.”

You started to cry again and you lifted up on your toes and kissed him. You held his cheek with one hand as the other hand tangled in his curls at the back of his neck.

“I’m sorry.” You whispered when you broke apart to catch your breath.

“You have nothing to be sorry for my love. If anything I should be the one that is sorry because they are my fans. They are doing this to you because of me. I want you to come to me if something like this happens okay? Don’t hide away or push me away. I don’t want to lose you. I love you.” Harry said, kissing you again.

“I love you too. I promise I won’t do this again or let anyone get between us.” You said kissing him again. “Now are you ready for your sold out show Mr. Rockstar?”

[aruuq]

Texting your boyfriend at 3AM when drunk – Tokrev boys scenarios

characters: mikey, inupi [separately] x gn!reader

genre & style: fluff, maybe a bit angsty in mikey’s part, shorts, scenarios

word count: 1.2k

notes: sorry for not posting for a few weeks. i’ve had a lot to do since i moved across continents plus my old laptop died plus i started working. also i hope it doesn’t bother you, dear anon, that i made scenarios out of your reqs and not smaus. i’ve just never done smaus and i felt more comfortable doing these short writings. i also apologize for not answering at your request but i accidentaly deleted it but fortunately enough i have a screenshot of it! i think i’ll do part two of these scenarios with more characters in the future, cause writing this was fun! 

warnings: alcohol obvs, being drunk, dumb messages, pet names, if you see anything i should also put in here, lemme know

Manjiro “Mikey” Sano

Mikey sighs as he plops his tired body onto fluffy sheets of his bed. It’s been a busy night for the members of Toman, and all Manjiro wants right now is a long relaxing nap. However, the moment he connects his phone to the charger, which battery died earlier this night, a series of loud notifications attack his ears. Mikey groans as he grasps onto his phone to check who has had the audacity to spam him like this only to see tons of messages from you.

Bunny: hey honey, do you have plans for tonight?

Bunny: i’m bored, sorry for texting agsin, just wanted to make sure that maybe you just weren’t in a room when i sent my message, and you will hear the motif of this oneeee

Bunny: after i sent the precious message i realised that if you had time you would check your phone anywans and answer me lol sorry for this

Bunny: previous*

Bunny: you know what? since it’s weekend and i don’t have anything to do, i will go and buy myself a beer. if you read my messages, you can come and drink with me

Bunny: four cans of beer* it was cheaper this way

Bunny: also if im not mistaken, i saw your friend at the shop, the one with glasses. he said hi but i wasn’t sure if it was him so i ignored him

Bunny: kay, uf you want to cme, renember to bring your alcohol, cause theres no beer ledt

Bunny: if* come* remmeber* left*

Bunny: remember*

Bunny: i just drnk ghis vodks u biught mr lst timee

Bunny: imiss uou :((

Bunny: yoi*

Bunny: um heafing ovet!!!

Bunny: okau byt waalking to upur houde whrn drnk wss suchag reat isea, itd so brautifl!

Bunny: why arnt u snwerin my xalls? :(((*(

Bunny: bsby

Bunny: the lofe of ny lide

Bunny: swer mw “:(

Bunny: ru msd at mr>

Bunny: bunubn :(

Bunny: ithnk in losr

Mikey blinks a few times while scrolling through your messages with his thumb mindlessly, when finally something clicks in his head, and he realizes the seriousness of the situation. You are drunk. In the middle of the night. And you got lost somewhere on your way to his house. Manjiro curses at his stupidity, because how the hell could he let something like this happen. He jumps off the bed, and quickly puts on his flip-flops, while trying to call you.

“C’mon, Y/N, answer my call,” he murmurs, leaving his house with a flashlight in his hand. “You were so eager to talk to me, so answer. your fucking. phone.” His teeth are clenched. He’s not mad at you. He’s mad at himself. And he’s worried and scared. “Fuck!” Mikey almost throws his phone away when he hears your voice but it happens only to be automatic voicemail. “Why won’t you answer me?”

Mikey starts running towards your house, still trying to call you, but without any results. For a moment he feels scared that somebody could have kidnapped you. But lucky enough for him, the moment he enters your street, he is able to see your silhouette, all curled up under the front gate of your house.

“Y/N!” Mikey shouts, speeding up his run. “Y/N!” he drops to his knees next to you and embraces your body close to his chest. “Are you okay? Why aren’t you answering my calls?”

“Hu-uh? Bun-bun?” You mutter, trying to look up at him. “I think I lost my phone when I tried to visit you. I also lost my keys,” you babble drunkenly, while you clench onto his shirt. Mikey pulls back a little to look at your face, then cups your cheeks in his palms, squishing them tightly.

“Never, ever do this again, okay?”

Seishu “Inupi” Inui

A sudden blue light hits Inupi’s squinted eyes, way too bright for his liking, making his eyelids to narrow even more, as he checks the notification. Next to the symbol of a speech bubble is your name with a few colorful hearts next to it. The boy looks at the hour. It’s 3AM. And it’s Wednesday, the middle of the week. Wrinkles of confusion appear on his forehead. You should be long asleep, since you should have work tomorrow, unless you haven’t told him about taking a day off or something like this. Still, the fact that you text him out of the blue in the middle of the night feels concerning for him. As he feels that negative thoughts that something wrong may have happened to you are starting to flood into his mind, he decides to simply check your message.

Y/N💜💙💖: heh baby iwabted osay tgst i Ilobr tpuuu❤️❤️

Inupi blinks one, two, and five times before he reads your message one more time. Usually when you text him, there aren’t a lot of mistakes in the text. Maybe sometimes there’s a typo or two, or there’s not enough commas, but something like this? He knows that there’s only one explanation for this situation, but he doesn’t want to believe it. You must be drunk. Unless you have suddenly started to sleepwalk, but still, even then you would have spelled more correctly. Inupi decides to text you back. “Are you drunk?”

Before receiving your message, the boy felt sluggish. But after this he knows he won’t be able to find sleep until he makes sure of what is happening. Inupi taps his phone case nervously, waiting for your response.

Y/N💜💙💖: cime to me andfnidout if uoure this curioys ;p

They’re drunk, he thinks. Before Seishu answers you, he quickly checks if there are any buses or trains running at this late hour, since you live far from him. He clicks his tongue, when a big “No Connections Available” pops out. He needs to know if you are safe and the whole world seems to make it difficult for him for fun. “Are you home?” He’s sure that it’ll take some time for you to answer, so he quickly checks the amount of money in his wallet – he knows he will have to refuel on his way to your house. Not a single yen. Inupi curses under his nose and starts analyzing if it’s better for him to borrow money from his parents or try to find a group of kids outside and borrow it from them.

Y/N💜💙💖: whu u askibg? Uu wamma🤡 see ne so bsd> ;))

The poor boy sighs, and texts you back. “Yeah, sure. Just tell me where should I go to see you, baby.” Inupi swiftly puts a jacket onto his shoulders, and checks if he has everything he needs in his pockets. His phone rings one more time.

Y/N💜💙💖: m im my bsckyarrd

He texts you a quick “coming, don’t go anywhere” before leaving his room with a mission of borrowing money from his dad’s wallet. Hopefully both his parents are asleep, ‘cause he doesn’t have time to explain to them why he needs to ride somewhere on his bike at this hour. He doesn’t need any more troubles, a long night awaits him. He also needs patience for bearing with your hungover ass in the morning when he will have to encourage you to explain to your boss why you can’t show up at work.

[theangrycomet]

Cartoon Network reboots you’ve personally seen, ranked?

I haven’t been watching a whole lot of TV lately, so I’m not super up to date on this soo…

The Ben 10 Reboot is the best by far, just from the overall improvements in characterizations of the mains as well as the side characters.

I think Justice League Action was considered a reboot too, and I enjoyed that series a lot. Though my knowledge on DC lore is limited, I like what they did with the characters as well and how they felt like an actual team without discrediting any individual’s role.

From what I remember the Pink Panther reboot was good. It had the nice mellow humor that the original had (to my memory) while having a sleek modern feel in the animation. The Pink Panther was VERY dependent on its visuals for its story telling, and it seemed to keep true to that from the episodes I saw.

Other than that? The other reboots aren’t respectful to the source material and their writing flops.

Teen Titans Go was okay for the first season or two, but the writing/humor got very old, very quickly for me. Again, my knowledge on DC lore is limited beyond the 2007(?- I’m not sure what year the previous show released) show itself, But how the show butchers everyone’s characters- especially Robin and Cyborg, is frankly upsetting to watch. Though every 8-12 year old I know loves it, so it’s hitting it’s demographic I guess.

There are several, far better worded posts explaining while Powerpuff girls 2016 is just bad. From the awkward art style, the OOC writing of the characters, the poor handling of Bliss’s introduction as the “fourth” powerpuff girl while disregarding Bunny, the weird self-insert romantic interest, and the censoring of the more “sexual” characters like Miss Bellum and Sedusa but having the girls do inappropriate dances just a few episodes in. It’s just- *rubs temples* well frankly it’s just a mess and a Major disservice to Craig McCracken’s work.

I thought they could do worse things to the franchise but than CW got involved soo

Honestly, if I’m not going to watch the Original Powerpuff girls series I’m gonna watch the Magical Girl Anime PPG, not what ever the dumpster fire that is that reboot.

[flannels-and-fannypacks]

Will They Won’t They | Part 3/4 [Reggie Peters]

Pairing: Reggie Peters x fem!reader

Words: 5.7k

Summary: Reggie and reader were the best of friends up until middle school where they drifted apart and decided never to speak to each other again. What happens when a shared algebra class and a resulting detention force them to spend and increasing amount of time together. Will it be enough to overcome the mutual hate? Or was the relationship doomed from the start.

WARNINGS: swears, spicy dancing, ANGST

A/N: hey it’s drea in charge of posting again :) hope you all are doing well! if you enjoy this, please like, comment, and reblog! if you want to stay updated, dm us to be added to our taglist! sending my love <3 - drea :) 

     ◤━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━◥

The next morning, all the boys were refreshed and ready to start their practice. You, however, were upstairs in Rose’s room as she insisted on “dolling you up.” 

“So,” Rose began as she brushed your hair out. 

You rolled your eyes as you looked at your reflection in the mirror. You could almost see a difference in your appearance, and that had nothing to do with Rose’s magical abilities to style hair. You seemed happier, and your smile was...brighter. You haven’t seen that side of you since before middle school. 

“I know it’s not just me who noticed it, but what happened there with you and country boy,” she gave you a light chuckle. 

“What do you mean?” you asked innocently. 

“What do you mean what do I mean?” Rose asked back confusingly. “You guys were just all close and not hating each other all of a sudden. What happened?” 

“I don’t know,” you lied. “O-Our relationship is complicated, you know that. Somethings that happen now have been happening for a long time, if you know what I mean, and the only other person that knows about it is one of us,” 

“So he just needed a friend?” 

“Pretty much,” you nodded. “And I think he knew I needed one too, so for now we’re on civil terms,” 

“It seems a bit more than civil to me,” Rose shrugged, turning you around so she could put on some eye shadow. 

“Do we really have to do this?” you pointed to the makeup. “And yeah, it’s just civil,”

“It’s fun, come on!” she chuckled. “But you’re telling me you didn’t feel anything when he kissed you? Or when we found out that somehow you’d gotten paired with him in MASH?” 

“Nothing,” you shook your head, unsure if you were lying to your friend or not, it didn’t even seem to be clear for you at the moment. “It was just a kiss on the forehead. Nothing else to it.” 

“Alright, if you say so,” she shrugged right as the door swung open, revealing Luke entering the room and flopping down on the bed. 

“Lady Bunny, what’s up? I miss you,” he smiled and you chuckled, rolling your eyes yet again, but this time in a more affectionate manner. 

“Shouldn’t you be practicing? You guys have a gig coming up soon don’t you?” 

“We’re on break, so I thought I’d come visit my daughter,” 

“Well your daughter is fine so you can leave,” you said begrudgingly. 

“Nope, not gonna happen lady bunny,” he shook his head as Rose finished your eyeshadow and grabbed your arm, throwing you over his shoulder like the first time you met him and headed downstairs and to the studio. 

By this point you had learned not to fight it when Luke carried you, otherwise not only would he get hurt, but you had put yourself in grave danger more times than you would like to admit. 

When you reached the studio Luke placed you down gently on the couch before grabbing his guitar and motioning or the boys to get ready. 

“We’d like to dedicate this song to a special someone in the audience,” Alex started, talking into his mic. 

“Someone whose face looks like that of a bunny,” Luke added. 

“And has a mean sucker punch,” Bobby contributed. 

“And is just overall a pretty terrible person,” Reggie finished and you couldn’t help but laugh along with Rose on the sidelines. 

“So Lady Bunny, this one’s for you,” Luke said, pointing at you before looking back down at his guitar.

The rock beat started slowly, with a familiar choppy guitar beginning that sounded like maybe it should have been a bit softer, but even though they had barely started you already knew what they were playing. 

Reggie came in shortly after on bass along with Alex on drums and Luke on lead guitar. 

You tapped your foot along to the beat while Luke gave you a knowing look and started singing, 

“When it began, I can’t begin to knowing, but then I know it’s growing strong,”

Reggie hopped in, taking over for the next part of the verse, “Was in the spring, then spring became the summer. Who’s have believed you’d come along,” 

Now all the boys were joining in together for the pre chorus, 

“Hand, touching hand. Reaching out. Touching me. Touching you! My sweet sunshine,”

“Ba! Ba! Ba!” you and Rose came in right on beat. 

“Good times never seemed so good,” Luke sang effortlessly. 

“I’ve been inclined,” Reggie started, leaving room for you and Rose to come in once more. “To believe they never would, but now I,” 

As the boys continued to sing, Rose stood up and pulled you to your feet. Giggling, the girl danced energetically in the middle of the studio, gesturing for you to join.

“Dance, (N/N)!” she exclaimed, her voice slightly drowned out from the music. You blushed, slightly swaying to the music until Rose grabbed your hands and waved them around, making you laugh at how ridiculous you both probably looked. “You look like a robot,” she scolded. “Let loose! Feel the music run through you!” 

Rolling your eyes, you decided to take your friend’s advice and loosen up a bit. The two of you swayed your hips, occasionally twirling each other or jumping up and down while screaming the lyrics. 

The chorus was coming up once more only this time Luke took the lead from the boys, changing Caroline yet again only this time singing something along the lines of, 

“Sweet child of mine!” 

Causing you to exaggeratedly roll your eyes at him and not noticing the cord that was pulled taught and level with the ground. You shuffled into it, tripping and falling straight in the direction of Reggie and his ‘rock out zone’. Letting out a shriek, you staggered back and closed your eyes, prepared to feel the roughness of the ground, only to be met with a strong pair of arms. 

Your eyes fluttered open to see a pair of blue-green eyes stare down at you, sheepishly smiling. The boys had stopped playing once they realized you fell, all of them watching you in his arms. 

“Still the clumsiest dork I know, Cookie?” he asked in a teasing voice. 

You flashed him a smile. “Always, Flicka,” you replied. 

Reggie helped you up but his arms didn’t leave their hold around you. He was so close you could feel his warm breath on your nose and his blue green eyes staring deeply into your soul. His closeness melted away everything around you, it all became fuzz until Alex spoke up and said, 

“...Guys?” 

You blinked a few times and stepped away from Reggie smoothing out your clothes. Your mind was racing. Did that just happen? Why was your heart beating so rapidly? And dammit, why was Reggie looking at you with that smile of his? 

“I-I’m just going to go out for a second, you guys keep going,” you insisted and quickly walked out of the studio. Reggie called out your name, but you brushed him off as you sped down the sidewalk. 

You didn’t even know where you were going. You felt like you couldn’t breathe in that studio, and honestly all you wanted was to get out, to leave, to think about what just happened. 

Back at Rose’s house Reggie was frozen in place. Had he done something wrong? He had just gotten you back, was it really going to be that easy to lose you again. 

“Reggie are you okay?” Bobby asked and Reggie frowned, but more a frown of confusion. 

“Can we maybe take five?” Reggie said quietly, looking over at Rose, if anyone knew what the hell just happened it would be her. 

Rose, who seemed to understand the look on Reggie’s face, subtly pointed at the door to the house. The two went into the kitchen, where Reggie began to pace back and forth.

“What did I just do?” he questioned aloud. “What did I just say? What did I just think?” 

Rose’s eyes followed the boy, only to sigh in discomfort. “You mind taking a seat before we talk?” she suggested. “Sorry, you’re making me dizzy.”

Reggie paused before taking a seat at the table, his knees bouncing up and down as continued to ramble. “Was it something I did wrong?” he asked Rose. “I-I mean I always joke with her. She’s always clumsy a-and we’ve danced before so it’s not like the close proximity could have scared her off, right? Right? Rose, please say something before I do something stupid.” 

Rose winced. “How stupid?” she risked asking. 

“Like climb your roof and look for her stupid.” 

Rose took the seat across from Reggie, the boy calming down slightly. “Reggie honey, tomar un respiro,” she instructed in Spanish only to be met with more anxiety and confusion. 

“Please tell me that wasn’t English and I’m not hallucinating,” he begged, looking as though he was on the verge of passing out of bursting into tears. Or both. 

“It’s Spanish Reg, and it means take a breath,” she said softly. “Now tell me slowly what’s going on in your heart,” she emphasized. 

“I-I… (Y/N),” he said quietly, bringing a hand to his mouth, chewing on his nail. “Fuck me,” he groaned and fell back in his chair. 

“What about (Y/N)?” Rose asked. 

“Everything,” Reggie shook his head. “It’s always been everything. She’s always been my everything.” 

Rose took his hand from his mouth and brought it down. “You’re going to have to be a little more specific than that, Reg.”

Reggie closed his eyes, pondering for a moment. “Ever since we were little, it was always me and her. Cookie and Flicka. We were partners in crime. Bonnie and Clyde, like she’d always say. And then I was stupid enough to let her go in middle school. But even after we stopped talking, I never stopped thinking about her. She was on my mind 24/7. Playing music with the guys, I always wondered what she would think about our music. When I was having a rough day, I would think about what she would say to cheer me up. E-even at night I’d stay up, wondering what she’d be doing if she were awake at this hour.” Reggie chucked to himself. “My answer would always be studying or making a midnight snack. A jelly sandwich and gummy worms. I thought it was disgusting but the look on her face when she’d make them growing up, all the thoughts left my mind. Because at the end of the day, she was with me. I always had my Cookie.” 

Rose smiled as the boy recalled his memories, sharing them in great detail. It made her realize how alike Reggie and her friend were. They never stopped loving each other, no matter how stubborn they were about it.

“But when we were singing today,” Reggie continued, wiping his hands against his jeans. “I was watching her dance with you. It was the first time I had seen her so care-free, like there wasn’t a single thought in her mind that stressed her with worry and doubt. Something bubbled in my chest, I-I can’t explain it. But damn, her smile and laugh-” Reggie opened his eyes and stared up at the ceiling. “I felt like if I died today, I’d be glad I saw her at her happiest one last time.” 

“Reggie, hon, have you considered you might… maybe you’re in love with her?” Rose asked quietly and Reggie’s eyes widened. 

“L-Love, you mean like a friend right?”

“No Reggie,” Rose gave him a kind smile, placing a hand on his that was resting in his lap. “I mean I think you actually love her. The way you talk about her, I-I hope someone talks about me like that one day.” 

Reggie’s mouth went dry as he looked over at Rose. 

“Rose I-,” he paused. “I can’t tell her,” 

“Reggie what do you mean?” Rose exclaimed, her voice becoming slightly louder. 

“I can’t do that to her,” he shook his head. “You can’t say anything to her,” 

“Why not?” Rose asked, clearly not impressed with him. 

“Because she doesn’t want this, clearly. She wants a friend so that’s what I’m going to be, even if it tears me to pieces. I don’t care,” he shook his head. “I’d do anything for her. No matter what the consequences.” 

—

For the first time in your weeks of detention, you were the one who arrived late. Reggie had been waiting in the dance studio with Mrs. Leona, quite anxious to say the least. You were queasy as you approached the two, silently waving. 

“There you are!” Mrs. Leona grinned, standing up from stretching. “I was starting to think you wouldn’t show up.” 

“Sorry,” you apologized quietly, putting your bag on the floor and joining in on the stretches. “Car trouble,” you lied, hoping Reggie wouldn’t be able to notice. 

“You okay?” Reggie whispered as you stretched your arms above your head. 

You quickly whipped your head to face him. “Of course!” you squeaked. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You just look a little nauseous,” Reggie noted, “Are you sure you should be here?” 

“I’m fine,” you insisted. “Mrs. Leona, what’s the plan?” you asked, diverting your attention to the dance instructor. 

Mrs. Leona reached for her notepad, skimming through her notes. “Well since you two did brilliantly for that last dance, I thought it would be good to request for you guys to work with me again.” She stepped in front of the mirror, clasping her hands together. “This lesson, I’m continuing partner work because unlike you guys, my students lacked the trust, the chemistry.” You squeaked in response, but Mrs. Leona didn’t seem to notice. “So I’m giving them this song to dance to. Lucky for them, it’s just focusing on footwork and lifting. But, since it’s a romantic song, they’re going to need to practice putting their emotions into their dance.” she smiled at the two of you. “But I know the chemistry part won’t be an issue for you both. Let’s get to work, shall we?” 

You seemed hesitant to start. “Mrs. Leona maybe we can do something else, like something that doesn’t require close contact or lifting?” 

Reggie gave you a look. “Scared I might drop you, Cookie?” he teased before turning back to Mrs. Leona. “It’s fine, we can do this.” 

Mrs. Leona went through explaining the beginning portion of the routine, demonstrating the required movements and techniques to accomplish such things. At first you did each part broken up and without music and once you nailed everything at least once she decided you were ready to try and put it all together along with Peter Gabriel’s In Your Eyes. 

You started to get into your position, holding Reggie’s hands in yours. Your heart was beating loudly in your ears, that the music was almost fuzzy at that point. Mrs. Leona’s counting of the beats made you snap out of your thoughts as you pulled closer to Reggie. 

Love, I get so lost sometimes

Reggie’s hand trailed up to the side of your face as he cupped it gently, pressing his forehead against yours.

Days pass, and this emptiness fills my heart

 As quick as he touched your face, he dropped his hand back down to your waist, dipping you down as he turned you. 

When I want to run away, I drive off in my car

You managed to keep eye contact with Reggie the entire time, his blue-green eyes slightly darkening in admiration as you rose back up. 

But whichever way I go, I come back to the place you are

His lips quirked up into a smile while he slid down onto his knees to the rhythm of the music. 

All my instincts, they return

Following along, you almost draped yourself over Reggie as he leaned back, your hands coming to the sides of his arms, trailing down until you took his hands in yours before pulling him back up carefully.

The grand facade, so soon will burn

You placed his hands delicately on your waist tightly as you fell down into a lunge, his strong arms supporting you.

Without a voice, without my pride, I reach out from the inside. 

Your breath hitched as his hands reached slightly under your shirt, just from the movement, but he didn’t seem deterred, moving you away and allowing you to run into the lift where he held your legs until you slid down against him slowly. 

In your eyes, the light the heat

His hand came to hold you again just as you spun out and twirled back in, with a little more force than expected, bumping into Reggie’s chest, your lips gently brushing against his own causing every nerve in your body to burn and every muscle to lose its function. 

I am complete-

You let out an audible gasp, covering your mouth with your hand. Reggie seemed equally flustered, but managed to hide it well, aside from his reddened cheeks. Mrs. Leona immediately stopped the music, jogging over to the two of you. 

“What happened?” she asked, clearly confused. “The two of you were dancing so well?” 

You stumbled over your words. “I, erm-” you stammered. “I think I might have landed on my foot wrong after the lift.” It wasn’t your best lie, but at this point you were desperate. 

Mrs. Leona’s eyes widened. “Oh no, an injury?” she exclaimed. “Sit down, honey, I’ll get some ice from the nurse’s office.” Before you could refuse, the dance teacher was already long gone. 

Reggie turned to you. “Let’s sit you down,” he suggested, pulling you down with him. “Mind if I check if it’s more than a rolled ankle?” 

You shook your head repeatedly. “No no, it’s fine,” you quickly told him. 

Reggie took your leg and placed it gently on top of his. “Let me,” he insisted. “If it’s really bad, we might need to ask Mrs. Leona to wrap it.” Reggie began to untie your shoelace when you jerked it back abruptly, standing up in the process. 

The dark haired boy looked at you suspiciously as you rocked back and forth. “So I’m assuming you’re fine if you’re standing on it normally now,” he deadpanned. You looked down at your two feet, sheepishly kicking your left leg back. 

“Ah, a miracle!” you exclaimed awkwardly. “It must have been a flash of pain or something, but it’s better now…”

Reggie frowned, standing up. “Cookie, if you want to lie to Mrs. Leona, fine by me. But you know you can’t lie to me.” 

“Who says I’m lying?” you countered and Reggie rolled his eyes. 

“Come on (Y/N), seriously?” Reggie looked disappointed. “First you run out of the studio and don’t come back, we had to send Alex and Bobby out to make sure you were okay and now you’re lying? What’s going on? What happened?” he pressed. 

“What happened?” you said with disbelief. “Were you not just dancing with me?” 

“What do you mean?” 

“You… I…” you tried to get out the words, but you shook your head. “I can’t do this Reggie. I can’t do it.” 

“Cookie, it’s just me,” he insisted, coming closer to you, holding your arms against your side. “I’m your friend, right? Or at least I thought I was.” 

“You are!” you insisted. “I promise. It’s just there’s a lot going on and I need a second to process it,” 

You were seriously starting to think he hadn’t noticed what had just happened. Maybe you were reading into it too much, maybe he was just playing it off cool to make sure you were okay. Whatever it was, you didn’t know what to think of it. All you wanted to do was go home and curl up in a tiny ball and drown out the sound of your thoughts with Tracy Chapman’s voice. 

Reggie stepped away and scratched the back of his neck. 

“I’ll give you some time,” he nodded and walked out to the hallway. 

It seemed as though your hearts were two positive charges just constantly pushing each other, further and further away.

—

“In my opinion, I think you should just stop being so conflicted and tell him how you feel about him,” Rose suggested as she brushed her hair in front of her vanity.

You were at Rose’s house for an “emergency sleepover,” as she liked to put it. You were incredibly confused with everything going on that you needed a friend, specifically one who was reasonable, to talk to.

Sighing, you flopped backwards on Rose’s bed. “But I don’t know what I’m feeling,” you groaned tiredly. “Sometimes I want to punch him in the face, but lately, I haven’t felt that.”

“And what have you been feeling?” Rose pressed, setting her brush down and walking over to you. 

You bit the inside of your cheek as you thought. “I don’t know,” you replied. “Fuzzy? Like the inside of my stomach are angry wasps buzzing crazily.” You sat up, fidgeting with the hem of your shirt. “But when he smiles...they turn into butterflies.”

“Butterflies?” Rose repeated.

You nodded, dramatically groaning as you leaned your head on her shoulders. “The happiest of butterflies. Like- when he looks at me with those stupidly pretty eyes.”

“Stupidly pretty eyes?” Rose said.

“Yes!” you fumed. “Everything about him is pretty. His eyes and his smile. Even his flannels and shoulders!”

“Shoulders?”

You looked up at Rose. “Will you stop repeating everything I’m saying?” you whined. “Say something! Give me advice! You’re the only one besides Alex that is reasonable! Because I think I’m going to do something stupid.”

Rose bit her lip to hold back a laugh. Reggie said the exact same thing to her earlier. “How stupid?” 

“...Stealing Alex’s van to drive to his house, stupid.” 

Rose hummed in response. “Well, that is pretty high up there on the list of things that are stupid,” she commented with a smile. “Why do you want to do something stupid? What about Reggie is making you feel this way?” 

You stood up, wrapping your arms protectively around yourself. “He’s so different from when we were friends as kids,” you sighed. “But at the same time, it’s like he hasn’t changed a bit. All these mixed feelings of hating him but also missing him is stressing me out!” You turned to Rose, dropping your arms. “It’s so confusing. I feel like I don’t know if I know myself because I don’t know him. Does that… does that make sense?” you whispered. 

“A little,” Rose nodded, admitting to her confusion. 

“Have you known someone so long that over time you-you almost feel like you have such a part of them inside you?” you asked and didn’t really wait for an answer. “It’s been so long since I’ve really known Reggie… now it just feels like that part of me is missing because of that,” You held your hand on your chest, feeling your heart beat rapidly as you rambled. “But when Reggie’s just...the Reggie I knew, no toughness, no band, no anything...I feel like I’m whole again. T-that, I can lean on his shoulder and trust him when he says everything will be alright. And I’ll believe him. No matter all the promises he’s broken in the past, I’ll still find myself trusting him completely.”

“Why?” Rose asked in a quiet voice. 

You smiled softly. “That really is the question, isn’t it?” you laughed. “Why do I continue to trust him, even though every part of my body is telling me no? Well, because I love him. He’s my best friend, no matter what. Even after our falling out, I still thought about him, still cared about him. And it’s so stupid of me, and I know I should stop...but I can’t. I just can’t.” 

“Then go to him,” Rose insisted. “Please (Y/N), for the love of God,” 

“I can’t!” 

“Why not?” Rose pressed. “Why can’t you?”

“Because!” you only said. 

Rose threw her head back, laying on her bed. “Oh my gosh, (N/N), you and Reggie are going to drive me crazy with your stubborn bullshit! I don’t understand why you can’t say anything to him? You’re his best friend! Why is it so difficult?” 

“Exactly!” you exclaimed, exhausted by the yelling and frustration. “He’s my best friend! I just got my best friend back. I don’t want to risk it all because of this-this feeling! Who knows! Maybe I’m going crazy. Maybe, I’m going crazy because my friends see something that will obviously never happen between me and Reggie!” 

Rose stood up. “Do not blame this on me, Luke, and Alex,” she told you, starting to lose patience. “If anything, blame it on yourself! Blame it on Reggie, and his hard head! But do not blame it on your friends who just want to help you.” Rose took a deep breath, recomposing herself. “What is the worst thing that can happen?” 

Tears welled in your eyes as Rose pulled you back down to her bed, wrapping her arms around you. “Having him walk out of my life again?” you said, your voice cracking. “Hurting myself even more than I already am? Losing you, and Luke, and Bobby and Alex...Being alone all over again?” You looked up at Rose, tears freely cascading down your cheeks. “Rose, I don’t want to be alone again, please…” 

“Cariña we’re not going to leave you,” Rose whispered, holding her head against yours. “But if you trust me you’ll understand why I’m telling you that it's not a bad idea to maybe talk to him and figure things out.” 

“I wish I thought the same,” you sighed, savouring the feeling of Rose holding you near. 

Rose pressed her lips together, deciding that the two of you were far too tired to argue any further. “Let’s sleep now, get some rest and think it over, then we’ll talk more in the morning, okay?” she suggested, taking a throw blanket and placing it over your legs. 

You nodded shakily. “I think that would be best,” you agreed, tucking yourself underneath the covers. 

Rose turned off the lights, finding her spot beside you. 

You stared at the ceiling for a moment. “Rose?”

“Yes?”

You turned your head to face her. “You know I love you, right?” 

The girl wrapped one arm around your waist. “I love you, too, (N/N).” 

— 

“I love you Flicka,” the words seemed to roll out of your mouth before you could stop them, but that’s how you knew they were true. your head pressed gently against his, almost refusing to look into those blue-green eyes. 

Reggie's hands drifted away from the sides of your face as he stepped back and looked at you. The same cold and fearful look he carried in his eyes after you weren’t on speaking terms.

“No you don’t,” he hissed. “Stop playing these mind games. It’s only a matter of time until you fuck up and ruin everything for yourself and for everyone again.” 

And without another word he turned and walked away. 

Even though it was all in your head you couldn’t risk it. You wouldn’t let the world pull you apart again. you wouldn’t give him another chance to break that promise. 

You woke up in a cold sweat, your stomach churning with nerves. Rose was still fast asleep and you looked over at the digital clock on her nightstand that read 2:32 A.M.

You pushed yourself up carefully, sitting on the edge of the bed and taking a breath, but as it became painfully clear you felt suffocated and needed to go out and get some air. 

Reaching for your sweatshirt on the floor, you slipped it over your head before quietly standing up and leaving Rose’s door, gently shutting the door behind you as you did so. 

Your first stop was the kitchen to get a glass of water, maybe the cool drink would clear your system of any unwanted feelings but you highly doubted an excess of dihydrogen monoxide would cure your of falling in love with your best friend. Sighing, you took your untouched glass of water with you to the studio, thinking that maybe you could find any solution to your problems there. 

You made your way to the studio, suspicious as to why the lights were already on, but didn’t comment on it. You sat down, staring at your full glass of water. 

“No jelly gummy worm sandwich tonight, Cookie?” a voice piped up from behind you.

“Holy fucking shit!” you shrieked, throwing your glass at the source of the noise. 

Once the initial fear dialed down, you rubbed your eyes to see none other than a dark haired boy with a red flannel tied around his waist. 

“Reggie?” you squeaked. “What are you doing here so late at night?” 

He wiped the water from his face, his hair flopping back as he shot you an annoyed -but confused- glare. “The hell was that about?”

“You came here unannounced,” you shot back. “I thought I was about to be murdered, and considering what you said last sleepover, I should still be on edge.”

Reggie rolled his eyes. “Understandable.” He stepped forward with his hand outreached, only for you to fearfully stagger back. “Relax, I just forgot my songbook here.” Reggie reached for the notebook stuck between the cushions, waving it in front of your face for proof. It was red and slightly battered, and filled with loose sheets of papers sticking out. 

You released your breath you didn’t realize you were holding. “I’m sorry,” you said sheepishly. You gestured to the couch. “Sit with me?” 

You and Reggie sat down on the couch, silence filling the room. Your knees slightly brushed against his on the small couch, but you quickly scooted away. 

Reggie glanced over at you, noticing how uneasy you looked. “What’s on your mind?” he asked. “If you don’t mind me asking.” 

You shook your head. “It’s nothing,” you said. “A nightmare, that’s all.” 

The boy raised an eyebrow, immediately detecting your lie. “Just a nightmare?” he asked. “I’ve never seen you so pale and jumpy, Cookie. You sure it was just a nightmare?” 

You nodded before ultimately shaking your head with a sigh. “Do you ever wonder if...if the people you care about just up and leave? And you can’t do anything because it’s your fault?” Reggie remained silent, gesturing for you to continue. “I’m scared that those close to me will leave me.”

“Why would they leave you?” he questioned curiously. 

You scoffed, drumming your fingers against your legs. “Why wouldn’t they leave me?” you asked in return. “I’m too scared to face my fears. I keep my mouth shut and bottle shit up until it explodes and affects everyone around me.” 

“Cookie,” Reggie hushed, reaching out to stop our fidgeting hand by placing his on your knee. “I…” he shook his head. “I don’t think you’re the only person that it happens to,” 

“Flicka,” his nickname got caught in your throat. 

All you wanted was to pull him close, have him kiss your forehead and tell you those sweet beautiful lies. That everything’s going to be okay, and that he’d be by your side forever. 

That he loved you. 

It felt like you were having a bad allergic reaction, your throat closing up, as you wished the words to come out, but they just got bottled up and whisked away in the sea of your heart like everything else. 

You couldn’t see it, but if you could take a moment, get out of your own heads you’d see his blue green eyes looking back at you with that soft mischievous sparkle they always held, only this time you would have seen all the love and admiration hidden behind them. You would have seen how much he wished he could make your pain vanish. You would have seen his heart on his sleeve. You would have seen your Reggie. 

“Cookie, I’m here,” he whispered. “I’ll always be here.” 

Reggie allowed you to lean your head against his shoulder, not caring at all about the tears soaking up his t-shirt. He raised his hand to your face, tucking a strand of your hair behind your ear, then trailing his hand down along your jawline. He tilted your head up to face his, your lips mere centimeters apart. 

“Flicka,” you breathed, his eyes staring down at yours with so much more than you could ever possibly wish to describe. As he pulled closer, you felt his lips against yours. They felt like a smooth bass line in a classic jazz song, kissing him tasted like eating the best jelly and gummy worm sandwich in the world. It was by no means a perfect kiss, those were near impossible to achieve. But his slightly chapped lips molded with yours in a way that you have never felt with anyone else. The way he tilted his head, the way his lips were slightly curled upward in a smile and the way he thought you didn’t notice when he murmured I love you against your lips. 

Then doubts began to flood your mind. 

He doesn’t love you. It’s all a lie. He’ll leave you. Just like everyone else is your life. Then you’ll be left with no one. 

Just like it’s always been. 

You jerked back, gasping for air as though the wind had been knocked out of you. 

“I need to go,” you whispered hurriedly. 

“Cookie, wait-” Reggie lunged forward, grabbing your hands. His cheeks were flushed red as he tried to form the words in his head. “Can we talk about this-”

“(Y/N)?” you heard Rose’s voice call out. “Are you in the studio?” 

You glanced back at Reggie, his face filled with desperation to talk to you. “Please,” he begged softly. 

Only, you shook your head. “She can’t know you were here,” you whispered. 

Reggie stiffened, hesitantly letting your hand go, but not before squeezing it. “Goodnight, Cookie.” 

You winced at his saddened expression.“Night, Flicka.” 

“(Y/N)?” Rose called again and you turned around to where her voice was coming from, hoping to maybe see Reggie one last time before he left, but when you turned back around once more all that was left of him there was a tattered red song book and a red flannel. 

taglist:  @katrina765 @glowstick-lesbian @well-hes-just-too-cute @slytherhoes @notasofti @sunsetcurving @kmsmedine @dxrling-neptune @lil-lex1 @cookiecakeslive

[vannahfanfics]

Doting

Category: General Fluff

Fandom: My Hero Academia

Characters: Eri, Shota Aizawa, Toshinori Yagi

Hey, everyone! I am super excited to present my story for the EraserMight Mini-Bang! I had two wonderful partners for this event, Cam and apricot, and you can find their arts here and here! 

Shota pushed himself away from his desk with a groan, rubbing his tired eyes with the heels of his palms. The joints of his fingers ached from hours of tapping away at a keyboard, yet Shota still had quite a ways to go before he finished constructing the term’s report on his class’ progress for the administration. There was a lot to discuss, especially with the persistent villain activity inadvertently causing them to show explosive growth, and this report would be a verifiable thesis by the time that the teacher finished. However, despite the pain of the assignment, Shota could not help but feel proud that his students were displaying such advancement that he could fill pages upon pages with praise for them. 

Right as he gathered the will to get back to work, he heard the pitter-patter of little feet. His lips immediately curled into a smile, partly because of the adorable sound and partly because of the realization that he wouldn’t be getting back to work anytime soon. He swiveled in the desk chair just as Eri came trotting through the door, her long silvery-white hair swishing around her knees and the stuffed bunny that Nemuri had bought for her not too long ago clutched in her hand. She was dressed in a pair of worn blue overalls with a pink-and-white spotted shirt underneath, complete with some cute pink-and-white sneakers. She did look very cute, so Shota mentally thanked Nemuri for her fashion sense. 

“Eraserhead!” the girl cried, running right up to him to grip his knee with sparkling red eyes. Using the other arm, she hugged the bunny to her chest; its fur was beginning to fray and become tinged with dirt, and Shota would have to pry it out of her arms to throw it in the wash soon. I’m beginning to think like a doting parent, he thought in amusement. He supposed someone had to for the little girl. He leaned forward as she gazed up at him expectantly. “Eraserhead, did you forget? You’re supposed to take me to the park today!” 

Oh shit. Shota had forgotten. Still, he wasn’t going to let Eri know that. 

“Of course not,” he said smoothly, straightening up and ruffling her hair affectionately. The edges of Eri’s smile curled up happily as his large, calloused hand weaved through the silky silvery-white strands. “I was just finishing up some schoolwork. Did you bring the stuff to do your hair?” 

Eri nodded and dug into the pockets of her overalls to reveal a small brush and a collection of barrettes and ponytails. She dropped them onto the computer desk while Shota stood from his chair, stretching his arms above his head and bending back slightly. He groaned in satisfaction as his vertebrae popped in succession, alleviating the stiff pain that had made a home in his spine. “All right. Let’s get Midnight so she can… Oh.” His voice faltered as he looked around the teacher’s lounge only to find that it was empty aside from himself and the child. A spike of panic gushed through his blood vessels, filling him with cold dread. 

“Um… Eraserhead, Miss Midnight isn’t here, and neither is Mister Mic. Who’s gonna do my hair?” Eri asked while spinning a lock of her hair around her tiny index finger. Shota gulped, wracking his brain frantically. He always recruited Nemuri or Hizashi to style the child’s hair; Shota didn’t possess the delicateness for that. They’d obviously headed home while he was busy typing up his report, and they wouldn’t appreciate being dragged all the way back just to do Eri’s hair. He sucked in a breath through his nose, resigning himself to the task ahead of him. 

Then he flopped back down on the chair and patted his thigh as an indication for Eri to climb into his lap. 

“I am.” 

Eri scrunched her eyes suspiciously, looking very perturbed by the development. Still, she obediently moved to clamber into his lap. She continued to clutch the bunny, so she only had one hand to grip the arm of the chair and try to haul herself up. After a few times of slipping back down, Shota just grabbed her underneath her armpits and pulled her up to settle him on his lap. She settled herself in, sitting the bunny on her lap and smoothing down its ears. 

“I’m gonna do Bunny’s hair, then,” she chirped while grabbing one of the barrettes to clip it to the tuft of white fur atop the stuffed animal’s head. Shota chuckled— she really was cute— but all the adorableness in the world wasn’t going to save him from the daunting trial before him. While Eri busied herself with using her fingers to comb through the stuffed bunny’s fur, Shota’s hands hovered over her mane of silvery hair, not even sure where to begin. 

A brush. A brush is a good start, he decided. Shota picked up the brush and began teasing it through Eri’s hair, careful not to tug too hard and hurt her while easing out the knots. Eri hummed and kicked her heels against the computer chair as she played with her bunny, and he was grateful that he could at least do that right. Eventually, though, the brush glided seamlessly through the silky strands, and Shota couldn’t put off the inevitable forever. 

He awkwardly bunched up a chunk of her hair and secured it with a ponytail, then let it go. It flopped loosely against her head with a few strands sticking out at odd angles. 

He tugged it free with a heavy sigh, running his other hand over his eyes. This is going to be harder than I thought. 

“Eraserhead? You’re here awfully late,” a voice piped up suddenly. 

Shota looked over the walls of his cubby to see Toshinori strolling in, his coat draped over his skinny arm. When Eri heard his voice, she sat up on Shota’s legs to crane her head over the cubby wall and wave happily. 

“Hello, Mister All Might!” 

“Why, hello there, Eri. You look lovely today,” the teacher smiled as he walked around the desks to greet her. Giggling, Eri flopped back down on Shota’s lap and held up her bunny, which had several barrettes stuck in the tuft of cottony fur on its head. “Oh, Mr. Bunny looks great today, too. Did you do his hair?” he asked, squatting down to inspect the stuffed animal appraisingly. 

“Yeah! Eraserhead is supposed to be doing my hair, but he seems to be having trouble.” 

Shota covered his face with a hand as it turned bright pink with embarrassment. Kids really had no filter. Toshinori chuckled and straightened up, giving Shota a sympathetic look. 

“Well, cut him some slack. I’m sure he just wants to make sure it looks extra perfect.” 

Damn, he’s really good with kids. He knows the perfect things to say, Shota marveled, an eyebrow inching up his head as a plan hatched in his mind. Toshinori didn’t have children— at least not that Shota knew of— but perhaps the man had a little bit more experience in the complex art of doing little girls’ hair. Toshinori seemed to sense Shota’s great discomfort with the situation, as he shuffled around to the side of the chair to survey the barrettes and clips littering the desk. 

“Eraserhead, would you like some help?” 

“Oh, God, yes,” Shota blurted immediately, too overwhelmed with relief to maintain some sense of dignity. 

Toshinori chuckled and retrieved the brush, leaning over Shota’s shoulder while he began brushing Eri’s hair to gather it into one big hand. 

“I can’t say I’m familiar with things like this, but it can’t hurt to try,” he smiled. “How about we try some pigtails, Eri?” 

“Okay!” 

Shota reclined in the chair, melting with relief as he began to think that his dilemma may just be solved. 

However, it soon became clear that Toshinori was about as familiar with doing little girls’ hair as Shota. When he stepped back, one of the pigtails was much bigger than the other, and the left one sat at least two inches lower than the right. Toshinori smiled sheepishly when Eri tugged at the skinny pigtail, then looked at him doubtfully. 

“Um… I don’t think this is right…” 

“I’m sorry,” Toshinori groaned, his shoulders falling as he tipped back his head in defeat. “It seems that there is more nuance to this than I realized…” Sighing, Shota slipped the ponytails out of her hair, letting the waves of silver hair fall loose for them to start over. 

“All right. It’s time to pull out the big guns,” Shota decided. He grabbed his phone to pull up the ultimate source of information on the Internet— YouTube. Many young fathers and mothers posted tutorials on doing their daughters’ hair for those who were new to the game. Shota was more than willing to swallow his pride and peruse the videos rather than continue embarrassing himself. He picked a promising video and propped it up, and he and Toshinori watched the tutorial with great interest. The man pulled his daughter’s hair into perfect pigtails with almost frightening ease, talking through it step-by-step. 

“Well, he certainly doesn’t make it sound hard,” Toshinori frowned and looked back to Eri’s mane of silvery-white hair. His doubtful look certainly didn’t inspire much confidence. 

After taking a deep breath, Shota restarted the video and tried to replicate the father’s actions. It turned out better than Toshinori’s attempt, but the pigtails were still a little uneven and lopsided. Eri looked back at him when he pulled her hair free again, looking perturbed. 

“Eraserhead, it’s okay…. You don’t have to do my hair. We can just go to the park…” 

“No. You said you wanted your hair done, so I’m going to do it,” Shota asserted firmly and started the video over again. It was really less about making Eri happy and more that he was frustrated he couldn’t do something so simple as pigtails. His heart went out to all the single fathers out there bungling through the same struggle. Eri turned back around, pouting a little, but Shota was determined. 

This time, he and Toshinori did one side each. 

“Did… Did we do it?” Toshinori asked hesitantly as Eri shook her head back and forth slightly. Her pigtails swished over her shoulders; they sure looked even, and the ponytails didn’t slip free with her movements. 

“I think so,” Shota said with relief, sinking into the chair. He picked up two pink flower barrettes and clipped them onto the ponytails, and Eri reached up to touch the smooth plastic with her fingertips. 

“Well, Eri? Did we do a good job this time?” he said as he pulled up his cellphone camera and allowed her to look at her reflection. She grabbed the phone with her small hands to inspect herself, and Shota felt his heart flutter with happiness when she beamed wide in the screen. 

“Yeah! It looks great!” she nodded. “Can we all take a picture together?” 

“Sure.” They adjusted themselves so they could all fit in the frame, with Shota’s arm slung around Eri’s waist and Toshinori over his shoulder, smiling shyly and throwing up a peace sign. Eri was smiling hugely, her eyes scrunched up with delight. She immediately grabbed at the phone to look as the shutter sounded, squealing happily at the photograph. Shota stroked one of her pigtails as she kicked her feet excitedly. 

“Thanks, Eraserhead, Mister All Might! I love it,” Eri said, then gave Shota his phone back. She slid down from the chair, clutching her bunny to her chest, and then looked up at Shota hopefully. “Can we go to the park now?” 

“Yes, yes,” Shota said, patting his legs before rising from the chair. He winced, the stiffness from his hours in the chair returning with a vengeance. He rubbed his sore back muscles with a groan, then looked at Toshinori with a wan smile. “Thanks for your help.” 

“Oh, of course!” Toshinori replied, waving his hands submissively. He then smiled down at Eri and flashed her a wink. “I couldn’t leave a lady in such distress, after all.” Eri giggled, hugging her rabbit, and then wiggled shyly. 

“Mister All Might, would you like to go to the park with us, too?” 

Toshinori pretended to think about it for a second, putting his hand on his chin and looking up at the ceiling. Eri frowned at his silence, her lips beginning to poke out into a pout. He then grinned widely. 

“Of course! It’s a wonderful day. In fact, I think I just might have enough money for ice cream afterward…” 

“Yay! Did you hear that, Eraserhead? Ice cream!” she squealed delightedly. She spun on her toes, holding her bunny over her head, before sprinting out of the room demanding, “Come on, come on!” Shota chuckled at her instantaneous burst of energy and shook his head at Toshinori. 

“Wow. She’s going to end up spoiled if she starts to hang out with you more.” 

“I can’t help it. Little kids are my ultimate weakness,” the blond laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. He smiled fondly, watching as Eri jumped back into the doorframe to beg for them to hurry up. “Besides, after what she’s been through… Doesn’t she deserve to be?” 

“Yeah,” Shota nodded and slipped his hands in his pockets. “She really does.” 

He supposed he had better learn how to do her hair soon, for he had a feeling he’d be taking more trips to the park as time went on. He really was starting to think like a doting parent, but that was okay. That was no less than what Eri deserved.

Enjoy this oneshot? Feel free to peruse my Table of Contents!

[everlarkbirthdaygifts]

Happy Birthday, jbsaucy!

Happy belated Birthday, @jbsaucy​! We hope you had a wonderful day back on the 16th, and that you celebrated in style! To bring your party back around, the lovely @mega-aulover​ has written a story just for you!

For this year, I am recently divorced and trying to get the nerve up to get out there. So I would like to request a 30/40s Everlark, post divorced meeting

Jbsaucy

Dear Jbsaucy I hope you had a wonderful birthday. I apologize for the lateness, and I hope you had a wonderful day. This prompt BTW was amazing and I had a great time writing it. It was a blast. Thank you to Norbertsmom for Betaing 

Rated T 

Title:  OFF THE MARKET

-kpkpkpkp-

Divorce sucks. SUCKS.

Getting divorced sucks, being divorced sucked.

But nothing, not the tedious nature of dividing unwanted movies, the fear of root canals, or getting a speeding ticket, compared to dating. Dating, ladies and gentlemen, after being married for ten years sucked royally. 

ROYALLY!

After my divorce, my attorney suggested I get a hobby or join a club. I really wasn’t a social person. Not much of a talker, and avoided any and all spotlights. It was this fear of the spotlight that originally brought me in contact to my now ex-husband, Darius.

My best friend Gale pushed me to do one of those karaoke nights. I panicked and ran straight into Darius. He thought I was cute, and I was grateful he went up with me to the karaoke microphone. He sang and I laughed. The rest is history; the marriage only lasted ten years. But I knew we weren’t right for one another, partially because Darius was a very sexual person, for me sex wasn’t important. I got more enjoyment out of getting my teeth cleaned. He found someone who revved his engine and I got the fica and dates. 

Yup Dates.

How did that happen you ask?

Well, I’ll tell you I followed my divorce attorney’s suggestion. Preface-OUTSIDE OF A COURTROOM NEVER EVER FOLLOW YOUR DIVORCE ATTORNEY’S ADVICE.

With that warning sign, I digress. Taking a deep breath, I pinch the bridge of my nose. Wait for it... I joined a book club. 

It was the only natural course of action. After our divorce I got all of the books. You see one of the things Darius and I loved to do was go to bookstores. We’d buy all of these books with the intention of reading them, and we never did. We had bookshelves filled with books from the 100 Must-Read Classic Books by Penguin. So after my divorce, I sat in my newly minted apartment with a box of wine and all of these books. 

I was looking at the boxes, my divorce papers jutting out. Amongst them there was a note - with the name of a book club, the real 451 book club, with an address. I called them the Squad 451 or the Squad. The women were a hodgepodge of personalities; the right blend of sweet and crazy. There is Mags, the motherly type. She has boatloads of grandchildren. Then there is her neighbor Greasy Sae  who runs a diner in town. I used to go to her diner as a kid and consume her mystery meat soups. The older woman is bawdy and half of the things she says makes me blush redder than a red bean. Next is Annie, a shy, slightly mad girl who is a librarian. Delly has the personality of the southern bell who wears pink and believes in romance. I’ve known of Delly forever; she and I went to the same high school. 

Foxface,  has one of those names with multiple consonants and vowels but prefers to go by Foxy or Foxface. She is freakishly smart and sometimes, I think she has blackmarket dealings because she’s so secretive. Then there is Effie, the middle aged, tightly wound woman whose book choices are as repressed as she is, like Jane Eyre. And last, but not least, is my divorce lawyer, yes the very same one who suggested I get a hobby, Johanna Mason who is, well, a sex fiend. 

I started meeting up with them, and six months after my divorce, that’s when the ladies conspired against me and set up my profile on one of those dating websites looking for men, for me. I had no idea, and on my birthday, they presented me with their “gift.” 

It was the gift you didn’t want, like a pimple on your wedding day or the runs before an important interview, or bad breath before a first kiss. 

Greasy said that if I didn’t use my, well, feminine - looks around - petals. That they’ll dry up and turn into ugly petunias. I announced sex wasn’t important, and even friged Effie said a lady needed to literally, figuratively, and metaphorically, occassionally let her hair down. 

 I said NO.

I demanded.

I scowled.

Nothing helped.

They created a profile based upon themselves, and yet through describing themselves they pegged me. I was nurturing. I had a sexy edge. I was introverted, and yet mysterious. I was smart, honest, loyal and a closet romantic. But if you tell anyone that, I’ll hunt you down, even after I’m dead. 

They split me up like a kid of divorced parents being schlepped from one house to the other. They set themselves up in teams and each team got to pick my dates. And everytime we met for a book club meeting, I was to dutifully report on the date. Based upon their success, a second date would be permitted. 

It was a simple proposition. 

I was naive. A stupid idiot, or as Bugs Bunny say’s, a maroon. 

Because I hadn’t really ever been out there. 

To be honest, I met Darius right out of high school, at my first college party, and we were married - okay it wasn’t a big wedding. It really wasn’t a wedding at all. It was a spur of the moment, we got drunk and ended up at one of those Elvis chapel impersonators. Annnnd bada-bing. 

I never really dated, so I agreed with the book club’s plan, because how hard could dating be?

 And thus began my nightmare.

I must state, or emphatically note, not all of my “dates,” were catastrophically bad. To be fair, most of the time I wasn’t interested. Delly said I wasn’t romantically pulled. Johnna said my engine wasn’t revved up. Greasy said if the man didn’t make me want to orgasam with a look, then he wasn’t worth my time. I posed this question to the universe: How in blazing blue inferno does a man make a woman...well you know, with a look? Was that even possible?

A hazy yellow fuzz enters my head and my mind wanders. I conjure up blue eyes and translucent lashes that never tangle.  

Sigh.

…. (my brain just short circuited at the thought of large hands)

Earth to Katniss. 

Okay sorry, I spaced out for a little bit, and their words spurred me on to continue my journey. And one year after my divorcce I had stories, no I have battle scars.  To prove my point, the following are my top three worst dates. In no particular order.  

Date Disaster # 1 was with an artsy type at a chique Italian restaurant. He arrived late, and was drunk, high, or both. Then fell asleep on his plate of bolognese. Yup, in his plate of spaghetti and meat sauce. I paid for my half, tucked my tail between my legs and left.

Date Disaster #2 was with a small man with glasses and a massive intellect who didn’t stop talking about flamingos. FLAMING PINK FLAMINGOS. My brain shut down. I didn’t hear the music in the jazz themed restaurant. I didn’t even taste the heat in the gumbo. The only factoid I remembered when we said goodnight was that flamingos were gray when they were born. I couldn’t even tell you how they became pink. The man was the human form of anesthesia for my soul. 

Date Disaster #3 was a nice man. We laughed. And everything was going well. We ordered drinks, a cranberry and soda for me, the bartender special for him while we waited for our table. Turns out he has a milk allergy and the bartender special had milk. When we sat down at the table and we were talking about our hobbies, his stomach began to grumble loudly. He became pasty and then as the waiter brought out our appetizers, he threw up all over the place. It was a good thing that throwing up didn't bother me, but it bothered our waiter who gagged. Needless to say, I burned the outfit I was wearing.  

Those were the top three...but there were more, just simmering to become the top one. And for a time I thought I wasn’t made to date.  But the ladies had faith and they were really trying to choose nice, interesting guys. However, nothing, nothing that I could ever imagine could top my latest date. 

I’m rushing along the sidewalk. I don’t want to be late, but at the same time, I don’t want to tell them how much of a calamity my latest date was, but to be completely honest, I don’t want to miss it. Tonight is also the night the group meets at Mellark’s. The friendly cafe style bakery with its rich and yummy pastries, both savory and sweet. It is my favorite place to meet. Squad 451 meets twice a month in different locations, including one of the two meeting rooms in the library, one of the community rooms in the Justice Building, and on our birthdays, we meet in a restaurant, but the bakery on Main Street is our favorite location. The Mellarks owned several locations. The flagship store was always managed by one of the original family members.  

If George Senior, or the middle son Ryan Mellark is at the helm of the bakery, they allow us to cavort in the shop until close. When his older brother George Junior or their Mother Muriel was in charge, we tended to be quiet, relegating our conversations to the books. When Peeta is in charge, there are free cheese buns and chaos. 

Please, stomach gods, let Peeta be there. I skipped lunch today because I had a deadline. I also forgot my wallet at home. Thankfully, my license was at the bottom of my backpack. I need food before my stomach eats itself. I am starving when I walk into the bakery. When I see Peeta, I stop. His blue eyes meet mine and my stomach flip flops. He gives me a slow sweet smile, before his eyes slide back to the customer who is ordering.

“Katniss,” Delly squeaks, waving frantically.

Somehow, my feet carry me over to the table and there is a plate of cheese buns and I thank every celestial being in the universe. His buns are heavenly. Sitting down, I take a napkin and snatch one.  My mouth waters and my lashes close as I bring the cheese bun to my mouth.  The smell of melted cheese, fresh bread, and the hint of dill, assuage my nose, before I bite into one of Peeta’s coveted flaky concoctions. The combination of the oozing cheese, the herbs and the buttery bread elicit a moan from deep within my being. These freaking cheese buns will be the death of me. 

“Wow.” Peeta’s voice causes my lashes to fly open. 

Peeta is standing near me with a cup of tea; his face and neck splotchy and red.  

My mouth is full of delicious food, but I forgot how to chew. 

Delly is looking between us. Her pale blue eyes quizzical, like when she’s trying to understand a concept or theme in a book.

 “Okay, bitches,” Johanna says, slamming her brief down. “Where’s the rest of the motley crew?”

“Mags and Greasy just arrived,” Delly answers absentmindedly. 

“Hey, Peeta, I need a strong black coffee.” 

“Sure,” Peeta says, all the while staring at me. I finally remember to chew. “Here Katniss, your tea.”   

Taking the paper cup, I can’t help feeling bashful. “Thank you.”

“Peet,” the girl behind the counter calls. 

Whenever Peeta is here, the business is brisk. He is charming. He was always charming, even back in high school he was the most popular guy, not only because of his looks, but because he was genuinely nice. I, like all of the other girls, had a mini crush on him. 

Looking over his shoulder he says, “I’ll be right back with your coffee, Jo.” 

Now Jo is looking between him and me, but hers is a wicked grin, like right before she nails a sleazebag who doesn’t want to pay for his children. I quirk an eyebrow, clueless as to what has Johanna showing off her predatory gleam. 

“Oh, it’s chilly outside,” Mags says.

“It’s colder than Rudolph’s balls outside,” Greasy says, her gruff voice is booming. Several patrons look at her. Greasy does not care. She’s well past her sixties and it’s her motto that she should live each day as if it was her last. 

In walks Effie, Annie, and Foxface, and they all say, “Hello,” in unison. 

The book of the month is actually a YA fiction called, The Fault in Our Stars, about teens with a terminal illness. I cried when Gus...I tear up once more...at the memory. But I know we aren’t going to discuss Hazel’s predicament with her parents. 

“So,” Delly says, bouncing in her chair.

I can’t help but grimace.

“How did it go?” Foxface says. She has an accent, but I can’t place it. 

“He looked like he belonged on one of those erotic books Johanna loves to read,” Greasy says, grabbing a cheese bun.

She’s not wrong. Gloss was a blond adonis, with slate blue eyes. And abs that have a flipping twelve pack, I ought to know, I counted them. The words are out of my mouth before I am aware of what I am saying.  “He really does with a twelve pack,” I say drinking my tea.

“Did you say twelve pack?” Johanna sat up. 

My eyes widen. 

“Wait, why are you blushing Katniss?” Foxface narrows her eyes.

“Did you and he…” Annie trails off. Her doe eyes are wide. 

“Did you have your first sleepover?” Effie leaned in. 

“Or did you dry hump him like a horny-toad dog?” Greasy’s voice bounces in the bakery.

Peeta’s pauses , wiping down the counter and looks directly at me. 

“NO!” My voice sounds half strangled.

Jo and Delly exchange a look. “Peeta,” Delly calls him over. 

Oh, no, no, no, I say to myself, eyeing how quickly I can get from the back corner to the exit. It is one thing to tell the squad, it is another to have Peeta know. I think I can sprint around the chairs and clear the table near the door like an olympic hurdle jumper. 

Peet walks over. “Hey Dells, can I get you ladies anything?”

“Katniss was going to regale us with her latest date,” Delly says.

“She’s going to tell us how she knows her date has Thor’s body.” 

“You’re dating?” Peeta asks, looking at me intently.

He doesn’t know I am dating or rather, being raked through hot coals.

“Oh,” Foxface chortles. “She’s dating.”

“Remember the guy who was texting with his mother during the entire date,” Effie said.

“There’s nothing wrong with that,” Mags saids grinning.

“Only the part when he had Katniss talk to her, and it turned out she was psychoanalyzing her to make sure she wasn’t an ax murderer,” Annie said laughing.

“Or what about the guy who kept on mentioning his ex and cried through the crème brûlée,” Greasy slaps her knee, laughing.

I can’t help but laugh. 

“Man, those are pretty bad,” Peeta says.

I hold up my finger. “No, those are tame.”

“Tame?” His blue eyes are sparkling. “You mean there are worse dates?”

Delly snorts. “Oh there are worse. I am so glad I am out of the dating pool.”  

“Yeah, Gale just loves you,” Annie sighs. 

Delly and Gale met when I joined the book club. And while I floundered, they fell in love and now Delly was pregnant.  

My eyes shift to Annie. “It’s so much easier when you fall in love.”

“Oh?” I say.

“I met someone,” Annie says softly. “He wants to meet all of us.”

I wonder what type of guy would date quiet, shy, introverted Annie who sometimes says things that remind me of that song from those Freddy movies from the 80’s. I shake my head.  Then I narrow my eyes. “Bring him to the next session,” I hear myself say. I want to meet this man, and make sure he will take care of my friend. 

“Really.” Annie clasps her hands.

I nod, but I notice Peeta is looking at me with this strange gleam in his eyes.  “Ah...yeah.” My voice sounds breathy. I frown, wondering why the heck I sound like one of those girls. You know the ones that always appear in the music videos washing cars and dancing on super yachts. Darius was fascinated by those girls, heck, his new girlfriend looks like one of those girls.

The women are chatting with Annie about the new guy in her life.  

“We'll discuss Annie’s beau later,” Mags holds her hand in the air. “I want to hear about Katniss’ date.” Her white hair spills over her shoulder as she fixes me with a look. “So tell us, how do you know Thor has a twelve pack?”

Somehow or another I knew the scrutiny on Annie would be short lived. My time to shine would come, but when I open my mouth to speak I can see a conspiratorial glance between Mags and Annie. And it hits me that they chose this man, because he looked like Thor. I scowl at the women who set me up on this one. Mags and Annie both have a pink tinge to their faces. I would have expected this from Jo or Greasy, but Mags and Annie, well it’s INCONCEIVABLE! 

I begin to speak. “He asked me to meet him at the edge of town, near route twelve.”

“Isn't that where Ripper’s place is?” Effie questioned, and she couldn’t hide her revulsion. 

“Yup,” I said, popping the ‘P’, thinking of the bar that disguised itself as an eatery. It was a seedy diner with cracked linoleum floors, yellowing formica, booths that had patches, blinking lights, and rickety chairs. 

“That’s where he asked you to meet him?” Mag’s sounds outraged. “That place is…is-”

“- a bedhaven for unsavory characters,” Foxface finishes. 

“You're brainless,” Jo mutters darkly. "Ripper's isn't the type of place you can go to Katniss. You should have called me."

As protective as I am about my friends, so is Jo. She's tough on the outside but has a really soft center. It's what makes her a perfect shark in the courtroom. Not that Darius was a jerk during our divorce. He actually wasn't. Johanna was present at the restaurant where he announced he wanted a divorce. Johanna later said it was my face, the vulnerability I tried to hide was why she took my divorce pro-bono. 

“I drove and brought my bottle of mace.” I know what everyone was thinking. The area in town where Ripper’s is located at, made the bad side of town look like a tourist destination. I didn't mind meeting my date there. I was looking forward to a basket of fries. Ripper's had amazing beer-battered fries. 

I've been to Ripper's once. I was with Gale and Thom who needed to score fake IDs. I ordered the fries, since I wasn't there for an ill gotten identification. But let me tell you, those fries. Oh! Holy mother of fries, no other fries can compare. 

Shivers!

I love food; it's why I'm a food critic now. What's so funny is that it was those fries that began my career as Buttercup, the elusive food critic. Back then I was Buttercup, the fussy eater. I blogged about them, no, I lavished them with love. I love my job. I can go into any restaurant, order anything on the menu, blog about it and get paid handsomely. And, most importantly, I can do it anonymously. Not even Darius knew I was Buttercup. He thought I was a boring housewife. Getting back to the fries, I wasn’t deterred from getting my fries.

“So then what happened?” Annie asked.

“He was there waiting for me. He stood up and smiled. And he's massive-"

"Just like a book cover," Foxface mutters.

 "He said his name wasn't Anthony, it’s Gloss.”

“Gloss?” Everyone said at the same time.

“Yup.” I sighed. “It was a sign. I should've left." Damn those fries! 

“So Gloss…" Peeta's sparkling eyes are on mine, his are an amazing hue of blue, like the indigo milk cap mushrooms. "Looks like Thor."  He frowns. "Thor with the long hair or short?"

"Long." The women around me answered as one.

Peeta turned those gorgeous eyes back to me.

Thor isn’t my cup of tea. I shrugged to show my indifference. "Gloss was sporting the Ragnarok look, short hair with facial hair."

 I swear I watch Peeta mouth, "short hair."

"Anyway, we sat at a booth. It was packed, actually." That should've been clue number two. Men at a joint like Ripper's at 8:30 on a Friday night, it was by the highway, plausible. But packed with just as many women. "The waitress who took our drink order could barely hear me."

"Was he nice?" Annie asks.

"He was sweet." Truthfully Gloss was a sweet guy.  He talked about his mother in a positive way, even if she gave him the name that was another descriptor for shiny objects. "He was attentive too. He told me his mother worked in the makeup industry. "

"That doesn't sound too awful," Delly says.

"He sounds delightful." Mags pushes her reading glasses up the bridge of her nose.  The gang is getting tired of the story and I hope they will move on to the reason we are  gathered, discussing the book we were reading. I begin to reach into my backpack because I really hate purses.

"If he's so delightful, why did he ask you to meet him at Ripper's?" Johanna says in her cross examination voice.

I wince as I take out my book.

"Yes, you must explain." Foxface demands.

"It's not nice to leave us dangling." Effie levels a look at me that has me squirming, feeling like I was being summoned into the principal's office. 

"I wanna know how you know Gloss has a twelve pack," Greasy says.

Peeta looks at me expectantly. 

Anndddd were back. I sigh. Will he run for the hills when I tell him? Most likely.

"We were talking about dancing.” My voice loses all it’s warmth. “I don't dance."

This causes a rumble of laughter and giggles amongst the women. Peeta looks confused. Finally Delly wipes the tears from her face and gasps, “You should never dance. Ever!” 

"That poor man’s toes,” Mags says, her shoulders shaking.

“Do I need to know?” Peeta looks between them. 

“I don’t dance!” I growl. The group erupts into another bout of laughter. 

“It was a scheme, a dirty underhanded scheme,” Effie says. 

The guy I was supposed to date was a dance instructor. He used the dating app as a way to drum up business. When the women meet him, he pairs them with guys who were there for a lesson. He paired me with a poor man named Harry. My nerves got the better of me, because I don’t like to be touched. Harry’s hands were sweaty. Harry tried to dip me as per my date’s instructions. I tripped, and in the process his toes were crushed, and I ended up with a sprained ankle. 

When I arrived in crutches to the next book club, well, that was one of those dates that simmers at the surface vying to be in the top three. 

“Gloss didn’t believe me. He said anyone can dance. I told him no, and explained that there are people who are predisposed to fly in airplanes, and some who get motion sickness in a car. “

“What happened next?” Foxface asks, moving to the edge of her chair.

“He went to the jukebox.”

“Oh no,” Johanna mutters. “Did he end up in the hospital?” 

“Is that how you know he’s got a twelve pack?” Greasy questions. The ladies, and Peeta are all staring at me. 

I shake my head. Why couldn’t there be a rush of customers right now? It is calm and I know the odds are against me. 

“Spill it!” Johanna demands. 

“Well, he queued up a song and waited a beat, and then Lenny’s Kravits’ American Woman started blaring. Gloss started sauntering and spun and did the splits on the floor. Next thing I know, the women in the place go nuts. They surround him, like a rabid pack of wild dogs.”

“Wait, what!” Delly exclaims her pale eyes bright, she grips the book in her hand. 

“That doesn’t happen,” Peeta says.

“It does to her,” Foxface said, her eyes shining with ferocity, like the eyes of those women at Rippers.

“Shut it blondie,” Johanna orders. 

“Yeah,” Annie says.

Taking a deep breath I continue. “He started dancing...hips…” my brain flashing to his hips gyrating. “...jutting out and…”

“Ohhhhh yeah,” Greasy cackles.

“Gyrating, his hips gyrating,” Foxface gasps.

With eyes closed I nod. “His hips were doing that all over the place. He then jumped on the table and proceeded to rip off his shirt. He shouted my name and told me his next move was his favorite. He spun onto his knees and slid up in my face before dropping his drawers.” I lower my eyes. 

“What,” Delly squeaked. “His pants?”

“It’s like Magic Mike,” Mags whispers.

I know the movie Mag’s is referring to. I’ve never seen it. “Yes.” 

“Was he naked-” Foxface began.

“-or was he wearing-” Annie cut Foxface off only to be cut off herself. 

“A G-String!” Greasy shouted excited.

I shook my head no. He wasn’t wearing anything, I can feel the heat burning my ears.

“Well don’t stop! What happened next!” Even Effie has lost her sense of propriety. 

“As I looked for an escape. It’s then I noticed  the poster on the wall, for the Slag Heap.” I pause and sigh, “Men’s Magic Friday Night Extravaganza, and Gloss was the headliner. I realized he’s a stripper.” 

And the place erupts in laughter. 

“What did you do?” Peeta asks.

My eyes connect with his.

“I slunk down to the floor and crawled my way out...drove to the hospital and made my sister administer a tetanus shot.”

 “Can I have his number?” Johanna says laughing but her eyes are dead serious. 

Peeta is smiling at me and I grab a cheese bun because they are as delicious as the man staring at me. 

Eventually we do get to the book, and it’s a pretty good discussion. Peeta let us stay until closing. Mags and Greasy are the last of the ladies to leave. It’s just me and Peeta since he let the staff go home. I’m loitering because I feel like I need to explain to Peeta why I let the ladies talk me into dating. 

I’m putting up the chairs on the tables when Peeta comes out. 

“You’re still here?”

“Yeah.” I look down at my feet.

“Katniss.”

“Peeta.” We both say at the same time, followed by a nervous chuckle.

“You first,” Peeta insists, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Dating wasn’t my idea.”

“It wasn't?” He raised an eyebrow.

I shake my head. 

“So what happened?”

“The ladies, they got me a year long subscription for my birthday, and knowing I wouldn’t go through with it, they choose who I date...until I find someone,” I can feel the heat rising from my neck and reaching my cheeks, “I like.”

“Really?”

I nod, incapable of speaking.  I cannot stop watching the way he blinks, those darned translucent lashes that never tangle. 

“Dating is pretty brutal.”

“Yeah,” I snort because dating is horrible. 

“My family is constantly setting me up. I went out with a girl who sang through the entire meal. She chose the pasta and sang On Top of Spaghetti.”

“What?” I laugh.

“That was my dad’s doing. My mom’s choice was a lot scarier. She made me do an obstacle course and made me do it three times until I beat the time she wanted me to reach.”

“Wow.”

“I was dressed in dress slacks, a nice shirt, and a tie.” He deadpans, “I even had on dress shoes.”

“I am so sorry.”

“Don’t be,” he shrugs. 

I couldn't help but smile. 

“Dating sucks until you find someone who makes you laugh, someone who makes dancing easy.”

He approaches or maybe it’s my own feet that carry me to him. But it doesn’t matter because when his arm slides along my waist, and the other cradles my hand, I have no fears. There is something familiar with him as I dance with him. A slow shuffle, that has the room spinning but none of it matters because I feel at home.

“Will you dance with me Katniss?” His voice rumbles in my ear and my heart is pounding in my chest.

His scent is a warm heady mixture of spices, dill, vanilla, and cinnamon. 

“Would you go out with me Katniss?”

“Yes,” I answer, and just like that my dating profile goes up in flames. Ladies and gentlemen, I am officially off the market.

[pepperf]

this or that / last and current

Tagged by @bethanyactually who ONLY tagged me, I feel so special! XD

apple juice or orange juice | breakfast in bed or dinner in a blanket fort | peanut butter or butterscotch | rain or snow | water park or amusement park | guitar or violin | flip flops or sneakers | big cats or bears | ocean or lake | bonfire or picnic | draw or write | oak or mahogany | volleyball or tennis | key chains or postcards | queso or salsa | skateboard or roller blades | porch or patio | love quotes or inspirational quotes | hearts or stars | backpack or duffle bag | orchard or garden | baby bunnies or baby ducks | pastels or earth tones | New York City or Los Angeles | secret stairs or secret tunnel | street magician or escape artist | fairies or gnomes | comedy or mystery | purple or and green | daisies or dandelions | crayon or chalk | sunglasses tinted blue or sunglasses tinted yellow | bracelets or rings | question mark or exclamation point

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last song: Some Of Your Lovin', Dusty Springfield. I love Dusty Springfield, she has the best voice. I sing along loudly and badly to her in the car.

last movie: Uh… I haven't watched a movie in a while… oh, so it must be The Losers, which I rewatched the other day bc it's a comfort movie, in a blowing-shit-up kind of way.

currently watching: tbh I'm not really watching anything right now. I just finished a Leverage rewatch, and a rewatch of Ted Lasso with my dad, and watching the final season of B99… yeah, there's just nothing I'm in the middle of. I'm trying to avoid getting into anything big until I've got everything out of the Umbrella Academy, I think.

currently reading: I've stalled on my last three books (Who Buries The Dead by C.S. Harris, The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shann, and Lolita by Nabokov). At least I read the book group book for this weekend - which might be in someone's garden, pending the fucking snow(!!!) stopping: Anxious People by Fredrik Backman.

(I'm noting a definite theme to these answers. Look, if there was a 'currently knitting' question I would be all over it.)

currently playing: For once I have an answer to a gaming question! Townscaper, thanks to something @bending-sickle posted, and it is ADDICTIVE. I have made so many pretty towns. I made a castle with many walkways and walled gardens, and a series of Roman-style villas who are all at war with each other over shipping rights, and a colourful fishing village, and several others. And I keep walking around and seeing houses that remind me of it, and wanting to add another storey on top of them.

currently craving: Up until ten mins ago I was craving pizza, but now I'm stuffed with pizza and not craving anything. Except maybe ice cream.

low-key, no pressure tagging: @bending-sickle, @shinewithalltheuntold, @holdouttrout, @supplyship and anyone else who wants to do this.