#he wished me good luck on my quiz (real)

[glare-a13]

welcome home is so neat i love you wally darling

[limjaeseven]

Love Me A Little

Pairing: Hongjoong x Mingi

Genre: Angst, s2l

Word Count: 2766

Summary: Hongjoong never really understood love. People had different stories of how it came but for everyone he knew, it stayed a while. For him, love was a fickle thing, a spark of passion fizzling out as fast as it started. He wasn’t happy about it, he wished he could love people the way they loved him, but it felt like that just wasn’t meant for him. That was, until Mingi came around.

Quiz Result: losing your passion and frantically trying to regain it - fever

Warnings: Implied smut, mental breakdowns

[a/n]: Here's my submission for @pirateeznet's first anniversary project! I veered plenty off the prompt but I still hope you enjoy. Thanks @daesukiii for helping me brainstorm this.

It wasn’t like Hongjoong didn’t want to fall in love, didn’t want a long term lover, didn’t want a marriage with a suburban house with a white picket fence and 2.5 kids, it just didn’t happen to him.

He tried, god knows he tried, but liking someone for him was as easy as getting bored with them, meaning his relationships were enjoyable for a short while before he was staying just because he didn’t want to hurt his partner. He tried to be a good lover, but he couldn’t keep his heart in place for very long.

The line of his exes was long, most relationships ending with his boyfriends realising that he just didn’t feel the same way that they did. Maybe a lifetime’s worth of love wasn’t meant for him, he thought.

Finding people wasn't difficult for him, neither was making them stay. The same couldn't be said for his own heart. It made him want to stop looking for people altogether, but the loneliness was too crippling.

"I wish I'd never met you," Jongho had cried the day things ended.

Yunho had left without as much of a note, not that Hongjoong was surprised after the year and change they spent together.

Dating Yeosang was fun for about the first month, then it started getting bad, then progressively worse.

San and Wooyoung felt like but a distant memory, fun while it lasted. They had sought him out to join their relationship but all he did was remind him why they were better off together.

A sigh left Seonghwa's lips as he watched his best friend sulk in the corner of his cafe, at a table unofficially reserved for him. "Your dull face is going to drive all the customers away." He said as he placed Hongjoong's tea in front of him.

"Leave me alone, I'm grieving," Hongjoong muttered.

Seonghwa sat down in front of his friend and asked, "Grieving what, Joong? We've been over this so many times."

"I'm grieving my sorry ass." It had been months since San and Wooyoung broke up with him but it still stung somewhere deep down. He couldn't blame them, he would have done the same if he was in their place, but he didn't know how to fix things. "Am I just aro, Hwa?"

"You know that's a question only you can answer." Hongjoong groaned and covered his face with his hands. "If you're asking me if I think you're aro, then no. What you had with Yeonjun in high school felt too real to be anything short of love to me."

Hongjoong had to agree. Choi Yeonjun was the only person who Hongjoong had actually, legitimately loved in his life. They never dated, conservative school and all, but still, they shared something special. Once Hongjoong graduated, though, they naturally drifted apart and that was the end of it.

Sometimes he tries to psychoanalyse himself and wonders if that incident left him irrevocably scarred or something. But he didn’t really feel different. Maybe it was about finding the right person, he thought. But that made him feel worse because what were the chances that he’d find “the right one”?

He groaned into his tea, making Seonghwa ruffle his hair comfortingly before getting back to his work. Hongjoong just wanted to not be and feel alone, but he couldn’t tell if that was in his stars for him.

Mingi happened by a sheer stroke of luck. Hongjoong gets chills when he thinks about it, how easy it would have been for him to miss him entirely. Hongjoong had decided to take an impromptu vacation, taking a week off work and booking the first flight out of the country he could find.

It happened to be a ticket to Japan he could barely afford but he had had a terrible month at work and everything was just going wrong so he threw all his critical thinking skills out of the window and was left with eight hours to pack and no return ticket booked.

Despite the time and the immediacy of his plan, he almost missed his flight because he fell asleep in the middle of sorting out his clothes out while lounging on his bed. He hadn’t prebooked his seat so he got the only free one remaining on the flight, which happened to be between a teenager who wasn’t able to get a seat with his mother and an old man who was snoring loud enough for Hongjoong to still hear it through his headphones.

He wanted to curse his fate when a tall man came walking towards him, and for a moment Hongjoong felt frozen in place. The man was really attractive, like absurdly so. His seat also happened to be next to the teenager’s mother’s. He very politely agreed to swap seats with her son and there he was, sitting next to Hongjoong looking like he just walked off a runway.

“Can I help you?” Hongjoong had to take a second to realise he was shamelessly staring at the man next to him.

He shook his head and turned away, grabbing the book he’d stashed away in the seat pocket in front of him to occupy himself. He didn’t bother checking which book it was, just grabbed whatever was on top of his shelf as he was running out of his house. It happened to be his copy of ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’, a well loved one at that, with the spine broken in and the cover chewed up in the corners.

“Oscar Wilde? Good choice,” The man next to him commented.

Hongjoong let himself look at him again before responding, “Yeah I picked this up in high school and fell in love with it.” He reached his hand out to the man. “Hongjoong.”

“Mingi, pleasure to meet you.” The man replied, a bright smile breaking out on his face.

They talked non stop for the two hours of their flight. Things were so comfortable with Mingi. He was warm and immediately disarming. Hongjoong got a good laugh out of the facial expression Mingi made when he told him about how he landed up on that particular flight.

They had exchanged numbers and promises to meet each other over dinner by the time they had collected their bags and headed out to their respective hotels.

Mingi was in Japan on his dream trip, Hongjoong found out. He had originally planned it with his boyfriend but they ended up breaking up before it came to fruition but Mingi wasn’t going to let that get in the way of checking an important item off his bucket list.

“I could accompany you,” Hongjoong offered casually, “If you’d be okay with that, that is. It’s not like I have anything planned anyways.”

“I would love that,” Mingi said immediately. And so it was decided, a last minute vacation had turned into a sight seeing opportunity with an extremely hot man who not only was single, but also into men. Hongjoong knew it probably wasn’t the best idea to try flirt with Mingi not that long after his breakup, but he wouldn’t turn the man down if he wanted to try something,

And try they did. It took three days of them spending basically every waking moment together but they eventually got there. Mingi had invited Hongjoong back to his hotel after a day spent roaming around the fashion district of the city. They were planning to dine at the restaurant but given how exhausted they were, they ended up crashing on Mingi’s bed and ordered room service.

“Are you dating anyone?” Mingi asked out of nowhere, his eyes glued to the television playing some reality show they could barely understand the rules of.

Hongjoong turned to look at Mingi, his face lit by the glow of the screen, highlighting his features in a delectable way. “No,” He said.

“Anyone you like?”

“No.”

“Any on and offs? ‘Maybe-but-not-really?”

“No.”

Mingi took a deep breath before turning to Hongjoong, “Can I kiss you?”

“Oh my god just do it already.” They were rolling on the bed in a tangle of limbs within seconds, soft lips sharing passionate kisses. Hongjoong didn’t realise how much fun just kissing someone could be till Mingi.

Hongjoong didn’t go back to his own hotel that night.

The week felt like a dream that Hongjoong didn’t want to wake up from. Basking in Mingi’s glow felt like a slice of heaven he couldn’t let go of. But time ran out, and suddenly Hongjoong was hit with the reality that they had to go back to their lives, working cities apart with busy schedules and commitments that left them with little time for themselves.

He couldn’t get himself to ask Mingi what they were before leaving. They were supposed to leave on the same flight but Hongjoong had his pulled back last minute and he left without a word.

Hongjoong didn’t know what to do with himself on the flight back to Korea. He knew he was making a mistake, he knew he was running away from something that could maybe work for once, but he didn’t think he had it in him to find out. He was too scared to see something beautiful fall to ruin because his heart would eventually grow bored of that too, and he’d be back at square one, a lot more scarred and no less lonely.

For the next week straight he refused to go anywhere but to work or the local grocers. Seonghwa had to practically break his door down to get him to even say a word to him. “What is up with you, Joong?” He questioned, his voice accusatory. “You leave and come back without a word. I’ve been so worried about you. Couldn’t you have responded to my texts or heck, come to the cafe and showed your face so that I know you’re still alive instead of having to call your coworkers to check in on you?”

Hongjoong sat dazed on his sofa as Seonghwa shouted at him, his face impassive, barely registering that his friend was even there, much less what he was saying. “Hyung,” he said finally when Seonghwa stopped. “Hyung,” he repeated before breaking down in sobs.

He cried like he had never before. Seonghwa rushed to hold him tightly, rocking him gently as he tried to get Hongjoong to calm down but it wasn’t working. Hongjoong was a mess of tears, wails and panicked breaths, barely holding together.

“I’m so scared, hyung,” he muttered over and over again, his voice coming out in a wet warble. Seonghwa held onto Hongjoong tighter, whispering reassurances into his ears. It took a long time for his breathing to even out and his tears to stop but eventually he was lulled into an uneasy rest.

“You should call him, you know?” Seonghwa told him the next morning over breakfast. Hongjoong had broken down once more when he woke up and finally spilled everything.

“I just can’t. He didn’t try to contact me either, and I honestly don’t blame him.”

“The longer you wait, the harder it will get.”

Hongjoong paced around the kitchen, hands wringing nervously, “Hyung, he’s perfect. I can’t watch myself falling out of love with him. Not for him and not for me.”

“Then don’t,” Seonghwa said simply. “Don’t fall out of love with him. Try with everything you have in you. If it still happens, then that’s just what fate has in store for you. But to let go of something so precious for an outcome you don’t know for sure will happen, what a waste.”

Hongjoong didn’t know what to say to that. He stared at his phone as Seonghwa left. A picture of Mingi at one of the shrines they visited together stared back at him. He reached over to turn the screen off.

A week turned into two, then three, and before Hongjoong knew it had been over two months since he’d been back from the trip. He was sure Mingi had forgotten all about him by now. That was at least his hope, because he knew it was more likely that he hated Hongjoong with every fibre of his being for what he did to him.

He was in the middle of walking home when he crossed a boutique with a display of clothes that reminded him a lot of the way Mingi dressed. Stopping in front of the store window, he gazed over the mannequins, memories of their time together flashing in his mind.

The way Mingi had walked around the town in a loud shirt that Hongjoong had happily ripped off his body in the comfort of the new hotel room they had gotten together. He remembered the way Mingi had smiled when Hongjoong took more pictures of him than of the places they were visiting and how those smiles turned warmer when it was just the two of them curled together in their bed, their faces a mere breath away.

On impulse he stepped inside the shop. The counter was empty, the door behind it slightly ajar. Hongjoong found a rack of belts and felt the leather between his fingers. The image of him hastily unbuckling one from Mingi’s waist and throwing away crept on him that he didn’t notice someone step out of the open door and stand behind him.

“How can I help you, sir?” A familiar voice asked and Hongjoong felt his entire body seize up. He couldn’t get himself to move or say a word. “Are you okay, sir?” Mingi’s deep voice asked, and Hongjoong couldn’t muster even a sound as Mingi walked around to face him.

The shock on his face when he recognised Hongjoong was comical. He looked like he had seen a ghost, his lips parted and his voice caught in his throat.

“Mingi,” Hongjoong finally managed to say. And just like that the floodgates fell open. “Mingi, Mingi, Mingi, Mingi,” he chanted, unable to stop himself.

He could barely remember what happened but next thing he knew, Mingi had him wrapped ina crushing hug. “Why did it take so long?” He heard Mingi ask. Hongjoong just held onto him tighter, too afraid to let go.

“Why aren’t you mad at me?” Mingi smiled, taking Hongjoong’s hand into his own, running his thumb over his knuckles.

“No offence but I didn’t expect someone who booked and almost missed a flight to a random country in less than eight hours to be the most well adjusted person out there.” Hongjoong wanted to protest what Mingi was saying but he knew there was no point. “A part of me knew I’d wake up in that bed alone. It also knew that if I tried to get in touch with you, you’d just shut down. So all I could do was wait.”

“But I was so terrible to you, weren’t you hurt?”

“Oh I was plenty hurt, right after my ex too, but I wasn’t mad. I just couldn’t find it in me to be angry with you.”

Hongjoong raised Mingi’s hand to his lips almost reverently and placed a soft kiss on the back of it. “I don’t deserve you,” he whispered.

“I don’t care what you deserve or not, Hongjoong. I want you, if you want me too.” Mingi looked at Hongjoong with such a burning passion that he couldn’t help but speak his heart.

“I want you so bad, Mingi. With every fibre of my being,” he said. “Every time I look at you I had to remind myself that I’m not dreaming. I just wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if I hurt you again.”

“I wouldn’t forgive you either, and it would hurt me a lot if you rejected me right now. So just say yes. What has to happen will happen. Don’t let that stop you from being happy.”

Hongjoong closed his eyes and let himself wash away all his worries in the wave of Mingi’s presence. “Yes, a thousand times over.”

[lemoncrushh]

Out of Bounds - Chapter 34

STORY PAGE

Word Count: 3910

"I got a job!" I told Harry Tuesday afternoon on the phone. I knew he was getting ready to head out the door for work, so I wanted to catch him.

"That's great!" he exclaimed. "When do you start?"

"Tomorrow. They need someone right away, but they're wiling to take me half a day until school's out."

"Wonderful. I'm so happy for you, love."

"Thanks," I beamed.

On Monday I had gone to the temp agency to speak with a woman there about possible job placement. She sent me on an interview on Tuesday after school with a small real estate office. I felt like the interview had gone well, and by four o'clock I'd gotten the call that I had the job. I was so incredibly relieved.

"I'm off tomorrow so when you get home, I'll take you out to celebrate," said Harry. "Our Japanese restaurant if you'd like."

"Yes, I'd like that," I replied.

Soon after I hung up the phone, Penny arrived home. I told her the good news as soon as she walked through the door.

"Oh, I'm so happy for you, baby doll," she expressed as she embraced me in a tight hug. "I knew things would work out for you."

"Thanks, Penny."

"So here's the plan," she said as she set her purse on the kitchen counter. "My band has a gig on Saturday, the 20th. I'd love for you and Harry to come. And I was thinking we could sort of celebrate Christmas together before Zack and I leave for his parents' the next day."

"That sounds like fun," I smiled.

Penny narrowed her eyes and sucked in her lips as though she was afraid to say the next thing.

"I thought we could exchange gifts," she said hesitantly.

"That's fine," I nodded.

"Are you sure? We don't have to, Tisa. I know you're kind of watching your money right now."

"It's fine," I repeated. "No problem."

"Perhaps we should set a limit?" Penny offered. "Say, twenty-five dollars?"

I felt my shoulders relax. "That's a good idea."

"Okay," Penny grinned. "Good."

I cooked dinner that night for Penny and me, and then we watched a little television before heading to bed. Tomorrow was a big day.

And a big day it was indeed. Jacobson popped a quiz on us that I had not been prepared for, but I suppose that's why they call it a pop quiz. I left the classroom feeling like I had a 50/50 chance of passing it. Harry kissed me goodbye, wishing me luck on my first day on the job before heading to his next class. The temperature had dropped tremendously over the last week, so I pulled my hood over my head and walked to the snack bar for some hot cocoa.

English class was almost as bad as History. No pop quiz, but Professor Lloyd had us write a trial paper of sorts about our last book. Unfortunately I wasn't fully caught up on it yet, so I couldn't write as much as I would have liked. But luckily it wasn't for a grade.

Already feeling unnerved about the day's events, I stopped at Penny's to have a quick lunch before heading to work. There was something else that was weighing on my mind, but I pushed it aside so that I may clear my head for my new job.

All of my nerves and anguish washed away when I walked into the small office. The lovely woman with whom I had interviewed named Geraldine greeted me, immediately showing me to my desk. She showed me the basics, which I already knew, but I enjoyed listening to her speak. She then ushered me through the office, introducing me to everyone including two of the lead real estate agents (the third was out of the office), an older woman from the accounting department, and the IT guy. Then we stopped into the break room where she offered me some coffee. I poured myself a cup before returning to the reception desk.

My afternoon went by fairly quickly, and before I knew it, it was time to go home. Everyone waved goodbye to me on their way out, and then Geraldine showed me how to switch the phone to night mode, turn out the lights and lock the doors. I followed her out to the parking lot where she patted me on the back and said she'd see me the next day.

Penny happened to be climbing the stairs to her apartment just as I was. She giggled when she saw me, our coming home together a first.

"How'd it go?" she inquired.

"Great," I nodded. "Very pleasant."

"Good! That's just what you need."

I wasn't in the door ten minutes when my phone rang.

"How was your first day?" asked Harry when I answered.

I chuckled.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing," I said. "I just got finished telling Penny. I guess it just feels great to have people care about me."

"Well, of course we do," Harry conveyed with a smile in his voice. "So I take it it went well."

"Yes, very well."

Before we hung up, Harry said he was on his way to pick me up so we could go to dinner. I knew I needed to talk to him about the thing that was bothering me. And I couldn't put it off.

"So Penny asked if we could get together on the 20th," I said as I spread wasabi on my sushi. "To see her band play and exchange gifts."

Harry nodded, taking a sip of tea.

"Yeah, Zack mentioned that. I'm off that night so it sounds good to me."

"Okay. Did he mention the price limit?"

"There's a price limit?" Harry raised an eyebrow.

"Well...yeah..." I paused. "Twenty-five dollars. But I think it was more for my benefit because Penny knows I can't spend very much."

"Tisa, you don't have to get me anything," said Harry. "You don't have to get any of us anything."

"But I want to," I muttered.

Harry smiled softly, reaching his hand across the table to cover mine.

"I know. I'm just saying you don't have to. Especially if it puts you in a bind."

I swallowed hard before releasing my hand from his grasp and placing it in my lap.

"Speaking of that..." I hesitated. "I need to ask you something."

Harry sat up and looked at me intently. "Sure."

"Um...well...I hate to ask you for a favor. But my car payment is due the fifteenth. That's Monday. And with me just starting this job -"

"Of course, Tisa," Harry interrupted. "I told you anything you need, I can help you with."

My shoulders dropped. "I promise, it's just until I get my paycheck, and then I can pay you back."

He held up his hands. "No worries. It's totally fine."

"Thanks."

"Tisa," said Harry, crossing his arms in front of him on the table, "there's something I haven't told you. Not because I was keeping it a secret, it just never really came up or I just didn't think it was important."

I furrowed my eyebrows as he leaned forward.

"I have money. I'm not wealthy by any means, but I....have enough to live on for now. When I was born, both my parents and my grandparents set up savings accounts for me. By the time I turned eighteen, both were substantial amounts, particularly my grandparents' because they had started putting in double the amount before they passed away. When they did pass away, I was left a lot of money from them. I got half when I turned eighteen, and I get the other half when I turn twenty-one."

"Wow," I whispered.

"Yeah. I mean, just to give you an idea, my parents' savings account alone pays for my college. All of it, including books."

"Damn," I muttered. "Then...what about your job?"

Harry shrugged. "I work at Mikado's because it's the right thing to do. I'm not going to be living off of my grandparents my whole life. My paycheck pays my rent and some of my other bills. But I do have that savings that I can use if I need it."

I pursed my lips. "And now you're giving some to me."

"Yes," he nodded. "Because you need it. And I'm in the position to help you."

"And take care of me," I said under my breath.

"What?"

I shook my head. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. I love you, Tisa."

I smiled as I grabbed my water glass. "I love you, too."

The rest of the week went well. No more pop quizzes, and I was able to catch up on my reading for Lloyd. My job was going great so far, and I felt like I would continue liking it there.

Harry was off on Friday, and mostly because I was exhausted, we decided to do a little switcheroo. Penny stayed with Zack, and Harry came and stayed with me. I felt a little guilty making him sleep on the pull-out sofa bed with me, but he assured me he didn't mind and honestly, I would have felt weird using Penny's bed. By nine o'clock I was so tired, so we just laid on the bed and watched television until I dozed off. I didn't even know when Harry had turned off the TV or the lamp, and the next thing I knew he was in the kitchen cooking breakfast.

I got up and used the restroom, then I walked into the kitchen behind him, wrapping my arms around him.

"Mmm," I sighed, resting my hands on his bare torso. "Good morning."

"Morning," Harry replied, his voice still raspy from sleep.

"Whatcha making?" I asked, peeking around him.

"Pancakes."

"Yum!" I exclaimed as I watched him flip one in the pan. "I haven't had pancakes in forever."

"Here you go then," said Harry, adding the one he'd just finished to a pile already made on a plate. "Enjoy. Your coffee's ready too."

I grinned at him as I grabbed a fork from the drawer and took the plate to the table. Then I took a mug down from the cupboard and poured myself some coffee. When I sat down, I dropped slaps of butter on each layer of pancakes before nearly drowning them in syrup. Harry then joined me at the table, doing the same to his pancakes.

I closed my eyes as I enjoyed the savory delight.

"Good?" Harry raised an eyebrow.

"Delicious!" I said my mouth full. "Thank you, baby."

Harry leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. "You're welcome."

"How come you're so good to me?" I asked when I swallowed.

Harry chuckled, an confused smirk on his face.

"What do you mean? You're my girlfriend. I love you. I enjoy making you happy."

I bit my lip, suddenly regretting my words.

"I know. I'm sorry. I appreciate it."

Harry sat back and continued eating, though I could tell his body had not relaxed. Finally, after a few minutes he spoke again.

"Please don't ever doubt my love for you," he said.

"Oh, no, baby, I'm not," I shook my head. "I didn't mean it that way, I'm sorry."

"And please don't ever feel like you don't deserve to be treated right," he added. "Because you do."

My face softened into a smile as I nodded. "Okay."

The rest of breakfast was light and pleasant, though I couldn't shake the feeling that I had ruined it. I did not doubt Harry's love for me. He showed it tenfold daily. I supposed his second statement was somewhat true, however. Not that I felt like I didn't deserve to be treated well. But I'd gotten so used to being taken care of, a part of me was curious what it was like not to. It was all so backwards and twisted, and I shook my head, trying to rid my brain of such thoughts.

It was the last week of school before the Christmas holidays. Finals week. And my final week. It felt a bit surreal, and also bittersweet. I was glad that I had been able to complete a semester of college, and despite a rocky start in English and having missed practically a week of school from my illness, it looked as though I would reach my goal of making all A's. But even though I was proud of my efforts, it seemed to me that it was all in vain since I wouldn't be able to continue classes the next semester.

Harry did his best to try to assure me it had still all been worth it, even without reminding me that it was because of school that we'd met in the first place. Of course I was grateful for that, and I couldn't shake the solemn feeling that had I not signed up for fall classes, I'd probably still be living with James in a sexless marriage, with no knowledge of him cheating on me. Still, knowing that I wouldn't be returning to school left me with an emptiness inside.

One fortunate thing about it all, a silver lining I liked to call it, was that I would be able to work full-time at my new job and start earning the money I so desperately needed. Taking steps toward independence was what I wanted most, and a major part of what was going to get me through my divorce.

Thursday morning after our Sociology final and Crawford wishing us all Happy Holidays, I was zipping up my backpack when I heard the faint sound of my name being spoken behind me. I turned around to see Charice standing there, an intimidated look on her face. I quickly gazed around the room, surprised she wasn't with her ever present friend Leslie, but she was nowhere to be seen.

"Hi," I said softly.

Charice sucked in her lips and pulled the straps of her backpack tightly around her shoulders.

"Um..." she stumbled, "I just...wanted to apologize. You know, for the whole Britney thing."

I raised my eyebrows. "Not your fault."

"I know...but...it's just...she was kind of my friend. Actually, not really my friend. More like a friend of a friend." Charice shook her head. "Anyway, I was mean and I see now it was uncalled for. I'm sorry."

I blinked. "Well...okay. Thanks."

Charice gave a nervous smile and nodded toward Harry who was standing behind me.

"Sorry," she muttered again.

With that, she turned for the door. I glanced back at Harry who mimicked my shrug. We walked together out of class, stopping for the last time at our fork in the sidewalk. I swallowed hard, remembering many other times we said goodbye at this very spot. I remembered the time I wanted him to kiss me, the time he skipped his next class so he could drive me to that clearing to have sex in his car, and the day he'd told me in class that he'd professed to Zack that he was falling in love with me and I'd felt so nervous, confused and elated when I'd kissed him on the cheek. One more day of school left - my History and English finals - but this would be the last time I'd make the journey to this spot.

I felt Harry squeeze my hands, obviously recognizing that I was deep in thought.

"You okay?" I heard him ask.

"Yeah," I nodded, looking up at his face. Then I let go of his hands and wrapped my arms around him in a tight hug. "I really love you," I breathed into his chest.

I heard him sigh as he ran a hand through my hair. Then he clipped my chin with his finger to look up at him again.

"I really love you too."

He then kissed me softy before leaving for the Science building. As I turned toward the parking lot, I caught sight of Charice again, her face lit up with a pretty smile. She hesitantly lifted a hand to wave, and just as I waved back, Liz walked up next to her, noticed me as well, and gave her own generous wave.

School was over. The History final was either extremely easy, or I'd just studied so well that it seemed like it was. Professor Jacobson graded them as we turned them in, and I got an A as did Harry. Jacobson grinned at us as we left the classroom, wishing us the best and a Merry Christmas. Professor Lloyd's final was an essay on the last book we'd read, and although she hadn't graded them yet, I felt like I'd done well.

Harry had to work Friday night, and though he'd invited me to come up to Mikado's, I told him I had to pass. Now that I was working too, I was tired much earlier than usual and my body and brain weren't quite used to my new schedule just yet.

Saturday afternoon Penny and I arrived at Zack & Harry's, ready for our Christmas festivities, gifts in hand, except for my present to Harry which of course I was saving for Christmas day. I'd ended up finding him a vintage Rolling Stones shirt on ebay for a good deal that didn't blow my budget. For Zack I got a set of Cards Against Humanity, and I got Penny a pretty makeup palette.

Because Zack and Penny were going to be leaving the next day, I figured it would have been odd for me to stay alone at Penny's apartment, so I brought enough clothes with me to stay with Harry for the week. Although he tried not to show it, I could tell he was beyond happy. I hadn't made a decision yet about moving in with him, so I kind of thought this would be the next best thing - a trial move-in so to speak.

After a nice early dinner, which included nearly two bottles of wine, we gathered in the living room to open presents. Penny insisted everyone open hers first.

"Penny!" I exclaimed as I pulled the velvety material out of the gift bag. It was a beautiful chenille throw in a deep shade of purple. It was so soft, I immediately held it to my cheek.

"Do you like it?" she asked, on the edge of her seat.

"Yes!" I threw it around my shoulders, cuddling close to Harry so he could feel it. He grinned at me and kissed me on my cheek. "Thank you, Penny," I told her.

"You're welcome."

Zack gave me a great coffee mug with my name on it, and some delicious smelling gourmet coffee. I thanked him as well and gave both him and Penny tight hugs and kisses.

"I hate that I have to miss seeing you two exchange gifts," Penny pouted when everyone else had opened their presents.

I eyed her because she knew what I'd gotten Harry. But I also wondered if she knew what he'd gotten me. I had to admit that I was both anxious and nervous to open his gift. I hoped he hadn't gotten me something extravagant, but knowing his financial situation I knew there was a possibility he had.

"I guess you'll just have to see when you get back," I smirked as I stood up from the sofa.

I excused myself to go to the restroom before we headed out to the bar to see Penny's band. I was already feeling the effects of the wine, but I knew we still had a long night ahead of us. Her band still had to set up and Penny had told us we didn't have to come as early, but we all insisted it was fine because we wanted to go together. We would just sit and have drinks before the band played.

"Harry!" I heard Penny exclaim as soon as I opened the bathroom door. "Are you going to ask her to marry you?"

"Shhh!" Harry sounded. "Keep your voice down."

I quickly stepped back and pulled the door, leaving it open just a crack. I could feel my pulse racing and my heart beating so loudly I was sure they could hear it in the other room.

"Is that what you want, man?" Zack inquired.

I didn't hear Harry's voice reply, but instead Penny piped up again. "More importantly, are you sure that's what Tisa wants?"

"What do you mean?" asked Harry.

"I mean, she's been through a lot. Her divorce isn't even final yet. Maybe she just wants to get her own life together before merging with someone else's."

I felt myself nodding in agreement at Penny's words. I loved Harry so much. But I wasn't ready to get married again. I hadn't even given him an answer to our moving in together yet, and he was planning on proposing? The idea made me very uneasy.

"I know I want her," I heard Harry declare. "I want to be with her. I want to take care of her."

"Maybe she doesn't need someone to take care of her," Penny commented.

If I hadn't been trying to hide behind the bathroom door, I would have run out and hugged Penny. She knew exactly how I felt. Instead, I stood frozen in the bathroom, waiting to hear Harry's next words.

"You don't think I should?" he asked meekly.

"I don't know, man," said Zack. "Maybe wait til her divorce is final?"

"But that's a month away," Harry argued.

"Listen, baby doll," Penny began. I caught a glimpse of her walking across the room through the crack of the door. "Tisa loves you. I know that, as sure as the sun does shine. But try to put yourself in her shoes. She's been in a dead-end marriage for a long time. This is the first time she's been on her own, gotten to be her own person."

"I know," agreed Harry. "I understand that."

"Do you really?" Silence filled the room until Penny continued with a sigh. "Look, I can't tell you what to do. And I can't tell you what Tisa will say. She might say yes. Just...keep in mind that this isn't easy for her."

"I don't want anything to be difficult for her, Penny," said Harry. "I want her to have everything she deserves."

Deciding I'd heard enough, I cleared my throat and stepped out of the bathroom. Penny gave me a nervous look before breaking into a soft smile.

"Ready?"

"Yep," I nodded, grabbing my jacket.

I followed everyone outside and got into Harry's car. Other than the sound of the radio, we drove silently for a while. After a couple of songs, Harry looked over at me and grabbed my hand. I wondered if he knew that I'd overheard their conversation, but concluded that he most likely didn't and was only contemplating his own worry in his head. He lifted my hand and kissed my fingers, giving me a grin. I returned his smile and sat back in the seat. It would do no good to worry about this tonight when we were going out to have a good time with friends.

Penny had been right about everything. But the comment she was the most correct about was that I loved Harry. Did not wanting to marry him mean I didn't love him as much as he loved me?

MASTERLIST | KO-FI | FEEDBACK

[punkscowardschampions]

Lolly & Golly

Lulu: He’s mine

Dolly: What are you talking about?

Lulu: Oh please, you think I don’t know every thought that boy has, or could ever have, before it’s even close to being fully formed

Dolly: I’d hardly consider that something to brag about

Lulu: & yet here you are perfectly willing to accept his half-baked advances, so, I’m warning you

Dolly: How uncharacteristically considerate of you

Lulu: You don’t have the monopoly on out of character acts, charitable or otherwise

Dolly: He’s not yours, he never has been because we both had to go out with him, at your insistence 

Dolly: You want to change that now, you know he won’t stick around

Lulu: You changed it, by walking away to fraternise with the teaching staff, bad luck, it was [him] who couldn’t get away fast enough

Dolly: It was a crime, Lulu

Lulu: Call it what you want with the benefit of hindsight, darling, I hope it helps spare your 😳💀 truly

Dolly: The only one 😳💀 is our mother, you wish I cared half as much as you do

Lulu: But what else is new?

Lulu: I only have one wish now as far as you’re concerned, stay away from Gabe

Dolly: Why would I do anything for you, when everything you do is actively against me?

Lulu: It isn’t for me, silly

Lulu: If the alleged trauma hasn’t left you with special needs, you’ll do it for your own sake

Lulu: because you may think yourself hard done by already, but you really don’t know the half of it, or want to put me to the test

Dolly: You’re so transparent, my God

Lulu: What a relief, I’m trying to make myself super clear 😊

Dolly: The panicked grasp for control is crystal

Lulu: Panic, no

Lulu: people get terribly calm before they do wicked things, ask mummy about her latest cry for help

Dolly: I try to avoid all contact, which they thankfully make very easy on the whole

Lulu: It’s fine, she’s not the right person to quiz anyway, she doesn’t have my resolve

Dolly: You can channel all that resolve into keeping him then, can’t you

Lulu: Absolutely, you abandoned him, I didn’t

Dolly: We got pulled out of [your old school]

Lulu: You cheated long before that

Dolly: I don’t know why you’re acting as if you’re in love with him now when I know you’re not and so does he

Lulu: It’s laughable you would even use the word

Dolly: I’m not the one pretending, badly

Dolly: We’re so obviously incapable, he didn’t need to come to our empty home to find that out

Lulu: Nor am I, he knows where he stands, not that it’s any of your business how I do or don’t act

Dolly: Unlike you, I really don’t care what you’re up to in the bedroom

Lulu: I’m entitled to care when you invite him into yours at grandma’s

Dolly: No, you’re not, not when it comes to me

Dolly: if you thought you were monogamous, bring it up with him, good luck when you’re the one who set everything up to be shared

Lulu: Sharing him with whichever girls on [his uni] campus he has a passing interest in is one thing, you trying to steal him from me is quite another

Dolly: Get a real boyfriend, it’s clearly what you need

Lulu: No, it clearly isn’t

Dolly: You haven’t shaped him into what you want yet, you’re not going to now

Lulu: The shape of him is irrelevant to this convo

Dolly: This convo is irrelevant 

Dolly: What are you trying to achieve?

Lulu: I told you, if you leave me with nothing, well, of course, I’ll have nothing to lose

Dolly: Join the club

Lulu: I’m not welcome, it’s very much your entire point

Dolly: I’m the one who brought him over to make you feel unwelcome in your own home, oh wait, that was you

Lulu: You started this, don’t get that twisted

Dolly: It’s the one thing I can be proud of, breaking that chain

Dolly: You’re not ready to accept how wrong it all was, your part in it

Lulu: You can’t break it, that’s a fantasy, bordering on a delusion much like the rest of what you’re saying

Dolly: The fantasy is that our family is one, that anything healthy has grown from them

Dolly: It’s over, all of it

Lulu: Never, even if I die, or kill both of you for betraying me

Dolly: Betraying you

Lulu: Becoming a habit of yours

Dolly: You need deprogramming or something

Dolly: I don’t know how to talk to you, do you hear yourself?

Lulu: Do you hear me? It’s over how & when I decide, it isn’t up to you

Dolly: No one is playing your games anymore

Lulu: This isn’t a game anymore

Dolly: I’m not scared of you anymore, you’re just deeply disturbed, I’d feel sorry for you if I could bring myself to have that level of empathy 

Lulu: I am? 😅  You’re emotionless, you should be studied

Dolly: I know that having our parents and you as a sister has fucked me up, am I not playing the victim and playing up, in your own words

Dolly: you need to deal with the reality of our situation instead of placating yourself with revenge fantasies 

Lulu: The reality of the situation you caused & refuse to apologise for is something I’m having to deal with

Dolly: The reality of having parents that neglect us most of the time, then narcissistically abuse us when they aren’t, in her case

Dolly: You thinking it’s about anything else is the problem

Lulu: How exactly is that a problem for you, Dolly? You have grandma & grandpa, they’re so wrapped around your little finger it would be my fault somehow you slept with MY boyfriend under their roof

Lulu: I have nowhere but that empty house you mentioned, because guess what, I can’t even board at school now, thanks to you

Dolly: He’s not your boyfriend

Lulu: You would focus on the least important part of what I just said

Dolly: Because they’re your grandparents too, if you wanted a better relationship, you could have one

Lulu: They hate me, that relationship’s poisoned, you poisoned it

Dolly: They do not hate you, they’re not mum and dad

Lulu: They’ve been taken in by your lies & taken your side

Dolly: What lies?

Lulu: I’m not the villain

Dolly: I don’t talk about you

Lulu: Silence is a condemnation here, you don’t leap to my defence, you never have

Dolly: Grandma and Grandpa do not bitch about you, that’s an insanely paranoid thing to think

Lulu: I’ve literally heard them

Dolly: They worry about you, you conflate the two

Lulu: They think I’m a worse version of her

Dolly: It’s too late to help her

Lulu: It’s too late for me, they’ll be thrilled to be correct in mummy & I having something in common

Dolly: It isn’t

Lulu: You’ve given me no choice

Lulu: ruined my life, wrecked everything that mattered

Dolly: Look, if it wasn’t for them caring more about appearances, you could have stayed there

Dolly: that wasn’t my decision

Lulu: You decided I’m an albatross around your neck

Dolly: You harp on what I did to you, like that wasn’t a reaction to how you treated me for the first [however many] years of my life

Lulu: Like you didn’t love having me as a scapegoat, you didn’t once have to take any responsibility because you didn’t make a single decision, all of them were mine

Dolly: Which is what you wanted

Lulu: You needed me, if I hadn’t stepped in where do you suppose you’d be? Even stranger than we are

Dolly: I will literally never get to know, you didn’t give me the choice, the luxury 

Dolly: There’s no way for us to be stranger

Lulu: I gave you every luxury, we ran that school, we had total freedom

Dolly: What an entirely meaningless thing for you to base your self-worth on

Dolly: We only had 2 years left anyway, then what, you still lose your whole personality when you enter the real world

Lulu: Then we would’ve had actual freedom, away from mummy & daddy

Dolly: That’s how it is now

Lulu: But it isn’t, there’s no we now, you’ve separated us

Lulu: & in your selfish desperation to do that, you’ve brought me back to her

Dolly: You want that, you always have, no one has made you react like this

Lulu: You broke my heart, I don’t know how else to react! I’m sorry I can’t tailor this suffering to become a perfectly executed fuck you to our mother, I haven’t quite reached that level of psychopathy, I’m afraid 

Dolly: I can’t fake it anymore

Lulu: You shouldn’t have to, I’m your sister

Dolly: You made us cross boundaries that make that irrelevant now

Lulu: We’re twins, boundaries are for half & step

Dolly: You still don’t respect what anyone else wants

Dolly: I never wanted that, you forced closeness that wasn’t natural

Lulu: I didn’t force a single thing

Lulu: & you wanted Gabe, you obviously still want him

Dolly: You’re the one that met him

Lulu: Your enthusiastic consent filled the room, we all remember

Dolly: Because I knew you’d not let me strike out on my own, it had to be together

Lulu: Because you enjoyed it

Dolly: You shouldn’t have been there

Lulu: Convenient excuse now that neither of you want me to be

Dolly: How do you not feel sickened 

Lulu: Okay, maybe you do need to get out more

Lulu: people are more intimate with complete strangers, no one is calling them out

Dolly: You wouldn’t know intimacy if it stared you in the face

Dolly: I blocked out the fact you were there, however hard you persisted 

Lulu: How beastly of you

Lulu: what you mean is, you’re persisting in telling yourself you tried to, because you can’t accept what’s staring you in the face

Lulu: none of it happened against your will

Dolly: I wanted experiences, I wanted Gabe and I wanted [this teacher]

Dolly: I didn’t want you but you forced yourself into this as you did everything

Lulu: You want someone to blame

Dolly: If that were true, you’d have known about [the teacher]

Dolly: I didn’t want you, how many ways can I say and show it, you didn’t let me do a fucking thing by myself until I made it happen

Lulu: If that were true & you were devastatingly unhappy, what took you so long?

Dolly: Said as if you’re not still clinging to a devastatingly toxic relationship with our mother

Dolly: You know why

Lulu: I know you’re exhausting

Lulu: if I was the mastermind of some great plot to turn you & Gabe into my vision, you wouldn’t be this weak, you’d be my equal 

Lulu: you clung to me & I had to protect you because one of us should get to stay soft

Dolly: You think you’re strong

Lulu: Needs must, she won’t break me, I’ll beat her

Lulu: in too many ways I already can

Dolly: And what an adversary

Dolly: you’re picking a life-long battle with the saddest woman who ever lived, get a grip

Lulu: I’m surviving the nonsense you sacrificed me to in order to feel like you’d won against her yourself for once with your pathetic teacher fucking shots fired

Lulu: your scandal was as sad as any stunt she’s pulled

Dolly: I wasn’t making a scandal happen

Dolly: I don’t think like you two, thinking you’re playing chess when you’re just playing yourselves

Lulu: You don’t think, period, you can leave the sentence there

Dolly: You’re jealous that you weren’t picked to be someone’s Lolita, that’s the sad truth we’re all meant to ignore

Dolly: You wish it was you so bad

Lulu: If I cared about having him at all, I could have

Lulu: my priority was [the name of their school], not a bland series of sexual encounters which poor sir has undoubtedly blocked out

Dolly: Sure, Lulu

Dolly: then you’ll have no trouble keeping Gabe all for yourself and we don’t even need to have this conversation

Lulu: The uncomfortable truth we’re all meant to ignore is you destroyed a man’s life for fun & then cried groomer when it wasn’t

Dolly: You would need to take that perspective

Lulu: It’s valid, you’ve admitted to wanting him, wanting to escape my suffocation, he’s hardly the predator, is he?

Dolly: He got caught, and faced no consequences 

Dolly: the fantasy you have of me crying myself to sleep over it is because you’d rather I was traumatised than betray you, which is the real truth

Lulu: I’d rather you or I were dead, which can be arranged any time

Dolly: Grow up, for God’s sake

Dolly: We are to each other, that’s what matters

Lulu: What matters is, you left me

Lulu: I’m traumatised by that & you’re blatantly unphased

Dolly: We have nothing in common

Lulu: Because you’re obsessed with the idea of distancing yourself from me

Dolly: Because we’re nothing alike, no amount of forcing made it true

Lulu: Your determination to disregard whatever similarities exist doesn’t mean they aren’t there

Dolly: You’re traumatised by losing an extension of yourself, you don’t know me, you didn’t bother getting to know me as a person

Lulu: Don’t be ridiculous, I spent our whole childhoods with you doing that

Dolly: You decided everything she didn’t

Dolly: Neither of us had a personality not corrupted by her awful decisions 

Dolly: then you micromanaged the shit too small for her to care about, our favourite colour, our favourite toys

Lulu: For god’s sake, I’m not an extension of her

Lulu: I’m sorry I cared about you when it’s apparently a huge sin or something

Dolly: No need to apologise for something you didn’t do

Lulu: Wow, okay

Dolly: Everyone in our house hates each other, there’s nothing about it worthy of saving

Lulu: I loved you

Lulu: I just wanted you to feel loved

Dolly: Jesus

Lulu: Our parents weren’t going to, who does that leave?

Dolly: You deserve to get better, to get help

Lulu: You can have him, even though you deserve way better

Dolly: He can make up his own mind, it isn’t up to either of us

Lulu: Hilarious, what mind? He’s an idiot

Dolly: He still gets to live his own life, we all do

Lulu: I’m done with mine, but you two go ahead

Lulu: live happily ever after

Dolly: Don’t be ridiculous

Lulu: I was being overly optimistic, on purpose, if anything, I give your summer fling a fortnight at most before you realise he’s a bore

Dolly: I know him as well as you do

Lulu: Best of luck & best wishes, naturally 😘

Dolly: You can save the condescension, this is exactly how I knew you’d react

Lulu: I’d work on my last words but there’s very little point, my reaction will speak for itself, you’re right

Dolly: If you want to threaten to kill yourself to keep a boy, that’s your business

Lulu: It isn’t a threat or about him but your continued misinterpretation of me is none of my business

Dolly: It’s entirely unoriginal, is what it is

Lulu: I’m aware of that, but there’s also very little point to carrying out a unique suicide, if such a thing exists

Dolly: You learnt every move from her and she’s the stupidest person we know

Dolly: and still alive, despite all her insistences otherwise, so

Lulu: Not every move, the final one will hopefully go differently

Dolly: Good luck with that

Lulu: Thanks 😊

Dolly: I’ll call the ambulance and you can explain why you’re wasting everybody’s time

Lulu: I’ve only wasted my own trying to talk to you

Dolly: Every threat you make is idle, you’re like a child

Dolly: do you want to be the sad middle-aged woman who’s never had a job and has a relationship that rivals a tween girl’s?

Lulu: Foreign as my desires are to you, I’m not surprised you’d ask

Dolly: No one deserves a drain on their life and savings more than our parents

Lulu: Unfortunately, those aren’t my intentions

Lulu: still, there’s always Mattie when she’s old enough for a mid-life crisis

Dolly: Why not

Lulu: Mummy & I aren’t the same shoe size & I’d loathe living in her skin it’s awfully stretched

Dolly: Room for you both

Lulu: She’d eat me, her appetite is uncontrollable

Dolly: You have that in common too

Lulu: Your list doesn’t give me anything to live for, please don’t consider a future career as a therapist

Dolly: As I said, I’m well aware you need professional help, there’s nothing I can do for you

Lulu: & therefore you’ve washed your hands for your own sanity, what a frightful cliché

Dolly: I’ll live

Lulu: As I said, one of us should

Dolly: Talk to him, I’m sure it’ll have the desired effect

Lulu: For who? You and your desire to be the bigger person

Dolly: Yours to keep him, which is why you’re here

Lulu: Mine has changed, you keep him

Dolly: Whatever

Lulu: Romantic, I understand why he’s smitten 😍🥰

Dolly: Clearly you don’t

Lulu: He believes you’re forbidden, that I forbid it, but no, I don’t

Dolly: He wants to sleep with someone who doesn’t just lie there, that’s all

Dolly: There’s no big secret

Lulu: He wants you again, there’s no big secret he had the time of his life before & now uni is a bore & he’s sulking

Dolly: There had to be incentive for him to do it

Lulu: You’re the carrot & I’m the stick, I’m sure he took all of a second to feed you that unoriginal narrative favoured by old married men globally 🙄

Dolly: You never liked him, I don’t know why you’d be offended now the feeling is more mutual

Lulu: I’m not, him walking out is the most thrilling thing he’s ever attempted, which isn’t saying much, but he doesn’t offer much by way of entertainment

Dolly: How sad for you

Lulu: Hence baby’s first suicide attempt, do keep up

Dolly: I’d rather not, this is boring

Lulu: Agreed 🥱

Dolly: Tell him he can come back over when you’ve stopped playing for time

Lulu: Tell him yourself

Dolly: Sure

Lulu: [goodbye in whatever weird made up twin language you used to have when you were children no doubt because she is unhinged and fully intends to do this unlike Chlo’s attention seeking ass, soz girl we’re not letting you succeed but I’m sure you almost did]

Dolly: [oh hun, what would you like to do next gal gal]

Gabe: Don’t shoot the messenger if you don’t want to

Gabe: but I thought you should know she’s in hospital

Dolly: Right

Dolly: I’m sorry you had to find her

Gabe: It’s a good thing someone did

Dolly: It shouldn’t have been you

Gabe: Your parents aren’t here, they couldn’t have

Dolly: No, I should have just called the damn ambulance like I said though

Gabe: Wait, you knew she was going to do this?

Dolly: Not exactly, she makes threats all the time

Gabe: Well, you could’ve warned me

Gabe: I had to call one, with the fucking language barrier

Dolly: I said sorry and I meant it

Dolly: you should’ve just called here

Gabe: I wasn’t exactly thinking straight

Dolly: it’s fine, she’s where she needs to be now

Gabe: It’s not fine, Dolly

Dolly: It’s not over you, if that’s what you’re worried about

Dolly: she said as much

Gabe: I’m worried about her, she tried to kill herself

Dolly: She’s not thinking clearly, they’ll section her now, she’ll get the help she needs

Gabe: Will she?

Dolly: It’s out of her hands now

Dolly: she’s underage so they’ll bring my parents back, that’s why she’s done it

Gabe: They’re in [the wrong place because why would you remember], right?

Dolly: Somewhere like that

Dolly: You can go home, you shouldn’t feel bad, none of this mess is yours

Gabe: I can’t without seeing her first

Dolly: I don’t know if they’ll let you, I’ve never visited anyone in hospital

Gabe: I don’t know either, what anyone in this fucking country is saying

Dolly: Now’s not the time to lecture you on practising your English

Dolly: whatever you saw, it’s fucked you up, I know

Gabe: It was horrible

Dolly: I know

Gabe: How could she do it to herself?

Dolly: She’s not well

Gabe: She wasn’t that unwell, I didn’t think so

Dolly: I mean, she was born that unwell

Dolly: she didn’t want you to see her like that, I’m sure

Gabe: & now I’ll never be able to unsee her like that

Dolly: It’s selfish

Gabe: She wasn’t thinking about me

Dolly: Or anyone but herself

Gabe: Yeah

Dolly: I’m just exhausted

Gabe: She must’ve felt the same

Dolly: Nah

Gabe: I just mean, in a desperate state to do what she did

Dolly: She lives in a desperate state

Dolly: she’ll get what she wants from it, attention and concern from our mother

Gabe: Can your mother do attention or concern?

Dolly: She can fake it when required, just like Lulu

Gabe: Won’t she be able to tell it’s fake?

Dolly: It’s all we’ve known, the difference doesn’t matter

Gabe: Damn, no big surprise she’s messed up

Dolly: How is that news to you?

Gabe: It isn’t like she talks about your mother to me all the time

Dolly: No but

Dolly: you can’t have assumed we were normal

Gabe: More normal than this

Dolly: What an awkward surprise this has turned out to be

Gabe: Are your grandparents going to the hospital?

Dolly: Of course

Gabe: I’ll come over, you shouldn’t be there on your own

Dolly: You don’t have to for my sake

Dolly: I won’t hurt myself

Gabe: It’s for mine too, I don’t want to be alone

Dolly: Okay then

Gabe: Do you need anything?

Dolly: Just don’t expect me to cry or anything when you get here, yeah

Gabe: She’s your sister, I don’t expect you to feel any type of way

Dolly: I’m immune to it, numb

Dolly: it’s been a lifetime of manipulations, it’s her one move and it doesn’t work anymore

Gabe: So she’s out of moves

Dolly: The game is over but she won’t accept that because she didn’t ‘win’, whatever that means

Gabe: I felt like I won earlier

Dolly: Undoubtedly taking that away was a component if not a reason why

Gabe: You said she said it wasn’t over me

Dolly: [send him that specific message]

Dolly: She wasn’t at peace with the world and ready to leave

Gabe: Was this our fault?

Dolly: No

Dolly: She wants it to be mine for getting us thrown out of [the school]

Gabe: Maybe going home is a good idea

Dolly: I would if I had the choice

Dolly: further away than Switzerland

Gabe: You could go with me

Dolly: You’re only offering because you feel bad for me

Gabe: We both need to get away from here but that’s not it

Dolly: Now you know I’m as bad as her because I can’t bring myself to feel sorry for her

Dolly: and it’s ruined what we could’ve had, hasn’t it

Gabe: You’ve been through a lot, she’s put you through a lot

Dolly: I wasn’t even allowed to go to the bathroom without her as a kid

Gabe: Leave with me, you’re allowed space

Dolly: Where will we go?

Gabe: Your choice

Dolly: Say that you want me there, mean it

Gabe: It wasn’t goodbye, it still doesn’t have to be

Dolly: I don’t know what to tell my grandparents

Gabe: Tell them you can’t stay here, it’s too much & you need a break

Dolly: It’s not a lie

Dolly: the thought of having to be alone with just us in that house, I can’t do it

Gabe: The summer’s yours, you want to live not die

Dolly: I feel like I was only just born

Dolly: or like I was dead until [when this all came out and blew up]

Gabe: You’re a baby then

Dolly: Yeah

Dolly: take me somewhere I’ve never been, you basically have the whole world to choose from, I’m brand new

Gabe: I’ll take you lots of places, we have time for me to show you the world

Dolly: I feel happy, real excitement

Gabe: Me too

Dolly: You know how I felt earlier too, that it was real

Gabe: It doesn’t feel as real now, but we can get it back

Dolly: We have to

Dolly: she’s getting what she needs, we need to do this

Gabe: It doesn’t make me a bad person, when you put it like that

Dolly: How could you be, you were always my boyfriend too

Gabe: I was

Gabe: & she doesn’t need me, she has your parents & grandparents

Dolly: She wants to isolate me, she said you only wanted me because you thought you couldn’t

Gabe: She would say that, she doesn’t think I can do anything

Dolly: I haven’t stopped thinking about all the things you did, honestly

Dolly: I didn’t think I’d miss you

Gabe: Neither have I

Gabe: I missed you in the back garden, before I even really left

Dolly: I knew you’d be looking at your phone, that you’d see me deleting the messages, I didn’t want you to stop paying attention to me yet

Gabe: I want them back, say everything hot again

Dolly: I mean it all even more

Dolly: I need you so much more 

Gabe: Good girl

Gabe: that’s a good start

Dolly: You have my virginity forever, I love that

Gabe: You’re mine

Dolly: I want you to be my daddy

Gabe: My baby, I like it

Dolly: You can smoke in bed in [giving the European countries where they dgaf]

Gabe: You haven’t moved from yours & you don’t want me to

Dolly: How did you know

Gabe: Because I haven’t stopped thinking about what you could be doing

Dolly: There’s nothing else I want to do, need to

Dolly: I’ll kiss you every time you exhale, until you want me as much as nicotine

Gabe: I’m not addicted, but to you, maybe

Dolly: Your lungs are welcome, I’m so much better for you

Gabe: Are you? You take my breath away

Dolly: 😏 You’ve got all the lines, huh

Gabe: You make it sound like I’m playing games & making moves too

Dolly: You are refreshingly straightforward

Gabe: Thanks? 😏

Dolly: No translation error, I mean it as the best compliment I can give

Gabe: She’d mean it like I’m stupid, but I know you don’t

Dolly: She has an inflated opinion of her own intelligence 

Dolly: praise from teachers could be relied upon, I guess

Gabe: We don’t want to talk about her though

Dolly: I know I don’t

Gabe: I know what you want, you’ve been straightforward about it yourself

Dolly: It’s a newly found freedom but one I’m already liking a lot

Dolly: asking for what I want, not being told

Gabe: So ask me for something

Dolly: Bring [some kind of red wine that y’all would know the name of because you’re posh and European]

Gabe: Where am I going to find that?

Dolly: There might be some there

Dolly: check the cellar, [point him in the general direction, it’s more like a cabinet ‘cos your parents are living off their parents so you’re not crazy rich living]

Gabe: [take some pics of their terrible taste in wine/all drinks undoubtedly when you do find said cabinet haha because they suck]

Dolly: 🙄

Dolly: Okay, there’s a shop at the end of [giving this road y’all live along, you get the vibe, it’s London, it won’t be far]

Gabe: Take off your clothes, after this I’m not going to waste any more time

Dolly: Oh, I see 😳

Gabe: Let me see you’ve done what I told you to

Dolly: I’m not used to taking those kind of pictures but I’ll try

Dolly: [and do, being cutely awkward about it]

Gabe: You’re a natural

Dolly: I’ll get better at it

Gabe: While you’re waiting for me, it’ll give you something to do

Dolly: When you first met me, what did you think?

Gabe: You were sexy

Gabe: & I wasn’t wrong

Dolly: You make me laugh

Gabe: No joke

Dolly: I was so nervous, I can’t believe I was sexy

Gabe: I couldn’t tell

Dolly: You were nice, you made it good for me

Gabe: It wouldn’t have been for me if it wasn’t for you, I’d be able to tell that

Dolly: You don’t play games

Gabe: I try not to

Dolly: Me too, now I get to decide

Gabe: What did you think?

Dolly: I’d been told all about you beforehand, obviously

Dolly: it was exciting to have someone to talk to, someone to be close to, especially a boy

Gabe: We were close, I’ve missed that so much

Dolly: It was hard, wanting to be closer

Dolly: but there were no secrets, couldn’t be

Dolly: you understand why I did what I did, don’t you?

Gabe: Of course I do

Dolly: Now, we can be as close as we want

Dolly: as close as earlier

Gabe: Closer, we’ll be in a different country soon

Dolly: Alone

Gabe: Me & [her pet name]

Dolly: Better than my name 😍

Dolly: by far

Gabe: You don’t like it when I call you by your name?

Dolly: Hmm

Dolly: We might have to test that out

Gabe: [voice note her saying her name in as many different tones as you can think of]

Dolly: Oh

Dolly: I’ve never liked my name before, what have you done

Gabe: Nothing yet, compared to what I’m going to

Dolly: Please 

Gabe: First, [the name of this wine he is buying rn]

Dolly: Thought it would help us destress but I just need you for that

Gabe: You’re like my own private stress ball, yeah 

Dolly: You can touch me all over, I won’t move or anything, promise

Gabe: You’ll move, you can’t help it

Dolly: Maybe but I’d try very hard to be good before I did

Gabe: That’s very true & I don’t mind when you have to

Dolly: It’ll be against you only

Gabe: Into me, to get us closer

Dolly: You don’t need to pin me, it’s exactly where I want to be

Gabe: For all of summer

Dolly: School will be so dull

Gabe: Uni too

Dolly: What’s your plan when you’re done?

Gabe: Plans change, why would I make one yet?

Dolly: Fair point

Gabe: In my head I’ve dropped out 100s of times

Gabe: made 100s of other decisions

Dolly: You’re taking it as it comes

Dolly: nothing is guaranteed

Gabe: You’re an insanely intelligent newborn

Gabe: What am I going to do with you?

Dolly: Have the best summer ever?

Gabe: The best because you are

Dolly: I’m not

Dolly: but I’m going to be good for you

Gabe: Are you calling me a liar?

Dolly: Your crush is making you biased

Gabe: And now you’re calling this a crush

Dolly: Are you saying you don’t have a crush on me?

Gabe: I did, it’s turned into more than that

Dolly: Stay with me tonight

Gabe: I won’t even go to the back garden without you

Dolly: Your lap is the perfect place to be, inside and outside

Gabe: Inside you or not

Dolly: Always inside me, I’m missing you badly

Gabe: Let me see how badly

Dolly: [send him a pic of your boobs that are covered in lovebites from him]

Dolly: See?

Gabe: Look what you made me do

Dolly: You should do more, I think

Gabe: What else are you thinking?

Dolly: How loud you made me

Gabe: There’s no one to hear you scream, you can be louder

Dolly: Shit

Dolly: You could do anything you wanted to me

Gabe: In any room

Dolly: Every room, you have to

Gabe: & outside

Dolly: The neighbours can know who I belong to, who’s looking after me

Gabe: Who your daddy is

Dolly: No one else has ever cum in my pussy

Gabe: Why didn’t he?

Dolly: He was paranoid in every way, funny considering how easily we got caught in the end

Dolly: how I know all about deleting messages

Gabe: He’s made what we’ve got more special

Dolly: It ruins the moment, having to stop so you can put a condom on

Dolly: you trust that I’m not stupid like that

Gabe: You don’t need to trap me, I want to be here

Dolly: 😁

Gabe: Do it for real

Dolly: [do because like your sister you do be smiling like that]

Gabe: Your teeth can’t be English, no wonder I forget you are

Dolly: Charmer 😆

Dolly: do I sound different to the [whatever nationality the girls at his uni would likely be] when I moan?

Gabe: I can’t remember how they sound, only how you do

Dolly: Get used to it, it’s the soundtrack of your summer now

Gabe: Getting used to that will take me the whole summer

Dolly: Good

Dolly: I can’t get used to having you all to myself yet

Gabe: I keep expecting her to appear, think I see her out the corner of my eye

Dolly: Me too

Gabe: But that’ll stop, it didn’t happen earlier

Dolly: You had my full attention, anyone could have appeared and I wouldn't give a shit

Gabe: Your grandparents could’ve, I wouldn’t have known

Dolly: 🥺 Now I NEED proof you like me that much

Gabe: More proof?

Dolly: You making me cum in front of an audience we don’t know is there, yes, desperately 

Gabe: What size audience?

Dolly: Will depend where we are, what we’re meant to be doing instead

Dolly: You’re showing me the world

Gabe: What if I was meant to be playing a sold out stadium, would I still have your full attention?

Dolly: Fuck

Dolly: You know the answer

Gabe: I need to hear you say it

Dolly: I’d be more focused on you than I have ever been

Gabe: Because of you I’m the horniest I’ve ever been

Dolly: Unashamedly proud 😁😁😁😁

Gabe: Don’t smile at my suffering

Dolly: Poor Gabe

Gabe: Poor you too if it takes me 2x longer to come back

Gabe: there’s no way you could stand right now

Dolly: No, you have to be quick, I don’t want to be alone now

Dolly: You can make me, fair is fair

Gabe: I already know I can make you do whatever I like

Dolly: I want you to know, have that power

Dolly: it’s yours now, use it

Gabe: I’m about to use you, slut

Dolly: Your slut

Dolly: do you like that too?

Gabe: A lot

Dolly: As much as I like being used by you

Gabe: No, you like it way more

Dolly: You know exactly how much I like that

Gabe: You love it, don’t you?

Dolly: There’s so much that I should be worrying about in my life right now but it’s all I can think about 

Dolly: Nothing else has touched the sides, stopped me feeling numbed out

Gabe: You’re going to feel something when I get there

Dolly: Save me from the worst summer ever

Dolly: Or we’d both end up dead, I’m sure of it

Gabe: Only I can, of course I will

Dolly: Them leaving us alone after all this, it was the final final straw

Dolly: It’s not safe, you are

Gabe: Yeah, I’ll take good care of you

Dolly: You kid but where’s the lie 😏

Dolly: it’s exactly what I need

Gabe: I’m not kidding

Gabe: we’ll both get what we need, there’s no reason why not

Dolly: Yeah but

Dolly: you know I’m not going to do anything crazy like her, I don’t need taking care of like that

Gabe: I know how you need it

Dolly: Having a relationship with a teacher has made me paranoid too, just a tad

Dolly: everyone at that school had parental issues, it’s not like I was special for it

Gabe: You’re special to me, it isn’t like that

Dolly: You don’t have to say I am

Gabe: It’s true, I’m saying it because I mean it

Dolly: I’m not trying to be clingy, freak you out

Gabe: Neither am I

Dolly: We’re on the same page and I’m making it weird, aren’t I?

Dolly: You can make me shut up

Gabe: You didn’t turn things weird, she did

Gabe: they started out off & we’re trying to navigate all that

Dolly: It was a misstep, on her part

Dolly: you could’ve told everyone, still could

Gabe: I told you before, I made mistakes too

Gabe: I’m not blameless

Dolly: Neither am I, obviously

Dolly: It was gradual, after all, at first she was alright with just letting me report back, say what it was like kissing you, then she’d ‘accidentally’ walk in… we both know how it ended

Gabe: By the end we were both in too deep

Dolly: Saying no didn’t occur, some fucking how

Gabe: She’s hard to say no to

Dolly: I would’ve been punished, the end goal was to both lose our virginities to you, I knew that, if it was all for nothing she would’ve been unbearable

Gabe: I can’t regret us

Dolly: I don’t, Gabe

Gabe: Whatever else happened, we still did that & I’m never going to feel sorry

Dolly: You were perfect

Dolly: my grades plummeted for a while there, I couldn’t stop daydreaming

Gabe: It felt like I had to have imagined it

Dolly: Do you believe in me now?

Gabe: This is too real now

Dolly: Just right

Dolly: being with you, being your [the pet name he calls her], feels like exactly what I should be doing

Gabe: A summer you can daydream about when it’s over

Dolly: I’ll need the memories to cope

Gabe: They’ll get me through too, we’re in this together

Dolly: Are we really going, you swear 

Gabe: Book somewhere or start to pack, we’ll be leaving whenever you’re ready to

Dolly: You lasted longer in my house than any person should have to

Gabe: Those props are yours, I was hardly there in comparison

Dolly: She needs someone new to share the cell with

Dolly: My release date is in sight

Gabe: Your grandparents’ house is in sight again

Dolly: I’ll stop packing to let you in, perhaps

Gabe: I’m no longer just a guest, I’ll let myself in

Dolly: Wow, very bold

Dolly: what are you now then?

Gabe: Who, I’m [whatever she called him during their hookup that was giving pet name turned !!]

Dolly: That’s right 😳

Gabe: & your daddy

Dolly: Just mine

Gabe: No more sharing

Dolly: No one else is invited

Gabe: Except to watch, as our audience

Dolly: What are hotels for

Gabe: Balconies are built for the purpose

Dolly: I’m built for that

Gabe: You truly are

Dolly: I can feel you picturing my body right now

Gabe: You have the hottest body

Dolly: It’s hot for you

Gabe: I remember

Dolly: Remembering what you did to me has me so close 

Gabe: Get closer

Gabe: be touching yourself when I come in

Dolly: Yes, daddy

Gabe: Good girl

Dolly: Where do you want me? 

Dolly: This whole place is begging to be used

Gabe: How far do you think you’ll be able to get from your bed?

Dolly: You bending me over the stove is VERY good motivation but you’re right

Dolly: if I fall down the stairs now I’ll end up locked up too

Gabe: It doesn’t matter, you’ll be so wet I’ll be able to hear it from downstairs, stay where you are

Dolly: Am I loud?

Gabe: The loudest

Dolly: Is that okay?

Gabe: How could I be anything but into you wanting me that much?

Dolly: I don’t know, I don’t want to give you potential reasons why when I’d rather keep being this blatant

Gabe: Be bold with me

Dolly: There’s nothing or no one to stop us being here

Gabe: Or anywhere else

Dolly: No teachers, other jealous girls

Dolly: you can treat me how I need you to

Gabe: No interruptions

Dolly: I don’t know how we ever got away with it

Gabe: We did what we had to

Gabe: & now what we have to do is fuck 24/7

Dolly: I’ll be so sore by the time I come back here

Gabe: Something to remember me by

Dolly: 🥺 Don’t make me think about that yet

Gabe: Stop thinking

Dolly: All I’m allowed to think about is all the ways I can make you cum

Gabe: You can try

Dolly: Keeping count is keeping me from it myself

Gabe: There’s only a short countdown left until nothing will keep you from it

Dolly: I’m so exposed, if anyone else walked in, I’d be dead

Gabe: You’d be caught & called a naughty girl instead

Dolly: Heaven forbid

Gabe: I know, you just want to be good

Dolly: I’m trying so hard

Gabe: My poor baby

Dolly: You’re teasing

Gabe: I’ve kept you waiting for such a long time, haven’t I?

Dolly: What do I need to do to make you want me again?

Gabe: Remind me what’s waiting for me

Dolly: [send him a boomerang-length video so how much more !! you are is obvious]

Gabe: I’m [very nearby] but I can’t hear you

Dolly: [voicenote where you’ve purposefully put the phone just that bit too far away so it’s only catching sounds here and there]

Gabe: [actually do show up because you aren’t slay enough to prolong this any further, just know that for this ensuing hookup I’m fully picturing the vibe of Queenie and Guy’s first one aka thinking he’s so daddy and dom but kinda flopping, including thinking he’s going down on her iconically but it lasts literally for a sec before he stops to initiate said hookup and he’s lowkey in the wrong place haha]

Dolly: [when you try your best but you don’t succeed, lmao, too real, good thing you were close because of the insanity of the situation and you’re too sold on this idea of running away for all the reasons that you can’t back out now lol, gotta do the most you can with this]

Gabe: [soz girl but mediocre sex aside he will actually offer you the escape you need rn however long we let that last, soz again hun because obvs I fully imagine y’all running away and it eventually going tits up like mine and Trace’s euro trip ngl cos y’all are not it for each other and there is only so long you can both pretend and ignore the fact]

Dolly: [it’s clearly not last/barely making the whole hols and then that’s that on that, so I shall post this and we can decide what we wanna do next, go us]

[tsuki-sennin]

Back from the dead once more! Ohsama Sentai Kingohger! Episodes 20-23! I uh... intended to demote this thread of watch-throughs to a monthly basis, but uh... well, I've definitely missed that one!

Anywho, when we last left off, Yanma and Jeremy accidentally made Racules unable to be prosecuted, so all that remains is for Gira to knock his ass out.

Spoilers, I guess...

-Marriage~!

-Imagine getting hitched in the name of a giant beetle.

-Shio... Shiobara? No, Shibari! Shiokawa! Shiokara, fuck.

-Well, at least this royal wedding was short.

-"You done fucked up, Gira."

-Rita's equally unamused with you as they are.

-Family :))))

-"...I am not doing that."

-"If you wish to see your sister with all her fingernails still in her hands, then you will give me my lance back. ...Big... Brugther..."

-Hello, Jeremy.

-"And then the opposite happened." jokes. My favorite.

-Jeremy, that ain't even subtext.

-"Pweeeeeeease don't hurt me, desu!"

-Oh I see how this'll end. A big ol' kerfuffle.

-A threat in a cruel joke.

-Effective.

-Hello, Dezzy

-I see Slippin' Jimmy's harebrained schemes have finally reached their limit.

-Dethrone!

-Goddamn Ohgercalibur Zero's design is still so elegant...

-Ohgai Busou!

-"Hiiiiiii~! :3"

-Himeno looks like she's about to commit the worst crime you could ever commit to an author.

-"Oh, I didn't see this coming."

-"Kick his ass, Gira!"

-#NotMyKing

-This is how the War of the Roses went down, right?

-Ohger Slash~!

-Decrowned!

-"Cruel! Cowardly! Creepy, even!"

-Gira...

-Always a man of the people, huh?

-Even Racules felt that way, once upon a time.

-Too bad that day has long sinced past.

-Her comes Boshimar!

-:O

-BANG!?

-"Oh~! Who'da thunk~?"

-JIMMY

-Played like a goddamn fiddle.

-"You... vermin."

-No more transformation from the brothers this duel, eh?

-"A kingdom is like an enormous clock. It only works if all the little cogs mesh together. A clock must be clean, well lubricated, and wound tight."

-Oh, you finally get it~! Good for you~!

-"Do you hear the voices of the people?"

-Thanks, Kaguragi.

-Long live the king!

-Off he goes~!

-This is the hypest shit ever, I swear.

-Gira wins. Fatality.

-...definitely not a fatality, let's be real, that motherfucker's coming back.

-Long live the King.

-Well, considering how huge it is, it's only natural that Shugoddam's king be challenged.

-Oh that's adorable, this one starts with the dance

-Definitely a lot more simple in choreography than Ore Koso Only One or

-Oh for fuck's sake, Geats does the dance too?

-Man... I can't escape that guy, can I?

-Waaaait... oh fuck me, it's a recap episode.

-Well, at least this post is gonna be regular unreasonably long.

-Ryneor...

-So, you want Gira to establish dominance.

-"I'll do whatever you want if I lose!"

-DOUGA YOU FUCK

-Quiz~!

-Tonbokkuri~!

-Weh

-This is an excuse for Yanma to flex, huh?

-Well at least N'Kosopa's IT isn't worse than ours.

-I wish I had the confidence Douga has in bullshitting my way through job interviews.

-"Your turn :3"

-Thank you Himeno.

-Now this is a job far beyond my abilities.

-Let's get fucking cooking.

-Hire me, Kuroda-san! I can wear a bag on my head and cook decently well-ish.

-KAGURAGI CHEATED

-...goddamn, that looks so good though...

-Arrest him, Morphonia~!

-Oh

-A staring contest

-Of course, naturally.

-"This place sucks, shut your mouth."

-At last! A job!

-Outta my way old man, I'm getting that job!

-Oh, it's Duuga

-Or Duga, maybe.

-"You're hired :)"

-Back at square one with him.

-"So yeah, I lost all of these."

-So... Yanma's planning a coup, Himeno's gunning for a monopoly, Kaguragi's forcing farmland onto foreign soil... and Rita demands region locking.

-Op, no time to think about that, it's the Bugnarak!

-Thank you, King Gira~!

-Good luck, Douga.

-Anyways, next episode~!

-Oh shit, Daigorg.

-Oh fuck, he ate the bugs

-OH THAT'S A BIG BOY

-BIG BOY

-Extreme KingOhger~!

-He ATE them!

-Holy shit his pick is a MOAB.

-Okay

-This seems fair.

-Hello, Jimmy.

-"Insects" seems like it'd be a slur for the Bognarok, kinda weird hearing it from Kamejim.

-Yanma does not say robot rights, good to know.

-Good point.

-Thanks, Jeremy.

-Well, we're fucked.

-OH?

-A secret lies within the castle.

-"Extenuating circumstances~!"

-"Like how juicy this secret is?"

-Ohhhhhhh

-Kamejim

-Oh hey Suzume.

-GIANT ROBOT

-"Ding ding ding~!"

-"...okay, please stop."

-Of course, you wouldn't have an easy time turning your castle into a giant robot. Why wouldn't you?

-Here they come!

-Electrodrunk!

-Oh, this is some serious shit we're into.

-Kuwagon...

-No soul...

-:O

-Of course...

-Always evolving technology. Your giant bug robots feel fear.

-Time for us to fucking go.

-So, Kuwagon's very soul is in the crown, is it?

-Thanks, Yanma :)

-Friends :)

-Plant the lance.

-"Ohhhhh this ain't good."

-King Caucasus Kabuto...

-Once again, we perform maintenance!

-Ah, this is the place.

-First Vedalia, now Kofuki.

-HIMENO????

-Okay, thanks.

-Racules is dead, buddy.

-No chance.

-"Our technology sucks."

-2000 years will do that.

-"Hold up."

-Gira's off to ask his bug friends.

-That's a start~!

-...that's a terrible start!

-Jesus Christ, that number makes my head spin.

-Called him by name...

-"Listen close, my minions!"

-Holy shit, this is horrifying

-"Either die to the King or die to me! It makes no difference."

-Sitting back the way a king does just ain't Gira's style.

-One gear left.

-Boone...

-Run lad!

-Kamejim Jumpscare

-Spiders Jeremy strikes once again!

-"Do it, you big lumbering oaf!"

-King! King! King! King!

-"MOVE IT, MOVE IT, MOVE IT-"

-Sit your ass down on that throne, boy.

-It's beautiful! King Caucasus Kabuto!

-Launch!

-Blocked

-"Hercules Axe! Come forth!"

-Daigorg is on the chopping block.

-Complete and utter bisection.

-The guys are here :)

-"Goddammit not again..."

-A true man of the people, that Gira...

-OH FUCK KOFUKI

-Coronation~!

-There's a whole movie about that, I hear.

-And I can't watch it~!

-MATSURI DA!?

-Dethnarak falls soon.

-...not right now though, I need a break.

-Maybe later tonight~!

[whatisreggieshortfor]

Studying With my Girlfriend

When his roommate won’t leave him alone about it, Gary tells him he has a girlfriend. But when he claims it’s the quiet smart girl in his class, will he be able to keep from falling when he finds out she’s not what she seems?

Gary x MC

For @csmicletters

Part two

Regina had no idea who this boy was or why he had thrown his arm around her and called her his girlfriend, but the pitying part of her brain convinced her to play along for the time being.

Well that’s not entirely true.

She knew the Who. By name, if nothing else. Gary was in one of the engineering classes she took for her minor. His equations left a lot to be desired, but when it came to hands on work, he was top of the class, just ahead of her.

She knew he was on the football team, he played goalie because, again, he was better hands on than using his head.

That was the extent of what she knew about him. They had never spoken before, unless maybe he was one of the people that asked to borrow a pen and she passed it off without looking up from her own notebook.

But the Why of this situation was anyone’s fucking guess.

She was just trying to study for an exam in her astrophysics class the next day. The library was supposed to be good for that. She took a table away from the popular area, spread her stuff enough that no one would try to sit directly next to her, but could join her table if it got busy.

She should have been left relatively alone.

Until Gary, in all his blond and bulky muscled glory, dropped into the seat next to her, arm draped around her shoulders, and said, “Sorry mate, I’m studyin’ with my girlfriend here.”

Regina glanced between the two, meeting the eye of a curly haired brunette boy that looked like he belonged at Woodstock, before chiming in, “I must’ve forgot you were meeting me. Let me move some things.” She shifted the books in front of Gary out of the way, and could see his surprise that she’d played along before he laughed a little too forcefully.

“Naw, babe. I’m helping you study. How am I supposed to do that when you take your books away?” He picked the closest one up, brow furrowing heavily at the title- Astrophysics, Space Anomalies, and Their Mathematic Counterparts.

The brown haired boy cleared his throat, holding out his fist for her to bump, “Sorry about the intrusion, mate. Name’s Rocco, I’m Gary’s roommate- well, I was.”

She knocked her knuckles against his, pen clenched in her hand, “Cool, I guess. Is there a reason you’re joining us?”

She wasn’t usually this standoffish. But this exam was worth twenty five percent of her grade, and honestly she just wanted to study.

“Oh, uh, n-no, not particularly. Just catching up with him, but he was in a rush to meet you. His girlfriend.” Regina narrowed her eyes as she frowned, not liking the way his friend was clearly assuming he was lying. I mean, she knew he was, but his friend shouldn’t be assuming that.

“Well, you’ve met me now. I’m a real person. So, either pull up a chair and help quiz me, or pop out because this is a very important exam.” Gary’s eyes widened a bit at the bite in her tone. But before he could say anything, she turned to him, “Is this the one you told me about? Or was that a different arsehole you had to room with?”

Gary had never told her anything, but he didn’t miss a beat, “Babe, that was Jakub. I roomed with him at a team event and he kept me half the night re-ironing his socks.” She nodded, a fake look of remembrance on her face, as if recalling a memory. Damn, he didn’t know she could act like this.

Rocco awkwardly nodded his head, wishing her luck before scurrying away. Gary stayed in his seat, though he sagged in relief. She raised an eyebrow at him, “So. How long have we been dating?” Just like the tension was back. She snorted, “Relax. I didn’t sell you out then, I won’t sell you out now. But I’d like an explanation. Maybe the backstory here.”

Apparently, at the end of last semester, Gary’s girlfriend from back home had dumped him. Something about having a glow up and she realized he wasn’t the Prince Charming she had thought he was. Rocco had tried to help, set him on a blind date with a girl, but now she was looking to curse him, literally, because he’d never called her back. He’d told Rocco he met someone else when the new semester started, before said boy dropped out and started living out of a food truck he’d dumped the rest of his college money into and parked on campus, but since he wouldn’t take his word for it after a couple weeks, Gary approached the first girl he recognized. It just so happened to be the one he stared at in his engineering class, not that he told her that part. But he did tell her that he told Rocco instead of the girl directly because Rocco was a huge gossip and it would be more believable if the news didn’t come from the guy that was clearly avoiding her.

“Honestly, I thought you were gonna punch me as soon as I touched you.” Gary admitted when the story ended, “You’re rather scary in class.”

“Good.” She nodded once. “So how long have we been together? Since break or since the semester started?”

Gary blinked, confusion on his face, “You’d be willing to keep up the act?”

Regina shrugged, “My best friend says I need to stop spending all my time studying, and that other things than school matter, yada yada yada. I just want to get my degree and move as far from Chatham as I can, but I guess helping you wouldn’t hurt too much. But you’re not prepared for what you’ll hear about me.”

“You’re from Chatham?”

She raised her eyebrow, “Yes. Can’t you see I’m oozing hometown spirit over here?” She gestured to her attire, mostly black and grey, and Gary snorted with a grin.

“I’m from Chatham. Guess we could say we ran into each other over break and hit it off.”

“Bang on. So roughly three months together? Geez, take me on a date once in a while.” Gary rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t hide the mirth in them. She was a lot funnier than he’d imagined. “What’s the level of PDA I should be expecting with his exactly? Cause I can deal with hand holding and touching, but I am not about to make out in front of people.”

“That’s fine! I don’t you to be uncomfortable. I still can’t believe you’re willing to do this.”

“Okay,” She started to reach for the book he was still holding, “I really do need to study now. This exam is huge.”

Gary hugged the book to his chest. “Hey now! I’m here to help you study, remember?” He held the book out, but in a tight grip so she couldn’t try to take it. “Get me to whatever chapters you need quizzed on.”

Regina had expected him to be a huge distraction- and he was. He kept making her laugh by mispronouncing words on purpose so that she had to correct him- proving she knew exactly what he was quizzing her on. But he also took it seriously enough that she felt confident in her knowledge by the end of it.

When it was over, he took her bag and the books that didn’t fit inside.

“I can carry my own things, you know?”

Gary shrugged, “Can and should are different things.”

Regina grimaced, “One of my housemates has that sewn on a throw pillow.” He chuckled. “So. Where exactly are you taking my things?”

He shrugged again, “Your car or your dorm or whatever. I’m walking you.”

She tilted her head, “Am I a dog? You need to take me for a walk?”

“Yes.” He deadpanned, “I am merely walking you because otherwise you’ll get bored and chew on the furniture.”

She laughed, almost too loudly for the library, and god, her laugh was hideous. But Gary wanted to hear it more. “Alrighty then, boss man. I guess you can walk me back. But it’ll shock you and you’ll hate it, completely ruining whatever image you have of me in your head, so don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

On the walk, they told each other information someone would learn when they’d been dating someone for a while. She learned his favorite color- blue. He was raised by his nan- who she’d actually met at the community center back home a few times. He was only in university because it was what his nan wanted- he’d have been happy doing construction like his uncles had. She told him about dreaming of space all her life- wanting to help the world by assisting in its exploration. Told him about being raised by a single mother with the help of her best friend, Regina’s best friend’s mom, and he’d actually met them both. They bonded briefly over having absentee dads. She even told him about her irrational fear of ants after a mishap of sitting on ant hill as a child, and he only judged her a little bit for it.

By the time they made it to Greek Row, she almost didn’t want the walk to end. Stopping in front of the Kappa Sigma house, she grimaced. He looked confused.

“You…are a sorority girl?”

“Not by choice.” She defended. “Legacy and all that. Shannon was forced into it, too, so at least I like my roommate.”

“How have I never seen you at the parties?” Ah, yes. The parties. Her president may be a business major, but she preferred to spend her time with a cocktail in hand and her tongue down her boyfriend’s throat.

“Simple. I don’t attend them. I stay in my room.” He nodded like that made the most sense in the world.

Opening his mouth, he was interrupted by an unmistakable bubbly voice behind them, “Oh em gee! Regina, are you talking to a boy??”

Chelsea was loud as she always was, and suddenly Regina could see a whole mess of her ‘sisters’ peering out the first floor windows or around the front door she still held open. She sighed, “Chelsea. Good to see you. My boyfriend was just walking me back from the library.”

“Lolz, no seriously! How could you meet a boy when you live more at the library than you do the house?”

Gary could almost feel Regina’s eye twitch. “Nice to meet ya, Chelsea. I actually know Reg from home. Ya gotta love a smart girl, ya know?” He winked at her, she rolled her eyes.

As he said goodbye and handed her things over, she made the split second decision to kiss his cheek in farewell.

Just to make the lie believable.

The very next night the sorority house was throwing another one of its famous parties, and as Shannon stuffed her bag full of things to escape to her own boyfriend’s dorm for the night, the door of their room burst open. Without turning from her notebook, Regina called out, “Chelsea, we go through this every time. I am not coming down. I am only required to take part in one party a year, and I filled that at quota at the Rush party.”

Shannon glanced back and forth between her and the new individual that entered before she crossed her arms, “Listen knobhead, this room is off limits. You plan on hooking up with a sister, you do it in her own room. Not ours.

Regina were caught off guard by the voice she was familiarizing herself with answering, “Just thought I’d pop in and say hello to my girlfriend.”

She chuckled, still not turning around, “Gary, come in and shut the door.” As soon as she heard it click she continued, her highlighter still skimming over important phrases, “You can’t lie to Shannon.”

“This is the best friend? I guess you told her?” He didn’t sound annoyed or mad, just like he was looking for confirmation.

She shook her head, “She’ll keep the secret, but I mean you literally can’t lie to her. She’s like a human lie detector.”

“One of you prats better explain something.” She interjected impatiently, and so Gary told her the same story he told Regina. She nodded almost imperceptibly when he finished, “Sounds like you’re living a fan fiction. Good luck with that, losers.”

“Just get outta here.” Regina rolled her eyes, “Tell Rahim I said hi.” She could see the name spark recognition in Gary’s eyes, but he wisely didn’t comment.

“Will do, babes. Gary…” She narrowed her eyes at him, clearly sizing him up, “Even if it’s fake, you better treat her right. I’m not dealing with a repeat. I’ll kill you first.”

“Shannon!” Regina snapped. He didn’t need to know about her ex. She rolled her eyes at the glare, grabbing her bag without another word and disappearing out the door. “Ignore her. The important thing is she won’t rat you out.”

Gary nodded, but she realized he was focused more on looking around. She could guess her room was a surprise. The sorority painted all the rooms the same pale pink, but the two of them had practically covered every inch in photos and movie or band posters. He pointed to the large Arctic Monkeys poster that hung above her desk, “You listen to them?”

She was not about to listen to someone shit talk her favorite band. “Yes. And if you start talking smack, I will defenestrate you.”

He held his hands up with a chuckle, “No, I actually went to their show last year. Frontman really knows how to give a performance.”

Her jaw fell slack, staring up at him, “Please tell me it was as magical as I’ve always imagined.”

“Even more!” The giddy look overtook his face as he started ranting about all the different things the band did as they performed, like he was coming alive talking about it. She’d seen him like this when he talked about his constructions in class, but never when she’d seen him around campus.

Before she even realized it, the two of them had been talking music for nearly two and a half hours. Clearing her throat, she switched off the small speaker she’d been using to show him a new artist she’d found, “You could probably head to the party now, if you wanted.” For once she didn’t actually care about kicking out the uninvited guest to get back to studying, “I’m sure the whole…gotta visit the girlfriend first thing would be believable now, it’s been a while.”

Gary seemed to deflate a bit, “Yeah, uh, I guess I could.” He seemed to be chewing his lip, trying to figure out how to say something, “Would you mind coming with me? I get parties aren’t your thing, but just like twenty minutes.”

She tossed the idea around. She honestly had no idea what made her even agree to this whole thing, it’s not like he really needed her to, and it’s not like she was getting anything out of it. She couldn’t really blame the pitying part of your brain anymore. But still, she found herself nodding. “Fine. Step outside so I can change.”

He shrugged, “You look fine to me but you’re the boss here.”

When she joined the sorority, after being sought out because even as a legacy she had no intentions of doing it, Chelsea had made her and the other new sisters sit through a four hour presentation she’d made on proper make up application. But because of it, and the ensuing days of practice she forced on everyone, Regina was made up and dressed in under ten minutes. The soft white material cling to her body, and the smokey eye she was able to master made her eyes pop even in the dark and neon lighting that illuminated the party. Gary rubbed at his eyes three times, before literally looking in her room behind her. “Stop being weird.”

“Holy shit. I knew you were a bird, but I didn’t know you were so…” he trailed off as he gestured to the entirety of her as she leaned into her shoulder into the doorframe.

She snorted, “No, please, continue.”

He stuck his tongue out and she laughed, “Come on, gotta show you off and all that jazz.” Regina moved to step forward and immediately stumbled, but he caught he against his chest, “God, have you been pregaming and just pretending to study or something?”

She had to focus on something other than the way his firm chest felt under her hands, “N-no. I just…never wear heels.”

His arm anchored around her waist the next moment, “Just lean on me. People might assume things, seeing as we just left your room and now you can’t walk, but if we get a drink in your hand quick enough they’ll just think that you’ve had more than they would’ve guessed.”

Parties were not her thing. But Gary never left her side. He knew more of the people here than she did even though she lived here, and every time someone called his name, his hand would press into the small of her back to lead her to join him. He never let her be alone in the loud mess of chaos. He never let his friends talk over her, even if he was the only one that could understand what she was saying, and he somehow always understood.

Gary was going to lose his mind. He wasn’t sure why he chose her. He thought it was because she happened to be nearby in the library when Rocco cornered him, but now he’s seen her music tastes- his tastes. He’s heard her awful jokes that match his terrible sense of humor. She’s brilliant, and in the gaudy almost nightclub lights the sorority house has on, she looked nearly ethereal. He thought she was gorgeous in the laid back t shirts and jeans he’d seen her wear to class, even the sweats she’d been studying in a bit ago, but this was an entirely different level. He was going to fall, and he wondered if it wouldn’t be worth it even if he fell on his face.

The two of them were actually having a great time, even when people couldn’t hide their surprise that they were together. Though it filled her with the same annoyance she felt at Rocco, her party mood was even bordering on enthusiastic.

Until Shannon came crashing through the front door, scowl on her face but eyes still puffy.

What shocked her more was that Gary made the first move, gently pulling her through the crowd until Regina could reach her, and then immediately ushering the two of them out the sliding glass door off the kitchen. He slid it shut, facing the party with his arms crossed over his chest, as if daring anyone to try to interrupt.

Shannon didn’t even ask him to stand guard from the inside before she exploded, so Regina knew she was upset. She never let anyone see her be vulnerable but her. “He cheated on me!”

Regina’s entire body went rigid as Gary’s eyes blew wide. Voice was even when she spoke, not angry, not sad, just even, “With who?”

She threw her hands up, “Some girl on the school cycling team! Joanna or some shite. She was still there when I stormed out.”

Regina shouldered past Gary without a word, and Shannon was hot on her heels trying to talk her out of something- what it was, Gary wasn’t sure, but he was definitely interested enough to follow. She stomped up to the bubbly blonde he’d met the day before, an edge in her voice that made her eyes widen, “Chelsea. My bat. Where is it?”

Shannon was adamantly telling Chelsea not to answer, but as the blonde bounced between each of their faces, she whimpered, “I’m sorry, Shannon. She scares me more. It’s this way!” She scampered off down the hall, returning a few minutes later with a baseball bat, barbed wire wrapped around the end. Gary’s eyes widened as Regina took it, stomping up to her room. He stood in the hall as Shannon argued with her, becoming more and more sober as she stomped out again in what were definitely steel toed boots, jeans, with a leather jacket thrown over her tank top and the bat clenched in her grip.

Gary had one thought. She looked fucking banging hot.

The night air nipped at their skin as she stomped her way across campus, and Gary was aware he should’ve definitely stepped in, tried to talk her out of it, but Shannon seemed resigned to the fact that there was no stopping her.

Approaching the dorm confirmed what Gary had suspected, he knew Rahim from the gym.

The RA intercepted them. “Reggie, please. I can’t keep calling maintenance to replace doors.” This has happened more than once?? Gary’s mind was reeling.

Regina wasn’t phased, simply holding out her hand and waiting until he sighed, digging into his pocket and setting a key in her palm. She clapped him on the shoulder, “We never saw you, Lucas. You were too busy studying for that physiology exam you have on Tuesday.”

“How do you- no, nevermind. I don’t care how you knew. Just remember it’s late. Try not to get security called.” Gary watched the dark haired man disappear back into his own dorm.

“What. The. Bloody. Hell.”

Shannon shrugged, “Ya get used to it, mate. Reggie has skills and tenacity that scare the average person.”

By the time they turned back to her, she already had the door unlocked and unlatched, kicking it the rest of the way open so it smacked off the wall behind it, “Hellooooooooo!”

“Oh fu- Reggie, please!” The man of the hour was a good foot taller than the woman in front of him, but he scurried to the furthest corner of the room away, “I tried to tell Shannon, it wasn’t what it looked like!”

“Reggie is for my friends, Ibrahim.” The bat sat hefted onto her shoulder as she watched him, and Gary was fairly concerned he was going to pass out on his own without it being involved, “You think I’m gonna believe you over my best mate? She saw you kiss her.”

Ibrahim looked like he was going to throw up, eyes darting to the Irish girl that leaned against the open door, “You saw that?”

“Aha!” Regina snapped, “I lied. She never told me anything. But you just admitted it happened.” Shannon turned out the door, and Gary followed her. He was still entirely unsure what the fuck happened tonight, but he didn’t think she should be alone.

Nearly twenty minutes later, Regina joined them outside, bat still poised in her shoulder and a cardboard box full of things tucked under her other arm, “Babes! Is this all your stuff?”

Shannon peered into it, just to laugh, “Reggie, you know damn well none of that is mine. I never left things over there when I stayed.”

“It’s not?” She hummed, “What a shame.” Regina chucks the box over her shoulder, and Gary’s mouth drops open as he recognizes Ibrahim’s laptop skidding out of it across the ground.

“Holy shit, mate,” he says breathily, “You might the craziest bird I’ve ever met.”

“You haven’t seen anything yet.” Shannon smirked.

Gary was stunned. He’d always seen you throughout your years of shared engineering classes and assumed she was just a pretty nerd. Clearly that wasn’t right. “What was that? Why was he so afraid of you?”

She looks thoughtful, “You ever seen a show called Wayne?”

“The kid that would fuck people up when someone crossed him?” He was confused, but if she meant what he thought she did…

Regina nodded, “No one knew who he was unless he went after them or defended them. I’m like that. I don’t associate with most people because I really do just want to get good grades and get gone. When I approach someone, they make an ally for life, or an enemy. They have to be a pretty special case. Lucas is used to me, a lot of them happen to live in this dorm building.”

Gary grinned playfully, “So you’re saying I’m pretty special.”

“You approached me, knobhead. Not the other way around.” She smirked back.

For two months, Reggie- he’d earned the right to call her that- and Gary fell into an easy rhythm. When they were in class together, they were sharing a table. He was walking her to and from class, arm tossed around her shoulders, as they talked about any number of things. She helped him study the equations he had trouble with, and now she was fighting him the top spot in their joint class. Regina had even realized that the Jakub Gary had mentioned was already afraid of her, after he had tried to destroy her sorority president’s relationship and she’d targeted him out of principle. A girl approached Regina out of nowhere two weeks ago, she thinks her name was Dottie or something, and said that she was giving up on Gary and wanted her to know that- she didn’t want Regina coming after her for a stupid crush. When she mentioned the interaction to him, he recognized her as the one trying to curse him, but he’d almost forgotten entirely.

And then it struck him with whiplash, they were faking this relationship. They had only been doing it to get a witchy girl off his back. Would Regina go back to never acknowledging him?

As more days went on, he kept up the ‘relationship’ type behavior. Holding her, studying with her, walking her home to the sorority house, kissing her cheek or crown of her head. He was waiting for her to tell him to get lost- just soaking up as much of her attention as he could get. The relationship might’ve been fake, but the friendship was real. And so were the feelings he was cautiously releasing in every ‘boyfriend’ move he made.

Four months into their friendship, he was walking her home when a voice called his name.

Regina watched as the redhead screamed Gary’s name again and again, jumping on his back before he could even turn around and pressing a loud kiss to his cheek. Gary’s eyes blew wide as shocked recognition swept over his features, “Han? Hannah, what are you doing here?”

Her chest seized. This absolutely stunning girl- this was Hannah? The ‘one-that-got-away’ broke up with him through text ex girlfriend Hannah? Oh.

She didn’t even seem to notice Regina. “Nan called me! You haven’t rang her in days!”

“Oh,” Gary sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck, “We’ve been busy studying.”

Hannah laughed, head thrown back as she put her hand on his arm, speaking in a sultry tone, “Since when do you study anything but anatomy.”

He coughed out an awkward laugh, “Hannah, this is Reggie. My girlfriend.”

Hannah’s bugged out, and Reggie’s almost did the same, but she recovered faster, “It’s so good to meet you, Hannah! I’ve heard a lot of things.”

Hannah smirked at her, “Probably all good, I’d hope.”

Regina made a considering face, “Mostly just about the way you dumped him. A text after three years?”

Hannah squeaked, and Gary let out a low whistle. He was almost tempted to defend Hannah, purely by instinct, but he wasn’t the same guy she dumped nearly a year ago. Back when he would broadcast the dumb jock affectation to get people to like him, when she would tell him to tone down the science talk because no one could follow. Regina and Shannon had beaten that out of him- sometimes even literally. Yeah, he played football. But he was a lot more than that, and they helped him remember it. So he settled for pressing a kiss to Reggie’s temple, “Play nice, love.”

Hannah smiled at them, though it was plenty more forced now, “We’ll have to double date sometime. The two of us could catch up and I could learn about Reggie.”

“It’s Regina.” Gary said without thinking about, “She’ll let you know when you’ve earned the right to call her Reggie. It’s a friend thing.”

“Did you have to earn it, too? I was unaware you needed permission to call your girlfriend something.” Hannah raised an eyebrow.

“It’s called respect, Hannah.” Gary sighed. He knew she wouldn’t get it, she gave everyone a nickname. All the different pet names he called her. Half of them didn’t even make sense. “Who are you seeing now? Do I know ‘im?” Reggie could see it for what it was, a way to change the subject. But from the brief look of triumph Hannah sent her way, she knew the other girl took it as a sign of interest in her romantic life- like he wanted to be a part of it again.

“He should be coming right about- There!” Hannah waved at a boy with tattoos walking over, and Reggie couldn’t tell if she wanted to die of laughter, or fear he’d run his mouth. “Guys, this is Graham.”

Graham raised his hand in greeting, looking at Gary friendlier than most men would when they have his ex on their arm.

But then his eyes skidded over to her, and they blew wide before recovering. “Pleasure to meet ya both. Hannah told me how close you two still are and I had to meet the man of legend.”

Gary’s brow furrowed, and Reggie knew why. He hadn’t spoken to Hannah in months. Sure, some could argue he talked to her secretly, but he spent all his free time outside of class and practice with Shannon and Reggie. And the latter didn’t want to bear this awkward situation any longer.

“Well, um, I have class in a couple minutes, so Gare, I’ll meet you later? Leave you to catch up?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he said right away, “I’m walking you. I do it every day. We’ll have to catch you guys later.”

Graham nodded, “Of course. Can’t be missing lectures if she wants to see the stars, right?”

Reggie froze, and she knew Gary did too, knowing that Graham should’ve had no way of knowing what she wanted to achieve. Or maybe the condescension in his voice. But instead of questioning it, Gary tightened his arm around for a second before nodding once and steering her away.

They found themselves drifting toward the sorority house- seeing as neither of them actually had class right now. They had been released from a lecture just before Hannah found them. Shannon was sitting at her desk when they got there, half paying attention to the essay she was typing when they caught her eye and she raised a brow, prompting.

“Do ya know a Graham?” Gary asked, because honestly he was still just confused. But the pale girl’s face blanched before she was tossing her chair aside and rushing to Regina.

“Did he try something? Say anything? How’d he find you?”

“Whoa, whoa, Shan, he didn’t do anything.” Reggie laughed humorlessly, “It was actually Gary’s ex that found us.”

“The blonde? I thought we were done with her already.”

“No- Hannah.”

“Oh.” Shannon blinked, “But what- how-“

“Hannah is seeing this Graham now.” Gary filled in, “But who is he?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Reggie raised her hands uselessly.

And that’s when Gary remembered the first time he had been in your room. The way Shannon threatened him. “He’s your ex.” The words left him more like a puff of air, hanging there even as the girls nodded. “So, what’s the backstory?”

Shannon made a protesting noise at the question, but Reggie laughed, remembering how she’d asked him questions the first day they actually met. “Not much of a story, I’m afraid. Girl in high school. Girl meets boy who talks big about the world. Girl falls for boy. Turns out boy’s version of talking big about the world is actually just manning a fishing boat for months on end.”

“Boy tried to convince girl that refusing to give up her dreams to follow him meant that she didn’t know what love was.”

Reggie opened her mouth to protest, but resigned herself to Shannon’s words, “Yeah, pretty much. Then girl’s best friend reminds her that their mothers didn’t settle for toxicity and they didn’t have to either.”

Gary was irritated now. Not with her, but with this guy that thought she should have to choose, and then treated her like that because he thought she chose wrong. “Well fuck that guy.” Shannon snorted but Gary wasn’t done, “And fuck Hannah, too, to be honest. I saw the way she was trying to work you up out there. And I know damn well nan wouldnta called her after she dumped me. So we’re gonna do what we been doing, and acting like they ain’t phased us.”

Reggie blinked at him, before a question didn’t seem like it could hold itself back anymore, “What exactly have we been doing?”

Gary knew there were a lot of ways he could play that question. He could act like he meant friendship, act like he didn’t know all the casual touching and spending time together they did meant nothing. Or he could take a bigger risk. “We’ve been dating, haven’t we?”

“We’ve been-“

Gary waved her off, “Sure, lie to all three of us and say it’s been fake.”

Shannon snorted again, “Damn, the audacity. I’m here for it. Keep telling her like it is, Gary.”

Gary turned to face Reggie, look her in the eye, “I liked you long before that day in the library, and I like ya a bloody hell of a lot more now. I know you don’t plan to stick around in Chatham, but we’re almost graduated. Just a couple more months. Maybe I can prove to ya that…I can just follow you out of it. I’ll get a place wherever you wanna take that stand to help the world by searching the skies.”

Regina could’ve cried. The feelings she kept locked in her chest were growing every day, but he had always seemed like a routine guys. She had thought that he kept up the act because it was a routine of things he grew used to doing around her. But it was because he actually felt the same.

“Okay.” She agreed quietly, the shyest smile he’d ever seen on her face. “Let’s try it, if we can make it to graduation, you can tag along.”

Shannon wiped away a fake tear, “I’m so proud.”

But then Reggie smirked, “We’ve been together like seven months now? Take me on a date once in a while.”

Gary couldn’t help but laugh before he pulled her in and finally pressed a kiss where he’s wanted to this whole time, but resisted because it felt like too far.

Masterlist

[wolfstarlibrarian]

Hi! First of all, thank you so much for everything you do!!! Second, I know you have a wolfstar teachers section in the card catalog (which I absolutely love) but I just can’t seem to get enough of wolfstar teachers... by any chance do you have any more recommendations in this category? If not, no worries :) thank you again!

Thank you for the love friend! And the Librarian can admit, that was a short list done early on so they’re happy to give you a whole list of more fics in addition to the two previous related lists. Hope you find some fics on here to enjoy! 

Wolfstar Teacher Fics

Wolfstar Hogwarts Professors

Wolfstar Teacher Fics 2

Signs of Affection by @kittycargo

“Hello, everyone! My name is-” the professor did something quick with his fingers and the interpreter paused for just a moment before continuing, “-Remus Lupin. I’ll be your teacher for ASL I." When Sirius learns that he'll have a Deaf student in his class next year, he takes an ASL I summer course at his local community college. He didn't expect the professor to be so attractive though.

Please tell me you're not the TA by @halictus-writer Sirius sees the most attractive man outside of the classroom he's looking for. His biggest wish: please don't be the TA. (NOTE: This author also has another Hogwarts Professor AU in-progress)

Synergy by @remuslives23 Synergy: the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

snowflakes by @maddy-does

Sirius finally gets to meet the new teacher Harry won't stop raving about, and is equally as impressed.

a matter of time by ThatFilmGraduate A bit of science, a bit of divine intervention, and you have your Perfect Match. Sirius Black takes the Soulmate Test in 2025 and gets some results. It just takes a bit of time.

My Dog Will Always Come Through by @mooncat457writer

Seeing how happy James and Lily are now that they have baby Harry, Sirius wants to add to the family he and Remus have, too. So when Hagrid finds a litter of crup puppies abandoned in the Forbidden Forest, Sirius does his best to convince Remus that they should adopt one.

Of Sticks, Stones and Breaking Bones by @callipygiangoldfish When Remus finds himself with a snotty six-year old on his hip, watching Harry’s family ride off into the sunset, he doesn’t quite know what hit him. After wrestling himself a place in Harry's life as his primary school teacher, he throws himself into his new life as a parent of a scared small boy. There's a black dog in the garden, Lego over the floors, and plenty of bumps along the way, but Remus knows it's going to be an adventure. And if he happens to collect a child (or two) and a boyfriend along the way, then so be it. Otherwise known as ‘The Lupin Household for Waifs and Strays’

he's blinding but you can't look away by JaguarCello Remus Lupin - new English teacher, wearer of extraordinary jumpers, pub quiz winner - and Sirius Black - ill-articulated scandulous past, wearer of leather jackets, Physics teacher - are going to have quite a year. There is Arthurian romance, pub quizzes, kisses, bad singing on tables, far too many highlighters, and lots of alcohol. Maybe a little true love, not that Remus believes in that any more.

Of Caffeine Addictions and Nail Polish by BlueAzalea Remus hated being addicted to caffeine. On top of the withdrawal headaches and jumpiness if he drank too much coffee, it was causing him to pine like sixteen-year-old boy. And he was an adult --Yes Dora 'real adults' carry chocolate on them at all times-- and adults do not pine. Adults go on dates. But how do you know if its a date or not? Or Remus is a teacher. Sirius owns a coffee shop. And neither know what qualifies a date as a date.

Bonjour by Fitamina Remus had the words tattooed on his wrist since i could remember. They were supposed to tell him how is soulmate was, but think are never as we dreamed they would be.

Living It All -orphaned fic After being disowned and disinherited, Sirius Black never imagined a tragic accident would leave him guardian of his younger brother. But there he was, dealing with a sullen teen who was facing both the loss of his parents and his sight. Sirius does his best to take care of him, and when Regulus joins a music class, Sirius certainly doesn’t expect to fall for the adorable music teacher.

Meet You At The Bottom by @remywrites5 “Hi Mr. Lupin!” Harry called out, waving at his teacher. “I’ve brought Uncle Sirius again!” “I can see that,” Remus said, standing up and joining them. “And how are we today?” “Good!” Harry said, jumping up and down in place. “Uncle Sirius would like to snog you. He told my mummy.”

Our Destiny in the Stars -orphaned fic Having no luck in the dating field, and insecure about his body, Remus checks out a dating website which offers the users the opportunity to get to know a person before seeing what they look like. It's during this time he meets Sirius, an enthusiastic teacher--and they immediately click. When they agree to meet, Remus sees a photo of Sirius and immediately panics. He's too good looking to ever be interested in someone like Remus. What the tawny-haired man doesn't know, is Sirius has already checked him out online and has fallen head over heels for the adorable editor.

Remus Lupin's Coffee Order by @remusyoulittleshit Inspired by a list of AUs on Tumblr. Specifically: i purposely got your coffee order wrong just so you’ll talk to me again au

If you know any of the untagged authors, please comment with their tumblr. ❤️

[iamnotparticularlyproud]

PPB Square: Kink Discovery | @peterparkerbingo

word count: 2.7k rating: mature warnings: none ao3 link: https://bit.ly/3xpiBdx

Summary: Bucky and Peter have been together for a while, but Peter can’t bring himself to talk to his boyfriend about how their sex life is a bit - uh, well, boring. Instead, Peter searches Bucky’s laptop while he isn’t home for any sign of kink whatsoever. To say it doesn’t go as he planned would be an understatement.

Bucky’s amazing. So, so amazing, and Peter could go on about it for days - about his silly nicknames, the way he makes the Brooklyn drawl sound adorable, his unexpected dorkiness and razor sharp wit, how his hands are so calloused but he holds Peter so softly--

Days, Peter could come up with these for days. 

So, it’s not like there’s anything he wishes he could change about their relationship. It’s - they’re - perfect, everything’s been perfect. Bucky’s just so nice, and after Beck, Peter wasn’t sure he’d ever be in a relationship again, let alone one so - so good. So healthy, and so supportive. 

It’s just--

Their sex is so vanilla. Painfully vanilla. The most unconventional Bucky gets is with his dirty talk, and, yeah, Peter loves how his boyfriend will call him his sweet lil boy, and tell Peter how good he takes a thick cock in his tight ass, but that's about as far as Bucky ever goes. 

And that - that isn’t a bad thing, Peter knows that, it’s just. Boring, sometimes, is all.

Peter wishes he could talk to Bucky about it, because the man always stresses communication and talking problems out, but it’s just so embarrassing. Peter’s just thinking about it and he’s flushed, so how could he say the word kink out loud? 

He can’t. He really, really can’t.

So Peter does the only other thing he can think to do.

He steals Bucky’s laptop and rummages for any signs of kink - anything to suggest his boyfriend isn’t as vanilla as it seems. Peter knows he doesn’t have long - Bucky’s out getting takeout from their favorite Thai place, and it isn’t too far - so he doesn’t waste time as he searches all the keywords he can think of in Bucky’s unorganized folders, his internet history that’s never been cleared, the hard drive Peter got him because he complained about memory but Peter was 99% sure he never touched - he was right - and then tries his luck with the recycle bin, but--

There’s not just no sign of kink.

There’s nothing. There’s no porn at all.

Peter’s mind is blown. He hadn’t even considered that he wouldn’t find porn, he thought that everyone watched porn - and unless Bucky knew how to delete specific pages from his browser history, which Peter heavily doubts, because, c'mon - but apparently, Bucky doesn’t.

He considers that, maybe, since Bucky is nearly a decade older than him, he consumes his porn in a different way. Maybe physical movies or, godforbid, magazines.

Peter’s considering looking through Bucky’s drawers and closets until he finds proof of pornography consumption, but then someone’s clearing their throat behind him.

“Jesus, how do you--” Peter exclaims, because it’s nowhere near the first time this six foot hunk of a man has snuck up on him. Then, he glances at the clunky computer in his lap that is obviously not his, and back at Bucky, who’s looking at the laptop, and then at Peter.

“What’re you doin’ with my computer?”

Peter panics, not because Bucky seems upset, because he doesn’t, just - confused, but it’s such a weird thing to be doing, and he can’t lie at all, and this isn’t--

“Does that say porn?” Bucky asks, suddenly leaning over Peter’s shoulder, and he just sounds amused, but Peter goes on the defensive anyway.

“I-It’s just, you never, and I - this isn’t me wanting you to change, or--”

Bucky moves quickly when Peter starts that familiar stress-ramble; he circles around the couch, puts the plastic bag filled with food down on the coffee table and sits next to him, wrapping an arm around his back and shushing him kindly.

“Slow down, doll.” Bucky smiles, sincerity etched in his crow’s feet, “Can’t understand you when you’re talkin’ too fast, remember?”

Peter stops. He nods, then he takes a breath. When he lets it go, Bucky tells him to take a deeper one, so he does, and as he breathes it out, he feels the alarm fade.

Not completely, though. Not with the evidence of his snooping in his lap.

With a glance back at where porn is still typed out in the recycle bin’s search bar and a chuckle, Bucky asks, almost laughing, “What were you doin’, sweetheart?” 

Peter doesn’t expect it, but the fight drains from his body. It’s him accepting his fate, he realizes belatedly.

“I, uh,” Peter pauses, because it’s still so difficult to say the words, “was looking for porn.”

Bucky laughs for real this time, and Peter closes his eyes with a sigh. That wasn’t what he meant to say, at all.

“No - I was looking for y-your porn, like, what you watch,” Peter explains, and Bucky is still laughing, but he waves a hand.

“Yeah, I got that.” He says, making an effort to curb his laughter, “Why, though?”

Peter bites his lip. "Do you watch porn?”

He was scared that meeting Bucky’s question with a question would frustrate the man, but he only looks more amused.

“Why would I?”

Huh?

“What?”

“Why would I watch porn?” Bucky sounds genuinely confused, “We have sex almost everyday.”

Almost, Peter nearly stresses, but catches himself. Obviously, he’s dramatically misread the situation. 

“Y-Yeah, but,” Peter tries to come up with something, anything, “like, maybe, before we dated?”

“I know it’s kinda old, but I got the thing not too long before we met, actually.”

That bit of information also sends Peter reeling, and he almost argues about it - because the laptop isn’t 'kinda old,' it’s ancient - but Bucky speaks before he does.

“Were you lookin’ for the kinda porn I’m into?”

Peter nearly sags with relief. How does he always manage to get it before Peter has to explain? 

“Yeah.”

Bucky’s smile shifts, and it’s - he likes that, Peter notices, and, it’s - it's sexual.

“What, did you wanna tease me?” Bucky licks his lips, “Rile me up?”

Oh. That works, and it’s pretty true, even. Peter can work with that.

He nods. Bucky continues, and he looks so pleased.

“It’s you, sugar,” Bucky brings his hand to Peter’s cheek, and his hold is so gentle, but the calluses are rough, and it’s such a satisfying dichotomy that Peter can’t help but lean into it, “You get me wild.”

If only. Peter’s never seen him be wild. 

But he couldn’t say that. Not when Bucky sounds like he absolutely means it, and it makes Peter’s heart flutter.

Peter has been a bit weird lately. 

Well, Peter is always a bit weird, but it’s a part of his charm. He’s been acting extra weird lately, Bucky’s noticed, and while it’s just as endearing, it’s confusing, too.

He almost calls Peter out on it after he’s found him searching for porn on his computer - more than he had already, anyway - but he just gets so tense when Bucky tries to make him really talk about something. He doesn’t want to bring up that energy - not so late, anyway. 

So Bucky plans to talk to him about it tomorrow.

And Peter thwarts that plan as soon as they wake up. Usually, he’s eager to spend the last day of their shared weekend off together, but before they’ve even had their coffee, Peter’s rushing out the door with the excuse of meeting up with his college friends at a cafe. Not too long later he texted they were going to do an impromptu study group for an upcoming quiz, then, after five hours, texted him they were going to hang out more.  

Bucky tries not to be suspicious of or retaliatory to Peter even more than he’s learned to be with his partners, because the kid’s not had a great track record with boyfriends, to say the least, but this is ridiculous. When he’s been gone for a whole seven hours, under the guise of shoddy excuses, Bucky decides his curiosity needs to be sated more than Peter needs to be coddled, and his new plan is to snoop into Peter’s computer like the kid tried with him. Obviously, if he assumed Bucky would have porn on his laptop, Peter’s got some on his. 

Bucky doesn’t plan to look until Peter texts that he’s on his way home, though. He thinks it’ll be funny if the kid finds himself where Bucky stood last night.

So, after Peter texted that he’s omw, Bucky pulls out his computer. It’s so sleek, thin and light, yet wide, and he hates using it, but he’s dying to know. How much porn could Peter possibly watch, considering how much they have sex, and how busy he’s kept as a student and part-time employee?

Not very much, Bucky assumes.

And holy fuck is he wrong.

He takes a wild guess and searches porn in the convenient - but too bulky, and ugly - search engine in the toolbar, and a stupidly obviously labeled folder, not porn don’t look, comes right up. There’s several subfolders - distinguishing the videos by kink, dear God - and dozens of videos in most of them, over a hundred in a few.

What the fuck.

Bucky’s surprised - Jesus Christ, so surprised - at so many things, but - where the fuck does Peter find the time to watch so much porn? What does it mean that he’s amassed such a collection? How has Bucky never walked in on him watching it? Is there a way to see how many hours of it there are, because it’s a stupidly high amount, definitely--

Bucky takes a breath. He leans back, too, because the little previews are too much to look at, and he takes a moment to appreciate just how understandable it was that Peter was so confused yesterday. It must be unthinkable, to not watch porn, to him. But - Peter’s never even mentioned porn before, not in the half-a-year they’ve been dating, so what was so different about yesterday?

The question has Bucky sitting back up, ready to delve deeper. He starts by reading the names of the folders closer, finding it’s not just organized by kink, but by his favorite pornstars, too. The kid’s got several, all with typical pornstar names, and according to the previews, he’s got a type for big and buff. Checks out.

With another deep, grounding breath, Bucky clicks on the folder name Ultimate Favorites. It’s only got thirteen videos in it, but all the titles are a fuckin’ doozy. It’s shit like Small Twink Fucked Hard, and Daddy Pounds His Boy Until He Cries, and - Jesus fuck - Dom Verbally Abuses Sub While Anally Abusing Him. 

Bucky’s nauseous just reading that last one. He never would’ve guessed Peter was into such rough sex. Not just because the kid gets all wide-eyed and stuttery whenever sex is even mentioned, but because Peter’s just so - soft. In all the ways a person can be, really.

Bucky doesn’t know how to reconcile what he knows Peter to be like with this new information about him. He distantly knows that he doesn’t have to - that Peter’s kinks don't reflect anything about his personality, and acting like they do is only reductive - but the instinct is so strong, he can’t help but fruitlessly try.

Before he can reconsider, Bucky’s clicking on one of the more mildly titled videos - not that any of them are mild at all - just to understand better what Peter’s so into. 

The video loads almost immediately, and it doesn’t waste time with any kind of introduction - there’s suddenly two men on the screen, their size difference resembling Bucky and Peter’s to a ridiculous degree, and the larger one pushes the smaller onto a bed carelessly before climbing on top of him. It’s a bunch of shoving and aggressive groping along with cruel words and name calling, and Bucky’s never been more turned off in his life. He can’t believe this porno is among Peter’s favorites - his boyfriend’s never once let on that this is the kind of sex he’s into.

While he’s staring, Bucky’s on screen lookalike finally quitting with the rough teasing and moving onto the brutal fucking, he hears Peter enter his apartment. Bucky doesn’t mute the video, and Peter’s light footsteps stop immediately. Bucky can just see the look on his face - that caught-in-the-headlights one that makes Peter look more like a deer than Bucky thought a person could - and he stifles a laugh as the steps pick back up, this time much more hesitant. When Peter’s a good foot into the living room, Bucky turns around, acting as if he hadn’t heard him coming in.

With the computer filling the room with sounds of slapping and exaggerated moans, Bucky greets, struggling to keep a smirk off his face,  “Hi, honey. How was your day?”

Peter doesn’t answer him and - yep, there’s that look. Instead, he gapes like a fish at where his computer is steadied on Bucky’s lap, eyes wide and frantic.

“Why’d you never mention this, doll?” Bucky asks, dropping the act as Peter keeps looking like disaster is seconds away. He pauses the video and sets the laptop to the side, motioning for Peter to join him on the couch.

Peter does join him, albeit uncertain and his eyes still trained on the graphic image on the computer screen. He’s quiet as he sits as far as he can from Bucky.

“I--” Peter starts, gaze transfixed on the laptop. “Can you - close that?”

Bucky does. Peter keeps looking at it.

“You okay?” Bucky asks, chuckling.

Peter finally looks at him. He seems scared, Bucky realizes. He closes a bit of the distance between them, leaving some incase Peter feels suffocated, and puts a hand on the back of his neck, a touch Peter always leans into.

He does this time, too. He relaxes some, and Bucky prompts, “Were you scared to tell me?”

Peter relaxes even more, his shoulders falling. He nods. “I know you probably don’t care--”

Bucky interrupts to confirm with a nod of his own, “I don’t.”

“But it’s just--” Peter huffs, eyebrows furrowing, “Embarrassing.”

Bucky nods more. “It doesn’t change how I think about you.” He reassures Peter, “At all.”

“That's good.” Peter breathes, and Bucky can’t help but laugh softly. “I was starting to think it would gross you out.”

It kinda does, but Bucky doesn’t say that. It isn’t important how the porn he’s into makes Bucky feel. 

“No, baby. It doesn’t.”

Peter leans into his side, and Bucky shifts to embrace him. Silence attempts to settle around them, but Bucky can’t help his need to tease.

“So… where’d you find the time to make such a collection?” 

Peter cringes. “I, uh, started it years ago.”

Bucky raises his eyebrows. He doesn’t know why he didn’t assume that - it’s a seriously massive collection - but thinking of how far back years suggests, and how Peter is just twenty-two, he can’t help but ask for clarification.

“How many years you talkin’?”

“Uhh…” Peter trails off, seeming to really think about it. Bucky can see the moment he finds the answer, and his expression closes.  “...several.”

Bucky decides to wager a guess. He doesn’t really know why he wants to know this answer, but he thinks it might help him understand just how into kink Peter is.

“Sixteen?”

Peter whines. “Jamie.”

Bucky’s eyes widen. “Fifteen?”

Peter pulls away a bit to cover his face with his hands, and he whines unintelligibly this time.

“Christ, it wasn’t younger than thirteen, was it?”

Peter shakes his head. “N-No, I--” His words are muffled by his palms,  “I was fourteen.”

Bucky breathes a sigh of relief. Peter can’t lie for shit, so Bucky can tell he isn’t just appeasing him. 

Then it hits him just how long Peter’s been fantasizing about this kind of sex.

“You’re really into this stuff, huh?”

Peter burrows further into his hands. Bucky rubs his back, and considers his next words carefully.

“If you want, we could explore some of the tamer stuff you have in there.” 

Peter drops his hands from his face and he looks excited for all of two seconds. Then, his expression falls. “None of it’s… tame. I mean, I guess--” Peter cuts himself off to cough, wincing as he tries to get the words out, “uh, im-impact play isn’t, you know, hardcore, I guess.”

“Spanking and stuff?”

“...and stuff.” Peter says with a flush. 

“We’ll start with spanking,” Bucky laughs, adding just in case, “if you want to.”

But it wasn’t necessary, because Peter brightens immediately. 

“Really?”

“Yeah, really.” 

Peter smiles wide, and Bucky can’t help but return it with one of his own.

[datleggy]

Is it just me or did Buck asking Eddie what Ana’s love language was give off major sass/jealousy 👀 vibes. When I tell you that SENT ME 😂

IT REMINDED ME OF THE FIRST TIME WHEN THEY WERE GOING THRU THAT WINDOW AND BUCK MENTIONED HOW EDDIE YELLED AT ANA BC OF THE SKATEBOARD INCIDENT----SASSY JEALOUS BOY CONFIRMED A SECOND TIME lmao 

but also, what i wish had happened: 

At the end of a way too long shift Eddie corners Buck in the locker room as they’re changing back into their civilian clothes. “What’s up with the ‘Love Language’ book, anyway?” he asks, curious. 

Buck looks up from where he’s tying his shoes, “Something Dr. Copeland said in our last session.” he admits with a shrug. 

Eddie raises a brow. “Your therapist? What’d she say?” 

“Well,” Buck runs a hand through his hair and huffs. “The subject of past relationships was kinda brought up and I told her how none of them have worked out--obviously--and she mentioned that everyone has a different love language. I wanted to know more so she recommended the book.” 

Eddie hums. “I see. So,” he sits down next to Buck on the bench, their shoulders pressed together. “What’s your love language?” 

“I...don’t really know yet?” Buck says. “I mean, I’m only on like, chapter two. But! I did learn that there are five primary love languages.” he reports excitedly. 

“Oh yeah?” Eddie tilts his head, inquiringly; he likes listening to Buck ramble on when he’s really into something. 

Buck nods. “Yup. So, the first one is words of affirmation. The second one is acts of service. The third is receiving gifts. The fourth is quality time. And last but not least, physical touch.” 

“Hmm,” Eddie looks at Buck, squinting, trying to figure him out. 

Buck, who’s never been great under scrutiny, makes a face. “Stop it.” 

Eddie grins. “What? I’m just tryna get a good reading. I think a lot of those overlap, no?” 

Buck shrugs. “Yeah, I guess. Why?” 

“Cause,” Eddie continues. “I’d peg you for like, three of those love languages.” 

“Which ones?” 

“I’d say you need words of affirmation,” Eddie lists, counting off on his fingers one by one. “You need quality time. And physical touch.” 

Buck rolls his eyes at the last one. “Funny.” 

Eddie shakes his head. “No, really. And I don’t mean it like that--get your head outta the gutter--I mean, you know, like holding hands or touching shoulders when you’re sitting next to them, cuddling and hugging hi or bye, that kind of thing.” he explains.

Buck is surprised that it seems like Eddie’s actually given his answer some real thought. “There’s a quiz at the end of the book, so I’ll let you know if you’re right when I finish.” He turns to look at the other man. “What do you think yours would be?” 

“I’m more of an action speak louder than words kinda guy, so probably the second one, what was it?” 

“Acts of service?” 

“Yeah, that one. I don’t know, maybe it’s because of everything I’ve gone through, but I need the other person to prove to me they’re in for the long haul. Like, if I can trust them with Christopher, if I can say without a doubt they’ve got my back, no matter what--that type of thing.” 

“Sounds like you two should just date each other.” Chimney interrupts their conversation, stepping out of the showers with a towel wrapped around his waist and another around his shoulders. 

Buck and Eddie suddenly become very aware of how close they’re leaning into each other and quickly make space between them. 

Eddie jumps up, looking down at his watch and clearing his throat. “Uh, speaking of dating, I am late for one, as we speak.” he throws his jacket over his shoulder and nods at Buck. “Wish me luck.” 

Buck nods back, though he can’t really meet his eyes. “Good luck.” 

Chimney rolls his eyes heavenward. Will these two ever get a grip? 

[boxbusiness]

Does Ioath still want/try/plan to kill Diavolo or is he calmed down/trying to figure out other things these days? Since he's on neither the Celestial nor Devildom side, where's he live?

What do they all think of humans? Angels/demons? The exchange program?

If you were to assign them all 1-2 primary sins/virtues, what would they be?

Assuming beings with such long lives bother with hopes and dreams and plans for the future, what's everyone's goal in life? Or would they all be very "just make it as long as I can" types?

What exactly is a djinn in this case? He grants wishes, but how does that work? Is he a type of demon and grants wishes when summoned/sacrificed to/pacted with? Or is he more of his own creature and works differently? Can he only grant certain kinds of wishes/have any restrictions? Favorite and least favorite wishes to grant?

Do any of the demons have pacts with humans(or other, higher ranking demons assuming that's something that demons do)? Aside from Ioath, they're all RAD students, right? What's their favorite and least favorite school subject? (You can include or separate magical/special classes too if you want!) Do they wear their uniforms any special way or do they follow dress code?

What sort of skills do they have(aside from the given)? What abiut hobbies and interests? Things they're curious about?

Do they have any relationships/history(in general, not necessarily romantic, and not necessarily mutual either, something like "admires from afar" is fine) with the canon characters(shown or otherwise) or Valen? What are those like? Have they changed over the course of history?

Speaking of changing over the course of history, were they different when they were younger to how they are now? If so, what prompted the change? Do they want to change in the future or are they happy as they are now?

Sorry for the batch ask! I can separate them if you'd prefer!

Hold Up I didn’t study for this pop quiz XD 

Lemme bullet point this list and it’s all going under a cut since this post is LOOOOOOONG.

- Since the Celestial Realm and Devildom are getting along now, Iaoth is retired from thwarting demons. He understands that the war is over, but he does have this empty feeling because killing demons was like his main purpose in life. Iaoth tries to keep himself busy doing other things, but finding the right activity to do is a process. He’s stays in the Purgatory Hall with the other angels & Solomon, or sometimes he camps outside, 

- Chel is very open to it and loves that we all are getting along. Belial and Iaoth are mostly neutral about it, but think it’s a good change over all. Djinn is kinda like a Belphie. He doesn’t like humans, especially if they are the magic using kind of humans~

-  I’ve thought about it, and it’s kinda hard for me to figure out what’s fitting for them, but I’d say Chel is the Avatar of Fortune(as in luck of course0), Belial is the Avatar of Subordination(Sounds weird, but Belial’s main purpose is to be inferior to everyone else and be bossed around), I’d peg Iaoth as angel of righteousness(*air guitars*) or something like that. Djinn Idk for sure. I was thinking Desire, but that’s similar to greed. :/

-  Chel is living his best life and is hoping he can get Djinn out of his shell so he can enjoy living the rest of his life. Iaoth is hoping to find himself as well. Belial hopes to bot be stepped on so much in the future~ =w=

- Djinn grants wishes via being summoned by name and but also informs them that he’s gonna have to collect that soul later as payment. He’s naturally powerful enough to magically conjure up someone’s desires without issue. Currently, he doesn’t like granting wishes at all to anyone.  Anywho Imma spill some of his BACKSTORY! (cuz it might explain some things about himself) Djinn was friends with a wizard named Seth, and they were rather close. Djinn decided that he’d would let Seth be his first... First to make a pact with of course. However Seth betrayed him and imprisoned him in a lamp. (See where this is going? lol) As long as Djinn was trapped in that lamp he’d have to obey whomever summoned him out of it and the user didn’t have to worry about their soul being taken, it didn’t even matter if the person knew of his true name either. Over the years Seth used Djinn’s powers. However, rumors of a magically lamp spread and Djinn was stolen from Seth and he had to continuously serve new masters and grant their desires as the lamp kept getting stolen. Over time humans began calling him a Djinn, the mythical being that granted wishes, and after years of being called that he forget his real name. Eventually he did get out and it wasn’t because of Aladdin, but I think this is enough for now.

- Djinn as explained above has that pact with Seth, but Seth had passed away and Djinn ain’t ever gonna make another pact and is highly against Chel making pacts. Belial probably has one this Solomon. As for classes Chel like all his courses and it’s not like he’s gonna fail any of them. Djinn likes P.E. getting outside makes him feel good and he doesn’t hate any classes per se he just doesn’t like being cooped up in a room for so long, and Belial likes Malevolent Language arts and his horrible at Devildom economics. So the first image of Belial was the uniform~ Chel’s and Djinn’s look like this~

- It’s hard to tell what Chel is actually good at since things just work out for him, but he love doing all sorts of things and he always seems to have great beginners luck at whatever he does~ Belial like actually taking artsy pictures not just paparazzi glam shots. Belial is a pretty fast runner and likes swimming cuz octopus. Djinn whittles and likes watching oddly satisfying videos. Iaoth is great at billiards and he likes doing yoga to keep himself flexible. 

-  I’ve always pictured these boys bebopping in the back ground of the main story lol. They are just the other students at RAD. Well Belial kinda sees everyone as a superior and will be bossed around like a desperate intern no matter what. The only one who Belial won’t roll over and take orders from is Luke lol. Mammon seems to have beef with Chel since Chel practically always has good things happen to him. Djinn’s doesn’t really talk much and has a bit of a resting bitch face so a lot of people think he’s a scary guy when he’s just a gentle giant. Iaoth has respect for Barbatos since they used to spar and kinda still have a rivalry going on. They don’t really come in to contact with my MC, Valen, but if any other MC wants to meet them that’s chill~

- Belial has always been the same. Always stepped on by others~ >w>” If anything the major difference is that Belial was shorted back then. Chel behaved the same way as well. He may have been EVEN MORE naive back then. Iaoth was a perfect solider, but had struggles with what was morally correct at times. Djinn was really different in the past. He was friendlier, smiled, open, and now he’s cold, closed off, and afraid of getting hurt again.

DAMN.

Hopefully I answered correctly >w>”

[lupin-the-3rd-case-files]

Lupin the 3rd vs Detective Conan the Movie

Target: Cherry Sapphire

Yes it’s just as good as I remembered it being. Just like the tv special, the movie for this crossover benefits well from a phenomenal cast able to carry the runtime. This time, however, it has less of a focus on original characters and gives us more time with the casts you actually came to the crossover to see. Lupin’s gang is a blast, Conan’s friends are super fun, and when they begin to mix you get a great film.

Just about everything I said in regards to the special applies here as well. Lupin doesn’t really have an ace detective rival in his series and Conan is a great fill in for it. This time around we get a much more expanded cast from Conan. In the special it was basically just Conan, Ran, the detectives and Sonoko. We never got to see the doctor or Conan’s friends. In this we get appearances by them plus Kaito Kid, Ai Haibara, and the FBI.

There aren’t any moments in this movie that feels wasted, the entire 1h46m runtime is packed. I take that back, the pun quiz is kind of unnecessary, but the rest is all relevant to the plot. Much like Blood Seal of the Eternal Mermaid, the whole runtime just sort of flew by. It’s a testament to the story’s pacing.

I will say the movie kind of has the same problem the tv special did in that it expects you to know who these characters are. It’s not as egregious as the special is, it at least explains the basic premise of Detective Conan this time around. However, in particular Ai Haibara, her character isn’t explained at all. You can pick up a lot of information through context clues but if you don’t know who she is this movie has no interest in telling you. The same goes for Jodie Starling at the end when she just bombastically shows up. Granted she’s not all that important to the story.

This problem is actually multiplied by the fact that it’s a direct sequel to the tv special. If you didn’t watch the tv special you are shit out of luck because the conclusion basically revolves around the events of it. The movie is definitely a continuation in every aspect, so if you didn’t watch it, you’re going to be lost and disappointed at the end.

Just from the opening scene alone you can tell this movie had a budget and it was ready to go ham with it. The opening sequence is worth watching alone. There aren’t many action sequences in the movie since it’s more of a mystery story, but the ones that are there are very well animated.

While I’m talking about action sequences let me just say that I wish Lupin would learn more from Detective Conan on how to write a climax. I’m still a little annoyed about the big dumb monster fight at the end of Eternal Mermaid and Fujiko’s Unlucky Days. This movie is the perfect example of how to write a compelling action-packed climax without resorting to a video game-y final boss.

So let’s talk about the treasure. The treasure this time around is the Cherry Sapphire, a red sapphire that is in actuality Vespanian ore. There’s such a thing as pink sapphires, which I’m not sure if it was intentionally based off that or not. I suppose the name implies it’s cherry red, and it certainly looks that way but at that point wouldn’t it just be a ruby? I don’t know, I’m not all that educated on minerals.

Anyway so what would the value of the Cherry Sapphire be? We’re never really told its value and there isn’t much of a real world equivalent. So this time we’re going to equate it to being a Pink Sapphire. According to this article a high quality 1.5 carat Pink Sapphire can go for around $6,000. Not exactly a grand price you’d expect Lupin to go after, but as we see in the plot of the movie he’s not after it for its monetary value. Ultimately the ring is lost in the airplane crash, so once again Lupin makes it out with nothing.

Lupin’s Reward: $0

This movie is both a great Lupin film and a great Detective Conan film. It’s just a blast to watch if you’re a fan of either franchise. Jigen and Conan’s chemistry remains as some of my favorite moments in this watchalong. Jigen holding the big sign saying “This is YOUR Fault!” to Conan cracks me up so much.

Next up is Princess of the Breeze. If I keep going at the pace I’m going I’ll finish the tv specials/movies by my next weekend (Mondays and Tuesdays are my weekend with my work schedule). This is of course not counting the entries I’m skipping for now, which I’ll detail why in the next post since it’ll be the most we’re skipping at once. I’m ready to watch The First again, and I’m also looking forward to Goodbye, Partner. 

By the way I absolutely can’t wait for the Discotek release with the Part 4 dub cast. Day 1 buy for sure!

[cycat4077]

Teacher, Teacher, Can You Teach Me?

Summary: You help Sonny study for the bar. That's it. That's the fic. (Takes place between 17x15 “Collateral Damages” and 17x16 “Star-Struck Victims”) Pairing: Sonny x Reader (who is a teacher) Warnings: nope Words: 1046 AO3 here

Part 5 of the Changes verse (though it’s pretty stand alone if a series isn’t your thing).

(Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4)

"I don't wanna!" pouts Sonny as he lays sprawled out across his couch. His long legs drape over the edge and a hand lies over-top his full belly. The two of you just finished wolfing down a "luxurious" take-out lunch for two.

"But you gotta!" you scold from the opposite end of the sofa. "The exam starts tomorrow morning bright and early and this is your last chance to study beforehand."

His response is a mere grumbly whine paired with a face contorted in protest.

"Come on," you coax tapping Sonny's leg, encouraging him to get up.

"No," he closes his eyes and turns his head away like a toddler.

"Dominick Carisi. You need to study! You haven't trudged through night school while working doubles to not give it one last push now." You fold your arms together and stare him down.

Sonny shakes his head defiantly.

"Okay, then. I'll leave." You shift as if you're about to get up.

"Yourra meany!" he groans.

"Bye," you state, continuing to fake standing up. You hope it calls his bluff.

Sonny shoots forward. "Noo! Don't leave me! I'll study! I'll study!"

You smile victoriously. "C'mon then, my future-lawyer boyfriend. I'll help you." Waving him over coaxes Sonny to follow as you cross the apartment towards his kitchen.

Like any student without a designated desk space, the dining room table is littered with law books and papers. Sonny rolls up the sleeves of his grey henley and you both sit down to delve in. "Can ya quiz me on somma this stuff?" he asks, handing you his handwritten notes and the list of bar exam topics.

Accepting the papers, you begin with the first term highlighted. Sonny stumbles out an answer, ending it with an inflection. Clearly, he's unsure of himself.

You read out the correct response which causes Sonny to dip his head in defeat. "Hey, now," you comfort. "Don't get discouraged." Then an idea strikes you. "How about this?" You hand him back his work, resulting in a quizzical look from your boyfriend. "Here. Use your notes if you want, but go through everything you've learned using me as your student. Teach me!" you smile warmly and fold your hands on the table in front of you.

Sonny cocks his head, purses his lips and narrows his eyes in contemplation. "Alright," he says eagerly, accepting your challenge.

You listen intently and even ask questions to get Sonny to clarify what he's explaining to you. The study session goes on for hours and the two of you tick off the exam topics one by one. While your head does spin from all the legal jargon, you suck it up to keep Sonny’s momentum going. He's expressive and engaged, proudly walking you through the material and bringing together all the knowledge he's acquired from his classes.

It's late evening by the time Sonny's “lecture” is over. "Well, I'm pooped," he says reaching for a glass of water to soothe his dry throat. "You must be exhausted too, doll."

"It's all good," you tap his arm. "I hope it was useful for you."

"We'll see tomorrow," he winks. "That'll be the real moment of truth…" But Sonny isn't brimming with the confidence you're used to seeing from him.

"Sonny," you utter, "you just have to do your best. That's all anyone can expect from you and that's all you can expect from yourself." You rest a hand on his arm and rub soothingly over his exposed skin. He peers at you with nervous eyes. "And if you don't pass this time around, you take it again." Sonny nods in understanding. "This is your dream and I know you won't quit until you succeed." You then lean in and press your lips to his, hoping to convey just how much faith you have in him. He pulls you into a hug and squeezes. He knows.

That night the two of you snuggle closely under Sonny's covers. A combined total of six alarms wait to guarantee Sonny’s timely arrival.

-x-

"You gotta call me once today's sessions are over," you tell him the next morning before you both leave.

"It could end up bein’ late, though," he counters, wringing his hands nervously.

"Doesn't matter," you assure him. You lean in to give him a kiss goodbye before wishing him good luck.

That night you get a call and on the other end a tired-sounding Sonny tells you that he thinks he did okay. The day after that you get a similar call. "It's over! I'm done!" he cheers. "I'm so relieved! I think it went well, but that's upta the state now."

"I think you did just great!" you remark happily. That exuberant spirit has returned to Sonny’s voice and you couldn’t be more thrilled.

"Say, all that brain powa has made me hungry. You up for some dinner?"

"When have you known me to say no to food?" you tease.

Sonny laughs. "Good point! Y'know, I kinda skipped out on Valentine's day 'cause a work, and takeout the other day was hardly a substitute."

Though a fancy Valentine's day was by no means essential to you, a dinner out with Sonny is never something you would refuse. The two of you meet at a restaurant and the moment you see Sonny, you leap into his arms to shower him in praises. He catches you with a surprised look before nuzzling his nose into the crook of your neck, holding you close. Does it make a bit of a scene? Maybe, but you couldn't care less.

"I had the best teacher," he says setting you down and giving you an affectionate nudge.

"Woah, wait a minute! Don't forget that you were the one that taught me!" you counter, cleverly.

Sonny chuckles. "Whateva, you're still the one to suggest studyin' that way and then sit there ‘n listen to me yap on. I appreciate it."

"Anytime, Sonny," you say, heart swelling proudly. "Anytime."

Two months later you would have more celebrating to do. Sonny's hard work and dedication, something you admire so deeply about him, would finally pay off. You would get to share in his excitement when he comes home to tell you that he passed the New York State bar exam.

~~~

Fun Facts about the NY State Bar Exam:

The exam is always given on the last Tuesday/Wednesday of each year. For 2016 that would have been Feb 23rd/24th.

However, according to SVU Sonny takes his exam a week before the day he talks to Barba about it. (So, Feb 16th/17th – a TV goof.)

The bar exam is a two-day affair with Day 1 being 3hrs in the morning (2 performance tests) and 3hrs in the afternoon (6 essay questions). Day 2 is divided up into the same time slots, but with 100 mcq in the morning and another 100 in the afternoon.

Morning sessions are 9:30-12:30 and afternoon sessions are 2:00-5:00.

Also according to SVU, Sonny finds out he passed the bar on April 15th 2016. Usually they are posted at the end of April or early May. But once again, Sonny is lucky and gets the results early too!

Feedback is loved (especially since I’m cheating on my own academic work by posting this...oops) and the next thing I want write about is “Sheltered Outcasts” and Sonny’s big UC gig :)

Part 6 here!

[queenofthedramedies]

Something to Rely On: Ch. 10

Hello, my lovely readers.

It's been awhile since I was able to update. So my computer is a mess and it took me nine hours to write this out and then to type it on my phone. Hope you like it. On with the show…

Chapter 10: The Best Laid Plans

Davina

#2 Pencil. Check. Bottle of water. Check. Bag of snack mix for break. Check. Sweating palms. Increased pulse rate. Rapid breathing. Anxiety. Check. Check. And triple check. Yes, it was, finally, that time all med students came to dread-and not a verbal quiz with Klaus Mikaelson: No, something much, much worse...

A hand clamped down on Davina's shoulder, startling her out of her reverie. "Hey! Ready for your boards?" A cheerful voice cried and Davina turned to look at her older sister.

Hayley peered down at Davina with a wide, innocent smile. Before Davina could reply their mother interrupted. "Of course she's ready." Tiffany scoffed with an edge of scorn as she made her way over to the kitchen counter. "No child of mine wouldn't be."

Silence answered Tiffany's commentary. Finishing the process of pouring out morning drink, she turned to see Davina and Hayley staring. "What?" she demanded, blowing on the steam, her brows knitting over large eyes when a light seemed to go off, one hand shot up, "Hayley, honey, I didn't mean -"

Now, it was Hayley's turn to interrupt. Throwing her hands up, she waved off their mother's awkward attempt at an explanation. "Not a problem. Davina, you're going to be late." Taking hold of Davina by the shoulders, Hayley marched her younger sister out of the kitchen and down through the hallway.

Stopping at the front door, Hayley shot Davina a warm smile. "You'll be fine."

"Thanks, Hales." Davina inhaled, she wished she had as much confidence in herself as Hayley did. Then the exam would pass by and she could get on with the real world work: saving lives.

A horn beeped in the driveway and Davina shifted her bag on her shoulder. "Got to go!" she cried.

"Good luck." Tiffany had come out of the kitchen, to lean against the couch in the living room.

"Thanks, Mom!" Davina called. Turning away from her family, Davina twisted the knob to the front door and stepped outside.

The sun was shining and there was not a cloud in the sky. With more confidence than she'd felt half an hour ago; Davina crossed the lawn to open the passenger side door of Vincent Griffith's car.

"Hey, Davina!" Oliver crowed from the back seat, pounding a drumbeat on the backseat of the driver's side. "Ready for the test?"

"Stop doing that!" Vincent snarled while Davina buckled up.

"Sure." Davina replied with a light chuckle.

"We're pumped, aren't we?" Oliver called to Lucien at an octave that was far too loud, considering Lucien's position next to Oliver. "Aren't we, Vince?" Oliver called out, banging on the back of Vincent's seat, again.

Vincent's eyed widened while his seat bounced against his back. Davina held back a nervous giggle. "Stop! Doing! That!" Vincent snarled before he began to back the car out of the drive.

If nothing else, Oliver's antics were distracting Davina from the test ahead. And as if someone heard her thoughts, her phone pinged with a text message:

Mornin,' love. Good luck and celebrations my place.

-K

Kol. He ended the text with a party hat and champagne bottle emojis.

Davina's lips curled into a smile. She slipped her phone back into her pocket and relaxed into the seat.

"How about some mood music?" Lucien cried. He leaned in between Davina and Vincent, thrusting his right arm toward the radio dial.

"No!" Vincent snapped, trying to bat Lucien's hand away.

"Come on! This drive is dull!" Lucien complained.

"If you don't stop, I'll crash and we'll all fail!" Vincent shouted at Lucien

Falling back in his seat, Lucien groaned out, "Spoil sport!"

"Child!" Vincent shot back with a glare in the rearview mirror. Davina had the sense that Vincent's irritation was not solely related to Lucien's being a pain in the ass. However, this was Board's Day and Davina could not take the time to convince Vincent to open up. There would be time, later. Today was about passing this exam and becoming a resident, like Hayley.

                                                   Read more

Thank you for reading, faving, reblogging and following. 😊

-J

[safflowerseason]

Cassie’s diary - an excerpt

(I truly do not know what this is. I wrote it when I was supposed to be doing other things, and here we are. It was fun to write, though. The usual caveats about writing quality apply, I didn’t even edit this before posting. Who am I.

I suppose I am technically spoiling my own story but also, I think if you’re paying attention, nothing gets spoiled. 

December 16th, 1:25am

Mom’s first day of “retirement” (except of course we can’t call it that, even though she voluntarily chose to leave her job as the first female of chief of staff to the second elected lady president). She spent the day on the couch watching CNN obsessively and calling her replacement every thirty-five minutes. 

This is all according to Dad because they made me go to school instead of staying home and watching Mom go insane like I wanted. I asked Dad why he didn’t go to work and he said he had to stay at home and make sure my mother didn't start breaking things out of rage. Also because she would kill him if he let me stay home when I had finals to take. 

I said it was one of the finals was for my constitution class, and it’s insulting that I have to take it in the first place, all things considered, but no fucking luck. 

I finished early and spent the rest of the period writing a detailed summary of all the mistakes and typos in the exam paper, which will probably make Ms. Hill fail me out of rage, but it was a better use of my time than the exam. Nick Sheridan finished with about ten minutes to go and he sauntered up to submit the paper like he was on the fucking red carpet at a Hollywood premiere. He spent the rest of the class whispering very obnoxiously about how his family is going to Tahiti for Christmas. I ignored him because he is worse than the excrement that builds up in the upper cracks of a toilet bowl. Plus, I know for a fact he got question twenty five wrong, because we studied together yesterday and he was not paying enough attention to the nuances of Article III.

After finals the girls went downtown for hot chocolate and ice-skating, but I went home to check on Mom and to study. Apparently the stock market dipped 1.3% percent and her replacement’s assistant had blocked her number, so she had moved onto drinking the good whiskey from Dad’s office that we’re not supposed to know about. Dad had even skipped going to the gym in favor of staying at home, so I could tell he was secretly worried, even though he tried to cover it by saying that this was all just good material for the book. 

To cheer Mom up I made her quiz me for my art history final, which seemed to work, but then her phone went off with a notification that the UN ambassador had been exposed in tax fraud scandal, and she started yelling for my father because the ambassador was a hand-chosen pick by Liz. Dad, who was lying on the couch with a sheet mask on, said nobody gives a fuck about the UN anyway and to get over herself but if she really wanted he would go make a call. (Which he did). 

We went out to dinner to “celebrate” and Mom’s phone didn’t go off once, which was actually miraculous and also a little bit weird? The best part of dinner was when Richard stopped by our table during dessert to ask Mom how her “retirement” was going, and Dad had literally restrain her from pouring the water carafe over his head. I told Richard all about my constitution final and he said I should come over and tutor his kids sometime. At this point, Mom ordered another dessert to go. 

Later, Mom stayed up past midnight pacing around her office and obsessing over the stock market. Eventually, Dad started threatening to take her on a real vacation, and she told him she’d like to see him fucking try, at which point Dad snapped “careful what you fucking wish for, Amy!” and they both slammed their respective doors. My parents are truly the biggest fucking babies on the planet. 

(Dad’s already planned for us to go “somewhere warm” between Christmas and New Year’s, but he won’t tell me where it is—shit, I hope it’s not Tahiti. I’m assuming we’ll just tranquilize Mom to get her onto the plane? I hope the flight attendants wear padding…)

Anyway, she finally went to bed when I told her I couldn’t go to sleep until she did and I had my last final in the morning, but I could hear her ranting to Dad on the other side of the house. God. If I fail my art history exam, it’s going to be their fault.

[cherryeol04]

The Firsts

Summary: No one ever told him that living was going to be so difficult. That there would emotions get couldn’t label and distinguish. He’s just a young boy trying to navigate through life and its unexpected ups and downs.

Genre: Humor, Fluff, smut(?)

Pairings: Oc x Felix, Oc x Changbin, Changbin x Oc x Felix

Warnings: poly relationship, angst in some part, excessive fighting about the MCU.

Parts: Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 / Part 7 / Part 8 / Part 9 / Part 10 / Part 11 / Part 12 / Part 13 / Part 14 / Part 15 / Part 16 / Part 17

A/N: This story has a theme of Firsts. First love, first kiss and many other firsts. Each part can be read on their own and are meant to stand as oneshots. It’s basically a collection of oneshots (little snapshots into my Oc’s life. 😁)

Aiden wasn’t sure if taking music had been the best choice for him. He knew he needed to have a few elective classes, not everything could be just the core classes. But when given the option, music seemed to have been the only option that wouldn’t require that much work. After all, what could the teacher possibly want from them, other than learn to sing maybe? Or read music? That couldn’t be too hard and it was certainly better than taking a public speaking course or horticulture. 

Going in, he had been optimistic, but by halfway through the year, the young boy wanted to drop out and pretend like this didn’t happen. Though, he supposed the good thing about the class was that Felix was in it, giving Aiden something to do besides sleeping in the class. Being friends with Changbin, he had learned a few things about not being noticed by the teacher and Aiden prided himself on never being called on or seen.

“And lastly, your final project for the class will involve you creating your own piece of music.” The class erupted in groans at the announcement, Aiden’s voice whining the loudest as he rested his head on his desk, eyes closed. He was regretting all his life choices, which weren’t many since he was only thirteen. “It only needs to be a minute long, grading will be lenient. I don’t expect any of you to create a grande sonata that will move me from my seat.” The teacher spoke and Aiden could only roll his eyes. He highly doubted that anyone could even compose a one minute piece in this class, let alone a whole sonata.

“The theme of the song is Love and you can use any instrument you feel comfortable playing.” The teacher droned on a little longer about the different instruments that would be available to the students as they worked on this project. If he was being honest with himself, he was really hoping someone would compose a piece on the trumpet. That would be hilarious and if anything maybe it would make the teacher’s ears bleed so the rest of them would automatically get an A. Wishful thinking, really. 

The bell rang, jerking Aiden from his thoughts and he sat up straight, looking around. The students around him stood and started filing out of the room to head to their next period class. A soft groan left him as he slumped in his chair slightly, trying to gather the will to get up and make his way to gym, a class he really wished he could just drop.

~*~

Aiden wanted to toss his phone against the wall in frustration. Of all the days he had to stay late at school, it just had to be today. It wasn’t bad enough that he was given a stupid project from his music teacher, or the fact that they had played dodge ball in gym and he was currently sporting a large bruise on his side. Certainly, his bad luck would have ended when his English professor had given the class a pop quiz and he was the only one who failed. But no, the icing on the cake was the fact that Changbin was inviting him out to go to the grand opening of the new amusement park and he couldn’t go. Not that it was the end of the world. 

The amusement park would be there anytime he decided he wanted to go, but he would only get one chance to go to a grand opening, where everything was discounted and they gave out special prizes for the visitors. This was a once in a lifetime chance to go! And he couldn’t because he had to stick around and figure out which stupid instrument he was going to play for the stupid project that probably counted for his entire grade in the class (because let’s face it, he wasn’t the best student).

Binnie:  Are you for real? I told you to drop that stupid course Aiden: Don’t rub it in, man. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Save me some sweets Binnie:I’ll try ;P

Aiden stuck out his tongue at the phone, eyes rolling at the comment. Even though Changbin was teasing, he highly doubted he would get any sweets from the other. With a heavy sigh, Aiden dragged his feet across the floor as he made his way down the nearly empty hall to the music room. There were a few students that were still taking their time to leave campus, but for the most part, there was no left unless it was club members for extracurricular activities.  Reaching the music room, he opened the door, eyes scanning the room as he stepped in. There was only one other body in the room and once Aiden’s brain registered who the person was, he instantly wanted to turn around and leave. But he was already spotted as Felix turned and tossed him a smile. 

“Hello, Aiden.”

Do not swoon. Do not swoon.

Aiden forced a smile on his face and gave a slight head nod. “Hi.” he gritted out. His mind was racing with thoughts to just calm down and breathe. Everything was going to be fine. Only it wasn’t fine because Felix was in the room with him. This perfect, gorgeous boy was just mere feet away and they were alone together. It almost seemed like some romance anime or manga, where the two main characters were alone in a classroom. Now all that was needed was some sort of incident that would have the two drawn close to each other, their eyes locking and some cheesy music playing in the background.

But this isn’t an anime, idiot.

“Here to find your instrument?” Felix asked, eyes glancing over Aiden, taking in his appearance before lifting to look back at his face. 

“Yeah.” Aiden sighed as he reminded as to what he was doing there. “I take it you’re here as well to do that.” he said and Felix nodded. “Have you figured it out?” Aiden asked, moving closer to the other as much as he dared, but he didn’t get too close because he wasn’t entirely sure how he would react being so close to his crush. Just being alone with him in the same room was making it difficult to concentrate.

“Well, I was thinking the Piano. But then I thought, everyone is going to pick the piano. So then I was going to pick the guitar but I had the same thought again.” Felix explained and Aiden was in awe at how much the other talked, mainly because he hadn't really seen or heard the other talk this much. “I don’t want to be like everyone else. I want to stand out and shine above the rest.”

“I think you already do that.” As soon as the words left his lips, Aiden mentally smacked himself, eyes glancing over at the other slyly to see what his reaction was. The surprised look had him feeling extremely embarrassed. 

“Really?” Felix asked and smiled softly. “Thank you. I think you stand out too.” Aiden snorted and shook his head. “In who's world? I'm the most bland and common person in the world.” he muttered. 

“That's not true.” The tone in Felix's voice had Aiden cocking his head in curiosity. “You stand out more than you think.” Felix said with a firm nod. “No matter what you decide, it'll be an amazing piece.”

Aiden would be lying if he said his heart didn't flutter at that statement. He hadn't expected Felix to say such a nice thing to him, and they hadn't really interacted that much. It was very sweet. He really liked it. “Thank you, Felix.” he smiled warmly at the other. “But you certainly stand out far more than I do. And, I think that regardless of what instrument you chose, your piece will be very unique and beautiful. I look forward to hearing it.”

“Thanks.” Felix chuckled and that beautiful sound did absolutely nothing to calming Aiden's racing heart. Honestly, this crush was getting out of hand. “Well, I guess I'll just choose piano, I really do love that instrument.” he said as he grabbed the sign up sheet and started writing down his name. “Decided yet?” he asked. 

“Not yet.” Aiden hummed as he looked at the instruments locked in the storage lockers. “But I'll figure out something.”

“Okay, but don't think too long, you may get locked in here.” Felix teased as he grabbed his bag once done and started for the door. “I'll see you tomorrow, Aiden.” he called and Aiden smiled, waving to him. Left alone in the music, Aiden let out a sigh. 

Okay, what instrument? Something cool. Something that will impress Felix. Shouldn't be too hard. Aiden was hoping to only be there another five minutes, but the decision proved to be harder than he thought. Eventually, though, he settled for an instrument he had only played a few times before and prayed he could make this work.

[malandi]

superhero au thoughts

reigen is trying to make it big as a world class hero and mob is his sidekick

teru is a villain terrorising seasoning city by grave misuse of his powers

examples include: snowstorms to cancel classes because he's not confident he's gonna get an A on the upcoming quiz

earthquake in the neighboring city so his favourite heavy metal band would skip that venue and get to seasoning city early

makeup store robbing sprees because he maxed out his credit card for the month

among other shenanigans

reigen is eventually sent to deal with him but his special lecturing kids move is -9999 effective so he deploys mob

teruki arc proceeds as canon

If this is an aged up au:

mob faces the same dilemma as saitama does and seriously reconsiders his career path

he and teru are the rivals

mob decides he wants to be a vet and quits his hero job

the world is shaken but not as much as teruki who suddenly has no purpose in life anymore

he tries to continue being a villain but the other heroes don't give him the same thrill also he's not in love with them so that sucks

teru and mob cross paths not as their hero/villain alters but teru recognizes him and goes feral

you left me you son of a bitch!!!!!!

after mob yeets him into the sky they have a heart to heart talk about what they really want in life

mob straight up tells him it's not healthy to be too dependent on a person

teru's like oh. then mob wishes him luck

teru decides he wants to be a commoner now, to be a peasant, to be an ordinary person~~~~~~

he romanticises catching the next train, paying the bills and doing groceries so much he sells his mansion and his headquarters and rents a cheap apartment

and gasp mob is his roommate!!!! life could not be better and he and mob do normal people things together like sleeping through the alarm and doing laundry and eating cheap food

he doesn't immediately realize that mob is actually poor and not doing this for the aesthetic

mob is surprised that teru's here and he's a bit weirded out by how happy teru is whenever they're threatened to get kicked out for paying the rent late among other misfortunes

ritshou time:

ritsu always wanted to be a superhero like his brother

his views on heroes are warped because he determines their value based on their powers and not by their morals

he's still afraid of his brothers powers because of how they tend to escape him

the ???% incident still took place

when he awakened his powers he decided to become a villain but infringed on teru's territory who knocked him out with a handshake

claw arc proceeds as is so ritsu is okay now and wants to be his brothers sidekick

he is pissed that reigen calls mob his sidekick and would've challenged him long ago if not for his brother

shou is part of a villain org but he thinks his dad is a super lame villain so he's still gunna betray him

he really really really wants ritsu to be his rival so he messes with him a lot

he uses his invisibility powers to sneak into ritsu's classroom, stand behind his seat then call the teacher names so he would get in trouble

then he'd leave a note in ritsu's locker, something like

had enough? think you can handle more?

shou spreads a rumour that ritsu likes this girl and now everyone thinks ritsu has a girlfriend

ritsu doesn't care enough to address it and now shou feels weird

that plan backfired on him big time

next he ties mob's shoelaces together while he's jogging with the body improvement club

ritsu finally snaps, engages in battle and gets his ass kicked

shou is hyped because he thinks ritsu will seek his revenge

ritsu doesn't

shou posts on the villain forums for advice

there's this super cool hero i want him to be my rival but he won't notice me here's a list of the things I've done what more should i do?

teru replies (he's popular on these forums) god SAME these heroes are so annoying ashkdldofif why won't they hate us back

and serizawa comments there like

speaking as an ex-hero, generally we're not really into making rivals, we're just trying to stop crime, at least that's my take on it

shou and the rest of the super 5 only responds with keyboard smashes

AVDKDLDMRKIE??? hxxkdkdnehbw

on god???? for real is this facts??

that's so unsexy im gajskskdje

touichirou posts heroes are lame and immediately gets banned

teru complains who the hell is that touichirou guy he's like so fucking lame but i see him everywhere with his cold takes and he gets so many upvotes he breaks the previous record

shou is embarrassed. this teru guy was internet famous and made the best villain vlogs. he hates his dad so fucking much

shou time:

shou is a very moral guy but legally speaking? hm

he thinks laws are worthless because of how the government is run

laws only apply to the poor but not to the rich apparently and he just had to lmao on that

that's why he agrees to be a villain

but upon seeing that his dad's just the exact same as the current establishment he's like wtf? what's the purpose of overthrowing the government then?

touichirou:......... i get to be in charge

shou has a breakdown over the fact that his dad is an actual child

then he goes to ritsu for help because you're a hero right uwu? you wanna stop my dad?

ritsus like oh okay let me ask my brother he can clean this up real quick

this was not as planned. shou wanted this to be between him and ritsu only. they'd be a rad, fabulous ass kicking pair and when the romantic night of crimefighting was over maybe ritsu would ask him to join his minecraft server

but he says ok because he's not actually a child like his dad is

personally shou thinks the government should still be overthrown and be replaced by, maybe reigen, mob was the best option but he hasn't even graduated high school yet so that could be a bit of a problem

but anyone's better than his dad so for now he leaves the government uprising alone

serizawa time:

he was fed anti-hero propaganda by touichirou

there were some actual good points there like how the top heroes did things for money and reputation now and how they viewed people as a means to an end instead of actual humans

and threats that his powers would only be abused by the government

but if he joined touichirou he wouldn't be controlled

100% friendship still happens