#future s/o ong

[choiwonder]

i miss you </3

wish i could see you 🙁🙁🙁🙁🙁

[walnutofthedead]

Can you do Yandere Mikoto x Gn! Reader headcanons?

Hahaha hah djbdhddhhdhd

The ask I’ve been waiting for frfr….

I’m so normal about yanderes (they’re fun to write leave me alone)

So uhm I MAY go a wee bit overboard here??? And May or may not have ended up doing the yan alphabet?? This is for Mikoto and not his alter, if you want an orekoto one just lmk <3

Prob will do a shortfic later

Yandere shit under the cut

Affection: How do they show their love and affection? How intense would it get?

I see Mikoto as a physical affection type of guy tbh- Like, he’s still really sweet! Always nice with his words, but he’ll like randomly hug you from behind, hold your hand, a lot of things that most regular couples do. 

Blood: How messy are they willing to get when it comes to their darling?

Well… in terms of like, actual messes, he tries to be clean! Mikoto doesn’t particularly even want to hurt anybody. He’s not ALL bad…

With that said, sometimes, he has to. If someone is trying to steal you away and doesn’t heed his warnings, or if they hurt you, he has no choice but to put an end to that! 

If someone hurts you, he’ll be more brutal.. not above torturing them if they’ve gone that far. 

If it’s because he’s jealous, he’s a bit more nice. He doesn’t make it too painful. Maybe a blow to the head, a fast-acting poison… 

After all, he can’t blame them for falling for you just like he did! It’s impossible not to~

They just don’t get to take you away from him. Never. 

Cruelty: How would they treat their darling once abducted? Would they mock them?

Nono! He’s a sweetie:c Mikoto honestly would just treat you with genuine respect and love,, be like, he loves you! He knows he’s already done something awful by abducting you and is sympathetic. Prob tries to make it as comfortable as possible. 

Darling: Aside from abduction, would they do anything against their darling’s will?

Well… he’s definitely do a lot of hugging and stuff like that… but the furthest he’d go without (implied or direct) consent is just a peck on the lips<3

Exposed: How much of their heart do they bare to their darling? How vulnerable are they when it comes to their darling?

So here’s the thing- he’s delusional as fuck. He’ll just treat your relationship like he’d treat any regular one. He’s never invulnerable around you, but there’s definitely times he’s more vulnerable. Don’t hurt him please the silly:(

Fight: How would they feel if their darling fought back?

So confused and betrayed. You love him, so why are you fighting him? He only wants what’s best for you! 

Game: Is this a game to them? How much would they enjoy watching their darling try to escape?

He takes this shit so seriously- istfg bro hates it when you try and escape :((( kind of a pushover tbh- like he’ll probably just try and make it even more comfortable for you whenever you try to leave. 

Hell: What would be their darling’s worst experience with them?

Being abducted is the worst it’ll get. Even while captive, he treats you with such care it’s baffling- he loves you!!!! Cmon pooks love him back ong

Ideals: What kind of future do they have in mind for/with their darling?

I feel like he daydreams about marrying them… like he has it all planned to a T. Probably already designed an outfit for s/o to wear at their wedding. We love a ✨ prepared ✨ mans 

Jealousy: Do they get jealous? Do they lash out or find a way to cope?

He gets jealous and inhales lethal amounts of Copium. The poor silly

Kisses: How do they act around or with their darling?

Nah bro just acts like his normal self but like,, slightly more happy???   

Love letters: How would they go about courting or approaching their darling?

Just approaching regularly, he has no issue going up and talking to them! When confessions are involved though, he has a much harder time… probably would opt for a love letter. A long, well-written one with little doodles on it !!

Mask: Are their true colors drastically different from the way they act around everyone else?

Lmao nope

Naughty: How would they punish their darling?

He kinda just.. wouldn’t..? If he got really pissed somehow, he might like, lock them in their room or something… but he avoids using violence when possible. 

Oppression: How many rights would they take away from their darling?

Not many! When he abducts them, he’s strict at first, but eventually even lets them go out so long as he’s there with them. 

Patience: How patient are they with their darling?

He’s incredibly patient. He doesn’t get angry very easily, and when he does, he calms down fairly quick. This is assuming he doesn’t switch to Orekoto, of course…

Quit: If their darling dies, leaves, or successfully escapes, would they ever be able to move on?

Haha no

Regret: Would they ever feel guilty about abducting their darling? Would they ever let their darling go?

Oh, absolutely. He’d feel like actual shit about it. Even with all the gaslighting himself to try and justify it, he knows taking someone captive like this is awful. And especially for such selfish reasons… that’s why he tries making it up to them by spoiling them! 

He won’t let them go though. There’s no going back once you kidnap someone. 

Stigma: What brought about this side of them (childhood, curiosity, etc)?

Hm……. I’d say probably just emotional dependency and bad attachment issues. He just happened to get a bit too attached to s/o. 

-bonus hc: he gives his friends nicknames to make it feel like they have a deeper friendship than they do so they don’t drift away from him ! 

Tears: How do they feel about seeing their darling scream, cry, and/or isolate themselves?

Oh, he hates it- just seeing them sad or afraid breaks his heart. He doesn’t know what to do, so he just tries his best to comfort them with words. 

Unique: Would they do anything different from the classic yandere?

Give his darling some MOTHERFUCKING FREEDOM-

Vice: What weakness can their darling exploit in order to escape?

His willingness to trust. As I mentioned earlier, he gives a lot of freedom, and that only increases as his trust in them builds. Once he’s convinced they do, in fact, love him, and won’t try and leave, he’ll begin letting them go out alone for short periods of time so long as they let him track their location. You can already see how that could turn out in an unsatisfactory way for him…

Wit’s end: Would they ever hurt their darling?

Nope. Or at least, it would take a lot for him to lash out and do so. And even then, it wouldn’t be that bad. 

Xoanon: How much would they revere or worship their darling? To what length would they go to win their darling over?

He doesn’t really worship them per se… but he will totally go to extreme lengths to win them over. No amount of time or money or effort is too much if it means a chance at winning his darling over <3

Yearn: How long do they pine after their darling before they snap?

Depending on outside factors like other people pursuing them, it could be anywhere between a few months and a couple years. 

Zenith: Would they ever break their darling?

Haha no. 

[tonyhentai]

On the Concept of Byzantium with Continual Reference to Alcibiades (v3) - Excerpt, Part 2-Section 1

download the PDF at: http://bluevelvetreview.com

01— 523:741 .706

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i]s

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and

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s]tems

f   r]om

Ame r]i c]a’s

ove r]re    l]ian   c]e

on

d]ip.

[lemonyboy97]

Hello! Mind if I request some Steven (Steven universe future) fluff

Summary: general head-canons of how he cuddles and acts around his Fem!Human!S/O, how he meet them? What made him fall in-love? What he likes to do with them! ^ ^

Ok- im going to show this request to my friend and have her write this 4 me because ive actually never watched the show :D im sorry it took so ong to reply, ive been *swamped* with shit in my day-to-day life <33

Love ya Anon!

[https-sen]

A Birthday Date with The Haikyuu Boys

(if its your birthday or birthday month rn, happy birthday ily :DD)

[ALL genders (including males) are allowed to read my fics <3]

Genre: Fluff :3

Pairing(s): Kenma x gn!reader

Characters:

Yamaguchi Tadashi & Kenma Kōzume

clowns/note: this is an excuse to write something like these because my birthday is on the 24th of May 🤭 but anyways i hope you enjoy, im not a professional and didnt proofread it since im lazy so im sorry if there are mistakes or if theyre out of character 🤡 i do these little fics entirely for fun! (i was thinking of an animal crossing or minecraft date but fuck it-🤺)

Kenma Kōzume

* click * * click * * click *

The sound of Kenma's keyboard clicking loudly as it awoken your peaceful slumber. Rubbing the sleep and tired from your eyes, you muster up a sleepy "Good morning" that made your sleep-deprived boyfriend perk up by the sound of your voice greeting him at 8 in the morning.

"Good morning, kitten."

He said sweetly, getting up from his gaming chair, giving you a kiss on your forehead followed by a "Happy birthday my lovely s/o" with a smile on his face. "You remembered?", you asked him in slight surprise, getting up from your cozy bed and putting on your Kuromi bunny slippers. "I might be playing games a lot but that doesnt give me an excuse to forget.", pouting slightly offended that you would think that he would stoop that low. Giggling softly, you tuck his hair around his ear and cupping his face with a reassuring "I love you" before getting up to take a shower.

"Pudding, whats all this?"

You asked him lovingly as you see the blonde boy in a kitty apron holding a shiba-inu spatula in his hand with flour on his left cheek (I CAN SEE THIS ONG 🥺). "Oh! You know that I'm not much of a cook so I found this 'Cloud-Bread' recipe on Pintrest and it didnt look so hard so I tried it..", he explained bashfully fiddling with the cat paw teaspoons you had. "I wanted to make you a special homemade birthday breakfast since you always make them for me but I made a mess instead, sorry. I'll make sure to clean ir up though!", he avoided eye contact and looked down at the floor. "Aw, bubs its okay I'm not mad with it, not one bit. Thank you for your hard work, now let's try it and cheer up okay?", you hugged him and rubbed circles around his back. Nodding, before he smiled, handing the little blue plate with an attempt of a pink heart-shaped bun with messy writing out of frosting reading out, "Happy Birthday Y/N <3". (imagine this though 😭) "Mmm, it's really good! It isnt over sweetened and its not burnt or has chunks in it, I'm really impressed.", after you take a bite from his little masterpiece. With a happy look tinted with his blushing red cheeks he took a bite himself.

"Wait, why'd you get me these Ken-Ken?"

Eyeing the pretty expensive looking ring in the little jewelry box on the coffee table thinking on how it costs a fortune. "I kinda knew I'd fuck the bread up so I got this just in case." Looking at him with a bewildered face full of awe and confusion, "But you didnt fuck anything up?? I told you I loved it and I even ate the entire thing as you watched me accidentally chocking within a few bites.", giggling softly he replied with "It'll be a waste since I got it either way and I know you collect these a lot anyways" Stuttering a protest, you got shushed by his finger along a scentence followed by a kiss on the cheek, "It can be our promise ring for now until we get married in the future, growing old together with kids and a great life ahead of us" Pulling him into a hug, you stayed there in each others arms as the sun setted with the thoughts of when the outcome will happen. "But for now, I'm glad being here with you."

BRO THIS SHIT BE MAKING ME FEELING SAD THAT IK I'LL NEVER GET THIS RELATIONSHIP LMAO 💀 idk if its just me but i think my writing is getting better? oh well- pls gimme a follow if u like what u read to support me :( i hope you enjoyed this <3 have a great day :> stay hydrated, healthy and safe! remember that ily, reader ^-^

[dreamescapeswriting]

complete this challenge and send it to one of your besties !

[you have to add maximum two kpop songs from each letter]

After School — Weekly

Black Swan — BTS / BOSS — NCT, NCT U

Cheer Up — TWICE / Cherry Bomb — NCT 127

DDU-DU-DDU-DU — BLACKPINK / Don’t Recall — KARD

Egotistic — MAMAMOO / FANTASIA — MONSTA X

Forever Young — BLACKPINK / FIESTA — IZ*ONE

gogobebe — MAMAMOO / God’s Menu — Stray Kids

How You Like That — BLACKPINK / HIP — MAMAMOO

In the morning — ITZY / I LOVE YOU — TREASURE

J [i feel so embarrassed not knowing a song from such a common letter :((]

Ko Ko Bop — EXO / Kick It — NCT 127

La Vie En Rose — IZ*ONE / Love Scenario — iKon

My Pace — Stray Kids / Mixtape: OH — Stray Kids

NUNU NANA — Jessi

Oh my god — (G)I-DLE / Outro: Ego — BTS

Permission To Dance — BTS / PTT (Paint The Town) — LOONA

Q [IDK]

Russian Roulette — Red Velvet

Secret Story Of The Swan — IZ*ONE / Strange — Agust D

The 7th Sense — NCT U / Turn Back Time — WayV

Up — IZ*ONE

Violeta — IZ*ONE

What You Waiting For — SOMI

X [IDK]

Y [IDK]

Z [IDK]

A - A - GOT7 Airplane - BTS

B - Boombayah - Blackpink, Back door- Stray Kids

C - Conversation - Twice Candy - Baekhyun

D - Do what we like - Twice Dun Dun Dance - Oh My Girl

E - Eyes locked, hands locked - Red Velvet, Easy Stray kids

F - Feel Special - Twice Fam- Stray kids

G - Gods Menu - Stray Kids, Gone - Rose

H -Hello - Joy Hello Future - NCTDream

I - I'm not cool - Hyuna Inception - Ateez

J -Jump - BTS, Jane doe - Ladoes'code

K - Kingdom come - Red velvet - Kura Kura - Twice

L - Lovesick girls - Black pink, Lullaby - Dreamcatcher

M - Move - Taemin, Miroh - Stray Kids

N - Next Level Aespa, Nunu Nana - Jessi

O - Oxygen - Twice, Obssession - EXO

P -Pretty Savage - Blackpink, Psycho red velvet

Q - Question - Stray kids, Queen - Twice

R - Run BTS, Russian Roulette - Red Velvet

S - Shoot me - Day6, Secret - WJSN

T - Tonight - blackswan, Tomorrow - BTS

U - Uh-Oh - (G)l-DLE, underwater Baekhyun

V - Victory ong - Stray kids, ViVid - Loona

W - Wind flower - Mamamoo, WOW - Stray kids

X - XOXO - Exo, XYZ - Girls generation

Y - Your eyes tell - BTS - You make me - Day6

Z - Zombie -Day6 and ZzZz - Mamamoo

[purvishraick]

ABOUT ME TAG GAME

Thank you for the tag @silma-words

Name/nickname: Khushi or whatever random names my friends give me (it can be bad as hell or sweet as sugar depends on their mood 😂)

Pronouns: her / she

Star sign: virgo

Height: 5'1 ( i look like a baby compared to my friends who are 5'4 minimum 👀)

Time: 10:35 pm (at the time of writing this)

Birthday: 28th august

Favorite bands: One direction (directioner forever 🥺) , 5 second of summer , why don't we , SANAM

Favorite solo artists: Astrid S , Shawn Mendes , Taylor swift , James Arthur , Gracie Abrams , Harry Styles , Liam Payne , Louis Tomlinson , Zayn Malik , Niall Horan , Arijit Singh , Palak Muchchal , Shreya Ghoshal , Arman and Amaal Malik

Song stuck in my head: a mix of Be Alright by Dean Lewis and Tu Jo Mila by KK (english: that i found you) ( very emotional hindi song if you understand the lyrics 🥺)

Last show: Shadow and Bone

Last movie: Dil Bechara (english: Poor Heart .... hindi remake of fault in our stars ) (last movie of SSR ... we miss him badly 🥺😥)

When did I create this blog: September 2020 ( in start i only lurked and reblogged )

What do I post: my BB fanfics and reblog qoutes and choices related stuff i like

Last thing I googled: Tracy Wolff's Covet witch edition ( i am obsessed with her Crave series ... well throw anything vampire or paranormal related and i will be in love with it )

Other blogs: nope none for now

Why I chose my URL: it is well my name only ... but now i regret it cause my friends could easily find it ... i may change it in near future if something good catches my eyes 👀

Do I get asks: yep a few mostly when i reblog prompt lists

Average hours of sleep: well untill my alarm goes off 😗 4 -5 hours are sufficient for me but if the alarm dosent rings i wont wake up ... i can sleep for very long times or i wont sleep at all 😵

Dream trip: Alaska or Ladakh ... anywhere full of snow 😍 i love snow ❄❄

Favorite food: Pancakes 🥞🥞

Languages: Fluent in English and hindi , local himachali language (Himachal Pradesh is my hometown and my dad sung me lullabies in that language❤ ... so i am quite good at it ) , basic french ( i can understand it well but when it comes to speaking i am not that good but i survive 😂)

Favorite song: lately it's been Dear Ex Best Friend by Tate McRae and Lag Ja Gale by Lata Mangeshkar (english: Embrace me dear ) ..... cause well i miss my best friend from 4th standard whom i haven't talked in 3 years 😶😐it was quite rough ... though i am lucky to the new people i found after that i will be ever greatful to them

Last book read: Covet by Tracy Wolff ( i reread it for the 3rd time ... cause guess i am obsessed over it and they announced the next book comes in september and we are having a spin off too ❤❤) (it is a recommended read for all the vampire and paranormal lovers out there 👀)

Top three fictional universes i’d like to live in: The Vampire Dairies universe (including the originals and legacies universe) , Crave Universe and the BB universe cause why not 😍 ( surprisingly i wanted to be in the charlie and the chocolate factory universe back in 5th standard ...cause what is better than to live in a chocolate factory ... except the fact that i will also be a big fat balloon cause of the calories 😂😂i dont recommend that now 😂)

thank you so much for the tag i enjoyed doing this so much ...it was a long one but worth it definitely ❤���

[onestowatch]

The Best of 2020 | Staff Picks

We made it! 2020 is finally coming to an end (hopefully not along with the world). You’ve finally mastered your TikTok algorithm and only get served the hits. You’ve mastered the perfect rotation for your Zoom backgrounds. You’ve broken the Guinness World Record for consecutive hours doom-scrolling. You’ve finished reading White Fragility and have made the pledge to be a better ally. This year is going down in the history books as one of the toughest in our generation due to the tragic losses of life due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to COVID-19, the entire music industry has come to a stand still and a lot of our colleagues have lost their jobs and the future of our industry is going to look very different. As sobering as this year has been, we’ve all had to take a long look at ourselves and make a decision about who we wanted to be.

But there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel and 2021 is already starting to look up. As usual, music is one of the things that always helps us get through tough times and 2020 was no different. We honestly may have needed it even more this year. As we try to put the tragedies of 2020 behind us, and look forward to the return of live music, being outside, and seeing our loved ones in person, our staff would like to share our favorite things that helped us survive this year and some of the things we’re excited to hear more of in 2021.

Max Polo

Song That Best Describes Your 2020: Bea Miller, Aminè - “FEEL SOMETHING DIFFERENT”

Most Underrated Artist of 2020: 박혜진 Park Hye Jin

Best Breakout Artist of 2020: Doja Cat. From first seeing her at Echo Park Rising in 2014, it’s been a long time coming

Best Music Video of 2020: KennyHoopla - “how will i rest in peace if i’m buried by a highway?//“

Biggest Artist Crush of 2020: Carly Rae Jepsen, this year and every year.

Favorite 2020 Distraction: Video games without a doubt. Between crafting my own island paradise on Animal Crossing to exploring the gorgeous world of Genshin Impact, 2020 would not have been bearable without a digital escape.

Artist you’re most looking forward to seeing live in 2021/2022: My Chemical Romance, fingers crossed 🤞🏽

Favorite 2020 trend: TikTok finally entering the mainstream.

Artist to Watch in 2021: Keep an eye on Holly Humberstone, María Isabel, and spill tab.

Favorite Song of 2020: ZICO - “Any Song”

Favorite Album of 2020: Gus Dapperton - Orca

Favorite Artist of 2020: Jean Dawson

New Year's Resolution?: Check Facebook comments less.

Green Lee

Song That Best Describes Your 2020: Soulja Boy - “Kiss Me Thru The Phone”

Most Underrated Artist of 2020: Su Lee

Best Breakout Artist of 2020: Giveon / BENEE

Best Music Video of 2020: DJ Khaled x Drake - “POPSTAR”

Biggest Artist Crush of 2020: Peggy Gou

Favorite 2020 Distraction: Computer Games & Anime. It’s like I’m 19 again!!!

Artist you’re most looking forward to seeing live in 2021/2022: Duckwrth. I need to see SuperGood in action.

Favorite 2020 Trend: Non-teens dropping their ego and hopping on the TikTok train (me included)

Artist to Watch in 2021: spill tab / blxst / Ambré

Favorite Song of 2020: No Rome ft. Bearface - “1:45AM”

Favorite Album of 2020: Duckwrth - SuperGood

Favorite Artist of 2020: keshi

New Year's Resolution?: Huh?

Paige MacDonald

Song That Best Describes Your 2020: Flor - “Dancing Around” (not being biased)… the accuracy of the lyrics is too on point.

Most Underrated Artist of 2020: Zachary Knowles

Best Breakout Artist of 2020: Tate McRae

Best Music Video of 2020: Conan Gray - “Heather”

Biggest Artist Crush of 2020: The bass player in Flor… Obviously

Favorite 2020 Distraction: Ugh….. Ashamedly…….TikTok

Artist you’re most looking forward to seeing live in 2021/2022: Turnover… because they make everything better and after the year we just had… need to stand in the middle of the crowd and have a good cry/scream.

Favorite 2020 trend: Work from home clothes AKA sweats every single day

Artist to Watch in 2021: Oh… that’s a hard one to narrow down but I’d say Zachary Knowles (again) and 1990nowhere.

Favorite Song of 2020: Zachary Knowles - “Super Sad Songs’

Favorite Album of 2020: MisterWives - SUPERBLOOM

Favorite Artist of 2020: Conan Gray

New Year's Resolution?: More time for myself AWAY FROM A SCREEN and less postmates

Malcolm J. Gray

Song That Best Describes Your 2020: N.E.R.D. - “Love Bomb”

Most Underrated Artist of 2020: Joesef

Best Breakout Artist of 2020: Blxst

Best Music Video of 2020: Disclosure - “My High” featuring Amine & slowthai

Favorite 2020 Distraction:  “Focus on Yourself King” TikTok Videos

Artist you’re most looking forward to seeing live in 2021/2022:  

Favorite 2020 trend: Calling people you care about

Artist to Watch in 2021: Fana Hues

Favorite Song of 2020: Saint Lyor - “Big Facts”

Favorite Album of 2020: Yves Tumor - Heaven To a Tortured Mind

Favorite Artist of 2020: Arlo Parks

New Year's Resolution?: Ideate less, Execute more

David O’ Connor

Song That Best Describes Your 2020: Chiild - “Hands Off Me"

Most Underrated Artist of 2020: KennyHoopla

Best Breakout Artist of 2020: Jack Harlow

Best Music Video of 2020: Lil Baby - “The Bigger Picture"

Biggest Artist Crush of 2020: CHLOBOCOP

Favorite 2020 Distraction: ruthless optimism besting calculated cyncism

Artist you’re most looking forward to seeing live in 2021/2022: fuck, yes...

Favorite 2020 trend: asking your neighbors kids how to find rare gear in Witcher 3

Artist to Watch in 2021: again&again

Favorite Song of 2020: Arlo Parks - "Eugene"

Favorite Album of 2020: Kota the Friend - Lyrics to Go, Vol. 1

Favorite Artist of 2020: Reo Cragun

New Year's Resolution?: vaccinate before ya date  

Joey Legittino

Song That Best Describes Your 2020: "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" - R.E.M

Most Underrated Artist of 2020: badmonsham

Best Breakout Artist of 2020: Gracie Abrams

Best Music Video of 2020: MGK ft. Halsey - “Forget Me Too”

Biggest Artist Crush of 2020: still Kailee Morgue

Favorite 2020 Distraction: Tik Tok

Artist you’re most looking forward to seeing live in 2021/2022: Rage Against the Machine

Favorite 2020 trend: Aliens

Artist to Watch in 2021: Morray

Favorite Song of 2020: Hans Williams - “Body on My Shoulders”

Favorite Album of 2020: Babyjake - Don't Give Me Problems Give Me Wine

Favorite Artist of 2020: Fiji Blue

New Year's Resolution?: Do better than last year

Alexa Schoenfold

Song That Best Describes Your 2020: D’Angelo - “The Charade”

Most Underrated Artist of 2020: Joy Oladokun

Best Breakout Artist of 2020: BENEE, Jean Dawson

Best Music Video of 2020: Loathe - “Two-Way Mirror”

Biggest Artist Crush of 2020: Tom Misch, MGK

Favorite 2020 Distraction: Nature (...and FaceTime)

Artist you’re most looking forward to seeing live in 2021/2022: Thundercat

Favorite 2020 trend: Giving a sh!t about other people

Artist to Watch in 2021: Q, Zach Bryan

Favorite Song of 2020: Jazmine Sullivan - “Lost One”

Favorite Album of 2020: The Avalanches - We Will Always Love You

Favorite Artist of 2020: SAULT. (Also... Miley.)

New Year's Resolution?: Show up with kindness. Stay connected to those that matter most. Finally get a normal bedtime.

Jessica Thomas

Song That Best Describes Your 2020: Ashnikko - “Working Bitch”

Most Underrated Artist of 2020: KILLBOY (not for long)  

Best Breakout Artist of 2020: Remi Wolf  

Best Music Video of 2020: ROSALÍA & Travis Scott - “TKN”

Biggest Artist Crush of 2020: Luna Aura  

Favorite 2020 Distraction: Slightly insensitive 2020 / COVID internet memes that drag me at my core…  

Artist you’re most looking forward to seeing live in 2021/2022: Jacob Collier 

Favorite 2020 trend: TO GO COCKTAILS  

Artist to Watch in 2021: Avenue Beat  

Favorite Song of 2020: spill tab - “Calvaire”  

Favorite Album of 2020: Gracie Abrams - minor

Favorite Artist of 2020: mazie

New Year's Resolution?: Stop falling asleep in my clothes & achieve homeostasis.  

Yasmin Damoui

Song That Best Describes Your 2020: Role Model - "going out"

Most Underrated Artist of 2020: CHIIILD

Best Breakout Artist of 2020: BENEE

Best Music Video of 2020: Channel Tres - "Weedman"

Biggest Artist Crush of 2020: Omar Apollo (every year)

Favorite 2020 Distraction: Eating KIVA gummies and listening to anything by LEISURE or Polo & Pan

Artist you’re most looking forward to seeing live in 2021/2022: Usher in Vegas

Favorite 2020 trend: LOTS of unexpected artist collaborations

Artist to Watch in 2021: Tycho Jones, spill tab, Payday, Hojean, Royal & The Serpent, Abby Sage, mehro (sorry I cheated - there's so many!)

Favorite Song of 2020: SAULT - "Wildfires"

Favorite Album of 2020: Holly Humberstone - Falling Asleep At The Wheel

Favorite Artist of 2020: Verzache

New Year's Resolution?: Continue practicing gratitude for all the amazing blessings we took for granted pre-COVID

Alec Wing

Most Underrated Artist of 2020: Vegyn

Best Breakout Artist of 2020: Caroline Rose

Best Music Video of 2020: Moses Sumney - “Cut Me”

Biggest Artist Crush of 2020: Lianne La Havas

Favorite 2020 Distraction: Surprisingly evocative dreams

Artist you’re most looking forward to seeing live in 2021/2022: D’Angelo (fingers crossed)

Favorite 2020 trend: Checking in on loved ones more consistently

Artist to Watch in 2021: Athletic Progression

Favorite Song of 2020: Gorillaz - “Simplicity”

Favorite Album of 2020: Fiona Apple - Fetch the Bolt Cutters

New Year's Resolution?: To come up with something new

Tyler Borland

Song That Best Describes Your 2020: Curtis Waters - “Pity Party”

Most Underrated Artist of 2020: Elroy

Best Breakout Artist of 2020: Teezo Touchdown for sure!

Best Music Video of 2020: This is a tough one, but probably the slowthai "feeling away" video or "Power Freaks" by Jean Dawson

Biggest Artist Crush of 2020: Jorja Smith

Favorite 2020 Distraction: I've gotten super into Curb Your Enthusiasm

Artist you’re most looking forward to seeing live in 2021/2022: Oh man I miss concerts... probably ericdoa, BIGBABYGUCCI, and Kevin Kazi

Favorite 2020 trend: Verzuz has been so entertaining. Not sure if it's a trend, but definitely one of my favorite things to come out of this year.

Artist to Watch in 2021: Elroy, 18veno, Hollow Sinatra

Favorite Song of 2020: Tycho Jones - "Don't Be Afraid"

Favorite Album of 2020: brakence - punk2

Favorite Artist of 2020: brakence, Kenny Mason, BIGBABYGUCCI, Jean Dawson

New Year's Resolution?: Finish college and get a full time music gig

Maddy Quach

Song That Best Describes Your 2020: Antonio Williams and Kerry McCoy - "Changes"

Most Underrated Artist of 2020: Issy Wood. She's just signed to Mark Ronson's Zelig Records & I'm so excited to see what comes of it.

Best Breakout Artist of 2020: glaive

Best Music Video of 2020: slowthai - “nhs"

Biggest Artist Crush of 2020: Freddie Gibbs this year and also every other year.

Favorite 2020 Distraction: Hand-sewing clothes!

Artist you’re most looking forward to seeing live in 2021/2022: YG, Grimes, Sharon Van Etten. I'm buying tickets to anything and everything next year.

Favorite 2020 trend: That one month at the beginning of quarantine when everyone was drawing carrots and bananas on their Instagram stories. What was that...

Artist to Watch in 2021: ICECOLDBISHOP, CoachDaGhost

Favorite Song of 2020: This one goes to "Empty Beach" by Coco (although Hotboii's "Don't Need Time" is a close second).

Favorite Album of 2020: Fiona Apple - Fetch The Bolt Cutters

Favorite Artist of 2020: Flo Milli

New Year's Resolution?: Celebrate my accomplishments more.

Rachael Jansky

Song That Best Describes Your 2020: Benee, Gus Dapperton - “supalonely” (the pandemic really has me missing all the homies :()

Most Underrated Artist of 2020: Q

Best Breakout Artist of 2020: CHIKA - forever grateful I didn’t scroll past her Tiny Desk on my Twitter feed

Best Music Video of 2020: Amine - “Compensating”

Biggest Artist Crush of 2020: Halsey. My answer will never not be Halsey.

Favorite 2020 Distraction: Love Island, but the UK version ONLY

Artist you’re most looking forward to seeing live in 2021/2022: Rico Nasty!!!!

Favorite 2020 trend: allllll the Clubhouse drama

Artist to Watch in 2021: Sally Boy

Favorite Song of 2020: Charlie Burg - “Lancaster Nights”

Favorite Album of 2020: Glass Animals - Dreamland (you literally melt into their music, perfect escape from the shit show of a year we’ve had)

Favorite Artist of 2020: Dominic Fike

New Year's Resolution?: Graduate college, land my first big girl job, and have fewer existential crises :’)

Jimmy Smith

Song That Best Describes Your 2020: “Brave Faces, Everyone” - Spanish Love Songs

Most Underrated Artist of 2020: POORSTACY

Best Breakout Artist of 2020: KennyHoopla

Best Music Video of 2020: Code Orange - “Swallowing The Rabbit Whole”

Favorite 2020 Distraction: Daydreaming about 2021. Oh and lots of TikTok

Artist you’re most looking forward to seeing live in 2021/2022: Every Time I Die

Favorite 2020 trend: Pop-punk revival

Artist to Watch in 2021: nothing,nowhere.

Favorite Song of 2020: The Dirty Nil - Doom Boy

Favorite Album of 2020: The Used - Heartwork

Favorite Artist of 2020: Travis Barker

New Year's Resolution?: Don’t take live music for granted

Jenna Singer

Song That Best Describes Your 2020: bulow and duckwrth - “sad and bored”

Most Underrated Artist of 2020: Jean Dawson

Best Breakout Artist of 2020: glaive

Best Music Video of 2020: idk but “Thick and Thin” – Lany got me through some shit

Biggest Artist Crush of 2020: Justin Bieber

Favorite 2020 Distraction: Cooking

Artist you’re most looking forward to seeing live in 2020/2021: Billie Eilish

Favorite 2020 trend: hyperpop

Artist to Watch in 2021: Huron John

Favorite Song of 2020: Still Woozy - “Window”

Favorite Album of 2020: LANY - mama’s boy

Favorite Artist of 2020: can’t give that away sorry

New Year's Resolution?: less time on social media

[shealwaysreads]

I was tagged by the lovely @prolix- ❤️

wind or rain // closed curtains or open window // bumblebees or butterflies // banana bread or cheesecake // tulips or roses // lemon & honey or apple & cinnamon // hillside cottage or city apartment // warm or cool // book or video game // organized bullet journal or cluttered sketchbook // smoothie or milkshake // sunshine or moonlight // relaxing or productivity // holding hands or back hugs // sunset at the beach or stargazing in a field // poetry or prose // candle or diffuser // longing for the past or longing for the future // vocals or instrumentals // snowy mountain or rolling green hill

honey and lemon or milk and sugar // musicals or plays // lemonade or iced tea // strawberries or raspberries // winter or summer // beaches or forests // diners or cafés // unicorns or dragons // gemstones or crystals // hummingbirds or owls // fireworks or sparklers // brunch or happy hour // sweet or sour // rome or amsterdam // classic or modern art // sushi or ramen // sun or moon// polka dots or stripes // macaroons or croissants // glitter or matte // degas or seurat // aquariums or planetariums // road trip or camping trip // colouring books or water colour // fairy lights or candles\

this was fun! tagging @tackytigerfic @slytherco @hedwig-dordt @clotpolesonly @mai-und-regen @practicefortheheart @tedahfromtayla @bonesliketambourines @maesterchill and anyone who wants to play!

[ccntrcl]

------ ------ ------  “They’re pretty aren’t they.” 

                           It’s a sudden remark. A statement rather than a question really. A change of topic— just because. The constant back and forth banter had turned just a bit dull; bland. Not worth another moment's attention & so crimson hues abandoned them rather swiftly. instead, focusing upon the view coated in white outside. Cold bony fingers refuse to withdraw from the warmth emanating from the teacup clutched gently between her palms, settled delicately pon her dress. And really... It’s not a lie. The birds perched on the fragile branches of the tree rotting away alongside her; the cruel passage of time drags them all regardless of circumstances— were indeed pretty. Pretty & well... He must’ve picked up on her meaning, hadn’t he? yup her brother was always perceptive, though dense in some regards. But she doesn’t doubt that he knows what they mean. He must- it’s clear in his behavior.  these are the types of topics his mind doesn’t shy away from; innocence never turns a blind eye --- --- always so eager to drown in guilt & a sense of duties.          ��                 (       somedays she -  almost  -   lets him  .        )

                                   Somedays she feels cruel, and somedays she felt kindness tinge her fingertips; as though all she touches transforms into glittering gold & of course— be preserved in eternity. but they never do... it’s a foolish notion to hold & dream about; nothing could be everlasting --- change is inevitable & so,  they soon corrode & darken & CRUMBLE INTO DUST. Forever forgotten, only to be remembered by her: if she bothers too that is. & so she continues. there’s a sick satisfaction in probing, in pushing him--- a glimpse into his future for what shall remain once she has been returned to where she came from; an evil voyeuristic plea resonates within her mind. a small ‘lemme see’  ‘lemme see’ that follows & echos with the urge to bully him--- it’s just harmless fun, right?    ahh --- aha. perhaps she’s being a tad bit too cruel. but that does nothing to deter her as more harmless words continue to spill from parted lips; venom was never present within them... it’s the receptor's interpretation & reaction that it all hangs upon.  “Do you believe them to be worth all the admiration & praise they receive?”

                                 &  Today she feels cruel. 

                                                 The poems they wrote, the songs they sang about freedom and some false childish daydream of escaping fate — laced with hopes of a higher purpose. The world always operates in such a blind manner; refusing to acknowledge what’s in front & forever casting their eyes towards the suns of tomorrow. Neglecting the today & now for the sake of weakly bound together morals; what was the point of something better when they had ‘now’ thats deteriorating right in front of them. but... that part of humanity & the people was beautiful too. a conviction strong enough too actually change something or blindly await its demise. well, she was simply musing... it’s not exactly good to generalize now, is it?  no. it limits the mind too much.  “  you know what I believe ---?   ” a sing-song voice rings out answering her own question, not at all expecting or awaiting him to respond; the extended silences measured by her impatient temperament was answer enough... besides it was something akin to a rhetorical question anyway.   

               (        briefly, does she wonder if it’s her cynicism’s silent acceptance                        that leads her to torment her kin or some long-forgotten cord that                        begs to strike a nerve & unsettle ------    aha.   whatever it may be,                        she doesn’t actually enjoy glaze that paints over his hues.  perhaps                        it        was        time      to          stop         this       now---       !      )    

                                        “   I think --- them to be rather trite.   ”   & it was the truth. not an attempt to console his ever consuming guilt... she’s honest when she speaks to him; a coil of sympathy churns within her stomach... really she shouldn’t bully him now.  he’ll have the next 20 - 30 years where he --- her kind, soft - hearted    dear   brother, whom she cherishes so deeply will be forced to swallow that guilt of having killed her.  she doesn’t fault him for this; for their circumstances. he isn’t at fault  --- it was simply chance... meant to happen. haa. & they called her cursed ------ he too, suffers the weight of this burden & will be dragged into the abyss once all his chains have been transferred to his successor, and another child of ill - omen was sent back to it. ;     &    so,   the   cycle    never    ends!   “   I  believe... that they are no more different than you & me.   ”   free they may be. but they, too are bound by the cruel fruit of fate. “   they’re just like us don’t you think? --- ah, my tea’s gone cold... perhaps it’s best if we go & prepare a new batch, don’t you think?  ”  fickle mind already  made up , she clutches his sleeve & drags him away from the window sill; from the misary & weight that begs to drag him & hang on him for the rest of his days--- & so, for as long as she’s here:   she   won’t   let   him   drown.  

[imnotcameraready]

chivalry is dead (8)

A/N: PLEASE READ ALL THE WARNINGS!!! — also if i’ve missed any warnings, please please please let me know!!! this chapter’s a doozy, and i don’t know everything that could be construed into something that might upset someone, so please let me know if you think there’s something i’ve missed so i can update this chapter and make sure it’s tagged in future chapters! or if i've worded any of them wrong! 

anyway, im so stoked for this chapter y’all wouldn’t even bELIEVE. you also finally get to see how much i adore the em-dash, ‘cause there are 33 in this chapter Alone

WARNINGS: Sympathetic Deceit, panic, panic attack!!, scarring/scars, past fights, loneliness, isolation, self-hatred/self-deprecation, self-isolation, swearing/cursing, curses, death threats, thoughts of ducking out, public torture (implied), argument (no yelling but Hardcore Debates)

WORDS:  9752 (it.,,.s,.s  so su fkcing l ong .,,. ,. .,   akshdlgasf sorry im so proud of myself bc i rarely ever write single chapters this long and im screaming)

PAIRINGS: I. am so fucking proud to say. that there’s a lil’ Prinxiety, Anxciet, and Roceit. more Prinxiety than the other two, but that’s because Roman’s doing all the legwork in this chapter

MASTERPOST

AO3 link!

@starlightvirgil @forrestwyrm @daflangstlairde @marshmallow-the-panda@askthesnake @k9cat @patromlogil

enjoy!!! love y’all so much <3 <3 <3 <3 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Virgil didn’t think the first quest he’d have through Roman’s Imagination would involve trudging through a sewer line.

He pulled his hood tighter around his face, trying to block out the scent but leaving a hole just barely wide enough to see Deceit and the Thief walking in front of him, leading every step with the ball of his foot and basically tip-toeing through the cobblestone tunnel. The Thief had led him and Deceit around some roads too fast to follow, instructed them to put their hoods up and hide as much of their faces as they could until they breached the town’s defense wall, and to do that, they’d have to follow one of the paths beneath one of the two river branches. Underground and not seen. They were on the run from the guards, after all; Virgil agreed that getting caught would throw a wrench in absolutely everything.

Deceit was a little more careless. Virgil kinda wanted to kick him for it, actually. For someone so concerned about what was best for Thomas the real person, Deceit seemed very nonchalant about the whole “Roman, Creativity, might be gone forever” situation.

Roman was NOT gone forever.

Holy shit, Roman was gone.

Virgil squeezed his eyes shut and exhaled, covering his mouth with his hood. The realization was coming in waves, slapping him with the ice cold knowledge that they’d demoralized Roman so much he’d basically ducked out. He’d done more than ducked out. He was fucking dead.

Calm down time, he could hear Patton’s voice in the back of his head start counting one, two, three, four. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.

“Virgil. Are you coming?” Deceit said.

Virgil looked up to see Deceit and the Thief both stopped and standing a few paces in front of him, waiting. While Deceit just watched with his mouth pressed in a line, the Thief looked more concerned.

Was that concern? Virgil couldn’t tell. He just nodded, not removing the hood from his mouth or taking any further steps forward, but it seemed that his approval was enough to placate the both of them.

The Thief turned back around, continuing to lead. “Sorry. I know it’s dismal down here, but this’ the safest passage out of the city,” his fingers trailed along the right wall, making a soft scraping sound as the leather rubbed against the stone. “We’re almost out.”

Deceit was trailing right behind the Thief, close enough that his cloak’s flapping was gently hitting his shins. It seemed best to stick close to their guide, especially in as confusing a situation as this one. Plus he may be able to learn some more about the Pandora’s box that they’d opened when interrupting this death fight nonsense. He actually kept trying to grab the Thief’s hand, something to guide (not comfort), but he kept missing. Or the Thief was dodging. But no, no way would he be doing that.

They turned another corner and the Thief held up a hand, stopping Deceit and Virgil behind himself. Neither of them opened their mouths, but he still shushed quietly and turned to face the wall. It looked like dirt and stone like all the rest of the walls. The Thief said something, not to either of them but himself. Deceit leaned forward, hand outstretched, but Virgil swatted it away.

He also ignored the glare Deceit shot him. “What?” Deceit taunted quietly, “There’s nothing to worry about.”

“Fuckin’ liar,” Virgil grumbled into his hood, muffled enough that neither of the others could hear what he said.

Deceit heard that he said something, though, and smirked. It was always rewarding to watch Virgil squirm, especially since….

His smirk fell and was replaced with a sigh. The path to hell was paved in good intentions, after all.

The Thief stepped back, causing Virgil and Deceit to jump. They hadn’t noticed that he’d set a few fires — there were a few wicks embedded in the stone — and the glittering golden flames formed a circle in the wall. In the circle, where there used to be wall, was a hole leading to the outside world. Virgil could definitely see grass out there.

He followed the Thief as he stepped through the opening and out into the grass. “C’mon. And stop arguing, I can hear your eyebrow muscles moving,” he said.

Both Deceit and Virgil stopped, casting wary glances at each other before following again. The Thief didn’t look at them at least, but that just made it even more confusing as to how he knew they’d been shooting each other death glares for the whole sewer trip.

Ah, well. Nothing in this realm made much sense, anyhow. Virgil looked up, squinting at their surroundings. They were definitely out of the city. Behind them was the looming city wall, definitely over four stories tall and seemingly impenetrable. The hole they’d exited from was closed, small wisps of smoke rising from where the Thief had extinguished the spell’s flames.

And speaking of which, apparently there was a Roman who was a witch or something. Logan was right about the magic in this world, then. That was another thing he’d have to be wary about. Are you ever so stressed that you’re calm? Oh, worm.

Virgil snorted to himself and rubbed his face. The memes, they’d ruin him one day.

Deceit cast him a curious look, but disregarded it before Virgil noticed. They didn’t have the time nor expendable energy for animosity. Not here, and not with the stakes so high. He was trying his best to not antagonize Virgil — okay, but come on, it was just so easy!

To their left was the river, though it was more like a stream as it cut through a grate in the wall and along the grassy expanse towards the forest. The Thief seemed to be following it, humming a tune as he pushed around reeds and tall grass. To his credit, the Thief seemed less stressed now that they were out of the city; he was swaying, even, to the song he was humming.

“Thief,” he stopped humming when Deceit interrupted him, “You live in the tree, in the forest, correct?”

“I do. You’ve seen it?” the Thief looked over his shoulder at Deceit quickly.

“Yes. When we arrived in this world, we were in a patch of grass in the forest. Your tree was our first checkpoint.”

Deceit moved the reeds in front of him away with his hands. Crickets were chirping out here, the water glittering golden as the sun lowered behind them. Sunset would be happening soon.

It seemed everything shone gold, here.

“Like a video game?” the Thief asked, humor laced through his voice.

Deceit sighed. “That was Virgil’s idea.”

“Hey—!”

“It was a good one,” the Thief cut him off, waving a hand at Deceit without looking at him. “The concept of checkpoints isn’t just a video game thing. Any story has constants, things that’re always there to help the reader place themselves into the story and understand how things flow. My tree’s always been that, so we’ve always got somewhere we’re…,” he trailed off, then chuckled. “Rooted to.”

“Booo,” Deceit groaned, ignoring Virgil’s quiet snickering, “Patton would approve.”

The Thief winced. He stopped walking — they were halfway to the forest, following the river — and pointed two red fingers at them both. “I should warn you, watch out whose names you say. You never know who’s listening.”

Deceit shot a panicked and confused look right at the Thief’s back. He turned to Virgil and found his expression mirrored on the anxious side’s face, both not liking the implications of that statement.

They turned back to the Thief, who had just turned around and continued walking. Virgil cleared his throat first.

“What do you mean by that….?”

“There’s a curse on your guys’ names. Logan, Patton, Virgil, Deceit,” the Thief’s voice was light, airy, as though he didn’t particularly care. “If you say it, everyone hears it, knows where it was said and who said it. I don’t really care but, well. I would prefer not having too many uninvited guests tonight.”

“O….kay.” Deceit cleared his throat and shook out his hands, a little more frustrated now with that knowledge. He would have to ask more about that later — there were so many things they didn’t know about, that they needed to approach, but he couldn’t keep dropping things for others. “But….more on the tree. How old is it?”

Make the Thief finish a train of thought. Virgil raised an eyebrow at Deceit, who nodded. That was their gameplan. Milk him for information, on anything, because at this point, anything was helpful.

He clapped happily, Deceit noted, walking with a slight pep in his step as his thoughts were redirected toward his tree. “It was formed before this challenge. Roman made it, actually, back when Thomas was a kid and wanted a treehouse he could escape into. When….we feel like we want to be alone, it’s where we go, so it was fitting that I’d move into it once this challenge started.”

Virgil sped up a little, to catch up enough to walk inline with Deceit. No point in bringing up the rear the farther they got from the city. “You see this whole situation as a challenge? Like, the battle royale situation.”

The Thief waved a hand as the incline changed, entering the forest. “Something like that, yeah. Mostly we’re all fighting about what we think is best for Roman.”

Deceit and Virgil shared a look. They remembered the Playwright’s words, about maintaining order. It was easy, in the euphoria of finding Roman, to forget that all of these forms had ulterior motives.

Briefly, Deceit considered what the Playwright’s ulterior motive was. He hadn’t mentioned having one, but it was in his nature to not trust that sort of silence.

“What do YOU think is best?” Virgil asked as they both turned back to the Thief.

He didn’t turn to look at them, holding out a hand as a small bluejay — where the fuck did the bird come from?! — landed on his hand. The Thief whistled quietly at it, and it chirped back, and flew away.

They could see a sliver of his face, drawn up in a small smile, expression strained even as they couldn’t see it.

“....Stay in the Imagination. For forever.”

There was a pause.

Deceit was watching the back of the Thief’s head, eyebrow raised and glare frozen. That was a twist. No, no it wasn’t. He should have seen this coming — the others’ letting him stay locked in his room would definitely send the message that they didn’t care if he came out. Of course.

He glanced at Virgil, only to find the anxious side glaring absolute daggers at the Thief’s head. He wanted to duck out (quack). Son of a bitch, there was a part of Roman that wanted to duck out (quack).

Virgil was gonna scream.

Deceit made a gesture, and Virgil’s hand clamped over his mouth. He shot daggers at Deceit, who did his best to only focus on the Thief.

“That doesn’t sound healthy,” Deceit said, voice quiet.

“I don’t remember asking your opinion, little white lie,” the Thief grunted as he climbed over a particularly thick root.

He shot Deceit a quick glare before disappearing around it. His hand stuck out and motioned them both to follow. Virgil punched Deceit’s arm with his other hand and Deceit sighed, letting up so Virgil could speak.

“That wouldn’t benefit anyone,” Virgil hissed, dread laced through his voice as he held back as much of his panic as he could. He and Deceit both cringed when his Tempest Tongue slipped out, though.

They climbed over the root, Virgil first and giving Deceit a sharp kick in the side as he did so. Deceit hissed, and slapped Virgil’s back.

The Thief watched them both with a glare as they appeared over the root.

virgil could definitively say that the Thief was one of the parts of Roman that he didn’t like. He was squirrely, too ready to judge and too eager to cut ties, and Virgil didn’t see what a center-stage hog like Roman would gain from losing his audience. It was counterintuitive.

But maybe it was tied to ducking out. Who fucking knows.

The Thief’s expression seemed to let up, but he looked away again, continuing up the hill. “You, too, Dark Knight.”

They followed for while in silence, until Deceit asked, voice softer, “And what if you’re wrong?”

Now the Thief stopped. His shoulders were stiff, as though he had half a mind to tell them to shut up, or even to turn them back. Virgil opened his mouth, but Deceit held out a hand, shaking his head. Let him think.

Eventually, he slumped, tilting his head back and exhaling. “That’s the point of breaking Roman apart,” his voice was strained, “We need to piece him back together into something more, ah….I’m bad at wording, but something more indestructible.”

That was what he had suspected. Deceit sighed, lowering his arm and approaching the Thief’s back. Carefully, he rested his hand on his shoulder, giving him one tug to turn around and ignoring how stiff the Thief turned. The forest around them was darkening, and red light from the setting sun streamed in around them.

A harsh breeze swept through the opening. Virgil held his cloak tight around himself and looked around. The fear of bears was definitely more real now. But Deceit was unfazed. He held the Thief’s arm tight, even though it was limp in his grip.

He wasn’t going to lose Roman over something so….well, for lack of a better word, trivial.

“No one’s perfect, Thief. Everyone’s got flaws and denying yours might result in,” Deceit paused, trying to phrase this without revealing his exact thoughts, “Unwanted consequences.”

The Thief’s eyes were cast down, at the ground. His entire body was rigid, as though Deceit’s hand had frozen him upon touch.

Had he always looked so defeated? Held a darkness in those eyes just as bright as the shine that comes when spinning a yarn or acting in a play?

Deceit glanced at Virgil, then back at the Thief. How had they let this happen?

He shrugged Deceit’s hand off with a sharp shake, still refusing to look at him. “Yeah. It probably will. And, once you’re all out of here, you won’t have to deal with those flaws again.”

Deceit’s eyebrows shot up, hand curling into a fist at his side as he argued in the only way he could. The Thief didn’t care?! “It’ll hurt HIM, and it doesn’t matter who wins this stupid challenge. You understand that, right?”

“Yeah,” the Thief barked out a laugh, “I’ll take your word for it, Silver Tongue.”

He continued forward, not checking that they were following.

Deceit’s hands were curled into tight fists at his sides, shaking slightly. That went against all of his work. All of his and the other Sides’ wor, too! Trying to save Roman, for him to snap back and self-destruct like this.

It was going to hurt THOMAS, didn’t Roman understand that?

Did he WANT that?!

He huffed, eyes fixed on a dandelion growing in the grass. It did make sense, it was a long time coming — of course, what an oversight on his part, to allow this isolation to extend for so long—

“Hey, breathe,” Virgil’s whisper brought him back to focus, “C’mon.”

Virgil’s hand wrapped around one of Deceit’s, coaxing his hand open with practised understanding and gripping tight. “Don’t panic. That’s my job.”

Deceit cast him a sidelong glare.

Virgil shrugged, lips pursed, but a thin smile still present. He swung their arms up, then down again, and tugged him along. Deceit could feel him taking away some of his anxieties. There was no doubt that it was unhealthy, for Virgil to be roiling in everyone’s panic, but he couldn’t help but also being thankful as Virgil squeezed his hand in small pulses, tugging him along after the Thief.

After about a minute, he exhaled.

“Thank you,” Deceit murmured, eyes downcast.

Virgil glanced at him.

They could do this. Deceit swung their arms, and Virgil let out an exasperated sigh.

He was definitely still high strung, but they could do this.

But the Thief still wanted to leave.

Deceit pressed his lips together as he felt Virgil physically stiffen, the thought kicking him back into the reality. Which, in and of itself, was ironic, because the Imagination was super duper not reality.

“Thief,” he didn’t turn towards them, “You want to duck out.”

It wasn’t a question. Virgil was glaring at the Thief’s back, eyes a little wide.

Something was ringing in his ears. That’d been his fear — that’d been Virgil’s actual, personal fear for this whole endeavor. It’d just been confirmed.

The Thief stepped over a particularly large root, waving his right arm out towards the forest. “Of course. You’re necessary. Anxiety needs to have a seat at the table, yeah. You keep him out of trouble.”

He kicked a rock and hopped over another root. “We don’t. Uncreative people’re out in the world everywhere. Thomas can live without us, or with us muted.”

Oh my goodness gracious, Virgil was so glad Logan wasn’t there to hear that leap of logic. He couldn’t help the growing disgust on his face.

Deceit squeezed his hand again, but the Thief continued. “Getting to spend all our time here, in a world of our own creation? Win. You all get to go about running Thomas without getting annoyed by us all the time? Win. It’s a double win. A win-win.”

Virgil stood up straight, finally letting go of Deceit’s hand to gesture angrily at the Thief’s back. He seethed, throwing his arms into the air and shaking his tightly-gripped fists at the sky. It was like talking to a brick wall! An incredibly stubborn and narrow-minded brick wall who didn’t seem to have any critical thinking!

Maybe he should call it quits. He squatted, wrapping his arms around his head to block out the sunlight, trying to calm down again.

“Virgil.”

No, no, that wasn’t what he did. If Roman was stubborn, then Virgil was immovable, and he was gonna get his idiot back.

A hand rested on his shoulder, pulling him upward. Virgil swatted away at it, growling quietly into his own arms.

“Virgil, get up,” Deceit’s voice was barely audible over the blood pounding in his ears, “Or he’s gonna walk away.”

He nodded, exhaling into the ball he was curled into.

Let go. Let go of the damn worries.

“Virgil. Listen to my voice. Perhaps we cannot convince him, not alone and not tonight, but we can at least stay with him. Give him options.”

He’d trained himself to not listen to Deceit, who’d lied and manipulated his way around Thomas’ head. But, just this once….

Virgil nodded again and stood upright slowly, knees creaking and popping. They could do this.

Deceit patted his shoulder and motioned forward. The Thief was already a few yards ahead, but not out of sight just yet.

They both hurried after him.

Until he stopped.

The Thief’s shoulders slumped in relief as he finally spotted his tree in the distance. His pace quickened, jogging himself across the few meters between where he stood and the tree, and was followed by the other two Sides. Once they reached the tree, the Thief placed a hand against its side, running it along the bark slowly. As though greeting a friend.

“Welcome home,” he hummed, smiling up at the canopy.

He searched in his pocket and pulling out a lighter — a regular modern lighter, wasn’t there supposed to be a medieval theme or something?! That was MULTIPLE ITEMS— Deceit squinted at it, opening his mouth in an offended fashion. He was going to say something about that, because it was pretty unfair that he got to have something so modern while everyone else was relegated to objects that were period accurate, but Virgil elbowed him in the side.

The Thief, who was pressing the lighter to the black chalk, swirling the flame along the “door” opening, didn’t seem to notice. Virgil honestly just wanted to see what this magic was all about. Once he was done drawing the circle, he stepped back and held a hand out, pushing Deceit and Virgil back, too. “Open sesame,” he said with a grin.

All of the black chalk was alight, glowing gold from the flame. The Thief held a hand out for the drawn-on handle, and as soon as his hand got within an inch it glowed golden itself. The chalky text lit up red. He slowly turned the handle, now filling his hand with an amorphous golden light, and pushed the door open.

It swung easily, as though on invisible hinges.

The Thief smiled as the scent of home wafted over him. He took a deep breath, it’d been a long day, he was home, he was safe, and he turned to Deceit and Virgil.

Both of the other Sides were staring at the thick hole in the tree, mouths open slightly and eyes open much more. There wasn’t much to see inside the door, as there was a small staircase leading up to the actual living quarters, but the fact that the fairly solid tree opened was something. Neither of them had seen the magic in Roman’s kingdom, after all, and while they knew this was what happened….seeing it was a much different experience.

It was kind of humorous, actually. To think that he’d be bringing other Sides into his little sanctuary.

It felt….nice.

Shut up, shut up with that romantic bullshit.

“Are you coming?” he asked, cocking his lips into a smirk as he waved them in.

Virgil snapped out of it first, surprisingly. He shook his head and nodded. “Yeah. ‘Course.” He elbowed Deceit, who jumped and nodded so vigorously his hat fell off.

The Thief caught it, hand shooting out, and blinked at himself. And then he laughed.

His demeanor had flipped almost at the exact moment they got to the tree. He wasn’t curled inwards, dancing around words and ideas. No, here he was, his laugh light, airy and carefree, something that he didn’t seem capable of prior. A few birds in the forest even chirped along. One cardinal landed on his head, whistling with him, and he didn’t seem to mind.

Virgil and Deceit shared a look, both equally blushing. This was a stark change and their glum guide was kinda cute.

The bird thing was textbook Disney prince too, like, how did he even —

“Alright,” the Thief brushed off the hat, lips quirked in a small smile, “Enough fucking around, c’mon.”

He put the hat back onto Deceit’s head, hands carding through Deceit’s hair as he did so. If the Thief noticed how much redder he got, then he didn’t let on, because he turned around as soon as the hat was on snug.

Virgil noticed, though. He pressed the butt of his palm to his mouth, stifling a laugh as the snake spluttered silently at the Thief’s back.

The Thief, still unaware — maybe unaware, maybe not? — went into the tree and climbed the stairs without waiting for them to follow. Virgil went first, then Deceit quickly, not wanting to be alone in the forest for long and not wanting to think about that incredibly gentle and not-at-all pleasing interaction.

No sir. Not pleasing. Not what he absolutely wanted for the rest of his life.

For once, he cursed the existence of gloves. How much softer would the Thief’s hands be without them?

Deceit would die before acknowledging that he absolutely definitely didn’t not have a crush.

Virgil stepped up to the top landing, beside the Thief, and looked around. It was small, but cozy. Before them was a sitting area with a thick couch, identical to the one Thomas actually had in his living room but without the bend. In front of it was a wooden coffee table, beneath was a rug with circles, almost like the rings of a tree, Virgil thought. Atop the table was a vase of red roses in full bloom.

To the right was a small kitchen alcove, separated from the sitting area with a counter peninsula that had two toasters sitting on it. Two toasters. This Roman must like his bread, apparently. Floating around between the kitchen and sitting area were some candles, all lit and casting the room in a comforting warm glow. On the left was a stairwell, wooden and spiraling up in such a way that Virgil could only see the first few steps.

Besides the stairwell was a second door. As Deceit stepped up into the room, the Thief went to the second door and opened it. As soon as the door touched the back of the hall it opened to, it disappeared, leaving an uninhibited opening down to a curving hallway that seemed to wrap around the tree’s trunk.

“Make yourselves at home,” the Thief said, waving his hand at the living room, “Do you want me to take your cloaks?”

Deceit put up his hand dismissively, turning in a circle and examining the room.

Virgil also shook his head, holding his cloak around himself more. The Thief shrugged at him, taking off his own cloak. “Suit yourself.”

As he moved to hang it up, Virgil could see that the gloves went to the middle of his forearms, and his shirt seemed to be tucked into them. No part of him was exposed other than his collar, neck, and head. Interesting?

When Virgil turned back to Deceit, to maybe, you know, indicate that this Roman was taking some pages out of his book, he found that Deceit was wandering through the kitchen. He pointed to the two toasters, made a judgemental face at Virgil, and continued opening the cabinets and drawers. Virgil slumped a little. Figures.

He sighed, walking over to the couch and flopping onto it. Oh. It even smelt like Thomas’ couch. The tension left his shoulders as he rolled onto his side, pressing his face into the cushions and taking in a deep breath. It was dizzying, how quickly this lowered his heart rate. Virgil hadn’t realized how stressed he was with the fast-paced changes of this situation.

The hardwood floor creaking indicated that Deceit had moved from the kitchen to the hallway. His footsteps echoed away down the hall.

“You want some tea?” Virgil heard the Thief ask.

He shook his head. He just wanted to lay down for now.

“Deceit? Tea?”

“I’m fine, thank you. May I go upstairs?”

“Intrusion doesn’t seem to be something you worry about, given how you went through my kitchen.”

Deceit didn’t grace that with a response, and Virgil heard his footsteps tapping up the stairs.

Silence again. He hummed into the pillow and rolled over into his own cloak. He just needed some time.

“....Do you want something to eat?” the Thief tried and, again, Virgil shook his head.

“‘M good.”

“Mhm.”

The Thief went around the kitchen calmly. Virgil could hear it. His steps were soft, though not as quiet as Deceit’s. More just….comfortable. Not as heavy as Romans typically would be, either.

Virgil sat upright slowly, still hugging one of the cushions, and looked up. The Thief’s gloves were sitting on the counter, as was the Thief himself, cradling a mug in heavily-scarred hands. Virgil actually did a small double-take upon seeing them.

The Thief raised an eyebrow, questioning.

“....Your hands’re fucked up,” Virgil stated.

He got a nod back. “Wow, I had no idea ‘bout that. Not like they’re on my body or anything.”

Virgil rolled his eyes. Roman always was a smartass. “No shit. Were….Roman’s hands aren’t like that, right?”

The Thief took a sip from the mug and did a so-so motion with his hand. “Yes and no. All my scars are definitely real. It’s not like we get out of every scrap with creatures, monsters, villains, the like without any damage. But Roman just sorta conjures flatter skin on top of it.”

Virgil frowned. There were a lot of questions he had for that, but he didn’t want to bombard him just this second. “That’s pretty weird, not gonna lie. So they normally heal into scars?” he gestured to the Thief, who nodded.

“Yeah, and it’s better to conjure up new skin than make you all worried.”

He must have recoiled, because the Thief laughed a little at him and took another sip. He wiped his mouth with the butt of his palm, shaking his head and speaking into his hand. “C’mon, you can’t tell me Patt wouldn’t flip if he saw this shit.”

Patton….very much would. All of them would, if Roman ever came in with that many scars. He was scared of what they’d say.

Virgil was getting a clearer image of the Thief’s intentions every minute. Still, for now, he just shrugged and conceded. “You’re right, I guess.”

The Thief nodded, opening his mouth to continue, but Deceit’s footsteps hopping down the stairs interrupted him. The snake in question popped out around the spiral staircase’s bend, and Virgil saw that he’d removed his hat and cloak somewhere. He had a hand raised, too, to get their attention.

“Thief, question. Well. First, the top floor is beautiful — marvelous work,” the Thief raised his glass, but otherwise didn’t react. Must not be so susceptible to flattery, Deceit noted. “I saw a city. A modern looking one, behind the mountains.”

“Oh, yeah.”

The Thief took another sip of his drink and motioned for Deceit to sit by pulling out a stool from beneath the counter, with his leg. “That’s just another setting. We don’t always adhere to a medieval theme in here, but right now we’ve kinda fallen back on the Disney royalty theme because it’s something we’re familiar with. That, and we can all agree it’s marvelous.”

“I see,” Deceit sat beside Virgil, crossing his legs on the cushion. “So you’re never going to change the setting, though?”

Deceit thought it was a fair question, but the Thief let out a short laugh. “Are you kidding? We’d have to flip everything around! God, we’d need new names, too, and new hiding places. It’s all too much work.”

He took another sip, then set his mug down. Deceit then noticed his hands, brow furrowing. He opened his mouth to bring it up, but Virgil elbowed him in the side and waved his hand.

He’d explain later. Best not interrupt, because the Thief rubbed his mouth and continued. “I don’t even think we can. It’d need to be a unanimous decision, like a coherent thought, and we’re not really capable of that right now.”

“Why wouldn’t you?” Virgil asked.

The Thief looked at them both. He seemed to be debating something.

This Roman took his time with his words. That must mean he had a lot to hide, Deceit thought, or he didn’t want to expose certain ideas.

“For one. Dragon would kill us.”

Ah. “Dragon?” Deceit asked, “Care to elaborate?”

The Thief looked at his knees, then hopped off of the counter. “I’m going to make dinner,” he said, voice a little more airy, clearly trying to deflect from this conversation, “Spaghetti okay?”

“Tell us about Dragon,” Virgil pressed harder.

The Thief shot him a squinted look and relented as he set up the pot of water. “He’s another one of us, another Roman,” his voice held so much disdain. “He’s dramatic, loud, all that good stuff, but the biggest thing about him is that he really likes being right.”

“You don’t like him,” Deceit stated.

“Can’t say I’m a fan.”

He opened a cupboard and took out a box of pasta. He cleared his throat, glancing up at the two expectant faces before relenting again.

“He’s a bit of a sadist. Like….he moved into the castle. He controls the guards. They all listen to ‘Roman,’” here, the Thief did air quotations, “But they aren’t sentient enough to notice that there are seven of us now, so they listen to the guy who took charge. Dragon.”

A villain part of Roman, apparently. One who would attack the others, if the way they found the Thief being chased by guards was any indication. Virgil stood up, going into the kitchen. “Where’re the plates?” he asked quietly, “‘M gonna set the table.”

The Thief nodded to one of the cabinets and Virgil opened it, taking out some plates. He set them down on the counter only for them to be picked up by Deceit and dispersed around the peninsula, where the three counter stools were.

“Dragon,” Deceit reminded, and the Thief sighed.

“Before you guys showed up, he caught another one of us. Another Roman. And, God….” his voice trailed off.

The pot was boiling. The Thief put the noodles in, taking a wooden spoon and easing them into the water. He seemed to roll something around in his head, lolling back and forth, before grimacing and continuing. “He….he did a lot of bad things to Damsel, the other Roman. Beat him publicly, in the village’s central square so all the characters got to see. So that we could all see. It was horrifying.”

A chill swept through the glassless windows of the tree.

“That’s….” Virgil and Deceit spoke at the same time.

“Dark.”

“Awful.”

They shared a look before turning back to Thief, who was churning the noodles, eyes glued to the rising steam and boiling water. It was surprising that the steam didn’t put out any of the candles, actually.

He looked forlorn, lost and defeated. “It was like a warning, to the rest of us. Don’t get caught, or else.”

Deceit picking up the conversation. “I didn’t realize there was a part of Roman willing to do….that. And for what?”

“For approval. And what can I say? He lives for validation, would kill for it, too. We all know you’re in here, so he’s definitely hunting you guys, maybe to gloat and probably hoping you all will tell him he did good,” the way Thief said it sounded almost too nonchalant, like it were forceful.

He turned off the stove top’s heat — hang on, Deceit thought, a stove?! Well, fuck the theme-ing then. This was a neverending hell of inconsistencies — and pulled a strainer out from another cabinet. Slowly, the Thief strained out the water, talking all the while.

“He probably wants to….” his eyes flicked up at them, quick as a flash, and he let out a small exhale. “I dunno. He’s a bit of a dice roll. One second, he’s talking about how much he wants all of you to love him, brushing his hair in the mirror and painting his nails, just being harmless, and the other second he’s talkin’ about how much he wants to dismember you and throw your bodies into locked boxes in the river.”

Virgil and Deceit exchanged a look, one worried and one determined. They were safe, knew how to defend themselves, and had the means with which to defend themselves, but….

Virgil’s brow furrowed. Logan and Patton were out there somewhere. And there was a bit of Roman that seemed happy to kill literally anything.

He looked up at Deceit, who was watching him with squinted eyes. Logan and Patton must be fine. They must be.

What if they weren’t? Virgil squinted right back at him. They could be hurt.

No, they were fine.

The Thief cleared his throat, cutting through the tension like a knife and drawing both of their attentions back to him. He was heating up some sauce now, mixing in some herbs with what looked like a tomato-paste base, eyes shifting between Virgil and Deceit.

The staredown lasted for a minute or two before he relented, exhaling and hitting his spoon on the side of the pan.

“Let’s….pause, for a hot sec. Dinner’s almost done and, after that, you both should sleep,” his voice carried like a whisper around the small kitchen.

Neither of them responded, and the Thief just kept cooking. He slowly poured the noodles into the sauce, mixing up a little before gesturing to the pasta.

He couldn’t honestly expect them to just drop the conversation like that. Could he?

“We are going to have to confront Dragon,” Deceit raised an eyebrow at him, “You know that, right?”

The Thief shrugged. He picked up a plate, took out a pair of tongs, and began putting pasta on the plate. “Probably. I can’t help you there, though. I’ve just been setting off all the booby traps in the castle, so he gets stuck in them. And stealing his jewelry. He’s got a hoard of it.”

Like a dragon, Virgil thought. And with scales, probably, and claws. And wings. Maybe he breathed fire.

He was frightened to all heck, but if they wanted Roman back, they’d have to….what. Talk with him? Probably talk with him.

He looked at Deceit, who was looking at the pasta, and then he heard his own stomach growl. The Thief had sat down at one of the peninsula stools, pointedly ignoring them for his noodles.

Then, he giggled. The Thief covered his mouth with a hand, but they both could see that a broad smile was behind it.

“What?” Deceit asked, raising an eyebrow.

“The Child just said the Social Nerd-work’s name. That means Dad-ton Abbey and him’re safe at the Artist’s house,” he explained, waving a hand and swirling his pasta on a fork, “Wow.”

Wow indeed. A little bit of the tension in Virgil’s shoulders released. Patton and Logan were safe, fine, hidden away with another less-murderous Roman. That was some good news.

….Well. Virgil sighed, more at ease now, and relented to the pasta. As he sat at the counter, Deceit went to make himself a plate.

They ate in nearly absolute silence, none of them wanting to mention the lack of a plan and the looming fear of this villainous Roman who apparently wanted to kill them all.

Deceit finished first, and he ran his hand through his hair, smoothing it back. “We’re sleeping here, correct? I also don’t suppose you have a shower or something?”

Thief pointed down a hall. “We might have an aesthetic going, but I’d die without a whole bathroom set up. Down and to the left, there’re towels in the side closet,” he took a final bite and set his fork down, standing up

“Thank you,” Deceit said, shooting Virgil a small look as he ducked toward the bathroom.

Deceit probably wanted him to ask more about the situation. Virgil tiredly continued to eat, but the pit that was opening his stomach was taking up more room than the pasta could fill. It was clear that the Thief — both of the Romans they’d interacted with, but right now, the Thief — trusted Virgil a lot more than Deceit. At least it showed a certain awareness on Roman’s part of Deceit’s trickery?

And it wasn’t like Virgil could help how upset he was by all this. It was a stressful situation and had a stressfully silent week before it.

“I also,” Virgil looked back up at the Thief, who gestured to Virgil’s plate, “Forgot to thank you all. For coming after us. Honestly didn’t expect it.”

Virgil nodded and carefully stood up from his stool. The Thief smiled and took the plate, but his brows were pinched. He wanted an explanation, didn’t he? It felt like a weird thing to need to explain. It was obvious. Wasn’t it?

“We were worried,” it sounded lame aloud, but the Thief just nodded in response.

“Thanks,” he put the plates into the sink and pointed down the hall, too. “You should go check out a room, too. Maybe change into some pajamas or something more comfortable? There’re, uh, pajamas. I’m just going to do the dishes then head to bed myself.”

Again, Virgil nodded. He was at a loss for words, honestly, and that was all a lot of information to process.

Take one thing at a time, though. That was what the Thief was suggesting, wasn’t it? “Sure thing,” he said, dashing away immediately.

The hall was dark, long, and curved. There were candles floating along the walls, same as out in the living area, and there were doors on either side. One already had Deceit’s double-snake-head logo shining yellow. Besides that door was another, unmarked door, but Virgil could hear a shower coming from inside.

He needed to get a room, first. Across from the bathroom was another unmarked door, probably a bedroom, and Virgil ducked into it, closing the door quickly.

He immediately threw himself onto the bed and rubbed his face. That probably smudged his eyeliner. It was already smudged.

No, no, he didn’t have the time to care about that. Virgil sat upright and looked around. There was a small open-fronted wardrobe pressed against the wall, with some pairs of pants and some shirts hanging on the wall. Surprisingly, they all looked to be various combinations of purple, black, and grey. He stood up, against his desire to curl into a ball and sleep on that bed for all eternity, and checked out the clothing. Yep, everything was about his aesthetic, and some even had his logo on them. Neat.

There was the bed and there was a mirror on top of the wardrobe. Around the room were some floating candles, but none were lit, and there was a light switch by the door. Virgil squinted. How the fuck did that work?

He flicked the switch and they all turned on, lit by flames. Alright. That was cool.

Virgil had to talk to the Thief. He couldn’t dance around it.

Or he could stay in here and admire how the wardrobe auto-filled with clothes that fit his style. Or he could admire the cool candle lights. Those would look sick in his room, actually. He should talk to the Thief about that, instead of literally anything else he actually had to talk to him about.

He just wanted Roman back, goddamnit. He wanted the Roman who would do outrageous things just to see Virgil smile. The one who would put on Black Cauldron for the millionth time, without complaint, when Virgil was having a bad day. He wanted the Roman who worked to improve himself and worked to include him, and didn’t shy away, and didn’t want to hide, and didn’t make him feel like he himself had overlooked something so disastrous as a crumbling self-image and gnawing concern that no one loved him.

The guilt weighed heavy in his stomach. Yeah, guilt. Virgil had felt Roman’s anxieties growing, but did he bring it up? Well, okay, he did. But every time that he did, Roman had deflected it with a witty quip or incredibly stupid comment or even that dumb, dashing smile. And then Roman would catch that he was nervous about something. He would never guess that it was himself.

Virgil could almost imagine what he’d do. Roman would take him by the hand into his room, always with the lights dimmer, more simplistic than was usual. He’d sit him in his squishy armchair, stand behind him, rub his shoulders and let him just vent.

Or maybe Roman would lead him down into the kitchen, sing a merry tune and make Virgil some peppermint tea. Swirl around in the kitchen, making jokes or telling stories, on those days where Virgil didn’t want to talk.

Ever since they’d shifted to accepting him, Roman had done his best. Extra, frivolous, occasionally over-the-top, but his fucking best. Virgil owed his best right back.

Virgil had to get him back. He had to face the music.Virgil’s fists balled at his sides as he whispered to himself, “Fuck it,” and threw open his door.

He hurried out of the hall and stopped in the entryway into the living area. The Thief was cradling another mug, sitting on a stool and staring at the flower vase sitting on the coffee table.

“Hey, Roman,” the Thief jumped and some liquid splashed out of his mug. Virgil winced. “Sorry, Thief?”

Virgil felt a little more guilty as the Thief sighed, rolling his shoulders and casting him a raised eyebrow. “Yeah, Virgil? You need anything?”

“Not really,” Virgil leaned on the wall as the Thief pulled out a roll of paper towels and tore some off. “I just wanted to say thanks. For keeping us safe. I don’t know what we would have done if you didn’t let us sleep over.”

The Thief pressed the towels to the spilt tea and matched eyes with Virgil. He gave him a reassuring albeit crooked smile, hair falling out of whatever order it’d been. It fluffed up around his face and, almost, looked like a crown. One of his hands reached up and ran through his hair, pushing it back into the messy but suave side-part Roman always had.

Hey, stop staring. Virgil blinked slowly and focused on the Thief’s words. “....probably safest place in the setting.”

He nodded, then shifted his weight, putting his hands in his pockets. Here goes. “Also, I don’t really understand why you want to be alone so badly. Like, I do, I get that feeling too sometimes, but….”

The Thief sighed, frustration laced through his breath, and Virgil added. “You know we’d miss you, Roman.”

That got him to falter. He stared at the countertop, then lifted the flower vase and cleaned beneath that. “I can’t say I wouldn’t miss you all, too,” he said. “I wish I wouldn’t. That’s more what I want. When we are all together, the best moments are so good. Nothing brings us more joy than seeing you smile and laugh at memes with us, or hearing Logan’s gasp when he reads something enticing, or watching Patton fuss around the kitchen. Heck, even Deceit’s dumb smirk makes us happy.”

Virgil could hear the “but” hanging in the air, especially once the Thief scrubbed the counter with extra vigor.

“But the lows. We can’t always handle the criticism, the shouting, the arguing and belittling. Being told we’re not enough,” he sighed, then added in a much softer voice. “That I’m not enough.”

He tossed the paper towels away into the trash bin, beneath the sink, and leaned his back on the sink’s edge. “Sometimes, I can’t help but wish I wanted to be alone. And if we self-impose that loneliness, then it might make it easier. To be alone.”

Virgil rubbed the back of his neck, watching. He’d known that they were less than supportive, on the best of days, but that was their job. Especially Virgil’s. He was the guy who was supposed to spot possible problems, things that the audience might not like, things that might endanger Thomas. He’d thought that Roman understood that he was doing it out of….

Alright, there was the L word again.

His internal monologue was interrupted when the Thief stood up straight and faced Virgil determinedly, wearing a tired smile.

“If you can convince the others, then I’ll come quiet. I just think that being alone’s….easier to handle,” he laughed a little to himself, a quiet chuckle that Virgil thought sounded hollow. “Besides, if Roman isolates himself, then it doesn’t matter if….”

His smile faltered a little, eyes seeming to watch something distantly away from Virgil. As quick as the expression came, though, it went as he looked back down at the counter. He reached up and ran his hands through his hair, settling it back.

There must be something Virgil should do or say. There must be, because sitting in silence like this — god, the Thief was gonna start crying, wasn’t he?

What wouldn’t matter? The question burned in his mind.

“....Haven’t I been through enough heartbreaks?”

The Thief’s question was so quiet, so desperate, that Virgil thought he just imagined it until a floorboard creak behind him indicated that someone had approached. He glanced back to see Deceit, hair still damp, clothed in a simple cream shirt and dark brown trousers. Pajamas, clearly, maybe taken from the room. Deceit nodded to the Thief, who was hunching over the counter, eyes stuck on the counter.

Virgil pursed his lips and made a so-so hand motion. He didn’t know exactly what was motivating the Thief, but they were getting inklings. Deceit nodded again in response and stood behind Virgil.

Who turned back to the Thief, still staring at the table. “We need you,” was how Virgil started, trying to piece together the best way to phrase what he wanted to say.

The Thief looked up at him and Virgil saw some wetness glittering in his dark brown eyes. They locked with his, not necessarily a glare nor anything aggressive. You could have convinced Virgil that the Thief was pleading. But for what, he couldn’t tell.

And then he smiled. He smiled and shook his head, looking away again.

“I…” He covered his mouth with a hand and reconsidered, shaking his head, “Nah, it’s dumb.”

“You’re not dumb, Thief.”

Virgil pushed off of the doorway to stand besides the Thief as he sank into one of the counter stools. Gently, like Roman had done for him many times, he put his hands on the Thief’s shoulders. “Can I?” he asked, voice quiet.

The Thief nodded, hand holding his mouth tight. His other hand, resting on the table and not gripping anything, had a slight tremor. Deceit stepped into the dining area, lips pinched in worry. He certainly wasn’t the one silencing the Thief, if it was anyone at all.

Virgil began rubbing the Thief’s shoulders, leaning closer and watching as his shoulders hiked up a little more. He was so tense, stiff as a rock.

“Listen. Thief,” Virgil glanced at Deceit, who was shifting his weight lamely, and nodded toward the mugs.

Deceit seemed to get the idea, because he nodded and got to work immediately. The Thief’s hand slid upward, covering his eyes now, and he shuddered as Virgil put more pressure on his shoulders. “Is this okay?” Virgil asked again, quietly, and the Thief nodded.

“Thanks,” his voice was so quiet that Virgil could barely hear him.

“You know,” Virgil hummed, quiet but determined. “I tried the whole lone-wolf thing. Thought it’d be good to keep myself separate ‘cause it would protect you all. Thought that was for the best. None of you seemed to want me back then, either.”

The Thief whined, and Virgil let up. But as his shoulders stiffened again, Virgil felt his anxiety mount. “No–uh, sorry, no that just–that was a good spot,” the Thief tried to explain, face turning redder under his hand.

Deceit snorted behind him, and Virgil kicked his heel out, managing to hit him square in the shin. He let out a chuckle when Deceit hissed in pain.

“I’m sorry. That we made you feel like that,” both of the other Sides looked at the Thief, whose hands were now both on the counter.

Virgil’s were still resting on his shoulders, so he exhaled and pressed down again. “We-We shouldn’t have—” the Thief tried to continue, but Virgil cut him off.

“Not saying you shouldn’t have, but you’ve been apologizing for it. You….all accept me, now. I’m working on getting used to that, you all work on making me feel included, and we work together. Maybe there’re highs, maybe there’re lows. That’s how everything goes, but we always get through it when we work as a team. ‘Cause teamwork makes the dream work, right?” Virgil smiled when the Thief snorted, “And we can’t make the team work without the dream.”

The Thief sat up a little more. Virgil didn’t want to pressure him or anything, so he rubbed a particularly tight knot near the base of his neck before letting go. It seemed that the Thief came to some understanding, though.

“Hot chocolate’s done,” Deceit said.

He leaned down beside Virgil and set a full mug down on the counter in front of the Thief. He then nudged Virgil’s hip with his own, holding out a mug for him but eyes not meeting Virgil’s.

That was the first bad sign. Virgil pressed his mouth into a line. Before he could make a move, though, Deceit picked up his own mug and stepped away. “I’m going to sleep,” he announced, “I can only assume tomorrow will be just as taxing as today was. Goodnight Roman. Virgil.”

Deceit’s eyes were still cast lower as he nodded once toward the Thief and once toward Virgil, and he stared at the floor as he hurried to the hallway. He disappeared down the hall, into the darkness, and they both heard his door close sharply.

Damn. So much for that truce.

Yeah, sure, Virgil wasn’t fond of Deceit. Much.

He used to be. They used to be thick as thieves — Patton would be proud of that pun, Virgil thought — and while time and responsibilities have wore down that relationship….Deceit was still important to him. Yeah, he was a bad influence, but, like….

Whatever. He didn’t care. He didn’t.

The Thief leaned back a little, head resting on Virgil’s shoulder. “You should sleep, too, Paramoody.”

His head tilted back and he smiled up at Virgil, who squinted at him. “If you fall backwards on that stool, I’m gonna laugh.”

“In fact, I’m the owner of Roman’s single braincell,” the Thief’s smile softened, “Thanks for earlier. I’ll think about that.”

His eyes were so soft. Had Roman always had that little beauty mark? Virgil really only noticed it now, with his face so close and with that weird scar pointing at it.

Not that he endorsed Roman being damaged in any physical way, but the scar was also. Pretty hot.

The Thief chuckled quietly, one hand reaching up to patt Virgil’s cheek.

His hands were a little cold, but they were soft, despite the scars. Virgil could feel him shudder a tiny bit as the Thief gently ran his thumb along his cheekbone.

Virgil felt….comfortable.

Why didn’t he want this, again? The Thief watched Virgil watching him, and saw him slowly lean his head into his hand. He must be tired, that was why Virgil was so open with him. There couldn’t have been another reason.

Still.

“Alright, you actually need to sleep, ‘cause your eyeshadow’s all over your face,” the Thief pulled his hand away and sat upright again.

As he slid off the stool, saying something about sleep and grabbing his hand, Virgil tuned him out, letting himself be pulled around.

What the hell was THAT moment? This was the absolute worst time to be reminded that he was a disaster, and the Thief must be so creeped out by how he was just staring at his goddamn face.

“And my room’s upstairs. If you go up the stairs, take a left, you’ll find me, okay?” Virgil blinked, looking up.

They were at the entrance to the hallway now. The Thief smiled kindly at him, though his brow was pinched in worry. “Have a good night, Virgil,” he whispered, hand still holding Virgil’s.

Virgil nodded, not trusting what he’d say if he opened his mouth, and met him with a small smile.

He wished had retained more of the romantic parts of Roman. Then, maybe, he’d be able to find the right words to describe how willing he was to throw this whole challenge away just to see that smile for the rest of eternity.

The Thief leaned in and pecked Virgil’s cheek. Then, he darted away, waist sash trailing up after him as he escaped up the stairs.

Virgil stared into nothing, eyes stuck to the empty staircase. Slowly, his hand lifted to his cheek, fingers grazing where the Thief’s — Roman’s — lips had been.

What the fuck.

Don’t even consider it.

He found himself walking back to the room he’d chosen — it was easy to find, his storm cloud logo was glowing a soft purple on the door — and collapsed onto the bed.

Virgil was absolutely sore from how fast his thoughts had been running today. It felt like years ago that he’d found Deceit in the hall and slammed him into the wall.

Oof. Maybe he wouldn’t sleep tonight, now that he’d remembered that. Virgil groaned into his pillow, crossing his arms over his head and pressing into it as his breathing’s erraticness increased

Deceit had been truly upset. Frustrated, angry, yeah, sure, that was the point — Virgil hadn’t expected that flash of betrayal. He couldn’t get that stupid snakey hurt expression out of his goddamn head. Plus it was just poor instincts to immediately strangle someone. And the way Deceit had slunk out of the kitchen just now, not daring to look at either of their faces.

He screamed into the pillow, pressing down into it even more. Calm down. He had to calm down.

What, why calm down now? You’d been holding this panic attack in all day, Virgil.

The pillow grew damp beneath his face; he hadn’t noticed that he was crying a little.

Virgil flipped over, now pressing the back of his head into the pillow, and wrapped his arms around his head, wiping at his eyes with his hand. He began tapping his left hand on the back of his arm, counting quietly as he inhaled, held, and exhaled.

It helped that it wasn’t completely silent. Virgil’s room had a window, a circle in above the bed. A gentle breeze wafted in, as did the sound of the trees rustling, frogs croaking, and bugs buzzing — a solid background noise to focus on, rather than the day’s events. Virgil mentally counted the frogs’ croaks as he felt his chest loosen. Maybe it was a product of being in the Imagination and, by extension, Roman’s room, but he got a grip of himself faster than usual.

As he calmed down, though, he also regained the feelings of absolute exhaustion. Calm quickly turned to drowsiness, and Virgil was asleep within seconds.

[electricea-a]

BEST PICTURE NOMINEES (2018) AESTHETICS.   repost, don’t reblog. bold whatever applies. tag whoever you want and feel free to add to the categories.

THE SHAPE OF WATER : early mornings. art on an easel. being trapped. flashy cars. self-righteous intolerance. speaking volumes without a word. being submerged. learning and adapting. raindrops on windows.  bubbles rising in water. cats. taboo desires.  tanks of water.  kitschy nostalgia. kissing underwater. silence.  isolation. golden age hollywood.  sign language.  scales.  egg shells. jell-o. the smell of cleaning supplies. creature features. the space race. red coats. monstrous fairy tales.  lab coats. lunches in brown bags. the click of shoes. smog.  dance routines.  slices of pie. toxic masculinity. chains. government secrets. seeing past flaws. floating aimlessly. needles. greens and blues.  deep, inexorable scars. gills.  music from the 30′s.  retro-futurism. bloody handprints.  routines.  record players.  old movies. love in unexpected places.

PHANTOM THREAD  :  a doll in a gilded birdcage.  butter to bread. the death of a mother . cycles .hidden messages.  a disruptive presence.  longing. wedding gowns.  posh control. post-war. brightly colored socks. inner turmoil. poison. an air of quiet death.  hallucinations. family dysfunction. rich fabrics.  curses. soft piano music. restrained anger. spinning out of control.  artist and muse. dark love.  pastels. peace in the countryside. clockwork dynamics. perfection.  wild mushrooms.  giving up every piece of yourself.  rags to riches.  ghosts.  new year’s.  lingering gazes.  needle and thread. fine dining. hearing every sound.  being ambushed. ego.  flowing dresses.  a person out of place. defiance.  ink to paper.  an artist tortured by their art.  obsessive personalities.  peepholes.  soothing elegance.  silk. spiral staircases.  driving at high speeds. high society.

THE POST : typewriters. newspapers.  tense climates.  distrust of authority. internal battles.  a legacy at stake. secrets.  cover-ups.  defending what you believe. peering through windows. melodrama. political corruption.  behind closed doors.  sniffing a scoop. ringing phones. lying for over a decade. cramming and crowding.  cold grays.  war.  fluorescent lights.  treason.  shuffled papers.  the jungle.  a weight on your shoulders. fresh coffee. thousands of deaths. burglary.  finding your voice.  risking everything.  propaganda.tough choices. exposure.  type being set by hand. workplace rivalries.  abuses of power.  security breaches. hierarchy. a bed strewn with papers and books. paranoia. orders. clicking keys. redacted files. desk clutter.  cigarette smoke.  precious cargo.  vanished technologies.  suspenseful conversations. facing charges.  courtroom battles.  suits and ties.

DARKEST HOUR  : never surrendering.  duty.  countless negotiations.  the flash of cameras.  beaches. historic buildings.  guzzling booze. resignation. utter catastrophe. bunkers. radio broadcasts. going against the odds.  bathed in red light. a sense of humor.   allies. shouting matches.  small square windows.selfishness. walking with a cane. war rooms.  chandeliers.  dust floating in air. righteousness.  a poor reputation.  an elevator surrounded by darkness.  a world at war.  needing a miracle.  interruptions.  a last hope. cigar smoke.  quoting poetry. photos of a loved one.  a single sunbeam. monarchy. vanity.  rescue missions. refusing peace.  pallid chambers.  military uniforms. taking a stand. common folk.  suicide missions.  drums of war. tears down sullen cheeks.  reluctance.  complete collapse. evacuations. enveloped by fog.  changing history. blood, toil, tears and sweat.

THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI  :   severe burns.  police uniforms.  sirens. the calmness of a deer. strumming guitars. grieving. horrifying memories. sucker punches. a lack of respect.  facing threats. skin under fingernails. flicking cigarettes.  awkward dates.  nasty rumors. claustrophobia.  lush green pastures.  molotov cocktails.  the fire of anger and revenge.  strangers.  no remorse. bashing in windows.  the midwest.  provoking a fight. pointing fingers. being pressed for time.  rundown old houses. grey morality.  dark undercurrents. insurmountable losses. cruel laughs.  the american flag. dive bars.guilty no matter what.   buildings in flames. ambulances. coughing up blood. spitting.  chewing on fingernails. one versus many.  black and red. not understanding another’s feelings.  a mother and child. the pain of others.  a quest of justice. abandoned billboards.  a hardened gaze.  driving to nowhere.  small towns. last letters. absurd violence.

CALL ME BY YOUR NAME  : heartbreak.  unbuttoned shirts.  fields of flowers. having to say goodbye.  cobblestone streets. rendezvous at midnight. battling temptation. academic paperwork.  peeling an orange. 80’s nostalgia. classical music. long walks.  ancient artifacts.  abundant orchards.  shoulder massages. expressive sexuality. remembering everything. staring into a fireplace.  dipping your feet in cool water. uncertainty. villa vacations. curly hair.  longing gazes. riding a bicycle around. mystery of love.  balconies. swimming naked. first times.  bathing suits.  roman statues.  secret sensuality. peaches.  piano music.  sun-soaked summer. having your nose in a book. just rooms apart.  crystal blue water. growing attractions.  changing your name. intimacy beyond physical.  love affairs. rich wines.  finding pleasure in grief. daring to desire. european lyricism.  loving father figures.  dancing to disco. laying in green grass.  awkward adolescence. hands interlinked.  sentimental jewelry. connection through identity. the magen david.

DUNKIRK  :  burying a body.  warm cider.  narrow escapes. a race against time.  a small boat. all hope lost. being unable to come home.  taken prisoner. shipwrecks.  assuming the identity of someone else. setting fire to it all.  smoke rising from a crash. sea foam.  seaports.  rendered blind. dropping to take cover. land, sea, and air. entangled in chain.  toast with jam.  suspense.  waiting for escape.  wounded men. lying in the sand. trauma. blank spaces.  sinking ships.  commended a hero.  cocking a gun. swallowed by darkness.  bullet holes. obstacles and delays.  a hero’s welcome. planes overhead.  the sounds of a ticking clock. bullets ricocheting off metal. people by the thousands.  shell-shocked.  the explosions of shells on shores.  the sound of destruction. rising tides.  head injuries. target practice.  compressed time and space. the perennial threat of death.  oil ignited into flames. lying for the greater good.   blocking out the noise.  primal dangers. taking command.  sole survivor.

GET OUT  : deer antlers.  suburbs.  hypnosis. strange behavior.  familial tension. chopping wood.  uneasy stares. tears and a smile. deception. fight or flight.  blindness.  survival.  sinking into the floor. watching but powerless. strapped to a chair. plugged ears. a failed handshake. car accidents.  sunken places. something out of a nightmare. going hysterical.  bingo cards. smoking cigarettes.  static on a television set.  doing more harm than good. a hint of a smile.  a stranger in any environment that is foreign to them. waiting for someone to come when they never will. overturned candles.  wealthy garden parties.  constantly looking over your shoulder.silence no matter how hard you scream.  trances.  catharsis.  a battle of wills. layers being peeled back. a cup of tea.  nosebleeds.  addiction.  last bits of life leaving a body.  black and white photography.  sprinting at high speeds. conspiracies. surgery. blankly polite speech.  noise of a spoon scraping across a teacup.   a deer in headlights. staring at your own reflection. unable to sleep. loyal friends.

LADY BIRD : california landscapes. budding romance.  uniforms. consolation. plain and luscious colors.  apologizing.  boorish sex. prom dresses.  secondhand dresses.  strong personalities. the theatre.  being simultaneously warm and scary.  battling depression. 90’s fashion.  dreaming of elsewhere. partying. signatures on a cast. living on the wrong side of the tracks.  not being bound by any era. rejection.  sparklers.  thrift stores.  high school.  identity crisis.  a place that looks like a memory.  going behind backs.  disappointed parents.  catholicism.  poverty.  busy new york city streets. monotonous hometowns. shitty bands.  teenage anarchy. drifting in and out of friendships. menial jobs. red hair. self-given names.  coming-of-age.  a broken arm. excessive drinking.  first kisses.  cupcakes.  smudged eye makeup.  strained relationships.  screaming in the middle of the street. thoughtful letters. standing out. decorated bedroom walls. having a change of heart. expressing individuality.

Tagged by: @nontale​ (Thanks!) Tagging: Anyone and everyone!

[kim-seungmine]

masterlist

♡: personal favorite

S T R A Y  K I D S

BANG CHAN

(loving you) at my own pace

a thousand chapters ♡

untitled drabble

LEE MINHO (LEE KNOW)

unspoken feelings

for you

00:33

moonlit  ♡

22:33

SEO CHANGBIN

i am you

love you right ♡

20:41

HWANG HYUNJIN

blissful lullaby

i’ll hold your hand (don’t let me go) (1, final) ♡

dream the night away  ♡

HAN JISUNG (HAN)

dream out loud

when it’s past midnight

give my heart a chance  ♡

22:43

no rules

LEE FELIX 

and the sun will rise again (1, final)

stay inside the hourglass

KIM SEUNGMIN

you, me, us

don’t be afraid

likewise

i feel you ♡

are you home?

the time is now

18:13

YANG JEONGIN (I.N)

obliviously obvious

let’s go home together

W A N N A  O N E 

ONG SEONGWOO

here’s to our future

[isthisatlantis]

Alphabet soup tag

Answer the questions and tag 10 people.

I was tagged by @i-need-u-sweet-lullaby, thank you! 💕

A: age // 22

B: birthplace // capital city of Slovenia

C: current time // 15:19 / 3:19pm

D: drink you last had // water

E: easiest person to talk to // my family and my best friend 

F: favorite song // bts - the stars

G: grossest memory // I don’t rly know, can’t remember anything specific

H: hogwarts house // slytherin

I: in love // nope

J: jealous of people // yeah 

K: killed someone // I don’t think so

L: love at first sight or walk by again // walk by again, I think u can’t rly love someone immediately

M: middle name // I don’t have one

N: number of siblings // none

O: one wish // just to have a secure future and career I want

P: person you called last // my dad

Q: question you are always asked // about my future plans I guess

R: reason to smile // bts, friends, sunsets 

S: song you sang last // I don’t remember, I’ve been listening to mostly lofi and u cant rly sing to that

T: time you woke up // 8 am

U: underwear color // yellow

V: vacation destination // in europe I wanna go to London and Vienna at the moment, but I also wanna see Japan and South Korea 

W: worst habit // picking at my skin, overthinking 

X: X-rays // once for my head when I had a problem with my sinuses

Y: your favorite food // rice, potatoes, pancakes...is milk tea food??

Z: zodiac sign // libra

This was fun! Im gonna tag @jjeonnguk, @petit-retardataire, @penicillinjimin, @bluemoonamjoon, @triviuhtae, @moonchild-rise, @luveyourself, @joonieblossoms, @kookiesnitecafe sorry if u already did it, u dont have to! 💜

[lordsicheng]

could you do the catching someone's eye with seongwoo too, please? like the one with minhyun you did!

Sure~ 

Again, like the others I have already made, I will focus on his personal placements especially the venus, moon and a bit of his mars

For reference, he has a Leo Moon / Virgo Venus / Libra Mars

Well, well. The ever so good looking Mr. Ong, even his expressions of love and emotions would play a significant role to how to build a stable relationship. Now, I personally believe that he is somewhat an air sign rising (sociable, very attractive both physically and practically, etc). I would be lying if I’d say his features weren’t definitely sculpted by the gods, this boy knows his angles and knows what looks best for him. This is a very common thing for Virgo venuses– they want to look their best. And if they know they’ve got the goods, they’re not afraid to show it. He’d love, love, LOVE compliments from his future s/o. He’d love drowning in them. It very much makes him feel wanted. He’d give back, for sure.

Combination-wise, he can be picky with his romantic choices. Not because he has high standards, rather he wants to look at the pros and cons of dating this person to the next. He’d want to try and test someone who seems to catch his eye if they could handle his whole self. He wants to explore different options, he is likely into doing casual dates first before going serious in relationships. Might even have to go to at least 5 dates before officially going off the market with someone. 

But once he does commit, he’d be very loyal and stable, and will only look at his partner. I think he would like someone who had strong values and is attentive. Attentive as in, they know what’s up with the world and, for Seongwoo, knows at least the things he may like and not like. He has a Leo moon, after all, so he may often talk about things he prefers and not (together with his often nitpicky Virgo placements, tbh.) without even realizing it. Bluffer? Totally. It’s his specialty. Leo moon, hello.

Like Minhyun, I can also see him with someone who has a bit of a motherly side. Someone who can totally show him that they care and value him, someone who compliments him and his hard work and someone he would want to come home to. 

First impression, though, he’d be a true gentleman with a kick of flirtatiousness that he wouldn’t even realize himself on doing. He is the type who is likely to date anytime, anywhere. Very much likely the member of the hyung line who has had flings and all. Experiences keep his ego up into boost. He has airy desires, he loves having many options even though he may come off critical in choosing. But with his venus sign, he would desire one who would be able to depend on him and give him the attention he needs. Doesn’t mean he needs too much attention as in wanting to be babied around, but enough attention to let him know you love and trust him. Someone who can keep his feet on the ground, despite his ever so airy desires.

How to talk to him/get his attention?

I would say to always just be yourself, like the others. 9 times out of 10, he’d be the one who would approach you first tbh. Like I said, he likes exploring and weighing in options, even if he becomes too critical with himself. He’d ask details, for sure, but he’d try to keep only the common things out, and all the privacy inside. He’d only open up to his future partner once he feels the connection with them, he wants loyalty and trust. He wants someone he can rely to at all times. He’s also very dependable, so I’d say trust is the biggest thing he’d value in a relationship.

Just try to befriend him, it’s not that hard. Another reason why I still believe he is an air rising is because of how easy it is for him to make friends. He is able to adapt and vibe with people, all ages and sexes, in a short span of time. He’s also very kind, he shows his humble side very often. But something that would make him float up with emoji hearts around is when someone would compliment him, and his hard work. Sure, complimenting how handsome he is in person is also a plus, but he would make it a point that his work is what’s very important to him. Also, like I said, he may tend to bluff at times– keep yourself grounded on it. Someone who’d shut him up (not in a mean way, of course) and try to snap him out from his bluffing? Attraction shall grow stronger, I tell you.

So, how to win his heart?

At first, try to play hard to get. He’d love a challenge as he finds this much more interesting when trying to pursue someone. Mr. Ong would very much not back down on trying to get your number if his eyes are laid on you the whole night. But even if you try to play hard to get, don’t be mean to him– he’d be turned off. Instead, try to flirt back once he does flirt with you, but keep the mysteriousness going. My, my, he’d love a bit of a mystery here. Makes him want to go on and crave for more. 

Appreciate all of his efforts. Whether it’s work or how he expresses his love, as long as he’s the mastermind, there is nothing better to him when he is given credit for all of it. He’d adore someone who was very appreciative of his efforts, even if they’re the tiniest things. He’d give back and compliment just as much, however, also try to stay humble through it all. He’d be a bit intimidated by someone who was also much of a bluffer as him or even more.

Again, with regards to his bluff, be responsive. He doesn’t need overreactions on times he’d likely boast a little, but keeping his feet on the ground and someone humble would make him want to be the same. Yes, he is a humble person as it is, he would often just bluff for the amusement majority of the time. But reminding him of his roots and how blessed he is for being successful as it is? Big fat yes to his heart. Wouldn’t hurt to laugh at his antics of wanting to entertain, honestly. He’d love genuine reactions rather than over-the-top ones.

Get adventurous! He’d very much love dates that don’t fit into the norm of “boring relationships” as he would or may call. Sure, he’d love staying at home and being with you while doing other stuff, but adventures with him would definitely be a blast. He believes the source of strong commitment is the bonds of what two people have in common or love doing during their pasttimes. In this case, even just going to new cafes and restaurants or hangouts at the mall up to going on hikes can keep his ever so overworked self feel much accomplished, especially with his partner.

Learn to be understanding of how much attention he actually needs. The combination of his Virgo placements and Leo moon crave for assurance and he wants to be comforted for when he feels like he isn’t doing things just the way he planned. Encourage him, support him, do small things that he likes to make him feel better, care for him, and just be there for him whenever he needs someone by his side. Once he realizes your loyalty to him is what keeps things going then he’d feel like the happiest person in the world. If you push him away, however, he’d likely not take this lightly and would start an argument from 0 to 100 in just five seconds. He’d be very baffled and feel disrespected.

Speaking of, he wants mutual respect, personal space and freedom. Even though he may act as if he’d want a routine for both of you, he values freedom of expression and wants all odds to be respected between you two. Doesn’t mean that he wasn’t want to be with you 24/7, but doing different things you both like, he’d believe it’d be a very healthy sense for both of you as you both can get ease of mind. Example, you may like reading and he’d prefer playing video games, he’d want you to respect his own decisions as well as he respect yours. He believes the balance of similarities and differences is a healthy source for a strong commitment as it is able to balance two people out. He’d very much like it if you respect personal space, too. But playing video games with him or suggesting him a book as examples, would also be just as good. You’ll get the git on this. He’ll just come running back to you in no time anyways.

Don’t reprimand his stubbornness and often aloof personality. That’s how he often shows his ego. There is a difference between “reprimanding” and “correcting”. He may not like the idea of being put down because of those traits he has (everyone has positive and negative traits, it’s normal) but if he is going way overboard, don’t be afraid to correct him and telling him the consequences. He will always understand your point, especially trust is strong, but it may take time for him to adapt into your points of what is supposed to be right from what he had done wrong. Always remember, mutual respect is important, so don’t lash out on each other– instead, just talk it out and give your points together. Mutual understanding is just as important as anything.

There are so many things I could write for Seongwoo, honestly, because the combination of his venus and mars is very interesting. I’d probably go on and on for hours, but I don’t want to bore anyone and I am starting to lack words for substitution for the ones I’ve typed (some have been said over and over, as you can tell lol). So yeah, I hope you’re satisfied, anon!

[moksurideonew]

ABC Tag

I was tagged by @therarara

rules: answer the questions in a new post and tag 10 blogs you would like to know better

(a)ge: 22

(b)irthplace: India

©urrent time: 8:24pm

(d)rink you had last: Diet Coke

(e)asiest person to talk to: my besties

(f)avourite song: Every SHINee song lol and so many Hindi songs

(g)rossest memory: first getting my period

(h)ogwarts house: Gryffindor

(i)n love: i wish but nah

(j)ealous of people: sometimes... but then i remind myself not to be

(k)illed someone: nope

(l)ove at first sight or walk by again: walk by again

(m)iddle name: cannot reveal cause its kinda private in indian families

(n)umber of siblings: 1

(o)ne wish: to be happy with whatever I do in the future

(p)erson you called last: joanna aka the bestie

(q)uestion you’re asked most: whats your future plans... and im sick of the question... stop with the pressure pls

®easons to smile: SHINee lol and really just music and movies and books and spending time with the besties and just other small things

(s)ong you last sang: I want you by SHINee

(t)ime you woke up:  8:40 am

(u)nderwear colour: purple

(v)acation destination: Paris

(w)orst habit: biting my nails

(x)-rays: um i only remember of my ankle recentlyish

(y)our favourite food: noodles of all kinds

(z)odiac sign: virgo

lets tag @artfulkey @earthtogot7 @sapphicshawol @dragon-scales88 @sakuraskeletonkin @fezzlets @roo-appa @jacksonplusme @kimchiqueen @fear-humans-not-wolves Do them if you would like!!!