#he would probably gobble up cat food if put in front of him

[fallmonds]

I'm rewatching one punch man and even though Suppon has only been on screen for like less than a minute before being (assumedly) killed, I love him so much he looks so silly

He's such a little bunkly I bet he purrs like a cat

(fanart isn't mine but omg he's so bingu ploinko)

[mysticpetals]

Supermarket runs

Pairing: Jake × mc (Syianne)

Genre: fluff, humor

Words: 2.5k

Summary: Three times Jake ran into Syianne and one time he actually made plans.

Anonymous asked: Hello. If you do still requests, can you do 27 and 40, with Jake and MC from Duskwood from fluff? Sorry I forgot to add that.

Prompts: 27. "Are you blushing?" 40. "Why are you so afraid of loving?"

Notes: here it is! A cute meet up fic with Jake's point of view. I hope you like this one because it's going to be the last thing I'll be posting for a while 😬

Jake had reached his new hideout just a few hours ago.

After evading yet another capture from the government and planting false trails in his wake, he had escaped to a small town, renting an apartment for the time being.

Opening the door to his new house for a few days, he put his cat down, opened his cage and let him explore. Glitch immediately disappeared and Jake put his bags down, sighing tiredly.

He needed to make a quick run to the store nearby, getting some food and other essential items since it was clear that they didn't stock it in the room.

Before he could change his mind, Jake picked up his wallet, locking the door and walked to the store he came across on his way over to the apartment.

It was a medium sized store, probably the one of the few in this small town. Jake browsed the shelves picking up the things he needed along the way. He avoided eye contact with everyone, putting his hood up.

When he was done, he quietly put the few cup noodles and microwaveable dinners on the counter and waited for the cashier to scan his items. Just as he went to pick up the first item, the cashier's phone rang and he glanced at the screen, eyes widening in surprise before his face settled into panic.

"Oh shit, oh shit, I completely forgot," he mumbled to himself frantically and giving Jake an apologetic glance, ran towards the back room.

Well then, it wasn't like he was in any hurry either. He didn't want to go back so soon anyway. He rocked back on his heels, adjusting his mask so that it still covered the lower half of his face and looked around in boredom.

From the backroom, he could hear two voices arguing, one male and other female and just when he thought that maybe it was going to take a while, the cashier ran out of the room, hefting a jacket over his shoulders and looked back.

"I owe you one, Syianne! Thank you so much!"

Jake tilted his head on hearing the familiar name, memories of conversations with his Syianne creeping up.

"You really do, Percy! I better have a three day weekend after this!" The girl shouted back and Jake smiled behind his mask. She even sounded like her.

The cashier yelled back something but he was already out the door to hear properly. The girl came out from the back, wearing her uniform jacket and grumbling about having to do two shifts, but Jake had frozen.

"Sorry about that. My coworker forgot about the date with his girlfriend and had to bolt. Between you and me, she's pretty scary so I'd be running too," she said, already ringing up his few items but Jake couldn't reply. He kept staring at her familiar face, which he had accidentally accessed when going through her chats before.

This was his Syianne.

She glanced at him, probably wondering why he didn't say anything before looking back on the screen. He broke out of his stupor when she told him the total and held up a bag with his items.

His fingers brushed against her and it felt like a lifetime, blood rushing to his cheeks and heart pacing.

"Thank you," he said and got a smile in return.

"You're welcome! Sorry about the delay earlier."

He shook his head rapidly, telling her that it was no trouble and he completely understood. That made her smile widen, her eyes crinkling with happiness.

"Come again soon!"

Oh, he'd be coming back very soon, indeed.

The first thing he did after reaching home was to power on his laptop and search for Syianne's location. Glitch hissed angrily at him for disturbing his slumber atop the chair he was now sitting in but Jake's eyes were fixed on the screen.

The results baffled him, as it showed her living in a completely different country from when he had searched her before, when he had just gotten her number. And then, realisation dawned on him that she might be using a VPN.

He banged his head on the table in frustration but also a little impressed that Syianne had thought of doing something like this to protect her identity.

He was supposed to stay away from all of them, to prevent pulling people into his messes but now one of the most important people in his life literally worked a walk away from his hiding place. He couldn't change places so frequently as it hadn't even been a day and he had to give some time to the police to cool off, before he got on the move again.

He sighed, too wound up to make anything but cup noodles, he got up and went into the kitchen. Glitch trailed behind him, sniping at his heels for his own food and Jake emptied the last can of cat food into Glitch's bowl.

With a jolt, he realised that he would have to go to the supermarket tomorrow again and it brought him equal parts of excitement as well as anxiety at the thought of seeing Syianne again.

———

The next evening, he put the cans of cat food on the counter and was disappointed to find that the guy from yesterday – Percy, if he recalled right – was going to scan his items.

Jake shifted the mask on his face and looked around to see if Syianne was somewhere but to no avail. If Percy noticed him looking around, he didn't say anything. When he grabbed the bag from him, the employee room opened and Syianne came out wearing casual clothes, a bag slung over her shoulder.

"See you tomorrow, Percy!"

She came out from behind the counter and her eyes widened in surprise as they fell on him.

"Oh hi! You're the one from yesterday."

Jake cleared his throat and let out a hesitant, "Y-yeah."

Percy snickered, throwing a knowing look at Jake before turning to Syianne.

"Yeah, see you tomorrow, idiot. Bring some coffee with you." He handed Jake his bag as he scrambled to bring out his wallet to pay and gave him a wide smile.

"Syianne here works the morning shifts." He winked and Jake was mortified to hear the amusement in his voice, knowing that he had been caught.

"I'm not bringing you anything until I get my three-day weekend. Anyway, nice to see you again…." She trailed off when she turned to Jake and his mind went into overdrive as he thought about whether he should tell her his real name or not.

"Phil." He blurted out, "My name's Phil."

She tilted her head, no doubt thinking about that bartender from Duskwood who was currently locked up in jail.

"Funny, I know a guy named Phil. Not from around here though." She glanced at the door giving him a final smile.

"Because all the customers come in the evening." Percy complained and Syianne only rolled her eyes at his antics.

"Well, come by in the morning if you want to chat. It's pretty chill that time."

"Deal with it. Anyway, see you tomorrow." She waved one last time and walked out, Jake's eyes following her figure until she disappeared around the corner.

"She's sweet and a little too trustful. I better not hear any complaints about you from her Phil or I won't hesitate to throw a punch or two." Percy threatened and Jake flushed before muttering a hasty excuse and practically running out of the store.

She actually talked to him today and hearing her voice, her words just made it harder for him to stay away. But it was okay if he didn't tell her who he was, right? She won't be in any danger then, right?

These thoughts chased him as he walked back to his temporary home, almost tripping over Glitch when he entered and found a disgruntled cat, waiting for his food.

———

The next morning, Jake worked in his room, occasionally shooing away Glitch who was determined to get his daily dose of affection.

"Just a minute, Glitch." He muttered, typing rapidly, his eyes scanning the screen with an eerie quickness.

A loud, disgruntled meow from his cat breaks the silence again and Jake heaved a frustrated sigh, pushing his laptop away and glaring at the culprit.

"Fine, you little devil! I'll give you breakfast first."

He walked out of the room, Glitch trailing behind him, purring in appreciation and hopped on to a chair while Jake took out the instant pancake mixture that he had recently bought. And that reminded him of the fact that Syianne was here, so close and whether he should tell her or not.

Making the pancakes in a daze, he put a plate in front of Glitch who immediately started gobbling it up. Jake huffed out a laugh and made his own plate, sitting across from his cat. The syrup was towards Glitch and when he leaned forward to take it, he was met by Glitch's paw swatting at his hand.

"What the hell? You ate already! Let me eat too!"

Glitch's paw rested on the syrup bottle and edged it towards the end of the table.

Jake froze.

"Glitch, no. Give me the syrup."

The bottle shifted a bit more.

"No, Glitch. Stop that."

The cat looked at him and stopped and Jake gave a sigh of relief, only to throw back his head in exasperation at the next moment as the bottle was finally pushed off the table.

"You little devil! I'm going to—"

The cat sprang up and ran into the other room, leaving Jake in the kitchen alone.

"Why is it always me?"

———

After cleaning up the kitchen and eating pancakes without any syrup, Jake found himself in the supermarket once again, embarrassed about being there everyday for the last three or so days.

When he put his items on the counter, including a syrup in a plastic bottle this time, he found himself facing Syianne who gave her an amused look.

"Having a good day, Phil?"

It took a moment for Jake to understand that she was talking to him and he flushed when he met her gaze.

"Not really. My cat decided to be an asshole today."

Syianne laughed and if Jake could have heard it everyday, he would. When she scanned his bandaids, she raised an eyebrow, and Jake gave her a sheepish smile, showing her his poorly wrapped hand.

"Oh no, that looks bad," she said but Jake only shook his head.

"It's better than it looks, I promise. I'm just bad at wrapping things up."

She didn't smile but only looked behind him. Seeing no more customers, she gestured for him to come to her side of the counter. Confused, he did as she asked and understanding dawned on him when he saw her opening the packet of gauze he had just bought.

"Oh, no, no. It's okay. I can do it at home." He rushed but she didn't listen, silently asking for him to hold his hand forward. When he realised that Syianne wasn't going to take no for an answer, he sighed and put his hand forward, face heating up and he regretted forgetting to wear a face mask that day.

"Are you blushing?" She asked teasingly and his flush only worsened.

"I-I'm not used to other people caring for me."

She hummed.

"That must be lonely."

She carefully unwrapped his hand, winching at the sight of blood and cleaned it with antiseptic wipes, before wrapping a bandage around the cut. Her hands were gentle but firm, as if she knew what she was doing and had done it a hundred times before. Jake was suddenly hit with a weird nostalgia, a feeling of wanting to know who she was, how many siblings she had, what her goals were.

He didn't realise when she had stopped, staring at him, as he was looking at her and only after several minutes had passed, did Syianne dropped her hands, letting him know that she was done.

The thought struck him like lightning and he quickly grabbed his bags, muttering another thank you and getting a simple smile in return. Before he knew, he was out on the streets and on the way to his house, his thoughts a raging turmoil.

"Thank you very much." He spoke softly, quietly, overwhelmed by such a gesture from her. He was essentially a stranger and she had still helped him, not knowing who he was.

She didn't know who he was.

What was he doing? Going to see her like that, finding excuses to go to the supermarket in hopes of seeing her? What did he want to accomplish?

He released a shaky sigh, running his hands through his hair, when he reached the place. Glitch, knowing that it wasn't the time for his shenanigans, only gave a welcoming meow from his place on the couch.

Maybe it was time he started searching again.

Jake opened his laptop but the ping from his phone made him look for it, heart quickening when he saw her name on it.

Syianne [5:00 pm]

Hey Jake!

How are you doing? I hope you're safe

I patched up a guy today who came in at work. He had a cat too!

Anyway, I don't know why I'm still writing but I hope you're safe and nobody got to you

Why are you so afraid of loving?

Sorry, insensitive question. Ignore that

Waiting for when you come back

...I'm still looking forward to that date

Jake's lips quirked at her messages, warmed by her concern. She had messaged him everyday ever since he went into hiding again. He hadn't replied then, being busy because of his relocation, but now….

In a bold move, very uncharacteristic for him, he messaged her back.

Jake [5:03 pm]

What if I told you that the guy you patched up was me?

Syianne [5:04 pm]

What?

His name was Phil

Oh

Jake waited as she typed and erased, all of it going on for two minutes before she stopped. Jake had a sudden, terrible feeling that perhaps he had made a mistake but soon enough, she replied.

Syianne [5:06 pm]

You're cute in real life as well <3

Jake laughed, amused by her flirty response and decided that perhaps he'd stay there for a few more days.

Syianne [5:06 pm]

What about that date at the Chinese restaurant you promised me?

Jake [5:07 pm]

Does tomorrow work for you? ;)

[yandere-sins]

Could you please write the prompts Stripped socks and Photos with Asmo from Obey Me? I think it fits him really well!

I think so as well :D Thank you for requesting ♥

Striped socks - “I can’t resist not having some part of you near me! You wore this today right?”

»»———————— ♡ ————————««  

Whistling playfully, Asmo strolled down the long corridor towards his destination, passing by his brothers’ rooms with his ears taking in the different sounds coming from them. There was Levi’s room, video game sounds ringing from it. Satan’s room was as quiet as a cat. The jingling of coins from Mammon’s and laughter coming from Beel and Belphie’s room. Asmodeus stopped, holding his breath for a moment and leaning towards the wooden door of the twins tensely.

Between his brothers talking about food and the game you three were playing, your voice was the one Asmo recognized quickly. Even if you sat quietly most of the time, it was almost as if he could hear your heartbeat as clear as day. Feel your joy as if it was his own. When you did speak up, he felt his own heart swell from the beauty of your chuckles, every word you uttered so meaningful despite being small-talk at best. That’s how connected you two were, two hearts yearning for each other. A picturesque romance!

Fingertips brushing over the door, a longing sigh fell off his lips, wishing he could be inside with you, cuddle with you and kiss you, but it was Belphie’s night. He wouldn’t have given you up for anyone, especially not Asmodeus. It wasn’t Asmo’s virtue, but he felt the jealousy seething in his stomach, knowing that Belphie got to have fun with you while Asmodeus couldn’t. And as if that wasn’t enough, Beel was having his second night with you this week; he and Belphie having much more of you than any other brother since they worked together more often than separated.

Pretty unfair, how Asmodeus found. He’d have to go to bed alone tonight and not really in the mood to call a mere succubus over. Not when he could have had you in his bed instead. Not if it could have been you all along if not for the stupid rule they all agreed to in secret, that every brother could occupy your time for one night a week without the other’s interfering.

Sighing, Asmodeus moved on. It was too painful to stand and listen, always having to realize he wasn’t welcome at your side that night. The agreement was blatantly unfair. After all, even if he got a chance to keep you by his side for a night, it was so late into the week that you were already utterly exhausted after the four previous nights. Asmo did what he could to help you relax, but that ate up all the time he wanted to use to do other things with you. Innocent and less innocent things.

And then, he’d have another week of gloomily laying in bed - alone or not - wondering what you were up to. Sometimes he wondered how the others could keep themselves busy in their time off, but it wasn’t like Asmodeus had nothing to do. It all just wasn’t fun if it wasn’t with you.

Approaching his room, Asmodeus couldn’t help but sigh again, a sound unsuited for the self-assigned pretty boy. Hand laying down on the handle as his shoulders slumped in disappointment, Asmo wanted nothing more than to turn on his heel and take you back with him. It was nerve-wreaking. You probably didn’t even know about all these conflicting feelings he had inside of him. The Avatar of Lust wasn’t meant to love someone so dearly as he loved you. It should have only been him, himself, and he for the rest of his long, long life. But now, no matter how good he could put up a farce, it was all about you.

Your face, your hair, your body, your eyes, your laugh, your touch, your taste, your soul, your heartbeat, your magic, your...

All about you. You and him.

And how good you were together.

Turning around, Asmo slowly let go of the handle, looking back over his shoulder. Your room across his was empty that night, he knew as much. Even if he slept there, you wouldn’t scold him, and perhaps he had to admit he was desperate enough to do it. Or he could just slip in and grab something to take back with him. Something that would help him through this painful week of waiting for you to return to his side. Nobody needed to know he was even there.

You were supposed to lock your door, with so many entities around that were practically drooling at the thought of you. And Mammon. Especially Mammon. Lucifer told you often enough to just lock up. Still, you swore up and down that it was an inconvenience, and it bothered you to single yourself out from the brothers. It was your fault Asmo could easily slip in, but it was his luck that you were stubborn.

No worries, even that was cute about you!

Looking left and right, Asmodeus didn’t take the chance of anyone finding him linger around, quickly making his entrance. Even with the light off, your room was softly illuminated by the fairy lights he put up back when it became apparent that there would be a guest staying long term. He thought you’d appreciate the cute and tiny lights since it was awfully dark down in the Devildom.

With his back against the door, he took a deep breath. It was amazing how your presence tainted the room. It had been bare and boring before, but now the air tasted like you, and that was all he could want. Humming happily, Asmo let his fingers glide over the amenities in passing, feeling their texture under his touch. Knowing that you were using them almost made him greedy. He could surprise himself with how much he wanted to just take them all and keep them to himself in his own room. But that would be a little too obvious, wouldn’t it?

So what should he take instead?

Your bath was now filled with products you received from him. It would be easiest to take back one of them. Even if he was found out, he could just say he needed it for his morning routine. Or your soap, so he could smell like you from head to toe! But no, that wasn’t enough to satisfy Asmodeus.

He needed more.

Asmo wanted to cuddle with you, hold you, kiss you, tease you, see your reactions... how could he do that without you? What else was there to even get close to the joy of holding you? Letting himself fall onto your bed, all it needed was a deep breath to make a smile creep onto his face. It was paradise. Here you were everywhere. Your pillow, your blanket, the stuffed animals you accumulated as presence from the brothers - they all were the closest to you he could get. Or were they?

Jolting up, Asmodeus looked around. The darkness wasn’t pleasant, but he prided himself on knowing his way around your room. After all, his nightly adventures sitting by the side of your bed, pushing the hair out of your sweet face tenderly had to be good for more than just having a moment with you unbothered by anyone. See, Asmodeus would have messed up his sleep schedule if it was for you. That’s just how special you were.

It pained him to crawl out of your bed, but he did it nonetheless, ever on the search for the thing. Even Asmo didn’t know what token would be enough to satisfy him. If it was for him, he could have gobbled everything up that belonged to you or just rest between your things instead to get a piece of mind. But there was this desire he held, to have something just for himself. A part of you, so to say.

Gliding to his knees in front of your basket laundry, Asmo’s hands began to shake both in excitement and hesitation. There was this one aspect that differentiated you from Asmodeus so much. Everything about him had to be perfect all the time. Asmo couldn’t stand the thought of doing something and not looking pretty or at least cute while at it. You were normal in comparison. At times you’d get muddy or wear your outfits twice, never wondering what others would think. He just wanted to coddle you with how cute your innocence was, but it also aggravated him that anything could sully you.

And yet, your clothes were his best options, weren’t they? He lifted the lid and sighed in relief that you hadn’t done the laundry that day. The first thing he pulled out was a lucky reach already, as he felt the soft material of your shirt. It wouldn’t fit him as well as it did you, but surely, Asmo would look cute in your clothes, right?

Bringing it up to his nose, there it was again, your scent, the ultimate confirmation that you were real and alive. Asmo couldn’t restrain himself, rubbing the fabric against his cheek and brushing it with his lips, honoring it for doing a service to the both of you. This was it, the chosen object he’d keep all to himself. He’d put it on his pillow and lay it beside him so he’d never be alone again.

He was wholly immersed in the thought of you wearing this shirt, how cute it fit you and how you were handling it. The only thing that finally tore him out of it was when a cone of light fell over him, the door opening. “Be right back!” you shouted before you stepped in. Just when you were about to close the door, your eyes fell on him, kneeling on your floor in front of the laundry basket, holding your white shirt, and you halted, mouth opening in surprise.

“Asmo... deus?” you mumbled, and oh god, it had been so long since he heard his name from your lips. Since dinner at least.

“Ah,” he hummed, smile back on his face just because he was able to see your face once more that day. “Welcome back.”

Was it too abstruse to welcome you back to your own room that he was in without permission?? Asmo wondered as you two stared at each other, your lovely gaze slowly but surely falling to the shirt in his hands that he gripped a bit tighter as a reaction. “What are you doing... with this?”

Even confused you were so cute!

“You see,” he chuckled, supporting himself into a stand. “I can’t resist not having some part of you near me! You wore this today, right?”

Holding up the shirt, he walked over, fitting it onto your chest while you stared at him, unbelieving. “I think so...?” was all you could mumble as you looked up at him with more questions than answers. “Sweet, I’ll borrow this then!” he giggled, knowing fully well he’d never give it back. Maybe he’d need more someday, but you couldn’t have this shirt back ever. Leaning forward, he gave you a long kiss to the cheek, taking your silence as an okay to take what he wanted before passing you by.

Sure, if Asmo could, he’d rather have you, but this was the next best thing. He couldn’t break the promise with his brothers to take you with him for the night, but he could pretend it was you in his arm instead of the piece of fabric. You didn’t really seem mad, much more dumbfounded as he left you there in the doorway. However, Asmodeus didn’t fear you getting upset about what he took from you that night.

After all, if you did get upset, you’d have to come to him if you wanted it back, and he’d only exchange it for something of equal value, just like any demon would.

A real piece of you just for himself.

[sandwichrin]

A Little into You (Junkyu x Reader) (Ch. 1)

Word count: 4352 words

Genre: Fanfiction, PG13, Comedy, Romance.

Chapter 1 - Path-crossings.

You hurried out of your apartment block, noticing that you had left home for your job 5 minutes later than usual. As you hurried, you managed to mentally check if you’ve missed out on anything whilst leaving home.

Wallet, check. Hair tie, check. Umbrella…You stopped in your tracks to check on your tote bag, hoping you carried your retractable dark blue umbrella.  “Oh my god. Thank goodness it’s here,” you huffed quietly to yourself. You fixed your bag on yourself before proceeding your way to work.

It was like any other day. The street was somewhat less crowded with cars, seeing that it is half an hour to 10 o’ clock. You slowed down your steps as you realized that you weren’t that late yet and decided to just leisurely walk instead.

Buildings passed by, some shops were passed by…you were getting close to your workplace and you still had time to spare. You stopped walking on the sidewalk you had been walking along the past 20 minutes. On your right, you could see the familiar building. The one building that you have made a landmark of when you first moved to the area, only because it was clearly no ordinary building- and also because it was only a block away from your workplace.

The somewhat intimidating building…YG Entertainment’s building. A place where all of the top kpop stars emerged from. You were a huge Kpop fan back in your high school days so you knew a few of the YG artists such as Big Bang, 2NE1, Blackpink, Winner, iKon and their new group was Treasure if you weren’t mistaken- since you’ve heard and followed them on social media. I mean, who wouldn’t? They were such a big hit and you could not not be a fan. You were pretty sure there were other groups from the company that made it big too but you couldn’t seem to pull out their names out of your (foggy) head.

You were busy staring at the building when suddenly--- “meow”

Your head turned 90 degrees to the left swiftly. What was that? Was that a cat? You took a step towards where you think you heard the sound was from.

That’s weird. Why only a single meow? How will I ever know if it’s really a cat or not?

Being the cat person that you are, you were determined to figure out if there really was a cat near you. You know, just in case the cat was in distress. To hell if you were late for work, you thought.

“M-meow?” You called out to the invisible cat. “Meow are you there?”

Nothing.

You took a deep breath. Okay maybe you were imagining things. Yeah okay, the crazy cat lady has gone whacko this time around; you rolled your eyes at yourself for trying to play hero when you were clearly heading to work—which is way more important at the moment.

“meow!”

There it was again! You turned back towards the sound. Well, screw this. You were sure now that there was a cat nearby. Your steps walked fast towards the nearby YG bus parked on the side of the road. Maybe…maybe the cat is under the bus!

You hurriedly walked toward the bus and kneeled down, peeking to see under it. And surely enough, there was a cat sitting down underneath it.

“Oh my god.” You exclaimed when you saw the cat; relieved that it wasn’t harmed in any way.

“Hey. Come here meowie. Here.” You tried to call out to it.

The cat sat there and stared at you, probably wondering who this stranger was and why you were bothering him.

“Hey, come here meowie. Come here, comeeee,” you tried again. You made a gesture with your hand, making it seem as if you were offering a treat for the cat.

The cat, falling for your act, stood on all fours, stretched and walked towards you. You smiled seeing the cute creature approaching you, finally.

You hurriedly pet the cat on its head and started stroking it, making the cat purr and rolling around on the floor- loving the attention that it’s getting.

“Aigoo. You’re a cutie aren’t you?” You cooed at it, smiling happily to yourself now that you’ve found a cute new friend.

The cat rubbed itself against your leg, purring and meowing, loving the attention from you. You started to feel bad that you didn’t bring your small pack of cat food from home. You normally carry a small pack to feed the strays outside your apartment building but since today you left home in a rush, you had forgotten to grab it on your way out.

You continued petting the cat, letting its purr fill your surroundings. What a cutie. Too bad I don’t have any treats to give…; you pouted at the thought of leaving this cat with no token of you to be remembered by. You wanted the cat to remember you, almost like how you did your best in making sure the cats near your apartment block remember you since you frequently feed them.

With your hand still stroking the cat’s head as it purrs with its eyes closed (clearly enjoying the massage your hand was giving), your eyes scanned around to see if there were any shops nearby that might sell some pet food or treat. That’s when your eyes landed at the store located right opposite the front side of YG’s building. That’s it!

You got up from kneeling, making the cat open its eyes- wondering why this human stopped petting her. You brushed your pants down, making sure there weren’t any dirt stuck on it.

“Okay meowie, you wait right here okay? I’ll be right back. Stay!” you said, as you backed off slowly from the cat. The cat looked like it understood what you were saying so you decided to hurry before the cat changes its mind to wander somewhere else.

Without any time to waste, you ran across the street to buy some treats for the little cutie.

 *

 Hyunsuk was walking casually towards the YG building, where he had a day-filled schedule waiting for him ahead. His hands were tucked in his pants’ pockets, keeping them warm since the weather seemed chilly this morning. He was about to make a turn towards the main entrance of the building when a girl he’s never seen before was half-walking, half-running, passing by him and crossing the street beside him.

He stopped to see what was going on. It seemed that the girl was hurrying to the convenience store in front of his building. He shrugged to himself, maybe she had forgotten to buy something.

Hyunsuk fixed his headphones, taking out his phone to choose another song to listen to. His walk to the practice room takes around 6-7 minutes plus-minus him greeting the staffs on his way there so he reckoned that it would take around 3 songs for him to arrive there.

He was about to make his way towards the entrance again, when the same girl dashed before him, literally crossing his path again. She ran towards the YG bus and kneeled on the ground beside it.

Hyunsuk frowned. The heck is wrong with this person? Why is she kneeling in front of the company’s bus? As much as he wasn’t the type to judge, it was kind of…rare…to see anyone kneeling in front of their company’s empty bus.

He decided to maybe just approach the girl, to see what she’s up to. Maybe just keep a safe distance, in case she’s a zombie or something; he told himself.

Hyunsuk walked up towards the girl slowly, still having a huge distance between them. Step, step, step…and suddenly the girl stood up. Hyunsuk froze in his spot. Clearly the girl was oblivious about him approaching, since her back was facing him, but Hyunsuk was worried that it would be obvious he was heading towards the girl.

The girl backed away from her spot, still having her back facing him. It seemed like she was talking or muttering to herself. Hyunsuk stayed put. He didn’t realise it but he felt like he was holding his breath.

And then it happened. The girl turned around. But then again, Hyunsuk couldn’t even catch what she looked like because the moment she turned around, she was already running away from the building. It happened so fast, Hyunsuk swore that it felt like he missed looking at her in just a split second.

Hyunsuk turned around, watching the girl’s figure slowly fading as she turned right, probably heading towards another building or another block ahead. Shaking his head, he decided to just make his way towards his practice room.

 *

 You ran across the street, back to where the cat was, in hopes that it didn’t leave the spot earlier. You arrived in front of the bus and kneeled down once again. Thank god the cat was still there!

“Hey…Hey there cutie. Look what I got you~”, you called out to the cat whom was sitting under the bus like before. The cat’s ears and eyes perked seeing what you held in your hand.

“That’s right~. I got you some kibbles my little one~.” You smiled whilst saying it in a baby-talk manner.

You shook the packet of the kibbles and the cat immediately got up and approached you. You smiled to yourself again. You couldn’t help but feel really happy seeing the extremely cute creature rubbing its head against your thighs, making faces as it asks for the food from you.

“Oh alright, I’ll give it to you now!” You surrendered to the cat. You poured some of the kibbles onto the ground and the cat immediately gobbled it up.

“Oh gosh…you must be really hungry…Here, have some more baby!” You said dramatically, pouring more of the kibble towards the cat.

You watched as the cat ate through the kibbles you poured for it. The cat is super cute. Okay maybe it’s because you’re a cat person- that made you so obsessed and so happy whenever you get to interact with a cat. But it’s also because you believed that the only companions that you’d ever want to have for the rest of your life are cats. It’s not like you’ve never dated or been in any relationship before too, you had, and you had enough of them failed relationships.

You sighed. Maybe all those failed relationships had made it harder for you to fall for anyone at the moment. You had been avoiding outings with your colleagues simply because you knew they were trying to set you up with the people they know--- people who they think would ‘fit’ to be with you, also because they told you that you had no social life.

You rolled your eyes to yourself. Pfft. Me? No life? I have a job that I enjoy doing, I get to stay home whenever I’m free, I have my own go-to supermarket that’s not far from my home,, aaaand I get to meet cats every day! I don’t need anything else in my life. I’m contented this way. (Yeah okay girlfriend, keep telling yourself that lmao)

The cat was still munching on the food when you decided to check what time it was. Shoot! You stood up quickly. Never in your life had you ever stood up that fast— you felt your head spin for a second or so. You were running late for work!

You walked backwards slowly, afraid that if you dashed off, you might startle the poor cat and it would run away. So you backed yourself away from the cat slowly…

The cat noticed you moving and looked up at you. “Oh! Oh nothing meowie. I just need to leave now. I’m late for work. I’ll be back tomorrow okay? I promise. Just continue eating yeah?”

The cat continued staring at you for a couple more seconds. “Go on. Eat up baby. I’ll be back tomorrow okay?” You noticed the cat no longer having its gaze on you so you hurriedly ran away from the spot.

You ran as fast as you could, ignoring the fact that the wind would mess up your hair eventually once you arrived at work. Luckily, your workplace was just a block away from the YG Ent. Building so you showed up not being all too sweaty at work.

“Gosh, what happened to your hair?”, a colleague asked.

You tried to quickly comb it with your fingers. “Oh nothing, I didn’t realise I was running late so I ran all the way here.”, you said, slightly panting from the unexpected cardio you had just done.

“Oh okay. Well you better sit at your table before Boss-nim makes his round here.”, your colleague said as she focused back on her laptop.

You nodded and went to your table. You took off your jacket and hung it onto your chair. Plopping into your chair, you took out the handouts you’ve made for your students and started checking for any printing or typography errors.

It seemed like any ordinary day, with the same tasks at work, you thought. But maybe the difference today was that you had made a new cat friend and it definitely lifted your mood for the whole day. You smiled. You couldn’t wait to see the cat again tomorrow. I’ll make sure to wake up early tomorrow so I can feed the cats at the apartment ground and the cat I met today! Now, I’ll just focus on work! Hwaiting y/n!

…Little did you know that you were going to have more random encounters in the nearest future.

 *

 5.00 pm. You noticed the time on your computer stating that it was time for you to leave work. Getting up from your seat, you started packing up your bag and cleaning up your desk, not wanting to leave it in a mess (not like you to mess up your work desk though). You lifted your head slightly to peek the rest of your colleagues and you notice that they were practically doing the same thing as you.

After you were done with everything, you left your desk to go and clock out at the machine located near the exit of your department’s floor. Beep. You smiled to yourself. Another productive day done and over with.

“See you all tomorrow!”, you said cheerfully at the line of colleagues waiting for their turn to clock out of work as well. With that, you turned your heel and left for home.

 *

 You were on your way back home, and as usual, you would be passing by the YG Building. Your steps were slow, almost like you were taking a stroll but in reality, it was just you taking your time to cool off your feet from the pain the you got from wearing heels all day at work.

Damn I should’ve brought some slippers in my bag. At least I would’ve been able to change into it after work. You nagged at yourself for thinking of this millions of times and yet you never seem to be bothered to bring your slippers with you to work.

Just as you passed the building, you passed by a guy whom was holding up an ice cream cone in his hand. He looked pleased to have the ice cream cone—okay but who wouldn’t be happy with ice cream? You eyed the cone in his hand as the both of you passed, without realizing it, he was eyeing you on his part.

Why is she staring at my hands that way? Is it that weird? Hyunsuk stopped in his tracks as you passed him by after the brief eyeing moment you both shared. He checked out his other hand that wasn’t holding the ice cream cone. He fisted it and glared at his hand for some time, that is, until someone called out his name.

“Hyunsuk-hyung! What are you doing staring at your hand like that?” It was Junkyu, his group member who was walking up towards him. “Your ice cream is melting hyung. Why aren’t you eating it?” He asked, obviously sounding like he was weirded out by his hyung’s weird behaviour.

“Oh nothing haha.” Hyunsuk gestured Junkyu to walk along with him back to the building. “Why’d you come out here? Did Jihoon send you out to call me?”

“No, Jihoon-hyung was busy doing the harlem shake in the practice room so I came out here so that you could stop him.”

Hyunsuk lets out a laugh. “Okay, okay I get it. Let’s get inside quickly.”

 *

 The next day, you hurried out of your apartment block earlier than yesterday, making it a point to bring your pack of cat foods along in your tote bag. You looked forward to meeting the new cat friend again today.

Step, step, step, before you knew it, you reached in front of the YG building again. Your eyes roamed around the area, searching for the cat. You didn’t want to simply go near the building and be caught trespassing—I mean, that would be stupid, being caught trespassing the YG premises simply because you were searching for a cat—not a human, a cat.

Okay but to be logical, how would you even find the cat? Should you call out to it? But you didn’t know the cat’s name, that is if it had a name to begin with. You bit your bottom lip. Should I just call out to it? Like, just call out “meow meow”?

You took a step forward. Okay maybe one step forward won’t hurt? You took another step forward towards the front entrance of the building. “Me-meow?”

No sound. You felt stupid for calling out to a random cat in public. A cat that barely knows your existence. But you were already standing there so you might as well do your best and call out to it right??

You took a deep breath. “Meow! Meow where are you? Hellooooo here, here, meowie!” you called out to the cat whilst shaking the bag of kibbles in your hand.

“Meow!”

Your eyes widened. Bingo! The cat was still here! “Meowwww where are youuu”

“Meowww!”

You turned around, leaving the entrance of the building and walked towards a tree not far opposite the entrance itself. “Hey, are you here? Hey hey I’m here meowie!” You called out near the tree and bushes.

Suddenly, the cat showed up from behind one of the bushes. It seemed scared to approach you, so you knelt down in front of it to ensure that you wouldn’t seem intimidating to it.  

“Hi. It’s me again.” You smiled at the cat. Not like the cat could understand you though lol.

The cat backed away a little, still not recognizing you.

You hurriedly opened the cat kibbles in your hands and poured it a safe distance towards the cat. “Okay here you go. I promised to come back didn’t I?” you said softly.

The cat sniffed the food, slowly approaching you. At this point you were desperate to have the cat eat the food poured out that you backed away from the spot you were in initially. The cat, having seeing you were backing away, slowly made its way towards the kibbles and gobbled at it hungrily.

You pouted, feeling sorry for the poor little thing eating away like that. You walked up towards it slowly. The cat flinched, noticing you were near again but continued eating the cat food. You poured more of the kibbles onto the ground beside the cat, not wanting it to feel hungry anymore.

This time, you tried to extend your hand to touch the cat. Seeing that the cat is focused on eating, your hand slowly pats its back. The cat purred, loving the gentle touch you were giving it. You smiled a little. “You poor thing, you must’ve been really hungry waiting for me. I’m sorry. I wish I could give you more than just these…”

 *

This morning, Hyunsuk planned on working on the new dance moves he learned yesterday. So he decided to leave the dorms early and be the only one using the dance room. As usual, he wore his headphones whilst walking towards the YG building.

Hyunsuk reached the building not too long after his brisk walk there. As he heads toward the entrance, again he saw a girl he’s never seen before there. His eyebrows furrowed. Is this the same girl as yesterday? And if so, why is she kneeling nearby the tree this time?

Hyunsuk decided to check out if there was anything wrong with the girl since he had plenty of time before his self-practice. Taking off his headphones, he walks towards the girl whom was a few meters away from him.

 *

You were busy smiling to yourself, feeling happy that the cat was comfortable with your presence again. You didn’t realise that a guy had approached you, being curious about your presence in front of the building he works at.

“E-excuse me,” You heard a voice called out behind you. Your shoulders jumped slightly, not expecting anyone to be near you, also not realizing anyone had approached you.

Still kneeling on the ground, you turned your head to face the voice that had called out to you.

You felt your eyebrows raise a little, not expecting to see the person in front of you- talking to you. Is that…Choi Hyunsuk?

Seeing that you hadn’t respond to him, Hyunsuk proceeded to ask, “Are you okay? Are you hurt somewhere?”

“I…What?” You tried to keep yourself focused on the guy standing in front of you. “Oh, yeah I’m fine! What- I mean, why are you asking?”

Hyunsuk smiled slightly. “You’re…kneeling on the ground…”

“Oh! Oh, sorry, I was feeding this cat here,” you chuckled. You moved slightly, showing Hyunsuk the cat that was eating beside you.

Hyunsuk laughed slightly. “Oh, I thought you were hurt or something. I’m sorry for bothering you.”

“Oh no it’s fine,” you smiled back at him. You thought it was sweet of him to be concerned of a stranger like you. He’s indeed a nice guy, you thought to yourself.

“Alright, I’ll leave you to it then,”

“Yeah, thank you for checking up on me—“, you stopped talking as you notice a streak of water hitting your blouse sleeve.

Your eyes widened. Did the cat just--?? Your wide eyes met Hyunsuk’s. He looked just as shocked as you.

You were too stunned to move. The cat….sprayed on you…The cat that you fed….sprayed it’s pee on you….on your work clothes….

Suddenly you heard Hyunsuk’s voice, “Watch out, I think it’s gonna-“

Psst. You felt the front side of your blouse growing wet this time. Your mouth made an ‘o’ shape. You were more shocked than ever. The cat looked up at you and rubbed its head against your knee, purring.

You couldn’t move. You were too shocked and embarrassed to do anything to be honest. If the cat was grateful enough for the food you gave, you were pretty sure that peeing on you wasn’t the right way to say thank you! And this happened right in front of Hyunsuk too! An artist that you just met!

The cat rubbed against your knee for a while before leaving you, disappearing behind the bushes again. Your eyes moved to Hyunsuk who was still standing near you. A safe distance from you of course.

Hyunsuk’s eyes were still wide, not really sure if what he saw really happened.

  *

“Watch out, I think it’s gonna—” Hyunsuk said as he saw the cat’s tail perk up and facing you.

Psst.

He was too late to warn you.

He fell silent as a few minutes passed with you still kneeling down on the ground, seemingly shocked by what had happened. The cat left and he saw your eyes looking at him. You looked like your soul had just left your body. Or maybe, you looked like a lost kid at an amusement park, clueless and wide-eyed.

Hyunsuk couldn’t help himself. He quickly turned around and covered his mouth with his hand. He wanted to laugh. He wanted to laugh so hard. He couldn’t believe himself; he actually finds the incident to be funny! The girl literally got sprayed by the cat’s pee TWICE!

Still holding his laughter to himself, he heard a loud sigh behind him. He decided to turn around to face you again.

You were already standing up when he turned around. You were brushing your skirt with your hands, dusting off the dust that weren’t visible in his opinion.

His lips trembled as he tried to not laugh at you. Instead, he asked again,” A-are you okay?”

You looked like you were too baffled to speak, but you answered him, “I…I think? I don’t know what happened. Oh my god.” Truthfully, your eyes were getting teary. You felt embarrassed. You couldn’t believe this happened to you, today. You could see Hyunsuk’s expression, all awkward just staring at you.

You decided to hurriedly leave the place. “I uh, I should leave now. I need to get to work.” You fixed your tote bag on your shoulder.

“Wait, like that? You’re going to work just like that? With…” Hyunsuk tried not to laugh out loud. He swallowed a breath before continuing, “With cat piss all over you??” It took all his might not to laugh when he said the word piss.

You let out an exasperated sigh. You blinked back the tears that were forming in your eyes. “What else is there to do? I’m not running back to my apartment. I can just get changed into my sweater that I left in my office. It’s no biggie really.”

Hyunsuk actually felt sorry for you. What luck for a girl like whom wanted to feed a stray cat and ended up getting peed on- twice. Suddenly, he had an idea.

“Wait, let me help you.”

“Huh? How?” You looked at him questioningly.

To be continued.

Author’s note: Hi! I hope you guys enjoyed reading this fic. I’m working on the second chapter at the moment so please forward to it! Also, if the chapter is too long, let me know yea? I’ll try making the future chapters shorter :’) Take care everyone! - Rin

[persimmononroll]

Jodie slinks into wherever she goes when she’s not Here and then meanders into the old wizard’s kitchen. She’s not sure if he’s actually a wizard but if an old vampire who commits crimes against nature for fun says he is, who is she to argue?

He’s measuring the walls again. One of the little cats, one that’s dangerously close to being educated, holds down the end of the measuring tape while Neht scribbles measurements into a notebook, not paying any attention to her arrival whatsoever because she’s uncommonly quiet and he’s wearing headphones and probably listening to ABBA. When the days start getting shorter and night falls earlier, sometimes the walls start shrinking little by little unless he takes care to adjust his perceptions. She thinks he probably wouldn’t have this issue if he just installed some electric lights instead of relying on old-fashioned methods because candlelight makes the room seem smaller, but while he’ll concede to the usefulness of fridges and computers, his willingness to try out new technology only extends so far. It’s not like she can’t see in the dark, so the dimness at night doesn’t bother her, but she thinks Neht makes things more complicated than they need to be.

Vampires, you see, are stupid.

Jodie’s very good and helpful, so she pours all of the groceries into a pile on the middle of the table for him to deal with and then plays with an empty bag for awhile until she remembers that she’s a grown person and grown persons probably don’t play with bags. Neht doesn’t notice her. He pats the little cat’s head and starts work on the next wall. It’s not that she’s jealous of the cats because they’re only dumb little creatures who don’t know anything at all, not even how to read, but she likes it when things are about her and doesn’t like it when things aren’t about her. He takes measurements for a bit. She gets tired of standing by the table so she perches on the counter that she’s not supposed to sit on because counters are for food and not for people. The little cat nudges against his hand. Jodie decides that the logical course of action is to knock a tin cup off the counter as hard as she can.

“Goodness, dear. We mustn’t do that, please,” he says with a sigh as he removes his headphones. The cat stares at her with wide, unblinking eyes and she stares right back because it’s really important to let these little dummies know their place in the household. “Oh no, please don’t sit on that, it’s terribly unhygienic. I thought you were gathering information in the Midwest, weren’t you?”

She doesn’t need to say that she’s not going to get down because both of them know exactly what she’s going to do. She has to be bribed first. Neht makes token protests but there’s nothing on Earth that’s going to stop her from doing exactly what she wants when she wants.

“Yep! I made a notebook! I’m bored though, so I thought I would get you groceries because I’m a really nice and a good person and you forget to eat. No blood though. I didn’t want the grocer think I was a vampire or anything. You guys are gross and stink,” she says, gesturing to the mess on the table. “Praise me.”

Neht stands up and makes his way over. He looks the same as ever but he’s been a bit slower these days, probably because he’s filled with gunk.

“What’s all this, hm? Let’s see: octopus balls, anchovies, milk, here’s a can of sardines, pie crust, there’s a can of crab-meat, my goodness, is that an entire eel? And nothing I eat. I suspect ulterior motives.”

Jodie shrugs.

“I got you a bottle of simple syrup. You eat that, don’t you? I’m really nice and good getting you simple syrup, so you should make me seafood pie. With sausage, just for me! Pie for me. Pie, please.”

“Mm, I can’t possibly imagine that flavor profile. If I must, I suppose,” he says because he has chronic problems telling her no because she’s perfect and a baby. Of course he can’t imagine it; he can’t even taste it.

“...The last I heard, you didn’t have a job. How, pray tell, did you pay for this?”

“I stole money!” she says proudly because she’s very smart and resourceful.

“Jodie, no.”

“I mean, it was your money. I’m allowed.”

She’s not, actually, but he doesn’t really make much of a mess when she takes it because it’s not like he uses it for much of anything and he is responsible for her existence. The electricity and gas in the cottage are technically stolen. He grows much of the fruit he eats and doesn’t spend much on clothing, not when he has such a hoard. He buys cat food, pie material, craft supplies, and blood. Sometimes he buys books.

"We’re going to have a discussion about that, you little rat, even though I scarcely think you’ll listen. Now, did you hear anything interesting?”

“Sure, loads of things. I mean, it’s boring but you care about it. Say, have there always been so many vaporvolphs in Maroa? I sniffed so many of them. They stink like burned sugar, bleh. Actually, I sniffed a lot of new sniffs on people. More aliens touching down, right?”

“Please don’t be unkind to the volphs, Jodie, or else they’ll gobble you up and they won’t be sorry for it one bit. And please do get off my counter, you menace. You’re going to pick that cup up or I won’t make you anything at all,” Neht says, shooing her away because he hates her and doesn't want her to be happy.

She grumbles but does get off the counter because she is hungry and doesn’t want to eat what’s simmering on the stove. It’s not that she won’t eat blood because she is a consummate carnivore but he’s doing that thing where he simmers fruit with blood and plants are gross most of the time.

“You’re no fun,” she says, sticking out her tongue. He sticks his out right back. “Oh, your wife, the one with the garden, asked me to give you your mail. I put it in my backpack.”

”Thank you,” he says. “You’re an utter little demon but I appreciate it. If you’re bored, I did receive word of something very interesting going on in the west.”

The pie’s good, even if Neht doesn’t appreciate a good bit of fish the same way she does. She gobbles down piece after piece because she’s always been a greedy piglet and falls asleep in front of the fire like in old times. In the morning, she slips into Nowhere again and sneaks off to California for awhile until she gets bored again.

[enby-hawke]

Chapter 4- For I Have Sinned

Summary: The Betrothal Ball is here. Leandra just needs to play her part, but when she realized the man of her dreams has been invited and is determined to sweep her off her feet, can she remember her lines, or will she go off-script with Malcolm and her heart?

Word Count: 9374

Follow on A03

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“Is it too late to cancel?” Leandra looked at a face that barely looked like hers staring back through her vanity mirror as Mara tied her hair in a long flowing braid. The dress fit perfectly to every measured curve and spilled onto the floor in a pleat of red layered cloth, too constricting and snug, like the cage Leandra had been put in.

 Mara had some bobby pins stuffed in her mouth as she secured Leandra’s flowing locks into the complicated hairstyle, but she paused to look at Leandra in the mirror and took them out to say. “It’s never too late.”

 The thought fluttered in her mind like a butterfly about to take flight but she captured it in her hands and crushed it. “No, I’m being silly,” Leandra almost shook her head before she was reminded it was full of pins.

“Well,” Mara tutted as she wove more hair, “don’t say I never tried to talk sense into you.”

 Before Leandra could ask her what that meant, her mother barged into the door, her face contorted in rage. “Why isn’t she ready, you lazy girl?”

 “She’s almost, Messere,” Mara kept her eyes on her work, her voice measured in patience.

 “Mother,” Leandra said in a warning voice, her eyes glued to her mirror to not ruin Mara’s hard work, “we’d be ready faster with fewer interruptions,” but her mother kept a level glare at Mara as if she was a stray cat that was brought into her home and scratching up her furniture. Mara paid no mind, humming to herself as she continued to plait Leandra’s hair.

 “Have her ready in 5 minutes! Luna De Luca is ready for the interview and I need her to be perfect.”

 There was that word again. Perfect. The perfect lady, daughter, scholar, musician, hostess, wife. The list of things Leandra had to be perfect at was longer than her dress. In less than five minutes she would meet Guillaume and they would talk about their love together. Leandra felt like she was running through her lines as if she were in a play, remembering the right times to laugh, to remember to bring the crinkle in her eyes to make her smile seem more genuine. She would have to part from Mara for the interview but she could return to her side for a little while until she accompanied Guillaume to the feast and she found herself counting down the seconds when she’d be reunited again. But then she thought of her brother and Mara, and how eventually things would all change like they were changing now, and Leandra found that time was slipping through her fingers like sand.

 “Mother,” Leandra brought a practiced smile to her lips offering peace. “Everything will be fine. I’ll be down very soon.”

 Her mother tucked up her chin, satisfied, and then carefully closed the door.

 “At least you don’t have to eat with her tonight,” Mara broke the silence.

 Leandra laughed in relief. “Soon dinner will be just a day I schedule on my calendar.” A silver lining, if nothing else.

 Mara finished her braid and tied it expertly with a ribbon and then placed both of her hands on Leandra’s puffy shoulders. “No matter what happens, I got your back.” She squeezed comfortingly, Leandra’s tight shoulders relaxing. “You leave Guillaume at the altar, I’ve got a bottle of champagne waiting.”

 Mara always knew what to say and it took all of Leandra’s power to not tear up and smudge her eye makeup. “I don’t think that will be necessary.”

 “The night’s still young,” Mara shrugged. “Maybe you find an elf side piece, instead.”

 Leandra laughed in surprise before she caught herself and covered her mouth. “Mara,” she shook her head.

 Mara smiled and took her hand, helping her up so her skirt stayed smooth. Leandra took a deep breath. Her costume was on, she just needed to play her part well, but she found herself reluctant to let go of Mara’s hand as her nerves started to get to her.  

 “You look beautiful,” Mara smiled sadly.

 Leandra’s eyes swept over her straightened hair and down Mara’s red cocktail dress that was simple but she looked just as radiant. “So do you.”

 “You save that flirting for your fiance,” Mara chuckled, squeezing her hand.

 “Right,” Leandra said in clipped words. “You’re right behind me?”

 Mara smiled her signature grin. “Always.”

Malcolm snored into the stretched dining table in the corner of the Viscount’s palace where the mages were usually seated. His mind fumbled through the Fade as he plucked random strings for the terror demon’s presence. Unsurprisingly, nothing useful echoed back. Little curious wisps were starting to crowd him as he worked, speaking amongst themselves in a chatter too quick to be understood as a wet smacking sound filled the Fade air.

 He agreed to one memory, the one with his mother that was already taken, but thankfully the spirit was already greedy for another helping and he was greedily slurping bowl after bowl of noodles as Malcolm worked.

 “So you say taste is a sensation of the organ called a” sluurp, “tongue and that sensation can cause you to feel emotions good or bad?” Scholar scooped up a pile of heaping noodles with a slurping smack.  

 “That’s right,” Malcolm said with gritted teeth as he counted his breaths so they were even and shallow. He plucked the Fade string, listening. “That’s all it is. Now, will you give me a hand?”

 The spirit waved its arm splattering sauce and one of the wisps turned into a grasping phantom hand, offering its help with wriggling fingers.

 Malcolm sighed. “Finding this terror demon is going to take a while.”

 The wisps gasped and blinked out of sight, the hand trembling and fading from view. The spirit placed the noodles back in their bowl as if they were suddenly unappetizing. “You’ll summon it thinking like that.”

 Malcolm perked up. Finally, he was getting somewhere. “Is that how I find it? I summon it to me?”

 “You don’t want to catch one of its eyes,” the Scholar spoke in a hushed whisper. “You must clear your thoughts so it does not find a crack to hide in.”

 Malcolm shook off the worry. “Not unlike any other demon.”

 “Zelophehad is not just any demon,” the Scholar hissed. “He is part of the essence of reality. Where fear lives he rises.”

 A beat of worry washed through Malcolm at the finality of what Scholar seemed to be saying, but Malcolm clenched down his nerves. “Every demon has a weakness.”

 “Zelophehad has none,” the spirit snapped. “So stop these silly notions of getting yourself killed and answer my next question. What is a tongue? I don’t have one.”

 Malcolm sighed in disbelief and turned back around. ”I need to get back to work.”

 “What work is that?”

 “Am I talking to a broken record?” Malcolm found the irritation crawling up his spine. “If I’m going to find the fucking thing, I need a lead, a trail, a hole, something!”

 “Why don’t you just ask?” the spirit cocked his head, tentatively slurping on one noodle.

 If Malcolm could have gotten away with strangling the spirit he would. He snapped his golden eyes up in annoyance. “Haven’t I been asking?”

 “Why would you ask me? I’m not the one who has the knowledge you’re seeking.” The spirit tipped the bowl back, gobbling up a huge bite.

 Malcolm looked at the spirit, a clue clicking into place. “Who would I ask?”

 The spirit pointed down next to Malcolm’s foot with a wet finger. “This pebble has been saying it was stepped on by Zelophehad.”

 Malcolm cocked his head curiously at the pebble, picked it up, and brought it to his ear.

 The voice was not a voice, more of a feeling. The thoughts of the spirit were too foreign to seem like words but Malcolm felt a sensation of dread that locked in his bones as the creature caressed the pebble, how it did all it could to maintain its shape as the demon studied it with one of its many eyes, and how Zelophehad slipped by not noticing it like most of the demons of the Fade. It had been there recently. The emotion was fresh and he found a chip of fear seeding inside him. Was the creature watching again?

 “Don’t feed it!” Scholar hissed his warning again. “He’s probably listening for his name.”

 “I don’t understand. Where is it?” 

 The pebble’s answer was empty. The spirit slurped a wet unending noodle. “I guess that’s all it had to say.”

 Malcolm found himself irritated and flung the pebble off in the distance so it skipped against the ground with a soft clatter. “How is that supposed to help me?”

 “You are a very stupid creature,” the spirit shook his head. “It’s like you don’t hear what anyone’s saying.”

 That’s when a jab to Malcolm’s side plummeted his soul back into his body.

 Malcolm jerked awake, Taylor’s full lips pursed in annoyance as she glared at Malcolm. “The Lord and Lady are about to be introduced and your snore was echoing through the chamber.”

 Malcolm yawned and sleepily laid down his head in his arms. “Wake me up when it’s my turn.”

 A strong hand jerked Malcolm to the back of his seat and Malcolm looked up and glared, a set of warm twinkling brown eyes against dark umber skin stared down at him placing a plate of sweet distractions in front of him. “You’re probably just grumpy cause you’re hungry,” the templar’s ceremonial armor gleamed in the traditional candlelight, making him look twice the size that he was.  

 Malcolm didn’t wait to dig into the pile of assorted sweets cakes, finding that Scholar was already sniffing. “Well, I’m not going to say no to free food,” he said with his mouth already stuffed. He could feel Scholar’s satisfied hum at the back of his mind as he ate.

 Taylor flickered her eyes up to Carver in gratitude as she reached over to pick at Malcolm’s pile of sweets. “You’re a saint, Ser Maurevar.”

 Carver wrinkled up his nose at his first name. “How many times do I have to tell you, Taylor. Just call me Carver.”

 Taylor wiped her mouth of icing, bowing her head in apology too quickly. “Forgive me. I forget.”

 Taylor had a healthy respect for templars, or maybe fear was the better word, but Carver and Malcolm had been friends since Malcolm was a boy and she knew that Carver was different. Maurevar Carver was the fifth son from a line of loyal nobles in Kirkwall, but he had not a hint of arrogance. Carver was well-liked even among mages. His family came from a line of templars which would make one think Carver would be rather conservative, but he had idealistic ideas of what it meant to be a protector of mages and beacon against the dangers of magic. While most templar children learned prejudice very young, Carver found himself talking to the mages, getting to know their anxieties and fears, and thought it his duty to make the transition into the Circle as easy for each mage as possible.

 After a string of escape attempts in Ferelden’s Circle, the Chantry deemed Malcolm too dangerous and they shipped him to Kirkwall where he didn’t know the culture, had a funny accent and knew no one close enough to escape. Malcolm had given up any notion of freedom for a long time and receded into himself, talking to no one, and only sleeping. Carver sat with him every day in silence as he meditated, ignoring Malcolm’s barbs until Carver replied to a quip that made Malcolm laugh. Malcolm still didn’t trust him, until he took the blame for a punch that Malcolm threw at a templar bully before Malcolm knew how to corral his Ferelden temper. Matthew swore up and down that it was Malcolm who threw the punch but Carver claimed that it was Matthew’s cowardice choosing an easier target than a noble’s son. It was one word against another and the matter was quickly swept under the rug. Malcolm was blown away, unsure why Carver would turn against his templar brother, but Carver told Malcolm he didn’t do it for him. He had been planning to punch Matthew for a long time, and Malcolm was only kind enough to let him take credit.  

 When the Knight Commander realized that Carver could corral Malcolm somewhat, the two were forced together, Carver Malcolm’s keeper, albeit a very lax one. In fact, it wasn’t abnormal for Carver to look the other way so Malcolm could sometimes slip into Kirkwall just for a taste of what the city was like. Malcolm remembered his first time as a young teenager getting lost in the crowd in a Lowtown market, how he was just another face in the sea of traffic, how he didn’t watch over his shoulder like he was a bomb waiting to explode. He remembered how nervous he was in Carver’s borrowed clothes, way too big for him so he had to roll up the sleeves and legs to accommodate. He ate street food with his pickpocketed change, dropped bread crumbs off the docks and into the ocean for fish to gobble up, got splashed by a taxi cab, and was yelled at by some half-clothed sex workers when he accidentally walked into a brothel. He was completely out of his element and yet when he snuck back in through the secret passage that connected Kirkwall’s Circle to the mainland, he ached what most people took for granted. A family. A job. The freedom to walk the streets. A place in society.

 He would have to convince Carver to let him out sometime tonight, though he had no idea how he was going to do it, yet. But he knew Carver wasn’t the type of soul to let him suffer and maybe with some puppy eyes and some undignified whining Carver would cave and let him go to a real party tonight. Carver might even finally take the stick out of his ass and join him.

 The screens embedded on the tables started up in a projection of light as it displayed a flamboyantly dressed red-haired noble who was so thin the wind looked like it could blow him away from the balcony he was broadcasting from. He waved to the crowd of waiting faces and they all rose except for Malcolm who propped his head in hand bored, as he munched on his sweetcakes. The noble’s pale skin was crisp on the projection, his full groomed beard and mustache like a silky animal had taken hold of his face.

 “Good Ladies and Lords of Kirkwall!” his voice echoed out on the speakers so he seemed to come from everywhere. “It is my pride and duty to announce the joining of my own house and that of the esteemed Amell’s, who has been an anchor in Kirkwall since Garahel beat back the Blight.” He puffed up his chest proudly, placing a delicate hand over his heart. “My own esteemed house has both roots in Kirkwall and Orlais…”

 Malcolm rolled his eyes as the Lord droned on about his family’s history. “Yeah, yeah. I need a house the size of my ego and servants to wipe my ass.”

 Taylor and the other mages shushed him harshly while Carver shook his head in a chuckle.

 Malcolm shoved the sweets aside to Taylor and collapsed his head back down on the table with an exaggerated yawn as the noble droned on. He figured he could at least sleep through the speeches, but two fingers pinched his ear and yanked him up to his feet. He found Enchanter Jakoby glaring in warning to pay attention with the silent gesture of his fingers and Malcolm sulked in place.

 A couple in matching lavish red and gold outfits joined either side of Lord de Lancet. “We are blessed with the fact that this is not just a fortunate match for our families, but a love match as well, and we wish to share in the bounty of the Maker’s blessing with you all tonight.”

 The woman stepped forward with a smile of pure confidence as she gazed over the crowd as if she was among friends. “Please allow me to thank you all to celebrate my engagement, tonight.”

 Malcolm’s ears twitched as his eyes shot up to the screen in recognition of the woman’s voice. His heart sped up at the sound, his eyes widening as her stunning smile stared back at him from the screen. His jaw grew slack as he stared at her, not quite comprehending that she was really in front of him, but his heart soon twisted in jealousy as he saw her fingers intertwined with a handsome red-headed man with a ridiculously large handlebar mustache.

 “She certainly didn’t act engaged,” Malcolm blurted out before he could stop himself, earning confused stares from the other mages at the table.

 “You know her?” Taylor asked with a thin raised eyebrow.

 “No, he doesn’t,” Arth snarled quickly.

 “Enchanters, hush,” the teacher whispered in a warning.   

 Malcolm quickly held his head, ignoring the rest of his welcome speech as he realized in a panic that the show that he planned to embarrass Enchanter Jakoby tonight was not going to work. He leaned over to Taylor, his eyes wide in panic as he whispered. “Taylor, give me some ideas. Something cooler than fireworks or juggling fire.” One of the other mages shot him a glare. 

 Taylor’s lips pulled into a satisfied smirk. “It’s not my fault you spent the evening making stupid puns to go with card tricks.” It was Malcolm’s idea that now didn’t seem that brilliant. He knew that Enchanter Jakoby wanted him to blow everyone away with a display of his powers so he couldn’t think of anything more embarrassing than fumbling through normal stupid card tricks that he could barely pull off. But now he was staring at perhaps the only girl he had ever wanted to impress and his panicked mind was drawing blanks.

 “And now to bless our union the Circle has sent its finest enchanters to entertain us with a magical display,” Leandra turned and motioned gracefully down to the mage’s table as she rehearsed, the cameras turned to superimpose the enchanters who all puffed up their chests in their dress clothes except for Malcolm who was holding his head in panic. Leandra’s eyes slid across the mages with a serene smile until her eyes landed on Malcolm and her face suddenly went red. Her voice suddenly seemed caught in her throat, the palace echoing in silence as they watched Malcolm mutter to himself.

 “Um…” Leandra suddenly couldn’t remember the words of her speech as Malcolm noticed the silence dragging on and he looked up to see her staring down at him from the balcony as if she couldn’t believe he was real. The silence was growing uncomfortable as they stared at each other across the room and soon Guillaume stepped forward to pick up the speech.

 “Please do not let us keep you waiting much longer. I’m sure you’re all starving,” the crowd chuckled at Guillaume’s natural charisma and Malcolm found irritation creeping up his spine as they briefly met eyes as the lord passed over each mage in an inspection. “We cannot wait to see the performances you have all prepared for us tonight. Do be seated and enjoy the meals our families finest chefs have prepared.”

 As a chorus of shuffling seats adjusting to people’s weight, Taylor leaned over to Malcolm with curiosity, finding a soft satisfied smile on his lips. “She seemed to recognize you.”

 “She did, didn’t she?” Malcolm couldn’t help but feel like his heart was soaring with what could only be described as hope.

 Taylor looked like she wanted to ask more but she didn’t get the chance before Enchanter Jakoby was motioning for her to come to the dance floor to begin her performance. She fluffed her hair, in a twisted half-do, and adjusted her dress, the cut, and design marking her as a mage saying, “Well I guess I have to show why I’m the top of the class.”

 “Only cause I don’t give a shit,” Malcolm snarked but Taylor relaxed her shoulders as Carver handed her a staff. Arth’s glare could set Malcolm’s hair aflame.

 “You’re going to do wonderfully,” Carver smiled brightly, his soft dark bangs falling out of his ponytail.

 Taylor ducked her head, a small satisfied smile settled on her lips as she took the staff and balanced it in her hands.

 Then the lights dimmed on the ballroom floor as Taylor stepped out onto it holding out her staff level and with an expert grip. She stared up onto the main balcony where the main couple was on display. “Lady Amell, Lord Du Lancet,” her voice was not a shout but it boomed across the ballroom. She bowed her head so her fluffy hair bobbed. “Allow me to show you the wonders of the Fade.”

 She waved her staff opening a giant portal in the middle of the ballroom, a shimmering green hue cloaked the room with light, and in the center of a mist showed in the distance the far off gates of the Black City. The nobles chattered as Enchanter Jakoby puffed up in pride. Even Malcolm widened his eyes at the sight, impressed she managed to pull off such a feat. “Fear not,” her voice echoed. “This is just a window into the Fade, not a true portal. You are all perfectly safe.”

 The nobles all whispered amongst each other as wisps and spirits peeked through the curious portal making more faint of heart to gasp if one ventured too close. Malcolm felt for a moment a pang of unease as his mind continued to draw blanks. His competitors had all had a whole month to prepare and he had had an evening to which he had successfully wasted. Still, he could do better than some window. He just wasn’t sure what that was yet.

 As the portal closed and the lights in the room turned to normal, Taylor bowed, carefully returned her staff to Carver, and then returned to the table with a rather smug smirk. “Think you can beat that, losers?”

 Arth met her smug grin with one of his own, clutching a terracotta planter filled with soil. “Don’t worry. I’ll remind everyone of class.”

 Taylor rolled her eyes, slinking down in her seat to find Malcolm still staring at Leandra, who seemed to be glancing back at him every few seconds. Taylor looked between the two of them in open confusion. “So I noticed the whole time I was casting she seemed keener to pay attention to you. Mind telling me how you know each other?”

 Malcolm couldn’t keep the grin off of his face, but he shrugged off Taylor’s question as nonchalantly as he could. “It’s not that interesting of a story.”

 Taylor shook her head, narrowing her eyes in disbelief. “Well, I wouldn’t worry too much. I’m sure she’s already sick of you.”

Am I hallucinating? Leandra tried to pay attention to the next mage who had dragged a pot to the middle of the dance floor and was trying to grow a seed into a tree, but her attention was much more focused on the elven mage seated far behind him. It didn’t help that growing a seed was a slow and dull process of just watching streams of green light glow into the pot. The little seed seemed to resist the magic, and for a long time, nothing happened until a little string of green poked out of the bud, fighting every spurt with an agonizingly slow wiggle. Leandra found her eyes sliding away from the show and back to the impossible dream man. She couldn’t mistake him for anyone else. He had the same messy curls, dark freckled skin, and even from the distance, his bright golden eyes flashed with the same mischief. But how was he even here? Her mind had made him up? Didn’t she?

 After ten minutes and the sprout was only a few inches long, Leandra found a yawn caught in her throat that she caught with her hand. Her eyes flung in alarm to Guillaume who was thankfully more interested in his dish of lobster.  

 Leandra tried her best to calm herself down, and focus on the show. The mage’s blond bangs were starting to stick to his forehead in exertion, his hold on his staff shaky, but the little sapling stayed depressingly small. Pay attention, she kept scolding herself, but her eyes kept betraying her, sliding away from the man’s performance to meet the elf’s golden eyes. He smiled, noticing that she was staring again, and winked.

 She blushed, mortified at having been caught, and dropped her eyes back to her lobster that had been barely touched. Suddenly she felt a hand cover her clenched fork. She looked up to meet Guillaume’s kind brown eyes. “Are you alright, dear?”

 Leandra’s throat tightened, ashamed that she had been shamelessly ogling another man when her fiance was eating right beside her. “I’m perfect,” she flashed a smile that was strained but Guillaume didn’t seem to notice at all.

 He squeezed her hand in a friendly gesture. “I’ve been counting down the days for this,” he said as leaned over to kiss her chastely on the cheek.

 Leandra stiffened at the gesture, but accepted it, not able to resist comparing how she was feeling now to the kiss she experienced with that mysterious man sitting in the audience. But that couldn’t have been real. She scolded herself for getting her feelings in shambles over an event that didn’t happen and held onto Guillaume’s hand.

 Guillaume’s eyes spelled mischief tonight. “Why don’t you and I get lost during the dance?” Leandra found herself coaching her smile, but her stomach was dropping as he bent over to whisper in her ear, “I’ve packed a wonderful spread on my yacht, all your favorites. We can watch the moon on the ocean and celebrate tonight.”

 Leandra found herself panicking at the implication of the word celebrate. She had let Guillaume assume that she would listen to her parents and wait until marriage, but she also hadn’t told him that his feelings weren’t mutual. Or maybe they were and she was just confused. Leandra was quickly becoming aware that her smile was growing unnatural and that she was expected to say something, but the warring parts of her mind could not come up with a coherent response that would please Guillaume and get her out of this. “That’s…” she paused, trying to find an eloquent phrase, but instead she ended with, “nice.”

 Guillaume laughed, patting her hand. “And they say you’re the conversationalist.”

 Leandra stuffed a bite of lobster into her mouth to avoid having to say more. Guillaume this time seemed to notice her hesitation. “You don’t have to be so nervous that things are changing. The way we’re great together, that will never change.”

 An array of polite claps burst around her saved her from her answer and she eagerly joined in to see the blond mage dragging a meager sapling the size of a shrub off the ballroom floor with some difficulty.

 That’s when the dream man sauntered past him to the middle of the dance floor, staring at her like she was the only thing that existed. He held no staff in his hands, but he walked with a confidence that told everyone he didn’t need it. He kept his gaze on her as he placed a hand over his chest, his curls falling into his golden eyes as he bowed slightly. “Leandra Amell, a gift to bless your union.” He cupped his hands and a ball of flame danced in his hands, orange and bright, bathing his skin in amber. He smirked, his voice taking on an almost sarcastic tone as he said, “May your love burn ever brighter.”

 Suddenly the flames shot up to the ceiling seeming to take a life of their own. Everyone gasped as two giant wings spread across the dance floor bringing with it a heat that burst across the palace. A giant bird formed in the flames, with a craning neck and huge eagle-like wings. It soared around the ceiling in a lazy circle, leaving in its wake an aura of stars that streaked from its streaming tail. The bird’s wings flapped mightily, leaving gusts of heated wind as it flew up to the balcony to meet Leandra. Her eyes widened, reflecting the bright light of the flames as the bird circled her, leaving twinkling dust of starlight snowing down. Leandra’s eyes sparkled, standing up to reach up to the specks of light that danced around her, begging her to reach out and touch. She couldn’t resist reaching out to see what the magic felt like for herself. Something inside her recognized the scent of it, the feel of it, the caress of it. The light popped against her skin and fingertips, blooms of roses of all colors blossoming where they landed. Leandra cupped her hands to find a bouquet made of unheated firelight had gathered, dancing around her fingertips. On instinct, she brought them to her nose to inhale, and the bouquet dispersed into a cluster of butterflies taking with them the scent of thick rain. She followed the butterflies back up to the phoenix which had perched near her, its heat like a furnace as it stared at her with molten eyes. The creature blinked and then took off back towards the ceiling, crashing against it into a display of fireworks that rained down all around the audience. As everyone stared at the show above Leandra stared back down at the man bathed in sparks staring back with a yearning so deep it left her breathless.

 “Malcolm,” she whispered, his name echoing from somewhere deep inside her.

 “Well done, Ser!” Guillaume joined Leandra on his feet as he led the audience in a wild burst of applause.

 Leandra’s eyes were wide, her face flushed as she stared back down at the impossible man with the impossible magic. He smirked at her as if he had already figured her out, but she felt she was clueless. Her logical side told her there was no way they could have met before now, that dreams are just dreams and yet his face looked like comfort, like home and his lips-

 A hand squeezing hers reminded her of who she belonged to and her face burned as she guiltily looked up at Guillaume who seemed to be beaming from the show. “Wasn’t that wonderful, Leandra?”

 “Truly breathtaking,” Leandra found herself saying. Though she should have been looking at her fiance’ she found her eyes shooting back towards Malcolm who was staring at Guillaume and her intertwined fingers with hard eyes and a clenched jaw. Somehow she felt like she had been caught cheating and she dropped Guillaume’s hand without thinking, but Guillaume was busy applauding and joining in the crowd’s cheer for an encore. Malcolm ignored the call of the crowd, only winking at Leandra before he returned back to the table with his fellow mages and took his seat, his eyes never seeming to leave her.

 The rest of the performances seemed so much duller in comparison. One of the mages summoned a storm cloud that made an awful mess of snow on the dance floor and required some cleanup before the other mage could juggle his ball of flame. The man himself had quite a talent of making the flame dance, but even as he threw the flame up into the air to turn it into a display of fireworks it didn’t quite leave as big of an impression as the live dancing phoenix that left a trail of starlight. It was so difficult to pay attention, especially when Malcolm seemed eager to keep it. She found her careful smile almost melt into inopportune giggles at his exceedingly goofy faces.

 Then it was finally time for Guillaume to lead her on the dance floor for the first dance. She found herself coaching herself through the steps as she struggled to keep up her smile in Guillaume’s arms. She was keenly aware that a pair of golden eyes were watching her with the rest of the audience, and every time she accidentally met them she’d find herself breathless all over again. She felt dizzy with the confusion and had to excuse herself after the dance ended. Guillaume, ever the gentleman, went to fetch some lemon water as Leandra waited by her parents and the Du Lancets, trying to outbrag each other on how much they spent on the ball. That’s when Mara showed up, dragging a reluctant Gamlen on her arm.

 Leandra smiled brightly as she noticed that Mara and Gamlen wore matching outfits of royal red, Gamlen in a fitted suit that made his shoulders look broader than they were, and Mara in her cocktail dress. Leandra’s noble friend’s raised their eyebrows in interest at the outfits but in respect for Leandra said nothing to Mara as she approached, but it didn’t take long for Leandra’s parents to stare pointedly at the way Gamlen and Mara were openly holding hands.

 “Congratulations!” Mara threw one of her arms around Leandra, not caring at the pointed way people were staring and Leandra returned the hug gracious, thankful even to have Mara there. Mara pulled away with a teasing smirk. “Should I get you a drink or is that too soon?”

 “Lord Du Lancet is already fetching the lady a drink,” Dulci Du Mortain, one of Leandra’s Orlesian friends piped up, looking down at Mara through her nose as if Mara had a ghastly stain on her dress.

 “Well good thing his lordship’s not so lazy to always fetch the servants to do it,” Mara laughed easily to which Leandra joined in until she realized her noble friends nor Gamlen were laughing.

 Lady Crawford, one of Leandra’s more conservative friends sniffed sharply, suppressing the glare in her light blue eyes with some difficulty. Her thin brown eyebrows knitted together in what could be a frown if one were rude enough to point it out. “Is it not an honor to serve your betters?”

 Mara bit down a laugh and what she wanted to say when Leandra’s pleading eyes asked her not to make more trouble which only made Lady Crawford’s face redden under her makeup.

 “What Mara means to say is while it is always an honor to serve the Great Houses, self-sufficiency can be an admirable trait.” Leandra smiled brightly, hoping the olive branch would be enough to keep the peace.

 Gamlen snorted to which Mara grinned wider and Leandra shot them both a glare.

 Lady Crawford thinned her smile at Leandra and then glanced at Lady Dulci and the others with a wry chuckle. “Diplomatically put, dear.”

 Leandra swallowed down the internal sigh that was fighting in her throat. She didn’t need another petty battle with Lady Crawford or any of her noble friends, especially since these ladies were all expected to be her bridesmaids together. Mara had gotten the coveted spot of maid of honor, to which Leandra quickly realized her other friends hadn’t quite forgiven her for, but rather than take their grievances up with Leandra, they sniped at Mara, hoping that perhaps eventually her parents would step in and force the matter.  

 Mara, however, was understandably just as petty. She openly leaned on Leandra’s arm, daring the other ladies to say something about it. “Leandra, I hate to be rude, but I have some major maid of honor details for your ears only.”

 Leandra’s eyes darted to Lady Crawford, Lady Du Mortain, and the others who exchanged jealous glares. Lady Du Mortain put a hand over her mouth, averting her eyes with a reddening face. “Is his Lordship not entitled to the lady’s time tonight?”

 Leandra’s throat tightened, feeling trapped by the expectations that were set.

 “I believe his lordship can speak for himself,” Guillaume said from behind them all the authority he could muster. They all turned as he took Leandra’s other side offering a glass of water with a kind smile to which she quickly used to unstick her throat. “I wish no more of the lady’s time than she wishes to give to me. If her attention is needed elsewhere, I cannot be so selfish as to monopolize her.”

 The other ladies swooned at Guillaume’s words, Lady Dulci fanning herself. She knew the kiss would come next so Leandra leaned in offering her cheek to accept the gesture. As Guillaume’s warm lips and scruffy mustache grazed her skin she withheld a shudder, her gaze wandering until it was pulled up into an alcove where Malcolm was perched. Her cheeks flooded as Malcolm’s eyes darkened at Guillaume kissing her, and he crooked a finger in a motion for her to follow him. She found her eyes being glued to his back as he disappeared off onto a dark balcony, far above the crowd gathered on the dance floor below.

 Leandra passed her water to a passing server and grabbed Mara’s hand. “Thank you everyone but I believe I do have some maid of honor business to discuss.”

 Mara was halfway pulling Leandra away when two figures stopped them. Both of Leandra’s parents were glaring at Mara with a fury that Leandra had never seen before. “Leandra,” her mother tapped her heel. “Can this business not wait until tomorrow? You’re expected on the dance floor.”

 Guillaume stepped forward with an easy smile. “It is no problem, my Lord and Lady. Please allow Leandra this privacy.”

 Leandra shot a grateful smile to Guillaume as both of her parents seemed to struggle with this new playbook. Finally, her mother nodded and said, “But please do remember to behave. There are cameras everywhere.” She pointedly looked at Mara as she said this and then turned her glare at Gamlen. “And do we have something to talk about, young man?” Her mother was pointedly staring between Mara and Gamlen’s matching outfits.

 Gamlen swallowed what looked like fear and he stepped forward. “Mom? Dad? Can we talk somewhere private?”

 Leandra’s friends were suddenly whispering amongst themselves in a renewed interest. Her parents seemed to notice the gossip that was already started to spread and was already marching Gamlen somewhere else, most likely somewhere sound-proof. Mara and Leandra quickly ditched the whispering crowd, Leandra cringing that her family was once again the subject for gossip tonight. It would have always been, but she was quickly getting a headache thinking about all of the thinly veiled insults she would have to wade through tonight about Gamlen and Mara’s obvious public stance. Leandra told herself it was just gossip and that a few snide comments were nothing to get emotional over, but she felt a knot quickly forming in her gut as she thought of the social dragging that she was surely in for.

 She was busy wondering what Guillaume’s stance would be on Mara and Gamlen’s relationship when Mara pulled her over to a dark corner and immediately clonked Leandra on the head with her next question. “So who is that hunky elf that keeps undressing you with his eyes?”

 Leandra’s face burned at the question, not able to meet Mara’s scrutinizing gaze but this she could answer honestly. “I don’t know.”

 “You so do know him!” Mara argued, giving her a playful push. “That magic show was something else and you can hardly keep your eyes off him. Seriously, school girl vibes. So just tell me the juicy details already! Don’t make me drag it out of you.”

 “I didn’t- I mean I did, but it wasn’t real, but-” Leandra buried her face in her hands. Still, if Mara noticed her ogling Malcolm, then who else did? “This is all impossible!”

 “What is?” Mara pulled Leandra’s hands away from her face so she could look straight into her eyes.

 Leandra found that being stared at so closely by Mara was making it difficult to think clearly. She felt mad telling the truth but she always told Mara the truth so she finally dared to say it aloud. “He’s the same man I kissed in that dream, but he’s real somehow and I think I’m going crazy.”

 She thought Mara would laugh at her but instead, Mara opened her mouth and closed it. “Like one of Andraste’s prophecies?”

 Leandra tilted her head at her friend, somewhat grateful to be believed but also not sure what that would even mean. “You think this is what it is?”

 Mara cupped Leandra’s cheeks, staring at her with a seriousness that was hardly like her. “If the Maker is sending you visions about that man, don’t you think you should at least meet him?”

 Leandra laughed like it was a joke until she realized Mara was serious. And then her voice took on a high pitched tone as she quickly spiraled into a panic about what that could mean. “I’m engaged! This is my betrothal ball! I can’t!”

 “You’re right,” Mara said with an annoyed frown. “Your parents are obviously of higher authority than the Maker.”

 Leandra froze at this new thought. Was this truly the Maker’s hand guiding her? Would she always regret not taking this chance?

 Before Mara could calm Leandra’s brand new panic, she tapped Leandra and pointed to a tall brown templar with a silky ponytail approaching them both with intent. Leandra recognized him immediately as Knight-Captain Maurevar Carver, though she had only recognized him from newspaper clippings and his family’s reputation. Though he was wearing heavy templar armor, he held himself with a nobleman’s grace. He bowed deeply in respect, his eyes full of apology.

 “Pardon me if this is a bad time. I mean to only offer my sincere congratulations.”

 Leandra smiled and curtsied politely. “My deepest thanks, Lord Carver.” The Carvers were a house of good reputation that her family had always done their best to keep on good terms with though from what she knew of Maurevar himself was surprisingly little. There were rumors about him being at odds with his family but if true, they put up very good appearances.

 “May I have the honor of shaking your hand, my lady?” Carver bowed humbly, offering a downturned palm.

 Leandra offered her hand, finding nothing odd about the gesture until she felt a small scrap of paper being slipped in her hand.

 The templar bowed his head and smiled with mischief, but said nothing else but, “Thank you for your time, my lady. Good night.”

 “What was that about?” Mara stared off at the templar in confusion as Leandra unfolded the scrap of paper with haste.

 On what was no doubt a piece of stationery stolen from the Viscount’s office in sloppy scrawl wrote, “Why be bored over there when you can have fun dancing with me?”

 She had no doubt who this was from and from the gleam in Mara’s eyes she didn’t need briefing either. “You’re so going!”

 Leandra gaped at her friend as if she was growing a new head. “How would I manage that? With my parents and Guillaume, there’s no way I can escape for more than a dance.”

 Mara’s cat eyes gleamed as she shrugged. “So you disappear for just one dance? I’ll cover for you. What’s the worst that could happen?”

 Leandra didn’t want to give voice to that line of thought, the much more alluring idea of a chance to speak with the man that had plagued most of her waking thoughts too tempting to be denied. “I’ll go,” Leandra said before she could change her mind, but she quickly raised a finger to clarify, “but only to tell him nothing can happen.”

 The way Mara smiled told Leandra that she wasn’t quite as believable as she sounded. Still, she had to convince herself at least.

“You barely tasted anything tonight,” the pesky demon floated in Malcolm’s vision.

 That wasn’t true. Malcolm was more than full, not only having had a scrumptious dinner of fresh lobster but he had grabbed at least one sample from every type of tray, but still, the gluttonous demon was not happy.  

 Malcolm stared off into the lit maze garden that overtook the city block, a silly thing to have in a place with as little space as Kirkwall, and yet Malcolm couldn’t find it in him to complain. The demon hunt had been put far out of his mind, his only thought was if Leandra was coming. 

 Did she remember the dream? Was she staring for a different reason? Or was she just pulled to him the same way he felt pulled to her? Malcolm leaned over the edge, peering into the garden below and enjoying the feeling of vertigo rush to his head, whatever it took to remind him he was here and alive and not some trick of the Fade. He was unsure whether Carver had been able to deliver the message, or if he had if Leandra would even respond. He had to admit it did already drive him a little crazy knowing she already belonged to another man, but he knew he wasn’t imagining this spark between them. 

 He wasn’t even sure what it all meant, yet. He just couldn’t stop thinking about the kiss, and how he wanted those lips to be sighing his name, and every stolen glance his way encouraged him. When she looked at him, he felt like everything else in the world ceased to matter, and though he felt like he should be worried about this obsession he felt, he would do nothing to stop it. He wondered what it would take to bring another smile to her lips, to hear her laugh once again. He wanted to know everything about her joys, her fears, her troubles, her comforts. He recognized a fake smile when he saw one. He had to put a few on for Charlie and Carver and in the Circle, a good fake smile was as good as armor. She seemed so restrained from the determined fiery woman he met in her dream and he longed to know what it would take to bring that side of her out again. However, Scholar was not happy with this new development and would not leave him alone.

 “Could you grab at least one more shrimp puff?”

 Malcolm was sick of shrimp puffs. “Just grab another one from my memories,” he grumbled.

 “But they taste better fresh,” the spirit whined. It floated to the edge where the balcony opened back into the palace, layers of red cloth framing the sides.

 Malcolm patted his belly. “You feel this?”

 Scholar patted his stomach curiously. “It’s a kind of nice feeling.”

 Malcolm was astonished by that. A nice full belly full of actual warm food. He hadn’t had that in a while. “Well, it means nothing more can go in. I’m meeting a girl soon so I’ve been real nice considering how much I’m having to suck my gut right now.”

 Scholar looked at Malcolm’s belly with what looked like a deep frown. “Why are you doing that? Let it out. It doesn’t like that.”

 Malcolm suddenly wondered if his breath would be bad from all the different food he ate. He meant to pace himself, but when everything tasted so good, it was hard to say no to another bite. He grabbed a sprig of mint from the empty platter he grabbed from a waiter and shoved it into his mouth chewing. He had already had 2 sprigs but he figured another one couldn’t hurt. As he chewed he glared at the spirit. “Now scat already. I did what you wanted.”

 “But you still haven’t told me what a tongue is?”

 “I said it’s something mortals have.”

 “That doesn’t explain anything. Some demons have tongues, too.”

 “Then ask a demon. I’m not a teacher.” Malcolm swallowed the mint, hoping it would soothe his gut.

 “But a demon might warp me?” The spirit quivered at the thought.

 “Not my problem. Now, will you scat already?”

 It put its red phantom hands on its skeleton wraith thighs and huffed again. “Fine, stupid mortal. You win. If you teach me all I need to know for my quest of knowledge I will aid you with knowledge about Zelophehad, though it will surely lead to your death.”

 Malcolm perked up, snapping his eyes up to the wraith. “You’ll help me find it?”

 The demon shook his head. “No. If I tell you where it is before you’re ready you will die for sure. But I will help you get stronger so you may idiotically seek it on your own.”

 Malcolm widened his eyes seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. “When do we start?”

 “Who are you talking to?”

 Malcolm glanced over his shoulder to see Leandra who was staring at him in open confusion and he realized he had been speaking to Scholar aloud. He lost grip of the railing and almost tumbled off the ledge before he caught himself, but Leandra still screamed and rushed up to him and grabbed him by the waist, pulling him over the balcony so he rolled on top of her. They both groaned, having hit the ground hard and Malcolm was very aware that his body was pressed against hers, so soft and foreign his body just responded on its own. His face burned as he realized that she had felt his hardness form on her thigh and he scrambled off her before she could make sense of what happened. Still from the redness on her face, she surely felt it and he was utterly mortified.

 Scholar sniffed in between Leandra and Malcolm, curious about the concoction of emotions brewing. “What is this?” Scholar seemed entranced.

 “Apologies, my lady,” Malcolm bowed his head, trying to ignore Scholar, but he was so sure that he had just blown it. “I should not have put you in this position.” Why did his body have to have such a strong reaction to her? Other girls had moved his loins, but he had always found with some mental discipline he could somewhat control his reactions. With Leandra, he felt off-kilter, like every part of her set him alight. His thoughts were in a blender, churning chaotically as he tried to figure out a way to rectify the situation. 

 Leandra shyly looked away. “No need to apologize, it was an accident.”

 You are more gracious than most.” Malcolm found none of the confidence he had earlier in his presence, especially when the fresh memory of her body made his own body betray him still.

 They kept themselves turned away from each other as they adjusted their clothes to be presentable again. Malcolm gritted his teeth using magic to force enough blood away from the member, the pain of sensation helping to soften as he got up. He offered his hand, hoping she couldn’t see.

 “A most curious reaction,” Scholar plucked at Leandra as she took Malcolm’s hand and pulled herself up. “Are you going to taste her next?”

 Malcolm’s anger spiked so sharply the spirit recoiled. “If I have to tell you to scat again the deal is off!”

 The spirit scurried from the emotion like it was being chased by a whip. Malcolm relaxed his shoulders, realizing the buzzing was fading from his mind when he realized that Leandra had frozen at the expression on his face.

 “Have I offended you, Ser?” she dropped her hand and looked down shyly.

 Malcolm kicked himself. “No, not at all.” He found himself stumbling for any explanation that could explain his rude expression. “I guess I’m just surprised you came,” He immediately kicked himself again as her expression bloomed with guilt.

 “I almost didn’t,” she admitted.

 Malcolm tried not to let himself be disappointed by that. He knew there must be a million things holding her back while he had absolutely nothing to lose. He knew he was on borrowed time with her, but he was greedy for every second. “Still, the fact that you did?” he took one step forward offering his hand once more with the swell of the music, “does this mean you’ve come to dance?”

 Her eyes seemed entranced by his hand, her hand reaching up on its own but she curled her fingers away.

 “You know I’m engaged, though…” She seemed torn by the implication of taking his hand meant.

 Malcolm smiled, knowing that would be her answer. “And I ask for nothing you would not give freely.”

 She bit her lip at that. “I wish I was free to give more.”

 Malcolm’s smile widened, encouraged by that, and re-offered his hand. “Who says you’re not.”

 She laughed, the sound easing his nerves, and finally took his hand. He pulled her in close swaying to a slower version to the beat of the waltz. “You’re a very dangerous man to talk to.”

 She looked more beautiful than she remembered, her skin softer than possible. She was nestled so close, her body cradled against him like it was meant to be folded there. Every brush of her skin was a cruel reminder of how easily she set him aflame and he struggled to concentrate. He wanted to know if she burned just as much for him if his closeness was a terrible temptation like hers was. For now, though, he could be content to just hold her, humming along to the tune until he spun her around and led her in a waltz across the balcony. Her eyes gazed deeply in wonder, and Malcolm could feel himself falling in the stars reflecting at him. She was magic itself, lighting him up in a warm glow that illuminated them both as they danced, little wisps of light following in mimicking swirls.

 His fingers were hyper-aware of where he was holding the small of her back, where he had placed his hand on her waist, and suddenly he understood the appeal of dancing. His feet and hips moved in a rhythm of their own not in time with any current dance but Leandra seemed to be able to follow the steps on instinct. Her eyes kept darting down to his lips every time he leaned in close and he was having fun making her red teasing her. Still, it was only madness he could resist for so long. The need to taste her again thrummed in every part of his body.

 “Would it be awful if I asked to kiss you, again?” Malcolm found himself asking. “Being an engaged woman at all.”

 “Again?” Leandra froze and blushed from her ears to her shoulders. Malcolm smiled as she looked at him in puzzlement, trying and failing to place him. “I-I’m an engaged woman. You shouldn’t ask!”

 Malcolm was unable to keep from smirking at her fluster. “But still I did. Do you protest?”

 “I should,” she blushed, ducking her head, but her voice sounded frail and unconvincing. Still, Malcolm let the disappointment show on his face but respectfully added more distance.

 “Terribly sorry to tempt you,” he apologized truly, seeming to accept her answer easily. “I won’t pester you for more than a dance.”

 This time the disappointment on Leandra’s face was clear. She choked on her words, hesitating, but she inched closer so they were pressed back up each other and said, “Well you can pester me for a little more than that.”

 Malcolm’s eyes darkened. “You might want to be careful, my lady,” he took her chin gently, enough so that she could resist but instead her whole body lit up in anticipation, her pupils dilating and her skin goosepimpling at his touch. He lowered his lips, his words a hum. “I can be quite a pest.”

 But before their lips could touch screams echoed across the palace halls stopping the party short.

[iamanoneyemouse]

Olly

I’m not sure how many years I’ve had this account for, but this will be my first post, so I thought I’d make it count. I want to make this a very special post about our cat, Olly. 

At 11am today we took Olly to the vet’s practice in Leeds for the very last time. I’d like this post to service as a humbling reminder about the importance of resilience, love and kindness; all of which Olly had in abundance. 

So, let’s start with a little about Olly. He was hand-reared by Rachel’s Dad and his wife; he was the kitten of an unexpected pregnancy and they took him in as he was the runt of the litter. He is a half tabby, half Maine Coon cat, with a beautiful mixture of dark stripes spread across golden brown fur. He has white fur socks, a white mouth/nose combination with soft green eyes that only ever looked at you with dopey kindness. 

I first met him when I first visited Rachel’s Dad’s place in the Hertfordshire area. He was surrounded by two crazy Chihuahuas and a rather grumpy smaller cat called Jake. What first struck me about him was how docile and patient he was; he was completely hounded by these two crazy little dogs, and whilst he clearly was harassed to a point, he would often put up with it until they were bored or ran off - mostly he would try and stay on the kitchen counter surfaces and out of their reach! He was so affectionate and loved the attention. Over the coming months Olly and I formed a real “bro” friendship and he’d lap up the fuss I’d make over him whenever I’d visit. Rachel’s Dad had said a few times that when I bought my own place he could come and live with me. 

So when Rachel and I bought our own place in January 2018 he came to live with us - it was brilliant. He was a fantastic character; dopey, clumsy but full to brim of love with a playful nature (note - his idea of playful always involved claws!). There was never any malice in anything he did, and he was such a vocal cat! I’ve had cats all my life, but never had a cat chirp at me as if to say “hello” when you walk through the door. He loved to brush up against you and be near you, but he wasn’t a cuddly cat; he hated being picked like a baby, so he always enjoyed being near you on his terms only. He’d either lay next to, or on you, if it was to his benefit! Haha. He had a fetish for dirty clothing - we have too many videos of him rolling around in clothes from the wash basket, and even a picture of Olly entangled in my boxer shorts! He took his time to establish his territory, as he clumsily went about upsetting the multitude of cats in the neighbourhood that had clearly spent a long time establishing their boundaries, with our garden being a pathway to most of them. Eventually, he settled on a territory, which would then be shared (again) with the arrival of Jake as Rachel’s Dad moved to start a business further north. He loved food. A lot. To the point where he would wake us up at unruly hours meowing in readiness for his breakfast. To fix this issue we bought a timed food dispenser so he’d get regular food at set times. He never quite got the hint that we were no longer the food providers, and continued to wake us up quite often, only to run downstairs when he heard the food drop at 7.30am like clockwork... !!

His health did seem to plague his life, as he always seemed to have something wrong with him. It’s a good thing we had insurance, although sometimes it felt the amount they’d insure of Olly reduced by the week! When we first moved in he had a urinary tract infection, probably driven by the stress of moving; then he needed an operation on his eyelids as they were ingrown and causing him grief. He was sensitive to certain foods, so we put him on an exclusion diet to stop it causing aggravation (he would scratch his face until it bled sometimes!). Little did we know that, amongst all the surface-level chaos that were involved in what seemed like monthly visits to the vet (with the bills on top), that there was another deep rooted issue lurking that would prove to be terminal. 

It all came to light as we were selling our house. Olly was subdued for a couple of days, which wasn’t completely unusual behaviour given the turbulent year he’d had having an eye operation and infections. He would usually be his buoyant usual self after a day or two, but once he stopped drinking this time it became clear was a very different case. Rachel took him to the vets, where they discovered his breathing was rapid, he was severely dehydrated and there was fluid in his lungs. He nearly died that night, but the vets managed to save him and he was transferred to the larger veterinary hospital for overnight care. He was kept in for two days in total whilst they stabilised him. It was then they were able to examine him properly and discover that he had a heart murmur caused by a genetic heart disease, which was common with his breed. He would need to be on 5 pills daily for the rest of his life. It was worrying news.

The vet was unsure of his life expectancy at that point “you could have him for a few months, or a few years”. This wasn’t what we wanted to hear; he was 6 years old and up until this point had been full of life. He was our very own dopey dose of positive energy each day. At this point we were relieved that he was alive and there was a chance all could return to normal if the pills worked. That was a big if... we’d had experience already of how much he hated having eyedrops after his operation the year before. There was added complication of being told the side effects of the pills that would stop his heart from clotting would also suppress his appetite and dehydrate him. It was going to be an uphill struggle. 

I went to pick him up whilst Rachel was at work. As I let him out of his basket it quickly became apparent that he was not quite himself. He stumbled into the kitchen to his water bowl, which is where he stayed for the rest of the day. I watched as he tentatively lapped up some water occasionally and then rest. He was exhausted and very flat; no purring, none of his usual energy - it was like a part of him had already died.

He didn’t eat anything that day, which was worrying given how much he had loved food up until this point (he was a notoriously greedy shite who would eat until he threw up). Giving him pills at first was very traumatic for him, because the YouTube video we’d settled on following showed the guy (a vet) putting the pill at the back of his cat’s throat after simply opening the jaw. Unfortunately Olly did not play ball quite in the same way, refusing to open his mouth. With him being so weak and hardly putting up a fight, it was horrendous to know we were putting him under such stress; and there were a couple of occasions where it took so long to get him to take the pill that they’d started disintegrating and left his mouth with a horrible taste and foam coming out of his poor mouth. We had to come up with another battle plan: hide the pills in food and treats he’d like so he wouldn’t realise he was being drugged. We tried hiding the pills in his favourite Felix jelly pouches, but he quickly started to sniff them out and then rejecting Felix altogether. Quite quickly he was losing interest in other foods that had previously worked too. We were starting to run out of food he would eat, and also any ideas to get him to take them (it felt like he was losing trust in all of the food we were giving him, and rightly so!).

Some mouldable treats arrived, which worked for a few days, but he soon wised up to those as well. Rachel then ordered a special syringe that would squirt both water and the pill into his throat - we still had to get his throat open, but it became the most effective, albeit still stressful, approach. We soon noticed he was eating less and less food, to the point where he wasn’t eating any solids at all; If we could get him to eat one pouch per day of any type of food then we had done well, compared to the 4 he’d easily gobble up beforehand. He’d always been a big, chunky boy, but for the first time we could feel the bone along his back. As he ate less each day, over the next couple of weeks it became very clear he was wasting away in front of our eyes, and there was seemingly less and less we could do about it. We made an appointment with the vet for Friday 2nd October and they sent his blood off for a comprehensive test to see if there was anything else underlying. They were clearly concerned as he’d lost 25% of his bodyweight and wasn’t eating any solid food - their tone said it all: that it wasn’t looking good for Olly. We were told they’d contact us Monday or Tuesday with the results and that we should discuss a plan for him then.

It was the Monday that we received the call. His kidneys were failing under the pressure being put on them by the drugs to keep his heart working, and the  weakened state of his body. His organs were now working against each other, and he had all but stopped eating. On the Tuesday they had prescribed potassium liquid to take and another liquid to improve his appetite, both to be taken once per day - the poor boy was now up to 7 potentially traumatic pills/liquids. The vet was very honest with us that it wasn’t looking good, and we should consider our options at this point if it doesn’t work. At that point we thought we’d see how it went for the week and give it until Wednesday 14th October and if there was no improvement then we’d bring him back and give him the peace he deserved, but Olly’s reaction to the first dose was really not good. He clearly hated the taste of the appetite inducing liquid, and it seemed to have the opposite effect. Rachel and I didn’t want him to suffer unnecessarily if it looked like it wasn’t working. By Thursday’s doses things had only gotten worse, he now was barely drinking, and we could only get him to eat Sheba liquid treats; even that was once or twice per day. His calorie and liquid intake was extremely low, so by the end of Thursday we had both agreed that we didn’t want him to suffer anymore; it simply wasn’t fair on him. It was heartbreaking to see that even the simplest of exercise would now tire him out easily - even getting up and enjoying a stroke would result in him sitting down after a couple of minutes looking subdued again.

Olly hadn’t been the same since he came home from the veterinary hospital. We’d seen flashes of his beautiful personality and happy nature, but it was becoming too few and far between that he was himself. We agreed to call the vets on Friday and stop his medication. It was important to try and make Olly’s final day or two as comfortable as possible, and the trauma of receiving pills now seemed an unnecessary pain for him. Rachel didn’t give him the medication on Friday morning, and called the vets to arrange for Olly to be put to a peaceful sleep at 11am on Saturday. And now Olly’s terminal countdown to a peaceful sleep had now begun. 

The entirety of Friday 9th October was spent with both of us at home with Olly, giving him as much care and love as he would put up with. We brought out the catnip, which he went wild for until he got tired and sat back down. We brought out his favourite cat brush, which he lapped up until he once again needed to sit back down. He enjoyed some Sheba treats and even disappeared outside until midnight (resulting in me walking the streets calling for him, only for him to return on his own accord, meowing like he used to outside the front door). It was the first time we’d seen him consistently more happy and comfortable for a number of weeks.

It was far too quickly that Saturday 10th October arrived (today). I woke up before 7am feeling sick. I went out to the landing and sat with Olly, who was in his usual spot by the top of the stairs, which had been his residence for the past couple of weeks. I looked into the bedroom to see Rachel and Jake asleep peacefully. I let Olly have a whiff of some catnip, which he enjoyed but it was short-lived compared to Friday. After a while of chilling with him, I got up to head downstairs and he followed. I gave him 2.5 Sheba liquid treats, which he lapped up. He seemed energetic, so I let him outside... and he leapt over to Margaret’s garden next door! That was nothing unusual for a healthy Olly, so it was lovely to see him bounce over the fence like a gazelle once more. As time went on we started to worry that he may be about to repeat last night and not come back until later on! As I began to panic and consider wandering the streets again, Rachel pointed out that he had in fact returned and was chilling at the back of the garden in amongst the plant pots. I was relieved at first, but it was now past 10am and I knew that when he walked in from the garden, that would be the last time he’d ever step foot through what was his territory. This was starting to become a reality for me selfishly, and he was blissfully unaware of the fate that lie ahead. 

Rachel was at the top of the stairs where Olly had settled back into his usual spot. She was giving him a good old brush, which he was loving. I came upstairs to join them and took a photo of the moment; he looked relaxed and happy, it was lovely to see. I sat on the top few steps and started brushing him; his purr was radiant and loud - louder than we’d heard it for a number of weeks - and in that moment it all hit me... this beautiful, kind little boy was about to be cruelly taken through euthanasia for something completely out of his control. I broke down in tears and couldn’t carry on brushing, placing the brush down near Rachel and tearfully declaring “I can’t do it” before crumbling into a blubbering heap on the stairs. Olly, being the happy little git he was, stood up at this point, and nuzzled his head into my head as I lay there crying. It set me off even more; trembling with a bittersweet mixture of joy and hysteric sadness, I was moved to even more tears by how affectionate he was still able to be, which also then set poor Rachel off. I’m a realist, but in that moment I felt like he was saying “hey it’s OK, I’m OK with this”. It was such a beautiful moment, it broke my heart - I should have been comforting him, but instead he was comforting me and Rachel. 

Before we knew it, it was quarter to eleven and we had to go. We tearfully placed him into the catnip-sprayed basket, and left for the vets. When we got there, they took him in and we waited outside whilst they attached the drip to him. They then invited us in, where we sat down, they brought him out and placed him on my lap with a towel to wrap him up. He was clearly anxious about being back at the vets but we comforted him best we could as the vet started the anaesthetic. Fighting tears and trying not to shake with sadness, we comforted him until his head suddenly dropped and he stopped moving. Within a minute, he was completely gone. I couldn’t contain my emotion. Our beautiful boy had passed peacefully in my arms whilst Rachel and I comforted him. He was now at peace. He’d never have to make an effort to breathe, eat, drink, fight or feel any pain again. Our Olly had been set free. His ashes will be scattered at the communal area of the crematorium. We have tufts of his fur from where we brushed him, which we’ll put in the picture of him that’ll end up in our new kitchen. He will never be forgotten.

Olly, I didn’t just lose a pet today, I lost a pal. I lost a member of my family; we were part of a pride. You were such a pure and wonderful character, I’m not sure how anyone ends up with a personality like yours. I will miss your conversational chirp as I walk through the door after a day of work. I will miss your violent “claws out” approach to being playful. I will miss you making us laugh with your unique way of living. I will miss your clumsiness. I will miss your greed. I will miss sunbathing with you. You brought joy to so many of our friends and family. You will always be loved, and very much missed. Rest in the peace that you deserve Olly. You will never be forgotten. All my love.

[stardew-imagines-me]

Farmer taking care sick bachelors!

Harvey

• “I’m not sick-“ Harvey tried to argue but was quickly cut short as you shoved him back down into the bed and frowned deeply

- “Not sick, my ass,” You mumbled as you tucked him back in bed and placed the back of your hand on his forehead

- if his pale skin and red nose wasn’t enough to judge off of, his high fever was. You quickly left to get a cold wash cloth and some cough syrup all while threatening that if he even dared got up, he would stay in that bed longer

• although harvey wasn’t too keen on letting someone else take care of him, he gratefully took the medicine you got for him and ate the soup you cooked

- it was probably the first time he’s ever had someone care for him so much since his parents

Elliot

• “my sweet, you don’t have to be going through such extreme measures to care for me,” Elliot coughed out, wheezing slightly

- “well if I was here to begin with, you wouldn’t be like this, Ellie,” you cup the side of his cheek from where your sitting and he smiles lightly, pushing his head into your hand like a cat

- “ah, that might be true,” he laughs breathily, and sneezes all over your hand

• Although aching to write, to move, to do everything but lay in bed, Elliot stays because he sees how worried you are

• Elliot happily accepted every freshly made meal and warm cup of tea you made especially for him with a big smile and a raspy chuckle

Shane

• “eh, I’m fine!” Shane grumbles loudly on his way to his workplace, but doubles over and rests a hand on his forehead to steady his dizziness

- “Shane, now isn’t the time to be stubborn!” You huff before going over his quickly and taking his left side to support him as you two gobble towards your farm house

- he complains the whole way, but deep down he finds it very comforting to have someone next to his side while in pain

• after lots of vomiting, Shane his curled up in your bed with a roll of crackers and some warm tea

- “feeling better?” You ask gently as you walk over and set next to his feet on the bed. Shane looks you over sternly before softening

- “yeah.. thanks for not leaving me. I probably would’ve been fired if I threw up on Morris’s freshly polished floors,” he joked staley and lets you wrap your hand around his comfortingly

Alex

• “Do you need anything else?” Alex was curled up on his side groaning when you had come to visit him, and automatically you knew something was wrong

- Evelyn explained how he had gotten food poisoning a few days ago and how he refused to eat anything since, just sleeping and vomiting

• obviously, you were worried and determined. It took a lot of backrubs and head scratches to even get him to roll over, but when he did, he smiled warily

- carefully, you spent the next hour and a half coxing him to eat. And when he finally accepted the spoon full of soup you held in front of his mouth, your whole expression lit up

- you noticed because Alex had smiled a little more confidently and took a for more cautious bites with your help

Sebastian

• Sebastian hadn’t talked the whole time he was sick; not that he didn’t want to, but that he physically couldn’t. His voice was completely gone and he couldn’t stand up without nearly passing out

• it took just a day to realize what had happened when you knocked on his door for the daily greeting - and to his demise, you took it upon yourself to nurse him back to health

• The next few days you came with a basket full of honeys, teas, and sugars that would soothe his aching throat and put a little something in his stomach

- although Sebastian looked like he wasn’t having any of it, he had to admit your tea making skills were like no others

- and it wasn’t like he had said no when you would ruffle his hair or make stupid puns. Though, he did his best to hide the smile, he failed each time

Sam

• Sam didn’t know how to take care of himself, that was obvious to you, but you hadn’t expected him to be so clueless when he had gotten a cold from being outside without a coat

• you let out a little hum each time he would sneeze and cough, and hummed even louder through his complaints of having to take his cough medicine so he would eventually stop whining

- he pouted when you did it, so you’d quickly kiss him on the nose and explain that if he had been wearing the sufficient amount of clothing, that he wouldn’t be in bed right now

• Sam used this time to steal cuddles even when you’d complain about getting sick too. He promised to take care of you like you had to him if you did, though he kept insisting you wouldn’t

- surprise, you got sick the next morning

[shastelly]

Face the Music - March Klance Prompts from MonthlyKlance - Day 28

You mean it’s not March...I didn't notice...explains the 90 degree weather...anyway enjoy this cheesefest

"Keith, please tell me you didn't do it."  Hunk begged.

 "Do what?"  Keith looked up from his space oatmeal at Hunk's horrified face.  

 "You know."  Hunk accused.

 "No, I don't.  That's why I asked."  Keith frowned, puzzled.

 Pidge snorted as she walked through the door to the dining area to find the two, across the table from each other, glaring, while they ate.

 "So, what'd Keith do?"  She asked, as she flopped down.

 "You'll see."  Hunk growled ominously.

 "I didn't think he'd really try it.  I mean there is no way he can keep it up.  Right?"  Keith looked over at Pidge appealing for her help.

 "Keep what up?"  Pidge narrowed her eyes.

 "Keith," Hunk spat his name, "bet Lance that he couldn't sing Disney songs all day - like literally from when he woke up to when he goes to bed."

 "YOU WHAT?!" Pidge drew back in horror.

 Keith cringed, "So, he can do it?"

 "He could probably do it for longer if he wouldn't lose his voice."  Hunk snapped.  "He knows like every Disney song from every Disney movie ever."

 At that moment the paladin in question breezed through the doorway singing, "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, Zip-a-dee-ay! My oh my, what a wonderful day!"  He sat down next to Keith and proceeded to serenade them for the next several minutes.

 "Lance, please eat something,” Hunk requested kindly as Lance was in the middle of singing something about being a cat.

 Lance shook his head.

 "Lance, you have to stop to eat.  Keith, tell him he can stop to eat!"  Hunk demanded.

 "Nope. No breaks, that was part of the bet."  Keith crossed his arms and frowned.  There was no way that Lance was winning this bet, it was too hard.

 Lance just shrugged and proceeded to a rousing rendition of “Be Our Guest”.

 "What did you bet?"  Pidge asked morbidly curious and considering getting cotton to stuff in her ears.  It wasn't that Lance was a bad singer or that she didn't like Disney, just all day was going to be too much.

 "If he loses, he takes pod cleaning duty for the next month."  Keith smiled to himself knowing he was going to get out of this chore that no one enjoyed.

 "Who gets pod cleaning duty?"  Shiro asked sharply as he walked in.

 "Uh…hi Shiro."  Keith looked a little nervous.

 "Lance and Keith have a bet."  Hunk filled him in.

 "Lance bet me he could sing Disney songs all day without stopping."  Keith nodded.  "There is no way he can do that, so I called him on it."

 Shiro blinked a couple of times and then sighed, "And if he loses, he's supposed to clean the pods, what if you lose?"

 "Won't happen."  Keith stated.

 "It will."  Hunk stated just as confident.

 "You are so going to lose," Pidge giggled.

 "Okay, but if at any point this interferes with training or we have an emergency I am calling it off, clear?"  Shiro rubbed the bridge of his nose.  He didn’t want to stop their rivalry or flirting or whatever they were calling it today, as long as it didn't put anyone in danger or interrupt their work.

 Training that morning to the soundtrack from Mulan and Hercules was almost amusing. Lance would at least sing quietly and seemed to be paying attention when Shiro gave out the instructions.  If anything, his hand to hand movements were improved, though the singing was impacting his long-range shooting and stamina, at least during the long or high notes.  Shiro let it go as minor.  He'd never seen Lance look quite so determined and Keith was starting to look nervous.  Shiro secretly thought Keith underestimated Lance too much and it would do him good to lose something easy like this to remind him that Lance usually backed up his boosts with action.

 Coran and Allura were mesmerized with the songs they had never heard before and had joined them in the training room to listen and ask questions about the stories the songs were from.  

 At lunch when Lance stood at the head of the table and started singing “Candle on the Water”, Shiro found himself taking his bowl of food goo and making excuses to leave. He couldn't help but think of Adam and well, tearing up in front of the team wasn't high on his list; he may be a big sap, but he was still their leader.  Apparently Allura had no such concerns because she had tears running down her face when Shiro got back and Lance was in the middle of “You'll be in My Heart” and Pidge was whispering the relevant story points.

 Apparently singing “It's a Small World After All” is a highly effective way of getting Keith annoyed and off guard.  Lance beat him twice in hand to hand combat signing that annoying little ditty that was never going to leave Hunk's brain and Hunk was glaring at Keith again. Pidge was strangely quiet during training until Shiro discovered and ordered her to remove the cotton from her ears. She instead began calling out requests for the most annoying Disney songs she could think of and, of course, a grinning Lance played right along.  Shiro pointed out that the team needed to learn to work through distractions, even annoying songs.  

 Lance was currently going through some of the less politically correct songs from Lady and the Tramp and Peter Pan.  Then it was “Heigh-Ho” and “I Got No Strings” and “I Just Can't Wait To Be King”. Lance actually followed Shiro around to sing “Following the Leader”.  

 Keith sighed as he turned the com off in Red.  They were doing flight drills and Lance was singing “Let's Go Fly A Kite”. He was starting to get concerned that he might actually lose this bet.  It had started out as a simple conversation about movies.  Lance liked movies, lots of movies, and he liked to tell Keith about them.  Keith had not seen a lot of movies.  It wasn't his dad's thing and then it’s not like his foster families took him out to movies and then at the Garrison he didn't have money to go.  The few movies he had seen had been courtesy of Shiro or Adam and it wasn't that he didn't like them.  He just didn't get why it was important or why Lance cared so much about them.  Lance had been going over the storyline to Hercules when Keith had snapped something along the lines of, he had something better to do than listen to some kids movie.

 Lance had frowned and a genuine hurt look had crossed his face before it flickered to anger. They had fought.  It hadn't been a nice fight.  It had been one of those, use what you know to make it hurt more, kind of fights.  Lance had at some point claimed to be a movie expert and especially a Disney expert and it wasn't his fault that Keith was an uncultured pig.  Keith told him Disney was overrated and so was Lance.  Lance had cried out as if in pain and somehow, they had reached a discussion of Disney music and Lance's love of said music and then there was the bet.  

 Keith had said if Lance lost, he had to clean the pods.  He knew Lance was afraid of them.  He knew it.  He'd talked to Lance about it before.  Lance had confided his fear to him, as if it wasn't obvious every time, he came up with fifty excuses to avoid using it if he was injured.  It usually took an order from Shiro to get him into one.  

 Keith knew Lance wouldn't want to do it.  He knew it would hurt him to have to clean the pods, but he made that the bet anyway. And then Lance had to go, and one up him.  He picked something Keith never would have dreamed of and to be honest he was a little terrified it was going to happen at this point.  Keith was not used to this kind of fear and he didn't like it.  It made him uncomfortable and an uncomfortable Keith is a cranky Keith.

 It was at the evening meal when Shiro realized Lance had not stopped to eat or drink anything all day.  He practically growled at the two of them.

 "It was part of the bet." Keith offered shrinking back.

 "And I said I would call it off if I needed to."  Shiro snapped.

 Lance scribbled on a piece of paper while somehow still singing “Hakuna Matata”. "Please Shiro, I don't want him to weasel out on a technicality.  I'm almost there!"  Lance gave Shiro his best puppy dog eyes.

 "No, you need to eat and drink.  I'm not sacrificing your health for this game.  We trained for hours and you didn't even get a drink of water?!" Shiro turned on him.

 Lance shrugged.

 "Drink."  Shiro ordered.  Lance looked over to Keith who had his arms crossed.  "He drinks and it doesn't call off the bet.  He eats and it doesn't call off the bet."  

 Keith glared and muttered something about cheating.

 Lance huffed mid song and scribbled on his paper again as he switched to “Part of Your World”.  "Compromise?  How about a rhythm song I can tap out while I eat and drink?"

 "Fine." Keith huffed before Shiro could even force him to agree.

 "Better. No more bets that involve not eating or drinking, got it?"

 "Yes." Keith turned back to his food goo.

 Lance nodded. As soon as his current song finished, he began tapping out “Trashing The Camp” with his hand while he gobbled his food goo and slurped down three hydration pouches.  

 Shiro cringed half certain that all of the food was going to make a reappearance, but Lance managed to keep it down and have it mostly swallowed before the song finished and he launched into “A Whole New World”.

 While settling down on the couches after the evening meal listening to Lance sing “Can You Feel The Love Tonight,” Keith found himself cringing.  It was almost over.  He was man enough to admit he was going to lose at this point.  Lance's voice was a little rough by now, but not "about to lose my voice" rough.  By the time the others were getting ready to turn in and Lance was singing and dancing to “Let It Go,” Keith decided to just tell him it was over.

 "It's the end of the day.  You win."  Keith muttered, despair coloring his tone.

 Lance looked over at him eyes gleaming and nodded.  In the spirit of the bet he continued singing all the way to his room and Keith could still hear the strains of “When You Wish Upon A Star” as the door slipped closed.

 The next morning came way too soon for Keith.  He barely slept a wink.  It was time, as they say, to face the music.  He sighed and climbed out of bed.  He slipped on something comfortable and moped and pouted his way to breakfast.  Lance was sitting at the table when he got there. When he saw Keith, his eyes widened and he gave him a friendly wave, before pulling out a pair of scissors and snipping them at him.

 "After breakfast, okay?" Lance asked with an eyebrow raised.

 "Yeah, okay." Keith's shoulders drooped even further, and he went to get his food.

 "What's after breakfast?"  Hunk asked eyeing the scissors.

 "Keith has to pay up.  He lost the bet."  Lance answered.

 "We still don't know what he bet.  We know what you would have had to do, but not him." Pidge narrowed her eyes.

 "You'll just have to wait and see."  Lance offered mysteriously.

 "You know my rule.  I'll call it off if I feel like I need to."  Shiro warned.

 "I won't hurt him Shiro."  Lance looked shocked that he would even suggest such a thing.

 "Okay."  Shiro answered warily.

 After breakfast Lance ushered Keith into the common room.  There was a chair sitting in the middle of the floor.  Lance gestured for the others to sit on the couches and Keith flopped into the chair.  

 "Now. Keith agreed that if he lost the bet, he would allow me to, in front of all of you, cut his hair!"  Lance finished the sentence with a dramatic draping of some kind of cape around Keith's front.  

 Keith's face burned bright red and he wouldn't meet anyone’s’ eyes.

 "Keith, are you sure?"  Shiro sighed. Everything about the Red Paladin screamed that he wanted to run away right now.  He did not like being the center of attention and no matter how much Lance teased him about it, he actually liked his haircut.  

 "Yes. I made the bet.  I'll see it through."  Keith answered determined.  He was not going to back out now.

 "Cool."  Lance produced a spray bottle, a comb, and the scissors.  "I do actually cut my own hair and Hunk's so it's not like I haven't done this before.  I promise no mohawks."  Lance set to work.  The others watched grins slowly working their way onto their faces as Keith cringed and Lance worked, tongue stuck out the side of his mouth as he concentrated.  

 "There. Done."  Lance announced about fifteen minutes later.  

 Keith looked down at the hair scattered around him and wondered what Lance had done to him.  Would it be super short?  Would he have cut it crooked?  Would it be cut like Lance's or Hunk's?  He wasn't sure he wanted to know.

 "Hey."  Lance stepped into his line of sight like he'd been trying to get his attention. "Don't you want to see?" Lance pointed to a mirror set up on the other side of the room.

 "I…um…yeah I guess."  Keith sighed.

 Lance slipped the cape from his shoulders and proceeded to cleaning up the chunks of hair from the floor.  No one else in the room was saying anything.  Keith looked around to each of their faces, trying to get a hint, but they all seemed carefully blank.  He walked slowly to the mirror and then stood in shock at his reflection.  It was still his hair cut.  It was shorter, but definitely still his style, just more like it was before they got onto the castle and he'd let it grow for all these months without a trim.

 "But, it's still, I mean, I still have a…?"  

 Lance looked over at him in amusement, "Are you admitting to having a mullet, Mullet?"

 "What? No."  Keith snapped back, but he couldn't keep the smile off of his face. "I just thought, I mean you always complain about it, but you didn't change it.  You just trimmed it?"  

 "Of course, I trimmed it.  Why do you think I wanted to cut it?  Those split ends were awful."  Lance mocked, though his eyes were softer than his words.  "Besides, if I gave you a different style what would I call you? I mean, I'm too used to calling you Mullet, Mullet."

 "Oh, um, well thanks."  Keith gave him a soft smile in return.  

[raptorginger]

Samhain: Chapter 3 - Ostara

for @reysexualkylo

Prologue, Chapter 1, Chapter 2

It had been several weeks since The Incident, as Rey thought of it.  

She had woken up back on the couch, wrapped in her favorite blanket, totally alone save for Dusty.  The cat had taken up position on the back of the couch and was staring unblinking at a spot on the floor behind her.  Rey had sat up and rubbed her face.

“What a fucked up dream,” she groaned to herself.  Dusty hardly moved a hair, which was strange.  A low rumble was coming from him, and Rey stilled.  

“It was a dream...right?” she asked Dusty.

The cat continued to growl.

Rey got up and walked around her couch to the spot Dusty was staring at.  Where the monster had been standing in her dream  There was a faint scorch mark and a bit of ash on the wood floor.  Rey paled.  No, it couldn’t be.  Maybe it had come from an ember from the fire she’d had a while back.  That she forgot to clean up and didn’t notice until now.  Riiight.

And then there’d been that guy.  His voice had been so familiar.  He knew her name.  Tried to throw himself in front of her.  That one still floored Rey.  Her own parents hadn’t loved her enough to stick around, but some guy had thrown himself in front of some clawed monster for her.  Well, it HAD been a dream.  Rey quickly scanned her living room and listened for sounds that shouldn’t be.  Nothing.  She was alone.  Last time a voice had told her she wasn’t alone.  Had that been his voice?  The man in black?

“If that was you, you’re more approachable in sweats,” Rey muttered to herself.  More attractive too.  He’d been tall and broad, with pale skin and a mop of unkempt black hair.  Rey gave herself a shake and went to the kitchen to make a cup of tea like she always did when she was out of sorts.

She spent the next several days constantly looking over her shoulder.  She was distracted at work, every clang in the shop making her jump.  She dropped her wrenches more times than she could count.  Her boss, Poe Dameron, went so far as to pull her into his office to ask if she was alright.

With a concerned tilt of his swarthy head, he asked, “Did something happen, Rey?  You’re pretty jumpy these days.”

Rey put on her brightest smile and replied, “Oh no, Boss!  Just a bit distracted is all.”

Poe leaned back in his chair and regarded her with a skeptical expression.  Rey fidgeted under his scrutiny and winced when she felt a strange pressure behind her eyes.  She rubbed them and tried to push the feeling out.  Poe flinched and sat back up.  

“Right,” he muttered, like he knew she wasn’t telling the truth.  “Well, try to stay focused, Rey.  I can have Finn help you out if you want.  We don’t need a Land Rover falling on you,” he said in a more jovial tone.

Rey laughed at the weak joke, and she liked Finn well enough, but she didn’t need the help, bristling slightly at the suggestion.  “No need, Boss.  I’m fine.”

The idea that Poe thought the quality of her work was slipping jolted Rey back to the present, and she resolved to put this whole dream business behind her.  She was a damn good mechanic, and the thought of disappointing a customer was practically offensive to her.  She noticed Finn hovering a bit more than was called for in the ensuing days, but she tried not to take it personally.  She knew Poe was just trying to watch the shop’s back.  They worked on a lot of high end vehicles, and high end vehicles came with high maintenance clients.  They didn’t need a lawsuit or a bad review.

Things went back to normal shortly after that.  The first hints of spring began to creep through the snow and chill of winter, which made a lot of people happy.  Except Rey.  Slush and mud is what it meant to her.  Although, the sun did shine warmer, which she enjoyed.  Too bad the snow it shined on looked filthy and disgusting.

Rey gently lowered the hood of the Porsche she was tuning up, wiping her greasy hands on the rag she kept in her belt.  She jotted a couple more things on the receipt before she handed it to Poe to give the customer.  

“Tell Mr. Biggs that just because his car can go from 0-160 in 2.5 seconds doesn’t mean it should,” Rey muttered.

“Will do,” Poe chuckled.  “How’s it going these days Rey?  Any more strange dreams?”

“No, not since…” Rey looked up suddenly.  She hadn’t told Poe about the weird dream.  Had she?  She was sure she hadn’t told anyone.  Poe and Finn were probably her closest friends, and she was sure she hadn’t mentioned it to either of them.  It was too weird.  Besides, Poe would have gotten all psychoanalytical saying how it meant she needed to get laid, and Finn would have said it meant she needed to “confront her past” or some shit.  

Poe was looking at her with a curious expression on his face.  Like he knew something she didn’t.  She’d seen that look before.  On Luke’s face last time she’d seen him.  Rey cocked her head to the side and wiped her hands with her rag some more.  “Do you know a Luke Skywalker?” she asked.

Poe made a “beats me” expression and shrugged.  “Name sounds kinda familiar.  Customer maybe.  Why?”

Rey shrugged back.  He was lying.  She knew it.  “No reason,” she replied as she went to the locker room to scrub out and change.  Unzipping her blue-grey jumpsuit and kicking off her work boots, she tugged on her jeans and laced up her Converse.  Her arms were covered in motor oil and grease, so she grabbed her tin of strong soap and went to the bathroom.  She scrubbed and scrubbed until her hands and arms were raw and red, but clean.  She washed her face next before heading back to her locker to put on her t-shirt.  She rubbed a bit of Eucerin mixed with Lollia hand cream over her arms and hands before she slipped on her black Patagonia sweater and headed home.  She was grateful for the thick rubber soles of her shoes as she headed through the slush and muck of the municipal parking lot to her car.

She frowned at some guy who was leering at her a few feet from her car in the lot.  He was smoking a cigarette, his motions turning blatantly suggestive and his eyes looking her up and down.  Rey imagined how funny it would be if his lighter caught fire in his pocket right next to his crotch.  The man suddenly yelped as his pocket starting burning, smoke curling from his hip.  Rey figured an ember from the cigarette must have burned through the plastic to the butane.

“Serves you right, prick,” she grumbled as she turned the key in the ignition and sped off, watching the man hop and flap his arms in her rearview mirror.

***

Pulling into her garage, Rey didn’t see anything amiss, but she felt a prickling sensation at the back of her neck.  Getting out of her car, she closed the door as quietly as she could and grabbed a crowbar off of the nearby shelf.  Holding it in front of her, she quietly open the door and tiptoed into the mudroom, shutting it softly behind her.  She heard nothing, not even Dusty.  She relaxed a little.  If Dusty wasn’t hissing or growling, things should be alright.  Unless…  Rey paled at the thought.  Holding the crowbar in both hands, she crept into her kitchen.  Nothing out of place.  No weird smells.

“Dusty!” she hissed.  “Dusty!”

Rey breathed a sigh of relief when she heard a delicate meow followed by a soft thump.  She set her crowbar down on the counter and pulled off her shoes, tossing them near the washer behind her as Dusty sauntered into view, tail held proudly.  Dusty stretched luxuriously before jumping up onto the kitchen island and nuzzling Rey’s arm.  She gave the cat a gentle scratch behind the ears, making him purr.  She poured some food into his bowl and sprinkled a few treats on top, earning her several excited yowls.  She watched Dusty gobble up his food for a minute before she headed towards her bedroom.  She stripped her clothes off unceremoniously, leaving them in a pile near her hamper, before she walked the few remaining paces to her adjoining bathroom. Turning the knob all the way towards the ‘H,’ Rey finished undressing, hanging her bra on the door handle and tossing her underwear back into the bedroom.  She watched the water rush out of the faucet for a moment, enjoying the swirling of the steam around the stream of water before she tugged the shower pull.  She wished she had some essential oils or something handy.  Rey closed her eyes and imagined the scents of lavender and sandalwood wafting around her, soothing her frazzled nerves.  When she opened them, she swore the scents were there, teasing her nose.  She got in the shower without a second thought, attributing it to her overactive imagination.  As she rinsed out her conditioner, Rey thought she saw the shadow of a man out of the corner of her eye.  Peeking out of the shower curtain, she only saw her blinking owlish eyes staring back at her in the foggy mirror.  She shook her head and finished her shower, determined to put these strange feelings aside for the rest of the evening.

After heating a bit of her leftover Pad Thai, Rey planted herself on her couch and switched on Ol’ Reliable, aka Netflix.  She navigated to her favorite John Mulaney special and focused on eating her leftovers without making a mess.  It didn’t take long for Dusty to curl up next to her hip, trying to force her off the small couch so he could lounge.  Eventually, Rey did end up on the floor somehow, her empty bowl on the coffee table.  The special over, she flipped to another standby of hers, Daredevil.  She was hardly five minutes into the first episode before she was on her side and her head was nestled against a pillow she’d thrown on the floor.  Her eyes drifted closed, and she was out.

***

When Rey opened her eyes, she was standing outside a rusted iron gate.  Dead leaves and snow swirled in the yard before her, a flagstone path leading up to a dark and foreboding old home.  Compelled by some force she couldn’t comprehend, Rey pushed the latch down on the gate, the door swinging open with a groan of protest, and stepped into the yard.  Walking slowly up the path, she sensed no danger in front of her, only a feeling of…  What was that feeling?  Rey turned the warm feeling over and over in her mind, as if it was some kind of stone or object she could examine.  It was foreign, strange, but intoxicating.  It felt like...she belonged here.  That’s what was in front of her, belonging.  Rey wrapped her arms around her slim body, trying to hold the feeling close.

Walking up the creaking porch steps, Rey paused at the massive front door.  It was maybe one and a half times the size of a normal door.  Dark stained wood, long ago scarred by weather or...something.  Heavy.  A massive pane of stained glass depicting a five pointed star within a circle took up almost half of the door.  Rey pushed the handle down, and the door swung open easily for her.  A dark foyer stood before her, and Rey stepped inside cautiously.  A dim sconce was on her right.  Peeking past the open archway, Rey saw a tidy, if old, living room, the fireplace dark.  Rey could barely make out bookshelves lining the walls.  Just past the archway was a set of stairs, a dark hallway beside them leading towards the back of the house.  Rey saw a large leather book on the coffee table, but didn’t enter the room to investigate.  The belonging feeling wasn’t in here.

Rey walked up the stairs timidly, trying not to make a sound.  On the landing, Rey peeked in the door on her right.  Study.  There was a hallway on her left.  Walking to the end of the hallway, Rey pushed open the half closed door that blocked her way.  Rey gasped softly.  A fire was dying in the small hearth.  An armchair sat beside the fireplace, a lamp beside it.  In the middle of the room stood a massive four poster bed, occupied by a huge black dog and a very familiar looking sleeping man.  The dog was watching her, a curious expression on its face.  Rey walked into the room cautiously, the old wooden floor silent beneath her feet.  Reaching the edge of the bed, she held her fingers out to the dog, who gave them a friendly snuffle.  The dog rested his head on his massive paws after giving Rey a sniff, and Rey figured that meant it was okay to approach the sleeping man.

Rey looked down at the sleeping man.  He was lying on his side, his pale face pinched and pained.  He was having a dream, and not a very pleasant one, if Rey had to guess.  His hair was a dark mess against the white of the pillowcase, and Rey reached out to smooth some of the strands back from his damp forehead.  Rey flinched and retracted her fingers when the man let out a whimpering sound, clutching his blankets tighter to his chest.  

“Please don’t,” he was begging some invisible assailant.  “Don’t hurt her.  Please.”

The dog lying at the foot of the bed let out a mournful whine and looked at Rey with beseeching eyes.

“Who?  Don’t hurt who?” Rey whispered, reaching out again.  She was pretty sure she knew the answer already.  She felt it deep in the marrow of her bones, perhaps etched there since time immemorial.  

“Don’t hurt Rey.  Take me instead,” he whimpered.

Rey sat on the edge of the bed and smoothed his hair back, resting her other hand gently on his shoulder.  “Shh.  I’m here.  No one’s hurting me.”  Rey paused and probed the depths of her mind, searching for something.  Finding a thread she didn’t realize was there, she touched it with her mind.  She felt rather than heard the name ‘Ben’ echo across her mind.

“I’m here, Ben,” she whispered as she smoothed his hair again.  Saying his name felt right.  “Ben,” she whispered again, enjoying the sound, the feel of it on her tongue.

Ben’s eyes shot open, and before Rey knew it, he’d seized her and had her pinned beneath him.  His eyes were wide, his pupils dilated in fear.  His chest was heaving.  Rey was shocked at the number of scars that ran across the pale skin of his torso.  He was holding her by the wrists, and she flexed her hands experimentally.  Ben loosened his grasp but did not let her up.

“Are you really here?” he asked in a raspy voice.  It sounded as if he’d been screaming.  Rey’s heart gave a lurch at the thought of him in pain.

Rey licked her lip.  She noticed his gaze flick to the tiny movement.  Was she?  “I don’t know,” she murmured honestly.

Ben hummed with exhaustion and flopped beside her on the bed, pulling her to him and holding tight.  Rey tucked the blankets around them both and let herself drift off with him breathing steadily behind her in the downy softness of his bed.

She woke again with a start, disappointed to find herself back on her cold hard floor, her stomach clenching unpleasantly.  Looking at her phone, she saw that it was well past two in the morning.  She groaned and rose stiffly, joints cracking, and shambled to her bed.  

She was snuggled deep in her covers when she sighed and closed her eyes, Dusty making himself comfortable at her feet, letting out an indignant meow at something.  Rey’s eyes shot open again when she felt strong arms wrap around her and pull her close to a warm, familiar chest.  One curled hand made its home near her heart, and she knew he could feel its frantic beat.

“I’m not going anywhere, Rey.  My Little Bird,” Ben murmured into her hair as his hand spread over her heart, feeling its beat.  “I’m Ben, by the way.”

“I know,” Rey replied quietly, closing her eyes with a smile.

[greatdrams]

The GreatDrams Bourbon Lover’s Guide to Whiskey Tourism in Kentucky

Here at GreatDrams we'll be focusing on Bourbon over the next two weeks. What better way to get started than with a whiskey holiday!

Now, I don’t know about you but I’ve wanted to visit Kentucky for years. To make the pilgrimage, to visit the distilleries, to meet the people and to enjoy fantastic bourbon… and finally this happened in September 2018. Here is The GreatDrams Bourbon Lover's Guide to Whiskey Tourism in Kentucky.

GETTING THERE

If you’re travelling from the UK, I found flying from Manchester to Heathrow to Chicago and on to Lexington the easiest way, although choosing to fly with British Airways was definitely not the best as they failed in pretty much every way both ways, across all five flights but the rant about that will stay to Facebook and their complaints email address.

There are other travel options when visiting Kentucky from the UK;

London Heathrow to Atlanta and on to Lexington

London Heathrow to Chicago and on to Cincinnati and getting a $110 cab to Lexington

London Heathrow to New York JFK and on to Lexington

And many more.

It will take time to get there, but like all good pilgrimages, you get out what effort you put in and I was truly rewarded with brilliance during my time whilst visiting Kentucky.

WHERE TO STAY

I stayed at the 21c Hotel in Downtown Lexington, a museum hotel that was somewhere between inspiring and mightily random - for example there were big, 4ft blue plastic penguins everywhere and in all the corridors, and the maid (I assume) even put one in my room one morning - but incredibly comfortable and with a great local beer and whiskey menu… and the food was fantastic, so well worth a stay if you’re in the area.

GETTING AROUND

Distilleries in Kentucky are, like Scotland and Ireland, relatively well spread out so you will need a car to get around and I would highly recommend hiring a driver or asking who you are with REALLY nicely to be the designated driver as, whilst not all distilleries let you sample their whiskeys, you might pick up a sample or pass a bar along the way you want to try some wonderful Bourbon, Rye, Wheated Bourbon or concept whiskeys in.

Two of the days I was in Kentucky I had meetings so was very fortunate that one of the people I was seeing, Brian, was awesome enough to drive me around to various distilleries, he then arranged a private tour for my final day with a company called Bottled in Bond Tours.

Bottled in Bond Tours is owned by a well-travelled chap named Nate who is one of the most fantastically enthusiastic people about all things Kentucky, Bourbon and whiskey that I’ve met. A really nice guy who tailors your time with him to exactly what you want to do, see and experience. Nate also has connections in most of the distilleries so can get you to access things you probably would not otherwise be able to on your own.

THE BARS

I did not have a lot of time to explore the bar scene due to my schedule but did enjoy a couple of fantastic bars in Lexington, Kentucky.

The Bluegrass Tavern

Address: 1303, 115 Cheapside, Lexington, KY 40507, United States

Website: http://www.thebluegrasstavern.com

Opening Time: 5:00 pm

What a bar! Owned by a great guy named Sean who, along with the previous owners of the bar, have amassed an 800+ bottle strong collection of Bourbon ranging from the classics to the rarest and the obscure.

Make sure you go to this bar, it is affectionately described by their bartenders as a 'bourbon-centric dive bar’ and man did it deliver not only the American bar experience I love, with good local beers and superb Bourbon, but the guys there are awesome. Bartender Austin in particular was great at showing me superb whiskeys they have in that I would not be able to try anywhere else and it was great just to spend hours chatting about Bourbon and Kentucky with him. Whilst there I tried some belters including:

Chicken Cock Bourbon (chosen for the name, chosen again for how great it tasted)

Weller 12 Year Old

Wild Turkey Decades

Wilderness Trail Single Barrel

Wilderness Trail 4 Year Old Rye

Russell’s Reserve Bluegrass Tavern Barrel Select ‘Gobble Gobble Gulp’ exclusive to the bar

Cathop

Not a Bourbon bar at all, in fact I’m not sure I saw a Bourbon on the bar whilst there, but they had around a hundred, maybe more craft beers on tap ranging from all different styles and flavours.

The food here was great too, I had the Vladimir Poutine - essentially chips, gravy and cheese curd with a bit of brisket on top… a Canadian delicacy that I had not had in a couple of years so fancied tucking in again.

Bourbon on Rye

Address: 115 W Main St, Lexington, KY 40507, USA

Website: https://www.facebook.com/bourbononrye/

Opening Time: 4:00 pm

Simply put; this is where great Bourbon lives. A must visit.

THE DISTILLERIES

In the three days I was in Kentucky I managed to visit nine distilleries in total, each and every one I would recommend that you all visit too. One thing that did annoy me about a bunch of them was how little you are able to sample and to try at the distilleries, apparently a few of them pulled back on samples as people turned up and drank loads then went away again - personally I think that is a bit of a smokescreen as you should want people to try your stuff as they are more than likely to then buy something from the store. Here they are, in the order I visited them as it would be rude to rank them:

Castle & Key

Address: 4445 McCracken Pike, Frankfort, KY 40601, USA

Website: https://castleandkey.com/

When I visited this distillery was not open to the public, fortunately I was able to walk around it for an hour and a half or so with one of their top dogs, Brett, who took me through the whole story, the history and the vision for the place. When open this will be one of the nicest distilleries on the planet. Make sure you also try, and buy, their gin - phenomenal.

Maker’s Mark

Address: 3350 Burks Spring Rd, Loretto, KY 40037, USA

Website: https://www.makersmark.com/

Opening Time: 9:30 am

An icon of the Bourbon world, this distillery was great to see in person and I loved the small design touches around the place including the bottle outline being built into the window shutters, the red accent detail from the wax being included tastefully throughout the site and ability to wax dip your own bottle… which I dutifully did.

Heaven Hill

Address: 528 West Main St. Louisville, KY 40202

Website: https://www.heavenhill.com

Opening Time: 9:00 am

I only popped into the ship at this one as my time was pressed, but managed to pick up a single barrel Old Fitzgerald 14 Year Old and a McKenna (won best American single barrel whiskey this year).

Willett

Address: 1869 Loretto Road Bardstown, Kentucky 40004

Website: https://www.kentuckybourbonwhiskey.com/

Opening Time: 9:30 am

Did the full tour here and it was great, a really small distillery given the amount of brands and product they churn out but the tasting here was lovely as was the walk around the site… their distillery cat was cute too, and enjoyed a little tickle between stops on the tour.

Wilderness Trail

Address: 4095 Lebanon Rd, Danville, KY 40422, USA

Website: http://wildernesstraildistillery.com/

Opening Time: 10:00 am

These guys are incredible, distillers Pat and Shane have created something special here - their background in yeast cultivation and process efficiency for others has set them and their distillery up to be über successful as they have done from filling just one barrel of spirit a day in 2013 using a single pot still to 220 barrels being filled a day in 2018 to become the 14th biggest Bourbon producer in the United States. Incredible how these guys have done it and what they are on the cusp of achieving. Definitely check them out - they sell a single barrel exclusive in the distillery shop too which is fantastic.

Buffalo Trace

Address:  113 Great Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, KY 40601, USA

Website: https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/

Opening Time: 9:00 am

Like Maker’s, an icon of the Bourbon industry and one you just have to visit even if it is just for the photo in front of the iconic water tower. One of the best and most historic distilleries I visited, and the tour guide Lee had great stories and fascinating tales. A good guy too. The tasting at the end of the tour was basic but good. One let down here was that there were no distillery exclusive whiskies to buy - a HUGE missed opportunity in my opinion, as always - and no premium whiskies either. There was a bottle of Blanton’s, but I had seen it elsewhere too.

Wild Turkey

Address: 1417 Versailles Rd, Lawrenceburg, KY 40342, USA

Website: https://wildturkeybourbon.com

Opening Time: 9:00 am

Great distillery, a nice - and reasonably priced - tasting bar downstairs and lots of random things to buy in the store including a gobbler - see my instagram. Their main corridor includes a nice way of explaining their history too.

Woodford Reserve

Address: 7855 McCracken Pike, Versailles, KY 40383-9781

Website: https://www.woodfordreserve.com

Opening Time: 9:00 am

Like Buffalo Trace and Maker’s, an icon of the Bourbon industry and one of the quaintest and truly American-designed distilleries I’ve visited. A great tour too, albeit quite stage-managed and overly scripted, that finishes with a basic tasting.

Bluegrass Distillers

Address: 501 W 6th St #165, Lexington, KY 40508, USA

Website: https://www.bluegrassdistillers.com/

Opening Time: 10:00 am

An unexpected one this, and one that is within walking distance from the hotel I stayed in (roughly 25 minutes each way). This was the smallest distillery of all I visited, but one of the coolest as you get to bottle your own Bourbon (or rye) right there in the distillery shop - something none of the others offered at all, and was an instant sale. Well worth checking them out. They produce Wheated Bourbon too, which you can bottle, and is akin to Pappy and Weller in base flavour profile and character.

The post The GreatDrams Bourbon Lover’s Guide to Whiskey Tourism in Kentucky appeared first on GreatDrams.

from GreatDrams http://bit.ly/2UQAM7Z Greg

[jungkookienoona]

The Meme and His Tutor

Part 32: The Day Jungkook Was Mischievous 

Co-written with @tragicshadows

Recommended Song: Ma City by BTS

|All Chapters|Masterlist|

Summary:

Your second day of living in Korea and Jungkook decided to mess around with paint.

Genre: Fluff, comedy

Pairing: Jungkook X Reader (Y/N)

Warnings: Swearing

Word Count: 8964

Length: 32/?

It wasn't your alarm that woke you up that morning. Nor was it your phone. In fact, it was the strange sensation of something wet touching your face. Licking it actually. You turned away from the strange feeling with a groan, intent on ignoring it until a semi-familiar yip was heard. Groggy memories of the last 24 hours came back to you. Another yip. Ah, Miri. Miri was what had woken you up.

You sighed when the pup climbed over your body and bumped her wet nose against your cheek. No point ignoring the inevitable. You would have to get up. The poor girl was probably starving, so you finally gave in and opened your eyes.

"Mornin' Miri," you mumbled, sitting up and scratching her behind her ear. "You hungry?"

Her tail wagged behind her and her tongue poked out adorably.

"I'll take that as a yes. Let's get some brekkie, then."

You ruffled her fur then climbed out of bed, an 'aw' slipping past your lips as she hopped off after you with her short legs.

You found the cupboard in the kitchen where Jin had told you he stored Miri's food. She sat patiently beside her bowl and you filled it up before getting her fresh water. With Miri sorted, it was time to make yourself breakfast.

You scurried over to one of your boxes labelled 'cereal' and opened it to reveal breakfast cereals from England and grabbed the Coco Shreddies. Childish? Yes. Did you feel bad about it? No. You needed that chocolatey goodness.

Hallelujah! There was milk! Two large cartons sat on the shelf and you made a mental note to thank Jungkook. You didn't know what you would have done without it. There also a carton of orange juice inside, so you poured yourself a drink and went to sit at the kitchen table to watch Miri gobble up her breakfast.

You couldn't believe you were the owner of such a small fluffy cloud.

She followed you back into your bedroom after breakfast, curling up on your lap when you sat on the edge of the bed as your phone switched back on. The first notification was Snow. Jungkook had sent you a picture.

Opening the app you were immediately greeted to a smiling shirtless Kookie.

'Good morning Jagi.'

That was followed by yet another selca of him in a white t-shirt with a grey beanie: 'Are you up yet loser? We got some shit to do today.'

It was sent only ten minutes ago so you sent a selca back of you holding Miri up to cover most of your face.

'Morning! I just need to get washed and changed.'

Your phone buzzed almost instantly saying that he would leave the dorm in a few minutes to give you the chance to get ready.

Once again delving into your suitcase, you pulled out an outfit you thought would be suitable for the day and hurried to the bathroom. You thanked fuck that you had already unpacked your bathroom supplies when getting ready for bed the night before.

A knock at the door sounded just as you were hopping into a pair of sweatpants. Miri jumped off your bed and paused in the doorway, head tilted towards the door as if asking if you were going to answer it. You ran a hand through your hair and waddled to the entrance.

You opened the door to reveal Jungkook with his famous bunny grin. Accompanying his t-shirt and beanie combo was a pair of grey sweats and tan timberlands, a backpack hooked over his shoulder.

"Get some shoes on Kitten, we're going shopping."

"Paint shopping?" You asked hopefully.

Jungkook nodded. "Paint and whatever else you feel you need. Furniture, etcetera."

Shoving on a pair of converse, you made sure you had everything you needed before dropping to a crouch and picking up Miri for a cuddle before you left.

"Did you two do some bonding when I left last night?"

"Mhm. I let her sleep on the bed with me last night."

Jungkook smiled and crouched down to pet her.

"Enjoy it while it lasts, pupper. Today is the second date so one more and I'll be sleeping in that bed too."

The image of you and Jungkook cuddled up in bed with Miri stretched between you made you smile. Putting your puppy down, you said goodbye and closed the door. The action pained you but she couldn't come.

"Shouldn't you let her out to do her... business... before we leave? She's probably been holding it in since you fell asleep."

You eyes widened. You had completely forgot! The only pets you had before were cats and they were pretty independent.

"Shit!"

You quickly popped back inside, found Miri's leash and attached it to the small pup.

"Do you think we could take her for a little walk first then? You didn't say if this apartment block had a garden so..."

"There's a small courtyard behind the building," Jungkook said leading the way towards the elevator. "But a walk is probably better. You'll get to see more of where you live."

You watched Miri trotting along slightly ahead of you with her tiny legs.

"Yeah. And it would be good exercise for her. Look at her small legs go!"

"She's so adorable," Jungkook giggled. "Just like you."

You scowled at him and picked Miri up as you finally reached the elevator. The little poodle gave a small bark and licked your face. She squirmed on the ride down so her chin rest on your shoulder. Jungkook couldn't stop cooing at her which quickly made your scowl disappear. He was too sweet.

On the ground floor, Jungkook showed you the little courtyard through a glass door before heading outside and onto the street.

Jungkook took your hand in his and smiled brightly. You had an inkling as to why he was so happy. He had finally gotten you to Korea and he was relishing it. Though you were still nervous about being spotted. Especially by the media or possible sasaengs. But Jungkook didn't seem to mind or care.

"You sure you don't want to wear a mask?" You asked lowly. Sure the residential side street you lived on was quiet, but if you were heading onto main roads then there was definitely a chance he would be noticed.

"If they can respect my privacy when I'm with my parents or my friends, they can respect it while I'm with you."

He gave you a reassuring smile and squeezed your fingers. You liked holding hands with Jungkook; he was always warm. Or at least warmer than you.

A few moments later, you turned onto the main road and Jungkook pointed out the closest convenience store to your building.

"Most convenience stores are open 24 hours a day. Korea is known for it's '24 hour culture'. SO pretty much everything is open all day every day. Even take-aways."

You nodded along, your focus momentarily diverted when Miri paused to sniff at a random patch on concrete. You gave her lead a light tug and she quickly skipped back in front of you.

Idle chit-chat flowed easily between the two of you as he pointed out more places, like take-aways he had ordered from or shops he's been in before. Eventually, you reached a large looking park, littered with autumnal leaves.

"This is beautiful," you muttered. "Can I let Miri off here?"

Jungkook said it was a dog friendly park and you unclipped her lead. She immediately dashed off, her little white body bright against the oranges and greens of the floor. You felt Jungkook's arms wrap around you as he pulled you into a back hug. "Is it possible to have 2 dates in one day?" You shook your head and he sighed. "I'm an impatient person."

"Well, learn to be patient."

He nuzzled into your hair as you watched Miri jump into a leaf pile. "I can't. I want to cuddle you so you sleep better. Don't think I didn't notice the bags under your eyes while you were away."

"I was stressed-"

"I can cuddle the stress away."

You tilted your head back against his shoulder as you laughed. His nose scrunched in confusion as to what was funny.

"I'm not stressed any more, BunBun. That disappeared when you kissed me at the airport yesterday."

He grinned, a hand coming up to tilt your face towards his so he could place a tender kiss on your lips.

"That's the first of today's 10 kisses."

Unable to resist, you closed the gap between you again before pulling back with a small grin.

"Second."

He booped your nose with his. "If I smother you with enough kisses, will you forget about the 3 date rule?"

You raised an eyebrow. "Normally when someone tries to kiss their way into a person's bed they have... other intentions."

Jungkook's eyes widened as his cheeks tinted red. Clearly embarrassed by what you were implying. You laughed out loud.

"I-I-I'm n-not..." he stuttered out, then cleared his throat and tried again. "T-that's not w-what I meant..."

"I know BunBun. I just wanted to tease you. You're so innocent."

His told on you suddenly tightened as his brows furrowed to shadow his dark eyes.

"I'm not innocent," he grumbled. "Just didn't want you to think I only want you for one thing."

It was one thing to have talked about past experience with sex. It was another thing for Jungkook to say he wanted you in that way. Your own face turned as red as a tomato.

It was Jungkook's turn to laugh, childish giggles taking over his body.

"Look who's red now."

You turned your face away from him, spotting Miri running back to you. Well, more like jumping through leaf piles back to you. How could one dog be so cute?

Stepping out of Jungkook's embrace, you dropped to rub the belly of the pup who had rolled onto her back and stared up at you with her big brown eyes. There was a crunch with every beat of her tail against the coloured leaves.

"I still can't believe I have a dog."

Jungkook crouched down beside you, "Would you like to see her do a trick Jagi?" You nodded. He made a circle with his arms, "Miri, taieo (tyre)."

Her ears pricked and she scrambled to her feet before leaping through the ring. Your jaw dropped. Miri yipped happily as Jungkook spoiled her with belly rubs, muttering something about giving her a treat when you got back to the apartment.

"The only training I've seen a dog have is when I trained my older sister's husky to respond to my whistles..." You trailed off, still in awe at the small dog knowing show tricks. Was she a show dog before Bangtan got her for you?

You asked the question and Jungkook shook his head.

"Her parents were both show dogs, but she never competed." He then sighed as if recalling a sad memory. "Poor baby was put up for adoption because they felt bad for leaving her at home while the others travelled for competitions."

You pouted at the story. But then you realised something. Miri was trained in Korean, meaning she'd only respond to Korean commands or borrowed English words. You looked at Jungkook who was grinning like a lovestruck fool at the pup.

"You'll need to teach me how to do the tricks with her. I want to play too."

He nodded, "Okay! Can you hand me her lead please? I think it's about time we took her back and go shopping."

Jungkook clipped the lead back to her collar and hand in hand you walked back to your apartment undetected. Miri was given a treat for behaving, and then you headed out once more.

You swore you had never seen so many colours. How many shades of yellow were there? How the fuck were there shades of black? 'Charcoal' was clearly a grey, not a black! Your eyes continued to scan down the aisle for what you were looking for. Red. You wanted red. Jungkook wasn't being very useful, looking at the colour charts on the opposite wall, laughing at their ridiculous names.

You continued to walk down the aisle, leaving Jungkook behind as you went on your hunt. You wanted a specific crimson. What was the Korean for crimson again? You racked your brain until you remembered.

Ah! You found the red section and began looking up and down the shelves for the tin you were looking for. It took a minute, but you found it...right at the top. Fuck.

"Kookie..."

Jungkook jogged over to you. "Yes Jagi?"

"I need help getting that tin of paint," You said, pointing to the top shelf.

He frowned. "I might be tall but even I can't reach that... Maybe you should get in my shoulders."

Your eyes went wide. "I'm not getting on your shoulders!"

He pulled on your arm like a child. "I promise I won't drop you."

"Kook!"

"Fine... Piggy back.?"

You looked at him as if he had grown two heads. "Surely asking a member of staff would be easier."

"But not as fun."

You hesitated. "What if it falls on me?"

"Then we take another trip to A and E," He said quickly, passing you his backpack to wear and crouching. "Hop on."

Hesitantly, you did as he instructed, somewhat nervous about what may happen. What if you dropped the tin on his head?! With your arms secured around his neck, he raised to full height and jumped to shift you into a more comfortable position. He shuffled closer to the shelf.

"Can you reach?"

You stretched out your arms and gave a small cry of glee at the tin being in reach. Carefully, you brought the tin down off of the shelf.

"Got it!"

Jungkook gave a small cheer of joy.

"You can let me down now, Kookie."

The hold he had on your thighs tightened, and then he was walking away from the shelf down the aisle.

"Kookie!"

"I'm gonna get a basket- No! A trolley! We’re gonna get anything else you think you might need." He explained while trotting along with you on his back.

"I don't know what else I need," you mumbled, glancing around you at the other aisles.

"What about...a rug...plants...storage?"

"I could get some little house plants and a cactus."

"People say that succulents are the easiest to take care of but they're not. They're fickle bitches."

You could hear the annoyance in his voice. Obviously the tone of someone who had tried to take care of a succulent before. You leaned forward over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of his face. His lips were twisted and his eyes slightly narrowed.

"Did someone's succulent not last very long?" You teased.

"You can't put it in direct sunlight. Can't over-water it. Can't under-water it. Hell, you can't even tell if you've under-watered or over-watered it. Those plants are meant to be low maintenance dammit!"

You pat his beanie in pity. "Should I not get one, then? Maybe fake flowers would be better."

He nodded, "That would probably be best."

You finally reached the trolleys and he let go of one of your legs to take the tin of paint from you.

"Can I get down now please?"

He gently let you down and you placed his backpack in the trolley before taking hold of the handle and pushing it in the direction you came. Jungkook walked beside you, stealing glances in your direction every so often. You paused and turned to him with a sigh.

"Wha-"

"Go on." You stepped back and gestured to the trolley. "I know you want to push it."

He pulled the cart towards him with a smile, dropping a kiss to your cheek and saying thank you before hurrying off down the aisle.

He was a child. You were dating an adult child.

But then he stopped and turned to look at you like an overexcited puppy.

"Jagi! Sit in the trolley!"

You stared at him blankly. Yup. Definitely a child. You were torn from your thoughts by him rushing back to you and literally lifting you into the trolley.

You would have protested if it wasn't for the fact that you didn't feel like embarrassing yourself in the store by yelling. The last thing you needed was any attention. So you complied and sat on your butt with your legs crossed as best as they could in the narrow space.

"I'm going to buy all the the stuff needed for a happy home. Jagi included," He said with a wink. How much of a child could he be? Yet still you felt your heart melt a little.

You began formulating ideas in your head of how you could dress up your apartment to make it feel a lot more...you.

"A rug would add colour to the living room. And some cushions for the sofa." You suggested.

"I guess you won't be wanting blankets since you already have 2 with my face on."

You felt your cheeks heat up for the second time that day.

He chuckled as he navigated the store. "I can't believe you have blankets with my face on."

"They're soft," you mumbled, peering over the metal of the trolley so you could keep an eye out for the homeware section.

"You use them?"

You could hear a hint of judging in his voice and became defensive.

"Yah! I bought them with the intent of collecting. And don't you start judging me. You're the one who wanted to stay as my bias."

He bit his bottom lip before releasing it with a frown. "I've heard of younger fans using them and it seemed a little weird to me..." He trailed off with a sigh. "But I guess I can't stop you from collecting them. Whatever keeps you warm at night."

He was uncomfortable with it.

"...I'll stop collecting that stuff. I'll only buy official merch from now on. No more fansite projects."

You lurched forward when the car came to an abrupt halt.

"I didn't mean it like that..." He ran a hand through his hair and huffed. "You can buy all the merch you want. Official or unofficial. I know it makes you happy and if you want to collect blankets with my faces on then I won't stop you. I'll learn to get over the weirdness."

"But-"

"I'm not going to try and make you change who you are, Y/N. This is the you I fell in love with. I shouldn't have expected any less."

You held gazes for a minute, the tension that had surrounded you dissipating as a smile slowly crept onto your lips. Carefully getting to your feet, you cupped his cheek and pulled him into a short but sweet kiss.

After a brief debate about whether you should unpack before or after repainting your bedroom, you settled on after and got to work. Miri was under the temporary care of Yoongi who had taken her to his studio.

Jungkook was in charge of moving your bed and furniture into the centre of the room while you began getting out the painting supplies.  The final thing you retrieved was vitally important to the task. Your bluetooth speaker. If there was one thing you'd learn from the adverts on TV, it was that painting to music was a much happier experience.

As soon as Jungkook saw the speaker he smirked, "You found Jimin's jams then. Just as small as he is."

You scoffed. He was making that overused joke from 2014. When will it finally die? Maybe it was your fault for owning a speaker called Jam.

"It's small but powerful. I wonder what that says about Jimin."

It was your turn to smirk as Jungkook's jaw dropped at your reply. You connected your phone and Jungkook came up behind you as you scrolled through your music.

"Have you used that joke on Chubs before? He is her favourite after all."

"Not yet."

Unable to choose a song, you resigned to putting it on shuffle.

"Have you spoken to her since you left England?" Jungkook asked, going over to a step ladder and unfolding it.

Oh shit. You hadn't. But in all fairness Jungkook has kept you busy. You made a mental note to message her soon.

"You and your dates have kept me preoccupied."

"I'm not sorry. She had the privilege to live in the same country as you as now it's my turn." You giggled and handed him a paint roller. "No need to be jealous any more. I'm all yours."

He placed kiss on your forehead. "Don't say stuff like that... you'll make me greedy."

He turned his back on you to dip his roller in the paint tray, leaving you wondering what he meant.

"Just to let you know, I've never painted a wall before."

Of course he hadn't. He became a trainee at 13. You redecorated a room at roughly around that age so he must've left home before he had the opportunity to. Thinking about that made a small smile appear as fond memories of you and your mother trying to bond while removing your father's taint from your home flittered through your mind.

"Just watch me for a little while then."

You swapped rollers, since his had paint on, and climbed up the ladder to begin. Something warm on your calf made you wobble on the steps and you glanced down to see Jungkook holding you.

"Careful Jagi. Don't want to be falling for me more than you already have."

That fucking smirk.

You turned back to the wall when you paused, lips curling into a sneaky grin. Running a finger through the dark red paint on the roller, you quickly turned around and booped his nose, leaving behind a thick red blob.

But he just grinned. "You're so adorable you even made a sound effect!" He let go of your ankles. "Hang on a sec. I need to get a selca of this."

He ran out of the room to collect his phone from the living room. Meanwhile, you continued to paint, needing to work relatively quickly unless you wanted the wall to be patchy.

"Y/N, come down. I need one of us together."

"Can't."

You could practically hear his pout. "Fine. Ne eongdeong-iro sajin-eul jjik-eulge (I'll just take a picture with your butt)."

"Huh?!" Your head snapped around, but it was too late. Jungkook had already taken the picture. "Are you going to post that online?!"

He turned to you, face full of mischief, "Ye."

"It better not be Twitter."

He smiled and that was all you needed to know his answer.

"Oh hell no! Tumblr is fine. They'll see it as meme-y. On Twitter you'll get branded a pervert."

"How else am I going to announce your arrival to all ARMY?"

"Take a nice picture of us painting the wall that doesn't have my booty in it."

There was a pause.

"I'm still uploading this one to tumblr. They appreciate booty there."

"Your booty, maybe. But not mine."

You took a few steps down the ladder so your head was visible in frame of the camera.

"Oh they will." He gave you a quick peck and you felt some of the still wet paint transfer onto your nose.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Was Jungkook admitting he liked your butt, or was he suggesting your followers would? He didn't answer, opting to hold up his phone with SNOW already open. He didn't bother selecting a filter, the paint on your noses looking ridiculous enough. With an arm around your waist, he pulled you closer to his side and you rest your head against his. He barred his teeth in a playful growl, while you wrinkled your nose.

He took the picture and quickly opened up the twitter app. Selecting the picture, he added a caption of 'Nae Jagi-ga eoje dochakhaesseoyo! (My Jagi arrived yesterday!)'.

He pressed tweet and waited a second to watch it upload before opening up his tumblr app. You'd never seen Jungkook's dashboard before, and weren't surprised to see gifs and screenshots from YouTube gameplays of overwatch. It refreshed to display an anime gifset and he went about uploading the other picture involving your butt.

His caption for that picture was a tad more humourous: 'She finally got her ass here.'

You smiled as he giggled to himself as he uploaded the pic. With that done you got back to painting. Jungkook grabbed a paintbrush to start cutting in, it was almost like outlining the wall so you could fill in the centre with the roller. The artist in him had a steady hand and made neat work of the job.

You felt your phone vibrate in your pocket. You grabbed it and saw Chubs had sent you a message over tumblr.

'I see Jungkook is a fan of the booty.'

"Chubs messaged me."

Jungkook raised his head, looking up at you from his position on the floor.

"Did she see the posts? What did she say?"

Putting your phone away you continued to paint. You’d message her tonight for a proper catch-up.

"She thinks you like my butt because of the picture you uploaded."

He was silent for a moment and when you glanced down his head snapped up, cheeks flaming as if you'd caught him doing something he shouldn't have. He mumbled as he stood to pour more paint in the tray.

"Hm? What'd you say?"

"Nothing."

You shook your head. "No, you mumbled something. What did you say?"

He hesitated, nervously chewing on his bottom lip. "It's embarrassing."

You cocked your hip. "How's it embarrassing?"

He shrugged, eyes flickering up to meet yours. "Ireallylikeyourbooty."

You stared at him blankly. He what? He liked your butt? As if to figure out why, you looked over your shoulder at you butt. There wasn't anything special about it. But then again, you don't have the same view as everyone else. You were torn from your thoughts by a red paint hand print suddenly appearing on your behind.

"Kookie!"

His cheeks may have been bright red, but his eyes sparkled mischievously. He clambered to his feet when you began to descend down the steps, paint roller raised in threat.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" He backed away with his arms raised in surrender. "I couldn't resist."

You used the roller to paint your own hand red.

"These are my only pair of sweats. And you have ruined them. Eye for an eye."

His back was against a still pink wall and you pressed your open palm to his chest. You took a second to marvel at how firm his chest was.

"Yah! My white t-shirt! I'll make you pay!"

Jungkook grabbed your wrist in one hand, the other going to the small of your back to keep you in place against him as he tried to make your painted hand touch your face.

"Nooo~~"

Instinct kicked in and you hooked one of your legs behind his knee, trying to knock him off balance. It worked and you both fell to the floor with a thud.

"Ah fuck," Jungkook groaned, face contorting in pain.

His body had softened the blow, and you picked your head up from where it rest against his shoulder.

"I didn't expect us to land so hard... let's just finish painting."

You crawled off his body, sitting back on your knees to adjust your skewed glasses. Jungkook sat up and shifted to rub at his backside.

"Your floor is hard. What if I'm bruised?"

"I have some bruise cream in my first aid kit in the bathroom. Though you'll have to apply it yourself. I'm not ready to see you with your pants off yet."

He chuckled and got to his feet, offering his dry hand to help you up.

"You're so funny," he muttered, pulling you into a hug.

"I wasn't joking."

He pulled back slightly. "I know. Doesn't stop you from being funny."

"You're... okay with it?"

He placed a kiss on your forehead. "Of course I am. I'm in no rush."

"Good things come to those who wait." With a sudden stroke of boldness, you smirked and tapped his cheek before grabbing your forgotten roller and headed back up the ladder to continue painting. He picked up his paintbrush and got back to doing the edges.

"You've been playful today, Kitten."

Boxes. Boxes. Boxes. So many stupid brown boxes.

While the first coat of paint dried, you'd gone into the living room to finally start unpacking. And everything was a mess. Bubble wrap popped underfoot everywhere you walked, and every available surface was covered with an item ready to be put away. It was just a case of figuring out where to put everything.

You were glad about the sheer amount of shelving your new home had. If you were a sucker for something that wasn't BTS, it was storage space. And the kitchen space! At last, you had more than two cupboards and a drawer! You could have a whole cupboard dedicated to baking, not just a shelf. And everything was so shiny and new. You'd wondered if it had been renovated alongside the bathroom, or whether it was just a newish building.

"Jagi~ where do you want your merch?!"

You looked in the direction of Jungkook, who was on the other side of the living room.

"Merch is going in my room after the paint has dried."

He stacked the boxes by the bedroom door.

"I think the posters will look nice against the red walls."

"Yeah, the colour suits you." You'd barely registered what you were saying, brows creased as you focused on organising your bookcase.

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind." He chuckled.

It took a while to get everything put away, but you finally collapsed onto the sofa with a sigh. It was mainly items for your bedroom that remained in boxes. Your feet were lifted into the air and Jungkook sat down, letting your feet rest in his lap.

You sighed. "Nearly all settled in now."

He hummed in acknowledgement which was followed by silence. The two of you content with being with each other.

"...I wonder how ARMY are reacting to your selcas..."

He pulled his phone out of his back pocket, lips pursed as he scrolled through his dashboard. You shut your eyes just to rest them for a moment. You wished you had Miri to cuddle. Jungkook's full belly laugh had your eyes snapping open again.

"What? What's so funny?"

"A-ARMY!"

You sat up and leaned against his shoulder to see his phone. He was looking through the reblogs, pausing every so often to read it and it's tags.

"Look at this one," he scrolled back up and clicked on a post. He read, "'The Jungbooty has finally found it's match. The Noona booty!'"

He scrolled to another one, "'When the booty's so good you gotta take a selca with it.'"

You had to laugh. "I never thought my butt would be a meme."

Jungkook kept going, the comments only getting funnier.

"Did that one just say you suffer from ‘Butt Love-itus’?"

Jungkook nodded, unable to actually speak from how much he was giggling.

"Shall we check Twitter now?"

His jovial attitude immediately vanished.

"...I'd prefer not to... some of the things people say on there make me uncomfortable..."

"What do you mean uncomfortable?"

"They're a little more...intense than Tumblr ARMY. And not as respectful." He wrapped an arm around your shoulders. "We don't need to see the negativity or nasty comments."

Nonetheless, he opened the app and navigated to his tweet. The very first reply you saw said, 'I wish that was me in that Selca. Saranghae oppa!'

His lip curled at the dreaded word and he minimised the app.

"See. It makes me go all-" he shivered, actual goosebumps raising to the surface of his skin.

"It's why I rarely ever post unless I have to. I don't want to deprive ARMY of my face, but the comments are off-putting."

"I don't blame you. I've seen how... vulgar... some tweets are that you're tagged in and stuff. I can only imagine how disturbing that must be to read. At least I kept my smut on a platform I didn't know you were using until you found me."

He hummed in agreement. "I don't mind the smut so much because it's not directed to me. But these tweets are in reply to mine and intended for me to see."

You shifted your legs off his lap, opting to crawl into it instead to hug him.

He made a little surprised 'oh' and took a second to wrap his arms around your waist.

"Fan Culture is one of those things; it's fun, but some people take it too far and too personally. I'm sorry you feel that way, KooKoo."

One of his hands came up to run through your hair, "There's no need for you to apologise Jagi, it's not your fault. I understand this is just how Western fans are. It's the culture they've been raised with."

"It doesn't mean it's right though." He hummed in agreement and continued to twirl a curl around his fingers.

Your head fell to the crook of his neck, completely comfortable in his embrace. You were silent for a few minutes, just happy to hold and be held. It was moments like these you longed for when back in the UK with a screen and thousands of miles between you.

You hadn't even realised you had fallen asleep until Jungkook was gently shaking you awake.

"Wake up sleepy Kitten. I think the paint is dry by now."

You groggily raised your head, a little sigh like yawn slipping through your lips.

"How the fuck are you so adorable?" He murmured.

"I'm not adorable." You grumbled as you rubbed the sleep from your eyes.

He smiled and nuzzled his nose against yours then gave you a soft peck on the lips.

"So adorable."

You were about to retort when the sound of your stomach grumbling cut you off.

"Adorable and hungry. Come on, let's have lunch then we can start a second coat of paint."

You scrambled off his lap and waddled into the kitchen, now stocked with dry snacks and, of course, the leftovers Bangtan had put in your fridge. Some rice, some veg whatever would do for now, but you'd have to go proper food shopping tomorrow. You found the necessary pan from a cupboard and went about making the first semi-proper dish in your new home.

Jungkook had followed you into the kitchen. "What are you making?"

You opened a cupboard and picked out a packet of instant ramen.

"Lunch."

He grabbed the kettle and filled it at the sink.

"Do you have one for me too?"

You opened the cupboard again and tossed a cup of ramen to him. He caught it with a grin.

"Thank you, Jagi."

You nodded and leaned against the counter while you waited for the water to boil.

"Y/N...can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

A pause. "I noticed you've started calling me KooKoo...why?"

"Because you're so cute."

He pouted, "All you ever call me is cute. When will you call me dashingly handsome?"

"Have you not seen my tumblr?"

He nodded.

"Then if you read the tags you'll know I call you handsome a lot."

"Not to my face though..."

You crossed the short space between you and placed your hands on his cheeks, squishing them together.

"My KooKoo is very handsome and very cute."

He grinned and mirrored you to cup your cheeks too. You probably looked silly but who cared.

"My Kitten is very beautiful and very cute too."

You batted his hands away. "Yah! I'm neither of those things!"

The bubbling sound of boiling water made you turn you attention back to the pan. You opened up your packet of instant ramen and carefully dropped it into the water along with the contents of the flavour packet. The kettle had also come to a boil and Jungkook carefully poured the water into his cup. He was so impatient, not even able to wait for you to finish using the stove to make up his.

"You are though."

"Am not."

"Are too! You’re so beautiful my heart goes all weird whenever I look at you!”

You ignored the way your stomach did a little flip at the admission and gave him a skeptical look.

"Then you might have a condition you need to see a doctor about."

"Nope. Naui Nabineun areumdab-eoyo (My butterfly is beautiful)."

Your eyes grew comically wide in shock. "Nabi? Since when am I a butterfly?"

He shot you a cheeky grin over his shoulder as he grabbed a fork from the cutlery drawer.

"Since now."

"I'm no butterfly," You huffed, stirring your noodles.

The kitchen was silent for a moment, and then he started to sing.

"Amugeotdo saenggakhaji ma. Neon amu maldo kkeonaejido ma. Geunyang naege useojwo... (Don’t think of anything. Don’t say anything, not even a word. Just give me a smile...)"

Your hand stilled mid-stir. Fuck his voice was heavenly.

You shot him a glare. "How dare you bring Butterfly into this."

He just raised a brow, "Nan ajikdo mitgijiga anha. I modeun ge da kkumin geot gata. Sarajiryeo hajima~ (I still can’t believe it. All of this seems like a dream. Don’t try to disappear.)"

You turned again to the stove, stirring the noodles with more vigor. He knew his voice was your weakness. With your back to him, you didn't notice him approach until his head popped over your left shoulder.

"Is it true? Is it true? You. You. Neomu areumdawo duryeowo... (You’re so beautiful, that I’m scared)."

Jesus christ, he was basically serenading you. But your noodles were done. So, ignoring him, you took a bowl from another cupboard and poured the noodles from the pan into the bowl. You went to grab a fork but he cut in front of you and planted his hands on your shoulders to stop you from going anywhere.

"Untrue. Untrue. You. You. You~"

"Your ramen is going to go cold at this rate."

His head snapped towards his ramen and you used that as an opportunity to get away from him and his serenading.

"Now hurry up, we still need to do the second coat and unpack the last of my stuff."

You clapped your hands together and smeared traces of crimson paint across your palms. It dried the colour of blood and you picked at the flakes while admiring your handiwork.

"I think we did a good job." Jungkook said, entering the room with two glasses of juice. You took yours and gulped it down.

"I think more paint got on me than the wall because of you and your need to be a fucking meme when vlogging," You complained, gesturing to his pocket where his phone was situated.

"I’m documenting fun memories," He said simply with a shrug. "You did ruin my t-shirt though. Not quite sure if I forgive you for that, Jagi."

"You started it by putting a red handprint on my arse!"

He chuckled and you couldn't fight the smile tugging at your own lips. A shiver tingled down your spine and you leaned against Jungkook's side for warmth. You'd had to open the windows since the paint fumes had started to give you a headache.

"It's going to smell sleeping in here for the next few nights."

"That's Tae-hyung's and Hobi-hyung's fault for painting the room pink in the first place," He said, wrapping his arms around you.

"At least it's gone now. And we got to spend more time together. Even if we bicker...a lot."

He nodded. "Now we have wait for it to dry again before we can unpack your bedroom stuff."

You sighed and buried your head in his shoulder, it felt like it had been a long day and you still weren't done yet.

"Shall we watch a movie while we wait?"

"You can. I want to edit this vlog so I can upload it to Tumblr."

You left the bedroom, shutting the door on it so the smell didn't seep into the rest of the apartment.

Jungkook grabbed his laptop from his backpack and took a seat on the sofa while you went to the TV stand and searched for something to watch. You heard his little giggles in the background as you picked out a DVD. It was the first Thor movie. Thor was your favourite Avenger but you would never admit that to Jungkook. You put it in the DVD player, grabbed the TV remote and fell on the sofa next to Jungkook. You stole a glance at his laptop screen while waiting for the main menu to load.

He had set his phone up prior to filming so it could capture both of you. Which is why his screen currently had you trying to fend of an entourage of kisses from him while he sneakily got more paint on you. More giggles filled the room as you laughed at the clip. The two of you looked ridiculous covered in red splotches of paint and darting past pieces of furniture as you tried to escape him.

"Tumblr will like this. It was a good idea."

"Thank you. I want K-ARMY to see too so I might upload a slightly different version to the fancafe and link it on twitter."

You pressed play on the remote and settled even more comfortably against Jungkook's side. It was rather difficult to stay focused on the film due to Jungkook jostling you as he giggled to himself, or the mouse clicking whenever he cut something or did other edits. You were pretty sure you caught him edit a clip to be a close-up of you from the corner of your eye. You just hoped he didn't do anything that would get him the title of pervert. It was fine for you to call him that when not on a public platform, because then it's just you teasing him and not risking his reputation.

"How long is the video gonna be?" You wondered. He had so much footage you were hoping it wouldn't be too long.

"I dunno. A minute, minute and a half maybe." He removed his beanie to run a hand through his hair. "I'm cutting out a lot of us kissing and keeping the funny stuff in."

"That's fair. You could make another one later if you want that could be a 'Kiss Montage'."

His eyes lit up at your suggestion. "I know the perfect song for that! But I'll finish this first."

You tilted your head to press a kiss to his jaw.

"You'll find out just how much you went over the 'ten kisses a day' quota."

He smirked. "There's nothing wrong with going over the quota."

You rolled your eyes with a smile and placed your head back against his bicep to watch the last half of the film so he could get back to work.

The two of you stood awkwardly in the doorway wondering what you should do first. Should you begin unpacking or should you move the furniture back? Wait. That was a stupid question. Uncrossing your arms you stepped into the room

"Kookie, could you help me move the bed back?"

He took one side of the bed frame and you had the other. On the count of three you pushed it forward, fighting against the thickness of the carpet. With one final shove from you, the feet went back into their original indentations.

Jungkook stood back, eyebrow raised at you.

"What?

"You're strong."

You blushed and stuttered out a "Th-Thank you," because you really didn't know how to respond. Was he complimenting you or making an observation?

"Muscle Kitten!" He said in a surprisingly gruff voice. "Muscle pig and muscle Kitten!"

You playfully punched his shoulder as you passed him to move your desk back into place. You stood in front of it and simply pushed it towards the wall. It was lighter than the bed so you didn't see a need to ask Jungkook for help.

"Can you put my bedside tables back? I'll start bringing my stuff in."

Jungkook saluted you. "Yes, Muscle Kitten."

"Stop~" You whined on the way out of the room.

He giggled and began shifting all the other furniture pieces back into position. You brought the boxes in two at a time and placed them on your bed out of the way. You decided to unpack your clothes last so that it wouldn't seem as weird when you'd ask Jungkook to leave the room. You didn't want him to see your undies. You also didn't want to explain why you still had clothes given to you by your ex.

The desk and shelving seemed like a good place to start. So you began unpacking your merch, setting the posters aside since you didn't want to put them up just in case the paint wasn't completely dry.

Jungkook whistled as you unpacked album after album, and DVD after DVD. But then it got to the fansite merch.

"Jagi, do you really need 3 calendars of me?"

You shrugged. "Probably not. They came with the photobooks."

You took one of the calendars and placed it on the desk beside the lamp. The other two went on a shelf.

"Woah~!" You turned around to see Jungkook flipping through a photobook. "There's so many pictures!"

"Be careful with that one. That's the very first one I got. It has pictures from your debut to the end of 2016."

His nose wrinkled almost in disgust and he placed the book back on the bed, choosing instead to admire a small acrylic stand.

"Why would anyone want pictures of me from debut? They're ugly. I was ugly."

"You were a cute baby back then. And I wasn't a fan since debut, so I feel like those pictures help me to see what it was like for you back then." You paused and let out a single chuckle, "If I had known about Bangtan back then, I probably wouldn't have dated my ex."

His head shot up. "Really?!"

You nodded, "You were my ideal type, even back then... even though I would've been in denial about it."

He smirked, but it soon fell and his lips puckered into a pout.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but I'm glad I didn't know you then." You tilted your head in confusion and he continued, "I was really shy... If you'd come up to me at a fanmeet I would have probably embarrassed myself in front of you."

"I'm glad you didn't know me back then either. I was so cringey."

He laughed and you both fell into silence, working together to get everything put away. The sun was setting by the time it came to put away your clothes and you wondered what would be the best way to get him out of the room without raising suspicions. You could ask him to make you a cup of tea... or perhaps…

"Could you call Yoongi-oppa to tell him we're nearly done? Oh, and also check how Miri has been."

That should keep him occupied long enough.

He flashed you a smile and went into the living room. As soon as he turned his back, you hauled your suitcase onto the bed. You quickly shoved items onto hangers and put them away in your wardrobe. Items that you couldn't be bothered to waste time hanging were hastily folded and hidden away in a drawer. You could faff about with reorganizing tomorrow...if Jungkook didn't have plans with you.

You yanked open a drawn and stuffed your underwear into it, slamming it shut just in time for Jungkook to re-enter.

"All done!" You cheered.

His jaw dropped and he stepped forward to peer into the suitcase. It was completely empty despite the odd pair of shoes.

"That was quick."

You gathered the shoes and dumped them in the bottom of your wardrobe.

"How's Miri? Is Yoongi bringing her back?"

"She's fine. She should be nice and sleepy for you when she returns because hyung said she's been doing a lot of running around the studio."

You awed at the mental image. Though it swiftly disappeared when your phone vibrated. Another message from Chubs: 'Have you seen this?!'

It was followed by the video Jungkook had uploaded.

You sat on the edge of your bed and swiftly typed back, 'Not yet.'

"He said he'll bring over food too if you want."

"Sure."

Jungkook went to sit next to you when you stuck your foot out at the last minute and lightly kicked his backside.

"Ah, ah, ah! Your time in my room is over. Don't get comfortable."

He pouted, "But Kitten~"

"No buts. I'll join you in the living room in a little bit. I need to give Chubs some of my time now."

He huffed and shuffled out of your room.

With him gone you rolled onto your stomach and tapped out another message.

'Sorry I haven't spoken to you, Jungkook's been stealing my attention. I'll watch the video now!'

The video started with a close up of Jungkook, a finger pressed to his lips as if to tell the viewer to be quiet as he sneaked up behind you. On his other hand, one of his fingers had been dipped in the paint. Paint he swiped across your cheek shouting, "Kitten whiskers!"

You yelped and spun around, knocking his arm away making him stumble backwards.

"Kookie! You scared me!"

He doubled over in giggles as the video did a fancy transition into another clip.

Music was playing in the background as you were doing a little dance as you painted. Jungkook had left the room for a toilet break which is why you thought you were safe. Turns out you were wrong. You watched as Jungkook came back into frame, stopping short when he saw you dancing. His lips split into a smile and he sent the camera a wink before heading over to you.

Another fancy transition to him chasing you around your room as you vaulted over your desk to get away from him. "Nabi~ I just want a kiss~"

"KEEP THOSE PAINT COVERED HANDS AWAY FROM ME!"

You chuckled at your antics, a part of you thankful Jungkook had chosen to film you. He was right. They would be fun memories to look back on.

"COME GIVE KOOKOO A KISS!" Jungkook yelled, arms outstretched.

You stood on your bed above him with a grin.

"KooKoo can kiss my ass."

"Then get your ass here!"

You had playfully turned around so he could kiss it. But instead of a kiss you were met with a hard spank that had you yelping, face turning flush, as yet another red hand print was left on your sweats. You flushed at the sight of him grabbing you by the waist and lifting you off the bed. You had screamed and giggled, but suddenly fell silent when he crashed his lips against yours and effectively silencing you.

It cut to you mercilessly tickling the maknae shouting, "Revenge!" Amongst his pleas for you to stop. The video and the music began to fade out to black and you clicked out of it to go back to your messages.

Chubs had sent another one since, 'I have one thing to say: you look so happy together which as your friend makes me extremely happy for you.'

You smiled, 'Thank you~'

'I also have another thing to say:'

The message was followed by an image of the Finding Nemo 'He touched the butt' meme. You laughed out loud.

'HE SAID HE LIKES MY BOOTY!'

She sent back a gif of Jimin doing a sassy eyeroll. 'That much is obvious.'

She sent another message which was a screenshot from the video, just before he spanked you with the original red hand print visible.

'Kinky.'

Your face flushed red. 'DON'T SAY THAT!!'

'HE SPANKED YOU ON CAMERA! HE A KINKY LITTLE SHIT!'

'NO HE'S NOT! HE'S A PURE CHILD!’

Another screenshot came through of the same picture but cropped to just Jungkook's face.

'That smirk is anything but pure.'

He did seem all too satisfied with himself.

The sound of a knock at your apartment door startled you. It must be Yoongi with Miri and food. You sent Chubs another message saying you'd message her when Jungkook goes home so you could talk properly, then went into the living room. Yoongi was sat on a sofa chair with food while Jungkook was sat on the sofa with Miri on his lap. You joined him, cuddling up to his side as Miri shifted to rest her head against you.

"Geu got-eun meotjye boine, Y/N! (Place looks nice, Y/N!)" Yoongi said taking a glance around. "Byeok-e peinteu chil haess-eo? Animyeon seoro? (Did you paint the walls? Or each other?)"

“Duldayo. (Both.)" You broke into a yawn, exhaustion settling in now that you'd sat down.

A deep chuckle came from him, "Naneun tteonal geotigo, geuraeseo neoneun yakganui hyusik-eul chwihal su-isseo. Jungkook, neomu neuchgekkaji meomureuji mara. (I’ll leave so you can get some rest. Jungkook, don't stay too late.)"

Jungkook gave him a thumbs up. Yoongi placed the food on the coffee table and made his way to the door, happy enough to see himself out.

"Shall we watch another film?"

"I'd like that."

A/N: For those confused about why the new system hasn’t been used in this chapter, it’s because Yoongi isn’t in it for very long. For those who are confused about how the new system works, there’s an example >here<.

This work of fiction is copyright © JungkookieNoona and protected under UK and international law. All rights reserved. Any unauthorised broadcasting, copying or reposting will constitute an infringement of copyright.

[pocketfullaflowers]

No Matter What

Chapter two is here! I didn’t expect to return to this, but this chapter basically wrote itself. In this chapter we see what the other cats were doing during chapter one, and meet our poor Munk.

You can read chapter one here! And chapter two is available here, or below the cut!

Munkustrap slept when he could. It was his job, as protector of the tribe, to be well rested and alert when on duty. Recently though, he found it nearly impossible to sleep. He’d crawl into his den and lie awake for hours until it was time for his next patrol. Even Jennyanydots and Jellylorum had mentioned how exhausted he looked most days. The two queens had whipped up a tea that he would drink in the evenings to relax and doze, but that only did so much. This time of year was hard for him, the memories of the past tormented him in his dreams and followed him throughout the day.

A cold shiver ran down Munkustrap’s spine and woke him from his fitful sleep. He squinted at the inky blackness of his den and frowned. It was hours before he was due for duty, and he knew sleep would evade him if he tried to chase it. Perhaps a walk would calm his nerves.

He silently padded outside, careful not to wake any of the other cats sleeping. A chill had settled in the air, and marked the beginning of the cold months. He shivered. The moon was bright tonight, and a cool wind blew withered leaves around the junkyard. It had been a night just like this, nearly two years ago, when the tribe had split. It had been a hard summer that year, there would not have been enough food to last the winter, and the pollicles had been relentless in their attacks. Their only option was to see if their humans would take in more strays that winter or starve. His brother, Macavity, had disagreed. He believed that they could have more than enough food if they stole from surrounding tribes. Their father had refused to wage war against other cats leading to many fights between the two. In the end the tribe was split, and those that agreed with Macavity left with him, never to be heard of again. Deuteronomy lost his mate and a son that day, and the whole tribe felt the loss of the families that they would be leaving behind. Munkustrap was not a cat that left the junkyard often, his duty as protector tethered him to the tribe, but when he did he asked for news of the other jellicles. No cats that he asked knew anything, it was as though the other tribe had disappeared into thin air.

His heart clenched as he gazed at the moon. That day he had lost his brother, his mother, and the only cat he had ever loved.  Demeter. She had been beautiful, a graceful golden tortie. As kits they had been best friends, inseparable. She had a dry wit, and a sense of humor that shocked even him sometimes. He had thought about asking her to dance the mating dance with him at the jellicle ball, the year they came of age. He had imagined asking her to be his mate, imagined that maybe one day they would have kits of their own, a silver and gold litter. But he had been a coward, and before he could muster the courage to ask, she had already decided to dance with Macavity. It was not long after that that she stopped talking to him, talking to anyone really. She only had eyes for Macavity, and when he left, she left with him.

“Demeter…” Munkustrap whispered into the cool night air, “Are you looking at the same moon?”

A cackle ahead of him made him jump and startled him out of his thoughts. Munkustrap sighed and rolled his eyes, that sound could only come from two kittens he knew, and if they were in the junkyard, then trouble was sure to follow.

Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer were new additions to the tribe. Skimble had found them, abandoned, at a train station. They had quickly grown into trouble-makers, and were responsible for plenty of the grey hairs in his coat. The two often left the junkyard for long periods of time. They would never tell where they were going, or what they had been doing, and would distract from any questioning by getting into even more trouble. They were useful, though, and often knew information that Munkustrap didn’t, though he had to go to be inventive with how he got it.

He walked until he found where Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer were holding an audience in front of the other kittens of the tribe. The twins were secretive with adults, but loved to regale the kittens of the tribe with their stories, as long as they swore to never tell. Munkustrap had found their secret hideout months ago, and the information that he gained from eavesdropping had proven invaluable to the tribe. He shuddered to think what the twins would say if they knew how much he depended on them, their egos were big enough as it was. He sighed and crouched down in the shadows, resolving to listen for as long as their story seemed useful.

Victoria, Etcetera, Electra, Pouncival, and Tumblebrutus sat around the two rambunctious kittens as they told them a story.

“-Swear to the Everlasting Cat! He snapped him in half!” Mungojerrie was saying.

Rumpleteazer cuffed him, “He didn’t snap him in half! Tell the story right, he pulled his arms and legs off, one by one!” The kittens flattened their ears, Victoria looked like she might faint.

“Oh alright, he pulled off his arms and legs and  then  snapped him in half!”

“And then what did he do?!” Pouncival cried, shaking in excitement.

Mungojerrie crouched down so he was eye level with the kittens and whispered, “Then he took him outside and burned him alive!”

Rumpleteazer cuffed him again, “He wasn’t alive by that point! You can’t be burned alive after your arms and legs have been pulled off and you’ve been snapped in half.”

“Fine!” Mungojerrie grumbled, “He burned him dead! And then he danced on his ashes!”

“He didn’t dance, Jerrie! That cat’s never danced a day in his life! He probably had a pollicle lick them up!”

“Or made one of his prisoners sweep it away, one speck at a time!”

Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer jumped up and Electra yelped, “Or maybe he sprinkled it on kitten food, and waited for a poor Jellicle to come and gobble it up!”

The two cats cackled again and did a small jig, obviously proud of themselves. Victoria and Electra looked like they might be sick while Etcetera and Tumblebrutus clung to one another. Pouncival was the only one who looked like he was enjoying the story, his eyes were wide as saucers and his tail flicked from left to right. Munkustrap sighed, if he didn’t put a stop to this soon, the kittens were sure to have nightmares, and Jenny and Jelly would never let him hear the end of it. He was curious about who they could be talking about. It was likely that the two were making the story up, but if they weren’t it would be dangerous for him not to know about a cat who could inspire such a story.

“B-But why would he do that?” Electra asked.

The twins glanced at each other and grinned, “Well why else, my dear girl?” Mungojerrie asked as he draped himself over the kit.

“A queen, as always.” Teazer sighed as she ran a hand over Victoria’s fur. Victoria blushed while the other kits leaned in, interested by this new information.

“He has a queen?” Tumble asked.

“Well of course he has a queen,” Jerrie said, flicking Tumble’s nose, “He has many queens under his control, but only one is his mate.”

“High in her tower, his mate waits. Her beauty is second to none, so she has many admirers. He’s incredibly jealous, so if anyone so much as looks at her he kills them.” Teazer said.

“How romantic.” Etcetera sighed and pretended to swoon onto Tumble, who looked confused to suddenly have the kit in his arms.

“Romantic? You think that’s romantic? He kills people, Etcetera!” Pouncival said, throwing his arms up in disgust.

“Oh well I know, but it's the principle of it all.” Etcetera said.

“The principle?! What principle?!”

“Ahem!” Teazer and Jerrie crossed their arms.

“Oh right, sorry.” Etcetera grumbled.

“Queens, I tell ya,” Pounce nudged Tumble who grinned at his friend.

“As we were saying, his mate lives high in her tower, and rumor has it that she’s expecting a kit!” Teazer said and clasped her hands together.

“A kit?! Who would have a kit with him?!” Etcetera said.

“Well, rumor has it, it wasn’t exactly her choice.” Jerrie said.

“I’ve heard that she’s trying to escape!” Teazer added.

“Exactly, and she’ll have to do it soon!”

“Because if she has that kit with him…”

“And if that kit doesn’t live up to expectations…”

“He’ll kill them both!” The two shouted in unison and descended into maniacal laughter.

“Well that’s too cruel!” Electra shouted, “I thought you said he loved her.”

Jerrie clicked his tongue, “You will learn that love and hate are often bedfellows. And where there is love, there is possession, and where there is possession, there is obsession.”

“Goodness, Jerrie, you almost sounded smart!” Teazer giggled.

“Hey!” Jerrie swiped at her, “You know it’s true.”

Teazer nodded, “He loves and hates her as much as he loves and hates himself.”

Victoria wiped her wet eyes with a paw, and even Pouncival looked glum.

“So, what can she do?” Tumble asked.

“How should we know? This is Macavity we’re talking about. Chances are there’s no hope for her.”

The kit’s shouts of protest were drowned out by the sudden rushing in Munkustrap’s ears.  Macavity?! Surely not Macavity. His brother was misguided, ignorant, and at times cruel but he wouldn’t do something like that. Macavity had always been different from the other cats in the tribe. He dreamed of a future that disagreed with the teachings of their father and of the Everlasting Cat. He had always seemed to Munkustrap to be larger than life, a dreamer of dreams, a liver of life. He could be uncaring and gruff at times, and Munkustrap couldn’t say he agreed with him on most things, but the same could be said about Tugger. For Macavity to be a murderer? To abuse a mate? That wasn’t possible.

A mate. Macavity had a mate, who was expecting a kit.  Demeter?!  Munkustrap couldn’t believe it. He couldn’t imagine Demeter, feisty, passionate, fearless,  strong Demeter, as a captive. His stomach nearly rioted against him and he sucked in deep, agonizing breaths. He had to get away from here before he caused a scene. He ran on trembling legs to the highest spot in the junkyard, a tire that he and Demeter had often played on in their kittenhood. The moon seemed impossibly bright in the sky, so close he could almost touch it.

He reached out with a shaking paw, “Demeter… please be safe. I will find you.” He looked out over the junkyard, and saw the life he and Demeter had shared, tottering about as kittens, learning to dance, playing tricks on the tribe. He saw the life they could have had if he had just been braver, the two of them chasing little balls of fur, sharing exhausted but happy smiles before bed. Munkustrap shook his head, there was no time to be reminiscing. He would find her, and soon, no matter what.

Munkustrap did not fall back asleep that night.

[tbehartoo]

Hey There Little Red Riding Bug

Miraculous Ladybug: Marichat shenanagins

Rating: General - Mostly fluff

Prompts based off of Sam The Sham and the Pharoahs’ song

~Hey there little red riding hood~

~You sure are lookin’ good~

~You're everything a big bad wolf could want~

Chat peered over the edge of the roof in the direction of the school’s costume party. Too bad Adrien had been forbidden to attend. Chat Noir, on the other hand, had no such restrictions. He smiled.

Someone, dressed all in red, was running from the building. At first he thought it was Ladybug, but there were some differences he spotted right away. Well there was the actual lack of spots to begin with, as well as a much more frilly aspect to the costume. The unknown person wore a full cape and hood made from a silky material with a golden pattern sewn into a red background draped over a full black skirt with a white petticoat peeking out of the bottom. The party goer had finally started to slow in the mad dash from the school and from the set of the runner’s shoulders it was apparent that they were upset and possibly already crying.

Chat couldn’t allow that; this might be Hawkmoth’s next akuma victim if he didn’t act fast.

He dropped down a ways in front of the potential victim, under a streetlight so he could be recognized. Still, there was a gasp as he was seen, and the potential akuma victim raised a basket in readiness to throw at the attacker. Putting on his cheesiest smile, Chat slowly winked and began to sing in his best -Bad American- accent.

“Hey there little red riding hood,” he waved a hand.

“You sure are lookin’ good,” he winked again then waggled his eyebrows as he pointed at his astonished audience.

“You’re everything that a big bad wolf could want,” he got down on all fours and then let out a howl.

“Ch-ch-chat? Chat Noir?” a voice asked timidly.

“The one and only,” the cat boy said as he rolled into a somersault and sprang to his feet, ending in a dashing pose.

“What are you doing here?” the voice asked a little husky from crying.

“Well, I saw a damsel in distress and came rushing to her aid,” he said with a smile. It  seemed to fade a little as he started to stammer. “You are a damsel aren’t you? I mean, I know it’s a costume party, and anyone could dress-up as Little Red Riding Hood, but you look like a, I mean your costume kind of implies a bit of femininity, or ah …” He stopped with an embarrassed flush on his face with eyes dropping to the pavement. A small giggle gave him the courage to look up.

Slim hands pushed the hood away from the face of…

“M-m-marinette?” it was Chat’s turn to practically stutter out the name. “What’s got you all upset?” he asked in a kind voice.

“I’m not upset,” she said as she wiped at her eyes. “I’ve just decided to go home now. That’s all.”

Chat patted his suit and finally found what he was looking for in a side pocket. He took out the small white square and handed it over without saying a word. Marinette took the handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes and then blew her nose. It was not the petite sound Chat had expected, and he grinned at the girl as he waved for her to keep the used linen when she tried to return it. He kept smiling and simply waited for her to start talking.

“There’s this classmate of mine,” she finally began. “She’s never really been a good friend to me,” she looked down at the pavement with a frown, “and sometimes she can be quite rude.” She looked back up at Chat’s face and he nodded to let her know he was listening. “So I really should have expected it when she said what she did about my costume after she accidentally”, Mari put finger quotations around the word, “spilled her drink all over the front of my shirt.”

“Chole can be quite vicious in her choice of words,” Chat replied sympathetically.

Mari nodded then stopped suddenly. “I never said it was Chloe.” She gave Chat a questioning look.

“Princess,” he said with a small sigh, “half the akuma I’ve dealt with are the direct, or indirect, product of Chloe’s words,” he gave her half a smile. “It really wasn’t that difficult to figure out.”

“Oh.”

There was silence as each was wondering what to say next.

Tears were gathering at the corners of Mari’s eyes, and Chat swore he saw a black and purple moth fluttering toward the girl.

No time to think, time to act!

Chat grabbed the girl’s right arm and lifted it high in the air as he got her into a fireman’s lift then sprinted down the street carrying her like a sack of flour. Rushing headlong for a few streets turning first to the left then to the right the frantic cat boy attempted to get away from the evil butterfly.

“Chat, stop!” Mari cried hitting his back with her free hand, the one holding the basket; he didn’t seem to feel it or hear her. “Put me down you alley cat!” Still he ran on. “Unhand me you mangy cur, or so help me, I’ll tell Ladybug!”

Chat stopped suddenly at the mention of his Lady’s name. Carefully, he put Mari’s feet on the sidewalk as he straightened up. Still holding her close, green eyes peering intently at the face in front of him, he tried to assess if his classmate had been taken over by the evil insect. There was a bit of red around her cheeks, her lips were pursed, and startled blue eyes searched his for some kind of understanding.

“No sign of a purple butterfly mask, so that’s good, right?” he mumbled almost too low for her to hear. All of a sudden he noticed just how close he was standing to the flustered girl. He was still holding tightly to her arms, gazing into those blue eyes that reminded him of someone else, and he was just the perfect distance to lean in and kiss her, if he wanted. At that thought he jumped back as if a bucket of water had been thrown at him.

“I’m so sorry Princess!” he held up his hands in an attempt to apologize. “I was worried that since you were upset about what Chloe had done to your beautiful costume you might be the next akuma because of course you should be upset when someone disrespects the amazing work you did on this, and then there was a butterfly, I swear on my nine lives it was there, and so I just had to try and outrun it,” the words came tumbling out without a pause for breath. “I am so very, very sorry!”

There was the beginnings of a laugh from the girl in front of him. “Silly kitty! I don’t think you can actually outrun an akuma butterfly, though you gave it a good try.” She patted his shoulder, and he seemed to relax a bit. “I’m upset with Chloe, but not enough to get akumatized,” she gave him a genuine smile, and he fully relaxed.

Silence.

“So, um, you’re on your way to grandma’s house little girl?” Chat asked with raised brows.

“What?” Mari was confused and then laughed as she remembered her costume. “Ah, yes, stranger wearing black leather and kitty ears. I am taking food and wine to my sick grandmama that lives deep in the middle of the woods.” She held up the battered basket.

“You need to be careful and stay on the path, for I hear there is a big bad wolf prowling these parts,” Chat tried to put on a serious expression but actually failed.

“You are right, mysterious yet kind stranger, those are the very words my Maman said to me when she sent me into the woods.”

“Perhaps I should accompany you to Granny’s house,” Chat said earnestly. “I’d hate for the big bad wolf to gobble you up.”

“Why thank you, stranger who is probably a kind soul hidden by magic here to advance the plot,” Mari smiled at Chat’s stunned reaction to her words. “I would very much appreciate you joining me on my journey.” As they turned and started walking toward Marinette’s house she asked, “How do I know you aren’t the big bad wolf, kitty boy?”

Chat spluttered indignantly. “Me?! A Wolf?” He raised the back of one hand to his forehead while the other clutched at his chest. “My lady you wound me. You’re calling me a …” He put up his hands between them and turned his face away. “No that’s too terrible a thing to say.”

“Chat?”

“My lady you’ve just accused me of being a DOG!”

They both burst into laughter.

As they walked into the darkness Marinette noted, “You did howl just a few minutes ago.”

“Touché.”

Beginning   <Previous   Next>

[be-the-script]

The preposterous adventures of Agust D the mermaid hunter and his half-lamb half-cookie companion Jeon Jungkook, including the stories of the prince of the air searching for his wings and how the Yin and the Yang found their balance

← Previous Chapter

Chapter 3/10: Where even more weirdos join in the fun

Word Count: 1,230

Summary: Did Jungkook survived alone in Busan? Is Agust D still alive? Who are the mysterious kidnappers? Why is the mermaid green?

In Busan, Jungkook woke up after a very bad night, spend on a flat rock, in the cold. He should have known that weird man couldn't be trusted. But Jungkook was on the run, hungry and the lamb skewers had been delicious. He thought it would be a good deal, especially when yesterday, after days of waiting, he had almost captured the big fish.

Jungkook had just enough place in his mind for one goal; so rather than thinking about what would happen to him or worrying for his eccentric companion, he returned to his training to get stronger than the green slimy scales.

He was doing abs on his temporary bed when a familiar insufferable voice made itself heard.

"Hey~ Cute bunny~~ I'm back!! Play with me?"

This time, he was going to show that tuna ass that you don't mock Jeon Jungkook with impunity!

He jumped to his feet and charged the creature. What he wasn't expecting was for the other to open his mouth, all teeth out, ready to gobble his arm. Jungkook backed off.

"Ooh come on, just a little bit, you smell so delicious, you must taste amazing~" The lizard face said with a pout.

Jungkook was wondering why he attracted all the weirdest people. He was thinking about a plan to kick that tuna ass without being eaten when another voice emerged from the rocks.

"Come on Jimin, you said you wanted to ask him for help!"

Jungkook turned over, his head slowly tilting to the side when he discovered a creature he had never seen or heard of before. It was mainly human, but with feathers covering its upper torso and arms, like a long sleeved bolero. It had yellow pupils like the mermaid, but they were round this time. When he got closer, Jungkook noticed it had talons instead of feet.

"Sorry Taetae~ He just looks so appetizing, I couldn't resist~"

The human bird sighed and turned toward Jungkook, trying to look friendly.

"Hello there, I'm Taehyung." "… Jungkook." "Nice to meet you Jungkook. Do you happen to have some free time right now?" "… Maybe." He couldn't help but let his doubts appear in his tone.

Taehyung tried to smile, but he just couldn't keep it up. His voice was still polite and respectful though, despite a hint of impatience.

"Wonderful, how about a little treasure hunt then?"

Last time someone had proposed Jungkook to go hunting, he had ended in his current situation. Yet at the same time, he didn't really have anything to do - apart from staying away from a certain someone.

"What's in it for me?"

If they were going for a treasure hunt, he might as well claim some of it.

The bird looked hesitant but his fish friend came to his help.

"I can give you something!!" And he dived.

There was an uncomfortable heavy silence. Jungkook jumped on the first subject that came to his mind.

"What treasure are we searching?"

"…My wings." Taehyung answered gravely, before turning over. On his back, among the feathers were two big scars on his shoulder blades. Jungkook barely had time to recover from the shock that Jimin was emerging, his hands full of shellfishes.

"Here's food!! To get some delicious meat on your bones <3"

"Don't mind him, he's always like that… So how about it? We give you food and in exchange, you help us searching?"

Once more, Jungkook let his instincts answer.

"Food."

Agust D woke up in the Snail once again, like a cat in Matrix. But this time he was aching everywhere and his house was on its side. The memory of the accident flowed back in his mind. He had had just the time to slip through the window to get inside before they had hit cars. If he hadn't done that, he would've probably been ejected and he didn't really want to think about the consequences of such a case. He dragged himself out of the Snail and looked around. There were flames here and there, a car was up against the rooftop of the Snail. Luckily the truck had separated from the house and hadn't been damaged.

The most urgent matter was the little fire on top of his Snail's shell. He ran to the truck to get the fire extinguisher, ignoring the two fainted idiots inside - he would take care of them later. He climbed on top of the house thanks to the upside down car and put out the fire. From up there, he looked at the whole scene. The drivers from the cars had run away, maybe afraid of an explosion.

Agust D loved his Snail dearly, so a little accident like that wouldn't make him renounce to his home. He climbed back in the truck, after throwing out the two guys that had tried to steal his property. He used the cable of the truck to yank the car away from his home. Then with a lot of care and using all the cables he had, he slowly put back up his house. When the wheels hit the ground, terrible cracking sounds emerged from everywhere and for a second, Agust D thought the whole thing would collapse but no. However, he didn't want to imagine the state of the things inside. He just hoped his videotape of his favorite movie, Scarface, was still in one piece.

Now that the Snail was kind of safe, he went back to the two foreigners, accompanied by Miguel who had miraculously survived the accident. He tied the guys up before slapping them to make them regain consciousness. When the driver opened his eyes and noticed who was in front of him he screamed like a character in a horror movie. The sound was enough to wake up his comrade. Once the human alarm finally shut up, Agust D asked for some explanations. "Erh…" "Uuh…" "Do I need to help you?" He said while taking out his knife. "No! No! Okay, I'll explain! We heard you talking about mermaids with that kid and we happen to also be searching for a mermaid." Said the one prone to yelling. "Is it about Bang Shihyuk's announcement?" "Erh no? I don't know, what announcement?" "Nothing you need to know. So, you were searching for a mermaid." "Oh yeah, and as we didn't have a clue, we may have decided to follow you?"

Agust D rose an eyebrow. The guy looked more and more afraid.

"And… well, we may have been trying to take you far away from the mermaid? So we could catch it ourselves?"

Agust D looked at the guy, judging hard. He sighed and just stood up. The other closed his eyes, preparing mentally for the blow.

"Well too bad for you because that one is mine. Find another one." The blond said while walking away. "Wait!" The other guy said, quite calmly. "We just need to talk to him, nothing more! I promise!"

Agust D faced them again and the guy kept going.

"How about we help you catch him, you let us talk to him and then you're free to do whatever you want with him?"

Agust D hesitated. He had already Jungkook, but the kid had ended being quite powerless when in presence of the mermaid. Maybe more hands wouldn't hurt. He needed to ask Estrella for advice.

Next chapter →

[braincoins]

Pidge brings smuggles an alien critter onto the castle and tries to keep it as a pet. Hunk is ridiculously allergic to it, and no one can figure out why he keeps having (a harmless but explosive) reaction of your choice.

           The coast was clear. Pidge hurriedher new pet down the hallway into her room. Whatever this critter was, it wasnot stealthy.

           It looked like a web-footed catmonkey with gigantic eyes and the softest fur she had ever touched in herentire life. It was large enough that, even sitting down, it was almost halfPidge’s size, and it was Too. Freaking.Adorable.

           Once safely in her room, Pidgeheaved a sigh of relief. “Sorry, but you have to stay here for now, okay?”

           “Memau?” it mewed, cocking its head.

           Pidge squeed as quietly as shecould. “You are too cute! I’m going to call you ‘Mau’, okay?” She reached outto scritch the adorable critter behind its ears. It leaned its head into herhand and purred in a rough, almost-insectoid way.

           Pidge chuckled. “You’re going to bemy secret, just for a little bit.”

           Mau mewed again and then took noticeof something on the floor. Pidge’s room was filled with various interesting thingamajigsand doodads that she’d come across in their travels across the universe, and…well, Pidge was nothing if not disorganized when it came to materialpossessions. She wrote the tightest, most elegant code this side of AlphaCentauri, but she just hadn’t gotten around to properly organizing the real,tangible objects she had. She was still debating the merits of variouscategorical systems…

           Mau picked up the object in itsmouth and tried to eat it.

           “No!” Pidge dove to save the…doohickey. It was some sort of… engine component? She wasn’t sure; she was justcalling it a “compression coil” for the time being, because it seemed to fit.She pulled it out of Mau’s mouth. “Bad Mau!”

           Mau put its ears back and whimperedat her.

           “D-do you really eat stuff likethis?” She turned the scrap metal bit over in her hands, looking at it. Mau gotup and wandered over to some other kind of dinglehopper, and Pidge once againhad to swoop in to the rescue. This was plastic, not even metal.

           Mau whimpered again and lookedaround. Pidge froze when Mau’s eyes landed on her laptop.

           “Don’t. EVEN. Think About It.”

           Mau mewed plaintively.

           “I’ll find you something to eat,”she promised. “Just… not in here. Stay here and do not eat anything. I’ll be right back.” She set the compressioncoil and plastic dinglehopper down and started for the door… then turned backand took her laptop with her, just in case.

           It turned out Mau was an excellentmotivator for Pidge. She managed to find ways to get all of her stuff neatlyput away and organized because anything left lying about on the floor, Mautried to gobble down.

           If Mau was offered something, itlooked confused, but if you set it down and wandered off, it would sniff at itand then eat it, no matter what it was or what it was made of.

           Pidge was trying to figure out whatsort of critter Mau was without accessing the Castle’s database. She didn’twant to give it away that she’d smuggled a pet on board, and Coran wasdevilishly clever at catching her snooping through Castle archives. “Where’sSpace Google when I need it?” Pidge muttered to herself while absent-mindedlypetting Mau.

           It was draped across her lap,purring contentedly and not caring one whit about Pidge balancing her laptop onit while she did her research. Pidge scritched behind its ears and resumed herinvestigation.

           Hunk wiggled his nose. He was tryingnot to scratch it because he knew it was red and sore and irritated – like mostof his skin, at this point – but he also knew that, through the pain would bethat sweet scratched-itch bliss he longed for. He resisted and returned hisattention to his latest attempt at baking (with English labels helpfullyprovided by Coran).

           Baking distracted him. He likedcreating and building things to solve problems; that’s why he was an engineer.Baking solved not only hunger but loneliness, despair, and a host of othermaladies. Or, rather, eating the tasty results did. Baking itself solved anumber of Hunk’s problems, but the most pressing current one was “keepingmyself busy so I don’t sneeze too much or scratch my skin off.”

           He wasn’t really sure what wascausing these reactions, but it had been going on for a week now. Showershelped, and sleep, but there was only so much of either of those he could get.So. BAKING.

           Coran had also translated a bunch ofAltean recipes for Hunk, and he was practicing them. The princess and heradvisor had proven to be reliable taste-testers for the finished products,giving him appropriate constructive criticism and praising his occasionalinnovations. He did love providing for an appreciative audience. The urge toitch was subsiding.

           He double-checked the recipe. Itcalled for precisely two drops of liquid arcfruit extract. He considered theoptions before him and decided on three drops with a pinch of callen zest tocounteract the extra zing. Arcfruit was sweet in small doses but could easilyget too sour, and had a tendency to make the dough recoil if too much was used,but the callen zest should calm it down nicely without overwhelming the subtleflavors of the pastry. He grinned, already looking forward to the end result.

           He picked up a small shot glass andraised both it and the extract bottle up so he could watch carefully. He wasn’tstupid enough to try to add the drops directly to dough; you could always addmore, but you couldn’t add less, after all. If he poured too much into theglass, he could always pour it back in and try over. Besides, there was stillthe dough recoil effect to worry about; if you splashed the extract around fromthe glass instead of dropping it in directly, it kept everything in place.

           One drop.

           Two drops.

           “Hey, Hunk, whatcha doin’?” Pidgeasked.

           Her entry into the kitchen didn’teven faze him. He had the hands of a surgeon.“Baking. Hold on.” She kept quiet as she came over to take a look up close. Hedidn’t protest; Pidge knew how close to get and when to be careful. He trustedher. Thr-…

           He sneezed so hard that he droppedthe glass and the extract bottle. The glass shattered on the floor and the bottlepractically dove into the bowl. The dough actively fled the presence of so mucharcfruit extract, winding up on the other side of the kitchen, and Hunk feltthe need to scratch (and scratch NOW) snake up his spine. He wanted to cry –partially because of the ruined pastry, partially because of how much it hurtto scratch the spots he could reach and, finally, because of the spots thatitched fiercely that he couldn’treach.

           “Hunk! Are you okay?!”

           “Pidge… can you… get this…?”

           “Yeah, hold on.” And then her littlehands were scratching up and down his back through his shirt and he heaved asigh of relief even as he occasionally winced. He sneezed violently again andthe scratching stopped.

           “Yikes! You almost knocked me over!”

           “Sorry, Pidge.” Scratch wincescratch scratch. “I dunno what’s going on.”

           She came around in front of him.“Yeah, it’s like some sort of allergic reaction, but…”

           “What would I be allergic to inspace?” he asked, still scratching. “The Castle’s practically sterile now thatCoran’s over his case of the slipperies.”

           “Well, it’s possible that long-termexposure to something in the Castle is just now starting to have an effect onyou? But I can’t think of what it would be.”

           “It’s not Goldie, I know that much.”Itch itch wince scratch itch hiss scratch. “And, I mean, yeah, I guess it couldbe something building up in my system just now hitting critical mass, but… Idunno. I think we should eliminate anything new that might be around first.It’s probably a shorter list.”

           “Yeah, good point,” she conceded.“And given how violent your reactions are, it’s a good place to start.”

           Hunk nodded as he scratched. “So,how’s about you help me clean up the kitchen while we try to figure out what’snew that might’ve been brought onboard?”

           “Yeah, sure, I… … …oh.” She frowned.

           “What?” He actually stoppedscratching to look at her. “Pidge, you okay?”

           “Uh… I… might have a good place tostart.”

           “YOU WHAT?!”

           Pidge put her hands over her ears atthe sheer volume from everyone in the room. And it was literally everyoneexcept Hunk, who’d been put into a cryo-replenisher after he’d sneezed hardenough to knock himself unconscious when she’d introduced him to Mau.

           She hesitantly pulled her hands awayfrom her ears. When there was no more loud noise – just the stunned looks ofdisbelief – she gestured to her pet. “Lookit how cute Mau is! How can you sayno to this adorable face?”

           Mau was licking one of its webbedpaw-feet. When it heard its name, it looked up at them with its giant eyes.“Memau?”

           “It’s very adorable, Pidge,” Shirobegan, “but…”

           “It almost killed Hunk!” Lanceinterrupted. “I don’t care how super-cute the thing is!”

           “I’m almost sure I’ve seen somethinglike this before…” Coran was murmuring to himself.

           “I’m sorry, Pidge, but the universeneeds its Yellow Paladin,” Allura said gently.

           “And we need him to make us actuallydecent food,” Keith reminded her.

           Coran was snapped out of hismusings. “HEY NOW!”

           “Is there a problem with thestandard rations?” Allura asked Keith archly.

           “If you like green goo, I supposeit’s fine, but…”

           “I’ll have you know I was anaccredited Puce-Ribbon Chef back on Altea, and that is the 37th mostprestigious chef award IN THE SYSTEM!” Coran informed him.

           “Coran, Allura, KEITH,” Shiro putin, adding some extra emphasis on that last one, “let’s focus up here.” Heturned back to her. “We can’t keep… Mau, you said its name was?”

           She nodded and looked up at Shiro inher best imitation of her pet’s big eyes.

           He sighed. “But we’ll make sure wefind it a good home, okay? We won’t just dump it somewhere.”

           Pidge dropped the act and sighed. “Isuppose it’s for the best.” She kneeled down to be eye-to-eye with Mau. “It’sbeen getting hard to find stuff you can eat anyway. We’ll find you somewherebetter, okay?”

           “Memau?” It cocked its head.

           Pidge wrapped her arms around it andhugged it tight.

           In the end, they found a deep spacehauler with a small crew that thought Mau would be a good ship’s…cat-monkey-thing. They promised to take good care of the critter and Pidgewaved good-bye. The Castle (and Pidge’s clothes) were all given a thoroughcleaning, Pidge took a shower, and Hunk was released from the cryo-pod feelingtip-top again and with no more skin or sinus irritations.

           Still, Coran couldn’t help wonderingwhere he’d seen such a critter before. It was hard to describe to the database,and they hadn’t thought to scan Mau before handing it over to its new home.

           “Are you still trying to rememberwhat Pidge’s pet was?” Allura asked when she found Coran flipping through thexenofauna listings.

           “Yes. It bugs me not being able toremember and I… I think it might be important.”

           “Oh, stop it, Coran. You have toaccept that you’re getting older.”

           He huffed. “I’m still young-ish.”

           “Your memory’s not,” she teased him.“Just let it go. I’m sure it’ll come to you eventually.”

           He sighed and shut off the screen.“You’re probably right.”

           “Besides, we have more importantthings to focus our attention on, like saving the universe from Zarkon’s iron-fistedrule. It’s just a cute little critter that Hunk had an unfortunate allergy to.Pidge learned not to smuggle animals on board. Everything’s fine now.”

           He smiled. “You’re right, Princess,of course. Besides, it’s such an adorable thing. What’s the worst that couldhappen?”